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The Prisoner of Zenda Installment One
By The Host
So this is my newest screenplay, posted here as it's written. It is based upon the novel of the same name. I highly reccomend you purchase and read the book; it's a brilliant swashbuckler. I shall do my best to capture its essence.
What follows represents about the first seven minutes of screentime. Hopefully the next installment will be ready tomorrow or the next day.
Don't forget to comment!
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
by
MATT BOUDREAU
based upon the novel by
ANTHONY HOPE
N.B. In this and all subsequent chapters I do not claim ownership fo the original ideas, characters, trademarks and copyrights associated with The Prisoner of Zenda. I am in no way affiliated with Anthony Hope or his publishers. This is a labour of love, an homage only, not meant for profit. ALL CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2003 D. MATTHEW BOUDREAU. DO NOT COPY OR I WILL SUE YOU ALONG WITH ABOUT A DOZEN PUBLISHERS AND ESTATES. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
FADE IN:
TITLE CARDS. Old fashioned; this could be a 1930s swashbuckler. Beautifully detailed, they are flipped through, one by one, until the titles have all been displayed.
CIRCLE WIPE TO:
INT. GYMNASIUM – DAY
The room is bright, its walls bleeding white, its polished hardwood floor shimmering. Two men in white fencing uniforms, one taller and leaner than the other, duel, their faces hidden to us. They spar in the middle of the gymnasium, spinning and twirling as their rapiers clash. The tall man moves with some skill and grace, the shorter with greater force and aggressiveness. He makes a sudden lunge at his opponent and the other backpedals almost into a wall. The two lock weapons as the tall man is pushed against the wall. But he is not to be beaten. Suddenly he pushes forward, sideways, and away; he hops lightly past the other and wheels around with sword in hand. They duel again moving to and fro but now it is clear the taller man has the upper hand. He quickly pushes the other man back in the opposite direction but, at the last moment, that man is able to get a quick jab at the tall man’s belly. His opponent momentarily caught off guard, the short fellow uses this opportunity to get away. Within seconds they clash again, this time faster and more furiously than ever before, and the fight is more even: one moment the tall man has the upper hand; the next he seems sure to lose. Finally, with a quick flip of his wrist, the short man disarms his opponent; the tall man’s rapier spins through the air and is deftly caught by the short man even as he takes his mask off. He reveals himself: a well-featured face with strong jawbone and slightly receding hairline. He is none other than the English gentleman ROBERT RASSENDDYLL, tenth Lord Burlesdon. The tall man removes his mask as well, revealing a strikingly handsome face with lean features, a prominent nose, and bright red hair and beard. He is Robert’s brother, RUDOLF RASSENDYLL. He smiles through his sweat.
RUDOLF
I am bested.
ROBERT
You fight with the best. Come along!
Chuckling, the two make their way out of the gymnasium.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LONDON – EVENING
ESTABLISHING SHOT of Victorian London, early evening. Big Ben frowns over the Thames; fog crawls along its base. Church spires poke out of the mist and beyond the skyline of the British Parliament buildings. Boats move lazily along the river. Smoke curls from a million chimneys.
SUPER:
London
1896
EXT. PARK LANE – EVENING
It is early April, that gloomy time of year after the death of winter but before the birth of spring. The trees are bare; dead leaves in mud are churned by the footsteps of horses and the wheels of carriages. This is one of the finest neighborhoods in all old London, a broad avenue lined with trees, skirting the wide expanse of Hyde Park on one side and fine shops and homes on the other. London’s finest-dressed well-to-do are out and about this evening, promenading and people-watching. Robert and Rudolf, wearing heavy overcoats, make their way along the street towards one of the larger homes.
RUDOLF
I wonder if your lovely wife will be at home?
ROBERT
I suppose she will be.
RUDOLF
I know!
Rudolf skips up the steps.
INT. FOYER – CONTINUOUS
Robert and Rudolf enter the beautiful marble foyer of their exquisite home. Robert removes his overcoat and opens the cloakroom nearby as Rudolf struggles out of his.
RUDOLF
I can’t trouble to think what words she’ll have for me.
ROBERT
You give her such trouble as to merit such words.
Rudolf passes his overcoat to his brother to hang it up.
RUDOLF
I have no troubles; why should she trouble about me?
ROBERT
That, Rudolf, is precisely why she troubles about you.
Robert closes the door to the cloakroom and the two move across the foyer.
INT. KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
ROSE RASSENDYLL is a pretty young brunette of maybe thirty, a few years young than her husband the Lord Burlesdon. The Lady sits at a table in the Rassendylls’ gleaming white kitchen but presently she stands and smiles as the two men enter.
ROSE
Here comes my husband and his dear layabout brother, come back from conquering the earth!
ROBERT
Only each other tonight, I’m afraid.
Robert hugs Rose and kisses her on the cheek before they both sit down at the table.
RUDOLF
Hello, Rose.
Rudolf crosses to the sink and makes himself busy with tea as Rose turns to him. Robert, meanwhile, reaches across the paper to grab a copy of the Times.
ROBERT
(To himself)
Some edification.
ROSE
(To Rudolf)
I wonder when in the world you’re going to do anything, Rudolf? You are twenty-nine and you’ve done nothing but--
Rudolf half-turns his head to Rose and smiles.
RUDOLF
--Knock about? It’s true. Our family doesn’t need to do things.
Robert, barely looking up from his paper, speaks.
ROBERT
Rose is right, Rudolf. Make yourself useful. Make me some of that tea.
RUDOLF
Make it yourself! You are only Lord Burlesdon by unhappy circumstance.
Robert looks up from under his eyebrows.
ROBERT
What unhappy circumstance is that?
RUDOLF
(Dropping a tea bag in the kettle)
Why, that I was born four years too late!
ROSE
And with the wrong color hair.
Rudolf unconsciously strokes his red hair and turns back to his tea-making. Robert continues reading.
ROBERT
It generally crops out once in every generation. So does the nose. Rudolf, I’m afraid, has them both.
RUDOLF
(Without looking at the others)
And I rather like them. I rather like being an Elphberg.
Robert flips to the front page of the Times and, glancing at a story, speaks almost to himself.
ROBERT
Speaking of our esteemed cousins, Prince Rudolf of Ruritania is to have himself crowned king next week.
Rudolf turns around holding scones. He pauses a moment, considering, then places the scones on the table. Robert returns to his reading, Rudolf returns to his tea, and Rose returns to her nattering.
ROSE
The difference between you and Robert is that he recognizes the duties of his position and you see the opportunities of yours.
RUDOLF
To a man of my spirit, dear Rose, opportunities are duties.
But Rudolf, now, is thinking hard, barely concentrating on his flighting wit. He absent-mindedly polishes a teacup.
ROSE
Nonsense! Now here’s Sir Jacob Borrodaile offering you exactly what you might be equal to. He's to have an Embassy in six months, and Robert says he is sure that he'll take you as an attache. Do take it, Rudolf. To please me.
RUDOLF
Where’s he going?
ROSE
He doesn’t know yet, but it’s sure to be a good embassy.
Robert places teacups on the table.
RUDOLF
I’ll do it. For your sake I’ll go.
ROSE
Oh, good!
He turns to take the tea pot and pours three cups of tea. Robert puts away the Times.
RUDOLF (CONT’D)
And I think in the meantime I’ll take a little vacation.
Placing the pot in the middle of the table, he sits down.
ROSE
A vacation!
ROBERT
Where to?
RUDOLF
Oh, I don’t know. One of my old haunts. Tyrol, perhaps.
(Turning to Rose)
Perhaps I’ll write a book on the subject.
ROBERT
It's the best of introductions to political life nowadays.
RUDOLF
I believe you are right, Bob, my boy.
ROSE
Now promise you’ll do it.
RUDOLF
I won’t promise, but if I find enough material, I will. I shall go to Tyrol and I’ll write a book!
Rose seems satisfied.
Hope you liked it. Regardless, please comment!
-The Host
5/28/2003 12:59:26 AM
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