Anna and the King Page #4

we know for a fact that it must be right?

Do we rely on our eyes

or do we believe in the impossible?

You see, one way to achieve

the impossible is to change the climate.

Leave us.

The French say l am uncivilized ruler.

l, who have spent entire life

attempting to teach self

history, literature, and science.

Why would they print such things,

Your Majesty?

You are English.

You should not be so surprised.

Well, l can still be appalled.

More importantly,

do you, as a foreigner, see me in this light?

l do not know all that you are, Your Majesty.

But l believe l know what you're not.

And you are not what they say.

Thank you, mem... for humble validation.

l have decided to give self

anniversary dinner

and invite important

English nobles and diplomats.

l don't understand.

French lndochina grows stronger

and more aggressive.

But if l improve our foreign intercourse

with your queen's special envoy,

French will think three times

before trying to undermine Siam.

That's very clever, Your Majesty.

As ifto sound English bugles

in own defense.

You shall take charge of all formalities

as mem is obvious choice

to make certain guests feel at home.

But... the anniversary is when?

Three weeks from yesterday.

Three weeks?! That's impossible.

Mem...

The egg

is in the bottle.

Only half a glass.

We cannot have the servant bowing

every time somebody walks into the banquet.

l understand.

Just for one night.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Sorry for nervousness.

This is first time in Siam history

that king allow everyone

to stand up in his presence.

But only for tonight.

Your country and mine

have much in common, Your Majesty.

Rich cultures. Long histories.

And now, it seems, Mrs Leonowens.

Yes.

My children's horizons keep

expanding under her tutelage.

My husband and l have been

stationed all over the Orient.

But l must say... l've never

seen anything quite like this.

Extraordinary, isn't it?

Grand Palace born from

the mind of King Taksin.

First man to unify all Siam.

Our country owes its creation

to a man they declared insane.

Well, these rooftops are a little nutty.

He endeavored to build an empire,

but the nobility that ran Siam

for generations had grown tired of his wars

and replaced him with Mongkut's

grandfather, someone they could influence.

Taksin they put in a velvet sack,

beaten to death with a sandalwood club,

and buried somewhere in palace.

Oh, dear.

lt sounds as though you admire him, general.

l admire vision, Lady Bradley, in all its forms.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

l believe the sun set a little earlier today.

Mem.

You arrange all this

to influence positive future of Siam.

And now you steal attention away from it.

Well, that was not my intention,

Your Majesty.

Mrs Leonowens.

What a delightful surprise,

encountering such an enchanting

countryman. And so far from home.

Lord Bradley, this is indeed a great honor.

l'm half-crazy

All for the love ofyou

lt won't be a stylish marriage

l can't afford a carriage

But you'll look sweet upon the seat

Of a bicycle made for two

Gracious ladies, kind sirs,

on behalf of 68 brothers and sisters,

we thank you immeasurably

and bid you most gracious evening.

Your son bears a striking resemblance

to his father, Mrs Leonowens.

l had the good fortune

of serving with him a few years ago.

He was a courageous soldier, ma'am.

l thank you, Captain Blake.

Father, may l please kiss good night?

lf l may beg indulgence

for not wishing to break family tradition.

l will be there in your dreams

as you will be in mine.

- Good night.

- Good night.

You have

a remarkable family, King Mongkut.

A remarkably large one.

Hardly seems fair.

All these women for one man.

Makes me wish l was Siamese myself.

Mycroft Kincaid...

of East lndia Trading Company. Correct?

Guilty as charged, Your Majesty.

Mr Kincaid's company is merely one ofthe

ways we try to foster economic relations

with other countries, Your Majesty.

Also, l think, to arrive at forefront

of world in wealth and power.

Yes?

Still, progress through commerce is logic.

King find most practical

and excellent topic for discussion.

With all due respect, Your Majesty,

it is a little far-fetched to think

that commerce alone

will bring progress to your people.

Especially when they're awash

with superstition and fear.

Like your lovely concubines here

with their talismans,

worn, no doubt, to protect them

from us foreign devils.

A friend once said, Mr Kincaid,

English also have fantastical beliefs.

Or am l mistaking your country

for being land of Merlin and Camelot?

Point taken, Your Majesty.

However, there is no arguing

the superiority ofthe English.

And in the light ofthese dreadful massacres

up and down your border,

it's no wonder you're seeking our favor.

Superiority, Mr Kincaid? l do not recall

anyone being given the right to judge

whose culture or customs are superior.

Especially when those judging have

frequently done so at the point of gun.

Would you not agree, Your Majesty?

Quite.

Well... the evenings here

are certainly warmer than in London.

Hear, hear!

A night made to order for anniversary party.

Especially for a king who is

most charitable and forgiving.

To our host!

A true gentleman, generous in every way.

May history mark this occasion

as the first step

towards forging an alliance

between our two countries.

His Majesty!

His Majesty!

And in honor

of our most distinguished guests

a waltz, as is European custom

of dancing after dinner.

l must tell you, Your Majesty,

that l have not done this in some time

and, seeing as the evening

has gone so well,

we wouldn't want to end up

in a heap now, would we?

l am king. l shall lead.

l never danced with

an Englishwoman before, mem.

Nor l with a king.

l want you to make promise, mem, to always

tell king what you think, no matter what.

Like to man from East lndia Company.

l always have.

Mem.

You're humming.

Yes, l suppose l am.

As alarming as this may sound, Beebe,

l'm feeling rather at home here now.

What charming people, hm? You remember

when this marketplace used to terrify us?

Like it was yesterday.

l was afraid that dinner might unsettle you.

All those Englishmen in uniform.

Yes. l thought it would

make me miserably homesick.

Quite the opposite.

l rather enjoyed myself. Even the dancing.

Shall we get some ofthese?

And how did His Majesty fare

amongst all your countrymen?

He was charming. Absolutely charming.

l don't think l'll ever forget how he stood

there, holding his hand out as if l was...

One of his 26 wives?

Well, thank you, Beebe.

l hadn't thought of it in that way.

Well, perhaps you should.

We have been searching

for our Burmese killers

here, here, and here,

except no one

has seen them for weeks.

Which is all the more reason

to keep looking.

Yes, but not up here.

You once told me

Taksin marched on Burma

through Three Pagodas Pass.

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