The Rose of Versailles

Episode 1

"Oscar, the Destiny of the Rose"

translated by GinRei
edited by Tonghyun "Vajra" Kim
proofread by Enrique Conty

[] = description of the scenes 
() = alternative translations (feel free to put them or drop them), and
sometimes my comments or explanations
{} = translation of what it says on the screen

**********************************************************************
notes on names:
Andre should be spelled with "/" sign over the "e"
Francois should be spelled with a hook sign like "5" under the "c".
Gerodere should be spelled with "\" sign over the second "e".
**********************************************************************

[baby's cry]

JARJEYES
A boy! It's got to be a boy this time!

[NANNY shakes her head]

JARJEYES
It... it can't be!!!

NANNY
No, Sir, it's a beautiful princess, as you see.

JARJEYES
There is no need for a girl in a family of generals, who command the military
and guard the royal family! 

[takes off the baby from NANNY]

NANNY
W-wh-what are you doing?!

JARJEYES
I've decided. You're a boy!

NANNY
EH?!

JARJEYES
Your name is OSCAR, my son!!

[opening title (please look at the song translation)]

{Episode 1: Oscar, the Destiny of the Rose}

NARRATION
The year is 1769, and 14 years have passed since Oscar was born. Here at
Versailles Palace, gorgeous dance parties were thrown out every night,
despite the poverty of the people. Without even knowing that the French
Revolution was going to occur in 20 years...

NOBLE WOMAN
How surprising, it's General Jarjeyes.

NOBLE WOMAN
Eh? Ah, it is!

NOBLE WOMAN
General Jarjeyes, did you bring Lady Oscar with you tonight?

NOBLE WOMAN
It's rumored that Lady Oscar is really beautiful. I was looking forward to
finally being able to see her tonight.

JARJEYES
Uh, well...

[Oscar fencing with Andre]

OSCAR
Hey, hey, come on!

ANDRE
Damn!
Oscar! Don't you have to go to Versailles?!

OSCAR
Damn!
Who would ever go to such a place!

OSCAR
Andre, you've (your skill has) become worse!

NANNY
Mademoiselle Oscar and Andre!
Stop playing with such dangerous things!

ANDRE
Oh, no! It's my grandma, Oscar.

NANNY
Hey! Say 'Mademoiselle Oscar'!  Use 'Mademoiselle'!

OSCAR
It's alright, Nanny.

NANNY
No, you've got to draw a clear line!
Andre!  You're only a servant...
Ah! Look out!

[Both still continue to fence]

NANNY
Properly speaking, she should be wearing this and making a debut in society
at her age... No, I won't give up! Someday I'll make Mademoiselle Oscar wear
this dress.

[Versailles]

SERVANT
Your Majesty, Sir Jarjeyes is here.

LOUIS XV
Oh, it's been a while, Jarjeyes. Come here.

JARJEYES
Yes sir.

LOUIS XV
Concerning your long-standing request about the Commander of the Royal 
Guards... I believe you know that the son of Count Gerodere is also nominated 
as a candidate. I heard he's a magnificent swordsman.

JARJEYES
Yes, but when it comes to fencing, my son Oscar is second to none.

LOUIS XV
You said "My son"?

JARJEYES
P, pardon me! Actually...

LOUIS XV
That's alright. I've heard about the rumor that you were not blessed with
a boy, and you've put so much effort in raising her. How about a match
with Gerodere and whoever wins gets the post? 

JARJEYES
Yes!

LOUIS XV
I also have high expectations for having Oscar as the Commander. I want to
guard Marie Antoinette as fancy and elegantly as possible.

JARJEYES
Oh...

NARRATION
In the 18th century, Europe was engaged in endless warfare. 

Especially France and Austria, with enormous military strength, fought over
each and every matter. 

But realizing that such conflicts only benefit other countries, Maria Theresa, 
the Empress of Austria, proposed a peace treaty for both countries. As 
consequence, an historic alliance came into being. 

As the token of their alliance, the engagement of Theresa's youngest daughter, 
Marie Antoinette, and the Crown Prince of France was arranged.

[Jareyes household]

JARJEYES
What do you think, Oscar? There is no duty that's more important for the
renowned French Royal Guard than this one. You will guard Her Highness
Marie. Well, you have (to win) a match with Gerodere, but I have no worries
about that. For this (such case), I've taught you fencing (sword fighting)
for 14 years. Now, why don't you put this on? Hm? What's wrong? 

OSCAR
I don't want to babysit a girl!

[tons of flowers on the table]

NANNY
Everybody, help me with these!

MAIDS
Wow, beautiful!
So many of them!

NANNY
We're going to decorate Mademoiselle Oscar's room beautifully!

ANDRE
Grandma! Do you know where Oscar is?

NANNY
Say 'Mademoiselle Oscar', Andre!
You're nothing but the son of a servant!

JARJEYES
Idiot!
Chill your head!

[Oscar falls down the stairs]

OSCAR
Excuse me!

JARJEYES
Oscar! The match is at noon tomorrow!
Keep in mind that His Majesty is coming!

NANNY
Mademoiselle Oscar...!

[parade ground]

NOBLES
Well, today's event is quite a spectacle. All the noble women in the
Palace have come out. Biggest in the history of the parade ground ever.

NOBLEWOMAN
I'll finally be able to see Oscar today.

NOBLEWOMAN
Ah, I can't wait!

SOLDIER
Attention!

BOUILLE
Monsieur Jarjeyes!
It's His Majesty.

BOUILLE
Monsieur Jarjeyes, it's less than 30 min before the match. Is your son coming?

JARJEYES
I think he is coming. No, he will certainly come!

JARJEYES in his mind
I've never imagined this would become such a spectacle...
Oscar, hurry, hurry up!

[Gerodere heading toward the parade ground]

SERVANT
Monsieur Gerodere, it's almost the time (the time is getting closer)

GERODERE
Don't panic. We're almost there.

SERVANT
You don't seem to like it much.

GERODERE
Of course not.
I can't be proud of myself for defeating a woman. Why do I have
to obtain the position of the Commander in such a fashion?

[Oscar under a tree]

OSCAR
I was waiting for you, Captain Gerodere.
I'm Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes.

GERODERE
Oh, I've heard the rumors but you're indeed beautiful. Then let's hurry up.
Those snobs are waiting eagerly to see your face.

OSCAR
Captain Gerodere, I don't wish to be the Commander of the Royal Guards.

GERODERE
Oh, is that so? That's very wise of you.
Then I'll let them know that Mademoiselle Oscar has declined.

OSCAR
But I'm not running away because I'm afraid of you. I'd like to prove that
to you at least.

GERODERE
Having a match here then?
Did you hear that!

SERVANT
Please don't, Mademoiselle Oscar.

OSCAR
If you didn't get it, let me add one more thing:
I don't want to put you to shame in front of the crowd!
Or are you afraid of losing to a woman?

GERODERE
If you wish so, I'm willing to play with you.
But how can I possibly point the sword to your beautiful face...

[Oscar points her sword to Gerodere]

SERVANT
What are you doing to my Master?!

OSCAR
Please, I may be a woman, but I'm a warrior. This is the only way to
protect my honor!

GERODERE
I see. I'll fight with you.

[they begin]

GERODERE
As (expected of) a woman, you're agile!

[Oscar cuts across Gerodere's chest slightly]

OSCAR
Thank you. I'm satisfied now.

GERODERE
W...WAIT!!
It has only begun!

[Oscar throws Gerodere's sword up in the air]

[parade ground]

LOUIS XV
Are Oscar and Gerodere here yet?!

BOUILLE
Count Jarjeyes! What happened to your son?!

JARJEYES
Y, yes, I'm really sorry...

[servant coming in]

NOBLE
Oh, they're coming!

LOUIS XV?
Oh, here they come!

SERVANT
It's an emergency! A duel!
Mademoiselle Oscar was waiting for my Master and challenged him!

JARJEYES
What?! OSCAR...!!


[EYECATCH (it's not really obvious though ^_^;)]


[at home, Jarjeyes slaps Oscar]

JARJEYES
What's wrong with you?! Don't you understand your father's concerns?!
Listen, whatever His Majesty decides at Versailles today, a traitor like
you won't have any excuse! Be ready (for it)!

[Nanny drinking]

NANNY
I really can't stand it.
I didn't know the Master was THAT serious!

ANDRE
Wait! Control yourself, grandma!
How many cups have you drank so far?

NANNY
What's wrong with drinking every once in a while?
I can't help myself drinking tonight!
If I were Mademoiselle Oscar, I would have done the same!!
I'd never wear a military uniform!!

ANDRE
You can't be serious when nobody knows what will happen to Oscar for the
act of treason...

[Nanny falls]

ANDRE
Grandma!
I knew it. Hold on!

NANNY
Mademoiselle Oscar, this is a fight between man and woman! 

ANDRE in his mind
A fight between man and woman...
I see. Probably, inside Oscar's heart...

[Oscar looking at her mother's portrait. Comes back to herself by the
knocks on the door, sits down and takes out a book]

OSCAR
Is it Andre? Come in!
Finally moving on to Hundred Years' War today, right?

ANDRE
Yes, that's right.

[thunder]

OSCAR
A spring storm...

[starts to rain. Andre about to close the window]

OSCAR
Keep it open.
It feels great when you're completely immersed in running. But when you
stop suddenly and look down at your own feet, you wonder where you're
heading to... Has that ever occured to you before? You're wondering as to
why I don't put on the military uniform, aren't you?

[Oscar throws the book on the wall]

OSCAR
Damn! Who would want to babysit a girl?

ANDRE
Is that the only reason? Perhaps, what you really mean is...

OSCAR
Go! Please go away!

ANDRE in his mind
Good night, Oscar...

[Jarjeyes comes home]

ANDRE
Master...!

JARJEYES
Something truly unbelievable has happened! His Majesty was quite upset but
later, Captain Gerodere, who had been wounded by Oscar, suggested that
nobody but Oscar is fit for the post of the Royal Guard Commander. His
Majesty's mind was moved and he forgave Oscar's offence. Then, he
appointed Oscar as the Royal Guard Commander! She can't get away any
more. It's His Majesty's order! Andre, she might listen to what you say.
Make Oscar wear the military uniform with your life! 

[Oscar listens from the window ledge]

[next morning]

ANDRE
Hi, good morning!

OSCAR
Hi, you're up so early.

ANDRE
It's been a while since we went horseriding. Wanna go?

[bank of river]

ANDRE
Do you remember when we almost drowned ourselves here?

OSCAR
How can I ever forget that. You were 6 and I was 5 years old.

ANDRE
Yeah, both of us swam across for our lives.

[Andre blows notes on a blade of grass]

OSCAR
Stop! Don't evade by blowing a grass whistle!

ANDRE
What's wrong?

OSCAR
Don't you have something to say to me?

ANDRE
Not really.

OSCAR
Why don't you say it frankly (straight)?
 (You want me) to wear the military uniform!!

ANDRE
If you don't want to wear it, don't wear it. (don't force yourself to wear it)

OSCAR
Hmph! So that's your trick. If you say not to wear it, perverse Oscar
will wear it. Is that what you think?!

ANDRE
You...!!

[Andre punches Oscar and both begin to fight]

ANDRE
Damn!!

[Oscar really gets serious]

ANDRE in his mind
That's it! Those are the eyes that I wanted to see, Oscar!
Punch me, punch me as hard as you can!!

[both fall on the ground]

ANDRE
This is the first time we had such a fight.

OSCAR
Last night, I heard you talking with my father.

ANDRE
Oscar...!

OSCAR
Now, say it Andre!

ANDRE
I understand your father's concerns. But I didn't want to restrain your life
because of that. So... so I've decided not to say anything...

[Oscar stands up]

ANDRE
Oscar! Let me just tell you one thing!
But (I promise) I'll never say it again!

[As Oscar leaves]

ANDRE
Oscar-!! It's not too late now. Now is the time to become a woman again!!

[House]

JARJEYES
How was it? Did you manage to persuade her?
Andre, you mean...

ANDRE
Oscar has the right to choose her way by herself!

[Jarjeyes tries to go to Oscar]

ANDRE
Master!

[Oscar standing on the stairs wearing the uniform]

OSCAR in her mind
Father, this is not for you nor for anyone else.

OSCAR
We're going, Andre!

ANDRE
Yeah!

NARRAION
That day, Oscar said goodbye to her womanhood and took the first step
into the brave new world of adulthood. Without even knowing that a
distant surging wave of the destiny of love and fate was waiting for
her... In that spring, Oscar was 14 years old.

[ending title (please look at the song translation)]


NEXT EPISODE:
A wandering carefree butterfly, Marie Antoinette. A black conspiracy
obstructing the wedding ceremony. Royal Guard Commander Oscar's sword
flashes! Next episode on The Rose of Versailles:
"Fly! An Austrian Butterfly". 

END

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  Bruce Carlson     carlson@indirect.com     Phoenix, AZ