A Rumor in St. Petersburg

[Towns People]
The Neva Flows, a new wind blows
And soon it will be spring

[Gleb]
We hear you, comrades! The revolution hears you! Together, we will forge a new Russia that will be the envy of all the world! The Tsar's St. Petersburg is now the people's Leningrad!

[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 & Towns People]
Hail our brave new land

[Towns People]
St. Petersburg is booming
A city on the rise

[Woman]
It's really very friendly

[Woman 2]
If you don't mind spies!

[Man]
We stand behind our leaders

[Man 2]
And stand in line for bread

[Towns People]
We're good and loyal comrades, and our favorite color's red!

[Dmitry]
Now everyone is equal
Professors push the brooms

[Dmitry & Ensemble]
Two-dozen total strangers live in two small rooms
You hold a revolution, and here's the price you pay
Thank goodness for the gossip

[Men]
Спасибо за слухи! (Spasibo za slukhi!)

[Towns People]
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]
Although the Tsar did not survive
One daughter may be still alive

[Towns People]
The Princess Anastasia

[Man]
But please do not repeat!

[Towns People]
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]
They say her royal grandmama will pay a royal sum

[Towns People]
To someone who can bring the Princess back

[Vlad]
Dmitry! They've closed another border. We should've 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 grandmama would pay

[Dmitry & Vlad]
Who else could pull it off but you and me?

[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

[Gleb]
I'm here every day!

[MAN]
A ruble for this painting
It's Romanov, I swear!

[MAN 2]
Count Yusupov's pajamas, comrade
Buy the pair!

[MAN 3]
I found this in a 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. How much is that music box?

[Salesman]
Ah, the music box! It's genuine Romanov, I could never part with it!

[Dmitry]
Two cans of beans, comrade?

[Salesman]
Done

[Dmitry]
Do you believe in fairytales, 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 than usual
We'll need papers, we'll need tickets, we'll need nerves of steel

[Vlad]
Yes, it's risky, a lot more than 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

[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!

[Towns People]
I heard it from a person who
Assured me it was absolutely true

Shh!
Have you heard?
There's a rumor in St. Petersburg
Have your heard?
Comrade, what do you suppose?

[Vlad]
A fascinating mystery

[Dmitry]
The biggest con in history!

[Dmitry, Vlad & Towns People]
The princess Anastasia
Alive or dead
Who knows?
Shh!