Episode 8 Versailles

I have a mind to taste the air of the forest.

Will you join me?

You do know there will be others?

Not like him.

The Chevalier is a traitor.

I had no choice.

Come!

A gallop always lightens your mood.

You could've won!

The King would've lost.

We can't have that now, can we?

My advice would be to take the matter less to heart.

You've put my dearest friend behind bars.

How else would you have me take it?

Your dearest friend, the Chevalier, was plotting against the Crown.

How would you have me take that?

He was trapped.

You know as well as I do,

he is gullible and easily influenced.

He meant no harm.

I took the decision as your king, not as your brother.

Are you still my brother?

Sometimes I wonder.

# I'm the king of my own land

# Facing tempests of dust

# I'll fight till the end

# Creatures of my dreams raise up and dance with me

# Now and for ever

# I'm your king. #

What is the meaning of this?

Her Highness is taken ill, Sire.

Is my doctor in attendance?

I'm on my way to find her now.

A...and regarding her appearance?

The matter is already in hand, Sire.

Very good.

SOBS AND RAGGED BREATHING

It's ridiculous!

It's passable.

Until I open my mouth.

Then I suggest you speak as little as possible.

I shall be discovered within an instant.

I understand your anxiety, but it serves little purpose.

What happened?

A miscarriage.

Will she recover?

Yes, Your Highness,

with sleep and repose.

Why did it happen?

I do not know, Your Highness.

Many of nature's secrets remain a mystery to us.

I'm expecting our visitor from England today.

Bring him to me without announcement and in private.

Yes, Sire.

And where is Fabien?

I have been looking for him, Sire, but so far without success.

I want him to interrogate the Chevalier.

He has a loose tongue, and I'm certain he has much to tell us.

You are a fool.

What do you want of me?

Your silence.

They're going to hang me!

The King will not dare kill his brother's lover.

He will spare you,

but not without torturing you first.

But if you talk of our little group,

I will neither torture nor spare you.

I will simply cut you open, from gullet to groin, with a fish knife.

Is that clear?

Yes.

All of the prisoners

involved in the plot have been removed to La Bastille.

We are awaiting Monsieur Marchal to question them.

They will say whatever they think will save their skin.

The question is, are they acting on their own,

or is someone behind them pulling the strings?

I don't think you should worry too much about the nobles, Sire.

For all their bluster, they are a lazy and cowardly bunch.

Are you not a noble, Rohan?

My point exactly. I am lazy and a notorious coward.

If I may suggest, Sire,

they should be executed.

That's the only way to deal with a traitor.

What are they saying in the salons?

They're frightened.

Good. I want them to be frightened.

I believe you should release them, Sire.

And why should I do that?

Because their gratitude will translate into obedience

and fidelity.

Perhaps.

But I should like them to taste the cold floor of

a prison cell for a little longer first.

'There's nothing to fear.

'Don't fight.'

Rest.

Shh... Rest!

Rest, my love.

What did you give me?

Just a little potion

to add spice to our passion.

I took some myself.

Remember?

Now close your eyes.

You need to sleep.

Water!

I need water!

Of course you do, my sweet.

Now don't worry.

I won't leave your side until you are fully recovered.

I think you must have eaten something that disagreed with you.

You yourself said the pheasant tasted a little off.

It must've been that. Don't you think?

Fabien?

Has the King visited me?

Please tell him I wish to see him.

His Majesty is attending to matters of state,

but I'm sure his thoughts are only with you.

I didn't see you there.

Will you come and sit with me?

I'm pleased to see you haven't forgotten your priorities.

Good day.

Did I lose the child?

Yes, Highness.

It is perhaps for the best.

DOOR OPENS

His Majesty will be with you shortly, Sir William.

These are the plans for the palace?

Yes, Sir William.

He lacks nothing in ambition.

I thank you for coming, Sir William.

It is an honour, Your Majesty.

I have asked you here today because I have a proposition for your king.

Which I shall hear with great interest.

It goes without saying that the substance of our discussions

is to be divulged to no-one but the King and those in whom

he has complete trust.

Of course.

I want to invade Holland.

I see.

The one thing that could stop me is her principal ally -

England.

Now, how could I persuade England to join me in such a venture?

Money?

Possibly.

A share of the Dutch trade routes?

Almost certainly.

But that's not enough.

What does one give a king who has almost everything?

Well, you give him what his family so carelessly tossed away -

his faith.

Well, Your Majesty, far be it from me to contradict...

Your king publicly claims that he is a Protestant,

but in his heart, he is a Catholic.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

He seeks to renew relations with Rome but cannot

because, in their eyes, he is a heretic.

The agreement I propose is simple.

We invade Holland. England provides a third of the troops and ships.

All costs are borne by France,

and I effect a reconciliation between the English crown and Rome.

Well, now...

And what better way to seal an alliance between friends?

I suggest a meeting, ten days hence, at Dover Castle.

Your Majesty will come in person?

I have not yet decided.

Wake up!

HE COUGHS

Have I been poisoned?

Yes, I believe so.

With what?

Swollen eyes, marks on the hands, vomiting...

When I saw these symptoms before,

the principal ingredient was arsenic.

Will I live?

If I can find an antidote, yes.

But first, I must apply a herbal salve to your eyes.

You will not.

In that case, you may lose the sight of both.

A handicap in a profession such as yours, no?

No-one must know of my presence here.

Very well.

HE COUGHS

May I congratulate His Majesty on the brilliance of his plan?

Its brilliance remains to be seen.

What counts is that King Charles becomes an ally and not a foe.

Whom shall you send to carry out the discussions, Sire?

Will you go yourself?

No.

I do not wish for them to think I'm so desperate for their support.

If I may be so bold, Sire,

I would send Feuquiere.

He is an experienced diplomat and thinks only of the good of France.

Too methodical.

What about Chanut?

His last visit to Sweden was a great success.

A loose cannon.

Croissy, perhaps?

He is a committed Anglophile.

He's even rumoured to like the food!

Henriette will go.

I beg your pardon, Sire?

Unless I am mistaken,

-you pronounced the name of...

-Indeed, I did.

Henriette will go.

(What is the meaning of this?)

(Perhaps His Majesty is not recovered from his illness?)

I'm perfectly recovered, thank you.

Sire, with all due respect, she has no experience in such matters.

The stakes could not be higher,

and, for all her qualities, her Highness is nonetheless...

A woman?

That fact had not escaped my attention.

But she has the wit of any man here and courage beyond.

Furthermore, she is King Charles' sister.

She knows his weaknesses.

She has one thing no French diplomat can hope to have -

his ear.

Your thoughts, Bontemps?

Should we not consider the possibility that Her Highness

is weak and does not have the strength for so arduous a journey?

Her mind may be willing, but her body...

Is also willing.

And if we waited a few months?

We cannot.

William of Orange has just been given

a place in the Dutch government.

The republicans are retreating,

and the House of Orange is in the ascendancy.

He will be king within two years.

If we do not negotiate with England,

he will.

Louvois, you will organise the transportation.

Colbert, you ensure that tomorrow's Gazette carries the story that

Her Highness is travelling to Vichy to recover from a minor illness.

Have you seen Monsieur Marchal?

Madame de Clermont!

Oh!

Good afternoon, Madam!

My dear, you seem preoccupied.

Oh, really?

We saw you the other day with Monsieur Marchal.

What a handsome couple you made.

Yes, it is true you saw us the other day,

but false that there exists anything between us but respect.

How disappointing!

Yes!

Well, you see, I lost a necklace a few days ago...

-Mm-hmm?

-..a family necklace,

and I asked him if he could find it, cos I feared it had been stolen.

A wise decision.

Yes.

We shall be playing cards later. I trust you will join us?

Oh, thank you.

But, erm, I'm feeling a little unwell.

Tomorrow, perhaps?

I would love nothing more.

Good afternoon, ladies!

FOOTSTEPS

DOOR OPENING

This is an honour, Sire.

May I say how terribly sorry, how ashamed...

Mmm!

Give me one reason why I should spare your life.

I cannot, Sire.

I have betrayed the trust you placed in me.

I've allowed myself to be led astray.

I humbly beg for your forgiveness.

Perhaps you should give me the name of the man who led you astray, then.

I cannot, Sire,

on my honour.

Your honour?

What a novel concept.

I swear to you, Sire.

I have never set eyes on the man.

I have no idea who he is or what he wants.

Do you really think you are helping my brother by plotting against me?

No, Sire.

No, I...

I acted without thought, and through fear alone.

Honestly, I have killed rabbits with more courage than you.

My brother deserves better.

Yes, Sire.

The question is, what to do with you.

Good afternoon.

I must give you the name of my tailor in Paris.

Why are we here?

I don't know.

-I thought it was you who'd summoned us.

-No.

It was me.

I have good news for our cause.

The King is sending his sister-in-law to England

to see her brother, King Charles.

Why?

Whatever the reason, she will not survive the journey.

How will you kill her?

Leave that to us.

And then what?

You will learn soon enough.

I say we kill the King.

Oh, come now.

I hate the King as much as you.

Oh, I doubt that.

He destroyed your castle.

His father destroyed my entire family,

not to mention thousands of Huguenots.

Madame de Clermont, we will first seek to force him out of power.

Our friend and ally, William of Orange, grows stronger by the day.

He will give us whatever we want by way of money and men.

Go now.

When the time is ripe, each of you will be given

a list of people at court susceptible to persuasion.

I do not like that woman.

She is dangerous.

We are all dangerous. Concentrate on your duties.

Very well.

At what time does the convoy leave?

Shortly after dawn.

She will be accompanied by six armed guards on horseback

and two bodyguards inside the carriage.

They will be joined by a second convoy at Marly.

I will kill her in the forest, then.

You are certain you can do so?

I know the perfect spot. I've used it many times.

Good.

I have told William that once she is dead, we must strike swiftly.

And you trust him?

I do.

While our ends may differ, our means are the same.

Very well.

Why does the King wish to see her?

That is not for me to say.

I am her husband. I have a right to know.

I beg to differ.

You have a right to ask, not to know.

He will be plotting something, of that I can be sure.

Henriette, let me do the talking.

The King will talk with Her Highness alone.

Your brother believes himself to be in a position of strength.

He is not.

He is only as weak or as strong as you allow him to be.

He will endeavour to incline the treaty in his favour.

You must remain firm.

If he does not agree to join us as an ally, the agreement is worthless.

If you return without his signature,

your mission will have been a failure.

What do you want of my wife?

I am sending her away.

What for?

To negotiate a treaty.

I don't understand.

I am sending her abroad as my ambassador.

Ambassador of France?

Yes.

Where?

I'm not going to tell you.

And neither is she.

Is this all true?

How can you let him do this to you?

Do what?

Use you.

That's what he's doing, though you are blind to it.

Is that really what irks you,

or is it the fact that she's been given a role you might have coveted?

What irks me...

is that you would take away all that is...

..or should be mine.

Your friend, the Chevalier, has just been released from prison.

I believe you will find him in your rooms.

If he betrays me again...

..he will be hanged in public.

I am counting on you to ensure that he does not.

Are you strong enough to go?

I believe so.

I am sorry for your loss.

Our loss.

My darling!

I thought my return would give you pleasure!

Only disappointment.

How so?

You have betrayed your King.

And me.

-Are you going to give me a chance to explain myself or not?

-No.

Very well.

In that case, I shall go find myself something to eat,

preferably devoid of maggots.

No, stay!

But do not touch me.

If you do it again,

the King will have you hanged.

Well, rest assured, I will not.

I have learnt my lesson.

And the thought of being hanged...

in public...

I would not let that happen.

I thank you, my love.

I would kill you myself.

DOOR SLAMS

I have a message for Monsieur Marchal.

Bravo!

Oh, the luck is all with me today!

Another game, perhaps?

-If you insist.

-Oh, but I do.

I'm tempted to believe you wish to play cards

simply in order to humiliate me.

And why would I wish to humiliate you?

Because the suffering of others gives you pleasure.

Something of which you're a bit of an expert, if I remember correctly.

Monsieur Marchal?

He is away on business. You may deliver the message to me.

Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, but I only deliver to Monsieur Marchal.

I am the King's valet, and in his absence his duties defer to me.

Give me the message.

-Where have you travelled from?

-From Pau, sir.

Hmm.

Beatrice, my dear,

you have just played a spade and we're playing hearts.

How foolish of me!

Oh, dear!

You're from Pau, are you not, Beatrice?

Yes, I am.

What of it?

Nothing. Just...

the messenger that came said that he came from Pau,

and he had some information to impart with Monsieur Marchal.

And for some reason, I thought of you.

Well, I'm not the only person to come from Pau,

surely.

Of course.

A coincidence, I'm sure.

Yes.

What do you know of love potions?

Love potions?

Yes.

Stimulants for the act of intercourse.

I know what they are.

Why do you ask?

Imagine...

two people took a love potion.

Imagine this potion contained a poison.

How would it be possible for one of them to suffer the effects of

the poison while the other did not?

Either that person succeeded in vomiting the poison

before it took effect...

or they took an antidote prior to the taking of it.

Hmm...

I want you to send a message to Bontemps, the King's valet.

I know who he is.

Yes.

Tell him I need to see him.

Very well.

Do you know why I'm sending you to England?

To test me?

There is no need for that.

I want you to go because it is your wish,

not to please me.

Is there a difference?

I don't know. Is there?

Did I do something wrong?

We used to be so close, and now...

Are we not close now?

I don't know.

Are we?

We are close to those whom we trust.

When you are with your brother,

your every move and gesture must indicate self-control.

Walking, entering a room, sitting down upon a chair.

You must betray no emotion.

Silence is more important than speech.

And whenever you do speak, you must hold his gaze.

Look away and you have surrendered.

Play on his weaknesses.

Flatter him, charm him.

Be strong when you need to,

and give into his demands when there is nothing at stake.

On this mission, you are not his sister,

nor wife to my brother.

You are France.

You are me.

Do you remember the first night we spent together?

Yes.

And do you remember what I said to you when we awoke in the morning?

No.

"Henceforth,

"every day that I do not touch you,

"taste you,

"feel you,

"will be a day of death and mourning."

I meant it then and I mean it now.

I have made a mistake.

I have offended the King,

and I have offended you.

But my love remains as strong as the day we met.

And, Philippe, the truth is...

..if you don't love me...

..no-one loves me.

HE SOBS QUIETLY

I'm so sorry!

It's Montcourt!

What on earth are you doing here?

It is good to see you too, Louvois.

The King will have you strung up if he learns of your presence.

No.

Not when I give him a piece of information

that has fallen into my hands.

Of what nature?

I only talk to His Majesty.

And why would you give him this information?

In exchange for my return to Versailles.

How did you hear of this?

In a tavern, Sire. I overheard the conversation at an adjoining table.

And what exactly did they say?

Only one of them spoke, Sire.

He boasted that he was going to kill Your Majesty's sister-in-law,

on her way to England.

Do you know the man?

Yes, Sire, from a former life.

He is a thief and killer.

And where is he to be found?

He is a member of His Majesty's police force.

He must be arrested.

If I may, Sire...

..I would strongly advise against that.

He will simply deny all knowledge of the matter.

To catch him red-handed is the only choice.

And how do we do that?

I know his methods.

I know where he will station himself.

If what you say proves true, France will be in your debt.

But until then, you'll be placed into custody.

Do you understand?

Of course, Sire.

This means there's a traitor in our midst.

Sire,

would this not be good reason to postpone Her Highness' departure?

And lose the chance to discover the identity of my enemies?

No.

Talk to Montcourt.

Find out everything he knows.

In Monsieur Marchal's absence,

security for the journey is in your hands.

I need hardly remind you the consequences

if the King of England learned that

his sister had been murdered on the way to see him.

Monsieur Marchal wants to see you.

I went to your offices, but there was no-one there.

You used to have an assistant.

I fear we will not see her again.

What happened to him?

HE COUGHS

I have a cold.

Who gave you this...cold?

My absence from court has been noted, I suppose?

His Majesty is less than pleased.

I would be grateful if you would tell the King

that I have gone to Paris on a matter of urgency.

Very well.

Before I forget...

..I have a message for you.

From where?

Pau.

Have you read it?

I have.

She is a liar?

She is.

The real Madame de Clermont died in a fire, ten years ago.

What made you suspect her?

Paper.

I do not follow.

Her documents of proof -

they were dated 30 years before the paper

on which they were written was made.

The weave was modern.

Older paper has more fibre.

The ink bleeds differently.

How can you possibly know this?

My father was a printer.

Why did you not have her arrested?

I doubted my own convictions.

But I will not doubt them again.

It's not too late to say no.

I want to go.

But why?

Because he asked me to.

He didn't ask you. He ordered you.

I am pleased to be of service to the King and to France.

You won't win him back.

You know that, don't you?

That is not my intention.

I wish you a comfortable journey.

-Mother, what are you doing here?

-Shh!

I'm with Her Highness. I cannot leave her side.

I wanted to remind you to take care.

W-what do you mean?

There are dangers everywhere.

You understand?

But we are heavily guarded in complete security.

If something happens,

be sure to place your own safety before that of Her Highness.

What...? I...

Enjoy your time in England.

But...England?

I'm going to Vichy.

I do admire her.

Why?

For going away when she's unwell.

She's going away to get better.

Don't you read the papers?

Of course!

She's going to Vichy.

So silly of me.

I am honoured that His Majesty chose to see me last night.

I'd worried that I'd lost his favour.

You will have to try a bit harder if you wish to lose my favour.

SHE LAUGHS

GUN CLICKS

Do you know who killed my father?

Not yet, but I am close.

Your right eye seems well recovered.

The left still shows the signs of the poison.

What do you see?

The truth.

The assassin has been apprehended, Sire.

Monsieur Gruaud, you are a magician.

Hmm?

Try it! Try it!

It is the perfect blend of sturdiness and refinement.

Ah...

my good friend, Montcourt!

I banished this man from court, wishing never to see him again.

It is with open arms that I welcome him back.

He is a shining example to everyone,

and proof that fidelity has its rewards.

Bravo, Your Majesty!

-Bravo!

-ALL:

-Bravo!

My friend!

What the hell are you doing here?

It is my home.

How did you acquire the King's forgiveness?

I begged him for it.

I told him that a life away from Versailles was not worth living.

And what about our other activities?

MONTCOURT LAUGHS

We shall have this discussion in private.

If you will excuse me, I must say hello to some old friends.

You have a choice...

..reason or violence.

Let us begin with reason.

What is your name?

I forget.

On whose orders did you try to kill her?

You won't believe it...

..but I can't remember that either.

Who?

You're too old for this...

..and far too much of a gentleman.

Yes?

Monsieur Marchal, Sire.

Good evening, Sire.

In case you had not noticed,

I am the King of France.

We have recently uncovered a plot, here in my own home, to destroy me

and everything I have built.

My brother's wife was almost assassinated

by a member of your police force.

William of Orange, even as we speak, is seeking ways to destroy me.

And you, my head of security,

the man I pay to keep me alive, were in Paris.

I hope you had a pleasant time.

I was not in Paris, Sire.

That is what I was told.

The fault is mine, Sire.

An attempt was made on my life,

and I did not wish the person responsible to know

of my whereabouts or my condition.

An attempt by whom?

I do not yet have certain proof, Sire,

so I beg Your Majesty's indulgence

until I am able to complete my investigation.

She may not come back.

Of course she will.

You only say that

because to think otherwise would be an admission of failure.

She will return.

I know it.

Do you have any idea what sort of place you're creating?

I know you're going to tell me.

Your palace of dreams is becoming a haven of

plotting, treachery, depravity,

infidelity and immorality.

Did I miss anything?

It was on that very subject that I came to see you.

You are angry with me for sending your wife to England.

She now has a purpose in life. You do not.

I am here to give you one.

A job?

Yes.

It's not following you around and saying yes all the time,

is it, perchance?

Sorry. That was infantile of me.

What is it you have in mind?

Etiquette.

Etiquette.

I want the nobles brought to heel.

They plot against me,

and they behave as if this were their home.

They do not know how to address members of the royal family

or each other,

how to eat at dinner,

how to BE at Versailles.

From now on, I want everyone to know their place and their status.

I want every minute of every day to be structured.

From now on,

everyone must abide by the same set of rules.

Including the King?

Especially the King.

And who better to control the King

than his own brother?

KNOCK AT DOOR

Yes?

Oh, Monsieur Marchal!

I was worried about you.

So was I.

You were here -

I went to fetch you some water and I returned and you were gone.

I've been looking for you everywhere for two days.

I was delirious.

I didn't know where I was or what I was doing.

As luck would have it, someone found me and took me to a doctor.

Oh, good!

Yes, I thought I'd been poisoned.

Gosh!

But...

you were right.

It was the pheasant.

I had some too, and I must say I wasn't feeling too good.

I then had to go to Paris, on behalf of His Majesty.

And now I'm back.

Something on your mind?

Well, as a matter of fact, yes. I...

Feel free to speak.

Oh, it's nothing. I'll tell you later.

You will stay, won't you?

No, thank you.

I just came to retrieve my britches.

Of course.

I had them cleaned.

That's most considerate of you.

I'm very pleased you're recovered.

I bid you goodnight.

Goodnight.

Everything used to be so free of fog and thicket, don't you think?

I do.

We knew who we were.

We knew what we wanted. We knew where we were going.

We knew our enemies and our friends.

But now...

Is there no turning back?

No.

The path is too narrow for turning.

Every decision taken is a stride forward and cannot be revoked.

What is your greatest fear?

To be alone.

You'll never be alone.

Spoken by a true friend.

Well, I do my best.

To the things and people we left behind.

And to a brighter future.