Original subtitles

Previously on The Serpent Queen...

You're not leaving us, are you?

Things have changed, what with one of your sons

being medically unfit and the other one

in possession of sexual needs I couldn't possibly meet.

- How long does he have to live? - Difficult to say.

Aren't you tired of being at her beck and call?

- It's my position. - It doesn't have to be.

A marriage between yourself

and the Princess Margot will create a purely Catholic line.

Catholic League would like the Duke of Guise to be king.

Why not take the side of love?

Love?

Will you allow it?

I've agreed to go with Montmorency to meet Edith and broker a peace.

How did Montmorency persuade Sister Edith to meet with you?

He was baptized into her faith, as I plan to be.

And what do you have to offer in exchange for this peace you seek?

My daughter Margot.

As soon as the marriage is consummated,

I will sign the regency over to you.

- Synced and corrected by synk - - www.addic7ed.com -

Move.

What is it?

I will never survive such cruelty.

Tell me, and I will help you.

I am being forced to marry our cousin Henri.

Mother arranged it with Sister Edith.

No, no.

No, you will not, because I will not allow it.

And I am king.

Thank you.

My darling Margot, you will always have me to protect you.

My lord.

You must be disappointed.

Margot is engaged to her idiot cousin, so I will never be king.

Worst of all, there's nothing you can do about it.

What about your brother?

Have you no pity left for him?

You heard what those fanatics intend to do to him.

Don't you see it's over?

You lost.

Best thing you can do is retire from Court.

I'll send my brother away, somewhere they won't find him,

so he can get whatever this is out of his system

and I can go back to doing my job.

If this marriage goes through,

the Bourbon line will succeed the Valois.

And they will send us all into exile,

where there will be nowhere for your brother to hide

from the League's vengeance.

If they kill him, they'll have to kill me, too.

And what use would that be?

Both my sons dead, when the solution is so simple.

The solution?

Make the marriage impossible

by taking Margot's virginity.

I will spread word that Margot has been sullied by you,

but since I presume this is not the case,

you must write her,

asking permission to visit her chamber.

She will say yes because the poor girl is in heat.

- You're serious? - I could not be more serious.

Take her virtue,

and they will have no choice but to marry her to you.

As a fallen woman, yes, she'll be shunned,

social pariah.

At least she will have more time for her books...

unless, of course, you think her honor

is more important than your brother's life.

But I don't think you can live with that, do you?

We'll burn in hell for this.

Oh, my dear Francois,

this is hell.

Haven't you noticed?

I have given the matter some thought and made my decision.

Leave us.

Margot will not be marrying our cousin.

He's not right in the head.

Charles...

I know how fond you are of your sister,

how you do not relish the thought of losing her to another,

but it is what is best for the country.

What an odd thing to say.

I am her brother and always will be.

I can never lose my sister.

The fact of the matter is, my baptism at the hands of Sister Edith

will ensure the loyalty of all those

who have protested the crown and unite the French people.

Therefore, this marriage is unnecessary.

So I am going to say to you what almost no one ever does...

no...

you cannot have what you want.

Please convey the bad news to Sister Edith's camp.

Charles.

Listen to me.

The royal wedding is the only way

to prevent civil war.

What does that mean?

My conversion will bring peace.

Well, it would if things were different.

And I wanted you to live free of the burden for as long as possible.

What burden?

I had no choice

but to offer Margot's wedding to Sister Edith.

Nothing else would appease her...

because she knows you are dying.

And you know it, too.

Don't you?

How long do I have?

- It depends. - Months, weeks?

How much strain you put yourself under.

Well...

if that's the case...

why should I care?

If my baptism is not enough, they can have their war,

and France can burn.

- You don't mean that. - Actually, I do.

If I am a dying king,

I am entitled to be a resolute one.

I will not allow you to ruin Margot's life

the way you have ruined mine,

because I know that's what you really want

for whatever fucked-up reason I cannot yet ascertain.

Find something else to amuse yourself.

A letter from the Duke of Guise addressed to Margot.

What would you like me to do?

Deliver it.

Are you sure?

Quite.

As you wish.

Who am I...

to stand in the way of love?

You should eat.

I told you I'm not hungry.

Run me a bath.

Thank you for meeting me.

Yes, your letter said you had news

- that would distress us both. - Yes.

I come to you today not as a queen but... as a mother.

Of course.

Now, please tell me what troubles you

and how I can be of help.

Well, I...

I find it difficult to say.

Somehow I feel you will persevere.

Though we hope to be related, to become sisters in a way,

I fear this union between our children

may not come to pass.

Why ever not?

It has come to my attention through reliable sources

that your daughter is...

I'm... I'm loath to even say it...

Impure.

Impure?

Sullied by another man, specifically the Duke of Guise.

I can see you're as shocked as I am by the news.

Please know this is a terrible blow for us both.

You must tell me where you heard such an accusation.

Antoinette of Guise informed me...

...as an act of charity, I'm sure,

as I can imagine under usual circumstances,

she would like nothing more than to see us both humiliated.

But she put that to one side...

and we spoke one mother to another

as I come to you today.

It is a most sacred sisterhood.

And I can only pray that the accusations she makes are untrue.

We do what we can for our children,

- and still they disappoint us. - Yes.

Of course, my son has never shamed me in the slightest,

but I imagine it must be a very painful experience.

Thank you for your sympathy.

And rest assured, I intend to get to the bottom of this,

a full inquiry,

followed by a thorough medical examination

to determine any stain on Margot's womanhood.

And if there is any truth to this, rest assured,

I will be the first to call off the ceremony

and pack my daughter off to a nunnery.

Oh, I think it would be for the best.

But even if a medical examination

were to clear your daughter's name,

any... I mean, how should I say...

impropriety

would make it impossible for me to condone such a union.

It is essential

that any marriage must be entered by a woman

with total ignorance of the opposite sex.

It is the only way to get through the unpleasantness that follows.

Of course.

And though there are some that might argue

that a little experience makes for a better wife,

I am not one of them.

In the meantime, I hope you don't think me frivolous,

but at times like this, I like to take my mind off things

by visiting the shops in Paris incognito

for a little bit of retail therapy.

- Really? - Yes.

Perhaps the austerity of your faith makes you judge me.

No.

I-I mean, yes, of course.

It's just you won't believe it,

but Queen Elizabeth likes to do the same thing.

Does she really?

- I had no idea. - Hmm.

Might you be tempted to join me?

Oh, I must confess...

it might prove a welcome break from camping.

Well, that's settled, then.

You can spend the night in town,

and I will join you tomorrow after I've gotten to the bottom

of this totally unpleasant business.

I look forward to it.

Not as much as I do.

You all right?

All things considered.

Perhaps you have heard...

you will be king soon.

Well, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

It's like you said...

who wants a fag for a king, eh?

Well...

what difference does it make?

It's all an accident of birth.

- Do you really think that? - Of course I do.

Always have done.

I'll leave you two to it.

It brings me pleasure

to see you two comforting one another.

Does it?

Do you remember when he was small?

He used to follow you around everywhere...

like a shadow.

He worshipped you.

Times change.

What do you want?

I gave you my answer. You won't persuade me.

There is another reason

why you must support the marriage

between your sister and Henri Bourbon.

I was reluctant to share it with you before,

but now I feel you must be told.

There's always another reason with you.

I'm concerned for your sister's virtue.

It has come to my attention that she is infatuated

with the Duke of Guise.

And we must protect her from this girlish fantasy,

or he will be the ruin of her.

- They're just friends. - Hmm.

Well...

it may surprise you to hear that at this very moment,

she entertains him in her chambers.

One of your spies tell you that, did they?

They did.

Well...

I don't believe you.

I hope you are right.

There is only one way to find out.

How dare you? What are you doing here?

Get out.

- You have no right. - Get out!

You have no right.

You are just like the rest of them...

manipulating me for your own ends.

No, Charles.

Perverting my feelings to get what you want.

Filling my head with what you think I want to believe.

I'm not the one manipulating you.

Actually, you're worse, because you pretend to be different,

not part of the decadence of Court,

but you are just a spoiled child.

No.

For once, you will do as you are told.

You will marry Henri Bourbon for the good of our country.

He won't have me now.

He will if I tell him to.

Charles, this is our mother's doing.

Ah!

I am tired of your filthy lies!

No! No!

You will do as I tell you, because I am my own man,

as you told me to be.

You will marry our feckless cousin,

not just for peace but because the thought

of you suffering in such a marriage brings me pleasure!

No, no, no, no.

No, Charles!

Happy?

Charles, please!

Help me.

Please help me.

I sincerely wish that there was something I could do for you.

Believe it or not...

I meant it from the bottom of my heart.

May I help you?

Oh. I was to meet with the Queen Mother.

Oh, a most valued customer.

She sent word she will be slightly delayed.

Oh, shame.

Sorry, do I know you? You look familiar.

Oh, I'm sure shop girls bear some resemblance

to one another.

Yes, I suppose so.

Oh, if you don't mind me saying,

you have the most beautiful hands.

They always betray us, don't they?

Oh, but judging by yours, you might be a maiden of 18.

Oh, well...

I do make an effort, now you mention it.

Well, then perhaps I could interest you

in a pair of traveling gloves.

They are the latest thing.

Soft Iberian leather in Tyrolean green.

Oh, they are lovely.

Oh.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, what fine embroidery.

Thank you.

If you'll excuse me, I'll see if there's anything else

- that might tempt you. - Yes, do that.

Yes.

Oh.

Slightly...

burning, actually.

No.

No.

Oh, they're itching and burning.

Hello!

Hello!

Oh! Aah! Help me! Help me! Help me!

Oh, God!

Help me!

Let Jeanne D'Albret always be remembered

for her humble life,

committed to the true faith until her last days.

Amen.

Amen.

The Court of King Charles IX

wishes to offer its condolences for your loss.

- I bet it fucking does. - Where's your mistress?

Obviously she doesn't have the courage to come here

and take responsibility for what she's fucking done!

Catherine expresses her deepest sympathies

for the untimely death of the Queen of Navarre

but denies any hand in it.

Well, she would say that, wouldn't she?

Death by shopping... sounds like Catherine to me.

It is the Queen Mother's desire that the wedding proceed.

She believes it's what the Queen of Navarre would have wanted.

She said as much at their last meeting.

I'm sorry, but I-I don't have a good feeling

about any of this.

I really think we should call off this wedding.

Believe me when I say, you can't trust Catherine.

Oh, she... she is an indescribably dangerous woman.

Mm.

The Queen Mother understands we will need assurance

of our safe passage if we are to travel to the capital,

given what has happened to the Protestant Queen of Navarre?

She would expect nothing less.

To that end,

I bring with me today the Regency of France...

signed by the Queen Mother to Sister Edith.

"The Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici,

has relinquished her regency."

However, it is my understanding,

the regency will not be mine until the king signs.

And he will do so once the wedding ceremony is complete.

Let me see that.

This is absolute bollocks.

This is never gonna happen.

If this is reassurance enough,

then the Queen Mother looks forward to welcoming you at the wedding.

What do you think, Henri?

We stand to gain a-a great deal from this offer.

And I happen to like Margot, so I think it's worth the risk.

Henri...

you have learned an enormous amount in a short time,

but you do not know Catherine like we do.

No.

And yet he possesses the faith which you lack.

Tell the Queen Mother the wedding will proceed.

- Oh, my God. - Fuck.

Certainly.

And with God as our guide,

we will travel together to the palace

to celebrate our victory!

Fuck me sideways. She's done it.

She beat Catherine.

You were right.

Enjoying the peace and quiet?

Hmm.

In fact, I'm actually considering retiring from Court.

Ah, that would be a waste of your skills.

But perhaps you deserve the rest.

I came to tell you...

my work is done.

Therefore, with a heavy heart, it is time for me to leave you.

Hmm.

I'm sorry to hear that. Where will you go?

Ah, I must seek my fortune in America.

Only assassins and usurpers wait for me in Florence.

I, too, see the appeal of escape.

Tell me again

about the investment opportunity in Florida.

Or am I too late?

Well...

as it turns out, I have already found an investor.

Oh.

Well, I'm happy for you.

I shall save my regrets for myself.

Oh, that doesn't mean there won't be further opportunities

as the project develops.

I hope so.

The New World needs people like you.

Well...

I will send word to you once I cross the seas.

But...

I want you to know...

I have greatly enjoyed my time with you,

my sister, Catarina.

As have I, my brother.

But you cannot leave immediately.

I won't allow it.

You must receive a proper Valois send-off.

Permit my daughter's wedding banquet

to be our last meal together.

I wouldn't miss it.

Hmm.

I never thought this day would come.

Isn't it more accurate to say

you never thought about this day ever?

He's right, Antoine.

You barely knew you had a son this time last year.

That may be true...

but I feel I owe my son a piece of advice

before he enters into this political marriage

full of peaks and valleys,

of blue skies and inclement weather.

Allow me, Antoine.

Henri...

there's only really one thing that you need to know.

Women cannot be trusted.

They lure you in with their fragrant ways,

make you feel loved, like... like the way

you've always wanted to be loved

and then... and then... and then crush your heart

with the thoughtlessness of swatting a fly.

Are you talking about Queen Elizabeth?

Yes.

Amongst others.

But just keep in mind...

all the hopes and dreams of the Bourbon line

are riding on this, so don't fuck it up, all right?

- Louis. - Leave it to me, Uncle.

Um, Louis, might... might I have a moment alone with my son?

Of course.

Henri, I-I-I-I just wanted to say,

um, I'm sorry your mother isn't here.

Thank you, Father.

And as it turns out,

I'm sorry about quite a lot of things,

because the thing is,

I've grown rather fond of you, Henri.

I know I wasn't around much when you were young.

I wasn't interested, but I-I can see now that that was my loss.

Don't worry. I don't take it personally.

No, of course, not.

You're not like me. You're... you're practical.

You've got a good head on your shoulders.

I'm proud of you.

But if you wanted to bow out of this whole thing now,

hit the road, head for the hills,

I'd understand. I'd... I'd support you.

The truth is, we might just be in the middle

of a massive shit show right now.

And if anything happened to you...

I don't think I could forgive myself.

Oh, I see, you're...

you're concerned about me

in a way you've never been before.

That's really nice, Dad.

Yeah.

But you see...

I like it here, at the center of things,

with the people who make the decisions

that affect everyone else...

all the intrigue and betrayal.

And I know it frightens you, but it...

it stimulates me.

Who knew?

And the thing is, I think I might be good at it,

because, um...

well...

it's my observation

that when people have strong feelings about things,

they are at a significant disadvantage...

whereas

I don't have any strong feelings...

or any feelings at all, really.

So...

I think whatever happens, I'll be all right.

Thanks for the talk, though, Dad.

It's gonna be a great day.

He's a total psychopath.

Is that what you're wearing?

What do you care?

I want you to look your best.

I see your scheming has come to nothing, as usual,

though Jeanne is dead.

It doesn't matter.

All that matters is that you did what I told you to do.

You did do what I told you to do.

You made a woman of her.

Excellent.

All you have to do now is stand up in church

in front of all those people and tell the truth.

Defy me in this,

and I will personally feed your brother to the Catholic League.

Do not doubt me.

We are gathered here today

to unite Margot and Henri

in holy matrimony.

But, more importantly,

we're here to unite their two great houses,

Valois and Bourbon,

and the faiths they represent...

Catholic and Protestant.

Now, before we proceed,

does anyone know of any reason

why these two cannot be joined together in sacred union?

I believe my son has something to say

regarding the purity of the bride.

It seems my mother is mistaken.

I don't know what you're talking about.

In that case,

I think we can proceed.

Henri...

do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?

I do.

And please nod your assent.

Margot, do you take this man

to be your lawfully wedded husband?

Then by the power vested in me,

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Welcome to Court.

It's time for the king to make my regency law.

Of course.

As soon as the marriage is consummated,

I will make sure it is done.

May I request that no weapons be carried

into the festivities?

You will notice that I have removed my guards

for the duration of your stay,

as tonight we gather in the spirit of peace.

Thank you for agreeing to see me.

If you want to see me, all you need to do is ask.

We're old friends.

Indeed.

And at your behest,

I have done everything you've asked of me.

But in my heart of hearts,

I do not see peace in our future.

Once Edith ascends to the power I have granted her,

she will burn this country to the ground.

And you know it, too.

Perhaps.

But I cannot sanction her death.

I know.

Despite our efforts,

it seems like the younger generation

is determined to fuck things up in their own way.

So what happens now?

If I had my wish...

I would preserve what I know to be good in you...

what I never doubted since the day we met.

And I would take you the fuck away from here.

Retire from Court together?

What is left for us here?

Catherine, will you consider it?

If you are true to your word

and care for me the way you say you do,

then meet me in the courtyard after the banquet.

Let the joust begin.

It is done.

- Well, that was quick. - Yet sufficient.

The marriage is consummated.

The House of Valois would like you all to join us

for a banquet in honor of the newlyweds.

How could I explain to my daughter,

she...

who had never felt hunger,

never felt cold,

never suffered a day in her life...

that there are worse things than an unhappy marriage?

For fuck's sake, come on, Antoine.

Gonna miss all the food.

Oh, of course, that's still going on.

I suppose I'll go on alone,

as fucking usual.

I'm sorry about your wife.

I'm sorry your plans to stop the wedding came to naught.

- I missed you. - Really?

Now you come to mention it, I missed you, too.

That is impossible.

Why?

I have a bad feeling, Antoine.

Oh, God, so do I.

But my son is married to the Princess of France.

Catherine has signed over the regency to Edith,

who, theoretically speaking,

represents the interests of the House of Bourbon,

which means, I suppose, we won.

Bravo us.

I don't know why it just doesn't feel that way.

How about we forget our troubles with a spot of banqueting?

I'm not in the mood.

Stay here with me.

God, I can think of nothing I'd love more.

But...

it's my son's wedding.

I'll make it worth your while.

Lady Rahima.

When do we leave?

- After the banquet. - Why not now?

Ah, Catherine asked me to stay for the celebration.

She deserves that at least, right?

- She knows. - No, no, she has no idea.

You are wrong.

Be patient.

I've got something to tell you.

Tell me later.

I have one last favor to ask of you.

You must sign the regency over to Edith.

I have already relinquished my title.

I doubted this day would ever come.

Perhaps I have misjudged you after all.

You really think she's the right one?

Perhaps she was indeed sent to us by God.

If you say so.

And now...

you have a visitor...

to console you in your hour of need.

Your Majesty.

We should go, don't you think?

You can if you want to.

I shall stay with you.

Suit yourself.

Ten o'clock.

- Where's Mother? - I don't give a fuck.

You know you did the right thing at the ceremony earlier.

Did I?

I told you...

there's a limit to how much sin one man can swallow.

- I know. - I'm not sure about that.

- Quiet. - Quiet now.

I suppose we should raise a glass to the happy newlyweds.

Bollocks.

I, uh, uh... I mean, uh, f-f-felicitations.

S-sorry.

Though they do appear to be indisposed at the moment...

...as does my brother

I would also like to raise a toast

to the new Regent of France.

My mother says you'll be the one to unite the country.

And she's usually right about these things.

So...

- to France. - To France.

To France.

It's been a...

it's been an honor and a pleasure to sit with you.

It really has.

Apparently you are a woman of your word.

When will I be presented with the regency?

Yes...

I believe it is time for you to get what you came for.

The House of Guise says hello.

Oh, fuck!

Fuck! Fuck!

The House of Guise says hello!

Fuck!

Fuck!

The House of Guise says hello.

Alessandro, a gift from your queen.

Ladies and gentlemen, the House of Guise says hello.

Little brother.

I'm sorry to disturb the happy couple,

but I'm here to liberate the princess.

You will do no such thing!

If the Queen Mother wants him dead...

let her do her killing herself.

Or...

is my proud brother...

now...

a little servant boy?

Look at what she's done to you.

As you wish.

You can't fucking die.

What's the fucking meaning in that?

I will not allow you to kill my husband.

You have forced me to marry him,

and if it's my fate to have nothing else,

I intend to be true to him.

Is your heart so fickle?

I thought it was the duke you loved.

I do not love my husband.

In fact, I feel nothing at all for him.

And yet you plead for his life.

For one reason... to defy you,

as I intend to for the rest of your days.

One day you will understand why I have done the things I have.

For the good of your children?

Hercule is dead.

Charles is dying.

Elizabeth has been married off to a cripple.

Anjou has become your deranged assassin,

and you...

have condemned me to a lifetime of unhappiness.

Happiness is a child's ambition.

And my husband is a prince of France.

Kill him, and you will be guilty of regicide...

the one crime against which your fellow monarchs

will unite.

You can keep your precious husband.

But do not forget

that I offered you a way out of this,

because he is far cleverer than you think.

Welcome to the family.

Montmorency is dead,

the Bourbons, all the rest.

Apparently.

You.

You have done this.

Yes.

In your name because it is the only way we survive.

I had no idea such evil resided in your heart.

Be that as it may,

in a few hours' time,

all of Edith's followers will find out

what we have done,

and they will come for us.

You are the king.

You want to rule...

you must decide.

Are you capable of that?

What will it be, Your Majesty?

Do we live...

or do we die?

Kill them all in their beds.

I have come to tell you that a terrible tragedy has occurred.

My brother has betrayed us with the queen of England.

Treason is punishable by death,

and, of course, I couldn't play favorites.

Do you think because you locked me in here,

I do not know what you have done?

I who know you best of all?

You acted out of spite

because Alessandro didn't love you,

because he loved me.

Hmm.

How can you be jealous of your own brother?

Is that the right question?

I'm shocked by your naivete.

I thought you were just like me...

but I was wrong.

And you betrayed me...

something as petty as love?

After all your talk of peace...

now the rivers of France run red.

Indeed.

And that's for you to decide,

who lives and who dies?

Because someone has to.

Then you truly are the Serpent Queen.

And God will never forgive you.

Do you really think He gives a shit?

So, tell me, Rahima,

how did you think that this was gonna work out for you?

I'm pregnant.

A Medici grows inside me.

Your own blood.

And when it grows,

I swear it will know what you have done to make it an orphan.

So...

if you're going to kill me...

do it now...

if you have the stomach to murder an unborn child

of your own blood.

Get her something to eat.

Oh.

I come before you with proof

that the treasonous House of Guise,

in collusion with the Catholic League,

plotted to overthrow our king

and are responsible for the bloodshed that occurred in this very room.

Rest assured, those responsible have been punished.

Where's your God now?

There is no God.

But that's a good thing,

for there will be no one to judge me

when I take revenge on Catherine for what she has done.

We are now left to mourn

the loyal Princes of the Blood...

F-fuck. Fuck.

Aah!

...and the many innocent victims

so cruelly cut down.

The Royal Family is united.

And the state of the kingdom is strong.

Long live the king.

Long live the king?

I suppose.

Then again...

there's always a spare.

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