To Play the King (TV Mini Series)

Chapter Six (1993)

Ian Richardson: Francis Urquhart

Photos 

Quotes 

• Francis Urquhart : Did you enjoy my little speech? I thought my "deep personal wound" was a rather good touch. I am in fact extremely angry with His Majesty and I intend to do him harm. I feel exhilarated. Prospect of a fight, of course, with the odds unfairly weighted in my favour. Next to a small war, there's nothing quite like a general election to stiffen the sinews and summon up the blood.

• Francis Urquhart : The King is the unknown quantity. I don't know what the man wants. You'd think he'd be happy to wave from the balcony and keep his opinions to himself after all the nonsense his family have got up to. God knows what he thinks he's doing.

  Sarah Harding : Perhaps he's just a man of principle.

  Francis Urquhart : I'm afraid you may be right. But if he pursues the course he's embarked upon he'll destroy himself.

  Sarah Harding : Would you really bring down the monarchy if you could? If you had to.

  Francis Urquhart : Bring down the monarchy? No! The ideal is abhorrent to me. But to force the abdication of a particular King, that has been done before. And if the country's good required it of me, I wouldn't shrink from it.

• John Staines : Would the Prime Minister agree with me that it's a matter for congratulation rather than censure that three IRA murderers were stopped in their tracks instead of being allowed to carry out their obscene outrages unhindered. And will the Prime Minister agree with me it's high time we thought about innocent victims of the bombers instead of whinging about the infringements of the rights of bloody murderers.

  Francis Urquhart : I thank my honourable friend. I think in the circumstances all I can reply is that he may very well think that, but of course I couldn't possibly comment.

• Francis Urquhart : Under the show - the struggle for power. Deep down below it all; deeper than honour, deeper than pride, deeper than lust, and deeper than love - is the getting of it all.

• [to the camera, breaking the fourth wall - Sarah has suggested going to bed with Francis] 

  Francis Urquhart : Women are strange feeders. And now I have put myself into her hands, as you might think. But I believe she's safe. She is, after all, a happily married woman. And she has, after all, signed the Official Secrets Act. I think I'm ready for a bit of mischief now. I think it's time I put myself about a bit.