Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical (LIBRETTO)

LIBRETTO
THE NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
Book
TERENCE MCNALLY
Music & Lyrics

STEPHEN FLAHERTY &
LYNN AHRENS
Transcribed by Erin Flanagan

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
2
SCENES, MUSICAL NUMBERS AND PAGES
ACT ONE
PROLOGUE .............................................................................................................. 5
#1 Opening Fanfare and Opening Scene................................................... 5
#2 Prologue: Once Upon a December.................................................................. 6
#3 The Last Dance Of The Romanovs.................................................................. 7
SCENE ONE ............................................................................................................ 8
#4 A Rumor In St Petersburg.................................................................. 8
#4A Underscore After Rumor.................................................................. 14
SCENE TWO .................................................................................................................
15
#5 In My Dreams................................................................................20
#5A After In My Dreams..................................................................... 22
SCENE THREE .......................................................................................................................
23
#5B The Rumors Never End.................................................................. 23
SCENE FOUR ........................................................................................................... 25
#6 Learn To Do It........................................................................... 25
#6A Learn To Do It Reprise.................................................................. 34
SCENE FIVE ...............................................................................................................
35
#7 The Neva Flows......................................................................... 37
#7A Scene Transition After The Neva Flows.............................................. 39
SCENE SIX .................................................................................................................
39
#8 The Neva Flows Reprise......................................................................... 39
#9 My Petersburg........................................................................... 42
#10 Once Upon a December................................................................45
#10A A Secret She Kept................................................................... 47
#10B Vlad Underscore/Transition to Train Station................................ 48
SCENE SEVEN ...................................................................................................... 49
#11 Stay I Pray You.........................................................................50
#12A Inside The Train..................................................................... 52
#12B We’ll Go From There..................................................................... 53
#12C Jump............................................................................................... 58
SCENE EIGHT ...................................................................................................... 59
#13A Traveling Sequence......................................................................... 59
#13B Still................................................................................................... 61
SCENE NINE ..............................................................................................................62
#14 Journey To The Past......................................................................... 62
3
ACT TWO
SCENE ONE .............................................................................................................. 66
#15 Paris Holds The Key (To Your Heart)................................................... 66
#15A Paris Holds The Key Exit.................................................................. 67
#16 Crossing a Bridge.................................................................. 68
SCENE TWO .............................................................................................................. 69
#17 Close The Door............................................................................72
SCENE THREE ..............................................................................................................
73
#17A Underscore Neva Club........................................................... 76
#18 Land of Yesterday.................................................................. 76
SCENE FOUR 80
..............................................................................................................
#18A Before Countess And The Common Man................................................... 80
#18B The Countess And The Common Man................................................... 82
#18C Reprise The Countess and Land Of Yesterday................................ 84
SCENE FIVE 85
..............................................................................................................
#19 A Nightmare.................................................................................... 85
#20 In A Crown Of Thousands........................................................87
SCENE SIX 90
..............................................................................................................
#21A Arriving At The Ballet......................................................... 90
#21B Meant To Be..................................................................................... 91
#22 Quartet At The Ballet..............................................................91
SCENE SEVEN ..............................................................................................................
93
#23 Everything to Win.......................................................................... 95
#23A Transition To The Hotel Room................................................... 98
SCENE EIGHT ..............................................................................................................
99
#23B Anya/Hotel Underscore.............................................................100
#23C Once Upon a December............................................................. 104
SCENE NINE 105
..............................................................................................................
#24 The Press Conference................................................................105
SCENE TEN 109
..............................................................................................................
#24A Everything To Win Reprise................................................... 111
#25 Still/The Neva Flows Reprise................................................... 112
SCENE ELEVEN ..............................................................................................................
115
SCENE TWELVE ..............................................................................................................
116
#26 Finale........................................................................................... 116
#27 Bows.................................................................................................117
#28 117
Exit Music.................................................................................................
4
ACT ONE
PROLOGUE
RUSSIA: 1906: IN THE YUGUSOV PALACE, ANASTASIA’S ROOM
#1 OPENING FANFARE AND OPENING SCENE
ENSEMBLE
AHS
(This continues at times throughout the prologue.)
(LITTLE ANASTASIA and the DOWAGER EMPRESS are

sitting on Anastasia’s bed.)
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Why must you go Nana?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
It’s time to go, I’ve stayed too long here.
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Take me to Paris with you!
DOWAGER EMPRESS
You’ll visit me with your sisters and little brother.
There’s a bridge there named for your grandfather, did
you know that? The Pont Alexandre. He never saw it. We’ll
walk on it together. And we’ll go to the ballet every
night!
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Take me with you now.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I already have, my darling Anastasia. Wherever I go,
you’ll always be with me. You’re my favorite. Strong, not
afraid of anything.
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Like you.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Shh! Our little secret.
5
(DOWAGER EMPRESS grabs music box, twists gear
underneath three times and opens.)
#2 PROLOGUE: ONCE UPON A DECEMBER
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Our lullaby. When you play it, think of an old woman
who loves you very very much.
FAR AWAY, LONG AGO

GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER
THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW
THINGS IT YEARNS TO REMEMBER
LITTLE ANASTASIA and DOWAGER EMPRESS

AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER
(TSARINA ALEXANDRA enters stage left.)
TSARINA ALEXANDRA
Have you said your prayers, my precious Anastasia?
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Yes, Mamma.
TSARINA ALEXANDRA
For your father, the Tsar, you sisters and brother, for
Russia herself?
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Yes, Mamma.
TSARINA ALEXANDRA
What’s this?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
A music box. So the child will remember me.
TSARINA ALEXANDRA
Better prayers than music boxes in these difficult times.
(TSAR NICHOLAS II enters from stage right.)
6
TSAR NICHOLAS II
It’s the last ball of the winter season, Mamma. All
Petersburg will be there.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
We’ve been through this.
TSAR NICHOLAS II
She’s right, Nicky.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Remember, Anastasia. Paris.
(She kisses LITTLE ANASTASIA’s head and exits stage

right.)
LITTLE ANASTASIA
Nana. Nana!
(She runs after THE DOWAGER EMPRESS but is picked up

by the TSAR and placed back onto the bed.)
TSAR NICHOLAS II
The Tsar requests the first dance of the evening,
mademoiselle.
LITTLE ANASTASIA
I am the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov.
(She jumps down from the bed and ANASTASIA and TSAR
NICHOLAS II begin to dance together.)
#3 THE LAST DANCE OF THE ROMANOVS
(The ENSEMBLE ROMANOVS enter and dance with them. A

teenage YOUNG ANASTASIA is now seen dancing with her
father. It is now 1917. Everyone dances. ALEXI
enters and dances, but falls. He is picked up by the
TSARINA ALEXANDRA and the dancing continues. The
ROMANOVS pose for pictures. Gunshots are heard, and
windows are shattered. Panic floods the Palace. The
ENSEMBLE begins to flee the stage. TATIANA ROMANOV,
OLGA ROMANOV, and MARIA ROMANOV run off stage left
holding hands. The TSARINA ALEXANDRA, YOUNG
7
ANASTASIA, and TSAR NICHOLAS II, holding ALEXEI,
remain. They run off, but YOUNG ANASTASIA runs back
to grab her music box. There is a flash of light.
She has been shot. The stage goes black, except for
a small projection of snow. The DOWAGER EMPRESS
walks onto stage, distraught, holding a letter.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
All of them? All of them?
(COUNTESS LILY, her lady-in-waiting, appears and

runs to her side. She comforts the DOWAGER EMPRESS
and helps her off stage left.)
SCENE ONE
LENINGRAD: 1927
#4 A RUMOR IN ST PETERSBURG
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.)
GLEB
We hear you, comrades! The revolution hears you! Yes, our
way is long, the journey hard. The chains of the Romanovs
were heavy. Three long centuries they bound us. But we
have broken them! Together we will forge a new Russia. A
fair and compassionate Russia that will be the envy of
all the world. That is the promise we have made. Fellow
Russian to fellow Russian. The Tsar’s St. Petersburg is
now the people’s Leningrad!
(TOWNSPEOPLE, including DMITRY enter.)
8
DMITRY
They can call it Leningrad, but it will always be
Petersburg! New name, same empty stomachs.
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
9
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
MEN
СПАСИБО ЗА СЛУХИ! (SPASIBO ZA SLUKHI!)
ENSEMBLE
THANK GOODNESS FOR THE GOSSIP
THAT GETS US THROUGH THE DAY
HEY!
HAVE YOU HEARD
THERE’S A RUMOR IN ST 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 NOT 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 GRANDMAMMA
WILL PAY A ROYAL SUM
ENSEMBLE
TO SOMEONE WHO CAN BRING THE PRINCESS BACK
(VLAD enters.)
10
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 the 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 GRANDMAMMA 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.)
11
ANYA
No!
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 anymore. You’re shaking. There’s
a tea shop just steps from here, let me…
ANYA
Thank you.
GLEB
What’s your hurry?
ANYA
I can’t lose this job. They’re not easy to come by. But
Thank you.
(ANYA runs off stage left.)
GLEB
I’m here every day.
(He exits.)
MAN 5
A RUBLE FOR THIS PAINTING
IT’S ROMANOV I SWEAR
MAN 6
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 lady.
VLAD
There’s more to being Anastasia than wearing a tiara,
Dmitry.
12
DMITRY
Not much. Look how many people you fooled. How much is
that music box?
MAN 3
Ah. The music box. It’s genuine Romanov. I could never
part with it.
DMITRY
Two cans of beans, comrade?
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.
(DMITRY and VLAD sit on the edge of the stage.)
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
AND WITH LUCK WE WON'T BE SHOT
13
DMITRY & 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 & VLAD

AND ST PETERSBURG WILL HAVE SOME MORE
TO TALK ABOUT
ENSEMBLE
I HEARD IT FROM A PERSON
I HEARD IT FROM A PERSON
WHO WAS ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TRUE
SHH!
HAVE YOU HEARD
THERE’S A RUMOR IN ST. PETERSBURG
HAVE YOU HEARD
COMRADE WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE?
VLAD
A FASCINATING MYSTERY
DMITRY
THE BIGGEST CON IN HISTORY
ALL
ALIVE OR DEAD
WHO KNOWS
SHH!
#4A UNDERSCORE AFTER RUMOR
14
SCENE TWO
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 this time without the gum in your mouth.
MARFA
It’s not gum. It’s tobacco
(She walks over to the other women stage right.)
DMITRY
These are the last three, Vlad?
VLAD
Who were you expecting? Sarah Bernhardt?
MARFA
(walks back to center stage, tries again)
It’s me, Grandmamma! Your precious 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!
15
DUNYA
For this we lost our best hours on the street.
MARFA
If you weren’t so handsome, Dmitry, I would report you.
DMITRY
Out! Out!
(He chases them out.)
VLAD
Well. You tried, my friend. Anastasias don’t grow on
trees.
DMITRY
Yeah, I’m not giving up. I’ll go to Siberia to find an
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.)
16
VLAD
Stop fiddling with that before you break it.
DMITRY
I can’t get it open!
VLAD
It’s a 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. And I was told you’re the only person
who can help me.
DMITRY
Exit papers are expensive.
ANYA
I saved a little money.
DMITRY
The right papers cost a lot.
17
(He brings over a chair downstage left and sits in
it.)
ANYA
I’m a hard worker; you’ll get your money.
(She kneels to him.)
DMITRY
What do you do?
ANYA
I’m a street sweeper.
DMITRY
A street sweeper!
ANYA
In Odessa, I washed dishes. Before that, I worked in the
hospital in Perm.
DMITRY
They’re a long way from here.
ANYA
I know. I walked it.
DMITRY
You walked here all the way from Perm?
ANYA
I had no choice.
(DMITRY gives VLAD a look.)
DMITRY
Who are you running from?
ANYA
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!
(He and VLAD laugh at her.) She’s crazy!
18
ANYA
I’m not crazy. Why are you so unkind?
VLAD
We were hoping you’d be someone else.
ANYA
Who?
VLAD
Someone who may not even exist.
(VLAD is sitting like DMITRY, but on the other side

of the stage. ANYA takes a look around, suddenly
aware of the room, and is suddenly taken aback.)
ANYA
I’ve been in this room before. There was a play. Everyone
was beautifully dressed.
VLAD
This was the private theatre in Count Yusupov's Palace.
ANYA
People were polite and kind.
DMITRY
She’s going to faint on us!
(VLAD takes her hand and his chair and moves both of
them to center stage.)
VLAD
When did you eat last?
ANYA
Afterwards, we danced. There was champagne. I stole a
sip!
VLAD
Where are your manners, Dmitry? Get her some water. And a
piece of that cheese too.
DMITRY
This isn’t a soup kitchen, Vlad.
(VLAD points, and DMITRY goes offstage left to fetch

the food.)
19
ANYA
You seem to be a gentleman. Even if your friend is not.
VLAD
A gentleman? I haven’t heard that word in a long time.
Life has not been easy for my young friend.
ANYA
Life has not been easy for anyone.
(DMITRY appears with the water and gives it to

ANYA.)
Thank you.
VLAD
Don’t be too quick about this one.
DMITRY
Her? Have you gone crazy too?
VLAD
I’m Vlad.
(He makes a grand gesture of bowing to her.)
What’s your name, dear?
#5 IN MY DREAMS
ANYA
I don’t know.
(VLAD and DMITRY laugh. VLAD is at his chair and

DMITRY crosses to his.)
VLAD
You don’t know?
ANYA
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.
20
VLAD
Tell us what you do remember.
ANYA
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
(She walks over to VLAD and gives him the empty cup
from the water.)
I DREAM OF A CITY
BEYOND ALL COMPARE
IS IT PARIS?
PARIS
21
A BEAUTIFUL RIVER
A BRIDGE BY A SQUARE
AND I HEAR A VOICE WHISPER
“I’LL MEET YOU RIGHT THERE,
IN PARIS”
PARIS
(She notices DMITRY and her tone shifts. To him.)
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
(To VLAD, then out.)
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
Maybe we can help you after all, Anya. It so happens
we’re going to Paris ourselves.
(VLAD starts talking to her and they go offstage

left. DMITRY smiles, with a plan forming in his
head. He follows them off.)
#5A AFTER IN MY DREAMS
22
SCENE THREE
COMMUNIST HEADQUARTERS
(COMMUNIST OFFICERS are walking around, working.)
#5B THE RUMORS NEVER END
WOMEN
ANOTHER RUMOR ON THE STREETS
MEN
ANOTHER RUMOR TO ATTEND
WOMEN
FILL OUT A NEW REPORT
ALL
THE RUMORS NEVER END
MEN
ANOTHER STEAL, ANOTHER LIE
FEMALE OFFICER
ANOTHER SPY BETRAYS A FRIEND
ALL
FILL OUT A NEW REPORT
(GLEB, with DUNYA, PAULINA, and MARFA, enter from

stage right. They walk to a desk on stage left.)
GLEB
Anything concerning the Romanovs, even the most
preposterous rumor, we take very seriously.
PAULINA
(to DUNYA) I told you. (to GLEB) She’s about as much a
Romanov as I am.
MARFA
She’s a street sweeper. She was sleeping under a bridge
until she took up with them.
PAULINA
Her name is Anya.
23
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 the three of you 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 OFFICERS
Fill out a new report
ALL
The rumors never end
ALL, but GLEB

The rumors never end
24
SCENE FOUR
THE YUGUSOV 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, Vlad and I will get a small reward for our
efforts and we will all live happily ever after.
ANYA
And if she calls me an imposter?
DMITRY
It will all just be an honest mistake. (a beat) Either
way, it gets you to Paris and it gets us out of Russia.
Everybody wins.
#6 LEARN TO DO IT
ANYA
How do you become the person you forgot you ever were?
(DMITRY puts a chair center stage.)
25
VLAD
Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Imagine another
time. Another world.
(The guys show ANYA an old photo album.)
VLAD
YOU WERE BORN IN A PALACE BY THE SEA
DMITRY
A PALACE BY THE SEA
ANYA
COULD IT BE?
VLAD
YES, IT’S SO
YOU RODE HORSEBACK WHEN YOU WERE ONLY THREE
ANYA
HORSEBACK RIDING? ME?
DMITRY
HORSE’S NAME
VLAD
ROMEO
YOU THREW TANTRUMS AND TERRORIZED THE COOK
HA!
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.)
26
VLAD
Let’s see you walk. Head up. Regal bearing
NOW SHOULDERS BACK AND STAND UP TALL
AND DO NOT WALK, BUT TRY TO FLOAT
(She tries.)
ANYA
I FEEL A LITTLE FOOLISH
AM I FLOATING?
DMITRY
LIKE A SINKING BOAT
VLAD
YOU GIVE A BOW
ANYA
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
VLAD
YOUR HAND RECEIVES A KISS
(He kisses her hand.)
DMITRY & VLAD

MOST OF ALL REMEMBER THIS
VLAD
IF I CAN LEARN TO DO IT
YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT
DMITRY
SOMETHING IN YOU KNOWS IT
DMITRY & VLAD

THERE’S NOTHING TO IT
VLAD
FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS
SHOE BY SHOE
DMITRY & VLAD

YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT TOO
(ANYA walks around, a bit like a bird. VLAD copies her.)
27
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 a boy; I didn’t know any 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
I didn’t teach you. 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
28
ANYA
DESSERT AND THEN GOODNIGHT?
DMITRY & VLAD

NOT UNTIL YOU GET THIS RIGHT
VLAD
DMITRY
IF HE CAN LEARN TO DO IT
VLAD
DMITRY
VLAD
PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER
DMITRY & VLAD

AND YOU’LL PULL THROUGH IT
VLAD
TELL YOURSELF IT’S EASY
DMITRY & VLAD

AND IT’S TRUE
(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.
29
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
30
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. VLAD 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
31
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
(VLAD puts ANYA and DMITRY together to dance. They

are reluctant, and DMITRY sucks at dancing. Really
badly. VLAD counts. He steps on ANYA’s foot. She
steps on his on purpose.)
Anya!
(VLAD 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.
32
Something has changed. VLAD returns and cuts in. He
dances around the room with ANYA. DMITRY joins in
and the three dance around the room.)
DMITRY & VLAD

IF YOU CAN LEARN TO DO IT
ANYA
DMITRY & VLAD

HE CAN LEARN TO DO IT
ANYA
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

(They lift ANYA onto the chair.)
ANYA
NOTHING TO IT
ALL
ANYA
THE CAVIAR
THE STROGANOFF
THE SAMOVAR
THE FEATHERED HAT
THE COUSIN DRANK
THE DUKE WAS SHORT
AND HERE A WART
33
AND THERE A CAT
THE HORSE’S NAME WAS ROMEO
SO TELL ME SOMETHING NEW
VLAD & DMITRY

HA!
ANYA
AH!
ALL
VLAD
Tres bien, mademoiselle, tres bien.
ANYA
Merci, monsieur, merci.
VLAD
Tu parle français?
ANYA
Un peu.
(The three of them are shocked.)
VLAD
Oh! She’s charming!
DMITRY
What were you telling her?
VLAD
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
34
ANYA
YOU WERE BORN IN A PALACE BY THE SEA
COULD IT BE?
(She runs offstage.)
SCENE FIVE
COMMUNIST HEADQUARTERS
(COMMUNIST OFFICERS enter and GLEB is at his desk,

on the phone. He dismisses the OFFICERS and they
exit. We hear half of this conversation.)
GLEB
Thank you, sir. Your confidence in me will be justified.
My own office. The view of the Nevsky Prospekt. A Russian
telephone that works. (He laughs.) Ah. That was a joke.
(A MALE COMMUNIST OFFICER enters.)
We have wonderful telephones.
MALE COMMUNIST OFFICER

She’s here.
GLEB
Sir, our little troublemaker has been found.
(GLEB hangs up the phone and walks to the front of

the stage. He doesn’t see ANYA being brought in.)
It’s a remarkable city, our Leningrad. All those people

down there, coming and going, creating a future for
themselves. I stand at this window for hours admiring
them. And wondering why a few bad apples are getting up
to mischief instead. I can see all the way to the old
Yusupov Palace. Funny business going on there.
Counterrevolutionary behavior, some might say!
ANYA
Why was I brought here?
35
GLEB
I thought you could tell me, comrade!
(He turns and sees her.)
You? The frightened little street sweeper! I almost-
(He stops. He dismisses the two COMMUNIST OFFICERS

watching.)
I had almost stopped looking for you on the Nevsky

Prospekt. Anya. Am I right?
ANYA
Yes.
GLEB
I am deputy commissioner Gleb Vaganov.
(He puts out a hand for her to shake. She doesn’t.)
It’s the uniform and the office that give the bad
impression. I’m really not so bad.
(ANYA smiles.)
See? I have a sense of humor.
(He laughs. She finally shakes his hand.)
You're shivering again. A friendly cup of tea will warm

us both up.
ANYA
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.
ANYA
I’m very thankful.
GLEB
Which is why I’m warning you to leave your land of make
believe before it’s too late.
36
ANYA
I don’t understand.
GLEB
If you really were who you’re pretending to be, they’d
kill you. Without hesitation.
ANYA
Everyone imagines being someone else, I’m no different.
It’s an innocent enough fantasy.
GLEB
No, Anya. It is a dangerous one. The Romanovs are gone.
Every last one of them. They no longer exist. My father
was one of the guards.
ANYA
I don’t want to hear this.
(She gets up and turns away.)
GLEB
He was told to fire. He obeyed orders.
#7 THE NEVA FLOWS
(ANYA sits back down.)
GLEB
BE VERY CAREFUL OF THESE RUMORS THAT PREVAIL
BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY
I WAS A BOY WHO LIVED THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TALE
AND NO ONE GOT AWAY
I SAW THE CHILDREN AS THE SOLDIERS CLOSED THE GATE

THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AND HER PRIDE
MY FATHER LEAVING ON THE NIGHT THEY MET THEIR FATE
HIS PISTOL BY HIS SIDE
THE NEVA FLOWS,

A NEW WIND BLOWS
THE LEAVES UNFOLD
THE TSAR LIES COLD
A REVOLUTION IS A SIMPLE THING
37
I heard the shots. I heard the screams. But it's the
silence after I remember most.
THE WORLD STOPPED BREATHING

AND I WAS NO LONGER A BOY
MY FATHER SHOOK HIS HEAD AND TOLD ME NOT TO ASK

MY MOTHER SAID HE DIED OF SHAME
BUT I BELIEVE HE DID A PROUD AND VITAL TASK
AND IN MY FATHER’S NAME:
THE NEVA FLOWS

A NEW WIND BLOWS
THE LEAVES UNFOLD
THE TSAR LIES COLD
COULD I HAVE PULLED THE TRIGGER

IF I'D BEEN TOLD?
BE CAREFUL WHAT A DREAM MAY BRING
A REVOLUTION IS A SIMPLE THING.
(ANYA walks over to him.)
ANYA
Thank you for your warning, comrade.
GLEB
It’s Gleb. Please.
ANYA
Gleb.
(He puts his finger under her chin, warningly.)
GLEB
Your eyes. A man could look right into them.
ANYA
I’m late for work.
GLEB
As your new friend, be careful Anya.
(She goes to exit and he grabs her arm.)
As Deputy Commissioner Gleb Vaganov, be very careful.
38
(ANYA exits.)
#7A SCENE TRANSITION AFTER THE NEVA FLOWS
GLEB
I SAW THE CHILDREN
AS THE SOLDIERS CLOSED THE GATE
ANYA
SCENE SIX
THE STREETS OF LENINGRAD
(Four drunk MEN are sitting around two bonfires.

They are ragged.)
#8 THE NEVA FLOWS REPRISE
MAN 1
Life is good.
MAN 2
As long as there is vodka, life is wonderful!
MAN 3
I’ll drink to that.
MAN 3
THE NEVA FLOWS
A NEW WIND BLOWS
MAN 1
AND WHAT’S THAT AWFUL SMELL?
MAN 2 & MAN 4

THE LEAVES UNFOLD
THE TSAR LIES COLD
ALL MEN
NOW HE’S DRINKING HIS VODKA
39
In hell!
(They all sit on a bench in the middle of the stage

and laugh. ANYA and DMITRY enter from stage left.)
ANYA
They know where we’re living. His name is Gleb.
MAN 1
Well look who’s here. The Prince of Petersburg.
MAN 3
We thought you were in Paris.
MAN 1
He missed his old partners in crime.
MAN 3
Looks like he got himself a new girlfriend instead.
(They all look at ANYA and DMITRY blocks them.)
DMITRY
She’s not my girlfriend.
MAN 4
It’s Anastasia herself. I bet he’s got you bowing for him
like a regular little Tsarina!
(DMITRY grabs ANYA and tries to exit, but is stopped

by MAN 1.)
MAN 1
You going to Paris, ma cherie?
(DMITRY pushes him away.)
MAN 2
Have a drink with us, Dmitry!
ANYA
Come on, Dmitry, I don’t like these people.
(She turns to exit.)
MAN 2
Too good for us, sweetheart?
40
MAN 1
If you don’t want her, Dmitry, I’ll take her!
(He pushes DMITRY away. They try to assault her.)
MAN 1
You want to dance, sweetheart?
DMITRY
Leave her alone!
(ANYA and DMITRY fight off the MEN. ANYA goes off
and chases them with a stick from the bonfire. The
MEN run offstage.)
ANYA
Next time I won’t go so easy!
DMITRY
Where did you learn that? You’re good.
ANYA
(She spots MAN 1 left on the ground.)
You want to see what else I can do?
(She charges at him while MAN 1 runs out. DMITRY

lifts ANYA to stop her.)
Come at me, I won’t hurt you.
DMITRY
I believe you, Anya.
ANYA
I didn’t walk halfway through Russia without learning to
defend myself.
(She hands the stick off to DMITRY.)
You’ve had it easy.
DMITRY
Not so easy.
(He joins ANYA on the bench.)
41
My father was an anarchist. He died in a labor camp for
his convictions. My mother was already gone. I don’t
really remember her.
ANYA
Who raised you then?
DMITRY
No one. I raised myself.
#9 MY PETERSBURG
DMITRY (cont)
I GREW UP
ON THE SLY
IN THE GUTTERS AND THE STREETS
OF PETERSBURG
JUST A KID
ON THE FLY
GETTING GOOD AT GETTING BY
IN PETERSBURG
I BARTERED FOR A BLANKET

STOLEN FOR MY BREAD
LEARNED TO TAKE MY CHANCES
AND USE MY HEAD
A RUSSIAN RAT IS CLEVER
CLEVER OR HE ENDS UP DEAD
BOILS DOWN TO
THERE ARE SOME
WHO SURVIVE
SOME WHO DON’T
SOME GIVE UP
SOME GIVE IN
ME I WON’T
BLACK AND BLUE
WELCOME TO
MY PETERSBURG
Come on, Anya.
42
(He stands on the bench and it turns around. He
helps ANYA up.)
STANDING HERE YOU CAN SEE

FROM THE SPIRES TO THE PIERS OF PETERSBURG
I'D BE DOWN ON THAT QUAY
SELLING STOLEN SOUVENIRS OF PETERSBURG
THE PALACES ABOVE AND ALLEYWAYS BELOW
FUNNY, WHEN A CITY IS ALL YOU KNOW,
HOW EVEN WHEN YOU HATE IT
SOMETHING IN YOU LOVES IT SO
(He jumps off the bench and prances around the

stage. ANYA also jumps off. She watches him.)
THAT'S WHERE I
LEARNED MY STUFF
IN SOME ROUGH
COMPANY
THERE’S THE BOY
GROWING UP
WHO WAS ME
ALL I’VE BEEN
ALL I’LL BE
WE CAN DO WHAT WE'RE TOLD

WE CAN GO WHERE WE'RE LED
BUT I LEARNED FROM MY FATHER TO SEE WHAT'S AHEAD
NOTHING HERE TO HOLD ME
NO ONE THAT I OWE
FUNNY HOW A BOY CAN GROW
FUNNY HOW A CITY TELLS YOU WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO
BOILS DOWN TO
THERE ARE SOME
WHO HAVE WALLS
YET TO CLIMB
DMITRY & ANYA

(ANYA tosses him his bag.)
YOU AND I
ON THE FLY
JUST IN TIME
43
DMITRY
BUT TONIGHT
THERE’S A SKY
AND QUITE A VIEW
WELCOME TO...
MY PETERSBURG!
My father used to bring me here. He put me on his

shoulders so I could get a better view. (in a voice) “Bet
you can see all the way to Finland from up there, Dima!”
ANYA
Dima?
DMITRY
That’s what he called me. There isn’t a day I don’t miss
him.
ANYA
So neither of us has a family.
DMITRY
You don’t know that yet. The answer is in Paris.
(They look at each other. A beat.)
Now, tell me about the little dog.
ANYA
His name was Toby.
DMITRY
Go on.
ANYA
I loved him so much.
DMITRY
Don’t stop.
ANYA
I’m not as strong as you think I am.
DMITRY
Close your eyes.
ANYA
Why?
44
DMITRY
Just do it. Put your hand out.
(She does so and he grabs the music box from his

bag. He puts it in her hand.)
Open. You’ve worked hard. You’ve earned it.
ANYA
What is it?
DMITRY
A music box.
ANYA
It’s beautiful.
DMITRY
It’s broken. I can’t even open it.
(ANYA looks at the music box, and twists the bottom

three times. It opens. Music starts to play. ANYA is
mesmerized by it.)
How did you do that? Anya?
#10 ONCE UPON A DECEMBER
ANYA
DANCING BEARS,
PAINTED WINGS,
THINGS I ALMOST REMEMBER,
AND A SONG SOMEONE SINGS
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER.
SOMEONE HOLDS ME SAFE AND WARM.

HORSES PRANCE THROUGH A SILVER STORM.
FIGURES DANCING GRACEFULLY
ACROSS MY MEMORY...
(The ROMANOVS and ENSEMBLE (as ghosts) enter and

dance around the stage. ANYA is lifted up.)
45
SOMEONE HOLDS ME SAFE AND WARM.
HORSES PRANCE THROUGH A SILVER STORM.
FIGURES DANCING GRACEFULLY
ACROSS MY MEMORY...
FAR AWAY, LONG AGO,

GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER,
THINGS MY HEART
USED TO KNOW,
THINGS IT YEARNS TO REMEMBER...
(EVERYONE exits, the last two being TSARINA

ALEXANDRA and TSAR NICHOLAS II.)
AND A SONG
SOMEONE SINGS
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER
(She closes the music box.)
How soon do you think we can go? They’re cancelling

trains right and left. Here.
(She reaches into her pocket and grabs some money.

She gives it to DMITRY.)
I worked an extra shift this week. It’s not much, but

every little bit helps.
DMITRY
We’re not even close, Anya.
ANYA
What are you saying?
DMITRY
I thought I could get us out before they closed the
borders for good.
ANYA
You were the only hope I had.
DMITRY
There must be someone who can help you, I’m sorry.
(He tries to hand her money back.)
ANYA
46
I don’t want your money.
DMITRY
It’s your money.
ANYA
It’s our money. I trusted you.
DMITRY
I said I’m sorry.
ANYA
I didn’t trust you enough. (a beat.) Now you close your
eyes.
DMITRY
What for?
ANYA
You're the stubbornest person I’ve ever met. Almost as
stubborn as me.
(He puts the money in his pocket and closes his

eyes.)
Put your hand out.
(He does. ANYA grabs something from her coat pocket.

A diamond. She gives it to DMITRY.)
Alright, open.
DMITRY
It’s a diamond!
ANYA
The nurse in the hospital found it sewn in my
underclothes.
#10A A SECRET SHE KEPT
ANYA (cont)
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 YOU KNOW THAT YOU MUST.'
I HAD TO MAKE SURE I FOUND SOMEONE I TRUST
47
DMITRY
You’ve had it all this time without telling me?
ANYA
Yes.
DMITRY
Why?!
ANYA
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?
ANYA
I don’t think you will!
DMITRY
If you weren’t a girl I’d-
(He picks her up and spins her. VLAD rushes in.)
#10B VLAD UNDERSCORE / TRANSITION TO TRAIN

STATION
VLAD
Disaster! The Yugusov Palace has been raided! We’re done
for if we go back there.
(He sees the diamond.)
Mother of Moses!
DMITRY
She had it the all along!
ANYA
I didn’t trust either of you with it!
VLAD
I don’t blame you. But never mind! All is forgiven! I
love you, Anya!
48
(He also picks her up and spins her.)
DMITRY
Vlad, I’m trusting you to get the exit papers.
VLAD
Done!
(He begins to exit.)
ANYA
Hurry! There is a train at midnight from the Finland
station!
DMITRY
I’ll fetch the diamond.
(ANYA begins to exit.)
Where are you going?
ANYA
They owe me a week’s wages. Every ruble counts!
(She and VLAD exit.)
DMITRY
We’re going to Paris on a train! I’m going to sleep in a
hotel and take a bath in a real bathtub.
(He runs offstage.)
SCENE SEVEN
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
49
traveling as members of the Diagelf Ballet Russe. They’ve
taken Paris by storm.
(He hands then their tickets from his coat pocket.

COUNT IPOLITOV enters the stage. He sees ANYA and
stops, then kneels to her and kisses her hand.
Everyone around looks inquisitively.)
COUNT IPOLITOV
(to ANYA)
God bless you.
(He gets up and leaves her without another word.)
VLAD
I recognize that man. He’s the Count Ipolitov. He’s not
just an aristocrat, but an intellectual as well. He’s a
dead man on both counts.
(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.
#11 STAY I PRAY YOU
COUNT IPOLITOV
HOW CAN I DESERT YOU
HOW TO TELL YOU WHY
COACHMEN HOLD THE HORSES
STAY, I PRAY YOU
LET ME HAVE A MOMENT
LET ME SAY GOODBYE
TO BRIDGE AND RIVER

FOREST AND WATERFALL
ORCHARD, SEA, AND SKY
HARSH AND SWEET
AND BITTER TO LEAVE IT ALL
ENSEMBLE
I’LL BLESS MY HOMELAND
TILL I DIE
50
HOW TO BREAK THE TIDE
WE HAVE SHED OUR TEARS
AND SHARED OUR SORROWS
THOUGH THE SCARS REMAIN
AND TEARS WILL NEVER DRY
TILL I DIE
ANYA
NEVER TO RETURN
DMITRY
FINALLY BREAKING FREE
ANYA & DMITRY

YOU ARE ALL I KNOW
YOU HAVE RAISED ME
VLAD
HOW TO TURN AWAY
HOW TO CLOSE THE DOOR
ANYA, DMITRY, & VLAD

HOW TO GO WHERE I HAVE
NEVER GONE BEFORE
ENSEMBLE
HOW CAN I DESERT YOU
HOW TO TELL YOU WHY
ALL
COACHMEN HOLD THE HORSES
STAY, I PRAY YOU
LET ME HAVE A MOMENT
LET ME SAY GOODBYE
HARSH AND SWEET
AND BITTER TO LEAVE IT ALL
TILL I DIE
(The ENSEMBLE exits and enters the train.)

51
(VLAD exits.)
ANYA & DMITRY

(DMITRY exits.)
ANYA
TILL I DIE
(ANYA gets on the train. The train turns and it is

now in motion.)
#12A INSIDE THE TRAIN
VLAD
This is outrageous! I paid for first class. We should be
having 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 more first class. Everyone is equal now.
VLAD
You don’t have to sound so damn happy about it.
ANYA
(to PASSENGER) How dare you smoke without my permission?
PASSENGER
Who the hell 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
I’m in a compartment with a crazy woman!
52
(Some people laugh and he heads to a seat in the
back of the train.)
DMITRY
You warn us next time before you do that!
ANYA
I wanted to see what it felt like saying I was her!
VLAD
It’s a long trip. You have plenty of time to practice. 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
Quite the opposite. Lily was beautiful, voluptuous,
married; everything I look for in a woman. She gave me a
watch, studded with diamonds.
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. Like everything else.
(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?
53
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
54
DMITRY
GET A GRIP AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND
SOON, WE’LL KNOW WHAT’S WHAT
PUT ON OUR SHOW
REWARDS WILL FLOW
(The train turns again and ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD

are all facing forward.)
ANYA
VLAD
ANYA, DMITRY, VLAD

ALL
OH WHAT A LOVELY RIDE
AND WHAT A LOVELY DAY
ANYA, DMITRY, VLAD

FOR A TOTALLY ILLEGAL
ALL
LOVELY GETAWAY
VLAD ANYA DMITRY

I MAY HAVE GOTTEN HANDS SHAKING HANDS SHAKING
FATTER HEART THUNDERING HEART THUNDERING
BUT MAYBE THAT MEET THE ROYAL MEET THE ROYAL
WON’T MATTER MESS MESS
BOTTOM LINE START SMILING START SMILING
I’LL WIN HER STOP WONDERING STOP WONDERING
WE’LL DO SOME WHY DID I SAY YES WHY DID I SAY YES
REMINISCING THIS CHANCE THIS CHANCE
SHE’LL SEE WHAT IS ALL IS ALL
SHE’S BEEN I’VE GOT I’VE GOT
MISSING GET A GRIP AND GET A GRIP AND
OVER WINE TAKE A DEEP TAKE A DEEP
AND DINNER BREATH AND BREATH AND
AND OH I KNOW SOON WE’LL KNOW SOON WE’LL KNOW
I’VE GROWN A TINY WHAT’S WHAT WHAT’S WHAT
BIT GREY
SOME WOMEN SAY
I LOOK
55
DISTINGUISHED
THIS WAY
I’LL BOW AS IF
I’M STILL A
FRISKY YOUNG PUP
LET’S HOPE THAT I
CAN STRAIGHTEN UP
BUT NO MORE DOUBT
DMITRY
NO TIME TO SPARE
ANYA
WE’RE NEARLY OUT
ALL
SO LET’S PREPARE
WE’RE ON OUR WAY
TO WHO KNOWS WHERE
(Train turns again to the original direction.)
ANYA, DMITRY, VLAD

AND WE’LL GO
MALE ENSEMBLE
AND WE’LL GO
FEMALE ENSEMBLE
AND WE’LL GO
ALL
FROM THERE

We’ll go from there!
(The train suddenly screeches to a halt and two

COMMUNIST OFFICERS climb aboard. They surround ANYA,
DMITRY, and VLAD.)
OFFICER 1
Papers! Papers.
56
VLAD
Good evening, gentlemen. Is there a problem?
OFFICER 1
We’re looking for someone who is illegally leaving the
country.
VLAD
Didn’t have the right papers, eh?
OFFICER 2
He had the right papers, he had the wrong name, Count
Ipolitov!
(A gunshot is heard in the distance. The COMMUNIST

OFFICERS go investigate. ANYA begins to sob.)
VLAD
I’ll go see what happened.
DMITRY
We know what happened.
(ANYA cries louder. VLAD stands.)
VLAD
Calm her down. Any tears will betray us.
DMITRY
We’ll be safe soon.
ANYA
That’s what the soldiers said when they were pointing
their guns at us.
DMITRY
What soldiers?
ANYA
They said they were taking us somewhere safe. Toby’s
little heart was beating against mine. ‘They’re decent
men,’ I told him. ‘They won’t harm us’.
DMITRY
No one’s pointing guns at you! You’re taking this too
far, Anya!
57
ANYA
Not if I really am her!
DMITRY
Shhh! We’re almost out of Russia. Once we cross the
border, you’re safe.
ANYA
You put these ideas in my head. I’m beginning to think
they might be true.
(VLAD returns.)
VLAD
I’m having a heart attack. Three Czechish officers just
came aboard with orders to arrest two men, and a young
woman.
DMITRY
That could be anyone.
(VLAD holds up a wanted poster with the three of them on

it.)
VLAD
I don’t think so!
DMITRY
What are we going to do?
ANYA
We’re getting off!
(She begins to climb the train, and the outside of

it. DMITRY follows her. The passengers are shocked.
Chaos erupts.)
VLAD
But the train’s moving again!
ANYA
Unless you want to end up like Count Ipolitov!
#12C JUMP
58
VLAD
What are you doing?!
DMITRY
Get on!
(VLAD climbs out with them. They all look at each

other.)
ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD

Jump!
(They all jump off of the train, and the stage goes
black.
SCENE EIGHT
TWO COMMUNIST OFFICES / ALMOST POLISH BORDER
(Stage left has GLEB, talking on the phone to

GORLINSKY, his superior, on stage right.)
#13A TRAVELING SEQUENCE

GORLINSKY
The train crossed the Russian border, and they weren’t on
it?
GLEB
A TEMPORARY SETBACK
WE’LL FIND THEM, NEVER FEAR
THEY THINK THEY CAN ELUDE US
BUT THEY’LL END UP HERE
GORLINSKY
A RAGGED LITTLE POPSTAR
ENGAGING IN A CRIME
(Thunder is heard. ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD run on

stage, in the middle of a storm somewhere.)
ANYA, DMITRY, VLAD, GLEB, & GORLINSKY

IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME
59
(DMITRY begins to run off. GLEB and GORLINSKY move
to the background.)
VLAD
Dmitry, wait! Anya can’t go any further.
(He puts down his suitcase, clearly winded.)
She’s exhausted.
DMITRY
The Polish border is only ten more kilometers! We’ll be
safe there!
(He and ANYA run off. VLAD follows behind them.)
VLAD
Wait for me!
(Back on the phone with GLEB and GORLINSKY.)
GORLINSKY
Follow her to Paris. If she’s not Anastasia, bring her
back. We’ll make an example of her.
GLEB
And if she is Anastasia?
GORLINSKY
Finish the job for your father like a good son. Leave her
floating in the sand.
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.)
60
ANYA, DMITRY, VLAD, GLEB, & GORLINSKY
(ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD exit.)
GORLINSKY
ALIVE OR DEAD
It’s up to you.
#13B STILL
GLEB
Everyone imagines being someone else. It’s an innocent
enough fantasy.
AN UNDERHANDED GIRL
AN ACT OF DESPERATION
AND TO MY CONSTERNATION
I LET HER GO
SHE WANTS WHAT SHE CAN GET-

IS THAT A FAIR DEPICTION?
DOES SHE BELIEVE HER FICTION?
IT'S HARD TO KNOW
IS IT INNOCENCE OR GUILE?
OR NOTHING BUT A CHILDISH ACT OF WILL?
SHE DOESN'T KNOW SHE NEEDS YOU
SHE WILLFULLY MISLEADS YOU
(A COMMUNIST OFFICER enter and puts his coat on

GLEB, then exits.)
BUT STILL...STILL
A SON BECOMES A MAN

AT HIS FATHER'S KNEE
IF MY FATHER ASKED QUESTIONS
WELL...WHERE WOULD WE BE?
SHE'S NOTHING BUT A CHILD

A WAIF WHO NEEDS PROTECTION
I FEEL A STRANGE CONNECTION-
I CAN'T ALLOW!
61
SHE SAYS IT'S ALL A GAME
SHE TREMBLES LIKE A FLOWER
BUT IN HER, THERE'S A POWER
I SEE THAT NOW
(Another COMMUNIST OFFICER gives GLEB papers, then

exits.)
I AM NOTHING BUT A MAN

WITH NOTHING BUT HIS ORDERS
TO FULFILL
"I'M INNOCENT!" SHE CRIES!
BUT THEN, YOU SEE HER EYES
AND SOMETHING IN THEM TELLS YOU
(One more COMMUNIST OFFICER enters and hands GLEB a

gun. He then joins the other OFFICERS, which have
all come on stage and surrounded GLEB in a
semicircle.)
THAT SHE ABSOLUTELY LIES

UNTIL YOUR HEART REPLIES
"BUT, STILL...!"
STILL
STILL
(He finishes the song and salutes the OFFICERS on

stage, and they do the same. GLEB’s salute mimics
the projection on the screen, which is the same one
from the prologue. The lighting is also red.)
SCENE NINE
A HILL OVERLOOKING PARIS
(ANYA, DMITRY, and VLAD walk onto the stage. There

are beautiful pink and purple trees surrounding
them. They have made it to Paris. They take it all
in.)
VLAD
La belle, France!
(VLAD kisses the ground.)
62
DMITRY
It looks like Russia.
VLAD
France looks nothing like Russia. It looks like France.
ANYA
Except Russia is more beautiful.
VLAD
Russia is not the world! Open your hearts and minds to
all this! Learn something! (He gets emotional.) I’m
getting emotional. The last time I was in Paris, I was a
young man. My waist was like this!
(He holds up his pinky finger.)
ANYA
Why have we stopped? I’m going to ask the driver what’s
wrong.
(She runs off. DMITRY nearly follows her.)
DMITRY
Look at her. Rattling off in French with him. You’ve
taught her well. Don’t be surprised if we get away with
this, Vlad.
(He laughs, continuing to watch her.)
VLAD
She’ll break your heart, Dmitry.
DMITRY
Be quiet. What do you know about anything?
VLAD
If they accept her as Anastasia, you’ll never see her again.
DMITRY
(He walks away from VLAD)
As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
(ANYA comes back on, this time with two suitcases,

VLAD’s and her own.)
63
ANYA
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!
(VLAD runs and grabs his suitcase.)
VLAD
Oh! Are you ready to be astonished?
(He runs off stage.)
DMITRY
We made it!
ANYA
Even when I was mad at you, I never doubted we would.
Thank you, Dmitry.
DMITRY
Thank Vlad.
VLAD (offstage)
I can see the Eiffel Tower! It’s true! It’s really there!
(DMITRY runs off.)
DMITRY (offstage)
Anya, come see! Anya!
VLAD (offstage)
Anya!
#14 JOURNEY TO THE PAST
ANYA
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.
64
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 I'M 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 MY PAST,
AND BRING ME HOME
AT LAST!
(The screen shows trees, then they part to reveal the

Eiffel Tower. Blackout.)
-- END OF ACT ONE ---
65
ACT TWO
SCENE ONE
PARIS: 1927
(ANYA, VLAD, and DMITRY have glowed up. They are all
dressed up very nicely and are exploring Paris.)
#15 PARIS HOLDS THE KEY (TO YOUR HEART)
VLAD
Voilà! 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 PARIS
WILL BE SINGING TO YOU
AHH
PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO YOUR HEART

AND ALL OF PARIS PLAYS A PART
PARIS’ TURNED A PAGE
TO THE NEW MODERN AGE
VLAD
AND 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’RE IN THE KNOW IT’S-
OH, IT’S MAGNIFIQUE
TO FIND IN PARIS WHAT YOU SEEK.
66
(Couples branch off and dance, and DMITRY offers to
dance with ANYA. However, a SUITOR cuts in right
before. Two more SUITORS follow suit. DMITRY watches
as this happens.)
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 breaks away from dancing with the SUITORS.)
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 À 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!
#15A PARIS HOLDS THE KEY EXIT
(The ENSEMBLE exits. VLAD gives ANYA a book.)
67
DMITRY
I don’t know about anyone else, but it’s been a long day.
I’ll be at the hotel.
(He excitedly runs off.)
VLAD
Don’t use up all the hot water! (to ANYA) I’ve never seen
him so happy. (a beat) I’m going to try and find Lily.
(ANYA fixes his bowtie.)
I’ll start at the Neva Club.
(They both smile and he exits. ANYA is left alone.

She opens the book.)
ANYA
‘Considered the most beautiful bridge in Paris, the
Alexander Bridge, as it is affectionately called by
Parisians, was named for...Tsar Alexander III’.
#16 CROSSING A BRIDGE
ANYA (cont)
LOOK AT THE SKY
LOOK AT THE WATER
SOMEBODY'S BRIDGE
SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER
WHO COULD'VE KNOWN I'D BE ALONE
CROSSING THIS BRIDGE
BOATS HEADING IN
SOMEBODY CALLING
SUN GOING DOWN
SHADOWS ARE FALLING
SHIMMERING VIEW
DANGEROUS, TOO,
CROSSING A BRIDGE
HALFWAY BETWEEN
WHERE I'VE BEEN
AND WHERE I'M GOING
68
IN BETWEEN WONDERING WHY
AND FINALLY KNOWING
THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS
SHINING BELOW ME
SOMEBODY WAITS
SOMEBODY, KNOW ME
MAYBE WE'RE SHARING
THIS BEAUTIFUL NIGHT
ME ON THE LEFT BANK
YOU ON THE RIGHT
ALMOST IN SIGHT...
CROSSING A BRIDGE
EVERY LIGHT IS LIKE A PROMISE

EVERY LIGHT COULD BE A CLUE
ONE OF THEM MIGHT BE YOU
(She exits.)
SCENE TWO
THE DOWAGER EMPRESS’S HOME, PARIS
(LILY opens the door and enters, followed by COUNT

LEOPOLD.)
LILY
I’m sorry, Count Leopold.
COUNT LEOPOLD
She can’t always be resting. The Dowager Empress knows I
have important papers for her to sign.
LILY
Papers designating you the heir of the Romanov fortune.
(She laughs.) She will never sign those.
COUNT LEOPOLD
She is an old woman who has outlived her place in
history. Anastasia is a pathetic figment of her
imagination. Eventually I will be recognized as the sole
beneficiary of the Tsar’s estate, by international court
of law!
69
LILY
I’ll tell her majesty you called.
(She gestures for him to exit.)
COUNT LEOPOLD
You will be at The Neva Club, this evening, Lily?
LILY
Along with every other White Russian in Paris.
COUNT LEOPOLD
I will want the first charleston.
LILY
I’ve given up dancing for Lent.
COUNT LEOPOLD
Lent just ended.
LILY
Next Lent. I’m getting an early start.
(She raises her hand for him to kiss, and he does,

then exits. LILY wipes her hand off.)
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, that one.
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.
70
LILY
I won’t let you give up.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Dearest Lily, I know I am a proud and difficult woman.
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
‘Your Majesty, remember our happy summers by the sea in
Livadia?’
(LILY joins the DOWAGER EMPRESS on the couch.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Livadia? They all do their homework.
LILY
‘Strange and bizarre events have brought me to Buenos
Aires. Bring me to Paris, and I will convince you that I
am Anastasia’.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
She wants me to pay her passage! At least that little
imposter from Cleveland paid her own way. What is
Cleveland? I’ve never heard of such a place. Sounds
dreadful.
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.)
71
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
I’ll light the lamps. Will you be alright this evening?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
(not hearing her)
My precious Anastasia.
LILY
She doesn’t hear me. (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
72
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 THREE
THE NEVA CLUB
(We are outside The Neva Club. There is a DOORMAN

talking 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!
73
(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 ass with her boa. Both WOMEN go

offstage, and enter The Neva Club. GLEB enters the
stage.)
DOORMAN
Welcome to Paris, comrade.
GLEB
I beg your pardon?
DOORMAN
Only off-the-train Russians wear shoes like yours. I have
the same pair. Try the Russian tea shop on the Rue de
l'Arc.
(GLEB starts to walk off)
Number 17. Last I heard they were hiring.
(GLEB stops.)
GLEB
I’m not looking for work, comrade.
(LILY enters. The DOORMAN bows.)
DOORMAN
Good evening, Countess Lily.
LILY
The only good thing about it is that it means one day
less. (a beat) I’m being Russian, Sergei!
(They laugh.)
I love life.
(COUNT GREGORY enters with COUNTESS GREGORY.)
Count Gregory! How was the ballet?
COUNT GREGORY
Dreadful. You never heard such a racket.
74
COUNTESS GREGORY
Le Sacre du Printemps! Ooh! Gregory renamed it ‘Le Sacre
du Merde’.
(They all laugh.)
COUNT GREGORY
Thank God for Swan Lake next week. Real Russian music!
Not this Stravinsky.
COUNTESS GREGORY
You’ll be there with Her Imperial Majesty?
LILY
But of course. A lady-in-waiting’s life is never her own.
(LILY enters The Club.)
COUNTESS GREGORY
Marvelous! I haven’t seen the Dowager Empress since the
Russian opera season.
(COUNT and COUNTESS GREGORY, with another MAN and

WOMAN who have just entered the stage, enter The
Club. The DOORMAN sees GLEB is still here and walks
over to him.)
DOORMAN
Don’t loiter. They won’t like it. Go to the back door.
Oscar will give you something to eat.
(He begins to return back to his post. One more

WOMAN enters and goes into The Club, then COUNT
LEOPOLD.)
GLEB
I’m not hungry.
DOORMAN
Don’t be so proud, comrade.
GLEB
I’d rather starve then eat your scraps. They make me
ashamed to be Russian!
75
(GLEB exits and the DOORMAN goes into The Club. We
are now inside The, packed, Neva Club. Everyone is
having a good time.)
#17A UNDERSCORE NEVA CLUB
COUNT GREGORY
(raising his glass)
Thank God for The Neva Club. St. Petersburg on the sand.
LILY
(sitting on the bar)
Only a fool would go back. My husband was very sorry he

did. Ten families were living in our ballroom alone.
There were chickens in the wine cellar!
(She laughs.)
It’s not the Russia he remembers.
COUNTESS GREGORY
The Red Russians are for that.
LILY
What was it our great poet said?
COUNT GREGORY
Which one, Lily? We have so many.
(The ENSEMBLE starts to ad-lib Russian poets.)
LILY
It doesn’t matter, they all say the same thing: past
glories. Present griefs.
#18 LAND OF YESTERDAY
76
LILY
ONCE I HAD A PALACE
HERE, MERELY A FLAT
I FLED WITH SOME DIAMONDS
AND THAT WAS THAT
ARISTOCRATS
IT'S VERY TRAGIC
LILY
ONCE, LADIES-IN-WAITING
ALL BENDING A KNEE!
NOW, ONLY ONE LADY-IN-WAITING--ME!
MEN
NO FANFARES
WOMEN
OR SEDAN CHAIRS
MEN
AND NO COUCHES
WOMEN
AND WE SOLD OUR BROACHES!
COUNT LEOPOLD
NO AFTERNOON CARD GAMES WITH THE TSAR
LILY
NO CAVIAR!
BUT I SAY WE'RE NOT DEAD NOW!
ALL
WE'RE NOT DEAD NOW
WE'RE IN FRANCE INSTEAD, NOW
LILY
LET US NOT BE SAD!
THE NIGHT'S YOUNG
AND RUSSIANS ARE MAD
SO...
LET'S LIVE IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY

LIVE IN THE GRAND IMPERIAL HEYDAY
LET'S LIVE IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY RUSSIA!
77
ALL
HUSHA!
LILY
LET'S PUT ON THE FANCY CLOTHES
AND LET'S WHILE OUR WOES AWAY
LILY AND ALL

IN RUSSIA
LAND OF YESTERDAY
LILY
IN DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES,
WHY WALLOW IN REGRET?
WE'RE OUT OF SECOND CHANCES
WHY ARE WE HERE, EXCEPT TO FORGET?
WE KNOW THE WORLD IS FICKLE
LIFE IS A LEAKY SIEVE!
PASS ME A GLASS
AND GIVE ME A BOW--
AND DRINK TO THE "COUNTESS NOBODY" NOW.
WHY SHOULD I CARE
AS LONG AS I DARE TO LIVE...
ARISTOCRATS
IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY...
LILY
LET'S RUN UP THE BILL
AS IF WE'RE STILL
ROYALTY AT PLAY!
LILY AND ALL

IN RUSSIA, LAND OF YESTERDAY!
(The ENSEMBLE wants LILY to dance)
LILY
No, no, no. (slight pause) Okay!
(LILY leads a dance break. Everyone spins out of

control and lands on the ground, except for LILY,
who is still dancing, while holding a wine bottle.)
THE NIGHT'S YOUNG

AND RUSSIANS ARE MAD, SO...
78
(The ENSEMBLE starts to get up)
LET'S LIVE IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY.
ALL
LIVE IN THE GRAND IMPERIAL HEYDAY.
LET'S LIVE IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY
RUSSIA!
HUSHA!
LILY
LET'S BRUSH OFF THE DAYS OF OLD
AND LET'S HOLD THE WORLD AT BAY...
ALL
YES, HERE'S TO
(They make a circle around LILY.)
LILY
RUSSIA!
ALL
HERE'S TO
LILY AND WOMEN

RUSSIA!
ALL
HERE'S TO RUSSIA!
LAND OF YESTERDAY.
(VLAD sneakily joins in the circle from offstage.)
LAND OF YESTERDAY.
HEY!
(They all pose, VLAD with LILY.)
(Everyone breaks pose and enjoys the fun they just

had. LILY sees VLAD and freaks.)
LILY
Oh! Vlad Popov!
VLAD
Aha!
79
LILY
I thought the Bolsheviks put you in front of a firing
squad!
VLAD
They did. When they gave the order to fire, no one could
pull the trigger.
LILY
I can’t imagine why not.
VLAD
I still melt hearts, ma chere. Just as you still melt
mine.
(VLAD and LILY walk downstage and The Club turns

into a park, outside.)
SCENE FOUR
OUTSIDE, IN A PARK SOMEWHERE
#18A BEFORE COUNTESS AND THE COMMON MAN
VLAD
I crossed a continent for this moment.
LILY
Still up to your old tricks?
(She crosses to exit but VLAD stops her.)
VLAD
Admit you’re happy to see me.
LILY
I’m glad you’re not dead, but that’s as far as I’m
prepared to go.
(She makes a scene of walking away from him.

“Seductively”.)
What are you doing in Paris?
80
VLAD
(taking off his suit jacket)
Didn’t you get my letter?
LILY
I did; and I promptly tore it up.
(She sits on a bench stage right.)
VLAD
(running after her)
You’ve grown hard, my darling Lily.
LILY
No harder than need be.
VLAD
My precious Lily.
LILY
I’m not the woman you remember, Vlad.
VLAD
No. You’re even lovelier than I remember.
(He takes her arm and kisses it after each word.)
My hot-blooded. Sensual. Passionate-
(She flips and gets up.)
LILY
That was then. When the world was beautiful!
VLAD
We’ll make it beautiful again! In Paris! The city of
lovers!
LILY
If only we could.
VLAD
Ever since that first day in court when I saw you, I knew
I was beneath you.
81
LILY
You’re right, darling. You were.
#18B THE COUNTESS AND THE COMMON MAN
VLAD
I NOTICED YOU ACROSS A ROOM
THE MOST EXQUISITE ROSE
THE TINIEST TIARA AND
THAT HAUGHTY LITTLE NOSE
I FLIRTED WITH YOU SHAMELESSLY
LILY
OR SO THE SCANDAL GOES...
THE COUNTESS
VLAD
AND THE COMMON MAN
WE TIPTOED OFF TO PETERHOF
TO HAVE A ROYAL FLING
LILY
MY HUSBAND WAS OBLIVIOUS;
COUNT'S NEVER KNOW A THING!
VLAD
AND ALL OF IT WAS PERFECT...
LILY
'TIL YOU STOLE MY DIAMOND RING!
BOTH
THE COUNTESS
AND THE COMMON MAN
VLAD
COLOGNE IN THE BEDCLOTHES,
THE PASTRY AND WINE
LILY
AND UNDER THE TABLE
YOUR FOOT TOUCHING MINE
82
BOTH
AND HOW MY HEART BEAT
WHEN YOU SENT ME "OUR SIGN."
(VLAD scratches his chest. LILY tugs on her ear.

They both wipe their brows, in opposite directions.)
LILY
I LOVED YOU...
(VLAD pauses, unable to respond the same way.)
VLAD
YOU LOVED ME
AND OH, IT WAS SIMPLY
BOTH
DIVINE
(Once again, a dance break. It ends with them

spinning, then running out of breath and needing to
sit down/take a break. Then they continue.)
VLAD
WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN
MY LITTLE ROSE,
WE'RE BACK WHERE WE BEGAN
LILY
AND I SUPPOSE
THAT YOU'LL PROPOSE
ANOTHER SNEAKY PLAN!
WHICH I'LL RESIST...
VLAD
UNTIL YOU'RE KISSED...
(They KISS.)
BOTH
FOR NOTHING'S BETTER THAN...
LILY
THE COUNTESS
VLAD
AND THE COMMON MAN
83
BOTH
THE COUNTESS
AND THE COMMON MAN.
(They pose, then kiss again, very passionately?

Messy? You decide.)
LILY
I’m waiting for you to kiss me again.
VLAD
Gladly. But first, there’s a young woman I want you to
meet.
LILY
That’s all?
VLAD
(He reaches into his coat pocket and grabs two
tickets.)
There will be someone at the ballet on Monday who will

want to meet her too.
LILY
Who is that?
VLAD
The Dowager Empress.
LILY
No!
(She begins to run out but again is stopped by VLAD. He

grabs her hand.)
#18C REPRISES THE COUNTESS AND LAND OF

YESTERDAY
VLAD
We are going to change history, Lily.
THE COUNTESS
(He grabs his suit jacket from the bench and drapes
it over LILY.)
84
LILY
AND THE COMMON MAN.
(VLAD drops the ballet ticket and they exit, arm-in-

arm. GLEB enters.)
GLEB
THEY LIVE IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY
LOST IN THEIR MAD IMPERIAL HAYDAY
HOW SAD IS THE LAND OF YESTERDAY?
(He finds the ticket on the ground and takes it.)
HOW COULD A GOOD RUSSIAN GIRL

BE SO BADLY LED ASTRAY?
YOU WANT TO CHANGE HISTORY
WELL, I’LL LET YOU LEAD THE WAY
TO ANYA
(He exits.)
SCENE FIVE
THE HOTEL. ANYA’S ROOM
#19 A NIGHTMARE
(ANYA is in her bed sleeping. She is having a

nightmare. There are strobe lights. In her nightmare
are the ROMANOVS and the ENSEMBLE from the Prologue.
They all scatter the stage.)
ANYA
Who are you? Every night you come.
TSAR NICHOLAS II
And we will. Until you remember us.
TSARINA ALEXANDRA
Have you said your prayers? God is everything. Sleep
well. With this mother’s kiss.
(ALEXI is lifted into the air, like a swing.)
85
ALEXI
Can I tell you a secret? I’m going to die soon. We all
are. Do you have a secret?
ANYA
I don’t know who I am.
ALEXI
That’s silly. Everyone knows who they are.
ENSEMBLE
ANYA
ANYA
ANYA!
(Everyone scatters, only ANYA is left in her bed.)
ANYA
(screams)
Ahh!
(She gets up.)
No!
(DMITRY runs in.)
DMITRY
Anya?
ANYA
(clearly shaken up)
The voices keep coming back!
DMITRY
(He runs toward her.)
That’s all they are. Voices. You’re having a nightmare.
(He grabs her by the arms and leads her back to her
bed.)
ANYA
Stay with me, Dmitry. I’m frightened.
(They sit on her bed.)
86
DMITRY
Is that better?
ANYA
Who do you think I am, Dmitry?
DMITRY
If I were the Dowager Empress, I would want you to be
Anastasia.
ANYA
You would?
DMITRY
I would want her to be a beautiful, strong, and
intelligent young woman.
ANYA
Is that what you think I am?
DMITRY
I do.
ANYA
Thank you.
(A pause. They realize they are holding hands and

they awkwardly separate.)
DMITRY
You’re welcome.
ANYA
I began to wonder if you were ever going to pay me a
compliment. (a beat) Do you really think-I might be her?
DMITRY
I want to believe you’re the little girl I saw once, many
years ago.
ANYA
I don’t understand.
#20 IN A CROWD OF THOUSANDS
87
DMITRY
IT WAS JUNE
I WAS TEN
I STILL THINK OF THAT DAY
NOW AND THEN
A PARADE
AND A GIRL
AND A CROWD OF THOUSANDS
SHE SAT STRAIGHT

AS A QUEEN
ONLY EIGHT
BUT SO PROUD AND SERENE
HOW THEY CHEERED
HOW I STARED
IN THAT CROWD OF THOUSANDS
(He gets up and walks to stage right.)
THEN I STARTED TO RUN

AND TO CALL OUT HER NAME
AS THE CROWD ON THE ROAD WENT WILD
I REACHED OUT WITH MY HAND
AND LOOKED UP
AND THEN SHE SMILED
THE PARADE
TRAVELED ON
WITH THE SUN IN MY EYES
SHE WAS GONE
BUT IF I WERE STILL TEN
I’D FIND HER AGAIN
ANYA
You’re making me feel I was there too.
DMITRY
Maybe you were. Make it part of your story.
(He walks back to the bed and leans on the bedpost.)
ANYA
A PARADE
88
DMITRY
A PARADE
ANYA
PASSING BY
DMITRY
PASSING BY
ANYA
IT WAS HOT
NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY
THEN A BOY
CAUGHT MY EYE
(DMITRY sits next to her.)
BOTH
IN A CROWD OF THOUSANDS
ANYA
HE WAS THIN
NOT TOO CLEAN
THERE WERE GUARDS
BUT HE DODGED IN BETWEEN
YES HE MADE HIMSELF SEEN
(She gets up and walks to stage left.)
THEN HE CALLED OUT MY NAME

AND HE STARTED TO RUN
THROUGH THE SUN AND THE HEAT
IN THE CROWD
I TRIED NOT TO SMILE
BUT I SMILED
(There is a spark in her eye. She remembers

something.)
AND THEN HE BOWED
(DMITRY is shocked, he gets up immediately.)
DMITRY
I didn’t tell you that.
89
ANYA
You didn’t have to. I remember!
(A pause. Then they run toward each other.)
BOTH
THE PARADE
TRAVELED ON
WITH THE SUN IN MY EYES
YOU WERE GONE
BUT I KNEW
EVEN THEN
IN A CROWD OF THOUSANDS
I’D FIND YOU AGAIN
(DMITRY starts to lean in to kiss ANYA but in the

last moment, abruptly pulls away. He kneels to her.)
DMITRY
Your highness.
SCENE SIX
THE BALLET
#21A ARRIVING AT THE BALLET
(Two USHERS enter. Then, PARISIANS enter one after

the other, all very elegantly dressed. They greet
each other and chat until the DOWAGER EMPRESS
enters. They all bow to her. Next, VLAD and LILY
enter. They do their secret sign. After them, DMITRY
runs in, in a tux. He talks to VLAD and VLAD points
to DMITRY’s shoe. He needs to tie it. He does.
That’s when ANYA enters, in a stunning blue gown.
She walks over to DMITRY, and he is shocked when he
looks up. He stands up and offers her his arm, and
the two begin to walk off, until they notice VLAD.
VLAD waves them to go on and they, with the other
PARISIANS, LILY, and the DOWAGER EMPRESS walk
offstage. VLAD is left.)
90
#21B MEANT TO BE
VLAD
WHAT’S MEANT TO BE
IS MEANT TO BE
I SEE IT
AT A GLANCE
SHE’S RADIANT
AND CONFIDENT
AND BORN TO TAKE THIS CHANCE
I TRIED TO THINK OF EVERYTHING
I JUST FORGOT
ROMANCE
I NEVER SHOULD HAVE
LET THEM DANCE
(He walks off and the scene changes to a ballet,

everyone in different boxes. GLEB is in the top box
stage right. LILY and the DOWAGER EMPRESS are in the
box on the bottom stage right. ANYA and DMITRY are
on the bottom box stage left. VLAD is in the box
with them. Some PARISIANS occupy the remaining
boxes. (Four boxes with three seats each in them.)
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...
91
(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...
92
(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 TO DO I'LL
DO
SIMPLE HOW SIMPLE
MEN
(The parts now come back in unison, but have

harmonies.)
ANYA, DMITRY, GLEB & DOWAGER EMPRESS

FIND A WAY
ANASTASIA!
(The song and ballet ends, and the dancers each take
a bow before exiting.)
SCENE SEVEN
AFTER THE BALLET, OUTSIDE THE DOWAGER EMPRESS’S BOX
(LILY comes from offstage right.)
93
LILY
The finest and driest champagne they have, of course Your
Majesty!
(VLAD runs in from the opposite direction.)
VLAD
Is she in a good mood?
LILY
She’s never in a good mood. What have you talked me into?
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.)
No, you mustn’t.
VLAD
That composure! We did a good job, Dmitry!
LILY
I don’t want to get your hopes up, young lady.
DMITRY
We’ll celebrate after on your grandfather’s bridge.
ANYA
I’m ready.
DMITRY
You will 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.
94
VLAD and DMITRY sit in chairs. VLAD on stage left,
DMITRY on stage right.)
#23 EVERYTHING TO WIN
DMITRY
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
WONDER HOW LONG THEY'LL BE
WHY SHOULD I WORRY?
WORRYING'S NOT LIKE ME

NOTHING TO DO BUT PACE AND STEW
AND WAIT TILL THE GIRL WALKS IN
WHY PANIC NOW WITH EVERYTHING TO WIN?
VLAD (spoken)
My nerves can’t handle this. Tell Lily I needed a stiff
glass of vodka.
(He exits stage left.)
DMITRY
NOTHING BUT SILENCE
THIS COULD BE BAD

BUT NO, LET'S ASSUME IT'S GOOD
THOUGHT IT WAS FOOLPROOF
NOTHING IS FOOLPROOF!
WOAH! BETTER KNOCK ON WOOD!
GIRL GETS A FAMILY
BOY GETS RICH

AND FAIRYTALE GETS A SPIN
HOW CAN WE FAIL WITH
EVERYTHING TO WIN?
I WONDER
IF OUR PATHS WILL EVER CROSS AGAIN

THE WAY THEY DID
WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT AND I WAS TEN

WE SAID THIS WAS GOODBYE, BUT EVEN SO
95
YOU NEVER KNOW
YOU NEVER KNOW
(A beat. Something changes.)
I SHOULD BE GLAD
THAT WE'RE BREAKING FREE
BUT NOTHING IS WHAT IT WAS
I DIDN'T KNOW SHE MATTERED TO ME
BUT NOW I CAN SEE SHE DOES
CONMAN AND PRINCESS GET THEIR WISH
FAIRYTALE COMES TRUE
FUNNY, ONE SMALL PART I NEVER KNEW
WITH EVERYTHING TO WIN
THE ONLY THING I LOSE
(He is cut off from finishing because he sees ANYA

come from the box. She is upset.)
IS-
(He looks at her.)
DMITRY
What happened?
ANYA
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
(He runs to meet her across the stage)
I’ll 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 think I was someone I never was or ever could

be. I was cold and hungry and desperate, Dmitry, when I
met you; but I wasn’t dishonest. I hate you for that.
96
(ANYA walks out. DMITRY tries to run after her, but
ultimately lets her go. LILY enters. DMITRY runs to her.)
LILY
I’m sorry, young man.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Is she gone?
(The DOWAGER EMPRESS enters.)
DMITRY
Your Royal Majesty!
(He bows.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
How dare you address me?
DMITRY
Anya doesn’t want your money! I take full responsibility
for bringing her to Paris.
(He walks toward the DOWAGER EMPRESS. She puts up a

hand to him.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Don’t come any closer!
DMITRY
But I believe with all my heart that she is the Grand
Duchess Anastasia!
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I will not stay for this.
(She begins to walk away from him.)
DMITRY
She only wants what’s rightfully hers! Your recognition,
and your loving embrace!
(He STEPS on the train of the DOWAGER EMPRESS’s

gown. Her beautifully stunning gorgeous expensive-looking
gown. She stops walking.)
Try to imagine her life since her parents, sisters,

little brother were murdered.
97
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I do not need reminding what happened to my family!
(She whips her gown back around to behind her as she

turns to yell at him.)
I lost everything I loved that day!
DMITRY
So did she. Anya survived for a reason. To heal what
happened. Or Russia will be a wound that never heals!
(The DOWAGER EMPRESS slaps DMITRY.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
That is no longer a concern of mine. Russia has damned
itself to eternity for what it has done!
LILY
You’re tiring her!
DMITRY
God will judge you harshly, old woman. History already
has.
(DMITRY exits. He turns his back to them.)
LILY
He turned his back to you!
DOWAGER EMPRESS
(She takes a moment, then rushes to exit.)
Take me home, Lily.
(LILY follows her off.)
#23A TRANSITION TO HOTEL ROOM
98
SCENE EIGHT
THE HOTEL, ANYA’S ROOM
(ANYA is pissed, and she is packing up her stuff.

DMITRY is there, sitting in a chair, and VLAD is
standing behind him.)
ANYA
It was my life you played with. Telling me I was someone
else. Letting me believe I was.
(She picks up a doll from the table.)
What is this?
DMITRY
I bought it for you
(ANYA throws it to the ground.)
when we were at-
ANYA
I don’t want it.
(She crosses to the other side of the stage and VLAD

follows her.)
DMITRY
Where are you going?
ANYA
Anywhere that’s far from you.
VLAD
Anya-
ANYA
No wonder you were dismissed from court. Men like you
deserve every bad hand life deals you.
(She rips the medals from his suit jacket. She

throws them to the ground. She looks at both of
them.)
You both do.
99
#23B ANYA/HOTEL UNDERSCORE
(ANYA turns away from them and starts to pack her

things. She is rambling on, unaware of what’s about
to happen. LILY runs in and whispers something to
VLAD. She gestures and the DOWAGER EMPRESS enters
the room. She and DMITRY share a glance. LILY takes
VLAD’s hand and they exit. DMITRY takes the DOWAGER
EMPRESS’s cane she is holding out to him and bows.
He exits. ANYA keeps ranting on, unaware.)
I admired the way you were proud of who you were, Dmitry,
despite your circumstances. And you taught me to be the
same! And the whole time you were tricking me.
(ANYA picks up a book.)
Russian history. Save it for your next Anastas-
(She turns and is shocked to see the DOWAGER EMPRESS

before her, not DMITRY. ANYA stops in her tracks and
bows.)
Your Imperial Highness.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I think history demands we play this game till the end.
ANYA
Please be seated.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
There’s no need. I shall be brief. Who are you?
ANYA
(ANYA approaches the DOWAGER EMPRESS.)
I believe I am the youngest daughter-
DOWAGER EMPRESS
(cutting her off and walking in front of the bench
center stage)
Oh, spare me my family history! It’s in every bookstore

along the Seine. And anyone can read it.
100
ANYA
I didn’t think you’d be so cruel.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I’m old and impatient. Kindness has become a luxury.
ANYA
My Nana was the most loving woman imaginable.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
That was before they murdered everyone she loved.
ANYA
Her bosom smelled like oranges when she hugged me.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
It’s a common enough scent.
ANYA
Not hers. It came from Sicily, especially for her in a
box of polished inglewood.
(ANYA sits on the bench.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
How dare you sit without my permission?
(ANYA stands quickly. A moment passes.)
Alright, sit. You have my permission. In that case, I

shall sit too.
(ANYA sits again and this time the DOWAGER EMPRESS

joins her on the bench. The DOWAGER EMPRESS studies
ANYA for a bit. Then she begins to question her.)
Who was my favorite lady-in-waiting?
ANYA
You didn’t have one. You kept dismissing them.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
That was a trick question; you’re clever, I’ll grant you
that.
(She looks at ANYA again.)
I’m trying to see the resemblance, I don’t trust my eyes.
101
(ANYA begins to smile.)
ANYA
You should wear spectacles
(She stops, realizing.)
I’m sorry.
(She turns away.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Name the three-
ANYA
Why don’t you want me to be her?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I have found solace in my bitterness. It doesn’t
disappoint me. You Anastasias disappoint always do.
ANYA
If you give me a chance, maybe I won’t.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I don’t believe Anastasia exists.
(ANYA’s face drops.)
ANYA
You don’t want to believe it.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
What was your mother’s full title as empress of all
Russia?
(They overlap words in these next few lines.)
ANYA
Are we beyond this?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of all thou Russia-
ANYA
She was Mamma to me.
102
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Alexandra middle name-
ANYA
She was Mamma to all of us
(She breaks down and cries.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
You all cry at some point. Do you rehearse? Tears will
get you nowhere.
ANYA
Why did you come here?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Your young man told me you were not part of his scheme.
ANYA
He’s right, I wasn’t.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
He thinks you very well might be my granddaughter. He
says you’ve come to believe it yourself.
ANYA
I believe it with all my heart. But I can’t be her unless
you recognize me.
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, young
woman-my son, his children? Everything I loved and held
dear with all my heart, all lost and gone in one terrible
moment; and for what? The good of Russia?
(She shakes her head and looks down. Then forward.)
I’ll ask you one last time, be very careful what you
answer. Who are you?!
ANYA
I don’t know anymore. Who are you?
103
DOWAGER EMPRESS
An old woman, who remembers everything the way it should
have been and nothing the way it was. I am unreliable; I
am a historian of the heart. (She stops.) I want this
fearful journey to be over!
ANYA
Do you remember the last time you saw Anastasia?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I didn’t know it was the last time! We never do. We never
know which goodbye is the last.
ANYA
You were leaving for Paris. You never came back. You gave
her a music box.
(ANYA looks to 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.
ANYA
I said I’d come visit you in Paris. We’d go to the ballet
together, and walk on grandpapa’s bridge.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
You never knew him. I loved him very much.
104
ANYA
We’ll walk the bridge together. For all of them, Nana.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
What took you so long?
ANYA
Doesn’t matter. I’m here with you.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Too late. You’ve come too late.
ANYA
It’s never too late to come home, Nana.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Anastasia!
(They hug. DMITRY walks in and sees them together.

ANYA smells her.)
ANYA
Orange blossoms!
(DMITRY leaves.)
SCENE NINE
THE PETERHOF PALACE
#24 THE PRESS CONFERENCE
(LILY runs in, bombarded by many reporters.)
MALE REPORTERS
HAS SHE BEEN LIVING FAR OR NEAR?
MALE REPORTERS
WHAT KIND OF LETTER DID SHE SEND?
FEMALE REPORTER 1
EXCUSE ME, OVER HERE!
105
ALL MALE REPORTERS
THE RUMORS NEVER END!
FIRST GROUP OF MALE REPORTERS

YOU'VE HAD IMPOSTERS, IS IT TRUE?
SECOND GROUP
WHAT SORT OF PROOF DO YOU INTEND?
FEMALE REPORTER 2
EXCUSE ME, OVER HERE!
ALL MALE REPORTERS

THE RUMORS NEVER END!
(VLAD enters and LILY addresses the reporters.)
LILY
Good afternoon. I am the Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevich,
and this is Count Vladimir Popov.
VLAD
P-O-P-O-V!
LILY
THE DOWAGER IS COMING BUT SHE'S RUNNING VERY LATE
I'M CERTAIN THAT HER MAJESTY WILL SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
BUT ROYALTY IS ROYALTY, ONE ALWAYS HAS TO WAIT
Wait!
I'M REALLY NOT AT LIBERTY TO GOSSIP WITH THE PRESS
HER MAJESTY IS COMING, UNTIL THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO GUESS
VLAD
SUFFICE TO SAY
YOU'LL MEET TODAY
THE LITTLE LOST PRINCESS!
(The REPORTERS go nuts.)
MALE REPORTERS 1 & 5

DID SHE ARRIVE BY TRAIN?
106
MALE REPORTER 2
I HEARD SHE MAY HAVE GONE INSANE!
LILY
A lie!
MALE REPORTER 3
I'M FROM THE PARIS NEWS
WE DO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS!
VLAD
Oh my!
MALE REPORTER 4
IS SHE A FAKE OR IS SHE REAL?
FEMALE REPORTER 3
HOW DOES SHE LOOK?
FEMALE REPORTER 4
HOW DOES SHE FEEL?
FEMALE REPORTERS 5 & 6

WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
WHERE HAS SHE BEEN?
ALL FEMALE REPORTERS

HOW DID SHE LIVE?
WHO TOOK HER IN?
LILY
WE'RE NEARLY READY TO BEGIN!
(The parts branch off. GROUPS 1 & 2 consist of

various MALE & FEMALE REPORTERS. The SOPRANOS are
FEMALE REPORTERS 5 & 6).
107
GROUP 1 GROUP 2 SOPRANOS
WHERE HAS SHE BEEN? THE RUMOR
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
WHO TOOK HER IN?
IS SHE THE ONE?
WE'RE WAITING THE LEGEND
EAGERLY TO SEE
IS SHE THE MYSTERY
ALL
THE PRINCESS
ANASTASIA...
SOPRANOS
ANASTASIA!
VLAD
Lily!
LILY REPORTERS
ENOUGH! NOW…
HER MAJESTY IS ELDERLY
AND DOESN'T SUFFER FOOLS
SHE DOESN'T SUFFER FOOLS
SHE'S READY TO RECEIVE YOU
BUT YOU MUST OBEY THE

RULES.
WE MUST OBEY THE RULES.
NO SMOKING AND NO JOKING
VLAD
AND NO HANDLING OF JEWELS.
LILY
Members of the press,
108
THIS WAY!
THIS WAY!
REPORTERS SOPRANOS
WHERE HAS SHE BEEN? THE RUMOR
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
WHO TOOK HER IN?
IS SHE THE ONE? THE LEGEND
WE'RE WAITING THE MYSTERY
EAGERLY TO SEE
ALL REPORTERS
THE PRINCESS ANASTASIA!
(LILY points stage left and all the REPORTERS exit

that way. After they’re all gone, VLAD takes LILY’s
hand and they exit stage right.)
SCENE TEN
ANOTHER ROOM IN THE PALACE
(ANYA is in a gorgeous red gown, and she and the

DOWAGER EMPRESS appear to be taking photos. A few
flashes go off as they pose.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Press and fellow Russians are all going to want to take a
look at you and ask some questions.
(LILY and VLAD enter.)
ANYA
All that matters is that we found each other, Nana.
(COUNT LEOPOLD enters.)
109
COUNT LEOPOLD
(to the DOWAGER EMPRESS)
Surely, Your Majesty, you don’t think this, this imposter

is the Grand Duchess Anastasia?
(ANYA remembers him.)
ANYA
Count Leopold? With your dyed hair, powdered face, and
vodka breath! No wonder my parents laughed at you behind
your back.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
You’re right, Anastasia. (whispers) They did.
(COUNT LEOPOLD exits.)
VLAD
Everyone did, Your Majesty!
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I remember you.
LILY
(whispers to him)
Quit while you’re ahead, Vlad.
VLAD
(bowing)
Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty. Goodbye, Your

Majesty.
(VLAD exits.)
DOWAGER EMPRESS
I don’t like that man.
LILY
He’s not so bad.
(She looks at the DOWAGER EMPRESS.)
Yes, he is, Your Majesty. He’s a terrible person.
(She excuses herself and exits.)
110
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Get used to people agreeing with everything you say.
ANYA
That’s not right!
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Now, where’s your young man?
ANYA
He’s not my young man.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
It’s not plain to you that he loves you?
ANYA
He’s not my young man, Nana.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
When he refused the reward for finding you, I thought,
Anastasia has found herself another kind of prince. One
of character, not birth.
ANYA
Dmitry refused the reward?
DOWAGER EMPRESS
You are Anastasia. He said that was his reward. You have
made this the happiest day of my life, Anastasia. Make
sure it will be yours as well, Anya. We will always have
each other no matter what you decide.
#24A EVERYTHING TO WIN REPRISE
(The DOWAGER EMPRESS kisses ANYA’s forehead and

exits. ANYA sings to the audience. During this song,
GLEB is in the background, shutting the doors. He
sneaks in at the end of the song.)
ANYA
I SHOULD BE GLAD
I'M WHERE I SHOULD BE
BUT NOTHING IS WHAT IT WAS
I DIDN'T KNOW
HE MATTERED TO ME
111
BUT NOW I CAN SEE HE DOES...
CONMAN AND PRINCESS
GET THEIR WISH
AND FAIRYTALE COMES TRUE!
THE ONLY THING I LOSE
IS-
(She turns around to see GLEB.)
Gleb.
#25 STILL / THE NEVA FLOWS REPRISE
GLEB
AN UNDERHANDED GIRL
AN ACT OF DESPERATION
AND TO MY CONSTERNATION
I LET YOU GO
Well, not this time. Paris is no place for a good and

loyal Russian.
ANYA
We are both good and loyal Russians.
GLEB
I’ve come to take you home.
ANYA
My home is here now.
(She goes to walk out but he grabs her arm and stops
her.)
GLEB
Stop playing this game, Anya. I beg you.
ANYA
We both know it’s not a game, Gleb.
GLEB
If you really are Anastasia, do you think history wants
you to have lived?
ANYA
Yes. Why don’t you?
112
GLEB
The Romanovs were given everything and gave back nothing
in return. Until the Russian people rose up and destroyed
them.
ANYA
All but one. Finish it. I am my father’s daughter.
GLEB
And I am my father’s son!
(GLEB pulls out the gun from his jacket.)
Finish it? Finish it I must.
MY FATHER SHOOK HIS HEAD TOLD ME NOT TO ASK

MY MOTHER SAID HE DIED OF SHAME
(GLEB points the gun at ANYA.)
ANYA
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
Do it and I will be with my parents and my brother and
sisters in that cellar in Yekaterinburg all over again!
GLEB
The children, their voices
(The ROMANOV FAMILY is seen behind the doors, being

chased by COMMUNIST OFFICERS.)
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
113
GLEB & ENSEMBLE
THE LEAVES UNFOLD
THE TSAR LIES COLD
GLEB
For the last time! Who are you?!
ANYA
(She gets up and walks over to GLEB. Proud. Sure.)
I am (pause) the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

Romanov.
GLEB
BE CAREFUL WHAT A DREAM MAY BRING
(screams)
A REVOLUTION IS A SIMPLE-
(He is ready to shoot ANYA. But he waits. He can’t

do it. He drops the gun. And drops to his knees.)
I can’t.
(The ROMANOVS and OFFICERS in the back walk past

each other.)
ANYA
(She touches his head.
I mean you no harm, Gleb.
(She goes to leave but GLEB grabs her hand.)
GLEB
I believe you are Anastasia.
ANYA
What will you tell them?
GLEB
(He picks up the gun and puts it away.)
That I was not my father’s son after all.
(He and ANYA shake hands.)
114
Long life, comrade.
(GLEB exits. Then ANYA runs off.)
SCENE ELEVEN
INSIDE THE PALACE
(The DOWAGER EMPRESS enters, followed by LILY.)
LILY
She’ll turn up. Why would she disappear in the first
place? You’ve accepted her as the heir to the Romanov
fortune. She’ll live like a queen. Even though people
don’t want queens anymore. Well, the English do, but
they’re crazy.
(VLAD runs in.)
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.
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.
115
SCENE TWELVE
THE STREETS OF PARIS
(DMITRY walks in with his suitcase. ANYA runs in

after him.)
DMITRY
If you ever see me from a carriage again, don’t wave,

don’t smile… I don’t want to be in love with someone I
can’t have for the rest of my life. Goodbye, Your
Majesty.
(He bows and picks up his suitcase to leave. He

stops when ANYA talks.)
ANYA
I always dreamed my first kiss would be in Paris with a

handsome prince.
DMITRY
I’m not your prince, Anya.
ANYA
(crossing to him)
The Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov would care to

disagree!
(She takes his suitcase and steps on it.)
Dima.
(She kisses him. They smile and DMITRY lifts ANYA

off of the suitcase. He puts her down, grabs the
suitcase, and she takes his arm. In another part of
the stage, the DOWAGER EMPRESS is giving the press
conference. GLEB is also giving a press conference
in Leningrad on the other side of the stage.)
#26 FINALE
116
DOWAGER EMPRESS
As of today, there will be no more Anastasias. The reward
for her safe return will be given to charity.
GLEB
There never was an Anastasia. She was a dream.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
A beautiful dream.
GLEB
A dream that only time will fade.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
So, no more talk of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov.
GLEB
The new order has no need for fairytales. The case is closed.
DOWAGER EMPRESS
Still...
(The ENSEMBLE dances and ANYA and DMITRY are on a

turntable that turns forward. They hold hands.)
ALL
FAR AWAY
LONG AGO
GLOWING DIM AS AN EMBER
THINGS MY HEART USED TO KNOW...
ONCE UPON A DECEMBER!
-- END OF ACT TWO ---
#27 BOWS
#28 EXIT MUSIC
-- THE END ---
117

Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical (LIBRETTO)

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Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical (LIBRETTO)

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LIBRETTO

THE NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL

Music & Lyrics

Transcribed by Erin Flanagan

#1 OPENING FANFARE AND OPENING SCENE

(This continues at times throughout the prologue.)

(LITTLE ANASTASIA and the DOWAGER EMPRESS are

#2 PROLOGUE: ONCE UPON A DECEMBER

FAR AWAY, LONG AGO

LITTLE ANASTASIA and DOWAGER EMPRESS

(TSARINA ALEXANDRA enters stage left.)

(TSAR NICHOLAS II enters from stage right.)

(She kisses LITTLE ANASTASIA’s head and exits stage

(She runs after THE DOWAGER EMPRESS but is picked up

#3 THE LAST DANCE OF THE ROMANOVS

(The ENSEMBLE ROMANOVS enter and dance with them. A

(COUNTESS LILY, her lady-in-waiting, appears and

(GLEB, a communist officer, high in rank, enters. He

(TOWNSPEOPLE, including DMITRY enter.)

THEY TELL US TIMES ARE BETTER

A BRIGHTER DAY IS DAWNING

DMITRY & ENSEMBLE

(DMITRY runs off stage, from GLEB)

(DMITRY appears in the podium center stage.)

ST PETERSBURG WAS LOVELY

DMITRY & VLAD

(DMITRY and VLAD walk off stage right, and ANYA

(ANYA runs off stage left.)

(DMITRY and VLAD sit on the edge of the stage.)

DMITRY & VLAD

#4A UNDERSCORE AFTER RUMOR

(MARFA, DUNYA, and PAULINA are auditioning for the

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

It’s me, Grandmamma! Your precious Anastasia! They shot

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

I’m not really an actress.

(He chases them out.)

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

He crosses stage left to grab his coat and puts it

(DMITRY inspects the music box.)

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

(They both hide. ANYA enters.)

I’m looking for someone called Dmitry.

(She kneels to him.)

(DMITRY gives VLAD a look.)

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

(VLAD is sitting like DMITRY, but on the other side

(VLAD points, and DMITRY goes offstage left to fetch

(DMITRY appears with the water and gives it to

(He makes a grand gesture of bowing to her.)

What’s your name, dear?

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

(VLAD and DMITRY share a glance and slowly

There was nothing they could do about it.

RAIN AGAINST A WINDOW

TRAVELING THE BACKROADS

(She notices DMITRY and her tone shifts. To him.)

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE

(To VLAD, then out.)

BUT I STILL HAVE THIS FAITH

(VLAD starts talking to her and they go offstage