Elizabeth I Page #10

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I feel quite well.

My legs still seem to work.

I shall die at a time of my own

choosing, Doctor, and not before.

There are those who would

choose it for you, madam.

Who are they?

Is poison suspected?

- The Spanish.

- We cannot say...

with certainty.

No.

Sir Francis Bacon,

my lord.

I have the misfortune to be

Lord Burghley's nephew.

Oh.

That's a misfortune?

Well, he offers me

no employment.

Well, this is

the place to look

for employment,

for the queen is here.

- Indeed.

- No, no, no.

But does she trust

those she should

or does she only

listen to my uncle?

That's true enough,

Sir Francis.

I sit on the Council and no one

listens to a word I say.

Your uncle fawns well,

does he not?

The rising unto place

is laborious,

but by indignities

men come to dignities.

He flatters her is all,

Sir Francis.

Compliments do not seem

to advance my career

any faster than yours,

my lord.

I wrote the queen

a poem

complimenting her

upon her breasts,

in Latin,

and still I am

without a position.

We are ignored,

and in times

like this,

with talk of plots.

Suspicions

are like bats...

they ever fly

by twilight.

I have intelligences

working for me now.

Not quite the number

as in Walsingham's

service,

but they

tell me things,

things that could

make you grow

in Her Majesty's

esteem.

They tell me who

has plotted on her life.

Let us proceed

to the question

of the Attorney

Generalship.

While I hesitate

to lay my recommendations

before Your Majesty,

I feel this is

the right time...

Your Majesty,

I have uncovered

a conspiracy

here at home

against your person.

This morning I have arrested

your physician, Dr. Lopez.

What?

Your Majesty, I am afraid

it is beyond question

that this man is a traitor

in the pay of Spain.

- What?

- I am an innocent man.

What is God's name

is this foolishness?

No foolishness, sir.

The proof is

in these papers...

signed confessions

from the doctor's associates

that bear witness to the truth

that your sudden illness

here at the court but two

weeks ago was no accident.

It was an attempt

to poison you.

Your Majesty, this is

some game of his lordship.

Dr. Lopez is a loyal servant

both to you and to the Crown.

Your Majesty, I beg you...

You rash youth!

Do but consider

this evidence.

Your Majesty,

this is absurd.

Whom am I

to believe?

These confessions

seem real enough.

His lordship has made earnest

of his convictions.

Yes, Your Majesty,

but what other proof is there?

What further proof

is needed, ma'am?

Your Majesty, this is a very

serious business and I must object...

Shall we have no more

of this feuding?

How may I act

when all present me

with their

partial arguments?

We are resolved...

His lordship acts

out of feelings for our safety.

Take him away.

Your Majesty,

I am your most loyal servant,

your most

loyal servant...

I am a loyal,

loyal subject,

a victim of plots

and conspiracies

by those high

in government.

- Filthy Jew!

- I am a Christian.

If he's a Christian, I'm an old Jew

and this is my gabardine.

This is the invention

of the Earl of Essex

and his friends!

- Hang him!

- Hang him! Hang him!

He has accused me

for his own profit

and his own...

- Draw him!

- Draw him! Draw him!

Draw him! Draw him!

Southampton says

we must have something for Francis.

Oh, your lordship

is too kind.

A rare triumph

for Essex's boys!

Her Majesty smiles

upon me again.

I shall demand something...

Warden of the Slashed Doublet and Ruff

with Extraordinary Hose.

Yes, but for Francis, Southampton.

Master of

the Cinque Ports?

Chancellor of

the Duchy of Lancaster?

Keeper of

Her Majesty's Pageboys?

Well, Robin.

You do look handsome this morning.

Your Majesty,

I meant to impress everyone

with my dignity

of dress.

Bacon, people

who compliment me

on my breasts,

even in Latin,

run the risk of being

thought impertinent.

We understand he is fond

of the company of pretty youths.

No wonder he is

the member for Middlesex.

And I say, sirs,

that there can be

no possibility

of peace with Spain.

They themselves admit

there can be no faith with heretics.

You breathe war,

slaughter and blood,

my lord.

"The bloody and

deceitful men

shall not live out

half their days."

Oh, in God's name

leave the boy alone.

Has he offended

so much, gentlemen?

At least our new recruit

speaks his mind.

I thank you

for your support, ma'am.

I crave Your

Majesty's pardon.

It may be we have been

disturbed by new evidence

which has come to light

in relation to Doctor Lopez.

It seems, ma'am,

the earl's confessions

were extracted

under torture.

What of it?

On the rack, my lord,

men may speak anything.

Our evidence suggests

the only clear proof of the doctor's guilt

are those most

tainted confessions.

Is this true?

Well, yes, ma'am.

I racked his associates

and they confessed

in detail

- to the doctor's plan...

- Leave us.

Leave us now!

As Your Majesty pleases.

The Earl of Essex

will remain.

I have offended you.

This was

a man's life, Robin.

Are we playing

at cards here

or making judgments

that affect the nation?

I sought only

to serve you, ma'am.

You act without thinking!

That is not service.

We will make restitution

to his widow.

You may go.

If thought inhibit action,

then I'll not think again.

I cannot deny it,

for I would act for you,

for you and you alone.

If you were in danger,

I would be there.

And if some politician

should talk against you,

then I will be there

to be your champion.

If I have offended you,

then I beg forgiveness,

for without that

I am nothing...

Oh, enough, enough.

You are forgiven.

May I raise the question

of the Attorney Generalship?

Is that not a question

for the Council, your lordship?

I would like to suggest

Francis Bacon.

Why...

would you suppose

I would accede

to such a request?

Oh...

oh, what am I

to do with you?

What am I

to do with you?

Your Majesty plays

with great sweetness.

Do you bring me

music, pygmy?

Would that it were,

ma'am.

It is a pamphlet,

ma'am.

It seems to suggest

the Earl of Essex

should be your successor.

It is rather

well written.

Damn your

insolence, sir!

Fine paper,

bound carefully.

The person who printed it

must be wealthy, ma'am.

- Send for the Earl of Essex.

- If I may say...

You have no liking for him, pygmy.

That's obvious.

I have

a high regard

for his

good qualities,

even though those

may not always be

as much in evidence

as they should be.

Go on, pygmy.

It may be

that Your Majesty's

understandable fondness

for his enthusiasm and

courage for your cause

creates a climate

in the Council

which does not always...

I pet him too much.

Well, he is

a pretty boy.

I am sure he is unaware

of this foolishness.

Madam, I am distressed

to learn from Robert Cecil

that you might think I was

the author of that vile pamphlet.

You harbor no ambitions

in that direction?

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