The Scarlet Empress (1934) - full transcript

How often do I have to tell you

that Sophia Frederica
is no longer to play with toys?

She's almost seven now.
Don't smoke in here. The child's sick.

I work and I scheme day and night to arrange
an advantageous marriage someday,

and you undo everything.

How am I to make it clear to you that
Sophia might one day become a queen?

I don't want to be a queen, Mother.
I want to be a toe dancer.

Be quiet, Sophia. You're going to marry a king
if I have anything to do with it.

Stick out your tongue, Your Highness,
and say “ahh.”

Ahh.

Not as bad as I thought.



We'll build her a nice harness,
and she'll have to wear it for about a year.

Put those toys away.
I don't want to see them again.

And you'll grow up to be
a tall and beautiful woman someday.

Now I must be off on one of my operations.

Don't let them frighten you, darling.

“A nice harness.”
What is he, a horse doctor?

You flatter him. Our learned medico is going
to perform one of his operations with an ax.

-He's the public hangman.
-Hangman?

What's a hangman?
Can I become a hangman someday?

Your Highness, a hangman is an executioner,
the man who takes heads off skillfully.

Sometimes that curious profession
becomes the sport of tyrants.

As a matter of fact, I was about to read to you
of Peter the Great and Ivan the Terrible,

and other Russian tsars and tsarinas
who were hangmen.

[no audible dialogue]



[no audio, audible dialogue]

[bell tolling]

[bell resonating]

Stop walking, August. You make me nervous.

[woman] Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, a letter from the king.

Your father wishes to see you at once.

Sit down, my child.

We have been honored
with a communication from His Majesty

which concerns you principally.

“We, by divine grace,
Frederick, King of Prussia,

have, after a series of negotiations,

decided to honor your family

by selecting your daughter,
Sophia Frederica,

to forthwith set out for Russia

and there to become the bride
of His Serene Highness, Peter Fyodorovich,

grandson of Peter the Great,
nephew of Her Imperial Majesty,

and heir presumptive to the throne.

Within the week, an emissary will arrive

to escort your daughter and her mother,
Princess Johanna Elizabeth,

to the court at Moscow.

Please inform her
that she is to follow dutifully

the advice of Her Majesty's ambassador

and extend to her,
as well as to your entire family,

my fond greetings and affections.

Fredericus Rex.”

Grand duchess of Russia.

Not bad for this family.

I wonder what he looks like.

That unimportant detail can be settled
when the Russian ambassador gets here.

Come, August.
We shall reply to the king at once.

One must strike while the iron's hot.
You're coming with me.

This is the countess Cecilia,
a cousin on my mother's side.

And this, her sister, Maria.

And this -

Your Highness may now come down.

This is Count Alexei,
field marshal of the Russian army,

grand master of the hunt,

lord of the chamber
and ambassador extraordinary

from Her Divine Majesty,
Elizabeth of Russia.

This is my daughter Sophia.

Although for a long time we've heard a great deal
about your beauty, Your Highness,

I must confess, I was not quite prepared
to see such a vision of loveliness.

Her Majesty instructed me to present
a few gifts as evidence of her graciousness.

Come here.

This pipe is for you, Prince August.

These sables are to keep your shoulders warm.

These gloves are to keep your hands warm.

This robe is to keep your feet warm.

These hot-water bottles,

to keep Mother warm.

Is it then still so cold in Russia,
Your Excellency?

Indeed, Your Highness,
the rivers are still frozen,

and will be until some time
after we've arrived.

Her Majesty also asked me to give you
this token of her esteem.

Convey to her my profoundest thanks.

Isn't Her Imperial Majesty beautiful.
How long will the journey take?

If weather permits,
we should reach Moscow in seven weeks,

where Her Majesty
is impatiently awaiting us.

And when does Your Excellency
require that the journey be begun?

I should like to start
the day after tomorrow,

unless it is the desire
of this charming young lady

to leave at once
to meet her anxious bridegroom.

-Did you bring me a portrait of the grand duke?
-I'm sorry, I did not.

-Would you like him to be handsome?
-Isn't he?

Would you like him to be better-looking
than all other men, and tall, and gracious?

-Yes, I think I would.
-Well, he is all that and more.

He's the handsomest man in the Russian court,
tall and formed like a Greek god,

a model in fashion and deportment
which all of us strive to follow.

-Are you eager to see him?
-Yes.

His eyes are like the blue sky,

his hair the color of ebony.

He is stronger than a team of oxen,

and sleepless because of his desire
to receive you in his arms.

And he can also read and write.

So can my daughter. She can also cook and sew
and make her own bed if she has to.

-Can't you, Sophia?
-But I don't like to make my own bed, Mother.

-Don't speak unless you're questioned.
-You did question me, Mother.

Say good night, my child,
and go back to your room and go to sleep.

Good night, Father.

Good night, Sophia.

-Good night, Your Excellency.
-Good night, my little princess.

-Good night, Mother.
-Good night.

-Good night, Auntie.
-Good night.

-Good night.
-Good night.

-Good night.
-Good night.

-Good night.
-Good night.

Good night.

Well, this is unexpected.

Your daughter is extremely charming

and will be by far the most beautiful woman
at Her Majesty's court.

I'd be grateful, Your Excellency,
if you were not to turn her head.

She's been brought up carefully
and is unspoilt,

and I've also taught her not to flirt.

You're going on a far journey, Sophia,
and I may never see you again.

I want you to remember what I've taught you.

Always to be honest and truthful,

to be a faithful wife
and a loyal subject of your new country.

Be kind to those who are in your service

and obedient to your husband
and your superiors,

and strive at all times to be worthy
of your glorious destiny.

[no audible dialogue]

Another day like this, and I'll fall apart.

When I return, I'll complain to the king
about the state of his roads.

Yes, the roads are pretty bad, aren't they?

When we reach the border, there will
be snow and we shall change to sleds.

Your rooms are ready, Your Royal Highness.
Can I show them to you?

Yes, you may. I'm prepared for the worst.

Is the journey proving too much for you too?

Oh, no. It could go on forever,
if Mother didn't mind.

Be careful with that knife.
You'll cut your beautiful hand.

Your hand is beautiful, isn't it?

-Why did you do that?
-Because I've fallen in love with you.

And now you may punish me for my effrontery.

I deserve punishment far more than you do.

We must never do this again.
It's disloyal to my future husband.

Disloyal? It's treason,
and I must be careful in the future.

But you must help me by not exciting me
with your beautiful eyes.

I told you not to look at me.

What are you two doing down there?
Don't answer me. I don't want to know.

Sophia, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
You will instantly follow me to our rooms.

Incidentally, our rooms are beneath
all contempt, Your Excellency.

I want you to know that the stables
are probably better

than the quarters
that you've assigned to us.

I'm sorry, Your Highness.
The horses are tired.

But if you prefer the stables, I can arrange
to have the horses quartered in your bedroom.

Barbarian!

You're going to sleep in my room tonight.

[bugle call]

It is cold. At least you have something
to warm you when you get to Moscow.

That is, if your husband
isn't completely made of ice.

A basket of fruit
with Her Majesty's compliments,

and these flowers from His Imperial Highness,
the grand duke,

who instructed me to ride day and night
for a week to be here in time.

[bells tolling]

[cheering]

[tolling]

[tolling]

[bells tolling]

[shouting,cheering]

Welcome home, Your Excellency.
We've missed you.

So, this is Little Sophie. Sophia Frederica.

Hardly a name for a future empress.
You don't like your name, do you?

I do, Your Imperial Majesty.

You will be called Catherine Alexina,
a good Russian name.

We've arranged a special ceremony next week
to receive you into our church.

-Haven't we, Simeon?
-Yes, little mother, we've arranged a ceremony.

Come here.

So, this is the mother.
You've raised a pretty child.

Your Imperial Majesty,
I've come to lay at your feet

feelings of the deepest gratitude

for the benefactions which your bounty
has heaped upon my house,

and of which many instances are given me
at every step I take into Your Majesty's realms.

[Elizabeth] Tush, tush! A pretty speech.

What I have done is nothing
in comparison with what I shall do.

My own blood is no more dear to me
than yours.

-[whispering] Is that the grand duke?
-Shh.

This is the order of Saint Catherine.

May you both wear it in good health.
Be careful it doesn't scratch you.

Don't stand around here doing nothing.
Pin this on Catherine. Get up.

-What do you think of Catherine?
-I can only admire your judgment, Your Majesty.

That's the chancellor.

Steals more money from me in a week
than I can collect in taxes in a year.

Doctor, come here.

What do you think of my taste in women, Doctor?
Looks healthy, doesn't she?

Just what we need to breed sons for Russia.

With your permission, Your Highness.

-How was the journey? Comfortable?
-Yes, Your Majesty.

Are you happy to be here?

Yes, Your Majesty.

-Are you going to love your new country?
-Yes, Your Majesty.

-Do you promise to be a loyal subject?
-Yes, Your Majesty.

Don't make too many new friends,
and no intrigue and gossip.

I have my hands full now.

Perfect, Your Imperial Majesty.
She will give us no trouble.

Your Highness.

Someday I'll have every doctor
thrown out of the country.

And now, Catherine, before you go to your rooms,
is there any wish I can grant you?

I would like to see the grand duke.

His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Peter.

That's a fine way to receive your bride.
I suppose you had more important things to do.

I told you to be here on time.
Now go on. Kiss each other.

Now remember, Catherine,
the first child must be a boy.

That's why we had you brought here -
to provide Russia with an heir to the throne.

A fine, bouncing, healthy heir.

You understand me, Catherine?

[Alexei] These are your ladies-in-waiting.

They represent illustrious houses
of our most important domains.

Step forward, Natasha.

She is the daughter of Prince Dolgoruki.
Natacha, come here.

This is your mistress of the wardrobe.
She has charge of the beds and of the laces.

I must show her my new invention.

[whispering] I'm in a hurry.
I must witness an execution.

[music box tinkling]

I suggest that you wait in the next room.

Perhaps I shouldn't have lied to you.

Forgive me, won't you?

His Imperial Highness
sent me for his soldiers.

I hope I haven't disturbed you.

That's Countess Varonsoff.

She's always picking up
the grand duke's soldiers,

which I'm beginning to suspect
he leaves intentionally.

Don't bother. Don't bother.
Go on with your work.

Doesn't Sophia -
I mean, Catherine - look beautiful?

I always forget the new name.

And just see what's being done to her hair.

That's exactly what I'm looking at.

How's she going to wear the headdress?
Where is the headdress? Where is the headdress?

Where is the headdress?

We must make you very beautiful,
Catherine, very, very beautiful,

so that my nephew
will fall in love with you.

I expect you two to behave like lovebirds
so that Russia will have an heir to the throne.

And remember, Catherine,
I want a boy, not a girl.

Nothing less than a boy will do.

We don't want any more women
on the throne.

But, Your Imperial Majesty,

what would we have done
if you had been born a boy?

I would have had less trouble in Russia
if I'd been born a man instead of woman.

We women are too much creatures
of the heart. Aren't we, Catherine?

Yes, Your Majesty.

[choir singing]

[choir continues singing]

[choir] ♪ Amen ♪

[choir continues singing]

[bell tolls]

[choir continues singing]

[choir continues singing]

[choir continues singing]

[choir] ♪ Amen ♪

[choir continues singing]

[singing concludes]

[man] “Grant them of the fruit
of their bodies fair children,

concord of soul and body.

Exalt them like the cedars of Lebanon.

Like a luxuriant vine, give them seed in number
like full ears of grain

that they may abound in every work
that is good and acceptable unto thee.

And let them behold their children's children,
like a newly planted olive orchard,

round about their table that,
obtaining favor in thy sight,

they may shine like the stars of heaven.”

Blessed be this bed.

[violin playing]

[violin stops playing]

Your Imperial Majesty,

before the bridal pair retire,
I wish to propose a toast

to Her Imperial Highness,
the Grand Duchess Catherine.

May our new bride from far away
be forever happy

and learn to know the love we have
in our Russian hearts for her

and the hope this vast,
imperishable empire has

for an heir to the throne.

You have made me
very happy today, Catherine,

and I hope you will continue
to make me happy.

Now I'm going to bed. I'm very tired.

And I know that most of you...

are -

are also very tired.

[chiming]

May I inquire how Her Imperial Highness
deigns to feel this morning?

[panting] Her Highness
feels as well as can be expected...

after her romantic marriage.

And how is His Excellency?

His Excellency is very distressed

because you've been
avoiding him for an eternity.

[sighs]

-I haven't been avoiding you.
-You have.

I've tried again and again to see you alone
and you've made it impossible.

If you must know,

I haven't had enough time
to quite recover from the shock

of finding my husband a trifle different

than you described him.

I had a duty to my country
and a loyalty to my sovereign.

Had I described the grand duke...

correctly,

you might not have come here.

I would have obeyed my mother
even if you had told the truth.

How could I have known
of such a degree of filial respect?

Anyway, I would have taken no chances,

because from the moment I saw you,
I wanted you to come to Russia.

Please, be careful.
My husband will be told.

Your husband doesn't mean a thing to you.

He does. I'll always be faithful to him.

Don't be absurd. Those ideas are old-fashioned.
This is the 18th century.

But I'm not a Russian. I'm going now.

I told you I wanted to see you alone,
and I won't wait any longer.

I'll be at the stables tomorrow morning
when you go for your ride.

Maybe I won't care to ride anymore.

In any event, I'll be there,
and you'd better be there too.

[whispering] I will not. And furthermore,
I'm going to tell my mother all about you.

One moment more, Your Imperial Highness.

On the reverse side of this miniature
is a diamond. Don't lose the diamond.

What are you doing here,
sneaking around like a ghost?

-I hate my wife.
-You hate your wife?

You've only been married for a week. Why?

You'll make a fine emperor someday,
you idiot.

You don't even know that you can't
force a woman to be sweet to you.

She's only a child. Be patient with her.

You know our people
are waiting for you to raise a family.

-They don't care whether you like her or not.
-I don't want her.

I picked her for your wife, and your wife
she will remain as long as I live.

Get that into your skull.
You're man enough to manage your own affairs.

I don't want to hear any more about it.
Do you understand me?

Her Majesty is waiting for you
in the council chamber.

-War with Finland?
-Yes, Your Excellency.

-How is Her Majesty?
-The last few days she's turned sour.

Like milk that's been standing too long.

Your Highness is so happy this morning.
You can't be going to see your husband.

Dear me, my husband.
I'd forgotten I have a husband.

No, I'm not going to see my husband.

If Your Highness were not so new to our court,
I'd suspect you were going to see your lover.

Lover? And what may a lover be?

A lover's a man, not a husband, who loves you
with all his heart and whom you love in return.

But, Marie, that's wicked.

-Don't tell me that you have a lover.
-I wish I had.

Here, everyone has a lover.
Everyone but me.

Oh, Marie, not everyone.
Her Exalted Majesty can't possibly have a lover.

What about the young man
who's always with Her Majesty?

Why do you suppose she leans on him so heavily?
Because she's weak in the knees?

[whispering] Oh, how shocking.
If anyone should hear us! Go on, get my dress.

Your Highness won't tell anyone.
The empress is an old devil when she's angry.

Of course I won't tell anyone.
Nor do I believe such nonsense.

And neither have I a lover. I'm happy
because I'm going to see my mother.

-Your mother? I thought that you knew.
-Knew what?

Your mother left for Germany.
Her carriage set out at midnight.

-But that's impossible. You must be joking.
-I'm not joking.

Her Majesty ordered her to return immediately.

But she didn't say good-bye to me.

That's not possible.

Her Majesty's in council.
No one's allowed to enter.

-[stomps foot]
-No order in this palace is intended for me.

Why did you send my mother away?
What wrong had she done?

I don't remember sending for you.

I want to know why
you sent my mother away.

[Elizabeth] You presume to question me?

Exactly who do you think you are,

bursting into a conference
as though the palace were on fire?

So you want to know why
I sent your mother away.

Well, I'll tell you why.

I sent your mother away because
she didn't bring you up properly.

I was told that you were
an obedient and respectful child.

Well, you're nothing of the sort!

Why do you think I had you brought from Germany?
To give you these pearls?

Or to make you a grand duchess
of the Holy Russian Empire?

I had you brought here to be an obedient wife

and to supply my country
with a much-needed heir to the throne.

[clanging]

Take Her Imperial Highness,
the grand duchess,

and turn her over
to my mistress of the robes

with the instructions that from this minute on
she's to be attached to my personal staff

where I can keep her under my eye,

where I can educate her and teach her
what it means to be a Russian wife

and how to accept the embraces of a husband
like a Russian wife!

Now, get out, both of you.
I have a war on my hands.

Looking for someone?

Oh, you frightened me.

[whispering] I've only a minute. I ran away.

I came down to tell you not to wait.

I must go now.

Is that all you came to tell me?

What else is there to tell?

If you come closer, I'll scream.

It will be easier for you to scream
without a straw in your mouth.

[whinnies]

Get up! Get up!

Why are there six places here tonight?
What's the occasion?

You asked me this morning
to arrange a dinner

for the French and Austrian ambassadors
and their wives.

Send them home
and tell them to come for breakfast.

I never did like these diplomatic functions.
They lead to nothing.

I quite agree, Your Imperial Majesty.

[chair scraping floor]

Don't any of you think I'm going to eat
with a lot of dried-up mummies every night.

Boris, sit down there.

Alexander, sit over there.

You, sit there.

Michael!

-Your Majesty.
-Catherine.

Take his toys.

Michael, sit there. Paul!

-Your Majesty.
-Oh, go on. Sit down.

Now, the rest of you get out.
Get out! Get out!

The pig, Your Majesty.

Put it down
and don't make so much fuss about it.

The way you handle that pig,
you'd think it was the only one in Russia.

-The wine, Your Majesty.
-Fill up the glasses and get out.

What are you pouting for?
You're not jealous of Paul, are you?

He isn't jealous of you, is he?

You look exhausted, Paul.
What's the matter?

I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'm tired.
My wife gave birth to a child yesterday.

-Boy or girl?
-A boy, beloved empress.

What the wife of a guard can do should
certainly be easy for a grand duchess.

Remind me to give you
a purse of gold tomorrow.

Those of you who have boys in your families,
raise your hand.

Exactly what I thought!

A few more like you, and Russia
need never worry about her enemies.

What's this, Alexei?
Sending notes to the grand duchess?

Do you want me to send you into exile?

Or shall I tell the grand duchess
that you're a notorious heartbreaker

and have broken every woman's heart
in this court, including mine?

You're very flattering tonight,
Your Imperial Majesty,

but the note contains nothing of importance.

Then suppose you read it.

“We are all very much disturbed
over your conduct

and wish you would change your behavior
so that Her Gracious Majesty might forgive you.”

Who else can read here?

You read it, Catherine.

I know you can read because my reports say

you foolishly spend your time in bed
reading books!

“We are all very much upset at, uh —

at—

and hope you will behave better,

so that you may be forgiven
by the empress.”

Send for the chancellor!

-Your Imperial Majesty?
-Read this for me.

“You must help me to see you alone again.

You are being watched so closely

that all my efforts to meet you
for a few precious seconds are in vain.”

So, you're up to your old tricks again.

And right under my nose too.
Well, forget about her.

She's reserved for my nephew
and being taught how to earn his love first

before wasting her favors on others.

Go back to your dinner. It's the first time
you've been of use to me in a year.

And as for you, look after my friends
and see that they're fed well.

[shouts] Did you hear what I said?

[Elizabeth] Sit down, you fools,
or I'll send you to Siberia.

She may be a grand duchess
to the rest of the world,

but in here she's being taught
how to be a Russian wife!

Catherine, where are you?
Take off my boots!

Go outside and send the others away.
Everybody!

I want to be alone tonight.

Her Majesty wishes to be alone tonight.

You wouldn't think that once
I had skin like velvet.

Empress! Bah! I haven't even the power
to iron out a single wrinkle.

What are you looking at?

That must be Peter.

Go see if it is, and tell him
to come here at once.

Your Imperial Highness,
Her Majesty wishes to see you at once.

What the devil do you mean,
poking holes in my bedroom?

I... I wanted to watch my wife.

Watching your wife won't give you
an heir to the throne.

The next time I catch you providing
my rooms with needless ventilation,

I'll have you flogged.

I'll catch my death of a draft someday!

Go back to your rooms
and wait for your wife. Go on!

This is all your fault.

I had hoped by bringing you to Russia
to make a man of that half-wit!

I'm sorry to intrude, Your Imperial Majesty,

but I think the grand duke dropped
one of his soldiers in here.

Thank you. Good night.

Wait a minute. Come here.

How long have you been at this court
picking up soldiers?

Two years and a half, Your Imperial Majesty.

I fail to recall your exact duties here,
Countess Elizabeth.

I'm in charge of the entertainment
for His Imperial Highness, the grand duke.

And exactly how far is it to your home, Lizzie?

My ancestral home
is in the province of Astrakhan,

about two weeks' journey from Moscow.

Not as far as I had hoped.

I think His Imperial Highness
has been entertained long enough.

Do you understand me? I don't want
to see you around here again. Now get out.

She won't snoop around here anymore.

I should have thrown her out
before I had you brought here.

Come here, Catherine. Sit down.

Haven't you given me trouble enough?

Are you going to behave like an obedient wife,

or must I continue to treat you
like a stubborn child?

I don't care what you do with me.

You might change your mind about that.

You're in love with His Excellency,
Count Alexei, aren't you?

No, Your Majesty, I'm not.

I'm not.

It's a good thing you're not.
I wouldn't advise you to become my rival.

Rival? What does Your Majesty mean?

You will find out soon enough.
In the meantime, you can blow out the candles.

Before you retire,
you can be of one more service.

[clock chiming]

Behind my mirror, a concealed passage

will lead you down a flight of stairs
to another door.

Behind that door you will find someone
waiting to come up.

I don't want him to see you, so be careful.

[chiming continues]

Good night, Your Majesty.

Good night, Catherine.

And you don't need to report for duty
until late tomorrow.

Halt! Who goes there?

-Nobody.
-Just a minute, my little hen.

That's not the password for tonight.
You'd better think up another one.

Come along to the guardhouse,
and we'll find out who you are.

You're entirely too good-looking
to be running around like this.

What are you hiding back there?

Take your hands off me, you insolent fool!

I'm Catherine, Grand Duchess of Russia.

Come, now, Don't take advantage of me.
This is my first night on duty.

The grand duchess isn't permitted out at night.
Tell me who you are.

I told you who I am.

Oh, come now. Stop joking.

If you're the grand duchess,
then I am the grand duke.

I wish you were!

If I were the grand duke
and you were the grand duchess,

I wouldn't let you prowl through the night
like this, like a pretty little kitten.

Suppose I didn't want to tell you who I really am.
What would happen?

On a night like this anything might happen,

if I'm fortunate.

Well, Lieutenant, you are fortunate.

Very fortunate.

[tolling]

Twenty! Twenty-one!

IFS a boy!

[crowd cheering, shouting]

[excited chattering]

Have you noticed, Your Majesty,

how the imperial duckling
resembles his father?

[giggling, laughing]

Hush, hush, enough of this.

Now, you keep an eye on him.

I don't want anyone to go near him
unless I know about it, not even his mother.

I had enough trouble getting him.

If he catches cold or sniffles just once,
I'll have you hung by the ears!

If he coughs, I'll have you cut in half!

And if anyone touches him, I'll have you shot!

Your Imperial Majesty,
I beg of you not to become excited.

You've been ill for weeks.
This turmoil will weaken you.

Don't any of you think I'll give you
the pleasure of seeing me die.

I'll outlive all of you,
you sinister buzzards.

-All of you!
-[people murmuring]

-We've been glad with rejoicing.
-Your Imperial Highness!

I suppose you, too,
want to congratulate me

as the father of the heir
to the throne of Russia.

That was my intention,
Your Imperial Highness.

And I bring you
the felicitations of my nation

and my own personal congratulations
on so glorious an event.

Yes, I know.
Tell me about it some other time.

I want to be alone, do you hear?
Get out, all of you!

I'm crammed up to my neck
with congratulations!

Get out! And if you must congratulate
someone, congratulate my wife!

[knocking]

[bells tolling]

[people cheering, shouting, faint]

[whispering]
May I speak with Her Imperial Highness?

Shh.

[bells continue tolling, louder]

The empress joins her people
in congratulating Your Imperial Highness

on the birth of a male heir
to the throne of Russia.

We all hope that you will recover quickly
so that you may wear this jewel,

which Her Majesty
is pleased to present to you

as a sign of her most extraordinary joy
and satisfaction.

Sit down, ladies. Sit down.

Your Excellency, what can I do for you?

Will you please ask Her Imperial Highness
once more if she will grant me an audience?

I'm sorry, Your Excellency.

We have orders from Her Imperial Highness
not even to mention your name to her.

Then perhaps you will convey
to Her Imperial Highness

that I've been waiting for some time now
to congratulate her

on the great historic event

of providing our country
with a much-needed heir to the throne.

I'm certain that history was far from
her mind at the time, Your Excellency.

[all laughing]

Her Majesty is very ill,
and her days are numbered.

Soon she will be no more, poor soul,

and another maniac will become our emperor.

It will be a bad day for Russia,

and for me if I live that long.

Why are you telling this to me?

I suppose you know that the grand duke
isn't exactly pleased

with the present state of affairs.

State of affairs? What affairs?

I haven't had an affair for some time.

I know that the grand duke plans
to remove you from court...

or worse, as soon as he is in power.

You need have no fear for me.

Now that I've learned how Russia
expects me to behave, I like it here.

And I intend to stay,
grand duke or no grand duke.

We all hope you will stay,

and I for one, at the risk of my neck,
would like to help you.

How could you be of help?

I control enough of the political machine
to carry some weight in a crisis.

I have no wish to share
in any petty conspiracy.

Should it become unavoidable,
I think I have weapons

that are far more powerful
than any political machine.

I'm afraid you don't know Russians,
my child.

That's possible, Father,
but I'm taking lessons as fast as I can.

[drum cadence]

[ladies shrieking]

Right here, gentlemen.

What a lovely target.

You're looking quite well, Catherine,

since you provided me
with an unexpected addition...

to the family.

Thank you, Peter.
It's nice to see you again.

Come to think of it,
I'd like you to meet someone

who's come for an extended visit.

What are you doing here?
Back to the barracks!

Get out!

Come along, Catherine.

What do you think of this decapitation?

It would be more amusing if it were real.
Where's your visitor?

Oh, it's Lizzie.
Is she in charge of your entertainment again?

What will Her Majesty say?

Her Majesty doesn't know anything about it,
and I wouldn't advise you to tell her.

I wouldn't dream
of telling the empress anything.

She has her own system of spies.

Besides, not for the world
would I interfere with your pleasures,

as long as you don't interfere with mine.

How is Astrakhan, Lizzie?
Or was it Afghanistan?

If you're wise, you'll find out for yourself
before it's too late.

There's some very comfortable convents
along the way,

and all you have to do to gain admission
is shave your head.

It's good for the scalp anyway.

Entirely too many men love my hair.

And I have no intention
of changing my residence.

Anyway, this country will soon need
a new empress.

You may as well know that Peter's
going to marry me when the old bat dies

and as soon as he gets rid of
his present wife!

[music box tinkling]

[music box stops]

[no audible dialogue]

[murmuring prayers]

[chanting]

[no audible dialogue]

[bells tolling]

There you are, you old crow.
Dead as a doornail at last.

What have you got to say about it?
Open your mouth if you can.

In another week, it'll be full of ice.

In another month,
not a soul will mourn for you.

In another year, you'll be forgotten.

Where is all your power?

It's mine now.

Do you hear me?

Take it away from me if you can.
It's my turn now.

[gunshots]

[shouting, screaming]

[soldiers shouting]

[drumroll]

[bugle call]

-Who is this officer?
-Orlov, Your Majesty.

Captain in charge of the barracks.

Your Majesty, your visit here
is the greatest honor in my life.

I've heard a good deal about you, Captain...

from the ladies.

I didn't expect to see you here,
Your Excellency.

Why not, Your Majesty?
This is my pet regiment.

You look ravishing.

Now, there's another good-looking soldier.

Come here, Lieutenant. What's your name?

Dmitri, Your Majesty.

And your duties, Dmitri?

In charge of the night watch, Your Majesty.

It must be cold at night... sometimes.

Sometimes, Your Majesty.

Anyway, I'm certain
you're very efficient, Lieutenant.

Is he, Captain?
Tell me something about him.

He's very efficient, Your Majesty.

He came to join our regiment about a year ago
from the Swedish front,

where he fought bravely
for about two years.

He's also distinguished himself
by exemplary bravery on the Turkish border.

This should have been
brought to our attention before.

I can't understand why such a brave man
hasn't been decorated.

His Excellency doesn't mind?

Not if Her Majesty will tell me
why she continues to avoid me.

Her Majesty will tell you tonight,

if you will call on her.

With pleasure, Your Majesty.

For bravery in action.

See that you do justice to it
in future emergencies.

And now, Captain,
tell me something about yourself.

Your Majesty, I'm distressed at my neglect
at not having rewarded Lieutenant Dmitri before.

With your permission, Your Majesty.

Rich too, hmm?

Her Majesty will see you now,
Your Excellency.

At last, Your Majesty,

I've achieved the enviable privilege
of entering these rooms.

I seem to have a faint recollection
that you had that privilege before.

Not since the days of Her Late Majesty,

whom I often visited
in the capacity of a trusted adviser.

Tell the others I've retired.

Send them away.

And come back in here.

Her Majesty wishes to be alone tonight.

You may retire.

Tell me, Alexei,

are you still fond of me?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. I love you.

But I'm completely bewildered
by your attitude towards me.

However, I've become accustomed to regard you
as one of those extraordinary women

who create their own laws and logic.

And now I'm concerned only with your safety.

Is it my safety that concerns you,

or the safety of an empress?

I would give my life, Your Imperial Majesty,

if the woman I adore
were not so far removed from me in station.

The woman you adore
is quite close to you, isn't she?

Catherine, I love you, worship you.

I asked you here tonight because
I want you to do something for me.

I can trust you, can't I?
We'll always be friends, won't we?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.
What is it you require?

Blow out the candles.

Behind the mirror, as you know,
there's a flight of stairs.

Down below, someone is waiting to come up.

Will His Excellency be kind enough
to open the door for him carefully

so that he can sneak in?

Her Imperial Majesty
is waiting for you, Captain.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Will you deliver a message for me, Captain?

I would be very glad to, sir.

Tell Her Imperial Majesty
that I quite understand now.

No, never mind.

Don't tell her anything. She'll know.

Yes, sir.

Something for the poor, Your Majesty?

For the poor, Captain?

Excellency?

Quite a haul tonight, Father.

Chancellor?

Elizabeth?

Your Imperial Majesty,
something for the poor?

That was for me.
Now what have you got for the poor?

There are no poor in Russia! Get out!

I've had enough of this sanctimonious talk.

Let us drink.

Why doesn't he take up
his collections in church?

To the most charming woman in my empire,

my friend, the countess Elizabeth.

Go ask Her Majesty, my wife,
why she doesn't join our toast.

His Majesty, the emperor of Russia,
wishes me to ask

why Her Majesty refuses to join the toast.

Tell His Majesty that my thirst
is not as great as his tonight.

[adjutant clicks heels]

Her Majesty wishes me to convey to His Majesty
that her thirst is not as great as his tonight.

Go tell my wife she's a fool.

His Majesty, the emperor of Russia,
wishes me to inform Her Majesty

that she is a fool.

What is your rank, Orlov?

Captain, Your Majesty.

Well, you're nothing now.

Now get out, both of you, and stay out!

Sit down.

My wife is not to leave the palace.
She's under arrest until further orders.

Am I the emperor of Russia, or am I not?

We'll issue a proclamation that she died...

and ask the people to pray for her.

[clock chiming]

Hurry, Your Majesty. Everything is ready.

What are you doing here?

Halt!

Exit Peter III.

Enter Catherine II.

[fanfare]

We soldiers in the service
of the Holy Russian Empire

do hereby solemnly swear

to acknowledge
and to defend with our lives

the authority of Catherine, our empress,

and to destroy her enemies!

[soldiers] Hooray!

Your Imperial Majesty,
we're sorry to trouble you,

but Her Majesty isn't in here, is she?

She's no longer in her rooms.

You infernal blockhead! This is the last place
in the world she would come to.

Double the guard! Surround the palace!

Find her and bring her here to me!

[fanfare]

God grant you victory, Catherine.

All Russia is waiting
for the sound of our bell.

[bell tolling]

[bells continue tolling]

Why are those bells ringing?

Why are those bells ringing?

I don't know, Peter.

How dare you address me like that!
Who are you?

My name is Orlov,
and I'm on duty as guard.

I'll have your head for this insolence!
You're addressing the emperor!

There is no emperor.

There is only an empress.

[bells continue tolling]

[soldiers shout]

[bells continue tolling]