- Since Mary, Queen of Scotland was a child, The English have wanted her country and her crown. She is sent to France, to wed its next king to save herself and her people, a bond that should protect her but there are forces that conspire, forces of Darkness, forces of the heart. Long may she reign.
Previously on Reign...
Mary: I don't know if im ready
Helen: To leave here or mary the future King of France. You will wed young Francis, For your faith, for your people, for Scotland.
Henry: She's here doing her job and her job is waiting for me to decide when you should marry her.
Francis: What matters is what's right for my country.
Mary: You don't want to marry me.
Scene One - The Scottish Border
(A young boy getting water from a well. He turns around to find an English soldier looking at him.)
Scottish Boy: We've no quarrel with English. We're just farmers, but... you're welcome to share our breakfast.
English Soldier: You're gonna need a lot of eggs.
(The boys sees hundreds of English soldiers making their way over to them on horses).
Scene Two - Nostradamus' room
(Nostradamus making something when Catherine comes in.)
Nostradamus: A few grains should help you sleep. But only a few, and not every night.
(Catherine nods. Catherine notices that Nostradamus is having a vision: A sword being drawn, a hawk landing on a tree, battle pieces being moved, a soldier dying and his sword falling out of his hand.)
Catherine: What? Nostradamus, what are you seeing?
(Vision continues: Someone being stabbed with a sword, skin covered in blood.)
Nostradamus: War. In the cast of war.
Catherine: Where?
Nostradamus: I don't know. But wherever it is, it will reach inside this castle.
Scene 3 - By the Lake
(Mary and her ladies in waiting are sitting together in the grass laughing.)
Mary: Ok, Kenna, it's your turn. Not your first but your best kisser.
Kenna: It was a man, not a boy.
Mary: Who? You must tell us.
Kenna: All I'll say is that there is no point in waiting for boys our own age who have no idea what they're doing. Either find yourself a man or... take care of your needs yourself.
(The girls giggle and Mary blushes.)
Kenna: Anyway, I think it's Greer's turn, isn't it?
Greer: My first kiss... is in the very near future. I'm not like you, my family is not titles, I can't afford even little mistakes. But... I think I found a man. He's tall, dark, and noble. Tomás, the son of the king of Portugal. He's here negotiating some kind of trade deal but he's taking his time about it and I think it's to stay with me.
Aylee: Greer, it's dangerous to get involved with a prince. You know they marry for alliances, your family are commoners.
Greer: Tomás is a king's bastard like Bash, favoured too but with money and land, I'm not a fool, I know a true royal would never look at me except to ruin me. I can take care of myself.
(Horse whining in the distance. A servant runs towards the girls.)
Servant: Your majesty, your uncle Claude de Guise is here and wishes to see you at ones.
Scene Four - Claude's room
(Mary enters.)
Claude: You look well, Mary.
(Claude bows to Mary and hands her a letter.)
Claude: Your mother sends her affection. Read it later. You made me assured that the love is in there as is the news of a crisis in Scotland.
Mary: The English?
Claude: They're massing on the border. And these are not the normal skirmishers, they're out in number. They're looking for weakness and if they find any...
Mary: We must respond with strength.
Claude: Yes.
Mary: But surely my mother has send soldiers.
Claude: Of course, but not enough, we need more men.
Mary: Our strongest ally is France, King Henry will help us.
Claude: He's been asked and he's been slow to answer.
(Claude gestures for Mary to sit down with him.)
Claude: You were send here to secure the alliance by marrying Henry's son. Now they're dragging their feet. What happened?
Mary: Nothing happened. They're being politicians. Francis and his father aren't eager to commit to Scotland. They'd rather keep me in a drawer like a pair of... gloves for cold weather. And then when the weather grows cold for France, they'll take me out and I'll be wed.
Claude: They're afraid of what a permanent bond might mean. But right now we have Immediate problems, Scotland needs more troops. As queen, you must do something.
(Mary nods.)
See Also
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