*We open in the King's chambers & find Danny leaning against an open window, staring out.*

Sach: (He peers in) Hi, Dan! You ok? This has got to be really scary for you.

Danny: *shrugs* I can handle it.

Sach: Can you?

Danny: Are you turning on me, too? *Turns to him* I am playing the part of the King. It needs to be believable! I don't understand what the problem is.

Sach: Aw, I'd never turn on ya, Dan! (He goes over to him and puts his arm around him) You're my friend!

Danny: I thought the same about Duke until he turned on me out there.

Sach: I ain't like Dukey. He's just worried. I know you'll be a good king. You're a nice guy.

Danny: Thank you, Sach. I just don't understand WHY he's worried.

Sach: 'Cause there's a guy out to kill ya, they just grabbed the King, and you like Princess Deborah.

Danny: I’m supposed to like her.

Sach: No, you REALLY like her. You wish you were the one marryin' her. I can tell.

Danny: *Looks away* No, I don't.

Sach: Yeah, you do. (Grins) And I can't blame you. She's a real dish. Smart, gorgeous, glamorous, elegant. She's a real lady.

Danny: So what if she's all those things? I don't really like her!

Sach: Yeah, you do. Who wouldn't like her?

Danny: She's engaged to the King! I've danced with her and been right next to her, close enough to feel her breath on my ear! Of course I like her! *Realizes what he said and slaps both hands over his mouth as his eyes widen.*

Sach: (Grins) There, you said it. Now don't you feel better that you told the truth?

Danny: *Slides his hands away, frowning* No, I don't!

Sach: Yes, you do. You just said it. You can admit it to me. I won't tell Dukey.

Danny: What am I gonna do? It's like she turns me upside down, and all I can think about is her and how much I'd like to kiss her and...

Sach: (Shrugs) So kiss her! When we get the King back, you can tell her you did it for him.

Danny: *Sighs and nods* I think I will.

Sach: I just hope we can find the King. I wonder if that mean ol' Michael did anything rotten to him.

Danny: I hope we find him too, and that he's okay. I wonder what they’d do if something happened to him...not that I'd want to find out.

Sach: (Puts his arm around Danny) Well, ol' pal, I guess you'd just end up rulin' Ostrania.

Danny: Me rule?

Sach: Better you than Michael.

Danny: Yeah.

Sach: (He squeezes Danny's shoulder) Come on, your highness. We've gotta turn in. We have a busy day tomorrow! You have to learn how to be a king, an' the princess is gonna visit.

Danny: *Sighs rather wistfully* A busy day indeed. *smiles* Thanks, Sach.

Sach: Anytime. That's what friends are for.

*Danny smiles again, then heads for the bathroom as Sach leaves the room and we fade out.*

(Fade out on Sach as he heads out, whistling. Fade in on the King's Chambers. All of the men are having breakfast at a coffee table in what appears to be a living room area. The General reads off Danny's list of things to do that day.)

The General: ...and then, after you spend time with the Princess, you'll join us for two hours to learn the basics of Ostranian government. After that, you'll have an audience with the Prime Minister of Litchenstein, then will attend a meeting with the Duke of Hallenburg...

(Sach is snoring on Duke's shoulder.)

*Duke ignores Sach's snoring...but not very well. Danny listens, but his mouth is open slightly in awe, shock, and surprise.*

Charelton: (Frowns at Danny's shock) General, maybe we'd better beg off everything but the Princess' visit today. This must be quite overwhelming for poor Danny.

General: But the prime minister...

Charelton: We could say the King has a bad cold and won't be able to hold an audience with outsiders today.

*Danny nods slowly, his mouth still open. Duke glares at Danny, mentally yelling at him to close his darn mouth. Danny doesn't catch the mental yelling, unfortunately.*

General: (Sighs at Danny) Close your mouth, boy. You'll catch flies.

Danny: *As if coming out of a daze* Huh?

*Duke rolls his eyes.*

Danny: Oh, I...it's just...

General: (Sighs again) Under the circumstances, perhaps we should cancel your appointments for the next few days and claim you have a cold.

Danny: I want to do my best, it's just so much...

Charelton: We'll help you as much as we can.

Danny: *Nervous smile* Thanks...

Duke: *Mutters to himself* And now he crashes and burns.

Danny: So, when’s the Princess arriving?

General: I believe she was coming for tea.

Page: (A man in a maroon royal uniform comes to the doorway) Announcing the arrival of the Princess Deborah! She's in the parlor, awaiting His Majesty's presence.

Charelton: Is the Lady Mariana there as well?

Page: (His smile softens a bit) Your beloved is in the kitchen, Charelton. She's waiting for you.

Charelton: (He beams and nods) Thank you, sir. Please excuse me, gentlemen. (He hurries out)

Danny: *Stands* She's here...

Duke: *Shakes Sach off his shoulder* Sach, wake up. The Princess is here.

Sach: (Curls up) Just five more minutes, Mommy... (sticks his thumb in his mouth)

Duke: *Whacks Sach with his own hat over his head* Sach!

Sach: (Shoots up) Officer, I can explain everythin'! (Looks around) Huh? Where am I? (Looks at Dukey) Duke?

Duke: Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. The Princess is here.

*Meanwhile, Danny has already made his way to the Parlor.*

Duke: Come on, Sach, I think we ought to go keep an eye on Danny. He already had that panic attack look he gets just before the Princess was announced.

Sach: Why? He adores that chick, and I think she likes him, too.

Duke: Because I think he forgets who he really is. Come on. *gets up and pulls Sach along.* Here. We'll listen at the door. *stops at the door*

(Cut to inside the parlor. The princess, now wearing a much simpler blue shirtwaist dress, sits in a chair, sipping tea. She indicates the tea when she sees Danny.)

Deborah: (Nods at the tea and cakes on a silver tray) Hello, cousin! They already brought us our tea. I'm famished.

Danny: *Smiles* Wonderful! I'm quite hungry, too. *sits across from her* You look...great.

Deborah: (Smiles and nods) Thank you. You look quite handsome, too. (Shakes her head) The Page mentioned to me that you had a cold. I hope it isn't anything serious.

Danny: Oh, no, it's just a head cold, mostly it's just a headache. It isn't even contagious.

Deborah: Have you taken anything for it? (She pours two cups of tea) Do you take cream or sugar?

Danny: Oh, yes, I have, thanks. And I'll just take it straight, thanks. *Smiles* I must tell you I'm feeling better already now that you're here, Deborah.

Deborah: (She blushes) That's very sweet of you. I'm glad you weren't so sick we couldn't get together.

Danny: Me too.

Deborah: We have so many things to catch up on and discuss. Like the wedding, for instance. I'm assuming we'll have it in the courtyard here. Or maybe in the summer palace. It has such a lovely garden.

Danny: The summer palace...in the garden. That sounds so wonderful.

Deborah: (Nods) It sounds wonderful to me, too. The garden is so lovely in the summer. And of course, we must decide how many guests will be at the main ceremony. Shall we have 600, or is that too few?

Danny: Hm, I think that might be too few. I think an even 1000 sounds good.

Deborah: Or more. We have so many relatives! (Sighs, then laughs) Remember the summer we spent on the banks of the Wissinshaw? We were with Cousin Ethelthorpe, don't you remember?

Danny: *Also laughs* There were so many people we couldn't take a step without bumping into someone! *slides from his chair to kneel by Deborah's chair* But the number of guests doesn't matter. What matters is that you and I will be married and be together forever.

Deborah: (Takes his hand) That's right. You know, until last night, I wasn't sure I liked that idea. I hadn't seen you in years, and I hadn't liked what I had seen of you. But now...it doesn't seem like such a terrible thing.

Danny: Time can do wonderful things to a man. *kisses her hand* And you are the best thing to happen to me, ever.

Deborah: I've never been anyone's best thing before.

Danny: *Pushes up onto his heels so he's face to face with her* You're my best thing. *leans in and kisses her*

(She kisses him, too, deeply. When she pulls back, her face is flushed and her eyes are bright.)

Deborah: Maybe I'm the one who's getting sick. I feel so strange. Is this love?

Danny: *Nods* It must be love. It feels so wonderful. *kisses her passionately, his fingers playing with her hair*

Deborah: You were never like this before...

Danny: *Breathless* I was a fool then...

Deborah: I've never seen you this passionate about anything before. It's almost frightening.

Danny: Please... the last thing I want is for you to be frightened. I'm passionate because I love you so much.

Deborah: And I love you. (Squeezes his hand)

Danny: *Holds her hand and stands; offers his other hand* May I?

Deborah: You may.

Danny: *Pulls her gently up to him until she's pressed against him; he wraps his arms around her* Thank you. *kisses her gently, makes it linger*

(Deborah leans into his kiss.)

*Danny holds her tightly, even briefly lifting her off the floor.*

Deborah: (She leans into him) It's almost a shame I have to share you with the rest of Ostrania. I wish every day could be so quiet like this!

Danny: *Husky-voiced* I wish the same.

Deborah: We must do this on the first night of our honeymoon. Shall we go to Paris, or maybe the Swiss Alps?

Danny: I'll go anywhere as long as I'm with you.

Deborah: You're so romantic today! I've never seen you like this!

Danny: It's the new me. And I can be even more romantic...

Deborah: What do you mean?

Danny: We could turn tea into spending the day together...

Deborah: Well...

Sach: (He and Duke burst into the room before Danny can get any further) Kingy, old pal! How ya doin'?

Deborah: (As she breaks from Danny) Hello, gentlemen. How are you today?

Duke: We're doing well, but we need to borrow His Majesty for a few minutes.

Sach: Can I have some of those? (He immediately reaches for two cakes and shoves one in his mouth; with his mouth full) Boy, areth theesth good!

*Danny just glares at them.*

Duke: May we, Your Highness?

Deborah: (Nods) Very well, gentlemen. (She smiles at Danny and gives him a kiss on his cheek) I'll see you later. We'll work on planning our wedding then. (She heads out)

Danny: *Watches Deborah leave* But... *after she closes the door, he slowly turns to the guys* What are you DOING!?

Duke: Potentially surgically removing your foot from your mouth, which I highly recommend over removing my foot from a completely different crevice.

Sach: (Looks up from finishing off the last of the cakes) Theth can removeth a foof from a mouth?

Duke: *Groans* Sach, just eat if you won't help!

Danny: See, Sach? Duke's doing it again! *low voiced* I HAVE to get along with her! I'm the King, dammit!

Duke: *Folds his arms* You're the pretend King, Danny. There's a difference, which you seem to keep forgetting about.

*For a moment, Danny looks to Sach for help...then remembers their conversation from earlier. He groans, aggravated.*

Sach: (Swallows the last of his cake) You were really gettin' into the actin', Dan.

Danny: Do you want me to be the King or not? If you don't want me to, then let me know. I'll gladly turn in all the sashes and robes.

Duke: But will you turn in the Princess?

Danny: *Falters* I... *shakes his head, ignoring the question and regaining his composure* Aren't we supposed to trying to rescue the King? Who's doing that if we're all in here?

Duke: What do you think the Colonel and the General have been doing? But then, you've been paying the Princess more attention than the two of them put together.

Danny: *his fists clench* Stop it, Duke. I know what I'm doing.

Duke: No, I don't think you do.

*Before Duke can blink, Danny punches him in the jaw. It doesn't drop Duke, but it turns his head.*

Danny: *His eyes widen at what he did* Oh...oh no...

Duke: *Holds his jaw* Ow.

Sach: (His eyes widen) Danny, what was that? You hate hittin' people! Now I'M scared!

Danny: I don't...I...oh! *flops down in the nearest chair, which happens to be the one Deborah vacated; leans forward, covering his increasingly red face*

Duke: *Moves his jaw, holding it with one hand; puts the other hand on Sach's shoulder* I'm all right, Sach. He pulled the punch. I think I'm going to get some ice for this. I'll be back shortly.*heads out to get the ice*

*Danny's now groaning and rocking slightly in the chair.*

Sach: Danny...you really love that girl, don't ya?

*Danny nods without looking up.*

Sach: But what about Kathy? Don't ya love her, too?

*Danny nods again, still without looking up.*

Sach: What would she say if she knew you were chasin' another girl?

*Danny whimpers, sounding on the verge of some very loud crying. He lowers his head farther, both hands going into his hair, making a mess of it.*

Sach: (Pats Danny's back) Aww, don't cry. Those guys just have you all confused.

Danny: *Looks up; his hair's a complete mess, and his eyes are wet* Sach, I don't know what to do! They need me, but...

Sach: (Sits next to Danny) But you're in love with the Princess, an' she ain't yours.

Danny: *Nods* Uh huh. *Wails* Oh, Sach, I don't know how to stop it! Every time she gets near me, I turn into the King! I haven't once stuttered or stammered!

Sach: I think the only way we can stop it is to find the King...and fast.