Anna and the King of Siam

- I'll get someone for the luggage. - Thank you, Captain.

Mother, these people are so funny. Everybody goes barefoot.

Stay where I can see you, Louis. Watch him, Beebe.

- Don't let him get all untidy. - Yes, memsahib.

Memsahib.

Who is here to receive us?

Someone will meet us, Moonshee. Do try and watch the luggage.

No sign of anyone to meet you.

- You sure they knew you were coming? - Oh, yes.

I suppose all this seems strange to you?

Not entirely. I feel as though I already knew Siam.

- Oh? - I read a very interesting book about it on the boat...

by a man who visited it once.

Don't smile. It's really quite good.

For instance, I knew that was the royal palace.

- Right. - You see?

- Have you ever been inside it? - Yes, almost all of it...

except, of course, the nang hahn.

Oh, the harem, you mean.

Yes. It's, uh, quite a place.

I've heard it called a universe...

with a single sun and a thousand moons...

- the king being the sun, naturally. - Good gracious.

They run a bit of language out here.

They say, too, that he's the disc of light they all revolve around.

How many women revolve around this disc of light?

- Oh, 1,000 or more. - Really?

The book didn't mention that.

I haven't anything against that book of yours, Mrs. Owens, but look here.

This is Siam. There isn't even a consulate here.

You see...

- Hello. - Someone to meet me, I suppose.

Mrs. Owens, may I present His Excellency the Kralahome...

Prime Minister of Siam. Chow Koon, Mem Anna Owens.

Are you lady who is to teach children of royal family?

- Yes. - Have you friends in Bangkok?

No, I know no one in Bangkok at all.

Are you married?

I was married. My husband is dead.

- How long your husband been dead? - About a year.

What manner of man, uh, your husband?

He was an officer in Her Majesty's Army, serving in...

Ask His Excellency why it is necessary to know these things?

My master says, if he ask...

it should be enough for mem to answer.

Tell your master that his business with me is in my capacity as governess.

It is not necessary for him to pry into my personal affairs.

My master graciously says mem need not talk at all.

His slaves will take her to palace.

- Tell him to wait. - Uh, Chow Koon!

I was promised that a house of my own would be provided for me on my arrival.

I wish to be taken there.

My master says if mem does not wish to go to palace...

she can go wherever she pleases.

Why, that's the rudest man I ever met in my life.

If that book of yours had been any good at all...

you'd know they ask personal questions here just to be polite.

He wasn't being rude. He came out to meet you in person.

And you're a woman, and women do not exist in Siam. They simply do not exist.

I hope I'll have nothing more to do with him.

My dear young woman, you'd better realize you can't do anything here without him.

And if I were you, I'd see him first thing in the morning and tell him you didn't understand...

that you're sorry, or as near it as you can manage.

Well, looks like you sleep onboard tonight.

Means I can't go with you in the morning, get down the river early.

Oh, well, I'll find someone.

- Thank you, Captain Orton. - Not at all, ma'am.

And don't worry, ma'am.

The king has invested money in your passage...

and he's, uh... he's very canny about money.

He'll see that you have a chance to do your work.

Mem.

He's not gonna wait for us.

Ahhh.

Good morning. I wish to see your master.

Mm. I will see. You will wait.

They write in such a funny way here.

Don't be rude, darling. Come here and wait quietly.

- You will come this way. - Thank you.

You will wait.

What shall I draw now?

- Well, let's see. Draw an elephant. - I just did.

I wish we could go.

We're going to wait.

My master wishes to know why you come here, what you want.

Tell His Excellency I did not understand...

the honor he paid me in coming to meet me.

I'm sorry I behaved ungraciously and I came here to tell him so.

My master wishes to know if mem truly regrets sin of having bad temper...

or if she only says so in order to ask favor of him?

I...

Tell him it's both.

I am sorry and I would like his help in getting started with my work.

Why doesn't he have a coat on? You make me wear one.

- Quiet, dear. - Let's go. I don't think I like him.

- What is your name, boy? - Louis Owens, sir.

- Are you afraid of me? - I don't think so.

That is good. I like you.

- Take seat. Sit down. - Thank you.

Your Excellency speaks English. I didn't know.

Not necessary to know everything in first minutes.

What for you object to live in palace?

Your Excellency, I must have a place of my own...

where I can go when my duties are over for the day.

What you wish to do evenings that cannot be done in palace?

You don't understand, Your Excellency.

It isn't for some foolish reason.

I came here to teach because I must work to support myself and my son.

- Why you not marry again? - Oh, no. Not ever.

The only thing I want now is to bring up my son.

He's very like his father, and I want him to grow up that way.

That's difficult to do in a strange country.

That's why we must have a home of our own.

This is very important to me, Your Excellency.

- Please believe that. - You say king promise you this house?

- Yes. I have the letter. - You do not show me. I do not think you lie.

But sometime His Majesty do not remember everything he promise.

But couldn't you remind him?

Mem, if I tell king he breaks his promise...

I will make anger in him.

I think it is better if I make anger in him about larger matters.

Very well. If you're afraid to tell him, I'm not.

Will you arrange for me to see him as soon as possible?

You think you tell king he breaks his promise?

Yes, if that's necessary.

If he wants to get angry about breaking his own promise...

Mem, I think I arrange this meeting for you.

- When? - I do not know.

His Majesty very busy now.

Is he too busy to remember he asked me to come?

Unfortunately, new year and you arrive at same time.

New year more important.

It wouldn't take 10 minutes of his time...

And after new year is festival called Songkran, with fireworks.

That will take week or so maybe.

- Then it's time for cremation of late cousin. - But surely...

Then His Majesty goes upriver to receive sacred white elephant.

Then ceremonies of tonsure of hair of oldest daughter.

What am I supposed to do in the meantime?

Wait. Live in palace and wait.

This is ridiculous. I came here to teach.

Mem, this country has been here 1,000 years before you came...

and must continue.

That may be, but I intend to keep my part of the bargain...

and I assure you I expect the king to keep his.

Mem, I do not think king will remember this promise...

but I do think will be very interesting meeting.

I don't think we'd better open this one.

- It's full of things I didn't know what to do with. - Yes, memsahib.

Beebe, do stop crying.

I told you Moonshee will probably be here any minute.

I think I shall never see him again.

- They said he could not live here with us... - Nonsense.

You must have misunderstood. It's just there isn't room for him here now.

- Yes, memsahib. - Do you remember where I packed those sheets?

- I see fireworks. - It's New Year's Day.

No, it isn't, Mother. It's only April.

It's the New Year's out here.

I won't sleep a wink tonight unless we have our own sheets on those beds.

After dinner, may we go see the fireworks?

We'll see. Ah, yes. They're in here. I remember now.

There, Beebe. All right. Come on, darling. Now I'll see about dinner.

We would like to have some dinner.

Something to eat. Eat.

No, wait a moment. What part of the palace are we in?

Well, poor souls. They don't seem to understand.

- What made them shut the door? - Uh, I don't know...

What are they doing there?

Oh! Oh, no!

Oh. So that's why Moonshee can't be here with us.

Oh, go away. Beebe.

What a thing for me to do.

And I said so positively.

Oh, Louis, you'll have to forgive your mother.

I said we'd have a home of our own...

and here I've brought you straight into a harem.

What does that mean? What is a harem?

Well, it's... it's...

Oh, don't ask me now.

When you ask me something like that, I should have a good answer...

and I will, but I just can't think of one now.

Do I have to wear this suit, Mother?

Don't sulk, dear. Come, we must hurry.

Where did I put my... Oh, here it is.

The day is here, Mem Owens.

It is unfortunate mem had to wait for new year and cremation...

but at least she's ahead of white elephant.

Who is going to present me to the king?

Oh, by all means, I present you myself.

First, let us observe manner of entering presence of His Majesty.

Let us suppose Lord of Light sits here.

Here is door.

- Oh, no. - It is custom of country.

I couldn't. I'm very sorry, but I couldn't.

His Majesty very sensitive about such matters.

Your Excellency, I intend to show His Majesty the utmost respect...

but he cannot possibly expect me to crawl on the floor.

I wouldn't do that for my own queen.

What you do in presence of your own queen?

I'll show you.