Cinna’s Easy Plays from Shakespeare 7

RICHARD III

SCENE 1

(RICHARD enters; we see he is hunchbacked.)

Richard: The king of England is sick and will soon die. I hope! After he dies, my nephew Edward will be king; after him, the Duke of York will be king. Next is my brother Clarence, and after him, me, Richard. They call me ugly, because I was born hunchbacked, but when I am king, they will not insult me. One, two, three, four people must die before I am king. The question is... how will they die ? Death comes by nature, and nature is slow. I must help it. I told the king that our brother Clarence is a secret danger. The king believes every foolish story, and so perhaps Clarence will soon.. . .

(RICHARD draws fingers across his throat. Enter CLARENCE, his hands tied behind his back. With him are BRACKENBURY and two SOLDIERS.)

Richard: Clarence !

Clarence: Richard.

Richard: Soldiers ? Ropes? What is all this?

Clarence: The king wishes me to be safe, in the Tower.

Richard: Safe in the Tower ? But that means death, brother:

Clarence: Yes. I have some secret enemy. He told the king I was a danger to him.

Richard: Ah ! That happened to me also.

Clarence: To you ?

Richard: Yes, indeed. This is what always happens when men are ruled by women.

Clarence: What women ?

Richard: The queen, of course. Our brother's loving wife. She hates us because we are his brothers. But look at her friends. They go up and up. Rivers and Hastings are now Lord Rivers and Lord Hastings. But we honest brothers . . . I fear we are all in danger. I fear. . . .

Clarence: What do you fear?

Richard: I fear everything.

Brackenbury: Pardon me, my lords. The king wishes no one to speak with the Duke of Clarence.

Clarence: True, I forgot.

Richard: But, good Brackenbury ! You may listen to us. We speak no treason. We say the king is wise and virtuous. We say the queen's friends receive office, land, money, titles. Can you deny this ?

Brackenbury: My lord, this is not my concern. The king has ordered me to lead his Grace of Clarence to the Tower.

Clarence: Yes, Brackenbury. You are an honest man and we must not stop you. Let us go.

Richard: Go to the Tower, then, good Clarence, but I will go to the king and demand your immediate freedom. This wickedness of the queen must stop. None of us is safe.

Clarence: Save me if you can.

Richard: I will, you may depend on it.

(Exit CLARENCE, BRACKENBURY, and SOLDIERS.)

Richard: Goodbye, simple Clarence. We will not meet again. A man who enters the Tower never comes out alive.

SCENE 2

(Enter two MEN carrying a coffin, followed by ANNE.)

Richard (to himself) : Hallo, what's this ? The lady Anne.

Anne (to MEN) : Stop. Put down the coffin. Before we bury my poor father, let me look again at his face.

(The MEN stop, and rest coffin on ground. ANNE reveals face of corpse.)

Anne: Poor Henry. Murdered by that devil Richard. How I hate him. I hope he marries and has a son even uglier than himself. That will be a good revenge. (to MEN) Come along. We must take this unhappy body to its grave.

(The MEN raise coffin.)

Richard (coming to them) : Stop !

Anne (screaming) : Richard !

Richard: Richard it is. Put down the coffin.

Man: My lord, let us go.

Richard (knocking the MAN to ground) : I said, "Put it down!"

(The MEN move away in fear.)

Anne: Are you afraid ? Yes, I can understand that. This is not a man, but a monster from hell.

Richard (very politely) : Sweet lady.

Anne (violently) : Foul devil! Here is the man you killed ! Look! My father! He bleeds again to prove you killed him.

Richard: Lady Anne, Lady Anne, the Christian rule is love and forgiveness.

Anne: You ask me for love?

Richard: Not for hate but for love.

Anne: You murdered my husband !

Richard: No, no, I did not.

Anne: Then he is alive !

Richard: It is true he is dead.

Anne: And you killed him. The queen saw you.

Richard: The queen ! She tells many tales.

Anne: She saw the dagger in your hand.

Richard: Perhaps the hand that killed your husband was my hand. . . .

Anne: So, you did kill him !

Richard: No, no, the hand was mine, but the cause was . . . .

Anne: What ?

Richard: You.

Anne: Me ?

Richard : You.

Anne: I caused my husband's death?

Richard: My hand . . . but your face, your beauty, your body.

(RICHARD kneels, takes ANNE'S hand and kisses it. ANNE struggles against him.)

Anne: No ! Stop !

Richard: How can I stop ? You have captured me.

Anne: No.

Richard: You say "No." That is a woman's trick. In your heart you know well enough that you excite men. Ah, beauty !

Anne: Beast !

Richard: Beauty and beast. Perhaps. I am ugly today, Anne, but I shall become Prince Charming if. . . .

Anne: If what ?

Richard: If you marry me.

(ANNE spits in RICHARD's face. He takes out a handkerchief, wipes his face, and carefully put the handkerchief under his shirt near his heart.)

Richard: Thank you.

Anne: I wish it were poison.

Richard: My eyes are already infected.

Anne: Let the infection kill you, then.

Richard: You wish me dead ?

Anne: Yes. Dead.

Richard: Then kill me.

(He opens his shirt, holds his sword to his chest, the handle near ANNE.)

Richard: Now. Kill me. If you want to kill the man who loves you most, kill me. You say I killed your husband. True. But you made me do it. He may be dead, but you are the cause. Now. Kill me. (ANNE takes sword as if to kill him, hesitates, and drops sword.)

Richard: Take up the sword again, or take up me.

Anne: I wish you dead, but I do not wish to be your executioner.

Richard (takes sword) : Then tell me to kill myself.

Anne: I have said I wished you dead.

Richard: That was in anger. Tell me calmly. Tell the man who loves you more than any other Tell him to kill himself.

Anne (doubtful) : I wish I understood you.

Richard: My words are clear.

Anne: Yes, but perhaps they are false.

Richard: If I am false, then all men are false.

Anne (sighing) : Very well, put away your sword.

Richard: You agree, then?

Anne: Agree to what ?

Richard: Marriage.

Anne: I will answer later.

Richard: But I may hope ?

Anne: All men may hope.

Richard: Wear this ring for me. (He puts a ring on her finger.) Look. A sign of our love.

Anne: Richard, Richard, is there perhaps some good hidden in you ?

Richard: It is you who have made me good, dear Anne.

Anne: You make me happy. I am glad you are ashamed of your past badness.

Richard: Now let us say good-bye. Help me to become a good man, Anne.

Anne: Can I do so ?

Richard: Try.

(ANNE kisses RICHARD ; he is still kneeling.)

Anne: Good-bye.

Richard: Until tomorrow.

Anne: Tomorrow ? Perhaps.

(RICHARD stands, taps coffin to attract MEN, and they pick it up and exit, ANNE follows.)

Richard (alone, laughing) : Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won ? I'll have her, but I'll not keep her long. I killed her husband. Then I killed her father. Now this foolish girl will marry me and make me a good boy ! What fools women are !

SCENE 3

(Enter TYRREL and 2nd MURDERER.)

Richard: Ah, here come my executioners.

Tyrrel: Good evening, my lord.

Richard: Are you ready, Tyrrel ?

Tyrrel: We are, my lord.

Richard: You have your knives ?

(Both men show knives.)

Richard: Good. Clarence is now in the Tower. Go there. Kill him. Then come at once and tell me.

Tyrrel: We cannot enter without a letter.

Richard: I have written one; here it is.

(Gives the letter to TYRREL.)

Tyrrel: Thank you, sir.

Richard: You must be quick. Do not talk with the Duke of Clarence. He is a clever speaker. He will persuade you if he can. He will offer you gold.

Tyrrel: We will not listen.

Richard: If he offers gold, remember, I will give you more.

Tyrrel: You are a generous man, my lord.

Richard: You are a good fellow, Tyrrel. I like you both. As soon as it is finished, come and find me. I will pay you then, but here is something in advance.

(RICHARD gives money to MEN.)

Tyrrel: Thank you, my lord.

Richard: Off you go.

(Exit RICHARD and MURDERERS separately.)

SCENE 4

(Enter BRACKENBURY and CLARENCE, who drags a chain as he moves.)

Brackenbury: Good morning, my lord. :

Clarence: Brackenbury ! Is it morning ?

Brackenbury (giving CLARENCE some wine) : It is, sir.

Clarence (drinking): There is no sun in this prison. I didn't know.

Brackenbury: I am sorry. It is dark here.

Clarence: Can't you open the windows ?

Brackenbury: There are no windows. We are below the river.

Clarence: I have done much wrong in my life, Brackenbury. The king my brother will punish me for it.

Brackenbury: It is hard, my lord.

Clarence: It is fair, I suppose. Last night I didn't sleep. I had terrible dreams. Now I am so tired.

Brackenbury: Then sleep a while.

Clarence: I will.

(He lies down, BRACKENBURY walks away. two MURDERERS enter.)

Brackenbury: Who are you ? How did you come here ?

Tyrrel: I am a friend of the Duke of Clarence, and I came here on these two feet.

Brackenbury: Get out. No one is allowed to enter here.

Tyrrel: I think we may. Read this.

(Gives letter to BRACKENBURY.)

Brackenbury (reading) : This is strange. It says I must deliver to you the Duke of Clarence. What can this mean ?

Tyrrel: It means you must deliver to us the Duke of Clarence.

Brackenbury: I don't know what to do. The Duke is there, sleeping. I will go and ask the king.

Tyrrel: That's a very good idea. Good-;bye.

(Exit BRACKENBURY.)

2nd Murderer: Shall I stab him as he sleeps ?

Tyrrel: No, that would be cowardly. !

2nd Murderer: Then what?

Tyrrel: Why, wake him first, and kill him second.

2nd Murderer: I don't like this.

Tyrrel: Nobody asked you to like it.

2nd Murderer: He is a royal duke. The brother of the king.

Tyrrel: Then go and tell the other brother of the king you do not want his money.

2nd Murderer: I'll kill him.

(Moves to kill CLARENCE.)

Tyrrel: No, no, wake him. What's that thing?

(Points to side of stage.)

2nd Murderer: I think it is a wine barrel.

Tyrrel: Good. We will knock him on the head and then drop him in the wine. He may be thirsty.

2nd Murderer:Look. He wakes.

Clarence (waking) : Brackenbury. Bring me some wine.

Tyrrel (takes him a cup of wine) : There you are, my lord.

Clarence (drinking) : Thank you.

Tyrrel: Some more ?

Clarence (sees TYRREL) : Who are you ? Where is Brackenbury ?

Tyrrel: He went to see the king.

Clarence: But who are you ?

Tyrrel: A man like you.

Clarence: But not royal, like me.

Tyrrel: You are not loyal, like us.

Clarence: Why have you come here ?

Tyrrel: To . . . to . . . to . . . .

Clarence: To murder me ! I know.

Tyrrel: If you know, I need not explain.

Clarence: You are ashamed to do this wicked deed.

Tyrrel: I think you were not ashamed to kill the Prince Plantagenet.

Clarence: How do you know about that ?

Tyrrel: Ah, my little secret.

Clarence: I have confessed that crime.

2nd Murderer (giving him wine) : Prepare to die, my lord.

Clarence (drinking) : Can you kill an innocent man ?

Tyrrel: We act on command.

Clarence: Whose command ? The king's?

Tyrrel: He sent you here.

Clarence: Go to my brother Richard.

Tyrrel: Richard ?

Clarence: Yes, Richard. He loves me.

Tyrrel: He loves you so much he thinks this world is not good enough for you.

2nd Murderer: The Duke Richard sent us here.

Clarence: Richard sent you to kill me ! Impossible.

Tyrrel: Oh ?

Clarence: If you kill me, Richard will hate you.

Tyrrel: Will he ?

Clarence: Go home. Leave me.

Tyrrel: That would be cowardly.

Clarence: I see pity in your faces. You know murder is wrong. Save me, and I will make you rich.

2nd Murderer (to TYRREL) : What shall we do ?

Clarence: Go home.

(TYRREL approaches CLARENCE who walks backward dragging chain. The chain suddenly becomes taut.)

Clarence: No .

2nd Murderer: Don't kill him.

(TYRREL kills CLARENCE)

Tyrrel: Dead. And now some more wine for the Duke of Clarence.

(They pick up the body, and put it into the wine barrel, headfirst. Wine spills on the floor.)

Tyrrel: Did you say, "Don't kill him" ?

2nd Murderer: No. I don't know.

Tyrrel: I will tell Lord Richard and collect our fee. I don't think you can expect any money. Do you ?

(Exit.)

SCENE 5

(Enter court; the KING is carried on a bed, very sick; QUEEN, HASTINGS together; RIVERS, DORSET together; BUCKINGHAM alone.)

King: I shall soon be dead.

All: No, no.

King: Yes. I know it. But before I die I want to be sure we all are friends. Rivers and Hastings. You have been enemies. Shake hands now and swear you love each other.

Hastings: I have been wrong. Forgive me, Rivers.

Rivers: I have also been wrong Let us become friends, Hastings.

(They shake hands.)

King: Very nice. Now, Buckingham, you and my queen have quarrelled. Make it up.

Buckingham: Madam, here is my hand. Let us from now be true friends and loyal subjects to the king.

Queen: Thank you, good Buckingham. Here is my promise of friendship. ( They shake hands.)

King: Excellent, excellent. Now I can die, knowing my dear country will be at peace. Where is Clarence and my brother Richard ?

Buckingham: Here comes the noble duke.

Richard (entering) : Good day to my king and queen. Lords, a happy time of day. :

King: Yes, it is a happy day. Old enmities are at an end and all here are now pledged to friendship.

Richard: Bravo. Let me join in too. I may by mistake have made an enemy. If so, I ask him to forgive me. The queen I think has sometimes thought that Richard has been wrong, and I ask her forgiveness. And my noble cousin Buckingham. Let us be true friends. And the Lords Rivers, and Hastings. No more quarrels. Let us be brothers. I hope there is no man alive in England who can say I have harmed him.

King: Amen.

Queen: I wish our brother Clarence were here.

Richard (angry) : Clarence ! I offer love and you insult me ?

Queen (surprised) : What do you mean, my lord ?

Richard: Who does not know that Clarence is dead ?

(All are surprised.)

Dorset: Dead! Who knows he is?

King: Is Clarence dead ?

Richard: Dead and buried.

King: No.

Richard: Oh, yes. You ordered his arrest and death.

King: I ordered it, but I later changed that order. I freed him.

Richard: The second order came too late. The Duke is dead. Poor innocent Clarence. My brother is dead.

(RICHARD weeps.)

King (shocked) : Clarence dead !

(The KING is carried out by HASTINGS, RIVERS, DORSET, and QUEEN. RICHARD, BUCKINGHAM remain.)

Richard: Did you see the queen's friends ? Rivers and Hastings; they persuaded the king to kill poor Clarence.

Buckingham: But they weep now.

Richard: They pretend to. Ah, such clever villains. We are not safe, good Buckingham. Our enemies are everywhere. Who will die next ?

(Exit RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM together.)

SCENE 6

(Enter three CITIZENS.)

1st Citizen: Have you heard the news ?

2nd Citizen: What news is that ?

1st Citizen: The king is dead.

3^rd Citizen: The king dead !

1st Citizen: Yes, the good man died last night.

2nd Citizen: Then we shall have trouble very soon.

1st Citizen: Why ?

2ndCitizen: The new king is a young boy.

3rd Citizen: Yes.

2nd Citizen: And while he is young, others will have the power. Suppose Duke Richard seizes power, what then?

1st Citizen: He is the worst, but the queen's friends will stop him.

2nd Citizen: The queen's friends ! Are the Lords Rivers and Vaughan not friends of the queen ?

1st Citizen: Of course.

2nd Citizen: They were taken to the Tower this morning.

3rd Citizen: To the Tower !

2nd Citizen: Yes, to the Tower. The Duke of Clarence died there recently, and they will die next.

All: It's a bad business. I don't know. Whatever will happen .

(Exit.)

SCENE 7

(Enter the court, with RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM. They talk for a moment. The young PRINCE enters. All kneel.)

Richard: Welcome to London, my prince. England's new king.

Buckingham: God save the king.

All: God save the king.

Richard: You must be tired after such a long journey.

Prince: Not so tired, I like to travel. Where is everybody ? I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Richard: More ! I shall be fifty uncles to you, little lord.

Prince: But where are the others ?

Richard: Ah ! They were dangerous men. They flattered. They used sugared words. You did not see the poison in their hearts. God keep you from them, and such false friends.

Prince: God keep me from false friends, but they were not.

Buckingham: My prince, here is the Mayor of London to welcome you.

Mayor (entering) : Welcome to our new king.

Prince: Thank you, lord, but I expected to see my mother and brother. Where are they?

Mayor: They are hiding.

Prince: Hiding !

Mayor: Yes. After the king your father died, the queen feared she might be murdered.

Prince: Murdered !

Richard: Nonsense !

Buckingham: My lord, go and bring the younger prince here as fast as you can.

Mayor: He is not far, my lord, I will do my best.

(Exit MAYOR.)

Prince: Why is my mother frightened ?

Richard: I have no idea. Does she have enemies ?

Buckingham: Oh, I don't think that is possible.

Richard: Luckily the prince has us to take care of him.

Prince: Before I am crowned, where shall I stay, uncle ?

Richard: Wherever you think best. If I may make a suggestion, perhaps the Tower would be the safest place.

Prince: The Tower. I hear that Julius Caesar built the Tower.

Richard: So they say, my lord.

Prince: Is it true, then ?

Richard: Caesar lived a thousand years ago, my prince, and I am not so old.

Prince: When I am a man, I will go to France and fight for our ancient rights there. Or die a soldier.

(Enter MAYOR with younger PRINCE.)

Buckingham: Here comes your brother, sir.

(Younger PRINCE kneels and kisses hand of older.)

Prince: Stand up, brother.

Younger Prince: But you are now king.

Prince: Yes, our loving father died.

Richard: And how is my loving little cousin ?

Younger Prince: Well, uncle, well, but very small. Look how tall my brother is getting.

Richard: Yes, he is our king, so height suits him.

Younger Prince: You love him more than me!

Richard: He commands my love because he is my king, but you may command me as a relative.

Younger Prince: Then, give me a present, uncle.

Richard: Certainly, what would you like ?

Younger Prince: Can I have your dagger?

Richard: You want my dagger? With all my heart.

Prince: Are you a beggar, brother ?

Younger Prince: No, but my uncle loves me and will give me anything I want.

Richard: Well, I don't know about that. But I must give the king something bigger than I give you.

Prince: Such as your sword, uncle ?

Richard: Yes, my sword, if you wish. But it is too heavy. My sword is bigger than you.

Younger Prince (laughing