CROMWELL. – hold your whoring, witch’s tongue –

ANNE. – You know I know –

CROMWELL. – You aren’t hearing me –

ANNE. – I have it, nearly all of it, the sordid details –

CROMWELL. – Don’t speak, just don’t –

ANNE. – The houses you are building, gifts of monastery lands to your family, your favourites –

CROMWELL. – With every word you are nearer to Tyburn –

ANNE. – You think you can pull me down? I will give the King all the evidence –

CROMWELL. It is already on its way to him.

She stops.

ANNE. What is? The evidence…? What…

CROMWELL. Just take one thing that condemns you. You fornicated with your brother, her husband.

ANNE. What?

CROMWELL (points at LADY ROCHFORD). She has sworn it.

ANNE turns to look at LADY ROCHFORD, who turns away and leans against a pillar, nauseous.

ANNE. Jane?

ROCHFORD (turns on her). I just want to be alive.

ANNE. Jane, what of God’s work?

ROCHFORD. God’s work? They’d have put a rope round my eyes, that’s God’s work!

She runs away and exits.

ANNE. Thomas.

He stares at her.

All we’ve worked for. The Word in England. Please, I need to talk to the King…

CROMWELL. Keep mouthing about the King and you’ll be torn to bits before the mob at Tyburn. Be silent and it’ll be a discreet matter in the Tower.

ANNE staggers, then backs away.

ANNE. Let me see him. Please please. Let me see him. Henry! Henry! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please…

The GUARDS pull her away, she goes limp, still screaming out, they have to drag her. They exit.

CROMWELL. Right, Simpkin! Lots to do.

SIMPKIN in difficulty.

What’s the matter with you?

SIMPKIN. Could I have it?

CROMWELL. Have what?

SIMPKIN. The Champion’s gift, that was to be hers.

CROMWELL (realises he still has it in his hand). This? Here.

SIMPKIN takes the cloth, kisses it and bursts into tears.

Oh, for crying out loud.

SIMPKIN. I was in love with her.

CROMWELL. We were all in love with her.

SIMPKIN. Sorry.

CROMWELL. Don’t worry.

SIMPKIN. Oh dear.

CROMWELL. Better now?

SIMPKIN. Yes, yes, My Lord. (Sniffs, wipes his nose with his sleeve.) It was her eyes.

CROMWELL. I know. She’d look straight at you and wasn’t scared. What man could deal with that?

SIMPKIN. She’d be scared now.

CROMWELL. Yes. Fear is the great leveller. Now can we please do the paperwork?

They are going off, quickly.

I want all the confessions written out for His Majesty in a large, clear hand, he will rage and tear some up so have copies ready for him…

They exit.

Scene Twelve

JAMES wakes with a shout.

JAMES. Hah! Oh. (Looks around.) Where are you, woman? (Knocks on the floor, puts his ear to the ground.)

ANNE enters up through the floor.

ANNE. I’m over here. People always look for me in the wrong place.

A moment. They look at each other.