Queen Marie of Romania (Maria, Regina României)

Your Majesty, we'd be safer to return another day,

with the ambulances reloaded.

-Bring more bread, Baliff! -Our children starve to death!

There's bread for everyone!

-Back! Stay back! -Here you go!

Don’t push! There’s enough bread for everybody!

Stop pushing, people!

Please bread and medicines!

Please, your Majesty, get in the car!

Tomorrow we'll bring firewood, more food and medicine. I promise.

God bless you! Have pity on us!

Back! Stay back!

Yes?

Your Majesty, you wanted me to inform you when the Queen arrives.

Marie!

Thank you!

Majesty, His Highness Prince Știrbey has returned from his trip

and is asking to see you.

One moment.

Show him in.

Prince Știrbey.

Your Majesty…

How was your trip?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Greater Romania,

but now distances are twice what they used to be.

We might not have a Greater Romania anymore.

Have you read the papers?

From Paris? I have. I wouldn’t want to be in Brătianu’s shoes right now.

Still, there must be something we can do!

What could we do? It’s all up to the politicians now!

I have an idea! What if I wrote to my cousin George?

He must have a say in this, after all, he’s the King of England!

What do you think?

-Without telling Ferdinand? -There’s no time for that now!

Not that he’s letting me do anything anyway.

“Missy, royalties don’t meddle in politics.

They are two separate businesses!”

And he’s right.

That's why I doubt your cousin, the King, could be of much help.

If only I were Brătianu, for sure we’d make ourselves heard!

Barbu, why am I not a man?

Well, you won’t hear any complaints from me

that Your Majesty is not a man.

But if you were to join this fight, I’m sure you’d win.

You have the will and the heart of the nation!

His Majesty requests the presence of His Highness Prince Știrbey right away.

Your Majesty…

Mother, I’m no longer a child. You cannot bend me to your will anymore.

Carol, my dear, please hear me out,

it’s not about “my will”, it’s about your status!

Thank God, we’ve stopped the misfortune and the marriage is annulled.

Yet, even knowing what’s at stake, you keep seeing that woman.

Carol, in Heaven’s name, why?

Because I love her, mother! Can’t you see Zizi is my only happiness?

Nothing can keep me away from her.

But what could you know about love?

How can you say that to me?

Do you know what I went through?

The point is we are not commoners, we are the royal family!

You’ve been brought up to know the difference!

So remember who you are.

Enough!

Giddy-up!

The Count of Saint-Aulaire is here, from Paris.

They’re still holding the Bucharest Treaty against Romania.

And the Count of Saint-Aulaire advises us what?

The King should send additional help to Paris to save the matter.

-Someone whose voice will be heard. -Who?

Gentlemen, we’ve just witnessed a severe violation of the Constitution.

The law clearly stipulates

the decisions are taken by parties and their politicians.

-Agree! Exactly! -Agree! Yes!

Let’s face it, this time the King has gone too far!

He can’t decide this over our head, he’s exceeding his authority.

This could set a bad precedent.

-We’ve already sent Brătianu! -He needs more support.

We should send more ministers, not the Queen!

We're risking a lot!

Just one of her spontaneous outbursts and we’d be back in the pre-Bismark era!

With our whole country divided!

I’m not convinced!

Better the Queen than Brătianu! He’s done nothing so far!

Let the Queen go!

She speaks their language and knows how to get to them!

And what can we do now? The Queen will be on a train on 1 March!

Calm down, wait a second.

Don’t we have the local press on our side?

Not all of it, but yes, most of it.

We could commission a few articles

to cast some serious doubts on the merits of this trip.

What we really need

is the Prince himself!

We need to get Carol on our side.

He has increasing influence at the court, and he could keep his mother in check.

If we promise him our support,

he might prove to be a more flexible king, wouldn’t you say?

Maybe this way we can still stop the Queen from going to Paris.

No!

Mr. Cantacuzino! Gentlemen!

Any word from London?

Unfortunately, no!

His Majesty, King George hasn’t answered yesterday’s telegram either.

Please ask that we talk to London on the phone.

If we can’t get George, try our embassy, perhaps Joe Boyle is there.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Are you really going to wear these last century rags to Paris?

You really have no other concern than fashion?

If you don’t wish to come with us, you’re free to stay home.

Carol’s told me you’re actually going on a political mission to Paris.

Why would you meddle in something like that?

We got hold of Mr. Boyle on the telephone.

Thank you.

His Excellency, the Count of Saint-Aulaire, and His Lordship, the Marquis de Flers

have already left for Paris.

-But… -But?

Your Majesty, please forgive me, are you absolutely sure it’s a good idea

to send the Queen on such an important mission?

“A good idea”? It’s a disaster. A terrible mistake!

Do you really think you’re most qualified to make that judgement?

The plan is not without risk. But it is our last chance!

-General, how soon can the Queen leave? -The Royal Train is ready to go.

Please notify all the official channels, our press service, and the one in Paris.

Gentlemen, please.

Thank you, I’ll take it from here.

How dare they call you a traitor just because you love me?

You’ll be Queen. I’ll prove it, Zizi! I’ll show them how justice is done!

What is it?

Please forgive me, madam, but Her Majesty the Queen is here.

She demands to speak to His Royal Highness right away.

Just to make myself clear, Your Majesty, I am not a commoner.

The Lambrinos, my family, are aristocrats!

Tell her, darling! Tell her what I mean to you!

I might not be a princess,

but you must understand that Europe, that the world is changing!

Russia understood that! No one can reverse history.

Carol truly loves me.

And I love him, with all my heart. I make him happy.

What more could a mother want for her son?

Carol, dear, I beg you! Get up and come home with me!

Sweetheart, tell her what I mean to you! Please!

If you wish to be worthy of your role as heir to the throne of Romania,

you will stand up now and return to the Palace with me.

Now, Carol!

Why?

What are you going to do to me? Punish me?

Therefore, you acknowledge

the King’s appointment of your brother as the new heir to the Crown.

-Can she do that? She can’t do that! -Shut up!

Who?! Nicky takes my throne?!

Nicky is a blasted nobody!

Where are you going? Don’t leave, please!

How low can you go, mother!

Father! Father! Father?!

Yes.

-Did you agree to that? -To what?

To put Nicky on the throne if I keep seeing Zizi?

Carol, your mother and I have discussed this and decided

the best for you at this time is to go to Transylvania.

You will take the aid supplies from your mother’s foundations there.

It’s not enough you’re destroying me and Zizi,

now you’re dispatching me to the other end of the country?

What am I to bring bread to the poor?

No, you’ll bring relief to the less fortunate.

Mother is traipsing around Paris with my sisters,

Nicky is lording it in London,

and you’re sending me, your first born, to the sticks!

Carol, you will behave as befits a future King,

showing compassion and concern for the fate of your people.

Is that clear?

Ready, go! Well done!

-Mr. Mișu, I’m glad to see you again. -The joy and honour are mine, Majesty.

-Mr. Brătianu, such a pleasure! -Welcome, Your Majesty.

I’m glad to see you again, Mr. Prime-Minister.