A Glass of Water

Britain is at war, and Queen Anne's court is controlled by Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. She uses her influence to push the Whigs and keep the conflict alive. The royal decisions are framed by intrigue rather than national interest.

Lord Bolingbroke forms a Tory opposition against endless war and begins maneuvering within the court to promote peace talks. He knows that ending the war could diminish Sarah's power and threaten the current political order. His goal is to tilt Anne toward a negotiated settlement.

Bolingbroke befriends Arthur Masham, an impoverished nobleman and royal guardsman who is in love with Abigail. Abigail, working discreetly in a jewellery shop, becomes entangled with Arthur despite the dangerous political backdrop. Their private bond becomes a potential lever against Sarah's control.

Arthur kills Bolingbroke's cousin in a duel, creating a personal obstacle to their marriage. The act jeopardizes Arthur's future and intensifies Bolingbroke's leverage. The couple now has to navigate both love and political danger.

A jeweller visits Abigail and offers her a position at court, pulling her into the machinery of power. Arthur and Abigail decide not to reveal their love publicly to the queen. The opportunity binds Abigail to the court and expands the couple's access to influence.

Bolingbroke learns that Sarah truly patrons Masham. He uses this knowledge to blackmail Sarah by returning a letter between her and Masham, extracting a promise that Abigail will be brought into court. This move wins him a key ally close to Anne.

Isolated from real life by Sarah's machinations, Anne confides to Abigail that she has fallen in love with Arthur Masham. Abigail grapples with the implications of this confession while remaining loyal to the queen. The revelation deepens Abigail's role in the court's power play.

Bolingbroke realizes the love affair could be used to undermine Sarah's grip on Anne. He searches for the right moment and method to exploit the situation and reshape the court. His scheming edges the plot toward a decisive turn.

Sarah interrupts Anne and Masham's secret rendezvous and, by offering the queen a glass of water, seizes the moment to reveal her own authority. The interruption marks the turning point in her influence and leads to her eventual fall from power. The court begins to shift as Anne's dependence on Sarah dissolves.

With Sarah sidelined from court, Bolingbroke takes the reins of government and becomes minister of foreign affairs. Peace negotiations begin, signaling a new direction for the war and politics. The balance of power in the court tilts decisively toward the Tory-led faction.

The peace talks culminate with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht. Abigail marries Arthur Masham and becomes the queen's new favorite, aligning personal happiness with political change. The queen's loneliness remains a counterpoint to the couples' happiness.

Queen Anne remains isolated and sad despite the political realignment. The court's power shifts balance as Bolingbroke's government solidifies its control. The film ends on a note of bittersweet resolution.

The resulting government reshapes the war's course and the court's alliances. Anne's personal longing for Arthur persists beneath the public reforms. The final image is of a court reconfigured around new leaders and a lonely monarch.