Inspired by a true story, Tsar Nicholas’ scribe and his family flee for their lives and face insurmountable obstacles to survive, only to encounter even more hardships in America.

SYNOPSIS:

Preface: This historical feature is based on the true story of the screenwriter’s ancestors:

Vladimir is summonsed by Tsar Nicholas II. He is fearful he is about to be accused of something and is surprised when the Tsar hires him to be his scribe. Vladimir's wife, Svetlana, and daughter Elizabeth live in all the palaces with the Romanovs.

Elizabeth grows up with the Romanov children. She is well-educated and becomes very refined.

When the Bolshevik Revolution occurs, they flee because the Bolsheviks wanted to kill anyone associated with the Tsar as well. Vladimir, his wife, and daughter hide in the forest until they are discovered by the Bolsheviks. Svetlana is shot. Vladimir and Elizabeth jump into a river. Bullets zip by them underwater. A bullet misses Elizabeth by JUST ONE INCH. On the other bank of the river, Vladimir decides to sacrifice himself to save Elizabeth. There is a tear-jerking scene where he says goodbye to her, floats away, and is shot.

Elizabeth must now survive alone in the forest to find her uncle Moyshe's farm in the Pale. She faces immeasurable odds to survive and succeeds.

She lives on her uncle and aunt's farm like a peasant woman until the Bolsheviks are on their way again. Moyshe helps her get a ticket to America.

En route aboard the ship, Elizabeth falls in love with Nathan who is smitten with her and proposes as the ship sails past the Statue of Liberty. They marry, have two sons and a daughter Ruth. Nathan has a clothing store which goes bankrupt thanks to the Depression. The loss of income and the death of his two sons causes him to drink to death.

Elizabeth must now survive alone again. She decides to cook to survive. She and her daughter sell soup during the Depression.

Ruth grows up and meets a meat cutter named Max. They fall in love, but World War II intervenes. Max almost dies.

After the war, Max and Ruth marry. They move with Elizabeth to California where granddaughter Rachel is born. Years later while living in Malibu, a severe flood knocks down their home. Max and Ruth are killed. Elizabeth and Rachel survive. At the cemetery, Elizabeth's heart can't take the loss of her daughter, and dies of a heart attack.

Rachel pays homage to this great woman who taught her to “never give up because hope gives you strength”.