03x09 - O, Farewell, Honest Soldier

[bunniefuu]

Previously on The Royals...

Take a sh*t.

(YELLS)

You're gonna keep getting back up, that's what you do, but I will keep putting you back down.

I told you I wouldn't be the girl waiting for you to show up, Liam, and yet here I am, waiting for you to show up.

I never asked you to.

I'm not good at relationships.

I can't be in one, not with you.

Okay.

So you're gonna bury the story about the Princess and me and in return, I'm gonna give you a story.

You're the one that crashed Prince Robert's plane?

Yeah.

All the proof you need is on this drive.

Enjoying the view?

It's lovely.

Yeah, it certainly is.

Your blood claim to the throne, how do you propose we deal with that little footnote?

Honestly? I don't know.

Let the upper echelons of the nation decide behind closed doors.

A privy council.

Following the tribunal, I expect to remain the King of England.

Long live King Robert.

(BUZZING)

♪ I live in a nameless town ♪
♪ No need to wander around ♪
♪ I live... ♪

How long have you been here for?

Most of the night.

And no one recognized you?

No one expects the next King of England to be sat on a bench all night, especially not the night before the decision.

You sound pretty sure about this "next King of England" stuff.

It's my birthright, my destiny.

The Privy Council will see that.

(BIG BEN CHIMES)

They're testing Big Ben.

That's a good sign.

I should go. I've got to go and inherit the throne to the greatest empire the world has ever known.

Are you ready?

I've been ready my entire life.

♪ Underneath the ugly halogen lamps ♪
♪ Oh, it all went away so fast ♪
♪ In a black out ♪

(GAVEL BANGS)

Court usher: All rise!

Liam? Liam!

I need to talk to you.

Not today.

Brandon Boone told me something, it's not good.

First of all, hi, hello, welcome back.

Second, my brother is about to be crowned the next King of England.

If you have not good news from the guy who tried to k*ll him, I suggest you bury it.

We need to be unified today.

Speaking of not good...

Queen Helena: We need to disgrace him.

We need to make it obvious that he's unfit, while not making the family look like a traveling circus of idiots.

The world sees Cyrus for what he is.

It never hurts to remind them.

Eleanor: Robbie?

I want you to wear this for luck.

Ooh, your sister is on to something.

Ever since the Christmas address, that watch has been more famous than you are.

You should reach for it when you speak.

Council will notice.

They need to represent the people and the people loved Simon.

I will never be my father.

Neither will Cyrus.

Seated before us are two petitioners, each his own claim to the throne.

It is our duty in the next few hours to decide between them, informing the world which will be from this day forward the one true King of England.

At midnight, if the euphonious tones of Big Ben ring out, we shall have a new king.

Should the moment pass in silence, our current king will remain the sovereign ruler of this United Kingdom.

I remind you that this is not a court of law, it is a council of equity.

Are the claimants...

..ready to speak?

Hey!

I wanna talk to you.

Hi.

Hi?

"Hi"? That's what you're going with?

It's really good to see you.

Where the hell did you go?

I had some stuff I had to take care of. The less you know, the better.

I've been sitting in silence...

..wondering what the hell I did wrong.

Texting you like a pathetic loser, crying every night and you just show up like nothing even happened.

I'm so sorry.

Apology not accepted.

I'm so done with this sh*t.

You be sorry, Jasper. You enjoy that.

Hey. - Rosie...

You need to step away.

Helena, please, Len...

You need to step away now!

What are you gonna do? Are you gonna sh**t me, honey?

Call me "Honey" again, I am.

You'd better make sure your safety's off because, I assure you, mine is.

If you do sh**t him, aim for the heart.

He already broke mine.

That's the last time you ever aim your w*apon at me and live to tell about it.

The file came from your computer.

Our digital forensics team verified it.

It wasn't me.

It looks like it was.

Dave, how long have we known each other?

30 years?

I'm telling you it wasn't me.

I'm telling you that won't matter.

The file was classified and it's been leaked.

What am I looking at, Dave?

Dismissal, prosecution...

Possibly 15 years, reducible to half that.

You have to give me a name, Jim.

Do you remember anything that can help us?

Cyrus: 'I remember everything about it.'

How could I forget the moment I learned my dear nephew Robert was alive?

The moment I saw his face, I was so overcome, my eyes became bleary and I needed a drink.

It was I who gently revealed the passing of his father and encouraged him to reach out if he needed to talk about it.

TO BE CLEAR: Daddy's dead.

Discuss.

So I want to make it clear that I never considered this a competition.

I love Robbie and he'll make a wonderful king one day, but that day is not today.

I am the leader of this nation.

And when my dear, departed brother Simon...

..was taken from us, even Queen Helena supported my reign over her own son's.

She knows it's true.

Queen Helena: 'It's all my fault.'

I helped Cyrus change the course of history and not for the better.

What were you looking for when you made that pact?

What did you need from him?

Control.

Perhaps power, but certainly control.

The ability to run the monarchy and this family exactly as I saw fit.

And now?

(SIGHS) Now I am tired.

Now I have Robert.

I have a place in Wyoming.

A few thousand acres of land that are so immaculate it'll take your breath away.

How would you like to spend some time with me there?

We can leave tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night?

Mm-hm?

The night they announce the next king?

Possibly the culmination of my life's work, grooming Robert?

Tomorrow night at midnight, one of two things is gonna happen.

Cyrus will remain King and will do whatever the hell he wants to do, or Robert will be King.

You'll have trained him since the day he was born.

There'll be a coronation to plan.

Helena, you're the Queen.

There will always be something.

So, when that clock strikes midnight, perhaps the best place for you to be is 30,000 feet above it all.

Come with me.

If you can let go tomorrow, you'll have truly found the control you're chasing.

I'll think about it.

You're kind of persuasive, Mr. Parker.

Especially with things that I want or, in this case, desperately want.

Cyrus: 'No one has desperately wanted this as much as I have.'

To rule this kingdom, to lead this country.

But let me be absolutely clear.

Since the beginning of time, a privy council has never removed a sitting king on the grounds that the Crown Prince has returned from parts unknown and asked for a do-over.

It simply isn't done.

And without our rules and our traditions, what are we?

America?

(LAUGHTER)

You saw what happened with Tr*mp versus Hillary.

Lose-lose.

(LAUGHTER)

This is my crown.

This is my reign.

History supports me.

Tradition supports me.

I know you will too.

To take the crown from me would be nothing short of stealing.

James: 'You stole it, didn't you?'

Jasper: 'Stole what?'

I was woken up in the middle of the night and interrogated for hours about a missing file that you took... why?

Do they know I took it?

No, they don't know. They think I took it.

Why did you take it?

I needed proof...

..about Boone.

A journalist knew about me, so I traded stories to protect the Princess.

To protect yourself.

Well, I hope that works out well for you, 'cause I'm going to prison and my daughter is going to that orphanage that you claim to be from.

I'll tell them I did it.

I'll tell them you did it, but I'm still gonna lose my job.

I understand that your father was a disappointment, but your inability to trust anyone or ask anyone for help has hurt a lot of people.

Including my daughter.

You might want to think about that.

It can't be fixed?

No.

No, not this time.

(DOOR OPENS)

Hey.

Hey. Are you ready to go?

Nearly. Can I talk to you a moment?

I need a favor.

At today's hearing, they may ask you to speak but, if they don't, I'm going to suggest it.

I'll say I support you.

And I appreciate that.

But I also think you should denigrate Cyrus, talk about his drug use, mention his cancer, his erratic behavior.

Hell, make something up if you have to.

You really think that's necessary?

Unfortunately, I do.

If it comes from me, it'll play as negative campaigning.

Besides, it's not like Cyrus has been a model of virtue.

But why stoop to his level?

The people see your nobility and they appreciate it.

The Privy Council will too.

Remind them how great our country is and can be.

Tell them that everyone should have a chance.

We're England. We can be great and majestic.

Remind them of that. Inspire them.

That's what they want from a king.

I love you, brother, but you're being naive.

We need to do whatever we can to secure the crown.

Your job is to vilify Cyrus. You need to trash him, okay?

Look, trust me on this, please.

I'm counting on you, little brother.

You're the Queen of England. You can run, but you can't hide.

Jack's invited me to his ranch for the weekend.

Oh, Jack Parker stepping up! Ooh!

(GIGGLES)

Packing kind of light, aren't we?

It's not as though you're gonna need many clothes.

The tree does not grow far from the apple, Mummy.

I haven't decided if I'm going yet.

Why wouldn't you?

There's a thing today where they pick the next King of England.

Which is completely out of your hands.

Go.

Hm.

Go!

Psst!

For God's sake!

Inappropriate!

I need your help.

It seems you're running out of lives, Mr. Whiskers.

I gave some confidential information to a reporter.

About what?

Robert's plane crash. It's a long story.

Now James Hill's in the line of fire and I was hoping that you could intervene.

Let me get this straight.

You steal from me, breach the security of this family, let alone the country, and then ask me for help.

Well, essentially, yes.

I'm beginning to see why my daughter is at her wits' end with you, Bodyguard.

You understand, if I intervene on Mr. Hill's behalf, I'll be pointing fingers at Mr. Frost.

I do, yes.

Then why don't you think about it?

See if any other course of action comes to mind.

As far as my son's plane crash is concerned...

Robert would already be king if he hadn't gone missing, serving his country, if he hadn't been mercilessly att*cked and left for dead.

Our current King is trying to make it look like Robert is trying to change history based on a loophole, or a technicality.

In fact, it's Cyrus who is the loophole.

He's King merely because of a very unfortunate technicality.

And to not make things right is to concede that the man who m*rder*d Simon and tried to m*rder Robert has once again been allowed to att*ck this family...

..and get away with it.

You have the ability to put things right, to reach down into hell and send a message to Mr. Pryce:

"You don't win!

You don't get to change this part of history.

You might have taken our last great king from us, but you will not take our next great king from us."

Send a message.

Do the just and honest thing.

Make it right.

My name is Jasper Frost.

I'm His Royal Highness' Prince Liam Henstridge's responsible security detail and I'm the person who leaked those documents.

Mr. Hill had absolutely no part in it, nor was he negligent in any way.

His only mistake, if any, was trusting me and expecting me to do the right thing.

Take Mr. Frost into custody.

I'm afraid that won't be necessary.

Mr. Frost was working for me under my direct instructions.

There was no breach and thus no crime.

With all due respect, that seems difficult to believe, Your Highness.

Does it? The Privy Council is about to meet to decide who will be your next king and your boss.

Call me crazy but, selfishly, I'd like that to be me.

The timing of this article would work in my favor, not only reminding the people and the Council what I endured, but why I'm not sat on the throne at this moment.

I asked the man who solved my father's m*rder to help me tell that story.

With apologies to Mr. Hill, I asked him to tell no one.

He's not a traitor, gentlemen, he's a hero. Uncuff him.

Uncuff him, for God's sake!

(HANDCUFFS UNLOCKING)

I appreciate your service, gentlemen, and I'll be happy to talk to anyone who needs more clarification.

You'll likely have to do that, Your Highness.

I'll see you out.

Was any of that true?

(SIGHS)

I should've stayed a detective.

I'm so sorry, James.

I never meant to cause you or Sara Alice any harm.

Well, you did.

I understand.

I don't think you do.

You're fired.

Place your g*n on the table and I'll escort you off the premises.

(SHOUTING) Put it on the table!

You know I love her, don't you?

I've always known that, but I'm afraid that's not enough this time.

Is there anything I can do to change your mind?

There was.

You could've trusted me.

You can watch me on the monitors. I know the way out.

Tell Sara Alice I said goodbye.

I'm gonna miss her.

Before I speak, I think...

It's only fair to give my siblings to voice their support or concerns.

So I humbly defer to my brother, His Royal Highness Prince Liam, whose opinion matters to me immensely, as it should to you too.

Prince Liam, as your brother has suggested, would you like to share with us your perspective on these proceedings?

Cyrus?

What do you want?

Nothing.

What's he planning, anyway, your brother?

He's planning to tell the truth.

The truth!

He'll never know what it's like.

When you're the first-born son, the crown is inevitable.

It's only now that he's gotten a small taste of what you and I have always known... the possibility of life without the crown.

I wonder how he'll behave in this moment of uncertainty.

Not before the world, but behind closed doors.

People are at their best, or worst, when they have an opportunity to touch greatness.

I should know.

I've been both.

Mostly worst.

Runs in the family.

Liam?

I have full-blown cancer...

..and these have been the greatest days of my life...

..in case you wondered what it's like.

I humbly defer to the wisdom of the Council.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Are you kidding me?

Princess Eleanor...

The man has a mohawk.

The King of England has a ferret on his head.

(LAUGHTER)

He canceled the dedication of my father's monument and then drove his car through it, drunk.

A few weeks ago, he knighted a whore in the Red State Room.

Dame Sinnamon of Skankville.

Baroness Saffron.

One candidate is noble, is inspiring and the best of us while the other is a malicious freak show dressed as a court jester on nitrous oxide.

That's my perspective, just so you know.

You certainly have a point of view.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah, that one turned out okay.

I personally like this one better.

(LAUGHS) You would.

Mm-hm.

Nice dr*gs.

I don't do them much these days, I just keep them around in case of emergency, or if guests pop in, obviously.

Help yourself.

No. I've got a shipment coming in from Morocco soon. I'm good.

Oh, do you? (GIGGLES)

So, I want to talk to you about my latest project.

My family owns quite a bit of coastal real estate all over the world.

Most of these properties are empty and a bit faded, so I plan to restyle and rebrand them as boutique hotels.

Like the Chateau Marmont's way cooler little brother.

Ooh, or little sister.

Or little sister.

Which brings me to you. I want you to style.

You have impeccable taste, I've already seen your work and quite frankly, you need to keep busy, otherwise...

I could do all that from here?

No.

We'd be on the road the next six months.

Sebastian, I can't be gone for six months.

Why not?

Because in case you didn't know, I'm a princess.

You'd still be a princess. Give me one good reason why you have to be here.

I do things.

Charities and I...

You do dr*gs in your room.

(SCOFFS)

As far as charities go, we can donate a portion of every booking to whatever charity you like.

Six months, a different city every month.

You doing what you do best.

You can hide in your room and call it your obligation, but your fire?

Your fire is meant to be shared with the world.

Think about it.

Your Highness, I wanted to thank you for keeping me out of prison.

I owe you one for tracking Ted Pryce.

You let me use the family gym for that.

True, so I guess you owe me one.

Well, I'm afraid it's my last day on the job.

I've been relieved of my position, which is... not exactly a surprise, given the circumstances.

I have a feeling you won't be unemployed for long.

As a matter of fact, this makes things easier.

How so?

When I'm elected King, I want the best security detail.

That happens to be you.

Rather than take you from my brother, I can simply re-employ you. Count on that.

Why would you do that?

I just told you.

I want the best.

One small caveat, though.

You have to keep your extra-curricular affairs in check.

You mean the Princess?

I mean that very one.

Time has a way of making things right, Mr. Frost.

Dedicate yourself to protecting me and I will always protect you, even with her.

I'll think about it.

Good luck.

Jasper?

If those bells chime at midnight, you're back in the game.

I promised myself I wouldn't covet things.

If I survived, if I was rescued, I would be thankful for everything that I have and have had.

The truth is... my time away made me a better person.

When you're surrounded by silence for the first time in your life, you learn to appreciate the life you once had, the people that you may have once taken for granted.

So I consider my time on the island a blessing, not a tragedy.

My only wish is that I had found my way home before my father was k*lled.

But let's not dwell on the past.

Let's use this opportunity to focus on the goodness that is England.

Glorious, noble England.

The fairest region on Earth.

Let's focus on its people.

Not just one person, not a king, but all people, working together, a kingdom united, without restriction to the happiness, to the prosperity and glory of Great Britain.

We, all of us, have made mistakes.

After all, we are simply human and alone, we are fallible, but together, we are strong.

We are united.

The strength of our parliament, our democracy, of this very Privy Council who represents the voice of the people, will make the right decision.

I know it in my heart.

And whatever decision you make, as a citizen of this great nation, I vow to be the best man I can possibly be.

King or not.

I will do my utmost to make this country a region where all persons have a duty and all people have a chance.

We are England.

Great, majestic England and together, our majesty is infinite.

God save the King.

All rise!

(THUD)

We are advisors to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.

On this day, however, let history record that we will select the Sovereign we will next serve.

At midnight, if Big Ben remains silent, His Majesty King Cyrus will remain in power.

But, if the great bell chimes, then we will, with great felicity, dedicate ourselves to the stewardship of His Royal Highness Prince Robert.

For now, we adjourn until the hour strikes 12.

God save the King!

All: God save the King!

We need to talk. What the hell was that?

You're welcome.

I'm welcome?

My idiot brother may have cost me the throne and I'm welcome?

I asked you to do one simple thing.

You asked me to do one stupid thing...

..and I fixed it for you.

You fixed it how?

I protected our family's image... so that there might actually be a throne for you to sit on.

That is until Len did your bidding, as she always does.

Len did the right thing. She actually helped us.

You, on the other hand, lost your nerve and your balls, like you always do.

People are at their best or their worst when they have an opportunity to touch greatness.

I think we know which one you are.

I have to be at my worst, Liam, because no one gives you anything.

At least not a place on the greatest throne on Earth.

Crowns are for taking and I am taking this one.

That is unless you've screwed it up for all of us.

Mum?

(FOOTSTEPS)

I couldn't do it.

There's still time.

No.

My life is here.

My identity is here.

The time when I could slip away and be someone else is long since past.

I have a good life.

I have a wonderful, fairy-tale life.

But...

It does come with certain restrictions.

Perhaps if I were younger...

..maybe things could've been different.

Oh, Mum.

(SYML: THE w*r)

♪ Here stands a man ♪

Liam?

♪ At the bottom of a hole... ♪

Hi.

I er... I took the liberty of typing up some social media messages you can post at midnight.

There's one for each outcome.

I also think it's important you have a presence tomorrow online, no matter what.

I know neither outcome is what you want or once imagined, but people still care about your point of view.

And so do I.

Willow?

It's been a long day.

Would you like to just hang for a bit?

I think it's better if we keep things professional from now on.

I'm sorry.

♪ Don't you ever ♪
♪ Leave me alone ♪
♪ My w*r is over ♪
♪ Be my shelter ♪
♪ From the storm ♪
♪ My w*r is over ♪
♪ I am a sad boy ♪
♪ Here stands a man ♪
♪ With a b*llet ♪
♪ In his clenched right hand ♪

It's 11:59, Your Majesty.

Good luck.

♪ Don't push him, son ♪
♪ For he's got the power to crash these lands ♪

They'll do the right thing. They have to.

It was so clear today to everyone...

If they don't, if they pick Cyrus, we can fight it.

No. If they pick Cyrus, it's done.

We've done what we can.

Son?

Whatever happens next is history.

After that, natural order will run its course.

♪ Don't you ever leave me alone 15 seconds.

♪ My w*r is over ♪
♪ Be my shelter ♪
♪ From the storm ♪
♪ My w*r is over It's time.

♪ I am a sad boy ♪

(BIG BEN CHIMES)

♪ Don't you ever ♪

(GASPS)

♪ Leave me alone ♪

(GIGGLES) Kathryn!

♪ Be my shelter from the storm ♪

(BIG BEN CONTINUES CHIMING)

(FIREWORKS WHIZZING)

♪ My w*r is over ♪
♪ I am a sad boy ♪

(KNOCKING)

It's official. Prince Robert...'

(TURNS TV OFF)

(TALL HEIGHTS: SPIRIT COLD)

♪ How do I wake my spirit cold? ♪
♪ We always say when our history's told ♪

Hi.

(GIGGLES)

♪ If only we knew the things we know ♪

(GIGGLES)

♪ There's a question ages old ♪

I'm sorry I'm so late. It's crazy out there.

It's okay, it's fine. (SNIFFLES)

I dunno why I'm crying.

Do you want to go out, celebrate?

I found these.

(LAUGHS)

♪ If all good things ever come and go ♪

I love you. You know that.

♪ Hold the nail for the hammer stroke ♪

Or we could just stay in.

You could have amazing sex with the King of England.

Yeah.

Let's do that.

(CHUCKLES)

♪ How do I wake my spirit cold? ♪
♪ There's a question ages old ♪

What did you do?

I did what I could.

What you did was drink my bourbon, defile a whore in my bed and then betray me and take away my crown.

I only have one vote, Your Highness.

Your Majesty!

I told you, you had to win it in the room.

You told me you could manipulate the council.

You told me you could convince them, so you look me in the eye, you ridiculous nappy-wearing fool, and tell me what the... just happened here!

(RAGGED BREATHING)

We saw a king today and it wasn't you.

I'm gonna k*ll you, Westcott.

I'm gonna t*rture you and k*ll you and defile your pathetic, little corpse.

You don't decide sh*t!

You don't tell me a g*dd*mn thing!

I'm the King of England and you're all just people.

I'm sorry.

I did what I could.

(GRUNTS)

You simply think it's over for me.

It's over for you.

All of you, with your birthrights and your titles and your esteemed sense of privilege.

You had a king who let you be corrupt and you destroyed that.

You think Robert's gonna let you be that way?

He won't.

It's over.

Good luck being old and common, you stupid son of a bitch.

Hey.

I'm not supposed to be here, but I wanted to come and see you, because I need to try and explain myself.

Don't bother. I don't want you to.

I got fired today...

..because I took a file of classified information and I gave it to a reporter.

I did that because the reporter knew about my past and I was trying...

I'm leaving soon.

After the coronation.

I'm gonna be someone more than a princess.

I'm leaving this behind, including you.

I'm trying to tell you that I did what I did to protect you.

It doesn't matter. Truly, it doesn't matter.

I can't do this any more, any of it.

I don't want to and I'm not going to.

When?

I have a chance to be someone, Jasper...

..to get away from all of this.

Please walk away.

♪ 'Cause I already know ♪
♪ I'll lose you ♪

Fine. If you won't, then I will.

♪ Don't bring tomorrow ♪
♪ 'Cause I already know ♪
♪ I'll lose ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ Don't bring tomorrow ♪
♪ 'Cause I already know ♪
♪ I'll lose ♪
♪ I'll... ♪
♪ Lose you ♪
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪

Hey.

Hey.

I just wanted to let you know in person that I'm not your security detail any more.

We'll see about that.

Before the council hearings, you said you heard something from Boone. Bad news.

I thought you were letting all that go?

I was then. I'm not now. Was it about Robert?

Then it's important I know.

Okay.

But, once you hear it, there's no going back.

I'm okay with that.

Besides, I have no place to go back to.

What did Boone say about Robert?