Original subtitles

Bye.

at very little time.

So you know my name? Of course I know your name. So does Michael. And you

that letter at the Duke's request?

On his orders. I had no choice. Listen to me.

You're followed everywhere by Michael's men.

If ever they should find you alone, your life's worth nothing.

You can never be safe for a moment in Mauritania.

Not by night or day.

At midnight, they'll come here to kill you.

Michael's plan is that your body should be taken to a low quarter of the town.

Once it's found, He'll arrest all the king's friends and declare martial law

Strathairn.

Rupert will be sent to Sander to murder the king and dispose of the body.

Rupert?

Rupert of Emsau.

The most cunning and dangerous of Michael's men.

A pretty plot.

Once he knows the king is dead, Michael will proclaim himself monarch and marry

Flavia.

You go down.

What part do you play in this game? Why have you come to warn me?

ambitions, Mr. Russell.

I know him for what he is. Black -hearted scoundrel.

I love him.

Now do you understand?

You are jealous of the princess.

Should I just stand aside and see him marry her?

Whatever your motives, you've served the king well tonight. Must go at once.

What will you tell Michael?

Did you know the king that she saw through the trip? Now please leave.

your life.

One, but what then?

Good evening, play actor.

Robert. Stand away from the door. Over there, out of the line of fire.

We wish to talk to you, Mr.

Rathendale.

Have I the pleasure of addressing Rupert of Hensar? Never mind names.

Then let mine alone.

Very well, sire.

What do you want?

I have an offer for you.

Will you let us in?

We pledge our honour to observe the truth.

We can speak through the door.

Will you give your honour not to fire while we talk?

I give my honour not to fire before you do.

What is your offer?

A safe conduct to the frontier.

And 50 ,000 English pounds.

That sounds very handsome.

We shall meet again, madame.

Michael, I love what I have done.

I shall not.

Good luck.

Your majesty.

Stand back.

I'm coming out.

I can't open the door.

Black...

Damn

you,

Rastendale.

Thank God.

Quick, man.

What the devil are you laughing at? The finest tea table story you ever heard.

These? Michael's quarters.

Would he allow the king's freedom to move from room to room? I doubt it.

My guess is being kept closely guarded.

Dungeons? Of a sort.

Here, I think, though it's many years since I was in Zender.

So there's no way of reaching the castle other than by crossing the drawbridge.

A bird might manage it.

Or a fish.

Swim the moat, carrying weapons. How deep is it?

Twenty feet. More.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Flavia.

Your Majesty.

Good morning, Colonel.

God save you, Your Highness.

How much better His Majesty looked today.

Better, ma 'am.

Rested.

Thank you, Zap. That will be all.

Your Majesty, might I remind you, His Eminence the Cardinal... I can wait.

Good morning, Zap.

Oh, dear.

Now he'll growl at me all day, the old dog.

Tell him.

Rudolf... The same I gave you.

Alas, no.

Rudolf, I have had an invitation from Michael.

He left Strelza this morning very early.

For Zenda?

Yes.

He has invited me to join him for a day or two.

You mustn't go. Promise me you won't. It was a most courteous request.

And the city being so unpleasant at this time of year, I might have considered

accepting it.

Had I not also received this an hour later.

I have no cause to love you, but God forbid that you should fall into his

Accept no invitation to the Duke. Go nowhere without a guard. Show this, if

can, to him who reigns in Strelza.

Is it a hoax?

I think not.

I believe you know who sent it.

An unhappy woman, I fear. A friend you must do as she asks, Flavia. But why

she say he who reigns in Strother are not the king? It sounds so odd. I beg

to make your excuses to Michael. Any excuse you like. Pretend to be ill if

must, but don't go to Zender.

An order, sire?

Yes.

So, you feel strong enough to anger Michael?

I feel strong enough for anything while you are safe.

You have magical healing powers.

A royal witch. Never.

It must have been the crown.

How is it I like you so much more now since the coronation?

You never liked me before.

Sometimes.

Occasionally. When you were sober.

I shall be sober always from now on.

And always wear the crown. Always. How dull.

How uncomfortable.

Would you still like me, I wonder, if I had no crown to dazzle you?

What if I were just a private gentleman, not the king?

If you were a convict in the prison of Stozo, you'd still be my king.

Or it's only because you want. I love you more than life or truth or honor.

There's something I must tell you.

I am not... Sir.

A thousand pardons.

The Cardinal has been in attendance for some time, Your Majesty.

Then we must not keep his eminence waiting.

It's hard on you, lad, and I know what's in your mind.

But you're bound in honor.

Have you left me any? Before God, this was not a problem I foresaw.

Tell me, Colonel, what's to prevent me striking a blow for myself?

Rats and dill, you're an honorable man. You know as well as I that what you do,

you do for the king.

And if circumstances have altered... You realize, don't you, I've only to call

guards to have you and Fritz arrested.

I could bring down the whole city on your head. There isn't a man in the

who doesn't believe that I'm the king.

I could marry the princess and send Michael and his brother to hell.

I don't deny it.

In heaven's name, Zap, I'm not a saint.

If you'll have me turn my back on all that I love most in the world, help me.

Unless we act at once to save the king, I won't be responsible for what happens.

You want us to follow Michael to Zenda?

Yes.

Tonight.

We need threats.

There are plans to be made.

Unless, of course, you intend to have us arrested.

Damn you.

If your majesty pleases.

I shall be leaving Strelzau for a few days.

Might I know your destination, sir?

No.

Colonel Zapt and Fritz von Tallenheim go with me and fix others. We shall leave

here at dawn tomorrow.

To explain my absence, you will let it be known that I am on a hunting

expedition.

Sit down, Martin.

I am charging you.

With the care of the Princess Flavia while I am away.

No one, including her cousin, the Duke, is to be allowed to approach her unless

you yourself are present also. You follow me?

I follow you, sir.

I've known better men than Duke Michael to be ruthless when in love.

Love is for the heart, Marshal. Can you think of nothing my brother might want

for his head?

I pray that you wrong him, sir.

Take this.

As you can see, it differs a little from my usual handwriting. My finger is

still painful.

I wished you to see me writing it so that there could be no suspicion of

forgery.

Every evening I am away.

I shall send back a courier to Strota.

If more than two days pass without that courier reporting personally to you, you

will publish that order.

But, Your Majesty, it deprives Duke Michael of the governorship of Strota.

will declare martial law and appoint yourself in Michael's place.

Then you will send word to him that you demand an audience of the king.

Of you, sir?

I don't understand. If Michael fails to produce the king, then you will know

that the king is dead.

And you will proclaim the next heir.

The Princess Flavia.

Swear to me, on your faith and honor, that you will stand by her to the death.

By the fear of God, I swear it.

I think that you go on an errand of danger, sire.

I wish that I could go with you.

You are the one man I trust more than all others in Ruritania.

I leave you to guard what is more to me than my life or my crown.

And I shall deliver her to you safe and sound when you return.

Or make her queen.

May almighty God preserve your majesty.

The weather will be fine again tomorrow.

So I'm told.

Your Majesty should have good entertainment in the forest.

You're offended with... What right have I to be offended?

True, you did say only this morning that every hour away from me was wasted.

But then I foolishly failed to understand that that did not include

boar.

I regret that we cannot amuse your majesty here in Stralsund.

It is possible that the boar will hunt me.

He might even catch me.

This is like what you used to be.

Not like the king I have grown to love.

My darling, don't weep.

Do you really imagine I could leave you to go hunting?

But the marshal... I go to seek Michael in his lair.

Oh, don't, no. So you see, my sweet, I'm not so poor a lover as you thought me.

But the danger, his hatred for you will drive him to any extreme.

He might kill you. No, sweetheart.

How long will you be gone?

I don't know.

Not long. A thousand Michaels couldn't keep me from the loveliest lady in the

wide world.

I shan't sleep while you're away.

My darling, if I should never return... No, my darling.

If I should never return, you must take my place.

Do you understand me? You must reign in my place.

And you must not weep for me.

I will do my part.

Though all my life will be empty and my heart dead.

Colonel Zapt's men.

I can't fall, but there are six horses too many for us.

If that sly old fox is having the lodge restored, it can only mean he intends to

use it.

I wonder if he could already be here. Not even Zapt would have the influence

trust us on the Duke's land at a time like this. Zapt is within easy striking

distance of the castle from here. Much good it'll do him.

It's time we left. Michael should know of this.

Well, then you best return to Zander and tell him. And you?

Zapt is here.

I wonder if our play actor has been foolish enough to join him.

If we're to get him out of the castle alive, force will be useless.

We must rely on some trick.

It won't be long before Michael finds out about this little expedition.

We've lost the element of surprise.

But being here might draw him out.

He'd kill the king with as little compunction as he'd kill a rat.

But he'll not throw away his trump card without having a shot at him first.

My God.

It's that young devil Hentau.

Stay where you are, Colonel.

I'm an armed Colonel.

What do you want?

I'll speak privately with his majesty.

You young puppy, you ride in here as if it were a public park. Let him come in,

Zaps. This is madness, Rudolph.

Let him come in.

Alone.

You take your orders from me?

No.

Would you enjoy our tea party in the summer house?

I fear we sat on the wrong side of the table.

Dammit, play actor for all your faults.

I like you. If you do not know how to address the king, sir, my brother must

find himself another messenger.

Why keep up this fast?

Because it's not yet over.

So be it.

Your Majesty.

How fair is my brother? Your devoted subject as ever.

I'm sure that when he learns of your presence in the forest, he will pray you

pardon him for not putting his castle at your disposal.

I believe he means to offer you a million crowns, sir, and safe conduct

the frontier.

My suggestion was a rope.

I prefer your offer. I told him you would.

The fact is, between ourselves, Michael doesn't understand a gentleman.

And you do, of course. I recognise an elfberg.

You're a man after my own heart. But that I keep faith with men and honour

women, perhaps I am, my lord.

How is your prisoner?

Alive.

Deliver him to me, and you shall come to no harm.

I have another proposal with regard to that.

One of my own.

Well? Attack the castle, boldly. Let Vapt and Tarlingheim lead.

Raise the time with me. I have such confidence in you, of course.

That and Talenheim will fall.

Michael will fall.

Like the dog he is.

And the prisoner will go to hell with him.

Only two men will be left.

I, Rupert of Hentha, and you, the King of Ruritania.

While you are above ground, hence how hell must be searching for its master.

Am I to understand you've turned against Michael?

Against him, I way.

A lady.

I'm told Madame de Maubon prefers no one to the Duke.

A foolish creature.

I shall see that you have safe conduct at the castle.

And what of my proposal?

Isn't it a splendid hand to play?

A throne?

And your princess.

And for you.

A competence, say.

And your majesty's gratitude.

You'd better go, Hansel, while your skin is still whole.

At least let us shake hands with gentlemen.

Good day to you, gentlemen.

Stay where you are.

Come now, Colonel.

What are you shooting on our man in the back?

What the devil did he want, Rudolph?

The End

Bye.