
The Rose of Versailles

Episode 15

The Countess of Casino

translated by GinRei
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.

**********************************************************************

VOICES
When will you bear the heir?!
Where is the heir to the glorious Bourbon Dynasty?!
If you can't bear one, go back to Austria.

[opening title]
[Note: there is no director listed in the opening credits in episodes 14-18.]

{Episode 15: The Countess of Casino}

[Versailles]

GERODERE
How does it feel, Ma'am?
Now that you've come back on duty after the confinement?

OSCAR
Everything looks fresh.
Just like when I first joined the Royal Guards.

[a carriage cuts in]

OSCAR
How rude!

GERODERE
Those who are on the rise don't know how to stop, even in carriages.
In such hurry.
Women only get that excited about men and money.
She's probably going to the Casino in Paris.

OSCAR
Who is that woman?

GERODERE
Countess Polignac.
She captured Her Majesty's heart while you were absent.
Come to think, Her Majesty is really unfortunate.
If the heir were born, she'd have no trouble.

OSCAR
I feel sorry for her.

[at casino]

POLIGNAC
Mme. Guilloncaux.
(Agg, another French name!
This is nothing major, so whatever sounds French is fine. :-p)

MME.
I'm always losing lately.
Please don't tell my husband.

POLIGNAC
Oh, I sure won't.

MME.
I've sold (off) two of my diamond necklaces already.
The more I try to win back before my husband finds out, the more I lose.

POLIGNAC
Me, too.
I bought back the Bordeaux property, but I've lost (/sold) one of its
vineyards.

MME.
Oh...
Is there any way that we can get back our loses?

POLIGNAC
There is one.
I know an easy mark.

[at Court]

DEGUEMENEE
I heard that in the Orient, a wife is divorced after 3 years if she bears no
children.

ORLEANS
That's harsh.

DEGUEMENEE
Three years!
Queen Antoinette already had 5 years!

VOICE
Presenting Her Majesty!

MME NOAILLES
Your Majesty!

[Antoinette runs away]

MME NOAILLES
Please wait!

MERCY
Lady Antoinette!
What is the matter?!

ANTOINETTE
I'm not going to the audience!

MME NOAILLES
Your Majesty, please wait. Your Majesty!

DEGUEMENEE
There's no time to relax.
A Crown Prince to succeed the throne should be decided on.
His Majesty's brothers, Count Provence or Count Artois.
Or, Duke Orleans!

ORLEANS
Oh, no, no...not me.

DEGUEMENEE
What are you saying!
Not only the lineage, but the personality and abilities! You're the most
suited for the next King!

ORLEANS
But that's....
It's not necessary to hurry so much. But poor Lady Antoinette...

NOBLES
It's not that easy.
If His Majesty dies (even) tomorrow...!
Yes!
It's a crisis for this glorious Bourbon Dynasty!
A Civil War might break out for the struggle for the throne.
It might spread to Prussia and Austria, and develop into a war in Europe!

MERCY
Lady Antoinette, please!

MME NOAILLES
Your Majesty, please open this door.

POLIGNAC
I'll talk to her.

NOAILLES
Countess Polignac...

MERCY
But she won't open this door for anybody.

POLIGNAC
She'll open it for ME.

MME NOAILLES
What confidence you have!

POLIGNAC
Your Majesty, it's me, Polignac.

[Antoinette opens the door]

POLIGNAC
You must hold an audience as the Queen, with pride.

ANTOINETTE
But...

POLIGNAC
I understand Your Majesty's concerns.

ANTOINETTE
Mme. Polignac, you're the only one who understands my feelings.

POLIGNAC
Your Majesty, there's only one way to get out of (/overcome) this crisis:
To become pregnant.

ANTOINETTE
B-but...

POLIGNAC
To become pregnant, even if it's a lie.

ANTOINETTE
A lie?! I can't lie!

POLIGNAC
There's a story on Sicily.
(Without success,) the Queen didn't bear a child. But one day after 3 years
and a month, the Queen suddenly died. She was secretly poisoned.

ANTOINETTE
Poisoned?!

POLIGNAC
Yes, Your Majesty. If you don't announce that you're pregnant...
I'm worried about what will happen in the future.

ANTOINETTE
But...
But I can't lie...

POLIGNAC
This is a matter of life and death.
Let me handle this.
Please let me handle this, Your Majesty!

POLIGNAC in her mind
The Queen is my puppet!
(or, literally, I can manipulate the Queen in any way I like!)

[outside Antoinette's room]

MME NOAILLES
Pregnant?!

POLIGNAC
She confided (it) to me just now.

MERCY
Lady Antoinette will have a baby...
What a blessed event!

POLIGNAC
Please be more careful from now on.
I'll be attending her closely.
(or, literally, I'll be taking care of her close needs)

MME NOAILLES
What?!

POLIGNAC
Those who were backbiting will be ashamed of their mistakes.
A beautiful heir will be born by next fall!

MME NOAILLES
Well...!

MAID
Is that proper?
Mme. Polignac is acting as if she were the head of the ladies-in-waiting.

MME NOAILLES
You're talking nonsense.
Well! We'll be busy from now on.
This is what we've been waiting for!

[at workshop]

GRAND CHAMBERLAIN
Your Majesty!

LOUIS
I told you not to bother me while I'm working.

GRAND CHAMBERLAIN
Well, but it's such a good news that I wanted to congratulate you.
The Queen is pregnant!

NARRATION
The news of the Queen's pregnancy spread immediately in the Court and to the
People. People celebrated and cities were flooded with joy.

DEGUEMENEE
How irritating! To hell with gifts!
Those who were saying, "Duke Orleans for the Crown Prince," are now turning
away and saying "Lady Antoinette, Lady Antoinette"!

ORLEANS
Shut up!

[at Court]

OSCAR
Congratulations, Your Majesty.

ANTOINETTE
Oscar...

OSCAR
Your Majesty, my mother made these baby clothes.
If you'd like...

[Antoinette leaves]

OSCAR
Your Majesty!

POLIGNAC
Your Majesty!
Everyone, Her Majesty seems (to be) tired.
Please come back later (for the audience).

[Antoinette cries]

ANTOINETTE
I cannot lie anymore!!

POLIGNAC
We cannot go back now!
The bulge of a skirt will hide the truth till the end.
We'll have a doctor from the Polignac family.
He knows how to keep a secret.
When the time comes, I'll bring a baby!

[flashback]

VOICES
Congratulations!

OSCAR
Congratulations, Your Majesty.

POLIGNAC
Oh, my poor Queen!
Come, don't think about gloomy things,but something... fun.

ANTOINETTE
Something fun?
Mme. Polignac, is there any such thing?
What is there for me now?

POLIGNAC
Let me see. For example...
Yes! Gambling!
That will make you forget all your worries.

ANTOINETTE
Gambling?!
I can't!
His Majesty forbid gambling by the law.

POLIGNAC
So Your Majesty should ask him for a special favor.
It's exciting.
It will make time pass quickly.

POLIGNAC
It's fun.
You'll forget everything.

LOUIS
No!
Gambling is forbidden by the law.

ANTOINETTE
But Your Majesty...

LOUIS
Think a little.
If someone else gambles, he is using his own money.
But in the case of you or me,...
we use tax money, that is, someone else's money.

ANTOINETTE
But please, just once.
Just once is enough, Your Majesty.
I beg you.

LOUIS
I-if it's only once then...

ANTOINETTE
Sure!

LADY
Number 12.

POLIGNAC
Oh, You Majesty, you've won!

ANTOINETTE
Did I win?

POLIGNAC
Of course. You have such good luck.
Ah, I shouldn't have asked you to play (/invited you/introduced (how to play/
the game/gambling)).
[It sounds rather rude in English, but she's obviously flattering Antoinette.]

NARRATION
Antoinette became infatuated with gambling.
While she was playing, she was relieved from the agony of lying.
But the gambling was carefully set up by Countess Polignac,
and it was obvious that the Queen would keep losing

ANDRE
Hey, Oscar.

ANDRE
I bet Mme. Polignac and the others are gathered in the Queen's salon and
gambling.

OSCAR
Yeah...
Her Majesty promised to the King (/His Majesty) that she'd play only once.
But now she's addicted.

ANDRE
That's how gambling goes.
Of course, the big loser is Her Majesty.
So, an enormous amount of money (is set up to ) roll(s) into Countess
Polignac's purse every night.

[Oscar kicks Andre's chair]

ANDRE
Why me, Oscar?!
[Not exactly what he says in Japanese. But the context is obvious that Oscar
had to take that out on somebody.]
Oscar!

ANDRE
Oscar!
Oscar! Where are you going?!

LADY
Ah, I can buy back the diamonds!
Let's do the same again next time.

POLIGNAC in her mind
There is no need to worry about money any more.
I was a noble, but only in name.
My life used to be miserable with endless debts.
I don't want to live like that ever again!
I learned it too well.
That I cannot survive in this world, by just being a too good-natured like my
husband.
But from now on, I can get anything I want.

[Oscar comes in]

POLIGNAC
Lady Oscar!
How rude of you to come in to someone's room like that!

OSCAR
How dare you swindle Lady Antoinette with fraudulent gambling!
Come with me. Tell the truth in front of the others!
[not exactly what she says in Japanese, but it wouldn't make sense otherwise]

POLIGNAC
You don't care about bringing disgrace to Her Majesty?

OSCAR
What?

POLIGNAC
It is Her Majesty who will be disgraced if it becomes known (/if others learn)
that she gambles despite the law.

POLIGNAC
Loyal (not Royal, but literally, "loyal to the Queen") Commander Oscar, what
will you do?

OSCAR
What a hypocrite!

NARRATION
Antoinette ran up a debt of over 500,000 Livres.
That's roughly 6 billion yen now. (about 7 million dollars)

ANTOINETTE
Five hundred thousand Livres?!

MERCY
That's not all.
Accessories, clothing, etc.... the expenses for Countess Polignac is about
250,000 Livres.
You must have realized by now, Lady Antoinette.
She's exploiting you!

ANTOINETTE
Please summon Countess Polignac.

[Polignac cries]

POLIGNAC
Y-Your Majesty!
Yes, I know.
I know that the entire Court envies my friendship with Your Majesty.
Everyone is waiting for a chance to torment me!

ANTOINETTE
Countess Polignac...

POLIGNAC
But I didn't think Your Majesty would believe such slander.
I'll withdraw from the Court!
I can hardly say good-bye (to you), but better now than later...
But please believe in my sincerity.

ANTOINETTE
Countess Polignac, forgive me.
Please forgive me!
Even for a bit (/little?) I doubted your sincerity!

POLIGNAC
Your Majesty...

ANTOINETTE
You're the only one that I can depend!

[Oscar and Andre practicing swords]

ANDRE
I know that (/how?) your mind is bothered.
I know that you feel frustrated.
But if you make a wrong move, Her Majesty will suffer!
[Actually, Andre says "Her Majesty will be dishonored." The concept of
"dishonor" here is the respectability of the Queen. Maybe it's too much of a
Japanese concept of trying to maintain the dignity (the "face") of a royalty.
But I assume it was pretty much the same in the Ancient Regime. If the Queen
disregards the rule that the King had made, neither the King nor the Queen can
hold the absolute respect from the People any longer.]
We can only stand by and watch (for a while)!

[at Court]

ANTOINETTE
Oscar, why are you being so formal?
[Oscar probably asked for an audience for the Queen even though it is
not necessary for her, since Oscar is Antoinette's bodyguard and her good
friend. But Oscar probably thought she should do it in the proper way to show
how serious she was.]

OSCAR
I came here to make a request for which I offer my life.

[Oscar draws her sword]

OSCAR
Please, please quit gambling.

ANTOINETTE
Oscar...!

ANTOINETTE
Sheath (/Put back) your sword, Oscar.
I already quit gambling.

ANTOINETTE
I forgot my promise to His Majesty to only gamble once, and got infatuated.
I made you worry, but I will never gamble again.

OSCAR
Please forgive me.

POLIGNAC
Even if you didn't ask (for it), she already had made up her mind.
Now, Your Majesty, please take (good) care of yourself.
You have to rest for a while...
[Polignac literally says, "your body is precious", meaning she has to take a
good care of her body because she's "pregnant".]

POLIGNAC
Your Majesty, is something wrong?
Are you feeling well? (or, You are not feeling well?)
Oh, you look pale...

ANTOINETTE
I'm just a little tired.

POLIGNAC
You look exhausted. Probably because you're lying that you're pregnant.
But it will be over soon.

ANTOINETTE
Countess Polignac...

POLIGNAC
There is a good chance that we can end it (all).

MERCY
Countess Polignac, why did you want us to gather?

POLIGNAC
Her Majesty had a miscarriage.

MERCY
What?!

MAIDS whispering
A miscarriage?!

MERCY
It can't be!!

POLIGNAC
(Because) Commander Oscar drew her sword in front of her!
How dare she!

[Oscar is looked coldly by the nobles]

NOBLES
How cruel!

ANTOINETTE
How could you?!
Oscar is innocent!!

POLIGNAC
I'm (very) sorry.
But (I thought) Lady Oscar would help us out.
I was going to tell her all (about it) later.

ANTOINETTE
Ah, how horrible!
It was my mistake to tell a lie in the first place!

POLIGNAC
No!
There wasn't any other way.
We've certainly overcome the crisis anyhow.

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
Oscar teaches Rosalie to become a fine lady.
But from a small incident at a ball,
Charlotte learns Rosalie's origin and mocks her.
Rosalie tries to call out the name of her mother that she heard is a noble,
but...
Next Episode on The Rose of Versailles: 
"Mother, her name is...?"

END

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  Bruce Carlson     carlson@indirect.com     Phoenix, AZ



