THE LAST WHITE ROSE - EPISODE ONE: "THORNS"

One page synopsis of the first episode of "The Last White Rose": "Thorns" The saga begins with the legendary Merlin standing before a massive stone round table where the ancient kings of England sit. There are four empty stone chairs left at the table. Merlin speaks. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Merlin, yes, that Merlin. For nearly one thousand years from the time of the great King Arthur to the end of the Plantagenet Line, England was ruled by bold monarchs who left their mark on mankind. Now, only fifteen years remain before this table is complete. Before the England of God's Will passes into legend and lies. As a preamble to what has led to this, allow me, as your guide for this epic, to share the immediate events that preceded this present crisis." He then quickly narrates flash cuts of the 100 Years War between England and France which led to the civil conflict between the House of Plantagenet and the House of Lancaster, called the Wars of the Roses. The scene turns to August 22, 1485. An inkling of Merlin's purpose is revealed as he challenges the Plantagenet King Richard III, camped on Ambion Hill hours before the Battle of Bosworth, to remember his life. Those memories open with the betrayal that causes the separation of Richard and Anne Neville of Warwick, childhood sweethearts at Middleham. Squire Francis Lovell, faithful to Richard and a colleague at Middleham as well, warns Anne that the York troops are advancing on her father the kingmaker Richard Neville, the Duke of Warwick. Because he has defected from Richard's brother King Edward IV and the House of York (White Rose) for the House of Lancaster (Red Rose), he is a marked man. Now her entire family is in jeopardy and must flee to France from Warwick Castle, leaving all behind. The York army pursue Neville to the coast where Warwick narrowly escapes. After a harrowing passage, Richard Neville has to deal with unrest within his own family in France and the unhappy marriage of Richard's other brother, the ambitious and shifty George - the Duke of Clarence - to Anne's sister Isabel who loses a child at childbirth on the rough English Channel. Resentment consumes Anne against George for his treatment of her sister Isabel who is so frail and sickly. Anne's refusal to be coddled plays against her mother's patronizing and willing subjection to her father's ruthless endeavor to risk the family fortune and welfare. In Angers and later in Amboise, Anne is confronted by the cunning Queen Margaret of Anjou, wife of the deposed King Henry VI who is rotting away in the Tower of London. There is immediate conflict between the innocent Anne and the wily witch of Anjou who tries to burn Anne in her bed. Anne narrowly escapes, but Margaret, determined to win back the throne through the marriage of her son Prince Edward to Lady Anne, manipulates Warwick who, in turn, pressures his daughter Anne against her will to marry the prince. Anne's a mere pawn in the Anjou witch's plans to recapture the throne. Anne steadfastly refuses because of her love for Richard. Meanwhile, Richard fears the worst, thinking she is lost to him, yet continues to pine. His brother King Edward IV, a royal Lothario, tries to roust his younger brother Richard from his endearment to Anne by urging him to forget her and take up tennis. Soon the Scots stir up unrest. That is the signal to Warwick. Fortified with Lancastrian troops from France, Anne's father returns to England along with the Duke of Clarence and his wife Isabel to join up with Warwick's brother John Neville and his Plantagenet forces in their attempt to take London from the south while King Edward and Richard are fully occupied with uprisings in the north. The Anjou witch will wait for word before traveling to England with Anne, her mother in tow as well as Margaret's son Prince Edward of Westminster - the man who would be king by hook or by crook. The closing scene features Anne trembling with fear that Anjou approaches as Merlin warns viewers of the treachery, "Just as I prophesied many centuries ago: 'The red dragon will rise and fight the white dragon...until the red dragon wins.' Beware of the thorns. O White Rose of York, beware of the Red Rose!"