The Crown

Why are the English still with us?

Why, after everything we've thrown at them,

does the British presence in Ireland still endure?

So many sacrifices have been made.

So many of our brothers and sisters have given their lives

in resistance to that occupation, but we are still ignored.

We are still denied our basic right to self-determination,

and our sons and brothers, husbands and fathers

are still held in British jails.

Well, if nothing has changed, then, my friends, it is time for a new approach.

Eyes right!

That is why our leadership has issued a new directive.

This is from the very top.

Today, the Irish republican struggle for freedom enters a new phase.

The time has come to escalate our efforts,

redouble our militancy, spill more blood,

so that the crown retreats and leaves Ireland forever.

No Charles? He didn't stay for lunch?

Couldn't wait to get away. I heard he doesn't eat lunch anymore.

- Whyever not? How queer. - Perhaps he wants to keep his figure.

How is he, Dickie? He talks more to you than to anyone.

Well, I'm afraid it's now clear the Navy is not for him.

- I wasn't talking about his career. - She means matters of the heart.

He comes to you with all of that.

We get to read about it in the newspapers like everyone else.

This westmorland girl I've been reading about, in or out?

Oh, she's out.

- There was a guinness. - She's gone too.

And one in a bathing costume.

- Caroline long man. - Was she the one with the whip?

Not a whip. Whiplash.

- No, that was Anna Wallace. - Heck of a horsewoman.

No, she broke it off with him.

And am I right? At one point, was there even a borgia?

Yes. Christabel.

Was she even a serious contender, with that name?

- From what I gather, the latest is... - Sarah Spencer.

Johnny's girl?

- His eldest, yes. - Oh, I rather like that idea.

We all do. She's fun, she's clever...

And unlike a certain Mrs. Parker bowles, she's not married.

Oh, he's not still seeing her, surely?

- After all the lengths we went to. - Well, we can't be surprised.

He was following the advice he was given, wasn't he, Dickie?

You were the one who encouraged it.

Telling him to sow his oats, play the field?

No thought for his duty?

Well, all the more reason to cheer for Sarah.

Your royal highness.

I thought we 'd ride out.

There's a lovely lodge the other side of high wood we can go to

where we can be alone.

Your royal highness. Ma'am, telephone for you. Mr. O'keefe.

That's the estate office with the key to the lodge.

- Can I leave you here for a minute, sir? - Yes.

Sorry. I'm not here.

I was given strict instructions to remain out of sight,

but I have to get to that room over there, and this is the only way.

Your royal highness.

Well, I haven't seen a thing.

Thank you, sir.

It's quite a costume.

Is it a complete disaster?

We're doing a midsummer night's dream at school.

I love midsummer night's dream.

So do I.

All the characters have such wonderful names.

Flute, snout, good fellow.

Snug, quince.

Bottom!

Yes, bottom.

They gave that part to a girl called Francesca lamont,

who also happens to have the most enormous backside.

She took it personally.

She's had a bit of a nervous breakdown.

I'm Sarah's younger sister, by the way.

Please don't tell her you saw me. I'll get into terrible trouble.

She wanted everything to be just perfect. She wouldn't want me to scare you off.

- How would you do that? - Well, you know...

By being a mad tree.

- I won't say a thing. - Thank you, sir.

Keys. Got them. Right. Ready?

- Ready. - Is everything all right?

Yes. I just met your younger sister.

Did you? That's sneaky of her.

- I told her to leave us alone. - She was just passing through.

Well, she could have gone on the outside,

but she was obsessed with the idea of meeting you.

- Was she? - Obsessed.

The last opinion poll, published just over an hour ago,

gives the tories a 16% lead...

It is a wonderful day. First of all for britain...

Tuc concordat was now a dead document, though that didn't mean...

It is her grit and remarkable stamina that has kept her center stage

- throughout this election. - Mrs. Thatcher believes you've...

We are very... we are very confident.

Is a woman with a mission.

We are very...

She believes the ordinary people of britain will help to...

We are very confident.

Or 21 percent...

- Mrs. Thatcher, are you feeling confident? - Are you gonna win today, Mrs. Thatcher?

I will not be drawn on any subject save the weather.

It's a lovely day.

It's looking like a comfortable victory for the conservative party

and the prospect of our first-ever woman prime minister.

- What do we know about Margaret Thatcher? - That's the last thing this country needs.

- What? - Two women running the shop.

Perhaps that's precisely what this country needs.

I rather like what I've seen of her so far.

What, the shopkeeper's daughter?

An alderman shopkeeper's daughter,

who worked hard and gained a scholarship to Oxford.

Yes, to study chemistry.

Yes, but later changed direction and qualified as a barrister

while raising twin children. You try doing that.

What about her character?

It says here,

"as a young woman, she applied for a job as a food research chemist

and was rejected after the personnel department assessed her

as being headstrong, obstinate, and dangerously self-opinionated."

Really? Who else around here does that sound like?

You must be hopeful. The polls show you comfortably ahead.

We never count our chickens before they're hatched,

and we don't count number 10 downing street before it's thatched.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

What we 're seeing now is history in the making.

Britain's first woman prime minister,

a conviction politician who's made no secret of the fact

she believes the country has to change from top to bottom,

going to the palace, presumably to tell her queen exactly that.

Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher, follow me, please.

The leader of the opposition, your majesty.

Mrs. Thatcher.

Your majesty.

Your party has won the election.

It is my very great pleasure to invite you to form a government in my name.

- Congratulations, prime minister. - Thank you, ma'am.

Please.

Your family must be very proud. You've two children?

Yes, but grown-up now and out of the house.

And your husband is retired. Is that right?

Yes, but he won't get in the way, if that's what you're asking.

Denis is very good at taking care of himself.

His golf clubs will be in the hallway. He will come and go as he pleases.

He knows how busy I will be, and how hard I intend to work.

To business then.

- Have you decided on your first cabinet? - I have.

It may surprise you that I enjoy predicting ministerial comings and goings.

It is like the races.

I like to study form and odds. Who's in. Who's out.

I also like to predict cabinets.

My best so far was Mr. Wilson's second reshuffle.

I got 90%.

Would you like to hear my predictions for yours?

I'm assuming no women.

- Women? - In cabinet.

Oh, certainly not.

Well, not just because there aren't any suitable candidates,

but I have found women in general tend not to be suited to high office.

Why's that?

Well, they become too emotional.

I doubt you'll have that trouble with me.

Now, Willie white law. Home office?

- Geoffrey howe. Treasury? - Yes.

- Hailsham. Lord chancellor? - Yes.

Walker, heseltine, biffen, prior...

She got most of them right.

She didn't guess St. John-stevas as minister for the arts,

but that's only because she'd already correctly picked him

- for the leader of the house. - Smart cookie!

Yes. Quite different to how I imagined.

More interested and informed.

With a commendable appetite for work,

which I'm told she keeps up throughout the summer holidays.

I left thinking we might work very well together.

Two menopausal women. That'll be a smooth ride.

I heard that.

- I don't mean to put extra stress on you. - To be that tacky... it's disgusting.

It's certainly lovely to be back. Thank you.

Are you going stalking with the boss?

- She insisted. - Good.

Obviously, your life is your own business,

and your career as a show jumper is your own business too,

but I heard you're thinking of withdrawing from competition.

Is that true?

Yes. I've had such a bad run recently.

With badminton coming up and a chance for olympic competition?

I know, but Mark has decided to compete himself this year

and that would mean us training together, being on the circuit together.

I see.

Is that such a bad thing?

- He is your husband. - Just about.

We were...

We were all so proud having an actual olympian in the family.

An olympian who's spent much of the past year on her backside.

Oh, come on. This isn't like you.

Remind me. What is "like me"?

I seem not to just have forgotten how to ride, but who I am.

Well, then let me remind you.