The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Page #7

Throw down your arms and save

your lives the whilst you can.

If I'm trapped, why do you spare us?

Am I a fool to believe that if

I destroyed you, I'd destroy England?

If we fought it out now,

I'd finish you to the last man.

But I'd lose men too...

...men that I need to fight your

successor when he comes in spring.

Throw down your arms and I'll lend you

the guides to take you safe to the coast.

And if I refuse?

Lt'll be your pride against the life

of every one of your men.

Come now, Essex. What do you say?

Will you not disarm?

Between you here

and betrayal at Whitehall...

...it seems I've no choice.

Then here's me hand on it...

...and a message to the queen,

thanking her for victory...

...for you're the most dangerous foe

I've had to face.

If she'd given you the support

your campaign deserved...

...without the word of a lie, man...

...it would be me and not you

that would be surrendering this day.

I'll give her your message...

...with my whole army.

The mob does nothing but cry

the name of Essex.

It was your intellect that got us

into this. We are grateful.

Don't be a fool. How did I know

that Essex would rise and revolt?

- I thought he'd be killed.

- Instead, he lands in Wales...

...rearms his men, and even now,

marches through London on the palace.

That means we're in grave trouble.

Which means you pulled down more

upon your ears than you bargained for.

One. If Essex prevails, you're lost.

Two. If he becomes

reconciled to her...

...and there are explanations about

their letters, then you're doubly lost.

I'll see her. She'll listen to me.

We've got to keep them apart.

- Make this a war between them.

- Absolutely.

Bacon is right. If Essex is allowed

to speak to her, it's our end.

Guard, right wheel.

What is this, Armand?

Her Majesty ordered

a guard for the throne.

She's holding court

at this hour of night?

- It seems so.

- She is mad.

This is no time for assembly, with

Essex leading an army on the palace.

Can't you order troops out?

There's no precedent, but this is an

emergency without precedent. I'll try.

I show myself for the first time for days

and meet nothing but glum faces.

Burghley, you at least

should be merry.

I hear you've been

attending the theater.

No, madam.

You forbid the performance

of Richard II...

...by Master Shakespeare and

his players without consulting me.

- Why?

- The play is treasonous, Your Majesty.

It shows the dethronement of a king.

What then? Are my people so easily led

that they would run from the theater...

...to pull their queen out of her chair?

Who is there here

fears a rebellion against me?

Not myself, certainly.

There are mutterings, Your Grace.

Let them mutter. Let them cry out.

When they've worn themselves weary,

they'll get drunk...

...sleep soundly, wake up the wiser.

Your Majesty, I beg you to speak

with me alone a moment.

I answered your request earlier.

If Your Majesty knew

what it was about...

I do know.

Lord Essex is on his way here.

Let him come.

I should be glad to see him.

Let him bring his revolution with him.

How long do you think it will last

when I have looked on it?

Please. There are plenty

of troops available. Let me post...

With your gracious permission,

I will not.

Burghley, stay where you are,

all of you.

This court wriggles

like a mess of eels.

There will be no troops posted, no guard,

no defense steps taken, none.

Your Grace, there's a mob

rising in the city.

It's true, I've come from there.

They've stormed Fleet Street

and broken into a wine merchant's cellar.

It's said they'll attack Fleet Prison

and set free the prisoners.

They've broken into a wine cellar.

They'll go no farther.

We're a marvelous people,

we English...

...but we cannot hold our liquor.

- But, Your Majesty...

What do they say,

these wine drinkers?

- "Up Essex, down Elizabeth"?

- Yes, Your Majesty.

Of course. What else

would they be crying?

"Up Essex. Viva!

Down Elizabeth. En bas.

The queen is dead.

Long live the king."

If I were there, I'd be crying it myself.

It has a wonderful ring.

"Up Essex, down Elizabeth."

- Your Majesty.

- Well?

Lord Essex has entered.

He's on his way.

- I've ordered your guard to hold the stair.

- You ordered them against my wishes?

I had to, Your Grace.

- They wait for your signal...

- Which I'll never give.

This is madness.

The whole town's behind him.

So I've been told.

What are you considering,

me or your hide?

Your Majesty, if we do nothing...

...both you and your kingdom

are at the mercy of Essex.

Little man, little man, leave me alone.

Stand back, milords!

Stand back, I tell you!

Let him enter.

You come with armed men

at your back...

...into my throne room,

my Lord of Essex?

- Do I need them, Your Majesty?

- You do not.

That we shall see.

- They told me you wouldn't see me.

- They were wrong.

I will see you.

State your grievance if you have any.

Myself, I have a great affection

for rebels...

...being frequently one myself.

Your Majesty thinks me a rebel?

Why, no.

I'm but come from Ireland bringing

you news of your loyal subjects there.

But you have your army

here with you.

I but bring my men home to London.

Didn't you receive my orders

directing you to disband?

Is Your Majesty aware that an army

turned loose becomes a mob?

Your revenues were suspended.

- Who is paying them?

- I am.

They're in your service now?

In my service.

Well, an honest answer at any rate.

Why should I lie?

And Ireland. What of Ireland?

I left it worse than I found it,

for which Tyrone sends you his thanks.

- Lf you'd supported my plans...

- Plans? What plans?

Am I a mind reader to know

what goes on across the sea?

- Why do you think I ordered you home?

- I wrote.

Yes, masterly letters.

Brief, to the point, wasting no words.

In short, nothing.

That's not true.

I wrote many times,

giving you details...

...asking your aid and trust,

and in reply, I got nothing.

No men, no arms, no food. Nothing.

If you gave me support, I'd have beaten

Tyrone and forced peace in a month.

You wrote me letters?

Not once but many times.

- And received no letters from me?

- None.

Before heaven...

...if our letters

have been tampered with...

...there will be heads

lopped off aplenty here.

I wish to speak

to my Lord of Essex alone.

- Your Majesty, do you think it's safe?

- Leave us, all of you!

Wait outside.

Post guards in all the corridors.

See that no one enters or leaves.

Yes, milord.

Follow me.

Robert, what did you write to me?

At first, I wrote my love.

Then when I didn't hear

from you, I wrote angrily...

...but always I ended

by telling you the same.

That I love you.

- And you?

- I, too, wrote my love.

And God keep you safe.

Then when I received no answer...

...I wrote you heaven

knows what madness...

...because I thought you faithless.

- I should have known.

Forgive me.

You never should have gone.

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