JUST ONE INCH

OVER BLACK

The sound of many horses GALLOPING.

FADE IN:

SUPER: RUSSIAN EMPIRE, AUGUST 1897

EXT. DIRT ROAD – NIGHT

It’s very dark, but in the moonlight we can see many horsemen in red Russian Royal uniforms, wool hats, tall black boots, with their long sabers holstered at their sides.

They gallop closer and closer. Besides the sound of their HOOVES, the horses WHINNY and SNORT.

Dust flies up from the dirt road as they rush through a charming rustic village of unpainted wooden houses with grass growing on the roofs.

EXT. WOODEN HOUSE – NIGHT

HAPPY RUSSIAN MUSIC is heard coming from one of the candlelit houses in the distance.

The music gets LOUDER as the horsemen approach the house.

INT. WOODEN HOUSE – NIGHT

VLADIMIR KAMINSKAYA (30’s, in peasant tunic clothes, reddish hair, glasses, short mustache, short red beard) SINGS as he plays RUSSIAN b b MUSIC on his BALALAIKA in a large candlelit room

His 20-ish wife SVETLANA (small mole on her right cheek, apron over her plain peasant skirt and blouse) dances in front of the fireplace with their barefoot daughter, FOUR-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH (reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, in a smock).

EXT. WOODEN HOUSE – NIGHT

The horsemen stop in front of the house.

One rider, SERGEI ABRAMEVICH (with very long mustache) jumps off his horse. He approaches the door as another soldier holds

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onto Sergei’s reins.

Sergei BANGS on the door. He twirls the end of his mustache, then BANGS again.

The MUSIC STOPS.

INT. WOODEN HOUSE – NIGHT

Elizabeth rushes to look out through the lace curtains in the window. Vladimir quickly follows.

Elizabeth's face lights up with excitement and a big smile.

FOUR-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH

Horsees.

Vladimir looks out. His eyes widen in fear, jaw drops. He turns around, signals with a quivering finger over his mouth to Svetlana and Elizabeth to be quiet. He grabs

Elizabeth’s arm, scurries her to Svetlana.

POUNDING on the door startles Elizabeth. She SCREAMS.

Svetlana angrily motions to Vladimir to go open the door.

Vladimir shakes his head, afraid. Svetlana motions insisting he do.

Elizabeth notices her father’s fear, starts to CRY, hides behind her mother. Svetlana picks her up, tries to comfort her.

EXT. WOODEN HOUSE – NIGHT

The rusty door CREAKS as it opens slowly.

Vladimir is shocked to see the man at his door.

He looks at the other men on horses behind, all look similar with long mustaches and long beards. He notices

two rider-less horses.

He looks at SERGEI whose face is lit by the candlelight coming from inside. Sergei holds his chin high, a sign of his arrogance and pride.

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SERGEI

Are you Vladimir Kaminskaya?

Vladimir nods nervously, looks at the men on horses again.

SERGEI (CONT’D)

I am Sergei Abramevich of his

Majesty’s Royal Court. Tsar

Nicolas II demands your presence.

You are to come with us.

Vladimir’s body shakes in dreaded fear.

VLADIMIR

But why? I have done nothing wrong.

Svetlana rushes to Vladimir holding Elizabeth. She stands directly behind him, looks out to see all the riders. The sight of Sergei frightens Elizabeth. She hugs her mother as she averts her eyes.

SERGEI

(to Vladimir)

Get on the horse. I have no timeto

explain. His Royal Highness awaits.

SVETLANA

Vladimir, what’s happening? Are

you being arrested?

VLADIMIR

I don’t know, Svetlana. Go back inside.

Svetlana stays at the door as she and Elizabeth watch Vladimir and Sergei mount the horses and GALLOP off.

EXT. WINTER PALACE – NIGHT

Vladimir, Sergei, and the horsemen ride under an arch to enter the red with yellow trimmed palace. Only the sound of the horses’ HOOVES

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on the cobblestones is heard.

INT. GREAT THRONE ROOM – NIGHT

Vladimir sweats profusely as he follows Sergei through white gilded doors revealing a long ornate rectangular room. The sound of PEOPLE TALKING suddenly stops.

As Vladimir walks, he looks up at the three-tiered chandeliers and the white columns along the sides of the room. He notices several people looking at him as they walk along the second-floor balcony that surrounds the room.

MUFFLED VOICES are heard as Vladimir and Sergei walk closer towards the Tsar (29) seated in the distance.

TSAR NICHOLAS II, who wears a black uniform with a gold epaulette on each shoulder, light blue sash with lots of medals, sits on his red and gold throne. He speaks MOS to his wife, the TSARINA, seated next to him.

Sergei stops at the bottom of the red carpeted stairs leading up to the Tsar. He quickly bows.

Vladimir copies the bow.

SERGEI

Your Majesty.

He backs up, joins many other men in uniform at the side.

Vladimir fearfully stands alone in front of the first step to the throne. It is eerily quiet now.

He notices the wall behind the Tsar having a two-headed gold eagle on red tapestry, the Tsar’s symbol of power.

Vladimir has a closer look at the handsome Tsar with well-trimmed beard, thick mustache curved to his ears, receding

hairline.

He eyes the Tsar’s stunning German wife, ALEXANDRA

(reddish-brown hair, large blue eyes), seated to the left

of the Tsar holding their 6-month baby daughter, TATIANA.

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He notices the Tsarina’s elaborately embroidered white lace dress, blue sash, pearl necklace, diamond and pearl crown.

The display of jewels is over-the-top exhibiting great wealth.

Vladimir gulps.

The Tsar furrows his brows as he takes note of Vladimir eyeing his wife.

The baby squirms and CRIES in the Tsarina’s lap.

TSARINA ALEXANDRA

Hush, Tatiana.

Vladimir sees a daughter, OLGA (2, blue eyes, light chestnut hair, short snubby nose), dressed like the Tsarina. She sits on the floor next to her mother.

Alexandra looks to the plain-looking Irish Nanny, MARGARETTA, on her left who speaks with a Limerick accent.

TSARINA ALEXANDRA (CONT’D)

Margaretta, take Olga and Tatiana to the nursery.

MARGARETTA

Yes, Your Majesty.

Nicholas impatiently watches the Nanny leave with the children then looks sternly at Vladimir.

TSAR NICHOLAS

You are Vladimir Kaminskaya?

Vladimir nods his head slowly in a kind of bow.

VLADIMIR

I am, Your Majesty.

TSAR NICHOLAS

I am told you are the only one

in the village who knows how to

read and write. Is that so?

6.

VLADIMIR

Yes, Sire, in seven languages,

French, English, Italian, Russian,

German, Polish, and Yiddish.

The Tsar’s posture straightens. He furrows his brows, looks displeased, and speaks with a condescending tone.

TSAR NICHOLAS

You are a Jew?

Vladimir looks down, fearful of what might happen if he says “yes”. Big SIGH before he looks up at the Tsar.

VLADIMIR

(sotto voce)

Yes, Sire.

Vladimir looks at Sergei, then nervously back at the Tsar.

His forehead sweats profusely.

VLADIMIR (CONT’D)

Your Majesty, is that a problem?

The Tsar again speaks in a condescending tone.

TSAR NICHOLAS

I thought my father, Tsar

Alexander, expelled all the

Jews during the Pogrom.

Vladimir looks sadly down at the floor.

Nicholas studies Vladimir for a few silent seconds.

Vladimir raises his head, speaks with emotion in his voice.

VLADIMIR

Your Majesty, have I done

something wrong? Am I being

accused of something?

Nicholas looks at his wife, who smiles. The Tsar smiles back, relaxes his posture.

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TSAR NICHOLAS

Vladimir Kaminskaya, I have

heard you are a good man, that

you are a hard worker and do

as you are told.

Vladimir nods his head over and over nervously in agreement

TSAR NICHOLAS (CONT’D)

I have decided that you will be

my scribe. You will write the

legal documents and laws as I

decree. You will also write my

messages so the leaders of other

countries who do not speak our

language will understand what I

am saying. You will also

translate all replies and books

I wish to read. Do you understand?

Vladimir is relieved, smiles.

VLADIMIR

Yes, Sire.

TSAR NICHOLAS

You will always be available to

me. You will live in a guest

room at each palace with your

wife and child, and you will be

well-provided.

The Tsarina nods.

TSARINA ALEXANDRA

I hear your wife is a good cook.

Vladimir’s eyebrows rise, surprised the Tsarina knows that.

VLADIMIR

Yes, a great cook, Your Majesty.

She makes the most delicious

breaded cutlets.

TSAR NICHOLAS

Well then, she will cook

alongside my chef, Pierre Cubat.

8.

VLADIMIR

She will be honored, Your Majesty.

Nicholas leans forward in his throne, looks sternly him.

TSAR NICHOLAS

You will be carefully watched at

all times Vladimir Kaminskaya.

You and your family will not

leave this palace or its gardens

for any reason unless I command

it. Again, do you understand?

Vladimir nods.

Tsar Nicholas motions Sergei to come forward.

TSAR NICHOLAS (CONT’D)

Sergei here, will show you to

your quarters. We will start

in the morning.

VLADIMIR

Yes, Sire. Thank you.

Nicholas waves them away.

Vladimir and Sergei bow as they walk backwards a few steps, then turn around, and head for the door.

Vladimir leans closer to Sergei.

VLADIMIR (CONT’D)

(sotto voce)

What happened to the last scribe?

SERGEI

He was executed for disobeying

the Tsar.

Vladimir’s eyes widen.

SUPER: PETERHOF PALACE, 1901

INT. PETERHOF PALACE KITCHEN – DAY

YOUNG ELIZABETH (8) stands on a chair next to a long wooden kitchen table. Behind her is a wall having blue and white

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glazed Dutch tiles. She watches as Svetlana (in chef’s attire of white pinafore apron over a black dress) gathers a bowl, flour, and honey.

SVETLANA

(smiling)

Lizzie, someday you’ll have a

family of your own, so it is

important for you to learn how

to cook.

YOUNG ELIZABETH

I want to cook just like you, Mama.

French CHEF PIERRE CUBAT walks by carrying a large roasted pig on a silver platter. He speaks with a French accent.

CHEF CUBAT

What? You don’t like my cooking?

YOUNG ELIZABETH

I do, but I like Mama’s better.

Chef Cubat looks at Svetlana. Svetlana shrugs as she smiles, then looks at Elizabeth.

SVETLANA

Lizzie, Pierre is a famous chef.

Cubat lifts his chin in pride, sets the pig on the table.

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