The Other Boleyn Girl Page #2

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his pride is hurting rather more.

It was my fault.

- Anne.

- How could I?

Fetch Mary to me, would you?

And who are you?

Mary, Your Grace.

Anne's sister.

You've been here all the time?

How could I have overlooked you?

Next to Anne, it's easy to do.

And you're married.

Yes, Your Grace, to William Carey.

Then why haven't I seen you at court?

Because I've persuaded him

to spend a year or two here first.

We have a small manor.

Nothing much,

but enough to start a family.

Charmed life in the country,

away from it all.

Yes.

You don't think he'll miss court?

A young ambitious man.

He says not, Your Majesty.

But if he ever changed his mind...

...as his wife, of course,

I would do his bidding.

Lady Elizabeth, thank you.

Sir Thomas.

You will take care of that matter?

Yes, of course.

Of course, Your Majesty, thank you.

Mary, you've obviously made

a deep impression on the king.

He's requested that you come to court

with immediate effect.

The king has secured for you,

a position in the queen's household.

But I don't want to go to court.

Nor does my husband.

The king has also

offered me a position...

...as a gentleman

of the Privy Council.

Do you hear that, Mary?

Privy Council.

Attending upon His Majesty himself.

The inner sanctum.

What about our future

in the country?

Oh, you must put that

out of your mind.

From now on, your future is at court.

William, please.

Don't you understand

what this means? They'll separate us.

Put me in different accommodation,

where the king can always find me.

Happily, your husband understands

the value of such an opportunity.

For us all.

What about Anne?

Couldn't she go instead?

Anne?

The way Anne has behaved,

she's fortunate to be come at all.

Mother, please, speak to Father.

Do something. I don't want to go.

This is not a request.

We have been summoned.

Please don't be angry with me.

You think I desire to go

for this purpose?

All I know is that a man

that didn't know who you were...

...was with you in that room

for half an hour...

...and came out besotted.

I don't know what you said or did.

Nothing, sister.

Except sing your praises

and talk about my husband.

Really? Well, you must show me

how you did that some time.

- Mary Carey, Your Majesty.

- Who?

Your new lady-in-waiting

and her sister Anne.

Really?

I wasn't aware I was expecting one.

Appointed by His Majesty the king.

By my husband? Really?

Well...

...then she must be some kind of

gift or surprise.

He must have seen in her some talent

he knew would please me.

Tell me.

What special talent is it

that you have...

...apart from your

obvious youth and beauty?

I...

- Poetry, perhaps?

- No.

- Or dressmaking?

- No.

- Singing then, surely?

- No, Your Majesty.

Come, you're too modest.

Sing for us.

- Really, I beg you.

- Sing.

Bravo.

A nightingale.

Welcome at court.

Mary? Stop.

That can't have been easy for you.

But put yourself in the queen's shoes.

She knows the only reason...

...the king has asked you here

is because he desires you.

She's a good woman, trust me.

Jane Parker.

It's embarrassing.

Look, she has her eye on you.

Sweet Jane Parker would be a match

to please our father.

Oh, vile girl.

She's the most ambitious little serpent

at court.

She can't stop watching.

How are you, Stafford?

I'm well, thank you.

I'm not sure I'm one for court life.

I'm a little homesick.

Well, you and I both.

Now, in my view it...

It changes people.

And not necessarily for the better.

Your sister, though, is thriving.

She's truly caught the eye

of Henry Percy.

Why does she do this?

He's already taken.

Tonight.

My little sister.

My little golden sister.

My milk-and-honey sister.

It should be you in my place.

Don't concern yourself with me.

I'll make my own way.

Shall I walk with you?

No need.

Try to please him. If you can.

Your Grace.

Come in.

Can I bring you something?

No.

Anything to ease your comfort

or well-being?

Perhaps you might ask your servants

to bring me some water.

Please.

There. There are no servants.

So this is it?

Where the king of England sleeps.

And reads and writes.

Finds a few moments each day

for himself.

And yet you invite me here?

Because I like you and trust you.

You hardly know me.

I'm lied to a hundred times a day.

Petitioned, lobbied.

One learns how to decipher a face.

And yours is as the sun.

One shouldn't gaze too long.

My flattery,

it makes you uncomfortable.

Because compliments in your family

are usually for someone else.

The elder sister.

That's something I understand.

What it is to be the second child.

Forever in the shadows.

I'm making you uncomfortable

again.

- Morning.

- Stafford.

Morning.

I have orders

to bring you to your father.

Better not keep him waiting.

Well?

Did he have you?

Yes.

More than once?

You better get used

to talking about it.

When you sleep with the king,

it ceases to be a private matter.

Yes, more than once.

And was he satisfied?

- I believe so.

- Did he say so?

He did not need to, uncle.

Well, you may go.

Good.

Now our work begins.

It's one thing to catch a king,

quite another to keep him.

She must be well-read,

know her music, excel in company...

...and she must be clean.

- Anne will see to it.

- See to what?

Mary is already all of these things.

Thanks to the education

I have given her.

And for what?

She may be traded like cattle...

...for the advancement

and amusement of men?

Sister, you may leave us also.

Katherine of Aragon

will never give Henry Tudor a son.

But if Mary could give him a child,

and that child could be a boy...

If I gave your husband an assignment

that took him away from court...

...would you object?

I would not presume

to interfere in affairs of state.

- Amen.

- Amen.

"My heart and I surrender themselves

into your hands. "

It's Anne.

She's married Henry Percy.

Wedded and bedded

without telling anyone.

You... You don't look pleased.

Why would I be pleased?

Well, it will make her the future

Duchess of Northumberland.

- Our sister.

- George, they'll never allow it.

He's already precontracted

to Mary Talbot.

If this gets out, it will damage her.

Her reputation will be ruined.

I have to tell Father.

For her own protection.

What were you thinking?

The marriage of a senior noble

is a matter of the state.

Something only the king can decide.

Who else knows about this?

- No one.

- Good.

Well, that's how it will remain.

Forever.

But you cannot undo

what has been done before God.

And consummated too.

There have been

improper intimacies?

I have lain with my husband.

- There's nothing improper about it.

- By God, if you were my daughter.

The boy will return

to Northumberland...

...where he will marry the Talbot girl,

as arranged.

You will be sent to France

and stay there...

- ... until you have learned your lesson.

- What?

No.

Father, please.

How can you have done this?

You knew full well...

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