| The Price | |
| Season 3, Episode 4 | |
 | |
| Air date | November 6, 2015 |
| Written by | April Blair Robert Doty |
| Directed by | Nathaniel Goodman |
| <font-family:Trajan Pro;font color="white">Episode Guide | |
| previous Extreme Measures |
next In a Clearing |
- "What's the cost of a king's life?"
- —Sebastian
Synopsis[]
Amy Brenneman Returns
After Mary receives an urgent message from her ailing mother (Amy Brenneman) about the dire situation in Scotland, she finds herself looking to Francis for aid. Catherine finds herself up against Narcisse as she fights to become the regent to Charles. Meanwhile, Elizabeth faces continued pressure to wed.
Plot[]
An urgent message arrives for Queen Mary, but she's out sailing with King Francis. When they are called back to the castle, they decipher Marie de Guise's letter and learn that Queen Elizabeth has ordered a surge of English troops into Scotland. Prince Don Carlos of Spain visits Queen Elizabeth to seek her hand in marriage. Her advisor warns her that Mary will align herself with Spain after Francis dies in order to save her country. Either Elizabeth makes the alliance or Mary will. Don Carlos is charming and Elizabeth invites him to extend his stay at court. Queen Catherine walks up to Lady Lola in the hall and Catherine denies planting the rat in Lola's bath. Lord Narcisse intercepts Lola and tries to sweep her away on their honeymoon. Francis, at the reminder of Prince Charles, readies a fleet of ships to sail to Scotland's aid. Sebastian visits Greer at her brothel and warns her about the murders happening in the village. Since those who end up dead are usually weaker, he worries she or her girls could be targets. Prince Charles is in the pub drinking with an unsavory fellow when Bash begins to feel Delphine's pain. He reveals their connection to Charles. Robert Dudley confronts Elizabeth about her consideration of Don Carlos' marriage proposal. He begs her not to marry the Spanish prince and tells her that the secret to swaying the nobles is to make the English people fall in love with her, just as he has. Lola awakes to find Narcisse gone, only for him to return fully dressed with muddy boots and a story about preparing food and arranging a vineyard tour. Lola grows suspicious of her new husband. Robert Dudley tries to send his wife, Amy Dudley, away from English court. Francis spars with Charles in order to teach the Dauphin how to fight with a sword and rule as a King. Catherine suggests they should have sought her counsel before sending French ships against the English navy, and Francis reminds his mother that the only reason she's out of the dungeon is to secure her place as regent. Mary meets with Nicholas, the English ambassador to France, and learns that his orders are to wait for Marie de Guise and Francis to die before seizing Mary for Elizabeth. When she storms out of the room, he makes a copy of her decoder. Catherine requests Claude's presence at a dinner where she hopes to secure enough votes to become regent once Francis dies. The Lord is unwilling to lend her his support because of an exchange which took place between his daughter and the Queen several years prior. Greer observes Nicholas decoding and copying a letter to Marie de Guise. The letter causes Elizabeth to send her forces in another direction allowing the Scottish regent to regain control of the supply route. Elizabeth, feeling humiliated, agrees to accept Don Carlos' marriage proposal. At lunch, Narcisse and Lola are accosted by the angry daughter of a landowner who accuses Narcisse of stealing her illiterate father's land. Lola looks to Narcisse to deny the claim but he cannot. Don Carlos asks Elizabeth why she hasn't married and tells her that there's a rumor circulating around court that she's really a man masquerading as the Queen of England. Shamed, Elizabeth storms out and finds Robert Dudley in the hall. She blames his wife for the story. He confronts Amy and nearly kills her. She begs him to stop his affair with Elizabeth and he agrees. Lola packs her things to return to court, furious with Narcisse, when she learns that the lands he stole, combined with the lands Francis gave John, give him a vote on the privy council. He can use that vote to keep Catherine on their good side. Francis and Charles bond over the Scottish win against the English just before Francis collapses. Francis believes he's about to die and asks Mary to lay with him so they can enjoy his final hours together. Narcisse and Catherine walk through the halls and she reveals that she knows he planted the rat in Lola's bath. William Cecil and Elizabeth discuss her decision not to marry. Delphine is at a convent when Bash finds her and rescues her. Charles arrives and commands both Delphine and Bash to save Francis. Mary rests with Francis and they daydream about their future together. He slips away just as Delphine, Charles, and Bash arrive. Mary begs Delphine to save Francis, so she works her magic and he returns, but the price is a life. Across the ocean, Marie de Guise dies. |
Quotes[]
Queen Mary: I would go to any lengths, Francis. Any lengths.
Queen Elizabeth: Bring the Spaniard before me... and we will see.
Lady Lola: Catherine. You startled me.
Queen Catherine: Why would my presence startle you? Oh, because you married my lover.
Don Carlos: Your Highness, you are a vision.
Queen Elizabeth: And you a charmer, I see.
Don Carlos: Many queens might meet my needs, but only you meet my desires.
Queen Mary: I hope your wings are strong, you vulture. You will be circling for quite some time.
Queen Catherine: Get ready to charm, darling.
King Francis: Remember, being king's a performance.
King Francis: All that's left now is to enjoy my final hours.
King Francis: I love you. And I thank God for the time we've had.
Queen Elizabeth: It is a fact of our time. A man rules his wife. Even if his wife is a queen.
Queen Elizabeth: I will show England their leader is fierce and brilliant and strong. I will draw them to me, and they will love me and thank me for loving only them.
William Cecil: Mary, Queen of Scots, will forever threaten you.
Queen Elizabeth: Then it will be the challenge of my life not to kill her.
Sebastian: What's the cost of a king's life?
Notes[]
- King Philip, Nostradamus and John Philip are all mentioned, but do not appear.
- This episode marks the first on-screen appearance of Don Carlos.
- The New World is brought up again, as it is currently being discovered by Europe.
- Greer Castleroy left the Town House and has since opened her brothel at the tavern she used to live in.
- The English Cypher from Season Two is brought back.
- The rumour that Queen Elizabeth is secretly a man is circling around English Court.
- Francis and Mary agree that if they had children, they would name them 'Anne' and 'James'.
- Don Carlos and Elizabeth begin and end their courtship in the same week.
Goof
When Narcisse and Lola walk away from Catherine, she is no longer behind them in the next shot.
Death Toll [1][2]
- 100s in the French Navy
- Marie de Guise
Trivia[]
- The episode title and synopsis were released on October 16, 2015.
- New directors and writers worked on this episode.
- This mark Amy Brenneman only appearance of Season Three, and last appearance in the series overall.
- This marks Mark Ghanimé's first on-screen appearance.
- Though Amy Brenneman is the top billed Guest, she is only onscreen for 2 minutes.
Historical Notes[]
- Marie de Guise died on 11 June 1560 at 44 years old from Edema/Oedema.
- Francis II died on 5 December 1560 when he was 16 from Syncope.
- Don Carlos is the son of King Philip of Spain, who was married to Queen Mary Tudor of England, and Elizabeth's brother-in-law. Yet there was no mention of any of this.
Gallery[]
| Official Pictures from each episode, and an additional 50 pictures gallery is available here. |
Characters[]
| Actor | Character | |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Kane | Queen Mary | |
| Megan Follows | Queen Catherine | |
| Rachel Skarsten | Queen Elizabeth | |
| Torrance Coombs | Sebastian | |
| Toby Regbo | King Francis | |
| Celina Sinden | Greer Castleroy | |
| Anna Popplewell | Lady Lola | |
| Craig Parker | Lord Narcisse | |
| Rose Williams | Princess Claude | |
| Guest Staring | ||
| Amy Brenneman | Marie de Guise | |
| Charlie Carrick | Robert Dudley | |
| Nick Lee | Nicholas | |
| Alexandra Ordolis | Delphine | |
| Clara Pasieka | Amy Dudley | |
| Mark Ghanimé | Don Carlos | |
| Pascal Langdale | Church Official | |
| Tom Everett Scott | William Cecil | |
| Cameo | ||
| Spencer MacPherson | Prince Charles | |
| Ryan Kelly | Scottish Messenger | |
| Nicole Buscema | Servant Girl | |
| Jordan Til | Castle Servant | |
| Emily Andrews | Scottish Servant | |
| Adrian Spencer | Lord Roux | |
| Damir Andrei | Lord Clavell | |
| Character debut | |
| Speaking debut | |
| Episode debut |