
The Rose of Versailles

Episode 20

"Fersen, a Farewell Rondeau"

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.

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

[Versailles garden]

ANTOINETTE
Why does the dawn come so soon?
I have to go back now...

FERSEN
I won't let you go.
Even if the sun rises and all the people in France will see us both!
I don't want to let you go!

[Antoinette cries]

FERSEN
Please, don't cry.
If I see your tears now, I'll be lost (/have to wander around) in a hell
until I'll be able to see you next time.
Please, show me your smile like a spring breeze like always (/as usual).

[parting]

[opening title]

{Episode 20: Fersen, a Farewell Rondeau}

[Fersen and Oscar practice swordfighting]

FERSEN
There's nothing in particular I want to talk about.
I just wanted to practice some swordfighting.
  [He actually says "teawase", which is translated as "game or match" in my
  dictionary. But I don't think it was that serious or formal. I don't think
  the original Japanese was intended to mean that either. So, I've chosen
  "practice some swordfights" instead.]
Thanks. I had good time exercising.
Ah, Andre!
You've talked about a cheap bar (/cafe ) in Paris before!
Will you take me there? Let's have a drink once in a while.

[outside]

OSCAR
Fersen, dinner is being prepared (for you).
Why don't you stay a little longer?

FERSEN
No (thanks).
But (maybe) some other time, I promise.

[Fersen leaves]

ANDRE
Taking him to a cheap bar in Paris!
The Count would be kicked out of the bar in less than five minuites!
The entire city is full of rumors (/gossip?).
Queen Marie Antoinette and her lover, a lady-killer from Sweden...
The "illicit love" that flares up every night at Versailles!
The rumor is calling for more rumors, spreading with exaggerations.
I've never seen Count Fersen like today.
He seems tormented (/in pain) whatever he does, yet he can't help but do
something.
Why did he fall in such a painful love?
What's so painful about loving and being loved?
There are plenty of loves that cannot be even confessed.

OSCAR
Take a sword, Andre.
In the backyard.

OSCAR
Andre!
I won't go easy on you today!

ANDRE
All right, Oscar, that's the way I want it, too.

[swordfight]

ANDRE in his mind
Oscar! Forget about Fersen!
No, I WANT you to forget...please.

[Paris]

MAN
Only a cup of wine.
  [he actually says "drink" here.]
This is my Life!
No love, no romances.
This is what I get after working all day long...

MUSICIAN (what do you call him?)
Only a cup of wine.
This is my Life!
No love, no romances.
The only thing that I have are debts and a starving family.
That's all.
Who knows about Versailles?
A princess from Austria?
A dangerous liaison with a Swedish noble?
(We) Dunno (/don't care) anything about it.
We don't care about Versailles at all.
What I want instead is only a cup of wine.
Only a cup full...

[Versailles]

LADY
Well, look for yourself during the luncheon today!
What will happen between them ?!
  [she actually says "Someone and Someone", not specifying it's Antoinette
  and Fersen]
She's about to appear now.
Here she comes!

ANTOINETTE
Welcome to the luncheon.
Everyone, please enjoy yourself.

LADY
She'll approach Count Fersen now!

[Antoinette ignores Fersen]

LADY
Oh, how feigned!
Everybody knows about them (/their affair), not only in Versailles
but through out France!)

ANTOINETTE in her mind
Fersen, (I'll see you) at the Temple of Love tonight! Please don't forget!
   [the Temple of Love can be "Temple d'Amour", I think]

FERSEN
Of course!  No matter what happens, I'll be there!

VOICES
So, what did Her Majesty do?
That's it. She never spoke to Lord Fersen.
That's right, of course. She has her position to consider.
If His Majesty learns...
Shhsh! Too loud!

OSCAR
Did you call for me, Your Majesty?

ANTOINETTE
Leave us.

MAIDS
Yes, Your Majesty.

ANTOINETTE
You're the only one that I can count on, Oscar!)
You'll listen to my request, won't you?
And you're the only one who will keep it secret.
Please, tell him secretly.
I can't go tonight. I forgot that the King's (/His Majesty's)
friend is coming (to visit) tonight. I have to play games with His
Majesty throughout the night.
Please tell him for me to forgive me!
Say "yes", Oscar!
Otherwise, I can't raise my face and see you!

OSCAR
Please raise your face. How can I decline your favor (/request?)?

ANTOINETTE
Ah, Oscar, you're the only one!
While others are gossipping, you're my only ally!

[outside]

ANDRE
Oscar, what was Her Majesty's request?
Hey, Oscar, what's wrong?!
Oscar!

OSCAR
Go on ahead! (Go on home)!  I'll be back (home) later!

OSCAR
Your Majesty, I will humbly offer you my opinion.
Your Majesty, have you forgotten your position as the Queen, Mother of
France?
While asking (someone like me) for a favor, you covered your face as if
you're a sinner.
I understand Your Majesty's suffering.
But Your Majesty! You have your position to consider!
Stop, Oscar.
What are you saying to those who love each other?

[at Fersen's]

FERSEN
Oscar!

OSCAR
Then, she said that she's looking forward to the ball next week.

FERSEN
Thank you, Oscar.

OSCAR
Au revoir!

FERSEN
Wait, Oscar! Warm yourself!
Stay here until the rain stops!
Oscar...

ANDRE
Oscar!
This rain is bad for you!
[Andre actually says "This rain is a poison for your body"]

[Paris]

MUSICIAN
It's hopeless now.
You can't go back.
The agony of a man who picked a rose.
A bottle of wine, ceaseless rain.
The agony only deepens (/increases?)
Yet the Seine flows today.

[at Fersen's]

VOICE
Lord Fersen.
What will you be wearing for tonight's ball?
A military uniform or a formal wear with the crest?

FERSEN
There's still time until the evening. I'll decide later.

VOICE
All right, Sir. Please excuse me.

FERSEN in his mind
Oscar Francois...what do you think?
What should I do from now on?

TOWNSMAN
Come and buy! A brand new one came out! (or, A brand new one now on sale!)
It's a little expensive this time.
"Naked (Antoinette) seducing Fersen" printed series!
The 2nd series of the romance between the Austrian and a Swede
who has disgraced our France!

[knocks]

FERSEN
Come in!

VOICE
Lord Fersen, there was a messenger from Sweden.
  [he actually says "from the home country"]

FERSEN
A messenger?

VOICE
Count Lindesberry, your classmate from the Royal Stockholm
University, has passed away .
He died in a war.

FERSEN
In a war?!

VOICE
He was fighting in the War of Independence in America.

NARRATION
At that time, across the Atlantic Ocean, in America
a war was being fought to win independence from England.
And France was on the American side, sending expeditions with
volunteer soldiers.

[stable]

OSCAR
Andre, you don't have to prepare the carriage.
I'm not going to the ball tonight.
I'm supposed to be sick in bed with a fever.
OK?

ANDRE
Oscar!

OSCAR
Don't shout. You'll scare the horses.

ANDRE
It's a large-scale ball tonight where most of the major nobles will come.
If Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes, who is the Royal Guard Regiment Commander,
the heir of the Jajeyes family will not attend, something wrong will
happen, I think.

OSCAR
That's why I can't stand it!
I cannot bear to see Lady Antoinette being showered with people's vulgar 
gazes and backbiting.

ANDRE
As it should be.
Isn't that the very reason why you should go?
Lady Antoinette depends on you.
And probably, Fersen also...

OSCAR
I don't want any part of it!
That's  their business, not mine!)
What do you want me to do?!
To slay those who gossip (/backbite)?
To blind (the eyes of) those who stare?

ANDRE
That's a good idea! Shall we try it?

[carriage]

ANDRE
Oscar, can we speed up? We're a bit late.

OSCAR
Yeah.

ANDRE
All right, go!

[Versailles]

NOBLES
Is that the Don Juan from Sweden?
  [He said "Irogoto-shi". "Irogoto" means "love affairs" and "shi"
  simply means "professional". I guess "womanizer" works, too.]
Yes, just look at that expression!
As if saying there's no one who is more handsome than he is!
How did he draw the affection of the Queen?
Oh-uh. What's he looking for?
Of course!  Of course!

LADIES
What a nice dress.
She just wants to make sure to dress up perfectly.
She only has eyes for Lord Fersen.

[Oscar gets off the carriage]

ANDRE
You look perfect. Awesome!

LADIES
Oh, Lady Oscar is wearing a formal uniform.
I've never seen her in the formal wear!
Ah, how dashing she looks!
But that means she's going to dance tonight!
That's right...(even though) she has never danced before!
I'll ask her to dance with me! Oh, yes!
Oh, I'll be the first one!

ANTOINETTE
Oscar!
Is there something new in the air tonight?
  [literally, she says, "what kind of wind is blowing tonight?". This is a
  common expression in Japanese, meaning that something unusual has happened,
  by saying that the wind (representing flow of routine things) is different 
  from usual.]
You've never danced before.

OSCAR
Your Majesty, the wind blows both from the West and the East.
  [I didn't know how to translate this. She's actually making a joke
  about Antoinette's expression with winds.]

ANTOINETTE
Oh.
Are you going to dance with men, or with women?

OSCAR
As you wish, Your Majesty.

OSCAR whispers
But, please let me be your only partner tonight.

ANTOINETTE
I understand. (or, All right.)

[Antoinette and Oscar dance. Fersen leaves]

ANDRE
Whoa!

FERSEN
Thank you, Oscar.
If you didn't appear in that formal wear, I probably would have danced all
night with Lady Antoinette.
If I see her, I want to dance with her. If I dance with her, my hidden
feelings will probably become obvious to the others.
I almost got her into another big scandal.
I knew I shouldn't have ( been at / gone to) that ball.
It's all my fault, for not being thoughtful.
If I really love someone, I should be more thoughtful about her situation.
Though my love is deep, I shouldn't have fallen into a romance!
I've made her suffer.
There's only one thing that I can do now:
to become a betrayer!
Oscar, I'm going to run away. I'm sorry but I will!
Thousands of miles away!
Please take care of Lady Antoinette!

OSCAR
Fersen, where will you go?
FERSEN!!

[troops preparing to leave]

ANDRE
America...
He's done it with a vengeance.
Aren't you going to see him off?
The expedition is departing today.

[at Court]

MESSENGER
Swedish (Light) Dragoon Colonel Count Hans Axel von Fersen has
volunteered for the American expedition. He's scheduled to be on board the
Battleship Jason and depart from the Port of Brest.

ANTOINETTE
If the time allows, please tell him that
I wish him to be a brave fighter in the battlefield, to win the victory,
and... to come back safely.

ANDRE
Shoot, today was the day to shoe the horses.

OSCAR
Don't die, Fersen...

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
Jeanne swindles an enormous amount of money by tricking Cardinal Rohan.
Lie after lie, her ambition knows no bounds.
And eventually, she comes up with a dreadful plot ?
Will Oscar be able to detect it?
Next Episode on The Rose of Versailles:
"Black Roses Bloom at Night" 

END


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  Bruce Carlson     carlson@indirect.com     Phoenix, AZ


