Original subtitles

(Long exhale)

(Glass shattering)

(Shouting)

My King!

(Distant shouting)

The Lord is making himself very clear to you.

By throwing things?

By disturbing your sleep,

compelling you to ruminate.

I see the crevasses in the plaster, Sire.

This accident with the chandelier...

The facade is crumbling from within.

All of us require work inside,

some of it more urgent than others.

I don't need refurbishment.

My concern is for your immortal soul.

I'm going to war with that heretic Protestant.

Will that suffice?

Your campaign against Holland, Sire, is just.

But it is your moral combat that stirs God to act.

Your church and your god cannot condone a double adultery.

Your continued relations with a married woman are encurring a debt

and the reckoning is not yet paid.

I do not respond well to threats.

Neither does the Almighty.

Sire, the Lord is speaking to you,

as he spoke to Elijah, in a still, small voice.

Abandon God, he will abandon you,

and you will fall into eternal darkness.

I'm marching 25,000 men to claim Holland

from the unbelievers in the name of the one true church.

I'm sure God is on my side.

As for you, Bishop, sometimes I wonder.

(Moans of pleasure)

(Cries of passion from the other room)

- Yes, yes! God in Heaven! (Moaning)

(Door opening)

Madame.

Confine her.

If you compel her to lie in, you protect both the child and her.

You also remove my daily ritual of public humiliation.

It stings to see her swollen stomach,

that bloated pride paraded.

You bring great cruelty upon me. I'm begging you to stop.

This is highly irregular, Madame.

I talk as your wife. Hear me.

Every night before retiring...

That promise is empty.

The King must perform his duties, Madame.

You don't understand what it meant to marry one.

I understand deeply,

but as your wife, I don't like who you've become.

Who would that be?

The changes in you scare me. You may be the Sun King

but when [I look into your eyes, all I see is shadow.

(Opening music)

J I'm the King of my own land,

J facing tempests of dust,

J I'll fight until the end.

J Creatures of my dreams, rise up and dance with me.

Js Now and forever,

J I'm your King.

Philippe d'Orléan's Residence, Saint Cloud

Are you thinking what I am?

(Sigh)

No.

Of course you are.

I completely agree, it's self-evident.

(Loud sniff)

Abbiamo bisogno di pit del vino.

(Whistles)

We need more wine.

(Grunts and sighs)

Now I'm home.

I missed you.

And I mourned your absence

every day.

(Sighs)

And while I will admit there were others,

who vied for my affection,

I can assure you, I was utterly faithful and true.

Those Italians are persistant though, I grant you.

(Sighs)

I hear the King finished building and is doing the interior. Imagine,

new art, better chairs, clocks that work,

frescoes all over the place,

and so much gold it looks like King Midas fondled the whole place.

Chamber pot.

There were even moments in Rome

when I actually missed the old place.

I'm not going back.

Quite right. Why would you?

He broke my heart and destroyed my life.

My poor Henriette.

(Grunts of pain)

That palace killed her, believe me.

And poison. But yes,

hardly acceptable. You must never return.

Even if he is your only brother.

I'm simply saying,

my brother once challenged me to a duel.

I had to wound him to prevent him firing on me.

Honestly, families.

(Music)

Recreational powders are fashionable in the salons,

substances to enhance and encourage amorous congress.

I believe that Reynaud's death

is connected to their use.

Did he consume too much?

Not exactly.

His widow was seen placing powders in his wine.

She is still under arrest, no?

She is,

and she may have inadvertently given the dose to Reynaud,

but she is not the poisoner.

How's that?

She was the vessel.

Precisely.

The vial for the love powder

was replaced with another identical vial

containing a powerful poison.

She could have done it.

She attempted to sample the powder to prove her innocence.

If not for me, she would be dead.

What do you propose?

My forces have already started, Sire.

I will find the source of these powders,

by first identifying how they are brought here.

Good.

(Deep inhale)

(Loud sniff)

(Slurping)

(Footsteps)

(Snaps fingers)

(Sniffing)

(Deep exhale)

So it is settled.

We shall stay here.

It's perfectly lovely.

(Clears throat)

Just you and I.

We shall throw a party for our friends.

All our friends are over there,

at the center of the world.

Trust me, the world is really nothing special.

What I saw of it from prison anyway.

You're lucky you kept your head.

It's almost as if the King were punishing me.

People conspire every day, it can't be illegal.

It's called treason.

Well...

(Splutters)

Versailles can be the center of whatever it likes.

You are the center of my univers.

We shall be just the two of us.

This is what he does, you know, piece by piece.

First he took my wife, and now all of my friends.

Stop it. And yes, very soon your freedom.

He will marry you again, won't he?

- He can hardly compel you. - He will.

Alright.

We shall have the biggest party in the world,

to welcome me back to civilization.

Invite our best friends,

and our worst ones. We want it to be fun.

They won't come.

I feared this would happen.

In my absence, you've become pathetic.

Does it really take me to tell you?

Does he control you so strongly you can't even see it?

The King has filled that palace with every one of your admirers.

Louis might be their King, but the man they worship?

(Fabric rustling)

Why, that would be you.

He might be the sun, my dear,

but you are the star.

It's time you showed your brother how brightly you can sparkle.

I don't know if you've noticed,

but while the sun rules the day,

it is the stars that rule the night.

(Quiet laugh)

I did miss you a great deal.

I know.

Tell me again.

(Laughs)

(Men and women giggling)

- You must sit. - I prefer to walk.

The child would benefit from repose.

The child is running a country mile no matter what I do.

It'll soon be out of me and we'll hear no more about it.

(Sighs)

I saw Gaston de Foix doing some pacing of his own earlier.

Most despondent.

I think he still has not overcome his disappointment.

I think he truly thought he had a chance of succeeding.

He did have a chance, but he was not the choice.

Still, I do wonder if he might perform more energetically.

Cassel is, after all, rather decrepit, is he not?

You must know I have been asked my opinion on him

and I must say...

The Duke de Cassel is like a savage dog

with a nose for danger.

I'd rather have him sniffing at my feet than out there with my enemies.

Nevertheless,

if his name or his face appears to me

it will be impossible for me to feign delight.

I understand that it is hard.

But not impossible.

(Discussion and laughter)

Madame de Reynaud is guilty, of course.

- What a tragedy. - What will the King do?

Have her executed. And rightly so.

Murder will always receive its just reward.

(Foreboding music)

(Whispering)

Are you sure?

Yes.

(Conversations, hurried footsteps)

What happens now?

He says to come back in an hour.

Do I pay you?

No, the first one's on me, my dear.

(Sigh)

Crowded.

More noble families arrived last, Sire.

Twenty-two in all.

Can we accommodate them?

We will make room.

The new lodgings should be completed by spring.

Congratulations, Sire.

Your dream of Versailles is made flesh.

(Footsteps)

I had thought it standard to confine a woman at the end of pregnancy.

Are you trying to pay me a compliment, Gaston?

I fear you need a spot of practice.

My apologies.

It appears my son is drunk.

(Sighs)

And you appear to be frustrated.

Pains me to say, I am, Madame.

Since you, in the past,

assured me so clearly of your desire to help my family.

The desire was never lacking, Madame.

I helped you as far as I was able.

I spoke highly of your son.

It's not my fault he can't walk through an open door.

Very simple, you know.

One foot in front of the other.

Perhaps you can give him a lesson.

Goodnight.

Are you completely without quality?

You'll never be in politics at this rate.

Make her your enemy

and I doubt you'll have any future at all.

See him over there, Beauregard?

He fell foul of her and still hasn't recovered.

Three weeks ago he was holding the King's shoe. Now look at him.

Removed from the cuffs.

(Floorboards creaking)

(Footsteps)

You do what I tell you to do.

Say what I tell you to say, and we will triumph.

But you must trust that I know what I'm doing.

Only if we work together will we prevail.

You've no idea how this place works, mother.

I know a sight more than you do.

(Whispering)

(Sighs)

Did you see who delivered it?

A friend of a friend.

I do not know him...yet.

One step at a time.

They make it with a fly from Spain.

There's one called Desire, which is wonderful.

I've not had the pleasure.

If you mix it with one called Tranquility it works very well.

It has willow bark and valerian.

We put it in our drinks when we play Madame Scudery's stupid game.

I would love to try it.

You have to. You simply must. Come on.

(Laughter)

There!

- Hello. - Good evening.

The King!

Sire.

- Hope you're settling in. - Yes, Sire.

Is it poison?

This is the effect of the love potion.

In a larger dose.

The blistering is nearly instantaneous.

It's what causes the blood to rush to the organs.

The effect is that strong?

And very common.

You once cured me of certain ill effects.

(Metal grating)

I know their symptoms and how best to heal them.

And how to improve them perhaps.

You're concerned I might be able to create a powerful poison.

The thought had crossed my mind.

That would make me a witch, would it not?

It would only make you useful.

You're not eating.

I can see it very clearly.

Stay for supper.

My soup is fresh and untainted by any tonic.

His Excellency, Envoy Zweibriicken, from the Palatinate, Sire.

What are your terms?

The initial meeting shall take place...

On sovereign territory within the lle-de-France.

Acceptable, but not ideal. You see,

on the side of the Palatinate, we must insist on our protocol.

She is marrying my brother.

It is a pairing, Sire, of two sides.

United in allegiance against the Dutch Republic in the north.

The initial meeting must proceed as follows:

the princess will be accompanied by three ladies in waiting,

four horse guards,

...eight outriders,

plus two in addition of her personal guard.

The prince will arrive first at the meeting point.

- Best of luck with that. - Stop.

Please, as if you've ever been early to anything in your life.

Blah, blah, blah, protocol, protocol, protocol.

With the introductions effected by the two retinues,

the princess and the prince, that should be the other way around,

will strip to the waist and wrestle in the filth of the forest floor.

- It doesn't say that. - Um, no, it doesn't.

What about the end?

No, no, no.

At the end...

You say greetings, she says good day, you both agree it's ludicrous,

never see each other again and we get drunk for days.

But look at her face.

She seems...handsome.

I hear she's fond of bratwurst.

Every married couple should share a common interest.

German food is very tasty.

At the end...

we ride together into Versailles.

Sounds nice.

Sire.

What are you doing?

Spreading manure, Sire.

It's what gives plants their strength and color.

Back to work.

Do you ever feel that life isn't worth the struggle,

since we all return to the same place?

Your father would say much the same thing.

I have not thought about my father for a very long time.

May I ask a delicate question, Sire?

Your father's hunting lodge once stood here.

To build your palace, you could have destroyed it.

Why, Sire, do you wish to preserve his memory?

He loved to come here.

Now, should his spirit seek to return,

all he will see will belong to me.

(Women talking)

Who is that, your Majesty?

Don't you know Father Pascal, from Paris?

Only by reputation, though from what I hear, quite a zealous...

He's a good friend.

I understand he is a passionate man of God.

I invited him to deliver the sermon on Sunday.

I was not aware I required reinforcement.

Well, now you are.

To fight the devil requires not just a man, but an army.

(Men and women laughing)

(Raucous laughter)

(Faint sounds of women giggling)

(Sighs of pleasure)

(Moans of pleasure)

Sin.

We all know why we are here.

But where exactly are we going?

He that is without sin among you,

let him first cast a stone at her.

That is what the gospel of John has told us.

When Jesus saw none but the woman, he said unto her, "But woman,

hath no man condemned thee?"

She said no man.

And Jesus said until her, "Neither do I condemn thee.

Go. But sin no more!"

We live under almighty God,

and under his eternal gaze.

Only he may be our judge.

He's very good, isn't he?

(Footsteps)

Father Pascal speaks from the heart.

A suitable choice of gospel.

Spoken with a fresh voice means it's heard with fresh ears.

A find sermon. Very subtle.

Such a shame you didn't deliver it yourself, Bishop.

Father Pascal is visiting us from Paris.

How convenient.

Don't you think?

So much easier to get to town with the new road.

I would welcome your confession, Madame, if you have time.

I always have time for a man in a dress.

Very well. Let's get this over with.

You must end this affair with his Majesty.

And there we have it.

You expected a different subject?

The world would run more smoothly if some people weren't so uptight.

If only you didn't have that vow of chastity.

My vows are bonded to my soul.

I suggest the holy pledges of your spousal contract

be given the same reverence.

My higher purpose lies with our King.

My greater calling is to lie with him

and to grow his seed.

Only one who has tasted temptation can know if God smiles upon it or not.

If we are in his image, does he not share our inclinations?

Father Pascal must beat them off with a poleax.

You are vexed, Madame.

No, I have a growing slug of a baby in my belly

and it's pressing down on my bladder.

Madame, if you please, I'm trying to help you.

Bishop, you are attempting to coerce me.

Before I leak on your cassock,

take a moment to consider quite how appalling your life

will become if you continue.

You've been warned.

(Talking, hurried footsteps)

(Heavy breathing)

Fetch me a chamber pot. Hurry.

(Deep sigh)

(Pained breathing)

(Urinating)

(Footsteps)

Madame.

I saw you in the salon. I thought you looked full of poise.

Seems you were full of piss.

You're in my way.

The King is waiting for me.

What would he think about his little kitten

urinating in a corner?

I imagine he couldn't care less.

I remember this game.

The game has changed, dear heart.

Or have you not noticed?

When he discards you like a bad oyster, and he will,

I shall be waiting for you, my dear.

(Breathing)

(Frightened gasping)

(Smothered sobbing)

One has to have been through martyrdom to become a martyr.

I noticed you have recently acquired a new piece of furniture.

What was your intention in bringing it to court?

Seemed to me we needed to make an addition to our chapel,

better to praise God.

I do not care for it. It clashes.

Any additions should be approved by me and me alone.

Perhaps you should not judge it so harshly, my King.

I advise you to get rid of it.

It is valued highly in Rome.

What are you wearing?

- What am I wearing? - It's a bit dull.

This is not. Do you like it?

I designed it myself.

The Italians love silk...and color.

We have colors in France. Nice ones.

I was thinking.

Every year, every change of season,

we impose a new rule.

A new color.

An accent, something fun.

If enough people join in, those who don't will feel left out.

We could rule by color.

This winter will be blue.

- Not blue. - Why not?

It's the King's color.

Red then. A rich crimson.

(Strutting)

Fashion will be our standard,

and the people will walk behind you. And me.

I understand you want her to attend you, but why here?

Madame Scarron is extremely fond of children and quiet.

Do we have room in the nursery?

It might be feasible, Sire,

but Versailles is hardly a place for young children.

Then that will change when they get here.

Only royal children may have a nurse or governess at Versailles.

My children are royal,

or has their paternity escaped you?

I am merely saying, Madame, we must follow protocol.

It is the bedrock of our life here.

My children will be safe,

and nowhere in France is safer than here.

Or would you not agree?

Is there space for Scarron?

If it pleases your Majesty.

See that it is done.

At once, Sire.

How big you are getting!

(Merchants hollering)

My goodness, look at you.

Have you seen a ghost?

When a woman has a child,

her body changes.

Hmm.

I have seen women who were butchered by birth.

Such that they never recover.

You're exhausted, dear.

(Sighs)

The King is surrounded by beauty, all day, every day.

(Cough)

I am still his favorite, but one day that will change.

The baby will only hasten the inevitable.

Pendrake.

Keep it with you, always.

(Sharp exhale)

She is kicking you at night,

in the left rib, with her heel,

so close to your heart it sometimes feels like it could break.

She's compounding the hurt you already feel.

But the man you fear,

is not the one who is going to harm you,

he's far away no matter how close he gets.

The one you must truely fear

is the one who is closest,

just here,

inside your guard,

and you lay yourself wide open.

Then my dear,

you already know that.

That is why you are still here.

Louis!

Good morning!

Must be easy to ming on the road if you're a man.

Don't even have to stop, just shove it out the window and wee.

You must be Philippe.

I'm Liselotte, Princess Palatine.

You're late.

Delighted to make your acquaintance.

What happens now?

I'm not sure.

What page are you on?

Um...one.

Good morning?

I have gifts for you and your children.

I hope that's acceptable.

My children?

Are they here? Where are they?

They're in Saint Germain with their governess.

When do you see them?

See them?

Well then, anyway.

That is for Marie-Louise.

I hear she enjoys writing letters.

And the poney is for Anne-Marie.

I hope it'll make her happy.

I used to love horses as a little girl.

You are very...kind.

Can't lie: I adore children.

Talking of which, we should probably get going.

Shouldn't we...

What?

No!

No! I meant your girls must be missing you.

Coming here to meet a strange woman.

We could visit them. If you like.

Send them to the country to climb a few trees.

Girls should get their knees dirty.

You're my prince now. You make the rules.

Shall we go? I'm excited to meet your brother.

(Door opening)

Good day.

(Sharp inhale)

I am not here.

Yes, you are.

I can assure you, I am not. However...

- I thought you were in Italy. - I was. Now I'm here.

Or rather I'm not here.

Since my friend is meeting his new bride

I thought I would press my advantage and not be here

with you, which I'm currently doing.

I hope I'm making myself clear.

I am not here because I wish to speak with you urgently

concerning a confidential medical matter.

You're sick.

It's hard to explain.

So don't.

Perhaps...

Perhaps I might allude to it.

(Clears throat)

Certain bodily functions carry with them

certain expectations. In as much as

when one opens one's eyes during the day, one expects to...

see. Similarly,

when one releases one's bladder, one expects to urinate,

or rather one is accustomed to the idea

that the act of pissing offers much in the way of relief

and wellbeing as opposed to

excruciating torrents of unbearable pain.

It hurts to piss.

Like a cascade of jagged tadpoles thrashing downstream.

I hope I'm being clear.

May I see?

You may.

(Sniffs)

(Clears throat)

(Fabric rustling)

(Yelps)

- Does it hurt? - Cold hands! Cold hands.

I can see no chancres.

It will pass.

And the pain?

I can give you rosemary balm.

What am I to do with that?

Rub it on the affected area.

Rubbing is what got me here.

I can also give you a mercury tincture.

And if the edge were to remain?

Do you have something stronger?

I do not.

Fine. Just hurry up, will you?

Madame de Reynaud.

Was this the powder?

Mine came in silver vials.

For which I paid a premium, no doubt.

Tell me again how you came by it.

As I told you before,

I'd speak to my friends, they'd speak to theirs,

I'd settle my account and the powders would arrive.

When will you release me?

I fear giving you freedom now may put you at risk.

Marchal!

(Metal clinking, coughing)

Move!

(Choking gasps)

War is imminent, and yet Sire, I must report

there are obstacles to a free assault on the Dutch.

Several of our key staging posts are refusing to garrison our men,

or feed or water them.

In the Spanish Netherlands, I presume?

In France, Sire.

France?

Is that so?

What is the nature of these staging posts?

Are they hamlets? Towns?

Friaries and monasteries, Sire.

What of the men who are being turned away?

They sleep rough, forage, go hungry.

An army marches on its stomach!

Bishop.

Here I am.

Have [I not helped you gain power and keep it?

You have, Sire.

Why then, do you defy my will?

I do not defy you, your Majesty.

Does the Abby at Nivelles stand in my kingdom?

It does, Sire.

And do the friars there take their holy direction through you?

Through the church, Sire, in Rome.

Running first through you, Bishop.

It was not my decision, Sire, but Rome's.

Then Rome must be made aware

they must keep their Roman noses

out of our business!

Tighter.

Tighter.

I do not think that would be beneficial, Madame, to the child.

I do not recall asking your opinion on the matter.

Perhaps you should rest.

How am I to attend one of the year's most important celebrations

if I'm confined to my room?

It is not advisable at this stage.

It would be tiring.

For you, perhaps.

Consider your health, Madame.

It must seem like simple common sense

but this is far too tight.

You may be constricting blood flow.

There is a reason our finest medical

minds treat only the noble families.

They understand what is expected of a person

what is required and what must be done for it.

Until you understand that, you are no help to me whatsoever.

Princess Elizabeth Charlotte.

The Princess Palatine.

Welcome to Versailles.

Thank you, Majesty.

(Clapping)

(Chamber music)

(Chamber music continues, men and women talking)

I was beginning to think you would never return.

You were correct.

What changed your mind?

I was spoken to,

from on high.

So,

you are here out of duty.

A blind obedience to a higher power.

Just like everyone else.

They're here because you want them to be.

There is no other reason.

What you want, you get.

Must have realized that by now.

(Chamber music)

Tell me,

will your jurisdictions take full advantage of the increase

in the price of cereal crops?

Um...yes.

Hmm.

(Chamber music)

You know, she has wooden teeth?

It's true.

There may be poison.

(Music, footsteps)

(Footsteps slowly approaching)

You're not eating?

Not like that.

Come here often?

(Laughs) Not in this room.

I saw stains on the floor. Assumed one was you.

(Laughs)

Do you dance? You will have to learn.

What for?

You'll look ridiculous if you don't.

I'm talking to my new husband's lover.

I know how ridiculous I look.

(Cutting bark)

(Panting)

I wouldn't do that.

Who's there?

After you, young man.

My name is Pierre Dubois. And you?

Jacques.

- Is that your family name? - I have no family.

I work for the King.

What? As a tree guard?

As a gardener.

(Laughter)

What are you doing out here?

Wild boar are eating my bulbs.

I followed the tracks from the garden to here. You?

I must confess, I'm a little lost.

Are you carving your initials in the King's tree?

(Nervous laugh)

To speak truthfully, Jacques, I...

I'm supposed to meet a young lady out here.

I confess, I thought you might be her husband.

(Forced laughter)

I suppose I should be flattered.

Don't worry.

- Your secret's safe with me. - Thank you.

(Relieved laugh)

(Grunting)

(Punching)

(Grunting)

(Grunting)

(Grunt of pain)

(Groaning)

(Painful coughing)

(Spluttering, blood gushing)

(Moaning and coughing)

(Panting)

Not long now.

You will never win.

So far, so good.

I see new trees marching

in formation.

Well,

you will be food for them now.

I will make a damn fine tree.

(Chamber music)

(Feet tapping the floor in time)

What a surprise to see you.

Alive, I mean.

Much water has passed under the bridge.

Careful you don't drown in it.

(Chamber music with flute)

(Laughs quietly)

(Labored breathing)

What is the matter?

Nothing. Nothing, I'm fine.

(Panting)

(Panting)

(Chamber music)

(Clattering shoes in time to music)

(Stifled moan)

(Painful breathing)

(Heavy breathing)

Get away from me.

I'm fine. A small slip is all.

(Cries of pain)

Help her.

(Crying in pain)

Hurry up!

(Sobbing in pain)

Is it always like this here?

I'm afraid so.

(Panting)

(Pattered breathing)

(Groaning, grunting)

(Heavy breathing)

Push! (Labor pains)

Yes, it's opening.

Yes, yes, push. Push!

(Screaming)

Keep breathing.

Breathe.

And push! Push!

(Screaming)

Keep pushing. You're doing well.

Give me one last push.

Push!

(Screaming)

(Closing music)

(Closing music)