Nicholas and Alexandra

A son?

I have a son?

Eight pounds.

And Sunny? Is she all right?

Shall I make the announcement?

It's incredible.

I have a son.

He's not the first boy ever born, you know.

Does he have to be Alexis? Can't we call him something else?

Alexis was a gentle czar.

Perhaps the only one.

Not counting you.

I thought we'd go on having girls forever.

I still can't believe... Oh, you're dribbling.

Let me.

I prayed so hard.

I'm sure that's how it happened.

You heard him cry.

Not much. I'll pinch him, shall I?

He's going to be enormous.

Even bigger than your father was.

We couldn't call him Alexander, could we?

He's asleep. Undoubtedly, we've bored him.

Do you want him for a minute?

Not particularly.

I've had a son.

For years, I've daydreamed how I'd feel.

And all that time, I never dreamed...

I'm filled with... I don't know.

It isn't joy or anything like that. It's more.

It's terribly important.

And I don't know why you're smiling.

Du bist ein Dummkopf.

Du auch.

Tegleva, if he wakes up hungry, bring him back.

Yes, Majesty.

At once, no matter what the time is.

The dispatches from Port Arthur. They've been in for hours.

Can't that wait?

I wish it could.

The boy will bring us luck.

We'll smash the Japanese and drive them from Korea.

I have a son to fight for now.

We have a son.

If you don't get some rest, he'll starve.

Have I made you happy?

No, not much.

I think I like your gentle czar.

Let's call him Alexis.

I don't like entertaining with a war on.

Not right somehow.

So we've kept it small. Just family.

I can't wait.

Good girl!

You'll make a partygoer yet.

See you in Saint Petersburg tonight.

Come on now, Nicky.

All right, Uncle.

Who's the sober-Iooking fellow?

Gilliard, the new French tutor.

Can't you stay?

- We're seeing Witte. - That man!

- He's a brilliant prime minister. - I never liked him.

I'm the one he bellows at.

You shouldn't let him.

He's your servant. Everyone's your servant.

You're too gentle.

You should slam your fist down as your father always did.

It's no use.

Frowning helps.

It's baby.

Did he have a good night? Did he miss me?

Come look.

I haven't seen him since last night.

I think he's aged.

What's this?

Nothing.

Pull out or I'll not answer for it!

You must show me how you do that.

Have I Your Majesty's permission to review the facts again?

If Port Arthur falls...

No fact begins with "if."

Port Arthur has been under siege for six months.

It has cost us 30,000 dead.

A student stopped me in the street the other day.

"Excuse me, sir, but why are we at war?"

"Because, my boy, we want Korea...

but the Japanese will insist on fighting us for it."

"Thank you, sir. But what does Russia need Korea for?"

"Because, my boy, we have no ice-free port on the Pacific."

"I see. In that case, sir, it isn't good enough."

He's right, sir.

It's not good enough at all.

Imagine, sire.

Imagine that you are a factory worker.

You're really poor. Your belly is never full.

You freeze eight months of the year.

Your children have no school, no doctor.

Your country taxes you...

and sends your sons a continent away...

to die on a piece of land on the Pacific.

Now, sir, Japan is a third-rate power.

If she defeats us...

if Port Arthur falls...

we shall be disgraced in the eyes of the world...

and here at home we'll have an insurrection.

My people love me, Sergei Julievitch.

They want a constitution...

and the right to vote for an elected Duma.

They're angry...

and they're serious.

Are you advising me to give my rights away?

I am advising you to stop a hopeless war.

Is it so hopeless, Nikolasha?

Well, Nicky...

let me put it this way.

Here's a bullet, a bullet made in St. Petersburg.

I send it off to war.

How does it get there?

On a single spur of track...

4000 miles long.

And in the middle, no track at all.

God help it, it spends three days packed on sleds.

And every boot, shell or pound of tea we send.

Get out now, Nicky...

while there's time.

The Russia my father gave me never lost a war.

What shall I say to my son when the time comes?

That I had no pride?

That I was weak?

I've always thought...

God meant me to rule.

He put me here.

He chose me, and whatever happens is His will.

We shall fight on to victory.

There will be no victory.

Only strikes and riots.

You must give your people a little of what they want, sir.

Not all...

just a taste.

The English have a parliament.

Our British cousins gave their rights away.

The Hapsburgs and the Hohenzollerns too.

The Romanovs will not.

What I was given...

I will give my son.

These comrades want a larger movement that will embrace...

all politically-minded people who can subscribe to a wider dogma.

They wish to join hands...

Excuse me.

May I?

This is my first conference.

- I've been in Siberia. - So was I.

How long?

- I was sentenced to three years. - So was I.

I only stayed for a month. I made a run for it.

He wants to introduce himself.

Stalin.

I've inquired about you.

Trotsky.

You've been avoiding me.

How are you going to vote?

- Against your motion. - You're a fool!

I'm sorry.

I can't always do what you tell me.

The Romanovs are crowing over their new heir and the Party's a mess.

- I'll win in spite of you. - You'll split the Party.

I intend to.

It needs it.

Martov, will you vote for me?

No, against.

Come on, Martov.

He doesn't realize what you're doing. I'm sure you're right.

Good.

So you're going to vote for me?

I would, but I'm not a delegate. I can't vote.

Mr. Lenin.

Excuse me, Mr. Lenin. I'm from the "Socialist Worker."

What do you think of the Socialist movement in England?

The English cut their meat wrong. Their tea is terrible.

And the weather was better in Siberia.

But you keep your policemen under control.

The vote will now be taken.

Pay attention.

You're about to see the birth of the Bolshevik Party.

How do you spell that?

I'm going to vote.

Come on, Pankratov.

B-O-L-S...

Good night, Papa.

Good night, Mama.

Good night, darlings.

I wish we didn't have to go.

- It's Mama's birthday. - Can't we say I have a headache?

You're just shy. You're too old for that now.

You enjoy yourself at parties.

I get headaches.

If you sat there knowing everyone disliked you, feeling like a foreigner...

- No one dislikes you. - Yes, they do.

You never see unpleasant things.