Marie Antoinette Page #4

an honor. It is a command.

You wish to carry me back in triumph,

a tribute to your caprice?

Will you come?

I doubt your motives, madame.

I have my vanity too.

I won't urge you.

But if we must part,

at least let us part as friends.

For a moment you had me fooled.

What?

The words were the words

of Madame la Dauphine...

...but the lips were the lips

of Mademoiselle Ducros.

Many thanks, little soubrette,

and good evening.

You've been scorned.

Oh, most definitely.

- The necklace.

- Silence!

My cloak. We are leaving.

- What a night.

- Don't remind me of it.

You'll feel better

when you get your beauty rest.

Good night. Good night.

- Good morning.

- Count Mercey, you're back from Vienna.

As you see, madame.

May I ask for a private audience?

- Must it be now?

- With your permission.

Make it a brief one.

I'm tired.

Was it madame's intention that

I should follow her into her bedchamber?

Since you insist.

You are excused, mesdames.

- How did you find my mother?

- As well as I expected.

Her Majesty has many cares.

Including, I suppose, her daughter.

Well, let me hear it.

But briefly, please.

My mother's admonitions

have lost their novelty.

I've been told of a necklace

costing 200,000 livres.

Which I lost tonight on a wager.

You must be out

of your senses, madame.

What on earth is driving you

to this extravagance?

This mad pursuit of pleasure

which can end only in...

But not in boredom.

At least, not yet.

In these times, madame, your excuses

will not fail to impress the people.

Why, they adore me.

I've conquered Paris.

No, madame. Paris has conquered you.

Do you realize that you're the first

dauphine of France...

...ever to be spoken of openly

as a wanton?

Oh, I know it's a lie, madame,

but such lies are dangerous.

You have enemies,

not only among the people...

...but here, in your own court.

I would have them in any case,

no matter what I did.

You don't really believe that, madame.

But let me come to the point.

There is a point.

You're giving a ball on the 15th.

Another lecture on my expenditures.

I have heard enough.

His Majesty will attend,

accompanied by Madame du Barry.

Do you think His Majesty would like me

with my hair dressed low?

Did you say accompanied

by Madame du Barry?

His Majesty insists that you recognize

Madame du Barry in public.

Do I understand you correctly,

Count Mercey?

Meet that... That...

I, whom you reproach for mere trifles.

I would rather die

than be so humiliated.

Then, I have failed

in the most important mission of my life.

I must place my resignation

in Her Majesty's hands.

With Your Royal Highness' permission.

Count Mercey...

Madame?

You make it very difficult for me.

My friends will despise me.

I shall despise myself.

- But I'll speak to her.

- Thank you, madame.

I can just see her smirking there...

...and I shall try not

to box her ears, but...

But I'll speak to her.

If I dared say how much

I'd like to see you box her ears.

His Majesty, the king.

- Please don't humiliate yourself.

- But I must, I must. I promised.

- Don't...

- Please don't make it harder for me.

Egad, what a triumph for the milliner.

I'm so nervous I could faint.

My dear, you look charming.

Your Majesty is too kind.

Your ambassador assures me that

we may rely upon your good intentions.

I shall not disappoint an old friend.

You'll not find me ungrateful.

Whereas...

Your Majesty

is too gracious to threaten.

Madame la Comtesse du Barry.

I'm late, madame.

But with His Majesty's permission,

a slight headache.

I'm so sorry, madame.

It was a pleasure delayed.

For me too, madame.

I might say a triumph.

You're very kind.

I presume I shall not have the honor

of meeting His Royal Highness?

My husband doesn't care

for dancing, madame.

Quite the family man, isn't he?

The fireside, the nursery, and all that.

Well, here is my old friend.

And how well

he takes a husband's place.

I'm sorry you feel your triumph

incomplete, madame.

My husband has better sense than I.

He knows where to draw the line.

Will you dance, madame?

So that's it? I'm dirt, eh?

Not good enough

for your high and mightiness.

But no, madame.

Royalty loves an occasional roll

in the gutter.

- Don't they, Grandpapa?

- Madame.

I enjoy nothing more than meeting

people of broad experience.

Recollect yourself.

You see, I've never walked

the streets of Paris.

But I'm sure you could tell me

something about that.

You will prefer to leave, madame.

As I do.

Continue the dance.

Shall we dance?

I'm afraid not.

With madame's permission...

...His Majesty requests that madame

attend him in his apartments...

...at her pleasure.

- Will you wait?

- Naturally.

- It may be an eternity.

- Then I shall wait an eternity.

- Your Royal Highness.

- Order my carriage.

I'd given you up.

What's happened?

Antoinette, what's happened?

Do forgive me.

I just thought of something funny.

Something I'd quite forgotten.

Antoinette, stop.

Stop it. What is it?

It's my wedding anniversary, Philippe.

My fourth wedding anniversary.

And my marriage is to be annulled.

I'm to be sent back to Austria...

...and it's my fourth

wedding anniversary.

It's funny, isn't it?

Your marriage is to be annulled?

Oh, in the nicest way, of course.

In the interest of the dynasty.

That's funny too.

Well, what about

the Austrian alliance?

The Austrian alliance will be preserved,

providing I go quietly.

- It's amazing.

- Isn't it?

I'm dumbfounded.

I never dreamed that he should dare.

Philippe...

I must find Mercey.

I must tell him what has happened.

- The Austrian ambassador?

- Yes. Will you take me to him?

- Take me to him. A moment, do you mind?

- Wait.

I think not.

Oh, you're not...

Philippe, you don't mean that you...

I would be ruined

if I were to accompany you tonight.

That's right.

You would, wouldn't you?

Forgive me for staring.

I seem to be seeing you

for the first time.

I've never known you.

That's why I've always hesitated.

I'm glad now...

...because you've never

really loved me, have you?

Oh, do be frank. It's sometimes

so amusing to be quite frank.

You were only interested

in the future queen, weren't you?

The future queen of France.

Yes.

Thank you, Philippe.

And now go, will you.

Do go or I shall laugh again.

I shall laugh.

To the Austrian embassy.

What's the meaning of this?

Why are you here?

I don't want her to be sent back.

Indeed?

His Majesty is not well.

But it isn't her fault.

Don't you understand?

- What's he talking about?

- Will you go, please?

No. You get out.

Listen, Grandfather.

It's going to be different now.

Get up, you fool.

Your argument is as unimpressive

as your appearance.

Your wife goes back to Austria.

Your marriage will be annulled.

I'll hear no more of it.

Get out.

Get out. Get out.

I'll get out.

But I'll come back.

I'll come back when you're dead.

- I'll be king then.

- Silence.

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