Anna is asked to Moscow by her brother Stiva Oblonsky to mediate his quarrel with his wife Dolly. Upon her arrival, her travelling companion, countess Vronskaya, introduces her to her son Alexej Vronsky, a dashing military man. Dolly's sister, 18-year-old princess Kitty invites Anna to the ball at her family's house where she expects Vronsky to propose to her.