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

Bertie’s daughters curtsey formally instead of running to him, making the new distance of his title painfully clear.

Scene 66 of 100 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Lillibet
Elizabeth
Margaret

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:02 into a 1:31 film

The story so farBefore scene 66

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.
Scenes 59–64
David abdicates and Bertie receives the throne he never wanted.
Just before
Scene 63
Lionel spots Bertie’s car and meets his eyes as it pulls away.
Scene 64
Bertie waits outside the Accession Council chamber.
Scene 65
At the council, Bertie’s stammer returns and he cannot finish his first address as king.
Scene 66
This scene

66INT. HALLWAY, YORK HOUSE - THAT DAY

Elizabeth is with her daughters, preparing for the move to Buckingham Palace. The girls are tidying away their toy horses.

LILLIBET

Mama, will we have space for our

horses in our new home?

ELIZABETH

Of course we will, darling, we’ll

have a palace of rooms.

Bertie appears, still in full regalia, straight from the Accession Council. He tries to put on a brave front, but it doesn’t quite work. He desperately needs the comfort of his family.

He holds his arm out, expecting his daughters to run to him for a hug and kiss, his solace after the ordeal.

LILLIBET

(to her sister, on seeing her father)

Curtsey.

MARGARET

Your Majesty.

They remain where they are and curtsy formally. Bertie is devastated.

ELIZABETH

How was it?

Bertie shakes his head imperceptibly.