I’ve been thinking about movies lately. Especially after watching “Black Swan” last night. Luckily, I’m not about to write about Black Swan, as I am still trying to work out WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED. Suffice to say, I’m never going to scratch my back, or peel a cuticle, or strap my toes, or be a dancer….
What I am going to write about is “The King’s Speech“. But this is not a review, it’s just some thoughts I’ve had since I saw it… so go see the movie anyway, and make your own mind up.
It’s a magnificent, powerful story.
I loved it. With all of my heart. I loved the acting. I loved the story line. I loved Lionel’s couch, and the walls in his office/study. I loved Prince Albert’s stutter, as frustrating as it was.
I. LOVED. IT. ALL.
So I’ve been thinking about it a lot since.
Particularly about ‘the power of the number two’. And by number two, I don’t mean the act of doing a poo… I mean the person who is the number two. Which essentially means, they are not the number one. (Confused? Don’t be. It’s just a position in life. Everybody has one in different relationships. No big deal.)
And when the number two ‘gets it’, and understands their role, and really throws themselves into it, there is incredible power in being the number two. A supporter is not called a SUPPORTer for nothing.
Think about it.
Without Lionel, the King could never have declared war. Without Lionel, the King had. no. voice. PERIOD.
But Lionel also had to know his place to fulfill his role. It wouldn’t have worked if he was trying to BE the King…
There’s another story I love. True story. A war time captain is wistfully thinking out loud, oblivious to who is around to hear him. He says(and I paraphrase, because I wasn’t actually there) “Gee, I wish I could get to that well, just to drink one handful of water would sustain me…” He’s speaking of a well DEEP beyond enemy lines… no way to get there.
Three men hear him. And he is their captain. And they would do anything to see his dreams come to pass….because they know he ultimately has their best interests at heart. There’s a kind of symbiosis there…
So they risk their lives to go to the well, and get him a drink of the water. And when they bring it to him, he is so overwhelmed by their loyalty and commitment and bravery that he can’t bring himself to even drink it….
It’s a powerful story. There’s layers of life lessons there.
I think sometimes we confuse our roles. We have different roles in different relationships, be they work relationships, social, or family based.
Sometimes, you’re supposed to be the number one. Don’t hide behind the number two. Speak up. Speak out. That’s your role.
And then sometimes we’re trying to BE the person in charge, when we’re supposed to be the number two. And when we really GET IT, and there’s no more striving to be something we’re not meant to be, then we can be number one at being number two!
.the.world.is.your.oyster. 
So Interesting Jo.
I knew the King’s Story before this movie but from a different perspective. I knew it because my mother was born in 1910 and as a stutterer she followed closely the kings therapy with his stuttering she was also there in person to see how he worked to speak and was a witness to the main second person and that was his wife.
Jo,
I loved reading this post. Such a great perspective. I loved the King’s Speech too. I felt sad for Lionel after the King made his speech but thought Geoffrey Rush did a fabulous job showing the emotion, when at that moment he realized that he’d succeeded yet perhaps had made himself redundant. As history tells, Lionel did continue to support the King in his rightful place.
Really enjoying your blog Jo.
This post made me think that perhaps I need to have a look at a few relationships or scenarios and identify which ones I am meant to play #2. I have always been #1 and having to adopt the position of #2 does not come easily.
Now I am never going to get any sleep while I think this one through 🙂
Jacinta
How’s about that. I just hired me a number two. But in my eyes she will be my number one. I want her to be number one, too (this does get a bit confusing with 1’s n 2’s everywhere).
So true though – love this Jo. As always love it.
As for Black Swan – no way. Not going there. Not doing it. Not.
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