Becket Page #5

will never meet with your approval.

I know that you cast

the only vote against me.

In the end I gave way

to the king's wishes.

I don't blame your reluctance.

As Bishop of London

and senior churchman,

you should've been archbishop.

Now to have to consecrate me instead

and place the miter on my head.

I have no choice. I'm only

performing my function as bishop.

I see you still wear the seal

of the King's Chancellor.

Yes. I will continue to wear it -

that and the archbishop's ring.

You do not find this inconsistent?

No. God is best served when

the two rest side by side in harmony.

These excessive acts of humility will not

compensate for subservience to the crown.

Thank you. We are both aware

of the delicacy of my position.

Let us trust that God

will find a solution for it.

And now,

since humility seems to be

a little hard on the knees,

I trust you will be comfortable

under our roof, My Lord Bishop.

Dear Lord,

I wish there was something

I really regretted parting with

so that I might offer it to you.

But forgive me, Lord.

It's like going on a holiday.

I've never enjoyed myself

so much in my whole life.

Lord,

are you sure you're not

laughing at me?

It all seems far too easy.

(chanting in Latin)

It is a bishop's duty to pass judgment,

to interpret,

to consecrate, to ordain,

to offer sacrifice,

to baptize and to confirm.

Let us pray, beloved brother.

Let the goodness of Almighty God,

providing for the well-being

of his church,

may bestow upon this bishop elect

the abundance of his grace

through Christ our Lord.

(all) Amen.

(chanting in Latin continues)

May these hands be anointed

with hallowed oil,

with the chrism that sanctifies.

Even as Samuel anointed David

king and prophet,

so may these hands

be anointed and consecrated.

(chanting in Latin continues)

Take this ring,

token of the pledged word.

Yours it is,

donned with unshakable fidelity

to preserve and guard,

in unblemished honor,

God's bride, the Holy Church.

(chanting in Latin continues)

Lord, on the head of this bishop

and champion of thine,

I put the helmet of defense

and salvation,

that with forehead thus adorned,

head armed with the horns

of both testaments,

he may appear fearsome

to the enemies of truth.

(chanting in Latin continues)

(chanting stops)

(praying in Latin)

(praying in Latin)

(continues in Latin)

(continues in Latin)

(all) Amen.

(chanting in Latin)

(crowd cheering)

(cheering)

His Grace will receive you here.

It isn't every day that a Saxon monk

has an audience with an archbishop.

- Open your eyes.

- You'll kiss his ring

and show respect to His Grace, or

you'll get my foot on your backside.

You're welcome to Canterbury.

Kneel to His Grace.

I see our young brother

is quite unchanged.

- Has he been troublesome to his abbot?

- Stubborn as a mule, My Lord.

Father Abbott tried kindness,

but had to have recourse

- to bread and water, even to the whip.

- Nothing has any effect.

Except for a good kick in the rump,

if Your Grace will pardon the expression.

- Stand up straight.

- Pay attention to your brother.

As a rule, the sin of pride

stiffens a man's back.

Look me in the face.

Look me in the face.

Now, what do you have

to say for yourself?

I see.

Now, brothers, we relieve you for the day

from your rule of abstinence.

Go to our kitchen before you depart,

and I hope you'll do justice

to our cuisine.

- And this one?

- We will keep him here with us.

- He's vicious, Your Grace.

- We are not afraid.

Well, now, wouldn't you rather have

a Saxon archbishop than a Norman one?

I hope I won't regret sending for you.

Why did you?

I'm not sure.

Perhaps in a young, intemperate way,

yours is a voice that is good

for me to hear.

- Then why...

- But, please,

not too often

and not too loud, Brother John.

You betrayed your Saxon race.

Now you betray God.

Perhaps you will succeed in teaching me

humility. It's a virtue I've never mastered.

- (knock on door)

- Enter.

Your Grace, Bishop Folliot

has arrived from London.

He wishes to speak to you urgently.

Well, My Lord Bishop, what is it?

But, Your Grace?

You may speak freely. Brother John

is in our confidence. What is it?

Your Grace, I have a most

serious matter to report

which requires

your immediate intervention.

- Proceed.

- A parish priest in Lord Gilbert's domain

who is accused of debauching a young girl

has been seized by His Lordships' soldiers

and dragged before the civil courts.

- Is the priest guilty?

- That is immaterial.

As a consecrated minister of God,

he can only be tried

by our ecclesiastical courts.

You must demand his release

into church custody immediately.

- The principle is a vital one.

- Does the king know of this?

He knows, but he turns a deaf ear.

Lord Gilbert is his friend.

I'm also a friend of King Henry.

As chancellor, you are his friend.

But I wear the miter now.

You also wear the great seal

of England, and I warned you,

you could never do so honorably.

It is fortunate that I do.

I will plead our case to the king.

I did not come here

to ask you to plead a case.

I'm asking you to defend a principle,

and you'd better do so quickly,

Your Grace.

Thank you for your warning.

We appreciate your efforts to

chart the course

you would naturally have followed

had you become archbishop.

At least, Your Grace, I could never

have been accused of divided loyalties.

Should I go now?

- Can I go?

- (knock on door)

No. See who's outside.

This is Brother Philip, Your Grace.

He's come with a message

for the Bishop of London.

I told him he just left,

but now he insists on seeing you.

Your Grace, I wouldn't have

dreamed of disturbing you, but...

It's you who are disturbed,

Brother Philip. What is it?

I believe My Lord Bishop of London

came to you

to demand the custody

of the accused priest.

- Yes.

- The priest is dead.

- Dead?

- Yes.

He tried to escape, but

Lord Gilbert's soldiers caught him

and, in the presence

of his Lordship, killed him.

Thank you, Brother Philip.

You may retire.

Leave us now, Brother John.

My Lord Jesus,

I find it difficult to talk to you.

What can I say?

I, who have turned away from you

so often with indifference.

I have been a stranger to prayer,

undeserving of your friendship

and your love.

I've been without honor

and feel unworthy.

I am a weak and shallow creature,

clever only

in the second rate and worldly arts

seeking my comfort and pleasure.

I gave my love,

such as it was, elsewhere,

putting service to my earthly king

before my duty to you.

But now they have made me

the shepherd of your flock

and guardian of your church.

Please, Lord, teach me now

how to serve you with all my heart,

to know at last what it really is

to love,

to adore.

So that I may worthily administer

your kingdom here upon Earth

and find my true honor

in observing your divine will.

Please, Lord,

make me worthy.

You are a creature of extremes,

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