Original subtitles

NTV-PROFIT Film Company production

jointly with Administration of the Orenburg region & with the participation of GLOBUS Film Studio

Rouassi Films & Production Le Pont

& Channel Plus

with support from the Russian Cinematography Committee

For the centenary of Pushkin's birth

Based on "The Captain's Daughter" & "The History of Pugachev"

"THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER"

Directed by Alexander PROSHKIN

Shoo!

Out!

Vladimir MASHKOV

A letter for the Tsarina.

Mateusz DAMENSKI

Sergei MAKOVETSKY as Shvabrin

Carolina GRUSZKA as Masha

Vladimir ILYIN as Savelich

as well as Yuri BELYAEV Natalya EGOROVA

You will excuse me, gentlemen.

Yuri KUZNETSOV Juzas BUDRRAITIS

I'll leave you for a moment.

Olga ANTONOVA as Catherine II

Dear Mother Tsarina,

How can I explain or describe this predicament?

Will you believe your faithful servant?

For the life for me I don't know how this happened.

Will you ever pardon us, Mother Tsarina?

Peter llI has departed this world.

Please, pardon or punish us for we have enraged you and ruined our lives.

Your despicable slave Alexei Orlov.

Messrs Senators.

Our spouse Pyotr Fyodorovich passed away last night

of a bout of hemorrhoidal colics.

Costume Designer Natalya POLYAKH

Sound Supervisors Alexander KHASIN & Yuri REIBACH

Artists Alexander TOLKACHEV Vladimir ERMAKOV

Director of Photography Sergei JURISDITSKY

Music by Vladimir MARTYNOV

Written by Galina ARBUZOVA, Stanislav GOVORUKHIN, Vladimir ZHELEZNIKOV

Producer Mikhail SILBERMAN

General Producer Igor TOLSTUNOV

We'd better turn back, sir.

What for?

The weather's treacherous. See how the wind's sweeping over the snow.

" So what? " That cloud.

It means a blizzard.

Step on it. We may yet be able to reach the station.

What's the rush? No wedding, is it?

Petrusha is back!

I'm afraid Father will be displeased.

He is very ill, he is at death's door.

He wishes to see you.

Why didn't you listen to me?

You'd have been at the inn by now,

had tea and slept soundly till dawn.

Andrei Petrovich, do you hear me?

Petrusha is back. Give him your blessing.

Why should I ask to be blessed by this muzhik?

He is your sponsor father.

No fear.

Kiss his hand.

No fear.

My father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev

retired after the death of Tsar Peter III.

I remember this very well as I was five years old then.

While I was still in my mother's womb,

I was entered in the Semenov regiment as a sergeant.

I was considered on leave till the completion of my schooling.

By the age of 12 I learned to read & write by our groom Savelich.

My father then engaged a French tutor for me.

M.Beaupre hed been a barber in his native land,

then he had served in the Prussian army.

He was a good-humored fellow, if excessively flighty and dissolute.

We got on capitally but fate soon separated us.

Do you call it geography?

Monsieur Beaupre!

Thus my education came to an end.

Father drove the Frenchman out and sent me into the army.

At 16 my idea of army service was the pleasures of life in St. Petersburg.

Being an officer of the Guards, I felt, was the height of human bliss.

Goodbye, Pyotr. Be loyal to whoever you swear allegiance.

Obey your superiors. Do not seek their good graces.

Do not offer services unasked, nor refuse them when asked.

Live by the proverb:

"Keep you dress clean while it's still new,

guard your honor in the days of your youth. "

Alas! Father disposed of my fate as he saw fit.

It wasn't to Petersburg that I was heading,

but to the end of the world, to the Orenburg fort.

" Why don't we go? " There's nowhere to go.

No sign of a road. Trouble, Sir.

Hey, easy, easy.

Scared, ain't ya? I could give up the ghost.

My good man, could you show us the road?

It's right here. I'm standing on firm ground.

" You better go back. " Why?

It's not your horses or sleigh so you don't have pay.

The wind's blowing from there. I can smell smoke.

" Turn back. " Do as he says.

Stepan!

Take this to warm you up.

I'm sure I've seen you before.

In your dream perhaps, Sir.

Do me a favor, Your Honor.

That's no drink for a Cossack. Tell'em to bring me a glass of vodka.

Pour him some wine.

Leave it alone.

What brings you here?

I flew to the veg plot to peck at hemp-seed.

Granny threw a stone but missed. Well, how're our folk?

Our folk? Time to ring for vespers,

but the priest's away and the devil's at play.

Hush. Stuck your axe at your belt, the woodman's near.

Here's to you!

Later I understood what they were talking about.

The previous year the Yaik Cossacks' mutiny had been quenched.

Bullets and torture had a short-lived effect.

Everything portended a new rebellion.

Thanks for yesterday, dear fellow.

Savelich, give him 50 copecks for vodka.

50 copecks for vodka? No!

We don't have 50 copecks to spare, Sir.

Very well Give him my hareskin coat.

For heaven's sake, what would he do with it?

Swap for drink at the next tavern!

It's nothing to do with you.

His Nabs has a mind to give me a coat off his back.

It's your duty to obey as a bondsman.

You have no fear of God, you rogue!

Trying to fleece a guileless child!

What do you want with a gentleman's fur coat?

You couldn't squeeze your accursed shoulders into it!

" Stop being smart, Savelich. " Many thanks, Your Nabs.

Dear God! The furcoat's almost new.

May the Lord reward you for your goodness.

" And to whom? A drunken bum! " I'll never forget your kindness.

Bad luck we met the accursed man. He had come out of nowhere, damn him!

What? Not rioting again?

Just you dare!

You should thank God for sending me to teach you.

Billiards is a must for us soldiers.

Say, you come to some place on the march

What's there for you to do?

" Some hit. " Play billards of course.

Careful, it's hot.

Why this wry face?

What would life in the army be without punch?

Here we go!

You've begun carousing early, Sir.

It's that accursed Monseer: "Madam, je vous prie vodka. "

Have a drink of gherkin brine with honey.

" A message from Captain Zurin. " Give it to me.

Here's a je-vous-prie for you.

Give him 100 rubles.

When did you contrive to get into debt? There is some foul play here.

Say what you will, Sir, I shall not give the money.

I am your master and you are my servant.

It's my money. I lost it because I chose to.

So stop being smart aleck and do as you are told!

You hear me?

Why, Pyotr Andreich, Master Light of my eyes,

heed the old man. Write and tell that scoundrel you were only joking.

And we don't possess such a sum.

" 100 rubles! Good God! " Give him the money. Now.

Next morning I left Orenburg.

On my father's insistence I was detailed to a far-off garrison

to serve under Captain Mironov, commandant of the Belogorsk fort.

I hear a man appeared in Tsaritsyn some time ago.

" He calls himself Tsar Pyotr Fyodorovich. " So?

His fate is unknown. Some say he escaped,

others say he was whipped to death.

That's true. The Tsar has turned up in Tsaritsyn.

The real Tsar Pyotr Fyodorovich.

He was caught in Tsaritsyn but he escaped.

Someone else was whipped to death.

How come?

Pyotr Fyodorovich was announced dead.

How are the troops faring?

Pretty bad I'd say.

All Cossack privileges were taken away.

The Tsarina hasn't paid us for a good year.

I can give you money. Provided you go to Turkland with me.

You mean to flee? We got no money. We're real poor.

I have 200,000 rubles.

The Turkish Pasha will only be to happy to have us.

We can have another 5 million.

No one can have so much money except the Tsar.

I am your Tsar Pyotr Fyodorovich.

God and good people saved me

for Russia.

Okay, dammit, I'll show you!

We ain't no whoring sluts.

" You heard about special royal marks? " What marks?

Every tsar has those marks.

I wouldn't show them to the troops.

Well, my friends.

Have you ever seen those marks on ordinary men?

No, Father Tsar, we haven't.

Now keep your eyes open, you'll see those marks.

Here goes.

What's that? An eagle?

The tsarist eagle.

Hello, Father.

Good day to you, Your Honor.

Permettez moi, mon cher. Shvabrin Alexei Ivanovich.

Tres contend de vous connaitre. Grinev Pyotr Andreyevich.

The desire to see a human face got the better of me, I couldn't wait to meet you.

You'll understand that when you've lived here awhile.

The landowners in manors are rough and are uncouth. The landladies are all fat cows.

And the young ladies?

Their foot sizes are as vast as the local expanses.

And they all reek of sheepskin.

" That must be Captain Mironov? " In flesh.

But the real commandant is his wife, Vasilisa Egorovna.

Being hospitable people, I bet they'll ask you to dinner.

There's also the Captain's daughter.

She's sweet until she opens her mouth.

I beg to excuse me, Maria Ivanovna.

" I beg to excuse me. " For what?

I leaped out so suddenly.

So you've met.

This morning. I nearly killed him.

With the sledge.

" Did you serve in Semenovsky regiment? " I did.

What caused you to leave the Guards for a regiment, may I ask?

My superiors' will.

Not the deeds unworthy of an officer of the Guards?

Enough, Ivan Ignatievich.

Don't be upset, dear fellow. You're not the first, nor the last.

Shvabrin here was degraded 4 years ago and banished here.

Guess why?

Deathly murder.

He and a lieutenant, you see, took their swords and started prodding at each other.

And Alexei Ivanovich pierced him to death.

Is it a sin to wash away a sin with blood?

What's this, Sir?

I was busy drilling my old boys.

Tut-tut. It's just words about drilling.

They'll never learn and you don't know much about it yourself.

You had much better stay in and say your prayers.

Hey, girl, come and serve.

It's praiseworthy that you start your career in a garrison,

not in some Petersburg bordel.

At least you won't learn to be a spendthrift and playboy here.

Very true indeed.

Pass me an apple, my dear.

I hear this is not a safe place.

From whom, may I ask?

Orenburg people.

" Fiddlesticks. " 20 years ago when we were transferred here

God alone knows how frightened I was of those heathens.

Whenever I saw those lynx caps

If they dare attack us, I'll take them in hand

so they'll be quiet for the next 10 years.

Are you a man of means?

Say, how many peasants do you own?

300.

Fancy that! How rich some people are!

All we have is one servant-girl, Palasha.

But thank God we don't do so badly.

Our only concern is Masha.

Of marriageable age and what of her dowry?

A comb, a broom and a silver coin and " God save the mark! -

clean undies for the banya.

What did I say, darling?

Help yourselves, dear guests. Don't mind her.

She doesn't have a funny bone.

Bully for you, Yulai.

Pull him down, Maximych!

You Tartar mug.

Would you?

" Why not. " Let's wager.

On what?

He who hits more watermelons kisses the captain's daughter.

" Will she agree? " Let's ask her.

Maria Ivanovna.

One, two, one, two!

Four!

Six, Miss.

Not half bad. I didn't expect it.

Neither did I! But my guess is you didn't try hard enough.

You've lost deliberately.

" Well, if you say so " This doesn't count. Repetez.

It was a joke, Grinev. Our bet was just a joke.

Did you really think she'd be kissing in public?

Here.

Get lost, Savelich!

You're sweating and it's freezing cold, Sir.

Brothurs!

You all know me.

Lissun, brothurs.

Light has descended upon us. Emperor Pyotr llI are with us!

Pyotr Fyodorovich!

Lead us, Father!

I'm your true tsar!

Serve me faithfully

and I'll give you the Yaik river

from source to mouth,

seas and grasses,

money, bread,

lead, power

and freedom!

I know you've been treated badly,

robbed of your privileges and liberties.

God has given this tsardom for my true Faith!

And I'll restore your liberties and assure your well-being.

I'll never forsake you!

Serve me faithfully, children,

and you'll be in my good graces.

Whoever doesn't,

will not escape my hands.

Time passed and my life had become not merely bearable

but pleasant.

Maria Ivanovna soon stopped being shy of me.

I found her to be a girl possessed of both sense and feeling.

Shvabrin had a lot of French books and I tried my hand at translating.

And sometimes the composing of verses too.

Let me introduce Grinev Pyotr Andreyevich.

Kharlova Elizaveta Alexeyevna, our steppe queen.

You and your jokes, Alexis. Glad to meet you.

Meet your namesake.

Really? Delighted.

Congratulations, Andrei Ilyich.

Yulai, take the horse to the fort.

" You are not going anywhere. " Take this for luck, my love. It's sard.

Thank you sweetheart.

Let's have a drink as is our custom.

May your horse be a true comrade to you.

Will you deign to take a glass of wine, Your Honor.

I'd love to.

Pyotr Andreyevich! Gentlemen!

Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Just listen to Petrusha.

Get us the light!

You look great in them.

Like a bride at the altar, Maria Ivanovna.

Masha, don't take them off. They are yours.

Don't take them off.

Masha, will you marry me?

I never know when you joke and when you don't.

I am not taking them. They don't suit me.

On a moonlit night

Thru fog and dark

A brave Cossack

Rode on horseback.

The moon high up

Cast silver light

On fair maiden

With all its might.

Come with me, O fair maiden,

To the faraway lands.

I love you so, I love you so,

Such dear love ne'er ends.

Our maiden braving shyness

Whispered softly yes.

Young Cossack was overjoyed.

Said, 'I'm forever yours. '

He took her to unknown climes,

They were happy then and there.

For a fortnight he did love her,

An' vanished into the air.

" Damn you, Savelich. " Why is that?

Empty buckets. A bad sign.

Do you really believe in those things?

It's piping hot!

The old man must be crazy!

"My love I fain would shun, Lovely Masha I would free"

Stop this.

My friend, a poet needs a listener

just as Ivan Kuzmich needs a glass of vodka before dinner.

" And who is this Masha? " Cut it out I said.

Not the captain's daughter?

It's none of your business.

I want neither your opinion, nor your surmises.

Hearken to my a friendly counsel, my touchy poet

and a discreet lover.

It takes more than warblings to succeed.

What? Explain yourself.

Don't splash me, please.

If you wish Masha to visit you in the twilight,

you must offer her a pair of earrings not sweet verses.

What makes you have such a low opinion of her?

I know her morals and habits from experience.

You scoundrel.

You lie shamelessly.

I can't let that pass. You'll give me satisfaction.

Gladly. When?

Tomorrow morning.

Corporal Prokhorov beat Dame Nikulina in the banya for a tub of hot water.

Vasilisa Egorovna ruled to punish them both.

You say you're going to stab Alexei Ivanovich.

My God! It's unchristianlike to kill thy neighbor.

And suppose he pierces you?

" That's a matter of honor. " Big deal!

He abused you, you swore back.

He punched your face,

you hit his ear and another ear and still another. And split.

You're wrong, Ivan Ignatievich.

For Christ's sake, not a word to the commandant.

You are under arrest! Now!

Hand over your swords.

So Messrs Officiers. What do you propose for me to do?

Pyotr Andreyevich, I never expected this from you.

Well, Alexei Ivanovich killed a man.

And he doesn't believe in God!

With all due respect this is for Ivan Kuzmich to decide.

Are not husband and wife one flesh?

Do something! Keep them on bread and water.

Military regulations ban duels.

This is on the one hand. And on the other

Shake hands. Come on!

Come on, Pyotr Andreyevich.

There's good boys.

Tell them to kiss each other.

Good.

A burden off my chest.

Swords to Messrs Officers!

And what was this all about?

A mere trifle, Ivan Kuzmich. A song.

That not worth quarreling over! How did it come about?

Pyotr Andreyevich wrote a song and sang it in front of me.

I hummed my favorite couplet: "Captain's daughter, stay at home,

In the moonlight do no roam. " Strong words followed.

Miss!

I beg to leave. Duty calling.

" What kind of duty? " Urgent duty.

Pray, come over!

No. I just want to ask you. Who started the quarrel?

So it's Alexei Ivanovich.

What makes you think so?

I don't know.

I don't like him. He scares me. He's forever sneering.

He's in love with you.

Perhaps he is.

" May I come out to you? " No, no!

If Shvabrin didn't like you would that annoy you?

Yes You know everything about me.

Not everything. He proposed to me.

And you didn't accept him?

Alexei Ivanovich is a clever man of course.

He comes of a good family and has property.

Oh my God! What am I saying!

Masha

Maria Ivanovna

Sire

It's not yet late, Shvabrin. Apologize!

Apologize?

Wait, Master!

Jesus Christ, the son of God, have mercy on us.

The Most Holy Mother of God, succour us.

Saint Nicholas, pray to God for us.

Oh Lord, help your ailing servant Pyotr.

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Is he gone?

No, he just came to!

Why are you crying, darling?

Masha.

Masha.

Maria Ivanovna.

You mustn't talk. You're still too weak.

Your wound may reopen. Take care of yourself.

Masha Masha

If only for my sake.

Since that time things were getting better and better for me.

I was attended by the regimental barber.

Thanks heavens he didn't try any experiments on me.

Youth and nature faciliatted my recovery.

Masha, don't laugh at me.

Maria Ivanovna,

darling, be my wife.

Consent to make me a happy man for life.

See anything?

" Nothing. " Thank God.

Thank God. It's a blessing.

They are crowing the Cossacks are rising up in arms

and Bashkirs are going to rebel.

They wouldn't dare.

We need each other.

A poet needs a reader and I'm the only reader here.

" So you're released. " Indeed.

" Good. " I want to say how much I regret the incident.

God is my witness, it's all my fault.

I beg you to forget the whole story

if you can.

Can you ever forgive me?

I do forgive you with all my heart.

Now we'll forget not only the quarrel, but even our own mothers.

Halt!

Oh my God, Kharlov.

It means soon.

Tomorrow perhaps?

Quite possibly.

Bastard. Reg'lar bastard.

Sergeant!

Get the dead men buried right here.

And see that they don't know about it in the fort.

Understood? That's an order!

And what has become of his wife

Elizaveta Alexeyevna?

The same thing.

Those subhumans spare neither women, nor children. They are beasts.

Halt!

Dig a grave.

"And whoever dares to go against my will,

will face my righteous wrath and meet cruel death. "

"Great Tsar and Unperor of All Russia Pyotr Fyodorovich. "

He an emperor? Is he talking to us?

Son of a bitch!

I got a secret order from the General back in winter.

To arrest that runaway convict should he appear in these parts.

He really is very powerful.

Is he? We are gonna find out soon enough.

I see you've been in our traps before. Your pate's sliced clean.

Frankly, I'm not too fond of investigations.

Who sent you? Answer me.

Why don't you speak? Don't you understand simple Russian?

Yulai, ask him.

So he

Yes, I see.

We won't get anything out of him. Lock him in the barn.

Well, God is merciful.

We've got enough men and I've cleaned the cannon.

I'm sure we'll beat the villain off.

It is our sacred duty to assure the security of our women.

You should send them to Orenburg.

My dear, don't you think

you should be sent away till we have dealt with the rebels?

Well, so be it. We'll send Masha away.

But don't dream of asking me to go, for I will not.

I'm not going to part with you in my old age

and seek a lonely grave in a strange land.

We have lived together, together we will die.

My son Pyotr.

Your letter in which you request our blessing

and consent to your marriage with Maria Ivanovna

has been received by us.

I have no intention of giving you either.

Andrei Petrovich, please.

I mean to take you in hand as if you were a mere boy,

regardless of your officer rank.

So you've shown that you're unworthy to carry the sword,

given you for the protection of your Motherland

and not for duels with hotheads like yourself.

And so, not being satisfied with being the cause of a wound

that kept me at death's door a whole month,

you wish to kill my parents too?

Why, Sir, what's this you say to me?

Me the cause of your wound?

I was trying to shield you but my age prevented me.

" Did you have to inform on me? " I didn't. Read this.

You old dog ought to be ashamed for not telling me

about my son despite my strict injunctions.

And for leaving it to strangers to inform me of his pranks.

Not you? Who then?

The Commandant?

No, he wouldn't.

Shvabrin?

You're right. That's him. Bastard!

" Pyotr Andreyevich, come with me. " What do you want?

Somebody wants to see you.

Yulai, why don't you go to church?

This way please.

Here we are!

Well?

I'm leaving for Orenburg tomorrow.

I know.

God's will be done.

Come to me.

What?

" A letter. " What?

" From my father. " So soon.

" Andrei " You go with her?

" Yes, early morning. " Then I'll go too.

Where? To them?

Hush. Hush! Hush!

I love you! I love you so.

Go away, you idiot!

God knows what's best for us.

Your parents don't wish me in the family. Be happy.

No, Masha. Let's throw ourselves at your parents' feet.

They are simple folk, they'll give us their blessing.

When they see you, my parents will accept you, I know.

It cannot be otherwise. When the father finds out, you'II

No, we must submit to the will of God.

No, Masha.

My dearest, my only one.

Tomorrow we'll part anyway.

Yes, it's Pugachev.

Whatever should happen to me, my last thought will be about you.

" Open up! " Maximych.

" Unlock the barn, you Tartar mug. " I can't. The Cammandant's orders.

Forget the Commandant. Come with me to serve our Tsar.

Our Tsar? He is not a tsar. He's a highwayman.

Tie him up, fellas. We'll give him out as a present.

" Hey, why? " Move it.

Oh, do move quickly!

Well, my lads,

I call on you to defend our beloved Empress.

And show the whole world we're brave and loyal subjects.

We sure will, Your Honor.

" God bless you. " To your positions!

What's going on?

This Yulai here's from the fort.

A present for you, Sire.

Well, how's the battle going?

D'you call'em an enemy?

They are robbers and riff-raff.

" The first snow fell last night. " What?

Why didn't you leave, Maria Ivanovna?

The road to Orenburg is cut off.

Don't you see?

Well, Masha, aren't you afraid?

No. I'm more afraid to stay in the house.

Still, you better go home.

Fire!

Watch out, Sire.

You might be killed.

Ready!

I told you!

There are no cannons

made specially for tsars?

" Don't shoot! " Don't shoot!

Here's a present from the Tsar.

Vasilisa Egorovna, would you be so kind

Fire!

I'll give it hot to you, bastards! Fire, lads!

Vasilisa Egorovna, this is no place for women. Take Masha away!

Ivan Kuzmich, we're in God's hands, living or dead.

Bless Masha.

Well, Masha

be happy. Pray to God.

Poor Yulai!

Should you meet a good man, God grant you love and counsel.

Live with him as we two have lived together.

Goodbye, Masha. Now take her away.

Come, come, darling.

Kiss me goodbye, Ivan Kuzmich.

Forgive me if I have ever wronged you.

Goodbye, my dear.

Stand firm, my lads.

" Left! " Right!

Get ready!

Treat'em to some case shots

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

No! Back!

Now, lads, open the gate! Beat the drum! Sortie!

Get ready to attack!

Forward, lads!

Ready!

Fire!

Halt!

Hold it, lads!

Back!

If we must die, die we will!

It is the soldier's service matter!

Get up, lads. What have you done?

Do you know me?

I am your Unperor Pyotr III.

Will you serve me loyally and faithfully?

We will! We will!

I, the Great Tsar, forgive you.

If any of you kills a landowner or loots his manor,

I give him 100 rubles and an officer's rank.

Whoever kills 10, gets 1000 and a general's rank.

" Understand, my lads? " You are welcome, Sire.

Help yourself, Sire.

Are you the Commandant?

How dare you come against your Tsar?

You are not a tsar.

You're a thief and impostor.

Goodness gracious!

Swear allegiance to Tsar Pyotr Fyodorovich.

We serve Tsarina Ekaterina Alexeyevna

and Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich.

And you are a thief and impostor.

Pull it, you rascal!

I swear allegiance to you, Tsar.

Good.

Serve your unperor.

Don't be shy.

Curse on you!

Lord, rest their sinful souls.

Take this sucker

to the gallows.

Wait, accursed ones! Wait!

Merciful father! Why send my master's child to death?

Set him free and get a big ransom for him!

Get me hanged if you have to!

Old fox.

Come here, Pyotr Andreyevich.

Our Tsar pardons you. Kiss his hand.

" Come on, Master, kiss his hand. " Kiss his hand!

Kiss his hand.

Looks like His Nabs is crazed with joy.

What did you do to him?

Light of my eyes, Ivan Kuzmich,

valliant warrior!

Prussian bayonets

and Turkish bullets spared you.

You didn't lose your life in a fair battle.

Stop the old hag.

But at the hands of a runaway convict!

Come with me, O fair maiden, To the faraway lands.

I love you so, I love you so, Such dear love ne'er ends.

Your Honor? At last.

You are welcome. I've been expecting you.

Our maiden braving shyness

Get out.

" What? " Get out, Father.

Whispered softly yes.

Young Cossack was overjoyed, Said, "I'm forever yours. "

Have some wine?

" For a fortnight he did love her " An' vanished into the air.

Not to your taste, eh?

Thank your stars I recognized that old bear

or you'd have swung from the cross-beam.

Out everybody!

You stay.

Make it snappy! Hear me?

You never imagined, Your Nabs, that the man who showed you the way

was the Great Tsar himself.

Answer me. Don't you believe I'm the Great Tsar?

Who d'ya think I am?

God only knows who you are.

But whoever you may be, you're playing a perilous game.

Think whatever you wish but serve me faithfully.

And I'll make you a field-marshal or a prince.

What do you say?

No. As a nobleman

I swore allegiance to my Empress. I can't serve you.

If you indeed wish me well, then let me go.

Do you at least promise not to serve against me?

My life is in your hands.

Let me go and I'll thank you,

have me hanged, then God be your judge.

I've told you the whole truth.

So be it.

If I punish " punish I will,

if I pardon " pardon I will.

Oh, what a day! What a horrors!

The young mistress is asleep.

She was tossing in bed all night calling for her parents.

I feared lest they might hear her.

Farewell, lads!

Here's your new commander. Do as he bids you

and he'll answer to me for you and for the fort.

" Here. " What's this?

Read it and you'll see.

You write a crabbed hand. I can't make head or tail of it.

Where is my state secretary?

Read it aloud.

2 robes, calico and silken - 6 rubles.

12 Holland shirts with cuffs - 10 rubles.

" Chest with a tea set " What's this all about?

What have I to do with the chest with cuffs?

Sir, it's a list of my Master's property stolen by the villains.

Villains?

Sorry, a slip of the tongue.

Maybe not villains, but they ransacked the mansion and made free with his property.

" Don't be angry, tell him to read on. " Go on.

A hareskin coat given to Your Honor at the inn " 15 rubles.

What?

How dare you old dog come to me with such trifles?

A hareskin coat!

I can have you skinned alive

for fur coats!

Go straight to Orenburg and tell those generals

to welcome me with affection and docility.

If they want to escape a cruel death.

Happy journey to you, Your Nabs!

I saved your life at the peril of mine. I didn't give you away.

" I'll scream! " Go ahead.

You are hurting me!

Pray leave!

You'll be my wife sooner or later.

I'd rather die.

Unless you change your mind

I'll take you to Pugachev's camp, and you'll share the fate of others.

And entertain the drunken ruffians.

Or become Pugachev's concubine if you are lucky.

Be sensible. I mean it.

The siege of the Orenburg fort is now history.

It proved a hard nut for Pugachev to crack. He never seized it.

The siege proved fatal for the inhabitants

who lived through famine and all manner of suffering.

They had grown used to shells landing in their yards.

Even Pugachev's assaults no longer evoked public curiosity.

I was bored stiff. The only distraction were sorties

beyond the fort walls to exchange shots with the rebels.

Separation from Masha was becoming unendurable.

" Maximych! " Good day, Pyotr Andreyevich.

Has God been gracious to you?

I have a note for you.

Goodbye, Pyotr Andreyevich. God willing we'll meet again.

Thank you, Maximych!

Stop the rascals!

Fire!

Your Excellency, I turn to you as to my own father.

Do not refuse my entreaty. My life's happiness is at stake.

What is it, my friend? Speak up.

Get the civvies out!

Command me to take a company and some 50 Cossacks

and I'll clear the Belogorsk fort.

Have you thought of the men's fate, my friend?

How many lives will be lost before you reach the fort.

See for yourself!

I'll make it. At night. I guarantee success.

Why all this hurry?

The Captain's daughter asks for help.

Shvabrin is forcing her to marry him.

I give you my word that when Shvabrin " this great Schelm -

falls into my hands, I'll have him court-marshalled

and executed on the fort parapet. But now patience, my lad.

" Patience! " In the meantime he'll marry Maria Ivanovna.

She might do worse. He'll look after her.

When we shoot him we'll find her a man.

I'd rather die than give her up to Shvabrin.

I said to clear it of the civvies!

I respect your feelings but you get no men. Sorry.

Fire!

Hurry! I hope we'll make it!

It's not a feast we are going to but the gallows.

Our Tsar'll tell us

whether to hang you at once or wait till daybreak.

And give me your high boots. You won't need'em I guess. Not in the other world.

Bring him here!

" I'm with him. " What?

" I'm with him! " The Tsar wants only the officer.

Ah, Your Honor! How are you?

Just in time for the councel of war.

" To the torture chamber! " Tell me what sort of state the town is in.

All's well there, thank God.

Oh yeah? And the people starving to death?

" You see? He's lying to your face. " Fugitives tell us in Orenburg

they're glad to eat carrion when they're lucky to get it.

And what brings you here?

" You can speak in front of them. " I was going to Belogorsk.

For what?

To save an orphan who's been maltreated there.

Which of my men dare maltreat an orphan?

" Shvabrin. " What are you saying?

Shvabrin?

What's his guilt?

He keeps the sick maiden in confinement

and is trying to force her into marriage.

Stop neighing!

Shvabrin will be hanged, Your Nabs.

If you want to hang Shvabrin

why don't you hang this man on the same gallows,

so that neither is jealous. " My Field Marshal is talking sense.

I am in your power.

Why don't we take him to HQ and have the irons heated.

I've a hunch His Nabs is not telling the whole truth.

Ain't you a hero!

Looking into the grave and dragging others into it.

Look who's talkin'! Slit Nostrils!

" A convict! " I'll show you a convict!

Silence, Generals.

" Stop that bickering, Khlopusha. " Field Marshal, let go of him.

Stop squabbling.

No matter if all Orenburg dogs were to dangle from the gallows

but for our dogs to fight one another does matter.

Come on, make it up. Let's drink.

Hear, hear.

Drink!

Forget and forgive.

And what's that lassy to you?

She's my fiancee.

Your fiancee?

Come over, kid.

Take the officer to the HQ and keep under lock and key.

Else the Field Marshal might hang him by mistake.

Pyotr Andreyevich.

It's me, Elizaveta Alexeyevna.

Sir, I don't care what happens to me.

I'm here on account of my son.

Goodbye.

He's sent for you, bitch.

What do they say of me in Orenburg?

They say that you are a hard nut to crack.

They do? Wait till I get to Moscow.

" You intend to march on Moscow? " God knows.

I'm cramped, I need more space.

They are getting ideals.

They're a thievish lot.

At the first failure they'd redeem their necks with my head.

Would it not be better to part ways with them

and submit yourself to the mercy of your Empress?

Too late for me to repent. I'll go on as I began.

I may have luck. After all, Grishka did rule over Moscow.

Do you know how he ended?

He was thrown out of a window, beheaded and burned,

his ashes were shot into the air.

You know the tale of the eagle and the raven?

Better drink the blood of the living just once

than feed on carrion for 300 years.

And trust in God.

But to live by murder and pillage seems to me

the same as pecking at dead flesh.

Who's this young woman you're keeping a prisoner?

" Sire, I'm not keeping her a prisoner. She's sick. " Lead me to her.

I won't have a stranger entering my life's bed chamber.

" What? Are you married? " Quiet, quiet.

Maria Ivanovna, it's me.

Masha, it's me.

" It's me. " Shshsh. They might hear us.

" Masha, it's me. " Shshsh.

It's my fault. I lied to you.

But he deceived you also. She is the daughter of Cammandant Mironov.

" Sire, I " Sire?

Is this true?

I couldn't tell you in front of your men!

They'd have devoured her!

Are you with them?

I am

I'm with you.

I'm with you.

" To the young prince! " Cheers!

Hear me out.

God knows, I'd repay you with my life for what you've done for me.

Finish what you've begun. Let me and the poor orphan go.

Now hear me out, Sire.

I love her.

You do?

Now one for the road.

Have it your way.

Take away your fair maiden. Love and counsel to you.

Hey, Field Marshal,

give His Honor your carriage and a road permit.

What are you waiting for?

I

Wherever you be and whatever your fate,

we'll pray for the salvation of your sinful soul every day of our lives.

Drink.

Drink it all.

What are you doing?

We got a jenral!

Who are you?

I'm Academician Lovets, of the Petersburg Academy of Science.

And what's that cannon you have?

It's a telescope to observe stars.

Well then, hang him closer to the stars.

He's an old man, Sire! What's his fault?

" He just got in my way! " Mama!

" Uproot all of them! " No!

All of their noble semen!

No! No!

Pete darling!

No!

Why, he's got a permit from Pugachev.

Take me to your chief!

His Honor's orders are to take Your Honor to gaol

and Her Honor to His Honor. " Allow me, sergeant-major.

Zurin Ivan Ivanovich?

Well, well, what brings you here?

Long time no see, old chap!

" Gentlemen, meet " Pyotr Andreyevich Grinev.

Remember how you won a fortune from me?

" Wanna take a hand? " No thanks.

I'd rather you show me my quarters.

Your quarters? You are staying with me.

I can't. I'm not alone.

Your friend can come too.

I'm with a lady.

As chance'd have it, and I was surprised no longer

Zurin's detachement was billeted at the village

Pugachev had brought me to during the snowstorm.

Gentlemen, to our new comrade. To Grinev!

Savelich, get ready to take the road.

Tomorrow will you drive Maria Ivanovna in the manor to the parents.

I'm staying here.

What, Sir?

How can I abandon you? What will your parents say?

" I'm going to war. " And who'll attend on you?

Do not refuse me, dear friend. Be my benefactor.

I'll have no peace if Maria travels without you.

In serving her, you'll be serving me.

The child is thinking of getting married

and what will your father say? " He'll consent when he sees her.

My hope is you'll intercede for us. Won't you?

So I stayed in Zurin's detachment.

I'll not go into the details of our campaign.

I'll just say that the condition of the region where fire was raging

was appalling.

Hundreds of noblemen's families were murdered villainously.

All attempts at governing were given up.

The people were confused, swearing allegiance

to the Impostor at dawn and to Catherine at dusk.

Either might cost them their lives.

Gangs of ruffians were perpetrating outrages

Government troops retaliated with more outrages.

God forfend you witness a Russian rebellion

in all its ruthless stupidity. " Don't shoot!

May I ask you how you can account for this strange friendship?

One officer was spared, while others were slaughtered.

Way before the revolt he had saved me in the blizzard

and I gave him my hareskin coat.

You're sharp but we've seen sharper men than you.

A hareskin coat indeed!

Bring in the key informer.

Do you know him?

I do.

Repeat your testimony.

Like myself, Grinev went over to the side of the Impostor

who sent him to Orenburg as a spy.

He went out skirmishing daily to transmit messages to Pugachev.

Later he left Orenburg, riding with Pugachev

was slandering and ruining his comrades.

What have you got to say for yourself?

I fought for a year. Many people can confirm this.

" The Governor General of Orenburg for example. " He did.

"Ensign Grinev left the fort back in spring".

"Deserters report he was with Pugachev. And has driven about with him".

Do you know any witnesses to corroborate your words?

God is my witness.

There was no treachery, I swear on God there wasn't.

Why couldn't he put himself right? Speak!

I am the author of your misfortunes.

I must go to Petersburg.

Surely you are not going to abandon us too?

They will believe me as the daughter of one who suffered for his loyalty.

I'll search for help.

Go, my dear.

We have no desire to stand in the way of your happiness.

God send you a good husband,

not a declared traitor.

The war bogged down in the blood of both rebels and innocent people.

Pugachev fled devastating everything on his way.

Unrest swept from province to province.

Dozens of new impostors appeared.

Meanwhile Emelyan Pugachev

was fighting his way southward toward Persia.

" What are you thinking about? " The way to go.

Go where your Tsar goes.

And where is that?

The Caspian, the Kirghiz steppe.

I dare them to catch me there.

And you expect us to follow you with our families?

Right. Wherever your Tsar.

You a tsar? Come on. We made you a tsar!

You cur were the first to join me!

Sure! We needed a tsar and we got one!

Not anymore!

Trying to save your hide? Deserted to the Generals?

You pushed us to revolt! We'll lose our head

and you'll vanish into thin air again! No thanks.

Let's answer together!

Dogs will be dogs!

Come on, bind me if you dare.

We don't want your blood. We've seen enough.

" Andrei! " Take him away!

Take him away! Take him away!

Take him away!

Take him away! Take him away!

Take him away! Take him away!

Sire!

Tsar Pyotr Fyodorovich!

Who are you?

I'm Emelyan the son of Pugachev, Excellency.

" Is it true you served in my army corps? " Cross my heart, it is.

Fought in the battle of Bendery in the rank of cornet.

Why did you do that, you fool?

Methinks God willed

to punish Russia through my accursed works.

How dare you a rebel call yourself a tsar?

I'm not a raven.

I'm a fledgling.

The raven is still at large.

Forgive me, folks! Forgive me!

Forgive me! Forgive me!

Forgive me!

Forgive me, Christian people!

Forgive me!

From the road!

Let her be.

I don't think I know you.

I'm the daughter of Captain Mironov of the Belogorsk Fort.

It is my duty to help you, my dear. You are so sweet and young.

State your request.

I've come to seek justice for Ensign Grinev.

Can't you see, my child

He, an officer and nobleman, joined an impostor like

an immoral & dangerous scoundrel. It wasn't just ignorance.

That's not true!

Not true?

As the God sacred, it's a lie! Please hear me out!

Of course not.

He is the noblest and kindest man in the world!

It was for my sake that he bore all he went through!

He didn't speak up for himself because he wanted me out of this!

Very well. I'll read your petition.

It was for me that he interceded with the villains.

Good. Come to the Palace tomorrow morning.

Our Heavenly Father, Comforter,

fortify me in my faith to survive the blows of fate.

Do not let your humble creature perish.

Oh Lord, defend my honor and fortify me.

And teach me to pray,

to trust in Thee,

to hope

and love.

The wild heart of that villain Pugachev induced him

to kindle the flames of revolt in some confused minds.

God have mercy!

Wine for him.

There's no wine.

God have mercy!

" The blood that was split by his cruel hand " Water!

and drenched the earth is crying for retribution.

For the outrages he perpetrated the rebel and impostor Emelyan Pugachev,

in keeping with the heavenly and civil laws,

shall meet his death.

Namely, be quartered.

His head impaled,

parts of his body taken to four parts of the city, put on the wheels.

And burned right there.

Do you sincerly repent the atrocities you have committed?

I do repent before the Lord, the all-merciful Empress,

and the Christian race.

Emelyan, Emelyan.

Why weren't you hit by my bayonet or stopped by my bullet?

Lord keep your soul in peace.

Your matter is settled, my child.

Be good enough to pass this letter to your future father-in-law.

The Empress is convinced your fiance is not guilty.

Ah young ladies! They either cry or swoon.

Give me the pleasure of congratulating you.

Forgive me, Your Majesty! That was my only chance.

You forgive me, my child.

You have been persistent and achieved your ends.

Love is the only treasure we have in life.

And perhaps the only meaning of life.

Trust me.

I consider myself indebted to Captain Mironov's daughter.

Have no anxiety for your future.

I take upon myself to look after your fortune, my dear.

Now a courier and a long journey to Kazan are awaiting you.

And pray to God you be not late.

In execution of the manifesto promulgated by Her Imperial Majesty's Senate,

the Holy Sinod and the Collegium Presidents

Ensign Grinev who has committed crimes,

broken his oath of allegiance and joined the impostor

preferring an infamous life to honest death

stripped of rank and title, the sword broken over his head.

In the name of the Empress!

Maria Ivanovna, dear.

Pyotr Andreyevich, Master

It's cold!

From that moment I never served in the army.

I devoted myself to my dear wife

Maria Ivanovna " who is no longer with me

and to my children and, now, grandchildren.

THE CAST

Grinev " Mateusz DAMENSKI Masha " Carolina GRUSZKA

Pugachev " Valdimir MASHKOV Shvabrin " Sergei MAKOVETSKY

Savelich " Vladimir ILYIN Capt. Mironov " Yuri BELYAEV

Vasilisa " Natalya EGOROVA Ivan Ignatievich " Yuri KUZNETSOV

Catherine II Olga ANTONOVA

Produced by Igor TOLSTUNOV

Translated by Raisa SVIRINA