Naval Cadets, Charge! (Гардемарины, вперед!)

The creators of this film cannot vouch for the legitimacy of all the historical details.

But, with their bold carefulness, they are ready to claim that everything in this film is true. Except for the fictitious parts, of course.

Trusty friend, here's the saddle -

If we go, we go together!

Trusty friend, here's the paddle

If we're going, we are going!

A bullet sang its verse, Why should it care

How will the song end?

Looks like you're landed yourself On that very ball

Where steel dances, and lead sings!

Ours souls argue with the sea and the land

In the days of separation.

That is insolent, they say!

But we love each other To the very core!

So therefore, so therefore

So therefore - let's go!

Trusty friend, here's the saddle

Gardemarines, let's go!

If we go, we go together!

Trusty friend, here's the paddle

Episode One

If we're going, we are going!

Kind genius, why did you guard

Your youth from adventures?

A duel is always the same Regardless of age -

Either honour, or sin!

Our experience is little, But we can tell

Lousy clatter from a fair race.

Our fresh gaze might tell apart

Dirt from the truth, and lies from a tale.

So therefore, so therefore,

So therefore - let's go!

Trusty friend, here's the saddle

If we go, we go together!

Trusty friend, here's the paddle

If we're going, we are going!

PARIS

You have...

...you have twisted our relationship with Russia quite badly,

dear Chetardieu.

I remember your letters quite well.

Quite...

You wrote that the accession of Elizabeth

would benefit France,

but it turned out otherwise.

You wrote that the Empress adores you,

plays l'hombre with you

and even flirts with you.

You wrote that she's not interested in politics, that she's naive and gullible.

That apparently she walks around the castle in winter boots

and cooks cabbage soup for herself.

In reality this "gullible woman"

did not let you anywhere past the card table.

As a result, the Swedes never got back

the lands taken from them by Peter I.

Why were you not made a mediator from Russia in the negotiations with Sweden?

Bestuzhev foiled my plans.

That barely sane fanatic kept muttering:

"I'd rather accept death than give an inch of Russian soil away".

Oh, the Swedish war!

The Swedes didn't lose the war - we did,

we, in this very office.

Bestuzhev knows that very well.

You've underestimated your opponent, Marquis.

And that is equal to defeat.

I've analysed the Vice-Chancellor Alexey Bestuzhev well.

It's a paranoid, petty, unpleasant,

and a terribly ambitious man.

He's explosive in life,

and also angry and vengeful to top it off.

He's got no friends, but has a sea of foes.

But one thing spoils this selection of his wonderful features:

he's loyal to Russia's affairs,

and does not separate his needs from the needs of Russia.

We need to get rid of him.

We can't allow this barbaric country

to dictate their conditions to us.

It needs to be driven back into forests and swamps.

We need old Moscovia back -

a small patriarchal state.

Come to me.

Help me.

Have you tried bribing Bestuzhev?

Everybody needs money.

I... I tried this possibility.

Button it up.

I tried bribing both Bestuzhev and Lestocq with 15 thousand gold.

Lestocq had gladly accepted it, - pardon,

which is, - pardon, - very useful to us.

Despite serving in Russia for 30 years, he is French and remains a Frenchman.

I'm interested in Bestuzhev.

The Vice-Chancellor only pretended that he did not understand me.

And he's not rich at all, you could even say... poor.

Bestuzhev's path to power was long.

If my memory serves me right,

he used to work way back under Hannover's Kurfurst.

Right, then he served in England.

And he's been attracted to foggy Albion ever since then.

Bestuzhev always supported Peter's reforms, and he thinks

that Russia needs a union with sea dominating countries.

He also served in Denmark as an ambassador, then in Courland.

- A year ago he... - What a colourful life!

Surely, the traces of such evidently not a sinless life

should remain somewhere.

There are people, relatives,

who know...

something.

Diaries, at the of the day, letters.

I've thought about this already.

Bestuzhev has an archive.

Continue.

We can kill two birds with one stone if we get this archive.

First of all, these papers might help us

clear up some things in European affairs,

and secondly, a diplomat's secret correspondence

is always a double game.

The promises you give your foe in the name of a greater goal!

If we can single something out of this correspondence and edit it,

such an exctract could be presented in such a way,

that it can not only tarnish Bestuzhev in the eyes of Elizabeth and all of Russia,

- ...but also... - What?

You're about to enter a big game, Marquis.

I would like to see this archive.

But, Your Eminence, it's difficult to work in Russia.

The roads are terrible. Every sane idea fades in this country. So...

- How much? - Please.

If every Vice-Chancellor would cost us this much,

France will go bankrupt in no time.

Your Eminence!

One of my men remained in Russia -

a brave and experienced Chevalier de Brillieu

He's waiting for this order, Your Eminence.

Pass me the feather from my table.

Thank you.

Oh, that Bestuzhev!

PETERSBURG

Holy God, Holy Strong,

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.

Master, pardon our iniquities...

Look! Bestuzhev.

Don't you think he's severely ill?

That earthly colour of his face,

the feverish gaze.

He's been looking very bad recently.

He's been looking very bad for the past fifty years.

However, it doesn't prevent him from messing with us.

Merciful Lord,

save and forgive Your servant Alexey,

forgive his sins both secret and open, known and unknown.

I think Bestuzhev is made of sins only.

Pass it on, child.

Who is this lady in a golden brocade?

Bestuzheva Anna Gavrilovna,

the Vice-Chancellor's relative.

- A patron of the arts, adores theatre. - Right, right.

And who is that young beauty?

Anna Gavrilovna's daughter from her first marriage,

- Anastasia Yaguzhinskaya, of marriageable age. - Right, right.

What are you doing here, Monsieur de Brillieu?

I've got news, mister. A revolt in the capital.

Yesterday the Empress was about to leave to Peterhof,

the carriages were already at the doorstep.

Suddenly Lestocq arrived, like thunder in the middle of a sunny day.

There's a plot to poison the Empress and Lestocq.

By her order, a set of guards

was placed at her doors.

Natalia Lopukhina and her son Ivan were arrested.

- Donate for the celebration. - Madame! Madame!

The arrests are still carried out. Petersburg is in a panic.

- You can't tell by the looks of the Empress. - Who are the poisoners?

Lestocq knows the details, but he remains silent.

He's here, by the way. There!

Where did he get such power from?

- He's just a medic. - A leib-medic, a personal doctor of the Empress.

Moreover, he helped her take over the throne a year ago.

- She trusts him wholeheartedly. - Right, right.

De Brillieu, are you still here?

Sir ambassador, I wanted to ask whether my mission would change in the light of this revolt?

Not in the world! Hurry, you are awaited in Moscow.

The business is beyond urgent.

And be careful, Chevalier. Go!

MOSCOW

Belov!

En garde!

- Etes-vous pret? - Pret! - Allez!

Bastard!

Belov!

- Be more elegant! - Oui, monsieur.

Right, Korsak, where've you been? Get in line, lazybone!

Change of partners!

What happened?

I'm not on the list again.

Kotov is picking on you again, scoundrel!

It's time to demand an explanation from him!

Whatever, I'm not going to die without that scholarship.

No, you don't understand, it's not about money.

That constant nit-picking on you is offensive!