The Drunken Feathers

Scene VIII

(Buckingham House, an hour later. PITT awkwardly stands in front of KING GEORGE III, who sits on his throne. The atmosphere is tense and uncomfortable.)

KING GEORGE III

So... that fat, graceless wastrel has won the Westminster seat, has he?

PITT

It would appear so, Your Majesty.

KING GEORGE III

Let it be known in the Commons tomorrow that every man who voted for Fox is an enemy of the Crown.

PITT

Very good, sir.

KING GEORGE III

Tell me, sir—and do not spare my nerves—was His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales present at Parliament today?

PITT

(Nervous, after a pause)

He was, Your Majesty, for a short time only. I suspect it was only to visit the House of Lords.

KING GEORGE III

And does he now celebrate in the streets with the other revolutionaries? Your young eyes are stronger than mine. Go to the window there and tell me if you see His Royal Highness in the crowd.

(PITT goes to the window and looks around. Everyone is cheering and wearing the Whigs' colors, buff and blue. He soon spots the PRINCE OF WALES standing on a wall with the DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE on one side of him and the DUCHESS OF PORTLAND on the other side. The ladies wear fox tails in their hats, and the PRINCE OF WALES cheerfully shouts, "Fox Forever!" Not wanting to agitate the King, PITT decides to tell a white lie. He turns around to face him.)

PITT

His Royal Highness does not appear to have joined in the celebrations, Your Majesty. He is not in my sight.

(PITT walks back to KING GEORGE III, who sighs wearily and relaxes a little.)

KING GEORGE III

Good, good.

(Beat)

I fear I no longer understand our world, Mr. Pitt. First America rebels, and now the people of Westminster have elected a dangerous enemy of their King, the one they ought to love above all else! My country is crumbling beneath me.

(Becoming emotional)

What shall I do? What shall become of me?

PITT

Your Majesty need not worry. I shall defend the monarchy till I draw my last breath, as too will every Tory and moderate Whig; in short, every decent person with some grasp of morality.

KING GEORGE III

Forgive me, sir. My nerves have got the better of me. A king has no one to fear but God.

(Beat)

But that Fox may be my demise yet. If only the Prince had chosen you as a friend instead of that beast.

PITT

I should have been glad to accept His Royal Highness' friendship, had it ever been offered to me.

KING GEORGE III

For that, you must be thankful, Pitt, for I daresay he would make rather a lousy friend. For you see, instead of comforting his poor, nervous father in these trying times, I am convinced the Prince of Wales is off rejoicing in my demise somewhere.

PITT

I doubt a gentleman such as the Prince of Wales could have malice enough to treat Your Majesty so ill. It could be that His Royal Highness is merely resting at home, perhaps reading or attending to his garden, as I am apt to do when the streets are too crowded.

(Cut to SCENE IX.)