Tale of Tales (Il racconto dei racconti)

Please, my love.

Please, my dearest. Do not be upset.

It was a mistake.

I didn't know she was in this condition. My love, please.

Please, my love...

Forgive me, my love.

I will make you happy.

Who are you?

I would not bother you

if I were not certain that Your Majesties

will attach great importance to what I'm about to say.

I've heard the promises of many charlatans before.

And you have put many in the stocks.

Fortunately, that does not concern me.

You seem very sure of yourself.

What will it cost?

An act of courage and of sacrifice.

And what did you mean by that?

Birth is always stained by death.

And death, in turn, is simply one element of birth

and not even the most dramatic one.

Be less mysterious. Come to the point.

You want a child?

Every new life calls for a life to be lost.

The equilibrium of the world must be maintained.

Do you understand?

I am prepared to die in order to feel life grow inside me.

We are speaking of possibility, not certainty.

Are you willing to accept the risk?

What must we do?

Hunt down a sea monster.

Cut out its heart and have it cooked by a virgin. But, she must be alone.

When Your Majesty eats the heart

you will become pregnant instantly.

Which is the girl?

You, come here.

You are still a virgin, right?

Come with me, the queen needs you.

Hurry up!

It's coming, Your Majesty. It's coming.

What's happening? What's happening?

Elias!

Elias!

Where are you, my boy?

Stop!

Elias!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Why must you continue to disobey my commands?

How many times have I told you?

They must stop seeing each other.

The next time that bastard boy of yours comes anywhere near my son

I will throw you both out.

You understand?

Don't look at me!

Now go.

What does she have to do with this? What has she done wrong?

Take it out on me if you have to, but leave her out of it.

How dare you talk to me like that?

You disrespect me and you disobey me.

You know you were not supposed to see him.

Come here.

Elias, you are a prince.

You cannot befriend of a son of a servant.

But I like being with him.

He's like a brother to me, I will see him whenever I want.

A brother?

The only one bond of blood that you have is with me.

Your mother!

And it's to me that you owe respect and obedience.

I am your queen, don't you ever forget it.

You owe me an apology.

I'm sorry, mother.

Come.

My son...

If I ever see you with him again, you will both regret it.

Who sings with such a beautiful voice?

Where have you been hiding all this time?

How is it that I have never met you?

Never even seen you?

How old are you?

Seventeen?

Eighteen?

No, don't go! Don't go! Don't hide!

Stay out in the sunlight.

Please, stay out to warm your cold king.

Oh I see! So you want to play hard to get.

Well, so be it.

I have fought many wars in my time.

And even the most impregnable fortress surrenders at last.

Who is it?

I have a gift for you, from your king.

What is it?

It's beautiful!

- Let me try it, Dora. - Wait.

Wait!

- Dora, please... - Get the mirror.

Stop it!

You don't think we have to give it back?

To the king?

No.

Then what good is it to us?

Makes us look more beautiful. Don't you think?

But whoever sees us? We're always shut up inside here.

I see you, silly.

There...

Okay, I'll keep this.

- At the closing of the day, oh Lord. - Watch over us as we sleep.

Keep us safe and warm in Your heart.

Who is it?

It's me... your king.

Did you like my present?

Have you tried it on?

My royal heart is very generous, you know?

Ever since this morning when I first heard you sing,

I have been burning in the furnace of desire. Come on!

Open up this door, so I can see you.

Hello?

Sir, there must be some misunderstanding...

Oh, I see...

You are going to tease me, aren't you?

Well now let me see you, for heaven's sake!

You like playing with your king?

Play with you, sir?

Oh no!

I'm just a poor girl, I don't deserve the honor you bestow on me.

The honor! What honor! It's desire that drives me.

Open up this door, let me in. Let me see you, for damned sake!

- Dora, what shall we do? - Let me think.

We must not let an opportunity like this get away.

- Your Majesty... - Yes?

You can't imagine how...

the modesty of this young virgin is being put to the test by your offer.

- I... I... - Go on!

All of my heart's aflutter.

I, I feel faint.

But, all I can promise you, today, is this:

come back, in a week's time

and I will give you a part of me that,

alone illustrates my beauty.

And, which part, of your body will you grant me?

A finger, Your Majesty.

A finger?

A finger...

Well... All right, my jasmine flower, my little honeysuckle.

I shall wait

and I shall return, and admire the eighth wonder of the world,

your rosy maidenly finger.

What shall we do, Dora?

We'll think of something.

This next piece, I composed myself for my father,

to whom I dedicate it with all my heart.

"He grabs the iron bars pulling and shaking them,

bending the metal and tearing the bars from the wall."

Could you just read the part where they kiss?

"And then the queen, her arms extends,

and to her breast his head she bends,

and on the bed in warm embrace,

the queen displays her radiant face."

Now, Lancelot has what he desires,

the queen's embrace sets him on fire,

so sweet a game to kiss and hold.

Such pleasure this, if truth be told,

no one ever felt before, such joy in loving they adore."

And now we should leave.

Could we read it again?

- Your Majesty. - Yes?

- Some papers to sign. - Later. Later.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty, they are rather urgent, people want paying.

All is so urgent.

My lord and father,

at my age a girl, should already know what sort of...

gallantries men are capable of.

She should be learning to distinguish whose heart is sincere

and who instead tells lies.

If I stay here, my head will always be empty,

and I fear my heart will be too.

Before long... you will be old enough to be married

and then... you will depart these walls forever.

Well...

If that is indeed the case,

then find me a husband.

A husband, um?

What sort of husband would you like?

Well... I'd like my husband to be

courageous and strong and...

handsome.

I'm sure such a man exists,

but until we find him,

please,

do not agitate yourself over a future none of us can predict.

Now, let us finish our supper.

- What is it, my dear? - It's not cooked enough.

Really?

Yes, yes, yes...

Hello?