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In 18th-Century Russia, the Czar, Paul, is
surrounded by murderous plots and trusts only Count Pahlen. Pahlen
wishes to protect his friend, the mad king but, because of the horror of the
king's acts, he feels that he must remove him from the throne. Stefan,
whipped by the czar for not having the correct number of buttons on his
gaiters, joins with the Count in the plot. The Crown Prince is
horrified by their plans and warns his father, who, having no love for his
son, places him under arrest for his foolish accusations.
Pahlen uses his mistress, the Countess Ostermann,
to lure the Czar into the bedroom, where she tells the Czar of the plot.
The Czar summons Pahlen, who reassures him of his loyalty. Later that
night the Count and Stefan enter his bedroom, and presently the Czar is
dead. But moments later Stefan turns a pistol on Pahlen. As the
Count lies dying on the floor, the Countess appears and embraces Pahlen as
he says, "I have been a bad friend and lover―but I have been a Patriot." |
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