hide, believe me!
lf you tan my hide, you won't
turn me away! Go ahead!
You'll bind me to you
with your lash.
And you, Prince, are you
a great hand with the ladies?
No.
l couldn't - because of my
illness. l hardly know any.
lf that's so, you're quite
touched then, for sure.
God has a liking
for people like you.
lt's Petersburg! We've
arrived!
What can l do for you?
l have no special
business.
l just wanted to make your
acquaintance.
l don't want to disturb you, l
don't know the routine here.
l've just arrived
from Switzerland.
l have not much time
for making acquaintances,
but, of course, you have
your purpose in coming,
l felt sure
you would think l had some
purpose in coming here,
but l give my word, it's just
the pleasure of acquaintance.
The pleasure is, of course,
mutual,
but as you are aware,
life's not all pleasure.
And l really
cannot see
what we might have
in common.
-Any possible reason...
- There is no reason.
There is very little in common
between us, for if l am
Prince Muishkin, and your wife
is a member of my house,
that can hardly be
a reason.
And yet, that is my whole
motive for coming.
l have not been in Russia
for 4 years.
l feel l now need
a few good friends.
l have a certain matter, but
l do not know whom to turn to.
l thought of you
when l was passing Berlin:
they're almost relatives,
so l'll begin with them.
Maybe, we'll get on,
if they're kind people.
And l've heard you are
very kind people.
Oh, thank you.
So, you're straight from
the station with your luggage?
l only have
a small bundle,
l'll take a room in some hotel
in the evening.
- Take a room?
-Yes, of course.
- Didn't you intend to stay here?
- lt could have been so,
but only
upon your invitation.
But l wouldn't stay here
even if you invited me.
Not for any particular reason,
it's contrary to my nature.
Well, then it's just as well
that l didn't invite you.
Excuse me, prince, but we
had better make this clear:
we have just agreed,
with regard to our relationship,
there's not much to be said.
- Then, perhaps...
- l'd better get up and go.
Though l know nothing of
local manners,
or how people live
and all that,
yet, l felt quite sure this
visit would end
exactly as it did.
Oh, well, l suppose it's
all right.
Especially since my letter
was not answered.
Forgive me for having
disturbed you.
Prince, wait!
Maybe my wife would like to
look at a man of her own name.
-Wait, if you have the time.
- l have lots of time.
My time is entirely
my own.
Maybe, Elizabeta Prokofievna
remembers l had written to her.
A little while ago your servant
was suspicious that
l had come to beg.
But l came to make friends.
You and l seem so
different,
that there must be very little
in common between us.
But often it just
appears
we have nothing in common,
though actually we do.
Jealousy
is the reason.
People sort each other into
groups by appearances.
But l must be
boring you.
And this worries me.
lf you are really the sort of
man you appear to be,
it will be a pleasure for us
to make your acquaintance.
- How old are you?
- 26.
l thought you were
much younger.
Just two words.
Do you have any means
at all,
or do you intend to undertake
some employment?
Oh, my dear sir!
l esteem and understand
your questions.
l have no means whatever,
and no employment.
But l have a certain matter.
How do you intend
to live now?
l wish to work.
Oh, you're a philosopher!
Have you any talents,
or ability
to bring in money and bread?
Excuse me again.
Oh, don't apologize!
No, l don't think l have any
talent or abilities.
On the contrary,
l have always been an invalid.
Frequent fits have made me
almost an idiot.
l was unable to learn much,
as for bread...
We have no one in Russia.
Absolutely no one.
Yes, at present, no one,
but l have hope.
And l received a letter...
- Can you write correctly?
- Oh, yes, l can.
-And your