Young Bess Page #5

---

"No one is more eager than I

to do what is best for the country

Does the letter disturb you? Strange

she never told you of her plans.

- Your sister is pretty tonight.

- Is she?

- And very foolish.

- Yes!

- You're not in favor of this?

- No.

- Your sister appears to be.

- Yes, but all girls are silly.

And if she doesn't take the Dane,

she'll have to take a German.

Uncle Ned loves the Germans.

I wish he'd die.

What?

- What was that?

- I wish he'd die ... D-Y-E.

- It's the wrong spelling.

- What are you talking about?

Spelling. Nobody knows for certain

how to spell the King's English.

- As long as it's the right word.

- It was exactly the right word.

Edward. Would you ask the orchestra

to play the Danske Dans?

What does she want?

Danske Dans!

Princess.

- Thank you, Barnaby.

- Your Highness.

Do the Danes really put meat under

their saddles until it's tender?

That's the Hungarians.

Uncle Tom, you promised.

- In here, Your Highness.

- What is it?

The Admiral asks you to wait for him

here. He wishes to speak with you.

- What about, I wonder?

- He didn't say, but ...

But what?

What were you going to say?

I heard him tell the Lord Protector

that he wishes to speak with you .

... about this Danish marriage.

Really?

Poor Tom. Spending the night talking

to Ned Seymour instead of dancing.

I danced with almost everyone.

I haven't stopped for hours.

- Even though my shoe pinched me.

- Let me do that.

It's been a glorious night,

hasn't it? Something to talk about

- On a long, Danish winter night.

- Don't leave us for Denmark.

That's not for you.

You're so exquisite.

I've said too much. I must go.

The Admiral will soon be here.

Don't go, Barnaby.

You don't want to leave me.

Never again, as long as I live.

Do you want to kiss me?

He saw us. The Danish gentleman.

I want no one to suffer.

I didn't see his face.

Let us assume

that our project was a mistake.

- We thank you for your forbearance

- Good night.

- Where's that girl?

- Tom took her home. He's in a rage

Look! That lighted window

in Lambeth Palace.

The bishop is working night

and day on that new religion.

Isn't that exciting? A new religion

Perhaps a new way of life.

- A new England.

- Who was the man?

- What man?

- The man you kissed.

- There was no man.

- Boy, then. Yes, of course.

Barnaby Fitzpatrick!

Was it Barnaby?

- Answer me.

- Yes.

Don't tell me you love him.

You must be proud of your night's

work. Outrageous performance.

- Then let's forget it.

- You have sent him to the block!

Not him. Too young and unimportant

Had it been someone like you ...

That would have pleased you.

Doing like your mother.

Is that what you want, to drive

everyone mad who loves you? Is it?

Tom, what are you saying?

It couldn't be ...

- No, that would be beyond belief.

- What would?

That you're jealous. Tom Seymour,

the great Lord Admiral, jealous.

Stop it. Stop that, I said.

- But it's so funny ...

- I said stop it!

Stop it!

Bess!

- Forgive me. I was beside myself.

- You couldn't help it.

You either had to kiss me or ...

And I think it was better

that you slapped me.

- Is that what you wanted?

- I love you, Tom. I always have.

It should never have happened,

but I can't stop loving you.

I couldn't bear it anymore. I want

to hurt you. I was desperate.

I love you, Tom.

Bess.

- Yes, Catherine?

- Come here, child.

How lovely you look, this morning.

Come and sit with me.

- I'm disturbing you.

- I've finished.

Tom has gone to London for two

or three days. We're alone together

That will give us time

to talk things over.

We've had a wonderful life together

you and I and Tom.

Last night when Tom came home,

I knew something had happened.

We talked all through the night.

Your name was never mentioned.

And yet I knew.

You see, I love Tom and

he loves me very dearly.

I can't afford to lose him. I'm not

like you ... strong and independent

You have your whole life before you

One day you may be Queen of England

But I need Tom.

He cannot mean all that to you.

He means my whole life to me.

Come here. Sit close to me.

Bess, you're so young. This may be

no more than a passing infatuation

If it is not so ...

Then you will have to go away.

Only you can know whether your love

for Tom is deep enough -

- to outweigh

all the unhappiness of separation.

I thank you for your kindness.

You make me feel so ungrateful.

Bess, Bess.

I'm sorry, madam. I'll have to go.

- Mr. Parry?

- Yes, he's back.

Mr. Parry, you saw

the Lady Catherine? How is she?

- No one may see her.

- Where is the Admiral's letter?

There is no letter.

No letter?

- Milord was distraught.

- I know. That's why I sent you.

She is ...

She's in no danger, is she?

- Mr. Parry!

- The Lady Catherine is dying.

Remember once, many months ago, you

carried me in your arms like this?

- I remember.

- You'd been away with Bess.

And I thought I'd lost you to her.

But when you came home,

you were very sweet to me.

Your bed is ready now.

Thank you, Lady Tyrwhitt.

Tom.

You don't want me to die because

you want to marry Elizabeth, do you?

Do you?

- Would you mind leaving us?

- Tom ...

- Tell me.

- Merciful heavens, Cathy!

Have I ever wanted to hurt you?

Have I ever wanted to leave you?

Haven't we been happy together?

Forgive me, Tom.

I must be mad to say such things.

Where's Bess?

Tell her to come closer to the bed

Bess is not here.

But you were talking to her.

That was Lady Tyrwhitt.

Bess is in Hatfield.

Remember?

Hatfield? Oh, yes, now I remember.

She said she had to go

because she loved you.

Tom.

Yes, Cathy.

You're not the first man

to be in love with two women.

We celebrate His Majesty's birthday

in the spirit of brotherly love, -

- which he so nobly embodies as a

shining example to us, his servant

Long live the King!

The Earl and Countess of Courtnay.

Happy birthday, Your Majesty.

Sir Anthony and Lady Denny.

My humble duty, Sire.

Lord and Lady Mostang.

Loyal greetings, Your Majesty.

Lord and Lady Clinton.

- Look who's here. Elizabeth!

- Yes. How pale she looks.

Grief! She hasn't seen Tom for

almost a year since Catherine died

- Letters?

- Just one before he sailed.

Her Highness, Princess Elizabeth.

May God grant that you rule Englan

for years in peace and wisdom.

We thank you, dear sister, for you

loyalty and loving kindness.

I'm playing shuttlecock

with Mary Throckmorton now.

- You've changed. Are you sick?

- I must see you. Please!

What can I tell you? His ships have

been sighted. He'll be home soon.

- He's well. He isn't wounded.

- That's all I wanted to hear.

- Thank you, Edward.

- I think you like my Uncle Tom.

- I hope they won't arrest him.

- But he won another victory.

Yes, and he wasn't meant to.

Besides, he's coming back to you.

- Edward, what are you saying?

- That's what he said in his letter

- What letter?

- The one he sent by courier.

- I never got it.

- Of course not. Uncle Ned got it.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote