The Other Boleyn Girl Quotes
Two sisters contend for the affection of King Henry VIII.
Katherine of Aragon: [being led to court; stops in front of Mary and Anne] So, the Boleyn whores. Two former ladies of mine. Hiding in shadows. What did I do to upset you, that you should turn against me like this?
Anne Boleyn: [nose in the air] You failed to give England an heir.
Katherine of Aragon: And that upsets you so?
Anne Boleyn: What upsets the King upsets me.
Katherine of Aragon: How dare you.
Anne Boleyn: [nose in the air] You failed to give England an heir.
Katherine of Aragon: And that upsets you so?
Anne Boleyn: What upsets the King upsets me.
Katherine of Aragon: How dare you.
Mary Boleyn: [as she enters the room] Anne.
Anne Boleyn: I meant to come sooner. I'm sorry I did not. I've been kept occupied.
Mary Boleyn: So I hear: amusing the king.
Anne Boleyn: Only that sister, I assure you; despite his best efforts...
Mary Boleyn: What, and not yours?
Anne Boleyn: [is silent for a moment] How is it?
[glances towards Mary's belly]
Mary Boleyn: The child is strong, gives me no rest, like his father.
Anne Boleyn: Do you feel as awful as you look? You know, in France, no woman would allow herself to get in such a state.
Mary Boleyn: Why did you come Anne, if all you desire is to torment me?
Anne Boleyn: Perhaps now you know how it feels: to be deceived by your sister.
Mary Boleyn: I did nothing.
Anne Boleyn: You stole the king away, and then you betrayed me over Henry Percy!
Mary Boleyn: If that's what you think fine tell yourself that!
Anne Boleyn: I did sister, every day and every night I was in exile.
King's Messenger: [Messenger walks in, holding a gift] A gift, from the king.
Anne Boleyn: Give it to my sister.
King's Messenger: It's for you mistress Anne.
Anne Boleyn: Me? Then send it back! Immediately!
[looks at Mary]
Anne Boleyn: How dare he! See? I have your interest at heart.
Mary Boleyn: Why? Why this cruelty? You know I love him.
Anne Boleyn: Well perhaps you should stop.
Anne Boleyn: I meant to come sooner. I'm sorry I did not. I've been kept occupied.
Mary Boleyn: So I hear: amusing the king.
Anne Boleyn: Only that sister, I assure you; despite his best efforts...
Mary Boleyn: What, and not yours?
Anne Boleyn: [is silent for a moment] How is it?
[glances towards Mary's belly]
Mary Boleyn: The child is strong, gives me no rest, like his father.
Anne Boleyn: Do you feel as awful as you look? You know, in France, no woman would allow herself to get in such a state.
Mary Boleyn: Why did you come Anne, if all you desire is to torment me?
Anne Boleyn: Perhaps now you know how it feels: to be deceived by your sister.
Mary Boleyn: I did nothing.
Anne Boleyn: You stole the king away, and then you betrayed me over Henry Percy!
Mary Boleyn: If that's what you think fine tell yourself that!
Anne Boleyn: I did sister, every day and every night I was in exile.
King's Messenger: [Messenger walks in, holding a gift] A gift, from the king.
Anne Boleyn: Give it to my sister.
King's Messenger: It's for you mistress Anne.
Anne Boleyn: Me? Then send it back! Immediately!
[looks at Mary]
Anne Boleyn: How dare he! See? I have your interest at heart.
Mary Boleyn: Why? Why this cruelty? You know I love him.
Anne Boleyn: Well perhaps you should stop.
Lady Elizabeth: Now go to France. The queen of France is sophisticated. Be useful to her, amuse her. She'll admire your spirit. Learn from her. Observe the ladies of the court. See how they achieve what they want from their men, not by stamping their little feet but by allowing the men to believe that they, indeed, are in charge. That is the art of being a woman.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Alright, now, open!
[advising Mary to open her eyes]
Sir Thomas Boleyn: I am to become an earl, your brother a viscount. In addition, we have received a number of new grants and estates, so are debts are paid and there's more: George, the king will arrange a match between you and Jane Parker.
George Boleyn: [frantic] I beg you father, no.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: I thought you had ambitions for this family. The girl is well connected, her fathers' cousin to the king.
George Boleyn: Must I actually marry her?
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Of course you must marry her. Have you no pride? Or would you rather leave everything to Mary?
[advising Mary to open her eyes]
Sir Thomas Boleyn: I am to become an earl, your brother a viscount. In addition, we have received a number of new grants and estates, so are debts are paid and there's more: George, the king will arrange a match between you and Jane Parker.
George Boleyn: [frantic] I beg you father, no.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: I thought you had ambitions for this family. The girl is well connected, her fathers' cousin to the king.
George Boleyn: Must I actually marry her?
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Of course you must marry her. Have you no pride? Or would you rather leave everything to Mary?
King Henry VIII: I have torn this country apart for you!
Anne Boleyn: For which you should thank me, not be angry!
King Henry VIII: Broken with Rome...
Anne Boleyn: Freed yourself, more like, from the decadence of a corrupt church
King Henry VIII: Got rid of a good woman in the queen...
Anne Boleyn: And with Spanish blood shackles you to Rome
King Henry VIII: Of which I would be excommunicated...
Anne Boleyn: And instead, become head of a new church! The Church of England!
Anne Boleyn: For which you should thank me, not be angry!
King Henry VIII: Broken with Rome...
Anne Boleyn: Freed yourself, more like, from the decadence of a corrupt church
King Henry VIII: Got rid of a good woman in the queen...
Anne Boleyn: And with Spanish blood shackles you to Rome
King Henry VIII: Of which I would be excommunicated...
Anne Boleyn: And instead, become head of a new church! The Church of England!
King Henry VIII: [talking in secret] Your sister is gone as you wished. Will you give yourself to me now?
Anne Boleyn: No. When you are loyal to me above all others.
King Henry VIII: But I am.
Anne Boleyn: No. You are loyal to the queen above all others.
King Henry VIII: I barely see Katherine.
Anne Boleyn: But she sits on a throne beside you. Your right hand in matters of state.
King Henry VIII: For appearances' sake only.
Anne Boleyn: Still, she is your queen. And ever present.
[pauses]
Anne Boleyn: I feel her eyes on me. And those of her spies. Look at us. Forever reduced to meeting in secret like this. Speaking in whispers. Hardly conducive to passion.
King Henry VIII: What would you have me do, then?
Anne Boleyn: No. When you are loyal to me above all others.
King Henry VIII: But I am.
Anne Boleyn: No. You are loyal to the queen above all others.
King Henry VIII: I barely see Katherine.
Anne Boleyn: But she sits on a throne beside you. Your right hand in matters of state.
King Henry VIII: For appearances' sake only.
Anne Boleyn: Still, she is your queen. And ever present.
[pauses]
Anne Boleyn: I feel her eyes on me. And those of her spies. Look at us. Forever reduced to meeting in secret like this. Speaking in whispers. Hardly conducive to passion.
King Henry VIII: What would you have me do, then?
Mary Boleyn: [in Henry's bedchamber] So, this is it?... Where the king of England sleeps?
King Henry VIII: And reads and writes. Finds a few moments each day to himself.
Mary Boleyn: [nervously] And yet you invite me here?
King Henry VIII: Because I like you and trust you.
Mary Boleyn: You hardly know me.
King Henry VIII: I have lied to a hundred times a day. Petitioned. Lobbied. One learns how to decifer a face.
[caresses Mary's face]
King Henry VIII: Yours is as the sun. One shouldn't gaze too long.
[pauses]
King Henry VIII: My flattery makes you uncomfortable?... Because compliments in your family are usually for someone else. The elder sister... That's something I understand. What it is to be the second child. Forever in the shadows... I'm making you uncomfortable again.
[Mary smiles, shaking her head as Henry leans in and kisses her]
King Henry VIII: And reads and writes. Finds a few moments each day to himself.
Mary Boleyn: [nervously] And yet you invite me here?
King Henry VIII: Because I like you and trust you.
Mary Boleyn: You hardly know me.
King Henry VIII: I have lied to a hundred times a day. Petitioned. Lobbied. One learns how to decifer a face.
[caresses Mary's face]
King Henry VIII: Yours is as the sun. One shouldn't gaze too long.
[pauses]
King Henry VIII: My flattery makes you uncomfortable?... Because compliments in your family are usually for someone else. The elder sister... That's something I understand. What it is to be the second child. Forever in the shadows... I'm making you uncomfortable again.
[Mary smiles, shaking her head as Henry leans in and kisses her]
Katherine of Aragon: [to the king] I know you, you have decided, but it grieves you. Will you destroy your marriage, your country, your soul before God, on the whim of one girl? Because she denies you? Because she tortures you with her refusal? You think she doesn't know exactly what she's doing? She wants me to step aside. Where is my wise husband? Where is he? You are a king, so be one.
The Duke of Norfolk: Damn you! Not a single detail was left to chance! And now the moment of our greatest glory...!
Anne Boleyn: Glory? What glory? A mistress gave a man a bastard, no more.
The Duke of Norfolk: A male bastard, a son!
Anne Boleyn: The queen may yet give birth to a son.
The Duke of Norfolk: The queen no longer bleeds!
Anne Boleyn: Can you be sure?
The Duke of Norfolk: One of her physicians, and the moment this family provides him with a son he turned his back to it on your account! You better have a plan, girl! And that plan better work!
Anne Boleyn: Or what, uncle?
Lady Elizabeth: Enough, both of you! And what about Mary, hum? And her child? Or have you forgotten about them already?
Anne Boleyn: Mary and her bastard child will go back to the country. It is the king's wish... and mine.
Lady Elizabeth: Very well, and you can be the one to tell her. I think you've earned that privilege.
Anne Boleyn: Glory? What glory? A mistress gave a man a bastard, no more.
The Duke of Norfolk: A male bastard, a son!
Anne Boleyn: The queen may yet give birth to a son.
The Duke of Norfolk: The queen no longer bleeds!
Anne Boleyn: Can you be sure?
The Duke of Norfolk: One of her physicians, and the moment this family provides him with a son he turned his back to it on your account! You better have a plan, girl! And that plan better work!
Anne Boleyn: Or what, uncle?
Lady Elizabeth: Enough, both of you! And what about Mary, hum? And her child? Or have you forgotten about them already?
Anne Boleyn: Mary and her bastard child will go back to the country. It is the king's wish... and mine.
Lady Elizabeth: Very well, and you can be the one to tell her. I think you've earned that privilege.
Anne Boleyn: Masters, I here humbly submit to the law, as the law hath judged me. As for my offenses, God knows them, and I remit them to God, beseeching Him to have mercy on my soul. I beseech Jesus, save my Sovereign and master, the King, the goodliest and gentlest master there ever was.
[begins crying after seeing Mary read the King's note; takes off her hood, cape and necklace with shaking hands]
Anne Boleyn: [kneeling] Sweet Jesus, my God, have mercy on me.
[begins crying after seeing Mary read the King's note; takes off her hood, cape and necklace with shaking hands]
Anne Boleyn: [kneeling] Sweet Jesus, my God, have mercy on me.
Mary Boleyn: How can you show your face in here? My own sister... take care, because he would only do to you what he has done to me
Anne Boleyn: You should not have given yourself so lightly, these are the consequences.
Mary Boleyn: I gave myself to a man I loved, and he loved me.
Anne Boleyn: A man's love is worthless. Our mother's loved, look where it got her, a feeble husband. Love is of no value without power and position. If I gave the king a son, he would not be a bastard.
Anne Boleyn: You should not have given yourself so lightly, these are the consequences.
Mary Boleyn: I gave myself to a man I loved, and he loved me.
Anne Boleyn: A man's love is worthless. Our mother's loved, look where it got her, a feeble husband. Love is of no value without power and position. If I gave the king a son, he would not be a bastard.
Anne Boleyn: Henry Percy
George Boleyn: [Teasingly] Why ever would he interest you? What could you possibly want with the sole heir to the richest earldom in the whole of England?
Anne Boleyn: [Jokingly] Oh I have no knowledge of that! I simply like his face!
George Boleyn: Well, he's betrothed
Anne Boleyn: Betrothed is not married
George Boleyn: [Teasingly] Why ever would he interest you? What could you possibly want with the sole heir to the richest earldom in the whole of England?
Anne Boleyn: [Jokingly] Oh I have no knowledge of that! I simply like his face!
George Boleyn: Well, he's betrothed
Anne Boleyn: Betrothed is not married
Sir Thomas Boleyn: The king has secured for you a position in the queen's household
Mary Boleyn: But I don't want to go to court, nor does my husband
William Carey: The king has also offered me a position, as a gentleman of the Privy Council
Sir Thomas Boleyn: You hear that Mary? Privy Council, tending upon his Majesty himself
Mary Boleyn: What about our future in the country?
The Duke of Norfolk: Oh, you must put that out of your mind. From now on your future is at court.
Mary Boleyn: William please, don't you understand what this means? They'll seperate us, put me in different accommadation where the king can always find me
The Duke of Norfolk: Happily your husband understands the value of such an oppurtunity, for us all
Mary Boleyn: But I don't want to go to court, nor does my husband
William Carey: The king has also offered me a position, as a gentleman of the Privy Council
Sir Thomas Boleyn: You hear that Mary? Privy Council, tending upon his Majesty himself
Mary Boleyn: What about our future in the country?
The Duke of Norfolk: Oh, you must put that out of your mind. From now on your future is at court.
Mary Boleyn: William please, don't you understand what this means? They'll seperate us, put me in different accommadation where the king can always find me
The Duke of Norfolk: Happily your husband understands the value of such an oppurtunity, for us all
King Henry VIII: Anne!
Anne Boleyn: Your Grace?
King Henry VIII: You received my gifts?
Anne Boleyn: Yes
King Henry VIII: And? Do they not please you?
Anne Boleyn: On the contrary, my lord, they please me greatly
King Henry VIII: Then why do you insult me by returning them?
Anne Boleyn: Because you insult me by sending them at all!
Anne Boleyn: Your Grace?
King Henry VIII: You received my gifts?
Anne Boleyn: Yes
King Henry VIII: And? Do they not please you?
Anne Boleyn: On the contrary, my lord, they please me greatly
King Henry VIII: Then why do you insult me by returning them?
Anne Boleyn: Because you insult me by sending them at all!
Sir Thomas Boleyn: [Refering to Anne's previous secret marriage] I knew this would come back to haunt us!
Anne Boleyn: I must go to the king...
Sir Thomas Boleyn: No, he doesn't want to see you, he doesn't want to hear a word from your lips! He won't even talk to me! The only Boelyn he will talk to, the only person whose testimony he would trust, is Mary!
Anne Boleyn: [Coldly] Then bring her here, now!
Anne Boleyn: I must go to the king...
Sir Thomas Boleyn: No, he doesn't want to see you, he doesn't want to hear a word from your lips! He won't even talk to me! The only Boelyn he will talk to, the only person whose testimony he would trust, is Mary!
Anne Boleyn: [Coldly] Then bring her here, now!
Sir Thomas Boleyn: [regarding the punishment for Anne's secret marriage] You will be sent to France and stay there until you've learned your lesson.
Anne Boleyn: What? No! Father, please!
Sir Thomas Boleyn: How can you have done this? You knew full well that Mary's friendship with the king is at an extremely delicate state! Any scandal, any mark upon her name could be fatal!
The Duke of Norfolk: You will be sent to join the court of the French queen and stay there until your father has forgiven you.
Anne Boleyn: [crying, runs into the hall where Mary is waiting] You told them didn't you?
Mary Boleyn: It was for your own good. You never would have gotten away with it. It would have ruined your prospects forever.
Anne Boleyn: [still crying] Really? For my good? Well, I'll try to remind myself of that while I'm in exile, and you're here in the king's bed, not challenged for our father's affection! That it was for my good and not yours!
[running down the hall, leaving Mary]
Mary Boleyn: Anne!
Anne Boleyn: What? No! Father, please!
Sir Thomas Boleyn: How can you have done this? You knew full well that Mary's friendship with the king is at an extremely delicate state! Any scandal, any mark upon her name could be fatal!
The Duke of Norfolk: You will be sent to join the court of the French queen and stay there until your father has forgiven you.
Anne Boleyn: [crying, runs into the hall where Mary is waiting] You told them didn't you?
Mary Boleyn: It was for your own good. You never would have gotten away with it. It would have ruined your prospects forever.
Anne Boleyn: [still crying] Really? For my good? Well, I'll try to remind myself of that while I'm in exile, and you're here in the king's bed, not challenged for our father's affection! That it was for my good and not yours!
[running down the hall, leaving Mary]
Mary Boleyn: Anne!
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Would a smile be too much to ask?
Lady Elizabeth: What's there to smile about? I'm a mother of a child ordered to marry a girl he hates, another banished aboard in disgrace, and a third whoring in public with an adulteer. You say you are concerned for her happiness, will Mary be happy when he leaves her? Because you know that will happen in the end.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Only God knows how anything will end.
Lady Elizabeth: God? He turned his back on all this a long time ago.
Lady Elizabeth: What's there to smile about? I'm a mother of a child ordered to marry a girl he hates, another banished aboard in disgrace, and a third whoring in public with an adulteer. You say you are concerned for her happiness, will Mary be happy when he leaves her? Because you know that will happen in the end.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Only God knows how anything will end.
Lady Elizabeth: God? He turned his back on all this a long time ago.
Mary Boleyn: [after Anne tells her how to secure her position] What you suggest is treason! He cannot marry you, he has his queen!
Anne Boleyn: [Smiling coldly] Who cannot produce a male heir
Mary Boleyn: You've reached too high! As always!
Anne Boleyn: The king will deal with Catherine, you'll hear about it from where I'm standing. You are to go back to Rocher, isn't that what you've always wanted? A life in the country, alone with your child.
[She leaves, later, Mary will see her once free-riding sister sitting behind the King on a horse]
Anne Boleyn: [Smiling coldly] Who cannot produce a male heir
Mary Boleyn: You've reached too high! As always!
Anne Boleyn: The king will deal with Catherine, you'll hear about it from where I'm standing. You are to go back to Rocher, isn't that what you've always wanted? A life in the country, alone with your child.
[She leaves, later, Mary will see her once free-riding sister sitting behind the King on a horse]
Mary Boleyn: How are you Stafford?
William Stafford: I'm well, thank you.
[pause]
William Stafford: I'm not sure I'm one for court though... I'm a little homesick.
Mary Boleyn: Well, you and I both.
William Stafford: In my view, it changes people... and not necessary for the better. Your sister though is thriving. She's truly caught the eye of Henry Percy.
Mary Boleyn: Why does she do this? He's already taken.
William Stafford: I'm well, thank you.
[pause]
William Stafford: I'm not sure I'm one for court though... I'm a little homesick.
Mary Boleyn: Well, you and I both.
William Stafford: In my view, it changes people... and not necessary for the better. Your sister though is thriving. She's truly caught the eye of Henry Percy.
Mary Boleyn: Why does she do this? He's already taken.
King Henry VIII: [during a supper in the banquet hall, to Anne] What's so amusing?
Anne Boleyn: I was merely offering my thoughts on the new French king. With such great power, yet such meager authority as a man.
King Henry VIII: [intrigued] Continue.
Anne Boleyn: [slowly walking forward] His pettiness is astounding. He will bear a mortal grudge at the mildest of slights. Spoiled cub with a spike in his paw. Riveted with resentment. Unable to forgive or forget. A great king, a great man rises above such things.
King Henry VIII: And what would you know of great men?
Anne Boleyn: [never taking her eyes from Henry's] I've read enough books and heard enough talk to believe I'd know one if he were before me.
King Henry VIII: Then look about you. I am curious. Do you see one here?
Anne Boleyn: [approaches him, still not looking away] Looking my lord... still looking, my lord.
[pauses in front of the King]
Anne Boleyn: Ah! There. Found one.
King Henry VIII: [laughs to himself as the subjects in the room start to laugh]
Anne Boleyn: I was merely offering my thoughts on the new French king. With such great power, yet such meager authority as a man.
King Henry VIII: [intrigued] Continue.
Anne Boleyn: [slowly walking forward] His pettiness is astounding. He will bear a mortal grudge at the mildest of slights. Spoiled cub with a spike in his paw. Riveted with resentment. Unable to forgive or forget. A great king, a great man rises above such things.
King Henry VIII: And what would you know of great men?
Anne Boleyn: [never taking her eyes from Henry's] I've read enough books and heard enough talk to believe I'd know one if he were before me.
King Henry VIII: Then look about you. I am curious. Do you see one here?
Anne Boleyn: [approaches him, still not looking away] Looking my lord... still looking, my lord.
[pauses in front of the King]
Anne Boleyn: Ah! There. Found one.
King Henry VIII: [laughs to himself as the subjects in the room start to laugh]
Sir Thomas Boleyn: [first lines - strolling through the woods with his wife while the children playfully race through the sunlit fields] I received a request for marriage today for Anne from the Carey family. William, their eldest son.
Lady Elizabeth: Oh, that's wonderful.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: I turned it down. Offered them Mary instead. Everyone improves the standing of their family with their daughters. I think Anne can do better than a merchant's son.
Lady Elizabeth: [exasperated exhalation] And Mary can't? I think you underestimate her.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Oh no, that's not true. I think she's the kinder of the two, quite possibly the fairer. To get ahead in this world, you need more than fair looks and a kind heart.
Young Anne: [after overtaking Mary] I beat you, I beat you!
Young Mary: Hey!
[all three children then fall down in a heap laughing]
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Well done, Anne. Well done, children.
Lady Elizabeth: Oh, that's wonderful.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: I turned it down. Offered them Mary instead. Everyone improves the standing of their family with their daughters. I think Anne can do better than a merchant's son.
Lady Elizabeth: [exasperated exhalation] And Mary can't? I think you underestimate her.
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Oh no, that's not true. I think she's the kinder of the two, quite possibly the fairer. To get ahead in this world, you need more than fair looks and a kind heart.
Young Anne: [after overtaking Mary] I beat you, I beat you!
Young Mary: Hey!
[all three children then fall down in a heap laughing]
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Well done, Anne. Well done, children.
Mary Boleyn: Mother, please! Speak to father... Do something... I don't want to go!
Lady Elizabeth: This is not a request. We have been summoned.
[gets up and leaves the room]
Mary Boleyn: [to Anne] Please don't be angry with me... You think I desired to go for this purpose?
Anne Boleyn: All I know is that a man who didn't know who you were was with you in that room for a half-hour and came out besotted!
[starts to leave]
Anne Boleyn: Don't know what you said or did!
Mary Boleyn: Nothing sister! Except sing your praises and talk about my husband.
Anne Boleyn: Really? Well, you must show me how you did that sometime!
[leaves the room]
Lady Elizabeth: This is not a request. We have been summoned.
[gets up and leaves the room]
Mary Boleyn: [to Anne] Please don't be angry with me... You think I desired to go for this purpose?
Anne Boleyn: All I know is that a man who didn't know who you were was with you in that room for a half-hour and came out besotted!
[starts to leave]
Anne Boleyn: Don't know what you said or did!
Mary Boleyn: Nothing sister! Except sing your praises and talk about my husband.
Anne Boleyn: Really? Well, you must show me how you did that sometime!
[leaves the room]
