one of the "count the angels on a pinhead"
Cambridge colleges.
King's, was it not?
It was, my lord.
King's, yes.
And yet you do not draw
the moral of the incident.
Which is?
That any experiment of interest in life will be
carried out at your own expense. Mark it well.
My lord!
My Lord Rochester.
You've come back.
In your livery, my lord.
Then you are turned honest.
I cannot support that.
I regret the deed's honesty.
My lord.
But I considered that if I performed it
and fell into your service,
I would have more... enjoyment of life.
You see, this fellow has the hang of the reign.
I like this fellow exceedingly.
What is your name?
Alcock.
Like master, like servant.
Well, Alcock,
you shall drink and shag
more than any serving man in the kingdom.
Go at once and spend the rest of the money
on a whore, a large, greasy one.
Then when you are done, return here to me.
Now begone.
Rochester!
Disgrace!
Rochester!
Rochester! Missed you Lord Rochester!
He is risen!
My lord!
Impertinent bastard!
Johnny!
My Lord Rochester!
Rochester you are a cunt sir!
I smell a rotten odour
I'll suck i for you Johnny
if you promise not to marry me!
Johnny said "cunt" to the King!
I'm going to brazen my arse at them.
They've all seen it.
Well, they can bloody well put up with it again.
Johnny said "cunt" to the King!
Johnny said "cunt" to the King.
Johnny said "cunt" to the King!
My lord.
Dear Jane.
Give you your first London spurt of the summer.
- I brought the wife with me.
- Bit of a waste.
Shooting good jism up the lawful.
Ladies and gallants all,
the King!
Oh, freeze my piss,
if the royal finger ain't beckoning me.
How exciting.
Did you miss me?
I missed the money.
Good.
Don't like a whore with sentiment.
I could have ignored your poem, Johnny,
but I made a fuss about it for a reason.
I won't hide anything from you.
The country's on the brink.
People are still reeling from the fire, the plague.
The Catholics are plotting
the Dutch are a bunch of bastards
and the French are ten times worse
and there's no money
I can only get funds by crawling to Parliament
or plotting against them.
And I don't want to lock antlers with them
head on in the way my father did.
"Head on?" That's quite good.
When you first came to court Johnny
you were a boy of 18
A certain flippancy a whiff of impertinence
This was acceptable
But we're ten years down the road
and the view is different
The tone has to change.
I have to look responsible, sober.
I want you with me.
That's why I brought you back.
I want you to take on a new role.
Here? In the playhouse?
No, the House of Lords.
Your father spirited me out of England
when my life was at stake,
so I looked after him and after you.
- You put me in the Tower.
- And I let you out
The time has come for you to pay your dues.
People listen to you, Johnny.
If you took your seat in the Lords,
you could make great speeches
that would influence events.
Anyone can oppose.
It's fun to be against things.
But there comes a time when you have
to start being for things as well.
Your Majesty.
Mr Etherege.
Take a nibble?
I've had my dinner, thank you, madam.
George!
Is this thy plighted faih?
Is this thy truth?
Oh too unkind!
False and unconstant youth!
- Madam, believe not but my brother's just.
Who's she?
She's Lizzie Barry.
And she just won't do.
You wrong his honour by this mean distrust.
Well...
That does alleviate my griefs and give
my wearied soul a soft and kind reprieve.
Which ever to forget would be
as hard and as impossible as to reward.
Serving you my happiness secures.
Since equally with yours my hopes are crossed.
Of all but sorry and sad despair.
Lizzie. Lizzie!
On stage.
You must take your bow for the public.
Why do you