The smoothest smooth-talker and the most improbable seduction of all time: Richard III seducing Lady Anne in the mortuary over the body of her dead husband whom he has murdered, in the 1995 production of
Richard III.
Co-writer Ian McKellen's production notes and annotated script is available
here.
One of my favourite scenes on film.
Richard woos Lady Anne (video)
INT. MORTUARY - PUBLIC HOSPITAL - DAY
LADY ANNE
0, cursed be the hand that made these holes;
Cursed the heart that had the heart to do it;
Cursed the blood that let this blood from hence!
If ever he have child, abortive be it.
If ever he have wife, let her be made
More miserable by the life of him,
Than I am made by my young husband's death.
RICHARD has been watching through the glass panels of the doors. LADY ANNE hears the door open and turns to see RICHARD.
LADY ANNE
What black magician conjures up this fiend,
To stop devoted charitable deeds?
RICHARD
Sweet saint, for charity be not so cursed.
LADY ANNE
Foul devil, for God's sake hence and trouble me not;
For you have made the happy earth my hell.
LADY ANNE
(continuing)
If you delight to see your heinous deed.
Behold this pattern of your butchery.
RICHARD acknowledges the man he has killed.
RICHARD
(soothingly)
Lady, you know no rules of charity.
LADY ANNE
Villain, you know no law of God nor man.
RICHARD
Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman, Of this supposed crime to give me leave, By circumstance, but to acquit myself.
LADY ANNE
Did you not kill my husband?
RICHARD
I grant you, yes.
LADY ANNE
D'you grant me, hedgehog? Then God grant me, too,
You may be damned for that wicked deed!
RICHARD
Gentle Lady Anne -
LADY ANNE
0, he was gentle, mild and virtuous.
RICHARD
The fitter for the King of Heaven who has him.
LADY ANNE
And you unfit for any place but Hell!
RICHARD
Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it.
LADY ANNE
Some dungeon.
RICHARD
(to himself)
Your bedchamber.
(out loud)
Let's leave this keen encounter of our wits.
Your beauty, that did haunt me in my sleep,
Could make me undertake the death of all
the world,
So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom.
LADY ANNE
If I thought that, I tell you, homicide,
These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks!
RICHARD
My eyes could not endure that beauty's wreck.
As all the world is cheered by the sun,
So I by that - it is my day, my life!
He who bereft you, Lady, of your husband,
Did it to help you to a better husband.
LADY ANNE
His better does not breathe upon the earth.
RICHARD
He lives who loves you better than he could.
LADY ANNE
Where is he?
RICHARD
Here.
LADY ANNE spits full in RICHARD'S face.
RICHARD
(continuing; softly, almost forgiving)
Why do you spit at me?
LADY ANNE
(recovering her self-control)
Would it were mortal poison, for your sake.
RICHARD
Never came poison from so sweet a place.
LADY ANNE
Never hung poison on a fouler toad.
Out of my sight! You do infect my eyes.
RICHARD
(he is crying now)
Those eyes of yours from mine have drawn salt tears.
But when I heard the story of my father's death
And all the standers-by had wet their cheeks,
Like trees bedashed with rain, in that sad time,
My manly eyes did scorn a humble tear:
And what that sorrow could not thence exhale,
Your beauty has and made them blind with weeping.
Teach not your lip such scorn, for it was made
For kissing. Lady, not for such contempt.
LADY ANNE is moved by this confession and RICHARD risks offering to kiss her. But no: LADY ANNE turns away.
RICHARD
(continuing)
If your revengeful heart cannot forgive,
I humbly beg for death, upon my knee.
RICHARD takes the nearest, sharpest scalpel and hands it to LADY ANNE.
RICHARD
(continuing)
No, do not pause - it was I who killed your husband;
But it was your heavenly face that set me on.
LADY ANNE almost dares to stab him but she is too confused. Why is her enemy so attractive? She drops the scalpel and it clatters onto the floor.
RICHARD
(continuing)
Take up the blade again - or take up me.
RICHARD offers the blade to LADY ANNE but she will not take it from him.
LADY ANNE
I will not be your executioner.
RICHARD
Then, bid me kill myself and I will do it.
LADY ANNE
I have already.
RICHARD
That was in your rage. Speak it again.
LADY ANNE
I would I knew your heart.
RICHARD places the blade to his throat. A drop of blood trickles from the glistening blade.
LADY ANNE
I fear that it is false.
RICHARD
Then never was man true.
LADY ANNE
Well, well, put down the blade.
RICHARD
But shall I live in hope?
LADY ANNE
All men I hope live so ...
At that ambiguous half-promise, RICHARD lets drop the scalpel. He slowly lifts his right hand to his mouth and, with his teeth, pulls off his family signet-ring.
RICHARD
Vouchsafe to wear this ring.
RICHARD slides the ring, wet with saliva, onto her engagement finger.
LADY ANNE
To take is not to give.
RICHARD
(whispers)
May I, with all expedient duty, see you?
LADY ANNE looks at the contrite RICHARD. Her grief has turned to open fascination.
LADY ANNE
And much it joys me too,
To see you are become so penitent.
RICHARD
(as he leaves)
Bid me farewell.
LADY ANNE
'Tis no more than you deserve;
But since you teach me how to flatter you,
Imagine I have said farewell already.
RICHARD turns and walks out into the corridor.
INT. CORRIDOR - PUBLIC HOSPITAL - DAY
RICHARD
(to himself)
Was ever woman in this humour wooed?
(to CAMERA)
Was ever woman in this humour won?