King Charles III Page #3

but we, as son and daughter of

the Crown, will only give support,

and leave dispute to those who have

a stake in what is being argued on.

Well, you have a stake.

Much more than most.

We will depart,

allowing you to talk.

The opposition with me agreed

that, even though they did not

want this bill,

and would not have it law...

You've talked to Mrs Stevens?

What said she?

The same.

That you must sign.

HE EXHALES:

But of course she said I must.

Your Majesty, have you thought what

people will, when hearing that

you have reserved assent,

be wont to do?

Division would result.

I beg you, sir, let's talk some more

as months and years go on, but...

here it is.

Perhaps you could just get your pen

and sign the bill.

You have not changed a word?

It is the same.

Were there solution evident

that could enable both of us

to have our way and...

take it in an instant.

For I know you're acting

out of conscience.

That's right, and in good conscience

I have thought

that, come the moment,

surely I could sign.

But when the pen

approaches paper thus,

about to store forever my assent,

the pen dries up.

My hand, it cannot write.

For if my name is given

through routine,

and not because it represents

my view,

then soon I'll have no name,

and nameless, I...

..have not myself.

This is your role.

You surely must have...

Not since the news was born

has Government and State been there

allowed to use the threat of jail

to stop the presses based on

what THEY deem is unacceptable.

The Queen did not,

in all her years bethroned,

face laws like this to pass.

I do agree. For, in her time,

she faced far greater revolution.

When she lost an empire.

She oversaw the alteration from

the unions, mines and factories

that stood for generations,

to a world that, Thatcherated,

Reaganised, did place the profit

higher value than the pride

belonging to the man who travels,

day by day,

upon the Clapham omnibus.

And through all this,

when laws arrived from those

prime ministers she hated,

doing things of which I'm sure she

never would approve,

she still did sign.

Respected all the votes

empowering those elect

to make the law. She always signed.

She always gave assent.

Well...

..I cannot.

I'm sorry, sir, but if I leave this

room without "King Charles"

imprinted there below,

I cannot keep it secret.

And in addition, I'll ensure

this bill becomes the law

without your royal assent.

Redraft the law with changes

that defend the independence

of the press and send it back,

and I will sign immediately.

Your Majesty...

no.

You are sure that this is what

you want to do?

Without my voice and spirit,

I am dust.

This is not what I want...

..but what I must.

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

With the bill concerning privacy

and the statutory

regulation of the press,

the King has unexpectedly

refused to grant assent.

And despite his knowledge that the

royal assent is ceremonial

and not a tool, he has continued

to withhold his pen.

So, here I say, importantly,

that first we must defend

democracy itself.

I am speaking from the palace

to you all...

reluctantly.

I had a hope my ministers

and I could find a way

to circumvent

a public feud like this.

But, driven by my conscience,

I have declined to pass

a law that would give Government

the right and power to restrict

what is acceptable to say in print.

Once fragile politicians can,

whilst claiming public sensitivity,

go censoring what is writ or not,

it will be easier

to govern as corrupt

than bother being held unto account.

And therefore I, who stand

outside the rough and tumble

of expedience, do caution...

and ask they think again.

So far, they have refused.

..weight, influence to the shaping

of the Government. MPS: Hear, hear.

So now do I, as King and...

servant to the populace...

..request your understanding

and your trust

that this,

a rare but necessary act,

is not me stepping too far

from the throne,

but is my duty, and fulfilling

what the king or queen

is sworn by oath to do.

You're late.

Well, if you'd seen the news,

perhaps you'd realised

I've been rather busy.

So, what's wrong?

Increasingly, there's stories

in the papers about me and Harry.

I suppose they think

that I'm a quite unusual match

because of class.

Yes, well, that's hardly a surprise.

Three years ago,

I knew a boy called Fin,

who was a dick, if truth be told.

But because we lived in different

cities, did text our love.

I'm guessing where this goes.

One day, when I was in the mood,

I had composed a text

expressing love and stuff,

which then I sent...

..but now he contacts

me again and makes a threat.

He threatens you

with one small text?

Yeah, well, in truth,

it did contain additional form.

You mean...? Some pictures of myself

that were artistic, yeah?

His e-mail said he'd seen the news,

and since I was so clearly

after gold, he should have his.

He said if I do not pay up,

he'd send the photo to

the Sun on Sunday.

It's blackmail,

so you could approach police -

but they, I warn you,

leak like carrier bags,

and have no love for

matters Royal these days.

If truly you wish to save

the Prince,

perhaps you need to leave his side,

and so doing take from this man

the power he now has.

If this was Harry or

the King, you would do something.

You don't understand, miss,

you are not part of the family.

MOBILE BUZZES:

HE SCOFFS:

Of all the moments

you could pick.

Opinion polls suggest the people

are divided almost equally

as to if my non-signing

is within my rights...

..or not.

But that half's far more

than I expected

would agree with me on this.

Whatever many like to think,

there is a wise and ancient bond

between the Crown and population

of this pleasant isle.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Charles, you have a visitor.

Oh, not Mr Evans? No, I'm tired.

It's Mrs Stevens.

I see.

Be careful.

I do not trust her well.

DOOR CLOSES:

Your Majesty,

please forgive how late it is.

I was not keen to draw attention

to the fact that we had

a conference tonight.

I'm sure you weren't,

since vocally you've been

most critical of what I've done,

despite a week before assuring

me of your complete support.

Forgive me, but all I think I did

was draw attention

to your rights as King.

A politician's tongue

you have indeed.

It's late. I'm tired.

Cut to the chase.

Tomorrow, Mr Evans' bill is read

that makes it clear

a law cannot be halted

waiting for the King's assent.

This bill will pass,

and when it does,

the Crown will lose the right to

speak forever more.

So I had wondered

what Your Majesty did plan

to fix this far erroneous course.

Because, you see,

the vote's tomorrow -

and I for one would not be happy

that the influence

our monarch has is changed.

Therefore, you think the better

evil is take pen and sign

the wretched and corrupted bill?

It is not up to me to tell the

King what he has privilege to do,

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