To Play the King (TV Mini Series)

Chapter Five (1993)

Ian Richardson: Francis Urquhart

Photos 

Quotes 

• Elizabeth Urquhart : [Finding her husband absentmindedly remembering the death of Mattie Storin]  Francis?

  Francis Urquhart : A little debris from the past, that's all.

  Elizabeth Urquhart : Past is past, Francis. It's done.

  Francis Urquhart : Yes. She was so long in the air, Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth Urquhart : I know. Everything you've done was for your country's good. You know that. Everything. I admire and believe in you without reserve. You know that too.

  Francis Urquhart : Thank you, Elizabeth.

• Francis Urquhart : [after meeting the King]  No manners in the ordinary sense, no small talk, no apparent sense of irony. It's all tremendously interesting but he wants to do this every week. He'll have to realise the lonely hearts club is all very well, but I can't fritter my time away in idle chatter. I have to run the country for one thing. And at this rate our royal friend's going to make that more and more like the Chief Whip's job. A pat on the head and a biscuit here, a short, sharp shock there and a good boot up the backside where indicated.

• Tim Stamper : So, how did you find His Majesty?

  Francis Urquhart : Oh, much as expected. He wants to be of use.

  Tim Stamper : Well he is of use. He can give garden parties and open things, and save us the bother of electing some god awful President or something.

• Francis Urquhart : If he thinks that being King allows him to say what he likes, he is a bloody fool.

• The King : You are a clever man, Mr. Urquhart.

  Francis Urquhart : You are too kind, Sir. I'd rather be remembered as a wise man than a clever one. But I think that sound man is the highest praise I can expect.

  The King : I'd want to be remembered as a good man.

• [Francis Urquhart arrives at Chequers after a difficult meeting with the King] 

  Francis Urquhart : Oh dear.

  Elizabeth Urquhart : He was difficult, then?

  Francis Urquhart : He was. In fact, I think we have a new Leader of the opposition, Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth Urquhart : Break him, Francis. Bring him down.

  Francis Urquhart : [grimly]  I'll bring the *lot* of them down if I have to.

  Elizabeth Urquhart : Good.