The White Princess (2017) s01e08 Episode Script
Old Curses
1 LIZZIE: Previously on The White Princess [all shouting.]
The enemy of England, the York pretender! I want to find his wife and child.
What if I don't wish to be your guest? Then you may leave your son and freely return to Scotland.
He will be tended to by midwives.
No.
We will change our plan.
- I will give up my claim.
- No.
You can't deny your birthright.
And if you did, the Scots and all of Europe would abandon you.
The only thing that keeps you safe is if you hold fast and they back us.
Duchess of Burgundy bids you come to Cheapside.
They will never let your brother out.
Your only hope of freeing him is putting Richard on the throne.
MAGGIE: If you even think there is a chance that that boy is your brother Richard, then you cannot hurt him, Lizzie.
No.
They're poisoned.
He puts poison in my clothes to make me sick! - [grunting.]
- Stop it! Stop it, please.
Quickly.
There is a fire.
You must disappear forever.
You would not go against your husband for a boat builder's son but you would to save your brother.
I am the son of King Edward, the IV and I will have the throne of England! [theme music playing.]
[gasping.]
[inaudible.]
[breathing heavily.]
[man yelling distantly.]
[distant clanging.]
[indistinct chattering.]
[knocking on door.]
[door opens.]
[indistinct chattering continue.]
Where is Richard? The Tower.
We slipped out whilst everyone was sleeping.
They're all exhausted from the fire.
Even the guards.
Henry beat him so badly.
You must write to King James.
Tell him we need Scotland, we need his armies now.
Duchess, you have spies, set them to find out where my son is.
Edward must be with me.
- I will have them search.
- Go and write your letter.
Her child is already dead.
Do you think it will help to tell her that? I want her writing to Scotland, not weeping for her infant.
Henry will kill Prince Richard before our messenger is out of London No, he won't I say we gather behind Warwick, even if he is simple minded Lizzie will not let Henry kill him.
She knows he is her brother.
Summon your men, my lords.
The duchess is right.
The time to strike is now.
All this time, I thought you were the petite Fleur tremblante.
But now look at you.
A blazing white rose.
Be my eyes and ears? Cathy will stay here with you.
She has no reason to return to Court.
They will simply think she's run.
[indistinct chattering.]
Wait here.
LADY MARGARET: I told you, I told you over and over that you must decide and you did not.
The fire is an attempt on your life, and the lives of the princes! And the Spanish say that you must kill him.
He must hang.
Yes, Mother.
He must.
The Spanish? Their ambassador, De Puebla is here.
They will not grant the marriage between Princess Catherine and Prince Arthur until the boy is dead.
And the Earl of Warwick too.
LADY MARGARET: De Puebla said Queen Isabella already told you this.
Yes.
Do you want your son married? You can deal with Warwick later but must get rid of the pretender now.
You have a charge.
He set the fire.
He did not set the fire.
I did.
What? Why? Leave us.
Leave us.
By all the saints, I wonder how you walk in a straight line, your wits are so dismally few.
Lady Mother.
[door closes.]
I hoped he would escape.
Escape.
Yes.
Why? Why would you want him to escape? Because [sobs.]
Because Henry, you must not kill him.
My mother called down a curse on the murderers of the princes.
I knelt next to her, Henry, I said the words with her, that the murderers of the princes would never see their own sons grow to men, that their whole male line would be blighted, all of their sons, all of them, dead, in revenge for the princes.
You mustn't kill him.
You mustn't.
And you are saying that this curse would fall on me because he is your brother.
He is Prince Richard.
Our sons, Henry.
Our boys.
Our precious, beautiful boys.
KING HENRY TUDOR: He is your brother.
After all this time, and now you tell me that it's true.
You cannot kill him.
You must find another way.
We, we must find another way.
- There is no other way.
- There is.
There has to be, if we just think.
[sobbing.]
- Henry - [door opens.]
Henry.
[boy speaking indistinctly.]
PRINCE HARRY: Arthur, stop it.
Give me the arrow.
[boys giggling.]
I want the princes busy at their favorite pursuits today.
They can do what they want but they must be kept occupied.
Your Grace.
I looked for you, earlier.
Before it was light.
I could not find you.
I was here.
I was walking in the courtyard.
The smell of burning made me feel ill.
Where is Cathy Gordon? I do not know, Your Grace.
I have not seen her.
Oh, well done, Prince Arthur! [indistinct chattering.]
- Senor De Puebla.
- Your Grace.
I carry a private message from Queen Isabella to you.
From one mother to another.
She thought you understood each other and now she wonders if you insult her and her daughter? There is no insult.
I have the matter in hand.
DE PUEBLA: Come.
[door opens.]
Move him to be with the Earl of Warwick.
Now.
[bells tolling.]
Your Grace? Scotland is readying armies to come against us.
Who brought you this news? BISHOP MORTON: The New Clerk.
Burgundy and Ireland wait for the tides and the weather to be in their favor.
Well, my aunt has been busy, has she not? I require your assistance.
- Oh, Your Grace, you must allow me - No, my Lord Cardinal.
You are busy and my lady, the king's mother, may need you.
[men shouting indistinctly.]
Him.
NEW CLERK: Name? Noah Luff.
NEW CLERK: Crime? NOAH: Defilin' a church.
Tutor him.
He must be word perfect.
Your Grace.
The boy has been moved to the same cell as the Earl of Warwick.
LADY MARGARET: By whose order? The king's.
I will deal with it.
- MAN 1: If it's the king's wish.
- MAN 2: What is he thinking? The king should be sending for his lords, he should be Marshalling his forces but instead he sends for his mother? Who rules us, him or you? Thank you for coming.
You do not need to thank me, I come as soon as I am bid.
Henry.
Henry, you have moved the imposter to be with the idiot You have eyes everywhere.
It will look to your lords, to everybody, as if you believe him.
There's a symmetry to it, don't you think? Then as now, two York boys with a claim in the one room.
The boy is who he says he is.
Then King Richard was careless.
And now you must finish it and get rid of him.
It is what is necessary.
Mother, I am of your flesh.
You made me.
I have been advised by so many who do not know what it is to be standing where I am standing, to make decisions, to do what is necessary and I would be counseled by you because I believe that you do know.
I know? Mother.
I believe it was you who killed the boys in the Tower.
- No.
- Your past actions would resolve me, help me to do what must be done.
Was it you? Sometimes, Henry, politics takes place under the cloak of night.
[whispers.]
You did it.
There are things that are necessary, for the greater good, things that must be done.
And now you are resolved.
We will be together on this, Henry.
Let your mother guide you.
There's a curse.
What curse? Lizzie told me that her mother placed a curse on the killer of her sons.
A blight on their male line.
No heirs.
They will sicken and die.
A story to scare peasants, but not a king.
Elizabeth Woodville had the craft, everyone said so.
The only craft she ever had was making herself pleasing to men.
[gasping.]
- You've cursed my sons.
- [gasping.]
- You've damned them! You! - [screams.]
Their grandmother! You've put the mark of death on them - [gasping.]
- You are a butcher of innocence! You are a killer of children! - Argh! - And now you have killed mine.
[gagging.]
[groaning.]
You're a monster.
You should have left me in France.
[Lady Margret wailing.]
I wish to Christ I was still there now, - and away from your poison.
- [screams.]
[groans.]
She does not come near me.
She does not speak to me.
She does not speak for me.
Nobody listens to her.
If you defy my orders, I'll have your heads myself.
[Lady Margret sobbing.]
[door bangs shut.]
[sobbing.]
[bells tolling.]
[door opens.]
[chuckling.]
Oh, I've missed you, [laughing.]
TEDDY: Oh, I can't breathe I have missed you.
I have brought you warm shirts and, um, fresh Fresh bread and meat and apples.
[thudding.]
[softly.]
The duchess of Burgundy is close by.
Cathy is safe with her.
[chuckles.]
Armies gather for you.
This tower will be torn open and they will carry you on their shoulders to Westminster.
I will walk.
[laughs.]
And what will you have, Teddy? When we are freed? A dog.
A friendly dog.
You may have as many as you wish.
- A hundred dogs, all of them friendly.
- [all laugh.]
What is it? What's happened? King Richard was innocent.
It wasn't him who killed the boys.
It was my mother.
What? How does it work? The curse.
Is it both boys? I don't know.
But it's one of them.
Without a doubt, one of our sons will die, but which one? I don't know, Henry.
She killed the rightful king and put me on the throne.
It's all been lies.
Our boys.
Our beautiful boys are damned.
Come.
I want to show you something.
[Noah grunting.]
Who is this? His name is Noah Luff.
He is sentenced to be publicly whipped and hanged.
He has struck a deal for a simple hanging only, with a good noose so that it is quick.
And coins for his wife.
In return for what? I, Perkin Warbeck, the humble son of a boatman from Tournai, confess to a plot to kill the king and the royal family.
I did falsely impersonate the dead King Richard, - Duke of York, and I - Stop, stop now.
LIZZIE: Henry, listen to me, all that people talk about is that there is a prince in the Tower and that they are ready to fight for him.
So we show them this man.
This man hangs at Tyburn, he confesses in public and what do people see? Not a prince but a criminal, a fraud, an imposter telling his crimes freely and so the rebellion is broken, there is no war because there is no-one to put on the throne instead of you.
That man there is "the other way" we had to find.
And then what? The boy stays in the Tower.
A nameless prisoner.
He does not die, he lives out his life there.
I will not sanction this.
Take him away.
The York lords will bring war if they believe he lives.
They are bringing it now.
I have loved you, Lizzie.
How I have loved you.
I didn't know that I could love.
You have been the grace of my life.
But I never deserved you.
And whatever happens, you must be safe.
Go to the Tower.
Speak to him.
[seagulls calling.]
[sighs.]
[footsteps approaching.]
Argh! Taken a tumble? That wasn't there last night.
Well, it's there now.
[grunts.]
Call my ladies.
I want to dress.
There's no one outside.
Of course there is! Where are they? Once you've seen my lady, the king's mother, half-throttled by her beloved son, you're a lot less willing to jump to the stick.
Find my ladies.
Demand they attend me.
I am still who I am! For now.
All that power you had, Margaret.
All that hard fought for power.
Can you feel it all slipping through your fingers? Because I can.
You have the look of our mother.
[door closes.]
And that doesn't please you? I loved her very much but I didn't always like her.
I hated her ambition.
What it did to us.
Nothing else mattered but power.
She was a queen.
And look where we are from her ambition.
I would like to ask her if it was all worth it.
Lizzie, two boys died in this Tower but these two men will not.
We will walk free.
We will be restored.
There will be justice.
A vicious wrong will be set right.
And what would happen to us? Your children are my nephews and my niece.
They will be honored.
And you are the king's sister.
You will be a great lady.
And my husband? He's a soldier, isn't he? He has his honor.
He will fight to the death.
And that would be the end of it.
We would be widowed and fatherless but stay at court, no other factions rising for children with a Tudor claim.
- There would be peace.
- [chuckles.]
It is God's will, Lizzie.
TEDDY: The bird took the bread! [laughs.]
He took it.
Oh, dear God.
You are so like my father when you laugh.
LADY MARGARET: Henry? Henry, please.
- [banging door.]
- Henry? Henry, please open the door.
[softly.]
Henry.
MAGGIE: Henry sees no one.
Sits in darkness.
His mind turns against itself.
His lords plan for war without him.
And Lizzie, what does she do? Doesn't she have you followed? Of course, but her ladies believe in Richard too, so they look the other way.
CATHY: From King James.
How does your son? Well, thank you.
The duchess' spies hear nothing about mine.
I'm sorry.
When I am Queen, Margaret Beaufort will be shown no mercy.
None at all.
She's young.
She will have more children.
[snickers.]
Scotland has been generous.
Two thousand men are waiting on the tides to bring my armies and the Irish here to join them.
- Yes! - [men laugh and rejoice.]
DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY: We will cut Henry's men down and all these years of Tudor filth will seem nothing at all.
I should go before I'm missed.
Your husband will be among those loyal to Henry.
He's loyal to me, Duchess.
Of course.
You'd let a Tudor loyalist live? [Lady Margret panting.]
You have to go to Henry.
You must tell him there is no curse.
But there is.
A widow and a virgin hurling oaths against their enemies because words are all they have.
That is not a curse.
Tell me, my lady the king's mother, how do you stand there in the sight of God with that sin, that stain of child murder on your soul? We are going to lose everything.
That little boy you removed from Cathy Gordon, that baby you sent away for nursing, has he been nursed into his grave? How do you sleep? How are you not bowed down with shame? How do you not howl with the grief of what you have done? Was this always your plan? Get close to the crown, un-man the king with some sour whore's trick so your family can steal it back for themselves? When have I ever had a plan? Even now, at my husband's orders I must broker the safety of what sons I have left after the chaos you have unleashed.
Elizabeth.
If you are not shocked by what you will do for your children, if you are not appalled by how far you will go for those they drag out of you while you screamed, then you are not a woman worthy of the name.
[door opens.]
Mother You're frightened.
No, of course not.
Are we in danger? Will we go to the Tower? My darling boy, no harm will come to you, not ever, not you, my darling boy.
[chuckles.]
Scorched brick and burning wood.
It smells of war.
If I close my eyes, it's as if I'm back at Bosworth and no time at all has passed.
Bosworth is a long time passed.
You never knew the truth of how your uncle Richard died, did you? He was beaten to death.
No, not to death.
Beaten, yes.
Beaten and beaten.
But he wouldn't die.
[sighs.]
One eye stamped from his head and the other still rolled and blinked.
He was still breathing, blood bubbling on his lips.
The men violated his body again and again and I did nothing.
I Didn't stop them.
I saw that he lived and I encouraged them to do what they wanted, like animals, tearing at him.
- Please stop - We rolled him into a pit and threw earth on him and he was still alive when it hit his face.
And I thought "Is this what happens to a king?" He rises in the morning and he is above all men, second only to God and by nightfall, he is an obscenity of flesh and splintered bone, choking on the mud that stuffs his mouth.
"Is this what happens to a king?" [sighs.]
And then I put the thought from me, because the crown was placed on my head.
I believed I had been given the right by God to rule, but I hadn't.
I was never given the right.
The peace we have had was hard won and now we are heading towards another war.
Did you go to the Tower? [sighs.]
He says He says we will be safe.
I trust him to honor his word.
And the Tudor lords? And do you trust them? They will fight tooth and nail till the whole country looks like this.
I'm trying to protect my sons The only way you can protect our sons is by telling the world you've killed the boy.
You are the king.
In name only.
I wasn't given the right.
The right is not given, Henry.
[sighs.]
It is taken.
It is taken by blood, by murder, where is God in that? The king's divinity is a tale men tell themselves but the right is taken.
It is taken by force, and held by force.
So take the right, Henry.
Take it.
MAN: [shouting.]
Bring him out! [all shouting indistinctly.]
How can they do this? How can she execute her brother? - I have to go - I forbid it.
They will have spies there.
If you go, you look like a sympathizer.
Perhaps I am! Are you carrying messages? You always said you had no interest in the court, that you wanted no part of it And I don't, but I want my brother back! [sighs.]
All my life I have been good.
I have been biddable.
I've been quiet.
I married who I was told to marry and I thank God every day for you, I do, but I will not be biddable anymore.
I want my brother back and I will have him because the York lords have what they've always wanted.
They have a king and Teddy is free to just be Teddy, not the Earl of Warwick with a claim to the throne.
He can just be my brother and we can be happy.
[chuckles.]
And our son? What of him if you are caught? Do you even think of him? You must promise me you will not go.
You will not carry letters.
You must promise me.
[all clamoring.]
My Lady.
Christ, how the mob stinks.
MAN: [screaming.]
Traitor! DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY: Your men are ready? They're ready.
I do not want a single hair on King Richard's head harmed.
I, Perkin Warbeck, the humble son of a boatman from Tournai, confess to a plot to kill the king and the royal family.
I did falsely impersonate the dead King Richard, Duke of York, and I confess my crimes freely.
It's not him.
Have your men fall back.
It's not him.
[people continue shouting.]
[applauding and cheering.]
[crowd cheering.]
[woman laughing.]
They believe it.
MAGGIE: You're certain it wasn't him? Find a way to get this to the Spanish Ambassador.
[indistinct chattering.]
Where have you been? I was settling my son, My Lady.
He couldn't sleep for all the stories of the hanging.
What game are you playing? [King Henry Tudor whispering indistinctly.]
[giggles.]
I should greet him.
Spain is being lied to, Senor De Puebla.
My aunt is in London? She was at Tyburn? They have had help.
The duchess and the York lords had help from inside the palace DE PUEBLA: Your Grace.
You tire of the dancing? You tell us the pretender is dead, but he isn't, is he? It's Of course, he is Allow me to put it in the most simple of terms.
You want Prince Arthur to marry our treasure, Princess Catalina? DE PUEBLA: Why should Spain yoke its pearl to this rotting beast that is England? You are supposed to be the peace.
Be the peace.
I give you this one night to consider what I have said.
We have enemies, Henry.
When they come, we will be outnumbered.
You, Arthur and Harry will die.
No.
He made promises, he said he would honor you and the boys.
Promises are always made.
And they are always broken.
Always.
We have to let him live.
Or we will sacrifice both our sons to the curse.
My mother once said that perhaps her craft was just luck, good timing that she called magic.
But what is certain is that, men with swords are coming and they will not stop.
My aunt will not stop until they have a York on the throne.
[screams.]
There must be no York left with a claim.
That is the only way to stop them.
[knocking on door.]
NEW CLERK: I bring news of Lady Gordon's child.
DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY: Don't open the door.
CATHY: No, no.
[soldiers shouting.]
WOMAN: What are you doing? Teddy is simple.
He's an innocent.
To them he is power.
And we must take that power from them.
I've missed you, Lizzie.
I have missed you too.
Why have you come to see me? Can I go home yet? BISHOP MORTON: We hoped you could help us with a question.
We wondered what you and Prince Richard talked about? The plot against King Henry? He said I could have a friendly dog.
As many dogs as I wanted.
A hundred! NEW CLERK: Teddy, can you write your name? I knew you could.
Show me.
Just there.
You are such a clever boy, Teddy.
BISHOP MORTON: The Earl of Warwick's confession to treason, Your Grace.
You may read here the details of his plot with the pretender to usurp the throne.
Lock that away.
We never want to see it again.
[bell tolling.]
[breath trembling.]
What's happening? [approaching footsteps.]
[door unlocking.]
The Earl of Warwick? Why did you make him write his name? [inhales.]
He must be woken.
Where is my sister? Must we call the guards? I'll walk.
We will both walk.
I know something is happening.
[bell continues tolling.]
My lord? No.
I don't want to.
I'm here.
I'm here.
We must kneel, Teddy.
No, I don't want to.
I don't want to, I don't like this, [crying.]
I don't like it, I'm scared, I'm scared Stay back.
Teddy, sweetest boy.
You must kneel.
You must.
[crying.]
Stop.
It's all right.
It's all right.
What did I do? What did I do? I'll be good, I'll be good You are so good.
So good.
Just look at them.
I'll be good, I'll be good.
You are good.
You are good, so good.
Just look at me.
Over very quickly, all over so very, very quickly, good boy.
Just look at me.
What is it? [squelching.]
[gasps.]
[breath trembling.]
[gasping.]
Did you look away, Lizzie? Did you close your eyes? You closed your eyes, didn't you? Yes.
PRINCE RICHARD: Only one coffin.
So I am to disappear.
As if I had never been.
A royal execution.
Henry grants me this dignity at least.
Don't close your eyes.
Because you know what you do this day.
You know what you do.
So witness it.
England receive my blood! [gasps.]
[crying.]
Why? Why did you give me no choice? [continues crying.]
[breathing heavily.]
[approaching footsteps.]
The Earl of Warwick was executed for treason this morning.
My aunt is returning to Burgundy where she will live a life of sober contemplation.
Cathy Gordon is in the palace.
She will become a permanent part of my household and I will care for her.
[crying.]
Where is Prince Richard? Your husband begged for your life, Maggie.
He begged for you.
We were moved and we have chosen to be kind.
The curse will come down on you.
The curse.
A widow and a virgin hurling oaths against their enemies because words are all they have.
You will weep for your children, Elizabeth.
All your hopes destroyed! That is the curse and it is on you! Embroider something, Maggie.
It soothes the mind.
[crying.]
Teddy! [wailing.]
[sea gulls crying.]
And now, we will rule.
King Henry.
You will always be by my side? Always.
They are waiting for us.
Greet your mother.
We are one.
Nothing divides us.
You have done us great service.
What is your name? My name is Wolsey, Your Grace.
You are in our favor, Wolsey.
You will stand with us and be tutor to Prince Henry.
We welcome the Ambassadors from Spain.
A great alliance has been forged with the betrothal of Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine of Aragon.
[all applauding.]
A triumphant day.
Worth everything.
You and I, Lizzie.
We understand each other.
What we will do.
We are one and the same.
You are too close, Lady Mother.
Step back.
[theme music playing.]
The enemy of England, the York pretender! I want to find his wife and child.
What if I don't wish to be your guest? Then you may leave your son and freely return to Scotland.
He will be tended to by midwives.
No.
We will change our plan.
- I will give up my claim.
- No.
You can't deny your birthright.
And if you did, the Scots and all of Europe would abandon you.
The only thing that keeps you safe is if you hold fast and they back us.
Duchess of Burgundy bids you come to Cheapside.
They will never let your brother out.
Your only hope of freeing him is putting Richard on the throne.
MAGGIE: If you even think there is a chance that that boy is your brother Richard, then you cannot hurt him, Lizzie.
No.
They're poisoned.
He puts poison in my clothes to make me sick! - [grunting.]
- Stop it! Stop it, please.
Quickly.
There is a fire.
You must disappear forever.
You would not go against your husband for a boat builder's son but you would to save your brother.
I am the son of King Edward, the IV and I will have the throne of England! [theme music playing.]
[gasping.]
[inaudible.]
[breathing heavily.]
[man yelling distantly.]
[distant clanging.]
[indistinct chattering.]
[knocking on door.]
[door opens.]
[indistinct chattering continue.]
Where is Richard? The Tower.
We slipped out whilst everyone was sleeping.
They're all exhausted from the fire.
Even the guards.
Henry beat him so badly.
You must write to King James.
Tell him we need Scotland, we need his armies now.
Duchess, you have spies, set them to find out where my son is.
Edward must be with me.
- I will have them search.
- Go and write your letter.
Her child is already dead.
Do you think it will help to tell her that? I want her writing to Scotland, not weeping for her infant.
Henry will kill Prince Richard before our messenger is out of London No, he won't I say we gather behind Warwick, even if he is simple minded Lizzie will not let Henry kill him.
She knows he is her brother.
Summon your men, my lords.
The duchess is right.
The time to strike is now.
All this time, I thought you were the petite Fleur tremblante.
But now look at you.
A blazing white rose.
Be my eyes and ears? Cathy will stay here with you.
She has no reason to return to Court.
They will simply think she's run.
[indistinct chattering.]
Wait here.
LADY MARGARET: I told you, I told you over and over that you must decide and you did not.
The fire is an attempt on your life, and the lives of the princes! And the Spanish say that you must kill him.
He must hang.
Yes, Mother.
He must.
The Spanish? Their ambassador, De Puebla is here.
They will not grant the marriage between Princess Catherine and Prince Arthur until the boy is dead.
And the Earl of Warwick too.
LADY MARGARET: De Puebla said Queen Isabella already told you this.
Yes.
Do you want your son married? You can deal with Warwick later but must get rid of the pretender now.
You have a charge.
He set the fire.
He did not set the fire.
I did.
What? Why? Leave us.
Leave us.
By all the saints, I wonder how you walk in a straight line, your wits are so dismally few.
Lady Mother.
[door closes.]
I hoped he would escape.
Escape.
Yes.
Why? Why would you want him to escape? Because [sobs.]
Because Henry, you must not kill him.
My mother called down a curse on the murderers of the princes.
I knelt next to her, Henry, I said the words with her, that the murderers of the princes would never see their own sons grow to men, that their whole male line would be blighted, all of their sons, all of them, dead, in revenge for the princes.
You mustn't kill him.
You mustn't.
And you are saying that this curse would fall on me because he is your brother.
He is Prince Richard.
Our sons, Henry.
Our boys.
Our precious, beautiful boys.
KING HENRY TUDOR: He is your brother.
After all this time, and now you tell me that it's true.
You cannot kill him.
You must find another way.
We, we must find another way.
- There is no other way.
- There is.
There has to be, if we just think.
[sobbing.]
- Henry - [door opens.]
Henry.
[boy speaking indistinctly.]
PRINCE HARRY: Arthur, stop it.
Give me the arrow.
[boys giggling.]
I want the princes busy at their favorite pursuits today.
They can do what they want but they must be kept occupied.
Your Grace.
I looked for you, earlier.
Before it was light.
I could not find you.
I was here.
I was walking in the courtyard.
The smell of burning made me feel ill.
Where is Cathy Gordon? I do not know, Your Grace.
I have not seen her.
Oh, well done, Prince Arthur! [indistinct chattering.]
- Senor De Puebla.
- Your Grace.
I carry a private message from Queen Isabella to you.
From one mother to another.
She thought you understood each other and now she wonders if you insult her and her daughter? There is no insult.
I have the matter in hand.
DE PUEBLA: Come.
[door opens.]
Move him to be with the Earl of Warwick.
Now.
[bells tolling.]
Your Grace? Scotland is readying armies to come against us.
Who brought you this news? BISHOP MORTON: The New Clerk.
Burgundy and Ireland wait for the tides and the weather to be in their favor.
Well, my aunt has been busy, has she not? I require your assistance.
- Oh, Your Grace, you must allow me - No, my Lord Cardinal.
You are busy and my lady, the king's mother, may need you.
[men shouting indistinctly.]
Him.
NEW CLERK: Name? Noah Luff.
NEW CLERK: Crime? NOAH: Defilin' a church.
Tutor him.
He must be word perfect.
Your Grace.
The boy has been moved to the same cell as the Earl of Warwick.
LADY MARGARET: By whose order? The king's.
I will deal with it.
- MAN 1: If it's the king's wish.
- MAN 2: What is he thinking? The king should be sending for his lords, he should be Marshalling his forces but instead he sends for his mother? Who rules us, him or you? Thank you for coming.
You do not need to thank me, I come as soon as I am bid.
Henry.
Henry, you have moved the imposter to be with the idiot You have eyes everywhere.
It will look to your lords, to everybody, as if you believe him.
There's a symmetry to it, don't you think? Then as now, two York boys with a claim in the one room.
The boy is who he says he is.
Then King Richard was careless.
And now you must finish it and get rid of him.
It is what is necessary.
Mother, I am of your flesh.
You made me.
I have been advised by so many who do not know what it is to be standing where I am standing, to make decisions, to do what is necessary and I would be counseled by you because I believe that you do know.
I know? Mother.
I believe it was you who killed the boys in the Tower.
- No.
- Your past actions would resolve me, help me to do what must be done.
Was it you? Sometimes, Henry, politics takes place under the cloak of night.
[whispers.]
You did it.
There are things that are necessary, for the greater good, things that must be done.
And now you are resolved.
We will be together on this, Henry.
Let your mother guide you.
There's a curse.
What curse? Lizzie told me that her mother placed a curse on the killer of her sons.
A blight on their male line.
No heirs.
They will sicken and die.
A story to scare peasants, but not a king.
Elizabeth Woodville had the craft, everyone said so.
The only craft she ever had was making herself pleasing to men.
[gasping.]
- You've cursed my sons.
- [gasping.]
- You've damned them! You! - [screams.]
Their grandmother! You've put the mark of death on them - [gasping.]
- You are a butcher of innocence! You are a killer of children! - Argh! - And now you have killed mine.
[gagging.]
[groaning.]
You're a monster.
You should have left me in France.
[Lady Margret wailing.]
I wish to Christ I was still there now, - and away from your poison.
- [screams.]
[groans.]
She does not come near me.
She does not speak to me.
She does not speak for me.
Nobody listens to her.
If you defy my orders, I'll have your heads myself.
[Lady Margret sobbing.]
[door bangs shut.]
[sobbing.]
[bells tolling.]
[door opens.]
[chuckling.]
Oh, I've missed you, [laughing.]
TEDDY: Oh, I can't breathe I have missed you.
I have brought you warm shirts and, um, fresh Fresh bread and meat and apples.
[thudding.]
[softly.]
The duchess of Burgundy is close by.
Cathy is safe with her.
[chuckles.]
Armies gather for you.
This tower will be torn open and they will carry you on their shoulders to Westminster.
I will walk.
[laughs.]
And what will you have, Teddy? When we are freed? A dog.
A friendly dog.
You may have as many as you wish.
- A hundred dogs, all of them friendly.
- [all laugh.]
What is it? What's happened? King Richard was innocent.
It wasn't him who killed the boys.
It was my mother.
What? How does it work? The curse.
Is it both boys? I don't know.
But it's one of them.
Without a doubt, one of our sons will die, but which one? I don't know, Henry.
She killed the rightful king and put me on the throne.
It's all been lies.
Our boys.
Our beautiful boys are damned.
Come.
I want to show you something.
[Noah grunting.]
Who is this? His name is Noah Luff.
He is sentenced to be publicly whipped and hanged.
He has struck a deal for a simple hanging only, with a good noose so that it is quick.
And coins for his wife.
In return for what? I, Perkin Warbeck, the humble son of a boatman from Tournai, confess to a plot to kill the king and the royal family.
I did falsely impersonate the dead King Richard, - Duke of York, and I - Stop, stop now.
LIZZIE: Henry, listen to me, all that people talk about is that there is a prince in the Tower and that they are ready to fight for him.
So we show them this man.
This man hangs at Tyburn, he confesses in public and what do people see? Not a prince but a criminal, a fraud, an imposter telling his crimes freely and so the rebellion is broken, there is no war because there is no-one to put on the throne instead of you.
That man there is "the other way" we had to find.
And then what? The boy stays in the Tower.
A nameless prisoner.
He does not die, he lives out his life there.
I will not sanction this.
Take him away.
The York lords will bring war if they believe he lives.
They are bringing it now.
I have loved you, Lizzie.
How I have loved you.
I didn't know that I could love.
You have been the grace of my life.
But I never deserved you.
And whatever happens, you must be safe.
Go to the Tower.
Speak to him.
[seagulls calling.]
[sighs.]
[footsteps approaching.]
Argh! Taken a tumble? That wasn't there last night.
Well, it's there now.
[grunts.]
Call my ladies.
I want to dress.
There's no one outside.
Of course there is! Where are they? Once you've seen my lady, the king's mother, half-throttled by her beloved son, you're a lot less willing to jump to the stick.
Find my ladies.
Demand they attend me.
I am still who I am! For now.
All that power you had, Margaret.
All that hard fought for power.
Can you feel it all slipping through your fingers? Because I can.
You have the look of our mother.
[door closes.]
And that doesn't please you? I loved her very much but I didn't always like her.
I hated her ambition.
What it did to us.
Nothing else mattered but power.
She was a queen.
And look where we are from her ambition.
I would like to ask her if it was all worth it.
Lizzie, two boys died in this Tower but these two men will not.
We will walk free.
We will be restored.
There will be justice.
A vicious wrong will be set right.
And what would happen to us? Your children are my nephews and my niece.
They will be honored.
And you are the king's sister.
You will be a great lady.
And my husband? He's a soldier, isn't he? He has his honor.
He will fight to the death.
And that would be the end of it.
We would be widowed and fatherless but stay at court, no other factions rising for children with a Tudor claim.
- There would be peace.
- [chuckles.]
It is God's will, Lizzie.
TEDDY: The bird took the bread! [laughs.]
He took it.
Oh, dear God.
You are so like my father when you laugh.
LADY MARGARET: Henry? Henry, please.
- [banging door.]
- Henry? Henry, please open the door.
[softly.]
Henry.
MAGGIE: Henry sees no one.
Sits in darkness.
His mind turns against itself.
His lords plan for war without him.
And Lizzie, what does she do? Doesn't she have you followed? Of course, but her ladies believe in Richard too, so they look the other way.
CATHY: From King James.
How does your son? Well, thank you.
The duchess' spies hear nothing about mine.
I'm sorry.
When I am Queen, Margaret Beaufort will be shown no mercy.
None at all.
She's young.
She will have more children.
[snickers.]
Scotland has been generous.
Two thousand men are waiting on the tides to bring my armies and the Irish here to join them.
- Yes! - [men laugh and rejoice.]
DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY: We will cut Henry's men down and all these years of Tudor filth will seem nothing at all.
I should go before I'm missed.
Your husband will be among those loyal to Henry.
He's loyal to me, Duchess.
Of course.
You'd let a Tudor loyalist live? [Lady Margret panting.]
You have to go to Henry.
You must tell him there is no curse.
But there is.
A widow and a virgin hurling oaths against their enemies because words are all they have.
That is not a curse.
Tell me, my lady the king's mother, how do you stand there in the sight of God with that sin, that stain of child murder on your soul? We are going to lose everything.
That little boy you removed from Cathy Gordon, that baby you sent away for nursing, has he been nursed into his grave? How do you sleep? How are you not bowed down with shame? How do you not howl with the grief of what you have done? Was this always your plan? Get close to the crown, un-man the king with some sour whore's trick so your family can steal it back for themselves? When have I ever had a plan? Even now, at my husband's orders I must broker the safety of what sons I have left after the chaos you have unleashed.
Elizabeth.
If you are not shocked by what you will do for your children, if you are not appalled by how far you will go for those they drag out of you while you screamed, then you are not a woman worthy of the name.
[door opens.]
Mother You're frightened.
No, of course not.
Are we in danger? Will we go to the Tower? My darling boy, no harm will come to you, not ever, not you, my darling boy.
[chuckles.]
Scorched brick and burning wood.
It smells of war.
If I close my eyes, it's as if I'm back at Bosworth and no time at all has passed.
Bosworth is a long time passed.
You never knew the truth of how your uncle Richard died, did you? He was beaten to death.
No, not to death.
Beaten, yes.
Beaten and beaten.
But he wouldn't die.
[sighs.]
One eye stamped from his head and the other still rolled and blinked.
He was still breathing, blood bubbling on his lips.
The men violated his body again and again and I did nothing.
I Didn't stop them.
I saw that he lived and I encouraged them to do what they wanted, like animals, tearing at him.
- Please stop - We rolled him into a pit and threw earth on him and he was still alive when it hit his face.
And I thought "Is this what happens to a king?" He rises in the morning and he is above all men, second only to God and by nightfall, he is an obscenity of flesh and splintered bone, choking on the mud that stuffs his mouth.
"Is this what happens to a king?" [sighs.]
And then I put the thought from me, because the crown was placed on my head.
I believed I had been given the right by God to rule, but I hadn't.
I was never given the right.
The peace we have had was hard won and now we are heading towards another war.
Did you go to the Tower? [sighs.]
He says He says we will be safe.
I trust him to honor his word.
And the Tudor lords? And do you trust them? They will fight tooth and nail till the whole country looks like this.
I'm trying to protect my sons The only way you can protect our sons is by telling the world you've killed the boy.
You are the king.
In name only.
I wasn't given the right.
The right is not given, Henry.
[sighs.]
It is taken.
It is taken by blood, by murder, where is God in that? The king's divinity is a tale men tell themselves but the right is taken.
It is taken by force, and held by force.
So take the right, Henry.
Take it.
MAN: [shouting.]
Bring him out! [all shouting indistinctly.]
How can they do this? How can she execute her brother? - I have to go - I forbid it.
They will have spies there.
If you go, you look like a sympathizer.
Perhaps I am! Are you carrying messages? You always said you had no interest in the court, that you wanted no part of it And I don't, but I want my brother back! [sighs.]
All my life I have been good.
I have been biddable.
I've been quiet.
I married who I was told to marry and I thank God every day for you, I do, but I will not be biddable anymore.
I want my brother back and I will have him because the York lords have what they've always wanted.
They have a king and Teddy is free to just be Teddy, not the Earl of Warwick with a claim to the throne.
He can just be my brother and we can be happy.
[chuckles.]
And our son? What of him if you are caught? Do you even think of him? You must promise me you will not go.
You will not carry letters.
You must promise me.
[all clamoring.]
My Lady.
Christ, how the mob stinks.
MAN: [screaming.]
Traitor! DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY: Your men are ready? They're ready.
I do not want a single hair on King Richard's head harmed.
I, Perkin Warbeck, the humble son of a boatman from Tournai, confess to a plot to kill the king and the royal family.
I did falsely impersonate the dead King Richard, Duke of York, and I confess my crimes freely.
It's not him.
Have your men fall back.
It's not him.
[people continue shouting.]
[applauding and cheering.]
[crowd cheering.]
[woman laughing.]
They believe it.
MAGGIE: You're certain it wasn't him? Find a way to get this to the Spanish Ambassador.
[indistinct chattering.]
Where have you been? I was settling my son, My Lady.
He couldn't sleep for all the stories of the hanging.
What game are you playing? [King Henry Tudor whispering indistinctly.]
[giggles.]
I should greet him.
Spain is being lied to, Senor De Puebla.
My aunt is in London? She was at Tyburn? They have had help.
The duchess and the York lords had help from inside the palace DE PUEBLA: Your Grace.
You tire of the dancing? You tell us the pretender is dead, but he isn't, is he? It's Of course, he is Allow me to put it in the most simple of terms.
You want Prince Arthur to marry our treasure, Princess Catalina? DE PUEBLA: Why should Spain yoke its pearl to this rotting beast that is England? You are supposed to be the peace.
Be the peace.
I give you this one night to consider what I have said.
We have enemies, Henry.
When they come, we will be outnumbered.
You, Arthur and Harry will die.
No.
He made promises, he said he would honor you and the boys.
Promises are always made.
And they are always broken.
Always.
We have to let him live.
Or we will sacrifice both our sons to the curse.
My mother once said that perhaps her craft was just luck, good timing that she called magic.
But what is certain is that, men with swords are coming and they will not stop.
My aunt will not stop until they have a York on the throne.
[screams.]
There must be no York left with a claim.
That is the only way to stop them.
[knocking on door.]
NEW CLERK: I bring news of Lady Gordon's child.
DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY: Don't open the door.
CATHY: No, no.
[soldiers shouting.]
WOMAN: What are you doing? Teddy is simple.
He's an innocent.
To them he is power.
And we must take that power from them.
I've missed you, Lizzie.
I have missed you too.
Why have you come to see me? Can I go home yet? BISHOP MORTON: We hoped you could help us with a question.
We wondered what you and Prince Richard talked about? The plot against King Henry? He said I could have a friendly dog.
As many dogs as I wanted.
A hundred! NEW CLERK: Teddy, can you write your name? I knew you could.
Show me.
Just there.
You are such a clever boy, Teddy.
BISHOP MORTON: The Earl of Warwick's confession to treason, Your Grace.
You may read here the details of his plot with the pretender to usurp the throne.
Lock that away.
We never want to see it again.
[bell tolling.]
[breath trembling.]
What's happening? [approaching footsteps.]
[door unlocking.]
The Earl of Warwick? Why did you make him write his name? [inhales.]
He must be woken.
Where is my sister? Must we call the guards? I'll walk.
We will both walk.
I know something is happening.
[bell continues tolling.]
My lord? No.
I don't want to.
I'm here.
I'm here.
We must kneel, Teddy.
No, I don't want to.
I don't want to, I don't like this, [crying.]
I don't like it, I'm scared, I'm scared Stay back.
Teddy, sweetest boy.
You must kneel.
You must.
[crying.]
Stop.
It's all right.
It's all right.
What did I do? What did I do? I'll be good, I'll be good You are so good.
So good.
Just look at them.
I'll be good, I'll be good.
You are good.
You are good, so good.
Just look at me.
Over very quickly, all over so very, very quickly, good boy.
Just look at me.
What is it? [squelching.]
[gasps.]
[breath trembling.]
[gasping.]
Did you look away, Lizzie? Did you close your eyes? You closed your eyes, didn't you? Yes.
PRINCE RICHARD: Only one coffin.
So I am to disappear.
As if I had never been.
A royal execution.
Henry grants me this dignity at least.
Don't close your eyes.
Because you know what you do this day.
You know what you do.
So witness it.
England receive my blood! [gasps.]
[crying.]
Why? Why did you give me no choice? [continues crying.]
[breathing heavily.]
[approaching footsteps.]
The Earl of Warwick was executed for treason this morning.
My aunt is returning to Burgundy where she will live a life of sober contemplation.
Cathy Gordon is in the palace.
She will become a permanent part of my household and I will care for her.
[crying.]
Where is Prince Richard? Your husband begged for your life, Maggie.
He begged for you.
We were moved and we have chosen to be kind.
The curse will come down on you.
The curse.
A widow and a virgin hurling oaths against their enemies because words are all they have.
You will weep for your children, Elizabeth.
All your hopes destroyed! That is the curse and it is on you! Embroider something, Maggie.
It soothes the mind.
[crying.]
Teddy! [wailing.]
[sea gulls crying.]
And now, we will rule.
King Henry.
You will always be by my side? Always.
They are waiting for us.
Greet your mother.
We are one.
Nothing divides us.
You have done us great service.
What is your name? My name is Wolsey, Your Grace.
You are in our favor, Wolsey.
You will stand with us and be tutor to Prince Henry.
We welcome the Ambassadors from Spain.
A great alliance has been forged with the betrothal of Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine of Aragon.
[all applauding.]
A triumphant day.
Worth everything.
You and I, Lizzie.
We understand each other.
What we will do.
We are one and the same.
You are too close, Lady Mother.
Step back.
[theme music playing.]