RIVERS

Have patience, madam. There's no doubt that his Majesty, King Edward, will soon recover his health.

GREY

And if you're visibly worried, you'll make him worse. So for God's sake, let us comfort you, and then you can cheer up his Majesty with your lively, happy mood.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

If he were dead, what would happen to me?

RIVERS

No harm would come to you but the loss of such a husband.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

The loss of such a husband includes all kinds of harm.

GREY

The heavens have blessed you with a good son, who will comfort you when the king is gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ah, but he is young, and while he's young he is still in the care of Richard, the Duke of Gloucester—a man who loves neither me nor any of you.

RIVERS

Has it been declared that Richard will be Protector?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

It's been decided, but not officially declared yet. But that's the way it must be if the king dies.

GREY

Here comes the lords of Buckingham, and Derby.

BUCKINGHAM

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] Good day to you, your royal Grace.

STANLEY

May God make your Majesty as happy as you once were.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My good Lord Stanley, the countess Richmond would hardly agree and say "amen" to you prayer. But even though she's your wife and doesn't like me, you can be assured, good lord, that I don't hate you for her proud arrogance.

STANLEY

Please don't believe the jealous lies of her slanderers. And even if there's some truth to the rumors, then forgive her, for I think she only acts that way because she's sick—not because she hates you.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Did you see the king today, Lord Stanley?

STANLEY

The Duke of Buckingham and I are just coming now from a visit to his Majesty.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What are the chances of his recovery, lords?

BUCKINGHAM

There is good hope, madam. The king seems cheerful.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

May God grant him health. Did you speak with him?

BUCKINGHAM

Yes, madam. He wants to reconcile Richard with your brothers, and your brothers with Lord Hastings. He has just summoned them all to his royal presence.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I wish that all were well—but that will never be. I fear that our good fortune has reached its peak.

RICHARD

They're abusing me, and I won't endure it! Who has been complaining to the king that I am harsh and don't like them? By Saint Paul, whoever is worrying the king with these treacherous rumors doesn't love him very much. Just because I cannot flatter and look handsome, smile in men's faces, ingratiate myself, lie and cheat, and bow like a pretentious Frenchman, people assume that I'm a foul enemy. Can't a plain man live, wishing no harm on anyone, without his words being twisted like this by slick, sly, slithering lowlifes?

RIVERS

Which of us are you referring to, your Grace?

RICHARD

To you, who have neither honesty nor grace. When have I injured you? When have I done you any wrong? Or you? Or you? Or any of you and your supporters? Curse you all! The king—whom I hope God will preserve better than you'd like—can hardly catch his breath before you start troubling him with your wicked complaints.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My brother-in-law of Gloucester, you're mistaken. It was the king himself, unprovoked by anyone, who noticed your hatred for my children, my brothers, and myself—an inner hatred that expresses itself in your outward actions. He summoned people to ask them about your dislike of us, so that he might discover the reasons behind it and do something about it.

RICHARD

I can't tell what's going on. The world has grown so bad that little wrens now live where eagles dare not perch. Since every peasant has become a nobleman, there are now many noblemen who've been turned into peasants.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Come, come, I know what you're referring to, brother-in-law Richard. You're jealous of my friends' rise in rank, and of my own. May God grant that I never need your help.

RICHARD

But in the meantime God grants that I need your help. My brother, the Duke of Clarence, is imprisoned because of your influence. I am disgraced, and the nobility are scorned, while great promotions are handed out daily to those who weren't worth a noble two days ago.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I swear by the God who raised me up to this anxious height from the contented life I used to enjoy—I never provoked the king's anger against the Duke of Clarence. I have only ever advocated for him and pled on his behalf. My lord, you do me wrong to implicate me in these wicked suspicions.

RICHARD

Then I'm sure you'll also deny that you were the cause of Lord Hastings' recent imprisonment

RIVERS

She may deny it, my lord, for—

RICHARD

Yes, she may, Lord Rivers. Why, everyone knows that she may. And she may do more than just denying that, sir. She may help you to many nice promotions and then deny that she aided you, claiming that you won those honors through your own merit. What may she not do? She may, yes, by God, she may—

RIVERS

What, by God, may she do?

RICHARD

What, by God, may she do? She may marry a king, a bachelor, a handsome young man. Certainly, your grandmother had a worse match.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My Lord of Gloucester, for too long I've suffered your blunt insults and your bitter scorn. By heaven, I will tell the king about the vile taunts I've endured. I would rather be a country servant-maid than a great queen in such a situation—to be so taunted, scorned, and attacked.

I've had very little joy in being England's queen.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] And may her joy be even less than that, God! Elizabeth's honor, rank, and throne all rightly belong to me.

RICHARD

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] What, are you threatening me that you'll tell the king? Go ahead and tell him, and don't spare any details. Look, I will repeat what I have said here in the presence of the king. I'll even risk being sent to the Tower for it. It seems that all my efforts on Edward's behalf have been forgotten.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] You devil! I remember those efforts all too well: you killed my husband Henry in the Tower, and my poor son Edward at Tewkesbury.

RICHARD

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] Yes, before you were queen, or your husband was king, I was a beast of burden for his great affairs. I weeded out his proud enemies and generously rewarded his friends. I spent my own blood to make his blood royal.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] Yes, and in killing my husband and son, you spent much better blood than yours or your brother's.

RICHARD

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] And during all that time, you and your first husband, Sir John Grey, were fighting for the house of Lancaster.

[To RIVERS] And, Rivers, so were you.

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] Wasn't your first husband killed in Queen Margaret's battle at Saint Albans? In case you've forgotten, let me remind you who you were before, and who you are now. And remember also who I was before, and who I am now.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] You were a murderous villain, and you still are.

RICHARD

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] Poor Clarence abandoned his father-in-law Warwick, yes, and broke his own oath—may Jesus pardon him!—

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] And may God take revenge on him!

RICHARD

—to fight for Edward's side and help him win the crown. And his reward for that, the poor lord, is to be imprisoned. I wish to God that my heart was made of stone, like Edward's—or that Edward's heart was soft and emotional, like mine. I am too childlike and innocent for this world.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] Hurry on to hell then, and leave this world, you evil spirit! Hell is where your true kingdom is.

RIVERS

My Lord of Gloucester, in those busy days, we were just following our lord, our rightful king—which you now bring up to prove that we're your enemies. And we would follow you in just the same way, if you were our king.

RICHARD

If I were king? I would rather be a peddler. Far be it for me to ever think of being king.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

You would have just as little joy as you imagine if you were indeed this country's king. As the queen, I have had no joy.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To herself] Ah, no joy for that "queen" indeed. For I am the queen, and completely unhappy. I can no longer hold myself back.

Hear me, you scheming pirates, who quarrel over what you've plundered from me! Which of you doesn't tremble to look at me? If you're not trembling because I am the queen and you are my bowing subjects, then you're quivering because you're traitors who stole my throne! 

[To RICHARD] Ah, you highborn villain, don't turn away.

RICHARD

You foul, wrinkled witch, what are you doing here?

QUEEN MARGARET

Just trying to redo what you have undone. I will do that much before I let you go.

RICHARD

Weren't you banished on pain of death?

QUEEN MARGARET

[To RICHARD] I was, but banishment is more painful to me than dying here at home. You owe me a husband and a son.

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] And you owe me a kingdom. 

[To the others] And the rest of you—in fact, all of you—owe me your allegiance. The sorrow that I feel now rightfully belongs to you, and all the pleasure you enjoy now rightfully belongs to me.

RICHARD

The curse my noble father laid on you when you set a paper crown on his head, and drew rivers of tears from his eyes with your scorn, and then, to dry them, you gave him a handkerchief soaked in innocent Rutland's blood—the curses he laid on you then, when his bitter soul condemned you, have now come to pass. God, not us, is punishing you for your bloody deeds.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

God is just, and he rewards the innocent.

HASTINGS

Oh, killing that child, Rutland, was the foulest, most merciless deed that was ever heard of!

RIVERS

Even tyrants wept when they heard about it.

DORSET

Everyone knew that there would be revenge for it.

BUCKINGHAM

Even Northumberland, who was there, wept to see it.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, weren't you all snarling at each other before I came—about to jump at each others' throats like dogs? And now you're turning all your hatred on me? Did the Duke of York's curse have so much power that Henry's death; my lovely Edward's death; the loss of their kingdom; and my sad banishment were all required to avenge the death of that peevish brat Rutland? Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven? Well then, open up, you dark clouds—and hear my strong curses! Though your Yorkist king didn't die in battle, may he die from his gluttony, just as our Lancastrian king—my husband—was murdered to give your king his throne. 

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] May your son Edward, who is now Prince of Wales, die violently while young, just like my son Edward, who was once Prince of Wales. And you, Queen, may you outlive your glory and be miserable just like I am. Long may you live to mourn your children's death, and see another woman take your throne and position, as I do now. May your happiness die long before you do, and—after many long hours of grief—may you die not as a mother, or a wife, or even as England's queen. 

[To the others] Rivers and Dorset—and you too, Lord Hastings—you stood by when my son was stabbed with bloody daggers. I pray to God that none of you will die a natural death, but will be killed by some unexpected accident.

RICHARD

Enough of your witchcraft, you hateful, withered hag.

QUEEN MARGARET

And leave you out, Richard? Stay, dog, for you must hear me out. If heaven has any horrible plagues worse than anything I could imagine, oh, let it keep them until you've committed the maximum amount of sin. And then let heaven hurl down its anger on you all at once, you disturber of the poor world's peace! May the worm of guilt gnaw away at your soul constantly. May you suspect your friends of being traitors, and consider the worst traitors as your dearest friends. May you never close your wicked eyes and be able to sleep—unless it's to dream some terrifying nightmare of a hell filled with ugly devils. You cursed, prematurely born hog, wallowing in the mud; you who were born a deformed child of hell; you insult to your sad mother's womb; you hated product of your father's loins; you filthy scrap of dishonor; you disgusting— 

RICHARD

Margaret.

QUEEN MARGARET

Richard!

RICHARD

Yes?

QUEEN MARGARET

I didn't call you.

RICHARD

I beg your pardon, then—for I thought you had called me all those bitter names.

QUEEN MARGARET

Why, so I did. But I didn't want any reply from you. Oh, let me finish my curse!

RICHARD

I've already finished it. It ends in "Margaret."

QUEEN ELIZABETH

[To QUEEN MARGARET] See, you've only cursed yourself.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To QUEEN ELIZABETH] You poor imitation of a queen, you meaningless decoration on my throne: why do you give sugar to this swollen spider when he's already ensnared you in his deadly web? Fool, fool, you're sharpening the knife that will kill you. The day will come when you'll wish that I could help you curse this poisonous, hunchbacked toad.

HASTINGS

You false prophet, stop your frantic curses before we lose our patience and cause you harm.

QUEEN MARGARET

Foul shame on you—I've already lost my patience with you all.

RIVERS

If you got what you deserved, you would be taught to show some respect.

QUEEN MARGARET

If I got what I deserved, you would all be showing me respect—I would be your queen, and you would be my subjects. Oh, give me what I deserve, then—and teach yourselves some respect!

DORSET

[To RIVERS] Don't try to argue with her. She's a lunatic.

QUEEN MARGARET

[To DORSET] Quiet, Master Marquess, you're being impudent. Your noble title is so newly-minted that its not even legal yet. Oh, that your recent nobility could understand what it means to be lost and miserable! Those who are very high up must be shaken by many blasts of wind. And when they fall, they dash themselves to pieces.

RICHARD

[To QUEEN MARGARET] Good advice, by God.

[To DORSET] Listen and learn, Marquess.

DORSET

It applies to you as much as to me, my lord.

RICHARD

Yes, and even more so. But I was born at that high social rank. My family lives like eagles at the top of the tallest cedar tree, playing in the wind and looking fearlessly at the sun.

QUEEN MARGARET

And turning the sun into shadow. Alas, alas, like my son, who is now in the shadow of death. Your cloudy anger has swallowed up his bright-shining beams, and now he dwells in eternal darkness. You're building your nest in our nest. Oh God, witness this injustice and don't let it go unpunished! As the Yorks won the crown through bloodshed, let them also lose it in the same way.

BUCKINGHAM

Quiet, quiet—have some shame at least, if you can't be kind.

QUEEN MARGARET

Don't preach about kindness or shame to me. 

[To the others] You have been unkind to me, and have shamefully butchered my hopes. My kindness to you is to be outraged, and my life is my shame—a shame that contains all my sadness and rage.

BUCKINGHAM

Enough, enough.

QUEEN MARGARET

Oh, princely Buckingham, I'll kiss your hand as a sign of my support and friendship. May only good things come to you and your noble family! Your clothes are not stained with my family's blood, and so you don't fall under my curse.

BUCKINGHAM

No one here is under your curse either. For curses are just empty words, lost to the air as soon as they're spoken.

QUEEN MARGARET

No, I believe that they rise up to heaven and awaken God from his gentle, peaceful sleep. 

[To BUCKINGHAM so that only he can hear] Oh, Buckingham, watch out for that dog Richard there! When he flatters, he bites, and when he bites, his poisonous teeth are deadly. Have nothing to do with him. Beware of him. Sin, death, and hell have claimed him as their own, and their devils are his servants.

RICHARD

What does she say, my lord of Buckingham?

BUCKINGHAM

Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, will you scorn me for my friendly advice, and comfort the devil that I'm warning you about? Oh, you will remember this, when one day he splits your heart in two with sorrow. Then you'll say that poor Margaret was a prophet. May Richard come to hate everyone here, and may you come to hate him, and may God hate you all!

HASTINGS

My hair stands on end when I hear her curses.

RIVERS

So does mine. I wonder why she's not in prison.

RICHARD

I cannot blame her. By God's holy mother, she has suffered too much. And I'm sorry for the part I've played in her troubles.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I never did her any wrong, to my knowledge.

RICHARD

But you've reaped all the benefits from her suffering. I was too eager in helping Edward to the throne, and now he seems to have forgotten my deeds. Well, as for Clarence, he is being well repaid for his pains—shut in a pigsty to be fattened up and slaughtered. May God pardon those responsible.

RIVERS

That's very virtuous and Christian of you to pray for those who have harmed us.

RICHARD

I always do. 

[To himself] For I am the one responsible for this harm, and if I had cursed them, I would only be cursing myself.

CATESBY

Madam, his Majesty asks for you—and for you, Duke of Gloucester—and for you, my gracious lords.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I will go now, Catesby.

[To the others] Lords, will you go with me?

RIVERS

We will attend you, your Grace.

RICHARD

I commit the crimes, and I start the quarrels. I do wicked things in secret, and then lay the blame on others. I weep about Clarence, whom I've had thrown into prison, in front of these gullible fools—namely, Derby, Hastings, and Buckingham. And I tell them that it's the queen and her allies who have incited the King against Clarence. Now they believe it, and they urge me to take revenge on Rivers, Dorset, and Grey...but then I sigh, and quote a piece of scripture to them, saying that God tells us to repay evil with good. And so I clothe my naked villainy with odds and ends stolen from the Holy Bible, and I seem like a saint exactly when I act most like the devil.

But quiet! Here come the executioners I've hired.

[To the MURDERERS] How's it going, my hardy, strong, reliable friends? Are you going now to take care of this business?

FIRST MURDERER

We are, my lord. We've come to get the warrant so we can be admitted into Clarence's cell.

RICHARD

Good thinking. I have it on me here.

[He gives them a paper] When you're done, go to Crosby Place. But, sirs, be quick in your execution. And don't let him plead for his life, for Clarence is well-spoken, and he may convince you to spare him if you listen too closely to his words.

FIRST MURDERER

Tut, tut, my lord, we won't stand around and chat. Talkers are not good doers. Rest assured that we go to use our hands, not our tongues.

RICHARD

You remain stone-faced when fools' eyes drop tears. I like you lads. Go about your business right away. Go, go, get to it.

MURDERERS

We will, my noble lord.