Act V scene 5 - Pomfret Castle
Enter KING RICHARD
KING RICHARD II
I have been studying how to compare
This Prison where I live unto the World:
And for because the world is populous,
And here is not a Creature but myself,
I cannot do it: yet I'll hammer it out. 5
My Brain I'll prove the Female to my Soul,
My Soul the Father: and these two beget
A generation of still-breeding Thoughts;
And these same Thoughts people this Little World
In humors, like the people of this world, 10
For no thought is contented.
Thus play I in one Prison many people,
And none contented. Sometimes am I King:
Then Treason makes me wish myself a Beggar,
And so I am. Then crushing penury 15
Persuades me I was better when a King:
Then am I king'd again: and by and by
Think that I am unking'd by Bolingbroke,
And straight am nothing. But whate'er I am,
Music
Nor I, nor any man that but man is,
With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased
With being nothing. Music do I hear?
Ha, ha? keep time: How sour sweet Music is,
When Time is broke, and no Proportion kept?
So is it in the Music of men's lives. 25
I wasted Time, and now doth Time waste me:
For now hath Time made me his numbering clock.
This Music mads me, let it sound no more,
For though it have holp madmen to their wits,
In me it seems it will make wise men mad: 30
Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me;
For 'tis a sign of love, and love to Richard
Is a strange Brooch in this all-hating world.
Enter AUMERLE, disguised
AUMERLE
Hail Royal Prince.
KING RICHARD II
Thanks, Noble Peer.
What art thou? And how comest thou hither? 35
Where no man never comes but that sad dog
That brings me food to make misfortune live?
AUMERLE
I was a poor Groom of thy Stable, King,
When thou wert King: who travelling towards York,
With much ado, at length have gotten leave 40
To look upon my sometimes Royal master's face.
Oh how it yearn'd my heart, when I beheld
In London Streets, that Coronation-day,
When Bolingbroke rode on Roan Barbary.
KING RICHARD II
Rode he on Barbary? Tell me gentle Friend, 45
How went he under him?
AUMERLE
So proudly, as if he had disdain'd the ground.
KING RICHARD II
So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back;
That Jade hath eat bread from my Royal hand.
Would he not stumble? Would he not fall down, 50
Since Pride must have a fall, and break the neck
Of that proud man that did usurp his back?
Forgiveness, horse: Why do I rail on thee,
Since thou, created to be awed by man,
Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse, 55
And yet I bear a burthen like an Ass,
Spurr'd, gall'd, and tired by jouncing Bolingbroke.
Enter Keeper, with a dish
Keeper
Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay.
KING RICHARD II
If thou love me, 'tis time thou wert away.
AUMERLE
What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say. 60
Exit
Keeper
My Lord, will't please you to fall to?
KING RICHARD II
Taste of it first, as thou wer’t wont to do.
Keeper
My Lord, I dare not: the king commands the contrary.
KING RICHARD II
The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee;
Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. 65
Beats the keeper
Keeper
Help, help, help!
Enter BAGOT and Servants, armed
KING RICHARD II
How now? what means Death in this rude assault?
Villain, thine own hand yields thy death's instrument.
Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him
Go thou and fill another room in hell.
He kills another. Then BAGOT strikes him down
That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire
That staggers thus my person. Bagot, thy fierce hand
Hath with the King's blood, stain'd the King's own land.
Mount, mount my soul, thy seat is up on high;
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.
Dies
BAGOT
As full of Valor as of Royal blood; 75
Both have I spill'd: Oh would the deed were good.
For now the devil, that told me I did well,
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
This dead King to the living King I'll bear,
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.
Exeunt
The screens, patterned like the stain glass and scattered, helped frame the DSL corner of the stage, with a bench in front of them, to create the prison. The music for this transition was Kaleo's "Way Down We Go" but instead of constant movement, it was the simplicity of Bagot and servant leaving, Henry passing across the platforms as he struggles to find sleep, and the prison elements getting set.
Richard was then discovered seated on the floor, leaning on the bench in front of him. Our goal was to keep these monologues active. These are not the idle musings of a mind at rest, but the intentional reasonings of a man trying to stay sane.
This exchange is originally with a nameless groom. It's a moment of Richard connecting with the lower class, accepting his fall and reconciling what was so wrong with his reign.
But directors face the very real constraint of number of actors and clarity of story. As with Bagot, I wanted to finish Aumerle's story (especially since I cut those two scenes). It made sense to me that he would be the one to sneak into prison to visit Richard, just to see him one more time and let him know he's still got supporters. Brandon, playing Aumerle, developed all the nuances of this new arc through his silent support of Richard.
Aumerle entered through the screens with his hood pulled up, so that Richard wouldn't recognize him at first. We played with a version where Richard thinks the voices in his head are talking back, but ultimately decided it made Richard look like he was losing his mind, which didn't benefit us.
Aumerle made his way in front of the bench, then sat with Richard on the bench.
As the Keeper entered through the screens, Richard and Aumerle met eyes and Richard recognized his cousin and friend. Richard placed his hand on the side of Aumerle's face before urging him to leave.
Does the Keeper poison the dish? Does Bagot do it, and if so, does the Keeper know? We decided that poisoning the food was Plan A, which clearly doesn't go well, so Bagot moves to Plan B.
Describing this fight does not do it justice at all, but I'm going to try anyway.
Richard grabbed the outstretched bowl, grabbed the Keeper from behind, and forced the bowl up towards his mouth. The Keeper resisted, so Richard flung him free, grabbed his shirt, and punched him in the face.
As the Keeper fled, Bagot and the murderers (comprised of the actors playing Bushy, Green, and Mowbray's herald) entered through the screens, daggers drawn. Not-Bushy lunged first; Richard dodged, grabbed his wrist, turned the blade and stabbed Not-Bushy with his own weapon.
As Richard stepped away, the Herald attacked from the other side. Richard walked into the attack, pushing the blade out, disarming the Herald, then using the dagger to stab him in the stomach.
By this time, Not-Green is attacking after checking on Not-Bushy; Not-Green slashes at Richard, who ducks and shoves Not-Green away.
As he turns back, ready to smack Bagot, Bagot blocks the blow and stabs Richard in the side. Richard clutches him, recognizes his former ally, impaling himself further. As Bagot pulls the blade free, Not-Green attacks from behind, stabbing Richard in the back.
Richard falls to the ground; Bagot kneels over his body, realizing what he's done.