Richard III

(knocking) My lord, my lord.

(offstage) Who’s knocking?

A messenger from Lord Stanley.

(offstage) What time is it?

Four o’clock in the morning.

Can’t Lord Stanley sleep?

I guess not—for good reason, as you’ll soon hear. First, he sends his regards.

And then?

And then he said to tell you that tonight he dreamed the duke of Gloucester cut off his helmet—that is, his head. Besides that, he says that two meetings are going to be held tomorrow, and something may be decided at one of them that may make you and him, who are at the other, sorry. He wants to know if instead of going to the meeting, you’ll get on your horse and ride north with him to get out of harm’s way.

Go, man, return to your lord and tell him not to worry about the separate meetings. While he and I are at one, my loyal servant Catesby will be at the other, so nothing will happen that we won’t find out about. Tell your master there is no sound basis for his worries. And as for his dreams, I’m surprised he’s so foolish as to trust the fantasies of a restless night. If we flee from the boar before the boar even pursues us, we’ll only make the boar angry and suspicious, causing him to chase us when he never intended to. Tell your master to get up and come here, and we’ll go together to the Tower to meet the boar, who will treat us well, as he’ll see.

I’ll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.

Good morning, my noble lord.

Good day, Catesby. You’re up early. What news can you tell me in this fast-moving, unsteady state of ours?

Our world sure is spinning fast, my lord. I believe it won’t stop moving and stand upright till Richard wears the wreath of the realm.

What do you mean, “wears the wreath”? Are you talking about the crown?

Yes, my good lord.

I’ll have my head cut from my shoulders before I’ll see the crown so misplaced. But do you think that’s what he’s aiming for?

Yes, I swear, and he hopes you’ll join his party to help. For that reason he sends you this good news—that this very day your enemies, the queen’s relatives, will die at Pomfret.

Well, I’m not sorry to hear that, because they have always been my enemies. But the idea that I’d give my support to Richard and keep my master King Edward IV’s true heirs from the crown—never. God knows I’d die before I’d do that.

Well, let’s hope you stay in that noble frame of mind.

In a year, when things have calmed down, I’ll laugh about how those who got King Edward IV to hate me are now brought low. But as for now—before two weeks have gone by, I’m going to send some people packing. They have no idea what’s coming.

It’s a horrible thing to die when you’re not prepared for it, my gracious lord.

Yes, monstrous, monstrous! That’s how it will be for Rivers, Vaughan, and Grey. That’s how it will be for some other men, too, who think they’re as safe as you and I, who are well-loved by noble Richard and Buckingham.

Richard and Buckingham have a high opinion of you. (to himself) So high they’ll stick your head on the Bridge.

I know they do, and I certainly deserve it.

Come on, come on, where is your spear for the boar, man? You’re afraid of the boar but you go around without your spear?

My lord, good morning. Good morning, Catesby. Go ahead and laugh at me, but by Jesus, I don’t like these separate meetings—I really don’t.

My lord, my life is as important to me as yours is to you, and it was never as precious to me as it is now. Do you think I would be feeling as triumphant as I am if I didn’t know that our situation was secure?

When the lords who are imprisoned at Pomfret left London, they also were in a good mood and supposed their situation was secure. And they also had no reason to worry. But you see how soon the day got cloudy for them. Richard’s sudden, hateful attack on them makes me worry. I hope to God I’m proven wrong! Well, should we head to the Tower? The day is well on its way.

Come on, let’s get going. You know what, my lord? Those men you just mentioned will be beheaded today.

They deserved to keep their heads more than some people who have managed to keep their positions. But come, my lord, let’s go.

Go on ahead. I’ll talk with this good man.

What’s up, man? How’s it going?

Better, since your lordship was nice enough to ask.

I tell you, man, it’s better for me, too, than the last time we met here. Then I was on my way to the Tower, where I was going to be locked up thanks to the false charges of the queen’s allies. But now, I tell you—keep it to yourself, though—those enemies of mine are being put to death today, and I’m better than I’ve ever been.

Well, let’s hope your good fortune continues!

Thanks a lot, mister. Here, drink to me.

God be good to you!

A nice coincidence, my lord. I’m glad to see you.

I thank you, Sir John, with all my heart. I am indebted to you for your last sermon. By next week, I’ll be able to pay you.

I’ll come to you, your Lordship.

What, talking with a priest, Hastings? Your friends at Pomfret, they’re the ones who need a priest. You, on the other hand, don’t have any confessions you have to make.

When I ran into this holy man, those men you mentioned did come to mind, in fact. Are you headed to the Tower?

I am, my lord. But I won’t be there for long. I’ll be off before you are.

Yes, probably, because I’m staying for lunch.

(to himself) And for dinner, too, though you don’t know it. (to HASTINGS) Come, are you going?

I’ll follow you, my lord.