All language subtitles for Catherine.The.Great.2019.S01E04.DV.HDR.2160p.WEB.h265-EDITH_Track03

♪ (THEME MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

(PARTY GUESTS CHATTING
INDISTINCTLY, LAUGHING)

♪ (CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

GRIGORY POTEMKIN: The river trip
was a great success.

She saw what I'd done
in the Crimea and she...

wept...

in awe.

And did you tell her you were
fucking half its population?

Oh, believe nothing
of what you hear about me.

-I only sleep with women I like.
-(COUNTESS BRUCE CHUCKLES)

Mind you, they are a very
likeable bunch in the Crimea.

Oh, my God.

-POTEMKIN: Oh.
-(COUNTESS BRUCE CHUCKLES)

Yes, Countess Bruce,
may I introduce

my adjutant, Valerian Zubov,

and his brother, Platon.

-(COUNTESS BRUCE CHUCKLES)
-♪ (CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

COUNTESS BRUCE: Where have they
been keeping you?

-Minsk.
-(COUNTESS BRUCE LAUGHS)

Come. I'd like you
to meet the Empress.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, story of my life.

A pleasure.

POTEMKIN: Your Majesty.

CATHERINE: Mm?

May I introduce

Platon Zubov.

CATHERINE: Your brother
has done us good service.

Welcome to court.

It is a great honor
to meet Your Majesty.

And what brings you here?

Are you, um...
interested in politics?

The situation in France?

Do you find that disturbing?

I'm afraid I have
absolutely no understanding

of politics, Your Majesty.

(LAUGHS)

Well, thank God for that!
(LAUGHS)

Anyone who says they understand
politics is an idiot.

(POTEMKIN CHUCKLES)

POTEMKIN: Come.

(INDISTINCT)

The Turks have locked
our ambassador to Istanbul

in the Fort of the Seven Towers.

It is a curious way
of declaring war.

It's the way they always do it,
my friend.

I don't care how
the fucking Turks declare war!

I don't care if they
dance around in a circle

and wave their baggy trousers
over their collective heads.

Do you wish me to organize
a declaration of war,

-Your Majesty?
-I do indeed.

How do you want us to
declare war, Your Majesty?

In a very loud voice,

-and ring some bells, now!
-Yes, Your Majesty.

And you'd better recall
Alexei Orlov to court.

POTEMKIN: Matushka, no!

CATHERINE: You need help.

POTEMKIN: Matushka, please!

FOOL:
Why do people who declare war

think they're going to win?

Wouldn't they be better off
not announcing

who they're going
to try and kill?

Orlov?
I need help from Orlov?

Is that why you're recalling
Orlov from court?

You can't do this on your own;
you're getting old.

-You're ill.
-Nonsense!

I'm fine, huh?
I'm perfectly fine.

CATHERINE: Why do you
want to run this war anyway?

I mean, what is it?
You love killing people?

Oh, come on!
You know it's not that. I--

And I never said I wanted
this war in the first place.

What is it then? Glory?

I would like to remind you

that you owe
all of your advancement to me.

You owe all of your money,
all of your palaces

and all of your military power
to me. I own you.

Don't forget that.

(CHUCKLING) Please, Matushka.
All I'm saying is that...

is that we don't need Orlov.

That is all I'm saying.
Jesus fucking Christ.

(SIGHS)

I don't like
reminding you of your place,

but sometimes I have to.
You know that.

I know that I've built
a huge empire on my own.

I wanted you to see it,
Matushka,

because I did it for you.

For Russia.

Oh, I am loyal.

I am utterly loyal.

I know that.

But you do need help.

And what do you need?

Probably a good fuck.

(LAUGHS)

(SOLDIERS MARCHING IN DISTANCE)

(PAUL I SHOUTING COMMANDS)

(PAUL I SHOUTING COMMANDS)

PAUL: Company, halt!

SERGEANT: And front!

-(SOLDIERS STOMP IN FORMATION)
-PAUL: Order, arms!

CATHERINE: What the hell are
your German soldiers doing here?

They are expressly forbidden
to approach this palace.

You know that.

PAUL: I have come to offer
my four battalions, Mother.

Over 1,000 men, for the war.

I want to do something.

Staying at home with your wife
is the best thing you can do.

Russian soldiers may not have
the shiniest boots in the world,

but they have courage.

They have the desperate courage
of the decent poor.

Something you will
never understand,

because you have had nothing
but a life of privilege

and false entitlement.

Now put your toy soldiers
back in their box!

Order them out of here now.

-(SHOUTS) Shoulder arms!
-(SOLDIERS STOMP IN FORMATION)

About face!

Forward march!

SERGEANT: Move out!

Her Majesty has given me command
of both the army and the navy.

My good friend,
Count Rumiantsev,

has been put in
to share the command...

because Her Majesty thinks

that I'm getting
too big for my boots.

-(LAUGHTER)
-No. No, no, no, no.

She is right;

(STRAINED) I'm getting
much too big for my boots.

-Bring me bigger fucking boots!
-(LAUGHTER)

-(LAUGHTER SUBSIDES)
-What?

This is the uniform I wore
when I took the throne,

many years ago.

The security
of everyone in this room

depends on my hanging on to it.

Everyone.

Now, I like peace.

But I do not dislike
the great events of war.

Though as you know,
this is Ochakov,

the Turks' major fort
on the Black Sea.

They say it can't be taken;

I want you to disprove
that notion.

POTEMKIN: Yeah, but--

Ah, Count Orlov.
I'm glad you could join us.

Welcome, Orlov.

I've offered my services
to Her Majesty in this war.

Our navy served her well
in the Black Sea.

Your Majesty,
we will do our best.

Please, pass me my boots.

But we will do it slowly.

We did not enter this war

to squander Russian lives
easily.

No, you're going into it
to cut short Turkish lives,

as many of them as possible.

-(CHUCKLES)
-We will take Ochakov. We will.

But we need to lay siege to it.

That will take some time.

So, I'm more than happy
for Count Orlov to serve...

under my command.

ALEXEI ORLOV:
Under your command?

You heard me.
You got a problem with that,

if you can, there's the door.

Your Majesty, is he asking
for my resignation?

I think he is,

if you won't serve under him.

And are you going
to allow that to happen?

He is the commander in chief.

But I'm sure
you can do us great service.

ALEXEI: Your Majesty.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER BREAKS OUT)

PLATON ZUBOV:
I wanted to go to war

with my brother
and Prince Potemkin,

but my brother said no.

He's always looked after me.

Almost too much.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

My dream would be
to serve under Prince Potemkin.

Oh, he can't have everything
for himself.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Shouldn't he have charge
of all of it?

Army, navy...
Why not the civil service?

They don't do anything, do they?

You work too hard.

You don't want
an old woman like me.

Don't say that.

How did you get on
with your mother?

I loved her.

But that has nothing to do...

-with--
-With what?

With you.

I'm never conscious of your age.
You just... are.

And you're always occupied,
always...

at the center of things.

You're young.

You always will be.

End of story.

This is all
completely new to me.

CATHERINE: You are so kind,
Masha. Thank you.

MARIA FEODOROVNA: He will love
staying with you, I'm sure.

(CHUCKLES) Won't you, Sashenka?

ALEXANDER:
Yes, of course I will.

I know how much
he loves coming here, and I...

try to encourage him in that.
Hm? Because...

Because...

he has doubts
about staying with me?

No! No.

You know how children are.

They need their mothers.

Yes, of course.

Now get in. Off you go.

So, um, how is Paul?

Well, I hear that he's a little
too interested

in one of your maids of honor.

Katerina Nelidova.

Tell your husband
to be very careful.

I like you, Maria.

But he...

he must show himself capable

and worthy of ruling
this country.

CATHERINE: Sashenka,
wave goodbye to Mama.

ALEXANDER: Goodbye, Mother.

-Bye.
-CATHERINE: Let's go.

CATHERINE: So, Sashenka,
my little prince...

I want you
to sign a document for me.

Okay.

ALEXANDER: what exactly was it
that I signed, Granny?

Well, it's a letter of intent.

Look, why don't you read
that little bit to me?

"I, Alexander,

acknowledge my father
is not fit to rule...

and that I will take the throne

when the Empress Catherine
dies."

Good.

Good.

Now...

this is going to be
our little secret, all right?

You're not to tell anybody
about this.

No, Granny. Promise.

Good.

We'll get him back,
sooner or later.

No, she has stolen him.

While she honeys and makes love

-over that nasty sty--
-She dotes on our son.

That is good for us, Paul.

PAUL: What are we going to do
about her?

You have to hold your nerve.

Never look as if
it's getting to you.

The closer you are to her,
the better for us.

She isn't getting any younger.

(SOLDIERS MARCHING OUTSIDE)

My mother
is poisoning the boy against me.

ALEXEI: That is her general
tactic in politics:

divide and rule.

But I am generally concerned

that she may be no longer
quite capable of

properly sustaining government.

And I am not being disloyal,
Maria Feodorovna.

PAUL:
He has genuine concern.

Mother is in thrall to Potemkin.
She's given him everything.

He's running Ochakov
exactly how he wants to.

He's completely out of control.

He will destroy her.

Unless we destroy him.

ALEXEI: Oh,
when we think we have it all,

that's when we lose everything,
Your Excellency.

I am not going to be made
of no account.

I am not going to sit
in the corner

while my mother
struts around the stage.

And all my mother listens to
are flatterers.

Oh, yes, Your Excellency.
You're absolutely right.

Which is why I've asked
young Zubov here today, sir.

I know how upsetting you find
the arrival of these...

young men in your mother's life.

You think we can use this one,
do you?

How?

To make a final break
between her and Potemkin.

We don't have to do
very much at all.

-(HORSE WHINNIES)
-Come up, Zubov.

We're just discussing Potemkin's
campaign in the Crimea.

(LAUGHS)

(QUILL SCRATCHING)

PLATON ZUBOV:
Who are you writing to?

Oh.

Prince Potemkin.

PLATON: Ah.

He won't do as he's told.

I always do what I'm told.

I know you do.

It's a very attractive quality.

But one not often found
in generals, I fear.

I heard someone say that he...

Hm? That he...

what?

I can't even remember
who it was.

-It's not worth repeating.
-No, no. What?

Some people are saying
he's lost his nerve.

He's frightened
to attack Ochakov.

It's because all he thinks about
is power and money.

And girls.

And he wants my job.

Do they say that?

They said all sorts
of dreadful things.

And I wanted to say,
"How dare you?"

You know?

"How dare you?
What have you done?"

But I didn't.

Because I...

really am a very
unimportant person.

You are not unimportant to me.

SOLDIER: Quickly!
Get them down on the ground.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER
AMONG SOLDIERS)

(WOMAN GIGGLES)

ALEXANDER SUVOROV:
So, when do we go in?

Not yet.

We wait.

And bore them into
surrendering? Is that the idea?

I don't like losing men,
General.

I know you're
a compassionate man

and I respect your desire
not to waste lives,

but Ochakov is not Troy.

We do not have ten years.

The fact is, she's had enough;
she expects you to attack.

Did she tell you
to say that to me?

She's got something to say
she can say it herself.

She a general?

-Who's in charge here?
-She is!

Chain of command.
Obey orders, kill the bastard.

-It's perfectly simple.
-We wait! Okay? We wait!

We starve them into surrender.

What's the matter,
my old friend?

We wait. Okay?

Show them out.

WOMAN: come this way, please.

After you, sir.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

Because he has
such lovely black hair,

we girls...

call him "Blackie."

Colonel Zubov is a very
handsome young man.

At one point in my life,

I thought I was going
to be handsome.

But it turned out
not to be the case.

Oh.

What's he like, this Zubov?

People say he's nice,

but some people say
he's a scheming little bastard,

don't they?

Have you formulated a view?

Madam, I'm in the civil service.

-Give me time.
-Oh.

I say he's a scheming
little bastard

and will ruin us all.

I-- (CLEARS THROAT)

I am a great admirer
of Potemkin. I--

H-- He is away, risking his life
for all of us.

I don't want Blackie

to wreck things between Madam
and Potemkin because--

CATHERINE: Because?

You really love each other.

You are the most
beautiful couple.

Really, I have never seen love
like it, Your Majesty.

Blackie,
this is the Countess Bruce.

She's just leaving.

COUNTESS BRUCE: Your Majesty.

POTEMKIN: More letters from her,
all urging me to attack.

Well, seen as no one gives
a fuck whether we live or die,

let's attack.

God help us.

(SHOUTS)
Gentlemen, let's attack!

We attack now!

In line. Now or never. Move!

For Russia!

We go for the Stamboul Gate.

Gentlemen,
there will be no retreat.

The guns will breach the wall,

and we shall take the town.

(SOLDIERS YELLING)

-(SOLDIERS YELLING)
-(SWORDS CLASHING)

(GRUNTING)

SUVOROV: The town is taken.
Ochakov is ours!

(CHILD CRYING)

WOMAN (SOBBING):
Please, I beg you!

(CHILD CONTINUES CRYING)

(WOMAN CONTINUES PLEADING)

♪ (HANDEL'S "MUSIC FOR
THE ROYAL FIREWORKS" PLAYS) ♪

(CROWD CHEERING)

We need to get Your Majesty
out here. Catherine!

Catherine, Your Majesty!

(CROWD CHEERING)

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

SPEAKER:
Silence for Your Empress.

CATHERINE: Russia is no longer
crawling to Europe.

We are a great nation,

and the world has been forced
to recognize that fact!

(HUGE CHEERS)

We have an empire now,

a Russian empire
free from Europe.

And we fight like no one else!

(CHEERING)

SPEAKER:
Silence for your Empress.

CATHERINE:
Russia has taken her place

among the great nations,

and it is a position
we will never give up!

(HUGE CHEERS)

CROWD: (CHANTING)
Potemkin! Potemkin! Potemkin!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

PLATON:
I can't tell you what a...

privilege it is to be here
with you, Prince Potemkin.

Well, it's certainly
a lot safer than Ochakov.

-(CHUCKLES)
-Uh, just.

(CHUCKLES)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

The German
and the English ambassadors

have requested an audience
with the council.

We must assume it is serious.

Bring them in.

(DOOR OPENS)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Oh, any language but German.

ENGLISH AMBASSADOR:
Your Majesty,

we apologize for interrupting
the business of the council,

but we have a very serious
announcement to make.

Unless the Russian government

return the fortress of Ochakov
to the Turks,

both England and Germany

will declare war on you.

-What?
-(POTEMKIN COUGHING)

I think we should discuss this
in the other room, privately.

-Do you indeed?
-(POTEMKIN COUGHING)

If you think for one moment
I will go crawling to Germany

-then you--
-With respect, Your Majesty,

maybe that we--

what Prince Potemkin
is trying to say--

ENGLISH AMBASSADOR:
Your Majesty,

we must have a response
by tomorrow morning.

-And you will have one...
-No.

...when we have taken the time

-to consider our response.
-No, I will not be dictated to--

That is all.

CATHERINE: You do not presume
to speak over my head

-to a foreign ambassador...
-European powers have made it
abundantly clear...

-...in the presence
of the council!
-...they will not tolerate

our position
on the Crimean Peninsula.

-Might I remind you...
-Well, Constantinople;

-we must give them something.
-...I supply you with millions

of rubles to finance
not only your women,

-but your armies--
-(SHOUTS) Might I remind you

I waded through blood for you!

You wanted to swallow
the Ukraine, Crimea,

cross the Black Sea,
Constantinople, and I did it!

You wanted that too.

I did it,
but I don't discuss it

in front of the council,
with a bunch of foreigners,

with a two-faced little
pissant boy!

-He's not two-faced--
-He is so!

If that's what you thought of
him, why didn't you say so
in the first place?

He makes them laugh at you.
They laugh at you!
(LAUGHS MOCKINGLY)

-How dare you!
-I dare!

(POTEMKIN COUGHING)

You're ill.

(COUGHS)
Yes, I'm fucking ill.

Well, why?
Why are you being like this?

(COUGHING INTENSIFIES)

POTEMKIN: Oh, God damn it.

There's a disease down there.

Matushka, a disease.

I spend most of my nights
coughing my guts up

surrounded by men and women
and-- and children--

children I slaughter
for you like cattle.

Why are we both like this?

Yes, I've got no idea either.

I've got no idea.

Please, come on. Come on.

We wanted power and glory.

(SIGHS)

We have it,
and look what it's done to us.

This is just an old, old story.

FOOTMAN: Your Majesty.

POTEMKIN:
Some fucking privacy, please!

You remember this?

I do.

Of course.

I'm gonna give a big dinner
for you tomorrow evening.

A farewell before you go
back south.

POTEMKIN:
Yes, back down south,

to build more cities
and kill more people.

Hmm?

Why? For whom?

Oh, for me, I suppose.

I am the state, Grishenka.

I have no life of my own left.

I'm going to give you
another palace.

Yes, well, that's what you do
for all your old lovers

when you've finished with them.

You know I could never
let you go.

We're committed to each other,
you know that.

Do I really?

I see the way you look at me
since I've been back.

You're tired of my victories,

you think I'm a threat,
you think that...

Well, you think
that I want the throne.

Do you imagine for one moment
I would give it up to you,

the way we forced my husband
to give it up to me?

You are hard, Matushka,
you are so hard.

It's just... (GROANS)

It's not the state,
it's just you. It's...

You love nobody but yourself.

Yeah, well...

That's humanity for you.

The fuck is the matter with you?

I mean, why can't you just...

let somebody in?
Why can't you trust somebody?

Because it's never been safe
for me to do that. Ever.

How could you think
for one second

that I would turn my armies
against you?

You will have to make nice
with the Germans.

Sometimes you just have to
make a deal.

Have you forgotten?

-Your actions have consequences.
-(CATHERINE SCOFFS)

I will not go crawling
to the Germans.

Yes, you will
because you have to.

My mother was a German.
She was a horrible, greedy,

selfish bitch.

(SCREAMS)

(SOBS)

-(SOBBING)
-Come here. Come on.

(SOBS)

(SNIFFLES)

(SOBBING AND SNIFFLING)

Oh, I will do as you suggest.

-Of course.
-(CATHERINE CHUCKLES)

Because I am always right.

-As am I.
-Hmm.

I will make nice
with the Germans

and you will go south
and make peace with the Turks.

Life's a compromise. I know.

And you were right.

I expect the Countess Bruce
has told you.

Zubov is a two-faced
little bastard.

(BOTH LAUGH)

(BOTH SIGH)

We're gonna have to get rid
of him.

Well, people think I'm stupid
in that direction

-but I'm-- I'm not stupid.
-I know.

I will.
I'll-- I'll get rid of him.

Not until I've had
the best out of him.

-You wicked...
-Hmm.

-...selfish...
-Hmm.

-...unregenerate...
-Hmm.

-...corrupt...
-(GIGGLES)

-...highly sexed old witch!
-(LAUGHS)

No, no, no.
I'm not-- I'm not corrupt.

-I undo that. I take that back.
-(CHUCKLES)

I mean, how can you talk
to your empress like that?

Well, it seems to come
very easily to me.

At the party tomorrow night,
I want you to kneel before me,

and tell everyone there
that you worship me,

totally,

and that you are utterly
and completely loyal to me.

(POTEMKIN STRAINS)

FOOL: When they get older
and wiser,

sometimes husband and wife
need separate bedrooms,

my old friend.

(SIGHS)

Oh, Sashenka, you're back.

Good.

So, my dear, did you have
a lovely time with Mama?

-Yes.
-Good.

Good.

-I, uh, wondered...
-Yes?

I wondered whether I might
take him with me?

Take him home? (SCOFFS)

Maria,

he is the future emperor
of Russia.

His place is here with me;
you know that.

Anyway,

he has everything he needs here,
don't you, Sashenka?

Yes, Granny.

He was saying
you got him to sign something?

Oh, was he?

MARIA: He's clearly very young.

Whatever it was,
do you think he understood it?

It was about the succession.

You know that.

Or you suspect it.

(SCOFFS) Do you really think we
should be having this discussion

-in front of the boy?
-Oh, he knows who his father is.

As do you.

Do you seriously think
that Paul is capable

of governing this country?

I think he is my husband
and I am loyal to him.

Good.

Very good.

Well, if you ever
change your mind,

perhaps you may write something
to the effect that

you think your son
should succeed

instead of his father.

Do you really imagine
I would do that?

(SCOFFS)

(QUIVERING)
What must you think of me?

-Goodbye, my darling.
-ALEXANDER: Goodbye, Mommy.

MARIA: Goodbye.

Where is he?

You were going to
bring him home.

What happened
to getting close to her?

She's made him sign something.

It's about the succession.

What is it?
What does it say?

He would succeed.

Instead of you.

Darling.
Darling, it's all right.

It doesn't...

No, no.
It doesn't mean anything.

-It means nothing.
-(PAUL TREMBLES)

She tried to get me on her side,
to write something;

something that would allow Sasha
to take the throne

-instead of you.
-And?

Wha...

I'm loyal to you. I said
I'd do nothing of the kind.

Wives betray their husbands.

Children betray their parents.
There is no loyalty.

There isn't any. (CHUCKLES)

I am loyal to you.

-You know I am.
-(PAUL MUTTERING)

Paul, I am loyal to you!

And I hope you remain loyal
to me.

(PAUL SNIFFLES)

I just thought
you'd bring him home.

CATHERINE: The British and
German ultimatum

has been withdrawn.

(COUNCIL MEMBERS BANG TABLE,
CHEER)

Seems everyone is suddenly
more frightened of France

-than of Russia.
-(ALEXEI CHUCKLES)

There is no longer
any danger of war

on two or three fronts.

(BANGING TABLE)

Seems Prince Potemkin
may have been a little hasty

apologizing to the Germans
for winning the war,

Your Majesty.

You may have noticed, Alexei,
that the common people in France

are demanding control
over taxation.

We will be at war
with them next.

And, as always,

we need as many friends
as we can get.

Prince Potemkin is
a very skilled negotiator.

(SOLDIER SHOUTING COMMANDS
IN DISTANCE)

POTEMKIN: Good boy.

Sir. Sir?
Are you all right, sir?

(POTEMKIN GROANS)

No. No I'm not.

I can't breathe.

(POTEMKIN COUGHS)

Help me up.

VALERIAN ZUBOV: Come on.

(GRUNTS, GROANS)

I must write to her.

Yes, sir.

(HORSE SNORTS)

(POTEMKIN GROANS)

This is for her eyes only,
you understand?

And no one else.

I'll make sure my brother
doesn't see it, sir.

You're a good man.

You've done good service.

(POTEMKIN BREATHES HEAVILY)

(DISTANT CHATTER)

Well, what is it?

I can tell from your face
it's bad news.

It's, um...

What? Just say it.

Give me the letter.
Tell me the worst.

He's dead, Your Majesty.

Who's dead?

Potemkin.

Potemkin?

Potemkin's dead?

BEZBORODKO: Your Majesty...

uh, this letter
is for your eyes only.

-(CATHERINE GROANS)
-Your Majesty!

(SOBBING SOFTLY)

POTEMKIN: My darling Matushka.

What I want to say is this:

In going where you have to go
and doing what you have to do,

you wear away at love.

Even a love like ours.

Borne out of reason,
and laughter,

and happiness,
and great ambition.

But I do not regret
all the things

we have achieved together.

Not for a moment.

And I would rather have had
our love used

and out in the world

than kept in some drawer
with anniversaries

and the dried roses and
the good opinion of moralists.

I love you as I ever did.

And one day
the world will know of it.

Be as true to me
as I was to you, Matushka.

It gives you a lot of scope.

The Turkish War is over.

We are at peace.

(DOOR CLOSES)

PLATON: ...together,

-with the rest of Europe...
-What is it?

...to fight the wicked
revolution in France.

Since King Louis XVI and
his queen, Marie Antoinette,

were arrested after attempting
to flee to Varennes last year,

our armies are in readiness
to fight revolution

wherever we find it.

-(MURMURS OF APPROVAL)
-(APPLAUSE)

Can you believe this prick?

How can she stay with him?

I know he's my brother,
but she's lost it

since Potemkin died.

We'd better get on with what
happens after she dies.

She will decide what happens
after she dies.

(ALEXEI SCOFFS)

And none of us
can do anything about it.

And how will she manage that?

Will she still be dictating

even when the soil
is in her mouth?

-(DOOR OPENS)
-CATHERINE:
Has anyone seen this?

Has anyone seen this filth?

Why are people allowed
to write these things?

-ALEXEI: Your Majesty--
-Don't "Majesty" me.

This is treason.

People are writing and printing
sheer treason.

We have peace abroad,
but enemies at home.

If I have made wars,

it is for the sake
of the country I love.

But the author of this work...

presumes to call me
a murderer and a tyrant

on these grounds alone.

"The Empress has become
the greatest murderer

in the Commonwealth.

She is the greatest robber
and the greatest traitor

and a most savage enemy
of the weak, and the...

poor and the enslaved."

-(BOOK THUDS)
-(WOMAN GASPS)

I have ordered
the arrest and trial

of the creature who wrote
this book.

If he is found guilty,
he will be executed.

Be warned:

I am your empress,

and I hold tight
to the reins of power.

Do not imagine that the death
of our first minister...

and dearest friend,
Prince Potemkin,

has weakened my resolve.

(CATHERINE EXHALES SHARPLY)

(GROANING SOFTLY)

Your Empress has spoken.

CATHERINE: I'm not a cripple.

You don't need to carry me
you know.

I'm sorry, Matushka.

Platon is very, very sorry
he upset Matushka.

CATHERINE: And you don't need
to call me by that name.

Matushka.

Matushka.

Matushka.

That's what he used to call me.
Matushka, Matushka, Matushka.

Mm.

You can call me a woman.

Any woman,
the way the peasants do.

I own peasants,
thousands of them.

They work and they drink,
and we whip them senseless

if they dare to answer back.

Do you think that's right?

Do you, mon petit noiraud?
Don't answer that.

Tu n'est pas qualifie
pour repondre.

Oh, my grandson,
he's such a sweet boy.

Oh, but his father.
Oh, God, his father!

-Are you all right?
-(CATHERINE YAWNS)

CATHERINE: Mm?

-I'm worried about you.
-Mm, I get these headaches.

Oh, such headaches
you wouldn't believe.

-(CATHERINE GRUNTS)
-Where are we going?

To an orgy, of course.

A witches' sabbat. I'm gonna
fly you around on my broomstick.

(LAUGHS)

There are those who are sure
that I am a fucking witch.

Well, I read Latin,
I like to screw young men;

witch, clearly.

Foul-mouthed old woman.
Not nice. Not nice.

-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(FIRE CRACKLING)

Her Majesty has decided
to have all French books burned.

She seems to think they bear
some responsibility

for causing
the French Revolution!

Reading creates a prejudice.

(LAUGHS)

(DOG BARKING)

Ah.

Voltaire.

"Religion began when the first
scoundrel met the first fool."

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

PLATON: Rousseau!

He was a disgusting little man.

Ah!

"Man is born free,

but everywhere

he is in chains."

What's that supposed to mean?

It means...

It meant...

Burn them.

Burn-- Bu-- Burn them all.

Burn all those Frenchmen
and their endless questions.

What are you doing here?

Reading.

CATHERINE: You'd better
be careful what you read.

You used to like Voltaire.

Perhaps.

When I was young and foolish.

He made you laugh.

I don't deny it.

Hmm. You were so full of hope.

And charity.

Supported the arts
and science.

You showed the world
what women can achieve.

I did what I did.

When I was young
I dreamed of freedom.

As people do
when they are young.

I dreamed of breaking chains.

But as you get older
your choices narrow.

So what did I do instead?

I gave us an empire.

Which is something.

And you loved
the greatest man of the age.

Oh, I loved him.

I enjoyed it all,
every single second.

Life takes everything from you,

piece, by piece, by piece.

Hm. It does, doesn't it?

But I knew
exactly what I was doing.

And I wouldn't have had
any of it any other way.

CATHERINE: They executed...

Louis.

(SIGHS)

What is this world? I...

I don't--
I don't recognize it anymore.

Oh.

I recognize you. (CHUCKLES)

In the end

there is only...

flesh.

Oh. (GRIMACES)

Oh, my head.

(GRUNTS DISMISSIVELY)

In here.

(WHISPERING) Yes, it's safe.

Yes, he won't find that.

Are you all right, Matushka?

POTEMKIN: My darling Matushka.

The only man I...

The only man I ever loved.

My Grishenka.

You were the one.

PLATON: Matushka? Matushka!

-Help! Please help!
-(CATHERINE BREATHING WEAKLY)

(GASPS)

PAUL:
Where are her private papers?

Where are they?

(CATHERINE MOANING SOFTLY)

Get out.

-PLATON: She's still alive.
-Get out!

Out!

CATHERINE: I leave my throne
to my grandson, Alexander,

who witnesses this document
with his signature.

(CATHERINE BREATHES RAGGEDLY)

Is this what she made you sign?

Is it?

(CATHERINE GASPING)

(PAUL BREATHING WITH FURY)

-What?
-She is dead.

Your Majesty.

PAUL: Careful.

Today we bury again
the body of my father.

He will lie next to his wife,

my mother, Catherine,

in the Kazan cathedral.

I am proud to be the son
of Peter III,

and take this opportunity
to tell you that from this day,

we will enact legislation
to ensure than no woman...

ever again rules Russia.

You will place the crown
on my father's coffin,

as we bear the two of them
to their shared grave.

My mother took the crown
from my father.

It was never hers by right.

And now it is mine.

And after me,
it will go to my sons.

And in time, their sons.

Make sure that you erase
all trace of that man Potemkin.

He is buried in the Ukraine.

Wipe out the grave
and every palace she gave him.

He is not to be spoken of.

Ever.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Who was he?

Mm?

Nothing.

I even heard ignorant people

say that he and my mother
were married.

(LAUGHTER)

FOOL: (SINGING)
♪ Since history is written ♪

♪ By crooks and fools ♪

♪ Hey ho
The blizzard and the ice ♪

♪ And made by bastards
Who break the rules ♪

♪ Hey ho
But love is very nice ♪

♪ And marriages
Were not made to last ♪

-♪ Hey ho ♪
-The Father, the Son,

-and the Holy Spirit.
-♪ The forest and the bear ♪

If no one knows we are married
but we two,

is it still real?

(CHUCKLES)
It is the truth, Matushka.

Soon we'll find out.

Love will always be
a private matter.

And all the sweeter for it.

We chose each other,
Grishenka.

Although we had no choice
in the matter.

And so, we stay ourselves...

even now we are one...

forever.

FOOL:
Love is what's left of us

after everything else is gone.

Poets would like us
to believe that.

But what do they know?

♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪