Anna and the King of Siam Page #5

- Yes, of course.

You think my little boy learn?

Well, yes. He seems very bright.

Please, mem.

You do not mind

that it is hard for him...

hard to learn from woman.

He wants much to learn.

Please, you will help him

to learn all wisdom.

That is most important thing.

Yes, of course.

And I'm sure he'll do beautifully.

Well, after today,

I think I can manage a large cup of tea.

Louis!

Thank you, Lady Thiang,

for all your help.

Good-bye, sir.

Ready for tea? I'm sure I am.

Well, we might as well, I suppose.

Oh, dear.

What seems to be the trouble?

I think you'd better tell me.

Well, I can't make any sense of it.

He says nobody can touch his head

because it's sacred...

and his shoulders are, almost.

Anyone who struck me upon head

would have to be killed.

When I am king like my father...

no one may stand

so head is higher than mine.

So the only way

they know how to fight...

is to hold a long stick and beat

each other on the shins and legs with it.

You might just as well stand and kick each

other's shins, but he wouldn't even do that.

It is a matter that takes much skill.

I would've beaten him very badly.

I see.

But suppose you tell me why

it was necessary to fight in the first place.

Well, he said I wasn't a man because I told you

I was sorry about giving him the book...

and a man shouldn't tell a woman

he's sorry, not about anything.

Oh.

Tell me, Your Royal Highness...

if your father corrected you about

something, would you resent that?

He is man. He is very wise.

He knows everything.

Well, you see, in our country...

it's possible for me to be

almost like a father to Louis...

even though I am a woman.

And because we love

one another very much...

he knows I want

only what is right for him.

And he can accept authority from me

just the same as you can from your father.

I do not think I would like country

in which this was so.

But since it is so with us,

I see no great need to fight.

It would be much nicer

if you could be friends.

Well, he was not coward.

He would've tried sticks.

Well, all right, then.

That's better. We'll see you

in school tomorrow.

Memsahib! Memsahib!

It is the end. The end has come!

I knew it would come!

- Don't be foolish, Beebe. What is it?

- His messengers are here.

The king wishes to see you.

- What can he want at such a time?

- I don't know.

Help me find my things.

Your Majesty.

Mem, I think your Moses

shall have been a fool.

Moses?

Moses, Moses, Moses.

I think he shall have been a fool.

Here it stands, written by him:

'The world was created in six days.'

Now, you know, I know it took

many centuries to create world.

I think he shall have been a fool

to have written so.

What is your opinion?

Do you mean to say

that you sent for me...

at this hour of night

just to ask me that?

Yes. What is your opinion?

Couldn't you have waited

till morning?

Mem, you say you wish

to help with study, et cetera.

Do you wish help or do not?

I'm sorry, Your Majesty.

I do want to help if I can.

Then what is your opinion

of this thing as stated by Moses?

Mem, it is necessary

for me to read all European books...

to try to understand

knowledge of modern world...

and there have been

very many things written.

There have been mountains

of things written...

and knowledge is buried

underneath this mountain.

I ask you to consider this is

very much reading for one lifetime.

And how shall I do this understanding...

when different English books

say different things?

Your Majesty...

the Bible was not written

by men of science.

It was written by men of faith.

It was their explanation

of the miracle of creation...

which is just as great a miracle...

whether it took

six days or many centuries.

I think science

does not contradict the Bible.

It has only made us more aware

of how great the miracle was.

Well, I still think your Moses

shall have been a fool. You may go.

Moses. The idea.

3:
00 in the morning.

Someone ought to tell him a thing or two.

Lady Tuptim's slave?

I am not sorry about the monkey,

if that is why you make me stay.

It isn't the monkey, Lady Tuptim.

I want to ask your help for someone.

- It's your slave woman L'Ore. I've talked with her.

- By what right?

I can't believe you would deliberately

keep her in chains so long...

- and with a child too.

- She tried to run away.

She was only trying to go to her husband.

He wants to buy her freedom.

Isn't there a law in Siam that says a slave

must be freed if the money is offered?

What right has she to be happy

with someone she love...

while I am shut up here?

Let her stay where she is.

You can have your law.

I have the king.

Go and find this out for yourself.

- Mem cha.

- Oh, yes, Your Royal Highness.

What is it about this law?

Does it mean slaves of king too?

Of course.

A law is the same for everyone.

But I do not understand about law...

that makes it

more important than king.

- Tell me.

- I'm sorry. We'll talk about it some other time.

- Now I must go and see your father.

- Yes, mem cha.

- Mem?

- Oh, yes, Lady Thiang.

Is it not all right for him

to ask you things...

things outside of the books?

Of course. But some other day

when we have more time.

I'm sorry,

but I must go to the king now.

He's really doing very well

with his studies.

Your Majesty,

I've come to you because I felt...

I must bring something

to your attention.

- It concerns...

- Why must you stir up tempest

over Lady Tuptim's slave?

I have much unpleasantness

because of this.

Then Lady Tuptim

has already told you about it.

I do not have time to waste

discussing matters of such nature.

In future, do not trouble me with same.

They do not interest me. You may go.

But surely, Your Majesty,

you want to hear all the truth.

You've only heard

Lady Tuptim's story.

- Perhaps this slave isn't important.

- Why you stand over my head?

I don't understand.

Last night, when I invited you

to consider Moses...

you stood up over me.

You do so now.

I cannot stand up all the time.

In this country, no one's head

shall be higher than the king's.

It is sign of great disrespect. In future,

you shall conduct like all other subjects.

- You mean on the floor?

- All subjects do so.

I'm sorry. I shall try my best...

never to allow my head

to be as high as Your Majesty's...

but I simply cannot

grovel on the floor.

You are very stubborn, mem.

I do not understand

why you must be so.

Your Majesty,

I couldn't possibly work that way.

Surely when we're alone,

it isn't necessary...

No one shall say I am not a reasonable man.

I grant you such favor.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

But you shall observe care that head

shall not be higher than mine.

If I shall sit, you shall sit...

uh, et cetera,

et cetera, et cetera.

- I'll try, Your Majesty.

- Very well. You may go.

Not until I've said

what I came to say.

I think this slave has a right

to expect justice from you.

And I think it's wrong

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