The White Princess (TV Mini Series)

The Pretender (2017)

Jodie Comer: Elizabeth of York

Photos 

Quotes 

• Margaret Plantagenet : Lizzie? I heard about the accident. I am sorry for our aunt...

  Princess Elizabeth : [gives Arthur to nurse] 

  Margaret Plantagenet : Could this not be good? For Teddy? If the Duchess turns against the Tudors, perhaps she'll send some men to rescue him...

  Princess Elizabeth : It is bad, Maggie. Henry is more fearful than before. The threat against the Tudors means my sisters must now also be locked away in marriages. We must all be turned to Tudors.

  Margaret Plantagenet : Me as well?

  Princess Elizabeth : You are another York princess whose children could be heirs.

  Margaret Plantagenet : Well, who will I be wed to?

  Princess Elizabeth : I don't know yet.

  Margaret Plantagenet : Will I live near Westminster? You'll not make me go away from Teddy?

  Margaret Plantagenet : I have told Henry I shall influence the matches. His mother will not be let loose to match you all with beasts or peasants. I will make a stand against his mother. I will do my best for you.

• Cecily of York : Lizzie, look. This is me, the Queen, with my intended, John Welles. The pawns are our sisters and this is our cousin Maggie. And this is baby Arthur.

  Princess Elizabeth : Arthur is too young to be betrothed.

  Margaret Beaufort : But the King had said that he will win for him the hand of the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon. Best ally to guard against your aunt.

  Princess Elizabeth : We may discuss it but we will not bind him to it. I will choose Maggie's husband.

  Margaret Beaufort : It is decided.

  Princess Elizabeth : Not by me and I am Queen. And I shall take the Queen's rooms now.

  Margaret Beaufort : She is to marry Henry's loyal commander, Richard Pole. The family have been notified.

  Princess Elizabeth : Pole is beneath her. And you will move out today.

  Cecily of York : They say he is a vicious brute who lost his arm and half the fingers on his hand but still fought on!

  Margaret Beaufort : The King has blessed the marriage and it is settled. As am I, in rooms the King gave me himself.

  Princess Elizabeth : Jasper Tudor needs a wife. My mother's sister Kate is wealthy from her late husband and will bring funds to Henry's cause. I will suggest it.

• Princess Elizabeth : Henry, your mother must be removed from the Queen's rooms now.

  Henry VII : Oh, forget the rooms. They're saying your cousin has escaped from the Tower.

  Princess Elizabeth : What?

• Edward Plantagenet aka Teddy : Take me home.

  Princess Elizabeth : I don't understand. Why would people say he is free if he is not?

  Henry VII : It will Burgundy stirring up unrest.

  Princess Elizabeth : But what unrest? How does it help them to say that he is free?

  Henry VII : They are claiming that they have him there. Using his name to raise an army against me.

  Margaret Plantagenet : No. Teddy could never...

  Henry VII : Maybe not. But my enemies don't know that. And he is a York heir.

  [leaves] 

  Margaret Plantagenet : Lizzie, please. Help him.

• Princess Elizabeth : If Burgundy is behind this, then prove that they are wrong. Cecily will be married soon. Let us have Teddy at the wedding. If we show that he is living with us, a valued member of our household, then he cannot be in Burgundy raising men against you. All those who say he is will be proven liars.

  Henry VII : And I suppose that after the wedding you will say that we must keep him from the Tower and with us?

  Princess Elizabeth : Well, if it goes well, why not? He is just a child, Henry. You have seen how scared he is, how lonely and unloved. Can you say you have never felt that? You are better than this. Don't be so threatened by a child. Show the world the man you are and let him live with us again.

  Henry VII : [shakes his head, means okay] 

  Princess Elizabeth : [hugs him]  Thank you, Henry.

• Henry VII : One voice. That's all it took. One woman crying out and men that swore fealty turn against me.

  Princess Elizabeth : John de la Pole. Just one, not all of your men.

  Henry VII : The other de la Poles have fled. Who else is against me? It's a pox that spreads like a plague and whispers in men's ears, "Rise up! For no one loves the King! Rise up and spread this poison." This has done me harm. And it was your idea.

  Princess Elizabeth : You cannot think that I wanted this. All I wanted was my cousin from the Tower and now he is back inside. It is neither his fault nor mine.

  Margaret Beaufort : It is Elizabeth, your mother's.

  Princess Elizabeth : What?

  Margaret Beaufort : She must have instructed de la Pole to snatch the boy to hand to Burgundy.

  Princess Elizabeth : My mother is in Bermondsey and she is watched night and day.

  Margaret Beaufort : The woman who set off the crowd was paid to do it. You must have seen it, Henry. She did her job and she fled. Elizabeth will strike again. There is only one way to ensure she doesn't.

  Princess Elizabeth : What? What way?

  Margaret Beaufort : Silence her forever, Henry. And Burgundy will lose their agent and their links to all your enemies. Cut off the head and the snake will die.

  Princess Elizabeth : Henry? No, she is my mother. She is our son's grandmother!

  Henry VII : All of England laughs behind my back. I am a fool to them, that has no love from any man. Do you not think that I would kill for that? I would kill for less than that.

• Margaret Plantagenet : Please tell Henry it wasn't Teddy's fault. He didn't mean it. He always says that when someone calls out to him. Lizzie?

  Princess Elizabeth : I am sorry, Maggie.

  Margaret Plantagenet : Well, then will you try to help him?

  Princess Elizabeth : The best thing you can do is be obedient to your marriage plans. And pray for patience.

  Margaret Plantagenet : Do you know now? Who he is?

  Princess Elizabeth : He is a soldier. He is not a man I have met. He lives in Wales.

  Margaret Plantagenet : You did not make the choice then?

  Princess Elizabeth : Lady Margaret did.

• Dowager Queen Elizabeth : Lizzie!

  Princess Elizabeth : I'm sorry that I didn't come sooner.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : But you're here now. How's Arthur?

  Princess Elizabeth : He is well. I would have brought him but...

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : Henry doesn't know you're here?

  Princess Elizabeth : No. Look at you Anne! How much you've grown. I swear you're almost as tall as me.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : How did you get in?

  Princess Elizabeth : The monks.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : They let you through?

  Princess Elizabeth : I am Queen now, I command them. Well, tell me eveything. Are you well? What news from Burgundy? Does my aunt send help to us?

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : I hoped that you would tell me.

  Princess Elizabeth : You write to her. Surely you must know?

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : I can get nothing in or out. For the first time in my life, I am bereft of letters and of news. Tell me, please. What of the Tudor court? Your marriage. Would you still push him from the throne?

  Princess Elizabeth : You are truly not in touch with anyone?

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : Even the boy who used to take my messages for me has gone away.

  Princess Elizabeth : Margaret is convinced you are the cause of Henry's troubles. She would have you dead.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : Of course she would.

  Princess Elizabeth : No, Mother, this is not an idle threat. This time he means it. He believes you planned for Teddy to be snatched and used against us.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : I know nothing of it.

  Princess Elizabeth : If I knew what my aunt had planned, then maybe I could talk him round. If you know anything, please, help me.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : I have no power anymore. I have these four walls and your sisters, and that is all.

• Princess Elizabeth : Henry...

  Henry VII : Even you. Even you.

  Princess Elizabeth : I was just...

  Henry VII : I know what you were doing. I have you followed. And I am proven right too because you went to see your mother. Did you really think you could just slip into the abbey where I keep her if I did not permit it? You lied to me and you are as treacherous ad she is.

  Princess Elizabeth : Henry. Henry. I went to see my mother, yes. Because you said you would execute her. I went behind your back, but it was to help us. To see if she is plotting with Burgundy.

  Henry VII : And is she?

  Princess Elizabeth : I don't know. Because she told me nothing. Because my mother no longer trusts me. She saw before I did myself that I am Tudor now. The birth of Arthur makes me so whether I like it or not because I will never stand against him. Our son puts me on your side forever. You may disbelieve it if you choose... but you are all I have now. Our family is all I have and... If you don't trust me...

• Jasper Tudor : They have arrived in Ireland with a fleet of ships and 2,000 Flemish mercenaries. The Irish have welcomed them with open arms and they are preparing to invade.

  Henry VII : I must fight to save my crown against a peasant boy.

  Princess Elizabeth : When do you ride out?

  Henry VII : Dawn.

• Princess Elizabeth : I thought you would like to say goodbye to him. There's something that I wish to ask you. Do not fight.

  Henry VII : You would have me stay here? Let them storm the gate?

  Princess Elizabeth : Of course not. Lead your men onto the field but do not risk your own life. Do not fight in person.

  Henry VII : If I died, you would be rid of me. Your mother safe, your cousin free to take the throne.

  Princess Elizabeth : How can I prove to you that I am with you, except to ask you not to die?

  [She cuts Arthur's hair] 

  Princess Elizabeth : While you are on the field and I am at Maggie's wedding...

  [she passes the hair] 

  Princess Elizabeth : Take this with you.

  [she gives him and holds his hand tightly] 

  Princess Elizabeth : Promise me you will not fight. Come home. So we can start our life together.

  [she kisses his hand] 

• Dowager Queen Elizabeth : "My dearest Lizzie. Yes, I have the means to write and I know how that will hurt you."

  Princess Elizabeth : She is writing letters.

  Cecily of York : Who is writing letters? Our mother. Of course she is. Lady Margaret said it was her that funded the York army.

  Dowager Queen Elizabeth : "But, there's something I must tell you, as painful as it is. When you were first with child, with Arthur, I knew then that he'd never be the king. I do not know where my sight comes from, but I could see it. Curse me if you will. And hold your boy close, but Lizzie, you must change allegiance and back your brother's claim for England. I know he will return to us."

  Cecily of York : What does she say?

  Princess Elizabeth : She is ill-wishing Arthur. She says he will not be king. She is wishing him to die.

  Cecily of York : Don't listen to her, Lizzie. She is only on her own side. Never ours. She will say whichever words best serve her own cause. Whatever they're true or not. Now, we must go and help Maggie with her marriage bed. She has no mother either.

• Princess Elizabeth : You confuse me. I know that you love Henry, and love God, and yet there is so much hate in you. It is a shame you didn't marry Jasper. Perhaps that is your tragedy.

  Margaret Beaufort : My husband is Sir Thomas Stanley!

  Princess Elizabeth : But Jasper is the man you love. Can you deny it?

  Margaret Beaufort : I have no tragedy. How dare you say such things to me? You paint me with your own sinful desires.

• Cecily of York : Lizzie! I have a message from my husband. We have won. Mother lost again. My husband says the King has granted us permission to leave court. We shall go and live at his castle in the north.

  Princess Elizabeth : I hope you will be happy.

  Cecily of York : I think I will be happier than you. But you must come and visit us. Goodbye, Lizzie.

  Princess Elizabeth : Goodbye.

• Princess Elizabeth : Henry!

  [he doesn't notice her] 

  Henry VII : [to people]  His name is Lambert Simnel. Routing his army has caused grave injury to my uncle. The traitor will be dealt with.

  Margaret Beaufort : There is another traitor in an abbey to attend to. They both should pay the same price for their treason.

• Henry VII : For the first time since I won at Bosworth we have engaged in battle. And we slaughtered them. You slaughtered them. My loyal, true and trusted men. I have my throne because of you, and I am grateful. You will be rewarded. But first, we must attend to our two traitors. The boy who led the army. And the York woman who has plotted against me since I won the crown.

  [people says "Traitor!"] 

  Henry VII : The penalty for treason is death. So... Who would have me kill them?

  [people cheers] 

  Henry VII : And who would not?

  Richard Pole : I would not, Your Grace. The boy is just a boy. A pawn for an adult game that he doesn't understand.

  Henry VII : And the Dowager Queen Elizabeth? The mother of the Queen?

  Margaret Beaufort : She has no excuse. She rallied the Irish. Paid them in gold.

  Henry VII : And yet, here I am. Undefeated. Their army barely drew their swords. You cut through them like barley.

  Lambert Simnel : Please, Your Grace.

  Henry VII : The boy will be given a job in the palace kitchens. He will turn the spit. And be thankful that he has no need to return to a father who would sell him for a keg of ale.

  Margaret Beaufort : Henry...

  Henry VII : [to Lizzie]  And you... may tell your mother, when next you visit her, that the King is in rude health, and sends his regards!

  [people laughs] 

  Princess Elizabeth : [Lizzie holds Henry's hand]  Thank you, Henry. Thank you.

• Henry VII : Come. I have something for you.

  [he opens the door] 

  Henry VII : I had my mother leave. You are the Queen. They are your rooms. I kept my promise, and now you will keep yours. We will be happy.

  Princess Elizabeth : You know she won't give up, don't you? My mother.

  Henry VII : Lizzie, she has done her worst. And look at us...

  [he kisses Arthur] 

  Henry VII : We are still here.

  [Lizzie smiles and kisses him] 

• Margaret Beaufort : Your uncle is returned from Burgundy. Quickly now.

  Princess Elizabeth : That doesn't annoy you? Just a door between your room and hers?

  Henry VII : Something's wrong.