Seated on his bed, Poprishchin lights a candle that rests on his chair. (It is the light from this candle that produced the effect of the letters glowing in the previous dissolve.)
The CAMERA SLOWLY TRACKS AROUND the chair as Poprishchin picks up the "letters" and attempts to read them by candlelight. He is straining.
Poprishchin moves in as close as he can to the candle for light. There is simply not enough light for him to read.
He stops his attempt in frustration, and puts the letters down on the bedside chair.
Poprishchin lies on the bed, and stares at "the letters".
Poprishchin falls asleep.
MATCH DISSOLVE TO:
As the first morning light breaks through the window, POPRISHCHIN lies asleep with a content smile across his face. "The letters", now held in his hands, form a pillow beneath his head. The candle has burned out to a tiny stub.
Poprishchin wakes up and looks for "the letters" on his bedside table. They are missing.
Poprishchin is alarmed by their disappearance.
As the CAMERA TRACKS AWAY from the bed, Poprishchin is relieved to find "the letters" in his hands.
The CAMERA TRACKS BACK with Poprishchin as he crosses to his desk with the candle, the chair and the "letters".
The CAMERA TRACKS AROUND the desk as Poprishchin sits down and pushes aside last night's uneaten dinner.
Poprishchin stares with nervous anticipation at the pee-stained newspaper.
POPRISHCHIN
Let's see now. The letter looks quite legible, though there is something rather canine about the handwriting. Dear Fidó, I still find it difficult to get accustomed to the commonness of your name. Couldn't they find a better one for you. Fidó, it's so ordinary. But that's beside the point. I'm very glad we had the idea to write to each other...
The spelling is real good. The commas are spread about just right. This is considerably better than the Chief of my Division can do, and that man claims to have gone to some University or other.
...I'm very glad we had the idea to write to each other. I believe sharing feelings and impressions with another is one of the finest fortunes in life...
Hmm. That line is so familiar. She copied that idea straight out of a book translated from the German. Little plagiarist.
I write from experience, although I haven't been much further than the gates of our house. But, then, isn't my life full of fortunes? My young Mistress, whom her Papa calls Sophie, loves me like crazy!
Oh!...Nevermind...Nevermind...Quiet!
Papa often pets me too. I drink tea and coffee with cream. And I must tell you, ma chère, that I'm not in the least bit tempted by the half-gnawed bones which our Rover chews on in the kitchen...
What's all this about!?! I have never read such garbage! As if she didn't have better things to write about.
Poprishchin puts down the letters.
Poprishchin pours himself a shot of vodka from the decanter on the desk.
Poprishchin downs the shot of vodka.
The alcohol does not make him drunk, but rather has a calming effect that allows him to better focus on the task at hand.
Poprishchin picks up the "letters" and continues reading.
POPRISHCHIN
Let's look at the next page and see if we can't find something a bit more sensical.
I would now like to inform you about everything that takes place in our house. Well, there it is. I've already mentioned something about our main master, whom Sophie calls Papa. He is a very strange man.
Let's see what 'Papa' is like.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
Poprishchin's desk.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: The bookcase.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: The Director's portrait.
MADGIE V.O.
Papa is a very strange man. He is usually very silent, but a week ago he would continually say to himself...
DIRECTOR
Will I get it or won't I? Will I get it or won't I? What do you think Madgie?
The CAMERA TILTS DOWN to the DIRECTOR sitting at his desk. He holds out his hands like scales, with a letter in one hand, and nothing in the other.
DIRECTOR
Will I get it or won't I?
The CAMERA TILTS DOWN to the Director's legs under the desk. He is wearing shiny boots.
The CAMERA CROSSES the room, stopping under the desk at the Director's shiny boot. Madgie's reflection is in the boot.
MADGIE V.O.
I could make little sense out of this, so I sniffed his boot and left the room.
SWISH PAN.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
The DIRECTOR, the DIRECTOR'S WIFE, SOPHIE, TEPLOV, FOUR BUREAUCRATIC OFFICIALS and their WIVES make their way to their seats at the dining room table. SERVANTS #1 and #2 stand at their places.
MADGIE V.O.
Then, a week ago, Papa came home overjoyed. All that morning men in uniform kept arriving to congratulate him on something or other.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Everyone sits around a beautiful dining table. Glasses are raised in a toast to the Director.
MADGIE V.O.
At dinner Papa was gayer than I'd ever seen him, laughing and telling anecdotes...
SOUND: Snapping fingers.
DIRECTOR
Come here Madgie!!!
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: The Director snaps his fingers under the table.
The CAMERA (MADGIE) CROSSES to the Director's hand.
DIRECTOR
Look Madgie, what's this?
The Director PICKS UP Madgie (the CAMERA) to his chest. A large medal hangs on a ribbon around his neck. Madgie's reflection is in the medal.
Madgie sniffs the medal.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Everyone at the table is laughing.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: In the reflection, Madgie licks the medal.
MADGIE V.O.
Finally, discreetly, I gave it a lick: slightly salty.
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR.
Poprishchin throws down the letters onto his desk.
POPRISHCHIN
Oh, the mutt really goes too far... Licked his decoration!...Oh how ambitious she is!...I must make a note of that!...They should beat her everyday!
Poprishchin makes a note on a fresh piece of paper.
Poprishchin picks up the letters and continues reading...
POPRISHCHIN
Well, I must be running along. Blah, blah, blah...will write more tomorrow. Blah, blah, blah... Hello I'm back. Today my Mistress, Sophie...Oh?...I wonder what she has to say about Sophie?... Oh, nevermind, nevermind. Continue.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
Sophie's Boudoir looks like a cyclone has hit it, with clothes strewn everywhere.
MADGIE V.O.
Today my Mistress, Sophie, was in such turmoil.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Another detail of the room.
MADGIE V.O.
She was getting ready for a ball...
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Another detail of the room.
MADGIE V.O.
and I was delighted to have a chance of writing you while she was gone.
SOUND: The door opens.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: SOPHIE enters the boudoir. She is exhausted.
MADGIE (the CAMERA) follows Sophie across the room to the dressing mirror. Sophie is peeling off her clothing and letting it drop to the floor. Madgie's reflection is at the base of the mirror.
MADGIE V.O.
My Sophie is always thrilled to go to a ball, although getting ready usually puts her in a very foul mood...
TILT UP to Sophie who is removing another layer of clothing.
MADGIE V.O.
I really can't understand what pleasure there is in going to these balls.
The CAMERA TILTS DOWN with the falling clothing, revealing Madgie again in the base of the mirror.
MADGIE V.O.
Sophie usually returns at six in the morning, and I can tell by her pale and gaunt features that the poor thing hasn't been given a bite to eat.
TILT UP to Sophie who is removing her final layer of clothing.
MADGIE V.O.
I must confess, that would be no life for me.
Just as Sophie's corset is about to drop and reveal her naked body...
SWISH PAN.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
The DIRECTOR'S COOK is putting tasty scraps from the evening's meal into a bowl for Madgie.
MADGIE V.O.
If I didn't get my gravy with grouse, or roast chicken wings, I don't know what would become of me...
Madgie's reflection is in the base of the bowl as the cook lowers it to her.
MADGIE V.O.
A mixture of sauce with porridge is not bad, but you can't do anything with vegetables, especially carrots...
The CAMERA lowers itself into the food.
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR.
POPRISHCHIN puts down the letters.
POPRISHCHIN
The style is exceptionally uneven. Anyone can see it's not written by a man. Well, she starts off all right, but then she keeps lapsing into dogginess.
Poprishchin drinks another shot of vodka.
Poprishchin picks up the "letters" and continues reading.
POPRISHCHIN
Why don't we just look at a whole new letter....Oh, the stupid little mutt left out the date.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
A series of shots, each connected with a SWISH PAN, of the flowers, candies, and other assorted gifts from Sophie's suitors.
MADGIE V.O.
Dear Fidó, How strongly I feel the approach of Spring. My heart beats as if expecting something, and there's a constant noise in my ears. And I must confide in you, ma chère, I have plenty of suitors. Everyday, at my window, I watch them parade around outside.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to MADGIE'S POV: Outside the sitting room window, the MONGREL approaches the house. MADGIE'S reflection is in the window.
The Mongrel stops at the front gate and stares at Madgie in the window.
MADGIE V.O.
Oh you should see how ugly some of them are. There is this one boorish mongrel, frightfully stupid, stupidity is written all over his face. He swaggers down the street and imagines that he is some kind of noble being, and that everyone is bound to admire him. But he's wrong...
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: More flowers.
MADGIE V.O.
I ignore him completely...
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: And yet more flowers.
MADGIE V.O.
...as if I hadn't even seen him.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: TREASURE, the beautiful Russian Borzoi, prances into the courtyard as the Mongrel walks around the corner of the house dejected. Madgie's reflection is in the window.
MADGIE V.O.
But you mustn't think my heart is indifferent to all hopefuls, oh no. You should have seen the dashing young lover who came into our courtyard today.
TREASURE stands tall at the foot of the window.
MADGIE V.O.
His name is Treasure and he has such a fine drawn snout...
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR
Poprishchin throws down the letters.
POPRISHCHIN
Damn. How anyone can fill a letter with such garbage. I'm after people. I want people, not dogs!! I want something to nourish and delight my soul, to stimulate my senses. I want a little something of worth... yet I'm always fed garbage!
Poprishchin pours himself a third shot of vodka. and quickly consumes the drink.
POPRISHCHIN (cont’d) Perhaps another letter will straighten up this mess.
The CAMERA TRACKS with Poprishchin as he gets up from his desk and shuffles the letters in search of something more interesting.
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
A carriage arrives at the front door as the MONGREL turns the corner of the fence and stops outside of the gate to the house. Madgie's reflection is visible in the window.
MADGIE V.O.
I was busy looking out my window...
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: SOPHIE is sitting on a small divan sewing.
MADGIE V.O.
and Sophie was sitting...at the table...sewing something...
SOUND: The door opens.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: The HEAD BUTLER enters the sitting room.
MADGIE V.O.
...when the lackey announced...
HEAD BUTLER
Teplov has arrived your Excellency.
SOPHIE
Ask him in!
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Sophie stands up and crosses the room to Madgie (the CAMERA).
Sophie picks up Madgie (the CAMERA).
SOPHIE
Oh Madgie darling...
Sophie hugs Madgie. Madgie's reflection is in the mirror across the room.
SOPHIE
if only you knew who that is...
Sophie talks directly into the CAMERA.
SOPHIE
He's a Guard's Officer...
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR.
POPRISHCHIN'S eyes widen with concern.
SOPHIE V.O.
His hair is black, and his eyes are as agates.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
TEPLOV enters the sitting room.
Teplov crosses to the mirror, smooths his hair, admires himself, and looks around the room.
SOUND: Madgie growls.
SOUND: The door opens.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Sophie reappears and gaily curtsies.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Teplov clicks his heels.
MADGIE V.O.
Fidó, you cannot imagine the silliness of their conversation. What garbage!
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Sophie talks to Teplov.
SOPHIE
During the Mazurka, I could not believe Alexandra. She was dancing a Cadrille!!!
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Teplov talks to Sophie.
TEPLOV
And didn't Monsieur Bobov look just like a stork in his frilly shirt?
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Sophie.
SOPHIE
Oh yes, and how about Lidina? She thinks her eyes are blue!!! Anyone can see they are green.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Teplov.
MADGIE V.O.
And so on...
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Sophie.
MADGIE V.O.
and so on,
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Teplov.
MADGIE V.O.
and so on. Oh no, I said to myself, this Officer does not compare with my Treasure. Good Heavens what a difference! To start with, the Officer has a flat face, and it is quite bald,
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: TREASURE stands in the courtyard.
MADGIE V.O.
whereas Treasure's face is narrow and fine with a sweet white patch on his brow.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Teplov listens to Sophie.
MADGIE V.O.
Treasure's waist is incomparably slenderer...
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: TREASURE stands in the courtyard.
MADGIE V.O.
...and his eyes, gestures, stance are all vastly superior. Really a tremendous difference.
SWISH PAN.
Cut to: Teplov listens to Sophie.
MADGIE V.O.
I don't know what Sophie can admire in this Officer.
SWISH PAN.
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR.
Poprishchin is puzzled by the letters.
MADGIE V.O.
What on Earth does she see in him?!?
POPRISHCHIN
Yes. Here I tend to agree. Something seems incredibly wrong. It is quite unbelievable that she can be fascinated with this man. Let's see...
The CAMERA TRACKS BACK towards the desk wall and PANS with POPRISHCHIN as he turns towards his desk and looks at the letters.
Madgie recites the next passage...
MADGIE V.O.
If she likes this Officer, I think she'll soon be admiring the civil service clerk who sits in Papa's study. That one, ma chère, is a real scarecrow. Ugly as a tortoise in a sack.
POPRISHCHIN
Huh?... Which one's this?
Poprishchin turns profile revealing MADGIE sitting on the bed behind him. Madgie's words actually come from her mouth as they did in the first entry.
MADGIE
He has a funny name and his hair is like straw...Papa sends him on errands instead of the servants and he is always sharpening quills...
POPRISHCHIN
I think the mangy little mutt is referring to me... Where is my hair like straw?
Cut to: Madgie sitting on the bed talking.
MADGIE
Sophie can not help but...
Cut to: BLUE SCREEN EFFECT: FOREGROUND: MEDIUM CLOSE-UP of Poprishchin reading. BACKGROUND: The front wall of his apartment.
POPRISHCHIN
...laugh when she looks on him.
BACKGROUND: The background wall transforms into the side wall of the Director's study. Poprishchin, filled with shock and overwhelming sadness, looks up from the "letters".
CUT TO:
SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE. FLASHBACK.
Poprishchin recovering Sophie's handkerchief. This time the CAMERA shoots from Poprishchin's desk, putting Sophie's face in plain view.
The CAMERA TRACKS IN on the back of POPRISHCHIN lifting the handkerchief to SOPHIE.
The CAMERA TILTS UP with the handkerchief towards Sophie's face.
Sophie is fighting back her laughter as she takes back her handkerchief.
The CAMERA PANS with Sophie as she leaves the room.
Sophie closes the door behind her.
SOUND: Sophie laughs in the hall.
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR. BLUE SCREEN EFFECT.
FOREGROUND: Poprishchin is filled with sadness. BACKGROUND: The bookcase of the Director's study.
BACKGROUND: The bookcase transforms back into the front wall of Poprishchin's apartment...
Poprishchin's sadness turns to fury.
POPRISHCHIN
(furious)
Why you bitch.
Cut to: Poprishchin confronts MADGIE, who is sitting calmly on the bed.
POPRISHCHIN
You lying little bitch. Bad dog!
The CAMERA TRACKS with Poprishchin as he turns away from Madgie and crosses towards his desk. He rips "the letters" in half.
POPRISHCHIN
You are a bad little lying dog. Bad Dog! Why are you doing this to me?!? And who's behind all this?...
Poprishchin turns around and points accusingly towards his bed.
The CAMERA PANS to the bed, where the CHIEF OF THE DIVISION sits with Madgie on his lap. The Chief and Madgie are exceedingly pleased with how upset they have gotten Poprishchin.
POPRISHCHIN
The Chief of my Division!!! As if I didn't know, oh, your handwriting is all over this thing. For some reason you have sworn an undying hatred towards me, and are trying to harm me, to harm me every minute of the day and night!
Cut to: Poprishchin stands by his desk.
POPRISHCHIN
And so there you are! But why?... Why? I must find out why. I know! Another letter!
The CAMERA TRACKS with Poprishchin as he crosses to the dresser.
POPRISHCHIN
My Dear Fidó, Forgive me for not writing sooner. I have been in raptures. The author who said, 'Love is a second life', was absolutely right.
CUT TO:
MADGIE'S POV. HANDHELD CAMERA. SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
MADGIE (the CAMERA) runs out the back service room door past Poprishchin's legs...
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
Great changes have been taking place in our house. The Officer comes everyday now.
...around the back of the house...
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
Sophie is madly in love with him. Papa is in very high spirits.
...to the side of the house, where GREGOR is happily sweeping the sidewalk and talking to himself.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
Even our Gregor, you know, the sweeper who talks to himself, I even heard him say...
Gregor picks up Madgie (the CAMERA).
As Gregor talks directly into the CAMERA, the voice of Poprishchin comes out of his mouth.
GREGOR (POPRISHCHIN V.O.)
A wedding is close at hand, well, because Papa always wanted to see Sophie married off to either a High Official or Guard's Officer with a brilliant career...
SWISH PAN towards the house.
CUT TO:
SHOT IN COLOR.
POPRISHCHIN is a broken man. Positioned directly at eye level, the CAMERA is no longer looking down from above him.
The CAMERA TRACKS BACK with POPRISHCHIN as he crosses to his bed ripping the "letters" into little pieces.
POPRISHCHIN
Damn it! I can't read this. Everything is either High Officials or Guard's Officers. All the best in the world all fall to either High Officials or Guard's Officers.
Poprishchin sits on his bed.
POPRISHCHIN
You discover for yourself some tiny crumb of happiness, reach out for it and it all gets ripped away by a High Official or Guard's officer..... damn it. I too, would very much like to make myself a High Official, too. And not just to win her hand either. No, I would make myself a High Official just so I could watch everyone jump around for my benefit. Oh, I'd listen for a little while to all the innuendoes and courtly jokes...
Poprishchin jumps up from the bed.
POPRISHCHIN
Then I'd say: You can all go straight to hell!
The CAMERA TILTS DOWN as the shredded "letters" gently fall from Poprishchin's hands.
POPRISHCHIN
Damn it. This has me disturbed... Oh my, I seem to have torn the stupid dog's letters into shreds...Oops.
Poprishchin lifts his feet off the floor and curls up on the bed.
The CAMERA comes to rest on the shreds of paper laying on the floor.
CUT TO: