Synopsis
Prologue
After her own funeral Elizabeth of York’s Ghost attends Shakespeare’s Richard III and says that’s not what happened.
Act I
Edward’s father is killed by the Lancastrians. He vows revenge.
Edward defeats the Lancastrians and seduces Lady Eleanor afterward.
Bishop
Stillington tells Eleanor that Edward’s marriage to her was a ruse to
get her into bed, and that Edward has married Elizabeth Woodville. He
advises Eleanor not to make trouble.
Richard practices his swordsmanship while Warwick’s daughter, Anne watches.
Richard admires his Edward. Anne admires Richard.
The news of Eleanor’s death is reported to King Louis of France, the Spider.
Act II
Richard
is to lead the vanguard in Edward’s army. He bids Anne an affectionate
farewell. Warwick joins the Lancastrians against Edward and is killed.
Edward rewards Richard.
George takes Anne prisoner,
disguises her as a kitchen maid, and hides her so he can inherit
Warwick’s estate. Richard rescues Anne and they elope.
George
revelas that Edward is a bigamist and his children by Elizabeth
Woodville cannot be heirs to the throne. George is executed by being
drowned in a barrel of wine.
Edward challenges King
Louis. Louis pays Edward a ransom so he won’t invade France. Rumors
about Edward’s bigamy resurface. Richard learns that his brother may not
be as honorable as he’d thought.
Act III
Richard
and Anne, living happily in Yorkshire with their son, are startled by
messengers bearing news that Edward is dead and Richard should ride to
London.
Buckingham meets Richard on the road, befriends
him, and advises him to take custody of Edward’s heir. Elizabeth
Woodville takes sanctuary in Westminster Abbey and steals the treasury.
Richard convenes a hearing about his brother’s marriages and how they
contributed to his death and controversy surrounding the line of
succession. Hastings has been plotting with Elizabeth Woodville and
others against Richard. The conspirators are executed, witnessed by the
terrified princes in the tower, but their mother is spared.