Young Catherine (1991 TV Movie)

Christopher Plummer: Sir Charles

Quotes 

• [Catherine's betrothed, the Grand Duke, is ill] 

  Catherine : Did you know, after two months, hardly anyone has spoken to me. It's as if I didn't exist!

  Sir Charles : Well, my dear, you hardly do. You are, I hesitate to say it, on the very brink of extinction. If the Grand Duke should die, you become the tiniest footnote to history. Everyone at Court knows that. But if he lives, however, you would certainly find yourself surrounded by thousands of new friends again, fawning all over you like puppies.

  Catherine : And you?

  Sir Charles : Ah, well. I am a foreigner, and an old man. I can afford the luxury of true friendship.

• Sir Charles : So, you are about to embrace the Orthodox faith, are you?

  Catherine : I am considering it.

  Sir Charles : Well, of course, you must. You must! And with a clean conscious. You know they say in the Reformed Church of England, it was born in Henry the Eighth's codpiece.

• Sir Charles : God, my dear, is very forgiving. It's his job.

  Catherine : I suppose it is.

  Sir Charles : Of course it is! And as the scriptures put it, "He moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform." So, who are we to say that you will not be part of his grand design for Russia!

• Sir Charles : We have a jest in my country: heads, you win, tails, I lose. That's exactly your situation, I'm afraid. You lose either way.

• Sir Charles : May I give you a piece of advice?

  Catherine : You know you can.

  Sir Charles : Keep all your friends in the Army - and never turn your back on the Vorontsovs. I've seen burning ambition in my time; but, theirs - gives out a heat - the like of which - I have never felt before.

• Catherine : How can I thank you?

  Sir Charles : By becoming ruler of all the Russias. This is a great country. It deserves someone like you. You could bring it light and learning. You could take it out of the dark ages. Forever! Do it.