The day of the concert. The words MARCH 10, 1789' appear. The PRINCE OF WALES and DUKE OF YORK- both wearing Whig colors, buff and blue- are driven in the former's carriage. All along the streets, people boo and hiss at them, much to their annoyance.
DUKE OF YORK: It appears that the people have turned against us, George.
PRINCE OF WALES: [Irritated] That much is obvious, Frederick. And they haven't turned against us; only me. They still tolerate you.
DUKE OF YORK: Still, we were both invited to the King's recovery concert.
PRINCE OF WALES: Yes, I know, but-
Suddenly, the carriage stops.
PRINCE OF WALES: [Suspicious and alarmed] Why have we stopped?
The DUKE OF YORK shrugs. They both look out the window, and see that a giant mob of several-hundred people has surrounded and apprehended the carriage. The crowd repeatedly chants 'Long Live the King.'
PRINCE OF WALES: Oh, for God's sake! What could they possibly want now?
DUKE OF YORK: Open the glass! If you repeat them, they might permit us to pass through.
The PRINCE OF WALES opens the window, and the chanting grows louder.
CROWD: Long live the King!
PRINCE OF WALES: Long live the King!
CROWD: Long live the King!
PRINCE OF WALES: Yes, yes. Long live the King.
CROWD: Pitt forever! Long live Pitt!
PRINCE OF WALES: [Vehemently] Fox forever!
This infuriates the crowd so much that they push themselves against the carriage, nearly knocking it over. On the other side, the crowd opens the door. The DUKE OF YORK pushes the people back, and finally closes the door. The PRINCE OF WALES, terrified, sticks his head out of the window.
PRINCE OF WALES: [To the driver] Drive on! Drive on! For God's sake, drive on!
The driver finds enough room for the carriage to drive off, and gets a bumpy start as the horses run as fast as they can. The crowd continues to chase them as they drive away. Cut to ACT II, SCENE XXXXIX.
YOU ARE READING
The Drunken Feathers
Historical FictionIn this biographical series that begins in 1784, twenty-one-year-old George, Prince of Wales-- the eldest son of King George III and heir to the British throne-- spends his youth idly by keeping countless mistresses, drinking profusely, and making f...
