Original subtitles

I did not think my capping would matter to you, Will.

You believe it important?

I thought you would know.

I'm nearly 17 years of age, past capping age.

You were telling me of mountains, snow and ice.

You should change your clothes now.

It will soon be the tournament.

Eloise, don't go.

I've made one decision.

Now there's another.

-I do not understand. -I love you.

In the full time I've known you, you've been capped.

It's a part of you, isn't it?

I think we can be happy together.

(BOTH SPEAKING FRENCH)

Guillaume. Guillaume, please.

We are saying how much we enjoy this day. You also?

It's wonderful.

-What's this? -You must take this, Will.

Soon you will have need of it.

You must not open it, until the time comes.

But how will I know when?

Oh, you will know. Put it safely away.

Is it always like this, the contest for your champion?

Today is special. The Tripod makes it so.

You are truly happy?

Very happy.

Then the day is perfect. Go to Eloise.

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

But I thought we now speak only English.

How pleasant to hear even a few words of our native language from your lips.

I wish you joy.

Merci.

-What did Sarlat want? -Nothing.

He wished us joy.

(GAVEL KNOCKING)

Mesdames et messieurs.

Eloise, Guillaume, come.

With pleasure, I announce the betrothal of our daughter to this man

who saved her life and well deserves her love and our respect.

(ALL CLAPPING)

I have studied the planets and the stars

to find the perfect day for their marriage.

A man, a woman. English, French. Nobility of nature, nobility of birth.

It is the joining of different equals.

And they are young, n'est-ce pas?

So, when the year shall be young, and the sun and moon are equal,

they shall be married.

I announce the day to be the spring equinox of the year to come.

Eloise.

Guillaume.

(ALL CLAPPING)

(ORGAN PLAYING)

This is the greatest day of my life.

And mine.

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

Thank you. Merci, merci.

(ALL CLAPPING)

Eat, drink!

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

Eloise.

This is the Compte de Saclay.

He taught my father.

(GREETING IN FRENCH)

I have facility of language also, young woman.

Even if your honoured father learnt little of it in his youth.

I salute you both. My congratulations.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Your origins, I'm told, young man, were humble in your native land.

I applaud your greater fortunes here.

The Compte lives near Paris, Will.

Will came here from Paris.

Must have been a wonderful city.

You're entirely wrong.

History teaches us it was overpopulated, disease-ridden and a centre of evil.

It dictated the ways of an entire nation.

Among the many benefits of the coming of Tripods,

the destruction of Paris,

and all such cities, is to be greatly applauded.

But how can you say that?

I may be humble, but I can see life

must have been much easier, more exciting

and that ordinary people must have had skills we can't even dream of.

History teaches, and archaeology proves

simply that man's skills, as you call them,

were employed entirely in warfare and exploitation,

and that the ordinary people, so-called, approved them thoroughly.

Of course, I am forgetting that you are...

How shall I put it in English? Uncapped.

Without cap. Capless.

When you have received that blessing, I trust you will know better.

My wedding gift to you both is that advice.

I urge you, sir, to remember it well.

Pompous windbag.

You should have agreed with him. He knows everything.

He thinks he does.

(TRUMPETS BLOWING)

We must take our place.

Smile, Will. People are watching us.

You must smile.

(SCOFFS)

(ALL CLAPPING)

(TRUMPET BLOWING)

Let the tournament begin!

How far have we come?

Fifteen, 20 kilometres.

It's harder without a compass.

You are thinking of Will.

It is strange to be once more on the way without him.

Mmm.

I wonder what he's doing now?

The tournament.

Do you think he'll follow?

He has more to lose than we have.

-Eloise. -And other things.

He'll have a good life there.

Maybe capping won't spoil it.

-He was right, really. -Oh, how right?

Well, they all seemed happy enough.

-He's in love. -True.

Anyway, it is good to be here, and free.

And walking to the mountains, yes?

Yes.

When he gets...

If he gets capped, will they know about us?

I mean, will they know everything he knows?

Who can tell?

With good fortune, we shall be with the Free Men by that time.

Unless he left sooner, and got caught.

He'll be capped sooner then.

Henry, do you blame yourself for Will staying?

We grew away from him.

In a way, we...

I cut him off.

If I'd have tried harder to understand...

(BEANPOLE EXCLAIMS)

What has happened is done with, yes?

You must think of now.

If Will follows, he follows.

I suppose so.

Anyway, come on.

We must walk another 10 kilometres.

Then we will stop and rest, and wait for the stars.

One thing is for sure, if Will stays or follows,

he'd want us to succeed, yes?

MAN 1: Bravo, bravo. MAN 2: Bravo.

(CHEERING IN FRENCH)

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

(MEN GRUNTING)

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

He didn't play fair, that's all I'm saying.

Will, it is a contest. Contests must have winners.

I just didn't expect anybody to cheat.

Such things happen.

To become the champion, only the most daring can win.

I don't understand some of your ways. I hope I can learn them.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

(WISHING LUCK IN FRENCH)

DE SARLAT: The final contest,

and no good wishes for me, Englishman?

Is that your English fair play?

What do you care about fair play?

How fortunate you are.

I found you sick, and now you are well.

They say you are the son of a miller.

And now you are almost of nobility.

Poor, now rich.

Your days here pass from one happiness to the next.

All this you owe to me.

I know it.

Leave now, Englishman. Follow your friends.

Save yourself pain and disappointment.

This is good advice I give.

I'm not afraid of you.

That, too, you will learn.

It is me who will win, Englishman.

Then we will see how happy your days are.

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

(MAN GRUNTS)

Sarlat.

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS)

Trouillion.

Sarlat told me he would definitely win.

-I hope not. -Me, too.

-Do they ever get hurt? -No.

It's just a game.

Now we shall see how happy your days are.

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

What's happening now?

He's my father's champion. Now he must make his choice.

What choice?

Who will be queen of the tournament.

(PEOPLE EXCLAIMING)

(PEOPLE CLAPPING)

-I don't understand. -Eloise has been chosen

queen of the tournament.

-But why her? -It is the greatest of all honours.

Come, Guillaume, it is time for you to say goodbye.

Come, my son.

Why, Eloise? Why?

You were capped six months ago. You told me. I've seen.

The tournament queen must serve the Tripods.

-It is always so. -How? Where?

In the City of Gold. It is a supreme honour.

Eloise, where? For how long?

Far away. Forever.

-Goodbye, Guillaume. -Don't, Eloise.

-Please, don't. -You will understand.

-Please. -If another had been chosen...

I won't let you.

You will understand when you are capped.

No!

I'm so happy. Remember me.

No, Eloise.

I will remember you.

(INAUDIBLE)