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00:00God save the King!
00:07God save the King!
00:10God save the King!
00:30A new King, a new age of hope and peace and spiritual growth, etc.
00:49And I'm still here for my sins.
01:19God save the King!
01:26God save the King!
01:39Francis?
01:45A little debris from the bus, that's all.
01:49The past is past, Francis. It's done.
01:54Yes. She was so long in the air, Elizabeth.
01:59I know. Everything you've done was for your country's good.
02:04You know that. Everything.
02:07I admire and believe in you without reserve. You know that, too.
02:12Thank you, Elizabeth.
02:14Perhaps things have been a little bit too easy for you these last few months.
02:18You've had time to brood.
02:20I feel becalmed, Elizabeth. I'm secure, in place.
02:26I've done all I set out to do.
02:29Do more. Go further. Go all the way. Surprise yourself.
02:34I think that what you need is something or someone to provide you with a new challenge,
02:41to stimulate you intellectually, bring out the best in you.
02:46Or the worst.
02:47Let me think about it.
02:49Something or someone.
02:51Let me think about it.
02:55The King?
02:59The King.
03:17And I must confess, I still feel a certain residual frisson.
03:21The King is a King, after all.
03:23The sherry is usually excellent, too. I do hope there won't be any changes there.
03:27One hears these rumours about chamomile tea.
03:34Mr Urquhart, good morning.
03:35Good morning. I hope Sir Edgar isn't indisposed.
03:39Sir Edgar, as I'm sure you've heard, is taking early retirement.
03:42Yes, of course, to be sure.
03:45And you must be the famous Miss Carmichael.
03:47That's right.
03:48How do you do, Miss Carmichael?
03:50I've looked forward to meeting you, Mr Urquhart.
03:52And what is your job description?
03:56I'm His Majesty's Assistant Press Secretary, working to David Mycroft.
04:00I see. Excuse me.
04:04The Prime Minister, sir.
04:10Mr Urquhart, welcome.
04:17Your Majesty.
04:19Come and sit down, Mr Urquhart.
04:20Thank you, sir.
04:26Your Majesty.
04:28Come and sit down, Mr Urquhart.
04:30Thank you, sir.
04:34Well, you've had more practice at this sort of thing than I have.
04:38Perhaps, sir, but I'm sure you've had the benefit of your mother's exceptional experience
04:42and her valuable counsel, as I have myself.
04:45Yes, she said you listened very courteously and deferentially
04:47and then went away and did exactly as you pleased.
04:49Is that how it was?
04:51That's very good, sir.
04:53Her Majesty always enjoyed a little joke at my expense.
04:56She understood the constraints that bind us very well.
05:00We can none of us do exactly as we please.
05:03And that's probably a very good thing.
05:06I'm sure it is in my own case.
05:08Mr Urquhart, I want these meetings to be real meetings of minds.
05:13But of course, sir.
05:15If we can't be absolutely frank and open with each other, then the whole exercise is pointless.
05:18I absolutely agree with you, sir.
05:20Then let me ask you.
05:22What do you see as your government's priorities in the medium term, the next three years, sir?
05:26Consolidation, sir.
05:28I believe it's very important to hold firm to those policies
05:31which have enabled us to move out of recession into the prosperity we now enjoy.
05:36Well, some of us enjoy it.
05:38Yes. Some of us have always enjoyed it, I suppose.
05:42And now, happily, most of our people do.
05:45But not all.
05:47Believe me, sir, I understand your feelings and share in them completely.
05:51It's deeply distressing for me, personally distressing,
05:54to know that any of our people are homeless, however few,
05:58to know that any of our people should feel themselves undervalued.
06:02Yes, yes.
06:04And it's a terrible temptation to throw money at these problems now,
06:08borrowed money,
06:10and reap the consequences in a few years' time.
06:13I know it's painful,
06:16but I believe we must be patient.
06:21You're a clever man, Mr Urquhart.
06:23You're too kind, sir.
06:25I'd rather be remembered as a wise man than a clever one.
06:31But I think that sound man is the highest praise I can expect.
06:37I'd want to be remembered as a good man.
06:41You find that absurd?
06:42Not at all, sir.
06:44And I'm sure you will be.
06:46Thanks, Alastair.
06:48Thank you.
06:49Morning, sir.
06:50Morning, Alice.
06:51Hello, David.
06:52Chloe, I'm so sorry.
06:54I suppose they're at it already.
06:56They are.
06:57Oh, God. I am sorry.
07:00Bit of a crease at home.
07:02How's sir? Did anybody brief him?
07:04Yes, I did. Sir's fine.
07:06Sir promised to be very good.
07:08It's not a game, Chloe.
07:10No, I know.
07:11I did work from your notes, David,
07:13and I think I said everything you would have said.
07:16It is OK, really.
07:18I'm not simply talking about aesthetics, you see.
07:21This Victoria Street redevelopment is a golden opportunity
07:24to do something imaginative.
07:25Why, for example, should it have to be
07:27another bloody shoebox full of government offices?
07:29Well, why indeed?
07:30Why not something the whole community can enjoy?
07:32Now, I've been reading about this centre plan scheme
07:35for revivifying the inner cities.
07:37It's your environment ministers' idea.
07:39Dick Cole, excellent chap.
07:40Yes.
07:41And you see, what I thought was that this Victoria Street thing
07:44could be a sort of pilot development for centre plan
07:47with some recreational and cultural element,
07:50something we could all take a bit of pride in,
07:52beautiful and useful, you see,
07:54and in the very heart of London.
07:56It's, um...
07:58Well, it's just a thought.
08:00But a very exciting one, sir.
08:02I shall certainly take it up tomorrow with the Secretary of State.
08:05Thank you. Thank you. I'd be most grateful.
08:07I mean, let's try to achieve something, for God's sake.
08:10Let's try to get something done.
08:11I'm sorry, I'm hurrying, I know,
08:12but I've waited a long time for this
08:14and I want to get on with things.
08:16But I really do feel greatly encouraged by this conversation, Mr Everton.
08:19David!
08:20Do you know David Mycroft, my Chief of Staff?
08:24David and I were up at Cambridge together.
08:26Chloe, I think you've met.
08:27She keeps me briefed on minority interests.
08:29Really? All the minorities?
08:32Some I embody and for the others I use empathy.
08:35I see.
08:36Yes, well, I think we've made a jolly good start.
08:38Thank you.
08:40No manners in the ordinary sense, no small talk,
08:43no apparent sense of irony.
08:45It's all tremendously interesting,
08:47but he wants to do this every week.
08:49He'll have to realise the Lonely Hearts Club is all very well,
08:52but I can't fritter my time away in idle chatter.
08:55I have to run the country, for one thing.
08:57And at this rate, our royal friends
08:59are going to make that more and more like the Chief Whip's job.
09:02A pat on the head, a kiss on the cheek,
09:05a short, sharp shock there,
09:07and a good boot up the backside were indicated.
09:11Mr Cole! Mr Cole, sir!
09:13What about centre plan?
09:15It's up to the Cabinet, not me.
09:18You'll have to wait and see, won't you?
09:20Cole's turn today, I think.
09:23Finally, I would urge that all the indicators point to this
09:26as the ideal time to put centre plan into operation.
09:29Oh, yes.
09:32An imaginative partnership
09:34between government initiative and the financial sector
09:37to provide a vital injection of venture capital into the inner cities.
09:41We've waited a long time.
09:43We've done the groundwork.
09:45Now let's show the world what we can do.
09:48Thank you, Secretary of State, for the environment.
09:51Um, Chief Whip?
09:53With all due respect to the Environment Minister's sincerity
09:57With all due respect to the Environment Minister's sincerity and eloquence,
10:01I've never heard a better example of what we are not about.
10:04I take it this venture capital really means a huge hike on the PSBR,
10:09loss of confidence in Stirling, a run on the pound,
10:12and before we know where we are, we'll be back in 92.
10:15That's absolute nonsense, Tim, as you well know.
10:18Thank you, Tim. I'm sure Dick Cole appreciates your honesty, as I do.
10:22Painful as it is sometimes.
10:24Yes, Hilda?
10:26I'm afraid it sounds like good old meals on wheels to me, Prime Minister.
10:31Government and social work are both very useful,
10:35but they're not the same thing, you know.
10:38Stupid woman.
10:39Well, my sense of the meeting is that we need to give this scheme
10:42a great deal more examination before we think of moving ahead.
10:45Thank you very much for that very stimulating discussion.
10:50Now, let's move on, shall we?
10:53Dick, just one second.
10:55All right. Let's talk later, shall we?
10:59That was dreadful, Dick. I'm so terribly sorry.
11:03Look, um, let's go in there.
11:12Tim Stamp was such a ruffian sometimes.
11:14And Hilda Cordway, I can't believe it.
11:18Tim Stamp was such a ruffian sometimes.
11:21And Hilda Cordway, I gets more like a pit bull every day.
11:24But I'm afraid we'll just have to cut our losses for the time being.
11:27They're not ready to take Centre Plan on board just yet.
11:30We'll have to cut our losses?
11:32I wasn't aware I ever had your wholehearted support, Francis.
11:35I've always admired your talent very greatly, Dick.
11:39And speaking of that, Fletcher Carr's post at Strasbourg is coming up soon.
11:44How do you feel about that?
11:46I'm quite content with environment, Francis.
11:49I'm afraid that's not an option any more, Dick. Sorry.
11:53I hope you'll decide to take the European job, Dick.
11:56It'll look so much better than a straight sacking.
12:00Let me know by noon.
12:03I'll delay the press release till then.
12:08Go to Strasbourg. Do not pass go.
12:11Do not collect £200 and don't bloody well come back.
12:14Jolly good. Excellent.
12:16Serve the bugger right.
12:18Well, he never was one of our chaps, was he?
12:20I'll say he wasn't posturing the prat.
12:22Couldn't pass a mirror without preening himself.
12:25One of the suede shoe brigade.
12:27None of that lot were ever any good.
12:29Good day's work, Francis. Excellent.
12:32So, how did you find His Majesty?
12:36Oh, much is expected. He wants to be of use.
12:39Well, he is of use.
12:41He can give garden parties and open things
12:44and save us the bother of electing some godawful president or something.
12:47But the trouble is, he has ideas.
12:51He has a conscience.
12:53He wants to contribute.
12:56He's going to be disappointed about Victoria Street.
13:00Bob Capes has paid up like a good'un, Francis, as always.
13:04It's not as if his buildings fall down or something.
13:07Shoeboxes or not, he deserves our continuing support.
13:11Well, there we are. Capes and his shoebox, it is.
13:14Secretary of State for the Environment can't intervene because we've just sacked him.
13:18I'll break the news gently to His Majesty.
13:21He's not going to be pleased.
13:24Look, Tim, you remember that little insurance scheme we talked about?
13:30The regal insurance?
13:33Want me to rattle the bars of Princess Charlotte's cage?
13:37I think we might see if we could get a policy drawn up.
13:42Will you look into it?
13:44My pleasure, Prime Minister.
14:04Why does he do it?
14:07He doesn't think it's real unless it hurts.
14:12He went to one of those schools.
14:15So did I.
14:18I think the only time he was really happy was when he was at university.
14:23Just having friends and talking.
14:26You're using him, aren't you?
14:29Yes. I'm pushing black and Asian causes every chance I get.
14:33What's wrong with that? He knows I'm using him. He likes it.
14:37After all, he's using me for my brains, my fabled street cred.
14:43Everybody uses everybody, David. That's what the whole thing is.
14:48Not for me. I just want to take care of him now.
14:52Why don't you go home? It's getting late.
14:56Why don't you?
14:59He'll probably stay up all night.
15:02Might want to talk in the early hours.
15:05Has he sent out for anyone?
15:08Hardly ever does that now.
15:10Would you do that?
15:12If you could send out for anyone and they felt duty bound to come, would you do that?
15:18Who would you send for?
15:21You're very young, aren't you?
15:25Yeah.
15:35Call for Strasbourg.
15:38Strasbourg posting cooks Dick's goose.
15:41PM says, F you, Dick.
15:44Dear, dear.
15:47Once again, Francis Urquhart has shown himself to be as tough as Margaret Thatcher in her prime,
15:54while for ruthlessness he has set a standard of his own.
15:57His F you stance towards opponents would be an admirable one in wartime,
16:01but we question its appropriateness in a Europe still fumbling towards unity
16:06and in a Britain growing daily stronger,
16:09but still blighted by appalling poverty and unemployment.
16:13Well, we can't please everyone.
16:15Don't be too sure. Secretly, they all want to be dominated.
16:18I'm not a brute, Elizabeth, just a plain old nonsense old-fashioned Tory.
16:22Yes, of course you are.
16:24Oh, by the way, I think I may have found you something interesting.
16:31Actually, it's simpler than that.
16:34You just pose the question, if their services were not provided by the state,
16:39would we pay our own real money for them?
16:42Doctors, yes, of course, teachers, maybe, some of them selectively, social workers?
16:48Ha, ha, ha.
16:50Oh, I'm afraid not.
16:52I'm afraid not.
16:54I'm afraid not.
16:56Doctors, yes, of course, teachers, maybe, some of them selectively, social workers?
17:00Ha, ha, ha.
17:02See, what we should do is let them practise like solicitors,
17:05put up a brass plate and wait for clients.
17:07I think a surprising number of families would realise
17:10they could run their own lives after all.
17:12Let the free market determine what we need.
17:14Do we need opinion posters? That's what you are, isn't it?
17:18People seem to think I'm worth the money.
17:20Get the answers wrong, though, don't you?
17:23That's why I'm in such demand.
17:25Jolly good. Sign her up, Kim. Sign her up.
17:30Bonsoir.
17:34Mrs Harding, don't leave just yet.
17:37Could I have a little word?
17:42We were so pleased you were able to come this evening.
17:45I passed, then, did I?
17:47Yes. Oh, I think yes.
17:50Francis, my husband, was wondering if you might be free
17:53to come in for a private conversation tomorrow morning at 11.
17:58Could I ask what this is all about?
18:00He'll tell you that himself.
18:02I will tell you that you are being considered for a unique position
18:07and that you are the only candidate under consideration at present.
18:11I think you'll find it to your advantage to attend.
18:14You certainly make it all sound very interesting.
18:16We find you very interesting, Mrs Harding.
18:19Yes. Yes.
18:22I really do think that you might be the one.
18:29You moved from an academic post at Cambridge
18:32to work for a polling company.
18:34Why was that? Money?
18:36Partly. I wanted to see whether it was true
18:40that you can get any result you want from a poll
18:42by massaging the questions.
18:44And? It's true.
18:46You can make people say anything you want them to say.
18:49But you can't make people do anything you want them to do.
18:52You can never be absolutely sure of people, can you?
18:55No.
19:00How do you rate the performance of this government, Mrs Harding?
19:04Extremely effective.
19:06By not seeking the approval of all of the people all of the time,
19:09you've put yourself in a very strong position.
19:12You've got 46% of the people
19:14and that means you can afford to ignore the rest.
19:16And you do.
19:18The opposition has no chance because it's got no power base.
19:21Most of the underclass aren't even registered to vote.
19:24You've virtually destroyed the two-party system.
19:27Good.
19:30Did you write in The Economist
19:32that Francis Urquhart is like the shark?
19:35He has to keep moving forwards to stay alive.
19:38Not a very flattering simile, I'm sorry.
19:41Well, better a shark than a sheep, I suppose.
19:46Would you be interested in becoming my slave?
19:49What?
19:51My slave, Mrs Harding.
19:55I'm not interested in becoming anybody's slave.
19:58I see you're not familiar with the term.
20:00I want an assistant.
20:02The job won't have any formal title,
20:04political consultant, political adviser, what you will.
20:07If I can put it bluntly,
20:09you have a remarkable brain and I should like to plunder it.
20:13I should like to have free and constant access
20:17to your thinking, Sarah.
20:21I see. I'm flattered.
20:23Shall we say a six-month appointment initially?
20:26Your salary would be guaranteed.
20:28But either of us could terminate the relationship at any time.
20:34I'm interested in looking at power close up.
20:39I want to understand the way it works.
20:41You know the way it works, Sarah.
20:43It tends to corrupt.
20:45And absolute power corrupts absolutely.
20:50There's no such thing as absolute power.
20:53If you work for me, you'll give me your absolute allegiance.
21:02I'm not really sure why I'm saying this,
21:05but I'm very much in love with my husband.
21:10Good.
21:11We're trying for a baby.
21:14I mean, I wouldn't want to do anything
21:16that had the slightest chance of endangering my marriage.
21:19That is just as I would wish it.
21:28I'd like to accept your offer.
21:30I won't be your slave,
21:33but I'm very interested in learning what you have to teach me.
21:37And vice versa, Mrs Harding.
21:41Vice versa.
21:43I still can't get used to the idea.
21:46I mean, it's rather as if you've come home
21:50and said, I'm going to work for Richard III or Captain Hook.
21:54I mean, what's he like really?
21:56Is he real?
21:58Oh, yes, I think he's real, all right.
22:00It was odd. Intellectually, he didn't seem to be anything remarkable.
22:04I think it must be his will or something.
22:07It's as if he carries his own force field around with him.
22:10Hard to describe.
22:12There's something not very nice about him, actually, but interesting.
22:16Politicians aren't interesting. They're disgusting.
22:19Politics is disgusting. All that naked ambition.
22:22Not like us, eh?
22:24No, not like us.
22:26Well, good. You don't mind me working for him?
22:29Not a bit of it. Dine out on it.
22:31I thought you were going back to Cambridge tonight.
22:34No, I thought I'd hit the 6.40 tomorrow.
22:36Mm-hm.
22:38You know, these are such nice shorts.
22:40Mm. User-friendly.
22:45Is she clean?
22:47She's squeaky clean. A bit too clean, almost.
22:50She's an academic family.
22:52Oxford. Starred first in PPE.
22:55Met the husband.
22:57He's a mathematician turned economics don.
22:59Supposed to be brilliant.
23:01Aren't they all?
23:03We couldn't turn up a single smelly patch.
23:05That's just what we hoped, isn't it?
23:07Yes, yes, it is.
23:09I just prefer it when it's the other way round,
23:11when we've got something on people.
23:13But then I'm an awful cynic.
23:15Thank you, Cawdor.
23:17Afternoon, Mrs Everett.
23:20You know, sometimes I wonder about Cawdor.
23:23Cawdor's fine.
23:25He's actually getting quite keen on Sholty's Goethe-Demeron.
23:28Oh, talking of Kearns and gallow glasses,
23:31how's Stamper?
23:33Stamper's fine.
23:35Stamper's setting up our regal insurance.
23:39He's rattling the bars of Princess Charlotte's cage,
23:42even now.
23:44There'll be such, there's a kind
23:47In a cow's nest where I lie
23:50There I couch when owls do cry
23:54When owls do cry, when owls do cry
23:58On the bandstand, I don't...
24:07How far have they got, then?
24:09God knows.
24:11It's this one, Mummy.
24:13Christ.
24:15Thank you, darling.
24:23Oh, hello, Stamper.
24:25Your Highness.
24:27This is very pleasant. Delightful, okay?
24:30Yes, but they've let me hang on to the odd thing here and there.
24:33This children's choral thingy.
24:35Do you know Quilly?
24:36No, I don't know any of that.
24:37Lord Quillington, Mr Stamper.
24:39How do you do, sir?
24:41There. That's that done.
24:43May I introduce Sir Bruce Bullaby,
24:46chairman and editor-in-chief of the Clarion?
24:48Yes, I know who that is.
24:50And I've got nothing to say to him.
24:52Your Royal Highness, I'm here to build bridges,
24:55mend fences, let bygones be bygones.
24:58Sir Bruce has a proposal which I think you'll find
25:01is very much to your advantage, ma'am.
25:03No, that's not on, actually.
25:06Look, would you kindly mind telling your friend to bugger off?
25:10Bugger off?
25:19It's a quiet town.
25:21Might be better if others leave as well.
25:24Oh, yeah, okay. That's best, probably.
25:27Just you and me and Quilly.
25:29No. Just you and me, I think.
25:33But I tell Quilly everything.
25:35I think when you hear what I have to say, you understand.
25:39Just five minutes.
25:43Quilly, will you be an angel?
25:55He's amazing, isn't he?
25:58They do still like to see me.
26:00I know that.
26:02Would you like to have some nosh?
26:04Why not? It's free.
26:06Oh, come on, Stamper. I'm listening.
26:09After your divorce,
26:11the family made a financial settlement on you.
26:14Yes, they did. And a jolly mingy one, too.
26:16Ah, quiet.
26:18It wasn't a big deal, was it?
26:20No, it wasn't a big deal.
26:22It wasn't a big deal.
26:24Ah, quiet.
26:26It wasn't done from affection or compassion, was it?
26:29They were purchasing your silence.
26:32Your good behaviour.
26:35There's a story you could tell.
26:37Not only the intimate details of your own life,
26:39but also the lives of others.
26:42It would be such a sensational story
26:44that you could ask any price for it you cared to name.
26:48And it would almost certainly bring down the monarchy.
26:53Yes?
26:55Yeah. Right, I suppose.
26:58Why didn't you go ahead and do it?
27:01I couldn't do that to her.
27:03The Queen?
27:05And they said that if I did, I'd have a very bad accident.
27:08Ah. And you believed it?
27:10Yes, I did.
27:12I think you were wise.
27:14But the problem remains.
27:16Your allowance is not enough to cover your expenses.
27:18Wardrobe, travel.
27:20Other things.
27:23Bruce Bullaby wants to help you.
27:26That little shit.
27:28He wants to help me?
27:30You misjudge him.
27:32Look, he'll buy your story for the sake of history
27:36and bury it for the period of your lifetime.
27:40In return, he'll pay you £100,000 in cash each year.
27:47I have the initial £50,000.
27:51You owe £50,000 with me here today.
27:54Really?
27:58Come on, Stamper. Let's have a look at it.
28:01There is something else.
28:03He wants to get to know you better.
28:05He wants to be your friend.
28:07He wants to be my friend?
28:09What for?
28:11You really do misjudge him, you know.
28:14He genuinely admires you.
28:16He's a fan.
28:18And he admires you as a woman, too, if you follow me.
28:24He's not so repulsive when you get to know him.
28:28Like you, then.
28:31All right, Stamper.
28:33You're on.
28:38Good morning, sir.
28:39Good morning, Chloe.
28:41And how are you today?
28:42I'm fine.
28:43Of course you are.
28:49A delightful young woman, that, sir.
28:51What?
28:52Miss Carmichael, your Minorities Advisor.
28:54Yes, yes, yes. She's very keen.
28:56I'm extremely disappointed about Victoria Street, Edgar.
28:59I decided it would be improper to intervene, sir.
29:02All the procedures have been scrupulously observed.
29:05Much as we might wish to, even when we know we know best,
29:08we can't subvert the democratic process on purely aesthetic grounds, I'm afraid.
29:12No, they're not purely aesthetic grounds.
29:14I was talking about social considerations, human considerations.
29:17Whether this country is here to be carved up and sold off with personal gain
29:19or whether it's developed sensitively as a resource for the people who live in it.
29:22I'm extremely disappointed, Edgar.
29:24I think it's a disgrace.
29:26I have very considerable doubts about what you'd call the democratic process in this case.
29:29In fact, I suspect the whole thing was a bloody ramp.
29:31Do you mind if we walk a little more slowly, sir?
29:33My legs are not as young as yours.
29:35Yes, of course, sorry.
29:36And there wasn't any bloody ramp, as you put it.
29:39All the decisions were made in good faith.
29:42It may be that the investigation placed too much emphasis on getting value for money,
29:46but that's what it's there for.
29:49If they made a wrong decision, it was from the best possible motives.
29:53It may be that we need to look at the basic criteria again.
29:57Oh, yes, I think we do.
29:59Look here, Edgar.
30:00I have to make a speech in ten days' time to the charitable foundations,
30:03and I thought I might raise a few questions of principle in that.
30:06About the visual environment?
30:08No, no, no, no.
30:09Well, that too, of course, but broader, do you see?
30:11I want to talk about the wastage of human resources as well as natural resources,
30:14about the divisions in our country, north and south, rich and poor, hope and despair,
30:19and what we can do about it.
30:20Well, you know what I'm talking about.
30:22You must be desperately concerned about it as I am.
30:24Yes, yes, indeed.
30:26I take it you've written the speech already, sir?
30:29Yes, Clare Carmichael's just drawn up a final draft of my approval.
30:32Perhaps you could let me have a copy so that my people can check the detail for you and the tone.
30:36Are you proposing to censor my speech, Prime Minister?
30:38Good Lord, no, sir.
30:40Just making sure we're all pulling on the same rope.
30:43But isn't that tantamount to demanding my silence and complicity?
30:45I won't have that effort.
30:46All I'm saying, sir, is that in a constitutional monarchy,
30:50the sovereign cannot be seen to be publicly opposing his own government.
30:54It is very important that you understand that, sir.
30:58Well, of course I understand it. I'm not a bloody fool man.
31:04But I want you to understand that I am absolutely determined
31:09to exercise an influence on what is done by my government in my name.
31:15I'll have a copy of the draft by the end of the day.
31:17Thank you, Your Majesty.
31:25Strong words. But I'm afraid we can't allow it.
31:28If he thinks that being king gives him the right to say what he likes, he is a bloody fool.
31:40Thank you.
32:00He spoke to me as if I were a bloody child.
32:02I will not be patronised.
32:06I lost my temper with him. I was bad.
32:08Well, not necessarily, sir.
32:09You might have done a lot of good.
32:11A warning shot across the bowels.
32:13No, it didn't feel like that.
32:14I felt more like a baby strapped in a hijab having a tantrum.
32:17A bloody man.
32:20He's perfectly sincere, of course.
32:21I mean, he's got the country's good at heart.
32:22It's just that he has no vision, no imagination.
32:28Go to hell with him.
32:30He won't be here forever.
32:34What's tomorrow, David?
32:35Um...
32:37Guy's Hospital.
32:38Dinner with the Royal Astronomical Association.
32:41Now, that's good.
32:42You know, that's a good day.
32:49What's the matter?
32:51Oh, it's...
32:52It's nothing, really. Just a little local problem.
32:56Come on. I want to know.
33:01Fiona and I have decided to separate.
33:04Well, she's decided that we should.
33:08She's probably right.
33:12You know what I think?
33:16I think you're better off without her.
33:33Come on.
34:03Come on.
34:04Come on.
34:32Sorry, sir. You startled me.
34:33I saw the light. I didn't think anyone would still be here.
34:36Have you no home to go to, Claire?
34:38I love this job, sir.
34:40Look.
34:43Here's a nice one.
34:45This is the third letter we've got from these people.
34:50All this work they did themselves.
34:52And what do they want?
34:53Nothing, sir.
34:54I think they just wanted to say hello.
34:59Well...
35:01I've been looking at that speech again.
35:04David thinks it's too radical. He thinks I should soften it.
35:07What do you think?
35:08I think it's fine, sir.
35:09It says what needs saying. It says what a lot of people feel.
35:12My view is go for it.
35:13Especially since the opposition seem incapable of getting their act together at the moment.
35:18Yeah, it's good.
35:21Um...
35:23Right.
35:24Right.
35:26Thank you, Claire.
35:30Thank you.
35:36Sarah?
35:37Could you possibly come round now?
35:39I need to take your mind on something.
35:41I'm in my townhouse.
35:43We won't be disturbed here.
35:46What?
35:59Why do you think of His Majesty's prose style?
36:01It's very naive.
36:02Well...
36:03Are we not crushing the hopes of our young people?
36:06Are we not in danger of condemning large numbers of our black and Asian fellow citizens to deprivation and disaffection?
36:13A marginalised life on the fringes of our increasingly prosperous economy?
36:19Oh, dear.
36:21It's sad stuff, isn't it?
36:23Thank you.
36:25Surely it is still not too late to seek a better way to temper economic rigour with a little more respect for human values.
36:32Where does he get it from?
36:34Actually, what it is is a coded plea for the old-fashioned welfare state and that whole debilitating culture of dependency.
36:41It's extraordinary, isn't it?
36:42Socialism's collapsed all over the world and now the King of England's proposing to revive it.
36:49Oh, that's very good.
36:51Very well put.
36:54What on earth is he up to?
36:56He's a good-hearted man who's being manipulated, that's my view.
36:59We can't allow him to expose himself to ridicule, or worse than ridicule.
37:04He deserves better than that.
37:06So, you're going to stop him making the speech? Can you do that?
37:10I wouldn't dream of doing that.
37:12We'll just fine-tune it.
37:14That's where I'd like your help, Sarah.
37:16I want you to take out all the interesting bits and substitute something warm and dry instead.
37:23Even one or two mildly abrasive phrases, if you like.
37:26Enterprise culture, grassroots initiative, bootstraps, fingers out.
37:32You know, the sort of thing his father was so fond of.
37:35Could you bear to do that, you think?
37:37Delighted. Piece of cake.
37:39How soon do you want it?
37:41If I said by midnight, would that give you enough time?
37:44Yes, all right.
37:45These days, an hour can be a long time in politics.
38:08No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
38:26Excuse me.
38:29Sorry, what?
38:30Erm, I was wondering, er, are you looking for business?
38:33No, no, no, I'm sorry.
38:34Is he bothering you, love?
38:36Yeah, he is.
38:37Look, she approached me.
38:38Yeah, right.
39:06Members only, I'm afraid, sir.
39:09It's all right, John. I'll sign him in.
39:11Right, sir.
39:17Thanks very much.
39:19You look as if you've had a bit of a rough day, my friend.
39:24Yes, I have.
39:26Thanks very much, you're very kind.
39:28I have my moments.
39:30Can I buy you a drink?
39:31No, no, let me.
39:33Oh, God.
39:36I was robbed just now. They, they got my wallet.
39:40That sounds so implausible.
39:42No, I believe you.
39:44The state of you when you came through that door, you looked as if the hounds of hell were after you.
39:47I suppose I, I should report it.
39:49No, have a drink first.
39:50Get your priorities right.
39:52Scotch, I should say, yes?
39:54Erm, yes, thank you.
39:57John.
39:58Sir.
39:59Another Michael.
40:00Yes, sir.
40:01My name's Ken.
40:03Ken Charterhouse.
40:04David Mycroft.
40:06Nice to meet you, David.
40:08Very good.
40:10Yes.
40:11Good.
40:13Just what I wanted from you.
40:15A surgical emasculation.
40:17I've totally distorted his message, you know.
40:20Won't he be furious?
40:21Oh, perhaps he will, but he has to learn.
40:23People wouldn't take kindly to a man with three Bentleys lecturing them on inequality.
40:28No, quite.
40:30Well, I enjoyed that.
40:32Good.
40:33But I think I could help you in more important ways.
40:36Sorry if that sounds presumptuous.
40:38There's a lot more in your remarkable brain for me to plunder, is there?
40:42I hope so, yes.
40:44Yes.
40:45I thought there might be.
40:51Come on in.
40:53Come on.
40:55I'll make a cup of tea, right?
40:57Listen.
40:59Listen, I want to say this.
41:03I realised tonight.
41:06My house stinks of failure and despair.
41:13Do you understand what I mean?
41:15Yes, I do, David.
41:17My house stinks of failure and despair.
41:22My house stinks of 20 years of failure and despair.
41:29Do you understand that?
41:30Yes, I do.
41:36You poor old bugger.
41:38You really need a bit of TLC, don't you?
41:48Look.
41:52I'm not sure about that.
41:56I mean, I've never...
42:00I've not seen school.
42:03It's OK.
42:05Relax.
42:07Nothing's going to happen if you don't want it to.
42:10We can just cuddle, if you like.
42:13Hmm?
42:16Yes.
42:19Yes, I like that.
42:22Yes.
42:38Daddy.
42:41I want to call you Daddy.
42:46Maddy.
42:48Maddy.
42:49What?
42:50Can I trust you?
42:51Daddy!
43:22Can I trust you?
43:25You know you can.
43:51Damn the man.
43:53How dare he take my words and mangle them to suit his own purposes.
43:56I suppose because he thinks he can get away with it, sir.
43:58Bloody arrogance of it.
44:00Well, I'm not going to stand up and spout this pap.
44:02I don't think you need to, sir, and I don't think you should.
44:05Where's David Mycroft?
44:06He's not in yet, sir.
44:11What do you think I should do, Clay?
44:14I think you should deliver tonight's speech as written, sir.
44:17And I think you should allow it to be known the government tried to gag you and it didn't work.
44:20Well, no, I couldn't authorise anything like that.
44:22But it is the truth, sir, isn't it?
44:25Yes. Yes, it damn well is.
44:29Are we not crushing the hopes of our young people?
44:32Are we not in danger of condemning large numbers of our black and Asian fellow citizens
44:36to deprivation and disaffection?
44:38A marginalised life on the island?
44:40Or a life in prison?
44:42Are we not crushing the hopes of our young people?
44:44Are we not in danger of condemning large numbers of our black and Asian fellow citizens
44:48to deprivation and disaffection?
44:50A marginalised life on the fringes of our increasingly prosperous economy?
44:54Surely it is still not too late to seek a better way,
44:58to temper economic rigour with a little more respect for human values.
45:04And isn't it time to say now?
45:06Now, not tomorrow.
45:09Now, something must be done.
45:12Something must be done.
45:18Something must be done.
45:20There, in his first public speech since the coronation,
45:23the King making it quite clear that he's going to be his own man with his own voice.
45:28And that voice, full of liberal and even radical...
45:31Something must be done.
45:34Well, well.
45:36Something will be done.
45:38It seems I've seriously underestimated our royal friend.
46:01Order!
46:03Order! Mr Johnstroud!
46:06Will the Prime Minister tell the House whether he agrees that it is
46:11still not too late to seek a better way,
46:15to temper economic rigour with a little more respect for human values?
46:20And if he doesn't agree, why he feels so threatened by these words
46:24that he seeks to censor them out of existence?
46:30Far be it from me to censor anyone.
46:33Even the Leader of the Opposition, in his most long-winded and tedious vein.
46:38And I'm afraid I must remind him that the people of this country
46:41have over and over again voted for what they correctly see is a better way.
46:47Economic rigour with a great respect for human values.
46:50Notably, the values of courage, independence, tenacity,
46:55and honest old-fashioned hard work.
46:59If the Right Honourable Gentleman were to espouse those values,
47:03he might find himself a little bit more popular.
47:08Well, that was all very enjoyable.
47:11But I think now it's gloves-off time at the Palace, don't you?
47:14I must ask you, sir, did you authorise the leaking of those documents to the press?
47:19Of course not.
47:20Not in so many words, but you knew about it, did you not?
47:22Who the hell do you think you are, interrogating me like this?
47:25The leak came from the Palace.
47:27And I'm afraid I must ask that you instigate an investigation into how it happened,
47:31or allow my people to come in and do it for you.
47:33Well, I will do no such thing, Mr. Hackett.
47:35Was it Mycroft or the Black Girl?
47:41Well, we shall find out sooner or later.
47:44The point is this can't go on.
47:46We can't be seen to be at loggerheads.
47:48It could be very damaging for the Crown.
47:50Or the Government? Or yourself personally?
47:53I want you to instruct your Press Secretary to issue a statement
47:56explaining that there is no rift between us,
47:58and that your speech merely expressed general humanitarian concerns
48:02that were fully in accord with your Government's current policies.
48:05Don't try to bully me, Mr. Hackett.
48:06I'm very familiar with the tactic, and I react very violently to it.
48:13I don't want to make an enemy of you, but you're asking me to deny my own beliefs,
48:17or to pretend that I didn't mean what I clearly did and do mean.
48:20I can't do that. I won't do that.
48:22Your Majesty, as a private man, you may entertain any beliefs you like,
48:26and I will be happy to listen to them at our weekly conversations.
48:29But as the Monarch, you have no beliefs, or shall we say,
48:33no personal political convictions, not in public.
48:37I know what you're saying. I know that constitutionally you're quite correct.
48:40I know that you think your policies are the best for the nation,
48:42not just the rich, the strong, and the greedy.
48:45Well, I'm glad you recognise that, sir. Thank you.
48:47But I can't agree with you.
48:48And I don't believe the people are still behind you.
48:50The nation is desperate for a change of heart, man.
48:52You've practically abandoned Wales and Scotland.
48:54Thousands of Englishmen are living in cardboard boxes under Bridget.
48:57I cannot believe the people are still behind such brutally uncompromising hard-right policies.
49:03Well, sir, perhaps you'll be proved right.
49:06I had been thinking of going to the country again.
49:08You've helped me make my mind up.
49:11You see, you do have some influence, after all.
49:14I would be grateful, though, if you allowed me to announce it myself.
49:17I'd rather it wasn't leaked.
49:19You'll excuse me now, sir. It's been a long day.
49:22And we have weekend guests at Chequers.
49:29Your Majesty.
49:38Sarah, it's Francis Urquhart.
49:40I need to use your brain, Sarah.
49:42Well, good. When?
49:44Urquhart will pick you up in ten minutes and take you to Chequers.
49:47I may be delayed, but I need you there as soon as possible.
49:50All right.
50:00I'm afraid I have to go out.
50:03Sorry.
50:15Oh, dear.
50:17He was difficult, then.
50:19He was. In fact, I think we have a new leader of the opposition, Elizabeth.
50:24Break him, Francis. Bring him down.
50:28I'll bring the lot of them down if I have to.
50:32Good.
50:34I'm afraid I have to go.
50:36I'm afraid I have to go.
50:38I'm afraid I have to go.
50:40I'll bring the lot of them down if I have to.
50:43Good.