Anne Boleyn

SHE EXHALES

INDISTINCT CHATTER THROUGHOUT

It's no good. Your daughter is not for smiling.

A perfect little monarch in the making.

You doubt our daughter has what it takes?

Our boy will be a great ruler.

One for the history books. He is our blood combined.

The sky itself will not limit him.

You were enjoying my brother's company this evening,

Lady Worcester.

I always enjoy his company.

He is the only man at court I can stand for longer than 20 minutes.

Excluding my husband, of course.

Just be sure Jane doesn't get any ideas into her head.

She's a spiteful little bitch sometimes.

I don't mean you, my little mouse. The other Jane.

Everyone knows you couldn't hurt a fly.

Yes, my dear sister-in-law holds a loose tongue in her head.

And she is fiercely protective of my brother.

I hate this game.

Jane, your go.

Have you visited the King recently, Madge? I have not been called for.

Did you upset him? He's very proud, you know.

I have done nothing but what you have asked of me.

Perhaps his attention is elsewhere.

That hurts.

Your Grace. Lady Rochford, your timing is impeccable.

I was just telling Miss Seymour here about your...

..enviable conversation skills.

GIGGLING

The French Ambassador has sent you a gift,

in anticipation of your son's arrival,

and a show of King Francis's continuing support.

Very fine.

Find a place for it in my chamber.

I'm too tired to talk la politique francaise tonight.

I'll thank him tomorrow.

SHE SIGHS

Jane. You had the winning hand all along.

I didn't understand the game.

Well, then, you really mustn't play.

The monasteries have become corrupted?

"Hotbeds of vice" were Cromwell's words. Cromwell.

Cromwell is a brilliant accountant,

but he isn't a visionary like you.

This could be our chance to create a legacy.

Something our people will remember.

Cromwell...won't be happy.

We will have to train him better.

Even the tamest of lapdogs can bite if left unschooled.

Well, he's not the only one whose bite is to be feared. Hm.

And yet... you remain such a gentle master.

One would think you enjoy being bitten.

SQUAWKING

LAUGHTER

APPLAUSE

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Did you have a chance to speak with the King regarding the monasteries?

I'm putting together a detailed plan to put before Parliament,

but an expedient approval from the King would be appreciated by all.

LAUGHTER

He has been rather... preoccupied of late.

Your Grace? Yes, yes, Cromwell, I spoke to him.

Very good. I myself have some proposals for the extra revenue.

I am sure you do.

She's a beauty.

PEACOCK SQUAWKS, HORSE WHINNIES

Those damn birds!

One of them lurks beneath my bedchamber shrieking every night.

I swear it's taunting me.

I'm sure there isn't a creature in England that would dare do that.

They should be shot.

Be reasonable, Anne.

I want them removed or I will hunt them down myself.

As you wish.

If you're accompanying Elizabeth to Hatfield this morning

perhaps I will join you.

You must try to avoid anything too energetic for now, Your Grace.

Oh, must I? A woman of your age.

Two miscarriages in a row... I am not so great an age!

I'm only trying to help.

Tell me...the bastard... is she behaving herself?

Mary's the same as ever.

Consistently ungrateful for all the luxuries afforded to her.

Any visitors? None.

But she did receive a parcel last week...containing a generous sum.

I couldn't read the note.

It had a Royal Seal.

My husband?

I wouldn't like to say. Mm.

You may pass my deepest sympathies to Mary on your return to Hatfield.

Tell her that if she wishes to come to court, we would welcome her.

I would happily be both her Queen and a second mother.

If Henry were to hear of this kindness, it would...

..be no bad thing.

Here, sister.

It arrived late last night off the boat from Antwerp.

I had the pastor bring it straight to you.

The first full English language Bible.

Now everyone can read the word of God in their own tongue.

Thanks to you.

Mistress Seymour. Come here, would you?

Read something for us.

A Psalm, perhaps.

This one.

"Give ear to my prayer, O God.

"And hide yourself not from my plea for mercy.

"I am restless because of the noise of the enemy.

"My heart is in anguish within me.

"The terrors of death have fallen upon me."

Well, carry on. You read very well.

"For it is not an enemy who taunts me.

"Then I could bear it.

"But it is you...

"..my equal, my companion...

"..my faithful friend."

FAINT, ECHOING LAUGHTER

I didn't understand the King. I didn't understand the King.

PANTING

SHE GROANS

You should know that The Dissolution Act

has been provisionally approved by Parliament.

We now just await the King's seal before we can commence.

We'll start by disbanding the smaller monasteries

with incomes of less than £200 a year...

BIRD SQUAWKS Did you hear that?

Your Grace? The peacock.

I didn't hear a thing.

Are you quite well?

I am. Quite.

I have reviewed your proposals for the redistribution

of monastery funds and I'm afraid I cannot support you in your plans.

They are based solely on a greedy design to line the King's coffers.

That money belongs to the church.

The King is the church.

Surely you cannot argue with that.

The money should be used at least in part for charitable endeavours.

Oh, don't tell me you've developed a conscience now.

I have received many petitions over the past month.

From remarkable thinkers with inspiring visions

of how to put this income to good use educating a new generation.

True reform. Remarkable thinkers and inspiring visions

will not save the King from financial ruin.

Your plan is transparently self-serving.

I have the backing of Parliament.

But you need the King's, do you not?

And without my support you, you can forget about his.

Maybe for now.

But make no mistake, your influence lies in your belly, not your brain.

"True reform."

Jane. Take a walk with me.

Do you ride, Jane? Yes, Your Grace.

I am an exceptionally accomplished rider.

I know it well, madam.

Perhaps we shall take a horse out together one day.

Please keep up, Jane.

I wanted to take a moment to talk with you woman to woman.

I feel like I am uniquely placed to...

..understand what you might feel right now.

I know what it's like,

to have all their eyes on you, and yet never truly feel seen.

They make you feel like a piece of meat.

Sometimes you can spot the deer from here.

Are you in love, Jane? No.

You're lucky.

It's difficult to love a man.

Especially when he's your husband.

Remember who you are.

Don't betray yourself

and you won't live to regret.

Yes.

I can see the appeal.

Your Grace...

..I do wish to marry one day.

But when I do, it will not be for love.

As I perceive little good to come from that.

What will you marry for, in that case?

Security.

Honour.

Safety. I see I have nothing to worry about.

For you'll never find security in the King's bed.

Come on.

Your Grace, come quickly!

He fell from his horse during the joust.

How bad, is it? He suffered a severe blow to the head,

he has not yet regained consciousness.

MURMURING Clear the room for Queen Anne.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Boleyn will never be accepted as Regent.

The public despise her. Even so, we must leave nothing to chance.

We should send for Mary. She would have full Spanish support.

INDISTINCT CHATTER