Richard III

Prince Edward arrives in London, greeted warmly by Richard and Buckingham: 'Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber.' But the young king immediately asks for his uncles—Rivers and Grey. Richard poisons the well instantly, claiming they were 'dangerous' with 'poison in their hearts.' The prince innocently defends them: 'God keep me from false friends, but they were none.' Hastings arrives with news that the Queen and young York have taken sanctuary. Buckingham orchestrates the violation of sanctuary with chilling sophistry, arguing sanctuary doesn't apply to children who haven't 'deserved' it—convincing the Cardinal to break sacred law. Richard suggests the Tower as lodging. The prince's instinct rebels: 'I do not like the Tower, of any place.' He then discusses Julius Caesar and immortality through fame, displaying remarkable intelligence and maturity. Richard mutters an ominous aside the audience hears but the prince doesn't: 'So wise, so young, they say do never live long.' Young York arrives from sanctuary, sharp and witty, engaging Richard in wordplay about daggers and swords. He too expresses foreboding: 'I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower... my Uncle Clarence angry ghost: My grandam told me he was murdered there.' The princes depart for the Tower 'with a heavy heart.' Once alone, Richard and Buckingham plot to sound out Hastings about supporting Richard's claim to the throne. Richard's solution if Hastings refuses? 'Chop off his head.' They exit to 'digest our complots in some form'—literally planning to consume their conspiracy over supper. The trap has closed. The princes are in the Tower, their protectors imprisoned or dead, sanctuary violated, and Richard's death threats multiply.