Reign (2013) s02e08 Episode Script

Previously on Reign Go and tell Catherine her daughter's here.
Tell everyone that Princess Claude is home.
I've been spending time with Narcisse, but I'm not sure it's any of your concern.
I must ask you to go there tonight, hide this envelope, help me to take control of a man who would spill any amount of blood to get what he wanted.
This would require every French subject to come forward and publicly declare their faith to the king.
People will kill each other in the streets.
Narcisse is blackmailing me.
When your head is cut off, along with Catherine and Mary's, what do you suppose the nobles will do to your brothers? What will happen to your bastard son when you're not here to protect him? Francis signed the edict.
After telling me you wouldn't sign.
After telling me you knew the edict was wrong.
You are not the king I want to rule beside.
You are a coward.
Perhaps you should return to Scotland.
Leave me.
Leave France.
You're listed here as a Catholic, - self-declared.
- I am that.
A believer good and true, I swore it.
Then why are there witnesses, your brethren, who swear they've seen you attending Protestant services? It's not true; they're lying! The only liar here is you.
The Bible says, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
"It is better that you lose one part of your body than that your whole body go into hell.
" Since your lips compel you to sin, they should be removed, just as this deceiver's lips were taken, so that your eternal soul may be saved.
No.
I beg you.
Mercy! No! No! No! No! No! No ! What Cardinal Vasari and his Inquisitors have been doing since they arrived in France is barbaric.
They wouldn't even be here if not to enforce your edict that every French subject publicly declare their faith.
You are not the only one concerned for our people.
I have written a letter to the Pope asking him to recall his representatives back to Rome.
It's not enough.
You need to take a harder line against the cardinal.
To defy him is to defy the Pope.
And without the Pope's blessing, we would cease to be king and queen.
If you insist on second-guessing my every move, there is a boat waiting to take you back to Scotland.
As I said before.
An offer that makes no more sense now than it did then.
How did we go from disagreeing to you trying to send me away? Do you really propose that we live separately? What would that even mean for our rule? Or our marriage? I'm not going.
I have a duty to our people.
I may have given up on trying to understand you, but I will not give up on France.
If your goal was to alienate your wife, I'd say you succeeded.
Not enough to get her to leave.
You want her in Scotland so she'll be safe from Narcisse's threats.
Narcisse has enough evidence of treason to put not just my head on a spike, but Mary's as well.
Until we get rid of Narcisse, I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
Be careful, brother.
If you push Mary too hard, you might not be able to win her back.
I'd rather she were alive and in Scotland than here and dead.
Ah, rise and shine, Claude.
The only people in bed past noon are drunks and reprobates.
Mother, must you be so loud? And so you? Your eyes are bloodshot and your hair is unsalvageable.
You're in no condition to meet your future lord and husband.
Husband? You can't have found someone already.
Yes, I've made a match for you with the son of a Bavarian count.
- Bavaria? - Mm.
It's cold.
And smells like sheep dung.
Country life will do you good.
It's an excellent alliance.
Bavaria gets a princess, and France will have access to new trade routes.
This isn't about trade routes.
We both know you just want to be rid of me.
You didn't happen to pick up any wigs during your misadventures, did you? Stop it! I have no interest in being married.
Now or ever.
My brother's the king.
I don't see why I have to become the property of any man.
Especially some rustic Bavarian.
You will marry.
For the advancement and survival of the Valois line.
Every member of the family contributes, and that includes you.
This repair work will take hours, so I will meet your future fiancé, and the Count, alone.
Have the servants pour you a bath.
You smell gamey.
Here's a head start.
What do you want? Whatever you're thinking, think twice.
I was thinking we might be friends.
our faith, our opposition to Catholic terror and violence, the fact we both have lost loved ones to such hate.
Were you close to your nephew? The boy whose murderers the king set free? Who are you? Jacob Ravell.
Leader of the Protestants in this region.
There's something you should see.
When we heard the Prince of Condé declared himself a Protestant, we thought you might like to meet some of your brethren.
There are more civil ways to extend an invitation.
Brothers, sisters, fellow Protestants What is this? A Protestant gathering.
These are dark times for our people.
They're afraid to worship in their villages and towns, so they come here.
Your numbers are larger than I thought.
They grow every day, despite persecution.
Christians who only want the freedom to worship.
If you want to prevent them from suffering the same fate as your nephew, then help us.
How? We hear that the king has sent a letter to Rome, asking the Pope to recall his Inquisitors.
Confronting Rome in this way takes courage, and gives us hope that Francis, in his heart, is a tolerant man.
You said you needed my help.
What do you need me to do? Let us pray to our divine God, and for our king.
We must appeal to the Crown.
The first step is to get our minister an audience with the king and queen.
We can't do it.
But you can.
Rosey? Rosey! Where are you, you willful nag? Lord Narcisse.
Lady Lola.
Are you looking for your horse? I just saw her ride off.
Something must have spooked her.
Or someone.
Did you follow me from the castle then scare off my horse? Now why would I do that? To enjoy the pleasure of a few moments of your company alone? Would that flatter you? It's not so much flattering as it is inconvenient.
You can't force me to ride back with you.
Lady Lola, I would never force you to do anything you didn't want.
But it is a very long walk back to the castle.
Oh, yes.
It's quite far.
Oh, wait, what is that I see in the distance? Is that someone coming to your aid? No, sorry.
Perhaps it's a very big wolf.
You're the wolf.
My second wife loved to ride as you do, sitting forward pressed against the pommel.
She would ride around our estate for hours.
How interesting.
Yes, I thought so.
Especially after she told me that that position is particularly invigorating for a lady.
I was trying not to crowd you.
Oh, I don't mind.
Though if you'd truly prefer - to be pressed up - I'm fine.
You don't have to be shy, you know.
I have seen you in the bath.
This is the Protestant minister whose church, a barn really, was burned down by Catholics in the same attack that took my nephew's life.
I remember him.
And the tragic events of that day.
He seeks the Crown's permission to rebuild it.
If you gave your blessing, it would be a public show of support by the king and queen.
And a way to legitimize Protestant worship, if indirectly.
Which is why this request is not a small thing.
It can be perceived in many ways.
At the very least, it'll imply that the Protestants have some kind of protection.
We have heard your request from Lord Condé.
I give you permission to rebuild this place of worship.
This I will do.
But it is all I will do.
With respect, Your Majesty, it is not enough.
And I did not come here to beg for a new barn.
What are you doing? Thanks to your edict, we are being hunted by the Vatican.
You have two days to expel Cardinal Vasari and his Inquisitors from France.
Expel the Vatican? If you refuse, at dawn on the third day, Catholics will die.
We have stolen gunpowder, pounds of it, packed tightly and hidden, - ready to rain hellfire - A bomb.
- down upon hundreds - Arrest him! You will not threaten the Crown.
And if what you say is true, we'll find these explosives if I have to bleed it out of you.
I had no idea I was bringing in a fanatic.
The Protestant leader seemed genuine in his desire for peace.
Even if the minister doesn't speak for all Protestants, he was not working alone.
He had to know that he'd be taken and interrogated once he delivered his threat.
We must find his accomplices.
Or perhaps your friend, their leader, or one of the peaceful Protestants - who kidnapped you.
- This is not Condé's doing.
There's so much anger between the faiths now.
Something like this was coming.
She's right.
Whatever peace exists is fragile.
It might be best to keep this a secret.
If word leaks of a planned Protestant attack against Catholics, there will be panic and retribution.
Very well.
Find out who the minister was working with.
Talk with members of his congregation.
I'll go with Bash.
I've seen their leaders.
Perhaps I'll recognize someone.
I know you don't care for my opinion, but would you please let me help? I could go to them as queen and make a personal appeal.
They threatened us.
If you think I would allow you to go anywhere near It might assuage their anger towards us.
You mean their anger towards me for my recent actions.
Even if you found them, what would you say? That you opposed me at every turn before I made a mess of things? They don't need to hear that, and neither do I.
I think your horse is sufficiently rested.
Oh, we'll be back at the castle soon enough.
I regret our time together will be over.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
What do you mean? You are reluctant to be seen with me because you fear complication, disapproval from your king, or your queen, who you serve.
Oh, there are many other reasons, I assure you.
All of which would be moot if our meetings were, say clandestine.
You're proposing we meet in secret, like thieves, or adulterers? Well, fruit often tastes sweeter when it's forbidden.
Admit it, the prospect intrigues you.
To do something free from the tedium and responsibility of court life.
Something you don't have to explain or defend.
Something purely for your pleasure.
I won't press you for a response now, but you do inspire impatience.
So, I would like an answer soon.
Ah, gentlemen.
Your Majesty.
May I present my son William? Your Majesty.
It is an honor.
Ah, the dashing groom-to-be.
Oh, Claude will be most taken with you.
Unfortunately, she's engrossed in her scripture study.
She will join us soon though.
Perhaps it's for the best, as there is a delicate matter to discuss.
Since arriving at court, we've heard distressing rumors about your daughter's virtue.
My Claude? What could you possibly have heard? There was mention of an improper liaison with a priest.
Do you want to have grandchildren with royal blood? Because that's quite an accomplishment for a count.
Oh, it would be a shame to forfeit that good fortune on unfounded rumors.
Since you make a point of William marrying up, I must confess, I'm curious as to why you'd let Claude marry down.
To enjoy our new friendship with Bavaria that much sooner.
We are eager, as well.
But I must be certain that my son will have a chaste Catholic wife.
I would need assurances of Claude's virtue to proceed with this union.
We have some questions about the minister of your church.
I hear you're long-standing members of his congregation.
I understand your hesitation.
I myself am Protestant.
I've had the pleasure of meeting your leaders, and I assure you, you have nothing to fear from me or the king's deputy.
Our minister is a good man.
He is a compassionate and gentle soul.
We hear he went to the king to ask for our barn to be rebuilt.
A proper place of worship.
He did go to the king.
We're merely here seeking some support for his other requests.
Do you know any of the names of his closest associates? The men he works with to protect the faithful? I can't really say, but you might ask This one here.
The Vatican's guards.
Take the man, and search the house.
They could be hiding other heretics.
Leave them alone.
They've done nothing.
They've been named by their neighbors.
Cardinal Vasari has ordered us to bring in anyone suspected - of lying about their faith.
- There is no need.
I'm already questioning him by authority of the king.
We don't answer to the king or his deputy.
No! Stay back.
Oh.
Move him out.
Francis, I need to speak to you.
Now is not a good time.
I was with Mary earlier, and she's upset.
She's upset with some frequency, to be truthful.
I am aware.
I'm sure you are, and I know why.
Why you push her away, suggesting even that she go to Scotland.
I know why you do these things.
I know it was you who killed Henry.
Narcisse told me, and admitted that he's been blackmailing you.
This is very dangerous knowledge, Lola.
Why would he tell you? Because he suspected you might use me against him.
And he wanted me to side with him, I suppose.
Has he told anyone else? Do you know? No, I don't, but the person that you should tell is Mary.
No.
Narcisse's treachery goes beyond what he might have mentioned in your covert conversations.
Narcisse told me the truth.
You led me to believe that you wanted him dead for political reasons, when it was in fact to protect yourself.
There are many others I protect.
Mary, my mother, my brothers and our baby.
Did he mention that he threatened them, as well? He threatened our son? You sympathize with Narcisse.
Is that why you failed to hide the envelope at his estate, as I asked you to? I told you I threw it out of my carriage window, but I lied.
I planted it behind a painting in his drawing room.
I lied before because I didn't want Narcisse's death on my hands.
Now you surely see what he's capable of.
The only way to save Mary's life and my marriage is to get rid of Narcisse.
That envelope contains a cipher, which is all I need to frame him for treason.
When it is found at his house by the Royal Guard, I will take his head.
I couldn't convince the count of your chastity, but surely God can.
Mother, what have you done? I'm taking advantage of the Vatican's presence here and arranging for them to verify your virtue.
It's a very simple examination.
A virginity test? - One you know I can't possibly pass.
- Which is why I'm assuring the outcome with a sizeable donation.
They will perform the exam tomorrow.
So you're going to let some man prod at me? - Mm.
- While others watch? To marry some Bavarian nobody? You are punishing and cold, and I don't even understand what I'm being punished for.
You know, you'll make a lovely bride once you stop screeching.
I won't do it.
You can't force me to go through with this ridiculous test or to marry.
If someone wants to examine my virtue, they'll have to put me on a rack and pry my legs apart.
Hmm.
Well, the rack it is then! We wish you a safe journey back to your estate, Lord Girard.
Thank you, Your Majesties.
It feels strange, receiving nobles at court as if everything is normal.
If we didn't, people would suspect that something was wrong.
I don't know which is harder.
Pretending there isn't a device that could kill hundreds of innocents or pretending that we're still a happy royal couple.
Condé.
Did you find the Protestant leader, Jacob? Actually, he found me when I was in town.
He claims that the other leaders know nothing of the minister's threats.
He was shocked when I told him.
And you believe him? Well, I'm inclined to.
He came to me at great risk.
He believes this act of terror is the work of a few fringe radicals that want to galvanize Protestants into rising up against the crown.
Does he know who they are or where we can find them? He swore he would give them up if he could.
He knows that if this threat comes to pass, and Catholic lives are lost, it will be the start of a bloody fight his people want no part of.
We're running out of time.
I'll see if there's any progress with the minister.
I can't help feeling we're missing something.
What is it you fear? If the Protestant radicals want to incite mayhem by killing Catholics, why not just set off the explosion? Why send their minister, who they know will surely be tortured and likely killed? A minister much beloved by his flock, people that know nothing of the dire threat he has made.
If the minister is killed, the radicals can use his death as justification for almost any bad act.
- They would create - A martyr.
And his death would inflame even the most pacifist of Protestants.
We must do everything we can to make sure that minister stays alive.
And do what you can to help Francis.
He's completely shut me out, but he might listen to you.
I'll do everything in my power.
But, Mary, he's a fool to shut you out, king or not.
I'm told you refuse to divulge the location of the attack, or the names of your conspirators.
I do not fear those who kill the body, for the soul is eternal.
It's admirable, your willingness to sacrifice your life for your cause.
What about the lives of your congregation? The Vatican's Swiss Guard have been interrogating members of your church.
What do you think they will do when those Catholic lives are lost? How will they punish those innocent men and women who know nothing of your terror or treachery, and believe that you have their welfare at heart? I understand that you did what you thought you had to.
But I've learned there are unintended consequences for our actions, where we end up harming those we swore to protect.
Tell me the location of the attack.
I swear, before you and God, that no more harm will come to your flock.
Vauclair.
It's a monastery in Laon.
We hid the barrel filled with gunpowder in the cellars, beneath the monks' sleeping quarters.
Over here! Keep your torches away.
It's a fuse.
It's not gunpowder, just sawdust.
It's a decoy.
We've wasted a whole day searching, and we still don't know where the real threat is.
Look.
"Sanguis Fluat.
" It's Latin.
What does it mean? Blood will flow.
Claude.
I trust your day has been less than pleasant.
My mother wants me to leave court.
Again.
And she's trying to marry me off to a Bavarian.
I heard.
- I don't want to go to Bavaria.
- I can see that.
So why don't you go somewhere else, out of Catherine's sight? Then maybe she won't push this engagement.
Where? My family has five castles, but as a woman, I'm not permitted to take residence in any of them, without a guardian or a husband.
What about your cousin Babette's estate? You've stayed there before.
Mm, that won't work.
Why? I slept with her fiancée.
Just once.
On a dare.
Oh, why is everyone so judgmental? It's worse out there, in the countryside, which is why I want to stay here.
It's not a return to court you desire.
It's the very best place to be a princess.
It's your mother's attention.
Why would I want anything from her? She doesn't love me.
Not the way she loves Francis or any of her other children.
You're right.
She doesn't.
You've always known it.
I suppose that's what drew me to you when we were children.
I knew what it was like to feel Catherine's anger.
Her resentment.
That's the last thing I need.
My bastard brother feeling sorry for me.
Maybe it's time to move on.
You could view this marriage not as a punishment, but as an opportunity.
A new start somewhere where you have a chance at finding happiness and love.
Bash.
To what do I owe this rare delight? Bavarian trade routes.
Oh.
I looked into the count whose son you want Claude to marry.
The commerce in his region is sparse.
It's not the great alliance you've made it out to be.
So why are you pushing this marriage? You're an economist now.
You know where merchants travel.
I know your motives are often concealed.
And I don't want Claude to be a casualty of them.
It's sweet that you're feeling like you want to protect Claude, but you're overstepping your bounds as her brother? It wouldn't be the first time.
Has she enlisted your help in trying to intervene with me? Actually, I encouraged her not to fight the engagement.
I think she'll be happier in a place where she has a chance of being loved.
I love all my children.
Protecting them, keeping them safe it's what drives my existence.
Oh, you see? You've caught me in a reflective mood.
Each of their names in my gaze as I pray.
I do, I pray for their souls and for mine, more than you might imagine.
I treasure my family, even the ones who didn't survive.
There was Louis.
He was after Francis.
I lost him when he was only a year.
And then there was Emone and Henriette.
Oh, they were so they were tiny when they were born.
Twin girls.
Passed as infants.
Twins, but not identical.
I saw little differences, even as babes.
I used to wonder what they would look like if they could have grown.
Obsessed, for a time, you might say.
The oldest that I could imagine them was eight.
Nine? Each with her own features.
Catherine, are you all right? I have been a bit liberal with my intake.
Hmm.
It's my nerves, given recent events.
Catherine, I know things have been tense.
But you have a living daughter who needs your affection now.
You say you love Claude.
Well, give her some evidence of it before you send her away.
You owe her that much.
My lord, an urgent message.
Lord Narcisse is back from his country manor.
Notify the head of the kingsguard.
I need men ready to leave.
Now.
Stephan Narcisse, you are suspected of treason.
By authority of the king, you will submit to a search of your house.
This is an outrage.
I've committed no crime against the Crown.
Bash and the guards searched Narcisse's home thoroughly.
The cipher was no longer where you planted it.
He must have found it and surely knows that you put it there.
I was with him just yesterday; he didn't let on at all.
This was my only means of disabling his hold on me, and it failed.
Now I may have put you in danger by involving you.
I'll assign a guard for your safety, in the event that Narcisse tries to retaliate.
I can't have a guard following me around.
How would I explain it to Mary? - Make up a reason.
- No.
If Narcisse is intent on harming me, he'll find a way, but I doubt he'd be that reckless.
Enter.
Your Majesty.
Urgent news from Lord Condé and the search party.
We searched the monastery and found nothing.
Except a warning in Latin: - "Sanguis Fluat.
" - "Blood will flow.
" So the minister lied about the location of the device? More likely, his cohorts lied to him so he couldn't divulge the true location even under torture.
He's still our only hope.
Even if he doesn't know where it is, he could give us the name of his conspirators.
If the minister is still alive.
I doubt he will be after Francis hears of this.
I gave you a chance to save yourself and your people, and this is how you repay me? I I told you the truth, I swear it.
I put the device there with my own hands.
You sent my men on a futile hunt! They found nothing but sawdust and threats! No, no, that's not that's not possible.
They lied to me.
By "they," you mean your conspirators? Tell me their names.
More! Tell me their names, or I swear I'll have your arms ripped from your body! - Francis, stop! - Stay out of it, Mary.
You're killing him.
Even if he doesn't know where it is, we can't afford to make him a martyr.
Don't let the act of one man poison thousands against us.
Stop.
Take him off.
Bone's dislodged from the socket, Your Majesty.
I never meant for any of this to happen.
I hope you know that.
I didn't hear from you about my offer.
Though attempting to frame me for treason should be answer enough, I suppose.
When did you know? I found the item you planted soon after you visited.
When the kingsguard didn't immediately arrive, I thought you'd had a change of heart.
I did, but But what? It saddens me that you chose Francis a weak, patricidal king over the future we might have shared.
You told me you were a patriot, resorting to blackmail for the good of France.
Was it also for the good of France to threaten my baby, my queen, my friends? I merely warned Francis of the consequences should his line be deposed.
I thought it might motivate him to be a better ruler.
I'm to believe it was a tactic? I would never hurt your baby, Lola.
But don't misunderstand your child is at risk, and always will be, as the son of the king.
And there is a target on your back as well.
You could've used the extra safety my friendship would have offered.
You are no friend.
Or patriot.
You're just a dangerous man.
Well, perhaps it's escaped your notice, but the world is a dangerous place! And one day, you will wish you had someone like me to protect you from it.
Your Highness, it's time.
Princess, this will be over soon.
The minister isn't recovering.
His arm has been set, but there are signs of bleeding under the skin, pooling near his chest.
Isn't there a physician or a surgeon who can heal him? There is a skilled healer in Epernay, but that's half a day's ride from here.
By the time we send word and he arrives, it'll be too late.
We have to keep this minister alive, at all costs.
Take the minister to Epernay.
It'll save time.
Come.
I'm sorry you had to endure that wretched procedure.
You look so beautiful.
It may not seem like it now, but it is for your own good that you will soon be married and away from this castle.
Why? All the nannies are struggling with her, Your Majesty.
I wouldn't be so direct, but No, I asked.
Go on.
Princess Claude is Well, she's very jealous of the little ones.
She says they paw at her and that they ruin things.
Ruin what, exactly? My dress.
They pulled the flowers off it.
She says they ruin everything.
She looks at them with such hatred.
She pinches them.
Claude, is that true? I'm not pleased.
Shh, shh, shh.
All right.
Shh, shh.
Mother what is it? Oh, the things that I've done for you.
How I have protected you.
Do you think that I don't love you? You can't see? In my way, I have mothered you more than any of my children.
Then don't make me marry.
Don't make me leave.
It's done.
Whoa! We've got to move this tree! Ah, my brothers.
Thank God you found me.
I told them the bomb was in Laon, and they found nothing, but I fear I've betrayed our cause.
I assure you, Father, you have not.
You couldn't betray us, because there was never a bomb.
To have brought this matter before the Vatican.
You have showed us more consideration than we deserve.
Oh.
I regret any misunderstandings I may have caused.
It will be my honor to call Princess Claude family.
Oh, what a lovely sentiment.
Lord Narcisse.
We haven't had the pleasure.
Your very friendly introduction is a delight, Princess.
Though I suspect it's just a show for your mother.
Which is a pity, because I find myself recently unattached, and I might enjoy your company.
I like a man who can so firmly express his interest.
Though I should warn you, I'm not some hapless priest or one of those boys you toy with.
Are you sure you're up to the challenge? Uh before you get up, Princess, would you do me the kindness of passing me my cape? I woke up thinking something was wrong.
The babies were too quiet.
I I went to the nursery to check on them, and at first, I thought they were still asleep.
I tried to rouse them.
My Emone.
My Henrietta.
They were suffocated.
It was hard to see at first, until I looked into their windpipes and found this.
One in each of their throats.
No! - Bash, you're wounded.
- They say I'll recover.
I hope quickly.
We were traveling when we got word of the attack.
I'm sorry that you lost your men.
Thankfully, Bash made it out alive and had the good sense to come here.
Condé's town home was the closest place I could think to go where I knew I'd be safe.
What happened? We were ambushed by armed men.
They knew we were transporting the minister.
I think they were his Protestant comrades; he seemed to know them.
They took the minister with them? But not before they ran him through with a sword.
Why would they kill one of their own? There's more.
I heard them say that there is no bomb.
- There never was.
- Well, that makes no sense.
Why threaten the Crown with something that doesn't exist? What is it? There's a disturbance in the town.
Something to do with the minister.
Hanged like a heretic! This is the Crown's doing! They have to know it was not our doing.
- I must tell them.
- No.
It's not safe.
Your faith is blasphemy.
It won't stop with our minister.
They won't stop until they've killed us all! This is what the radicals wanted for the Protestants to rise up against the Catholics, against us.
When we didn't kill their minister, they did it themselves.
"Blood will flow.
" This is their bomb.
Protestant heretics deserve what they get! To hell with your Pope and your vicious king! I order you to stand back! Get back! Get back! You must leave.
Now.
You'll be safe here.
I'll get your carriage.
You did this to us.
To France.
For all that you claim you're trying to protect us, I have lost all faith in you and the man I thought you were.
He is the only pure and joyful thing that remains in my life.
I've ruined everything.
My marriage, my rule, perhaps the future of France.
I can't imagine the weight of your burdens.
But I understand why you've done the things you have.
You love your wife your family.
You're a good man, Francis.