Episode 9 Versailles

This programme contains some strong language

and some scenes of a sexual nature

You are not what I imagined, Monsieur Guibourg.

Father Etienne.

The church may have rejected me, but they cannot take away my faith.

So can you answer my wishes?

Our Lord's strength is in harnessing nature.

I cannot go against the natural order.

But I only want what is right.

In his soul, he desires me more than anything.

Such feelings can only be secured

if the subject is deserving of your love.

I would sacrifice my life for him.

That should not be necessary.

BABY WHIMPERS

BABY CRIES

BABY GURGLES

She's perfect.

But this world is no place for her.

So it falls to me to find her peace.

BABY CRIES

Deus det tibi pacem...

Now. There are certain duties you need to perform before the ritual.

Certain rites to be observed.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for this.

You think this is a market place?

You think I am some simple merchant?

You think there's some sort of a take-it-or-leave-it service to be dabbled in?

Devote your life to his service and your wishes will be granted.

Now place your hand on the holy book...

or don't - and leave your fate

at the mercy of the prevailing wind.

The choice is yours.

MUSIC: Outro by M83

# I'm the king of my own land

# Facing tempests of dust

# I'll fight until the end

# Creatures of my dreams raise up and dance with me!

# Now and forever, I'm your king! #

MUSIC PLAYS

CONVIVIAL HUBBUB

Sorry to break your hearts, gentlemen.

But it looks like I am victorious once again.

I'm just going to take my winnings and leave.

It's a lot of coins. I'm so sorry.

It was a pleasure, gentleman, as always.

Excuse me.

HE GIGGLES

Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.

So far.

You have the magic touch.

We make quite a team.

I'd call that a HANDSOME morning's work.

It's a convincing charade.

It's easier when my orders overlap with my hobbies.

At any rate, he seems to be falling for your charms.

I have yet to meet a man that doesn't.

Make sure you have his trust.

We can then choose a moment to abuse it.

I must admit I'm impressed, dear brother.

You set a fine example on how to deny your passion

in the service of your duty.

Where were you?

What business is it of yours?

You're fucking him, aren't you?

We devised a deft game at cheating at the card-table.

That hardly constitutes consummation.

See?

You can't even deny it.

I want to know exactly what you've been up to.

You're drunk.

Don't patronise me.

There are bigger things going on here.

You have no idea what this is about.

The whole fucking salon knows what's going on.

Do you have to rub my nose in it?

It's complicated. I can't explain it right now.

Maybe this'll help you find the right words.

You dare threaten me?

No.

I have a much better idea.

You're bluffing. You don't even know how to load it properly.

HE SOBS

Do you really want to know how much I feel for you?

Do you want to know what's really in my heart?

Let me show you.

I don't recognise you any more.

You stay away from me.

He missed. Story of his life.

SOBBING

FOX SNIFFS

Away! Go away!

Dig it up. All of it.

Qui custos es mei, mei,

tibi commissum pietate superna, illumina...

I'm at prayer, Bontemps.

Sire, I insist you come with me.

Monsieur Louvois awaits you in the council room.

Regarding what?

A messenger has just arrived from the Palatinate.

We have killed hundreds.

Possibly more.

And how many were soldiers?

None, Sire. They were all unarmed civilians.

Our troops? Loyal, professional Frenchmen

have slaughtered innocent women and children?

They were out of control. Drunk. Rampaging.

They looted, butchered, raped.

They say the world has never witnessed such barbarity.

Turenne is a man of restraint. How could this happen?

He claims, Sire, he had his king's blessing.

He's lost all reason.

War has destroyed his mind, eroded his judgment.

It would seem so, Sire.

The Elector Palatinate was our staunch ally.

No more, Sire. He has joined William of Orange against us.

I must seek guidance from above.

Ours is a God of wroth and we have angered him much already.

Would His Majesty share this news with the Princess Palatine?

She will find out soon enough.

If she has not heard already.

What of your family?

Some are unaccounted for.

I have cousins and childhood friends living in the heartland.

So they might have survived.

They say your forces killed everyone in sight.

My country will never be the same again.

My brother's actions have nothing to do with me.

I'm sorry.

I am married to the family that has destroyed my people.

Everybody out!

There are conventions to be observed, sir.

I don't give a shit. Tell them to leave.

I don't think that's apt.

If you don't, I will.

You cannot overrule the king.

I have things to say that can only be heard by those who shared

a bloody womb.

Go on, get out! Or do you defy your king's brother?

Must you live your entire life in a melodrama?

You are a monster.

What you did in the Palatinate makes you no better than a common killer.

Every war involves regrettable casualties.

Not the mass slaughter of innocent people!

There are rules, boundaries.

Basic human decency!

I was here at Versailles. These events were outside my control.

Of course. It's always someone else's fault, isn't it?

You've never said sorry in your entire life.

Turenne was acting on his own initiative.

This butchery could not have happened without your consent.

You're as guilty as he is!

What am I supposed to do?

I have a spy in my palace,

my troops are in retreat and half of Europe has vowed to destroy me.

You have blood on your hands, brother.

Maybe that's your true legacy.

You don't want to be loved,

you want to be feared.

THUNDER RUMBLES

Why am I still being tortured?

I cannot say, Sire.

I've crushed all carnal thoughts, I've acknowledged my errors,

yet still God is punishing me with this massacre.

I've done everything in my power to please him.

What else can I do?

To pray is the only solution, Sire.

All answers will come to you through Him.

Hardly the first bastard child to be disposed of without ceremony.

I cannot talk now, I have matins.

God can wait. I'm here on behalf of the king.

Tell me about the church's refuge Saint Genevieve.

An institution for lost souls.

They take the children of whores.

Such charity is misplaced.

Sinners must pay their own debts.

The church has no such place.

How can you be sure?

Because I have authority over all France. That includes you.

Do you know a priest in Paris, Father Etienne?

No, I do not.

Etienne...

..Guibourg?

If Guibourg is at large in Paris, you must stop him.

Quickly.

You requested my counsel, Majesty?

As a woman of experience,

I thought you might understand the nuances of modern life.

I wish to become a better lover for my husband.

The profound love of wedlock can only come through God, Majesty.

How would you characterise your marriage?

My late husband was very busy with his work.

He wasn't one for... physical prowess.

Hmm.

Although occasionally, my husband seemed to find me

irresistible after I bathed in aromatic oils.

Aromatic oils?

I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.

Solange, that won't be necessary.

Indeed, I had a favour to ask of you.

I understand you and a certain lady...are no longer close friends.

To compensate for your loss, I would like you to become mine.

I am honoured.

I want you to feign friendship and keep a discreet eye on her for me.

Madame de Montespan?

Don't mention that name in my presence again.

Yes, Majesty.

I don't trust that harlot to keep her distance.

If she sets another fragrant foot near the king, I will make her pay.

Is that quite clear?

"That the friendship and love of the king may be assured to me,

"that I may be honoured by all the Court,

"that my lover deny me nothing I ask."

So I just have to read it?

Guibourg will explain the rest.

You must follow his instructions precisely.

You seem troubled, pretty one.

I do not like going against the teachings of Rome.

The Church.

The Church likes to believe there was nothing of spiritual

worth before Christ.

They try to deny the ancient wisdom.

They cannot ignore it.

To doubt is natural.

I will stop at nothing to secure the king's love.

Good.

To seal the charm, you will need a few drops

of your lover's fresh sweat.

I am forbidden all access to him.

You're a resourceful woman.

You'll find a way.

No sign of that priest, sir. And no-one willing to talk.

Find the whore named Mathilde. She plies her trade in that purgatory.

My master expects me, sir.

I'm here on the behalf of the king.

A problem?

Has Odile incurred your disapproval?

Merely my suspicion.

So I may have my servant back?

That's a distinctive brocade.

Yes, I'd give you the name of my tailor if you could afford him.

I prefer a less tawdry cut.

Some of us were born to set fashions,

others merely to follow them.

Come on, Odile.

SHE PANTS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

DOOR CLOSES

FOOTSTEPS

HE STOKES FIRE

Are you spying on me?

I thought you were my friend!

I was.

And this is how you betray me.

Everything I know of treachery, I learnt from you.

SHE SCREAMS

Argh! Argh!

SHE PANTS

I've done nothing wrong, sir.

I don't care about your sins.

I need your help to find Father Etienne Guibourg.

You gave him your child.

Well, that man's a saint.

He...he's helped countless others the likes of me.

If you care about the safety of your child,

you will tell me what you know.

Why?

What's happened to her?

I cannot say.

Tell me where he can be found.

Will it suffice?

So long as it contains his essence.

Yes, you must cover your skin with half of this at daybreak,

the other half at dusk.

And ingest nothing but this tincture in advance. Is that clear?

I don't know if I can do this.

I would not have invested in your future if I did not believe in you.

But it's not too late. I can still turn back, can't I?

But you know in your heart you've already taken that first step.

She was my friend.

She may have betrayed me, but she did not deserve this.

There can be no salvation without sacrifice.

What if I am damned?

Were you seen?

-I'm not sure.

-Was there a witness?

Maybe. I don't know.

Then you must believe.

And you will soon be at the king's side.

How can you be so sure?

Because I have faith.

Long is the road to enlightenment and hard is the way.

I can feel my enemy's breath on the back of my neck.

Find them.

Here I am before you.

A sinner, penitent.

Do you hear me?

Do you see me?

You taunt me, is that it? I am here for your amusement?

Punish me if you must,

but why should the people of France suffer for my sins?

What must I do?!

With your help, I will confront my foes and bring the enemies of

your kingdom to justice.

But I need your help.

Do I have it?

DO I HAVE IT?!

Horses.

Keep our distance. Hyah!

I gave orders not to be disturbed.

I came to pray, Your Highness.

What do you pray for?

For you.

I'm in no need of prayer.

I disagree.

You need it more than anyone.

You carry all our hopes,

our desires, our dreams.

I also live a gilded life, don't I?

I have everything in the world a man could ever want.

Bearing the heart of France is a terrible burden.

You must be stronger than all of us.

What if I can't find the strength?

God will help you.

He will show you the way.

How did you find such strength?

I have lived a full life.

I have known sin and redemption.

I have achieved inner peace.

I wish it were so simple.

You must recognise your fear...

..admit your weakness and confess your sins.

I do nothing else these days!

But something...

Something is sapping the breath from within me.

You are only human

and you are a good man.

You are not alone.

Ad vos magna cum humilitate fideque venimus.

Prae vestram potentatem immortalem et gloriam nos prosternimus.

Do you agree to serve the Lord?

I do.

BABY GURGLES

Circle round!

Hyah!

THEY GRUNT

BABY CRIES

Astarothe, Asmode, lucis domini,

vos invocamus ut hunc sacrificium recipietis.

MEN SHOUT

Shhh. Shh.

You help me find my strength.

You carry your responsibilities like a cross.

As king, I must carry the sins of all my people.

That was the sacrifice of Our Lord.

He does want me to follow Him, doesn't He?

Yes. But He does not ask you to become Him.

Then I am just another man -

weak, fallible, mortal.

You ARE just a man.

But you have forgotten how to see...

..to hear...

..and to feel.

(And you must remember how to breathe.)

SHE BREATHES IN AND OUT

My heart beats again.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

HE COUGHS

"My heart aches every hour we're apart.

"How will we ever be together?"

DOOR SHUTS

Something is wrong?

What makes you say that?

Your expression. I can't read it.

I've spent a lifetime perfecting that particular skill.

What are you thinking?

A wife should never ask her husband that question.

The answer will always disappoint.

HE COUGHS

You frighten me.

Oh, I'm not the one to fear.

A girl like you should be more careful in her choice of lover.

I don't know what you mean.

Never trust a man who presents more than one version of himself.

Or one who writes stories for a living.

You're sure Thomas suspects nothing?

I have him eating from my perfumed palm.

Then you will tell him tonight that the king is arrogant,

-pig-headed and paranoid.

-Shouldn't be too difficult.

You will say that I am losing my grip on reality,

rejecting all reasonable advice

and that you wish to leave Versailles for good.

Again, I think I can manage that.

Then you will tell him that the war is lost,

my men are cornered like rats in a trap.

We cannot hold on to Utrecht another day.

We will withdraw all our forces after nightfall.

How can you be so sure this will work?

Because I have seen the light.

Is that the delicate touch of the Duc de Cassel?

Very droll.

Your eau de toilette is unmistakable, monsieur.

Therefore worth every penny.

How do you fancy going out,

making a fortune on the card table and getting blind drunk?

Tough day?

You have no idea.

-No. Don't read that, it's not finished yet.

-What is it?

It's a scene from a new play I'm working on about the war.

It's a proper comedy if my brother has anything to do with it.

-Really?

-He's a natural disaster.

You wouldn't believe the mess he's making of it now.

Perhaps you should play the lead role, since you didn't get

a chance to play your part during the battle.

Hmm. Would I have to audition along with all the other actors?

Mm.

Well, that all depends on how good you are.

"Your voice is the guttural roar of the cannons on fire.

"Your eyes...

"are the flames from the torches of Satan with ire."

Try some more. This time with real feeling.

"The kick of the musket, the flash of the powder ignites."

"The glint of the blade, the clash of the iron jaw that...

"..bites."

HE GASPS

Lucifer has been celebrating his evil in the very heart of France.

These sinful pages deal in the devilish rite of human sacrifice.

This unholy priest feels no remorse?

No pity?

Not yet.

But one of his disciples spoke.

It seems the priest had accomplices in the village.

Chief among them, a woman.

Extract their names from him.

And show him the full force of my justice.

SHE GASPS

Athenais.

Athenais.

Oh, my child. My poor child.

Athenais...

Oh. Oh, I was dreaming.

-What? FAINTLY:

-I was dreaming.

SHE MOANS AND HYPERVENTILATES

-Shh...

-I sold my soul!

Our Lord will protect you.

He is your master.

What of Father Etienne?

Monsieur Marchal and his men took him.

What if they saw where I went?

No. He's never betrayed any of his followers.

SHE PANTS

APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS

Then he's never met Monsieur Marchal.

We must have faith in him.

What do I do now?

After the way the King has betrayed you,

don't tell me you do not seek justice.

DOOR OPENS

Until the next time.

(We're being followed. Circle.)

HE PANTS

WHISTLE

PAINED GROAN

Hey!

I'm deeply grateful. Thank you.

I will see to it that each one of you...

Hold on a second, what are you doing?

Hey! This is an outrage! How dare you?!

You fucking scum!

MAN COUGHS

Look what you've done to me now.

Compliments of your new lover.

Thomas?

I didn't see his face but it had to be him.

I was following the oleaginous little shit.

Why?

Because I wanted to discuss the weather over Armagnac and macaroons.

Why do you think?

Ow! You're making it worse.

-Why won't you let me help you?

-Because this is your fault.

I'm going round right now. I'll kill him properly this time.

You can't!

I have my honour to think of, and so should you.

We mustn't cause him any more trouble.

-We have to leave him alone.

-Why?!

-Trust me - it's important.

-Trust YOU? Seriously?

-Get your hands off me!

-I love you.

But Thomas has to be left alone.

We both need to show a brave face.

Can you do that, for me?

Run me a bath.

You seem preoccupied.

It is nothing, Sire.

It's about the Princess Palatine.

She's been in mourning since the loss of her countrymen.

I'm sure it's simply an oversight,

but a few words from His Majesty might ease her pain.

You're right. I shall express my deepest regrets.

Yes.

That is not what you had in mind.

I think you should ask her forgiveness.

Confession is not the same as apology.

Why can't my priest be like you?

Do I frighten you?

No, Sire.

So what do you fear?

Only myself.

I would like to show my appreciation and respect.

You are a model of humility and restraint.

You have fulfilled your duty as my brother's wife

under trying circumstances.

And now you must feel...

great distress after what has happened in your country.

Is that supposed to be an apology?

Obviously, I would let you return home were you not carrying

my brother's child.

My child will grow up within a family of murderers.

I came here to discover a new life.

Of joy.

Of liberty.

I am now your captive.

You have complete ownership of me.

I am at your mercy.

I'm sorry.

'The priest had accomplices.

'Among them, a woman.'

HIS BREATHING QUICKENS

What ails you, Sire?

I drew this in my own blood.

And now I recall where I saw it first.

And now the labyrinth returns to haunt me.

The tarot sorceress may be part of this heresy too.

I thought you might like to go the way of our Lord.

My soul is immortal, you cannot destroy me.

Is that so?

Well, I will enjoy trying.

I only believe in the here and now.

And right now there is only you and me, so...

who else is behind this abomination?

I'll give you nothing.

I imagine you can appreciate the significance.

Oh, yes just...as I appreciate your INSIGNIFICANCE.

My prince is all-powerful.

Yes.

It appears that your lord has forsaken you.

Give me a name.

I already know of Madame Agathe.

Who else?

(The young doctor.)

What?

(The young doctor.)

Claudine?

Oh, so soft to the touch.

She cried for your help, you know, as she died.

She... Like a lamb to the slaughter.

It was gratifying taking the life-force from one so...

..so sweet.

ARGH!