Mrs Brown Page #10

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VICTORIA:

Dear me, you'll be telling me to watch

what I eat next.

BROWN doesn't react. A beat.

VICTORIA (CONT'D)

Am I not safe enough with you, John?

BROWN:

Aye.

(looking away)

But there are Fenians reported on the

mainland.

VICTORIA:

(tutting irritably)

The threat from the Irish is greatly

exaggerated, I'm sure.

BROWN:

(snapping back)

I'll decide when it's exaggerated.

BROWN chucks his horse on, bringing a firm halt to the

conversation. A beat. He pulls up suddenly, staring at

the shadows in the copse.

VICTORIA:

Is anything the matter, John?

(beat)

John?

He stares for along moment and then lets it go.

BROWN:

Nothing's the matter.

INT. WINDSOR CASTLE, STABLES - NIGHT

BROWN marches down the line of horse boxes. A stable-lad,

BARNEY, is feeding the horses. He looks twitchy.

BROWN:

Hey, Barney.

BARNEY:

Mr Brown, sir --

BROWN:

It's cold out there tonight, Barney.

Reaching his pony, BROWN stops and smiles. The animal

lifts its face to him and he softly strokes his muzzle.

BROWN (CONT'D)

Yeah, there's a good girl.

(to Barney)

Have you had a look at this hoof? She

was limping badly. I think there

might be a stone in it.

BARNEY:

Yeah, yeah, I did.

BROWN:

Good man. And is she all right?

BARNEY:

Yeah.

BROWN:

Good. She's a good girl. Aren't you?

Yeah, she's a lovely girl. And you

know the Queen's riding tomorrow?

BARNEY:

Yeah.

BROWN:

(beat)

Are you all right, Barney?

BARNEY twitches again and BROWN realizes too late. The

split-second he turns, he sees THREE MEN.

BROWN (CONT'D)

Oh, aye...

The MEN pile onto him and he collapses under their weight.

As he falls, BROWN manages to yank himself round, bang up a

fist and fling the others off him. But the FIRST MAN is up

again, twisting an arm round his neck and tugging him back.

The others grapple his arms down, but BROWN is incredibly

strong. Even now, grunting and scrabbling, he makes them

fight to force him back. BARNEY stands transfixed in

horror.

Dumping BROWN against the wall, the men step back and start

kicking the sh*t out of him. BROWN curls into a ball, jaw

locked, hands over his head. Not a sound.

Finally, they back off, panting hard. The FIRST MAN pulls

out a bottle of whiskey, yanks back BROWN's head and forces

whiskey down his throat. It spills over his face and

dribbles down his neck.

INT. WINDSOR CASTLE, QUEEN'S SITTING ROOM - DAY

The next day.

VICTORIA is standing at the windows. The door opens and

LADY ELY walks in.

VICTORIA:

Well?

LADY ELY:

Mr Brown is unable to attend today.

VICTORIA:

Why?

LADY ELY:

I believe he is unwell, ma'am.

VICTORIA:

Unwell?

LADY ELY:

I understand he was in a fight.

VICTORIA:

Has he been hurt?

LADY ELY:

I believe not, ma'am. I understand --

he'd had rather too much to drink.

VICTORIA walks away and steps behind her desk.

VICTORIA:

You may go.

LADY ELY bows and walks out. VICTORIA stares at the desk a

moment, then picks up her pen and tries to work. She

cannot.

INT. WINDSOR CASTLE, BROWN'S QUARTERS - DAY

BROWN sits on the edge of the bed in only his

undergarments. His face, arms, legs and fingers are livid

with bruises, but he sits there, stiff-backed and gritting

his teeth, while ARCHIE crouches in front of him, tending

to his wounds.

BROWN:

And she sent no word down?

ARCHIE:

They said you were drunk.

(beat)

Why don't you tell her the truth?

BROWN:

She'll think it's her fault for

keeping me.

ARCHIE completes one of the dressings when BROWN suddenly

reaches back and starts trying to put on his shirt.

ARCHIE:

What are you doing?!

BROWN:

I'm getting dressed.

ARCHIE:

You've got three broken ribs, man!

BROWN:

I've got my duties to attend to.

ARCHIE:

Don't be an idiot! You're in no fit

state to go anywhere.

BROWN:

She'll be worried about me.

ARCHIE:

She'll get over it.

BROWN:

I can't let her down now, Archie.

ARCHIE:

And when was the last time she put

herself out for you? Look, John,

whatever she says to you now, in the

end you're still a servant.

BROWN:

Oh, I'm much more than that.

ARCHIE:

Aye, she may say that to you, but the

woman can say what she wants.

BROWN:

You watch your tongue.

ARCHIE:

Come on, man, I'm telling you what you

already know.

BROWN:

You know nothing about her!

ARCHIE:

When are you gonna see it, John? She

doesn't give a damn about you.

BROWN lunges for the bedside drawer and pulls out a card

showing a coy picture of a pretty woman. He holds it up,

eyes blazing.

BROWN:

From the Queen!

He reads out the inscription.

BROWN (CONT'D)

My lips may give a message better of

Christmas love than e'en this letter.

(beat)

To my best friend, J.B. from his best

friend, V.R.

(he thrusts it in his

brother's face)

Best friend!

ARCHIE:

Aye.

BROWN:

She means it.

ARCHIE stares at him.

ARCHIE:

She'll drop you. When she's done with

you, she'll drop you.

BROWN:

Get out.

(beat)

Out!

ARCHIE steps back but BROWN roars at him.

BROWN (CONT'D)

OUT!!

ARCHIE steps outside and BROWN is left alone.

INT. WINDSOR CASTLE, QUEEN'S SITTING ROOM - DAY

The next day. VICTORIA sits at her desk. PONSONBY hands

her letters to sign.

PONSONBY:

... to be followed by a visit from

Lady Bridport. She is keen to secure

a place for her niece as Maid of

Honor.

VICTORIA signs the last letter and sits back.

VICTORIA:

I am tired.

PONSONBY coughs.

PONSONBY:

There is one other matter.

VICTORIA:

What is it?

PONSONBY:

I have a letter, ma'am.

VICTORIA:

From whom?

PONSONBY:

From Princess Helena and other members

of your family.

VICTORIA:

(stiffening defensively)

My family is quite capable of

communicating with the Queen in

person.

PONSONBY does not reply. Finally, VICTORIA is obliged to

ask.

VICTORIA (CONT'D)

What do they want?

PONSONBY:

They are demanding the dismissal of

John Brown on grounds of drunkeness.

VICTORIA stares through the window, expressionless.

INT. WINDSOR CASTLE, CHAPEL - DAY

VICTORIA walks through the ornate chapel, nervously

fingering her handkerchief. Waiting for her, smiling

softly, is the Dean of Windsor, DEAN WELLSELLY.

DEAN WELLSELLY:

You wished to see me, ma'am?

She holds his eyes for a moment, then nods.

INT. WINDSOR CASTLE, CHAPEL - DAY

A few minutes later, VICTORIA and DEAN WELLSELLY are seated

in a corner of the chapel, talking softly. She cannot

bring herself to look at him and so does not notice how

carefully he is watching her throughout the interview.

This is incredibly hard for her to say, but she struggles

to be as honest as possible.

VICTORIA:

My husband tried always to make me

think more subtly. Of course he

taught me so much and I can never

repay my debt to him, or the love I

feel, even now. But, in truth, I

think I am someone who can only feel

things while they are alive to me.

For that reason, I know I do not have

a subtle mind. I know that. But I

work hard and I try to do my duty.

(she hesitates; she is

struggling now)

However, I have noticed of late that

my feelings of grief are not so strong

and -- that I find myself leaning more

upon the comfort of living friends.

(beat)

Friends close to me now.

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