Elizabeth I Page #7

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let us be friends.

Always.

Always.

Will I be able

to fight, my lord?

I fear we shall all

have to fight, sir.

Will I be able to meet

Her Majesty again?

That, sir, is why

I brought you here.

Make way for the Earl.

I fear there are more important

matters at court today.

- Sir, make way, sir.

- My lord.

The Spanish Ambassador...

Don Bernadino.

Since our peace emissaries

have been withdrawn from Spain,

I see you're leaving us.

I have said farewell

to your heretic Queen.

The murderer

of her sister Mary.

When our fleet lands...

she will burn,

with all the other

heretics.

And we will have

a new Queen in England.

Yourself perhaps.

You will apologize for speaking

of the Queen in that fashion.

Sir!

Calm, sir.

Now, remember this.

Her favor changes

with her moods.

She is a woman.

But if you love her...

and I say this to you

as a father...

- love her constancy.

- We will consider this petition.

- For it is there.

- My lords.

Lady Anne.

Your Majesty.

You asked to see

the Earl of Essex.

We have need of young men

like the Earl of Essex.

How so, ma'am?

- Because you are so...

- Elegant?

Clumsy.

Make that bow again.

There, you see, Leicester,

he never bows the same way twice.

Now that is a mark

of true sincerity.

I could have bent my mind

to a more retired course, ma'am,

and stayed in the country.

The country is very pretty.

But I do not like

to be dead.

Well, you'll have to learn more

of the ways of court, sir.

Now your stepfather and I

must talk of graver matters.

So the Spanish

fleet is assembled?

Their ships are said

to number more than 100.

- Father.

- Robert.

The last hope

for peace is gone.

The negotiations were...

Well, at least

I have you at home.

Perhaps it's

for the best.

We will throw them back

from whence they came.

So the Earl of Leicester will

be in charge of the land forces.

We'll set our army at Tilbury

where the Duke of Parma is like to land.

We have precious few trained

men to put against him.

Let's hope you do better

against him there

- than you did in Holland, Robin.

- Thank you, ma'am.

Francis?

Their vessels are

too heavy in the water.

We will dog them

from the Lizard

and we will destroy them

before they get to Calais.

And when I do, ma'am, I swear they will

wish themselves back at Lisbon

kissing pictures

of the Pope's foot.

It has been suggested that Her Majesty

be removed to a place of safety.

You may hide in a hole in the ground

if you so wish, Lord Burghley,

I intend to be there

to meet them if they come.

A hundred ships.

What shall

I say to those

who are prepared to fight

and die on my behalf?

Your Majesty...

will give them courage.

And breathe scorn

on the invader.

Scorn?

The only words

I have for them

are love for them

and this...

this their sacrifice,

unwarlike woman

that I am.

Can that really be so?

Good morning, my lord.

I could swear

Your Majesty

had the heart

and stomach of a King.

Oh, Robin.

- Robin, you are not well.

- Excuse me, Your Majesty.

All is well.

I pray you.

Bring him over.

Do you lead me like

a groom, my lord,

to let England know you have

no designs to be my equal?

From where will

Your Majesty speak?

Why, from my heart

of course.

How long have you been

in the army, good man?

One month, Your Majesty.

Well, I'll wager you are

a very terror with that fork.

God save the Queen!

God save the Queen!

God Save the Queen!

Armies are not made

by their equipment, my lord.

Why have you persuaded

me to wear this?

It suits you

very well, ma'am.

I am among my people

who love me

and among whom I am

proud to die if I have to.

God save the Queen!

God save the Queen!

My loving people...

My loving people.

We have been persuaded by some

that are careful of our safety

to take care how we walk

among armed multitudes.

But I assure you

I do not desire

to live to distrust

my faithful and loving people.

Let tyrants fear.

I have always so

behaved myself that...

that under God I have

placed my chiefest strength

and safeguard

in the loyal hearts and goodwill

of all my subjects.

I am come among you

as you see at this time

not for my disport

or recreation

but resolved in the midst

and the heat of the battle

to live or die

among you all.

To lay down for my God,

for my kingdom

and for my people

my honor and my blood...

even...

even in the dust!

I know...

I know I have the body

but of a weak

and feeble woman.

But I have the heart

and stomach of a king.

And of a King

of England too!

And I...

and I think it foul scorn

that Parma or Spain

or any prince of Europe

dare invade the borders

of my realm!

God save the Queen!

God save the Queen!

No.

I'd be much happier if Your Majesty

returned to London.

The Spanish Fleet

is in the Channel.

We've had reports that

Parma may cross tonight.

Which may mean

that Drake...

Drake?

Drake has the wind

behind him, Robin.

He will set his ships among them and they

will rue the day they ever came to England.

You're not well. This has taken

its toll of you. You should rest.

Oh, I'm...

- Reports of a ship, Your Majesty.

- Where?

Coming up the river.

Come, sir.

One of ours,

or one of theirs?

One of ours,

Your Majesty.

If the news was good

they were to put out flags.

Both white and black.

- Your colors.

- Well, have they?

Not yet.

Well?!

The day is ours, ma'am.

My lord.

- Majesty!

- Robin!

See to the Earl.

- Robin!

- My lord.

A hard-won victory.

Oh, Robin, here.

I want to talk to you

about my stepson.

The young

Earl of Essex?

Although...

I am not his

natural father...

There are those

who say that you are.

Oh, Bess.

Lechery does not

interest me, Robin.

Love on the other hand...

Is that what it is

between us?

Oh yes.

And it is very proper.

Well...

I am glad to hear

you say it is love.

Was...

and is.

There are those who say

I was of the calculating kind.

But what I felt for you

I could not help.

Sometimes it...

did not help

my cause at all.

But truth be told...

it was as constant

as the heavens.

When I lost my way

it guided me

as stars...

do sailors.

Robin?

No, I beg you,

do not weep.

You spoke of your son?

Of Essex.

He is all

the son I have.

I bade him hither.

May he approach?

Sir?

Sir, your father

needs you.

Take care of her,

young man.

She needs...

Iooking after.

To be so strong

for so many people...

is not easy.

And I will not be there.

My love.

You will be with me

always, Robin.

I am for the dark, Bess.

My life is done.

Be careful of each other.

I stand here before you

among the captured

banners of our enemies,

and yet, in victory,

I say we still shall

humble ourselves

before our God

and our people.

We are mindful

that we have lost

a personnage...

who was most dear to us.

One who should

stand here with us today.

And as we commend

his soul to Heaven...

we turn ourselves

to our only solace,

which is the people

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