Holding the King (Netflix)

**Holding the King** is the fourth episode of *Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story*.

## Synopsis

George's hidden struggles -- and the extreme measures he's undertaken for a chance of future happiness with Charlotte -- finally come to light.

## Full Summary

Queen Charlotte and Reynolds wash the king. Brimsley says they can handle it if the queen wants to leave, but she simply asks if she's not allowed to wash the king. He says it's just not usual. She asks if what she's just done is usual. Reynolds says the king has not been himself lately. Queen Charlotte questions what is happening to her husband.

*King George speaks highly of his horse when talking to Farmer Crosby. Farmer Crosby is used to the old ways and likes the predictability of oxen. King George says two horses can do more work than a team of oxen. Reynolds interrupts King George's pitch to say that the dowager princess needs him at the palace. Reynolds believes she's found him a bride.*

*King George goes to see Princess Augusta. He can't stay long and wants to get on with it. He knows she'll tell him all the wonderful qualities of the chosen bride and he'll remind her that he's disinterested. Lord Bute tries to interject, but King George continues his conversation. Princess Augusta says him not producing an heir weakens their family's position. He asks if that's all a king is. He'd rather serve his country in other ways. Princess Augusta tells him the war has drawn on them financially. The people need a real king. So she's found him a queen. He's surprised to learn she's German. Princess Augusta says she's already on her way. The betrothal contracts are signed. It's done. King George starts to mutter to himself, confusing Lord Bute and Earl Harcourt. Princess Augusta orders everyone out and she holds George.*

*A doctor says his symptoms are consistent with an inflamed cerebellum. It's time to consider trepanation. Another doctor says it's an excess of ill humor in his legs. Another doctor says they tried his methods already. He thinks diet is the key. Princess Augusta says it's only a week until his wedding and he remains as before. They need new theories. Doctor Monro steps forward and says it's time to consider what no one else has yet. The king's condition might not be physical, but nervous. The other doctors are horrified and compare his actions to treason. Doctor Monro believes he's suffering from disorganization of the nerves. He's devoted his life to curing such disorganization. The other doctors decry him as a quack, but Princess Augusta says the proper doctors have failed her. She has Doctor Monro continue. He plans to cure the king by talking to him. He goes to King George and tells him to remember himself, that he is king. He asks George if he's fit to get married in a week and George nods.*

*Lady and Lord Danbury arrive and look around.*

*King George rides in his carriage.*

*King George is dressed and readied.*

*Brimsley rushes to find the king's bride. King George overhears him telling Reynolds that the bride is missing. King George starts to struggle, then gets up and walks out. He walks to Doctor Monro and tells him the bride has disappeared. Doctor Monro says it's up to King George to fix that. King George isn't ready to get married anyway. Doctor Monro says he's fine to get married, though King George doesn't believe that's true. Doctor Monro tells him he's fine, then smacks him in his face. Some footmen come to King George's aid, but he calls them off. He says he is right and thanks the doctor.*

*King George finds Charlotte walking in the garden. He sees her trying to climb the wall and offers to help.*

*King George and Queen Charlotte are married. They dance at their reception, then leave together.*

*Queen Charlotte asks King George about his surprise for her.*

*King George tells Queen Charlotte he's decided as her king.*

*Reynolds finds two footmen getting drunk on the steps. They're taking the night off as the king is away, but Reynolds says he's back. They jump up to greet him. Reynolds welcomes him back. King George tells Reynolds to come with him to the observatory.*

*King George talks to Reynolds about his inability to perform on his wedding night. It would been easier if she were dull and ugly, but he finds her beautiful and brilliant. It makes him feel like a troll in comparison. He's married as he was asked to do and now he'll leave his new queen alone, safe far away from him. He'll get back to his planets and stars. He sends Reynolds away.*

*Queen Charlotte asks Brimsley to get the carriage ready to go see the king.*

*Reynolds tells King George that the queen is coming. No one was informed, but she'll be there any moment. George rushes to clear his things.*

*The queen and Brimsley arrive at Kew. Reynolds directs her to the observatory.*

*Charlotte goes to see King George.*

*Brimsley and Reynolds talk about Queen Charlotte standing up to King George. It could be good or bad.*

*Queen Charlotte explains her position to George. She can't go out and make friends. She knows no one except him and he prefers the sky to her. He doesn't want to fight, but she wants him to fight with her and for her. He tells her to go home, so she leaves.*

*Reynolds shows Doctor Monro into the observatory. He's impressed by King George's collection. He has learned that scientists keep the best science to themselves. It can be years before the public learns of the newest discoveries. For example, if a doctor were called in to treat a king, he'd keep the cutting edge methods to himself until they were proven. It's not enough to cure the fits once they start. If the queen were to see him like that, if he hurt her. Surely, there's something Monro can do to end the fits forever. Monro says he's been experimenting with something more proactive. King George is willing to try anything. Monro says he would require rooms at the palace and full access to the king at all times, plus license to pursue more extreme measures. King George says he has it.*

*Queen Charlotte wakes up alone. She rings her bell and her servants come to ready her for the day.*

*Meanwhile, Monro explains to King George that he's used to the obedience of others. He has his assistants pull King George out of bed.*

*Doctor Monro shaves King George. He says they require solitude and sends everyone else out.*

*King George is bathed in ice water and his head is dunked in. He is fed peasant meals. King George is led to a room in the cellar and strapped to a chair. Doctor Monro says until he learns to submit, he won't be fit to govern others. Until then, Doctor Monro will govern him.*

*Doctor Monro puts leeches on King George and burns him with wax. He calls out to the doctor and says they've been at it for days. He wants to know how much longer. Doctor Monro says they'll continue until they achieve their goal. King George says much more of this will leave him without a self to return to. Monro says terror is the basis of his method. He says he'll be domesticated like wolves were domesticated into dogs.*

*Reynolds and Brimsley discuss the king and queen consummating their marriage. Brimsley suggests having the king send a gesture to the queen.*

*Monro has King George dunked in ice water.*

*Reynolds asks King George if he's okay. He's seen the ice being hauled around and noticed the low-quality food. King George says he has doubts about Monro's treatment, but he has to try, for the queen. Reynolds says he's the king and he can do as he pleases. He can be with Queen Charlotte now, but King George can't take the risk, especially with someone as unpredictable as Queen Charlotte. She's too dangerous for a man like him. Reynolds says they might be a perfect match. They can't know until he spends more time with her. He says he can't be with her, but maybe he could be near her. He tells Reynolds to ready the carriage to go to Buckingham House.*

*King George watches Queen Charlotte through the window as she plays herself in a game of chess. Reynolds thinks she's lonely. He suggests providing a gesture for the queen, some sign she's not alone and he'll be with her soon. King George asks what hours the doctor keeps in his laboratory.*

*King George and Reynolds sneak into Monro's lab. King George opens a cage and pulls out a dog to give to the queen, to tell her they won't be caged forever.*

*A footman presents the dog to Queen Charlotte, who rejects the gift. Brimsley takes the dog instead.*

*Monro shaves King George. He asks about the security at the palace because his dog is missing. King George thinks maybe the dog tired of captivity. Monro thinks King George has been spending too much time in his observatory. He's worried a fit might be imminent. Unfortunate timing, because he's got a message for King George from Princess Augusta. King George opens it and finds it just says, “Consummate.” Monro thinks they've gotten too lax in their routine. He'll have an ice bath prepared immediately and then it's straight to the chair. Reynolds comes in and tells King George that the queen has received his gift, but called it a deformed bunny. King George laughs. He tells Monro there will be no ice bath and no chair today. Monro tries to command him to stay, but he says he'd rather work on his farm today.*

*King George works on his farm. He shows Farmer Crosby how well the horse works. King George has worked up an appetite and decides he'll go eat with his wife.*

*Reynolds and Brimsley watch as the table is set for dinner. Brimsley is suspicious of the king's change of mind. He asks if the king's condition has healed, but Reynolds denies any condition. Brimsley says they could work together. He serves the Crown and could be useful. Reynolds tells him to stay down.*

*King George waits for the queen. King George starts to struggle with tremors. Reynolds sees this and steps forward. He puts his hand on King George's shoulder, which stops his tremors. Queen Charlotte joins him. He asks if it's okay to join her for a meal. She's upset and leaves. He follows her. He knows she has no reason to like him or trust him after what he's done. He asks for just one evening to show her where his mind has been.*

*King George and Queen Charlotte kiss. She asks if that means he's coming home to Buckingham House. He says he is.*

*Doctor Monro comes to find King George, who is having his things moved to Buckingham House. He's instructed his men to find Doctor Monro quarters there, but their consultations will be less frequent. Doctor Monro is worried about the consequences for King George's health, but King George feels healthier than he has in years.*

*King George and Queen Charlotte kiss.*

*King George talks to Princess Augusta about consummating his marriage as she asked.*

*Reynolds tells King George that Princess Augusta has left. Queen Charlotte is in the dining room having breakfast. King George has to sit suddenly. He has Reynolds get the doctor and promise that Charlotte will never know*

*Queen Charlotte is coronated.*

*King George and Queen Charlotte kiss and have sex.*

*Queen Charlotte asks King George if he's not well because she saw him with a doctor. He makes an excuse.*

*Queen Charlotte looks at herself in the mirror and rubs her belly.*

*Queen Charlotte and King George decide not to have even days and odd days anymore.*

*Monro shaves King George. King George apologizes for putting Monro in the cellar. They couldn't risk Queen Charlotte learning about him. Monro is worried about the cellar's humidity. Since King George moved there, he hasn't been to the chair once. If they backtrack on treatment, they risk losing the progress they've made. King George says they've made no progress. He has made progress with the help of his wife. Her methods have done more than the chair ever could. Monro warns King George. King George takes the razor and begins shaving himself. King George says as an infant, his colic was a disaster. When he was a boy, him refusing to eat his peas was a disaster. He's lived his whole life in fear of doing something incorrectly. The terror nearly broke him. He thought it was the price of being royal. Now he's met a woman who is never terrified. She does as she pleases and she's the most royal person he's ever known. He leaves to attend a party.*

*King George and Queen Charlotte enter the Danbury ball.*

*King George tells Queen Charlotte she's helped unite society with one party.*

*King George and Queen Charlotte cuddle. He pulls away from his sleeping wife and gets up.*

*King George finds Doctor Monro, who is making something in the kitchen. King George tells Monro he'll never treat him again. Monro says he's still the queen's doctor. He's making her a poultice. King George tells Monro to stay away from Queen Charlotte. Monro says she came to him after hearing the king's doctor was in the palace. She's with child. Monro congratulates King George.*

*King George goes back to Queen Charlotte. He becomes unsteady as he watches her sleep. He starts to scribble on the wall. Queen Charlotte finds him and follows him as he goes outside to talk to Venus.*

*Queen Charlotte talks King George into coming inside.*

*Queen Charlotte bathes King George. She asks Reynolds what has happened to her husband.*

King George wakes up alone. He sees the writing on the wall. He sees Queen Charlotte's carriage leaving and calls for Reynolds to ready his carriage.

Queen Charlotte tells Brimsley to stop following her. He does after she commands it. She goes in to see Princess Augusta. She noticed that as soon as the king arrived at Buckingham House, all the sharp knives were replaced with dull ones. She thought it was a coincidence, but then the windows on the second floor were sealed shut and locks started appearing in all sorts of places. The final straw was when the library was suddenly missing King Lear, a play about a mad king. She thought she was the damaged one, but it's him. Princess Augusta says the king is not mad. He's just exhausted from carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Princess Augusta says once she produces an heir, she'll see the position Princess Augusta was in, watching her son start to crack and deciding to do anything to stop the cracking.

King George can hear Princess Augusta and Queen Charlotte fighting from outside the room.

Queen Charlotte says if she has to leave everything she's ever known for a man, it can't be one she doesn't know, one she wasn't allowed to know.

King George walks away.

King George goes to Doctor Monro and tells him to strap him back in. He walks toward the chair.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte
* Adjoa Andoh as Lady Agatha Danbury (credit only)
* Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta
* Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton (credit only)
* Corey Mylchreest as King George III
* Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte (credit only)
* Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury
* Sam Clemmett as Young Brimsley
* Freddie Dennis as Reynolds
* Hugh Sachs as Brimsley (credit only)
* Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown (credit only)

### Guest Stars

* Tunji Kasim as Adolphus
* Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury
* Guy Henry as Doctor Monro
* Neil Edmond as Earl Harcourt
* Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute
* Andrew Frame as Doctor 1
* Will O'Connell as Doctor 2
* Tim Berrington as Doctor 3
* Adam Byron as Kew Footman 1
* Ellis Green as Kew Footman 2
* James Quinndrews as Farmer Crosby
* Riyonn Farsad as Monro's Assistant