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You will wed young Francis someday soon, for your faith. For your people. For Scotland.

Pilot is the first episode of Season One and the first episode of Reign overall. It aired on October 17th, 2013.

Synopsis

DANGER AND INTRIGUE LURK AROUND EVERY DARK CASTLE CORNER IN THIS STORY OF A YOUNG MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS - After spending her childhood safely hidden away in a monastery, teenage Queen Mary Stuart arrives in France, where she has been sent to secure Scotland's strategic alliance by formalizing her arranged engagement to the french king's dashing son, Prince Francis. Further complicating things is Bash, Francis' handsome, roguish half-brother, and Francis' mother, Queen Catherine. When the strong-willed french queen learns of a prophecy that marriage to Mary will cost Francis his life, she is determined to save her son, no matter how many will have to pay with their lives. - The CW

Plot

It’s 1557. At a convent in France, an attempt is made on the life of Mary, Queen of Scotland, who’s been living in the convent since age nine. She is sent away to the French court for her own protection, and to become better acquainted with the Dauphin of France, Francis. As she leaves, her friend from the convent gives her a black rosary with a white cross, warning her that there are ghosts in the castle. Francis, meanwhile, converses with his parents about the Scottish Queen, remarking that when last he saw her she had “skinny legs, a missing tooth and strong opinions,” to which King Henry replies “surely the adult tooth has grown in, and you can ignore the opinions,” speaking pointedly to Catherine.

Queen Mary arrives within the hour, ecstatic at the prospect of being reunited with those whom she hasn’t seen in several years. She reunites with her Ladies-In-Waiting the moment she arrives. The group consists of Greer Norwood, a young woman of no official titles who hopes to make her way in a world that looks down so poorly upon people of her social standing, Kenna, a vivacious girl who looks only for excitement and the daughter of a Scottish noble, Lola, often referred to as “the strongest” of Mary's ladies, and finally Aylee, whose family owns the lower half of Scotland. After a warm greeting, Mary asks her ladies who the woman beside the king is, wondering aloud whether that is the queen. Greer informs her that the lady is in fact Diane de Poitiers, the King’s mistress. Queen Catherine makes her appearance placing herself directly in front of Diane, obviously belittling the king’s mistress. Francis is expected to stand beside his mother, yet instead walks up to Mary, causing her to become nervous and start rambling. Francis escorts her to greet his parents, while Catherine asks the court seer, Nostradamus, what he predicts for Mary. Nostradamus tells Catherine that Mary will be the cause of Francis’ death.

Mary and her ladies leave to dress for the marriage of Francis’ sister, Princess Elisabeth, to King Phillip II of Spain. The girls decide to explore the castle, but Mary tells them she will catch up with them later. Mary visits Francis, and discovers his hobby of making knives and swords. She charms him with her own accomplishments, informing him that she can milk a goat and cut peat. Francis jokingly replies that those are good skills to know in case there’s ever an uprising in France. Mary is quick to respond that she’d take him back to Scotland and he could rule with her there. Francis says he hopes he’ll never have to take Mary up on that. Mary ventures outside and sits by a lake with her dog Stirling, gathering stones. Her dog begins barking toward the woods, and Mary silences him. She then gathers up her things and heads back to Francis, to give him the stones to decorate his sword. When she arrives at his room, however, Francis is irritated to see her and says that in the future she needs to remember to be announced. Mary becomes annoyed with Francis and asks him what’s wrong, and whether or not he’s alone. He simply tells her that kings do not answer to their wives.

While outside, her dog runs off into the woods. As she tries to run after him, Sebastian stops her and tells her to never go into those woods. However, after sharing a moment, he tells her he will get her dog back. Later, back in her rooms and before the wedding, Mary hears someone hidden in the walls warn her to not to drink at the celebration. After the wedding, Mary follows the mysterious voice’s orders and does not drink the wine offered to her by Colin, Lola’s boyfriend. Mary, Lola, Greer, Kenna, and Aylee begin to dance barefoot and have fun as the whole French court joins in. While dancing, both Bash and Francis catch Mary’s eye as they watch her.

Colin comes to Mary’s room late at night to rape her, thinking that she is unconscious from the wine and planning to make her unfit to marry Prince Francis. Mary, however, wakes up and is able to scream for help. The next morning, Mary’s ladies-in-waiting are discussing what happened. Lola argues that Colin was forced to harm Mary by other people and that he didn’t want to. Mary tells Lola that she believes her, and goes to speak with the king and queen to see if Colin can be released. Her plea falls on deaf ears though; the king has uncovered an English plot to have Mary raped, which would then make her unsuitable to marry the prince of France, or any other royal – or even noble - man. As punishment, Colin has already been executed, much to Mary and Lola’s dismay and grief.

Lola immediately blames Mary for Colin’s death, and the two have a falling out. As a distressed Mary leaves Lola’s rooms, she runs into Bash, who has returned with her dog. Mary thanks him profusely before retiring to her rooms. As Bash turns to leave, he is met by his mother, who asks him where he found the dog. Bash explains that he found the dog in the woods, and that it was drawn to the blood. Diane warns her son to be careful.

Later, Mary and Francis run in to each other. Francis accuses Mary of intentionally trying to ruin her reputation by sleeping with Colin in order to get back at Francis for not wanting to marry her. Mary vehemently denies this, but reminds Francis that the marriage might not even take place. After a heated discussion, the two almost kiss before Francis turns away.

That night, as Mary stands on the castle ramparts, a shadowy figure approaches her from behind. Mary thanks the figure without turning around, asking if the figure is in danger too. However, as soon as Mary turns to face the figure, she realizes that her savior has disappeared.


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