
The Rose of Versailles

Episode 12

"Oscar at the Duel at Dawn"

translated by GinRei
typed by LL
edited by Usagi Grey

 [] = 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 "/" accent acute over the "e"
 Francois should be spelled with a cedilla (like "5") under the "c".
 Gerodere should be spelled with "\" accent grave over the second "e".
 Orleans should be spelled with "/" accent acute over the "e".
 deGuemenee is spelled with "/" accent acute over the middle 3 e's.
 Shoenbrunn can be spelled Shonbrunn with an umlat (2 dots) over the o.
**********************************************************************


ANDRE
They're going out for a hunt.

[deGuemenee splashes onto Oscar's face]

OSCAR
That's Duke deGuemenee.

[Oscar remembers the murder scene and draws her sword]

ANDRE stopping Oscar
Think where you are!

OSCAR
Let go!

ANDRE
You're finished if you confront the Duke at a place like this (here)!

OSCAR
I can't forgive him!
When I remember what he did, it makes my blood boil.!

{Opening Title}

{Episode 12: Oscar at the Duel at Dawn}

{Some women carrying lots of large box}

OSCAR
What's that?

ANDRE
You don't know?

OSCAR
No...

ANDRE
They're (the people) from Rose Bertin who has a dressmaking shop
in Paris. They started coming into the Palace recently and Queen Antoinette
favors them a lot.

OSCAR
There are dresses inside all those boxes?

ANDRE
Probably.
The Finance Minister was complaining that the payment to Bertin's shop in
the past two months was incredible.
Don't you think that Queen Antoinette spends too much, Oscar?

BERTIN
Here, Your Majesty, please look at this design.

SURROUNDINGS
Oh!
If Your Majesty wears this, there'll be at least 50 men fainting at the
evening party!

BERTIN
This one is called "the Secret Sigh".

SURROUNDINGS at the same time
Wow!
Beautiful!
Wonderful!

BERTIN
It fits perfectly!

ANTOINETTE
But I've already made 18 formal dresses and 38 evening party dresses last
month.

BERTIN
What are you saying!
The Queen must always be at the latest in fashion.
And you must be the role model of the high society.

SURROUNDINGS
Of course!
That's right.

ANTOINETTE
Right.
I think it's better to make a dress out of that brown silk, rather than this
color. What do you think?

BERTIN
As expected of the Queen!
(flattering that being a queen, Antoinette naturally has a sense in fashion)

SURROUNDINGS all at the same time
She has a nice sense!
It's wonderful!
Oh, I want it!

{Oscar and Andre enters the room}

OSCAR
Your Majesty!

ANTOINETTE
Ah, nice to see you, Oscar!
I was waiting for you every day.
You haven't shown your face for a while.
Is there something wrong, Oscar?

OSCAR
No, Your Majesty.

ANTOINETTE
Say, Andre, what do you think of this color?
Isn't it a nice brown?

ANDRE
To me, it looks like the color of lice, Your Majesty.

SURROUNDINGS
The color of lice?!
How dare you!

BERTIN
Lice Color? The color of lice? Tres bien! (accent grave \ over first 'e')
I'll take that!

ANTOINETTE
What about splitting into lice-stomach-color and lice-leg-color?

BERTIN
That's it, Your Majesty! What a wonderful idea!
This year's fashion color is now decided as Lice Color.

SURROUNDINGS
Give me some lice-colored material, Mme.Bertin.
Please make me a dress with lice-stomach color.
Lice color underwear!
Lice color corset!
Lice Color!
Lice Color! (echoes)

ANDRE throws a stone into a fountain
How stupid! Lice Color!

OSCAR
It started itching.

ANDRE
Now that she has become our Queen, there should be countless duties,
such as considering her nation and people! But all day long, she
only pursues her pleasures! You've said before that the money
Her Majesty spends all comes from the people's taxes.
But she spends it on things like plays, balls, and dresses...wasting money!

OSCAR
Andre, don't say that now.

ANDRE
Why?!
YOU'RE the one who was worried about what tax-paying people
will think of Queen Antoinette!

OSCAR
I did say it. But now...
At least for a while, I'd like to see her do as she likes.
She feels lonely.
What would a rose smile at, if it lost its Sun?
When there are no stars or moon at sea, what can a sailor
set his sail towards?

ANDRE
You mean, Hans Axel von Fersen?

OSCAR
By decorating herself and being absorbed in plays...
she tries to forget her loneliness.
I want you to understand.
Well, let's go. I have to see to the preparations for the party tomorrow.

{Austria, Shoenbrunn}

THERESA seeing Antoinette's portrait
What-- what has become of her!

KAUNITZ?
She has become even more beautiful and dignified.

THERESA
This is not beauty!
This is not a portrait of the French Queen, but a picture of a flashily
decorated actress!!

KAUNITZ
But...

THERESA
I can't believe that this foolishly and gaudily decorated one is my daughter.
Send this picture back to France immediately !

THERESA in her mind
Ah, Dear Marie...
Infatuated with jewels and feathers...
Does she know how much tax money she's spent?
Mother Mary, please protect her!

ANTOINETTE looking in a mirror
You look happy, Marie-Antoinette.
You're becoming more and more beautiful.
A Fairy of Versailles, Queen of Rococo, the Rose of France!
All such whispers enchant me.
But, why do I feel there's something missing?
Tell me, Mother. What is this feeling?

{dinner}

ORLEANS
It's a 1692 Chateau Iquemo. Very well (very nice).

ADELAID
'91 was a bad year.
Probably because it rained too much.

DEGUEMENEE
And in the 80's, the the proprietor of the Bordeaux manor was
powerless. He was too easy on the farmers.

LOUIS' BROTHER
Will that influence the taste of the wine?

DEGUEMENEE
Of course it does! In order to get fine products,
you must keep the farmers neither dead nor alive.
If they become lazy, we won't be able to eat good food fully!

ANTOINETTE
I'm actually thinking about cancelling the morning audience.
What do you think?
{Antoinette is referring to two kinds of audience here. One is probably for
the nobles and the other is called "general/public" audience. I could not
differentiate the two in English}

ORLEANS
That's nice. You can sleep late.

LOUIS' BROTHER
If there's no audience on Tuesdays, we can go hunting in the morning!

ANTOINETTE
Duke deGuemenee, how about you?

DEGUEMENEE
That's good! That's really a wonderful idea.
It's not necessary for the Queen of France to grant audiences to peasants.
The sooner it's cancelled, the better.

OSCAR
But...!

ANTOINETTE
What is it, Oscar?

DEGUEMENEE
Oh, it seems like they don't teach manners to the Royal Guard nowadays.
A mere guard cuts into a royal conversation!

ANTOINETTE
It's all right. Oscar is my friend.
Say it, Oscar.

OSCAR
Please allow me to say that in addition to the audience for the nobles,
the audience with the general public is a duty of both the King and Queen.

ANTOINETTE
A duty?

OSCAR
By speaking to the people who come to Court from far away,
Your Majesty will deepen the people's understanding and affection.
Also, Your Majesty will be able to learn what things are like
outside the Court, and about your people.
So...

ANTOINETTE
I see.

OSCAR
Please, I ask you not to cut your bonds with your people.

ANTOINETTE
I'll do what you say.

OSCAR
Thank you very much, Your Majesty.

[in another room]

LADY
Oh, it's beautiful.

DEGUEMENEE
This pistol is the latest model, called "Corel style."
It's light, and the aim is precise.

LADY
I heard that you're a very good shot, Duke deGuemenee.

DEGUEMENEE
But if you wish, I can shoot the center out of an ace 50 toise away.

LADY
Oh, wonderful!

DEGUEMENEE
I'm sure about my skills in shooting!
Not like some fledgling who speaks glibly like a grown up.
Maybe she is some General's daughter, but a WOMAN
for the Royal Guard Grand Commander? How ridiculous!

OSCAR
Let's talk about you.
A MAN who shoots a child, who's still too young to know right from
wrong, in the back with a pistol.  That MAN for a Duke?
How ridiculous!

DEGUEMENEE
That child stole my money!
What's wrong with punishing a thief?
The poor are always looking for a chance to steal from us!
That was a just execution, to set an example!

OSCAR
If a young child steals for hunger, what right have we to judge!?
Or, are you saying that you are God yourself, Duke?

DEGUEMENEE
W, what an insult! Who do you think I am!?
I'm Duke Henri Salvador deGuemenee!
What a conceited squirt!

OSCAR
Who is conceited! (or You are the conceited one!)
Are you allowed to do anything if you're a duke?
Are you really an aristocrat?!

[deGuemener throws a glove at Oscar]

OSCAR
I, Oscar Francois, accept your challenge.

DEGUEMENEE
My second will let you know the time and place.
What weapon?

OSCAR
Your favorite pistols are fine.

DEGUEMENEE
Don't back out at the last moment, brat.

OSCAR
Since I was born, I've never broken a promise before!

DEGUEMENEE
How impudent! I'll make a hole in your beautiful face!

[Oscar practicing shooting]

JARJEYES
Marvelous, Oscar!

ANDRE
Why don't you stop her, Master?

JARJEYES
Don't worry. She's as well-trained in shooting as she is in fencing.
If she'll die, I wouldn't have raised her as my heir.

GERODERE
According to tradition, the one who's challenged can choose the weapon.
Why did the Commander choose pistols?

ANDRE
That's just how Oscar is. Always challenging herself!
She could win too easily with swords.

GERODERE
Duke deGuemenee placed 2nd in the shooting contest last year in Rome.

[Oscar shoots]

JARJEYES
See? There's nothing to worry about.

GERODERE
But it's a one shot duel. If she misses...

ANDRE
On top of that, Duke deGuemenee is a coward.
You don't know what trick he might use.

JARJEYES
In order to prevent unfair tactics, an observer will be watching.
Don't worry, don't worry!

[deGuemenee's laughter]

DEGUEMENEE
A gun duel with a brat like that is like taking candy from a baby.
Isn't that so, Duke Orleans?
What is it?

ORLEANS
But there's only one bullet in the duel.

DEGUEMENEE
One bullet...

ORLEANS
Even if it's a one in a million chance, you'll die if you miss.
There's a way to assure your victory, even if you probably won't need it.

DEGUEMENEE
What is it?

ORLEANS
If I tell you, can I expect a certain favor in return?
(Orleans doesn't really say what he wants in return. But it's probably money
or do certain things political for him.)

DEGUEMENEE
O, of course.
And what is it?

ORLEANS
Let's hold the duel behind De Farge Cathedral.

DEGUEMENEE
A, and?

ORLEANS
I know that area well, since I take a walk there every morning.
The path to the forest from behind De Farge Cathedral runs West to East.
The sun rises from here during this season.
The interesting thing is, one of the stained glass windows is tilted
since nobody knows when.
So when the sun rises, the sun's light reflects
off the stained glass, and shines on exactly one spot on the ground.
What would happen if that reflection shined in Oscar's eyes
just as she was preparing to fire?
As the observer, what if I decided your positions and the start of the duel?
Oscar doesn't have the slightest chance to win!

DEGUEMENEE
I see, I see. Thank you very much!

[at Jarjeyes's]

ANDRE
(You) can't sleep?

OSCAR
Not really.
(or It's not that.)

ANDRE
Don't worry. You'll win.

OSCAR
I'm not worried.

ANDRE
I see. Then why don't you go to sleep?
Do you remember, Oscar?
When you were 7, we buried our treasures under that oak tree.

OSCAR
I don't remember.

ANDRE
A big lead top and a red knife.
Do you think they're still there?

OSCAR
I don't know...

ANDRE
Let's leave by the back gate tomorrow morning.
If my Grandma finds out, she'll make a fuss.

OSCAR
Gerodere is my second.
You don't have to come.

ANDRE
I'll see you off halfway.
Go to sleep. You shouldn't chill your shoulders.
I guess you want to be alone. I'll go to sleep now.

OSCAR
Andre!

ANDRE
What is it? Are you afraid?

OSCAR
I'm not afraid.
No, I guess I'm afraid.
But it's not that I'm afraid of him (the opponent).
I'm afraid of dealing with matters of life and death.
deGuemenee is a mean man.
He regards those weaker than himself, and farmers as mere worms.
If he gets things in his own way, he'll become a disgrace to the whole
nobility, and consequently, to the Royal Family.
But life is life.
However evil he might be, I'm still afraid of taking a human life.
Andre, if I die, you keep the treasures buried under the oak tree.
A lead top, red knife, and a stuffed bear.
Well, I'm going to sleep. Good night.

[morning]

[Oscar remembers the child's murder]

ORLEANS
We shall conduct the duel according to the time-honored
tradition of knighthood.
Both shall stand back to back.
I shall count the numbers.
Take ten paces, turn and fire.

ANTOINETTE
Why didn't you tell me sooner?!

MME
I heard it late last evening.

ANTOINETTE
I have to stop them!
I can't believe Oscar's involved in a duel!

ORLEANS
We shall now conduct a duel between Duke Henri Salvadore deGuemenee
and Royal Guard Commander Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes.
The witnesses are Duke Louis Phillippe Joseph d'Orleans,
and Captain Vitor Clemand de Gerondere.

Begin!
One!

ANTOINETTE
Hurry up!

ORLEANS
Three!

Five!

ANTOINETTE
Oh, God! Please get there in time!

ORLEANS
Seven!
Eight!
Nine!

[a falling leaf is illuminated by the reflected light]

OSCAR in her mind
A beam of light from behind? What is this? (Why is this?)
A reflection from the Cathedral?
If the sunlight shines on there, I'll be blind when I turn back.
I'm in trouble!

DEGUEMENEE
I'll put a bullet through in your beautiful forehead!

ORLEANS
Ten!

[Oscar deflects deGuemenee's shot with her pistol]

OSCAR
I'll shoot his (hateful) hand which shot the child!

[Oscar shoots deGuemenee in the hand]

ANDRE
Are you OK, Oscar?

DEGUEMENEE
My hand! My hand!

DOCTOR almost speaking at the same time with Guemener
It's all right. It's not life threatening.

DEGUEMENEE
Oscar! You played foul (dirty), didn't you?!
There must be a trick of some sort!
Don't underestimate me! I'm a Duke!

ANTOINETTE
Oscar!
What have you done?!
I'll order you confined for a month!

ANDRE almost unhearable. perhaps not necessary to put
What?

ANTOINETTE
Duke deGuemenee, isn't it a shame for a noble to lose to lose self control?

[Antoinette leaves]

ANDRE
How terrible. It's not fair.
It's too cruel!

ANTOINETTE
Oscar, I'm sorry.
But I can't stop the forces trying to entrap you.

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
Under the confinement, Oscar escapes to her fief, Arras with
Andre. She didn't know that an unexpected encounter that will
change her life was awaiting there. A peaceful countryside town, Alas.
What did Oscar see there?
Next episode on The Rose of Versailles:
"Please Respond, the Wind in Arras". 

END

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  Bruce Carlson     carlson@indirect.com     Phoenix, AZ
