King of Katoren (Koning van Katoren)

There still is no clear information about the king's condition.

Sources inside the palace confirm the gravity of the situation.

But nobody dares to give a prognosis.

Push, push.

From all over katoren people have flocked together...

In front of the royal palace in wiss...

To express their sympathy with our beloved monarch.

Push.

The mood is subdued.

Yes, that's it.

Expressions of support are also arriving from neighbouring eltoren.

Throughout the country people have stopped working...

As they anxiously wait for news about our king's condition.

Ah, the Chamberlain hasjust come out, probably with a flare...

Which he will light to indicate that the king has died.

My brother is on TV.

My brother is on TV.

Come on, you twerp. Gervaas is on TV.

From decibel to scaffoldwood.

Klaas, congratulations. You have a beautiful son.

A son? Wow. The kingdom of katoren

will always remain dear to me

from farm hand to landowner

everyone rejoices to have gained

a king that can be trusted

so devoted and willing to sacrifice

a king for his people

a people so proud and brave.

Throughout the country... You're an Uncle. Look here.

The king is dead. Yes, I saw you on TV, brother.

Are you alright? I'll help you. Tell me what to do.

The flag on the aloysius tower must be lowered.

The invitations, the funeral... Calm down.

I'll do the flag, then we'll see. Alright.

Now say something nice about my son.

He's beautiful, klaas. He looks like his father.

And he's crazy about fireworks.

Look.

Now go congratulate his mother. I've never done this before.

Bye, little boy. Will you look after Uncle gervaas?

What's his name?

Stach. His name is stach.

Keep your eyes on him.

He was born the night our beloved king died.

So far it's not yet clear who will succeed the king.

It's still too early to speculate.

We must first wait for the cabinet council...

To confirm the king's death officially.

Ladies and gentlemen, the king is dead.

- Gervaas. - What?

Maria isn't doing well.

As long as there is no successor to the throne...

We, as the king's chief representatives...

Will provisionally assume full control...

Of the entire country.

King of katoren

still no successor to the throne

firework banned 'no time for celebrations'

once upon a time there was a king who lived in a very large palace.

He was often very lonely.

One evening he was having coffee by the fireplace. He walked to the kitchen.

National anthem banned.

The staff had already left.

Minister wants war

army pounces on demonstrators.

Gervaas.

Editor-in-chief katoren press missing.

What will become of you?

I want to be king.

I was wondering how one becomes king of katoren.

Then you have to go to policy.

I have two children, where do I go? Please, let me talk to him.

No, don't take me away. I'll be calm, I promise.

Do something, help me. Let go of me, I have to talk to him.

Number 18.

Number 18.

Number 19.

Please wait behind the line.

Number 19.

Good afternoon.

Go ahead. I'd like to become king.

One moment.

Come back on Monday with an ID, a written application...

And a recent passport photo, in quintuplicate. Number 20.

Number 1.

Number 1.

- You're 17? - Yes.

In that case you need permission from your parents.

Both dead.

In that case, from your guardian.

Number 2.

Oh, shit.

Stach, what are you doing here? I'm working.

'Working.' Don't say a word.

I need your signature.

Well?

Is this serious?

No, stach, I'm not going to sign this.

Never mind then.

Stach.

May I come in?

Do you realize how dangerous it is? You don't know the ministers.

You don't know their plans. I don't get it.

Always whining about the past, how everything was better.

About there being festivals, a flag, fireworks, about there being a king.

Now somebody wants to be king and then... you're just a weakling.

What's that?

You're not the first, stach. They all wanted to be king.

- And they're all gone. - Gone?

Dead. Some were given an impossible assignment.

Others just disappeared. The last one dates from 12 years ago.

How can that be? Why don't I know this?

People are quick to forget, especially when they're afraid.

Here.

You're old enough to decide for yourself.

As soon as you've submitted it, approach the press.

Gentlemen, the next item on the agenda.

Here you are.

Gentlemen.

The wisser daily. '17-year-old wants to be king.'

in the wisser daily? Do we know anyone there?

'For the first time in 12 years someone has applied...

For the office of king. It concerns the 17-year-old stach from wiss.'

stach? Stach?

Do we know him?

That name...

Enough chit-chat. That boy must disappear.

- Get lost. - My apologies. Yes.

Alright, where were we? Where were we?

- Gervaas? - Your excellence?

That's your name. Yes, your excellence.

Stach is your nephew, isn't he? Yes, your excellence.

Alright, you can go. Of course, your excellence.

You'll hear from me. Yes, your excellence.

Good morning. In wiss a 17-year-old boy has applied for the office of king.

'The ministers have been in power long enough. It's time for a change.'.

Thus the young man from wiss.

It seems that not only the young are dissatisfied with the situation.

Maybe we have to go about this another way.

Older people are also increasingly unhappy with the cabinet's policies.

Mr stach? You're expected at the palace at noon.

So you want to become king?

Isn't that why I'm here?

- My father's? - Yes.

What was it like in there? Fun.

What did you talk about? The kingship.

How did the ministers react?

Do you consider yourself a serious candidate?

I am a serious candidate.

I've received five assignments. This is the first one.

What are those assignments? Why do you want to become king?

Because I was born the night the old king died.

87% of the katorean people think I won't succeed at my first assignment.

So 13% think I will.

18 million people think I'm going to make it.

18 million.

King egg.

Excuse me, may I...

Also going to swindledale?

Yes.

To write about you, as a journalist for the katoren press and a web page.

Did you write this?

'King egg.'

funny.

Did you come up with that?

- What's your name? - Kim.

Well, Kim, go ahead and ask. What would you like to know?

How will you take on your first assignment?

Well... can't you ask something about me?

Why do you think you can solve what others failed at?

Others?

You think you're the first to try to cure the knob noses of estor-sione?

- Estor what? - Estor-sione?

The local name of swindledale?

You know the language is different there, right?

'Estor-sione is a friendly town in the South of katoren.

The area used to be plagued by an affliction known as 'knob nose'.

But the successful development of a medicine...'

medicine?

But if there's a medicine, what am I supposed to do there?

So, do you have a headline for your blogs yet?

I don't write blogs. 'Crown prince of katoren'?

'Prince royal of katoren'?

- Sorry. - Give me some money.

Please, give me some money.

- A coin. - Here you go.

Thank you, thank you.

A friendly town?

Where are you going to stay?

That's not what I meant. Don't get any ideas.

Well, bye now. I'll see you around.

Can I have your phone number? Then I'll call you when I've done it.

Seriously?

Strictly business, okay?

Where did you get my number? Research. That's called research.

- I beg you. - Go on, go away.

No, don't take me away. Don't take me away, I beg you.

- High five. - High five.

You want to film?

Yes, very nice.