Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978): Season 1, Episode 3 - The New King - full transcript

[ "God Save the King" plays ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

♫ I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫

♫ Who's danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫

♫ "It was simply grand,"
he said ♫

♫ "Topping band" ♫

♫ And she said,
"Delightful, sir" ♫

♫ Glory, glory, alleluia ♫

♫ I'm the luckiest of females ♫

♫ For I've danced with a man
who's danced with a girl ♫

♫ Who danced
with the Prince of Wales ♫



[ "God Save the King" plays ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

When my father stood here
26 years ago,

he declared that one
of the objects of his life

would be to uphold
constitutional government.

In this, I am determined to
follow in my father's footsteps

and to work as he did
throughout his life

for the happiness and welfare
of all classes of my subjects.

I place my reliance
upon the loyalty and affection

of my peoples
throughout the empire

and upon the wisdom
of their parliaments

to support me
in this heavy task.

And I pray God will guide me
to perform it.

I've asked you to come because
I want you to know at once



that all this will make
no difference to us.

What's going to happen now,
David?

Well, first we must begin
to think about Ernest.

We can talk about Ernest
and other things

when you're not under
such a great strain.

We must bring my father
from Sandringham to London.

He'll lie in state
in Westminster Hall

and be taken to Windsor
for burial.

And then surely there'll be
happier work, your coronation.

Yes. Will have to be
a decent interval.

A lot of people all over
the world have to be consulted.

But you are the king
and the emperor.

Yes, sworn.

But not yet crowned
and anointed.

What does that mean?

That the king's Defender
of the Faith.

For me to go through
with the coronation ceremony

with our future unsettled
would be impossible.

I wonder.

Times have changed.

But crowned or uncrowned,

I shall need all the help
that I can get.

Will you marry me, Wallis?

Will you stand with me and by me
in all that is to come?

They'll make great difficulties
for us, David, I think,

before they'll allow it.

Difficulties and worse.

Please God that we may find
a way through them.

[ Bell tolling ]

I hear there is to be a painting
made of it --

"The Vigil of the Princes."

That was very touching of you,
David.

And now what?

Well, I've chosen
the members of my household.

Ulick Alexander will be
the keeper of the privy purse.

Godfrey Thomas will be

one of the assistant
private secretaries.

Tommy Lascelles will be another.

Good choices.

Very good choices, ma'am.

And what are your other plans?

What do you intend to do next?

Well, a great deal, Mama.

There's a new feeling
in the air,

and the monarchy should be made
to march with it.

As long as the monarch remains
at the head of the column

and mounted.

Well, that's just it, Alec.

I think the king should take
the occasional turn on foot,

doors and windows thrown open.

As king, I mean to go among
my people as I have before.

Well, I must get going.

I have a meeting
about the depressed areas.

Thank you, Alec.

A good beginning.

Oh, yes, ma'am.

If only he can keep it up.

Why should he not?

With you as his
private secretary beside him.

If you serve him as you served
his father, all will be well.

[ Whistling ]

[ Knock on door ]

Come in!

Good afternoon, Mrs. Dalby.

Do you have the guest rooms
ready?

They are, Your Majesty.

I want to ask you --
What happens to soap

in the guest bedrooms
after they've gone?

It is taken
to the servants' quarters

and finished up there,
Your Majesty.

Well, from now on,
soap left over by my guests

will be taken to my rooms
and I'll finish it myself.

If Your Majesty wishes.

Now, Mrs. Dalby,

I wonder if you'd very kindly
take this package

to Mrs. Simpson's room.

I want it to be there for her
when she arrives as a surprise.

I hope you brought
your gardening clothes, Ernest.

I gather there's a full day
planned.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Thank you, David.

It's just beautiful.

Oh!
The clasp is undone.

-Can I fix it?
-No, no, no. I can do --

Oh.

Never mind.
It doesn't matter.

Yes, it certainly does.

Oh, bless him.

Wallis, dear,
our bedroom is a delight.

A rhapsody in pink.
Even the soap.

And the champagne.

Lucky thing you're not wearing
a pale pink evening dress.

You'd disappear
into the woodwork.

[ Laughs ]

Oh.
The royal banjo.

Yes.
He told me he'd been practicing.

Well, now we can just cakewalk
to our rooms.

Yes. It makes a change
from being piped to bed.

By the way,
where are the royal bagpipes?

Diana, please.
Don't encourage him.

[ Laughs ]

Here we are.

[ Laughs ]

Ah.
Thank you, sir.

You've done it just beautifully.

Thank you.

And now you shall give us all
a tune.

-Oh, yes, please.
-Yes indeed.

Well, anything
to make a party go.

[ Playing up-tempo music ]

[ Music continues ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Music continues ]

WALLIS:
Good show.

We're taking a picture
of the action.

I don't know
if this will catch it.

Is he all right up there?

I think so.

This will make him
all the more proud.

[ Up-tempo music playing ]

[ Indistinct conversations,
laughter ]

No.
Let me show you how.

You just --
It's...

♫ Ba-bum, ba-bum ♫

[ Indistinct conversations ]

-Ah!
-Excuse me, Your Majesty.

Lord Cunard has telephoned.

He would like to know
if it's true

that the Ascot Enclosure
is coming to an end.

Do you know anything about this,
Your Majesty?

Will you inform His Lordship

that I shall make contact
with him later?

-I call that tops.
-[ Laughter ]

I really can't have messages
of that kind.

One wonders what King George V
would think.

Well, I think that calls for
a drink, don't you?

Come on.
I'm going to fix it.

Now, Wallis,
what will you have to drink?

Whiskey?

-Yes, sir. Thank you.
-Good.

Diana, what can I give you?

Ordinary white wine,
if that's all right, sir.

But a glass of Vichy first.

Yes.
Of course.

Come on, everybody.
Let me fix you a drink.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Music continues ]

Cocktail-glass stains
on the dispatches.

When they came back
from the fort.

You mean he's drinking
too heavily down there?

Well, I mean, ma'am,
that he has been careless.

He should not be careless
with dispatches.

Well, exactly so, ma'am.

It's something to do with
the fort --

the atmosphere there, the...
the people whom he invites.

Under their influence,

he is beginning to neglect
affairs of state

or to deal with them
at irregular or abnormal hours,

to the great inconvenience
of his staff and his servants.

Have you suggested any changes?

It would be very impertinent in
me -- in anyone -- to do that.

The fort is his country home.

He goes there to relax.

And, of course, he must invite
whomsoever he wishes.

The trouble is, ma'am,

that he invites
whoever Mrs. Simpson wishes.

Mrs. Simpson.

[ Sighs ]

And who does she wish?

Those who share
her own adventurous disposition.

By that you mean
she is an adventuress?

Not exactly, ma'am.

The lady is as respectable
as any divorcée could be.

Yes.

Divorced.

To be fair, she was deserted.

The innocent party.

No party to a divorce
can be innocent.

Is she dangerous?

She has remarried --
quite happily, they say.

No. I-I don't believe her
to be dangerous, ma'am.

Just...

...unsatisfactory.

[ Chuckles ]

Yes.
That's a splendid plan, Wallis.

I'm coming right over.

[ Humming ]

Ernest?

May I be plain, sir?

Truth between friends, Ernest.

Then the truth is it's high time
that Wallis chose between us.

I'm sure that Wallis
can take care of herself.

So she's often told me.

But she must also choose
for herself.

Now, I do not think
that she will choose me.

Oh, she's fond of me,

but I think she will choose
the most attractive way.

Wallis has the ability to make
a man unhappy one minute

and then overwhelm him
with affection the next.

Aren't you being rather unfair?

Truth between friends, sir.

I speak as I find.

Now, may I ask -- What do you
intend to do about this?

Or indeed what can you do?

Ernest, do you really think

that I would be crowned
without Wallis by my side?

I hope the completion
of the Queen Mary

is all they say it is.

[ Chuckles ]

Note everything about it, David,
and tell me when you return.

Of course, Mama.

I remember the launching
ceremony so well.

Your father made
a heartfelt speech

to all those thousands whose
livelihoods depended on it.

He saw the ship as an ambassador

that would bring friendship
to all the nations.

And so it will, Mama.

I remember it rained
the whole time we were there.

And now you are going
on your own.

Well, rain or no, it will be
a most pleasurable duty.

You will make me proud
and happy.

Thank you, David.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Mr. and Mrs. Quinn, sir.

Mr. Quinn?

Who is it?

I'm the king.
May I come in?

They said you'd come
to see the Queen Mary.

That's right, Mrs. Quinn.

To see for myself
how living conditions are

for the people of this city.

MR. QUINN:
Would you like to come in, sir?

Thank you.

Hello.

Is this the only room you have

for your whole family,
Mrs. Quinn?

Oh, no.
It's a room and kitchen.

The room's been there.

How old is the baby?

Nearly two months.

Boy or a girl?

Another boy.

He's a fine child, isn't he?

Ah, yes.

He's a wee bit of a rascal
sometimes.

-He's a bit of a handful, is he?
-Aye.

What is your work, Mr. Quinn?

Oh, I was a riveter
in the shipyard, sir,

till I had my accident.

I lost my sight.

And you're not employed now?

Oh, I've not worked
for five years, sir.

Five years. My goodness.
That's a long time.

Well, times are very bad, but we
shall all do our very best

to try and improve things
for this neighborhood,

see if we can't get
some better conditions

for people living here.

And I not only want you to know

that I'm deeply concerned
with the problems of my people,

but if I visit some of you,

it gives me a better idea
of how we can try and help.

Well, alas, I can't stay,
as I have many visits to make.

But it's been so nice
meeting you, Mrs. Quinn.

Thank you for allowing me
to come to your home.

Thank you, sir.

Seeing the courage with which
you're all facing the situation.

Yeah.
[ Chuckles ]

Goodbye, Mr. Quinn.

Thank you for letting me come
and talk to you.

Thank you, sir.

Goodbye.

MRS. QUINN:
Cheerio.

Make a note of this chap's name,
would you?

And, Alec, would you remind me

to write to the mission
for the outdoor blind?

I'll make inquiries
in this case, sir.

Right, sir.

The boxes, sir.

Oh, yes.
Well, what about them?

Shall I take them with me
back to London, sir?

Um, no.

I haven't read
the dispatches yet.

If you like, sir, I'll stay here
until you have read them.

I don't want you to feel
that you have to wait.

No.
I should be delighted to stay.

I have some guests waiting,
Alec,

and I must go
and entertain them.

Then, uh, let me take the boxes
with me, sir --

or at least lock them up.

Don't you trust my friends,
Alec?

It is necessary to retain

an absolutely secure
habit of mind, sir.

Is what you really mean
that you trust nobody?

No.

What I really mean, sir, is that
no man and certainly no king

can ever be too prudent
or too discreet.

The king condescended
to speak with me the other day.

And very earnest he was.

Oh?
What did he say?

I think you know.

More or less, I daresay.

Well, where do you stand
in all this?

I'm not sure.

Where should I be?

Do you know what you want?

Very clearly.

And what do you want?

A divorce.

Immediately?

I see no reason to wait.

We both know the situation.

After all, you haven't exactly
been faithful to me.

The marriage is dead.

Why not bury it?

Very well.

You're very understanding,
Ernest.

Simply practical, Wallis.

By trying to coerce Mussolini,
in which we've failed,

we've only driven him the closer
to Hitler.

Any other policy
would have landed us in trouble

with the League of Nations.

I think it's more important
to secure friends

than to curry favor with
a tottering League of Nations.

You'd approve, sir, of securing
Mussolini as our friend?

Yes. Why not?
The more friends the better.

In my view sir,
we shall have friends enough

if we stand up against bullies
for what we know to be right.

It would be
a very popular gesture

if you were to receive Haile
Selassie when he's in London.

Popular with whom?

Certainly not with the Italians.

Can we continue this interesting
discussion another day?

Now I have an appointment.

Your Majesty.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

I was with Anthony Eden.

You should have brought him
with you.

I would have liked
to have met him.

Yes.

Sooner or later, he and the rest
must meet my future wife.

Has Ernest spoken to you?

He's spoken very plainly to me.

Ernest has spoken to me.

At last and at length.

What it comes down to is this --

I can bring divorce proceedings
against him.

Apart from anything else,
Ernest has found someone else.

I say.
Has he?

That someone else happens to be
an old friend of mine.

Wallis, you wouldn't grudge him
a little comfort, would you?

Good for Ernest, I'd say.

Certainly good for us.

Yes.

It calls for a mild celebration.

David, can you take me to
the races at Plumpton tomorrow?

They say it's a very pretty
little course.

Plumpton?
Well, I don't usually go there.

Actually, I'm rather busy
tomorrow, Wallis.

-Oh.
-I've got some papers to do.

But you have
no actual engagements.

Not really.

Then please, David,
take me to Plumpton tomorrow.

Oxford
and Cambridge Universities,

the Corporation
of the City of London,

the clergy of the Province
of Canterbury,

the Royal Academy of Arts.

And the Governor and the Company
of the Bank of England.

Yes.

Now, these are all what are
known as privileged bodies, sir,

and it's customary for the king
to receive a deputation

from each of them,
to receive its address,

and then to reply.

And how many of them are there
altogether?

Twenty, sir.

Must I receive each deputation
separately?

Sir.

Well, the thing's the most
colossal waste of time.

These bodies are eminent, sir,

as are the men who will wait on
you as their representatives.

Eminent?

So many men
from so many deputations?

Godfrey.

Important, at least.

Mm.
Self-important, you mean.

In any case sir, established --

as is the custom that the king
should receive them.

Very well, Alec.

Of course I shall receive them,
all together.

Then I can address one reply
to them all.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Thunder rumbling ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

[ Screams, laughs ]

[ Music continues ]

Big smile.

-[ Laughing ]
-DIANA: Have you got a match?

[ Music continues ]

[ Vehicle approaching ]

You mustn't worry, Wallis.

Walter Monckton was my friend
at Oxford.

He's now an eminent man of
the law, and he will advise us.

You mean he can act for me?

He can't do that.
He's a barrister.

But he will be
a most discreet messenger.

'Round and 'round we go.

Well, you did ask me to handle

this side of things for you,
Wallis.

Of course, David.

I'll do whatever you say.

EDWARD: The long and short
is this, Walt --

Wallis wishes to divorce
her husband.

But since her name is to some
extent associated with mine,

the proceedings may cause talk.

Yes indeed.

But even so, it'd be
quite wrong of me to interfere

or try to influence her
in any way.

What would you advise?

Mrs. Simpson, if,
as I understand it,

Mr. Simpson doesn't
impose himself as an obstacle,

why do you wish to divorce him
at this particular juncture?

I wish to be free of a marriage
that's no longer a happy one.

Why not simply go your own ways,
without the labor and expense

and possible scandal
of a divorce?

Because I may meet someone else
I wish to marry.

May I ask --

I'm sorry if I seem hectoring,
Mrs. Simpson -- truly sorry.

But there are certain things
I have to know.

May I ask whether you have
anyone specific in mind?

No.

Since your name is associated
with the king's,

don't you think that in the
best interests of all concerned,

you would be wiser to stay away
from the divorce courts?

Wallis must consult
her own best interests, Walt.

She must not allow the fact
that she's my friend

to dictate her behavior.

May I take it

that you'll put her in touch
with a reliable solicitor?

If you wish it, sir, I shall see
what can be arranged.

She wishes it, Walter.

I wish it.

Uh, if Mrs. Simpson
could stay behind for a while,

there are one or two
more matters we must discuss.

If you would, Wallis.
I think it's necessary.

Yes, sir.
Good afternoon.

Do please sit down.

Thank you, Walter.
So good of you.

-MONCKTON: Thank you, sir.
-EDWARD: Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, sir.

Mrs. Simpson, I am an old friend
of the king's,

and therefore, I would wish to
be your friend, too.

But you must bear with me,
if you will,

until certain matters have been
made absolutely clear to me.

I understand, Mr. Monckton.

Very well, then.

I think I know
of a reputable firm

which will take on your case.

But...on one point
I must be very plain.

Now, you have stated that you
have no one specific in mind

after your divorce.

You stand by that?

After all, Mr. Monckton,
I'm not getting any younger.

Should the right man
suddenly appear,

I would wish to be free
to marry him without delay.

And so it is my duty
to ask you --

Does the right man ever appear
in your dreams

carrying a scepter
and wearing a crown?

It's ridiculous

to imagine I have any idea
of marrying the king.

Ridiculous, yes.

But the question
had to be asked.

You see.

Yes.
On the whole, I do see.

And now a detail or two
if you please.

So there it is, Winston.

I've asked Toby Matthews
to take her on.

But I doubt he will.

So you want my advice.

Well, yes.

You're not in the government
or court circles.

You're in a position
of being objective.

Life is a tease, Walter.

Joy is the shadow of sorrow
and sorrow the shadow of joy.

And I share your concern
about a divorce.

I spend my time, Walter,
defending the king.

I won't even sit down to dinner
where he is criticized.

But if this were to happen,

I should have
a very much harder task of it.

Well, she says it's ridiculous
to imagine that she's suing

with any idea of marrying
the king.

I daresay she does,
and I daresay she means it.

But if Mrs. Simpson divorces
Simpson, we lose a safeguard.

Once that occurs,
there will be rumors, Walter.

Far better that she stay
safely married.

Well, I'll tell the king
your opinion.

Tell him this also --

that he must not flaunt
this friendship.

So far it is not widely known,

not too conspicuous
for what it is.

But I hear that he thinks
of taking her to Balmoral

this autumn.

It would be foolish to take her
to such a highly official place.

The eyes of Scotland
are upon him.

And it is sacred to the memory
of Queen Victoria

and John Brown.

He needs to have her near him.

Well, let her stay
with somebody else nearby.

Good gracious, Walter.

Kings have had
close friends before

without living in their pockets.

For Winston saying I should hide
my friendship --

I'm not ashamed of it,

and I don't propose
to be deceitful about it.

Discretion, sir,
doesn't amount to deceit.

No, nor does it amount
to candor!

Candor doesn't require

that one should make private
relationships public property.

No.

Well, let's leave all that aside
for the moment, Walter.

Now, you undertook to find
a solicitor for Wallis.

Don't you worry, sir.
I shall find someone.

Good.

The Nahlin?
What is that?

It's a yacht, ma'am,
hired from Lady Yule.

He's hired it for a cruise.

A cruise?

In the first months
of his reign?

What can he be thinking of?

There's something going on,
ma'am.

I'm not quite sure what exactly.

But there is a new element
to the affair.

Not boredom,
by any happy chance?

Well, perhaps,
but, uh, not with Mrs. Simpson.

He wants a change,
but not a change of companion.

A change of what, then?

Well, he's very restless.

He wanted to go to the south
of France for a holiday,

but the ambassador objected
that what with the strikes there

and the civil war in Spain,
the area did seem...unsuitable.

And so he's decided on a cruise.

And she goes with him.

Mrs. Simpson goes with him.

Why can't she leave my son
alone?

His duty and his task
are all that matters.

He began so well.

He could go on so well.

If only she would leave him
alone.

I thought you should know
before you leave on the Nahlin

that I've found someone
to take on your business.

Hardly a labor of Hercules,
surely.

Well, there have been
difficulties.

Verbum satis est sapienti.

"A word is enough
for a wise man."

Or a woman.

Are you trying to tell me
that I'm untouchable

by the legal profession?

No, no, no.
But very, very hot to the touch.

Then I hope you've found me
a very, very cool man.

[ Chuckles ]

Theodore Goddard.

Mm.

But I gather that the
London courts are rather full

this next 12 months.

If it's a question of money --

Everything that can properly
be done, Mrs. Simpson,

will be done
by Theodore Goddard.

You should consult him
when the holiday season is over.

But that's weeks away.

Divorce is a cumbrous matter
in this country, Mrs. Simpson.

Very silly and old-fashioned.

Is it not?

I'm told that Your Majesty has
chartered a yacht for a cruise.

Yes.

With your permission, Anthony,

I'd like to sail
down the Dalmatian coast

and on to Constantinople.

I propose to visit King George

in his summer residence
at Corfu.

Excellent, sir.

Also Kemal Atatürk
in Constantinople.

It might be tactful to call it
Istanbul in his hearing.

An interesting man.

To be treated with wariness.

Yes.

Now, what's this request
of yours?

-You plan to board at Venice.
-Yes.

This would mean traveling
through Italy.

Ah!

Mussolini's Italy.

Quite so.
Please think better of it, sir.

You'll offend a lot of people
if you go there.

Oh, will I?

-Your loyal subjects, sir...
-Yes, yes, yes.

...are proud of you.

Well, then where do you suggest
I board the Nahlin, then?

If you travel
through Switzerland and Austria,

you could board in Yugoslavia.

Very well, Anthony.

Yugoslavia.

You were frightfully popular,
Diana.

Not nearly as popular as you,
sir.

One old lady, dressed to the
hilt in her national geegaws

pressed this bunch of flowers
on me.

I was just in the middle
of thanking her for it

when she made it perfectly clear
that they weren't for me at all,

but for me to pass on to you.

So belatedly, here you are, sir.

How sweet of you, Diana.

Wasn't it a success?

Such exuberance.

All that enormous crowd turning
out to wish you well, sir.

Yes, to wish us well.

Oh, and that lovely phrase
they kept repeating --

Zivela ljubav.

-Zivela ljubav.
-And that means?

-Vive l'amour.
-Vive l'amour.

All those simple people --

I mean, peasants, most of
them -- wishing us happiness.

Isn't it extraordinary?

Yes, isn't it?

They were so enthusiastic,
I thought at one point

we were all going to get pushed
into the sea.

[ Laughter ]

Now, then, shall we all meet
for a sundowner later on?

-DUFF: A splendid idea.
-DIANA: Lovely.

About an hour,
and I'll shake up the cocktails.

JACK: Everywhere we go,
the crowds get bigger.

You must admit,
it's all rather moving --

whatever it is
they're applauding.

It's quite obvious
that all those people

are as much interested in Wallis
as they are the king.

Yes.
You're quite right, Jack.

Everybody over here seems to
know exactly who she is.

Thanks.

Mention the name in England
and people would ask you

whether you meant the restaurant
or the shop.

[ Laughs ]

What is lovely is that he's
so utterly himself

and un-self-conscious.

He doesn't act.

Well, that's what allows him
to do what he enjoys doing

so superbly well.

Did you notice
in the middle of the procession,

he stopped for a good
two minutes to tie his shoelace?

Which left me staring
at the royal behind.

DUFF:
[ Laughs ]

Those, um,
those American journalists,

they were busy today --
those photographer chaps.

How long, I wonder,

before the British photographers
follow suit?

Oh, happily, the king has
true friends in Fleet Street.

Yes.
He may need them.

All the world loves a lover,
unfortunately.

Especially the photographers.

My real concern is that American
newspapers and magazines

do appear in England.

Do you fear the repercussions
for him, Jack?

Yes, Diana.

The king seems oblivious

of the extraordinarily
public recognition

of that relationship.

Because, Jack,
he's much too happy.

And the newspapers?

They are being
exceedingly discreet, ma'am.

The British ones, yes.

Have you seen this?

American, of course.

The, uh, The New York Woman.

Page 53.

"As an interesting instance
of royal privilege, be it noted

that if Ernest Simpson
should wish to divorce his wife,

the king cannot be sued
for adultery in England."

Thanks.

It's to stop me getting burnt,
sir.

No.

[ Laughter ]

It doesn't quite have
the same flair, Jack.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

I say.
Watch the birdie.

[ Camera humming ]

[ Indistinct conversations,
laughter ]

Good one, David.

But only 10 minutes more

and then you have to put in
an hour on your dispatches.

Right you are --
10 minutes more.

Bit of a slice on that one.

These are running rather short.

I'll have to put in somewhere
and pick up a fresh supply.

I had no idea that the roads
on Corfu were still so rough.

Do you mean to say that we were
an hour late for dinner?

Never mind, sir.

The Greeks don't set much store
by punctuality.

Still, when you're dining
with their king and his lady...

The lady seemed very interested
in you, sir.

And vice versa.

Well, she's English,
so naturally I was interested.

-Naturally.
-DUFF: [ Laughs ]

The king, I thought,
seemed rather taken with you.

Without having my excuse.

What a darling little chair
you are.

And vice versa.

Whatever the Greek king
may have been with me, sir,

I was not taken with him.

The chair, sir, is on my dress.

I see.

[ Sighs ]

My dress is ruined.

No mind.
Pick up 20 more in Athens.

I'd rather be seen dead in rags
than in a dress made in Athens.

EDWARD: That's not
a very jolly thing to say

when you've been dining
with their king.

By the way,
is he King George of Greece

or King George of the Greeks?

Uh, King George of the Greeks.

But really correct
is King George of the Hellenes.

Diana, you're so clever.
I knew you'd know.

Well, I didn't think much
of his dinner or of his palace.

Mon Repos isn't supposed to be
a palace, just a seaside villa.

How middle-class.

DUFF:
Perhaps he uses the villa

to make Mrs. Jones feel
more at home.

They say this affair goes
very deep with him.

Is he in love with her?

Mm.
On le dit.

Well, then why doesn't he
marry her?

Well, because the king
of the Greeks --

or rather the king
of the Hellenes --

can't marry a woman
who's a commoner

and married to another man.

What it were daylight.

There was an important naval
battle along this coastline

in classical times.

Two, in fact.

Thank you, Duff.

[ Laughs ]

Never mind, Humphrey.

Tomorrow morning
we pass Ithaca --

rugged Ithaca,
where Ulysses was king.

That's real romance,
if you like.

If you go ashore,

they'll show you the cave
where he put his treasure.

That sounds like
a very jolly outing, darling.

If it fits in with your plans,
sir.

Yes. Well, if we anchor
at Ithaca at 7 a.m.

What are the plans for tomorrow,
sir, so far?

Sir?

What are the plans for tomorrow?

Wallis?

What are the plans for tomorrow?

We'll be in Athens in an hour.

Thank God we're leaving them
here.

I don't think I've ever known
such relentless sulking

from anyone
as in these past few days.

His mood has disheartened
everyone.

You know, I made a great effort
at lunch today

to try and jolly him along.

You were very amusing, darling.

I get very tired of playing
the court jester, Duff.

It's definitely not my role.

Well, at least you made
the effort.

Well, nothing I said seemed to
shake him out of his melancholy.

He's been thinking, hasn't he?

You know, I think
it was that remark of Godfrey's

that must have set him off.

I think you're right.

Until then, he's been applauded
everywhere.

Yes. That day in Dubrovnik
was extraordinary.

Yes, and all along the line.

Prince Charming
with his Cinderella.

But Godfrey made him realize,

pace the plaudits
of that pleasant chorus,

he's not in a pantomime.

No fairy godmother to wave her
magic wand over this romance.

Perhaps he thinks he can do
without one.

He was always willful
and wishful.

It's a perilous combination.

But surely he must realize.

Unless infatuation's robbed him
entirely of his wits.

He can't have it both ways.

Either he must sacrifice Wallis
or he must sacrifice the throne.

Oh, Duff.

The, uh, most interesting chap
I met was Kemal Atatürk.

A dangerous man.

He's certainly modernized
his country.

Yes.
By revolution.

Well, no one makes an omelet,
Mama, without breaking eggs.

So I'm always being told.

That is the most vulgar
and dishonest cliché of our day.

But true.

No.

Only clever --
until it became so common.

People are not eggs, David.

No.

But people get broken,
in any case.

Fewer, I think, under Atatürk
than under the sultans.

Has anyone counted?

Well, I must be going to bed.

Mama, I thought
that you'd like to know

that I-I'm going to spend
the last two weeks of the month

at Balmoral.

Good.

Good.

A breath of fresh air
may help to clear your head.

So we're settled about that,
then, sir.

When you return from Balmoral,
you will go

straight to the king's
residence -- Buckingham Palace.

Yes.
I suppose I must sometime.

When you return from Scotland.

Here is the guest list
for Balmoral, sir.

I don't see
Mrs. Simpson's name here.

I'm sorry, sir.

I understood that for Balmoral

you'd be using
your father's old list.

So I shall -- with additions.

Duke and Duchess of Marlborough,
yes.

Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch,
yes.

The Mountbattens, of course.

The Earl and Countess
of Rosebery, yes.

And...Mrs. Ernest Simpson.

Well, I'm glad he's corning
to live here at last.

I've never approved of him
skulking in York House.

Of course, I shall have to
pack up my traps and be off.

The last thing
His Majesty wishes

is to inconvenience you, ma'am.

You should take
all the time you need

over your move
to Marlborough House.

Hm.
That's very civil of him.

But he was always civil --
too civil in many cases.

What does he mean
by asking her to Balmoral?

And we shall need to find a car
for Mrs. Simpson

to fetch her
from Ballater station.

Haven't you heard?

He's going there
to meet her himself.

When did you hear that?

This morning.

It's absolutely impossible.

If he refused
to open the hospital in Aberdeen

and sent the Duke of York
in his place,

he can hardly be seen at
Ballater meeting Mrs. Simpson.

It is quite bad enough.

His excuse is he's still
in mourning.

The whole world knows
he's not still in mourning.

He was seen at Ascot
earlier in the summer.

And as for his recent holiday,

it didn't exactly smack
of mourning.

And if he's in mourning, Alec,
so is the Duke of York.

Exactly.

I'd better speak with him.

Why couldn't he just tell me?

[ Whistle blows ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Good evening, Elizabeth.

How well you look.

Thank you, David.
And so do you.

Hello, Bertie.

Wallis Simpson, of course,
you know.

Good evening, sir.

Good evening.

How very nice to see you, ma'am.

M-May I have a word, David?

Then if you'll excuse me, sir,
I'll join the others.

Did you know you were seen
meeting her at Ballater?

The people were frightfully
hurt.

My private life, Bertie.

Private life, I suppose,

is very much the privilege
of a private man.

Walter, how far has Goddard got

with his preparations
for Wallis' divorce?

He's done the groundwork, sir.

He has full instructions ready
for her.

He hopes...hopes it keep it all

as far as possible
out of the public eye.

Well, so long as he allows
no delays on my account.

Delays or not, sir,
there will be talk, talk of...

My friendship with Wallis.

People must take me as I am,
Walter.

A man different from my father
and determined to be myself.

Of course I shall be available
for public business

and public occasion,

but my private life
must be my own.

In your case, sir, private and
public are liable to overlap.

I can lead my private life

in the same way that I did when
I was the Prince of Wales --

unobserved and at the fort.

And when you come up
to the palace?

I hate the palace, Walter.

Yet the king must come
to his palace.

So he will.

If they'll only leave me
in peace when I'm at the fort.

Well, they may do so, sir,

if the king promises
to bring nothing with him

away from the fort.

How can he not bring his heart?