TSAR'S DAUGHTER MARIE（24）

EXT. GARDEN -- IPATIEV HOUSE -- DAY

A chain of the sentries stand guard with sabers and rifles, while the Romanovs take a walk in the garden.

Nicholas stumbles over some tools and falls on the ground. He stands himself on his feet and picks up a HATCHET and a SAW. He uses the hatchet and the saw to chop and saw firewood. He sweats and flushes, appearing griefless.

Avdayev rushes up to Nicholas and snatches the hatchet from his hand.

AVDAYEV

No weaponry is allowed to prisoners.

NICHOLAS

I'm fond of physical exercise.

AVDAYEV

You're not supposed to do whatever you'd like to do. Get in the house.

INT. DRAWING ROOM -- EASTER -- DAY

The Romanovs and their retainers huddle around the stove to warm themselves, listening to the gusts of wind howling out side of the whitewashed windows.

MARIE

Papa, it may be God's will that we have to suffer, during the holy days of the Lord's Passion, at the time of His Crucifixion.

NICHOLAS

Yes, dear, we've learnt from sermons that the Christian enduring misfortunes or sufferings must not doubt in God's goodness and wisdom and must guess how much of God's will is manifested in them.

ALEXANDRA

We have to contemplate during the Easter that sufferings are a reward.

The double doors are opened. Avdayev leads a PRIEST and his DEACON into the room, followed by Victor. Avdayev nods to the prisoners and leaves. Victor remains, his eyes searching for Marie. Marie smiles at Victor.

While FATHER and his deacon conduct the Easter Service of Intercession, Victor and a few guards join in the ceremony. Victor takes a peek at Marie who pretends to listen to Father attentively. Marie flashes a surreptitious glance at Victor who pretends to ignore her.

INT. BALLROOM -- GOVERNOR'S HOUSE -- TOBOLSK -- DAY

Olga and her siblings, accompanied by some servants, decorate a portable iconostasis in a corner with flowers and boughs of spruce.

A PRIEST comes in and sings the LITURGY for them.

INT. DINING ROOM -- GOVERNOR'S HOUSE -- TOBOLSK -- NIGHT

Olga and her siblings have their Easter meal. On the table are vegetable broth, turkey, salami, ham and salad.

INT. BEDROOM -- GOVERNOR'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

While Olga hastens to unfold a letter, Tatiana and Anastasia stare at her eagerly.

ANASTASIA

Mama's letter? Please read it, hurry up, Sis.

OLGA

(reading the letter)

...How is Alexei? God be with you. Our belongings have all been searched, even our medicines...

ANASTASIA

Medicines?

TATIANA

(whispering)

Shh, medicines mean our family jewels. Mother told us if we got this message, we'd conceal our remaining jewelry, wherever.

OLGA

So, let's dispose of the medicines. Come on.

A pile of clothes scatter on the beds. Sitting in the chairs, the three grand duchesses and their servants wrap diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts and pearls in wadding and with black silk, cover the wadding with two garments, and then sew the garments together.

They rip the buttons off their blouses and the sashes of their cheviots and sew pearl into them instead. They fill in their hats with varieties of precious stones between the linen and the velvet. Strings of diamond sewn on their camisoles look like stars spreading in the sky.

RODIONOV, a new vicious Ural Soviet Commissar about thirty, knocks the door. They hurry up to conceal clothes and jewelry with blankets. One maid opens the door, shivering. Rodionov draws his pistol and stands in the doorway. The footman Trupp hurries to follow the Commissar.

TRUPP

What's the matter, Sir?

RODIONOV

Tell the young ladies that they may not close the door to their bedchamber at night.

TRUPP

It's absolutely impossible, Sir.  Your guards walk back and forth in front of the door when the ladies are awake, let alone when they're asleep.

RODIONOV

Do as I've ordered you to do. Otherwise, I'll shoot you where you stand.

Rodionov waves his pistol while talking.

TRUPP

Yes, Sir, but...

RODIONOV

I'll mount a couple of sentries on the door at night.

INT. BALLROOM -- MORNING

Rodionov institutes a roll call for the prisoners, counting them wit his index. The prisoners step forth to reply his call.

RODIONOV

Are you Olga Nikolaievna?

OLGA

Yes.

RODIONOV

Are you Tatiana Nikolaievna?

TATIANA

Yes.

RODIONOV

Anastasia Nikolaievna?

ANASTASIA

Oh, yes, Sir, I'm here.

RODIONOV

I'm ordered to bring you to your parents as soon as Alexei can travel. So, be ready.

EXT. GOVERNOR'S HOUSE -- DAWN

A long line of CARTS draws up before the house, stretching along the fenced-in roadway. The guards, standing armed with rifles, watch soldiers and servants load the luggage on the carts.

Nagorny carries Alexei in his arms and places him inside the carriage. Olga, Tatiana and Anastasia, dressed in their traveling suits, step out of the house, followed by their twenty-seven retainers.