#lancasterchapterfour

Marie (gesturing at the field): Charles really is quite good at this, isn't he?

Margaret (noncommittal): Mm.

Rene (leaning back): You don't sound enthused, Maggie.

Margaret: I've seen him play before.

Marie: Still. You could at least pretend to be interested. The cameras are everywhere.

Rene: Leave her alone. Not everyone enjoys watching men chase a ball on horses.

Marie: Too bad Louis and Philippe couldn't make it. They would have enjoyed this.

Rene: They're always too busy with something or other.

Jacqueline (softly): I think it's nice. The three of us being here with Maggie.

Rene: You think everything is nice

---

Margaret (carefully): What are you doing here?

John: Enjoying the hospitality of the Etrium Polo Club.

Margaret: John—

John: You mentioned you'd be here. Thought I'd take a few days.

Margaret: You flew to another country.

John (lightly): It's a short flight.

Margaret: This is… I didn't expect—

John: I can leave if you'd prefer.

Margaret (quickly): No. No, I-It's good to see you.

John: You too.

Marie (O.S.): Maggie, you didn't tell me you were bringing someone.

Margaret: Marie! I didn't—he's not—

Marie: Not?

Margaret (flustered): This is John. John, this is my cousin, Princess Marie.

Marie: Enchanted. And how do you know our Maggie?

John: We're… friends.

Marie (to Margaret, delighted): Friends who fly across countries for polo matches.

Margaret: Marie—

Marie: What? I think it's lovely. Very romantic.

Margaret: It's not—we're not— Marie: Sure. Just friends.

Marie: I should return to the others before Rene says something our press office cannot smooth over.. But John—do join us for dinner. I insist.

John: That's very kind.

Marie (to Margaret): He's charming. Keep him.

Margaret: I'm so sorry.

John: Don't be. I like her.

Margaret: She's incorrigible.

John: Runs in the family?

Margaret meets his eyes. Finally, she lets herself smile—real, unguarded.

Margaret: Maybe.

--

Charles: Not bad for a friendly, eh?

Margaret (flat): Thrilling.

Margaret (suddenly animated): Oh my God— is that-?

Margaret: I didn't know you'd be here! When did you arrive?

Vivi: This morning. Last-minute invitation from the ambassador.

Charles: Vivi, what a pleasant surprise.

Vivi: Congratulations on the match, Your Royal Highness.

Margaret: You didn't tell me you knew she'd be here.

Charles: Didn't I?

Margaret: No. You didn't.

Katherine: I thought you hated staff parties, Marcus?

Marcus: I do. Forced merriment, terrible music, Nolan from Security getting drunk and crying about his ex-wife—

Steve: IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS, MARCUS!

Marcus:—case in point. The only reason I'm here is because Sarah enjoys watching people make fools of themselves.

Sarah: That's not true. You're here because you'd miss me.

Marcus: Perhaps. [Emma makes retching noises]

Oliver: If you weren’t here, you would miss out on these canapes we made today

Katherine: Those are my favourites!

Marcus: Those are for tomorrow’s New Year’s lunch.

Oliver: Your point?

Marcus: My point is that when we're three dozen canapés short tomorrow, you'll be the one fielding complaints from His Majesty's office.

KATHERINE: Marcus, it's New Year's Eve. Live a little- Please?

Ann: How long do you think before Marcus actually confiscates the plate?

Yvonne: He won't. Katherine could get away with murder, everyone loves her

Marcus: Fine. The canapés can stay.

Katherine: Yes!

Oliver: Marcus’s holiday miracle—having a heart!

Marcus: You're all fired.

Sarah: You can't fire anyone.

Marcus: Pity.

--

Oliver: I think its time for a dance – Katherine?

Katherine: um ….sure

Marcus: Good god. Is that the Macarena?

Sarah: Come on, lets dance

Marcus: I'd rather be waterboarded

Sarah: Please? It's New Year's Eve Emma: Yeah Marcus – It’s New Year’s Eve!

--

Everyone: Five!

Everyone: Four!

Everyone: Three!

Everyone: Two!

Everyone: One!

Oliver: Happy new year Katie

Ann: Has Oliver been bothering you? You can tell me, and I can-

Katherine: No, he's just a good friend

Margaret: I didn't think I'd ever be back here. At least not like this

Katherine: The Kings office have sent over the budget for renovations. Its very generous - whatever you want, we can make it happen

Margaret: Can it erase the last few years?

[Katherine is silent]

Margaret: I didn't think so.

--

Margaret: Ta-dah!

Katherine: Oh wow

Charles: I missed you.

Vivi: [Smiling against his shoulder] Did you?

Charles: More than I should. Three months was far too long this time

Vivi: People would notice if I started taking "goodwill ambassador trips" every other week.

Charles: [Softly] Then we'll have to be more creative.

Charles: By the way—I didn't want you to hear this from the media. Victoria's pregnant.

Vivi: [Carefully] Oh.

Charles: Yeah. She wanted another baby. Caroline's nearly two now, she liked that age gap with her and Eddie.

Vivi: [Voice tight] She wanted it?

Charles: Yes. She did. It doesn't have to change anything between us.

Vivi: [Quietly] When is she due?

Charles: [Shrugging] End of the year, I think. She hasn’t passed the first trimester yet.

Vivi: [Not looking at him] So you'll be… you'll need to be home more.

Charles:Well, a bit I guess. But that doesn’t -this doesn't change us. I'll make time. I always do.

Vivi: Will you?

Charles: [Irritation creeping in] What's that supposed to mean?

Vivi: Nothing. I'm just—I'm trying to understand what this means. For us.

Charles: [Exasperated] It means Victoria's having another baby. That's all. Why are you making this complicated?

Vivi: I should go.

Charles: What? No. We have the rest of the afternoon.

Vivi: I can't—I need to get back to the hotel. They'll be waiting for me.

Charles: [Standing, genuinely baffled] Vivi, what the hell is going on? I told you this doesn't change anything. Why are you acting like—

Vivi: [Turning on him, sudden heat in her voice] Because it does change things, Charles! You’re having another child with your wife.

Charles: [Defensive now] That's not fair. You knew from the beginning that Victoria and I have an arrangement. I didn't expect you to—to fall apart over this.

Vivi: I'm not falling apart.Charles: You're clearly upset!

Charles: What do you want me to do? Un-impregnate my wife?

Vivi: [Quietly] Of course not.

Vivi: I really do need to go.

Charles: [Frustrated again] Why? Because I told you my wife is pregnant? That's it? That's all it takes to send you running?

Vivi: I just—I need some air.

Charles: Fine. Think. But don't—don't shut me out, alright?

Vivi: Alright.

Charles: Hey - this doesn’t change anything between us. No matter what, if you need me, I’ll be there okay? Just a phone call away.

Vivi: I'll see you before I leave.

Charles: [Jaw tightening] Vivi—

Margaret: Good morning

John: Morning - breakfast?

Margaret: He cooks too?

John: More like expert orderer

Margaret: Don’t I know it

John: How would you feel about lunch at Morceau’s?

Margaret: I have to head back to Windenburg - alas, responsibilities await

John: Sure - let me call the pilot and-

Margaret: I am fully capable of organising my own transport

Andrew: The planning for your jubilee is going well Sir.

Lord Leighton: And the Prime minister has fallen in line?

Andrew: He had no choice -there was no reason to bring the election forwards.

Lord Leighton: He has been very loyal over the years

Jack: Changing the election would bring too many questions. If he is losing support - you cannot be dragged down with him - or let it affect your Jubilee.

Andrew: All the planned events will position your family at the centre of Illyrian life.

George: Good.

--

George: Charles - A word?

George: Andrew tells me you are travelling to Etrium next week?

Charles: There’s a polo tournament my team is playing in. Rene is lending me one of his apartments in town to stay in

George: I want you to take Margaret with you

Charles: Margaret? She has no interest in—

George: Then perhaps she'll discover one. A change of scenery could be beneficial for her, don't you think?

Charles: She'll only be bored.

Victoria:… but Margaret is entirely too chipper to be at war commemoration. Alex?

Victoria: Alex?

Alex: Sorry what?

Victoria: Its time to head out onto the balcony.

Alex: Oh - sure, of course

Victoria: Its okay - all we have to do stand and look appropriately solemn

Victoria: Last year there was all this talk because Margaret stood just about as far as she could from me. But this time - we have each other!

Elizabeth: Victoria – next to me?

Victoria: Of course your Majesty

---

Robert: I don’t know if we are ready for that…

Emma: I understand that, and I wouldn’t be bringing this up if not for the pressure from His Majesty's office

Robert: Are they being awful?

Emma: I’ve been able to manage them. But after the coverage of your joint appearance at Memorial day, questions are rising about your lack of visibility. I respect your decision not to reveal what happened, but we should think about a timeline for your return to solo duties.

Robert: Alex needs me.

Emma: Then you are going to have to give something to His Majesty so they will help us with the press

Alex: Hi Emma, I didn’t realise you were here

Emma: Your Royal Highness

Alex: What are you two talking about?

Robert: Don’t worry about it okay? We can handle it

Alex: Emma?

Emma: There’s some…. pressure about your official programme for the next few months

Alex: They don’t like that its…. sparse?

Robert: Engagements can wait

Alex: Can they?

Robert: Of course they can.

Alex: I just don’t feel…. ready. Memorial day made me certain of it.