Mathilde (Матильда)

Nicky!

Ready.

Your Grace...

I have carefully selected them for the Imperial ballet.

Mademoiselle Karsavina!

Elegance itself.

- To satisfy the most discerning taste! - Oh, yes!

Mademoiselle Dranche!

- Oh my! - What can I say?

She dances most convincingly.

I've heard much of Kschessinska.

Your Grace, the very best we have saved for last.

Mademoiselle Legnani!

Fire! A storm of fiery pleasure!

I'll turn my head and signal, then take the picture right away.

Go!

Introduce me to her.

You are even more beautiful in life than on stage.

I would love to contemplate your beauty more often.

I will always be happy to see you.

Mademoiselle Kschessinska!

- Mathilde Felixovna! - Yes?

Where have you been? You kept us waiting.

Not a good way to start here.

- Her costume! - What of it?

- What on earth are you wearing? - I'm a swan princess.

Swan princess? Take off those feathers!

Hurry up, ladies!

Why these photographs, Ivan Karlovich?

For whom? This is not a brothel.

No, this is better.

A brothel doesn't get state subsidies.

Ready!

Change position!

Ready!

Thirty! Thirty one! Thirty two!

Malya, dear!

You look magnificent!

The heir is here.

Thank you.

Curtain!

How beautiful!

Kschessinska!

Here.

Here is what you need.

She's proud. Bright eyes.

I don't like your German.

- What is her name again? - Her name is Alix.

And I suppose you plan to marry her?

Why, Nicky?

As heir I must be ready to...

Ascend to the throne?

Or be ready for my funeral? A little premature, don't you think?

Remember her name?

Sasha, have you been showing him ballerinas again?

You've become so interested in the ballet, Nicky!

I'll either get married or run away and be a monk.

Quiet, girls! The heir is not in the mood.

Children! Minnie!

Anyone injured?

Nicky, take Olya.

Nicky, I'm scared.

Here, let me!

Be careful, papa!

Nicky, Duke! Get them out.

Get everyone out.

Nicky, hurry!

Children, here!

Xenia!

Where's Xenia?

- Hurry, Your Highness! - Mother!

Lord, preserve and protect...

Doctor, please!

Colonel! It was a drunkard's cart, stuck on the tracks!

The horse wouldn't move, Sir!

- Get him out of here. - Broken legs, poor thing.

Nicky! Help!

Save His Majesty!

Hurry!

Your Majesty!

Give me your hand!

Mother!

Sasha!

Lift it up!

Your Majesty!

He's alive!

Alive! He's alive!

You girls dance better than we do.

Mathilde, you have caught the eye of that handsome Duke Andrei.

Smile at him.

You silly fool.

If only I had someone like him instead of his dirty old father.

Bravo!

And now for the unprecedented obstacle course.

He who risks his life,

retrieves the crown, and delivers it to our lovely ladies,

shall be rewarded with a kiss from the ballerina of his choice.

She is very beautiful!

- Which one? - Kschessinska.

Not bad.

I have to approach her. Sorry.

A bracelet or earrings?

What present do you have for her?

My life.

Else one can live, never finding out who one really is.

To the start line!

I also want to find out who I really am.

Thank you for understanding.

Please accept this gift as a token of my respect.

I see His Highness has decided to give me his full attention.

I hope you see that our relationship goes no further than this, and that...

you won't expect it to continue.

In that case I can guarantee your success upon the stage.

This is how it will be.

You'll be the one who can't forget me,

who will try to see me,

who will be torn and jealous.

As long as you live,

you'll never love anyone as you love me.

Help! Help!

I'll kill you!

That was my kiss you stole!

I'll kill you!

If you made an attempt on the life of the heir, you will be hanged.

But if it was jealousy for this girl, you will be allowed to live.

Well?

Pity I didn't kill him.

Don't be shy, Your Grace.

Take courage, brother!

The thinner the rope, the faster the death.

Bravo!

Come in.

They think I am your lover.

They say I've slept my way onto the stage.

- But you're the best dancer. - No, Legnani is.

She's the first ever to do 32 fouettés.

Fouettés?

Look at one spot.

Not like that.

Your leg should be higher! Here, come on.

Learn how, and then we can dance together!

There's a ball for my birthday. You should come.

A ballerina? At the heir's birthday ball?

- We'll find you a title. - Your Royal Highness...

Call me Nicky.

I've a claim to the Polish throne, you know.

Countess Krassinska was my...

- Will you come? - Nicky...

I've heard you are engaged.

Yes.

But nothing is set in stone.

My father has been ill since the train crash.

He wants to bless my union.

How much time do you have?

Until New Year.

There is still time.

I do so love New Year.

Ivan Karlovich!

Aren't you afraid that someone may attack you again?

No.

I have many admirers.

That madman nearly killed you.

Lieutenant Vorontsov.

Did you know him?

No.

Although, I have the strange feeling I've seen him before.

What's become of him?

I pardoned him.

Move!

Take him to my clinic.

Veteran officer. The best in his regiment.

I was meant to let him go, Dr. Fischel.

This is the first time I've not followed the heir's orders.

Keeping the royal family safe is my responsibility.

He wouldn't talk despite the threat of hanging.

Why does he want to kill the heir?

You must find out, Doctor.

Your methods are legendary, even outside Germany.

And if this madman is connected to Kschessinska,

then she is also a threat.

I need something I can use against her.

I must know everything he knows.

Colonel Vlasov, I will not let you down.

My new method of breath deprivation will put him into a trance.

And we will obtain all the information.

If he escapes, I'll hang you instead of him.

Nicky, Papa and the guests await you.

I hope my son got everything that he wanted from you,

and now we'll only see you on the stage.

Get dressed. You are coming with me.

You've lost your mind.

Shouldn't we be celebrating the heir?

Many happy returns, Your Royal Highness!

Thank you.

What can I wish you, Nicky?

Keep a grip on Russia.

A tight grip, like this...

Papa!

Don't worry,

I will not die tonight.