To Play The King (The House Of Cards 2)

1993, 222 minutes, Rated M

"A dark tale of greed, corruption and burning ambition."

Francis Urquhart is a politician seemingly without compassion or compunction who is determined to get to the top - and stay there. As this acclaimed trilogy follows the cunning drama and twists along the corridors of power, the nail-biting suspense intensifies...

In House of Cards, viewers watched in fascinated horror as Chief Whip Francis Urquhart manoeuvred his way to the top political job in the land, ruthlessly taking advantage of his nice-guy reputation and naive young journalist Mattie Storin, whom he seduced and eventually had to kill to ensure her silence.

To Play The King takes up the story exactly where House of Cards left off. Urquhart is now Prime Minister with a slim majority in Parliament. His first job is to increase his party's standing with the general public. Taking advantage of the honeymoon period, he calls a General Election and wins with a vastly increased majority within just 14 weeks. He believes the country responded to strong leadership.

But as well as a new Prime Minister, the country also has a new King - a liberal who seems determined to oppose Urquhart at every turn. His Majesty believes the country needs a more compassionate approach from its politicians. He and Urquhart quarrel publicly on the subject of homelessness and deprivation, and Urquhart is astonished to discover the electorate agree with the King.

Urquhart is in no mood to brook opposition. Supported by his wife Elizabeth and with the assistance of his political adviser Sarah Harding, he decides to bring down the monarch. Ruthlessly, he exploits every weakness in the King's armour. A young prince would suit him far better, and Urquhart has a formidable ally in the mother to the heir to the throne, the King's bitter, estranged wife Princess Charlotte...

Episode 1
Francis Urquhart is now triumphantly installed in No 10 as Prime Minister, but uneasy at the memory of Mattie Storin, the young journalist he murdered on his way to the top. He is also facing criticism from an unexpected source. The newly crowned King is appalled by his unfeeling, materialistic policies. However, Urquhart has lost none of his relish for the fight.

Episode 2
The King is insisting that politicians should have the interests of the populace more at heart. For appearances sake, Urquhart pretends to take a more temperate stance towards the King's attack on his policies.

Episode 3
"I am, in fact, extremely angry with His Majesty, and I intend to do him harm." The antagonism between King and Prime Minister develops into full confrontation as Urquhart accuses the King of trying to organise a bloodless coup against the Government.

Episode 4
Urquhart gives the King an ultimatum which could change the history of the British Monarchy.