Rasputin and the Empress Page #4

Solid gold!

Are you going back?

Yes. I've got to go to

the palace every day.

Man:
This will make

your fortune, Grishka.

How much

did he give you?

He didn't give him anything.

He didn't give him a thing!

What difference does that

make, you old sheep's head?

These aristocrats don't

think anything about money.

It wouldn't surprise

me if I got 200 rubles.

Ha ha! 200 rubles!

Ha ha! 200 rubles!

I might get

500 rubles!

[Laughter]

Yeah! I saved his son's life, didn't I?

[Bell ringing]

Oh, Grishka, you're just such

a sweet little thing, you are.

Ah, you're just

making up to me

because Im an important man now.

No. I love you. I've always

loved you, Grishka. You know that.

Give me one...

Ah, go on now! No.

Oh, Grishka.

Go on.

Grishka!

It's the chief

of the secret

police!

Here. Put those things

away, will you?

Don't worry, my friends.

Go on and eat.

Go on. Be happy.

It's nothing.

[All talking at once]

Grishka, Im afraid.

Afraid of what?

Are you sure you didn't

go too far with that boy?

Shh!

Are you sure you didn't make him crazy

like the boy

in Kazan?

Quiet.

If he's gone mad, too, they'll kill you.

Look. You can go

out that door.

I haven't anything

to be afraid of.

I've done nothing.

The boy is all right.

Get out of the way.

Go on over there.

Father Rasputin?

Your Excellency.

I have just come

from the palace.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

May I, uh...

Oh, you're asking

permission?

Your modesty

is almost convincing.

You know, father,

it has just occurred to me

that we might be able to

help each other, you and I.

Really?

How can I help you?

Well, my department has been

subject to a little criticism

since the death

of the grand duke Sergei.

Oh, I see. Your post

is in danger.

We all have enemies.

Of course.

And the Czar being grateful

to you at the moment,

I thought you might

drop a word.

What makes you think that

I can influence the Czar?

Oh, come, come,

father.

You know you're the most important

man in Russia at the moment.

Ah, Im beginning

to understand.

What is there in it

for me?

Your record, father,

as far back as Tobolsk.

There are one or two

little items there

that Im sure you

wouldn't like to have known

Now that you're

where you are.

My record, huh?

It's not enough.

You just said I was the

most important man in Russia.

You don't go

to an important man

and ask him to save

your post for a ruble.

What do you want?

Hmm. Let me think.

Do you keep your hat

on in your own house?

I beg your pardon,

father.

I'd almost forgotten

about her.

Have you got these

things about everybody?

Everybody

of consequence.

Information

of this kind

Would be very valuable

to an intelligent man.

As someone once said,

knowledge is power.

I'll save your post

for you.

Thank you, father.

Yes, but I must look

through some of your files.

Yes. I'm going to be more

important than even you think.

I won't tolerate this

meddling in my department.

I'm going to tell

the Czar.

All right. Tell him

of the 2 million kronen

You received from Austria

And what it was for.

Tell him who planned

General Sablin's murder

and why you're going to meet the

minister of the interior tonight

at General Gadya's house.

I think you can afford to take

orders from me, your Excellency.

Ah, you want your husband

promoted, don't you?

Yes, yes.

Yes.

Have you done anything

about General Karloff?

There's nothing

to be done.

Have you offered him

money?

He can't be bought.

Hmm. You know,

God has given me a power

to read the hearts of men.

It wouldn't surprise me

if this fellow

had been selling plans

of our fortifications

to, well, let's say Turkey.

The Czar would be horrified

to find anything like that out.

Now, you take some

of our most important plans

And put them

in his portfolio.

Then Ill tell the Czar

of my premonition.

How did you

know, father?

Of myself,

I know nothing.

A power has been given me

to read the hearts of men.

If it has helped Russia,

I thank God.

[Tchaikovsky's

waltz of the flowers playing]

Natasha:
I hope

you're not angry

With father Rasputin

for not coming.

Of course not, darling.

As a matter of fact,

I very seldom attend

dinners given to me.

But I usually notify

my host.

He didn't mean

to be rude,

but he lives in such

a world of his own

That people and time and dinners

don't mean anything to him.

I see. Well, always

remember I asked him.

At least

that's over.

Was it such an ordeal,

After all he's done

for Aloysha?

Darling, if a witch

doctor had healed Aloysha,

he could have everything

Ive got in the world,

But I don't

like him,

and I never shall.

You never tried to.

It isn't that. There's

something clammy about him.

I can't explain it.

I've had

the same feeling

brushing against

something on a dark night.

I don't know

what he's after,

but I get a sort of feeling

of a man waiting his chance.

Paul!

You dragged it

out of me, darling.

Have you ever watched him with people?

He goes as far as he dares,

even with the Empress.

You don't like him

because he's so outspoken.

You don't like his

manners. Isn't that it?

No, that's not it.

It's...

It's his smile.

It's like

a man-Eating shark

with a bible

under his fin.

Paul, Ive never seen

you like this before.

Darling,

I can't help it.

Paul, I believe in him,

in his sincerity, his divine power.

No one can shake

my faith in him,

not even you.

I know it, and I hate your

belief in him. I hate it.

Everything that's come

between us I blame on him.

Ah, well, darling...

let's have

some more champagne.

Man:
Grigory

Yefimovich Rasputin.

Hmm. There he is.

Paul, nothing has come

between us.

Please be nice to him.

Of course, darling. I'll

be a pearl among hosts.

Excuse me.

Pardon me, general.

We were worried

about you.

Why?

Dinner was at 8:
00.

We waited until 10:00.

Perhaps I can get you

something on a tray.

[Burp]

No, thank you. I just had

some wonderful borscht.

Little friend of mine

makes it.

Who are all these people?

I'm about

to present you.

I'll tell you

who I want to know.

Oh, very well.

Well, my dear child,

you look very beautiful.

Is this the famous

father Rasputin?

Am I?

You're all anyone

talks about.

All of us came here

just to see you.

I gave up

a trip to London.

You see, Ive been an

invalid for nearly 12 years.

Oh? What's the matter

with you?

None of the doctors seem

to know. I've had them all.

Well,

Ill tell you.

Yes?

You're a lazy,

spoiled woman.

If you were to scrape some

of that rouge off your face

and get behind

a washtub,

you'd be all right

in a week.

Sir!

He's wonderful! A washtub! How divine!

I warned you.

Who is that man?

I like his face.

That's Kropotkin. He's

a brilliant creature.

He's helping me

restore the Duma.

Come and meet him.

Professor Kropotkin,

University of St. Petersburg.

General Linoff,

our minister of war.

And his Excellency

the German Ambassador,

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