Exclusive: New Beginnings (w/ Anne & Richard)

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Tragedy has surrounded New York's city hall for sometime now. From the time when Henry's sudden death made Edward Plantagenet's road to mayor an easy one (as his approval ratings shot up when his biggest competition unfortunately passed) to Edward Plantagenet's recent untimely death. Controversy and mourning fills the air of city hall. And with the nation's economy suffering, citizens can only hope for a new beginning. Mayor Richard Plantagenet, no doubt, believes he can create that new beginning.

Once his brother Edward Plantagenet passed away, Richard ran an exceptional campaign, winning by a very close vote. New York Times is proud to have an opportunity to sit down with the mayor as well as Anne Lancaster.

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Good evening. Thank you for taking time out to do this interview. I have many questions that our readers are dying to know and I hope to get through all of them, but I know both of you are busy people. So we'll get through as many as we can. There are times when I'll direct a question just one of you but any one of you can chime in if you have something to add. Alright? Ready to get started?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

The same to you. It's no problem in the slightest; one doesn't get interviewed by The New York Times every day, after all. That method of question and answer is fine by me; fire away. That is unless, Anne, you have anything to add before we begin?

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

I would just like to say I am honored to be inteviewed by the Times, but sometimes your men at work seem to be stalking me for information. But please lets continue with this interview it should make up to some of the unplesantries that you have made me suffer or could it have been someone else.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Thank you, mayor. And Ms. Lancaster, I assure you the New York Times isn't the only press interested in the two of you.

Speaking of the two of you, lets get the interview started with this. The reason why we're having this interview with the both of you is because of all those juicy rumors about how much time you both have been spending with each other. You are, essentially, the man and the woman of New York City's political news. Not to mention, the papers catching you two at that restaurant sometime back. Ms. Lancaster, you said, and I quote, "Richard and I went to college and he was just making me feel better from my loss." And it was just a "friendly dinner." Is that true? Was it really just a friendly dinner or are you two involved?

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

"U WHAT, WAIT WHAT!! !! " Wait, what does that have to do with anything. As I was saying that day, we might have seemed very much enjoying one another but it was just a dinner between friends. Although certain situations have lead us to be a bit more closer. My husbands death for instance, and also the gracious act that the mayor had bestowed upon my son in his tutelage right Richard.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

What an...interesting question. Anne is right in saying that I'm helping pay for her son's tutelage, admittedly that has meant we spend more time together than we otherwise would. Besides, we've known each other for some time now. I'd like to think we're good friends.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Ms. Lancaster, with all due respect, my job is to find out information for the public and it just happens that some of our readers would like to know a little bit about your relationship with the mayor. That being said, there's no need to yell. And both of your answers are fair enough, but I must admit, it just seems a little odd that you two would be so close. I mean you have Richard, the mayor of New York City, a veteran, former comptroller, and you Ms. Lancaster, a painter. I mean, besides going to college together, what makes you two friends? What do you both have in common?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

To be honest, with us I think it's a case of opposites attract. But I believe, on a more fundamental level, we have a lot in common. We both do whatever it takes to achieve what's important to us; for me that would be doing what's right for New York, and for Anne that means taking care of her son.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

That makes a lot of sense. Now speaking of fundamental traits, mayor, people are interested in what makes Richard Richard, so to speak. I think it safe to assume that much of that stems from where you come from. What was it like for you growing up in England?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

My childhood is England was not as idyllic as many are doubtless imagining. I was born during a time when the political fued between the rival factions of York and Lancaster was at it's height; my father was killed the same year I was born and when I was eight years of age the situation was so dire for the Yorkists, myself included, that we were forced to seek refuge elsewhere...here, as it turned out.

That isn't to say there weren't pleasant moments to be had. A great deal of my time was spent at the Yorkist sanctuary of Middleham, a safe haven in the midst of the perpetual discord. I was tutored there along with George and Edward although, as they were much older than myself, they often were engaged in their own pursuits during times of leisure.

Doubtless if the political climate at the time had been less severe, my time in England would have been a great deal more pleasant.

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

If I have to say one thing I think the Lacaster family was also suffering from much stress from York as well as any other english family . But I had really no part in it as you might have known I was raised here and partly in england when I visited family.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Ah, I see, I see. Yes, surely there were hardships for both of you in regards to that feud. And just to take a moment to explain...for those who don't know, the Yorkist party is a very influential government fraction originating in England. They have had a long standing rivalry with Lanchastrians, another fraction. Political and, sometimes physical, wars were fought between the two. Much of it went on right here in New York and led to Edward being elected. We'll get to more on that in a minute.

Now, mayor, you mentioned your brothers, George and the late Edward. And before I go on, I'd like to say we at New York Times are very sorry for your loss and wish you our deepest condolences.

Mayor, what was it like growing up with Edward and George? Did all of you get along? Was there some sibling rivalry, like in most families? Or were all of you pretty close?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Thank you for your condolences on behalf of the Times; they are very much appreciated.

I'm afraid the three of us were quite stereotypical in that we had sibling rivalries, but generally these were only when we were younger. As we aged we became more mature and hence became closer in our bonds of brotherhoood. Edward and myself were particullarly close; I worked on his behalf for many years and assisted him with his campaigns.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

I see. I could imagine there would be some competition amongst the three of you. Now, politically and personally, is it hard for you to take on position as mayor here, when your home is originally in England? I suppose for both of you, is it hard moving from England to the US in such a hostile political environment?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Politically, taking up the position here rather than in England is not a problem for me. Of course I regret the neccesity of having to take up the post in light of Edward's untimley death, but the fact that I have become Mayor of New York City rather than London is no great hardship. Despite the fact that the fued is over in England, there's always the potential it may break out again. That's not to say I couldn't cope with it; I like to think I'm used to combatting problems where they arise.

Personally, I feel very much the same way. Having not returned to England for many years now I've come to think of New York as my new home; I'm perfectly at ease where I am now and have no desire to change things.

Having moved here when I was eight, naturally I found the seperation from England to be a tough one. But looking back on it now, it was all for the best.