The King's Speech Page #2

NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN - Chancellor of the Exchequer. Tall, thin,

lugubrious, with the expression of a quizzical chicken hawk.

A BBC technician places a huge imposing microphone suspended on

springs next to the stadium equipment. It looks frightening,

even to us. Bertie's shoulders brace as though expecting a

blow. Elizabeth sees his terror.

TKS/Seidler/09/17/08 5.

ELIZABETH:

Why wasn't he told?

COSMO LANG:

Ten million people listening around the

world, Mam. Possibly more.

(as though Bertie didn't

exist)

His brother, and father, have been

broadcasting since last year.

The King, growing impatient, hisses:

KING GEORGE V:

Get on with it. Show what you're made of!

Bertie moves forward diffidently, without an ounce of

confidence, knowing deep within he's doomed. His stomach knots,

chest muscles contract, constricting his breath.

BERTIE:

Luh-luh-lords, la-la-ladies, gen-tell-men.

It is a shock to realize this is a man with a profound stutter.

A man who cannot speak in public.

Lang whispers to Churchill. When Lang whispers, everyone can

hear.

COSMO LANG:

I wouldn't miss His Highness' maiden voyage

for all the world. And on such an important

occasion.

Lang really is a piece of work.

For ease of reading, Bertie's stutter is not indicated from this

point on in the script.

BERTIE:

No doubt you wish the Prince Of Wales was

standing before you today.

POV - a sea of dripping umbrellas. No response. This is going

to be a torment for him, and his audience.

7 INT. BBC BROADCASTING STUDIO - DAY 7

A glowing dial on the face of a studio radio. Everyone

listening intently.

TKS/Seidler/09/17/08 6.

BERTIE (ON RADIO)

(stuttering profoundly)

Be that as it may...my brother David is

attending to other duties in the furthest

parts of this vast Empire...

The radio falls silent. Eyes widen in concern.

8 EXT. WEMBLEY STADIUM - DAY 8

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