The Rise of Catherine the Great Page #5

the main Prussian forces at this spot.

Meanwhile General Rumiantzov

strikes for Berlin.

Is that your plan, Rumiantzov?

Does it meet

with your approval, Your Majesty?

It might.

It might meet with my approval,

Rumiantzov...

but what about Ivan Ivanovitch?

- Who?

- Ivan Ivanovitch.

Who is Ivan Ivanovitch,

Your Majesty?

There you are, gentlemen.

Who is Ivan Ivanovitch?

How can we expect to know

what Ivan Ivanovitch thinks...

if we don't even know who he is?

You, Rumiantzov,

will be a field marshal.

So will you, Tchernikoff.

And Buterlin a count.

And Panin a governor.

But... But what will happen

to Ivan Ivanovitch?

And since we don't know

what Ivan Ivanovitch thinks...

I suppose I shall have to...

find Ivan Ivanovitch.

- Who is Ivan Ivanovitch?

- What does he mean by Ivan Ivanovitch?

Sorry, gentlemen. I thought...

- Where is the emperor?

- His Majesty left a moment ago.

Has something happened?

- Anything wrong?

- Nothing in particular.

What was it?

His Majesty began to talk about

the opinions of a certain Ivan Ivanovitch.

And when I asked who the man was,

he answered that that was the question...

who was Ivan Ivanovitch?

But don't you understand?

That is Ivan Ivanovitch.

That is Ivan Ivanovitch.

Ivan Ivanovitch is Russia.

The common soldier.

Millions and millions of Russian peasants.

Ivan Ivanovitch...

wants to till his soil...

fill his stomach...

embrace his wife...

and Johann Muller in Pomerania

wants exactly the same.

But they'll kill each other... and rot...

In the brown Pomeranian soil...

while we play at politics

and statesmanship and glory.

Oh, it's easy to understand,

if one loves Russia.

We all love Russia,

and we understand you.

Rumiantzov,

why can't you understand him?

Ah, here you are, Ivan Ivanovitch.

Tell me, what do you think

of their ingenious plan for the war?

Imperial Majesty,

my name is not Ivan Ivanovitch.

You're cattle for slaughter,

Ivan Ivanovitch.

Imperial Majesty,

my name is not Ivan Ivanovitch.

My dog has more of a brain and more of

an immortal soul than you, Ivan Ivanovitch.

Imperial Majesty,

my name is Ivan Nikolaievitch.

No, gentlemen.

Under the rule of the late empress,

Russia gained strength.

After her, Russia needs a ruler... a man.

And the emperor will be a great ruler...

if you all serve him loyally.

Russia gives him love and confidence.

It is you whom Russia loves.

You understand Russia,

and Russia understands you.

Every soldier in the army

is ready to die if you call on him.

Everyone thinks you could

lead Russia wherever you like.

Catherine.

Oh, Peter.

Forgive my intruding. I just came...

To talk over your future

with these loyal gentlemen.

Oh, no. I came because I wanted...

Get out of here.

Get to the kitchen,

to the nursery.

- Get out! No. Stay here...

- Peter!

- With these loyal leaders of the army...

- Peter.

And give your orders.

Get into my chair.

You're already in my shoes.

Captain Orlov...

carry on with the council.

And let me know

what the lady has decided.

Oh, Your Majesty.

Well?

I was waiting for dear Catherine.

Every soul in Russia pleads with you,

begs you, urges you.

- And one day your soul will respond to it.

- Never, never, never.

Waiting for that day, hundreds of us

stake our heads day after day...

to win over officer after officer, man after man,

with the words "Catherine and Russia."

What do you want to make me?

A traitor to my husband?

The empress of Russia.

The empress of Russia?

The empress of Russia.

No. No, Orlov.

I love the emperor...

and I don't want to be

anything but his wife.

Your Majesty, I deeply regret that...

What is it, Goudovitch?

His Majesty's order is -is -

What is His Majesty's order?

That for the future

Your Majesty will occupy...

the French apartment

in the right wing.

Do you mean...

I am not to live here any longer?

His Majesty's orders.

- I want to see His Majesty.

- Oh, His Majesty's orders...

But all my things are in there.

Mayn't I fetch a few books

and little things for myself?

His Majesty has commanded...

that nothing shall be touched

until further orders.

I see.

It was, um...

the French apartment, wasn't it?

Thank you, Goudovitch.

Her Majesty deeply regrets

she cannot come tonight.

How very unfortunate.

You will please go and tell Her Majesty...

that her presence here

is indispensable to my happiness.

And if you come back without her,

I'll send you on another errand.

You quite understand?

To you, Sir Charles,

as ambassador of England...

and to you, Vicomte,

as ambassador of France...

I tender my sincere apologies for Her Majesty

not being here to receive you.

- Some slight indisposition perhaps.

- Or a refractory frock.

After all, Her Majesty is a woman.

You're quite right, Vicomte.

That's a woman all over...

too ill to come, but not too ill

to dress if she has to come.

- Your Majesty.

- Well?

Forgive me,

but I'm afraid you must come.

I won't.

But you... you should have seen him.

I've told you I'm not

going to be humiliated.

Is that clear enough?

I understand, Your Majesty.

And I know you're right. Only...

Only what?

It means...

Siberia for me.

Did he say so?

Yes, Your Majesty,

if I go back without you.

I'm coming.

Don't get up, gentlemen.

Please, keep your seats.

Don't look so unhappy, Goudovitch.

A woman can sit

at the end of the table...

and still be the head of it.

And another can

sit at the head of a table...

and be the last of all women.

Did you hear what she said?

Goudovitch.

Why hasn't Countess Vorontzova

got the Order of St. Catherine?

The Order of St. Catherine

is given only to...

members of the imperial family,

Your Majesty.

She'll be a member

of the imperial family very soon.

Won't you, my darling?

Get the order and the star

for Countess Vorontzova.

I will convey Your Majesty's command...

tomorrow to the Office of the Order.

You see, Sir Charles?

Russia.

Would such sluggishness

be possible in England?

Am I wrong...

or is that the order

of St. Catherine?

Her Majesty's order?

Her Majesty's order.

Bring it to me.

I'm waiting, Goudovitch.

Quick, Orlov.

Say something

to make me laugh.

I'll tell you the funniest story

you've ever heard.

Captain Prassek has been arrested.

If we lose one more day,

we lose our heads.

There we are.

Hmm. Now, gentlemen.

Let us drink to the first lady

of the empire.

I ask Your Majesty's permission to retire.

I don't feel very well.

You're not feeling well either, Vicomte?

I do not feel very well either,

Your Majesty.

Anyone else not feeling well?

Narishkin.

If you happen to have been

plotting against the czar...

perhaps you have had

an uneasy feeling around the neck...

that stops you

from enjoying your food.

Perhaps you'd like to retire too.

Borodin! A lump in the throat...

a pressure around the neck.

You may go!

And every traitor and conspirator

at this table can go!

All of you clear out!

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