FITZROY   Colonel Fitzroy. Did you not know that? It seems unfair, I agree. But a word of advice. To be kind does not commend you to kings. They see it, as they see any flow of feeling, as a liberty. A blind eye will serve you better. And you will travel further.

INT. WINDSOR. KING’S APARTMENTS. BACKSTAIRS. NIGHT.

Greville surprises Lady Pembroke, proceeding, in her usual stately fashion, towards the Queen’s bedroom.

GREVILLE   Elizabeth.

LADY PEMBROKE   His Majesty has yet to retire, Mr Greville.

GREVILLE   I am to leave tomorrow.

LADY PEMBROKE   Yes.

GREVILLE   You knew?

LADY PEMBROKE   It’s a pity. You seemed such a promising young man.

GREVILLE   Could I?
She waits without softening her expression. He tries to kiss her but she draws back.

LADY PEMBROKE   Mr Greville, please.

GREVILLE   But … when …

LADY PEMBROKE   It was what was required, Mr Greville, that was all.

INT. WINDSOR. KING’S APARTMENTS. DRESSING ROOM. NIGHT.

They move into the dressing room as the King appears, announced by three new pages.

PAGES   Sharp, sharp! The King, the King!
The King takes Lady Pembroke out of earshot of the unhappy Greville.

KING   Madam, when I was ill they tell me I said certain things.

LADY PEMBROKE   I have no memory of them, sir.

KING   It is not so much what was said as what was done. So, did we, did we …?

LADY PEMBROKE   Your Majesty?

KING   Did we … did we … did we ever forget ourselves utterly, because if we did forget ourselves I would so like to remember, what, what?

LADY PEMBROKE   No, sir. Your Majesty’s behaviour throughout was impeccable.

KING   Heh, hey?

LADY PEMBROKE   Like the kindest father as well as the most generous of sovereigns.

KING   (sadly) Good, good.

INT. WINDSOR. KING’S APARTMENTS. QUEEN’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

The King enters. The Queen is sitting, waiting for him, on the end of the bed.

KING   Mrs King.

QUEEN   Mr King.

KING   You’re a good little pudding, what, what?

QUEEN   It was said, when you were ill, that if you had led a … normal life … this might not have happened.

KING   A normal life?

QUEEN   Other women, sir.

KING   Kicked over the traces, you mean. No life is without its regrets. Yet none is without its consolations. You are a good little woman, Mrs King. And we have been happy, have we not?

QUEEN   Oh, yes, Mr King.
They embrace.

KING   And shall be again.
The King makes the faintest shudder; fear shows in his eyes. He cannot tell if he is still ill or not.

EXT. ST PAUL’S. DAY.

High shot of St Paul’s, with the royal coaches arriving: flunkeys, heralds, cheering crowds, etc. The King and Queen draw up at the foot of St Paul’s steps and get out, the King turning to lift down Amelia and two other royal children. Willis, hovering, intercepts the King.