01x09 - The Princes in the Tower

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Word from your mother, Henry.

The King is dead.

And we must be ready to raise an army.

We're to escort the King to the Tower for his protection.

Secure the Prince's safety.

What's stopping him from snatching my other son?

We must get you out of here tonight.

We must find a boy that's the very image of you.

We're going into sanctuary.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, plans to make himself King.

Parliament declared your marriage to Edward of York invalid

and your sons as bastards.

Lady Margaret, I need your help.

We must free Prince Edward from the Tower.

We're working with her to get the Princes out of the Tower.

Well, then, Henry must strengthen his claim, marry well.

Princess Elizabeth.

Your ambition will be the death of the boys.

I will restore your good names and get my boys back.

My affinity, my kin, my loyal men at arms.

I am the rightful King.

You are guardians of my kingdom, the men whom I rely on.

Sir Robert Brackenbury,

now Constable of the Tower.

Harry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham...

Lord Chamberlain of England.

Lord Thomas Stanley,

Lord High Constable of England.

And in place of Anthony Rivers...

the Order of the Garter.

I swear my fealty to God

and King Richard.

I'm grateful for your loyalty.

They will be loyal to us, Richard.

You are the rightful King now and England will grow to love you.

London is against me still.

They will come around.

The North is loyal and soon the South will follow.

And when the time is right, we will invest our boy as Prince of Wales

and England will blossom in your York sun again.

Thank you, Anne.

Nobody wanted a Rivers boy on the throne whose mother would

tear England apart.

Do they think that if they ring the bells for days on end,

it will make his coronation less a sin?

England will not accept it.

They love Edward's boys

and Richard is a fool to think he can usurp Prince Edward!

Do you still have no word from Prince Richard in Flanders?

The letter may have gone astray.

Or perhaps we have sent him to his death.

Elizabeth! Maybe we shall all die, now my father's gone.

No-one else will die, Elizabeth!

I've had word from Buckingham. He's, um...

He's told me what his terms are for joining us against the King.

I'll tell Elizabeth and we'll mount our att*ck on the Tower to save the princes.

Does she trust you?

Yes. Once you've rescued her boys, she'll rise with us against Richard.

Those boys are still a problem, though.

Richard naming them as bastards made no difference.

The first in line to the throne.

The people still support them. I know. Anne and Richard know it, too.

But perhaps that might provide us with a solution.

Lady Anne.

Sir Robert.

I did not think to see you here.

We are shortly on our royal progress,

but I should like to have sight of those boys before I go.

What will happen to them, Your Grace...

now that both of them are here?

They can be neither boys nor men because just by living,

they are a thr*at to us.

We hoped by declaring their illegitimacy, that they

would lose their power, but people still support them.

Would you wish them k*lled?

I can't wish it - not a pair of innocent boys.

You are too tender-hearted, then...

because boys become men...

and even boys can be a cause that men will k*ll for.

Then, I do wish it,

else how will the King and I ever be safe?

Spiritus Sancti...

I've received a message from KING Richard

that if we were to leave sanctuary and go live at Grafton,

then, my boys would be returned to me.

He says he would have peace now.

Do you trust him?

Of course I don't trust him!

He k*lled my son and my brother Anthony!

My boys must be released to me before I leave here.

Take care, Your Grace.

Lady Margaret fears the King would play you false.

She says the Duke of Buckingham believes it, too,

and that he is so aggrieved, he is ready to turn against King Richard.

Buckingham will turn?

As evidence of his good faith, he will storm the Tower with you

to free the Princes.

And what is Buckingham's price, hmm, for betraying his dearest friend?

The Duke asks that his eldest daughter should marry your son,

Prince Edward, and that he himself be named Regent

until the young King is of age.

And no doubt she wants her exiled son,

Henry Tudor, returned to England.

And Princess Elizabeth's hand in marriage to Henry,

and that Henry is named heir after your Prince Edward.

It means your daughter could be Queen,

and Lady Margaret says that such a marriage would unite

the Houses of York and Lancaster and end these wars.

Tell them I will accept,

but my boys must be rescued straight away,

and my son, Thomas Grey, he will join the raid to see that all goes well.

Send this note to him to come to see me.

Your Grace.

'Dear Henry and Jasper, I greet you well.

'I have much news.

'We are to free Elizabeth's boys from the Tower

'and then she will bring her army against Richard.

'You must make ready.

'Whoever wins must find you landed in force, Lancaster rising,

'your troops ready to fight a second battle.'

My Lord?

As you were, gentlemen.

'I think this is our moment.'

I have selected the men who will join in the att*ck on the Tower.

I have to know your will.

My will is God's will.

When they break down the door of the Princes' room,

is it your will or God's will

that they slice their little heads off there and then?

Elizabeth's own son, Thomas Grey, will be there,

as will her man, Sir John.

k*ll them all.

This is YOUR plan to put YOUR son on the throne.

If the Princes are dead, then he is two steps closer.

The people will not choose Henry over them.

I brought the little one to life myself.

w*r is hard. What are your commands, my Lady?

You would have me order the deaths of two boys, only nine and 12?

Well, say the word and we will rescue them

from their wicked uncle and free the Queen, too.

Would you like the royal family of York restored,

with a little Prince Edward on the throne?

Stop it. Well, then, you must choose! Save or slaughter?

Hmm?

Which is it to be? Save or slaughter?

Obviously, the men must k*ll them.

Father, the men are waiting.

Do you know your orders?

Yes, Lord Stanley.

I must join the King.

Wait until the men have reached the gate, then send the letter.

What letter?

To Sir Robert Brackenbury at the Tower, warning him of the att*ck.

Warning him? So we are seen to be on Richard's side if it goes wrong.

Father.

It won't go wrong!

Stanley?

Oh, Thomas!

How do I fare as a fisherman, Mother? It's so good to see you.

Sir John. Thank you.

I have been in mourning for the King, your Grace,

and aggrieved at your boys being taken from you.

You will watch them on the raid, won't you? Buckingham and Stanley.

Both are on the King's royal progress.

The King trusts no-one so he's taken them with him.

It's their men we're meeting.

At least it shows he has no true supporters.

Mother?

If Henry Tudor and Buckingham are really on our side, we cannot fail.

Richard will not stand a chance against us all united.

Just bring my boy to me.

Be ready to leave when we send word.

Thomas? John? Take care.

Your Grace.

Your Grace.

Close the gate! Thomas, quickly! Intruders in the camp!

Secure the door!

Edward! Thomas!

Edward, you must be brave!

We're coming for you!

You must be brave and wait!

Be brave and wait!

Shh!

Thomas. Sir John. Why...?

We failed.

The boys were better guarded than we thought.

The man who should have let us in was cut down.

You didn't even get inside?

We tried to ram the door

but the guards came from the courtyard and we had to fight them.

We heard doors slamming and shouting as the boys were taken further in,

but once we were discovered, there was no chance we could get to them.

I shouted to my brother, "You must be brave and wait!

"We are coming for you!" He did not answer.

My boy!

Thomas, you're hurt.

We must call all-out uprising.

We must hope for a quick defeat

so we can reach the boys before they come to any harm.

I'll write to Lady Margaret and tell her to raise Buckingham.

And do you trust your newfound friends, Mother...

who suddenly flock to rescue the boys and yet don't quite succeed?

Because all of them feast quite merrily at Uncle Richard's table.

I cannot choose my allies, Elizabeth.

And to save my son, I would plot with the Devil himself!

I think that you already have.

Richard, what is it?

The Rivers have att*cked the Tower...

the moment we're in the North and miles away!

Sir Robert Brackenbury has written to me.

She did not get the Princes out?

They're not Princes any more!

I'm sorry.

Your Grace?

Your son, Lord Strange, he found out and sent a warning.

It came too late but I am grateful to him.

You must punish those concerned and show no mercy.

The boys are safe under lock and key.

It is HER and no-one else. Of course it is!

But how does she still have men she can command?

The boys command them by their very living.

We must have our boy invested Prince of Wales.

We'll do it here in York, then there can be no question

who is next in line for the throne.

Why could we not reach them?

You want the boys to live?

I am your obedient daughter, so if it is your will that they should

take the throne and not my son, then you need to give me a sign.

You need to give me a sign right now!

They botched it, then.

If my son hadn't sent his warning letter,

Richard may well have pointed his finger at me.

How do I know it wasn't your son's letter that caused us to fail?

Richard plans to move the Princes to the North.

Once he does, we'll never get to him.

So you need a new plan quickly. I have a plan!

I just don't care to share it with you

in case you send any more letters.

I risked my neck leaving the King's side to see

if this thing can be salvaged. Do not exclude me now!

I'm meeting Buckingham. He has access to the Tower.

Get them out.

Do you think we must try again to free the Princes

and restore them to their state?

If they were legitimate, then of course.

But Richard says they're not,

so perhaps you'd risk everything just for a witch's sons.

Perhaps we might.

I do fear for their lives, though.

Richard will surely want them out of the way

now our plot to free them came so close.

You don't think he would m*rder them?

God forbid.

Though if he did, it would mean the end of the Rivers line.

That would serve her right! That witch, Elizabeth,

who made me marry her yokel sister!

Or if someone else were to k*ll them in Richard's name,

then who would doubt it was really Richard's doing?

And you, of course, have access to the Tower.

And the rebellion that overthrew him

would leave the throne open to someone...

new.

But, of course, you mean your own boy, Henry Tudor.

Henry is direct Lancastrian heir. It is his birthright.

And if, God forbid,

your Henry should fall in battle?

Then, you would be King,

as you would if he should die without issue.

But if he should live, then you will have his gratitude

and any price you name.

Will you take my fealty to your son?

I swear my fealty to God and to King Henry Tudor!

On behalf of my son, Henry Tudor,

the rightful King of England, I accept your fealty.

Let us overthrow Richard and his Standard of the Boar

and bring joy back to England.

Shall I really be King one day, Father?

Yes, Edward. You will be King of England.

I don't want to be King if you will die.

I won't die for a very long time. I promise.

And I always keep my word, don't I?

Richard, Edward. It is time.

Thomas sends word that no-one has seen our brother

or the changeling since the raid.

Our letters are returned to us with the seals not even broken!

And now Richard has made his own son Prince of Wales.

And that usurper will die for it!

Haven't enough d*ed, Mother?

It is his birthright, Elizabeth, the throne of England!

And this is my LIFE and my sisters'!

Lizzie, don't!

You coop us up here like rats while all you do all day is plot revenge!

Elizabeth!

You want the throne, but do you even have a boy to put on it?

No.

Queen Elizabeth? Your Grace?

Thomas!

With love from Flanders.

Richard! He's safe! My Prince Richard!

'My dear Jasper and Henry.

'Our London house is now the secret headquarters of our rebellion.

'Dr Lewis goes between Elizabeth and myself almost daily

'as she, in turn, draws out those men still loyal to the York Princes

'and signs them to our rebellion.

'My spies report that Buckingham's men are secretly arming,

'as he promised, and will meet you when you land in Wales.

'He and Elizabeth think that you will land your men in Tenby to

'join them. They do not know you will be off the coast, waiting

'until their battle with Richard is over so you can defeat the victor.

'Only Richard, far away in the North, has no notion of the plans

'that are forming at the very heart of his own capital.

'And when the time comes, he'll have no idea what hit him.'

What's wrong, my love?

I thought once the boys were disinherited, we would be safe,

but Henry Tudor is betrothed to Princess Elizabeth, our niece.

How do you know?

Lord Stanley told me.

I fear I must reprimand my wife.

I thought she'd respond to my authority but...

The Tudors and Elizabeth are in alliance?

They're planning a rebellion.

I must insist the Duke of Brittany hands Henry Tudor over

before he can att*ck.

Thank you for your loyalty, Lord Stanley.

Your Grace.

Your Grace.

Richard, Lord Stanley would let you lock up his own wife!

How do you know you can trust him?

He says he's loyal to me. That's the thing with Stanley.

No-one ever really knows whose side he's on.

You must arrest Lady Margaret. She has betrayed us!

Don't tell me what to do!

I have enough enemies as it is.

I cannot arrest a woman who is notorious for her piety

or I'll create a dozen more!

Richard, you must not let this come between us.

We stand together and then we are strong.

I know. I'm sorry.

I will intercept her letters. I will set my spies on her.

We will learn more that way.

And if Brittany won't hand Tudor over?

He will inv*de and I must prepare for w*r.

Margaret.

Margaret!

I can't stay long. The King trusts no-one any more.

He knows there's a rebellion in the making and he suspects you,

and therefore me as well.

So tell me quickly, are the Princes dead?

Yes.

Have you seen the bodies?

Of course I have not!

How do you know they're dead?

Because the Duke and I agreed it!

How do you know he hasn't lied to you

and Buckingham holds them somewhere safe?

What would he have to gain from that?

He wants them gone as much as we do.

So you'd better be loyal.

You'd better fight for Henry.

It is Buckingham!

My own true friend who is behind the rebellion of Margaret Stanley's!

I've intercepted her letters.

Richard!

Leave! Your Grace.

A man with the best cause to be true,

I have given him everything he's ever asked for.

And never was a traitor better treated.

And now he is joining Elizabeth and Henry Tudor,

who is mustering to sail from Brittany.

Buckingham is false. Lady Margaret too.

Elizabeth we expect, but all of them together...

Now I must postpone my Parliament.

Just when I'd called for it and prepared.

I just want to show England what a king I can be

and how I planned to serve them.

And you will still show them. You'll defeat this uprising.

That is not even the worst of it.

What? What is it?

Buckingham is spreading a rumour

that the Princes in the Tower are dead.

What?

By my hand.

It is all over the city.

But why would they say that?

Because Buckingham slanders me to win men to his cause.

And ARE they dead?

It's not true.

You know I have not harmed them.

You know I would never do that.

Would someone else have done it?

They will be safely in the Tower.

I have written to Sir Robert to be sure.

But now I must prepare for w*r.

Sir John.

I offer you my sympathy, your Grace.

We prayed for the Princes, and we hoped to rescue them in time.

We are more sorry for your loss than I can say.

My loss?

What?

God spare me.

Don't say you didn't know, and I've just told you like a fool?

Are you saying that my son, Prince Edward, has been ex*cuted?

All I've heard is dead.

No. No.

Forgive me for being the one to tell you.

All we wanted was to know your wishes now.

He has not been ex*cuted. No.

Not publicly.

We were just told the Princes had been put to death,

God save them, and the rebellion would go on against Richard,

but now we would put Henry Tudor on the throne.

Margaret Beaufort's boy?

We mustered for your cause, your Grace.

Who told you they were dead?

A man of Buckingham's.

The false King had ordered their deaths in secret.

Listen to me.

Go back to Kent and tell your men to rise up.

Tell them to destroy this false King Richard

and to take vengeance for me and my poor boys.

Buckingham and Tudor are to meet in Wales.

They will cross the River Severn to inv*de.

I must cut them off and rout them there.

May I give you a wife's blessing?

Come back to me, my Richard.

My love.

There's a rumour that my boys are dead.

The Duke of Buckingham is saying it.

I fear, your Grace, it is more than just a rumour.

The false King Richard has k*lled his nephews to secure his throne.

At least my Richard is safe, though.

He's safe?

They are both safe, please God.

But they haven't been seen since the Tower att*ck.

The Duke and Lady Margaret both believe

that Richard had them k*lled.

But why would Buckingham tell the men

in the very moment we muster them to free my boys

that our cause is already lost?

So that everyone knows it was the false King Richard who gave

the order. That he's to blame. But who would doubt it was Richard?

No-one would doubt it, of course.

Your Grace...

what did you mean when you said, "At least my son Richard is safe"?

Doctor, if you had two rare jewels and you feared thieves,

would you put both of them in the same box?

Richard was not in the Tower? Hush!

But two boys were k*lled in their beds!

In their beds?

Were they?

You know that for sure now?

How do you know it?

Please! How are you suddenly so very sure? Your Grace, I...

If you had the slightest hand in this, then you will go to hell

and so will Lady Margaret!

Mother, what's happened?

Elizabeth?

Have you heard the river singing, as it did when Anthony

and your brother Richard Grey d*ed?

Not like that night.

But you hear something?

Faintly.

Like a lullaby. Don't you?

No.

No.

They're saying that your brother Prince Edward is dead.

No. No.

Mother... Lizzie, I think I was mistaken,

and that the people who I thought were on our side

are our bitterest enemies.

And all our safety now depends on Buckingham

and Henry Tudor losing this battle.

I thought King Richard was our enemy

and that's why we rose up with them against him?

Richard stole the crown

but I think it was Buckingham and Lady Margaret who k*lled my boy.

I must write to my son and Sir John

and tell them that we are changing sides

and that they now must turn against Tudor and Buckingham.

Elizabeth summoned me to sanctuary tonight.

She begged me to tell her that the Princes are not dead.

I didn't know what you would have me say

so I told her what everyone is whispering,

that Richard had them k*lled.

But, Lady Margaret, she said something else.

Tell me.

She said, "At least my Richard is safe."

Prince Richard, how can he be?

She looked at me in the most determined manner and she said,

"Doctor, if you had two rare jewels, would you put them in the same box?"

She would say nothing more.

She became most angry and I took my leave.

Lady Margaret, is it true?

Are the boys both dead?

They are like all of us, in the hands of God.

Goodnight.

Lady Margaret?

Mother?

I can't sleep. Nor I.

Where are they meeting? Buckingham and Tudor?

In Wales, to cross the river.

Then, we must do something.

I wish that it would rain.

Let it rain.

You must not worry about your father.

He will be home soon and we'll all be safe again.

Buckingham's army will wait in Wales for Henry Tudor.

Lady Margaret will know that her son cannot set sail in this.

Not if it's this bad over the Channel.

And it will be.

5,000 mercenaries.

A force that cannot fail against whoever wins the first battle.

Except we cannot even get there for the rain.

'My dearest Anne.

'I am in hell.

'Our march is slower than t*rture,

'the horses chest-deep in the mud,

'and half the bridges are washed away

'so we have to go for miles to find a ford.

'My men march with their heads down.

'When we rest, we can't light fires, as everything is soaked.'

Buckingham will give up his wait for Tudor.

He will be forced to fight Richard on his own.

'Buckingham's life will shrink to a long march in the rain.'

'He will pray God for a miracle.'

But not in this rain.

'There are no miracles.

'And God is raging at what they have done to my poor boy.'

'Lady Margaret.

'Your son has not arrived to join me, and most of my men have fled.

'I cannot win against Richard with these numbers, and he knows it,

'and is hunting me.

'When I am routed, he will build a scaffold for all the traitors,

'and he will search the Tower for the Princes.'

Edward?

Richard?

Guard! Quickly, man, open the door!

Your Grace.

Richard?

What are you doing?

You must sentence the traitors.

They are gone. They've just vanished.

The boys!

It'll be that witch! She will have spirited them away.

That is why you must drag her out of sanctuary and punish her!

I've searched every room and stairwell.

Where can they be?

Richard, please!

Name the traitors and call your Parliament!

It's what you've always wanted!

Do the good for England you've dreamed of and then we can be happy.

The guards said they put the boys to bed one night,

and in the morning they were gone.

Sir Robert Brackenbury raised the alarm.

Sir Robert?

What did Sir Robert say of it?

That he was sorry.

He is sorry.

So, where are they?

Then it must be Buckingham.

Surely it must. Who else could it be?

Will you ask him...

if he has k*lled them?

I will execute Buckingham

for ruining my good name and my peace...

by accusing me of murdering those boys.

He knows.

Richard knows you've been working with the Queen.

You're guilty of treason...

punishable by death.

If... if he thinks that you're faithful?

I AM faithful.

While you were betraying him, I was at his side.

Richard's shocked!

He feels you're as faithless as your kinsman Buckingham.

He's been ex*cuted.

What do I do? I...

I cou... I cou... I cou... I could, I could run away?

I could go to Brittany? I have... I have my money chest.

But I've been nominated as your jailer.

Richard's decided that all your lands

and your wealth will come to me.

My men are in your chambers now removing your goods

and your money chest.

And your wine.

You are robbing me?!

You led me to the plot to rob me!

You'll be under house arrest at my country house at Bletsoe.

Your servants will be dismissed, you will not meet with anyone.

You betrayed me to get my fortune.

No, Margaret. I've saved you from a traitor's death.

And I'm still in place to hear of Richard's plans against your son.

You signed his death warrant with your failure.

You can write to him, but all your letters should come through me.

I must have the appearance of controlling you completely.

The "appearance"?!

You'll give the appearance of being on both sides!

Always.

Sister, let me in.

You're not my brother!

I am the King.

Not to me.

Let me in, Elizabeth, for all our sakes.

Tell me, please.

Do you have your son Edward and his brother somewhere safe?

They're not in the Tower?

In God's name, if you have, I swear I will not hunt them.

Just tell me that they are safe.

No.

No.

Everyone is saying they are dead and that I did it.

And did you?

Think, Elizabeth.

When we k*lled King Henry, we had his body shown to the people.

The whole point was to tell the world that his line had ended.

If I k*lled your sons...

I would have done the same.

I am sorry for your loss.

You have nothing to gain now by staying in sanctuary.

I'll make you an agreement and promise for your safety

and that of your girls, if you come out.

I shall go home? Be under house arrest.

I cannot trust you not to come against me.

I cannot trust anyone, anywhere.

You have grown beautiful, Elizabeth.

Lizzie, Cecily, leave us.

People are saying that I k*lled your brothers...

but I want you to know that I am innocent.

You have my word.

Whoever k*lled my sons, I will curse them.

We will both curse them...

down the years, until all their sons die out.

Take care.

Your curses last too long...

and may turn on someone you love.

Bless me, Father, for I have...

I do not know what I have done!

I'm afraid I have done something.

I...

I said things to someone...

and what if he has acted upon them?

What if I k*lled two little boys?

What should I do?

Read it aloud. Melusina will take the curse and see it's done.

Our boy Edward was in the Tower.

But he is gone and we think he is m*rder*d.

We come to you, Lady Mother,

and we put into your depths this curse -

whoever took our firstborn son,

you will take his firstborn son from him,

and his grandsons too,

and his firstborn boys all down his line.

And we will know the m*rder*r by the workings of our curse.

Burn it.

Lizzie, come, come.

Richard, what are you doing?

Parliament is waiting for you, my love.

Elizabeth doesn't have the boys.

She doesn't know where they are.

You have seen her?

I had to know.

I had to ask her.

What did she say?

She said she would curse whoever k*lled them.

She cursed us? Not us!

I did not order their deaths.

How could you think that of me?

I've said Elizabeth can come out of sanctuary.

What?

She will go to Grafton under house arrest.

The older girls will come to court.

I want to keep Princess Elizabeth close to me.

What are you doing?

They are witches!

She rose against you and only God's rain saved you.

Please, Richard!

Richard?

What is happening to us?

Thomas Grey sends his love from Brittany.

He's fled to safety at Henry Tudor's court.

Lucky him!

Well, I take it I no longer need to marry Tudor?

Now we think his mother k*lled my brother Edward.

I've written to Lady Margaret that your betrothal still stands.

Wha... What?

Mother... Lizzie, it was you

who told me you foresaw you would be Queen.

I said that I feared it!

Not that I wanted it!

Henry Tudor could be k*lled the moment he sets foot in England.

But he will come.

He has his army and he will not waste it.

He will try again for the throne of England

and we have not sacrificed this much to step aside if he should win.

I will not marry him, mother.

No matter what you say.

Fortune will send me someone else.