TSAR'S DAUGHTER MARIE（7）

INT. VICTOR'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

Victor and a BURLY MAN sit opposite each other. The burly man places a sharpened KNIFE on the table in front of Victor.

VICTOR

Who are you?

BURLY MAN

Whoever, it doesn't matter.

VICTOR

Are you Bolshevik? German agent? Or camarilla?

BURLY MAN

(angrily)

It's not important who I am.

VICTOR

What do you want me to do?

BURLY MAN

You'd take this good opportunity, after the ballet performance, among the tumult of leaving audiences, shadowed by darkness.

VICTOR

Are you sure the Tsar's gonna attend the performance?

BURLY MAN

I'm quite sure because Matilda Kshessinska will dance in Pharaoh's Daughter, a new ballet.

VICTOR

So what?

BURLY MAN

You know what? Matilda was the Tsar's mistress before his marriage. He'd never miss her grand opening of a new great performance.

VICTOR

Okay, for revenging my father, I'll risk my life to kill the Tsar. I'll go, whatever.

Victor stands up, grabs the knife and tucks it into his coat.

EXT. IMPERIAL THEATER -- NIGHT

Hung on the wall are posters of PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER with the list of the names of the leading ballet performers: Matilda Kshessinska and George Balanchine.

INT. IMPERIAL THEATER -- NIGHT

Sitting in the imperial box, Nicholas and his family watch the performance.

MATILDA KSHESSINSKA dances more and more fouettes in the storm of applause. GEORGE BALANCHINE, playing a monkey, romps nimbly in the treetop and is hit by Kshessinska's arrows. The AUDIENCES burst out laughing.

EXT. IMPERIAL THEATER -- NIGHT

Victor elbows his way through the crowd toward the gate, followed by the burly man.

Crowds of AUDIENCE step out of the gate, among them are Nicholas and his family, followed by the armed guards.

The burly man gives a signal to act. Victor swiftly advances toward Nicholas and takes out his KNIFE to stab.

Before the tip of the knife reaches Nicholas, Marie leaps forward and throws herself in front of her father to shield him with her body. The knife stops going in front of Marie's bosom. Marie and Victor stare at each other.

MARIE

(crying)

Victor, don't kill my father.

VICTOR

Your father? He's the Tsar.

MARIE

(crying desperately)

The Tsar is my father. My father is the Tsar.

Several guards huddle together to pull Victor away. One guard uses a bayonet to stab Victor in the heart again and again, but fails to stab through the body. Other guards fire the gun at Victor but miss him. The guards arrest Victor and bind his arms together.

MARIE (CONT'D)

(yelling)

Victor, go, go. Let him go. Father, order the guards to release him, let him go, please.

INT. VICTOR'S CELL -- JAIL -- GARRISON -- DAY

In the dim cell, Victor sits on the damp cement floor. Marie, carrying a basket of food, walks through the corridor and reaches Victor's cell. The jailer unlocks the door to let Marie in. Victor sees Marie and stands up.

MARIE

Victor, it's me.

VICTOR

(roaring angrily)

You go, get out of here. I don't want to see you. You lied to me. You're a liar. You damned liar.

MARIE

I'm so sorry I lied to you. I lied because I want to be with you. I want to be with you because I love you.

VICTOR

You love me? You're the Tsar's daughter and, and I'm a poor orphan. What a joke.

MARIE

It's not a joke, Victor. I lied because I want you to accept me.

VICTOR

I accept you? Your father killed my father, how come I accept my enemy's daughter?

MARIE

Enemy or friend, whatever, I really love you. My love is true, believe me, please.

VICTOR

I hate you. I hate myself. I'm so stupid, falling for you. I'm an idiot, helpless idiot.

MARIE

Oh, Victor, don't hate me. Please don't hate me.

Marie approaches Victor. Victor retreats. Marie steps forward to hold Victor's hand. Victor withdraws his hand from Marie's.

VICTOR

Don't touch me. The Tsar killed my father, so he's my enemy.  You're the Tsar's daughter, so you're my enemy too.

MAREI

I'm not your enemy. I'm gonna to save you. I'd beg my father to release you, set you free. I've brought you food and clothes.

Marie fumbles to unpack the basket to show Victor food and clothes.

VICTOR

Get out, get out of here. Go back to your palace. The Jail is not the place for you.

MARIE

I'll stay where you're. As long as you're in jail, the jail is my place.

Marie sits down on the cement ground. Her tears well out of her eyes and drip down on the necklace sent her by Victor.  Victor is softened and sits down by Marie's side, caressing the sapphire button on his coat before his breast. Victor turns Marie's head toward him and wipes tears off her face.

VICTOR

Marie, I must tell you that you've saved my life.

MARIE

I've saved your life? How? What do you mean?

VICTOR

Actually, the sapphire button you gave me saved me. The guard stabbed me three times, aiming at my heart, but poking on the button.

MARIE

Ha, really? It's amazing. Victor, I'd rescue you. Trust me. I'll get you out. I'll find a way to get you out. You just wait, wait for me.