The Lion in Winter Page #2

- queen Eleanor.

All the others here you know.

I gather you're disturbed

about your sister and her dowry.

Sixteen years ago

you made a treaty with us.

- It is time its terms were executed.

- I should think so.

Our position comes to this:

That you will either hold the

marriage or return the vexin.

Alais marries Richard, or we'll

have the county back at once.

That's clear, concise

and well presented.

My position...

well, frankly, Philip,

it's a tangle.

Two years ago, the queen and I...

for reasons passing understanding...

gave the Aquitaine to Richard.

That makes Richard

very powerful.

How can I give him Alais too?

The man she marries

has you for an ally.

It's their wedding or the vexin back.

Those are the terms you made with Louis.

True, but academic, lad.

The vexin's mine.

By what authority? It's got my troops

all over it. That makes it mine.

Now, hear me, boy.

I am a king. I am no man's boy. A king?

Because you put your ass

on purple cushions?

- Sir.

- Philip.

You haven't got

the feel of this at all, lad.

Use all your voices.

When I bellow, bellow back.

I'll mark that down.

This too:

We are the world in small.

A nation is a human thing. It

does what we do, for our reasons.

Surely if we're civilized,

we can put away the knives.

We can make peace.

We have it in our hands.

I've tutors of my own.

Will that be all? Oh, think.

You came here for a reason. Don't you

want to ask me if I've got an offer?

Have you got an offer? Not

yet, but I'll think of one.

Oh, by the way,

you're better at this

than I thought you'd be.

I wasn't sure you'd noticed.

Well, what shall we hang...

the holly or each other?

Would you say, father, that I have

the makings of a king? A splendid king.

And would you expect me, father,

to give up without a fight?

Of course you'll fight.

I raised you to.

I don't care what you offer Philip,

I don't care what plans you make.

I'll have the Aquitaine

and Alais and the crown.

I'll not give up one

to get the other.

I won't trade off Alais or the

Aquitaine to that walking pustule!

No, your loving son will not.

Did you hear what he

called me? Clearly, dear.

Now, run along. It's nearly dinnertime.

I only do what father tells me.

Go and eat.

Did I say something wrong?

I'm always saying something

wrong. And don't pout.

I'm not pouting. And stand up straight!

How often do I have to tell you?

And that's to be the king.

And I'm to be his chancellor.

Has he told you?

John will rule the country

while I run it, that is to say,

he gets to spend

the taxes that I raise.

How nice for you. It's

not as nice as being king.

We've made you duke of

brittany. Is that so little?

No one ever thinks of crown

and mentions Geoff. Why is that?

Isn't being chancellor

power enough?

It's not the power I feel deprived

of. It's the mention I miss.

There's no affection

for me here.

You wouldn't think

I'd want that, would you?

Henry?

Hmm?

I have a confession.

Yeah?

- I don't much like

our children.

Only you... the child I raised but

didn't bear. You never cared for me.

I did and do, believe me.

Henry's bed is Henry's province.

He can people it with sheep

for all I care,

which, on occasion,

he has done.

Rosamund's been dead

for seven years.

Two months and 18 days.

I never liked her much.

- You count the days?

- I made the numbers up.

He found miss clifford

in the mists of wales...

and brought her home

for closer observation.

Liking what he found,

he scrutinized her many years.

He loved her deeply, and

she, him. And yet, my dear,

when Henry had to choose

between his lady and my lands...

there is no sport in

hurting me. It's so easy.

After all the years

of loving care,

do you think I could

bring myself to hurt you?

Eleanor, with both hands

tied behind you.

She is lovely, isn't she?

Yes, very.

Who could I have chosen

to love...

to gall you more?

There's no one.

Time hasn't done a thing

but wrinkle you.

It hasn't even done that. I've

borne six girls, five boys...

and 31 connubial years of you.

How am I possible? There

are moments when I miss you.

Many? That's my wooly

sheepdog. Do you doubt it?

So, wee Johnny gets the crown.

I've heard it rumored,

but I don't believe it.

Losing Alais will be hard,

for you do love her.

It's an old man's last

attachment, nothing more.

How hard do you find

living in your castle?

It was difficult in the

beginning, but that's past.

I find I've seen

the world enough.

I'll never let you loose.

You led too many

civil wars against me.

And I damn near won the last one.

Still, as long as I get trotted out...

for Christmas courts and

state occasions now and then...

for I do like to see you...

it's enough.

I'm famished.

Let's go in to dinner.

Arm in arm.

And hand in hand.

You're still

a marvel of a man.

And you're my lady.

It's an odd thing, Eleanor.

I've fought and bargained

all these years...

as if the only thing I had to live

for was what happened after I was dead.

I've something else

to live for now.

I've blundered onto peace.

On Christmas eve.

Since Louis died, while Philip

grew, I've had no France to fight.

In that lull, I've found how

good it is to write a law...

or make a tax more fair

or sit in judgment to decide...

which peasant gets a cow.

I tell you, there is nothing

more important in the world.

Now the french boy's big enough,

and I'm sick of war.

Do you still need

the vexin, Henry?

It's as vital as it ever was. My troops

there are one day away from paris.

That's a march of 20 miles.

I must keep it.

Henry, dear,

if Alais does not marry Richard,

I will see you lose the vexin.

Well, I thought

you'd never say it.

I can do it.

You can try.

We have a pack of barons we

should look the loving couple for.

Can you read love in that?

And permanent affection.

My Richard is the next king,

not your John.

I know you, Henry. I know

every twist and bend you've got,

and I'll be waiting

round each corner for you.

Do you truly care

who's king?

I care because

you care so much.

Don't fight me, Eleanor. What would you

have me do... give out, give up, give in?

Give me a little peace.

A little?

Why so modest? How about eternal

peace? Now, there's a thought.

If you oppose me,

I'll strike you any way I can.

Henry?

Madam?

Did you ever love me?

No.

Good. That will

make this pleasanter.

Well, I've come.

I'm here.

What was it you wanted?

Just to talk.

We haven't been alone,

the two of us, in...

how long is it, lamb...

two years?

You look fit.

War agrees with you.

I keep informed. I follow all

your slaughters from a distance.

Do sit down.

Is this an audience, a good-night

hug with kisses or an ambush?

Let's hope it's a reunion.

Must you look so stern?

I sent for you to say

I want your love again,

but I can't say it

to a face like that.

My love, of all things.

What would you want it for?

Why, for itself. What

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