Anastasia

FADE IN:

on a well-worn PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM. An ELDERLY WOMAN'S

HAND touched the album, caressing it lovingly for a

moment, as WE HEAR her voice.

TATIANA (O.C.)

Once we lived in an enchanted

world. . .

She opened the ALBUM to reveal a BLACK AND WHITE

PHOTOGRAPH of the PALACE AT ST. PETERSBERG on a

brilliant summer day.

TATIANA (CONT)

A world of Tsars and Princesses

and elegant palaces. . .

CAMERA MOVES CLOSER TO the picture. . .

TATIANA (CONT)

and grand parties. . .

The PHOTO dissolves into REALITY in brilliant color as

the day turns into night and the summer cools into

winter. We see the palace at night, blanketed in a

beautiful, almost glowing, snow as horse drawn carriages

pull up to the front door.

TATIANA (CONT)

A beautiful, magical time. . .

MOVE INTO THE PALACE

TATIANA (CONT)

That would soon be gone

forever. . .

INT. PALACE AT ST. PETERSBERG - NIGHT

Elegant ROYALISTS mingle around the MAIN HALL as an

ORCHESTRA plays.

All eyes turn to the GLASS DOORS OF TWO ELEVADORS which

descend grandly on either side of a beautiful staircase.

Through the glass doors we see TATIANA, the Dowager

Empress, 60, imperious and bedecked with jewels, she is

seemingly unapproachable. TSAR NICHOLAS and his SON are

with her. In the other elevador, ALEXANDRA and her

daughters - well, all her daughters except. . .

ANASTASIA, eight years old and apparently late for the

party, rushes down the upstairs hallway followed by a

SERVENT (SONYA) 16, who is trying to catch up with

Anastasia to tie a large ribbon in her long, dark hair.

SONYA

(whispering)

Princess Anastasia - you're

late and it's all my fault!

ANASTASIA

Don't worry, Sonya, no one'll

notice. . .

Just then, Sonya lassoes the ribbon around her hair,

stopping Anastasia with a

ANASTASIA

(loudly)

. . . owwwwwwwww!

All eyes turn to Anastasia, who once she realizes that

she's the center of attention, flashes a mischievous

smile and descends the staircase in grand style. As the

ribbon falls out of her hair and down her back,

Anastasia kicks it to Sonya without breaking stride.

Tatiana sees her and can't help but smile.

The music suddenly becomes a FLOURISH OF TRUMPETS.

SERVENTS open the elevador doors as the ROYAL FAMILY

steps out and begins a proccession through their

subjects. Tatiana holds out her arm to Anastasia as she

makes it to Tatiana's side just in time. Anastasia has

a beautiful but slightly impish face, dominated by

large, blue, mischievous eyes. She an abundance of

energy and confidence for a girl her age.

<u>"THE RULARS OF RUSSIA" (OPENING NUMBER)

The elegant guests sing their admiration as the

beautiful and happy Romanov family makes it's entrance

into the ball, they're "the pride of all Russia".

Vladimir invites Sophie to dance and the entire

glittering assembly assembly swings into a GLORIOUS SWEEPING

WALTZ. Singing their certainty that the Romanovs will

rule forever.</u>

During the above, the ball is in full swing. Beautiful

COUPLES swirls across the dance floor, including

Anastasia dancing gracefully with her father.

Under a long buffet table, we see DMITRI, 11, darkly

handsome, dressed in ragged servant clothes, with a

shock of dark hair which continuoually falls accross his

eyes as watches the guest enviously. Anastasia, still

waltzing with her father, sees him. SERVENTS cross the

room carrying a trays of BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL FRUIT. The

guests "Ew" and "ah" at the sumptuous fruit. Anastasia

sees Dmitri eyeing it hungrily and without missing a

dance step, she grabs an orange off thr tray and tosses

it to Dmitri. He catches it and smiles broadly at her.

Suddenly, A HAND grabs Dmitri and pulls him out from

under the table. It's IVAR, the HEAD SERVENT, who pulls

Dmitri into an open wall panel.

IVAR

(angrily)

You're a servent! Never forget

your place!

DMITIRI

(defiant)

Someday my place will be out

there!

IVAR

Never! You're a peasant,

Dmitri! Back in the kitchen

<u>RULARS OF RUSSIA (CONT.)

UNDERSCORE CONTINUES as Dmitri is dragged from his

hiding place under the table and back to the kitchen.

It's like the Moscow circus back there, COMIC MUSICAL

CONFUSION. The servants sing about their demanding

employers and mockingly imitate their behavior: they

imply that they have their own "party", that change is

coming.

While back in the ballroom, the Royalists are

oblivious to the servants discontent and sing their

satisfaction with their own lives.

DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE CONTINUES though the following

scenes.</u>

ON TATIANA

in a large throne-like chair. Tatiana is very serious

and very regal. She slides over to make room for

Anastasia who sits next to her.

TATIANA

Why were you so late tonight

ANASTASIA

I was showing Sonya

something . . .

TATIANA

What were you showing her?

ANASTASIA

(sheepishly)

How to read.

TATIANA

I thought you were told not to

tutor your servants anymore.

ANASTASIA

I know, but I had to because . . .

Anastasia looks up at Tatiana and sees her smile with

pride. Anastasia knows she doesn't have to explain.

ANASTASIA

(cuddling)

Oh, Grandmama, why do you have

to go back to Paris?

TATIANA

It's where I've made my home

but I do have something for

you . . .

Tatiana reaches from behind the chair and brings out a

beautiful MUSIC BOX. Tatiana takes the key, a small

silver and enamel flower, on a silver neck chain and

winds it up. MUSIC BEGINS, she hands Anastasia the key.

CLOSE UP

the key bearing the inscription "Together in Paris".

ANASTASIA

"Together in Paris"! Oh, when

can we be "together in Paris?!

TATIANA

When you're older . . .

Anastasia makes a disgruntled face. Tatiana laughs.

TATIANA

Until then, whenever you hear

this song, think of me and know

that I'm waiting for you.

Tatiana puts the key around Anastasia's neck and they

embrace. Then, suddenly . . .

ON THE GRAND CHANDELIER

the lights begin to fade in and out.

GROUP SHOT

as PEOPLE in the ballroom look around bewildered. Then,

a WHIRLWIND kicks up, sending everyone off the dance

floor, as the whirlwind becomes a TORNADO.

Suddenly, an ALBINO BAT (BARTOK) with huge eyes, springs

out of the funnel, screeching and swooping over the

crowd, causing everyone to duck and cover their heads in

fear.

The tornada reaches it's peak and EXPLODES in smoke -

leaving RASPUTIN standing alone in the middle of the

floor. He is of indeterminate age, towering over other

men in the room, his most striking feature are his eyes

- which at this moment are burning a fiery red. He is

dressed in a flowing black monk's robe with a satin rope

tied around his waist. Connected to the rope is a

glowing RELIQUARY, a mystical lantern.

VARIOUS SHOTS

of Nicholas, Alexandra, Sophie and Vladimir, Dmitri

peeking out ofthe wallpanel, Tatiana and Anastasia,

all of whom are frightened.

NICHOLAS

as he gathers his son and wife to his side

NICHOLAS

Rasputin! You're alive . . .

RASPUTIN

(advancing)

Despite being shot, poisoned

and thrown into an icy river . . .

YES!

NICHOLAS

(honestly)

I had nothing to do with it!

RASPUTIN

You gave the orders!

NICHOLAS

I did no such thing!

RASPUTIN

After all I've done for your

family - YOU TRIED TO KILL

MEEEEEE ! ! !

Rasputin swings the reliquary, wrapping himself in smoke

which seems to grow larger. Eerie moaning noises come

from the reliquary. PEOPLE back awayin terror.

RASPUTIN (CONT.)

The Romanov dynasty ends here!

You, your wife and children

will all die within the

fortnight!

ANASTASIA

NO!

Anastasia leaves Tatiana and rushes to stand in front of

her father. Still holding her Music Box, Anastasia's

shaking hands are the only thing that gives away her

fear. Rasputin spins toward the voice.

ANASTASIA

We're not afraid of you!

RASPUTIN

(furious)

You . . . my little babushka . . .

you'll be so much fun to kill

that I'll save you for last!

Twirling the reliquary again, the MOANS grow louder as

Bartok circles around his head. The smoke that emerges

seems to have almosy a human shape to it.

RASPUTIN

THIS IS THE END OF THE ROMANOV

LINE - FOREVER !!!!

The tornada of smoke begins again, whipping into a

frenzy and then EXPLODING.

The smoke clears and Rasputin is gone. As the lights

return to normal the Romanov family all stand together,

and try to look regal and in control once again.

TATIANA (O.C.)

Some say Rasputin ad harnessed

all the dark powers of evil and

that it was his curse which

brought about the end . . .

DISSOLVE TO:

the ROMANOV FAMILY fades into a PORTRAIT OF THE FAMILY.

TATIANA (O.C.)

I will never know for sure.

All I do know is that the

beauty of our world was soon

Gone . . . Forever . . .

a lick of BRIGHT ORANGE FLAME creeps into view.

<u>"RULERS OF RUSSIA" (VOCAL REPRISE)

HUGE, OMINOUS VOCALS reprise the onceglorious watlz

of the Romanovs, heralding the end of their world and

underscoring the coming revolution.</u>

PULL BACK

to see the PORTRAIT, a huge FRIEZE which covers an

entire entire wall, singeing as the FLAME creeps up the nearby

drapery, tinting the room in a red glow.

A SCREAMING MOB, some in uniform, some not, has crashed

into the palace and is heading up the stairs. A few in

the mob fire off orange RIFLE SHOTS.

INT. ANASTASIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Anastasia BOLTS UP, hearing the shots. Her music box is

next to her on her nightstand.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Mass confusion as the MOB is met by a few SERVANTS, who

try to stop them from advancing. More shots.

ON THE ROMANOV'S

still in nightclothes, are being rushed down the

hallway. Tatiana is next to Anastasia as Anastasia

stopsdead in her tracks.

ANASTASIA

My music mox!

Anastasia turns around and runs back down the hall.

Tatiana tries to stop her.

TATIANA

Anastasia, no!

It's too late, Anastasia fights her way back into her

room, with Tatiana following her.

FROM THE OTHER END OF THE HALLWAY

we see Dmitri watching amidst all the confusion.

INT. ANASTASIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Anastasia grabs her music box as Tatiana rushes in.

TATIANA

Hurry, child!

LOUD RIFLE SHOTS are heard as Dmitri bursts into the

room, closing the door behind him.

DMITRI

No - this way!

Dmitri runs to a wall panel and thows his weight

against it. It opens, revealing a passage way.

DMITRI (CONT.)

Go! Run!! Out the servant's

quarters!

Tatiana, enormously grateful, looks at Dmitri as he

flips his hair out of his face unconsciously.

DMITRI

Go!

Tatiana goes in as Dmitri shoves Anastasia toward the

passageway, knocking the music box out of her hand. She

reaches for it, but hearing the mob voices growing

closer, he pushes her through the panel without it.

DMITRI (CONT.)

Go!

Tatiana quickly follows Anastasia into the passageway

and Dmitri closes the panel JUST AS the mob bursts in.

DMITRI (CONT.)

(lying to the mob)

No one's here! Let's try the

next room!

The MOB, accepts the word of a peasant boy and rushes

out. Dmitri picks up the music box and looks sadly

toward the panel.

EXT. TRAIN STATION - NIGHT

Which is under siege by ROYALISTS trying to board the

overcrowded train and the REVOLUTIONARIES who are trying

to stop them.

A TOURING CAR pulls up RIGHT ON THE TRACKS behind the

caboose as the train starts to pull away.

Tatiana and Anastasia climb out of the car and race for

the train, fighting their way through the frenzied and

frightened crowd. WE HEAR shouts of "The Empress - let

her through!" which helps clear the way.

Anastasia reaches the train first, then turns to see

Tatiana. trying to catch up.

ANASTASIA

Hurry, Grandmama!

TATIANA

Get on! Anastasia, get on!

Anastasia refuses to board the train.

UP AHEAD

A MOB OF REVOLUTIONARIES block the tracks with a TRUCK

ON ANASTASIA

who pushes Tatiana up the stairs of the caboose. This

puts Anastasia a few steps behind as the train speeds

up. Tatiana is gripped by other passengers as she