Queen Christina Page #3

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This way, Your Lordship.

Right up to the head of the stairs.

The best room in the house, it is, too,

My Lord.

Right here, My Lord.

I hope this place serves your purpose,

My Lord.

Looks adequate but Ionesome.

That is soon remedied...

a fine young man like Your Lordship.

It is a cold night to be alone,

that's certain.

I can find Your Lordship some good

company if you are in the mood.

- A thorough host, aren't you?

- Thank you, My Lord.

Fascinating profession, to run an inn.

- You sit still and the world comes to you.

- Yes, My Lord.

Will you sup here?

I'll have a fire for you presently.

- I will sup below.

- Yes, My Lord.

We must have your best room.

My Lord is a great noble.

In fact, you may never again

have a guest of his quality.

- You will be well-paid.

- You shall have 15 thalers.

- What does the gentleman want?

- Accommodation for the night.

Why, only now,

this gentleman has taken our last room.

The best one.

Sir, I owe you an apology.

I crave your forgiveness for my mistake.

There is no need, sir.

I took pleasure in earning that thaler.

I keep it for good luck.

I am really mortified.

Of course, sir.

It was the fault of my old coat.

I hope that you will permit me

a less superficial acquaintance with you.

Will you favor me with your company

at supper?

Gladly.

- Lf I may be your host.

- No.

It must be my privilege to entertain you.

Besides, you come from a country

that is close to my heart.

- You know Spain?

- Somewhat.

I shall like news of your countrymen.

- My countrymen?

- Yes, I shall like news of Velzquez.

Has he painted any new works recently?

What of Caldern?

He writes plays so quickly,

there must be new ones.

When were you last in Spain?

I have never been there,

only in my thoughts.

How wonderful.

You are a find indeed.

Landlord, come here.

This gentleman will sup with me.

Do your best,

and bring something to drink at once.

Yes, right away, My Lord.

You don't know what this means to me.

Have you ever traveled?

Have you ever been far from home?

Have you ever been homesick?

I have never been out of Sweden.

Then you don't know

what it is to be homesick.

You don't know what it means

to feel that sense of loss.

The pain of nostalgia.

One can feel nostalgia for places

one has never seen.

Yes, that's quite true.

Young man, that is the second time

I have underestimated you.

My Lords.

The foreigner,

he promised 15 thalers for a bed.

When did I ever let slip 15 thalers?

To the kitchen!

Imagine, in this icecap,

finding someone who knows Spain.

You understand I admire your country.

It's rugged and strong and impressive.

It has all the virile qualities.

And from all your northern fastness here,

the Viking spirit has dominated Europe.

But what do the Vikings talk about

in the evenings...

when they come home

from war and hunting?

Do they know the arts of living?

- You find us uncouth?

- Look at these people.

This is my lager.

I'll say this for them,

they know how to enjoy themselves.

At home, our people are less hearty,

but more graceful.

It's all a question of climate.

You can't serenade a woman

in a snowstorm.

All the graces in the arts of love...

the elaborate approaches that

would make the game of love amusing...

can only be practiced in those countries

that quiver in the heat of the sun...

in the still, languorous nights,

where every breeze caresses with amour...

Iove, as we understand it, is a technique

that must be developed in hot countries.

- Sounds glamorous and yet...

- What?

Somewhat mechanical.

Evidently you Spaniards make

too much fuss about...

a simple, elemental thing like love.

We Swedes are more direct.

But that's civilization.

Disguise the elemental

with the glamorous.

A great love has to be nourished,

has to be...

Great love?

Don't you believe in its possibility?

In its possibility, yes,

but not in its existence.

A great love, perfect love, is an illusion.

It is the golden fable

of which we all dream.

But in ordinary life, it does not happen.

In ordinary life,

one must be content with less.

So young and yet so disillusioned.

Young man, you are cynical.

Not at all. Merely realistic.

Here you are, My Lords.

- Six!

- Nine!

- It's the truth.

- I say you are a liar.

I am in the Queen's army,

I know what I am talking about.

- Six!

- Nine!

Yonder are two gentlemen,

we will ask them.

A tankard of ale that I am right, agreed?

Agreed!

- Six!

- Six is right.

Nine!

Sir, do you know the court in Stockholm?

Yes, I have been there.

Then you can settle our wager for us.

This drunken pig, who is my friend...

maintains that the Queen, God bless her...

has had six lovers this last year.

I claim that's a disloyal,

libelous statement.

And what do you say?

I say there were nine. Six, indeed!

- Why, this is a very loyal fellow.

- Wait a minute.

I'd like to know first

what the gentleman's opinion is worth.

Do you know anything about the matter?

Yes, I know something, but...

I am not at liberty to speak.

Not at liberty? I give you liberty!

- Let's have the truth!

- Yeah, the truth!

That it is six.

If you know anything, you know it's nine.

Gentlemen, this is unfair.

You can't bully him.

- You're a liar.

- Who's a liar?

Stop fighting.

I'll tell you the truth.

Gentlemen, I have the painful duty

of telling you that you are both wrong...

the sixes and the nines.

The truth is that the Queen

has had 12 lovers this past year...

a round dozen.

Long live the Queen!

Any lie will find believers

as long as you tell it with force enough.

That was a gallant fight.

Tell me, is there any truth

to all these rumors?

In Spain, we hear

that the Queen is a bluestocking...

who cares more for learning than for love.

What do they say of her in Rome,

I wonder?

In Constantinople, in Algeria?

Probably the farther from home,

the nearer the truth.

I think you gentlemen are

in good sympathy.

If I am not too bold,

I could suggest a way by which...

this gentleman may be accommodated.

It would be very welcome.

Your room, sir, is the best in the house.

If Your Lordship would agree to share it...

I am loath to force myself upon you, sir,

but I'll tell you of Toledo...

and Cdiz, and the bullfights at Madrid,

the dancing of Seville...

The bed, as you know, is large.

You might both lie on it

and never know that you were not alone.

I feel that we have much

to say to each other.

We've but broached the talk of men

and countries, of love and manners.

It is true that I find talking to you

very pleasant...

What do you say, sir?

I'm prepared to talk, I'm prepared

to be quiet, whichever you prefer.

My sleeping manners are

beyond reproach.

You would be doing a great service.

It's more I ask for than a bed

for the night, it's a chance to talk of home.

I will give up my room for you, gladly.

Give up? I wouldn't hear of it.

The truth is...

please forgive me, sir,

but since I was a little child...

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