Rasputin and the Empress

[Men singing in Russian]

[Bells ringing]

[Choir singing

in Russian]

Almighty lord of hosts,

preserver of holy Russia,

300 years this day

have the Romanoffs

reigned over us.

[Choir singing]

Grant unto them

thy servants

a peaceful life, length of days.

# Emperor Nicolai

Aleksandrovitch #

[Choir singing]

Man:
# Bless all-pious #

# Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna #

# Protect with thy mercy #

# Alexis Nikolayevich #

# Anointed by God #

# To protect the throne #

[Choir singing]

Choir:
# Amen #

Almighty lord

of hosts,

king of kings,

bless all

of these my people.

Fill thou

their lamps with oil

and give them from on high

the dew of heaven

and all the fullness

of the Earth below.

Grant them

mutual love

in the bond of peace,

and may the Grace

of our lord Jesus Christ...

Be with us ever.

Amen.

Choir:
# Amen #

[Choir singing]

Your highness,

I regret

to inform you

Your brother

will not be present.

Why not?

There's been

an accident.

He is dead?

Yes, your highness.

Assassinated?

Yes, your highness.

God rest his soul.

What has been done?

A number of suspects

have been arrested.

Shoot them...

All of them.

Without trial?

They did not give

my brother a trial.

We'll show them what a

real killing can be like.

Your highness, another

wholesale execution...

You've had

your orders.

But, sir, I can't

obey such orders.

Man:
Shh. Natasha.

Uncle Igor...

Paul...

is it true

about my father?

Natasha.

Yes.

Your fianc seems to

sympathize with the assassins.

Darling, because

they murdered,

we can't

murder back.

It's the first thing your

father would have said.

Take me to him.

Natasha, your place

is here.

The Empress'

lady-in-waiting

Does not leave for any

reason, Prince Chegodieff.

But, your

highness...

Paul.

[Gavel raps]

Man:
His imperial highness

the archduke Ferdinand

of Austria-Hungary.

[Orchestra playing]

Ferdinand, what an angel

you are to come so far.

I wouldn't have missed it

for anything. Your majesty.

Ferdinand.

And Alix.

Your imperial highnesses.

If the Emperor

had been well,

he would have been

here himself.

Oh, he would not bother

about us parvenus.

What is 300 years

to a Hapsburg?

We are feeling

our years, though, hmm?

In celebration

of your anniversary,

The Emperor has

asked me to confer

the order

of the iron crown

on his little highness.

Oh, how beautiful.

No, no,

at the top.

Well, Aloysha,

what do you say?

Will your highness

honor me

by expressing

to his imperial majesty

our sincere gratitude

for this great honor?

Ferdinand:
That's

a beautiful speech.

What a soldier.

If we ever have

a war,

will you promise me

to fight for Austria?

Yes, your highness.

Good.

He will stay home.

Oh, well.

Ha ha ha!

Your imperial

majesties,

I wish to extend

the sympathy of France

in your terrible loss.

The grand duke, sir,

he was fond of my country.

Paul.

Paul:

Your majesty.

Sergei... Sergei?

Yes,

your majesty.

I was laughing and talking

with him only this morning.

Your majesties, Im so

sorry I brought the news.

Excellency, we should

have heard soon.

Cancel

the audience.

Aloysha, go with

your sisters.

Oh, take this away.

My head aches.

Woman:

Yes, majesty.

Do you want

the doctor, my dear?

Oh, no, Nicky. It's

nothing. I'm all right.

I can't help

thinking of Sergei.

He was so full of life, so strong.

Do you remember that

rose garden at Bialystok

and the marble stairs

He never

let me climb?

Once he tried

to carry us both.

Why didn't we

stay there, Nicky?

We were happy...

Human beings.

Nobody wanted

to kill us there.

There were

no soldiers then.

This is our destiny,

my dear.

I know.

What have we done to these

people of yours, Nicky,

they should hate us so?

Nothing, Alix.

Everybody loves you.

You know that.

No...

but you love me,

Nicky.

That's enough

for any empress.

[Choir singing

in Russian]

[People shouting]

We die gladly!

Our names will be remembered

when your end comes!

Comrade, stand up!

[Woman screaming]

[Drum roll]

[Trumpet playing

fanfare]

Wait!

As you were!

Lieutenant Karpov, who

detailed the chevalier guards

to the firing squad?

His imperial highness the

grand duke Igor, prince.

Oh, he did?

What do you mean by

interfering with my orders?

Your highness, this

is not your regiment.

I will take

all responsibility.

Fortunately, Ive

already done so.

Fe chevalier guards

have on our helmets

for faith and courage, not murder.

I commanded

this Court-Martial!

Nobody commands

my regiment

but the Empress

herself.

Aah! You want to shoot us

yourself, you Judas!

And I know their majesties would wish

these people to have

a fair trial.

You are

under arrest.

Any such order,

your highness,

must come directly from their majesties.

Left face, forward!

March!

Man:
Left face,

forward, March!

Follow me to the Emperor at once.

Gladly, your highness.

We'll use my car.

Woman:
Go on, finish

your dirty work.

Shoot us all.

Get it over!

Oh, be quiet.

No one's going to hurt you.

[Spits]

Wait!

That's your thanks, Chegodieff.

Well, it, uh...

it isn't blood.

Take her away.

You ready,

your highness?

[Car approaching]

[Trumpet playing

fanfare]

[Knock on door]

Yes.

Igor, we're so sorry.

You got our message?

Thank you.

Uncle Igor,

tomorrow we'll meet

with the minister of justice

and decide

what's to be done.

Oh, tomorrow.

Nicky, how long

do I have to stand

insolence

and insubordination

from your

court favorites?

Well, who is it

this time?

Prince Chegodieff.

Alexandra:

Should I leave, Nicky?

No, no, my dear.

And what's he done?

He has been insolent, disobeyed orders,

and grossly

insubordinate

in the presence

of others!

All right.

I'll punish him.

That's what

you said last time.

I know he's

your little pet,

but if Im to remain

governor general of Moscow,

I'll not be made

a fool of

by a colonel in her majesty's guards.

And where is he now?

He's here.

Call him in.

Colonel Chegodieff.

Yes, your majesty.

If I hear one more

criticism of your behavior,

I'm going to relieve you

of your command.

You must realize

you're a soldier

subject to your superiors.

May I explain,

your majesty?

No. You can

apologize.

As colonel of her majesty's

chevalier guards,

I offer my apologies

for insubordination

while your imperial

highness

assumed the duties

of public execution.

I demand his arrest.

Wait a minute. What's

this about executions?

For the assassination

of my brother... Your uncle.

It's for me to decide what

action should be taken.

This calls

for immediate action.

Under martial law,

I acted within my rights.

How many are dead?

I don't know.

12, 15,

your majesty...

Four of them women.

After... After all our

promises of reform...

Nicky, they started

the killing.

Paul left me alone.

Your grandfather

did not hesitate.

There were no assassinations

during his reign.

This is another

century, Igor.

What you have done

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes