The Drunken Feathers

Scene xxxxi

Carlton House, later that night. The exterior is shown, then the interior. In the drawing room, the PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK are drunk with COLONEL LEGER, HANGER, KEMBLE, COSWAY, WINDHAM, CAPTAIN PAYNE, and many others. They roar with laughter as the PRINCES mock KING GEORGE III.

PRINCE OF WALES: Now, the first time I saw the King when he was mad, it was in church. In church, I tell you! Frederick, here, had warned me of his lunacy, but I hadn't believed him. No, no, no. But not five minutes into the sermon, the King jumped out of his seat, [He stands up] brought the Queen and princesses up with him, [The DUKE OF YORK stands up] and shouted-

PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK: 'You know what it is to be nervous, but was you ever as bad as this?'

Everyone laughs.

DUKE OF YORK: Oh! Oh! Do you recall the concert at Windsor?

PRINCE OF WALES: [Bursts into laughter] The concert! Oh, God! That was the best concert of my life, I tell you! Remember when the King-

DUKE OF YORK: He stood from his seat-

PRINCE OF WALES: And shouted at the musicians to play louder! 'Louder! Louder! I cannot hear you! Louder!' For God's sake, I had more sense at age five than he does at age fifty!

Everyone laughs again. The PRINCE OF WALES, still smiling, quiets down and sits, drink in hand. Everyone quiets down a little to listen.

PRINCE OF WALES: When I am Prince Regent- when, mind you, not if- I will finally exercise my birthright by ruling with full power of the monarch. My allowance will double, I will take control of all the royal residences and affairs, I will make Mrs. Fitzherbert a duchess, and I will organize my own government the way it ought to be, with the Whigs in power and the Tories far from it... After years of being scorned and patronized, I will prove that I am much more than the foolish lecher everyone still presumes me to be.

Cut to ACT II, SCENE XXXXII.