Set in a glamorous and romantic era, Mary Tudor, younger sister of Henry VIII, wants to escape being used as a political pawn and to marry Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, the man of her dreams, a goal that should be easy for the most beautiful and privileged princess in all of Europe, but for her it is elusive and almost fatal.

SYNOPSIS:

FRIENDS OF MARY – SYNOPSIS, Full Feature, 103 pages, (Based on the recorded history of Mary Tudor, Queen of France)

‘Hallmark ready’ and set in a glamorous genre, Friends of Mary is a suspenseful character-driven love story based on true events surrounding the young adulthood of Mary Tudor, younger sister of Henry VIII.

The year is 1514, and vivacious Mary Tudor, 18, dreams of only one thing in life, to be married to childhood sweetheart, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. In those days, however, Mary has little freedom to decide her own future.

Her powerful brother wants to exchange Mary for a treaty with France. Louis the Twelfth, King of France and a sickly widower, needs an heir to the French throne. The monarchs agree to exchange Mary as their political pawn.

Mary rebels but her sense of duty to England compels her to submit. By agreeing to marry Louis, however, she surrenders her dream. In exchange, Henry agrees to allow Mary to marry whoever she wants at Louis’ death.

After being married for three months, Louis abruptly dies due to marital overexertion. His death changes Mary’s fortunes. She can again dream of marriage to Charles Brandon.

Mary’s trials are not over, however, as she must survive Le Rituel du Séquestre (The Ritual of Sequester) to prove she is not pregnant or Louis’ heir, Francis, Duke de Valois, cannot become King. The test almost takes Mary’s life, but friends in France come to her rescue.

Aware of Mary’s plight, Charles and Archbishop Thomas Wolsey are dispatched by Henry to rescue Mary. After a mock sword fight with very real implications, Charles is warned by Henry to not elope with Mary.

Charles cannot escape the allure of the most beautiful princess in Europe. They disobey their sovereign King and marry anyway.

Mary and Charles are arrested when they return to England. The charge is treason, and the punishment is death by beheading.

Out of options, Mary and Charles surrender to their fate, but Henry is not yet through with his friend, Charles, and beloved sister. Henry must device a solution that satisfies his demand for justice.