Alexandra burns her papers before the furnace, surrounded by her bewildered children who look at her with astonishment.
ALEXANDRA
You know, dear, your father is too tired to be emperor any longer.
ALEXEI
If there's no emperor anymore, who's gonna rule Russia?
There is the SOUND of rumbling vehicles. Alexandra and her daughters huddle in front of the windows and look outside.
OLGA
Oh, Papa's coming home.
TATIANA
Mama, now Papa is at home, so everything will be alright.
ALEXANDRA
I hope so, dear.
MARIE
Let's get out meeting Papa.
ANASTASIA
Let's go. Let's go.
Alexandra and her daughters run out of the room.
EXT. ALEXANDER PALACE -- MARCH 9, 1917 -- DAY
The revolutionary SOLDIERS replace the imperial CONVOY to guard the palace. Nicholas' car drives into the palace. Nicholas emerges, wearing a Caucasian fur cap and soldier's greatcoat.
Alexandra and the four grand duchesses rush out to welcome Nicholas home. They embrace and kiss in tears.
Kerensky, as the minister of justice of the Provisional Government, leads a squad of soldiers to surround the Palace.
INT. HALL -- ALEXANDER PALACE -- DAY
The Romanovs gather in the Hall, overseen by the armed soldiers.
Nicholas tries to control himself but appears a little bit perplexed. Alexandra, pale and haughty, raises her eyebrows and purses her lips with dislike at her arresters. Her temples are flecked with grey hair.
Alexei, the hemophiliac heir, stares at the arresters with his wide and saddened eyes from a pale and emaciated face.
Olga appears remote and preoccupied, gazing gloomily and numbly. Tatiana, refined and reserved, has the same serious and haughty look as her mother. Marie, healthy and voluptuous, possesses no air of grandeur. Anastasia, with her rosy cheeks and naive eyes, seems mischievous and lively.
Kerensky, escorted by the court chamberlain, approaches to the imperial family and shakes hands with Nicholas. Then he clears his throat and opens the document.
KERENSKY
...The Emperor and his family shall be placed under the protection of the Provisional Government...
Nicholas twists his moustache.
NICHOLAS
I have faith that the destiny of Russia, my own fate, and that of my family are in the hands of Almighty God, who has placed me where I am. Whatever may happen, I shall bow to His will.
ALEXANDRA
Are we to be considered prisoners? Shut up? See nobody from outside?
KERENSKY
You are confined in but have free run of the Palace. You may see nobody from outside.
COLONEL EUGENE KOBYLINSKY, the former officer in the Petrograd Imperial Life Guards Regiment and now in charge as the Commandant of the guards, clutches a set of KEYS.
KOBYLINSKY
All the telephone lines shall be severed, and all the mails shall be censored.
INT. ALEXANDER PALACE -- DAY
The soldiers run about the palace, locking and sealing all the doors and windows.
EXT. GARDEN -- ALEXANDER PALACE -- DAY
While taking a walk, Nicholas finds the path toward the gate is blocked by six guards. The guards jostle Nicholas with their rifles to push him back from stepping farther.
GUARD
You're not allowed to go beyond this area. Go back.
INT. BEDROOM -- ALEXANDER PALACE -- NIGHT
Alexandra looks herself in the mirror, weeping. Nicholas breaks down, putting his hands on her shoulders and kissing her hair.
NICHOLAS
It consoles me that we're together.
ALEXANDRA
I feel suffocated by grief. What shall we do? What's our fate?
NICHOLAS
Our captivity would not last long. I've requested for a safe transport of my family out of Russia from Murmansk. I hope for exile to England.
