The King's Speech · written by David Seidler · 2010

David records his abdication; Bertie and the others sign the document.

Scene 59 of 100 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Midpoint
Five-Act Structure: Climax
Save the Cat: Midpoint
David

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:00 into a 1:31 film

The story so farBefore scene 59

Prince Albert seeks to overcome a lifelong stammer so he can serve his country, but his fear of public failure and the royal hierarchy obstruct his work with an unconventional speech therapist.

Scenes 1–11
Bertie lives within royal ceremony but cannot speak publicly and remains constrained by family roles.
Scenes 12–24
Elizabeth seeks a different treatment because Bertie must speak and conventional medicine has failed.
Scenes 25–30
Bertie enters Logue’s unfamiliar, egalitarian practice and finally commits to its daily work.
Scenes 31–58
He tests the exercises in public and private while family history and David’s crisis expose the cost of silence.
Just before
Scene 56
An equerry turns Lionel away when he asks to see Bertie.
Scene 57
Churchill tells Bertie that the country will need a reliable king and asks what name he will take.
Scene 58
Bertie asks David to reconsider, but David says he must abdicate to marry Wallis.
Scene 59
This scene

59INT. - DRAWING ROOM, THE FORT - DAY

DAVID (V.O. RADIO FILTER)

At long last I am able to say a few

words of my own. I have never

wanted to withhold anything, but

until now, it has not been

constitutionally possible for me to

speak. A few hours ago I discharged

my last duty as King and Emperor.

Now that I have been succeeded by

my brother, the Duke of York my

first words must be to declare my

allegiance to him. This I do with

all my heart.

Bertie, Henry and George are there to witness David signing the abdication document.

Silence. The scratching of a fountain pen.

He finally signs his name. The others sign.

Bertie signs.

HOLD ON Bertie’s face.