Scene Cut – "Old Mirrors, New Glass"
INT. GRAND TEA ROOM – EVENING – MOSCOW, RAINY WEATHER
SOUNDTRACK: Low cello background, rain tapping against windowpanes.
ALIA enters, wearing a light pink silk dress—a long black coat draped over her shoulder, hair down, and light but dark lipstick. Her eyes hold the quiet melancholy of a bygone era.
She steps into an old, regal-styled coffee shop, with red walls, heavy curtains, and hanging crystal lights.
Sitting at a nearby table is MARGARET ZAINKHA—strikingly beautiful, half-Korean, half-Russian, wearing thin glasses, and an abstracted smile on her lips.
Next to her sits a RUSSIAN MAN—his name not yet revealed. Quiet, observant, with a kind of disbelief in his eyes.
Alia slowly walks over.
MARGARET
(With a light, familiar smile)
"Alia... you are still as beautiful as ever."
ALIA
(A faint smile, but her eyes are cautious)
"And you... are still that same Margaret, the one who made you forget everything."
Margaret stands up; they embrace lightly. But from a slight distance—the scent of old love is there, but the fire is gone.
ZAINKHA (Softly)
(Looking at Alia)
"You, Alia, are sexy just like before."
ALIA
(Looking deeply)
"And I have seen your shadow many times—beside Margaret, inside Victor's files."
Margaret is slightly startled.
MARGARET
(Suppressing tears)
"You don't know, Alia... how much has changed. I have changed. You are a Queen now."
ALIA
(Looks down, then slowly looks up)
"A Queen? Sometimes I feel I am just a mask. And you? Are you still that boy with fire locked in your heart?"
MARGARET
(Electricity in her gaze)
"I am not fire, Alia. I am a shadow now. Because those who burn too brightly, one day burn out."
A moment of silence.
ZAINKHA
(Sits up straight)
"We are here because we want to bring the truth to light. Victor loves you. But are you still weak for Margaret?"
Alia is silent. Margaret looks on—a type of painful expectation in her eyes.
ALIA
(Slowly, in a cold voice)
"My love for Victor is true, just as I cannot deny the feelings of the past. I will not use them, but I won't forget them either."
Margaret holds back tears.
MARGARET
(Softly)
"Then it's time to say goodbye."
Alia stands up. She looks at everyone.
ALIA
"No, Margaret... this isn't goodbye. This is closing the door that we had kept open for too long. Now I will walk the path of politics—not love."
CAMERA TRACKING SHOT –
Alia slowly walks out of the coffee shop. It is still raining outside. There is no sadness on her face—only the peace of a final understanding.
INT. GRAND TEA ROOM – EVENING – MOSCOW, RAINY WEATHER
Alia is standing. The light of the rain merges with her light pink silk dress.
Margaret is sitting at the table, with Zainkha quietly observing her.
Suddenly, Alia narrows her eyes and looks at Margaret.
Her voice holds the heat of simmering stillness:
ALIA
(Slowly, but clearly)
"Anashia... Margaret—you know him well. Because you are working together."
Margaret's hand freezes on the cup. The tea shakes, but she doesn't.
For a moment, her eyes are a mix of panic and hidden guilt.
MARGARET
(Low voice)
"You know...?"
ALIA
(Looks with cold eyes)
"I know many things. I just wanted to see if you would tell me yourself."
Zainkha shifts slightly, but his eyes are on Margaret.
Margaret takes a deep breath.
MARGARET
(Soft, broken voice)
"Yes... Anashia and I are working together. But not against Victor, Alia... for something else. Something you still don't know."
Alia takes a step forward. There is no old love in her eyes, only the resolve of a Queen.
ALIA
(Slowly, but with a regal voice)
"Tell me the whole truth, Margaret. Otherwise, you will only be my past, not my present."
CAMERA CLOSE-UP –
Shadow and light play across Margaret's face.
The rain outside intensifies.
Scene: Old Secrets, New Risk
INT. GRAND TEA ROOM – EVENING – MOSCOW, RAINY
SOUNDTRACK: Distant cello, rain tapping on the glass. The house lights are soft—a slightly smoke-infused light.
Alia is half-seated on the chair; like a torn memory of beauty—the silk dress is beautiful on her. Margaret and Zainkha are at a nearby table. With her face turned towards the sky, Alia has a strange, sweet melancholy.
Alia is silent for a moment, then slowly says—
ALIA
(Straight eyes, fearless)
"Actually... I like him."
Margaret cuts in; the tea in her cup trembles.
MARGARET
(Stunned, hoping to hear more)
"Anashia—the boy?"
ALIA
(Sits down lightly, confirms)
"Yes."
Zainkha gives a silent look by the table—a slight shrug, then takes a breath. The rain from the sky is falling harder.
Alia leans forward slightly, speaking in a language mixed with fear and strength—
ALIA
"You don't know, I have five children. And one of them—is yours and Zainkha's child."
Margaret and Zainkha together, in a slow voice—
MARGARET & ZAINKHA
(Together, amidst confusion and recognition)
"Hmm... we know."
There is no shame in Alia's eyes—only the honesty of a Queen's decision. She speaks in a voice as cold as glass water—
ALIA
"I warned him. But you two will say—if I tell everything, he will cry. And Victor... Victor might not be good for him. There could be a risk for him."
Margaret is silent; a pained peace in her eyes. A wrinkle appears on Zainkha's forehead—some calculation is going on inside. Someone silently wrings their hands under the table—time in the room becomes still.
MARGARET
(Slowly, sweet but stern)
"What are you thinking, Alia? Who are you warning—Anashia, or yourself?"
An odd light is in Alia's eyes—she nods her head slightly before saying anything. Outside, the rain dances on the glass, the room is more silent than before.
ALIA
(Determined)
"Both—I will warn him. And you two—if he cries, you and Zainkha will be by his side. And regarding Victor, I will investigate—if he is a risk, we will take care of it."
CAMERA PULLS IN on their faces—Margaret, Zainkha, Alia—every line on their faces is as still as stone. The air in the room now carries the weight of a decision. Outside, the rain falls like waves—it seems a new storm is coming.
The room is steeped in that old light.
The tea is finished. No more words on anyone's lips, only the clear shadow of understanding.
Margaret slowly says—
MARGARET
(Sighs)
"I agree. If you wish, Alia—I will talk sense into Anashia."
ZAINKHA
(Silent, nods gravely)
I agree too. Not just for your sake—but for his as well. Because he is our future..."
Alia is silent for a moment. There is a little gratitude, a little fear in her eyes.
But before she can say anything—
Zainkha suddenly takes her hand.
Alia is startled—she hadn't expected this. There is surprise in her eyes.
ZAINKHA
(In a soft voice, with a lot of suppressed pain)
"You are still the same... you've just become more alone."
Then Zainkha slowly leans in and places a soft kiss on Alia's forehead.
A long, silent moment.
Margaret watches—there is no jealousy, only understanding and respect.
Alia closes her eyes, but tears well up in the corners.
ALIA
(Softly, in a broken voice)
"I don't want to lose either of you...
But this time is not like the past. Now I am not just a woman... I am an entire state."
Zainkha slowly releases her hand.
MARGARET
(Softly)
"We understand, Alia.
Our conversation is over for now,
Now your work begins."
CAMERA –
Alia slowly turns around. She walks towards the door.
A hundred unsaid words on her face, a gradually formed decision in her eyes.
The rain has stopped outside.
Light falls on the room's window.
A new morning seems to be waiting.
The rain has stopped.
The silent city reflects the wet light and car headlights on the street.
Alia slowly stands in front of the door. She looks back—Margaret and Zainkha are still standing by the window, watching.
A moment.
Then, she brings a small, hard, yet calm smile to her face and says—
ALIA
(Softly, firmly)
"Goodbye, Margaret... Zainkha.
I came to you as a woman,
Now I am returning as a Queen."
Margaret nods faintly.
MARGARET
(Softly)
"We know, Alia. Now you will rule, not memories."
Alia bows her head slightly in farewell.
SFX: A car door opens. Bodyguard YASH steps forward.
YASH
(Respectfully)
"The car is ready, Ma'am."
ALIA
(With distant light in her eyes)
"Let's go. There is much to change."ALIA'S BEDROOM – LATE NIGHT
The room light is soft. A glass of half-drunk wine and some files are scattered by the bedside.
A Persian cat is sleeping nearby, and a Tiger-Cub is by the window.
Victor pushes the door open and enters the room.
He's tired, but he follows his usual routine—kicking off his shoes, placing his watch on the table, then loosening and removing his belt.
Alia is sitting on one side of the bed—silent, her eyes fixed on the window.
Victor says nothing. But his presence makes the room heavy.
He knows something isn't right.
VICTOR
(In a low voice, as if trying to understand)
"You haven't slept yet?"
ALIA
(Without looking away, in a light voice)
"Sleep doesn't always come."
Victor looks—Alia is deliberately turned away from him.
He slowly comes and sits beside the bed, a little closer to Alia—but not close enough.
VICTOR
(Direct, but in a suppressed tone)
"You know... I can tell when you avoid me."
ALIA
(Smiles a little, but the smile hides thorns)
"I'm not avoiding anything, Victor.
I'm just... thinking."
Victor clenches his jaw. He throws his belt aside. He sits in silence.
Alia gets up and stands in front of the mirror. She doesn't look back.
VICTOR
(A little more directly)
"Margaret... Zainkha... they came, didn't they?"
ALIA
(In a cold, sharp voice)
"Yes. They came.
Not with excuses like you... but to tell the truth."
A moment of silence.
Victor stands up—his eyes an odd mix of exhaustion and anger.
He slowly comes up behind Alia—places his hand on her shoulder.
ALIA
(Harshly)
"Your hand feels heavy on my shoulder now, Victor.
Where it used to give security, now it reminds me...
what risk feels like."
Victor removes his hand.
VICTOR
(Slowly, in a rough voice)
"Do you suspect me now?"
ALIA
(Turns to look, with fire in her eyes)
"No, Victor, I evaluate everyone now.
Including you."
Victor is silent. The cat gets up and sits beside him.
The Tiger-cub by the window lets out a light growl—an invisible tension spreads across the room.
ALIA
(Finally)
"You want me to sleep?
I will sleep.
But remember, I am no longer the Alia... who waited for a shoulder to lean on."
CAMERA –
Alia slowly moves to the bed, but doesn't look at Victor.
Victor remains standing, his belt on the table, his hands empty, but his mind even emptier.
Scene: "The One Who Didn't Hold Her Hand"
INT. ALIA'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Alia is standing by the bed. Victor is behind her.
For a moment—Victor slowly reaches out his hand...
An inch away, his fingers stop near Alia's wrist.
ALIA
(Eyes closed, holding her breath)
Victor stops.
He knows—if he touches her, he will become weak.
But he doesn't touch Alia today.
He lowers his eyes and leaves the room—on silent feet.
Scene Cut – "Shadow in the Mirror"
INT. PUBLIC WASHROOM – LUXURY RESTAURANT – NIGHT