The Young Victoria Page #5

of how you and I may spend

more time together.

And I must say I hope that some

of them, at least, will come to pass.

Dear Albert,

you've been keeping secrets.

When did you learn

to dance so beautifully?

Lord M assures me

the next several months

will be particularly gruelling

and busy for me as a new Queen.

Thus, I am not certain

when I shall see you again.

I look forward to your every letter,

enjoying the detail of life in Germany,

and wishing to share more.

- Waterloo might not...

- Yours affectionately, Victoria.

Ah, this quite inoffensive little game

can turn into an effective weapon!

Lord Melbourne says

French doctors kill their patients.

- English ones just let them die.

I thought he might be here tonight.

He's thrown me over

for Lady Holland.

- I expect Your Majesty will miss him.

- Not too severely. He's back tomorrow.

No, no, no.

I meant when he's out of power.

What?

Well, only, I don't wish to crow, but...

I thought it was common knowledge

that he's about to lose the vote.

Schatzi?

I thought you were in your bedroom.

Never mind.

- You won't desert me, will you?

- Never.

Mein liebes Schatzi.

Every one of your ladies is the wife

of a friend of Lord Melbourne.

Surely you can see how that looks?

You should not set such store

by appearances, Sir Robert.

I only ask for a token. For two ladies,

even one, who supports my cause.

Otherwise, it must seem as if

Palace and Parliament have fallen out.

- I want to go in.

- I beg your pardon, ma'am.

Her Majesty is with the Prime Minister

and cannot be disturbed.

But that will not apply to her mother.

I'm very sorry, ma'am.

Let me understand you.

Are you saying it is the Prime Minister

who selects my household?

- Has the law changed in this regard?

- No, of course not.

Well, then, there cannot be

much more to be said.

- Good day, Sir Robert.

Could you please ask Lady Portman

to come in as you leave?

Yes, ma'am.

I wonder if you could have a note

delivered to Lord Melbourne.

Of course, ma'am.

# What power...

Mrs Melbourne!

# Art thou...

- Good God! What are we coming to?

- Who was it? I didn't see.

The Duchess of Montrose. That's

the end to her career at Court, I hope.

If I ban everyone who thinks me wrong,

you and I will be alone in the ballroom.

- With sorrow, I must inform the House

that I have been unable

to persuade the Queen

that her ladies should not solely

adhere to the views of my opponents.

- I have therefore informed Her Majesty

that I am not qualified

to form a government,

if I do not enjoy her confidence.

Mr Speaker, are we to understand

that the great Sir Robert Peel

has been frightened off

by a few frilly petticoats?

Prime Minister!

Mr Speaker, what frightens me

is to see the Crown

used as a shuttlecock

- in the game of politics!

Which, apparently,

Lord Melbourne plays better than you!

- Order!

Constitutional crisis!

Queen flouts Prime Minister!

Threat to bring down Tory government!

- Order!

- Constitutional crisis!

You should be

ashamed of yourself, sir.

If the Queen has been foolish,

she can plead youth.

You are old enough to know better.

What troubles you is that Lord

Melbourne is Prime Minister again.

I do hate a bad loser.

We are all losers in this, sir.

Most especially the Queen.

You have to understand you reign

by right of Parliament.

Work with the voters' choice.

- Lord Melbourne says...

- He says what suits his interest.

He has used you to punish his enemies

without a thought

for the damage to the Crown.

The Queen is in the clutches

of Melbourne, the great seducer!

And when he is silent,

who does she listen to?

- Her German mother.

- I'm glad he thinks I listen to Mama.

You are confusing stubbornness

with strength, my dear.

And I warn you,

the people will not like you for it.

She's brought down

a government over her ladies?

- Apparently.

- Then she's a fool.

No, she is not a fool.

But she has listened to a fool.

Then she had better change her advisor.

Or things will get worse

before they get better.

- Open the door.

"Not all the water

in the rough, rude sea

can wash the balm off

from an anointed king."

"The breath of worldly men

cannot depose the deputy

elected by the Lord."

- "For every man..."

Sir John, what are you doing here?

- I must speak to the Queen.

- You know that's impossible.

"Welcome, my lord.

How far off lies your power?"

An armed man

has been found in the gardens.

- What?!

- He said he wished to harm the Queen.

"..discomfort guides my tongue

and bids me speak of nothing but..."

They think I have interfered in matters

that do not concern me.

It'll pass, ma'am, you'll see.

My dear Victoria,

while these days may feel endless,

please do not lose faith

in yourself or your people.

We are all allowed to make mistakes,

most especially when

we have looked to others for guidance.

The storm still rages

outside the palace walls.

I wonder now if everyone was right.

Perhaps I am too young and

inexperienced for my position.

Open your mind, examine your choices,

and your honesty

will take you through the storm.

I promise that you can do this work

and do it well.

You have courage and heart

and you said yourself

you're stronger than you look.

A letter from your mother.

My dearest child.

You will not let me come to you,

and that I may deserve,

but however you resent me,

however I have failed,

I am still and always your mother.

What troubles you, troubles me.

What pleases you, pleases me.

I love you.

And my only prayer is that one day

you will understand how much.

Goodnight, mein Liebling.

Your own Mama.

My dearest Albert.

You asked me once

if you could be of help to me,

and I so proud and confident

of my great powers replied, "Not yet".

But since that day

so much has changed.

I'm not forgiven yet.

Not yet, but soon.

Just wait for unseasonal weather

or the news of some elopement,

and it'll all be forgotten.

You don't have a very high opinion

of ordinary people,

do you, Lord Melbourne?

With respect,

I have lived longer than Your Majesty.

I said once I didn't understand

whose task it was

to see to the public welfare.

Ma'am, in my lifetime,

I have seen with my own eyes,

what happens

when the rabble is empowered.

Lord Melbourne.

I want a report on living conditions,

on parish benefits,

housing, all of it.

And by the end of the month.

And one more thing,... I have invited

Prince Albert for another visit.

Very good, Your Majesty.

When you get there, don't be a spy

or Uncle Leopold's puppet.

It's your life, Albert. Live it.

For yourself and for Victoria.

Our uncle wouldn't thank you for that.

I don't care.

- I should have worn the red.

- You look beautiful, Your Majesty.

His Serene Highness Prince Albert of

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Your Majesty.

I only just got your note.

I was riding.

Sit. Please.

- The park is marvellous.

- I'm so pleased you like it.

I do want you to feel quite at home.

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