Act 1 Scene 1

As the first battalion of the Irish Guards go through the motions of their normal Tuesday morning practice, the crowds begin to gather desultorily round the Palace forecourt. A police van, with bright orange stripe, and riot shield at the ready crawls incongruously through St James Park. Outside, as I sneak a quick cigarette, the street is alive with the lunchtime bustle of office workers. And the Czech Ambassador's car drives by...