Mrs Brown Page #8

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EXT. BALMORAL CASTLE - DUSK

Later that night, the courtyard is packed with a gaggle of

worried HOUSEHOLDERS holding lamps.

Through the light, BROWN and VICTORIA clatter into the

courtyard on the horse and trap. DOCTOR JENNER breaks

through the crowd in a state of high excitement.

JENNER:

Your Majesty! Thank goodness you're

safe! I'll have a bath prepared

immediately. I recommend Macdonald's

African Embrocation --

BROWN:

(cutting in)

Ah, pipe down, man. The woman's fine.

VICTORIA:

We stayed a little longer than

expected with Mr and Mrs Grant. It

was most agreeable.

PONSONBY:

We were expecting you to return by

six.

VICTORIA:

And now I am back.

BROWN cannot resist one more little dig.

BROWN:

We took a nip of whiskey.

VICTORIA:

To keep out the cold.

BROWN:

Aye.

VICTORIA smiles and BROWN lifts her off the trap. Before

walking in she turns and, in front of everyone, says...

VICTORIA:

Thank you, John.

BROWN bows and the QUEEN walks on. As she straightens up,

he finds PONSONBY and DOCTOR JENNER staring back at him in

utter disbelief at what she has just said. He turns and

leads the horse back to the stables.

JENNER:

(under his breath)

She's drunk.

PONSONBY doesn't answer. He is watching BROWN very

closely.

JENNER (CONT'D)

A distinct flushing around the cheeks.

She was drunk, I tell you.

PONSONBY:

No, she wasn't.

Silence. JENNER turns to look at PONSONBY.

JENNER:

Surely not ...

PONSONBY's face is set hard.

PONSONBY:

Don't even think about it.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, BALLROOM - NIGHT

A crush of kilted GHILLIES as we slam into the height of

the annual Ghillie's Ball.

The whole court is reeling through the dance; all of them

beholding the extraordinary spectacle of QUEEN VICTORIA and

JOHN BROWN dancing together in the middle of the hall.

PONSONBY and JENNER stand by the wall, watching. Close-up

on PONSONBY'S face as JENNER mutters darkly.

JENNER:

Pandora's Box ...

With a slam of feet the reel ends, the GHILLIES roar and

BROWN and VICTORIA stand smiling at each other in silence.

A King and his Queen.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, BALLROOM - NIGHT

Later that night.

We find BROWN, slouched on the ground, dead-drunk and

snoring loudly.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

A few days later, four JOURNALISTS are scrabbling up a

stony path, armed with telescopes.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

A large ROYAL PARTY is making its way smoothly and quietly

up the mountain. BROWN is on horseback, leading VICTORIA

on a dapple-grey.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

The JOURNALISTS rattle up the hill.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

BROWN and VICTORIA start pulling ahead of the main party.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

The JOURNALISTS scramble up to some gorse bushes, dump

themselves down and start setting up the telescopes.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

BROWN and VICTORIA near the summit when BROWN suddenly

stops. He stiffens and turns to face the wind, as if

catching a scent. VICTORIA frowns.

VICTORIA:

What is it, John?

(beat)

John?

BROWN:

I heard something.

BROWN's eyes fix on some distant gorse bushes.

BROWN (CONT'D)

I won't be long.

He dismounts and races off.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

The JOURNALISTS are peering through their telescopes.

JOURNALIST 1

Where did he get to? I've lost him?

Below them, BROWN races across the riverbank and

undergrowth, unseen.

JOURNALIST 2

I don't know if there's much worth

writing about.

JOURNALIST 1

Hard to tell.

BROWN rears up above them and stops.

BROWN:

This close enough for you? Go on! On

your way! You filthy scavengers!

The JOURNALISTS scramble to their feet and start legging it

down the hill, while BROWN roars furiously, hurling their

bags after them.

BROWN (CONT'D)

You leave her alone, do you hear?!

The JOURNALISTS vanish below the hillside.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, UPPER SERVANT'S TABLE - NIGHT

That night.

BROWN is standing at the head of the table, yelling at the

UPPER SERVANTS, irrespective of ARCHIE or anyone.

BROWN:

If I catch the miserable by-blow who

told those men where she'd be, then

I'll hang his balls to dry on Jock

Wemyss, so I will!!

ARCHIE glances up at BERTIE'S VALET. He is staring down at

the table, teeth gritted, fists clenched. BROWN rounds on

them all again.

BROWN (CONT'D)

What happens to John Brown is his

business, but the Queen's security

will never be compromised!

BERTIE'S VALET

We --

BROWN:

You'll talk when I'm finished!

BERTIE'S VALET stares at him in astonishment. BROWN turns

back to the table.

BROWN (CONT'D)

That kind of disloyalty will not be

tolerated in this house, is that

clear?

(beat, yelling)

I said, is that clear?!

There is a general mutter of assent. BROWN turns and

storms out as ARCHIE gets up to follow.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, HENRY PONSONBY'S ROOMS - DAY

A few days later, PONSONBY is sitting at his desk, hands to

his hips, listening quietly as DOCTOR JENNER reads from his

copy of Punch.

JENNER:

"Court Circular, Balmoral."

(beat)

"On Tuesday, Mr John Brown enjoyed a

display of sheep-dipping by local

farmers. On Wednesday, he attended a

seance where he was pleased to listen

to a recital of Auld Lang Syne by Mr

Robert Burns himself ..."

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, LOWER CORRIDOR - DAY

BROWN crashes through a door holding a copy of the same

journal.

JENNER (O.S.)

"... On Thursday, Mr John Brown walked

on the slopes, accompanied by family

and friend ..."

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, CORRIDOR - DAY

BROWN storms up to PONSONBY's door.

JENNER (O.S.)

Mr Brown retired early.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, HENRY PONSONBY'S ROOMS - DAY

BROWN bursts in on PONSONBY and JENNER, slamming down his

copy of Punch on the desk. He is furious but controlled.

BROWN:

If I find out that you had anything to

do with this, I will have you sacked.

PONSONBY:

I believe that decision rests with Her

Majesty.

BROWN:

Don't think I can't persuade her.

PONSONBY:

I don't doubt that the Queen was

highly amused. She has always had a

very healthy sense of humor.

BROWN:

This is a slur on her good name.

PONSONBY:

In as much as the article is about

yourself, I think you must now accept

that the public has a right to its

interest in you.

BROWN:

Nobody has any rights over me.

PONSONBY:

We are all of us subject to forces

beyond our control, Mr Brown, even

you.

BROWN stares at him in silence. A beat.

BROWN:

You'll regret saying that.

FADE TO BLACK.

CAPTION:
"1867"

FADE IN:

INT. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT - DAY

Chaos. The Tories are losing the vote as both sides of the

house stand and shout at each other while the SPEAKER rises

in his chair.

SPEAKER (O.S.)

Order! Order! ORDER!

A buzzing silence settles as the house sits for the vote.

The COUNTERS approach the chair.

SPEAKER (CONT'D)

Result of the vote to the first

reading of the Bill to Disestablish

the Irish Church.

A murmur of excitement from the LIBERALS.

SPEAKER (CONT'D)

Order!

A beat.

COUNTER:

Ayes to the right, three hundred and

thirty, noes to the left, two hundred

and sixty-five...

By the time he reaches "sixty-five" his voice is drowned in

cheers from the Liberal benches. DISRAELI and the rest of

the front bench sit in stony silence.

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