[bell tolling] I have to tell you that the Minister of War is very busy and may not be able to see you this evening.

It’s imperative that he does.

I’ve come directly from the battlefield.

My orders were to report to the Austrian Emperor himself!

No, no, that is not how we do things here, your Excellency.

I’ll have to have a word with the Minister.

[indistinct talk] [soft classical music] He will see you now: please come in.

So?

You are from General Kutuzov?

And the reason for your visit?

To report the success of the action at Schongrabern.

Here is the dispatch.

You call it a success, do you?

It seems of little consequence now the French have taken Vienna.

Coming after the defeat of the Austrian army at Ulm, yes, it was a success.

The French advance was stopped long enough to allow our armies to regroup.

But there were terrible casualties on our side too.

We await Napoleon’s next move.

Well, this is a war, you know, one must expect some bloodshed.

General Kutuzov thought that you’d like to hear some good news for a change.

Thank you.

His Majesty will be informed.

And now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do.

Or was there something else?

[mysterious music in crescendo] [bells tolling] To think of Nikolai in danger, I can’t bear it...

He used to cry if he fell over and hurt his knee, and now he has to face bullets... [sighs] Don’t.

[Natasha] Do you think about him all the time?

Of course I do.

And do you remember him really well?

Remember exactly how he looks, and everything he said to you?

Yes, of course.

I do too-- Nikolai, I mean, [sighs] but when I think of Boris, I can’t really remember him at all, even though he kissed me.

That’s because you really love that funny one with the glasses!

Pierre?

[laughs] I do not!

-Where did you get that from?

-Seeing you dance with him.

What strange ideas you have... [chuckles] I just can’t get used to the idea of it, that suddenly I own so much.

All these houses, all these estates, so much land: plantations, forests...

Surely it’s wrong that one man should own so much?

Well, you know, Count Bezukhov, the saying is that we don’t own our earthly possessions, we merely curate them for our heirs: for the generations to come.

Looked at that way, it’s an honour and a duty.

Yes, but... I’d like to share this wealth, not simply hoard it for my children.

I want to change the way things are run, not that I’ve any experience in managing anything, but I want to do something useful, something good.

You have a noble heart, Count, but I’d advise you not to rush into things.

It’d be my privilege to look after all those business matters for you.

Your priority now must be to ensure your own happiness.

How?

[mysterious music] [door opening] [Helene] Oh, it’s you.

What a lazy sister I have.

I was out riding at dawn.

Get out, you smell all horsey.

Mmm, what lovely, smooth skin.

-Stop that, Anatole.

-You know you love it.

-Listen, has Papa spoken to you?

-What about?

-He wants to marry us both off.

-[laughs] Me to Andrei Bolkonsky’s churchy little country-mouse sister... -Oh, she’d suit you perfectly.

-And you, darling... -Who?

-Guess.

I can’t.

-What do you say to... -Pierre Bezukhov?

-You're joking.

I am... not.

Oh, he’s such a buffoon, Anatole.

Stop doing that!

He’s a very wealthy buffoon now, and he worships you.

[whimpers] He’d make a very docile, adoring husband.

Hardly cramp your style at all.

Mmm...

But honestly... Pierre Bezukhov... Oh, that feels nice, do that again.

You’d better make up your mind to it, Papa is determined.

Mmm... It’s not a bad situation, you know.

Just think of all those houses, all that land, -and all that money.

-[sighs] What a lot of jewels you could buy!

It's all very well for you, you won’t have to sleep with him.

So, you’re considering it?

I suppose I shall have to consider it.

Lucky Pierre.

[laughs faintly] My dear Count Bezukhov, how very good of you to come along to my little salon when you must still be feeling so acutely the death of your poor father.

Well, yes, but I hardly knew him.

mostly I feel embarrassed by my good luck in inheriting such a great fortune.

I’ve done nothing to deserve it.

Ah, now, Count, there you are too modest, the very fact that your father singled you out for greatness shows that you must have exceptional qualities, which I discovered for myself long since.

Really?

I had no idea.

And Prince Vassily is advising you?

[Pierre] Yes, yes.

He’s been very kind... You couldn’t do better.

And what has been his advice?

Well, he thinks I should get married.

And so you should!

A man in your exalted position!

The Prince is absolutely right The trouble is, though, women don’t care for me, society women, that is.

I don’t seem to have the knack of talking to them.

Believe me, my dear Count, it is not for you to concern yourself.

It is for the young ladies to make themselves pleasing to you, now, rather than the other way round, as you can see for yourself.

[classical music] [whispering] I will leave you with the Princess Helene...

Such a bore, these things, aren’t they?

Well, not exactly, I like to listen and talk, about the big things: politics, ideas, the war, and how to live, and what life really means, and so on.

But I always...

Always seem to say the wrong thing and upset people.

No, you speak from the heart.

Of course that frightens people.

Does it frighten you?

Not a bit.

I love it.

[melancholic violin music] [door slamming] [sobbing] [knocking] [crying and laughing] What is it Papa?

Is it from Nikolai?

Yes, dear Nikki, he... he was wounded!

But it’s all better now, he says.

And he’s been promoted!

He’s an officer now!

An officer of the line!

-[Natasha laughs] -My little Nikki!

An officer!

But wounded!

I know.

What will I tell your mother?

Tell her about the promotion first.

Yes, yes.

And he’s really quite recovered?

So he writes.

Thank God!

[laughs] Says he’s short of money.

That’s our Nikki!

I’ll send him some.

Nikolai was wounded in battle, but he’s all right and he’s been promoted!

[Petya] Hurrah!

[both laughing and sobbing] [Petya] Did he kill many Frenchmen?

I don’t know, Papa didn’t say.

If I was him I’d have killed hundreds of them!

[Count Rostov] Petya!

Petya!

[Natasha laughs softly] You knew, didn’t you?

Yes.

[gasps] He writes to you.

He must really be in love with you.

[sobs] [horse hooves clacking] [bells tolling] [grunts] [grunts] Oh, I have to go!

[Denisov] What time is it?

Parade’s not till noon.

No, I got an appointment.

my cousin, Boris Drubetskoy, he’s in the Guards.

[Denisov] Oh, very grand.

[bridle clanking] Can you, take care of the bill for... -Huh?

-I’ll pay you back!

Off you go, my boy.

Think nothing of it!

[bridle clanking] [loud marching] [neighs] [door opening] Hmm.

[steps approaching] Rostov!

I didn’t expect you so soon!

[laughing] Sorry, you know Captain Berg?

He’s in our company.

Happy to make your acquaintance.

Well.

You look...

I don’t know, you look like a real cavalryman now.

[chuckles] And you look like the cat that’s got the cream.

You Guards, you get the best of everything don’t you?

We do, we do.

The... receptions, the dinners, the balls...

But you’ve been in action.

Come and sit and tell us all about it.

Well... [grunts] You were at Schongrabern?

That must have been some affair!

Yes, we... we were cut off, so there’s nothing for it but then to charge head on, sabres drawn.

There’s no feeling like it, Boris, nothing in the world.

You have bullets flying around your ears and you feel no fear at all.

Just only a strange mixture of, of joy and fury-- Don’t get up.

Please, don’t let me interrupt you, sir.

[Boris] Count Nikolai Rostov, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky.

Please, go on.

You were in the cavalry charge in Schongrabern, you say?

-Yes, I was there.

-Yes.

There are many stories told of that action.

Perhaps, but the stories told by the men who were actually there, under enemy fire, in the thick of it, are a different thing to the stories told by fellows on the staff, who get rewards for doing nothing.

And you consider me one of those, do you?

I’m not talking about you.

I don’t know you, and I don’t wish to.

I speak of the staff in general.

Let me tell you this: you wish to insult me?

I’d be glad to teach you a lesson, but this is hardly the time or the place for dueling.

Very soon we shall all be engaged in something much greater and more terrible than Schongrabern.

You save your valour for that, Count Rostov.

I won’t stay, Drubetskoy, we can settle our business tomorrow.

I wish you all good day.

Damn him.

[snorts] He as good as called me a liar.

Come, come.

Drink up.

Some of us know a hero when we meet one.

[wine pouring] [Berg laughs] [dramatic Russian music] [bells jingling] [music continues] [people laughing and chatting] Hold on tight to me.

It's a lot smoother over here.

[chattering] [Helene laughs] Charmant!

It’s going well.

Yes, yes.

But he seems unable to make up his mind.

I may have to force the issue.

[Pierre] Over here.

[mysterious eerie music] [panting] [heavy breathing] [music increments] [heavy breathing] [music continues] [Helene] Touch me.

Come on, touch me.

[door slams] [gasping] [panting] [grunts] [eerie music continues] [muffled laughter] [muffled conversations] [muffled coughing] -Pierre?

-Yes.

Was there something you wanted to say to me?

The goose was very good.

Oh, don’t tease me, it’s not fair.

After all of our conversations?

The thing is... It’s complicated.

[indistinct chattering] [laughing] [mysterious music] Pierre, Helene: congratulations!

[laughs] [clapping] What?

Take your glasses off.

[clapping] What’s happened?

Oh, we're engaged!

[laughs] [clapping continues] [in Russian] The servant of God, Peter is betrothed to the servant of God, Helene.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

[dramatic religious chants] Rejoice O Isaiah.

[chants continue and fade] What are you looking at?

[Pierre] My lovely wife.

You are an inexhaustible treasure.

Full of wonderful, wonderful secrets and delights.

The more I discover... more it seems is left to be discovered, more secrets, more delights, does that make sense?

Mmm.

Actually I don’t think I am inexhaustible.

One can get tired of having one’s secrets and delights discovered all the time, -over and over.

-Oh, forgive me, what an inconsiderate brute I am.

You're not so bad.

But, there are more things to life, aren’t there?

You are Count Bezukhov, after all.

-Yes, I've been thinking that.

-[Helene laughs softly] And taking advice, and so on.

I think one of the first things we should do is make a tour of all my estates in the country.

Well...

The thing is...

I'm not really awfully good at coping with peasants and farms and all that country life sort of thing.

And I have rather a lot of engagements in the city.

I think it would be much better if you went on your own.

I'd only be a distraction for you anyway.

Yes but a wonderful, wonderful distraction... No, I think you should start as you mean to go on.

Duty before pleasure.

Don’t you think it’ll do us good to spend a little time apart?

If you say so.

And don’t they say a little absence sharpens the appetite?

Mine doesn’t really need any sharpening, Helene.

[moans] You are a wicked, wicked man.

[door opening and closing] [sighs] [clamoring] Is it really him?

Hurrah!

Hurrah for the Tsar!

[all] Hurrah!

Hurrah!

[soldier] Hurrah!

Hurrah for the Tsar!

[Tsar] Fine men.

Makes my heart glad to see their eager faces.

I think we shall have a great victory tomorrow.

With respect, your Majesty, we should not engage with Napoleon at all tomorrow, or any time soon.

Bonaparte has withdrawn his troops.

He’s asked for talks, he’s desperate to avoid a battle.

All my generals are in agreement, except for you.

Again, with respect, your Majesty, that doesn’t make them right.

[clamoring continues] And what would you do?

[Kutuzov] Retreat.

[mockingly] Retreat?

I never hear anything else from you.

Any more retreat would be humiliation.

I think you may be getting too old for this game, Kutuzov.

My mind is made up.

We’ll engage with him here, and defeat him.

[soldiers] Hurrah!

Hurrah!

The die is cast.

What do you think will happen tomorrow, your Grace?

I think we will lose this battle, and a great many men will die.

You’re a married man, Bolkonsky?

Yes, my Lise is with child.

Ah...

I should have better kept in touch with her.

I haven’t been a very affectionate husband, but no use to say that now.

Write to her before you sleep then, my dear boy.

It may be the last chance you get.

[eerie ominous music] [voice off] " My dearest Lise.

Forgive me for not having written before.

I have been a neglectful husband, but now I think of you with nothing but tenderness and remorse... Marya...

I wear your icon and think of you every day, my dear sister... Papa..." [eerie ominous music] And yet I’d give them all up for one moment of glory.

[sizzling] [eerie ominous music] [eerie ominous music] [aide] Sire.

[horse neighs] Madness.

Do we join the attack, your Grace?

Hold your ground.

But the orders are to advance and engage the enemy on their right flank your Grace.

Do you take your orders from me or not?

-Of course, your Grace.

-Then hold your ground.

At least we won’t make fools of ourselves.

To hold this hill is vital.

Let them come to us.

[Andrei] Sir.

Ah, our glorious leader.

-Your Majesty.

Kutuzov.

Why have you not advanced?

Because that’s what Napoleon wants us to do, your Majesty [Tsar] But you understand the disposition, do you not?

Perfectly well, your Majesty.

-However, if you order me to advance... -I do.

Kindly give the order.

[eerie ominous music] Forward!

[horses neighing] [eerie ominous music] [sighs] Excellent.

[eerie ominous music] [marching] I can’t see a thing.

Where are we?

More to the point, where are the French?

[eerie ominous music] Sir, look there, [music increments progressively] [detonations] [soldiers screaming] [shouting] Even worse than I thought.

-[detonations] -[screaming] [screaming] Forward at the double!

[all shouting] [horses neighing] [shouting] [swords clanking] [screams] [shouting] [horses neighing] Rostov, ride over to Kutuzov.

Are we to advance, or stand our ground?

Well, go on, man.

Quick as you like.

[cannons shooting] [screaming] [screaming] It’s all up, lads, run for it.

[detonations] [shouting] Stop those men!

My God, Bolkonsky, what a shambles.

[soldiers screaming] Forward, lads!

Hurrah!

[all shouting] [screams] [sound fades away] [everything goes silent] [battle sounds muffled] Where’s General Kutuzov?

Where?

Answer me, damn you.

Where is the Tsar?

I don’t know, Excellency.

They say the Tsar’s dead, and Kutuzov too.

[soldier] Wounded.

Taken away on a cart.

-Where?

-That way, Excellency.

[spurring] [detonations] That’ll do.

[horse huffs] [horse huffing] [melancholic piano music] [melancholic piano music] [sad music] [Andrei voice off] How beautiful.

How is it I’ve never seen this before?

That we are all nothing, compared to this clear, blue, infinite sky.

[horse neighs] [Napoleon] He looks like a fine young man.

A good way to die, you see, carrying the standard.

[sad melancholic music] [tragical music] [Helene] Oh, it’s you.

What do you want?

-Are you going out this evening?

-Yes.

Why?

I was thinking we could go out together.

Or stay at home together.

Are you perfectly well, Pierre?

I’ve been thinking, we should... We should have a child, Helene.

Pierre... Don’t be silly.

You know I’m not the motherly type.

We get along all right, don’t we?

Don’t spoil things.

I’m not jealous, you can have other women, as many as you like.

Have children with them, like your father, why not?

I don’t want other women.

I want us to be a proper husband and wife.

We are a proper husband and wife.

Now stop fussing me, you’ll make me late.

[cosmetics clanking] Oh, by the way, I ran into Dolokhov today.

They’re all back from the war.

Poor fellow’s penniless.

I said he could come and stay here, as long as he likes.

[huffs] That brute?

[Pierre] He’s my friend, Helene, and a war hero.

He is an insolent brute with no respect for women.

He is my friend, Helene, and you will treat him as an honoured guest.

All right.

Whatever you say.

[door opening and closing] [horse's bells jingling] [man shouting] [Nikolai] Look.

Those lights.

That’s our house.

[driver] Whoa.

[Nikolai] Wake up.

We’re here.

[Denisov] Already?

[Natasha] Nikki!

[laughs] Oh, Nikki!

My darling boy!

I didn’t know you would be here so soon.

Well, I wanted to surprise you.

My dear mama!

[all laughing joyously] Vassily Denisov, friend of your son.

Yes, yes, I know, I know.

You’re very welcome.

This man taught me all I know about soldiering.

-[laughing] -Looked after him as best I could.

Well then you are doubly welcome, my dear Denisov.

Are you hungry?

-Yes.

-Let’s find you something to eat.

-[Natasha] Come in.

-[Count Rostov] Come on, let's eat.

[all joyously chattering] Is this one yours, Nikolai?

-[Denisov] That one’s mine.

-[knocking] [Natasha] Nikolai, are you awake?

Come out, I want to talk to you.

Look, Denisov’s sabre.

He killed four Frenchmen with this.

[both girls scream] Close the door, Petya.

Well come out then, Nikki, I want to talk to you.

All right.

[laughs] I wanted to talk to you about Sonya.

What about her?

Well... How do you really feel about her?

Is she the only one for you?

Why do you ask that now?

Because it’s very important.

For her, if not for you.

Of course she’s important to me.

Well, then?

Well, it’s simple.

I gave her my word, and I never go back on my word.

No, no, that’s duty, not love.

I do love her, Tasha...

But... how can I say that I’ll never fall in love with anyone else?

Hmm?

What does she say?

She adores you, but she doesn’t want you to be bound by your word.

She wants you to be free.

-She’s so good.

-Yes, she is, but if you keep her hanging on and then break your word, you’ll break her heart.

I could never do that, Tasha.

Well, remember you said that.

[laughs] Here he is!

[sighs] Countess.

Your wife is even more beautiful than I remembered, Bezukhov.

[Pierre] Thank you, Dolokhov.

I understand you’re a war hero now.

Well, you know, there are three things I love to do: fight, drink, and...

I can’t remember the other one.

[laughs] I think you are an absolute ruffian.

I can’t deny it.

I hope you will make yourself at home here.

Thank you.

I shall.

[laughs] Don’t, don’t... Let’s have a drink!

[Russian violin music] For the Master.

Yes?

Is that the letter that came this morning?

[Prince Bolkonsky] Yes, it is.

Is it about Andrei?

Yes, it is about your brother.

General Kutuzov writes that he died a hero.

Kutuzov saw him fall, carrying the standard and leading an attack.

Unfortunately, his name doesn’t appear amongst the dead, Kutuzov... gives that as a reason to hope, but what hope can there be?

Of course he is dead.

[wood floor crackling] Papa, don’t turn away from me, let’s weep together.

Villains!

Scoundrels!

The army was led by blockheads, who don’t know how to fight, all they know is how to lead fine Russian men to be slaughtered.

And now your brother’s dead.

He’s dead!

[sobs] Leave me alone.

Go and tell his wife.

Go on.

Go on.

[sighs] [door opening] [door closing] [steps approaching] Marya, come here.

Give me your hand.

There, there, do you feel it?

Yes.

It’s so strange, as if he’s talking to us.

I really am going to love him so much, I love him already.

[laughs sadly] [lathe buzzing] I didn’t tell her.

And you must not tell her either.

She is in such a delicate state, and so close to her confinement, I-- All right.

Do you agree?

I said all right.

Thank you.

That’s the end of it.

[lathe buzzing] [door slams] [loud chewing] [cutlery clattering] [cutlery clattering] Mmm... [Dolokhov sighs loudly] Dolokhov, really?

Funny how it always tastes better from another fellow’s plate.

[cutlery clattering] Well... [cutlery clattering] [gate creaking] -Hello.

-Hello.

All right, remember me?

You’re a fine fellow, you’ve all grown.

I’d hardly have recognized you.

Look who’s come to visit us.

Oh, Pierre!

[laughing] We haven’t seen you for ages Now I see you, I wish I’d come sooner.

How are you all?

Nikolai!

You’re a real man now, I can tell.

Something’s changed in you, I think.

For the good, I hope.

[Pierre] Yes, yes, of course.

My friend, Captain Vassily Denisov, of the Pavlograd Hussars.

I’m privileged to meet you, sir.

I feel ashamed of my lazy life when I see men like you and Nikolai.

Heroes.

I should have been with you.

I used to think of Napoleon as a hero, you see.

And perhaps he was, once, but not now.

He seems to think of nothing but conquest and glory.

He had to be stopped.

I was wrong.

Papa’s hosting a banquet for our returning soldiers.

-I hope you will come, Pierre?

-Yes.

Yes, indeed.

It will be an honour to drink to their health.

Talking of heroes, isn’t Dolokhov making his home with you?

Yes, yes, he is.

It was so kind of you to take him in.

Well, one does what one can.

Splendid fellow.

It’s so good to be here with you all again.

What is it, Pierre?

-Why are you sad?

-It's nothing.

I’m not sad, just happy to see you I thought you might have brought the Countess.

Sadly she’s otherwise engaged.

-[moaning] -[cutlery clattering] [Helene] What a vile creature you are, Dolokhov.

And don’t you love it.

[moaning] I hate it.

You’re an animal.

[cutlery clattering] [moaning] [steps approaching] When did this come?

-Just now, your Excellency.

-Thank you.

[unknown female voice] Perhaps you should get some new spectacles, Count Bezukhov, then you might see what everyone sees but you: your wife’s affair with Dolokhov.

[paper rustling] [closes book] [panting] -What's the matter?

-Nothing.

Well, I'm going out.

Are you going to the men’s dinner this evening?

Yes.

No.

I don’t know.

I suppose I might as well.

Why not?

Your disgusting friend Dolokhov’s going.

[scoffs] Try not to drink too much, the pair of you.

[indistinct chattering] [cutlery clattering] [Count Rostov taps his glass] To the health of our sovereign Emperor, and to our fearless Prince Bagration.

[Nikolai] Bezukhov, the Emperor.

[all] Hurrah!

Hurrah!

The choir will now sing a cantata in praise of our great General, and souvenir copies of the music will be distributed.

[men singing a patriotic song] To the husbands of pretty women.

[all] Yes!

To the health of beautiful women.

Eh?

To the health of beautiful women, Petrushka, and their lovers.

[disconcerting music] Don’t you dare take what is mine!

Really, Petrushka, what is the matter?

Scoundrel!

I challenge you!

I challenge you.

I accept.

[emotive piano music] [music fades away]