Original subtitles

Thank you.

Running a little late.

Should be at the frontier by now. It'll be dark before we reach Denver.

First visit to Ruritania, is it?

Yes. Diplomatic?

Just a humble tourist.

Wonderful country.

Know it well.

And their politics.

A lot of unrest over the coronation.

It's the coronation you've come for, I expect. I thought it might be fun.

Could be tricky, too.

A lot of whispers about civil war.

According to the times, that's all blown over.

Foreign off his gut.

Well, admittedly, it is three days old.

Black Michael's never going to be reconciled to the new king, not in a

years.

They hate each other. Well -known fact always happens.

Black Michael.

King's half -brother.

Duke of Streltsa.

Michael was always the old king's favourite.

Point of fact, a lot of people think he'd make a better king than Rudolph.

Really.

Well, you've made a conquest, old boy.

A short -lived one, it seems.

A well -connected one.

You know the lady?

Only by repute.

Antoinette de Morgon, a very close friend of Duke Michael.

Obviously on her way to the coronation.

Royal attentions are hard to resist.

So they say.

Obviously only the diplomatists have the inside information, but in my opinion

there's more to be said for Duke Michael than most people suppose.

Have your papers ready, please.

Have your papers ready, please.

Customs are usually a bit of a formality here. Don't mind you, they might have

tied some things up. What with the unrest, the coronation, everything.

All passports and luggage will be examined inside.

Next.

What did I tell you?

All this because of the coronation. In and out in five minutes, usually.

Well, there's nothing like making a fellow feel welcome.

I don't need to be too popular, do I?

This way, please, madam. Next.

Where will you be staying, Mr.

Rassendale? Strelzow.

What hotel?

I haven't yet decided.

There's little chance of you obtaining lodging in Strelzow. The hotels are

already overflowing.

Should you go to Strelzow, however, you must report your address to the police

within 48 hours of your arrival.

You're a British subject, sir.

You have my passport in your hand.

Yes, sir.

Yes, of course, sir. Your passport, sir.

And to call the gentleman back to the train. That won't be necessary, thank

I can hardly credit that the hotels are full already.

The coronation is still two weeks away.

Oh, no, no, no. The date's been advanced. Ceremony's to take place the

tomorrow. Good Lord.

Why? It's a mystery.

At least there was nothing explained in the papers.

Apparently the whole country's in stir about it. I'm not surprised.

I'm afraid that fellow was right. Even if you were lucky enough to find a place

in Streltsa, you'd probably have to pay an exorbitant charge for it. I've found

that I'm beginning to wish I'd stayed in Dresden.

Might I make a suggestion?

Please do.

Why not stay here in Zender?

It's only about ten miles from the capital. You could spend tomorrow

from the journey and then go over to Streltsa by train early on Wednesday

morning.

That's what I'm doing anyway.

And then returning here later in the day when all the fun's over.

That's a splendid idea.

It's only a small inn, quite a humble place, very comfortable.

I'm sure they'll have a room.

And even if they haven't, I could be perfectly happy for you to care mine.

Smithers.

George Smithers. Rudolf Rassendal.

Good heavens.

Same name as the king.

Mr. Smithers, I'm indebted to you. I'll have my luggage removed on the train at

one.

The forest is charming at this time of the year.

There's a particularly fine castle, you should see.

It's the residence of Black Michael.

Believe me, Mr. Rassenville, Zender's one of the finest castles in Europe.

Well worth a visit.

Well?

Oh, aye, good morning, Rupert. Oh, good morning, Michael. How nice of you to

greet me personally.

Hope you had a pleasant ride from the capital. Why, thank you, Michael, I did.

Have a care, Ensign. Such impatience, Your Grace, with the crown almost in

grasp. Is it all prepared in Strelthal?

Naturally.

At the appropriate moment, a completely spontaneous cry of long -lived King

Michael will erupt from the throats of a number of the worthy citizens.

Folks, while lubricated with Your Grace's gold, needless to say.

Soon afterwards, several gentlemen of the court who have been unwise enough to

oppose Your Grace's ambitions will suffer unfortunate and similar pain

And the woman at the lodge, she can be trusted.

I convinced her of the importance of her task. The goal is she succeeds, and a

slick vote if she doesn't. I think she'll try very hard for the gold.

Then all we can do now is wait.

I hear Your Grace has pleasant company to ease the waiting.

Madame de Maubon has returned to Aurisania.

What do the lady's attractions pale beside the prospect of a royal bride?

She's become an embarrassment.

If I can be of any service in the matter.

You are insolent, Hansard.

It is as well for you that you're also very useful.

For the moment.

My God.

The devil's in it, Fritz.

The devil or Black Michael?

Who is he?

What's he doing here and now?

My heavens.

Even the height is right.

Gentlemen. May I ask you your name, sir?

Since you've taken the first step in the acquaintance, suppose you give me a

lead in the matter of names.

Thank you.

I am Fritz von Tallenheim.

And this is Colonel Vapt.

Are you aware, sir, that you're trespassing?

Indeed, I saw no signs.

This is the Royal Game Preserve.

I see.

And you two gentlemen...

Are the gamekeepers. Damn it, sir.

We're in the service of the king of Ruritania.

If I'm trespassing, I beg your pardon.

I'm a traveller from England. This is my first visit to Ruritania.

Chris!

The king.

Where are you, man?

Take him back to the lodge.

Shave him and he'd be the king.

Well, you must forgive me if I dare.

One doesn't expect to see double.

At least not at this time of day.

Prince, Colonel, am I not to be introduced?

I believe, Your Majesty, that I am your cousin. Your Majesty.

You are English.

My name is Rassendal, Your Majesty.

Brassendale. I'm the younger brother of Lord Burlston. Burlston!

By God, Zap, we have an elf back here. Your face betrays you, sir.

I'll leave, Your Majesty.

A thousand crowns for that of my brother's face if he saw the pharaohs in

Streltsar tomorrow.

That he must never do.

Were you travelling to our coronation? I seriously question this gentleman's

wisdom in venturing anywhere near Streltsar at this time. If I'm an

embarrassment to His Majesty, I shall leave the country at once. No, by

you shan't. One doesn't meet a new relative every day.

Well, Matt.

Come in, cousin.

I've got a new house of my own here. My brother Michael has lent us a place of

his, and we'll make shift to entertain you there.

Otto, come.

I object to my doing nothing.

But you have all the accomplishments of a gentleman.

Army, a blind thought, and a good shock you speak.

I'm afraid my family don't entirely approve of me, Your Majesty.

The real difference between my elder brother Robert and myself is that he

recognizes the duties of his position while I just see the opportunities of

mine. To a man of spirit, opportunities are duties, Mr. Roussendorf.

Good families don't need to do things.

Good families are generally worse than any others. So, you have to visit your

disreputable cousin on the slide, eh?

Your Majesty, had I realised what a very plainly written pedigree I carried

about with me, I should have thought twice about coming.

Fritz. Unbelievable.

Wine, Joseph.

We're dry again. An Elfberg from Great Britain, but half -sour.

Ah, that'll be telling, eh, Cousin Rudolph?

It's a very delicate matter, Fritz. An old family scandal, you see, a question

of a lady's honour. I don't think we could possibly reveal it, do you, Your

Majesty? Out of the question, Captain Rudolph.

Deplorable behaviour on the part of one of my ancestors.

Most deplorable.

Now, I mustn't blame him too much, Your Majesty. If you had seen the portrait of

the delectable Countess Amelia, dare I say that even Your Majesty might have

been tempted.

What a shocking idea, Mr Rathendal.

Your Majesty, Mr Rathendal, please.

A gentleman who wears not only the Elfberg hair, but the Elfberg face.

And a man who might be Your Majesty's very twin. How can this be?

How many?

That was the ninth bottle, sir.

Dear God.

It happened a long time ago.

My honour, it's a scandalous story, Fritz.

A prince of Ruritania came to London once on a brief visit to the English

Shortly afterwards, he left suddenly, wounded and under a cloud after a duel

with an English nobleman.

Nine months later, a wife of the fifth earl of Burlston gave birth to a son.

Whose father was not the fifth earl. An elf by a cuckoo, Fritz. Ha, ha, ha!

And since then, much to everyone's embarrassment, a male member of the

family has been born every few generations with the Elfberg features

hair. I am one of them.

A toast to the Elfberg Red!

Zap, join us!

Elfberg Red!

Your Majesty, it's growing late.

It's necessary for Mr. Rathendill to return to the border.

And necessary for you to remind me of my duties.

And no doubt to tell me that I have drunk enough.

Far be it from me to contradict the king.

Damn you, Zap!

I should go, your master.

You may be an Englishman, cousin Rudolph, but you're a good fellow.

You shall stay.

Zap will go to bed.

Fritz, the wine.

From tomorrow, I shall be king for the rest of my life.

Tonight is my last night of freedom, and Brother Michael keeps a splendid

cellar.

Is this the bottle?

Yes, sir.

1865.

You drank from this, too?

May have.

Bring the water.

Are you awake now?

Must I empty another bucket over you?

Look at my clothes.

Coffee, you're the... This joke has gone too far.

No joke, Mr. Attenborough.

Nothing else would rouse you. Come here, sir.

Feel his pulse.

I got it slow.

He sucked.

You know, he spent half an hour on him before he realized it was useless.

Poison. Drug.

But how? By whom?

That hound, Black Michael.

His own brother?

Who else?

What have you sent for a doctor?

A thousand doctors couldn't get him to stroke time in this condition.

Anyway, there isn't one within miles of here.

But the coronation...

If the king fails to show himself in Streltsal this morning, the throne will

lost. He'll never be crowned.

Well, you mistake him, then. Word that he's ill. Yeah.

They know his illness is too well. He's been ill before.

It seems you have such a low opinion of the king, sir. Your concern puzzles me.

He's an elfberg and the son of an elfberg, and I'll rot in hell before I

Michael in his place.

Now, it was no mere whim that the date of the coronation was brought forward.

We've known for some weeks that Michael was plotting to discredit the king in

some way.

Colonel, it's almost six o 'clock.

As a man grows old, Mr. Rassendale, he begins to believe in fate.

I believe fate brought you here from England. I believe fate sends you now to

Streltsa.

Me?

One Rudolph for another.

If you shave, I'll wager you'll not be known.

You're an Altberg.

Every inch of you.

The house of your ancestors demands your allegiance.

It's an insane notion. I'd be detected at once. That's a risk against a

certainty. It would only be for one day, for the actual coronation.

It could be done, Mr. Rassenthal.

It must be done.

be king for a day.

Well, sir, what do you say?

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