Young Bess Page #3

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- He's not losing any time.

The coast is clear.

You can run along now.

- Was the King lonely all his life

- Yes.

I'd rather die

than be lonely all my life.

You'll not be lonely, Bess.

And remember, no fear any longer.

- Don't forget to come and see me.

- We have an appointment.

The Lady Elizabeth.

Your pardon, madam.

Bess, is that you?

Edward.

Where have you been?

I've been sitting here all alone.

I was left all by myself

in the dark. I was afraid.

Why?

My father is dead.

Yes, Edward.

And now they want me to be king.

And I'm frightened. Can't we run

away and hide somewhere?

- We can't. You have a duty.

- But I'm afraid.

You're our father's son.

Be proud and strong as he was.

Here he is. I found him. The King

is dead. Long live the King.

Long live the King.

Long live the King.

- Long live King Edward VI.

- We pledge allegiance.

- Long live the King.

- Long may you reign.

Make way for the Lord Protector!

I can announce that the Council

has appointed me Lord Protector.

My wife, Lady Ann, and I were

entrusted with the great honor -

- of becoming

Your Majesty's guardians.

That's not what my father said.

Bess, you heard what my father said

- Uncle Tom was to take care of me

- The King, my brother, is right.

The Council, after careful

deliberation, has ruled otherwise.

You were coming from the east wing

so you came from the Admiral's room

- It's the simplest logic.

- No! Your syllogism ...

- Don't speak so I can't understand

- It's difficult to avoid.

- Ned, don't let her insult me.

- You have insufficient evidence.

- It's her character!

- Do you know my character?

I knew your mother. Like mother like

daughter. And we know what she was

- Ann ...

- Stand aside. I can handle this.

- Madam, I'm warning you.

- Who are you to warn me?

- My mother's daughter.

- And following in her footsteps.

Spending the night with any

handsome man. That was Anne Boleyn

Excellent. Maturity is the secret

in wine as in women.

- I thought you liked them young.

- No. Young wine goes to the head.

- What are you two talking about?

- Bess. She'll end like her mother

No, Ann. Youth will have its fling

A fling is the word. That's quite

signature. Something regal about it

A little too regal.

That's why we sent her to Hatfield

- Sorry to separate you from her.

- Would I find love in the nursery

Yes, when the nursery holds a

possible future queen of England!

Ann's warning you against letting

ambition lead you into danger.

- But I love danger.

- You also love your life.

Don't amuse yourself with royalty.

It will be taken as a bid for power

You intercepted Lady Elizabeth

and sent the Queen there, too.

- The Council will be disturbed.

- The Council is you!

You're Lord Protector

against the King's wish.

He didn't want you to have all the

power. Neither does the country.

- Neither do I.

- What's your aim? My office?

No, not yet.

Not now.

- What makes you hesitate?

- I don't know, Ned.

Perhaps the memory of Mother, who

feared we'd end like Cain and Abel

- Or the desire to be happy.

- With whom? Elizabeth?

- That's my private business.

- Is it?

- Is it your private business?

- Yes!

In 47 B.C., Caesar went east

where he came, saw, and conquered.

Mr. Mums, aren't you

leaving out an important date?

The year when he fell

in love with Cleopatra.

That's always interested me.

I've often wondered ...

What was the fascination she held

for one so much older than herself

Was it her youth or intelligence?

It's important to know, Mr. Mums.

- We're to discuss his conquests.

- Yes! His conquest of her.

Of course she fell in love, but how

was a girl her age able to hold him?

- I couldn't tell you.

- I know.

She showed him

that she shared his interests.

They talked about strategy

and about ships!

Ships again!

Ever since we came here, it's been

nothing but ships and admirals.

Why not? What is

more interesting than the fleet?

We are a seafaring people with the

best admirals in the world.

- To name only one ...

- Tom Seymour.

A man of great ability and daring,

but where are the ships he needs?

- This is a lesson in history.

- But ships made our history.

How many ships have we today

for the defense of England? 25!

Shall the Spanish

plunder the world -

- while Tom Seymour

sits idly for lack of ships?

Drink this. You'll feel better. An

you've had enough lessons for today

- You'll make a corpse of Mr. Mums

- Thank you, Mrs. Ashley.

I shall be grateful for a rest. It's

hard to match her energy at my age

Poor Mums. He'll never understand

my interest in all these things.

If he has a brain, he'll understand

And he may tell the Court that

you want to be an admiral's wife.

- Am I wrong?

- No.

No, you are not wrong.

I love him.

I love him dearly.

I shall love him until I die.

Bess, my darling!

He's a fine man! My father picked

him out for a magnificent future.

Had he lived, he might have picked

him out for me. Because we match!

- But you're so young.

- I can still share his thoughts.

One day he might sail my ships

with my flag.

- With my love.

- In his eyes, you're only a child

His eyes say different things to me

And so do his letters.

He writes me every week. He'll

come to see me as soon as he can.

- There's something you should know

- What?

- He's in love with another woman.

- That's not true.

I should have warned you long ago.

But the secret is not my secret.

What secret? Speak up.

What have you heard?

You're an old eavesdropper,

listening at key holes.

There is no secret. If there was

another woman, you could name her.

- There is no other woman.

- My poor child.

Go, Ashley. Go!

Catherine.

Bess, darling. I'm sorry

you had to find out this way.

They were secretly engaged

when the King decided to marry her

The Protector would rather kill him

than let him marry a royal.

That's why

they have to meet at night.

Sweetheart.

It's all right, Ashley.

Go back to bed.

Barnaby, did I see someone

with the King?

Yes, Your Grace. Princess Elizabeth

The Princess Elizabeth, here at

Whitehall? Where are they?

- On the lawn. Playing shuttlecock

- How long have they been together

Edward!

Edward!

Edward!

Bess.

Edward.

- Edward.

- Silence. Horse-leech.

Wood louse.

Beetle-face. Herring guts.

What is it you want to tell me?

- If I'm caught they'll beat Barney

- But he is Tom's page.

- He gave him to me for Christmas.

- Do they whip him for what you do?

It's a great honor

to be the King's whipping boy.

- Well? You asked for an audience.

- With the King. Not a baby.

But they treat me like a prisoner.

They don't even give me enough

pocket money to bribe my servants.

They don't allow me to see him,

but he puts coins under the carpet

He's a wonderful man.

Don't you think so, Bess?

- Don't you like my Uncle Tom?

- What difference does it make?

If you want to see him or Catherine

you should be allowed to see them.

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