The business of the day is over, lawyer.
- I am a lawyer who has read the law. - So?
There is a law of this land that says it is treason
to acknowledge any higher authority than the will of the King.
It is, I take it, the will of the King
that he shall divorce the Queen and marry the Lady Anne?
It is.
Then the Church in England must grant your will.
It is treasonable to say that the Pope is a higher authority than the King...
...under the law.
I've always been a defender of the faith and of the Church.
As matters stand, you are but half the King.
To say that Rome may dictate this matter
is to say that Rome may dictate the succession to the Crown.
What the King of England wants, he should have
without hindrance from abroad.
True. It is true.
It would mean excommunication.
It would mean a break with Rome.
It would need only the appointment of a new Primate of the Church in England.
He would grant the divorce.
Yes. And the penalty for those good men who could not stomach your law?
The penalty for treason has always been death, Your Grace.
You may go.
There is something else, Your Majesty.
Cardinal Wolsey, through skilful manipulation,
has seen to it that the monasteries of England
are richer than the goldmines of the New World.
If, as you should be, you become Head of the Church, those riches are yours.
You're a man without scruple, lawyer.
Entirely without scruple.
I learned my trade under Cardinal Wolsey, Your Grace.
Are you also a pupil of the Cardinal?
No, no, I studied under a real master, my father.
Whatever villainy was lacking in the world when Henry Vll was born,
he invented before he left it.
But the one cardinal principle he taught me was,
always keep the Church on your side.
Well, you have the Church on one side and you have me on the other.
Yes. The choice is now clear.
If I make myself Head of the Church in England, I make you my Queen,
I make myself wealthier than all the monarchs in Europe
and I shall be excommunicated.
Everlasting damnation.
No child of the Church shall speak with me, feed me, shelter me.
And when dead, my body shall lie without burial
and my soul...
...shall be cast into hell forever.
Heavenly Father,
what I seek is not for myself as You know,
but for the future safety of my realm and the greater glory of Your name.
If I weaken in my resolve, remember I am but a man.
Give me Your heavenly strength for my intended journey
and resolve my doubts.
My Lords,
I intend to bring before Parliament matters which have concerned us greatly.
I am deeply alarmed by the increasing influence and power in our State
of the Church of Rome.
Not content alone with misappropriation of property and money,
Rome now seeks to interfere with the laws and statutes of this realm.
In particular, the King's prerogatives related to the succession to the throne.
For all these reasons and many others known to you all
we must free ourselves from the interference, influence
and direction of the See of Rome.
Hear, hear!
Item. The Oath of Allegiance to the King of England sworn by you all.
Item. The Oath of Allegiance to the Pope of Rome sworn by the Clergy.
Question. Whom do the Clergy serve? Pope or King?
Cardinal Wolsey, the greatest Churchman of our land is cast down.
Any bishop or priest who does not first serve the King will follow him.
Parliament will be summoned for the enactment of this bill
named The Act of Supremacy.
The King is declared to be supreme in matters of the welfare of subjects,
both spiritual and temporal.
- Sire... - My Lord Bishop, keep silent!
There is only one question I will put to this Council.
No other will be tolerated or discussed.
Does any Lord here, either spiritual or temporal,
deny the right of Parliament to make this the law of the land
if Parliament so chooses? Sir Thomas More?
I do not deny the right of Parliament to enact laws.
Good. Good.
[furtive chatter]
- Master Cromwell. - My Lord Chancellor?
I regret, Master Cromwell, that you did not heed my advice.
Concerning what?
You have, I believe, told the King not what he ought to do, but what he can do.
Now no man in the world can hold him.
The King's power must be complete.
And your own?
To serve his.
After today, I fear I must resign mine.
Every man to the devil his own way.
[woman laughs nearby]
Forgive me, Your Majesty, I had meant to be gone.
I fear I cannot rise.
Cromwell, your hand. Get me on my feet.
It's the habit of a lifetime to see myself that the inventory is complete
and the keys are all ready, all labelled for you.
I'm... I'm sorry to see you ill.
Oh, no, My Lord.
Your Majesty has taken from my shoulders a load that would sink a navy.
Well, I'll leave these and be gone.
Is it... Is it for you, Mistress Anne, the palace?
- Yes. - Yes, yes.
It's much too beautiful for an old man. It needs youth in it.
There, take it.
I've been your enemy, but I can't take it from you.
Then I'll leave it.
[laughs]
A leggy girl and a half-grown steer.
What does that mean?
Some friends of yours are waiting to see you, Your Majesty.
More, Fisher and Prior Houghton. It seemed urgent.
Urgent for them. Send them in.
I'll tell them as I leave.
Well, the country air will do him good at Esher.
The King will see you.
Take heed, Sir Thomas.
The King's passion for the lady is blind to all reason
and past service.
My Lord, for your wisdom, I am sorry to see you go.
The King has gone beyond me.
Through that one woman,
I am lost forever.
Do not neglect the King, but see to your own safety.
It happens that I have been unwell lately.
Therefore I have given up my office and shall leave the court and go home.
There I will speak of nothing but... domestic affairs.
Well, God be with you.
It is Pope or King, there is no other choice.
For me it must be the Pope.
I must follow my conscience. I cannot sign.
Though I am sorry to lose old friends,
you will die for it.
There are hundreds of my Order who in good conscience cannot take this oath.
Must they all die?
If they insist, they will. My cause is just.
The English Church cut off from Rome is without an anchor.
The only anchor I know is the King.
The King had to choose, so must the Clergy.
Well, Sir Thomas?
I have come to say goodbye, Your Grace.
I gave up my chain of office today as you kindly permitted.
And when that day comes when you have to choose, will you sign the oath?
I shall read the document with care
and hope that my conscience will permit me to sign, Your Grace.
Goodbye... Thomas.
Goodbye, My Lord.
Goodbye, Prior John.
You leave this world of your own will... and I am sad for it.
Your Majesty, it will go on without us.
And that is the last of them who dare question.
The rest will die silent.
I think there has never been a king who gave so much to find his way
to the heart of the woman he loved.
I have stabbed, fought and clawed my way through tissues of the Church and State.
I've looted and plundered. I've ripped and torn the bodies of my friends.
And all to come to this day.
And yet, not once...
Not once have you said, "l love you."
Now, my Nan...
My Nan will say it now.
Yes.
I do love you.
No.
No, that's not it. That's not what I meant.
- What more do you want, My Lord? - I don't know.
I don't know, but I still don't have you.
Tell me, Nan, did someone some day say to you,
never give in to him, never melt to him,
never forget to hate him for a time, otherwise you'll lose him?
- I've said it to myself. - And do you say so still?
- Yes. - I see.
I see.
Keep your heart, then! Preserve your special chastity.
I'm too old to suffer the longings, passions and frenzy of a stupid boy!
Writing poems in the night to the cold-hearted bitch that I love
and tearing them up.
Pacing up and down in my room, unable to sleep.
Sons you have promised me when you are Queen, and sons I will have.
Sons without love if I must.
Enjoy your palace.
I will not come near you again until the marriage day.
Henry!
I do love you.
Henry, I love you. I love you with all my heart. I love you.
- Can this be true? - I love you.
Take me, take me now. I want to be yours only.
I've been yours for a long time.
Now, you for the first time are mine too.
Henry.
These men who were to die, let them live.
- It was done for you. - I no longer care about the divorce.
I'm so in love with you, my darling heart.
Can it be true after this long time?
God in heaven, I do love you with my whole heart.
And our love will make a son that will rule the world.
Our son.
A son. A son.
With that and your love I'd be the King I've always wanted to be,
wise, generous, just, merciful.
So I'll kill no man for you.
It's like a new age.
Wildfire in the air and in the blood.
Harry!
The King sent for me to meet him here.
Here?
Perhaps he is jealous and testing my faithfulness by bringing us together.
Perhaps.
- Has he reason to be jealous? - No. Never
Well, well. You're his concubine, I have a hag for a wife.
Now I am to arrest Wolsey who began it all. Cold comfort.
- Arrest him? He's old and sick. - I thought it was your doing.
No. I'm past hating him.
- Give him the warrant. - Your Grace.
Well, there's your first love. The one you hated me for.
- Did your heart race? - No, you great royal fool.
- I'm a happy man. - And l, My Great King,
I'm with child.
Anne.
Nan. Nan! [laughs joyously]
Where is she? What keeps her?
The Lady...
- Begin. Begin. - Yes.
Your Grace, the door must be open, that is to say, for legality.
- Witnesses are required. - Here they are. On, man, on, on.
It's a new fashion. Marry the one before you divorce the other.
Henry, wilt thou take Anne, here present, to thy lawful wife
- according to the rites of the Church? - I will.
Anne, wilt thou take Henry, here present, to thy lawful husband
according to the rites of our Holy Mother Church?
I will.
- "l, Henry, take thee, Anne." - l, Henry, take thee, Anne...
- "To my wedded wife." - To my wedded wife.
"To my wedded wife, to have and to..."
To my wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better, for worse,
- in sickness and in health... - "Till death us do part."
and thereto I plight thee my troth.
And after that, Nan, you shall have bells and the crowning.
[guard] Stand back. Stand back.
- Out of the way. - Stand back. Stand back!
[bells toll]
Here, Nan, for luck.
The flowers of May.
[bells continue]
[fanfare]
[cannons continue firing]
How much were they paid to cheer?
A groat each. A thousand between here and Westminster.
They should've got a silver penny. They'd have thrown caps in the air.
God save Queen Catherine!
We've been outbid by the Spanish Ambassador.
Whore! King's whore!
Long live the Queen!
- There's an honest fellow. - Which queen does he mean, My Lord?
- Whore! - Long live the true Queen!
[man] Whore!
Long live Queen Catherine! Whore!
Heralds, play!
[jeering]
- Long live Queen Catherine! - Whore!
Out! Out!
The King would speak with his Queen. Out!
[ladies-in-waiting giggle]
Come here.
It's a long time since I've kissed a queen.
Nan, I've kept every part of the bargain.
Will you be happy now? My Queen, my woman, my...
- Whore, the crowd said. - Damn the Spanish Ambassador!
You must outbid him at the christening.
In four months when I give you a son I want cheers of joy.
They wont need bribes.
It'll be the happiest day in the history of this kingdom.
Would you rape a pregnant woman?
Oh, Nan. God, forgive me.
You great royal fool!
Whoa there, boy.
[horse whinnies, bell tolls]
Go and get her!
- Your pardon, madam, the Queen calls. - Is it born? A boy?
It is nearly time, the midwife says.
Fetch the King.
I've waited 20 years for this.
I shall teach him to ride, wrestle, draw a bow.
It makes a man young again to have a son.
[man, afar] Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
Here comes my good news.
The child is born!
[baby cries]
The child is perfectly formed and in good health, Your Majesty.
I have failed. I have failed.
God help me
Give me privacy.
Don't weep. Pinch your cheeks and give them colour. Sit up and smile.
Your are the Queen. Brazen it out.
A girl this time, but a boy the next time. Do you hear me?
- Is she beautiful? - Yes, she is.
[baby continues to cry]
Give me the child. Give me my daughter.
Is he well? Is he strong?
My Lord...
[laughs]
Those are lungs that will out-bellow the Spanish Ambassador. Ey, Nan?
And the eyes. The eyes are clever.
We'll call him Edward. It's a lucky name for English Kings.
I have borne you a daughter, Your Majesty.
- A daughter? - Yes.
Why did no one tell me before I entered?
I wanted to tell you myself, Hal.
We have a beautiful daughter.
Next time, a son.
Elizabeth.
We shall call her Elizabeth.
- Is the child in good health? - Perfect, Your Majesty.
Good.
Well, if we can have a healthy daughter, we can have a healthy son,
as you say, as you... say.
I'll kiss you and leave you, Anne. God bless all here.
Will you not kiss your daughter?
My daughter?
No. When she's older.
When she has a brother.
- Still no word from the King? - No, Your Majesty.
- No answer even to my letter? - Nothing, Your Majesty.
How can he so utterly forget so much?
He does not forget, Mother. He just has no wish to remember.
But rumours say that all is not well with them.
Still no sign of a son. That woman is in despair, they say.
For already my beloved father's eye has started to wander again.
Poor Hal.
- You pity him? - Was I not his much-loved wife?
And you are his daughter.
Unless he has a son of a true marriage, you are his heir.
You must be Queen.
And remember,
when I'm gone,
you're first.
[groans]
Doctor! Quickly!
[formal music]
Touch her and I'll have her sent from court.
Who?
That half-witted Seymour who is always so tongue-tied and blushing and adoring
- when you enter my chamber. - She's a child.
- But you would get a child by her. - But not by you, except a useless girl.
Mind your tongue or I'll have you sent from court to cool your temper, madam.
[music stops]
Play on! Play!
The Queen is tired, but does not wish to spoil your pleasure.
Play!
Jane.
I... I think we shall dance well together.
If I lead strongly, will you softly follow?
I hope so, Your Grace.
That little sheep won't hold the royal bull beyond the first encounter.
I order you!
Leave us.
Where is Jane Seymour?
Cromwell tells me when the dance was ended, she was sent away under guard.
She's on her way to Northumberland.
As far away as I could send her, since we don't own Scotland.
She has the face of a simpering sheep, and the manners. But not the morals.
I don't want her near me.
- You will bring her back! - I think not!
If you want her near you, find a place for her in your palace at Whitehall.
Whilst I am here, Jane Seymour must lie elsewhere.
Tell her.
Your Majesty, the people say that you are the witch Queen.
Are we ruled by superstition?
Catherine still lives in the heart of the people.
The people say that her daughter is the heir and yours the bastard.
I do not fear the people.
The people hate you, madam, for displacing Queen Catherine
and tearing the King away from the true Church.
As they hate me for despoiling the monasteries.
But the King, they truly love.
You and l, madam, live in the protection of the King.
So?
So in Parliament, which speaks for the people,
there is a bill. It is called the Act of Succession.
It makes your daughter the heir
and Catherine's daughter, Mary, illegitimate.
If the King does not wish it, the Act of Succession will not be passed.
Would you sacrifice the child of our love
to get a silly little harlot brought back to court?
One daughter is much like another.
I care not who's named bastard when I'm dead.
If I bring Jane Seymour back
you will have Parliament pass the Act of Succession?
Yes.
What a liar you are.
What good is that Act unless every man in the kingdom
who has power to accept my child as legitimate heir
first swears an oath of fealty to you as Head of the Church?
And if they do not, Act of Succession or no Act of Succession,
they will say my child is the bastard and there's an end!
Go.
Nan, if you love me, don't defy me. Bring her back.
I love you.
I shall go to my grave loving you, no doubt, and hating you.
I will bring her back to my court
if the oath is sworn by all men of power, high and low.
But those who refuse must die.
- You once said they must not die. - You once said they must.
And now so say l.
Anne.
If you love me, forget the succession.
If you remember how it all came about,
how can you look me in my eyes and say our daughter will not succeed?
Because it would need unlimited murder. Nan, look at me.
Is it fitting I should be Head of the Church, Pope and King at once,
a farce so that so many men must die? Could you sign the death warrants?
I'd sign 10,000 rather than disinherit my blood!
It's that, or else it's my blood and Elizabeth's.
Cromwell knows that. Your butcher cleaver man knows that.
Send him to implement these details, and let it be done quickly.
High or low, they will sign. I wish I were loved, but I'm not.
And yet I am Queen of this island and Elizabeth also shall be Queen.
For Elizabeth, no.
For her I will not commit murder.
Anne, if we had a male heir,
your son and mine...
I can be angrier than you've seen me. I know where your heart is, not with me.
What has love got to do with begetting of a king?
I'm not young. I'm not true.
I'm bitter. I'm envious. I'm dangerous. I'm malicious!
It's your misfortune that you love me now that I no longer love you.
And yet, at this moment I want you because of the anger in your face
- and the spark of blood in your cheek. - No.
Anne, give me a prince and everything would be forgotten.
No! Not unless you kill them, More and Houghton and Fisher
and all who will not sign, not unless Elizabeth is your heir!
I'll kill them, then.
I rob, murder and commit sacrilege... at your command.
You do what you wish and call the deed mine.
I hate you. I hate your desire and mine!
[drumming]
[drumming stops]
I pray you, Master Kingston, see me safe up.
As for my coming down, let me shift for myself.
[quiet chattering]
Good people, it has...
The King's orders. You must not be heard.
Well, then I will not speak.
[drumming stops]
I die the King's good servant,
but God's first.
[drumming]
No!
[Anne sobs] No! No!
[Anne continues to sob]
- Well? - A boy born dead.
She has miscarried of her saviour.
[sobbing]
I am accursed!
A live daughter and a dead son! Did I accept excommunication for this?
Did I send More, Houghton and Fisher to their death for this?
She cannot give me a living son!
Very well, then.
If she cannot give me a male heir, I shall rid myself of her.
Sir, with Catherine's death, Anne is too firmly the Queen.
Find a way. Find a legal way. I will divorce Anne.
Divorce is like killing. After the first time, it doesn't seem difficult.
Your Grace, we asserted English law. Anne is now Queen by English law.
Indeed. Indeed. I divorced Catherine in good faith.
But since that time, I have discovered an impediment to my marriage to Anne.
I had a child by her sister Mary. That, too, is incestuous.
We used the incest excuse last time. We can't make a habit of it.
Neither Pope nor Emperor will uphold her and the people hate her.
She'd fight. Her sister was married. You couldn't prove it wasn't her husband's.
- Who do you serve? - The King, Sir.
Your Grace can't afford to start all that again.
Then do you know another way? No, you! You tied me to her!
Now you find a way to get rid of her!
Perhaps...
...in her own life.
Her life?
Yes.
Her marriage contract with Percy. He had her.
That's it, you crawling toad.
No, Your Grace, not her past life, the present.
- The rumours that she has a lover. - Anne? A lover?
I, a cuckold?
- Why, you're mad. - If I could prove it?
Invent it, you mean, with false evidence.
Adultery is high treason. The penalty is death.
Get out.
Cromwell.
[Cromwell] It's most kind of you to come, Master Smeaton.
I am honoured.
When invited to supper, I'm expected to sing for it.
- As you do for the Queen? - Oh, that is my pleasure.
She wishes me to be the first music teacher to the Princess.
Please, sit. No other guests.
Thank you.
Yes, for the Queen to make the Princess your pupil,
she must think most highly of you.
Ah, the advantages of music.
I did not know that music interested you.
It doesn't.
I am interested in the Queen, and you know her so well.
Why, I'm merely a servant.
I have the King's express orders to protect the Queen's person.
We have learned of threats. Oh, many hate her.
I am dining you, as I will dine others, to get to know those whom I may trust.
Oh, I see, I see.
And it is true that she likes to have you close to her, is it not?
Without boasting, I believe she prefers me to many.
She prefers my style to the ltalian.
It is nearer to the manner she loved in the French Court.
She learned to love like a French woman.
Yes, simple tunes sung with...
You would be wiser not to laugh.
It is a more valuable asset than a pleasant singing voice.
I make my way by singing. I've no desire to go any further by any other route.
Come now.
There are only two reasons for you to be constantly in the Queen's apartments.
You love her, or you are in the pay of Spain.
- Why, I go when I am sent for. - To love or spy? Which?
I'm sorry...
Which?
You're too simple to spy, I know that.
- So it is love. You love her. - No! No!
You do not love your Queen?
Well, yes, all right, I do love her. As my Queen.
- And she loves you. - No, Sir, of course not.
Barton, come out here. Bring your papers.
The last reply, but one.
"Well, yes, all right, I do love her."
- What are you trying to make me say? - The truth.
- That you are the Queen's lover. - Oh, no.
No! No!
- You first slept with her in February. - I never!
- On the 18th of February. - No!
Surely you remember such an important date?
- No! - Come, try to remember.
[agonised screams]
No! No! No!
- Try! - Yes!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Anyone can walk, but can you walk with a train?
- Yes. - All right, head up.
Go on. Good!
Don't look round. Go on.
It will follow you like a kitten's tail.
Oh, what a queen it will make some day.
- Enter. - Madam, the Duke of Norfolk insists...
Uncle! This is a rare honour nowadays.
Leave us.
Nan, brace yourself, girl.
I have a warrant for your arrest.
For my arrest? A poor joke.
It's not a joke, Anne.
I could've let others do it, but I felt I could do it more gently.
But I'm the Queen. How could I be arrested? For what?
Adultery, it says here. Nonsense no doubt, but there it is.
Adultery? With whom?
- Smeaton, Norris and others. - [Anne laughs]
- I thought you were serious. - I am.
I am to take you to the Tower. There's to be a trial. I am to preside.
But I'm the Queen. My child, she's the King's heir.
Leave her with your women. Anne, you must come at once.
Elizabeth!
Anne.
[clanking]
Down? Master Kingston, shall I be shut in a dungeon?
No, madam. You will be lodged near the room where you lay
on the night before your coronation.
Oh, Jesus, have mercy on me.
[jangle of keys]
I am Lady Kingston, madam. I will wait upon you.
Will you? Then go away. Leave me!
I fear, madam, that she must stay.
Every word spoken to you or by you must be reported.
Send them away, Norfolk!
- Leave us. - But...
Leave us!
Shall I ever be allowed to walk out and look at the sky?
Shall I ever be free?
Norris, Weston, his friends?
His friends since I first met him?
- And they are accused with me? - Yes.
He is willing to kill them to get rid of me?
- To kill his closest friends? - [man] Come on! The other way!
My brother. Why have they arrested him?
He also is accused of being your lover.
Incest.
Oh, God help me. The King is mad.
I am doomed.
Your Highness, you are accused of high treason
in that you, being the lawfully wedded wife of our Lord the King,
did commit adultery.
I ask that you answer my questions.
By what lawful authority am I called here?
I am your Queen. And, as such, share the King's immunity from arrest and trial.
Norris, Weston, Smeaton and Brereton were tried and condemned ten days ago.
If they are guilty, then you are guilty.
- Did they plead guilty? - They were found guilty.
They were innocent as I am innocent!
Any man, no matter who he is, who says the contrary is a liar!
My Lord, the warrant of treason was issued by direction of the King.
That is sufficient to give jurisdiction,
however, so that there may be no possibility of doubt as to her guilt,
- will My Lord call the first witness? - Call the Earl of Rochford.
George Boleyn, Earl of Rochford, come into court.
The Earl of Rochford.
Read the indictment.
George Boleyn, you are accused of high treason,
in that on certain days and dates, here specified,
you did commit adultery with Anne, Queen of England.
Being your own sister in the flesh, an act of incest.
No! Not true!
It is not your turn to speak.
How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?
You are a foul liar, and my judges are your creatures.
Stand up, Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire. Come to the bar.
Do you recognise these two here accused,
known as Anne and George Boleyn, as issue of your body?
- I do. - Look at them, My Lord.
By the same mother, Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the late Duke of Norfolk,
and therefore full brother and sister in the flesh
so that their lying together would be incest?
- Yes. - For which the penalty is death.
Proper evidence will be introduced later. Remove the prisoner.
That's all, My Lord.
As father of the accused,
you are excused your duty as a judge and may leave.
[Norfolk] Present your next witness.
- [man 1] Mark Smeaton, come into court. - [man 2] Mark Smeaton.
My Lords, this man was tried as a commoner.
He confessed and was found guilty of adultery with the Queen
by a jury of his own order.
He will give evidence against the Queen.
Put your questions.
Smeaton, did you have carnal relations with the Queen?
Smeaton, did you lie with the Queen?
No.
There is mercy only for those that tell the truth.
Three men have been found guilty on your evidence. Was that perjury?
You confessed to your guilt knowing the penalty,
knowing, unless the King is merciful, you will be hanged,
cut down while you still live, disembowelled and your heart torn out!
The King will not be merciful if you lie!
- Did you have carnal relations? - Yes!
My Lord of Norfolk, may I question this man?
I have not finished.
Justice must be seen to be done, Master Cromwell.
- Proceed. - Thank you, My Lord.
Mark, look at me.
I know well you have been tortured,
but tell them the truth, Mark. Have courage.
- It is true. - Write that. He says it is true.
They have promised you your life, haven't they? If you lie for them?
They will break the promise. It would not be safe to leave you alive.
- It's true. - He says it is true for a third time.
- We have our evidence. - Poor gentle singer.
Isn't it better, if you are to die, that you die with the truth?
I am guilty! I was guilty with the Queen!
Let me go now. She came to my bed...
Let me go. She came to my bed, I swear it.
Even when she tells him he will die anyway, he still admits his guilt.
Write that. Take him out.
No. Wait.
My husband, the King.
Smeaton...
...how many times did the Queen come to your bed?
- Many times. - When?
- I don't remember. - You will remember.
Call it to mind or you'll speak with those who can jog your memory.
Where did you couch with the Queen, my wife?
- York Place. - That's a lie.
- It could never have happened there. - No, no, it was at Windsor.
She only went to Windsor with me. Can you think of no better lie?
It was many places, it was wherever you like, whenever you like.
Oh, God, help me. Let me go free. I'll say whatever you like.
Did Cromwell promise you your life if you said this?
- Answer me! Did he? - Yes.
He lied. Say what you like, Smeaton, and you will not live.
Say what you like.
Speak now without lying, for it will avail you nothing.
I am to die?
What happened between you and the Queen?
Between us?
Nothing.
She was kind and pleasant and just.
I would not hurt her.
I lied because they have broken me with ropes and irons
and then promised I would go free.
Take him away.
And yet...
...it could be true.
For six years...
This year and this...
...and this...
...I did not love him.
And then I did.
Then I was his.
I can count the days I was his in hundreds.
The days we bedded.
Married.
Were happy.
Bore Elizabeth.
Hated.
Lusted.
Bore a dead child...
...which condemned me...
...to death.
In all...
...one thousand days.
Just a thousand.
Strange.
And of those thousand, one,
when we were both in love, only one,
when our loves met and overlapped and were both mine and his.
And when I no longer hated him,
he began to hate me.
Except for that one day.
I'm not hungry. Take the food and leave me.
Nan,
is it true?
Have you stepped into your own trap, My Lord?
Any evidence you have against me, you yourself bought and paid for.
- Do you now begin to believe it? - Anne.
Anne, the court is still in session to decide your... verdict.
I don't want to hear your guilt from them, I want to hear it from your lips.
- That I was unfaithful? - Yes, just that.
Were you unfaithful to me whilst I still loved you?
Of course, I'll never know. Whether you say aye or no, I shall never know.
You come here to make sure whether there was truly adultery
because that would touch your manhood or your pride
and even so, my heart and my eyes are glad of you.
Fool of all women that I am, I'm glad of you here.
Go, then.
Keep your pride of manhood, you know about me now.
Nan, is it true that you're glad to see me?
- Yes, it's true. - Then, Anne,
Iet's do all gently for old time's sake.
I have no wish to harm you, and your words have moved me deeply.
I must be free to have a son,
and the son must be free to rule England when I die.
Why must you leave a king to follow you? Why not a queen?
This country has never been ruled by a queen. It never could be.
We can never have a son now, God has spoken.
I must have a son elsewhere.
And it's getting late. I'm not as young as I was.
What do you want of me?
Agree to annul the marriage and give up all rights.
You shall go abroad and take Elizabeth with you. You will be well cared for.
Please set me free.
To marry Seymour and make our child a bastard?
No. No. No.
Nan... Nan, you leave me no choice!
Once I told you any children we had would not be bastards.
You promised marriage and the Crown.
Now you try to dance out of your promise. Well, I won't have it!
We are man and wife together. King and Queen. I keep that.
Take it from me as best you can.
Then you have decided, and so have l!
Before you go, perhaps you should hear one thing.
I lied to you. I said "l love you", but I lied.
I was untrue. Untrue with many.
- That is a lie. - It is true.
I was unfaithful to you with all of them.
With half your court! With soldiers of your guard, grooms, stablehands.
Look, for the rest of your life, at every man that ever knew me
and wonder if I didn't find him a better man than you!
You whore!
But Elizabeth was yours. Watch her as she grows.
She's yours. She's a Tudor.
Get yourself a son on that sweet pale girl if you can
and hope that it will live. But Elizabeth shall reign after you.
Yes! Elizabeth, child of Anne the whore
and Henry the bloodstained lecher, shall be Queen.
You've asked for death and you shall have it.
So be it.
Only what I take to my grave, you take to yours.
And think of this, Henry.
Elizabeth shall be a greater queen than any king of yours.
She shall rule a greater England than you could ever have built.
Yes! My Elizabeth shall be Queen.
And my blood will have been well spent.
She's lying. She was never unfaithful to me.
She could. Any woman could.
No. She lies.
If she lies, let her die for lying.
Let her die!
- Is everything ready? - Yes, My Lord. The Queen is at prayer.
Fetch her. The time for prayer is passed.
- And where is the King? - At Richmond. Out hunting.
Will you join him later?
No, by God. For me there's killing enough this day.
[executioner speaks French]
Will it hurt?
They say not, My Lady.
The executioner from France is an expert with the sword.
I hear that he is good. And I have a little neck.
- Oh, My Lady. - No, Kingston. No.
Come, I am glad to die.
[birdsong]
The month is May.
- My Lady? - Nothing.
[bell tolls]
[bell ceases]
Mon Dieu! She looks at me! Distract her!
[distant cannon fire]
- Away, My Lords. - Where to, Your Grace?
To Mistress Seymour's.
[Anne] Elizabeth shall be a greater queen than any king of yours.
She shall rule a greater England than you could ever have built.
My Elizabeth shall be Queen.
And my blood will have been well spent.