It’s one o’clock, boy, is’t not?
It's one o'clock, isn't it, boy?
It's one in the morning, right kid?
its 1am right?
The Page who walks with Gardiner carrying a torch is the smallest role in the scene — he exists to establish time (one o'clock at night) and social rank (Gardiner rates a torchbearer). He speaks one line.
It hath struck.
It has struck.
Yeah, just struck.
just struck
These should be hours for necessities,
Not for delights; times to repair our nature
With comforting repose, and not for us
To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
Whither so late?
One o'clock is the time for necessary things, Not for pleasure; it's for rest and recovery, Not for wasting time. Good evening, Sir Thomas! Where are you headed so late?
One in the morning is for sleeping and rest, not for fun and games. Where are you going at this hour, Sir Thomas?
1am is for sleep not for playing around where u going?
Came you from the King, my lord?
Did you come from the King, my lord?
Are you coming from the King?
from the king?
I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero
With the Duke of Suffolk.
I did, Sir Thomas, and I left him playing cards With the Duke of Suffolk.
Yeah, I just left him playing cards with the Duke of Suffolk.
left him playing cards w the duke of suffolk
I must to him too,
Before he go to bed. I’ll take my leave.
I have to go see him too, Before he goes to bed. I'll leave you now.
I need to see him too before he sleeps. I'm gonna go.
gotta see him b4 bed going now
Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What’s the matter?
It seems you are in haste. An if there be
No great offence belongs to’t, give your friend
Some touch of your late business. Affairs that walk,
As they say spirits do, at midnight have
In them a wilder nature than the business
That seeks despatch by day.
Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's going on? You seem to be in a hurry. If there's nothing wrong with it, Tell your friend something about what's bothering you. Things that happen Like spirits do at midnight have A wilder nature than things that wait for business To happen during the day.
Hold on, Sir Thomas. What's the rush? If it's okay, tell me what's on your mind. Stuff that comes up at midnight has a different quality than daytime business.
wait what's the rush? if u can tell me midnight stuff hits different
My lord, I love you,
And durst commend a secret to your ear
Much weightier than this work. The Queen’s in labour—
They say in great extremity, and feared
She’ll with the labour end.
My lord, I trust you, And I could tell you something much more serious Than this work. The Queen is in labor— And they say she's in terrible pain, and they fear That her labor will end her life.
My lord, I trust you. And honestly, what I'm about to tell you is way more important. The Queen's giving birth right now, and they're saying she's in really bad pain. They're worried she might die.
queen in labor really bad pain they think she might die
The fruit she goes with
I pray for heartily, that it may find
Good time, and live; but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
I wish it grubbed up now.
The baby she's carrying— I'm hoping with all my heart that it comes at the right time And survives; but as for her, Sir Thomas, I wish she was pulled up and destroyed.
I hope the baby makes it through okay. But her? Honestly, I wish she'd been gotten rid of.
hope baby is ok but her? i wish shed been gone
Methinks I could
Cry the amen, and yet my conscience says
She’s a good creature and, sweet lady, does
Deserve our better wishes.
I could almost say I agree, And my conscience would say so too, She's a good person and truly, a sweet lady, and does Deserve our better wishes.
I get what you're saying, and part of me agrees, but honestly my conscience says she's a good person and deserves better from us.
i get it but shes good deserves better from us
But, sir, sir,
Hear me, Sir Thomas. You’re a gentleman
Of mine own way. I know you wise, religious;
And let me tell you, it will ne’er be well,
’Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take’t of me,
Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she
Sleep in their graves.
But listen, Sir Thomas. You're someone like me in your beliefs. I know you're wise and religious; And let me tell you, things will never be right, Things will never be well, Sir Thomas Lovell, believe me, Until Cranmer, Cromwell, her two closest advisors, and her Are all dead and buried.
Look, Sir Thomas, you're a man with beliefs like mine. You're wise and you're religious. And I'm telling you straight up—nothing will be okay until Cranmer, Cromwell, those two close to her, and her herself are all gone.
nothing will be ok till cranmer cromwell her and her closest ppl r gone
Now, sir, you speak of two
The most remarked i’ th’ kingdom. As for Cromwell,
Beside that of the Jewel House, is made Master
O’ th’ Rolls, and the King’s secretary; further, sir,
Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,
With which the time will load him. Th’ Archbishop
Is the King’s hand and tongue, and who dare speak
One syllable against him?
Now you're talking about two The most watched men in the kingdom. As for Cromwell, Besides his position in the Jewel House, he's now Master Of the Rolls, and the King's secretary; plus, sir, He's got access to even better positions, Which his power keeps growing toward. The Archbishop Is the King's hand and voice, and who would dare speak Against him even one word?
You're talking about the two most powerful guys in England. Cromwell's already got huge positions—head of the Jewel House, Master of the Rolls, the King's secretary—and he's only getting more power. And the Archbishop? He's basically the King's arm and voice. Who's gonna stand up to him?
theyre the most powerful cromwell keeps gaining power archbishop is the kings voice who would stand up
Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,
There are that dare, and I myself have ventured
To speak my mind of him. And indeed this day,
Sir—I may tell it you, I think—I have
Incensed the lords o’ th’ Council, that he is—
For so I know he is, they know he is—
A most arch heretic, a pestilence
That does infect the land; with which they, moved,
Have broken with the King, who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace
And princely care foreseeing those fell mischiefs
Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded
Tomorrow morning to the Council board
He be convented. He’s a rank weed, Sir Thomas,
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long. Good night, Sir Thomas.
Yes, yes, Sir Thomas, There are people who do dare, and I myself have risked Speaking my mind about him. And in fact this very day, Sir—I can tell you this, I think—I have Fired up the lords of the Council against him, because I know He is—and they know he is— A major heretic, a plague That poisons the country; and because of this, they're upset, And they've gone to the King with their complaints. The King, with his generosity And his royal care, thinking ahead to stop these evil plots We've told him about, has commanded That tomorrow morning at the Council meeting He be brought in for questioning. He's a poisonous weed, Sir Thomas, And we must rip him out. I'm keeping you from your business Too long. Good night, Sir Thomas.
Yeah, Sir Thomas, there are people who dare—including me. I've spoken against him. And actually, just today, I've got the lords of the Council riled up about him because I know, and they know, he's a major heretic. He's like a plague spreading poison. They got upset and went to the King with complaints. The King, being generous and careful, thinks this guy's a real threat, so he's ordered him brought to the Council meeting tomorrow to answer charges. He's a weed and we need to pull him out. Anyway, I'm keeping you. Good night.
hes a major heretic a plague on the country cranmers coming to council tmrw we gotta stop him
Many good nights, my lord. I rest your servant.
I wish you good rest, my lord. I'm your devoted servant.
Sleep well, my lord. I'm always here to help.
good night im your servant
The ring the King gives Cranmer is the central prop of Act 5 — a personal token that will allow Cranmer to invoke direct royal authority over the Council's proceedings. It is historically documented: Henry VIII did give Cranmer a ring before the Council meeting to serve as a direct appeal mechanism. By introducing the ring here, the playwright creates a specific kind of suspense: we know the rescue exists, but the audience must watch Cranmer endure the Council's full assault before using it. This is the structure of a divine comedy in the theological sense — the salvation is pre-arranged but its arrival is made to feel miraculous.
Charles, I will play no more tonight.
My mind’s not on’t; you are too hard for me.
Charles, I'm going to stop playing tonight. My mind isn't on the game; you're too good for me.
Charles, I'm done playing. I can't focus, and you're beating me anyway.
cant play anymore u r too good anyway
Sir, I did never win of you before.
Sir, I've never beaten you before.
Sir, I've never won against you before.
never won b4
But little, Charles,
Nor shall not, when my fancy’s on my play.
Now, Lovell, from the Queen what is the news?
But not much, Charles, And you won't again, when I'm focused on the game. Now, Lovell, what's the news from the Queen?
Yeah, not much, and you won't again when I'm paying attention. Lovell, what's happening with the Queen?
barely wont happen again what about the queen?
I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message, who returned her thanks
In the great’st humbleness, and desired your Highness
Most heartily to pray for her.
I couldn't deliver your message to her personally, So through her attendant I sent your message, who came back saying thank you With the deepest humility, and asked your Majesty Most sincerely to pray for her.
I couldn't see her myself, so I sent the message through her lady-in-waiting. She came back grateful and asked you to please pray for her.
couldnt see her sent msg thru her lady shes grateful asking u to pray
What sayst thou, ha?
To pray for her? What, is she crying out?
What are you saying? To pray for her? What, is she screaming in pain?
Wait, pray for her? What, is she yelling from the pain?
pray for her? is she screaming?
So said her woman, and that her suff’rance made
Almost each pang a death.
That's what her attendant said, and that her suffering has made Almost every contraction feel like death.
That's what her lady-in-waiting said. Each contraction is like dying.
thats what they said each contraction feels like dying
Alas, good lady!
Alas, good lady!
alas, good lady!
alas, good lady!
God safely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your Highness with an heir!
God safely bring her through her labor, and Let her have an easy delivery that brings Your Majesty the joy of an heir!
May God bring her through safely and give you a son!
hope god brings her thru and u get an heir
’Tis midnight, Charles.
Prithee, to bed, and in thy prayers remember
Th’ estate of my poor Queen. Leave me alone,
For I must think of that which company
Will not be friendly to.
It's midnight, Charles. I'm asking you, go to bed, and in your prayers remember My poor Queen's situation. Leave me alone, Because I need to think about things that Company won't make easier for me.
It's midnight, Charles. Go to bed and pray for the Queen. Leave me alone. I need to think about some things that I don't want company for.
its midnight go to bed pray for the queen leave me alone
I wish your Highness
A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.
I wish your Majesty A peaceful night, and my good Queen will Remember in my prayers.
I hope you have a quiet night, and the Queen will be in my prayers.
hope u have quiet night queens in my prayers
Charles, good night.
Charles, good night.
charles, good night.
charles, good night.
Well, sir, what follows?
Well, sir, what's next?
Well, what happens now?
whats next
When the Old Lady announces 'Tis a girl,' she is announcing the birth of Elizabeth I — the monarch who ruled England from 1558 to 1603 and under whom Shakespeare wrote almost all of his plays. For the original audience in 1613, this was not ancient history but living memory: Elizabeth had been dead only ten years, and she was the play's emotional destination. Every injustice the play has shown — the divorcing of Katherine, the fall of Wolsey, the execution of Buckingham — is positioned as the painful mechanism that produced Elizabeth. The Old Lady's comic handling of the announcement is the play's chosen mode: it honors the magnitude without false solemnity.
Sir Anthony Denny is the King's gentleman of the bedchamber — one of Henry's most intimate personal servants. He fetches Cranmer at the King's command and announces him. He is historically documented as one of the two men who told Henry on his deathbed that he was dying.
Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop,
As you commanded me.
Sir, I've brought my lord the Archbishop, As you ordered me to.
Sir, I've brought the Archbishop like you asked.
brought the archbishop like u asked
Ha! Canterbury?
Ha! Canterbury?
ha! canterbury?
ha! canterbury?
Ay, my good lord.
Yes, my good lord.
Yes, sir.
yes
’Tis true. Where is he, Denny?
That's true. Where is he, Denny?
Right. Where is he?
where is he?
He attends your Highness’ pleasure.
He's waiting for your Majesty to be ready for him.
He's waiting outside for you.
hes waiting 4 u
Bring him to us.
Bring him to me.
Get him in here.
bring him
[_Aside_.] This is about that which the Bishop spake.
I am happily come hither.
This is about what the Bishop said. I am fortunate to be here.
This is about what the Bishop mentioned. I'm glad I'm here.
this is abt the bishop stuff im glad im here
Avoid the gallery. [_Lovell seems to stay_.]
Ha! I have said. Be gone.
What!
Leave the gallery. [_Lovell seems to stay_.] I've already said so. Go. What!
Get out of here. [_Lovell hesitates_.] You heard me. Now! What!
get out go what!
Thomas Cranmer appears here in his full historical significance: as the Archbishop of Canterbury whose theological work enabled the English Reformation and whose personal loyalty to the King was absolute. He is shown in this scene as genuinely humble, genuinely afraid, and ultimately willing to trust entirely in royal protection. His 'I am fearful. Wherefore frowns he thus?' aside reveals the private anxiety beneath the public dignity.
[_Aside_.] I am fearful. Wherefore frowns he thus?
’Tis his aspect of terror. All’s not well.
I am frightened. Why is he frowning like this? This is his look of terror. Something is wrong.
I'm scared. Why is he frowning? He looks angry and threatening. This isn't good.
im scared why is he frowning he looks furious this isnt good
How now, my lord? You do desire to know
Wherefore I sent for you.
How are you, my lord? You want to know Why I sent for you.
How are you doing, my lord? You want to know why I called you here.
how r u why'd i call u
[_Kneeling_.] It is my duty
T’ attend your Highness’ pleasure.
It is my duty To attend your Highness' pleasure.
I'm here to serve you, as is my duty.
im here 2 serve u
Pray you, arise,
My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury.
Come, you and I must walk a turn together.
I have news to tell you. Come, come, give me your hand.
Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
And am right sorry to repeat what follows.
I have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous—I do say, my lord,
Grievous—complaints of you, which, being considered,
Have moved us and our Council that you shall
This morning come before us, where I know,
You cannot with such freedom purge yourself
But that, till further trial in those charges
Which will require your answer, you must take
Your patience to you and be well contented
To make your house our Tower. You a brother of us,
It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.
Please, get up, My good and kind Archbishop of Canterbury. Come, the two of us need to take a little walk together. I have news for you. Come on, come on, give me your hand. Ah, my good lord, it pains me to say this, And I truly regret having to tell you what comes next. Recently, and very much against my will, I have heard many serious—I repeat, my lord, serious—complaints against you. Having weighed them, my Council and I have decided that you must appear before us this morning, where I know you won't be able to clear yourself so easily that you avoid this: until there's a fuller hearing of the charges you'll have to answer, you must arm yourself with patience and be willing to make the Tower your home. Since you're one of our own Council, we have to proceed this way, or else no witness would dare to speak against you.
Please, stand up, my dear Archbishop. Let's go for a walk, you and me. I've got some news. Honestly, I hate saying this. Lately I've been hearing a lot of really serious complaints about you, and I mean serious. So the Council and I have decided you have to face us this morning. And I know you won't be able to just talk your way out of it on the spot. Until the charges are properly looked into, you'll need to be patient and put up with staying in the Tower. You're one of us on the Council, so we have to do it this way, or nobody would ever dare testify against you.
get up, we need to talk ppl have been making serious complaints about u u have to face the council this morning and ur probably going to the tower till it's sorted sorry, it's the only fair way
[_Kneeling_.] I humbly thank your Highness,
And am right glad to catch this good occasion
Most throughly to be winnowed, where my chaff
And corn shall fly asunder. For I know
There’s none stands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man.
I humbly thank your Highness, And I am truly glad to take this good opportunity To be completely cleared, where the false And the true shall be separated. For I know There is no one who stands under more malicious tongues Than I, poor man.
I thank you, your Highness, And I'm genuinely grateful for this chance To be completely cleared of these accusations, To have the lies separated from the truth. Because I know No one is attacked by more gossip and lies Than I am.
thank u your highness im glad 4 this chance 2 clear my name no one gets attacked more than me
Scene 5.1 is structured around three things happening simultaneously at one o'clock in the morning: Anne is in labor, Gardiner has incited the Council against Cranmer, and the King is playing cards to distract himself. The scene's transitions are handled without explanation — we move from Gardiner's plot to the King's anxiety to Cranmer's private crisis in rapid succession. The effect is of a palace at midnight where everything is happening at once, where the political and the personal cannot be separated. The birth that produces Elizabeth and the conspiracy that threatens Cranmer are two sides of the same night.
Stand up, good Canterbury!
Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand. Stand up.
Prithee, let’s walk. Now, by my halidom,
What manner of man are you? My lord, I looked
You would have given me your petition that
I should have ta’en some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers and to have heard you
Without endurance, further.
Stand up, good Archbishop! Your truth and your goodness is rooted In me, your friend. Give me your hand. Stand up. I'm asking you, let's take a walk. Now, by my honor, What kind of man are you? My lord, I expected You would have brought me a petition to help you I should have put some effort into bringing you together With your accusers and hearing you Without putting you through all this, first.
Come on, stand up, Archbishop. Your honesty and integrity mean everything to me—I'm your friend. Take my hand. Let's walk. What kind of guy are you anyway? I thought you would've asked me for help bringing you and your accusers together. I would've done it without dragging you through all this.
ur honest & good im ur friend i wouldve helped u if youd asked
Most dread liege,
The good I stand on is my truth and honesty.
If they shall fail, I with mine enemies
Will triumph o’er my person, which I weigh not,
Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
What can be said against me.
Most revered king, The only good I rely on is my truth and honesty. If those fail, my enemies will triumph over me—but I don't care about that, Since those virtues are all I have. I fear nothing That can be said against me.
Your Majesty, The only thing I have is my truth and honesty. If that fails, my enemies will win—but I don't mind, Because that's all I have anyway. I'm not afraid of anything anyone can say about me.
all i have is my truth and honesty if that fails enemies win no other virtue to lose don't fear anything
Know you not
How your state stands i’ th’ world, with the whole world?
Your enemies are many, and not small; their practices
Must bear the same proportion, and not ever
The justice and the truth o’ th’ question carries
The due o’ th’ verdict with it. At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you? Such things have been done.
You are potently opposed, and with a malice
Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
I mean in perjured witness, than your master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to.
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own destruction.
Do you understand How your situation stands in the world, with everyone? Your enemies are powerful and numerous; their attacks Must be equally large, and not always Does justice and truth about the case carry The decision it deserves. In what situation Might dishonest people get dishonest criminals To testify against you? It happens. You're strongly opposed, and with hostility Just as powerful. Do you expect better luck, Than your master had, I mean, Who was my minister while he lived On this wretched earth? Go on, listen to me. You're taking a cliff edge for granted like it's no risk, And asking for your own destruction.
Do you get what you're dealing with? Your enemies are huge and numerous. They're just as organized as they are hostile. And honestly, corrupt people can easily pay corrupt witnesses to lie about you. It happens all the time. You're seriously outmatched. Why do you think you'll have better luck than your former boss, who was my minister when he was alive? Come on. You're treating a deadly cliff like it's nothing and basically begging to be destroyed.
u dont get it theyre powerful & hostile corrupt witnesses can lie u will lose
God and your Majesty
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me.
God and your Majesty Protect my innocence, or I fall into The trap that's set for me.
God and you are my only hope, your Majesty, or I'm done for.
god & u r my only hope or im trapped
Be of good cheer.
They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
Keep comfort to you, and this morning see
You do appear before them. If they shall chance,
In charging you with matters, to commit you,
The best persuasions to the contrary
Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
Th’ occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring
Deliver them, and your appeal to us
There make before them. Look, the good man weeps!
He’s honest, on mine honour. God’s blest mother,
I swear he is true-hearted, and a soul
None better in my kingdom.—Get you gone,
And do as I have bid you.
Be confident. They won't succeed unless I let them. Hold onto your courage, and this morning Make sure you go before them. If they should happen to, When they charge you with things, decide to arrest you, Try hard with all your persuasion to convince them otherwise, And with whatever strength The situation gives you. If begging them Doesn't get you released, use this ring Give it to them, and your appeal to me Make it right there in front of them. Look, this good man is crying! He's honest, I swear it. By all that's holy, I swear he's true-hearted, and a soul Nobody better in my kingdom.—Get out of here, And do what I told you.
Stay strong. They're not going to win unless I let them. Keep your head up and show up at council this morning. If they decide to arrest you when they give you the charges, do everything you can to talk them out of it. Really make a case for yourself. If talking doesn't work, give them this ring and appeal to me right there. Look, he's crying! He's a good man, I'm telling you. He's honest and true-hearted. He's one of the best men I know.—Now go do what I said.
stay strong they wont win go to council if arrested appeal 2 me u r honest i know it
He has strangled
His language in his tears.
His tears have choked back his words.
He's crying so hard he can't speak.
hes too emotional to talk
[_Within_.] Come back! What mean you?
Come back! What do you mean?
Come back! What are you doing?
come back whats going on
I’ll not come back. The tidings that I bring
Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels
Fly o’er thy royal head and shade thy person
Under their blessed wings!
I won't come back inside. The news I'm bringing Will make my boldness seem proper. Now, good angels Fly over your royal head and shield your body Beneath their blessed wings!
I'm not coming back in there. The news I have will make me bursting in seem fine. Good angels, watch over the King and protect him!
got big news angels protect u
Now by thy looks
I guess thy message. Is the Queen delivered?
Say “Ay, and of a boy”.
From the look on your face I can guess your message. Is the Queen delivered? Say "Yes, and it's a boy".
By the way you look, I can tell what you're gonna say. Is the Queen done giving birth? Tell me it's a boy.
by ur face i can tell shes delivered? its a boy right?
Ay, ay, my liege,
And of a lovely boy. The God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her! ’Tis a girl
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your Queen
Desires your visitation, and to be
Acquainted with this stranger. ’Tis as like you
As cherry is to cherry.
Yes, yes, my King, And it's a beautiful baby boy. May God Both now and always bless her! Actually, it's a girl— But girls will bring boys later on. Sir, your Queen Wants you to visit her, and to meet This new person. She looks so much like you Just like a cherry to a cherry.
Yes, your Majesty, and it's a beautiful baby boy. May God bless her forever! Well, actually it's a girl, but she'll have boys later. Sir, the Queen wants you to come see her and meet the baby. The baby looks just like you.
yes its a boy wait its a girl queen wants to see u baby looks like u
Lovell.
Lovell.
lovell.
lovell.
Sir?
Sir?
sir?
sir?
Give her an hundred marks. I’ll to the Queen.
Give her a hundred marks. I'll go see the Queen.
Give her a hundred marks. I'm going to the Queen.
pay her 100 marks im going to queen
An hundred marks? By this light, I’ll ha’ more.
An ordinary groom is for such payment.
I will have more or scold it out of him.
Said I for this the girl was like to him?
I’ll have more, or else unsay’t. And now,
While ’tis hot, I’ll put it to the issue.
A hundred marks? By this light, I'll get more. An ordinary stable worker gets paid that much. I'll demand more or complain until I get it. Did I break the news about the girl looking like him For this payment? I'll get more, or I'll take it back. And now, while it's still fresh, I'll press him for more.
A hundred marks? Are you kidding? That's what you'd give a stable boy. I'm gonna scream until I get more. Did I come in here with good news about the baby looking like him just to get pennies? I'm getting more out of this. While he's still happy, I'm gonna ask him again.
100 marks? thats nothing im getting more im demanding it now
The Reckoning
The King's midnight meeting with Cranmer is the structural counterpart to Wolsey's many private audiences with the King in Acts 1 and 2 — but inverted. Where Wolsey used private access to manipulate the King, Henry now uses private access to protect Cranmer. The scene's famous last comic beat — the Old Lady arriving with news of a girl, the King hoping she'd say 'boy,' and her improvising — is not an afterthought. It is the hinge on which the entire play's ending turns. The 'girl' is Elizabeth I. The play has been building toward this birth since the first mention of the divorce. The King's midnight sleeplessness, the Council's conspiracy, the Queen in labor — all three things are happening simultaneously, and only the audience knows which matters most.
If this happened today…
At one in the morning, an executive tells a colleague that he's arranged for a boardroom confrontation against their new chief strategy officer tomorrow. Meanwhile, the CEO, who has been playing cards, sends the colleague away and summons the strategy officer privately: 'The board is going to try to remove you tomorrow. Here's my personal authorization to appeal directly to me if it goes wrong.' He hands him a document. A few minutes later, his executive assistant bursts in with news from the hospital: the CEO's partner has just given birth — to a girl. The CEO says 'Tell me she's a boy.' His assistant says 'It's a lovely girl. She looks just like you.'