03x02 - Question of Trust

[bunniefuu]

He looks awful.

Nothing to worry about,
Your Highness. I'm sure of it.

Your diagnosis?

Mild concussion.

Caused, no doubt, by the fall.

I didn't fall. I was hit.

Careful.

Your Highness.

Clothes.

Tell the king I want to see him.

You're not going anywhere.

I need to talk to my brother.

What on earth for?

The mask.

What mask? What are you talking about?

His eyes.

One of the prisoners was wearing a mask.

Try to ensure he gets the rest he needs.

He's right. You need to rest.

Not yet.

Not yet.

I'm the king of my own land

Facing tempests of dust

I'll fight until the end

Creatures of my dreams
Raise up and dance with me

Now and forever

I'm your king

it is customary for the king's
adversary to bow after the fight.

In Austria, it is customary
for the loser to bow first.

This is not Austria, Your
Majesty. This is Versailles.

A clever ploy.

A vicious att*ck hidden
behind a show of weakness.

History remembers the winner,

not the manner of his victory.

On the subject of winners,

it is time for us to enter
into negotiations.

Indeed.

I received word from Rome this morning.

They look favorably on your guardianship
of Strasbourg and Luxembourg.

Excellent. Then it only remains
for us to discuss Spain.

Is there so much to discuss?

Our claims are equal. We made a deal.

On King Charles's death, we split
the spoils. Half to you, half to me.

Much has changed since that deal.

Such as?

I won the w*r.

May I ask who won?

His Majesty was kind
enough to allow me victory.

- His Majesty is - It's nothing.

You seem tired.

Nothing that can't be remedied
by a walk in our gardens.

How much of Spain do you want?

All of it.

Brother, you
really should be in bed.

I hear your imagination is
playing games with you.

I was just explaining to His Majesty

that you had an unfortunate accident.

Accident?

I spoke with the governor
and he assures me

His Highness slipped and fell.

Nonsense.

I went to the Bastille
to see the prisoner.

The Duc de Sullun.

Yes.

I went into his cell,

and I was struck and I-I-- I fell.

He wore a mask made of iron.

I am told that the prisoner's
real name is Macquart.

- What? -A petty criminal, deranged.

He believes himself to be a duke.

They gave him the title of Duc
de Sullun to appease him.

Why Sullun?

Have you forgotten your Latin?

Sullun is the inversion of
nullus, meaning "no one."

And the man in the iron mask?

Does not exist.
It's all in your head.

Now, please, Brother, go back to bed.

Hmm?

No. No.

Why not? You'll soon be gone.

So let's enjoy each other's
company while we can.

It will only increase the
pain of your departure.

Can I trust you? Of course. Why?

I need your help. In what way?

Your husband is trying to destroy

the dynasty our ancestors
have spent years creating.

He will claim all of Spain
on your brother's death.

The Habsburgs will soon be extinct.

What do you intend to do about it?

I will stop him.

How?

My niece Eleanor. She will
marry your brother Charles.

And I want you to write a letter to your
brother recommending the union.

Why should I help you?

Because you're a Habsburg.

Just like me.

Because your husband has only
ever seen you as a political tool.

He abandoned you the day he married you.

Since then his only gifts to you

have been solitude and infidelity.

My
dear brother Charles...

I am writing to you concerning marriage.

They say that at Villarceaux

she spent her nights
on her back in bliss

and her days on her knees
in penance.

If you want my opinion,
and I'm sure you do...

Here she is.

The question is, what color
for the forthcoming season?

Blue or green.

Possibly a vex in proposition.

Duchesse.

She likes to parade herself
as purer than the driven snow,

but behind that air of prudishness,

Madame is quite the slut.

And the next time I see the king,

I have a good mind to tell him about it.

Who are they talking about?

Me.

But there's no truth to these rumors?

Of course not.

If you will excuse me.

Her Ladyship seems upset.

Tell me, Bontemps...

do you consider it the mark of nobility

to destroy a lady's reputation
with sordid gossip and lies?

No.

Neither do I.

Madame de Montespan.

Good morning, Françoise. Are you well?

It's you, isn't it?

I beg your pardon? Behind the rumors.

Why would I do such a thing?

Because you're jealous.

of you?

No, I think it is the other way round.

Because I was ready to risk
everything and you are not.

Is it true you put other
women in his bed?

The king has needs
that must be satisfied.

These women mean nothing to him.

You're scared, aren't you? Of what?

Of your own passion.

You're scared that if you give
in to it, you will lose control.

You take refuge in piety and denial.

But behind the mask, you
are just screaming with pain.

Any word from Spain? This morning, sire.

King Charles is expecting
our imminent arrival.

Inform him we should leave as soon
as our negotiations are concluded.

May I ask what approach
His Majesty is considering?

The same as Louis.

Lie, haggle, concede, coerce, protest.

And smile.

The king is dangerous.
I advise His Majesty to--

I don't need your advice.

This is a game of cards. The prize
is Spain, and I have the Tr*mp card.

Thank you.

There is talk in the salon.

I know.

Is there any truth in it?

No, sire.

It is scurrilous gossip designed
to destroy my reputation.

And mine.

The king must know
he has my total trust.

I only pray that I have his.

Come with me.

Uncle, may I go to the salon?

No. You will stay here and
practice your embroidery.

Embroidery is for spinsters.

Which is what you'll be if you don't
show a little more humility and respect.

And I want you to befriend the queen.

Why? She seems terribly dull to me.

She is a Habsburg, as are you.

Though she deserves
that title more than you.

But what shall I talk
to her about? Spain.

Spain?

Its people, its culture, its traditions.

But I don't give a fig for culture
and traditions. I want fun.

You are not here for fun.

You are here because
I have a use for you.

Yes, Uncle.

The king!

To lie is a sin.

To slander is a sin.

To seek to destroy someone
through unfounded gossip

is a sin.

A woman close to me who
does great honor to this court

has seen her reputation stained
by the poison of gossip.

In harming her, you harm your king.

This will stop.

Now.

Mademoiselle de Vasseur, you are
no longer welcome at Versailles.

How embarrassing!

I feel sorry for her.

That girl is innocent.

Nobody here is innocent.

You started those rumors.

They're not rumors. They're true.

And she deserves to be punished
for her past. Just as I was.

I think you'd probably better arrest me.

I never thought I would see you again.

Thought? Or hoped?

Where have you been?

Holland.

I took refuge in the court
of William of Orange.

Hmm? What were you doing there?

That is where Thomas told me to go.

I was arrested, taken before the
stadtholder and questioned.

They asked me all I knew
about Versailles and the king,

and I told them all I knew.

Which is not very much.

And then?

He asked me whether
I'd like to work for him.

As a SPY-

A spy. Here at Versailles.

Yes, sire. I refused.

- Why? -Why would I serve a
man who has already lost?

Is that what you told him? No.

I told him I was
ill-suited for such work.

And he released you?

No, sire. I escaped.

How?

The guard was susceptible to my charms.

I fled south taking refuge in
convents and taverns on the way.

And now you wish to reclaim
your title and fortune?

I place myself at your mercy, sire.

Bravo.

On such a wonderful performance.

- I speak the truth, sire.
- Lock her up.

Then His Majesty would not be interested

to know that William of
Orange's army is on the march.

, men are headed to Austria
to support Emperor Leopold.

- How do you know this?
- General de Salm told me.

Another who was
susceptible to your charms?

Why would I tell His
Majesty such a thing

if I was a spy for William of Orange?

I shall make a few inquiries
to confirm her story.

In the meantime, she will
remain under lock and key.

Very well.

Your Highness. The doctor was most
insistent that you remain in bed.

He is no longer my doctor.

And I know what I saw.

Go to the stables. Tell Monsieur Jadot
to prepare a horse and a messenger,

leaving immediately for Rome.

What does it mean?

You would say, "After rain comes sun."

It's beautiful.

And what do the Spanish eat?

Well, the king's favorite
dish is rabo de toro.

What's that?

It is a stew made from the tails
of bulls k*lled by a matador.

And the king, your brother,

do you miss him?

Yes.

I miss him terribly,

but I have his portrait
here to remind me of him.

It's not his fault. He
was born that way.

As you can imagine, he suffers,
but he has a noble heart.

If you claim all of Spain
and its territories,

you will trigger a w*r with
every country in Europe.

I have just won one w*r and my
army is well-prepared for another.

This would not be a w*r you could win,
Louis. It would be a w*r without end.

Is that what you want?
I want what is mine.

You think everything's yours.

What will you do if the Turks
advance on Vienna? Hope it rains?

Or are you counting on the rabble
that is William of Orange's army?

The only person who
can protect you is me.

You already have Luxembourg and
Strasbourg in return for your protection.

And I want Spain.

The pope would never approve it.

And not even you would
challenge the pope.

- I'll settle on percent.

My dear cousin, you know perfectly
well that it is still too much

and I cannot give in to your demands.

Then you'd better start
taking Turkish lessons.

I trust Your Highness
is fully recovered.

Eh? What's going on?

Nothing, Your Highness.
It is just an accident.

Cut his wrists, poor wretch.

His name?

Macquart. "And his name?"

Why did he take his own life?

Would His Highness wish to
spend the rest of his days in here?

Who struck me?

Your Highness?

Don't play games with me.

- His Highness slipped and hit his
head on the floor. -

I witnessed it myself.

The last time I saw this man,
he wore a mask made of iron.

Your Highness, there is no
prisoner wearing such a thing.

I would know if there was.

Take him away now.

Daddy lain down for a sleep in the hay.

Along come a snake and
he winks at the sow.

She lies on her back and
says, "Give it to me now."

Poor bloody fool.

Do you know who I am?

I know you better than
you know yourself.

Philippe of Gutter,
Asswipe and Goat Dung.

Did you know the man in that cell?

The Duc de Sullun? Macquart?

Everybody knows him. Nobody
knows him. Know what I'm saying?

Who was he?

Don't look him in the
eyes. He'll eat you up.

Is he still alive?

He's undead. You can't k*ll him!

Did he wear a mask?

- Poor bugger.
- Did he wear a mask?

- He'll k*ll you with his eyes.
- Shut up!

Ahh!

Cain, brother of Abel.

Two brothers drenched in
blood and cursed forever!

Cain, brother of Abel.

Good morning.

Good morning, Your Highness.

May I?

He's beautiful.

Thank you.

Your Highness, if I may.

I don't mean to seem impertinent,

but I think you are making a grave
mistake by keeping him here.

Is that so?

Well, it is not the right
environment for a child.

May I ask what gives you the right to
tell me how to look after my child?

I was a governess. Yet never a mother.

Alas, no.

You would think that one of your many
lovers would have solved that problem.

It would seem your reputation for
honesty and integrity is ill-deserved.

Well, that went well.

You're sure there is no
error in the calculations?

I'm certain, sire.

The money required to finance
our expansion into the Americas

and the fortification of our borders

will add another two
million to the deficit.

What of the new taxes?

In place, sire, but the people
are refusing to pay them.

The people of France must learn
to respect and obey the law.

But, sire, how on earth...

Inspire them.

Yes?

Sire, the rumors regarding
Madame de Maintenon.

I've discovered their source.

Who was it?

Bring her to me.

We cannot allow this.
It could damage the business.

It's not their fault if they can't pay.

Of course they can pay.
They just don't want to.

Tell me.

Who here has not paid their taxes?

Raise your hand.

You would disobey your king?

I have always paid my
taxes but not these.

The king's gone too far.

The taxes are for the common good.

I'll tell you what. If you want us to
pay our taxes, give us more money.

If I pay you more money, the business
will fold and you'll be out of work.

Whether we work or not, most of us
are gonna die in rags and poverty.

Yeah? Will Louis the Great shed a tear?

Come.

There is a piece of paper on the table.

You will read it aloud and then sign it.

"I, the Marquise de Montespan,

do hereby renounce and relinquish

my place at the court of Versailles.

I pledge to sever all contact with
anyone I may know at the palace

and will take no further
part in court life.

I shall devote the rest of my days
to prayer and charitable works.

I have sinned, and I accept my penance."

Your affairs
have all been prepared.

A carriage will take you immediately

to the Convent of St. Ursula.

You will never return here.

The condemned normally has a right
to a last word before being led away.

Where I once saw the warm face of a man,

I now see the stone face of a tyrant.

You treat those around you like slaves

and you place yourself
beyond mortal sway.

But remember the story of Icarus.

Fly too close to the sun
and you will fall and drown.

The dance is over.

Go.

In time I will forgive her.

But I will never forget.

Sire.

I apologize. Had I known--

How long have you been there?

Let me get you a...

Thank you.

I wanted to thank you for what
you said in the salon today.

You defended my honor.

I was honored to do so.

Please stop.

I can't.

Why not?

Don't tell me you don't want to.

Enough.

His Majesty takes
advantage of his station.

Sometimes, I don't know
what my station is with you.

I would ask you to leave.

Sire?

The Marquise de Quincy
awaits His Majesty in his room.

I thought you weren't going to come.
I changed my mind ten times.

Did you write the letter?

Yes.

Good morning, sire.

I trust you passed a satisfactory night.

Come join me a moment.

Something amuses His Majesty?

Everyone looks at a king and says, "I
would give anything to be in his place.

All he wants is his."

But they see only the surface.

They see nothing of the shadows below.

No one has all he wants, sire.

Not even a king.

Look.

From the darkest shadow
springs the brightest light.

You've come to t*rture me?

My men have checked every detail
of your journey from Holland.

It seems you were telling the truth.

You sound almost disappointed.

The king has given
permission for your release.

You are once again the
Duchesse de Cassel.

You still don't trust me, do you?

No. You may be free...

but whatever you do,
whoever you talk to,

wherever you go...

I'll be watching you.

Even when I retire to my chambers?

Give me a smile.

Okay. There.

That's it.

Philippe, he smiled.

Come and look. He's simply adorable.

He has blue eyes.
They are wonderful.

What did you say?

I said, "He has blue eyes."

Where are you going now?

Your Highness.

Does the name Macquart
mean anything to you?

No. Should it?

Probably not.

A thief held in the Bastille.

When I saw him for the first time,

his face was hidden behind an iron mask.

When I went again to the prison yesterday,
they were removing a dead body from his cell.

Macquart?

That's what someone wants me to believe.

He wore the same clothes
and was of similar size.

But the man I saw first had blue eyes.

The man yesterday had brown eyes.

And why has His Highness
approached me on this matter?

Because I want you to help
me get to the bottom of this.

I'd like to. However...

You only serve the king.

Precisely.

Then don't see this as work.

See this more as a leisure activity.

I know you're intrigued.
I can see it in your eyes.

Length, nine inches.

Arch, . .

Tell me about the mood
of the people in Paris.

They are happy, sire...

to be ruled by so generous a monarch.

Yet life is hard for them.

I understand they are unhappy
about paying their taxes.

Nothing that is not
cured by hard work, sire.

But I'm sure there must be
some who despise their king.

There will always be those, sire.

They do not see the glory of France.
They think only of themselves.

They are hungry.

Mind your tongue.

It's quite all right.

I'm rather enjoying this discussion.

You must understand that a king is only
there to serve his people and his country.

To defend the land, to develop trade
and commerce, to pay for construction.

All these things require money

and the only way to raise
money is through taxation.

Is that so wrong?

It is.

If it bleeds the people dry.

The people His Majesty
claims to serve...

believe he serves only
personal ambitions.

What my sister meant to say is there
are certain greedy and selfish people.

No. What I meant to say is what I said.

But you are wrong.

I do not seek glory for
myself but for France.

Your people care little for
the glory of France, sire.

They are grateful for
clean water and lighting,

but neither will fill their stomachs.

I thank you for your honesty.

Have you lost your mind?

Have you forgotten your origins?

You used to be a friend of the people.

Now you've turned into exactly the
sort of money-grabbing coward

you used to despise.

The king has bestowed great honor
on our family and our business,

and you just threw it back in his face.

He asked me what I
thought, and I told him.

Would-- Would you have me lie? Yes.

Why? Because he's the king.

And one should always lie to the king?

Your Highness.

You have news?

I've spoken to my agents in Paris.

It appears that Macquart was
well-known to the police.

Ten counts of petty
theft, two of extortion.

But, by and large,

a harmless fellow simply
trying to feed his family.

So if he was just a petty criminal,

what was he doing in the Bastille?

He was not in the Bastille.

He was imprisoned in Clichy.

Someone must have
moved him to the Bastille.

And the pope promises to
look favorably on the match?

Yes, Your Majesty.

His concern is that the balance
of power is maintained.

If Louis acquires Spain, then
all of Europe will follow.

He needn't worry about that.

Louis, I have good news and bad.

The good?

I have examined all the
options and have concluded

that your proposal to take percent
of Spain and its possessions

on Charles's death is the best.

Your generosity surprises me.

There's nothing generous about it.

I've had enough of w*r.

My army is exhausted.
My people are broken.

They want peace and stability.

I believe this to be the
best way to give them that.

And the bad news?

I must leave you. My people need me.

You will be missed.

Come. Let's embrace.
As cousins and as allies.

Tomorrow I will return to Vienna.

Of course.

And tonight we will celebrate
the signing of our agreement.

No.

Please.

Don't take him away.
Let me talk to the king.

It is the law of the palace,
Your Highness. I'm sorry.

Get your hands off him!

- Your Highness!

Take him away and you
take away my heart.

This is no place for
children, Your Highness.

It is for the best.

People of Paris,

I am here to remind you

of the shared vision

that binds us all together.

And of the wonder of our king, Louis.

You have chosen to
question his authority.

Our great king has only one purpose:

to further the glory of France.

But we all must make
sacrifices just as he does.

We must believe as he does.

Dream as he does. Suffer as he does.

We must trust in him as he trusts in us.

Why should we trust him? So he
can steal our money more easily?

The king steals from no one.

He raises taxes which he
then returns to his people.

Look at his gifts.

Education, roads, clean water,
- Liar.

Streetlighting, glory!

And poverty.

Glory, my ass!

No, Listen! We all must do our duty,

just as he does his!

Leopold has offered
percent of Spain and its possessions,

but I need the weight of
the Vatican behind it.

You will go to Rome to
ensure their support.

As you wish, sire. But--

Remind the pope where
his loyalties should lie

and remind him that the bastion of the
Catholic church is France, not Vienna.

Sire, I cannot see what sort of influence I
could expect to have over His Holiness.

If you're convinced the journey
is a waste of your time,

then by all means remain here.

You could make yourself useful by drawing up
a list of suitable candidates to replace you.

The king must be informed.

No. If you discuss the matter with him,

he will order you to
stop this investigation.

Why?

In part because he believes it to
be a figment of my imagination.

And?

Give us a few more days
before informing him.

Your Highness, you compromise me.

Then tell him.

A few days then.

Did you know that the Spanish
word for "cavalier" is caballero,

and the word for "tresses" is cabellera?

And she told me all about the men.

Very passionate, apparently.

Do we have to return to Vienna?
Can't we go to Spain?

We are going to Spain. Splendid.

Just as long as I don't meet the king.

You should see his portrait.

Oh, you will meet him.

But why?

Because you're going to marry him.

Your mother's already
on her way to Madrid.

We'll meet her there in three
weeks' time. We leave tomorrow.

I refuse.

If you think I'm going to
marry that hideous monster--

You will be queen of Spain.

You should be grateful.

Sire! Sire, a small matter
which may be of interest.

We have received a
report from Perpignan.

A cavalcade of Austrian nobles has
been spotted crossing into Spain.

Do we know why? No, sire.

A family gathering perhaps.

And why do families gather?

For funerals.

And weddings.

Your Highness.

What a relief to see the
face of a true friend.

Where have you been? In a convent.

Well, I am pleased to see you returned.

The last time I saw you,
you were expecting a child.

May I ask...

A son. Philippe.

Oh! Where is he now?

Taken from me.

On whose orders?

The king!

Louis...

your hospitality is
the envy of the world.

I thank you.

I think you will find
everything in order.

It is all as we agreed.

Incidentally. A small matter.

Your niece Eleanor. Yes?

I would like her to remain
here with us at Versailles.

I'm sure she'd prefer to
return to her family in Vienna.

And she will do so very soon.

In the meantime, let her stay here.

We shall show her all the
wonders of Versailles.

It's a kind offer, but...

My wife has conceived an
affection for the princess.

She would enjoy her
company for a few months.

Would that please you?

Yes, sire.

Then it's settled.

I give my word that she
will be well looked after.

Who knows? We may
even find her a husband.

As you wish.

Ladies and gentlemen of the court,

tomorrow we say farewell to
someone who, two weeks ago,

was an enemy.

Blood has been replaced by wine.

w*r by peace.

We are now allies.

And friends.

- A volunteer, please!

Somebody willing to
make a fool of himself.

The forthcoming, a favorite
pastime of the Duc d'Orléans,

were he not sadly absent.

Louvois!

Um, on second thought--

perhaps someone a little more sprightly.

I shall take his place.

Ooh!

A brave proposition from the king.

Do I need to remind His
Majesty of the rules?

No.

Olé!

Sire?

You heard what the king said?

What will you do?

Not me. You.

What do you want of me?

Courage.

My God.

Who did this to you?

The people of France, sire.