Mrs Brown Page #6

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- That's what the maids are for.

- I don't need some prattler

goin' through my things.

Why don't ya give yourself

a rest, John?

She's other people

to look out for her.

She needs me, Archie.

Can't do without me.

Told me to my face.

[Inhaling]

[Exhaling]

How can I stop now?

[Gasping]

- You sent for me?

- I've been called back to London.

My last day.

I thought I might take

a walk up Lochnagar.

[Disraeli] "Princes and lords

are but the breath of kings.

A honest man's

the noblest work of God."

You must miss

such magnificent views.

I don't think about it.

Oh. Forgive me.

I've called you out, and you

should have been resting.

- I'm fine.

- But you are injured.

- It's nothin'.

- Still, someone must attend to it.

- Your wife should not have let you out.

- I'm not married.

Oh.

- [Grunting]

- This is the top.

[Sighing]

I confess I sometimes feel

as if I'm not married myself.

I see my wife so little.

But I'm forgetting

the rewards.

The look on their faces

when one walks into a room...

still gives one

a ridiculous thrill.

- Well, I wouldn't know.

- Oh, surely.

What I do,

I do for my Queen.

Was there never ambition?

Maybe, once.

Oh. I envy you.

- Why?

- Oh, to have achieved one's ambition...

or to have reconciled oneself

to its limits...

is a lifetime's work.

- I do what I do.

- For Her Majesty.

- Aye.

- But yourself? What about John Brown?

I told ya.

I serve my Queen.

And no other aspiration?

To see her safe.

You will not be unaware...

of the threat now posed

by the republicanism?

Why do you think

I've kept her here?

Ah, but therein lies

the paradox.

It is her very isolation

that encourages the malcontents.

The longer she is away,

the stronger they become,

and who, honestly, can provide

security against that?

However many doors

you lock,

someone will always get in.

Even here.

So?

The truth is, the Queen

would be safer...

doing her duty and returning

south to her public.

John Bull loves her,

and John Bull is her best defence.

Her mind is set.

You'll never change it now.

She trusts you, John.

[Sighing]

They don't see it.

See what?

The danger. I keep tellin' them,

but they don't see it.

- They're not as watchful as you.

- They're too busy

thinking about themselves.

A greasy pole.

- No loyalty.

- No, um,

Iove.

I promised to protect her...

from people like you.

[Chuckling]

For once in my life, I'm not the issue.

- She'll never understand it.

- Oh, in time she will.

She'll think

I've betrayed her.

But others will know that you

acted for the greater good.

I received a letter today

from Mr Disraeli.

Parliament are calling

for my return to public duties.

He insists the country

expects me to preside...

over the opening

of the new session.

I refuse to offer sustenance

to enable his weakening grip.

Besides, you know how much

I would hate it.

It frightens me.

John?

We can't always have

what we wish.

"Duty"?

You talk about "duty"?

When duty and safety are served

by the same ends, then, aye, I do!

I cannot believe you're saying this.

You who I've relied on all this time?

- Have I ever lied before?

- You stand there and tell me

it is my duty!

- After all you promised me?

- I've broken no promise!

You're forcing me to do

the very thing you know I'd fear most.

For God's sake, woman,

I'm tryin' to see you safe!

I will not hear any more

about my safety!

You made me a promise,

and now you've broken it!

When I took you out riding,

come rain or shine,

because I knew

it was right for you,

when I got the bairns off your back

just to give you a bit o' peace,

when I saw you safe

from home to home when

you didn't even know if I was there,

all I ever thought about

was you!

- Then why send me back to them?

- Because I have to!

Will you not listen to me,

woman?

Do not presume to talk

to your Queen in that manner.

Dr Jenner,

I feel unwell.

I shall retire

to my chamber.

- Please attend me presently.

- Ma'am.

[All]

Ma'am.

May I say how glad I am to see

Your Majesty so much recovered.

Where is my son?

Prince Albert

is at Windsor, ma'am.

Why is he not here?

- He is sick, ma'am.

- Then why are you not with him?

You ordered all members of the royal

family to attend you at Balmoral.

What's the matter with him?

He has typhoid fever, ma'am.

No. You are mistaken.

Prince Albert, my husband,

had typhoid fever.

I asked what was wrong

with my son.

The same, Your Majesty.

Why was I not informed?

I did not consider it wise

in the circumstances...

to tax your nerves.

How ill is he?

Alex?

He is not well, ma'am.

I must go to him.

We must leave at once.

[Chattering]

[Chattering]

[Watch Ticking]

Better.

If the Good Lord should see fit

to spare my son,

I will order a Mass

to be celebrated at St. George's.

The people must share

with their Queen...

her prayers and hopes

for their future King.

The Queen will be riding

to St. George's on the 5th.

I recommend Her Majesty use a covered

carriage and a full horse guard.

In the event of any disturbance,

I will insure...

I will ride to St. George's

in an open carriage.

It is time the Queen

was seen by her public.

[People Cheering]

[Cheering]

No!

[Albert]

And so there he is, Arthur O'Conner,

all seven stone of the man,

paddling madly towards us

through a sea of horse guards,

waving something that

looks vaguely like a pen!

- [Laughing]

- I thought he must be one of

Mother's ardent readership...

in search of

the royal indenture.

[Laughter]

I believe I saw him first,

and then I alerted Brown.

I'm not convinced that he wasn't

taking a snooze on top of the steps.

- [Laughing]

- So we had our man pinned down,

and I must say that Brown

acquitted himself admirably.

Of course, the gun

turned out to be a fake,

but, uh, well, you know,

nonetheless it was, um...

[Clears Throat]

- Yes, um, well done.

- [Guests Murmur In Agreement]

I intend Brown to be rewarded

with a special medal cast in gold.

It will be called

the "Devoted Service Medal."

- [Albert] Mm.

- [Applause]

[Clinking]

A toast.

[Albert]

Victoria Regina!

[Guests]

Victoria Regina!

I saw your face there

as well, Sir Henry.

I think that you were sneaking

a bit behind the carriage.

[Albert Continues Talking,

Indistinct]

[Guests Talking,

Laughing]

[Disraeli]

The people of England have expressed,

in a manner which

cannot be mistaken,

that they will uphold

the ancient monarchy of England.

Go to your homes.

Teach them these truths.

A land of liberty,

of prosperity...

of power...

and of glory!

[Cheering]

[Brown] We should not live

in expectation of contentment.

Fifteen years of vigilance

will not guarantee peace of mind.

Yesterday, intruders were again

reported in the south wing.

I believe my prompt arrival

may have averted any crisis,

but it was

a timely reminder.

It is a great comfort to me

that my efforts...

in securing the Queen's safety

over the years have not been in vain.

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