Elizabeth I Page #9

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For you

to be mistress

of what

you wish most.

Why then, you wish

for my happiness.

And to gain that I would have

to set aside my kingdom.

That being done,

who would have me?

I would, Bess.

I would.

You never say what it is

you feel for me.

- You know what it is I feel.

- Do I?

How do I know what you truly feel,

even though you never stop saying...

- I love you.

- There, you've said it again.

Does that

make it true?

There is an expedition

to Lisbon.

- What expedition is that?

- Is there more than one?

You should have not

even been told of it.

I gave strict orders.

Robin, you're forbidden to go.

Ma'am, I have no money.

I have to go.

I'm so far in debt,

my estates will be sold

to pay them off.

You promise me much, but...

You shall have what you need

when the time comes.

I could profit by the Lisbon

expedition, Bess.

There are Spanish ships

there piled high with Spanish gold.

Do you want a spoiled boy

by your side

or would you not have me

prove myself a proper man?

Just be patient.

There's a tax

on sweet wines.

I told you, Robin,

you're forbidden to go.

Let's stop our mouths.

No more talk.

You drink too much.

Sweet wine.

Oh...

You're so kind

to me.

Shh, shh.

Sleep. Sleep.

Lie there.

Lie there

till morning.

Shh.

Sleep.

What I must not say...

is that I love you.

The more I let you go,

the more I seem

to have need of you.

And it will not go away,

no matter how much

I command it.

Do you think the queen

is mistress of her feelings?

No, she's a fool

for love.

A hopeless fool.

"Lisbon"!

Frances! Anne!

Where is he?

- Who, ma'am?

- Essex, you stupid, stupid girl!

Where has he gone?

How could you let this happen?

- We saw nothing, ma'am.

- Call the Master Groom.

Tell him to get

to the stables.

On no account is the Earl of Essex

to be allowed to ride out.

Hurry! Or I'll hang

the pair of you.

- Madam, the French Ambassador...

- Can wait.

Well, what shall I

tell him, ma'am?

Tell him the queen is looking

for the Earl of Essex.

Madam, it's too late.

The Earl of Essex

has already left.

He rode

for Falmouth overnight.

He is on his way

to Lisbon.

"On his way"?

Did you say...

"his way"?

Madam, had we known,

we would have...

"Would have"? I care not

what you would have done,

you traitorous dog!

I'll send you all

to the gallows!

You let him get away!

Shh, shh shh...

Oh...

wearisome condition

of princes...

laid bare

for all the world to see.

One word of this,

and you die.

You hear me?

Well, there's work

to be done.

"Wading ashore

in his armor,

the earl was the first

to engage the enemy.

Indeed, he rode unaided

to the gates of Lisbon

where he drove his pike

into the wood

and challenged anyone

who doubted

your wisdom

and beauty to a duel."

Well, did anyone emerge

to take up the challenge?

I imagine not,

Your Majesty.

No, even a conversation

with the Earl of Essex

can be

an alarming business.

It was not all in all,

Your Majesty...

though the earl's behavior

must be applauded...

a profitable enterprise.

Little of substance

was achieved.

Lisbon was not taken.

Indeed.

But he's apologized

for his disobedience

and he promises me

he'll be home within the month.

We've forgiven him.

He is dear to us.

And brave, it seems.

Brave indeed, to have defied

Your Majesty so obviously.

Brave young men are

to be encouraged, pygmy.

Welcome to

the Council, my boy.

We are most happy

to greet the Earl of Essex

on this his return

from Portugal.

Its end was glorious

and nothing so becomes it

as this,

the welcome home of Essex,

champion of our liberties,

our marvelous boy!

Robin!

A great and public day,

Your Majesty.

Is it ever permitted

for a subject

to hurl themselves

into the queen's arms?

In private, it is sometimes

actively encouraged.

Then I am

forgiven?

When you are in my presence,

all is forgiven.

Eyes on me, Robin.

Eyes on me.

And Frances,

also eyes on me.

Welcome back,

my lord.

Close the door,

Robin.

Do I seem old

to you?

Spare me

"You're old only in years."

You do not seem

old to me.

You have every appearance

of sincerity.

What do I have to do

to show you that I'm serious?

What do you think

you have to do?

You may proceed.

I have promised you much,

Robin, and you shall have...

What shall I have?

The tax

on sweet wines.

Ten percent of every barrel sold

is yours. It's worth a fortune.

- Bess, Bess Bess.

- You shall be rich, Robin,

and you will not need

to go to war.

- Dinner.

- Yes.

While I was away,

I thought of you each day.

And now I'm home,

I seek to prove my worth again.

Oh, my ladies

love to look at you.

Well, I do not charge

for the spectacle.

"Blue eyes,"

why so serious?

I think a deal upon affairs

of state, ma'am,

and if I had

some office, why...

And what office

might that be, Robin?

A seat upon

the Council.

Your Majesty...

What now, Dr. Lopez?

We were expecting dinner.

I bring your syrup,

ma'am, as always.

Ugh.

- Your Majesty is well?

- Is it not your task

to tell me

whether I am or no?

We purpose to outlive

our doctor, Lopez.

Yes, ma'am.

Matters of state

require the drudgery

of being both honest

and accommodating.

Are you

accommodating, Robin?

I can be.

I have as good a wit

as either of the Cecils.

I could serve you.

Oh, you shall have

your seat on the Council.

Oh, Bess!

What a boy!

I will make you proud.

- I esteem both...

- The Earl of Essex

has his seat on the Council.

The Council?!

She can

refuse him nothing.

Lf, as I think, he has an interest

in my daughter,

it may be that Her Majesty

will tire of him.

I mean no disrespect, Francis,

but why should the Earl of Essex

even consider

marrying your daughter

when he thinks he may be married

to the Queen of England?

The queen will

never marry him.

Not even the earl

would dream of such a thing.

Let one subject

raise himself up so

and there would be

blood, gentlemen...

blood as we've not seen

these 40 years.

You ask us why we must ask you

once again for money.

Like any housewife

to her husband,

I am loathe to beg...

but we do need subsidy.

And what is it for?

It is not

that we plan for war.

It is the fighting

of wars long gone

and the failure of the harvests

that eat away at England.

Not that war will ever

go away, gentlemen.

Nor will the Spanish.

And will the Crown's demand

for money ever go away, ma'am?

Time is the enemy of power

and this our kingdom,

aged but un-aging

in its glory,

wears out the fortune

and the strength of we who serve it.

And when the weight

of care oppresses us, we...

- Look to the queen!

- Burghley!

Guard!

Ladies!

Stand aside!

Stand aside!

Stand back.

Give her some air.

Leave her to the ladies.

Ladies!

Take her through

to the privy chamber.

Full alarms.

Close the doors.

Doctor...

Dr. Lopez!

What do you say

to my breath now, Doctor?

Is it as sweet

as the Azores?

Sweeter, ma'am.

I can't imagine the cause.

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