Original subtitles

All right.

I need five men

to pick mistress's apples and pears.

You.

You.

You and you.

You.

Be careful with the fruit.

No throwing, no shaking the trees.

Pick them by hand.

They are delicate goods. Treat the pears with care.

We know something about pears.

Who said that?

Don't you dare to come near our girls. Get out of here. Go away!

I don't want your girls anyway.

You will replace him.

Take the baskets and follow me. The rest, out of here.

I can't believe this day finally came.

The best day of my life.

Finally my humiliation is over.

I'm sick of this shameful existence,

asking for alms!

Grig.

You wanted to move to the capital, didn't you?

Now we can't do it before next summer,

until after our child is born.

After that...

After that...

After that we'll collect the money promised by your father.

What do we want in the capital? We can't settle here even better!

What are you planning?

It's time to remind the world who the Chervinskys are.

-Ma'am! -What is it?

A messenger from Mrs. Kosach.

Shut up, bastard!

I don't want to hear about her anymore. I forbid to utter her name in my house.

Go away!

What shall I do with this? They asked to give it to you.

Are you deaf?

I said get out!

Stop.

Give it to me.

Why are you mumbling?

Where is the letter?

Or did he send a message?

No message, no letter. He left this and ran away.

I see.

My presents are burning her skin now.

Well...

Whatever.

Get out!

Where are you?

Daddy!

Hush!

Yes. Come with me. This way.

Father!

-Father, I'm so glad you're here. -How are you?

Still alive.

Oh God. We'll get you out of here soon.

That's why I came.

I'll help you escape.

We'll go to Bessarabia.

It's a free land. Let them try and find us.

Go pack some of your things. We'll leave as soon as it's dark.

I'm not running away.

It will only make it worse.

Worse? It can't be any worse.

Not for me. Good people have taken me in.

I'm staying at their house. They treat me like family.

If I run away, they'll be punished, Father.

What? Are you ready to live in irons for someone else's peace of mind?

Look at her! I'm offering her freedom, and she says it'll be worse.

Did I come here for nothing?

Stepan!

All right, if that's what you want.

I have another plan.

-What is it? -You'll see.

Stepan! Where are you?

Here! I'm coming.

Your family won't suffer from this plan.

Anyway, pack your things and be ready.

Coming!

Lidiya Ivanovna, here. I've summed up all the money

you gave to the Kosach family.

This is a detailed report.

Small as the sums are, together they make an impressive figure.

Well, my dear Sofya Stanislavovna...

you started this.

Go to the Kosachs and tell them I want my money back by the end of the week.

-But... -But what?

It's impossible. As their steward, I--

By the way, you don't work for then since today.

Are you firing me?

No. I just don't want to give to the ungrateful.

I can use you here.

Is that all the estate brings?

70,000?

It's only the middle of the year. We haven't gathered the crops yet.

Also, we'll collect render by the winter.

Can you just tell me how much it brings in a year?

About twice as much.

Maybe plus a quarter.

150,000 per year?

The whole province knows the Chervinskys are millionaires.

Where is the rest?

It's just the estate.

There is also the tobacco factory which brings a good income.

Also, the mining shares your father has bought.

Also, the interest and the capital itself.

150,000 isn't that little.

The Kosachs are happy to have 16,000.

I don't want your examples. Don't compare us to the Kosachs.

I'm used to living my life, not struggling.

I'm not going to cut it down because of your incompetence.

Do whatever you want but give me 250,000.

I'm doing my best already.

Sir, two peasants are here asking you to settle their dispute.

What?

Your father would receive people every Monday

with their requests or disputes.

-If you aren't in the mood, I can... -No.

Let them in.

-Hello, sir. -God bless you.

What happened, my friends?

So Lidiya Ivanovna isn't coming to us again? Ever?

Correct.

Too bad.

She has always been a great help.

We'll have to do without her help in the future.

-Mother, what happened between you two? -Good morning.

Sofya Stanislavovna, may I?

Come in, Taras.

I have a letter for you from Lidiya Ivanovna.

Don't bother.

Give it back to her...

And tell her I won't accept her apology.

That was too much.

It's...

not what you think. Not an apology.

She wants you to pay back all the big and small sums of money

she had been giving you all these years.

This is a detailed list.

To the total of 2378 rubles.

Lidiya Ivanovna gives you one week to pay it back.

I'm sorry. In your situation...

-Maybe if you mortgaged the estate... -Tell Lidiya Ivanovna...

we'll pay it back in full.

But how?

I don't suppose it is your business anymore.

Lidiya Ivanovna has probably included your salary in this paper, too.

Now, leave.

You're fired.

It's over 2,000!

Mother, how can we raise such an amount?

Oh God.

-That's what I told him. -And you! Crook!

It's all because of your goddamned pig.

Quiet! I don't understand anything.

What's not to understand? He says I should give him a piglet.

Give him a piglet! That's all you'll get. You haidamak!

I want 50 kopecks or a piglet!

Fifty kopecks? A piglet? Can you explain it?

-Yakov? -This one bought a pig...

A fat pig with her back like a bench and legs like logs!

Snorting like a nightingale!

He wanted to couple it with this one's boar... For piglets, you know.

I should have made a better choice.

The pig ran away and joined this one's herd.

That's where the boar found her. By accident.

It was no accident!

Look at him! The meager son of a gun!

He doesn't want to pay me! He grudges me 50 kopecks.

He waited till my Yashka took the pigs to the field

and sent his swine to them!

Why didn't your son stop them?

He's just a stupid kid. He was curious.

I don't know who did it to my pig...

-My boar! -Or maybe Vasyl Bolotny's.

Vasyl's boar is white, and mine is red with a black ear.

And the piglets are all red, two of them with black ears.

Vasyl's boar has nothing to do with it. Give me a piglet!

-Why? -Because!

Sir, tell us what to do.

All right.

To settle this dispute and return to the status quo...

I order to send all piglets to Pavlina's kitchen.

And to make you stop fighting and be good neighbors again...

Yakov, half a bucket of vodka.

Let them bury the hatchet.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Off you go.

Enough.

Don't forget to drink to your wise master's health.

Thank you, sir.

Go!

Whoa.

We're here.

Welcome.

Come on.

Come inside. Don't be shy.

You'll be the mistress of this house soon.

God bless this house.

This is my mother. Nina Stepanovna.

Hello, Nina Stepanovna.

And this is my brother Oleksa.

Why are you hiding behind the curtain? Come out.

Set the table. We have company.

Come on.

Your mother probably doesn't want us to get married.

She didn't even look at me.

Why?

She's sick.

She has been in bed since Christmas.

Come on. Don't be afraid.

Sit here, Galia.

Let's talk.

I don't remember seeing you around in Chervinka.

They bought me in Cherkasy when I was little.

Me and my mother.

She...

died a year later, though.

So you're an orphan.

Pavlina took me in at her kitchen.

So I know how to cook.

Do you love my son?

What's not to love? He's nice.

He is.

But he's poor, too.

Why do you want him?

You're pretty. You could find someone richer.

One's heart

looks into one's eyes,

not pockets.

Well, welcome to our modest meal.

I'm full. Pavlina gave me a big lunch.

Eat.

Don't make me beg.

Do you live at the manor?

It must be beautiful. They probably cook nice things there.

Sausage, gingerbread, pies.

Yes.

They do.

And their larders must be full of wonderful things, bacon and all.

Have you been to the masters' rooms?

What kind of pillows do they have?

With lace, I bet, filled with swan's down.

And they probably listen to music every day

and lit candles even in daytime.

As far as I understand, she doesn't have any vouchers from you,

since she only quotes Taras as witness.

Of course not.

It was all in a friendly, neighborly spirit.

Lidiya sometimes helped us a little.

For a dress for Marie...

or Vasia's teacher.

She also paid Taras the steward's salary. And now it's all here.

I never imagined she'd ask to give it all back.

If there is no proof...

No.

No, my dear,

we'll give it all back.

No matter how hard it will be.

I understand,

and I'm ready to help.

Nicolas.

I was going to ask you to be my intermediary.

Pass this envelope to Lidia. Here.

It would be too hard for me to see her after what happened yesterday.

This is the whole amount.

It's from the money Aleksey brought from Kyiv.

It was barely enough, but still enough.

But... what are you going to do? This leaves you without means.

It's all right. We'll manage somehow.

We're not living in the city, after all.

All right. I'll do what you ask.

-Any message for Lidiya Ivanovna? -No message.

I hope I will never have to see this woman again.

Still, I don't understand.

What was the reason of the change in her?

She's a monster!

You wouldn't believe it.

Excuse me.

Why are you silent?

You didn't like my mom?

No, it's not that.

What is it? I can see there's something on your mind.

I don't understand.

I saw the sacks you brought as render.

There was a lot - the wheat, the meat.

Why don't you have much on your table, then?

You don't want to marry a beggar, do you?

The render...

Exactly.

Yashka, the bastard, ordered to bring more render after that.

-What do you mean? -He said it was master's order.

After paying the second render,

we don't have much left.

He took everything we had.

I have to pay for my mother and brother, too, you know.

Don't worry.

What matters is that we don't owe the master anything.

Now I'll work for myself.

My pantries will be full by autumn.

I still have hands, feet, and a head on my shoulders. We'll manage.

Hiya!

Go!

Sofya Stanislavovna, I'll pass the money. As for Katia...

I'll try to talk to Lidiya Ivanovna and do anything I can.

Yes, my friend. Please do.

She lost her mind, I'm telling you.

What did I ever do to her?

Or that poor girl?

Love sometimes takes weird forms.

Don't torture yourself. I'll do my best.

Maybe she'll listen to you.

Please give this to Katia if you get a chance.

I will.

-Let's go! -Hiya!

Ma'am, the painter is here.

Let him come in.

Come in.

Show me.

What is it?

Where am I?

That part was burned to ashes. There was nothing I could do.

You bastard, liar, loser! I told you to make it look the way it had.

Yes, ma'am.

Stop.

Put it here.

Put it back!

You'll paint a new one. This one stays with me.

Get out!

Aliosha.

My darling.

My husband!

See?

You're all better now.

What did you say?

You're tired? That's good.

Come on. Let's go to bed.

Come on.

Here.

Sleep.

Sleep, my darling.

Sleep, my husband.

Close the curtains.

My Aliosha...

is sleeping.

Closer! So that no light gets inside.

Sleep, my darling.

What?

Who is this?

How dare she?

You disgusting whore!

Zakhar!

Zakhar!

Whip her and sell her at the bazaar!

Ma'am, have mercy! I love him, ma'am!

Ma'am, please! She is my fiancée. We're engaged.

Couldn't you wait till the wedding? Are you so eager to get married?

-Yes, ma'am. -So be it.

Zakhar, here is my order.

Marry this guy...

to this girl.

-No! -Shut up!

Ma'am, you don't understand! This is my bride.

Shut up!

She is a slut.

I don't need ones like her on my estate.

You will marry this one, and you'll marry her now.

And don't you dare touch her before the wedding.

Katia!

-Father. You scared me. -Katia, have you packed your things?

-What things? -Well...

I only have what's on me, and even that's not mine.

-I don't think we should go. -Of course we should.

Daughter, you don't say anything, but I know what this witch is doing to you.

Just you wait! She'll get what she deserves.

-Don't. -"Don't"? Why, Katia?

Katia. Where is Yaroslava?

Who the hell are you? Step away from the girl or I'll beat you to mincemeat!

Dad, wait.

It's my father Stepan.

You misunderstood, Pavlo.

Your father?

Well, if you came in good conscience,

you're welcome.

I'm sorry.

You looked very scary.

I understand.

Nobody would be happy to see a convict in their house.

Don't worry.

Your daughter is safe with us.

Not from some evil people.

Sooner or later, God's justice finds everyone.

I'll make you're your mistress gets what she deserves.

I pray every day for God to see her evil deeds.

She beats Ilko every day.

Hush. That's his fate.

Their son is the mistress's boy.

She has beaten to death the three previous ones.

That's why Yaroslava is crying.

Crying...

Tears won't do anything. You can cry until his death.

There's no use to wait for masters' mercy.

With fists like this!

Nobody will give you your freedom.

You have to take it with pitchfork and fire.

Hush! What if someone hears?

Don't you want your child to be born free?

To have no master except for Our Lord?

Don't I want it?

Maybe I do, Stepan. But this is our fate.

-This is the law. -Yara is right.

You can't go against the law.

Stepan, you better go.

Don't stir up trouble.

It's time for us to go to the field.

We've stayed too long.

-Are you ready? -I am.

Lesia, come here.

It's all right.

Please give me the quittance note.

Do we need these formalities?

That's how it's done.

Ilko.

Quill and paper.

One more thing.

It's about your bondmaid...

Katerina Verbitskaya.

-Why do you care about her? -Sell her to me.

I'll give you a good price.

Twice what you paid to Chervinsky.

Not you, too. Why do you all care so much about her?

What is so special about her? Zakhar!

Whip Katka when she comes back.

Lidiya Ivanovna, why are you doing this?

Okay, don't whip her today. Do it tomorrow.

She needs to stop flirting with noblemen.

Don't spare the whip.

I'm not indulging harlotry.

Goodbye, Nikolay.

Who yelled "Let's go to the master"?

Who yelled "The master will settle it"? Did he?

You could give me half the piglets. Now you lost them all.

What's going on here?

Where is Yakov? I heard you weren't satisfied.

Sir, this isn't good.

Your father was a good judge...

Watch your words!

Who let you get so drunk?

Where is Yakov? Flog them both!

Make an example out of them.

-Yes, Grigoriy Petrovich. -Do it.

What's this?

The peasants brought the render.

They will unload it now.

-Is it off the books? -Why off the books?

I'll finish with these two and register everything.

I'll register you! That's why the income is so low.

Because of the arrears!

Hey, you. Come here.

-Me, sir? -Come on. Quick.

Take a notebook and write down everything.

Who brought what and what amount.

-All right. -What for, Grigoriy Petrovich?

Do what you're told.

No argument.

Here, take this.

Stop.

Who is this gentleman?

What does he want?

Looking around... Maybe he's looking for someone.

Hello, Nikolay Aleksandrovich.

Hello, Katia.

Do you treat you badly here?

No worse than the others.

Sofya Stanislavovna told me all about it,

but the reality of it exceeded my worse expectations.

How is Sofya Stanislavovna?

Not very well.

Her heart is weak.

I'm so sorry.

Give her my best and tell her to get well soon.

Here, she wanted me to give you this.

"Katia, my dear, be strong.

Keep your spirit up.

God doesn't send us ordeals we can't survive.

Pray and hope for the best.

My prayers are with you, too."

Thank you.

Sofya Stanislavovna begged me to do something for you.

As Aleksey's friend, I feel I should do something, too.

I thought it would be best if I bought you out,

but Lidiya flatly refused to sell.

It's her right.

I know, Katia.

There is another way to improve your situation, though.

What is it?

Write a complaint to the marshal of nobility.

A complaint?

Do you think some bondmaid's complaint will make any difference?

Katia, just do it.

I'll make sure they set the wheels in motion.

It's unbearable to put up with such treatment.

Everybody puts up with it...

not just me.

You're right, Katia.

You should write a collective complaint...

from all bondsmen.

I don't know if the people will listen to me.

They are afraid it can get worse.

How can it get worse, Katia?

Think about it.

Think.

All right...

Lukyan, are you a scriber now?

Yes. Finally, my literacy came in handy.

I'm checking Yashka's accounts.

Someone should.

This bastard!

Landlord's justice.

First he gives them vodka and then he punishes them for it.

Yashka would flog them to death if anyone let him.

It's their own fault. They shouldn't act out.

You probably never got a taste of Yashka's whip.

No, I haven't.

What about you?

I'm sick of all this.

You have no reason to complain.

We're good here compared to what the Shefer woman is doing.

I wonder how our Katria is doing there. Did you hear from her?

No.

Katrusia, what's up?

Who is this?

Me.

The late Anna Lvovna and I went to Kharkov last fall,

and she ordered my photograph taken.

Really?

May I?

Look at you!

You look so...

like a lady.

I can't believe it myself.

It's as if it happened to someone else.

As if I had been asleep and suddenly woke up.

Here you are.

I've been looking for you.

My Galia.

Pavlina sent me to bring flour. She's waiting for me.

Let her wait. She'll manage.

I don't feel well.

Let me fix it.

I'm no good for this now. I'm pregnant, remember?

How is our dear Afanasiy?

Tell me everything.

Everything's fine.

His mother likes me.

Do you like him, too?

No. Why do you say this? I don't care about him.

I'm just saying.

All right.

Listen.

Lukyan will bring this paper to the master tonight.

Make sure it doesn't get to the master.

Not in one piece.

Got it?

Yes.

That's good.

It's all right.

Our master's won't miss it.

Get ready.

I'm taking you to Nezhin. Maybe someone will buy you.

God, why are you doing this to us?

Goddamn you, the jealous mistress!

Mom, quiet. She'll beat you to death if she hears you.

I'm old. I don't care.

We will never be together.

I won't let you go, my darling.

Let's run away together.

Ivas... No.

The mistress will kill my mother if we do.

People! Where is the end of your patience?

They beat you, and you bear it. They sell you, and you bear it.

They torture your kids and you bear it.

Where is the end to this?

Have your souls run dry because of your patience?

Are you dumb animals?

Tell us what to do!

Strangle the bloodsucking bitch!

-Pitchfork her! -Pitchfork her!

No!

No! People, what are you doing?

Father, what are you...

Oleksa!

Yes, Galia?

Is Panas at home?

No, he went to Nezhin. He'll be back by tonight.

Here.

Some meat and liver. Your mother needs it to get stronger.

And something for you. From the masters' table, like you wanted.

-What is it? -You'll see.

The nobility marshal won't listen to us.

Who are we and who is he?

It's a chance to solve this peacefully.

Peacefully? You think they'll scold her and everything will get better?

It will only get worse.

All the nobles are the same. They all stick together.

Not all of them. There is the law.

We have the right to complain even to the emperor himself,

and they'll have to consider it.

The law! The right!

Father, please. It's better than the bloodshed.

Katrusia is right. We should try the peaceful way first.

Our mistress must have some kind of soul in her.

We aren't murderers, people!

Write the complaint, Katia. I'll sign it.

Me, too.

Me, too.

-Me, too. -Me, too.

-Me, too. -Me, too.

Me, too.

Me, too.

-Me, too. -Me, too.