That day, gasping for breath,
I sought my father.
I felt certain that he awaited me in this city.
Father!
Edward.
Anne.
Pardon my delay.
We've been waiting for you.
So have the people of York.
Waiting for Richard III to come home.
Be a king for the sake of his name, until you die in glory.
York of the white rose.
Lancaster of the red rose.
These royal houses with roses for their crests battled for the throne.
People call their strife the "Wars of the Roses."
Rebellion?
I was astonished to hear it from the Duke of Buckingham.
He grew dissatisfied because the king denied him his promised reward.
In the end,
he came to worry that his own head would be the next to roll.
And so, he desires your aid. You are an honorable gentleman and our comrade.
Our rebellion needs a trustworthy new leader.
It's difficult to believe,
but if Buckingham, a great lord and the king's right hand, revolts,
the foundations of Richard III's reign will be worse than shaken.
A rebel leader?
You called, Dad?
I've told you not to call--
Why, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get ahead!
If you play your cards right, you'll come out on top no matter who triumphs!
But can you trust Buckingham? He was so devoted to the king.
Is that what you're thinking, Dad?
I concur.
I have no wish to fight a losing battle.
Then how about this?
Tell Buckingham to bring you a gift if he's serious about turning on Richard.
Those boys in the Tower are still alive.
Many still view them as the rightful heirs to the crown.
I suppose.
You suppose?!
You pose as a fence-sitter in perfect safety,
all the while plotting to put your stepson at the head of a rebel army!
I wish to be king, Father.
And should a parent not reward his child's efforts?
Hm?
Tell Buckingham that
you'll join forces with him if he kills the children in the Tower.
Damn Stanley.
I anticipated this response, but he's still a nuisance.
But by joining forces with his stepson, the Earl of Richmond,
I can win Lancastrian support for my cause.
I had considered how to eliminate those boys as a means to protect Richard,
but if I kill them now, Richard must be the culprit.
When shall I kill him?
The time is not yet ripe.
To kill Richard, we'll first need a sacrifice.
Will that truly save him?
Yes, and you as well.
Is that your love?
It is.
He's just late. He will come back.
He'll announce himself and kiss my hand without a hint of shame.
I know he will.
Richard.
Can you hear them, Richard?
I know you can hear those longing cries.
They call the name of a king.
Now go, Richard.
I am with you.
King Richard!
It's King Richard!
King Richard III is here!
Noble and bold people of York.
Thank you for your warm welcome.
I once beheld hell in this city.
The sun was extinguished, leaving only deepest darkness.
Such was the death of my father, whom I loved him best in all the world.
Yet for all the tears I shed on his grave,
my sword shed far more enemy blood on the field of battle!
And now,
I have returned here!
I offer this golden light to my great father and the city of York!
King Richard III!
Long live the king!
Light for this city.
I wish to promote those whom the light has not yet touched.
Once I return to London--
Your Majesty!
A man just delivered this.
This is from Buckingham!
And the messenger?
His, um, hood hid his face, but he bid me give you this.
It can't be!
Richard?
I know that you'll come back. I'm certain of it!
You will
return to me!
Henry!
It can't be.
Who is he? Am I hallucinating?
You're wrong, Richard. I'm James Tyrrell.
Your assassin.
It's not time for that yet.
This man is James Tyrrell?
He's the very image of Henry VI.
How...?
How could this be?
Even his voice is identical.
I need to know you better.
Before the time comes.
--Wait! --Your Majesty!
You were late in returning.
Did the Duke of Buckingham...?
It wasn't him.
It wasn't Henry.
That clown gave us these sweets.
I'll eat them all while Edward's sleeping.
Damnation!
E-Edward?
Damn! Damn! Damn! I'm too furious to sleep!
Why don't my "supporters" come to my rescue?!
Are they all incompetent?!
P-Please calm down, Edward.
Try to imagine something happy, like what you'll do once you're restored.
Good idea.
If he ever does get the throne back,
I'll have to go back to waiting on him like a servant.
Before that happens, I might as well just...
I'll start with a feast.
Huh?
I'll summon Mother, and Elizabeth, too.
And then
I'll execute Richard as an example to everyone.
And his son too?
After we show him his father's miserable corpse.
How his wife will weep and despair!
We'll bake the bodies into pies and make his servants eat them.
We'll toast with blood for wine!
Why stop there? Let's think up something crueler.
I feel a bit better.
Huh?
If you weren't here...
If I were alone, I would have gone mad.
S-Stop. That's not like you.
Will we kill each other someday too?
Like our father and our uncles did?
I've been thinking.
If we get out of here...
...I'd like us to be friends.
Edward.
Shall we eat them together?
Hey. Keep quiet.
What does it matter? Our client owns the Tower.
How sweet they look.
This must be the beauty of the Lord's chosen.
Still, they sleep like logs.
Almost like they're dead already.
Hm?
One can never be too careful. Hard biscuits are best for long journeys.
Henry.
Richard.
Not you!
I need to know you better.
What the devil does it mean?!
I feel like I'm losing my mind.
What is there to fear?
We are God's anointed king.
That's right. The war is over.
No one can threaten me now.
Pardon me.
Tidings just arrived from London.
Your Majesty?
Buckingham is... in revolt.
The Duke of Buckingham, revolt?
Impossible.
Richard.
Unless you relinquish your crown in one month's time, by St. Luke's Day,
an army will march on London to dethrone Richard III.
Therefore, I cannot go to York.
I have only one wish.
Richard, a forest called Dean lies on the road to my castle.
Let us meet there. We will cross the river, and then the sea.
Richard...
Forsake your crown and come to those woods before the day appointed.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Say nothing of this to anyone.
Which matter do you mean?
Buckingham, of course!
I beg your pardon.
Forgive me, Catesby.
Now, what news from London?
The children in the Tower are gone.
Make haste to London.
Certainly.
No, wait!
Something's wrong. If the rebels absconded with them,
could Buckingham be involved?
To quash the rebellion, I must raise troops and strike the foe before--
Foe? Am I going to slay him?
Nonsense!
Spread rumors that the children are dead. They'll make poor figureheads that way.
At once.
Why, Henry?
Why?!
It can't be.
Would that it were but a nightmare.
Yet there are witnesses.
The lifeless bodies of King Edward V and Prince Richard
were taken from the Tower in the dead of night.
How horrible!
No! No! Not my darling sons!
No. It isn't true.
Why, God?!
That beautiful sapling should have grown to prop up all of England as king!
And yet... And yet...
That demon must have done it!
How much will you take from me before you're satisfied, Richard?!
Why not kill me as well?!
Make Westminster my grave, and--
Your Majesty mustn't say such things.
Look. You still have a fine princess.
You're right. The Lord sends us trials,
but justice always wins out in the end.
We shall unite our two lights
and help them ascend to a lofty height second only to God.
My Beth and your son Richmond
will reach England's highest rank of dignity.
How odd. The brothers always look out of that window.
Now that you mention it, I haven't seen them.
They've vanished from the Tower. Rumor has it they're dead.
How could it be a mystery?
They were in the palace.
Our greatest enemy is within.
He'll never let anyone stand in his way and live.
He even slew innocent children to defend his stolen throne!
Tear that demon from the throne!
Soldiers swarm to join us.
The stratagem was a success.
The Marquess of Dorset, who was in hiding, sends word
that the boys' death has sparked uprisings far and wide.
What of Richmond?
He sailed from Brittany leading troops,
and his mother has obtained Queen Elizabeth's consent to that matter.
And Stanley?
Naturally, he'll join his wife and son.
He is our intermediary.
My father was a Lancastrian.
And so you follow suit!
My blood and title are both worthless to me now.
I want only one thing.
Only you, Richard.
Your Majesty honors me!
Lend me your strength to build a new England.
Nothing would give us northerners more pleasure.
I pledge that my soul shall always be with Your Majesty.
Do I go to the forest where he waits,
or do I face down rebellion as a king?
The appointed day is almost upon us.
Hey, everybody!
His Majesty was just here!
Our king!
Must I choose?
You must know better than anyone how I longed for that.
Mother?
What's wrong?!
Perhaps I've overexerted myself.
It's my turn to fall ill.
I've burdened you.
Because of my indecision...
It's not your fault.
In fact, I feel better in York.
Part of me always wondered
if choosing you was a mistake.
Was it right for you to become king and for me to support you?
But when I saw the people bless you,
it struck me that this is a new beginning.
When you spoke of England's future, you looked like your father in profile.
You were noble and beautiful.
Anne.
I'll get well soon.
Edward will have his knighting ceremony soon.
Edward, rise as a knight.
Be a guardian to all the just and the weak.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Father!
Are you well?
I don't want that boy's childhood to be sorrowful, like ours was.
Let's make a land for him, together.
A beautiful kingdom.
Amid betrayal after betrayal, they chose me.
Both Anne and Buckingham.
I can't lose one of them.
I can't make that choice.
Your Majesty.
Catesby.
What's my schedule today?
Inspecting an abbey?
Your Majesty! King Richard!
Command me. The day is nearly here.
Will you gather troops?
Or go to the forest?
You think I could?
What would become of Anne and Edward with me gone?
What of the people who believed in me?
I merely obey your wishes.
My wishes?
I'll...
I'll speak to Buckingham once more!
That's right. There are other ways.
No one yet knows of his rebellion.
There's still hope for--
Your Majesty!
Urgent news! Kent is in revolt!
Our forces in Kent have risen?
I gave no order!
The king must know our plans now.
It's a little premature, but we must march.
Come, Your Grace, signal the advance!
What's so shocking about that?
Kent is always rebellious.
His Grace, the Duke of Buckingham is behind it!
This is treason!
Yes! He's turned on us!
Your Majesty! Your orders?!
We must act at once!