The Audience Read Online Free PDF Page A

you felt you needed to add?
     
    Wilson There was. If my manner earlier was a little abrupt, forgive me. I just want to impress upon Her Majesty the gravity of the situation. For too long now the assumption has prevailed that the Empire still exists, and all will be well – because it always has been in the past. It’s not true. There’s a revolution taking place out there, and the old ruling class is sleepwalking right through it, looking backwards when everyone else is looking forward. The fact
is
there is no ruling class any more. Just one nation. That can be just as great, but will never be the same.
     
The Queen gets up, indicating that the time is up.
     
    Wilson Now if I could just …
     
Wilson produces a camera. The Equerry appears.
     
    Wilson Mary insisted.
     
‘Snap’: a picture is taken. Wilson smiling proudly. Then his smile fades.
     
    C’mon, Wilson …
     
He straightens, looks the Queen in the eye.
     
    The picture’s for me, Ma’am. This is the proudest moment of my life.
     
    Elizabeth That’s very kind.
     
Wilson smiles proudly as they pose.
     
    Wilson If my colleagues on the left of the party could see me now. I’m afraid they despair of my monarchist leanings.
     
‘Snap’: another picture is taken.
     
    One more, if you don’t mind, Ma’am. For my father. James Herbert Wilson. He’s not been well. Lumbago.
     
‘Snap’: another picture.
     
    Until next week.
     
    Elizabeth Prime Minister.
     
Wilson takes his camera, and bows deeply. Exaggeratedly deeply. Producing another bemused smile from the Queen.
     
The Queen exits the stage as Young Elizabeth walks on with her Scottish nanny, Bobo Macdonald.
     
    Young Elizabeth What did Mummy mean tonight when she said everything would be different?
     
    Bobo It means as of today your father will not just be your father. He will be your king, too. And that’s how you’ll have to refer to him. In public.
     
    Young Elizabeth Can’t I still call him Papa?
     
    Bobo Maybe. But don’t be surprised if he says it has to be ‘Sir’. It also means you’ll have to curtsy to him whenever you greet him, or say goodbye …
     
    Young Elizabeth And Mummy?
     
    Bobo To her, too.
     
    Young Elizabeth That’s silly. I’ll get the giggles.
     
    Bobo You mustn’t do that. You wouldn’t like it if people giggled when they curtsy to you.
     
    Young Elizabeth Why would they do that?
     
    Bobo Because that’s what you do to the heiress presumptive. And call you ‘Ma’am’. Your friends, too.
     
    Young Elizabeth What if I don’t want them to? Please, don’t make them do that. They’ll hate me. How can we stop this?
     
    Bobo We can’t. Unless your mother and father –
     
She checks herself.
     
    – the King and Queen have a boy.
     
The Queen enters. She is now eighty-three years old, white-haired and showing the first signs of frailty.
     
    Bobo Now what’s it going to be? Am I going to tell you a bedtime story? Or are we going to say our prayers?
     
    Young Elizabeth Prayers.
     
    Bobo And what are we going to pray for?
     
    Young Elizabeth That the King and Queen have a boy.
     
A lighting change. Bobo and Young Elizabeth exit.
     
    Brown So
humiliating
.
     
Enter Gordon Brown, fifty-eight, the Queen’s eleventh Prime Minister. It’s late September 2009.
     
    Five attempts, Ma’am,
five
to secure private bilateral talks with President Obama, and he refused point blank … yet proceeded to have one-on-ones with everyone else right under my nose. The Dutch, for God’s sake. Finally, after repeated representations by my ambassador –
     
    Elizabeth (
under her breath
)
My
ambassador.
     
    Brown – he agreed to a meeting in the kitchens. For five minutes. For what his aides insultingly called a ‘walk and talk’.
     
    Elizabeth In the kitchens?
     
    Brown
Through
the kitchens. Of the United Nations building. A short cut taken by his security people. The Head of Her Majesty’s Government. America’s staunchest ally, a political