New Nicholas & Alexandra Video - Mini Series? Part I

[Later]

I rather doubt that Nicholas's parents would have been actively planning a match for him in 1884. 25-30 was the typical marriage age for royal men by then. Alexander and MF might well be starting to think about which young ladies were dynastically suitable and in the right age bracket but no more. They could notice the attraction between Nicholas and Alexandra at this stage and one can say to the other, 'She's quite unsuitable. We need to make sure he doesn't get too fond of her.'

Ann

Hi Ann,

Allow me to clarify. The so called meeting between Nicholas, Alexander and Maria did not happen, as I intended to write it, in 1884. Sorry to all for the confusion. Here is how I introduced the scene...

A flashback sequence begins. We see a brief meeting between the young Nicholas (16) and his future bride Alix (12) in 1884. Music is drowning out their voices but we see them speaking softly to one another, smiling, laughing, etc. Later we are taken to a discussion between Nicholas, Alexander III and Maria…

This was my mistake for not clarifying. "Later" was meant to mean much later, as in several years later...I would imagine in 1893 or early '94 to be exact. The "ballerina" Nicholas has been chasing after as referenced by father Alexander refers to Mathilde Kschessinska. I'm sure Nicholas didn't even know who she was back in 1884 (she would have only been 12 after all).

[Alexander:]

Hello James,

I must point out that there were no motor vehicals around in 1894.

Yes my mistake. I was referencing either Massie or Radzinsky there and they were a little vague on the means of transportation being used. They might have mentioned that they simply drove off, so my mind took that to mean, "in an automobile", but obviously you're correct...not the case.

Very good, James. This outline is more of what I was thinking for a start. A good way to introduce the main players in this drama.  And, I think could esily fit into the first 2 hour episode.

I like your ideas too James, but here is my issue. How far back are we planning on going with this thing? My idea, that I thought was somewhat agreed upon, was to start things off by showing the death of Alexander III. It wasn't my intent to worry about a detailed history of his life and times other than to show him in flashback sequences...one that I've already introduced for example.

Since the main characters of this are still going to be Nicholas & Alexandra I think it critical that they be introduced right away, shown early and often. So maybe we should have a discussion about how much Alexander & Maria, or Alexander II, etc, are shown. For every minute we spend on them is a minute less on the events of N&A's lives and on the demise of the Russian Empire.

You need to change Witte's salutation to Nicholas to "Your Majesty" not Royal Highness. Nicky is now Emperor and is 'Majesty'....

Thanks for the correction there Larry...it has been duly noted!

Also in 1884, the German Emperor was William I (Wilhelm I) not Frederick. Frederick only ascended the throne in 1888. Margaret would have been his (William's) granddaughter, and Frederick's daughter.

See my note to Ann (Kalafrana) above the 1884 confusion. But you bring up something important. Margaret was Frederick's daughter but I now realize he died only three months after ascending to the throne in 1888. Wilhelm II naturally would have been emperor by the early-1890s when the scene with Nicholas and his parents is meant to have taken place. So I guess I need to correct this by saying the following...

Alexander: Nicky your mother and I wanted to make you aware that we are in the process of sending emissaries to Prussia to meet with Cousin/Emperor Willie. We are planning to discuss the possibility of your future marriage to his lovely youngest sister the Princess Margaret.

One last thing...

I've mentioned 1893 or 1894 as being the year of the proposed scene where Nicholas meets with his parents to discuss his prospects for marriage. I know that Princess Margaret was reached out to be Alexander & Maria but it had to have been no later than probably middle-1892.

She was married to Prince Frederick Charles Louis Constantine on January 25, 1893 and I assume engaged at least a few months prior...

Ah, that explains it!

My feeling is that Alexander and Marie Feodorovna would have started thinking seriously about Nicholas's marriage once he returned from Japan. A scene set in 1893 would fit nicely.

Alexander III was no admirer of the Kaiser, whom he is on record as deescribing as 'a badly brought-up boy of ill will', so I think he would refer to him as the Emperor Wilhelm rather than 'Cousin Willy', though they were second cousins, as Wilhelm I was brother to Alexander's grandmother Alexander Feodorovna (nee Charlotte of Prussia).

Do we know whether Nicholas and Margaret actually met? As far as I know Nicholas only visited the Prussian court once, in 1913. Wilhelm did visit Russia in 1886, but I doubt whether Margaret, then aged 14, would have accompanied him.

Ann

Just missed your last post.

Yes, spring 1892 would be better.

Ann

My feeling is that Alexander and Marie Feodorovna would have started thinking seriously about Nicholas's marriage once he returned from Japan. A scene set in 1893 would fit nicely.

Yeah as a flashback scene I'm not really sure it matters how we set it up. We don't have to be specific with the year because continuity isn't a real issue here when one scene shows Nicholas in deep thought in 1894, the next has him remembering back to 1884, then 1892, etc.

Also, I believe Nicholas returned home from the Far East in August of 1891. That gives us plenty of time to work with in constructing such a scene where Alix, Margaret, Mathilde, etc are all mentioned.

Alexander III was no admirer of the Kaiser, whom he is on record as deescribing as 'a badly brought-up boy of ill will', so I think he would refer to him as the Emperor Wilhelm rather than 'Cousin Willy', though they were second cousins, as Wilhelm I was brother to Alexander's grandmother Alexander Feodorovna (nee Charlotte of Prussia).

Yeah I remember reading this too. Good call and I'll make note of it!

Do we know whether Nicholas and Margaret actually met? As far as I know Nicholas only visited the Prussian court once, in 1913. Wilhelm did visit Russia in 1886, but I doubt whether Margaret, then aged 14, would have accompanied him.

I don't actually. Perhaps I'll research this a little bit. I do know that Nicholas mentioned Margaret as "plain" and "boring" and very much opposed to marrying her just as she was unwilling to give up her Protestant faith to marry him. What I don't know is how Nicholas developed his impression of the princess. My best guess is, no, they never actually met. Yet Nicholas's strong words seem a bit out of character for him were he basing his opinions of her on nothing more than a couple of photographs and second-hand accounts, no?

It would be nice to know for certain but honestly for the purposes of what we are doing here does it really matter if they met? We know what Nicholas expressed at the very mention of Margaret as a potential bride, so that should be enough...we can dance around getting too specific with the rest.

Fredrick was the one they called the "99 day Kaiser".  He was dying of throat cancer when he ascended the throne.

Did Nicky or Alix even get to meet him?

Fredrick was the one they called the "99 day Kaiser".  He was dying of throat cancer when he ascended the throne.

Did Nicky or Alix even get to meet him?

I highly doubt it but don't know for certain...

That he lived but 99 days doesn't change the fact that he still was Princess Margaret's father and would be addressed as such. But obviously Alexander III and Maria weren't sending emissaries to Prussia/Germany to meet with the dead kaiser is all. That would have been the case for this scene of mine to have worked in, say, 1892.

Hi Everyone,

Just my guess:
It is possible that Nicholas met Margaret in Hesse, as Empress Frederick visited there occaisionally and would have taken Margaret (?).....
Isn't Margaret the youngest child?

Also, Alix would have known Frederick from the Victoria's Golden Jubilee at Windsor, wouldn't she?

Again - not sure of all this!

Larry

Yeah I don't know Larry, but keeping the dialogue vague works well enough. Ultimately does it even matter to the viewer how well Nicholas knew the Princess Margaret? It's not like she's going to play a role in this saga. I've mentioned her only as a way to introduce the viewer to the fact that Alexander & Maria were skeptical of Alix all along and had a different suitor in mind for their son/heir.

I can keep moving along in this direction building scenes but I'm going to hit a snag eventually. Ann (Kalafrana) as displayed by your terrific and ongoing "Christmas 1916 - Hospital" story you seem perfectly suited to writing about WWI & scenes in the soldiers hospital, battlefield, etc. That's obviously jumping well ahead from where I'm currently at but just as we already got something down for the scene involving the revelation of Alexei's illness we can easily enough piece and merge things together bit by bit. I'd love to see what others can come up with here...not just the description of a scene or the dialogue exchanged, but the entire basic framework. Do share if you've got something in mind!

[Alexandra:]

Here's another scene I've come up with linking the night of their wedding to their first appearance before the Russian people two months later. As always your feedback is much appreciated...

Still the Wedding Night - November 26, 1894. Alixz, Nicholas and Marie are back at Anitchkov Palace having answered congratulatory telegrams. They have a quiet dinner together around 8pm and sometime shortly thereafter Alix complains of a headache, excuses herself and retires to the bedroom. It's something of a precursor to her many health problems, stress related and otherwise, in the future...but before she falls asleep we hear her scribbling a note into her husband's diary...

Alexandra: "At last united, bound for life, and when this life is ended, we meet again in the other world and remain together for eternity. Yours, yours!...never did I believe there could be such utter happiness in this world, such a feeling of unity between two mortal beings. I love you, those three words have my life in them."

Scene shifts to Nicholas entering their bedroom of the palace late the next morning relieved to have a break from conducting official business in his humble sitting room/study. Alexander is with a teacher/tutor practicing up on her Russian language...

Alexandra: (Repeating Russian words and phrases slowly.)
Tutor (upon the Tsar entering the room): Your imperial majesty!
Nicholas: And how are things coming along?
Alexandra: It's a good thing you speak English fluently my dear.
Nicholas (chuckles): Is Russian really so hard?
Alexandra: Language has never been a strength of mine. You should hear how they poke fun at my French.
Tutor: If I may interrupt your majesty I find the Empress is doing quite well...particularly given her background.
Alexandra (w/slight grin): Well I appreciate your confidence...learning the language of the people is not a luxury, it's a must, and I will do what it takes.
Nicholas (smiling, puffing on a cigarette): I know you will...

Alexandra stares into her husband's eyes and smiles adoringly.

Nicholas: And soon enough you'll have better accommodations to work with. I shared this bedroom with George as a boy you know.
Alexandra: Yes, "mother dearest" mentioned that.
Nicholas: And speaking of mother we'll be dining with her at lunch time in just a short while (Alexandra stares emotionless). I must return now and not keep the ministers waiting.
Alexandra (walks up and kisses him): Be strong my dear. You are their leader.

Nicholas smiles and walks out of the room as Alexandra returns to her lesson.

Next scene shifts to Nicholas alone in his study just before bedtime. It's now December 31, 1894. We hear him writing his day's entry into his diary in a reflective tone...

Nicholas: "It is hard to think of the terrible changes of this year. But putting our hope in God, I look forward to the coming year without fear, because the worst thing that could have happened to me, the thing I have been fearing all my life, has already passed. At the same time that He has sent me irreparable grief, God has sent me a happiness of which I never dared to dream, in giving me Alix."

Next comes a sort of montage of transitional scenes backed by a musical score. It focuses almost exclusively on images of Nicholas meeting with ministers and heads of state (as to show his rigorous work schedule), Alexandra often alone in her room knitting or reading, or taking tea with guests/friends, or in the middle of language lessons, etc. Dowager Empress Marie meanwhile is shown giving her son advice on political matters while returning to a normal post-mourning period of public life. Dressing up in breathtaking gowns and lavish jewelry, riding open carriage down Nevsky Prospect, and escorted by her oldest son as they all arrived at balls and ceremonies. Alexandra always following behind on the arm of a grand duke with a withdraw look and unenthusiastic smile frozen onto her face.

[Pobedonostsev:]

From there we go to January of 1895 and a brief discussion between Nicholas and his former instructor on matters of law and administration, Konstantin Pobedonostsev. They are discussing Nicholas & Alexandra's public debut and a speech that the new Tsar will be giving to the assembled crowd...

Pobedonostsev: Your majesty the upcoming public event provides us with a great opportunity.
Nicholas: I'm not sure I understand you.
Pobedonostsev: Ever since you came to the throne your desk has been littered by endless requests for reform. Far too much of your time is being spent lobbied to by men, if we may use that term, seeking to convince you of the need to implement a series of extreme, unnecessary measures.
Nicholas: Concerned statesman
Pobedonostsev: Liberal radicals sir. At best misguided, at worst downright treasonous!...the autocracy must be preserved at all cost. This was the will of Alexander III, a great Tsar...
Nicholas: There is no question my dear man but what of a flexible leader...like Alexander II?
Pobedonostsev: Your grandfather, as you may recall I knew quite well, was a brilliant man and a great Tsar. However he was also the victim of poor council. Russia is not like the West. They are being devoured by the forces of liberalism and the dangerous delusions of nihilistic youth. Free press...elections...representative democracies...parliaments!

Nicholas stares at him...a short pause...then the Tsar turns toward the window and fiddles with his mustache. Pobedonostsev walks over and says quietly...

Pobedonostsev: Your majesty, what was Alexander II's reward for loosening his grip and giving into their demands for reform? A terrible, horrifying day for us all when the radicals took his life...is that the thanks of a grateful people you sir are looking for?

Nicholas turns his head and glares back at Konstantin but remains silent...

Pobedonostsev: The policy of Russification must be continued your majesty. The strength of the autocracy was restored by Alexander II and must continue to thrive under Nicholas II. It's the oath that each Tsar takes before God and the promise he makes to the Russian people...(pause)...you have no right to relinquish your power, sir. You are the arm of the Church. If you become weaker, if you kneel down, then our Lord Jesus will be asking you for your cowardly.
Nicholas: I will be addressing my people for the first time as their emperor Pobedonostsev. Make sure it's worth remembering.
Pobedonostsev: Thank you your majesty.

Thursday, January 17, 1895 appears across the screen. Nicholas & Alexandra show themselves to the Russian public for the first time. Representatives and Cossacks gather at Anichkov Palace awaiting the Tsar's address to a crowd of thousands. Nicholas appears visibly uncomfortable as he pulls the Pobedonostsev written speech from his lambskin cap. Alexandra stands next to her husband stiff as a board as he begins to read...

Nicholas (looking around as though confused): Recently at certain meetings of local councils we have heard the voices of people carried away by senseless dreams...

The last words were shouted in the direction of a representative of the Tver nobility, startling the old man, who drops the gold platter of bread and salt he is handling. The Tsar kindly offers to pick up the clanging platter while in mid-speech before a minister finally gets a hold of it. Everyone around sighs or looks on embarrassingly shocked....including the Empress. Nicholas continues on with the speech as the camera focuses in on the polite yet disgruntled looking crowd.

The scene then cuts to statesman and future minster Vladimir Nikolaevich describing the events of that day to a friend over a glass of wine/vodka that evening...

Nikolaevich: In town they are directing harsh attacks against the emperor's speech of the day before yesterday, which made the most distressing impressions...They are also blaming the empress for holding herself as if she had a swallowed a yardstick and for not bowing to the deputations.
Friend: Not a very good beginning to the reign of Nicholas II
Nikolaevich: Surely not!

The strength of the autocracy was restored by Alexander II and must continue to thrive under Nicholas II

I think you mean Alexander III.

The strength of the autocracy was restored by Alexander II and must continue to thrive under Nicholas II

I think you mean Alexander III.

Yes thanks Tim...guess that's what happens when you keep mentioning Alexander II & Alexander III constantly...I was bound to get it wrong somewhere :-)

The strength of the autocracy was restored by Alexander II and must continue to thrive under Nicholas II

I think you mean Alexander III.

What's even more bizarre is that I managed to type 'Alixz' instead of 'Alix' at the very beginning, lol. My apologies to both women!