A Royal Affair Page #4

by a man of the Enlightenment.

Denmark is one of the last posts

in a depraved Europe.

If foreigners like Struensee, with

their heathen ideas, continue to

May I remind you that there are

several foreigners present here.

Bernstorff, everyone here

admires you and your work.

You cannot let a dangerous man

like Struensee stay at Court.

It would be unforgivable.

Something's wrong.

- Don't worry.

Do you have any exciting proposals

for us today, Your Majesty?

I have come to the conclusion

that the time has come for

new blood in the honorable Council.

New ideas for new times, if you will.

I assume you already have

a candidate in Doctor Struensee?

You can sit down, Your Majesty.

It is out of the question.

My Lord, if I may?

- You have no right to speak here.

Why is it so dangerous

to let a citizen speak

We are familiar

with your harmful ideas.

Sit down, Your Majesty.

I call to a referendum on removing

Doctor Struensee from Court -

and expel him from Denmark.

No...

No, no, no

Stop!

Let him go.

Let him go immediately,

or I will have your heads!

Your Majesty.

- I am king!

Bernstorff

you are relieved of your duties.

And I declare ...

I declare the entire Council dissolved!

On my order government of

the country's affairs is taken over -

by a cabinet consisting of me

and Johann Friedrich Struensee.

Goodbye piss-ants.

I did it.

I did it!

Did you see me, Struensee?

Yes, I did.

Do you realize what just happened?

How much good we can do now?

Yes.

I can feel it.

Change.

DISSOLUTION:

OF THE STATE COUNCIL

It was almost too good to be true.

To see our thoughts and ideas

become reality.

DECREE:
GENERAL INOCULATION

We sat up nights.

ABOLITION OF:

CORPORAL PUNISHMEN

ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY FOR ALL CITIZENS In the

following months hundreds of laws were passed.

GENERAL LICENSE TO PUBLISH

Everything was possible.

HOME FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN

Denmark had become a pioneering

country admired across Europe.

ABOLITION OF CENSORSHIP The

Enlightenment had finally arrived.

Rantzau, it's good to see you.

- One hell of an office, you have.

It's not my office.

This is the Cabinet. How are you?

Terrible, actually. I spend my time

trying to navigate all your new laws.

You have ideas at the same rate

as the rest of us change clothes.

People are getting confused.

- The nobility, you mean.

Come on, Struensee,

you're nothing but a town doctor.

You never owned anything

in your life. Not even a title.

And now you think

you can run a country.

Well, it's a good thing

I have my noble friend to advise me.

You have titles enough

for the both of us.

What is it?

A letter for Christian from Voltaire.

Voltaire himself.

- Yes. It's hard to believe.

He must have heard

of all the things we've done.

What's wrong?

- I'm pregnant.

You do realize what this means?

Everyone knows

that I haven't been with Christian.

You can't.

I have to.

No.

Do you want our child

to end up in the gutter?

"An ascending sun that you,

the light of the North -

in your infinite wisdom

have followed.

Voltaire."

The light of the North? Struensee,

I fear I have history on my side.

Christian, you haven't visited

the Queen's chambers in over a year

The people think you're

neglecting your marital obligations.

No.

No, she doesn't want to.

On the contrary. She told me

she wants it to happen.

Well, I can't get

an erection with her.

Just think of it as more acting.

I have decided to resume my visits to

the Queen's chamber starting tonight.

Christian

Mother.

Come.

Don't come any closer

I reek of him.

We have to see each other

as little as possible from now on.

For the sake of the child.

Please leave.

The spirit I have seen

may be the Devil.

The Devil has the power

to assume a pleasing shape.

Perhaps out of my weakness

and my melancholia -

as he is very potent with such

spirits, abuses me to damn me.

Move away, Brandt.

You're breathing down my back.

I'll have grounds

more relative than this.

The play's the thing wherein

I'll catch the conscience of the King.

Christian, I don't think

we can continue to be intimate.

It's not healthy.

- Oh, of course. The baby.

Perhaps you should sleep

in your own chambers.

No. No.

I like sleeping with you two.

Can you hear my voice?

Can you hear your father speaking?

Can you hear your father?

And what have we here?

- A review of Court expenses.

Why?

The economy is bad.

We have to make cuts.

Aha. Yes.

Yes, yes. No

Just sign it.

I have an idea.

How about a new day of celebration

where all Court ladies are naked?

This isn't a game, Christian.

- It could be fun!

If they strutted around naked

Shut up, damn it!

You can't yell at me.

You can't yell at me.

Don't ever do that.

I'm Sorry.

You can't yell at me,

I'm the King.

Christian, look at this.

This decree ensures that you don't

have to sign every little document.

It's sufficient that I do it.

You don't need me

to sign the laws anymore?

You hate paperwork.

You could be outside having fun.

But I have fun with you.

It's just a formality.

We could spend our time together

on better things.

I hereby appoint you King

of Prussia.

The bailiff came calling.

Apparently I'm deeply in debt.

Damn leeches.

Take care of it, will you?

I can't just erase your debt.

Of course you can.

You just sign a piece of paper.

And let my friends spend

the state's money on gambling?

How do I explain that to the people?

- To hell with the people.

Are you even listening?

I'm broke.

Sophie is leaving me.

I can see it in her eyes.

She no longer smiles at me.

I could lend you the money.

How much to keep them at bay?

Who the hell do you think you are?

Her Majesty isn't being

very sociable these days.

She mainly keeps to herself.

- When was she ever sociable?

May I walk with you?

I'm not staying

at the summer residence much longer

Back to your duties?

- Yes.

How are you?

It's kicking all the time.

He wants to come out

and see his beautiful mother.

You mean 'she'.

You do realize that lying to me

would be an act of treason.

If that sort of lechery takes place,

and you know about it -

it's a mortal sin to conceal it.

You'll end up in purgatory.

We swear

We don't know anything.

You're excused.

And not a word to anyone!

I know what I saw.

I saw something.

It's close.

Why did construction

come to a halt?

We have no money

until taxes are claimed.

We can't afford all the changes.

- Let's look at the nobility's grants.

Are you serious?

- They're just draining the funds.

All of Court will go against you.

Even your supporters.

- How much would that give us?

Not enough.

- Guldberg gains allies every day.

The military?

We haven't been at war in 50 years.

The military.

Are you sure?

Her Majesty has delivered a daughter.

She is receiving shortly.

I need peace and quiet.

- Yes, we will go celebrate.

Everyone is invited

to my chambers.

Doctor Struensee.

Will you attend to me?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote