The Prisoner of Zenda Page #3

Find out who betrayed us.

If only he'd drunk

what I wanted to put in that bottle.

Look now upon our liege lord,

Rudolf V...

...undoubted king of this realm.

And if any man would deny our sovereign

lord's title to our lands and fealty...

...let him speak now,

or be attainted traitor.

Receive the crown of the kingdom...

...and understand what a glory of sanctity

and honor and bravery it signifies.

God save the king.

God save the king!

God save the king!

- God save the king!

- God save the king.

I, Rudolf, with justice and mercy

to deal sovereignty...

...to guard with vigilance and honor

the welfare of my peoples...

...from all enemies to defend them...

...and from the throne of my ancestors,

to bear faithful rule...

...all this do I swear.

I, Flavia, do become thy vassal...

...swearing to serve thee in truth

with life and limb...

...until death findeth me...

...so help me God.

- Do I kiss her?

- Yes.

Well, I think everything went off very well,

don't you, for a coronation?

I mean, that is, not that

a coronation shouldn't go well...

...provided the king puts in an appearance

suitably dressed and suitably rehearsed.

- And suitably sober.

- And suitably sober.

Yes, I was hoping you'd notice that.

By the way...

...among my other failings,

I've rather neglected you, haven't I?

Two picture post cards

in three years, I think.

To think, all this time you've been changing

into the loveliest princess in Europe.

No, the loveliest girl in Europe.

Your new responsibilities do not compel you

to shower me with compliments in private.

You call this private?

I'm glad you think I've changed

since you last saw me.

You're different too.

Well, wouldn't anybody seem different

with all this going on?

I probably looked like a prize idiot,

and talked like one too.

You're too modest.

You really looked and acted

like a king today.

Oh, thank you.

It was delightfully unexpected.

- Aren't you forgetting something?

- What?

That's better.

Wait, I've got an idea.

Supposing you bow on my side

of this goldfish bowl...

...and I'll salute on yours.

Like that.

There, isn't that more cozy?

They seem to like that.

Bless them.

They're with you heart and soul.

Me? It was you they were cheering.

I felt like cheering you too

when I first saw you.

- Everyone's waiting...

- Oh, no, please.

Don't go yet. It's such a relief

to have you to myself for a moment.

All day long I've been on parade.

Cheered at, waved at, stared at.

Not a moment to tell you...

Tell me what?

It's enough to turn

any man's head a bit.

I'm crowned king, I meet the loveliest,

the most beautiful woman.

That isn't what you used to say. You used

to call me "that clumsy little scarecrow."

- I did?

- Yes.

- I should've been horsewhipped.

- Those were my very words.

- Once I kicked you, quite hard.

- Good. I'm sure I deserved it.

But I hope you never find it necessary

to kick me again.

You know, you've changed

beyond all recognition.

It's almost impossible to believe

that anybody could change so much.

And so quickly.

Well, it must be that you

bring out the best in people.

No. You've become

an entirely different person.

They're waiting for us.

We really must go.

Must we?

Another thing I always wanted to know,

is the world outside...

...really as wicked and exciting

as the novels make out?

What did you do on those long trips?

When you weren't drinking, I mean.

Well, when I wasn't drinking,

I used to go fishing.

Fishing? You used to despise fishing.

Well, I did and I didn't, if you follow me.

Have you ever done any trout fishing?

- No, and you know why.

- Oh, I do?

I asked you to teach me.

You sent me home.

I made too many mistakes

and scared the fish.

But once you really hurt me.

- You've forgotten, haven't you?

- I wish you had too.

It was my 14th birthday party.

I had my first formal dress.

I thought I was quite grown up.

You were to be the guest of honor.

I wanted to show you that

the ugly duckling had become a swan.

And what did I do?

At the end when everyone had gone home

and you still hadn't come...

...I hated you.

I'm beginning to hate myself.

Yes?

Well?

His Highness Prince Michael is waiting to

pay his respects to you, Your Majesty.

Well, let him wait.

And furthermore,

Captain von Tarlenheim...

...I find your intrusion

excessively irregular.

Rudolf, it's not wise

to provoke Michael deliberately.

- Oh, why not? Why be worried about him?

- I'm not.

- I'm worried about you.

- Well, that's a different matter altogether.

We can't allow that.

Will you excuse me?

My dear Michael!

I had no idea you'd been kept waiting.

Why was I not informed

of my brother's presence?

I will not tolerate

such inefficiency again, gentlemen.

This is indeed a privilege

worth being kept waiting for, cousin.

It's most kind of you to say so, cousin.

You know, brother,

this was a day I'd really been dreading.

I had a queer feeling

that something might go wrong.

But with you in charge,

my fears were foolish, weren't they?

I can hardly thank you enough

for arranging my affairs.

It's gratifying to find Your Majesty in such

excellent spirits after the strain of the day.

I've never felt so fit in my life.

It must be the excitement.

It's the first time I've ever been crowned,

you know.

Yeah, that's rather funny.

Don't you think so, brother?

- Very funny, indeed.

- Yeah.

There's another reason I feel so well. I had

an extraordinary native wine last night.

Soothed my nerves, slept like a top.

This one comes from very near your castle.

You really ought to try it sometime,

if ever you're troubled with insomnia.

I very seldom suffer with insomnia.

Indeed. That shows what a very

clear conscience you must have.

I have.

I have yet to have a dream that did not

come true, provided I waited long enough.

Yes, of course.

Everything comes to him who waits.

I see I bore Your Majesty.

With Your Majesty's permission,

I bid you good night.

Rudolf, do be careful.

You know how bitterly he hates you.

Well, now he knows

how bitterly I hate him.

You still can't afford

to make an open enemy of him.

He'd stop at nothing,

even now, to ruin you.

Oh, you're overestimating him.

Or perhaps you're underestimating me.

Rudolf, if you won't think of yourself,

think of me.

All my life I've known

what my future had to be...

...and I was resigned to it.

But now... Now I don't have to

tell you how different it is.

Flavia, forgive me.

I had no idea that you might...

That I would...

l... I only want you to realize

how much your life means to...

To your country.

To my country?

- And to your friends.

- My friends?

And to your cousin

and most loving servant.

What else matters?

Good night, Rudolf.

No, don't go. Not yet.

Stay a little longer.

But you'll be seeing me

every day from now on.

You may even get tired of me.

Good night.

No. Goodbye, Flavia.

What a day for you to remember.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes