Anna and the King Page #5

Could they not invade the same way?

To march an army through there

would take months.

Yes, and how long have we

been searching up North?

Assemble a regiment at once.

l have a surprise for you.

How...

How did you...

l'm not quite sure, actually.

Thank you, mem.

My family... is very important to me.

l shall leave you to enjoy every word then.

Your Majesty?

- You sent for me?

- Ah, yes.

But here...

Look.

Something tells me

my little monkey did not go to bed

- night of anniversary.

- Yes, l know.

l've been presented with drawings

of couples dancing ever since.

Come.

Sit, please.

Perhaps you should simply say

what it is you're trying so hard not to.

l share this with you, mem,

because l believe you to be trustworthy.

Events are happening which

l now believe to be of Burmese origin,

and l fear that military action is unavoidable.

But Burma is British.

Yes.

Then it is not the French that

you were worried about, was it?

l see.

On table, mem, is small gift of appreciation

for your many efforts at anniversary party.

Mem's hand

has been lonely without such.

lt is... most kind, Your Majesty.

lt's very beautiful.

Though l am terribly grateful...

lt is custom to bestow favors

for those who... who please king.

And mem has done so.

l'm sorry. l cannot accept such generosity.

l hardly think ten days' rain

warrants the call to battle, Louis.

May l suggest a retreat?

Mother, l think l should have

a topknot like the other boys.

l think you've gone a bit daft, darling.

With all this rain, it's no wonder.

l don't see why l have to miss school.

Because your classroom's under water,

and l cannot have you ill.

My mostprecious Tuptim.

l knowyou will understand

why lmust write this to you.

When you were torn from myheart,

l was left with nothing butmyfaith.

Which is why, iflam to live,

l must devote mylife to Buddha.

For onlyhe can give me peace.

l willneverforgetyou.

Fa-Ying was found

in the garden, riddled with fever.

Difficult even fora grown man

to survive such.

Cholera always in world

but still hardly at all in Bangkok.

- ls there nothing you can do?

- They have already begun. Listen.

Phra Arahan. Reminding soul

to go to heaven and not lose way.

lt is why mem must not be heard weeping,

as her soul will attach to sadness

and remain to comfort living.

His Majesty is grateful.

The little one has made

frequent mention of sir's name.

lnside!

l take all meals inside!

Your Majesty?

Being as the rain has stopped, the children

hoped you mightjoin them for a picnic.

Mem.

l will always remember

your feelings for my daughter.

And you shall never forget

you are not here to teach king.

The children miss you terribly, Your Majesty.

You cannot shut the world out for ever.

Believe me, l've tried.

When my Tom died, l thought

that my heart would never mend.

But then there was Louis.

He was my salvation, you see.

And yet you still refuse to live.

l beg your pardon?

A mother,

a teacher,

a widow.

But you're neverjust... woman.

That is not fair.

ln spite of all you say,

mem is not accepting passing of husband.

lt is why you so protect son,

and why you devote all time

to books and issues,

and why you cannot accept gift!

Why are you doing this?

Because you lie even to yourself.

So do not lecture me about living.

You are not qualified.

These hours are meant for sleep.

You startled me.

l thought it wise to do so.

May l ask what His Majesty is doing awake

at such an ungodly hour?

Gazing at the moon.

Yes, she's beautiful.

As the sun rises, she will surrender the night.

But she is always with him,

even when he cannot see her.

That must be a great comfort to him.

Yes.

This come from Bangkok.

You may find it of some interest.

- lt's from...

- Yes.

Please to read.

As monkey has stolen king's spectacles.

''Your Majesty, the United States

sincerely appreciates your generous offer

to help end this tragic conflict.''

''Unfortunately our country does not reach

a latitude which favors the elephant.''

''We are, however, highly grateful

for this indication offriendship.''

''Your good friend, Abraham Lincoln.''

l admire this man for what

he is trying to do for his people.

They say at the Battle ofAntietam,

And each one ofthose soldiers

has a father who grieves.

l'm father to all of Siam.

Mem is not wrong about moving on.

Neither were you, Your Majesty.

When we return, it is time for teacher

to teach Chulalongkorn and others

any subject she wish,

as long as king know first,

so can be prepared for consequences.

l will do my best, Your Majesty.

And l was always believing

Englishwomen slept in hats!

l have been wondering, mem.

When it's my son's time to become king,

will he be a good one?

Well, he is still a boy, Your Majesty.

But a keenly intelligent one,

with a warm heart and sympathetic soul.

Qualities, l believe, of a great king.

l want to thank you

for bringing me here - to Siam.

l cannot imagine anywhere l would rather be.

Were you happy in Bombay?

l was never unhappy.

But... l find myselftraveling

from place to place,

wondering where it is that l belong exactly.

And l find myself here.

Your path is as it should be.

My mind has taken me

down many roads of late.

All ofwhich lead absolutely nowhere.

What would Buddha say ofthat?

That roads are forjourneys, mem.

Not destinations.

Don't your wives ever getjealous?

l do not understand significance of question.

- Forgive me. l was prying.

- No. Please, continue.

Well, most ofthe world believes that

a man and a woman

should share a relationship

which is sacred only unto themselves.

Each one of my wives

believes same about king.

Not everyone can marry you, Your Majesty.

Good thing.

King need his rest sometime.

Burmese camp, General,

just over that ridge.

Let us hope they are better cook

than they are soldiers.

We will camp here tonight.

Your country owes you a debt of gratitude.

Your instincts were excellent,

Your Highness.

They ran offtoo quickly.

To His Majesty and the greatness of Siam.

You will not drink to your own brother?

You said my instincts were good.

And what are they telling you?

That you are not drinking either.

My soldiers needed palace uniforms.

You poisoned your own regiment!?

Yes. ln war, innocent people die.

But only a war will cleanse this nation

of its Western parasites.

Take comfort, Chowfa,

your brother and his children

will soon be joining you.

All the bodies were stripped

and left to the sun.

l fear Prince Chowfa and Alak

were cremated with the others.

May their souls rest in peace.

You couldn't have prevented

your brother's death, Your Majesty.

Send my armies north.

lf Burma wants this war, they shall have it.

Lord Bradley?

Lady Bradley, Mr Kincaid.

lf l might have a moment ofyour time.

l'm afraid a moment is all we have.

We are leaving on the next boat,

and so should you.

- My life is here, Lady Bradley.

- Nasty business.

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