The King and I Page #5

has no meaning.

I will hear no more!

A land where there is a wish...

...for Siam to take her place

in the modern world...

...but where everything still remains

according to the wishes of the king!

You will say no more! No more!

I will say no more, because

there is no more to say!

Come, Louis.

Out, out, out!

Who is it?

Mrs. Anna, it is I, Lady Thiang.

Oh, well, come in, Lady Thiang.

Mrs. Anna, you must

go to king at once.

Indeed? And why must I?

I plan to leave on the next sailing.

Please, Mrs. Anna.

Did he send you here to ask me?

It is I who ask you.

King is in terrible distress,

not knowing where to turn.

Distress?

Agents in Singapore have found copies

of letters to British government...

...which describe king as barbarian...

...and suggest necessity

of making Siam a protectorate.

Oh, but that is outrageous!

The king is many things I dislike,

but he is not a barbarian.

Then you will go to him now?

You mean, to advise him?

It must not sound like advice.

King cannot take advice.

And he will not bring up subject.

You must do it for him.

No, Lady Thiang, I can't.

It's against all my principles.

He needs help, Mrs. Anna.

Oh, but he has you.

I am not equal to his special needs.

Please, Lady Thiang, I simply cannot

go to him, especially without...

...his having asked for me.

What more can I say to you?

This is a man who thinks

With his heart

His heart is not always wise

This is a man who stumbles and falls

But this is a man who tries

This is a man you'll forgive

And forgive

And help and protect...

...as long as you live

He will not always say

What you would have him say

But now and then he'll say...

...something wonderful

The thoughtless things he'll do

Will hurt and worry you

Then all at once he'll do...

...something wonderful

He has a thousand dreams

That won't come true

You know that he believes in them

And that's enough...

...for you

You'll always go along

Defend him when he's wrong

And tell him when he's strong

He is wonderful

He'll always need your love

And so he'll...

...get your love

A man who needs your love...

...can be...

...wonderful

Your Majesty.

You have come to apologize.

- I am sorry, Your Majesty, but-

- Good! You apologize.

- I didn't say-

- I accept.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Well?

Do you not see I am occupied?

My mind on very important matters.

Anything you wish to discuss with me?

Why should I discuss

important matter with woman?

Very well, Your Majesty. In that case

I shall say good night.

Good night!

Your Majesty...

- What, what, what?

- I wonder...

- When the boat came from Singapore-

- Singapore!

- Was there any news from abroad?

- News!

There were news!

- They call me barbarian.

- Who?

Parties who would use this

as excuse to steal my country.

Now suppose you are Queen Victoria...

...and someone say to you king of Siam

is barbarian. Do you believe?

- Well, Your Majesty...

- You will!

You will believe I am because

there is no one to speak otherwise.

Oh, but this is a lie!

It is a false lie!

What have you decided to do about it?

You guess.

Well...

...if someone were sending a lie

about me to England...

...I would do my best to send

the truth to England.

Is that what you have decided to do,

Your Majesty?

Yes, that is what I have

decided to do. But how?

Guess how I shall do this.

Well, my guess would be

that you would seek...

...some kind of personal contact

with the British.

Personal contact! When British

ambassador and party arrive in Siam-

The ambassador, here?

On quick tour of Orient.

Friendship tour, they say.

I receive letters from his aide, Sir

Edward Ramsay, who accompanies him.

Edward, coming here?

"Edward"?

You call him this?

We are old friends. I knew him

in London before I was married.

When they're here, I'll take

opportunity of expressing my opinion...

...of thieves who would try

to steal my country.

I will show them who is barbarian!

Well, what is this face you put on?

My guess is that you will not fight

with your distinguished visitors.

- I will not?

- No, Your Majesty.

You will give a banquet

in their honor.

You will entertain them in

a particularly grand manner.

You will make them all

witnesses in your favor.

They will return to England

and report to the queen...

...that you are most certainly

not a barbarian.

Naturally!

Naturally! This is what

I shall have intended to do.

That's it, Your Majesty.

Stand up to them.

Put your best foot forward.

It's an expression, Your Majesty.

It means put on your best clothes...

...show them your most intelligent men

and most beautiful women.

Shall it be proper for the British

to see my women without shoes?

Shall it be proper for my women

to put their best bare feet forward?

No, we shall make them look

like ladies of Europe:

Shoes on feet, dresses on bodies.

You will tell me which ladies

are most like Europeans...

...and educate them in European

customs and manner for presentation.

- Also, sew dresses.

- Sew dresses?

All women shall help.

Don't you think it would

make a better impression...

...in their own manner and dress?

You are not being scientific.

The ambassador knows we are Siamese.

I wish him to know

we are also Europeans.

Wake up! Everybody to the temple!

Wake up, wake up, wives,

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

We will entertain them with acrobats.

We could give them

a theatrical performance.

Tuptim has written a play, her own

version of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

We shall give them theatricals.

We'll show them who is barbarian.

We could make European dishes

for dinner.

You teach. To be served

on high table, long white tablecloth.

- And napkins.

- Of finest silk.

- Using best gold chopsticks.

- Chopsticks?

Don't you think knives and forks

would be more suitable?

My mistake. British not scientific enough

for the use of chopsticks.

You are to order finest gold knives

and forks.

Also spoons.

Why do you not think of spoons?

An inspired idea, Your Majesty.

We mustn't forget cigars.

Englishmen are fond of them.

You are to make list of all eminent

Europeans residing in Bangkok...

-... for sending of invitations.

- Very well.

You will instruct court musicians

their learning music of Europe...

...for dancing, et cetera,

et cetera, et cetera.

Excellent, Your Majesty.

How much time do I have for all this?

British gunboat last reported off

Singkla. This give you one week.

One week? Your Majesty, one week!

In this same time...

...whole world was created, Moses say.

First, we ask help from Buddha.

Bow to him. Bow, bow, bow.

Bow!

Oh, Buddha, give us the aid of your

strength and your wisdom

Oh, Buddha, give us the aid

of your strength...

...and your wisdom

And help us to prove

to the visiting English...

...that we are extraordinary

and remarkable people

And help us to prove

to the visiting English...

...that we are extraordinary

and remarkable people

Help also Mrs. Anna to keep awake

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