The Prisoner of Zenda Page #6

- And what sort of a king could do that?

- But I don't understand.

- And I can't explain yet.

But believe me,

there are reasons why I must go.

I'm sorry.

You see...

...I've never been in love before.

That's better.

And now...

...I must go, darling.

No.

Stay here. Let me go alone.

Very quickly.

No, don't turn.

If I see your eyes,

I might forget to be a king.

Rudolph, come back to me soon.

Shan't a man come back

to the loveliest lady in all the wide world?

A thousand Michaels

couldn't keep me from you.

But if I shouldn't...

No, don't turn.

Rudolph.

If I shouldn't, you'd never forgive me?

Never.

You'll be a brave queen,

and do your part?

Though my life be empty

and my heart dead.

You would do your part.

Rudolph!

Put those toys away, children,

and lead me to the king.

Well, the man has courage,

you must grant him that.

I'll grant him six feet of earth

when the time comes.

No time like the present.

Your Majesty, Count Hentzau,

with a message from the Duke of Strelsau.

Tell him His Majesty is indisposed.

No! Let's hear what he has to say.

Send him in.

- The play-actor!

- Hentzau!

Your Majesty, I bring you

your brother's humble greetings...

...and his sincere wish that you enjoy

good boar hunting here in Zenda.

And his respects, of course,

to your two principal boars.

Well, what price the crown today?

The last offer from my brother

was 50,000 pounds.

Do I hear perhaps 52,000?

You'll hear a much better offer than that,

Your Majesty. In private.

Before you deliver another

of Michael's handsome offers...

...I've decided to give you a chance...

...to escape your thoroughly

well-deserved end...

...on condition that you yourself

return the prisoner of Zenda to me alive.

Are you trying to tell me

that you actually want the king back?

Now, really, Rassendyll...

Then I suppose the next order of business

is Michael's proposal.

The duke offers more than I would.

I simply said, "Hang the play-actor

and save the money. "

Indeed. And Michael?

Doubles the offer.

A hundred thousand pounds.

I told him you'd refuse.

Between ourselves, Michael

does not understand the gentleman.

You and I, we do, don't we?

Rassendyll, you're a man

after my own heart.

Now, you and I are the only two people

worthwhile saving out of this whole affair.

Now, aren't we? This is my plan for us.

Now, listen. Attack the castle boldly.

Let your...

...your friends take the lead.

- Arrange a time with me...

- I have such confidence in you, of course.

Michael will fall.

The king, you don't want to find him.

You won't. That's been provided for.

If your friends should fall too,

well, then...

...you and I are the only ones

who know the truth about what happened.

Understand?

I, Rupert Hentzau and you,

king of the realm.

Aren't you being

just a little unkind to Michael?

Perhaps a little.

But I can't stand his jealousy.

- Jealousy?

- Yeah.

You've seen it.

Oh, the tea party!

Where you and your friends

got on the wrong side of the table.

- Well, surely she doesn't prefer the duke?

- Yes, silly creature.

So you're doing all of this for love,

are you? How romantic.

Well, love...

...and Your Majesty's gratitude

throughout your long and happy reign.

And then, of course, you might make over

to me Michael's castles and estates.

That's a very clever scheme.

It does you great credit.

Look what I offer you:

The throne and the princess.

You're planning on it anyway,

and this way is sure.

Shall we shake hands on it?

Zapt, listen to this.

Count Rupert offers me the throne.

That is, if you two don't mind

being killed.

Their turn will come later, play-actor.

Yours comes now!

Well, if at first you don't succeed...

Play the queen, you blockhead.

Florence Nightingale!

O Woman! In our hours of ease

Uncertain, coy, and hard to please

When pain and anguish ring the brow,

A ministering angel thou!

Water. More water.

You'll find plenty of water

down here, sire.

So even a king can be curious, I see, eh?

Now, Jacob's ladder

went up into the sky.

This goes down to the moat,

but serves the same purpose.

If this castle's attacked,

there's us in the guardroom...

...just up those steps,

ready to shove you down Jacob's ladder.

Properly weighted, of course.

I'd like to be left alone,

if your orders permit.

My audience is ended, Your Majesty?

Very well, sire. Try and get some sleep.

And may you dream of Jacob's ladder,

with paradise at the end of it.

Oh, I...

I've just done my poor best

to make His Majesty...

...more receptive.

Brother.

At last you've the courage

to present yourself.

Sign this, and a comfortable bed is yours.

This historic document.

Your abdication.

I haven't lived like a king.

But perhaps I can die like one.

I will not disgrace...

...the crown I never wore.

Did you ever see England in the spring?

I know a little stream near Aylesbury I'd like

to show you two where the trout are...

Well...

It'll be a pity if we never get the chance.

God grant, you at least

can see your own home again.

I'm not sure

it can ever be the same again.

I know, lad. I know.

Come in.

A man is here who insists

he has a personal message for His Majesty.

- He says he's one of the duke's men, sir.

- Have you searched him thoroughly?

- Certainly, sir.

- Send him in.

- Oh, if only this is...

- Quiet!

What is it you want?

I have a message for...

Be faithful, and His Majesty will reward you

beyond your dreams.

You may count upon me, sir.

I am to lower the drawbridge

at two hours past midnight.

But the noise. You say the king

will be killed at the first alarm.

That is correct.

Before the bridge goes down...

...one of your men must swim the moat

and climb to her room.

- Well?

- Alone...

...one man might reach the dungeon.

That man alone

must hold off the guards from murder...

...until the others cross the bridge

and get below.

Always two guards

on the prisoner, you say?

Two by day, and two by night, sir.

No other men who can fight?

- Only His Highness and Count Rupert.

- That's three against six.

Tell madame we will be ready at 2,

waiting for her signal...

...then I'll swim the moat.

The others will be waiting

for you to lower the bridge.

Good luck.

But why three against six?

Surely we're going to take our men.

We don't dare, if the secret is to be kept.

No, the odds are too great.

We must have help at hand

to use if needed.

Yes, let them come.

I should be the one

to go into that castle, Rudolf.

Right, lad.

We can't afford to lose both our kings.

One king you'll lose tonight.

If anything happens to him and not to me,

your game's up anyway.

I've been an impostor for your sake,

I'll not be one for my own.

No, Fritz, I climb into that window.

But if we lose you both,

what will become of us who are left?

You'll serve Queen Flavia.

I would to God I could be one of you.

And now he's alone in that devil's castle.

Thanks.

Takes the chill off.

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