Becket Page #3

Has your new title made you tongue-tied?

May I respectfully draw to My Lord

Archbishop's attention one small point?

Respectfully but firmly.

You're Chancellor now.

England is a ship.

The king is the captain of the ship.

That's neat. I like that.

My Lord Chancellor, in point of fact,

there is also a saying,

the captain is sole master after God.

After God!

Nobody's questioning God's authority,

Archbishop.

Most certainly God protects the ship

by inspiring the captain,

but I've never heard that he

determines the wages of the crew,

nor instructs the paymaster

in his duties.

God has more important business.

Our young deacon's ambition

has carried him away from the church.

But he cannot have forgotten

that what is important

is revealed to man

only through his church

in the person of our Holy Father in Rome,

his bishops and his priests.

Or does the chancellor think

otherwise?

True, there is a priest on board

every ship.

He gives God's blessings.

But neither God nor the church ask him

to take the wheel from the helmsman.

My Reverend Lord, the Bishop of London,

who I understand is the son of a sailor,

surely cannot have forgotten that.

I will not allow personal insinuation

to compromise the integrity

and honor of the church.

Please, Bishop, no long words.

All that's at stake here is its money.

I need money to fight the French.

Will the church give it to me?

Yes or no?

My Lord, your illustrious ancestor

William the Conqueror

granted these tax exemptions

to the church.

May he rest in peace.

Where he is now, he doesn't need money.

I'm still on Earth, and I do.

This is not primarily

a question of money, Your Highness.

This is a question of principle.

I need troops, Bishop.

I've sent for 3,000 Swiss

to help me fight the king of France

and no one has ever paid the Swiss

with principles.

- My Lord Chancellor...

- It is pointless to continue this discussion.

The law has given us

the means of coercion.

We will use it.

You - you owe everything

to Holy Mother Church.

Would you dare plunge a dagger

into her bosom?

My Lord and King,

who rules by the grace of God,

has given me his seal

with the three lions to protect.

My mother is England now.

Traitor! Saxon!

My reverend friend, I strongly suggest

that you respect my Chancellor,

or else I'll call my guards.

Ahh, here they are now.

Oh, no.

It's only my snack.

Now, gentlemen, if you will excuse me,

at this hour in the morning

I need sustenance,

or else I tend to feel weak.

And a king must never weaken.

I'm sure you will agree.

I'll have it in my chapel.

Then I can pray directly afterwards.

Come on, Thomas, keep me company.

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