Queen Elizabeth I announces to
her court that the King of France has proposed marriage. Accepting would be the
right move politically, but Elizabeth
is secretly in love with Robert, Earl of Leicester. She suspects that he is in
love with Mary, Queen of Scots. George Talbot, a member of the court, seizes
the moment to seek clemency for Mary, who is imprisoned for planning to take
over the English throne. Lord William Cecil, who leads the rally for Mary's
execution, encourages Queen Elizabeth to show no mercy. The queen requests time
to make a decision and the court disperses. The queen decides to test Leicester's feelings for her by asking that he return the
engagement ring and the marriage proposal to the King of France. He treats the
request as simply a duty for the queen. This confirms Elizabeth's suspicion that he doesn't love her
in return. But, her anger and jealousy grow when Leicester
admits that Mary sent him a secret message requesting a meeting with Elizabeth. Leicester, having vowed to do whatever he can to free his
beloved Queen of Scots, pleads with Elizabeth
to agree. The queen is irate that not only does Leicester
not return her affections, but that he seems to love Mary instead. Elizabeth can't stand Leicester's
eagerness and willingness to help Mary but accepts the request. In the garden of Fotheringhay
Castle, as Elizabeth
arrives for the meeting, Leicester pleads with
Mary to do whatever the queen wants to secure her freedom. Mary refuses at
first, but relents when Leicester tells her he
would risk his life to free her. When the women come face to face, Mary swallows
her pride and kneels. Elizabeth dishes out criticism
of Mary's past and accuses her of using Leicester
to get what she wants. Mary, in return, spits out verbal abuse towards Elizabeth. Elizabeth promises vengeance.
Act Two:
Though the queen despises
Mary, Elizabeth fears ordering Mary's execution
would damage Elizabeth's
reputation. Lord Cecil is pressuring Elizabeth
to sign the warrant, which she does when she catches sight of Leicester.
When he begs her to reconsider, she orders him to watch the execution. Lord
Cecil and George Talbot deliver the news to Mary, who has been worrying what
wrath Leicester will endure for helping her. Cecil
and Talbot offer a Protestant minister to hear Mary's confession but she
refuses. When alone with Talbot, she asks for a Catholic priest to hear her
sins. Talbot discards his cloak to reveal vestments. Mary confesses the sins of
her past, including the death of her husband, Henry. Ready to walk to her
death, Mary dresses in black, secures a crown, and prays with her relatives. Leicester lashes out at what's happening but Mary tells
him to forgive. She then walks toward the executioner.
