That Hamilton Woman Page #3

woollen socks, she wouldn't have a sore throat.

(Explosion outside)

(Explosion)

- What's happened?

- I don't know.

(Explosion)

Maybe the smoking mountain went off again.

Let's see. Come along.

(Explosions continue)

(Explosion)

How wonderful! A battleship.

You should see the Queen about this.

Salutes at this hour of the morning.

Why shouldn't they blow their cannons off?

That's what they've got them for.

Boom!

- Boom!

- Good morning, my dear.

Boom! Good morning, William.

Here, give it to me.

? Rule Britannia

Let me look, my dear.

There's a small boat coming ashore.

They will probably need me.

Excuse me, my dear.

- The mail is just in, Emma.

- I'll attend to it later.

Here's a nice fat one from London.

Oh.

(Reads) Her Excellency, Emma Lady Hamilton,

British Embassy, Naples.

Charles Greville, London.

Open it, child, open it.

I think not. Send it back

and write on it, ''Unopened. Return to sender''.

Poor Charles. He's exactly three years too late.

And as far as I'm concerned,

he simply doesn't exist.

Are you happy, my child?

Happy?

Three years ago, my only idea of happiness

was to be married to Charles Greville.

After that, I wanted revenge.

Well, I got that in a way, too.

Then I wanted to be presented at court.

And even that impossible wish was granted

to me.

I've got everything.

Everything a woman of the world

could possibly wish for.

So why shouldn't I be happy?

Of course, I'm happy, Mother.

Well, Emma, what's good enough for you

is good enough for me.

And being mother to Her Ladyship

is not to be sneezed at either.

(Laughs)

- You silly old thing.

You're lovely, Emma.

You're so beautiful, Emma.

And what about you? Look at you with

your little cap and your silver buttons.

And your beautiful skirt.

You're the beautiful one.

Your Ladyship,

could you spare me a moment, please?

Yes, Gavin. I'm in a great hurry.

It's about the dinner invitations for Sunday night.

Then, of course, His Eminence the Archbishop,

the Duchess of Argyle,

and if there's no performance

the Prima Donna of the San Carlo.

- And the two ladies - which is deaf?

- The Contessa Giovanni.

We put her on Sir William's right.

Marquess Compiani the old harpy,

and the French Ambassador -

we'll put him there between them.

Oh, he'll have a nice time.

Beg pardon, My Lady, but Sir William informs

me the French Ambassador cannot be invited.

- Why ever not?

- Sir William mentioned

Sir William mentioned... Sir William mentioned

there's a difference between the er...

William, what's this absurd business

about the French Ambassador?

l need him for the party on Sunday night.

My dear, may I introduce

the captain of the Agamemnon?

How do you do? But William, I need him.

He's amusing and he's a bachelor and I need

a single man to make my number even.

I'm sorry, my dear, but we won't be seeing

the French Ambassador for quite some time.

Why? What's the matter with him?

The captain can explain that.

- He has a message.

- We're at war with France.

War? That's torn it.

Bang goes the French Ambassador.

Oh, dear. Who can I get to sit between

these two dreary old ladies?

My dear captain, we shall be so delighted

if you will dine with us on Sunday night.

You will sit between the two most amusing

and charming ladies in Naples.

You're very kind, but I sail tonight.

Oh, then I gather you must be in a hurry.

Don't let me disturb your conference. I'm going.

Well, Captain, you were saying

that the Admiral of the Fleet wanted...

Yes, sir.

Lord Hood advised me to instruct you...

It's all right, Captain,

I have no secrets from Lady Hamilton.

I'm very sorry, Sir William. You must forgive me.

I'm not used to discussing matters of this kind

in the presence of ladies.

Oh. Is it as wicked as all that? Good gracious.

I promised to be with the Queen at 1 2.

She won't order a single new dress

until I've discussed the patterns with her.

That's a very great responsibility, my dear.

- Goodbye, William.

- Goodbye.

We've captured Toulon.

The Admiral needs 10 000 troops to hold it

It would take three weeks from England

From here, they should be in Toulon in two

days.

The treaty between England and Naples

provides full co-operation

and the Admiral expects you to secure those

troops from the King of Naples.

I'll apply for an audience with the King.

But surely in a matter as urgent as this,

we could see the King at once.

At once? I can't just walk into the Royal Palace.

Well, when will you get the audience?

Friday may be possible.

Saturday almost certain.

But we must have these troops immediately.

You must leave this in my hands.

You see, I know these people and you don't.

I'll make out the application at once.

EMMA:
Yes, that's me too.

Do you like it? It's a Romney.

Circe watching her lover sail away.

Is it?

You know, I could get you those troops like that.

You were speaking rather loudly, Captain, and

the houses get so stuffy if you close the doors.

You're worried, aren't you?

You have an important mission, haven't you?

Has it ever occurred to you that women can

sometimes be of more help than men?

Not in a matter of this kind, Lady Hamilton.

How do you know?

It just happens that I shall be seeing the Queen

within the next ten minutes.

The Queen? This is an important matter of state.

All the more reason to see the Queen.

Now I'll let you into a secret, Captain.

Which everyone in Europe knows.

Except you, Captain.

The real King of Naples is the Queen.

E licenziata, hai capito?

(The children's chatter drowns her out)

Her Majesty is pleased

to be with her children this hour.

But my orders are to let My Lady in any time.

Even if the princes and princesses please

to be with their august parents.

The august family appears to be pretty big.

The marriage of the august parents

is continuously blessed.

There are 15 princes and princesses so far.

You will see.

(Pandemonium)

Lady Hamilton!

(Dog barks)

(Pandemonium drowns out conversation)

''I have the honour to be etc, etc, etc.''

And I'll sign it at once.

Phew!

Here we are, Captain. I'll have this application

to the palace in haIf an hour.

I thought it advisable to ask for only 8,000 men.

We may get as many as 5,000.

We asked for 20,000 and we got 1 0,000. There.

I'm very much indebted to Lady Hamilton

Her campaign against the Queen

was a masterpiece of strategy.

Well, there, my dear captain,

you see the real Ambassador to Naples.

At least to the Queen of Naples.

Captain, now that you have your soldiers,

there's no need for you to leave so soon.

You can go tomorrow. We'll have a wonderful

party on your ship tonight.

I'll bring the Queen and you'll get the King if

you'll allow him to conduct the ship's orchestra.

We'll sail out to Capri.

By midnight, we'll be at the Blue Grotto.

Capri by moonlight.

You've no idea how beautiful the world can be.

We'll decorate the ship with flowers. And I'll

dance. I expect you've heard of my dances.

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