No matter what happens, I love you

ROBERT DUDLEY: She knows the rumors. If she knows the truth, she never speaks of it.

ELIZABETH: She tried to get you away from me. She was behind your nomination for the French ambassadorship.

ROBERT DUDLEY: But how could she be?

ELIZABETH: It was Lord Lionel who nominated you, so I had him followed. Amy had been secretly meeting with him for weeks. She's dangerous. If she could ever prove our affair, I would be branded a whore. No chance of marriage. Any child I had would be dismissed as a bastard. Without the ability to produce a legitimate heir, I...

ROBERT DUDLEY: You'd be removed from the throne. I know. I will never let that happen.

ELIZABETH: I love you, Robert, but this thing between us, it must end.

ROBERT DUDLEY: We can be together.

ELIZABETH: You have a wife, Robert. We can never be together.

ROBERT DUDLEY: We have been together, on and off, for years. I make you happy, and I can't be apart from you.

ELIZABETH: Have you forgotten how close we came to speaking of your wife's death?

ROBERT DUDLEY: Thoughts are not deeds, Elizabeth. Don't marry Don Carlos.

ELIZABETH: The nobles will never accept a woman ruling alone.

ROBERT DUDLEY: Then get the people, your people, behind you. Show them the Elizabeth that I love. Take your barge up the Thames, walk around the streets of London. Show them your beauty and your mind and your fierce heart, and they will love you. And once they do, they won't want some king's hands around you. They'll want you all for themselves, just like I do.

DON CARLOS: Well, I've heard you've dismissed suitors before they've even spoken, but now I know the stories were missing a vital piece.

ELIZABETH: And what is that?

DON CARLOS: That the men had been rendered speechless by your beauty. Did they stand before you, slack-jawed, nothing but a trap for flies?

ELIZABETH: Amusing. Most men don't speak to me in such a familiar tone.

DON CARLOS: Well, that's the goal, is it not? To familiarize ourselves with one another? Tell me this, Elizabeth, great Protestant queen, would you ever consider marriage to a Catholic prince?

ELIZABETH: Aren't you to the point? Catholic, Protestant. In truth, I see no difference. There is one Christian God, the rest are just bickering clerics, jockeying for advantage. The only advantage I care about is England. What can Spain offer my country?

DON CARLOS: Is all of the silver and gold of the New World advantage enough?

ELIZABETH: I should think so. But it makes me wonder, what advantage do you see in me?

DON CARLOS: In truth? You are a queen, and as your husband, I would become king. I'd like a crown. I'm tired of waiting for my father's.

ELIZABETH: So any queen would meet your needs? I hear the queen of Scotland is in need of a husband soon.

DON CARLOS: Many queens might meet my needs, but only you meet my desires. Shall we begin negotiations?

ELIZABETH: I'll consider it. Would you care to extend your stay at court in the meantime?

LOLA: But the message in its mouth?

CATHERINE: Your rat spoke to you? A talking rat? Now I am interested.

NARCISSE: Lola! There you are. It's time for us to be on our way. You will excuse us, won't you?

LOLA: Catherine is fearless about taking credit for the pain she inflicts. Why deny it?

NARCISSE: Well, she's got to be a bit careful, now that she's seeking regency votes from the privy council. You needn't worry. I'm not saying she's changed, but she won't have time to menace us. She's got quite a battle ahead.

LOLA: And when she does become regent?