The Prince and the Showgirl Page #7

Slim and pretty. We'll be

comfortable in the carriage.

Hand it to the regent.

You realize that this order

is only given. . .

. . .for a very special service

to the head of the state?

Such hairsplitting? No doubt

she will do you one some day.

Take your cape off.

Kneel down.

I hereby invest you. . .

. . .with the Royal Carpathian

Order of Perseverance.

Second class.

Come, my dear.

And I hereby return you this.

After all, we're not parting

quite yet, my darling Grand Duke.

-It's a shame.

-She'll hate us.

Be quiet.

We can't spoil such a lovely day

by worrying about that girl.

I'm afraid Miss America

has missed the boat.

Oh, cheer up, Fanny.

It's her own fault.

It's a shame, she's going

to hate missing all this.

Oh, isn't this wonderful?

Most impressive.

The soldiers facing

the procession too.

Such a change from our last

coronation in Bessarabia.

Shots going off like bombs and the sky

black with infernal machines.

Happily, no fatalities,

except in the crowd.

But it all left a very bad impression.

This must be His Grand Duke now.

-It's your moment, Maisie.

-Elsie will never get over this.

It's her. I promise you, it's her.

It's Elsie Marina, Miss Springfield,

with the regent of Carpathia!

Absurd! Such things do not happen.

You haven't seen an old raincoat,

have you?

Okay, forget it.

Gosh!

Another one.

Hi, there.

Good afternoon, Miss Marina.

Don't look so anxious.

I don't tell tales.

Oh, that is good of you.

I'm so very grateful.

Still, that doesn't mean that I don't

think you're a very naughty boy.

Indeed? To me and to many

of my countrymen. . .

. . .it is my father who is

the naughty boy.

Yes, but you're only 16,

whereas he is--

Well, he says 40,

but I'd make a rough guess at. . .

. . .45.

-Can't you wait till you're grown up?

-Miss Marina.

I can see that you are

a very kind and good person.

-But in matters of this nature--

-Nicolas.

I wish to speak with you.

No, do not go, Miss Marina.

This concerns you too.

The phone operator reported

to Hoffman. . .

. . .that you talked with

the German ambassador.

-That is true?

-Yes.

-After Miss Marina got the number.

-She didn't know the number.

-You passed a message, didn't you?

-Your operator will tell you.

-She doesn't speak German.

-I know. I found that out.

Will you tell me the message, Nicky?

Isn't it nice that it was

such a fine day for the coronation?

You will go to your room.

Hoffman will visit you there.

Of course, there is no question

of your going to the ball tonight.

I prefer not to keep company

with traitors.

Miss Marina.

I say this with sincerity.

It has been a real pleasure.

What am I to do with such a boy?

If you were asking me

that question seriously. . .

. . .I'd answer,

but since you're not--

But I am asking you, although I know

what the answer's going to be.

Something about his not having

enough love in his life.

Not such a bad guess.

Such sentimental idiocy.

Why do you always swear in German?

Because the Germans have

the best oaths.

And the best machine guns.

Yes, I suppose "Cross,

thunder weather yet again" . . .

. . .wouldn't sound nearly so fierce.

Oh, well.

I guess there's nothing left for me

to do but to take off my finery. . .

. . .and slip quietly

out of your life forever.

I said, I guess there's nothing left--

No, before that. You translated.

Do you speak German?

Sure.

-Then you heard his message?

-Yes.

But I won't tell you what it was,

so don't excite yourself too much.

Don't you look cute

when you're fierce.

You are in possession of some

very dangerous information, and l--

Now, don't put the screws

on me, darling.

If only you could understand.

You can't whittle me either.

Well done, that's the best yet!

Don't swear anymore,

you'll run out of oaths.

I won't tell you, and that's that.

But I will tell you the treatment

of your son just now was bad policy.

Good policy, I suppose,

would be to kiss him and say:

"Let bygones be bygones.

Dear child, come to the ball. "

Who is Nicky more likely

to tell his plot to?

That nasty Colonel Hoffman

giving him the dickens in his room. . .

. . .or his prince of a beautiful

father taking him to the ball?

Don't call me by these names.

It's grotesque.

Darling, I may call you

by other names one day. . .

. . .but for now, you'll have to

forgive the language of love.

I'm ready for my goodbye kiss.

-Is that all I get?

-The way I feel, even this is too much.

Tell the king to come and see me.

What about my parting present?

Pin it on, please.

Now, say to me what you said to me

this morning.

If I do, you'll laugh at me again

and say my epaulets are scratching. . .

. . .and I shall be disconcerted again.

Take the risk.

It has been wonderful knowing you.

If only it could have lasted longer.

Thank you, my darling.

His Majesty.

Sit down, Nicky.

This German embassy affair

has made me most unhappy.

I have always known that

we did not see eye to eye on policy.

But that my son should

conspire against me. . .

. . .has been a most

bitter shock, you know?

I wonder if you realize how easy it is

to break a father's heart?

If you mean your heart, Father,

I don't.

Perhaps that is because I don't

wear my heart on my sleeve.

Some people prefer to keep

their feelings bottled up, and l--

It may be I am

at fault in that way.

I don't want to say any more about it.

I have decided to let

bygones be bygones.

And in spite of everything,

you may come to the ball.

Thank you, but I don't think

I want to. I'd rather go to bed.

Oh, but sir, you must go to the ball.

It's going to be the most

beautiful ball ever.

-Fabulous uniforms and decorations--

-I would've come.

But Grandmother isn't going

because she's tired.

And I won't know anyone.

And I won't have anyone to dance with.

-Invite someone.

-Invite someone?

-I can arrange it.

-You mean anybody?

-Yes, anybody!

-Miss Marina?

Will you accompany me

to the coronation ball tonight?

I shall be very happy to obey

Your Majesty's command.

That is good! Then I shall come

in person to collect you. . .

. . .at your theater at 11:00.

That would be nice. Say. . .

. . .would your grandmother mind if--?

No. I'll bring them for you.

She'll just say, "Such fun. "

And I'll borrow one of her tiaras

for you too.

If they can see me leave the theater

in a tiara. . .

. . .they can darn well see me arrive

in an evening gown.

I'll find you another order. The one

you're wearing is not first-class.

Well, I wasn't going to

say anything. . .

. . .but if you really think. . . .

See you at the ball.

Dear Lucy.

You don't know how many engagements

I broke for your sake tonight.

Some that I wouldn't break

for any other man in the world.

So kind.

You'll really come

to the embassy at about 12:30?

I've arranged a little supper.

At your command, I'd come

to the end of the earth.

Belgrave Square is fortunately

not so far. Here's your escort.

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