The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Page #8

I hated you...

...planned to put you to the torture.

- I've been tortured enough.

When I didn't hear from you...

I...

I can't think yet.

Can't breathe.

Put your arms around me.

Can we ever believe again?

Can it ever be as it used to be?

- Do you love me still?

- I'll love you always.

Yes.

Yes, if this were false,

then I would know it now...

...and truly I should die.

You see...

...I thought...

...because I was older...

...there might be someone else.

- No one. Ever.

- You were not changed?

- No.

- No?

- No.

Yes, a little.

I think they've changed us a little.

Not I, sweet.

In spite of all those horrible months.

And though I've come back

to you in defiance...

...I really came back to find you,

who had been lost to me.

And found again.

Sweet, these few years

we have left...

...let's never distrust each other again.

- Never.

Take me, my life, my world...

...my present and future

in your dear hands.

You shall stand behind my throne...

...and together we shall

build up an England...

...that will make

the old world wonder.

What's the matter, my darling?

I must be honest with you.

I brought my army here partly

from anger, mostly from love.

What really made me do it was

something else, something within myself.

Something I can't explain.

If you had shown anger, I could have

spoken easily. It's not easy now.

Perhaps you have no need to tell me.

Loving you so well,

I know you better than yourself.

This thing. Isn't it ambition...

...a thirst for power?

- Yes, that's stronger than myself.

And deeper than love?

It's true.

The throne's yours by descent

and possession...

...but if this had been a freer time,

if people could elect...

...I'd have swept the country.

Since we're equal in love,

why can't we be equal in power as well?

- But we are equal. I have made you so.

- No.

It's still all yours to grant me

or take away as you see fit.

- Can it be otherwise?

- I ask you this in all devotion.

Am I not as worthy to be king as you

to be queen? Must you rule alone?

Darling.

You're so young in policy.

If I granted you this, do you know

what people would say?

That you had forced it

on me by revolution...

...and all the security and safety...

...which I have built for them through

years of planning would be blown away.

Is that your reason, or is it that you

wouldn't trust me as king?

No, I would not trust you. No.

You're jealous of your rights,

your throne.

Yes.

So the court's in my hands,

the country mine, you my prisoner...

...I must disband my army,

give your kingdom back to you?

I, your prisoner?

Of course. The throne's mine

for the taking.

So this is your loyalty?

This is your love?

Well, at least I know now

what it was you wanted.

You shall have it.

- Your throne?

- Yes, and make the best of it.

So shall I.

What are your plans?

- I have none.

- The tower? The block?

Having been a queen, I realize how

useful they are to consolidate power.

You could hardly take a queen prisoner

and have no thought of her destiny.

My mother walked that path.

I can walk it too.

- You know, you're as free as air.

- I am your prisoner.

My dear prisoner still.

Let's finish with pretending.

- You neither love me nor want me.

- I do love you, and I want you.

Yes, and I want power too.

- But not without you.

- No...

...if you wanted me, would you

strike at me with an army?

No. You'd have come to me quietly...

...and talked to me as lovers should

at the proper time.

But now, no.

What you really wanted, you've taken.

This is your throne now...

...but I am not yours.

So put me where I'll do

the least harm.

That you know I'll never do.

Promise me you'll share

your throne with me...

...and I'll disband my army,

and you shall be free.

I promised.

You shall share my realm with me.

As I am queen, I promise it.

Here's the answer then, my queen.

Mountjoy.

Dismiss the troops.

Return the palace to the queen, release

the guard, send them to their posts.

- Essex, are you certain?

- All is well, Knollys.

Darling...

...forgive me now...

...and let this be our last quarrel.

- Yes, our last.

Here's heaven risen out

of suffering and pain.

My sweet.

No more talk of kingdoms and thrones.

Let's talk of you and me.

Yes. Yes, let us forget the other.

But have you kept your word?

My word?

I mean, if I were to clap

my hands now...

...whose guard would come,

mine or yours?

- Yours only, sweet. Shall I call?

- No. Wait.

I will.

- See?

- Your Majesty.

Captain Armand...

...is the palace again in our hands?

Yes, Your Majesty.

And my Lord of Essex's men?

They have gone, Your Majesty.

It has taken me many years

of ruling England, my Essex...

...to discover that a ruler

must be without friendship...

...without mercy, and without love.

Arrest my Lord of Essex.

- Arrest?

- Arrest him. Take him to the tower.

Is this a jest?

I never jest when I play for kingdoms,

my Lord of Essex.

And I trusted you.

And I trusted you.

And learned from you

that no one can be trusted...

...a lover least of all.

I will remember that.

Take care, Your Majesty.

Lest that be all

you ever have to remember.

I will take care.

- Is Her Majesty in the tower?

- Yes, milord.

She took residence in her apartment

above two nights ago.

- No...? No word for me?

- No, milord.

It's almost dawn, Your Majesty.

You've had no sleep.

I beg you, retire to your chamber

for a little rest.

I beg Your Majesty's pardon.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It was I who intercepted your letters.

They couldn't have done it without my

help. Essex, thinking himself forgotten...

...turned against you,

but it wasn't his fault.

He didn't know. It was mine.

You tell me this

because you want to save him?

Yes, yes, I do. But also, it's true.

You must believe me.

Send for him.

If it is true...

...do you realize you've spoken

your own death warrant?

Yes, I know, but it doesn't matter.

Nothing, nothing matters but him.

Penelope, come closer.

- You love him greatly, don't you?

- Oh, yes, Your Majesty.

I, too, but he has never loved me.

But he does love you.

I was jealous of you. That's why...

Jealous?

You poor child.

Because he loved you

and me not at all.

He told me so.

What did he say?

He said, "I love her more than life."

And then I warned him against you,

but he laughed and went in to you.

Perhaps I should have

trusted him more...

...but it's too late now.

No one dies happily, queen or no.

Will he send me the ring,

do you think?

There is still time.

No, not now.

This is the end.

On, no, no. You must send for him.

He's as proud as you are.

He'll say nothing.

You must send for him.

Bring him here.

No.

I shall live and he shall die.

Oh, I shall walk about

and give orders...

...for a horrible while.

But even though my heart

goes into his grave along with him...

...I will never send for him.

He must ask to come to me.

He will ask. He will.

I told you.

He has sent someone to plead.

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