For the next scene we focus our attention, again, to the political unrest within the country. We begin with a conversation between the Tsar and Minister of National Enlightenment Nikolay Bogolepov. The words “February, 1901 – Moscow” scroll across the screen…
February, 1901 - Moscow
Nicholas: I’ve listened to the advice of my ministers…including you Bogolepov. Was outlawing public drunkenness a worthwhile measure?
Bogolepov: It has not lived up to the intended effect your majesty. The taverns are still filled with students.
Nicholas: I’m not yet ready to call it a mistake. Do you know what they call alcoholism in our country?
Bogolepov: Yes your majesty, the “Russian Disease”.
Nicholas (pacing around the room): I don’t know what to make of these students. Russia tends to produce creatures with effete bodies and souls, torn away from their milieu and not knowing what to do with themselves.
Bogolepov: I agree your majesty. They are also enticed along the wrong path…incited and led astray by a few dozen scoundrels and rascals.
Nicholas: The Russian education system is full of rigor mortis. We ought to be modeling ourselves after the British.
Bogolepov: Yes I do have some ideas for systematic improvement. I do not see any reason why we cannot revamp the system and root out the bad elements of our universities at the same time.
Nicholas: It’s a discussion worth having. I welcome your advice Bogolepov.
Bogolepov: I'm honored your majesty.
The following scene is a brief conversation between Bogolepov and his assistant, discussing a recent student uprising at the University of Kiev and the appropriate disciplinary action…
Assistant: Minster Bogolepov this is the list of students responsible for the recent disturbances.
Bogolepov (reading): How many?
Assistant: One hundred and eighty three.
Bogolepov (looking up with some amazement): Minster Witte needs to realize that these half measures are not working. We either need to allow for the free speech of students, and all of their misguided protests and propaganda, or we need to come down hard on them. “Temporary Regulations” are not the answer.
Assistant: Kiev University students are notoriously unruly sir.
Bogolepov: Then it’s about time they be taught a lesson. Apparently they’ve made poor students but perhaps they’ll make good soldiers.
Assistant: Conscription sir?
Bogolepov: Yes Dmitri, see to it.
The scene quickly shifts to a few days later. We see Bogolepov exiting his office doors and walking in the direction of home early one evening. There are street demonstrations as protesters are shown parading around on this the fortieth anniversary of Tsar Nicholas II’s “Emancipation of the Serfs”. A revolutionary is suddenly shown running up to the minister and just as Bogolepov has time to turn and acknowledge the fast approaching footsteps he is shot in neck at point blank range. Witnesses see the incident. The killer Pyotr Karpovich would quickly be tracked down while others surround and try to assist the fallen minister who is shown lying lifelessly on the street, grasping at the wound to his neck.
Next scene shifts to the Mariinsky Palace and a meeting room where the State Council is in session. A man who has entered the palace and dressed in the uniform of an adjutant is stopped by a sentry…
April, 1902 – Mariinsky Palace, St. Petersburg
Sentry: Wait a second, who are you?
Sefan Balmashov (smiling): Oh hello I apologize, my name is Boris Sokolov (fake name).
Sentry: State you business officer.
Balmashov: I am told Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich is visiting from Moscow and I have been given orders by my superiors to deliver this parcel.
Sentry: I’m sorry but I cannot let you simply pass without checking that package.
Balmoshov (rolling his eyes): Very well.
The sentry takes the package from Balmoshov, cuts it open with a knife and then checks through the contents. He sees some books and a couple of small valuables...
Balmoshov: Please be careful there are valuables in there
Sentry (handing the unsealed packaged back over): Alright. End of the hall, make your last left, down the corridor and it’s the first door on your right. Be sure to knock before you head in.
Balmoshov: Very well thank you.
Balmoshov is shown following the sentry’s instructions down the hall but he ignores the room with the closed door that he was instructed to knock on. Instead he continues to walk through the palace and eventually hears the voice of two men in conversation around the corner. He takes a peak and notices one of the men is Dmitry Sipyagin who breaks off the discussion and proceeds to walk alone down the hallway directly towards Balmoshov. In slow motion we are shown Balmoshov walking around the corner and down the hallway still with package in hand. Sipyagin nods and smiles as he passes the man who he assumes is an officer. After passing each other Balmoshov drops the package which draws the attention of the minister who turns around. He catches a quick glimpse of his assassin pulling out a concealed pistol and has time only to pass a look of terror on his face before being shot once in the chest. He falls to the ground in a heap of agony, spitting up blood. Balmoshov is prepared to fire another shot to finish off his victim. Just then however he hears the voices of guards, who themselves have just heard a shot fired, storming down the hallway. Balmoshov elects to turn and run instead as the camera focuses in on the dying moments of Sipyagin. The scene fades out.
We then shift to another impending assassination, this time of the Governor-General of Finland, Nikolay Bobrikov. Two men chat amongst themselves at a secret Finnish nationalist meeting...
