The Scarlet Empress Page #5

and I wouldn't advise

you to tell her.

I wouldn't dream

of telling the empress.

She has her own

system of spies.

Not for the world would I interfere

with your pleasures,

as long as you don't

interfere with mine.

How is Astrakhan, Lizzie?

Or was it Afghanistan?

If you're wise, you'll find out

for yourself before it's too late!

There are comfortable convents along the way.

All you have to do to gain admission...

is shave your head.

It's good for the scalp, anyway!

Entirely too many men

love my hair,

and I have no intention

of changing my residence.

Anyway, this country will

soon need a new empress.

You may as well know...

Peter's going to marry me

when the old bat dies...

and as soon as he gets rid

of his present wife!

There you are, you old crow.

Dead as a doornail at last.

What have you

got to say about it?

Open your mouth if you can.

In another week,

it'll be full of ice.

In another month,

not a soul will mourn for you.

In another year, you'll be forgotten.

Where is all your power?

It's mine now!

Do you hear me?

Take it away from me if you can!

It's my turn now!

- Who is this officer?

- Orloff, Your Majesty,

Captain in charge

of the barracks.

Your Majesty, your visit here

is the greatest honor in my life.

I've heard a good deal

about you, Captain,

from the ladies.

I didn't expect to see you here,

Your Excellency.

Why not, Your Majesty?

This is my pet regiment.

You look ravishing.

Now, there's another

good-looking soldier.

Come here, Lieutenant.

What's your name?

Dmitri, Your Majesty.

And your duties, Dmitri?

In charge of the night watch,

Your Majesty.

It must be cold at night...

sometimes.

Sometimes, Your Majesty.

Anyway, I'm certain you're

very efficient, Lieutenant.

Is he, Captain?

Tell me something about him.

He's very efficient,

Your Majesty.

He joined our regiment

from the Swedish front,

where he fought bravely

for about two years.

He's also distinguished himself by

exemplary bravery on the Turkish border.

This should have been

brought to our attention.

I can't understand why such a brave man

hasn't been decorated.

His Excellency doesn't mind.

Not if Her Majesty will tell me

why she continues to avoid me.

Her Majesty will tell you tonight...

if you will call on her.

With pleasure, Your Majesty.

For bravery in action.

See that you do justice

to it in future emergencies.

And now, Captain,

tell me something about yourself.

Your Majesty, I'm distressed at my neglect

at not having rewarded Lt. Dmitri before.

With your permission,

Your Majesty.

Rich too, huh?

Her Majesty will see you now,

Your Excellency.

At last, Your Majesty,

I've achieved...

the enviable privilege

of entering these rooms.

I seem to have a faint recollection

that you had that privilege before.

Not since the days

of Her Late Majesty,

whom I often visited

in the capacity of a trusted advisor.

Tell the others I've retired.

Send them away,

and come back in here.

Her Majesty wishes

to be alone tonight.

You may retire.

Tell me, Alexei,

are you still fond of me?

Yes, Your Majesty,

I love you.

But I'm completely bewildered

by your attitude towards me.

However, I've become accustomed

to regard you...

as one of those

extraordinary women...

who create their

own laws and logic.

and now I'm concerned

only with your safety.

Is it my safety

that concerns you...

or the safety of an empress?

I would give my life if the woman I adore

were not so far removed from me in station.

The woman you adore is quite

close to you, isn't she?

Catherine,

I love you, worship you.

I asked you here tonight because

I want you to do something for me.

I can trust you, can't I?

We'll always be friends, won't we?

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is it you require?

Blow out the candles.

Behind the mirror, as you know,

there's a flight of stairs.

Down below, someone

is waiting to come up.

Will His Excellency be kind enough

to open the door for him carefully...

so that he can sneak in?

Her Majesty is waiting

for you, Captain.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Will you deliver

a message for me, Captain?

I would be very glad to, sir.

Tell Her Majesty that

I quite understand now.

No, never mind.

Don't tell her anything.

- She'll know.

- Yes, sir.

Something for the poor,

Your Majesty?

For the poor, Captain?

Excellency?

Quite a haul tonight, father.

Chancellor?

Elizabeth?

Your Imperial Majesty,

something for the poor?

That was for me.

Now what have you got for the poor?

There are no poor in Russia!

Get out!

I've had enough of this

sanctimonious talk.

Let us drink.

Why doesn't he take up

his collections in church?

To the most charming

woman in my empire,

my friend,

the countess Elizabeth.

Go ask Her Majesty, my wife,

why she doesn't join our toast.

His Majesty, the emperor of Russia,

wishes me to ask...

why Her Majesty refuses

to join the toast.

Tell His Majesty that my thirst

is not as great as his tonight.

Her Majesty wishes me to convey that her

thirst is not as great as his tonight.

Go tell my wife she's a fool.

His Majesty wishes me

to inform Her Majesty...

that she is a fool.

What is your rank, Orloff?

Captain, Your Majesty.

Well, you're nothing now.

Now get out, both of you,

and stay out!

Sit down!

My wife is not

to leave the palace.

She's under arrest

until further orders.

Am I the emperor of Russia,

or am I not?

We'll issue a proclamation

that she died...

and ask the people

to pray for her.

Hurry, Your Majesty.

Everything is ready.

What are you doing here?

Halt!

Exit Peter III.

Enter Catherine II.

We, soldiers in the service

of the Holy Russian Empire,

do hereby solemnly swear

to acknowledge...

and to defend with our lives,

the authority of Catherine our empress,

and to destroy her enemies!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Your Majesty, we're

sorry to trouble you,

But Her Majesty isn't in here, is she?

She's no longer in her rooms.

You infernal blockhead! This is the last

place in the world she would come to.

Double the guard!

Surround the palace!

Find her

and bring her here to me!

God grant you victory,

Catherine.

All Russia is waiting

for the sound of our bell.

Why are those bells ringing?

Why are those bells ringing?

I don't know, Peter.

How dare you address me like that!

Who are you?

My name is Orloff,

and I'm on duty as guard.

I'll have your head

for this insolence!

You're addressing the emperor!

There is no emperor.

there is only an empress.

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