Original subtitles

TV CHANNEL RUSSIA

COSMOS STUDIO

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 ARISTARCHOVA

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 DUNAEV

EKATERINA NELIDOVA - DIANA MILYUTINA LEFEBVRE - IGOR GRABUZOV

KAZIMIERZ OGIŃSKI - ARTEM KRETOV MICHAŁ OGIŃSKI - DANIIL SLUTSKI

MARIA KAROLINA - OLGA MAKEEVA FERDINAND - SERGEY TESSLER

DENIS FONVIZIN - KUZMA SAPRYKIN ADAM OLSUFIEV - STANISLAV STRELKOV

EKATERINA THE GREAT MARINA ALEKSANDROVA

EKATERINA: PRETENDERS

Natalia Alexeievna has a nice voice, doesn't she?

It's not just her voice that is nice.

It was worth it to delay my departure.

I admire you, Natalia Alexeievna.

My dear daughter...

My congratulations, Ivan Ivanovich.

You've brought up wonderful girls.

Thank you, Your Majesty!

Let me introduce myself. I'm Captain Andrey Razumovsky.

I've heard a lot about you.

I'm Baron Anatole Gartenberg.

It's nice to meet you. How is your father?

He is very well, thank you.

Congratulations on your performance, Viola Ivanovna.

- You were great! - That's true!

Thank you.

We are waiting for graduation and a message from the Empress.

She can't find a better maid of honor than my daughter.

That is true as well.

I thought my muse left me.

But she has just been hiding among noble maidens.

It is for you.

You sing beautifully.

Thank you.

And dance too.

I want to admit that I found some injustice.

You can't see it now but when the girls are studying...

They dress up as their parents can afford.

But their parents have different wealth.

That can be a reason for unhealthy relations among the girls.

For example, Ekaterina Nelidova.

- Call her! - Ekaterina Ivanovna!

Your Majesty, let me introduce my best girl Ekaterina Nelidova.

She shows her talent in singing, dancing and calligraphy.

I know about Ekaterina Ivanovna's talents.

She isn't just good at calligraphy.

Ivan Ivanovich, I had no idea you teach your girls the science of love.

I don't understand, your Majesty.

We don't have such a subject in our program.

Don't worry.

The girl passed this exam excellently with Pavel Petrovich in the garden.

Tell me, my lovely creature, whether it was an accident

or it was part of a plan,

which you will see through despite any consequences.

I understand that my family isn't a noble one

and I will never get a kiss from His Highness.

But now I have something to be proud of.

You are not a stupid girl.

Listen everybody!

You are a maid of honor from now on!

But I haven't graduated, your Majesty.

Modesty is a main virtue of a lady along with her cleverness.

You must get used to accepting gifts.

- Thank her Majesty... - Your Majesty.

I am sorry, your Majesty, whose maid of honor I will be?

Her Highness Natalia Alexeievna, of course.

Just look at this monogram.

Your Majesty.

Our Nelidova is flying high.

If we continue our conversation, your Majesty,

I suggest making similar, simple and nice dresses for our girls.

Just give an order.

May I expect that you will make a design for them?

You have excellent taste.

Hello, Your Highness.

Hello, Ekaterina.

- Thanks for this honor. - You must thank only the Empress.

She surprised me as well.

For a moment I thought she chose you for herself.

You can't do it yourself, let me help you.

I must get used to changes.

My new position obliges me to leave my previous carefree life.

I can't play tag with my friends anymore.

You can play with me.

But according to my rules.

Of course, we will play.

It really suits you.

Are you scared?

If you are my maid of honor, you must be silent as a fish.

Or I will cut your tongue.

Remember my words and don't even think about playing with fire.

Your Highness.

Put it there. I will look at it later.

Why are you standing still near me? I told you to put them and leave.

Look here, your Highness.

I can't get rid of you. Oh my God, it's from Lyosha!

From Leipzig.

Oh, my boy... He wrote it himself.

From the very beginning.

My dear Nikita Ivanovich.

Look, Vlas.

This is called happiness.

Look, he drew it himself!

There is a resemblance, isn't there?

Looks like me!

Oh, my dear boy...

My dear precious boy...

Alexei Grigoryevich...

Alexei Grigoryevich.

Do you have a favorite doll?

He is always silent as well, but he understands everything.

Do you want to keep it?

Here you are.

The Empress decided to send you abroad to study.

Tell her I don't want to be an Emperor.

You are a clever boy, Alexei Grigoryevich.

I want to stay here.

I want to talk to you like one grown-up to another.

You know that loneliness is a punishment.

If a person is alone he must ask himself: what am I being punished for?

I've lived a long life.

Though I don't have a family or children.

Nobody has ever loved me in this life.

Nobody and never.

But I know the reason.

It's because I've never loved anyone so that's my penalty.

Will the Empress come to say goodbye?

I will kiss her.

And I will tell her, "Mom, I love you!"

She'll be surprised and won't send me away to England.

Blessed are those who believe.

What is a State?

A colossus that is held with chains.

Chains are torn, the colossus falls down and becomes ruins.

Yes, Denis Ivanovich, it seems to be the truth.

You have a message, Your Majesty.

Sophia Stepanovna asks for help.

I thought she left Russia.

Luka, give it back to Sophia Stepanovna.

Tell her I'm sorry, but I have to refuse.

But I got this message from Her Highness Natalia Alexeievna.

Oh, I see.

Listen, Vlas.

I want to finish the letter like this...

"Love, Nikita Ivanovich".

Do you think it is a good signature?

Why am I asking you? You understand nothing.

He will understand that I've written it with all my love.

But on the other hand, "loving" doesn't sound masculine.

Alyosha is a young fellow already.

Better like this...

"Yours, Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin".

No good as well.

"Count" sounds awkward.

The boy needs a father, not a title.

And what about this?

"I shake your hand firmly. Yours, Nikita Ivanovich".

- Does it sound well? - Indeed.

"I shake your hand firmly".

"Yours..."

"Yours Nikita Ivanovich".

Now it's done well.

Look, it's a gift from the Empress.

If you don't want to lose her favor, stop talking with Sophia Stepanovna.

Are you afraid of your mother, Pavel Petrovich?

You'd better go at once to complain about your wife.

You will have something to talk about for a year.

I told you about my son as a secret between us.

Now, Sophia Stepanovna and you make plots behind my back.

For God's sake, what plots are you talking about?

Wait, Pavel Petrovich, please!

Forgive me for this.

But I feel sympathy for a woman who wants to see her child.

My heart feels pain. I can't be indifferent to them.

Maybe I'm afraid to repeat her story.

I am trying to save you from this.

Mother prohibited Sophia Stepanovna to see our son.

It is very hard to make her change her mind.

But it's dangerous to arrange it without her permission.

I appreciate your consideration.

I will obey all your orders.

Well, I..

I will do my best to help Sophia Stepanovna see Simeon.

But it must look like a coincidence.

Your Highness, what flowers should I cut?

You see I don't know which flowers she loved when she was alive.

That's why I will bring some roses.

So, tell the gardener to make a bouquet from these ones.

Of course, your Highness.

Got it?

Here I am, Anna Petrovna.

Everything suits you. Bravo!

Oh, really?

It's just for fun.

You look gorgeous in all clothes because of your beauty.

Do you like it?

I admire you.

Time really flies.

As if yesterday I came to propose to you

and got your father's blessing.

But you left us more than a year ago.

We could've had children already.

As beautiful as you were and as clever as me.

I don't care what they would have looked like.

They would bring happiness in any case.

I know you didn't love me.

You loved your teacher.

A good hunter has a lucky hit.

Nikita Ivanovich?

I prohibit you to approach Countess Sheremetieva.

I want to propose to her

and then marry her as soon as possible.

What chances have you got, a poor church mouse?

I agree that I am not rich, but I built my life myself.

Nevertheless, the Countess will be my wife.

And no fool will stand in my way!

I must confess that I humiliated and killed him.

I am sorry for that.

I am so sorry now.

If I didn't do that, you may have been alive.

Or maybe you two would've lead a happy life.

But I feel lonely here.

It is awful not having a family.

I always thought I would have time, but look at me now.

Yes...

Rest in peace.

If I don't die, I will come to visit you.

Vlas, why don't you marry someone?

I want you to marry!

I will give you 100 rubles for a wedding.

Even if you fall in love with a serf, I will arrange everything.

You know no one can refuse me.

And I will give you 100 rubles!

Please, nod at least! I want to take care of you!

What an insensitive creature!

Thanks, your Highness.

- That's better. - Thank you.

Now it sounds polite.

We will divide them by color. Brown for small girls.

Blue for grown-ups and white for the graduates.

Thank you.

Say to Ivan Ivanovich that I'm very pleased.

Thank you, my Empress.

The day begins with good things.

I've done something nice.

I wish you to feel the same quite often, Natalia Alexeievna.

You can do one more good thing.

Which one?

I want to ask you for a favor.

To let Sophia Stepanovna see her son.

Who? Czartoryskaya?

I'm sorry, but they were supposed to go away with Pyotr Kirillovich.

No, they are hoping to see Syoma once again before leaving.

But it is not your business at all.

As a future mother I feel sorry for Sophia Stepanovna and her child.

I can't just stand by.

Well, you are a good person.

Hello, Ivan Perfilievich. Thank you for seeing me.

Don't mention it.

What business do you have? I can't lend any money.

No, I don't need money.

I have some plans about your daughter.

I must tell you I've already considered you as her possible fiance.

But I have to refuse.

Why?

I don't know where to start.

Your debts, your reputation as a ladies' man.

Don't believe rumors. I'll pay my debts, I work in the Treasury now.

Oh, really?

What position do you have? No, let me guess.

A clerk of a small rank.

Are titles more important than the happiness of a daughter?

Her happiness, of course.

That's why Viola told me about her sweetheart

and I gave my permission.

And who is he?

I'm sorry for your wasted time, but you are late with your proposal.

A clerk of a small rank.

We will see who is late.

Natalia Alexeievna shows too much curiosity.

I don't see any danger in simple favors of this young lady.

She isn't stupid enough to bother me without reason.

She wants to influence me. She wants more.

Talk to Pavel Petrovich.

Because if I start this conversation, it will end in a quarrel.

Natalia Alexeievna addresses me as a future mother.

But if she wants to be a mother, she needs to see her husband more often.

Everything else is not her business.

I will arrange everything, Your Majesty.

May I ask you for a favor?

Yes, I am listening.

It is not a secret for you that I keep in touch with Alyosha.

It's not easy for him in Leipzig, trust me.

He is already twelve. He is on the cusp of manhood.

It's time for him to understand his place in life.

But he has no place.

He has everything he needs.

I get regular reports from the Embassy.

Yes, that is true.

But what he truly needs is home, family and care.

He will never get them there.

Please, give your order to bring him back to St. Petersburg.

I'll take care of everything, trust me.

You won't be bothered.

What sort of day is it today?

Everybody wants to help children.

I'd better go and pray.

Let's drink for you and for your future children!

- Count Andreev, join us! - With pleasure.

- I'm immensely thirsty! - A glass for Andrey Kirillovich!

My friend, I'm sorry to ask you.

Can you lend me some money?

- I'll give you my word. - Sorry, I can't.

I'm happy to tell you, I'm getting married.

My luck has turned around.

We are celebrating my engagement.

- How did you manage to do it? - It was simple.

I dropped my attempts to charm ladies and started to charm their fathers.

So, I succeeded in that.

Who is your fiance, Anatole?

My fiance?

A charming beautiful lady.

A clever one.

Viola Yelagina.

Andrey, brother, don't refuse to drink for our happiness.

- For Viola Yelagina! - For Gartenberg!

For Yelagina!

Hooray! Hooray!

Hooray!

Gentlemen, I want to share my happiness with you!

He will be Yelagin's son-in-law. And then what?

He will be promoted and protected.

Cheers!

And her dowry is about one hundred thousand.

I love Anatole for his frequent engagements.

He does them once a month.

- A reason for a feast. - Be careful with your jokes.

Anatole is the best shooter in the squad.

Think of poor Count Neretsky.

Count Neretsky was a fool.

I'll be smarter.

I'll choose a bottle of champagne as a weapon.

- Why? - He can't drink more than I do.

Gentlemen! Gentlemen!

I'm in love at last!

And I'm always ready to protect my fiance's honor.

- Let's drink for her! - Cheers!

Hooray! Hooray!

- Anatole! - What?

Is it better?

Better, but still no action or movement.

Let me describe this moment as I see it.

You can burn it later. But it's easier to show than to explain.

Here you are.

- Nikita Ivanovich! - Nikita Ivanovich.

Denis Ivanovich.

Pavel Petrovich, I want to discuss some private matter with you.

After you.

Your mother suspects...

Natalia Alexeievna of interfering in political affairs.

I understand her feelings.

Mother believes Natalia's only purpose is to give birth to an heir.

And my purpose as well.

Never think like that or talk about it.

Pavel the First is our future reformer, enlightener and liberator!

And nobody else!

When I listen to you it is easy to believe.

But the Empress will decide who will sit on the throne,

whether that's me, one of my heirs or a child from her lover.

It doesn't matter what she wants or what she doesn't.

It is all about the drawbacks of the state system and its laws.

You see, right after the coronation I gave Her Majesty a proclamation

in which I suggested minor limitations of the monarchy

by transmitting some power to the City Council or the Senate.

But alas, I failed.

Can I read it?

It's an old story I must say.

I probably burnt this paper. I haven't seen it for a long time.

- Maybe there is still a chance? - Maybe.

Denis Ivanovich, you may be interested in this topic too.

You can share your ideas with Nikita Ivanovich.

- Nikita Ivanovich can be trusted. - Indeed, thank you.

As you wish Your Highness.

A restriction of the monarchy.

Denis Ivanovich, why did you hide this from me?

You are so talented!

It has nothing to do with our work.

Who knows... Who knows...

I also believe and hope that one day fairer times will come to Russia.

However, they will come not by any laws or documents,

but as we usually have it in Russia, by something that is beyond our mind.

By God's will.

But that's my dream.

The reality is not so nice. We shouldn't speed up our history.

It doesn't like it.

If you want to control her, she'll behave like a nasty horse.

She will rear and trample you to death.

You must always bear this in mind.

Natalia Alexeievna!

Stop pretending that you are only interested in your evening dress.

What do you mean?

Nikita Ivanovich, told me about your deeds.

My congratulations!

Mother is angry with you and suspects you of making plots.

I don't have enough skills to make plots like you do.

- I don't have such teachers! - I've never wanted to make a plot!

Then you can miss an opportunity.

Nikita Ivanovich is a great teacher!

If he is your teacher, he can give me a lesson as well.

- I can introduce you to him. - Really?

- I think you will get on well. - Why do you think so?

There are two men in him: a scoundrel and a holy man.

One has 500 slaves and has no mercy or sympathy.

The other, he wrote a proclomation to limit the Empress' power

and the liberate the slaves.

I wish I could read it.

- Panin burnt the papers. - But you can't forget your ideas.

I see you are so nervous.

This is risky business.

A meeting of a mother and a son in front of the Empress.

You are exaggerating a bit.

Mother will be at the Council meeting for the next few hours.

Great goods! Bagels! Cracknels!

It wasn't easy, but I was able to get in touch

with a close associate of Sultan Abdul Hamid.

So we can start as soon as possible our secret negotiations.

It was better for everyone to just give a bribe.

War is very expensive.

We will need money for new cities and lands.

There will be no negotiations after the murder of the priest.

We attack them, remember my words.

Your Majesty...

If we succeed in this war, Russia will risk losing the support of Prussia.

And by the way, the Queen of Denmark Juliana Maria

may close our passage to the Baltic sea.

And don't forget she is a sister of Antony Ulrich.

How is Antony Ulrich these days?

I get a report about prisoners in the middle of the month, Your Majesty.

He was well last month.

Nikita Ivanovich, if something happens to Ulirich in Holmogory,

what will the Danish Queen do?

I can't even imagine, Your Majesty.

But this woman can be unpredictable.

I heard that she has executed her minister recently.

And he was her right hand, so to say.

What did he do?

There was no verdict. They just quartered him.

First cut his arms off, then his legs.

And finally his head.

Then they threw his corpse in the streets for entertainment.

They say he had the Queen's daughter-in-law as a mistress.

I would do the same if I were the Danish Queen.

Listen, gentlemen!

The wife of an heir must bear children.

They must continue the dynasty. There can't be any illegitimate children.

Why are they so late?

Don't worry they will come.

What if something has gone wrong and Kathrine found out?

Spies told her and prevented our meeting.

- Did they betray us? - Stop talking nonsense.

What is the use in it?

- I see no reason. - That's right.

I can see them.

Syoma, my dear boy!

Hi, my beloved boy!

Who has such a lovely cap?

- My friends! - Your Highness!

And whose fur coat is it?

It's your name day today.

- I've got a present for you. - A present?

Oh, yes!

Look! It's a merry-go-round with red horses.

Do you like it? Will you play with it?

Yes.

And I've got a drum as well.

Just look at it.

You can play like this. Can you play the drums?

Yes, with a stick. Try to play.

You've grown so much!

Look at me, Syoma.

Tell me something. I want to hear your voice.

Tell something, Syoma.

Can you go down a slide?

Yes? Do you want to slide together?

Do you want to?

Give me your toy.

Let's leave them together. They don't need us.

Can you do it yourself?

What else do we have to discuss?

Your Majesty, there are rumors that Louis XV got smallpox.

I don't believe any gossip.

But it is important.

Your Majesty...

Will the next leader continue to send ships and weapons to the Ottomans?

Will he support Polish confederates?

If I am not mistaken, his heir is a grandson?

He is the age of Pavel Petrovich, so he is twenty.

- Yes. - The French had a clever idea.

I wish grandsons would inherit the throne in Russia as well.

You must forgive me.

I'm going to Syoma's name day party.

- You are such a good boy! - I really miss you.

I miss those times when we were all together.

Alyosha was with us.

Do you write to him?

I sent a few letters to Leipzig. He didn't answer.

He wrote only to Nikita Ivanovich.

But he is alright.

I am sure they take care of him, so he has nothing to complain about.

How was your engagement?

Gossip does spread quickly.

St. Petersburg is a small city.

You left me.

I must admit I was offended.

You should be pleased. I didn't get the blessing.

I didn't doubt that.

You are my destiny.

If you don't understand it, you'll get it soon.

I don't understand, what's your interest with my brother and his poor wife?

Just think what chances I will have if I am a friend of Sophia Stepanovna.

When I become queen, I'll make Syoma an heir to the throne.

I will keep my eye on him.

I admire your cunning nature.

You are not afraid! Such a good boy!

Come here.

I'm sorry to bother, Your Majesty, but I've got letters from Alyosha.

He writes nicely and has a good handwriting.

Look here! I have some pictures.

He sent them.

He has a real talent.

Can I ask you for a favor, Your Majesty?

Nikita Ivanovich, I know what you want to ask me.

I can't be patient when the boy is far away.

Pavel Petrovich doesn't need a teacher anymore.

Let me be Aloysha's teacher.

You promised to think about it.

I made up my mind.

Alexei Grigoryevich won't come back earlier.

I forbid you to write to him, talk about him or even think of him.

Why do you say so, Your Majesty?

You want me to tell you everything about my business.

Of course not.

Just do a favor for an old man and I'll be the most loyal man to you.

Aren't you loyal now?

Of course, I am.

Come on, Syoma.

Once again.

The Empress is here.

It's time to go.

Let me say goodbye to him.

Syoma, do you know who am I?

Yes, I do.

- My mom. - Yes, I am!

I am your mother.

I'm your mother, remember that!

It's time to go!

Please, don't take him away!

- Please, no! - Mother, don't cry!

Hold your toy tight!

Let's go, my darling!

Come on.

Stop crying. Calm down.

A good leader must see the land with his own eyes.

He can't always stay inside palaces.

Maybe we'll take Pavel Petrovich with us?

Let him wash his admiral's uniform in the Black sea.

Let him discover new lands. Let him understand how vast Russia is.

I am happy I have such a kind person next to me.

I wish I could do the same.

If Pavel Petrovich goes, he will go with Natalia Alexeievna.

A newly-married couple can't be separated.

And they will have to become close to each other on their way.

We are a newly married couple as well.

Ekaterina Alexeievna has always accompanied Peter the Great.

So the next Ekaterina Alexeievna will do the same for her future husband.

He called me "Mother".

He is such a small boy, but he understood everything.

Sophia Stepanovna we will see him again, for sure.

We are leaving for a while.

Maybe Pavel Petrovich was right?

We mustn't play with fate.

Maybe the Empress will change her mind.

She'll have other things to care about.

New grandsons.

She will forget about Syoma.

I am so grateful to you for your kindness.

But I am sure. I will never see him again.

I've forgotten to give the letters.

What a stupid old fool!

Should I go back?

To hell with it.

She doesn't need any letters from her son.

And the son as well.

Why do I need that?

This huge house?

Money or power?

How long am I going to live?

No more than ten years.

So what?

Let's go.

Tell me, Vlas.

Am I an evil man?

Only God can judge you, Your Highness.

His judgment is my biggest fear.

I've done so many evil things.

I haven't even tried to trample my pride.

Leave me alone.

Here it is.

This is my absolution.

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