Original subtitles

TV CHANNEL RUSSIA

COSMOS STUDIO

TV CHANNEL RUSSIA

PRESENTS

A COSMOS STUDIO PRODUCTION

WRITTEN BY ARIF ALIEV

DIRECTED BY DMITRIY IOSIFOV

CAMERA DIRECTOR MAXIM SHINKORENKO

ART DIRECTOR SERGEY VOROBIEV

MAKEUP ARTIST - ARTEM DEMIDOV COSTUME DESIGNER - SVETLANA MOSKVINA

MUSIC BY NIKOLAY ROSTOV CASTING DIRECTOR - VALERIA GANKINA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - SERGEY KOZIN POST-PRODUCTION BY NONNA ARISTARKHOVA

SOUND DIRECTORS VLADIMIR LITROVNIK, ANNA IVANTSOVA

PICTURE EDITORS OLGA GRINSHPUN, GLEB ROSS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS LILIA CHEKSTER, SYUZANNA MUAZEN

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER ANASTASIA KORETSKAYA

LEAD PRODUCER DMITRIY GOLUBICHNY

PRODUCERS - ALEXANDER AKOPOV, ANTON ZLATOPOLSKY, NATALIA SHEIDOROVA

IN REMEMBRANCE OF EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ALEXEI KUBLITSKY

PAVEL PETROVICH - PAVEL TABAKOV NIKITA PANIN - SERGEY KOLTAKOV

YEMELYAN PUGACHEV - ARTHUR IVANOV PRINCESS TARAKANOVA - ANGELINA STRECHINA

STEPAN SHESHKOVSKY - MIKHAIL GOREVOY ALEXEI ORLOV - ARTEM ALEXEEV

ANDREY RAZUMOVSKY - ALEXANDER TKACHIOV NATALIA ALEXEIEVNA - ALINA TOMNIKOV

GRIGORY POTEMKIN - VLADIMIR YAGLICH GAVRIIL DERZHAVIN - DANILA DUNAYEV

EKATERINA NELIDOVA - DIANA MILYUTINA LEFEBVRE - IGOR GRАBUZOV

KAZIMIERZ OGIŃSKI - ARTEM KRETOV MICHAŁ OGIŃSKI - DANIIL SLUTSKY

MARIA KAROLINA - OLGA MAKEEVA FERDINAND - SERGEY TESSLER

DENIS FONVIZIN - KUZMA SAPRYKIN ADAM OLSUFIEV - STANISLAV STRELKOV

EKATERINA THE GREAT MARINA ALEKSANDROVA

EKATERINA: PRETENDERS

Nikita Ivanovich, what on earth is going on?

Your Majesty, please forgive me,

but the state of affairs in our country

requires immediate decisions and actions.

Nikita Ivanovich, you acted wisely in accordance with your powers.

Thank you.

Let's discuss the current situation.

To the Yaik Cossacks.

Serve me, your Great tsar, to the death,

just as your fathers served the former tsars.

- Did you write it down? - Yes.

Good job! Let's continue.

Having fulfilled my personal command, I grant you lands and fields,

a river from the source to the mouth, a salary,

lead and gunpowder, bread provisions and eternal liberty.

I, the Great Emperor, grant all this to you.

Signed: Pyotr Fyodorovich.

Why are you staring? Your face tells me something is wrong.

Your Majesty, we should add more titles.

That's right! You're smart.

You're pretending to be a fool, but you're smart! Write!

Pyotr Fyodorovich, the Great Sovereign Emperor of All Russia

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

ST. PETERSBURG MARCH, 1774

Your Majesty. Gentlemen.

It seems like we're one step away from defeating the Ottoman Empire.

But if we do it now, we'll lose.

- We need to conclude peace. - Peace?

You want to abandon our achievements and victories?

The opposite. I want to save them.

We will give the Sultan a hard time in the summer

and impose peace on conditions favorable to us.

Otherwise we'll get stuck, go bankrupt and die.

Why now, Grigory Alexandrovich?

You said the Turks were almost defeated.

France will support Turkey in everything. Money, weaponry.

European capitals are dreaming

of us getting bogged down in this war and collapsing.

Alexander Vasilyevich, what's the current situation in the army?

We have gunpowder for a week of fighting.

See?

Then well resort to scaring the enemy with our bare asses.

If we can conclude peace now, we should do it.

We also need to suppress Pugachev's Rebellion right now

or everything will fall apart.

Some of my estates were burned.

Estate keepers were hung.

So we need to leave the Balkans and put our own country in order.

We ask to exempt affected provinces from taxes and to write off debt.

That's the first smart suggestion.

Are you more afraid of your peasants than the Turks?

Do you want to fence yourself off with cannons?

Maybe you should be afraid.

Alexander Vasilyevich, you know the soldiers well.

Why can't we defeat the pretenders? Should we change generals?

We can change generals anytime, but generals can't put down a rebellion.

Peasants have a hard life and only one choice:

to live in suffering or to kill, scathe and die fast.

We should proclaim amnesty, send rebels with families to the south.

Let them develop the land there.

Many of them want to start with a clean slate.

Then every peasant will start to rebel,

if he knows that he'll get off scot free.

"Do what you want, kill your masters, burn, steal."

I won't let the army leave the Balkans.

We will continue the war with the Turks until Constantinople becomes Russian.

I don't want to talk about this anymore.

No amnesty for the rebels.

The troops will be commanded by General in Chief Bibikov.

He defeated the Poles and will deal with the rebels!

Alexander Vasilyevich, plan a military campaign.

It's almost ready, Your Majesty.

Report it to me, when it is complete. I want to see it.

Good day, gentlemen.

You're good at German.

Your Majesty, the troops have food.

We took everything from the estates.

We got 26 canons and 16 powder kegs from the fortresses.

We also get presents like this from everywhere.

We are ready to attack Kazan, the troops are ready to fight.

Thats marvellous.

But my throne is in St. Petersburg, Kazan is just a landmark on the way.

Panin had me quite nervous.

I saw their scared gray faces in uniforms, when I came into the hall.

I thought my years were over. It's good that you were there with me.

What if it were a real takeover? Then I wouldn't be able to help you.

My dear, promise me you won't leave.

Only today I realized that I don't trust anyone except you.

What is it that's so remarkable you want to build there?

I showed the model. The capital on the southern Dnieper in your name.

It will be the most beautiful city in the world.

Do not build it on the Dnieper, but on the Neva.

There is a lot of space in St. Petersburg.

Cows are grazing near the Twelve Colleges.

If I start building, you'll interfere. You'll start giving me advice.

I want to do it by myself. Even if it turns out to be not so beautiful.

I promise you I won't interfere.

You can take an island near the Great and the Middle Nevka

with access to the bay and a view of Kronstadt.

And build your palaces, shipyards and factories. There is enough space.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

If we take troops from Poland and send them to fight the rebels,

then everything will be over.

We can't leave Poland or there will be a rebellion.

Russian troops must stay in Poland. Europe should get used to it.

Europe will never accept us.

As soon as we deal with the Poles, the Prussians will appear.

After Prussians there will be England, France, the Austrians.

We need to expand south. We can build an Empire there.

New Russia, Novorossiya.

Build your Novorossiya between the Great and the Middle Nevka.

- I love you. - I don't love you.

- Why, my dear? - It is not love.

It's something so great, that you can't even give it a name.

Tell us how the daughter

of the Empress of Russia found herself in jail?

The first memory of most people is the warmth of their mother's hands.

For me it's a longing for a mother who I've never seen.

When I was born, my mother, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna,

entrusted me to the care of her loyal friends.

I was sent to Siberia after her death. Far from those who took my throne.

- I was 8 years old at the time. - So, that makes you 22 now.

Let it be. You are well prepared.

My shelter in Siberia was discovered, I was sent to Persia to Shah Jamas.

He cared for me and gave me European teachers.

I was living in a cage till 17 years old.

Once he asked me to be his wife. I couldn't.

I just couldn't betray my religion.

I preferred to run off to Europe.

Unwillingness to betray your religion. It's a good point.

But the name of the shah is wrong. There was no such shah in Persia.

God damn it! How do you know this?

I see the European teachers didn't teach you good manners.

I guess you know best.

Tell me the last time you were in Persia.

I have never been there.

But I know that Shahrokh reigned at that time. Just like today.

Well, your cover story should be refined.

You are not at all hopeless, madam. Accept my humble gift.

That chamber has a mirror.

You haven't said why the French crown is interested in me?

Try it. Try.

The cover story holds no water upon closer inspection.

But nobody will take a closer look.

The main thing is that it has details,

which will look very touching on the pages of newspapers.

They say that this impostor in Orenburg looks like Pyotr Fedorovich.

I'd like to see him.

Do you believe that you father could have escaped?

Believe? My father didn't want blood.

He prepared to defend himself in a mock fortress,

but then spared his soldiers.

And he signed the abdication - his death sentence.

Do you doubt that he is dead?

It is not doubt, but hope. Very tiny, like a nail.

Like your tiny nail, Natalia Alexeievna.

We were waiting for you in the hope that you'll help us.

Well, gentlemen, I didn't bring you money.

Why? We paid our money for Elizaveta.

We're paying for accommodation. We have money only for a week.

You promised to refund our expenses.

Alas, Countess du Barry doesn't let anybody get near the king.

They don't give money even according to old debt warrants.

Countess du Barry is a good example for our Elizaveta.

A street girl who got her grubby hands on the throne.

One way or another we can't get past her yet.

Trust me, I'm doing my best.

You'd better take our princess and leave Paris for now.

What? Did something happen?

Remember, Elizaveta is dead to creditors.

If they find out that she's alive, we'll all be in trouble.

But we can't lock her away forever.

Moreover, you don't have any money. There is no choice, but to leave.

- Where can we go? - Spain, Venice.

To a place where no one will give you a second glance.

- Have you paid for these rooms? - Yes.

That's something, at least.

Where can we get money for this trip?

You said you had money for a week. It'll be enough for the trip.

Then let her earn her keep.

It's her job to get money from gullible men.

We are not fraudsters! We are Polish patriots!

Do you suggest we earn money this way?

Gentlemen, forget this crankiness. Anybody can become a good "patriot".

You have a goal. If you want to reach it with a halo on your head,

then you should give it up now.

Have you heard anything about the imposter?

The information is contradictory and needs to be checked.

She's believed to be dead,

but nobody saw her corpse or where she was buried.

It is most likely to a trick and she's alive.

Elizaveta Petrovna didn't have children. God didn't give them.

Is she dangerous?

She is not dangerous while she is far from you.

- But those who are close to you... - What do you mean?

Natalia Alexeievna is interested in the circumstances

around Pyotr Fyodorovich's death.

So? She just came to Russia, she's curious about everything.

When His Highness asked her if she wants to rule the empire,

Natalia Alexeievna said yes.

She answered, 'I have to find out how everything works here'.

She and your son are going to secretly visit

the palace of Pyotr Fyodorovich in Oranienbaum.

They have no secrets from me.

Natalia Alexeievna called herself and Pavel Petrovich conspirators.

She compared. She said, 'Like real conspirators.'

Little children. I wasnt like that at their age, was I?

I don't know, Your Majesty.

How come you cannot know something? I don't believe you.

ORANIENBAUM THE PALACE OF PETER III

Your Majesty, I'm so happy!

Unfortunately, my eyes are not very good.

But your voice is like your father's.

Just like His Majesty descended from heaven.

Why is the palace in such a bad state?

We're not allowed to touch anything here.

I tried to heat the place.

- Your Majesty... - Luka, leave us alone.

Father didn't even have time to be crowned,

let alone put everything here in order.

He was killed when he was 34. I think I'm older now.

Is it his?

Yes. It's a shako of a Prussian hussar.

Pyotr Fyodorovich wanted to be like him.

'Win or die'.

It's the motto of Frederick the Great. Pyotr Fyodorovich adored him.

Try it on.

You look like your father. Just stand up straight.

Pavel Petrovich, you're the future Emperor! Don't slouch!

- You speak like my mother. - I want to be like her.

She is the most powerful woman.

She became the empress because she wanted it.

She has achieved everything herself.

She achieved everything in spite of fate and the laws of empire.

Never say this again. I don't want you to be like my mother.

You are not Ekaterina Alexeievna. You are my wife.

Please remember this.

Do you already want to conquer me, my emperor?

This is some flower garden.

You don't even know which flower to pick.

For example, Viola Yelagina,

she is the daughter of a rich man and a Mason.

If you marry her, you'll be well-off till the end of your days.

It seems like your flowers are not enough for you, Anatole.

Not everybody is as lucky as you, Andrey.

Women do not pay attention to me when I'm with you.

- How do you do it? - Watch.

I'm so sorry, that wasn't for you.

- I hope it didn't hurt. - No, it's fine.

Let me introduce myself. Andrey Razumovsky.

Viola Yelagina. You are forgiven.

Does this mean I can hope to meet you again, sometime?

If you consider that a gift, then I will grant it to you.

It is the most precious gift.

This is my friend, Anatole.

Baron Anatole Gartenberg.

Sorry for interrupting your conversation.

Viola, we're going back to Smolny, Lange's lesson is soon. We can't be late.

I told you they don't pay attention to me.

Yelagina is very pretty.

I remember how my father played with me.

They took me to Peterhof for my birthday, I saw him there.

It was the happiest day of my life.

- I saw my mother very rarely, too. - Why?

- Elizaveta Petrovna didn't allow it. - I don't understand. Why?

Maybe because she didn't have her own children,

or maybe because she didn't trust.

When mother gave birth to a daughter, she was also taken.

So you mother staged a coup to get her children back.

No, not because of that.

My father wanted to marry another woman and send my mother to a convent.

Then you are lucky, Pavel Petrovich. If it wasn't for the takeover,

the son of Pyotr Fyodorvich and his new wife would've been the heir.

And you would've been sent to a monastery, at best.

By the way, your mother wants to have one more child.

We put a bet on who will be the first to give birth.

I'm still the eldest.

Well, you can push things on.

Stage a coup, the seventh so far this century.

If it is a joke, then I accept it.

If not, then you know that I'm not a conspirator.

I have no wish to harm anybody.

Natalia Alexeievna, let's forget about the throne.

Let's live in love and peace. I want to have lots of children.

You are an even bigger child than your father.

I am not a child. If you want to know, I am a father, too.

I have a son, Simeon. He is 2 years old.

You have a son? Why haven't I met him?

Our child was conceived in adultery. He will be illegitimate.

Let it be. It is my son. I'm sure you're going to have a boy.

- It's our last meeting. - I can't let you go! I love you.

You shouldn't. Your mother told me to get together with you.

Why? I don't understand.

In order to see if you were able to continue the dynasty.

Why did you agree, Sophia Stepanovna?

I'll go and tell her everything!

Pavel Petrovich, please! Bide your time!

You have to learn how to wait. Learn how to wait!

How long? 10 years? 20 years?

If you make a mistake, nothing will happened to you.

But you will kill me and the child.

Mother took the baby.

Pyotr Razumovsky married Sophia Stepanovna.

He and his brother Andrey are my friends.

Andrey Kirillovich is also your friend, isn't he?

Yes, he is.

Report to His Excellency that the tailor Petras has come

regarding the debts of Count Andrey Kirillovich Razumovsky.

I won't report. Write a notice.

What notice?

I came to get my money from Andrey Razumovsky! I want to see his father!

What is going on? Why are you yelling in my house?

Your Excellency, please do not be angry, I'm the tailor, Petras.

I came to receive the debt from your son for sewing vests.

How much?

20,000 if rounding up at a loss.

Do you hear it? 20,000.

You can uniform a whole regiment with this kind of money.

Or do you mean harlots by "vests"?

Your Excellency, I'm a tailor and my maids are in needles and threads.

The price is very fair, Your Excellency.

I also have receipts in my workshop.

Gentlemen keep their word, don't require formalities and don't ask for receipts.

I know my son. He can waste even more.

But not on your stupid vests, but on harlots and carousing

and then on doctors.

And you decided to take advantage of this, didn't you?

Your Excellency, please pay the debt.

And fantasize about doctors and carousing afterward.

How dare you speak like this?

I'll report to the newspapers. If you don't pay the debt, everybody will know.

Newspapers?

Well, okay. Keep calm, I'll pay.

The written word can do anything. Even your master is afraid of it.

Newspapers? Yes?

Do you decide to tell about Count Razumovsky?

- Bastard! Scumbag! - Your Excellency, please, don't!

- Your Majesty, Grigory Alexandrovich. - Let him come in.

Grisha, you are in uniform. Is daytime not enough for state affairs?

Darling, I am getting urgent dispatches from the Balkans every day.

I want to stay here, but I have to go!

You've already promised.

Did you bring letters so I wouldn't be able to turn you away?

My dear, you know that I love you.

Being with you makes me happy, but...

I can't stay here while a great deal is being planned.

The construction of the biggest city in the south of Russia

has stopped without me. I cannot!

Well, the building is more important than my loneliness.

Go, go, Grigory Alexandrovich.

Grisha. My dear.

Katenka, we can spend all day in bed like this.

Why is it bad? You are always running from me.

Time passes. There is unfinished business in the south to last two lifetimes.

I have only one life. I have to get everything done.

You have two lives: mine and yours. And I want to have a third one.

My dear, you are the Empress, but say such silly things sometimes.

I love you and I want to have a child.

Medicus says I have nothing to worry about. You should visit him.

Explain this. What does it mean?

Your Excellency, to what do I owe the honor?

Johann Bogdanovich,

why do you convince the Empress that she can bear a child?

Well, I convince her because I'm sure she can do it.

Even I understand that it is dangerous to give birth at her age.

But you're giving her hope. You'll break her heart in the end.

What if she gets pregnant, but won't be able to handle the birth.

- Did you think of it? - Your Excellency...

But what can I do? I'm a subordinate man.

Her Majesty asks me and I do all the necessary procedures.

Her female health is in great shape and there are no obstacles for science.

Johann Bogdanovich, let's give science to scientists. We have a lot of them,

but we have only one Empress.

Please explain to her that it is dangerous.

At the very least, it's Divine Providence so we shouldn't interfere.

Whatever you wish, Your Excellency.

- They say Count Yelagin visits you. - Yes, regularly.

Your patients probably don't come to you for free.

Yelagin is a mason. For them it's better to die from pudental illness than to pay.

He is the top mason. Ivan Perfilievich is very generous.

I see.

I need to know when he'll visit you next time.

Your Excellency, I took the Hippocratic Oath.

I see.

What I may learn in the course of the treatment about the life of a man,

I will keep it to myself. Such things must be a secret.

Dont say a word to anyone about our conversation.

Apart from Hippocrates.

Good morning, father! Did you call me?

I have a feeling you're the only person whose surname is Razumovsky.

It is not true, my honest gentleman!

All our family is in the newspapers because of your stupidity!

How much do you owe for these stupid vests?

About 8,000. The rest was previous expenses.

Alright.

I thought you were a complete idiot but it turns out you're only half.

It is my fault. I want to ask for your help. Could you pay off a debt?

No. I'm not going to do it.

My son has to pay off his debts by himself like a real man.

Go.

Yes. It is written by a person who knows the language well.

He is not alone, somebody is helping him.

We need to keep a closer watch for embassies and diplomats.

It is not a peasant's rebellion.

It is a hidden war carried out by one of the European monarchs.

Nikita Ivanovich, foreign policy is your duty.

What embassies and diplomats should we pay special attention to?

All of them. I wouldn't limit it to only diplomats.

I'd keep an eye on every foreigner.

You know, keeping an eye on everybody means noticing nothing.

I don't have so much money or people.

I'm sorry.

Right.

Pay close attention to the French, Austrian and Swedish embassies.

The Swedes would be happy to inflict vengeance for the Great Northern War.

What about our European imposter? Who can use her against us?

Absolutely everybody. Poland, France, England, Prussia.

- Everybody, except Prussia. - Prussia, too.

This "Elizaveta" can have a connection with Orenburg's rebel

through her closest allies.

Everything is clear with him. He is not the person who he pretends to be.

But who is the European princess? Thats the real question.

Elizaveta Petrovna was very sad that her successor was Pyotr Fyodorovich.

But she didn't have time to give orders.

I thought, if she gave birth to a daughter from one of her lovers...

Why would she hide her? The child has no right to the throne.

Who would threaten her?

Anybody, Your Majesty.

Pyotr Fyodorovich, Pavel Petrovich, and, I'm so sorry, even you as well.

Stepan Ivanovich, bring me the portrait of this imposter.

What about overseeing the foreigners?

We should have our people in Europe.

- I think we have enough of them. - Yes, we have, but...

There is no harm in having trusted people.

What do you mean, Nikita Ivanovich?

I'm talking about Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov.

What if he returns to command the fleet in Livorno?

He can report about all the European monarchs.

For example, about Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, et cetera.

I told Alexei Orlov to go to Gatchina.

Your Majesty, he is packing, but he wanted to meet you before leaving.

FRANCE ROAD FROM PARIS TO LYON

What is the matter? Do you feel unwell?

I'm just tired.

She has a fever.

- What is going on? - We need a doctor now!

- We need help. - This way, this way.

This way. This room. I'll call the doctor.

- Your Majesty! - Glad to see you, Kirill Grigorievich.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for helping my son.

You've shown great respect to me.

Frankly speaking, I also wanted to meet you.

But you were the first to ask for an audience. What worries you?

Your Majesty, my sons are a pain to me.

Pyotr, has his own agenda.

But Andrey can be saved.

Both of them survived war. Both received Chamberlain's keys.

What other achievements would a father wish from his sons?

Shedding blood for the motherland is a duty and honor, Your Majesty.

But it's in the past.

Now they only upset me: late-night partying, debts, expenses.

I'd like to find a position for Andrey at the court to keep him in order.

There is a position in the treasury.

All our treasurers must be restrained in passions and cautious with expenses.

That's great, Your Majesty. He'll be quiet and modest.

I'd like to talk about one more child. Not yours.

About Alexei and Empress Elizaveta Petrovna.

- They didn't have children. - Maybe your brother didn't tell you?

My brother was very sad that God never gave them children.

He was very honest with me.

He wasn't the only one man of Elizaveta Petrovna.

For example, Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov held a special place in her big heart.

- What other lovers can you remember? - There were a lot of them.

Then she repented sins, asked for a penance.

She prayed on the porch with the poor to atone for sins.

Talk straight. I need names.

Buturlin, Naryshkin, Shubin, Lyalin, Beketov.

But they are only the ones I know about, there were others too.

But I didn't hear about her bearing a child.

Thank you, Kirill Grigorievich. I'll take care of your son.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

This girl is in rough shape.

You are a doctor. You can help.

Money is of no help here. Unfortunately, I'm not God.

Michal, more.

Alright.

I'm going to make a tap, I hope she'll feel better.

Hold this, please.

Your Majesty.

- Long time no see, Count. - Are you angry with me and Grigory?

I cannot be angry for a long time.

- How is your brother doing? - He doesn't leave Gatchina.

He's happy in his own way.

- Does he receive guests? - No, but he'd be happy to see you.

Maybe I'll visit him.

Your Majesty, let me return to the fleet.

With demotion, whatever, but let me go to the squadron.

I'd be happy to, but you can't be with decent people. You're a wild man.

You were in charge of peace negotiations in Focsani, but you disrupted them.

Your Majesty, please, forgive me. I lost my temper.

Prussia laid down such conditions that I considered offensive to you.

That's right. But you should hide your emotions.

Why don't you marry, Alexei Grigoryevich?

- I'm not the only one. - Marry. You'll make somebody happy.

It'd be great to fall in love first. I'm ready to serve you and Russia.

Come back and wait for my call.

I'm going to do a compress.

Please do it as often as you can.

That's all, gentlemen. If she starts to feel worse, I can't help her.

- Are there other doctors? - No.

- But there is a priest. - He's not required, thank you.

Goodbye.

Mother, don't touch me.

I'm the granddaughter of Peter the Great. Mother.

Let me go, scabs.

- Michal, did you hear that? - Yes.

It's impossible to lie in such a condition.

What if she is really the person who she pretends to be? Romanova.

Mother, mother.