A Royal Scandal Page #9

That skunk! That dirty skunk!

Who?

You don't need an advisor,

you need a guardian.

How could you have had a good word

for Variatinsky?

- Variatinsky?

- Yes, Variatinsky.

Was he there too?

The whole thing's clear to me now.

Ronsky and his friends brought him there

on purpose.

But I'm not that simple.

Oh, Catherine, I believe in you.

I want you to know

that I believe in you completely. I believe in you!

Well, if you're through believing in me,

tell me what happened.

I can't, Catherine. I won't soil my lips with it.

All I can say is he slandered you,

dragged your name through the mud.

I'm going to hold every one of them responsible

for it. I promise you, they'll pay!

Well, Alexei, this is really most unpleasant.

- Unpleasant?

- No, I mean it's terrible.

I can't imagine

what he could have possibly said about me.

- You'd be surprised.

- Oh.

So he spoke badly of me, did he?

Variatinsky of all people! That ungrateful swine!

Why, when I think of what I did for that man.

When he came here, he was nothing.

Just like you.

I mean, not even as much as you.

You can't compare it.

He didn't have a shirt to his back.

No, I want to be just. He had one. Exactly one.

And what a shirt.

Let's arrest him. All of them! The whole group!

Make an example of them in front of the world.

That's what we should do,

but don't be too hasty.

Of course they deserve it,

but don't let's be swept away by emotions.

- I'd say let's sleep on it.

- Catherine, I warn you, if you let this go by...

Then nothing may come of it.

But if we make an issue of it, call attention to it...

Oh, Alexei, don't let's have a scandal.

That would be too horrible.

Catherine, I don't agree with you.

I don't agree with you at all.

Well, that's too bad, Alexei.

That's most unfortunate.

I shall handle this thing myself.

And if Variatinsky should talk again...

I doubt that he will. I doubt that he can.

- What do you mean?

- I hit him. I hit him again and again.

I hit him so hard,

he went right through a glass cabinet.

All this happened in front of Ronsky

and my generals?

Yes, and if they want supper,

they'll have to eat it from the floor.

- I gave them a lesson they won't forget.

- I wish you hadrt lost your head.

Lose my head?

Stand there and let people slander you?

No, of course not, naturally.

Of course I'm grateful to you

for rushing to my defence.

It was very chivalrous.

You acted as a real friend, a true friend.

You proved my trust in you was justified.

But, darn it, I wish you'd stayed out of it!

Now we really have a scandal on our hands.

Tomorrow, the whole palace will be buzzing.

My name, your name, Variatinsky's name.

- It's too awful. Why did you do it?

- I'm sorry.

Sorry? That doesn't help much.

Now my enemies really have something

to talk about.

You've provided enough gossip

for all the drawing rooms of Europe! You idiot!

I've taken care of my business pretty well.

And in the future...

I don't understand you.

He insults you and you call me an idiot.

Why should you be so nervous

when everybody knows Variatinsky lies?

- I'm not nervous.

- You are! And I'm not an idiot!

I'm sorry. You're not an idiot.

But a scandal is a scandal. It isn't good

for anybody. Certainly not an empress.

Let's keep the throne clean.

Catherine, he did lie, didn't he?

Yes, of course he did.

Oh, Alexei.

If I was a little unjust, you know I didn't mean it.

Don't think that deep down inside of me

I don't appreciate having a knight in

shining armour who takes up his spear for me.

Alexei... My little Alexei.

I think the Order of the Golden Bear

would be very nice on you.

Right here. And I think you've earned it.

I congratulate you, my little golden bear.

Now, let's drop the whole subject.

Let's talk about something cheerful for a change.

As a matter of fact, I have some very good news.

When I was introduced to Variatinsky,

I was pleasantly surprised.

- He looked very well, Catherine.

- Why shouldn't he?

- Don't you remember he was sick? Very sick?

- Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

- Catherine, did Variatinsky tell the truth?

- I've answered that question once before.

- And you're going to answer it again. Now!

- I won't be called to account, General Chernoff.

I demand that Variatinsky be tried. Tried openly.

- And if you refuse...

- Then what?

Catherine, I... I can't believe it.

My whole world is collapsing.

I worshipped you. I put you on a pedestal.

You were my ideal. Yes, I idolised you.

Then keep on idolising me and shut up!

Oh, Alexei,

this is not the kind of evening I'd planned.

I was so looking forward to seeing you.

I've been waiting for you.

What's this?

It's my 52nd edict!

What's my 52nd edict doing in a trash basket?

- Well, I was just reading it.

- I'm not interested in that.

Answer me. Did you throw it there?

No, it got there by itself.

It knew where it belonged.

- Catherine, I demand an explanation.

- You're not going to demand anything more!

But I'll tell you something.

You were not meant to rule a country.

- You've changed your mind.

- I have not.

I said you looked wonderful in a white uniform.

You should wear it more often.

That's your greatest talent, your greatest gift.

Stick to it. A white uniform.

Well... I guess... I was a fool.

You were right to call me an idiot.

I go on working, night and day,

wasting my time...

- And wasting my paper and my ink.

- I thought I meant something to you. To Russia.

- Now I find out you tricked me!

- Shut up!

- You swindled me!

- Shut up!

You ought to be ashamed! I put you on

a pedestal and you put me in a trash basket!

It's too much for any man!

General Chernoff!

I didn't dismiss you yet.

You'll go to your quarters.

You'll return here tomorrow morning.

And if you find the right words, humble words,

very, very humble words,

and if you should be able to convince me

that they are more than just mere words,

then perhaps I may forgive you.

- That's all.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

Go to bed.

Come, my son, drink. Wash away your sorrows.

Russia needs you. We need you.

Drink. It'll do you good.

Oh, Alexei, you may not be tomorrow,

but tonight, you are still in command

of the Palace Guard.

So go back there right now,

and as soon as the empress is asleep,

you order the guard out of the palace.

Order everybody out. Clear the whole place.

And if she should wake up,

keep her there by force till we arrive.

- I idolised that woman.

- So did I.

- I'm sorry, Variatinsky.

- You don't have to be sorry.

You meant well. Variatinsky knows that.

- Don't you?

- Of course, of course.

- He told the truth and I cut him to pieces.

- Nonsense, nonsense.

You just gave him a little push.

From then on, he was on his own.

- Tell me, my friend, how do you feel?

- I feel fine.

- He's never felt better.

- I'm very happy to hear it.

- Let's be friends.

- No! Oh, no!

Stop making our friend nervous.

Now let's come to the point.

- As soon as the guard has left the palace...

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