The White Princess (TV Mini Series)

The Pretender (2017)

Michelle Fairley: Margaret Beaufort

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jasper Tudor : Margaret? You're angry with me. As I am with myself. We were so close...

  Margaret Beaufort : I do not wish to hear how close you were!

  Jasper Tudor : So close to peace. What was it you thought I meant?

  Margaret Beaufort : She is a York! Of all things. How could you even think to...

• 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.

• Margaret Beaufort : It is preposterous. To counter that the boy is free, he frees him. It is madness!

  Sir Thomas Stanley : It is the Queen's madness.

  Margaret Beaufort : Enough! It is enough.

• 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.

• Jasper Tudor : You are recovered from them? The King tells me the Queen would have me wed.

  Margaret Beaufort : She wishes to draw attention from her own sister.

  Jasper Tudor : If it would benefit the King then I will do whatever is asked of me, but if not, then... I would sooner have my leave to stay at court.

  Margaret Beaufort : At court?

  Jasper Tudor : I would like us to speak plainly, Margaret.

  Sir Thomas Stanley : Dance, wife?

• Jasper Tudor : My Lady Margaret. Will you walk with me?

  Margaret Beaufort : Of course.

  Jasper Tudor : What I, um, tried to say to you before was that what I found in Burgundy was...

  Margaret Beaufort : Please, Jasper...

  Jasper Tudor : Was nothing more than the truth about myself. My life has been a full one, Margaret, but it has been lonely.

  Margaret Beaufort : You wish to marry.

  Jasper Tudor : I... I do not want. Well, I would. If circumstances allowed. You told me once that your marriage to Lord Stanley was for us to put our boy upon the throne.

  Margaret Beaufort : That's right.

  Jasper Tudor : If this is the truth of it then the Church permits annulments, does it not? If the marriage isn't... I... I do not wish to cause embarrassment, to you or to myself. Your faith, it is essence of you. So, if I speak out of turn, then you must tell me. We have lived our lives for Henry. And I do not regret a moment of it. But now, in twilight years... Might we not venture to cherish something for ourselves? Will you think on it while I am gone? That's all I ask.

• 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.

• 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.

• Margaret Beaufort : Jasper.

  Jasper Tudor : I feared you were avoiding me.

  Margaret Beaufort : I have found a wife for you. Kate Woodville. The Dowager Queen's sister. The King has given his blessing to the marriage. Her fortune is significant. It will benefit the Tudor cause.

  Jasper Tudor : I see.

  Margaret Beaufort : We will see each other at the Privy Council. And work for Henry's cause. As we have always done.

• 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.