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PETROGRAD TAURIDE PALACE

What do you propose specifically?

I propose to persuade His Majesty to resign the throne.

If we will not do it then it will be done by Tcheidze with Sovdep.

I agree with you, Alexander Ivanovich.

I went to see His Majesty this morning, but they would not let me go.

Soviets demand me to be escorted by Tcheidze and a batallion of soldiers.

That is why we need to act quietly and fast without asking anyone.

It is necessary to give Russia a new Tsar. Then legally, the revolution could not happen.

Bravo, Alexander Ivanovich.

I agree and support it.

I support it also.

That's settled then.

PSKOV RAILROAD STATION THE FATAL DAY. MARCH 2, 1917

Your Majesty, the Commander of Northern Front General Ruzsky arrived with two men.

...twenty one... Who are they?

The Quartermaster of Northern Front General Danilov and the Provisional Director General Savich.

Where are they?

In the dining room. I offered them tea, they are drinking it.

...twenty four...

...twenty five...

Your Majesty, all Front Commanders are calling for your abdication.

And General Alexeyev...?

And General Alexeyev...

This is a shared opinion.

Please familiarize yourself with their telegrams.

The situation, Your Majesty, is extremely difficult. It does not permit any other decision.

The loss of every minute may become a fatal blow for Russia.

I agree with what was just said.

The sacrifice is necessary for the good of Russia and the final victory.

But how can we know, gentlemen, if really all of Russia is for my abdication?

I am sorry, Your Majesty, but this is not the right time for a referendum.

The situation is hapenning so fast that any delay may mean death.

Only your submissive voluntary abdication will save Russia from disturbance and military shame.

Maybe...

Maybe...

Tell me, doctor...

sincerely...regardless of my parental feelings...

will my son Alexei live like everyone lives...?

Will he be able to reign?

I understand, Your Majesty, all the pain of the question and the responsibility of the moment.

That is why I will not lie to you.

Medically speaking, Tsarevich Alexei will not live to reach 16.

But medicine, doctor...

May still be strong...

It happens, Your Majesty

As they say: "God willing"

But his recovery would be a miracle... Only extraordinary measures could save and prolong his life.

Thank you, Doctor.

What for?

For the truth. It is difficult to say it.

So, now I know exactly what I should do.

Thank you, Sergei Petrovich.

Gentlemen... Guchkov, Shulgin?

Yes

Best wishes and salutations. His Majesty wishes to see you. Please follow me.

I have decided to abdicate.

Until about three today, I thought I would abdicate in favor of my son Alexei.

Later, I changed my mind in favor of my brother Mikhail.

I think you will understand my parental feelings.

(Repeats himself) God have mercy on me!

Here is my final abdication...

What?

What will it mean in fact?

In fact it would mean, Your Majesty, that protection of the palace would be transferred...

from the regiment and the convoy to the garrison.

Besides that, you would not be allowed to use the telephone, and your correspondence would be scrutinized.

The personal servants who do not wish to be under arrest must leave the palace today by 4 PM.

My children are ill and need medical attention.

The doctors will be allowed to come, Your Majesty, but only with the escort of guards.

When will I see my husband?

According to the information we have, His Majesty is coming to Tsarkoe Selo tomorrow, March 9th.

General, may we be left alone?

Answer me, general... tell me the truth... what will happen to us?

Your Majesty, don't get upset. Nothing bad will happen to you.

All of it is just the formalities and precautions against the military mob.

You are confined to the palace anyway while your children are not feeling well.

When they get better.... I heard a British cruiser on the Murman coast will wait for you.

So... Don't get frustrated.

Did you call for me, Your Majesty?

A deputy from the Provisional Government, General Kornilov...

reported to me officialy that my children and I are under arrest.

The servants and workers who don't wish to...

...share the hard times with us have to leave the palace by 4 PM today.

I am staying, Your Majesty.

Merci, Pierre

I did not expect a different answer from you.

Now, my firend, I ask you to help me and speak with my son.

Everything has to be explained to him...

Doctor Botkin is with him now. Ask him to come with me.

How do you do, gentlemen?

What are you doing in there?

We are looking for a clock.

'The gift from my Papa disappeared somewhere.

Eugene Sergeyevich, it would be nice if you would visit Her Majesty.

She is in the big study right now.

Your Majesty, I will visit you later.

Mmm-hmm...

Alexei Nikolaevich, I have news for you.

What news?

Your father is coming back tomorrow.

That is great!.. Does Mama know about it?

Sure, she told me herself.

What time will Papa come?

At 11 o'clock. He will not go to Mogilev anymore.

Why?

Because your father does want to be Commander-in-Chief anymore.

So, I will never go to the Stavka to see the military with Papa?

Don't get upset, Your Majesty...

Your father will have much more free time, and you can see him more often...

The matter is that your father does want to be Emperor anymore.

Why?

He is very tired and has had a lot of trouble lately.

Oh, yes...

Mama told me that his train was impounded when he left here...

Will Papa still be the Emperor?

Why?

Your father abdicated in favor of his brother, the Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich.

So...Papa is not the Emperor but Uncle Misha?

Grand Duke Mikail Alexandrovich also abdicated.

But who will rule Russia if we don't have an Emperor?

The Provisional Government created by the Duma will rule Russia until there is a Constituent Assembly.

Maybe after that your Uncle Misha will reign.

Where did you get it from?

A gift...

From whom?

His Majesty Alexei Nikolaevich.

Boatswain, don't feel offended, but I need to check following. My orders.

Take a seat.

This is your business, check it...

But I have to leave before 4 o'clock. I cannot stay, I have a family.

I understand, understood.

I'll try to find out quickly.

Why are you crying My Dear?

I feel sorry for Papa.

Where have you been? Why did you not come for so long?

I was busy. Forgive me.

And I feel sorry for Boatswain too.

Why did Boatswain leave without saying goodbye?

Boatswain is a bad man. Forget about him.

This is not true. He's a very good man. He's my friend.

Boatswain is dishonest.

No, Mama, you don't have any right to talk about him like that.

Unfortunately, I have the right.

No, you don't

Calm down.

Here, is this your clock?

Where did you find it?

I lost it.

My Dear, the officer on duty found it, not me. And you know where?

Where?

Boatswain Derevenko had it.

How come?

Very simple... Boatswain took it from you and now he is arrested like a thief.

This is not true.

He did not steal it from me. I gave it to him.

Boatswain is a good man.

Do you tell me the truth?

Yes, Boatswain is a good man.

You told me you lost it.

Yes, I did. I just forgot that I gave it to Boatswain.

When did you give it to him?

When you left and did not come back for a while.

I see...

Do you know what we'll do know?

I'll call the officer on duty and ask him to free your friend Boatswain.

I'll tell him to give your gift to Boatswain and apologize.

Are you at ease now?

Mommy, I love you very much.

Please, forgive me.

It is OK, Boatswain.

You may go.

Your Majesty, that is Colonel Kobylinsky, the new commandant. With him is staff captain Kontsegov.

Come please...

DOWN WITH INFAMOUS AUTOCRACY

Open the gate for the former Tsar!

Son!

My dear ones.

Who is it?

Your Majesty, I am sorry. This is Count Benkendorff.

What is going on?

My Lord please forgive me, Your Majesty.

Commisar of Sovdep Maslovsky wants to see His Majesty.

What commissar? Of what Sovdep?

I'll explain everything in a minute, Your Majesty.

His Majesty has a migraine. He is horribly tired. What else do they want from him?

Only to be sure if he is here, in the palace.

Sorry.

Your Majesty, look through the window, I beg you...

Load!

Nicky...my boy..listen to me.

My Dear, you need to get up, get dressed and go...

Commissar of Sovdep Maslovsky is waiting for you...

He is desperate to see you.

Nicky, my dear, my beloved

Why? I have a horrible migraine.

You need to get up and go...

You have to, you have to...

How do you do?

Well, I am leaving...

Go, Your Majesty...

I am Alexander Kerensky. How do you do?

How do you do, Alexander Fyodorovich...

This is my family...

My son Alexei...

How do you do?

My two older daughters...

Olga

Tatiana

The rest of them are ill and stay in bed. You can see them if you wish.

No, no, I don't want to trouble them

My wife Alexandra Fyodorovna.

Nicholas Alexandrovich, I would like to speak with you alone...

Let's go to the study...

Excuse me...

What an unpleasant man this Kerensky is.

That is because he does not respect Papa...

and Mama too

(Tatiana) Sure, because our Papa and Mama are nobody now.

Pardon me?

Private citizens...

You are insensitive, daughter...

...Cruel...

Why? I love you and Papa very much.

Why would you say such a thing then?

Because...

What is it?

I am getting bald.

Don't pay atenttion to her, Mama. She is not herself.

Her hair is falling out!

And you...?

And I too... So what?

My God! How is it...

Olenka, you are young women!

Eugene Sergeyevich says this is a normal thing.

This is an avitaminosis after measles.It'll get better, we just need to cut our hair.

Why did you not tell me?

Please understand us, Mama. Who wants to be shaved?

You think that it is better to be bald?

No, it is worse.

Nicky!

What does it mean?

All my papers, all my correspondence, including personal correspondence, are confiscated.

Why?

The Special Committee of Inquiry is working.

They are looking for crimes committed by the old government.

By you?

That's right, My Dear, by me first.

By who else?

Who else? By my ministers, assistants. I had many of them.

By me?

Yes, My Dear. That is the procedure.

But they will not be able to find these crimes.

The main part - they suspect us of treason.

Not us... me.

-Why you? Us! -No, me!

I knew and was waiting for something like this.

Someone half German is a spy. This is a vile action.

I... a granddaughter of Queen Victoria who took Orthodoxy with all my heart?

Alix, what's wrong with you?

Drink it.

Do not believe Rodzianko, do not believe Kerensky.

They lie to us. We will not go to England.

Your cousin George refused to have us.

Calm down, please.

I know. The British cruiser will not come.

They will send all of us to Siberia.

All of us... to the Starets motherland!

-Calm down -Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin

I just saw him in my dream.

He took my hand, brought me to the door and said "Open it and look".

There were you and me...and the children and someone lese I did not recognize.

All in this horrible dream...

God, have mercy on me!

Mama, please...

Do you know whose music this is?

I know, Uncle Misha wrote it.

Correct.

Where did he write it? Do you know?

I know, in Livadia.

You don't know...

Where then?

In Ekaterinoslav...

During the maneuvers... Under the tent.

How did they get the piano under the tent?

He used the guitar.

Uncle Misha...

Uncle Misha!

At last...

Papa, Mama, Uncle Misha arrived!

Misha...

Alix...

Misha...

I am so glad to see you.

I am very glad too, Kolya.

How do you do, Nicholas Alexandrovich.

How do you do, Alexander Fyodorovich.

How do you do, Madam.

I arranged it... We are allowed...

Do you know where we'll go?

Where?

To Tobolsk.

To Tobolsk?

Tobolsk?

I told you...

Madam, believe me...

The community there is very loyal...

And the Governor's residence is a very comfortable and well-equipped place.

It will guarantee your safety, Nicholas Alexandrovich.

...And at parting, Nicholas Alexandrovich, I want to inform you with all my pleasure that all our suspicions of your so called treason...

Were not confirmed.

My sincere congratulations!

Thank you, Alexander Fyodorovich.

Congratulations to you too, Madam.

From all my heart... I wish you a safe trip.

And, in spring with God's help, the situation will change...

Then, you will be able to move to Livadia, in the Crimea. Come please.

Thank you.

AUGUST 1, 1917