"[music playing]" "What is it, Phipps?" "The Duke of Landguard to see His Majesty." "His Majesty is out." "PHIPPS:" "Yes, sir." "Any message for the Duke, sir?" "No message for the Duke." "Very good, sir." "[telephone ringing]" "Hello." "Yes." "What?" "No, madam." "This is not the Royal Cleaning Company." "This is the Royal Palace." "You have the wrong number." "That's quite all right." "[clears throat]" "His Majesty is out." "Yes, sir." "It's the Marquis of Birten, sir." "Oh." "Send him in." "His Excellency, the foreign minister." "Your Excellency." "Well, how'd do you do, Granton?" "And where's His Majesty?" "He went out, sir." "For a walk, I imagine." "Hm." "And, uh, Her Majesty?" "GRANTON:" "Finishing the preparations for her trip." "The palace has been in quite an uproar this morning." "No wonder the king went out for a walk." "And what time does the queen leave?" "The procession leaves the palace at 4:00 sharp." "The boat sails at 6:00." "Well, I must see her before she goes." "I have some important news for her." "I will tell Her Majesty that you called." "I suppose the king is quite upset over the queen's departure." "Oh uh." "Yes, sir." "He feels very badly about it." "Oh, he does." "Does he?" "[chuckling]" "His Majesty is out." "Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne." "Oh." "Alone?" "GRANTON:" "Yes." " Freddie." "Anne, darling." "Give me a cigarette quickly." "Oh what a nuisance mother is." "GRANTON:" "You know I feel sorry for your mother." "She has to settle all the affairs of the nation before she leaves for America." "I know, but she doesn't have to make such an infernal fuss about everything." "She's furious now, because father has gone out." "Mother tries to boss everything." "Well, she's not going to boss me." "I'm not her husband." "I'm going to lead my own life." "And may I ask when you intend to start?" "As soon as she's safely away on her trip to America." "One of these days mother will pick up a New York paper and discover her daughter has eloped." "You are going to elope with me, aren't you, Freddie?" "Oh yes, Anne." "I wouldn't let you elope alone." "Oh." "You are sweet, Freddie." "You're giving up everything for me, aren't you?" "I giving up everything?" "Well, I like that." "It's you who's giving up everything for me." "You'll never be forgiven." "But I don't want to be forgiven." "I only want to get away from this stifling place." "I want to be happy and free." "You know, there's no one here who will really miss me for a minute when I'm gone." "Well, there's your father." "Yes, there's father." "But father won't mind." "He'll understand." "He'd like to be free too." "If only he'd abdicate." "Oh, if he only would." "But he won't." "He wouldn't dare try anything as strenuous as abdication." "Mother wouldn't let him." "You know how mother is." "Oh." "I do." "Father thinks it's our duty to keep the throne occupied." "Duty." "That's all I've been allowed to think about since the day I was born." "Well, I'm going to think about myself, my own happiness for a change." "I'm going away with you." "Oh, but when can we start, Anne." "I'm trying hard to be patient." "But I..." "I can't wait much stronger." "It's terrible having to wait." "Terrible for me too, Freddie darling." "But we mustn't take any chances until mother's safely across the Atlantic." "Well, I wish her bon voyage." "Her Majesty the Queen." "Has His Majesty taken the trouble to come here yet?" "GRANTON:" "No, ma'am." "He hasn't." "Doesn't he realize that we're to leave here in another hour?" "Doesn't he know that he's put on his [inaudible] uniform for the procession to the harbor?" "GRANTON:" "Yes, ma'am." "I am quite certain His Majesty has been advised to that." "Then, why hasn't he come here?" "Wouldn't you think that he would know that all this was terribly worrying, terribly upsetting for me." "Anne, your father is a very inconsiderate, very thoughtless man." "Oh, don't be silly, mother." "Father probably thought he'd just be in the way." "Well, he would have been in the way." "But just the same, he should have spoken to me before he went out." "Uh, Lord Birten called, ma'am." "He asked to see you." "Suggested he had good news for you and said he'd come back later." "Then, I shall wait right here." "You two go and get ready for the procession." "BOTH:" "Yes, ma'am." "Has General Northrup been here?" "No, ma'am." "The Prime Minister hasn't been to the palace all day." "I hope he doesn't come." "I hope I never see his scowling face again." "Now, mother, you know you'd be perfectly furious if he didn't stop in to wish you goodbye." "I don't want any kind wishes from General Northrup." "I don't like him." "He's no business to be prime minister of this country." "Yes." "And if it weren't for General Northrup and his army, this country would be a republic." "And where would you be then?" "I know where'd I be." "I'm happy to say there is no danger of that." "Thank Heaven." "Thank Heaven we have the confidence and loving loyalty of our people." "The monarchy will never fall." "Oh, where is the king?" "What on earth does he think he's doing, wandering aimlessly around when he's needed here?" "Oh, forget it, mother." "There's plenty of time." "There'll never be plenty of time for your father." "Probably, he'll need a shave." "And that always takes him hours." "Anne, some day you'll be a queen, and then you'll know what troubles I've had, what sacrifices I've made." "Then, you'll know what I've had to put up with." "Don't worry, mother." "You're going away on a nice long vacation." "Vacation?" "Do you think for one moment that I'm going to America for pleasure?" "I'm going to work for the good of my dear country." "I never do anything that isn't for the good of my country." "Well?" "Yes, ma'am." "General Northrup, together with the Marquis of Birten, ma'am." "There you are." "Important business to be attended to, and the king is not here." "I will see them." "Yes, ma'am." "I'll speak to the king about this." "With everything that I have on my mind, and he's dawdling about in this manner." "Simply disgraceful." "His Supreme Excellency the Prime Minister." "His Excellency the Foreign Minister." "Your Majesty." "Your Majesty." "Your Royal Highness." "Your Royal Highness." "Gentlemen." "I've been given to understand, ma'am, that His Majesty is not here." "You've not been misinformed." "I have some matters of vital importance to discuss." "Then, you may discuss them now." "We're leaving in a short time, and we cannot wait for the king." "I've had another conference with the people's leader, ma'am, Dr. Fellman." "You can't ask me to become excited about that, general." "You're always having conferences." "And if I weren't, we'd find ourselves involved in a revolution." "A revolution." "What nonsense." "Fellman wouldn't dare try anything like that." "Ah, but Fellman isn't the only one, ma'am." "There are others, hundreds of thousands of them, determined to overthrow the monarchy." "Are you arresting any of these violent minded men?" "We're arresting them by the hundreds." "There can be but one punishment for such traitors, and that punishment is death." "Then why not execute them?" "There's a reason for that, ma'am." "You may or may not know that our constitution provides..." "You don't have to tell me anything about our constitution." "My great grandfather wrote it." "Hm." "Go on." "Then, you are aware that no political prisoner can be put to death until his sentence has been counter-signed by the king." "Well?" "There are over 50 such death sentences in His Majesty's desk at this very moment, waiting to be signed." "They've been there for over a week." "Is this true, Granton?" "Why... why, yes, ma'am." "I tell you, ma'am." "The situation is intolerable." "These executions must go through at once." "They shall go through." "His Majesty the King." "Good afternoon." "Where have you been?" "I've been down to the royal zoo, my dear." "I've been watching the penguins walk." "I love to watch the penguins." "You know they walk just like human beings." "We've no time now to discuss penguins." "Mhm." "What's the matter?" "I've just heard that you've neglected to sign hundreds of orders for the execution of dangerous characters." "Who told you that?" "I told her that, sir." "And I should be happy to repeat my words to you." "You needn't bother." "I can't understand how you could be so callous, how you could neglect your duty in such a slipshod irresponsible manner." "Well, don't you realize that these criminals will murder us all if you give them a chance?" "Can't you see that the monarchy's in dreadful danger?" "My dear, I know..." "Her Majesty is right." "Naturally." "Now, just what am I to do about it?" "You're to sign those orders of execution." "They've been accumulating on your desk for weeks." "On my desk?" "On my desk?" "Why." "There must be something wrong here." "Where could they be?" "I never heard of anything quite as ridiculous as that in my life." "[roaring]" "Oh." "Granton, where are those papers gone?" "I'm afraid it's my fault, sir." "I took them down to the Lord Chancellor's office for verification." "Well, then, you go right down to the Lord Chancellor's office and get them right back again." " Yes, sir." " There." "You see." "It wasn't my fault after all." "In my opinion, that man should be instantly dismissed." "I should hope so." "He's a pest anyway." "I'll attend to him later." "And the signed orders will be in my hands today?" "General, you may rest assured that I shall make every effort in my power." "QUEEN:" "They will." "I will see to that." "There." "You see." "You can put it right out of your mind now." "I understand that Lord Birten has something to say to us." "Well, we're all prepared to hear from Lord Birten." "I think you'll be glad to hear what I have to say, sir." "I am happy, I am proud to say that I have completed a little arrangement on which we've all set our hearts." "So what was that?" "I received only an hour ago telegraphic communication from the foreign office in Grec." "Yes." "What is it?" "I think that a marriage can be arranged between Prince William of Grec and our own beloved Princess" "Anne." "What?" "Is it settled?" "Practically." "And I may add that this could never have been accomplished had it not been for the tireless efforts of Your Majesty." "QUEEN:" "My darling child, you're engaged to be married." "Allow me to offer my heartfelt congratulations," "Your Royal Highness." "Add my congratulations." "This will give us the prestige we've so long deserved." "Congratulations for what?" "It's a glorious triumph for our diplomacy." "And you've made a perfectly marvelous match." "I have made a match?" "What have I had to do with it?" "Have I been asked?" "No one has even bothered to consult me about this." "Well, I believe I can explain." "It was advisable to keep this matter a profound secret for diplomatic reasons." "Thus, we deemed it unwise to divulge the terms, even to Your Highness." "The terms." "Oh, so there were terms." "Oh yes." "Your Majesty, the marriage agreement provides that the Princess Anne will, of course, become." "Empress of Grec in due time." "Now, the eldest son will become the heir to the throne." "The second son will become..." "Two brothers?" "My sons." "So the contract provides that I shall produce two male children." "Well, how do you know I can?" "Anne, how shockingly indelicate." "That's just what it is." "Indelicate, horrible, revolting." "Anne, come with me this instant." "Come to your rooms." "Do you hear?" "Father, you love me." "You understand me." "Can you let this terrible thing happen?" "Are you going to let them do this to me?" "It'll be all right, my darling." "You go to your room." "We'll talk about it later." "QUEEN:" "Come with me." "Go with your mother, Anne." "And don't cry anymore." "I'll have a little talk with her." "Poor child." "She'll get over it when she realizes what this means." "Just what does it mean?" "This is beyond question the greatest diplomatic victory in the history of our..." "Now, Northrup, let us not go into all that again." "I know it is a glorious triumph." "You all deserve to be very proud of yourself." "But I also know that I do not care to entrust my daughter's happiness to Prince William of Grec." "Now, look her, sir." "You're all wrong about this." "I can imagine no light in which this would appear other than disagreeable and distasteful." "Your Majesty..." "Your Majesty..." "I do not care to hear or speak of it again." "Your Majesty." "Well, king or no king, he needn't think he can block our plans for this wedding." "Don't worry." "It's all settled." "Here's the marriage contract, signed and sealed." "They're as good as married now." "Ah, good." "Good." "But I glad we'll be rid of the queen for a time." "We'll be able to get things done now." "Oh, she won't interfere in this marriage." "She's as anxious for it to go through as we are." "Yes." "I know." "But she's too officious." "The king, at least, knows enough to keep his place." "But she's very useful sometimes." "Yes." "As a press agent." "She'll make these rich Americans pay heavily for the privilege of shaking hands with the royalty." "But here at home, we're not dealing with Americans." "Dr. Fellman and revolutionists are looking for trouble, and I'm going to see that they get it." "Phipps." "PHIPPS:" "Yes, sir." "What the deuce have you done with that checkerboard?" "Begging Your Majesty's pardon, I placed it here for safekeeping." "Well, I wish you'd all get together and come to some definite permanent hiding place for this checkerboard." "Yes, sir." "Perhaps, I should explain, sir, that Her Majesty found the old one and had it thrown out." "Well, there's one satisfaction, Phipps." "There's always plenty more checkerboards." "Yes, sir." "Come on now." "I'm going to beat the hide off you." "Oh, sir." "You know, Phipps." "You have an unfair advantage over me." "An unfair advantage, sir." "Does Your Majesty imagine that I should be guilty of petty cheating in checkers?" "Don't be a fool, Phipps." "What I meant was is that you get a chance to practice." "Now, I'll wager that when you're off duty, you practice with the finest checkers players in this city." "I never get any chance to practice." "You're the only one around the whole place who'll ever play checkers with me." "You know, I thought at time that I might interest the queen in the game." "But she couldn't seem to appreciate the charms." "Remarkable woman, Her Majesty, Phipps." "A remarkable woman." "But she simply will not play checkers." "Hm." "It would be Your Majesty's first move this time." "Ah, so." "Well, there we are." "Beg pardon, sir." "But you've got the jump." "Oh, have I?" "So you do practice." "Don't you, Phipps?" "Hm." "Tell me." "Tell me, Phipps." "Have you any children?" "Six, sir." "All sons I presume." "No, sir." "There's one daughter." "Married?" "Yes, sir." "She is." "To a young man of her own choice?" "Yes, sir." "Unfortunately, she chose the scientific farmer, sir." "And I may say it's been a source of some regret to me and to her mother." "You wanted her to marry someone else." "Yes, sir." "We didn't consider him quite, uh, eligible shall I say." "We'd hope the girl might marry in her own class." "Is she happy?" "Yes, sir." "I suppose she's happy and in a rather rustic sort of way, sir." "[buzzing]" "Beg pardon, sir." "That's the buzzer." "See who it is." "Will you, Phipps?" "Yes, sir." "I want to talk to you, father." "Yes, my dear." "Alone." "You, uh, you may go, Phipps." "It will be my next move, sir." "I want you to tell me something, father." "I want you to tell me the truth." "What is it, Anne?" "Did you know about this ghastly thing they're trying to do." "Were you part of the conspiracy?" "No." "I didn't know." "Oh, I'm glad, father." "Well, they're not going to make a political bride out of me." "You know this man you're supposed to marry." "Prince William." "No, but I've seen his picture in the newspapers surrounded by a lot of chorus girls." "Well, you shouldn't read those kind of newspapers." "Everyone knows what a rotter he is." "If I marry him, they'll all be laughing at me, or sympathizing with me." "It'll be just as bad either way." "I tell you, father, I won't do it." "I won't do it." "I'll renounce my position." "I'll go into exile." "But I won't marry that foul man." "But my dear child, you have to marry someone." "You must do your share toward perpetuating the family." "The family can end here and now for all I care." "If they must have two male children, they can adopt them." "I'm sick of being royalty." "I want to be a person." "Well, being a member of the royal family has its advantages, Anne." "Think of all the orphan asylums you can inspect." "Oh, don't joke about it, father." "It's terribly serious to me." "Well, when we drive through the streets now," "I look at the poor beggars." "I think to myself..." "I know you think yourself cheerfully, gladly, would I change places with even such as you." "I know." "I have read that speech to myself a thousand times in the days of my youth." "And did it do me any good?" "Have I ever become a person?" "Have I ever found that freedom that is enjoyed by the celebrated beggar in the gutter?" "I'm afraid not, Anne." "I turned out to be a king." "And you intend to be just a king all the rest of your life?" "Well, I'm afraid I'll have to stick to the job now, even if there isn't any future in it." "Well, never mind, father." "You're a good king, a noble king." "Well, I could be a bad king for all the difference it would make, Anne." "Take young Granton for instance." "He's a commoner by birth." "But he's a royalist at heart." "And I'm quite sure that if we were languishing in exile, you would find young Granton perched on a soapbox in the park arguing for the restoration, and he'd go to his death crying, "Long live the King."" "Oh, no he wouldn't." "Granton would go into exile with us and be glad to do it." "Well, how do you know that?" "Well, I talk to him now and then naturally." "Oh, I see." "Ah, Granton." "We were just discussing you." "Me, sir?" "Yes." "What would you say if I told you I decided to abdicate?" "Would you tremble in every fiber of your being." "Would you draw your sword if you had one, and would you cry, "No." "No."" "No." "A thousand times no." "Over my dead body, you leave the throne"?" "Or would you murmur devoutly yourself," ""It's about time the old boy got on to himself and retired."" "I can only say, sir, that I support." "Your Majesty in any venture he might choose to undertake." "There." "Thank you, Granton." "Thank you." "That's all I want to know." "May I make so bold, sir, as to ask whether you have any such revolutionary idea in mind?" "You may make so bold." "But my answer is no." "I haven't faintest idea of abdicating." "Oh." "Here are the papers, sir, for which you asked." "Papers?" "Did I ask for papers?" "Yes." "The orders for the execution of the prisoners." " Oh, you found them." " Yes, sir." "They're ready for signatures." "Well, well, you take them right out and lose them again." "Yes, sir." "Will that be all, sir?" "That'll be all." "How long has this been going on?" "What?" "This little romance." "How did you know?" "The king knows everything." "You'd know that if you paid strict attention to your school books." "Oh, father." "You've got to help us." "You're the only one who can help us." "I know, but you haven't told me how long this has been going on." "For months." "We fell in love." "We couldn't help it." "Well, that's a natural impulse, I suppose." "Have you made any plans for the future?" "Yes." "We're going to elope as soon as mother's landed in America." "We'll go to France." "That's a free country, isn't it?" "Reasonably so." "And after we get there, we'll be married, and Freddie will find work of some kind." "He's always wanted to write, or paint, or something." "I'm going to have babies and be happy, and you'll come to visit us." "And the third day of my visit, Granton will say is your father going to stay here forever." "Oh." "He won't say any such thing." "He loves you." "And besides, he's much too sweet to be mean to anyone." "Well, are you aware of the character of your fiance's family?" "Of course, I am." "Freddie's father is one of the richest men in the kingdom." "I know." "Old Mr. Granton is one of the pillars of the state financially." "But he is a plumber." "A wholesale plumber." "Nevertheless, he does mess up with bathroom utensils." "Well, I don't care what he is or isn't." "I love Freddie, and nothing in Heaven or Earth is going to stop me from marrying him." "I'm afraid your mother will not be very enthusiastic about this." "[buzzing]" "I think I hear the buzzer." "Her Majesty the Queen." "Do you happen to realize what time it is?" "My, my." "It is." "Isn't it?" "There you two sit talking, talking, talking of Heaven knows what." "And in half an hour, I'm going away across 3,000 miles of ocean to America into a strange barbarous country." "It isn't barbarous at all." "It is barbarous." "I've seen moving pictures about it." "[gasp] Where did that checkerboard come from?" "General Northrup must have left that here." "Are you going to change your clothes for the procession?" "Yes, I am." "It's the bazaar uniform." "I believe it is." "Bazaar uniform." "Then, why not do something about it?" "And you too." "The procession starts at 4:00 sharp." "And I want you to look very neat." "There are to be over 30 photographers between the palace and the dock." "I hope they don't take any close-ups." "I look awful on the film." "[band playing music]" "[cheering]" "Lord Birten, while I'm away, I want you to be very sure that nothing happens which might in any way jeopardize the coming marriage of Princess Anne to Prince William of Grec." "You understand?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "In two months, Her Royal Highness will have a birthday." "I've arranged a ball for the occasion." "You will see that she has an enjoyable evening." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Anne, it's most unfortunate that I have to go away at this time, just when your engagement to Prince William is to be announced." "But the mission which takes me away is a very important one." "I am going to do my duty." "I want you both to bear that in mind while I'm away." "Don't worry, mother." "You can leave everything to us." "We'll do our best in our small way here at home." "[gun salute firing]" "[waltz music playing]" "I wonder what is detaining His Majesty." "Very likely, matters of great political importance." " I tell you Phipps, you did." " Oh no, sir." "Now, listen." "Don't argue with me." "No, sir." "I'm very sorry." "I'm not arguing with you, sir." "I don't care to argue." "But begging your pardon." "But know you're wrong." "I don't care..." "I'm very sorry to say, sir, that Your Majesty has lost." " I didn't lose..." " Excuse me, sir." "I've just come from the extra session of Parliament." "Never mind, Parliament." "I want to go on with the game." "But sir, it's desperately important." "Bugger Parlia... will no one obey my commands?" "Now, I want to talk about it later." "Forgive me." "Please, sir." "But their actions this evening..." "It's a foregone conclusion." "Your Majesty has lost." "I didn't lose." "I... what?" "Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness, the Princess" "Anne wishes me tell you that the ball awaits your appearance, sir." "Oh." "Thank you." "There you are." "Thank you, sir." "[waltz music playing]" "His Majesty the King." "[entrance music playing]" "Happy birthday, my darling." "[waltz music playing]" "The time has come when we must forcefully show our resentment to Northrup's iron heel." "Tonight, he made a violent speech, and there was nothing for us to do but to declare a revolution." "[cheering] [shouting]" "[waltz music playing]" "Bonsoir, Monsieur Ambassador." "[speaking french] [speaking french]" "What is it?" "Forgive me, sir." "I must speak." "What's the matter, Freddie." "You look worried." "Well, is there anything wrong?" "You said something upstairs about Parliament." "Yes, Parliament has proclaimed Northrup dictator with absolute power." "Dr. Fellman got up and spoke to the people and said they wouldn't stand for it." "Good for Fellman." "Well, Northrup then replied that if the people were in for war, so was he." "He pounded the table with his fist when he said it." "It's a crisis." "Now, Northrup's dictator, with his guns and his army he'll butcher them." "You run right over to the War Office." "See what their latest plans are." "And hurry back." "All right, sir." "Father, you realize this is our chance." "Who's chance?" "Mine and Freddie's." "This revolution will give us a chance to get away." "Oh, we can't talk about that now." "There's enough disturbance as it is." "Freddie and I would have eloped long ago if we could." "Mother had me too closely watched." "But tonight, tonight, they will have forgotten to worry about me." "They have enough to worry about, and so have I." "But this is our last chance." "I am to be married next week." "If I don't go away now, I never will." "This is no time to talk about love." "I don't care what's happening." "The Army and Navy can shoot their heads off if they want to." "I'm going, to be married, to be free, and you won't stop me." "You wouldn't dare." "At times, you remind me of your mother." "[blasting]" " What's that?" " See." "It's started." "Look." "I can see the flashes." "Why." "They're on the cathedral." "[boom] Look." "The fight has started." "That looks like the Continental Bank Building." "[boom]" "Your Majesty, General Northrup called us, sir." "All officers are to report to their commands immediately." "My men will escort the ladies to safety." "Very well then." "[excited chatter]" "The fighting has started, Your Majesty." "[boom]" "So glad you warned us." "[boom]" "Is General Northrup with the firing line?" "No, sir." "He's at the War Office." "That is undoubtedly the safest place in the city." "Come." "We've got to go." "[gunshots] [shouting] [gunshots]" "[distant booming]" "Well?" "I'm sorry to disturb Your Majesty." "But we're taking measures to defend the palace." "There might be unexpected developments." "Well, go ahead and take them." "You won't disturb me at all." "Very good, sir." "In with those sandbags, you men." "On the double." "[booming]" "Look." "They're putting machine guns right in front of the palace." "Your Highness mustn't stand at that window." "But I want to watch." "Anne, dear, you mustn't stay there." "Why not?" "And what are those things?" "Sandbags, sir." "They make rather good protection against stray bullets, sir." "Who ordered them?" "General Northrup, sir." "Well, it's very charming of Northrup to be so concerned for my safety, but you take them right out of here." "I don't want my apartment all messed up with sandbags." "Yes, sir." "Out with those sandbags, you men." "On the double." "Thank you very much, Major Blent." "Not at all, sir." "Everything shall be as you say, sir." "Who told you that?" "It goes without saying, sir." "Thank you." "It's very nice to have you around, major." "Thank you, sir." "And may I got now, sir?" "You may go now." "Excellent." "You know I have half a mind to give that fellow another medal." "Is the yacht at Stannidge?" " Yes, sir." " The road open?" "Oh yes." "About a two hours drive, isn't it?" "Father, are we running away?" "No." "But you are, and Granton's going with you." " But I can't do that, sir." " Well, you wanted to escape." "Here's your chance." "But how are we going to do it?" "The yacht is anchored at Stannidge." "I'll give orders for her to sail tonight for Sherberg with you on board." "Now, go upstairs." "Pack your things." "Change your clothes, and don't forget to take your toothbrush." "Oh, Father." "At last, at last, I'm getting away from this prison." "I'm through will be royalty." "I'm going to live." "But Your Majesty, we can't leave now with all..." "Oh, don't argue with him, Freddie." "We're going." "We're going." "Yes." "And you'd better hurry." "I'll hurry all right." "Oh, thank you, my darling." "Thank you." "You'll never be sorry you've done this for me." "I'll be so happy." "And you'll be happy too, won't you?" "I expect so." "If I could only see mother's expression when she hears about this." "Sir, I thank you too." "But I can't accept this gracious offer, sir." "Really." "Well, why not?" "I couldn't leave you with all this danger threatening, sir." "Oh, don't be silly." "I have a whole army and navy to protect me." "I don't need you." "So what is it you want me to do?" "You're to marry my daughter." "You're to write, or paint, or something, and you're to have babies." "I forget what it all is about." "General Northrup to see Your Majesty." "There." "You see, the palace is perfectly safe." "Even Northrup's willing to come here." "Do you want to see him, sir?" "I do not." "You see him." "Find out what he wants." "And I'll get the orders off to Stannidge." "All right." "Show him in, Phipps." "PHIPPS:" "Very good, sir." "Here's um..." "His Supreme Excellency the Prime Minister." "Where's the king?" "He's gone to his room." "I have a communication from Dr. Fellman." "I thought he might care to see." "Well, I can take it to him, sir." "Oh, never mind." "Doesn't matter anyway." "I suppose His Majesty doesn't care to be annoyed with business matters just now." "Here." "Give that to the king." "I beg your pardon, General Northrup." "Those are His Majesty's cigars." "I know it." "Get me the Admiralty Office." "I gave you an order, Mr. Granton." "Do you intend to obey it?" "Or must I entrust it to a more dependable servant?" "[laughing]" "Who's laughing at whom?" "I want to talk to Lord Ennol." "This is General Northrup." "Yes." "Are the rest of the ships ready to go into action?" "Good." "That'll be all." "Well?" "Lord Birten to see His Majesty." "Send him in." "I'll see him." "Very well." "Lord Birten." "Northrup, you... you seem to be in full possession." "Yes." "The king has gone to his room." "He's hiding under the bed I suppose." "[laughs] Well, it's the best place for him." "How goes the battle?" "Oh, don't call that farce a battle." "Well, I hope you get it over with soon." "That noise is simply terrific." "[boom]" "I know I shan't be able to sleep a wink tonight." "Well, we won't quit until we've made a clean job of it." "Well, you had better hurry it up." "Prince William of Grec arrives for the wedding next week." "I am told that he is a very nervous young man." "[laughing]" "Ah, good evening gentlemen." "BOTH:" "Your Majesty." "Ah, Northrup." "Have a cigar." "Oh, you had one." "Did you get my note, sir?" "Yes, I did." "I've had the Admiralty on the wire." "The rest of the ships are ready to start shelling." "Well, you can't do that." "You'll kill thousands of men and women." "Well, I've given them fair warning." "I've issued an ultimatum giving them a half hour in which to lay down their arms and surrender." "And what was their answer to that?" "They said they'd never give in until I was ready to arbitrate." "Well, then, why not arbitrate?" "I arbitrate to that rabble?" "Well, I appreciate the delicacy of your feelings, Northrup, but the naval guns will not go into action." "I regret to say, sir, that I must be allowed to handle this crisis as I see fit." "I merely told you of my plans just as a matter of courtesy." "I am overwhelmed with gratitude." "Sometimes, frankness pays." "And I'm here to tell you that I am running this show, and I intend to run it in my own way." "You're quite right." "Frankness does pay sometimes." "So I'd like to ask you what are your intentions." "Are you going to set up a republic?" "You've already bullied your way into the dictatorship, thereby making me more of a cypher than ever." "Your next step is evidently the presidency." "When are you going to take that step." "I resent that insinuation." "I resent it bitterly." "That was not an insinuation." "That was a frank statement of fact." "Well, whatever it was, I resent it." "[boom] [glass breaking]" "What was that?" "[booming]" "It's the stupid field artillery." "They're shooting the wrong way." "Something gone wrong with your plans, general?" "I asked them to put a stop to this nonsense." "I think they're aiming at us." "I'll break a few colonels for this." "Certainly." "Here." "Don't forget your Sunday hat." "Oh!" "[groaning] [boom]" "I think I better go to the foreign office." "You take my advice and try the cellar." "[boom]" "You mustn't stay here, sir." "It's very dangerous." "Blent, you've assured me of your loyalty." "I think I can depend on you." "Always, sir." "I want to get the Princess Anne out of this." "A yacht is at Stannidge." "Granton will take her there." "You escort them both as far as the harbor to see that they get away safely." "Now, get a car, a good one." "Have it at the Quince Street entrance right away." "And hurry." "Yes, sir." "[boom]" "The car will be ready in a few minutes." "You must go once." "But what were those explosions?" "Shells, my dear, the fact of the matter is the revolution has stole General Northrup's artillery when he wasn't looking." "And they're trying to shell the palace." "It seems that way." "What are you doing?" "You think I'd go now?" "But my dear child, you must go." "This is your one chance, you can't lose it." "It's too late now, father." "I'm going to stay here, because I love you." "And because we must be together when they come." "Good for you, Anne." "Well, there's nothing left for me to do except burst into tears I suppose." "[boom]" "That one seems to have landed in the queen's room." "I wish Phipps were here." "What do you want of Phipps?" "Anything you want, I'll do it." "Go down to the cellar right away and get about a dozen bottles of champagne." "It seems to me the time has come to all get gloriously drunk." "Oh, father, that's a marvelous idea." "I think so." "BLENT:" "Your Majesty." " What?" "BLENT:" "Dr. Fellman is here." " Fellman?" " Fellman?" " He wants to see you." "He insists that he must." "Oh, father, don't see him." "He might..." "Nonsense." "Show him in." "You go get that champagne." "Look, sir." "I've got to say here..." "Do what I tell you." "Get the champagne." "Get lots of it." "You never can tell." "This fellow Fellman might want a drink too." "Go on." "[boom]" "Come in, Dr. Fellman." "Thank you, sir, for having the courage to see me." "I hope you'll pardon the appearance of this room." "It's a bit upset at the moment." "Is the bodyguard absolutely necessary?" "I am unarmed." "You may go, Blent." "Well, tell me, doctor, to what am I indebted for this visit, et cetera, et cetera?" "A great many lives are being lost tonight, sir." "Unnecessarily lost." "Otherwise, I should not have risked my own to come here." "I commend your courage, doctor." "But tell me, why are your people trying to batter down the palace?" "You know they might want to use it for a museum or something." "You, sir, have never come into contact with reality." "You have lived your quiet detached life here." "No one has ever told you the truth." "No one ever takes the trouble to tell me anything." "I understand." "But you are the ruler of this nation." "That's where you make a great mistake, doctor." "I am not the ruler." "I am merely the king." "And are you satisfied, sir, that you have been a good king?" "Well, I've always been on time at all official functions." "My public speeches have been brief and of good taste." "I've always appeared presentable on rest parade." "My home life is above reproach." "I don't know what else I could have done to, uh, fulfill my obligations to my people." "You could have prevented them from being driven to despair." "I could have done that?" "You have an exaggerated idea of my importance, doctor." "Well, the people have the vote." "Why don't they use it?" "Why don't they throw Northrup out and put you in?" "The issue is up to you, sir." "It is not up to me." "I have no right to meddle in the state's business." "I'm merely a figurehead, and a none too ornamental one at that." "Then, sir, on behalf of the people," "I must demand your abdication." "[explosions]" "Naval guns." "Now, the murder will start." "Hello." "Hello." "Put me through to the Admiralty." "FELLMAN:" "Now, you will see what your reign has come to." "Hello." "I..." "I want to speak to Lord Ennol please." "This is the king." "The king." "This is the king speaking." "What?" "It's spelled K-I-N-G." "King." "Thank you so much." "[gunfire]" "Hello, Ennol." "Ennol, those guns must be stopped." "I don't care who ordered you to fire." "I want [inaudible] the entire fleet on my authority at once." "Thank you." "Now, that might be known in history as the final act of King Eric VIII, the last of a long of line of non-entities." "[gunfire]" "Now, it's up to your people cease firing and declare an armistice." "But an armistice will do no good." "This country must have a permanent peace." "I warn you, sir." "If you wish to save your country, you must abdicate, and you must do it at once." "There's nothing to be done now except that your people must surrender." "And trust ourselves to the mercy of Northrop." "He'll overrule you again." "Oh no, he won't." "I give you my word that he..." "You must take my word for it." "I accept your word, sir." "You do." "Thank you, doctor." "You're a very unusual fellow." "Your Majesty, General Northrup is on his way up." "He is, huh." "Well, Dr. Fellman, I don't know how you got here." "But you must go away as soon as possible." "Here, Blent, take Dr. Fellman through my apartments and escort him as far as necessary." "[shouting] [booming]" "Goodbye, doctor." "Now, we must keep this conversation secret, especially from our mutual friend who's on the up." "NORTHRUP: [shouting]" "Blent, take him that way." "NORTHRUP:" "Out of my way!" "What's the matter, general?" "Something gone wrong with your artillery?" "Did you give that order of the naval guns to cease firing?" "I did." "Well, I've come here to tell you that's the last order you'll give out." "You don't have to remind me of that." "Oddly enough, I commented on that very fact at the time." "I want you to understand that I am in charge here." "And I won't have any interference from you or anyone else." "Do you realize that you're talking to your king?" "Bah." "We're talking as man to man." "I won't stand for you meddling in my affairs." "Get me the Admiralty Office." "The battleship will resume firing." "The battleships will not resume firing." "I warned you not to interfere with me." "I gave those orders to the Navy, and the orders stand." "I'm the one to give orders to the Navy." "I am the dictator by act of Parliament." "I am the king by the grace of God." "Ah." "Don't use that catchphrase on me." "You'll be king only as long as I and my army are on hand to keep you on the throne." "Now, look here, Northrup." "I'm getting awfully fed up with you and your army." "I'm fed with up your bombasting and your flag-waving patriotism." "And in fact, I'm getting awfully fed up on your personal appearance." "[blustering] Your Majesty!" "Don't Majesty me." "As you said before, we were talking man to man." "Now, I'm going to take this opportunity to remind you of something." "I hope the revolution wins." "Ah." "You're a contemptible traitor." "Possibly I am." "Possibly I've been a traitor all along." "But if my throne depends on you and your army," "I don't want to sit on the rotten thing any longer." "[phone ringing]" "Hello." "It's the War Office for you." "Oh." "Thank you." "Hello." "Yes." "What?" "[laughing]" "Oh, the coward." "Yes." "Good." "I'll be right over." "Well, they've surrendered." "Who has?" "Fellman and Laker on the condition that we arbitrate." "Well, of course, you'll arbitrate." "Oh yes." "We'll arbitrate right enough with machine guns." "This matter will be settled without machine guns." " And by whom?" " By me." "[laughs]" "By you." "I don't need you and your army." "I don't need your hand-picked Parliament." "I have another power on my side." "And what power may I ask?" "The people." "[laughs]" "Use the people." "Use the people for all they're worth." "But first, be sure they are on your side." "[laughing]" "What's he bellowing about?" "He was just putting me in my place." "Well, don't worry about him." "What you need is some champagne." "I know, my dear." "But the revolution is over." "Then, we have nothing to celebrate." "You know, sir." "That fellow Northrup is becoming absolutely insufferable." "He came in here this morning and acted as if he owned the place." "I know, but I talked back to him." "[shouting]" "[gunshot]" "Was that a cork?" "It sounded like a shot, sir." "Yes." "Someone just made an attempt on General Northrup's life." "But the bullet only grazed his cheek, sir." "The crowd outside are in a terrible state of excitement." "[boom]" "Well, perhaps, if I appear on the balcony," "I can reassure them." "Oh, I wouldn't do that, sir." "The temper of that mob is violently hostile." "Father, I wouldn't go out there." "They might try to assassinate you, darling." "Don't worry, Anne." "If they couldn't hit Northrup at close range, they won't harm me." "[shouting]" "MOB:" "The King!" "The King!" "Long live the King!" "Long live the King!" "It's up to me to outline your duties for you." "Do I have to think of everything?" "Do I?" "Answer me that." "Will the king so much as lift his little finger to help me." "Now, see." "Will my daughter take the slightest interest in her own wedding?" "She will not." "Oh no." "All the work, all the responsibility is left to me." "If I weren't here to toil and slave, there wouldn't be any wedding." "His Majesty the King." "Where have you been?" "Now, Martha, don't scold me." "I've just been getting all dressed for the wedding." "Come here, and let me look at you." "Where is the Order of St. Christopher?" "Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't have room for it." "Well, find room." "I've had trouble enough getting this palace patched up without having to worry about your personal appearance." "Where are you going?" "I was just going to put that order on." "I want you to go up and talk to Anne." "But I haven't anything particular to say to her." "I don't know what's happened to Anne while I was away." "This absurd revolution seems to have gone to her head." "If there were to be an outburst of temperament during the ceremony, well, you know what Prince William is like." "He'd... he'd pack up and go home without another word." "Well, you wouldn't call that a tragedy." "It would be a disaster." "I want you to explain this to Anne." "She pays more attention to you." "Heaven knows why." "You must talk to her, and be firm." "Yes, my dear." "I will." "PHIPPS:" "His Majesty the King." "Come in, father." "Well, what is it, father?" "Sit down, Anne." "Anne, I'm going to be very firm with you." "And if you find me being otherwise, you must remind me." "Well, what is it that mother has told you to tell me now?" "Anne, I'm to give you this bit of advice." "When the archbishop says to you, "Do you take this man"" "to be your lawful husband?"" "You are to respond, "I do."" "You are not to tell him where you think he should go." "Suppose I feel like saying just that." "You are to have absolutely no feelings at all today." "If any apropos remarks occur to you, you are to direct them to your husband." "I'll kill myself first." "That's another thing that you positively must not do today." "Father, can you stand by and joke about it?" "I gave you your chance during the revolution." "You wouldn't take it." "I couldn't take it." "I couldn't." "Can't you understand that?" "You did the right thing then, Anne." "And I was glad and I was sorry that you did." "But you bare the curse of royalty, Anne." "You will always do the right thing, even when you know it's the wrong thing." "I wished they'd have stood us up before a firing squad that night." "Prince William of Grec to see Her Royal Highness." "Shall we see him?" "Yes." "Perhaps he's changed his mind." "Pst." "Phipps." "Send him in." "His Imperial Highness Prince William of Grec." "Ah, how are you, William?" "That is, I should say Willy." "Your Majesty." "Your Royal Highness." "We're surprised to see you." "Pleasantly surprised I might add." "I came here expressly to see the bride." "To tell truth, sir." "I had hoped I might see her alone." "You have something of an intimately personal nature to discuss, I take it." "Exactly." "Well, that being the case, I shall take this opportunity to take a ride on my bicycle." "Shall we both sit down?" "No." "You appear to have something on your mind." "I have." "It's killing me." "I would like to have it there." "You're worried about our marriage?" "I am." "I thought so." "I may as well begin by telling you, I don't like you." "I don't like you a bit." "And you'd like to be released?" "I most certainly would." "Then, I release you." "I wouldn't think of holding you against your will." "Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh." "I merely said I should like to be released." "It doesn't mean that I'm asking to be released." "Then, what do you want?" "I merely want to talk to you." "I'm anxious to say a few things while our relationship is still on a fairly friendly basis." "After all, I shall have to live with you for fully two weeks." "The thought is revolting to you." "It's none too palatable to me." "The fact remains, we are about to be married." "Why not make the most of it?" "Go ahead and make the most of it if you like, but don't expect any hearty cooperation from me." "Look here, Anne." "I'm perfectly willing to swallow my prejudices against you and pretend to be highly romantic." "Why not respond?" "Oh, so that's it." "You want me to make love to you." "Oh, I beg your pardon." "Freddie." "Why, Anne." "What's the matter?" "If you don't mind." "This is the man I love." "The man I'll always love." "Why, Anne." "I've misjudged you grossly." "Granton, my apologies." "I've been making indecent proposals to your fiance." "She's not my fiance." "She's yours." "And I love her." "And I love you." "I can't pretend to love anyone else." "It does make it a bit awkward." "Doesn't it?" "I know it does, and I'm terribly sorry." "Not for you, but for her." "Well, is everything settled?" "Yes." "Everything's settled." "Then, the wedding is not to be cancelled?" "Oh no, Your Majesty." "We're more desperately in love than ever." "How perfectly charming." "Well, I really must be moving on." "However, we will meet again at the altar." "With the wedding bells ringing merrily and the organ booming forth its impressive message..." "Oh, shut up." "Goodbye." "Good day, young man." "My congratulations." "Good day, sir." "Good afternoon, Willy." "What a curious young man." "He's loathsome." "It's my duty to tell you, sir, that I must resign from Your Majesty's service." "Oh, you're going away to forget, I suppose." "Yes, sir." "Oh, father, I can't let Freddie go." "I'd much rather kill myself." "Well, you may have that done for you." " What do you mean?" " What?" "Well, I have an appointment here with Dr. Fellman and Mr. Laker, his friend, very shortly." "And if we don't pacify Laker before the wedding there will be bomb, bullet, and so forth." "Well then, sir, we better notify General Northrup and the police." "No." "No." "This is my private secret." "I'm not sharing it, even with General Northrup." "But sir, no member of the royal family ought to venture out into that mob." "Let them have their ceremony here." "No." "The ceremony will be at the cathedral as planned." "We mustn't disappoint the archbishop." "Why he has an elaborate candle display all ready for the occasion." "Father, have pity on me." "I'm desperate." "I have nothing but unspeakable horror to look forward to." "Let them throw their bombs." "Don't try to talk them out of it." "I'm not going to." "I'm going to introduce them both to your mother." "Her Maje..." "Oh, get away." "Here, Granton." "I want you to give this to the archbishop." "It's the prayer he's to deliver at the conclusion of the ceremony." "Yes, ma'am." "Something you composed yourself, my dear." "Yes." "I wouldn't leave it to that old numbskull." "He'd say just the wrong thing, and it would get into the newspapers." "I have to think of everything." "Anne, don't you realize that you're to be ready to leave the palace in 20 minutes?" "Yes, mother." "I've memorized the whole list of instructions." "I'll start." "What on Earth's the matter with her?" "Well, she just had an interview with Prince Willy, and she's not feeling quite herself." "Poor Anne." "Poor Anne indeed." "That rebellious young lady doesn't know when she's in love." "Do you remember the day of our wedding?" "I do." "What were your emotions then?" "How did you feel?" "What... what were you thinking of?" "I know what I was thinking of." "I was grimly determined to do my duty." "And you did." "But didn't you feel a spark of rebelliousness, Martha?" "Wasn't there a small but persistent voice within you that kept saying, "Run away now."" "Run away before it's too late." "Save your one chance of love." ""Save your happiness."" "Didn't you have to fight hard to suppress it?" "I did suppress it." "My strength is greater than my weakness." "I didn't run away." "I went to the cathedral." "I faced you at the altar." "And when we stepped out on the balcony to be cheered by the crowds, I smiled on them to let them know that I was happy." "Have you forgotten that I smiled?" "No." "I haven't forgotten." "I haven't forgotten that smile, Martha." "It was a gruesome smile." "And when I saw it, I wanted to say to you, "Go away now."" "Go to the man you love." "Go before it's too late." ""Don't... don't ruin your life for me."" "I didn't ruin my life." "I've made a success of it." "I've served my country well." "And I want my daughter to be worthy of the honorable tradition which she inherits." "Poor Anne." "She'll be a rotten queen." "General Northrup and Lord Birten to see Your Majesties." "Oh, Great Scott." "I don't want to see him right now." "Why not?" "Well, to tell you the truth, Northrup and I are not exactly on speaking terms." "What nonsense." "You need pay no attention to that blowhard Northrup." "Phipps, show Birten and Northrup to the counsel chamber." "I'll settle him." "Come." "Your Majesties." "Your Majesty, I've just been informed by the Grecian ambassador of a conspiracy to prevent the wedding." "And that the Princess Anne is planning an elopement." "An elopement?" "With whom?" "With Frederick Granton." "Yes, with that snippy young secretary of yours." "Who told you that?" "Why, Prince William himself, Your Majesty." "And the princess told him that she was in love with Granton." "And her actions confirmed it." "Yes, I've had Granton arrested." "He's in the palace guard house now." "Well, what do you propose to do with Granton?" "Oh, Your Majesty, I have a suggestion to offer." "There's a tramp steamer sailing within the hour for the eastern coast of South America." "Why not place Granton aboard that boat?" "No." "It's safer to shoot him." "General Northrup is right." "Oh, the scoundrel." "I could kill him myself." "No." "No." "I..." "I think an execution would be messy." "It would cause talk." "I favor Birten's plan." "It's much more sensible." "But no one need know that he'd been put to death." "Oh, but Your Majesty, his father might become inquisitive." "Who cares what his father thinks?" "He's a plumber." "Ah, but he's a wholesale plumber." "And don't forget Northrup, Mr. Granton Senior contributes to your campaign fund." "Oh, well." "Well, we'll put him aboard the ship then." "This is a crowning outrage." "To think that this has been going on in this very palace, and that I shouldn't have known anything about it." "It does seem incomprehensible, doesn't it?" "Phipps, send me Blent right away please." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Who started this miserable, sordid affair?" "It wasn't an affair." "It was a romance." "Northrup, will you countersign that to make it entirely legal." "Please." "Oh, Blent." "I've just written an order of exile for Mr. Granton." "You're to execute that order." "You're to take him in a closed car to the harbor and put him on board, uh..." "What's the name of that boat." "Oh, the steamship Caleo, sir." "Captain Whitley commanding." "Friend of yours?" "BRETIN:" "Oh yes, sir." "You give this order to the captain." "Signed by me, countersigned by General Northrup." "It contains full instructions." "And see that the prisoner isn't put aboard until the last moment before sailing." "And I suggest, major, that you remain with him until the ship is well out of the harbor." "He might be a good swimmer." "Well, sir." "We got that in time." "Oh." "The blow would have finished me." "Dr. Fellman is here accompanied by..." "Fellman?" "Fellman?" "What does he want?" "He says he has an appointment with His Majesty." "He is accompanied by..." "This can't be true." "What does this mean?" "It means that Dr. Fellman has an appointment with me." "Is Dr. Fellman alone?" "No, sir." "He is not alone." "As I've been attempting to explain, sir, for some time, he is accompanied by Mr. Laker." "Laker!" "Why that dirty..." "I won't have him in the palace." "But he's already in." " Then, have him put out at once." " No." "We can't do that." "We must speak to him very kindly." "If not, he's liable to upset all our plans for the wedding." "What could they do to prevent the wedding?" "Well, they could assassinate Prince Willy, thereby removing the bridegroom." "Very well." "I consent to see them." "Under protest." "Yes, but you better let me do the talking." "Thank you, General Northtrup." "I think you can leave the situation in my hands." "Bring them in, Phipps." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Dr. Fellman and Mr. Laker." "Gentleman, permit me to present Her Majesty the Queen." "Your Majesty." "Your Majesty." "General Northrup, Marquis of Birten, of course, you know." "Now, that's all settled." "I'll hear what you have to say, because none of us is to be late to the wedding." "Your Majesty knows the situation so far as we are concerned." "You have been warned." "Thoroughly warned." "Your Majesty, a week ago, after an extremely violent battle the revolutionist announced that they were willing to lay down their arms." "Our surrender constituted an acceptance of our terms." "What were those terms?" "That the chief cause of all trouble, the unemployment situation, be relieved." "You, General Northrup, have refused even to consider a council for arbitration." "Quite right too." "I can do nothing about unemployment until we have the money available." "May I ask, sir." "What is being done with the loan of $100 millions of dollars recently negotiated in America?" "Ah." "I knew it." "You're trying to rob our country of the money I earned." "The people must pay the interest." "Some day they must pay the principle." "They have a right to their share." "Is that unreasonable?" "I tried to tell you." "Is that unreasonable, Your Majesty?" "I beg your pardon." "I wasn't listening." "I told you so, Fellman." "We wasted our time coming here to talk to these tyrants." "Your Majesty, I have tried to bring this business to a sensible conclusion." "I am afraid it cannot be done." "I don't care to be dictated to by you people." "I shall arbitrate when I am entirely ready to do so." "And on my own terms, not yours." "LAKER:" "Very well, we'll show you our strength today?" "But every royal family in Europe is represented here today." "The Emperor and Empress of Grec are here." "They'll have to take their chances along with the rest of you." "And if any of you reach the cathedral alive it will be due to an oversight [inaudible]." "NORTHRUP:" "All right." "We'll settle this matter once and for all today." "It shall be a fight to the death." "To the death." "And the blood guilt will be yours." "I accept it with thanks." "Come on, Fellman." "We've talked enough." "Now, just one minute." "Now, Northrup I'm quite sure that you'd be willing to take the blame for my death." "But I couldn't allow you to assume that responsibility." "I have here a very interesting volume." "A very rare one." "The constitution of our country." "I took it out of the library last night and read it cover to cover." "And really, it is surprisingly interesting reading." "I must ask Your Majesty to excuse me." "I have much to attend to." "Now, Laker, you attend to me just a minute." "I won't take much of your time." "As I said, I read the constitution last night, and I was deeply impressed with the passages that describe the duties, functions, and powers of the king." "General Northrup, it is my command that Parliament be dissolved." "What?" "Parliament is dissolved." "Have you gone completely mad?" "But you can't do that." "Look at it in the constitution." "But Your Majesty, with no Parliament the state ceases to exist." "No." "It doesn't." "I am the state." "I shan't be a party to any such idiocy." " You mean you resign?" " I do." "Splendid." "I've had your resignation typewritten for quite some time just in case." "Sign right there." "Oh." "Dr. Fellman, I appoint you prime minister." "You're to form a cabinet and have a general election for a new parliament at once." "If the fate of our country is entrusted to these men it'll mean death and dishonor for us all, for everything we've cherished." "Northrup, it's high time you were taken down." "You've been insufferably arrogant." "You seem to forget that in this as in every well-ordered monarchy, the throne is supreme." "There, Northrup." "That's that." "Your Majesty, I am a soldier." "I should continue to devote my life to my country." "Very well said, Northrup." "As a soldier, you can help us enforce the laws, the new laws." "Good day, general." "Good day, Lord Birten." "You're out of a job too." "Your Majesty, my services are always at your command." "We can always do with a good diplomat." "Good afternoon." "Good day, sir." "It worked." "You both handled splendidly." "Your Majesty, your people will bless you for this." "Thank you." "They will never cease to honor your name." "I know, Mr. Laker." "You are a king, sir." "We must got to the cathedral." "A real [inaudible]." "We are proud of you, sir." "Goodbye, doctor." "Goodbye, Your Majesty." "Goodbye, Your Majesty." "What possessed you to do this?" "I wanted to save the wedding, my dear." "I wanted to prevent a revolution." "It seemed the only way to..." "Nobody had any intention of throwing bombs, and you know it." "You made the whole thing up." "The revolution was nothing but a bluff." "How'd you guess that?" "I'm not a fool." "Well, I had to get rid of Northrup." "And it seemed the only way." "I had to do something desperate." "So quietly without anyone knowing, not even you, my dear," "I made friends with Dr. Fellman and his friend, Mr. Laker." "If you'd left it to me, I'd have got rid of Northrup and with no assistance from Dr. Fellman either." "But I shan't complain of that." "The fact remains Northrup is gone." "The wedding is safe." "The supremacy of the throne is established." "And I shall now be able to conduct this state without interference of any kind." "Yes, my dear." "I knew you'd be pleased." "[horns blowing]" "Well, we're late already." "We must start at once." "So do please hurry." "And I'll wait for Anne." "Now, remember..." "Attend!" "When you and Anne are driving through the crowded street, and especially when you are walking up the aisle," "I want you to appear radiantly happy." "We'll all be smiling brightly, my dear." "Salute!" " Oh, Phipps." " Yes, sir." "That son-in-law of yours." "Oh, him." "Does he play checkers?" "I..." "I believe he does, sir." "Good." "We'll have a tournament." "Oh, no, no, no, sir." "You mustn't do that." "I want to teach you not to be such a snob." "And Phipps..." "Yes, sir." "Tell that to Major Blent at once." "It's important." "Yes, sir." "Very well, sir." "I'm ready, father." "My darling child, wherever you go, whatever you do," "I want you to know that I love you." "Never mind all that, we have to go." "We mustn't keep them waiting." "It wouldn't look right." "We must never do anything as long as we live that doesn't look right." "You do blame me for this, don't you?" "Of course, I blame you, but I'm going through with it, every bit of it." "And I never want to see you again, or mother, or anyone else in this hateful, cruel place." "(WHISPERING) Your Majesty, he's here." "Send him in." "Freddie." "Why, Anne." " Oh, darling." " Darling." "Don't let them take me." "Kill them." "Do anything." "But don't let them take me." "Would you step this way please?" "Frederick, do you take this woman for your lawful wife?" "You do." "Anne, do you take this man for your lawful husband?" "You do." "Do you promise to love, honor, and obey?" "You do." "You wed her with this ring." "You endow her with all your worldly goods." "Let no man put asunder." "As king by the grace of God, as lord vicar of the holy church in this our country," "I pronounce you man and wife." "Blent, give me that order of exile." "Father, what are you doing?" "I'm adding the words "and wife" to Frederick Granton's name." "Are we married?" "I should hope so." "Phipps." "Yes, sir." "You and Blent are the witnesses." "Thank you, sir." "You're sailing in a few moments on the steamship Caleo." "I thought it best for you to be married respectfully before you left." "I don't think your mother would like it if you went under less conventional circumstances." "But sir, does... does the queen know about this?" "Not yet." "Oh, father, I can't forget the things I said." "And neither can I. But the memory of them will give me many laughs between the long winter evenings." "Now, Blent will take you to the boat." "But sir, I'd like to say something really." "I..." "I know." "But don't say it." "You'd only stammer." "Goodbye, my darling." "I'll send you the marriage license to Panama." "But what are you going to say to mother, and Prince" "William, and all the rest?" "I'll be very firm." "I'll let them know that I am the king." "Now, Granton, take her away." "Take her." "She's messing up all my medals." "Goodbye, darling." "Goodbye, dear." "Goodbye." "Take off that bridal veil." "Put on a heavy overcoat." "Go with them, Blent." "I hate this hat." "It always gives me a headache." "But you won't be going to the cathedral now, sir." "Will you?" "Yes, I'll be going to the cathedral now." "But I will be back shortly." "And you have that checkerboard ready." "[music playing]"