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 poking holes in my bedroom?
I wanted to watch my wife.
Watching your wife won't give you an heir to the throne.
The next time I catch you providing my rooms with needless ventilation,
I'll have you flogged.
I'll catch my death of a draft someday! Go back to your rooms and wait for your wife.
This is your fault. I had hoped by bringing you to Russia to make a man of that half-wit!
Sorry to intrude, Your Majesty.
I think the grand duke dropped one of his soldiers in here.
Thank you. Good night.
Wait a minute. Come here.
How long have you been at this court picking up soldiers?
Two years and a half, Your Majesty.
I fail to recall your exact duties here, Countess Elizabeth.
I'm in charge of entertainment for His Imperial Highness, the grand duke.
Exactly how far is it to your home, Lizzie?
My ancestral home is in the province of Astrakhan,
about two weeks' journey from Moscow.
Not as far as I had hoped. His Imperial Highness has been entertained long enough.
Do you understand me? I don't want to see you around again. Get out.
She won't snoop around here anymore.
I should have thrown her out before I had you brought here.
Come here, Catherine. Sit down.
Haven't you given me trouble enough?
Are you going to behave like an obedient wife...
or must I continue to treat you like a stubborn child?
I don't care what you do with me.
You might change your mind about that.
You're in love with His Excellency, Count Alexei, aren't you?
No, Your Majesty, I'm not.
I'm not.
It's a good thing you're not.
I wouldn't advise you to become my rival.
Rival? What does Your Majesty mean?
You will find out soon. In the meantime, you can blow out the candles.
Before you retire...
you can be of one more service.
Behind my mirror, a concealed passage will lead you down...
a flight of stairs to another door.
behind that door you will find someone waiting to come up.
I don't want him to see you, so be careful.
- Good night, Your Majesty. - Good night, Catherine.
And you don't need to report for duty until late tomorrow.
Halt! Who goes there?
- Nobody. - Just a minute, my little hen.
That's not the password. You'd better think up another one.
Come to the guardhouse, and we'll find out who you are.
You're entirely too good-looking to be running around like this.
What are you hiding back there?
Take your hands off me, you insolent fool!
I'm Catherine, grand duchess of Russia.
Don't take advantage of me. This is my first night on duty.
The grand duchess isn't permitted out at night. Tell me who you are.
I told you who I am.
Oh, come now. Stop joking.
If you're the grand duchess, then I'm the grand duke.
I wish you were!
if i were the grand duke and you were the grand duchess,
I wouldn't let you prowl through the night like this,
like a pretty little kitten.
Suppose I didn't want to tell you who I really am. What would happen?
On a night like this, anything might happen...
if I'm fortunate.
Well, Lieutenant, you are fortunate,
very... fortunate.
It's ringing!
Three volleys. It's a boy!
Have you noticed, Your Majesty,
how the imperial duckling resembles his father?
Hush, hush, enough of this.
Now, you keep an eye on him.
I don't want anyone near him unless I know about it, not even his mother.
I had enough trouble getting him.
If he catches cold or sniffles just once,
I'll have you hung by the ears!
If he coughs, I'll have you cut in half!
And if anyone touches him, I'll have you shot!
Your Majesty, I beg of you not to become excited.
You've been ill for weeks. This turmoil will weaken you.
Don't any of you think I'll give you the pleasure of seeing me die!
I'll outlive all of you, you sinister buzzards. All of you!
- We've been glad with rejoicing. - Your Imperial Highness!
I suppose you, too, want to congratulate me...
as the father of the heir to the throne of Russia.
That was my intention, Your Imperial Highness.
And I bring you the felicitations of my nation...
and my own personal congratulations on so glorious an event.
Yes, I know. Tell me about it some other time.
I want to be alone, do you hear? Get out, all of you!
I'm crammed up to my neck with congratulations!
Get out! And if you must congratulate someone, congratulate my wife!
May I speak with Her Highness?
Shh.
The empress joins her people in congratulating Your Highness...
on the birth of a male heir to the throne of Russia.
We all hope you will recover quickly...
so you may wear this jewel,
which Her Majesty is pleased to present to you as a sign...
of her most extraordinary joy and satisfaction.
Sit down, ladies. Sit down.
Your Excellency, what can I do for you?
Will you please ask Her Highness once more...
- if she will grant me an audience? - I'm sorry, Your Excellency,
we have orders from Her Highness not even to mention your name to her.
Then perhaps you will convey to Her Highness...
that I've been waiting for some time now to congratulate her...
on the great historic event of providing our country with a much-needed heir to the throne.
I'm certain that history was far from her mind at the time, Your Excellency.
Her Majesty is very ill, and her days are numbered.
Soon she will be no more, poor soul,
and another maniac will become our emperor.
It will be a bad day for Russia, and for me if I live that long.
Why are you telling this to me?
You know that the grand duke isn't exactly pleased with the present state of affairs.
State of affairs?
What affairs? I haven't had an affair for some time.
I know that the grand duke plans to remove you from court...
or worse, as soon as he is in power.
You need have no fear for me.
Now that I've learned how Russia expects me to behave,
I like it here.
And I intend to stay...
grand duke or no grand duke!
We all hope you will stay,
and I for one, at the risk of my neck, would like to help you.
How could you be of help?
I control enough of the political machine to carry some weight in a crisis.
I have no wish to share in any petty conspiracy.
Should it become unavoidable, I think I have weapons...
that are far more powerful than any political machine.
I'm afraid you don't know Russians, my child.
That's possible, father, But I�m taking lessons as fast as I can.
Right here, gentlemen.
What a lovely target.
You're looking quite well, Catherine,
since you provided me with an unexpected addition to the family.
Thank you, Peter. It's nice to see you again.
Come to think of it, I'd like you to meet someone...
who's come for an extended visit.
What are you doing here? Back to the barracks!
Get out!
Come along, Catherine.
What do you think of this decapitation?
It would be more amusing if it were real.
Where's your visitor?
Oh, it's Lizzie.
Is she in charge of your entertainment again? What will Her Majesty say?
Her Majesty doesn't know anything about it,
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!
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?
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.