Mrs Brown Page #2

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Among the diners we catch our first glimpse of BERTIE, the

Prince of Wales. He is in his mid-twenties, plump, stiff

dressed and balding. He stands next to his young wife,

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, who fiddles nervously with her shawl,

trying to keep warm.

As BERTIE smooths down his thinning hair, DOCTOR JENNER

bustles into the dining room, stands himself next to

PONSONBY and proceeds to conduct a hurried conversation

with the Prince of Wales, entirely in whispers.

JENNER:

Congratulations, Your Royal Highness!

BERTIE:

Thank you, Doctor.

JENNER:

A boy, I hear. Excellent, excellent.

BERTIE:

Yes.

(beat)

Albert Victor. Eddie for short. What

do you think?

PONSONBY:

A fine choice, sir.

JENNER:

Excellent!

EXT. DOCKSIDE, ISLE OF WIGHT - DAY

JOHN BROWN leads his pony gently up the ramp and into the

carrier bearing the Royal coat of arms. The DRIVER leans

in.

DRIVER:

Are you riding up front?

BROWN looks straight at this man, quiet and reserved.

BROWN:

I'll stay with the pony, thank you.

She's all the way from Deeside and

she's not sure she likes you yet.

The DRIVER shrugs and slams the doors on them.

INT. OSBORNE HOUSE, CORRIDOR AND QUEEN'S DINING ROOM - DAY

VICTORIA reaches the dining room door and takes a deep

breath. LADY ELY and LADY CHURCHILL stop a pace behind.

VICTORIA:

How many?

LADY ELY is slightly taken aback.

LADY ELY:

The Royal Family and senior members of

the household, ma'am.

VICTORIA:

Just them?

LADY ELY:

Yes, ma'am.

VICTORIA closes her eyes, then steels herself and steps

through the door.

INT. OSBORNE HOUSE, QUEEN'S DINING ROOM - DAY

Everyone stiffens as VICTORIA walks in. Acknowledging the

other diners with a quick nod, the Queen takes her place.

She flaps open her napkin and, bang on cue, everyone else

sits and does the same. The meal is served immediately by

waiting SERVANTS, who plonk the food down without ceremony.

It's a very ordinary meal of meat and vegetables. VICTORIA

starts eating heartily, straight away. Everyone does the

same.

Only the clink of cutlery and the same eerie silence.

EXT. OSBORNE HOUSE, THE GROUNDS - DAY

The Royal horse-carrier rattles into the grounds and on

down the driveway past the beautiful, manicured lawns

stretching away towards the ornate twin towers of Osborne

House. A few outdoor servants watch its progress

curiously.

INT. OSBORNE HOUSE, QUEEN'S DINING ROOM - DAY

The silence continues as VICTORIA finishes her plain

pudding. Immediately, servants appear at every place and

whip away the pudding bowls whether their owners have

finished or not. Nobody thinks this odd; it is part of the

routine. DOCTOR JENNER clears his throat.

JENNER:

We're expecting Brown this afternoon,

ma'am.

VICTORIA:

Whom?

A beat. VICTORIA takes a sip of water, dabs her mouth with

her napkin and rises. Everyone else rises too. Suddenly,

the Queen turns to Bertie's nervous wife, PRINCESS

ALEXANDRA, and proclaims abruptly:

VICTORIA (CONT'D)

That's a very pretty shawl you are

wearing, Alex. Silk suits you well.

(beat)

But you are not eating enough. One

must not let vanity overrule one's

appetite.

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA

Yes, ma'am.

VICTORIA nods earnestly. Lost to the effect her words have

had, she marches out again. Behind her, she leaves

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA feeling humiliated and crestfallen in

front of all the others. BERTIE takes her hand and

squeezes tight, trying awkwardly to console.

EXT. OSBORNE HOUSE - DAY

The horse-carrier pulls up outside the servant's entrance

and the DRIVER opens the doors.

JOHN BROWN pulls out a watch from his waistcoat and checks

the time. His eyes narrow critically.

BROWN:

I was due at a quarter past one.

(beat)

You're late.

INT. OSBORNE HOUSE, CORRIDOR - DAY

A few minutes later, JOHN BROWN strides down the long

corridor with PONSONBY at his side. Their journey takes

them down an endless series of corridors, past servants and

householders hurrying about their duties. The presence of

the dead Albert is felt all around in the black-wreathed

portraits and busts that crop up along the way.

BROWN and PONSONBY could not be more contrasted.

PONSONBY:

(in low tones)

Her Majesty's routine at Osborne House

is not as you will remember it. The

Household remains in full mourning and

no-one is permitted to raise their

voice under any circumstances

whatsoever. As for the Queen's

routine, she breakfasts at nine

thirty, lunches at two,takes tea at

five thirty and dinner at eight forty

five. No one is allowed to leave the

building while the Queen is at home.

On the rare occasions when she is out,

you may ask permission to leave, but

only with my consent.

You're to be ready to walk the pony at

any time after ten o'clock. You'll

clean her outdoor things and do any

odd jobs as and when she requires.

BROWN:

How will I know?

PONSONBY:

(surprised to be interrupted)

I'm sorry?

BROWN:

How will I know what she requires?

PONSONBY:

You'll be sent a message.

BROWN:

Who'll bring it to me?

PONSONBY:

Her Highness' Equerry.

BROWN:

I need a man who knows where I am.

PONSONBY:

I'm sure it won't be difficult to find

you.

BROWN:

That's not good enough.

A beat.

PONSONBY:

Then we'll have to see what can be

arranged.

BROWN:

Aye, do.

PONSONBY stiffens. A beat.

PONSONBY:

There is to be no communication with

other members of the household on

matters concerning the court except

through myself or one of the

Equerries. No plans must be altered

unless you are given prior authority

by myself or a senior member of the

household.

BROWN:

I came down at the Queen's request.

I'll take my orders from her.

PONSONBY:

In matters concerning the Household, I

act on her behalf.

BROWN takes the measure of him.

BROWN:

Do you?

PONSONBY:

Yes.

(beat)

I do.

BROWN glances up the corridor.

BROWN:

So, is passing wind out of the

question or do I need permission for

that?

PONSONBY refuses to acknowledge what he has heard. They

reach the door of the Royal Chamber and he concludes the

interview.

PONSONBY:

As I am sure you remember from

Balmoral, you do not talk while in Her

Majesty's presence unless Her Majesty

addresses you directly.

BROWN refuses to answer, so PONSONBY knocks. After a

moment, the door is opened by LADY ELY who ushers them in.

INT. OSBORNE HOUSE, QUEEN'S SITTING ROOM - DAY

BROWN walks stiffly into the room and stops. PONSONBY

waits by the door.

PONSONBY (O.S.)

Mr Brown, ma'am.

VICTORIA is bent over the desk, working at one of her

numerous red boxes. She scribbles furiously at a letter,

underlining and accenting words as she goes. Finally, LADY

ELY steps up to her side and whispers something in her ear.

She carries on working.

BROWN has time to survey the room. Dominating everything

are the same black-wreathed busts and portraits of Prince

Albert glimpsed in the corridor.

Finally, VICTORIA nods and LADY ELY beckons BROWN forward.

He steps up in front of the desk and waits. VICTORIA looks

up and BROWN bows deeply.

Silence.

She stares at him for a long moment without apparently

registering who he is. He towers over her, in bright

tartan, while she sits hunched in her seat, all in black

and knotted with tension.

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