Richard III Page #3

My dear brother-in-law...

...in those busy days

When now you try to prove us enemies...

...We followed then Edward,

our lawful king.

So should she you,

if you should be her king.

If I should be?

I'd rather be a pedlar!

I'm too childish-foolish for this world.

You poisonous, bunch-backed toad!

Have done, have done.

Small joy have I in being

this country's queen.

Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog.

Look, when he fawns, he bites.

Your majesty,

his majesty has called for you.

What did she say,

my Lord of Buckingham?

Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.

I cannot blame her...

...by Gos holy mother.

A virtuous and

a Christian-like conclusion...

...To pray for those...

...who have done wrong to you.

What, are you afraid?

Not to kill him, having a warrant for it...

...But to be damned for killing him...

...from which no warrant can defend me.

I thought you had been resolute.

So I am. Let him live.

I'll back to Richard Gloucester

and tell him so.

No. Wait a little.

Some certain dregs of conscience

are yet within me.

Remember our reward

when the dees done.

He dies. I forgot the reward.

- And where's your conscience now?

- In the Duke of Gloucester's purse.

In Gos name...

...what are you?

A man, as you are.

But not, as I am, royal.

Nor you, as we are, loyal.

Who has sent you to me?

- And why have you come?

- To... To...

...murder me.

Aye.

But how, my friends,

have I offended you?

Offended us you have not,

but King Edward.

I will send you to my brother Richard,

Who shall reward you better for my life...

...Than will the king

for tidings of my death.

You are deceived.

Your brother Richard hates you.

You are wrong.

He loves me and he holds me dear.

Go you to him, tell him and he will weep.

Aye! Millstones,

as he lessoned us to weep.

Oh, do not slander him, for he is kind.

- Right... as snow in harvest!

- Richard! No!

(gentle instrumental jazz)

(knock on door)

(music is switched off)

(King Edward) So, now we have done

a good day's work.

Now, friends, continue this united league.

Rivers and Hastings,

take each other's hands.

Hastings, my soul is purged

from grudging hate.

Your majesty, I truly swear the like.

Elizabeth, you are not exempt in this.

Wife, greet Lord Hastings.

Let him kiss your hand.

Dear Hastings.

Now, princely Buckingham...

make me happy in this unity.

Whenever Buckingham does

turn his hate upon your majesty...

...God punish me with hate

from those where I expect most love.

When I most need to employ a friend,

And most assured that he is a friend...

- Richard!

...treacherous and full of guile is he.

Good morrow to my sovereign king.

- Now, Richard...

- And queen.

I have done a good day's work.

Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate.

Is death to me to be at enmity;...

...I hate it and desire all good men's love.

First, ma'am,

I do entreat true peace of you...

...Which I shall purchase

with my duteous service.

Of you, my noble,

dear Lord Buckingham...

...lf ever any grudge

were lodged between us.

Of you...

...Lord Hastings.

Of you, dear Rivers...

...Who, all without desert,

has frowned on me!

Indeed, of all, I do not know

that Englishman alive...

...With whom my soul is any jot at odds...

...More than the infant...

...that is born tonight.

I thank my God for my humility.

I wish to God all strifes were settled so.

My sovereign lord...

...I do beseech your majesty to take

your brother Clarence to your grace.

Why, ma'am, have I offered love for this?

Who knows not

that the gentle duke is dead?

(King Edward)

Who knows not he is dead?

Who knows he is?

(softly) Is Clarence dead?

The order was reversed!

But he, poor man,

by your first order died...

...And that a winged Mercury did bear.

Some tardy cripple

bore the countermand.

Oh, God...

...I fear... thy justice will take hold of me!

And mine, and mine...

...and yours for this!

Rivers, help me to my bed!

Oh, poor Clarence!

(the king gasps for breath)

This is the fruits of rashness.

Marked you not, Hastings...

...How that the guilty brother

of the queen looked pale...

...when he did hear of Clarence's death?

God will revenge it.

Oh, Clarence...

...Clarence, my unhappy son.

This news is bad indeed.

- What, is he in his bed?

- He is.

Oh, he has over-used

his royal person much.

(wheezes)

What means this scene

of rude impatience?

Edward, my lord...

...your son our king is dead!

Why grow the branches

now the root is withered?

Why wither not the leaves,

the sap being gone?

Alas, I am the mother of these griefs.

On me pour all your tears.

I am your sorrow's nurse.

Elizabeth, have comfort.

We all of us have cause...

...To wail the dimming of our shining star.

Though we have spent

our harvest of this king...

...We are to reap the harvest of his son.

Sister, think you like a careful mother

of the Prince of Wales, your son.

Send straight for him.

Let him be crowned.

In him your comfort lies.

Me seemeth good

that with some little train...

...the prince be brought

to London to be crowned.

Why with some little train,

my Lord of Buckingham?

Lest by a multitude, dear sir, the

new-healed wound of civil war break out!

I hope the king made peace

with all of us...

...And the compact is firm and true in me.

And so in me, and so, I think, in all.

Therefore I say, with noble Buckingham...

...ls fitting that so few

should meet the prince.

- Prime Minister?

- And so say I.

Then be it so.

Two mirrors of my husbans likeness

are cracked in pieces...

...by malignant death.

And I for comfort

have but one false glass...

...That grieves me

when I see my shame in him.

Madam?

Mother, I do humbly crave

your blessing.

God comfort you...

...and put meekness in your breast...

...Love, charity, obedience and true duty.

Amen.

And make me die a good old man.

Thas the butt-end of a mother's blessing.

I marvel that her grace did leave it out.

My Lord Protector.

(Elizabeth weeps)

My Lord Protector,

whoever journeys to the prince...

...For Gos sake,

let not us two stay at home...

...And let us part Earl Rivers

from the prince.

My other self!

(sighs of lovemaking)

Agghh, agghh!

(screams)

(train whistle)

I long with all my heart

to see the Prince of Wales.

I hope he is much grown

since last I saw him.

They say my uncle Richard

grew so fast...

...That he could gnaw a crust

at two hours old!

Oh, go to, you parlous boy!

- You are too shrewd.

- Elizabeth, be not angry with your son.

Pitchers have ears.

Lord Stanley.

Richmond.

What news?

Such news that grieves me to report.

What is your news?

Your brother Rivers is murdered.

By whom?

Richmond?

Richard...

...and Buckingham.

I see the ruin of my family.

(guars whistle)

Welcome, dear nephew.

(laughs) Welcome to your capital.

I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Those uncles who you want

are dangerous.

Your highness attended to

their sugared words...

...And looked not on the poison

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