-Mary, Queen of Scots, has been hidden away in a convent since childhood. But after an attempt on her life, she travels to the French court, where she is engaged to Dauphin Francis, the prince.

-Nostradamus, who works for Queen Catherine as a seer, foresees Mary bringing about the death of Francis.

-Francis, though engaged, is already having an affair with a member of his court.

-Mary's ladies-in-waiting arrive from Scotland. One of them, Lola, is in love with Colin, a boy from back home.

-Colin sneaks over to France to be with Lola. Mary pleads a case for his presence in the court.

-Before dinner, Mary is contacted by a ghostly messenger who warns her not to drink the wine offered to her. Mary obeys.

-Later that night, Mary is attacked in sleep by a confused Colin. Her screams draw the guards, who take Colin away.

-Colin is said to be part of a conspiracy to make Mary unmarriageable, and thus end the alliance between Scotland and France. He is beheaded.

-Lola, distraught, turns against Mary.

-It is revealed that Colin attacked Mary because Catherine forced him to. Catherine drugged the wine that she believed Mary would drink, so that Colin could rape her, and thus Mary's wedding to Francis would be called off.

-Catherine believes that if she can prevent Mary's wedding to Francis, she can save his life.

-Sebastian, the king's illegitimate son and Francis's half-brother, is the only one who is kind to Mary, returning her lost dog who had run off into the woods.