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Season 1 Episode
Pilot
Season 1, Episode 1
Pilot
Air date October 17, 2013
Written by Laurie McCarthy
Stephanie Sengupta
Directed by Brad Silberling
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"You will wed young Francis someday soon, for your faith. For your people. For Scotland."
Mother Superior

Synopsis[]

Hidden between the lines of the history books is the story of Mary Stuart, the young woman the world would come to know as Mary, Queen of Scots. The teenage Mary is already a headstrong monarch - beautiful, passionate and poised at the very beginning of her tumultuous rise to power.

Plot[]

The series opens with a vision of a dark forest. A single beam of sunlight is shining through the trees onto another lone tree in full blossom. The lone tree's white petals cover everything, including the ground beneath it. Nostradamus comes up to it and admires the perfect vision. When he looks up at the tree, blood starts dripping onto his face and on the white petals. When he looks down, his hands are entirely covered in blood. Then he awakes.

Mary Stuart and the other nuns are playing football on the field when Mother Superior calls them in for breakfast. Sister Helen is the first to be served her food while Mary and the others wait for theirs. Upon locking eyes with Sister Helen, Mary watches as blood and foam start dripping from her ears and mouth. The former falls dead at the table as Mother Superior immediately rushes the young Queen Mary away. She is convinced that this was an attempt and that Mary must leave The Convent immediately.

Mary walks to her carriage as Mother Superior and the other nuns wait by it to send her off to French court. Mary doesn't know if she is ready to leave the convent and wed The Dauphin of France, but Mother Superior reminds her that she will be reunited with her friends and Ladies-in-Waiting, not to mention that she will be safer there.

"You will wed young Francis someday soon, for your faith, for your people, for Scotland."
Mother Superior

Rose goes to Mary and tells her to be careful of the ghosts there. Mary doesn't believe there are any ghosts at court, but Rose points out that just because Mary hasn't seen any, doesn't mean that they haven't been watching her. Before stepping into her carriage, Mary takes one last longing look at Scotland.

Prince Francis rushes up the staircase while Sebastian walks out of the main hall. Bash informs Francis that their father is displeased at his absense, but his mother is in fine form. He then uses his brother's arrival to make his exit.

Pilot 4 Queen Catherine & Francis

Please don't force me to marry her

As King Henry is trying on a suit for his daughter Elisabeth's wedding, Queen Catherine protests against Mary's return to court. Francis comes in, greeting his sister and shooting a flirty look at one of the ladies. He is not too pleased about having to marry Mary, but his father doesn't care. At least his bride has a country and an army, should he need it. When Henry walks away, Catherine assures Francis that she's on his side, always.

Catherine and Nostradamus are sharing a drink and talking in Nostradamus' private study. Nostradamus gives Catherine a concoction of herbs to aid in her daughter's fertility. Catherine then asks him about her son's future with Mary. Will he love her? Will she love him? Nostradamus has had fleeting images, but as of now, their meaning is unclear. He tells Catherine to be patient.

Trumpets sounds at the entire Fresh Court arrive to greet the Scottish Queen who will be arriving soon. Francis makes his way down to the courtyard with his older brother giving him a snide smile at the whole situation.

Pilot 10 Ladies in Waiting

Ladies-in-Waiting

A carriage arrives at the castle and four young women get out. Lady Kenna, Lady Lola, Lady Aylee and Greer Norwood, all Scottish born and now Ladies-in-Waiting for their soon-to-be arriving Queen.

All three look around admiring their greeting from the French Court. They all take note as King Henry arrives with Diane de Poitiers. Their eyes are all torn away as their own Queen arrives and all five join together in a big group hug, not having all been together for years. Mary looks forward to the King of France waiting to greet her. She asked if the woman beside him is Catherine. Kenna informed her that she is actually Diane de Poitiers, the Kings official mistress. And that beside them is their son Sebations, the Kings favourite. As Kenna finishes up, Queen Catherine arrives and makes a statement by standing in front of the king and his mistress.

Pilot - 12 Queen Mary

Francis & Mary meet again

Before Mary can greet the Royals she is stopped by Prince Francis who cuts across the grass to meet her where she stands. They exchange hellos and Marry sheepishly talks on, losing her composure. Both appear happy at the physical appearance of the other. They are no longer the young children they once knew. Francis and Mary walk arm-in-arm down the line of castle members towards the King and Queen of France for a proper introduction. As they do Nostradamus receives more visions.

Mary is set up in her chambers and her Ladies-in-Waiting are given instructions on what their duties are to their Queen and what is to be expected of them at all times. As soon as the older woman is gone the girls all immediately start dressing themselves up. However, not long into the preparation, a few of them decide to take off and explore the castle.

Mary makes her way alone up a staircase heading towards her old room. She is very surprised to see Francis inside. He is first annoyed at her for finding him, but they soon start talking. Mary question why he is making a sward and Francis says in another life he could have been a blacksmith, or if the kingdom falls he could go into hiding as one. Mary tells him he would never have to, as she wound save him. They have a bit of a heart-to-heart on the hardships of being a royal and all the expectations.

Francis walks into his room to see Natalia waiting for him. His is unsure if he wants to continue seeing her now that Mary, his future wife has arrived in France. But Natalia convinces him.

"Nothing's changed here. Nothing has to."
Natalia
Pilot - Natalia II

Natalia attempts to seduce Francis

Outside Mary is collecting certain types of stones at the river band. Her Scottish dog, a big grey one named Stirling begins barking at something in the forest. Mary commands him to stop but he keeps barking.

Mary decides to bring the stones she found to Francis. Glad they are getting along better she knocks on his door. He answers, annoyed it’s her and tells her to go away. She asks why he's so annoyed and realized he's with someone inside his room. He gets angrier with Mary and she leaves with hurt feeling when he slams the door in her face.

Pilot - 17 Bash

Bash tells me to stay clear of the woods

Mary goes back outside, hurt by what Francis said to her. However Sterling begins barking again and heads off into the forest. Mary rushes after him but is caught and stopped by Sebatian. He warns her not to go into he forest, as it is a dangerous place. Mary informs him her dog has run off, and Bash promises to find him, and bring Stirling back to her.

Lola is taking a warm bath after dealing with all the excitement of the day and getting ready for the wedding. She is surprised when she feels a hand on her but is very excited to see it is Colin MacPhail her boyfriend from Scotland who has traveled to see just her. They embrace and after talking for a little, Colin proposes to Lola, and she happily accepts. However since they are in France now, and Lola is in service to the Queen they would need the permission of both France and Queen Mary to wed.

Once Lola is dressed they bring their case to Queen Catherine first who is pleased with this union. But asks Lola to do something for her. Once she leaves, Catherine has her Ladies-in-waiting leave as well. Wishing to talk to Colin alone. He immediately realizes something wrong is about to happen.

Later while Mary is finishing up her preparations for the Wedding with the help of Aylee who leaves to finish her own self up. Mary hears a voice from within her room. It's coming from her wall that appears to have a hidden passage. It mysteriously warns her not to drink the wine.

Pilot - 24 Colin w Mary

Colin with Mary at the wedding reception

That evening at Elisabeth and Philip's Wedding everyone is celebrating with a grand party as Elisabeth and King Philip have their first dance. Mary greets people, with Aylee by her side for any help she may need. Lola is talking with Greer as she notices Colin. Greer as why he is talking to Mary instead of with her. Lola, annoyed states he's simply paying his respects to his Queen as he hands her a glass of wine. They both cheer and drink.

Mary remembers the warning from her room and only pretends to drink the wine. All five girls then spontaneously decide to take off their shoes and dance. They all dance in a circle as feathers drop from the ceiling. Henry watches Kenna dancing in the middle of the floor intently, much to Diane's annoyance. Queen Catherine is annoyed, too, but because the wedding has become overrun with Scots.

Pilot - 28 Kenna

Watching Elisabeth and Philip's consummation

That night, the Consummation Ceremony is about to take place and Mary and her friends decide to spy on the event. Once they decide they've watched enough, they all run off in separate directions in order to avoid being caught. Lola looks for Colin, while Kenna masturbates in a secluded stairwell. The King walks up to her and offers her a hand, which she accepts.

Mary returns to the wedding celebrations that are dying down and sees Francis. He excuses himself and goes over to talk to her. He apologizes for how he treated her earlier, but they soon argue again. Francis admits that he will only marry her if it is right for France, regardless of his feelings for her.

"Love is irrelevant to people like us."
Prince Francis

He asks her to wait and see how things go, but Mary realizes that he wants to see how it goes for France, not her own country, which she reminds him of.

That night, Mary wakes up to see Colin on top of her, attempting to rape her. She calls out for her guards and they run in, immediately taking Colin away.

Pilot - 31 Ladies in Waiting

Discovering the truth

Mary clues her ladies in on what happened to her the previous night. Everyone is unsure how to react, except for Lola, who vehemently defends Colin. She tells Mary that Colin divulged that someone powerful at the castle had coerced him into attempting to rape his Queen. Mary then decides to talk to Colin herself.

Mary seeks an audience with the King and Queen of France, asking to speak to Colin herself. They try to dehort her from doing so, but Mary presses on, demanding to speak to her subject. King Henry soon reveals that it's too late, as Colin was executed at dawn. Mary regrets having to inform Lola. Back in her chambers, Mary tells her ladies the news, and Lola blames Mary for what happened.

"You are my Queen and we are your subjects. We're here in service to you. Whatever that means, whatever it costs us."
Lady Lola
Pilot - 38 Mary w Sterling

Bash returns Mary's dog

Mary tries to calm her and promises to protect them, but they look unconvinced. Although Mary leaves in tears, she lights up when she sees that Bash has returned with Stirling. Bash shows concern for Mary, but quickly becomes stoic when he sees his mother glaring at him. Mary doesn't notice, though. When Mary leaves, his mother approaches him and warns him not to get involved with Mary, as she is betrothed to his half-brother.

The next day, Francis walks up to Mary in the courtyard, interrogating her as to what Colin was doing in her bed. When she shuts him down, he warns her not to behave like that at court and lets it slip that he wants her there. They almost share their first kiss but Francis ends up walking away.

Queen Catherine watches their exchange from a castle window. She asks Nostradamus again if his visions have changed, only to be told that they have not.

That night, Mary stands outside alone in the dark, covering her head with a cape. She thanks whoever helped her. Lightning flashes, prompting Mary to look behind her, but there is no one there.

Quotes[]

Mother Superior: Mary, you are the Queen of Scotland.

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

Queen Catherine: How do I control a daughter-in-law who's a queen in her own right?

Nostradamus: If Francis and Mary wed, it will cost young Francis his life.

Sebastian: We were looking for you everywhere. Tough to find you.
Prince Francis: I was riding.
Sebastian: Really? Who?

Prince Francis: She had skinny legs, a missing front tooth, and strong opinions.
King Henry: I'm sure the adult tooth has come in. The opinions you can ignore. Isn't that right, Catherine?

Queen Catherine: They say too many alliances make a king look weak.
King Henry: Then why did we sell our daughter to Spain?!

King Henry: At least your bride has a country and an army, should you need it.

Greer Norwood: Mary, your hair. Didn't the nuns teach you anything?

Greer Norwood: Make no mistake, we're here now, to get our young Queen in the game. Alliances can shift. Before they do, Mary needs to win the Prince's heart.

Prince Francis: Every man, even a king, should have some kind of skill.

Natalia Tianná: Nothing's changed here. Nothing has to.

Prince Francis: If you're ever going to be the Queen of France, you need to understand something. Kings do not answer to their wives.

Queen Catherine: We're overrun by Scots.

Prince Philip: It's only us that matter here.

Prince Francis: Love is irrelevant to people like us.

Queen Mary: You are not the only one with a country to think of.

Lady Lola: You are my Queen and we are your subjects. We're here in service to you. Whatever that means, whatever it costs us.

Diane de Poitiers: Take care, my brave son, or you will bleed for a girl who will never be yours.

Notes[]

Death Toll [2] [1]
- Sister Helen
- Thief

Trivia[]

Goof
- After spying on the wedding consummation, no one pushed the curtain back before running away.
- Kenna greeted the king as Your Grace, but since he is King, he should be greeted as Your Majesty.

Historical Notes[]

  • Diane de Poitiers was King Henry's mistress. She was considered the most powerful and beautiful woman in France for 25 years. Diane and Henry were lovers before Henry married Catherine de' Medici.
  • Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici were actually related to each other.
  • King Henry II and his brother, Francis, Duke of Brittany, were both engaged to Queen Mary I. Henry was also briefly engaged to Elizabeth Tudor, the future Queen of England.
  • Elizabeth and Mary Tudor are both Mary Stuart's cousins.
  • In real life, "The Four Marys", were four girls Mary's own age, all named Mary and of noble birth. They were all from Scotland and came with her to France.
  • If King Philip married Princess Elisabeth in 1557, then Mary Tudor of England would already have been dead with Elizabeth Tudor as the new Queen of England.
  • King Henry II was greatly injured in a jousting match during his daughter's wedding celebrations and passed away not long after.
  • Mary Beaton's aunt, Janet Beaton, was the mistress of Lord Bothwell, who went on to become Mary Stuart's third husband.

Characters[]

Actor Character
Adelaide Kane Queen Mary
Megan Follows Queen Catherine
Torrance Coombs Sebastian
Toby Regbo Prince Francis
Jenessa Grant Lady Aylee
Celina Sinden Greer Norwood
Caitlin Stasey Lady Kenna
Anna Popplewell Lady Lola
Alan van Sprang King Henry
Guest Staring
Rossif Sutherland Nostradamus
Lola Tash Natalia
Anna Walton Diane de Poitiers
Ashley Charles Colin MacPhail
Cameos
Eleanor Methven Sister Abbess
Ali Lyons Rose
Caoimhe O'Malley Princess Elisabeth
Jordan Lee King Philip
Michelle Read Queen's Emissary
Sophie O'Brien 7 Year Old Mary
Sean Treacy 7 Year Old Francis
Uncredited
Katie Boland Clarissa
Character debut
Speaking debut
Episode debut


Related Pages[]

Pages related to Pilot are the following:

Fashion 
Elisabeth and Philip's Wedding
Mary and CatherineMary and SebastianClarissa and Mary

References[]

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