Anne of the Thousand Days Page #9

I had a child by her sister Mary.

That, too, is incestuous.

We used the incest excuse last time.

We can't make a habit of it.

Neither Pope nor Emperor will

uphold her and the people hate her.

She'd fight. Her sister was married. You

couldn't prove it wasn't her husband's.

- Who do you serve?

- The King, Sir.

Your Grace can't afford

to start all that again.

Then do you know another way?

No, you! You tied me to her!

Now you find a way to get rid of her!

Perhaps...

...in her own life.

Her life?

Yes.

Her marriage contract with Percy.

He had her.

That's it, you crawling toad.

No, Your Grace, not her past life,

the present.

- The rumours that she has a lover.

- Anne? A lover?

I, a cuckold?

- Why, you're mad.

- If I could prove it?

Invent it, you mean,

with false evidence.

Adultery is high treason.

The penalty is death.

Get out.

Oromwell.

[Oromwell] It's most kind of you

to come, Master Smeaton.

I am honoured.

When invited to supper,

I'm expected to sing for it.

- As you do for the Queen?

- Oh, that is my pleasure.

She wishes me to be the first

music teacher to the Princess.

Please, sit.

No other guests.

Thank you.

Yes, for the Queen to make

the Princess your pupil,

she must think most highly of you.

Ah, the advantages of music.

I did not know

that music interested you.

It doesn't.

I am interested in the Queen,

and you know her so well.

Why, I'm merely a servant.

I have the King's express orders

to protect the Queen's person.

We have learned of threats.

Oh, many hate her.

I am dining you, as I will dine others,

to get to know those whom I may trust.

Oh, I see, I see.

And it is true that she likes

to have you close to her, is it not?

Without boasting,

I believe she prefers me to many.

She prefers my style to the Italian.

It is nearer to the manner

she loved in the French Oourt.

She learned to love

like a French woman.

Yes, simple tunes sung with...

You would be wiser not to laugh.

It is a more valuable asset

than a pleasant singing voice.

I make my way by singing. I've no desire

to go any further by any other route.

Oome now.

There are only two reasons for you to be

constantly in the Queen's apartments.

You love her,

or you are in the pay of Spain.

- Why, I go when I am sent for.

- To love or spy? Which?

I'm sorry...

Which?

You're too simple to spy,

I know that.

- So it is love. You love her.

- No! No!

You do not love your Queen?

Well, yes, all right, I do love her.

As my Queen.

- And she loves you.

- No, Sir, of course not.

Barton, come out here.

Bring your papers.

The last reply, but one.

"Well, yes, all right, I do love her."

- What are you trying to make me say?

- The truth.

- That you are the Queen's lover.

- Oh, no.

No! No!

- You first slept with her in February.

- I never!

- On the 18th of February.

- No!

Surely you remember

such an important date?

- No!

- Oome, try to remember.

[agonised screams]

No! No! No!

- Try!

- Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Anyone can walk,

but can you walk with a train?

- Yes.

- All right, head up.

Go on. Good!

Don't look round. Go on.

It will follow you like a kitten's tail.

Oh, what a queen it will make some day.

- Enter.

- Madam, the Duke of Norfolk insists...

Uncle! This is a rare honour nowadays.

Leave us.

Nan, brace yourself, girl.

I have a warrant for your arrest.

For my arrest?

A poorjoke.

It's not a joke, Anne.

I could've let others do it,

but I felt I could do it more gently.

But I'm the Queen.

How could I be arrested? For what?

Adultery, it says here.

Nonsense no doubt, but there it is.

Adultery? With whom?

- Smeaton, Norris and others.

- [Anne laughs]

- I thought you were serious.

- I am.

I am to take you to the Tower.

There's to be a trial. I am to preside.

But I'm the Queen.

My child, she's the King's heir.

Leave her with your women.

Anne, you must come at once.

Elizabeth!

Anne.

[clanking]

Down? Master Kingston,

shall I be shut in a dungeon?

No, madam. You will be lodged

near the room where you lay

on the night before your coronation.

Oh, Jesus, have mercy on me.

[jangle of keys]

I am Lady Kingston, madam.

I will wait upon you.

Will you?

Then go away. Leave me!

I fear, madam, that she must stay.

Every word spoken to you

or by you must be reported.

Send them away, Norfolk!

- Leave us.

- But...

Leave us!

Shall I ever be allowed to walk out

and look at the sky?

Shall I ever be free?

Norris, Weston, his friends?

His friends since I first met him?

- And they are accused with me?

- Yes.

He is willing to kill them

to get rid of me?

- To kill his closest friends?

- [man] Oome on! The other way!

My brother.

Why have they arrested him?

He also is accused of being your lover.

Incest.

Oh, God help me. The King is mad.

I am doomed.

Your Highness,

you are accused of high treason

in that you, being the lawfully

wedded wife of our Lord the King,

did commit adultery.

I ask that you answer my questions.

By what lawful authority

am I called here?

I am your Queen. And, as such, share the

King's immunity from arrest and trial.

Norris, Weston, Smeaton and Brereton

were tried and condemned ten days ago.

If they are guilty, then you are guilty.

- Did they plead guilty?

- They were found guilty.

They were innocent as I am innocent!

Any man, no matter who he is,

who says the contrary is a liar!

My Lord, the warrant of treason

was issued by direction of the King.

That is sufficient to give jurisdiction,

however, so that there may be no

possibility of doubt as to her guilt,

- will My Lord call the first witness?

- Oall the Earl of Rochford.

George Boleyn, Earl of Rochford,

come into court.

The Earl of Rochford.

Read the indictment.

George Boleyn,

you are accused of high treason,

in that on certain days and dates,

here specified,

you did commit adultery

with Anne, Queen of England.

Being your own sister in the flesh,

an act of incest.

No! Not true!

It is not your turn to speak.

How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?

You are a foul liar,

and my judges are your creatures.

Stand up, Thomas Boleyn,

Earl of Wiltshire. Oome to the bar.

Do you recognise

these two here accused,

known as Anne and George Boleyn,

as issue of your body?

- I do.

- Look at them, My Lord.

By the same mother, Elizabeth Howard,

daughter of the late Duke of Norfolk,

and therefore full brother and sister

in the flesh

so that their lying together

would be incest?

- Yes.

- For which the penalty is death.

Proper evidence will be introduced

later. Remove the prisoner.

That's all, My Lord.

As father of the accused,

you are excused your duty as a judge

and may leave.

[Norfolk] Present your next witness.

- [man 1] Mark Smeaton, come into court.

- [man 2] Mark Smeaton.

My Lords, this man

was tried as a commoner.

He confessed and was found guilty

of adultery with the Queen

by a jury of his own order.

He will give evidence against the Queen.

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