The Favourite

How was my speech?

You were brilliant.

- Did I lisp? - You don't lisp.

I know. That was what was so troubling about it.

- The thought that I suddenly did. - No.

Sarah, you must say hello to the little ones.

No. It is macabre.

Please.

No.

I love you, but that I will not do.

- If you love me... - Love has limits.

It should not.

You do not lisp, but you are mad.

Giving me a palace?

I've been wanting to give you something for quite some time now.

Seemed like the perfect opportunity with Marlborough winning.

It is a monstrous extravagance, Mrs. Morley. We are at war.

We won.

It is not over. We must continue.

Oh.

Oh, I did not know that.

Take a hunk of bread.

And then Sally will take you to clean up and then to Her Ladyship.

This mud stinks.

They shit in the streets round here.

"Political commentary," they call it.

Go through here.

Clean yourself up.

Thank you so much.

Lady Marlborough.

I didn't know the new sewer ended in here.

It is I, Abigail.

Dear cousin.

I have a letter from our aunt...

and...

I'm sorry, I did not mean to present as a...

I fell out of a carriage.

And a man was pulling his...

Never mind the man.

The letter from our aunt.

Friends of yours?

I'm sorry.

Your name, girl. If we are blood, name it.

I did not?

- Abigail Hill. - The Somerset Hills?

The one who went mad and burnt his own house down, himself in it?

Lost all his money at whist.

No one bets on whist.

My uncle was one of a kind.

I apologize for my appearance.

The staff led me here. A harmless prank of some sort, I suspect.

And you want...

I hoped I might be employed here by you... as something.

A monster for the children to play with, perhaps?

Yes, if you like.

A palace.

You seem angry at my good fortune and I thought we were friends.

I really doubt you've made that mistake.

I was actuallyjust teasing. I thought you'd see that.

It will not stand.

Well, it will if I build it using the finest craftsmen in the land.

I hope it will stand for 100 years

as a symbol of my husband's gallant victory.

Listen, I applaud your husband's gallant victory,

but considering the parlous state of the treasury,

it seems something the queen should've taken advice from her loyal opposition on.

Oh, but then it would've lost its delightful surprise element.

Cunt!

Horatio has done it again.

Prime Minister, we need to discuss who will go to the French

- with the peace treaty proposal. - We do not need a peace treaty proposal.

We have them on the run.

So they will give in to us.

One battle will not win the war.

I have held my party together, as we the country landowners

have essentially paid for this entire war...

And grateful we are, too.

...while city merchants enrich themselves from it.

And yet I do not see your fat tweedy dead when I look out upon the battlefield.

We're out of money. My point.

The French are chastened, but not defeated, Harley.

We must destroy them.

Make them sue for peace with broken hearts and begging backs.

- How sweet your wife is, Marlborough. - Sweet and right.

I cannot agree. We must take it to the queen.

If you'd be kind enough to arrange a time, Lady Marlborough.

Of course.

I'm ready for the Russian ambassador.

Who did your makeup?

We went for something dramatic. Do you like it?

You look like a badger.

Oh.

Are you going to cry? Really?

Well, what do you think you look like?

A badger.

Do you really think you can meet the Russian delegation looking like that?

No.

I will manage it.

Get back to your rooms.

Thank you.

Did you just look at me? Did you?

Look at me! Look at me!

How dare you? Close your eyes!

Hello.

Hello.

Mrs. Meg says you are to scrub the floor

until she can see her toothless, fat face in it.

Sorry.

You might need gloves.

Lye is dangerous. It burns bad.

Sarah!

I'm here.

I'm here.

You! Grab the bandage box off the shelf.

The queen's had an attack of gout. Hurry!

Mrs. Meg, brandy.

It hurts.

My dearest, I know.

Cousin, the beef.

Tell me a story.

I can't.

Gently.

- I can't. - Yes, you can.

Cousin, start wrapping.

Everyone else, leave please.

How we first met. Tell me that.

The wretched Cheever boy had me on the ground

and he was holding me and dropping spittle in my face.

He is still a pig. Then what?

And then I heard footsteps.

Fast footsteps.

And I saw these pink shoes running towards me.

And then they disappeared.

And then I heard a crack.

And then he fell off me.

And you held my hand and said, "Hello. I'm Sarah.

You're covered in spittle. Let's wash you off. "

Do you remember how his jaw just hung there?

I do.

You must try to sleep.

You may go.

- Don't leave me! - I won't.

- Are you still there? - Yes.

- Are you still there? - Yes.

For the queen. The doctor's ordered it immediately.

It's a matter of extreme urgency.

She's sleeping.

Shall I tell the doctor you imperiled the queen's health

and let you rue the ramifications?

What does "ramific... "

It means he will have you whipped.

What are you doing?

This is peleatis, the herb.

I cut some this morning.

It reduces swelling and inflammation. I thought it may help the queen.

You cannot just walk in here.

Why did the footman let you through?

It's not his fault. I lied to him.

The prime minister and Mr. Marlborough.

I just wanted to help her. She seemed to suffer so much.

Footman.

Take her downstairs.

Tell Mrs. Meg she is to receive six of the birch. Go.

It's peleatis, the herb.

Anne, you must focus.

We gather our forces here. The Austrians mass here.

Which country is that again?

Listen. Marlborough.

This is the town of Lille,

in a valley in France.

We lure them in by sending a small force to engage them.

They give chase.

We descend in numbers from above.

- Hear, hear! - Hear, hear! It is an excellent plan.

Queen Anne, do you agree?

The people expect it to be over.

Well, we all want it to be over, but wishing does not make it so.

We could sue for peace, but we will not get it.

It does help.

What?

There's something soothing on my legs, it takes the burn out. What is it?

Oh, herbs, of some sort.

Please, please.

What is going on?

Do her in the barn, if that's what it is, not in my kitchen.

Her Ladyship says six of the birch for this one.

Stop.

Let her go.

Come with me.

So, you are perhaps too kind for your own good.

It has been said.

Which leads to stupidity.

The queen is soothed somewhat, so I thank you.

You will get me some more of those herbs

and not overstep again.

My father always spoke highly of you.

I liked your father.

He had charm to burn.

Then I guess he did.

You have fallen far.