The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella Page #9

You see only love

and happiness

staring you in the face.

I see nothing but war

and destruction...

Unless a sacrifice

is made.

And the sacrifice...

Is to be me.

Yes.

It's a lot to ask,

but I have to

ask it.

To leave him now?

To leave him now,

before it's too late.

But he would

search for me again.

He would search

for me and find me.

I know he would.

Yes. That, too,

is true,

but we've allowed

for that.

It is suggested

that with proper dowry

and every other

consideration

fitting the circumstances

of this most unhappy occasion,

it is suggested that you be

taken from here this very night

to a secret place of exile

far beyond our borders.

You have forgotten

nothing, then.

I thank you for

bringing such tidings

with tact

and understanding.

You were well chosen

for the task.

Your ladies-in-waiting

will be sent for.

But in bowing to

the royal demands,

I must make one

of my own.

Milady?

It is not very much

and something

which...

With your greater experience

in these matters,

you will not find

very difficult.

I wish you to tell his

royal highness...

Prince Edward...

I wish

you'd tell him...

Tell him...

Tell him that

it wasn't love

say I tried

say I lied

tell him

I'm unworthy of

what he feels

inside

tell him that

you heard me say

what seemed right

just last night

simply seemed

to fade away

in the light of day

tell him of the

countless other lovers

whom I tantalized,

victimized

tell him of

the many other times

I've played

this heartless game

just tee saw'.

'Tell him

what I really am

is just a cold

and empty sham

tell him anything

but not

that I love him

tell him that

it wasn't love

all we shared,

all we cared

make him hate

my memory

make him glad he's free

paint me evil,

paint me cruel

say I broke every rule

make him feel

that he's a fool

for his loving me

don't let him know

why I must leave him

why I mus go

so far away

for if he knew

how much I love him

no power on earth

could make him stay

your majesty.

The deed is done.

She certainly behaved

like a princess.

Come on!

The frontier!

Father.

Father, you have done

what you've done.

The spoils

are yours,

but it is

a small victory.

If I could explain...

Spare me that.

Spare me the final hypocrisy

of your sympathy.

Take your map.

Rearrange it to your

hearts content.

Make your precious

marriage of alliance.

You've destroyed whatever

vestige of love and happiness

I might have found,

and you've done it in

the name of patriotism.

So... let it be thus.

Choose me a bride

from amongst the ragbag

of royal virgins

I have twice

rejected.

Choose who you will.

I care not.

I'll play my public

part to the altar

but no further.

Your royal house

will live with you

but die with me.

Dear cinderella,

forgive me.

I have no heart for what

I must shortly perform.

My heart is yours

and yours alone.

I would not have you grieve

for what was not to be.

It's only in fairy tales

that the prince...

Marries the lady

of his choice.

The real world

is not so kind.

There are no

private kingdoms"

only public ones.

I have loved but once.

I have loved but you,

and I have lost you twice.

I can't forget

the melody

although our song

is through

the love we shared

the dream we dared

was just a prayer

that can't come true

I try to stop

remembering

but till the day I die

within my memory

will live the melody

of the song

that was you and me

although our song

is through

I can't stop loving you

for I can't forget

the melody

and what, might I ask,

are you doing here?

Oh, it's you.

You gave me

such a shock.

I should hope so.

That is nothing to the shock

you've just given me.

Why, you shouldn't

be here at all.

That's not

how I planned it.

Oh, really!

I sometimes wish

I could retire.

Unless I'm

on the spot

to take care of

every little detail,

something

always goes wrong.

I know exactly

what happened.

You stayed beyond

the stroke of

midnight, didn't you?

Yes. Oh, but please

don't scold me.

I'm unhappy enough

as it is.

Well, of course,

you're unhappy.

Any girl

would be unhappy

if she were missing

her own wedding.

Wedding?

Yes.

The prince gets

married today.

I had the date

underlined in my diary.

Why else do you suppose

I am dressed like this?

Who...

Who's he marrying?

Well, at the moment, the

wrong girl, obviously.

Oh, it's

too irritating.

I had it

all mapped out.

Well, I suppose I shall simply

have to rise to the occasion

and do something

spectacular yet again,

and spectaculars always

take so much out of me.

Just come down

off the swing.

It was the same

with snow white.

All the same,

you young girls.

Never do

as you're told.

Men are much easier.

Oh, mama.

Your majesty.

Sire.

Ahem.

Sir.

Ahem !

Oh...

What can I say?

This is, uh--

I can assure you--

Your excuse

is absolutely inadequate.

Ahh.

Is the ceremony

over?

What a relief!

Your majesty,

this could lead to war.

I know, I know!

Well, think of something!

He cannot

marry her, sire.

The constitution

does not allow it.

Well, don't tell me.

I wrote it.

Yes. Don't tell him.

He wrote it.

I beg your

pardoh, madam?

And if he wrote it,

he can unwrite it.

Don't you agree,

your majesty?

He can write

what he likes,

so long as

he clears this room.

There are too many

people in it by far,

most of them

not worth a candle.

After all,

you are the king.

Yes, that's right. I am!

And absolute monarchs

should act absolutely.

It's very becoming.

She's right

who is she?

I've no idea, sire.

She must be

one of the visitors.

But even if you alter the

constitutioh, your majesty,

it doesn't solve the problem

of the other bride.

No, you're right. So we're

back where we started.

It's staring you

in the face.

What is?

The answer.

What sort of

an answer is that?

They're in love!

They are?

It was love at

first sight.

You have my word

for it.

Ask him.

Cousin...

Cousin, it has been

brought to my notice--

oh, yes. And to mine.

Isn't she ravishing?

But, uh, am I

to understand--

yes... anything.

It really

is disgraceful.

Well, what can we do as fathers

faced with this very human dilemma?

It's a question

of honor.

Yes. Well, it would seem in all

the circumstances to be, uh...

Afait accompli?

It's certainly

a fate. Ha ha.

The younger generation's

so fickle.

Not like us,

no sense of duty,

no sense of history.

Speaking for myself,

I had a sword in my back.

You, too?

Well, that's what I mean.

We never shirked

our responsibilities.

So, what's it to be?

Well, it looks like

another wedding.

Yes. It looks

like that.

Can I speak

as man to man?

I'd welcome it.

He's, uh, not what

I wanted, but, us...

Then neither

was she.

Oh, charming girl!

Plenty of spirit.

I'll arrange everything.

My place, I think.

The sooner the better.

Yes, thus cementing

our great alliance.

Conceal ing

our shame.

Amen.

In the name

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