The Prisoner of Zenda Page #5

- I did.

Then why should I ever leave the throne?

Would you expose me?

I could marry the princess

and send Michael and the king to...

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

- Well, and if I did?

I could raise all of Strelsau in an hour.

You could do that, but you wouldn't.

Then find the king.

Find him before it's too late.

Oh, the man not knowing

his own brother!

But I assure you,

they're enough alike to be twins.

You're trying to tell me

that the man I saw crowned is an impostor.

Not your type of fiction, I see,

Your Highness. Too incredible.

But still, those things do happen.

I knew twin sisters once that...

Well, 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, and by the way, royal blood is not blue,

as most people think.

It's red. I know. 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?

There's one thing we haven't discussed.

In fact, it's the same old topic.

In a cabin, you say?

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.

Thanks.

How about something 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

that he's a bit of a nuisance...

...always whining

about being chained up.

- You say you wounded him?

- Only slightly.

But the cabin is very damp, Your Highness,

and he might 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 dies first

and is buried in the cathedral as the king...

There are moments in your presence,

Your Highness...

...when I feel myself enamored to you.

This fraud is an insult

to the whole country.

Your Highness points out

the path of duty.

Any patriot ought to kill him on sight.

Rassendyll.

It can't be a bill from my tailor.

"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 the Boulevard Elphberg.

He must be alone.

If he neglects this invitation,

he may harm the Princess Flavia. "

It's a trick of Michael's.

They take you for a fool.

Wait a minute. Here's some more.

"If you hesitate,

consult Captain von Tarlenheim. "

They must take me for a 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 Maupau.

French woman madly in love with Michael.

Of course!

- She would lose Michael.

- How far is the Boulevard Elphberg?

- Are you going?

- I am.

- Not without me.

- Good man. But no Zapt.

He'll have 14 reasons why we shouldn't go,

all of them good ones.

And if he can't find any news of the king,

perhaps we can.

- It's locked?

- Note said behind the wall.

- How are you going to get back?

- You would think about that.

She's there. Alone.

Hurry, Mr. Rassendyll.

You've been trapped.

Three men are coming here to kill you.

Where's the king?

Before I tell you, I must have your word.

No harm must come to Michael.

If you're betraying Michael now,

why are you so anxious about him?

Think what you like.

Think that I don't like murder.

Or think that I'm just a jealous woman.

Have I your word?

Yes, as much as I can believe,

if you're telling the truth.

They're moving the king from the forest

to Michael's castle near Zenda.

That's what I wanted to know.

If the castle is attacked, the king will be

killed and no trace of his body will be found.

Nice chap, Michael.

Do you want my help or don't you?

I do. How can we rescue the king?

Leave that to me.

You must have his friends near at hand...

...at his hunting lodge on some pretext,

boar hunting perhaps.

When I can arrange an escape,

I'll send you a message.

All right. How will I know

it isn't another trap of Michael's?

Oh, yes.

The man I send you

will have the mate to this.

Now go, quickly.

And you?

If Michael finds out what I've done,

you and I shall not meet again.

Good luck in everything.

And to you, with her.

They've come back too soon.

Pardon this untimely interruption,

Mr. Rassendyll.

I only ask a word with you.

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

We can talk with the door between us,

Count Rupert.

Will you give me your honor

not to fire while we talk?

I give you my honor not to fire

before you do.

But I won't let you in.

Stand outside and talk.

As you please.

A truce, while we offer peace terms.

Fifty thousand pounds in English notes

and safe conduct to the frontier.

Sounds like a reasonable offer.

Come out, then. I have a good horse for you

and the money ready.

Just a minute while I think it over.

Stand back out of the line of fire.

- What are you going to do?

- I'll show you a new use for a tea table.

Gentlemen, I accept your offer, relying

on your honor. Will you open the door?

Don't open it. He may fire.

Shoot with a lady present?

In England, old boy, it simply isn't done.

Come on. My pistol's in my pocket,

and all my cards are on the table.

Open it.

Three men afraid of one?

- That door's locked.

- You're safe. Why are you laughing?

I've got a story for you and Zapt,

and something else.

- What?

- A pledge from a lovely enemy.

I regret that we don't seem able

to amuse Your Majesty here in Strelsau.

I would've offered you better entertainment

than just riding with me...

...but I was foolish enough to think...

- What?

- That just for a day or two...

...after last night,

you'd be happy without much gaiety.

I hope the boar hunting

will be more engrossing.

- Are you offended with me?

- What right have I to be offended?

Last night you made me feel

that every hour away from you is wasted.

But boar hunting, that's a different thing.

- Do you think I want to go?

- Of course not. It's the boars.

They're pining for you to hunt them.

Did they send a delegation?

Perhaps the boars will hunt me.

Perhaps, Flavia, they'll catch me.

Aren't you touched even by that danger?

Wouldn't you weep for my danger?

This is like you used to be...

...not like the king I've come to love.

My darling, did you dream

I was leaving you to go hunting?

- Then you're not going?

- Well, I'm not going hunting.

That is, just for boar.

Then what? Rudolph, it's Michael.

Oh, it's nothing.

It seems he's hatched a little plot at Zenda.

Against you? Darling, you mustn't go.

Shall I tell them that I can't go because you

and I have an engagementg to go riding?

- I won't let you go! Send someone else.

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