The Swan Page #3

Alexandra!

Alexandra!

Have you heard it?

Alexandra,

have you heard

the news?

Yes, I heard it.

Your highnesses

will sit down, please.

I shall take you

in a few minutes.

Your highness,

this morning we're

going to practice

the art of making a feint--

the sham attack

followed by a genuine one

in another quarter.

The offenser is always in danger

of revealing

his intentions

to his adversary,

and that he must never do.

His opponent must never know

from one moment

to the next

what he is thinking.

Like everything else,

it's a question

of practice.

No one ever

knows what Alexandra

is thinking anyway.

That can never

be said of you,

Arsene.

Alexandra,

are you going to fence

with cousin Albert?

Of course she isn't.

She might cut

his head off.

I don't know what

mother would say

to that.

There goes our crown.

Be quiet, both of you,

or else I shall cut

your heads off.

Prince George,

prince Arsene,

sit down.

Well, thank you,

brother Sebastian.

All right. I can manage.

I'll wire father guardian

when I need to be rescued.

God bless you, father.

You, too, and you,

Beulah, girl. Caesar.

Your highness.

What a pleasant surprise.

Well, how's the rheumatism, eh?

Did the lemon juice work?

Oh, it didn't do any harm,

but, then, I don't

believe in miracles,

your highness.

Caesar, after all this time,

do I have to

remind you that I'm not

"your highness" anymore?

No, your father--

Uh, father.

Beatrix!

Beatrix!

All right.

Get on with your work.

Beatrix!

Karl.

Oh, Beatrix, dear.

Your manners are a disgrace.

Karl, dear,

I thought

I heard you.

Aunt Symphorosa.

You're looking well,

both of you.

We're a little exhausted.

What do you suppose?

I couldn't tell you

in the wire.

Such wonderful news.

I know all about it.

You do?

The whole countryside knows.

And what are they saying?

Not out here.

Excuse me, father.

Thank you, my son.

That's not all your luggage.

When you renounce

the world, Beatrix,

I'm happy to say

you renounce luggage

along with it.

Later. Later. Do you mind?

Quite enough people.

Karl, I--Karl, if all goes well,

my life's ambition

will be realized.

You don't know

what such a moment

means to a mother.

If I could be sure

Alexandra would sit on a throne,

I'd willingly die this minute.

I very much doubt

if heaven wants you

on those terms.

And where do I come into it?

Oh, you'll be

such a help, Karl.

I know you will.

You must go through

the wine cellars

with the Butler.

Yes. He stays

down there

sometimes,

and it isn't good for him.

And I want you

to talk to the chef.

He's so accustomed

to planning just for us.

Look at these menus--

or have you forgotten

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