Episode 2.08

◄ Previous: The Tudors Season 2, Episode 7

Next: The Tudors Season 2, Episode 9 ►

"EPISODE 8"

Click EasyEdit to update this page!

(Don't see the EasyEdit button above? <a href="../#signin" target="_self">Sign in</a> or <a href="../accountnew" target="_self">Sign up</a>.)

Season: 2

Original Air Date: May 18, 2008

Writer: Michael Hirst

Director: Dearbhla Walsh

Name of Episode: Lady in Waiting

Special Guests: Peter O'Toole

Synopsis

As Jane Seymour joins the court as one of her ladies-in-waiting, Queen Anne quickly begins to suspect that the King favors Lady Jane. Her father also notices that just before jousting, the King asks Lady Jane if he may wear her favors in the match. A crushing blow leaves the King dangling between life and death while Secretary Cromwell makes preparations for Elizabeth to take the throne in the event of the King's death. The Boleyns realize the the King's death would lead to more power for them and George expresses this aloud to his father.
Meanwhile, a pregnant Anne is becoming obsessed with the King's relationship with Lady Jane. Her father tries to calm her, but to no avail. Her fears are confirmed when she walks in on kiss between the King and Lady Jane. This leads to disaster for Queen Anne and her unborn son.
The Pope decides to go forward with the excommunication of King Henry and calls upon the King of France to go to war with England.
The Emperor of Spain makes a proposal to King Henry to unite the two kingdoms, provided that Princess Mary is restored her legitimacy.
Queen Anne miscarries after seeing Jane and Henry kissing. Anne blames Henry for bring on her early labor as he broke her heart. Henry decides he was influenced by Anne's witchcraft and their marriage is invalid. For this reason Henry Feels justified in finding a new wife.

Full Recap

Lady Jane Seymour is escorted by her brother to the chambers of Queen Anne where she receives a less than warm welcome from Anne's ladies in waiting. She has to swear on the bible to serve Queen Anne and act modest and virtuous. Anne acknowledges her presence but acts as cold as ice towards her.
As the king enters his rooms, ambassador Chapuys discusses Lady Katherine's death. The autopsy showed that her heart had a black growth and her doctor told Chapuys that this could indicate poisoning. Chapuys is now worried about her daughter, Lady Mary.
The king talks to ambassador Chapuys about the emperor's victory over the Turks. Chapuys is ordered to convey Henry's admiration to the emperor.
Henry mentions to Cromwell that, now the emperor has defeated the Turks, his armies are free to turn towards England. However, after Katherine's death one cause of enmity has disappeared and Henry aims to renew his friendship with the emperor. Cromwell is ordered to talk to Chapuys and discover the cost of this friendship. The reform of the church is discussed briefly as well. Henry has also found out that Cromwell has a wife and son. Cromwell somewhat uncomfortably mentions that he had two daughters as well who died. Henry tells him to bring his wife and son, Gregory, to court.
It's Maundy Thursday Henry and Anne visit church and Henry smiles at Jane Seymour, which doesn't go unnoticed by Anne. Archbishop Cranmer welcomes them and leads Anne and her ladies onward. As tradition dictates, the Queen and her ladies hand out alms and the Queen washes the feet of some of the poor.
King Francis visits the Pope in Rome on a pilgrimage. He offers his service to the Pope who welcomes him. The Pope announces that he will excommunicate King Henry and requests that Francis executes the papal bull and invades England.
Anne discusses the Seymour family with her father. He is unsure whether they have truly abandoned the Catholic faith but if they haven't they will be dealt with.
Cromwell receives Ambassador Chapuys and they discuss a possible alliance. The emperor is willing to talk to the Pope about not excommunicating Henry. He will also support Henry's marriage to Anne but on the condition that Mary is declared the legitimate heir. Cromwell admits that, even with his approval, this may not be easy.
Mark Smeaton tells Thomas Wyatt that Lady Jane Seymour is beautiful as she walks by. A page informs her there is a friend who wishes to see her and her leads her to a room. It turns out to be king Henry. She kneels and he kneels too and asks her to allow him to serve and worship her as Lancelot served Guinevere. She agrees and allows him to kiss her hand.
Anne talks to her brother George about the Seymour family as well and mention that their father thinks they may be secret supporters of Mary. When Anne tells George that Mary is very ill, he casually mentions that they may not have to meddle with her after all.
Sir John Seymour, his son Edward and Jane discuss the possible future. Edward urges her not to submit to the king and retain her virginity. They discuss her becoming the queen.
King Henry is playing chess with Sir Henry Norris and he asks about his engagement to Lady Margaret. Sir Henry has not yet asked her. He confesses he rather likes the liberty of not being married. Henry tell his to organise a joust, like they used to do.
Jane, George Boleyn's wife, accuses him of having an affair, with a man, and he does not deny it.
In the absence of Queen Anne, King Henry asks Lady Jane Seymour for the honour of wearing her favours as he jousts. Thomas Boleyn and Sir John Seymour exchange some angry glances at the joust.
King Henry jousts Sir Henry Norris and is seriously injured. Charles Brandon, Thomas Boleyn and Edward Seymour carry the king into the doctor's pavilion.
Madge informs Queen Anne that Henry is injured and likely to die. Anne falls into the arms of Mark Smeaton and begs him to say it isn't so.
The doctor, Charles Brandon and other nobles pray for the king while Thomas and George Boleyn sneak off to Whitehall.
Anne is in church, praying for Henry while Cromwell tells Thomas Boleyn that they are making preparation for the coronation of princess Elizabeth. She would be a ward of her mother and have Thomas Boleyn as Lord Protector.
George Boleyn tells his father that he cannot decide whether Henry dying would be a good or a bad thing. As Lord Protector, Thomas would, ipso facto, be king of England.
Thomas Cromwell arrives in the same church as Anne, also to pray.
Henry wakes up and Charles is ecstatic that he is alive.
Thomas Boleyn tells Anne that the birth of a son is very important and he begs her to always be careful, to avoid excitement and shut herself away from the world. She tells him she wishes there was a way to remove Jane Seymour. He tells her that, after she's given birth to a son, she will have all the power to deal with her.
The doctor tell Henry that an old wound has reopened due to the fall and he reminds him that he is no longer as young as he used to be. Henry is not listening and is feeling the favour, the small bit of cloth, he received from Jane Seymour.
Charles Brandon is sent to deliver a message from the king for Jane Seymour's ears only. He hands over a letter and a purse with gifts.
A court there's a celebration and Anne tells Henry how alarmed she was. She tells him how everyone loved Elizabeth and then suggests to Henry to ask king Francis to reconsider his refusal. Henry tells her not to talk about Elizabeth when Mary is not even betrothed.
When Charles arrives, he tells Henry that Jane Seymour returned the purse and the letter unopened. She had Charles tell Henry that she had no greater treasure in the world than her honour and if he wants to give her something, he should do so after a marriage.
Henry is pleased that she behaves in such a modest manner.
Late at night, Chapuys visits Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell mentions one great obstacle to legitimising Lady Mary and Chapuys agrees, it's the Queen. Cromwell then suggests that, if there is an obstacle, they must find a way around it.
King Henry is reading when Lady Jane arrives. He tells her to sit on his knee and says that her favour saved his life. They kiss and then Queen Anne enters who flies into a rage. Henry tells Jane to leave and tries to console Anne.
At night, as Anne's ladies in waiting are playing cards, they hear Anne scream out. When they hurry into the bedroom, Anne is bleeding and has a miscarriage. A limping Henry rushes to her bedroom to find her crying. He tells her: You've lost my boy. He will not talk about it but does say that God will not grant him any male children. When Anne is up, her will speak with her. Anne tells her it is not her fault, she was distressed to see him with Jane.
Henry talks to Cromwell and tells him he made this marriage seduced by witchcraft. He considers it null and void as evidenced by the fact that God will not permit him male issue. He will take another wife.

(<a class="external" href="http://www.tv.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.tv.com</a>)

Unanswered Questions

Will France go to war with England?

Will King Henry pursue Lady Jane as his wife?

What will become of Anne and her family?

Will King Henry restore legitimacy to Princess Mary?

Was Queen Catherine poisoned as Chapuys intimates after hearing the news of her autopsy?
ANSWER: The black mass found on her heart indicates heart cancer but to the physicians of the period it would indeed be an indication of poison. It should also be noted that historically Katherine feared poisoning at the hands of her enemies and had all her food prepared either by herself or in her room by one of her remaining trusted servants.

Did the comment by George Boleyn after hearing from Anne that Lady Mary was sick (" Then with God's good grace, we may not have to meddle with her after all") refer to plans of poisoning her?

What was Jane Seymour's ulterior motive when she returns King Henry's gift and letter?

Best Moments

The King of France boldly tells the Pope that he would gladly lay down his life in the Pope's service. Quite a bold move, but the Pope calls on him to go to war with England and take the throne. The look on the king's face is priceless when he realizes that his bluff was called.

Henry falls off his horse in a jousting tournament and is knocked unconscious. It is believed he may die. Cromwell plans to have a coronation for Princess Elizabeth naming Thomas Boleyn as Lord Protector in the event of the King's death.

The pregnant Anne walking in on Lady Jane sitting on King Henry's lap and kissing.

Anne miscarries

Henry yelling at Anne (who has just miscarried that moment) that he will never have male issue with her and that they need to talk.

Henry states his marriage to Anne is invalid as he believes he was seduced by witchcraft. He feels justified in taking a new wife.

Best Quotes

Henry Norris - "I was married before and I rather like the liberty of not being married again."
Henry VIII - "That I can understand!"

George Boleyn-"Sometimes, my love, I think that with you I am already condemned to live in purgatory."

Pope Paul III -" I have decided to carry out the Bull of Excommunication against King Henry. A father must always seek for a way to forgive his children, but Henry's crimes against us and against our faith are too profound to forgive. Moreover he shows no repentance, no contrition."

Henry VIII-" I ask you only one thing: That you allow me to serve and worship you as Lancelot served and worshiped Guinevere."

Jane Seymour -"Are you saying that I should be Queen instead of her?"

Madge Sheldon-"The King has fallen from his horse and has been crushed. They say he is likely to die."

George Boleyn (to his father) -" I cannot think whether it would be a bad thing or a good thing if he died. For as Lord Protector, you would Ipso Facto, be King of England."

Charles Brandon-"She returned the letter unopened and the purse both. She said that she had no better treasure in the world than her honor. If you want to give her money, she prays you might do so when she has made an honorable match."

Henry VIII -"But I see now that God will not grant me any male children."

Anne Boleyn -"It's not all my fault! You have no one to blame but yourself for this. I was distressed to see you with that wench, Jane Seymour."

Henry VIII -"It's true what they have whispered. I shut my ears to them, but now I know it to be true. I made this marriage seduced by witchcraft and for that reason, I consider it to be null and void and the evidence is God will not permit us male issue. So now I believe with all my heart that I will take another wife."

Trivia

PICTURES & VIDEOS

<embed flashvars="transition=Fade&site=http://tudorswiki.sho.com&imageServer=http://image.wikifoundry.com&albumId=159027" height="400" src="http://widget.wetpaintserv.us/wiki/thetudorswiki/widget/unknown/dd53de104c5092a159dfed2516c77ce9d010f64d" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"/>
How to add pictures: 1. Click EasyEdit 2. Delete placeholder or instructions 3. Click Image button on toolbar 4. Upload your image 5. Add caption, if desired How to add video: 1. Click EasyEdit 2. Delete placeholder or instructions 3. Click Widget button on toolbar, select YouTube video 4. Search for video or paste in YouTube video embed code 5. Add caption, if desired