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CHAPTER 1

KING CHARLES THE WISE

Prologue

(Early August 2017, Mount Olympus. ZEUS is seated on the Olympian throne, spotlit. He is wise, shrewd and sophisticated-looking, but he is slightly doddery and no longer all powerful, and running the world is difficult. He is doing his best. The gods cannot control what humans do but they can try to influence events after humans have exercised their free will in a chaotic way. He addresses all the gods and goddesses. There are two screens on the stage, one on the left and one on the right.)

Zeus: What's wrong with humankind? I want a world Without war, famine and disease, that's like A harvest paradise where souls ripen Like apples on an orchard's apple trees In tranquil sunshine on a summer's day, Where bees nuzzle in fragrant lavender And dandelions smile under fluffy clocks And swans glide beside fields of golden corn. But men fight each other, leaders squabble. It's hopeless, humankind is in a mess And we gods and goddesses have to save Recalcitrant humans from their mistakes. We have to intervene discreetly when We can, when there's an opportunity, To influence individuals who'll accept Our policies and adopt what we want. Europe's in turmoil, again. The UK Has left without a plan, there is a hole In the EU's budget. And yet again Political leaders have let us down By thinking nation-state and not seeing The wider unity we all desire. We need stability so the EU Can expand to a bloc of fifty states And the half-blind UK leaders can grasp Their country's true destiny, its role in Bringing to birth a world that's free from war. I preside over all created forms, All species of wildlife and humankind, And in my grander scheme of things Brexit Is only important as it allows The UK to bring in our new order. I can see the UK's new destiny To change the world's structure after Brexit So clearly, yet all British citizens Seem unaware of what's ahead for them. An independent UK'll be well placed To move between the US and Europe, China, Russia, India and all countries. The UK is very innovative And's always been very influential. The UK's one of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council. It's one of the five most respected states, It's had the fifth-largest economy And the fifth-largest military as well. The UK's the right country to bring peace, It is the only Permanent Member Of the Security Council that can. The UK's ruling class do not see this, They lack urgency as if in a dream. Its leader's on a three-week walking tour. She's like a shy doe on a mountainside, And she's as slow as a plodding tortoise. She thinks the UK can break free from all European laws while continuing To benefit from the single market. Her policy is foolish, I despair. Following her disastrous election She is politically unstable. Her party's divided, the extreme Right Has captured the centre, she's a puppet Amid the self-interested agendas Of ambitious and treacherous back-stabbers Who prowl like hungry wolves eyeing their prey. Both parties are controlled from their extremes, Voters honk like geese hearing intruders. Fourteen months have slipped by since the Leave vote And negotiations have not progressed. What's done cannot be undone, the UK Is going to separate, and its PM May not be in power next year. A vote Of no confidence or a letter signed By forty-eight MPs may see her off. I need to look beyond this current bout Of UK disorder and confusion, Incompetence, arrogant self-interest. The politicians are all transient And have closed minds as they are partisan. The one enduring thing's the monarchy. But the Queen is now in her twilit years. The key person to focus on behind The Government's her heir and successor, The Prince of Wales. He will endure, we can Regard him as a 'permanent' monarch. And he's proved to be more open-minded Than partisan politicians who toe Their party line and will not think outside Their box of narrow party loyalty. He is respected and is the best placed To give our vision global prominence. His world-view's sound. He's attuned to the world – The environment and the countryside, Conservation, architecture, global Warming, sustainability, the young, Regeneration of communities – And it's clear to the world that he has soul. He believes in the divine right of kings. I'm sure he'll listen to our policies With an open, humanitarian mind. He must now be the best prepared monarch Ever, he's trained for over sixty years. It's a hereditary monarchy, He cannot be bypassed for his own heir. There's no one else who could speak out for world Unity: President Trump is useless With his America-First policy; Both the Russian and Chinese leaderships Are focused on their own regional blocs; The EU President has to expand The EU and that will take all his time. Only the UK can bring about change And call for the UN to be transformed Into a new World State as is our plan. There may be some initial disquiet That power will shift from the West to the East, But that's already happening and new Constituencies in every region Will prevent this and ensure that the West Has a role in shaping the coming world. An elected World State's the only way. It's the future, it has to be. And we Are all agreed, it's a UK project. I know there is disunity within My 'Cabinet' and several of you have Different views as to how the Prince should rule, But now's the time to thrash differences out So there's a one-'Cabinet' view that will Include the long-term perspective we want That will bring peace and unity for all. I know he'll be a constitutional Monarch and will have to tread carefully, But it's time for the Prince to be aware Of the gods' vision of the world's future. And so I have decided to send down Not Hermes but our goddess of Wisdom. My dear Minerva – you were Athena To the Greeks but Minerva to great Rome And I still think of you as Minerva – I want you to be my ambassador As a robin befriends a gardener. Descend to him and discuss the UK's Destiny under his reign, and lead him Forward into wisdom as only you Know how to, and then report back to me.

Minerva: I'm honoured to be asked to undertake Such an important mission. We all know That to unite the world the fifty states Of the US and (under Europa's Clear guidance) Europe's future fifty states Must combine with the Far East's fifty states (Sadly not yet assembled), and we know That the UK may quite soon be the best-Placed to lead this united world forward. And we know it could propose a World State Before the new states join regional blocs. I agree the US, Russia, China And the EU can't be depended on To change the world, and that this role best suits The UK. Its politicians are all Hopeless, I agree that it needs a man With higher consciousness who knows the One And the vision of unity, and Charles, Though soon a constitutional monarch, Has already shown this by declaring That he will defend all faiths, not the faith Of Christendom alone. All can now see He has a Universalist outlook And therefore is already wise. It's right To work with him to support his wisdom. Lord of all, I am now ready to start.

Zeus: Excellent, dear Minerva. But there must First be a thrash-out of conflicting views. Britannia, Europa, Columbia And others among the gods' 'Cabinet' Who wish to persuade him of their own way, Those of us gods who speak for the choices Of destiny the UK must still make (In exercise of its free will, for all Countries have free choices that we respect But influence by our diplomacy) Will take part in a free-for-all debate So, democratic as ever, we all Are of one mind and share a consensus As all Cabinets are supposed to do. We will have one position, him and us, So he can act for us. Oh, look, look here.

(PRINCE CHARLES, sitting on the throne in the Throne Room in Buckingham Palace, is visible on the left screen. The throne is above three red-carpeted steps. He is lit by a spotlight from electrical equipment left behind, together with two screens and a laptop, by a technical crew. The chandelier before the throne is too high to be seen and is anyway unlit. He is sitting on the red-and-gold throne, one of two identical grand chairs. His red box is on the other chair, open, and he is holding sheets of paper. With his free hand from time to time he drums his fingers on the lid of the red box. To his right is an all-in-one tea tray with handles and legs.)

I've got him on my screen. See, he's alone In the Throne Room in Buckingham Palace, Sitting on the red-and-gold throne, bending, Working on the Queen's red box, helping her Deal with her State papers like a Regent, Tapping like a woodpecker seeking grubs. 'Operation Hand-over' has started In deed though the Queen denies it in name. No one else is about, it's late evening. You could catch him alone, if you are quick.

Minerva: I'll go at once, knowing you'll be viewing All that I do and hearing what I say.

(CHORUS OF ROYAL HOUSEHOLD STAFF. Three of Buckingham Palace's 800 staff are behind a door off the Throne Room that is not properly closed: a footman, a page and a maid. They are on the edge of the stage to one side, between the action and the audience. They are waiting for Prince Charles to complete his work so they can do their routine chores and finish for the day. They are tired after a long day's work and whisper loudly to each other.)

Chorus of royal household staff: Something is happening, we don't know what. Something to do with Prince Charles, who we serve. He left the Office of the Prince of Wales, He's shut himself in the Throne Room to work On papers in Her Majesty's red box. He came from Clarence House this afternoon, Worked in the Office of the Prince of Wales And went through papers in the Queen's red box. He was called to the Throne Room as there was A talk and presentation with two screens For the Family and senior staff, A confidential kind of conference Before the throne in the late afternoon. The electrical equipment and screens Are still here, they'll be removed tomorrow. At the end he returned to his Office To sign letters for his secretaries And finish his work on the Queen's red box. He chose not to go back to Clarence House But then decided he would come back here To the Throne Room – to ponder what he'd seen On the screens, while doing his paperwork?

(The THREE CHORUS MEMBERS speak the next three lines individually.)

I, the page, carried in his red box. I, The footman, clicked the spotlight. I, the maid, Brought a tea tray and something light to eat. He's not to be disturbed, we can't go in. We think he's pondering the commercial Viability of opening the State Rooms, new parts of this Palace and the grounds To the public full-time when the Queen's gone As he won't be moving from Clarence House. We think that's what the conference was about, That the screens showed where the public can go. Where will that leave us? Will we still have jobs? He's alone in this atmospheric place And poring over papers in his box. We don't know how long he will be in there. We've had a long day, it will soon be time To finish up and go off to our rooms. So we are waiting until we're summoned. It wasn't always like this in the past Before the Queen grew old and had to share Her work. Those were good days, we were on call. Alas, those times have passed and won't return.

Page: I am waiting to carry his red box Back to the Office of the Prince of Wales.

Maid: I'll clear away the tea tray when he leaves.

Footman: I'll click off the spotlight when he retires.

Antimasque

(The Throne Room in Buckingham Palace, still lit by the spotlight from electrical equipment left behind, together with two screens, by a technical crew earlier that day. A laptop is open on the floor. It controls the spotlight and the screens. PRINCE CHARLES is still sitting on the throne above three red-carpeted steps. His red box is still on the other chair, open, and he is still holding sheets of paper. He muses aloud.)

Prince Charles: I'm back again at Monarchy HQ. The Queen has taken a step back along With my father, the Duke of Edinburgh, And I am taking up the slack they've left. I shall lay the Queen's wreath on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph. My time's come. 'Operation Hand-over' has begun. I'd rather be in cosy Clarence House Than rattle here in Buckingham Palace. I've done this for a while, but this is bad. I've read these State papers but I am none The wiser regarding the Government's EU position, which is like a stag In thick undergrowth. It seems we'll leave both The single market and customs union But after a short transition period. I read two options, delayed for two years. I think May may not know what to do next. I think she's buying time to think it through, I think she's at bay like a fox from hounds. Delaying 'out' till the next election Will keep the economy strong till then And see her party through to a poll win. I think she has been playing for safety, And keeping her split Cabinet at one. But the thought in my mind, which I can't seem To remove, is: I really want to know Where the UK is going when it leaves The EU. That is not in these papers. We're on a bridge, what's our destination? Everything is disorderly, I find It all bewildering. I can't get rid Of that nagging thought: where are we going?

(MINERVA materialises beside him from the shadows and stands before the spotlight.)

Minerva: That's because I put that thought in your mind.

Prince Charles: Who are you? How did you get in? How did You get past the Palace security?

Minerva: I am Minerva, I've been in your thoughts Because I can confer wisdom on Kings.

Prince Charles: Minerva, you are goddess of Wisdom.

(He stares at her and rubs his eyes and shakes his head.)

Some ask what sort of a King I will be. Will I send meddling letters to the State's Ministers, will they be words of wisdom? I wish I had the wisdom of a sage Who's thought deeply and absorbed the wisdom Of the East and the West, abstruse knowledge Philosophers have unearthed in themselves Like nuggets of gold they clean and polish. Then I could read this turgid stuff and know At once with clarity what it all means And what destination it's advising, Get to the essence of what's being said Like spotting a newt in a murky pond.

(PRINCE CHARLES sighs.)

Minerva: You have thought deeply, I can tell. You are Original, work things out for yourself. You're no stranger to wisdom, you have said Some challenging things that are very wise.

Prince Charles: 'What is wisdom?' I ask myself. Perhaps I have it already to some degree Or like to think I have it, and perhaps It's come out in what I have had to say On 'my topics', such as the environment. You were shown as an owl on ancient coins. Perhaps I too am a bit of an owl.

Minerva: I have come as Zeus's ambassador. The gods are very interested in you And what you may achieve when you are King, What direction you'll take the UK in. Admit you've thought of Minerva –

Prince Charles: I have –

Minerva: And now you've conjured me and now I'm here. How do you see the UK's destiny?

Prince Charles: It's bewildering. In twenty years' time. ... There have been promises but there's no plan. I don't know what a hard Brexit involves. I can see several UK destinies And several directions. Not all are good.

Minerva: I'm not alone, the nine Muses conjured These nine shades from your glorious history Who all have views on what should happen next:

(NINE SHADES are now in the dimly-lit Throne Room and stand before the spotlight when they are mentioned.)

The Kings Alfred and Harold the Second, William Conqueror, Henry the Second, Henry the Eighth and George the Third; also Politicians Palmerston and Churchill. And Keir Hardie who speaks for all the poor. They greet you from the underworld, six are Your ancestors and want you to do right. They sympathise with your predicament And feel protective as you make your choice. Each one has advice on your destiny. Note I say 'your' and not just 'the UK's', For what you choose will shape your country's course As you make Brexit work with new thinking, But will also define your destiny. And other goddesses are in this room. Sit back and listen, and judge what they say. At the end I'll ask for your opinion. First here's Britannia, who was shown with shield On the old, pre-European penny.

(BRITANNIA, carrying a shield and trident and wearing a Corinthian helmet, stands before the spotlight.)

Britannia: Your Royal Highness, your first love's Britain. Listen to the British people's comments.

(A CHORUS OF BRITISH PEOPLE, a cross-section of all classes and professions, some in suits and some casually dressed, comes up on the right screen.)

Chorus of British people: We, the British people, are miserable. State workers have had no rise for eight years. It's all cuts and repaying deficit. We are resentful, so we voted Leave And to slash the Tories' majority. We have messed up what they wanted. That's good. We dream of prosperity but despair. Life's hard, it's hard to make ends meet, but some Live in luxury and we're envious. Our tower blocks are not safe and no one cares. Our anger may explode in violent rage. We old folk have stolen our children's dreams. We all disparage our hopeless leaders. Who will lead us into prosperity?

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Excerpted from "King Charles the Wise"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Nicholas Hagger.
Excerpted by permission of John Hunt Publishing Ltd..
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