Rasputin and the Empress Page #2

has put us back 20 years

in the eyes of Europe.

My dear empress... Or would

you rather be called Kaiserin?

Igor!

The last empress Germany

gave us... Catherine...

Was usually called

"The Great."

I meant no disrespect, majesty,

but you have never

understood

The Russian

temperament.

Moderation might be

all right in Germany,

but here

it would be fatal.

It has never been

tried here.

What if, instead

of my brother,

it had been

your son?

You really are

a very cruel man, Igor.

Nikolai:

Igor, please.

We must do

something at once...

Something that will

reach the people

before the news

of these executions.

[Knock on door]

Yes.

Your majesty.

I'm glad I found you, Igor.

Do you realize what's

going on out there?

You mean

the crowd?

They're merely celebrating,

your highness.

Weren't they told

the ceremonies are over?

They're demanding

the Czarevitch!

It seems they were

told he'd appear.

He winot appear.

But they're getting

ugly! It's the only way

we'll be able

to get rid of them.

Do you think Ill wave my

son in front of that mob

after what happened to Sergei?

Alix!

Alix. Alix.

Nicky, Nicky, dear,

We're always

holding him

between us

and the crowd.

Why can't you find

someone bigger

to hide behind?

He's not

a sacred image.

He's my son...

The heir

to the throne!

Dearest Alix, we're not

sending him out.

Of course not.

May I ask your permission

to disperse them

as I see fit? They're getting ugly.

I'll disperse them

if your majesty orders.

It's perfectly simple for a few

thousand soldiers to ride down a mob,

but how long

can you go on, sir?

You can't shoot

160 million people,

and God help

the dynasty

if they ever learn

to hate you, your majesty.

You haven't

enough soldiers

or enough walls

to keep them back.

Paul!

Your majesty, punish my

impertinence with death if you will,

but you're on a volcano

day and night.

Your only bulwark,

your only security

is the love your people

have for you and Aloysha,

but that love could be

killed by violence,

And anyone who proposes

it now... Anyone...

Is a traitor to you and

Russia and the Russian people.

Nicky, why do you

tolerate such impudence?

There are women and children

out there, your majesty.

Women and children have

no business in a mob!

Igor!

Alexandra:
Wait!

Wait.

[Crowd shouting]

Igor, I am a woman.

I have a child.

Alix.

Nicky, I can't bear

to think

that someone will tell

Aloysha when he's grown up

that his safety

was ever held

Above the lives

of his people.

Tell the Czarevitch

they're waiting.

No! I'll go.

[Crowd roars]

[People all talking

at once]

Thank you,

darling.

Some for you,

Maria?

Mamushka, look.

It's Maria.

I think

it's charming.

Paul!

Alexandra:
Paul,

where have you been?

Your majesties.

Paul, how long are you

going to be here?

Paul:
You should ask your

father. I'm here at his command.

I received

your summons, sir.

Yes, Paul.

I'm weary.

The task of governing millions of people

is getting

beyond my strength.

I want to share the burden

of government with my people.

I want to form

a Duma, Paul,

Along the lines of

the British Parliament

or the German

Reichstag.

I want men elected

to that Duma

by popular vote...

Leaders who would help me,

Who'll represent

my people.

Such a Duma, sir,

Would put us

on an equal footing

with any nation

in the world.

I want you

to help me form it.

Oh, your majesty.

These reforms take

years to accomplish

the good

that's intended.

Let's hope

we live to see it.

Aloysha will,

at any rate.

Paul:
Your majesty.

We can go over the

groundwork in my study.

Oh, Nicky, the Duma

can wait one other day.

You promised me

this afternoon.

Is the photographer

here?

Yes, your majesty.

Oh, Alix.

Nicky, if

I let you off again,

A whole year

will slip by.

Show him in.

Oh, Alix, Id rather play

bridge with cousin Wilhelm.

Ha ha! Remember,

we are his first royal clients.

Paul, do me a favor.

Don't watch this.

Ha ha ha! Natasha,

let's go and discuss my vices.

I have to look after

the Empress' letters.

Your majesty,

may I, uh, help her?

I think you'll be a

tremendous help, Paul.

I'll do my best.

Come along,

my brood!

Come here, Natasha.

But I have to see

about those letters.

My dear child, you know,

this letter-writing's a menace.

I mean, you write them.

Some poor wretch has to read

them. He writes you back again.

You have to answer it.

I mean, where are you?

I mean, the whole thing's interminable.

It doesn't mean

anything.

Natasha,

will you marry me?

I'm going to!

I mean now.

Paul...

Listen, darling.

It doesn't help

the dead any

to stop living just

because they're gone.

You don't know how I feel

about these things.

I know, sweetheart. I suppose

religion's a wonderful thing.

Yes, I presume it is,

but I mean,

it can be overdone.

It's helped you through

a terrible time, I know,

but it's

changed you, too.

I can't explain, Paul.

It... It's peace,

happiness.

If you could talk to him,

you'd understand.

Talk him?

Father Rasputin.

Oh, is he a priest?

You don't have to be a priest

to have the power of God.

Oh, really?

If you talked to him, you couldn't

help feeling the greatness of his soul.

I think the saints

must have been like him.

Well, if he's

helped you,

I'm very grateful

to him, darling.

But... But it seems

Ive lost you.

There's something

I can't see...

Something

I can't fight.

Natasha:
Paul.

You'll never

lose me...

if that's what

you still want.

Oh, darling,

of course it is...

only let the halo

slip a little,

like it used to be...

Over one eye.

I will be

a good wife, Paul.

I don't want

a good wife...

until Im so old

I have to be good myself.

Aloysha:
Oh! Ha ha!

Look at Paul and Natasha!

Oh, Mamushka!

I saw you, Paul!

I saw you!

Aloysha, under

certain conditions,

one officer never

sees another.

Pull his hair,

Maria.

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Hey, Aloysha,

come on!

Aloysha.

Mamushka,

he's bleeding.

Aloysha.

Paul, send

for Remezov at once.

Paul:
Yes,

your majesty.

Aloysha. Aloysha.

But, doctor, it's

only a slight fall.

It's more serious

than that.

Hello, operator,

I want to talk

to Dr. Franz Wolfe

in Vienna.

Yes, please.

Did you ever hear

of hemophilia?

Yes. the Empress'

uncle died of it.

And her grandfather.

It's the heritage

of her house.

That's impossible.

Well, they're all

so healthy.

The girls, yes.

It can only be

transmitted

from mother to son.

There's an element

lacking in the blood.

It doesn't...

It doesn't coagulate.

The slightest injury

may cause them

to bleed to death.

Herr Doktor?

Herr Doktor Wolfe?

[Speaking German]

[Choir singing

in Russian]

Majesty.

Thank God. Paul has

found Dr. Wolfe.

Where are they?

At the frontier. They'll

be here in the morning.

I must tell Nicholas.

Nicky, dear.

He's the greatest

physician in Europe.

He's still bleeding.

Shh, heart.

I know, but...

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