The Prisoner of Zenda Page #5

- Is anything wrong, Colonel Zapt?

- Nothing, Your Highness.

It is always my unpleasant task

to be the reminder of duty.

- Faithful Colonel Zapt.

- God bless Your Royal Highness.

But above all, God save the king.

God save the king.

The romance progressed

very well tonight.

You struck a good blow for the king.

What's to prevent me

striking a blow for myself?

Don't take it so. You're bound

in honor to play the king.

For honor? Have you left me any honor?

- Come, come.

- You forgot the human element, didn't you?

I'm a man in love

with a woman who loves me.

- You saw tonight. You heard!

- I did.

Then why should I ever leave the throne?

Could you expose me?

If you did,

you'd get Michael in my place.

I could marry her

and send the king and Michael...

- lf you did that, you'd have to kill me.

- What if I did?

- I could raise all of Strelsau against you.

- You could, but you wouldn't.

Then find the king. Find him!

Before it's too late.

Odd, a man not knowing

his own brother.

But I assure you,

they're enough alike to be twins.

You're trying to tell me

the man I saw crowned is an impostor?

Not your type of fiction, I see.

Too incredible.

But still, these things do happen.

I knew twin sisters once who...

But that's another story.

I see Your Highness isn't interested.

Shall I go to market elsewhere?

If what you say is true, why hasn't

the king been heard from? Where is he?

He's in a woodcutter's cabin.

Oh, by the way, royal blood is not blue

as most people think. It's red.

- I know because I had to spill a little.

- You've abducted him.

It's an old medieval custom,

abducting kings.

Only you could have carried out a coup

like that. What have you done with him?

Well, there's one thing we haven't

discussed. In fact, it's the same old topic.

In a cabin, you say?

But where, man? Where?

Now, why do people abduct kings?

For fun, Your Highness?

Surely there's always the little matter

of the king's ransom.

You can be the first man in the kingdom,

after the king.

- How much down on account?

- Ten thousand.

That's a poor price for a king and a crown.

- Twenty.

- Well, it's too cheap.

But I will admit he's a bit of a nuisance,

always whining about being chained up.

- How badly did you wound him?

- Not fatally, I'm afraid.

But the cabin is very damp, Your Highness.

He could easily develop pneumonia.

And let the Englishman reign

for the rest of his life?

- Could we ever expose him?

- That hadn't occurred to me.

But if the Englishman died first and

was buried in the cathedral as the king...

There are moments in your presence

when I feel myself an amateur.

This fraud is an insult

to the whole country.

Your Highness shows me

the path of duty.

It is the simple duty of a patriot

to kill him like a dog.

There are times, Rupert,

when we need the ladies.

Even in matters of state.

I'm about to ask a great service

of you and Antoinette.

Rudolf Rassendyll?

It couldn't be a bill from my tailor,

I suppose.

"If Mr. Rassendyll desires to know

the whereabouts of the king...

...let him come tonight at 2:00

to the deserted summerhouse...

...behind the wall on Boulevard Elphberg.

He must be alone.

If he neglects this invitation,

he may harm the Princess Flavia."

Oh, obviously a trick of Michael's.

They must take you for a fool.

Wait a minute. There's a bit more.

"If you hesitate,

consult Captain von Tarlenheim."

They must take me

for an even bigger fool.

"Ask him what woman would do most...

...to prevent Michael

from marrying the Princess Flavia...

...and therefore most to prevent

his becoming king.

And ask if her name begins with A."

A? Antoinette de Mauban.

A French woman madly in love

with Michael. Of course!

- She'll lose him if...

- Where is the Boulevard Elphberg?

- Are you going?

- I am.

- Not without me.

- Good man. But no Colonel Zapt.

He'd have 14 different reasons why

we shouldn't go, all of them good ones.

Well, if the colonel

can't get news of the king...

...we'll get it for him.

You know this is a trap, don't you?

Three men are coming here to kill you.

Where's the king?

Before I tell you, I must have your word.

No harm to Michael.

Why do you betray him in one breath

and plead for his life in the next?

Think what you like.

Think that I just don't like murder.

Think that I'm just a jealous woman.

- Have I your word?

- Yes.

As much as I can give it,

if you tell the truth.

They're moving the king tonight, from

the forest to Michael's castle near Zenda.

- That's what I wanted to know.

- Wait.

If the castle is attacked, the king will be

killed. No trace of his body will be found.

Charming character, your friend Michael.

- Do you want my help or don't you?

- Yes.

- How do we rescue the king?

- Leave that to me.

You must have his friends at hand

at his hunting lodge on some excuse...

...boar hunting perhaps.

As soon as I can arrange an escape,

I'll get word to you.

How will I know

it isn't another trap of Michael's?

The man I send you

will have the mate to this.

Now go, and go quickly.

- And you?

- If Michael finds out what I've done...

...you and I will not meet again.

Good luck in everything.

And to you with the princess.

They've come. They're too soon.

Mr. Rassendyll.

Mr. Rassendyll, forgive me if I interrupt you

at an inopportune moment...

...but I'd like a friendly word

with you.

I'm alone and unarmed.

It's Rupert of Hentzau. Don't trust him.

We can talk with the door between us,

Count Hentzau.

Will you give me your word

not to fire while we talk?

I give you my word not to fire

before you do.

Say what you have to say

from where you are.

As you please.

A truce, while I offer peace terms.

Fifty thousand pounds

and safe conduct to the frontier.

- Well, that sounds fair enough.

- Well, do you accept?

Give me a moment to think it over.

Get out of the line of fire.

Yes.

- Count Hentzau?

- Your Majesty.

I hold you to your word

and accept your offer.

Congratulations.

The money's in my pocket and there's a

good horse waiting for you. Come out.

I'd prefer you to come in.

It's less public.

- Do you mind?

- Not at all.

Careful, he'll shoot first.

What, after he's given his word?

In England that simply isn't done.

Open it.

What, when there are

three against one?

All right, I'll open it myself.

Fritz!

I regret that we have failed to keep Your

Majesty sufficiently amused in Strelsau.

I would've suggested a much more

varied program than just riding with me...

...only I was foolish enough

to believe that...

To believe what?

To believe you were serious when you told

me you preferred my company to the courts.

I should have known better.

But I'm sure after an exciting boar hunt...

...you will be your old self again.

- Are you angry with me?

- Oh, and what right have I to be angry?

Last night you made me feel

that every hour away from me was wasted.

But boar hunting,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes