Rasputin and the Empress Page #5

Count Cartales.

Father Rasputin.

Oh, I am delighted

to see you, indeed.

Thank you.

So you're

Kropotkin, huh?

I'm afraid so.

Oh! Tobolsk cakes!

Where did they

come from?

Natasha said

you liked them, sir.

No! Did you

remember that?

Well, that's very sweet, my daughter.

Paul:
Natasha.

General Linoff

is awfully bored.

Go and flatter him

a little.

But, Paul, I...

Please.

Aw, don't

take her away.

Sorry.

Excuse me.

Ah, Kropotkin...

I was talking

to the Czar

about you this morning.

Oh, you were?

Look here, why do you

want to hand out rights

to a lot of slobbering peasants?

Have you forgotten

the French revolution?

Don't you think the

peasant has any rights?

No. It's one of the luxuries of the rich

to feel sorry

for the common herd,

But I know them.

They're born to the lath.

Let them have it.

This is the will

of God.

Will you pardon us

a moment, sir?

Father Rasputin and I have

something to discuss alone.

I don't go

behind closed doors.

But I want to ask

your advice

about the situation

in the Baltic.

You can ask my advice

about anything right here.

Perhaps we're, uh,

disturbing the ladies.

Oh, excuse

my peasant manners.

This way, father,

please.

What's this cock-And-Bull

story about the Baltic?

Sit down.

Have a cigar.

I trust you didn't

think it was rude of me

to take you away from

those delightful people.

Ha ha!

Delightful people!

You see, father,

you're by way

of being a stranger

at court, aren't you?

Yeah.

And although you've

made a very great success

with the royal family,

you might want

a little advice.

Advice? About what?

Well, a man

in your position...

Yesterday nobody,

today a hero,

trusted by her majesty,

Almost worshipped.

Such a man might...

I won't say he would...

but he might let success

go to his head,

mightn't he?

Hmm. Come to the point.

Say what you want.

Well,

if you're wise,

You won't meddle in matters

that do not concern you.

Such as?

The Duma, my friend.

Duma?

The Duma concerns me

very much.

Someday, Im going to run

this country.

I don't want to have

my toes stepped on

by a lot

of ignorant peasants

with political ideas.

Oh, that's it, is it?

The power

behind the throne, eh?

Yes. You might as well know

it now as any other time.

Get used to it,

prince.

Just, uh, where did you pick

up these delusions of grandeur?

You think Im dirt,

don't you?

Hmm.

Just an ignorant

priest

to kneel before

for a miracle.

Well, you never made

a greater mistake.

I know my destiny.

I know my power.

It's growing,

Growing

every minute.

As long as the life of

that boy depends on my will,

it'll go on growing

and growing

Until this court

of yours rots.

The Russian people

and their rights!

Why, you

pampered fool!

Inside of a year,

in lethan a year,

I will be Russia!

Do you hear that?

I! Rasputin!

You know, people with

ambitions like yours,

my dear father,

are sometimes

rather unlucky.

Ah, indeed?

Yes. There was

a general not long ago

who shot himself

in the back.

No one could understand

quite how he did it.

Ah, you think Im frightened

by threats of murder?

Oh, murder. That's

such an ugly word.

When the rights of 160

million people are at stake...

they call it progress.

Your highness,

once more please.

[Speaking German]

Your highness, please

give me your attention.

Now, please

repeat after me.

Nach Frankreich...

nach... nach...

Please pay attention

to me, your highness.

Let him alone.

Ach,

du lieber gott.

But his highness is

forgetting all his German.

Good! If God wanted

him to learn German,

he'd have been born

in Germany.

But her majesty is very much concerned.

Who's in charge

of the boy? You or me?

I am in charge of his

highness' German lessons.

Clear out!

And I shall report this to her majesty.

Get out, you Krauthead,

you dried-Up sausage.

Your

highness.

German monkey.

What can a squirt like

that teach you, huh?

Now, where is

that thing of Remezov's

that we were looking

through the other day

when we were watching

the spider?

The microscope?

Ha ha! Now

we'll see something.

I... I don't want to!

Come here!

Sit down.

Sit down.

Now, today we have something

better than the spider, Aloysha...

A big fat fly.

Oh! No. It's an ant.

Look at him

try to get away,

but he can't.

Now, we could kill him

just like that,

but we won't.

Give me the box.

Close it up.

Now...

here's the fly,

A nice big fat one.

Look at him.

He looks almost like a

general, doesn't he, Aloysha?

All noise

and patent leather,

open it.

Close it. Put it there.

Now, suppose those two

should start in fighting.

I don't want

to watch them fight.

Yes, you do.

You're going to watch

and learn.

Look.

Who do you think

will win?

You'd say the fly,

big general fly,

but that little ant

has power,

And he knows

how to use it.

Power is the only thing

in the world,

but you must know

how to use it.

Let me look at it.

Look. Ha ha!

Look at the big

juicy fly,

the stupid aristocrat.

Oh, no, no, no.

But the ant has him.

Look.

See how he's moving

up on the fly?

The general

is in for it now.

That's it! Look!

Look! Look! Look!

He's fighting, but it's not

going to do him any good,

because the ant knows how to use power,

and he doesn't.

Poor general.

First cripple

and then destroy.

I don't want to watch!

You'll watch

and learn.

Now...

look! Look! Look!

He's got his wing.

He's got

the aristocrat.

He's got

the general now.

Here. Let me look.

He's taking him

apart.

He's eating him up.

Ha ha!

That's the kind of power

we can have, you and I,

if you do

as I tell you.

We can have Russia!

You'll remember

that?

Yes.

That's a good boy,

a very good boy.

We'll have Russia,

You and I, Aloysha.

You know, you're the

fly, and Im the ant,

but Ill always be

your friend.

Now, let's see.

Where is Russia?

I don't seem to be able to

find it. Where is it, Aloysha?

This is it!

Ha ha! That's it!

[Knock on door]

Spin it! Ha ha! Russia!

What do you want?

Thought Id find out

what was so amusing.

We were laughing

about the Duma.

What's happened

about it?

I thought it was

to be signed today.

Never mind that.

This is more important.

Hello, Aloysha.

Little lieutenant.

Look at me.

Aloysha, it's Paul.

Aloysha!

What damnable thing

is this?

It isn't my fault that

he doesn't like you.

You've done something

to his mind.

Aloysha,

what's he done to you?

Tell me.

We'll go to your mother.

Do you think

she'd believe you?

You filthy swine!

Meddling in politics

is one thing...

but if you've tampered

with this boy's soul...

Let me alone.

What have you done

to him?

Paul!

Paul:
Majesty, Aloysha... Look at him!

What's the matter

with him?

Ah, he's frightened, naturally.

It's all right,

my boy.

Go to

your mother.

Don't be afraid. He won't hurt me.

Look at his eyes.

What's the matter

with his eyes?

Is it because he wasn't glad to see you?

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