A Royal Winter Page #3

Following

someone else's plans.

Like it was expected of me

to be a lawyer,

so I never really gave

anything else a try.

And then it dawned on me

at this interview

that here I am

desperate for a job

where I'll be spending

millions of hours

just a cog in a machine.

Maybe you should

trust your instincts.

Don't do it.

Not that simple.

I mean, it's a good career move,

I want the security,

I need the salary,

and to be fair,

my parents did give up a lot

for me to get to this point.

Yes, never underestimate

the power of parental guilt.

Yeah, but it is also me.

I've been on this path too long.

I'm too scared to get off.

I know the feeling.

I've had my life

pretty much dictated for me

since before I was born.

Hmm, let me guess.

They always wanted you

to be a doctor.

Uh, no.

We have a family business.

A very old family business.

Lots of rules and regulations.

Banking?

No, mostly real estate,

a bit of politics,

boring stuff.

My late father was really good

at running it.

Now my mother and everyone else

expects me to take over,

but sometimes it's the last

thing that I want to do.

No siblings?

You don't have a younger sister

you could pass the torch to?

Sadly, no.

When I was younger, I loved

being the only child. Now--

Now you're like, "Please!

I wish there was someone else

they could obsess over

for a while."

Yes!

[chuckling]

So come on, out with it.

Tell me your secret.

Excuse me?

I went for coffee with you.

The trick with the watch.

Oh!

[laughs]

Well, you want to know

the real secret?

Yes.

The secret is that

you don't really want to know.

Well, sir, that's very

presumptuous of you.

You don't want to know 'cause

it would ruin the mystery.

You enjoy the mystery

too much to ruin it.

I can see it in your eyes.

Can you?

Yes.

Uh, well, it's late.

Thank you for the coffee

and the mystery.

You're very welcome.

You free any other days

while you're here?

Uh, well, my friend Sarah

planned the trip.

I'm kind of just along

for the ride.

I'm not sure

what the schedule's like.

Why don't I just

check in with you tomorrow?

We can leave it to mystery.

Okay. I'd like that.

Good night.

I had a great time.

Me too.

[laughs]

I worry about you,

riding that machine at night.

Thank you, Mother,

but I'm fine.

And a bit old for a curfew.

When we were young,

your father loved to go dancing

on Friday nights.

Did he?

Yes.

But after his coronation,

he stopped.

Why?

Because he realized

it was unseemly

for a king to just be

one of the guys.

The people expect us

to be different, separate.

We're not just citizens.

We're symbols of state.

That is just sad.

Profoundly sad.

Good night, Mother.

[knocking]

Coming.

Room service.

I didn't order this.

You did not,

and yet here it is.

Oh, come in, please.

What's going on?

"If you're into more mystery,

eat a good breakfast

and let Henrik, your concierge,

know if you're available

for an outing at 10 this morning

or any time thereabouts.

He will get the message to me.

Adrian.

P.S. Dress warmly

and tell your friend Sarah

she's welcome to come along."

Do you know Adrian?

Since he was a boy.

And his family.

Wonderful people.

He said they were in business.

What do they do?

I am sorry, mademoiselle.

I have been

sworn to secrecy.

Come on, out with it.

I have also been threatened

with unemployment.

Do they own the hotel?

No.

I'll be back with tea.

Should we go?

You should go.

You're not coming?

Maggie, this is

breakfast for two,

but it's an invitation for one.

Yeah, but he wrote--

Uh-uh! Just the facts,

please, counselor.

One, and I quote,

you guys talked for hours.

Two, you said you felt like

you've know each other

- your whole lives.

- Okay, okay, I get it.

You don't want me along,

trust me.

Besides, I still owe you

a birthday gift from last year.

I'm gonna pick that out

this morning.

I'll meet you at

the art museum after lunch,

and you can act surprised.

I don't know.

I gotta think about it.

What is there to think about?

He sent bacon.

True.

MAGGIE:
It's not that I don't

wanna practice law anymore.

It's just that I want my work

to mean something.

Wow. It's beautiful out here.

Really beautiful.

So if you weren't a lawyer,

what would you do?

I don't know.

Probably teach.

I love working with kids.

Right, yes, the tutoring.

Hey, you know,

I work with kids, too.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah, I coach volleyball.

And the kids,

they're amazing.

You show them something new,

and their faces light up.

They realize they can

finally do something

they never thought possible.

Opening up the world

for someone, it's like...

Magic.

Yeah.

[phone chiming]

Sorry.

- Uh, it's work, um--

- Of course.

What is it?

FELIX:
Apologies,

Your Highness.

The Royal Trust Judiciary

meeting?

No, isn't that in...

Uh, no, I lost track of time.

The Judicial Secretary's here.

Your mother's insisting

you sign the transfer documents

as it's so close

to the coronation.

She's ready to tear the kingdom

apart looking for you

- and blaming me.

- Okay.

Tell them I'm on my way and

I'll be there as soon as I can.

Is everything all right?

Yeah, I forgot about a meeting.

Lost track of time.

Easy to do out here.

Yes, it is.

Well, we should get you

to your meeting then.

I mean,

I'd much rather not, but...

I get it.

The real world calls.

SARAH:
Lost track of time

is good.

And he's taking me on a ride

around the countryside tomorrow.

Nice!

Wow.

Excuse me?

ATTENDANT:
Yes, please.

Who are these people?

Well, like the plaque says,

that is the royal family

of Calpurnia.

That is our late King Albert,

may he rest in peace,

and that is his wife

Queen Beatrice.

She is our current monarch.

And that one?

That one is their son

Prince Adrian.

In just a few days, he will be

crowned as our next king.

Uh, Maggie?

Yeah.

You may wanna get over here.

That is the Prince of Calpurnia.

Yeah, so?

Wait, that...

That's Adrian.

There he is,

Prince Adrian of Calpurnia.

That's crazy.

- Uh-oh.

- What?

"Europe's most eligible

bachelor,

the Playboy Prince."

Oh, no.

[motor idling]

[motor turns off]

Hey, ready to go?

As you wish, Your Highness.

Cool, let's...

Your Highness?

You know?

Sarah and I went to the museum.

Portrait gallery.

- Yeah.

- Right.

Uh...

Hey, it's the prince!

Oh, my God!

[excited chatter]

Your Royal Highness,

a pleasure as always.

The pleasure is all mine.

I was wondering, is the atrium

closed for the winter season?

Yes, sir.

Please follow me around back.

- [woman squeals]

- [laughter]

ADRIAN:
I'm really sorry.

I should have told you.

MAGGIE:
Yes, you should have,

Your Worshipfulness.

Forms of royal address

obviously not covered

in American law schools.

I gotta say,

I feel a little foolish.

Maggie, we were

getting along so well.

I didn't want to

ruin anything with--

With the truth.

No, no, just...

You seemed to enjoy my company

for who I am,

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes