Reign

Previously on "Reign"...

"One rat down, two to go."

Please stop the threats.

The dead rat you left in my bath.

But not at my command.

I know you're hungry, too.

You want more?

So take it.

All those in favor of holding a vote

to confirm the queen mother as regent.

In this urn is proof our late King Francis was murdered.

The king's liver.

Blackness demonstrates he was poisoned.

You think that I killed my son to take power?

France needs a leader.

I will offer myself.

And all those in favor.

I hope I will rule my country well.

If you don't marry Charles, what will you do?

Intelligence from Spain.

Prince Don Carlos is their next king,

and he has begun looking for a wife.

Some people call it a sex horse.

The device is for me.

Mary! I trusted you!

What do we do now?

I can still see the shard of wood sticking out

the back of his skull and the blood everywhere.

We should have stayed with Don Carlos, not fled.

- Keep moving. - It's not too late to go back.

We could tell everyone what happened.

- What if he dies? - Oh, you just pray

that's exactly what happens to him.

His father is the most powerful, most pious monarch in the world.

The prince could easily convince King Philip

that that masochism machine was something

that you and Francis used to use.

That you introduced it to the prince,

and then you invited me in as a participant.

Nothing would save us from the wrath of Spain.

Until we know Don Carlos' fate,

we need to come up with a story to cover

our whereabouts this evening just in case.

Okay, okay, we were here.

We were playing a game of chess, which I won.

Can your servants refute that?

Did anyone know that you were visiting

- Don Carlos' chambers this evening? - Uh, no.

He likes to keep his sexual tastes

and everything surrounding them

a well-guarded secret.

You've dragged your hem through his blood.

That has to go, too.

Now think.

Did you leave any of your other belongings behind?

Oh, no.

The blindfold I used on Don Carlos was my sash.

But I didn't add it to my gown

until after my attendants had gone.

No one can link it back to me.

What are you doing?

I'm trying to manage any additional jeopardy

that I might face.

I'm accused of poisoning my son.

A stockpile of toxins

and my expertise in their use is not gonna help my cause.

Your son died a hero, not a victim.

How can I help you fight these accusations?

Throw those into the fire.

Don't inhale the smoke.

I can't have another dead monarch on my hands.

Open up!

In the name of the regent!

Yes?

May I enter?

Do I have a choice?

You're regent.

Which is why I'm here.

In service of my new position.

One you stole from my grasp

when you refused to defend me against allegations of regicide.

Cardinal Morel leveled the allegations.

I have the unhappy task of heading up an inquest

to determine whether there is enough

proof for you to stand trial.

Well, then look no further than my son, King Charles.

He will testify I would never do harm to Francis.

The privy council has sent Charles away to a safe location.

Without Charles, she's as good as convicted.

It is neither my job nor the king's to try her.

That task belongs to the...

The Parlement de Paris, the high court of France.

I have no motive to murder my son.

And I have not said that you did.

Unfortunately, others think differently.

When Francis fell ill, he had you locked in a dungeon.

You were out of favor, out of power.

Your only hope of regaining that power

was if the king were dead.

How could I poison my son from behind bars?

I hadn't the means.

What did you say?

Oh, good God, no.

Stephan.

I know that things have been bad between us as of late,

but we were once friends.

Lovers.

Your incarceration would suggest a lack of means...

were it not for the rat and the threatening note

you ordered placed in my wife's bath while you were imprisoned.

I didn't. You know that.

- You're trying to put her away forever. - I'm trying to protect France.

You're trying to protect your role as regent of France.

Please, I beg of you, do not do this.

I'm sorry, but I cannot ignore what happened to Lady Lola.

She must be called before the inquest.

If she testifies

that I orchestrated that from behind bars,

it would show that I was capable of poisoning Francis

by the same means, when the truth is,

you planted that rat,

and then you blamed me

so you could scare that silly girl into your arms.

Guards.

That is where she keeps her poisons.

Uh, for the integrity of this investigation,

please leave.

I was not responsible for that threat against Lola.

I know.

I recognize the glint in Narcisse's eye when he lies.

Although he did seem oddly conflicted

at the charges against you.

It's possible he didn't frame me for Francis' death,

but he'd certainly be happy to see me hang

by the tale of a rat.

But if he's not behind the poisoning conspiracy,

what do I make of this?

I slipped it out of my apothecary

before Narcisse arrived.

It's oil of vitriol.

It's a toxin, it darkens a victim's liver,

and it is not mine.

It's not.

Given that Francis' liver was blackened.

Do you think Narcisse planted it?

I don't know.

It would be difficult.

There are guards outside your doors at all times.

It's not like he's welcome in your chambers.

He has been welcome of late.

We rekindled our affair.

A liaison that's clearly over now.

What do you expect me to do with this information?

Lola is like a sister to me.

Well, I understand if you are no longer my ally.

Leave me.

Soon the castle will quake

with the news of Don Carlos' accident.

His delegation of nobles will look to blame someone,

and it cannot be us.

You must control this situation.

Whatever Narcisse is guilty of, his intentions are clear...

he wants to keep you from the regency.

That's not what Francis wanted or what France needs.

I will talk to Lola,

see if I can convince her that the rat was not your doing.

It won't be easy.

She's under Narcisse's thrall.

Oh, unless you mention his infidelity.

I would be inflicting unnecessary pain.

I'll do it my way.

You ask me to accept that Stephan is responsible

for Catherine's threat because Catherine says so?

If you testify that Catherine put a hostile note

and a dead rat in your bath

while she was locked in the dungeon,

it will prove she had the ability to poison her son.

Well, who can say that she didn't?

You know Catherine would never harm Francis.

I don't fault you for taking her side.

Since you lost Francis,

she has been a great support in your hour of need.

But Catherine has it in for my husband.

He broke her heart, and she seethes

because he will never touch her again.

Lola, think about it.

Who would have the most to gain from scaring you?

Catherine. She wanted me to stay away from Stephan, and I did.

Until you married him.

Is it any coincidence that after the rat,

you sought protection in his arms?

Enough of this.

I know that I didn't wed a perfect man,

but if he did this, it would make a mockery of our marriage.

And I can't believe that of my husband, I just can't.

Your Majesty, if I may introduce myself.

Lord Cunningham.

I know who you are. My apologies.

It's usually my custom

to greet my newly arrived Scottish advisors,