The first thing Ana observed about the video was the noticeable but surprising inclusion of content and substance. Incorporating a Byzantine plot-line and numerous complex characters, the film played out like a professional production, and it struck Ana that she was watching Jules' first attempt at directing a legitimate movie.
The story revolved around one Handsome Prince who, as a child, became sole heir to the British throne after his fathered suffered a massive brain hemorrhage that killed him. His mother, the Queen, retained ruling rights until he turned 21, at which point he would take over the responsibility of running the extensive kingdom.
There was only one problem that the little prince faced, and that was that he was inordinately and strangely beautiful. Indeed he was so fair that his mother limited his education lest too many books should produce premature wrinkling betwixt the brow from thinking and around the mouth from frowning at some difficult problem. Likewise, his nanny ensured he received plenty of sleep by putting him to bed for at least twelve hours, even if he only managed to sleep away six of them. And the cook, concerned that he should grow to fat or too thin off her meals, coordinated the preparation of his food with his equestrian, fencing and archery instructors. All in all, the prince was very well- liked and very well-kept, and prohibited from all activities that might cause harm to his looks or damage his form in any way.
Now news of the prince's loveliness soon spread throughout the empire so that dukes and duchesses, lords and ladies, counts and countesses as well as earls, baronesses and other forms of royalty traveled far and wide to catch a glimpse of the young child's face. Indeed, rulers as far as Scandinavia and New Zealand came to visit with the prince, and everyone declared the youth's visage to be as handsome as any that was ever born. Unfortunately because of his exceeding comeliness the prince spent many hours alone in the castle, for his peers, jealous that he should be so perfect, refused to play with him, eschewing the child save when they were attempting to drown him in the water or stone him against the rocky cliffs. Despite such treatment, the prince walked away from the incidents untouched, and he grew even more beautiful with the passing of every year.
For his twelfth birthday, the Queen, wishing to debut her comely youngling, held a grand birthday party in his honor. From all over the world people came to celebrate with the prince and honor his sublimity with their gifts, many of which ended up being mirrors, highly decorated or ornament in some form or fashion. In fact, the prince received so many of these objects that he was forced to line his walls with them, and even had to mount some on his ceiling so that his bedroom could contain them all. From that night forward, the first thing Prince Charming saw every morning was himself, and the last thing he glimpsed at night before he slept was his own reflection.
When the prince was only nineteen, an extremely rich and powerful emperor from another nation came to visit the Queen in hopes of wooing her into marrying him. Upon seeing the handsome prince, however, the ruler immediately forgot himself and his mission, for the young man's countenance embraced the very best of both sexes and was significantly more attractive than his own mothers. Although the mighty monarch commenced to court the boy's mother he also actively sought companionship with the lad, and one day while they were walking in the forest attempted to seduce him, proclaiming his forbidden love and attraction to the prince. The poor youth, being naive in thought and infinitely lonely in life, was greatly moved by the other's declaration and fell under his charms, giving the older gentleman everything he so desired till nothing remained untouched.
At this point Ana was forced to look away, for the graphic scenes of the slightly older gentleman having relations with Jules was too much for her to bear. She felt an incredible amount of pity for him then, pity and sorrow for his very public humiliation that was made all the worse by its autobiographical truth, however obscured and shrouded it was in symbolism.
The story continued, and Ana could tell by listening to the voices that Prince Charming's fall from grace had been complete, and that he had embarked on a rather libertine lifestyle with drunken festivals and all-night orgies as a regular part of his existence there at the castle. A princess from a nearby nation had attempted to redeem the handsome nobleman from his wickedness, but in the end she was compelled to leave, unable to tolerate his debauchery any longer.
The beautiful prince inherited the throne from his mother but did not change his ways, eventually traveling more and more often to visit his lover in the other kingdom. His absence from the throne was duly noted by very powerful people, including his obsequious sycophants and his enemies, and those with an interest in the throne began to mobilize, some for a confrontation, others for a coup.
In the end the young prince lay slain by the same man whom he had trusted with his very life. As he bled, the princess he had scorned held his body, crying softly as she stroked his hair and murmured words of comfort to him. He apologized then and recanted his dissipation, expressing a renewed desire for the virtues of life even as his own death approached, but alas, his repentance did not heal him or save his life. The comely prince passed away and the princess, scrutinizing her blood-soaked white dress and her lover's body, stood up and let out a primal scream.
And that was it.
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