PEASANT 5
Paris?! What do they have in
Paris that they don't have
here?
PEASANT 6
Shorter lines?!
Peasant 6 is immediately carted off by TWO ARMED GUARDS
for his blasphamy against the state.
PEASANT 7
(quietly)
Nobody leaves Soviet Russia.
The OTHER PEASANTS join in with variations of "Nobody
leaves Russia" as Anya reaches the window and speaks to
the clerk.
ANYA
Is this where I get traveling
papers?
CLERK
It would be if we let you
travel which we don't so it
isn't.
(loudly, for all to
hear)
Russia is the people's
paradise!
And to further make his point, he slams shut his window,
which immediately opens a crack as he whispers to Anya.
CLERK (CONT.)
See Dmitri. He can help.
He shuts the window, only to open it again immediately.
CLERK (CONT.)
But you didn't hear it from me.
He shuts the window.
ANYA
(doesn't get it)
I didn't
He opens it again.
CLERK
No.
The clerk sticks out a sign: "Samovar Break - back in
ten minutes" and slams the window shut.
EXT. BUREAU OF BUREAUCRACY
Anya steps out of the building, still not seeing Meetoo
and looks around at the hoards of people waiting in
lines for everything: bread, gas, clothes, etc.
ANYA
(to herself)
Dmitri? There must be a
million Dmitris. . .
FOLLOW ANYA
as she wades into the crowded street. Meetoo getting
tangled in the legs of waiting Soviets.
Anya stops suddenly. She sniffs the air. Her eyes
widen as she recognizes the stench that is floating
through the air. She spins around and sees Serebreakov
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.
Serebreakov is on a mission to find Anya. He turns in
her direction just as a bus passes. Anya is gone.
We now see Anya clinging to the side of the bus as it
drives down the street. Meetoo looks, his face dropping
- he knows he'll never catch up to her now. Then he
sees the bus hit a huge pothole and Anya is knocked off
into the mud. Happily, Meetoo trots off in her
direction.
Anya approaches TWO PEASANTS who are waiting in line in
front of a cafe.
PEASANT 9
(to Peasant 10)
Which line is this?
PEASANT 10
The line to get into the line.
ANYA
Excuse me, do you know
Dmitri. . .
PEASANT 9
I know nothing!
PEASANT 10
Nothing!
PEASANTS 9 & 10
(whispering
simultaneously)
Try the tavern/ library.
They begin to bicker back and forth in forced whispers
as to wether Dmitri is at the tavern or the library.
Exasperated, Anya walks away. They call after her.
PEASANTS9& 10
But we didn't tell you!
Anya rolls her eyes in frustration. She doesn't see
Meetoo at her feet.
ANYA
(To herself)
I wish they'd all stop telling
me they didn't tell me!
Meetoo gives a "retu" of agreement. Anya looks down and
sees him.
ANYA (CONT.)
What are you doing. . .
Just then, she catches another whiff of something foul
in the air. Anya duck quickly into a doorway and loses
Meetoo. Anya peeks out. A GARBAGE WAGON full of dead
fish and rotten food passes Anya. She sighs with relief,
it wasn't Serebreakov - it just smelled like him.
Anya steps out of the doorway and approaches a STREET
ARTIST sketching a LARGE PEASANT WOMAN as her TINY
HUSBAND looks over his shoulder.
TINY HUSBAND
(To Artist)
Could you get rid of her
moustache?
ANYA
Excuse me - I'm looking for a
man named Dmitri. . .
The Artist quickly scribbles and address on his pad and
hands it to her without turning around.
ARTIST
But I didn't write it.
Anya looks down at the note
CLOSE ON NOTE
"St. Petersburg Art Theatre - 99 Pushkin Street"
DISSOLVE TO
A SIGN
"Pushkin Street"
CAMERA PANS TO:
EXT. ST. PETERSBURG ART THEATRE - DAY
Where WE HEAR a cacophony of FEMALE VOICES as the camera
moves inside.
INT. ST. PETERSBURG ART THEATRE
The waiting room is filled with YOUNG WOMEN, of various
shapes and sizes, holding reading aloud from a piece of
paper. WE HEAR many variations of "Oh, Grandmama! It's
me, Anastasia. I've waited so long to see you".
INT. STAGE
An ACTRESS stands in front of what looks to be an OLD
WOMAN in a shawl who's back is to the "audience".
ACTRESS 1
(over the top)
Oh, Grandmama! It's me,
Anastasia! I've waited so
long to see you!
The Actress then LUMBERS over to the OLD WOMAN, with a
gait like John Wayne.
REVERSE ANGLE
to see the "Old Woman" is Vladimir, with a shawl over
his head. He looks older, of course, but with the same
dapper mustache. He rolls his eyes.
VLADIMIR
(out to audience)
Dmitri! I can not work with
her!
(MORE)
VLADIMIR (CONT.)
(to Actress)
May I remind you that you are
supposed to be Princess - not a
lazy lumbering lout!
IN THE SEATS
is Dmitri. Now 20 and darkly handsome. His hair still
falling in his eyes as he flips it off his forehead.
DMITRI
Vladimir, calm down!
Vladimir walks off the stage and toward Dmitri.
VLADIMIR
This, my friend, as an exercise
in futility! We shall never
find a girl to play the
Princess Anastasia out of this
motley crew of commoners!
Vladimir dramatically throws one end of his shawl over
his shoulder.
DMITRI
For a ten million rubles reward
we can look a little longer.
This is the big one. . . and all
I need is the right girl.
"A SOMEONE AND A SOMEPLACE" (REPRISE
(Dmitri's "I want") Dmitri SINGS a reprise of Anya's
song, a COMIC VERSION, in which he expresses the hope
that he can find the right girl for his scam. Anyone
from a peasant to a princess will do, as long as she can
fool Tatiana. (NOTE: We don't want to give Dmitri a
whole new song here or we'll be too song-heavy in Act I.
By giving him a short reprise of Anya's song, we can
effectively align these two characters emotionally.)
QUICK CUTS:
of various aspirants:
ACTRESS 2
(heavy hasal)
Oh, Grandmama! It's me,
Anastasia. I've waited so long
to see you.
DMITRI (O.C.)
Next!
ACTRESS 3
(stupid)
Oh. . . Grandmama it's me.
Anastasia, I have waited so
long, too.
(as a good-bye)
See you!
DMITRI (O.C.)
Next!
ACTRESS 4 looks like a hooker and sounds like Mae West.
ACTRESS 4
Oh. . . Grandmama. . . It's me. . .
DMITRI (O.C.)
Next!
BACK TO DMITRI
DMITRI
I wouldn't be on the outside
anymore. The ten million
rubles would make me welcome
anywhere. I'd really belong
somewhere - if I could just
find the right girl.
BACK TO QUICK CUTS:
A very round ACTRESS 5
ACTRESS 5
Oh, Grandmama. . .
DMITRI (O.C.)
Next!
ACTRESS 6
(very intense)
What's my modivation?
ON VLADIMIR
VLADIMIR
(calling out to seats)
Stanislavski!
CUT TO STANISLAVSKI
shrugs innocently.
DMITRI (O.C.)
Next!
ACTRESS 7 is actually a man.
ACTRESS 7
Oh. . .
ON DMITRI
in a state of disbelief.
DMITRI
I've gotta find the right girl!
END MUSICAL NUMBER
DMITRI
Next.
EXT. ST. PETERSBURG ART THEATRE
Anya rides up to front of the theatre and drops her
bike. She rushes the steps.
INT. THEATRE
now empty as Dmitri and Vladimir are gathering up their
things to leave. Vladimir still wears the remnants of
the evening clothes that he worein the first scene.
VLADIMIR
It's no use, Dmitri - we'll
never find the right girl!
DMITRI
We will. We have to.
(trying to cheer him
up)
Come on, Vlad - she's out
there.
They walk out the door.
EXT. ST. PETERSBURG ART THEATRE - CONTINUOUS
DMITRI
She could be right under our
nose
Anya is running up the stairs as Dmitri walks out and
they COLLIDE: her forehead banging Dmitri literally
under his nose. Dmitri grabs his upper lip in pain.
DMITRI
(over reacting)
Ouch! That really hurt!
ANYA
I'm sorry. . . I'm. . .
DMITRI
That's quite a hard head you've
got there, boy.
In her old hand-me-down boys clothes andhat pulled low,
she could easily be mistaken for a boy.
ANYA
(breathless)
I'm looking for Dmitri. I need
traveling papers - to Paris. I
heard Dmitri could help me.
Vladimir and Dmitri exchange a look. . . wary. . . Dmitri
looks around and motions to Vladimir to handle it while
he walks ahead nonchalantly.
VLADIMIR
Who did you hear it from?
ANYA
I heard it from everyone who
said I didn't hear it from
them! Do you know Dmitri?
Dmitri keeps walking ahead followed by Vladimir. Anya
is determined not to give up and keeps up with Vladimir
even though she keeps getting bumped and pulled off
track by people walking in the opposite direction.
VLADIMIR
(loudly, acting)
Providing travel papers is
illeagal!
(then, quietly)
I know Dmitri well - perhaps I
can help you. Providded you
have enough money to pay for
this service. . .
ANYA
Well, I don't have any money . . .
VLADIMIR
Good day!
Vladimir pats her on the head and walks away.
ANYA
I have a bike! Perhaps I could
sell it and. . .
Vladimir keeps walking, catching up to Dmitri.
Anya runs back around to the front of the building where
she left her bike. She stops suddenly when she realizes
that there is no bicycle there anymore - just Meetoo.
ANYA (CONT.)
What are you doing here? And
where's my bike?
A POLICEMAN strolls by.
ANYA (CONT.)
Officer! My bike has been stolen!
POLICEMAN
Nonsense. There is no crime in
the Soviet Socialist Republic.
And he keeps walking. Anya realizes that there is no
hope in pursuing the policeman so she heads off to find
Vladimir - who has vanished down the street. Meetoo
starts to follow her.
ANYA
Sorry, boy, I have to go.
Meetoo barks "retu" and starts after her.
ANYA (CONT.)
No. You can't come with me.
I'm leaving. . .
Meetoo barks his "retu" and starts after her again.
ANYA (CONT.)
(laughing)
It sounds like you're saying
"me too". Listen little guy, I
have money, no food. . . and
no bicycle. I'm the last
person you should be following!
Anya pats him on the head and heads off in the direction
of Vlad and Dmitri. Meetoo, of course, follows her.
FURTHER DOWN THE STREET
Anya spots Vladimir and Dmitri turning the corner in the
distance. Anya runs, trying to catch up with them. She
turns the corner and STOPS.
ANYA'S POV
the PALACE in the distance, only now it's run down,
boarded up and partially burned.
Anya is taken back. She stares, fascinated by it -
moved by it . As the sun sets behind the Palace, it's
bathed in a beautiful golden light.
INT. PALACE BEDROOM - NIGHT
CLOSE on a roaring fire, over which Vladimir has
fasioned a roatating "spit" which is propelled by a
Victrola. Vladimir is carefully basting the only thing
on the spit: a head of cabbage.
Dmitri is sitting by the window, staring at the MUSIC
BOX that Anastasia dropped the night of the revolution.
VLADIMIR
. . . even if we find her, what
makes you think the
Empress will even see us?
Dmitri holds up the music box.
DMITRI
She'll see us.
EXT. PALACE AT ST. PETERSBURG - NIGHT
Anya approaches, tentative and glancing around. She
tries to open the door but it won't budge, so she moves
to a boarded up window. She looks through a crack in a
board.
INT. BALLROOM
Dark and eerie. All of it's former glory destroyed.
CAMERA RISES to a partially destroyed CHANDLIER ehere
we see BARTOK, the bat who was with Rasputin.
He hangs upside down next to a FEMALE BAT. He clears
his throat - she doesn't respond. Using his wings, he
gives his "hair: a quick grooming.
BARTOK
You, uhh. . . hang here often?
(laughs nervously)
"Hang" get it? I said "hang"
and we're both, you know, cause
we're bats. . . and, uhhh. . .
what's your sign?
No reaction from FEMALE BAT.
EXT. PALACE
Anya uses a stick to pry off some of the window boards.
We HEAR a crack.
INT. PALACE BEDROOM
SAME CRACK noises from downstairs just as Vladimir's
cabbage falls from the spit into the fire.
DMITRI
(off noise)
What was that?
VLADIMIR
That was your dinner! I do
hope there is no cabbage in
Paris!
INT. BALLROOM
BARTOK
Whatta' ya say we go somewhere
- maybe get a bug to eat. Get
it? A "bug" to eat, 'cause
we're. . .
FEMALE BAT rolls her eyes in disgust and flaps away.
BARTOK (CONT.)
(one last try)
I'm a Gemini. . .
He hears the SOUND of boards being torn off the window.
BARTOK'S HIGH ANGLE POV
Anya climbs into the ballroom.
INT. SMALL ROOM
Meetoo manages to wiggle in after her and follows Anya
as she wanders around, spell bound by the faded glory of
the palace.
INT. DINING ROOM
Anya wanders into the partially destroyed room and bends
down to inspect half of a broken plate that's lying on
the floor. The instant she touches it, she pulls her
hand away as if SHOCKED. Recovering, she picks it up.
CLOSE ON PLATE
painted with decorative dancing Russian bears.
Anya wanders out of the room and to the top of a HUGE
STAIRCASE which leads down to the once grand BALLROOM.
She stops at a large landing half way down the steps.
Meetoo sees a large curtain hanging precariously on the
side wall. Being a puppy he can't resist leaping and
grabbing at it with his teeth. Anya notices and runs
her hand along a the carved butterflies in the worn
banister.
ON ANYA
who jumps, startled, as Meetoo pulls the curtain and it
hits the floor.
INT. PALACE BEDROOM
Dmitri and Vladimir look up from their burnt cabbage.
They heard it too.
INT. STAIRCASE (BALLROOM)
Anya is relieved to see it is only Meetoo, who wags his
tail happily with the curtain still in his mouth.
ANYA
What are you do. . .
Anya STOPS mid sentence, taken by what she sees.
ANYA'S POV
Behind the curtain was the FRIEZE of the ROMANOV FAMILY.
The moonlight hits the portrait with a ghostly glow.
"ONCE UPON A DECEMBER" (THE MUSIC BOX THEME)
Anya is mesmerized by the FRIEZE. She looks around the
Ballroom. . . almost remembering something. . .
ANYA
(singing)
DANCING BEARS, PAINTED WINGS
THINGS I ALMOST REMEMBER.
AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER
As she sings the ballroom transform into it's once
spledid glory. Anya takes off her coat and at once her
rags are transformed into a beautiful gown. NICHOLAS
steps down from the FRIEZE and walks her down the stairs
gracefully and begins a waltz with her.
ANYA (CONT.)
SOMEONE HOLDS ME SAFE AND WARM
HORSES PRANCE
THROUGH A SILVER STORM
FIGURES DANCING GRACEFULLY
ACROSS MY MEMORY.
MUSIC BUILDS. A CHORUS of voices sing the melody as
royal ghosts appear as elegant and beautiful as in the
opening scene. Then
ANYA (CONT.)
SOMEONE HOLDS ME SAFE AND WARM
HORSES PRANCE
THROUGH A SILVER STORM
FIGURES DANCING GRACEFULLY
ACROSS MY MEMORY.
MUSIC: FULL!
Dmitri and Vladimir appear at the top of the stairs.
DMITRI & VLADIMIR'S POV
some ragged lunatic dancing with "himself".
ANYA (CONT.)
FAR AWAY, LONG AGO
GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER,
THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW
THINGS IT YEARNS TO REMEMBER
Anya is released from Nicholas' embrace. He kisses her
on the forehead and slowly backs away. She follows
Nicholas, back up the stairs to the landing, where the
sun has caused a "dust" mist.
Then, magically, TATIANA appears through the mist, a
loving beautiful vision from the past.
ANYA (CONT.)
AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER.
DMITRI (O.C.)
(yelling)
Who are you?!
END NUMBER
Dmitri's voice causes the visage to disintegrate. All
goes back to the way it was - dark and destroyed.
Anya spins toward Dmitri, surprised and frightened.
DMITRI'S POV
Anya is caught in a ray of moonlight, directly in front
of the image of Anastasia in the frieze. The
resemblance is striking. Dmitri is taken aback, but
Vladimir is unaffected.
VLADIMIR
You're trespassing, boy!
Anya is dazed by what has just happened to her and can't
quite refocus on reality.
ANYA
I. . . I. . . spoke to you earlier
about traveling paper. .
Dmitri pokes Vladimir with his elbow but doesn't take
his eyes off Anya.
DMITRI
(whispering to Vlad)
It's her.
VLADIMIR
He's her?
DMITRI
Look!
Vladimir looks at Anya again and get it.
ANYA
Are you Dmitri? I didn't mean
to trespass - I don't want to
do anything dishonest, but if
you could just help help me. . .
Vladimir and Dmitri walk down the stairs and up her
stairs and begin to circle around her.
VLADIMIR
Perhaps you heard of our
brilliant plan to find a girl
and. . .
Dmitri pokes him hard in the ribs and shakes his head.
DMITRI
(quietly to Vlad)
She doesn't want to do anything
"dishonest". . .
VLADIMIR
(gets it, whispers)
Ew. . . the honest type.
Dmitri gives Vlad a "let me handle this" gestures.
DMITRI
(off frieze)
You look like her. Like the
Princess Anastasia. Has anyone
ever told you that before?
Anya is coming back to her senses, doesn't like these
men circling her.
ANYA
(sarcastic)
Oh, yeah - in the orphanage
they constantly told me I
looked like a princess! Stop
that!
Dmitri stops circling and then begins to use everything
that Anya says - the perfect and charming con man that
he is - to get what he wants.
DMITRI
People say Anastasia was the
only member of the Royal Family
to escape alive. That makes
her an orphan too
(MORE)
DMITRI (CONT.)
(beat)
What happened to your parents?
ANYA
I don't know - I don't remember
anything that happened before
the revolution. . .
DMITRI
You know, it's strange -
Anastasia's grandmother, the
Dowager Empress Tatiana has
been looking for Anastasia
since the revolution. Why do
you think she wouldn't go to
her own grandmother?
ANYA
I don't know. I don't see what
this has to do with me.
DMITRI
Perhaps it's because she has
amnesia too - can't remember. . .
VLADIMIR
How much do you weigh?
Dmitri pokes him again.
VLADIMIR (CONT.)
(to Dmitri)
I was just wondering since we
already have the dress. . .
ANYA
Look, I came here to get papers
to travel to Paris and. . .
DMITRI
Why do you want to go to Paris?
ANYA
(defiant)
I have my reasons.
DMITRI
Anastasia's grandmother is in
Paris. We're going to bring
Anastasia to her - in Paris.
(MORE)
DMITRI (CONT.)
(beat)
And I think you are the
Princess Anastasia.
Anya laughs. Vlad mouths to Dmitri "Do you think she's
really Anastasia?" Dmitri shakes his head no, of course
not, then continues with Anya. Vlad smiles to himself
and walks down the stairs - Dmitri's so good even he got
confused!
DMITRI (CON'T)
You never thought of the
possibility?
ANYA
Look - there isn't an orphan in
the world who doesn't dream
she's a princess but, come
on. . . Look at me!
Dmitri spins spins around, dramatically pointing to
Anastasia's image in the freeze.
DMITRI
NO! YOU LOOK AT HER! LOOK AT
HER!
(beat, then softly)
It could be you.
UNDERSCORE: "THE MUSIC BOX THEME"
Anya fiddles with the key around her neck and looks down
at the ballroom, remembering what just happened there -
could it have been a memory. . .
Dmitri tries to act casual as he turns and starts
walking down the stairs.
DMITRI (CONT.)
You don't have anything to
lose. If I am wrong - the
Empress will simply tell us you
aren't Anastasia and we'll be
on our way. No harm done - an
honest mistake - but at least
you will be in Paris.
Anya touches Anastasia's painted hand in the frieze.
ANYA
(singing in a whisper)
THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW
THINGS IT YEARNS TO REMEMBER. . .
Dmitri looks at Anya, her back toward him, as he raises
his arm to her.
DMITRI
Find out the truth - come to
Paris with us.
Anya expression registers her internal debate. What is
it's true. . . It coudn't be. . . but if. . . Then,
ANYA
All right. I will go with you.
Meetoo let's out his "retu". Vladimir lets out a whoop
of joy. Dmitri smiles and bows to Anya..
DMITRI
The Her Royal Highness Princess
Anastasia!
ON BARTOK
having watched the whole thing - he sighs.
BARTOK
Oy. . . he's gonna be so mad. . .
Bartok flies out a broken window and into the night.
EXT. AERIAL VIEW OF ST. PETERSBURG - NIGHT
BARTOK'S POV
The city lights fade and we move into the blackness of
the Russian forest. Finally, in the distance, we see
the orange glow of a fire.
EXT. GYPSY CAMP - NIGHT
Bartok swoops along the wagons. Everyone looks to be
asleep. Bartok keeps flying until he sees an OMINOUS
LOOKING BLACK WAGON, the largest and most elaborate.
Bartok screws up his courage and flies into the open
window of the BLACK WAGON