Previously, on Reign... I see you have Nicole well in hand.
I played her masterfully.
She wants to be a courtesan. In return,
she is guiding Charles for us.
I am meant to help you,
Mary, Queen of Scots.
It is my purpose.
Rizzio, I am blessed
to have the loyalty you have placed in me.
You must say that I acted on my own.
You must ban me from Scotland.
Summon Lord Bothwell.
I know he would rather die than see you harmed.
I've kept you safe, and aware of Darnley's true nature
at every turn. You're my Loyal Watchman.
Yes.
Leeza said Charles is unwell
and I was needed immediately.
Your brother is quite recovered, Henri.
So he's not going to be abdicating?
No.
I am pregnant with your child.
I will be a good father and a good husband.
On that you have my oath.
She certainly adores her mother.
You'll know the feeling soon enough.
I hope so.
Thank you for returning to court, Greer.
I'd lose my mind keeping this secret alone.
Only Darnley knows you're pregnant?
I told James before he left.
I was hard on you about James.
Yes, but you were right.
In trying to protect my throne, I...
put my brother in a dangerous position
that ended with his banishment.
And now I fear there is a cost for everyone I love.
Well, Darnley should be safe, then.
For your information, Darnley's been
on very good behavior recently.
It sounds like you're warming up to him.
I'm not sure I can,
but he is the father of my child, and...
he's trying.
So I can try as well.
Could something else be in the way, perhaps? Something...
tall, handsome and Scottish?
If you are talking about Lord Bothwell...
Mary.
I've been looking for you.
I have news from England.
I'll leave you two alone.
It's not public knowledge yet,
but my friends at home in England are saying
that our marriage has pressured Queen Elizabeth
the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria.
A Catholic?
Yes. Elizabeth has had
countless suitors, and she's never married.
She won't go through with it.
You married me.
Didn't you?
To ensure your survival against your cousin?
Well, now she is doing the same.
If Elizabeth marries the archduke,
we will lose our Catholic advantage.
The Vatican may shift its support to England.
Because they will already have
a Catholic king on the English throne.
Yes.
I know that we now have a child to consider,
but if we wish to take England, our forces
must strike before Elizabeth announces her engagement.
It is now or never.
I always knew this day would come,
that as queen, I would have to order the attack, but yet...
It is still a terrifying decision.
But you won't have to face Elizabeth alone.
Just say the word, and I will call forth
my English allies to help us.
1550 Bordeaux.
Delicate nose.
Floral.
Earthy.
Yes, I do like that.
You've taught me so much
about wine,
court...
and men.
And... how is King Charles?
His younger brother's presence is bound to shake him.
This morning the king seemed concerned
that Henri is taller and stronger.
I acted as if I hadn't noticed,
as if no man is bigger
than Charles in my eyes.
Well done.
A king's confidence is essential,
and you are the source
of Charles' confidence. And you
are the source of my happiness.
That's incredible, Henri.
Every battle is incredible.
I can't describe it, but the air you breathe changes.
It's full of terror,
of life and death.
And the sound
is deafening, like a thunder.
You can't imagine if you've never b...
Charles! Nicole! I was just wondering where you were.
What's going on?
Henri planned a family celebration.
In your honor, brother. No one told me
about this. We just
happened to be passing by
and heard the music.
Someone should have told you.
I'll find that servant and toss him.
But you're here now.
To the king!
Henri, show him what you brought.
Let's see.
I have jewelry, like this temple ring.
A Hungarian saber
taken from the front lines.
I also thought we could have
some fun with this.
It's called The Goetia... The book of black magic.
I took it from the last surviving Turk on a battlefield
full of dead soldiers.
Before I killed him, he swore its spells
are what kept him alive.
What kind of spells?
Anything your heart desires.
I was thinking we could perform some magic on Charles.
I don't believe in this nonsense.
I'm sorry that I'm late.
Even Mother was invited?
Henri was just showing us his Goetia.
We're going to do some magic.
Give that to me. This instant!
Henri, why did you...
bring this into French court?
You know that this is dangerous. I'm sorry, Mother.
I forgot you're a believer in the occult.
The great seer Nostradamus showed me there are forces
beyond our understanding.
- Stay away from this. - Well...
who wants to dance?
Charles?
What is that?
Don't be cross.
I was just trying to show Charles a good time.
Is that so?
I know that you came here expecting.
Charles' throne, and to be denied
is certainly a disappointment.
But we mustn't let Spain
divide us from within.
I have recently written to your sister
detailing all of Charles' victories
against the Protestants,
and I am praying that she allows him to stay on the throne.
You should do the same, Henri.
When one Valois
is weakened, the entire line is threatened.
I will pray for him, Mother.
I promise.
Our current plan is to take Queen Elizabeth hostage
in her own castle.
I've invited my most trusted English friend,
Lord Barrett, to lead the mission.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Elizabeth's castle has vulnerabilities
on the south side that we've long been aware of.
King Darnley's allies across the border
will join our cause,
but we will need gold to fund the coup,
and we will need more men.
If you can give me an advance team of your most skilled
Scottish soldiers, then I can bring them across the border
and into England to recruit more to our side.
Then we will have the numbers
to seize her castle in the dead of night.
Once Elizabeth is captured, and the castle is secure,
the Scottish navy will attack from the shores.
Our infantry will move in from the borderlands,
and should all go according to plan,
Spain will follow suit,
and England will be won. Yes, but I have to ask.
Can my fellow English count on you, Queen Mary?
On the night of the coup, Darnley's allies will all
be risking death without ever having met you.
And they will need more assurance than my word.
Tell your men that I recognize
that they are risking their lives to install myself,
and King Darnley, on the English throne.
And so I offer them my royal seal...
as a promise of my support.
With the full power of the Scottish military.
I know that they are risking everything,
and by trusting them with my seal,
so am I. The question remains,
once Elizabeth is taken prisoner,
what will we do with her?
I pray
that my cousin will publicly acknowledge me
as the rightful heir to England.
And if she doesn't?
We will make that decision when the day comes.
When the English throne is ours,
we'll look back to this as the moment that changed everything.
Darnley, I...
couldn't have done it without you.
I'm honored you've chosen me as your intended, Queen Elizabeth.
Archduke Ferdinand, you certainly have risen
above your competition.
I am well aware you've been looking for a Catholic king.
Yes, I have.
And you are...
everything I've been looking for.
However, any public announcement should wait
until our countries have agreed to terms.
Tomorrow's event with the nobles
will simply be a public stroll.
I can do that.
Elizabeth,
I hope you know
I'm not just marrying you to share a crown.
I want something real.
As do I.
I only have a few moments, but I needed to see you.
How is the archduke treating you?
Fine. He's perfectly nice.
But when he talks, and
he talks quite a bit...
all I can think of is you.
I hate to admit this, but...
I-it's more difficult than I imagined,
your marrying another.
Is it too difficult for you?
Can you live like this?
I just want what's best
for your reign.
If our situation becomes too complicated,
too painful
for either of us,
I'll simply disappear.
No. Don't say that.
I want you to stay.
Lord Bothwell.
What are you doing here?
The queen sent for me to return to court.
Even if she did, it's not the time
for you to be distracting Mary with your presence.
Bothwell?
I am so sorry, Mary.
So that's Bothwell.
The man who despises me,
and you invited him here.
After James left I was upset.
I needed someone I could trust.
I promised you that I would be by your side
as a true husband, and you do this.
I'm sorry, Darnley.
Calm down; I'll take care of this.
I got your message.
Are you all right?
I'm... I'm fine.
Forgive me,
I should never have sent for you.
I disagree.
I'm trying to improve my... situation
here at court.
And though I appreciate your coming,
I must ask you to leave.
You heard the queen, didn't you?
She asked you to leave.
Though I'm glad that we finally get to meet,
since I've heard such a lot
about the, what do you call it?
The Loyal Watchman.
You wrote Mary some very nasty letters about me,
and yet here I am,
ruler of Scotland.
So aren't you going to bow to your new king?
No.
You may wear the Scottish crown, Darnley,
but you'll always be English by birth.
And I must confess, I don't like English people.
Bothwell. They've crossed our borders
and slaughtered our countrymen for 300 years.
If I could bathe these hills in English blood,
I would. So no, I will never bow to you.
I would rather die.
Clearly.
Stop. Guards, stand down.
There will be no bloodshed in my court.
Very well.
By the queen's mercy, you may walk
out of this castle with your life.
But as punishment for your defiance,
you will never return.
Please, go.
That ball was long, brother.
I think it was in.
It's true, Charles.
The ball was in; It's Henri's point.
30-love.
It's all right, Charles, you can do this.
You're the king, after all.
Brilliant, strong,
master of all you survey,
and I adore you.
Well, she's a devoted subject.
You know, this is nice, watching your brothers play.
I'm not all that close to my siblings.
Well, you can certainly borrow mine.
Go on, Charles.
I wonder who's winning.
The match isn't over, Henri.
And it's my serve. No need, brother, I've got one.
Here.
My nose.
Henri, what the hell was that?
I didn't mean to. It was an accident.
Charles, are you all right?
Get him to the infirmary.
You struck your brother with a tennis ball
packed full of rocks.
I took the balls out of the bin and played.
I had no idea... You're lying.
Narcisse saw you take this out of your own pocket.
You are purposefully
undermining the king.
You're throwing parties, you're treating this court
as if it's yours.
And I have seen the way you eye his young love, Nicole.
Despite your reassurances,
you want his throne.
Leeza says he's not right in the head.
That I am needed. I've led armies.
What's Charles done?
He was born first. That's all he has to do.
That is how a monarchy works, how it endures.
Look at me.
This ambition that you carry
endangers not only your brother's life, but your own.
Yes, Charles has struggled,
but he has finally adjusted to the crown
and he will fight for it.
So you will apologize to your brother,
tonight at dinner, in front of the whole family.
Or what? What can you do when, last I checked,
Spain wants me in power?
Leeza's not going to change her mind.
Perhaps I can change it for her.
This dirty little memento that you brought back,
The Goetia.
That was just a trinket, a joke.
Actually, it's heresy.
And neither Spain nor the Vatican
take very kindly to heretics.
You would never accuse your own son of witchcraft.
I would if it stopped you
from tearing this family apart,
from inciting a civil war.
The lord chancellor
will corroborate my accusation
and you will be ruined.
Fine.
I'll apologize to Charles tonight.
Am I disturbing you?
No, come in.
I'm drafting a letter to Spain, telling them of our plans.
Well, I've received an update from my friend, Lord Barrett.
He and the Scottish soldiers have arrived safely in England,
and are waiting to turn over the gold to my Catholic allies.
Well, that's good news.
Darnley, we should talk about what happened in the courtyard.
With Bothwell gone, I've put it out of my mind.
But there is something I'd like to discuss.
We are so close to getting everything we want.
Scotland and England,
Elizabeth no longer a threat.
And now we have a little one
to consider, too.
Should anything ever happen to you,
don't you want me to continue to protect Scotland?
I think we should reconsider the Crown Matrimonial.
No one would fight for our child's future
as fiercely as I will.
Why are you so worried
about something happening to me?
I would think you would protect me
as you would your unborn child.
Of course I would!
You know I would.
Then why is it necessary?
Are you really going to continue
to resist granting me what I deserve?
It is my blood, my allies that give you England.
As it stands, you are telling the whole world
that you are the sole ruler of Scotland
and that I am powerless!
And we come back to this again.
How many times must you disappoint me, Darnley?
You know, it's funny, but the truth is
that because I am without power,
I am also without risk.
If Elizabeth should find that seal,
you're the one in danger.
If the plan should go wrong,
and those men never make it out of England alive,
you alone would be implicated.
She would know that you were behind it, as well.
Would she?
If I confirmed
your efforts to destroy her,
allowing her to justifiably come after you...
would she care?
Are you actually threatening your wife and queen
when I am carrying our child?
That child exists solely to replace me.
I have given you everything that you wanted.
Now it's my turn.
Do not deny me this,
or you will lose England.
You will lose
everything that you have fought for your entire life.
The soup is delicious.
Such a medley of tastes.
I have something to say.
When I was fighting the Turks,
we were vastly outnumbered at Dumar.
But I led us to victory
after eating the very same soup,
which I asked the cook to make.
It bolsters one's strength.
Henri.
Don't you have something to say to the king?
Right.
Charles, I'd like to apologize to you.
Did you hear that, Charles?
I'm truly sorry.
I forgot how traumatized you've been
since your terrible kidnapping.
Henri!
How rattled you've been
by the pressures of ruling.
Those whispers about
your odd and ghastly habits...
Get out of my court!
I wish I could leave,
but Spain wants me here.
Spain begged me to come.
What? Spain did what?
You're a liar!
You're a liar and you have no reason
to stay here any longer!
Dinner is officially over!
Everybody should retire. There are warships
waiting in the harbor, should I need them.
You might be my elder brother,
but I am stronger than you in every way.
More's the pity,
which is what they all feel for you.
Especially her.
Charles, would you please?
All right, well,
if you haven't forgotten it, then what is it?
Would you just, um, give me a moment.
I don't know why you're following me, Rizzio.
Queen Mary needs to speak with you.
It's serious.
She told me to stay away.
Desperate times.
I need to abort
the mission in England,
but I can't abandon my men;
I need to return them home,
along with the evidence Darnley is holding against me:
My royal seal.
I need you to retrieve it all.
It would be an unsanctioned mission.
If you were captured on English soil...
I know what happens to me.
I realize what I am asking of you.
But I have nowhere to turn and no one else I can trust.
You don't need anyone else.
You must find Darnley's ally, Lord Barrett.
Do you know where? No.
Darnley lied to me about their location.
But I do know someone who could help, Gideon Blackburn.
You want me to ask a former flame
and advisor to Queen Elizabeth
for information about men plotting against her?
It's because he cares for me and my cousin
that he is likely to help.
I know we hardly know each other,
and yet here I am, asking you to risk everything for me.
With or without your crown,
I would do anything for you.
Bothwell.
Be safe.
I was so excited
for my family to be together again.
But we're a disaster.
Charles is damaged,
Henri's ruthless,
and my mother is
Catherine de Medici.
Now that you've seen
me and my family up close,
you must be disappointed.
Still think I offer you
a promising future?
I don't regret a thing.
And you are no disappointment.
Perhaps, when we
start a family of our own,
it can be different.
Luc.
You're a good man, but you should know that...
I'm not in love with you.
I'm not in love with you, either.
Yet.
Good.
Foolish Henri.
You had a chance to make amends tonight,
but you squandered it.
Now I see no other option
but to inform Spain that their prize pony
dabbles in the occult.
Or you could do nothing.
Tell me, Lord Chancellor,
is the king aware that you and his beloved Nicole are lovers?
Yes, I've noticed Nicole disappear
shortly after you leave a room.
How do you think my brother would react if he knew?
Do you think blackmail will protect you?
How endearing.
But let me offer some advice:
Next time you threaten someone,
make sure you have proof.
A theory
is nothing more than a feather.
Tickles.
Don't worry, you're young.
You will get better at this.
That is outrageous!
Henri attacks his brother, the king,
defies his own mother,
and then he has the nerve to threaten you?
Well, enough is enough. Yeah.
We will draft
a letter to the Vatican.
I don't care if he is my child.
He wants to act like a young buck,
I will make him a doe.
Catherine. Sit down.
We are not going to do anything to Henri.
That boy has earned my respect.
Narcisse... We have been backing the wrong horse.
For months trying to
make Charles act like a king.
Well, Henri is a king.
Look at him. In the few weeks he has been here
he has already shown more confidence,
cunning and boldness than Charles ever has,
and ever will.
By taking out his brother with a ball full with rocks?
It's cruel,
but inventive.
Spanish warships are backing him. If that isn't kingly,
I don't know what is.
Face it, Catherine,
Henri is the future.
What exactly are you suggesting?
Removing Charles by force?
Even if there's a peaceful way of transferring power,
which there isn't,
Charles would not survive.
He will always be seen as a threat
to Henri's reign.
He will be murdered one way or another.
And the entire Valois line will be vulnerable.
Maybe not.
If there was a strong king like Henri
to replace him.
I like Charles, but...
he is irreversibly damaged from whatever he endured
at the hands of the Red Knights.
But it's too late.
For everyone. So you're with Henri, then?
Against Charles?
Against me?
I am on no one's side
but my own.
But I am done with fighting a losing battle.
Spain wants Henri on the throne,
and you do not have the power
to save Charles.
Not anymore.
I am going to scream.
He invited me on a four-hour carriage ride
through the country. Tonight.
Very romantic.
He's a nice enough person, but four hours?
Gideon, you have to get me out of it.
I'm merely asking for tonight.
Fine. I'll make something up
just before you leave, some... important business
that will allow you to cancel.
Well, it better work.
I expect this important business
to keep us occupied
the entire night.
Lord Blackburn,
you have an Italian visitor here to speak with you.
You see?
Works every time.
Lord Blackburn. My name is David Rizzio.
My associate and I apologize for arriving unannounced. Yes.
I'm not sure why you asked to speak with me, personally.
We have an Italian consulate
which might be better suited to...
Actually, t-this is a Scottish matter, actually,
one requiring your discretion.
My discretion?
Queen Mary is in danger.
And we wish to resolve the threat against her
without divulging her weaknesses to Elizabeth.
I'm sorry, but I don't know you.
And I work for Queen Elizabeth, not Mary.
You nearly married the queen of Scots to protect her.
She said we could trust you to protect her life.
Was she mistaken?
I didn't get your associate's name.
Apologies for Lord Bothwell's tongue.
I think what he means is that Mary's situation is dire.
There is a noble here on English soil
who would do her harm. Lord Barrett.
Yes, I know him, he's Darnley's man.
And a Catholic. Yes.
It is critical that we find Barrett
before he carries out the deadly threat,
because if something terrible should happen to Mary,
we will all be responsible.
Gideon, will you help us?
I hate waiting.
Not knowing if the men I sent are alive or dead.
I hate it almost as much as I hate myself
for trusting Darnley again.
I need to speak to the queen. Alone.
Greer has heard all about your threats.
You can speak freely.
Fine.
You need to make a decision.
If you still want England,
then grant me the Crown Matrimonial.
Darnley, she needs rest in her condition...
This is between me and my wife.
And you are just stalling for time.
Now, the privy council
are already assembled downstairs.
Sign the Crown Matrimonial,
and we can make the announcement together.
I know how difficult this is for you.
I promise, you won't regret it.
This is the right thing to do, Mary.
For us.
For our child.
I will be a true king,
and we will finally be equals.
I made you king.
But we will never be equals.
You just lost England.
I will warn Elizabeth against you,
and when she gets word of your plot,
she will come for you.
And she will take your head.
Do what you must, Darnley,
but I will never sign.
We do not make our move on Elizabeth until King Darnley
gives the order. Now, I am in command
of this operation,
and we will continue to wait here for further instructions.
Lord Barrett, the wait is over.
Queen Mary says you're all to return to Scottish soil at once.
The mission has been aborted.
Stay where you are.
You're Queen Mary's secretary.
The Italian. Well, I don't know how you found me,
but I do not work for your queen.
I serve King Darnley.
And until I hear from him,
these men are not going anywhere.
Lord Barrett, let me explain
the royal hierarchy?
You see, Darnley is only king consort,
so he has no...
Maybe you didn't hear my friend.
The mission is aborted!
Now, where is Mary's seal?
I don't have it.
Lie to me again, and I will open you up, right here
in your own house.
Gentlemen. Please load Queen Mary's gold
onto the carriage and mount your horses.
We're going home.
Lord Bothwell.
We found him spying on us. He's alone.
You shouldn't have come here, Gideon. We had a deal.
Yes. You told me this threat against Mary
didn't concern Elizabeth.
I just wanted to see for myself.
And how much did you see?
What do you want me to say?
Bothwell.
He's seen too much. He's going to report Mary's plan
back to Elizabeth.
It's not your call, Bothwell,
it's Queen Mary's.
You're right.
Take him with us.
Is something wrong, Your Majesty?
No.
I just sent for one of my servants
to retrieve a blanket against the cold.
Did you find Gideon?
No, Your Majesty.
I've asked every servant on the grounds.
They say he left hours ago.
Any word on where he went?
No.
Mary?
It's all right, Gideon.
You're in Scotland.
Scotland?
No, no, no.
I've got to get back. No. You can't leave.
You have information that can't get back to my cousin.
Are you going to kill me, Mary?
I need you to understand that I am no longer
pursuing Elizabeth's throne.
Really? You're just giving up on England?
I can't worry about England anymore.
I have enemies here in Scotland
who are seeking to destroy me and take my crown.
I thought my husband would...
would be my ally,
but... he is a danger to me.
Mary. I'm so sorry.
But you were planning to move on Elizabeth.
Soldiers, the gold...
She never needs to know.
It didn't happen.
It never happened, Gideon,
because I stopped it.
Gideon, after all we've been through,
I must ask you to bend the rules one last time.
Promise me you're no longer a threat to her.
I swear it.
Release me, then,
and Elizabeth will never hear of what you did.
You have my word.
Thank you.
You shouldn't have let him go.
He gave me his word.
And you gave yours.
Have you truly abandoned your pursuit of Elizabeth's throne?
I don't know.
I can't take England with Darnley.
And from here on out, I must do everything in my power
to keep this disastrous marriage from ruining me.
You warned me not to marry.
Darnley and I should have listened to you.
I am so...
tired of thinking about him.
You once told me that you weren't as strong as I thought.
But you are.
I am married.
And a queen.
And you can't afford to make a mistake.
It's a lovely day outside,
you should get some fresh air.
You're upset.
Where's Nicole?
Doesn't she usually lift your spirits?
I don't know where she's gone. What Henri said,
about Spain...
Put his nonsense out of your mind.
No. Tell me the truth.
Do they really want Henri to take my place?
Charles, you know...
I am anointed by God.
And if Spain really wants to see the rightful.
King of France deposed,
they'll have to kill me.
Charles.
I would never let that happen.
Ever.
You are my son.
And you are going to prove stronger
than anyone ever imagined.
Next time you go drinking in Cornwall with your friends,
you should tell me.
You just disappeared, and I thought...
What?
I thought maybe our relationship had grown too painful.
Elizabeth...
Just listen.
I just spent hours in a carriage
with a man who is kind and handsome,
and I kept thinking to myself,
how can I spend a life with someone I don't love,
when the man who means
everything to me will be kept at a distance?
And I realized I can't.
I'm not gonna marry him, Gideon.
But you have to.
What?
No, I don't.
I wasn't drinking in a tavern.
I was working with Mary.
Mary.
What happened?
There was a threat of a Catholic coup
against you.
Mary asked me to help prevent it, and I... and I did.
Who else was involved?
Catholics who wanted to see Mary on your throne,
but... but she called it off.
There was a threat of a coup forming?
Are you really going to continue to defend my rival?
No. I'm not.
You were right. As long as Mary's alive,
there will always be Catholics who want her on your throne.
Unless you share it with someone of their faith.
To stay alive, you must marry the archduke.
What's Bothwell doing here?
I banished him from court.
And I invited him back.
He's now my bodyguard.
And Rizzio is my new adviser.
How lovely for the three of you.
Why did you send for me, Mary?
Is it because you've rethought your decision?
If so, I am more than willing to do my part
to move forward in peace.
Together, we can still take England.
No, Darnley. We can't.
My seal.
Safely retrieved from England.
Along with my gold
and my countrymen.
Could we...
speak alone?
No.
Mary, please.
We both know that things got out of hand
last night, but believe me,
I am sorry.
It's too late for apologies, Darnley.
The threats you made can never be taken back.
And they will never be forgiven.
I lost my temper.
We both know I didn't mean what I said.
I-I would never betray you to Elizabeth.
We are finished, Darnley.
Well, that's it, then.
You win.
But I never really had a chance, did I?
I gave you every chance!
You're the one sitting on the throne.
I am your king in name only.
Not a real king, and I'm certainly not a real husband.
But, if that's what you want,
then from now on, I will do nothing but drink
and whore my way through Scotland.
Bothwell. Arrest him.
You can't arrest me,
Mary. Have you forgotten that the child
in your belly needs a father?
You didn't know.
All I have to do
is say that that child isn't mine,
and you and your heir will both pay the price.
You would condemn your own child?
And who would believe you?
Any man would.
You and your new bodyguard seem very close.
You're trying to take all my power away.
But I'm still your husband,
and I still have the power to ruin you.
Get out of my sight.
Get out!
No.