The Scarlet Empress Page #3

sneaking around like a ghost?

- I hate my wife.

- You hate your wife?

You've only been married

for a week. Why?

You'll make a fine emperor

someday, you idiot!

You can't force a woman to be sweet

to you. She's only a child!

Be patient with her. You know our people

are waiting for you to raise a family.

- They don't care whether you like her.

- I don't want her.

I picked her for your wife, and your

wife she will remain as long as I live.

Get that into your skull.

I don't want to hear any more about it.

Do you understand me?

Her Majesty is waiting for you

in the council chamber.

- War with Finland?

- Yes, Your Excellency.

- How is Her Majesty?

- The last few days she's turned sour,

like milk that's been

standing too long.

Your Highness is

so happy this morning.

- You can't be going to see your husband.

- Dear me, my husband!

I'd forgotten I have a husband.

No, I'm not going to see my husband.

If Your Highness were not so new to our court,

I'd suspect you were going to see your lover.

Lover?

And what may a lover be?

A lover's a man, not a husband, who loves you

with all his heart and whom you love in return.

But, Marie, that's wicked.

Don't tell me that you have a lover!

I wish I had. Here, everyone

has a lover, everyone but me.

Oh, Marie, not everyone. Her Exalted

Majesty can't possibly have a lover.

What about the young man

who's always with her?

Why do you suppose she leans on him

so heavily? Because she's weak in the knees?

Oh, how shocking! If anyone

should hear us! Go on, get my dress.

Your highness won't tell anyone.

The empress is a devil when she's angry.

Of course I won't tell anyone,

nor do I believe such nonsense.

Neither have I a lover. I'm happy

because I'm going to see my mother.

- Your mother? I thought you knew.

- Knew what?

Your mother left for Germany.

Her carriage set out at midnight.

- You must be joking.

- I'm not joking.

Her Majesty ordered her

to return immediately.

But she didn't say good-bye.

That's not possible.

Her Majesty's in council.

No one's allowed to enter.

No order in this palace

is intended for me.

Why did you send my mother away?

What wrong had she done?

I don't remember sending for you.

I want to know why

you sent my mother away.

You presume to question me?

Who do you think you are,

bursting into a conference as

though the palace were on fire?

You want to know why

I sent your mother away.

Well, I'll tell you why.

I sent your mother away because

she didn't bring you up properly.

I was told you were an obedient,

respectful child.

You're nothing of the sort!

Why do you think I had you brought from

Germany? To give you these pearls?

Or to make you a grand duchess

of the Holy Russian Empire?

I had you brought here

to be an obedient wife...

and to supply my country with

a much-needed heir to the throne.

Take Her Imperial Highness,

the grand duchess,

and turn her over

to my mistress of the robes...

with instructions that from this minute on she's

to be attached to my personal staff...

where I can keep her under my eye,

where I can educate her and teach her...

what it means to be a Russian wife and how

to accept the embraces of a husband...

like a Russian wife!

Now, get out, both of you.

I have a war on my hands.

Looking for someone?

Oh, you frightened me.

I've only a minute. I ran away.

I came down to tell you

not to wait. I must go now.

Is that all you came to tell me?

What else is there to tell?

If you come closer,

I'll scream.

It will be easier for you to scream

without a straw in your mouth.

Get up! Get up!

Why are there six places?

What's the occasion?

You asked me to arrange a dinner for the French

and Austrian ambassadors and their wives.

Tell them to come for breakfast.

I never did like these diplomatic functions.

- They lead to nothing.

- I quite agree, Your Majesty.

Don't any of you think I'm going to eat

with a lot of dried-up mummies every night.

Boris, sit down there.

Alexander, sit over there.

You, sit there.

Michael!

- Your Majesty.

- Catherine.

Take his toys.

Michael, sit there.

Paul!

- Your Majesty.

- Oh, go on. Sit down.

Now, the rest of you get out.

Get out! Get out!

The pig, Your Majesty.

Put it down and don't make

so much fuss about it.

The way you handle that pig, you'd think

it was the only one in Russia.

- The wine, Your Majesty.

- Fill the glasses and get out.

What are you pouting for?

You're not jealous of Paul, are you?

He isn't jealous of you. You look

exhausted, Paul. What's the matter?

I'm tired. My wife gave birth

to a child yesterday.

- Boy or girl?

- A boy, beloved empress.

What the wife of a guard can do should

certainly be easy for a grand duchess.

Remind me to give you a purse of gold

tomorrow. Those of you who have boys,

raise your hands.

Exactly what I thought!

A few more like you, and Russia

need never worry about her enemies.

What's this, Alexei?

Sending notes to the grand duchess?

Do you want me

to send you into exile?

Or shall I tell the grand duchess

that you're a notorious heartbreaker...

and have broken every woman's heart

in this court, including mine?

You're very flattering, Imperial Majesty,

but the note contains nothing of importance.

Then suppose you read it.

"We are all very much disturbed

over your conduct...

and wish you would change your behavior

so that Her Majesty might forgive you. "

Who else can read here?

You read it, Catherine.

I know you can read...

because my reports say you foolishly

spend your time in bed reading books!

"We are all very much upset at,

uh, uh -

"at- and hope...

you will behave better...

so that you may be

forgiven by the empress. "

Send for the chancellor!

- Your Imperial Majesty?

- Read this for me.

"You must help me

to see you alone again.

"You are being watched so closely

that all my efforts to meet you...

for a few precious seconds

are in vain. "

So, you're up to

your old tricks again!

Right under my nose too.

Well, forget about her.

she's reserved for my nephew and being

taught how to earn his love first...

before wasting her favors on others.

Go back to your dinner. It's the first

time you've been of use to me in a year.

As for you, look after my friends

and see that they're fed well.

Did you hear what I said?

Sit down,you fools,

or I'll send you to Siberia.

She may be a grand duchess

to the rest of the world,

but in here she's being taught

how to be a Russian wife!

Catherine, where are you?

Take off my boots!

Go outside and send the others away.

Everybody!

I want to be alone tonight.

Her Majesty wishes

to be alone tonight.

You wouldn't think that once

I had skin like velvet.

Empress, bah! I haven't even the power

to iron out a single wrinkle.

What are you looking at?

That must be Peter.

Go see if it is, and tell him

to come here at once.

Your Imperial Highness,

Her Majesty wishes to see you at once.

What the devil do you mean

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