The Prisoner of Zenda Page #4

I'll never forget old Mueller

at the cathedral.

He used to be the king's tutor.

He fixed his eye on you

and he never took it off.

I was certain the game was up, until

I realized that eye was his glass one.

By the way, Rassendyll...

...what were you doing

with the princess all that time?

Can't you even leave the king

to do his own lovemaking?

That's enough of that.

Are you ready to go, Rassendyll?

We must leave at once if I'm to have

His Majesty back here by daylight.

If anybody comes to see the king,

you're to say he's asleep.

- Yes, sir.

- If it's Michael and that doesn't stop him...

- That'd be awkward.

- So awkward that if that door's forced...

...you're not to be alive to tell about it.

- Do you think I would be, sir?

Good lad. Come on.

Rassendyll, I'm not much good

at speechmaking.

Well, we don't need one, do we?

- Well, you know what I mean.

- Yeah, I think I do, old man.

We have no time for sentiment.

In a few hours time,

I'll be plain Rudolf Rassendyll again.

You'll be lucky if you're not

the late Rudolf Rassendyll.

- Happy thought.

- I feel my head wobbling...

...every minute you're in the city.

In the old king's time, we used this more

often than any other door in the palace.

It saved many a royal head...

...and many a royal reputation. I...

Yes, come on.

No lights, eh? That's odd.

Josef?

Josef!

Josef!

Thank you.

Locked. Here, take this.

The king!

Look!

- Kidnapped.

- Or murdered.

Michael's been in Strelsau all day.

Still is.

Yes, but that young devil Hentzau isn't.

I wondered

why I hadn't seen him all day.

That settles it.

Now they know everything.

Yes, they know everything,

but they can't speak.

They can't denounce us

without denouncing themselves.

Can they say, "That wasn't the king

because we kidnapped the king...

...and murdered his servant"?

Can they say that?

No. But that won't prevent them

murdering the king.

With you in Strelsau, they won't dare.

If they do, they're finished.

Can they kill him

and leave you on the throne?

No, you're asking too much.

No man could carry on

this masquerade indefinitely.

I've done everything I can

to help but...

Yes, I suppose you're right. You've done

everything that could be expected.

More than could be expected.

It's just that...

Rudolf is my king.

I have a feeling about the crown.

I suppose I feel about it as another man

might feel about the woman he loved.

He wouldn't like to leave her to her fate

without even a fight.

What will happen to her now?

- Princess Flavia?

- Yes.

If the king has been murdered, Michael

as regent will proclaim her queen.

And then... marry her.

She'd never submit to that.

Flavia is a princess of the royal house.

She'd have no choice.

She would expect none.

And will you stand by

and let that happen to her?

Will you?

His Majesty, the king.

Your Majesty.

Oh, I'm delighted to see you.

Rudolf, are you worried about something?

Worried? With you in my arms?

I was thinking there'll never be

another night like this...

...or another waltz like this.

I'll never forget tonight as long as I live,

if that's what you mean.

Nor will I.

Do you have to dance with

anybody else tonight?

I dance only as my king commands.

Well, then your king commands that...

Why do they all stop?

- You know the rule. Because we do.

- And you mean that...

...if we start, they'll go on?

- Of course.

If we go out on the terrace,

will they come out too?

- Of course not.

- Well, then.

- Let's go out on the terrace.

- Oh, not now.

- Later?

- Later.

That is, if we can slip away.

Oh, no.

I want that promise.

Come, we must dance.

- Not a step until I get that promise.

- I promise.

The British ambassador, newly appointed.

Do you know him?

- Yes.

- Let us trust in Providence.

You'll never get Providence interested

in this enterprise.

Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness...

...His Excellency the British Ambassador

and Lady Topham.

Your Excellencies.

Your Majesty.

Her Britannic Majesty

the Queen Empress...

...commands me to convey

her felicitations upon your coronation.

Be pleased to convey

our thanks to Her Majesty.

You may also add our felicitations

upon her jubilee.

Your Majesty, would it be premature

to congratulate you...

...upon Your Majesty's

approaching wedding?

Well, yes, it might be.

Rudolf, we should pay our respects

to His Eminence the Cardinal.

Amazing resemblance

to the younger Rassendyll.

Not the slightest.

Your Eminence

has greatly honored us tonight.

Your Majesty's subjects

already love their king.

I think they're impatient

to love their queen as well.

I'm grateful for the interest of the people

and of Your Eminence.

Graciously answered.

And now,

the preparations for the ceremony...

...of necessity are going to be

many and elaborate.

Would it please Your Majesty

to name the date?

Now? Tonight?

It was understood that the ceremony

would shortly follow the coronation.

Well, shall we say, in six months' time?

So long a postponement?

Your Eminence, there's an old proverb...

...which councils us against crossing

bridges before we come to them.

If Your Majesty would examine

that proverb...

...I think you would find it very difficult

to cross a bridge at any other time.

Well, I'm sure my cousin will understand.

Your cousin begs leave

to bid Your Majesty...

...and Your Eminence good night.

- Good night, my child.

- If you will excuse us, Your Eminence.

Flavia...

...you promised to go out

on the terrace with me.

- Is that a command, Your Majesty?

- That's a command...

...but a very humble one.

Why did you ask me out here?

I couldn't let you go home

while you were still angry.

I'm sure you had excellent reasons

for what you said.

Oh, believe me, I have.

There are times when a man

might find it impossible to do...

...even what his heart

prompts him to do.

But I never could willingly

do anything to hurt you.

How can I believe you

when I don't even understand you?

Then will you believe this

without understanding?

I love you.

Oh, is it true?

Or do you say that because you must?

I love you more than truth

or life or honor.

Tell me, Rudolf...

...why is it that I love you now

with all my heart...

...when I never even liked you before?

- Never before?

It was at the coronation.

I looked at you and...

And that was the first time

you loved me?

You ask that as if you'd be pleased

to hear me say yes.

Would "yes" be true?

Yes.

You seem so different.

I wanted you to be different

from the Rudolf I knew...

...from the Rudolf I didn't love.

And you are. And you aren't.

Flavia...

...if I were different,

if I were not the king...?

Why do you say that?

Could you still love me

if I were not the king?

In my heart there is no king, no crown.

Only you.

Flavia, I am not...

Your Majesty!

A thousand pardons, Your Majesty.

His Eminence the Cardinal

is waiting to take his leave.

We must not keep His Eminence waiting.

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