Original subtitles

Crowd: Five!

Fouh

three!

Two!

One!

Happy new year! They cheer

Baby cries

happy new year, Louis. — happy new year, madam.

Happy new year!

Happy new year.

And to you, my queen.

Happy new year, my love.

Happy new year, my friend.

I wish I could have you all to myself.

I can't imagine what we'd get up to in my bedchamber.

Stop it. Saint—georges!

They chuckle

happy new year.

Happy new year, darling.

Happy new year, majesty.

Shall we?

Happy new year...

Happy new year, Princess.

Happy new year.

Didn't we meet at a masked ball in Paris?

Count Axel Von fersen, majesty.

Did we?

You followed me around the dance floor.

I seem to remember you followed me.

You asked me to dance.

I think you've got it the wrong way round.

Do I?

It was...

Magical?

Happy new year, monsieur.

And to you, stormont.

Are you aware that American insurgents are using French weapons

to mutilate and murder our soldiers?

Why should I care, ambassador?

Well, who do you think is supplying the arms and ammunition?

Are you absolutely certain?

You have your spies, we have ours.

I urge you to speak to your brother, monsieur.

It cannot be in either of our interests to go to war

over a bunch of revolutionaries.

When you declare your support for American independence

we must be prepared for england to declare war on us.

We will have 32 ships of the line

seven frigates...

Five corvettes

and one lugger

all ready for battle.

Maurepas: Excellent.

Your majesty.

We must have... he grunts

naval superiority in the English channel.

Louis xvi: We will.

Then you will succeed where your grandfather failed, my boy.

Marie: Flowers for the pet/t trianon...

Three sevres vases?

No, four.

A silk embroidered cover for the chaise iongue in the salon...

And the stool in my bedchamber.

He gasps

Why... why don't you take madame royale

to the petit trianon when the war starts?

Shouldn't we stay here with you?

I'll... I'll visit you when... When I can.

I want you to be happy, madam.

What about you?

I will be happy when we crush england.

They stole Canada and Louisiana from us

and now...

We are going to take their American colonies away from them.

Tomorrow?

I can't wait.

Maria: Lfear / may not live to see the event

that will seal our alliance.

Give me a break, ma.

Can't you see we're trying?

Maria: T/y harder.

And next time, pretend you are enjoying it!

She sighs

Maurepas: Are all the ships ready to be launched?

Louis xvi: I won't make my announcement until they are.

If we don't win in the channel, we can't send our troops to america.

We... we need the momentum of a victory to sail across the Atlantic.

That's the way to do it.

You've got a good grasp of strategy, my boy.

We can discuss battle tactics when england takes the bait

which she will

the moment we publicly declare our support for her colonies.

He wants us to move to the petit trianon.

Would you like me to make the arrangements? — yes!

Only a duchess is permitted

to touch the queen in public.

Have you met the countess du polignac?

Yolande to my friends.

Fersen to mine.

What brings you to versailles?

I'm a soldier.

I hear that France may be preparing for a military engagement

in america.

Where on earth did you hear that?

I've just arrived from england.

It's the topic of conversation at the court of st James'.

I thought they only talked about me.

Marie giggles

I can't believe he'd pick a fight with england.

Nobody takes on their Navy and wins.

Rule britannia.

Britannia rule the waves! — mesdames chuckle

this is no joke, mesdames.

I'm deadly serious.

Why don't you speak to him, provence?

Does he ever listen to me?

If he doesn't, shout it from the rooftops.

You'll be seen as a safe pair of hands when it blows up in his face.

Josephine is right, you know.

Say thank you.

Thank you.

You're welcome, darling.

Door opens

Good afternoon.

Sire.

Good afternoon, monsieur.

I have a simple question

that requires a simple answer.

Why the hell are you preparing to go to war with england

over her rebel colonies?

I'm not.

Don't lie to me.

I know that ferret face too well.

Don't speak to me like that.

Do I need to remind you how fortunate you are to be here

after your unforgiveable behaviour?

It had nothing to do with me.

She was responsible for the libelle.

And you were a co—conspirator.

I am still the heir to your throne.

Why shouldn't I speak out about matters

that concern us as a family?

If you slip up, we will be—— — I won't.

Why do you go out of your way to make me feel so powerless?

Because you are.

How could she come to France, mercy?

Hasn't she heard the rumours about the war?

It's been ten years, majesty

since you left Austria.

She would like to see you.

See me?

Or spy on me?

She hasn't stopped spying on me since the day I arrived.

Take your time...

To reflect.

If she's missing me so much

why don't you send her my portrait?

I am her mother.

Her sisters welcomed me with open arms.

She's only suggesting you go when she delivers the dauphin.

"When"?

Don't you mean "if"?

That may be why she's reluctant to have you, ma.

She's terrified that she won't deliver.

I think we can all agree that she hasn't delivered.

Give her time.

She may have time, Joseph. I don't.

What is she wearing?

Indistinct chat—fer

Mr Benjamin Franklin.

The American ambassador to France.

Welcome to versailles, mr Franklin.

Majesties.

I believe I have the honour to be the first monarch

to recognise the united provinces of North America.

Faint chat—fer

Yes, indeed, you have that honour, sire.

And may I say on behalf of congress

how very... — and may I say on behalf of england

there is no congress!

There are no united provinces.

America is a British colony

subject to the rule of king George

and to the parliament of Great Britain.

He's not an ambassador.

He's a renegade!

How long before england declares war on France?

As long as it takes viscount stormont to reach windsor.

That long?

Say something.

My brother has no idea what he's getting us into.

Your majesties, if I may?

If all monarchies

were governed by the same principles

which are in your hearts

there would be no need to form republics.

Thank you, mr Franklin.

It is a pleasure to receive you.

Door opens

I understand we will be moving to the petit trianon shortly.

Should I start to prepare?

You don't need to lift a finger. Yolande's organising everything.

That's my job.

She's only trying to help you.

Is she?

Her chaps will be joining us there.

Where are they going to sleep?

In my bed.

In your bed?

Where are you going to sleep?

In the attic.

If that's the arrangement

I won't be coming.

Please don't be like that.

It's her or me.

You know...

I need you both.

You are my rock.

She's my adventure.

She's thrown me out of your life, toinette.

You are lost to me because of that woman.

Can't you make peace with her?

It would make our lives so much easier.

Distant laughter

good boy, mopsy!

Maurepas grunts

maurepas, please. Please, sit down.

Oh, don't fuss. He chuckles

it's only old age and, uh...

You'll have to... he yells

you'll have to endure it yourself one day.

A bucket of ice, please.

While we have a moment, may I ask for your advice?

Well, isn't that what I'm here for, my boy?

My wife has requested 250,000 livres

from the privy purse.

Has she?

Whatever for?

To cover the polignac's debts.

My inclination is to refuse but...

I know that count Jules is your cousin.

Oh... naturally, it's none of my business.

The privy purse is yours

to do whatever you like with.

But...

I think you should give the queen a free rein in her household.

It will allow you

a free rein to rule France.

Knock on door

Oh, your majesty.

Let me help you.

He grunts

he groans

Louis xvi: Here.

Thank you.

How in god's name can we support a revolution?

What sort of an example is the king setting?

He is giving France the one thing

we have been yearning for.

The chance to deprive our oldest enemy of the Jewel in her crown.

Crowd: Hear, hear.

I am astonished you want to go to war with england, chartres.

Isn't the prince of wales supposed to be your best friend?

When it comes to la gloire, monsieur

your best friend instantly becomes your worst enemy.

Excuse me, gentlemen. Duty calls.

Why only a lieutenant commander, cousin?

Surely you're capable of grappling a more senior position?

If it was up to me...

I'd be grand admiral of the fleet.

I am the most senior naval officer in this family.

So, he refused to promote you?

I'm sure he had his reasons.

Perhaps he hasn't forgiven you for stealing his wife's affections?

Perhaps.

He's reduced me to a worthless appendage.

But...

You do realise...

If he screws up

we will be the first to benefit.

You have a point, cousin.

Are you leaving us, Princess?

I'm going to a spa, mercy.

I need to rest.

My nerves can't take any more.

If circumstances change, may I write to you?

I doubt they will.

Horse neighs

take care.

Coach driver: Giddy up, come on.

Knock on door

come in.

Door opens

yolande...

What brings you to Paris?

You have an admirer, fersen.

Thank you.

Make the most of it.

We do.

Door shuts

Marie: Can / tempt you to come to the petit trianon tomorrow night?

Dress warmly.

We love to party under the stars.

Guests: Prost!

Again, again, again!

One more! One more!

Indistinct chati'er

prost!

Guests: Prost!

Are we expecting anyone else?

Do you think he'll turn up?

Well, he can't turn down an invitation from the queen.

I want him to come for me.

Let's hit the town when you come to Paris.

Majesty.

We don't call her that in private.

So what would you like me to call you?

Antoinette.

Welcome to our merry circle, fersen.

Welcome. — yolande: Welcome, fersen.

Come on, let's play!

Run.

Rowdy chati'er

ladies shriek

they laugh and squeal

go, go!

Marie shrieks

Saint—georges: I'm too fast!

Ah! — they giggle

he grunts — ladies shriek

oh, my god! You're a maniac.

Sorry.

Somebody take that away.

Are you alright?

I'm fine, thank you.

Be careful!

Her husband doesn't like her cosying up to impossibly handsome men.

I'm very sorry.

She's a tricky butterfly to catch.

You can't catch butterflies.

You can only trap them.

Faint cha'iter

the king.

Chat—fer dies down

One month ago, we recognised the united provinces of america.

We expected england to retaliate

and this morning...

An English frigate fired on the belle poule.

Woman: Oh, no! — crowd gasps

I have therefore instructed count d'orvilliers to launch our fleet.

Our Orleans cousin will command the third squadron.

Ladies and gentlemen...

France and Great Britain are at war.

Applause and chat—fer

Am I still your favourite?

Who else could take your place?

Oh, you know who.

Don't let him queer my pitch while I'm away.

Impossible.

It would take five fersens to fill your boots.

Is that all?

I'm relying on you...

Mm—hm?

To deliver the naval victory we're all praying for.

I will press the petals of this Rose

between the leaves of my prayer book.

What prayer book?

A kiss for your departing warrior?

Come back to us safely.

Maurepas.

Indistinct chat—fer

Yolande: Count mercy. What a pleasant surprise.

Is that from the empress?

May I speak to the queen?

She's resting.

I'm sure she'll be delighted to talk to you

when she resumes her official duties at the chateau.

Shall I give it to her?

Please ask the queen to send for me when she has read it.

Yes, of course.

Mercy: Lhave been unable to visit the queen at the petit trianon

where she's keeping unsuitable company.

The countess has assumed an iron grip over her.

The boy king is making his bid to shine

as br/ght/y as the sun king.

The war against england has electrified France

but no one in diplomatic circles

expects him to succeed.

Woo! — hazard.

That's a foul! — that's a foul.

Don't be ridiculous.

Jules: It's a foul. — no, it's not a foul!

Antoinette.

Countess.

Gentlemen.

I, uh... wasn't expecting you.

Come with me.

Where are they heading off to, I wonder?

Oh, the nearest bush by the looks of things.

They chuckle

she doesn't have the balls.

Welcome to the petit trianon.

This looks like an English flower market.

Wait...

Are you a closet anglophile?

Don't tell anyone.

So, count fersen...

How do you like my home?

Isn't that quaint little chateau over there your home?

That quaint little chateau over there is my prison.

This is where I can be me.

Why were you in england?

My father sent me

to sweep an heiress off her feet.

Engaged or married?

Neither.

And never, if I can help it.

You don't want to get married?

When I love a woman, I want to love her freely.

I don't want to be bound by...

Convention?

I think we should go back inside.

I'm getting cold.

Louis xvi: Are you spying on me?

I was... merely trying to find out

when our ships are going to get smashed up in the channel.

Can't you accept that I might succeed?

There's absolutely no chance of that.

Would it be too much for you

to admit that father was wrong about me?

You know he was right, brother.

Th ey laug h

Shoe clati'ers

They giggle

Well, boys, you will be overjoyed to hear

we have finally cleared our debts.

What?

We should have asked for more.

You're so difficult to please, vaudreuil.

I think it's time we persuaded our hostess

to give us a pension.

The lovely county of bitche.

Producing a huge annual return.

Leave it to me.

I'll talk to madam.

You could persuade a nun

to part with her chastity belt.

She moans

Thank you.

The polignac has secured a ridiculous sum of money from the privy purse.

How much?

250,000 livres.

A pure madness!

They say toinette will make her a duchess.

How can she be such a fool?

Joseph: She's not the only one.

Louis has thrust himself into the war between england and her colonies.

He should be supporting us in Bavaria

not stirring up a hornet's nest in america.

She has not replied to my letter.

I must write to her again to warn her about her friends.

She coughs

what's the matter with you, ma?

I'm cold.

Nonsense! It's boiling hot in here.

Get out of bed and breathe in some fresh air.

He inhales

toinette.

Toinette...

Baby cries

Shh...

Baby grizzles

shh, little one, mama's here.

Mama's here.

Mercy, what are you doing here?

I wanted to make sure you received this letter.

I see you've left your telescope behind.

Who told her about Louis' gift to the polignacs?

It's not hard to find out.

The story is in every European newspaper.

I'm not the child she flung out of the hofburg ten years ago.

Now that I have my own daughter

I realise she should never have sent me away.

She was acting in your best interests.

Really?

Because I thought she only acted in her best interests.

Don't be so hard on your mother. She won't always be there for you.

No one is going to tell me who I can or can't be friends with.

Naval officer: We took our position here.

Yes. West of ushant.

When they caught sight of us, they set off in hot pursuit.

We aimed our guns

and prepared to engage.

But...

But what?

What happened?

They withdrew. — they withdrew?

Why? — they refused to begin the battle at night.

How much longer do we have to wait?

A matter of days, sire.

Maurepas snores

Marie: Higher? — child gurgles

higher? — yes!

Woo! — child giggles

Marie: Even higher?

Look who it is.

Look who came to visit us.

Good afternoon, madam.

And good afternoon, little madam.

Have you been ruling the waves?

Not quite.

Provence thinks we can't win the war.

Who cares what provence thinks?

You can always rely on him to get it wrong.

We're going to win.

I hope so.

You aren't leaving us already, are you?

I have to go back.

Work.

Can't I tempt you to a glass of cognac?

I want to thank you for helping my family.

We are so grateful to you.

Baby cries you have to sleep now, little one.

Sleep tight.

The first expedition is nearly ready.

General rochambeau has begun to recruit his troops.

May I add my name to the list, sire?

Louis xvi: Rochambeau has been inundated with...

Hey.

As I was saying, rochambeau has been inundated with applications.

All of our French nobles want to fight in america.

So it will be difficult to secure a commission, count fersen.

You know this can't continue.

This is the first time I've felt free

since I left Austria.

You know, you and I...

We're both outsiders.

Tonight, I was reminded that you are the queen of France.

I wish I could...

Forget about her.

Your husband is a good...

Kind and honourable man.

Yeah.

We won't do anything to hurt him.

Of course not.

It's like a bucking bronco.

It goes up...

And down...

Up...

And down...

And up...

Down.

That's what happens when you fall in love.

It's the worst feeling in the world.

And the best.

You have a husband

and a lover.

How do you manage to keep them both happy?

They chuckle

well, whatever they ask me to do, I do.

For instance?

For instance.

They have set their hearts on the county of bitche.

Now, I know it's outrageously extravagant

but I said I'd mention it to you.

It is outrageous, you're right.

They should be satisfied

with the gift they have just received from Louis.

Who helped her to entertain the Swede behind everyone's back?

She owes us big time. — she'll come around.

Well...

If she doesn't, we will have to pack our bags.

Get the hell out of here. — she giggles

isn't this charming little chocolate—box to your taste?

Vaudreuil: It's making me feel sick.

Well... don't worry.

If she won't play ball...

I'll go straight to her husband.

Tap on window

tap on window

What are you doing here, chartres?

I thought this was antoinette's bedchamber?

We swapped.

Well, where is she?

In the attic. Why don't you come back in the morning?

I have to speak to her now.

We won.

We won?

We beat the living daylights out of them.

We won! — they laugh

have you told Louis?

No, I wanted to tell you first.

Let's not play any more games.

No, stop it.

I can't. — you must.

I'm mad about you.

Stop this now.

Don't you understand?

I'm in love with you.

She scoffs

she gasps

don't laugh at me.

You belong to me.

Let me... go.

I will never let you go.

Lamballe was right about him.

Table cla'iters

Louis has scored a dazzling victory over england.

Your advice has proved to be as useless as you are!

Jump in.

Let's see if you can give me a tenth of the pleasure

that she delivers.

Orchestral music plays

indistinct chat—fer

doors open

crowd applau ds

Please, maurepas.

Maurepas: Congratulations, majesty.

Indistinct chat—fer

thank you.

Indistinct chat—fer

Joseph: I take my hat off to Louis.

The whole of France is celebrating his triumph in the English channel.

Has she replied to my letter?

Mercy says she will write to you, ma.

She's punishing me.

I have been a bad mother.

You have been a great ruler, ma.

Where is the king? I need to speak to him now.

Are you sure about this?

Come and see for yourself.

The charges against you are egregious.

Failure to obey my order to engage the enemy.

I misread your signal.

Fleeing the saint—esprit mid—battle. — we had already won.

The king appointed you to command the last squadron

not to quit your post and run off to versailles.

I didn't quit. The battle was over.

I came back to announce the victory to the only person who mattered.

If you had stayed, you could have knocked out their ships at the rear

and our victory would not just have been a triumph

it would have been crowned in glory.

I can only conclude it was a deliberate ploy on your part.

What do you mean by that?

Count d'orvilliers has reached the conclusion that you are a traitor, monseigneur.

Did your friendship to england outweigh your loyalty to France?

Is this about us?

It's got nothing to do with me.

Then why are you here?

I wanted to see your face

when you were accused of betraying your country.

I'm not the traitor.

I have no choice but to dismiss you from the Navy

and order you to leave versailles.

Chartres: You will both regret this.

Provence: Will you go to Paris?

Chartres: I can't.

He has banned me from coming within 50 miles of the chateau.

Provence: His luck can't last.

Chartres: Neither can hers.

I'm glad you've finally seen the light, cousin.

Keep in touch.

Chartres: You too.

Provence: Oh, I will.

Louis xvi: Lha ve banished chartres from versailles.

I will dispatch fersen to america

then she will come back to me.

Majesties.

I have brought mr Franklin to inspect the troops before you leave for america.

General rochambeau.

Rochambeau: Mr Franklin.

It's an honour to be fighting for the United States.

This is count fersen, my aide—de—camp.

Thanks to you, sire.

Thank you, sire.

Majesty.

I'm sorry to see you go, count fersen.

Officer shouts

She murmurs: Mama...

Lamballe: Come here...

She whimpers