Edward VIII // Scene 5
Jun. 28th, 2013 12:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I love the dialogue in this play so much... and I wish all of you who haven't seen it could see it in action because the dry translation is just awkward and lacks the bite that the actresses brought to it. This whole scene is one big long piece of fabulousness.
Scene 5 // Westminster Abbey
Guy: Well then, let's continue our story. Today is the wedding ceremony of the youngest son of the royal family, Prince George. With this, Prince David becomes the only unmarried man. ...This wedding ceremony is known for being the first royal wedding to be broadcast live on the radio. Perhaps that's why the archbishop seemed a little nervous.
Meanwhile, David's younger brother, the fourth son, Prince George, Duke of Kent, is being married to Princess Marina of Greece.
Archbishop Lang: Everyone prays for the happiness and success of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess M-M-Marina.
The church bells ring out.
In front of the abbey, spectators peer through the gates. Among them is Wallis.
Not noticing Wallis there, her husband Ernest and her former friend Mary Raffray walk by.
Wallis: Oh!
Ernest: Wallis. What are you doing here?
Wallis: My dear... you do seem busy after all.
Mary: (Snottily) We're going to go watch the wedding parade. We have box seats, so you could come--
Ernest: Mary, why don't you go on ahead. I'll catch up with you in a minute.
Mary: ...All right, Ernest. See you.
Mary leaves.
Wallis: Was this what you meant when you said you were 'busy'?
Ernest: ... You're taking issue with this now?
Wallis moves to slap him, but Ernest grabs her wrist before she can. He pins her against the gate.
Ernest: Won't you give it a rest? You knew what was really going on, didn't you?
Wallis: You--
Ernest: No, you must have noticed. It's exactly like what happened before, after all. You insinuated yourself into my life even though you knew I had a wife and a child, didn't you? So that you could change over to me.
Wallis: Stop it, please.
Ernest: No, I won't be silent. Not until you tell me that you love me. (He kisses her neck.) ... You love me, don't you, Wallis?
Wallis is silent, and turns her face away.
Ernest: Our seats are in the Empire Theater, in the balcony. You should really come.
Wallis pulls away and Ernest leaves, laughing. David comes out of the gates and sees Wallis facing away from him.
David: ... I've found you! Why haven't you sent me a reply?
Wallis: Your Highness...
David: How many messages do you think I've sent since then-- What's wrong?
Wallis: It's nothing. (She wipes at her eyes.) Ah, why are you here?
David: It's my brother's wedding. More importantly, there's something I've been wanting to say to you.
Wallis: What could that be?
David: About the cocktail.
Wallis: Cocktail?
David: That day, the cocktail I dumped into the pot was only water. When the night's half over, I don't drink hard liquor. I wanted to correct that misconception.
Wallis: Really?
David: Because cocktails make you fat. For dinner, lately I've only had chicken and vegetables.
Wallis: ...That's true, you're getting up there in years, after all.
David: You don't miss a beat. ... Although if you're going to say that, you're getting up there in years as well, you know.
Wallis: I know. There's no need to say it.
David: Well, that's fine. ... I raised that potted plant. There's no reason for me to kill it. ... Well, what do you think?
Wallis: About what?
David: The flowers. What else could we be talking about?
Wallis: Aren't you overbearing. ... They were pretty. If they were a little drier.
David: Of course. If they were a little drier.
David's brother, the second son, Prince Albert, Duke of York, peers around the gate.
Albert: David. Come on back.
David: My brother, the Duke of York. But you'd know that?
Wallis: Of course. (She curtsies.)
David: Well, come on.
Wallis: Hm? What?
David: I still have things to say to you.
Albert: David, that's unwise...
David: Hey, it's a party. Don't go thinking strange things. She and I are pure as the driven snow.
The two little duchesses (Albert's girls) appear beside him, peering out.
Elizabeth: Uncle David, what do you mean, 'strange things'?
Margaret: Father, mother said to hurry.
David: Let's see. To put it in simple terms, your father thinks that your uncle and this lady--
Albert: David, don't go teaching them complicated things. More importantly, we need to hurry.
David (to Wallis): There's nothing for it. It's not the polite way, but to make a long story short: I'm sorry. The end.
Wallis: Hold on. What are we talking about?
David: What-? Throwing the water, of course. All right, I apologized properly.
Wallis: Then why all the messages-?
David: What else is there to say? At first, I wanted to see your eminence again...
Wallis laughs.
David: What?
Wallis: I get it. I'll come.
David: Come? Where?
Wallis: Where? You'll apologize properly, won't you?
David: I already apologized.
Wallis: With manners. I fear that a prince must always act like a gentleman....
David: This is why Americans--
Albert: David!
Duchess Elizabeth (Albert's wife): My dear.
Duchesses: Mother!
Duchess Elizabeth: Wait a moment, who is that woman?
They all enter the abbey and exit the stage. The gates disappear as the scene changes to another part of the abbey.
Prime Minister Baldwin and his followers are conferencing. Churchill enters.
Churchill: Hello, gentlemen. Working even on a day like today?
Baldwin: Churchill. You came, then?
Churchill: I watched from the very back. I'm just one of the masses now.
Baldwin: So you've been saying. You are a bomb insinuated into our conservative party.
Servants in uniform enter.
Servant: King George V and his lady wife have arrived.
George V: Baldwin. I heard you were still here.
Baldwin: I apologize. I have brought some papers which need your approval today.
George V: No matter. I'll take them.
Baldwin: Dugdale.
Dugdale: Sir.
Dugdale offers some papers in his briefcase to the king.
George V: However, this is not the place to bring talk of politics.
Baldwin: Your Majesty.
Queen Mary: Your Majesty, this is--
George V: I know. ... But, it is painful to speak of something we have avoided for so long here. ... Archbishop Lang.
Archbishop Lang: I understand. The queen and I shall go ahead into the chapel.
Queen Mary: Gentlemen.
The queen and archbishop depart.
George V: The crown prince has...
Baldwin: Yes.
George V: He has gone off with some unknown woman who does not seem to be a member of royalty or nobility.
Baldwin: Probably a colonial. Would you like us to look into it?
George V: Yes. ... But be reasonable and keep things calm. ... He certainly has the makings of a king. He's popular, he's well-known all about the world. So we cannot be impatient.
Baldwin: Your Majesty. Leave it to me.
George V: Please. I trust that there is nothing you will abandon so long as it is useful.
Baldwin: No. No matter what it may be.
George V: So. So long as it is useful. That is what it means to be king.
Baldwin: ...Your Majesty.
Lang returns, and the king exits with him.
Churchill: He looks worn out. I shall join you in worrying.
Baldwin: Churchill. This matter is not a political situation, you understand?
Churchill: Don't be absurd. It's the king's command. ... So far as proof is concerned, shall I give you one word of advice? It might be best to leave this matter in the hands of MI6.
Baldwin: The Intelligence Bureau?
Churchill: In these times. There is a possibility she is a spy.
Baldwin: Clamoring for blood to call Great Britain's watchdog? ...I see. Well, I'll follow your advice. Let's go.
Followers: Sir.
Churchill moves to exit in the other direction. However, Lockhart is there, which stops him.
Lockhart: 'Lo. ... Unusual, to hear you in conference with the prime minister.
Churchill: Your nose is as sharp as ever. I don't have any stories for your paper. I'm retired, just one of the masses now, and I'm renewing an old friendship with a former rival.
Lockhart: No one would believe that story. Moreover, if that's not true, it's a problem.
Churchill: 'A problem' is a strange way of putting it.
Lockhart: I'm anticipating. Anticipating who might change this country. They say that things are moving in this hectic world, yet on our island country nothing changes. We're simply left behind, getting old. Wouldn't you say?
Churchill: ... I wonder.
Lockhart: You've hung your hopes on someone.
Churchill: So young to be jumping to conclusions. ... So then, who is it?
Lockhart: Who?
Churchill: Your someone. You mentioned someone just now, didn't you?
Lockhart: Yes. Well... For example, Prince David.
Churchill: The crown prince...? Why?
Lockhart: Well, he's interesting, you know. Something seems to be missing in him, but he's so easy to understand.
Churchill: That's interesting?
Lockhart: Is there something?
Churchill: Nothing I would say to you, Lockhart.
Scene 5 // Westminster Abbey
Guy: Well then, let's continue our story. Today is the wedding ceremony of the youngest son of the royal family, Prince George. With this, Prince David becomes the only unmarried man. ...This wedding ceremony is known for being the first royal wedding to be broadcast live on the radio. Perhaps that's why the archbishop seemed a little nervous.
Meanwhile, David's younger brother, the fourth son, Prince George, Duke of Kent, is being married to Princess Marina of Greece.
Archbishop Lang: Everyone prays for the happiness and success of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess M-M-Marina.
The church bells ring out.
In front of the abbey, spectators peer through the gates. Among them is Wallis.
Not noticing Wallis there, her husband Ernest and her former friend Mary Raffray walk by.
Wallis: Oh!
Ernest: Wallis. What are you doing here?
Wallis: My dear... you do seem busy after all.
Mary: (Snottily) We're going to go watch the wedding parade. We have box seats, so you could come--
Ernest: Mary, why don't you go on ahead. I'll catch up with you in a minute.
Mary: ...All right, Ernest. See you.
Mary leaves.
Wallis: Was this what you meant when you said you were 'busy'?
Ernest: ... You're taking issue with this now?
Wallis moves to slap him, but Ernest grabs her wrist before she can. He pins her against the gate.
Ernest: Won't you give it a rest? You knew what was really going on, didn't you?
Wallis: You--
Ernest: No, you must have noticed. It's exactly like what happened before, after all. You insinuated yourself into my life even though you knew I had a wife and a child, didn't you? So that you could change over to me.
Wallis: Stop it, please.
Ernest: No, I won't be silent. Not until you tell me that you love me. (He kisses her neck.) ... You love me, don't you, Wallis?
Wallis is silent, and turns her face away.
Ernest: Our seats are in the Empire Theater, in the balcony. You should really come.
Wallis pulls away and Ernest leaves, laughing. David comes out of the gates and sees Wallis facing away from him.
David: ... I've found you! Why haven't you sent me a reply?
Wallis: Your Highness...
David: How many messages do you think I've sent since then-- What's wrong?
Wallis: It's nothing. (She wipes at her eyes.) Ah, why are you here?
David: It's my brother's wedding. More importantly, there's something I've been wanting to say to you.
Wallis: What could that be?
David: About the cocktail.
Wallis: Cocktail?
David: That day, the cocktail I dumped into the pot was only water. When the night's half over, I don't drink hard liquor. I wanted to correct that misconception.
Wallis: Really?
David: Because cocktails make you fat. For dinner, lately I've only had chicken and vegetables.
Wallis: ...That's true, you're getting up there in years, after all.
David: You don't miss a beat. ... Although if you're going to say that, you're getting up there in years as well, you know.
Wallis: I know. There's no need to say it.
David: Well, that's fine. ... I raised that potted plant. There's no reason for me to kill it. ... Well, what do you think?
Wallis: About what?
David: The flowers. What else could we be talking about?
Wallis: Aren't you overbearing. ... They were pretty. If they were a little drier.
David: Of course. If they were a little drier.
David's brother, the second son, Prince Albert, Duke of York, peers around the gate.
Albert: David. Come on back.
David: My brother, the Duke of York. But you'd know that?
Wallis: Of course. (She curtsies.)
David: Well, come on.
Wallis: Hm? What?
David: I still have things to say to you.
Albert: David, that's unwise...
David: Hey, it's a party. Don't go thinking strange things. She and I are pure as the driven snow.
The two little duchesses (Albert's girls) appear beside him, peering out.
Elizabeth: Uncle David, what do you mean, 'strange things'?
Margaret: Father, mother said to hurry.
David: Let's see. To put it in simple terms, your father thinks that your uncle and this lady--
Albert: David, don't go teaching them complicated things. More importantly, we need to hurry.
David (to Wallis): There's nothing for it. It's not the polite way, but to make a long story short: I'm sorry. The end.
Wallis: Hold on. What are we talking about?
David: What-? Throwing the water, of course. All right, I apologized properly.
Wallis: Then why all the messages-?
David: What else is there to say? At first, I wanted to see your eminence again...
Wallis laughs.
David: What?
Wallis: I get it. I'll come.
David: Come? Where?
Wallis: Where? You'll apologize properly, won't you?
David: I already apologized.
Wallis: With manners. I fear that a prince must always act like a gentleman....
David: This is why Americans--
Albert: David!
Duchess Elizabeth (Albert's wife): My dear.
Duchesses: Mother!
Duchess Elizabeth: Wait a moment, who is that woman?
They all enter the abbey and exit the stage. The gates disappear as the scene changes to another part of the abbey.
Prime Minister Baldwin and his followers are conferencing. Churchill enters.
Churchill: Hello, gentlemen. Working even on a day like today?
Baldwin: Churchill. You came, then?
Churchill: I watched from the very back. I'm just one of the masses now.
Baldwin: So you've been saying. You are a bomb insinuated into our conservative party.
Servants in uniform enter.
Servant: King George V and his lady wife have arrived.
George V: Baldwin. I heard you were still here.
Baldwin: I apologize. I have brought some papers which need your approval today.
George V: No matter. I'll take them.
Baldwin: Dugdale.
Dugdale: Sir.
Dugdale offers some papers in his briefcase to the king.
George V: However, this is not the place to bring talk of politics.
Baldwin: Your Majesty.
Queen Mary: Your Majesty, this is--
George V: I know. ... But, it is painful to speak of something we have avoided for so long here. ... Archbishop Lang.
Archbishop Lang: I understand. The queen and I shall go ahead into the chapel.
Queen Mary: Gentlemen.
The queen and archbishop depart.
George V: The crown prince has...
Baldwin: Yes.
George V: He has gone off with some unknown woman who does not seem to be a member of royalty or nobility.
Baldwin: Probably a colonial. Would you like us to look into it?
George V: Yes. ... But be reasonable and keep things calm. ... He certainly has the makings of a king. He's popular, he's well-known all about the world. So we cannot be impatient.
Baldwin: Your Majesty. Leave it to me.
George V: Please. I trust that there is nothing you will abandon so long as it is useful.
Baldwin: No. No matter what it may be.
George V: So. So long as it is useful. That is what it means to be king.
Baldwin: ...Your Majesty.
Lang returns, and the king exits with him.
Churchill: He looks worn out. I shall join you in worrying.
Baldwin: Churchill. This matter is not a political situation, you understand?
Churchill: Don't be absurd. It's the king's command. ... So far as proof is concerned, shall I give you one word of advice? It might be best to leave this matter in the hands of MI6.
Baldwin: The Intelligence Bureau?
Churchill: In these times. There is a possibility she is a spy.
Baldwin: Clamoring for blood to call Great Britain's watchdog? ...I see. Well, I'll follow your advice. Let's go.
Followers: Sir.
Churchill moves to exit in the other direction. However, Lockhart is there, which stops him.
Lockhart: 'Lo. ... Unusual, to hear you in conference with the prime minister.
Churchill: Your nose is as sharp as ever. I don't have any stories for your paper. I'm retired, just one of the masses now, and I'm renewing an old friendship with a former rival.
Lockhart: No one would believe that story. Moreover, if that's not true, it's a problem.
Churchill: 'A problem' is a strange way of putting it.
Lockhart: I'm anticipating. Anticipating who might change this country. They say that things are moving in this hectic world, yet on our island country nothing changes. We're simply left behind, getting old. Wouldn't you say?
Churchill: ... I wonder.
Lockhart: You've hung your hopes on someone.
Churchill: So young to be jumping to conclusions. ... So then, who is it?
Lockhart: Who?
Churchill: Your someone. You mentioned someone just now, didn't you?
Lockhart: Yes. Well... For example, Prince David.
Churchill: The crown prince...? Why?
Lockhart: Well, he's interesting, you know. Something seems to be missing in him, but he's so easy to understand.
Churchill: That's interesting?
Lockhart: Is there something?
Churchill: Nothing I would say to you, Lockhart.