To Play the King

This, it would appear, is the Britain that we want.

Francis Urquhart's government has seemed secure against any assault,

but now, with another election imminent, all this may be changing.

A new and highly unlikely figure

has emerged as the unofficial leader of the Opposition.

In a year when the royal family has been rocked by scandal and controversy,

the King himself has emerged as a powerful and effective critic

of Francis Urquhart's hard-line policies.

I don't want to rule over a country

where people don't care about each other.

Things are going to have to change, I want to be part of it.

Let us begin to make that change...now.

And things are changing, it seems.

The opinion polls are reporting a 13% swing against the government

and a very high level of support...

All right. Would you...?

- Thank you. - Well, quite.

It's absolutely bloody outrageous! We should have taken away your licence!

We believe it's very fair reporting.

We'd like to include an interview with the Prime Minister. Live.

I wouldn't be tempted, sir. Framed with a biased introduction,

cut with shots of junkies and beggars.

Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole!

You can have our written guarantee that

it would be live and uninterrupted by anything.

Or followed? The end of the interview would end the programme?

- All right. - We'll have that in writing. Today.

Yes, of course. Naturally.

- Who else? Stroud? - In a separate interview.

- And His Majesty? - His Majesty declined.

- I'm sorry to hear that. - Who would interview the PM?

Harvey. He IS the senior man.

We think it should be Hannah Milken.

- No. Out of the question. I'm sorry. - Then I have to advise you to withdraw.

- Tim? - Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

You do need me, otherwise you haven't really got a programme.

True, sir, but, if I may say so, your need is even greater than ours.

Now look here!

Tim, Sarah. He's right. We all know it.

- Jim Portman? - Done! Thank you, Michael.

Things are not going well for us.

17 days to the election. 13 points behind.

We may yet turn it, but it's going to be a damn close-run thing.

It's not as easy as any of us thought it, to fight a king.

But I will not let him conquer me.

Nothing will prise me loose.

I am ready

to do anything!

Daddy!

Am I still the man...who did that thing?

Francis?

I...summon up remembrance of things past.

- They can't win, can they? - It's unimaginable.

- We simply won't permit it. - I like the things you say.

I'm very glad to hear it. Corder wants to see you.

Excellent. A wondrous, necessary man, Corder.

I find him so.

Corder.

- Not inconvenient, I hope, sir? - Not at all.

You might remember you were asking me...

Good God! What was that?

I don't know. There wasn't any warning.

It's not one of ours. I'll find out. Excuse me.

Events, the politician's greatest enemy.

Plan till you're blue in the face, then things just happen.

Events take over.

Not terrorists this time, it seems.

An accident.

A gas explosion in a run-down block of council flats. That's all.

So why the rush? What's all the fuss about?

You know what it's about. Every disaster is a photo opportunity in disguise,

playing right into the hands of the King.

- Random, inexplicable tragedy... - Not really random, Sir.

These are the people left to rot,

people who couldn't buy their council flats,

people who couldn't pay the gas bill. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

For God's sake, Chloe! This is windy, Marxist rubbish!

It is not! It is the simple truth!

Why are you so terrified of politics, David?

I very, very seriously urge you, Sir, not to take that line.

Shut up, the pair of you! Not another word.

I've no intention of speaking to anybody apart from the victims.

Have to let them know somebody cares.

I'm extremely impressed by the way the emergency services

have reacted to this terrible accident.

The best thing we can do

is stay out of their way and make their task as easy as we can.

Good luck.

He just wants to talk to the survivors.

He's very upset by this awful accident.

What's this about John Staines? You're being called as a witness?

No, that's absolute nonsense. You must have got your wires crossed.

Yeah, sorry. You know these stories. You have broken up with the wife?

Your Majesty. We could have done without this public posturing.

- I came to comfort my people. - They're thrilled

Pat a few heads if it makes you happy,

but we don't want you making mischief.

Damn you, man! Don't judge me by your own degraded standards.

You may want to make political capital. All I want to do is help.

- You bloody hypocrite. - Be careful! I've got it!

Please let me help.

''HM and PM in compassion brawl.''

- Rather nicely put. Don't you think so? - Yes, very witty.

Mm. I thought so. Oh, look at this one. ''He's behind yer, Yer Majesty!''

Look, Francis. There you are. Like the demon king.

Mm.

''Government policy blamed as 70 die in tower block disaster''.

Now that's not so good.

Events, events. These things will pass.

We should control events, not be blown about by them.

You've been too lax with that fool from the Palace.

''Please let me help.''

I think it's time

to stop fooling around and start inflicting some serious damage.

All in good time!

When we've won the election, we can do what we like.

- We have to win it first. - You said not to win was unimaginable.

- We must make it unimaginable! - We shall!

Good!

Don't change the subject, I'm serious. The press are onto us. Must be Staines.

Onto us? We're not criminals!

What are you saying? Are you ashamed of us?

HM's in a very exposed position.

If Urquhart can damage him, he will.

I'm his oldest friend.

Think what the tabloids could do with that.

I think I'd better move out.

All I'm asking is can't we be discreet till after the election?

You said you loved me. Remember that?

You said that I changed your life

and nothing would ever be the same again.

I know. I meant it.

Well, don't you bloody well forget it.

Look, I've got to be going.

I'll be back on Wednesday. We can talk about it then.

And you just better be here.

David Mycroft? Well, well, well.

If you turn Johnny Staines upside down,

all sorts of things are going to fall out.

No, not now, Judith. Shut the doors, please.

Yes, indeed.

But I must say, Tim, I am very, very surprised.

There's a security angle there so long as he makes a secret of it.

It raises other questions. ''King's best friend a shirtlifter.''

''How low can Palace morals sink?'' And so on.

- But we wouldn't stoop to that. - Unfortunately, the press are onto it.

Really? How did they find out?

Some heartless bastard must have leaked it.

Well, I'm sure they'll be discreet.

Anything else? I do have another meeting, unfortunately.

Yes, there was something I wanted to ask you, FU.

After the election...what do I get?

After the election?

Could I just remind you that we have yet to win the election?

Is it insensitive of me to point out

that we are trailing by 13 points?

Do you think this is the best time

to be asking what you get after the election?

I'd like to know, though, all the same.

Would you? Well, I thought Chief Whip again.

After all, it's what you're best at.

You led me to expect a senior Cabinet post.

You led me to expect Home Secretary.

Well, perhaps it will be.

But you're such a brilliant frightener, Tim.

You'd be wasted in one of those kid-glove jobs.

Has it ever occurred to you that you presume too much?

Not in your case, Tim.

I think I know you rather well, don't you?

Mrs. Harding.

Why don't you call me Sarah?

I suppose I feel I don't know you well enough.

We don't have to be enemies, Tim.

- I'm not going to be here for long. - Aren't you?

- What were you looking for just there? - Well...

I was looking to see if there was

a file on Mattie Storin. Did you know her at all?

I knew her, yes.

Yes, well. I came across some stuff she wrote

and I was interested in her.

- I know why you're interested in her. - Do you?

Yes, I do.

So? What can you tell me?

Who are you working for?

What? I work for Francis. Mr. Urquhart.

Mm. And who else?

No one. Myself. I'm a freelance.

Francis Urquhart has had my total Loyalty for 30 years.

He has my total loyalty. I'm in love with him.

Are you?

I wonder if you know the meaning of the word.

Look, this...

It's just silly, you know.

Personal, embarrassing. You won't tell him, will you?

I don't know. I'm going to have to think about this.

But you'll find out, one way or the other.

Lady Isabel, How nice to see you again. Thank you.

I love it here. Such a feeling of brightness.

Lightness, youth. It even smells differently.

The air nimbly recommends itself unto our gentle senses and so on.