Open Writing

Act 4 Scene 2
Time: August 1936
Place: Fort Belvedere.

Edward: I feel sure there’s a conspiracy against me in Parliament,
headed by Baldwin and that wretched Archbishop Lang. They’re
both determined to imprison me in the past and direct my life for me.

Mrs Simpson: They’ve certainly made me aware of what they think of me. It’s quite
obvious every time we meet.

Edward: They’ve also poisoned my family against you, darling, so we’re fighting a
battle now on two fronts; yet I’m not going to give you up, Wallis –
never! You’re the only woman I love and you’re the woman I’m
going to marry.

Mrs Simpson: [Coyly] And did you say that to all those other women you had before me?

Edward: [Laughing] They were merely a learning curve. I was serving
my apprenticeship in love being groomed for you, Wallis. [Kisses her]

Mrs Simpson: I love you so much, David. More than I’ve loved anyone in my life.
You won’t leave me now, will you?

Edward: Never. I’ll fight tooth and nail for you to be my Queen, sweetheart.
[Knock on door] Yes?

James: Lady Furness has arrived, Your Majesty.

Edward: Then send her in, James.

James: Yes, sir.

[Exits as Lady Thelma Furness enters. She goes to Mrs Simpson
and embraces her first, then Edward]

Edward: [Jokingly] I didn’t notice you curtsey when you entered, Thelma.
Remember I’m King now.

Lady Furness: I’m American, David. I don’t bow the knee to anyone.

Edward: Not even the King of Britain?

Lady Furness: [Bobbing a mock curtsey] Well, perhaps to him – seeing as he’s
one of us, darling Wallis.

Mrs Simpson: You never change, Thelma.

Lady Furness: But, my dear, I’m changing all the time. Aren’t we all?

Edward: All except the British. They’re stuck in the past.

Lady Furness: We Americans have so little past to stick in, we can only look to the future.

Mrs Simpson: I hear you’re returning to the States, Thelma.

Lady Furness: Frank’s missing me and wants me home, so look after dear
David in my absence, darling.

Mrs Simpson: Thelma, I’ve some news for you. David and I are going to marry?

Lady Furness: Congratulations, darling! You’ve succeeded where I failed. I always
fancied dear David as my hubby, so lucky you.. When’s the happy day?

Mrs Simpson: Just as soon as my divorce comes through, but there’ll be other problems
to sort out first.

Lady Furness: There are always problems to sort out in marriage. They never end,
but dear David will solve yours. He always does.

Edward: I do my best for everyone, Thelma, and now that I’m King I have
more clout.

Lady Furness: But they’ll expect you to conform, darling. They always do.

Edward: They can expect what they like but I will not be a kow-towing
King, Thelma. I’ll be my own man. Right now, there are too many
old codgers telling me what to do, but this young buck will put them in
their places.

Lady Furness: You were always one for putting people in their places, darling.

Edward: And I’m going to do more of it now I’m King.

Mrs Simpson: [Linking in with Edward] Whatever the old brigade say, Thelma,
we’re going to marry. No one has the right to keep us apart.

Lady Furness: It wouldn’t happen in the States.

Edward: And it’s not going to happen here. I’m going to give the Establishment
a shake-up it hasn’t had in centuries come hell or high water.

Lady Furness: Just make sure they don’t give you the once-over in the process,
darling. There’s some hard-bitten minds hiding under bland English masks.
You English are past masters at deception.

Edward: You’ll be glad to return to the States, Thelma. The season’s almost
over here.

Lady Furness: My season never ends. I flit from party to party whatever the time of
year. But I must confess I’ll be glad to get down to Miami. The weather
in London becomes too sticky for me in summer.

Edward: Like our politicians.

Mrs Simpson: You’re too hard on them, David. Anyhow, they’ll be off our backs for
the next few weeks when we sail into the blue beyond.

Lady Furness: Which part of the blue beyond are you sailing into, darlings?

Mrs Simpson: David has hired a yacht for the rest of August and September for
a cruise round the Mediterranean.

Lady Furness: Lucky you, darlings.

Mrs Simpson: I thought it time we had a break so we’re cruising into the sun.

Edward: And escaping from all the hassle here. They’ve just informed me that if
Wallis and I marry I won’t be crowned in the Abbey like all the
monarchs before me.

Lady Furness: Why on earth not? I was beginning to look forward to being at your
coronation, darling, seeing Wallis at your side as Queen. Now that
really would go down fine in the States – an English King married to an
American Queen crowned in Westminster Abbey. You’d be
honorary royals for life in America. They’d simply adore you!

Edward: I certainly always feel at home there, for Americans are more open. I
know where I stand with you; but here, I never know when
I’m going to be stabbed in the back by some grinning politician. It’ll be
a relief to get away from it all for a few weeks before the knives come out
again.

Mrs Simpson: We were hoping to visit Venice and meet Signor Mussolini, then on
to Germany and Spain, but the Foreign Office has stuck its oar in and
advised us not to go because of the unrest – at least, that’s what they say,
but I’m quite sure there’s a hidden agenda.

Lady Furness: In other words steer clear.

Edward: Exactly. The Prime Minister is adept at innuendo. He never says precisely
what we must or must not do. He simply says this or that is unwise so that
I’m never allowed to make up my own mind. You see, Thelma, I’m
only King in name, but once I’m away on holiday on board ship, I can
be myself; best of all I can be myself with Wallis.

Lady Furness: Lucky you, Wallis, darling, to have a King on a holiday romance; a
floating kingdom with you as Queen.

Mrs Simpson: More than that – it’ll be like our honeymoon, won’t it, David?
[She holds his hand and he pecks her cheek]

Edward: Life has been one long honeymoon ever since I met you, Wallis.

Lady Furness: And you’re still my Prince Charming, darling. You know, I’m beginning
to envy you, Wallis.

Edward: [Kissing Lady Furness on the cheek] But I’ll always have a soft spot
for you, Thelma.

Lady Furness: And, darling, I hope you’ll keep it warm!

Curtain