The Lion in Winter Page #4

parts of you are missing.

You're as dead

as you are deadly.

Don't leave me.

You were lovely once.

I've seen the pictures.

Don't you remember

how you loved me?

We were always hand in hand.

Here's how it felt.

As hot and coarse as that?

This won't burn.

I'll scratch a will on this.

"To Richard... everything."

Mother!

Remember how I

taught you numbers...

and the lute and poetry?

See? You do remember.

I taught you dancing, too,

and languages...

and all the music I knew and

how to love what's beautiful.

The sun was warmer then,

and we were every day together.

William, tell the french king

I'll see him in the parlor.

Yes, my lord.

In half an hour.

Half an hour. Good.

Of course, you know there's not

a word of truth to Henry's terms.

If that's a warning,

thank you.

What if it's an offer?

"What if" is

a game for scholars.

What if angels

sat on pinheads?

What if I were king?

It's your game, Geoff.

You play it.

John.

I made this for father.

All the pieces work.

It took months. I'm not a fool.

I know. Now, here's my plan.

I read three languages.

I've studied law.

What plan?

We've got to make a

deal with Philip. Why?

Because you're out, and Richard's

in. And what kind of deal?

A war. If we three join and fight

now, we can finish Richard off.

You mean destroy him?

Hmm.

And mother too?

And mother too.

Now, do we do it? Is it

on? I've got to think.

You haven't time.

We are extra princes now.

You know where

extra princes go?

Down.

Well, does John want a war

or doesn't he?

Do you? If John asks for your

soldiers, will he get them?

If John wants a war,

he's got one.

John, you hear that?

I'm still thinking.

Let me help. It's either

Richard on the throne or you.

Do you think we'd win?

I know it.

Henry!

But you don't understand. I would

appreciate a little qulet confidence.

I've enough nits picking at me.

But you've promised me to Richard!

Good God,

you don't think I meant it?

So that whole scene,

all you said to John...

you think I'd ever give him up when I've

mothered him and fathered him and babied him?

He's all I've got! How often do you

people have to hear it... every supper?

Should we start the soup with

who we love and who we don't?

I think you like passing me

from hand to hand.

What am I to you...

a collection plate?

Or am I all you've got,

like John?

I've got to get

the Aquitaine for John.

- I talk people, and you answer back in provinces!

- They get mixed up.

What's the Aquitaine to Eleanor? It's

not a province. It's a way to torture me.

That's why she spent the evening

wooing Richard, wheezing on the coals.

She'll squeeze it out of him. My

God, I'd have loved to eavesdrop.

"I taught you prancing, lamb,

and lute and flute..."

That's marvelous.

It's absolutely me.

I thought as long as I was

coming down, I'd bring them.

Whatever are you giving me?

You're such a child.

You always ask.

"To Henry."

Heavy.

It's my tombstone!

Eleanor, you spoil me.

I never could

deny you anything.

Don't go. It nettles her

to see how much I need you.

You need me, Henry, like a

tailor needs a tinker's dam.

Oh, I know that look.

He's going to say

he loves me.

Like my life.

I talk that way

to keep her spirits up.

Well, how'd you do with

Richard? Did you break his heart?

You think he ought to

give me back the Aquitaine?

I can't see why he shouldn't. After

all, I've promised him the throne.

The boy keeps wondering

if your promises are any good.

There's no sense asking if the air's

good when there's nothing else to breathe.

Exactly what I told him.

Have you got it?

Will he give it back?

No Aquitaine for John.

I have to give him something.

Isn't some agreement possible?

Love, in a world where carpenters

get resurrected, anything is possible.

You bore him, damn it.

He's your son!

Oh, heavens, yes.

280 days I bore him.

I recall them all.

You'd only just found Rosamund.

Why her so damn particularly?

I've found other women.

Countless others.

What's your count?

Let's have a tally of the

bedspreads you've spread out on.

Thomas Beckett's.

That's a lie.

I know.

You still care what I do.

I want the Aquitaine for John!

I want it, and I'll have it.

Is that menace you're

conveying? Is it to be torture?

Will you boil me or stretch me...

which? Or am I to be perforated?

I have the documents,

and you will sign.

How will you force me to... threats?

"Sign or I refuse to feed you."

Tears? "Oh, sign before

my heart goes crack."

I'm like the earth, old man...

there isn't any way around me.

I adore you.

Save your aching arches.

That road's closed.

I have an offer for you,

my dear.

A deal? A deal?

I give the richest province on

the continent to John for what?

You tell me,

mastermind, for what.

Your freedom.

Oh.

Once Johnny gets the Aquitaine,

you're free. I'll let you out.

Think:
On the loose in london,

winters in provence,

impromptu trips to visit Richard

anywhere he's killing people...

all that for a signature.

- You're good.

- I thought it might appeal. You always fancied traveling.

Yes.

I even made poor Louis

take me on crusade.

How's that for blasphemy?

I dressed my maids as amazons and

rode bare-breasted halfway to damascus.

Louls had a seizure, and I

damn near died of windburn,

but the troops were dazzled.

Henry, I'm against the wall.

To be a prisoner...

to be bricked in...

when you've known the world...

I'll never know how I survived.

These ten years, Henry,

have been unimaginable.

And now,

you offer me

the only thing I want...

if I give up...

the only thing I treasure.

Sign the paper, and we'll

break the happy news.

The queen is free, John gets the

Aquitaine, and Richard marries Alais.

Yes, let's have it done.

I'll sign.

On one condition.

Name it.

Have the wedding now.

What's that?

Why, I've surprised you.

Surely it's not sudden.

They've been marching down the aisle

for 16 years, and that's a long walk.

John can be best man.

That's a laugh.

And you can give the bride

away. I want to watch you do it.

Alais...

I can live without her.

And I thought you loved her. So I do.

Thank God. You frightened me.

I was afraid this wouldn't hurt.

What a tragedy you are.

I wonder...

do you ever wonder...

if I slept

with your father?

My father?

It's a lie.

But there are rumors.

Don't you ever wonder?

Is it rich, despising

me? Is it rewarding? No.

Then stop!

How?

It's what I live for.

I'll show you.

By christ, I will.

I'll do it.

Where's a priest?

Somebody dig me up a priest!

You!

Fetch me a bishop!

Get old Durham.

He's just down the hall.

Ask him to meet us in the

chapel. John, Richard, Geoffrey!

What's wrong? What's happened?

Richard's getting married.

Getting married? Now?

He's getting married now?

I never cease to marvel at

the qulckness of your mind.

You can't hurt me,

you bag of bile.

But you can, father.

Why? Because I say so.

My lord, the bishop's waiting in the

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