The White Queen

Thomas... Thomas, Richard - come. Wake now.

I want to sleep.

Come. Dress quickly, please.

You are going to him?

I have no choice.

Elizabeth?

Take this for luck.

It may help you. And it cannot harm.

Nothing will help me with a man like him, Mother.

Come, Richard.

Where are we going, Mother?

Why must we go so early?

We are going to go and meet the king. King Henry?! Is he back?

No. The new king. Edward.

Edward of York is not the king! He killed our father!

Ssh. He is king now.

And we must show our loyalty to him. Come on, Thomas.

Stop! Thomas!

Halt!

Halt!

Halt!

Edward? Now? Really?

All right. Rest a while.

Is he really the king?

I'm Lady Elizabeth Grey, Your Grace.

Rise up.

You've come to see me?

I...

I cannot obtain my son's inheritance,

my husband's lands which were taken from me when he died.

My boys and I have nothing to live on.

My husband was Sir John Grey. He died in battle at...

He was the leader of the Lancastrian cavalry.

They killed 700 of our men. He nearly ran you through, Edward.

He did his duty as he believed it to be, Your Grace.

He was loyal to the man he thought king.

My boys are innocent of anything.

And these are his sons?

My only fortune. This is Richard and Thomas Grey.

Edward, you don't have time for her!

Your home is near here?

It is over the fields! And very near.

Warwick. Lead the men on.

I'll catch up with you.

The men may go on. I'll escort you.

Forward!

We met the king. I know. We met the king!

Go back to Mama.

You are very welcome to Grafton Manor, Your Grace.

Jacquetta Woodville! Is the pageboy at home as well?

Baron Rivers is away, unfortunately.

Ha ha, I forgot!

Baron Rivers!

A hastily made-up title to cover red faces when

a high-born Lancastrian lady bedded a grubby commoner, as I recall!

He was a squire, and always twice the man that you are, Lord Warwick.

Aha...

Will you take a glass of small ale, Your Grace?

Or we have some fine wine from my cousins in Burgundy.

Edward!

Surely, you are not...

I'll take the wine, with thanks, Lady Rivers.

Boys. I have an important job for you.

Guard Fury for me.

There is not a man on earth who could ride past my daughter, Your Grace.

Not one with his sight, anyway.

Good health, Your Grace.

Oh! Excuse me.

Sit.

Aren't you happy here, with your father and mother?

I love my parents.

I am used to running my own lands and household.

My sons will have nothing if I can't reclaim them.

Too many have suffered during these wars.

But if I can keep my throne, I will see the law of England

run from one coast to the other, and we will all be Englishmen again.

I wish for nothing more than that my sons will never fight.

Do you think it possible?

There must be one more battle.

Henry has regained his wits, for now at least,

but I will try and keep it from your door, my lady.

You are confident of winning.

I am quick, I am brave and I am lucky.

I am as lucky in battle...

as I am in love.

I will win. Thank you for the wine.

You're leaving?! Yes.

We have not yet... Write down the details of your claim,

the land you say is yours and the details of your ownership.

Yes, of course. And I shall collect the paper from you tomorrow.

On my own.

Mother, where are you taking me?

You'll see.

Choose a thread.

Magic? Do you want to be drowned on a ducking stool?

It's forbidden and you promised.

No-one knows but you and I.

We are descended from the river goddess Melusina.

Magic is in our blood, Elizabeth.

Now choose a thread.

What were they?

Things that you will never know.

Children who will not be born, chances you will not take.

They are lost to you.

And what will I catch at the end of this fishing line of yours, Mother?

The future.

Reel it in. A foot every day.

Argh!

Lizzie, Lizzie!

It's the... I know who it is.

Lady Elizabeth.

JACQUETTA!

Baron Rivers.

Sh! Sh!

Your Grace. And these are my sons.

Anthony, John. We've met.

At the battle of Towton.

When you slaughtered half of England in one day.

And in Calais, when your father insulted my mother over her marriage

and called my father a nobody. Anthony.

Because you backed a king whose court was poison,

whose taxes were unpayable

and who murdered men he had smiled on and pardoned!

And yet you called him pious!

Well, now your pious Henry is defeated, and I am King.

Lady Elizabeth tells me she has lost her marriage lands.

She didn't lose them, they were taken.

And all she asks for is justice.

Justice! From the Yorks!

Your Lancastrian Queen murdered my father and brother,

and stuck their heads on spikes.

So do not talk to me of justice!

Have you written down your claim for me?

Yes.

Then they'll be returned to you. By your King.

Thank you. Elizabeth.

Lady Elizabeth, would you show me around the gardens before I leave?

The air in here is...

stale.

I cannot stay for long.

Henry's Queen is bringing the French to join his northern army.

I must be ready for them.

You don't fear you may lose?

Isn't that what you would wish?

Are you not on the side of Lancaster?

I wish there were no sides.

May I send a pageboy to bring you to me tonight?

I have a longing for you, Lady Elizabeth.

More than I have felt for any woman.

Your Grace, I cannot be your mistress.

I may die in battle and this could be my last request.

You would deny your King that?

You will not die.

You are quick

and brave and lucky.

Then I must go? And this be the end of it? No.

Tomorrow.

At sunset.

Meet me by the big oak tree where I first saw you.

Even if only to say goodbye.

She shouldn't have gone with him alone.

He's a lecher. They are looking at the garden, Richard.

And what comes next?!

He will not return her lands for charity!

We are Lancastrians who stood against him.

He will want payment. If he has not taken it already!

He's bedded every woman in his court,

why would he not take Elizabeth?

He could be forcing her this moment while we argue! Shhh... John.

He will not take her in a rosebush, John.

How can you possibly know that?

He will summon her to court when she is obligated.

When he has returned her lands.

Is that not so, Elizabeth?

I only ask for what is mine to be returned to me.

I ask for justice, and the King has promised it as he should.

A hard man to deny, though, Elizabeth.

And if he summons you to court, how will you answer?

However you advise me at the time, Father.

Will anyone play chess?

It is not you we question.

That man has been through half the wives of London.

And the Yorkist army rape our women as they go.

As does King Henry's.

And at least this new king has his wits.

We were once friends with that witless King.

And his Queen. Or have you forgotten, Jacquetta?

I don't forget.

But the wheel of fortune rises and it falls.

And the Queen, my friend, became too vicious,

and now this man is King

and Elizabeth needs her lands returned to her.

Just not at any price.

It's not just the lands you want though, is it?

You want him too.

He is the King of England.

I must show loyalty if I am to have my land.

How else can a poor widow make her way in the world?

You'd be a fool to sell yourself too cheaply, Elizabeth.

I don't intend to sell myself at all.