KING   What? I didn’t say anything. Besides, Greville, you’re not supposed to ask the King questions, you should know that. What, what?
Thurlow, in close-up, recognises what the ‘What, what?’ signifies. Greville breaks into a broad smile.

THURLOW   Get him ready.

EXT. KEW. LAKE. DAY.

Braun and Papandiek carrying chamber pots to the lake.

BRAUN   Here, look at his piss. We’re back to lemonade.

PAPANDIEK   No. Mine’s still a bit inky.

BRAUN   But that’s yesterday’s. This is today’s. Here, Piss the Elder! Piss the Younger!
They both laugh. They pour the piss into the lake in two brightly coloured streams.

EXT. KEW. FRONT STEPS. DAY.

The King’s coach leaves Kew.

INT. WESTMINSTER. HOUSE OF COMMONS. DAY.

The Prince of Wales coming into the gallery, acknowledging the cheers of the MPs.

SPEAKER   The matter before this House is a Bill to provide for the care of His Majesty’s royal person and for the administration of the royal authority during the continuance of His Majesty’s illness.

EXT. CHISWICK. LONDON ROAD. DAY.

Shots of Thurlow’s coach going hell for leather.

INT. WESTMINSTER. HOUSE OF COMMONS. DAY.

MP   Mr Speaker. We on this side of the House count ourselves fortunate that we have in the person of the Prince of Wales a young man of such character and aptitude …

EXT. LONDON ROAD. DAY.

Thurlow looking out of his coach, which is now surrounded by sheep, baa-ing (not unlike the MPs).

THURLOW   God’s teeth. What now?

INT. WESTMINSTER. HOUSE OF COMMONS. DAY.

Fox is brandishing a list of reforms he intends to bring in.

FOX   And so, Mr Speaker, I would like to set out some measures of long-overdue reform and, yes, I make bold to say it, necessary expenditure, that when His Royal Highness is declared Regent …
Cheers.
Pitt and Dundas on the front bench, looking glum.

EXT. WESTMINSTER. COURTYARD. DAY.

The coach rattles into the yard. Thurlow staggers out of the coach (windows still curtained) and rushes into the Palace, sending an attendant to fetch Pitt from the Commons.

INT. WESTMINSTER. HOUSE OF COMMONS. DAY.

A note is passed to Pitt, who hurriedly leaves the House with Dundas.

INT. WESTMINSTER. LOBBY. DAY.

THURLOW   I’ve just been with His Majesty and have had two hours’ uninterrupted conversation with him

DUNDAS   Oh, God, you mean he’s talking again?

THURLOW   No, damn it. Well, yes. But not fifty to the dozen, and not nonsense either. He’s actually a damned clever fellow. Had me reading Shakespeare. Have you read King Lear? Tragic story. Of course, if that fool of a messenger had just got that little bit more of a move on, Cordelia wouldn’t have been hanged, Lear wouldn’t have died, and it would all have ended happily … which I think would have made a much better ending. Because as it is, it’s so damned tragic …

DUNDAS   Lord Chancellor …

THURLOW   The point is, the King is better.