Richard III Page #6

when traitors brave the field.

(Duchess of York) Are you my son?

Yes, I thank God, my father and yourself.

(Duchess) You toad!

Where are the princes and your wife?

Mother...

...I have a touch of your condition...

...That cannot brook the accent of reproof.

Oh, let me speak!

Be brief, dear mother, for I am in haste.

A grievous burden was your birth to me!

And came I not at last to comfort you?

You came on earth

to make the earth my hell!

Tetchy and wayward was your infancy...

...Your schooldays frightful,

desperate, wild and furious...

...Your prime of manhood daring,

bold and venturous...

...Your age confirmed,

proud, subtle, sly and bloody!

What comfortable hour can you name

That ever graced me with your company?

- If I be so disgracious...

- Oh, hear me a little...

...For I shall never speak to you again!

To war take with you

my most grievous curse!

My prayers shall

on Richmons party fight.

Bloody you are, bloody will be your end!

Shame serves your life

and will your death attend!

I leave for France.

Be not tongue-tied.

You're a dream of what you were...

a breath, a queen in jest!

Where is your husband now?

Where is your brother?

Where are your two sons? Wherein joy?

Who sues and kneels and says,

"God save the queen"?

Where are the bended peers

that flattered you?

Where be the thronging troops

that followed you?

Teach me how to curse my enemy!

Forbear to sleep the nights

and fast the days.

Think that your babes were sweeter

than they were...

...And he that slew them fouler than he is!

Tell me, you villain slave...

...where are my children?

Where is my brother Rivers

and your brother Clarence?

Where is Lord Hastings?

Elizabeth...

...I must talk a word with you.

I've no more sons of the royal blood...

...for you to slaughter!

You have a daughter...

...called Elizabeth.

Must she die for this?

(cries out)

Oh... let her live.

Her life is safest only in her birth.

And only in that safety

died her brothers.

You speak as if

that I had slain the princes.

No doubt the murderer's knife

was dull and blunt...

...Till it was sharpened...

...on your stone-hard heart

to revel in the entrails of my lambs!

Ma'am, I intend more good

to you and yours...

...Than ever you or yours

by me were harmed.

Tell me, what state,

what dignity, what honour...

...Can you bestow on any child of mine?

Even all I have...

...yes, and myself and all...

...Will I withal endow a child of yours.

Be brief, lest that the process

of your kindness...

...Lasts longer telling

than your kindness' date.

Know, then, that with my soul

I love your daughter...

...And do intend to make her...

...Queen of England.

What?

You?

What think you of it?

How can you woo her?

Now, that would I learn of you.

- And will you learn of me?

- Madam, with all my heart.

Send to her

by the man who slew her brothers...

...A pair of bleeding hearts,

then will she weep.

If this inducement move her not...

...Send her a letter of your noble deeds.

Tell her you made away

her uncle Clarence, her uncle Rivers...

...yes, and for her sake made quick

conveyance with her good aunt Anne!

You mock me, madam,

this is not the way...

...To win your daughter.

- There is no other way...

...Unless you could put on

some other shape...

...And not be Richard who's done all this!

Say that I did all this for love of her.

Well, then, she cannot choose

but hate you.

What is done cannot be now amended.

Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes.

If I did take the kingdom

from your sons...

...To make amends

I'll give it to your daughter.

Again you shall be mother of a king...

...what?

We have many goodly days to see.

The liquid drops of tears

that you have shed...

...Shall come again,

transformed to orient pearl.

Go then, my mother,

to your daughter go.

Make bold her bashful years

with your experience.

Acquaint the princess with the sweet

silent hours of marriage joys.

And when these troops

of mine have chastised...

...The petty rebel Richmond

and dull-brained Buckingham...

...Bound with triumphant garlands

will I come...

...And lead your daughter

to a conqueror's bed.

What were I best to say?

Say she shall be

a high and mighty queen.

To wail the title, as her mother does?

Say I will love her everlastingly.

But how long, fairly,

shall her sweet life last?

As long as heaven and nature

lengthens it.

As long as hell and Richard like of it!

Your reasons are too shallow

and too quick.

Oh, no, my reasons are

too deep and dead...

...Too deep and dead

my infants in their graves!

Harp not on that string, madam,

that is past!

Harp on it still shall I

till heartstrings break!

I know that Richmond aims

to wed Elizabeth.

In her consists my happiness... and yours.

Without her follows to myself and you...

...Herself, the land,

and many a Christian soul...

...Death, desolation, ruin and decay!

It cannot be avoided but by this.

Be the attorney of my love...

...to her.

Plead...

...what I will be...

...not what I've been.

Shall I be tempted by the devil thus?

Yes, if the devil tempt you to do good.

But you did kill my children.

But in your daughter's womb

I bury them...

...Wherein that nest of spicery...

...they will breed.

Shall I go win my daughter

to your will?

And be a happy mother by the deed.

Write to me very shortly...

...And you shall understand

from me her mind.

Bear her my true love's kiss.

Farewell.

Relenting fool...

...and shallow, changing woman!

Lord Stanley...

...whas the news with you?

None good, your majesty...

...nor none so bad.

- Hoyday, a riddle!

Neither good nor bad.

Once more, what news?

- Richmond is on the seas.

- Then be the seas on him!

What does he there?

Your majesty, I know not, but by guess...

- Well, as you guess?

- Stirred up by Buckingham...

...He makes for England,

here to claim the Crown.

Is the throne empty?

Is the king dead?

You will revolt and fly to him, I fear.

I never was nor never will be false.

Go, then, and muster men...

...but leave behind with us...

...your son, young George.

Stanley, look your heart be firm...

...Or else his heas assurance

is but frail.

Your majesty, the Duke of Buckingham...

Till you bring better news!

"The Duke of Buckingham

is taken prisoner."

I cry you mercy.

(train whistle blows)

Richmond is landed

with a mighty power from France.

Les go to meet him.

While we reason here...

...A royal battle might be won and lost.

Tyrell, give order

Buckingham be brought!

(train gathers speed)

(Richmond) Welcome.

- Brackenbury.

- Richmond.

Fortune and victory be with you, nephew.

The queen has heartily consented

that I marry Princess Elizabeth.

England rejoice!

Good Lord Stanley, Brackenbury.

Prepare your advance

early in the morning.

On your side I may not be too forward.

Your cousin George is held in custody.

Wretched, bloody and usurping swine!

I do not doubt

but his friends will turn to you.

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