Original subtitles

TV CHANNEL RUSSIA

PRESENTS

A COSMOS STUDIO PRODUCTION

WRITTEN BY ARIF ALIEV

DIRECTED BY DMITRIY IOSIFOV

CAMERA DIRECTOR MAXIM SHINKORENKO

ART DIRECTOR SERGEY VOROBIEV

MAKEUP ARTIST - ARTEM DEMIDOV COSTUME DESIGNER - SVETLANA MOSKVINA

MUSIC BY NIKOLAY ROSTOV CASTING DIRECTOR - VALERIA GANKINA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - SERGEY KOZIN POST-PRODUCTION BY NONNA ARISTARKHOVA

SOUND DIRECTORS VLADIMIR LITROVNIK, ANNA IVANTSOVA

PICTURE EDITORS OLGA GRINSHPUN, GLEB ROSS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS LILIA CHEKSTER, SYUZANNA MUAZEN

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER ANASTASIA KORETSKAYA

LEAD PRODUCER DMITRIY GOLUBICHNY

PRODUCERS - ALEXANDER AKOPOV, ANTON ZLATOPOLSKY, NATALIA SHEIDOROVA

IN REMEMBRANCE OF EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ALEXEI KUBLITSKY

PAVEL PETROVICH - PAVEL TABAKOV NIKITA PANIN - SERGEY KOLTAKOV

YEMELYAN PUGACHEV - ARTHUR IVANOV PRINCESS TARAKANOVA - ANGELINA STRECHINA

STEPAN SHESHKOVSKY - MIKHAIL GOREVOY ALEXEI ORLOV - ARTEM ALEXEEV

ANDREY RAZUMOVSKY - ALEXANDER TKACHIOV NATALIA ALEXEIEVNA - ALINA TOMNIKOV

GRIGORY POTEMKIN - VLADIMIR YAGLICH GAVRIIL DERZHAVIN - DANILA DUNAYEV

EKATERINA NELIDOVA - DIANA MILYUTINA LEFEBVRE - IGOR GRАBUZOV

KAZIMIERZ OGIŃSKI - ARTEM KRETOV MICHAŁ OGIŃSKI - DANIIL SLUTSKY

MARIA KAROLINA - OLGA MAKEEVA FERDINAND - SERGEY TESSLER

DENIS FONVIZIN - KUZMA SAPRYKIN ADAM OLSUFIEV - STANISLAV STRELKOV

EKATERINA THE GREAT - MARINA ALEKSANDROVA

EKATERINA: PRETENDERS

DELIORMAN TURKISH ARMY CAMP

Residence of the Grand Vizier. Shumla fortress.

This is the Bulgarian town of Kozludzha,

next to it is the largest Turkish camp.

The fortress is considered impregnable, the garrison is about 5,000,

20,000 are in the camp, but the Turks can move troops quickly.

If they figure out that we are attacking Shumla with the main blow,

they will gather 70,000 in 2-3 days.

- Will you destroy the Turks? - No, Your Majesty.

You strike them all the time. You are capturing towns.

- But now it's, "No, Your Majesty". - Lets be real: we dont have reserves.

We are barely recruiting people to fill in the gaps due to illnesses.

And the Turks are seriously engaged in rebuilding their army.

Now the Turks have 8 guns against one of ours.

The Ottoman infantry has switched from fusees to muskets.

In many regiments, soldiers make two volleys per minute.

We will hold out until the fall, but then it will be tough.

We need peace, Your Majesty. So that we don't lose what we have.

A good, strong peace.

You need to take the fortress, Alexander Vasilyevich.

Your Majesty. Gentlemen.

- What do you think, gentlemen? - Its true that we dont have men.

Everyone was sent to Volga to suppress the rebellion.

Isn't it strange that it rose out of nowhere?

UNKNOWN FORTRESS MARCH 1774

Oh, you wide steppe, expansive steppe.

Oh, you, mother Volga,

free Volga!

Oh, that is not a steppe eagle

Rising high...

Your Majesty, we brought you a Frenchman.

We were on a scout, and he jumped right at us on his horse.

He said he came to see His Majesty the Emperor Pyotr Fedorovich.

Asked us to bring him to the Emperor. So, we did.

How can he be French? He is wearing a Russian uniform.

Your Majesty, Pyotr Fedorovich!

I am prime major Delong, a subject of the king of France,

a member of the Russian service. I left the Orenburg garrison

to speak with you. They say a lot about you in Paris.

- And what do they say? - That your battle

for the throne is going well.

France recognizes you, happily survived Emperor of Russia.

- Did you swear to Ekaterina? - Yes, I did.

But my true allegiance lies with the French king Louis,

the most powerful in the world.

Brothers, look at that! The French ambassador has come to see us.

Nikita Ivanovich, is there any information on the relations

of pretenders with foreign envoys in Russia?

There are no rumors, Your Majesty. And why would they help him?

How does Pugachev differ from the Turks or the Confederates?

Your Majesty, this is impossible. The rebels do not need money.

They robbed beyond all measure. And to send soldiers or weapons

across Europe unnoticed... Well, that is impossible.

Nikita Ivanovich, enough of your “impossible”.

Pugachev could not cause this rebellion by himself.

Stepan Ivanovich, interrogate all your captured rebels under torture.

Find out if there are any foreigners with Pugachev.

Who they are, what they want, where they came from.

Nikita Ivanovich, send a circular letter to the European embassies,

let our agents find out if they sent anyone to Pugachev.

Consider it done, Your Majesty.

Cannons, gunpowder, guns. How many did you bring?

From where, Your Majesty? But when you approach Moscow,

then King Louis will be ready to-

When I get to Moscow, I will already have everything.

Pour him some of our home brew!

Drink! For health's sake.

Bottoms up! Or I'll be offended.

Chug, chug!

You can't, can you?

Can your Louis, the most powerful man in the world, do this?

Chug, chug!

What do we do with him, Your Majesty?

Give him a bottle of home brew.

- Let him go wherever he wants. - But Your Majesty, I-

- I ran from the guard duty! - We'll take everything ourselves.

And their kings will bow to us. Am I right?

- Hear, hear! - To our Emperor,

the sole ruler of Russia, Pyotr Fyodorovich Romanov!

- Hooray! - Hooray!

ST. PETERSBURG SMOLNY INSTITUTE FOR NOBLE MAIDENS

Start. Mind your head.

Gestures should be softer.

Bravo, Your Highness! You have a beautiful voice!

Thank you. Mr. Lange, may I perhaps dance with

your pupils in front of the Empress?

- It will be my pleasure! - Thank you.

The pleasure is all mine.

From the outside, it may seem like deadly boredom.

Tables, calculations, profit, losses. But this is the most fascinating thing

in the sublunar realm. Behind the numbers is destiny,

prosperity or starvation. Here, for example, 83 in column 4.

If there was 81, the guards in Kostroma would starve.

Be respectful of this matter.

Im sorry, Pavel Sergeyevich! Last night, I was having fun

in the saloon until midnight.

You have to understand, the Treasurer is the arbiter of fate,

numbers can either save or destroy you.

Don't worry about fate. I won't decide it.

I intend to marry well. The treasury can sleep peacefully.

Unless it is the family treasury of your future wife.

- How do you play catch without boys? - We don't see boys at all.

We are raised here in severity and piety.

After graduation, Ill have too many suitors.

Yelagina is the daughter of the richest man in the capital.

She has it easy, but I have my own method of acquiring suitors.

I came up with it myself. You cant buy it for money.

- And what is this method? - Men, Natalia Alexeievna, are

very greedy for a beautiful wrapper. A reverence, for example.

Make it deeper than it should be, linger a little longer, well,

so that his eyes fall on the neckline.

You will light an animal fire in a man, and nature will take over.

But not right away. As soon as a man conceives a passion,

one must show its impregnability. "How dare you, sir!

I had a completely different opinion of you!"

You are such a comedian, Ekaterina Ivanovna!

Perhaps I will take seduction lessons from you.

How big is the list of hearts you have conquered?

Not a single one yet. It is impossible to combine studies

at the Institute for Noble Maidens and relations with men.

But after graduation, the list will begin to grow.

I promise you. And I am truly a comedian.

Count Betskoy encourages my talents. We are rehearsing

“The Maid Turned Mistress” by Pergolesi. I am playing the lead.

I am not good at singing, but this is a comic opera.

- I just need to make the audience laugh. - Well, you are good at that.

I will definitely come to see you perform.

What a fool! To hell with you!

Your Highness, I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

- This is my mistake. - Go away!

- Thank you. - She only understands German.

- Thank you. - You old cow!

- Your Highness. - So send her away.

You are always stressed.

I would have kicked her out long ago, but the Russian one would spy on me.

I learned that Pavel Petrovichs valet reports about him every day.

If I hired you as an assistant, would you spy on me?

No, I wouldn't.

And if they offered money and scared you?

I would agree. I would take the money.

- And then I'd tell you about it. - The best answer.

Carry out my orders and after graduation, I will appoint you.

But not a word to anyone, or you wont see a dime

or have a career at court. Dont kiss my husband like that again.

Ivan Ivanovich, I saw how work is underway to strengthen

the embankment with your project. Well, iron staples will not last long,

they will rust and fall down.

You are wrong, Adam Vasilievich. These staples will last 300 years.

But you didnt come here to talk to me about staples, did you?

You're right, not about staples. About children.

Does Your Majesty think there is something wrong with my pupils?

It's not about that. Did Elizaveta have children?

You should know it, Ivan Ivanovich.

I've never had anything to do with this side of late empresss life.

Maybe she had children, only I dont know anything about it.

Or, in any case, Elizaveta hid this very well.

You think she could give birth secretly? How could she hide the pregnancy?

Elizaveta wasn't a slim woman, you know. And with a certain agility of servants

and the right choice of attire, her predicament was quite easy to hide.

Theoretically, she could have children. But I dont know anything about it.

And who would know?

Count Shuvalov was closer to Elizaveta than the others.

Well, not counting the late Razumovsky.

But Shuvalov has long been abroad. He is afraid of Her Majesty.

Could you at least roughly name the age of a hypothetical child?

- What are you getting at? - Elizaveta was close

to Semyon Kirillovich Naryshkin even before her accession to the throne.

If they had a child, it would be about 30 years old now.

It's been a while since Semyon Kirillovich has been seen at court.

Dont you think its high time we paid the old man a visit?

- Ivan Ivanovich. - Sorry, I'm busy.

Wake up, gentlemen! Wake up!

It's afternoon, and you are still sleeping.

You look as if you saw a ghost. Bring me something to eat and then

tell me where you have brought me. Hurry up! Fast!

I remember luxurious dinners with general en chef Naryshkin.

Somehow you have stopped inviting me over, Semyon Kirillovich.

Come over, Your Majesty, Ill treat you. I cant share the meal myself,

my health doesnt let me feast. Im forced to keep a fast for life.

Remember you taught me to sit in a sled? You shouted, "Raise your leg!"

"Raise une jambe, Your Majesty, une jambe!"

We have known each other for so long, yet we rarely see each other.

Old friend, will you tell me the truth?

You had an affair with the late empress Elizaveta.

- Could you have children? - Excuse me, Your Majesty, but when?

At the very time you taught me to sit in the sled.

Your Majesty, we were not so close at that time.

If there was a child, they would be your age now.

But Elizaveta and I were not even 20, when we were separated.

I was sent abroad. Could she have a baby

and all this time not tell me about it? No, Your Majesty, I cannot believe this.

Thank you, Semyon Kirillovich, for bring straightforward.

I have one more request for you. If you ever saw Elizavetas daughter,

would you recognize her mothers features?

Why are you so down? Knights can't be discouraged.

Find horses for a beautiful lady and we will move on!

Where to? Don't you understand our predicament?

We wont get any money from the French.

We don't have enough for a half-dead nag.

We are on the way to a great goal. Forget these frenchmen with

their nonexistent money. You have me!

Gentlemen, you are so weird. The Russian heir is before you,

and you are worried about nothing.

Thank you.

We are going to Venice. Doges will support me.

Everything is working out for you, Your Highness.

Well done, my boy. You see, Pan Kazimir,

Michal is making progress at court, unlike you, a gloomy grumbler.

Doges of Venice are greedy people, and I know what to offer them.

- And what? - Furs. Gold.

Concessions in the Ural factories, a profitable trade union.

Venice will become the main Russian partner

in the Mediterranean Sea and will get the right of passage for trade caravans

through the south of the empire.

I know what to offer them in exchange for money,

communications and an army.

Well, after these words, I am ready to exchange my sword

for a good horse for Your Highness.

Well done.

- Any news, Stepan Ivanovich? - I inquired about Elizavetas child.

Shuvalovs servant testified that in 1751 the empress repeatedly complained

about the illness, which by all indications suggests a pregnancy.

Elizaveta ordered to find a worthy foster family for the child

when it was born.

- A boy or a girl? - The servant does not know, he says

Shuvalov wrote to someone in Europe and dealt with this matter.

Where is Ivan Ivanovich now?

The last information was that he is in France, Your Majesty.

This is a dangerous combination.

If he conspires with the so-called alleged daughter and seeks support

from the French court…

- What am I to do, Your Majesty? - Nothing, Stepan Ivanovich.

Yet.

Your Excellency, I was instructed to deliver this letter to you.

How long ago have you been Natalia Alexeievnas confidante?

This is my first assignment.

Wait a few moments, I'll write back.

Excuse me, but have I seen you recently in the Summer Garden with Viola Yelagina?

You must be mistaken. I am here on service.

I know Viola Ivanovna, but, alas, I don't have time for noble maidens.

Tell Natalia Alexeievna: I dont have time at all with this appointment...

- Should I congratulate you? - Rather, pity me.

The great title of treasurer, alas, does not imply a high salary.

Also tell her that I will try to see her as soon as I can.

Are you following me? It feels like you live in this garden.

It's not the first time we have met here.

Sorry if the sight of me bothers you,

but I cannot promise you wont see me anymore.

I did not come here for you. I have an errand from the Grand Princess.

What did Natalia Alexeievna need?

Sorry, I cant talk about it without her permission.

My wife has secrets from me, and you indulge them.

- I had a better opinion of you. - And I am sorry about that.

But I suppose your valet doesnt tell your instructions for him either.

I would like to believe it. I hope Natalia is more fortunate than me.

Wait!

The sight of you doesn't bother me. I'd be happy to see you in the garden.

If fate so wishes, Your Highness.

Andrei Kirillovich, get in.

- What does this mean? - Get in and find out.

What is this, Natalia Alexeievna? What kind of jokes are these?

What should I do if you are avoiding me, Andrei Kirillovich?

I have told you, I dont have a spare minute free with the service.

- So you love your service more than me? - It's not about love.

- I am bound to it by a bond of duty. - Then cheat.

I am bound to my husband by bonds of duty,

and I am not scared to cheat on him with you, but you are?

I wanted to see you not only because I miss you.

- Where is your brother Pyotr? - Why?

I heard from the empress that he was in disgrace,

sent away from the capital, just like his wife Sophia.

- He's not on service, unlike you. - He would like to be,

but the empress is not happy he chose her as his wife.

Sophia Stepanovna is in her disgrace, and Pyotr with her.

He is here in the capital, just trying to keep out of sight.

From the empress and father. He and our father are in dispute.

- This is becoming a family tradition. - Why didn't he leave?

Sophia hopes to see her son again at least once.

Asking the Empress is useless, but Sophia persists, not losing hope.

Brother loves her very much, thats why he is silently waiting.

He sits locked up at home, does not see anyone,

plays billiards with himself.

- Where are they hiding? - Why?

Come here.

Your service can wait.

Not bad. But I have a question.

- Ask away. - What is this essay about?

Did you read the title?

“The limitation of autocratic power. Essay about fair state laws.”

- Exactly. - Bold title!

But further in the text - a set of misconceptions.

You wrote a plan for a tyrant to replace the king.

This is very amusing and makes sense.

But your thoughts need more freedom.

Freedom? What freedom can we talk about?!

If the courtesans, favorites, flatterers turned the state into a nest

for their whims…

Are you using my words now, Your Highness?

Well, they are true, so why not use them?

I dont remember them, but you do - therefore, that's a pretty good hook!

But that won't work on me. We are not editing an amateur play here,

but the constitution of a great state! That is why I urge to limit

the power of the autocrats - if you are making fun of it now,

what will happen when you ascend the throne?

So please, stop with the criticism, cut me some slack!

Although you are right, the text still needs to be worked on.

- What did you mean by a tyrant? - You offer the nobles

to choose the Council and rule Russia. But someone must lead the Council.

They will sit for a year or two, find associates, flatterers, favorites,

and announce a decree on life-long rule - here's a new monarch, but not by right

of inheritance, but the chosen one.

We in return will liberate the house serfs and peasants.

- They will choose their own Council. - Two Councils?

What if we combine them? Can you imagine the nobles and peasants

sit in the same room, in the same seats and discuss our constitution?

Wolves and hares are more likely to visit each other's homes and kiss.

Leave me the text, Ill take notes and come up with something.

If this manuscript gets into the hands of the wrong people,

if the empress or Sheshkovsky find out about my intentions, I will lose my post.

If they find out, Ill be sent to the fortress and stay there forever.

Pavel Petrovich, you are the heir to the throne,

and youll find yourself in the fortress only after your death,

in the imperial tomb in the form of dust.

I'm the son of the assassinated emperor, he was murdered by my mother,

and we are not editing a play for the amateur theater here.

- It looks more like a Greek tragedy. - Then the hero must die in the end.

- What do you want? - I have a note for Pyotr Kirillovich.

He's not home. He left a long time ago.

- Then for Sophia Stepanovna. - She has left, too.

Tell them someone wants to talk to them about Simeon!

Sorry, I dont know who are you talking about.

Madam! Pyotr Razumovsky, at your service.

- Who are you? - Let's get inside.

Pyotr Kirillovich, I am here on behalf of Natalia Alexeievna.

Her Highness wants to talk with you and Sofia Stepanovna about Simeon.

- Why? - Her Highness knows that you

and your wife should have left Russia a long time ago.

But Sofia Stepanovna cant leave. She hopes to get her son back.

Let's say it is true. Why does Her Highness care about it?

- She thinks she can help you. - How?

Her Highness wants to discuss this at a personal meeting.

Tell Natalia Alexeievna that we will meet her

whenever it is convenient for Her Highness.

Do you understand that this conversation never happened?

Believe me, I understand this better than anyone.

- You have not kept your promise. - I tried to end the relationship.

- But you didn't! - Let me leave!

- You suggested it yourself. - Now I can't let you go!

Abroad your child can be used against me!

But what about Alexei Grigoryevich? You let your own son go without fear.

He is an ordinary child with an ordinary fate!

The son of a former German princess and a Russian Count!

There is no royal blood in him! Your son continues the Romanov dynasty!

Why do you think it's a boy? It might be a girl.

- It doesn't matter! - Please, forgive me.

I am ready to accept my punishment. I will give birth to a child,

even in exile, even in prison! I will do it!

You want to give birth - do it.

But you must end your relationship with Pavel Petrovich today!

- Good night. - Ekaterina Ivanovna,

you have a very nice face. Are you Her Highnesss assistant?

- I hope to become one after graduation. - Are you still studying at Smolny?

You probably don't know, but these are your best years.

Everything is ahead of you and life afterwards seems like a fairy tale…

My dear, do not make mistakes. It is easy to make one at court.

Beware of the Romanovs and don't let them get too close to you.

I will remember your advice.

I want to give birth to the heir to the throne.

Strong and confident one. And he will rule wisely and decisively.

- What's wrong with Pavel Petrovich? - He is too much like his father.

You are too hard on him. Give him a chance to prove himself.

After all, he does not even participate in the government affairs.

He practically doesnt leave the capital, and you want him to bring you

a plan to capture Constantinople?!

You are defending him, and he hates you!

I would hate Potemkin in his place too. He sits in the palace,

when the fate of the empire is decided without him.

You're still going on about this. You can't wait to leave, can you?

- Will you let me go? - No, I will go with you.

I will go wherever you go. Even to Constantinople!

The Turks will be surprised.

- Just a second, Ivan Perfilievich. - You are a wizard, Johann Bogdanovich.

Wizards like you...

- Hot water. - Wizards like you must be in our ranks.

If you wish, I can arrange you the first stage of initiation.

I can also recommend you to Baron Gartenberg

in the lodge of Minerva.

- Minerva? - The goddess of wisdom, as well as

all sorts of discoveries, inventions. You will fit in the lodge of Minerva.

So come to us. Well, to Stroganov in Moika on Thursday.

- I will escort you to a joint prayer. - I won't come, Ivan Perfilievich.

Joint prayers with the gentiles do not appeal to me.

Are you here for a treatment or an invigorating broth?

I need 100,000. Money is the best invigorating broth.

Well, I overspent, so I dont have a dime.

I'm not asking for a loan.

If its not a loan, I myself would ask someone for money,

but where could one find a fool like that?

I can sell you what you have long dreamed of.

An island. It is mine.

- But it can become yours. - Yeah, I see it.

- How long has it been yours? - Not for long.

Thats how our country works, Grigory Alexandrovich.

Some get islands, and I get nothing. But I am, by the way,

not the last person at court.

When the Empress wanted to, I showed her all sorts of...

G-Grigory Alexandrovich! Okay, I said too much.

There is no looking back.

You would know, Grigory Alexandrovich.

- So what about my offer? - I don't get it.

This is so sudden. Why did you decide to sell me an island?

I need money. Are you buying it right now or not?

- Right now? - I need money upfront.

Or the deal is off.

I am leaving for an inspection of the southern governorate.

They need to see the empress, I need to look at the empire.

Your Majesty, but the situation is difficult...

It was never simple. And will never be.

Nikita Ivanovich, introduce Pavel Petrovich to the state affairs.

I will inform him of my departure personally.

I presume Grigory Alexandrovich will leave with you?

Correct. The South is his dream.

A wise decision.

I will tell you a secret, my dear.

Im not just a free mason, Im a student of Elias himself,

the supreme teacher of the Rose and the Cross society,

I am close to Count Cagliostro.

So Ill build a pyramid on this island and produce gold.

Ill name it the Golden Pyramid or the Island of Minerva.

Name it Yelagin Island. And do not brag about the purchase.

The Empress might get upset if she finds out I am selling her gift.

The day will come, I will tell her everything myself.

- What do you need money for? - I want to build a town.

The southern capital on Dnieper. Ill put a shipyard.

The first ship to be made there will be named "Catherine's Glory".

Okay, deal. I will be silent as the grave.

- Goodbye. - Yeah, right.

Yelagin Island.

- Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna. - I don't have much time.

I am here incognito. I hope no one will learn about my visit.

The word of a nobleman. Nothing will leave these walls.

You want to help us meet Semyon. How can you make it happen?

The empress trusts me. I will find words that can convince her

to return your son to you. Or at least let you meet him.

I was the empresss assistant.

I know very well that she is firm in her decisions.

I'm not trying to convince you otherwise. Im just trying to help you.

I promise that you will see your son soon.

Thank you, Your Highness.

You have no idea how much this means to me.

We are very grateful to you, Your Highness.

But I am afraid that in case of failure the most devastating consequences

may await us. And you yourself can fall into disgrace.

- I know my risks. - Why are you doing this?

I can not bear to see injustice. I cant imagine how I myself would live

without being able to see my child!

You just need to write a note to Pavel Petrovich on your behalf.

Write that you need his help. Just a few lines.

Okay.

You have a lovely home. It is so calm here.

A nice place for a child.

Here. Aren't you going to read it?

But it is addressed to Pavel Petrovich. If His Highness shows it to me,

I will definitely read it.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Let me escort you to the carriage.

Semyon, my dear son.

God willing.

Your visit gave hope to my wife. And I really hope that

her expectations will be met, otherwise she will not survive this.

Do you suspect secret motives in my actions?

Your Highness, please answer me, not like you did to my wife.

- Why do you want to help us? - For now, Ill just say that I may need

your help at the right time. Can I count on you?

Yes, you can, even though I dont know how exactly.

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