Marie Antoinette Page #8

Foreign soldiers are at Versailles.

Austrian soldiers to shoot us down.

Before that happens

we'll tear the Bastille down.

Have you proof?

If not, keep silent.

Hear the spy. "Proof."

He who asks for proof is a spy.

Friends, keep cool.

The law has prevailed today.

But this is only the beginning.

I am pleading your cause

in the assembly.

France will be freed.

"By order of the king.

We, Louis, by the grace of God,

King of France...

...hereby decree as follows:

The assembly is to close

its session at once...

...and is adjourned indefinitely."

- No.

- No!

Monsieur President!

Monsieur President!

Monsieur Mirabeau.

We are here

by the will of the people...

...and we shall stay here

until bayonets will drive us away!

- No, I tell you, no.

- But these are the dregs of Paris, sire.

The scum of the gutters,

10,000 strong.

Beasts that have tasted blood, sire.

I am not going to run.

What do you say, brother?

- Run and you'll lose your crown.

- Stay and you'll lose your head.

- You're on the wing.

- Your trunks are packed.

Liar. I don't turn tail before swine.

Be quiet. Be quiet, both of you.

It was a grave mistake

to dissolve the assembly.

It was not your wish, Louis.

Your ministers advised you to do so.

They thought it was for the best.

My dear, what should we do?

Haven't we troops to protect us?

No, no.

No bloodshed.

I won't have any bloodshed.

I can't answer for my men.

Their sympathies are with the mob.

If the king would review the troops, say

a few words. They're children, easily swayed.

- It's worth trying.

- You want me to talk?

Just a few simple words.

Say that you trust your children

to them.

That if there must be fighting

you'll be amongst them.

Won't you try? It's so important.

If we save today,

we may save everything.

- Will they listen?

- To you, yes.

You're their king.

The love and loyalty of centuries

can't be dead in them.

Try for our son's sake.

I'll try.

Present arms!

Men of the French army...

...we are told that...

We are told that they are coming.

I mean, naturally, the people.

My cause is that of us all...

...that of all good citizens.

We should make a good fight.

Don't you think?

Well, I thought...

That is, the queen thought...

...that I should speak a few words.

So I've spoken few words.

Back to your sty, pig!

Fight your own battles, fatty!

- Men...

- Your Majesty, I beg of you.

Sire.

Go on back to the queen

where you belong!

They're fleeing! They're fleeing!

Here we are!

Ah, brother, traveling?

If they should be killed,

I should be king.

If you should be killed,

I should be king.

In these days, who knows?

Adieu, brother.

What, not gone yet?

Gone?

I shan't be much help to you,

I know, but...

You have my permission to leave.

Your Majesty was good enough

to trust me...

...with the care of these children.

My place is here.

Threse, I want you to go.

I command you.

Please don't ask me to go.

I can't.

Oh, I know I'm helpless and stupid...

...but I can't go.

I'm sorry I'm such a coward.

Yes.

It's a pity you're such a coward.

Antoinette...

Attention!

Affix bayonets!

Sire.

Save yourself, sire.

The children.

Well, what's the matter with you?

There they are.

The fat pig himself.

And the foreigner.

Are you afraid of them?

- No!

- Well then, come on.

What are we waiting for?

Remember what Marat said.

They're starving us.

And hiring foreign troops

to shoot us down.

Come on!

Quiet, please, I'm going to talk!

I'm going to talk!

Is it sane for us to sit here...

...while the king and his family are torn

to pieces by maniacs?

Now.

Traitor!

What are they paying you?

Sit down!

Sit down!

We don't want to hear you!

Well, you shall hear me!

Do you think that I, Danton,

am pleading for the life of this clod...

...who has sat blind and deaf

to the agony of his people?

- Let him die!

- For shame!

When the time comes...

...l'll fling his head to you

with these hands.

Austria is arming,

and France is not ready.

The king and queen

are invaluable hostages.

And I say...

...we should send the National Guard

to protect them until such time.

The cap of liberty, Louis.

Put it on!

- Put it on!

- Louis.

Or I'll stick you

like I would any other pig.

You brutes.

You cowards!

Is this your liberty?

You'll be punished for this,

I promise you.

You'll be whipped

like the beasts that you are!

- Shut up!

- You mustn't do that.

It's not right.

You mustn't strike a woman.

It's cowardly.

Oh, you mustn't do that.

It isn't right.

People declare

the Tuileries Palace a prison.

The king and queen are held here.

Nobody gets out, nobody gets in.

No questions asked. Shoot to kill.

Yes?

Would you follow me, madame?

A few steps only.

Someone is waiting.

Someone is waiting?

I was to give you this.

Is it...?

Is it he?

I'll come.

Down there, madame.

I must get back to my post.

Thank you.

I can...

I can hardly believe it.

It's been such a long time.

Such a long time.

But you haven't forgotten us?

No, madame.

But you're risking your life.

We're prisoners here.

We're not permitted friends.

You have friends who would be glad

to risk their lives, madame.

Why did you come?

To beg you to lay a plan of escape

before the king.

Escape? Is that possible?

There are risks, of course.

But you're in certain danger

if you remain.

The king must leave Paris.

He must escape to the border.

He'll be met

with the support of loyal troops.

- But how can this be done?

- I haven't time to explain now.

I've written complete details

of all the plans.

When you've mastered them,

burn the paper.

Here are passports made

for Madame de Korff...

A Russian... . her children, and servants.

But every exit of the palace is guarded.

How are we to leave?

For that we must depend

upon a friend outside.

He's stationed at one of the few exits

that has only a single guard.

That leads to the square,

where I shall be waiting with a coach.

And all this is planned for when?

For the night of June 20th.

- June the 20th.

- Time is vital, though.

A troop of hussars will wait

outside Varennes...

...to escort you safely to the border.

But the delay, even of an hour,

might dislocate the entire plan.

If we failed, if we were taken...

We must not fail.

Must you go?

I must leave before the guard is changed

at midnight or I'll endanger our friend.

- You can trust this man?

- Yes, madame.

He is loyal?

Loyal and brave.

Loyal and brave.

A man of the people.

But one who would be proud...

...to carry out a boast that many make

but few have the chance to fulfill.

- And that?

- To die gladly for the woman...

For the queen he worships.

Thank you.

I've changed, haven't I?

One must suffer to be so beautiful.

You're very kind.

May I have the ring?

You gave it to me, you know.

You've been so much in my thoughts

these last weeks.

I think I've known you would come.

- You promised to, you know.

- lf you needed me, I said.

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