Tab 1

LIBRETTO

ANASTASIA
THE NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL

Book
TERENCE MCNALLY

Music & Lyrics

STEPHEN FLAHERTY & LYNN AHRENS
CHARACTERS:
Anya/Anastasia
Dmitry
Vlad
Gleb
Dowager Empress
Countess Lily

ENSEMBLE:
Tsarina Alexandra
Tzar Nicholas II
Olga Romanov
Tatiana Romanov
Maria Romanov
Alexei Romanov
Royal Servants
Count Ipolitov
Count Leopold
Townspeople
Communist Officers
Bolshevik Army
Parisians
Reporters
Ballet Dancers

ACT ONE​
PROLOGUE - 1:29 / ​
#1 Opening Fanfare and Opening Scene

#2 Prologue: Once Upon a December​

#3 The Last Dance Of The Romanovs

SCENE ONE - 5:05 /​

#4 A Rumor In St. Petersburg

#4A Underscore After Rumor

SCENE TWO - TOTAL /REVISE DIALOGUE & TIME​
#5 In My Dreams (2:16)​
#5A After In My Dreams

SCENE THREE - 1:10 /​

#5B The Rumors Never End

SCENE FOUR - TOTAL /DOUBLE CHECK DIALOGUE TIME​

#6 Learn To Do It (2:30)​
#6A Learn To Do It Reprise

SCENE FIVE - 3:46 /​

#7A Scene Transition After The Neva Flows(NEVA FOWS
EXCLUDED)

SCENE SIX - TOTAL /DOUBLE CHECK DIALOGUE TIME​

#10 Once Upon a December (2:49)​
#10A A Secret She Kept (0:29)​
#10B Vlad Underscore/Transition to Train Station

SCENE SEVEN - 3:33 / (1:83)​

#12A Inside the Train​
#12B We'll Go From There (1:50)​
#12C Jump

SCENE EIGHT - 1:43​

#13A Traveling Sequence

SCENE NINE - 2:58 / (1:27)​

#14 Journey To The Past (1:31)

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE​
#15 Paris Holds The Key (To Your Heart)​
#15A Paris Holds The Key Exit

SCENE TWO​
#17 Close The Door
SCENE THREE

#17A Underscore Neva Club

SCENE FOUR​
#19 A Nightmare​
SCENE FIVE​
#21 Arriving At The Ballet​
#21B Want To Be​
#22 Quartet At The Ballet

SCENE SIX​
#23A Transition To The Hotel Room

SCENE SEVEN​
#23B Anya/Hotel Underscore​
#23C Once Upon a December

SCENE EIGHT

#25 Still/The Neva Flows (Reprise)

SCENE NINE​
#26 Finale

SCENE TEN​
#27 Bows​
#28 Exit Music

ACT ONE, PROLOGUE — 1:29

RUSSIA: 1906: IN THE YUGUSOV PALACE, ANASTASIA'S ROOM

#1 OPENING FANFARE AND OPENING SCENE

ENSEMBLE​
AHS​
Setting: Russia, 1906. Anastasia's bedroom in the
Winter Palace.
(The stage is dimly lit. Little Anastasia sits on her
bed with the Dowager Empress.)

LITTLE ANASTASIA:

Why must you leave Nana?

DOWAGER EMPRESS:

I've stayed too long, my darling. It's time to go.

LITTLE ANASTASIA:

Then take me with you! To Paris!

DOWAGER EMPRESS: (smiling)

You'll come soon—with your sisters and brother. We'll

walk to Pont Alexandre, named for your grandfather.
We'll go to the ballet every night.

LITTLE ANASTASIA:

Take me now.

DOWAGER EMPRESS(holding her close):

I already have. You'll always be with me, Anastasia.

You're my favorite—so strong, so brave.

LITTLE ANASTASIA:

Like you.
 #2 PROLOGUE: ONCE UPON A DECEMBER

(The Dowager Empress opens a small music box. A soft

melody plays.)

(They sing softly together.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS AND LITTLE ANASTASIA:

FAR AWAY, LONG AGO,

GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER,

THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW,

THINGS IT YEARNS TO REMEMBER,

AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS,

ONCE UPON A DECEMBER...

(The Tsarina enters.)

TSARINA ALEXANDRA:

Anastasia, have you said your prayers?

LITTLE ANASTASIA:

Yes, Mama. For Father, for Russia… for everyone.

TSARINA ALEXANDRA (noticing the box):

And what’s this?

 DOWAGER EMPRESS:

A gift, to remember me by.

TSARINA ALEXANDRA (sternly):

Better to remember with prayers,in times like these.

#3 PROLOGUE: LAST DANCE OF THE ROMANOVS

(The Tsar enters, playful but weary.)

TSAR NICHOLAS II:

It’s the last ball of the season, Mama. All Petersburg

awaits.

DOWAGER EMPRESS (to Anastasia):

Remember, Paris.

(She kisses Anastasia goodbye and exits. Anastasia runs

after her, but the Tsar gently lifts her back onto the
bed.)

TSAR NICHOLAS II (bowing):

The Tsar requests a dance, mademoiselle.

LITTLE ANASTASIA (beaming):

I am the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov!

(They dance as the ballroom fills with the Romanov

family. Music swells. Time shifts forward—1917. Young
Anastasia now dances with her father. The family
 laughs, poses for photographs. Suddenly, gunshots.
Windows shatter. Panic.)

Stage Directions:

Tatiana, Olga, and Maria flee together.

The Tsarina, Tsar, and Alexei rush off with Young

Anastasia—

But Anastasia returns for her music box.

A flash. A gunshot. Darkness.

(Snow falls in projection. The Dowager Empress appears

alone, holding a letter.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS (broken):

All of them? All of them…

(Countess Lily rushes to her side. They exit slowly.

The stage falls silent.)

SCENE ONE​
LENINGRAD: 1927

#4 A RUMOR IN ST PETERSBURG - 5:05

TOWNSPEOPLE​
THE NEVA FLOWS​
A NEW WIND BLOWS​
AND SOON IT WILL BE SPRING
(GLEB, a communist officer, high in rank, enters. He
addresses the public.)

(TOWNSPEOPLE, including DMITRY enter.)

DMITRY​
They can call it Leningrad, but it will always be
Petersburg! New name, same empty stomachs.

DMITRY (sings)​
THEY TELL US TIMES ARE BETTER​
WELL I SAY THEY'RE NOT​
CAN’T COOK AN EMPTY PROMISE​
IN AN EMPTY POT

A BRIGHTER DAY IS DAWNING​

IT’S ALMOST AT HAND​
THE SKIES ARE GRAY​
THE WALLS HAVE EARS AND HE WHO ARGUES DISAPPEARS

DMITRY & ENSEMBLE​

HAIL OUR GREAT NEW LAND

(DMITRY runs off stage, from GLEB)

ENSEMBLE​
ST. PETERSBURG IS GLOOMY​
A CITY ON THE RISE.

WOMAN 1​
IT’S REALLY VERY FRIENDLY

WOMAN 2​
IF YOU DON’T MIND SPIES.

MAN 2​
WE STAND BEHIND OUR LEADERS
 MAN 3​
AND STAND IN LINE FOR BREAD

ENSEMBLE​
WE’RE GOOD AND LOYAL COMRADES​
AND OUR FAVORITE COLOR’S RED

(DMITRY appears in the podium center stage.)

DMITRY​
NOW EVERYONE IS EQUAL​
PROFESSORS PUSH THE BROOMS

DMITRY & ENSEMBLE

TWO-DOZEN TOTAL STRANGERS LIVE IN

TWO SMALL ROOMS

YOU HOLD A REVOLUTION,

AND HERE’S THE PRICE YOU PAY

THANK GOODNESS FOR THE GOSSIP

ENSEMBLE

THANK GOODNESS FOR THE GOSSIP THAT GETS US THROUGH THE

DAY

HEY!

HAVE YOU HEARD

THERE'S A RUMOR IN SI PETERSBURG

HAVE YOU HEARD

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ON THE STREET?

MAN 4
ALTHOUGH THE TSAR DID NOT SURVIVE ONE DAUGHTER MAY BE
STILL ALIVE

ENSEMBLE

THE PRINCESS ANASTASIA

MAN 4

BUT PLEASE DO NOI REPEAT

ENSEMBLE

IT'S A RUMOR

A LEGEND

A MYSTERY

SOMETHING WHISPERED IN AN ALLEYWAY

OR THROUGH A CRACK

IT'S A RUMOR

THAT'S PART OF OUR HISTORY

WOMAN 3

THEY SAY HER ROYAL GRANDMAMA

WILL PAY A ROYAL SUM

ENSEMBLE

TO SOMEONE WHO CAN BRING THE PRINCESS BACK

(VLAD enters.)

VLAD

Dmitry! They've closed another border! We should have

 gotten out of Russia while we still could.

ST PETERSBURG WAS LOVELY

WHEN ROYALTY WAS IN

I CALLED MYSELF A COUNT

AS THOUGH I'D ALWAYS BEEN

I HOBNOBBED WITH THE ROYALS

BUT THEN A CHANGE OF LUCK

THE TSAR WAS DEAD

THE ROYALS FLED

AND COMRADE NOW WE'RE STUCK!

DMITRY

Vlad! I've been thinking about Princess Anastasia.

VLAD

Oh not you too, Dmitry!

DMITRY

IT'S THE RUMOR

THE LEGEND

THE MYSTERY

IT'S THE PRINCESS ANASTASIA

WHO WILL HELP US FLY

YOU AND I FRIEND

 WILL GO DOWN

IN HISTORY

WE'LL FIND A GIRL TO PLAY THE PART

AND TEACH HER WHAT TO SAY

DRESS HER UP AND TAKE HER TO PARIS

VLAD

IMAGINE THE REWARD

HER DEAR OLD GRANDMAMA WOULD PAY

DMITRY & VLAD

WHO ELSE COULD PULL IT OFF

BUT YOU AND ME

(DMITRY and VLAD walk off stage right, and ANYA enters,
sweeping the floor with a broom. A loud noise is heard,
and she screams as she falls to the ground.)

GLEB

It was a truck backfiring, comrade. That's all it was.

Those days are over, neighbor against neighbor.
There's nothing to be afraid of. You're shaking.
There's a tea shop just steps from here-

ANYA

(Cuts GLEB.) Thank you!

GLEB

What's your hurry?

 ANYA

I just can't lose this job.

(ANYA goes out of the scene with the broom, saying

thank you out of the portrait.)

GLEB

I’M HERE EVERY DAY!

(PEOPLE ENTER)

MAN 1

A RUBLE FOR THIS PAINTING

IT'S ROMANOV, I SWEAR!

MAN 2

COUNT YUSUPOV’S PAJAMAS,

COMRADE BUY THE PAIR

MAN 3

I FOUND THIS IN THE PALACE.

INITIALED WITH AN “A”

IT COULD BE ANASTASIA’S!

NOW WHAT WILL SOMEONE PAY?

DMITRY

We need something of hers to show the old woman.

VLAD
 There's more to Anastasia than wearing a tiara,
Dmitry.

DMITRY

Not much. Look at how many people you've fooled. How

much for the music box?

MAN 3

Ah, the music box! It's a genuine Romanov, I never

could've paid for it!

DMITRY

Two cans of beans?

MAN 3

Done

DMITRY

Do you believe in fairy tales, Vlad

VLAD

Once upon a time, I did.

DMITRY

We're going to create a fairytale the whole world will

believe!

NOW IT'S RISKY, BUT NOT MORE THEN USUAL

WE’LL NEED PAPERS

WE’LL NEED TICKETS

WE’LL NEED NERVES OF STEEL

 VLAD

YES IT’S RISKY A LOT MORE THEN USUAL

DMITRY

WE’LL TRY TO CROSS THE BORDER WITH OUR PRINCESS AND

OUR PLOT!

VLAD

HOPEFULLY DISASTER WON'T ENSUE

DMITRY

WITH LUCK, IT’LL ALL GO SMOOTHLY

VLAD

WITH LUCK, WE WON’T BE SHOT

DMITRY AND VLAD

WHO ELSE COULD PULL IT OFF BUT ME AND YOU?

DMITRY

WE’LL BE RICH

VLAD

WE’LL BE RICH!

DMITRY

WE’LL BE OUT

VLAD

WE’LL BE OUT!

DMITRY AND VLAD

 AND ST. PETERSBURG WILL HAVE SOME MORE TO TALK ABOUT

ENSEMBLE

I HEARD IT FROM A PERSON x2

WHO ASSURED ME IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TRUE

SHH!

(ENSEMBLE MOVE AWAY FROM THE SCENE AND PREPARE FOR THE
NEXT)

SCENE TWO — 7:34

INSIDE THE ABANDONED YUGUSOV PALACE

(MARFA, DUNYA, and PAULINA are auditioning for the role

of Anastasia. DMITRY and VLAD are conducting these
auditions. MARFA is holding a script, and is in the
middle of her audition.)

MARFA

I am the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov!

DMITRY

Try it without the gum in your mouth now.

MARFA

It's not gum. It's tobacco

(She walks over to the other women stage right.)

DMITRY
 Vlad, are these the last ones?

VLAD

Who were you expecting? Sarah Bernhardt?

MARFA

(walks back to center stage, tries again)

It's me, Grandmamma! I’m your Anastasia! They shot me

but I lived and I came all the way to Paris to tell
you I'm alive.

(By the end of this spiel, MARFA stops acting and

kneels facing DMITRY, who is sitting in a chair

stage left. To VLAD)

I'm not really an actress.

VLAD (sarcastic)

No!

DMITRY

Thank you, ladies. We'll let you know.

PAULINA

What you're doing is against the law!

DUNYA

For this we lost our best hours on the street.

MARFA
 Thankfully you’re handsome, Dmitry or else I would
report you.

DMITRY

Out! Out!

(He chases them out.)

VLAD

Well. You tried, my friend. Anastasia doesn't grow on

trees.

DMITRY

I'm not giving up. I'll go to Siberia to find

Anastasia.

(He reaches into his bag and pulls out the music box.)

VLAD

Have you ever been to Siberia?

DMITRY

I've never been anywhere but here.

(He sits on a sheet-covered bench stage right.)

VLAD

Ah. The day I took up with you...

(He crosses stage left to grab his coat and puts it

on.)

DMITRY
 It was me or a Bolshevik firing squad.

VLAD

You saved my life.

DMITRY

A rash act of kindness. Completely out of character!

(DMITRY inspects the music box.)

VLAD

Stop fiddling with that before you break it.

DMITRY

I can't get it open!

VLAD

It's fake!

DMITRY

Oh, what do you know?

VLAD

No one spots a fake like Count Vladimir Popov. Biggest

fake of them all.

(A knock is heard offstage. DMITRY and VLAD panic.)

DMITRY

I knew it! Those women ratted on us!

VLAD
 At least they'll feed us in jail!

(They both hide. ANYA enters.)

ANYA

(She sees VLAD and is frightened.)

I'm looking for someone called Dmitry.

DMITRY

I'm Dmitry. What do you want?

ANYA

I need exit papers to Paris. And I was told you're the

only person who can help me.

DMITRY

Exit papers are expensive.

ANYA

I have a little money saved up.

DMITRY

The right papers cost a lot.

(DMITRY brings over a chair downstage left and sits on

it.)

ANYA

I work hard enough, you’ll get your money.

DMITRY
 What do you do?

ANYA

I’m a street sweeper.

DMITRY

A street sweeper?

ANYA

I worked at a hospital in Perm.

DMITRY

You walked here all the way from Perm?

ANYA

I didn't have a choice.

DMITRY

Who are you running from?

ANYA

I’m running TO someone. I don't know them but I know

they are waiting for me in Paris.

DMITRY

You don't need papers. There's a canal out there. Jump

in, swim, you’ll be in Paris before you realize it!

(DMITRY and VLAD laugh at her.) She’s crazy!

ANYA
 I’m not. Why are you so unkind?

VLAD

We were hoping you’d be someone else.

ANYA

Who?

VLAD

Someone who may not even exist.

(ANYA looks around the room.)

ANYA

I’ve been in this room. There was a play and everyone

was dressed beautifully.

VLAD

This was the private theater in Count Yusupov’s

palace.

ANYA

People were polite and kind.

DMITRY

She’s gonna faint on us!

(VLAD takes her hand and his chair and brings them both
to the center stage.)

VLAD

When was the last time you ate?

 ANYA

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

sip.

(VLAD brings ANYA to the chair and makes her sit.)

ANYA

You seem to be a gentleman. Unlike your friend.

VLAD

Gentleman? I haven't heard that in a while. Life

hasn't been easy for my friend.

ANYA

Life hasn't been easy for anyone.

VLAD

I’m Vlad.

(He bows to her gracefully.) What's your name, dear?

Song: #5 IN MY DREAMS starts playing.

ANYA (Spoken)

I don't know.

(VLAD and DMITRY laugh. VLAD is at his chair and

DMITRY crosses to his.)

VLAD (Spoken)
 You don’t know?

ANYA (Spoken)

They gave me a name at the hospital. Anya. They told

me I had amnesia.

(VLAD and DMITRY share a glance and slowly

sit.)

There was nothing they could do about it.

VLAD (Spoken)

Tell us what you do remember.

ANYA (Singing)

THEY SAID I WAS FOUND

BY THE SIDE OF A ROAD

THERE WERE TRACKS ALL AROUND

IT HAD RECENTLY SNOWED

IN THE DARKNESS AND COLD

THE WIND IN THE TREES

A GIRL WITH NO NAME

AND NO MEMORIES, BUT THESE

RAIN AGAINST A WINDOW

 SHEETS UPON A BED

TERRIFYING NURSES

WHISPERING OVERHEAD

"CALL THE CHILD ANYA

GIVE THE CHILD A HAT"

I DON'T KNOW A THING BEFORE THAT

TRAVELING THE BACKROADS

SLEEPING IN THE WOOD

TAKING WHAT I NEEDED

WORKING WHEN I COULD

KEEPING UP MY COURAGE

AS FOOLISH AS IT SEEMS

AT NIGHT ALL ALONE IN MY DREAMS

IN MY DREAMS

SHADOWS CALL

THERE'S A LIGHT

AT THE END OF A HALL

THEN MY DREAMS

FADE AWAY

BUT I KNOW IT ALL WILL COME BACK

ONE DAY
 I DREAM OF A CITY

BEYOND ALL COMPARE

IS IT PARIS?

PARIS

A BEAUTIFUL RIVER

A BRIDGE BY A SQUARE

AND I HEAR A VOICE WHISPER

"I'LL MEET YOU RIGHT THERE,

IN PARIS"

PARIS

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE

NOT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE

TO HAVE LIVED IN THE SHADOWS

AND TRAVEL THIS FAR

I'VE SEEN FLASHES OF FIRE

HEARD THE ECHOES OF SCREAMS

BUT I STILL HAVE THIS FAITH

IN THE TRUTH OF MY DREAMS

IN MY DREAMS

IT'S ALL REAL

AND MY HEART HAS SO MUCH TO REVEAL

 AND MY DREAMS

SEEM TO SAY

"DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO ON

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE

COME WHAT MAY"

I KNOW IT ALL WILL COME BACK

ONE DAY!

DMITRY

(Spoken)

We can teach her.

We can make her into Anastasia.

What do you say, Vlad?

Are you with me?

VLAD

(Spoken)

Okay, I'm with you.

But you're crazy.

DMITRY

I know.

(MUSIC continues as they exit)

 #5A AFTER IN MY DREAMS

(change to THE IMPERIAL BOX COMPANY)

SCENE 3 - 1:10

GLEB:

Thank you

DUNYA:

Are you going to arrest them?

GLEB:

You've done your duty. And I've done mine. Listening

to your gossip.

MARFA:

It's not gossip, it's the truth!

(GLEB slams his fist on the desk. EVERYONE turns to

him. He takes his time in getting up from his desk and
puts his finger under the chin of MARFA.)

GLEB:

The next time I see you three soliciting on Theatre

Street, I won't look the other way.
(He blows in her face. The ACTRESSES run off stage and
exit stage left. GLEB sings.)

GLEB:

ANOTHER RUMOR ON THE STREET

ANOTHER GIRL TO APPREHEND

ONE MORE PRETENDER

WHO NO LONGER PLAYED PRETEND

Fill out a new report!

THE RUMORS NEVER END

THE OFFICERS:

Fill out a new report

ALL:

The rumors never end

ALL BUT GLEB:

The rumors never end

 SCENE FOUR - 7:45

THE YUSUPOV PALACE

(ANYA walks out. She is joined by VLAD, writing on a

chalkboard, and DMITRY, with a book. She walks over

to DMITRY. )

DMITRY

Are you ready to become the Grand Duchess Anastasia

Nikolaevna Romanov?

ANYA

I'm ready to find out who I am, but I'm not going to

lie to do it.

(She begins to walk out, but is stopped by DMITRY.

He guides her to center stage. )

DMITRY

It won't be a lie. We're going to help you remember

the
 truth.

ANYA

I wish I had your confidence.

DMITRY

If the Dowager Empress recognizes you as her

Granddaughter, we will get a small reward and live

happily ever after.

ANYA

What if she finds out about me being an imposter?

DMITRY

It will all just be an honest mistake. (a beat) At

least it will get us to Paris. Everybody wins.

#6 LEARN TO DO IT

ANYA

How do you become the person you forgot you were?

(DMITRY puts a chair center stage.)

 VLAD

Calm down. Close your eyes. Imagine yourself in

another

world.

(The guys show ANYA an old photo album.)

VLAD

YOU WERE BORN IN A PALACE BY THE SEA

ANYA

COULD IT BE?

VLAD

YES, YOU RODE HORSEBACK WHEN YOU WERE THREE

ANYA

ME RIDING A HORSEBACK?

DMITRY

HORSE'S NAME
 VLAD

ROMEO

YOU THREW TANTRUMS AND TERRORIZED THE COOK!

HOW THE PALACE SHOOK

DMITRY

CHARMING CHILD

VLAD

WROTE THE BOOK

BUT YOU'D BEHAVE WHEN YOUR FATHER GAVE THAT LOOK

DMITRY

IMAGINE HOW IT WAS

YOUR LONG FORGOTTEN PAST

DMITRY & VLAD

WE'VE LOTS AND LOTS TO TEACH YOU

AND THE TIME IS GOING FAST

 (They take away the book and help her up.)

ANYA

You’re the ones who don’t stand straight!

DMITRY

It’s all his years of bowing and kowtowing in court.

(He jokingly bows.)

VLAD

Bowing is a sign of respect.

DMITRY

I bowed to someone once.

VLAD

There! You admit it!

DMITRY

I was young and didn’t know better. That was the first

and last time!

(ANYA suddenly takes her skirt and perfectly

curtsies, shocking the guys and herself.)

DMITRY

Where did you learn to do that?

VLAD

She’s a natural! Be seated, young lady!

(They all sit at a table upstage left.)

DMITRY

NOW ELBOWS IN AND SIT UP STRAIGHT

AND DO NOT SLURP THE STROGANOFF

ANYA

I NEVER CARED FOR STROGANOFF

VLAD

SHE SAID THAT LIKE A ROMANOV

 DMITRY

THE SAMOVAR

VLAD

THE CAVIAR

ANYA

DESSERT AND THEN GOODNIGHT?

DMITRY & VLAD

NOT UNTIL YOU GET THIS RIGHT

DMITRY

IF WE CAN LEARN TO DO IT

VLAD

THEN YOU CAN LEARN IT TOO

VLAD
 PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER

DMITRY & VLAD

AND YOU’LL PULL THROUGH IT

VLAD

TELL YOURSELF IT’S EASY

DMITRY & VLAD

YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT TOO

(VLAD runs over to a panel and pulls a shade, then

walks to the chalkboard. DMITRY and ANYA both take

off their jackets.)

VLAD

Who is your great grandmother?

ANYA

Queen Victoria.
 VLAD

Great-great grandmother?

ANYA

Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

VLAD

Your best friend is?

ANYA

My little brother Alexei.

DMITRY

Wrong. Your best friend is -

ANYA

I know who my best friend is.

DMITRY
 What a temper.

ANYA

I don't like being contradicted.

(She walks over to him and hits him with a book.)

DMITRY

That makes two of us.

VLAD

Continuing on.

(The guys discuss behind the chalkboard and VLAD hits

DMITRY in the head. They come around.)

ANYA

I'VE HAD IT

AND I HATE YOU BOTH

I'M SORRY THAT WE EVER MET

I'M HUNGRY

AND I'M FRIGHTENED AND I'M ONLY HUMAN

DON'T FORGET

I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING

GET OUT AND LET ME BE

 (He tries to comfort her.)

VLAD

ANYA, DARLING LOOK AT ME WE'RE ALL FRIGHTENED

WELL, SLIGHTLY, NOW AND THEN

SHALL WE START AGAIN?

TAKE A BREATH

COUNT TO TEN

YOU HAVE COURAGE AND STRENGTH

YOU BARELY KNOW

SO BLOW THAT LITTLE NOSE

AND DRY THOSE PRETTY EYES

A PRINCESS LIKE YOUR MAJESTY

CAN DO THIS IF SHE TRIES

READY?

DMITRY

SET

ANYA

GO

They flip the chalkboard and DMITRY is hit in the face

again. VIAD goes crazy with the chalk.)

VLAD
NOW HERE'S YOUR GREAT-AUNT OLGA

DMITRY

HOW SHE FROLICKED

ON THE VOLGA

ANYA

OH!

VLAD

YOUR DISTANT COUSIN VANYA

LOVED HIS VODKA

DMITRY

GOT IT, ANYA?

ANYA

NO.

VLAD

THE DUKE OF OLDENBURG WAS SHORT

DMITRY

LOUISE OF BADEN

ANYA

HAD A

DMITRY
 WART

VLAD

COUNT SERGEI

DMITRY

WORE A FEATHERED HAT

VLAD

I HEAR HE'S GOTTEN VERY FAT

ANYA

AND I RECALL HIS YELLOW CAT

VLAD

I DON'T BELIEVE WE TOLD HER THAT

ANYA

IF YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT

I CAN LEARN TO DO IT

VLAD

SAW YOU AND I KNEW IT

ANYA

I'M GLAD YOU KNEW IT

SUDDENLY I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A CHANCE

VLAD
 NOT UNTIL YOU LEARN TO DANCE

(VIAD puts ANYA and DMITRY together to dance. They are

reluctant, and DMITRY sucks at dancing. Really badly.
VIAD counts. He steps on ANYA's foot. She steps on his
on purpose.)

Anya!

(VIAD now dances with them, and counts. Then he steps

back. The pair are dancing. They dance around the room.
VLAD leaves the stage. DMITRY even lifts ANYA. The two
stop dancing and circle each other. Something has
changed. VLAD returns and cuts in. He and es tree the
around the on. DMITRY joins in.)

DMITRY & VLAD

IF YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT

ANYA

IF I CAN LEARN IO DO IT

DMITRY & VLAD

HE CAN LEARN TO DO IT

ANYA

YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT

DMITRY & VLAD

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER

ALL

AND WE'LL PULL THROUGH IT

VLAD
 TELL YOURSELF IT'S EASY

ALL

AND IT'S TRUE

DMITRY & VLAD

YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT

(They lift ANYA onto the chair.)

ANYA

NOTHING TO IT

ALL

YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT

ANYA

THE CAVIAR

THE STROGANOFF THE SAMOVAR

THE FEATHERED HAT THE COUSIN DRANK

THE DUKE WAS SHORT AND HERE A WART

AND THERE A CAT

THE HORSE'S NAME WAS ROMEO SO TELL ME SOMETHING NEW

VLAD & DMITRY

HA!

ANYA
 AH!

ALL

YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT TOO

VLAD

Tres bien, mademoiselle, tres bien.

ANYA

Merci, monsieur, merci.

VLAD

Iu parle français?

ANYA

Un peu.

(The three of them are shocked. )

VLAD

Oh! She's charming!

DMITRY

What were you telling her?

VIAD

Oh, the aristocrats all spoke French, Dmitry. Russian

was for common people, like you.

(to ANYA) You get to sleep on the sack of lentils

tonight, Anya. You've earned it.

Bon oui, ma chere. Tomorrow, we begin again.

 (He exits.)

DMITRY

In Russian. For the common man

(He exits.)

#6A LEARN TO DO IT REPRISE

ANYA

YOU WERE BORN IN A PALACE BY THE SEA

COULD IT BE?

(She runs offstage.)

Scene 5 - 3:46

GLEB’s OFFICE

GLEB

Thank you, sir. Your trust will be justified. My

office has a view of the Nevsky Prospect.

(A man enters the scene.)

MAN
 She’s here.

GLEB

Sir, the troublemaker is found.

(A second man brings ANYA inside.)

GLEB

Leningrad, our exceptional city. All people outside

the window, creating a future for their own. For
hours, I admire them from here, though I ponder why a
number of rotten eggs misbehave. I can glimpse through
the old Yusupov Palace.

ANYA

Why am I here?

GLEB

I assumed you could tell, comrade!

You? The fearful street sweeper?

(GLEB pauses and backs off. GLEB orders the two men to
leave.)
 GLEB

I’d nearly stop searching for you.

(GLEB moves closer towards ANYA.)

GLEB

Anya, correct?

ANYA

Yes.

GLEB

I’m deputy commissioner Gleb Vaganov.

(GLEB offers a handshake, but ANYA just stares.)

GLEB

The uniform and office give a bad impression, though

I'm not.

Notice? I have a sense of humor.

(GLEB laughs playfully and goes closer to ANYA. GLEB
once again offers a handshake and ANYA accepts it.)

GLEB

You're trembling again.

A cup of tea will warm the both of us.

(GLEB and ANYA move towards GLEB’s desk.)

ANYA

How much is it?

GLEB

It's free of charge. Why should it have? You have a

job, food, your own place.

ANYA

I’m very grateful.

GLEB

Which is why I'm telling you to stop your

fantasy—while there's still time.
 ANYA

What do you mean?

GLEB

If you were truly that person, they would kill you

without a second thought.

ANYA

I'm not that different, a lot of people imagine

themselves to be someone else. It's just an innocent
fantasy.

GLEB

A dangerous one, Anya. The Romanovs were long gone. My

father was one of the guards.

ANYA

I don't want to hear-

GLEB
When he was ordered to fire, he obeyed it. The shots,
the screams. I heard it all. It was the silence that
was deafening.

ANYA

Thank you for your warning, comrade.

GLEB

It’s Gleb, please.

ANYA

G-Gleb.

(GLEB lifts up ANYA’s chin and she looks at him.)

GLEB

Your eyes—a man could look right into them.

ANYA

I’m running late for work.

GLEB
 Speaking as your new friend, be cautious, Anya.

(ANYA tries to flee from the scene but GLEB stops her
and grabs her arm.)

GLEB

As deputy commissioner Gleb Vaganov, be very cautious.

(ANYA looks at him with a weirded face and flees from

the scene. GLEB goes back to his desk to check papers
and flees from the scene.)

#7A Scene Transition After The Neva Flows (NEVA FLOWS

EXCLUDED) - 14s

(Transition to the Streets of Leningrad.)

MAN 1 (ON THE LEFT)

Life is perfect with vodka!

MAN 2 (ON THE RIGHT)

Life is wonderful!

MAN 3 (ON THE MIDDLE)

Cheers to that!
 SCENE 6 — 5:12

THE STREETS OF LENINGRAD

(Four ragged MEN sit around bonfires, drinking. Their

laughter is loud and mocking. ANYA and DMITRY enter
quietly from stage left, trying n

MAN 1

Well, well—the Prince of Petersburg.

MAN 2

And who’s the pretty one at your side?

(The MEN leer. DMITRY quickly steps in front of ANYA.)

DMITRY

She’s not your concern.

MAN 3

She’s not his girlfriend then? Maybe she’d like to

dance with us!

(They move closer. ANYA grips a stick from the fire and
swings it fiercely. The MEN stumble back, startled. One
 trips and scrambles offstage. The others follow,
laughing nervously.)

ANYA

(Calling after them.)

Next time I won’t go so easy!

DMITRY

(Grinning in surprise.)

Where did you learn that?

ANYA

I didn’t walk halfway across Russia without learning

to fight.

(She tosses the stick aside. A beat of tension eases.

DMITRY looks at her differently now—respectful, almost
proud.)

DMITRY

You’re full of surprises.

ANYA

You have your life easy.

 DMITRY

Not much.

My father died due to his convictions as an anarchist.

I didn't get to know my mom, I raised myself.

ANYA

So we both don't have a family?

DMITRY

You have no idea yet. You'll find out in Paris. Now,

inform me about your dog.

ANYA

His name was Toby, I loved him a lot. I'm not as

strong as you think I am.

DMITRY

Close your eyes.

ANYA

Why?
 DMITRY

Please? Put your hand out.

(DMITRY grabs a music box from his bag, a valuable item

from ANYA's past. DMITRY places it on ANYA's open
palm.)

DMITRY

And... open.

(ANYA giggles looking at the music box.)

DMITRY

You worked hard for it.

ANYA

What is it? It's beautiful.

DMITRY

A music box, but it's broken. I can't seem to open it.

(ANYA winds the music box and it opens to play music.)

 DMITRY

What? How?

(ANYA gets lost in thought, going on the center.)

DMITRY

Anya..?

Song: #10 Once Upon a December starts playing.

ANYA (Singing)

DANCING BEARS

PAINTED WINGS

THINGS I ALMOST REMEMBER AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS

ONCE ON A DECEMBER

SOMEONE HOLDS ME SAFE AND WARM

HORSES PRANCE THROUGH A SILVER STORM

FIGURES DANCING GRACEFULLY

ACROSS MY MEMORY
(The MONARCH figures go around ANYA while gracefully
dancing with partners. ANYA gets offered a dance by a
MAN. ANYA goes behind and gets carried by THREE MEN.
ANYA then goes back to the center.)

ANYA (Singing)

SOMEONE HOLDS ME SAFE AND WARM

HORSES PRANCE THROUGH A SILVER STORM

FIGURES DANCING GRACEFULLY

ACROSS MY MEMORY

(TSAR NICHOLAS II and TSARINA ALENXANDRA appear behind

her holding hands in a stiff manner.)

ANYA (Singing) with the Ensemble (Harmony)

FAR AWAY, LONG AGO

GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER

THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW

(MONARCHS flee out of the scene. TSAR NICHOLAS II and

TSARINA ALEXANDRA come beside ANYA.)

THINGS IT YEARNS TO REMEMBER

(TSAR NICHOLAS II and TSARINA ALEXANDRA turn away from

ANYA and pauses to look at her for the last time. They
then flee out of the scene.)
 AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS

ONCE UPON A DECEMBER

- SONG ENDS -

ANYA

Until how long will we leave from here? They keep

cancelling trains. Here, I worked extra, I hope it
helps even if it's little.

(ANYA hands DMITRY her hard-earned money.)

DMITRY

We aren't even close, Anya. I planned on getting the

both of us out before they completely close the
borders.

ANYA

You were my only hope.

DMITRY

I'm sorry. I'm certain someone could help you more

than me.
 (DMITRY tries handing ANYA her money back.)

ANYA

I don't want your money.

DMITRY

It's your money.

ANYA

(In a screaming manner) It's OUR money.

I trusted you.

(DMITRY goes farther away from ANYA, not facing her.)

ANYA

Now, you close your eyes.

DMITRY

What for?
 ANYA

You're almost just as stubborn as me. Put your hand

out.

(ANYA places a diamond on DMITRY's palm.)

ANYA

Alright, open.

DMITRY

A diamond?

ANYA

The nurse found it sewn on my clothes.

Song: #10A A Secret She Kept starts playing.

ANYA (Singing)

SHE HID IT FROM ME, 'TIL THE DAY I COULD GO

A SECRET SHE KEPT, ALTHOUGH WHY, I DON'T KNOW

 SHE SAID "DON'T TELL A SOUL, 'TIL THE MOMENT YOU
MUST."

I HAD TO MAKE SURE I FOUND SOMEONE I TRUST

- SONG ENDS -

DMITRY

Why didn't you tell me you had this? Why?

ANYA

It's the only thing I have, I'm nothing if it isn't

with me.

(DMITRY carries ANYA and swings her around in joy.

DMITRY then places ANYA down afterwards.)

VLAD

Disaster! They raided the Yusupov Palace! Once we go

back, we'll be done for!

(Sudden change of emotion) Mother of Moses!

(DMITRY holds a peace sign on ANYA's head, smiling at
VLAD.)

DMITRY

She had it all this time!

ANYA

I didn't trust the both of you with this!

VLAD

I see where you're coming from. Don't bother Anya, you

are forgiven! I love you!

(VLAD carries ANYA and swings her around. VLAD then

places ANYA down afterwards.)

DMITRY

I trust you to get the exit papers, Vlad!

(VLAD and DMITRY run away but they pause and look at
ANYA.)
 ANYA

There's still a train from the Finland Station, you

must hurry!

(ANYA runs away from the scene but stops because of

VLAD.)

VLAD

Where will you be going?

ANYA

I still have a week's wages. Every bit of ruble

matters!

(VLAD, DMITRY, and ANYA flee from the scene.)

#10B Vlad Underscore/Transition to Train Station

(Change to Train Station.)

SCENE SEVEN — 4:36

THE FINLAND STATION

 (PASSENGERS are seen entering the station, with
luggage. They are ready to leave Russia for good. An
announcement can be heard in the background. VLAD and
DMITRY enter. ANYA enters shortly after them, and they
wave her over.)

VLAD

It's a special train. Aristocrats and intellectuals.

Everyone the Bolsheviks want to be rid of. We'll be

traveling as members of the Diagelf Ballet Russe.
They've taken Paris by storm.

(He hands them their tickets from his coat pocket.

COUNT IPOLIIOV enters the stage. He sees ANYA and
stops, then kneels to her and kisses her hand. Everyone
around looks inquisitive.)

COUNT IPOLITOV

(to ANYA)

God bless you.

(He gets up and leaves her without another word.)

VLAD

That man is Count Ipolitov. He's not just an

aristocrat, but an intellectual as well. He's a dead
man twice over.

(A whistle blows and overhead an announcement about the

train leaving is heard. It is time to go. Everyone gets
ready to leave, but no one does.)

We should go.
 #12A INSIDE THE TRAIN

VLAD

Unbelieveable! I paid for the first class! Where’s the

champagne and caviar?

(A PASSENGER walks up to the bench they are sitting on

and sits, causing them all to shift down.)

DMITRY

There is no first class since we are all equal now.

VLAD

You don't have to sound so happy.

ANYA

(to PASSENGER) How dare you smoke without my

permission?

PASSENGER

Who do you think you are?

ANYA

I am the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov!

(VLAD and DMITRY nearly flip and everyone else on the

train stands and looks at ANYA)

MAN

You’re a mad crazy woman!

(Some people laugh and he heads to a seat in the back
of the train.)

DMITRY

Warn us next time before you do that!

ANYA

I wanted to see what it felt like saying I was her!

VLAD

Practice on the trip. In Paris, your first challenge

will be the Dowager Empress's lady-in-waiting. Lily,
the Countess Malevsky-Malevich. No one has access to
her majesty without her.

DMITRY

She sounds like a dragon.

VLAD

It's the opposite. Lily was beautiful, voluptuous,

married; everything I look for in a woman. She gave me
a diamond watch.

ANYA

Did you love her?

VLAD

Madly, darling. But I loved the watch more.

 (ANYA gets up and moves to the side of the train. )

DMITRY

What happened to it?

VLAD

Gone with the old Russia.

(DMITRY gets up and moved to the other side of the

train)

#12B WE'LL GO FROM THERE

VLAD (cont)

I hope Lily's happy to see me. Be honest, Vlad Popov,

how could she not be?

I MAY HAVE GOTTEN FATTER BUT MAYBE THAT WON'T MATTER

BOTTOM LINE I'LL WIN HER

WE'LL DO SOME REMINISCING

SHE'LL SEE WHAT SHE'S BEEN MISSING

OVER WINE AND DINNER

AND OH I KNOW

I'VE GROWN A TINY BIT GREY

SOME WOMEN SAY

 I LOOK DISTINGUISHED THIS WAY

I’LL BOW AS IF I’M STILL A FRISKY YOUNG PUP

LET’S HOPE THAT I CAN STRAIGHTEN UP

IF SHE SAYS NO

WE’LL ALL LAY LOW

AND WE’LL GO FROM THERE

(The train turns to ANYA's side.)

ANYA

HANDS SHAKING

HEART THUNDERING

MEET THE ROYAL MESS

START SMILING

STOP WONDERING

WHY DID I SAY YES

(The train turns to the back, where DMITRY has climbed

onto one side.)

THIS CHANCE

DMITRY

THIS CHANCE

ANYA

IS ALL

DMITRY
 IS ALL

ANYA & DMITRY

I'VE GOT

DMITRY

GET A GRIP AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND SOON, WE'LL KNOW
WHAT'S WHAT PUT ON OUR SHOW REWARDS WILL FLOT

AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE

(The train turns again and ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD are
all facing forward.

ANYA

AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE

VLAD

AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE

ANYA, DMITRY, & VLAD

WE'LL GO FROM THERE

ALL

OH WHAT A LOVELY RIDE AND WHAT A LOVELY DAY

ANYA, DMITRY, VLAD

FOR A TOTALLY ILLEGAL

ALL

LOVELY GETAWAY
 SCENE EIGHT — 1:43

ON THE ROAD TO PARIS / ALMOST THE POLISH BORDER

(Stage left: GLEB in his office, phone to his ear.

Stage right: GORLINSKY, his superior. Lighting suggests
two distant locations.)

GORLINSKY

The train crossed the border—and they weren’t on it?

GLEB

A setback. But we’ll find them. They won’t get far.

GORLINSKY

Follow her to Paris. If she’s not Anastasia, bring her

back. If she is—finish the job. For your father.

GLEB

(Quietly) Understood.
(GORLINSKY exits. Lights shift to center stage: ANYA,
DMITRY, and VLAD stumble forward through a storm. The
sound of wind and thunder.)

VLAD

Dmitry, wait! She can’t go any farther.

(ANYA nearly collapses. DMITRY steadies her.)

DMITRY

Just a little more. The border’s close—we’re almost

there.

(He takes her hand, leading her. VLAD lags behind,

groaning.)

GORLINSKY

IT'S REALLY VERY SIMPLE

YOU MERELY POINT THE GUN AND THEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER

GLEB

AND THE JOB IS DONE

GORLINSKY

ENJOY YOUR NEW POSITION

 THE TELEPHONE WILL BE NEW

(ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD return again.)

ANYA, DMITRY, VIAD, GLEB, & GORLINSKY

THE PRINCESS ANASTASIA

(ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD exit.)

GORLINSKY

ALIVE OR DEAD

It's up to you.

SCENE NINE — 4:44

Scene 9

A HILL OVERLOOKING PARIS

(ANYA, DMITRY and VLAD enter on stage with beautiful

pink and purple leaf trees. They’ve arrived in Paris.)

VLAD

La belle France!
 (VLAD kisses the ground.)

DMITRY

It's just like Russia.

VLAD

This is nothing compared to Russia. We’re in France!

ANYA

It's more beautiful there.

VLAD

The world isn't centered around Russia. Open your

hearts and minds to this beauty! Learn something!
(Change of emotion)-I’m getting emotional.

I was just a young man from my last visit in Paris. My

waist was like this.

ANYA

Why did we stop here? I'm going to ask the driver if

something's wrong.

(ANYA flees from the scene at the back. DMITRY tries to

chase her but fails.)
 DMITRY

Look at her. Firing off in French with him.

(DMITRY goes near VLAD from the back.)

DMITRY

She was well taught by you, Vlad! Don't be surprised

if we get away from this.

(DMITRY laughs and continues to watch her.)

VLAD

She'll make you heartbroken, Dmitry.

DMITRY

Shut up. What do you know?

VLAD

If she gets accepted as Anastasia, you'll never get to

eye her again.

(DMITRY moves farther away from VLAD.)

 DMITRY

As usual, you don’t understand what words are coming

out of your mouth.

(ANYA returns to the scene running and puts one bag

down. She points to the hill as she speaks.)

ANYA

He said this is the farthest he can go, but we’re

near. He said, "You could see Paris just from the top
of the hill."

(VLAD runs away and stops in the center behind ANYA to

speak, and flees on the left side.)

VLAD

Are you ready to be flabbergasted?

DMITRY

We made it!
 ANYA

No matter how mad I am, I never doubted we would.

(ANYA moves closer towards DMITRY behind her with a

distance.)

ANYA

Thank you, Dmitry.

DMITRY

Thank you, Vlad.

VLAD (Offstage)

I can clearly see the Eiffel Tower! It’s fascinating!

(VLAD runs away from the scene.)

DMITRY (Offstage)

Anya! Come here! Anya!

VLAD (Offstage)
 Anya! Wait

(ANYA sits on her wooden suitcase, facing the right

side.)

Song: #14 JOURNEY TO THE PAST starts playing.

ANYA (Singing)

HEART, DON'T FAIL ME NOW

COURAGE, DON'T DESERT ME

DON'T TURN BACK NOW THAT WE'RE HERE

PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY

LIFE IS FULL OF CHOICES

NO ONE EVER MENTIONS FEAR

OR HOW THE WORLD CAN SEEM SO VAST

ON A JOURNEY TO THE PAST

SOMEWHERE DOWN THIS ROAD

I KNOW SOMEONE'S WAITING

YEARS OF DREAMS JUST CAN'T BE WRONG

ARMS WILL OPEN WIDE

I'LL BE SAFE AND WANTED

 FINALLY HOME WHERE I BELONG

WELL STARTING NOW IM LEARNING FAST

ON THIS JOURNEY TO THE PAST

HOME, LOVE, FAMILY

THERE WAS ONCE A TIME

I MUST HAVE HAD THEM TOO

HOME, LOVE, FAMILY

I WILL NEVER BE COMPLETE

UNTIL I FIND YOU

ONE STEP AT A TIME

ONE HOPE THEN ANOTHER

WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS ROAD MAY GO

BACK TO WHO I WAS

ON TO FIND MY FUTURE

THINGS MY HEART STILL NEEDS TO KNOW

YES! LET THIS BE A SIGN

LET THIS ROAD BE MINE

 LET IT LEAD ME TO PAST,

AND BRING ME HOME

AT LAST!

- SONG ENDS -

(Trees appear and the Eiffel Tower is uncovered.)

--------------------- END OF ACT 1 --------------------

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE — 5:51

(ANYA,VLAD and DMITRY enter, dressed elegantly for

Paris. The streets are alive with music,dancers and

Parsirians enjoying the day. The trio takes in the

splendor of the city.)

#15 PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO YOUR HEART

VLAD
 Voila! Mes amis, here's Paris.

NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, FOLLOW ME

BEGIN WITH THE NEW AS YOU STROLL DOWN LA RUE.

VLAD & ENSEMBLE

AND SOON ALL OF PARIS

WILL BE SINGING TO YOU

ALL

PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO YOUR HEART

AND ALL OF PARIS PLAYS A PART

PARIS’ TURNED A PAGE

TO THE MODERN AGE

VLAD

WE'LL DO IT TOO IF WE'RE SMART!

ENSEMBLE

THE FRENCH HAVE IT DOWN TO AN ART

EVERYONE'S A WRITER, PAINTER, POET

 EVERYTHING IS AVANT GARDE

OR CHIC

VLAD

WE'LL BE IN THE KNOW

BEFORE WE KNOW IT

VLAD & ENSEMBLE

WHEN YOU KNOW ITS—

OH, ITS MAGNIFIQUE

TO FIND IN PARIS WHAT YOU SEEK

(Couples sweep into a dance. DMITRY moves to ANYA,

offering his hand. Just as she accepts, a SUITOR

interrupts. Two more follow, pulling her into dance

after dance. DMITRY watches, frustrated but silent.)

DMITRY

PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO HER FATE

 WE WON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER TO WAIT

AND THEN COME WHAT MAY

WE WILL EACH GO OUR WAY...

(ANYA twirls free of the SUITORS, laughing

breathlessly. She pauses, looking out in awe at the

city around her.)

ANYA

I DREAMED OF A CITY BEYOND ALL COMPARE

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I'M FINALLY THERE

VLAD

AT LAST, THERE'S A FUTURE

DMITRY

THERE'S FREEDOM

ANYA

THERE'S HOPE
VLAD, DMITRY, & ANYA

IN THE AIR!
 ALL

PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO YOUR HEART

THE PLEASURES OF LIFE A LA CARTE

COME DANCE THROUGH THE NIGHT

AND FORGET ALL YOUR WOES

THE CITY OF LIGHT

HOW IT GLITTERS AND GLOWS

AND ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT WILL START

PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO YOUR HEART!

- Song Ends -

DMITRY

I’m not sure about everybody else, but it has

been an exhausting night.

You know where to find me, at the hotel.

(He ran off gleefully.)

(They exchanged smiles as he bid farewell. ANYA is left

alone. She opens the book.)

 ANYA

‘The Alexander Bridge as referred to by the

Parisians...

One of Paris’ great wonders... named after the Tsar,

Alexander III.’

SCENE 2 — 3:55

THE DOWAGER EMPRESS’S HOME PARIS

DOWAGER EMPRESS

Is he gone?

LILY

Your Imperial Majesty.

(She bows as the DOWAGER EMPRESS enters.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS

He’s like a dog with a bone.

LILY

Only four letters today.

 DOWAGER EMPRESS

If only I could lose hope entirely. I used to open

each one with a beating heart. Could this be my

precious Anastasia?

(a beat)

But, after so many disappointments, I’ve come to dread

the daily post. Another day, another imposter.

LILY

You can’t give up.

DOWAGER EMPRESS

Dearest Lily,you know my pride and flaws. You are the

only one I’ve allowed to see what’s become of me.

(She walks over to a couch stage right.)

I was Maria Fyodorovna Romanov, Empress of all Russia.

You can’t possibly know what that means, Lily. No one

can.

(She sits. LILY opens the first letter and reads it

aloud.)
 LILY

(moves to another letter and reads)

‘Dearest Grandmamma, if I may call you that-’

DOWAGER EMPRESS

I was never Grandmamma, I was always Nana! I was only

Nana! Grandmamma? They play me for a fool. Give me

those.

(She takes the letters from LILY.)

No more letters. No more interviews.

LILY

There will be other young women. What should I tell

them?

DOWAGER EMPRESS

Tell them that they’re too late. The Grand Duchess

Anastasia Romanov is dead. And the Dowager Empress is

dead with her.

(She holds up a hand to LILY)

Leave me.
 LILY

(LILY exits. LITTLE ANASTASIA appears at the window

stage right and watches.)

#17 CLOSE THE DOOR

DOWAGER EMPRESS

THESE STRANGERS, COME CALLING

SOON ENOUGH THEY'RE GONE THE TWILIGHT IS FALLING,

LAMPS WILL SOON GO ON AND

WHERE DID SUMMER GO I WILL

NEVER KNOW SUMMER USED TO LAST ENDLESSLY

CHILDREN ALL IN WHITE,

RUNNING DOWN THE SAND TO ME TO ME THESE STRANGERS,

SENT PACKING WHAT DO

THEY EXPECT SO GRASPING

SO LACKING WHY NOT BE DIRECT

THE BEATING OF MY HEART

AFTER THEY DEPART LYING WIDE

AWAKE THROUGH THE NIGHT WILL YOU

EVER COME RUNNING HOME TO ME

 YOU MIGHT YOU MIGHT I'VE BELIEVED

SO LONG I HAVE DARED TO HOPE THAT THE DOOR MIGHT OPEN

AND THAT YOU MIGHT Enter.

PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK KISSES

ON MY CHEEK THE LAMPS BEGIN TO

GLOW IN MY HEART I KNOW YOU'RE

A LIE THAT I'VE WAITED FOR TELL

THEM ALL TO GO TELL THEM ALL NO MORE

(She puts a picture of LITTLE ANASTASIA on her desk,

faced down.)

TELL THEM I CLOSE THE DOOR

(Both LITTLE ANASTASIA and the DOWAGER EMPRESS exit.)

SCENE 3 — 0:25
(They are outside The Neva Club. There is a DOORMAN
walking to people on their way in. TWO WOMEN enter.)

WOMAN 1
The revolution was the last gas for the old Europe and
with it went our Tsar and the great of-

WOMAN 2
Except for The Neva Club, where time has stood still!
(She puts her boa on the DOORMAN)
 Am I right, Sergei?
(to WOMAN 1)
He doesn't know what he's missed. Darling boy!
(She smacks his butt with her boa. Both WOMEN go
offstage, and enter The Neva Club. GLEB enters the
stage.)

SCENE 4 — 2:37
(ANYA tosses in her sleep. Strobe lights flash. The
ROMANOVS and ENSEMBLE appear. They all scatter on the
stage)

ANYA
Who are you? You come to me every night.
TSAR NICHOLAS II
And we will. Until you remember us.
TSARINA ALEXANDRA
Did you say your prayers? God is everything. Now
sleep, with a Mother's kiss.

(ALEXI is lifted gently, as if on a swing)

ALEXI
Want to know a secret? I'm going to die soon. We all
are. Do you have a secret?
ANYA
I-I don't know who I am.
ALEXI
That's impossible. Everyone knows who you are.
ENSEMBLE
(Echoing, Overlapping.)
ANYA!
ANYA!
 ANYA!

(The ROMANOVS and ENSEMBLE vanish suddenly. ANYA bolts

upright in her bed alone, trembling.)

(She screams.)
ANYA
Ahhh!
DMITRY
ANYA?
ANYA
(Visibly distraught.)
I can still hear it, the voices… They keep coming
back!
DMITRY
(He heads up straight to her)
They're just voices, nothing more… You're having a
nightmare.

(He takes her by the arm and guides her back to bed.)

ANYA
I'm terrified… Please stay with me, DMITRY…

(They both sit on her bed)

DMITRY
Do you feel better?
ANYA
Who do you think I am, DMITRY?
DMITRY
If I were in the position of the Dowager Empress, I
would want you to be Anastasia.
ANYA
 You would?
DMITRY
I would want her to be someone intelligent, beautiful
and strong.
ANYA
Is that how you see me?
DMITRY
Yes, it is.
ANYA
Thank you.

(They paused. They realized that they're holding each

other's hand and shifted away awkwardly.)

DMITRY
You're welcome.
ANYA
I found myself wondering whether you'd offer a
compliment.
(a beat) Do you really believe that I might be—her?
DMITRY
I want to believe that you're the little girl I saw
once long ago.
ANYA
What do you mean?
DMITRY
It was June. I was ten. There was a parade… and a
girl.
(He stood, pacing)
ANYA​
A girl…​
DMITRY​
Yes. She sat so straight like a queen. Eight, maybe.
But proud. Calm. The crowd cheered, so I did too. ​
ANYA
 (ANYA smiles softly)
That’s so like you. ​
​
DMITRY​
(DMITRY continues)
Then I ran. Called out her name, reached up, and she
smiled.
(DMITRY pauses for a while.)
The parade kept moving. The sun hit my eyes and she
was gone. But if I were still that boy… I’d find her
again.​

ANYA
You’re making me feel as though I was there too.

DMITRY
Maybe you were. Maybe it’s part of your story.

(ANYA echoes softly, almost testing the memory)

ANYA
A parade…

DMITRY
Yes. A parade.

ANYA
Passing by.

DMITRY
Passing by.

ANYA
It was hot, the sky was clear and then… a boy caught
my eye.
 (DMITRY sits close to her)

ANYA
He was thin, scrappy. Not exactly clean. He slipped
through the guards so I would notice him.
(ANYA rises, pacing as she recalls more.)
​
Then he shouted my name. He ran toward me. I tried not
to smile but I did.​

(Her eyes brighten with recognition)

And then… he bowed.

(DMITRY freezes, stunned)

DMITRY
I never told you that.

ANYA
You didn’t have to. I remember.

(A pause. They rush toward each other)

The parade kept moving… the sun in my eyes and then

you were gone.​
DMITRY​
But even then, I knew.​
ANYA​
Knew what?​
DMITRY​
That I’d find you again, even in a crowd that size.
 (DMITRY leans in, almost kisses her, then suddenly
stops. He drops to his knees.)

DMITRY
Your Highness.

SCENE 5 — 4:07
THE BALLET
#21A ARRIVING AT THE BALLET
(USHERS enter, followed by elegantly dressed PARISIANS
greeting each other. The DOWAGER EMPRESS enters, and
all bow. VLAD and LILY enter, do their secret sign.
DMITRY runs in, fixing his shoe. ANYA enters in a
stunning blue gown. DMITRY is struck when he sees her.
He offers his arm, and they walk off together. VLAD
waves them on, left alone.)

(The scene shifts to the ballet. GLEB watches from the

top box right. LILY and the DOWAGER EMPRESS sit in the
bottom box right. ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD sit bottom box
left. Other PARISIANS fill the remaining boxes. Swan
Lake begins. ODETTE enters. ANYA stands.)

#22 QUARTET AT THE BALLET

ANYA
CAN THIS BE THE EVENING?
CAN THIS BE THE PLACE?
AM I ONLY DREAMING
LOOKING AT HER FACE?
EVERYTHING I'VE WANTED SUDDENLY SO CLEAR!
MY PAST AND MY FUTURE SO NEAR…
(ANYA sits and DMITRY stands. PRINCE SIEGFRIED enters.
He dances with ODETTE.)

DMITRY
NEXT TO ME THIS FRIGHTENED GIRL HOLDING TIGHT AS THE
DANCERS WHIRL
KEEP YOUR NERVE AND SEE THIS THROUGH
IT'S WHAT YOU'VE COME TO DO...
(DMITRY sits and the DOWAGER EMPRESS stands. The
CYGNETS enter and dance.)

THE DOWAGER EMPRESS

SEE THAT GIRL COULD IT BE...
Don't be ridiculous!
I REFUSE TO DREAM I REFUSE TO HOPE
I MUST STOP BELIEVING I WILL EVER FIND HER...
(She sits and GLEB stands. VON ROTHBART enters and
dances.)

GLEB
SHE'S NEAR AT HAND
YET HERE I STAND
MY HEART AND MIND AT WAR...
THE TIMES MUST CHANGE THE WORLD MUST CHANGE AND LOVE
IS NOT
WHAT REVOLUTION'S FOR…

DMITRY & GLEB

SOMEONE HOLDS HER
SAFE AND WARM
SOMEONE RESCUES HER FROM THE STORM SIMPLE THINGS
BUT ONE THING'S CLEAR:
IT'S FATE THAT BROUGHT US HERE...
(These parts are now overlapping as the dancers dance.)
 ANYA & DOWAGER EMPRESS
PAINTED WINGS
SILVER SNOW
WHIRLING LIKE A BALLET
THINGS MY HEART YEARNS TO KNOW
DMITRY
HOME, LOVE, FAM'LY
SHE WILL HAVE ALL OF IT!
I WILL HELP HER

GLEB
SIMPLE THINGS SIMPLE THINGS!
AND WHATEVER I HAVE IO DO I'LL DO
SIMPLE HOW SIMPLE

ANYA, DMITRY, GLEB & DOWAGER EMPRESS

FIND A WAY ANASTASIA!
(The song and ballet ends, and the dancers each take a
bow before exiting.)

SCENE 6 — 3:30

AFTER THE BALLET, OUTSIDE THE DOWAGER EMPRESS'S BOX

(LILY comes from offstage right.)

LILY

She's never in a good mood. What happened?

VLAD

Wait till you see her!

(ANYA and DMITRY enter. LILY turns and takes a look at

ANYA, and then bows.)

LILY

Your Highness.

ANYA

(She rushes over to LILY and makes her stand straight.)

You mustn't.

VLAD

That composure! We did good, Dmitry!

LILY

Don't get your hopes up, young lady.

DMITRY

We'll celebrate after, on your grandfather's bridge.

ANYA

I'm ready.
 DMITRY

You'll announce the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

Romanov.

LILY

You have a visitor, Your Majesty!

(LILY walks offstage right, into the box where we

assume the DOWAGER EMPRESS is. ANYA follows her.)

(VLAD exits, leaving DMITRY alone.)

DMITRY

(He paces nervously.)

What are they saying in there? How long could this

take?

I shouldn’t be worried…

Everything depends on this moment.

(He forces a small laugh, shaking his head.)

I thought this plan was foolproof. But nothing ever

is.
 (He sits, then quickly stands again.)

If it works—she finds her family, and I walk away with

a fortune. A fairytale ending.

(He hesitates, his tone softening.)

What if I never see her again? We said goodbye once as

children, and here we are again. You never know how

paths cross.

(He takes a breath, struggling.)

I should be glad. This was the plan—she’s free, and so

am I.

But now… I see it differently. I didn’t realize how

much she mattered to me until now.

(He looks toward the box, voice breaking slightly.)

The truth is, in gaining everything… the only thing I

might lose is her.

(ANYA enters, upset, cutting him off.)

(He looks at her.)

DMITRY
 What happened?

ANYA

She wouldn’t even look at me.

I know what type of person that imposter Lily is

She wants money and she’ll crush an old woman’s heart

to get it’.

DMITRY

(He runs to meet her across the stage)

I’ll go tell her the truth.

ANYA

(angry)

That I was a pawn in a scheme of yours.

(DMITRY tries to respond but can’t.)

You made me believe I was someone that I’m not.

I was starving, desperate-but never a liar.

I hate you for that.

(ANYA walks out and DMITRY tries to chase her, but he

lets her go. LILY enters. DMITRY runs up to her.)

LILY

I'm sorry, young man.

(The DOWAGER EMPRESS enters.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS

Is she gone?

DMITRY

Your royal highness.

(DMITRY bows.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS

How dare you address me.

 DMITRY

Anya doesn't desire your money. I take full

responsibility for taking her here in Paris.

(DMITRY walks toward the DOWAGER EMPRESS. She puts up a

hand to him.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS

Don't come any closer!

DMITRY

But I truly believe in all my heart that she's the

Grand Duchess Anastasia.

DOWAGER EMPRESS

I will not listen to this.

(The DOWAGER EMPRESS begins walking away from DMITRY.)

 DMITRY

She only wants what's fairly hers. Your recognition,

and your loving embrace!

(DMITRY runs after the DOWAGER EMPRESS and steps on the

trail of her gown. She stops walking.)

DMITRY

Try being in her shoes when her parents, sisters, and

little brother were murdered.

DOWAGER EMPRESS

I do not need reminding of what happened to my family!

I lost everything, everything I loved that day!

DMITRY

So did she. Anya survived for a reason, to heal what

happened or Russia will forever be a wound that never

heals!
(The DOWAGER EMPRESS slaps DMITRY on his left cheek.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS

That is no longer my business. Russia has doomed

itself for eternity because of what it's done!

LILY

You are tiring her!

DMITRY

God will judge you harshly, old woman. History already

has.

(DMITRY turns his back to them and exits.)

LILY

He turned his back to you!

(The DOWAGER EMPRESS ponders for a moment, then rushes

to exit.)
 DOWAGER EMPRESS

Take me home, Lily.

(LILY follows her off the scene.)

#23A Transition to the Hotel Room.

(Transition to the Hotel Room.)

Scene 8 — 1:36

#25 STILL / THE NEVA FLOWS REPRISE

ANYA (spoken)

I am my father’s daughter.

GLEB (spoken)

AND I AM MY FATHER’S SON!

(He pulls out his gun, aiming it at her.)

ANYA (spoken)

IN ME YOU SEE THEM—LOOK AT THEIR FACES IN MINE.

 HEAR THEIR SCREAMS, IMAGINE THEIR TERROR, SEE THEIR

BLOOD!

GLEB

BUT I BELIEVE HE DID A PROUD AND VITAL TASK

AND IN MY FATHER’S NAME…

ANYA (spoken)

DO IT, AND I WILL BE WITH MY FAMILY IN THAT CELLAR IN

YEKATERINBURG—ALL OVER AGAIN!

GLEB

THE CHILDREN, THEIR VOICES…

(The ROMANOV FAMILY appears behind the doors, pursued

by COMMUNIST OFFICERS. Their shadows haunt him.)

GLEB

A MAN MAKES PAINFUL CHOICES.

HE DOES WHAT’S NECESSARY, ANYA!

 FOR RUSSIA, MY BEAUTY—

WHAT CHOICE BUT SIMPLE DUTY?

WE HAVE THE PAST TO BURY, ANYA!

ENSEMBLE

THE NEVA FLOWS, A NEW WIND BLOWS…

GLEB & ENSEMBLE

AND SOON IT WILL BE SPRING.

THE LEAVES UNFOLD,

THE TSAR LIES COLD…

GLEB

(raising the gun once more, trembling)

For the last time! Who are you!?

ANYA

I AM THE GRAND DUCHESS ANASTASIA NIKOLAEVNA ROMANOV.

 GLEB

BE CAREFUL WHAT A DREAM MAY BRING…

(screams)

A REVOLUTION IS A SIMPLE—

(He aims, but cannot fire. He drops the gun, collapsing

to his knees.)

ANYA

I mean you no harm, Gleb.

GLEB

(quietly, breaking)

I believe you are Anastasia.

ANYA

What will you tell them?

GLEB

That I was not my father’s son after all.

 (They exchange a solemn handshake. The weight of

history hangs between them.)

SCENE 7 — 3:30

HOTEL, ANYA’S ROOM

(ANYA turns her back on them and starts to gather her

belongings. She kept muttering, oblivious of what's
about to happen. LILY rushes in and whispers something
to VLAD. She signals and the DOWAGER EMPRESS walks in.
She and DMITRY exchange a look. LILY takes VLAD's hand,
and they exit. The DOWAGER EMPRESS hands DMITRY her
cane, DMITRY takes it and bows before he exits. ANYA
kept murmuring, still not aware.)

ANYA
I admired how you remained proud of who you were,
Dmitry, regardless of the circumstances.
And all this time you were fooling me.

(ANYA picks up a book.)

Russian history. Keep it for your new Anastas-

(She turns around and is surprised to see the DOWAGER

EMPRESS standing before her,
not DMITRY. ANYA stood-still and bows.)

Your Imperial Majesty.

 DOWAGER EMPRESS
I think history insists that we play this game till
the end.

ANYA
Please have a seat.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
No need, I won't be here for long. Who are you?

ANYA
(ANYA drew closer to the DOWAGER EMPRESS.)

I believe I am the youngest daughter-​

​
DOWAGER EMPRESS​
(Interrupts her mid-sentence and walks in front of the
bench center stage.)​

Please, I don’t need to hear my family history again.

It’s in every bookstore along the Seine. It’s open to
everyone.​

​
ANYA
I didn’t take you for someone cruel.​
​
DOWAGER EMPRESS ​
I’m old and impatient. Kindness is no longer my second
nature. ​
​
ANYA​
My nana was the sweetest woman ever.
​
 DOWAGER EMPRESS​
That was before they killed everyone she held dear.​
​
ANYA​
When she embraced me, I could smell her orange scent.​
​
DOWAGER EMPRESS
That’s a common scent.​
​
ANYA​
Not hers. It’s made especially for her. It came from
Sicily, in a box of polished Inglewood.

(ANYA sits on the bench.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Who was my favorite lady-in-waiting?

ANYA
You didn't have any. You dismissed them all.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
A trick question. You're clever, I'll give you that.

(A pause, eyes flicking to Anya again.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS
I don't trust my eyes.

ANYA
Then you should wear spectacles.

(Anya realizes)

I'm sorry
 (A beat.)

Why don't you want me to be her?

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Bitterness is safer than hoped. You Anastasias
disappoint me. Always.

ANYA
Maybe if you just give me a chance—

DOWAGER EMPRESS
I don't believe Anastasia exists.

ANYA
You don't want to.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
What was your mother's full title in all of Russia?

ANYA
She was a Mamma to me.

(A pause.)

She was a Mamma to all of us.

(Starts to cry.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Spare me the theatrics. Your young man says you
believe you're my granddaughter.

ANYA
 I do. But I can't be her unless you recognize me
first.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
You can't be anyone unless you first recognize
yourself.

ANYA
I know.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Do you know what it means to lose everything— my son,
his children— for what? The good of Russia?

(She looks at Anya)

Answer me carefully. Who are you?

ANYA
I don't know anymore. Who are you?

DOWAGER EMPRESS
An old lady, who cannot let go of the past. I am
unreliable...

(She stops.)

I want this to be over!

ANYA
Do you remember when you last saw her?

DOWAGER EMPRESS
I didn't think it'd be the last time! We never know,
and we'll never do.
 ANYA
You left for Paris. You never came back. You gave her
that.

(ANYA points and looks at the table, grabs the music

box and returns to the bench. The DOWAGER EMPRESS
stands.)

I believe this was it.

(ANYA opens the music box. A melody plays.)

#23C ONCE UPON A DECEMBER REPRISE

ANYA (cont)
FAR AWAY
LONG AGO
GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW.

BOTH
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
(Spoken) Anastasia!

ANYA
I said I'd visit you in Paris. We'd go to the ballet,
and walk on grandpapa's bridge together.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
 You never knew him. I loved him dearly.

ANYA
We'll walk the bridge together, for them, Nana.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
What took you so long?

ANYA
Doesn't matter. I'm here now.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
You've come too late.

ANYA
It's never too late, Nana.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Anastasia!

(They hug. DMITRY walks in and sees them together. ANYA

smells her.)

ANYA
Orange blossoms!

(DMITRY leaves.)

SCENE 9 — 0:31
Setting: INSIDE THE PALACE

(The DOWAGER EMPRESS enters, followed by LILY. VLAD

rushes in with the music box.)
 VLAD
Not a trace of her! The room was bare—except for this.
(He holds up the music box. The DOWAGER EMPRESS takes
it.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS
I think we've seen the last of that young woman.

LILY
Was she Anastasia?

DOWAGER EMPRESS
My favorite. Strong, not afraid of anything.

VLAD
It’s time, Your Imperial Majesty. We can’t hold them
any longer.

SCENE 10 — 1:23
SETTING: THE STREETS OF PARIS

(DMITRY enters with his suitcase. ANYA rushes after

him.)

DMITRY
If you ever see me from a distance, don't wave, don't
smile.
I can't spend my life yearning for something I can't
have.
Goodbye, your highness.

(He bows and tries to leave but ANYA stops him.)

ANYA
 I always thought my first kiss would happen… with a
prince.
DMITRI
I'm not your prince, ANYA.
ANYA
(moves closer to him)

The Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov might disagree

with that statement.

(She pulls his suitcase down and steps on it.)

ANYA
Dima.

(She kisses him. They both smile. DMITRY gently lifts

her from the suitcase and sets her down. He picks it up
again, but this time she slips her arm through his. On
the other side of the stage, the DOWAGER EMPRESS
addresses the press, while GLEB gives a press
conference in Leningrad.)

DOWAGER EMPRESS
From this point forward, there will be no more fake
Anastasias. The promised reward will be given to
charity.

GLEB
There was never an Anastasia. She was nothing more
than a dream.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
A beautiful dream.

GLEB
 One that only time will erase.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Then let us hear no more of the Grand Duchess
Anastasia Romanov.

GLEB
The new order has no use for fairy tales. The matter
is finished.

DOWAGER EMPRESS
Still…

(The ENSEMBLE begins to dance. ANYA and DMITRY step

onto a slowly turning platform. They take each other’s
hands.)

ALL
FAR AWAY
LONG AGO
GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER
THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW…
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER!

—------------------END OF ACT 2 —----------------------

—------------------------------------------------------

#27 BOWS
#28 EXIT MUSIC
Tab 2
Tab 3
Tab 4