The Drunken Feathers

Scene xxxxvi

The PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK ride in the former's carriage in Kew. The words 'FEBRUARY 23, 1789' appear. Inside the carriage, the PRINCE OF WALES looks very sullenly out of his window, and the DUKE OF YORK tries to cheer him up.

DUKE OF YORK: Did you write Mr. Pitt about his restrictive Regency Bill that was just passed?

PRINCE OF WALES: [Nods his head]

DUKE OF YORK: Were you able to persuade him to withdraw it?

PRINCE OF WALES: [Shakes his head]

DUKE OF YORK: I am sorry for it, but at least you will still be Prince Regent... Do you gather His Majesty will be glad to see us today?

PRINCE OF WALES: [Shrugs]

DUKE OF YORK: I do hope his temper has improved, and that the Queen will not admonish us for arriving two hours late.

The carriage stops in front of the White House in Kew Palace. The PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK are let out of the carriage and enter the house, where they ascend the stairs and step into the QUEEN CHARLOTTE's apartments. Upon entering the room, they find QUEEN CHARLOTTE sitting in a chair, a long piece of cloth stretching from her chin to the top of her head. The PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK bow stiffly to her, and she coldly nods to them.

DUKE OF YORK: Is Your Majesty ill?

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: [Caustically] I am plagued with toothache.

DUKE OF YORK: I pray that your tooth will soon cease to trouble you.

PRINCE OF WALES: [Impatient] Where is the King? We were promised we could see him today, and-

Just then, the door on the opposite side of the room opens. Slowly and steadily, KING GEORGE III enters using his walking-stick, followed by WILLIS. Upon seeing his sons, KING GEORGE III smiles, and tears of happiness stream down his face. The PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK- secretly mortified to see their father in such good health, as this would threaten the need for a regency- look at each other before turning back to their father. KING GEORGE III approaches the DUKE OF YORK and, after looking at him for a moment, hugs him dearly. He then turns to the PRINCE OF WALES, and hugs him as well. The PRINCE OF WALES, shocked at receiving so much affection from his father, slowly and awkwardly wraps his arms around KING GEORGE III, and hugs him back. KING GEORGE III then releases him, and looks at both his sons with extreme joy.

PRINCE OF WALES: [Anxious] Your Majesty, you look...well.

KING GEORGE III: [Quietly] I feel well, George. I feel excellent! I believe I am all but ill.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: [Coldly, to the PRINCE OF WALES] Is it not a miracle, sir? Mr. Willis says that His Majesty is rapidly approaching a full recovery.

DUKE OF YORK: [Faintly smiling] It...It is wonderful, yes...

KING GEORGE III: Oh! Allow me to introduce you both to my favorite physician in all the world, Mr. Francis Willis.

WILLIS looks upon the PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK coldly, and bows to them. They bow to him with equal coldness.

KING GEORGE III: Come, come! I shall show you how he managed to cure me.

WILLIS, the PRINCE OF WALES, and the DUKE OF YORK follow KING GEORGE III into his bedchamber. KING GEORGE III shows his sons his 'coronation chair,' the restrictive chair that holds down the wrists and ankles of whoever sits in it.

KING GEORGE III: This is what I call my 'coronation chair.' I am made to sit in it whenever I am violent, swear, refuse to eat, or talk indecently, but this punishment has not been inflicted upon me for several weeks, now.

WILLIS smiles at his patient, and KING GEORGE III sits in the chair.

KING GEORGE III: My ankles and wrists would be tied down to the arms and legs of the chair, and sometimes, when I had that terrible habit of speaking for hours at a time- enough to draw foam to my lips- he would shove a handkerchief into my mouth to keep me quiet! [Chuckles softly] But I now acknowledge that it was for my good all along.

KING GEORGE III stands and walks to a table, where several small jars sit.

KING GEORGE III: My physicians used these jars to blister my skin to divert the 'morbid humors' from my mind. I was also given many medicines, some of which made me more ill than I had been before. But besides all this, in more recent weeks, I have improved my Latin, and I have even learned how to play piquet.

They begin to walk back into QUEEN CHARLOTTE's apartments, where she is slowly pacing the floor back and forth with one hand on her jaw.

KING GEORGE III: That is all I have to say about myself. George, tell me about your horses, would you? What have you been feeding them?

PRINCE OF WALES: Wheat...hay.

KING GEORGE III: No, no, that will not do. You must feed them carrots, and lots of them! The carrots will improve their eyesight, and if they can see well, they can run well. What is the height of your tallest horse?

PRINCE OF WALES: About sixteen hands.

KING GEORGE III: Feed him spinach, and he might grow even taller. Frederick! How is your regiment?

DUKE OF YORK: It is growing larger by the day, Your Majesty. We are receiving many new recruits.

KING GEORGE III: Good, good! [To QUEEN CHARLOTTE] My Queen! You look very distraught indeed. Are you unwell?

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: [Glaring at her sons] It is only my toothache, Your Majesty.

KING GEORGE III: Oh. I am sorry that it ails you so. [To the PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK] Now, tell me: how have you two occupied yourselves during my illness? It must have been quite tedious and melancholic without me around- why, I daresay all you could bear to do was sit about Windsor, praying for my health and awaiting my return.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE glares at the PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK, who avoid their parents' eyes. Cut to ACT II, SCENE XXXXVII.