The Scarlet Empress (1934)

Gavin Gordon: Capt. Gregori Orloff

Quotes 

• Grand Duke Peter : Why are those bells ringing?

  [He opens the bedroom door and addresses a man in the hall] 

  Grand Duke Peter : Why are those bells ringing?

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : I don't know, Peter.

  Grand Duke Peter : How dare you address me like that! Who are you?

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : My name is Orloff, and I'm on duty as guard.

  Grand Duke Peter : I'll have your head for this insolence! You're addressing the emperor!

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : There is no emperor. There is only an empress.

• Count Alexei : At last, Your Majesty, I've achieved the enviable privilege of entering these rooms.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I seem to have a faint recollection that you had that privilege before.

  Count Alexei : Not since the days of Her Late Majesty, whom I often visited in the capacity of a trusted admirer.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Tell the others I've retired. Send them away. And come back in here.

  Count Alexei : [to the people waiting outside Catherine's rooms]  Her Majesty wishes to be alone. You may retire.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Tell me, Alexei, are you still fond of me?

  Count Alexei : Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. I love you. But I'm completely bewildered by your attitude towards me. However, I've become accustomed to regard you as one of those extraordinary women who create their own laws and logic. And now I'm concerned only with your safety.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Is it my safety that concerns you, or the safety of an empress?

  Count Alexei : I would give my life, Your Imperial Majesty, if the woman I adore were not so far removed from me in station.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : The woman you adore is quite close to you, isn't she?

  Count Alexei : Catherine, I love you, worship you.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I asked you here tonight because I want you to do something for me. I can trust you, can't I? We'll always be friends, won't we?

  Count Alexei : Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. What is it you require?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Blow out the candles. Behind the mirror, as you know, there's a flight of stairs. Down below, someone is waiting to come up. Will His Excellency be kind enough to open the door for him carefully so that he can sneak in?

  Count Alexei : [Count Alexei finds Captain Orloff at the foot of the stairs]  Her Imperial Majesty is waiting for you, Captain.

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : Yes sir. Thank you, sir.

  Count Alexei : Will you deliver a message for me, Captain?

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : I would be very glad to, sir.

  Count Alexei : Tell Her Imperial Majesty that I quite understand now. No, never mind. Don't tell her anything. She'll know.

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : Yes, sir.

• Princess Sophia Frederica : Who is this officer?

  Count Alexei : Orloff, Your Majesty. Captain in charge of the barracks.

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : Your Majesty, your visit here is the greatest honor in my life.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I've heard a good deal about you, Captain... from the ladies.

  [She walks through the barracks, pulls straw from a mattress, and toys with a stalk while regarding Count Alexei] 

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I didn't expect to see you here, Your Excellency.

  Count Alexei : Why not, Your Majesty? This is my pet regiment. You look ravishing.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Now there's another good-looking soldier. Come here, Lieutenant. What's your name?

  Lt. Dmitri : Dmitri, Your Majesty.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : And your duties, Dmitri?

  Lt. Dmitri : In charge of the night watch, Your Majesty.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : It must be cold at night... sometimes.

  Lt. Dmitri : Sometimes, Your Majesty.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Anyway, I'm certain you're very efficient, Lieutenant. Is he, Captain? Tell me something about him.

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : He's very efficient, Your Majesty. He came to join our regiment about a year ago from the Swedish front, where he fought bravely for about two years. He's also distinguished himself by exemplary bravery on the Turkish border.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : This should have been brought to our attention before. I can't understand why such a brave man hasn't been decorated. His Excellency doesn't mind?

  Count Alexei : [Catherine starts to remove one of Count Alexei's medals]  Not if Her Majesty will tell me why she continues to avoid me.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Her Majesty will tell you tonight, if you will call on her.

  Count Alexei : With pleasure, Your Majesty.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : [She pins the medal on Lt. Dmitri]  For bravery... in action. See that you do justice to it in future emergencies. And now, Captain, tell me about yourself.

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : Your Majesty, I'm distressed at my neglect at not having rewarded Lieutenant Dmitri before. With your permission, Your Majesty.

  [He pulls out a handful of diamonds and gives one to Dmitri] 

  Princess Sophia Frederica : [Catherine leans in to examine the jewels and picks one up]  Rich too, hmm?

• Grand Duke Peter : I've had enough of this sanctimonious talk. Let us drink. Why doesn't he take up his collections in church? To the most charming woman in my empire, my friend, the countess Elizabeth.

  [the party stands. Catherine remains seated and sets aside her drinking glass] 

  Grand Duke Peter : Go ask Her Majesty, my wife, why she doesn't join our toast.

  Adjutant : His Majesty, the emperor of Russia, wishes me to ask why Her Majesty refuses to join the toast.

  Sophia's Aunt : Tell His Majesty that my thirst is not as great as his tonight.

  Adjutant : Her Majesty wishes me to convey to His Majesty that her thirst is not as great as his tonight.

  Grand Duke Peter : Go tell my wife she's a fool.

  Adjutant : His Majesty, the emperor of Russia, wishes me to inform Her Majesty that she is a fool.

  [Beneath the table, Catherine ties her napkin into a knot. She and Capt. Orloff rise from the table, and she takes his arm] 

  Grand Duke Peter : What is your rank, Orloff?

  Capt. Gregori Orloff : Captain, Your Majesty?

  Grand Duke Peter : Well, you're nothing now.

  [He strips decorations from Orloff's uniform and takes his sword] 

  Grand Duke Peter : Now get out, both of you, and stay out!

  [Catherine and Orloff depart] 

  Grand Duke Peter : Sit down. My wife is not to leave the palace. She's under arrest until further orders. Am I the emperor of Russia, or am I not? We'll issue a proclamation that she died...

  [He examines a knife] 

  Grand Duke Peter : and ask the people to pray for her.

  [He stabs an apple on the word "pray"]