Doc Sherwood's Richard III, Act II

Cast:

RICHARD of Gloucester

The KING, his elder brother

The QUEEN

EDWARD, the young prince

YORK, his younger brother

DORSET, a courtier and enemy to Richard

BUCKINGHAM, a courtier secretly allied to Richard

LOVEL, another courtier secretly allied to Richard

SCENE 1. The KING’s bedchamber.

The KING in bed, elderly and infirm. His two young sons EDWARD and YORK are by his side, and close at hand are the QUEEN and DORSET. A little farther off lurk the conspirators BUCKINGHAM and LOVEL.

KING: I was wrong to let silly superstition influence me. You all know I may not be long for this world, and at such a time a man — even a King — must put his house in order. How ill I have used my beloved brother Clarence!

QUEEN: Hush, my lord. He’ll be here soon, and then you can make amends.

BUCKINGHAM: Merciful sire, you were wise to want to protect yourself, but greater still is the compassion you have since shown in repealing Clarence’s sentence.

LOVEL: And you are safe, Sire. Everybody here is a loyal subject of yours.

DORSET looks unimpressed by this, and has his suspicions.

DORSET: Hmm. Honeyed words, my lords Buckingham and Lovel. You remind me of a friend of yours. Oh, and speak of the devil — !

Enter RICHARD, very solemn.

DORSET: I wish I didn't mean that literally.

RICHARD: My sovereign King and Queen, princes, friends — good morrow.

QUEEN: Why, here’s one brother! But is gentle Clarence not with you?

RICHARD appears shocked.

RICHARD: Madam, do you jest? I don't think much of your sense of humour if so, Queen or no Queen. As you well know, Clarence is dead!

Everyone reacts with shock and horror.

BUCKINGHAM: What terrible news!

LOVEL: My lord Dorset, are my cheeks as pale as yours?

DORSET: Oh, yes. You look absolutely devastated, I’m sure.

KING: Clarence, dead? But how? What of his pardon?

RICHARD: I know nothing of any pardon, your grace.

DORSET: Liar! I delivered it to you!

RICHARD: Ah. That explains it. Rest assured, your majesties, Clarence’s death-warrant reached me in good time. The pardon, on the other hand, will probably show up among this forgetful fool’s chits and receipts a week from now. In future, don’t entrust important documentation to some limping halfwit who’ll only get lost on the way.

DORSET: You’re a fine one to talk about limping!

DORSET and RICHARD draw their swords.

QUEEN: Be still, the pair of you! Fighting in the royal bedchamber?

KING: Oh, my poor brother Clarence! What have I done? He saved my life in the Lancastrian wars. That I should repay him thus! Oh! Clarence! My heart!

DORSET: Look to the King!

Everyone gathers round the bed as the KING breathes his last and dies.

QUEEN: My love! For the sake of our children and our kingdom, leave us not!

A silence.

Then, young EDWARD and YORK begin to cry.

DORSET: Oh, madam! Oh, my fair princes! Was ever a day as dark as this?

QUEEN: None that I have known, good Dorset, yet I fear we stand at but the beginning of more dreadful sorrows still. Oh, my dear husband and lord, taken too soon! Be it known that the good King is dead!

Tears and consternation from the QUEEN, DORSET and the children.

Meanwhile, RICHARD, BUCKINGHAM and LOVEL discreetly step back, and look on with silent satisfaction.

The curtain falls.

SCENE 2. The royal palace.

RICHARD, waiting by the throne.

Enter BUCKINGHAM, hand-in-hand with young EDWARD.

RICHARD: My nephew, now also my King — welcome.

EDWARD: I thank you, Richard of Gloucester — now also my subject, but above all else my beloved uncle, and so in my heart you remain.

BUCKINGHAM escorts EDWARD to the throne, where EDWARD sits.

RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM kneel.

For the following sequence RICHARD addresses the audience, unheard by BUCKINGHAM and EDWARD, who talk to each other.

EDWARD: Tell me, my lord Buckingham, where shall my brother and I reside until the day of my coronation?

BUCKINGHAM: Your uncle Richard feels the Tower would be safest and best for the both of you.

EDWARD: But the Tower gives me the creeps. I don’t much fancy it.

RICHARD: Smart kid. I wouldn’t much fancy the Tower either, if I were in his shoes.

EDWARD: Especially now it’s haunted by the ghost of my other uncle Clarence.

BUCKINGHAM: But you’ve nothing to fear from a dead uncle, my lord.

RICHARD: No. Your living uncle, on the other hand, may be a different matter.

BUCKINGHAM: Anyhow, sire, you’ll just have to do as you’re told, like a good boy.

RICHARD: Too good for this world, as they say.

EDWARD: In that case, I shall. Is it true Julius Caesar built the place?

BUCKINGHAM: He began it, my gracious lord.

EDWARD: Then if it was good enough for him, it'll do for me too. And maybe centuries from now, people will look at the Tower and remember me, as well as Julius Caesar.

RICHARD: Trust me, they will.

EDWARD: Anyway, I'll tell you what, my lord Buckingham!

BUCKINGHAM: What, my gracious lord?

EDWARD: I’ve big plans. In fact, when I grow up I’m going to be the greatest King this world has ever known!

RICHARD: Don’t bet on it, dear nephew.

BUCKINGHAM: Here's your brother now.

Enter YORK, accompanied by DORSET and LOVEL.

RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM rise.

YORK runs to EDWARD, then kneels before the throne and kisses his brother’s hand.

YORK: Blessings upon Your Majesty — for that’s what I must call you now.

EDWARD: Indeed, brother — or I should say, my noble Duke of York.

RICHARD: And how is my nephew, the noble Duke?

YORK: Very well, thank you, uncle. Now, didn’t you tell me once that weeds grow fast? My brother the King has far outgrown me. Does that mean he’s a weed?

RICHARD: Oh, you know I’m not allowed to say so, little lord!

YORK: May I have your dagger, uncle?

EDWARD: It doesn’t befit a Duke to beg, brother.

RICHARD: Why do you want my weapon, little lord?

YORK: So I might pay you out for twice calling me little!

EDWARD: The Duke of York is still little enough to have a temper. Good uncle, as you know this well, I pray you bear with him.

YORK: That’d be something to see.

BUCKINGHAM: What would, my lord?

YORK: Him bearing me.

RICHARD: Why, I have ever borne with you, dearest Duke!

YORK: Yes, but a good uncle should bear his nephew on his shoulders, and there’s not much chance of that!

Laughter at this joke about RICHARD’s disability. DORSET laughs the loudest — vengeance is his.

DORSET: Ah, a witty lad! And they do say, children always speak the truth. Some of us could learn a thing or two from them — eh, Richard?

RICHARD for once is too angry for words. DORSET continues to chuckle.

DORSET: “On his shoulders.” I’ll have to remember that one!

BUCKINGHAM steps in, addressing EDWARD.

BUCKINGHAM: My gracious lord, your mother the Queen awaits you at the Tower. Will it please you to accompany my lord Dorset?

EDWARD: Aye, my lord Buckingham.

EDWARD rises from the throne and takes YORK’s hand.

EDWARD: Thinking sadly on our father, and our uncle Clarence, so go we with heavy hearts to the Tower.

Exit EDWARD and YORK, hand-in-hand, escorted by DORSET.

There is an awkward silence, as RICHARD's two followers wonder whether it's safe to speak.

Then, finally:

BUCKINGHAM: We can be sure, my lord, that the little prattling Duke received full instruction from our good friend Dorset.

RICHARD: No doubt. I’d like to strangle that sycophantic oaf, and the wretched boy too!

BUCKINGHAM: Forget them, my lord. When you’re King, the last laugh will be yours.

RICHARD takes his hand.

RICHARD: You’re one of the only friends I have, Buckingham. And on that day you speak of, I promise I’ll make you the Earl of Hereford.

BUCKINGHAM: Why, thank you, my lord! I’ll serve you well as long as I live!

Exit BUCKINGHAM.

LOVEL makes to exit too, but RICHARD stops him.

LOVEL: What can I do for you, my lord?

RICHARD: Didn’t you hear Buckingham just now? We’re all looking forward to my becoming King.

LOVEL: Yes, my lord, but for that to happen, won’t Edward have to die first?

RICHARD: You’re getting there, Lovel.

LOVEL: My lord?

RICHARD: Come on, man, it’s not like you to be so slow! Let me put it plainly — I want those little brats dead. Now let me know your thoughts.

LOVEL: It's something I can look into, my lord.

RICHARD: Music to my ears. Tell me it’s done, and you’ll have your King’s favour forevermore.

Exit RICHARD and LOVELL.

End of Act II