Richard III Page #2

...But it was your heavenly face

which set me on.

(knife clatters onto floor)

Take up the blade again...

...or take up me.

I will not be your executioner.

Then bid me kill myself...

and I will do it.

I have already.

That was in your rage. Speak it again.

I would I knew your heart.

I fear it is false.

Then never was man true!

Put... down the blade.

But shall I live in hope?

All men, I hope, live so.

(knife drops on floor)

Vouchsafe to wear this ring.

To take is not to give.

May I, with all expedient duty, see you?

And much it joys me, too,

To see you are become so penitent.

Bid me farewell.

'Tis more than you deserve.

But since you teach me

how to flatter you...

...lmagine I have said farewell already.

Was ever woman in this humour wooed?

Was ever woman in this humour won?

I'll have her...

...but I'll not keep her long!

I who killed her husband and his father...

...To take her

in her hears extremest hate...

...With curses in her mouth,

tears in her eyes...

...And then to win her...

...all the world to nothing? Ha!

Upon my life, she finds...

...- although I cannot - myself to be

a marvellous, proper man!

I'll entertain a score or two of tailors...

...To study fashions to adorn my body...

...And then return lamenting to my love!

Shine out, fair sun,

till I've bought a glass...

...That I may see my shadow...

...as I pass!

(coughs wheezily)

Catesby!

Clarence still breathes.

Edward still lives and reigns.

When they are gone...

...then shall I count my gains.

(toy gunshots)

- (toy gunshot)

- Uhh!

The king is sickly, weak and melancholy.

Have patience, sister.

No doubt his majesty will soon

recover his accustomed health.

His physicians fear for him mightily.

If he were dead,

what would become of me?

The heavens have blessed you

with two goodly sons...

...To be your comforters when he's gone.

Ah, but they're young, and their minority...

...ls put into the trust of

Richard Gloucester...

...A man who loves not me

nor you, my brother.

Is it confirmed he will be Lord Protector?

If the king miscarry.

My love...

...what danger can befall to you...

...So long as Edward

is your constant friend...

...And a sovereign...

...whom Richard must obey?

Yes, and shall obey...

...and love you, too.

(James) Pow! Pow!

Ratcliffe!

Whas his name?

His name is Tyrell, sir.

I partly know the man.

Is your name Tyrell?

James Tyrell...

...and your most obedient servant.

Are you indeed?

Prove me, my gracious lord.

(pig squeals)

(door creaks open)

Oh, I have passed a miserable night.

I thought that I had broken

from the Tower...

...And was embarked across

to Burgundy...

...And, in my company,

my brother Richard...

...Who from my cabin

tempted me to walk upon the hatches.

As we paced along...

...I thought that Richard stumbled,

and in falling...

...Struck me overboard...

...lnto the tumbling billows of the main.

Oh, Lord, I thought what pain

it was to drown!

What dreadful noise of water in my ears.

What sights of ugly death within my eyes.

I thought I saw a thousand

fearful wrecks...

...A thousand men

that fishes gnawed upon...

...Wedges of gold, great anchors,

heaps of pearl...

...lnestimable stones, unvalued jewels...

...All scattered in the bottom of the sea.

(thunder)

Some lay in dead men's skulls...

...and in the holes

where eyes did once inhabit...

...there were crept,

as it were in scorn of eyes...

...reflecting gems...

...That wooed the slimy bottom

of the deep...

...And mocked the dead bones

that lay scattered by.

My dream was lengthened after life.

Oh, then began the tempest to my soul.

With that, I thought a legion

of foul fiends...

...environed me...

...and howled in my ears

such hideous cries...

...that with the very noise...

I trembling waked...

...and, for a season after, could not

believe but that I was in hell!

(thunder)

Such terrible impression made my dream.

Oi! Oi, off!

Now then, my hardy,

stout-resolved mates...

Ahh!

Are you now going to dispatch this thing?

We are, my lord, but need the warrant

to be admitted to where he is.

Well thought upon!

I have it here about me.

Be sudden in the execution...

...For Clarence

is well spoken and perhaps...

...May move your hearts to pity.

We go to use our hands

and not our tongues.

I like you, lads.

About your business straight.

Your eyes drop millstones

when fools' eyes fall tears.

Clarence has not another day to live.

Which done, God take

King Edward to his mercy...

...And leave the world for me to bustle in!

God make your majesty joyful,

as you have been.

(Queen Elizabeth) Prime Minister.

- Lord Stanley.

- Saw you the king today?

But now the Duke of Buckingham and I

Are come from visiting his majesty.

- Did you confer with him?

- Ma'am, we did.

He desires to make reconciliation

between Richard and your brother.

Would all were well,

but that will never be.

I fear our happiness is at the height.

Who is it that complains unto the king...

...That I, in truth, am stern...

and love them not?

Because I cannot flatter and look fair...

...Smile in men's faces...

...smooth, deceive and cog...

...I must be held a rancorous enemy.

Cannot a plain man live

and think no harm?

To whom in all this presence

speaks your grace?

To you, who have neither

honesty nor grace!

When have I injured you?

When done you wrong?

Come, come, we know your meaning!

The world is grown so bad...

...That wrens make prey

where eagles dare not perch!

You envy my advancement

and my family.

God grant we never

may have need of you.

Meantime, God grants...

...that I have need of you.

My brother is imprisoned

by your means.

Richard, you do me shameful injury!

Benedictus, benedicat, per Jesum

Christum, Dominum nostrum. Amen.

(Brackenbury) What would you,

fellow, at the Tower...

...And how came you hither?

I would speak with Clarence,

and I came hither on my legs.

I never did incense his majesty...

...Against your brother, but have been

An earnest advocate to plead for him.

- You may deny that you...

- She may, my Lord!

She may, Lord Rivers,

but who knows not so?

She may do more, sir, than denying that.

She may help you

to many great promotions.

My Lord of Gloucester...

...I have too long borne your blunt

upbraidings and bitter scoffs!

I had rather be a country serving maid

Than a great queen in this condition...

...To be so baited, scorned and stormed at!

By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty!

Tell him... and spare not.

What I have said, I will avouch it

in the presence of the king.

Before you were queen...

...yes, or your husband king,

I was a packhorse...

...in his great affairs.

In all that time,

you and your brother here...

...were sympathetic to the enemy.

Let me put in your mind,

if you forget what you have been before...

...and what you are;

indeed what I have been...

...and what I am.

- A bottled spider!

- (Rivers laughs)

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