A Royal Scandal Page #3

And I need you.

Your Majesty can easily find someone

as capable as I am.

You're lying again, Nicolai.

It would be very difficult to find anyone

as clever as you.

And he might steal even more.

But please, Nicolai, take it easy.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

With Your Majesty's guidance,

our government has been very successful.

Otherwise, why would a powerful country

like France try to make an alliance with us?

I'm not so sure I want to make an alliance. I...

Look! What's that man doing on the roof?

- Man on the roof? Where?

- On the roof!

On the roof?

I wish I could see that far. Probably a workman.

- Why is he wearing a uniform?

- Is he?

- Very strange, isn't it?

- Well, not to me.

Your Majesty,

people standing on the roof don't worry me,

it's people in cellars with candles

stuck in vodka bottles that I'm concerned about.

But a man standing on the roof in sunlight...

- Shut up.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

Tell me,

what do we need an alliance with France for?

- To protect our back.

- You think the Prussians may attack us again?

They always do. And they will,

when we get into trouble with the Turks.

- What do we want from the Turks?

- The Crimea.

What do we need with the Crimea?

We have enough territory.

It would be nice to have

a little peninsula on the Black Sea.

Exactly, Your Majesty.

And I don't think the Turkish sultan

will wrap up that peninsula in silver paper

and hang it on Your Majesty's Christmas tree.

- I don't want to be pushed into any war.

- No, Your Majesty.

- I don't want war!

- No, Your Majesty.

- I hate war, do you understand me?

- Yes, Your Majesty.

I humbly apologise. I shart bring it up again.

I take cognisance of the fact that Your Majesty,

once and for all,

has definitely given up the idea of the Crimea.

I never said any such thing, and you know it!

Stop being too clever. Of course we need a port

on the Black Sea, and badly.

- Then we'll have to take the Crimea.

- Are you pushing me again? Stop it!

- Call in the French ambassador.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

- Look!

- Is that man still standing on the roof?

- No, he seems to be gone.

- Oh, that's good. I'm glad.

What are those soldiers doing up there?

This is outrageous!

What a disgrace!

It couldn't happen in any other court in Europe.

You know what's going on behind every door,

but you don't know what's going on on the roof!

If the French ambassador...

My most gracious empress,

my tsarina, Mother Russia!

Get up!

Lt Alexei Chernoff of the 5th Hussars,

reporting to Her Majesty.

- How dare you force yourself into my presence!

- Shall I call a guard?

Please, he wants to keep me away from you.

- They all do. They're all afraid.

- Afraid? Of what?

- Could I talk to Your Majesty alone?

- Alone? Why?

Very simple, Your Majesty. He doesn't trust me.

Doesrt trust you? Are you out of your mind?

How dare you insult His Excellency,

the most trusted advisor to the throne!

- Thank you, Your Majesty. Shall I call a guard?

- No!

- May I remind you, the ambassador is waiting.

- Let him wait.

- Thank you, Your Majesty.

- There's no reason for you to be so happy.

- No, Your Majesty.

- There's every reason to be unappy.

I can only hope the importance of your news

justifies your behaviour,

otherwise, you shall be severely punished.

Now, what is this important news

that you're bringing?

Your Majesty, Russia is full of traitors.

The throne is in danger.

Your Majesty's in danger.

That's no news. Go on.

Your Majesty, I'm ready to die for you.

That's no news, either.

I expect that from my soldiers.

The hussars, dragoons, grenadiers -

the whole army is yours,

- but Generals Varkovsky and Gashin...

- Two of my best generals?

Don't trust them. They have evil thoughts.

They're planning treason.

- Do you believe this is true?

- I know it's true.

I swear it's true.

How is it that a young lieutenant has to ride

all the way from the Western Front

to tell me what is happening in my empire?

No doubt I expect too much.

I beg Your Majesty not to waste

your precious energy.

We have these minor revolutions every day.

One week it's the army, next week it's the navy.

What about General Varkovsky

and General Gashin?

I knew their plans. Early enough for my men

to approach them. Separately, of course.

We promised General Varkovsky 50,000 roubles

for taking care of General Gashin.

We promised General Gashin 50,000 roubles

for taking care of General Varkovsky.

- Have they taken care of each other?

- Not only have they taken care of each other,

both were buried with military honours.

So, this is your news, your great news.

I most humbly beg forgiveness, Your Majesty.

Forgiveness?

You may expect the severest punishment!

- I deserve it, Your Majesty.

- Look at you! Dirty. Uncombed.

Your uniform torn.

Who gave you permission

to leave your regiment?

- I left it on my own account.

- You deserted, you mean.

- I shall have to teach you discipline.

- I deserve it.

Is this the sort of example an officer should set

before his men?

- I'm not so sure I won't have you shot!

- I deserve it.

- Oh, stop deserving it!

- Whatever Your Majesty decides will be just.

But if I had to, I'd do it again.

I'd rather face the firing squad

than take a chance on my tsarina's life.

Nothing could stop me

when my empress is in danger.

- He seems to be honest, don't you think so?

- I do. But the French ambassador...

Oh, let him wait.

Tell me, Alexei,

when did you leave your regiment?

Wednesday morning, Your Majesty.

Do you mean that you rode

from the border to here within three days?

Yes! I rode three horses to death

and many more broke down under me.

Quite a horseman, isn't he?

And the French ambassador can wait.

You must have ridden day and night.

I thought Your Majesty was in danger.

Three days and three nights

and you're not tired?

Not a bit, Your Majesty.

- He's not a bit tired.

- No, he isn't.

- How old are you, Alexei?

- 24 years, Your Majesty.

24 years.

24 years.

- Nice, isn't he?

- Very nice, Your Majesty.

Three days and three nights,

because you thought my life was in danger.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is it, Anna? What do you want?

- The book, Your Majesty.

- What book?

You told me you wanted to be reading Voltaire

when the ambassador entered.

If I didn't have my Anna,

I wouldn't know what to do.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

- Now, about the French ambassador.

- Yes, Your Majesty?

I'm not in the mood today.

How can I be interested in foreign affairs

when domestic problems are so pressing?

The news this young man has brought may be

no news, but I'd like to know more about it.

- You are to remain in the palace.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

See that he gets some quarters.

I think um... the Prince Variatinsky's suite will do.

Instruct the major-domo

to get him a new uniform.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

- A dress uniform.

Er... White.

Yes, I think white will be very becoming to him.

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