The Scarlet Empress

How often do I

have to tell you...

that Sophia Frederica

is no longer to play with toys.

She's almost seven now.

Don't smoke in here. The child is sick.

I work day and night to arrange an advantageous

marriage someday, and you undo everything.

How am I to make it clear to you that

Sophia might one day become a queen?

I don't want to be a queen, Mother.

I want to be a toe dancer.

Be quiet, Sophia. You're going to marry

a king if I have anything to do with it.

Stick out your tongue,

Your Highness, and say "ahh. "

Ahh.

Not as bad as I thought.

We'll build her a nice harness,

and she'll have to wear it

for about a year.

Put those toys away.

I don't want to see them again!

You'll grow up to be

a tall and beautiful woman.

I must be off

on one of my operations.

Don't let them frighten you, darling.

"A nice harness"!

What is he, a horse doctor?

You flatter him. Our learned medico is going

to perform one of his operations with an axe.

- He's the public hangman.

- Hangman?

What's a hangman?

Can I become a hangman someday?

A hangman is an executioner,

the man who takes heads off skillfully.

Sometimes that profession

becomes the sport of titles.

I was about to read to you...

of Peter the Great

and Ivan the Terrible,

and other Russian tsars

and tsarinas who were hangmen.

Stop walking, August.

You make me nervous.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness,

a letter from the king.

Your father wishes

to see you at once.

Sit down, my child.

We have been honored with

a communication from His Majesty...

which concerns you principally.

"We, by Divine Grace Frederick,

king of Prussia,

"have, after a series

of negotiations,

"decided to honor your family

by selecting your daughter,

"Sophia Frederica

to forthwith set out for Russia...

"and there to become the bride of

His Serene Highness, Peter Feodorovich,

"grandson of Peter the Great,

nephew of Her Imperial Majesty,

"and heir presumptive

to the throne.

"Within the week,

an emissary will arrive...

"to escort your daughter

and her mother,

"Princess Johanna Elizabeth,

to the court at Moscow.

" Please inform her

that she is to follow dutifully...

"the advice of

Her Majesty's ambassador...

"and extend to her,

as well as to your entire family,

my fond greetings and affections.

Fredericus Rex. "

Grand duchess of Russia!

Not bad for this family.

I wonder what he looks like.

That unimportant detail can be settled

when the ambassador gets here.

Come, August,

we shall reply to the king at once.

One must strike while the iron's hot.

Come with me.

This is the countess Cecilia,

a cousin on my mother's side.

and this is her sister, Maria,

and this-

Your Highness

may now come down.

This is Count Alexei,

field marshal of the Russian Army,

grand master of the hunt,

lord of the chamber

and ambassador extraordinary...

from Her Divine Majesty,

Elizabeth of Russia.

This is my daughter Sophia.

Although for a long time we've heard

about your beauty, Your Highness,

I must confess, I was not prepared

to see such a vision of loveliness.

Her Majesty instructed me to present a few

gifts as evidence of her graciousness.

Come here.

This pipe is for you,

Prince August.

These sables are to keep

your shoulders warm.

These gloves are

to keep your hands warm.

This robe is to keep

your feet warm.

These hot-water bottles,

to keep Mother warm.

Is it then still so cold

in Russia, Your Excellency?

Indeed, Your Highness,

the rivers are still frozen,

and will be until some time

after we've arrived.

Her Majesty also asked me to give you

this token of her esteem.

Convey to her

my profoundest thanks.

Isn't Her Majesty beautiful!

How long will the journey take?

If weather permits,

we should reach Moscow in seven weeks,

where Her Majesty

is impatiently awaiting us.

And when does Your Excellency

require the journey be begun?

The day after tomorrow,

unless it is the desire

of this charming young lady...

to leave at once to meet

her anxious bridegroom.

- Did you bring me a portrait of the grand duke?

- I'm sorry, I did not.

- Would you like him to be handsome?

- Isn't he?

Would you like him to be better looking

than all men, tall and gracious?

- Yes, I think I would.

- Well, he is all that and more.

He's the handsomest man in the Russian

court, tall and formed like a Greek god,

a model in fashion and deportment

which all of us strive to follow.

- Are you eager to see him?

- Yes.

His eyes are like the blue sky,

his hair the color of ebony.

He is stronger

than a team of oxen,

and sleepless because of his desire

to receive you in his arms.

And he can also read and write.

So can my daughter. She can cook and

sew and make her own bed if she has to.

- Can't you, Sophia?

- But I don't like to make my own bed, Mother.

- Don't speak unless you're questioned.

- You did question me, Mother.

Say good night, and go back

to your room and go to sleep.

Good night, Father.

Good night, Sophia.

Good night, Your Excellency.

Good night,

my little princess.

- Good night, Mother.

- Good night.

- Good night, Auntie.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

This is unexpected.

Your daughter is extremely charming...

and will be by far the most beautiful

woman at Her Majesty's court.

I'd be grateful if you

were not to turn her head.

She's been brought up

carefully, is unspoilt,

and I've taught her

not to flirt.

You're going on a far journey,

and I may never see you again.

Remember what I've taught you.

Always to be honest and truthful;

to be a faithful wife and a loyal

subject of your new country.

Be kind to those who

are in your service...

and obedient to your

husband and superiors,

and strive at all times

to be worthy of your glorious destiny.

Another day like this,

and I'll fall apart.

When I return, I'll complain to the king

about the state of his roads.

The roads are bad, aren't they?

When we reach the border, there will

be snow and we shall change to sleds.

Your rooms are ready, Your Royal

Highness. Can I show them to you?

Yes, you may.

I'm prepared for the worst.

Is the journey proving

too much for you too?

Oh, no.

It could go on forever...

if Mother didn't mind.

Be careful with that knife.

You'll cut your beautiful hand.

Your hand is beautiful,

isn't it?

- Why did you do that?

- Because I've fallen in love with you.

Now you may punish me

for my effrontery.

I deserve punishment

far more than you do.

We must never do this again.

It's disloyal to my future husband.

Disloyal? It's treason,

and I must be careful in the future,

but you must help me by not exciting me

with your beautiful eyes.

I told you not to look at me.

What are you two doing?

Don't answer me. I don't want to know.

Sophia,you ought to be

ashamed of yourself.

You will instantly

follow me to our rooms.

Incidentally, our rooms are beneath

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