The Emperor Waltz Page #10

What is it?

Brace yourself,

Baron Holenia.

[Whimpering Continues]

[Holenia]

No.

[Dr. Zweiback]

Yes.

That blasted blackJezebel.

Father, please, don't.

Not now.

Isn't there one of them

that hasn't got so much white?

That's all there is, Baron.

Cursed. Cursed.

She can't do this to me.

She seems

to have done it, Father.

Your Majesty would like to know

if there are any developments.

There are.

What is it, Holenia?

I was told to come here because

it would happen at any minute.

When will it happen?

It has happened,

Your Majesty.

It has? How many?

Three, Your Majesty.

Three? Is that all?

It's not many but I dare say

it will have to do.

Where are my glasses?

I want to see them at once.

I don't think

Your Majesty should.

Why?

Why shouldn't I see them?

Your Majesty, great grief

has befallen us. The puppies...

Come, come, come.

It was beyond my control,

Your Majesty.

The puppies

were born dead.

Dead?

[Dr. Zweiback] One of those

rare, unpredictable occurrences.

The expected mother

must've had a fall.

Dead? All three of them?

[Holenia]

Yes, Your Majesty.

Dead is such an ugly word.

We're bitterly sorry for

Your Majesty's disappointment.

How is Scheherazade?

She's recovering nicely,

thank you, Your Majesty.

Poor Louis.

It will be quite a blow.

In this our moment

of sorrow, may I venture

to offer some consolation?

There will be other days.

She'll give us some puppies yet.

That's the way to look at it.

Come spring

and we can count

on another litter.

The question is,

can I count on another spring?

If I may be permitted, Your

Majesty, it's almost 11:00.

What of it?

The ball, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty is to appear

at 11:
00.

His Majesty is

in no mood for a ball.

You're quite right.

I'm in the mood for a cemetery.

Let us proceed to the ball.

[Dr. Zweiback Whispering]

Baron Holenia.

The puppies.

What about the puppies?

Didn't you hear? They're dead.

They are?

They must be.

Dead, buried, forgotten.

See to it at once.

That's an order.

All right, Andreas.

You heard the orders.

[Puppies Whimpering]

Cover up the head.

[Squealing]

[Squealing Continues]

[Virgil]

Hi.!

May I come in or is it past

visiting hours?

Who are you? Get out of here!

Oh, aren't you being a little

rude? This little gentlemen

is a very close relative.

Nobody's allowed in here.

Oh, well, he is.

Say hello to them.

Keep away from her.

Here, look out.

What are you doing?

[Puppies Squealing,

Water Running]

Where are the pups?

Throw him out!

Wait a minute. Where are those

pups? What goes on here?

Orders have been given.

What orders?

What are you gonna do?

Get out of here!

Aaah.

[Dr. Zweiback]

Hold him.!

I flatter myself I handled

the puppy situation rather well.

Do you think it's ever wise

to lie to His Majesty?

The puppies are dead.

I gave orders.

Sssh.

Father!

[Knocking Floor]

[Drum Roll]

[Orchestra]

[Orchestra Continues]

[Orchestra Stops]

You're not gonna kill 'em.

You're not gonna, understand?

'm not gonna let you.!

don't care how many of you

there are. T's probably a good

thing there are so many of you.

Maybe all of you can scrape up

decency to lay off three duffers

who'vejust begun to breathe!

[Panting]

There not pure enough

for you, huh?

Not quite your sort.

Freaks! Little mongrels

You wouldn't have around!

So what are you gonna do?

You're gonna shake 'em off that

great, big noble family tree...

and let them rot

as if nothing had happened!

What have you there,

Mr. Smith?

Scheherazade's puppies,

and you know it!

Baron Holenia.

It seemed wiser. I didn't want

to shock Your Majesty.

Bring them here,

Mr. Smith.

And as my hearing

is not impaired, please

do not shout at me.

Well, I wanted

to get my two cents worth in

before you started talking.

Last time, like a chump,

I kept my mouth shut

and what did you do?

You sold me about the wrong side

of the tracks and me not being

good enough. You remember?

Are we discussing the Countess

von Stolzenberg-Stolzenberg

or the contents of that basket?

Well, it amounts

to the same thing.

Only now I know,

with your very kind permission,

that you were full

of cracked ice!

Or maybe I was

to fall for it and walk out

and make a heel out of myself!

Virgil, will you say that

again, please, slowly

and plainly and simply?

Not now, honey Countess.

[Whimpering]

Your Majesty, was it me

that you made him give up?

Yes, Johanna, yes.

We both agreed that with him,

You had only one chance

in a million to be happy.

Your Majesty thinks that I am

happy? Isn't one chance in a

million better than no chance?

My dear, you're much

too pretty for mathematics.

They're all boys.

That's right.

Boys run in Buttons' family.

This tiny one has a bite

like a nutcracker.

They're sweet, Your Majesty.

They'll be the strongest,

the smartest, the funniest...

And between Buttons and me,

we'll bring 'em up right

when we get 'em back home.

- Can I have 'em back now, sir?

- You cannot.

Why should you have Buttons,

Johanna, Scheherazade

and the puppies?

Maybe we could leave one.

The one who's so attached

to His Majesty's finger.

Sounds like a good deal.

I'd even be willing to

withdraw the cracked ice crack.

I'm keeping them all.

Now leave me alone.

Go on, dance, all of you.

[Orchestra]

Your Majesty, if I may...

You may not, Holenia.

I will talk to you later.

Putzi, how do I

look to you now?

I think the word

is ravishing.

Shall we dance?

[Virgil]

Love is a dream

Yet it's so real

Hard to explain

Just how you feel

Deep in your heart

Joy seems to dwell

Like poets say

It's perfectly swell

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