EXT. STREETS -- TOBOLSK -- APRIL 22, 1918 -- DAY

Through flying snow, horses race along the frozen road. Ahead of a mounted detachment of the soldiers, Vasily, now a direct emissary from the Central Executive Committee in Moscow, dressed in a naval uniform, rides towards the Governor's House. Victor gallops and catches up with Vasily. They ride side by side.

VICTOR

Cousin Vasily, now anyone must obey you, as a Central Executive Committee plenipotentiary.

VASILY

Um, Sverdlov handed me the mandate bearing the signatures of Lenin and Sverdlov that obligate everyone to facilitate my mission.

VICTOR

So, our task is to bring the Tsar's family to Moscow, isn't it?

VASILY

Shh, the powerful mandate states nothing about the purpose or destination.

VICTOR

Will a trial be arranged for People versus Tsar? Trotsky will be so eager and excited to orate as the plaintiff.

VASILY

It sounds romantic, but...

VICTOR

Well, I guess, we'll take them out of Tobolsk and down the frozen Tobol to Tyumen railroad station. Then...

VASILY

Then, shut your fucked mouth up.

VICTOR

Come on, Cousin Vasily, tell me the plan, just between you and me.

VASILY

Why are you so interested in the detail of a state secrecy?

VICTOR

Since one of the prisoners is my friend.

VASILY

Who? What kind of friend? Man or woman?

VICTOR

A lover, my girlfriend, the only woman I'd like to marry. So...

VASILY

So what?

VICTOR

I'm gonna rescue her and elope with her. Are you satisfied?

VASILY

Victor, I'm shocked. How come you creep in my detachment to fool around? Do you know who I am?

VICTOR

Of course I know. You're my dear cousin. You cherish me and I adore you.

VASILY

I'm not talking about our blood relationship. What I mean is my political status. I'm a Bolshevik, a Soviet Commissar, a Cheka member. I order you to leave me right away, right now.

VICTOR

You damned fool, kick me out? Huh? No way. Fuck you. I'll follow you to the hell.

Vasily rides at a full gallop. Victor follows closely.

EXT. GOVERNOR'S HOUSE -- TOBOLSK -- DAY

Vasily's men arrive and gather at the gate. Vasily approaches Victor, patting him on the shoulder.

VASILY

(whispering)

Cooperate and collaborate with me, okay?

VICTOR

Okay, Comrade Conspirator.

Vasily shows Colonel Kobylinsky his credentials.

VASILY

I'm Vasily Yakovlev, the new Extraordinary Commissar of the Central Executive Committee. I'm entrusted with a mission of special importance and empowered to shoot anyone who disobey.  On orders of the Soviet government, the members of the Special Detachment are placed directly under my authority and instructed to cooperate with my demands.

KOBYLINSKY

What's your special mission?

VASILY

To take the Tsar and his family out of Tobolsk.

KOBYLINSKY

As long as I live, I won't permit the imperial family to be taken away, unless I'm convinced that no harm will be done to them.

VASILY

No harm, of course.

KOBYLINSKY

What'd you like to do?

VASILY

May we inspect the house?

KOBYLINSKY

This way, please.

INT. CORRIDOR -- GOVERNOR'S HOUSE -- DAY

Kobylinsky escorts Vasily to inspect the house, followed by Victor and other heavily armed soldiers. With his comrades at his heels, Vasily rushes from one room to another, poking his head through doorways.

Near the end of the corridor, Nicholas steps out of his room, followed by Alexandra and the four grand duchesses.  Victor glimpses Marie among her family and pulls his fur hat lower to hide his face.

VASILY

Are you satisfied with the guards? Any complaints?

NICHOLAS

No, no complaints. Very... pleased.

VASILY

May I meet Alexei Nikolaievich?

NICHOLAS

Alexei is quite ill.

VASILY

It's extremely important that I see him.

NICHOLAS

Well, all right, but only you alone.

INT. DOORWAY -- ALEXEI'S BEDROOM -- DAY

Nicholas leads Vasily to the doorway. Standing in the doorway, Vasily takes a look at Alexei who, pale and frail, lies sick in bed and keeps his eyes and lips closed.

VASILY

What's your son's problem?

NICOLAS

Alexei injured himself while tobogganing down the main staircase. He is suffering his worse attack of hemophilia and has been confined to his bed since.

DR. BOTKIN

Hemophilia is a severe hereditary bleeding disease. After any injury, the blood wouldn't clot in the normal way.

INT. CORRIDOR -- DAY

As other soldiers follow Nicholas and Vasily toward Alexei's bedroom, Victor approaches Marie and pulls at her coat.

MARIE

(exclaiming)

Oh, Good heavens, I can't believe you're here.

VICTOR

(whispering)

Shh, listen, try to leave this house with your parents. Then, on the way, we can escape together. Be sure to get out of this house, get out!

Victor hastens to join the other soldiers following Vasily, leaving alone Marie astonished with widely open eyes.

INT. CORRIDOR -- DAY

While walking ahead, Vasily turns his head toward Nicholas and waves his hand.

VASILY

May I talk to you privately?

ALEXANDRA

Why should you want to speak to the Emperor alone? I never leave him alone to speak with anyone.

Vasily stops walking and nods to allow the empress to remain.

VASILY

We are to move your family from Tobolsk. If Alexei is too sick to travel, we may take Nicholas and leave the family here.

NICHOLAS

Where are you taking me?

VASILY

I can't reveal the destination now.

NICHOLAS

In that case, I will not leave.

VASILY

I beg you not to refuse. I'm compelled to execute the order. In case of your refusal, I must take you by force or resign. Think about a less scrupulous sort of man to take my position.

Alexandra is agitated and screams hysterically, pacing up and down the corridor, her fists clenched.

ALEXANDRA

What are you going to do with him? How can you tear him away from his family? How? His son is sick.  He can't go. He must stay with us. How cruel you are.

VASILY

Calm down, I'm responsible with my life for your security. If you don't want your husband to go alone, you may go with him.

ALEXANDRA

If he is taken alone, he'll do something stupid, like he did before. I can't let him go alone, I can't.

VASILY

Be ready, we're leaving tomorrow at four o'clock.