Original subtitles

SUPPORTED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

RUSSIA 1

- Your Majesty. - Stepan Ivanovich.

Your Majesty, I beg you to hear me out. Alone.

Natalia Alexeevna...

Natalia Alexeevna is being unfaithful to Pavel Petrovich...

Go on.

...She is having an affair with Count Andrei Razumovsky.

How long?

They started out on the ship immediately.

Is she bears a child?

There is nothing to indicate that.

She lives with Pavel Petrovich as a spouse should,

but spends less time with him than with Andrei Razumovsky

and the others...

The others?

Yes, Your Majesty, there are others.

How many?

Eight, from what we have discovered.

She played a good trick on me...

Even kissed the cross.

Upon Natalia Alexeevna's request,

Razumovsky has engaged in correspondence with King Louis the Sixteenth.

She has been seeking to meet Count Panin,

has had meetings with Count Elagin,

and is exchanging letters with Prince Shcherbatov and with Count K. Razumovsky.

What is the purpose of her intrigues?

Pardon my boldness, Your Majesty.

She claims that she wants to follow in your footsteps,

and become the “Empress Natalia the Great”.

What of Louis?

Has he responded, has he promised any aid?

Here.

We have intercepted two letters.

Yes, he does promise aid.

Young fool.

How long has he been on the throne, for a year?

Less than that.

Louis the Sixteenth is as young as Pavel Petrovich.

Well, judging by his letters.

He will die a fool after he destroys France. Reformer...

Arrest Andrei Kirillovich.

Yes, Your Majesty.

And what about Natalia Alexeevna?

Shall we arrest her?

Why did you beat the nanny?

- She was stealing. - What?

This.

These?

No, not these.

Are you unfaithful to Pavel Petrovich?

That's absurd, Your Majesty.

Breaking your nose against a table while sneezing — that's what absurdity is!

And what you do, you're is giving yourself to the loversevery night!

You shall be informed of my decision in the nearest future.

Your Majesty...

Have you not been informed that I am expecting you?

Your Majesty, I am not accustomed to interrupting my dinner.

It is bad for my health.

Your marriage is to be annulled.

The Archpriest agrees, he will provide the justification.

So, you can have your dinner

and then go home.

Your belongings shall be collected and sent along after you.

What do you find so amusing?

I am bearing a child.

Have been for three months. You should have seen your face!

Who is the father?

What does it matter now?

I will give you a heir to the throne, the future Emperor of Russia.

Enjoy your dinner.

Drink.

- Your Majesty. - Where is Grigory Alexandrovich?

He did not spend the night here.

He said he wouldn't come to you.

What do you mean by “he wouldn't”?

He didn't explain. Get me dressed.

- I'll go like this. - Your Majesty...

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

Gentlemen. Ivan Ivanovich,

Grigory Alexandrovich.

I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, I've had no time to visit you.

Here: Ivan Ivanovich is offering a plan for a new city in Novorossiya.

Would you like to have a look, Your Majesty?

The sea bed has been measured, the currents have been mapped.

The Black Sea tides are not too strong, so they may be left unaccounted for. And...

Yes.

Yes.

We... need a city... on the lower banks of the Dnieper.

Go on working, please do, but do not forget to rest.

Forgive me.

My dear sweet Katya, forgive me, please, forgive me.

Finally, you've called me “Katya”.

It was a slip of the tongue.

Grisha.

Grisha. I need you. Come with me, Grisha, please. Please.

We'll need to send a courier to the Dnieper tomorrow,

and I still have a message with our plans to prepare.

Yes... We would've been happier if we haven't been in love.

Saint Petersburg The Capital of the Russian Empire Spring 1776

George, do something.

Nothing helps. She is dying, Mother.

She is dying!

She is trying to say something.

Give her a cross to kiss!

It hurts.

It hurts.

Hush, hush, Natalia Alexeevna.

I hate you.

What?

I hate you.

All of you. Damn you all to hell.

What's this?

The love letters Natalia Alexeevna was exchanging with Count Andrei Razumovsky.

Read and decide for yourself.

And when you get married again, perform your marital duties with natural desire,

instead of whimpering silly French poems while in bed!

I shall not marry ever again.

She describes your whole married life in minute detail.

She was mocking at you the whole time.

It's your fault, all your fault!

A man that has failed to command a woman in bed is miserable.

Tears, throwing a fit... This all you have ever been capable of...

Stepan Ivanovich Sheshkovsky is here with an urgent message.

Let him in.

Your Majesty.

I have received a report that Count Grigory Orlov has violated,

and subsequently taken on as a lover, his twelve-year-old cousin, Katya Zinovieva.

- Have the accusations been proven true? - The girl was not violated, Your Majesty.

It is not for a man to judge these matters.

At the girl's age, any... any touch...

Yes, Your Majesty.

Put Grigory Grigoryevich into a monastery with the strictest rules possible.

Yes, Your Majesty.

And send the girl to me; I'll make her my lady-in-waiting.

Yes, and another thing.

Invite him to come here.

I wish to talk to him for the last time.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Grigory Grigoryevich.

Grigory Grigoryevich.

Dear God, what have you turned into.

It's hard to think you were my hero.

Take care of the Count.

Count Orlov has lost his mind,

it would be better to leave both him and his cousin alone.

If God is merciful, He will claim him soon, and if He decides to punish him.

He will make him live a while.

But the girl needs to be saved.

Rogerson has examined her, she is still a virgin.

The Count lost his virility long ago, and the changes are irreversible.

But it is still dangerous to live with a madman.

And in any case, they are relatives. The Church will never approve of their union.

He addresses her as “Your Majesty”,

treats her like an empress, calls her “My sweet Katya”.

Pardon me, Your Majesty, it is just that the girl has the same very name.

He is very tender to her.

And she also cares for him, in a way.

She pities him.

She will understand it later when she grows older.

Let us never touch upon the matter again.

How is the search for Pavel Petrovich's new bride progressing?

King Frederick recommends Princess Sophia Dorothea of Wurttemberg.

Meddling again, is he? Any other candidates?

- We have not found any so far. - Well then, keep looking!

She is seventeen, born in the same castle as you did.

We aren't related, are we?

We have studied her family tree, it does not entwine with yours.

Our messenger reports that she is meek by nature, inclined to study sciences,

and is sought after by several princes and landgraves.

But isn't she plain?

- Quite so. - And she's not wealthy?

- She's rather poor than wealthy. - So why is the crowd of suitors?

I shall find it out, Your Majesty, but I will need three weeks.

Three weeks?!

Bring her here, I shall see it for myself.

The people have been calling this city “Ekaterinoslav” from the very first day.

They make a point of pronouncing the name in full.

Pavel Petrovich, we are discussing the matters of national importance.

This is also a matter of importance.

I have written a letter for the Princess.

I am asking you to pass it on in advance.

My apologies, Grigory Alexandrovich.

Such tiny writing.

“The instructions of Grand Prince Pavel Petrovich for Princess Sophia Dorothea.

I shall not speak of love for love depends on a fortunate twist of fate...”

“Never get yourself involved in any affairs,

least of all intrigues and rumors”.

“Do not take any goods on credit but always pay with the money at hand,

and do not allow for goods to be brought from unapproved sources,

for there are swindlers who will try to lull your mind and entice you to buy

a thing for twice as much as it is truly worth... machinations... monthly report”.

What is this for, Pavel Petrovich?

I am ready to marry the princess of your choice.

But any mutual trust between us shall be impossible.

She should not have any false expectations of intimacy.

Do you intend to leave her a virgin?

I have come across such behavior before.

I've burned myself once because of you.

I shall perform my marital duty with the provision of an heir in mind.

Well then, go and meet her yourself.

Whether she signs this or not, you will find it out without me.

As you wish; I shall go.

Myself, I wouldn't have signed this.

I don't understand this either.

During their very first meeting, he will give her these papers...

saying, “Here, sign this”?

And she will roll it up and smack him on the head, and will be right.

Did you write this in Russian first and then translate into German?

Yes, I did.

The expression “Marriage is mutual indebtedness” has been mistranslated.

What you want to say is “Marriage is a mutual obligation”.

Do you see the difference?

Will you sign this?

I am sorry, there are mistakes here.

Spelling errors, wrong meaning.

And what if I correct them?

I do not understand why I should sign this.

I am willing to obey my husband in everything.

I don't want you to obey me blindly!

You do not owe me anything, nor do I owe anything to you,

either now or in the future!

Pavel Petrovich, I have studied the basics of logic.

You are confusing the cause and consequence.

You should reverse your premise and conclusion.

My first wife has passed away,

and I am marrying for the second time only out of the sense of duty to the throne

and upon the insistence of Her Majesty the Empress.

Please do not feel upset and do not take this personally.

Her Majesty will pay you ten thousand in gold,

award you with the Order of Saint Catherine,

give you whatever else she gives to the unfortunates like you.

You are not responding?

You have said all you had to say.

I am just sitting and shivering.

Are you shivering because I hurt your feelings?

I'm shivering because I am cold.

The summer is so cold and rainy this year.

Is the weather in St. Petersburg any different?

People discuss the weather when they have nothing more to talk about.

It is hot in St. Petersburg this year. Just a usual summer.

While our summer is unusual.

Don't you find it strange?

Not really. Different cities have different weather.

Stettin and St. Petersburg are separated by five degrees of northern latitude.

Both cities are located in the lowlands, on the bank of the rivers,

close to the Baltic Sea.

Although Stettin is a bit further to the south.

I had no idea what latitude St. Petersburg is on,

never really wondered about that.

Stettin's coordinate is fifty four degrees of northern latitude,

and St. Petersburg's is fifty nine.

This is the only reason I agreed to meet you.

- Do you follow? - No.

You were born in 1754, and I was born in 1759.

I found the coincidence to be quite extraordinary.

What if God is giving us a sign that the Russian prince Pavel

is the man destined to father my children.

And I do want children, no less than ten,

and if you are against that, I shall not marry you.

Her Majesty finds another coincidence to be important.

You both were born in the same castle.

She thinks that the two of you are alike.

Are we?

No. God forbid.

I am marrying you, not your mother.

I am not allowed to call Her Majesty “Mother”. We are on poor terms.

By the way, she will order you to change your name.

I have already selected one from the menology.

It's “Maria”.

My full name is Sophia Marie Dorothea Augusta Louise.

One of these names is Eastern Orthodox.

But! How to say it in Russian...

I have been studying Russian for three months, but...

I don't like the... the little names like “Masha”, or “Marusya”.

I would ask you to call me “Maria” in all ordinary situations.

And “Marie” in the bad ones.

A bad situation would be, for example.

We are walking through the forest, and all of a sudden there appears a bear.

You need to warn me quickly.

So you scream, “Marie! The bear!” - and we run.

Have you chosen a patronymic, too?

Fyodorovna.

I like it: Fyyyyyyoooo-do-rrrrrrrrovnaaa!

Fyodorovna.

Sounds like an angry dog, grrrrowling.

You make me smile, Sophia Dorothea.

“Maria” for you.

Why won't you arrange a boat or horseback ride.

If you do not make your leave in half an hour, we could have dinner together.

And discuss your instruction in the meanwhile.

Don't worry, I have an excellent appetite, this silly thing won't ruin it.

Let's go?

It's a boy, Your Highness.

No! I will nurse him myself!

Summon Pavel Petrovich.

He has left for Gatchina.

He has already been sent for.

Your Majesty, Maria Fyodorovna has given birth to a boy.

So soon?! We didn't expect the birth today.

Some three hours ago.

- Is the child healthy? - He appears to be. Cries a lot.

- And the mother? - We've brought her a wet-nurse.

But Maria Fyodorovna insists on nursing the child herself.

What a curious whim!

They wouldn't even have told me if I hadn't asked,

as it is something perfectly ordinary.

I will call you “Alexander”.

Like Alexander Nevsky or Alexander the Great.

You will grow up to be a great emperor and great commander.

“Alexander” is a good name.

- Have you prepared everything for me? - Yes, Your Majesty.

Find more wet-nurses, one is not enough.

- Shall I go with you, Your Majesty? - No, Maria Fyodorovna, have some rest.

But I can't rest, I will keep worrying.

Everyone, leave the room.

It's hard to breathe with everyone packed in here.

Your Highness, you shouldn't get out of bed.

I need to feed my child.

Maria Fyodorovna, you are not allowed to.

This was decided long ago.

Alexander Pavlovich will be raised by Her Majesty.

You will be free to visit him any time.

Your son will live with Her Majesty here, at the Palace,

and the summers in Tsarskoye Selo,

while you and Pavel Petrovich will move to Gatchina.

Where is Pavel Petrovich now?

In Gatchina, busy with settling in.

Her Majesty has ordered to get the Residence ready.

This palace once belonged to Count Orlov, her former favorite.

Do you not care?

No.

Her Majesty is very generous with her gifts.

Was Pavel Petrovich informed of his son's birth?

I believe he was, he is waiting for you.

Today it is unsafe to travel by carriage, but you will be taken to him tomorrow.

Your Highness.

Get me dressed.

Maria has vanished, and my son has also gone.

You have him!

Congratulations, Pavel Petrovich.

This is your first-born son.

I have named him “Alexander”.

The future Emperor.

- What did you do to her? - He is a fussy child, does not nurse well.

If you wake him up, there is no calming him down.

- Please, give me my son. - Hands off.

And no scenes, please. I am tired.

Your Highness.

Your Majesty, Maria Fyodorovna has disappeared.

- She is not at the palace? - No.

Take him.

- Stepan Ivanovich. - Your Highness.

Where is Maria Fyodorovna?

I don't know.

I have a son, did you know that?

Yes, my congratulations.

Show me the man who drives Maria Fyodorovna.

The Empress is asking you: who drives The Grand Princess Maria Fyodorovna?!

- Filka, he drives her! - Your Majesty. She has left.

She has left for Gatchina. Here's the entry in the log.

Your Majesty.

- Where have you taken her to? - To where Her Highness has ordered.

Where to? Answer me!

To the Vvedensky Convent. The Mother Superior there...

And you left her there?!

That's what I did, Your Majesty.

Prepare a carriage for me immediately.

We must return the Grand Princess Maria Fyodorovna to the Palace!

Your Eminence, what is going on in your monasteries?!

Your Majesty.

The nuns of the Vvedensky Convent are refusing to give out Maria Fyodorovna

whom they are hiding in there!

Or would you rather like me to order my guards to start a siege?

The Mother Superior has informed methat Maria Fyodorovna asked for a shelter...

and where else would those pursued seek salvation?

It's not salvation but forgiveness she needs to seek for!

So lead by example, Your Majesty.

You carry a heavy burden, Your Majesty,

you have exerted yourself so much, but you are facing new trials in the future,

and new burdens too.

So do not give in to the passion of willfulness!

Set aside the plan to constrain your son and daughter-in-law,

you will feel more at ease, and everyone will be happier.

Your Majesty.

It is time to pause, Your Majesty,

and to realize what burden is weighing upon you.

Write a list of your sins and come to confession.

Where is the child?

With the Empress.

We've just fed Pavel.

Did you name him Pavel?

And seeing the heir to the throne is a privilege you have to deserve.

That's it. Go to your room.

My love, I am sorry, so sorry.

So very sorry.

I am returning your son to you...

I will start raising him once he learns to read.

Sometimes I wish the Empress just disappeared.

Waking up morning, and asking where she is,

and no one understands who I am talking about,

that she is gone, just gone, and no one even remembers.

So don't try to remember her...

She will take our child away.

She said once he learns to read.

This will not happen too soon.

But it will happen.

So many things might change by then.

But right now, we will be happy in our new palace in Gatchina...

Her Majesty asked me to forgive her

and promised that she would send me to travel across Europe, as a gift.

Maybe in a year or two... With the children and with the servants.

But she asked that we travel with false names and titles,

to escape the newspapers.

I have already thought of a false name:

let's be “Count and Countess Severnye (Northerns)”.

We will travel and enjoy our freedom.

Maria Fyodorovna, you said “with children”?

I will give you another child, and then we'll start travelling.

I am so happy you're my wife.

Here is the penance within your abilities.

Read one chapter of the Scripture every day.

Give me the penance Elizaveta Petrovna had fulfilled.

For which sin?

For keeping innocents in prison.

Have you repented, Your Majesty?

Yes.

For some sins, spoken repentance is not enough.

What should I do then?

Penance is not a punishment. It is a cure.

But it is impossible to cure one whose sin persists,

and grows ever stronger.

Although Anna Leopoldovna's children still posed a threat to the throne,

the Empress Ekaterina granted them freedom.

After 40 years of imprisonment, the Brunswick family went to Denmark.

Their father, Anthony Ulrich, remained in Kholmogory for the rest of his life.

Zadrobich, put the ropes in order!

- Are you the new Father Superior? - Yes, Your Majesty.

Bless me to pray at the porch, Reverend Father.

Too early, Your Majesty.

Live as a prisoner at their house at least for three days.

Sleep on their bed, cook cabbage soup from chunks.

God help me! God have mercy!

Will there be instructions concerning the fate of the secret prisoner?

Do as your conscience tells you.

I am the Emperor.

Ivan the Sixth.

And I thereby abdicate in favor of Ekaterina Alexeevna.

Put your signature.

Remember Your deceased servants, O Lord, in faith and hope for eternal life.

We pray to You for the soul of Your deceased servant, Ivan,

who died suffering at the hands of unknown people, in his home.

Bless them with communion and eternal bliss of Your goodness,

which is prepared for those who love You.

Servant of God Grigory is being wed to Servant of God Ekaterina.

Servant of God Ekaterina is being wed to Servant of God Grigory.

O Lord, with Your glory and honor, I wed them.

O Lord, with Your glory and honor, I wed them.

O Lord, with Your glory and honor, I wed them.

There you go, you hold me like a husband. And now call me.

Your Majesty, my love.

No.

Ekaterina Alexeevna.

No.

Wife.

Wife.

Wife. From now and till death.

Ekaterina believed in the ideas of Enlightenment

and was eagerly turning them into reality.

She opened hospitals, shelters, and orphanages.

During her reign, the Russian Academy and Smolny Institute were founded.

An academic dictionary was published.

She supported painters, musicians, writers, poets and scientists.

During Ekaterina's reign, one hundred and forty four cities were built,

and the population of the Empire grew two-fold.

Russia gained access to the Black and Azov Seas.

The country's authority was as great as never before.

Ekaterina the Second turned out to be the brightest ruler of Russia

and a worthy successor to her great predecessor, Peter the First.