Reign (2013–2017): Season 3, Episode 11 - Succession - full transcript

Dirty vermin.

Steady now.

Sweet God.

Charles' coronation is in a week.

The surrounding
villages are all planning

celebrations in his honor.

I want bread and wine
delivered to every town

as a show of our new king's
kindness and generosity.

As master of coin, I must inform you,

the cost for the coronation festivities

has grown quite high.



With coffers still low
from the Scottish war,

we must be sure...

To show the world King Charles

is a force to be reckoned with.

I agree, Lord Fluret.

Now that the mourning period
has passed for Francis,

it's time to see the House
of Valois in all its glory.

And in order to do that,
we need to put on a show.

Your Highness.

I believe this belongs to you.

Your new king's guard
uniform suits you well.

Thanks to the regent
for getting me hired.

I want to take you right here.

It's been some time now.



Well, I have been a bit preoccupied.

Rest assured, I'll make it up to you.

Thank you for retrieving my button.

Butcher, where are we with the menu

for the coronation feast?

500 tiny pink piglets await slaughter.

The extravagance.

That cost is unnecessary.

Not for a king.

Suckling pig it is.

Madam Regent.

We agreed on pheasant.

It's cheaper.

Not as much fun for me.

I like the squeal of a pig.

There's something not
right with you, butcher boy.

My knives need sharpening.

I'm pleased that you're
here, Lord Narcisse.

I have something for you.

- It's a speech.
- A toast.

I wrote it for you to honor
me at the coronation feast.

Is this to further my humiliation?

Watching the privy council
strip you of the regency

and then hand it to
me was pleasure enough.

No, this is to ensure
that the world knows

I have your undying support.

I'm so looking forward
to hearing you deliver it,

on such an important occasion,

with so many, many people in attendance.

I can hardly wait.

What's happened?

There was a gruesome discovery

in the castle tunnels.

I knew Scotland was turning
towards Protestantism,

but this, this man, John
Knox, my mother hated him.

He was a thorn in Marie
de Guise's side for years.

And what he's written
here, it's-it's an atrocity.

Such hatred for Catholics.

And women.

Specifically, female monarchs.

His followers grow daily.

He wants a man to rule Scotland,

which does not bode well for
my return to secure my throne.

But there is a way for
a woman to push back

against a bully like Knox,
a strong marriage alliance.

Surely with so many dignitaries
visiting for the coronation

you've made some headway?

Perhaps if we were to take
another course of action.

King Erik of Sweden is
attending the coronation

and he is in need of a bride.

Erik of Sweden is a Protestant.

An interfaith marriage
could help stem the tide

of anti-Catholic sentiment.

It would be seen as a
gesture of tolerance.

Or the move of a
weakened Catholic queen,

bending to Knox and his followers.

The Vatican would see it as a betrayal.

I would no longer have their support,

no chance of asking
for money or soldiers

in the time of a crisis.

If you don't make some concessions,

I'm afraid you may find yourself
without a country to go back to.

Perhaps.

But until then, I will reach
out to another female monarch,

see what she thinks of this
destabilizing force, John Knox.

Mary, I've been looking for you.

Your Majesty.

I want you to take a position of honor

in my royal procession.

That's very kind of you, Charles,

but it would be breaking from tradition

to have the widow of the
late king in your procession.

I know it's unorthodox,
but it will show the world

that France is behind
you, that I am behind you.

I can think of no better
way to honor Francis

than having you there
with me as I'm crowned.

Then it would be my honor as well.

A woman-hating zealot like
John Knox could threaten

both England and Scotland
if given the chance.

I assure you, Elizabeth
and her court feel the same.

Knox's teachings have gained
ground in England as well.

So rest assured, you're not the
only female ruler he despises.

We should form a coalition against him.

I agree. Perhaps a common foe

will finally ease
tensions with your cousin.

I'll write to Elizabeth at once,
telling her of your concerns.

Could you also inquire
about Lady Lola's family

and the remaining Scottish hostages?

They were to be released
when Lola arrived in England,

but we have heard nothing.

Court business is at a standstill

while the queen is away
recuperating from her poisoning.

However, I understand she's
scheduled to return home soon.

Very well.

That concludes our business then.

This was nice.

Has been quite some time

since we've seen one another.

For business.

I've had no need for
diplomatic negotiations of late.

So unless you have something else

of an official nature to discuss.

I do. The terms of
securing a dance with you

at the coronation feast.

I thought I made it quite
clear that our relationship

should stick strictly
to political matters.

You did. I just figured you'd be eager

to see a friendly face on the day.

Can't imagine you're
looking forward to it.

Well, why would you say that?

I'm quite happy for Charles.

Perhaps I am a little bit out of sorts.

It wasn't so long ago

that Francis and I were being
crowned rulers of France.

Now I am a guest at court,

an ornamental queen,
here and in Scotland.

Mary, you have to know you
mean so much more than that.

You're a...

And who do we have here?

Queen Mary, let me introduce
you to my daughter, Aggy.

It's Agatha.

Come now, dear.

We're heading out for
a picnic in the garden.

You most certainly are not.

You are unwell.

Report to the infirmary
for treatment at once.

Now who will take care of me?

Well, me of course.

What's that in your ear?

May I go play with my doll, please?

Yes.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

I can easily charm angry queens.

Don't be so sure of yourself.

This little girl has
me completely unnerved.

Elizabeth has kept you
separated since her birth.

Getting to know each other
is going to take time.

Now, what have you two done
together since she arrived?

Same thing my father did with me...

breakfast and tucking in at bedtime.

Oh, Gideon, you have so many
lost years to make up for.

Take her out of this stuffy castle.

Go and do something fun.

Very well. Where are we going?

"We"?

You were a little girl once.

You know what little girls like.

Not to mention you did just
relieve me of my governess.

The man was a castle squire
who disappeared a few days ago.

It was only when we dug him up

we discovered the other body.

The woman was highborn.

Previous victims were
left to be discovered.

He's hiding them, burying
them beneath the castle.

How is he getting the bodies

into the tunnels without being seen?

I don't know, but I will find out.

This coronation is meant
to celebrate Charles,

a strong king with a
powerful regent at his side.

Well, this certainly doesn't
look good for you, Catherine...

having a killer on the loose
on such an important occasion

with so many, many people in attendance.

Perhaps I should make some
alterations to my speech.

I assure you all,

you are safe here in the
castle for the coronation.

We will have every
available king's guard

hunting around the clock.

I have the situation under control.

16 livre, not an ounce more.

Is someone there?

What on earth are we doing,

traveling in this rattrap of a carriage?

I apologize for your discomfort.

It's certainly not befitting

a queen's official return to court.

But we have to travel
undercover for your own safety.

My safety?

The last time your royal coach

journeyed from the castle,

it was pelted with stones

and rotten food.

I see public opinion has
not been kind in my absence.

Rumors persist that Robert
Dudley was your lover,

that he murdered his
wife to be with you.

Does no one accept the truth?

Amy Dudley committed suicide,

and Robert was cleared of all charges.

What news have you of Dudley?

Some nobles learned of his location,

and chased him from the county.

The stain on his
reputation has not abated.

You must stay clear of him.

Why is more attention
being paid to vicious gossip

than the true terror at hand?

What progress have you
made in finding my poisoner?

I will hunt down the perpetrator,

but I need more time.

Considering public opinion

has turned against you,

there's no shortage of suspects.

Wonderful news.

Ambassador Blackburn sent a letter

expressing Mary, Queen
of Scots' deep concerns

about the Protestant
agitator, John Knox.

Knox.

What a hateful, little man.

She's hoping to discuss
combining your efforts

to push him back.

She suggests that it
would benefit both of you

considering his loathing
of female monarchs.

It's an interesting offer.

But I can't afford to alienate
my Protestant supporters.

Mary's eagerness to discuss Knox

does smack of one thing, however.

She's planning a return to Scotland.

Perhaps it's time to pay my
Scottish houseguest a visit.

I don't think I ever saw
the world with such awe.

The world through a child's
eyes is a marvelous thing.

What is it?

A camel.

This is the first one
I've seen up close.

Rather ugly, isn't it?

I think it's beautiful.

There are more animals inside!

Do you want to go in?

I can go with you if you're nervous.

I prefer to go alone,
but I need my doll.

I left her in the carriage.

I'll go get her for you.

Oh, red becomes you, my lady.

It's yours for three deniers.

And I'd wager it'd look just
as pretty on you, little girl.

Here.

As beautiful as your mother.

I wish you were...

my mother.

Oh, Agatha, that's very sweet.

But I would like to be
your very good friend.

And don't forget about your father.

He loves you very much.

Yes, I know.

But he has to do what the queen says.

Do you mean Queen Elizabeth?

If you were my mother,
you would never leave me,

because no one can
tell a queen what to do.

Are you afraid Queen Elizabeth

is going to take you away
from your father again?

I understand that you're scared.

Even queens are afraid sometimes.

But we can't allow
our fear to control us.

It doesn't seem like it now,

but your father is
your greatest protector.

Do you think you can give him a chance?

Here you are.

Father?

Will you come with me, instead?

I would like that very much.

You didn't bring me here

so Mary could get to know you better.

You want information about Mary.

Yes.

When does Mary hope
to return to Scotland?

Has she spoken to her generals?

Fine. If you are not abreast
of Mary's military operations,

let's discuss affairs of the heart.

King Charles' coronation is imminent.

French court is awash with royalty.

Who of the suitors does
Mary hope to entertain

in her search for a
new marriage alliance?

You can't expect me to
tell you these things.

Mary is my friend.

Well, I was hoping that we,
too, could become friends, Lola.

Friends don't just stay
at each other's homes

and buy each other pretty dresses.

They do each other favors.

And what if I don't?

Well, we will find
ourselves at an impasse.

And that I cannot have.

You leave me no choice.

Your family will stay behind bars,

and your stay here at English court

will become a little less comfortable.

Until you're willing to talk.

Shh, not here.

Where we used to meet.

But they've since put a lock on it.

Give me the key.

You can get yourself another, can't you?

Yes, but this lover...

I'm making twice what I used to.

Now I can buy you things.

That'll be nice, won't it?

Just don't show them to your husband.

Christophe, where have you been?

- My lord, uh, apologies, I...
- I ordered all of the king's guard

to stand by and await orders.

That includes you.

Lord Fluret has gone missing.

There are signs of a
struggle in his chambers.

You think it was the killer.

Which is why I need you on
duty, not wandering the halls.

Listen.

I don't care that Catherine
appointed you to this position

because of her favor, but

you must take this job seriously.

Show people you are worthy
of the post you hold,

and no one will remember
how you rose to it.

My lord, I heard you've asked

for volunteers to take night patrols.

I used to tend fires in the east wing.

No one knows it better.

Let me patrol there.

Give me a chance to prove myself.

I get a thrill using the key

to Catherine de Medici's chambers.

I'm thrilled you're
not covered in cobwebs

from using the secret passageways.

Did anyone see you?

No, but what does it matter?

I'm here on official business.

Did the king's guard find Lord Fluret?

Not yet.

Several nobles have left the castle,

fearing for their safety.

And still no progress

in our search for the killer.

You look so beautiful in that.

Thank you.

I've decided on another.

It reminds me of the
last time I wore it.

Francis' coronation.

I don't want that sadness
hanging over Charles' day.

Why wear a lesser piece?

Because, Christophe,

it reminds me of my dead son.

In some ways you are every bit the man,

and in others, you are still so young.

Once you have children,

you come to realize that you've never

known true love before.

When you lose a child,
you come to know true pain.

I don't know your pain,

but I make it a point
never to look back.

Why would you when
there's so much beauty

right in front of you?

You've added another key.

One for the king's guard storage.

One for my chambers.

Your quarters don't have a lock.

Have you taken a new lover?

An old one.

Are you angry?

No.

I just want to be certain

that there's no lover's talk

between you.

You know that no one can know about us.

I heard Elizabeth could be mercurial,

erratic even, but this?

This is a very difficult
time for the queen.

Her life is so lonely.

You mean without her
wife-murdering lover?

What the nobles say about
Robert Dudley isn't true.

He's a kind man.

And his wife, the one
everyone's feeling so sorry for?

You should've seen the way
she'd lash out at the servants.

If you ask me, loads of
people could've murdered her.

Meanwhile, Lord Dudley
is the only person

poor Elizabeth can trust.

It's not right that the
world is against them.

Understood.

Here, I brought you some plums

from dinner.

I know how you love them.

No, no, my lady! I can do that.

Nonsense, your hands
are covered in soot.

What's this?

A wig of this quality
would cost a small fortune.

- It's nothing.
- And the color.

Elizabeth.

Did you steal it?

I would never.

My friend was a courtesan here.

She asked me to deliver it

to someone as a favor.

I've-I've done nothing wrong.

Are you sure this doesn't have

something to do with the queen?

No, but...

it has to do with someone close to her.

You won't believe unless you see it

with your own eyes.

I'm new to this, my lord.

What is it you want me to do?

Where's the wig?

- Do we really need it?
- Yes.

Next time, be sure to wear it.

Now, stop talking.

Elizabeth.

Oh, Elizabeth.

I'll never be able to
repay you for this kindness.

There's nothing to repay.

You two would have come to this
moment on your own eventually.

As much as it saddens me to say it,

this sweet respite must end.

It's time to accept my fate.

What is that?

The pursuit of a marriage
alliance with Erik of Sweden.

A Protestant prince?

My advisors think it will appease

John Knox and his followers,
so I may return to Scotland.

Mm. What do you think?

I think I would be betraying who I am.

And it's difficult.

Any more difficult than
being mistaken for her mother?

I can only assume you wanted a
child of your own with Francis.

Being confronted with
that pain today must have

seemed insurmountable,
but you rose above it

and still found a way
to help Agatha... and me.

Now, you need to help yourself.

You're a queen, Mary.

And you must do whatever you need to

in order to achieve that purpose.

If this Swedish prince helps you do it,

then... go get him.

You know, you're encouraging
me to align myself

with a very powerful husband,

and your queen's orders
are to prevent it.

Those were my orders as a diplomat.

I'm speaking to you tonight as a friend.

Although, I hear Erik's a bore,

smells like day-old mackerel.

And Sweden's a block of ice.

I didn't like the pleasure
he took in the kill.

But that's what butchers
do, they butcher animals.

It's probably nothing,

but I also saw the butcher
arguing with Lord Fluret

just before he went missing.

What about?

The coronation menu, but
it turned personal quickly.

Hardly a reason to inspire murder.

Well, if the butcher isn't a
murderer, he's at least a thief.

Tonight I saw him stealing a
salt barrel from the larder.

Salt?

Yes, his chambers are
connected to the slaughterhouse,

and he rolled it right in.

A barrel of salt is worth
almost a year's wages.

Salt isn't just valuable.

It's also used to preserve meat.

They always smell like this?

Only if they're left in the open.

If they were stored in salt,

the telltale larder would be diminished,

buying the killer time
until he could bury them.

Salt.

Only trace amounts.

How large was this barrel?

- Large enough to hold a body?
- Yes.

Then perhaps that's how he moved them

into tunnels without being noticed.

Let's go visit his chambers.

There's something in here.

I've seen these before.

In the barn with Delphine when
we were hunting the killer.

He keeps the hearts in these.

Bash.

Good God, is that...?

Lord Fluret.

Who's in here?

What are you doing?

These are my chambers.

What is that?

Put down the knife, and we'll talk.

You think I did this.

Want to string me up like a pig.

I can't let that happen.

Stop fighting.

I'm done! I'm done.

I was pleased to hear
you wanted to speak again.

Have you had a change of heart?

Are you ready to tell me all
you know of Mary, Queen of Scots?

I'm afraid not.

But I do have other
information you may find of use.

Go on.

Over the past several weeks here,

I have heard whispers about a gentleman

who was... uh, a favorite of yours.

Your own nobles and advisors
wished him to disappear,

and this has caused you great pain.

Proceed with caution, Lady Lola.

I will tell you one thing about Mary.

She surrounds herself with
people who are invested

in her contentment. True friends.

True advisors.

As any queen should.

As do I.

I don't believe that you do.

What is it that you think you know?

And what does it have to do with
my "favorite," as you call him?

Actually, Your Majesty,

it has to do with Lord William.

Elizabeth.

What on earth?

Why are you so shocked?

Isn't this what you've always wanted,

your wife away at her country home

and me here in your chambers?

What are you talking about?

I know of the courtesan.

I know of the red wig you make her wear

and how you call out my name

in the throes of passion as you bed her.

Where have you heard such a thing?

There's no use denying it.

And to think, all these years,

I believed you were
motivated by love of country.

And now I know otherwise.

You're in love with me.

But I never acted on it.

You sound as though you had a chance.

There were times I did.

Times when Dudley was out of your life

and you wanted more
from me than counsel.

I could have become your lover,

but I didn't because I'm married,

and that fact alone would
bring shame upon you.

I knew it, and Dudley, your
married lover, did, too,

and he didn't care.

He would do anything for me.

You think he loves you,

but real love is sacrifice,

and I've sacrificed my own emotions,

pushed them away time
and again to protect you.

There is nothing, absolutely
nothing, I wouldn't do

to keep you on the throne.

Even murder my unborn child?

You knew I was pregnant.

I swear, I didn't know.

I spoke with the courtesan

whom you most recently visited.

She led me to the girl
who she'd replaced,

the girl you sent away
just two months earlier.

Right after she helped you find a potion

that whores use to dispose
of unwanted problems.

You poisoned me so I'd lose my baby.

I did it to protect
you and save your reign.

You had no right!

It was my child.

You had no right.

Elizabeth.

Please.

You will be leaving my service at once.

And you will not return.

I'm immensely relieved
that you've caught him.

Congratulations, Sebastian.

Well, I must give
credit where it is due.

Without Christophe's
watchful eye spotting

the butcher moving the barrel of salt,

I'm not sure we'd have apprehended him.

And you're sure he's the right man?

If finding Fluret's
corpse in his chambers

wasn't evidence enough,

only two people have keys

to the larder where the salt is kept.

The butcher himself
and the castle baker.

And the baker can't be the killer.

His leg is badly atrophied,

leaving him incapable of
moving a heavy salt barrel,

much less a body inside.

Did you say the baker?

I did. What's wrong?

Nothing.

Christophe.

So...

you've figured it out.

This was all your doing.

I thought I had buried
the bodies deep enough.

Guess there's no
accounting for hungry rats.

When they unearthed your handiwork,

you needed to find a scapegoat.

That's when you rekindled your
affair with the baker's wife,

so you could get her key.

So you could frame that odd butcher.

Except I never used salt barrels

to move my victims.

I carried them myself,

in the dark of night.

You went back

and put salt on the squire

and the highborn woman's
corpses after the fact

to steer the search in that direction.

How did you catch onto me?

By getting to know you.

Your inability to understand

that I mourned my son

and the way you approach me

with disregard for my station.

At first, I credited that

to youth and daring.

Then I realized that
you don't lack fear,

you lack a conscience.

The butcher man is innocent.

That butcher is no innocent.

I've seen the way he kills.

He likes it.

And am I your next victim?

I would never hurt you, Catherine.

And I know you would never hurt me.

I only slept with the
baker's wife for the key.

I said unkind things about you to her,

and I'm sorry for that.

You're sorry

that you said unkind things...

when you are a murderer.

Don't tell anyone.

I know you won't, because

it's a secret.

And I know a secret of yours as well.

You had your daughter, Claude, beaten

so that you could steal the
regency back from Narcisse.

I overheard you
plotting in your chambers

with Duke Boinel when
I was coming through

the secret passageway
to meet you one night.

There's someone else
who was there as well

who can bear witness, if needed;

I'll never say who.

But I could bring down
your regency for good.

I usually have to cut the
heart out to possess it.

But yours is already mine.

You can't stay here, Christophe.

Not with what I know.

I can, and I will.

And if you were to stop me...

if I were to turn up dead

or simply disappear...

a letter will be delivered

outlining your dealings
with Duke Boinel.

Now, get up.

The castle needs its killer punished.

You know what you must do.

The butcher still
insists on his innocence.

As all men do before they swing.

I have something for you.

Francis was so nervous
during his coronation,

his palms so sweaty,

that when the cardinal placed
the scepter in his hand,

it almost slipped to the floor.

After that, he never attended

another ceremony without
this tucked into his sleeve.

Now, it's yours to keep.

Hold onto it tightly

and it will keep your hands dry.

That is the most helpful piece of advice

anyone has given me today.

I'm glad you're here.

As am I.

It's time.

May I have your attention, please!

A toast to Catherine de Medici,

Queen Mother and Regent of France.

A woman of great honor,

defender of her people,
protector of the realm.

May the entire Valois family

and this great nation
of France rest easy

in her exceptional care.

To Catherine.

To Catherine!

To Catherine.

I've been looking for
you, Lord Cunningham.

I am ready to meet Erik of Sweden.

If you would arrange an introduction?

I'm afraid a marriage alliance
with a Protestant ruler

will no longer serve your needs.

I've just learned that
John Knox and his followers

have stormed the gates
of Edinburgh Castle

in an act of protest...

their numbers so vast

your brother James, even as regent,

was reluctant to punish

their treasonous act.

Treasonous?

They have burned you in effigy.

And now, Knox has issued an ultimatum.

They will not accept your rule,

or your return to Scotland,

unless you agree to
convert to Protestantism.

No.

I have lived my entire
life as a Catholic queen.

I will not allow Knox to bully me

into being something I am not.

Not now. Not ever.

I will not be chased out of my country

before I've even returned.

What will you do?

Fight fire with fire.

I came to thank you for the new
governess you sent for Agatha.

I know what you're doing.

You're going to the Vatican.

You certainly are good at
your spy work, aren't you?

I'm going to ask the Vatican for funds

to wage war against John Knox.

He's trying to take my country.

Targeting Catholics, persecuting them.

Burning homes, looting monasteries.

I can't allow it.

Queen Elizabeth will see
your raising a Catholic army

as an act of aggression.

The Vatican has been
determined to reclaim England

ever since she turned
the country Protestant

after Mary Tudor died.

I know this will infuriate Elizabeth.

This is about John Knox, a Scot,

trying to take what is mine.

And you were right.

I need to embrace my purpose.

Reclaim my power.

I am a queen and a fighter,

and a woman who will stop
at nothing to save Scotland.

I never said to raise an army.

But I must.

Mary, if you bring a Catholic force

to fight on the British Isles,

our countries may never be at peace.

The day may come when we, you and I,

find ourselves facing off

against each other across a battlefield.

What would you do then?

I will be forced to strike you down.