Quotes
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Margaret Thatcher : With all due respect, the decision to dissolve Parliament is in the gift of the Prime Minister alone. It is entirely within my power to do this if I see fit.
Queen Elizabeth II : You are correct. Technically, it is within your power to request this. But we must all ask ourselves when to exercise those things that are within our power and when not to. Your first instinct as a person, I think, is often to act. To exercise power.
Margaret Thatcher : Well, that is what people want in a leader. To show conviction and strength. To *lead.*
Queen Elizabeth II : I'm merely asking the question. Whether it is correct to exercise a power simply because it is yours to use. Power is nothing without authority. And at this moment, your Cabinet is against you. Your party is against you. And if the polls are to be believed, if you were to call a general election today, you would not win. Which suggests the country is against you. Perhaps the time has come for you to try doing nothing for once.
Margaret Thatcher : The difference is... you have power... in doing nothing. I... will have nothing.
Queen Elizabeth II : You will have your dignity.
Margaret Thatcher : [rather downcast] There is no dignity in the wilderness.
Queen Elizabeth II : Then might I suggest you don't think of it as that. Think of it as an opportunity to pursue other passions.
Margaret Thatcher : I have other loves... my husband, my children... but this job *is* my only true passion. And to have it taken from me... stolen from me so cruelly... what hurts the most, is that we had come so far.
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Margaret Thatcher : We are leaving Downing Street for the last time after 11 and a half wonderful years.
Female Reporter : It was the end of an era, dominated by this woman who's name has become a political byword. 11 years of Thatcherism.
Newsreader : She recovered quickly for one last wave... but then the Iron Lady's composure almost broke. Watch her face as she reaches her car.
[Margaret Thatcher emotionally watches the crowds from inside at the car and the Queen watches on her television at Buckingham Palace]
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Queen Elizabeth II : When I ascended the throne, I was just a girl. 25 years old. But I was surrounded by stuffy, rather patronising, grey-haired men everywhere, telling me what to do. And I wanted to say... the way you dealt with all your stuffy, rather patronising, grey-haired men throughout your time in office, and saw them all off...
Margaret Thatcher : [calmly] Well, they've had their revenge now.
Queen Elizabeth II : I was shocked by the way in which you were forced to leave office... but I wanted to offer my sympathy, not just as Queen to Prime Minister... but woman to woman. Throughout the time we worked together, people tended to focus on our many differences... which was lazy and misleading, I think... and overlooked the many things we actually do have in common: Our generation, our Christianity, our work ethic, our sense of duty, but above all our devotion to this country we both love. So with that in mind...
[Queen Elizabeth stands up, goes to the nearby desk and takes a box out of one of the drawers. Margaret Thatcher stands up and watches]
Queen Elizabeth II : The Order of Merit... is not awarded by some faceless committee. It comes at the personal discretion of the Sovereign...
[Margaret Thatcher looks flattered as Queen Elizabeth walks towards her, carrying the box]
Queen Elizabeth II : ...and is in recognition of *exceptionally* meritorious service. It is limited to just 24 recipients, no matter their background. You could be the daughter of a Duke... or a greengrocer. What matters... is your accomplishments... and nobody can deny that this is a very different country now to the one inherited by our first woman Prime Minister.
[Queen Elizabeth puts the box on a nearby table, opens it and removes the Order of Merit]
Queen Elizabeth II : Now it's normally handed over in the box... but if you would allow me...
[Margaret Thatcher nods and Queen Elizabeth pins the Order of Merit onto her suit]
Queen Elizabeth II : Congratulations.
[speechless, Margaret Thatcher touches the Order of Merit with her hand, she kneels before the Queen and respectfully leaves the room]
