TSAR'S DAUGHTER MARIE（6）

INT. PANTRY -- WINTER PALACE -- NIGHT

In the pantry, varieties of food supply heap here and there. Victor lies on a cot, moaning softly in pain. Marie brings in Anna and DR. EUGENE BOTKIN, the imperial family's physician, prematurely aged at fifty-two, tall and stout, with a gold-rimmed pince-nez perching midway down his nose.

Anna gently covers Victor with a blanket. Dr. Botkin uses a set of surgical instrument to have a bullet extracted from Victor's arm. Anna cleanses the wound before Dr. Botkin stitching it.

DR. BOTKIN

(to Marie)

Your friend has to take a rest. He'll be recovered soon.

MARIE

Thank you, Dr. Botkin.

IVAN KHARITONOV, the imperial chef, delivers a plateful of food.  He is a small but powerfully built man with black hair, a small black mustache and a hairy mole on his left cheek.

KHARITONOV

(to Victor)

I've brought you some food. Please enjoy it.

Kharitonov places the plate before Victor. On the plate are a loaf of bread, cheese, meat, biscuits and milk.

VICTOR

Thank you, thanks to all of you.

Marie looks at Victor, smiling and holding his hand.

MARIE

I recognize the man who took you necklace. I'm gonna get it back. I promise.

EXT. GARRISON -- DAY

Marie sneaks about the dorm building, watching for a chance to get in. Marie peeps through the window.

MARIE'S POV THROUGH THE WINDOW

The Sergeant weighs a necklace in his hand and tosses it into his wooden box. He buries the box into his pillow and approaches the window. He pokes his head out from the window and looks around. Then he shuts the window up and leaves. A gust of wind blows the window open again.

BACK TO SCENE

Marie hides behind the wall to keep herself out of sight.

INT. DORM -- GARRISON -- DAY

Marie slips into the Sergeant's dorm and fumbles about into his pillow. She clutches the box, flings it open, grabs the necklace and throws the box on the bed.

Before Marie leaves, the Sergeant comes back and sees Marie. As he tries to snatch the necklace from Marie's hand, the Sergeant recognizes Marie.

SERGEANT

Oh, my God, Your Highness, Grand Duchess Marie, why are you gonna take my jewel? You've got a lot, a lot.

MARIE

You dunce thief, you robbed my friend. I'm gonna retrieve what you've stolen from my friend.

Marie picks up the box, hurls it through the window and rushes out of the room, laughing all the way gloatingly.

Leaning himself against the window sill, The Sergeant looks out of the window for his box shattered on the ground with a THUD. The Sergeant jabbers, saliva foaming over his lips.

SERGEANT

(crying)

Oh, my box, my treasury. Oh, my jewels massed bit by bit so hard.

INT. PANTRY -- WINTER PALACE -- DAY

Victor lies on the cot. Marie jingles the retrieved necklace in front of his face.

MARIE

Your necklace, I've got it back as I promised.

VICTOR

Oh, Marie, thank you so much. You're the angel God send me.

MARIE

You're the happiness God bring me.

Victor gets into ecstasy, holding Marie in his arms, kissing her on the forehead.

INT. KITCHEN -- WINTER PALACE -- DAY

Victor enters with his wounded arm in the sling. Marie pretends to scrub the floor as a maid has to do.

VICTOR

I have to go tonight. I've got a task to fulfill.

MARIE

What task?

VICTOR

I'll tell you later.

MAREI

Look at your coat, you missed a button. Let me sew one on your coat.

VICTOR

Are you able to sew?

MARIE

Of course, I've learnt to do needlework.

Marie takes out a sewing kit from the maids' cabinet and rips a shining blue button off her own coat. With needle and thread, Marie sews the button onto Victor's coat, stitching before his breast where his heart beats.

Victor closes his eyes and sniffs Marie's hair. Marie flicks the lint off his coat.

MARIE (CONT'D)

This button is made of sapphire, so it's worth something.

VICTOR

To me, it's precious because it's from you. Otherwise, it may not be valuable.

MARIE

Do you think so? You really think I'm important to you?

VICTOR

Yes, absolutely.

Marie finishes sewing and tries to cut the thread off with her teeth. Victor's eyes fall upon Marie while her head approaches his heart and her teeth cut the thread. Marie raises her head. They gaze at each other.

Victor takes out his necklace and puts it on Marie's neck. Marie appears surprised and joyful.

MARIE

You give it to me?

VICTOR

Yes. I want you to have it.

Marie hugs and kisses Victor on the cheek. He grins sheepishly, fondling the sapphire button.

MARIE

Thank you, Victor. It's unbelievable.

EXT. WINTER PALACE -- NIGHT

A cart waits at the back door. Victor kisses Marie goodbye and hurries to jump into the cart driven off by the Chef Ivan Kharitonov.