It was a spring morning in 1601. William Shakespeare is visiting
Queen Elizabeth I of England. She's not very happy today...
I will not allow my enemies to live. Tomorrow that ill-faced, murderous coward the Earl
of Essex will die, and the people will know that I commanded it.
Very good, your Majesty.
Your players will perform Richard II for me tomorrow.
A great honour, your Majesty.
Even though they performed that same play for the filthy, crooked Earl of Essex
while he was planning to kill me!
Your Majesty -
I really ought to punish you and your players for that, Shakespeare -
I should cut off all your heads, or at least imprison you in the Tower!
Your Majesty -
Lucky for you that I am a merciful Queen - but I am not weak.
I will not allow anyone to speak badly of my character or my actions.
I am Queen of England and my reputation is everything.
My enemies must fear and respect me and the people must love me.
Gossips must be silenced and traitors must be punished. Do you not agree?
Your Majesty is the wisest of queens. A good reputation is everything. Indeed, in my play,
Richard II, Thomas Mowbray says: "My dear dear lord, The purest treasure...
My dear dear lord, The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation:
Well said, Shakespeare - a spotless reputation
is truly the most important and precious thing in any life. You may go.
Your Majesty-
We'll leave them there for now.
Analysts have also asked whether the revelations
will cause irreversible damage to Volkswagen's previously spotless reputation.
Another athlete caught taking drugs? I'm surprised at this one though -
she always had a spotless reputation.
Robert, Thomas, give me some ale - we're doing Richard II, tomorrow.
And it'd better be good, or it could be the Tower.
Oh dear. Oh no. To the tower, or not to the tower: that is the question.