Adventures of Don Juan Page #4

Always people wanting something.

They're not important to you

but they've been promised.

But I'll have to go through

all that discomfort.

And I've had a very difficult morning.

Oh, you haven't commented

on my portrait.

- Most regal, sire. Truly a king.

- Everyone seems to think so.

I'll have Pacheco make a copy for you.

A smaller one to put in your apartment.

I will cherish it. Perhaps it may reveal

some of the secrets you keep from me.

- We have no secrets, have we, Lorca?

- Our policy is an open book, Your Majesty.

Written by Your Grace

and dedicated to war.

Your Majesty mistakes my motives.

You've come but recently

from your father's court in Austria...

...and cannot therefore understand

as we do the problems of Spain.

I was under the impression that the desire

to make people happy knew no boundaries.

There, there, my dear.

You mustn't worry about such matters.

Besides, the audiences are waiting.

If you will proceed,

we will join you as soon as we can.

As you say, sire.

Odd, isn't it, Lorca...

...that Her Majesty always makes me feel

as though I was Sebastian's size?

Now, I don't feel that way with you.

Seor, I'm ordered to present myself

before Their Majesties.

Don Juan de Maraa.

Escort this gentleman to the antechamber

of the throne room...

...and submit this letter to Her Majesty.

Don Juan de Maraa?

This way, please.

Don Juan de Maraa.

Your Majesty.

You may rise, seor.

No man has ever approached this throne

with such advance notice.

We have received letters concerning you

from our ambassadors all over Europe.

It is with slight regard...

...and very little favor that your queen

receives you on your return to Spain.

You come back to us notorious,

of ill repute...

...disgraced in your own country

and abroad.

You are no credit to this crown

or to our flag.

Have you nothing to say?

There seems to be very little left to say,

Your Majesty.

You are quite right.

Do you realize that you destroyed our plans

for an important marriage of state?

That marriage, Your Majesty,

was doomed from the beginning.

Those two didn't even know each other,

let alone love each other.

Business arrangements

can be made that way, but love...

Your views on love

are quite well-known, seor.

We are not interested.

However, the Count de Polan seems to have

faith in your promises of reformation.

He must have reasons for pleading

so poor a cause.

Perhaps you can enlighten us?

I thought myself the count was inclined

to be overoptimistic, Your Majesty.

Being an old family friend...

...he seems to find qualities in me

that may not exist.

However,

I'd sincerely like to justify his faith.

Perhaps even gain yours.

Our faith is gained by deeds not by words.

His Majesty, the king.

Well, well. And whom have we here?

This is Don Juan de Maraa,

Your Majesty.

Don Juan, huh? Bad boy.

So this is the great Don Juan.

Not knowing who you are, seor,

I'm unable to return the compliment.

Oh, this is our minister,

the Duke de Lorca.

- Yes. I've heard much of Your Grace.

- And I of you.

Tell me, do you hire men to spread

the tales of your romantic conquests?

No, Your Excellency, that's a service...

...that's always been done for me

free of charge.

You have a ready tongue. It's a pity

it's been used in such idle pursuits.

A matter of opinion, Your Grace.

Some men prefer the conquest of beauty

to the conquest of a throne.

You may proceed, Margaret.

Our ambassadors asked us to find service

for Don Juan at our court.

If it pleases, Your Majesty.

Yes. Yes, why not?

For what work are you qualified?

Work, Your Majesty?

That's a problem that's often troubled me.

Let's see.

I have a small knowledge of history...

...and a little skill with the sword.

Perhaps I may even lead a press gang...

...such as I interrupted yesterday

on its royal errand.

You will explain your statement.

When I arrived in Madrid...

...my first encounter was with a detachment

of the Duke de Lorca's men.

They were abducting by force...

...Your Majesty's subjects

for service in the Royal Navy.

Well, there must be some mistake.

Do you know anything about this, Lorca?

The whole matter is easily explained,

Your Majesty.

This Don Juan returns to Spain

in disgrace...

...to hear the crown's sentence

for his conduct abroad.

What could be easier than to distract

with a story of press gangs?

Yes. Yes, that must be it.

I assure Your Majesty the affair took place

as I described it.

I will tell you what took place.

Some affair was reported to me.

A brawl with a drunken sergeant

for the affection of an innkeeper's daughter.

The sergeant is reflecting

on a diet of bread and water.

Your Majesty should consider the merits

of the sentence for the other party involved.

And now, have I Your Majesty's

permission to withdraw?

There are more important matters

to consider...

...than the settlement

of a drunken brawl.

I must go too.

Pacheco's waiting.

He has to fill in my head.

Your Majesty, much has been said of me.

A great deal of it true.

Even my enemies know

I'd not invent any such lie...

...merely to evade the consequences

of my actions.

I shall investigate this affair.

In the meantime, there's a question

of suitable service for you.

- I'm yours to command, Your Majesty.

- Very well.

You will become fencing instructor

at the Royal Academy.

And confine your instruction

to this alone.

You will report to the master-at-arms,

Don Serafino Lopez.

That is our command.

It will be obeyed, Your Majesty.

And may I add my own humble thanks

for your generosity.

You may go now, seor.

- Your Grace.

- Come in, Rodrigo. Come in.

The Count de Polan crossed the frontier

into Spain this morning.

He drives on to Madrid.

- Alone?

- He has attendants. A handful.

Hardly a sufficient escort

for such a notable visitor.

A larger party has been dispatched

under Capitn Alvarez.

Splendid. We must see that

the Count de Polan receives every courtesy.

- Capitn Alvarez has his orders, Your Grace.

- Good.

Remember, every courtesy.

Yes, Your Grace.

Capitn Alvarez.

On to the fortress!

You must forgive my haste

in bringing you back, my dear count.

But it was most urgent.

The urgency of your personal ambition.

You put it bluntly

but with a certain degree of accuracy.

Fortunately, my ambition coincides

with that of Spain...

...for a Spanish empire.

To be built out of the suffering

of our people and to be ruled by you.

The building of an empire

entails certain sacrifices.

As for me, I have no desire

to sit upon a throne.

- I much prefer to stand behind it.

- With a dagger in your hand.

No, I dislike violence.

I find persuasion far more effective.

And now, if I can persuade you

to answer one question...?

You may ask it.

A purely material consideration.

A matter of several millions

paid into your hand.

If you tell me

where you've concealed this money...

It will be turned over to Spain

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