Vatel Page #5

And one hundred in silver tubs.

Versailles is my favorite mistress.

That's why she costs you so much.

What are you staking, Prince?

Ten Louis.

Ten Louis!

How many fountains do we have, Colbert?

One and a half thousand, your Majesty.

Forfait.

For Versailles if I lose.

For something of yours if I win...

A glove, perhaps, mon frre.

But one glove is no good to anybody.

Well, Prince.

I have nothing to add to the glory of Versailles, your Majesty.

But that's not true.

You have something rarer than diamonds.

You have your Master of Pleasures.

Your Majesty.

Vatel is worthy of a larger stage,

and Versailles could use a man of his gifts.

You're asking me to stake my Master Steward on a card game?

Do you have any objections? Look what you might win.

We'll take the bet!

Are we playing or not?

Very well.

LOUIS:
Then we'll play.

Your Majesty, the envoys from Holland have arrived.

Then they come at an interesting moment.

This is true.

MONSIEUR:
Well.

It's between you two.

Prince?

Black queen.

Bad luck.

The envoys...

Monsieur,

the Queen wants garlic.

- Garlic?

- She said she likes it.

Well, run to the kitchen...

Garlic!

If his Majesty comes out smiling,

it will be peace with Holland.

No, if he returns smiling, it will be war.

War!

What do you think, Monsieur?

Oh, Certainly one or the other.

Also if he returns frowning.

Your wife is looking so beautiful tonight, Longueville...

But where is she?

Your majesty?

Cond.

What's your opinion of war?

I have seen too much destruction, Majesty.

COLBERT:
William of Orange has declined the offer...

of the daughter of the Duchesse de La Valliere.

Gallantly telling us that his family only marry...

the legitimate daughters of Kings,

not their bastards.

I see.

COLBERT:
Furthermore, the ruler of the flat earth...

has minted coins with the image of the Sun.

That is impertinent.

LOUIS:
He has commissioned...

an oil painting of one of my flagships sinking.

With your permission,

I will drown him in one of his dykes, Majesty.

COLBERT:
You do not have the command yet, Prince.

- It is between you and Turenne.

- Turenne?

I'm sure all will be alright.

After all, you have the King under your roof.

Tomorrow will be decisive.

No, no, just leave me this one.

The Prince is grateful. He would like to see you.

Her Majesty?

Asleep, Madame.

They were brought back, orders of Monsieur Vatel.

Would you like me to undress you, Madame?

No.

Fortune seems to be with us. War with Holland.

Turenne is scheming to get Colbert's backing.

The King favors me, I think.

He will make an announcement at the banquet tomorrow.

Everything must be perfect.

Everything will be perfect, my Prince.

We've always understood each other.

You're a great man, Vatel.

You will end up as a Vicomte.

You have heard?

Heard?

The King wants you at Versailles.

Versailles?

- Gently, gently, gently, gently...

- COND:
The King...

COND:
The King wishes to honor you.

COND:
Go. I'm sorry.

Gently now... Breathe in.

We have a present for you. From the Marquis de Lauzun.

This will teach you to step above your station.

EFFIAT:
In the name of the King, let him go.

What do you want, Monsieur?

Surprise!

Preparation!

Cut...

and lunge!

Excellent. Lesson continues. Ready?

Edouard, calf!

Louis, back!

Charles, wrist!

Bravo!

And now... open...

Th rust!

Thigh!

Tell Lauzun, enough.

His Highness the King's brother presents his compliments, Monsieur Vatel.

He requests us to escort you to your apartments.

It won't be necessary.

VATEL:
Madame?

I wanted to thank you.

If the King knew you were here.

The King is busy with Madame de Montespan.

No one has seen me.

So you are coming to Versailles, Monsieur.

Or haven't you heard?

One of my people was killed today.

Who was it?

VATEL:
His name was...

Jean-Marie Benoud.

28 years old, from the village of St. Crose.

His father is the miller there.

His mother died of the sweating sickness two years ago.

He had two brothers, one a priest.

He came here as a stable boy...

and was senior groom for three years.

Three years...

ANNE:
You knew him well.

No. Not particularly.

He was one of my people.

He was fortunate in that.

Why did you save my birds, Monsieur?

Because they were too small to do any good, Madame.

And because...

And because...

Because they were yours.

Madame!

Madame!

LOUISE:
Madame!

Anne!

- LOUISE:
Madame, his Majesty...

- Go!

I'm ruined.

It's the King.

I'm a fool.

Yesterday you were a fool.

VATEL:
Stay here.

If you think I can do that,

you have lived among farmers too long.

Cond gave you away at the card table.

To please the King, he gave you away like a hound from his kennels.

LAUZUN:
Madame.

LAUZUN:
The King has retired.

Alone.

- We searched high and low.

- I... I was...

I know where you were.

But I would never betray you.

LAUZUN:
No. I told the King you were probably consoling a dear friend,

the Duc de Longueville.

I mean, the way his wife puts herself about is disgraceful,

don't you think?

You are a true friend.

Excuse me!

LAUZUN:
Well, you will need a friend now, won't you?

LAUZUN:
Hmm?

Would you do me the honor of sharing a cup of chocolate...

with me...

even at this late hour?

LAUZUN:
I think you'll find the King a less democratic man than myself.

And it would be tragic, would it not,

if Vatel were to be sent back to his former master...

in the prison of Pignerol?

The last day, dawn.

My lord! Is there any news?

News?

Of the money. The money from the King!

Money?

Oh, yes, monsieur. The news is very good.

The King is well pleased with us.

Now, please! Where is Vatel?

I'm looking for him myself.

- Is everything alright?

- Oh, yes, indeed.

There will be turbot, sole, pike, halibut, mullet.

Presented in heaps, as beautiful as an engraving.

Trout and salmon will seem to be swimming in broth.

On his Majesty's table will be a sea monster,

a great cod, baked whole, glazed, decorated,

holding a mackerel in its mouth.

The ice feast will be like nothing seen before.

Monsieur.

Is that all?

Yes, sir.

Have you seen other fish carts on the road?

No, sir. There were storms all along the coast.

Few boats put to sea at all, and they came back empty.

[WHISPER] Empty!

- Come back tomorrow to be paid.

- FISHMONGER:
Thank you, Monsieur Vatel.

Monsieur. Monsieur Vatel! May I have a word?

Not now, Thibault, not now.

MAN:
Monsieur.

Monsieur Vatel.

From his Majesty.

It's your commission for Versailles.

The King commands that you leave with the Court tomorrow.

There will be a wagon for your personal baggage.

You'll have a horse.

We await your answer.

Monsieur!

Are you there?

It's your turn.

Poor little things.

My prisoners.

Madame.

What is it?

Vatel...

This is for you.

VATEL:
Madame,

when you read this,

I shall have left this world with only one regret,

that I cannot be with you.

Madame, they will tell you...

it was the failure of the feast...

But between the opening...

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