The distrustful peasants of Boguchárovo refuse Mary’s gift of grain.
Mary tearfully recalls her father’s last days.
The peasants tell Mary she cannot leave Boguchárovo, but Nicholas happens to arrive and offers to escort her away.
An angry Nicholas intimidates the peasants into compliance. Nicholas and Mary are attracted to one another, but do not express it.
Prince Andrew is assigned to Kutúzov’s headquarters, where he happens to run into Denísov.
Andrew meets with Kutúzov, and tells him he prefers to remain with his regiment rather than joining the staff.
Frivolous talk, joking and gossip go on as ever in Moscow’s salons, despite the fact that the city is now in great danger.
Deteriorating conditions in Moscow cause Pierre to finally make up his mind to join the army.
Neither the French nor the Russians had good a priori reasons to battle at Shevárdino or Borodinó.
Pierre heads out to find the army in order to join in a battle.