King & Conqueror (2025) s01e05 Episode Script

It's bad news.
The rumours are true.
Sweyn slipped his escort
outside Orleans.
He's gone to ground somewhere in France.
If he's raising an army against you,
he's doing it well out of sight.
I need to know if it's true.
Find him.
When I find him
..what do you want me to do?
I want you to be absolutely sure.
The children will be in safe hands,
Edith.
I'll watch over them myself.
- Thank you.
- You don't have to go with him.
There's still time to change your mind.
If this were Godwin,
and if it were this important,
wouldn't you do the same?
Edith, the weather between us
and Normandy is getting worse.
We need to sail now, or there's
no telling where we'll land.
Edith, hurry up now.
- They're coming! Get the wagon!
- Come on, they're coming!
We are under attack!
Come on, Edith!
Get the knives, quickly!
Watch out!
Why do you have to deliver
the message to Normandy yourself?
When William finds out,
I need to see his reaction.
You told me that William
doesn't even want the crown.
I need to be there, Edith.
I need to see it in his eyes.
You have to be there with me.
I need you.
Edith!
William?
- What's going on?
- We need to get back to Normandy, quickly.
- Where are we?
- Britain.
They're coming!
We have to move now! Fall back!
Harold! Harold!
Harold!
- Duke William!
- Alain of Brittany.
- Is this your doing?
- My men are stood down. Lower your weapons.
What do you think you're doing,
taking my guests prisoner?
This was my father's doing.
He wanted to ransom them back to you.
I couldn't let that happen.
Now that King Henry is dead,
Normandy and Brittany
should not be enemies.
- I agree. Does your father?
- I'll explain it to him.
Take your men and leave in peace.
Come, Harold.
They found us so quickly,
before we'd even left the beach.
Nothing happens in the Channel
without Brittany knowing about it.
Got more ships than
the rest of us put together.
Well, thank you for finding us.
What were you doing crossing
the Channel without escort?
Trying to keep a low profile.
Why?
Edward's named you his successor
to the English throne.
Wait, he just gives me his crown?
It's that simple?
No.
He's put you first in line
after his death.
He's offering you something
he cannot give.
Edward is king. The crown is his.
It is the three earls who decide
who sits on the English throne.
Who are controlled by you.
It isn't Edward
that you need to make the deal with.
I don't need to make a deal with anyone.
What makes you think I'd even want this?
Honestly, I don't.
But King Henry is dead.
All eyes are on Normandy
to see who moves first.
They will be far less inclined
to oppose you
if you have an alliance with England.
And then you control the throne?
I just don't want anyone else
to control it.
Hmm.
Harold, we owe each other nothing.
Nothing given, nothing taken.
That's a rarity for men like us.
Why interfere with it?
An alliance between Normandy and the
earls of England would be strong.
It would be the strongest in Europe.
- William is our friend.
- William is nothing.
Henry was the power.
William the Bastard
won't last long without him.
You're wrong, Father.
Wrong to indulge a son
who knows nothing.
- More of these.
- You won't even listen to me.
Listen to what? Enough of this.
William is already making
powerful allies,
and we'd be fools to ignore that.
So you fell on your arse
and got saved by the Saxons.
Fuck off.
Now, come on, let's not feel sorry
for ourselves.
We've all been there.
I haven't.
- I should be dead.
- Well, you're not, so shut up about it.
Take a drink.
Be grateful that nothing has changed.
Four men, it would take, to replace you.
At least.
At least.
- Robert your youngest?
- Yes.
Do you have any more at home?
Thank you, Cecile.
With all due respect, Edith,
neither of us are here
to talk about children.
So shall we talk about the crown, then?
Why are you here? Do they worry you,
the decisions Harold might make
when he's out of earshot?
- Harold doesn't need me to make his decisions.
- Doesn't he?
I find politics are rarely
the strong point of a soldier.
Are they yours?
I grew up navigating
the court of Flanders.
It's impossible not to pick up
a skill or two.
Well, I had no such childhood.
But you're a very beautiful woman,
Edith.
I imagine growing up with that look
must have taken
its own kind of navigation.
It's no different, really.
It's the ability to read danger
in someone else's eyes.
Well, we have that in common.
And we have soldiers for husbands.
So I suspect we speak the same language.
I have no time for riddles, Matilda.
Just speak plain to me.
Very well.
What is the heart of this matter
for you?
The future of my children.
Good.
It's a good place to start.
Why did you risk yourself
for Fitzosbern?
- What value is his life to you?
- What's that got to do with it?
I'm grateful. But if you'd died,
you'd have died for nothing.
Last night, I slept soundly.
You like to fight, don't you?
In battle
..everything is clear.
Black and white.
Life is simple.
You're alive or you're dead.
Nothing else matters.
- Does he make you feel old?
- What?
My children, they've started
to make me remember
what it was like to be young.
I remember nothing.
- Nothing?
- Mmm.
Not dirt, make believe
Why is the sky blue?
- That sort of thing.
- "Why is the sky blue"? - I don't know.
It all felt so overwhelming.
Nothing fit together.
You might as well ask, why is blood red?
- Ah, now you sound like my father.
- What did he say?
He would say, "Harold,
the sky is of no concern.
"Get it gutted and skinned."
Well, at least he taught you something.
They all teach you something,
whether they mean to or not.
Men like us, William,
we should be allies.
What about your brother? Sweyn, right?
He's the eldest.
Why isn't he the Earl?
Sweyn is in the Holy Land
..reflecting on his choices.
William?
My brother's in the Church.
Though, to be fair,
I doubt he's doing much reflecting.
Don't worry. I'll send word to Harold.
I've asked him to send the best
midwives in Wessex to help you.
Hot or cold, outside, in -
they'll have all the answers.
Harold won't let me down.
Not with this.
Until then,
the Earl will look after you.
Temperature is included.
Come on. Come on.
There you go.
Are you hot in there?
Kicked me.
- Shut up.
- He's hot in there.
- Just come here, Tostig.
- He is. - Just kiss me.
Enter.
Speak.
It's the feast of Whitsun, my lord.
It was Earl Siward's tradition
for his people to receive food
and shelter after the harvest.
But you are the Earl.
Your word is law.
Very well, then.
My word is, let the people in.
Give them the food
and shelter they need.
Make sure there is constant supervision.
Ensure everyone gets their fair
and equal share.
No-one is to take more than their
family demands,
and no single man on horseback
is to take extra provisions
without specific reason,
to be judged by me.
Yes, my lord. Consider it done.
Thank you.
Impressive.
The Earl is both wise and kind.
Excuse the chaos. It's Whitsun week.
You celebrate with sport?
With everything.
Sports, competition, carousing,
whatever the people want.
And then on Sunday, the Bishop
of Bayeux gives us his blessing
over the holy relics.
What are you doing here?
I heard you were in Brittany.
I know the Baron.
You should have told me.
- We didn't need your help, Baldwin.
- Really?
Since when?
Earl Harold. So nice to see you.
How's Judith?
She's well.
This is my wife, Edith.
I'm like dawn to the sunrise -
a slave to your radiance.
How kind, Count Baldwin.
Where's the prince regent of France?
You're not at his shoulder.
Philip? No, no. He's safe in France.
Normandy's no place for a child.
But what do I know? So, good day, all.
What do you think?
I think he wants to know
why Harold is in Normandy.
No. Not about your father.
About Harold's offer.
- Can I trust him?
- He's right when he talks about strength.
There's not a territory in Europe
that would make a move
if we're backed by England.
I can't have people thinking
I need someone else
to fight my battles, Matilda.
Henry's death has got people
thinking about your position.
You're vulnerable without him.
But why would Harold take all this risk
to set up a trap he could have set
in a dozen different ways?
This is real.
- He's offering you power.
- But not the crown.
Does that really make such a difference?
This alliance is good for Normandy,
and it's good for us.
Come over here.
It'll give us tremendous strength -
and if it doesn't work,
you just walk away.
So I suggest you find agreement.
- Stop talking.
- Find agreement. - Stop talking.
- Find agreement. - Stop talking.
- Find agreement. - Stop talking.
Find agreement.
- Don't make decisions for me.
- William
Henry made decisions for me. Don't.
All right.
Find agreement.
We'll see.
- What the hell is this?
- It's for your leg.
Come here.
What's my leg done to deserve that?
FITZOSBERN FLINCHES - Sorry.
If this works,
when you turn quickly,
it will take the pressure off your knee.
It'll take the fucking cap
off my knee, that's what it'll do.
Take it off.
Off!
If you stopped soldiering,
you wouldn't need to wear this.
Leave it.
Let's give the bastard another go.
Your Majesty.
Your mother believed the ownership
of the wool barge
to be a matter of the utmost imp
Answer me, Lord, answer.
Lord
..answer me!
Edward.
Edward.
My mother, she made me do it.
She made me.
She's with him.
That's it, isn't it?
My Lord.
The Bishop of Bayeux has arrived.
- What?
- Nothing. Nothing at all.
Your Grace.
I'm sorry I missed your arrival.
Brother William.
- Explain.
- I'm here for the Whitsun Mass.
The Bishop of Bayeux
gives that Mass, Odo.
- Where is he?
- Uh-huh.
- No!
- Yes.
- No.
- Yes.
You are the Bishop of Bayeux?
Oh, yes. Your money has spread
far and wide in Bayeux
and I am in, right in the inner circle.
The Church is the centre of everything
and all these years, I had no idea.
None.
- Jesus wept.
- No, Jesus defines.
He defines me.
- He defines you.
- Yes. Look at me.
Living a life of luxury far from battle,
in a house built on pure gold.
Truly, I have found my God.
- You really have, haven't you?
- Yes.
Tell me
..do they listen to you?
Well, the Church is built
on stories, William.
They won't even blink without
opening that big book of theirs
to check which eye closes first.
How do you think a tall-tale expert
like me is getting on?
How much power do you really have?
How much do you need?
Does He hear me, Gunhild?
Does He?
Because I can't hear Him.
His voice is gone.
She's with Him.
That's it, isn't it?
My mother has His ear now.
She's filling Him with lies
of what I did to her.
Lies.
She made me do it.
Edward.
Could you have done what you did
without God's sanction?
Surely everything happens
..every single thing,
it happens according to His plan.
It does.
Then there's your answer.
You did nothing wrong.
God's love, it fills this place for you.
It fills my heart. I can feel it.
Everything is to His plan.
You know it too in your heart.
Yes.
His will be done.
Harold gave me the impression
they were ready to agree.
And I'm sure they will.
I'm simply proposing an alternative
in case they don't.
- Go on.
- When Harold's father was Earl,
he controlled everything,
but he did it in the name
of the kings he served.
Can Harold not agree
to do the same for William?
- William as king?
- As king.
So William comes to England
and he's crowned as king.
That's your proposal?
With Harold as his adviser
and his most trusted proxy.
It offers peace and stability,
which is no different an outcome
to what Harold's offering William
right now.
Except Harold will be second.
He will never agree to that.
- Neither will William.
- Matilda, England will not accept him.
The days of English people kneeling
to a foreign king are over.
And you're so sure they'll kneel
to a Saxon one?
Do you really think it makes such
a difference to them
if their king is Norman or Saxon?
Well, when it makes
a difference between peace or war.
And Harold will win.
It'll be bloody and terrible,
but he will win.
You will be defeated.
Do you want to be Queen, Edith?
Is that what's in there,
scratching away?
One week, and you think you know me?
Let us not fence.
Both our husbands want that crown.
Question is,
which one of them will yield first?
That is what we must prepare for.
I have food.
They're meant to bring it to you.
Yes, but this way they give it to me,
and then it looks
like I've done everything.
See?
I see. Very convincing.
I'm putty in your hands.
I forgot something.
Tostig?
- But it's not time.
- It is time. We're having a baby now.
- But Harold's midwives aren't
- Find someone, anyone.
Someone, help! We need a nurse, now!
Hey. Hey.
Don't worry. Harold won't let me down.
Doesn't really make sense, does it?
When's the last time you saw a lion?
Er, never. I thought you were more
of a lone wolf type anyway.
That would look good on the banner.
Yours is a snake?
Oh, very good. A dragon.
- I've never seen a dragon.
- Massive, fire-breathing monsters.
- Looks amazing on a banner.
- Oh, you English.
William, we need to talk.
Can you and I reach an agreement?
I think we can figure it out.
So it's settled.
We can agree on control of the crown.
It's settled. After the Whitsun Mass,
we'll announce it to the world.
That's generous,
but Edward needs to hear it first.
- I need to tell him myself.
- And I need to tell my people.
You need Normandy's loyalty, Harold.
That's what you want, isn't it?
That's why you came.
Loyalty comes at a price.
Did I misunderstand your offer?
My offer was clear.
I haven't been dishonest with you.
My father once told me
a story about King Cnut.
After he'd defeated Ethelred,
when it was clear he would be
the next king of England,
he offered the last of his enemies
a choice -
remain loyal to the dead king,
or swear their loyalty to Cnut.
Every man who swore their loyalty
to Cnut was put to the sword,
and the ones who remained loyal
to the dead king were spared.
And do you know why?
It was said he could only ever trust
the man who remained loyal
to his own heart.
And that's why my father stayed alive.
We can share control, William.
We can. We just need to trust
each other.
I agree.
Don't worry, Harold.
Tomorrow, we'll find our agreement.
Come on.
I just wanted
a straight answer from him,
but he wouldn't give me one.
He's hiding something from me,
I know it.
And you'd risk taking us to war
to find out?
Harold, if you make an enemy of him,
there will be a full-scale invasion,
and the whole country
will get dragged into it.
Let William have the crown.
You will still have the power to do
No, Edith. No.
Wessex has never been conquered.
Alfred never let that happen.
I can't risk that, I won't.
My father knew that.
What did you promise him?
When he was dying,
what did you promise your father?
He said it had to be me.
- He begged me to take the crown.
- Oh, my God.
I promised him this, Edith.
On his deathbed, I gave him my word.
- You are just like him.
- No, because my father was wrong.
This is not about peace.
It is about control.
I cannot let William even think
that he can take the crown.
Besides, Gunhild will provide us
with an heir.
She has to.
I
I hear His music.
I hear it too.
The Holy Spirit is descended
for Whitsun, Edward.
He is amongst us.
For you.
F-f-for me?
- Oh!
- For us.
His will be done.
You and I, together.
Oh!
Oh.
- Oh!
- Edward?
No, no.
No, no. Edward! No, no, no, no.
Oh, fuck.
You bastard!
Fucking bastard! No!
Help me! Help me!
Help the king!
I don't care what Edward's reasons are.
That crown has been given to me.
Harold is still offering you
the power it represents.
There's something he's not telling me.
- William, do not make an enemy of him.
- Then what?
- I'm still the heir. It changes nothing.
- Robert needs stability.
Do you really want him to be
fighting wars
for the rest of his life?
Robert will never have to be
the things I've been,
I'll make sure of it.
The crown is not important.
But if you make the wrong choice,
you'll take us to war.
Make the right choice for all of us.
You're right.
Again, again, again, again. Judith.
Push, push, push, push, push.
It's a boy!
It's a little boy. It's a little boy.
- Is he alive?
- He's alive.
He's here, he's here!
You did it.
Judith?
Judith.
What's wrong?
Judith?
Judith.
I'm so sorry.
Judith. No, come on. Hey! Come on.
Come on, come on, come on,
come on, come
Judith?
Judith!
Come on. Oh, God.
Harold, where were you?
Where were you?
- What's going on?
- This is the melee.
Of all the events, this is the one
the men love the most.
And why is that?
They get to take a crack at the Duke.
It is the final day of Whitsun!
This is the event
you've all been waiting for.
It is time for the melee!
It is time for the Duke himself
to step into the arena
Ooh!
..and batter the shit out of all of you.
You all know the rules.
You fight the man in front of you,
and then when he's down, you move on
to the next one and the next one.
The winner is the last man standing.
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Five!
Four!
Three!
Two! One!
Fight!
Make sure there's
someone there, please.
So this is my strategy
You fool.
..and this is what I've got.
We'll get this covered.
I'm wondering, do you have provision
for that amount?
..and as our Lord Jesus,
host of hosts, takes his place
in the highest seat of heaven,
may the glory of
the Holy Spirit descend on us all.
For this is Whitsun.
It is the day of the Spirit,
and we are His disciples.
Here.
Now.
You.
Do I get a prayer?
Not where you're going.
Tell my brother I'll be waiting
for him down there
For if God is our Father
and Jesus is His Son
..then William truly is our spirit,
our guiding light,
our divine force
Thank you, Your Grace.
Thank you, God.
Another Whitsun spent celebrating
with friends and family.
How lucky are we to be here at home?
Now, this year, we have even more
reason to celebrate
as we are honoured by the presence
of our friends from England.
Earl Harold. His beautiful wife, Edith.
Harold?
Come on, Harold. Come on.
Now, this man, you saw him today.
I mean, what a beast.
The strongest man I ever fought.
Hear, hear.
With Harold Godwinson at your side,
you cannot lose.
Give me your hand.
You saved my life.
I saved yours.
We're bound together, forever.
Normandy and Wessex.
Together.
Together!
Today, on Whitsunday,
God has blessed Normandy.
Edward, King of England,
has chosen William, our Duke,
to be his successor
to the throne of England.
And now, with God as his witness,
and over the holy relics of Bayeux,
Harold of Wessex will swear his loyalty
to William of Normandy
as the next King of England.
And as all of Europe knows
..a Godwin never breaks his word.
That is true.
I
..Harold Godwinson
..Earl of Wessex
..swear my absolute loyalty
..to the rightful heir of England.
I give you my word on it.