Original subtitles

DOGS WHIMPER

THEY MUTTER

POTEMKIN: Matushka!

Matushka!

CATHERINE: I'm coming, I'm coming!

What are you doing?

POTEMKIN: Where have they put my stockings?

Your stockings, sir?

What the fuck is he doing here?

CATHERINE: Well, we're working.

What? Oh! Out!

Your Majesty.

POTEMKIN: Come on. Where are they?

They're here.

Here.

Soup.

Yes, how does one get soup on one's stocking?

- By eating soup in bed. - THEY LAUGH

Come here.

I'm still hungry.

- Are you? - Yes...

Stop. SHE LAUGHS

Come on! The council meeting.

Come on. We're late.

POTEMKIN: I was thinking. - CATHERINE: Mm-hm?

- We need a place to live. - This is not enough?

- No, no, a home. A home! - This is home.

Well, a house is not a home

and a home is not a palace.

A palace, and this is something I can be quite sure of

is not a house.

- Matushka, a word! Please! - INDISTINCT CHATTER

In private. If there is such a thing in this place.

It's the Council, Grishenka.

Buttons will be done up.

Yes, someone's starting to sound like my wife.

Some people say I am your wife.

BOOT THUDS

CATHERINE: You could do that to call them to order.

SHE LAUGHS - Yes, or shoot them possibly.

You mustn't think they hate you. They don't hate you.

I won't let them hate you.

Oh. Oh, yes, poor little lap dog, eh?

HE CHUCKLES

SHE CHUCKLES

Little lap dog's going to make a speech.

Yes, I'm...

I'm Minister Panin.

Yes, I'm going to talk about Europe.

And Europe, and in particular, these Germans over here

on our Western front. Our allies that keep us safe.

But then I look at Russia, Matushka.

I look down south and I see Crimea

the Black Sea, vast tracts of empty land

that we should be laying claim to.

Mm...

- Crimea. - POTEMKIN: Yes.

That's always been a Russian dream.

A port in the Black Sea.

We could build a naval fleet.

A fleet that would make us great.

A great nation.

But do you think that's realistic?

- Yes! - I mean, really?

Yes, of course.

Well, we must be very diplomatic.

Well, I'll be very devious, yes, yes.

No, no, but I know Mr Panin loves the Germans.

As does your son, the Grand Duke.

Yes, I'll be diplomatic, I'll be duplicitous...

All most important qualities in a statesman, Count Potemkin.

CATHERINE: Count Potemkin wishes to speak

about foreign policy.

Yes, I'm sure some of you already know

my feelings on these matters.

CATHERINE: Yes, we were just discussing the Crimea.

Is Your Majesty prepared for another Turkish war?

POTEMKIN: Well, we won the last one, if I recall.

If the Foreign Minister is so worried about Europe's reaction

perhaps he might find other alliances...

It's obviously a very risky idea, Your Majesty.

As Minister of War...

Foreign policy is a most delicate and sensitive matter.

I'm sure Your Majesty agrees

that our alliance with Germany is of vital importance.

- Europe is the thing. - POTEMKIN: Is it?

Is it the only thing?

PANIN: It certainly is important.

ORLOV: It is. - Of course it is a factor.

But Count Potemkin's proposals are very interesting.

Thank you, Peter.

So, I'm going to circulate a note from Peter Zavadosky

that I want us to study in detail.

I would draw your attention to number four.

Now this is in relation to the election of Governor Generals

in the provinces.

You will see at number four we have General Kamensky

who has been suggested. Now I propose...

Why didn't you support me in there?

It wasn't the right time.

Oh, please, when is the right time?

Our future lies in the Crimea.

With a port on the Black Sea, we become a major power.

It's my dream as well as yours

but do you think the French and the Germans and the English

will let us get away with it? I doubt it.

Yes.

The whole of the land to the south can be ours.

We take it. They will want to join us.

Well, you may be right.

POTEMKIN: But what? Hm?

You don't want to lose me?

You don't want me to go off to war, is that it?

I do love you.

You know that.

It's a great adventure, Matushka.

Tired of adventure?

Well, no one's asking me to go on an adventure.

Oh no, I stay here in the palace

and I write and I write and I write

and I'm a graphomaniac permanently in committee.

Well, I want to run.

I can't stand a life without adventure.

You don't like your apartments here?

POTEMKIN: They were Orlov's.

And Vasilchikov's before that.

No, I don't like my fucking apartments!

I mean, w... what am I to you?

Am I just someone that's supposed to, what?

Stand behind your chair at dinner, huh?

Take you upstairs after the brandy

give you a good fucking? Is that what I'm here for?

Mm? Am I just the favourite?

I hate that word!

- Can't stand it. - No, no! Look.

You know. You know what you are.

No, I don't know what I am.

If I can find a way to make your idea work, we will do it.

That's my woman.

Come on.

CLOCK CHIMES

MAN AND WOMAN LAUGH

Something worrying you, Andrei?

- Do I look worried? - PRINCE PAUL: Yep.

Why should I be worried? Your wife's having a baby.

- It's wonderful. - PRINCE PAUL LAUGHS

Ah, I want you to always, always, be my best friend.

You are part of our family.

Of course, Your Excellency.

Oh! "Paul".

Of course, Your Excellency.

I've finally done something to please my mother.

I've given her a baby!

A child!

An heir!

PRINCE PAUL LAUGHS

Will it look like me?

That's my only worry.

I'm sure it will.

I hope it does.

HE CHUCKLES

And we would like to extend a warm welcome

to the ambassadors of the French and the German nations

who are bound to us both as partners and Europeans.

Europe, Europe, Europe, Europe, Europe...

That's all he goes on about.

Somebody needs to remind him that we're Russian.

I need to speak to Paul. I must find him.

Ah, yes, now he's going to give you an heir

I suppose he must be spoken to.

Yes, you know how important that is to me.

Succession, of course. Only too well.

If the man comes to power, I'm a dead man.

Oh, don't exaggerate, you're being ridiculous.

I'm not a natural courtier, I never will be. I'm Russian.

I mean, look at them.

No, no, look at them, look at them!

Waiting for me to trip over my own cock.

Dressed to kill. Literally.

Should've worn my bear skin.

Oh, don't be like this.

Don't be like what?

Don't be like what?

- They're arguing. - POTEMKIN: Huh?

I think Potemkin wants to push her

to let him invade the Crimea.

You heard him at the Council.

So he can fight another Turkish war and distinguish himself.

But she won't let him.

Disagreeing about politics.

Very dangerous for Potemkin.

Madam is all about politics.

Do you think she even likes men?

She eats them and spits them out.

Well, look at my poor brother.

Potemkin almost certainly can't satisfy her.

I am told that she requires her men in teams of 12.

They do it in relays.

And only trained athletes need apply.

A grandchild is what I want most in this world.

I am glad you are happy, Mother.

- And happy you are glad. - CATHERINE LAUGHS

RAZUMOVSKY: Natalia! Natalia!

Yes, a grandchild. What a bond.

And who cares who the father is?

The hypocrisy of family.

Is yours any different?

- Your Majesty. - Yes?

The German Ambassador has arrived.

F...

GLASS SHATTERS What am I doing here?

I'm wasting my time!

Grigory, Grigory!

If it is this Crimea business that's making you so angry

I will find a way.

- Give a fuck about the Crimea? - I always do.

You think all I care about is the Crimea?

FOOL: Europe is passionate about Crimea, Auntie.

Some of them even know how to find it on a map.

It's more than that and you know it!

Who was that boy up there?

Huh? Why is he always hanging around?

Because she likes...

Leave us, Fool!

- Peter. Peter Zavadosky. - Oh!

No, he's not important to me.

Oh, it's Peter now. Peter!

Where are you going?

I'm going to get drunk. With him!

You have more vodka, Fool?

Never leave a home without it.

That's why I don't have a home.

It's the mother we never had, Matushka.

You come back here.

Grishenka, you come back here right now!

POTEMKIN GROANS

Where the fuck am I?

POTEMKIN GROANS

POTEMKIN GRUNTS

Mother... she, uh...

She's in labour.

INDISTINCT SHOUTS

- What? What's going on? - It's the Crown Princess.

SHE SCREAMS

- How long? - Too long, Your Majesty.

Too long.

NATALIA CRIES - Where is she?

The Crown Princess is experiencing some difficulties.

No, Her Majesty.

How's the Empress Catherine?

She is watching, Your Excellency.

By the bedside.

She asks that only immediate family be present.

NATALIA SCREAMS

KNOCK ON DOOR

HE KNOCKS

Oh, it's me, it's her, it's hopeless.

HE SIGHS She had this new assistant.

Zavadovsky?

He's no threat to you.

You're the one she loves.

- It's complicated. - It shouldn't be complicated.

That's the point.

Love should be simple, or it isn't love.

Why are you talking like a schoolgirl?

Cos that's how she makes me feel.

Like a schoolgirl.

She never listens to my ideas.

I'm not prepared to sit around and be her lap dog.

And so you argue.

So it seems.

She can't bear arguments.

Well, she's fucking good at them.

She always has things to do.

Well, tell her you have things to do as well.

She'll understand that.

I don't, that's the point.

You're ambitious, and in the end...

she doesn't like people who stand and wait.

Being yourself is the only way you'll hold onto her.

What are you doing?

A quick one?

We shouldn't. I love her.

A quick one wouldn't hurt anyone.

You're a terrible woman.

SHE CHUCKLES

Does she have any chance?

And the baby?

Oh, Paul.

CATHERINE (VO): She died.

And the baby died too.

Oh.

Very sorry.

They've opened her body up.

It was a boy.

A healthy boy.

I wanted to see it.

Him.

I wanted to see him.

Come on.

I'll come and see it with you.

CATHERINE: Do you want to do that?

Am I part of your life?

CATHERINE: If you want to be.

I can't be if you won't let me be.

Backwards and forwards

and round and round and round in circles.

That's how we go.

What is the point of it all?

I guess there comes a moment in any affair...

"Any affair"?

Is that all we are?

When you can't go on.

You can't continue. You don't know why.

We do things and we don't know why we do them.

You reach a wall and you can't see beyond.

And we've reached that point, have we?

Well, you choose a fine time to tell me.

In a sense, I don't think we'll ever reach that point.

I just... I never want to leave you, I...

may have to.

Well, we all have to learn how to die.

Yes.

Yes, poor Natalia.

- Was she... - I meant us, Grishenka.

Well, I have to go.

You can come if you want.

PRINCE PAUL: It's the judgement of God.

I'm being punished.

- I'm a bad person. - You mustn't.

A mother punishes her husband.

A son punishes his mother

for what he thinks that she did to his father

and then the curse goes down the family

and misery gets passed on from generation to generation...

I have been speaking to the doctors, Your Excellency.

You may see the body of your son should you so wish.

My son...

I longed for this child.

And yet it's not a child

because he is not here.

He didn't even draw breath.

PRINCE PAUL: My son...

There is so little time.

Let us at least try to love one another.

I'll try.

Love is so important, don't you agree?

Mm.

But so difficult to sustain.

CATHERINE: And so to the questions of alliances

and put that in italics.

BEZBORODKO: All of it, Your Majesty?

No, not all of it. Or indeed all of "it".

"Alliances" is the bit she wants in italics.

"Alliances", it's...

the way she says it.

You can tell when she is speaking in italics?

That is extraordinary.

Yes, well, it's very important

to be sensitive to the nuances of her voice.

You do it, Peter. Let him copy out your version.

Bezborodko, would you leave us, please?

Peter, you stay.

"Stay."

You were speaking in italics, Your Majesty.

I spotted it.

No. I'm afraid I wasn't.

"...so where do I think Russia should be in the world?

What do the people want us to be?

Are we going to continue to defer to the Europeans

or move south towards the Crimea?"

That's rather good, isn't it?

I wonder who wrote it?

- You did, Your Majesty. - SHE LAUGHS

POTEMKIN: Well, perhaps I can help rewrite it.

Peter, leave us.

Please.

PETER: Your Majesty.

How is your secretary?

CATHERINE: I'm sorry, which one?

HE CHUCKLES

The good-looking one.

Peter.

Hm?

You trust him, do you?

For God's sake, we can't go on like this.

- Like what? - Like this!

This is a...

You have infinite choice and I have got none.

I have power, yes.

It may look as if I can simply do as I please, but...

look, you know it isn't like that.

You don't need to crawl on your hands and knees to Panin

and his unstoppable desire to suck the German cock.

You haven't read the rest of what I've written!

I don't need to hear the rest of the thing, do I?

- Just listen! Listen! - No, please.

Please, indulge me, I'll hear the rest of the thing.

Come on, yes.

"The Moslem tribes in the Crimea

and in the whole of the area to the north

are utterly divided and have no love for the Turks.

It is possible we could bring them into the Russian Empire

without the use of force."

That might be true.

You see?

We agree, Grishenka.

I'm for expansion. I'm for empire.

I'm all for telling the Germans and the French and the English

to fuck off.

I'm a Russian patriot.

With a German head.

What I don't want is another war.

You think we can

take the Crimea without a war?

The French and the English have other worries.

The Germans will never act alone.

You would need someone to...

Who could talk to the tribes.

Yes.

Would be gone a long time.

We will always have each other, Grishenka.

Mm.

Don't get too fond of that boy.

Him? Oh, don't be...

No, please.

No matter what happens to either of us.

In bed or out of it.

We will always have each other, won't we?

Are you giving me permission to stray?

I don't want to be given permission.

New beginnings...

Matushka.

You go.

And you do what you have to do.

With my blessing.

Oh, no.

But you write.

Will you please, please just write?

Write. Write. Write.

SHE SOBS

OFFICER: Ten-hut!

SOLDIERS MARCH

PANIN: So Prince Potemkin's soldiers are headed south.

What of it?

PANIN: I have to say, Your Majesty

that I am worried.

You're worried, Minister.

It is noted.

What else are you worried about?

The drainage system in the Ukraine?

Whether or not to tax root vegetables?

The price of bread in Novgorod?

It is my job to worry, Minister. Not yours.

Work! Work!

That's what life is all about.

Did you wish to discuss anything else with me?

I am...

obviously thinking about the Prince, Your Majesty.

He's suffered a blow, but...

he's getting stronger.

As you know, I'm very close to him

and I was thinking...

I think it's time he got married again.

Where's that list?

Here is a list of suitable princesses.

With respect, Your Majesty...

They're arranged in order of suitability.

Start with number one and work your way down to number 25.

One or two of them are German, as it happens.

Some wonderful things have come out of Germany, Your Majesty.

Yourself included.

Ha.

Do it. Go.

The boy needs to move on.

PRINCE PAUL: I don't want to get up.

CATHERINE: It's never been easy between us.

I know, I understand that.

PRINCE PAUL: You don't understand.

I met someone who actually loved me

and now...

she's dead.

You must eat.

PRINCE PAUL: No.

Oh, come on, get a grip!

Now, I understand how you feel.

PRINCE PAUL: Do you?

Well, I am trying to. I really am.

PRINCE PAUL: I don't feel you do.

Your wife is dead, and your son is dead.

It's time to move on.

PRINCE PAUL: Where are we going?

To face up to things.

No, no, this is her room. Why have you brought me here?

I want to show you something.

No, do not touch that.

Do not touch that!

That is her private drawer. Get out!

Get out!

She kept things in here she didn't want you to see.

Letters.

Letters from your best friend.

Count Razumovsky.

With whom she was having an affair.

And who in all probability

is the father of the dead child.

How dare you say such vile things to me?

You're lying.

You're lying.

I'm telling the truth.

I'm sorry for it.

Read.

Or are you too frightened?

No.

One should never be frightened of facing the truth.

This is his handwriting. Do you recognise it?

The bastard.

CATHERINE: Nothing in love is forever, Paul.

Death...

and distance have a way of interfering.

It's not a sin to fall in love again

when the one you love is gone.

CATHERINE (VO): My darling, where are you?

I've not heard from you and I'm worried that...

No, not now.

PETER: Your Majesty.

Does anyone know what this is?

It is the Treaty of St Petersburg, Your Majesty.

Yes, it is.

And it led to our alliance with that nasty little man

Frederik II of Prussia

who once referred to me in private

although I hear everything, as a cunt.

But it still seems we are tied to our alliance with him.

Do either of you know why?

Foreign policy, Your Majesty?

Oh, get out! Get out! Get out!

Get out! Get out!

Until we secure Crimea, Your Majesty

it might be dangerous to move on.

Yes, you're quite right, Peter.

Good, good. You've been listening to me.

Yes, move slowly, you're quite right.

I'm so sorry I was unpleasant.

Things weigh on me sometimes.

I'm always grateful to serve Your Majesty.

You may go.

CATHERINE: Oh, Prince Potemkin has...

Prince Potemkin has been away too long.

PETER: I am sorry.

You know how much that I...

CATHERINE: That you...

What...

respect I have for him.

Prince Potemkin.

Yes, he is an extraordinary man.

He is.

But he is not here.

And you are.

Yes, Your Majesty.

So...

rub my shoulders.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Lower.

Oh...

Come... come round to the front.

SHE CHUCKLES

You may do...

whatever it is you think I want.

Ah, no, no...

Lock the door.

People are always bothering me.

You know, you are the best secretary I've ever had.

PANIN: There are one or two outstanding candidates.

This is the daughter

of the Grand Duke of Wiesbaden-Gleiwitz.

God. What a boot!

A marriage is a great opportunity for you

Your Excellency.

From what I hear, Potemkin is trying to convince

the Crimean Tatars to join the Russian Empire

and unsurprisingly not having much success.

Your star will rise.

Princess Sophia of Wurtemburg.

Apparently she has good childbearing hips.

INDISTINCT CHATTER - MUSICIANS PLAY

PANIN: I'm so glad you're pleased with Princess Sophia

of Wurtemburg.

She will make Prince Paul a wonderful wife.

She is a warm and wonderful human being.

And German.

She is also German.

Please don't think this is going to make me feel more kindly

towards other Germans, Panin.

Our alliance with Germany and the rest of Europe

is a delicate business.

Especially if we are embarked on an adventure in the Crimea.

HARPSICHORD MUSIC PLAYS

PANIN: She misses him.

Unfortunately.

What's he doing in the Crimea exactly?

No-one knows.

I think he's told her he'll somehow manage to annex it.

Without a fight.

Which he won't.

ALEXEI: I saw Zavodovsky go upstairs by the back route

to do her last night.

Oh, the "back route"?

ALEXEI LAUGHS

Many, many congratulations, sir.

Well, aren't things easier without One Eye?

I'm sure he'll end up killing every Tatar in Crimea.

Unless they kill him first.

CATHERINE (VO): I have not heard from you

for what seems an eternity.

I know what you're doing is dangerous

but I beg you to let me know what is happening.

POTEMKIN (VO): It is true.

I am to blame for not having written you.

TATARS HOLLER

My most merciful lady and generous mistress.

I shall soon be able to tell you

the whole story of my adventures.

It isn't finished yet but we are close.

I swear, in the name of the One God

and the Prophet Mohamed, Peace Be Upon Him

to serve and sacrifice my life

and my soul

for the Empress Catherine.

POTEMKIN (VO): I managed somehow

to persuade the entire Tatar elite

to take the oath of allegiance to you.

I congratulate you upon your acquisition

of the Crimea.

I can't tell you how happy and excited I am

and how I long to see you.

CATHERINE (VO): My darling.

Our dreams for Russia are finally coming true.

For all this, I thank you.

But I am missing you terribly.

A letter from Her Majesty.

CATHERINE (VO): The Grand Duchess has just given birth

to a son!

Whom I call Monsieur Alexandre.

I am besotted with this infant.

It's a pleasure to see him sprawl on his rug

and he is beginning to show singular intelligence

for a child of his age.

BABY CRIES

I can make of him what I want.

POTEMKIN (VO): What sovereign has ever compiled

such a brilliant epoch as you?

The lands upon which others merely glanced

you have bound to the Russian sceptre.

This new border promises Russia peace

Europe envy, and the Ottomans fear.

Take up this trophy

and order your historians to prepare more paper and ink.

I will build a new city here in your honour

and a port to the open sea that we always dreamed of.

ZUBOV: What are you going to call it, sir?

POTEMKIN: Grigory.

No, I'm not going to call the town "Grigory".

You may call me Grigory, because I like you!

Nobody would want to live in a town called Gregory.

The sewers would be overflowing.

It would be all brothels and bars.

No, this will be a colossal city.

Huh?

It will live forever.

It will have wide streets and boulevards.

We'll have art and cathedrals and...

orchards and music on every corner.

ZUBOV: Mozart.

POTEMKIN: Of course, we'll have Mozart.

Yes.

You love her very much.

I do.

From the first moment I saw her.

When I was nothing. That will never change.

No, Zubov.

An affection that refuses to be altered by circumstances.

You know, they called this town "Akhtiar".

The White Cliffs.

But we shall call it Sevastopol.

The Imperial City.

The Empress' City.

All for the glory of Catherine.

CATHERINE (VO): Oh, how I miss you.

Come home.

Come home to me.

Now.

CATHERINE: You did it. - POTEMKIN: Yes.

Yes, I did. HE CHUCKLES

They said you would never do it

and you did.

And you have a German daughter-in-law

just to show them what a good European you still are.

CATHERINE: Let them all think that.

But tonight, we are celebrating you.

POTEMKIN: But I must soon return.

My work in the south is just starting.

CATHERINE: Let's enjoy tonight.

There is nothing sweeter than the sounds of a party

fading into the distance.

If you are walking away from it with the right person.

I did it all for you.

My love.

BABY BURBLES

POTEMKIN: She's enjoying her child.

She's very respectful.

She's learned Russian.

And she has good, childbearing hips.

I hate her.

HE LAUGHS Of course you do.

Go on. Go, I'll stay here.

The sight of me might start him off.

The little boy, you know...

I'm just... surprised by how much I love him.

How much he means to me.

It's never the children, Matushka.

It's what we do to them.

It was too late for us.

Go on, go. Go. Go, go, go!

Go on.

Beautiful...

CATHERINE COOS

Oh, hello.

Come and see me...

HE CHUCKLES

PAUL: Where are you taking him, Mother?

I'm not stealing him, darling.

Maria understands, don't you?

We can be friends now, can't we?

- Now you've given me a son. - Grandson.

He's your grandson. He's my son.

CATHERINE COOS

When do we get him back, Mother?

In five years, when he's reached the age of reason.

That was a joke!

BABY CRIES

Shh, shh...

PETER: So, what about the Turks?

Are they going to let us keep Crimea?

- I somehow forgot to ask them. - SHE LAUGHS

Prince Potemkin has thought all this through very carefully.

Of course. Of course.

PETER SNIFFS

I do think about things, you know.

CATHERINE CHUCKLES

In politics, Peter

there are always a certain amount of unknown factors.

It's never a good idea to try and discover them.

The future will happen.

All we know is we have Crimea.

The only other issue is...

Where next?

My little munchkin, was that south? We should go south?

Ooh, yes!

Matushka!

I've had an idea.

Oh, please! Not another one.

Where do I belong in all of this?

Please, what is my purpose here?

I have no idea.

Well, if you do not wish to be here

you can always leave.

PETER SCOFFS

Fine.

I will.

Your trousers.

- He was getting very tedious. - Yes.

THEY LAUGH

I want the Ministry of War.

You shall have it.

We don't need any of them anymore.

Oh...

Oh, look at you. Every button in place.

Oh, and Matushka, what about your son?

The Grand Duke.

From now on, Prince Paul can do as he is told.

How about a diplomatic tour? He can visit the Austrian court.

CATHERINE: Good idea.

Let's do this.

So, first we would like to thank Alexei Orlov

for his loyal service at the Ministry of War.

And his post will now be given to Prince Potemkin

in acknowledgement for his great work in the Crimea.

APPLAUSE

Bravo.

Count Orlov, did you have something to say?

Before you leave?

No, Your Majesty.

And now I want to signal a major change in our foreign policy

away from Europe and...

May I say something, Your Majesty?

Yes, please do.

With respect...

we may have fooled a few savages

into giving away the Crimea.

And, in the course of time

someone else may well fool us into giving it away again, but...

We gained the Crimea.

Which makes us more powerful.

CATHERINE: And your point is?

I must say. I really...

You must say. What must you say?

What is your point?

My point is that my foreign policy

has always developed on a secure network of alliances

in Europe, and particularly in Germany.

An adventure in the Crimea

has put those alliances in danger.

What is your definition of "a secure network of alliances"?

One which...

a system which...

CATHERINE: A system, which you have devised

for your own convenience.

SHE CHUCKLES

There's no such thing as "a secure network of alliances"

in politics, Minister, you should know that

after watching me work.

I...

- I... - Yes?

You had another point?

I really do not see how I can proceed

if you insist...

Well, if we are following a policy with which you disagree

there is only one course for you.

I do not wish to resign, Your Majesty.

I know you have poisoned my son against me.

There may be nothing I can do about that now.

But know this, I will never forgive you.

I do not wish to resign...

But...

I...

I suppose I must do so.

A principled decision.

Accepted.

And we thank you

for your loyal service all these years.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

PRINCE PAUL: I do not want to go on a state visit

to the Austrian court!

This is a little scheme of Potemkin's, isn't it?

To do with his adventures down south.

Well, I'm not going!

This man has taken control of the whole court!

You will go

and you will leave my grandson with me.

I will not go! I will not!

Ah, that will be your old tutor.

He's just resigned.

He will need money, yes?

What use are you to me if you cannot help me? Hm?

What use are you to anyone?

BABY CRIES

You know, what you need in retirement, Nikita Ivanovich

is a hobby.

I suggest you acquire one. Soon.

Now, remember, charm at all times!

The Emperor Joseph is sparkling company.

And we need his support for what we're doing in the Crimea.

So...

Don't worry, darling. I'll take good care of him.

Just as your grandmother looked after you.

I hardly ever saw you.

We survived, didn't we?

BABY CRIES

OFFICER SHOUTS

Well, back to work.

POTEMKIN: Yes.

I will also have to leave soon too.

Back down south. Building our empire.

I don't want you to be lonely.

There's a man I'd like you to meet.

Alexander Mamonov.

Perhaps he can keep you company while I'm away.

Though I will insist you visit me when the work is complete.

CATHERINE: I suppose if we can't live together

we'll have to learn how to live with others.

- Mm. - But without jealousy.

Because jealousy is disgusting.

It's...

Pointless.

- And demeaning. - Demeaning, yes.

Your Majesty. It's my pleasure.

Very nice to meet you.

GUNSHOTS

CANNON FIRES - CROWD CHEERS

SHIP'S BELL RINGS

MAMONOV GRUNTS

I'm sorry, Your Majesty.

Mm.

I wouldn't worry about it, really.

I can't believe it.

It's never happened before.

No?

SAILOR: Welcome aboard, Prince Potemkin!

POTEMKIN: Let's get this show on the road.

MAMONOV: I'm sorry.

Really.

Really, don't worry about it.

INDISTINCT CHATTER OUTSIDE

You're here!

Why didn't you say?

POTEMKIN: I didn't want to bother you.

I'm here now.

Been getting it all ready. All ready for you.

CATHERINE: Stop it.

CANNONS FIRE

So... Let's to the Crimea.

POTEMKIN: Row!

Your Majesty.

We sail down this river, we reach the Black Sea

and then we can show everyone a New Russia!

She's cheered up then.

Can't live with him. Can't live without him.

MUSICIANS PLAY

GIRL: Your Majesty.

CATHERINE: Thank you. - GIRL: Prince Potemkin.

Thank you.

GLASS SHATTERS

I think Mamonov is fucking her.

POTEMKIN: Well, what are you going to do about that?

Fifty lashes! THEY LAUGH

You are... you're a monster!

You are, you're a terrible monster.

You use people up and throw them away

when you're finished with them. Fifty lashes!

You're outrageous. You're terrible, Matushka.

You're a monster.

That's not a very nice thing to say about someone.

Especially someone you say you love.

But I do love you.

I'll always love you.

Even when there isn't anymore me or anymore you, or...

I will still love you.

Does it upset you?

Oh no, not especially.

This...

This...

This is what we were meant to do.

Make Russia great.

We never had any choice in the matter.

You are the one.

You are. It was only ever you.

Wherever you are. Wherever I am.

From the first time I saw you.

Love has to do with the soul.

Me.

You.

There.

Here.

Now.

My love.

Come on.

Oh! SHE LAUGHS

What are you doing here?

There is something I want to show you.

What do you taste? What do you taste?

- Salt! - THEY LAUGH

We are not on the river, we're on the sea!

And what do you think is around the next headland?

Huh? Of course you don't know, come on.

Good morning, boys, good morning!

Good morning. Close your eyes, come on.

Close your eyes. Don't! Come on.

OK.

Right there.

Keep them closed.

Now.

There.

The reason we have travelled downriver.

Sevastopol, Matushka!

SHE GASPS

Our window onto the Black Sea.

I have built you...

like I promised, a Russian naval fleet.

CANNONS FIRE

For you and Russia

to take our empire across the sea

to Byzantium.

I've done all of this for you.

And only you.

This is how I love you.

CANNONS FIRE