Queen Christina Page #4

---

I've always disliked sharing my room

with anyone.

You take the room and I'll go elsewhere.

I wouldn't hear of it,

there isn't another free bed in the inn.

Well, I'll sit before the fire.

Am I so unpresentable?

Do my manners disgust you?

Does my speech bore you?

If you find me so unbearable, forgive me

for having imposed myself on you.

- Good night, sir.

- Please, sir.

Say no more about it,

I shall sit before the fire all night.

No, you couldn't, I wouldn't...

- You shall share my room with me.

- Thank you very much, I'll be delighted.

If you are ever in Spain,

I'll return the hospitality.

Would Your Lordships like to retire now?

I think so, we are both tired.

Good night, Aage.

Pushing through these snowdrifts

is not like...

strolling under the orange trees at home.

It takes muscle.

I wish you both good night, My Lords.

I know you will be comfortable,

I've always had good reports on this room.

The room is well-behaved, is it?

I mean, My Lord,

I've never had any complaints.

Shall I help you off with your boots, sir?

No, thank you.

- What's your name?

- Elsa.

You're very pretty, Elsa.

Are you also good?

When I do not like a man, yes.

That's true virtue.

The basis of all morality in a sentence.

- Can I get you anything, sir?

- No, thank you.

The master says you are to have

everything you need.

If you need anything,

my room is at the end of the passage.

She prefers you.

You have the better chance.

I give her up gladly, if you are interested.

No, I am not.

Don't you think, since we are

going to share the same bed...

we should be introduced?

I am Don Antonio Jos Miguel de Prado,

Count Pimentel...

Knight of the Holy Roman Empire,

Envoy Extraordinary...

from His Majesty Philip, King of Spain,

Aragon and Castile.

I am Count Dohna.

You must visit Spain.

I hope to.

You shall stay with me.

As a matter of fact, you may find

our way of life very artificial.

We make a fine art of leisure.

Although we are ambitious as you are

to dominate Europe...

we are not so intense about it.

We like to...

We mix our ambitions with other things.

Which side do you sleep on,

your right or your left?

I don't know, I never thought of it.

They say that a man should always sleep

on his left side.

Keep his sword arm free.

It's hereditary. It's instinct.

Aren't you going to undress?

Yes.

Of course, it had to be.

I felt it.

A presence.

Life is so gloriously improbable.

My Lord?

- What is it?

- It is still snowing, My Lord.

Good.

They say we may not be able to move

for three days.

At what hour will Your Lordship get up?

I shall not get up.

Very good, My Lord.

Will you take chocolate?

Yes, at once.

Will the other gentleman take chocolate?

Yes.

Very good, My Lord, two chocolates.

They warmed and ripened

in the Spanish sun.

My hacienda is overrun with them.

In the season of the grape harvest...

the air smells purple.

Purple grapes.

What are you doing?

I've been memorizing this room.

In the future...

in my memory...

I shall live a great deal in this room.

You wait.

I'll show you the whole living world.

I have imagined happiness...

but happiness you cannot imagine...

happiness you must feel...

joy you must feel.

And this great joy I feel now...

- Antonio?

- What?

This is how the Lord must have felt...

when he first beheld a finished world...

with all his creatures breathing, living.

And to think...

a few snowdrifts

might have separated us forever.

We might have been born

in different centuries.

No, I never would have permitted that.

We're inevitable. Don't you feel it?

I feel it.

But you, how can you be so sure?

You know me so little.

That's true. There's a mystery in you.

Is there not in every human being?

Yes.

Tell me, you said you would...

why did you come to this inn

dressed as a man?

In my home, I'm very constrained.

Everything is arranged very formally.

A conventional household.

Very.

I like to get away from it sometimes...

to be free.

I can understand that.

You're going to court.

What if the Queen keeps you there?

Let her try.

If half of the Queen's reputation

is well-founded...

After you, she'll be tiresome!

To have found anyone in this wilderness

would have been miracle enough.

But to have found you...

this is too improbable.

I don't believe in you.

You're an illusion.

You'll vanish before my eyes.

Goodbye.

I shall live for our meeting.

I, too.

If you could travel

with me to Stockholm...

Is it impossible?

Yes, I must go alone.

I loathe this separation.

As soon as I am quit of this court

business, it won't be long.

We meet again,

and then we do not separate.

You promise

we'll meet again in Stockholm?

I promise.

What if I never see you again?

What if I curse myself

for having let you go?

I promise you that we shall meet again.

- Goodbye.

- Bye.

Ebba.

Your Majesty sent for me.

How are you, Ebba? You look so pale.

Your Majesty, since I lost your favor,

I have not slept.

I was hurt by you, Ebba,

and I lost my temper. Forgive me.

You shall marry Count Jacob.

You make me so happy, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty looks wonderful tonight.

The Spanish envoy will be dazzled.

The last one was a shriveled old man.

I hear this one's young and handsome.

Where did you hear that?

My maid met the Ambassador's valet.

And she said that he said

that the Spanish envoy...

The Lord Treasurer attends Your Majesty.

Is all in waiting?

We have time enough.

I wouldn't like to keep the court waiting.

You kept them waiting for five days.

Where have you been?

The whole court has been in an uproar.

- Did you go to Sala?

- Perhaps.

You did not go there,

we sent messengers.

- Then I am glad I did not go.

- Why did you leave?

- To get away.

- From me?

From all of you.

Why did you refuse

to see me this afternoon?

Why? So many questions.

There would be fewer questions

if there were more answers.

What's happened to you?

You've never looked so lovely

as you do now.

His Excellency, Don Antonio de Prado,

Count Pimentel...

Knight of the Holy Roman Empire...

Envoy Extraordinary from His

Most Gracious Majesty, Philip IV...

King of Spain, Aragon and Castile.

Welcome, Your Excellency.

Your Majesty, I have come on a special...

Your Excellency will convey

to the King of Spain...

our high appreciation

of the honor he does us...

in sending to our court

a person of your quality.

Your Excellency has the King's letter?

Your Majesty...

I have come on a special mission

from His Majesty of Spain...

on a matter of great public importance.

Will Your Majesty hear it now?

We will hear it presently,

in private audience.

In the meantime, be assured of our

warm consideration to your sovereign...

and to you, his envoy.

I humbly thank Your Majesty.

We admire greatly

the powers of your country.

Not only your skill in statecraft,

but in the sciences and in the arts.

Your Majesty is most gracious.

The repute you have for learning

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote