Anna and the King Page #7

Deception's only purpose is to hide children

in monastery in village of Nong Khai.

Please, mem.

My king believes you are wise.

You are only one who can persuade him

to stay with children

until army returns to Bangkok

and palace is secure.

Please, mem.

Everything in order, gentlemen?

We have fireworks to announce the

sighting and musicians for the journey.

Let us hope Alak is convinced.

l have just been informed ofthe nature

of your expedition, Your Majesty.

And l would like to ask a few questions

about the dangers involved

as l've heard, at times,

wild elephants cannot be reasoned with.

l am surprised Kralahome

took time to arouse such curiosity

rather than make sure

mem not miss her boat.

We have already missed our boat

so that l might speak with you now.

King cannot miss his boat.

lf it will not be inconvenient,

we should like to go with you.

Jungle is no place for proper English teacher.

No, it is not, Your Majesty. Which is why

the presence of one in your cortege

might help ensure your display.

Something l feel,

for many reasons,

l would very much like to do.

When a woman who has much to say

says nothing,

her silence can be deafening.

l wish to thank you, mem, for your courage.

l thought l never wanted to see you again.

l had a vision ofyoung Tuptim and of Balat.

l think by touching us all

they have fulfilled their destiny

and attained eternal peace.

Through birth and rebirth, we Buddhists

hope to learn from our mistakes.

You told me once that l had never

accepted the loss of my husband.

- l had no right.

- No, no. That was true.

l now realize that

it is not enough to just survive.

That life is... precious.

Especially ifyou're Christian

and only allowed to have one.

Why did you come back?

Because l could not imagine

a Siam without you.

The Royal Steamer

has been abandoned near Lopburi.

The King travels East on foot,

away from Prachin Buri.

lf he lies about a white elephant,

what other scheme has he concealed?

Are the children with him?

Yes.

Where would he take them?

There is a monastery in Nong Khai...

Mongkut spent half his life there.

His sanctuary.

The Chakri Dynasty comes to us.

We must not keep them waiting.

We cannot outrun them, Your Majesty.

Do not let them see your fear, gentlemen.

What has happened?

You and the children must

go on to Nong Khai without me.

l will meet you there.

l can see it in your eyes.

Something awful has happened.

Was not to be this way, mem.

Alak's army has found us.

lf he crosses the bridge,

everything l love will die.

- But they're only children.

- Yes.

And each one heir to throne.

Now... you must hurry.

- What will you do?

- Blow up the bridge.

But will that stop him?

lt will - if he's on it.

Your Majesty, promise me...

Promise me that l will see you again.

lf your Bible is correct,

whole world created in seven days.

Therefore

possible handful of men can stop an army.

But, Father, never has such

an expedition excluded royal children.

My son, there are many things you will

come to understand when you are older.

Why can't l stay with you?

Because l need you

to lead our family to the monastery!

There is no white elephant, is there?

Come. Come.

No matter what happens...

the moment you're ready

blow this bridge.

Throw down your weapons

or you and your men will be slaughtered

without mercy.

l hardly think women and children

with parasols are up to the task.

l think you will find l have more on

my side than just women and children.

lt's a trap, General.

Mother, come look!

The king is waiting on the bridge.

- What?

- There's hundreds of men on the other side.

Wait! Stop the carriage.

He's crazy.

He's bluffing.

...Defiant to the last.

As the sun sets,

so does the Chakri Dynasty.

He's brought the British!?

There is nobody! lt's a trick!

lt's the British!

Retreat!

There is no one!

lt's a trick!

There is nobody! lt's a trick!

lt's a trick.

Let me kill him.

No.

l want him to live with his humiliation.

You!

Why did you not go to monastery

like king order?

Because l lost one man to the jungle,

Your Majesty.

l was not about to let that happen again.

Mem Anna not fully to blame, Father.

After all, you did put me in charge.

To sound English bugles in own defense.

Yes.

When king say handful of men

could save all Siam,

he was most unusually

incorrect.

And it be then that all ears hear

what all eyes suddenly see.

Great white beast in infinite splendor!

Where's the beast?

Great white beast!

And as people rejoice

with overwhelming joy,

most excellent conclusion to expedition

echoed in every corner of Siam.

The end!

Perfect! You were wonderful!

Very, very good.

Mem, this is play to commemorate

monumental occasion

and we make fools of selves

because of insufficient practice.

l understand truly, Your Highness.

But the celebration was tonight!

We were duty-bound, were we not?

- Were we not?

- Yes!

l want you all to imagine next year,

when you've had time to perfect things.

Then your father will be even more

proud ofyou than he already is.

And you, mem?

Will you be?

l will always be proud ofyou, my children.

l... ordered this some time ago

for the children, you know.

lt's a fine example of scientific thinking,

as music is mathematical in nature.

Chords constructed from notes

in intervals ofthirds,

and so on, and so on.

Precisely.

l would like to know... why,

if science can unravel

something as beautiful as music,

why it cannot posit a solution

for a schoolteacher and a king.

The manner in which

people might understand

such new possibilities is

also process of evolution.

Everything in Siam has its own time.

Even if king is also wanting it to be different.

l still must go, Your Majesty.

So,

where is it you will be going?

England.

Home.

This is good, mem.

Very good for Louis as well.

What?

Am wondering if,

given circumstances,

it is appropriate

for king to ask

Anna

to dance.

l have danced with a king before,

Your Majesty.

And l

an Englishwoman.

Until now,

Madam Leonowens,

l did not understand supposition

man could be satisfied

with only one woman.

l was onlya boy,

but the image ofmyfatherholding

the woman he lovedfor the last time

has remained with me throughout the years.

lt is always surprising howsmalla part oflife

is taken up bymeaningfulmoments.

Most often theyare overbefore theystart,

although they casta light on the future

and make the person

who originated them unforgettable.

Anna hadshinedsuch a light on Siam.

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