Original subtitles

HER MAJESTY

Why are you stopping?

They're waiting for you.

No. Nobody told me anything.

They asked us for discretion.

Who?

CALUANA RESTAURANT

Good morning, Your Royal Highness.

Sorry to summon you on such short notice, but it's an important matter.

I didn't know I had been summoned. No one mentioned it.

Because nobody should know about this.

Please.

The work you've done these past months has been...

You've been really brilliant.

But you're not here to tell me that.

No, that's true.

We have internal reports that say that approval of The Crown has increased.

Reports? What reports?

Internal ones.

You're doing surveys to assess my popularity?

The Royal Household's popularity, yes.

Since when?

Well, since Your Royal Highness was born.

Since before that.

- Since the pregnancy. - True.

Thank you, Colonel. Thank you.

Your mother's pregnancy triggered a major spike in popularity.

And why did I know nothing about these reports?

Because since then, the popularity had only gone down.

Why am I even asking, right?

So we have to take advantage of this rebound, Your Royal Highness.

In these times of instability, the country needs a solid monarchy.

Talk about it with my father.

I said "a solid monarchy."

What is this about?

All right.

On Monday, the Army High Command met with the King.

On Tuesday, the Episcopal Conference, dined with several judges.

And last night, I met with him at the palace.

We've all tried to convince him that the situation is more serious than he thinks,

but his intention is to remain on the throne no matter what.

My father can handle whatever they throw at him.

Your father, perhaps...

but the country can't.

You have to talk to the King, Your Royal Highness.

- You're the only one who can convince him. - No. No.

You can't ask more from me. I've fulfilled my duty.

You're the heir to the throne.

The State will ask things of you your whole life.

I can't ask that of my father.

You're the only one who can.

If we had another option, we wouldn't be turning to you.

I'll also say you have a bit of a clumsy way of asking for things.

"We would never turn to you, but we have no other option..."

Thank goodness I've gone up in the polls, otherwise...

- Pilar, it's your moment. - Lady Pilar.

- Please. - What?

Refer to me as "Lady Pilar," "Royal Highness," or "Madam."

Very well. I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness.

You can't ask me to save Spain

because Spain was already in bad shape when I was born.

There's another thing, Lady Pilar.

What?

The King has already recorded his Christmas message.

Sounds great to me.

I'm guessing you haven't seen it.

No, because I don't care about his Christmas message.

You're going to care about this year's.

Are we going to the palace?

Yes. Do you want to go somewhere else?

Yes.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM KING ALFONSO

Good evening.

I am addressing you at this special time

to wish you happy holidays and a prosperous new year.

I am aware that the new year is an opportunity

for all of us to renew our commitment to improve this country.

Me, first of all.

Spain is a great nation,

and she must regain her institutional stability,

as so must The Crown.

This is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.

Therefore, my intention as King

is to return to serving the interests of Spain

without distancing myself from her, close to the nation to which I am obliged

with security and stability.

On behalf of my daughter, Princess Pilar,

I want to apologize for recent improvisations

and unfortunate experiments.

Enough with experiments.

It's the time for experience.

It's the time for experience.

You're not going to say anything?

How did you get it?

That's all you care about?

Who has an interest in you seeing it?

I decided to go to the television studio to see it.

It was ready to go to all the channels, even the Catalan and Basque ones.

- They never broadcast it. - This year they will.

Since I called them "motherfuckers," they'll be eager to see me humiliated.

Why are you here, Pilar?

- Did you hear the same message as me? - Other than that.

That's not enough?

It's your father, not mine.

It's my father talking about you, Guillermo.

You've been with me this whole time.

Did you know we were "an unfortunate experiment" and all that shit?

We did better than they thought.

- Did you know we went up in the polls? - I didn't know.

But it's clear from seeing what Isidro has written.

If you'd gone down in the polls, they wouldn't be against you.

This has nothing to do with Isidro.

- This is my father. - This is Isidro.

The message, everything... It's pure Isidro.

He used the "experiments" and "experience" stuff at the Epiphany Military Ceremony.

It doesn't matter who wrote it. My father is reading it. He's saying it.

You'll have to prepare something for when it's broadcast.

It won't be broadcast.

Do you want to help me or not?

There's only one thing you can do, and you have to do it alone.

I don't need your help to talk to him.

That's not why I'm here.

So?

I want to know if you're going to help me become Queen.

When I saw you, I thought you'd come to wish me happy holidays.

Merry Christmas, by the way.

I don't like Christmas.

Okay.

Hey!

Are you the type that gives books as gifts?

When I can't think of anything better, like everyone does.

And you?

Did you come here to shop

or to pretend to run into me?

I'm here to remind you about 2014.

You owe me one, Moure.

What more do you want, man? Let's have it.

I told you the Pilar situation wouldn't be temporary.

I told you Alfonso was going to fall, and you should be prepared.

- I don't think I owe you anything. - Alfonso hasn't fallen.

And it looks like he won't fall.

Well, Guillermo, you're putting me in a tight spot.

Like you did in 2014.

And I still did it.

Well? Did I do it or not?

You made it to the Supreme Court. So, yes.

I did do it. Yes.

Things are also going to come out about Pilar.

Pilar hasn't stolen anything. They've got nothing on Pilar.

No, she's done something worse.

She had an abortion.

The people who support them can forgive corruption.

A king can defraud anyone he wants.

Money comes and goes.

There will always be someone to say

that the King has given more money than he's taken.

But an abortion...

Shit, they were born to do that.

To have offspring.

The crown passes from parents to children.

It's the lineage, the dynasty, the values, damn it.

Spain...

can forgive almost anything of the royals,

other than an abortion.

The King isn't going to do that to his daughter.

Have you told the Princess what you were doing behind her back?

No, right?

Well, imagine Isidro, who's been in office for 40 years.

So you and I are even now, right?

Pili! What a surprise.

Come, sit with me. Sit down.

Would you like something? Lentil soup?

Lentil soup now?

- I felt like it. - I'm not hungry.

I missed this legume in Latin America.

Spanish food in general, but this legume most of all.

I don't know why, but starting the second week

it became an obsession.

Chickpeas, lentils... They have them, but it's not the same.

This is a horrible country for a lot of things,

but what we do in the kitchen in Spain can't be found anywhere else.

It's just...

Do you not feel like saying anything?

I won't ask you to be glad that I'm back, but you should, if only for yourself.

You'll get your life back.

You can do what you want without causing a fuss.

- Your secretary resigned, didn't he? - Guillermo, yes.

I won't send you another one.

You won't have a guard dog watching you anymore.

Consider it a Christmas gift from me.

I'll give you another gift too. You've earned it.

What do you want for a real gift? Is there something you want?

I want you to explain this.

Who gave you that?

No one.

No one gave it to me. I took it.

From where?

I didn't know you had an apartment in Madrid. A duplex.

What were you doing there?

I'd like to know what you were doing there, and for how long.

You've done what you wanted with your life and I haven't asked for explanations.

Nor do I have to give them. I'm a single man.

You're a widower.

And when mom was alive, you had that apartment.

You don't have any idea about the relationship we had.

Nor do you about the one I had with Richard.

Comparing your mother to a teenage boyfriend?

Richard was very important to me.

Have you read the book he had to publish? You got rid of a loser.

- No, I didn't get rid of him. - I did you a favor.

Didn't you ever think about what I wanted?

Or was it an "unfortunate experiment" then?

Yes, I've seen your Christmas message.

You couldn't wait to watch it with everyone else?

No, because everyone else isn't going to see it.

- No? - No, you're going to record another one.

- What do you mean? What message? - I have a gift for you too.

What are you doing here?

May I come in?

They told me you're back with Pilar.

Go with her. She'll need you.

First, I want to speak with you.

Then speak.

We can talk about it inside.

Come in.

What were you expecting?

A tree?

A lit fireplace?

A nativity scene with tinsel streamers?

I never sleep here.

Only a few nights a year,

Christmas Eve and some others, and sometimes only Christmas Eve...

Excuse the cold, but there's no heating.

- Why would there be? Useless expense. - I see.

- I know this kind of life well. - Make yourself at home.

You were wrong to get married, Guillermo.

As soon as they named me Head of the Royal Household,

I knew I wouldn't marry and I wouldn't have children.

There's a rumor going around that I'm a homosexual.

- Don't tell me. - I don't care because I'm not.

What I am is more like...

asexual.

Go ahead. Come on. Sit down.

Are you hungry?

This is what's left of yesterday's Christmas banquet.

Can you believe they wanted to throw it away?

This is no ordinary sandwich.

You can't just throw it out.

Behind its construction is someone who knows

that they're not preparing just any sandwich.

They're preparing something to be eaten by a king.

I've seen how people do things

when they know they're doing something for His Majesty.

Their hands start to do something different.

They start to make magic, and a sandwich ceases to be a sandwich.

It's made from the same stuff, but it's not the same.

It's... the food of kings.

So you gave up on having children,

but you were at the birth when Pilar was born, right?

I was the third person in Spain to hold her in their arms.

Three kilograms, two-hundred and fifty grams.

I'll never forget that fact.

That seems a lot like having children.

Doesn't it make you sad?

Her?

What you're about to do to her?

There are times when, to serve your country,

you're required to hurt people you love.

You know that very well, Guillermo.

- Clara? Was that her name? - Clara, yes, Clara.

It's one thing to hurt someone, Isidro.

It's another to destroy their life.

It's just a Christmas speech.

I'm not talking about the speech.

You would have been a good Head of the Royal Household.

But you're too late, Guillermo.

Really?

I've already talked to the press.

I don't believe you.

You didn't talk to anyone.

The play goes like this.

You'll wait for the Christmas message to be broadcast.

Alfonso says he's staying.

There's an outcry from the people.

Then you'll say Pilar had an abortion.

And one scandal buries the other.

Do you see how you would've been a good Head of the Royal Household?

The bad thing about spending so many years on the job is I've become predictable.

Here. Dessert.

Was this at the military base?

No.

It's from my personal archive.

It's the physician's original signature.

Forgive me if I don't tell you where I've kept the copies.

If Alfonso finds out, he won't forgive you.

And who told you he doesn't know?

I want you to read this.

Now?

It's the Christmas message that you're going to broadcast.

I'm sure your secretary wrote it.

You don't think I'm capable of writing it?

Nobody writes their own speeches.

You're upset about something I didn't even write.

You didn't write it, but you thought it.

I would never say what I think in a Christmas message.

Yeah, you keep that for other occasions.

"She can't even finish a degree."

"How can she succeed me on the throne?"

What?

"She's too capricious, too weak."

I never said that.

"She's not stupid, but she fakes it really well."

I heard you. It's on tape. But I don't know who you were talking to.

I don't remember.

I'd prefer if you did.

If you don't, you could've been talking to anyone.

If you want me to say that you've done well, I'll say it.

I don't want you to say it to me, but to all of Spain.

And that you're abdicating.

How can I abdicate?

Here, look, I've written it.

Here, toward the end. It's a good way to go out.

Thank you for your gift, but I don't want it.

No, this isn't my gift.

Do you want me to show it to you?

What are they doing here?

They would also like you to record a new message, Dad.

Be careful with these people, Pilar.

They made me feel special too. It's a lie.

One day, they get tired of you.

And they'll let you fall. Or they'll push you.

Okay.

I wish that you would've made me feel special at times.

I ought to make a call. Do you mind?

No, but don't waste your time. They can't help you.

Forget about it. Don't put it out.

Did you know that Carlos V had two great passions?

Watches and gastronomy.

He liked trying new dishes,

unusual, elaborate ones.

And he had an impressive collection of watches.

One day, he asked the royal cook to prepare him a special dish.

And the cook, not knowing what recipe to prepare,

said, "Well, since Your Majesty doesn't want a stew of watches..."

That's us, Guillermo.

We cook watches.

We try to make the inedible edible to please our masters.

I'm not that predictable, am I?

There are no copies.

I should have maneuvered behind Alfonso's back as always,

but I'd be risking too much if the King wasn't aware of the matter.

I'm sure he had his doubts when I told him the plan,

but he didn't say anything.

In the end, he did.

In the end...

he had doubts.

Or decency.

Alfonso? Decency?

I don't know.

Can I give you some advice, Guillermo?

That depends.

A word of advice in case you're thinking of becoming Head of the Royal Household.

- I didn't say that. - You don't need to say it.

But replace the couch in the office.

You'll spend a lot of nights there.

You'll spend the best nights of your life on that couch.

It was comfortable 20 years ago,

but now it'll mess up your back.

Take my advice. Replace the couch.

You'll thank me.

Merry Christmas, Isidro.

Happy holidays, Guillermo.

And thank you for your service.

- Did you give them the new text? - They have it.

I haven't even read the whole thing yet.

Are you nervous?

You've done it a million times.

It's never been the last time.

Can you give us a moment?

Thank you.

Dad, I know why you're scared.

But nothing bad is going to happen to you.

They're not going to take you to trial, much less send you to prison.

I know everything seems bad today. I understand.

But soon you'll realize this is the best thing for everyone.

For you too.

Of course, you'll have to leave Spain

to the country of your choice and with all your privileges, of course.

We only get along with countries that give you all those privileges.

And even so, someday you'll be able to come back.

Everything will be forgotten. No one will hold anything against you.

We'll say it'll be a long time,

but I promise you'll be able to come back soon.

I didn't expect this from you.

I didn't expect this.

And five, four, three...

Good evening.

It fills me with joy to be in your homes tonight,

and to send you my best wishes for the new year.

I also want to share with you my reflections on some recent events.

This has been a difficult year for my family,

and especially for me personally.

I want to take advantage of this occasion to send you an apology.

I am human, and like everyone, I make mistakes.

But I can't ignore the fact that I have great institutional responsibility,

and for that very reason, the obligation to set an example at all times.

I have not done so, and I must accept the consequences.

I humbly ask your forgiveness for certain actions

that have not been up to the standard you all expect from me.

And so that my apology does not remain an empty declaration,

I am going to step down

and pass the crown to my daughter, Princess Pilar.

Over the last months, she has demonstrated that she is prepared to reign over Spain.

Her commitment, her ability, and her loyalty are indisputable.

And she is also a modern and transparent symbol of the country,

which will strengthen the legitimacy of an institution we all need.

- You've gone too far with the flattery. - It's my moment.

They'll think you wrote it.

The people think I don't know how to write.

Today, our children's generation deserves to come to the fore...

Are you okay?

...with new energy...

dedicated to undertaking reforms...

- Yes. Yes. - ...and transformations

that today's society demands.

- It's normal not to be. - My only ambition is...

It's your father.

...to contribute to the well-being...

We'll need a toast, right?

- I thought you didn't like Christmas. - I don't like Christmas at all.

I like champagne.

I want the best for Spain, to whom I have dedicated my entire life,

and at whose service I've placed all my abilities,

my energy...

and my work.

And are you okay?

Yes. Yes.

Merry Christmas, Your Royal Highness.

Excuse me.

What's wrong?

Merry Christmas, Your Majesty.