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

Alexei!

Alexei!

Has something happened to you, Alexei Grigoryevich?

You don't look as lively as usual.

Was the wedding real?

Be that as it may, the job is done. In May-

You planned this, all this time...

Well tell her as agreed: you have also been arrested.

Both of you have been caught. The Empress is merciful.

I know.

- You did everything right. - I will miss Naples.

No! I will miss Mt. Vesuvius.

The volcano can ruin the entire city overnight.

The righteous, the wicked, the worthless, the strong.

They are all the same to it. Everyone will die.

Someone will have time to hug their beloved

and be buried with them, others not.

It is a pity that the lava will not reach Petersburg.

Leave the dark thoughts behind, we are sailing home.

Get out.

Get out.

SAINT PETERSBURG MAY 1775

Your Majesty, Stepan Ivanovich with an urgent report.

- Your Majesty. - Report.

Empress, the squadron has entered the mouth of the Neva,

anchored in Kronstadt. On board "Isidore" are Count Alexei Orlov,

Count Andrey Razumovsky and the pretender.

Delivered with a maid.

Imprison her in the Alexeievsky ravelin today, under the strictest secrecy,

under the responsibility of Chief Commandant Chernyshev.

So that not a soul knows. Double the guard

and interrogate her immediately! Find out who she is, her origins

and who is behind this whole comedy. Send Count Razumovsky and Count Orlov,

if he is in good health, immediately to me.

- Your Majesty... - What else?

There are rumors, about Alexei Orlov and this woman.

Stepan Ivanovich, you are here to protect me from rumors.

And to distinguish facts from slander.

- You are absolutely right. - Do not dare protect me now.

Tell me everything.

Andrey Gavrilovich Chernyshev,

Chief Commandant of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

I demand that my husband, Count Orlov, be brought to me immediately.

If there are orders on this account, you will find out.

This is a violation of all conceivable laws.

The Count and I were abducted

after our wedding in the most abonimable way.

Can you imagine the scope of this scandal?!

I think it has already reached the authorities.

I am the only authority in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

From now on, you are under my authority.

Please follow me.

All is forgiven, Count. Forgiven and forgotten!

Farewell, Count, and God be with you!

Alexei Grigoryevich, you fulfilled the most important task for your Empress.

Why are you more solemn than the Baltic sky in November?

Im used to fighting, not catching defenseless girls by tricks.

- Such feats turn my stomach. - That's what the stomach is for.

They told me there is another reason for your torment.

That pretender who dared to encroach upon my throne -

you were in love, right? And it was bitterly sweet?

This is why you are looking at me with these sad eyes.

Now you are silent. Stay silent, I will not tolerate lies!

There is no point in lying! This girl demands a meeting with you,

as her legitimate husband, because she is convinced

that you have also been arrested,

because she is sure that you are on her side!

They told me that she demanded an audience with me,

and that there were signs of pregnancy. The child is yours.

Did you like sleeping with her, Alexei Grigoryevich?

There was no other choice. If not for the wedding,

she would not have gone to the ship.

And if I left her in Naples, she would be dead already.

So you saved her from certain death? What a knight!

You saved her, and the child!

And here I was, thinking you were cold blooded.

That feelings mean nothing to you. That you are harsh and cruel.

Wasnt it you who strangled Pyotr Fedorovich?

Why would you choose such a painful death for him,

no matter how stupid he was?

I saw his body, the bumps on his neck,

the impressions of your fingers.

Go to the fortress.

Why me? You have dozens of such masters.

I confess to you, I deceived her. Everything was arranged on the ship

to look like they took me under arrest for treason.

- How will I look her in the eyes? - As you are looking in mine now.

I survived, and she will be able to.

Either you go to the fortress, or I order Sheshkovsky to knock

repentance out of her with a whip and a rack.

She says something new everyday. First she is the Persian Princess Ghali,

Countess Pimberg, then Silinskaya. God knows which countess she really is,

but she is definitely a storyteller.

- Do you interrogate her aggressively? - No, Alexei Grigoryevich.

We are told not to resort to severity. We gave her clothes,

we do not impose restrictions on food. She is ill, both mentally and physically.

With a dry cough, she is vomiting blood.

She asks about you almost every day.

She is afraid that she was the cause of your arrest.

In here, please.

Alexei! You are alive!

How did they let you in here?

You are okay.

A ceremonial uniform. You weren't tortured.

You weren't in the fortress. There was no arrest,

neither there on the ship, nor here.

You deceived me, Alexei.

And brought me here to your empress, to kill me in this cell.

My darling, my angel, I did not deceive you.

Well, I did, but you couldn't stay in Naples, they would've killed you!

Killed me? Even with you by my side?

- Or it would have been you? - I would have never hurt you.

Of course, dear Alexei! You loved me.

You did love me.

I would have guessed the deception, but I believed you!

Do you love me now?

I love you and always will.

Then why? Why did you do it?

- They would have killed you! - I'd better die than live like this.

Listen and do as I say, I will get you out of here.

Admit that you do not have any rights to the throne,

and that you declared them thoughtlessly. Name those who forced you

to play this game. She will let you go, she will!

And you believe her? The pretender who doesnt have

a drop of the Romanovs blood in her? Didn't you say that

women's words have no price, only her actions are of value?

Lisa, if you are not a threat, she won't need to poison you and...

The Empress is compassionate, there is no cruelty in her.

And I am begging you to renounce what you have said!

And we will leave.

You are afraid of her, I realize now: Count Orlov is a coward.

- What are you saying? - Even in Naples you followed her orders.

- They would have found us! - I don't believe you!

- Lisa... - I don't believe a word you say.

- I don't believe anyone here. - Don't you get what will happen to you?

Leave or I will scream, I can do it.

- Lisa... - I said leave!

- Lisa, come to your senses! - Get out! Out!

- Stop this! - Get out! Leave!

I hate you!

Leave! I hate you!

Well, Your Majesty, we can reflect on the results.

We reconciled with the Turks, I hope for a long time,

Pugachev was executed, the pretender is in the fortress.

From now on, nothing threatens you and our country,

in which I find great and sincere joy.

Therefore, please accept my resignation.

I think you now need a younger adviser, more efficient, and not as old as me.

How can I reward you, Nikita Ivanovich?

Your Majesty, I have been awarded by you beyond measure,

while my conscience is still with me, I will not ask for anything else.

You and I often disagree, but I have no one to replace you with.

Thank you for appreciating my humble work.

However, the years still take their toll, and now I think not about state affairs,

but more about family, which I still don't have.

Nikita Ivanovich, I know you well, what did you want to ask for?

Mother, bring Alexei home.

I will go myself, at my own expense, to Leipzig, and bring him.

He will live with me, I will raise him.

Pavel Petrovich was sent for me to educate under your command,

but this is a more personal need.

Give in to the old man.

There is no reason to keep him abroad. At your own responsibility.

But remember, I dont need a spender and a wild speaker in the capital.

Do not worry.

Hello, brother! Katya!

I come to you straight from the Italian coast.

I brought you some presents! Grigory, I brought you a sculptor!

To decorate the palace! They are great masters there, in Naples!

- He will make beautiful things! - Your Excellency.

Thank you. I have a brother in Naples, Alexei.

- Have you seen him? - I am Alexei.

Katya...

- Who is he? - Don't worry, Grigory.

I will find out.

He is like a child, it gets worse every day.

He doesnt recognize anyone but me. Come up with something, play along,

otherwise hell be very upset.

Sorry for the insolence, Grigory Grigoryevich.

I spent six months in Europe, missed the Russian people.

Now I hug everyone.

I saw Alexei Grigoryevich, he asked me to give this to you.

It is a pity that he did not come. How long will he be there?

- As the empress decides. - Say hello to my brother for me.

Wait! Do you remember?

The Orlovs put the German on the throne,

saved her from prison, remember? We, the Orlovs, saved her!

- And she saved us! - Who?

Katya, I will go, I am tired.

Go inside. I will show you everything later.

- Go inside. - Let's go, Grigory Grigoryevich.

So, that's what is going on around here, Alexei.

In Naples, I was ready to do anything to return to my brother with victory.

Now it turns out I wasted the last time I could talk to him like to my brother.

Now I have only my service. And I'm sick of its ruthlessness.

- I wish I hadnt come back. - Why would you say this?

He is glad, just does not show it. Visit us more often,

even if he doesnt recognize you. It will be good for both of you.

I am not sure there will ever be good for me again.

SAINT PETERSBURG NOVEMBER 1775

From Andrey Gavrilovich Chernyshev. About the pretender case.

New interrogation protocols?

Look, she wrote me a letter! The audacity.

“I decide to beg your Imperial Majesty to listen to me in person,

I have the opportunity to prove and deliver more benefits to your Empire.”

What, her confession?

“I am ready to announce to the world that all my actions were

for the good of your country. Obedient and ready to serve, Elizabeth.”

You see? What actions is she talking about?

Would there be any good if she came to power?

So many months of imprisonment, no remorse, and she signs “Elizaveta”.

I'm starting to think that she is mad.

Andrey Gavrilovich assumed this from the very beginning.

Staying in the fortress probably worsened her state.

Or she expects us to think so. Where is Count Alexei Orlov now?

In Petersburg. He has been asking for a meeting for a long time.

Invite him.

It's strange to see a toy in your hands.

Get used to it.

- The old man Panin falls into childhood. - Nikita Ivanovich, you aren't old,

and Alexei is no longer a child. - You think?

That's why I am worried. I don't know what to expect.

Do not expect much, then you will not be fooled by expectations.

- You are right. - I can leave, if you want.

No, stay! You give me confidence.

Hello, Alexei! Dear Alexei!

Glad to see you! Hello.

How did you get here? I hope the roads weren't too bad.

They are not European, especially in spring and autumn,

there is mud and potholes. This is Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin,

he is my secretary.

Alexei, remember when you left, I gave you a doll, Petrushka?

If he is alive, this one can be his friend.

You don't look like you are happy to see me.

You betrayed me. I did not want to leave here,

I was taken away by force. Now I didn't want to leave Europe,

and they brought me here without asking.

- Why should I be happy? - I am sorry.

Even though it is not my fault that you had to leave Russia.

I am a statesman, therefore I listen to orders.

But all this time I asked the Empress to bring you home.

See how you have matured. Now you understand that

the most important thing in life is love, and the saddest thing is loneliness.

People who love each other need to stick together,

I wrote to you about this a lot, and you answered me.

My teacher wrote letters to you, but I did not intend to.

But...

You became talkative, it was very gratifying.

Pavel Petrovich had promised to make you Chancellor when he becomes Emperor.

I asked if he remembers – he does.

Do I look like a fool? You talk to me like to a fool,

remember you said, “If a man is lonely,

then he must ask himself, what is he being punished for?”

I was a doll for you, perhaps you still think so.

But I dont want to be a doll. I came to say that

I do not need a teacher, I have a servant, a valet,

and enough money to lead a life on my own.

Please do not interfere in my life anymore.

Goodbye, Nikita Ivanovich.

I am very sorry, Nikita Ivanovich, you wanted him to return so badly...

Yes, I did. But I did not know what I expected.

I believed in fairy-tales which I invented myself.

I guess this is an old mans fate.

Well, he is his mother's son.

God be his judge. I wanted to tell you, by the way -

do not play politics, forget about all these constitutions.

Better play in the theater, write plays - you really have a talent for this.

And most importantly, do not forget to create a family.

In my opinion, this is the most important thing

in our show-booth. Thank you.

Thank you, Nikita Ivanovich.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for agreeing to see me.

- I am begging you for mercy. - Sit down, Alexei Grigoryevich.

Havent you received enough mercy and rewards from me?

I have, Your Majesty.

She will be giving birth soon, let her go, she isn't dangerous.

She was ready to give up everything

for love and a quiet life.

- With you, Alexei? - With me.

- Most importantly, not in Petersburg. - What would you do in my place?

Let her go. I will bring up the child,

it will have a different last name, no one will know.

It will become an honest person, devoted to you and Russia.

I would be glad, Alexei, but she does not give me any opportunity.

They asked her many times – to say who is behind all of this,

sign the papers. Ask forgiveness for my sleepless nights.

I have enough to worry about, and there's this crazy one.

Call her whatever you want, call her- But I am begging you.

Do not kill her.

You already have one madman, now you want another.

- Thank you. - Go, Alexei Grigoryevich.

God bless you.

Did you miss me, Alexei Grigoryevich?

Imperial decree for your release.

- No signature or seal. - Do what she asks.

Repent and she will sign it.

- And what will happen next? - We will leave to Gatchina.

We will live with my poor brother. You will give birth to my firstborn.

Everything will be forgiven and forgotten.

And then we'll stay there forever? Like the lovers in Pompeii?

Do it for the baby.

It's kicking!

Okay. I agree. I will do what she says.

I confess I don't know what to do. I dont understand how to rule my people

and Im afraid of them. I do not know how to manage my wife

and I am afraid of her. I began to write the rules

that we could use for living together, but I am afraid she will laugh at me.

Rules for living together? She will definitely laugh at you.

- Forgive me for telling you all this. - It does not bother me, not at all.

I have no one to talk to, can you imagine?

I am ready to listen and sympathize with you.

- Can we be friends? - I thought we already were.

If you wish to perform a ceremony for this, well, I am ready.

Sorry.

Write. And this time, as intended, the truth of

who you are, where you came from, who was behind this, who helped you.

Repent, our Empress is merciful.

I am the daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna,

the granddaughter of Peter the Great, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanova.

What else do you want to know?

Do you understand that you are signing your own death sentence?

- Your Majesty. - Hello, dear Grigory.

I waited for you. Is it warmer in the south than here?

It is. Let me invite you to business.

- Ill tell you everything in detail. - Let's be friends for old times' sake.

I am not that old to forget everything. I remember you.

I remember every day and night. Try to push you out of my head.

I have decided to build a church in your honor - Saint Catherine's Church.

Well, not in my honor, but my patroness. I cannot reach her holiness.

- Where will you build the church? - In the Crimea.

- The Crimea is not Russian yet. - It will be.

- I'm sorry we broke up, dear Grigory. - The time was difficult,

for Russia, for you. You have won.

But I have lost you.

My father kept telling me the same thing, “Have a heart, have a soul,

and at any time you will be a man, for everything else is fashion.”

You speak the truth, the dignity of a man is his soul.

Even the most enlightened scholar is a miserable creature without a soul.

An ignoramus without a soul is a beast.

- So I came to free from such animals- - Your niece?

I know, she is here.

Come on, dear! A few more pushes!

You can do this! Just a little bit more!

In here.

Dear Sophia!

I found out in Moscow that you live here against your will!

I am 60 years old in the world, nothing tormented my soul, my heart,

like innocence in the web of deceit.

Uncle, you are so merciful to me! Your absence upset me incredibly.

Well, please, let's go inside.

He is born.

Good job.

He is so beautiful!

- We are leaving! Wish us- - All the happiness to which

honest hearts are entitled.

Mitrofan! Only you stayed with me, my son!

Mother, stop it! This is too much!

Are you leaving me too? Ungrateful brat!

She will come to her senses. I told you,

"I don't want to study, I want to get married!"

This is the end of me, my power was taken from me.

You are no longer my son!

Here are the fruits of the malicious heart.

Bravo!

Bravo!

Bravo!

Why? No, Maria Madonna, no!

Alexei Grigoryevich, remember our deal, no one should know about this.

I remember. Nobody will ever know about the child.

The era of the pretenders is over.

Ekaterina the Great has emerged victorious

from the battle in which could die both her and all of Russia.

There are two decades of rule ahead, ups and downs, failures and successes.

The rights of the nobility and the city population will be expanded,

the Imperial Russian Academy

and a secondary education system will be created.

The state treasury will grow several times,

paper money will appear in circulation.

The population of the empire will almost double.

Hundreds of new cities will be built. The empire will include

the Northern Black Sea Coast, the Crimea, the Kuban, Eastern Georgia

and Western Belarus.

The era of enlightened absolutism will become the Golden Age

of the Russian Empire. But a storm is brewing

in the heart of France, which will soon sweep away

the entire world order and pose new challenges

to Ekaterina and her heirs.

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