Strange Bedfellows

 

Strange Bedfellows
Season 3, Episode 13
Air date	May 9, 2016
Written by	Shannon Goss
Directed by	Norma Bailey
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"As for Mary Stuart, I am rescinding my offer. I shall never name an heir, unless it is my own child. To name a successor is to place a target on oneself. And so long as I live, I shall be the queen of England. And when I am dead, whoever has the most right shall succeed me."

—Queen Elizabeth

Synopsis

Mary Must Decide if She Should Save Elizabeth
Mary, in order to protect Elizabeth, unknowingly puts Gideon's life in danger. To save him, Mary turns to another Englishman for help – Robert Dudley. Meanwhile, Bash is determined to track down the men behind the threats to Catherine.

Plot

King Charles learns of Catherine and Henry's treacherous decision to kill thirteen men simply because they could not repay them. He fears their sins will come back and ruin his reign. Catherine promises to handle it. Mary and Robert Dudley are courting. He vows to commit to their union and proposes to her. Mary accepts. Later, she is in bed with Gideon, her engagement ring removed. She tells him of her distant cousin, Joseph Tudor, who would be the next male in their family in line for the English throne. Mary theorizes that The Vatican has already been in contact with him about stepping in to rule England. If Gideon finds evidence of it and gets it to Elizabeth, she will be forced to rescind her offer. Dudley spies Gideon coming out of Mary's room and tells him to end their affair, now that Mary is his fiancée. Mary inquires Catherine about Joseph Tudor. She learns that Joseph appealed to her and Henry for asylum and they granted it to him. She also asks about Archbishop Ridolfi. Dressed as a priest, Gideon knocks on Joseph Tudor's door and pretends to have a message from Archbishop Ridolfi. From that, he finds out that Joseph has indeed been meeting with the Vatican. Mary's theory is correct. Greer meets with her sister and brother-in-law when he receives a letter. They're being blackmailed. Someone knows that Greer's sister isn't pregnant, Greer is. Greer believes they should pay the blackmailer. Bash, Catherine, and Charles discuss whether it may be possible that the current Red Knights threatening her are descendants of the original Red Knights whom Henry had killed. Bash is sent to a brothel to examine the theory. While he talks to the madam, he spies one woman looking suspicious. Upon probing into her past, he learns that she fell with child and left the baby to die in the woods after the Knights were revealed to be Devil worshippers. Bash tracks down a man who is said to be the son of a Red Knight. Gideon confirms with Mary that the Vatican planned to put Joseph Tudor on the throne. He tells her that he is returning to England with Tudor to take him back to Elizabeth, but the Archibishop stops him before Gideon can get into his carriage. Gideon is arrested under the suspicion of killing Joseph Tudor. Leith visits Greer in her tavern. She reveals her pregnancy to him and asks for his help. When he tells Claude he can't go to Paris with her because he has to help Greer, she decides she's coming along with him on his trip to stop the blackmailer. Mary learns that Gideon has been arrested. She shares her entire plan with Catherine in hopes that Catherine can help her. Catherine points her in Robert Dudley's direction. Dudley visits Gideon in the dungeons and learns of the assassination plot against Elizabeth. He agrees to go to England in Gideon's stead. Bash meets with the man from the battle ring and learns that the man has recently been approached by a group who call themselves the Red Knights who want revenge on the Queen Mother. Bash and the man hear a horse outside and when they step outside, the man is killed. Bash shoots the man on the horse and takes him home to Catherine. Dudley returns to England and finds Elizabeth and Lola playing chess. Elizabeth meets with her advisors and lets them know Joseph Tudor, the traitor, will be drawn and quartered. She vows not to name a successor and rescinds her offer of succession to Mary. Gideon is released from the dungeon. Mary lets him know the Vatican will be approaching Catherine to ask for Gideon's head. Catherine questions the man Bash brought in from Dijon with Christophe's help. Christophe tortures the man while Catherine asks the questions. The man refuses to speak except to say that the Red Knights aren't coming for Catherine but for the entire House of Valois. Christophe runs his sword through him. Leith and Claude follow Thomas and find him in a tavern instead of meeting with a blackmailer. They learn that Thomas and Greer's sister planned to move to Switzerland with the baby without telling Greer. They were going to use the money they extorted out of Greer to buy a chateau there. Greer ousts them out of her establishment and decides to keep her baby. Mary meets with Catherine and asks for help saving Gideon from the Vatican. Catherine comes up with a plan that will save Gideon's life, but it will involve Gideon going back to England and Mary losing him. Mary tells Catherine to make the trade. Dudley tells Elizabeth the truth about Gideon's involvement in uncovering the assassination plot. Catherine intercedes with the Archbishop and when he gives her pushback about whether or not she asked the men of court for permission, she stands up to him. Then she makes an appeal to Narcisse to have him on her side knowing he loves his country more than he hates her. Later that evening, Catherine receives a visit from Christophe who has disposed of the body of the man they killed. For him, their encounter with the man in the cellar was foreplay. Claude offers to help Leith rise in his station by providing contacts. Leith accepts it, as long as he will do the work. Mary says goodbye to Gideon and Agatha.

Quotes

Robert Dudley: Impressive. Where did you learn to shoot like that?
Queen Mary: My late husband. He thought it was a skill that would serve me well.
Robert Dudley: Well, King Francis was right. Now that I've seen your abilities with a bow, I certainly won't be crossing you.

Robert Dudley: It's funny, isn't it? The two of us here, both knowing we've already had our one true love.

Sebastian: I assure you, if your child is still alive, he is no monster. Only a man.

Queen Elizabeth: The traitor has been brought home to England, where I have ordered him to be drawn and quartered. That will serve as an example to anyone who dare threaten my reign.

Queen Elizabeth: As for Mary Stuart, I am rescinding my offer. I shall never name an heir, unless it is my own child. To name a successor is to place a target on oneself. And so long as I live, I shall be the queen of England. And when I am dead, whoever has the most right shall succeed me.

Queen Catherine: If you think you are not going to talk, you are mistaken.

Greer Castleroy: The blackmailer lectures me on morality?

(re: Gideon Blackburn)
Queen Elizabeth: I sent him to France to woo Mary. He's more a male prostitute than a master of diplomacy.

Queen Catherine: From where I sit, which is on the French throne as its regent, I see the Vatican pushing around female monarchs, and I don't appreciate it one bit.

Queen Catherine: We are no longer lovers, Christophe. Just two people who keep each other's secrets.

Notes

• Queen Mary Tudor, King Henry, King Francis, Amy Dudley, General Gaghan and Queen Leeza were all mentioned but do not appear.
• Catherine's daughter Queen Leeza who was married 4 years ago, is still living in Spain as Queen.
• The House of Valois and House of Tudor were both heavy plot points.
• This episode took place over 2 - 3 months. As it takes weeks to sail from France to England.
• Mary Stuart and Robert Dudley were officially engaged and broken-up within 2 months.
• The Red Knights were a heavy plot points once more.
• Gideon Blackburn returned to England with his daughter Agatha Blackburn.
• Lady Greer had decided to keep her baby.

Death Toll
- Joseph Tudor
- Geant
- Recruiter

Trivia

• The episode images were released on April 8, 2016.
• Lyla Porter-Follows (Ellen Norwood) is the daughter of Megan Follows. (Queen Catherine).

Historical Notes

• King Francis' Godparents were Francis I (who knighted him during the ceremony), Pope Paul III, and his great-aunt Marguerite de Navarre. Not General Gaghan.
• Queen Elizabeth told Lord Dudley to marry Queen Mary, but he refused.
• Queen Elizabeth never named a successor.
• There was no Joseph Tudor.
• There was no General Gaghan of France.

Gallery

Characters

• Credit Order

Actor	Character
Adelaide Kane	Queen Mary
Megan Follows	Queen Catherine
Rachel Skarsten	Queen Elizabeth
Torrance Coombs	Sebastian
Celina Sinden	Greer Castleroy
Anna Popplewell	Lady Lola
Jonathan Keltz	Leith Bayard
Craig Parker	Lord Narcisse
Rose Williams	Princess Claude
Charlie Carrick	Robert Dudley
Ben Geurens	Gideon Blackburn
Guest Staring
Nathaniel Middleton	Christophe
Juan Chioran	Archbishop Ridolfe
James Preston Rogers	Warrior
Guest Staring
Spencer MacPherson	King Charles
Lyla Porter-Follows	Ellen Campbell
Stephen Tracy	Thomas Campbell
Irene Poole	Maurissa
Adam Langton	Joseph Tudor
Macy Drouin	Agatha Blackburn

	Character debut
	Speaking debut
	Episode debut

Video

Reign 3x13 Extended Promo "Strange Bedfellows" (HD)