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The Palace, Episode One
It is the night before an unspecified banquet and, as Household staff prepare the banqueting hall, the queen casts her eye over their work and assures Sir Iain Ratalick, Private Secretary to the King, of her husband's approval. Meanwhile, her three eldest children discuss their seats for the banquet whilst they make their way to depart for the opera with their parents — the youngest, The Prince George, jokes that he may be allergic to opera. They reach the exit, where the eldest, The Princess Eleanor's, Private Secretary hands her some papers, and their younger sister The Princess Isabelle arrives, chatting with a friend over the 'phone, and makes her excuses to her siblings (i.e. that she is suffering from exam stress and therefore couldn't possibly join them). Moments later, their parents arrive, and Eleanor, whom her father greets as "Poppy", joins him in walking to the car, while Abigail Thomas, Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, informs their mother that the two princes have a charity engagement at a homeless shelter. The two depart instead for a club, where the two are in the middle of seducing two young women when the elder, Richard, The Prince of Wales, goes to the lavatory. He is followed by a his Personal Protection Officer, Chied Superintendent Peter Bayfield, who tells him in the lav' to come with him to the car, saying "it's Tower Bridge", and that's he's very sorry — Tower Bridge, it turns out, is code for his father's unexpected death, and Richard has ascended the throne. Meanwhile, Eleanor, clearly distraught, and the queen, apparently in shock, are led from their box, where the king's death is called by the paramedics. Reeling, Richard is escorted from the club, forced to leave his brother behind.

TITLES

Under police escort, Richard is driven up The Mall and back to the Palace, where he is met by Abigail — he is initially quite despondent. Sir Iain delivers his condolences and informs the king that the Prime Minister is on his way, that arrangement for his father's lying in state, book of condolences and funeral are under way, and that, as of next morning, he'll be receiving dignitaries and 'phone calls from around the globe, on the occasion of his father's death. Richard meets with Edward Shaw, the Prime Minister, who takes his hand, and, led by Sir Iain, pledges his fidelity to the nervous king. Neil Haslam, a valet, and page David Waverley close the doors on the pledge, and rejoice restrainedly on their respective promotions. The queen and her other three children wait in another room of the Palace, sending Jimmy Clacy for drinks, whilst Eleanor and George bicker, as she voices concerns for her brother's new position, before her mother shoots her down, warning her that she will receive less attention now. Isabelle, meanwhile, complains that no-one listens to her or asks what she wants. Richard arrives, and discourages his mother and elder sister from curtseying. The queen tells her son that "it's all [his] now"...

BREAK 1

Princess Eleanor is on a walkabout as the public queue to sign one of her father's books of condolence, when one of the crowd tells her she should be queen (on the grounds that she's the eldest) — she assures him that she thinks her brother will make a fine king. The crowd are suddenly distracted, and less restrained, when the king arrives to engage with them. The siblings greet one another, and she tells him she could do this alone — he's been advised to appear, and, upon his mentioning their mother, Eleanor ends the conversation, fearing lip-readers and microphones. He dismisses her, telling her to "have a break". The crowd are rapt and greet him enthusiastically. Back at her quarters somewhere-or-other, her Private Secretary, Major Simon Brooks, informs her that he's not been able to get her an appointment with the king, and puts forth his concerns that she will be thoroughly overshadowed by him. He considers that she ought to be the queen — being the eldest, most able, most charismatic, and her father's favourite, and that, if the people were to see that the king is wrong for the role, and she is right, change may be brought about. She begins to indicate that she would go along with such a plot.

The king is bored in a meeting. When the issue of his coronation comes up, being eight months in the future, the king tells Sir Iain that discussing it can wait. Sir Iain then reveals that the old king's belongings are being catalogued ahead of the new king's move to the palace — Richard reacts badly and leaves, interrupting the cataloguing staff and ordering their departure. He surveys his father's possessions, and is looking nostalgically through some old family photo's when Abigail joins him — his family have all retired to Windsor, where he wants to join them. She assures him that she'll arrange for him to join them as soon as he's finished receiving ambassadors — she talks about how she felt when her mother passed away. The king asks whether anyone knows that he and his brother skipped the homeless shelter in favour of the club and Abigail assures him that no-one knows who would tell. He dismisses her and calls someone, summoning them to the palace. Major Brooks catches up with Abi in a corridor and asks her for a drink — she replies that she's too busy. He's quite keen on her, and then on discussing how Eleanor can help the king. She blows him out for a meeting "outside" (i.e. the palace). In a bar, Abi meets a journalist, and it becomes clear that she's ghost-writing an exposé on the now-king from Abi's insider account — Abigail is obviously growing uncomfortable with the plan.

Jimmy is asleep beneath a Welsh flag when a young lady interrupts and wakes him. The king is in the throne room with a lady named Miranda, and wine, reclining on the carpet. She encourages him to sit in his father's throne — he does, and they proceed to kiss, whilst she assures him that his role won't be beyond his ability. A bedraggled Jimmy finishes dressing in his uniform as he approaches the throne room, where he enters, unnoticed, and sees Miranda and the king in their embrace. He returns speedily to the staff quarters, where he tells his compatriots. The news travels exceptionally fast, and, through a process of Chinese whispers, is corrupted into a tale of sexual marathon, and, via a call from The Sun and "a palace insider", reaches the ear of the Press Secretary, Jonty Roberts. He is furious, and immediately consults with the king, Sir Iain and Abi (now Assistant Press Secretary to the King). The king admits that he was with a lady in the throne room, but not to the extent that the story will claim — Jonty is very worried — although The Sun are currently delaying breaking the story until after the funeral, it would still be the first story about the new king. Abi and Richard have a quick joke, and Sir Iain suggests throwing the mystery lady to the wolves, and the king firmly warns him against the idea, and then departs to prepare for the funeral.

As the queen, prince, and princesses wait for the king just before the funeral, George shows a relaxed attitude to the potential story, whereas Eleanor is concerned and disapproving, and George and Isabelle share a jibe at her expense. Richard arrives and leads his family out into the quad, where the procession awaits. Richard is careful to take a visibly upset Izzy to his side — Eleanor takes a moment to attempt to undermine her brother's confidence before he nods the procession's start. As the staff look on, the procession leaves the quad to Sir Iain's wistful quip, "The king is dead. Long live the king."

BREAK 2

Richard and George are playing golf, drinking lager, and George comments that he won't miss their father, and that the king "scared the pants off [him]", joking that Richard will be just as scary — people have long been scared of him. George lands a ball in the pond, and, as the servant prepares to retrieve it therefrom, the younger brother suggest they do a few rounds in Scotland the next week, and then get some jet skis, recalling an earlier experience when Richard nearly killed an old fisherman with one — George "thought [they'd] get strung up". He looks around to notice that his brother has gone. The king bursts into a room where Jonty is reclining, and proceeds to discuss the story with he, Sir Iain and Abi. He suggests that they pre-empt The Sun by doing a live television interview. Sir Iain and Jonty are visibly worried — the king is confident in his prowess, and Jonty is adamant that the interview is a poor idea, and very strongly advises him against it, until the king loses his temper at Sir Iain, asserting that he knows what he's doing. Abi assures the king that she thinks he'd be brilliant. He leaves the three to the arrangements — Abigail is gently optimistic, but Sir Iain is trepid. Major Brooks interrupts Princess Eleanor as she is signing photographs of herself.

Kulvinder "Vinny" Ganatra rouses the television crew from their van in the quad as the Prime Minister and his Private Secretary, Miranda Hill (the king's secret lover), arrive to meet with Sir Iain. The PM is unimpressed with Sir Iain's advising of the king — Abi tells them that a Joanna Woodward is to conducts the interview and he replies that the journalist "ate [him] alive". Sir Iain argues that he can exert some control over an ITV interview, using the Christmas Broadcast as an incentive for their good behaviour — the PM wishes him luck. Vinny shows the crew in to one of the state rooms, as Neil helps the king in finishing to dress. David shows Princess Eleanor in, and Richard dismisses Jimmy to talk with his sister. She says that the queen is worried about her son and the interview — she speaks of upholding their father's memory, and he reveals that the princes never visited the homeless shelter on the night of his death. She assures him that she'll always "be there to pick [him] up". The king enters the interview room, where the crew and senior staff are waiting. He greets Joanna and they take their seats before the transmission begins.

She opens with a veiled slur, as his advisers in the room, the lesser staff and queen elsewhere in the palace, and Eleanor from Clarence House watch the programme. Joanna claims that there was a story about Richard "begging" Eleanor to take the throne, but he assures her that Eleanor wouldn't want to be queen. They muse over the value of the monarchy and its popular perception, before swiftly moving on to the issue of the throne room romp story. The king assures her that he still has a love life, but realises his behaviours must change, before asking "what is a KitKat?", to rapturous reception from his staff, and his brother (watching elsewhere with his chums, and who claims that it is "his line"). Eleanor indicates to Major Brooks, who makes a call to the producer. He parries a question on monarchy versus republic with the reply that he cannot get involved in political issues — Joanna replies by implying that his impressive performance is scripted and that his real self is the media-portrayed playboy, before, prompted by her producer via her earpiece, moving on to reveal that Richard was at a club when his father died. The king responds by pointing out the hypocrisy in the media's desires for him — "you want me to be both common and royal; you want me to lead you as head of state and then trip up so you can stuff me on the cover of Heat magazine; I love getting drunk ... I've tried drugs [and] make a fool out of myself most of the time, and I've hurt people just to bury stories about me. I am ashamed and terrified I'll never live up to my father's standards. I just want to hide ... and most days I feel like a little boy; a fool. But I love my country ... I have this incredibly buzz — I couldn't be more proud — and I hope, one day, I can repay the favour". Joanna thanks him for his candour and the interview ends, the onlookers' breaths bated.

BREAK 3

After the interview, Abi reveals to the king that a Sky poll says 53% of the public think he'll make a good king. Eleanor and Simon compliment His Majesty on his interview — they move aside and discuss their plot. Eleanor suggests he find the identity of the king's lover by "going for" Abigail. Richard assures Abi that he wants her by his side. The queen appears, in tears, and says nothing to her son before departing. The king finds breaks into tears alone in an empty room. Elsewhere, Jonty finds Neil, and reveals that he knows that Neil's been groomed by a reporter, who tricked him into leaking the throne room story — he didn't mean to betray his king. Jonty assures Neil that it'll be their secret so long as he becomes his agent, informing on the king and maintaining contact with the reporter. Abi removes confidential documents from the palace in her bag. Richard pays a visit to George and his drinking party, but declines to join them. The two embrace before the king leaves, and George jokingly asks for Scotland.