A Royal Winter

"The young princess, you may be sure,

"was not long in saying yes to all of this.

"As they spoke, a royal coach drove up

"with eight beautiful horses

"decked with plumes of feathers and a golden harness.

"They then took leave of the king and got into the coach,

"and all set out full of joy and merriment

"for the prince'’s kingdom, which they reached safely.

"And there they lived a happily great many years."

And there you have it, The Frog Prince.

Still one of my favorites.

I hope you all enjoyed it

as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you.

And let'’s all show Miss Marks how much we enjoyed

having her read to us this semester.

Thank you so much for your help.

Good luck on your interview.

Thank you.

Finished top of your class. Good.

The City Literacy Program, what'’s that?

They send volunteers to read with kids

in inner-city schools.

All through law school?

Yes. You had time?

Uh, well, yeah, I made the time.

I love working with children.

Maggie, let me be really clear.

We need somebody razor sharp, focused, committed 200%

rain or shine. Absolutely.

Once you'’re on the team, there isn'’t time for much else.

Are we clear on that?

Clear as rain.

I mean glass.

I mean... Very, very clear.

That was tough. A lot tougher than I expected.

She was just testing you. They'’re a top firm.

They'’re weeding out the weak.

That'’s me, the weak.

No, you are not.

They want commitment, you can commit.

Honestly, I don'’t know if I'’m cut out for this.

So you try a smaller outfit, something more boutique.

Yeah, that'’ll go over really well with my dad.

"Boutique is for shoes. You need a top firm."

Okay, I'’m no lawyer, but there are...

It'’s not just that.

The bigger question is,

do I really wanna be cooped up in an office 24/7,

surrounded by guys, yes, mostly guys,

clawing their way up to partner

while doing meaningless work that helps no one

but some corporation'’s bottom line for years?

You know what?

You are stressed out. You'’re exhausted.

It'’s not the best time to be making life decisions.

Which is what I wanted to talk to you about.

Come to Europe with me.

What? No.

Why not? Even if I could,

I cannot handle your friend Jenny for two weeks.

And that'’s just it. Jenny canceled. She got a job.

That'’s what I need, a job.

Look, they said they'’d get back to you in two weeks.

It'’s the perfect time for a getaway.

I got it all set. All you need to do is show up.

Trust me, you'’ll have way more fun without me.

Maggie Marks, when'’s the last time you had fun?

From LSATs through law school, the bar exam,

you'’ve had your head in the books for how many years now?

You'’re the spontaneous one, not me.

It'’s not you, which is exactly why

you should do it. You said so yourself.

Don'’t you wanna live a little

before it'’s all billable hours,

cooped up in an office 24/7?

Where are you going again?

Calpurnia? Where'’s that?

Europe. It'’s southwest of the French Alps.

Here we go. Big enough?

Yeah, that'’s perfect. Thanks, Mom.

And you'’d be gone two whole weeks?

What if they want you back for a follow-up interview

while you'’re away?

Then you'’ll buy her a new return ticket.

You can afford it.

Here. Uh...

"Calpurnia, a virtual winter wonderland."

Oh and it really is a proper kingdom with its own royal family.

"The perfect mixture of quaint and romantic."

Who knows? You might even meet a nice European gentleman.

Mom, please. That is the last thing I need right now.

She needs to focus on work.She needs a break.

Oh, hang on. I have something else for you.

I did try my best.

You had one tough interview.

I'’ll call. Please don'’t, Dad.

Look, I know you wanna help

but you gotta let me do this.

Or maybe I just can'’t. I don'’t know.

Of course you'’re anxious.

It'’s natural.

But you'’re the toughest and smartest gal I know.

Thanks, Dad.

Here we go!

Winter wonderland looks cold.

I love you, Mom.

I love you, too, honey.

Let'’s see then.

Today you'’ve got a luncheon at noon,

followed by a meeting with the chief of staff at 12:55.

He requested the full hour to review your coronation speech.

Then a 2:00 p.m. fitting with the tailor and his team

for your coronation uniform.

Whoa, no, hold on, hold on.Highness?

Mother just left a five-minute gap between 1:55 and 2:00 p.m.

I'’m not sure I'll know what to do with myself

for those 300 seconds.

Ah, speak of the...

...queen bee.

Her Majesty requests your presence immediately.

It'’s in all caps.

That'’s me done for. I blame you.

You'’re the one who showed her how to text.

It'’s fine. Just tell her I'’ll be down in a minute.

Thank you.

Good morning, Mother.

Good morning, Dory, gentlemen.

You made the papers again.

Must be a slow news day again.

This is ridiculous.

She was a tourist. I was giving her directions.

Well, you certainly seem very happy doing it.

Mother, seriously... Adrian, you have to be careful,

especially with your coronation coming up.

More so than ever, you represent not only our family,

but the entire country.

So we want to present Calpurnians as what, exactly?

A surly, unsmiling lot who are rude to tourists?

Don'’t dare be daft. You know exactly what I mean.

I want you to limit your gallivanting about town

in this last stretch before the coronation.

I'’m not staying cooped up in here for a week

because some trashy tabloid prints lies.

Your father, may he rest in peace,

had a wonderful saying, "Sacrifice in..."

"Sacrifice in service of your country is not sacrifice."

Yes. I don'’t think he meant it to include

house arrest for his son.

Very well. In that case, I must insist

that Felix go with you on your little outings at all times.

Mother!

Fine.

Fine.

I will consent to be chaperoned

if you consider my previous request.

Absolutely not.

I'’m not turning a centuries-old tradition

into a public free-for-all.

Why shouldn'’t the coronation be open to the public?

They'’re our citizens.

If not for them, we wouldn'’t have a country.

Adrian, the coronation is one of the few traditions

the noble families have left.

I will not take it away from them, from us.

Yes, but... I won'’t discuss it any further.

Fine.

Well, then I guess I'’m free to roam,

sans chaperone.

I'’ll try not to disrupt the almighty schedule too much.

Yes, yes, yes, you need a new hat.

I'’m okay, really.

These are classy. Okay, let'’s see.

Oh, how about this one?

Mmm, I don'’t know.

I look silly.

You look adorable.

She'’ll take it. Thank you.

Thanks. And thank you.

You'’re welcome.

It'’s definitely you.

And if we'’re lucky, the new you.

What are you doing? Nothing.

Stop checking your emails! We'’re on vacation.

We'’re supposed to be having an adventure, not...

Here, give me that.

This is all you need.

And you can have your phone back

when you start having fun.

Let'’s see, the Forever Fountain.

Legend has it that if you throw in a coin and make a wish,

it'’ll come true.

Okay, let me give this a try.

What'’d you wish for?

For you to lighten up.

I will, I promise.

Good, '’cause what happens in Calpurnia,

stays in Calpurnia.

I think we need to go on a tour