ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE

a screenplay by
Pam Gems

Copyright © Pam Gems
Pam Gems is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted her moral rights. 

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before rehearsal to Rose Cobbe, United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LE, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 20 3214 0800.
http://unitedagents.co.uk/agents/rose-cobbe/. Assistant: Dan Usztan. Email: dusztan@unitedagents.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 3214 0873. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained.

ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE

MONTAGE.  Weather.

Scudding clouds, speeded up - the sound of thunder - lightning - then fair weather cumulus, followed by blue skies with high cirrus, then darker clouds, even louder thunder and eye-searing lightning.  

Titles over the above.

INT.  THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.  DAY.

As the titles end, a flash of lightning illuminates a high throne made of dangerous looking glass shards, large and pointed like lightning itself.  Behind it an ominous dark grey stone face.  

As we draw back we see a hugh room carved out of stone, with hewed stone as seating and tables each side of the throne.  The room begins to fill.  PEASANTS and PALACE WORKERS, MEN and WOMEN of all ages, a few CHILDREN, make places for themselves.  A contingent of PALACE GUARDS enters and the MEN take their places around the room.  Two sets of LAWYERS enter, with vellum scrolls.  The COUNCIL OF ELDERS enter, and sit.  MORDRED and his two associates, ALWYN and FLODIN, enter quietly and stand discreetly at the back.

The thunder becomes more distant.

The PEOPLE whisper in anticipation.

The sound of a primitive trumpet.

Silence.  The LAWYERS leave their papers and wait.  The PEOPLE wait.  The SOLDIERS wait impassively.

Loud noise, composed of the sound of tramping feet, the clang of hooves on cobbles, the jingle of harness, shouts of command, the sound of weaponry, sword on sword.  A very loud crack of thunder.

ARTHUR enters swiftly.  He is handsome, well-made, but badly scarred, his face bashed, his hands brutalised by fighting.  There are sounds of acclaim from the crowd, and shouts of stylised greeting from the soldiers but ARTHUR'S gaze is ominous and there is silence as he sits.

Everyone waits.

And waits.

PEOPLE crane, trying to see the entrance.  They whisper.  A CHILD eats cherries and spits, a WOMAN knits, the SOLDIERS murmur together, the two groups of LAWYERS confer separately.
ARTHUR begins to look dangerously angry.  He jerks his head and the CHIEF SOLDIER runs off.

A MOTHER feeds her BABY.  Her tit distracts ARTHUR for a second then the SOLDIER returns, nods.

Again we wait.

And then the sun comes out and the whole area is bathed with warm light and somehow we have not noticed before that there are trees and shining moss and flowered banks.  It does not make sense but is entirely natural

The sound of birdsong, gloriously melodious, a chorus of blackbirds and song-thrushes.  This becomes the sound of women's voices, singing sweetly in thirds.  The sound gets closer.  As ARTHUR turns, it stops.  There is a clang of a heavy door.  A DOG enters, crosses and goes.  Anticlimax from the CROWD.  We wait.

And GUINEVERE enters - so silently that she is suddenly among us.  An awed murmur from the CROWD.  The SOLDIERS stare at her hungrily.  The LAWYERS' mouths open.  MORDRED looks at her intently, even the ELDERS lean forward.

Hands clasped before her and hidden in the folds of her dress, GUINEVERE pauses and looks about her, mild and decorous.  She wears a wonderful dress, seemingly blue and white, but revealing greens and reds when she moves - like seaweed.  The dress streams out behind her as she turns, for a moment seemingly bewildered, and then stands alone in the middle of the space, shaking her head at the CHIEF SOLDIER who seeks to escort her to a formal chair.

PEOPLE crane in anticipation.

GUINEVERE looks submissively across the stony space to ARTHUR.  ARTHUR leans forward, his manner aggressive and threatening.  GUINEVERE lifts her chin.  She looks around with a gentle coolness.  ARTHUR clears his throat ominously.  GUINEVERE acquires a faint air of contempt.  She moves slightly.  There is a flurry of unpleasant sound - squeaking and grating and little laughing shrieks.  Which echo into silence.

GUINEVERE lowers her head.

Dead silence.  ARTHUR is still.

No-one moves.  A sudden agonized screech, far off, dying to nothing.

A faint purple smoke creeps into the space.  GUINEVERE lifts her eyes, and her face suddenly seems frightening, but perhaps it is the strange light.

ARTHUR for a moment looks wary, then leans to his LAWYERS.  They rush forward with parchments.

			ARTHUR
		Right.

The silence becomes ominous.

			ARTHUR
		Where were we?

He flicks a look at GUINEVERE but she is immobile, gazing into space.  He forages among the parchments presented to him, picks up the biggest, unrolls it and peers at it, frowning.  He looks up at GUINEVERE automatically for help.  She indicates - he has it the wrong way up.  He turns it round, attempting to cover.

He frowns and starts to read aloud.

			ARTHUR
		"On the occasion of His Majesty's soj...soj... sojju?"

His LAWYER darts forward, leans over his shoulder.

			LAWYER
		Sojourn, Sire.

			ARTHUR
		What?

			LAWYER
		Sojourn.

			SECOND LAWYER
		Sojourn - journey, Sire -

			ARTHUR
		Why doesn't it say so?  (Reads) "sojourn - in - Irry - Irr -"

			GUINEVERE
		Ireland.

			ARTHUR
		When we were beating up the Irish?  (Angry to the LAWYERS)  Why doesn't it say so?  (He throws the parchment at them.)

MORDRED smirks.

			ARTHUR
		Right!  Right!  A year.  I was away a year - a whole year!

He leans forward, glares at GUINEVERE.  Despite herself, she flinches.

ARTHUR rises.  Walking round her, he lifts a hand, points into GUINEVERE'S face.

			ARTHUR
		You - had a suckler!
Reactions from the PEOPLE.  Whispering, PEOPLE craning round to pass on the information.  An OLD WOMAN looks shocked.  The ELDERS confer.

			ARTHUR
		It couldn't even sit up!

GUINEVERE turns, nods to her LAWYER who approaches with a parchment.  ARTHUR grabs it then hands it back to the LAWYER, indicates for him to read.

			LAWYER
		(Bows)  Sire.  (Reads)  "My heart and soul yearned only for my Lord the King.  I sang to the child in my womb to be the companion of my heart until the joy of my Lord's safe return."

			ARTHUR
		Huh.

			LAWYER
		There is a deposition from the midwife, Sire.

			ARTHUR
		Who?

			LAWYER
		(In ARTHUR'S ear, discreetly)  The midwife.

The LAWYER gestures for a short WOMAN to come forward.  She steps forward, very frightened.

			ARTHUR
		Name?

			IDA
		You know me, Sire.  It's Ida.

			ARTHUR
		(Louder)  Name?

			IDA
		(Frightened)  Ida Shortneck.

			ARTHUR
		Speak up!

			IDA
		(Louder)  Ida Shortneck.

			ARTHUR
		(Assessing her dumpy appearance, looks down at her)  Humph.
Some laughter.

He nods to GUINEVERE'S LAWYER, who turns, and receives a parchment from his CLERK.

			LAWYER
		(Reads)  Deposition from Ida Shortneck.  "The young Prince's skin was dry as paper from lying too long in the womb.  His nails were as long as spiders' legs."  (He lays down the paper gently.)

GUINEVERE'S face is tender.  The PEOPLE gaze at her, the beautiful mother.  The MOTHER in the crowd rocks her BABY proudly.

			ARTHUR
		How late?

IDA trembles.

			ARTHUR
		How late?  One month?  Two?  (Turns to his CHIEF SOLDIER, sneering)  Three?  (And turns back savagely to IDA.)  Cut her tongue out.

TWO SOLDIERS attempt to drag IDA away.  But GUINEVERE moves in front of IDA.  The SOLDIERS look to ARTHUR.  GUINEVERE waves for a chair to be brought for IDA.  A WOMAN with a TODDLER in her arms swings a stool forward.  IDA sits.

ARTHUR waves a dismissive hand.  He can't be bothered.  He glares down at GUINEVERE.

			ARTHUR
		Not - my - child.

GUINEVERE turns away from him with a superior smile.  She arranges her skirt which moves, shimmering red and green, then looks around at the ONLOOKERS.  And giggles.  The sound is infectious and PEOPLE laugh.  Sound reverberates - rises, laughter but not laughter.

ARTHUR looks around him, hand on his dagger.  Taking the mood of the crowd he joins in, his loud bellow of laughter taking GUINEVERE by surprise and making her jump.  ARTHUR puts his fingers to his temples, making the sign of a cuckold.  Heavy laughter from the SOLDIERS.  MORDRED smiles.  ALWYN and FLODIN, taking their cue from him, laugh.

The sounds die away to silence.

ARTHUR and GUINEVERE, ten feet apart, stare at each other.

She points at her documents.  Her LAWYER and his CLERK come forward, their arms full of parchments.  He grabs one up irritably, reads it, frowning.

			ARTHUR
		"It has come to our attention that - " (reads, muttering to himself, looks up) - what's this got to do with anything?

He thrusts the parchment back at the LAWYER.

			ARTHUR
		Out of order - irrelevant -

GUINEVERE begins to hiss, turning this way and that.  The sound is taken up, echoes around the chamber, making ARTHUR uneasy.

He glances at GUINEVERE resentfully, but casts another look over the parchment.

			ARTHUR
		(Reading to himself)  "...seven cases of rape...a father violating his daughter" - can't have that..."accosted as she carried a pail of milk..."

He looks bleakly at a group of WOMEN.

The WOMEN look back steadily.  He throws down the parchment.

			ARTHUR
		Women should behave themselves.  The way they - what do they expect, you can't expect a man to -

The WOMEN stare at him steadily.

GUINEVERE begins to sway rhythmically.  PEOPLE around her sway, as if mesmerised by her.  ARTHUR looks round, begins to bluster.

			ARTHUR
		I tell the men, there's no need to go shoving girls - 

The SOLDIERS stand, their faces expressionless.

			ARTHUR
		- plenty of servants to hand...(his POV - a heavily pregnant pretty girl.  He is distracted by her for a second, recovers himself.)

		Keep to the point!

He rises and approaches GUINEVERE.

MORDRED moves forward, to listen.

A rumble of thunder.  Sheet lightning illuminates faces briefly.

			ARTHUR
		A single fall from grace - a moment of weakness - (the ELDERS nod) - well -

		We're all human -

Thunder, closer.

			ARTHUR
		But...

		Debauchery?

		Within the Palace?  

		Within the very sanctity of the marriage bed itself?

The light is suddenly very bright.

Music.  The sound of birdsong.

ARTHUR rises and stumbles, blinking against the light.  He walks up and down, looking at GUINEVERE.  She seems to be day-dreaming.

			ARTHUR
		(Savagely, in her ear)  If any one of these charges here presented is proved - (calls loudly) read the penalties.

He walks away, gesturing to the CHIEF SOLDIER, who takes a parchment from ARTHUR'S lawyer.

			CHIEF SOLDIER
		(Steps forward, reads from parchment)  Mutilation.  (Steps back, hands parchment on.)

			2ND SOLDIER
		(Steps forward)  Breaking on the wheel.  (Steps back, hands parchment on.)

			3RD SOLDIER
		(Steps forward.  He grins in anticipation of the sight)  Execution.  (Steps back, hands parchment on.)

			4TH SOLDIER
		(Steps forward.  He reads from the parchment)  The head to be displayed till crow-picked then crushed and strewn outside the boundaries of the realm.  (Steps formally to the LAWYER, hands back the parchment, about turns, returns to his place.)

MORDRED stands, arms folded.  ALWYN and FLODIN nod agreement.

Silence, apart from the birdsong.  It dies away.  A bell tolls in the distance. 

ARTHUR bends, confers with his LAWYER.  The LAWYER mutters.

			ARTHUR
		What?

			LAWYER
		The royal offspring, Sire.

GUINEVERE turns, catlike, defensive.  He looks past her.

			ARTHUR
		Right.

GUINEVERE stares at him.  He avoids her eyes.

			ARTHUR
		(Finding it hard to speak)  We have been reminded that if - if illegitimacy is proved - beyond reasonable doubt - then our - the children - all offspring must be put to the sword.

			WOMAN
		(Cries out)  All of them?!

Reactions from the crowd.  The WOMEN cry out - `No!' - but there are sounds of agreement from the MEN.

			ARTHUR
		The end of it.

		All over.  Finished.

He and GUINEVERE lock stares.  Eventually he manages to look away.

The courtroom suddenly seems to be open to the skies.  Swift scudding clouds move across blue skies.  Shafts of sunlight - then greyer clouds - beautiful but more ominous, then more, intermittent sunshine.

GUINEVERE sways slightly, as if faint.  IDA pushes past the SOLDIERS, but is pushed back.  GUINEVERE waves a hand - she is all right.  ARTHUR looks concerned for her for a brief second.  He seems uneasy, looks up at the changing sky.  Recovers himself, puts out his hand for a parchment, keeps them waiting while he peruses it.  The BOY who was eating cherries now eats a piece of bread.  The BABY has gone to sleep.

			ARTHUR
		It appears, from the indictment that not all of the royal sons and daughters - it may be that some - one child may be legitimate.

		(His voice thick)  Which one?

She pulls a face, turns her back on him.

			ARTHUR
		Oh, you may make faces Madam.  Out there on the marsh where you come from, who cares as long as you breed boys to drive herd, girls to spin!

		It's over!  People died!  Of hunger!  Flood!  Cut down by marauders!

		Not any more.

Murmurs of assent.  The SOLDIERS bang their halberds on the ground, the ELDERS nod.  MORDRED, ALWYN and FLODIN applaud showily, nodding this way and that, inviting agreement.

			ARTHUR
		There's order here - (some applause) we till, we crop, build bridges, strongholds.  (Applause, calls of agreement.)  Do you expect all this for nothing?

Reactions from the crowd.  MORDRED looks round, gauging the public mood shrewdly.

ARTHUR stamps back and forth before GUINEVERE.

			ARTHUR
		You think it natural for a man to hobble himself?  Give up his freedom?

Shouts of agreement from the SOLDIERS.

She makes to turn away from him.  He grabs her by the neck, then by the arm, forcing her to move with him as he addresses the crowd.

			ARTHUR
		Sweet enough when they're dangling the halter before us, eh?  They'll bathe our wounds, listen all night, we've never been so witty - until the cradle's brought out.  Then we're in the way!

He lets go of her.  She staggers, then rights herself, reasserting dignity like a cat.

He sits on a rocky outcrop, slightly above her, biting his nails, the sky behind him slate grey.

			ARTHUR
		Inheritance must - be - protected!

		Good God! - A woman knows what comes out of her belly! - Every gobbet of her own making!

		CAN A MAN EVER BE SURE?!!

Silence.  His shout hangs in the air.  He takes his seat again on the throne, throwing himself down heavily and grasping at the seemingly knife-edged fragments of splintered mirror each side of him.  He kicks away parchments at his feet.

			ARTHUR
		Irrelevancies.

		Out of order.

		(Leaning back against the glass in triumph)  If you have witnesses let them be called.

		If not...

		If not...

He seems uncertain.  His LAWYER crosses, whispers with the ELDERS, approaches ARTHUR and whispers in his ear.  MORDRED moves closer.

			ARTHUR
		If not we proceed to judgement.

Sounds of animals mewing, and soft growling noises.  He looks at GUINEVERE.  HIS POV:  She looks frail and lost.  He leans forward towards her.

			ARTHUR
		Look at you.  You've - it says that you've - (he picks up a parchment and throws it down) - exposed yourself...the secrets of your...that you, my wife...the Queen of England ...

His head sinks.  GUINEVERE makes an instinctive movement towards him.  He looks across at her.

			ARTHUR
		Why?

		Do you hate me?

		How can you hate me when I have sought from the beginning to honour and protect you?

		Are there no witnesses to give you a character?  No-one to prove your innocence?

Now he seems worried.  He looks at the PEOPLE.  Who seem grave, and look down.

			ARTHUR
		Here we see it - a woman who betrays not only her husband - but the very beings she has created...her children.  She seeks to destroy the world of those whose duty it is to honour, respect and yes...worship her - those whose long and lonely efforts have sought only to enrich her, by whose generosity and protection she is allowed to live and breathe.

GUINEVERE stands, a lonely figure.

The mood is turning against her.  MORDRED, arms folded, stares, majestic and hypnotic.

			ARTHUR
		Is there no-one to speak for the defence?  Not one voice?

GUINEVERE looks to her LAWYER.  He runs forward with a parchment, but, nervous, drops it.  GUINEVERE kicks it towards ARTHUR.  He will not pick it up.  The LAWYER scrambles for it - ARTHUR nods for him to read it.

			ARTHUR
		(Growls)  Get on with it.

			LAWYER
		(Very nervous)  Sire.  On behalf of the defence we beg leave to present - (he gulps, reads)  "The air...water...the earth and that which grows upon it...(he looks to GUINEVERE, she nods him on)  our lady the moon and...(he peers)...the cave of dream."

ARTHUR stares.  Is she making fun of him?  Some of the SOLDIERS laugh.  But there is an uneasy atmosphere.  ARTHUR rises, grabs a stave and bangs the floor three times.

			ARTHUR
		As - you - wish.  This is a court of justice.  The defendant has a right to call witnesses.

He gestures abruptly for the document.  The LAWYER hands it up timidly.  ARTHUR peruses it - thrusts it back at the LAWYER, nods for him to continue.

			LAWYER
		(Trembling voice)  On behalf of Her Most Royal Majesty, Queen Guinevere of England and the Isles...I call forth her first witness, the air.  Call the air!

			SOLDIER
		The air - call the air!

Silence.  A little girl looks up and around for the air to appear.  ARTHUR throws up his hands, indicating the air around him.

			ARTHUR
		Has the air been sworn?

The LAWYER smiles helplessly.

			ARTHUR
		What has the air to say?  Command the air to speak.

The LAWYER gestures humbly.

			ARTHUR
		Is the prisoner before you adulterous?

		Air!  You are a material witness!  If the crime occurred you were present.

		I, Arthur, command you to speak!

		Nothing to say?  Air?

		The witness declines to answer.  The air is silent.

		Silence means consent, that is the law.  (He points at GUINEVERE, his expression cold.)  You have chosen badly.  Your witness turns against you.

		If there Are witnesses - with eyes and tongues - let them stand forth.

			ARTHUR  (Cont'd)
		No-one?  No-one at all?  Silent water, earth gone dumb - ?

		Where's your magic now?

		And where's Merlin?

		Got the wind up, has he?

He fidgets, scowling, scratches himself, glowers at her.

			ARTHUR
		I've never seen you looking so plain.

The room darkens.

The BABY starts to cry.  GUINEVERE crosses casually, caresses the BABY.  She and the BABY'S MOTHER coo over the CHILD.

			ARTHUR
		(Laughs heavily)  Is she concerned?  Alarmed?

		Look at her.  Calm as a lake in summer.  She even smiles.

		What does it matter?

		Any minute now - trotting in on a white charger - to save her, she believes - her lover!

		Wrong.

		Wrong.

		Wrong.

		The...Paramour speaks for the prosecution.

He takes a parchment from his jacket, brandishes it at her.  MORDRED smiles triumphantly, turns to ALWYN and FLODIN.  Who smile.

			ARTHUR
		His affidavit.

He throws it at her feet.  She steps back, shocked, then lifts her arms high.  Appalling sound - high pitched screaming.  Darkness, thunder, lightning, sensations of earthquake.  The ground shudders, there is rock fall, PEOPLE run to escape, shouting and screaming.  The weird, fearsome screaming is held.  ARTHUR, almost brained by falling stone, takes cover.  MORDRED, ALWYN and FLODIN hide in the shadows, crouching.

Gradually the sensations of movement subside.  Cool light filters the scene, then watery sun.  PEOPLE pick themselves up.  ARTHUR rises, shaking off dust.  And sees GUINEVERE, lying as if asleep or dead across a boulder.  He leaps over to her with a roar.  He picks her up, holds her in his arms.

			ARTHUR
		Adjourned - the court is adjourned.

But GUINEVERE slips out of his arms.  She takes up her former stance.

Plaintive, tuneful wailing.  GUINEVERE looks at ARTHUR.  The sounds die away.  She stares at ARTHUR levelly, then approaches, whispers in his ear, and steps back.

			ARTHUR
		You wish to speak?!

She nods, formally.

			ARTHUR
		Are you sure?  If you need more time...

She shakes her head.

			ARTHUR
		You do realise.  You understand that you must speak to the charges.

GUINEVERE moves to a more central position.  ARTHUR looks alarmed.

			ARTHUR
		Perhaps -

But the gentle wailing is heard.  ARTHUR frowns, undecided, then gives up, goes to sit on the throne.

Silence.  Now everyone is tense, waiting for GUINEVERE to speak.  The WOMAN stops knitting, even the CHILD stops eating, snot unheeded running from his nose.

GUINEVERE stands, very still, like a statue.

The PEOPLE draw closer, gape, push to get a view.

Silence.  Everyone seems transfixed - spellbound.

GUINEVERE stands, her head down.

			GUINEVERE
		(Softly)  Why...

		Why...

		Why...?

ARTHUR makes to rise but she turns away slightly and he sits again.

Silence.

She looks up.

			GUINEVERE
		Why did you not explain the damage that you intended to inflict upon me?

		That I was not to see my children.

She stops, staring at him in accusation.

			ARTHUR
		Get on with it.

He beckons.  A SERVANT comes forward with meat.  ARTHUR eats, without taking his eyes from GUINEVERE, who starts to wander about dreamily.  PEOPLE move and push to see her.

			GUINEVERE
		When I came into prison, I was not afraid.  I brought my linen - only the simpler garments of course.  I was curious.  A new experience.  After all, I was guilty.

Eruption of shocked sounds from the ELDERS and the PEOPLE.  The word "guilty" is hissed among the CROWD.  MORDRED steps forward, gleams.

			ARTHUR
		(Appalled)  Guilty?!

			GUINEVERE
		To have been so warm.  So well fed.  So privileged.

		(To herself)  I though.  There will be time to think...reflect.

		Was there fault?

ARTHUR leans forward alertly.

			GUINEVERE
		Something more than irritability?

		The rub of time wearing rims between us?

		Disaffection - from boredom?

		(Silence.)

		They gave me papers - pens.  

		(The sound of a WOMAN'S scream.)

		I signed.

		(Reactions from the CROWD)  Merely to get some sleep!  

Loud screaming from WOMEN'S voices.  Reactions from the MEN.  FLODIN flinches, covers his ears.  MORDRED glares at him.

GUINEVERE lifts a hand.  The sounds go.

			GUINEVERE
		I am so sorry.

		If you could leave the door open - there is no question of my leaving I have given my word.

		Where would I go?

She goes silent.  They wait for her to speak.  She looks about her vaguely.

			GUINEVERE
		My shoulders are on fire.  (A discovery.)

		I am trapped in ice.

She moves, touching the walls, watched by her intent audience.  She leans against the wall, relaxed, looking idly at her feet.

			GUINEVERE
		(In another world)  We ran wild out there on the marsh.  I didn't wear shoes till I was fourteen that's why my feet are so broad.  

		(Smiles)  Broad feet are fashionable now.

As ARTHUR moves restlessly she seems to awaken.

			GUINEVERE
		Where am I - what are they doing?

She moves about, disoriented.  A SOLDIER leads her to a stool, sits her down.

			GUINEVERE
		Thank you, you are very kind.

		Thank you.

		Was that my voice?

She sways gently, alone on the stool, murmuring.  IDA speaks urgently to a group of WOMEN.  They approach ARTHUR.  IDA, trembling, whispers in ARTHUR'S ear.  He looks at her soberly.  And rises slowly.

			ARTHUR
		This woman is unfit to plead.
GUINEVERE looks round vaguely, as if in strange surroundings.  WOMEN press forward, alarmed for her.  A SMALL GIRL pats her hand with shy concern.  ARTHUR looks round, assessing the mood of the court.  MORDRED presses back, not to be seen.  He whispers urgently to ALWYN and FLODIN.  They nod.

			ARTHUR  (O/S)
		The Queen is ill!  She is not responsible for her statements!

The noise grows.  The ELDERS confer.  The WOMEN shout at the SOLDIERS - PEOPLE argue between themselves.  THE LITTLE GIRL bursts into tears - ARTHUR throws her an orange.

			ARTHUR
		Unfit to plead.  Remove the lady to the royal quarters -

Shouts of protest at this.  Hidden at the back, MORDRED shouts.  So ALWYN and FLODIN shout.

			ARTHUR
		- all right then - to the nuns at Crewe!

Shouts of agreement from the SOLDIERS -
`Yes!'
`Wall up the bitch!'
`Imprison the adulteress!'
`Send the bitch to the nuns!'

MORDRED nods agreement.

And suddenly GUINEVERE is on the dais, furious.

			GUINEVERE
		Send me to Crewe - to those old witches?

She beats up her own LAWYER.  ARTHUR grapples with her, pulls her down from the royal dais.

			ARTHUR
		Get down -

			GUINEVERE
		And where will you be with me out of the way?

He pursues her.  She turns on him.

			GUINEVERE
		You think they won't have you out of it before your sword's out of the scabbard?
			ARTHUR
		Shut up - !

			GUINEVERE
		It's not my death they want, it's yours!

			ARTHUR
		This is a court of law -

			GUINEVERE
		They want you dead - dead - dead!  

She glares around, pointing at PEOPLE.  She sees MORDRED.

			GUINEVERE
		I see you!  

FLODIN wavers, hurries away.  She points at faces in the crowd, PEOPLE shrink back from her accusing gaze.  ARTHUR attempts to hold her.

			GUINEVERE
		Take your foul, stinking hands off me!

He makes to grab her but she turns and runs, evading him and the SOLDIERS.  Their blood up, they try to corner her.  She leaps onto the throne.

			GUINEVERE
		Kill me would you?

		Try!  

		You'll never live to see your sons!

The SOLDIERS close in, encouraged from the back by MORDRED and ALWYN.  ARTHUR sees that she is in real danger.  He barges through the SOLDIERS, punches one out - then lifts GUINEVERE bodily.  The CROWD presses forward.  ARTHUR backs off, pushes GUINEVERE behind him and draws his sword.  The CROWD press in on them.  The noise is deafening.

Fights break out.  The ELDERS flee.  The SOLDIERS attempt to break up the fights, then fight their own corners as ARTHUR disappears with GUINEVERE.  MORDRED and ALWYN are furious.  FLODIN reappears.  MORDRED slices him across the face, goes.

The sounds die away as we rise into the sky.  Clouds.  Then dissolve into:

INT/EXT.  THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER.  DAY.

A beautiful silver throne decorated with moonstones.  Pale shining draperies but the overall effect of the spacious set of rooms is light and air and nearness to nature.  Otters play by a pool.  A cat watches fish.  A lynx lies asleep across a cushion.  All is at peace.

The sound of a heavy door being slammed.  The otters chitter and scamper away.

Another slammed door, louder and closer.

GUINEVERE enters in a high state of rage.

More banging doors.  The sound of ARTHUR'S heavy tread approaching.  GUINEVERE breathes deep to contain herself and mask her anger.  By the time ARTHUR bursts in she is standing still - an odalisque.

He leaps at her.  But her cold stare halts him.  They lock fearsome gazes.  Then he wheels away, stamps up and down, kicking a dog and making it howl.

GUINEVERE, too, begins to prowl.  She touches a bowl of water.  It turns to ice.  They pass and repass each other, she wrapping herself in huge furs, ARTHUR shivering against the dreadful cold.

He pauses, glares at her and moves away in deep snow.  She looks at him as he pauses, his shoulders bent.  Her gaze softens.  The snow stops, the drifts melt.  He stomps past her, shaking the wet off his sleeves.

			ARTHUR
		When you do open your mouth it's off the point!

He goes to an embrasure, looks out and down at the garden below.  Four beautiful CHILDREN are playing, chasing little dogs and laughing, watched by an ELDERLY NURSE, who carries a bouncing baby.

			ARTHUR
		God, what a farce!

			GUINEVERE
		Fools.

			ARTHUR
		I advise you to take the council seriously.

			GUINEVERE
		You don't - unless it suits you.

			ARTHUR
		All that rubbish!

			GUINEVERE
		What rubbish?

			ARTHUR
		Prison?  You've been in the garden tower, surrounded by dressmakers and having banquets sent in!  The whole place smells like a French whorehouse!

			GUINEVERE
		You want me to stink?

			ARTHUR
		Oh, you'll stink - when you've been in irons twenty years.

			GUINEVERE
		Don't be such a bully.  And take these off!

We see that her hands are bound with fine chain.

			ARTHUR
		Not in my jurisdiction.

			GUINEVERE
		Get them off you bastard!

She lays her hands on a stone, he thwacks down with a sharp rock, breaking the chain, then works with a knife-point on the complicated, elegant chain cuffs on her wrists.  She looks down at his bent head.

			GUINEVERE
		Tying me up.  What sort of games do you think you're playing?  (He is having trouble with the cuffs.)

He glares up at her.

			ARTHUR
		No games.

			GUINEVERE
		You want me murdered.

He frees her left hand.

			GUINEVERE
		You want your wife murdered.

		The mother of your children murdered.

He frees her second hand.

			GUINEVERE
		Is that what you want?

He watches as she puts salve on her wrists.

			ARTHUR
		It would leave me without an adulteress for a Queen.
			GUINEVERE
		Trust you to believe gossip.

			ARTHUR
		Since the accusations against you have been proved, not to mention what I've seen with my own eyes -

But fed up with everything, he groans and sits heavily.  The sounds of CHILDREN laughing below.

			ARTHUR
		What am I to...

He rubs his forehead wearily.

INT.  CATHEDRAL.  DAY.

The wedding of ARTHUR and GUINEVERE.

Plainsong.

They turn from the altar, approach and pass us.  But they have eyes only for each other.

			ARTHUR
		(Voice Over)  What could we do but aim for the highest?

		We agreed to put in everything.  Justify the blind chance of our privilege.

We are back in the QUEEN'S quarters.

GUINEVERE sees to her toilette.

			ARTHUR
		I trusted you.  You could do what you liked with me, and you've destroyed me with it.

			GUINEVERE
		(Irritable)  Oh don't be such a fool.

He looks stricken.

			ARTHUR
		Has loyalty no value to you?  None at all?

GUINEVERE shrugs.

			ARTHUR
		So everything I've told you you've -

			GUINEVERE
		I've used my own judgement.

He gets up and clouts her to the floor, stands over her in a rage.

			ARTHUR
		WHO SAID YOU COULD DO THAT?

A little later.  ARTHUR is bathing GUINEVERE'S sore ear from the blow.

			ARTHUR
		(Groans)  To be brought down by a woman.

			GUINEVERE
		A woman!  No wonder they're laughing.

EXT.  GUINEVERE'S GARDEN.  DAY.

ARTHUR holds up a branch for her to pass under.

			ARTHUR
		I've always respected you.  As Arthur's queen you hold an unrivalled position.

			GUINEVERE
		Guinevere, Arthur's wife - Guinevere, mother of princes...

Suddenly she is on a raised mound, surrounded by leaves, fruit and rushes.  rising sound of wind, and music.

			GUINEVERE
		Guinevere, Queen of the Water - 

		Guinevere, Queen of the Forests -

		Guinevere, Queen of the Moon -

			ARTHUR
		(Shouting against the noise)  Any position you hold is by my dispensation! -

EXT.  ON A LAKE.  DAY.

The water is slack, brown.  The small lake is fringed with trees.  GUINEVERE lies back in a boat as ARTHUR poles it gently.  She trails her hand in the water.  Fish follow.

			ARTHUR
		I've never rubbed it in - you say yourself how generous I am.

She lifts out a fish gently.  It kisses her and swims away.

			GUINEVERE
		Has it never occurred to you that your benevolence might be stifling?

			ARTHUR
		I've never seen you hang back.

			GUINEVERE
		Oh you like to give!

She leaps ashore.  He follows.

			GUINEVERE
		You think I need presents to cure my nerves?

She runs off through the forest.  He follows.

INT.  THE PALACE.  DAY.

ARTHUR follows GUINEVERE along cavernous passages.  SERVANTS, SOLDIERS, seeing them, make themselves scarce, diving for cover.

			GUINEVERE
		The sapphires were watery, the emeralds too small, as for those dumpy bracelets they can go straight back to the Danes -

INT.  THE KITCHEN.  DAY.

GUINEVERE, followed by ARTHUR, crosses the Kitchen.  The fearsome COOK, a huge man, sunders an ox, hacks off a foot, throws it down for the dogs.  ARTHUR kicks it aside en passant.

			ARTHUR
		Oh they can, can they?  Easier said than done - they cost me half an ear!

Now they are on the lower battlements, the land beautiful below them.

			GUINEVERE
		Just to give me a rash all up my arms.

			ARTHUR
		(Growls)  There's nothing wrong with your arms.  They're as white as milk.

			GUINEVERE
		I found a cure.

			ARTHUR
		You found a cure all right.

INT.  THE CHILDREN'S QUARTERS.  DAY.

The CHILDREN, with EDITHA, the elderly nursemaid, and LINA, the young nursery maid helping.  The CHILDREN are at table, eating their meal.  A four year old girl, MATILDA, comes up to GUINEVERE for a hug.  ARTHUR gives EDWIN, the oldest boy, his dagger to look at.  GWERFYL, six, jumps down and crosses to the cradle and rocks it.  GUINEVERE bends over the cradle.  ARTHUR watches, his face black.  She picks up the CHILD but he turns away.  She settles the CHILD, kisses GWERFYL, and crosses to ARTHUR.  LINA brings them drinks.  They watch the CHILDREN.

			ARTHUR
		(Low)  I've been trying to put your case in good light.

			GUINEVERE
		(Low)  No you haven't.

			ARTHUR
		I have to seem impartial!

GUINEVERE offers her horn cup to LINA for more milk.  ARTHUR shakes his head.

			ARTHUR
		I Told you! - say nothing, look at the floor, and wear something plain.  You come as the Virgin in Glory in the Sky - we get the amateur dramatics, then you set about your own lawyer!

			GUINEVERE  (V/O)
		The fool.

INT.  GUINEVERE'S QUARTERS.  DAY.

GUINEVERE, helped by IDA, is having a bath in a natural stone pool.  ARTHUR watches, at first with pleasure, then looking sour when GUINEVERE stands up to have her bottom washed, resenting IDA'S intrusion into his territory.  IDA and GUINEVERE, amused, exchange a glance.

			ARTHUR
		I'm trying to help.

		How can I help you if you won't help yourself? 

Moves to stop getting splashed as IDA rinses GUINEVERE from a wooden bucket.

			ARTHUR
		I've even offered the other party (through gritted teeth) an honourable withdrawal.

			GUINEVERE
		No!

She throws a heavy silver ewer at him, catching him on the temple.  IDA helps her out, throwing ARTHUR a piece of cloth to staunch his head.

			GUINEVERE
		There'll be none of that.

			ARTHUR
		What?

			GUINEVERE
		Picking him off as soon as he reaches the castle walls.

IDA dresses her.

			ARTHUR
		I wouldn't do that.

			GUINEVERE
		Others would, to please you.

			ARTHUR
		I'd have their necks for it.

GUINEVERE lifts her hands for IDA to button her sleeves.

			GUINEVERE
		Like the time my dog was killed and you brought me a man's head on a plate?

ARTHUR shrugs an apology.

			ARTHUR
		I was annoyed.

IDA finishes buttoning, is dismissed, curtseys and goes.  GUINEVERE surveys herself in the glass.  He watches her.

			GUINEVERE
		You've been unfaithful to me enough times.
			ARTHUR
		A man needs more than one woman, law of nature.

			GUINEVERE
		I agree.

He brightens up at this.

			ARTHUR
		(Darkening again)  But then you would.  Suits your case.

			GUINEVERE
		You've had hundreds.

			ARTHUR
		Only when I was away.  I miss you.

			GUINEVERE
		What about me?

			ARTHUR
		You've got the children.

			GUINEVERE
		Sleep with my sons you mean?

			ARTHUR
		(Bellows)  Stop it!

GUINEVERE flinches at his shout.

			ARTHUR
		I will not have this coarseness.

			GUINEVERE
		No, your privilege that.

		Having been graced with the honour of creating YOU, we must, naturally, be goddesses!  Women Fart!

			ARTHUR
		Do you Want to erode my respect for you?

She lies on the bed, making herself comfortable with pillows.

			GUINEVERE
		Debase the currency, devalue the property, you mean?

			ARTHUR
		You weren't always like this.  The first time we met you hardly opened your mouth.

			GUINEVERE
		I was trying not to faint.  You stank!

			ARTHUR
		I'd just clawed my way up a bloody cliff face for you.

			GUINEVERE
		And you choked a man -

			ARTHUR
		He wouldn't open the gate.  I apologised.

			GUINEVERE
		- not to mention the rest of your behaviour that night.

			ARTHUR
		Whose fault was that?  Sitting there with your hand on your thigh -

			GUINEVERE
		I had a flea up my skirt.

			ARTHUR
		What was I supposed to do?

			GUINEVERE
		Kiss my hand, not jump me.

			ARTHUR
		I was in love.

			GUINEVERE
		Love?  

		Men don't love.

		If you loved me you'd defend me, right or wrong.

			ARTHUR
		Not when you try to destroy everything I've worked for.

			GUINEVERE
		As I say, you don't love me.

Pause.

			ARTHUR
		(Growls, holding her)  You're my life, I know that.

			GUINEVERE
		Am I?  (Pulls away.)

			ARTHUR
		You know you are.  Part of me.

GUINEVERE
		(Sits up)  Belly and all?

		Our first child?  (He moves away.) You were out of the door like a hound after a hare.  You went missing for two days.

			ARTHUR
		I couldn't bear to see you suffer.

			GUINEVERE
		And when you came back?  What happened when I put him to suck?  (He flinches.)  Your eyes were flint.  You wanted to pluck him off me and dash his head against the wall.

		You said it yourself, you said it yourself!

			ARTHUR
		I was jealous.

			GUINEVERE
		(Looks up at him)  You're a barbarian.  You always were.

He sits on the bed, as if tired.  The rolls over and holds on to her ankle as to a lifeline, sprawled on the huge bed.

			ARTHUR
		The trouble is, I've always loved you more than you love me.

She groans, impatient.  He looks up into her face.

			ARTHUR
		Were you in love with me?

She shrugs.

			ARTHUR
		You seemed to like me.

			GUINEVERE
		I liked being made a fuss of.

She rolls away from him, gets up from the bed and crosses, sits at her mirror, trying different fillets, necklets.

			ARTHUR
		You knew I loved you.

			GUINEVERE
		You Desired me.

			ARTHUR
		If you weren't in love, why did you marry me?

			GUINEVERE
		You were the King!

		People started talking to me, it went to my head.

		I was only a second daughter.

		Nobody thought you'd look at me, that yellow dress was my sister's.

He approaches, takes the necklace from her hand, turns her to face him.

			ARTHUR
		Are you telling me, after all this time, that you were talked into it?

			GUINEVERE
		I didn't say that.

HER POV: his scarred face looking down at her.

She looks into the glass.  He looks over her shoulder.

			GUINEVERE
		I was frightened of you.

			ARTHUR
		Why?

			GUINEVERE
		I knew you wanted to do something to me.

He drops the necklace abruptly onto the silver table.

			ARTHUR
		You liked my presents, the pearls.

			GUINEVERE
		(Dismissive)  They were only river pearls.  Very milky.  Still, they gave me something to play with while the old fool was yabbering over us.

She makes a small strange noise to summon IDA, hands her the fillet, and the jewelled belt she has chosen to wear.  IDA starts to do her hair.

			ARTHUR
		(Dodging round IDA)  You mean the marriage ceremony?

IDA hands GUINEVERE a hand mirror so that she can inspect the back of her head.  GUINEVERE mimes instruction.  IDA dresses her hair and puts in ornaments.

			ARTHUR
		Didn't you take it seriously?

GUINEVERE gives him a scornful look in the glass.

			GUINEVERE
		A property deal between you and my father?  To provide heirs for you? 

He gawps at her in the glass.

			ARTHUR
		So you took vows...lied...to me...to your family ...to God Himself...

			GUINEVERE
		Not necessarily.  What I vowed might have come true.  I couldn't tell any more than you could, any more than they could.  No-one could command us to love each other for the rest of our lives, not even the gods themselves.

She gets up, waves IDA away and leaves the chamber.  ARTHUR follows her.  They traverse the Palace, along corridors, ARTHUR following her.

			ARTHUR
		You never loved me.  You don't love me.

			GUINEVERE
		Of course I love you, you're my husband.  Not when you're drunk.  (She walks on.)

			ARTHUR
		I have to get drunk sometimes.

			GUINEVERE
		(Turning on him)  Why?  Do I frighten you?

			ARTHUR
		(He follows her.)  Yes.  God knows why - you've been my dog often enough.

She smirks up at him.

			ARTHUR
		What I can't stand is that bloody look on your face!  Critical.  Unadmiring.  I can't take that.  (She marches on.) 

		(Catching her up)  I realise we haven't much in common.  I have tried to come your way.

			GUINEVERE
		You mean the Icelandic fiddlers in the courtyard.

She grins, and they can't help laughing.

			ARTHUR
		(As they go outside)  I thought they'd be a surprise.

			GUINEVERE
		(Leaving him behind)  Oh they were that all right.

			ARTHUR
		(Blunders through washing)  I did it to please you.

			GUINEVERE
		(On a path, calls back against the sound of the sea)  They saw you coming, you mean.

			ARTHUR
		(Catching her up)  On the contrary I made a good deal.  Not a bad thing, trade, in the right place.  There could be a future in it.

			GUINEVERE
		(Reaches the edge of the cliff)  And the Grail?

Pause.

			ARTHUR
		(Shouts against the sound of the sea)  What?

			GUINEVERE
		The Grail.  The Quest.  For the highest.  The purest.  Where does that fit in with your deal?

They lock stares.  He breaks away.

			ARTHUR
		Leave it. 
Now they are on a rocky beach.

ARTHUR sits on a rock, gazing out to sea.

			ARTHUR
		Nothing wrong with fair exchange.  (She looks at him drily.)  I've been talking to the Phoenicians.  Clever devils, the Phoenicians.  Supply both sides and play neutral - that's the game.  We must build bigger ships.

GUINEVERE jumps on a rock above him.

			GUINEVERE
		Not by cutting down my oak forests you won't. 

He gets up clumsily.

			GUINEVERE
		One more tree I'll put a blight on you that'll shrivel your balls to peanuts!

ARTHUR climbs on a rock to face her.

			ARTHUR
		It's common sense!

She turns away, gazes out to sea.  He sits, tired.

			ARTHUR
		I can't fight everybody.

She returns, stands over him, the light behind her.

			GUINEVERE
		You've zonked a few. 

		In your time.

He squints up at her.

			ARTHUR
		I can't kill you.  I'd have no-one to talk to.

He pulls her down beside him.  They sit, watching the waves.

			ARTHUR  (V/O)
		Give him up.  Please.

			GUINEVERE
		Don't.
			ARTHUR
		Please.  For my sake.

			GUINEVERE
		I can't.

He scrambles to his feet.

			ARTHUR
		You piece of dirt.

She gets up, moves away.  He follows.

			ARTHUR
		I'd like to slice you up and hang you on a hook - they'd look at you then all right!

			GUINEVERE
		Don't...

She puts up her arms to defend herself, but he begins to knock her about.

			ARTHUR
		Love me!  Love ME dammit!  Love ME, d'you hear me - LOVE ME!

She fights back vigorously, then escapes from him up the rocky beach to a cave.  Her POV:  He goes past the cave, then there he is, blocking out the light.

			ARTHUR
		Come here

He advances.  She backs away, realises that there is no way out.  He grabs her as she tries to pass him.

			GUINEVERE
		Don't -

			ARTHUR
		I'll Kill you!

She pulls away but he grabs her again and she falls.  They grapple, both gasping.  He pins her against the rocky wall, she evades him, but he catches her again in the limited space.  He pins her down; and desires her.  He grabs at his belt, to undo it.  She looks up into his face, and undoes his belt.  They embrace fiercely.  She slips out from under him.  And straddles him.  They make love.

			GUINEVERE  (V/O)
		Cave...abyss...sea...hear the bell under the waves - ah - bowels of wet mushrooms - thicket - spikes...ohh, can you hear her?

ARTHUR groans.

			GUINEVERE  (V/O)
		Don't hold so tight...breathe...through the swell, green bubbles, sea fields...cut the turf, part the weeds...and die...die...die.

Pause.

She wipes his forehead.  ARTHUR sighs.

			GUINEVERE
		A man is ash.

She cuddles him.

A little later.  At the mouth of the cave.  ARTHUR and GUINEVERE, she is in his arms.

			GUINEVERE
		What did you want?

		What did you expect from me?

			ARTHUR
		Love.

			GUINEVERE
		(Murmurs)  Love.

			ARTHUR
		And fidelity.

			GUINEVERE
		At least I care enough to deceive you -

He rears up dangerously.

			GUINEVERE
		Do you think I wouldn't have been faithful if I could?  Of course I would, I like you.

		(V/O as they traverse a meadow)  Look how well we've been getting on lately - it's been better than ever.

EXT.  THE PALACE YARD.  DAY.

ARTHUR tightens the girth of GUINEVERE'S horse, helps her into the saddle.

			ARTHUR
		What am I going to do?

She rides off, side-saddle.  He mounts his horse, follows her.

EXT.  IN THE FOREST.  DAY.

ARTHUR and GUINEVERE at the walk, riding side by side.  They approach us through the trees.

			GUINEVERE  (V/O)
		I want a seat on the council, and seven elected women.

They pass us.

			ARTHUR
		Women?  In council?

He bursts out laughing as they disappear into the forest.

EXT.  A BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL.  DAY.

ARTHUR and GUINEVERE sit by the waterfall, the horses tethered and grazing nearby.

			ARTHUR
		Women!

He looks down at GUINEVERE as she lies back, sunning herself.

			GUINEVERE
		(Eyes closed)  Better than some of the treacherous bastards around you.

			ARTHUR
		The law would be out of the window.  You can't even plead your own case -

GUINEVERE gets up and paces, out of temper.

			ARTHUR
		- for Christ's sake, woman, you're on trial for your life!  

She looks at him scornfully, walks away.

			ARTHUR
		I'm trying to find a way to save your neck - and you?  (She turns, cool.)

		Fresh as a daisy and completely off the point!

		Will you get the message?

		They want you Dead.

		They want you under the ground.

Pause.

GUINEVERE approaches him and stands over him, putting him in shadow.

			GUINEVERE
		And will you let them?  Put me under the ground?

The sound of hunting horns.  ARTHUR jumps up.  A stag bursts through, pauses with terrified eyes, staggers away.  The sounds of the hunt recede.  They look at each other, reacting to the sight of the beleaguered animal.

EXT.  GUINEVERE'S GARDEN.  DAY.

GUINEVERE sits silently on a stone seat in her beautiful garden.  ARTHUR walks back and forth, back and forth.  Their faces are stony.  He stops at last in front of her.

			ARTHUR
		He was my best friend.

			GUINEVERE
		Your best friend - my lover.

He looks at her so savagely we think he will attack her again.  But he stumbles away, trampling the lilies.  A bell rings for three o'clock.

A cat jumps on GUINEVERE'S lap.  She fondles it absently.

He turns away, frowning in thought, marching up and down through the lilies.

			ARTHUR
(To himself)  I see.  Ye-es...I see!

He turns, points in triumph.

			ARTHUR
		This is all to spite me - pay me back! 

GUINEVERE frowns, genuinely puzzled.

			ARTHUR
		My God!

		I had no idea! - no idea.

He approaches her.
			ARTHUR
		It's true - I have lied - to protect you but yes - there have been lies.

		I see now, I've damaged the nearest thing to my heart, my own wife.

		You've punished me where it pierces most - and of Course it had to be my best friend, I see that now!

		My God - oh God how I must have hurt you!

GUINEVERE screeches, rises, backs away.

			GUINEVERE
		How many times do I have to tell you?  It's nothing to do with you!

EXT.  THE BATTLEMENTS.  DAY.

GUINEVERE looks out at the magical view.

			GUINEVERE
		He has dark blue eyes and he has only to look at me.

He looks across at her and out at the view.

			GUINEVERE  (V/O)
		It has nothing to do with you.

He turns.  Her POV.

			ARTHUR
		So...it's an overwhelming...mutual...(he grinds out the word)...passion.

He closes on her.

			GUINEVERE
		Yes.

			ARTHUR
		You're a lying bitch.

		What about the others?

		What about Gawain - Peredur -

		Mordred - even Mordred!
Hollow images of exhausted knights climbing, wading through swamp - fighting.

			ARTHUR
		My God.  Tainted.  From the first ford - the first swing into the saddle.  Dragging equipment over mountain passes...a forest of thorn that took us a summer to cross, flies feeding on our sores...and all the time -

He smashes his hand against the wall.

			ARTHUR
		Find the Grail!

Hollow close-ups of the Knights in extremity.

			ARTHUR
		When our calf muscles failed, when we retched bile, sweated with fever till our eyes stood out of our heads like eggs, we whispered, through cracked black lips...the Grail!

The images disappear.  He turns, stares at her.  She looks back at him without expression.

			ARTHUR
		The hobbles were on before we left the yard.

		All our manhood, and I don't even know if my sons are my own.

			GUINEVERE
		The first one's yours, if you're worried about inheritance.  He's not the brightest.

			ARTHUR
		And my girls - my little girls...?

He grabs her, holds her over the parapet.

			ARTHUR
		I want to know...all of it...

She pulls away.

			GUINEVERE
		Stop it.

			ARTHUR
		All of it...

			GUINEVERE
		Get your hands off me!

			ARTHUR
		Whore!  No wonder you could teach me tricks...

She manages to struggle free, but she is backed in a corner.  She is baleful with fright.

He makes to strangle her.  She makes a dreadful choking sound.  Shocked, he lets go.  She crawls away from him, gasping for breath.  She staggers to her feet, feeling her neck and whimpering.

			ARTHUR
		Kill her...why don't you kill her like a gnat against a wall?  Find a fresh young girl, breed a new family -

		At least they wouldn't have that bloody look on their face.

		Nothing's ever right!

		I conquer a country - are you proud of me?

		No.

		You complain when I'm away.  I come home, more complaint.  

		I buy you jewels, you give them away - you want shells.  I lose two men's lives bringing you shells from Ionia and what do you do?  You give them to the cowman.

			GUINEVERE
		(Sullen)  They weren't the right sort.

			ARTHUR
		They never are.

She walks past him, to the end of the parapet, turns.

			GUINEVERE
		How can it be?  When the sum of your whole life is sitting in a tower listening to birdsong, drying your hair by the window.

Below them the view stretches away, green, with blue haze, sublime.

			GUINEVERE
		You couldn't begin to fill my dreams.

		You come back sweating and scarred, and we bathe you and feed you, and you feel wonderful - we can feel how you feel, it must be wonderful.

		And you expect to find us alive - full of energy.

		And we're limp.  And we've been doing nothing.

		But you forgive us - after all, we're only women.

		And you tell us stories.  And we listen.

		And WHAT'S THE USE OF THAT?

To be TOLD the story is NOT TO DO IT!

		You have your lives.  We don't.

		All I've ever needed was a good bay gelding.

She pushes past him and begins to descend a spiral staircase.  ARTHUR follows her down.

			ARTHUR
		You'd be prey to the first brigand on a narrow path.

She looks up at him and continues to descend, lifting her skirts, ARTHUR at her heels.

			ARTHUR
		Who'd stop the Hun slicing the baby out of your belly?  You're glad enough of me when we're under attack - do without us?

They pause by an embrasured landing.

			ARTHUR
		Just tell me.  Why should we let women in?

			GUINEVERE
		I knew Mordred was plotting against you a full year before you'd listen.  He's still after your place.

			ARTHUR
		Where's your proof?

			GUINEVERE
		I feel it.

			ARTHUR
		Feel it!  What about all the other times?  The plague that didn't happen, the invisible Irish hordes.  If instinct's so bloody marvellous - 

He carries on down the staircase.  GUINEVERE follows.

			ARTHUR
		While you lot sit sewing buttons on your hems some poor sod - a man of course - is breaking stones for your rockery.

He reaches the bottom - waits for her.

			GUINEVERE
		(Still out of sight)  I don't wear buttons on my hems.

She comes into view at the bottom of the spiral staircase.

			ARTHUR
		Oh God.

He leans his head against the wall, looking out.  For a moment he watches the jousting practice outside - where he would like to be.  He drags his attention back to GUINEVERE.

			ARTHUR
		Look...if I let you in, will you stop all this?

She gives him a long, wary look.

			ARTHUR
		Can't you see your way?  For me?

		For the children.

GUINEVERE passes him.

			ARTHUR
		(As she walks off)  I can swing it in there -

He follows her.

			ARTHUR
		They're trying to split us - use us against each other...we've been there before - look - look -

He detains her.

			ARTHUR
		All I need is your word.

INT.  THE THRONE ROOM.  DAY.

She walks away and walks into the majestic throne room.  Here the throne is awesome, towering in black basalt and flanked with weaponry - long spears and axes.  Below the throne is the round table, huge, carved from a vast slab of grey rock, with sectioned stone seating around it.  GUINEVERE leans against the table, her back to it.

			GUINEVERE
		If I gave it, I couldn't keep it.

			ARTHUR
		Please -

But she turns away.

			ARTHUR
		I'll help you.

		How can I help?

She turns on him furiously.

			GUINEVERE
		By keeping out of it!

			ARTHUR
		I can't do that.  I love you.

			GUINEVERE
		What's that got to do with it?

			ARTHUR
		Guin, for pity's sake -

			GUINEVERE
		Leave it.

			ARTHUR
		You run away all the time!

			GUINEVERE
		What else can I do!

He sits on one of the benches, his head lowered.

			ARTHUR
		I can't stand it when you're like this.

She looks at him balefully.

			ARTHUR
		It's the same when we're apart.  I get restless, I can't wait to be away from the sound of your voice.  I chase everything that moves -

		But...

		I don't know...

		After a few weeks...

He looks up at her.

			GUINEVERE
		(Low)  Don't.

			ARTHUR
		I'm trying to make you see what you mean to me.  How much I need you.

GUINEVERE moves away, stands below the throne.

			GUINEVERE
		(Lifting her head)  He puts me in prison, and wants consolation for his freedom.

		If you loved me - really loved me - you'd set me free.

			ARTHUR
		Of course you're free!

		Arthur's queen, not free?

		My whole life is about freedom -

She laughs, and blackbirds fly about the room as she extends her wrists to him, showing the marks of the cuffs.

He gets up, comes towards her, lifts her hands and kisses the marks on her wrists.

He looks about him warily.  The birds perch, close.  GUINEVERE observes them, shrugs.

			GUINEVERE
		It's only Merlin.

			ARTHUR
		(Mutters)  I'll have that old fart's wings for him.

He shoos the birds away.  They perch further off.  He crosses back to GUINEVERE, takes her hand and leads her to the round table, sits her down and sits across from her.  They look at each other soberly across the expanse of table.
			ARTHUR
		We'll make an arrangement.  Sensibly.  Like adults.

She lifts her head slightly, as if agreeing.

			ARTHUR
		I shall see that you and your women are permitted - no - requested to - contribute more fully to - to everything.  Without upsetting the children of course, I know you wouldn't want that.

He rises and begins to approach her.

			ARTHUR
		It could be very - imaginative.

		We'll give you some real power.

		Yes!  (He laughs loudly, making her jump.)

		But...

		No more time for fun and games, eh?

He smiles down at her and leans in, to embrace her.  She springs away.

			GUINEVERE
		Oh you bastard.

		You bastard.

		You cunning, black-hearted, manipulative, self-seeking bastard.  You will not move one inch, one fraction of an inch from the centre.

			ARTHUR
		What?

			GUINEVERE
		It must all be about You - to do with You - relate to You.

		You must be the hero - by God, you'll even play the villain rather than take one step out of the light.

		How often must I try to tell you?...What must I do to make you understand?

			GUINEVERE  (Cont'd)
		IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!

		He excites me!

		When he comes into a room the air changes!

		I love his knuckles, his wrists, the hair on his back.

		I suck the grit from his bent, black toes.

			ARTHUR
		(Groans)  Stop it...

			GUINEVERE
		I carry his coat for the scent of him.  My little blue cushion is stuffed with his hair -

			ARTHUR
		Stop it.

			GUINEVERE
		I have a secret garden - I grow fruit for him, marigold for his bath, sweet herbs for his floor.

ARTHUR'S head is lowered.  He breaks down.

			ARTHUR
		(Murmurs)  You don't weave linen for him.

			GUINEVERE
		I weave linen for you.

		(He looks up.)

		For him I weave silk - oh don't CRY!

		Please don't cry.

But he cries.

			ARTHUR
		Why?

			GUINEVERE
		Because he's beautiful.

			ARTHUR
		He doesn't love you.

			GUINEVERE
		What's that got to do with it?  Who's talking about love?
		I love You.  Except when you're drunk and bawling stupid songs in my ear.

			ARTHUR
		Then why can't you give him up?  If it's not... if you don't...

He suddenly breaks away in fury, striding up and down.

			ARTHUR
		I work - so hard - while you gossip in the garden.  I hear you laughing when I'm worried to death with affairs of state.

		We can't let it all run wild the way it used to!

Silence.

			GUINEVERE
		And you can't rule everything!

			ARTHUR
		Why not?

			GUINEVERE
		Because you can't.

			ARTHUR
		I'm the King.  It's my job.

			GUINEVERE
		(Shakes her head)  You have no more control over my body than I have.

			ARTHUR
		Oh yes I have!

			GUINEVERE
		No.  (She prods him in the chest.)  This is what decides what you want - not that (pokes his head) - this.

			ARTHUR
		Unreliable.

PEOPLE begin to listen in the doorways.

			GUINEVERE
		Is the weather?

			ARTHUR
		We have to put up with that.

			GUINEVERE
		You mean you can't beat it up, break its head against the wall.  

		(She rises.)  The answer's no.

		No, I will not sit at table on your terms nor will I fight with your weapons.  

		I am not you, I am not like you, I will not listen to you, what you say is not relevant, nor will I listen to evil-eyed bastards (she descends on the LAWYERS crowding the doorway, lashing out at them with a sword) touching me up with their eyes...you should kill THEM!

PEOPLE rush out of the chamber.  ARTHUR closes doors, takes the sword from her.  He crosses, pauses, then stands below the enormous black throne, holding the sword.

			ARTHUR
		You have no intention of making even the smallest concession, have you?

		I open a door - wide open...will you step through?

			ARTHUR  (Cont'd)
		The hell you will.

He points at her with the sword.

			ARTHUR
		You have poisoned everything.  My life's work has been eaten away - from the inside.  Not by the foul-breathed flesh-eating eagles, the twin dragons of St Mawgan, the Seeping Mere...no... by you...the woman!  It is YOU...You who have contaminated the Grail!

His mood changes to depression.  He crosses to the Round Table, contemplates it sadly.  Lays the sword on the table gently.

			ARTHUR
		My whole life.

		All for the Grail.

		Finished.

Silence.  GUINEVERE, seated, plays with a sash and her skirts idly.

			GUINEVERE
		(Tenderly)  You fool.

A pause.

			ARTHUR
		And that is all you can find to say?

He goes towards her.  She wanders away, seeming unconcerned.

			GUINEVERE
		Chasing round the world.  Nothing wrong with that - I'd have gone with you.

		But you went for the wrong reasons!

She moves towards the throne, climbs the rough steps and turns, standing with her back to the black throne.

He makes to approach her but stops as she raises her arms.  Sounds of the sea, birds, women singing.

			GUINEVERE
		I am the Grail.

ARTHUR is shocked at this dreadful heresy.

			GUINEVERE
		I...I, Guinevere...am the Grail.

A long pause.  His face shows rage, confusion, wariness.

			ARTHUR
		(Thick)  No.

Pause.

			GUINEVERE
		I am the Grail.

He looks up at her, blinking in the sudden bright sunlight.  WOMEN and CHILDREN cross, laughing.  There are animals with their young, water, trees, flowers, fish leaping.

			ARTHUR
		No.  I don't believe it.

			GUINEVERE
		Yes you do.

She lifts her arms and they are alone again.  She sits on the huge throne, dangling her feet.

			GUINEVERE
		You think to run away from me.  But you run in circles.

She extends an arm to him.  He approaches, wary.

			GUINEVERE
		Who brings you forth?

		Who calls you back?

He approaches slowly.  Stops.

			GUINEVERE
		You leave.  And then you return.  When I show you the way.

ARTHUR climbs the steps, slumps down at her feet.

			ARTHUR
		I'm tired.

He looks up at her.

			ARTHUR
		If you knew, why didn't you say?

			GUINEVERE
		You wouldn't have believed me.

			ARTHUR
		(Nods agreement)  So, in the end, here I am...by the hearth.  To be ruled by women.

GUINEVERE smiles.

			ARTHUR
		You'd like that wouldn't you?

			GUINEVERE
		(Shakes her head)  No.

			ARTHUR
		What then - what do you want?

			GUINEVERE
		Bold boys, brave warriors, gentle fathers.  And merry, unreliable lovers.

		And we want to be free!

			ARTHUR
		You are free - as free as I am.

			GUINEVERE
		(Shakes her head)  We've worn our shackles so long you don't even notice.

		(She stands by the Round Table.)

		If we are the Princesses...rescue us.

She looks beautiful and vulnerable.  His face softens.

He takes a step towards her.  As he does so the huge door bursts open and LANCELOT rides in on a white charger.  He gallops round the room, grabs GUINEVERE and rides off.

ARTHUR picks up the sword from the table wearily and trudges off after them.

EXT.  OUTSIDE THE PALACE WALLS.  DAY.

LANCELOT emerges, holding GUINEVERE before him.  ARTHUR jumps down on them from above.  The horse gallops off.  LANCELOT, as MEN at arms emerge, throws a MAN off, jumps into the saddle, wheels, grabs GUINEVERE again and gallops off.  ARTHUR mounts, and, followed by his MEN, sets off in pursuit.

The pursuit.  LANCELOT and GUINEVERE are seen in the distance.

ARTHUR and his MEN give chase.  They begin to gain on LANCELOT.  LANCELOT turns into a wood.  The MEN chase after him and split up.  Shouts are heard.  ARTHUR pauses at the edge of the trees, looks this way and that, veers off on his own - skirting the wood.  And meeting LANCELOT and GUINEVERE as they emerge from the trees.

GUINEVERE jumps off and runs for cover.  LANCELOT and ARTHUR circle each other.  Neither seems in a hurry to fight.  But they draw their swords and set about it, wheeling and turning.  The MEN straggle into view and watch the fight.  GUINEVERE stands under an oak tree and watches calmly.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting.  ARTHUR falls off.  LANCELOT leans over, picks up ARTHUR'S sword.  ARTHUR makes to mount, but stops, examines his horse's off-hind leg.

His horse has gone lame.

A MAN comes forward, dismounts.  ARTHUR remounts.  LANCELOT gives him his sword.  He and LANCELOT wheel, prepare to fight.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting at close quarters.  Some of the court have arrived.  GUINEVERE is in a chair with TWO LADIES-IN-WAITING, LADY ISOBEL and LADY ELINOR, and a page.  They are all eating cherries.  Terrible clang of swords.  ARTHUR and LANCELOT become so closely entangled that they haven't sword room.  They both leap off their horses, which trot away.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting on foot.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting.  PEOPLE begin to leave.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT fighting.  It is sunset.  They swing their swords wearily.  Everyone else has left except GUINEVERE, who stands under the tree, immobile, clutching a silk shawl around her shoulders.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT are all in.  ARTHUR stumbles, falls to his knees.  LANCELOT approaches, stands over him.  ARTHUR looks up wearily, accepting defeat.  ARTHUR waves his arm towards GUINEVERE, indicating that she is LANCELOT'S since he has won the fight.

A few moments later.  In the gloaming, seen from the rear, GUINEVERE walks back to Camelot flanked by ARTHUR and LANCELOT.

INT.  THE QUEEN'S QUARTERS.  NIGHT.

ARTHUR and LANCELOT are having their wounds bound by GUINEVERE and her WOMEN, including IDA and EDITHA, LADY ISOBEL and LADY ELINOR.  The CHILDREN run in in their nightshirts with LINA, are kissed goodnight and go.  The WOMEN leave.  IDA comes back with LINA, bearing silver bowls of food.  ARTHUR and LANCELOT look up - they are famished.  GUINEVERE puts the food down for the dogs.  She crosses, feeds the birds in the cages, throws food in the pond for the fish - takes another bowl from IDA, bends in a quiet corner where there is a cat with kittens.  Then she comes over to the MEN, sighs grumpily, gestures to IDA for food for them.

Later.  ARTHUR, LANCELOT and GUINEVERE stretched out at ease, eating from golden bowls.  ARTHUR wipes his greasy face on GUINEVERE'S pale silk coverlet getting a glare.  GUINEVERE flicks a glance at LANCELOT, feeling shown up.  LANCELOT is being dainty with chicken bones.  It puts her off.

IDA brings in more drink in huge silver ewers.  The MEN get one each.

Later.  The MEN are both drowsy.  GUINEVERE looks at IDA.  IDA crosses, returns with wolfskin rugs, lifts ARTHUR'S legs, covers him up, tucks him in briskly.  GUINEVERE takes another, throws it over LANCELOT.

GUINEVERE in her warm pool.  She lies back, spent, her eyes closed.  Then opens her eyes, and lies back, thinking.  IDA approaches with warm water.  She pours.  GUINEVERE shoos her away - lies back to think.

Both MEN start to snore loudly.  GUINEVERE sinks under the water in protest.

EXT.  THE PALACE GARDENS.  DAY.

The CHILDREN play, watched by EDITHA and LINA.  WASHERWOMEN hang washing on the lines, lay some garments on smooth boulders to dry.  There is sword-play exercise in progress in the square.

Further away the pigs are being fed.  Chicken and duck run about.  Two sheep are led into the Palace, for slaughter, bleating.

INT.  OUTSIDE THE QUEEN'S QUARTERS.  DAY.

IDA, on guard outside the Queen's door, dozes.  The squeaking sound - GUINEVERE'S command call - rouses her.  She goes in hurriedly.

A little later.  IDA is dressing GUINEVERE in a simple grey gown.  She brings the huge jewel casket.  GUINEVERE forages.  She lifts long ropes of pale pearls.  She looks at IDA who puts on the pearls - ropes and ropes, tumbling to GUINEVERE'S knees.

There is a sound.  ARTHUR, bleary, is standing behind her.

She turns to face him.  And fingers the pearls idly.  He looks at her.  And turns, looking for LANCELOT.

			GUINEVERE
		My lord Lancelot left the Palace at daybreak.

ARTHUR looks at her, uncomprehending.

			GUINEVERE
		To live in - (she turns to IDA) - where?

			IDA
		France.  Wherever that is.

ARTHUR gazes at GUINEVERE.  And then turns away.

			GUINEVERE
		He didn't win.

ARTHUR looks at her drily.

			GUINEVERE
		He's years younger than you.  And me.

			ARTHUR
		Had enough, have you?

			GUINEVERE
		Now don't start!

They lock glances.  A bell tolls ten o'clock.  ARTHUR becomes aware of the time, and his dishevelled appearance.

			GUINEVERE
		I'm ready.

A little later.  ARTHUR, washed and dressed, comes along the passage, strides into the Queen's Quarters.  GUINEVERE is playing with the cat, trailing her pearls across the floor for the cat to pounce.  She looks up, smiling.

			ARTHUR
		Come on!

GUINEVERE gets up leisurely, squeaks for IDA, holds out her arms.  IDA puts on the dumpy bracelets, does up the clasps, fiddling short-sightedly.  ARTHUR paces, impatient.

			ARTHUR
		If you - genuinely - want a place in council - which I haven't agreed to -

			GUINEVERE
		You said -

			ARTHUR
		That was then.

			GUINEVERE
		He's gone!

			ARTHUR
		Not by your doing.

			GUINEVERE
		How do you know that?

		How do you know that?

He looks at her.  Her face is challenging.  IDA, at her feet, straightens her skirt.  GUINEVERE indicates her appearance.  Does she look all right?

He gestures irritably for her to come on.  She sweeps out of the door ahead of him.

As they go round a slight bend in the broad cavernous passage GUINEVERE pauses before the first of several large, dull looking glasses of irregular shape embedded in the stone.  She checks her appearance, and IDA, following with a silver tray of toiletries, sets them down on a smooth rock, bends to straighten the slightly elongated back of GUINEVERE'S skirt.  ARTHUR begins to seethe.

IDA offers GUINEVERE the tray.  She takes a little salve for her lips.

			ARTHUR
		Hurry Up!

			GUINEVERE
		(Calmly)  I am hurrying.

ARTHUR walks off.  She catches him up.
He turns on her as they approach another tortuous bend.

			ARTHUR
		I am trying to keep your neck out of the noose.

She goes past him.

			GUINEVERE
		(Calls)  Then get a move on.

Furious, he catches up with her, grabs her by the shoulder.

And desires her.

She looks so beautiful that he holds her tightly, kissing her fiercely.  She responds as fiercely.  He presses her against the wall.

A little later.  She smooths his hair.

			GUINEVERE
		You will save me?

			ARTHUR
		It won't be easy.

			GUINEVERE
		How will you - ?

			ARTHUR
		By doing what I hate most - (she looks up at him in enquiry) - making a deal.  (He lifts his head, calls)  Mordred!

His voice is so loud that GUINEVERE jumps, and IDA, approaching from a discreet distance with the tray, drops the lot.  MORDRED saunters round the corner with ALWYN and three villainous looking MEN.  He looks at ARTHUR, then at GUINEVERE, then at ARTHUR with cool impudence.  He bows mockingly to GUINEVERE.

			MORDRED
		Our royal prisoner - good-day.

He bows to ARTHUR.

			MORDRED
		And the judge.  (He turns to ALWYN)  Is that permissible?  The judge and the accused in conference?

			ALWYN
		I believe, Lord Mordred, that it is expressly forbidden.

			MORDRED
		And as an honest citizen -

			ALWYN
		We must, of course, repeat it to council.

			ARTHUR
		With your throats cut.

			MORDRED
		(Indicates his MEN)  Witnesses - to collusion -

			ARTHUR
		And mine for a shilling.

			MORDRED
		Nonetheless - acquittal, forgiveness - by the people, the elders, the army...difficult.  However - arrangement, as you know, is my forte.

He waits.  ARTHUR looks at him gloomily.

			ARTHUR
		The lands in Somerset.

			MORDRED
		Not enough.

			ARTHUR
		Victualler and supplier of weaponry to the army.

MORDRED is silent.

			ARTHUR
		The isles of Scilly.

MORDRED sneers.

			ARTHUR
		What then?

			MORDRED
		Kent.

GUINEVERE gasps.

			ARTHUR
		No.

			MORDRED
		Kent.  Revenues and entitlements.  Transferred from my Lord Lancelot to me.  And the latter removed.
GUINEVERE looks frightening.

			ARTHUR
		Removed?

			MORDRED
		For convenience.

ARTHUR knocks him down.  MORDRED draws a knife.  They grapple.  GUINEVERE swings the rope of pearls over MORDRED'S head and around his neck.  He lurches, falls, the pearls scatter.  He steps on them, slips, and crashes backwards, hitting his head on a rock with an awful crunch.  He lies, eyes open, on his back, lifeless.

ARTHUR and GUINEVERE stand over him, looking down.  And at each other.  Behind them PEOPLE crowd, whispering.  They begin to clap and shout for him.

			CROWD
		Arthur - Arthur - Arthur!

And then WOMEN take up the cry.

			WOMEN
		Guinevere - Guinevere - Guinevere!

The cries echo over the battlements, in the gardens - the SOLDIERS stop drilling, the WASHERWOMEN sit up from their tub.  The CHILDREN stop playing with a golden football, except EDWIN, who takes the opportunity to score a goal in the golden net.  A YOUNG MAN stops making love to his GIRL in the hay.  Birds fly up at the sounds of "ARTHUR" and "GUINEVERE".

Music.

INT.  PALACE.  GUINEVERE'S CHAMBER.  DAY.

ARTHUR, looking handsome in kingly robes, waits impatiently for GUINEVERE.  IDA comes out, smiles placatingly, GUINEVERE will not be long.

A bell tolls three o'clock.  ARTHUR is getting really mad.  Then LADY ELINOR and LADY ISOBEL appear in gorgeous dresses, drop curtseys.  IDA opens the curtains for GUINEVERE.  They gaze in wonder.

INT.  THE COURT ROOM.  DAY.

The PEOPLE, as before - even more PEOPLE are packed in, perching up on rocky outcrops, CHILDREN sitting cross-legged at the front.  The GUARDS wait, the LAWYERS talk, heads together.  The ELDERS enter, take their seats.

The sound of trumpets.

GUINEVERE, followed by ELINOR and ISOBEL, enters, crowned, in a magnificent dress and cloak, with ARTHUR.  He takes her hand and sweeps her round the council chamber, presenting her, at first defiantly, then with increasing confidence and dominance as PEOPLE bow and applaud.

GUINEVERE moves forward away from ARTHUR, presenting herself.  ARTHUR is at first disconcerted then looks round, sees the warm response.  WOMEN and CHILDREN edge forward, drawn to GUINEVERE.  She smiles, and there is bright sunshine and the council chamber is in an open forest, with waterfalls.  The splintered glass throne dissolves into a waterfall.  ARTHUR offers GUINEVERE his arm but she bows without taking it as they present themselves to the AUDIENCE separately, meet at the throne, now backed by shimmering water, and sit side by side.

ARTHUR and GUINEVERE sit impassively, acknowledging the cheers of SOLDIERS, LAWYERS and the CROWD.  Close on GUINEVERE.  We notice that with her bare right foot, she is caressing ARTHUR'S shoe.  He flicks her a look - notices with resignation that she is checking her appearance with a hand mirror.  He rises to cheers behind the roll-up - gratified by the reception - mutters to GUINEVERE and jerks her to her feet.  Looking beautiful, she smiles at the CROWD as she and ARTHUR promenade.  She gives a necklace to a CHILD.  Everyone is enchanted.

THE END.