The Testament: Screenplay About the Life of Alexei Nicholaevich

The following scene takes place within the first 15-20 minutes.  Yes, I said this screenplay is about the life of Alexei Nicholaevich yet he is not in this scene.  This scene shows Pierre Gilliard being briefed, as it were, by Alexandra on the situation regarding the early stages of the Revolution.  Anyway, enjoy . . . and let me know what you thing.

INT. – ALEXANDRA’S MAUVE BUDOIR (ALEXANDER PALACE) - AFTERNOON
Alexandra and Pierre enter.  They face each other.

ALEXANDRA
Pierre, Petrograd has fallen to the revolutionaries.  The Duma has set up a provisional government with Rodzianko as its head.

PIERRE
Dear God in heaven.

ALEXANDRA
The Duma has shown itself equal to the occasion.  I think it has realized the danger, which is threatening the country, but I’m afraid it is too late.  A Revolutionary-Socialist Committee has been formed which will not recognize the authority of the Provisional Government or The Tsar.

PIERRE
Have you heard from his majesty?

ALEXANDRA
Yes, Pierre, he shall be here at six in the morning, but he has delivered a direct proclamation.
(PAUSE)We shall abandon Tsarskoe-Selo and depart for Gatchina, or else go to meet him.  Please make all arrangements for Alexei’s departure.

PIERRE
Your majesty, he and the girls are ill with measles-would it be safe to transport them?

Nagorny enters.

NAGORNY
I have the gravest of news.  The revolutionaries have seized the entire railway network in Petrograd.  His majesty will not be able to return to Petrograd safely.  Nor can we leave for Gatchina.

Alexandra looks down.

NAGORNY
There is more, your majesty.  The revolutionaries are expected to breech Tsarskoe-Selo by this evening.

ALEXANDRA
Double the guards at the garrison.

NAGORNY
Yes, your majesty.

ALEXANDRA
Inform the port that we shall be arriving shortly.  Ready the Standart for departure to England.  George must accept our arrival.

NAGORNY
Your majesty, the port has also been taken by the revolutionaries.  There is no way to escape-without their permission.

ALEXANDRA (PASSIVE)
I see----Nagorny, double the guards at the garrison.

DISSOLVE TO:

Anyway, that is a just a taste of things to come . . . next Wednesday.

Warmest of Regards,

Aaron P. Glaeser

UMMMMM
  Are we allowed to comment on any of this? Or is this just your personal rehearsal space?

rskkiya

(I promise to NEVER reproduce any of this 'stuff'...)

A few things I don't understand.

As fas as I know, Alexandra never gave orders to abandon the Alexander Palace for Gatchina, she refused to leave the palace before. Why would she go there, no other palace would be safe, the revolutonaries were on their way to Tsarskoe.
She would never leave without Nicholas and the children were too ill.

Why was it Nagorny who brought the news, I should expect Count Beckendorff brought such news to Alexandra.
Was Nagorny in the possition to give orders?

Only some thoughts.

Anna

   Considering the fact that as far as we know Alixandra hated the Duma and the entire notion of participatory government--I highly doubt that she would have thought that "the Duma had shown itself equal to the occasion..." Is this sarcasm?
  Sorry, but the dialogue really seems wooden --are you aiming at an "educational program" or at popular drama?

everyone hates a critic
rskkiya

everyone hates a critic rskkiya

Depends how you handle it, contructive or scathing.

Anna

I would add that Alexandra would not call him "Pierre" but monsieur Gilliard. Details. :-/
Yoyo

Absolutely. The tutor was referred to as Monsieur Gilliard. He was regarded by Nicholas and Alexandra as a person of professional standing and as such would be addressed respectfully and not on a first name basis, although it is true that the children did have a nickname for him.

I have gotten the impression in the past, Mr. Glaeser, that M. Gilliard is a central supporting figure in 'The Testament' and that your creative vision involves the Tsarevich as seen through his tutor's eyes.  I wonder how you depict a crucial scene at about this juncture -- when Gilliard tells Alexei Nikolaevich about his father's abdication....

Am I correct that Alexandra Feodorovna certainly would have known about the children's measles, as she nursed the boy and his sisters from the first, and was writing to the Tsar about the children being ill before the abdication?

Why would Gilliard be specifically making plans for the Heir's departure?  Wouldn't the boy be leaving with his family?

Are you trying to foreshorten the possibilities through the use of dramatic license?   Is it hysteria that makes her consider Gatchina, a rendezvous with the Tsar and sailing to England on the Standart within the space of 20 seconds?

Excellent, these are the type of questions and comments I wanted.  I'm on my way out to work right now, however this evening when I get home I will answer and comment further.  Please keep the questions and comments coming.

Thanks,

Aaron P. Glaeser

Thanks again for all of the helpfull coments.  Here are a few answers to the questions posed thus far:

1) Are we allowed to comment on any of this? Or is this just your personal rehearsal space?

These questions are pretty cute.  Yes, please comment that's why I've done this for any additional input or advice that I can receive.  As to this being my personal rehearsal space.  Well, yeah I guess it is . . . but perhaps not in the way you intended this question.  I am attempting to create a very accurate film about the subject previously mentioned.    However, it is my attempt with this to be as accurate as possible without sacrificing the pace of the script.  That is why I am placing a scene a week in this forum but only scenes where I did take some embeleshment, in order to guage if the steps taken to quicken the pace of the script were too big.

2) Why was it Nagorny who brought the news, I should expect Count Beckendorff brought such news to Alexandra.
Was Nagorny in the possition to give orders?

Yes, Ct. Beckendorff would have given the news however money is always a question when developing a screenplay.  Early on I had numerous characters who are only extras now.  Beckendorff was one of the ones I had to cut down.  I had a couple of good scenes with him in earlier drafts but given budgetary concerns this had to happen.  At that point, for this scene andgiven who was around it was a choice between GD Maria, Dr. Botkin, Dr. Derevenko or Nagorny.  I chose Nagorny.

3)Considering the fact that as far as we know Alixandra hated the Duma and the entire notion of participatory government--I highly doubt that she would have thought that "the Duma had shown itself equal to the occasion..." Is this sarcasm?

Yes, it is sarcasm.

4)Absolutely. The tutor was referred to as Monsieur Gilliard. He was regarded by Nicholas and Alexandra as a person of professional standing and as such would be addressed respectfully and not on a first name basis, although it is true that the children did have a nickname for him.

The nickname was Zhilick.  As for the Monsieur Gilliard as opposed to Pierre, what they address him as jumps around depending on who he is speaking with and what is going on in that scene.  Here in this scene . . . it's Pierre.

5)I have gotten the impression in the past, Mr. Glaeser, that M. Gilliard is a central supporting figure in 'The Testament' and that your creative vision involves the Tsarevich as seen through his tutor's eyes.  I wonder how you depict a crucial scene at about this juncture -- when Gilliard tells Alexei Nikolaevich about his father's abdication....

A couple of scenes after the scene I posted this week, is the scene where Pierre tells Alexei about his father's abdication.  This as we all know happened because his mother couldn't muster up the strength to tell him herself.  So Pierre takes on this burden and tells Alexei.  The result is a very touching scene.  This scene is perhaps one of the stronger scenes because in this scene is the departure of the life Alexei knew before and the enterance into the life he would know until his death.

6)Why would Gilliard be specifically making plans for the Heir's departure?  Wouldn't the boy be leaving with his family?

Yes they are all planning to leave, however as the young heirs 'vospitatiet' he was responsible for the micro-managing of these things.  Thus she passed on the details to M. Gilliard.

7)Depends how you handle it, contructive or scathing.

I handle everything constructively.

Thanks,

Aaron P. Glaeser

Aaron,

Okay, Ct, Beckendorf's character had to be cut down. There was a choice between--- GD.Maria -can understand her position, the girl didn't even know precisely what went on...Derevenko-same level as Nagorny-turned out to be not that nice to Alexei--(did you mentioned that too in the script?)as they say.
So why not  Dr. Botkin, he could have had/made contact with the outside world, Rodzianko, Kerensky if needed  and was far more confidential with Alexandra to a certain point.
What about Sidney Gibbes does he comes along?

Anna

Anna,

Part of the uniqueness and artistry undergone in the telling of 'The Testament', is that Pierre Gilliard is telling this story a couple of weeks before his death in the 1960s.  In order to compensate for the cut back in characters I was able to add a 'subtle' artistic message about life.  Picture youself in Pierre's shoes almost 50 years after the death of the Imperial Family.  They are what you have focused on all these years . . . especially the Tsarevich.  Most everyone else is just, for a lack of better words, a dim memory.   This is the same for everyone in their own lives.  Your first child being born.  You remember the doctor's name, but what about one of the nurses in the background.  Do you even remember what he/she looked like?  It's the same with this.

Everyone here has their favorites and their least favorites when it comes to the Romanovs.  Thus, not everyone would be pleased with the story that I am attempting to tell.  In order to please everyone and make all of the individuals who lived their lives during this period and in this place equal with regards to time spent on each character . . . well I couldn't do it in one movie.  Perhaps in a TV series whose length on air would rival MASH.  I've got between two to two and a half hours to tell this story and sorry to say it's not going to be done on a 200 Million Dollar Budget.  I've got limited time and a limited budget to tell a focused story.  I think and those involved think that I've done a good thing here.

I'm not angry at anything that anyone has written thus far.  There are numerous tasks which go into the development of a motion picture.  Thus, there is a reason for every single letter in this script.  At this point I'm just trying to explain that.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed advice thus far and I look forward to fielding any further questions that come up.

Warmest of Regards and Best Wishes during this Holiday Season.

Aaron P. Glaeser  

Aaron,

Thanks for the explanation, I didn't realize Gilliard is telling the story out of memory. Now I see. The only thing I and maybe others do, is compare your script with the real facts. So if anything is slightly different as occurred, we give our comments.  

Happy Hollidays.

Anna

Ps: I do remember the nurse with my first born son, never forget her even how she looked like. She was terrible

Dear Mr. Glaeser:

I do hope you send us another scene this week.  I am curious as to how you depict the Tsarevich himself...   What sort of boy might effectively play this young man in your eyes?  How would you want his best qualities brought out?    

Sorry for the delay, I have been quite busy both at work and with my family during this holiday season.  Speaking of the holdiay season, this week there shall be three scenes.

The first was initially much larger than it is now when I had initially covered from 1912 through 1918.  When I edited it down to just cover 1916-1918, there were a few moments I just couldn't let go of and decided to include these as a link between the 1960s when the story is being told and when the story picks up in 1916.  The sections of scenes I retained are meant to summarize the actions from 1912-1916 during the credits.  The first scene I'm showing this week takes place on the shore in Finland while the family was on holiday on the Standart.  Picture the family ending a day trip to the shore while on holiday.  Here it is:

EXT. – BEACH – DAY
Alexei and Pierre are folding a sheet that was laid over the sand for a picnic.  Alexei notices a conch shell while he’s folding the sheet; after they are done, he picks it up.

ALEXEI
What is this, Mr. Gilliard?

PIERRE
It is a conch shell,.  It is the home, or rather was the home, of a snail. If you hold it close to your ear, you can hear the ocean. (He demonstrates.) Here, you try now.
                 
Alexei puts the conch shell to his ear and is instantly amazed.
                             
ALEXEI  
May I keep it!?!

PIERRE
I don’t see why not.

Alexei’s fascination with the shell continues.

DISSOLVE TO:

As I said it was part of a much grander scene before but now it serves as an excellent part of a grander transition.

The second scenes show the shift in Nicholas's opinion as to who should succeed him:

INT. DUMA - DAY
Rodzianko, head of the Duma walks up to the podium.  He then begins to address the chamber, as they become quiet.

RODZIANKO
We-have--received-a message from His Imperial Majesty,-Tsar-Nicholas-II.  It reads as follows:  (reading from the letter.)“There is no sacrifice that I would not make for the sake of the true well being and salvation of our own Mother Russia, which I passionately love.  For that reason, I am prepared to abdicate the supreme power, in favor of my son.  I ask you to serve him truly and sincerely.  May God bless Mother Russia and Tsar-Alexei II.--Nicholas”

The assembly of representatives explodes into clapping.  Then Rodzianko smiles.

RODZIANKO (EMPHATICALLY)
We have brought the emperor to his knees!

The assembly praises Rodzianko.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. NICHOLAS'S OFFICE (IMPERIAL TRAIN) - EVENING
Nicholas is sitting at his desk; Dr. Botkin enters his office.  

BOTKIN
You summoned me, your Imperial Majesty?

NICHOLAS
Yes, doctor.  Are you aware of what is happening in the capital?

BOTKIN
Yes.

NICHOLAS
I will be handing the throne to the Tsarevich.  I wish to inquire as to your opinion in this matter.

BOTKIN
If it is what your Imperial Majesty wills, then I support you.

NICHOLAS
It is not what I will-it is what I know to be right.  

BOTKIN
Your Imperial Majesty, you are the first of the Tsars to ever be forced into abdication.  What you know to be right is based on what has happened in the past.  This is a new situation--a delicate situation, both for the country--and for your son.

NICHOLAS
In your opinion--what will happen to the Tsarevich-if the Empress and myself were to go abroad, and leave him to rule Russia under the regency of either Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich or Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich?

BOTKIN
Alexei, --will never--rule.

NICHOLAS
What?

BOTKIN
The age of ascension is sixteen.  It is my medical opinion that he will not survive to the age of ascension.

NICHOLAS
However, you cannot be certain of this.

BOTKIN
No, I cannot.  However, all you need to do is listen to what your heart tells you.  I know that as a father--I would rather spend my son’s last years with him.

NICHOLAS
What shall I do?

BOTKIN
You already know--what you must do.

DISOLVE TO:

The third section for this week is the scene that a few of you were asking for last time.  I won't insult your intelligence and let you all just figure it out.

INT. ALEXEI’S CLASSROOM(ALEXANDER PALACE) - AFTERNOON
Alexei is seated.  Pierre enters.

ALEXEI
Mr. Gilliard, . . . what has happened?

                             PIERRE
You know,--your father does not want to be emperor any longer. . .  He’s awfully tired and--has-had many difficulties as of late.

                             ALEXEI
Oh yes!  Mother, told me that they stopped his train--when he wanted to come here, but father will be Tsar again--won’t he?

                             PIERRE
He had announced that he would be turning the throne over to you.

                             ALEXEI
Dmitri told me this may happen.  (Pause) Am I Tsar?

                             PIERRE
No, . . . your father realized that due to your physical limitations; --it may be irresponsible handing the throne to you at this time.

                             ALEXEI
So . . . who did he-give it to?

                             PIERRE  
Your uncle, . . . Michael Alexandrovich. However, The Grand Duke refused the throne. There is simply no one in Russia who will support him, I am sorry to say.

                             ALEXEI
In that case, . . . who will be Tsar?

     PIERRE
Now....Nobody.

                             ALEXEI
If there is to be no more Tsar, --who will rule over Russia?

DISSOLVE TO:

Anyway, as always, let me know what ya'll think.

Warmest Regards,

Aaron P. Glaeser