A Man for All Seasons Page #4

25 INT. WOLSEY’S STUDY

WOLSEY and MORE look down. WOLSEY very tense.

WOLSEY The King.

MORE Yes.

WOLSEY:
Where has he been? D’you know?

MORE:
I, Your Grace?

WOLSEY:
Oh spare me your discretion. He’s been to play in the muck again. (brutally) He’s been to Miss Boleyn.

26 EXT. HAMPTON SECOND COURTYARD NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT The KING rides under the further archway. His face is satiated, softened, his body moves passively to the motion of his horse. He lifts from his chest a locket miniature and looks at it.

CLOSE SHOT the miniature. A young woman.

The KING smiles a smile of tender sensuality, satisfied satyr, softly letting the locket fall back on his broad chest. As he passes under the further arch, another trumpet sounds.

27 INT. WOLSEY’S STUDY

WOLSEY leaves the window and sinks into his chair. Fear has made him dangerous.

WOLSEY:
More, are you going to help me?

MORE:
(starts to answer. Stops) If Your Grace will be specific.

WOLSEY:
Ach! You’re a plodder! All right, we’ll plod. The King wants a son. What are you going to do about it?

MORE:
I’m very sure the King needs no advice from me on what to do about it.

WOLSEY:
(quietly) Thomas, we’re alone. I give you my word, there’s no-one here.

MORE:
(reassuring, faintly shocked) I didn’t suppose there was Your Grace.

WOLSEY:
(deliberately loud) Oh.... ! Do you favour a change of dynasty, Sir Thomas? D’you think two Tudors are sufficient?

MORE’s pose deserts him. He starts up, looking about almost wildly.

MORE:
For God’s sake, Your Grace—!

2t INT. CROMWELL’S ANTE-ROOM

CROMWELL, listening at the door jamb, hands behind his back, head bowed in thought, smiles to himself, a smile of simple amusement. We hear:

WOLSEY:
(off) Then he needs a son. I repeat, what are you going to do about it?

29 INT. WOLSEY’S OFFICE

MORE has recovered. Is now gravely straightforward. Steadily:

MORE:
I pray for it daily.

WOLSEY:
(peering at him) God’s death, he means it ... That thing out there—at least. she’s fertile, Thomas.

MORE:
But she’s not his wife.

WOLSEY:
No Catherine’s his wife: and she’s barren as a brick. Are you going to pray for a miracle?

MORE:
There are precedents.

WOLSEY:
(controls himself—with an effort. Rises) Yes. All right. Good. Pray. Pray by all means. But in addition to Prayer there is effort. My effort’s to secure a divorce. Have I your support or have I not?

MORE:
(sits) The Pope gave a dispensation so that the Ring might marry his brother’s widow, for state reasons. Now we are to ask the Pope to— dispense with his dispensation, also for state reasons?

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