A Little Chaos Page #5

---

is what Madame de Barra is.

Odd, sire.

May I show Your Majesty?

You will recall what I said

about Nymphs and Shepherds.

As we age,

we see things more clearly.

This project,

is it worthy of us?

There's no precedent

for Madame de Barra's vision.

Trust is all we can give to those

who reach into the new, sire.

But when beauty can be described

with such imagination,

then her art, above all I know,

is worthy of the king.

I see only mud.

Your words we will weigh later.

For now, inform Madame de Barra

that I shall see her

at Fontainebleau.

I do not know

what story this tells

or what harm it is part of.

This is a bad end

for both of us,

and I am sorry for it.

Welcome to Fontainebleau.

Antoine.

How beautiful you look.

I believe it is compulsory.

Indeed. However, some of the ladies

find it more of a challenge.

I am bound to say, I see no

trace of that challenge in you.

Do not talk to me

about it, madame.

I am ruined by the expense,

and worse,

it is interfering

with my gaming.

I must confess that escorting you

down is something of a coup.

How so?

There are several parties

who are anxious to meet you.

I am no one.

What could the interest be?

Madame, you answer yourself.

You see how they look at you?

You are no one where

everybody is someone,

and yet you are here.

That makes you more the someone.

Especially if you

have conversation.

Words just tumble.

You see?

People are looking our way with

interest, because of my mirth.

But the hordes may

not have you yet.

I am under strict instruction to convey

you to one person in particular.

The Marquise de Montespan.

Heavens, the lengths

I've had to go to, madame.

I have had to bribe, lie and use

every form of deception to meet you.

How much did you pay

the matre d'htel?

Five gold louis.

Was that too much?

Money well spent.

Lauzun, I love you dearly.

Kiss me now and leave me

to explore my prize.

I shall enjoy you later.

Madame. Good fortune

at the tables.

I feel lucky tonight.

My dearest friend

and a most divine lover.

What can I say, madame?

Events overtook us before

I had the king's interest.

Is this your first time

at Fontainebleau?

It is. Have you no birth?

Not a drop.

No blood whatsoever.

You are here entirely

on your own merits.

I know a famous man.

Ah, I see.

I was going to offer you Lauzun,

but you're ahead of the game.

Athenais. Palatine.

And Madame de Barra.

I'm so happy to see you again.

Princess.

Oh, please, call me madame.

It's affectionate,

and everybody does.

Come. My secret space.

Do you dig earth? Yes.

Yet you're not

blackened by the sun.

Perhaps a little.

And never had the smallpox.

Your skin is clear.

Show us your breasts.

Are they pretty?

Would you like to see mine?

Mine are the most beautiful.

Yes, they are, apart

from Suzanne, who's 70.

Oh, yes, hers are perfect.

You see, here, touch. Oh!

Your eyes

are the color of the sea.

This gown is cut differently.

I like it at the waist.

Are you married?

Widowed. Did you

like your husband?

- Yes.

- Children?

Dead?

A girl.

How old?

Six.

Palatine has lost her son, too.

He was four.

So little and beautiful.

Charles was one.

I lost Joan and Ann together.

Smallpox.

I lost my husband and my

son on the battlefield.

They died in each other's arms.

I'm barely here.

How did they die?

Do you find it

hard to speak of it?

That can happen.

I put everything in a trunk.

All their clothes, shoes,

her toys.

I haven't had the courage

to go in there since.

When you are strong

enough, my dear,

when you are strong enough.

We're not allowed to

speak of death at court.

The king does not like it,

but we speak about it

amongst ourselves.

Nobody may ban a child

from its mother's heart.

I commended all my children

into Maintenon's care.

How she has turned on me now.

Saintly old b*tch.

It is an amazement to me a

convent has not claimed her.

Costume's not as lavish.

Oh. The king comes.

Have you been presented before?

No.

Your Majesty, it is my pleasure

to present Madame de Barra.

Madame.

Your Majesty.

Is it a Four Seasons?

It is, sire.

For the most famous

gardener in the world.

Allow me,

Your Majesty.

A light, honest scent.

Natural and unforced.

Some of the roses seem faded

and overblown.

That fate awaits

all roses, sire.

Continue, madame.

All roses are open to the

elements, Your Majesty.

They bud, bloom and fade.

Is that so, madame?

The rose grows entirely unaware,

changing naturally

from one state to another,

and although the elements

may treat her cruelly,

she knows nothing of it

and continues to her end

without judgment on her beauty.

Alas,

'tis not the same for us.

If such a rose could speak,

what would she say?

Yes, I am here

and gave service

under nature's eye,

and after me,

my children will be.

Is there any greater contribution

or more graceful end?

A wise rose.

And what protection can the

gardener afford this rose

from the harsh

elements of change?

Patience, care

and a little warmth from the sun

are our best hope, Your Majesty.

I'm obliged to you, madame,

for that sweet reminder.

Now walk with me.

And tell me of

your progress in our garden.

Her kindness,

unbribed.

That was very brave tonight.

I hoped he might listen.

Enough humility.

There you are.

Philippe.

You're dressed.

I'm off on business to Chartres.

Thought I would

take Marie-Claire.

There's a good puppet

stand and a pie shop.

Marie-Claire! Are you there?

Papa! Did you find her?

Here is Belle Boobie

asleep with Mama.

Hello, Marie-Claire.

You naughty doll!

Come here and I

shall punish you.

Oh, my goodness.

Is she all right?

Don't be silly.

She's made of cloth.

Sabine, I have

something to tell you.

How long?

We've not been close of late.

And most men take mistresses in

due course in such circumstances.

Such circumstances?

What's her name?

Diane.

Where does she live?

Berry.

Oh.

Not too far.

There's the coach now.

We'll talk again on this matter.

When will you be back?

This evening, madame.

Do not "madame" me, Philippe.

Marie-Claire, tie your laces.

You'll fall over them.

I can't, Mama. Wait there.

Master, look at this.

Marie-Claire.

Marie-Claire.

Jean, the wheel.

I told the master.

He said it would do until Berry.

Berry?

Marie-Claire!

I did not kiss Mama.

Stop! Stop!

No, no!

No! No!

Sabine!

She was the most

beautiful thing I ever made,

and I killed her.

Did you intend them to die?

Is that what you planned?

It was...

It was your husband's choice.

He took away the child.

No, it was my fault.

It was my fault.

I let him take her away.

What if no one

person is to blame?

And what use is blame?

It is enough to

have it happen to you.

It is enough to recover from it.

That is as much as we

may ask of ourselves.

That is enough.

What is it that would help you?

If you held me.

What will happen to your wife?

This was not the way we started.

So we must have taught

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote