Monarch

Should we light a fire?

Housekeeper!

Somebody help us!

Boy where are you?

Get yourself down here boy.

No, no fires we can't attract attention.

Boy we need your help.

Big enough even for him.

Watch your mouth.

Our circumstances may be unique but that does

not give you free license for disrespect.

You sound ready for office.

I'm only ready to serve.

- I'm sure you are ready to serve, your own interests.

Well this is ideal.

I'll get the others.

- Finer men than you have died at my feet, for less.

- He's even heavier now than outside, in the rain.

You complain like a woman.

Just hold your end and stop chattering.

We're nearly there.

You're more familiar

with the complaints of women.

Be careful, don't drop your end.

He'll hear us.

Just keep moving.

I'll need bandages, water, and light.

Get some candles from downstairs.

And check the kitchens for food.

Food, at a time like this?

Weak stomach.

Must be the company I keep.

You two can look for the boy.

He'll have a better grasp of the geography of the house.

This situation makes me uneasy.

There's more at stake here than reputation.

The coincidence of circumstance may give rise to suspicion.

- There is nothing more to this than meets the eye.

Attacked on the open road.

Not a soul in sight.

- The perfect conditions for crime, surely.

For the perfect crime, perhaps.

Let's get to the larders

and we can discuss your theories over a light supper.

Something is not right here.

This house for one thing, empty, but for one servant boy.

I'm not denying our situation,

but your worrying would find

suspicion even in the wall carvings.

We were attacked and we are sheltering, licking our wounds,

as simple as that.

Only one of us wounded.

The most protected of us.

That in itself raises my suspicions.

But the motive, no money taken.

Nothing taken and no harm done.

Not yet.

Smells musty.

The books probably.

Strange.

A library with no books.

Get off me you mad fool.

Are you trying to finish me off?

Your wound needs cleaning your Majesty.

If it needs cleaning, then clean it.

By Christ if you continue to tease my wound

I'll inflict a mightier one on you.

Get me some wine.

The others will be back, shortly.

I don't want to leave you in this condition.

If you all showed the same concern

at the time I wouldn't be run through.

You look in remarkably good condition.

Any fatalities?

No, your Majesty.

Any other injuries?

No, your Majesty.

- So I managed to save everyone by taking the fall.

It all happened so quickly that.

- You only had time to protect your own skinny behinds.

And our aggressor?

He fled.

Not before you all begged liked dogs

for your lives no doubt.

Get me the bloody wine, now.

You'll take an hourly rotation

to guard the roof, the front, and the King's room.

- You must keep vigilant for the boy.

He's of more benefit alive,

particularly if he knows something.

- He is only a boy and may well be innocent.

No bullish behavior.

They're a bit hard, want one?

His Majesty is awake.

- Ah, yes we thought we heard another roar.

And he's looking for wine.

I'll go.

- He'll be looking for answers before long.

Will you oblige there as well?

What does he remember?

Everything, it seems,

though he's not too happy about us being unscathed.

And the wound.

I've cleaned it.

But the legs are badly ulcerated.

But they're not any more infected than they were before.

There's considerable discomfort.

Where's my wine.

- His maturity of years haven't mellowed him.

- Perhaps we should all go back in together.

Where are the guards?

On the roof, and the front door,

and one was supposed to be on duty by this door.

A sound and I'll snap you like a twig.

Too sweet.

- Now I've heard you use many superlatives on his Majesty,

but that is a first.

The wine you fool.

So you've got wine for us.

Only this half, he drank the rest.

- Always was a bit of selected wine critic.

What's going on, when will he see us?

In a hurry to be chastised?

He'll see you now.

Age before intelligence and beauty.

Humf.

His anger I can cope with, but this shutting us out,

is unlike him and it unnerves me.

- You like your monarch's to be predictable.

I like to think of him as reliable.

It is out of character of him to behave in this way.

- It's not everyday you survive an assassination attempt.

- I don't think you ought to feed the king's suspicion.

Why, what's his theory?

I'm not sure that he has one,

but he never was too welcoming of questions,

even in his more receptive moods.

Where's my wine?

Go straight through.

But perhaps I should wait for the wine.

When he is more mellow, he is more.

Forgiving?

Sure minded.

He wants you now.

When I speak you reply only with

a nod or a shake of your head.

Do you understand?

Are you alone here?

Don't play games with me.

You're gambling with your life.

I'll ask you again, are you alone here,

are there any other members of this household here?

You're getting the hang of this.

If I am to release my grip, you won't run or shout?

You will run and shout?

That's better.

What about a game?

I could have killed you if I wanted.

Oh come on a game will civilize the situation.

I'm Thorn.

William, Will.

There's a lot more going on here, Will,

than you probably realize.

Who are you?

That's not important.

What's going on here is.

There is a situation unfolding this

night which may break this country.

I'm only the groundkeeper's son,

I don't own or even run this house.

That much I've gathered for myself.

But there is a matter of great importance unfolding here.

A matter of state.

- I can't help you with matters of politics,

I have more urgent concerns.

Like your guests.

They were not invited by me or anyone,

they are not guests of this house.

Nor am I for that matter.

- I am trusted with the safe keeping of this house

and don't intend to lose my position within this household.

- There are other positions in other households.

I've been here since I was born.

So you know the house well?

Well enough to know that there

is nothing of value here, no hidden treasures.

His Lordship is away until spring

and what little supplies there are will only sustain me.

You think I'm a thief?

Come to rob this house of all its riches?

But you may be surprised to learn that there is something,

or should I say, someone, of value here.

What do you know of your guests?

You still haven't told me who you are.

You better sit.

You say you're not a politician

but you must have a view, an opinion.

Is this you?

I don't understand.

Oh I think you do.