Swive [Elizabeth] (NHB Modern Plays) by Ella Hickson

Author:Ella Hickson [Hickson, Ella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788503006
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Thirteen

CECIL. Because there are things I don’t need to bother you with.

ELIZABETH Q. But there is a persistent need to discuss the suit of King Philip?

CECIL. He’s waiting for an answer and he’s one of the most powerful men in Europe.

ELIZABETH Q. The plan for today is to discuss the drafting of the Act of Supremacy.

CECIL. Philip wants his answer.

ELIZABETH Q. If we get the drafting of the Act of Supremacy right, and it goes through – then I will be the Supreme Head of the Church, like my father.

CECIL. Indeed.

ELIZABETH Q. We will, in religious terms, be separated from Rome.

CECIL. Yes.

ELIZABETH Q. So why, when we’ve just worked very hard to detach ourselves from subservience to one Catholic power, would I enslave myself to another by marrying King Philip?

CECIL. I’m not sure Supreme Head will go through. Parliament, maybe, Lords – we will struggle.

ELIZABETH Q (small beat). Well then, we need to apply ourselves more rigorously to the bill’s drafting, don’t we?

CECIL. I would suggest Supreme Governor.

ELIZABETH Q. My father was Supreme Head.

CECIL. Governor has a more – protective and nurturing ring about it. It is more – generous-sounding.

ELIZABETH Q. And Head is?

CECIL. There’s something – officious and overbearing /

ELIZABETH Q. / My father was Supreme Head and it made him sound powerful.

CECIL. We want to tread carefully.

ELIZABETH Q. He didn’t.

CECIL. The situation is different – it needs different terminology. There are people that will struggle, a little, with the idea of a – we need to tread carefully and help them, get used to – Governor starts with a ‘G’ – it is a round letter, it’s softer – it hints to fecundity.

ELIZABETH Q. Does it?

CECIL. You could be Supreme Head if you married Philip. I get the sense, that the people would accept it, if you were married.

ELIZABETH Q. Why?

CECIL. Supreme Head and queen with no king – is too /

ELIZABETH Q. / Too?

CECIL. As I say, we just need to tread carefully.

ELIZABETH Q. Didn’t you suggest Ascham, as my tutor, when I was young?

CECIL. What’s that got to do with /

ELIZABETH Q. / He taught you – Ascham did? Didn’t he?

CECIL. We were at university at the same /

ELIZABETH Q. / Your wife is one of the smartest women in England. One of the Cooke sisters, famously well-educated, all but an in-house seminary. No?

CECIL. Yes.

ELIZABETH Q. You spend your days between the two smartest women in England.

CECIL raises his eyebrows.

Am I wrong? Is that inaccurate? Are we – Mildred and I – well-educated?

CECIL. Yes.

ELIZABETH Q. Smarter than you? (Long pause.) Is your wife smarter than you? Am I?

CECIL. Sometimes I get these memories of you – terrified, at fifteen – and this new Queen is a total surprise to me.

ELIZABETH Q. Don’t do that. (Pause.) We’re discussing a Parliamentary issue, I’m not sure it’s appropriate or useful for you to be thinking about when I was scared and fifteen. I don’t look at you – as the years draw on – and imagine an old man sitting, uselessly, by the fire – do I?

Beat.

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