The Drunken Feathers

Scene l

The concert has by now concluded, and the banquet has begun. A long table has been set up in the dining room, and the entire court, along with the ROYAL FAMILY, sits at it and chatters along happily. As usual, KING GEORGE III sits at the head of the table, with the PRINCE OF WALES on his left, QUEEN CHARLOTTE on his right, the DUKE OF YORK on the PRINCE OF WALES' left, and the PRINCESSES at QUEEN CHARLOTTE's right. The PRINCE OF WALES takes hold of his butter knife and is about to butter his bread, but then remembers what happened the last time he tried to do that. He and KING GEORGE III make eye contact, so the former drops his knife back onto the table.

KING GEORGE III: What is the trouble? Go on and butter your bread.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: [To KING GEORGE III] Perhaps he had better not, Your Majesty. A leaner diet would do him no harm.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE leans over and begins whispering in KING GEORGE III's ear. Now and then they glance over at the PRINCE OF WALES, who tries his best to listen unnoticed.

KING GEORGE III: Mm-hmm... Yes, he always was voracious... Must be nearly fifteen stone by now... Gradually, indeed, but more so in recent years...Especially about the chin...

The self-conscious PRINCE OF WALES hears this last remark and yanks up his cravat so that it conceals his mild double chin. He then pushes his plate away from him.

KING GEORGE III: Now what is the matter with you?

PRINCE OF WALES: I've lost my appetite.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: Don't be so infantile, George.

PRINCE OF WALES: I am not being-

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: [In a harsh whisper] Oh, hush, for heaven's sake, lest you should start another row.

The PRINCE OF WALES sits back in his chair and sulkily stares down at the table with his arms crossed. After a moment, he looks up and sees his sisters, the PRINCESS ROYAL, PRINCESS AUGUSTA, and PRINCESS ELIZABETH, whispering to one another and glaring at him.

PRINCE OF WALES: What is it?

PRINCESS ROYAL: I should think it was quite obvious. Is it not, Elizabeth?

PRINCESS ELIZABETH: Of course it is, Charlotte. Everyone has noticed. [To the PRINCE OF WALES] Absolutely everyone.

PRINCE OF WALES: Well?

PRINCESS ROYAL: [Whispering] You are wearing buff and blue!

PRINCE OF WALES: [Looks down at his clothes] So I am. Why is my clothing of any consequence?

PRINCESS ELIZABETH: [Whispering] The colors belonging to the Whig party!

PRINCESS ROYAL: Everybody else is wearing red, the color belonging to the Tory party.

PRINCESS AUGUSTA: Father requested that everybody wear red. Did you not know?

PRINCE OF WALES: Well, Augusta, it appears I did not.

PRINCESS ROYAL: Your Royal Highness' arrival surprised me exceedingly. I was sure the Queen's invitation would have discouraged your coming at all; I read it before she sent it out, you understand.

PRINCE OF WALES: Did you really?

PRINCESS ROYAL: I pray you didn't take the Queen's invitation as sincere. Oh, no. It was anything but that. The Queen suggested that the King refrain from asking you to attend the concert altogether, but His Majesty complained that you would come anyway and start an uproar if he did. The Queen decided that you and Frederick should come, but that she would write you a personal invitation explaining that the concert was really designed to be attended only by those who had remained loyal to our father during his illness.

PRINCE OF WALES: And Frederick and I have remained steadfast in our dedication to the King, just as everyone else here has.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: [Muttering to the PRINCESS ROYAL] Charlotte, why are you conversing with the Prince of Wales?

PRINCESS ROYAL: I was only-

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: I instructed you and your sisters to refrain from speaking to His Royal Highness tonight.

PRINCE OF WALES: Let me assure Your Majesty that the Princesses are not disturbing me in the least.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: I am speaking to the Princess Royal, sir, and would greatly appreciate if you would instead talk to the Duke of York.

PRINCE OF WALES: Am I no longer permitted to talk to my own sisters?

DUKE OF YORK: George-

PRINCE OF WALES: No, no, Frederick. Let me hear the Queen's answer.

KING GEORGE III: [To himself] I knew all along the Prince's presence would cause a disturbance.

PRINCE OF WALES: I am not a disturbance!

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: George Augustus Frederick!

The dining hall grows quieter as everyone turns their attention toward the head of the table. The PRINCE OF WALES' face turns bright red when he notices that everyone is staring at him.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: Can you not see that you are making a fool of yourself whilst in the presence of the entire Court? For once in your life, obey your-

PRINCE OF WALES: I always obey-

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: Silence! All you can do, being the pestilence that you are, is shame your family and dishonor your title. Never in your life have you ever adhered to a single command the King or I have given you; there is no soul who is less deserving of attending this concert than yourself, but since you have come, the preferable manner for you to spend the remainder of dinner would be to refrain from speaking altogether.

PRINCE OF WALES: [Irritably places his napkin on the table] Actually, Your Majesty, I would prefer to excuse myself from the table and step outside.

KING GEORGE III: What for?

PRINCE OF WALES: So that I might take in a breath of fresh air and relieve myself of a most irritable headache.

The PRINCE OF WALES stands from his seat and exits. The DUKE OF YORK also stands and watches him leave. He almost follows him, but is stopped by QUEEN CHARLOTTE.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: Frederick!

DUKE OF YORK: I want to ascertain that the Prince of Wales is alright.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: He is well enough. Take your seat.

DUKE OF YORK: But I must-

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: If you leave this room, sir, you will not be let back in.

The DUKE OF YORK contemplates his options for a moment, looking from his parents to the door and back again.

DUKE OF YORK: [Quietly] Forgive me.

The DUKE OF YORK timidly exits. Cut to ACT II, SCENE LI.