The Yellow Rolls-Royce Page #7

Okay, let's go.

Well...

...I guess it's almost goodbye.

Friedlander.

Your pleasure, madam?

I should like to express my gratitude...

...for all that you've done for me

during my fidanZato 's absence.

I consider myself deeply in your debt.

I'm most happy, indeed,

to have been of some service.

That square looks kind of cute

with this light, doesn't it?

Hey, Joey.

She noticed something.

Sure, boss.

She's been noticing

a lot of things lately.

She's changed.

Well, what do you know.

MAN:

Hotel D'Annunzio?

Put me through to Mrs. Millett, please.

Millett.

Mrs. Gerda Millett.

Tell her it's the man

from the American Travel Agency.

Ten percent on the deal,

that's agreed now?

Mrs. Millett?

No, it's Miss Astor,

Ms. Millett's confidential...

Oh, just a minute. I'll see.

Gerda.

- Gerda.

Do be quiet, Hortense.

I'm on the other line.

Hello, Frank?

Yes, I got the Swedes to agree

to that percentage cut.

No, Frank, I'm not a genius.

I'm a practical woman who can

put things to people in a practical way.

I'm leaving Italy tomorrow.

All right, good.

Goodbye.

You're so hungry, Duchess.

- What did that man want?

- He says he's found you a Rolls-Royce.

- How much is he asking?

- How much are you asking?

Six thousand.

She'll take it for 5.

Five thousand?

Dollars?

It's a deal.

Thank you very much.

And thank Mrs. Millett.

I'll be around early in the morning

with the chauffeur I found for her.

A qualified Rolls-Royce driver.

Highly qualified, yes.

Goodbye.

Mr. Manager,

prendere il cane for a walkie?

Certainly, madam.

I'll just have one dry martini,

you can have tomato juice. Thank you.

Now, I think this one was the first time

that you ever stayed in a royal palace.

- Pardon me, Mrs. Millett?

- Yes.

I'm the American

assistant vice consul here.

My name is Ferguson.

My vice consul sent me here

especially to see you.

- Your vice consul?

- Yes.

- Don't we have a consul in Trieste?

- Oh, yes, indeed, we have.

But your vice consul sent you along?

Well, the consul is very busy right now

with all these invasion rumors.

What invasion rumors?

Well, it's about that

I wanted to see you, Mrs. Millett.

Your visit

to the queen mother of Yugoslavia...

...must be cancelled, I'm afraid.

Cancelled?

Must be cancelled?

What are you saying?

Just that, I'm afraid.

And why, above all,

why must it be cancelled...

...by the American assistant

vice consul at Trieste?

Well, Mrs. Millett, it's this way...

We live, I presume, in a free country.

Well, I'd hardly call Mussolini's Italy

a free country, Mrs. Millett.

I was referring to the United States.

And I assumed that Roosevelt has

not yet declared himself chief commissar.

Nor has he yet, I imagine,

succeeded in plunging our country...

...into this futile European war.

You see, we've been in touch

with our embassy in Belgrade.

There's been a coup d'tat.

A communist revolution?

No, they've made

the 18-year-old Prince Peter king.

Peter. Oh, that sweet boy.

So he's king now.

I think you met him once with me

in Paris.

- No, I don't think I did.

- No, well, possibly not.

The threat of invasion is very real,

Mrs. Millett, and I must...

My dear young man,

only the other day...

...His Excellency,

the German ambassador in Rome...

...assured me that Herr Hitler

had no more territorial claims in Europe.

But he's reported to be massing troops

along the Yugoslav border.

Be that as it may...

...we are commanded

to be at the royal palace in Belgrade...

...at 4 p.m. Next Thursday.

And that is exactly where we are

gonna be at that exact time.

Well, thank you very much, Mr...

For bringing us the news.

Lunch, Hortense.

Please, stop her if you can.

Listen, even if the worst happens,

we're neutrals.

So were Belgium, Holland,

Denmark and Norway.

I don't think even the Nazis

could stop Mrs. Millett.

- Well, good luck.

- Hortense.

I'm coming. Oh, it's so difficult.

Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing

your conversation...

...just now. I think Mrs. Millett

should go to Yugoslavia.

- Hortense.

- Excuse me, I have to go.

I'm coming, Gerda.

I'm so sorry.

If you're scared, Hortense, there is

no necessity whatsoever for you to come.

How can you say such a thing?

When you remember my experience

in Malaga in the Spanish Civil War.

I do remember

your experience in Malaga.

For a very good reason:

You won't ever let anyone forget it.

- Now, what are we going to eat?

- That's not fair, Gerda.

I rarely mention it

because it was so horrifying, horrifying.

Troops surrounding the hotel

where we were marooned...

...weren't just Germans,

they were Moroccans.

We'll start with the melon,

then gigot d'agneau boulangre.

Does that suit you, dear?

They were Moroccans,

with great, round faces...

...and they stood there

and grinned at women.

Did you get raped?

No, I didn't.

They just looked at you and grinned.

But it was the suspense, Gerda.

You don't understand.

You don't understand one bit.

You just don't. It isn't right.

- Mrs. Millett?

- Yes?

The Mrs. Gerda Millett?

My name is Davich.

- Would you mind if I sit down?

- You certainly may not.

- I met this man just now in the lounge.

- You met some Moroccan soldiers too.

- It doesn't justify it.

- Mrs. Millett, please forgive my rudeness.

But I've heard so much about you

both in my country and abroad...

...that I couldn't possibly

let this opportunity slip by.

What is your country?

Yugoslavia.

And you've heard about me

in Yugoslavia?

Is there anywhere in the world one has

not heard of the fabulous Mrs. Millett?

Besides, I have connections.

Just what does that mean?

Well, can I trust you with a secret?

There has been a coup d'tat

in my country.

Prince Peter is now king.

As it happens, I'm aware of that.

Oh, how stupid of me.

Moving as you do in high diplomatic

circles, you should've heard of it.

As a matter of fact, we're

on our way now to visit His Majesty.

- No.

- Yes.

But that's incredible good fortune.

- Are you going by car?

- Yes, I am.

Well, then, you are in a position

to render my country a great service.

Indeed? How?

By taking me with you.

Taking...?

Taking you with me?

Now, Mrs. Millett,

you're wonderfully discreet...

...but you needn't go on pretending

you don't know who I am.

Is he a prince?

Please, not a word of this,

but I needn't tell you, Mrs. Millett...

...how important it is for me to be near

my king at the earliest possible moment.

We have a great deal of luggage,

you know.

Oh, but I'll not add to it.

I've only a knapsack.

- A knapsack?

- Yes, I travel light.

Shakespeare,

a Tolstoy and a toothbrush.

But there is an extra seat, you know...

...and it will be easy to fit you in,

unless...

- Hortense, dear.

- Yes, Gerda?

I don't see

why I should drag you into danger.

Oh, I couldn't dream

of letting you down, Gerda.

I mean, just supposing

something happened to you.

Nothing's going to happen to me.

Don't be silly.

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