Katherine Parr (episode)

Plot
Katherine Parr, the recently widowed Lady Latimer, is called to an audience with the King. Henry, looking old in his fifties, corpulent, sick and lonely, takes to the mature twice-widowed lady; her honesty and calmness entice him. She turns down his offer of marriage, however, only to be persuaded by the ambitious Seymour brothers, Edward and Thomas (brothers of the late queen Jane Seymour) to accept Henry's proposal. Thomas, even though he and Katherine have romantic feelings for each other, is especially eager to have Katherine marry Henry. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer also encourages the devoutly Protestant Katherine to marry the King. Katherine soon becomes Queen of England; her natural maternal instinct is put into practice with the king's children, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. However, Catholic Bishop Gardiner takes a dislike to Katherine's religious views. He plots her downfall, and questions her ladies. Gardiner even has one woman, Anne Askew (not one of Katherine's ladies, but a notable religious writer and speaker whose works Katherine had read), on the rack. Katherine is horrified by Askew's story and confronts her husband and Gardiner. Henry is angered by her liberal opinions and angrily rejects her. Soon, a warrant for the queen to be arrested and "examined" (which is practically a death sentence), is made out. Katherine is terrified, but Archbishop Cranmer advises her to assume a modest, humble, apologetic pose to the king, and Henry forgives her. Soon after, Henry suddenly collapses, obviously near death. After a long wait, the King dies, and Thomas Seymour asks Katherine to marry him. Still in her mourning clothes, Katherine berates him for trying to take the king's place, but accepts.

Trivia

 * Last episode of the series

Quotes
Katherine Parr: My lord, I do not see your children in court.

Henry VIII: My children?

Katherine Parr: They say you have put aside the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth because the sight of them troubles you.

Henry VIII: They say? Who says?

Katherine Parr: It is said, my lord.

Henry VIII: I love my daughters!

[pauses]

Henry VIII: I'll bring them back, Kate, if you will mother them.

Katherine Parr: Sire?

Henry VIII: Oh, by Our Lady, madam, are we playing tennis? Will you marry me?

[Katherine is silent]

Henry VIII: Well, madam, you knew that I would ask you.

Katherine Parr: Yes, sire.

Henry VIII: I told Cranmer to prepare you, and the Bishop Winchester.

Katherine Parr: They prayed with me, sire.

Henry VIII: Oh, God, did it need praying over?