INT. BROADCASTING BOOTH - DAY
The dreaded BBC microphone, in a surprisingly small room. It is arranged so Bertie can stand up as he speaks, the way Logue likes it. The ceiling has been lowered and it has been decorated in cheerful colours. As a podium for the speech an old school desk has been propped up on wooden blocks so it’s the right height for Bertie.
Logue immediately opens the window to get the air circulating.
Bertie says nothing, but goes up and inspects the looming microphone.
He spreads the fingers of one hand, touches the apparatus with the little finger, thumb to chin.
BERTIE:
I am thistle sifter, I have a sieve
of sifted thistles and a sieve on unsifted thistles..
ELIZABETH:
Bertie, darling, make sure it’s not
switched on!
LIONEL:
Remember the red light will blink
three times and then I’ve asked them to turn it off, because we don’t want that evil eye staring at you all the way through.
ELIZABETH:
I am sure you will be splendid.
WOOD:
One minute, sir.
Elizabeth steps back with a wonderful smile as Wood closes the door, sealing Bertie and Logue in the booth.
BERTIE:
No matter how this turns out, I
don’t know how to thank you for what you’ve done.
LIONEL:
Knighthood?
They smile.
WOOD (O.S.):
Twenty seconds.
LIONEL:
Forget everything else and just say
it to me. Say it to me, as a friend.
The red light in the booth flashes. The red light flashes for the second time. Bertie concentrates. The red light flashes for the third time. The red light now goes steady red. Lionel opens his arms wide and mouths, “Breathe!”. On Air.
Bertie’s hands begin to shake, the pages of his speech rattle like dry leaves, his throat muscles constrict, the Adam’s apple bulges, his lips tighten...all the old symptoms reappear.
Several seconds have elapsed. It seems an eternity.
INT. CONTROL ROOM, BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE - DAY
The technicians in their suits, ties and scientific looking white overcoats, wearing bulky headphones, monitoring daunting banks of valves and dials listen with growing apprehension to the silence broken only by crackling static.
INT. KING’S STUDY/BROADCAST ROOM, BUCKINGHAM PALACE - DAY
The tension is more than palpable.
Bertie and Logue stare at each other.
Logue smiles, perfectly calm, totally confident in the man he’s worked with. His confidence is contagious.
Bertie takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly. His throat muscles relax, his hands steady - all the things he’s practiced.
BERTIE:
In this grave hour, perhaps the
most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas this message spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.
His cadence is slow and measured, not flawless, but he does not stop.
INT - STATE ROOMS - DAY In the listening room:
Elizabeth grasps the sides of her chair and then slowly relaxes as Bertie’s calm, measure voice comes over the speakers.
INT./EXT. MONTAGE OF VARIOUS LOCATIONS
The assembled dignitaries at Buckingham Palace, Myrtle with two of the boys, people listening to radios in homes, pubs, factories. A group of soldiers, including Antony Logue. Queen Mary sitting in her State Apartments, David and Wallis listening dolefully in a villa in the South of France, the crowds assembled outside Buckingham Palace, listening on loud speakers. Cutting continually back to Bertie as he grows in confidence
BERTIE (V.O. ON RADIO):
For the second time in the lives of most of us we are at war. (MORE)
BERTIE (V.O. ON RADIO) (CONT'D):
Over and over again we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies. But it has been in vain.
We have been forced into a conflict. For we are called, with our allies, to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world. Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right.
For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world’s order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.
It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.
I ask them to stand calm and firm, and united in this time of trial. The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield. But we can only do the right as we see the right and reverently commit our cause to God.
INT. BROADCASTING BOOTH, BUCKINGHAM PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Bertie, in his quiet way is totally in command, and utterly magnificent. Everyone in the room is awed as he concludes:
BERTIE (CONT’D):
If one and all we keep resolutely
faithful to it, then, with God’s help, we shall prevail.
INT. STATE ROOMS, BUCKINGHAM PALACE - CONTINUOUS
In the listening room we see the elated faces of Elizabeth, Churchill, Lang.
INT. CONTROL ROOM, BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE - DAY:
Technicians break in to spontaneous applause.
INT. BROADCASTING BOOTH, BUCKINGHAM PALACE - CONTINUOUS:
Lionel and Bertie stare at each other.
Silence.
LIONEL:
That was very good, Bertie.
Lionel closes the window.
LIONEL (CONT’D):
You still stammered on the “w”.
BERTIE:
Had to throw in a few so they knew
it was me. Wood opens the door.
WOOD:
Congratulations, your Majesty. A true broadcaster.
BERTIE:
Thank you, Mr Wood.
Bertie and Lionel pass out of the booth to the sounds of applause.
They pause at the desk, which is set up with a microphone. Bertie sits and has his official photograph taken.
LIONEL:
Your first war time speech. Congratulations.
BERTIE:
Expect I shall have to do a great deal more. Thank you, Logue. Bertie stands and takes Lionel’s hand
BERTIE (CONT’D):
Thank you. My friend.
LIONEL:
Thank you... Your Majesty.
