"Late Love" by Alexander Ostrovsky, summary Automatic translate

This book is a poignant drama about the self-sacrifice of an elderly woman, willing to commit official malfeasance to save her lover from disgrace and debtor’s prison. Written in 1873, the plot centers on the profound moral decline and subsequent moral resurrection of the characters amid the harsh bourgeois life of the nineteenth century.

In 1983, the talented director Leonid Pchyolkin created a television film of the same name, which received widespread acclaim from audiences. Earlier, in 1968, a television production of the classic production by the renowned Moscow Art Academic Theater was released.

Inhabitants of the old house

The action unfolds in the poor wooden house of the widow Felitsata Antonovna Shablova. This simple woman rents out rooms to tenants. The main tenants are the elderly lawyer Gerasim Porfiryevich Margaritov and his daughter Lyudmila. Margaritov works as a private attorney. In the distant past, this respectable old man experienced a difficult personal tragedy. His wife cruelly betrayed him and ran away. A trusted clerk robbed the office. Margaritov lost his entire fortune and good name. Now he leads an extremely secluded life. The lawyer trusts no one. He strictly controls his every move and guards his reputation.

Lyudmila Gerasimovna appears modest, quiet, and deeply respectable. Those around her have long considered her a spinster. She obeys her father unquestioningly. Shablova, the landlady, has two adult sons. The younger son, Dormedont, serves as a clerk for Margaritov. The young man is distinguished by absolute honesty and diligent work ethic. Dormedont is secretly and devotedly in love with Lyudmila. He tries in every way to please his beloved. The eldest son, Nikolai, leads a completely different lifestyle. He constantly disappears into squalid taverns. Nikolai is an uncontrollable gambler. The young man has accumulated a huge debt. Ruthless creditors threaten to imprison him daily.

Lyudmila has long harbored tender feelings for Nikolai. This passion greatly frightens her. She understands the depravity of her chosen one perfectly well. However, a woman’s heart proves far stronger than the voice of reason. Lyudmila is ready to sacrifice her last savings to save Nikolai. She secretly gives him her savings so he can buy off his most persistent creditors.

The Intrigues of the Greedy Widow

Wealthy merchant Onufriy Potapych Dorodnov approaches Margaritov for legal assistance. The pragmatic businessman asks him to collect a very large promissory note from the widow Varvara Kharitonovna Lebedkina. This young woman lives an incredibly luxurious life, constantly spending huge sums on expensive clothes and lavish entertainment. Meanwhile, Lebedkina categorically refuses to pay her old bills. Dorodnov hands Margaritov an authentic promissory note from Lebedkina. The experienced lawyer takes on this lucrative case with the full force of the law.

Nikolai frequently visits Lebedkina’s wealthy home. He is completely captivated by the widow’s beauty and apparent wealth. Lebedkina cynically exploits the young man’s affections. Soon, she accidentally learns of the impending danger posed by the incorruptible Margaritov. The widow clearly understands: the old lawyer will certainly collect the entire debt, down to the last kopeck. This directly threatens her with public disgrace and complete ruin. Lebedkina decides to resort to deception and cunning.

Varvara Kharitonovna hastily invites Nikolai to her home. She bitterly laments her difficult fate as a woman. The treacherous widow deceitfully promises the young man her eternal love and the full repayment of all his gambling debts. In exchange, Lebedkina asks for a criminal favor. Nikolai must steal the very same promissory note from Margaritov’s locked room. The young man hesitates for a long time, clearly understanding the heinousness of such a criminal act. Lebedkina coolly employs all her feminine charms, finally convincing the weak-willed Nikolai to commit the heinous theft.

Betrayal of a father

Nikolai returns home in a very gloomy mood. He meets secretly with Lyudmila. The young man loudly complains of his endless troubles. He even threatens to commit suicide. His creditors are about to send him into a dank debt trap. Nikolai humbly begs Lyudmila to help him out of this grief. He brazenly asks the girl to retrieve a needed document from her father’s desk.

Lyudmila is utterly horrified by this insane request. She has never in her life taken something that didn’t belong to her. She clearly understands: the loss of this valuable document will forever ruin her father’s impeccable reputation. Margaritov will lose the trust of his wealthy clients. He will be left completely penniless, unable to afford a meager living. Lyudmila categorically refuses to commit the crime. Nikolai sharply increases the psychological pressure, angrily accusing her of callousness and utter indifference. The young man shouts that her late love is empty words.

Blind despair completely overwhelms poor Lyudmila. Fear for the life of her beloved Nikolai outweighs her sacred filial duty. Margaritov leaves briefly on important legal business. By a fateful accident, he leaves his keys on his desk. Lyudmila secretly sneaks into her father’s empty room. Her hands are shaking violently. She quickly opens the drawer and takes the ill-fated promissory note. Lyudmila takes out the note and, with tears in her eyes, hands it to Nikolai. The young man hastily leaves his home.

Bitter repentance and insight

Margaritov soon returns home after the trials. He decides to put his papers in order. The old man suddenly discovers the loss of his most important document. Indescribable panic instantly grips the old lawyer. He rushes wildly around the cramped room. Margaritov angrily accuses Dormedont of everything. The honest clerk tearfully swears his absolute innocence. A commotion erupts in the quiet house.

Lyudmila can no longer bear the terrible pangs of her conscience. In despair, she falls to her knees before her grief-stricken father. With bitter sobs, the girl confesses to the crime. Margaritov is completely crushed by this terrible news. The unbearable pain of betrayal pierces his aching heart. His own beloved daughter has dealt him a fatal blow in the back. The old man weeps bitterly in his helplessness.

Meanwhile, a triumphant Nikolai comes to Lebedkina. He holds the coveted stolen document tightly in his hands. The young man decides to test the sincerity of the rich widow’s words. He shows her the document, but doesn’t hand it over directly. Lebedkina instantly changes her gentle tone to icy coldness. She openly mocks Nikolai. The widow brazenly declares that she never loved him. She simply skillfully exploited the naive young man for her own selfish ends. Nikolai is astonished by her boundless cynicism. The thick veil instantly falls from his blinded eyes.

Return of honor

Nikolai finally understands the full baseness and vileness of Lebedkina. He clearly grasps the true magnitude of Lyudmila’s deed. The modest girl sacrificed absolutely everything to save him. Nikolai makes the only right, firm decision. He pockets the document and leaves the calculating widow forever.

The young man quickly returns to his mother’s house. Margaritov sits motionless, deeply saddened. Lyudmila sobs inconsolably in her dark room. Nikolai confidently approaches the old lawyer. He silently places the genuine promissory note on the table in front of Margaritov. For a long time, the old man can’t believe his tear-stained eyes. Exuberant joy quickly replaces black despair. The document is returned perfectly intact.

Nikolai sincerely apologizes to the old man. He fully acknowledges all his past mistakes. The young man firmly promises to change his wayward life. Nikolai approaches the weeping Lyudmila. He tenderly takes her hands and asks her to become his lawful wife. The girl happily accepts. Margaritov solemnly gives the young couple his paternal blessing.

At this joyful moment, Lebedkina confidently enters the house. She is naively confident of her complete victory. The widow hopes to reach an agreement with Margaritov on very favorable terms. The lawyer greets her extremely coldly and formally. He solemnly produces a promissory note. Lebedkina’s face instantly turns pale with horror. She clearly understands that her treacherous game has been lost. Margaritov sternly demands immediate payment of the promissory note along with the accrued interest. The widow is forced to hand over all her savings right then and there. Dorodnov shakes the old lawyer’s hand in a sign of deep respect. Nikolai and Lyudmila joyfully prepare for their upcoming wedding.