[Fade in a tiny music box] [Close-up] [The delicate box is set on a brocaded pillow. We pull back to see] [The pillow is carried by a pair of hands.] [Pull back to see a butler, he carries the Music Box on uts pillow. He rushes down a grand curving staircase, past other servants to.] [The front door. He races out the front door, careful to balance his precious cargo on the pillow.] [Enter. Mansion - evening] [A horse-drawn carriage stands outside, An escort of Cossacks on horseback wait, horses impatient, steam shooting from their nostrils, hooves prancing. The Butler comes out with the box on the pillow, carrying it to.] [An elderly woman stands regally beside the carriage door, dressed in full evening clothes. This is the Empress Marie. The Butler bows as he presents the box. She takes it from the pillow and puts it carefully in her beaded clutch. The Butler retreats.] [A footman opens the carriage door, and Marie climbs inside. As soon as the door closes, the carriage takes off, preceeded by the thundering Cossack horses.] [Enter St. Petersburg - night] [Marie's carriage races through the streets her honor Guard of Horsemen cutting a path ahead of her.]

Your highness…

Hyah!

[narrating]

There was a time, not very long ago, when we lived in an enchanted world of elegant palaces and grand parties.

[Enter. Palace - night] [The gates swing open for Marie’s carriage. The palace is lit up, with opulently dressed partygoers streaming inside. They bow as Marie’s carriage pulls up.] [narrating]

The year was 1916…

[The palace doors swing open. Music pours out, and sounds of gaiety. Marie sweeps inside, dancing couples bowing as she passes.] [narrating]

…and my son Nicholas, was the Czar of Imperial Russia. [Move into palace]

[Enter. Catherine Palace - Night] [Elegant royalists, in 17th century costumes, waltz in the main hall as an orchestra plays. Nicholas dances with Anastasia, 8, graceful and spirited. Father and daughter are the couple of the monet - all eyes adore them.]

Hello, darling. [narrating] We were celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of our family’s rule.

[laughter]

Oh, Papa!

[narrating]

…and that night, no star burned brighter than that of our sweet Anastasia, my youngest granddaughter.

[Angle on Marie - the Dowager Empress] [Smiling as she watches her granddaughter dancing with her father. Anastasia, her dance finished, lights up at seeing her grandmother, runs to her.] [narrating]

She begged me not to return to Paris - so I had a very special gift made for her…

[gasps]

[narrating]

… to make the separation easier for both of us.

[Marie hands her a beautiful music box. A servant boy named Dimitri, 10, enters through a secret opening in the wall behind Marie’s chair, to eavesdrop.]

For me?! Is it a jewelry box?!

[A kitchen servant catches Dimitri spying.]

Dimitri, you belong in the kitchen.

Let go!

[Unnoticed by Anastasia and Marie, the boy is dragged quickly into the secret door.]

Look.

[Marie takes out a key, a small silver flower on a neck chain. She puts it into the back of the music box, and winds it.] [Music Box Theme] [gasps]

It plays our lullaby!

You can play it at night before you go to sleep. And pretend that it’s me singing. [singing] ♪On the wind, cross the sea, hear this song and remember.♪ [with Anastasia] ♪Soon you’ll be home with me once upon a December.♪ [Marie hands Anastasia the key] Read what it says.

[Close on music box key bearing the inscription "Together in Paris."]

"Together in Paris". Really? Oh, Grandmama!
[Marie smiles and nods. They embrace.]