Will

Witness the face of those who dare challenge the word of God!

I will shine such a light into the spider's nest,

and all the world will see him

for the deformed pestilence he is.

I need to know everything about you.

I have it.

The Pope has approved our plan for the Queen.

Are you prepared?

You stand her in harm's way. What sacrifice make you for anyone but yourself?

We plan to write a play about the most dangerous man in England.

Why do you push away everyone who loves you?

Will! I saved you, now you must save me.

I want to meet God.

- I love you. - Well, then stop loving me.

I cannot.

I feel like I've let you down.

It's not me you let down.

I have found love! His neck.

Presto, get a doctor.

I'm going in with you, and that's an end of it. Stay!

Who would care for you? This... is what I believe in.

Richard, no!

[ Nine Inch Nails' "The Day the World Went Away" playing ]

Now cracks a noble heart.

Gentiles... they will mock him, insult him, and spit on him.

They will flog him and kill him.

On the third day, he will rise again.

Jesus, Mary, and mother-swiving Joseph!

That's not very prayer-like.

It's all just fabulous shit.

Heaven, God, salvation... None of it is real.

Faith is a gift.

- No one's given it me. - You must give it to yourself.

How can I give myself that which I do not have?

You have doubt,

which is closer to believing than not believing.

Doubt will not finish my play for me.

I welcomed you here for religious instruction and meditation,

not to write a play.

In my case, darling, same thing.

I can write Faustus' desires, his bargaining, his damnation

because all that is real to me.

But I cannot write his salvation.

Because he is...

you.

Have you made a bargain with the devil?

With every glorious abomination of my life.

I had found salvation in the unselfish love

of someone I loved in return. But...

that was also both our damnations.

Is that why you cry out every night?

It's time for me to leave.

That would be giving up, Kit.

God won't let you do that. Neither will I.

Linger with us a while longer.

Who's made a deal with the devil now, Robert?

[ Indistinct conversations in distance ]

Richard.

Richard, are you here?

Only his ghost.

It's The safest place in the world, the wooden "O."

You're somebody else.

You always know what to say.

Death is only pretending.

I've finished "Richard III."

I'm not doing the play.

I can't.

Richard, it... it's monumental.

You'll be hailed as the greatest ac...

I said I'm not doing it.

Hunsdon is going to recommend to the Queen that.

Topcliffe replace Walsingham as England's spymaster.

What?

He will wield total power.

We must bring him down. It's our duty.

Please...

just be my friend.

Hunsdon: What business could you possibly have

with that seditionist Southwell?

Alice: He's no seditionist.

He's written a manuscript for the Queen's eyes.

A Catholic manifesto for civil war.

I assure you, it is a plea for peace.

When the Pope himself

is plotting to assassinate Her Majesty?

False rumors.

It is Father Southwell's only desire to end

the civil violence that bleeds the very heart of England.

But he requires a man gifted in matters of state

to help negotiate that peace,

someone whom history will regard as a hero of the age.

Father Southwell believes that that man is you.

Really? So wise and cousin to the Queen...

Who can be better suited?

Exactly what does Southwell want of me?

Son...

What did Topcliffe do to you?

I would not give up Father Southwell.

"My love is as a fever..."

Will: "longing still..."

"for that which longer nurseth the disease."

Oh, Will.

Was your mission profitable?

Lord Hunsdon will give us a direct pathway to the Queen.

Southwell: Praise God, Alice. You are a wonder.

We will be victorious.

What are you doing?

A matter to discuss with Father Southwell.

Father Southwell's engaged.

Another time.

Lord Hunsdon will place your book in the Queen's very hands.

Do you know what this is?

Peace.

After so many years of bloodshed.

And you are its courier.

Now...

I must make a fair copy from these foul pages.

I-I scribe well and quickly.

No.

But this I must do myself.

He did love me.

He did,

in his own destructive way.

Pray God he will one day find the life that you have found.

I would like to be baptized.

[ Indistinct conversations in distance ]

Will: It's an early draft.

It's brilliant.

Richard III is Topcliffe, isn't he?

- You can tell? - Yes.

It's all for naught if Richard won't do the part.

You wouldn't believe it,

but Richard was a sore, ugly little boy.

- Richard? - With a stutter.

He was bullied horribly.

But when Father put him on stage for the first time as a page...

"My lords, a dispatch from Burgundy"...

In that moment,

he suddenly grew taller and handsome.

He could feel that the audience liked him.

That's all he's ever wanted since.

The audience can't like him. It's Topcliffe.

No, but they can understand him.

If you really want to terrify the audience,

make us see ourselves in him.

Make the monster... human.

That's it.

I have to show how a boy named Richard became Topcliffe.

You're a genius, Alice Burbage.

I know.

Thank you.

- Man: Guards, seize him! - Halt!

Halt!

Master Topcliffe! Master Topcliffe!

Wait! He knows me!

- Master Topcliffe! - What?!

How did you become what you are?

What?!

I mean, sir, in order to draw you truly in our play,

I need to understand how you became so strong.

Take your rough hands from Master Shakespeare

and leave us.

Sir.

Allow me to change my clothes,

and I'll tell you everything you need to know.

I was an orphan, you know.

I was packed off to a brutal school

where the other boys had wealth and privilege.

They scorned me.

I found solace on the rooftop of my dormitory.

I would pray in all weathers,

beseeching God for salvation.

One of the cruelest of the boys discovered me there.

Mocked me, kicking me again and again,

until...

he lost his footing.

Fell off the roof and cracked his head.

He was still breathing,