Politician William Wilberforce tells his cousin’s wife Marianne, "My idiotic body is playing games with me again."
Marianne asks William's cousin Henry Thornton, ”Haven't you told him he's killing himself?” (0:03)
Henry tells William, "This is your 3 a.m. dose."
”So, cousin, you're waking me up to give me medicine to help me sleep.”
”The laudanum will sharpen your dreams.” (0:04)
William tells his friend William Pitt, "Each new tiny dose doubles the effect." (0:15)
Wilberforce asks his butler Richard, "Do you have any idea... how idiotic it will sound?" (0:20)
Wilberforce tells abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, referring to Wilberforce’s staff, "They all think I'm mad already." (0:37)
Wilberforce: "Perhaps the laudanum the doctor gave you is badly mixed. I know the effects of opium, Henry." (0:)
Wilberforce tells Pitt, "If the House of Lords can hear the idiotic way we carry on, they'd ban anyone under the age of 30 from holding high office ever again."
”Sometimes I get giddy.”
”Is that some sort of metaphorical advice for me, Mr. Pitt?” (0:53)
Barbara Spooner asks Wilberforce, "How long have you been taking laudanum?"
”My poor father almost went mad when I told him I'd stopped taking sugar in my tea.”
Wilberforce: ”... unlike the slaves, I have opium for my pain.” (0:58)
Clarkson tells Wilberforce, referring to King George, "You know as well as I do, the king is insane." (1:12)
His doctor answers Wilberforce, "Laudanum, for the pain."
Wilberforce: ”An opiate?” (1:15)
Barbara asks Wilberforce, "Where is your laudanum?" (1:19)
Wilberforce's preacher friend John Newton tells Wilberforce, "Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly." (1:28)
Barbara tells Wilberforce, "I'll bring your laudanum." (1:40)
Clarkson talks to his abolitionist friend Equiano at Equiano's grave. (1:44)