Marie Antoinette Page #9

Yes. You said that.

And I said I would ask you:

"Was it well done?"

It was well done.

My husband has needed me.

I am thankful not to have failed him.

I understand.

I even love him.

But the love I have for him

takes nothing from my friend.

Of all there was between us

the night you went away...

...nothing has changed.

For me nothing has changed,

or ever will.

Forgive me for telling you this

without asking you...

...if you have the right to hear it.

I have the right.

We knew each other

only for a few hours...

...and have been parted

for long years.

But the memory of you has always...

...will always, stand in the path

of any living woman.

Good night, madame.

- I want my sword.

- Hush, darling. Later.

But Mama said I could have my sword.

Hurry, sire, hurry. The gate to the alley.

- That is all, Louise.

- Good night, madame.

The drums again.

Something must have happened.

Will you go, please.

I'm so sorry, madame.

Madame seems nervous tonight.

Madame, hurry, something has happened.

- In a moment it may be too late.

- Have my children gone?

Yes, and the king.

Please, hurry, madame.

I won't be a moment.

What is it? What has happened?

I don't know,

but there may be rumors.

The guard is doubled,

we can't take chances.

Help me, please. My clothes,

in that wardrobe.

- Which wardrobe?

- Over in the corner of the room.

A grey wool dress and cloak,

and a small hat.

- I don't see them.

- Oh, but do look. Hurry.

A plain gray dress and a cloak

and hat to match.

- It must be there.

- There's nothing like it.

- A wrap with fur.

- I must look myself.

I'm sure I put them there.

Oh, where's my head?

I changed the place.

That woman, she was suspicious.

She's been watching me all day.

There they are.

Hat, there's the cloak.

Toulan, help me please.

I shall never be able

to get into this by myself.

I'm afraid it does up at the back.

Do you think

you could fasten it for me?

Oh, dear, oh, dear.

- I shall never be ready.

- With your permission, madame.

Just a hook here and there will do.

- Just stand still, madame.

- I'm sorry, Toulan.

I shall never forget your loyalty

and your kindness.

- Someday perhaps I shall be able...

- Your cloak, madame.

They're doubling the guard, madame.

In a moment

I shall have a companion.

- Do hurry, madame.

- I'm coming, Toulan.

Wait, madame.

Guard halt.

Private Dupres.

Forward march.

- Evening, comrade.

- Evening.

What's in the air, doubling the guard?

I don't know, unless...

Don't move. Don't speak.

Madame.

All right, madame.

Thank you, Toulan.

The Austrian.

You know that I shall have to talk.

You will have no chance to talk

till the guard is changed.

- And that'll give them six hours' start.

- You know what this will mean for you?

I know, I know.

But it was worth it.

Your passports.

Party of five, bound for Montmedy.

Madame, her two children

and servants.

Passports.

"Madame de Korff,

a Russian subject of...

For the border."

- Madame de Korff?

- I am Madame de Korff.

And these are your children?

Yes, monsieur.

Sophie Rochet?

Governess to my children.

Dupont.

Pass on.

I rely on you.

Yes, monsieur.

- We're at the crossroads, sire.

- Already?

I was to leave you here.

But I beg you

to exercise the greatest caution.

We shall drive with all speed.

Thank you, Count Fersen.

We shall not forget.

Sire.

Goodbye, my friend.

We shall meet again.

God be with Your Majesties.

Louis, be careful,

don't show yourself.

- Oh, look, a smithy.

- Hush, dear.

Madame may like to have

some refreshment?

- I have a roast on the spit.

- Thank you, no.

- We should be on our way.

- Your horses are ready.

It will be 20 francs.

Twenty francs for the horses.

Oh, yes, I have to pay, don't I?

I'd like to be a smith.

Would you, young gentleman?

My father's a locksmith.

Hush, dear, hush.

Will you have them hurry, please?

Look alive there.

What's that? What does it mean?

It means,

"To live in freedom or to die."

You're on your way, citizens.

That man.

There was something sinister

about him.

Tell them to make speed.

I shan't rest until we reach the escort.

Ten o'clock and no sign of them.

A louis d'or.

One doesn't come by

a gold piece every day.

From the folks in the big carriage?

The boy said

his father was a locksmith.

A locksmith, that's a good one.

That little aristocrat.

A locksmith...

Guillaume, may I be hanged for a fool.

I let him get away.

The king, it was the king.

- I knew his face.

- King?

He was here, in the big carriage.

By heaven, the queen too,

and the children.

Are you mad?

Those hussars

who rode through here at dusk.

- I said they meant no good.

- An escort.

He is flying to the border

to come back with foreign troops.

And I let him go.

- We must follow him.

- But he has an hour's start.

- And which road has he taken?

- To Varennes.

The escort took the road to Varennes.

A postillion told me.

What could have delayed them?

Look. No, right over here

to the right.

Through the woods there.

A message, perhaps.

- We must be ready.

- Right.

- To horse.

- To horse!

Look, the escort.

Now I know it was the tyrant.

- What shall we do?

- Follow me, I'll show you.

- Colonel, the king.

- Your message, quick.

He is detained at Sainte-Menehould.

Three leagues back.

- Who are you?

- Drouet, postmaster.

Late of the king's dragoons.

Guillaume, my friend, I vouch for him.

The great coach stopped

to change horses.

- The king was seen.

- Go on, man.

Someone started to cry,

"It's the king!"

- The coach was surrounded...

- Attention! Force, right!

Go through the woods,

you cut three miles.

- Guillaume will lead you. Guillaume.

- Forward!

Forward!

We're nearly there.

Are you sure? Let me see.

Here are the hills we've just left

and there are the woods...

...where they wait

to take us through Varennes.

Once we reach them, we're free.

Free.

How about a little kiss, young man.

Steady, I said a little one.

Darling.

We must be there.

It's very still.

I see no escort.

What could have happened?

They have gone back

through the woods.

Their tracks are plain.

We can't go through the town

without them.

At this hour of the night,

it will be safe enough.

Drive on.

Please clear the way, we're in a hurry.

Yes, we know you are.

I'm Sauce, mayor of the town.

Let me see their passports.

Your passports?

Passports, Dupont.

I hope we shall not

be delayed, monsieur.

If the passports are in order,

you can proceed immediately.

- They say it's the king.

- It is the king.

- There's someone who'd know.

- Here?

Our priest was in the Versailles chapel.

Fetch him, bring him here.

Hurry, my friend, you can save France.

Your name, monsieur?

His name is Dupont, my steward.

He's got a tongue of his own,

hasn't he?

Dupont.

And you, madame?

Sophie Rochet,

governess to madame's children.

I see no reason

to detain these people.

Their papers are in order.

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