Tale of Tales

1

Please, my love.

Please, my dearest.

Do not be upset.

It was a mistake.

I didn't know she was

in this condition. My love, please.

Please, my love...

Forgive me, my love.

I will make you happy.

Who are you?

I would not bother you

if I were not certain

that Your Majesties

will attach great importance

to what I'm about to say.

I've heard the promises

of many charlatans before.

And you have put many

in the stocks.

Fortunately,

that does not concern me.

You seem very sure of yourself.

What will it cost?

An act of courage and of sacrifice.

What d'you mean by that?

Birth is always stained by death.

And death, in turn,

is simply one element of birth

and not even the most dramatic one.

Be less mysterious.

Come to the point.

You want a child?

Every new life

calls for a life to be lost.

The equilibrium of the world

must be maintained.

Do you understand?

I am prepared to die in order

to feel life grow inside me.

We are speaking of possibility,

not certainty.

Are you willing to accept the risk?

What must we do?

Hunt down a sea monster.

Cut out its heart

and have it cooked by a virgin.

But she must be alone.

When Your Majesty eats the heart

you will become pregnant

instantly.

Which is the girl?

You, come here.

You are still a virgin, right?

Come with me,

the queen needs you.

Hurry UP!

It's coming, Your Majesty.

It's coming.

What's happening?

What's happening?

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

Elias!

Elias!

Where are you, my DOV?

Stop!

Elias!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Why must you continue

to disobey my commands?

How many times have I told you?

They must stop seeing each other.

The next time that bastard boy

of yours comes anywhere near my son

I will throw you both out.

You understand?

Don't look at me!

Now go.

What does she have to do with this?

What has she done wrong?

Take it out on me if you have to,

but leave her out of it.

How dare you talk to me like that?

You disrespect me

and you disobey me.

You know you were not supposed

to see him.

Come here.

Elias, you are a prince.

You cannot befriend

of a son of a servant.

But I like being with him.

He's like a brother to me,

I will see him whenever I want.

A brother?

The only one bond of blood

that you have is with me.

Your mother!

And it's to me that you owe

respect and obedience.

I am your queen,

don't you ever forget it.

You owe me an apology.

I'm sorry, mother.

Come.

My son...

If I ever see you with him again,

you will both regret it.

Who sings with

such a beautiful voice?

Where have you been hiding

all this time?

How is it that I have never met you?

Never even seen you?

How old are you?

Seventeen?

Eighteen?

No, don't go! Don't go!

Don't hide!

Stay out in the sunlight.

Please, stay out

to warm your cold king.

Oh I see!

So you want to play hard to get.

Well, so be it.

I have fought many wars in my time.

And even the most impregnable

fortress surrenders at last.

Who is it?

I have a gift for you,

from your king.

What is it?

It's beautiful!

- Let me try it, Dora.

- Wait.

Wait!

- Dora, please...

- Get the mirror.

Stop it!

You don't think

we have to give it back?

To the king?

No.

What good is it to us?

Makes us look more beautiful.

Don't you think?

But whoever sees us?

We're always shut up inside here.

I see you, silly.

There...

Okay, I'll keep this.

- At the closing of the day, oh Lord.

- Watch over us as we sleep.

Keep us safe and warm in Your heart.

Who is it?

It's me... your king.

Did you like my present?

Have you tried it on?

My royal heart is very generous,

you know?

Ever since this morning

when I first heard you sing,

I have been burning

in the furnace of desire. Come on!

Open up this door,

so I can see you.

Hello?

Sir, there must be

some misunderstanding...

I see...

You are going to tease me,

aren't you?

Let me see you, for heaven's sake!

You like playing with your king?

Play with you, sir?

Oh no!

I'm just a poor girl, I don't deserve

the honor you bestow on me.

The honor! What honor!

It's desire that drives me.

Open up this door, let me in.

Let me see you, for damned sake!

- Dora, what shall we do?

- Let me think.

We must not let

an opportunity like this get away.

- Your Majesty...

- Yes?

You can't imagine how the modesty

of this young virgin

is being put to the test

by your offer.

I...

All my heart's aflutter.

I feel faint.

But all I can promise you today

is this:

come back in a week's time

and I will give you a part of me

that alone illustrates my beauty.

Which part of your body

will you grant me?

A finger, Your Majesty.

A finger?

A finger...

Well... All right, my jasmine flower,

my little honeysuckle.

I shall wait

and I shall return and admire

the eighth wonder of the world,

your rosy maidenly finger.

What shall we do, Dora?

We'll think of something.

This next piece

I composed myself for my father,

to whom I dedicate it

with all my heart.

"He grabs the iron bars

pulling and shaking them,

bending the metal and tearing

the bars from the wall."

Could you just read the part

where they kiss?

"Then the queen her arms extends,

and to her breast his head she bends,

and on the bed in warm embrace,

the queen displays her radiant face."

Now Lancelot has what he desires,

the queen's embrace sets him on fire,

so sweet a game to kiss and hold.

Such pleasure this, if truth be told,

no one ever felt before,

such joy in loving they adore."

And now we should leave.

Could we read it again?

- Your Majesty.

- Yes?

- Some papers to sign.

- Later. Later.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty, they are

rather urgent, people want paying.

All is so urgent.

My lord and father,

at my age a girl

should already know

what sort of gallantries

men are capable of.

She should be learning to distinguish

whose heart is sincere

and who instead tells lies.

If I stay here,

my head will always be empty,

and I fear my heart will be too.

Before long you will be

old enough to be married

and then you will depart

these walls forever.

Well...

If that is indeed the case,

then find me a husband.

A husband?

What sort of husband would you like?

Well...

I'd like my husband to be

courageous and strong and...

handsome.

I'm sure such a man exists,

but until we find him,

please,

do not agitate yourself over a future

none of us can predict.

Now, let us finish our supper.

- What is it, my dear?

- It's not cooked enough.

Really?

Yes, yes, yes...

Hello?

Hello?

Elias!

Come, my DOY-

Come near me.

I can't make up my mind

about the earrings tonight.

Would you help me?

Which one do you like better.

Should we try them on?

Did you take your lesson?

Yes, earlier.

MaY I go now?

Of course.

Good night.

Elias...

You won't believe this.

What happened?

I was just in your mother's room.

- What?

- Don't worry. I was in her room.

She thought I was you.

No... impossible...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes