Nightwatching Page #2

They tell me

your father was a miller.

Well, so was mine.

We are people of the wind.

- That is always blowing

in contrary directions.

- Taking good advantage,

I am sure,

of where we sail.

- How we sail.

- And making sure

we can sail back.

- With profitable returns.

(chuckling)

- Oh!

I thank you, sir.

- Do not mention it, Madame.

I am a soldier,

but my father is - was -

a flower merchant in Paris.

But now, when Amsterdam

is not besieged by Spaniards,

my business interests, Madame,

are flowers.

- Mm... Miller,

flower-merchant, soldier.

You see

how the Republic goes downhill?

(laughter)

- But now,

we have an opportunity.

- An excuse for a grand

celebratory group portrait.

- This time, on the occasion

of the arrival in Amsterdam

of Mary Stuart,

daughter of the King of England.

- When monarchies are in trouble,

they send their females begging.

- The King of England

is in serious trouble

of losing his throne

to his parliament.

His daughter is here

in Amsterdam

trying to arrange loans.

- And to pawn

the Royal English jewels.

- Oh, sounds desperate.

- No, no. She understands,

and we understand,

that there are many

here in Amsterdam

who will, as likely as not,

help her out,

with considerable profit

to themselves, of course.

- Ourselves.

- And you?

How will that help you out?

- I am looking for a place

in the King of England's household

as a musician and a composer.

My cousin, Ruben's protege,

van Dyk, is at Westminster.

- Then the king had better win.

Hmm?

- So you are to be

the standard-bearer,

the carrier of the flag of Amsterdam.

Your ambition does not sound

to be so very patriotic.

- Patriotism is a currency

of fluctuating value

in the marketplace.

The Dutch abroad

are not the Dutch at home.

- You could go to England.

You must know the King of England

owns a portrait of your mother.

- My son, Carl.

- Ah.

- His mother

collects your paintings.

My son collects your prints.

- My mother bought

the "Stoning of St. Stephen"

that you painted in Leiden.

- Uli! Ahem.

I hear I'm charging 80

a full-length now?

Would that be to give yourself

a useful profit?

- Come on, Rembrandt,

be more gracious.

I recommended you.

I am an honest businessman,

even in my dishonesty.

If I benefit -

and it's for me to say how

and for you to find out -

you could benefit too.

Push up your price.

- Inclusive or exclusive of your fee?

- Well, I obviously don't expect

extras from you.

Those days are over, I think.

I feel, I know, I'm sure...

- Cousin, you promised me

a man of talent,

and as you can see,

I now have him.

He lives in my kitchen.

With servants from Leeuwarden

all around him.

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