A Man for All Seasons Page #3

MORE:
Not now, Richard. To-morrow.

RICH watches him follow the MESSENGER to the river steps.

17 EXT. RIVER

LONG SHOT, MORE in the longboat on the dusky river.

CUT:

18 EXT. RIVER-STEPS HAMPTON NIGHT

The six-oared longboat. MORE and MESSENGER in stern, arrives at the Hampton River steps. But it is night now. By each of the litter of waiting boats, a naked torch flares in a bracket, the flames reflected in the water. As they stop, MORE is counting coins from a purse. As he alights STROKE ROWER rises, cap in hand. MORE stoops from steps and throws chinking coins into the cap. MORE For you all, Boatman.

And vanishes into dark, STROKE calling:

STROKE:
Thank you, sir.

19 EXT. HAMPTON COURTYARD NIGHT

MORE passes under the portcullis, the glimmering “Henricus VHF’, glances up at:

A single lighted window in the cliff-like side of Hampton.

20 EXT. HAMPTON RIVER-STEPS NIGHT

STROKE places last coin on thwart.

CLOSE SHOT, five hands whip away five coins. Two remain. STROKE takes them. Looks after MORE. Says.

STROKE:
Gone to see the Cardinal. Rather him than me.

CUT:

21 INT WOLSEY’S STUDY

CROMWELL pushes aside heavy curtain of ante-chamber, says quietly:

CROMWELL:
Sir Thomas is here, Your Grace. (Half turns and says) Sir Thomas ...

He stands back deferentially as MORE comes swiftly through; his manner is relaxed, his gaze frank, but MORE’s eyes flicker upon his for a minute, warily. There is something between them.

MORE:
Master Cromwell ...

22 INT. CROMWELL’S ANTE-ROOM

CROMWELL draws the heavy curtain, stands back. He is alone in the ante-room. He carefully leaves the door ajar, stands listening.

23 INT. WOLSEY’S STUDY

MORE is standing beside WOLSEY’s chair. WOLSEY gives no sign he knows that he is there. But MORE will not lose dignity by speaking or fidgetting. WOLSEY’s pen scratches. In mid-sentence:

WOLSEY:
You opposed me in the Council this morning, Thomas.

MORE:
Yes, Your Grace.

WOLSEY:
You were the only one.

MORE:
Yes, Your Grace.

WOLSEY:
You’re a fool.

MORE:
Thank God there is only one fool on the Council.

WOLSEY grunts. Stops writing. Looks up at MORE.

WOLSEY:
Why did you oppose me?

MORE:
I thought Your Grace was wrong.

WOLSEY:
Matter of conscience. (he puts down his pen, rubs his face wearily) You’re a constant regret to me, Thomas. If you could just see facts flat on, without that horrible moral squint ... with just a little common sense, you could have been a statesman.

A single trumpet calls, distant frosty and clear. WOLSEY’s face changes. All indolence gone he rises and goes to the window. Looks down:

24 EXT. HAMPTON SECOND COURTYARD NIGHT

His POV, the glinting roofs and shadowed courtyard of Hampton. From the blackness of the archway, preceded by a torch-bearer, followed at a distance by two cloaked men on drab horses, a golden figure on a white horse, looking at this distance like some glittering insect. The clippety-clop of the hooves and a repeated cough float up to us faintly.

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