- Queen Elizabeth II: Is everything all right?
- Tommy Lascelles: I do hope it wasn't a mistake inviting the group captain to join us.
- Queen Elizabeth II: You've never cared for him, Tommy.
- Tommy Lascelles: No, I cared for him as long as he did his job and knew his place.
- Queen Elizabeth II: My father held him in high regard.
- Tommy Lascelles: As a member of staff, not as a member of the family.
- Queen Elizabeth II: He has been a good friend to us all.
- Tommy Lascelles: Too good, I would argue. And he let his wife go in the process.
- Queen Elizabeth II: He was innocent in that regard. She left of her own accord. And he's a wonderful father to those boys.
- Tommy Lascelles: I'm just trying to manage a difficult situation, ma'am.
- Queen Elizabeth II: As am I. Sending him away will break my sister's heart.
- Tommy Lascelles: Hearts mend.
- Newspaper Proprietor: This is not just inflammatory, it breaks all the rules.
- Newspaper Editor: What rules, sir?
- Newspaper Proprietor: The unspoken rules of deference and respect shown by the media to the Royal family.
- Newspaper Editor: But surely those rules changed the moment they invited television into the coronation.
- Newspaper Proprietor: That was their right, and a huge concession.
- Newspaper Editor: To what?
- Newspaper Proprietor: Popular interest.
- Newspaper Editor: Their interest also. Look at their standing now, it's never been higher. The question we in the fourth estate need to be asking ourselves is, do we let ourselves be used, or do we have our own independent voice?
- Newspaper Proprietor: Don't get moralistic with me.
- Newspaper Editor: If we don't break this story, do you think nobody else will? I know there's plenty of others sniffing around it, sir.
- Tommy Lascelles: Oh, thank you for letting me know.
- Newspaper Proprietor: Of course, Tommy, thank you for understanding. I'm sorry.
- Tommy Lascelles: No, I'm sorry. I imagine it must be difficult being dictated to like that by an employee.
- Newspaper Proprietor: I wasn't dictated to. Am I missing something?
- Tommy Lascelles: You said this editor was telling you what he was going to print in your newspaper.
- Newspaper Proprietor: He is. But I can't keep telling him what to write.
- Tommy Lascelles: I thought that was the point of owning a newspaper.
- Newspaper Proprietor: Look, I'm just trying to help you, Tommy. I suggest you see this for the kind gesture that it is.
- Tommy Lascelles: What? That you are about to print an article that will cause deep distress to senior, let's be quite clear, the most senior members of the Royal family?
- Newspaper Proprietor: That I'm warning you. That I'm giving you the heads up.
- Tommy Lascelles: I'm on my knees with gratitude.