Original subtitles

Unfortunately I must leave you now, dear St. Luc! Some matters require my presence elsewhere.

Pity!

But I would like to return a favour as a sign of my gratitude and respect.

Yes? And how?

To alleviate boredom, I will leave you my page.

-What?! -Do not refuse, he is a lovely boy!

-Bussy, I hate pages, offer him to the king! -Do not resist, just try - you will like him!

Bussy, it is cruel of you to tease me so!

Oh Lord, the St. Luc family will drive me insane with their accusations!

-I know what you need, St. Luc! -Bussy, no! -Yes! -No! -Yes!

Jeanne!

Oh Lord, faster!

-My love! -Oh Lord, Jeanne?!

-Well, monsieur de St. Luc? Should I send him back? -No! Not for anything!

Bussy, I swear to be your friend for ever.

What is happening there?

The king and the duke are tearing each other apart.

I think the spectacle must be fascinating! I should hurry if I don`t want to miss anything.

-Farewell, dear St. Luc! -We are very grateful to you, monsieur de Bussy!

My lady, it is I who owes you a debt.

You allowed me a prank over which all of Europe will be laughing for a while.

-And do not forget me in your prayers! -This I can promise!

Based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas (père)

La Dame de Monsoreau

Do not avoid answering me, Sire - I wish to find out if justice exists in France!

I myself am justice!

Your Majesty!

It seems you have bestowed on me the great honour of mentioning my name.

Yes. I was informed you had been attacked.

If you were severely hurt, then do direct a complaint to me - I will see justice done.

Do forgive me, Your Majesty, but I have nothing to complain of.

And what did you tell me?

I told you that Bussy had a perforating wound in his side from a rapier blow.

Is this true, Bussy?

As His Majesty`s brother is claiming this, it must be true.

The first Prince in line cannot lie.

And, after receiving such a blow, you have no complaints?!

I would have complained, Sire, if they had cut off the right hand and I could not take revenge...

Although... I could have avenged myself with the left just as well.

-Such insolence! -Sire, order an investigation, appoint judges!

Have them find out who set up that ambush and was planning a murder!

No.

I would have these sworn enemies make peace.

But, to my great regret, Schomberg and Maugiron are abed due to injury. Although...

Dear duke, which one of my friends behaved most aggressively in your opinion?

It should be easy for you to point him out.

As, if I am to believe your words, they attacked you as well.

I think it was Quelus, Sire.

On my word, you are correct, Your Highness!

I have never hidden behind others, Sire.

In this case, I wish that messieurs Quelus and de Bussy make peace in the name of all participants.

Sire, what does this mean?

Why, this means you must embrace monsieur de Bussy.

Embrace him here in my sight, and do it at once!

What is the matter, monsieur de Quelus?

Will you refuse me this honour?

Do it, Quelus, such is the king´s will!

I hope that this ceremony does not place any obligation on us.

Why? The only obligation is for us to meet again.

-What a scoundrel! -Scoundrel!

If I had my way, they would hang!

I feel such rage...

Such rage!

I am plagued by the desire to bite something... or someone!

Well, at least a lamb`s leg?

I am not hungry.

Let us visit St. Luc. I was told he had fallen ill.

Well-well. Let us visit St. Luc!

It`s the king! That chair over there!

Who is this young man?

Have you forgotten, Sire, that, after placing me here, you allowed me to call for one of my pages?

I made use of your permission, Sire. Do you regret granting me this diversion?

No. Not at all, dear child. Feel free to divert yourself.

But I was told you had fallen ill. What happened to you?

Sire, I am suffering from high fever.

My poor boy!

-What should be done for you then? -I do not know, Sire. I am wrecked by shivers...

Yes, it is clearly visible. Your face is burning! Give me your hand.

I will measure your pulse. You know that I have some knowledge of medicine.

Well... the pulse is irregular. Over-excited even.

Sire, it seems that I am quite heavily ill.

-In this case I will care for you myself. -I will not let you, Sire!

I will order a bed to be brought to this room. We will talk all night!

I have so much to tell you...

Sire, you consider yourself a man knowledgeable in medicine!

You call yourself my friend while taking away the only thing that brings me relief - sleep!

How?! You want to stay alone with all your suffering?

Why alone? Jean is here - my page.

But he is asleep!

And this is why I prefer my servants to care for me.

At least they let me sleep!

Fair enough, I will visit you later this night then, St. Luc.

Please, Sire, do not exert yourself on my behalf! You might suddenly wake me up!

But please attend my evening ablutions at least?

How despotic of you! Your Majesty, you have my other friends at your disposal.

Oh yes! Such friends too! Bussy gave them a thorough beating!

Wake this sleeping beauty and have him bring you your dressing gown.

If you wish it, I will come. But will I be allowed to return to bed afterwards?

Of course.

Very well, I will join Your Majesty in five minutes. But I warn you that I will make a pitiful courtier.

I will be waiting.

But take no more than five minutes. Do not linger!

Phew! -Oh Lord. -Come here!

-I nearly fainted with fright when the king came close! -My poor girl!

Do you have to leave me again?

Jeanne, you will only have to wait a few minutes. Jeanne!

Very well, I will wait. But, just like the king, I will tell you - do not linger!

-No, my lord, no, I beg you - I will not let you leave! -Jerome!

-But your wound! You have to stay in bed. -Do not try to keep me here, old man.

Oh Holy Virgin! You are a force of nature. It was just yesterday that you were nearly killed!

-Where is your common sense? -Jerome! It was not a dream.

How?! I forget dreams quickly, but here I remember every detail!

I remember a door with a small window from when I fell into that house.

I remember seeing Quelus` face through that window - white as a sheet, with angry eyes.

I remember a staircase, because I stumbled on the first step. I remember a bed with white curtains...

I saw the portrait of a beautiful blonde lady and I saw the blindfolded physician!

I cannot call myself Bussy, Jerome, if I do not find this house.

My lord, you should take some servants with you at least to cover your back!

-Jerome! -What?

Each of these damn doors look like the other!

Well-well.

I think it was here that my horse collapsed.

And here Schomberg attacked me -- I injured him.

Here I ran into Maugiron, Quelus and d`Epernon - I chased them away... A cart!

A cart! It was Quelus. Quelus, yes. Quelus and Schomberg.

Then Schomberg stood up again and attacked me with Maugiron. Then Quelus again, I toppled him.

Toppled him and started retreating, then they pressed me to the door. Accursed doors are all the same!

Damn it, I will spend thousands of ecu to loosen the tongues of all lackeys and old women -

But I will find out in the end!

What is this?

473, 474, 475, 476... 477, 478, 479, 480...

-481, 482, 483, 484... -Oh Lord! It seems another adventure is waiting for me!

...491, 492, 493, 494, 495... 496...!

-Oh! -Are you looking for me, monsieur?

-But this is... impossible! -Why? It is all too possible!

You are that same doctor who treated a nobleman`s sword wound yesterday, are you not?

-And you are that same nobleman? -Yes. I recognized you at once!

And I must tell you that you have good hands for your profession!

Really, such luck! I did not expect to meet you here.

I am sure. Please let me ask you what you are looking for in such a strange manner?

-I? A house... -A house? You are looking for a house?

-Does this mean you do not know where it was? -How could I? They blindfolded me!

-Then they led you here like this, blindfolded? -Of course!

And you think you were led to... this house?

This one or another - I don`t remember which!

After I treated you wound the maid blindfolded me again, and the voice of a lady I did not see announced:

"If you are an honourable man, you would not try to steal a look on your way!"

-And you heeded that instruction. -So I did, otherwise I would not be searching now!

Pity! And yet you showed one of those character traits which I value most in people -

And I would like to shake your hand, monsieur...? Forgive me, what are you called?

My answer is frank and simple: Remy le Haudouin.

You look like a proper nobleman and I must seem a rascal to you.

And yet, permit me to ask you, my lord - who are you?

-Louis de Clermont, Comte de Bussy. -Bussy?!

My lord, I will always be proud of the honor of shaking hands with the brave Bussy!

Madame, if you consider yourself bound by word I free you from it!

But please, look out of the window.

Well, my lady, who do you think these people are?

-I think this is the duke with his spies. -Absolutely correct!

Command, my lady, I will do as you say.

I consent.

But I repeat - I will become your wife in fact only after I see my father.

It will be the way you wish.

You are an extraordinary man, monsieur Remy!

And yet, why are you searching for this house?

Count, I could tell you that I got 10 pistoles for treating your wound...

Which is way too much for a humble doctor who usually charges five sous from his patients!

But no, I will not tell you this. I am attracted by the mystery of that house!

And this is why I will confess - I was not peeking! But I was counting the steps.

Monsieur Remy, I am liking you more and more!

Do you know, I am fascinated by this mystery as well.

-I think you will not refuse to help me solve it! -Of course, count!

Well well. There are two of us now, and we are not dreaming!

-And this is quite a lot! Let us go! -Let us!

We will find out! I did not see the lady, but I saw the maid!

-That lady`s maid? -Yes!

Interesting! By the way, Remy, where do you live?

-Then you saw this portrait as well? -Portrait? Which portrait?

-Of a lovely blonde lady. -Blonde? Which blonde?

-Beautiful like an angel. -Even more beautiful!

-Yes, And then? -And then I heard a voice!

-A gentle and melodic one? -Yes, yes! Gentle, melodic!

-That was the voice of your lady! -And then?

Then nothing, I bandaged your wound.

And you did it expertly, my friend!

Damn it, it is morning already.

-We spent all night talking. -Half a night, my lord!

And then you fell asleep and I covered you with your cloak... How do you feel?

-Could not be better, my dear doctor! -Please let me see your wound.

Then take a look, monsieur.

-What do you say then? -You are nearly fully recovered!

But I tell you this confidential information with great regret.

Why?

I am afraid you will send me away.

Not a chance, monsieur Remy! I think you are exactly the man I need.

Your hands are expert and careful - and then this special balsam!

I would like you to live with me. You will have your own rooms and servants.

My lord!

So, do you agree to sew the holes that regularly appear in my skin?

My lord, I am so happy I can scarcely express it! I will have work, I will have patients!

No other patients - just myself and maybe some friends of mine.

Believe me, you will have your hands full, monsieur Remy -

Not a day passes without me or a third party poking holes in our Creator`s great work...

As represented by yours truly.

-Jerome! -Yes, my lord.

Please assist monsieur Remy with moving to my former rooms upstairs.

-Serve us breakfast and have my horse Roland ready. -You are up to foolish things again!

I promise to be careful, my dear Remy.

But alas, this cannot be avoided - today a great royal hunt takes place...

And I must participate.

Then chose a horse quiet enough to suit the lady from that portrait!

It is Roland then! Maybe I even will meet our lovely stranger among the courtiers?

Very well! You will look for that lady during the hunt...

... while I return to the St. Antoine`s street and look for the house!

How fascinating would it be if we both succeed!

His Majesty has left the Vincennes palace and is on his way.

So where is your new Chief Huntsman, Your Highness?

Here he is!

Tut! What have you brought us from your province, Your Highness?

I doubt that another such monster can be found in Paris!

And Paris is hardly a city exclusively populated by beautiful individuals.

Bussy, I was not aware that only Apollo-like beauties could be considered for positions at court.

Surprising that you were not aware of that, Your Highness! But you promised his position to me.

Monsieur de Monsoreau served me well and I rewarded him for his service.

Wonderfully put, Your Highness - especially knowing that gratitude is a rare trait with princes.

But if is merely about service, I served you well too! And Chief Huntsman`s attire would fit me much better.

The heart matters more to me than appearance! Service rendered and not just promised.

Your Highness might think me too curious, but I am trying to guess in vain what service this man rendered.

Monsieur de Bussy, you are far too curious!

Even excessively so!

Princes are like that - they ask and you must answer, but should you ask, they will not extend you the same courtesy.

Well, in this case, I will have to ask monsieur de Monsoreau myself.

And if he does not answer?

-Then I will resort to something else. -To what?

I will call him a scoundrel.

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

Comte de Monsoreau - at your service, monsieur.

What compelled you to bestow on me this honour and interrupt my solitude?

Admiration, monsieur, great admiration for you inspired by the duke of Anjou.

-How so? -Oh, he told me about your heroic feat!

The same feat for which he granted you the position of the Chief Huntsman.

You are claiming, sir, that the duke told you this?

Yes. And I was overcome by such curiosity that I now want to hear it all from you!

In this case, I am ready to satisfy your curiosity - but I am afraid that I have no time for this now!

The king is about to arrive! But we may meet another day.

It would be my great pleasure! Adieu, monsieur.

I think he looks like a scarecrow!

And his name - "Monsoreau", "mouse mountain" in Latin!

You could not have come up with that!

No, this Monsoreau is an extraordinary man! I have a strange feeling that we will meet again.

I know something about him, his lands neighbour mine.

Is he wealthy?

Yes, but not from an illustrious family- a nobleman of an obscure line.

He has neither a wife nor a lover!

But at least he is a passionate hunter, the king has never had a Huntsman like him.

What else do you know about him?

Not too much - he has not committed anything ignoble openly.

It is even said that he is kind to his peasants.

But one evening...

I was returning from my uncle`s and took the road through the Meridor forest.

And suddenly I saw a rider at a distance - he was not just riding, he was flying like the wind!

And I saw him holding a woman over his saddle and covering her mouth with his hand!

I recognized him - it was our Monsoreau!

Well, it does happen that women are abducted, does it not, Bussy?

Yes, it does happen.

But usually there is no need to cover their mouths.

Sirs, the king!

Bussy!

I must talk to you.

Stay back.

Over there!

Well, what do you think of the count de Monsoreau?

He is an extraordinary man, Your Highness!

He has a fascinating mind.

And, of course, you asked him what he did for me.

Of course, this was why I started the conversation!

And what did he tell you, my dear braggart?

He was most polite! He told me he was your supplier, Your Highness.

-Yes, supplier of prey animals! -Supplier of women!

Oh, you are laughing? It is a great feat to make laugh someone who laughs so rarely!

And you claim I do not serve you well!

I was laughing over the nonsense you were spreading!

Where did you collect these tales?

In the forest of Meridor, Monseigneur!

Bussy! Bussy! Wait!

Wait. I will explain everything.

I do hope you understand now. Forget about the Meridor forest!

Let us talk about the matter for which I recalled you from the hunt.

There is a favor you can do for me - you are brave and, as you claim, love me.

-I have my days, Monseigneur. -For bravery?

No, for my love for you!

Understood! Have these days arrived?

I cannot tell yet, depends on which favor you expect.

Listen. I met an absolutely ravishing woman in a church a short while ago.

Although she was veiled, I succeeded in discerning her features.

They reminded me of a lady I once loved most ardently.

I followed her and found out where she lives.

But it is said that despite her youth, beauty and independence she is very virtuous.

Aha! Far too many virtues for a single human being!

Do you want a piece of advice? Poetic advice even!

Love I do not desire, my errors` habitude,

No need for tenderness, I crave the solitude.

May vilest will unleash its brutal tide, May hatred follow where I, constant, will abide,

In this, forevermore, I shall take pride...

What is wrong with you, Bussy? Are you ill or is the wound troubling you?

Where does this foolish pathos come from?

Spring! It must be the season`s fault, Monseigneur.

Nonsense, I know you - your mind is as sharp as your rapier!

Amorous adventures - this is your genre, not love`s tender sorrow!

I must ask you to do something for me that a man usually only does for himself.

Your Highness, do you want me to flirt with the object of your desire...

... to find out if she truly is as virtuous as she is beautiful?

This suits me just fine!

No! I want you to find out what man is visiting her regularly.

The case is getting more difficult, a man is involved!

-I am afraid so. -A husband or a lover?

I can only tell he is a jealous man.

-I would like to know who he is. -And you appoint me to find out.

Yes. And if you do this for me...

Then you will make me Chief Huntsman!

As soon as this position is available again, of course.

Agreed.

-So... -What, Monseigneur?

Do you agree?

-To follow the lady? -Yes.

My prince, you offer me the role of a spy, and it does not agree with me.

-Then you refuse? -Yes.

In this case, I will go alone! Should I be killed or injured, I will say I asked my friend Bussy to help and protect me...

And that, for the first time in his life, the brave Bussy showed caution!

Your Highness! Just recently you told me:

"Bussy, I have had enough of these Mignons from the king`s bedchamber!"

"Go to St. Luc`s wedding feast, find a pretext for a quarrel and rid me of them!"

I went there - they were four, I was alone.

I insulted them, they set up an ambush and you know all too well what ensued.

And today you ask me to offend a woman!

Forgive me, but a prince should not request such favors from an honorable man.

Be it as you wish. Then I will go alone or with Aurilly, same as last time.

Forgive me...

Does this mean you were there when you encountered the Mignons waiting for me?

Correct.

Then your beautiful stranger lives in the Rue St. Antoine?

Absolutely right, she lives in that accursed street where one`s throat can be easily cut!

-And did this fact cool your passion, Your Highness? -Yes, I must confess, no wonder!

I just thought that before going into that potential robbers` hideout...

One of your friends should be knifed there first, yes?

If I were you, I would give up that woman.

Not a chance, she is far too lovely!

But you said you barely saw her!

I saw enough - lovely blond hair, gorgeous eyes and slim waist.

I am certain you understand - a man cannot give up such a beauty easily!

You are laughing at me!

Not at all! I feel your pain, my prince, and am prepared to prove it by helping you.

-Then you take back your decision? -Only our Lord is without a fault!

And now tell me what I am to do.

Tomorrow we will return to Paris and I will show you the house.

Let us hurry, Bussy! The king might notice our absence.

The king is highly pleased by your expertise in conducting a hunt!

The doe threw herself right on the the king`s spear.

Please accept my congratulations, monsieur de Monsoreau!

Monseigneur, I am overjoyed by your words, as it is you to whom I owe this position.

Yes, but you do know that you must leave for Fontainebleau this evening?

The king wishes to hunt there the day after tomorrow...

... and you have but one day to get the lay of the forest.

Yes, Monseigneur, I am aware of this. Everything is ready for my departure this night.

So it has started, monsieur de Monsoreau! From now on, you will know no peace.

What luck that you are still unmarried!

-Oh Lord! -Holy Virgin! Mademoiselle, where are you going?

Stop! Cease running! I beg you!

-The doctor! -Lovely maid!

You are mistaken, monsieur, I do not know you!

But I do know you! For two days I have been barely eating or existing - only remembering you!

-Where are you going? -To buy groceries!

Let us walk together?

Oh!

-Look! It is that same young man! -The one from your lady`s bed?

Yes, Holy Virgin, yes!

Maybe. But I remember his wound much better than his face!

And now listen carefully, Bussy. Do you see the house on the left?

It is the one I told you about.

-I see it, my prince. -The windows are still shut!

Yes, this lady is guarding herself rather well - or being guarded?

Those crazy Mignons attacked me from here.

Hide as well - and as soon as a man enters, follow him and find out who he is.

And if he locks the door?

Aha, excellent, Monseigneur!

-And what should I do with this man? -Only find out who he is!