Original subtitles

Paris, 1578

Six years passed after the events of the terrible St. Bartholomew`s Day massacre.

The king, Charles IX, died.

The throne was to pass to the duke of Anjou,

as his elder brother Henri had already been crowned in Poland.

This was unacceptable to Catherine de Medicis.

She yearned to see

her favourite son Henri de Valois on the French throne.

Following his mother`s will, Henri escaped from Poland, giving up the Polish crown...

to become the king of France Henri III.

The duke of Anjou, appalled at his mother`s underhanded scheming,

has continued his bid for power.

His ambitions have been fed by the duke of Guise,

who puts him up to plotting against his brother.

In fact, de Guise himself is dreaming of the throne as a due to his princely blood.

Henri III surrounds himself with favourites

whom his people hate and derisively call "mignons" ("darlings").

The duke of Anjou is supported by the Angevins, noblemen in his service.

These are led by Count de Bussy - war commander, dazzling knight,

"best sword in France".

In their fight for the crown all candidates again resort to the religious enmity

between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots).

France is on the brink of a new civil war...

We have arrived. It`s here.

Please allow me to give you a hand, my lady.

My lady! We were instructed to escort you to this house.

We have fulfilled that duty.

Monsieur, I can only thank you.

I would like to reward you with something more substantial,

but I have nothing.

Do not worry, my lady - we have been handsomely rewarded.

I repeat again - forget this road, forget this lady, forget this house and this door.

Follow me!

Based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas (père)

"La Dame de Monsoreau"

Gabriella Mariani (Diana de Meridor)

Alexandr Domogarov (Count de Bussy)

Yuriy Belyayev (Count de Monsoreau)

Evgeniy Dvorzhetskiy (Henri III)

Kirill Kozakov (Francois d`Anjou)

Aleksei Gorbunov (Chicot)

Dmitri Maryanov (St. Luc)

Ekaterina Strizhenova (Jeanne de St. Luc)

Vladimir Dolinskiy (Gorenflot)

Yuriy Yakovlev (Baron de Meridor)

Ekaterina Vasilyeva (Catherine of Medici)

Lev Durov (Innkeeper)

Dmitri Pevtsov (Henri of Navarre)

Directed by Vladimir Popkov

Script: Elena Karavaeshnikova

Cinematography: Pavel Nebera

Art direction: Viktor Yushin

Production design: Mihail Nizhinskiy

Music: Oleg Kiva

Sound supervision: Marina Nigmatulina

Film editing: Lydia Milioti

Costume design: Natalya Polyakh

Makeup: Isabella Baikova

Producer group: Elena Semagina, Zulfiya Nurutdinova

Production manager: Galina Belinskaya

Film producer: Sergei Zhigunov

Production director: Vladimir Popkov

Realized by: "Studio Shans"

TV Center

Episode one

Alas, Monsieur de St. Luc!

I presumed you a favourite of the king`s when giving you my dear girl in marriage.

Dear Lord! How much does it look like royal disfavour...

Lord, why is His Majesty so angry with our House, always so faithful to the crown!

Monsieur de St. Luc... have you offended the king somehow?

Stop teasing the dog, Chicot!

What a glutton you are!

That traitor St. Luc! Why haven`t I found him out earlier?

Traitor St. Luc!

Has he forgotten that the king`s friends have no right to get married?

Their love for the king should be expressed freely,

and not wander to some incidental subjects!

That ungrateful swine!

Swine!

And I promised him the position of the Chief Huntsman...

What?!

You sadden me, Henri!

What good would St. Luc be as a huntsman? The only doe he has ever traced successfully

is the daughter of the Marshal de Brissac.

Henri, listen...

Give this position to Bussy.

Bussy?!

Bussy. You will have him among your people.

To me, Bussy is equal to pestilence!

Such a pity, really.

Also the duke of Anjou requested this position

for a certain monsieur de Monsoreau.

Well well...

You are planning to go to a ball, but your mug is a better fit for a mass!

Do you really think that your moping face will spoil St. Luc`s mood before his wedding night?

It would be better if you didn`t go, Henri.

No! We are going to the ball.

But I intend to entertain myself!

Now this I like!

We will get some truly royal entertainment out of it!

No no, I didn`t dream about dead fish for nothing yesterday!

A bit longer, and I will die of boredom!

Devil may take that St. Luc, really!

What made him give up the king`s friendship?

Yes!

And now we have to be stuck here and wait until the king devises some punishment for him!

Did you see the grimace the king gave St. Luc during the wedding reception, yes?

And then he showed his back to the de Casse girl!

Oh my friends, if only you knew what lovely wine they serve at a tavern nearby!

Hmm... Mein Gott!

And I would crawl into my Annette`s lovely nest if I could!

How much I would love to be there right now!

Understandable...

Mark my words - all this will end in exile!

One of us will be surely entrusted with bringing the wedding present to St. Luc -

marching orders out of Paris!

I could deliver such a present to him right now!

Monsieurs, our king is a great man.

Regardless of the fact that this villain St. Luc is guilty of treason,

the king has decided to do him an honor.

We are going to the Montmorency palace after all!

Long live the king!

We are going to enjoy ourselves today!

Yes, mightily!

What a lucky villain that St. Luc is! Passing between the frying pan and the fire

without even burning his tail!

I doubt it, monsieurs - our king is a hunter,

and will let the prey run free at will before making the kill.

Yes!

Get that St. Luc, the hunt has begun!

My lords, the king asked us to be at the wedding before he arrives.

Yes, let us not lose any time.

I am fervently hoping that the duke of Anjou will send his beloved Bussy there.

The king has not graced our wedding with his presence...

What blame can the king lay at your feet, Monsieur de St. Luc?

My dear Jeanne, I will explain everything to you as soon as soon as this stormy cloud passes!

Will it pass?

It must.

My children, how glad I am! The wedding was lovely!

Here he is, St. Luc!

Oh poor friend, this time you are really done for!

The king is enraged!

Truly, St. Luc, which devil put you up to marriage?!

You know how jealous the king gets with his closest subjects.

Things are not looking good for you, not at all! Aw!

Neither the king nor the duke of Anjou are here...

Even that braggart Bussy did not attend!

His Majesty, King of France, Henri III Valois!

Finally!

Now I am not afraid of anything anymore!

Should the duke of Anjou appear as well, I will be perfectly content!

Oh Lord, the king`s presence scares me more than his absence!

His Majesty, King of France, Henri III Valois!

What is the matter, dear sirs?

My King, your jester Chicot over there is dressed exactly like Your Majesty.

Hm...

The similarity is indeed striking!

Listen, monsieur Chicot - two kings at a ball is too great an honor for the hosts, no?

If you think so - then let me play the king`s role!

I will rule, and you will dance.

I will go through the whole collection of grimaces expected of your royal dignity,

While you get some entertainment, my poor king!

Be it as you wish, I think I might apply myself to dancing.

How wrong was I to fear His Majesty`s anger!

Rather the opposite - he is in a rarest of good moods!

Finally, dearest!

Please do not leave me for so long- this is our wedding after all!

Do you know, ever since the king has arrived he has not stopped smiling at me.

When we were returning from the church, dear Jeanne, his gaze scared you.

But His Majesty was in a poor humour then, and now...

Now? Even worse!

Dear Jeanne, it appears that the king has prepared

for us a rather ugly surprise!

Oh Lord, do not look at me so tenderly - better turn away from me!

Ah, here comes Chicot - at a rather convenient moment!

I beg you, Jeanne, keep him occupied -

flirt with him, be attentive and caring...

Monsieur, if I follow your request, people might think...

They should think, it is good if they think that!

Well, my lady?

I heard everything - you were ordered to flirt with me.

Learn, my lady, learn!

You are to be at court frequently from now on, and it has its own laws-

laws of hypocrisy, of pretense.

Yes, yes, yes!

Just imagine that I am a mirror in your bedchamber.

You do make faces in front of the mirror there - you do, I know!

Yes, yes, yes - like this! Very well!

St. Luc!

I am here, Sire!

You asked me if you were allowed to attend the mass.

I told you at once that you are free to do as you please,

but it would be preferable not to leave the house.

You did not listen to me!

Either by chance or by fate´s decree the duke of Anjou saw you

today in St. Catherine`s Church.

It is true, monsieur, but I am not certain that he recognized me.

He was astonished by your resemblance of the woman he mourns.

I hope he forgot me.

And I am certain he did not, my lady.

Any man who saw you even once would not be able to forget you.

Please believe me that I attempted to do so as well, but failed.

The duke is an unkind and vengeful man.

He will certainly attempt to find out who you are.

My God, you are scaring me.

No.

I am just presenting to you the true state of affairs.

What could be done?

My lady, you are well-informed about the condition which would

allow me to request protection for you from His Majesty.

But the danger may not be that grave?

Time will tell.

Time will tell, my lady.

And yet, upon becoming Countess de Monsoreau, you would no longer have any reason to fear the duke.

Louis de Clermont, Comte de Bussy, Seigneur d`Amboise!

Pray Bussy! This is outrageous!

I passed multiple decrees against luxury and excess,

I will pass new ones and will increase their number ceaselessly!

If they are not good enough, let them at least be many!

But I swear by my cousin Beelzebub´s horn -

four pages, monsieur de Bussy, are beyond excessive!

You there!

Where are you going?!

Cease at once!

Bussy!

What is this about?!

Bussy d`Amboise, Louis de Clermont, Comte de Bussy,

as I see it, one cannot reach you before listing all your titles!

Can you not discern the real king from the jester?

Monsieur de Bussy, do you not hear? You are being summoned.

Pray forgive me, Your Majesty.

Some kings are so much like their jesters, that it is an easy mistake to make.

Forgive me that I mistook your jester for the king.

What did he say?

Nothing, Sire, nothing at all.

Monsieur Bussy, you dress all kinds of riffraff in golden damask, but yourself?

You, nobleman, commander, you, descendant of the Clermonts, even a prince!

Tut!

To appear at a ball in simple black velvet - are these suitable clothes for a ball?

They seem more acceptable as a mourning attire!

Sire, I only do so because in our times, all kinds of riffraff dresses as princes,

and good taste demands of princes to dress like riffraff in order to stress the difference.

Don`t you dare insult my favourites!

I may be the kingliest king, but I will draw a sword no worse than any jester!

If Chicot continues joking in this manner, I will give him a beating!

Do not barge into matters of which you understand nothing, Мaugiron.

Chicot is a nobleman, and an extremely proper one to boot in matters of honor.

Fine, then be more circumspect from now on, Bussy!

Forgive me, Your Majesty!

The king has put himself into a ridiculous position by letting the jester take his place.

Also, he is not the most insolent one here.

That Bussy has become absolutely intolerable.

If someone could rid me of him, I would be quite content.

I must inform you, messieurs, that I intend to go on a hunt right after this ball.

-A hunt? -Yes, on a hunt.

-Lovely, which creature do you want to hunt? -A wild boar!

The king has expressed a wish to see a boar`s head on the dining table tomorrow.

Hm, I understand - one with an Italian flat collar!

Are you certain that the king..?

Quite certain.

Lovely, in this case - to the hunt!

How will we hunt?

I think, we`ll set an ambush - ambush is the safest way.

Yes!

Quelus, friend, calm down for God`s sake.

Calm down yourself, if you can!

Quelus, think about the duke of Anjou - it is him who stands behind Bussy!

Who can the people of the king of France be afraid of?

If danger finds us, the king will protect us!

You, but not me!

And good riddance to you!

Hush!

Which devil put you up to marriage?

Don`t you know how jealous the king is of his friends?

Go talk to the king! Go on your peacekeeper mission!

You are extremely fine at it!

Wait!

-Only don`t dare warn Bussy. -Do not!

Then you are fully lost.

Continue!

Your Highness, I managed to find out that the house is rented for a year.

The lady`s rooms are on the second floor.

I have procured a duplicate of the front-door key.

With such a winning set we may play some cards!

Yes, this night!

I was so affected by that woman`s resemblance of that perished beauty.

Following her death I have been plagued by nightmares.

I must solve this mystery! -Monseigneur!

Do not torment yourself so.

What harm is there if one of the multitude of pearls on your glorious sash gets lost?

By the way, do you not plan to attend St. Luc`s wedding ball?

The king will be there!

What does it matter to me?

I sent Bussy.

I hope he will succeed in starting a good quarrel there and killing one of those Mignons!

I do not doubt this, Monseigneur!

One hour to midnight we will be in St. Antoine`s street.

Very well, my lord.

Monsieurs, please take a look at how lavishly they are dressed, what beauties!

-Well, let us go greet them? -Let`s!

Monsieurs, what is it you think they are discussing?

I bet they are inventing new collar starch!

No, monsieurs!

You are wrong.

We are discussing hunting plans.

Hunt?!

You are surely jesting.

It is rather cold for hunting these days, and I worry that your... skin will burst and bleed.

Do not worry!

And which creature do you intend to hunt?

Maybe larks?

No, a wild boar.

Boar, is it?

We have to get his head at all costs.

And the animal?

Already flushed!

But you must also know where it will pass!

We will find out.

By the way, might Monsieur de Bussy wish to join us on the hunt?

I am very grateful, Monsieur de Quelus, but unfortunately I am occupied elsewhere.

Tomorrow I must attend a reception for the Count de Monsoreau at the duke`s residence.

And this night?

This night I am unable to as well- I have an assignation

in one of the houses in the district of St. Antoine.

Pray tell, did queen Margot return to Paris undetected?

No, Monsieur de Schomberg! I have given up this legacy recently.

The subject is... another person entirely.

And this person is waiting for you in one of the streets in St. Antoine`s district?

Absolutely correct, monsieur de Maugiron.

But the streets of Paris are unsafe at night.

Which route do you recommend I take?

Damn it!

If I were you, monsieur, I would use a boat in Pres au Clerc...

and then follow the waterside.

If you manage to reach the Tournelles without running into trouble -

but it is indeed unsafe! -

you will find yourself in St. Antoine and may knock at the doors of your mysterious house.

I thank you for such a detailed route description, monsieur de Quelus.

Be certain that I will not deviate from this route.

But it is getting boring in here.

Let us leave, messieurs.

There is nothing left to talk about with these people.

I beg your pardon. Dear Jeanne, monsieur de Bussy intends to leave now -

-I beg you, keep him here! -But why?

It is important.

I will, but I hope you will explain everything to me soon.

Monsieur de Bussy!

Monsieur de Bussy, all Paris is talking about your most recent sonnet with admiration. -Oh yes!

Please grant me the pleasure of hearing it- as a present. Please!

Gladly, my lady.

But here is an inconvenient location. Please follow me.

-I beg your pardon, messieurs. -Of course!

Creator`s great invention filled with awe!

All glory to the thought`s eternal turn! We are all fruits of His imagination!

But whether triumph or an error was thus born We cannot yet discern - us, His divine creation!

We are all different.

One - slave to flesh`s desires, Another masters passion with his mind.

And praise the Lord, `tis not within our power To change what He has deemed to grant.

Well, my lords, with such a route the boar will be easy to trace.

It is decided then.

The corner of the Hotel des Tournelles, right where St. Antoine`s street begins.

Agreed - maybe let`s take some servants with us?

For nothing in the world!

I hate Bussy, but I would consider myself dishonored if I allowed some lackey`s staff to touch him.

Bussy is a nobleman from head to toe.

What is the matter, monsieur de St. Luc? Why are you so out of sorts?

-Monsieur, I was looking for you. -For me?

Dear Jeanne, the king is leaving - please attempt to delay him!

I must tell monsieur de Bussy something in confidence.

Monsieur de Bussy, I thank you for the sonnet - it was lovely!

What is it then?

What did you want to tell me, monsieur de St. Luc?

Monsieur, I just wanted to tell you that if you have a rendevouz this evening

to try to postpone it to tomorrow.

What did you say?

I am far from thinking that a man like you could be scared, Lord is my witness!

But... Please consider it!

-St. Luc, where are you? -I am here, Your Majesty!

I am waiting for you!

Please be careful!

My lords, I will take my leave then.

We are coming with you.

That one about collars was excellent!

I wish you a pleasant time, messieurs. Until tomorrow!

We`ll meet at the duke of Anjou`s.

We are not coming with you then?

Unfortunately no.

I have to fetch a letter that arrived from afar.

I promised the messenger that I will go there alone, without companions...

... in order to avoid compromising anyone.

And you are not worried about the rambling of those disgusting Mignons?!

Damn it, that sounded like a challenge!

What do you mean? Ah, the boar hunt?

I think you took the rambling of that riffraff far too seriously.

Today they were seeking the king`s favour, but in reality these are just lazy tomcats,

whom you have to whip in order to force to fight.

And believe me, whip hard! Adieu.

A letter?

Not from Marguerite de Navarre, by any chance?

Does the terrible fate of La Mole and Coconnas not scare him off?

I pity poor Bussy, he has never loved -

And love will not disappoint him only in one case... If it kills him!

Sire, will I have the honour of accompanying you to the litter?

Why to the litter? No, my friend!

Chicot is going in one direction, and I - in another.

Those good-for-nothings, your friends, have disappeared somewhere,

and now I have to return to the Louvre completely alone.

I hope you will not let your king leave this place all by his lonesome.

A horse for monsieur de St. Luc!

Although... my litter is large enough- there should be ample space for two.

I am ready, Sire!

And I am so loyal to Your Majesty, that I would follow you to the ends of earth at first call!

Let us leave, my friend.

Lord almighty, is the king again unhappy? He is leaving without saying adieu!

Monsieur de Brissac, I thank you for the lovely ball!

-I spent a wonderful evening. -Your Majesty!

My lady, I approve of your choice!

Monsieur de St. Luc is one of my most faithful friends.

And I am certain that he will never abandon his king.

Oh Lord...

You will stay away for the whole night. Should I order the dinner to be served?

You know very well, Jerome, that a sword wound is twice as dangerous,

if it is received on a full stomach.

Oh Lord... Who has ever seen a prince of the Clermonts` line walk around alone at night!

And duel in dark corners like some low-born ruffian?

Don`t grumble, old man.

Please be careful at least, monsieur.

Please leave me.

I am here for the letter.

Please enter, monsieur your visit is expected.

Thank you, but I am in a great hurry. Please bring the letter here.

As you wish, monsieur, I will announce you.

Oh, pray forgive me, my lady.

My name is Gabrielle de Terigny.

Louis Clermont, Comte de Bussy.

You don`t have to introduce yourself, count, I recognized you at once.

My queen showed me a medaillon with your portrait -- she always keeps it close.

Quelus, why in hell did we leave the horses behind?

All is well - horses could scare off the prey.

I have to tell you, messieurs, that we chose an inconvenient time for the hunt.

-It is terribly cold! -Yes, truly freezing...

You will manage! I think we could not find a better place for an ambush.

You think so? And if he takes another route after all?

Do not worry, I know Bussy - one way or another he will be here.

We only have to wait.

Why are we standing outside? Please enter, monsieur de Bussy.

I regret that I am unable to.

Why?

Unfortunately I have an assignation with a few of my friends.

I cannot make them wait.

But will you not even enter the house to read queen Margot`s letter immediately?

I will read it later.

In this case, monsieur de Bussy, you are the most cold-blooded of all men

who have enjoyed queen Margot`s favor.

Alas, my lady, I would value this favor much higher, if it was meant for me alone.

I hope you understood me.

Please believe that I would love to spend this evening in your company,

But I truly cannot miss that meeting I committed myself to.

It would damage my reputation.

I understand. May the Lord watch over you, count.

Luck is usually on my side, my lady.

And, if you allow, I would like to visit you tomorrow.

I will expect that visit most... ardently.

Until tomorrow!

Where is he, damnit!

That crazy Bussy did predict this...

Yes, it was just a night like this one when we escaped from Warsaw-

when Henri was still a king in Poland. How we dashed from there!

Not long now, and my skin might burst and bleed for real in this cold!

Why are you whining so much, Maugiron?

Wrap yourself better in your cloak and you will stop freezing!

Easy for you to say, Schomberg- you are German and used to the cold!

My hands are cold as well...

Poor d`Epernon - why didn`t you take your mother`s muff with you?

Oh Lord, please have some patience - another minute, and you will complain of heat!

-May the Lord hear you on that, Quelus! -Hush!

I think the Lord has heard him!

We have arrived!

-I think it`s not him! -Why?

-Because there are two of them. -So what?

He could have taken a servant!

-It looks like they are going to enter the house. -Will we lose them, my lords?!

-And if it`s not him after all? -Who can be sure it is not him?

Who else would be here at this time?

-Aurilly! -Yes, my lord?

Look! I think someone is there!

Yes, Monseigneur - they are armed and want to attack us, as it seems.

Do you wish to name yourself or to hide your identity?

Let us enter, Aurilly - easier to withstand an ambush on the inside.

But who can guarantee that no enemies are lurking behind this door?

-Enough waiting, messieurs, let`s attack! -Damn!

Death to him! Kill him!

-Devil! -Lord!

Did I hear right?

Did you threaten to kill the heir to the French throne, Quelus?

Messieurs... The duke of Anjou!

Subtitles by Grafinyademonsoro on Tumblr.