Pierre & Anatole – Josh Groban & Lucas Steele

[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!