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In
the town of Kissmiskolcz in Central Europe during 1910, Princess Beatrix
heads a family of exiled royals desperate to return to the good graces of
the current ruling family, led by Queen Maria Dominika. Dominika’s
son, bachelor Prince Albert, has recently completed his tour of Europe’s
eligible young ladies and now telegrams that he is coming to Kissmiskolcz,
propelling Beatrix into a frenzy of activity as she tries to ensure that he
fall in love with—and marry—her daughter Alexandra.
After summoning her brother Carl, now a monk
named Father Hyacinth, Beatrix, with her aunt Symphorosa, orders tutor Prof.
Nicholas Agi to keep her sons George and Arsene out of sight and lectures
Alexandra on the myriad ways to gain Albert’s affections. Alexandra
relieves her nervousness by fencing with Nicholas, who, nonplussed by the
girl’s cold manner, teaches her the arts of feinting.
The whole household bustles to ready the estate
for the prince’s arrival but, when Albert comes, he retires straight to the
bedroom and sleeps through two lavishly prepared meals. The family
waits impatiently for his entrance, and finally Albert joins them in the
salon, where Beatrix hurries everyone out so Albert and Alexandra can be
alone. Alexandra, whom her late father nicknamed "The Swan" for her
cool beauty and pride, cannot warm up to the frivolous, sophisticated
prince, and their stilted interaction ends after she flinches when he
touches her hand. Unwilling to accept defeat, Beatrix arranges
Albert’s schedule over the next few days to include as much exposure as
possible to Alexandra, but Albert prefers playing ball with Nicholas and the
boys, and with the help of his aide, Captain Wunderlich, eludes Beatrix and
Alexandra.
Despite her daughter’s chagrin, Beatrix remains
determined to ensnare Albert, so before the ball planned for his last
evening, she commands Alexandra to invite Nicholas as her guest, hoping this
will pique Albert’s interest and jealousy. Although both women feel
that Nicholas is beneath them, when Alexandra worries about stooping to such
humiliating tactics, Beatrix assures her that she attracted Alexandra’s
father in a similar manner and that Nicholas is "nearly as much one of God’s
creatures" as are they.
The ball commences with a great deal of pomp
but, when dancing begins, Albert first asks Beatrix to join him, then
retreats to play bass with the musicians. Hurt, Alexandra agrees to
dance with Nicholas, and as he twirls her expertly around the dance floor,
his deep regard for her begins to melt her reserve. When she spots
Albert with the band, however, Alexandra, mortified, races out of the
ballroom and borrows a carriage. Nicholas runs after her and
accompanies her to a nearby lake, where he showers her with heartfelt
adulation, likening her to a mirage that is too beautiful to describe.
The sheltered princess is overwhelmed by the young man’s ardor and insists
they return to the estate, where Albert has, as hoped, become intrigued by
the couple’s absence, and is hiding in a salon so he can drink brandy.
_01_small.jpg) Outside, Nicholas pledges his love to Alexandra
and asks why she is no longer curt and officious toward him, and she sadly
reveals the truth behind his invitation to the ball. Although she begs
for his forgiveness, Nicholas is incensed and cannot accept her apology.
Alexandra runs inside, only to find herself in the salon with Albert,
followed by Nicholas. Nicholas’ anger causes him to lash out at
Albert, who is at first delighted to see both the tutor and the princess
agitated and passionate, for once. While Nicholas trades barbed quips
with Albert about each other’s social standing, he also downs his first-ever
glasses of wine, and Alexandra follows suit. Beatrix, Carl and Symphorosa
join them and listen in horror, causing Beatrix to swoon and insist that
Albert take her upstairs. Carl lightly chastises Nicholas, who, unable
to contain his anger, leaves to confront Albert. Alexandra cries in
Carl’s arms but, when he asks her how she likes the turn of events, she
replies, still weeping, "I like it very much," and admits her attraction to
Nicholas. After calling Nicholas back, Carl leaves the two alone, and
the tutor soon coaxes a kiss from Alexandra.
Just then, Albert re-enters and reproaches
Nicholas for his impertinence, calling him an "insolent upstart." When
Alexandra sees that Nicholas is about to respond in anger, thus putting
himself in danger, she stops him with a kiss. Although Albert,
realizing where Alexandra’s affections lie, apologizes, Nicholas
misinterprets the kiss as one of pity, and stalks out.
The next day, Dominika arrives at the estate and
sweeps regally into Beatrix’s room, where Beatrix is hiding under the
covers, fearful of the queen learning that her son was thrown over for a
tutor. Albert expertly manipulates his mother, however, soon
convincing her that true love deserves applause and that Nicholas should go
unpunished.
Meanwhile, Alexandra sneaks into Nicholas’ room
and, seeing him packed to leave, asks to go with him. Distrustful,
Nicholas declares that she cannot leave the shelter of her family and was
mistaken in her attraction to him. Carl finds the two and, approving
of Nicholas’ decision, brings them to Albert, who privately encourages them
to reconcile, despite his emerging feelings for Alexandra and the probable
family retribution. Nicholas refuses, however, and leaves the estate.
While Alexandra watches his carriage ride off, Albert gently reminds her
that, as The Swan, she is perfection while gliding on a lake but awkward
once onshore, where the rest of the world dwells. Realizing she must
remain silent, majestic and unable to fly, Alexandra turns solemnly to
Albert and asks him to take her in to meet the queen, her future
mother-in-law. |
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