No point in me staying here any longer.
Keep her warm.
- If she recovers consciousness give her brandy. - And if she doesn't, doctor?
Send for the priest!
There's nothing more I can do.
- Owe I you a fee, doctor? - Yes, whatever you can afford.
Business has not been good, then?
With my wife ill, doctor...
Good night!
Paul, if there's anything we can do to help...
If anyone wants me, just ring the bell.
Father?
Landlord!
- There is a sick person in the house. - I can see that.
But with a couple of liters of wine, it will put right.
Landlord!
You don't understand?!
It's his wife... she is sick.
Our mother is sick.
- There is fever in her. - We know that!
There is fever in her.
But I shall draw it out.
The fever has left her. I've taken it in my own hands.
Feel...
It's burning...
Throw it away.
Throw it away!
- Is she better? - She won't die anyway.
Open your eyes woman, you're cured.
Anna.
Paul...
Is that you?
Mother!
Anna!
- How can I ever repay you? - With a bottle of wine. Two bottles.
- No, no, no! That is not enough. - All right, then bring in more!
Yes! Yes.
Anything! Anything!
Fetch more lamps. Let's have more light in here!
Lights, yes, yes!
Nicolai, get some more lamps.
Tell your daughter to put on her prettiest dress.
You're gonna have a party...
- A party? - Yes, a party.
Your wife is cured, What better reason for a celebration?
Vassili!
You'll have to watch forever? You'll be losing her to our stranger.
- Have you ever seen her dance like that? - Who is he?
I don't know...
But he saved my Anna.
He's saved her.
Oh no, I couldn't.
- More wine, my friend! - Thank you!
Hello Michael.
- Have you seen him? - How could I miss him?!
- Who is he anyway? - Nobody knows...
He just appears, gets drunk and goes...
But tonight he cured my mother!
And the doctor could do nothing...
The he insisted we'd have this party.
He has drunk three bottles of wine already. That's the fourth he started on now!
No, no!
Keep drinking, it's good red wine!
She is a clever girl.
- Have you seen him dance? - Yeah.
Tania has been dancing with him all night...
- I don't like it, Vassili. - No more do I.
- What are you gonna do? - Show him a real dance.
He won't trouble us anymore.
Follow him!
That's him!
Have you anything to say in your defense?
I was attacked and defended myself.
I'm not referring to this. That's a matter for the civil authorities.
I mean your conduct in relation to your Church.
Your behavior, your drinking,
your... your going with women.
During my time here you tried to teach me that confession of my sins is good for the soul.
Well?
You also removed all temptation, so there is no chance
of any sin in here... I've tried to put that right.
When I go to confession, I don't offer God small sins...
I offer him sins worth forgiven!
How dare you blaspheme?
- You will be severely punished... - Father, please be merciful.
He saved my Anna's life, she was dying. He has put her back from the grave...
- Merciful? When he mutilated my son? - What is this you just say?
From the grave, father! He was a miracle!
It this another of your blasphemies?
The woman was sick. I healed her.
Healed her? How, with potions?
With these...
Was your wife possessed with he devil? Did he exorcise her?
- No, I touched her with these... - It's true, father.
God would never bless someone so deep in sin with such a gift.
It must come from...
The devil?
Who knows?
I only know I have this power.
I have always had it.
I can feel it burning within me.
Driving me off.
It's here inside me.
It is in my hands.
And I warn you, I warn you all...
That I, Grigory Efimovich Rasputin,
intend to use it!
The power is mine, and I shall use it as I please.
Fools, what do they know
shut up in their cotton woven cages? That's not living!
What do we have senses for?
Not to use them?! Feel, Taste, Touch,
Stroke,
Crush.
- You seem to know a lot about life. - Sometimes I think I know everything.
You're wasted here, then.
You ought to go to St. Petersburg,
to the court. Tell the Tsar what to do!
They could do with someone like you there. Someone who knows everything.
Is it really like what they say?
Oh yes, it's just like what they say.
It's like... like a fairy story.
Building as big as...
And streets so wide...
And palaces like...
And women...
I spent all night there once.
I got drunk and lost all my money, never been back.
You want a lot of money to live there.
It's not for the likes of you and me.
I'll get the money.
You may,
but I'll never go back there.
I got a surprise for you, father.
You're going back there right now!
- Do you fancy him? - What?
I said if you fancy him.
Well, he's big, isn't he?
What do I get for this?
This.
Oh, there's the Doctor!
- Hello, Doctor! - Good evening, ladies.
You've come back tonight.
You're in form?
- Good evening everyone. - Good evening.
- Give me your best run. - Brandy?
Two bottles of wine.
- Well, who's gonna take him on? - Not me.
Here's 50 kopecks who says he's gonna outdrink the doctor. Anyone of you?
- Isn't anyone gonna take him on? - Oh, go on!
Look, he has got it already.
I accept your challenge.
All right. You're on.
- I warn you, the doctor is no beginner. - Nor am I!
He hasn't got two kopecks together!
Hello, dear! You came to buy us a drink?
You got more chance of an invitation to go to the Palace's ball.
Peter!
- If you don't get me out of here I shall scream. - What is the drop?
I'm tired of the young army officers getting wife-meat.
Here, take this.
- This will take the bruisings out of you. - Lovely!
This ball is very packed.
I had a devil of a job to...
Sonia, you're not supposed to drink it like that.
- Oh, I was thirsty. - You could use water on your thirst.
- That cost me two rubles. - Two rubles?
- You're the sweetest brother in the world. - You won't give me the feeling.
Oh, Ivan and Vanessa!
Come, dear.
- You're just invited to come with us. - You're not leaving?!
It's such a bore here. But Peter is gonna take us somewhere exciting.
Where?
Well, I was thinking about "The Tzigane".
- Oh... - What's the game?
It's pretty rough. We used to go there when we were students.
- Somebody always get drunk and starts fighting. - That sounds wonderful.
You're not here to sit for yourself.
- Champagne? - Of course.
No, give me some vodka.
The vodka here is very strong.
Good.
As you wish.
- Did you see that? - See what?
The bearded fellow, he was staring at Vanessa.
Who does he think he is?
Don't get excited, Peter. Sit down and enjoy yourself!
That's what you have come for.
- Yes, I know but... - Peter, don't make such a fuss.
Come on, drink! Drink, drink!
Dance, the winner must dance!
Dance, dance, dance!
- You will apology for laughing at me! - Now look here!...
But I...
You will come to me and say you are sorry.
The impertinence of the man!
"You will come to me and say you are sorry."
I'd like to teach him a lesson!
- If I hadn't tripped... - Yes, yes, Peter.
You weren't much help either!
- What were you doing? - I think we all are better off from that horrid place.
Don't you, Sonia?
Sonia?
Did you see his eyes?
- I don't want another drink. - Pay the bill.
The bill, you fool.
Get up!
- Where does he live? - Across the alley. Above the horse-butcher.
The sooner you get him out of here, the better.
- I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you. - So am I. What do you want?
I'm sorry, ma'am.
- I was here last night. - Oh yeah, I remember, miss.
- If you had something stolen I can't be held responsible... - It's nothing like that.
There was a man here...
A tall, bearded man.
He danced.
I see.
I wish to see him.
- Do you know where he lives? - Yes.
- Tell me, please. Tell me! - Across the way. Above the horse-butcher shop.
Miss...
- Be careful. - I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you.
You'll be moving on again soon, I suppose.
You got far to go?
You can't stay here, you know.
- I have got things to do. - What things?
Private.
Open the door.
- It might be somebody I owe money to. - I know who it is. Open the door.
Come in!
Good morning, miss.
I have come to apologize.
For last night.
Apologize then.
- I am truly sorry. - Good.
Now come around here.
Now kneel!
- Now, look it! - Stay out!
- But I'm living here! - Go!
Go get some food.
She will cook for us!
- I'm not a peasant woman. - No?
No, you are not, are you?
What are you then?
What are you?
I'm lady-in-waiting to the Tsarina.
Are you now?
Boris,
Go out and get some wine, some food.
What is your name?
- Sonia. - Sonia.
Little Sonia.
You're very beautiful, little Sonia.
You can't spend all day with the Tsarina.
What else do you do?
- I help and guard the little Alexis. - The young Tsarevich?
Yes.
The others are grown up, but Alexis still has to be taken for walks. We take him mostly...
''We''?
Myself and the other lady-in-waiting.
Vanessa... She was with me last night.
You saw her.
Oh yes, the pretty one.
What are the places you take him to?
The forest, the lakes, the park...
Tomorrow we go to Vanessa's home in the country.
The river there is frozen.
Alexis likes to skate on it.
Isn't that rather dangerous for so precious a child?
I have to watch him very carefully.
He doesn't like that very much.
So you have to watch him when there is any danger.
Come in, Boris.
Fool away about Boris, he was a doctor once.
Sonia...
Stand over there.
Now look into my eyes.
Your eyes?
My eyes.
Look deep into my eyes...
Think only of me.
Shut out all other thoughts for your mind.
Think only of me.
You will listen to what I tell you.
Listen...
and obey.
Obey...
Tomorrow, you are taking the little Tsar to the frozen river.
While you are there
you will see to it that he meets with an accident.
An accident, you understand?
Accident.
He will be hurt.
You will say that you know of a certain
holy man who can cure him.
And you will send for me.
Yes.
Good.
It won't work.
- She won't obey. - She will do exactly what I told her to do.
- But what if he's killed? - He won't die.
And you won't talk, Boris.
Wake up, Sonia.
You can get dressed now and go.
- When shall I see you again? - As you soon as you've done what I told you to do.
Told me?
What do you mean?
You'll see.
Now get dressed.
You got any money, little Sonia?
Some.
Leave it. On the bed.
Boris...
A toast. To me, Rasputin, and the little Tsar.
Alexis, where are you?
Come along!
Come on.
She promised to take me skating.
Be careful.
Vanni, Vanni, we're here!
Hello, Alexis!
- Have you got the skates? - I'm just getting them.
Alexis! Careful, you'll slip.
Careful, careful, you'll slip.
He is unconscious, but he's still breathing...
- What's happened? - He must have slipped.
My poor baby.
Alexis, my darling!
You're so hot, my darling.
If she'd just let me take me him to the hospital,
where I keep him on proper medical supervision, where I have facilities for a proper examination.
We are in His hands now.
Madam...
- I shall return in an hour. - You're not leaving!
You must not. You can not leave.
But there's nothing more I can do here.
- If you allow me to take him to the hospital... - No.
This is his home.
He is the Tsarevich and he belongs here in the palace with his mother.
- But we could try this new ray... - No, no, no, no.
Then there's nothing more I can do...
Madam.
What can I do, my lord bishop?
- What can I do? - We can only pray, your Majesty.
Pray...
Yes, we must all pray.
Oh Lord, look down on this miserable sinner, and have mercy.
Save our child...
who will one day be the Tsar of all Russia.
If it's your will that he'll be spared... save him.
Not only for his mothers sake...
but for the sake of all his loyal subjects who love and respect him.
Save him, oh Lord.
Have mercy.
Save life...
of my little boy.
- Amen. - Amen.
Madam...
I know of a holy man.
I feel, perhaps you should send for him.
- Order for more. - We haven't got anymore money.
- There's more. - I haven't a kopeck left.
Are you Grigory Rasputin?
- I am Rasputin. - I have a message from the Tsarina.
- Yes? - Her Majesty wishes that you should attend her at the palace.
Can I know the reason?
It may have escaped your attention here, but the Tsarevich is seriously ill.
I've heard that.
Apparently you've been recommended to Her Majesty as a healer.
So Her Majesty wishes me to heal her son?
Yes.
Will you tell Her Majesty that I will be pleased to come.
But I must first go to the cathedral to pray for the boy.
Then I will come straight to the palace.
Will you also tell her...
that she need fear no more,
her son will recover as from this moment.
He's breathing certainly easier.
Thank God.
You say that holy man is on his way?
As soon as he has completed his diversions at the cathedral, madam.
- It seems his prayers had been answered. - I hardly think that.
However it's happened he's certainly improving, and there is nothing I have done.
- God moves in a mysterious way. - Indeed.
When this man arrives, will you please let me know.
I should like to meet him.
- Are you the holy man? - I am Rasputin.
My son.
Your son will recover by morning.
May God bless you.
Wait!
You must be rewarded.
- Minister. - I require no reward.
Mama!
Alexis!
My baby.
Come in, little Sonia.
Grigory.
What do they say about me?
They say that a mysterious holy man...
appeared at the palace and saved the life of the Tsarevich.
They say he must have been sent by God.
Good.
And that must be found and suitably rewarded.
Well done.
- I don't understand. - Don't try, little Sonia.
Peter?! What are you doing here?
You slut!
- Be careful. - You're behaving like a common whore.
Rasputin.
A fine man, those eyes...
You know that he refused any reward for what he did...
for that miracle he performed?
Yes, madam.
There can't be many good men like that in Russia today.
Greed, ambition, corruption...
My court is full of it.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you.
You know what goes on.
Do you know where he could be reached again...
this Rasputin?
- I think I could find him, madame. - Good.
Find him!
Tell him he must accept a reward, I say so. It is an order.
- Very good, madame. - Ask him to name his price, anything!
Will you do that?
- Of course. - Good.
And now...
Madam,
Madam, are you all right?
I... I'm not be feeling at all well lately.
With the shock of Alexis...
I'm not at all well.
Have you seen your doctor?
Doctors! What good did they do Alexis?
I'll get you some brandy, madam.
No, I was wondering about Rasputin...
If I could go and see him.
Tell her...
Tell her that I can not possibly see her here...
for obvious reasons.
Tell her that somewhere has to be found a more suitable place for our meeting.
Somewhere where I can continue my heeling. You understand?
Not bad, hey Boris?
Not bad for a peasant.
- You were lucky it all worked. - Lucky?
This is only the beginning.
She is giving me this.
What is it really? It's only a house,
and she has all Russia.
She has so much to give, come!
Ladies, may I have your attention...
I regret to say that the master will be unable to see any more patients today.
- So.. will you please leave. - It's outrageous!
- I paid for my consultation, I intend to have it. - Then you shall have it, madam.
Stop eating like a pig and take more exercise!
Ladies, ladies, please.
Thank you.
Please!
- Your Imperial Majesty. - Good morning, Grigory.
- Can I offer you...? - I require nothing. Thank you.
Are you still happy here, Grigory?
Happiness is not for one of my calling, Your Majesty,
surrounded as we are by sorrow and sickness.
But I'm content, I have my work.
- I ask for no more. - You are so good, Grigory!
You are so pale, madame.
- How are you feeling? - Terrible! No, better.
Oh, I... I don't know.
I only seem to feel well when I'm with you, Grigory.
- You are too kind, madame. - No, it's true.
- Sometimes I wish that it weren't. - But why?
Because I've come to depend on you.
It's not good to depend on others.
But Your Majesty all Russia depends on you.
You give too much of yourself.
That's why you come here,
to relax.
Come.
Relax.
Now look into my eyes.
Yes.
Look deep into my eyes.
Think of nothing else.
Everything else is darkness.
There is no thought.
Nothing.
Only my eyes!
Now sleep.
Boris!
I want you to have Court position.
But you can't! I've been struck off from medical register.
I will have you struck on again!
Besides I need someone at court.
Sonia is no value or use to me. She's becoming a bore.
But it's madness. The doctors council will never stand for it.
They'll do whatever she tells them.
- I don't like. - Well, this could be the first step.
You might become minister of state!
I could do it.
Yes.
I know you could.
Your Dr. Siglov is no good to you.
No good.
- No! Please don't! - You will dismiss him.
And Appoint Dr. Zargo as your personal physician.
Do you understand?
I understand.
Congratulations, Doctor.
How are you feeling?
Better.
Oh, so much better!
You are so wonderful to me, Grigory.
Am I to understand that you are responsible for my dismissal today?
I know the Tsarina came here this morning...
and immediately on her return gave instructions that I was to be dismissed.
- I'm putting two and two together. - Well done.
You were right to say that the Tsarina was here today.
She had a headache but you weren't been able to cure.
- Imaginations. - I quite agree.
But nevertheless I was able to cure that imaginary headache, and you were not.
And you advised her to dismiss me.
Before you go, doctor there's somebody I like you to meet. Boris!
Stop meddling about with your foul concoctions and come out here!
Doctor, allow me to present your successor, Dr. Boris Zargo.
Zargo.
I know that name.
I'm very busy, Grigory.
Weren't you involved in some scandal?
You were struck off the medical register.
- Wait till the Tsarina hears this! - She already knows.
I always thought she was stupid.
- Now I know she is mad. - Doctor Siglov!
You're speaking about Her Imperial Majesty.
Take care...
or you may lose something more precious than just your job.
And you take care too, Rasputin.
You're turning on too many people. Before long, one of them may turn violent.
I tell you Ivan, Rasputin is using the Tsarina for his own filthy ends.
He'll twist her round his dirty little finger. You know how weak she is.
He'll twist her until he has her under his absolute power.
Then he'll destroy her, the court and all of us.
Unless we destroy him first.
You're not serious.
I have never been more serious in my life.
You mean murdering?
- Assassinating. - What's the difference?
- There's a great deal of difference. - Not to me!
I take it you refuse then.
I most certainly do.
Coward!
Peter, if didn't think you were half out of your mind, I'd make you regret that.
What is really wrong? It's Sonia, isn't it?
- She has been sleeping with him. - Yes, everybody knows that!
Peter, Peter! He makes no secret of anything that he does.
What do you want?
I wanted to be with you.
Is that strange?
It's boring.
What have I done, Grigory?
I'll tell what you have done. You've served your purpose.
I don't want to see you again!
- Go away, you disgust me! - I disgust myself.
Oh Grigory what do you want of me?
- What am I to do? - I'll tell you what to do, little Sonia!
Your pretty little friend Vanessa. Get her for me!
Devil!
I'll kill you, devil!
I'll kill you!
Devil!
Go home! Go home!
I'll kill you!
Look out! It's acid.
You want to kill me, Sonia? Kill me!
- Look at me! - No!
Look at me!
Now...
You will do exactly what I tell you to do.
You will leave here.
You want only to destroy yourself.
Grigory, no!
Do you understand?
You will go away...
and destroy yourself!
Where are you going, Boris?
Away, from you. Anywhere.
So little Boris wants to run away...
- After I've done so much for you! - Keep away from me, Rasputin.
I don't have to come after you! You little drunkard!
- I can destroy you any time I want. - You're mad, you realize that?
- You're insane. - Me?
Oh no, little Boris.
You're the one that is mad if you think you can do without me.
You can't! You'll come crawling back.
If you don't, I'll crush you, Boris.
I find you and I'll crush you!
Peter!
Oh... dear.
- You feel better for it? - Worse.
- What are we doing here? - You insisted on coming here, Peter.
- You remember the last time we were here? - Now, that's what you are to forget.
We were sitting here.
And they were sitting over there.
- I'm going to punch him... - Don't do such thing, sit down!
Hey, you there!
- Where is your friend? - Shut up, Peter.
Gentlemen, I wonder if I might ask you to spare me a minute?
- How dare you, you nothing, you drunk! - Come on!
I admit that I've been drinking,
but only enough to see things what they really are...
and to understand what must be done about Rasputin.
Believe me, I appreciate your feelings, but what I've to say is of most importance.
- Do we have to put with all this? - Alright gentlemen, we're closing now!
I really must talk to you. Isn't there anywhere we can go?
Please.
Alright.
My place.
He has the Tsarina in his absolute power.
Under hypnosis he can make her do whatever he wishes.
Do you understand what that means? He must be destroyed before he destroys us all!
- That's just what I told you! - It's not me I'm thinking off.
I... I died long time ago.
When you say destroyed, you mean just that? Kill him?
I mean that he must be killed. Yes!
- No, I can't be part of that. - I'm not asking you to assist in the actual elimination.
I will do that.
All I'm asking is...
You must forgive me for saying this.
But he has very much attracted to your beautiful sister.
- Vanessa! She hates him. - But he could never believe that.
All you have to so is to go and see him, I will tell you what to say.
If you use your sisters name to lure him into a rendezvous,
he will come, and I shall see to it that he never leaves alive.
Do it, Ivan!
For Sonia's sake.
Yes.
Poor little Sonia.
What do you mean "poor little Sonia"?
Well, she's...
Now what is it?
What has he done?
Tonight he...
He told her to go away and kill herself.
Peter!
Sonia!
My God!
He told her to do it.
Rasputin!
Rasputin! Come out, you devil!
I know you're there.
Yes, I'm here, Peter Vassilievich.
I am here.
What do you want with me, little Peter?
My sister is dead.
You killed her.
That was clever of me.
Without even touching her.
You told her to destroy herself.
She did as she was told, what a good little girl.
Poor little Peter.
Frightened in the dark.
Careful, Peter.
There are acids in here.
Good morning.
My name is Ivan Kolesnikov.
We have met before, though we were never introduced.
Uh, am I disturbing you?
- Yes. - Then I shan't take up too much of your time.
What do you want?
Oh, this is charming, charming, just as Vanessa described it.
- Vanessa? - My sister, she's lady-in-waiting for the Tsarina.
But then of course you know that.
Shall we go in?
Oh, how delightful! This is really charming!
Why are you here?
To our mutual benefit, I hope.
There's nothing you can do for me.
No?
Shall I leave then?
Say what you have to say.
I understand my sister very well.
She's constantly telling me...
if you forgive me, just how much she dislikes you.
In fact she talks of little else, you might say that she...
protests too much about you.
Go on...
Of course there is something you can do for me.
I admit that, otherwise I shouldn't be here.
What makes you think I'm interested in your sister?
She has noticed the way you look at her. How charming!
Now, I've been serving as a military attache and promotion is terribly slow.
There is a position becoming vacant in the Paris Embassy, which I want.
I want it very much.
I understand that you have some influence with the Tsarina in these matters.
I could help you, yes.
Thank you.
My gratitude will be boundless.
Of course we must keep up appearances, So she could not come here.
However, at her home there is a charming apartment,
just away from the house and the servants.
It has proved ideal in the past for... entertaining.
Supposed my carriage called for you here tonight at 10.
- I thought it was him. - No, not yet.
We will hear the carriage.
He is a pig!
He won't be able to resist these.
No, don't touch that,
it is poisoned too.
I suppose poison offends your code of etiquette?
You'd rather tell us into duel, pistol at twenty paces!?
I'm sorry.
- No news of your young friend? - No.
No one has seen him since he discovered Sonia's body.
- Are you sure you want to go through with it? - Yes, I am sure.
I must.
Him?
Yes, you better hurry.
Good evening.
This way.
It's safer than going through the house.
This way.
Not too opulent, but rather charming.
Well, where is she?
Calm down you'd hardly expect the lady to be here, would you?
I mean, for shear vanity... she must keep you waiting ten minutes.
Oh, yes, now the wine.
You do like it sweet, I'm told?!
I'll try to hurry her up for you.
Peter!
Don't... don't...
...touch.
In Gods name, how?
Ras...
putin.
Rasputin did this?
He won't die!
He is the devil!
I've tried to kill him, but he won't die!
Look out!
Help!
He's dead.
Boris.
He's...