The Prince and the Showgirl Page #6

to practice. I'm an understudy.

Really? Most interesting.

I wonder, Miss Marina. . .

. . .if I might ask you

to do a small favor for me?

Will you ring up a certain

telephone number? This one.

-What could be easier?

-Thank you so much.

Gerard 2-4-5, please.

Not so loud. When you get the number,

ask for the ambassador.

Hello.

Is the ambassador there?

No, not for me.

It's for the king of Carpathia.

Don't! Spies are everywhere.

Oh, there are?

Excellence. . . .

Thank you so much.

That was most kind.

Think nothing of it, Your Majesty.

You are going to the coronation?

Oh, I'll say.

You must come to mine.

Really? When is that?

Sixteen, eighteen months.

Not sooner than that?

Sooner, Miss Marina?

Yes. I speak German.

I was born in Milwaukee.

You're going to turn

your father out on August 15. . .

. . .and make yourself a real king.

The Bulgarian army's

going down to help you.

It is unfortunate you heard that.

It might prove dangerous for you.

Dangerous? Don't give me that.

I'm an American citizen.

Nobody can do anything to me.

Besides, who cares

about Balkan revolutions?

You have them all the time.

You are going to tell Father,

of course?

Depends if I get the chance.

-I beg of you--

-Excuse me.

Hello, Fanny. Hi, you girls.

-Are you all right?

-Were you worried about me?

I couldn't sleep a wink

so I collected a rescue squad.

I don't need rescuing.

I'm having a lovely time.

Elsie, you're a wicked girl.

No, I'm not. Not yet.

Come down at once.

We're terribly late as it is.

You run ahead. I have to say

my one last goodbye to my regent.

What's he like, Elsie?

He's the cutest grand duke

in the world.

Is he nice?

No, not really, just cute.

Like the ones on-stage?

Not like that at all. He hasn't any

sense of humor and not a bit of charm.

Why do you find him cute, then?

I don't know, I just do.

In fact, I love him so much

I could eat him, just swallow him up.

Don't let anybody get my seat.

Run along, now.

I have a very good sense of humor.

Of course, but it's a Balkan one.

Just as good as ours, but different.

Anyway you shouldn't listen

to private conversations.

Nicky, why are you standing about?

You should be on your way.

Yes, Father.

Here.

-What's this?

-A small parting gift.

I was going to present it

with a few words. . .

. . .but you drove them out of my head.

It's beautiful.

With your crest and everything.

It is nothing.

I don't want to say anything. . .

. . .but there must be quite a few

of these worn in Europe these days.

Not Maisie Springfield.

I can't complain after all.

She really earned hers.

Pin it on for me, please.

This is where I wake up, I guess.

I fear so, my dear.

Yes, well, okay.

I guess that's my cue.

Goodbye.

It has been wonderful knowing you.

If only it could have lasted longer.

I have said something wrong?

No, you spoke your line beautifully.

It's your medals, they're tickling me.

Why do you say such things?!

You enjoy disconcerting me

and I cannot bear to be disconcerted.

-See that Her Majesty is ready.

-She is ready.

-The car to take the king to the Ritz?

-He already left.

This is all I could find.

It belongs to the housekeeper.

It'll do just fine. Thanks.

Oh, dear, life is rather

sad sometimes, isn't it?

Sometimes.

I'm too late now.

I'll never get there on time.

-Oh, gosh!

-Who was that?

Mr. Northbrooke, who was that creature?

-Was it an anarchist?

-No, ma'am.

Then who was it?

A young lady, ma'am, who ...

Miss Elsie Marina.

Fetch her to me.

Her Majesty wishes to speak to you.

Good morning, my dear.

So delightful to see you again.

Why are you dressed up as

a revolutionary? Is this a new game?

If it is, you should have let me know.

I love games.

No ma'am, it's not a game.

Well, take that thing off.

It looks most unbecoming.

Come here, my dear.

Would you have a cigarette.

So soothing before a long ordeal.

-Will you join me?

-No, thank you.

Well, please, sit down.

Oh, Ma'am is probably wondering. . .

. . .why I'm still dressed

the way I was last night.

See, I had a stupid accident

with my latchkey.

-What did she say?

-She said she had an accident with her latchkey.

What is a latchkey?

It doesn't matter.

I'm sure it's something very dull.

Such irritating news, Mr. Northbrooke, this morning.

Maud von und zu Meissenbraun, my chief lady-in-waiting,

claims that she cannot leave her bed.

So I have no option but to take

the Baroness Brunnheim to the abbey.

It is not of cause her fault. . .

. . .but I fear we shall be

very squashed in the carriage.

Je ne sais pas pourqoui

mais les maladies des autres m'embtent toujours,

srtout si elles sont imaginaires,

comme celles de la comtesse.

Vous trouvez a aussi?

Excuse me, ma'am,

I didn't quite catch that.

I don't think Miss Marina

speaks French.

Doesn't speak French?

How ridiculous!

She lives with Sarah Bernhardt

in Paris.

N'est-ce pas, ma petite?

Je suis sre que vous parlez le franais

mieux qu'une franaise

et srtout d'une voix d'or.

Oui.

You see.

Au sujet des maladies des autres,

c'est La Rochefoucault, n'est-ce pas, qui a dit

dans l'adversit de nos meilleurs amis

nous trouvons quelque chose qui ne nous dplat pas.

Oui.

Et bien, je vous assure que dans les adversits du monde

je ne trouve jamais rien qui ne me dplat pas infiniment.

Most intelligent.

Reading La Rochefoucauld.

Yes, indeed, ma'am.

I better warn the regent that we're

leaving soon, if you'll excuse me.

Isn't that an evening dress?

Yes, as I was trying to explain--

Most suitable.

Lottie, my jewelry box.

Just turn around, my dear,

and lower yourself.

Yes, that is very possible.

I think we need something else.

Yes. Just turn around again,

will you. . .

. . .and lower yourself again?

Good.

Oh, what's happening?

Is this a game?

You said something?

Ask ma'am if this is a game.

She wants to know, is this a game?

Lottie, put your cape on her,

would you?

What's happening? Tell me.

Excellent.

Lottie, will you be disappointed?

On the contrary, ma'am.

As you know, I always have been

a little nervous of long ceremonies.

Good, then lend her your gloves

and arrange your veil on her.

What's happening? Tell me.

I'm appointing you my lady-in-waiting

for the day. . .

. . .and I'm taking you to the abbey.

Ma'am, you can't!

If someone would recognize me,

I'd be arrested.

Arrest my lady-in-waiting?

That's such an imbecility.

Where will I sit? What will I do?

You just do what is obvious and sit

where Mr. Northbrook tells you.

You still look rather bare.

I know, you need an order.

Lottie, go and fetch the ambassador.

-My dear.

-Hello!

Such fun, how you will laugh.

We are taking Miss Marina to the abbey.

Oh, are we?

But I need an order for her, my dear.

Dear ambassador.

Fetch me that mauve order, the one

the regent gave the foreign secretary.

-Mother-in-law!

-Which one are you wearing?

The purple one. No, the mauve one

is much more fetching.

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