01x06 - The Queen Is Dead

[bunniefuu]

This programme contains v*olence
and very strong language.

GONDOMAR: An English force
att*cked Spanish troops.

Led by a man we told you
to keep here in the Tower.

You will return.

As long as Raleigh is free and lives,

we are all at risk.

- What is going on?
- If you and I spend the night together,

my father will have no choice

but agree to our
marriage and pay my dowry.

What do you think should
really be done, with Raleigh?

You and your boy may as well

have put the gallows'
axe to my own throat.

SANDIE: So, what now?

If George does not bend: w*r.

[PIG SNORTING]

[CROWD SHOUTING AND JEERING]
f*ck King James!

[CHANTING] King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

King James Spain fucker.
King James Spain fucker.

[CROWD JEERING]

King James Spain fucker.

[SNIFFLES]

[FLIES BUZZING]

Want a bit of fresh meat?

[MARKET CHATTER]

When will these riots
end, it's been months.

Things end when they end.

How are you, Your Highness?

Well?

Well? My... My mother is...

- ... dead.
- I meant...

- ... in the circumstances.
- How long...

... Buckingham, until she's buried?
- BOTH: Soon.

You both keep saying
that. It's been... weeks.

How... How hard can it be?

Everything is being done, Charles.

Except finding the funds
for a state burial, George!

Oh, and... and... no, she's here...

... your mother.

Good of her to visit.

Do you know how many times
my father... has visited her?

Our Queen... when she lies there?

Not once.

How many steps is it between
her and father's room?

Get some sleep, Charles.

When I rule...

... men... like you...

... will be where they belong.

[FOOTSTEPS TAPPING]

How long before our King
rests like his Queen?

A decade, at most. Maybe half that.

Then he need think better of us.

- Well, he couldn't really think less.
- [DOOR CLOSES]

I'll leave you alone
to converse, my love.

Is it safe to leave her side?

I suppose we must wait for
mummy and daddy to finish.

- Can we do it in silence?
- Of course.

It's where we're all headed...

... the eternal silence of death.

- That unending black void.
- Shut the f*ck up.

- What is it you want?
- To pay respect to a great Queen.

If you meant respect, you
wouldn't have brought her.

Have you turned Puritan?

I am in the King's Court.
I can't have my mother

fraternising with street girls.

- Bacon's any better?
- Of course he is. He's a Viscount.

If you're so concerned with
propriety, you should bury her soon.

Embalming only holds for so long.

- We will. It'll be done.
- How?

The King has spent like a crazed
Emperor, he cannot borrow any more.

But if you open Parliament
to raise taxes...

Yes, yes, we know.

And the Parliamentarians will use
the House to call us very bad names.

- We'll cope.
- Will you?

All these riots since
you k*lled Raleigh...

- It's under control.
- Whose? Not the King's.

He's disappeared. He's
in private mourning.

Does he know of her decay? Or yours?

How easily you're bought?

There are songs in every tavern
about the Marquess of Fuckingham

and his greedy brother, and
all they take, take, take.

Christ.

- This does not have to be a fight between us.
- It's not a fight Mother.

You're not even on the
b*ttlefield anymore.

No.

[CELLO MUSIC PLAYS]

[MUSIC STOPS]

Unfreeze us, George.

[CELLO MUSIC PLAYS]

- [MUSIC STOPS]
- Aww... Why ruin the scene? It's funny!

The first few times, maybe.

Where's your sense of
fun? You're an unfair bear.

- How's your mother?
- The Queen is rotting.

And we have no money
left for a state funeral.

If the people hear.
They're already angry...

Well didn't you have something
to do with their anger?

- Raleigh was your idea.
- Was it?

Why either way, they blame me,
call me "Spain fucker", and worse.

You punishing these mobs?

We have hung some, yes.

Oh, not too many, please. But good.

If only to stop the slaughter
of innocent swine. [LAUGHS]

Oh, come on, don't...
don't look so unhappy.

Parliament needs open to raise new taxes

to pay for her death and your life.

- How bad can my debts really be?
- The fact that you don't know...

Am I really the only profligate
at the heart of this nation?

And as I told you, you only
open Parliament when you're weak.

They're wolves who will prey on us.

They want two things: w*r with
Spain and to belittle my Crown.

[MUSIC PLAYS]

[MUSIC STOPS]

Better not to have to. Leave
Parliament shut a thousand years.

What about Charles?

He is heartbroken; he hasn't
left his mother's side.

Charles is Charles.
He's always moping around

- like a big dog just bit him.
- But you're still his father.

Or have you forgotten?

You'd use my son against me?

He needs you.

We all do.

Or will you hide in
here forever at play?

He's hardened. Each time I
see George, he sees less of me.

Need you stay?

- What?
- All the money you have now.

You don't need him or the King.

What then? Wait for some
new lover to replace George

and take all our family has in spite?

You can get away is all I'm saying.

And where would we go, Miss Brookes?

Anywhere, somewhere away
from men like Bacon...

who'd cut you apart
as soon as you sneeze.

A sort of man who would scare
the girls at the brothels.

- The regular you might not wake up from.
- There are men like that everywhere.

Every estate, church, slum.
You don't escape from them.

- Still, he is coming for you.
- Oh, let him come.

What is enough, anyway?

Even the King does not have enough.

So, why should I have
less? Why should any of us?

- [FLOOR BOARD CREAKS]
- [INHALES SHARPLY]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

I can't sleep without it. It's...

It's more ceremonial, really.

- Why are you here? More false promises?
- No.

A true apology.

- For whatever way I've wronged you.
- [SCOFFS]

"However"? Don't you know?

Do you think that my
father's love is endless?

After everything you've
stolen, how much is left for me?

- Not enough.
- My God! I think... I... I think he gets it!

While my mother, who did love me,
with all of herself. No, no, no,

she loved me more, she loved
me with all the world...

... and she is left to...

... r-r-rot, rot, rot...

... like off-meat.

- Because of that man, your King!
- James loves you.

He just... He forgets
himself to his indulgences.

- Oh, does he? Does he? I hadn't f*cking noticed!
- Look, even with me...

You... !

Even with me... when
I'm out of his sight...

... or I refuse him...

... he forgets me.

He latches on to another.

He needs constant...

constant reminding of his love.

- I'm his f*cking son, it shouldn't take all that!
- [SWORD CLATTERS]

[SIGHS]

I know.

So, what's the answer?

Forty-seven.

That's the amount of steps between them.

Let's make it less.

[MARKET CHATTER]

God...

... pours blood in the form of man.

Makes us kings.

Even young princes.

[KEYS CLATTERING]

He anoints us with Grace.

Then, clears a solitary path
for our lives we must follow,

even if, at times, that path, too often,

seems a bloody, treacherous one.

So, you may understand why
I've left Parliament closed

- these last six years.
- [PARLIAMENT GROANS]

In truth... my fear of you.

If I am Prometheus,

- you are the eagle plucking at my liver.
- [LAUGHS]

And who wants that?

But you are all
honourable men, I'm sure.

And I have tried to live frugally.

[LAUGHS]

Yes. Yes. Yes... but...
but not like a pauper.

- So, money must be found by the taxes you will raise.
- [EXCLAIMS]

By the taxes you will raise!
For the welfare of the realm.

By you: a Parliament of my People,

for me...

under God.

I know there will be
concessions, necessary.

Compromises. Deals.

That is the nature of
this esteemed and...

rancorous place, God bless her.

But please...

... do not be distracted
by dreams of w*r.

- Spain can be our friend.
- [EXCLAIMS]

- Spain can be our friend!
- [SHOUTING]

An ally in hard times.

- Or does any here wish to challenge...
- [FALLS SILENT]

... the Divine Right of Kings?

Good.

The terms are clear.

And our Queen...

... if not I can find peace.

God save the King. God save
the King. God save the King.

God save the King. God save the King.

God save the King. God save the King.

They're gonna hang me, Mary.

- For Sir David's m*rder.
- You will be freed.

- How?
- I will get you out.

You know what I can do.

I know all of that got me in here.

We tempted them, though, didn't we?

Me walking around, like
you, dressed as one of them.

You are better than one of them.

I f*cking warned you
what Bacon could do.

I can feel that... that
rope around my neck.

It's getting really tight.

You cannot give up. Do you doubt me?

No, I'm really trying not to.

On my word.

When she was first meant to visit
me in Scotland as my new wife, I...

I'd never met Anne before.

Just some polite letters.

Twice, she sailed to me.

Once from her Denmark, then Norway.

Twice, the boats nearly sank, in
such... terrible, foul weather.

So, instead, I made my way to her.

And the storm I faced...

it was like God was screaming at me.

Was he saying, "Don't marry her, son?"

Or was he just warning
what any marriage is?

Fifty-foot waves. Lashing winds.

Black, unfathomable depths beneath you.

Do you miss her?

Aye.

I do.

You loved her.

I don't know about that.

Love changes like a...

a liquid in your hands,
you can never really grip.

And the more you try...

My love for you...

... is as firm as the
ground we stand on.

- You know that.
- Do I?

You should.

Will you do your duties now?

The storm... she rages.

KATHERINE: What if it's a girl?

No. It's a boy.

I know it.

Another George? My...
Can the world cope?

Where did you get my new
necklace from? It's ravishing.

[WHISPERS] Tell me.

A man called Donnelly.

He's a friend of
Kit's, he gave it to me.

- Why?
- Well, he wanted land and a peerage.

He paid twice.

Once with money.

And again with flesh?

[WHISPERS] Do you sell everything?

Only for a good price.

Shall we begin with how these new
taxes will be received by the Crown

once Parliament finalises the law?

The King not joining us again?

He's still in mourning, Sir Edward.

I suppose it makes no difference to
the Privy Council's effectiveness?

- No, we are still very effective.
- Are we?

Then how can it be that we're
quite so impoverished as a state?

- Difficult times.
- Hard hours.

I'm only glad I can now
sit in an open Parliament

where the question concerns
other patriots like me.

Well, this is not Parliament.

The Privy Council is here to
best serve and advise the Crown-

Is the crown best served by vultures
busy feathering their own nests?

Is this about governance,
or your daughter, Sir Edward?

Your Frances and my
brother are still married.

Once he recuperates, they
will be man and wife again.

We are family. Let us act like one.

If I ever act like your
family, may God strike me down

into a pit of plagues and pestilence.

And now, I think it's time
for me to offer my resignation

- from the Privy Council.
- [PEOPLE WHISPER]

Fine.

We accept it.

Your wisdom will be greatly missed.

It will find a new home.

Parliament is voting
tomorrow on new committees.

One to deal with the Spanish thr*at.

Another to search for corruption
at the heart of our own state.

[KNUCKLES CRACKING]

I will lead both.

We will not humour any such
endeavours on this Council, sir.

Against Spanish evil
or domestic corruption?

- Or do you defend both?
- Neither.

Of course.

We'll see.

[PEOPLE MUMBLING]

[WHISPERS] f*ck!

[HORSES NEIGHING]

GONDOMAR: You both told me
you could control Parliament.

There is more anger than we anticipated.

I pay you both to be smarter than this.

- To be Spain's friend.
- That's why we're here.

Coke is gunning for w*r,
foreign and civil, so be careful.

We should not meet again,
until Coke is controlled.

Yet you still want to be paid?

Well, that is up to you, Gondomar.

[CHUCKLES] And how
will you control Coke?

Through the King.

But I hear the King is, um, absent.

- George can always bring him around.
- Hm.

I hope so. But I wonder if we
missed our chance for real peace.

All these riots. Protests.

When things were calmer...

we should have done more to unite us.

- [SCOFFS]
- What could we have done?

Diego has this lovely dream
for their princess, the Infanta,

to marry our young Charles.

A marriage of the ages,

uniting England and Spain
in a perpetuity of peace.

- Shame it's pure poppycock.
- It does not have to be.

A Spanish Princess of England?

There would be more riots. Worse.

Not if it was done properly.

Two hundred years ago,
this was a Catholic country

and the idea of a Scottish
King who lays with men...

Hm. Our Infanta would be
a great Queen of England.

The people would love her, I know that.

Well, here in the real world, my friend,

we currently have a dragon in
our bed, namely Sir Edward Coke.

So, let us avoid its flames
until Saint George and I slay

the fiery little
upstart flat-faced c**t.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[MUMBLING A TUNE]

[METAL JANGLING]

- Get out.
- He means you, Page.

Yes, I do. Leave us, Page.

I think you know why I'm here.

Your Celtic girl? Are you
here to beg for her, then?

I should not think I
need to beg, Sir Edward.

You might f*cking have to. I
mean, where would this leave you?

Your Lady-In-Waiting tried for m*rder?

But I can help you.

How, exactly?

- I will be your ally, again.
- [SCOFFS]

You barely see the King. Or even George.

Who do you influence?

Your maids? Packs of stray dogs?

I hear you come for George,
too? Your new committee?

Is that wise? To anger the
King, and me, and my son?

Oh, Christ, spare me.

There is no bargain to be
had here, woman. No blackmail.

Intimidation. Your usual ugly tricks.

Your bitch girl needs a miracle.

Without one: you're
f*cked and she's dead.

- Sir Edward, please.
- What?

I have not had a chance to apologise

for the whole Frances business.

Do not say her name to me again.

The rumours I hear of her behaviour.

What your family drove
her to, despicable.

Even if your John recovers,
whatever that means,

the wound will never heal.

Alright, then I beg.

I am begging you.

Release her.

I beg you release her, now.

There's nothing you
wouldn't do, is there?

In the world you and your boy live,

anything's done to further yourself.

Well, with me...

it all stops.

After your girl hangs, or even before,

let see what we can do
about your George, too.

Maybe his own cell to rot
in, as he let our Queen rot,

for the rest of his sorry life?

- Sir Edward, please don't do this.
- Mary, Mary.

The abyss before you, weep, beg...

... but it will not change.

[SNIGGERS]

What can Coke's committee really do?

All of Parliament's powers
led by a zealot like Edward?

He's the worst of things.
A man who cannot be bought.

He'd really dare att*ck us?

Be as persuasive as you
were before with the King.

Work your charms, boy.
For both of our sakes.

May I enter, Your Majesty?

Imprison Coke. On sedition.

He wants w*r with Spain, and with me.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Your Majesty.

I was wrong.

You were right.

We must close Parliament now.

I told you. Wolves.

It would bring civil
w*r if I closed her now.

We're in God's hands, George.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty?

[BANGING AT DOOR]

Your Majesty. Your Majesty!

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

She's moving.

I already told you not to say that.

It's a boy.

I know you're angry.

And probably... scared?

But there must be a
way. Coke is just a man.

You... are a God.

Like me.

KIT: George!

George! George!

What's wrong, Kit?

f*ck. How can they do this? I'm me.

- Do what?
- They were at my house.

I had to jump out the f*cking window.

They've taken it all.
I hid nothing, did you?

- [HORSE NEIGHS]
- Hidden what? From who, Kit?

Them, George. Them.

Let's go!

[KNOCK AT DOOR] Open up!

[KNOCK AT DOOR] Open up!

Is the master of the house here?

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- I am.

May I ascend?

If your warrant lets you.

Wait.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

A present.

Is this a bribe?

No. I am saying it was a present.

From an aunt who d*ed. I
have lots of such trinkets.

Lots of presents.

Covering for him?

You are one of the family.

More than one.

But that does not stop me.

It's the most natural
thing in the world.

I disagree.

Begin the search, boys! Quickly!

Now, where is he?

[LAUGHS]

- Hurry up.
- Why? Where are we going?

As far as I see, we have
two very sh*t options.

Flee to France. Or...

Or what?

You won't like it.

But, my God, she will.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Can we skip the bit
where you gloat, please?

- Why's she not saying anything?
- I'm waiting for my apology.

- Uh!
- I won't dance a f*cking jig for her.

- Brother.
- Just say what you need, then.

You. We need you.

Let him say it.

[EXHALES] Kit's right.

We need you.

- Kneel.
- No.

Kneel.

I need things of you both.

First, a pardon.

If I could get a f*cking
pardon I wouldn't be here.

Not for you.

But if you do as I say, the
King may embrace you again.

It's only the stench of
death that's on you now.

Wash it off and he'll return.

And in that embrace, insist Miss
Brookes is pardoned and freed.

She means that much to you?

Does it look good for me
if she's tried and hung?!

I'll try.

There are two men to visit. First Coke.

Go to him, on your knees.

Tell him you'll testify against
Bacon, if he relents against you.

- Bacon is a friend.
- Oh...

Is he?

So, why is it you are
on the run, not he?

Surely, Coke will want to try all of us?

I think he will prefer one, assured
prosecution of his longest rival,

than three cases that may not hold.

What do I have to do?

And who's the other man I have to visit?

I thought we were not to meet again?

- Things have changed.
- Yes.

Now you're a fugitive.

- Where's Bacon?
- I don't know.

- He's gone very quiet.
- And why hasn't Coke gone for him yet?

I think Coke knew that Bacon
would be more careful than I was.

So, his committee arrest me,

build a case and then
use me against Bacon.

And then, you're left with no allies.

I hope you're wrong. Now, goodbye.

- I have a deal for you.
- I do not deal with criminals.

Do not insult me, Diego.

I want proof Bacon is in your pay.

Why?

So, you don't lose him and me.

- Just him.
- Bacon has been with me years.

I trust him. He trusts me.

What about your plan
for the Infanta? Hmm?

I could persuade The Prince.

Charles. How about we go. You and me.

Like knights of old on
a crusade, for a girl?

- What? Where?
- Madrid.

Bring England and Spain
together. Just like you want.

Perpetual peace.

You do this for me...

and I will make your dream true.

[DOOR OPENS]

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Sacrifice yourself or hang.

I pick neither. Now you may go.

- Answer me.
- Mary.

For f*ck's sake, play is over.

Bow and admit defeat.
George is a fugitive.

Your Lady-in-Waiting
soon to be cheap offal.

Why don't you admit you've been in
the pay of the Spanish for years.

Perdon?

I have private letters from you
to Gondomar. It is all very clear.

I never wrote to him.

And if I did, he would burn such papers.

"My dear Diego.

This boy the King shines to...

he seems a future we might ride.

The mother is a foul wretched
c**t, but one I can handle

as much as that is not
my area of expertise."

So, this is blackmail?

A clarification of positions.

You forget.

I know so much of you, George.

And I have a witness.

One who didn't eat enough prunes
who may recall your role, too.

And I have a son who's not
tethered to normal niceties.

And only wants to please me.

Arthur Wearstrap is dead?

Hm.

Dangerous, knowing
what I know of you? No?

Who will care about my deceits

in the face of your abject Treason?

This is a proclamation to this House...

... that our committee,

which aims for a full and frank
transparency in all public life...

... has found Sir Francis Bacon guilty

of countless acts of corruption.

From this moment fourth, Sir
Francis is stripped of all titles...

... any rights of land ownership
or ability to bear office. Gone.

He will suffer lifelong
banishment from the Royal Court

or any office of state.

We can only hope that his severe
punishment serves as a grave warning

to the rest of the nation.

The days of wine and song at
others expense, they are done!

Virtue, she still lives.

And Vice, that foul, but
persistent enemy of Good,

is given fair warning.

Your days are near their end.

Can you quite believe all this is yours?

Our next house will be much bigger.

[GIGGLES]

Oh, how disappointed are you? Really?

That she's a girl?

A boy will come.

It's a girl I hear? May I hold her?

No. Never.

Your pox marks speaks to
where your hands have been.

What's her name?

Mary. It's not my choice, was it?

An offering of thanks, George?

Should you be here? Legally?

No. I ask for one minute with him.

I heard of the Infanta business.

That's how you tempted Gondomar
to throw me onto the sh*t heap?

Your mother's idea was it?

- It was mine.
- Oh.

I assumed she came up with it.

Well.

Well done, George.

Now, if you can convince the
King and Charles to try it,

there'll be years of
negotiation, diplomatic trips.

Make sure her fingers are
well away from all of it.

Or she'll get all the glory
for making this union happen.

Our dear Queen Mary.

Thank you for the advice.

Is that why you're here?

Would you hold it against me if
I got some personal vengeance?

To sweeten the taste of all this?

One small act against our future queen?

- Feel free yet?
- I f*cking don't.

When they take these off, maybe.

What's your name?

Cassie. You?

Sandie.

Sweet, that. Bless.

I'd shake your hand but...

[LAUGHS]

It's what I let them call
me, whenever I got here.

It's not even me real name.

What is your real name?

Cliodhna.

Cleaner? [LAUGHS]

Why the f*ck do you think
I changed it. You English.

- Ruining everything.
- So...

... what did you do then, Sandie?

I k*lled a man.

And then the King did verily pardon me.

Ooh. [LAUGHS]

- Get you.
- Yeah.

So, how did ya get your pardon?

Oh, it's a long story.

Shall I tell you a story?

Go on.

About a man who came to me in my cell.

Said if I carried a message to you,
he'd get me out so I wouldn't hang.

What sort of message?

Sort you can't put in a note.

I've got money... I can pay you.

- Enough for you and your family.
- Haven't got one.

- I'm not gonna die in shackles.
- This is just where we are.

Yeah, well it doesn't have to be.

I mean it. I'm sorry, love. I am.