EDWARD THE GREAT: THE TRUE STORY OF SHAKESPEARE
BY GEOFFREY HAMILTON
FADE IN:
SHORT INTRODUCTORY TITLE SEQUENCE AND STATEMENT
THAT THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.
PROLOGUE Scene 1
INT / WASHINGTON D.C. 1949 -- DAY
{LAWYER, EXPERT, JUDGE, 1ST AND 2ND OXFORDIANS}
LAWYER
....as an expert on Shakespeare then:
given that the plays were stolen and
pirated by these publishers, and yet not
a squeak is heard from your Stratford
man; and secondly, given that during this
same period numerous people are prancing
about England born with the same name,
what evidence is there, that in his
lifetime, this particular William Shakspere
was ever considered a poet?
EXPERT
There is nothing that you would consider
proof. But on the whole I think there is
a case for him. This portrait...
The Ashbourne portrait sits in view.
EXPERT (CONT'D)
...was the only concrete proof we had
from his lifetime. The way Shakespere is
dressed like Hamlet to show a connection
to the poet, the fact that it was dated
to his period, it was all so good. But
now that we know it's a fraud however --
LAWYER
-- Not a fraud, but a joke. Is that not
so? An actual Elizabethan painting
retouched to add a receding hairline to
make him look like the Stratford man. Now
I think a yes or no answer is called for,
or I believe you owe my client the apology
for which this libel trial was convened:
is there evidence that, in his lifetime,
Shakspere of Stratford was ever considered
the poet Shakespeare?
EXPERT
On the whole . . . no.
The courtroom erupts with heckles and jeers.
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2.
LAWYER
Who's likeness then is doctored to resemble
both Hamlet and this Shakspere of
Stratford? Who is the third person which
the original Ashbourne painting
represented? Here are the X-rays of the
painting to refresh your memory.
Xrays are handed to the expert.
EXPERT
It may seem to be originally a portrait
of Edward de Vere, but this, in no way,
proves that he's the author Shakespeare.
Whistles and shouts assault the lawyers.
JUDGE
Order! Order!
The Oxfordians (supporters of de Vere) leave the court.
1ST OXFORDIAN
Finally, Edward will be given the credit
he deserves.
2ND OXFORDIAN
Even Churchill realizes Edward is
Shakespeare, but he could only mutter, 'I
don't like my myths to be tarried with'.
1ST OXFORDIAN
With this trial won, now the meaning of
the plays will be gleaned. The myth is at
an end.
2ND OXFORDIAN
But could Edward have won the world over,
as he did, if the foliage of Shake-speare
had not been cultivated to mystify his
wellspring?
1ST OXFORDIAN
When two hundred years ago that foliage
was at its full height and so was the
love for his work. The only way they
could see Edward at all was through that
unknown 'Pimping Billy'. Perhaps in some
perverse way, his writings were best served
back then.
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3.
2ND OXFORDIAN
It might be. I just hope not.
CUT TO:
Scene 2
INT / HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND 1760 --
DAY
{HALL, SCULPTOR}
The church in Stratford where the famous bust of Shakspere stands.
A second, rough copy of the bust and some artist tools are
juxtaposed within the trappings of the church. Two men, a SCULPTOR
and John HALL meet in the nave shake hands and are eager to view
the two busts together.
SCULPTOR
I'm so glad you could meet me today Mr.
Hall.
HALL
No trouble at all. It's most exciting to
have a true sculptor like yourself here
to copy the Bard's likeness.
SCULPTOR
I asked you to come because I've spent
all week rendering this copy and I now
find I'm looking at, what I can only
describe as, a fish.
Hall is noticably shaken.
SCULPTOR (CONT'D)
I have heard of the repairs you made to
this Shakspere here and I was hoping you
could enlighten me as to how the repairs
were done.
HALL
A fish?! Hardly. Hardly is this man a
fish.
SCULPTOR
Mr. Hall -- I read Rowe's account of
Shakspere's life and his illustration
clearly shows Shakespeare holding a bag
of grain
The Scultor shows Mr Hall the illustration.
SCULPTOR (CONT'D)
Here I see that now it's, incomprehensibly,
a pillow; I also see a pen was added. I'm
(MORE)
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4.
SCULPTOR (CONT'D)
only wondering if anything else was added
or taken away?
HALL
All I did was repair the damage. I was
faithful, sir. The alabaster crumbled so
I had it replaced with marble.
The actual bust, as it is today, is shown
HALL (CONT'D)
I saw no harm in adding the pen and turning
the bag into a pillow --he was our greatest
poet, after all. He deserves to hold more
than a bag.
SCULPTOR
I'm not so sure if this is our poet.
Both figures were made years after his
death, so how could they be faithful in
likeness. A military friend of mine wrote
a play calling this Stratford man a rogue
who simply stole the plays from an unknown
"Pimping Billy". This likeness here is
of a sunstroked mackerel for all I know.
I may be getting twenty guineas for this
commission, but I would lose a thousand,
and my reputation, if I used this as a
model.
HALL
But....sir.
SCULPTOR
Not a single strike has felt true.
HALL
Sir....Sir, please, if you must have such
an opinion, it is not on my work, or on
this shire's innocent endeavors. I implore
you not to spread tales like this back in
London. The shire lives on the pilgrims
who come here. London only wants him for
itself -- that's what I think -- so
London's spreading these rumours to hurt
our trade. We have faithfully searched
the records for proofs, but no one thought
of him as a poet. The only records at
present regard his lawsuits against vicars
for wine expenses and such -- no man was
ever so focused on greed.
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5.
SCULPTOR
Surely, even Stratford has seen its share
of that sin.
HALL
The truth is, if people want to see his
cottage, we find a cottage. If they want
some story from his life, we give them a
story from his life. This was his tomb
and people simply wanted a reminder of
why he is remembered.
SCULPTOR
Think just a little. Shakespeare was a
famous poet -- the most popular, the most
pirated of his time. The poet must have
been famous as a person. His life must
be in the record somewhere, under some
other name. Maybe shake spear simply
means something to his life.
HALL
That name means a way of life for this
town. What does it matter who wrote it?
A rose by any other name would smell as
sweet.
SCULPTOR
You cannot just cite a rose to mask the
rot here. Mr. Hall I apologize for wasting
your time, but there is nothing left for
me to do but to leave you and your shire
to this fish.
The sculptor begins cleaning up his mess as Mr. Hall turns and
walks out.
CUT TO:
Scene 3
EXT / LANTHAM HOUSE, ENGLAND 1642 -- DAY
(CHARLES, LADY, STRANGE)
After the battle of Lanthom House. King CHARLES, Lord STRANGE and
his wife stand in the ruins of this house, the Derby family castle,
and confront the meaning of their momentary victory over
parliament. The King looks outraged and is speechless momentarily.
STRANGE
What I meant to say is that your Majesty
is spoiling for total war.
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6.
LADY
My husband only wants to reiterate how
courageous you are as a warrior. No one
could want such a war, and especially not
you sire. It's only that the destruction
of our ancestral house today has upset
him so and so he speaks in this tone sire.
CHARLES
I know what he means my dear. First he
played with the duplicity of 'spoil' to
make a cut against our Majesty's
upbringing, then he clarified his second
meaning. Well my policy is not for war,
but against it and these disorders -- am
I to suffer this everyday my Lord Strange?
Your following may be powerful, your
generalship may be fortunate this day,
but I rule England and Scotland no matter
how many of my subjects toil against me.
I think you suffer under the
misapprehension that your family is royal.
STRANGE
It is sire, we share the first Tudor King
as ancestor.
CHARLES
What of it? a lineage of bastardy makes
us all cousins from the time of Adam. No,
it is your likeness to the foolishness of
your shameful grandfather -- Edward the
Seventh, as he styled himself -- or that
"singularly odd man" as I've heard him
called. That man is the problem of which
I speak. Like him, you play tricks with
words, you strut about playing the King
of Man and you tire the mind as he did.
And now you encourage all these
pamphleteers and their inside jokes: Shake
this and Spear that; E-ver this and Ne-
ver that; Edward de Vere -- Edward of The
Truth: What presumption to think his name
stands for The Truth! Those packs of
dogs at Oxford who praise his poetry in
my presence -- the sublimity, they call
it, the wit, the nobility. They go on,
yet little do they know how he touches on
our royal person. Now that you ape your
grandfather, you risk his disgrace.
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7.
STRANGE
This continued farce of Shake-speare is
at your royal pleasure and I support it.
My grandfather is no longer tortured with
it and, so, no longer can I be for him.
Besides, my lineage too is besmudged by
this questioning of Shakespeare's identity.
You need me as I am now looked upon, so
for as long as it is politically necessary,
the farce will play on for both our sakes.
Our fathers', loved him and saw fit to
play their parts, we must do likewise.
My part is here as your general and no
more.
CHARLES
Is it? Is it? For my part, to play the
King is to tax my subjects of advantage
when it suits me, and it suits me now to
do so; you are banished from my presence
Lord Strange.... I don't know what role
Edward played in the virgin Queen's eyes,
but as it sent him to the Tower and to
shame. I only hope his folly is aptly
paralleled by your present strut.
THE RUINS AND THE KING’S DEPARTURE ARE VIEWED FROM THE AIR.
VIEW MOVES ACROSS ENGLAND’S COUNTRYSIDE AS
CREDITS BEGIN.
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3.
Edward the Great
Scene 4
EXT / KENIWORTH CASTLE, ENGLAND 1572 -- DAY
(JESTER, QUEEN, ROBERT)
The opening credits continue seemlessly over the QUEEN’s Progress
through the countryside. The Progress winds through the village
toward the castle entrance at sunset. Villagers are enthusiastic
and cheer the Queen. Peasants throw flowers over the Queen. ROBERT
walks close behind. Several attendants follow the pair and separate
them from the JESTER(EDWARD) who is further in the rear and riding
a hobby-horse. The Queen and Robert whisper to each other.
CREDITS END.
ROBERT
Stay in my chamber tonight. As your host,
I insist.
QUEEN
How can I Robbin? To all these people I'm
the Virgin Queen, they may find me out.
ROBERT
These are my people. There will not be a
word spoken or I'll pull their tongues
out.
QUEEN
Not tonight darling. Oh, if your wife
hadn't so scandalously broken her neck we
might even be royal parents by now --
well, openly anyway. No Robert. You will
attend me at tomorrow's sport and no
sooner.
The JESTER/EDWARD upstages the procession by prancing on his hobby-
horse in silly ways, emphasizing the stick behind him.
He is cheered enthusiasically.
A child following his lead bumps into his stick.
JESTER
Owww, stop pulling my stick boy. Have you
no tears for my freakish manhood?
The crowd laughs wildly.
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4.
Edward the Great
JESTER (CONT'D)
Every time I'm Rob-beded and I think I'm
about to be satisfactorily dillied, I do
the dillying instead. It's not half as
fun.
The crowd laughs again
ROBERT
Why do you tolerate that fool?
QUEEN
That's not your concern Robert.
QUEEN and ROBERT enter the castle leaving the Jester/Edward with
the peasants.
JESTER
Look here my friends. This is the wall
that, with the sins of Adam, Robert built.
Jeers.
JESTER (CONT'D)
Now, now, it was with no more than Adam's
sin. Who said it was the Devil's? Who
said the Devil’s? It was I. Don’t listen
to me. Robert is only a man and can be
forgiven as such. So, you ask, why does
he not tear down this wall this very day
and ask for forgiveness? Why? Because it
weighs so. Look at him, he’s way down
here at the foundation.
He points at a stone
JESTER (CONT'D)
Here are the bricks which pin him most
grossly. This brick is his poor wife's
coffin. Goodness, she folded up so neatly
when she broke her neck. Why, Robert,
it's forgotten already. Friends, here is
Robert's betrayed friend the Duke of
Norfolk, and next to him Norfolk's still
breathing love, Mary Queen of Scots. What
a poor wife she is now as she is imprisoned
against heaven and her husband in our
English castles. Norfolk and Mary had no
designs on "Our Virgin" Elizabeth.
(MORE)
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5.
Edward the Great
JESTER (CONT'D)
They only wished to help free us to worship
with a priest at our side. Is that so
sinful? Now it's only a matter of hiring
a fool like myself to lie in the dungeon
next to hers and I will have Queen Mary
loosened by Christmas
Laugher
JESTER (CONT'D)
Not that way, though she is quite comely.
Wait fool -- wait, wait. It's all my
mistake; Robert may have built the wall,
but it belongs to our Virgin Majesty --is
that not so? Yes, yes! Now I see the
pubic interest was in every slathering of
mortar and hair. See --
He holds up a piece of hair used in the mortar.
JESTER (CONT'D)
A most fortunate Queen is she who can
have a wall of virginity built with the
splash from a big man's little trowel
The Jester enters the castle to the cheers of the peasants.
CUT TO:
Scene 5
INT / KENIWORTH CASTLE, 1572 -- NIGHT
(ATTENDANT, EDWARD, JESTER, QUEEN, ROBERT, SERVANTS, MAIDS)
Dark passages and rooms. The castle's bedchamber. ROBERT parts
from the QUEEN in front of her ladies in waiting.
ROBERT
Goodnight, your Majesty. I trust your
sleep will be most guarded tonight as I
have no intention of letting anything
interfere with your golden dreams.
QUEEN
I thank you gentle Robert.
Robert leaves with his own attendant.
The JESTER enters the passage pulling at the arms of two servants,
as the Queen opens the door to her chamber.
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6.
Edward the Great
JESTER
Oh please stop pulling me this way. The
Queen is not to be disturbed. I'm under
Robert's orders not to wander this way.
After all, what would the Queen say, is
what I say. Oh! What do you say your
Majesty?
QUEEN
We say let those servants get back to
their business, as We're sure they know
they should be at it.
SERVANTS depart.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
As all servants should be.
The MAIDS turn their backs.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
{To Jester/Edward) I said, as all servants
should be at it.
Jester pulls his hat over his face and tip-toes into her
bedchamber. Door is closed as the Jester takes off his tunic and
jumps onto the bed.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
(To Jester/Edward) Don't be too hasty my
dear Edward. I've decided the most ancient
family in England must wait one more night
to finally turn royal in me. I'm indisposed
tonight.
EDWARD
Not due to Robert I hope?
QUEEN
I could sign an oath in blood if you want
proof. No, I want you to help me with
this verse. I feel very dissatisfied with
it.
EDWARD
Let me see what you've done since London.
Edward jumps down calmly but eager to help.
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7.
Edward the Great
QUEEN
Could it be the rhythm?
EDWARD
The stanza is as I left it, thank God.
No, the problem is you haven't made it a
part of you, it still sounds like me.
Here, replace your couplet's rhyme with
'me' and 'be', and rearrange it a bit.
QUEEN
But I liked the paradoxical emphasis.
EDWARD
Subtlety in such a verse can only help.
Listen; 'When I was fair and young and
favor grac‚d me / Of many was I sought,
their mistress for to be; / But I did
scorn them all' etcetera.
QUEEN
I'm not enjoying this project.
EDWARD
It was your theme.
QUEEN
It was a whim; Mary brought it out of me:
her suitors, her passion, and her son,
James. The Scots are already preparing
young James for the English throne.
Inserted clip showing YOUNG JAMES being taught generalship.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
I imprison Mary, yet she freely boasts
that I will surrender to her one day. She
claims that if I make her family the legal
heirs to the crown she will bite the
Spanish hand that feeds her cause. I had
her moved from here last month specifically
so we could avoid her on this trip.
Inserted clip showing MARY writing to James from her cell.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
Whenever I see her gilded prisons I
recognize my own. She has a legitimate
son, but I never will unless I marry soon.
You Edward are fortunate.
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8.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
To be married? Anne is like a baby sister
to me, and it is bigamy while I am your
husband by all that is sacred. Our marriage
predates Cecil’s arrangment.
QUEEN
Our little ceremony was under the dominion
of the sun and moon, it was only the pagan
side of me that married you.
Edward is sullen.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
Oh, Edward, don't be hurt. You're too
ambitious for the other nobles to accept.
I would be driven out of England as Mary
was from Scotland. I married you to Anne
because you were still free, too free.
Some kind of marriage was the only way I
was going to control your railing...hobby-
horse -- I love you so Edward. If you
were with someone you could not love, I
was safe. And William was so set on you
for his daughter. Well, at first he was.
I had to consent to his wishes at the
time.
EDWARD
You're the Queen! Why should you bow to
his wishes?
QUEEN
Even if you were King in my place you
would fail without his mastery of the
realm. You're just an impetuous imp.
She caresses him.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
You incense him constantly and yet he
never speaks ill of you. He winks at your
indiscretions -- even with me. You have
no better ally against Robert you know.
The Howards are not good allies they only
cry for the Pope's cause at every
opportunity, and your mentor Thomas is no
ally, he has little influence with me
lately.
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9.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Thomas is a better father to me than that
That fish monger ever was in all the years
I lived as his ward.
QUEEN
I insist you stop calling Lord Cecil
anything but your friend and father.
EDWARD
Yes, Elizabeth.
QUEEN
Now the arrangements for tomorrow are
complete. And I want you to go easy on
Lord Robert.
EDWARD
Go easy on him? Never!
Edward jumps up on the bed and pretends to battle Robert.
Outside the door the MAIDS watch the approach of ROBERT towards
the chamber door. Robert slows down when he sees the guilty
expressions on the maids. He swears at himself as he storms out
through the passageways.
CUT TO:
Scene 6
EXT / KENIWORTH CASTLE, 1572 -- NEXT DAY
(ANNE, CECIL, EDWARD, QUEEN, ROBERT, THOMAS)
In front of the castle walls. Two mock castle turrets and several
catapults sit in view as the Queen and her entourage wait for the
mock battle to begin.
CECIL
As you know, I have nothing but the highest
praise for his martial, and poetic
abilities, but his sport with my family's
honour exceeds my patience. He even calls
me a fish monger in public.
QUEEN
William, you have won honour by making
Edward your son. You've even become rich
from his estates. Now that your daughter
is a Countess,
We see ANNE as they glance at her
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10.
Edward the Great
QUEEN (CONT'D)
...you can be made a Lord. I think the
exchange has been fair on both sides.
CECIL
Yes, your Majesty. However, if I could
only remind you how he and his men robbed
me at Gad's Hill; how he attempted to
free Norfolk in defiance of your death
sentence; Even here, in front of us, he
flirts with the remaining Howard family.
Edward, with Lord HOWARD and other Howard family members. He
consols them.
QUEEN
They are each my cousins and I trust them.
CECIL
And Edward's encouragement of the common
actors -- under his own name, no less. At
least stop him from that.
QUEEN
I can do no more then what I have done.
He's impossible to control. As his
guardian you've known that. You do so
well with the nation and with those history
books, why can't you do something about
him. You still have all your spies, do
you not?
CECIL
He knows which of his friends are my spies
and he deliberately acts scandalously
when they visit him. I've learned that I
just encourage him when I try to control
him.
QUEEN
Perhaps, for a change, you could find a
way that doesn't involve either a spy or
sound whipping.
CECIL
I will try your majesty.
QUEEN
(To ATTENDANT) Have not the contestants
all suited in their armour yet?
(MORE)
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11.
Edward the Great
QUEEN (CONT'D)
I want the sport to begin. You go see
what is the issue.
ROBERT and EDWARD in armour. The machinery of the battle is wheeled
into the battlefield.
ANNE Cecil calls and waves to Edward but no one pays her any
attention.
EDWARD
(to Robert) Did you finally have your
smith build you a sword someone could
see?
ROBERT
Out of my way Oxford.
EDWARD
Where's your nephew Sydney? Or should I
call him your son?
ROBERT
He already traveled to Paris.
Edward gets noticeably upset with Robert.
QUEEN
I heard that Lord Robert! You know travel
is a forbidden subject around Lord Edward.
There is no sense encouraging him steal
away to the continent again.
ROBERT
Yes, your Majesty.
QUEEN
Now, I want you to all place down your
swords and other weapons in front of me.
I've taken the liberty of having these
padded weapons made so that you don't
kill each other. Take them up and begin
the battle. Look for my handkerchief to
touch the ground! The Tudor rose to the
winning party!
Edward and Robert return to their sides as THOMAS, Edward's father-
like mentor, comes towards Edward unsuited for the battle.
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12.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
My dear Thomas why aren't you suited for
battle. You're the better general here.
THOMAS
I've come only to watch you and the Howards
defeat Robert. I'm too old for these games
now. And keep this secret: if I were beside
you today the Queen would soon find me a
useless general. These spectaculars are
your sphere now.
EDWARD
Approve me closely my Lord Chamberlain!
The Queen drops her kerchief and the battle begins with catapults
launching balls of fire.
The balls overshoot the battle lines and the two sides attack
each other viciously.
Robert and Edward lead their respective attacks in medieval style
and come face to face many times.
ROBERT
There is no sport between us Edward. But
sport will be my excuse.
EDWARD
Excuse for what? For what? you gallows
maker!
ROBERT
How dare you fuck my Queen?
EDWARD
Her pleasure gave reasons last night, but
I covered her mouth at the crucial moment.
ROBERT
I'll destroy you Edward.
EDWARD
Not after the Queen discovers your secret
marriage!
ROBERT
How would you know?
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13.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Don't worry you pin prick. I have my own
concerns. Just leave me to them and I
will leave you to yours.
THOMAS re-enters the fray and calls out for everyone to stop the
fighting.
THOMAS
Stop the game! Stop! Stop! The town is on
fire! The fireballs have rolled into the
town and set it on fire!
EDWARD
Everyone down to the Avon and put out the
fire! Hurry!
Edward leads a fire brigade.
The other side hesitates to go as Robert calculates what to do.
Eventually, Robert casually waves his side to join Edward while
he calmly walks towards the reviewing stands.
The Queen looks disappointed with the events and all talk among
themselves as they depart to re-enter the castle.
QUEEN
What a shame I couldn't see the end of
the battle. I don't think I'll ever know
who is the better general.
ROBERT
I'm surprise it could be in doubt
Elizabeth. He's too short to lead an army.
No one would ever take him seriously.
QUEEN
You might be right, Robert.
Queen and Robert depart for the castle.
CECIL
Come Anne! Edward may be your husband,
but I am your father.
ANNE leaves with her father.
All desert the situation as Edward returns alone covered in soot,
looking for more help to fight the fire.
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14.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
{aside} This nation is a madhouse. Where
is Robert's help? Where is the Queen?
They set fire to a town and walk off
without further concern. I don't care
whether the Queen, or Nature herself, has
prohibited my leaving for the continent.
If Sydney is in Paris, I'll go to Italy.
I'll thrice anything he does. Tonight
I'll smother this fire, but tomorrow I
leave at first light.
Edward again fights the fire.
CUT TO:
Scene 7
INT / VENICE, ITALY, DUKE'S PALACE, 1576 -- DAY
(DUKE, EDWARD, HOWARD, STAGE EDWARD, COMPANION)
The commedia dell'arte is performing a show in honour of Edward's
visit. A player is sumptuously overdressed exactly as Edward is
that night and he recites a biography of Edward as he speaks
accented English.
STAGE EDWARD
....These foes are shown their place / is
'gainst the gentle race. / The Queen
rewards Edward / for song and play and
word / with free and easy pass / to take
the Alps by ass / and punt the Po to sea,/
As Venice waits for thee. / Impatient man
it's true. / Far Sic'ly calls him too,/
then Roam, Padua / Florence and Mantua /
till fame and honour raise / the pitch of
all great praise / and he is made the man
/ that all the bellows fan./ Then news
of his great child / drives all the women
mild. / Return he must to see / his heir
and wife and Queen. Still Edward will
remain /...
Edward jumps on stage and calmly mimes his story.
STAGE EDWARD (CONT'D)
...within our char'acter's name./ Prince
from the land of lead,/ for us, not all
was said. / Tonight is but the first / of
revels that we thirst./ Where in these
masks lives Edward / timeless, to be our
time to live.
Gracia Doge mia.... Conte.....
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15.
Edward the Great
DUKE
Thank you players. Dear Count Edward, I
hope our failing attempt to speak your
tongue has impressed you. So many English
Catholics in our nation are for hire and
we have been taught by them how to honour
you with this verse.
EDWARD
Thank you for splitting the heroic
hexameter!
All laugh.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
So Edward is only half a hero? When Don
John of Austria has the courage to face
me in the joust you will see the other
half. Thank you Duke. Thank you all. In
the little more than a year since I arrived
in your country you have learned my mother
tongue, which can barely express a thought --
and I love to speak Italian so.
DUKE
Now, now, no Italian. Let us continue. It
was worth the effort to learn it when you
have shown us what Englishmen can do.
Tonight the Commedia d'elle Arte has
officially inaugurated the character of
Edward of Oxenford. A character which the
peasants and nobles across Italy demanded
to see on stage. I hope you are honoured.
Edward has tears in his eyes.
EDWARD
To have this, the most civilized nation
on earth allow me to move my hand in this
air is an honour. To breath it is to demand
too much.
DUKE
--Now, now, my friend. Next, I have
gathered the knowledge of Italy together
in these books
Crates of books are wheeled in.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.
Edward the Great
DUKE (CONT'D)
A gift seemingly to you, but one day, no
doubt, it will come back transformed. I
would also wish that you allow me to
transport them to your home at my expense
as I understand your wealth has not been
able to follow you due to a new outbreak
of plague.
EDWARD
Nonsense, my dear Duke I am flush with
gold. Without disrespect, I have no need
of your help. In fact I have a gift for
you
A SERVANT moves forward with a box.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
I present you with the Ruby of Selonikka.
A rare jewel smuggled away from the Turks
not last month under my expense and
specifically so as to have a gift worthy
of your republic.
DUKE
I thank you for my republic and with my
heart. But, dear Edward, we had not
finished with our gifts yet. Here we have
taken from our treasury the horn of Roland,
the gift of Charlemagne. We give you this
magic protector, a spear of sorts to shake
against the world.
Two English gentleman, HOWARD and a COMPANION, are seen entering
the theatre as Edward talks. When Edward finishes, he and the
Duke continue to praise each other while these two men whisper to
each other.
HOWARD
It is wonderful to see Edward again and
under the papal eye, but this news will
not be easy to give him. Our delay cannot
be excused, plague or no plague. The
Protestants have grown too strong since
his departure. Robert and Cecil must be
stopped.
Edward spots Howard and begs leave to greet him. Howard's
companion retires into the background.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Howard, my good friend, it is so good to
see you. What brings you to paradise?
How is the rest of the Howard family?
HOWARD
We are as good as can be expected, but it
is to inform you of the news at court
that I have journeyed to Italy.
EDWARD
Can it it be so urgent?
HOWARD
As voluminous as it is horrendous Edward.
First, a note to you. The Queen has told
another poet to take credit for your
hundred verses and rewards him for the
deception by making him poet laureate
over you. She has forbidden your name to
be connected to any of your plays or verses
and she no longer allows your poetry to
be published. Cecil is even put in charge
of the censorship. The people are reading
too much about the Queen's court in them.
You see, she wants a small revenge on
you. You were fortunate that she let you
travel at all, and now she thinks two
years will be taking advantage of her.
She misses you very much and is upset at
you for not returning sooner.
EDWARD
Can she be so spiteful? But I will not be
undone by this. What poet is said to have
written my verses? Not Sydney I hope?
HOWARD
No, your friend Gascoigne. Secondly, Cecil
will send no more money, not even enough
to pay off your creditors. I know this is
not surprising to you at this point, but
there is far worse news. Your child...a
girl--
EDWARD
--That's wonderful news. I'm not worried
about a girl. There will be other
opportunities for a boy. I feel Anne and
I have will have another chance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.
Edward the Great
HOWARD
The reason you were not sent word of the
child's sex for so many months, is not
because of the plague closing the passes,
but because it was not known.
EDWARD
Are people so prudish? Does no one look
anymore? Are only hermaphrodites expected
under Cecil's commonwealth?
HOWARD
No. It was not known because the child
was not born the day it was claimed by
Cecil and his daughter. It was born in
October, one year after your last meeting
with her. It is known at court already
and everyone is calling you a cuckold.
Cecil is fighting back by spreading a
rumour that he tricked you into sleeping
with Anne three months later by getting
you drunk and having a pimp send you into
a whore's lodging. There your wife is
said to have waited for you. Did such a
thing happen?
EDWARD
Never! Though, a "fish monger" he has
proven himself. How could this happen
with Anne? I've known her since she was a
baby. She is not capable of such
infidelity.
HOWARD
There is no mistake. The Queen and her
doctor have been suspicious since its
conception was made known after your
departure. Others have certain information
that it is not yours. And there is worse
news still.
EDWARD
As it is, I'm ash
HOWARD
It is the opinion of the court that the
father is Cecil himself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Now everything is clear. The pimp does
try his goods!
The Duke of Venice notices Edward's change of mood and comes with
his entourage to investigate.
DUKE
Dear Edward we have all watched your mood
change for the worse and we all would
like to know if there is something we
could do to improve your spirits.
EDWARD
My affairs in England call me home at
this moment. Also, I'm told that my wealth
has refused to follow my debts, so I ask
that my baggage be sent after me as you
offered. I will repay all that you and
your kind have done for me. I go towards
England now. I thank you all! I thank you
all! I leave my true soul in your
safekeeping.
CUT TO:
Scene 8
INT / WHITEHALL PALACE, 1576 -- DAY
(CECIL, EDWARD, QUEEN, ROBERT)
Cecil and Robert conspire while the Queen and attendants wait for
the arrival of Edward.
CECIL
It's not that I could not, or would not,
do all I could do. Nor is it that I
hesitated to do the deed. I did all I
could, Lord Robert, as you know I would.
The pirates refused to kill Edward once
they captured him. They knew the Queen
would have them hunted down if they had
killed him, and that we would lead the
hunt to throw the blame off ourselves.
They decided only to steal his goods,
which were very little and now they want
further payment to keep silent.
ROBERT
Pay them off Cecil, with Edward's lands
as usual, but warn them not to test our
own resolve to pursue them ourselves if
they break their word again.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.
Edward the Great
CECIL
I most heartily concur Robert. There is
the matter of my daughter and granddaughter--
ROBERT
That's your affair--
CECIL
--there is no truth to the rumours I hope
you know.
ROBERT
Of course, of course. What a shame for
you that the pirates didn't kill Edward
now that his usefulness to you is at an
end.
CECIL
Not that I ever desired his ending to be
anything but for the country, but there
would have been some satisfaction in not
having to deal with him any longer. Your
own needs must be similarly indifferent
as rivals for the Queen's bed grow in
number with each passing day.
ROBERT
My needs have their own order of
preference.
EDWARD enters with his followers all are armed. He faces the Queen,
makes a curt bow and waits.
QUEEN
Cousin Edward we have missed you so at
court--
EDWARD
--I will not speak to you until these two
men are no longer in my presence
Points to Robert and Cecil.
QUEEN
How dare you? Clear the court I wish to
speak to my cousin in private. Clear the
court!
All depart but Edward and the Queen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.
Edward the Great
QUEEN (CONT'D)
Now Edward what do you want me to do? Do
you want me to throw you in prison?
Because if you ever speak to me like that
again my only choice will be between Fleet
or the Tower. Your capture by pirates
holds little excuse for your ill temper.
EDWARD
How could you allow Cecil in court when
you know of his daughter's conception?
QUEEN
Look at this conception as a blessing--
EDWARD
--How can I? as his daughter has conceived
it, by his seed.--
QUEEN
--How do you know Edward? Do you have
some special communion with God to know
if it is Cecil's incestuous child? Who
gave you this insight?
EDWARD
The Howards sent me word.
QUEEN
The Howards are in a war with Cecil and
Robert. Why do you trust them? They have
no more knowledge of the matter than
youself.
EDWARD
The child cannot be mine.
QUEEN
Yes, on that score I am most sorry for
you -- however if the fault of one's own
doing can naturally avenge the wrongs
done against oneself, then I have news
which may alleviate your suffering pride.
During your absence I gave birth to a
son.
EDWARD
A son? Whose son? Whose son?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.
Edward the Great
QUEEN
Your's of course. I sent him to our friend,
Southampton, as he recently lost his own
child. Our Henry will inherit that title
and no one will notice the changling.
EDWARD
-- Henry -- Henry --
QUEEN
Yes, your favourite, Prince Hal.
EDWARD
-- Could I not take him under my own care?
QUEEN
You're too close to my throne, everyone
would guess it is mine, and after this
scandal with your wife, no one would
believe your claims to the contrary. It
can never be considered.
EDWARD
We were married under the rites of Nature,
why can't Henry's legitimacy be made known?
QUEEN
I will not confess to the world, and to
my enemies, that I am some harlot who has
secret husbands and secret children. Enough
of that. Robert doesn't know, no-one knows
of this, but those concerned and my closest
maid. Regarding your wife, Anne, and my
Lord Cecil. I will order Cecil to
relinquish his control over your estates.
You will be in charge of your own fortune
now. I will not ask you to return to Anne
and neither Cecil nor Anne will attend me
while you're at court. From now on I want
you to stay close to me. No more travels
for my mad Turk. My private stage is a
far as I want you to stray.
The Queen embraces Edward like a mother.
CUT TO:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.
Edward the Great
Scene 9
EXT / A LONDON STREET, 1577 -- DAY
(1ST MAN, 2ND MAN, EDWARD, LYLY)
Edward is dressed in fancy Italian dress. He is very fashionable
in England and several passers-by walk by him in similar outfits.
He and a fellow poet, John LYLY are going to his house at Charing
Cross and there they will meet his personal troops.
EDWARD
One thing follows the next. You see, John,
if my money had come to Italy, I would
have paid for my baggage. Next, the
baggage would have traveled with me. Then
it would have traveled across the channel
with me where those friendly pirates would
have taken these fashions and they would
now be politicing in these frills and not
I. My followers would see my poetry before
my garters. You see how long the train of
action is. An action is so extended by
its consequences that the train of a dress
may not recognize its mistress. Look how
they pass by as though I'm holding on to
their train -- so I'm to become another
follower of the Earl of Oxford am I? Oh
sir, don't you love that Oxford March,
and those Oxford gloves, and the Oxford
perfume, and don't forget the Oxford
toothpick, and what about the Oxford lisp --
by the way, I don't lisp do I?
LYLY
Not at all my Lord.
Edward does not lisp.
LYLY (CONT'D)
EDWARD
Master Lyly -- John, I am no Lord to you.
Use Edward, now that we are brother poets.
Come to think of it, I have brotherly
advice to ask of you. Even though "Titus"
is almost complete, I have a new character
who is hung by the neck somewhat like the
Queen has done recently to one sad fellow,
and I want him to survive and say something
about it. What do you think it's like to
be hung from the neck?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24.
Edward the Great
LYLY
I could not say my Lor-- Edward -- sir.
EDWARD
I was so hoping that you'd have some
insight. Oh well, come to my home. I have
another issue to discuss. You see, I'm
hoping you might be interested in becoming
my secretary. Now before you jump at it --
the position comes with a lodging at the
Savoy, like my other poets, and a fifty
pound stipend. I won't interfere with
your own writing and, if you like, I could
tutor you in the ways of Euphues.
LYLY
Edward, I have dreamed of this opportunity.
Thank you.
They enter Edward's House and find four of Edward's Men sharpening
swords. Each is in a blue uniform with a boar crest on the left
sleeve. They stand at attention as Edward enters.
ARMED MEN
My lord!
EDWARD
Why are you men here today? Your fencing
lessons are set for tomorrow.
1ST MAN
We heard that Sydney has formed a group
to stand against you and we came today to
guard your person.
EDWARD
(Laughs) I thank you for your concern,
but Sydney's group is not in violent
opposition to me. He merely dislikes my
poetic style and the style of my followers
. . . He opposes me on the page only. If
he could only write a play perhaps I might
worry.
1ST MAN
We're so relieved.
EDWARD
While you're here, perhaps you men could
answer a question for me?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25.
Edward the Great
1ST MAN
What is your pleasure my Lord?
EDWARD
Does anyone here have experience with the
hangman? Or happen to know what it's like
to be hung from the neck?
They all shake their heads, 'No'.
1ST MAN
Sir, I have an idea.
1st man takes off his suspenders and ties them around his neck.
EDWARD
What are you doing?
1ST MAN
I'll hang myself and tell you about it.
LYLY
Don't!
EDWARD
No, let him if he wants to.
The man is helped by his comrades to hang himself.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
Let him lower himself off the chair.
The man slips off the chair and struggles for a few seconds before
the noose is released and he falls to the floor.
1ST MAN
Oh my Lord I wouldn't do that again for
the world! I was so terrified that I
might stay up too long. It was the worst
kind of pain.
2ND MAN
Let me try. I want to know that feeling.
EDWARD
Let him men.
LYLY
My lord -- Edward -- this is sillyness.
The same scenario happens again with the second man, but longer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Hush John, Perhaps what they can't say, I
will see in their eyes.
The 2nd man looks dangerously injured
EDWARD (CONT'D)
That’s enough, release him fast!
2ND MAN
Oh! I can't say what happened. ...No words
for it.
LYLY
(Aside to Edward) What fools they are to
follow each other.
EDWARD
But not all followers are fools. Let me
have a turn. There are some who enjoy
severing the heart from the mind, this
once it may serve the turn of truth. Keep
me up the longest!
The same thing happens to Edward. He struggles in the noose as
the scene ends.
CUT TO:
Scene 10
INT / WHITEHALL PALACE, 1578 -- DAY
(EDWARD, HOWARD, MENDOZA, THOMAS, VAVASOR)
A party is taking place while the Queen is away. The Spanish
Ambassador is being hosted by the Howard clan in the Palace.
MENDOZA
How is the saying Lord Howard? When the
cat is away the mice will play?
HOWARD
Cecil will never miss a penny. When
Elizabeth returns we'll have paid for the
party in full. This celebration is an
investment in the true Queen -- Mary. The
Howards and Veres want to welcome the new
ambassador from King Philip. Spain is
evermore our savior in this matter.
MENDOZA
And where is the Vere clan tonight?
(MORE)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.
Edward the Great
MENDOZA (CONT'D)
We want Edward especially to be with us.
We heard of Harvey's speech about him
last month. The chivalrous poet-warrior.
The invisible man who shakes spears like
Athena. He has a great following across
the country we understand. A true Catholic
and an intimate of Elizabeth. He could
kill the harlot if necessary.
HOWARD
(shocked) We have yet to ask him to join
us. We're waiting for the best opportunity.
He loves the Queen and most likely won't
betray her presently. But he is on our
side and hates to see Mary in our English
prisons all these years. While we've waited
for him, the English Jesuits from Italy
have been arriving and laying ground for
Mary's reign. So regardless of Edward, we
will still need to wait until the ground
is set.
MENDOZA
But don't wait until the Jezebel is tired
of him.
Thomas arrives and approaches the ambassador
HOWARD
(Aside to Mendoza) This is Edward's mentor.
He's sympathetic to us, but too old
fashioned to trust with our plans.(Aloud) -
Welcome Thomas
THOMAS
Good evening gentlemen. I have some welcome
news from the Queen's tour. It seems
Robert's secret marriage has been exposed.
The Queen has gone so far as to slap
Robert's wife in public and throw Robert
himself into Fleet Prison. I made an effort
for him, so now he's under house arrest
instead. I hope he's grateful to be in
his own bed tonight.
HOWARD
Why did you interfere? It was just as I'd
planned. We can't have him at court.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.
Edward the Great
THOMAS
Then I gather you are behind this
revelation to the Queen?
HOWARD
How else can we free the true faith while
Robert poisons her ear? Thomas, where is
Edward tonight?
THOMAS
He's here somewhere; why don't you just
send your henchmen to find him.
Thomas walks off.
MENDOZA
This Thomas must never be made aware of
our plans. They should not even be hinted
at again. Do you understand?
HOWARD
Yes, of course -- there's Edward now.
Watch closely what happens next my dear
ambassador.
Edward arrives and sees Lord Howard.
EDWARD
Cousin! Have you heard the news of Robert?
It was bound to happen eventually. You
can't marry behind the Queen's back and
she not find out.
HOWARD
Yes, Thomas gave us the news just now.
EDWARD
The blessings of marriage total one: to
never need to promise it again.
HOWARD
Which is quite a blessing. Edward this is
Ambassador Mendoza.
Anne VAVASOR sees Edward and approaches the group.
HOWARD (CONT'D)
Look now gentleman. Here comes my niece.
Gentlemen this is Anne Vavasor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Anne. What a shame the infamy of my wife
should be reflected in your name. I
apologize for the actions of your namesake.
VAVASOR
My lord. I have no need of your apologies.
I'm quite capable of designing a new
meaning from those four letters. Perhaps
you might instead work on the design of
your own name. What is it this month?
Godling? Apollo? The Turk? The Boar? The
lord who Shakes spears? My uncle tells
me you live under a hundred different
names. What is wrong with Edward de Vere?
EDWARD
My dear girl. The Queen has forbidden the
chronicles in my plays and verse from
being identified outside the court.
Besides, at court, you know it's shameful
to acknowledge one's playwriting to the
commons.
VAVASOR
My lord, I have seen your Henry VI. and
Joan of Arc says, "Belike your lordship
take us then for fools?" So I say it to
you, do you think anyone is fooled by
your confusions. Why don't you stand up
to the Queen and to these courtiers?
HOWARD
Anne, hold your tongue. Edward does what's
right and it's not your place to contradict
him.
EDWARD
It's quite all right Henry. I would like
to explain it to her. Pardon us.
Edward holds out his arm and Anne puts hers in his as they walk
away.
HOWARD
Seignior Mendoza this is the spectacle I
wished you to see. She went further than
usual, but I knew Edward would be caught
in her web.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.
Edward the Great
MENDOZA
What is this all about?
HOWARD
You will see. She'll be useful in our
future plans for Edward.
CUT TO:
Scene 11
INT / WHITEHALL PALACE, TENNIS COURT, 1579 -- DAY
(EDWARD, HOWARD, KNYVET, MENDOZA, SYDNEY, PARTNER)
Edward and Knyvet play tennis as Lord Howard and Mendoza sit in
the tennis court gallery. The gallery is otherwise empty.
KNYVET
Good serve Edward! You can add this game
to your treasure chest of wonders!
EDWARD
This treasure chest of flattery you've
found, Knyvet, should be given back to
Robert and Cecil. They're so low in the
Queen's favour I think this stuff of yours
was lost by them; besides it's time we
were charitable.
KNYVET
Perhaps you should keep it for yourself,
I hear my niece Anne starves you for
flattery.
EDWARD
Mistress Anne flatters me by offering me
her wits. I thank all her relations for
that treasure.
Edward returns to playing. Howard speaks privately to Mendoza.
HOWARD
Elizabeth will not return England to the
Pope. It's time we freed Mary and made
her Queen, but we still must wait until
Edward is fully with us before we bring
him into our plan. Anne, my niece, is
always with Edward and she may become
pregnant any time.
(MORE)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31.
Edward the Great
HOWARD (CONT'D)
If that happens we will have Edward; he's
too much in love with our Anne to betray
our cause and too much in our debt to go
alone in the world. Additionally, he has
invested the remainder of his ready fortune
in the North West expedition of Frobisher.
What's worse for him is he borrowed three
thousand from a Jew to further invest in
his gamble. So now he’s in fiscal
jeopardy, he's too weak at court to oppose
us and he'll have everything to gain by
supporting us now.
MENDOZA
Yes, I heard something about this Jew.
Mendoza turns to the game and calls down to Edward.
MENDOZA (CONT'D)
Lord Oxford I hear you have decided to
support a voyage to our New World.
EDWARD
Yes, I believe there is a great amount of
gold to be mined in the north-western
territories.
MENDOZA
I also understand a Jew named Lok has
advance you the moneys you invested?
EDWARD
Yes, an honest man, as I can tell.
MENDOZA
What did this Lok ask for as your bond?
EDWARD
Nothing more than title to one of my
smaller estates.
MENDOZA
Is your honour put into bond so lightly?
EDWARD
I have seen the gold from the first
expedition. I will not need to give up
anything. My ship will come home with
enough gold to buy even Robert's title.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32.
Edward the Great
MENDOZA
Your honour is in jeopardy my good Earl.
Is honour not worth more than even one's
own flesh? Watch this Shyster Lok closely.
We expelled the Jews from Spain for less
than what he can do against you.
SYDNEY and a PARTNER enter the tennis court and get ready to play.
SYDNEY
Lord Oxford, I wish to play. So if you
could finish your repartee elsewhere I
would be very much obliged.
EDWARD
This is the Spanish Ambassador, Sydney,
and I have neither finished the
conversation nor have I yet played a full
game. So, if you don't mind, I suggest
you wait your turn.
SYDNEY
I don't think I have the time to wait for
all your puns and anachronisms. So if you
could use the rules of grammar and get to
the point I would be very much in your
debt.
EDWARD
You borrow so much from me now I doubt
not but that you are in my debt already.
SYDNEY
How could I be? I don't believe your word
games can have any meaning.
EDWARD
You and your gang steal the fruits of my
games. Face it Sydney, you are a puppy.
SYDNEY
Dogs beget puppies, men beget children.
EDWARD
Your lesson is well taken, you darling
puppy.
SYDNEY
How dare you speak to me that way! I insist
you retract that word.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Puppy? Be content I don't say worse in
front of these gentleman. As it is, I
feel so depressed for your poor 'uncle'
Robert's fall from grace, I will let you
go with a mere 'puppy'.
SYDNEY
You are the most infuriating insult to
the English language --
EDWARD
The only insult I'm making is to effort.
Pup, pup, pup.
SYDNEY
I challenge you --
Sydney draws his sword.
EDWARD
Oh yes, whatever your mastership wishes.
(To Mendoza) I hear he's good. Now we
shall see. Where is my rapier Lord Howard?
SYDNEY
-- On this court in one week.
EDWARD
Indeed. Lord Howard, never mind the rapier.
I have better.
Edward takes up his racket like it is a sword and attacks Sydney
with it chasing him off the court.
SYDNEY
You will regret this Edward. No one calls
me a puppy!
EDWARD
His wit and originality fly like the
swallow.... tied to my lure. My dear
Howards, Ambassador, you have born witness.
Literature has come to violence and the
epilogue will have Oxford bury Sydney on
the field of honour.
CUT TO:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34.
Edward the Great
Scene 12
INT / WHITEHALL PALACE, 1579 A WEEK LATER -- DAY
(CECIL, EDWARD, FROBISHER, LOK, QUEEN, HOWARD, HOWARD)
The Queen holds an audience to deal with the problems surrounding
Edward. Cecil and the Howards are in attendance on either side to
the Queen.
QUEEN
Sydney has overstepped himself and is not
to duel with the Earl of Oxford. Master
Sydney, do you not know to give way to
your betters? You had no cause and no
permission to challenge a peer of the
realm. Lord Oxford I forbid you to
consider his challenge seriously.
EDWARD
Yes Mum. But how could I?
QUEEN
No lip, Edward.
EDWARD
Yes, your Majesty.
QUEEN
Now to this mad North-West Expedition.
Where is Captain Frobisher? I understand
you have more to say regarding the fool's
gold you wasted our money on? Well I'm
sick of hearing about it already. I don't
like to be reminded of the thousand I
lost. Is there more bad news?
FROBISHER
I am most sorry for the disappointment I
caused, but it was an honest mistake on
my part. You see, when I had the fool's
gold checked for authenticity, after my
first expedition, I was lied to by my
geologist. He skimmed the investor's money
during the provisioning of the voyage and
has since departed for France. Now I've
been told that a certain Jew knew of the
deception. The same Jew who lent my Lord
of Oxford the three thousand to invest.
It seems this Jew lent my lord the money
and received most of it back from my
geologist. He tried to win title to
Wivenhoe from my lord from this deception.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35.
Edward the Great
QUEEN
Who is this Jew?
FROBISHER
Micheal Lok is his name and he is here
under arrest.
QUEEN
What do you say, Lok?
LOK
It is a scurrilous lie. I lent the money
in good faith. Now that he has lost his
gamble others are seeking to save his
honour. But Lord Oxford has not paid his
debt and so he forfeits his bond. I insist
on the law. I insist on the bond.
QUEEN
What say you to this Oxford?
EDWARD
I know of none of these deceptions, either
way.
QUEEN
I have heard your lies Lok and I decree
that you are placed in Fleet Prison until
it suits me to release you.
Lok is taken away peacefully.
EDWARD
(Aside) For once her justice moves swiftly,
yet it only makes me unhappy -- she was
swift because he had no power. Oh where
is my mistress Anne this minute? The
court is weary. Where have you gone since
bedtime my dark sweet?
CUT TO:
Scene 13
INT / SEA COAST AT WIVENHOE, 1580 -- DAY
(EDWARD, HOWARD, VAVASOR)
Anne Vavasor sits in a window overlooking the ocean.
VAVASOR
How he dances so -- the ladies must note.
How he speaks well -- the ladies must
(MORE)
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36.
Edward the Great
VAVASOR (CONT'D)
tell me. Oh I wish!... I wish he were all
mine. I would lock him in his room like
Philip of Spain does his wife. Moors
know how to love. They brood, pine, accuse,
point, and thrust home. Oh, if his smooth
finger could more than mimic copulation
and my mouth more than mock conception, I
could show the world that he now is mine.
He's not the Queen's! He's mine! He will
be mine now. Darling! Darling, come down
now! I'm so hungry this morning.
EDWARD
What's that?
Edward comes downstairs unkempt.
VAVASOR
Let's walk along the cliffs this morning
and have breakfast at the old woman's
lodge. The cold breeze will harden that
courtier's flab. Come now, get dressed
and we'll surprise her in bed again.
EDWARD
Anne, when we arrive she is only resting
after having worked in the fields since
dawn.
VAVASOR
Is she always up this early? Well then
she might have some oatmeal stuck to the
bottom of her pot and we could eat the
scrapings for her.
EDWARD
I suppose she might let us. Wait for me
while I dress.
VAVASOR
(Aside) Now's the time. (Aloud) Edward?
Edward my Turk?
EDWARD
Why would you use the Queen's nickname?
You know I dislike it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37.
Edward the Great
VAVASOR
I once re-beautified the name Anne. I
can also make "Queen" as lovely to you as
I.
EDWARD
Queens only bore me these days.
VAVASOR
I will never bore you. Listen, I have a
riddle to give you.
EDWARD
A sport for which you know I'm weak.
Shame... shame...
VAVASOR
Listen and look: I am a giant with more
of my kind, A singular'ty an ax can't
unbind. Tethered with water that I leave
behind. I am a giant of more than one
grind
EDWARD
"A giant of more than a grind."
VAVASOR
"one grind" I said.
EDWARD
Does the world grind on that axis?
VAVASOR
The whole world does.
EDWARD
My lady, does this grinding come in for
censorship when I bring it to the stage?
VAVASOR
Every time.
EDWARD
And you're a giant?
VAVASOR
A Titan, nine months at a time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38.
Edward the Great
EDWARD
Nine months!? My children can't wait so
long in line. We'll give it a sibling
now, right away, a twin. I want you to
give birth to a new Gemini for our
foundling universe. This cottage will be
the earth. The old woman will be Venus
and the City will be the unknowable void.
They make love. Howard enters the cottage. He sits in a chair
and begins to throw sand from the floor at them.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
I think we may be shaking this place apart.
Look Anne, your good uncle.
VAVASOR
Uncle Henry?! How long have you been here?
HOWARD
Did I hear you right? Am I to have another
true Christian soldier at my side?
EDWARD
Two if we can help it. But not everybody
need fight your battles, must they?
HOWARD
Anne go for a walk.
VAVASOR
This is my cottage and my lover. You wait
outside if you want to speak to my Earl.
EDWARD
Just go on with it Henry.
HOWARD
Leave us now, Anne!
VAVASOR
You're just a bully!
Vavasor leaves when Edward kisses her hand.
HOWARD
You know Edward, we Howards have always
admired you for what you've done. The
Queen has taken to having Mass again. The
Protestants are not as strong as they
(MORE)
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39.
Edward the Great
HOWARD (CONT'D)
once were at court and you're a truly
great warrior for England and for Rome,
as you once proved to all of Italy. But
now it's time to show England who this
man of honour is. I want you to join us
in restoring the true faith to this island.
I want you to turn your back upon this
Jezebel.
EDWARD
Jezebel? Elizabeth is Jezebel to you?
You've been talking to the Spanish
Ambassador too much.
HOWARD
Mary will be our Queen. Philip promises
to send Spanish troops to support our
restoration and the Jesuits are in place
to raise the commons. Everything is set
for the revolution, but you. Now, finally,
you can general a battle on the field
against the likes of Cecil and Robert.
You can destroy them as you've always
wanted. You can show the Jezebel the
penalty for her sluttish behavior.
EDWARD
I don't think you pay much attention to
the court. We all -- all -- are Jezebels.
Besides, I won't support you. Robert and
Cecil deserve worse than to meet me on
the field, but that's not why. A true
courtier will never betray his Prince.
And a true Vere will never and has never
betrayed the Princes of England since
William the Conqueror; and before that to
the Princes of Normandy and Denmark has
my family remained true. The Queen is a
great leader and a Prince to whom you and
I swore undying allegiance.
HOWARD
How can you say this?
EDWARD
If you pursue these plans I will have to
do all I can to stop you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.
Edward the Great
HOWARD
I thought you were a member of the true
faith. I thought you were our friend. All
these years you've done all you can to
free Mary from this Jezebel and now you
turn your back on her? Why should you
betray God now?
EDWARD
God is not betrayed, but you betray your
own lack of faith in him. We worship how
we like here and I doubt not that God
takes care of his own business better
than you or I. I am most sorry for this
news. My faithful Thomas is not part of
this scandal I'm sure of it. This is
terrible news.
HOWARD
You will not tell the Queen.
EDWARD
I must! It is as much as to support you
if I don't. You're my friend Henry, why
have you done this? This is the worst
betrayal of your family's honour yet
sustained. Your beheaded father and
brothers were innocent compared to this...
this....
Howard goes to leave.
HOWARD
You will not say anything, or the Queen
will discover your own "secret marriage"
He leaves the cottage and calls to Anne. Then tries to drag Anne
away with him.
HOWARD (CONT'D)
Come with me Anne!
Edward jumps up to the door as Anne runs back to him.
VAVASOR
What's wrong with Uncle!
EDWARD
Listen Anne, a disaster has befallen us.
We need to do all we can to protect
(MORE)
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41.
Edward the Great
EDWARD (CONT'D)
ourselves from the coming storm. But I
beg you to listen to me, this once. Our
love will be tested soon and I want you
to know that I will never have more and
will never ask for more than I have
received from your love.
VAVASOR
And there will be no more of life I can
ask but that which you have given me. By
your stars, I love you.
EDWARD
On the inconstant moon, not the stars,
must we now depend.
CUT TO:
Scene 14
EXT/ GREENWICH PALACE, 1581 -- DAY
(EDWARD, HOWARD, HORATIO, QUEEN, ROBERT, THOMAS, VAVASOR)
A tournament is held. The Howards will joust with Edward for the
prize.
People milling about a field made for jousting.
THOMAS
Horatio, this most shameful spectacle I
would not have thought possible of my own
troupe of actors.
HORATIO
Nor of Edward's, my Lord Thomas. The
Queen puts the traitorous Howards under
the watch of Robert and Cecil and then
decides she trusts the Howards' story
more than Edward's. How does that happen?
All the Vere enemies, Catholic and
Protestant alike, are now working together
to bring him down. The Queen has said she
doesn't believe Edward's revelation's and
yet she sends Cecil to round up the very
Jesuits Edward warned her about. Henry
Howard has gone so far in denying his
plot he watches Cecil bring back state
torture for his Jesuit friends and yet
never winces at their suffering. Oh how
deep in his soul his deception must be to
(MORE)
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42.
Edward the Great
HORATIO (CONT'D)
allow his cohorts to be abused and
dishonoured so, and he not rise to save
their lives.
THOMAS
Good Horatio, were you able to find your
brother?
HORATIO
Francis is riding here as we speak. All
the Veres will be here to support Edward.
But I'm afraid the Howards are too numerous
and their lies too widespread to defeat.
I just hope Edward is as physically strong
as ever and can defeat them again in the
tournament. It will mean something at
least.
THOMAS
Look how the Queen dotes on Robert newly
returned from his purgatory. No doubt
this tournament was his suggestion. He
must relish the fact that now all his
Catholic enemies are put into one scandal
and might be swept aside at one game.
Edward arrives in full armour.
HORATIO
Look now. Edward is ready again. How
splendid he is.
THOMAS
This time he is the Tree of the Sun to
the Queen as the Moon -- Apollo and Diana
once again. He's won every pass so far
today.
The Queen waves to the Knights gathering.
QUEEN
Edward! You look so magnificent. You are
e-ver the sun! ...I don't think he heard
my pun, Robert.
ROBERT
He may be upset with you for doubting his
charges against the Howards.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43.
Edward the Great
QUEEN
Nonsense, my dear. He must know it is his
word against so many of my most valuable
Admirals and Lords. I need more than his
word, to bring them to trial. Besides, I
already explained to him how Spain must
not be made too unhappy while France
remains undecided on an alliance with us.
ROBERT
If you offered France something other
than your doubtful hand in marriage to
Prince Alceon, they might be more ready
to make the alliance.
QUEEN
Huh! If you mean moneys I will not part
with a shilling until I've exhausted the
possibility of marrying Prince Alceon. It
will be less expensive this way. Spain
isn't a serious threat now that Edward
has given their game away. Edward! Edward!
He can't hear me with that helmet on.
There he goes shouting and shaking his
spear. Oh let's get on with it. If he
wins this round I'll be able to give him
the prize, so none of your stunts Robert,
I want Edward to finish without a stirrup
breaking or some such thing.
ROBERT
I would never. (to attendant) Sound the
trumpets for the final pass!
Anne VAVASOR moves forward, she's noticeably pregnant.
Henry HOWARD follows her to the front to watch the jousting.
EDWARD wins the pass against Philip Howard and Anne VAVASOR cheers
as HOWARD looks upset.
EDWARD and many other knights come to the QUEEN and bow in
submission.
QUEEN
The Queen carouses to your fortune, Edward.
She and Robert drink a toast.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44.
Edward the Great
QUEEN (CONT'D)
And to you I bestow the greatest prize,
the Inca chain of state from Drake's recent
enterprise in the New World. May we drink
to all the nobles who have shown their
gallantry today. We shall celebrate further
tonight my Lords.
The QUEEN turns her back on the knights. EDWARD gives his spear,
prize and helmet to a PAGE and walks to meet THOMAS and HORATIO
and he greets them warmly. EDWARD fails to see HOWARD and Anne
VAVASOR. The Queen notices them away from the other nobles.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
Lord Howard, how most unfortunate for
your nephew to have lost this contest.
The judgment of God or some such thing.
How is your jailer treating you? Good?
HOWARD
Well mum.
QUEEN
I'm glad you could take in the sights
today.
HOWARD
I came because I thought you might want
to see this sight. Turn around Anne. Anne,
come here!
QUEEN
Is this my maid of honour, your niece?
What is wrong with you child?
She turns and the Queen is shocked. They all walk off the stand
together. Edward hears the news of Anne's arrival from his friends
and turns to look for her.
HORATIO
Look now, the Queen returns with the palace
guard.
THOMAS
Our faction is small now Edward. Please
don't arm our enemies further with any
defense you might give here. You're lost
for now until the Queen expels her jealous
rage. Let us fight for you when we know
her mind is calm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45.
Edward the Great
HORATIO
Our faction is small, but you are loved
by the people. When the people hear why
you are under arrest they will rise up.
EDWARD
Calm yourself Horatio. Thomas will rule
you in this matter; we will not smear the
Queen's nature to defend mine.
The GUARDS, numbering four, surround EDWARD.
QUEEN
The Earl of Oxford will be sent to the
Tower at our further pleasure. (To all)
We will not explain our action, and any
speculation on my decision will be a matter
for the Star Chamber.
The guests are shocked.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
None of this. None of this.
Edward is taken away then Vavasor is also taken away by two armed
soldiers.
QUEEN (CONT'D)
Those who would defy us and test our
patience as much as this Edward de Vere,
watch out. This world is not to be defied.
CUT TO:
Scene 15
15 INT / THE TOWER OF LONDON, 1581 -- DAY
(IST JAILER, 2ND JAILER)
Two prison keepers walk through a darkly lit passageway reading a
letter between the cells of Edward and Vavasor who are on either
end of the passage. The jailers are gossiping about the court. A
baby cries in the distance.
1ST JAILER
His true wife, Anne, Cecil's daughter,
says here that she is "most sorry to
perceive how unquieted" he is by the
"uncertainty of the world" and that she
is herself "not unfamiliar with that bitter
taste". She says here, like him, she too
was ever innocent of the charges laid
(MORE)
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46.
Edward the Great
1ST JAILER (CONT'D)
against her and wishes that he believed
it. Ha! Here she says Lord Cecil is still
his friend too and that Edward should
trust him. Not likely! Then she claims
her father does not control her. Here she
says, "assure yourself it is only you
whom I love and fear." Well I could believe
that as soon as believe that's not a babe
crying in Mistress Vavasor's cell. Poor
girl, she must nurse Edward's son all
alone in this prison.
2ND JAILER
And no mistaking this baby Edward's father.
Only true fathers have their pedigree
proclaimed by the Queen'
