The Serpent Queen

Queen Catherine summons a servant girl, Rahima, and begins to recount the story of her young life as an orphan before being rescued by her uncle, Pope Clement, who has negotiated her marriage to Prince Henri, second in line to the French throne.

Young Catherine faces problems in securing her status and producing an heir to the throne as Henri remains interested only in his mistress, Diane. Catherine begins to have visions of the future and realizes the urgency with which she must become pregnant in order to remain in the royal household.

Young Prince Henri returns from war with a new mistress, Filippa, and a baby. Diane convinces the young woman to leave, while Catherine informs a soothsayer, Ruggieri, that she must become pregnant at any cost. Ruggieri offers her guidance but warns her that there will be a price.

Catherine continues telling her story to Rahima, who asks if her daughter-in-law, Mary, has a claim to the throne as she has heard. Catherine dismisses the notion and continues with her story. Catherine has eventually become a mother, but during a difficult birth, her twins - heirs number nine and ten - do not survive.

King Henri sets off to lead an army to defend France and places Catherine in charge as Regent in his absence, while Diane insists on accompanying him to the front lines. When Henri sends word to Catherine that supplies are running low and more funds are needed, the Privy Council will not help her.

Catherine has a dream that her husband is mortally wounded in a jousting tournament. Catherine and Henri’s eldest son Francis, who has been promised to Mary since they were children, wants to start planning their wedding, but Catherine has begun to distrust Mary and Henri agrees that they should delay the nuptials.