The Prince and the Showgirl Page #8

If Your Grand Ducal Highness permits.

Not at all. I envy you, old boy!

-Well?

-I can't find them, sir.

You should not let them

out of sight for a moment.

With such a girl like that,

anything can happen. Anything.

You search that way,

I will search this way.

For the settled peace

of the kingdom, signed. . .

. . .Nicolas Vlll?

Just Nicolas.

Okay, Nicky.

Well, it seems

reasonable enough to me.

If only your father

were a reasonable man!

Excuse me, please.

Pardon me.

Really.

I promise to do everything I can.

It'll be wonderful

to have a dance with him.

Hello, there!

We've been looking all over for you.

Indeed? And I've been

looking for you.

Well, can you beat that?

I feel sure that you should like

to have a dance with Miss Marina.

I should be charmed.

Would you care for a refreshment?

-What a sweet boy he is.

-My son.

Far too grown-up.

I guess that's due to his upbringing.

Wouldn't it be good

if you and him made it up?

For your country and for

European peace and all that.

These things are not so easy.

With a little give and take,

it might not be so hard.

-I know what his conditions would be.

-Conditions?

He wants a motorcycle

and he wants to be allowed. . .

. . .to ride it anywhere in Carpathia.

It seems reasonable enough to me.

Let's see, what else did he want?

Oh, I remember.

He wants a general election.

I knew you'd say that.

Still, I don't know why you object.

General elections are good things.

They're democratic.

You're very pretty, but think twice

before entering the political arena.

The role of Madame de Pompadour

may be a little beyond your range.

And your range is so charming

as it is. Do you reverse?

Just try me.

It is time for Nicky to go home. . .

. . .and it is time for me

to say goodbye to you.

-Is it?

-I fear so, my dear.

Alas!

-What about my brooch?

-It will be sent on to you.

Don't bother,

I could stop by and get it.

Of course, by all means.

Conduct His Majesty to the embassy

and Miss Marina to Brixton.

Now, my dear, it really is goodbye.

I thank you for

your little services to us. . .

. . .and I wish you

much happiness and success.

Oh, Your Grand Ducal. . .

. . .it's been a great, great--

Goodbye.

Good night, Nicky. I'll take

my carriage in 10 minutes.

They went for a ride on a bus?

A public bus?

A number 57.

-This may mean a scandal, Northbrook.

-Yes.

You followed this bus

as far as Victoria Station?

And as they walked

from there to the embassy.

They walked--

She's here in the building?

-They are in the steward's room.

-Doing what?

She's teaching him an American

dance called a fox trot.

Your valet Franz is playing for them

with two others of the household.

In ragtime.

Exactly, sir.

Lady Sunningdale is late.

Only a few minutes.

Her unpunctuality used to be

her most irritating characteristic.

I had hoped she might

have grown out of it by now.

She has had, after all, time.

Oh, supper! How lovely.

How thoughtful of you, darling.

I'll run down and say good night

to Nicky. I'll be right back.

Come, come, sir. All that

is needed is a little firmness.

You should say that the supper

is not for her, but another guest.

That is your considered suggestion

for surmounting this crisis?

Yes, sir, it is.

I can only say that I now fully

understand why the Foreign Office. . .

. . .always makes a mess of its relations

with the State Department.

We're not here dealing with a

civilized adult, but an unruly child.

Do you think I am anxious

to have supper for three?

I'm sorry, sir.

I had not considered that aspect.

The best policy then

would be for me. . .

. . .to intercept Lady Sunningdale

on arrival. . .

. . .and escort her to the music room.

There, I can have another table laid.

Two suppers I am to eat?

I see no alternative.

But how am I to leave this one?

That is the crux.

After Lady Sunningdale arrives,

I'll come up and announce. . .

. . .that the ambassador urgently

requires your presence. . .

. . .and that your business

will last at least an hour.

You will then say goodbye

to Miss Marina for the last time.

I should be here.

No harm will come to you.

Leave her for me to escort to Brixton.

An hour is hopeless.

You had better say all night.

Only so will your plan have

a chance of success.

-Well, here I am.

-You may leave us, Northbrook.

Very well, sir.

He doesn't do that

half as well as me, does he?

-Vodka?

-Thank you.

-That is too much.

-You can take that, surely.

Too fast. I wanted to make you a

toast. You'll have to have some more.

Not so much, please.

Don't spoil my illusions of you.

What are your illusions of me?

Your capacity for vodka

is certainly one of them.

Here's to more love

in everybody's life.

Well, I have a little document here.

Shall I read it?

"Manifesto to my faithful subjects.

I, Nicolas Vlll, king. . .

. . .do hereby reject utterly

the overtures. . .

. . .lately made to me

by certain persons. . .

. . .that I assume the powers of

government before the appointed time.

I do hereby adjure

all citizens of the realm. . .

. . .to unite loyally

and wholeheartedly. . .

. . .under the regency of my father,

the Grand Duke Charles. . .

. . .for the settled peace

of the kingdom. Signed, Nicolas. "

But it isn't signed "Nicolas" at all.

Of course not, darling.

You have those little conditions

to agree to first.

Give and take, darling.

Give and take.

That's right. That will help you

see it in the best possible light.

Do you not see that. . .

. . .a general election would put

the Kaiser's party in power. . .

. . .and there will be a war

in Europe in 6 months?

I don't see how you can be so sure.

What if your party wins?

That's the thing about elections.

You never know who will win.

"The overtures lately made to me

by certain persons. "

You do not realize

what you're making the boy sign.

Yes, darling. A manifesto.

A confession.

An abject confession by my son

that the Kaiser plotted with him. . .

. . .to overturn the constitution

and destroy me!

-Another vodka.

-No, thank you.

A little one.

-Something to eat?

-No, thank you. I'm not hungry.

The timing of events will have

to be most carefully considered.

I hold the initiative now.

I must not lose it.

Well, I don't see,

with your fine brain. . .

. . .and wonderful grasp

of situations. . .

. . .how you could ever lose anything

so little as. . .

. . .an initiative.

Wouldn't you be more comfortable

with your feet up?

No, thank you.

Vodka.

No, thank you.

I have it!

I will give this manifesto

to the press of the entire world.

That will proclaim Wolfstein's guilt

and explain why I put him in jail.

It will answer those

stupid American protests.

I mean, it will satisfy

democratic opinion.

That's wonderful!

Here lies the key of the plan.

I will be most magnanimous.

Having established Wolfstein's guilt

to the world, I will release him.

So will I make him look

the perfect fool. . .

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes