Exclusive: New Beginnings (w/ Anne & Richard)

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Alright, I'm going to give you the same line of questioning, Lancaster. What was it like for you growing up?

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

Growing up was an interesting experience. As you know I grew up in england only in part so I never truly felt connected to the whole hierarchy of the system, rather I was always the child who grew up in America and always visited the family back in the home land, England. But apart from that overall I had a very grand and loving experience when I grew up, I had two wonderful parents, and a family that I could relate to that would make me have a name for my self in society. But as you also know , my family had a very hard time with the feud between York and Lancaster. That made things a little bit difficult when growing up as well in some aspects of my life. To live always with hate, to worry that my parents would be hurt, to actually believe that all the name calling and backstabbing of both parties was pretty hard to over come after it had all ended. But over all, what childhood does not have it's good moments nad it's bad ones.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Very true. You always have to take the good with the bad. Now Lancaster, I'm just curious, so I'm going to ask you this. What are your goals in life? Is painting where the buck starts and stops? Say...if you hadn't met Richard and end up having high profile interviews like the one we're having now, would you want to make a living just painting? Surely that would be a much different, less extravagant lifestyle than the one you live now. A struggling artist makes it much harder to get by in today's economy.

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

That is quite true, but would you or anybody else prefer a life were your everyday walk is being stalked by reporters and photographers. What does that sum up to, if I had decided my fate I would have not even accepted this life. I am a very simple person, who likes simple things . I detest the glamor and extravaganza that the news make us to be. Me and my late husband always made an effort to always live life in a very grounded way , that was why we found life quite happy. But if I had chosen any other profession it would have been a school teacher .

[THE INTERVIEWER]

I do suppose every lifestyle comes with its pros and cons. I have a feeling that as Richard's term progress, life is going to get much and much less simpler.

Now mayor, what influenced your decision to fight in the Gulf War? And was it worth it, despite your injuries?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Yet another intruiging question.

To be brutally honest, since Edward's ascension as Mayor, my situation had become all too routine for my liking. I felt most useful when helping in military matters since Edward and George dominated with regards to matters of state. In this time of seemingly perpetual peace, I found it...somewhat difficult to cope, in a manner of speaking. Not to mention that the position I had in Edward'sgovernment at the time was not at all what I hoped to continue to do.

You could say that the oppurtunity came and I took it, without looking back.

I realize now the true gravity of my descision but at the time...who knows what I was thinking. I was younger then, more reckless and foolhardy. I seemed to think that, by fighting in this war and playing my part, I would regain some of the importance I believed I had lost.

It was a learning experience to be certain, and not just due to the fact I was injured (which, I must admit, taught me not to fight again). Despite this I do not regret my descision; Edward rewarded me for my efforts in the war with the position of New York's comptroller, as you know.

There were other factors which influenced my desicsion as well; the military prowess of my tutor, for instance, instilled me with the wish to follow in his footsteps, though that was years ago now. At the same time my old friend Francis Lovell (who was being tutored alongside Edward, George and myself) and I would often play 'the war game'...makes me laugh thinking back on it now. Perhaps when I signed up to fight there was some, child-like, part of me that wanted to see how a war was fought for real.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Wow, well I have to say, thank you for your service to this country, never mind the reasons. No matter what, what you've done and sacrificed is honorable. And what is even more intriguing is that you are still serving even now, as mayor. It's admirable to say the least.

Now as far as your position as mayor, even after serving the country in war, what do you say to people who criticize your political agenda? After all, you're part of the Yorkist party. People are wondering if both you and your late brother had any long standing agenda. In other words, are you really in this position for the people of New York City or is it some kind of tactic to send a message? -- ruffling up the tensions between the Yorkist and Lancaster parties, for example.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

You're very welcome, to be sure. It was an honour to fight despite its setbacks in the long run and is so even now with regards to my new standing in society.

With regards to your inquiry about political agendas I wish to make this quite plain here and now; neither Edward nor myself had or have any long standing or secret agendas with regards to using our position in an attempt to re-ignite the flames of that feud. There are no ulterior motives, no secret plans; I am in this position for the good of New York City and it's people and nothing more.

There will, I believe, always be those who regard it as their purpose in life to think ill of and undermine others; I think this is the case here with some people's views of my plans for the city's future. I'm doing what is best for the time to come; sending no messages or ultimatums whatsoever.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Yes, that will be definitely on record, Mayor Plantagenet.

Now Ms. Lancaster, you're part of the opposing party, or once was part of the party. Do you ever feel like you've betrayed the Lancasters some how by being aligned with Richard? How do you deal with that? Or do you care? Is there some reason why you left that fraction behind?

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

The Lancaster family has always had a rivalry with Richard, yet we do not interfere with the affairs of the opposing party. After all what need it there to opose if the fight between the two families has been dealt with, all matters of state should be dealt with some propierty. What would you say if one of your rival papers got to this interview first , or paid more for the privilige of it. In other words, I care greatly about my family. But at the same time I think I don't care about matters of state, I am a simple person after all .

[THE INTERVIEWER]

Good point, good point Ms. Lancaster.

Okay, I know this is tough, but both of you were there so I have to ask these questions.

Tell us about the night of the dinner, the night Edward died. Reports said that Edward gave a speech that night. Did he say anything that forshadowed what would happen? I mean, there were rumors that Edward was sick. But did he expect what would happen to him that night? Was that why he organize the dinner?

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

At first I thought that Edward had organized the dinner as just another one of his parties, but his speech confirmed this was not the case. He explained during the course of his speech that he had called the guests there that night in an attempt at reconciliation of sorts...he wanted to ensure there was no strife between the elite members of society (as there has been with the Yorkists and Lancastrians) that might lead to something similar. I believe he said something along the lines of "I realize that we may not all get along but I want to reassure myself that, when I do depart from this earth, I won’t be leaving this city to fall into ruin. That we don’t have grudges enough to start a war."

Despite the fact that he made reference a number of times to his ailment in his speech, what happened that night was most certainly not expected...at least not so soon. He knew he was going to die and he confirmed that rumour but he was utterly unaware it was going to happen that night. None of us expected it. A sick piece of coincidental timing by fate, in my opinion.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

It sure is.

Lancaster, how well did you know Edward?

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

Edward and I knew each other very well, when I would study with Richard I would see him often, and we would be good friends. After he and I and his brother graduated we went our separate ways, but that friendship always remained. He even came to my wedding with my late husband and his family and was even present at the birth of my son. So you see he and I had no quarrels, just mere love and respects as friends should.

[THE INTERVIEWER]

You know, some people find Edwards death very sudden and suspicious. Both of you, do you think there was there any foul play?