Anastasia: the Musical - Anya's lines

DMIRTY & VLAD: WHO ELSE COULD PULL IT OFF BUT YOU AND ME! (Truck drives by and back fires)

(Cries out and holds hands in front of her face palms outwards to protect herself.) No!!!

GLEB: There’s a tea shop just steps from here. Let me - (he has out his arm around her.)

(Reflexively, she stiffens and is about to push him away but she stops herself.) Thank you. (They separate).

GLEB: What’s your hurry?

I can’t lose this job. They’re not easy to come by. (Her innate good manners briefly surface) But thank you. (runs off).

VLAD: At least they’ll feed us in jail.

(ANYA enters.) I’m looking for someone called Dmitry.

DMITRY: I’m Dmitry. What do you want

I need exit papers and I was told you’re the only one who can help me.

DMITRY: Exit papers are expensive.

I’ve saved a little money.

DMITRY: The right papers cost a lot.

I’m a hard worker. You’ll get your money.

DMITRY: What do you do?

I’m a streetsweeper.

DMITRY: A streetsweeper!

In Odessa, I washed dishes. Before that, I worked at a hospital in Perm.

DMITRY: They’re a long way from here.

I know. I walked it.

DMITRY: You walked all the way here from Perm?

I had no choice.

DMITRY: Who are you running from?

I’m running to someone. I don’t know who they are but they’re waiting for me in Paris.

DMITRY:You don’t need papers. There’s a canal out there. Jump in and start swimming. You’ll be in Paris before you know it. (To VLAD.) She’s crazy.

(With real anger.) I’m not crazy! (Pause.) Why are you so unkind?

VLAD: We were hoping you’d be someone else.

Who?

VLAD: Someone who may not even exist.

(ANYA looks confused, dazed. She turns around to find her bearings.) I’ve been in this room before. There was a play. Everyone was beautifully dressed.

VLAD: This was the private theatre in Count Yusapov’s palace.

People were polite and kind.

VLAD: When did you eat last?

Afterwards, we danced. There was champagne. I stole a sip.

DMITRY: This isn’t a soup kitchen, Vlad.

You seem to be a gentleman, even if your friend is not.

VLAD: Gentlemen! I haven’t heard that word in a long time. Life hasn’t been easy for my young friend.

Life has not been easy for anyone. (DMITRY brings her water and something to eat.) Thank you. (She eats and drinks greedily like an animal).

VLAD: I’m Vlad. What’s your name, dear?

I don’t know.

VLAD: You don’t know?

They gave me a name at the hospital, Anya. They told me I had amnesia. There was nothing they could do about it.

DMITRY: Are you ready to become the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov?

I’m ready to find out who I am but I’m not going to lie to do it.

DMITRY: It won’t be a lie. We’re going to help you remember the truth.

I wish I had your confidence.

DMITRY:If the Dowager Empress recognizes you as her granddaughter, Vlad and I will get a small reward for our efforts and we’ll all live happily ever after.

And if she calls me an imposter?

DMITRY:It will just be an honest mistake. Either way, it gets you to Paris and us out of Russia. Everybody wins.

How do you become the person you’ve forgotten you ever were?

VLAD & DMITRY: You can learn to do it too!

(“Passage of Time Music”, ANYA becomes visibly weary.) You’re the ones who don’t stand straight.

DMITRY: I was a boy, I didn’t know any better. It was the first and last time.

(ANYA executes a flawless and very deep curtsy.)

VLAD: Très bien, mademoiselle, très bien.

Merci, monsieur, merci.

VLAD: Vous parlez français?

(Surprising herself.) Un peu.

DMITRY: In Russian, for the common man.

YOU WERE BORN IN A PALACE BY THE SEA. COULD IT BE?…

GLEB: Sir, our little troublemaker has been found…Funny business going on there. Counter-revolutionary behavior some would say.

Why was I brought here?

GLEB: I thought you could tell me, comrade…Anya? Am I right?

Yes.

GLEB: I am Deputy Commissioner Gleb Vaganov… A friendly cup of tea will warm us both up.

What is the charge?

GLEB: There is no charge. Why should there be? You have a job, food on the table, your own place in the new order of things.

I’m very thankful.

GLEB: Which is why I’m warning you to leave your world of make-believe before it's too late.

I don’t understand.

GLEB: If you really were who you’re pretending to be, they would kill you without hesitation.

Everyone imagines being someone else. I’m no different. It’s an innocent enough fantasy.

GLEB: No, Anya, a dangerous one. The Romanov’s are gone, every last one of them. They no longer exist. My father was one of their guards.

I don’t want to hear this.

GLEB: A REVOLUTION IS A SIMPLE THING.

Thank you for your warning, comrade. (Hurries off after he replies.)

DRUNKS: NOW HE’S DRINKING HIS VODKA IN HELL! (DMITRY and ANYA pass.) They know where we’re living. His name is Gleb.

DMITRY: Leave her alone!

(Fight ensues, ANYA is ferocious) Next time I won’t go so easy!

DMITRY: Where did you learn that? You’re good.

(To DMITRY, half playfully.) You want to see what else I can do? Come at me. I won’t hurt you.

DMITRY: I believe you!

I didn’t walk halfway across Russia without learning how to take care of myself. You’ve had it easy.

DMITRY: Not so easy… I don’t really remember her.

Who raised you then?

DMITRY: My father used to bring me here. He’d put me on his shoulder so I could have a better view. “Bet you can see all the way to Finland from up there, Dima.”

Dima.

DMITRY: That’s what he called me. There isn’t a day I don’t miss him.

So neither of us has a family.

DMITRY: You don’t know that yet. The answer is in Paris. Now tell me about her little dog.

His name was Toby. (Falters.)

DMITRY: Go on.

I loved him so much.

DMITRY: Don’t stop.

I’m not as strong as you think I am!

DMITRY: Close your eyes.

Why?

DMITRY: Just do it. Put your hand out. Open. You’ve worked hard. You’ve earned it.

What is it?

DMITRY: A music box.

It’s beautiful.

ANYA: ONCE UPON A DECEMBER.

How soon do you think we can go? They’re canceling trains right and left. Here, I worked an extra shift this week. (She hands him some rubles.) It’s not much but every little bit helps.

DMITRY: We’re not even close, Anya.

What are you saying?

DMITRY: I thought I could get us out before they closed the borders for good.

You were the only hope I had.

DMITRY: There must be someone who can help you. I’m sorry. (He hands her the rubles back.)

I don’t want your money.

DMITRY: It’s your money.

It’s our money. I trusted you.

DMITRY: I said I was sorry!

But I didn’t trust you enough. Now you close your eyes.

DMITRY: What for?

You’re the stubbornest person I ever met, almost as stubborn as me. (DMITRY closes his eyes.) Put your hand out. (She puts something in his open palm.) All right, open.

DMITRY: It’s a diamond.

A nurse at the hospital found it sewn in my underclothes. SHE HID IT FOR ME TILL THE DAY I COULD GO. A SECRET SHE KEPT, ALTHOUGH WHY, I DON’T KNOW. SHE SAID “DON’T TELL A SOUL TILL THE MOMENT YOU MUST.” I HAD TO MAKE SURE I FOUND SOMEONE I TRUST.

DMITRY: You’ve had it all this time without telling me?

Yes.

DMITRY: Why?

It’s the only thing I have. Without it, I have nothing.

DMITRY: How do you know I won’t take it now and you’ll never see me again?

I don’t think you will.

DMITRY: She had it all along.

I didn’t trust either of you with it.

VLAD: Done.

Hurry, there's a train at midnight from the Finland Station!

DMITRY: I’ll fence the diamond. Where are you going?

They owe me a week’s wages. Every ruble counts.

VLAD: You don’t have to sound so damn happy about it.

How dare you smoke without my permission?

SMOKER: Who the hell do you think you are?

I am the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov.

DMITRY: Warn us next time before you do that!

I wanted to see what it felt like, saying I was her.

VLAD: Quite the opposite… She gave me a watch studded with diamonds.

Did you love her?

DMITRY: We’ll be safe soon.

That’s what the soldiers said but they were pointing guns at us.

DMITRY: No one’s pointing guns at you. You’re taking this too far, Anya.

Not if I am really her!

DMITRY: Shhhh, shhh. We’re almost out of Russia. Once we cross the border, we’re safe.

You put these ideas in my head and I’m beginning to think they might be true.

DMITRY: What are we going to do?

We’re getting off.

VLAD: The train’s moving again.

Unless you want to end up like Count Ipolitov. Jump!!

VLAD: France looks nothing like Russia… My waist was like this.

Why have we stopped? I’m going to ask the driver what’s wrong.

DMITRY: As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about.

This is as far as he goes but we’re almost there. From the top of the hill, he says you can just see Paris.

DMITRY: We made it!

Even when I was mad at you, I never doubted we would. Thank you, Dmitry.

VLAD: Don’t use up all the hot water!… I’ll start at the Neva Club.

“Considered the most beautiful bridge in Paris, the Alexander Bridge was named for Tsar Alexandre III.” PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO MY HEART, AND ALL OF PARIS PLAYS A PART. THIS BRIDGE IS A GOOD PLACE TO START…

SISTERS: AH… AH… AH… AH…

Who are you? Every night you come.

ALEXEI: Can I tell you a secret? I’m going to die soon. We all are. Do you have a secret?

I don’t know who I am.

TSAR, TSARINA, & CHILDREN: ANYA! ANYA! ANYA! (The sound of a gunshot.)

(ANYA wakes, terrified by her nightmare.) Papa!!

DMITRY: Anya!

The voices keep coming back!

DMITRY: That’s all they are. Voices, You’re having a nightmare.

Stay with me, Dmitry, I’m frightened.

DMITRY: Is that better?

Who do you think I am, Dmitry?

DMITRY: If I were the Dowager Empress, I would want you to be Anastasia.

You would?

DMITRY: I would want her to be a beautiful, strong, intelligent young woman.

Is that what you think I am?

DMITRY: I do.

Thank you.

DMITRY: You’re welcome.

I'd begun to wonder if you were ever going to pay me a compliment. Do you really think I might be her?

DMITRY: I want to believe you’re the little girl I saw once many years ago.

I don’t understand.

LILY: Your Highness.

No, you mustn't.

DMITRY: We’ll celebrate after on your grandfather’s bridge.

I’m ready.

DMITRY: What happened?

She wouldn’t even look at me. “Tell this imposter, Lily, I know her kind too well. She wants money, and will break an old woman’s heart to get it.”

DMITRY: I’ll tell her the truth.

That I was a pawn in a scheme of yours? That you made me think I might be someone I never was or ever could be. I was cold and hungry and desperate when I met you, Dmitry, but I wasn't dishonest. I hate you for that.

DOWAGER EMPRESS: Take me home, Lily. (TRANSITION TO HOTEL ROOM.)

It was my life you played with. Telling me I was someone else and letting me believe I was. (She picks up a little doll.) What is this?

DMITRY: I bought it for you when we were at that -

I don’t want it. (She throws it across the room.)

DMITRY: Where are you going?

Anywhere that’s far from you.

VLAD: Anya!

No wonder you were dismissed from court. Men like you deserve every bad hand life deals you. You both do.

(LILY enters and whispers to VLAD who whispers to DMITRY, the three leave and the DOWAGER EMPRESS enters. She watches quietly as ANYA continues to hurl things into her suitcase.)

I admired the way you were proud of who you were, despite your circumstances. You taught me to be the same – and the whole time you were tricking me. (The DOWAGER EMPRESS is clearly moved but remains silent. ANYA holds up a book.) Russian history! Save it for your next Anastasia. (She turns to throw the book but is astonished to see the DOWAGER EMPRESS.) Your Imperial Highness. (She curtsies.)

THE DOWAGER EMPRESS: I think history demands we play this game to the end.

Please, be seated.

THE DOWAGER EMPRESS: There’s no need. I shall be brief. Who are you?

I believe I am the youngest daughter of–