Catherine and Francis/Season Three

In Three Queens, Two Tigers, Francis hears about a horrible accident at an estate in Tuscany, Italy where his mother is apparently living while in exile: Catherine and her lover were making love in a windmill; when their position moved a lever, and as a result the lover was castrated and killed. More news follows when the messenger reports that Catherine was consumed by such grief and guilt that she hanged herself and that Catherine de Medici is dead. Francis finds this to be laughable, and realizes that his mother is in England, and that she is behind the notices that got to the Vatican about Mary's adultery. Later Catherine is captured, and brought before Mary; when she sees her son come as well; Francis is not happy with his mother, and tells the guards to take her. Francis watches as the guards put his mother in a cage on wheels...and on the other side of that cage is a very real, live tiger; Catherine is terrified and screams quite loudly as Francis just watches as Mary locks her in the cage, and hits her with a whip, as the tiger tries to get her with its huge paws; however there are only wooden bars keeping the huge cat from ripping her to shreds. Francis then watches as his mother is led away. In Betrothed, Francis admits to his mother that he is indeed dying; this news fills Catherine with worry, fear and grief. In Extreme Measures, Francis and his mother finally reconcile, after she threatens the English Ambassador to destroy Elizabeth if he doesn't end the deal he made with Antoine, and convince him to give up the Bourbon claim to the French throne. Catherine apologizes to her son for not being the mother that he needed her to be, and that she has tried her best though she has done horrible things. Francis understands this, and knows that in her own way she has done what she could to try and be a good mother. Catherine then kisses her son and leaves him to rest. In The Price, Francis threatens his mother with returning her to the dungeon if she does not secure enough votes from the Privy Council so that she will become Regent. He says that if she loses that he will throw her back in a cell, and find a Regent who will secure Charles' rule in France. Later when Francis falls seriously ill, Mary suggests calling his mother, but Francis refuses to see her. In In a Clearing, A very happy Queen Catherine, sets to redecorate her son's room so that it will be a more romantic and cheerful for him and Mary. She asks her son what he thinks of his new room, and Francis tells his mother that she's being excessive and wants her to stop. However Catherine is grateful to Delphine for saving her son's life, and plans on redecorating her chambers next, because she thought she had lost him forever. Francis tells his mother to be honest with him about coveting the Regency; Catherine admits that it's a good job for someone who always wanted to be right, but as it turns out a lot of people despise her. The loving mother tells her son that she would never want to rule if it meant losing him and "What is France without my Francis?" Later that day after meeting with Nostradamus and hearing about another prophecy that Francis may be in great danger, Catherine immediately goes to her son to tell him her concerns. In his chambers, Francis is curious as to just what his mother is talking about, however Catherine can only explain what Nostradamus told her, she further says that she believes her son is in danger, and how can he think that she doesn't know that his health is not fully recovered when she is his mother. Francis doesn't believe it as Catherine urges her son to be safe, and when he asks how she tells him to surround himself with guards and not leave the castle; however Francis will not be confined and tells his mother that he will not hide waiting for a dream of his death, that he is living his life, and not being reckless. Catherine says that the illness and everything Francis has been through has changed him, but Francis says maybe he has changed but he wants to: visit the Matterhorn, sail everyday with Mary until the snow comes, visit the Verdon Gorge, and he promises to take every precaution for the sake of the people he loves including his mother. Francis tells his mother that he knows she means well as her actions have always been motivated by her devotion to him and her other children. Catherine kisses her son's hands and tells him that it's her devotion to him, and that while she shouldn't play favorites, Francis is her golden child and that she can't and won't lose him. Francis looks into his mother's eyes, seeing her love for him and tells her that she can't keep him in a cage not even one made from love. He then kisses his mother and leaves the room as she begins to have tears in her eyes. Later that afternoon while sitting in her private study, there is a knock at the door; Bash and several guards enter and from the look on his face she knows that something is horribly wrong. Catherine bids Bash to speak, and with tears in his eyes he tells her that it's Francis. Moments later, Queen Catherine along with Bash, the guards and Nostradamus enter the clearing where she sees her beloved son on the ground dead with Mary weeping over his body. Catherine goes over to her and holds her as she sobs over Francis. Later at the funeral at the castle, Catherine cries over the loss of her son.