Original subtitles

…of his party.

Mr. Heseltine says Britain should reach for the levers of power

if only to prevent others pulling them first.

One dead in an Ulster gun battle between soldiers and terrorists.

Police make arrests over ballot rigging in the transport union.

Confusion over plastic clingfilm…

Thank you, dear.

…government's cancer warning. And animals to the slaughter.

How the RSPCA hopes to stop live animal exports.

Michael Heseltine was speaking to a conference in Hamburg.

Mr. Heseltine is now on his way back to London

to be in the Commons this afternoon.

There, Sir Geoffrey Howe is expected to spell out in detail

the reasons for his resignation.

Is there anything Sir Geoffrey is likely to say

that could influence Mr. Heseltine on whether to throw his hat in the ring?

Well, Sir Geoffrey is an extremely cautious man.

I suspect that his speech will be carefully written,

and I just wonder whether it will be sufficiently in code

not really to damage the prime minister.

Sir Geoffrey has very deep personal and ideological differences

with the prime minister. I think he will spell them out,

but whether he will spell them out in clear, set terms

that amount to an assault on her leadership,

I think we have to wait and see for that.

I remind the House that a resignation statement

is heard in silence and without interruption.

Sir Geoffrey Howe.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Speaker, sir,

"I find, to my astonishment, that a quarter of a century has passed

since I last spoke from one of these backbenches."

"Mr. Speaker, I believe that both the chancellor and the governor

are cricketing enthusiasts."

"So I hope that there is no monopoly of cricketing metaphors."

"Increasingly, those of us close to the prime minister

feel like opening batsmen being sent to the crease,

only to find the moment the first balls are bowled

that our bats have been broken before the game by the team captain."

Order!

Order.

"The point… The point, Mr. Speaker,

was perhaps more sharply put by a British businessman,

trading in Brussels and elsewhere, who wrote to me last week."

'People throughout Europe, ' he said,

'see our prime minister's finger-wagging

and hear her passionate 'No, no, no'

much more clearly than the content of the carefully worded formal texts.'"

"'It is too easy, ' he went on,

'for them to believe that we all share her attitudes.'"

"'For why else, ' he asked,

'has she been our prime minister for so long?'"

"'This is, ' my correspondent concluded,

'a desperately serious situation for our country.'"

And sadly, Mr. Speaker, I have to agree.

"The conflict of loyalty,

of loyalty to my right honorable friend the prime minister,

and, after all, in two decades together,

that instinct of loyalty is still very real…

and of loyalty to what I perceive to be the true interests of the nation,

that conflict of loyalty has become all too great."

"I no longer believe it possible

to resolve that conflict from within this government."

"That is why I have resigned."

"In doing so, I have done what I believe to be right

for my party and my country."

"The time has come for others to consider their own response

to the tragic conflict of loyalties

with which I have myself wrestled… for perhaps too long."

Hear, hear.

Lilibet?

- Uh, the Queen? - In the drawing room, Your Royal Highness.

Right.

She has resumed her affair with Major Hewitt

with flagrant disregard for the agreement we made in our meeting with you.

A meeting in which it is now clear she brazenly lied to your face.

So I hope you agree

it leaves me no option but to start a formal separation.

Oh, Charles!

I'm wretchedly unhappy, yet there is someone else out there

who would make me perfectly happy.

- Quick, switch on the television. - Why?

It's the Ides of March.

It's Julius Caesar, or should I say Julia Caesar?

We're in the middle of an important conversation.

- Shh. - …her style of government.

He says her nightmare image of Europe risks the future of the nation.

Can Sir Geoffrey's peroration,

where he said the time has come for others to consider their response,

be read in any other way than a clear invitation to open a contest

for the leadership?

That is one of the implications. Some people would go further than that.

They would say he is urging people to vote against Mrs. Thatcher…

…Thatcher is facing the most serious threat

to her 11 years in power…

…first time in 15 years…

Geoffrey Howe, Mrs. Thatcher's longest-serving colleague

throughout her years in power, turned on her in the Commons today

and accused her of risking the nation's future.

He was explaining for the first time

why he resigned as deputy prime minister 12 days ago.

…refusal to keep in step with the European community.

…a coded diplomatic speech.

Instead, years of resentment and frustration

were compressed into a bitter attack on Mrs. Thatcher

and her attitude to Europe.

He called on Conservative MPs

to consider what he described as their conflict of loyalties…

Howe delivered a stinging indictment…

There is great bitterness on the prime minister's side,

and they hope there will be some reaction in her favor. It's down to Conservative…

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher faces a challenge

that could cost her her job.

…MPs, ministers, and peers are still trying to assess

what one described as an incitement to mutiny

and another said was an act of treachery.

William!

Run!

Oh, Ivo's got it! Ivo's got it!

Go, Ivo! Go, Ivo!

- Ivo! - Move it!

Yes, well done!

Yes, well done!

Well done, Ivo!

Oh, he's brilliant, isn't he? Yes!

Did you see that? Yes!

Well done, boys!

Bye, my darling. Not long until the holidays.

Hmm?

Love you.

- Well done today. - Thank you.

And we'll see you at Christmas.

Goodbye.

Take care.

Is that it?

We're not going to talk again, ever?

Since every time we do talk, it ends in an argument,

I'd say silence was preferable.

What's this I hear about a trip to New York?

Oh, don't look so surprised.

The government requested it. Everyone knows I'm going.

No one knew you were going on your own.

What an ugly, avaricious piece of self-advancement that is.

I'd sooner be doing it with my husband by my side.

Doing what?

The past few months, you've barely been in a fit state psychologically

to go to the hairdresser, much less represent the Crown.

Although I gather you still found time to see… certain other people.

I think this conversation's gone as far as it can.

You were the one who insisted on talking.

I always said silence was preferable.

- Mrs. Thatcher? - Prime Minister?

One crisis rising above all the others today, Your Majesty.

Yes.

An inconvenience one would dearly like to avoid,

given the significant challenges this country already faces.

The crisis in the Gulf.

Oh, that crisis?

Well, that is the predominant challenge facing us.

I thought you might be referring to matters closer to home.

There are one or two minor domestic matters,

some changes to the fishing license conditions,

but nothing I would want to waste your valuable time with.

You don't think we should briefly discuss… that speech?

Which speech?

The resignation speech made by Sir Geoffrey Howe

that's caused such a stir.

Why would we want to discuss that?

Because a great deal of fuss is being made of it.

Oh, poor Geoffrey.

I'd offered him the position of deputy prime minister,

and he seems to have taken it rather the wrong way.

In the newspapers, his speech is seen as a direct challenge to your authority.

I think that all depends on which newspapers you're reading.

Not just newspapers. Television too.

Or watching.

And as sovereign, I must ask you…

do you expect a leadership challenge?

- The prime minister came to see me today. - Ah, yes.

To discuss the crisis in the Gulf.

What?

Not the fact that she'd just been knifed in the back

by one of her longest-standing allies?

No, I asked her about that.

- Did you really? - Yes.

You're brave.

What did she say?

She said the situation was unfortunate…

…but it amounts to little more than petty rivalries and resentments…

…played out at the level of the schoolyard.

I shall see them off in no time.

And, really, we should not dignify an insignificant…

…internal party squabble with any more of our precious time.

Well…

Sir Geoffrey's attack makes this, the criticism of Mrs. Thatcher,

much more lethal.

I think she's in deep trouble,

not that she will be beaten in the first ballot by Michael Heseltine,

but more probably that there will be enough votes against her

and enough abstentions to damage her seriously.

One person said to me that he thought it possible,

if she were badly enough damaged,

that members of the Cabinet would go to the chief whip

and say that she ought to consider her future.

It's premature to say that yet,

but undoubtedly there's a rather stronger tide

running against Mrs. Thatcher tonight than there has ever been before.

Powell.

Yes.

Yeah.

I see.

Thank you.

How many?

- We're four short. - Oh.

Not enough to stop it going to a second ballot.

Oh, it's betrayal of the very worst kind.

They owe their political lives to me.

- It's despicable. - Oh, those little men!

And you want me to get on my knees to them?

Never.

Have them brought in to me.

One by one.

First item on the agenda is Her Royal Highness's forthcoming…

solo visit to New York.

Looking at the itinerary,

our concern would be that it seems to be challenging.

Several appointments each day.

- It's just four days, Edward. - In multiple locations.

We all know the toll a schedule of engagements can take,

and I'm sure no one here would wish to see the Princess of Wales overstretched.

Certainly not at a risk to her own health.

The Princess of Wales's health is exemplary.

Mental health.

Not to mention the amount of time she'd be separated from her children

and the distress that might cause her.

The Princess of Wales is well aware of what's required of her

and is very much looking forward to the trip.

I have only one question.

Will you support me?

Of course.

You will always have my unconditional support.

I am with you.

You can always count on me.

The problem is…

…the numbers are against you…

…and your inability to unite the party behind you…

…over Europe…

…over the economy…

…over taxation…

Perhaps if your methods were less confrontational…

…and if you'd consulted with Cabinet rather than ruling by decree…

…your rejection of core Conservative values,

of moderation…

…compassion…

…and your total disregard for the center ground…

…leaves you vulnerable.

Exposed. Isolated.

I shall always defend you, Margaret.

Always.

But…

…as your friend…

…as an ally…

…I think I speak for the majority when I say…

…the time might have come for some new blood.

…and that it would be in everyone's best interests

if you were to… stand down.

Bastards.

The bloody lot of them.

Murderers.

So…

…is that it?

Is that the end?

No.

I still have one card to play.

Britain will send more troops to the Gulf.

The defence secretary Tom King has said Britain…

President Bush called to tell me he thought it barbaric.

Chancellor Kohl said it was inhumane.

Mikhail Gorbachev reminded me that ten years ago,

it was Britain holding democratic elections

whilst Russia staged cabinet coups.

Now it's the other way round.

What they all agree on

is that getting rid of me is an act of national self-harm,

which is why I've come to you, ma'am,

that together we may act in the national self-interest.

How might I help?

By dissolving Parliament.

What?

We are on the brink of war.

What kind of signal does that give to our enemies,

to Saddam,

if we were to change leadership now?

It would make us look hopelessly weak and divided.

I agree it's not ideal.

Have you consulted Cabinet on this matter?

I have not, ma'am.

Surely that would be the normal course of action?

With all due respect,

the decision to dissolve Parliament

is in the gift of the prime minister alone.

It is entirely within my power to do this if I see fit.

You are correct.

Technically, it is within your power to request this.

But we must all ask ourselves

when to exercise those things that are within our power and when not to.

Your first instinct as a person, I think, is often to act.

To exercise power.

Well, that is what people want in a leader.

To show conviction and strength.

To lead.

I'm merely asking the question.

Whether it is correct to exercise a power simply because it is yours to use.

Power is nothing without authority.

And at this moment,

your Cabinet is against you.

Your party is against you.

And if the polls are to be believed,

if you were to call a general election today,

you would not win.

Which suggests the country is against you.

Perhaps the time has come

for you to try doing nothing for once.

The difference is…

you have power…

in doing nothing.

I…

will have nothing.

You will have your dignity.

There is no dignity in the wilderness.

Then might I suggest you don't think of it as that.

Think of it as an opportunity to pursue other passions.

I have other loves.

My husband, my children…

But this job is my only true passion.

And to have it taken from me…

stolen from me so cruelly…

What hurts the most

is that we had come so far.

And now to have the opportunity to finish the job

snatched away at the very last…

I'm in hell!

And he just hates me.

And wants me to fail.

He tells everyone I'm mad.

They treat me like I'm mad.

And I'm starting to feel mad.

Why did I agree to this trip?

I'm going to fall flat on my face.

All right?

I think so.

Lovely to meet you. Hello.

Lovely to meet you.

Princess Diana, one quick…

Over here, please, Lady Di!

I love you, Diana!

Diana! Diana!

Thank you so much. That's so kind. Thank you.

- Your Royal Highness. - Hello.

We're so thrilled to have you with us.

This is Linda Correa.

Lovely to meet you, miss.

They told us there was a waiting list for public housing…

A modest hospital on the wrong side of Harlem

very few American politicians have ever even thought to visit,

but today this is the final stop

on Princess Diana's whirlwind tour of New York.

Your Royal Highness.

We established the pediatric AIDS unit two years ago

to deal with the rising problem of infants suffering with the disease.

Hello.

Many of the children had been abandoned

or have parents who are addicts or sick with the virus.

They desperately need foster parents, but people are too afraid to take them.

Why?

Because of the stigma. The fear of the disease.

Chants of "We want the princess" were heard

in New York's Harlem neighborhood today.

A triumphant end to a trip

which has seen the princess fly solo for the first time,

hitting new heights without her husband, Prince Charles.

We love her. She's beautiful. She's warm.

She's perfect. They don't want her there, we would love to have her here.

The way she hugged that boy in the hospital nearly broke my heart.

Prince Charles is a lucky man.

Princess Di, thank you for bringing love and vitality

to the Lower East Side!

She knows how to make people feel good,

and that is a God-given talent. Am I right?

Yeah!

If you care about me as much as you say you do, sir, you will let go

of these ideas of breaking it off with Diana.

Why?

Don't you want us to be free, to…

live our life in the open?

I do.

But I want to be humiliated and attacked even less.

That's what'll happen if you put me in a popularity contest against her.

I will lose.

- Oh… - I'm an old woman.

I'm a married woman.

Nowhere near as pretty, nowhere near as radiant.

Someone who looks like me has no place in a fairy tale.

That's all people want, is a fairy tale.

If they knew the truth about our feelings for one another,

they'd have their fairy tale.

No!

To be the protagonist of a fairy tale, you must first be wronged.

A victim.

Which, if we were to become public, we would make her.

In the narrative laws of fairy tales versus reality…

the fairy tale always prevails.

She will… always defeat me in the court of public opinion.

What is all this, my darling?

What's got into you today?

It's reality, sir.

She's the Princess of Wales.

She's a future queen, the mother to a future king.

- And I'm just... - My one… true love.

A mistress.

Mistress to the Prince of Wales, just like my great-grandmother Alice Keppel

was the mistress to the Prince of Wales, your great-great-grandfather.

And he loved her till the end.

Leave this with me.

Number 10 is a house and a home as well as an office,

and as Margaret Thatcher left it after so long,

there was applause to be heard,

and, I'm told, a tear or two shed among the unseen staff.

Mrs. Thatcher's own voice had an emotional edge to it.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we are leaving Downing Street for the last time

after 11 and a half wonderful years.

It was the end of an era dominated by this woman

whose name has become a political byword.

Eleven years of Thatcherism.

She recovered quickly for one last wave.

But then the Iron Lady's composure almost broke.

Watch her face as she reaches her car.

Friends say that she is deeply shocked by the seeming injustice of it all.

Three election victories

and a clear, though insufficient, majority in the first ballot

rewarded, as she sees it, with the sack.

Mrs. Thatcher, of course, has a new home now in Dulwich…

Martin? Could you ask the prime...

Could you ask Mrs. Thatcher to come and see me?

When I ascended the throne…

I was just a girl.

Twenty-five years old.

And I was surrounded

by stuffy, rather patronizing gray-haired men everywhere

telling me what to do.

And I wanted to say…

the way you dealt with all your stuffy, rather patronizing gray-haired men

throughout your time in office

and saw them all off…

Well, they've had their revenge now.

I was shocked by the way in which you were forced to leave office.

And I wanted to offer my sympathy.

Not just as Queen to prime minister…

but woman to woman.

Throughout the time we worked together,

people tended to focus on our many differences.

Which was lazy and misleading, I think.

And overlooked the many things we do have in common.

Our generation.

Our Christianity.

Our work ethic.

Our sense of duty.

But above all…

our devotion to this country that we both love.

So with that in mind…

The Order of Merit…

is not awarded by some faceless committee.

It comes at the personal discretion of the sovereign

and is in recognition of exceptionally meritorious service.

It is limited to just 24 recipients,

no matter their background.

You could be the daughter of a duke.

Or a greengrocer.

What matters… is your accomplishments.

And nobody can deny…

that this is a very different country now

to the one inherited by our first woman prime minister.

Now, it's normally handed over in the box.

But if you would allow me…

Congratulations.

It's kind of you to come.

Why would you say that?

I think even my sternest critics would concede

that my first solo trip has not been a disaster,

that I didn't fall totally flat on my face.

So I can only imagine, hope, that you've come here to apologize,

to eat your words,

and congratulate me.

Your… capacity for self-delusion…

never ceases to amaze me.

We're all glad you're back where you belong

without too much damage done. You have two sons that need you.

Our sons have easily survived me being away four days.

I'm not sure one can say the same for the rest of us.

The exquisite selfishness of your motives

and the…

the calculated vulgarity of the antics…

knowing full well the headlines they would get.

"Antics"?

Grandstanding like that.

You think we couldn't do that too?

Theatrically hug the wretched and the dispossessed

and cover ourselves in glory on the front pages?

I doubt it.

You barely find it in yourselves to hug your own.

I hug who I want to.

I hug who I love.

Particularly when they are affected by the selfishness of others

and need cheering up.

- Who are you referring to? - Camilla.

Why would I care about her?

Because I care about her!

Morning, noon, and night, I care about her!

And you hurt her.

And if you hurt her…

you hurt me.

Camilla is who I want.

That is where my loyalties lie.

- That is who my priority is. - Not the mother of your children?

- Don't bring the boys into this. - All right. Not the woman you married!

I refuse to be blamed any longer for this grotesque misalliance!

I wash my hands of it!

If you have a complaint…

about…

not being loved…

or appreciated in this marriage…

I suggest you take it up with the people who arranged it.

- ♪ I really can't stay ♪ - ♪ But, baby, it's cold outside ♪

- ♪ I've got to go away ♪ - ♪ But, baby, it's cold outside ♪

- ♪ This evening has been ♪ - ♪ Been hoping that you'd drop in ♪

♪ So very nice ♪

♪ I'll hold your hands They're just like ice ♪

- ♪ My mother will start to worry ♪ - ♪ Beautiful, what's your hurry? ♪

- ♪ And father will be pacing the floor ♪ - ♪ Listen to the fireplace roar ♪

- ♪ So really I'd better scurry ♪ - ♪Beautiful, please don't hurry ♪

- ♪ Well, maybe just a half a drink more ♪ - ♪ Put some records on while I pour ♪

- ♪ The neighbors might think ♪ - ♪ But, baby, it's bad out there ♪

- ♪ Say, what's in this drink? ♪ - ♪ No cabs to be had out there ♪

- ♪ I wish I knew how ♪ - ♪ Your eyes are like starlight now ♪

♪ To break the spell ♪

♪ I'll take your hat Your hair looks swell ♪

- ♪ I ought to say no, no, no, sir ♪ - ♪ Mind if I move in closer ♪

- ♪ At least I'm gonna say that I tried ♪ - ♪ What's the sense of hurting my pride? ♪

- ♪ I really can't stay ♪ - ♪ Oh, baby, don't hold out, baby ♪

♪ Ah, but it's cold outside… ♪

Sir…

♪ But, baby, it's cold outside ♪

- ♪ The answer is no ♪ - ♪ But, baby, it's cold outside ♪

- ♪ This welcome has been ♪ - ♪ How lucky that you dropped in ♪

♪ So nice and warm ♪

♪ Look out the window at that storm ♪

- ♪ My sister will be suspicious ♪ - ♪ Gosh, your lips look delicious ♪

♪ My brother will be there at the door ♪

- ♪ Waves upon a tropical shore ♪ - ♪ My maiden aunt's mind is vicious ♪

♪ Gosh, your lips are delicious… ♪

He is learning. He is.

He's doing much better.

She tells jokes,

but she starts with the punchline, which sounds funnier than the joke.

There you are.

Mama.

Well, I'm sure no one told you, but I made a request through my office

for us to find a moment to speak together, in private.

I hope you're not wanting to talk here.

No, not here.

Or now. The dogs need feeding.

- The dogs. - Yes, the dogs.

We'll have to find another time.

Who's hungry?

Are you all hungry?

Who'll tell me about their day?

Hello! Have you had a lovely day? Have you had fun?

- What are you doing here? - I hope you don't mind.

- I thought we might find a moment alone. - Honestly, both of you!

Both of us?

You and your wife ambushing me everywhere I go

with anxious looks, wanting to talk.

I do want to talk, Mummy.

We need to talk.

Fine. Let's talk.

Might I request we do it like privy counsellors?

On our feet to keep it brief.

It's the marriage.

I had a horrible idea we were going in this direction.

I have done my best.

My very best, and I am suffering!

No, you are not suffering. We're suffering having to put up with this!

Let me make something clear.

When people look at you and Diana, they see two privileged young people

who, through good fortune,

ended up with everything one could dream of in life.

No one, not a single breathing, living soul anywhere,

sees cause for suffering.

- They would if they knew. - Knew what?

They know that you betray your wife

and make no attempt to hide it.

They know that thanks to you, she has psychological problems

and eats or doesn't eat or whatever it is she does or doesn't do.

They know you're a spoiled, immature man, endlessly complaining unnecessarily,

married to a spoiled, immature woman, endlessly complaining unnecessarily.

And we are all heartily sick of it.

All anyone wants is for the pair of you to pull yourselves together,

stop making spectacles of yourselves, and make this marriage

and your enormously privileged positions in life work.

And if I want to separate?

You will not separate or divorce or let the side down in any way.

- And if one day you expect to be king... - I do.

Then might I suggest you start to behave like one.

- Rabbit, right in the head. - No!

Have you seen Diana?

Come.

Hello?

Ah.

Oh, please, no.

I, uh, I came to see if you're all right.

Do you know, I… I don't think I've ever seen inside this room.

We can be a rough bunch in this family.

And I'm sure, on occasion,

to a sensitive creature like you,

it must feel like…

Well, let me ask. What does it feel like?

A cold, frozen tundra.

Right.

Like that, then.

An icy, dark,

loveless cave…

with no light…

no hope… anywhere.

Not even the faintest crack.

I see.

He will come around.

He will.

Eventually.

When he realizes that…

he can never have the other one.

Would it help you to realize we all think he's quite mad?

That might have reassured me once.

But I worry we're past that point now.

Sir.

And if he…

If this family can't give me the love and security that I feel I deserve,

then I believe I have no option

but to break away, officially… and find it myself.

- I wouldn't do that if I were you. - Why not?

Let's just say I can't see it ending well for you.

I hope that isn't a threat, sir.

No, not now. Out!

Although we are both outsiders who married in,

you and I are quite different.

Yes.

I can see that now.

You're right to call me an outsider.

I was an outsider the day that I met the…

the 13-year-old princess who would one day become my wife.

And after all these years…

I still am.

We all are.

Everyone…

in this system…

is a lost…

lonely…

irrelevant outsider…

apart from the one person,

the only person,

that matters.

She is the oxygen we all breathe.

The essence of all our duty.

Your problem, if I may say…

is you seem to be confused about who that person is.

Come!

Just to say, Your Royal Highnesses, the photographer is ready.

Thank you.

Everyone, we're going to do the photograph.

Don't you think the Queen would be best suited in the middle?

Charles is pushing in.

You stay outside.

No squabbling, please.

Quiet. Quiet.

Ah, yes.

The merriest of Christmas smiles!

Yes.

Three, two, one…

Done. Did anyone blink?