Will turned to his cousin Southwell in a time of need. Reeling from the rejection of his play and with no money to support himself or his family back home, he went to something familiar in hopes of that comfort and support helping him to regroup. He came to London for the purpose of writing plays and sharing his voice with the world, so there was no reality where he could simply return to his family with nothing to show for the pain and suffering his departure caused; the opening days and months of this new part of his life were going to be tough, but what lies ahead once he gets his foot in the door would make it all worthwhile. However, what happens when Shakespeare’s connection to Southwell threatens to undo everything he’s worked so hard to achieve?
On the next episode of Will, Alice becomes disillusioned after discovering the book Southwell gave Will before his departure. Even if her new flame had no intention of following through with the Jesuit’s original plan, even if he only accepted the book as a gesture of kindness to someone who kept him from spiraling, the fact that he even has it in his possession is a danger to not only her, not only her family, but the theater as a whole. Topcliffe is more determined than ever to suss out the remaining Catholics in London and put a stop to the spread of religious propaganda, so if he manages to catch Shakespeare with the book or successfully pin the playwright to the priest, he could have grounds for arrest or even worse. While the concept of the book might be noble, this idea that words are enough to tear down the walls of religious persecution and bring about the free society that England needs, it’s idealistic to a fault and something that isn’t a guarantee to work. Keeping the book and working on the argument for Catholic acceptance might be a worthwhile endeavor for Will if it was likely to work, but putting yourself and those you love in danger for something that’s a long-shot at best is foolhardy and could cost him everything.
Elsewhere on Will, Marlowe acts as tour guide to the world of the London elite for Will, only for macabre developments to put a damper on their night of excess.
Will airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT.
Could Will’s relationship with Alice survive her finding out about the book? Would Alice’s disillusionment at his deception force Shakespeare to give up the cause? What type of debauchery could follow Marlowe in his attempt to grow closer to his fellow playwright?
