Anastasia

A N A S T A S I A 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 opend 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 hourse 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. . .