Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Why do you go among the people, Majesty?

I tell you plainly, you will be murdered.

Every Catholic in England is a potential assassin!

Be warned by the atrocities in France.

We know the Catholics take their orders from Spain.

The Spanish speak openly of Mary Stuart

as Queen of England in waiting.

Their loyalty is to the Pope in Rome!

How many Catholics are there in England, sir?

Immense numbers, Majesty.

Half the nation cling to the old superstitions.

What would you have me do?

Hang half the people of England or just imprison them?

We must act, Majesty.

Our inaction is perceived as weakness.

If my people break the law, they shall be punished.

Until that day, they shall be protected.

Majesty, we have proven reason to fear every Catholic in the...

Fear creates fear.

I am not ignorant of the dangers, sir.

But I will not punish my people for their beliefs.

Only for their deeds.

I am assured that the people of England love their Queen.

My constant endeavor is to earn that love.

My Queen.

Our friends write to give us hope.

Soon England's true believers will rise up

against the bastard usurper Elizabeth

and slit her throat.

That's enough!

Slit her throat? Please.

And when that bastard usurper is dead, my lady will be queen.

Your bishops are preaching that God is showing his displeasure

because the Queen is still unmarried,

some rudely suggesting infertile.

What nonsense.

Dangerous nonsense.

Mary Stuart has a son.

Why does everyone torment me with Mary Stuart?

It's not her fault she's next in line to the throne.

Don't hide your face.

So long as you have no issue.

If you were to produce an heir,

there'd be no more talk of Mary, Queen of Scots.

I've heard it's customary to obtain a husband before producing an heir.

We shall have to hunt out a husband for you soon, Bess.

Not too soon, my lady.

There are husbands to be had.

You don't want to be married?

I'll want to be married if I want the man...

Austria. France.

Turkey. Turkey has a sultan. China has an emperor.

I confine myself to the possible.

That's where you and I differ, Walsingham.

I find the impossible far more interesting.

What kind of man would you want?

An honest man with friendly eyes.

And good legs. And sweet breath.

So you can kiss him without choking.

There must be any amount of princes

in the undiscovered lands across the sea.

Find me an honest one of those.

Since when do we discuss private matters in public spaces?

I ask Your Majesty's forgiveness.

Have my doctors confirm that the Queen is still fertile.

The people need to be reassured.

I care for your safety.

The threats to your person are real.

You know very well if I fall,

you'll all come tumbling down after me.

The sea wall at Dover is cracking, Francis.

We have no money to rebuild our defenses.

Turn your mind to that threat.

May we have wisdom not to fear shadows in the night.

And courage when the day of danger truly dawns.

My time has come, Majesty.

Send me back to England to begin God's work.

Your Majesty.

Guards! Take hold of him!

A puddle in the way,

Majesty.

A puddle.

Puddle.

You'll have to see the Lord Chamberlain, sir.

Which one is he?

He's over there.

You can't come in.

So how am I to see him if you won't let me through?

You must wait for him to come out.

And when will he come out?

There's no way of knowing that.

I had less trouble than this boarding a Spanish ship.

What if enemy ships should sail up the Thames, can the docks be closed?

Not closed, Majesty. But the gun positions...

Spanish...

Ambassador.

King Eric of Sweden, Majesty.

Not again.

Still madly in love with you.

Still mad, you mean.

Ivan, Tsar of all the Russias.

Where's Bess?

Known as "Ivan the Terrible," Majesty.

Late.

I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.

Given.

Once.

The Archduke Charles of Austria, Majesty.

The puddle man is outside, Majesty.

My suitors.

Younger brother to Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Cousin of Philip of Spain. Wealthy.

He's rather handsome.

How old is he?

Young, I believe, Majesty.

An Austrian alliance would keep France quiet.

And put Philip on a leash.

I've become almost enthusiastic.

Send for him.

Danke schцn.

How much longer do you think I can play this game, Francis?

Virginity is an asset that holds its value well.

Walter Raleigh, Majesty.

Your Majesty, this man is a notorious pirate.

Spanish gold stolen from Spanish ships, attacked without provocation.

Well, sir, what do you want?

I have just returned from the New World, Majesty.

I have claimed the fertile coast in your name

and called it Virginia

in honor of our Virgin Queen.

Virginia?

And when I marry, will you change the name to Conjugia?

I ask your gracious permission, Majesty,

to return to the New World with your royal warrant

to found a colony under the laws and protections of England.

He wants money.

Who are they?

Natives of the Americas, Majesty.

Have they no ruler of their own?

None to match England's Queen.

These gentlemen are welcome.

See that they are treated well.

I also come bearing gifts for Your Majesty.

These gifts, Majesty, are the fruits of piracy,

the true property of the realm of Spain.

Let's see, shall we? What have you brought me?

Patata, Majesty.

You eat it. Very nourishing.

Tobacco.

You breathe its smoke.

Very stimulating.

Gold.

Courtesy of a Spanish ship that found itself unable to complete its journey.

Forgive me, Majesty.

I find the air has become stale.

I am sensitive to the smell of open sewers.

I cannot accept the fruits of piracy, Mr. Raleigh.

Philip of Spain is no friend of England, Majesty.

The more gold I take from him, the safer you will be.

Well, well.

A political pirate.

And Your Majesty's most loyal subject.

Welcome home, Mr. Raleigh. Lord Howard, the docks.

Master Raleigh.

You eat it...

You traitor!

Judas!

You're Walsingham's pawn!

Don't do this! I didn't say anything!

You're a Protestant traitor!

Don't do it! Don't!

Don't! Hold his head!

You Judas! You Judas! Stop!

You Judas!

The traitor's dead. We must act!

Why do we not strike? What are we waiting for?

You wait for my order.

Walsingham knows too much already. One traitor is dead.

Who can I trust now?

There's a visitor waiting, sir.

William.

Hello, Francis.

You've always been a fellow who delighted in surprises.

You look well, Francis.

Well, you look dreadful. They're not feeding you in Paris.

You can't learn the secrets of the universe on an empty stomach.

Then she my heart beguiled

Mary. William. Supper is ready.

William.

Have you spoken to the Queen?

I speak with the Queen daily.

You work too hard. You're a sick man.

William, come over here and sit by me.

William, if we are not allowed to sin,

maybe we could talk theology.

You have done enough. No man could do more.

I can't leave the court yet, Ursula. She needs me.

Never listens to me. Not a thought for his health.

So you talk to him, he's your brother.

William, what do they say in Paris about the Pope's call for holy war?