King & Conqueror

This programme contains some strong language

and prolonged violent scenes.

CHATTER

Aethel. Godwin.

What are you doing here?

Hey, wait! No. Stop!

Are you all right, Father?

What did you come to ask me?

I heard that Edward had agreed to talk.

- Tomorrow, he's granted me a private audience. - And can you trust that?

I have no other choice.

It's that or war.

And we cannot go to war.

So I just need to talk to him.

Put this right.

So I kneel...

..and bow - let him think he's in control.

And we'll find out what he really wants.

We'll get there, Harold.

I've talked my way out of trickier corners than this.

What do you need from me? What can I do?

I need you rested and alert.

Get some sleep.

- Goodnight, Mother. - Goodnight.

Harold's the only one that's come to you and asked you that.

DOOR CLOSES

Asked you what you need.

That's because Sweyn doesn't think he needs to.

And Tostig, well,

- he doesn't know how. - But Harold did.

So what does that tell you?

I think Magnus is getting bigger.

He's getting fatter.

He eats like there's a midden under him.

If I said that about Estrid, you wouldn't talk to me for a week.

And you're not likely to say it,

because Estrid can exercise restraint.

She's not a...

..tubber like her father.

Did you just call me a tubber?

You are a tubber.

HE LAUGHS

What?

Will we be separated?

Edith.

This family will not be separated.

The King wants to talk. It's a good sign.

My children won't even remember this.

There's talk of splitting up the family,

moving some of us to the coast.

I thought you knew better than to listen to gossip.

Don't do that.

Don't make it something in my head.

You've heard the exact same talk that I have.

KNOCK AT DOOR

- Are you ready? - Yes.

You ride beside me today, Harold.

What about Sweyn?

No, not today.

And what about our plans for the future,

if the King won't listen to you?

Well, the future may have to wait a while longer.

You ride with me.

I just don't see how that helps us now.

Because that's the way it's always been, Harold.

Power between the three earls, with the crown in the balance between us.

- But look where that's got us. - The earls have to have control.

We need to restore that balance.

Listen to yourself.

We know that does not work.

One person needs to be in control of it all.

Like a king?

Yes.

Yes, but fair. Someone who makes the right decisions for everyone,

not just for the crown.

Well, don't say anything like that in front of the King.

You'll start him talking to that finger he has

in that little box of his.

That's all we need today.

Ever seen the arse on Harold's horse before?

Extremely well built.

Can really tell, from all the way back here,

it's a sturdy animal -

well fitted front and centre.

- Now, the arse on your horse... - Shut up, Tostig!

You and your bony arse can piss off.

How long?

What?

The girl who washes told me it's been weeks since she saw blood.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

A woman always knows, Edith.

How long?

Maybe two months. I can't be sure.

Then it's right you keep it a secret.

- Gytha, I have to tell Harold. - No, you don't.

Not yet, not now.

Harold needs his mind in front of him.

I understand.

When Godwin was at war, I kept Tostig a secret

because I knew it wouldn't have helped him.

So you're saying that I should lie to Harold?

I'm saying don't speak of it at all.

It's for the best, Edith.

Believe me.

Men have their own burdens,

and these...

..are ours.

Morcar is here. Father, you said this was a private audience,

- that the King was ready to talk. - I don't think we've been brought

here to talk. Don't say anything.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

The kingdom of heaven is my promise to all England.

And you, Godwin of Wessex...

..today you are declared guilty

for wilfully breaking the peace agreement.

So my flogging is to be public, is it?

Break the peace and you forfeit everything to the crown.

Those were the terms of the agreement.

It was your agreement, Earl Godwin.

It was.

And yet it was not us that broke the peace.

But you know all that.

Forfeit and the exile of all your family will be the punishment.

Or face a war against the crown

and the earls of both Mercia and Northumbria.

Accept exile, or it's the annihilation of your people.

- Choose. - Father.

If I do yield...

..do my people remain untouched?

If you swear never to return to reclaim your lands.

Give your word, Earl Godwin.

Swear to it.

Then, as Earl,

- I accept exile. - Father!

I will not return and I give you my word on it.

Do you hear? Earl Godwin gives his word.

- Wessex did not break the peace! - Harold!

- It was Mercia. - Harold! - Mercia, standing right there!

- Pathetic lies. - Done on the King's word!

Father, why the hell should we yield?

- Harold! - Everything you own is now the property of the crown.

Wessex belongs to the King.

God's mercy...

..will grant you one week to leave England, Godwin.

Go.

A moment.

I'm taking it all, Godwin - lands, title,

every part of King Alfred's precious legacy for Wessex gone.

But I'll give it all back to you on one single condition.

My son, Aethel.

You can have it all back

the moment you return my Aethel to me alive.

We came so close, Emma.

We could have had peace.

There's a way through.

But it's exposed and Henry's men are everywhere.

Better to wait after dark.

How is she?

Close. This baby isn't waiting till Flanders.

- Is the bastard defeated? - Finished, Your Majesty.

- Dead? - No, Your Majesty.

We have secured Normandy,

but Duke William escaped with his life.

I see. Then he'll flee north to his wife's kin in Flanders.

Find him.

Spare no effort.

Your Majesty, Normandy is already yours.

Not until William is buried beneath it!

HORSES NICKER

And if he makes it to Flanders, I cannot touch him.

So find him.

Your Majesty.

WOMAN CRIES OUT

You think she's going to do that all night?

Why don't you go down there and ask her?

- Well, she's not my wife. - No, she's not.

- What are we going to do, William? - You're asking me?

Yes.

You always have answers.

It's coming.

BABY CRIES

Is it a boy?

Come and hold him.

William, come and hold your son.

William.

William.

Girl or boy?

Boy.

Someone should talk to him.

- I'll talk to him. - Good man.

He keeps too much inside.

He does, my lady.

Now, sleep.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

- I know what's going on in there. - No, you don't.

I remember it, too.

Running through the darkness in terror.

Swords in every shadow.

No good comes from choices made on the run.

We both know it.