The Prisoner of Zenda Page #2

My friend.

You know, I like you, Rassendyll.

You're a good fellow.

Oh, you're English,

but you're a good fellow.

I want to drink a toast to you.

Devil take it, why is there no more wine?

Josef! Josef!

It's my duty to remind you

once more of tomorrow.

- What, again?

- Again.

Why, so be it, you've reminded me.

Now sit down and have a drink.

- You have a duty, sire.

- Duty, duty, on my last night of freedom?

I question your freedom

to drink yourself into a condition...

...in which you'll not be fit

to be crowned.

I question your right to say that to me.

I served your father during his life, sire.

I question your right

to bring my father into this.

Your father knew his obligations

to the crown.

And I don't.

Is that what you mean?

He never thought of himself,

or of his own pleasure.

He never forgot that he was king.

By your leave, Your Majesty.

Zapt?

- What do you want?

- The 1868, Your Majesty. You sent for it.

Did I?

- Josef.

- Your Majesty?

I've had too much to drink.

- Better take it away.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

No, wait, wait, we have a guest.

Marvelous fellow. English.

Marvelous fellow, Josef, but can't drink.

I can drink. I'm the king.

Better go to bed, Josef.

- Good night, Your Majesty.

- Good night.

Sleep well, Josef.

Everybody, sleep well.

Everybody sleeps but the king.

I don't care much for your joke, sir!

You think it's a joke?

This is no joke, Englishman.

That was quite an evening, wasn't it?

- What happened?

- Josef found him on the floor this morning.

You didn't drink any of this, did you?

- No, not that I remember.

- No, I think you'd know if you had.

- Why? Was it drugged?

- It was.

- Well, have you had a doctor?

- No, none within 10 miles.

And a thousand doctors wouldn't bring

him to today. I know the look of it.

He won't move

for seven or eight hours yet.

- But how? Why? Who?

- Who else but Michael?

- Who else?

- Michael!

- His brother?

- Half brother.

Michael's mother wasn't

acceptable in court circles.

But this is fantastic. Impossible!

What could be on Michael's mind?

He wants the throne

offered to him by the people.

He wants to pose as their savior

from the excesses of an incompetent king.

If he's not crowned today...

...he'll never be crowned.

Englishman, I'm much older than you.

As a man grows old,

he begins to believe in fate.

Fate sent you here.

Fate sends you now to Strelsau.

- What?

- Sounds mad, doesn't it?

But without your beard I'll wager

you could deceive your own brother.

You must be out of your mind.

It's a risk against a certainty.

My dear colonel, I came here

on a fishing trip. I like to fish.

I'm a simple Englishman.

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