Royal Hearts Page #7

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some galoot with more experience

never hurt anyone, right?

- Are you talking to me?

- 'Course not.

I'm just saying

that every new child

comes with the guarantee

that God is never discouraged.

Well, I got work to do.

She is so beautiful.

Yes, she is.

[horse whinnies]

Do you mind

if I stay here a while?

Yeah, stay as long as you like.

[whinnying continues]

[horse whinnies]

KELLY:
Look at her go.

She's amazing, eh?

So beautiful.

Any word yet?

I'm working on it,

Your Majesty.

Tried to call...

What's his name, Zeke?

- Hmm.

- Several times.

Yeah, well, keep trying.

A man can't think straight

when his dog is sick.

[chuckles]

- Ten minutes.

- Hey, Nick.

Have a seat.

Uh, I have a call

with my minister of finance

in 10 minutes.

Nice!

Won't take just a minute.

[horse neighs]

Hey!

Yeah, she's been down

at the stable with Alex

since the crack of dawn.

I'm not sure I understand

why there's such a fuss

about a horse.

Really?

Well, we're simple folk.

We get worked up

about simple things.

And if you ask me,

animals are God's gift.

Yeah, yeah, so what is it

you wanted to speak to me about?

Well, where I come from,

a gentleman usually asks

a father's blessing

before he proposes

to a young lady.

Ah. Well, I apologize

for the impropriety,

but I assume you approve.

Well, if you'd asked me

like you were supposed to,

I might've told you

that my daughter is a handful

with her fancy ideas

and thick books.

And it's only gonna get worse

when she gets her doctorate

and heads off to teach

at some fancy university.

Yeah, well, she'll be queen,

so she won't need to do that.

Well, she doesn't take too well

to being told

what she can and can't do.

Look, I understand your concern,

but, uh...

I assure you

I can handle your daughter.

Well, sounds like you got it

all figured out.

All the answers.

You know, I always believed that

there were no dumb questions,

but the world sure is

full of dumb answers.

[chuckles]

She'll learn.

And I promise you

I will take good care of her.

Can I ask you something?

Are you humbly grateful

or grumbly hateful?

[chuckles]

- [horse whinnies]

- Huh.

You gonna tell me

what's bothering you?

I never miss a good chance

to shut up.

- [scoffs]

- What?

- I didn't say nothing.

- You didn't have to.

Go talk to your daughter.

I don't know what to say.

You'll figure it out.

Hank, listen to me.

When my son left for the States,

there were so many things

I wanted to say to him,

so much advice

I wanted to give him,

but I didn't do it.

Now he's all grown up

and long gone.

Now, Joanie, listen to me.

I'm hearing you, but...

do you ever notice that

when you blow in a dog's ear,

he gets mad,

but then you put him

in the car,

and he sticks his head

right out the window?

Well, that's what

I'm facing here.

And I'm hearing you, Hank.

But just go talk to her,

while you still can.

You think?

I do.

[plop]

Now, how did I know

you'd be here?

I'm doing some research

on Angosia,

so that Nikolas and I

have something to discuss.

Uh-huh.

Ever since you were a kid,

you'd hide in a book,

especially when

the going got tough.

The going isn't tough.

Well...

Can I say something?

You know,

ever since King Nikolas

announced his big

engagement plans,

you've been jumpier than a cat

in a roomful of rocking chairs.

Funny, Dad.

Can I give you some advice?

- I really wish you could.

- Well, just listen to me.

You can't live your life

following a writer's fantasy.

Life just doesn't work that way.

You gotta find your own story.

What do you feel

in here?

That's poetic for a cowboy.

Right out of that book of yours.

- Which one?

- That Pride and Prejudice book.

You read it?

Pride and Prejudice.

Every little tidbit of it.

And that fella,

with all his daughters,

didn't pull any punches.

He didn't like when

he found out his sweet baby

was gonna get hitched

to somebody she didn't love,

so he just went right out

and told her straight out

that he'd never forgive her

if she went through with it.

I didn't say I would

go through with it.

Well, that's good to hear

because you're not in love

with that King Nik.

Nikolas!

He prefers "Nikolas."

And he is very generous.

I don't give a hill of beans

what he prefers.

Somebody gives you

something for nothing,

that's about all it's worth.

And you, you're smack in love

with somebody else.

No, I'm not.

Look, I know

you're trying to help,

but I don't think

it's appropriate

for you to be telling me

who I'm meant to spend

the rest of my life with.

Ooh, that's not a very good

poker face.

Okay, I really don't need

the cowboy wisdom right now.

All right.

I'll get out of your way.

- But just do me this one thing.

- What's that?

Don't ever be as stubborn

as your old man.

You'll always be my princess.

But there's two kinds of royal.

Don't you ever forget that.

- Dad?

- Hmm?

Thanks for the talk.

Yeah.

Here you are.

These are for you.

Thanks.

I love daisies.

How'd you know?

Uh, I know you

better than you think.

Bosworth?

It's what servants are for.

So, um, I take it you've

been considering things.

Well, it's a lot to consider.

I'm gonna need

some more time, Nikolas.

Time? For what?

Time to finish my dissertation,

for one thing.

I have to get my doctorate.

Why would you bother with that

when you're going to be queen?

Because I have to

follow my own heart.

It's a family trait.

You don't really believe

all these...

sentimental platitudes,

do you?

King Henry was a good man

with a kind heart,

and it's what makes

my dad great too.

It doesn't mean

they can't function

or make good

and strong decisions.

It makes them impractical

and foolish.

Well, I guess my family's

impractical

and foolish just like me.

The lost sheep of the family,

is that what you are?

You did not just say that,

did you?

Look, all I'm saying is...

you have the chance

to bring your country

into the modern world.

Uniting Merania and Angosia

and ruling them together

makes sense.

We make sense.

It makes sense

on parchment paper,

but I'm not gonna

give up who I am.

But don't you see?

You're not giving anything up.

By marrying me, you're becoming

who you were always meant to be.

No, I'd be becoming

who you want me to be.

And?

Is that so bad?

Nikolas, you are very sweet,

and I know that you will

one day find your queen,

but I am afraid

that it's not gonna be me.

You don't mean that.

I mean that with all of my

impractical and foolish heart.

Do you know what?

If you don't marry me,

then I can't dissolve

the treaty.

Oh! Even if it's

the right thing to do?

No. I have a duty

to my people.

Even if it means not going

in good conscience?

You do realize

your true colors are showing.

And you do realize

that once your father

finishes his charade

of playing king,

then Merania, all of it,

will belong to Angosia.

Do you understand that?

If you're trying

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