The Scarlet Empress

How often do I have to tell you

that Sophia Frederica is no longer to play with toys?

She's almost seven now. Don't smoke in here. The child's sick.

I work and I scheme day and night to arrange an advantageous marriage someday,

and you undo everything.

How am I to make it clear to you that Sophia might one day become a queen?

I don't want to be a queen, Mother. I want to be a toe dancer.

Be quiet, Sophia. You're going to marry a king if I have anything to do with it.

Stick out your tongue, Your Highness, and say "ahh."

Ahh.

Not as bad as I thought.

We'll build her a nice harness, and she'll have to wear it for about a year.

Put those toys away. I don't want to see them again.

And you'll grow up to be a tall and beautiful woman someday.

Now I must be off on one of my operations.

Don't let them frighten you, darling.

"A nice harness." What is he, a horse doctor?

You flatter him. Our learned medico is going to perform one of his operations with an ax.

- He's the public hangman. - Hangman?

What's a hangman? Can I become a hangman someday?

Your Highness, a hangman is an executioner, the man who takes heads off skillfully.

Sometimes that curious profession becomes the sport of tyrants.

As a matter of fact, I was about to read to you of Peter the Great and Ivan the Terrible,

and other Russian tsars and tsarinas who were hangmen.

Stop walking, August. You make me nervous.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, a letter from the king.

Your father wishes to see you at once.

Sit down, my child.

We have been honored with a communication from His Majesty

which concerns you principally.

"We, by divine grace, Frederick, King of Prussia,

have, after a series of negotiations,

decided to honor your family

by selecting your daughter, Sophia Frederica,

to forthwith set out for Russia

and there to become the bride of His Serene Highness, Peter Fyodorovich,

grandson of Peter the Great, nephew of Her Imperial Majesty,

and heir presumptive to the throne.

Within the week, an emissary will arrive

to escort your daughter and her mother, Princess Johanna Elizabeth,

to the court at Moscow.

Please inform her that she is to follow dutifully

the advice of Her Majesty's ambassador

and extend to her, as well as to your entire family,

my fond greetings and affections.

"Fredericus Rex."

Grand duchess of Russia.

Not bad for this family.

I wonder what he looks like.

That unimportant detail can be settled when the Russian ambassador gets here.

Come, August. We shall reply to the king at once.

One must strike while the iron's hot. You're coming with me.

This is the countess Cecilia, a cousin on my mother's side.

And this, her sister, Maria.

And this...

Your Highness may now come down.

This is Count Alexei, field marshal of the Russian army,

grand master of the hunt,

lord of the chamber and ambassador extraordinary

from Her Divine Majesty, Elizabeth of Russia.

This is my daughter Sophia.

Although for a long time we've heard a great deal about your beauty, Your Highness,

I must confess, I was not quite prepared to see such a vision of loveliness.

Her Majesty instructed me to present a few gifts as evidence of her graciousness.

Come here.

This pipe is for you, Prince August.

These sables are to keep your shoulders warm.

These gloves are to keep your hands warm.

This robe is to keep your feet warm.

These hot-water bottles,

to keep Mother warm.

Is it then still so cold in Russia, Your Excellency?

Indeed, Your Highness, the rivers are still frozen,

and will be until some time after we've arrived.

Her Majesty also asked me to give you this token of her esteem.

Convey to her my profoundest thanks.

Isn't Her Imperial Majesty beautiful. How long will the journey take?

If weather permits, we should reach Moscow in seven weeks,

where Her Majesty is impatiently awaiting us.

And when does Your Excellency require that the journey be begun?

I should like to start the day after tomorrow,

unless it is the desire of this charming young lady

to leave at once to meet her anxious bridegroom.

- Did you bring me a portrait of the grand duke? - I'm sorry, I did not.

- Would you like him to be handsome? - Isn't he?

Would you like him to be better-looking than all other men, and tall, and gracious?

- Yes, I think I would. - Well, he is all that and more.

He's the handsomest man in the Russian court, tall and formed like a Greek god,

a model in fashion and deportment which all of us strive to follow.

- Are you eager to see him? - Yes.

His eyes are like the blue sky,

his hair the color of ebony.

He is stronger than a team of oxen,

and sleepless because of his desire to receive you in his arms.

And he can also read and write.

So can my daughter. She can also cook and sew and make her own bed if she has to.

- Can't you, Sophia? - But I don't like to make my own bed, Mother.

- Don't speak unless you're questioned. - You did question me, Mother.

Say good night, my child, and go back to your room and go to sleep.

Good night, Father.

Good night, Sophia.

- Good night, Your Excellency. - Good night, my little princess.

- Good night, Mother. - Good night.

- Good night, Auntie. - Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

Good night.

Well, this is unexpected.

Your daughter is extremely charming

and will be by far the most beautiful woman at Her Majesty's court.

I'd be grateful, Your Excellency, if you were not to turn her head.

She's been brought up carefully and is unspoilt,

and I've also taught her not to flirt.

You're going on a far journey, Sophia, and I may never see you again.

I want you to remember what I've taught you.

Always to be honest and truthful,

to be a faithful wife and a loyal subject of your new country.

Be kind to those who are in your service

and obedient to your husband and your superiors,

and strive at all times to be worthy of your glorious destiny.

Another day like this, and I'll fall apart.

When I return, I'll complain to the king about the state of his roads.

Yes, the roads are pretty bad, aren't they?

When we reach the border, there will be snow and we shall change to sleds.

Your rooms are ready, Your Royal Highness. Can I show them to you?

Yes, you may. I'm prepared for the worst.

Is the journey proving too much for you too?

Oh, no. It could go on forever, if Mother didn't mind.

Be careful with that knife. You'll cut your beautiful hand.

Your hand is beautiful, isn't it?

- Why did you do that? - Because I've fallen in love with you.

And now you may punish me for my effrontery.

I deserve punishment far more than you do.

We must never do this again. It's disloyal to my future husband.

Disloyal? It's treason, and I must be careful in the future.

But you must help me by not exciting me with your beautiful eyes.

I told you not to look at me.

What are you two doing down there? Don't answer me. I don't want to know.

Sophia, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You will instantly follow me to our rooms.

Incidentally, our rooms are beneath all contempt, Your Excellency.

I want you to know that the stables are probably better

than the quarters that you've assigned to us.

I'm sorry, Your Highness. The horses are tired.

But if you prefer the stables, I can arrange to have the horses quartered in your bedroom.

Barbarian!

You're going to sleep in my room tonight.

It is cold. At least you have something to warm you when you get to Moscow.

That is, if your husband isn't completely made of ice.

A basket of fruit with Her Majesty's compliments,

and these flowers from His Imperial Highness, the grand duke,

who instructed me to ride day and night for a week to be here in time.

Welcome home, Your Excellency. We've missed you.

So, this is Little Sophie. Sophia Frederica.

Hardly a name for a future empress. You don't like your name, do you?

I do, Your Imperial Majesty.

You will be called Catherine Alexina, a good Russian name.

We've arranged a special ceremony next week to receive you into our church.

- Haven't we, Simeon? - Yes, little mother, we've arranged a ceremony.

Come here.

So, this is the mother. You've raised a pretty child.

Your Imperial Majesty, I've come to lay at your feet

feelings of the deepest gratitude

for the benefactions which your bounty has heaped upon my house,

and of which many instances are given me at every step I take into Your Majesty's realms.

Tush, tush! A pretty speech.

What I have done is nothing in comparison with what I shall do.

My own blood is no more dear to me than yours.

- Is that the grand duke? - Shh.

This is the order of Saint Catherine.

May you both wear it in good health. Be careful it doesn't scratch you.

Don't stand around here doing nothing. Pin this on Catherine. Get up.

- What do you think of Catherine? - I can only admire your judgment, Your Majesty.

That's the chancellor.

Steals more money from me in a week than I can collect in taxes in a year.

Doctor, come here.

What do you think of my taste in women, Doctor? Looks healthy, doesn't she?

Just what we need to breed sons for Russia.

With your permission, Your Highness.

- How was the journey? Comfortable? - Yes, Your Majesty.

Are you happy to be here?

Yes, Your Majesty.

- Are you going to love your new country? - Yes, Your Majesty.

- Do you promise to be a loyal subject? - Yes, Your Majesty.

Don't make too many new friends, and no intrigue and gossip.

I have my hands full now.

Perfect, Your Imperial Majesty. She will give us no trouble.

Your Highness.

Someday I'll have every doctor thrown out of the country.

And now, Catherine, before you go to your rooms, is there any wish I can grant you?

I would like to see the grand duke.

His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Peter.

That's a fine way to receive your bride. I suppose you had more important things to do.

I told you to be here on time. Now go on. Kiss each other.

Now remember, Catherine, the first child must be a boy.

That's why we had you brought here — To provide Russia with an heir to the throne.

A fine, bouncing, healthy heir.

You understand me, Catherine?