Queens: The Virgin and the Martyr

In August 1561, a 19-year old woman steps onto land from the deck of a splendid galleon. Mary Stuart, the new Queen of Scotland and a Catholic, enters a kingdom divided by squabbles between its nobles and religious strife, including a rising Protestant movement. Queen Elizabeth I, the unmarried head of the Anglican Church, implores her to renounce her claim to the British throne.

Queen Mary has now begun to look for a husband and negotiations are opened for a match with Don Carlos, Son of King Philip II of Spain. Queen Elizabeth makes it clear that such a marriage would be a hostile act. Mary comes to focus her attention on her cousin, Henry Stuart, or Lord Darnley. Because he too is Catholic, tensions mount with Scottish Protestants.

Mary Stuart decides to marry Lord Darnley. Like Mary, he is a grandchild of Queen Margaret Tudor and has his own claim on the English throne. Mary's relationship with Elizabeth dissolves into suspicion and hatred. The marriage takes place and Mary becomes pregnant. Having an heir would give her an even stronger claim to the English throne.

Mary's marriage to Lord Darnley is on the rocks. He is becoming increasingly drunk, angry, and violent. Meanwhile, her pregnancy and the birth of her son James have thrown the fate of England and Europe into turmoil. King Philip II worries about the rise of Protestants in Spain and subjects them to the force of the Spanish Inquisition.

King Philip II expands his war on Protestantism. A soothsayer tells Elizabeth to expect violence and bloodshed in Scotland. Meanwhile, a band of intruders murders Lord Darnley. Mary's lover, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, is tried and acquitted. But as the two marry, Mary's brother arrives in Scotland with an invading army financed by Elizabeth.

The daggers are out for Mary. Her army has disserted her. The invaders present her with a proposal crafted by Elizabeth: dissolve her union with Bothwell. While he flees into exile, Mary tries to gain time. But the negotiations do not go the way she expects. As Elizabeth finds herself under pressure from Spain, Mary and her supporters make a daring move.