Anastasia Page #11

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Then I request you answer.

If it is what the grand duchess

really desires...

why then, I must be pleased.

But for myself, no,

I am not pleased.

We should not only

have given you that title...

we should have made you

an ambassador.

How deviously you have arrived

at what you wanted to say.

And even now,

you don't say it.

You have not given me even

a piece of string to hang you with.

Sergei Pavlovich,

what do you wish to ask?

Why do you try to ask me?

Why have you not asked her?

Often what is difficult

for others is simple for me.

But what has always been the simplest

for others, is impossible for me.

I made the attempt, Your Majesty,

but it became translated into anger.

You're less of a knave

than I thought...

but very much more of a fool.

Yes?

Excuse me, Your Majesty.

It's time.

So soon.

Bounine, I want you

to wait for me here.

This time it is a command.

Will you?

Yes, Your Majesty. I will.

Your Majesty, I cannot wait for you

to look down into the ballroom.

You'll weep absolute tears.

Everyone's there.

And the gowns. And the uniforms.

It's incredible, like it used to be.

Yes, I can smell the mothballs.

Your Imperial Majesty,

I beg you... Excuse me.

If Your Majesty will permit me

to explain the ceremony, and...

- Livenbaum.

- We discussed the ceremony this morning.

- Yes, but, uh...

- The "but" we'll discuss later.

Yes, Baroness.

How lovely you are.

- Are you having a good time?

- Yes, Grandmama.

- Where is Paul?

- He's dancing with the Princess of Falkenburg.

- He dances very well.

- Yes, very well.

- And he's very handsome.

- Yes, he's handsome.

- Your Majesty, a thousand apologies...

- Your Majesty, it is time.

If they have waited ten years, they

should not mind waiting ten minutes more.

Livenbaum, I want to speak

to my granddaughter alone.

Out, gentlemen! Out.

Where is Bounine? It is just like him

to disappear when he is really needed.

All right, ladies. Count.

Livenbaum.

That gentleman you are so fond of, see

that he does not leave the green room.

Yes, Your Majesty.

- They're whirling in delight down there.

- Yes.

Come here.

Let me put it on for you.

Are you that tired of it already?

- It's just that I'm not used to one.

- It takes time.

Are you sure about Paul?

I, I like him very much.

- Why do you stammer?

- I was surprised by the suddenness of the question.

If you love, the answer

is always ready.

I've been asked to announce

your engagement tonight.

- Are you sure you want me to?

- I want to marry.

Why?

I suppose I want

the belonging, the closeness.

- Am I selfish?

- No, but do you want all this with Paul?

I think it will

please you, Grandmama.

And anything that will please you

would please me.

Do you know you are talking

exactly like Bounine?

- Oh, no.

- Oh, yes.

Anastasia Nicolaevna, you don't

really want to marry Paul.

- I don't know.

- You do know.

Because you really

want someone else.

Do I? Maybe.

Except that all this time...

the only thing I thought

I really wanted was you.

That you already have.

And it's not enough,

nor should it be.

No one can blame me for living with

my dear phantoms. But you...

You must find the things from which

other women make their happiness.

Sit here for just

one moment longer.

Livenbaum says things are just as

they used to be down in the ballroom.

She is foolish.

The world moves on, Malenkaia...

and we must move on with it,

or be left to molder with the past.

I am the past. I like it.

It's sweet and familiar.

The present is cold and foreign.

And the future...

Fortunately, I don't need to concern

myself with that. But you do.

It's yours.

Unfasten this for me,

will you please?

- Figgy's emeralds?

- Yes, I want to give them to you.

Grandmama, you have given me

what no one else in the world could...

Myself. Thank you.

Here, here.

You'd better fix it yourself.

Go into the green room.

- Livenbaum will help you.

- Yes, Grandmama.

Hurry.

There's not much time.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Yes, what is it?

I thought you'd like to know that

the gentleman no longer waits alone.

Good. I suppose we shall

have to go on with the performance.

- Bring in the jesters.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

- Ladies and gentlemen...

- Baroness.

Oh, Your Majesty, I beg you.

We cannot keep them waiting any longer.

- May we proceed now?

- Yes, yes. Proceed.

Majesty. Oh, uh...

- The musicians?

- All arranged.

- Good. Take your position by the curtains.

- Yes, sir.

Eh! Straighten your tie.

And you, Excellency, please don't forget,

all the names... loud, strong, clear.

- Don't worry.

- Oh, thank you, Excellency.

Uh, ladies, get ready.

Where is, uh...

- Where is Prince Paul?

- I told you twice, he's coming.

Twice, and three times you've told me

you cannot find Bounine.

- I also told you that he said...

- Yes, yes, to go ahead without him.

Well, I say there is something

unbalanced with him tonight.

And the sooner we fin...

Oh, Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

I've never seen you

look like this before.

I have never felt

like this before.

It is time.

Would you be so kind as to inform Her Imperial

Highness, the Grand Duchess, we are ready.

- Right away.

- Hurry.

Baroness, uh, the procedure.

Just to refresh your memory as

to what we discussed this morning.

- You think my mind is failing?

- Baron...

Ladies and gentlemen,

there will be a, "a drumroll. "

After that, Her Imperial Majesty,

the Dowager Empress, will come forward.

And when she passes

through the curtains...

the orchestra will strike up

our national anthem.

- After that, the grand duchess, escorted by His Highness...

- She has gone! She has gone!

Gone? Gone where?

What is he talking about?

She's not there!

I looked all over. She has gone!

- But this is impossible. I mean, she must be...

- Silence!

- You have looked in the green room?

- Yes, Your Majesty.

- There is no one there.

- No one.

Perhaps she went to her room.

Quick, send somebody...

You won't find her. It's a waste

of time. They have both gone.

- Both?

- She and your friend Bounine.

- Bounine?

- But why? I don't understand.

- You never did.

- You mean the others were right?

- She was not Anastasia, after all.

- Wasn't she?

Your Majesty, I beg you.

They're all waiting down there.

- What shall we say to them? What can we say to them?

- Nothing.

Paul, your arm.

I will speak to them.

Oh, thank you, Your Majesty.

Everybody, please.

Forgive me, Aunt Marie,

but what will you say?

Say? Oh, I will say...

"The play is over. Go home. "

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