The Prisoner of Zenda Page #4

Ready to start, Rassendyll?

If anyone comes to see the king,

you're to say that he's asleep.

- Yes, sir.

- Lf it's Michael and that doesn't stop him?

That would be awkward.

So awkward that if that door's forced,

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

Do you think I will be, sir?

Good lad.

Well...

I'm not very good at making speeches.

I don't think we need to, do we?

- You know what I mean.

- I think I do, old man.

We have no time for sentiment.

Come on!

Well, in a few hours

I'll be just plain Rudolf Rassendyll again.

You'll be lucky if you're not

the late Rudolf Rassendyll.

That's a happy thought.

By heaven, I feel my head

wobbling on my shoulders...

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

In the old king's time,

I knew this way well. Come on.

No lights? That's odd.

Josef!

Josef!

Josef!

Here!

Still drunk, by heaven!

Josef!

The king! The king!

Look!

Kidnapped.

Or murdered.

And Michael's been

in Strelsau all day. Still is.

But that young devil Hentzau isn't.

I wondered

why I hadn't seen him all day.

Then that settles it.

They know everything by now.

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?

It still won't keep them

from 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.

Nobody could carry on this masquerade.

I've tried to help you all I can, but...

Yes, I suppose you're right.

You've done all that could be expected.

More than could be expected.

It's just that...

You see, Rudolph is my king.

I have a feeling about my king,

about the crown.

I feel about it much as any other man

would feel about his children...

...or the woman he loved.

He'd hate to leave her to her fate

without putting up a fight.

- What fate?

- Michael's abducted him. Who knows but...

You know whom I mean.

Oh, Princess Flavia.

With the king dead, Michael as regent

will declare her the queen.

After that, he'll marry her, of course.

She'd never do that. She couldn't!

Flavia is a princess of the royal house.

She'd have no choice.

She'd expect none.

But you can't let that happen to her.

Can you?

His Majesty, the king.

- Your Majesty.

- Delighted to see you, commisaire.

- You look troubled.

- Troubled?

After all these glorious days

with you? No.

I was only thinking there may never be

another night like this, another waltz.

We shall always waltz together, Rudolph.

I'll dance with no one

but you tonight, Flavia.

And I dance only as my king commands.

Then your king commands...

Why do they stop?

- You know the rule. Because we do.

- You...

- And if we start, will they go on?

- Of course.

If we walked out on the terrace,

would they do the same?

- Of course not.

- Well, then.

In that case,

let's go out on the terrace.

- Not now.

- Later?

Later.

- That is, if we can slip away.

- Oh, no.

No. I want that promise.

Come, we must dance.

- Not a step until I get that promise.

- I promise.

The British ambassador,

recently appointed.

Do you know him?

Let's trust in Providence.

You'll never get Providence interested

in this enterprise.

Your Majesty, His Excellency

the British Ambassador and Lady Topham.

Your Excellencies.

Your Majesty.

Her Britannic Majesty

the Queen Empress...

...commands me to convey her felicitations

on your coronation.

Be pleased to convey our thanks

to Her Majesty, Your Excellency.

And you may add our felicitations

on her jubilee.

Your Majesty, would it be premature

to congratulate Your Majesty...

...on your approaching wedding?

Yes, it might be.

Amazing resemblance

to the young Rassendyll.

Not at all.

Rudolph, we must pay our respects

to His Eminence the Cardinal.

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.

And graciously answered.

And now, our preparations

will require much time.

Will it please Your Majesty

to name the date?

Now? Tonight?

It was understood the ceremony

would follow the coronation.

Well, shall we say,

in about six months' time?

So long a postponement?

There's an old proverb, Your Eminence.

Something about crossing your bridges

before you come to them.

If Your Majesty will examine

that proverb...

...you will find how very difficult it would

be 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.

- Lf you will excuse us.

You promised to go out

on the terrace with me.

- Is that a command, sire?

- That's a command, please.

Need you bring me out here, cousin?

I couldn't let you go home,

not after that.

I'm sure you have excellent reasons

for what you said.

I have.

There are times

when a man might find it impossible...

...to do even what his heart

prompts him to do.

But please believe me...

...I never could willingly do

anything to hurt you.

I still don't understand.

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, Rudolph...

...why is it that I love you now

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.

Your hair is so beautiful.

I wanted you to be different

from the Rudolph I knew...

...the Rudolph I didn't love and you are.

And yet 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.

Dearest, does a woman

who marries without love...

...look on a man as I look on you?

Flavia, I am not...

Your Majesty!

A thousand pardons, sire.

His Eminence the Cardinal

is waiting to take his leave.

We must not keep His Eminence waiting.

- Is something wrong, Colonel Zapt?

- Nothing, Your Royal Highness.

It's always my unpleasant task

to be the reminder of duty.

Faithful Colonel Zapt.

God bless Your Royal Highness.

But above all, the king!

God save the king.

Well, 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, lad. You're bound

in honor to play the king's part.

Have you left me any honor?

- Oh, come, come.

- You forget the human element, don't you?

I'm a man in love

with a woman who loves me.

- You saw tonight. You heard tonight!

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