W.E.

Some people called it the greatest love story of the 20th century.

The king who gave up his throne for the woman he loved.

Wallis Simpson, as she was known,

was not distinguished by great beauty, money or class.

But 40 years later she would

spark a constitutional crisis,

when the King of England, Edward VIII, decided to abdicate,

in order to marry this twice-divorced American woman.

Exiled and stripped of a kingdom,

they become the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Their romantic legend lives on today.

Hey, Wally, it's me. I'm still in DC.

I'm not gonna make it back tonight.

I haven't even made my speech yet.

Gotta run. I'll see you tomorrow.

Love you.

Wallis had been married twice,

before her romance with the Prince.

Her first husband, Navy Lieutenant Earl Winfield Spencer,

swept Wallis off to the exotic world of Shanghai in 1924.

The marriage ended in divorce three years later.

Wallis?!

Wallis?! Where the fuck are you?

I'm in the bath!

Where's my dinner? I'm hungry!

Don't you tell me to wait!

I want my food now.

I waited six hours for you.

Win, not the baby!

I'm hungry.

This is a very unusual situation, Wally.

Well, what are my options?

You're only 28.

One of your options would be to relax and keep trying.

We've been married six years.

We've never used birth control.

I'd like to start IVF.

What about your husband? Would he be willing to come in?

- There could be something... - No. He wouldn't.

He says he got his girlfriend pregnant in college.

Still, IVF is a very aggressive approach for a woman of your age.

Perhaps I could refer you to a nutritionist?

Or maybe you and your husband could go away on a vacation?

My husband doesn't take vacations.

Excuse me, everyone, I would like to make a toast.

I know you heard it earlier at the awards ceremony,

but I would like to personally thank you, William,

for all of your hard work on behalf of terminally ill children

and for your tireless effort and support for our foundation.

You could easily make a fortune as a shrink,

treating the problems of the rich and shameless.

What's wrong with the rich and shameless?!

Absolutely nothing, Daphne, as long as you keep writing the checks.

To our very own Prince of Wales, Dr. William Winthrop.

To William!

Your husband, what can I say? Generous, smart, and PS, gorgeous!

Lucky you.

Wally.

- Wally. - Arabella.

How are you?

- You must be so proud of William. - It's such an honor.

What's it going to take to get you two down to the Hamptons this summer?

Edgar's starting to think you don't like us!

That's not true. I just wish I could get William to go away for the weekend.

He never wants to leave his patients.

Well, that's why he wins the awards.

- You are such a lucky girl. - Thank you. I'll see you inside.

Her name was Bessie Wallis Warfield.

She was born into a poor, southern family on June 19th, 1896.

Forty years later, the King of England,

the handsome and dashing Edward Vlll,

fell in love and decided to marry this American woman.

Tomorrow, Sotheby's begins previewing their impressive estate.

An estate now owned by Mohammed Al Fayed,

the colorful and controversial owner of Harrods in London.

Sotheby's says they will be auctioning off more than 44,000 pieces of history.

Objects which tell a tale of luxury and romance.

Who's the blonde?

What blonde?

The one you were talking to all night?

I talked to a lot of people tonight.

Everyone but me.

Is that your new girlfriend?

You're my new girlfriend.

Very funny.

Well, if it isn't Sotheby's number one research hotshot.

- Tenten! - Oh, my God.

- I miss having you around! - I miss being here.

Oh, please! What do you miss about being overworked and underpaid?

- Everything. - You look great!

Miss Brooks needs help with the luggage vignette.

Don't you dare leave without filling me in.

I want to hear everything, married lady.

All right.

Marie?

Oui, madame.

Oui, madame.

- I'm sorry. I didn't... - No.

It's no problem. We have plenty of 18th century crystal in the back.

I believe it's 19th century.

I went to the fertility doctor today.

Does she know what's wrong with you?

Yeah, I need to relax.

I want to go through with IVF.

IVF?

You can't make these decisions without consulting me.

You're never around.

Jesus Christ...

We're talking about children, William.

No...

You're talking about children.

Oh, come on, they were Nazis. Or at least Nazi sympathizers.

- Says who? - Everyone.

It's common knowledge. Thank you.

They went to Germany in the '30s, met with Hitler.

Because Edward was desperate to avoid a war.

They might have been naive, but doesn't make them... Nazis.

- It's all documented, Wally. - Well, it's not actually.

- Most of it's based on rumor. - Let's agree to disagree.

I thought doctors relied on empirical evidence, not gossip.

This doctor is off duty tonight.

Lucky me.

- Speed limit. - Civil War.

- Old news. - Bad luck.

Safe sex.

Unconditional love.

- Tongue twister, or spoonerism? - I'll definitely have a tongue twister,

because I don't even know what a spoonerism is.

- You don't know what a spoonerism is? - I don't, I'm afraid, miss.

- I don't believe that. - Try this one.

Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran...

- You make it sound so sexy. - ...in a truly rural way.

Hm?

Try that.

Shit. I've got to go back to the hospital.

- Now? - Yeah.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Wait up for me, all right?

- OK. - Bye.

Hello, New York Presbyterian.

Is Dr. Winthrop there?

- Uh, no. We haven't seen him tonight. - Are you sure?

- Yes, ma'am. I'm quite sure. - All right. Thank you.

- Bless you. - Thank you. This infernal cold!

Look, we don't have to go to this thing.

Are you out of your mind? I've spent six months ingratiating myself

with Thelma to get us this invitation.

I understand that, Wallis. But you're not feeling well.

That's not the point. I'm not letting Thelma down.

You know how hard she works to make these weekends perfect

for His Royal Highness.

We can't disappoint him.

Disappoint him? He doesn't even know us.

Which is precisely why we're going, Ernest darling.

I swear, you are the most stubborn woman I have ever met.

Excuse us.

I'm just trying to be polite.

Thank you, darling.

Oh, there's one left!

You know what I don't understand? Why Thelma calls the Prince, "David,"

- when his name is really Edward. - His full name:

Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David.

Only his family call him David.

Thelma is not family.

I'm sure she'd like to be.

Bless you.

Can you believe we're here?

Ooh!

Darling...

...I'm just happy to get away with you somewhere.

Ernest, we have to practice.

- Yes... Yes, OK. - Come here.

Your Highness.

- Left foot. - OK.

- One, two, three. - One, two, three.

- Two, two, three. - Two, two... Ow!

Sorry.

I hope you don't mind if I dance with the prince.

Darling...

...I'll be upset if you don't.

- David. - Mm.

Connie, you look lovely.

How are you, darling?

- Connie. - Goodness me.

Hello.

Your Royal Highness.

How do you find living in England, Mrs. Simpson?

I love it.

Except for the lack of central heating. I'm always cold.

Maybe you need someone to keep you warm.

Isn't that what husbands are for?

I don't know, what are husbands for?

You might have to marry someone to find out, sir.

And how do you find marriage, Mrs. Simpson?

Everything's a compromise, isn't it?

Doesn't sound very romantic.

Ah, romance.

That's another matter altogether, Your Highness.

Are all Americans girls such good dancers?

I wouldn't know, sir. I haven't danced with many.