Original subtitles

Some men go to great heights to ensure a dazzling legacy.

Most ofusjusl struggle to gel by.

And a random few are born to be king.

It's quite a small camera, isn't it? — Modem technology, Your Majesty.

Impressive that one can make movies with such a small piece of equipment.

How big isyourteam, Mr Lloyd? — I'm the team. lt'sjust me.

You are perfect. We'll make a handsome portrait of you, don't wony.

You still look so tired.

Sire, if I may, yourspeech.

Mr Moreau? — Mr Lloyd?

l have to adjust His Majesty's microphone, if I may.

Yes, of course.

Mr Lloyd, ourdocumentary, 'Our King', must celebrate our King's competence

and professional dedication. — I understand, Your Majesty.

And you must capture hisvitality and his spontaneity.

Controlled spontaneity. — Of course.

And the smiles. We need a lot of them. You British do that so well.

The Belgian viewers also need to be reminded

that these ongoing conflicts between Flanders and Wallonia

are counterproductive. — Unbearable.

The image ofour King isthe one and only unifying force.

That's why we must polish it. — Understood, Your Majesty.

Please excuse me. — Please.

Belgium. Is it a proper country orjust some geopolitical compromise?

I don't know.

But it does have a palace and a king.

And a queen, who hired me to make a promotional documentary about her husband,

Nicolas lll, King ofthe Belgians.

Mr Lloyd, let me remind you, nJIe number one, no interviews.

And nJIe numbertwo, no improvisations.

Well, lwould like to discuss that at some point.

Your contract isvery clear, Mr Lloyd.

Just follow the script, Mr Lloyd.

Clearly, they didn't realise lwas filming them, which gave me hope.

This isthe boring bit. I stick to their script and shoot the King being kingly.

You've been here before?

This isthe firsttime.

But the scene is necessary to appreciate this rather unlikely story.

His story. My story.

We will soon be welcoming Turkey

into the embrace of the European Union.

We Belgians, being at the heart of Europe,

will honourthis momentous occasion

by donating ourbeloved Mini—Europe Park to the Turkish people.

She's already sent me eleven text messages.

I don't know how I'm meant to do myjob while managing this documentary.

The Queen was never going to cancel it because of her annual cold.

Sire...

lfyou would allow me,

Mr Bulut informed me of the evening's schedule.

Wnirling dervish performance at 6:00 pm.

No speeches. Perhapsjust a few words.

Let me remind you to avoid mentioning Iraq, Syria, Israel, the Kurds, Armenia,

our own federal troubles, our debt,

and above all, football. That's still a little sensitive.

The gala will begin at 8:00 pm. Nine courses.

No kebabs?

One, two, three...

Mr Moreau, ifyou'd be so kind?

Thankyou. And action.

Sire, the press conference will begin at 11:00 at Miniatiirk.

Yourspeech, Sire.

The Prime Ministermade a few adjustments.

Allow me to remind you, firm handshakes in Turkey.

It's even shorter.

Bmssels insisted on brevity, Sire.

Clearly a consequence of my speech in Scotland.

I thought I had improvised quite well. —You did, Sire.

Cut please. Once more.

Carlos, please.

Sire, it would be preferable to avoid all commentary.

Excuse me.

Your Majesty?

Very well.

Yes, I'll be careful.

I'll take care of it, don't wony.

I'll see to that, yes.

Goodbye, Your Majesty.

Mr Lloyd? The Queen wanted me to remind you

to film the speeches from beginning to end, and to capture the smiles.

Shall we do that again?

Sire, the press conference will begin at 11:00 at Miniatiirk.

Yourspeech, Sire.

The Prime Ministermade a few adjustments.

Allow me to remind you, firm handshakes in Turkey.

Cut.

Perfect.

We may go now, Sire.

Mr Lloyd, you can follow us.

It's really very small.

The Atomium? Yeah, it's a failure.

No. Well, that too.

The space here set aside for Mini—Europe.

It looks more like an extension of Turkey, rather than the otherway around.

Mr Moreau, excuse me. I'vejust been informed

that our president unfortunately has a further delay.

May we propose to His Majesty and to the Belgian Ambassador a shortvisit

of the Miniatiirk Park while we wait?

Mr Moreau, what shall I do with the Atomium?

Turkish people owe a lot to Mustafa Kemal Atatiirk,

the commander of the Turkish forces in the Independence War

and the founder ofthe Turkish Republic.

And they expressed their gratitude by building this colossal mausoleum.

Freedom or death.

He was a man with a vision, wasn't he?

Yes. We all have great admiration for Kemal Atatiirk, Your Majesty.

Without his vision, Turkey would be a very different country today.

This is my last shot ofthe King walking around like a puppet in the park.

Breaking news was on its way, and there would be no script to follow anymore.

Ludovic!

Wallonia has declared independence!

Belgium has fallen apart!

Their declaration of independence is called 'We are fed up'.

Fed up? With what?

The Walloonsfeel patronised, humiliated and misunderstood by the Flemish.

They're fed up.

We must go home immediately.

We'll reach the airport in ninety minutes.

Hello? Could you repeat that?

His Majesty the King wishes to speak to the Wallonian Minister—President. Hello?

Ludovic? — I'm sony, Sire. There's no signal.

My speech.

I'll take care of it before we get to Bmssels.

No, Ludovic.

I'm going to write this speech myself.

First, we must analyse the political, diplomatic and protocol aspects

with the Chief of Staff, who can't be reached now.

And several federal ministers.

I'm not sure which ones.

Sire, ifyou would, we must now monitor every move and gesture, every word.

Caution, Sire.

Faster. Faster.

When the King took his oath, he swore

always to protect the integrity ofthe kingdom.

And the King, that's me.

Unity Ieadsto strength...

Unity Ieadsto strength...

That has to be included.

Carlos knew I was stealing images on the sly, but he let me bypass protocol.

I liked Carlos.

Others have a dream.

What does your intuition tell you, Sire? — My intuition?

Maybe this is the moment to show who you really are.

Show yourfeelings, your humour, maybe even your shortcomings.

The shortcomings have already had enough coverage in the press.

Nicolas the Silent?

Silence has dignity.

Let them write what they want. — Sire.

Sire.

Louise, were you able to reach the Queen? — I can't reach the Palace.

And the Prime Minister? — He remains unreachable, Sire.

Does he want to be reached?

We're ready. — Carlos, what is he doing here?

Well, apparently we aren't going anywhere. — How so?

Turkish Security called an emergency meeting. — What in God's name is going on?

All flights are grounded due to a cosmic disturbance.

Pardon me. A cosmicwhat? — A solar storm, to be precise.

Satellites are malfunctioning. Some have even fallen from the sky.

Due to security purposes, you must stay here.

Here in Istanbul? — No, in this hotel.

All foreign dignitaries are being centralised here.

How long must we wait? — A day, a week. It's unclear.

You remember that Icelandicvolcano, Eyjajafufukukul?

Eyjafiallajokull. — Yes.

I must get home to Belgium immediately. — I understand, Your Majesty.

Everyone is being inconvenienced by this situation.

I personally had my promotion scheduled for this week.

If it's impossible to fly, then we shall go by road.

By road? Through the Balkans? — Yes.

Crossing those territories in such unstable times

is definitely not an option, Your Majesty.

Why not?

Because it's the Balkans.

So?

The Balkans, I mean. — Yes, so?

Unstable.

Unstable. It's Bulgaria, Serbia...

Romania, Albania, Macedonia...

Excuse me. —Your Majesty. Excuse me.

We'll have a meeting. We're coming back. — It's okay.

You must understand... — Sire.

Wait a minute. Please, please.

We have to find a solution.

It is not possible, Your Majesty.

Excuse me, I have to go.

Mr Lloyd, not now.

I'm still going to trywith Turkish Security and Mr Bulut, ifyou'll allow.

Maybe the ambassador?

I'll go get the suitcases.

Sire, I'll see if there's a signal upstairs.

Excuse me.

Where's the Ambassador?

I used to coverwars and revolutions.

Then I drankfora decade, haunted by demons.

Profiling royals got me back on my feet.

Let's face it, history was in the making here.

But my position was getting dodgier by the minute.

So I hatched a plan thatjust might keep me in business.

Carlos, suppose I could get us all out ofhere.

You heard the man. — I'm an expert in getting from Ato B.

You mean B, like in Belgium? — How about B for Bulgaria?

Wnat? — You see these lovely ladies?

The legendary Black Sea Sirens. Folk singers.

Theirgig has been cancelled,

and tomorrow they leave by bus for Bulgaria.

Protocol will never go for that. — Look, here's the deal.

I shoot a musicvideo for them, they get us out ofhere. Incognito.

Forget about it, man.

But don't you want to get your King home? — Sure.

Perhapswe should talk to the boss.

Sire. — I couldn't concentrate.

Please.

The coincidences of cosmos and kingdom...

The dysfunctions ofnature and man...

Thisyeaming for independence defines every age. Doesn't it, Mr Lloyd?

It brought ourkingdom to life in 1830, and it may now cause its fall.

Butwhat isthe the nature of this independence?

This so—called freedom?

I must find a way to reach the hearts of the people.

What does your heart tell you, Sire?

Carlos? Mr Lloyd?

Look at that.

It's beautiful.

It's from the solar storm.

Sire, there is no fiight.

No, I understand, Carlos.

But there is a flight plan.

Explain.

The Black Sea Sirens.

The Black Sea what?

And action.

No action.

Lily, that's enough.

Just look at yourselves.

Wnat iswrong with you?

Look at yourselves...

But we have to be modern.

Modern? What about our national folklore?

We're doing everything right.

Mother, this is terrible. Please stop!

I won't stop! — What do you mean you won't?

Ladies, please.

Take two.

Sire, I cannot take responsibility for thisfarce.

I fully understand, Ludovic. Just concentrate now on yourfemininity.

It's madness. We can't do this. — I fully agree, but it's been decided.

There's no other option. It's now or never.

Sire, allow me, we can't leave without protocol and security.

Indeed, Sire, we can't deny the risk.

There is danger everywhere, all the time. — Well, Mr Lloyd is not leaving with us.

Mr Lloyd is the architect of our escape, Louise.

He's very creative. — Mr Lloyd comeswith us, with his camera.

We will capture ourjoumey back home forthe people.

Period.

What shall we do with the Atomium?

Mr Lloyd?

Go, go, go.

To be honest with you, I didn't expect the King to go for my plan.

But we really needed to get out of Turkey and back into the EU.

So here Iwaswith a king in drag who was pondering the nature of freedom.

Oh please, do you really have to do that right now?

I have to, it's itchy. Unbearable.

Almost done.

What's wrong with him?

Maybe it's the shock from the news.

Wallonia seceding. Just imagine what he feels.

You know that we have many French words in Bulgarian?

Yes? —Yes, like...

Elevator...

Bidet...

Iwant to show you Mascha, Ivana and Pavlina.

They're my three daughters.

Three papas. — Shut up, Ana.

Do you have children?

No.

It's okay. You have time. You are a man.

From Istanbul. It's betterquality than Bulgaria. I keep it.

Look, look, look. She ate a coin. — A coin?

Yes.

Kebab accident.

Border!

Huny, huny.

Just be like a woman.

As the border guard approached, I did some real heavy sweating.

I had darkvisions ofbeing locked up, stripped naked,

my camera confiscated. It's happened before, mind you.

Luckily, our clandestine border crossing coincided with another drama.

Cheers, comrades!

Sony, Nicolas, but we're having an identity crisis.

Crisis? —We do not agree on anything.

Nothing. Nothing.

The old generation, they want tradition, and we want fusion.

In Istanbul, we were supposed to be on television

for the first time in many years. Stupid storm.

But Mr Lloyd will make a musicvideo.

Yes, I hope so.

That first take was actuallyjust for fun.

I guess theyjust had to get it out of their system.

The real song for their musicvideo is a cosmic classic.

So, Mr Lloyd, is this the extent of your escape plan?

Miss? —Ana.

Ana, yes. Could you inform us about transportation here?

Yes. Sofia is that way.

Thankyou.

Taxi? Maybe a bus or something?

Not so much. Maybe tomorrow?

Tomorrow? And what about that car? Is it possible to buy that car?

No, no. It's too old. It hasn't been working in many years.

How are you, dear?

What's all this?

Guests, many guests... Where are they from? — They're from Belgium.

They need to get to Sofia.

They want a bus, imagine that.

A bus? Here?

And a taxi. —Ataxi, here?

We need to find transportation for them. — What shall we do now?

The Black Sea Sirens had headed to the right, to the Black Sea.

We needed to go left, to Sofia.

Ana just happened to live at that crossroads.

My mama will help you find a solution.

Hello. — She will take you.

Thankyou. — Come, come.

Sit. You are welcome.

Nicolas?

Sauces for kebab.

Maison. I made this.

It's nice.

This isyoghurtwith...

some kind of... Like this one.

Yes, 'dille'. — Dille?

Yes, 'dille'. We say 'dille'. — Wlth 'dille'. It's very good sauce.

This is mayonnaise.

This is some vinaigrette with...

Wlth garlic. — Ah, yes.

And this is 'Iyutenitsa'.

It looks like ketchup, but it's natural.

Do you want to try?

Me?

Mr Lloyd?

Wnat?

Oh my God.

It's Mister Turkish Security.

Christ.

I believe he would have escorted us to the embassy in Sofia.

No way, Louise. The King's escapade could be a humiliation for the Turks.

It could provoke a diplomatic incident.

Mr Bulutwould have simply taken us back to Istanbul and buried the scandal.

We're going home.

In an ambulance.

Ludovic, we have to stop this shoot immediately.

Mr Lloyd, that's enough. — Louise, please. Duncan films ourjoumey.

Ludovic?

Sire? — I would like to drive.

Excuse me?

You heard me.

Sire, given the circumstances, for insurance and safety purposes,

I think it's better ifl'm in charge of all your movements...

Ludovic, just let him drive.

I don't want the wardrobe boy interfering. — Ludovic...

The clutch doesn't work very well, Sire.

Don't stay in first gear, Sire.

I'm in third, Ludovic. — Pardon me.

Death by turtle. Not a way to go.

His royal reflex had spared the wee fellow.

But ourvehicle had bit the dust.

So here we were, in the middle of Bulgarian nowhere.

No maps, no phones, not a soul in sight.

Just the sky watching us.

My dear fellow countrymen...

In these troubled times...

or strange, rather...

and under this mysterious sky...

let us be humble.

I like it.

I should find something geared more towards the people.

Yeah, maybe.

Since when are you advising the King, Carlos?

Since he asks my opinion.

My dear Carlos,

I have three university degrees, three ambassadorships under my belt

and nine years of service to the King, so just leave the advising to me, please.

Mr Moreau,

I have my helicopter license,

I was scout leader for five years

and I can stay underwater for three minutes.

I see the sorrow of the Belgians is the least of yourworries.

Come on, that's enough Belgian sorrow. Let's go.

Mr Lloyd, enough waiting. Let's go.

What do you think, Ludovic? Do you have ideas to propose?

No, it'svery good, Sire.

Indeed, to connect the sky with the current circumstances in our country...

It's a fine rapprochement.

It's not too... How do you say?

Do we continue? — Sure.

So, Louise, who's the lucky guy? — Pardon?

The ring.

Well, if you really need to know, his name is Pierre—Armand.

Let me guess. French, and you met at a posh law school, right?

You've been digging around in my past? — It's all online, darling.

So, tell me about this Pierre—Antoine. — Pierre—Armand.

Give me that.

Stop, stop.

We have to go to Sofia.

Sofia? — Yes.

Iwill help you. — We can go?

Come on.

I'm Nicolas. — Nicolas?

I'm Yuri Angelov. —Ange|ov.

Angelov. Like angel. — Like angel.

Come on, but be careful with my babies.

Wait.

Not so fast.

Are you all right?

An angel had come to ourrescue, bearing enough fnJit for us all.

came to the country. I came to nature, and I found myself.

Now I'm very strong. Very strong. — I see.

Touch.

It's from melons. I tnistfniit.

Melons?

And so on.

Throughout the night, the King and the angel

mused about the business of watennelons,

the future of Europe and the nature of happiness.

Now wh at?

We'll find away to get to the next embassy, in Belgrade.

Let's first find a WC.

Personally, I really need to charge my batteries.

What we really need now is food.

Wnatwould you like, Louise? — Anything is fine, thankyou, Sire.

Kebabs are fine with you? — Perfect.

Okay, five of this one, please.

Your Majesty. Good morning. — Mr Bulut.

Mr Moreau, I recommend you all eat quickly.

I'm here to escortyou back to Istanbul.

Excuse me, but an escort to Bnissels would be more appreciated.

Mr Moreau, let's avoid an unnecessary scandal.

Mr Bulut, I believe that you are beyond yourjurisdiction.

A royal on the run is not going tojeopardise Turkeyjoining Europe.

I understand yourconcem, Mr... — And I do not intend to lose myjob now,

aflerthirtyyears of loyal service.

This doesn't concern you, Bulgarian people.

Back, back, back, back.

Louise. Come on!

Run!

What's going on? — The Turks!

Our suitcases!

Ludovic, the passports.

I've got the passports on me!

Wnere isyourhouse?

My house is in Belgium.

In Belgium.

In Bnissels.

And your house? Wnere isyour house?

Sofia. — Sofia?

Yes, we are from Sofia.

That meanswe are kind ofin this region here.

We turned off here somewhere.

I see. That'swhere we're heading. Indeed, the Serbian border isn't far.

Mr Lloyd?

Mr Lloyd?

It seems we're with a jury. —Ajury?

Yes. Ayoghurtjury.

To judge more fairly thisyear,

we invited a very special jury that came all the way from Sofia.

But most importantly,

today we have with us a Belgian television crew.

Bravo! Next on stage, please!

The tension is rising.

Nenka, your name rhymes with... I can't rememberwhat.

Todor, he rides horses, and he's famous.

Let's thank ourvirtuoso musician, Petko.

Let there bejoy.

Let there be rakia.

Let there be parties.

Let there be love.

We should go now.

We have to go now. I'm sony, but...

Okay.

Okay, okay.

Okay. No problem. — Thankyou for all...

It's very, very good. — No problem.

Don'twony. — No, no.

Be happy. We will support you.

Goodbye, everybody. Ladies and gentlemen. — Thankyou very much, for everything.

Thankyou... forthe bus.

Nicolas.

Bye.

Bye.

Thankyou.

I have to go. We have to go back to Bnissels.

Bye—bye, Victoria.

So, you're the mayor of this nice, beautiful town.

Well, I have no other option, so I am the mayor.

It's a big responsibility because I love these people and I care for them.

I want...

them to be happy.

It's very difficult to understand what happiness is.

It's not conditional. You cannot say "I'll be happy if! have this. If..."

When you say 'if, you're not happy already.

That's why here, we are all happy, without 'if.

I heard from somebody here, in this beautiful village,

that you were a stuntman.

Yeah, I was a stuntman, stunt coordinator, but this is one of my professions.

I have a black belt in karate. I have the fourth degree in Shotokan.

I have...

I'm a scuba diving instnictor.

I'm the first Bulgarian to swim the English Channel.

You knowwhere the English Channel is? Between England and France.

But I... I've never seen a mayor barefoot.

Once in a while, when I go to the capital,

I put on sandals, shoes.

But I... I go barefoot in the winter, in the snow, in the rain.

Well, the feet are very far from my head, so I don't have to think about them.

Thankyou very much, Mr Mayor. — Thankyou foryour hospitality.

Thankyou and God blessyou. — Thankyou very much.

Thiswas...

Belgian television in Bulgaria.

Carlos?

Sire?

Do you believe in royalty?

I believe in you.

As a person.

Imean...

I mean the institution that unites people.

Louise?

Do you believe in the monarchy?

Forme it's not a question ofbelieving in it, but respecting it, Sire.

That'syourpersonal opinion?

Yes, it's my personal opinion.

Ludovic?

What do you think?

The monarchy

is the ultimate expression of dignity,

of grace,

ofgrand ideas!

The consequences of cosmos and kingdom...

The dysfunctions ofnature...

lfyou would, Sire...

We'll have to submit it to the Prime Minister anyhow, because...

We don't have the time.

But we will back home, so you can... —Yes, but...

As soon as we're there...

The Prime Ministerwill never acceptyou expressing yourself

without ninning it by him.

Yes, but the Prime Minister...

I'm feeling things...

It's strange. The experience is like a...

like a gifl.

Here. Among the people.

I understand, Sire.

They're so warm and open, and...

The people don't have much here.

The people don't have much here.

But they're still...

That must be the Serbian border.

You'd better leave this border to me.

Sire?

Surely you don't want protocol to slow us down now, do you?

No protocol, Ludovic.

Carlos, take the camera.

Hello. — Passports, please.

Good day.

So, are yourSerbian phonesworking? — No phones.

What's with the welcome concert? — It's the Serbia S\Nings Campaign.

The government wants foreigners to have a positive image of Serbia.

Go take a walk.

You look so familiar. A bit like Miss Serbia 2005.

2006 actually. And only for one month, because the Miss election was in May

and in June Montenegro declared its independence.

And since I'm from Montenegro, they gave the title to a Serb from Serbia. Bitch.

I remember that story.

But then Belgrade got tired ofthis affair and they gave me thisjob.

Well, that's not exactly a happy ending, is it?

Make no mistake, Mr Duncan Lloyd,

this is a very interesting job.

Enjoy Swinging Serbia. — Thankyou. Iwill.

Bye.

Goodbye.

Unbelievable. I actually recognised her.

The Finns.

The capital of the Falklands? — Stanley.

The first country to adopt Christianity?

Armenia.

The first atheist state?

No idea. —Albania.

Does he make you happy?

Does the camera make you feel entitled to dig into other people's lives?

It depends.

And to what greater purpose?

The pursuit of beauty...

and tnith.

Okay, give me that. — Wnat?

The camera. Give it to me. — No way.

Yes, you are. — Not going to happen.

Come on, give it to me.

So, Mr Duncan Lloyd...

are you ever serious? — Only when I can't breathe.

Did you really recognise that borderguard?

I did a story on Balkan beauties awhile back.

How come you speak some Serbian? — I spent some time here during the war.

We have a problem.

It must be from the civil war. — No, this isfrom floods.

See all the wood stuck over there?

Waterwashed through.

Well, this is inconvenient.

This is not a scene about a broken bridge.

It's a scene about a very different obstacle.

One involving myself and my troubled past.

Duncan!

Duncan Lloyd!

It's me! Dragan!

Oh my God.

What the hell are you doing here, man?

Me?

Fucking hell...

What the hell are you doing here in my Serbia?

Take the camera and shoot.

Dragan, my brother. — Danken Duncan.

My friend.

You've lost all yourhair. —Yes, all I had.

Your beautiful hair. — But you found your stomach.

Oh, my man.

My crazy brother.

Who are all these people? — My team.

Nicky, sound man.

Carlos, my camera assistant.

Ourproducer, Ludo.

And Louise, my assistant. — Hi.

Guys, this is a very special man and a very, very dear friend.

What are you doing here?

We're making an item on Turkeyjoining Europe.

Excuse me, mister, are yourphones working here, in Serbia?

Where are you from? — From Belgium.

Belgium? Maybe you don't know. Yourcountry is kaput.

Yes, we know. We know. — Such a pity.

The heart of united Europe, and you cannot keep even your mini—country together.

Your country is not a fine example either.

Just ignore her, Dragan. — She's right. I like her.

Well, we are the tnie stuff of mythology, Lady Louise.

The Balkans are the Balkans, you know. We love. We hate.

We love.

Dragan the Hawk, they called him.

I made a film about him, called 'Sharpshooter.

He was a champion at the Sarajevo Olympics.

And then he became a sniper during the siege of Sarajevo.

That'swhere I met him, when I was embedded with the Serbs.

Come on, are you serious? — A what?

A sniper. —A sniper?

So...

What's the plan? — Just keep it simple.

Simple? What... Can you define 'keep it simple'?

Just don't blow our cover. A royal would fetch a pretty fancy ransom around here.

I don'twant to go. — Don't wony. We eat, we go.

I'm not hungry. I'm not going.

So there I was, facing two of my darkest demons:

Dragan the Hawk and rakia, the lubricant of the Balkans.

Cheers.

We said it more than once.

More than once.

A million times.

But you know what? Now...

Now you can make a documentary part two.

Can you say something, please?

Thankyou.

Thanks, Nicky.

Dragan, how would you describe your life?

Well...

Everything happens in a different way, you know.

Nothing was like I wanted it to be.

You're maybe the only one who knows that it's tnie.

But now I'm just looking...

to live without pain.

And itwould be enough forme now.

Describe the pain.

Don't ask me that, please.

Remember 'Sharpshooter?

Of course I remember.

We went through the whole war, you and I.

Rememberwhen you called me and told me not to release it?

How can you ask me if! remember? — Why didn't you want it to be released?

Well, what do you think ofthe fact I didn't do it?

It wouldVe launched my career, and I listened to you.

And I didn't release it.

You... You just simply...

did something that nobody else would do.

And I really...

I really cannot believe whatyou have done.

Alright, I admit it.

I tried to squeeze a release out of Dragan, but no chance.

My film 'Sharpshooter will never see the light of day.

But the King had listened carefully to every single word.

You don't like it? —Yes, I like it.

lt'sjust in the beginning. Try again.

Take rakia, take rakia. — He doesn't like it.

You have to do it at once. Look at me, please, my friend. Look, like this.

Do it, do it, do it. And afler that, you will feel, you know, better.

You don't like it? — Yes, it's very nice.

So, you drink it.

And the country is 'ciao'.

Belgium, your country, 'ciao'.

Half and half, or...? — Maybe. Maybe.

And what... What's your conclusion? ls Turkey closer to Europe or...?

I think so. I think it's... — And what about us? You don't want us.

You want Turkey. Is that right? — No, also... also...

But... But how? And when? — It depends...

We've been listening to this bullshit, you know, for centuries.

Well, a decade, okay?

And it never happened.

We're going to cut this nice Serbian pig.

So, Lady Louise, a present foryou.

This is a small... You know.

Wnat isthe word? —Atai|.

You want to try? — No, thankyou.

But you've never tried this.

Taste it. — Try it, try it, try it.

You've never tried it. — Grandma, tell her to try it.

You should taste it. Yes, it's...

No, justtry it. — Thankyou very much, but...

Bite it and enjoy it.

She doesn't like tails.

I don't like tails, either, butyou're sitting on mine.

My dearfriend.

Go straight, then Iefl.

Right, right. Sony, right.

Nice guy, eh?

Oh fuck.

Louise?

ls thisyour own version of the Odyssey?

You just take, take and take, don'tyou, Mr Lloyd?

Morning, Ludovic. — My coat.

Wnat? — My coat.

Wnat? — The passports. I forgot my coat.

What did you just say about passports? — My coat was with me at the table.

You Iefl your passports there?

I'm sony, Sire.

Our passports were Iefl behind. — Pardon?

Christ. Now he knows we lied all night long.

You were drinking all night long. — Look, we have to get off this road

and out of the Balkans. Believe me when I say

you do not want to piss this guy off.

I can guarantee you, he'll be hot on ourheels.

So now we have a crazy Turk and a crazy Serb chasing us?

Okay, the quickest way out is to the coast and then to Italy.

But it's another border.

Montenegro.

Let's go.

|'|| drive.

Sire?

Ludovic?

I'm so ashamed.

I know.

I must submit my resignation.

No, Ludovic.

You've seNed me well. I'm counting on you.

I failed completely.

No, not at all. Not at all.

Sire,

there's the border.

Thatwas the border, Sire.

Yeah, I know.

Look, I'm sony about last night.

It's okay.

Can I askyou something, Mr Lloyd?

Of course.

Why did you never show the film 'Sharpshooter to anyone?

Dragan. He asked me not to.

And why?

He believes that the dark side of the moon should never see the light.

And do you believe that?

No.

But the film, if I'd released it... that wouldVe destroyed him.

One more question, Mr Lloyd. — Of course.

Did you film the finger?

Goodbye.

This boat is a wreck. This is impossible.

It hasn't been in the water in centuries.

What a scam.

I'm already seasick.

They had no passports and no cash. So I bought us a boat.

Not a very good one.

There was no feny service? Are you sure?

Did you look into it? — We asked. There's nothing else.

Just look at this old boat. — It looks worse than it is.

The wood is rotten. Just look at the state of the wood.

Have faith, please. We've no choice.

You thinkwe can cross the Adriatic in this? — It doesn't help to complain non—stop.

I'm not complaining. I'm realistic.

Mr Moreau? — Yes?

The palace will reimburse me for the boat, won't it?

Yes, of course, Mr Lloyd. — That was all the money I had Iefl.

West is that way.

On the sea the straightest route is always a cuwe, Sire.

So tell me, does Belgium still have a future?

I mean, why split a peanut?

Diplomacy and restraint

must lead usto compromise, Mr Lloyd.

Maybe we should just split it.

The Walloons say they're fed up.

Are you fed up, Mr Moreau? — I'm fed up with...

simplicities, cliches.

Carlos, give me a popular cliche.

Walloons are lazy, profiteers.

And Mr Moreau? — Flemish are arrogant.

He didn't understand you. — Flemish are arrogant.

Can we look on the bright side? Is there a positive cliche?

Walloons are warmer. You know? Warmer persons.

Flemish are a little bit more... perhaps...

inventive, innovative.

That sounds like the old cliche between Northern and Southern Europe.

Like Germany and Greece. — You have a point, Mr Lloyd.

It's like Belgium is a button that keeps the two sides of a shirt together.

Please, Sire, come back.

Be reasonable.

There he is, King ofthe Belgians, in the bare buff.

Not too cold? — No, perfect.

Happy without all the 'ifs'.

Come on in, Ludovic. It feels great.

A king whose land fell apart...

A king who wanted to go home...

to his country...

searching for the right words.

I feel.

I taste.

I smell.

I see.

All my senses are heightened.

I feel reborn.

Good morning!

We've arrived!

We're there.

Hello!

Shall we get a good cup of coffee?

Hello.

I'm thirsty.

Pull up there... Carlos.

They must be the local authorities.

Hello, gentlemen.

We've come from the Balkans.

This isthe King of Belgium.

We are a diplomatic mission.

Excuse me?

That's Albanian.

You don't speak Italian?

We're in Albania.

What do you mean 'in Albania'?

My God, no way. Are you sure? — Yes.

Let's get off and ask for a phone.

Carlos, what happened? — I don't know. I think it was the currents.

What do you mean 'the currents'? — There are many currents in the sea.

Well, let's get off.

Wewere in Montenegro. There we bought a boat.

The sea was where we needed to be. Italy, pardon.

The Albanian portmasterwas not impressed. He smoked a dozen

while Ludovic tried to make his case. But nothing doing.

We were just a bunch ofballoons to him. — Can I just have a glass of water?

Please? Drink.

Passports.

Yes, I know, but... but if we had our passports

you would understand who we are.

Once again, this man here is our King, Nicolas Ill, King ofthe Belgians.

What are we going to do with our King?

What was it the Queen wanted to capture?

His vitality...

and his spontaneity.

And the smiles.

And the smiles.

We need an official version of this story.

And why not the tnith?

Hello?

Your Majesty?

What a relief to hearyourvoice.

Yes, he's right next to me.

I mean, he's... Actually, he's...

Mr Moreau isjust above me. I'll pass the phone to him.

Hello. Your Majesty?

Yes... yes, we're fine.

And you? I mean, the kingdom?

I mean the political situation?

Yes, I understand... The King is fine.

Well, we have a slight problem.

Yes, you too, I can imagine...

Sony to interrupt...

No, we are not in Istanbul...

In Albania.

We're in Albania.

Yes, like Mother Teresa.

In a prison, Your Majesty.

Yes... OK...

Yes. Goodbye, Your Majesty...

Why did you tell herwe were in a prison? — I wasn't going to just make up nonsense.

The Chief of Staff will call you on this phone.

Then we'll call the guards.

I'm going to get down, ifyou please.

Thankyou, pardon me.

There is no answer. — Just wait.

I'm not going to wait.

First, he must contact...

It's ringing.

Yes, we are safe and sound...

Did someone explain to you?

Could you put us in touch with the embassy in Albania?

Go call the guards.

Sir?

Sir?

Ludovic and Louise were being sucked back into protocol.

Meanwhile, the poor fellow was being turned into a puppet once again.

Sire, a clean shirtforyou.

I understand.

Okay.

Goodbye.

Mr Lloyd, the palace has cancelled 'Our King'.

Sire.

The Palace is cancelling 'Our King'.

Ludovic, we are the Palace.

Everything he has filmed will anyhow be censored.

Well, that was the end of that.

His story, my film, would never see the light of day.

Once again, my footage was being shut down and shelved forever.

I couldn't blame him, really.

Afler all, a king can't control his own destiny.

Or so I thought.

Yes, fine, but we must come to an agreement with Turkish Security.

Yes, the versions must converge.

Nobody knows about it.

No, no one was aware of the King's identity.

Fine. Goodbye.

Sire, I have the official version proposed by the Palace.

We Iefl Istanbul yesterday, accompanied by Turkish Security.

And our Balkan escapade neverhappened.

Mr Duncan Lloyd?

I, King Nicolas Ill, King ofthe Belgians,

hereby authorise you to do whateveryou want

with all the images and the sounds

that you've captured since ourday in Mini—Europe.

All the images, Sire?

Yes.

Are you sure about this, Sire?

Fine.

Your Majesty,

do you think thisjoumey is due to coincidence or destiny?

It has to be destiny.

There must be something more than just coincidence.

What do you fear most?

To bejust...

a passenger.

Do you thinkyour kingdom has a future?

Yes.

Wny?

Because...

I'm the King.