The Princess of Montpensier

The peace between

Catholics and Huguenots

had lasted nearly a year

when in autumn 1567

the war resumed as suddenly

as an ill smothered brushfire.

In the name of Christ, fire!

Kill, Nicolas!

PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER

We part ways here, Nicolas.

We do?

I'm done fighting.

I'm going home, to Maucombe.

You're deserting?

But you'll be...

No more barbarity for me.

Farewell.

Hear that?

Bells sounding a truce,

perhaps even peace.

The soldiers have been here 2 days.

Peace, perhaps.

But not for you, sir.

You're banished from both sides.

By the King for choosing the Reform.

By the Reform for deserting.

You may go, Nicolas.

I can't pay you.

May God keep you.

Keep your horse. The mule, too.

And you, sir?

You'll be hanged.

We know that.

You first, brother.

He's cursed.

He crossed himself backwards

three times.

So we're hanging him.

Aren't you...

Monsieur de Chabannes?

Quercy!

Philippe...

I feared you dead.

Lucky for you I'm not.

I've missed you so, master.

Meet Count de Chabannes.

For 5 years I was his pupil.

He taught me all I know.

But he seems to have forgotten

his own lessons.

Never let fatigue lower your guard.

Sleep sheltered, off the trail.

What miracle led to this meeting?

No miracle, sheer necessity.

I was headed to my last hope:

Your father, the Duke.

I'm ruined.

I found you, I'll keep you.

Not only ruined, but banished.

I deserted.

You must have had good reason.

You'll explain as we ride.

My father wants to marry me off.

I'll know to whom

when we reach Mzires.

Join my escort.

What about them, my lord?

Don't waste the rope.

Lighter than last year,

but lingering on the tongue.

Taste it.

In fact, I'm not here

for your wine, Marquis.

My son returned from

the last campaign alive and well.

He's revoked his promise

to Mademoiselle de Longuemain,

whose frivolity is plain to all.

Hence he is free.

And?

Your daughter Marie

is a marvel of honesty

and grace.

My daughter?

Long promised to Mayenne, you know.

A spoken promise. That I know, too.

Taking back one's my word

to Guise means disaster.

What disaster?

I bring you blood as good

as the Guises'.

Those foreigners!

of Rome and the Hapsburgs.

- True. But Duke, my word...

- What word? Between us, fine!

Bourbons, Valois, Broglie...

Promises I can respect.

But the Guises

always going for the highest bidder.

So what is their word worth?

Yes, but...

Do you realise at least

that the Cardinal is cheating you?

Think about it.

Mayenne...

Why does he offer you Mayenne?

Why not his brother Henri,

who enjoys your daughter's favour?

To fix him up, my dear man.

He's fobbing him off on you.

You leave them together too much.

Henri asked me to.

And you obey?

He's our elder. You obey him, too.

I'm a girl.

Be a man!

Resist him, or he'll marry Marie.

Then everyone would be happy.

Look. It's my brother she loves.

It's madness.

Not madness.

We gave ourselves to one another.

Not gave, promised.

- You promised my brother nothing?

- Him? No.

I promised nothing.

I gave him something.

A slap.

You care nothing for him?

Only because he cares for you,

Henri.

You two will never be far apart.

Nor you from me.

Careful!

The old women are watching.

Mayenne,

you must meet

your brother's challenge.

It's already lost.

I'm beaten beforehand.

You know Henri's strength.

I only stand a chance at dice.

Come along, coward.

Time for your lesson.

And you know the Guises

have lost influence,

but they're still ogres, gluttons,

greedy for money, power and honours.

Were Marie not the realm's

richest heiress,

they'd hunt elsewhere.

You're mistaken, I believe.

My daughter seems inclined toward...

Nothing a few stern words won't fix!

If we agree, I'll surrender the land

we've quarelled over for 10 years.

A full 20-league parcel

for the hunt!

And I'll speak to the Queen Mother,

whose ear I've had since

she's cooled to the Guises.

I'll speak to my wife and daughter.

No, to me.

You'll speak with me!

Now! Say yes.

And we summon the notaries.

They won't only be here

for the wine.

My son.

I took the liberty

of asking him to join us.

- Here?

- Here.

His future's at stake.

I show what I sell.

- I've known Philippe...

- War changed him.

Cardinal!

I can read the news on your faces.

And it is not good.

I came for my annual wine order...

And the talk turned from the wine

to the heiress. Not unusual.

Cardinal...

So you take back your word?

In my daughter's interest...

So I was right!

You humiliate not only me

but the entire Guise family.

Expect no favours from them.

Allow me to speak

to my nephews first.

I shall try to control Henri.

Your annual order...

This discovery

of your daughter's interest...

What a coincidence!

And your son's sudden appearance...

Philippe knows nothing.

You have our word.

Oh, gentlemen!

Your word!

- Philippe!

- Cousin!

What a pleasant surprise!

Not since the fray at Saint-Denis.

You charged with Montmorency...

And you with the Yellow Crosses.

Catherine.

Marie.

How you've changed in 2 years!

The Court will envy you, Mayenne.

Come, relieve me of the boredom

of this oaf.

My brother daydreams

while I rust from disuse.

Out of the blue?

Indeed.

- What's the score?

- You know very well.

You lead by three hits

since Longjumeau.

- Only three?

- Yes, only three.

I won back two at the Louvre.

Such impatience, young men.

Greet us first, scrape later.

Your father would speak to you

privately.

And your uncle awaits you

in the gallery.

Very well.

We shall resume later.

You've lost weight, Chabannes.

I'll shortly give you details

of a decision.

The Guise honour

won't be tarnished!

Take Chabannes under your protection

until the King's ire passes.

And fear that of the Guises.

You have offended me, cousin.

I never forget an offense.

Henri!

I don't understand. Why him?

And his fury?

There's no offense to him.

If anyone, Mayenne...

Precisely.

It's all settled, I told you.

I made an agreement with his father.

You'll marry Montpensier!

No, Father!

You will yield! You must!

I order you!

I will host the Guises tonight.

You will consent before they go,

or everything will wobble.

This marriage suits me.

You will yield, or enter a convent.

I'm prepared to.

I've tamed worse than you!

The Guises leave tomorrow

and you'll forget all this. Yield!

You must! I'm your father!

It's your duty to obey!

My friend.

Leave us, Jeanne.

Control yourself, proud child.

And submit.

I know you are intelligent.

Youth makes you defiant.

Your feelings for Guise

are too conspicuous. Control them.

And let reason guide your future.

Think what marriage to that

dreamer Mayenne would lead to,

bringing you

near the one who desires you.

And to whom you're drawn.

Sooner or later,

you would both yield to temptation

and no good would ensue.

Marry Montpensier.

He's an ordinary brute

with no reputation yet,

either good or bad.

Daughter,

love is the most awkward of things.

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