Woman To Woman

ELIZABETH:

How dare you come,

I set you free to go home

So you could mother your son

Yet you set sail and you roam

And you insult me

You have a man-

His passion set him apart

He traded his life for yours

For him I softened my heart

Now you insult me!

Now worst of all

A woman sails up the thames

"The Pirate Queen" is your ship

That mad effront'ry condemns

You most of all!

BINGHAM:

(SPOKEN) Grace O'Malley! At last, the Irish sow on English ground.

ELIZABETH:

(SPOKEN) She risks death at my displeasure to speak for her people...

Then speak.

GRACE:

Thank you, Your Majesty, it's true

You sent a mother to her son

But can't a mother and a woman come to plead

When wrongs are done?

I come to speak for Ireland's need

I ask for dignity, no more

Your leaders plunder there for greed

I do not think it's what you planned

Woman to woman, as it were,

I ask for justice for my land.

There is a time

There is an hour

For those in power

And those they have aggrieved

To put aside all pride

End what has been

Put women's hearts to use

And finally find a truce achieved

... My Queen.

(Spoken) Shall I go on?

ELIZABETH:

(Spoken) Proceed.

GRACE:

I'll tell you now of Irish woes

My child goes hungry ev'ry night

ELIZABETH:

I do not have a heart of stone,

But you defiled my precious fleet.

GRACE:

All of our crops gent sent to you.

How long before we starve outright?

ELIZABETH:

You love a war, you pay a price.

GRACE:

Sadly, the men you put in charge

Despoil us everywhere they go

And disrespect our women so

To me, the most egregious crime.

ELIZABETH:

If this is true, then rest assured

They will be dealt with in good time.

GRACE/ ELIZABETH:

There is a time

There is an hour

For those in pow'r

To move beyond their ken

A time for women to behave as men

When men aren't men.

GRACE:

... My Queen.

Who knows the truth that we may glean?

ELIZABETH:

Let's have a chair set down for Grace

GRACE:

Neither as chieftain-

ELIZABETH:

Nor as Queen

GRACE/ ELIZABETH:

Woman to woman, face to face.