“Comes now a time of kings, the greatest age; I am humbled to be its servant; you are ennobled to be its race.” Act II, Scene 2
“Richard is forever king. A ghostly crown will rim his head. He will suffer for his kingship, for wisdom and surcease, forever.” Act II, Scene 8
“A woman who loves her father will love her sons and husband doubly and multiply her heart until it fills the spinning globe.” Act II, Scene 6
The Spanish have a saying: “No creo en brujas, pero que las hay, las hay.” (“I don’t believe in ghosts, even though they exist.”) I first visited the birthplace of William Shakespeare, in Stratford-upon-Avon, the day Richard Nixon died in 1994. I revered Shakespeare; I was fascinated by Nixon. The next day a thought drifted into my mind–Nixon would be a perfect Shakespearean king. Think of it–the odd blend of daring and guile, the cruelty, the vision, a man full of promise but at war with the world, and with himself. I read the full cycle of historical plays. I read every book on Nixon. Gradually, King Richard took shape, a man who loves his country but hates its people (“There is no realm nor nation before our eyes, no common blood that flows within our veins; it is infamy”), fascinated yet repelled by Jews like Henry Kissinger, disdainful of Whig and Tory Lords alike, obsessed by a Nixon dynasty (“How much better to grow a king than name one”) and both haunted and beguiled by the ghosts of dead and exiled kings (“I love the night’s uncanny savor, when the spirits do their work”). Richard is the American king elevated by a vision of peace and prosperity for the world who destroys himself from within, delivering soul and seal to his enemies (“Such is our king, a one who’s ripe to fall that we may harvest him.”) King Richard is a full-length play in two Acts, written in heightened speech, for 20 characters. Look for Lady Eleanor’s speech on woman (“A woman, yes, and what a piece of work she is!”), Lord Humphrey’s exhortation on defeat and defiance, and Magistrate Sam Ervin’s law tutorial (“The law is all in that its people, all, may slake their thirst for justice at its fonts”). Find the first scene of King Richard below.
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KING RICHARD
Act I, Scene 1
SETTING: The Throne Room. The vacant throne rests on a platform. Next to it is a reading table. Behind the throne stands a closed triptych. Otherwise the stage is bare.
AT RISE: The sound of bells. Enter RAB, carrying a box and calling “Halt! Halt!” The words echo.
RAB
Halt! Halt! You and you and you! And hear our tale of Moor and Jew! Behold, in glory’s thrall, a king, true love, war’s sting and a court new-fashioned. Behold her lords, her ladies, her king’s domain, ruddy ripe in fortune’s train. Attend upon our play, and on what better day than this, their first, with the palace rich and teeming–there’s enigmatic Russia wrapped in mystery, China, the fealty of some and the treachery of others, worship of dead kings, common law’s appeal and guile of statecraft. Men plot against their king for pride and power. Now, hear thy monarch, who would tower above their venomous envy.
(RAB takes his place next to the throne. Enter HALDEMAN, EHRLICHMAN and AGNEW, the two former walking slowly forward while the latter faces them, walking backward. AGNEW, ostentatiously displaying insignia of his rank, toys with a sword. As HE speaks, the Whig Lords HUMPHREY, MUSKIE, McCARTHY, McGOVERN and KENNEDY, LADY McGOVERN and the RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR enter hesitantly. McCARTHY fingers a rose, which he occasionally admires or flourishes.)
AGNEW
Begins an age of potent kings and wheezy lords today. A racy barber, I’ll trim their wigs.
(HALDEMAN, EHRLICHMAN and AGNEW stop just short of the throne. The Whig lords take up position to the other side of it.)
HALDEMAN
Whose?
AGNEW
First, Kennedy’s I’ll chop then a tongue or two from sober heads. Lord Humphrey deserves the garret. It’ll shut him up. I am titled benefactor to my race and the king’s own cleaver.
(AGNEW strikes a pose.)
MUSKIE
But witless before your betters.
(AGNEW turns to face his new interlocutor. MUSKIE bows.)
MUSKIE
I am Lord Edmund Muskie of sober head. My tongue is still in place, thank you. It doth please milords to witness nobility of intent. You preach good service…as the king’s butcher and offer benefice to his dogs. We assemble bearing witness to a king and not to tremble before his sword, however slick.
AGNEW
I do not intend offense.
McCARTHY
(To Kennedy) But only give it.
AGNEW
I see crowned my king today and, before him, bow.
MUSKIE
(Bows mockingly) Richard Widowspeak, the crownéd king.
HALDEMAN
He is the stuff of great kings, milords.
McCARTHY
(Bows) Nix…on…the king.
(HALDEMAN glances at McGOVERN.)
McGOVERN
I will pray for fortitude, Mr. Haldeman.
(HALDEMAN turns his gaze to the RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR.)
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
And I for rain.
AGNEW
(To Ehrlichman) Look how the Russian sucks to Lord McGovern, a man who sprints from war and bends before an enemy. (To Ambassador) Wilt thou bow before the king.
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
No, regretably, it is not our custom.
AGNEW
But it is ours. You should leave your customs where they lie, at home in Russia, when you step within the palace here.
McCARTHY
Perhaps he will only step when occasion demands.
HUMPHREY
As you would step if found yourself in foreign lands.
AGNEW
I will find myself before a king and, before him, bow. I bow to king and kingship both, in pride and honor, hot blood and all desire. He is my king and I bow before him. (To McCarthy) Dost thou not bow down before thy king?
McCARTHY
The stairs would make me dizzy.
(Sound of bells.)
HALDEMAN
The king’s train! (To Ehrlichman) John, to your station.
AGNEW
(Spoken to Haldeman during the ensuing business) This man McCarthy doth offer a sign for our times. Discipline has flown. No youth respects his father. No lord, nor even peasant, will do homage to a king. I’ll make him choke.
McCARTHY
(To Agnew) Don’t say that to the German hounds. They’ll let you cut McCarthys but never a kingly figure.
(As AGNEW, HALDEMAN and McCARTHY trade barbs, EHRLICHMAN steps to the rear of the platform, where the triptych stands folded. HE opens it, revealing the new king’s seal. More bells. RICHARD approaches, accompanied by PORTIA, JULIA, KISSINGER and FORD. DAVID, looking bewildered, lags. HE stops to view the specter of EISENHOWER, visible only to him, behind the throne. EISENHOWER stares at his grandson for an instant then exits. As RICHARD approaches the throne, the group on stage separates into a tableau, with Whig lords to one side and Tories to the other. The king takes his position before the throne, flanked by PORTIA and JULIA. DAVID, joining his wife, completes the tableau. RICHARD nods to the crowd then takes his place on the throne.)
FORD
Lords and ladies, citizens, friends, this day begins, proclaimed by God and man, the reign of Richard, thy captain and thy king. Let us pray for him, his foison and his fame, that grace may light his way and wisdom be his aim.
(RAB opens box, which contains the crown. FORD removes crown and shows it to the crowd.)
FORD
Honor thy God, thy country and thy king.
(FORD places crown on RICHARD’s head, then bows. ALL bow except RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR and McCARTHY, who become the objects of a scowl from AGNEW, who has himself offered only a cursory nod.)
FORD
Long live His Royal Highness, King Richard!
ALL
Long live the king!
RICHARD
(Standing) As king I would have light as God would have it on the first day of the world! Friends, draw near–Archbishop Ford, Chancellor Agnew, lords both favoring and opposed, your lovely ladies, the ambassador of Russia–tis warmest near the sun! The long night of the American soul is ended. Awaken now from the vile dream–fury of war, wretched poverty, slander. The antidote to war is victory, to the present disarray, unity, to hunger, work for all our people. We chase dread dreams away with light on the first day of a new king’s reign and so we do declare, with fullest heart and in accord with custom, pardon. But pardon’s not the best today. What better way to start a reign than this–a royal wedding! Behold love’s fruit. Is it not a match made in heaven–the daughter of the new king and the grandson of the old?
(JULIA and DAVID bow.)
RICHARD
Honor a prince and a princess. Now, honor a queen.
(PORTIA bows.)
RICHARD
Be merry now, on the first day of a new world!
(RICHARD and PORTIA exit guided by HALDEMAN and EHRLICHMAN. DAVID disappears momentarily behind the throne, searching for the specter of his grandfather, leaving JULIA to wait.)
RAB
Know ye all the king’s pleasure, on this, the first day of the new reign and wedding day of his beloved daughter Julia, a feast.
(RAB points. Guests begin to exit.)
MUSKIE
(To Rab) What feast is this?
RAB
Milord…of fish.
MUSKIE
And the beverage?
RAB
California wine.
McCARTHY
And the French ambassador absent! I’d give a hogshead of ale to see his face pucker at perfume of it.
MUSKIE
No red meat? (Rab shakes his head) Prepare for a dull reign.
(The Whig lords wander toward the exit, except KENNEDY, who approaches the fretful JULIA.)
McCARTHY
Red meat’s for the German dogs.
HUMPHREY
The king has no teeth for salad.
McGOVERN
He preserves them.
MUSKIE
The better to devour his enemies.
McCARTHY
And also certain friends. The Tories will eat their wigs if God gives us skill to make an unappealing dish.
(Exit MUSKIE, McCARTHY, McGOVERN and HUMPHREY)
KENNEDY
(To Julia) I am Kennedy, a Whig but not yet powdered.
JULIA
Your name is well known among kings.
KENNEDY
True, it is now a kingly name. Once, of a shiny morning, I dwelt within these walls and prowled the castle room by room. I am brother to heroes.
JULIA
Then do you not despise yourself?
KENNEDY
Tis true, fair Julia, I am a brother to heroes but no hero to my brothers. Do not fault me, though in myself I may find fault. Your indifference stings.
JULIA
Sir, you offend me. Now is not a day for such offense even when mendacity is small and sage intent defense. (David approaches) Here is my husband.
KENNEDY
He is favored. (To David) Hold this one all your life, friend David. She is loyal and shows a pretty claw to your enemies but be as loyal and do not risk that wrath which makes of woman the fiercer of the race.
DAVID
I shall.
(Exit KENNEDY)
DAVID
Should I be flattered or offended?
JULIA
Young Kennedy has the best–or rather worst–of man’s intents. For man to man, be flattered; for man to woman, do take offense. Hath thou seen the palace? Is it changed from former times?
DAVID
Tis all familiar, yes, though eerie with the dross of former kings. I would fly from here.
JULIA
And miss the rising of this sun?
DAVID
Tis a glittering assemblage…of silvery heads. We’re young. Let’s away or would you hobnob with your betters?
JULIA
My elders, not my betters!
(Blackout)
END OF SCENE
Photo Credit: Kings of England (British Library)