mary stuart is a queen cast out by her own ungrateful nation.
mary stuart is my cousin. she is our guest. and she is under our control.
while she lives?
you'd have me make a martyr of her. what is her crime?
how many catholics are there in england, sir?
what would you have me do? `cut out' half the people of england?
if any of my people break the
fear creates fear, sir. i will not punish my people for their beliefs. only for their deeds. am assured that the people of england love their queen. my constant endeavour is to earn that love.
what people?
what nonsense!
why does everyone torment me with
isn't it customary to obtain a
why stop there? turkey has a sultan. china has an emperor. what sort of man do you want?
that's where you and i differ, walsingham. i find the impossible far more interesting. and good legs. you'll want good legs.
so that you can kiss him without choking.
and they know very well that if i fall, they all come tumbling down after me.
let's pray, bess. may we have wisdom not to fear shadows in the night, and courage when the day of danger truly dawns.
lines round my mouth. where did they come from?
smile lines? when do i smile? with that she smiles, and sees bess's answering reflected smile.
now you have smile lines too.
a puddle.  the guards take up their positions once more. bess throws raleigh a quick smile as she follows the royal party. his answering shrug says: i tried. he picks up the cloak, and stands gazing after the queen.
a puddle.
you have the plans for the new docks?
let me think on it. what if enemy ships should sail up the thames? can the docks be closed?
what again?
still mad, you mean. . where's bess? the courtier presents a third portrait.
late again, bess.
given. once.
my suitors.
more your age than mine, bess. how old is he?
i become almost enthusiastic. to hatton) send for him. where is he, then?
how much longer do you think i can play this game?
indeed?
well, sir. who are you?
ah, yes. raleigh. i've heard of your voyage. what's your rank?
what do you want?
yes, well, here you are.
virginia? and if i marry? will you change the name to conjugia?
who are they?
have they no ruler of their own?
these gentlemen are welcome. see that they're treated well.
let's see, shall we? to raleigh) what do you bring me?
mud and leaves?
continue.
the fruits of piracy after all, it seems.
well, well. a political pirate. a logic-chopping pirate.
but not my best dressed. w elcome home, mr raleigh.
i think you're not as accustomed as i am to eating in public. i have a secret. lowering her voice) i pretend there's a pane of glass - eine glasscheibe - between me and them.
they can see me, but they can't hear me, or touch me. you should try it.
bess.
he interests me. talk to him.
him.
his highness is tired after his journey.
(you play the game very well, my young friend. but don't you
(you're thinking, perhaps, that
his highness the archduke informs me that my charms overwhelm him. he will retire to his private quarters to rest.
he's a sweet boy. i don't want him hurt by your schemes.
i suspect him of being a professional charmer. am i right?
there are duller professions. and what is it he hopes to gain by his charms?
which i'm to pay for, no doubt. you like him, don't you?
so it is. we shall let him come again.
let them wait! go on, mr raleigh. you were hoping.
the queen does not have a private life.
the queen lives for her people. you will therefore forgive me, sir, if after much thought and prayer i decline your offer of marriage.
mr. raleigh.
i like your immensities. your ocean is an image of eternity, i think. such great spaces make us small. do we discover the new world, mr raleigh, or does the new world discover us?
i like you, mr raleigh.
you know, of course, that when i like a man, i reward him.
and what have you to say about it? r
is the mission not the man?
go on.
now you become dull.
you have - the stronger horse.
the queen does not give way to others. raleigh stops his horse. elizabeth rides on up to him and then past him. raleigh secretly spurs his horse. the horse springs forward, ahead of her.
have you ever known your place, mr. raleigh? she urges her horse forward, forcing raleigh to catch up.
i'm surprised you're not married yet.
and can sailors not be lovers?
ah, i see. you like love better
when i marry, i marry for my country.
you've yet to meet your equal? raleigh hesitates. she understands him.
you want a friend, not just an equal. you want someone to share your joy when you're happy.
ah yes. i know all about it. there. i'm rested now. she turns her horse around in the direction from which they came. raleigh follows.
we can be something to each
alright, then. i will.
see! you lie! you don't want me on your ship at all. you're a liar! elizabeth now takes in bess.
would you like to go to sea, bess?
oh, do they?
men have needs?
then let them stay on land and see to their needs. mr raleigh is eager to sail away to his infant colony, bess. we must persuade him to stay a little longer, mustn't we?
no, don't stop. i like it.
is it true, bess? that i've never known the simple pleasure of being liked for myself?
is anybody ever liked just for themselves? are you? i doubt it. men like you because you're pretty. and because you have the ear of the queen.
him too. he likes you because he wants my favour. you do realise that?
and the other thing too, of course. but all men want that. male desire confers no b distinction.
filled with declarations of love?
if she wants my love, let her deserve it. refused.
mr raleigh. i've kept you waiting.
there is always other business. but i have been waiting too. walsingham enters.
yes, walsingham?
forgive me, sir. as you see, my time is not my own.
what do you know of the enterprise of england, ambassador?
it's a plan for the invasion of my country. two armies landing on the coasts of sussex and -
and norfolk. mary stuart is to be set free, and placed on the english throne.
i refer to this plan as the enterprise of england. it should more accurately be called `la empresa di inglaterra', because it's a spanish plan. the plan of your king, my one-time brother-in- law, philip ii, to attack my country.
you will leave my presence, sir! go back to spain! tell philip that i don't fear him, or his priests, or his armies. tell him if he wants to shake his little fist at us, we're ready to give him such a bite he'll wish he'd kept his hands in his pockets.
i too can command the wind, sir. i have a hurricane in me that will strip spain bare, if you dare to try me!
what are you staring at? lower your eyes! i am the queen!
you ask permission to go.
you plan to return to the new world. to your colony. for two, or three, or four years.
that is a long time.
but you're quite wrong. you are needed here. i have decided to appoint you captain of my personal guard.
kneel.
rise, sir walter raleigh.
well? you may express your gratitude.
if it's such an honour, why are you staring at your boots?
now you stare at the wall. am i so old and hideous that you can't even look me in the face?
my friend, forgive me. i'm a vain and foolish woman. at court it's all a game. i like to be admired. i require it. i grow accustomed to it. but it's all - nothing.
the storm clouds are gathering, my friend. please don't leave me now.
princes of the female gender.
yes, dr dee. i am following you. so what does it all mean?
which empire is to rise, and which is to fall?
he means, will i be assassinated?
you see, francis? this is a mystery. he has no patience with mysteries. w
francis. leave us for a moment.
and the private life of this prince of the female gender, dr dee? what do the stars foretell there? or is this too a mystery?
do the stars not foretell matters of state?
have i reason to fear?
an art, not a science. i understand.
let him throw you round, bess. you can trust him.
sometimes. do you think that wrong?
to tell you the truth, mr raleigh, there are times when i'm tired of being always in control.
what?
do you say so?
bess, you must try a dance with mr raleigh. he's eager to show us his skill.
oh, it's very simple.
you stand like this, with your hands firmly clasped here - and when she jumps, on the eighth step, you swing her round - once, twice, three times - and you're back to the beginning. what could be simpler?
so come, mr raleigh. take your position. i am to be obeyed.
hold her tight. i don't want her dropped. play!
leave her alone, walsingham. i want both of them left alone.
they say she's taller than me. her hair is chestnut in colour. her eyes are hazel. they say she's beautiful. but people lie. they say i am beautiful. a dismissive shrug. clearly she does not think herself beautiful.
yes, it's true. i've read her letters. i too was a prisoner
i can be merciful. but she
you used to be gentler, bess.
must die? mary stuart must die? where is it written? who dares to
don't preach at me, old man. look at you! you can hardly stand. go home to your wife. go home to your bed.
the law is for common men, not for princes.
my friend.
did bess bid you come? have you
my duty? was it my father's duty to murder my mother? i would be
yes, i am afraid. i am always afraid.
you understand me well.
do we? do we really?
i owe england my life. don't ask for my soul.
i want it stopped!
no! it must be stopped!
not me!
and i ordered her execution. i murdered god's anointed queen. and now god's most dutiful son makes holy war to punish me.
yes.  go.
`think you that there is any certainty in the affairs of mankind, when you know that one swift hour can destroy the greatest among us?'
boethius.
thank you for coming at this late hour.
we're at war. who knows when we'll meet again. if we'll meet again.
the same god in whose name philip wages his holy war. philip is a righteous man, and righteous men love to destroy. they burn whole worlds to make them pure, and leave behind - ashes.
he may. his armada is invincible, they say. if london falls, i fall. if england is lost, i am lost.
never? it's night. my thoughts turn dark. don't you ever think that one day, perhaps one day soon, you too will die?
today. tonight.
i wish -
in some other time, in some other world, could you have loved me?
then there's.  something you could do for me - something i've not known for a very long time - if you felt so inclined -
a kiss?
air! i must have air!
this spanish armada is at sea carrying an army of ten thousand men. the duke of parma has fifteen thousand men on the french coast.
but they don't yet have enough barges at calais. we have a little time.
our forces defend the thames
you may observe, walsingham, that i don't see my way with only one eye. nor do i hop along on only one leg. why then would i rely on only one source of information?
where is she?
bess! bess throckmorton! bess comes running from the far end.
tell me! is it true? are you married? are you with child? are you with child? bess stands before her with her head bowed.
you traitress! you dare to have secrets from me! i am your queen! you ask my permission before you rut - before you marry - before you breed! my bitches wear my collars! do you hear me? how dare you be with child!
this is no time for mercy! that's what you said to me. i don't forget. but you showed mercy, walsingham! go to your traitor brother, and leave me to my business!
is it his child? tell me! say it! is the child his? tell me! say it! is it his?
this gentleman has seduced a lady under my care. this lady has married without my consent. these are offences punishable by law. arrest him.
the fall of an empire, you told me. did you mean the english empire? because by god, england will not fall while i am queen! if that's your prophecy, sir, prophesy again!
i will not be a toy of the fates! have i not faced an assassin's bullet and lived?
you're a wise man, dr dee.
my lords, i can offer you no words of comfort.
labourers are to leave the fields and take up arms. the harvest must wait.
release all prisoners. england is their country too.
release raleigh. he is forgiven.  as i too pray to be forgiven.
leave me. all of you.
are our ships at sea? has the fleet left plymouth? that can't be so hard to know.
with what gain?
then we must act.
my loving people! we see the sails of the enemy approaching. we hear the spanish guns over the water.
while we stand together no invader shall pass. let them come with all the armies of hell, they will not pass. the crowd gives another mighty cheer.
so let us sound the advance and
one empire will rise, and one will fall.
francis. my old friend.
i know it, old friend. don't leave me now.
you always did do as you pleased, whether i wanted it or not. i've no doubt you'll do as you please now.
when was the birth?
the mother is well?
and the child?
your elizabeth has a child. you must be proud.
and fulfilled?
and do you still dream of your shining city, your new world?