THE KING'S SPEECH

CARD:
1925
King George V reigns over a quarter of the world’s
population.
He asks his second son, the Duke of York, to give the closing
speech at the Empire Exhibition in Wembley, London.
INT. BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE, STUDIO - DAY
CLOSE ON a BBC microphone of the 1920's, A formidable piece
of machinery suspended on springs.
A BBC NEWS READER, in a tuxedo with carnation boutonniere, is
gargling while a TECHNICIAN holds a porcelain bowl and a
towel at the ready. The man in the tuxedo expectorates
discreetly into the bowl, wipes his mouth fastidiously, and
signals to ANOTHER TECHNICIAN who produces an atomizer. The
Reader opens his mouth, squeezes the rubber bulb, and sprays
his inner throat. Now, he’s ready.
The reader speaks in flawless pear-shaped tones. There’s no
higher creature in the vocal world.
BBC NEWS READER
Good afternoon. This is the BBC
National Programme and Empire
Services taking you to Wembley
Stadium for the Closing Ceremony of
the Second and Final Season of the
Empire Exhibition.
INT. CORRIDOR, WEMBLEY STADIUM - DAY
CLOSE ON a man's hand clutching a woman's hand.
Woman’s mouth whispers into man's ear.
BBC NEWS READER (V.O.)
58 British Colonies and Dominions
have taken part, making this the
largest Exhibition staged anywhere
in the world. Complete with the new
stadium, the Exhibition was built
in Wembley, Middlesex at a cost of
over 12 million pounds. The
Exhibition has attracted over 27
million visitors from every corner
of our great Empire and the rest of
the world.
INT. CONTROL ROOM, BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE - DAY
Technicians in suits, ties and scientific looking overcoats,
wearing bulky headphones, monitor daunting banks of valves
and dials while the Reader continues:
BBC NEWS READER (V.O.)
Today the vast Stadium is filled to
capacity with in excess of 100,000
spectators...as regiments from His
Majesty's Army, Navy and Air Force
stand in review.
INT. GREEN ROOM - DAY
Nervous eyes flick towards a tunnel leading to a bright
light.
CLOSE ON - BERTIE - the Duke of York, second son of the King;
his handsome, sensitive, features look terrified.
BBC NEWS READER (V.O.)
The Opening Ceremony was the first
occasion his Majesty the King
addressed his subjects on the
wireless. The close of the first
Season was the initial time His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
had broadcast. And today His Royal
Highness the Duke of York will give
his inaugural broadcast to the
Nation and the World.
WIDEN TO REVEAL his young wife, truly an English rose.
ELIZABETH
Time to go.
He stares straight ahead, frozen. She gives him a loving
peck on the cheek, quickly rubbing off a fleck of lipstick.
BBC NEWS READER (V.O.)
Leading us in prayer will be the
Right Honourable and Most Reverend
Archbishop of York, Primate of all
England and Metropolitan. Now we go
live to Wembley Stadium, where His
Royal Highness the Duke of York
will read his message from the
King.
COSMO LANG - comes up to Bertie. Tries to be helpful but
makes him more nervous.
COSMO LANG
I am sure you will be splendid.
Just take your time.
2
The last bars of “God Save The King” echo down the corridor.
ROBERT WOOD, the Chief BBC Engineer on Location whispers:
WOOD
Let the microphone do the work,
sir.
Wood checks his watch.
WOOD (CONT’D)
Thirty seconds, sir.
Bertie braces his shoulders manfully, but without an ounce of
confidence, closes his eyes, nods, opens them, and
reluctantly goes through the tunnel towards the light, like a
prize-fighter entering the arena, to be greeted by the roar
of the crowd.
EXT. ROYAL PODIUM - DAY
HAND-HELD CAMERA, BERTIE’S POV: far ahead, at a seemingly
impossible distance, is the huge intimidating microphone, the
only thing between the terrified observer and 100,000 people.
Silence falls over the stadium.
Overhead, thick roiling clouds.
BERTIE approaches...like a death march.
Bertie’s eyes widen in terror as he reaches the microphone.
The red transmission light blinks four times then glows solid
red. Bertie is live.
INT. CONTROL ROOM, BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE - DAY
Technicians stare at dials and listen to the hiss of silence.
The Reader and Floor Manager glance at each other nervously.
EXT. SPECTATOR STAND, EMPIRE STADIUM -DAY
In the tense silence PAN THROUGH some of the crowd waiting
with growing discomfort. In particular we notice a father
and son watching intently.
EXT. ROYAL PODIUM - DAY
Bertie is frozen at the microphone. His neck and jaw muscles
contract and quiver.