The Scarlet Empress (1934)

John Lodge: Count Alexei

Photos 

Quotes 

• Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : Something for the poor, You Majesty?

  [Catherine removes several bracelets and places them in the collection plate] 

  Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : For the poor, Captain?

  [Capt. Orloff drops a handful of diamonds in the plate] 

  Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : Excellency?

  Count Alexei : [Count Alexei tosses a bag of what sounds like coins]  Quite a haul tonight, Father.

  Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : Chancellor?

  [the chancellor gives him a single coin] 

  Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : Elizabeth?

  [Countess Elizabeth flings the food she'd been eating onto the collection plate. The archimandrite places the morsel on the table] 

  Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : Your Imperial Majesty, something for the poor?

  [Peter slaps him] 

  Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky : That was for me. Now what have you got for the poor?

  Grand Duke Peter : There are no poor in Russia! Get out!

• Princess Sophia Frederica : Did you bring me a portrait of the grand duke?

  Count Alexei : I'm sorry, I did not. Would you like him to be handsome?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Isn't he?

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

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Yes, I think I would.

  Count Alexei : 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?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Yes.

  Count Alexei : 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.

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : So can my daughter. She can also cook and sew and make her own bed if she has to. Can't you, Sophia?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : But I don't like to make my own bed, Mother.

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : Don't speak unless you're questioned.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : You did question me, Mother.

• Count Alexei : Well, this is unexpected. Your daughter is extremely charming and will be by far the most beautiful woman at Her Majesty's court.

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : 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.

• Count Alexei : Be careful with that knife. You'll cut your beautiful hand. Your hand is beautiful, isn't it?

  [He kisses her] 

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Why did you do that?

  Count Alexei : Because I've fallen in love with you. And now you may punish me for my effrontery.

  [He hands her a whip] 

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I deserve punishment far more than you do. We must never do this again. It's disloyal to my future husband.

  Count Alexei : 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.

  [She stares at him] 

  Count Alexei : I told you not to look at me.

  [He kisses her] 

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : 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.

  [Sophia hands back the whip] 

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : 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.

  Count Alexei : I'm sorry, Your Highness. The horses are tired. But if you prefer the stables, I'm certain that I can arrange to have the horses quartered in your bedroom.

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : Barbarian!

  [Leading Sophia away] 

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : You're going to sleep in my room tonight.

• Count Alexei : 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.

  [to the servant with the presents] 

  Count Alexei : Come here.

  [to Sophia and her parents] 

  Count Alexei : 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.

  Princess Johanna Elizabeth : Is it then still so cold in Russia, Your Excellency?

  Count Alexei : Indeed, Your Highness, the rivers are still frozen, and will be until some time after we've arrived.

• Count Alexei : Perhaps I shouldn't have lied to you. Forgive me, won't you?

  [He leans toward Catherine] 

  Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie' : His Imperial Highness sent me for his soldiers. I hope I haven't disturbed you.

  Count Alexei : That's Countess Varonsoff. She's always picking up the grand duke's soldiers, which I'm beginning to suspect he leaves intentionally.

• Count Alexei : How is Her Majesty?

  Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef : The last few days she's turned sour, like milk that's been standing too long.

• Count Alexei : Will you please ask Her Imperial Highness once more if she will grant me an audience?

  Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting : I'm sorry, Your Excellency. We have orders from Her Imperial Highness not even to mention your name to her.

  Count Alexei : Then perhaps you will convey to Her Imperial Highness that I've been waiting for some time now to congratulate her on the great historic event of providing our country with a much-needed heir to the throne.

  Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting : I'm certain that history was far from her mind at the time, Your Excellency.

• 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.

• Count Alexei : Exit Peter the Third. Enter Catherine the Second.

• Count Alexei : Your Imperial Majesty, before the bridal pair retire, I wish to propose a toast to Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess Catherine. May our new bride from far away be forever happy and learn to know the love we have in our Russian hearts for her, and the hope this vast, imperishable empire has for an heir to the throne.

  [Trumpets sound as the toast is drunk and glasses smashed on the floor] 

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : [the Empress places a string of pearls around Catherine's neck]  You have made me very happy today, Catherine, and I hope that you will continue to make me happy.

  [Catherine kisses her hand. The Empress picks up a bone and holds it like a scepter] 

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Now I'm going to bed. I'm very tired. And I know that most of you are -

  [She replaces the bone with her scepter] 

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Are also very tired.

• Count Alexei : May I inquire how Her Imperial Highness deigns to feel this morning?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Her Highness feels as well as can be expected... after her romantic marriage. And how is His Excellency?

  Count Alexei : His Excellency is very distressed because you've been avoiding him for an eternity.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I haven't been avoiding you.

  Count Alexei : You have. I've tried again and again to see you alone and you've made it impossible.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : If you must know, I haven't had enough time to quite recover from the shock of finding my husband a trifle different than you described him.

  Count Alexei : I had a duty to my country and a loyalty to my sovereign. Had I described the grand duke... correctly, you might not have come here.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I would have obeyed my mother even if you had told the truth.

  Count Alexei : How could I have known of such a degree of filial respect? And anyway, I would have taken no chances, because from the moment I saw you, I wanted you to come to Russia.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Please, be careful. My husband will be told.

  Count Alexei : Your husband doesn't mean a thing to you.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : He does! I'll always be faithful to him.

  Count Alexei : Don't be absurd. Those ideas are old fashioned. This is the eighteenth century.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : But I'm not a Russian. I'm going now.

  Count Alexei : I told you I wanted to see you alone, and I won't wait any longer. I'll be at the stables tomorrow morning when you go for your ride.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Maybe I won't care to ride anymore.

  Count Alexei : In any event, I'll be there, and you'd better be there too.

  Princess Sophia Frederica : I will not! And furthermore, I'm going to tell my mother all about you.

  Count Alexei : One moment more, Your Imperial Highness. On the reverse side of this miniature is a diamond. Don't lose the diamond.

• Count Alexei : [Catherine and Alexei meet in the stables]  Looking for someone?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : Oh, you frightened me. I've only a minute. I ran away. I came down to tell you not to wait. I must go now.

  Count Alexei : Is that all you came to tell me?

  Princess Sophia Frederica : What else is there to tell?

  [She falls backward into the hay. He sits beside her, plucking straws out of her hair and mouth] 

  Princess Sophia Frederica : If you come closer, I'll scream.

  Count Alexei : It will be easier for you to scream without a straw in your mouth.

  [They kiss] 

• Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : What's this, Alexei? Sending notes to the grand duchess? Do you want me to send you into exile? Or shall I tell the grand duchess that you're a notorious heartbreaker, and have broken every woman's heart in this court, including mine?

  Count Alexei : You're very flattering tonight, Your Imperial Majesty, but the note contains nothing of importance.

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Then suppose you read it.

  Count Alexei : We are all very much disturbed by your conduct and wish you would change your behavior so that Her Gracious Majesty might forgive you.

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Who else can read here? You read it, Catherine. I know you can read because my reports say you foolishly spend your time in bed reading books!

  Princess Sophia Frederica : "We are all very much upset at, uh... at... and hope you will behave better, so that you may be forgiven by the empress."

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Send for the chancellor.

  [In an adjoining room, Grand Duke Peter, assisted by Countess Elizabeth Varonsoff, starts to drill a hole in the wall] 

  Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef : Your Imperial Majesty?

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Read this for me.

  Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef : "You must help me to see you alone again. You are being watched so closely that all my efforts to meet you for a few precious seconds are in vain."

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : So, you're up to your old tricks again. And right under my nose too. Well, forget about her. She's reserved for my nephew and being taught how to earn his love first before wasting her favors on others.

  [to the chancellor] 

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Go on back to your dinner, it's the first time you've been of use to me in a year.

  [to Catherine] 

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : And as for you, look after my friends and see that they're fed well. Did you hear what I said?

  [the men at the table stand] 

  Empress Elizabeth Petrovna : Sit down, you fools, or I'll send you to Siberia. She may be a grand duchess to the rest of the world, but in here she's being taught how to be a Russian wife!

  [Grand Duke Peter and Countess Elizabeth Varonsoff watch through the hole as Catherine doles out soup] 

• 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?

• Princess Johanna Elizabeth : Another day like this, and I'll fall apart. When I return, I'll complain to the king about the state of his roads.

  Count Alexei : The roads are bad, aren't they? When we reach the border, there will be snow and we shall change to sleds.

• Count Alexei : These are your ladies-in-waiting. They represent illustrious houses of our most important domains. Step forward, Natacha. She is the daughter of Prince Dolgoruki. Natacha, come here. This is your mistress of the wardrobe. She has charge of the beds and of the laces.