The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Page #9

Enter.

- By your leave, Your Grace.

- Well?

All London's outside the tower

protesting the execution.

Haven't I ears?

Can't I hear them? What of it?

The captain of the guard begs permission

to use force to scatter them.

So that's what you came

to see me about?

I thought you brought word.

Milord of Essex would hardly condescend

to plead through me, Your Majesty.

And for an excellent reason.

He could never be sure of the form

in which you'd deliver it.

This is your day, Cecil.

The snake in the grass endures.

Yes, the snake's mind is best.

To the end of time, it will be so.

The snakes and the rats,

they shall flourish...

...and those who are noble

and free of soul go down.

But, madam, if you'll pardon me,

the crowd is dangerous.

- Lf I may order the guard.

- You may not.

But I will give you a task

less to your liking.

Go to my Lord of Essex in his cell

and send him here.

Well, are you struck dumb?

But, Your Grace, Lord Essex

is preparing for execution.

- Even now, a priest...

- Go, I tell you.

Oh, Your Majesty.

Penelope...

...Iook on my face.

What you see here, he will also see.

Oh, but, Your Majesty...

...you're tired and worn,

and your beauty...

Has gone...

...and left a bitter, aging mask.

I need no mirror to tell me now.

And you are young and lovely still.

And he, too, is young and beautiful.

And if he looks at you...

...and then at me...

Penelope...

...do you mind?

You must not be here when he comes.

You sent for me.

Yes.

You spoil me for death.

Wouldn't it have been kinder

to have left me with my thoughts?

Are you so set on dying?

I can't say I care for it...

...but if it's to come, why then,

it's best I go forward quickly.

You must have known

I never meant you to die.

I've been found guilty of treason.

- Treason is punishable with death.

- Robert.

Be kind to me just this once.

I am proud too,

and bitter with much cause...

...but I did speak first.

I sent for you.

Are you going to degrade me further...

...make me tell you how

I have longed for you?

You can tell me that because

you've nothing to gain or lose by it.

But if I were to tell you

that I love you...

...you might suppose I'd do it

to save my life.

You love me still?

No, you have never loved me.

I loved you.

And that was your nearest

way to power.

This is the hour for truth,

so let me speak.

I am older than you, but a queen...

...so perhaps it was natural that you

should flatter me and I believe you.

Why, yes, yes.

That's true, if you wish.

And now, may I go?

This dying sticks in my mind

and makes me poor company.

But remember this, I did love you.

- And still do?

- Yes.

Then why didn't

you send me the ring?

I'd have forgiven you everything

at any hour of the day or night.

I waited, thinking of course

it would come.

And the nights went by somehow

like the days, and it never came.

And here it is, the last morning...

...the last quarter-hour.

- Even if I believed you...

...I couldn't have sent it.

- Why not?

Because if I'd tried to hold you

to your promise and you'd broken it...

...I'd have died more unhappy than I am.

- But I'd have kept my promise.

I'd keep it now.

If I were to offer you this ring now,

you'd pardon me, love me as before?

Oh, yes. Everything as before.

And what would happen

to your throne?

My throne?

- Why, nothing.

- Now there you're wrong...

...for I'd try to take it from you.

I played for power once...

...and I lost, but if...

Listen.

Do you hear that, Elizabeth?

The people are all with me.

And if I had another chance, I'd win.

Why do you tell me this?

- Don't you know it means...?

- My death?

Yes, I know.

I only tell you because

I've loved you, love you still.

I can never accept pardon from you...

...without you knowing

the truth and facing it.

So...

...it's best I leave.

Robert, you can't.

You can't go like this.

I won't let you.

I love you.

Then are you ready

to give up your throne?

No, no, no. I cannot.

And you talk of love.

A love that clings to a tinsel throne.

Robert, wait. Listen.

I do love you. I'll always love you...

...till life is drained from me...

...no matter how long and lonely

the after years may be.

But there is another love,

greater even than that I have for you.

What's this greater love

that lets the lesser go to its death?

England.

That is my greatest

and most enduring love.

And when I think what you would do

to my country if you were king...

...I will see you dead, yes, and your soul

condemned to eternity forever...

...before I'd let you do it.

- You think I don't love England?

- You do.

But your love does not match

your lust for power.

For the greater glory of Essex,

you would make war upon the world...

...drag your country down and

drown her in a sea of debts and blood.

I had hoped, in prison...

...you would lose conceit

of yourself a little...

...for prison's very quiet.

Be content to reign with me...

...so we could leave behind us a legacy

to our people of peace and happiness.

But no.

You stayed crazed with ambition...

...and faithless to England

as well as to me to the end.

Perhaps you're right...

...and I'd have made a sorry king.

So then, it's better this way.

But this I'd have you know.

If things had been different,

you simply a woman, not a queen...

...and I a man,

with no crown between us...

...we could've searched heaven

and earth for two perfect lovers...

...and ended the search

with ourselves.

Of all the things on this earth

that I'm now to leave...

...I care about leaving none

of them but you.

Robert.

Stay with me. Share with me.

Give me the ring.

- Give me the ring.

- No.

For if I did, I'd be your death

or you'd be mine...

...and you and England must live.

Isn't that true?

- Yes.

- So then, goodbye, my love.

No.

I'm old.

I'm old.

With you, I could've

been young again.

Why can't you love me enough to

give me your love and keep me as I was?

I don't know. I only know I cannot.

Robert...

...take my throne!

Take England! It's yours!

You may loosen my hands.

I'm ready.

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