A copying error by a military scribe turns the Russian words "the lieutenants, however" into what looks like "lieutenant Kijé". The Tsar reads the error, and wants to meet this (non-existent) lieutenant. The courtiers, eager to avoid the wrath of the temperamental Tsar, create a Kijé to serve as their royal scapegoat.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Mikhail YanshinTsar Pavel I | Tsar Pavel I |
 Boris Gorin-GoryainovCount von Pahlen | Count von Pahlen |
 Nina ShaternikovaPrincess Gagarina | Princess Gagarina |
 Sofiya MagarillPrincess Gagarina's companion | Princess Gagarina's companion |
 Erast GarinAdjutant | Adjutant |
 Mikhail RostovtsevFortress commandant | Fortress commandant |
 Leonid KmitScribe | Scribe |
 Andrei KostrichkinLieutenant Sinyukhaev | Lieutenant Sinyukhaev |
| KKonstantin GibshmanChief physician | Chief physician |
 Vladimir LepkoCount Kutaysov (uncredited) | Count Kutaysov (uncredited) |
 Fedor FedorovskiGrenadier (uncredited) | Grenadier (uncredited) |