All language subtitles for The Prisoner of Zenda s01e01

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?