Season 2 | The King Over the Water

LINNEY: This is "Masterpiece."

I find myself in a difficult position.

And to be a queen I must rule.

Yet to be a wife, it seems I must submit.

May I present my husband?

LINNEY: Previously, on "Victoria."

ERNEST (off-screen): You know, Harriet, nothing has changed.

Then why are you dancing with me?

(quietly): Because I cannot forget.

Have you heard the news?

What news?

Sutherland's dead.

It was a hunting accident.

VICTORIA (off-screen): Poor Harriet.

Women are so damn emotional.

Women like your fiancée?

How can I continue if there is no punishment for a man who tries to kill me?

ALBERT (off-screen): I will keep you safe, I promise.

LINNEY: "Victoria," ♪ Gloriana ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Gloriana ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Gloriana, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah.

♪ (crowd chattering) (horse whinnying) How lovely it is to be out.

Just us.

♪ ♪ (horse hooves clomping) ♪ ♪ Get down!

VICTORIA: Albert!

VICTORIA: What on earth?

ALBERT: There was-- there was a man, a boy perhaps, he was pointing a gun.

ALFRED: Ride on!

Ride on!

Scour the crowds!

♪ ♪ My policemen have searched the area, sir, but there is no sign of any man matching the description you gave.

I think we should go out again, at once.

If he is still out there, then he will try again, and this time he can be caught.

I hope you understand that this is not without its risks, ma'am.

But I will place a man at every step of the route.

Surely you are not in agreement?

This is madness!

I think the queen is right, sir.

We should flush the creature out.

ALBERT: Victoria!

I want you to take this.

Never inside, sir.

Please, baroness, that is a foolish superstition.

This, on the other hand... (knocking on wood) is an armored parasol.

I have designed it myself.

An armored parasol?

The chainmail, it runs all the way along the lining, which means if you are fired at, you are protected.

I also had it designed in your favorite color-- purple.

LEHZEN: Of course, Your Royal Highness, the queen will be surrounded by the Household Cavalry.

Thank you, Lehzen.

(din of the crowd) ♪ ♪ MAN: Oi, you gimp-faced boozer!

Lazy rat bag!

♪ ♪ MAN: God bless you, ma'am!

♪ ♪ Look!

Look!

There she is!

(cheers and applause) ♪ ♪ (gunshot fired) Arrest that man!

(screaming) I will have my day in court!

Move back!

Move back!

We've found the assassin.

(sighing): Is this really necessary?

ALBERT: Sir Robert is concerned that there may be others.

I wanted to go for a walk, not to inspect the troops.

Yes, I know, but... safety must come before our inclinations.

"Another diabolical attempt on the life of our gracious queen."

I'm not sure it's right to call them assassination attempts if none of their pistols were loaded.

What do these boys want if it isn't to kill the queen?

PENGE: To be famous, of course.

ERNEST: All these soldiers.

It's like we're in Prussia.

Our home has become like a fortress.

What choice do we have, my wife must be protected.

She is not just your wife.

She is also a queen, yes, thank you, Ernest.

(quietly): I am well aware of that.

(birds chirping) Duchess, I am glad to find you alone.

I wanted to express my condolences.

(scoffs) Condolences.

What an ugly word.

Then I... can I tell you how sorry I am?

I don't think that's right either.

Is there anything I can do to comfort you, Harriet?

You're the last person in the world who could do that.

♪ ♪ (sniffles) (snaps) ♪ ♪ (door opens) (footsteps approaching) LEHZEN: Majesty?

"Waverley."

(Lehzen chuckling) I'd forgotten how good it is.

I used to love Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Do you remember how I used to beg you to take me to Scotland when I was little?

(sighs): I thought I would be happy there.

If only I could have granted your wish.

Well, there's nothing to stop me now.

♪ ♪ VICTORIA: Sir Robert.

PEEL: Ma'am.

VICTORIA: Since I cannot bear to live in a military garrison here in London, I have decided to go somewhere else.

Are we traveling to the continent, ma'am?

No.

Not... Ireland?

No, Duchess, we are going somewhere that even you might approve of.

Scotland.

(clears throat) You will return in time to open parliament, ma'am?

I'm well aware of my duties, Prime Minister.

I am so looking forward to hearing the celebrated bagpipes.

Surely you to do not intend to leave your post, baroness?

Maybe next time, Lehzen, when the children are a little bigger.

As you wish, Majesty.

(birds chirping) Now, who does this remind you of?

Poor Mr. Penge.

I almost feel sorry for him.

(chuckling) Now where are you-- where are you two off to?

To buy stout boots for Scotland.

Oh... is everyone going?

I believe it's just dressers and valets?

But I'm sure you have plenty to occupy yourself with here.

(birds chirping) ♪ ♪ Isn't the air wonderful?

ALBERT: I did not know there was so much wilderness in England.

But this is Scotland, Albert.

♪ ♪ I must congratulate you on your engagement, Mr. Drummond.

Florence and I are old friends.

She's such a lovely girl, and so accomplished.

She has many virtues.

My felicitations.

I hope that she is as pretty as she is talented.

DRUMMOND: I believe she's considered quite... personable.

ERNEST: Oh, you English, I think that if you were to see Cleopatra bathing in ass's milk you would blush and say, (imitating English accent): "Oh, I believe she is considered quite personable."

(chuckling) (bagpipes playing) (bagpipes continue) (man shouting command) Your Majesty.

Your Royal Highness.

Duke.

What a pleasant surprise.

Well, these are the Atholl Highlanders, ma'am, my personal army.

They are at your command, ma'am.

Thank you, Duke.

But tell me, do you think I'm in danger here in Scotland?

(chuckling): Not while you have the Atholl Highlanders, ma'am.

Please.

(bagpipes playing) (man shouting orders) (bagpipes playing) That soup.

What is it called again, Duchess?

Sock-a-leekie?

BUCCLEUCH: It's cock-a-leekie, sir.

Or, as I call it, the nectar of the glens.

(bagpipes playing) (bagpipes continue) (giggling) (excited chatter) SKERRETT: Where are they all going?

(excited chatter continues) Ever been to a ceilidh before?

(excited chatter continues) ATHOLL: And now, ma'am, I have a special treat in store, as part of our midsummer celebrations.

The renowned physician poet William Beattie has agreed to give us a rendition of his epic "The Heliotrope, a Paean to Health."

Your Majesty.

What is life?

Like a flower with the bane in its bosom.

Today full of promise, tomorrow it dies.

(lively music playing) (crowd clapping along) (inaudible chatter) Dance?

No-- no, no, no.

I can't!

(giggling): No, please...

Please don't make me do this.

Ready?

Here we go.

(lively music playing) To the left.

And spin.

Whoo!

(laughing) (lively music continues) (laughing) (music continues) BEATTIE: But, with the dawn, dark signs in sea and ocean, announce impending dangers to our crew!

(chuckling) (clears throat) BEATTIE: Marshaled on the horizon, clouds in motion Gathered, condensed, and into blackness grew.

(claps) (startled groan) (mild applause) Thank you, Mr. Beattie.

That-that was most... enlightening.

I think I would rather be hung, drawn, and quartered than listen to another minute of that.

(sighs) You really don't have to stand guard all night.

His Grace's orders, Your Majesty.

Ah, well.

I think we will be safe in here.

Do you think?

(Victoria giggling) Shh... (bagpipes playing) Oh!

Not again!

Beastly instrument!

It sounds like the noise a-a deer makes when it is being slaughtered.

It's not so bad.

In fact, I find it rather rousing.

(bagpipes continue) Good morning, ma'am.

Your Royal Highness.

I trust you slept well.

Indeed, Duke.

I thought today you might like to inspect the alms houses up at Crathie, and to visit the new smokery.

Oh, and you will be pleased to hear that Dr. Beattie has a new poem for us tonight.

I wonder, Duke, if we might postpone the alms houses for another day?

The prince and I would very much like to see something of the countryside.

Of course, ma'am.

ATHOLL: It's the River Garry, sir.

Best fly fishing in the country.

Oh, thank you.

(indistinct chatter) (birds chirping) (laughing) ♪ ♪ (laughing) ALBERT: Will you join me?

Oh!

You'll have to teach me.

Are you set?

Yes.

Bend down.

Hold tight.

Your hand with my hand.

Oh, Lord Alfred, isn't the scenery sublime?

Heavenly.

Pull...

Pull...

Whip!

That was very eager.

I think we nearly caught Drummond.

♪ ♪ Here we go.

Ja.

Albert.

(whispering): Why don't we ride back?

Duke?

Ma'am.

The prince and I would like to ride back.

Are-are you sure, ma'am?

It's... it's not a side saddle.

Quite sure.

ALBERT: I have a very good sense of direction, Duke.

We will not get lost.

Excellent.

(quietly): Don't let them out of your sight.

(horses trotting) (birds chirping) (horse snorts) (trotting continues) ♪ ♪ (woman singing in Gaelic) ♪ ♪ Alone at last.

Indeed we are.

♪ ♪ Stop the carriage!

ATHOLL: Stop!

Where's Her Majesty?

I thought she was with you, sir.

(groans) The queen and prince have gone astray.

They can't be that far behind, surely.

I don't understand how this could have happened.

I took every precaution.

The mist coming in.

I should never have let the queen out of my sight.

I think, Duke, we should waste no time in looking for them.

Yes.

Lord Alfred?

You men, come with me.

HIGHLANDER: Split yourselves up.

Now some of you head up the hill now.

(shouting commands) Is it true that there are wolves in Scotland?

Real wolves?

I don't think so.

(horses trotting) Where are we?

I thought we were headed back to the road.

Well, we have come a little further than perhaps we intended, but I'm sure if we just continue in this direction we'll find our way.

(birds chirping) If we fell, it could be months till we were found.

You seem very calm at the prospect.

I'm more afraid of going back to London.

Really?

I noticed you were reading the "Iliad" on the boat.

Not in the original, I'm afraid.

I find the death of Patroclus most affecting.

Yes, the lengths Achilles went to, to honor his friend.

You believe they were friends?

I wouldn't know what else to call them.

(birds chirping) (Alfred thumps Drummond's chest) ♪ ♪ WILHELMINA: Look at this mist.

I do hope Lord Alfred and Mr. Drummond don't get lost too.

Don't worry.

Lord Alfred is very resourceful.

Have you known him long?

All my life.

We had the same dancing master.

I don't know that I'm a very good judge of men.

Who is, Miss Coke?

DRUMMOND: Even if I disliked Florence, my family wouldn't consider that an obstacle.

ALFRED: And do you... dislike her?

No.

No, in fact, I care for her deeply.

But...

I don't think I'll ever... Love her.

(birds chirping) Hm.

We should be heading back.

(thunder rumbling) ♪ ♪ Do you think we're lost?

I don't remember any of this.

No.

Come on.

♪ ♪ (wind blowing) BRODIE: Mrs. Skerrett!

Miss Cleary!

The queen and the prince have vanished.

Vanished?

♪ ♪ Albert, are you sure?

We crossed a river earlier, so it's only logical that we must cross again to get back.

Do not worry, Liebes.

♪ ♪ (horse nickers) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (horse whinnies) (gasps) (panting) Are you all right?

(breathless): Yes.

(panting) Let's... let's keep going.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (fire crackling) ♪ ♪ Such incompetence.

How can anyone lose a queen?

It would never have happened if I had been there.

DRUMMOND: I should have stopped the queen and the prince from going off on their own.

Indeed, you should!

You're not to blame, Drummond.

Nobody, not even you, Duchess, can stop the queen when she puts her mind to something.

I would have told her to be sensible.

God knows where they are now.

Probably at the bottom of Glen something or other, with their necks broken.

(scoffs) (footsteps retreating) I am sure they will be found soon.

HARRIET: How can you know that?

Oh, I am an optimist.

Or deluded.

What is it that I'm deluded about?

I thought I could go back to my marriage and everything would be just as it had been.

(crying): My husband knew that horse hadn't been broken in the day he rode out.

I killed him.

You cannot think like that.

It was a tragic accident, not your fault.

Not my fault?

God, you really are deluded.

(chuckling): Harriet.

A charming smile won't change anything this time, Your Serene Highness.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Perhaps I will ask here.

(bird chittering) (wind howling) (knocking) ALBERT: Excuse me for disturbing you, but we have lost our way.

(animal chittering) Ye'd better come in then.

(door shuts) (sighs) Aye, make yourself at home, why don't ye?

Oh um... my-my wife has been rather agitated since we were separated from our friends.

She does not mean any offense.

We wondered if perhaps, you would be able to help us find our way back... to Blair Atholl.

Staying with His Grace, are ye?

(conversing in Gaelic): WOMAN (in Gaelic): Well, you won't be going back there tonight.

Unless you want to arrive in a coffin.

♪ ♪ Looking for someone, Mrs. Skerrett?

If you know where the queen is, I think it's time you confessed.

No, I'm more interested in another woman's whereabouts.

I feel so useless.

Useless?

Idling the time away while the queen is in danger.

Perhaps you need a distraction.

♪ ♪ Hm.

(sizzling) Thank you.

Mm!

This trout is... it's delicious.

The manner in which it is cooked is... (chuckling): Well, no word.

(crackling) Oh, would you object if I-- if I stoked the fire...

"Object?"

(chuckles) I can tell you're not from these parts.

VICTORIA: We are from London.

What are ye doing here?

Oh, um... we had to, uh... take some time away from our-our work.

What is it that you do then?

What is it that we do?

(water rustling) Oh I am... the owner of a factory.

Actually, it's my factory.

He helps me with the paperwork.

♪ ♪ (men calling out) ♪ ♪ No sign of them anywhere.

Duke.

I feel it is my duty to inform the prime minister.

Perhaps we should wait till daybreak.

(Victoria chuckles) Not too tight.

WOMAN: There we are!

Albert, Albert look!

I've learned how to darn a sock.

(chuckling): Well, you've made a start.

It's marvelous.

We would like to retire.

You what?

Do you have a... bed that we could use?

Oh, aye...

But where will you sleep?

Dinnae fash yourself.

Morag and me will bed down with the horses.

But... We'll be needing a wee dram first.

There you go.

Thank you.

Slàinte mhath!

Slàinte mhath!

Slàinte mhath.

What-what does this mean?

We wish you well.

Oh.

Good health.

Slàinte mhath.

VICTORIA (whispering): Why do I have to go next to the wall?

(groans) (sighs) (whispering): When I had to sleep in the same room as Mama, I would think of being queen.

I was so sure it meant freedom.

Imagine if they never find us.

Would you like that?

There's no point even thinking about it.

You looked so happy tonight.

I was.

Is that wrong?

Nothing that makes you happy could ever be wrong.

♪ ♪ (wind whipping) ♪ ♪ What?

Hm?

(clears throat) Are they...?

(birds chirping) (giggles) Good morning, husband.

You know, I have some socks for you to darn.

(laughing) (men calling out) Perhaps we do not need to be found just yet.

(indistinct chatter) Get your hands off me!

VICTORIA: Please, let him be, he's a good man.

And who are you?

I'm Victoria.

You may wait outside.

Thank you both for your hospitality.

We slept so well.

I am sorry you had to be found, Your Majesty.

If I'd known you were coming, I'd have made my oat cakes.

We've had such a lovely time.

We don't want to leave, do we, Albert?

No.

Will you take this?

You'll be wanting to practice your darning.

Thank you.

(birds chirping) ♪ ♪ They're safe!

(sigh of relief) (laughing) Good.

They have been found.

(door shuts) (sighs) Harriet, about last night...

I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you.

Your kindness reminded me of... You cannot torment yourself forever.

Enjoy the book.

(door opens) ♪ ♪ ATHOLL: Your Majesty.

Your Royal Highness.

I'm so ashamed this has happened while you were in my care.

If anything had happened to you...

But nothing did happen, Duke.

The prince and I, we, um... we had a most entertaining evening.

Oh... ERNEST: Victoria.

(indistinct chatter) (applause) I am very pleased to see you, Albert.

(speaking German): (speaking German): Only to me.

(applause continues) ♪ ♪ Your Majesty.

How splendid.

(bagpipes playing) You know, Drummond, I believe we may have more fun if we join the servants.

After you.

(chuckling) (upbeat music playing) (lively chatter) Right, after you.

(lively music continues) (giggling) ♪ ♪ (chuckling) I'll have a wee dram of that whiskey.

♪ ♪ These midsummer evenings are so enchanting, don't you think?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (footsteps approaching) A night like this makes me wish I didn't have to go back.

You are Queen of Scots, ma'am.

Yes.

Yes, I'm always a queen.

You know, ma'am, if you had come here a hundred years ago, you would have found things very different.

The Highlanders back then were for the king over the water, until Culloden that is.

I used to love the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie escaping to Skye with Flora MacDonald.

I remember telling my governess I wanted to be a Jacobite.

(chuckling) She told me that wasn't possible.

Not really, ma'am.

(chuckling): No.

I have Stuart blood too, you know.

You know what James II, the last Stuart king, did when he was leaving England forever?

He threw the great Seal of State into the River Thames.

James was selfish and weak.

If the country wouldn't accept a Catholic king, he didn't want them to have a king at all.

He didn't understand that monarchy is about more than just symbols.

A real monarch puts the good of his or her country before their own inclination.

My grandfather would turn in his grave to hear me say this, but since I have met you, ma'am, (quietly): I am glad that the Jacobites failed.

I hope your faith in me is justified.

There's no doubt in my mind, ma'am.

Slàinte mhath!

(laughs) (glasses clink) Slàinte mhath!

♪ ♪ (upbeat music playing) (laughing) Can I write to you?

I don't think so.

Oh, you may be married to your job, but you're still a woman.

And that's why you can't write to me.

Oh you've... you've got a sweetheart in London?

Something like that.

(upbeat music continues) Well, um... he's not here now is he?

(upbeat music continues) (Skerrett laughing) (upbeat music continues) (birds chirping) (door opens) (door opens) Back to London.

Back to London.

Would either of you care to learn the bagpipes with me?

I want to treasure these last moments here in Scotland.

So do I, Miss Coke.

After you.

(door closes) (woman singing in Gaelic) ♪ ♪ (woman singing in Gaelic continues) Oh, how I have missed you all!

Look, a little ball!

This is for you.

Why, you're quite the little Highlander.

VICTORIA: Oh, Lehzen, if only you could have seen the Highlands, it was just what we imagined.

ALBERT: Lehzen... Vicky's looking rather thin.

VICTORIA: We have missed you.

(footsteps slowly approaching) (laughing): Well don't just stand there.

Come on in.

I have something to show you, Majesty.

Are these my drawings?

I gave this to you for your tenth birthday.

And you drew in it every day.

VICTORIA: I remember these people.

They were gypsies.

We met them walking through the grounds of Windsor.

You were fascinated, asking them what it was like to live a life where you were always moving.

Did I?

I suppose I always knew where my life would lead.

You knew it was your destiny to be queen.

(sobbing) Sorry.

Lehzen, what is it?

It...

It's just seems like only yesterday and now... (sobbing) Lehzen...

I'm sorry.

Lehzen, please... Don't talk like this.

Listen, I am not going anywhere.

Neither are you.

(whimpers) Oh, come here.

(sobbing) (clock chiming) Oh... no, no, no, please.

I can manage.

(indistinct chatter) (chuckles) The prime minister, ma'am.

Your Majesty.

Sir Robert.

Your Royal Highness.

ALBERT Good evening.

I wanted to advise you, ma'am, that in your speech tomorrow there will be a bill which reduces the charge against those who try to scare you with unloaded pistols from high treason to high misdemeanor.

This will not be a capital offense, but will result in a public flogging and transportation.

I believe these young men are not seeking to end your life, but rather to promote their own fame.

This bill is an attempt to make the punishment fit the crime.

Yes, that does seem fitting.

There's nothing heroic about a flogging.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

Ma'am.

Have you seen this?

ALFRED: I wonder if the prime minister knows about the queen's... Caledonian adventure.

Do you think I should tell him?

(sighs) I think that Scotland is a long way from home.

♪ ♪ Albert, I thought you would be pleased.

Oh, no, I am.

I am, I just...

Cannot stop thinking about the croft.

(softly): I know.

(birds chirping) You're up earlier than usual, ma'am.

I slept so well in Scotland.

But here... You cannot escape.

Harriett, in Scotland... ...just for a moment, Albert and I... We were free.

I think Scotland was an escape for everyone, ma'am.

Harriett... How tactless of me.

You're still young, there's... there's no reason why you...

I don't think I deserve a second chance.

You and the prince, when I see you together it makes me believe in fairy tales.

(chuckles) I'm sure there is a happy ending for you, too.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SKERRETT: ♪ My heart's in the Highlands ♪ ♪ My heart is not here ♪ ♪ My heart's in the Highlands ♪ ♪ Chasing the deer ♪ FRANCATELLI: ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Chasing the wild deer ♪ ♪ And following the roe ♪ (chuckling) ♪ My heart's in the Highlands ♪ (laughing) ♪ Wherever I go ♪ I was just coming to find you.

The queen would like dinner in her rooms tonight, when she and the prince return from opening parliament.

This is what she wants.

Hm.

It would appear the queen has left her reason behind in Scotland.

(laughs) I think she was happy there.

How did you like Scotland, Mrs. Skerrett?

Did you dance a reel?

(laughs) I-I did my best, but...

I've never had much sense of rhythm.

You must have had quite a holiday here.

Hm...

I missed cooking for the queen.

It was foolish to think that there was any job better than this.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (jaunty Scottish music playing) (door shuts) Victoria?

Will you do the cooking?

I have some sewing to do.

(chuckles) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ LINNEY: Next time, on "Masterpiece."

Let trade be free by abolishing the Corn Laws!

(clamoring) ALFRED: I'm going to parliament.

VICTORIA: I should forbid him to go.

The prince doesn't always respect your authority.

ALFRED: You know, that woman is not fit to look after our children.

So either she leaves or I do.

LINNEY: "Victoria," next time on "Masterpiece."

♪ Hallelujah ♪ LINNEY: Go to our website, listen to our podcast, watch video, and more.

To order this program on Blu-ray or DVD, or the companion book, visit ShopPBS.org, or call us at 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪