Dale Ishimoto

King Mongkut of Siam: You think you teach King lesson, but this is one lesson you do not be paid for teaching. In the future, you will stop instructing wives and children in silly English song "Home Sweet House". To remind me of breaking promises I never make, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Anna Leonowens: Your majesty, I do not intend to have my boy brought up in a harem, and you did promise me a house; "a brick residence adjoining the palace," those were your very words in the letter.

King Mongkut of Siam: [obviously does remember] I do not remember such words.

Anna Leonowens: I remember them.

King Mongkut of Siam: I will do remembering. Who is king here? I remind you, so you remember that? I do not remember any promises. I do not remember anything, except that you are my servant.

Anna Leonowens: Oh, no, your majesty.

King Mongkut of Siam: What, what, what? I said you are my servant.

Anna Leonowens: No, your majesty, that is not true. I am most certainly not your servant, and what is more, if you do not give me the house you promised, I shall be forced to return to England immediately.

[children protest]

Princess Ying Yaawolak: I believe in snow!

Lady Thiang: Do not let her go away.

King Mongkut of Siam: I let her do nothing that is not my pleasure. It is my pleasure that you stay here, in palace, in palace!

Anna Leonowens: No, your majesty.

King Mongkut of Siam: [heavy sigh] Why do you wish to leave these children, all of whom are loving you so extraordinarily?

Anna Leonowens: I do not wish to leave them. I love them, too, quite extraordinarily, but I cannot stay in a country where a promise has no meaning.

King Mongkut of Siam: I will hear no more about this promise!

Anna Leonowens: A land where there is talk of honor and a wish for Siam to take its place among the modern nations of the world, where there is talk of great changes, but where everything still remains according to the wishes of the king.

King Mongkut of Siam: You will say no more! No more!

Anna Leonowens: I will say no more, because there is no more to say. Come, Louis.

[Anna and Louis leave. Children protesting]

Anna Leonowens: Out, out, out!

[everyone, except the King, leaves]

Anna Leonowens: In your house she's just another woman. Like a bowl of rice is a bowl of rice no different from any other bowl of rice.

King Mongkut of Siam: Now you understand about women! So, many English books talk about love et cetera, et cetera, et cetera! Ha!

Anna Leonowens: You disapprove?

King Mongkut of Siam: It is a silly complication of a general simplicity. A woman is designed for pleasing man that is all. A man is deigned to be pleased by many women

Anna Leonowens: Then how do you explain, your majesty, that many men remain faithful to one wife?

King Mongkut of Siam: They are sick.

Anna Leonowens: Oh, but you do expect women to be faithful?

King Mongkut of Siam: Naturally!

Anna Leonowens: Well why naturally?

King Mongkut of Siam: Because it is natural. It is like old Siamese saying. A girl is like a blossom, with honey for just one man. A man is like a honey bee and gather all he can. To fly from blossom to blossom a honey must be free. But blossom must not ever fly from bee to bee to bee.

Anna Leonowens: [giggling] Oh, your majesty in England we have a far different attitude. We believe for a man to be truly happy he must love one woman and one woman only.

King Mongkut of Siam: This idea was invented by woman.

Anna Leonowens: Oh but it's a great idea your majesty and in England we're brought up with it. When your young and at your first dance.

King Mongkut of Siam: Young girl? They dance also. Like I see you in arms of stranger tonight not a husband.

Anna Leonowens: Why of course!

King Mongkut of Siam: I would not permit it.

Anna Leonowens: Ha. When you're young and at your first dance, and you're sitting on a small gilt chair with your eyes lowered, terrified that you'll be a wall flower, suddenly, you see two black shoes, a white waist coat, a face, it speaks.