Danton Page #2

lt's a wonder you're still free

lt's not a miracle, it's because

you're my friend

They cannot arrest my friends

l have one thing Robespierre lacks:

my newspaper

lt makes me far more powerful than

that powdered charlatan

Does that reassure you?

The paper's been seized,

the printer arrested

Very reassuring! We've had it

Can't you say hello, Camille?

And you, Lucille, how are you?

Maybe we've gone too far

lf you're scared, run to Robespierre,

tell him l forced you to write

Stop it, l did what l had to do!

l urged the people to end the terror

Now it's your turn to make a move,

otherwise my action was pointless

- We must act at once

- Why?

- The printer

- l know

- Don't you care for your life?

- Of course

What about yours?

- We must strike

- You talk like a butcher

This is politics.

Come, use your heads

So Camille's humiliated Robespierre

To salvage his prestige he arrests

the printer and seizes the paper

lt's a provocation

He just wants us to show our hand.

So we do nothing, we stay calm

Understand? Calm

- Philippeaux wants you

- Who's he? Liberal? Moderate?

A spotless record, he's perfect for us

- You're for attacking the Committee?

- Not yet

l'm also thinking it over

- l'd like to know what you're after

- So would l

- Would you end the terror?

- Would you topple the government?

l'd join you if l trusted your motives

Don't you believe me?

Why?

You formed the Revolutionary Tribunal

and voted to execute the king

So did you

This leads nowhere

Did l ask for your help?

Georges, Phillippeaux and his kind

want to support you

Reassure them you won't

abuse your power

- l don't want power

- You say that now

No, l don't want power. l'm 35

and l look 60, l'm tired

l'd like to retire

But first l must end the terror,

because l'm partly to blame for it

Fine words, but we know you too well

You're rich enough to give up politics

Take care, Philippeaux!

lt's you who asked to talk to me

Calm down, Georges

All right, I'm listening, but make it short, what do you want?

Disarm the Public Safety Committee,

it has outlived its usefulness

Do it without causing an upheaval.

Only you can do it

Frankly, you disgust me, but

l've decided to back you

Thank you, l'm flattered.

How will you do it?

With armed men, if need be

- Are you worried?

- Yes, everyone is

- You really want to move?

- Strike now... l told you

lnsurrection is a terrible,

uncontrollable force... no!

Robespierre has one weakness: his

secret police, loathed by everyone

Bourdon, in the Convention today,

attack a top secret agent

- Hiron?

- Yes, for example

Accuse him, mention informers,

searches - the nation will support you

lt'll say this is its last hope for

freedom, and we are that last hope

- ls that enough?

- Yes, they'll calm down

So will Robespierre. Go on

Georges is right

Always heed your wife, it'll be

the start of a new era

Then back to our modest, quiet lives

Yours will be quiet and ours modest

lf you see poverty as a revolutionary

virtue, join Robespierre

And you change printers

What can be more destructive,

more anti-Republican...

...than this invisible police,

with its numerous informers...

...that infiltrates everywhere,

spreading lies and threats?

This police which endangers

individual liberty...

...which foments mistrust

between fathers and sons...

...and sees itself as above the law?

This police...

...is headed by an ex-criminal

named Hiron...

...who, under the guise of...

Who, under the guise of public

service, settles private scores...

...and openly favours

the rogues he recruits

He seems in a rush,

where's he going?

The Committee, of course, got up

as soon as Hiron was mentioned

The Convention voted to arrest Hiron

Our best man? Lose him and

we lose control of Paris

So much for your defenceless Danton

l want to see him today

See that traitor?

Set up the meeting

This session is over

You'd lower yourself to ask Danton

to receive you?

When it comes to the good of the

nation, l'd stoop to anything

l've just spoken to the Committee

Secretary

Some members are accusing you

of high treason

- Just me?

- The others too, all of them

Robespierre agrees?

- l don't know yet. l'm going

- Afraid?

l'd rather not be seen with you

No, change all that, please

Only blue flowers, he only likes blue

New style turbot,

formerly ''maitre d'hotel''

We'll start with stuffed cucumber

Then vol-au-vents

Vol-au-vents in ''Convention sauce''

Formerly known as caper sauce

Quails ''emigre'' style with onions

And to finish, fruit in Varennes sauce

- ls it to your satisfaction?

- Perfectly, thank you

l'd have made him wait, dressed

carelessly, anything... but not this

- lt's a gesture, it's now or never

- Just leave me alone! Go home

Let me see him humiliated, please

Go home! You too, Bourdon

No! Certainly not!

- l must know how to vote

- l said go home!

Everybody out

Now that's blue, exactly

Get rid of all these people, quick -

l must be alone

Right away

Clear out, all of you

Sorry, security

Good evening. l kept you waiting,

l'm sorry

No matter, for once we're alone

together

Just you and me

- ls everything all right, citizens?

- Fine, thank you

- Would you like some?

- No, thank you

And this?

- Magnificent, isn't it?

- No, thank you

- A quail, perhaps?

- No, thank you

lt's not poisoned. Look

Delicious! No?

Sit down

- You're really not hungry?

- No, thank you

What do you want?

To talk frankly with you

Haven't you always?

Why did you attack Hiron?

Why did you arrest Dessenne

and ban the paper?

l must protect the government,

but l don't understand you

They say that you are plotting

lt's not true, you know

l'm as pure as snow

Your many enemies want you dead

You too?

Stop attacking me and l give you

my word you'll have nothing to fear

Because l do now?

l thought you didn't drink?

To our understanding

What do you want?

l like your directness

State publicly that you're joining us

- l can't

- Why?

Because l don't approve of the

government, l have that right

But not to proclaim it.

Especially not you

You expect me to bow down to them?

You think you're above

the government?

The individual is above the masses

We both despise the Committees,

but l say so

They mustn't come between us

Not the Committee, not the

government - nobody

Divided, we both fall

lf you continue your reign of terror

l cannot support you, no one will

The people, our strength,

will destroy the Revolution

Who's to blame?

Not l, and certainly not you. So

it must be the nature of things

l've never believed in

the nature of things

Nor l

ln fact, our convictions are the same

Not any more

We fought a revolution in the name

of righteousness and equality

Now you chop off any head that

stands out - was that our goal?

l defend the people where no one did

Against whom?

Men who grow rich from

the Revolution

Yes or no?

You want men to act like

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes