Episode 6 The White Queen

This programme contains some scenes of a sexual nature.

Where do I stand? George is York, Anne is my enemy and Mother is with her.

Commit to nobody until you know there is a clear winner,

and then remind them of your undying loyalty

until it serves you no more.

My Father! What of Lord Warwick?

On the battlefield, Your Grace. The most noble death.

I wish to see my mother.

She has abandoned you and lives in disgrace.

Does Sir Henry really think he might die?

He's badly injured.

Jasper plans to take Henry into exile.

Never give up. I won't.

Make peace with the Yorks and bring him home safe.

George is loyal to your husband, it seems.

Today.

Am I not a traitor?

Do you love me and the King?

Let's hope that's enough for Edward.

I'll take you to your sister when the court returns to London.

I would like to see Isabel, very, very much.

Anne Neville.

Your Grace.

I beg for your pardon.

It was not my will to betray you.

My father ordered my marriage to the son of Margaret of Anjou

and she commanded that I go with them.

I had no choice but to obey.

You know that Margaret of Anjou is defeated...

..and will never ride out against me again...

..and that her cause had no merit?

I know that now.

Well, that is good enough for me.

I forgive you and I pardon you...

..and you are welcome here at Court

and you may live here with your sister.

Your Grace.

I am grateful for the mercy you have shown me.

My mother, she is still in sanctuary.

Indeed. And that is where she has chosen to remain.

Isabel.

How merciful the King has been.

You will serve as my lady-in-waiting.

You will help me choose dresses and jewels

and comb out my hair before I sleep.

It'll be just like when we were girls.

Except that Mother is in prison and Father is dead.

Mother is not in prison, Anne. She is in sanctuary.

But it isn't true, as the King claims, that she

has chosen to remain there.

Shhhh!

Izzy, Mother keeps writing to me, begging me to help her.

As she helped you when Father was defeated?

Mother writes to me, too, Anne, daily, and ever more beseechingly.

Ignore her.

The King must be in no doubt as to where our loyalties lie.

Sister.

Anne is worrying so.

As well she might, Isabel. She has suffered much.

Anne, you will be safe here and well looked after.

The King has appointed me your guardian.

My guardian? He cannot have appointed you my guardian.

I'm old enough to be a widow. Why would I need a guardian?

Because you're the widow of a traitor.

Edward pardoned her without a moment's hesitation.

And after what Warwick did to Father and John...

Edward did what he had to.

You must begrudge Warwick's daughters their happy reunion.

England needs peace. Everything else must be set aside.

Do not stand there as if a ghost.

Come! I will let you stitch the final gold threads.

Do I have a dowry, Isabel?

A dowry? Are you dreaming of marriage already, Anne?

No, of course not. I just wanted to understand.

Of course you have a dowry.

You mustn't worry about such things.

The King has tasked George with taking care of all financial

matters on your behalf.

On my behalf?

When the time comes for you to marry,

George will provide a dowry for your husband.

What if I do not marry?

What if Mother dies and I am not married?

What will happen to my inheritance then?

Isabel, can't you see what they're doing?

The York brothers are keeping Mother in sanctuary

so they can take control of her fortune!

What? Anne, you are quite wrong.

That is why Richard brought me here. That is

why George has had himself appointed my "guardian".

It's a plot!

Do not say these things!

Do not speak of the sons of York in this way.

It's a plot, Isabel. Can't you see that?

Silence! You are raving!

George will keep me here until Mother dies and then...

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Ow!

-Oh, my Lady!

-Oh, my Lady!

-My Lady!

Go to your room.

Isabel.

Biting like a rabid dog.

Isabel.

You are not fit to be in the company of ladies.

Go now!

And do not show your face until you accept the situation.

No, not "accept". Be thankful.

With his dying breaths, my husband told me I must reconcile with them.

Must I?

Is that the only way to bring my boy safely back to England,

to make peace with York?

I need a sign, Father.

I need a sign that even in my weakness, God hears me...

DOOR OPENS LOUDLY

My Lady.

My Lady, I did not mean to interrupt you at prayer.

Then why did you?

I could not wait any longer.

Your mother, Lady Beauchamp, is gravely ill.

Glory, glory, grace of God.

Do not weep. I do not deserve your tears.

I do not shed any.

The room lacks air. It smells sour, of putrefying flesh.

I am afraid. Would you seek to make me more so?

I seek nothing.

My beloved son should be kneeling here...

..pressing my hand against his lips.

But there's only you, Margaret.

And I will know no peace until you forgive me.

Forgive you?

Absolve me from whatever crime it is you think me guilty of.

You ask me to wash you clean of sin but you do not confess any.

Is it still Holy Orders?

After all these years, do you still hate me

for not sending you to an abbey?

You sent a child to do a woman's duty.

Do you not understand it was God's own will that you bear

a Lancaster heir?

Of course I understand. My cause is holy, my purpose divine.

I have devoted my life to it.

But you only wished for the chance to raise your son.

Is that what you longed for, Margaret?

But you also wanted to marry Jasper Tudor...

..to be adored.

How you must struggle to reconcile your saintliness with your vanity.

CHUCKLES

Such vanity.

You wanted to marry for love.

And what good, pray, would that have done your cause?

You should be grateful. I saved you from yourself.

God will take you on this Sabbath Day.

And when he does, I will be reborn.

Margaret.

Margaret!

BABY CRIES

Aww.

Come here, my Prince.

It won't be so very long before we see him settled at Ludlow.

Ludlow Castle?

Are we to live in Wales?

But we won't, but our son will when he's two.

He's the Prince of Wales.

He must establish his own household there.

And what possible use has Wales for an infant prince?

The people must know him from childhood, Your Grace.

That way, they'll learn to love him

and that's how we'll break Welsh loyalty to the Tudors.

No. I'm not letting go of my son.

This is what it means to have a Prince and not a girl.

It is simply a matter of choosing the right guardian for our son.

Then I will appoint his guardian.

I'm his mother, and if he is to leave me,

then I will choose into whose care he goes

and who will raise him into a man.

It is not simply a matter of raising him into a man. It's a

matter of raising him into a King.

And on that, you are probably not best placed.

You may not leave.

-I'll have you both.

-How about me?

Summer. A time for mindless pleasure.

Precious little is mindless where George is concerned.

He will have nothing, nothing at all to do with my son.

Does George intend to harm the boy?

I don't know.

Perhaps it's nothing more than the pain of being made to part with him.

When you married into the Royal House, their customs became yours.

You understand that as surely as Edward does.

I don't know what he understands.

I only know that the closer he gets to his brothers,

the further he feels from me.

Truly, Mother, we are distant. Ever since...

Ever since he came back from battle.

Not entirely distant, I think.

Mother, how... How did you know?

LAUGHS

Your husband is as fertile as a bull.

Whenever he returns from victory, a child is never far behind.

I haven't told him yet.

Then tell him!

Leave your cares with me and take your happy news to your husband.

Thank you. Thank you, Mother.

You cheered me.

Although I think I quite exhausted you.

Of course you haven't. You never could.

Go. Go! Go!

GIGGLING

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

Jane Shore. Her name is all around the Court.

And what does that afford her?

I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out.

Have you tried asking Edward?

And what should I say?

What on earth is there to say?

Your husband is a King with a King's appetites.

This is his nature, as you have always known.

Whoring is merely a sport to Edward, as hunting is or jousting.

She is different.

She is no different. You are the Queen.

You flatter her to even dwell on her name.

He cares for her. I saw it.

Isabel? Isabel? Izzy?

'My dear Jasper.

'I write to tell you that my husband, Sir Henry Stafford,

'died of his wounds...

'..and my mother, Lady Beauchamp, is also gone.

'I am now a widow, and there is no-one to guide or force my hand.

'Shall I come to you?'

I want to see Mother.

Don't be ridiculous, Anne.

Tell her, George.

I'm going this afternoon. I just need a horse.

Not today, Anne. No horse today.

My Lady.

'Daughter, I greet you well. You have been at court for many months

'but I have received no reply or acknowledgement from you.

'I am, as you know, in sanctuary to protect me from our enemies.

'Use your influence to restore my freedom and fortune.

'Your Lady Mother.'

Husband.

I will have to keep Anne by my side.

She grows ruder by the day.

Anne is not coming to the festivities.

Not at all?

Anne is not going anywhere,

nor doing anything without my permission.

Well, I don't mind if she comes. It's just that I don't...

Leave it!

Anne is still upset, Isabel.

I do not want her making public accusations about being imprisoned

or railing against matters which have already been agreed.

We cannot be disgraced in front of every noble family in England.

No. No, of course not.

She will stay in her room.

Can she attend chapel?

Of course. A trip to chapel might humble her.

Anne.

You said you were taking me to safety.

Let go of me!

If you're happy living with your sister

and being a prisoner here, then I'll not say another word.

I'm not. Of course I'm not.

Come to the yew garden after dinner. I'll be waiting.

Merry Christmas, Mother.

The children will be arriving shortly.

Mother?

Oh. Forgive me. I didn't hear you come in.

No, thank you.

Are you ill?

No, no. I just haven't slept.

In truth, I think I'd prefer to rest than dance.

And miss the Christmas celebrations, huh?

A year's worth of Court gossip at a single sitting?

You must be ill.

I'll call the physician.

No.

I don't need a physician.

There's nothing for a physician to see

and, thank God, nothing that some fool with a knife

could think to cut out.

Then what is wrong?

My heart. It's beating strangely.

I feel it skip a beat and then go slow.

It won't beat strongly again, Elizabeth.

What are you saying?

Prepare yourself. I won't be with you much longer.

COURTLY MUSIC

His Grace, King Edward, and Queen Elizabeth.

Brother.

COURTLY MUSIC

Anne.

Forgive me.

When I brought you to Isabel, I thought

I was bringing you to a place of safety.

On my word, I had no idea what would result.

George holds me captive here and you knew nothing of it?

I did not.

For six months, no-one, save my sister and her ever-present

flock of ladies, has seen me from one day, one week, to the next.

Didn't you wonder where I was?

I did more than wonder.

I asked after you, often, but was always supplied with some excuse.

A cold. A chill.

Oh, truly.

Until I demanded to see you and George said that I could not.

Oh? And what was I ailing with?

Grief.

George told me you were too deep in mourning for your husband

to be in mixed company.

This confirmed what I already suspected,

that he has been holding you here, keeping you out of sight.

They will keep me here until my mother dies and then George,

my loving guardian, George, will inherit the entire Warwick fortune.

Providing he can keep me locked up and unmarried,

everything will go to him.

Oh, George.

It is not only your avaricious brother.

It is my sister, colluding with him.

She is my gaoler, dispatching her ladies to watch over me like hawks.

They will hold me here until they have broken my spirit

and I submit to my fate without complaint.

Listen to me, Anne.

You must buy yourself more freedom by going along with George,

by pretending to go along with George.

Flattery always works.

He responds to nothing more sophisticated than flattery.

Isabel, too.

That will at least gain you some freedom for now...

..till the time is right for me to approach the King and ask him

to release George's guardianship over you.

You will approach the King on my behalf?

Yes, if you would like me to.

Why would you do that?

Why do you think?

You cannot leave me now.

Are you in any pain?

No. There's no pain for me except in knowing yours.

What do you see? Tell me. Please, Mother.

I must know. What is our future? What is...

What is mine and Edward's future?

You will have another boy.

Of that I am sure.

And what a boy he will be!

I'm sure of that, too.

Then get well and stay with me. See... See him born!

You've been with me through everything. Everything.

I would not be here without you.

None of us would be here without you.

And yet, here you are.

And through you and your children, I will have founded a line of kings.

And queens, too, I think.

I'm not ready.

No-one is ever ready.

'My dear Lady Margaret...

'I'm sorry for your losses and hope to comfort you with

'the knowledge that your son is safe and grows up strong.

'There is no need to come to us.

'Your path to help Henry must be in England.

'These are dark times for Lancaster but we must remain steadfast.

'Entertain no doubts, Margaret.

'Only redouble your efforts on behalf of our Tudor King.

'Your servant, Jasper.'

Sir Reginald.

My... My Lady...

I have decided to marry into York.

I want you to go to Court and make delicate enquiries on my behalf.

Certainly, My Lady.

With whom?

I will entertain only the very closest of the King's confidantes.

Only a man right at the heart of the York Court is of any value to me.

May I ask who, among the King's men, you have in mind?

His brother.

George of Clarence?

No, you fool. Richard.

He is not betrothed.

I do not think I am looking too high.

Sir Reginald?

Yes, My Lady?

What else might be mentioned in the hope of a favourable outcome?

Do... do... do.... Do you sing, My Lady?

No, I do not sing.

You may tell him I have had saints' knees since childhood.

Izzy, you were right about Mother.

There was no need for me to rush to her side.

I am getting used to it here.

It was hard at first but...

It looks lovely on you.

You have the perfect complexion for it.

Well, if you can behave like this, Anne, then there's no

need for you to spend quite so much time in your room.

Perfect. You're a killer!

You are leading the hunt, I believe?

I can barely walk.

Has the King relented over sending baby to Wales?

No. He has not and he will not.

Well, he knows how you feel about George.

He wouldn't defy you and appoint him. As for Richard...

I want you to take my son, Anthony.

You are the only one I can trust with him.

They will never accept it.

I do not care what they will accept.

Will you do it?

Of course. Of course I will.

I will guard him with my life.

Oh, well, let's hope it doesn't come to that.

There.

Go on. Go on.

Your Grace, Lady Beaufort is a most devoted mother to the last

Lancastrian heir.

All Lady Beaufort seeks, Your Grace, is a peaceful England.

You escaped.

If this is escape, I cannot imagine captivity.

Did you enjoy the hunt? Only, I couldn't see.

You were right at the back.

Ah, yes. Well, there were interesting matters to attend to

at the back.

A proposal to discuss.

What proposal?

A marriage proposal. From Margaret Beaufort.

Margaret Beaufort? She's ancient!

Ancient and ugly and fanatical!

Perhaps she is

but she is also one of the wealthiest women in England.

Well, if that is your motive for marriage, then perhaps you're

not so different from your brother.

Anne.

Anne.

If I were not a prisoner here, my fortune stolen from me,

I, too, could marry any man of my choice.

I suppose you have yet to approach the King?

I told you I would do it when the time was right. That has not changed.

You can count on me, Anne.

No. It's all right. Attend to your marriage prospects.

I don't need your help.

I have learnt to rely only on myself.

Brother. May I speak with you?

Of course you may.

I should like to know, if I wished to marry, how I would go about it.

Your year of mourning is not yet at an end, Anne.

It is a little unseemly to be discussing remarriage until it is.

I'm sure I do not intend any disrespect, brother,

merely clarification on what exactly is my position.

Your "position"?

This question of marriage seems to give you much concern.

It really appears to have you quite upset.

Anne, what are you doing? What is she doing?

If you prefer it, I'd be happy to arrange for your place in an abbey.

Yes. Now I see that that might suit you quite well.

Yes, far better than remaining here with us.

You would let him do this?

You would let him send me to an abbey?

Go to your room, Anne.

Isabel, please.

Can't you see what he's doing?

He is going to lock me up like he locked up our mother.

You will never see me again.

Isabel! Isabel!

Richard was not suitable anyway.

He's as loyal as a hog, as loyal as a dog.

There... there is another possibility, My Lady.

Who?

A man, not of the King's kin, but as close to him

as it is possible to be.

Lord Stanley.

SNIGGERS

That turncoat.

Born faithful to the House of Lancaster,

yet switches his allegiance to York after the Battle of Towton.

What would I want with a traitor like that?

My Lady, it is less treachery than strategy.

At every battle, Stanley and his brother divide

and join opposing sides, ensuring that there is always one

Stanley who wears the winning colours.

Arrange a meeting.

My Lady, there is more news from Court.

Jacquetta, the Queen's mother.

What about her?

When I left, she was not expected to last a week.

Impossible.

Surely, among her armoury of spells and curses, there must be some

amulet or other ensuring her continued presence on this earth.

It seems not.

Mm.

A Rivers King.

I must rest. I'm sorry.

Don't apologise. I will stay with you.

No, no, no. Anthony can stay with me.

I want you to spend your last night before your confinement

with your husband.

What are your intentions for Anne Neville?

Why? What are yours?

What do you think they are?

Well, you're not attracted to her...

..which can only leave a motive no more honourable than mine.

You might fool Edward, little brother, but you can't fool me.

Stay away from Anne Neville.

Of greater concern is the Queen appointing

Anthony Rivers as the guardian of Prince Edward.

When?

Your Grace, what a coincidence.

We were just discussing your poor, dear mother,

hoping very much that rumours of her dreadful state have been

exaggerated.

Can I help you with anything, Your Grace?

No. Thank you. Goodnight.

Were you looking for your husband?

I believe he's with Jane Shore tonight.

Please. Just... just wait a moment.

It is for Richard, the Duke of Gloucester.

He is my friend since childhood.

Take this.

-But the Duke of Clarence...

-You need to get it to him tonight.

-Anne.

-Richard.

George is going to put me in a nunnery.

Of course he is.

Perhaps I should not have confronted him. I played my hand

and I should not have. Now his mind is made up and it is hopeless.

No. It's not. It's not hopeless.

But you cannot go back there.

George will not hesitate to do what he has threatened.

Anne, running away may be the only way through this,

-seeking sanctuary.

-Then I'll go. I'm ready to go.

Anne... Anne. You must be sure.

I am sure. I'm not the little girl you knew, Richard.

I've grown up.

Margaret of Anjou taught me not to hesitate.

She told me there would be times when I have to see the best

thing for myself and take that course without fear.

Anne?

What is it?

Will you marry me?

You will get my fortune.

If I marry you, everything I have becomes yours.

It's true.

Marrying you would make me a wealthy man, just as you marrying me

will make you a royal duchess and equal to your sister.

But I will be a true husband because I love you.

You love me, Richard? Truly?

I do. Perhaps I always have.

Anne, will you marry me?

Yes.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Annie.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Anne?

My Lady, Lord Thomas Stanley.

Lady Beaufort.

I hope I will please you as a wife.

I thought it was an arrangement that would suit us equally.

It was clever of you to think of it.

I believe my advisor made it clear to you that

I wish for a position at Court?

Indeed, he made that plain.

And did he also convey my desire...

my intention that there be no issue from our marriage?

Fear not. Your spiritual gifts were lavishly detailed.

I am well briefed.

You wish to live as a nun.

I hope that is agreeable to you?

Perfectly. I have sons already.

No need to try for another with you.

Tell me, how old is your boy now?

He's 15.

That your son has a legitimate claim to the throne is beyond dispute.

Little wonder Edward prefers him where he is.

It is only with the King's favour that I can bring my son home.

It cannot be rushed.

I will judge what I can do for your son

and, in due course, what rewards your son can offer me.

As for Jasper Tudor...

..Edward will never reconcile with him.

Henry will have to leave him behind.

I believe I made it clear to your advisors that you will have

to serve the House of York, King Edward and Queen Elizabeth?

You will be required to take up a place in the Queen's chamber

and, to all appearances, be a loyal

and faithful member of the House of York.

There can be no shadow of doubt or anxiety in their minds,

from the first day until the last.

Will they accept me at Court?

They're eager to heal the wounds of the past.

Then I will be patient and endeavour to rise in their favour.

My own brother!

She's run off with him and I've been betrayed by my own.

It's a betrayal. A sly and wanton betrayal.

He has no right, no right whatever to take up with her.

I am her guardian, and if he wants to marry that... that girl,

then he should have sought my permission. And what is

a greater transgression is that he should have sought yours, too.

What is it? Why are you laughing? What's funny?

Because I cannot resist.

I do not remember you asking my permission

-before you married Isabel.

-That is not the same.

Your Grace.

I seek your blessing to marry Lady Anne Neville.

SMIRKS

Did you tell her that you loved her?

Was it as simple as that?

Edward is the King. It is his choice, not mine.

KNOCKING

Not now.

Your Grace, the Queen's baby is coming early.

The midwife says she may not survive it.

You would go and leave this unresolved?

Settle this pettiness between yourselves.

SCREAMS IN PAIN

Stand aside!

CRIES AND SCREAMS IN PAIN

SCREAMS

SCREAMS

One more time.

Come on, breathe.

He's come too early.

His breathing is weak.

He's dying, Mother.

Take care of him for me.

No...

SOBS LOUDLY

Good evening.

Good evening.

LAUGHS

Now would be the moment, yes?

Were it not for your express stipulation that such

a thing should be avoided at all costs.

Fear not, Margaret.

I am more than happy to respect your wishes.

Goodnight.

I worried George would intercept my note, stop you from coming.

All financial matters have been resolved between he and Richard,

so I doubt he'll mind what I do now.

I'm sorry.

It is in the past.

I wrote to Mother to tell her about my marriage.

She sent back a curse.

Anne, you don't need her blessing

and you cannot be harmed by her curse.

You have a husband that loves you and you have me.

And I will never let you down again.

Will you come and visit me?

We are going to live at Warwick Castle.

You're going home.

Of course I'll come.

Don't cry, Anne. Don't cry.

Oh, Izzy. I have missed you.

It's a comfort to know that they are both with God now.

There was a moment when I thought you were gone from me, too.

Only one moment?

Then you're lucky.

When you broke sanctuary, I stood by your side.

When I saw you smother an old man in his sleep, I stood by you again.

I never doubted you...

..until I came into your room that night.

This? This is what has been burdening you?

"This"?

You lay with her like you loved her.

Like she could so easily take my place.

Neither she nor any other woman could ever take your place.

Well, she did take it.

The night before my confinement, you were with her and not me.

Elizabeth, you knew when you married me

that I would not be a husband that would faithfully sit at your feet.

We are not young any more.

We are not those two people who met on the side of the road.

They are gone.

Then what remains?

What remains is my love for you.

You are what sustains me in battle.

You are my home.

Sweet.

The Prince of Wales will make a fine horseman.

Your Grace.

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