The Rose of Versailles Episode 36 "The Watchword is 'Au Revoir' " 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". Orlean should be spelled with an accent sign '/' on the 'e'. Bernard Chatelet is spelled with a circumflex ^ over the 'a'. Place Vendome is spelled with a circumflex ^ over the 'o'. ********************************************************************** NECKER I'm the Finance Minister, Jacques Necker. ROBESPIERRE I know you well. You quit as Finance Minister, but came back. We know why you were dismissed from the office. Even though you worked for the Palace, you made public its financial deficit. NECKER I just did my job as an accountant. ROBESPIERRE And now you're suggesting to tax not only us commoners, but also the clergy and nobility. A tax at an extremely high rate. NECKER I might be fired again. ROBESPIERRE No, we'll protect you this time. You're the only one with a sense of sincere justice and equality, paying no attention to the privilege you may have in the Palace. NECKER You're giving me too much credit. ROBESPIERRE The People have a high expectation for you. As long as you're in the Palace, the King will have to approve the National Assembly. NECKER You want me to persuade the King? Is that why you wanted to see me secretly? ROBESPIERRE To reform the government without any bloodshed, I have no choice but to ask for your help! ROBESPIERRE Riots can be avoided if the National Assembly is approved! NECKER I'll try. In order to save my ailing country even a little. CROWD Approve the National Assembly! The King must approve the true representatives of France! [opening title] {EPISODE 36: "The Watchword is 'Au Revoir' "} ANTOINETTE Oscar! ANTOINETTE Only a handful of nobles visit the Court nowadays. We didn't have enough money for the funeral of Louis Joseph. So we sold off our silver wares and golden candlesticks. I know the French Guards are extremely busy. You didn't have to come to thank me. OSCAR No, I was expecting a severe punishment for a serious breach of military discipline. But I was not punished by the mercy of Your Majesty. I deeply appreciate it. ANTOINETTE Of course! We've been friends for 20 years! ANTOINETTE We both suffer in this uncomfortable time. But everything will settle down soon. The Royal Army is now heading to Paris and Versailles from all over the country. Light Cavalry Regiment from Southern France, Royale Claverte (sp?) Regiment from Charenton, Salis Samade from Vichy. ...over 10 thousand soldiers in all. I ordered it as the French Queen, In order to dissolve the National Assembly and prepare for riots of the commoners. Louis (Bourbon) Dynasty is invincible! We won't be shaken by such things! (or, "We're not that vulnerable!") {The French Guards Barracks} ANDRE Commander! It's almost the time to patrol Paris. OSCAR I'll be right there. Assemble in the parade ground... ANDRE Oscar! OSCAR I probably got a summer cold. I have a little fever. Sorry, but tell Alain to direct the patrolling tonight. ANDRE OK. Leave it to us! OSCAR Just as I thought, a lung disease. [flashback] ANTOINETTE The French Guards will be put on alert, also, sooner or later. If we have to, the Royal Family is ready to fight (/battle) (with) the rioters. In such case, Oscar, I'm counting on you! NARRATION In July, Royal Army troops arrived, one after another. Royal Clavert Regiment closed the Place Victor Hugo, virtually forbidding rallying at the Plaza. ROBESPIERRE We're not trying to make trouble, but lawfully discussing the future of France. Are you not also French, just as we are?! CITIZEN Take off your military uniform and join us! CITIZEN Right! If not, go back to your garrison (post)! CITIZENS Go back! Go back! NARRATION Meanwhile, the Royal-Allemand Regiment closed the road from Paris to Versailles. They skirmished with demonstrators demanding Louis XVI to abdicate. Salis-Samade Regiments patrolled Paris (on their own), enforcing curfew and cracking down on gatherings at night. The situation grew more hostile suddenly in July. Soldiers armed with guns (/rifles?) stood everywhere in town, coercing citizens. And there was another serious problem. Since an army of over 100,000 soldiers gathered in Paris, overpopulation caused severe food shortage in and around the city. Hatred and hunger took away smiles from the people. [Jarjeyes estate] JARJEYES A portrait of Oscar? NANNY She invited (/asked) a painter (by herself). JARJEYES What changed her mind? She used to decline (/refuse) to be a model. She used to refuse to pose. (The verb "pose" goes back to this practice of standing still (in some brave or noble stance :) for a painter. These days it's also used as "Posing for the camera.") NANNY I wonder. PAINTER I've seen you 20 years ago. OSCAR 20 years ago? PAINTER Yes, on the day that the royal couple visited Paris. Though Queen Antoinette was still a girl, she was beautiful. And you were beside her. Your dignity and innocence... Your blond hair shined like the sunlight, still branded in the eyes of this old painter. OSCAR I remember. The sky was really beautiful on that day... [church] DISCIPLE? Monsieur Robespierre! We've been just informed that Duke Orleans and his group led 2000 demonstrators, demanding Louis XVI's abdication. ROBESPIERRE What does he want after Louis XVI's abdication? DISCIPLE The coronation of Duke Orleans. ROBESPIERRE So, there he unmasked himself. He joined National Assembly and the 3rd Estate, just for that purpose. How stupid. If we accept that, the aristocracy will only continue. DISCIPLE Monsieur! Let's remove Orleans' group from National Assembly! ROBESPIERRE Wait, wait. Leave him alone. Nobody will support him anyway. We can't have internal trouble now. What's more important now is the official approval of the National Assembly and withdrawal of the army from Paris. Let's wait a little more. Finance Minister Necker will do something for us. Let's wait. [cabinet meeting] BOUILLE Monsieur Necker, you've just spoken something a vassal should never say in front of His Majesty! NECKER I'll say it again and again! We can't go against the tides of the times. Instead of suppressing, please approve the National Assembly and (come to) compromise for a talk. And we must have a reform in order to resolve this financial crisis! CABINET MINISTER What kind of reform are you planning? NECKER A reform in monarchy. It's no longer possible for the King to run France by himself. Our country won't prosper without parliamentary government based on the cooperation from new political force. CABINET MINISTERS What you mean by the "new political force" are the commoners! Are you saying His Majesty should become side by side with the commoners?! NECKER Exactly! Does any one of us, who support His Majesty, have the power to resolve this crisis?! Please stand up if you think you can! ANTOINETTE Never, Your Majesty, never! You should never allow a reform of the monarchy! You have proclaimed that a resolution without an approval from the King is invalid! If you accept the National Assembly now, the monarchical authority will be affronted! You should never give in! The flow of time is made (/set) by the King! [at Jarjeyes'] PAINTER You look pale. It's about enough for today. OSCAR No, I'm all right. PAINTER I'm also getting little fatigue... OSCAR If you say so... PAINTER It must be terminal. I must finish it soon. OSCAR How is Paris, Andre? ANDRE Freedom is gone now. ANDRE Oscar. ANDRE What are you hiding? OSCAR Nothing. ANDRE I'm one eyed, but you, I can see everything. No... I WANT to see everything. Tell me! OSCAR I'll go to Paris tomorrow. [church] ST. JUST Why are you hesitating, Monsieur? Just say, "Do it, St. Just" and I'll head to Versailles. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette... it's a difficult job but not impossible. Demonstration by the People? Necker's eloquence? Monsieur, knives and guns are much more effective. ROBESPIERRE No more discussion. Go back. ST. JUST How disappointing. My idea was not adopted again. ROBESPIERRE Bernard. ROBESPIERRE Keep an eye on St. Just. I don't want him to ruin what we have worked hard to establish. BERNARD Yes, Monsieur. CROWD GO BACK! GO BACK! GO BACK! ALAIN Commander, there isn't much we can do by patrolling. The Clavert and Allemand Regiments are taking up their posts in street corners. We're just strolling around. OSCAR What will happen? OSCAR What will happen next? To Paris and people? ALAIN I don't know. It can only end up in the extreme, probably. Unless the army withdraws from Paris... OSCAR A riot, you mean? ALAIN Call it "Revolution", if you will. OSCAR "Revolution"? Revolution... ANDRE What's wrong, Oscar? OSCAR I felt (/thought) somebody watching us from inside. ALAIN Should we go look? OSCAR No, maybe it's just my imagination. SOLDIER Stop!! Place Vendome ahead is closed. Take another route! OSCAR We're patrolling Paris now. Let us pass. SOLDIER Turn back! It's under the control of Clavert Regiment. There's no need for patrolling! ALAIN Hey, hey, that's enough. Can't you see this uniform? We're the comrades of same French Army. SOLDIER I was ordered not to pass anyone! Turn back! ALAIN You pighead! Why can't you just step aside?! OSCAR Don't Alain. We can just make a detour. ALAIN If you say so, Commander. [Alain strikes the soldier] ALAIN What's wrong? A stomachache? Remember, you don't fit for Paris! You bumpkins should go back to your garrison and keep your sheep company ! SOLDIERS What?! What a nervy bastard. Get him!! OSCAR Don't Alain!! ALAIN Ouch, ouch... ANDRE Are you OK, Alain? ALAIN It's nothing but a scratch. But I haven't felt this good in a while. OSCAR Alain. ALAIN Yes. OSCAR Let's gather everyone and return (/head back) to the barracks. Like you said, our patrolling is no longer meaningful. ALAIN Commander! About what we talked a little while ago. In case of a Revolution, the People will win. Like you saw, the military is in discord. There's not a chance to win against the people who fought hunger for so long. ST. JUST Who are you tailing, Bernard? It's not me, is it? We're both fellow disciples of Monsieur Robespierre. It's not good to follow around your fellow. I don't like it. BERNARD Listen, St. Just! The world will change soon. Naturally, as the leaves fall in autumn. Why can't you just wait? ST. JUST Then I'll ask you, too. Do you know what Robespierre is really after? BERNARD A revolution. To create an egalitarian state with sovereignty of the people! ST. JUST You're a romantic (/an idealist). Too naive. Robespierre's real aim is the power. By advocating the People, he sits on the top! A Revolution? For the People? Robespierre's not much different from Orleans after all. BERNARD Don't you trust him? He sure is taking leadership now but not in order to obtain a power for himself! St. JUST Stop that. There's not a single human I can trust! No matter how the history changes or how the age moves, a man is born at one point and dead at another. So everyone is just thinking about himself while still alive. I just want to do whatever I like! BERNARD Terrorism is what you want? ST. JUST Yes! Rather than becoming a leader or giving speeches, it suits me better. You'll see, Bernard. He talks of "negotiation" or "parliament", but he's actually waiting for an opportunity. To kill all the privileged class with a justified reason. In that sense, he's a large scale terrorist that I am no match (to him)! [cabinet meeting] ANTOINETTE Finance Minister Jacques Necker! You not only neglected your duty as a cabinet minister in charge of the finance, your behavior humiliated His Majesty's policy. It can't be tolerated anymore. You're forbidden to enter Versailles from now on! [Paris] CITIZEN Jacques Necker was discharged! The Finance Minister got fired!! What? Really?! [church] ROBESPIERRE Comrades, tell all the citizens. That the King finally started oppressing the patriots. Following Necker, a massacre will begin. And don't forget to add this: We should take (up) arms and fight! The time has come to rise up! MAN Monsieur, Necker was not slaughtered. He's under house arrest. ROBESPIERRE Do as I told you!! ORATOR Citizens! The King has finally challenged us outright! The time has come for us to rise up! ORATOR To arms, People ! We shouldn't be manipulated by those in power! CITIZEN That's right! ORATOR King's Army is ready anytime, even tonight, to kill all the patriots!! ORATOR Let's get armed! Show our strength !! CITIZEN Robespierre is making a speech! He'll be speaking at Rue St. Germaine! ROBESPIERRE I've only got two arms. But the passion and courage for my country is burning, like a fire strong enough to burn down Versailles Palace! People! Let's work hand in hand! Fight together!! [flashback] ST. JUST You'll see, Bernard. He talks of "negotiation" or "parliament", but he's actually waiting for an opportunity. To kill all the privileged class with a justified reason. His real aim is power. By advocating the People, he sits on the top! BERNARD No, St. Just. It doesn't matter what kind of man Robespierre is. What matters is whether the People can stand up or not for themselves!! CITIZEN To arms!! [Versailles] OSCAR Please order the army to withdraw from Paris. The royal family should never engage in killing its own people! ANTOINETTE Oscar, if that happens, you'll protect me, wouldn't you? OSCAR I am...no longer in the Royal Guards. OSCAR Please withdraw the army, Your Majesty! The royal family should not point guns at its people! ANTOINETTE I can't... do that, Oscar. ANTOINETTE Oscar! Why do you cry? As if... we'll never meet again. ANTOINETTE Au revoir... OSCAR Au revoir... NARRATION Au revoir, "see you again". But both Antoinette and Oscar knew too well that they would never meet again. A long lasting friendship could not overcome the obstacle of being the Queen of a country. [ending title] NEXT EPISODE: The People finally took arms and rose up, yet Oscar coughed up blood and Andre was blind. However short, they tried to live the best they could. Eager for more light and ardent love of burning heart. Next time on Rose of Versailles: "On the Night of Oaths with Passion." END - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bruce Carlson carlsn1@ix.netcom.com Phoenix, AZ