The Audience (8 page)

Thank you.

Wilson looks at the hardback book.

(
Reading
.)
Life in a Crack Regiment: A Novel of German Military Manners and Morals
by Baron von Schlicht

He raises his eyebrow. The Queen clears her throat.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s sister was here last week.

Wilson
Pick a page.

He passes the book to the Queen, she picks a page, then passes it back. Wilson scans it briefly, then, giving her the book to check:

‘The final German victory over England is only a question of time. Before long we will have air superiority and 90,000 men, horses and tanks will rise out of the sea and on to British soil. Once we have established dominance, we will begin occupation. Key targets will be neutralised – the Prime Minister, Marxists, Freemasons, Jews, all confirmed enemies of Germany … with the exception of –’

Wilson looks up, indicates to the Queen.

Elizabeth
(
heart sinks
) ‘– the British Royal Family … who we believe are deeply sympathetic.’

The Queen clears her throat. Puts down the book, anxious to change the subject.

Bravo, Prime Minister. Now, we must leave for the picnic.

Wilson
Oh, joy.

Elizabeth
Don’t be like that. It’s a rare occasion where you’ll be together with friends. Who don’t
hate
you. You might even enjoy it. It’s a beautiful summer’s evening. Years of city living and high office have made you soft.

They walk towards the door.

I thought you wore wooden shoes to school in Halifax?

Wilson
Huddersfield. Not me personally, Ma’am. Some of the other boys.

Elizabeth
Ah, so the hardship was someone else’s? Typical politician. (
Opening the door
.) Now, enough of your clogs. Where are my dogs …?

The Queen and Wilson walk out. The Queen calls out to several dogs.
  
Wilson stops, then pops his head back into the drawing room, and –
  
‘Click’: turns the light out.
  
Blackout.

Fade in: suspenseful, grave music. A distinct change of mood. Scene change.
  
It’s 30th October 1956. We are now in the King’s Corridor. The atmosphere is tense. Anxious.
  
A tall man enters. Anthony Eden, fifty-nine, Conservative, the Queen’s second Prime Minister.
  
Eden’s hair is grey, he appears somewhat agitated, but there are still flashes, shards, of the matinee-idol looks and aristocratic bearing that helped him to high office.

Equerry
Not long now, Prime Minister. Her Majesty will be with you shortly.

Eden
Thank you.

An awkward silence.

May I have a glass of water?

The Equerry goes to tell a Footman to bring water.
  
Eden uses the moment with the Equerry’s back being turned to take some pills.
  
He does not sit down. He is too restless, too agitated. He paces around, checking his watch; the ravages of extreme stress and lack of sleep.

(
Irritable
.) Will she be very much longer?

Equerry
The urgency of the situation has been conveyed to Her Majesty, but she had a long-standing commitment with Mr Beaton …

Eden
Who?

Equerry
The photographer. (
A beat
.) And he generally runs late.

At that moment, Eden’s Private Secretary walks on.

Private Secretary
This just came through, sir.

Eden impatiently opens the telegram, hoping for good news. His reaction, reading it:

Eden
Oh, Christ.

Presently the door opens to reveal the Queen. Thirty years old. Spectacular – in full ballgown, tiara, etc.
  
And Cecil Beaton, who packs up his equipment, and bows as he leaves.

Elizabeth
Prime Minister.

Eden
Your Majesty.

Elizabeth
I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.

Eden
Events are unfolding at great speed. Would Her Majesty like me to walk her through it?

Elizabeth
Please.

Eden
Yesterday morning, the Israeli Army launched an attack into Egyptian territory, the Sinai Peninsula, and is rapidly approaching the Suez Canal. The Egyptian army has mobilised a retaliatory force and is about to engage. Her Majesty’s Government has now made two separate and simultaneous appeals to the Egyptians and Israelis to halt all acts of war and to allow Anglo-French forces into the country to preserve the peace and the freedom of passage for all vessels in the Suez Canal. The Israelis have expressed a willingness to comply if the Egyptians do, but sadly, President Nasser has refused thus far.

Elizabeth
When does the deadline expire?

Eden
Tomorrow morning, Ma’am.

Elizabeth
And the next step, in your view, would be?

Eden
Military intervention, Ma’am.

Elizabeth
War?

Eden
Indeed. To keep the peace. It’s the correct thing to do, Ma’am. The man’s an Asiatic fascist, and I think we all remember too well what the cost can be of giving in to fascism.

Elizabeth
The view of the Joint Intelligence Committee report from April this year was more balanced, suggesting we should view him as a ‘successful revolutionary’.

Eden
Don’t be fooled. Seizing the Suez Canal was a deliberate act of nationalist aggression.

Elizabeth
Which arguably we provoked.

Eden
A French and English company owned that canal.

Elizabeth
But it was built by Egyptians. And one hundred and twenty thousand of them died doing so.

Eden
Nasser’s claim. You can’t believe that!

Elizabeth
Still, even if it were half that number …

Eden
The Suez Canal is a vital artery of the
Commonwealth
, the only route by which we get our oil. I should mention we also have a significant number of British and French nationals in Egypt we need to protect.

Elizabeth
How many?

Eden
Three thousand.

Elizabeth
And how many servicemen are you proposing to send?

Eden
Forty-five thousand.

You could hear a pin drop.

But no troops on the ground until the bombing campaign is over.

Elizabeth
Well, thank you for your explanation, and for taking the time to walk me through it.

Eden
Ma’am …

Eden gets to his feet. Bows from the neck. Is about to leave, when:

Elizabeth
Before you go, I have one or two questions …

Eden smiles patronisingly.

When you mentioned the Israelis had launched the attack, you did not express surprise.

Eden
Why would I express surprise?

Elizabeth
Because from the transcripts of the Cabinet meetings of 23rd October it was clear that the Israeli position was that they would under no circumstances launch a full-scale attack by themselves for fear of diplomatic isolation. And yet they went on to do precisely that – launch an attack – indicating that either they changed their mind, or …

Eden
Or …?

Elizabeth
Or … they weren’t acting alone.

Eden looks up.

There was some kind of collusion.

The Queen stares unflinchingly at her Prime Minister.

Have
we?

Eden
Have we what?

Elizabeth
Colluded with Israel? In any way?

Eden
Ma’am?

Silence.

Elizabeth
I ask because in the same Cabinet papers –

The Queen produces the appropriate papers.

– reference was made to a meeting you were proposing to attend the following day in Paris … which, by chance, the French and Israeli leaders would also be at. Obviously I was keen to follow up on this, but I then noticed in subsequent copies of the Cabinet minutes that any mention of that meeting in Paris had been redacted, leading me to believe that either it never took place, or –

Eden
Or …?

Elizabeth
– people would prefer no one to know that it
had
.

Eden
That first copy reached you?

Elizabeth
It did.

Silence.

Don’t forget, as Sovereign, I’m ‘Copy Number One’.

Eden
And ‘Copy Number One’ read it?

Elizabeth
She did. She reads every piece of paper. That’s in every box. Every day.

Eden’s eyes close, then:

Eden
Very well. Six days ago this government met with representatives of the French and Israeli governments in a small village on the outskirts of Paris, where a document was signed – the ‘Sèvres Protocol’ – which outlines plans for a coordinated offensive against Egypt whereby Israel would attack the Egyptian army near the Suez Canal …

Elizabeth
With what justification?

Eden
Every justification.

Elizabeth
Are you sure this isn’t just an irrational personal dislike?

Eden
Certainly not.

Elizabeth
An unjustifiable incursion into a sovereign nation to depose its leader and plunder its canal based on personal animosity?

Eden
No.

Elizabeth
Is it even
legal
?

Eden
Let’s keep the lawyers out of this.

Elizabeth
Who knows about this?

Eden
Individual members of the Cabinet. Senior members.

Elizabeth
But not Parliament?

Eden
No.

Elizabeth
Or the United Nations?

Eden
No.

Elizabeth
When is this ‘intervention’ to take place?

Eden
Tomorrow.

A stunned silence.

Elizabeth
If this exercise is prosecuted successfully, what is the best possible outcome?

Eden
That we rehabilitate a country ravaged by a maniacal tyrant, and reinstate a co-operative, friendly pro-Western government. An MI6 agent placed deep inside Egypt confidently predicts emancipated Egyptians will cheer our soldiers in the streets, and carry our generals on their shoulders.

Elizabeth
And the worst possible outcome? That we lose the lives of British servicemen, and our reputation around the world for honesty and decency in matters of Foreign Policy.