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The Prisoner of Zenda Installment Three
By The Host
Here's the next eight pages, bringing the film to 23 minutes in length. This will mark the conclusion of the screenplay's first act.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. INN – MORNING
ESTABLISHING SHOT of the Inn by morning. The little town of Zenda fitfully wakes up.
INT. INN – COMMON ROOM – MORNING
Rudolf brightly hops down the stairs into the common room of the inn. He grabs an apple from a bowl of fruit and bites into it as the inn-keeper, also awake and going about her chores, speaks.
INN-KEEPER
Will you be staying another night?
RUDOLF
I think I’ll try my luck in Streslau this evening. Say, do you know in which direction I might find the Duke’s hunting lodge?
EXT. FIELDS – DAY
Rudolf makes his way over a grassy hill. At the hill’s feet stands the village of Zenda. Over its crest stands an imposing castle surrounded by a moat. There is a beautiful chateau built across the moat; the castle is accessible only from a drawbridge that connects it to the chateau. Rudolf stands and stares at this gloomy fortress before moving on toward the forest beyond.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FOREST PATH – DAY
Rudolf sits with his back against a tree napping in a primeval forest. Two men come up behind and stand over him. One is short, rotund, in his middle ages, and sports a full white beard – he is COLONEL SAPT. The other is much younger, tall, and lanky – CAPTAIN FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM. Both men wear shooting costumes. They seem shocked when they see Rudolf; Sapt instinctively grabs the hilt of his sword.
FRITZ
Why, shave him and he’d be the king!
Rudolf awakens as the two men move nearer to him, Fritz removing his hat. Rudolf slowly stands.
SAPT
May I ask your name?
RUDOLF
May I ask yours?
Fritz smiles courteously.
FRITZ
I am Fritz von Tarlenheim and this is Colonel Sapt. We are both in the service of the King of Ruritania.
Rudolf shakes Fritz’s hand.
RUDOLF
I am Rudolf Rassendyll, a traveler from England.
The old man repeats the name to himself a few times. Then:
SAPT
Rassendyll! Are you of the Burlesdons?
RUDOLF
Lord Burlesdon is my brother.
SAPT
Surely you know the story, Fritz?
Rudolf looks a bit uncomfortable when suddenly a clear voice rings out of the forest.
KING (O.S.)
Fritz, Fritz! where are you, man?
THE KING jumps out onto the path from behind a tree. When he sees Rudolf he draws back in wonder; Rudolf utters a yelp. The two men look exactly alike, save that the King has no beard.
KING
Colonel – Fritz – who is this gentleman?
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST PATH – LATER
The party walks along under a canopy of trees.
RUDOLF
. . .And so your great-great grandfather, King Rudolf III, whilst on Embassy to England, met my great-great-grandmother. I’ll say that your ancestor was never welcome in England again, and there was no mistaking who my great-grandfather’s father was.
KING
Then we are cousins! You must forgive me if I was taken aback earlier. A man doesn't expect to see double at this time of day, eh, Fritz? A thousand crowns to see my brother Michael’s face when he sees two of me!
FRITZ
Under the circumstances, I question the wisdom of Mr. Rassendyll going to Streslau.
SAPT
He musn’t go.
KING
Ridiculous! He shan’t leave!
RUDOLF
Enough, sire. I’ll leave Ruritania today.
KING
No, by thunder, you will not! You shall dine with me tonight!
EXT. HUNTING LODGE – NIGHT
The hunting lodge is a rather small building constructed of logs. It is set on a grassy knoll near the woods.
KING (V.O.)
We're all good trenchermen, we Elphbergs.
INT. HUNTING LODGE – DINING ROOM – NIGHT
Sapt, Fritz, Rudolf, and the King are seated around a table laden with food. A short liveried servant – JOSEF – scurries about the room.
KING (CONT’D)
But what? We're eating dry! Wine, Josef! wine, man! Are we beasts, to eat without drinking? Are we cattle, Josef?
The king holds his cup up and Josef rushed over with a bottle of white wine. The King smiles and at Rudolf as it is filled.
KING (CONT’D)
To my cousin Rudolf!
Josef now pours wine in Rudolf’s glass; Rudolf nods his thanks.
RUDOLF
To the Elphberg red!
The King laughs and they both down their drink.
FRITZ
Remember tomorrow!
SAPT
Ay, tomorrow.
KING
You start two hours before I, Master Fritz. I needn’t be so sparing.
FRITZ
(To Rudolf)
The Colonel and I leave here at six: we ride down to Zenda and return with the Honour Guard to fetch the King at eight, and then we all ride together to the station from which the king departs for Streslau.
SAPT
Hang that God damned Honour Guard!
KING
Oh! it's very civil of my brother to ask the honour for his own regiment. Come, cousin, you need not start early. Another bottle, man!
Josef now hands over a wicker-covered flagon.
JOSEF
His Highness Duke Michael of Strelsau bade me set this wine before you and ask that you drink it for the love that you bears your brother.
The King smiles devilishly as Josef uncorks the bottle.
KING
Well done, Black Michael! To your health, you sly knave, my brother!
The King pours the bottle down his throat. Sapt looks on warily.
CUT TO BLACK.
ON BLACK:
WE HEAR a loud SPLASH.
CUT TO:
INT. HUNTING LODGE – DINING ROOM – MORNING
Rudolf leaps to his feet; he is drenched. The sneering Colonel Sapt stands over him holding an empty bucket. Fritz sits pale-faced and sweating on the table.
RUDOLF
Your joke goes too far!
SAPT
It’s all that would rouse you.
Fritz slides off the table and grabs Rudolf’s arm.
FRITZ
Rudolf, look here.
He directs Rudolf’s attention to the King, who lies sprawled on the floor.
FRITZ
We’ve spent half an hour trying to rouse him.
SAPT
He drank three times what you did.
Rudolf kneels and takes the king’s pulse.
RUDOLF
Was that wicker bottle drugged?
SAPT
I don’t know. Probably by that black dog Black Michael.
RUDOLF
We need to get a doctor!
SAPT
There’s not a doctor within ten miles, and not a doctor that could rouse him in less than six or seven hours.
RUDOLF
But the coronation!
Fritz shrugs.
SAPT
If the King is not crowned today he won’t be crowned at all. The whole nation's there to meet him; half the army - ay, and Black Michael at the head. Shall we send word that the King's drunk?
RUDOLF
That he’s ill.
SAPT
(With a harsh laugh)
Ill! The people know his ‘illnesses’. He’s been ‘ill’ before.
FRITZ
We’ll have to chance it.
SAPT
There is no chance. You don’t think this was Black Michael’s plan? You don’t think he stands ready to take the throne himself? You don’t think the people and the army would support him? But I’ll rot in hell before Black Michael takes his place!
There is a pause. Sapt stares at Rudolf, who avoids his gaze. He then speaks thoughtfully.
SAPT (CONT’D)
As a man grows old he believes in Fate. Fate sent you here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau.
RUDOLF
(Shaking head)
No, no, no. . .
SAPT
It would be for one day only. We’ll safely stow the King here and tonight return for him.
RUDOLF
If I’m found out--!
SAPT
It’s a risk against a certainty. If you don’t go Black Michael will sit on the throne and the King in a dungeon – or worse.
FRITZ
(To himself)
We’d have to shave his beard. . .
Both Fritz and Sapt stare at Rudolf, who looks more than slightly uncomfortable.
FADE OUT. . .
Please comment!
-H
5/31/2003 2:02:02 PM
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