The Rose of Versailles Episode 25 "A Minuet of Unrequited Love" translated by GinRei [] = description of the scenes () = alternative translations (feel free to put them or drop them), and sometimes my comments or explanations {} = translation of what it says on the screen ********************************************************************** notes on names: Andre should be spelled with "/" accent acute over the "e" Francois should be spelled with a cedilla (like "5") under the "c". Gerodere should be spelled with an accent grave "\" over the middle "e". ********************************************************************** [sunset shooting range] ANDRE That's about it (/enough) for today. I ran out of bottles for the targets. OSCAR Yeah. I'll bring the horses. ANDRE OK! ANDRE Hey, Oscar! Wanna bite? OSCAR I'll take it! ANDRE There! [he says "All right!" in English here.] [a gun shot] ANDRE Who is it?! FERSEN Sorry for that nice apple! But I also wanted to show off my skill for both of you! How're you doing, Oscar Francois? You look fine as always, Andre! Hans Axel von Fersen reports he's just returned from the American continent! [he's playing a soldier's report] OSCAR Fersen... Fersen! Fersen... FERSEN!! {Opening Title} {Episode 25 "A Minuet of Unrequited Love"} FERSEN Merci, Andre. ANDRE You're welcome. OSCAR It's already been 2 years since the War of Independence ended. Everyone came back right away. What have you been doing? FERSEN I'm sorry for your worries (about me). Right before I started for home, I came down with a fever. So I stayed alone in America, in and out of bed (all the time). It took longer than I expected to recover. OSCAR I see. FERSEN Ah, delicious! I haven't eaten real French food (like this) for such a long time. It really makes me feel that I've come back to France. [flashback] FERSEN [what he says here is a bit different from the one in Episode 20.] Oscar, there's only one way that I should take: to become a betrayer! I'm going to run away. Run thousands of miles away! Oscar, please take care of Lady Antoinette! OSCAR I'm really glad that you came back safe. NANNY Mademoiselle Oscar, I've prepared a bed for Lord Fersen in the guestroom on the second floor. FERSEN No, Oscar, I'll go back to my mansion (/estate). OSCAR I'll send a message (/messenger) to your mansion (/estate) tomorrow. "The Jarjeyes guarantee to cure the Count's travel fatigue." for a week or month... make yourself at home. FERSEN Oscar... ANDRE {he's speaking in a rather informal manner} Please do. It's already been 7 years. I'd like to hear your stories about America, too. FERSEN Thanks. I'm surrounded by such wonderful friends...thanks! I went to the battlefield, thinking I could give up (/abandon) everything... even my life. I'm really fortunate to be alive! ANDRE Let's toast again. For the return of Count Fersen from the journey thousands of miles! Oscar Yes, Cheers! ANDRE Cheers! FERSEN Thank you. [next morning] OSCAR You woke up pretty early. Did you sleep well, Fersen? FERSEN Uh...yes, very well It's become my habit (to wake up early) from the battlefields. I still haven't gotten over it. OSCAR I see. So that's it. You should let her know you're back as soon as possible. Her Majesty must be worried about you, too. FERSEN Sooner or later, (I thought) but... I intend to go back to Sweden without seeing her. Seven years ago, I ran away from Lady Antoinette. Cowardly and selfishly. And that was the end. It was a romance that must (better) be ended. I only stopped in France to confirm it to myself. Not to burn with love, not to fan the flames again. As you've suggested, I've decided to stay here for a week or two. My return will be publicly known, if I return (go back) to my estate. Please, Oscar. Don't tell Her Majesty that I'm back. OSCAR I understand. (or, Got it.) [Andre and Fersen on horses] FERSEN Come on, Andre! Get ahead of me, if you can! OSCAR in her mind I've never expected this. But Lady Antoinette is no longer in Fersen's heart. Can that be (truly ) possible ? But if...if that's really the case, Now, with Fersen right here in front of me, I feel he is the only man I could allow myself to love. Hans Axel von Fersen... FERSEN By the way, Oscar. You've been promoted from Colonel to Brigadier for your marvelous job in the Necklace Affair, I heard. Your Nanny told me this morning. OSCAR a bit shyly Uh, yes... FERSEN Congratulations! -I- would definitely have promoted you all the way up to a General. It's such a wonder that God created you as a woman. [a window shatters] OSCAR Andre, are you all right?! Any injuries? ANDRE No, I'm all right. FERSEN How could they be so nasty?! Who were they? ANDRE It's probably a harassment by the citizens in Paris. FERSEN Citizens? Why? ANDRE It happens quite often these days. The estates of other nobles have also been targeted. Ever since the Necklace Affair, more and more people have come to hate the nobles and the royal family. Even among the nobles, some abandoned the royal family to join hands with the citizens. FERSEN I can't believe it. I've heard about it in rumors, but... ANDRE During the seven years you were away, Paris, Versailles, and all of France have been gradually changing. FERSEN What has changed?! How?! [Paris] MUSICIAN The Era of Nobles is coming to the end soon. We no longer think that the royal family is everything in France. CITIZENS If we're eating bad food, the Queen (and her bunch) should eat bad food, too!! Right! Only they get to eat good food! And with our tax money! That's right! If they eat good food, so should we! Yeah, that's right! MUSICIAN Yesterday, a child in Grandvillier (District) died. A child died because he couldn't buy a bread. The day before yesterday, a woman in Temple died. A woman died because she worked too much to feed (milk) to her child. Die! The fat pigs should all die!! FERSEN It has changed... France definitely changed. When I was still here, the royal family was loved although there were some slanders. The people still loved Her Majesty. FERSEN Oscar, I've decided to go to Versailles (after all). The royal family is now facing a crisis. The only thing that I can do at such time is... for someone that I could not forget even if I tried. For someone that I love... is to be by her side. No matter what anyone says, I just can't watch the misfortune of the woman that I love! [Trianon] ANTOINETTE I'm glad you're back safely. FERSEN Your Majesty seems well (as always). [at Jarjeyes'] ANDRE Oscar! It's time for shooting practice. Are you going? OSCAR Yeah, I'm coming. Wait for me downstairs. ANDRE OK! [shooting practice] ANDRE There! FERSEN New movements can rise with the power of a blazing fire. I learned that through my own experience in America. Some small fires are beginning to light up in France as well. They must be put out before the sparks fall (/shower) onto the royal family. If you would allow me, I am ready to serve by Your Majesty's side for the rest of my life. I learned after 7 years. How ignorant I was to let my heart burn passionately. How dangerous it was! I'll never let it flare up again. Instead, I will keep my feelings for you quietly lit in my bosom forever, like the flow of the River Seine. ANTOINETTE Like the flow of the River Seine... FERSEN Yes. ANDRE Look, Oscar. Migrating birds. They are heading back south. No matter how freely they fly in the sky, they eventually go back to their destined land. Nobody can stop it. Nobody... FERSEN Your Majesty! I must offer my opinion as your loyal vassal (/servant). Please leave this villa and come back to Versailles Palace! I heard many nobles' hearts broke away from the royal family since Your Majesty moved (in) here. Please come back to Versailles promptly and bring (/call) back those nobles! It's necessary to keep at least the nobles on your side. And please cut your ties with Mme. Polignac and her group. It causes discord with the People as well as with the Court to have the nation's queen listening to the opinions of only one clique. I, Hans Axel von Fersen, will abandon my homeland Sweden instead! I will dedicate all of myself to France for Your Majesty's sake! [Oscar playing piano, Andre washing a horse outside] [ball] LADIES Have you heard about it, Madam? Yes, about Her Majesty. She's coming back from the villa to Versailles, I heard. Did she have a change of mind all of the sudden? I don't know. And, did you hear about Mme. Polignac? Oh, what could it be? There's a post available for the Finance Minister right now. Yes. So, Mme.Polignac asked Her Majesty to have her relative for the Minister. Oh, like she always does. Yes, but Her Majesty said, "I've decided I shouldn't decide such matters only with my judgment. Ask His Majesty through a proper channel." My! ANDRE The influence of Mme. Polignac and her entourage is getting weaker everyday. Anyway, it is a felicitous occasion. Lady Antoinette is finally coming back to Versailles from the Villa today. and will resume the audience with the nobles and other duties. She probably took the suggestions from Count Fersen. The count is now officially a colonel of the army regiment and visits Versailles Palace everyday. [The last sentence was a bit hard. Andre said Fersen got this title as a colonel in the French army, but it's termed as "not included in the numbers". I guess that's because he's a foreigner. He must be treated as a guest in the military who only has a pseudo-job.] NANNY Have a nice day, Mademoiselle. OSCAR All, (march) 3 steps forward! The Royal Guards will guard Her Majesty from the Trianon to Versailles Palace. If you find any abnormalities, report immediately. Stand by until I give out orders. [Fersen salutes Oscar] OSCAR All right, take positions! MAN Die, nobles!! OSCAR Emergency positions! [explosion] OSCAR One escaped! Capture him! MAN Vive la France! OSCAR Don't give in, Oscar! What are you thinking at a time like this?! ANDRE Oscar, what's wrong? Are you wounded? OSCAR Andre, tell Gerodere to take charge. I'm going home (ahead). ANDRE Oscar... OSCAR Fersen... Ah, Fersen... You went back to someone who needs you more than anyone else, and who loves you more than anyone else. After the 7 years of separation and 7 years of suffering, you still went back to her. I think that's wonderful. I think you're wonderful... With all of my heart, as a woman for the first time. NANNY A corset... Ah, pannier, pannier! And...stockings... ANDRE What are you doing, Grandma? NANNY It was worth the wait and the effort to make a dress after all! ANDRE A dress? NANNY Mademoiselle Oscar said she's going to wear it for the ball tonight. ANDRE What?! Oscar is wearing a dress?! OSCAR Don't make it so tight, my waist will tear (/split?). NANNY Please stay still! OSCAR Ouch! Are you trying to rip off my scalp. NANNY It's a hairdo! There are styles in hair! ANDRE in his mind Are you serious, Oscar? (or, Are you crazy, Oscar?) My Oscar wears a showy dress and dances with other men?! Hmph, Oscar wearing a dress? It's like putting a cloth on a tall scarecrow! It would be unbearable to see (her)! NANNY Andre! Come here! ANDRE OK, OK! NANNY Andre! ANDRE All right, all right! NANNY Take a look at Mademoiselle in a dress! ANDRE All right, all right! LADIES Oh, look, Madam. Oh... Who is she? She looks as if she's come alive from a Greek statue. She's a countess from a foreign country. Her rank is too high so her name will be kept secret. Oh, a foreigner? FERSEN I've seen her somewhere... FERSEN Madam! May I dance with you once, please! [Oscar dances with Fersen] LADIES Oh, what lithe movements! A slender figure! Even Lord Fersen is enchanted. FERSEN Countess, where are you from? I know someone who resembles you very much. She's beautiful, and her hair is also blonde. Kind hearted and well educated. She's not afraid of risking her life for her ideologies! Normally, she wraps up her fragrant skin in a gold braided military uniform, Rejecting men's looks (/stares?) as (if she's) an icy flower. She's my most precious and beautiful friend. [Oscar almost falls] FERSEN Please pardon me. Could you possibly be... Could you possibly be...?! [Oscar leaves] OSCAR Fersen's arms embraced me. Fersen's eyes engulfed me. His lips spoke words about me. I can give up now. Now I can give (it all) up! [Ending title] NEXT EPISODE: The Black Knight, the phantom thief, only targets nobles. A jewel disappeared from the house of a Marquise. And Oscar happened to see the jewel shine in Andre's pocket. The Black Knight is... Andre? It can't be! Next Episode on The Rose of Versailles: "I Want to See The Black Knight!" END - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bruce Carlson carlson@indirect.com Phoenix, AZ