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(volcano rumbling)
(dramatic music)
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(dinosaurs screeching)
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(lion roars)
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(water splashing)
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(engine whirring)
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(thunder rumbling)
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(dramatic music continues)
(tail slaps)
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(whale vocalizing)
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(gentle dramatic music)
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I was the empress of Russia.
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The greatest the country ever had.
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So I should be the one to bring the successor to the throne
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into the world.
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They thought little of me.
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Yet, I mastered the power game better than any man.
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(scoffs) Men? Yeah, yeah.
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I know everything that's said about me.
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That I got up to unspeakable things with countless lovers.
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But the truth? Only I know.
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(suspenseful music)
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(horses whinnying)
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(suspenseful music continues)
(air whooshes)
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(upbeat music)
(people laughing)
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Cheers! Drink up!
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I can remember everything.
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I wrote all of it down.
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Your roll.My life,
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I doubt that any author could have written it better.
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(upbeat music continues)
(people chattering)
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Give me some more.Look at that!
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Look at that, boys!
My mother
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was born into nobility.
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Ha-ha, I told you!
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Surely, you can't be serious.
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There is nothing else around.
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You have the choice: cold, hunger and wolves,
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or warmth, food and peasants.
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Ah, look at that!
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(men laughing)
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I won! (laughs)
(upbeat music continues)
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And me? I was a disappointment to my mother.
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She thought I wasn't pretty enough, and above all,
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I wasn't a boy.
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But suddenly, I, of all people,
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was the one who could change our family's life.
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(men shouting)
(men laughing)
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After everything, this is too much, too much, I tell you.
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And for the future wife of the Grand Duke of Russia.
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Most gracious one,
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if you shout your destination any louder,
51
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then there is little chance of reaching it.
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So hold back, most gracious one.
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What do you say, huh?
(upbeat music continues)
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(men muttering)
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Drink this, girl, it'll warm you up.
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Hey, what's up? Go on, leave us, get going!
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(patrons cheering)
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(cup chatters)
(men cheering)
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(gentle music)
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My beautiful Russia.
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I came here in 1744.
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I was called Sophie Auguste Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst
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and was to be presented at court.
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(snow crunching)
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(sled scrapes)
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The kingdom needed a wife for the future emperor
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of all Russians.
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I was approved for this task,
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as long as I could prove myself.
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(horse whinnies)
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Sophie, pull yourself together.
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You only have yourself to blame for drinking that filth.
73
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I'm truly sorry, Mother. It doesn't happen often.
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I, I don't think you understand,
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this is the opportunity of a lifetime.
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And you? Being stupid, challenging fate with your antics.
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I doubt you'll even manage to stand before the empress.
78
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Well, perhaps she should have a secret lover,
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a singer from the court chapel.
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Child, you worry about your own business.
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(gentle music continues)
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(horse whinnying)
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First things first,
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we must take care of your future husband.
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(dramatic music)
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Our journey was 1,500 kilometers.
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We were traveling for seven weeks.
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Although by Russian standards,
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that was just a stone's throw.
90
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We still had to travel for another four months
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to reach the kingdom's eastern border.
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After all, the ruler of this huge kingdom
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was expecting us in Moscow, in the Kremlin.
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(dramatic music continues)
(horses whinnying)
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(church bells ringing)
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(gentle music)
(carriage rattling)
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Sophie, would you please just stop fidgeting?
98
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Yes, Mother.
99
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Mother, look there. That must be her.
100
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The Empress Elisabeth.
101
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That dress is wonderful.
102
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She owns more than 5,000,
103
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and never wears any of them more than once.
104
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Honored, Princess, please excuse me. My name is Maria.
105
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I will act as your lady-in-waiting during your stay here.
106
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Whatever you want me to do I can-
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What do you mean by stay?
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What's she like, the empress? How can I please her?
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(dramatic music)
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Speak not, unless she has asked you to speak.
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And if so, weigh up your words precisely.
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Elisabeth had her own great grand-nephew locked up.
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Nobody has heard from him since.
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What did he do?
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Nothing.
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(ominous music)
(feet thudding)
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(metal clanks)
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(door slams)
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In Russia, nobody is safe on the throne,
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as long as there is someone else who could seize it.
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The empress threw a child
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in the dungeons?
Sh!
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Not so loud.
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(dramatic music)
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There is not a single room in this palace
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where you can talk aloud freely.
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There are secret passages everywhere
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and the walls are quite thin.
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You must always assume that someone will hear you speak.
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And every person whom you trust can betray you.
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Psst. It's starting.
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(dramatic music continues)
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(upbeat dramatic music)
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I announce to Your Majesty,
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Empress Elisabeth Petrovna, the arrival
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of the Princess Sophie Auguste Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst
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and her mother, Duchess Johanna von Holstein-Gottorp.
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Go.
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(upbeat dramatic music continues)
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(suspenseful music)
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Hmm, a charming girl. Charming.
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(giggles) Alexei Gregorovich, what do you think?
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As astute as your observations are,
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she's not comparable to Your Majesty.
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(giggles) Charmer, that surely
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would not cause me any alarm.
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I have heard that you are quite a smart girl.
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Yes. No, I don't know.
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Everything remains to be seen. Huh!
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(door clattering)
(gentle dramatic music)
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Grand Duke Peter,
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my cousin whom Elisabeth had adopted in order
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to someday take over her throne.
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Do it now.
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The man with whom
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I should share a table and bed
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and eventually the crown, of course.
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We should leave the young people alone for a moment
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to get acquainted.
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(gentle dramatic music continues)
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(floor creaks)
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Simply delighted, my dear cousin.
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(Peter clears throat)
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Yes, we'd be happy. Yeah.
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We have chosen very well, have we not?
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And now the course was set.
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There was no way back.
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(gentle music)
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(water splashing)
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I came from the house of Anhalt-Zerbst.
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Our small city was nothing more than a fleck on the map.
172
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My father, Christian August, did have a dukedom,
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but his land was scarcely bigger
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than the Prussian king's front garden.
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It was only a hundred insignificant dominions,
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which befitting their social status,
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could barely feed their regents.
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(gentle music continues)
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But mother was born a Holstein-Gottorp,
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00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,230
and was more closely related to Prussian King Frederick II.
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He had suggested me as a possible bride for Russia.
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He hadn't wanted to send his own sisters.
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(powerful music)
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Because an insignificant bride doesn't cause
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any significant difficulties,
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I yielded to all instructions,
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rejected my Protestant beliefs and converted to Orthodox.
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When Peter and I stood before the altar,
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I no longer bore the name which my parents had given me.
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My God, my little girl.
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(gentle music)
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So that we do not misunderstand each other, valued cousin,
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pack all your things and go on home.
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(men singing in foreign language)
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I personally assure you that your journey home
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will be comfortable.
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There will be no need to worry about that.
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(curious music)
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Henceforth, I was left to myself,
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and to my husband.
201
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(woman vocalizing)
(dramatic music)
202
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My God, how long has it been, Soph? Sorry, Catherine.
203
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Catherine. The empress chose Catherine for me.
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Fine with me, that name was as good as any other.
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I had decided to leave the past behind me.
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In the name of the Father,
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the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.
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(dramatic music)
209
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I can't explain it clearly,
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but Russia was my country from the first day here.
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I would spend my life here,
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and it was up to me to shape this life
213
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so that it would make me happy.
214
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"My name is Catherine."
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(speaking Russian) Of course my name is Catherine,
216
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that is much too easy; ask me from here.
217
00:12:16,367 --> 00:12:20,249
"It has been simply delightful to meet you."
218
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(Catherine speaking Russian)
219
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(horse whinnies)
220
00:12:26,167 --> 00:12:28,647
"How is the esteemed wife?"
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(Catherine speaking Russian)
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(horses whinnying)
Ha! Yah, hey.
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(suspenseful music)
224
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If I was the emperor's wife,
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the Russian people would understand me and love me,
226
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but was this country easy to love?
227
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I had never seen poverty to this extent in my homeland.
228
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What was it like for people who had to live like that?
229
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For me, Russia was like a book and I could hardly wait
230
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to open its first page.
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Yah! He-yah!For my husband,
232
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it was a shackle.
Hee-yah, hee-yah!
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(bottle scrapes)
(wine splashes)
234
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(Peter sips)
(upbeat music)
235
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(sighs) Is this my punishment?
236
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Peter von Holstein was also
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from the German Dynasty.
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He never had designs on the Russian throne.
239
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He was a suitable candidate by a dynastic coincidence.
240
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Peter loved everything Prussian.
241
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Did I love him? How can you ask such a thing?
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(upbeat music continues)
(air whooshing)
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At the start, I hoped that we could arrange something
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with each other.
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(dogs barking)
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(door clangs)
(dramatic music)
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Come on, hurry up. Come quickly!
248
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King Charles. Here, here, here are you coming here?
249
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Your place is behind the other one.
250
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(Peter sighs)
251
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So did you have a nice day, Grand Duchess?
252
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(dog barks)
253
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This poodle will be the death of me, so disobedient!
254
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It has no discipline.
255
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Outrageous! No discipline.
256
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(dramatic music continues)
257
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And now, we'll come to the pleasant part of the day.
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My dear, my dear Catherine.
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We play the decisive battle.
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(box clattering)
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(clock chiming)
(pieces clattering)
262
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(clock ticking)
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Pew! (sighs)
264
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Pew, pew, pew. (groans)
265
00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,643
Go, Catherine, you take the Russians. Take the Russians!
266
00:15:11,304 --> 00:15:13,187
(Peter imitated bugle blaring)
267
00:15:13,187 --> 00:15:16,267
Pow, pow, pow! (groaning)
268
00:15:16,267 --> 00:15:18,293
More! Pow! (laughs)
269
00:15:18,293 --> 00:15:21,090
(bells tolling)
(dramatic music)
270
00:15:21,090 --> 00:15:22,590
After one year, the enquirers
271
00:15:22,590 --> 00:15:24,110
were still friendly.
272
00:15:24,110 --> 00:15:26,420
After four years, quite impatient,
273
00:15:26,420 --> 00:15:27,390
and after eight years,
274
00:15:27,390 --> 00:15:29,690
it was clear that something wasn't right here.
275
00:15:31,270 --> 00:15:33,023
Well? And?
276
00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,234
Well, as far
277
00:15:36,234 --> 00:15:40,483
as I can judge. No.
278
00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:47,200
Hmm. (clicks tongue) But she sleeps with him.
279
00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:48,333
That's true.
280
00:15:50,810 --> 00:15:54,403
One must always take things into one's own hands.
281
00:15:56,730 --> 00:15:59,683
Listen, I want you to arrange something for me.
282
00:16:01,134 --> 00:16:04,263
(dramatic music continues)
283
00:16:04,263 --> 00:16:05,096
Hmm. Yes?
284
00:16:07,935 --> 00:16:08,964
(cat meows)
(lips smacking)
285
00:16:08,964 --> 00:16:12,400
(Elisabeth giggles)
286
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,360
So as long as I didn't fulfill my holy duty
287
00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,083
of motherhood, the days stretched endlessly in front of me.
288
00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:23,670
What do you think about this one?
289
00:16:25,930 --> 00:16:27,033
Not green again.
290
00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:32,833
My duty, be beautiful, chat, receive people.
291
00:16:32,833 --> 00:16:35,500
(upbeat music)
292
00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,653
A solid hour would go by before I was dressed.
293
00:16:47,580 --> 00:16:50,550
And that was only the first wardrobe.
294
00:16:50,550 --> 00:16:52,320
For the afternoon and evening society,
295
00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,140
the whole thing would begin again.
296
00:16:54,140 --> 00:16:56,463
Mm, the secret code.
297
00:16:58,380 --> 00:17:02,203
Frivolous? Hesitant?
298
00:17:03,630 --> 00:17:05,290
And what is this called?
299
00:17:05,290 --> 00:17:07,420
That's nymphomaniac.
300
00:17:07,420 --> 00:17:09,713
For goodness' sake. (sighs)
301
00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:11,862
Then do it.
302
00:17:11,862 --> 00:17:15,362
(upbeat music continues)
303
00:17:18,820 --> 00:17:20,233
The next one, please.
304
00:17:21,818 --> 00:17:23,564
(men laughing)
305
00:17:23,564 --> 00:17:25,520
(lift rattling)
306
00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:26,874
(people chattering)
Hoo-ee!
307
00:17:26,874 --> 00:17:27,740
(people laughing)
308
00:17:27,740 --> 00:17:28,870
There was a dining room
309
00:17:28,870 --> 00:17:32,460
in the Peterhof Palace which had no doors.
310
00:17:32,460 --> 00:17:35,550
You could only access it via a lift.
311
00:17:35,550 --> 00:17:36,923
But that was not enough.
312
00:17:39,940 --> 00:17:42,384
Food also would appear, as if by magic.
313
00:17:42,384 --> 00:17:44,760
(people applauding)
(man laughing)
314
00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,010
Yes, it was quite fun.
315
00:17:47,010 --> 00:17:50,218
But such things couldn't fulfill a person.
316
00:17:50,218 --> 00:17:51,880
(bright music)
317
00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,410
I found my escape in books.
318
00:17:54,410 --> 00:17:56,390
First, it was novels.
319
00:17:56,390 --> 00:17:59,493
I devoured one after the other until I was bored.
320
00:18:06,610 --> 00:18:09,676
Then I went on to history books.
321
00:18:09,676 --> 00:18:12,343
(gentle music)
322
00:18:14,077 --> 00:18:18,077
"It is good to live in distress, it's like a coiled spring."
323
00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,213
He was so right. Good Montesquieu.
324
00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:27,263
He was so right.
325
00:18:28,180 --> 00:18:30,980
It was so soothing to think about something more
326
00:18:30,980 --> 00:18:33,333
than powder puffs and court gossip.
327
00:18:36,315 --> 00:18:41,315
(globe rumbles)
(gentle music continues)
328
00:18:41,460 --> 00:18:44,770
There were many gifted thinkers in Petersburg.
329
00:18:44,770 --> 00:18:48,550
Geniuses of mathematics, philosophy and astronomy.
330
00:18:48,550 --> 00:18:49,720
Grand Duchess.
331
00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,930
Peter the Great had a gigantic globe made
332
00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:53,157
which was in the palace.
333
00:18:55,140 --> 00:18:56,853
Please, sit down, Grand Duchess.
334
00:19:00,660 --> 00:19:02,800
The stars will just take their course
335
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,033
without you even having to follow them.
336
00:19:06,820 --> 00:19:08,820
I will show you how the sky has changed.
337
00:19:09,670 --> 00:19:14,670
(wood creaking)
(dramatic music)
338
00:19:22,210 --> 00:19:24,370
Very interesting, Professor.
339
00:19:24,370 --> 00:19:26,333
But I prefer to control the movement.
340
00:19:29,837 --> 00:19:32,504
(playful music)
341
00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:38,723
But who to share all of this knowledge with?
342
00:19:40,070 --> 00:19:42,713
At the table, I would be of little interest.
343
00:19:43,820 --> 00:19:45,700
You must try this delicacy.
344
00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:49,240
It's called eyes awoken in the morning in sauce.
345
00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,944
An extraordinary delicacy indeed.
346
00:19:51,944 --> 00:19:55,564
(people chattering)
347
00:19:55,564 --> 00:19:57,130
Mm!
348
00:19:57,130 --> 00:20:01,110
It's paradise. Simply heavenly.
349
00:20:01,110 --> 00:20:03,540
A specialty from Ukraine.
350
00:20:03,540 --> 00:20:05,721
It tickles the palate wonderfully.
351
00:20:05,721 --> 00:20:06,670
Well, my love,
352
00:20:06,670 --> 00:20:10,580
then try your exceptionally sensitive palate on this.
353
00:20:11,879 --> 00:20:15,280
Mm! This is definitely French.
354
00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,280
Yum
Perhaps it's, uh.
355
00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,490
Has it come from Paris?
(man burps)
356
00:20:20,490 --> 00:20:23,126
Ah, so very close.
357
00:20:23,126 --> 00:20:24,328
(men laughing)
358
00:20:24,328 --> 00:20:27,186
The pate was delivered specially from Strasbourg.
359
00:20:27,186 --> 00:20:29,063
(woman giggles)
360
00:20:29,063 --> 00:20:30,113
From Paris.
361
00:20:31,242 --> 00:20:36,242
Mm! Did you hear that it's said the duke quite recently,
362
00:20:36,430 --> 00:20:37,930
Does she know about it?
363
00:20:37,930 --> 00:20:39,814
No, of course she doesn't.
364
00:20:39,814 --> 00:20:41,625
(all laughing)
365
00:20:41,625 --> 00:20:43,422
Ah, yes.Do tell us, my love.
366
00:20:43,422 --> 00:20:45,610
She really mustn't complain.
367
00:20:45,610 --> 00:20:48,963
Do you know last autumn when she, um,
368
00:20:50,270 --> 00:20:52,796
with that Swedish diplomat, you know.
369
00:20:52,796 --> 00:20:55,379
(all laughing)
370
00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,980
What happened there didn't have much to do
371
00:21:00,980 --> 00:21:04,302
with conventional diplomacy, as we have heard.
372
00:21:04,302 --> 00:21:07,135
(people laughing)
373
00:21:08,124 --> 00:21:11,710
(dramatic music)
374
00:21:11,710 --> 00:21:13,493
Obviously everyone had their fun.
375
00:21:21,243 --> 00:21:25,100
It went on in the same cycle year after year.
376
00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:27,580
Balls, journeys, boredom.
377
00:21:27,580 --> 00:21:31,310
The empress ruled, my husband and I lived next to each other
378
00:21:31,310 --> 00:21:33,915
and the court made up its intrigue.
379
00:21:33,915 --> 00:21:36,748
(hooves clomping)
380
00:21:37,710 --> 00:21:40,430
The young court, as Peter's entourage was called,
381
00:21:40,430 --> 00:21:43,520
was often away on trips and hunting parties.
382
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:44,900
(energetic music)
383
00:21:44,900 --> 00:21:47,973
In 1752, something surprising happened.
384
00:21:49,603 --> 00:21:52,610
(born blaring)
385
00:21:52,610 --> 00:21:54,453
Or had I only waited long enough?
386
00:22:00,339 --> 00:22:02,936
(rifle fires)
387
00:22:02,936 --> 00:22:06,066
(dramatic music)
388
00:22:06,066 --> 00:22:07,830
Do we know each other?
389
00:22:07,830 --> 00:22:11,893
Sergei Saltykov, your faithful servant, Grand Duchess.
390
00:22:13,790 --> 00:22:14,797
Sergei (speaking in foreign language).
391
00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,270
The name Saltykov has an impressive ring to it at court.
392
00:22:19,270 --> 00:22:21,610
I assure you, my forbears have served the emperors
393
00:22:21,610 --> 00:22:22,813
for many centuries.
394
00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,057
And as such I can also be of service to you.
395
00:22:28,841 --> 00:22:32,170
(dramatic music continues)
396
00:22:32,170 --> 00:22:34,170
What kind of man was this?
397
00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,670
I was 24 years old and yet nobody had ever looked
398
00:22:38,670 --> 00:22:39,843
at me like that.
399
00:22:39,843 --> 00:22:43,176
(upbeat dramatic music)
400
00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:09,430
(upbeat dramatic music continues)
401
00:23:09,430 --> 00:23:13,093
It was whispered about day in, day out at court.
402
00:23:20,270 --> 00:23:21,903
Now I could understand it.
403
00:23:24,138 --> 00:23:25,312
(upbeat music)
404
00:23:25,312 --> 00:23:27,962
(pickle crunching)
405
00:23:27,962 --> 00:23:28,840
(heart beating)
406
00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,263
The consequences couldn't be ignored for long.
407
00:23:36,264 --> 00:23:40,097
Argh! Not the long one, the short one, fool!
408
00:23:45,954 --> 00:23:47,360
(gentle music)
409
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:52,360
Now, my dear, what has brought you to me?
410
00:24:00,290 --> 00:24:03,490
Some news which should make you happy, Your Majesty.
411
00:24:03,490 --> 00:24:06,921
I'm, I'm expecting the heir to the throne.
412
00:24:06,921 --> 00:24:10,139
(dramatic music)
413
00:24:10,139 --> 00:24:11,889
Heir to the throne?
414
00:24:13,090 --> 00:24:13,923
Yes.
415
00:24:16,287 --> 00:24:19,370
(Elisabeth laughing)
416
00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,930
Your child will be the one,
417
00:24:24,930 --> 00:24:27,763
regardless of who its father is.
418
00:24:29,175 --> 00:24:32,258
(Elisabeth laughing)
419
00:24:34,010 --> 00:24:36,233
Go, child. Maria!
420
00:24:37,910 --> 00:24:39,523
Bring Sergei to me.
421
00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:45,901
(Elisabeth claps)
(Elisabeth laughing)
422
00:24:45,901 --> 00:24:49,480
God, up in Heaven. (faintly speaking)
423
00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:50,480
You called for me?
424
00:24:52,540 --> 00:24:54,613
Mission accomplished, my dear.
425
00:24:58,001 --> 00:25:01,443
(giggles) It shall not harm you.
426
00:25:04,950 --> 00:25:07,853
Should you require my service again. Any time.
427
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,150
I only learnt about everything much later on.
428
00:25:12,150 --> 00:25:14,853
I had really believed that he was the love of my life.
429
00:25:16,835 --> 00:25:19,347
(suspenseful music)
430
00:25:19,347 --> 00:25:22,230
(Catherine gasping)
431
00:25:22,230 --> 00:25:26,403
On the 21st of September, 1754, the labor started.
432
00:25:28,010 --> 00:25:29,473
I smell wonderful tea.
433
00:25:35,740 --> 00:25:38,540
I awaited the delivery with dread.
434
00:25:38,540 --> 00:25:41,460
Countless women had died in childbirth.
435
00:25:41,460 --> 00:25:43,303
The doctors were charlatans.
436
00:25:45,168 --> 00:25:49,000
(Catherine panting)
437
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,370
The midwife had first been sent to the empress.
438
00:25:52,370 --> 00:25:53,470
And?
439
00:25:53,470 --> 00:25:54,854
It's still going on.
440
00:25:54,854 --> 00:25:57,354
(foot stomps)
441
00:25:59,316 --> 00:26:04,316
(Catherine groaning)
(suspenseful music continues)
442
00:26:04,889 --> 00:26:07,370
(Catherine yelling)
443
00:26:07,370 --> 00:26:08,470
It's gone on too long.
444
00:26:09,632 --> 00:26:12,632
(Catherine yelling)
445
00:26:19,916 --> 00:26:22,916
(Catherine yelling)
446
00:26:27,918 --> 00:26:30,418
(baby crying)
447
00:26:35,447 --> 00:26:38,816
(baby shrieking)
448
00:26:38,816 --> 00:26:40,166
It was a boy.
449
00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,290
I only held him for a few seconds.
450
00:26:44,290 --> 00:26:47,370
Paul was taken straightaway to the empress's residence,
451
00:26:47,370 --> 00:26:48,770
where he would also grow up.
452
00:26:49,831 --> 00:26:52,664
(dramatic music)
453
00:26:54,010 --> 00:26:55,913
Others would determine his life.
454
00:26:56,770 --> 00:26:58,030
As for mine,
455
00:26:58,030 --> 00:27:00,903
I vowed then that only I would determine my life.
456
00:27:03,438 --> 00:27:06,855
(upbeat dramatic music)
457
00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:11,763
For Peter, Paul was unquestionably his son.
458
00:27:12,710 --> 00:27:15,363
As long as the successor to the throne was secured.
459
00:27:18,310 --> 00:27:20,460
I wonder who the boy actually looks like.
460
00:27:21,770 --> 00:27:22,643
Probably me.
461
00:27:23,490 --> 00:27:27,300
Hmm. Yes, but the eyes are clearly mine.
462
00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:29,280
There you go, dear husband,
463
00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,310
we are actually a happy little family.
464
00:27:32,310 --> 00:27:34,980
Hmm, that is quite true,
465
00:27:34,980 --> 00:27:37,885
especially if everyone can go their own way.
466
00:27:37,885 --> 00:27:39,683
(ominous music)
467
00:27:39,683 --> 00:27:42,263
And you have finally done your duty for the family.
468
00:27:43,730 --> 00:27:44,763
Is that a threat?
469
00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,803
Threat? I would never do that, Highness.
470
00:27:50,940 --> 00:27:54,613
All in good time, my dear Peter, all in good time.
471
00:27:55,510 --> 00:27:56,423
Sit straight, boy.
472
00:27:57,580 --> 00:27:59,210
I would rather play.
473
00:27:59,210 --> 00:28:02,850
(upbeat dramatic music)
474
00:28:02,850 --> 00:28:06,690
Then go. Peter was right.
475
00:28:06,690 --> 00:28:09,740
He and the court could treat me how they wanted.
476
00:28:09,740 --> 00:28:12,210
They had distanced the boy from me long ago.
477
00:28:12,210 --> 00:28:14,640
I might as well have never seen him.
478
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,090
But I didn't really miss him.
479
00:28:20,236 --> 00:28:22,986
(balls cracking)
480
00:28:24,009 --> 00:28:26,340
(people clapping)
481
00:28:26,340 --> 00:28:27,173
It's your turn.
482
00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:33,860
Sergei was soon sent away abroad,
483
00:28:33,860 --> 00:28:35,723
and he moved on to the next affair.
484
00:28:37,917 --> 00:28:41,084
To the left! Forward, hut!
485
00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:44,750
But I had learnt my lesson.
486
00:28:44,750 --> 00:28:48,630
After that, it took a long time to give my heart again.
487
00:28:48,630 --> 00:28:50,140
Maria, who is that?
488
00:28:50,140 --> 00:28:52,204
But many received my favor.
489
00:28:52,204 --> 00:28:54,515
Present arms!
490
00:28:54,515 --> 00:28:57,348
(dramatic music)
491
00:28:59,566 --> 00:29:02,800
(balls clacking)
492
00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:03,850
You don't know him?
493
00:29:05,380 --> 00:29:08,670
That's Grigory Orlov with his brother.
494
00:29:08,670 --> 00:29:12,543
Orlov. Have him come to me.
495
00:29:12,543 --> 00:29:16,000
(balls cracking)
496
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:20,230
Um, what shall I tell him is the purpose of his audience?
497
00:29:20,230 --> 00:29:21,943
I will tell him when I meet him.
498
00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:24,670
Grigory wasn't scared of anything.
499
00:29:24,670 --> 00:29:28,140
Not of an affair with me and with many others.
500
00:29:28,140 --> 00:29:31,720
And I decided that men can be used very sensibly.
501
00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:35,040
You only have to tell them where and how.
502
00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,373
My lords, let's continue.
503
00:29:38,850 --> 00:29:41,253
Who else would like me to show them how to play?
504
00:29:42,494 --> 00:29:45,380
(sultry music)
505
00:29:45,380 --> 00:29:49,460
Hey. Let me show you how it's done. (giggles)
506
00:29:49,460 --> 00:29:52,530
Grigory Orlov was a wonderful lover.
507
00:29:52,530 --> 00:29:55,163
And I now also knew precisely what I wanted.
508
00:30:04,510 --> 00:30:08,600
Erotic paintings, snuffboxes.
509
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,843
It was a common practice all over the court.
510
00:30:11,860 --> 00:30:14,103
We had our toys, and we had our fun.
511
00:30:15,176 --> 00:30:18,531
(sultry music continues)
512
00:30:18,531 --> 00:30:22,190
(Catherine moans)
513
00:30:22,190 --> 00:30:24,773
Grigory wouldn't be the last man in my bed.
514
00:30:27,590 --> 00:30:29,313
I never made a secret of it.
515
00:30:29,313 --> 00:30:30,146
(whip slaps)
516
00:30:30,146 --> 00:30:32,700
Over the years I introduced 21 men officially
517
00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:36,143
as my favorites at court. (giggles)
518
00:30:36,990 --> 00:30:39,830
So many, that was fewer than the number
519
00:30:39,830 --> 00:30:41,690
of mistresses my male colleagues
520
00:30:41,690 --> 00:30:44,283
on European thrones wore out in one year.
521
00:30:46,870 --> 00:30:50,403
What is this prudishness? We are all only human.
522
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:53,780
And I believe that none of my favorites
523
00:30:53,780 --> 00:30:55,293
had the time to regret me.
524
00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:01,190
Likewise, if I became weary of them,
525
00:31:01,190 --> 00:31:02,833
I compensated them royally.
526
00:31:03,907 --> 00:31:06,610
(whip slaps)
(sultry music continues)
527
00:31:06,610 --> 00:31:07,760
They were all worth it.
528
00:31:12,171 --> 00:31:15,004
(dramatic music)
529
00:31:16,470 --> 00:31:17,810
Dear God.
530
00:31:17,810 --> 00:31:19,480
I had been at the emperor's court
531
00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:20,510
for 18 years.
532
00:31:20,510 --> 00:31:22,233
Take me to your (faintly speaking).
533
00:31:23,401 --> 00:31:25,523
(dramatic music continues)
534
00:31:25,523 --> 00:31:28,370
Empress Elisabeth kept getting ill several times,
535
00:31:28,370 --> 00:31:30,740
but then would recover each time.
536
00:31:30,740 --> 00:31:33,283
But now it seemed serious.
537
00:31:38,115 --> 00:31:40,710
(instruments clicking)
538
00:31:40,710 --> 00:31:43,210
(blood drips)
539
00:31:46,210 --> 00:31:47,310
It's nearly the end.
540
00:31:52,318 --> 00:31:57,318
(keys clinking)
(dramatic music continues)
541
00:31:59,980 --> 00:32:01,920
It was a tense time.
542
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,450
Everyone tried to gather as much information as possible
543
00:32:05,450 --> 00:32:07,260
in order to have the best position
544
00:32:07,260 --> 00:32:09,781
in the event of a change of government.
545
00:32:09,781 --> 00:32:11,947
(keys clinking)
546
00:32:11,947 --> 00:32:14,590
(lock clicking)
547
00:32:14,590 --> 00:32:16,130
The small boy, Ivan,
548
00:32:16,130 --> 00:32:18,830
who Elisabeth had once locked in the dungeon,
549
00:32:18,830 --> 00:32:20,820
had become a young man,
550
00:32:20,820 --> 00:32:25,045
who hadn't had a single day of freedom in 21 years.
551
00:32:25,045 --> 00:32:27,422
(dramatic music continues)
552
00:32:27,422 --> 00:32:32,422
Czar, Czar.
(water drips)
553
00:32:35,590 --> 00:32:37,380
Does he know who he is?
554
00:32:37,380 --> 00:32:40,813
No. He only knows that word.
555
00:32:46,626 --> 00:32:49,709
(suspenseful music)
556
00:33:04,890 --> 00:33:06,390
Peter also kept up to date
557
00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:08,140
with Ivan's condition.
558
00:33:08,140 --> 00:33:10,270
Don't worry, there's no danger, he's mad.
559
00:33:10,270 --> 00:33:11,360
He prepared himself
560
00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:13,170
to finally assume the throne
561
00:33:13,170 --> 00:33:14,430
for which he had been summoned
562
00:33:14,430 --> 00:33:16,687
from Germany nearly two decades ago.
563
00:33:17,548 --> 00:33:21,130
(dramatic music)
(bells ringing)
564
00:33:21,130 --> 00:33:23,760
Empress Elisabeth had become famous amongst the people
565
00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:25,110
for her piety.
566
00:33:25,110 --> 00:33:27,433
Rightly so because she sincerely believed.
567
00:33:29,486 --> 00:33:30,670
(Peter coughing)
Peter could never
568
00:33:30,670 --> 00:33:33,693
really reconcile himself to the Orthodox beliefs.
569
00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,340
Therefore, spirituality was an important factor
570
00:33:37,340 --> 00:33:38,830
of power in Russia.
571
00:33:38,830 --> 00:33:40,723
I knew that it could not be ignored.
572
00:33:41,922 --> 00:33:44,589
(bells chiming)
573
00:33:46,210 --> 00:33:48,263
Did it play a role in what I thought?
574
00:33:49,130 --> 00:33:50,840
Peter made plans,
575
00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:52,610
but I would have been the last person
576
00:33:52,610 --> 00:33:53,803
he would have betrayed.
577
00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:58,040
Because who said that I would still be at his side
578
00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,398
if he ascended to the throne?
579
00:34:00,398 --> 00:34:03,731
(gentle dramatic music)
580
00:34:07,383 --> 00:34:12,228
(giggles) Fire! (laughs)
581
00:34:12,228 --> 00:34:14,100
(cannon fires)
(Elisabeth gasps)
582
00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:15,600
He wants to see you.
583
00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:16,700
Who?
584
00:34:16,700 --> 00:34:19,850
The Grand Duke, Peter, your husband.
585
00:34:19,850 --> 00:34:23,423
I know who Peter is, Maria. But why does he want me?
586
00:34:24,290 --> 00:34:27,083
He's keeping up to date with young Ivan's condition.
587
00:34:28,130 --> 00:34:30,760
And he's been keeping a lady lover,
588
00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:32,390
an impossible person named-
589
00:34:32,390 --> 00:34:35,133
Elisabeth Vorontsova, I know.
590
00:34:36,250 --> 00:34:38,260
You mustn't believe that you are the only one
591
00:34:38,260 --> 00:34:39,963
who brings me news, my dear.
592
00:34:41,130 --> 00:34:42,483
I have learnt my lesson.
593
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,370
She apparently loves his soldier's games.
594
00:34:47,209 --> 00:34:48,964
(Elisabeth giggles)
(soldier thuds)
595
00:34:48,964 --> 00:34:51,631
(playful music)
596
00:35:02,570 --> 00:35:06,386
(Elisabeth laughing)
597
00:35:06,386 --> 00:35:09,800
(Peter laughing)
598
00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,763
Where is the blasted general? Come.
599
00:35:14,500 --> 00:35:16,067
You must see this.
600
00:35:16,067 --> 00:35:19,400
(gentle dramatic music)
601
00:35:22,467 --> 00:35:25,467
(Elisabeth giggles)
602
00:35:27,990 --> 00:35:29,553
You called me for this?
603
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:32,290
But she was guilty.
604
00:35:32,290 --> 00:35:34,850
And according to military law deserved nothing less
605
00:35:34,850 --> 00:35:36,813
than the highest penalty.
606
00:35:36,813 --> 00:35:38,480
(gentle dramatic music continues)
607
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:40,580
What did she do?Do?
608
00:35:40,580 --> 00:35:43,423
This here, she climbed the walls, and there.
609
00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:47,690
The situation is quite clear.
610
00:35:54,810 --> 00:35:57,480
The penalty is the same for all those who defy
611
00:35:57,480 --> 00:35:59,963
the future emperor's orders, I'm afraid.
612
00:36:01,020 --> 00:36:03,460
In Russia, there is only one who makes the orders,
613
00:36:03,460 --> 00:36:04,660
and that is the emperor.
614
00:36:05,516 --> 00:36:08,183
(ominous music)
615
00:36:10,534 --> 00:36:12,310
(Elisabeth giggling)
616
00:36:12,310 --> 00:36:13,220
Or the empress.
617
00:36:16,100 --> 00:36:18,514
(Elisabeth shrieks)
(Peter chuckles)
618
00:36:18,514 --> 00:36:19,640
(mellow music)
619
00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:24,400
On Christmas, 1761, Empress Elisabeth died.
620
00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,610
I didn't really mourn her death.
621
00:36:26,610 --> 00:36:29,263
She controlled my life too much for my liking.
622
00:36:30,130 --> 00:36:32,370
But I had learnt a lot from her
623
00:36:32,370 --> 00:36:36,180
because she also showed me how far one can go as a woman,
624
00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:39,343
and that too much sentiment for a throne is dangerous.
625
00:36:40,930 --> 00:36:43,388
Long live Emperor Peter.
626
00:36:43,388 --> 00:36:46,888
(mellow music continues)
627
00:36:52,590 --> 00:36:54,020
My husband was now ruler
628
00:36:54,020 --> 00:36:56,450
of the biggest kingdom in Europe.
629
00:36:56,450 --> 00:36:59,306
With all of the power that this title brought with it.
630
00:36:59,306 --> 00:37:04,223
(fireworks popping)
(bells ringing)
631
00:37:04,223 --> 00:37:07,056
(dramatic music)
632
00:37:08,770 --> 00:37:10,980
Peter made peace with Frederick the Great
633
00:37:10,980 --> 00:37:14,052
and ended the Seven-Year War with Prussia.
634
00:37:14,052 --> 00:37:18,840
(soldier clattering)
(wind whooshing)
635
00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:20,650
He had big plans and approached it
636
00:37:20,650 --> 00:37:25,650
with a decisiveness that I would not have expected of him.
637
00:37:26,190 --> 00:37:28,000
It doesn't matter whether any Russian interests
638
00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:29,183
are in play in Denmark.
639
00:37:30,380 --> 00:37:32,003
This is about my interests.
640
00:37:36,650 --> 00:37:38,030
Stand down.
641
00:37:38,030 --> 00:37:39,820
(dramatic music)
(boots clicking)
642
00:37:39,820 --> 00:37:42,403
And I stood in the way of these interests.
643
00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:46,333
If he sends me to a convent, I would be fortunate.
644
00:37:47,260 --> 00:37:48,253
Peter loathes me.
645
00:37:49,663 --> 00:37:52,363
Because he knows that he can't hold a candle to you.
646
00:37:53,204 --> 00:37:55,704
And what use is that if I have to take the veil?
647
00:37:56,840 --> 00:37:59,663
It's not certain that I will survive the next few weeks.
648
00:38:01,140 --> 00:38:04,840
Peter has bestowed the Order of Catherine on Vorontsova.
649
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,020
What can that mean other than he wants to marry her
650
00:38:07,020 --> 00:38:07,963
and get rid of me?
651
00:38:11,570 --> 00:38:13,320
And what if you get ahead of him?
652
00:38:14,469 --> 00:38:17,136
(ominous music)
653
00:38:21,076 --> 00:38:24,330
(upbeat music)
(water splashing)
654
00:38:24,330 --> 00:38:26,090
It was at the time of the White Nights,
655
00:38:26,090 --> 00:38:27,913
in the year of 1762.
656
00:38:28,830 --> 00:38:30,960
Peter had been in power for six months,
657
00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:32,860
and yet, he still hadn't been crowned.
658
00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,040
He didn't understand that the people revere the crown
659
00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:39,663
and not the one who wears it.
660
00:38:43,490 --> 00:38:45,793
His mistake was my chance.
661
00:38:47,820 --> 00:38:51,930
I had endured the Romanovs and their arrogance for 18 years,
662
00:38:51,930 --> 00:38:55,560
and now they wanted to discard me like a moth-eaten dress.
663
00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:57,112
It was time to act.
664
00:38:57,112 --> 00:39:00,226
(cat meows)
665
00:39:00,226 --> 00:39:01,840
(dramatic music)
666
00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:04,780
If I have learnt one thing in all of these years,
667
00:39:04,780 --> 00:39:06,350
it is that you need strong allies
668
00:39:06,350 --> 00:39:08,810
if you want to achieve something.
669
00:39:08,810 --> 00:39:11,360
Grigory Orlov and his brothers scoped the situation
670
00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:14,330
in the military for me.
(coins clinking)
671
00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:16,430
(fist thuds)
Remember where to take it.
672
00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:19,320
A bit of pressure here,
673
00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:21,770
a nice little sum there.
(coins clinking)
674
00:39:21,770 --> 00:39:23,833
And the number of my followers grew.
675
00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:31,060
It is done.
(bells ringing)
676
00:39:31,060 --> 00:39:32,780
The church expected me to protect it
677
00:39:32,780 --> 00:39:35,256
from threatened expropriation.
678
00:39:35,256 --> 00:39:38,210
(powerful music)
679
00:39:38,210 --> 00:39:39,800
What had I to lose?
680
00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,670
If I did nothing, I would be nothing.
681
00:39:42,670 --> 00:39:44,233
So instead, I acted.
682
00:39:51,355 --> 00:39:54,022
(door thudding)
683
00:40:00,300 --> 00:40:01,520
Now is the time.
684
00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:03,330
What, already?
685
00:40:03,330 --> 00:40:04,530
Now or never.
686
00:40:05,750 --> 00:40:07,250
You sound like your brother.
687
00:40:08,390 --> 00:40:10,743
Yes, and he has always been right.
688
00:40:12,090 --> 00:40:14,090
Maria, I want to get dressed. Quickly.
689
00:40:16,101 --> 00:40:18,851
(dramatic music)
690
00:40:23,166 --> 00:40:25,790
(Catherine sighs)
691
00:40:25,790 --> 00:40:30,790
My dear, I am about to ascend to the Russian throne.
692
00:40:30,890 --> 00:40:32,940
I would hardly do that in such an outfit.
693
00:40:34,970 --> 00:40:39,020
Get me, get me
694
00:40:39,020 --> 00:40:40,793
a Guards uniform. Now!
695
00:40:43,620 --> 00:40:45,350
(gentle music)
(water splashes)
696
00:40:45,350 --> 00:40:49,430
Peter had moved back into his favorite Peterhof Palace
697
00:40:49,430 --> 00:40:52,360
and celebrated the Peter and Paul festival.
698
00:40:52,360 --> 00:40:53,870
He didn't have the slightest idea
699
00:40:53,870 --> 00:40:55,503
of what was brewing against him.
700
00:40:59,339 --> 00:41:03,256
(Peter and Elisabeth laughing)
701
00:41:05,196 --> 00:41:07,529
(cork pops)
702
00:41:09,180 --> 00:41:12,560
And now, my dear Elisabeth, the Prussian era
703
00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:13,393
is dawning.
704
00:41:16,178 --> 00:41:20,519
Hup!
(both laughing)
705
00:41:20,519 --> 00:41:24,264
(powerful music)
(hooves clomping)
706
00:41:24,264 --> 00:41:25,281
Move aside.
707
00:41:25,281 --> 00:41:29,586
Make way for the true empress.
708
00:41:29,586 --> 00:41:30,590
Make way!
709
00:41:30,590 --> 00:41:32,190
It was dawn when we arrived
710
00:41:32,190 --> 00:41:34,100
with the Izmaylovsky Regiment,
711
00:41:34,100 --> 00:41:36,093
in front of the Towers of Petersburg.
712
00:41:38,471 --> 00:41:40,343
Make way!
713
00:41:40,343 --> 00:41:43,176
(hooves clomping)
714
00:41:44,609 --> 00:41:47,424
(soldier marching)
And halt!
715
00:41:47,424 --> 00:41:50,624
(hooves clomping)
716
00:41:50,624 --> 00:41:51,541
Soldiers!
717
00:41:54,170 --> 00:41:55,490
Now I had to succeed
718
00:41:55,490 --> 00:41:57,483
in getting the Guards on my side.
719
00:41:58,430 --> 00:42:01,557
I had never spoken in front of such a crowd before.
720
00:42:01,557 --> 00:42:04,320
(horse whinnies)
721
00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:06,500
The hour has come to protect our country
722
00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:08,033
from the greatest dangers.
723
00:42:09,150 --> 00:42:10,993
Our church is in danger.
724
00:42:12,010 --> 00:42:14,750
An unwelcome foreign belief comes to take the place
725
00:42:14,750 --> 00:42:16,920
of our old religion.
726
00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:20,150
Our honor is in danger.
727
00:42:20,150 --> 00:42:23,000
It has been trampled on by the conclusion
728
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:24,160
of a peace agreement
729
00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:26,123
with our deadly enemy, Frederick II.
730
00:42:27,135 --> 00:42:28,106
(couple moaning)
731
00:42:28,106 --> 00:42:29,902
(couple giggling)
732
00:42:29,902 --> 00:42:32,229
What is it? What is it?
733
00:42:32,229 --> 00:42:33,490
What is it?
734
00:42:33,490 --> 00:42:37,160
(suspenseful music)
735
00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:40,460
The peace with Frederick, that is only the beginning.
736
00:42:40,460 --> 00:42:43,140
Our country risks being conquered,
737
00:42:43,140 --> 00:42:45,640
yes, and being sacrificed.
738
00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:46,473
I'll send armies
739
00:42:46,473 --> 00:42:50,080
to fight against Denmark, against Denmark.
740
00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,530
It is your bravery on which our country now depends,
741
00:42:54,530 --> 00:42:59,046
it is your loyalty on which my power depends.
742
00:42:59,046 --> 00:43:00,986
(Elisabeth giggling)
743
00:43:00,986 --> 00:43:04,010
(Peter chuckling)
744
00:43:04,010 --> 00:43:05,887
There is only one way.
745
00:43:05,887 --> 00:43:08,554
(both laughing)
746
00:43:12,900 --> 00:43:16,400
You, my dear, I will make.
747
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:17,853
And this is my duty.
748
00:43:18,871 --> 00:43:22,960
(sighs) With the help of God and also the sincere desire
749
00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:26,620
of our loyal subjects to ascend the throne.
750
00:43:26,620 --> 00:43:31,123
I will make you the Empress Of Russia.
751
00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:36,082
As the absolute and the one true leader
752
00:43:36,082 --> 00:43:39,165
(Elisabeth giggling)
753
00:43:41,370 --> 00:43:42,263
of Russia.
754
00:43:43,624 --> 00:43:48,624
(soldiers chanting in Russian)
(soldiers cheering)
755
00:43:55,787 --> 00:43:58,370
(somber music)
756
00:44:00,552 --> 00:44:03,040
But no one came to Peter's aid.
757
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:05,390
No one came to give him advice or told him
758
00:44:05,390 --> 00:44:07,750
how he could avoid catastrophe.
759
00:44:07,750 --> 00:44:09,790
Those loyal to him left him when they heard
760
00:44:09,790 --> 00:44:11,833
of my appearance in Petersburg.
761
00:44:20,063 --> 00:44:22,896
(Catherine sighs)
762
00:44:25,718 --> 00:44:29,135
(somber music continues)
763
00:44:29,990 --> 00:44:33,003
In just one day, I had changed Russia's fate.
764
00:44:34,620 --> 00:44:36,540
I had really done it.
765
00:44:36,540 --> 00:44:39,310
I, Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst,
766
00:44:39,310 --> 00:44:41,283
had defeated the great Romanovs.
767
00:44:44,533 --> 00:44:49,533
(somber music continues)
(boots thudding)
768
00:44:52,130 --> 00:44:54,240
When Peter realized how things were,
769
00:44:54,240 --> 00:44:56,760
he was completely deflated.
770
00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:58,040
He wrote to me assuring me
771
00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:00,850
that he wouldn't do anything more against me.
772
00:45:00,850 --> 00:45:03,030
He just wanted to go back to Germany.
773
00:45:03,030 --> 00:45:05,660
You are hereby arrested in the name of the empress.
774
00:45:05,660 --> 00:45:07,880
Could he have been serious?
775
00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:10,883
Or was he trying to lull me into a false sense of security?
776
00:45:15,337 --> 00:45:18,170
(dramatic music)
777
00:45:25,770 --> 00:45:29,427
So, as long as Peter was alive, there was a threat to me.
778
00:45:29,427 --> 00:45:32,094
(ominous music)
779
00:45:38,407 --> 00:45:41,157
(metal clinking)
780
00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:49,333
A few days later, I received a letter from Alexei Orlov.
781
00:45:52,357 --> 00:45:54,540
"Empress, there has been a disaster,
782
00:45:54,540 --> 00:45:57,340
blows were exchanged with Duke Fyodor at the table.
783
00:45:57,340 --> 00:46:01,031
We weren't able to separate them, and thus he was no more."
784
00:46:01,031 --> 00:46:02,898
(suspenseful music)
785
00:46:02,898 --> 00:46:05,315
(head thuds)
786
00:46:06,150 --> 00:46:10,050
I never ordered Peter's death, honestly.
787
00:46:10,050 --> 00:46:12,985
But didn't I have to know that it had happened?
788
00:46:12,985 --> 00:46:15,000
(ominous music)
789
00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:18,117
Exactly as in the case of the deplorable Ivan,
790
00:46:18,117 --> 00:46:19,650
(exciting music)
791
00:46:19,650 --> 00:46:22,660
who was sadly killed when my opponents wanted
792
00:46:22,660 --> 00:46:24,103
to free him from his cell.
793
00:46:25,195 --> 00:46:27,945
(powerful music)
794
00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:46,274
I didn't ponder over these things for long.
795
00:46:46,274 --> 00:46:47,167
(crowd cheering)
796
00:46:47,167 --> 00:46:50,560
On the 23rd of September, 1762,
797
00:46:50,560 --> 00:46:53,470
I was crowned empress in Moscow.
798
00:46:53,470 --> 00:46:56,020
Many had expected that I would only rule vicariously
799
00:46:56,020 --> 00:46:56,913
through my son.
800
00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:01,220
But I would not play the role of court scenery any longer.
801
00:47:01,220 --> 00:47:03,830
No, it was my throne
(people applauding)
802
00:47:03,830 --> 00:47:05,103
and it was my crown.
803
00:47:05,958 --> 00:47:08,625
(bells ringing)
804
00:47:10,390 --> 00:47:13,069
(dramatic music)
805
00:47:13,069 --> 00:47:14,960
I recorded my memory of everything
806
00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:17,510
that happened in my memoirs.
807
00:47:17,510 --> 00:47:20,873
Or perhaps it was how I wanted to have it remembered.
808
00:47:22,570 --> 00:47:24,463
I have learnt to act like a man.
809
00:47:25,440 --> 00:47:28,873
With one difference, I have done it better.
810
00:47:30,110 --> 00:47:31,410
Because I was a ruler
811
00:47:31,410 --> 00:47:34,450
such as Russia and Europe had never seen.
812
00:47:35,796 --> 00:47:38,546
(powerful music)
813
00:48:05,528 --> 00:48:09,111
(powerful music continues)
814
00:48:34,191 --> 00:48:37,858
(powerful music continues)
60149
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