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

The royal family watches the coronation film and then Hitler’s rally, struck by the power of his speaking.

Scene 79 of 100 · ≈ 1 min on screen · First scene of act three

Margaret Rose
Cosmo Lang
Bertie
Lillibet
Elizabeth
Lilibet

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:16 into a 1:31 film

The story so farBefore scene 79

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.
Scenes 65–67
The accession speech fails, and Bertie feels the loss of private family closeness and confidence.
Scenes 68–78
Bertie returns to Logue, repairs their friendship, and claims the right to speak as a man and king.
Just before
Scene 76
Westminster Abbey prepares for the coronation.
Scene 77
Lang objects to Lionel’s presence, but Bertie insists that his speech specialist sit in the King’s Box.
Scene 78
At night in the Abbey, Bertie challenges Lionel’s qualifications and fears; Lionel makes him claim his voice, and Bertie chooses to keep him.
Scene 79
This scene

79INT. SCREENING ROOM, BUCKINGHAM PALACE - NEW DAY

On the screen: archive - Pathe newsreel footage of the Coronation.

The Royal Family watches: Bertie, Elizabeth, Lilibet and Margaret. Cosmo Lang and his assistant are in attendance. There is a projectionist also.

MARGARET ROSE

You nearly crowned him backwards

Archbishop!

Lang steps in front of the screen, eager to explain

COSMO LANG

Someone had removed the thread that

was marking the front of the Crown,

Sir.

BERTIE

Try not lose the thread,

Archbishop.

LILLIBET

(peering around Lang)

Archbishop, your missing Papa.

We see Bertie giving two of his responses.

ELIZABETH

Very good, very good. Archbishop.

COSMO LANG

Well, I hope Your Majesties are

thrilled with the result.

The Coronation footage finishes. The next segment of the newsreel is entitled “Hitler in Nuremberg!” and shows him viewing troops doing the goose-step amidst immense crowds. We then see Hitler’s mad eloquence, mesmerizing all.

COSMO LANG (CONT’D)

(to the projectionist)

You can turn that off now.

ELIZABETH

No, wait, keeping going.

LILLIBET

Do have a seat, Archbishop.

They watch the footage.

LILIBET

What’s he saying, Papa?

BERTIE

I don’t know, but he seems to be

saying it rather well.

Off the roar of the crowds on the screen.

Bertie’s face as he watches Hitler.