All language subtitles for The Great (2020) - S02E06 - A Simple Jape (1080p BluRay x265 Silence)-eng

(MOANING)

Why are you stopping?

What are you doing? I am close.

Uh... I have been thinking.

Well, unexpected and ill-timed.

I have a few issues to table.

The only issue is between
my legs on this table.

Witty, but I was thinking
before you came in.

All week, you have arrived
for a good tongue-lashing

and I have provided one,

but you've also
avoided me personally.

I have not thought that is so.

- Where is our marriage heading?
- Our what?

Our marriage.

Am I to remain
locked in this room?

- Yes!
- Yes?

Asked and answered.

I have enjoyed our talk.

Let us begin again.

I enjoy your exquisite timing.

But for instance,
when Paul comes,

I cannot be a prisoner while
my child is wandering court free.

How do we explain that to Paul?

I have not really thought
that through to its conclusion.

I will no doubt come up with
a brilliant and cunning answer.

Often, I think best
during cunnilingus,

hence I suppose the word
"cunning" within the word.

Mmm.

I am not satisfied.

Nor am I.

But I could be.

Would we not be happier if you
just gave in to your savage longing

and admitted your love
for me wholeheartedly,

instead of clitty bitty?

Clitty bitty?

Indeed.

I love you. You love me.

- I suggest you admit your love for me.
- Uh...

Peter, I am fond of you.

I see. You are to
toy with me longer.

It is a mean streak
I do not appreciate,

even though I
appreciate them generally.

And it is dull, as we
could be having more fun,

and much varied fornication

and good times eating
chocolate-dipped grapes

while we bathe together
and I toe-fuck you.

Are you really to
continue this pretense?

Maybe this was a mistake.

It is what you and your body
want, so how can it be a mistake?

Your head is the impediment.

I do not wish to quarrel,

but merely to have
you give in to yourself.

Tell me the truth.

You do not love me.

You think you
do, but you do not.

I know my heart. I love you.

Stop saying it.

Yours is not a normal heart.

You are not capable of love.

Not real love.

Selflessness for another,
tenderness, curiosity, intimacy.

You fucking love me and I
love you! That is the fucking truth.

I don't love you.

I will never love you
in the way you hope.

You killed Leo.

You are a violent person
with a terrible French accent

who, while he eats pussy well
and cares for his unborn child,

is still a mercurial maniac.

I am fond of you and that is
why you still walk the Earth.

Do not push me into a
corner I do not wish to be in.

I am sorry to speak harshly.

Let us put it behind us,

agree to our accommodations
as pleasing for all,

and finish me off.

(EXHALES)

I knew you were
ruthless, which I like,

but I did not realize
you were heartless.

I have a busy day. Will
you finish me or not?

- I will not.
- Then you may go.

I will no longer be
needing your services.

And I will no longer be giving
them. Get the fuck out of my prison.

It is my palace!

And I wish to finish myself
off before I leave here.

Leave the room, or I will
have you dragged from it.

Well, I fear for Paul having
a mother so heartless.

(DOOR OPENS)

(CATHERINE MOANING)

Unbelievable. You're
actually doing it.

Amazing.

(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Sorry. You're very distracting.

That right?

Always were.

And yet I often walked into a
room, and you did not see me.

You were a serf.

I did not wish to embarrass
you by bringing attention on it.

But trust me,

I saw you.

I saw you every time.

Can I have my ball back, please?

Seems cruel.

Unless it just means that's not
the game you should be playing.

It's just the game I was playing
until the real game walked by.

Don't follow me to my apartments,
for I have no lock on the door

and am about to go
lie naked on my bed.

Right.

Oh!

(MARIAL MOANING)

Tea?

Clearly not fucking
tea. Thank you.

MARIAL: Is that an eye patch?

Sorry.

- Mood's broken.
- GRIGOR: Right.

Sure?

I could do some
seductive talk, or...

No, I just...

I have to do something.
I just remembered.

Yeah.

Another time.

Yeah?

Seriously. Another time.

- That was quick.
- (MARIAL CLEARS THROAT)

I expected more from him.

I need a walk.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY)

CATHERINE: Gosh.

ELIZABETH: That
seems a kind assessment.

Destressing his mind.

Best look away before
they shit in their hands

and then spend minutes
perusing it for worms.

And we make them nobles?

Yes.

Peter the Great
instituted the idea.

He was worried the
rise of the merchant class

and their pockets full of gold
would start causing trouble.

Seems a clever move.

And lucrative to the state.

They pay five million
rubles to be made noble.

You can pin a crown on a
donkey, it is still a donkey.

Are you a snob, Elizabeth?

Of course all men are equal,

but that does not mean I
have to retire my discernment

about the individual men.

- CATHERINE: Oh!
- Girls!

- KATYA: I'm so sorry.
- (GIRLS GIGGLING)

They have had too
many marzipan cakes,

and also, I suppose they
have some issues around you.

What? Uh...

Girls, speak your truth.

- Will we be beaten?
- No. You won't be beaten.

Or shot. Or tortured.

When will people
understand that?

Rousseau says that there
is a perfectness in nature

and that is our natural state,

and instead we've created a
society of repression and evil.

You were to fix Russia in
line with Rousseau's vision,

- were you not?
- I am.

Does not seem real.

- You do not seem to be doing it.
- KATYA: Nadia!

Um, let her speak freely, for
that is what this school is about.

Speaking freely?

The espousal of ideas?

- Yes.
- But not the acting of them?

Are you not like a drunken
father at a dining party

telling the world
how it should change,

but doing nothing but falling
over at the end of the night

in your own vomited
and useless ideas?

Oh, dear me.

Gosh, you have a turn of phrase.

As do you, Empress, but
we're thinking that's all you have.

Right.

- Oh!
- (GIRLS GIGGLING)

Girls! Go and stand over
there, and stare at art.

- Sorry.
- Ah...

The baby kicked.

Kick back.

Bad joke.

I'm being attacked
from all angles today.

- (CATHERINE EXHALES)
- Ah! I was just hoping to see you.

I have the proposal for the
tariff reductions with Denmark.

CATHERINE: No time

for the fascinating
world of tariff reduction,

let us save it for when we are dead,
which could be sooner than we realize.

They were in order but
not numbered, so now...

Today!

What did I say?

You yelled "today,"
even though I'm right here

and you have some cake...

Today!

We do something
meaningful today.

Look at our list, Orlo.

Our grand aims.

We took this
country for a reason.

So, we must do something.

You would like to make a splash?

Free the serfs.

Whoa. The longest of long games.

We free the serfs of the
Russian Empire. In one stroke.

In one moment, 58
million people are freed

from ownership and
servitude. (SIGHS)

- That's a big morning.
- So is the civil war that follows.

You exaggerate.

It is unpicking the
economic system of Russia.

Usually not done on
the fly in a morning.

But how electrifying if it was?

Your passion and vision, coupled
with my caution and knowledge of Russia

got us into this room.

It can take us all the way.

I did not do this to
creep inch by inch, Orlo,

and die after two inches.

Nor to seek the permission of
all to enact fundamental reform.

Let me finish our plans.

I beg you.

You must till the soil before
you can plant new crops.

All right. Fine.

- You summoned me?
- I have been a fucking fool.

- How so?
- She does not love me,

will never love me.

And the most
head-cracking revelation,

- I do not fucking love her.
- Huzzah!

- I have been trying to change myself.
- GRIGOR: When you are flawless.

Exactly. If it is love,
why should I change?

I should be loved for who I am.

She's like your mother.

Mean to you, and you throw
your love into a dark, empty hole.

Well, fuck her.

It is time to destroy her

- and move on with our lives.
- I love what I'm hearing.

What have you been doing
while you've rightfully left me alone

- to come to my senses?
- Ah, not much.

Guards!

I want some crepes.

And... Something sweet.

- (DOOR OPENS)
- CATHERINE: Good day.

- You all right?
- CATHERINE: Frustrated.

My reign is
underwhelming, apparently.

And Peter is...

I hit him hard, so...

In the face with
a knife, I hope.

Not quite.

Perhaps too hard, though.

Oh, not possible.

I still don't understand. You
have your pick of men at court.

In the moment, it seemed genius.

I have these moments
where I just know what to do.

Or feel I do.

Next time...

- (TRAY RATTLING)
- Resist.

Why does your maid
now have an eye patch?

I don't know.

I couldn't ask, because it will
not be a happy story, will it?

There's no happy story involving the
sudden appearance of an eye patch,

and I do not wish to hear it.

She is a terrible maid.

- Well, where is Yula?
- Gone.

Shakey was in my
room downstairs,

and she drives me crazy,

but she's been moved
from the house to the stables,

and the next move will be a
kick in the arse into the forest

to hunt for berries
and squirrels to eat

before being eaten
by a fucking wolf.

You feel for her plight?

Exactly! And one should not.

I should be eating
gold-flecked raspberry cakes,

gargling champagne,

and being fucked hard
on my impossibly soft bed.

Do not be angry at
yourself for feeling.

You lived their life.
It has changed you.

I do not want it to.

It's what everyone should feel.

Shakey?

Empress.

How would you like
to go to a banquet?

What are you doing?

Changing the world.

I'm a bit nervous.

- I look like a crazy person.
- (CATHERINE CHUCKLES)

You look like one of us.

What happened to your eye?

I saw the Prussian ambassador's
wife had one last year.

I liked it.

So, I stole it.

It's an affectation, I suppose.

But harmless.

- (MARIAL LAUGHS)
- Fashion.

Would you believe this bitch
has an artistic temperament?

Everyone talks about her
paintings. You should see.

I would love to.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

MAN: Oh, in a minute.

VELEMENTOV: Here she is.

ORLO: Where have you been?

I was greeting my guest.

Orlo, Velementov,
meet Lady Anastasia.

Have we met before?

Perhaps in your dreams.

It is unlikely.

Lady Anastasia abhors carriage rides
and has never made the journey here.

Now, where are these
soon-to-be nobles?

This way.

TATYANA: Marial, you must
introduce us to the empress's guest.

This is Lady Anastasia.

- She's been in Lisbon for years.
- Ooh.

Wonderful. They have a port full of
the most massive ships, I've heard.

Indeed.

- Are they wonderful?
- Oh, indeed.

Beautiful.

As you are beautiful, madam.

Perhaps the prettiest at court.

MARIAL: I agree.

The rest of us are such trolls.

Well, hello, new
friend Lady Anastasia.

Sit by me.

She seems half blind.

(LAUGHING)

How do you like Lady Anastasia?

Um, she seems
old. Good, I suppose.

- She's Marial's maid.
- What?

Look at them. Loving her.

She seems to be
enjoying herself.

What the fuck are you doing?

Tilling the soil.

- What are you doing with Karine?
- Who?

She also goes by Shakey.
That is recent naming, though.

Oh.

You recognized her?

One never forgets
one's wet nurse.

Half the people in this
room have drunk her milk.

It is just a jape.

My dear, I know you well
enough that nothing is just a jape.

It is a small jape to
make a large point.

What makes us
more noble than them?

I love it.

ELIZABETH: Oh, look, she is
making out with Doctor Smirnov.

(LAUGHS)

(SOFTLY) Ease up,
you fucking whore.

This is what you people do.

You're loose, just fitting in.

(GIRLS CHOIR SINGING)

(COURTIER VOMITING)

(ALL APPLAUDING)

Ladies and gentlemen.

I am new to these ceremonies,

but it has struck me as a wonderful
way to gain new gifts and talents

to elevate our
beautiful country.

As nobles, we create ideas,

commerce, art,
thought, politics.

But what of the human
potential that remains buried

in the rest of our people?

The millions cast aside
because of silly titles

that can so easily be changed?

What potential has
gone unfulfilled here?

What could they gift to Russia?

For instance...

Lady Anastasia.

Rise, please, Lady Anastasia.

She is a noble for today,

dressed by me.

But she has spent
her life as a serf.

(CROWD MURMURING)

Some of you know her as Shakey.

She has nursed, fed,
cleaned for you for years.

But was that the best
use of her talents?

What could she have
brought to Russia?

What the fuck?

What riches could
she have added to us?

It is an interesting
question and a fun jape.

I love you all. Good day.

(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Look at them, Marial.
They are amazed.

Some seem that way.

Others look more like you've
just punched them in the face.

Well, in many ways I have.
The amazement will come later.

- Brilliant.
- I know.

(SHUSHES)

MARIAL: Svenska,

shall we call for tea later?

I would love that.

But I will be busy
hacking my fucking arm off,

because your serf touched it.

Shame she didn't hug you, then.

Hurry up, Yula.

Or shall I throw a stick ahead,
so you move a little faster?

GRIGOR: Fun jape, my arse.

That speech didn't sound
like the end of an experiment.

It sounded like the beginning.

An opportunity perhaps.

What's stronger? The
plans we don't know,

or the plans we can make
up to scare people with?

Second one.

Then again, what if we had both?

- (ORLO GASPING)
- KATYA: "There are three principal means

"of acquiring knowledge.

"Observation of
nature, reflection..."

This all right?

I always found him a
bit dry, to be honest,

but this is definitely
more engaging.

The intercourse
or the discourse?

Coupled together in
you, it is a different,

somewhat heady experience.

- (DOOR OPENS)
- (KATYA AND ORLO GASP)

Sorry to interrupt.

- We're here for your plans, Orlo.
- I'm sorry?

The empress's
plans with the serfs.

She doesn't have any.

Then what did you just
side-eye on your desk?

We're very happy to shoot you.

Though it seems a sad end to
this strange, bookish lovefest.

I told her.

Thanks.

Now put some pants
on and come with us.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Father Basil.

You've seemingly gone missing

since publicly suggesting the
empress was a demon woman

sent to destroy Russia.

It seems it has
led to my undoing.

I have been relieved
of my commission.

So sad. I think I'm tearing up.

I feel I may have been
played as a pawn by her.

And perhaps by you, as well.

Basil. You are a good man.

Your heart is pure.

That is the aim, is it not?

I suppose it is.

I have enjoyed my
time observing you.

A brilliant man.

God's voice whispers
in his ear. And yet...

Something dark.

Is that just in you, or does the
politics of court bring that out?

Perhaps.

Why should you serve them?

God is all and they should serve
him, and yet your brilliance is spent

on finding a way to bring
God to these fuckers.

- (CHUCKLES) Indeed.
- You agree?

With a laugh. A joke.

I do agree, but...

(CLICKS TONGUE) It is...

Complex.

You believe or don't.

You are in truth or not?

In some ways,

perhaps your simple goodness
has been a lesson to me.

- I will...
- And what have you learnt?

I don't like your tone.

Are you a good man worthy of us?

That did not feel pure, Father.

Pray on that pure
love. That is God.

Who are you?

Goodbye, Patriarch.

It is difficult here.

Remember God's love always.

- (DOOR CLOSES)
- (SOBBING)

SHAKEY: Why have we stopped?

This one is yours.

To clean?

To have.

A gift from the empress
as thanks for the jape.

My paintings.

MARIAL: Are you crying?

- Fuck off.
- (MARIAL LAUGHS)

Will do.

I am the happiest of men.

- It's been too long.
- Agreed. I felt like my old self.

Oh!

- (PETER SIGHING)
- (DOOR OPENS)

Oh.

Empress.

You no doubt have
come for a tongue-lashing.

Well, alas, my tongue is well
lashed out. Is it not, Zasha and Vicki?

(ZASHA AND VICKI GIGGLE)

- Right.
- Ladies, have a crepe.

We will resume action

once the empress has
said whatever incredibly dull,

self-serving, heartless thing
she has to say and then leaves.

Mmm. Well, it did not take you
long to let go of your so intense love.

How deep and real
it must have been.

It was as real as a dog
who is starved and beaten

and eventually dies of neglect.

Or perhaps it was a delusion,
as you often suggested,

and as always, you were right.

So put that in your
arrogant crown.

Did he force you to fuck?

I did not.

They're not sex serfs.

I know you are hurt
that you have lost yours.

You are not my sex serf.

Serfs do not get entire
rooms to themselves.

Or suckling pigs and French
chefs cooking them fucking crepes.

You know what is an ironie?

Enough with the mangled
French. It is unbearable.

What is an ironie?

It is a fucking irony that you
profess love for all humanity,

and serfs weirdly included,

as my maids did tell me of
your fun jape at the lunch today.

I am shifting the consciousness of
the court to make a better Russia.

By dressing Karine up like a puppet
and mocking her and the nobles?

I mean, what the fuck
was that all about?

It is fucking
brilliant, is what it is.

It is to make us all think
on the way we treat serfs,

and their position
in our society.

Am I actually
explaining this to you?

Pointlessly, I agree.

As there's nothing wrong
with how we treat them.

They love it here.

- (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
- You. Serf.

Do you love having him shoot
fruit off the top of your head?

I'm not a serf. I'm a soldier.

Right. Of course.

You know us so well.

Jean Pierre, do you love it when
he spits the food you have prepared

back in your face?

Oui.

- How else will I know it needs work?
- Mmm.

Got to give feedback.
Communication is key.

Perhaps, as an outsider, you
do not understand how it works.

They're like family to us.

I do not spit at family.

'Cause you do not care for them.

If I did not care
for Jean Pierre

and know that my happiness is
his happiness and gave him nothing,

well, what a
heartless insult. Oui?

Oui.

Oh, fuck off.

I am changing this country,

and the fact that you cannot
even see what is wrong with it is,

of course, de rigueur.

De rigueur?

As completely fucking expected.

Catherine? Two things.

Bravo on whatever
was going on in there.

- It is not...
- It is whatever your heart desires

and none of my business.

I will let the Fates
play their hand.

Second, I think you'd best
come to the state room with me.

The lunch seems to not sit
well in some people's stomachs.

- What do they want?
- I don't know.

Anytime one of them
talks, the others start yelling.

I made them put their
pistols in a bucket.

It's times like these I am so glad
you are my key military strategist.

Tread lightly, my dear. We
will be here if you need us.

- Gentlemen!
- (COURTIERS SHOUTING)

Do you have a representative?

Empress. Empress.
Forgive the mob.

We are here to object to
your plans to free the serfs.

(SCOFFS)

Well, there's been a
misunderstanding, then.

Lying German bitch!

MAN: You're going
to break this country.

We have no concrete plans.

Only an innocent jape
that I hope you all enjoyed.

So, you are telling us you have
not thought any further than that?

- Indeed.
- You haven't written down, say,

- a 109-page master plan?
- (COURTIERS LAUGHING)

Oddly specific. But no.

Would you mind explaining these
documents Orlo's given us, then?

(COURTIERS JEERING)

They forced it out of
me at fucking gunpoint.

You set me up.

Nothing personal. Actually,
that's probably a tiny bit untrue.

- (COURTIERS LAUGHING)
- A moment, gentlemen!

Are you all right?
You seem a little red.

I feel a little red.

Ow!

- Everyone wants to kick me right now.
- ELIZABETH: Ponder that later.

Act on this now.

You must explain that this is
another of your experiments.

Barely sketched out
and open to change.

Forgive them their panic,

for it seems you wish to unpick
the basis of everything they know.

You don't.

- (COURTIERS JEERING)
- CATHERINE: If you could be quiet.

I would like to explain.

If you expect
them to work for us,

then someone's going
to have to pay them.

Labor costs, the impact
of which no one knows,

other than to make our
exports uncompetitive.

The Turks will crush us on coal.

We would figure all that out.

If we open our minds to it,

I know we have the
solution in this very room.

We will be at the
whim of those inbreds.

Who have rights.

Who are human
souls with much to give.

Oh, we run their lives,

feed, house, instruct
them, care for them,

and you think they want to
do all of that for themselves,

and in their downtime,

fucking contribute ideas
of genius to Russia?

No offense,

but it does sound like fucking
madness when you add it all up.

MAN: Yes!

Gentlemen, these papers...

ARKADY: These ones?

(COURTIERS CLAMORING)

(COURTIERS CHEERING)

GRIGOR: Give us your word
this will never happen, Empress,

and we will, of course, go back
to honoring and supporting you.

(COURTIERS SHOUTING)

Gentlemen.

- Gentlemen.
- (SHOUTING CONTINUES)

Gentlemen! Listen, or
I'll fucking shoot you all.

I understand what you have
read this evening seems alarming...

And upon reflection...

You are probably right.

I have been a
lying German bitch.

Because I will be
freeing the serfs.

Today!

And yes, I yelled
that bit for effect.

And yes, you will
pay them a wage,

and they will buy goods and
services and create another economy,

and they will strive for more
and invest themselves in Russia.

And the filthy stain of
serfdom will be off your hearts

and unfortunately, you
may actually end up richer.

But I actually don't care whether
it costs you, it will be done!

And there's no amount of threat
or spittle that you can aim at me

that will change
my mind on that.

Get used to the
future, gentlemen.

Because it's coming.

Ow! Who threw that?

- Oh, God. Why are they throwing shoes?
- (COURTIERS CLAMORING)

They hate you and
I took their guns.

Did that just happen?

Did you actually
just free the serfs?

I did.

I felt it was meant to
happen today, and it has.

What do we do? Wait, what
the fuck does freedom mean?

- We will discuss it.
- When? It's already been announced.

Can I just make a comment? We
have the Ottomans on our doorstep.

Instead of dealing with that,
we're suddenly freeing serfs?

It is why I am here.
It's what I came to do.

- Why else did we coup Peter?
- To get rid of him!

He was a fucking disaster, but at
least Russia was a unified country.

Velementov. Ease up.

You cannot agree
with this madness.

Philosophically, I
very much agree.

Obviously, the
situation is not ideal.

You knew my plans when
we launched this coup.

- I...
- You what?

You believed I would
not achieve my aims?

I thought you would do
more than most, which is...

Not much.

But you're better.

I...

I've been drinking barleyed
bourbon which affects me badly.

I...

Maybe I have
overspilled my words.

- Your truth, you mean.
- ELIZABETH: Calmness is now called for.

Catherine, you've made your
point. Now it is time to draw breath.

Agreed. The court has had a
ripple of ideas sent through it.

Now best settle and
think this through.

The nobles will tear you
to shreds if you do this.

I have faith in peoples'
hearts to be good.

I have seen too much. As
have all of us in this room,

bar one, to believe that.

I'm asking you to trust me.

There is no such thing
as comfortable progress.

These fuckers are too
greedy not to make a deal.

Everyone will
calm, I promise you,

and in the morning, a new dawn.

Oh, dear.

- (DOOR CLOSES)
- Fucking understatement.

Perhaps we should trust her.

She's had good instincts before.

There's always a
first time for a fuck-up.

She is mad and has
played into my clever hands.

We need to throw
some logs on this fire.

And then her, Orlo
and Velementov.

Pugachev.

The one and only.

Lie in the bed as
if you're sleeping.

I shall.

Naked all right?

No. Fuck me. Animal.

Ugh.

People are fucking angry.

A serf as a noble.

It's just... I mean, what a
mockery that makes of breeding.

Exactly.

Speaking of which, Count
Millertil has married his sister,

but we're all to pretend
they were actually cousins.

Ah. Understood.

Here he comes.

She wants to change Russia.

Let us show her what a
changed Russia looks like.

Gentlemen, ladies.

I give to you our
one true emperor.

At large. In the flesh.

Coming to our aid
in our time of need.

(ALL APPLAUDING)

I have escaped!

ALL: Huzzah!

And I have escaped because
as the Emperor of Russia,

chosen by God...

I must act when our
Russia is threatened,

and when God sends
an omen to me as well.

Yes, God's omen she killed.

Basically, kicking God in the balls
and proving herself an agent of evil

bent on bringing our sunny, fun
Russia into a dark and boring era.

Fuck. Haven't spoken
publicly in a while.

Feels good, comes
natural, but thirst making.

Always there, Josep.
Good to see you.

JOSEP: Emperor.

Let us talk about this fucking
madness of bringing serfs into nobledom.

- I mean, fuck me.
- I know.

PETER: Apart from
the sort of scattered,

illogical thinking only a
pregnant devil could do.

And yes, I do now think
she has a small crocodile

in her and not a child.

So, let's put that heir
to the throne shit to bed.

She is taking a squat
on years of tradition.

The fucking serfs are as beloved
as the most beloved of our pets.

And she would have them thrown
into the world without us to care for them.

We feed and house them,
and when they need instruction,

we use up our precious
energies to beat them into line

so that they can serve us better
and be proud of their job and us.

I see some who
couped against me,

and I hope your eyes are
open to your fucked-up decision.

Now, do not beat
yourselves on it.

She tricked me into loving
her as she tricked you,

but our eyelids have been
torn off and now we can all see.

So, all is forgiven.

Except for you, Dimitri.

- (GUNSHOT)
- (DIMITRI GROANS)

Don't show your cock to me

and wank at me every time
you pass my window, dickhead.

Now, where were we? Josep,
do we have hors d'oeuvre?

Merci.

Tomorrow morning,
assemble in the halls

protesting her rule.

Let her hear your voice.

Scream for her to
abdicate and me to retake.

Dress nicely, because
we will have a party after

where I will fuck any woman
at court who demands it.

- Huzzah!
- ALL: Huzzah!

(ALL APPLAUDING)

- GRIGOR: Feels good, doesn't it?
- Mmm. Forgot his power.

Mmm.

Did he just say we
will scream in the halls?

Indeed. And he will fuck

any woman that
demands it. (CHUCKLES)

It seems an underwhelming plan
given what she has put us through.

I don't know.
Seems all right to me.

(CHUCKLES)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

- Madame Svenska?
- Serf, stand, for God's sake.

I am so sorry. I...

Do not argue. For
that is what you are.

A dirty, old, rude serf I
recognized from the beginning.

If this is the empress's
message to us,

then it is important
we send one back.

Stab her.

What?

Am I unclear or are
you dim? Stab her.

You are my serf. You will
obey me. That is how it works.

Why have we all forgotten?

I cannot do that.

Fine then. So
lazy and so boring.

I will do it myself.

(SHAKEY GASPS)

(THUDS)

Come now, Yula.
I will need a bath.

For an old woman, there has
been surprisingly much blood spray.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANTONOV: Hello?

Somebody help me!

You!

Take my shit!

What?

I cannot find my
serf. Take it. Now.

Wait.

Where are you going?

TATYANA: Lada?

Lada?

Lada?

The serfs are on strike.

Un-fucking-acceptable.

Arkady! Shit.

Come back!

- (SIGHS)
- (DOOR OPENS)

Come quickly.

- What is it?
- The serfs are on strike.

We wait until we hear
frenzied chanting and protest,

and then ideally Arkady gets
a mob to break down the doors

and bear me into the
palace and in a wave,

we move through,
gathering force,

killing if we must and finally, she
will see she needs to acquiesce.

And then you kill her.

Imprisoned until Paul is born.

You're a good dad.

- WOMAN: Ah.
- I'm starving. Where's breakfast?

We are on strike, so I
have the whole day to fuck.

- On strike?
- No breakfast?

I brought you a blood orange.

They've just stopped working.
Or they're free, or fuck knows what.

TATYANA: Lada?

I didn't announce
anything officially.

That's the thing about
freedom, it lacks parameters.

Ah! Don't look at me.

What is the worst
that can happen?

They have to butter their own bread
and suck their own cocks for a day?

They can cry me a river and
wash their own fucking clothes in it.

Marial, what is it?

This is my fault.

MARIAL: You
didn't cut her throat.

I keep expecting
her to sit up and yell...

And yell at me.

(CRYING)

I thought we were
better than this.

MARIAL: For a moment, so did I.

- (GUNSHOT)
- (DISTANT SCREAMING)

Marial.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(CROWD SHOUTING)

- Come here!
- (GRUNTING)

Stop! Stop that!

Hey! Look at their fucking
contribution now, bitch!

Back in the state room. Come.

Fucking rude.

I have called up a battalion
to put down the unrest.

What do you mean "put down"?

- Are you all right?
- Shakey is dead.

- They fucking killed her.
- I heard.

Velementov, you will
find who killed Shakey,

and you will tear them
limb from fucking limb.

You threw her on the board.

Do not be angry when
someone takes your pawn.

Fuck you.

It is done.

Now what is to be done next
is your question at the moment.

It's fucking clear what
should be done next.

We must act to
restore order. Now!

I will not turn my guns on them.

They are running
amok. As are the nobles.

Catherine, if you do not put a
stop to it, what happens then?

I shall answer if it makes it
easier. They kill us all and you.

Perhaps not.

Per... Perhaps they
vent rage until it's spent

and then we all get
to look at each other

and understand
change must happen.

I lit the fuse and
cannot back down.

Maybe chaos burns it down

and the new ground
can have better built on it.

The rebuilding will
be on our graves.

It's not ideal, is it?

I am with them. Everyone
sees what must happen.

You are a noble.
Know that. They do.

I am a human first. And
I hoped you all were too!

We must think our
way to a new answer.

We were trying until your jape.

Chaos is unleashed, and
chaos is an uncontrolled storm

with unintended consequence
and unimaginable damage.

We cannot be afraid.

We have given them nothing to
hang change on. There is no structure.

We can't let this happen.

Catherine, you tried, but it
is clearly not the time for this.

You must back away now.

You must side with the
nobles and be seen to.

- I cannot.
- I heard chants of "Peter."

Catherine. Know
when to step back.

Am I being asked or told?

(EXHALES)

You do not want to
think on that question.

Just on the question at hand.

And on what you
wanted to achieve

and if you die today, whether
you will have achieved it.

- (CROWD SHOUTING IN DISTANCE)
- (CATHERINE SIGHS)

Everyone out a minute.
Wait outside the door.

- Time is of the essence.
- Go!

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

(SOBBING)

(SOMBER INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC PLAYING)

All right, Josep?

Emperor.

- Back to work, fucker!
- (GUNSHOT)

The moment is here. Back room,
to the state room. Go take her.

(GUNSHOT)

(CATHERINE SOBBING)

It's all gone horribly wrong.

I know.

Shakey is dead.

Fuck.

Nice woman.

Fuck off, Arkady.

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

Have you come to take it off me?

Not today.

Oh. Ah...

It's Paul kicking.

(SIGHS)

Velementov.

Do it.

PETER: Lock me in.

What the fuck happened?

It's hard to explain.

- (DISTANT GUNFIRE)
- (INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

SYLVANA: Will you be
needing tea, Empress?

Hello. May I borrow that?

(DOOR OPENS)

Is that you, Yula?
I asked for tea.

I am a famously
patient woman, but...

(MUSIC PLAYING)