Queen Catherine quotes from Reign

Queen Catherine

Luc may appear to be a decent man, but I've learned to never trust the beginning of a book.

Queen Catherine

I may not be able to get you back from a nunnery, but when the time is right, I can make you a widow.

Queen Catherine

We need to prove that you're not a monster by showing them what you really are, a king.

Queen Catherine

I've learned not to put much stock in what "they" say. Just today, I heard that your son, well, he's been greeted with skepticism from the established royal families. It's a shame so few are willing to accept a royal upstart.

Queen Catherine

Mary, you cannot live the life of a nun.

Queen Catherine

When one Valois is weakened, the entire line is threatened.

Queen Catherine

I don't care if he is my child. He wants to act like a young buck, I will make him a doe!

Queen Catherine

Select one of these marginally acceptable creatures, or risk losing the backing of Spain, and your throne along with it!

Queen Catherine

Keeping your promise because you want to be good and honorable isn't the same as keeping your promise because you truly love someone.

Queen Catherine

I have always put my children first. I have done terrible things. I have always done it for their good. But are they worth it?

Queen Catherine

Women don't often say no, to Henry. When they do he thinks it's a game. It usually is. But Mary isn't your usual girl. She is Scotland. She is its queen.

All right then. Let's negotiate. As leaders. Shall we start with your desire to protect Bash? You're fond of him, aren't you?

Mary

Aren't you? He's your son. He was protecting me. Bash did nothing wrong.

And you, you shared a bed with him. There are witnesses.

Mary

They're lying. But go ahead, ruin me. I could give a damn about my reputation in France.

In Scotland?

Mary

They will believe their queen.

A queen with blood on her hands who let her lover die? Sebastian ran off with the future king's fiancée. Destroying an alliance between our countries.

Mary

Don't do this.

You want to be treated like a ruler? Someone who can say no? Do you need lives at stake to take this seriously?

Queen Catherine

Henry, you wouldn't.

You'll marry my son Francis and accept our nation's support, as you and your new husband, lay claim to England. Or I will execute my son, my subject Bash, for the treason of costing me England. You can watch him bleed to death on your wedding altar.

Catherine tried to poison me once. You could tell them that in court.

No one cares, Kenna.

That part’s true.

Queen Catherine

My dear Henry is only interested in offenses against himself. (To guards): Aren't you supposed to wait outside the door, so I can conduct my defense privately? (To Kenna) Off with you, child. You've killed me enough for one day.

Did you miss me?

Queen Catherine

This is judicial murder, Henry. We all know how this plays out when a king tries to cast off a queen.

I’ll have a line of witnesses to your adultery a mile long, all eager to say whatever I want them to say. Nobles, servants, stable boys, the man who clips the hedges in the garden, it doesn’t matter. Twist and squirm all you want; you can’t outlast them, because I’ll have another, and another.

Queen Catherine

All to wed Mary to your bastard son, and get her to stake her claim to the English throne. It won’t look good, Henry.You’re doing all this for England. You’re killing me for England. When you go back to the Vatican all set to legitimize Bash, you need to give them a fig leaf. You need the appearance of fairness. So that you and the Pope don’t look like the power-hungry bastards you are.

Nostradamus

They have children, as he is alive.

Queen Catherine

Children? [Catherine becomes emotional]

Queen Catherine

You see them years beyond their union?

Nostradamus

Yes. [Catherine becomes overcome with emotions and puts her hands into prayer thanking God] Use this to save yourself. Tell Henry you've had a change of heart. That you won't stand in the way of their union.

Queen Catherine

This has gone so far beyond me standing in the way of anything. I am convicted of adultery! Of treason! Mary is with Sebastian. And my son Francis...

Nostradamus

...Has returned to court.

Queen Catherine

[Annoyedly] You are brave to come to me with this. Because if I can't convince Mary to wed Francis, if I can't undo your mistakes, I will lose my head. But not before I watch you burned to death. I promise you that.

You're up early.

Queen Catherine

Keeping an eye on you requires vigilance both day and night.

Is that your role now? Guardian of the king?

Queen Catherine

How are you feeling today?

Quite well. I saw the physician. He gave me some tonics for my headaches, and now I feel better, having further isolated the cause of my discontent.

Queen Catherine

And what... is that?

I am king, and yet, for months, I have been subject. To fate, to lesser people, to women, of all things. Waiting on the queen of England's death. Lied to... by you, by my mistress. Put in a corner as Mary, Queen of Scots, dangled herself in front of my sons and dangled England in front of me. But... no more. I dozed, as you suggested, and do you know what I awoke to?

Queen Catherine

No.

Christ hanging on the cross. A crucifix above my bed, the sun glinting off my crown. it was... dazzling. Invigorating. A glorious reminder that I am chosen by God to rule this nation. To bend anyone I like to my will. To bend them, to break them.

Queen Catherine

To throw them from windows and crush their throats?

It was a lesson I think each woman understood in her last moments about who is king... and who is not. Others will learn, as well... soon enough.

You're up early.

Queen Catherine

Keeping an eye on you requires vigilance both day and night.

Is that your role now? Guardian of the king?

Queen Catherine

How are you feeling today?

Quite well. I saw the physician. He gave me some tonics for my headaches, and now I feel better, having further isolated the cause of my discontent.

Queen Catherine

And what... is that?

I am king, and yet, for months, I have been subject. To fate, to lesser people, to women, of all things. Waiting on the queen of England's death. Lied to... by you, by my mistress. Put in a corner as Mary, Queen of Scots, dangled herself in front of my sons and dangled England in front of me. But... no more. I dozed, as you suggested, and do you know what I awoke to?

Queen Catherine

No.

Christ hanging on the cross. A crucifix above my bed, the sun glinting off my crown. it was... dazzling. Invigorating. A glorious reminder that I am chosen by God to rule this nation. To bend anyone I like to my will. To bend them, to break them.

Queen Catherine

To throw them from windows and crush their throats?

It was a lesson I think each woman understood in her last moments about who is king... and who is not. Others will learn, as well... soon enough.

Henry is adding diamonds to my crown to sparkle as I do, he says. Don't you think a royal crown suits me?

Queen Catherine

Of course, Your Majesty. It makes your head look smaller. Almost back to normal size.

You're a saucy one, aren't you?

Queen Catherine

I beg your pardon? [Laughs] Saucy?

Don't be offended. It's a good word, "saucy." It's sauce that makes food worth eating. And women like you that make life worth living.

Queen Catherine

You're outrageous.

Oh, don't take yourself away from me, beauty.