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.
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 all contempt, Your Excellency.
The stables are probably better than the quarters assigned to us.
I'm sorry, Your Highness. If you prefer the stables,
I can arrange to have the horses quartered in your bedroom.
Barbarian!
You're going to sleep in my room tonight.
It is cold. At least you have something to warm you when you get to Moscow;
That is, if your husband isn't completely made of ice.
A basket of fruit with Her Majesty's compliments,
and these flowers from the grand duke,
who instructed me to ride day and night for a week to be here in time.
Welcome home, Your Excellency.
We've missed you.
So, this is Little Sophie, Sophia Frederica.
Hardly a name for a future empress.
- You don't like your name, do you? - I do, Your Majesty.
You will be called Catherine Alexina, a good Russian name.
We've arranged a special ceremony to receive you into our church.
- Haven't we, Simeon? - Yes, little mother, we've arranged a ceremony.
Come here.
So, this is the mother. You've raised a pretty child.
Your Majesty, I've come to lay at your feet feelings of the deepest gratitude...
for the benefactions which your bounty has heaped upon my house,
and of which many instances are given me at every step I take into your realms.
Tush, tush! A pretty speech.
What I have done is nothing in comparison with what I shall do.
- My own blood is no more dear to me than yours. - Is that the grand duke?
Shh.
This is the order of St. Catherine. May you both wear it in good health.
Be careful it doesn't scratch you. Pin this on Catherine.
What do you think of Catherine?
I can only admire your judgment, Your Majesty.
That's the chancellor. Steals more money in a week than I collect in taxes in a year.
Doctor, come here.
What do you think of my taste in women? Looks healthy, doesn't she?
Just what we need to breed sons for Russia.
With your permission, Your Highness.
- How was the journey? Comfortable? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Are you happy to be here?
Yes, Your Majesty.
- Are you going to love your new country? - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Do you promise to be a loyal subject? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Don't make too many new friends, and no intrigue and gossip. I have my hands full now.
Perfect, Your Majesty. She will give us no trouble.
Your Highness.
Someday I'll have every doctor thrown out of the country.
Catherine, before you go to your rooms, is there any wish I can grant you?
I would like to see the grand duke.
His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Peter.
That's a fine way to receive your bride! I suppose you had more important things to do.
I told you to be on time. Go on, kiss each other.
Remember, Catherine, the first child must be a boy.
That's why we had you brought here, to provide Russia with an heir to the throne.
A fine, bouncing, healthy heir. You understand me, Catherine?
These are your ladies-in-waiting.
They represent illustrious houses of our most important domains.
Step forward, Natacha.
She is the daughter of Prince Dolgoruki.
Natacha, come here.
This is your mistress of the wardrobe. She has charge of the beds and laces.
I must show her my new invention.
I'm in a hurry. I must witness an execution.
I suggest that you wait in the next room.
Perhaps I shouldn't have lied to you.
Forgive me, won't you?
His Imperial Highness sent me for his soldiers.
I hope I haven't disturbed you.
That's Countess Varonsoff. She's always picking up the grand duke's soldiers,
which I'm beginning to suspect he leaves intentionally.
Don't bother. Don't bother. Go on with your work.
Doesn't Sophia, I mean, Catherine, look beautiful? I always forget the new name.
Just see what's being done to her hair!
That's exactly what I'm looking at.
How's she going to wear the headdress? Where is the headdress?
- Where is the headdress? - Where's the headdress?
We must make you very beautiful, Catherine, very, very beautiful...
so that my nephew will fall in love with you.
I expect you two to behave like love birds so Russia will have an heir to the throne.
Remember, I want a boy, not a girl. Nothing less than a boy will do.
We don't want any more women on the throne.
But Your Majesty, what would we have done if you had been born a boy?
I would have had less trouble in Russia if I'd been born a man instead of woman.
We women are too much creatures of the heart, aren't we, Catherine?
Yes, Your Majesty.
"Grant them of the fruit of their bodies fair children,
"concord of soul and body.
"exalt them like the cedars of Lebanon.
"like a luxuriant vine, give them seed in number like full ears of grain...
"that they may abound in every work that is good and acceptable unto Thee;
"and let them behold their children's children like a newly planted olive orchard,
"round about their table that obtaining favor in Thy sight,
they may shine like the stars of heaven. "
Blessed be this bed.
Your Imperial Majesty,
before the bridal pair retire, I wish to propose a toast...
to Her Imperial Highness, the grand duchess Catherine.
May our new bride from far away be forever happy...
and learn to know the love we have in our Russian hearts for her...
and the hope this vast, imperishable empire has...
for an heir to the throne.
You have made me very happy today, Catherine,
and i hope you will continue to make me happy.
Now, I'm going to bed. I'm very tired.
And I know that most of you...
are...
are also very tired.
May I inquire how Her Imperial Highness deigns to feel this morning?
Her Highness feels as well as can be expected...
after her romantic marriage.
And how is His Excellency?
His Excellency is distressed because you've been avoiding him for an eternity.
- I haven't been avoiding you. - You have.
I've tried again and again to see you alone...
- and you've made it impossible. - If you must know,
I haven't had enough time to recover from the shock...
of finding my husband a trifle different than you described him.
I had a duty to my country and a loyalty to my sovereign.
Had I described the grand duke correctly,
you might not have come here.
I would have obeyed my mother even if you had told the truth.
How could I have known of such a degree of filial respect?
Anyway, I would have taken no chances, because from the moment I saw you,
- I wanted you to come to Russia. - Please, be careful.
- My husband will be told. - Your husband doesn't mean a thing to you.
He does. I'll always be faithful to him.
Those ideas are old-fashioned. This is the eighteenth century.
But I'm not a Russian. I'm going now.
I told you I wanted to see you alone. I won't wait any longer.
I'll be at the stables tomorrow when you go for your ride.
Maybe I won't care to ride anymore.
- I'll be there, and you'd better be there too. - I will not!
Furthermore, I'm going to tell my mother all about you.
One moment more, Your Imperial Highness.
On the reverse side of this miniature is a diamond. Don't lose the diamond.
What are you doing here 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?