DISSOLVED TO:

EXT. WINTER PALACE -- PETROGRAD -- DAY

SUPEROVER: JANUARY 1917, WINTER PALACE, PETROGRAD

WINTER PALACE, situated in the heart of PETROGRAD, is erected among other grandiose palaces and ornate churches with spectacular sizes, sparkling colors and extravagant decorations.

INT. LIVING ROOM -- WINTER PALACE -- PETROGRAD -- DAY

Hung on the wall is a PHOTOGRAPH of Nicholas II and his family. Nicholas appears serene and poker-faced behind his beard and mustache. Alexandra freezes her beautiful but firm features. Their FOUR DAUGHTERS, OLGA NIKOLAIEVNA, TATIANA NIKOLAIEVNA, MARIE NIKOLAIEVNA AND ANASTASIA NIKOLAIEVNA, are all lovely and unaffected. Their SON, ALEXEI NIKOLAIEVICH, seems sickly thin and cherubic in his blue sailor suit.

Olga, the eldest daughter of twenty-two, has light chestnut hair and deep blue eyes. Sitting by the window, she paints a PORTRAIT for Anastasia who, in her pink tutus and pointe shoes, tries to pose ARABESQUE on tiptoe.

Witty and vivacious Anastasia, the fourth and youngest daughter of sixteen, appears roguish and rebellious with boyish frame, flat auburn shoulder-length hair and luminescent blue eyes.

OLGA

Anastasia, straighten your legs. Don't flex your knees.

ANASTASIA

Please paint fast. Don't let me pose too long. My legs are sore.

OLGA

Don't bend forward too much. You've almost buried your face in your arm. Am I supposed to paint an ugly duckling?

ANASTASIA

Oh, no, Sister dear, please paint me as beautiful as a swan.

OLGA

Marie, Marie, come on. Help Anastasia pose arabesque gracefully.

Marie, the most beautiful and plump third daughter of eighteen, has thick golden hair and deep blue eyes. Standing by the grand PIANO, she turns pages of the music for Tatiana who plays BACH'S GAVOTTE.

Marie turns her head to look at Anastasia's ridiculous ballet position and cannot help laughing and teasing.

MARIE

Hey, Olga, are you gonna paint a funny clown, instead of a graceful ballerina?

Marie pirouettes and prances about to gawky Anastasia, lifts her high in the air and whirls her across the room.  Anastasia giggles and mimics clown's expression. JEMMY, the imperial dog romps, running after them.

Tatiana, the subservient second daughter of twenty, has graceful long lean figure and fine haughty features. Her FINGERS sweep the keys of the piano. She stops playing piano, annoyed at her sisters' silliness.

TATIANA

Ladies, be quiet. I'm practicing Bach. Don't bother me.

Marie puts Anastasia down. They stop teasing and make faces at each other. Tatiana resumes her piano practicing.

Marie helps Anastasia stretch her arms and straighten her flexed knees, and then raise her chin.

ANASTASIA

(protesting)

Don't pull my muscles so forcibly. You hurt me.

MARIE

Stop complaining, tomboy. You should relax and stand on one straight leg, with one arm extended forward and the other arm and leg backward.

Olga nods her appreciation as Marie improves Anastasia's ballet position.

At the corner, Alexei plays with his TOYS: miniature castles, tin soldiers, mechanically operated ships and trains. Alexei has a long finely-chiseled face, delicate features, auburn hair and large blue-grey eyes.

KLEMENTY NAGORNY, Alexei's male sailor-nanny, patiently attends to Alexei and watches him play. Nagorny, twenty-eight years old, is tall and muscular, with huge shoulders, jet black hair and gray eyes.

Alexei glances at his sisters.

ALEXEI

Make more scenes, Sisters. I'm fond of fun.

Alexandra enters, followed by her maid ANNA DEMIDOVA, thirty-nine years old, tall and statuesque, with light blond hair and blue eyes.

ALEXANDRA

Who is making a scene? I distaste for anything hinted at idleness. My daughters are taught never to be frivolous.

ANASTASIA

Mama, all of us are doing things useful, without exception.

ALEXANDRA

Olga, you're the eldest and must set an example of what a good obedient girl ought to behave.

OLGA

(clashing with her mother)

Mama, we behave quite properly. All of us are real ladies.

ALEXANDRA

Marie, what are you doing now? You should be studious.

MARIE

Mama, don't let me take piano or ballet lessons. I'm not so talented.

ALEXANDRA

No talent for an artist? Well, how about needlework?

MARIE

Needlework? Embroidery? Me? Don't scare me, Mama.

ALEXANDRA

Anna, teach the Grand Duchess Marie how to do needlework. To begin with, sew a button.

ANNA

Yes, Your Majesty.

MARIE

Oh, help me, my God.

Marie watches and follows Anna who passes one end of the thread through the eye of a needle and sews the button onto a coat. Marie practices sewing buttons.

MARIE (CONT'D)

Hey, I've done. Thank you, Anna.

ANNA

You're welcome, Your Highness, well done.

ALEXANDRA

See? You're so smart that you can do anything as long as you try to learn.

MARIE

Mama, I love you so much.

Cheek by jowl with her mother, Marie embraces Alexandra warmly. Alexandra remains cool.