Pierre & Anatole

(During this scene, Natasha prepares to poison herself.)

[PIERRE]
You promised Countess Rostova to marry her and were about to elope, is that so?

[ANATOLE]
Mon cher
I don’t consider myself bound to answer questions put to me in that tone

[PIERRE]
My face, already pale
Becomes distorted by fury
I seize you by the collar with my big big hands
And I shake you from side to side
Until your face shows a sufficient degree of terror
When I tell you I must talk to you!

[ANATOLE]
Come now, this is stupid!
What what, don’t don’t!

[PIERRE]
You’re a scoundrel and a blackguard
And I don’t know what deprives me of the pleasure
Of smashing your head in with this!

(He takes a heavy paperweight and lifts it threateningly, but at once puts it back in its place.)

Did you promise to marry her?

[ANATOLE]
I didn’t think of it. I never promised, because—

[PIERRE]
Have you any letters of hers?
Any letters?
I shan’t be violent, don’t be afraid

(Anatole hands Pierre a pack of letters.)

First, the letters
Second, tomorrow you must get out of Moscow

[ANATOLE]
But how can I?

[PIERRE]
Third
You must never breathe a word of what has happened between you and the Countess
Now I know I can’t prevent your doing so
But if you have a spark of conscience—

Pierre paces the room several times in silence

[ANATOLE]
Anatole sits at a table frowning and biting his lips

[PIERRE]
After all, you must understand
That besides your pleasure
There is such a thing as other people
And their happiness and peace
And that you are ruining a whole life
For the sake of amusing yourself!
Amuse yourself with women like my wife
With them you’re within your rights
But to promise a young girl to marry her
To deceive, to kidnap
Don’t you understand that that’s as cruel
As beating an old man or a child?

[ANATOLE]
Well, I don’t know about that, eh?
I don’t know that and I don’t want to
But you have used such words to me
“Scoundrel” and so on
Which as a man of honor
I will not allow anyone to use

[PIERRE]
Is it satisfaction you want?

[ANATOLE]
You could at least take back your words, eh?
If you want me to do as you wish?

(Natasha drinks the poison.)

[PIERRE]
Fine, I take them back, I take them back!
And I ask you to forgive me
And if you require money for your journey—

[ANATOLE]
Anatole smiled
The reflection of that base and cringing smile
Which Pierre knew so well in his wife
Revolted him

[PIERRE]
Oh, vile and heartless brood!

[ANATOLE]
Next day Anatole left
For Petersburg!