
The Rose of Versailles

Episode 25

"A Minuet of Unrequited Love"

translated by GinRei

 [] = 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

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 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 an accent grave "\" over the middle "e".
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[sunset shooting range]

ANDRE
That's about it (/enough) for today.
I ran out of bottles for the targets.

OSCAR
Yeah.
I'll bring the horses.

ANDRE
OK!

ANDRE
Hey, Oscar!
Wanna bite?

OSCAR
I'll take it!

ANDRE
There!
[he says "All right!" in English here.]

[a gun shot]

ANDRE
Who is it?!

FERSEN
Sorry for that nice apple!
But I also wanted to show off my skill for both of you!
How're you doing, Oscar Francois?
You look fine as always, Andre!
Hans Axel von Fersen reports he's just returned from the American
continent! [he's playing a soldier's report]

OSCAR
Fersen...
Fersen!
Fersen...

FERSEN!!

{Opening Title}

{Episode 25 "A Minuet of Unrequited Love"}

FERSEN
Merci, Andre.

ANDRE
You're welcome.

OSCAR
It's already been 2 years since the War of Independence ended. Everyone
came back right away. What have you been doing?

FERSEN
I'm sorry for your worries (about me).
Right before I started for home, I came down with a fever.
So I stayed alone in America, in and out of bed (all the time).
It took longer than I expected to recover.

OSCAR
I see.

FERSEN
Ah, delicious!
I haven't eaten real French food (like this) for such a long time.
It really makes me feel that I've come back to France.

[flashback]

FERSEN
    [what he says here is a bit different from the one in Episode 20.]
Oscar, there's only one way that I should take:
to become a betrayer!
I'm going to run away.
Run thousands of miles away!
Oscar, please take care of Lady Antoinette!

OSCAR
I'm really glad that you came back safe.

NANNY
Mademoiselle Oscar, I've prepared a bed for Lord Fersen in the guestroom
on the second floor.

FERSEN
No, Oscar, I'll go back to my mansion (/estate).

OSCAR
I'll send a message (/messenger) to your mansion (/estate) tomorrow.
"The Jarjeyes guarantee to cure the Count's travel fatigue."
for a week or month... make yourself at home.

FERSEN
Oscar...

ANDRE {he's speaking in a rather informal manner}
Please do.
It's already been 7 years.
I'd like to hear your stories about America, too.

FERSEN
Thanks. I'm surrounded by such wonderful friends...thanks!
I went to the battlefield, thinking I could give up (/abandon) everything...
even my life.
I'm really fortunate to be alive!

ANDRE
Let's toast again. For the return of Count Fersen from the journey
thousands of miles!

Oscar
Yes, Cheers!

ANDRE
Cheers!

FERSEN
Thank you.

[next morning]

OSCAR
You woke up pretty early. Did you sleep well, Fersen?

FERSEN
Uh...yes, very well
It's become my habit (to wake up early) from the battlefields.
I still haven't gotten over it.

OSCAR
I see. So that's it.
You should let her know you're back as soon as possible.
Her Majesty must be worried about you, too.

FERSEN
Sooner or later, (I thought) but...
I intend to go back to Sweden without seeing her.
Seven years ago, I ran away from Lady Antoinette.
Cowardly and selfishly.
And that was the end. It was a romance that must (better) be ended.
I only stopped in France to confirm it to myself.
Not to burn with love, not to fan the flames again.
As you've suggested, I've decided to stay here for a week or two.
My return will be publicly known, if I return (go back) to my estate.
Please, Oscar. Don't tell Her Majesty that I'm back.

OSCAR
I understand. (or, Got it.)

[Andre and Fersen on horses]

FERSEN
Come on, Andre! Get ahead of me, if you can!

OSCAR in her mind
I've never expected this.
But Lady Antoinette is no longer in Fersen's heart.
Can that be (truly ) possible ?
But if...if that's really the case,
Now, with Fersen right here in front of me, I feel he is the only man
I could allow myself to love.
Hans Axel von Fersen...

FERSEN
By the way, Oscar.
You've been promoted from Colonel to Brigadier for your marvelous job in
the Necklace Affair, I heard.
Your Nanny told me this morning.

OSCAR a bit shyly
Uh, yes...

FERSEN
Congratulations!
-I- would definitely have promoted you all the way up to a General.
It's such a wonder that God created you as a woman.

[a window shatters]

OSCAR
Andre, are you all right?!  Any injuries?

ANDRE
No, I'm all right.

FERSEN
How could they be so nasty?!
Who were they?

ANDRE
It's probably a harassment by the citizens in Paris.

FERSEN
Citizens?  Why?

ANDRE
It happens quite often these days.
The estates of other nobles have also been targeted.
Ever since the Necklace Affair, more and more people have come
to hate the nobles and the royal family.
Even among the nobles, some abandoned the
royal family to join hands with the citizens.

FERSEN
I can't believe it.
I've heard about it in rumors, but...

ANDRE
During the seven years you were away, Paris, Versailles, and
all of France have been gradually changing.

FERSEN
What has changed?! How?!

[Paris]

MUSICIAN
The Era of Nobles is coming to the end soon.
We no longer think that the royal family is everything in France.

CITIZENS
If we're eating bad food, the Queen (and her bunch) should eat bad food,
too!!
Right! Only they get to eat good food!
And with our tax money!
That's right!
If they eat good food, so should we!
Yeah, that's right!

MUSICIAN
Yesterday, a child in Grandvillier (District) died.
A child died because he couldn't buy a bread.
The day before yesterday, a woman in Temple died.
A woman died because she worked too much to feed (milk) to her child.
Die! The fat pigs should all die!!

FERSEN
It has changed...
France definitely changed.
When I was still here, the royal family was loved although there were some
slanders.
The people still loved Her Majesty.

FERSEN
Oscar, I've decided to go to Versailles (after all).
The royal family is now facing a crisis.
The only thing that I can do at such time is...
for someone that I could not forget even if I tried. For someone that I
love...
is to be by her side.
No matter what anyone says, I just can't watch the misfortune
of the woman that I love!

[Trianon]

ANTOINETTE
I'm glad you're back safely.

FERSEN
Your Majesty seems well (as always).

[at Jarjeyes']

ANDRE
Oscar!
It's time for shooting practice. Are you going?

OSCAR
Yeah, I'm coming.
Wait for me downstairs.

ANDRE
OK!

[shooting practice]

ANDRE
There!

FERSEN
New movements can rise with the power of a blazing fire.
I learned that through my own experience in America.
Some small fires are beginning to light up in France as well.
They must be put out before the sparks fall (/shower) onto the royal
family.
If you would allow me, I am ready to serve by Your Majesty's side for the
rest of my life.
I learned after 7 years.
How ignorant I was to let my heart burn passionately.
How dangerous it was!
I'll never let it flare up again.
Instead, I will keep my feelings for you quietly lit in my bosom forever,
like the flow of the River Seine.

ANTOINETTE
Like the flow of the River Seine...

FERSEN
Yes.

ANDRE
Look, Oscar. Migrating birds.
They are heading back south.
No matter how freely they fly in the sky, they eventually go back to their
destined land.
Nobody can stop it. Nobody...

FERSEN
Your Majesty!
I must offer my opinion as your loyal vassal (/servant).
Please leave this villa and come back to Versailles Palace!
I heard many nobles' hearts broke away from the royal family since Your
Majesty moved (in) here.
Please come back to Versailles promptly and bring (/call) back those
nobles!
It's necessary to keep at least the nobles on your side.
And please cut your ties with Mme. Polignac and her group.
It causes discord with the People as well as with the Court
to have the nation's queen listening to the opinions of only one clique.
I, Hans Axel von Fersen, will abandon my homeland Sweden instead!
I will dedicate all of myself to France for Your Majesty's sake!

[Oscar playing piano, Andre washing a horse outside]

[ball]

LADIES
Have you heard about it, Madam?
Yes, about Her Majesty.
She's coming back from the villa to Versailles, I heard.
Did she have a change of mind all of the sudden?
I don't know.
And, did you hear about Mme. Polignac?
Oh, what could it be?
There's a post available for the Finance Minister right now.
Yes.
So, Mme.Polignac asked Her Majesty to have her relative for the Minister.
Oh, like she always does.
Yes, but Her Majesty said, "I've decided I shouldn't decide such matters
only with my judgment. Ask His Majesty through a proper channel."
My!

ANDRE
The influence of Mme. Polignac and her entourage is getting weaker everyday.
Anyway, it is a felicitous occasion.
Lady Antoinette is finally coming back to Versailles from the Villa today.
and will resume the audience with the nobles and other duties.
She probably took the suggestions from Count Fersen.
The count is now officially a colonel of the army regiment and visits
Versailles Palace everyday.
[The last sentence was a bit hard. Andre said Fersen got this title as a
colonel in the French army, but it's termed as "not included in the
numbers". I guess that's because he's a foreigner. He must be treated as a
guest in the military who only has a pseudo-job.]

NANNY
Have a nice day, Mademoiselle.

OSCAR
All, (march) 3 steps forward!
The Royal Guards will guard Her Majesty from the Trianon to
Versailles Palace.
If you find any abnormalities, report immediately. Stand by until I give
out orders.

[Fersen salutes Oscar]

OSCAR
All right, take positions!

MAN
Die, nobles!!

OSCAR
Emergency positions!

[explosion]

OSCAR
One escaped! Capture him!

MAN
Vive la France!

OSCAR
Don't give in, Oscar!
What are you thinking at a time like this?!

ANDRE
Oscar, what's wrong? Are you wounded?

OSCAR
Andre, tell Gerodere to take charge.
I'm going home (ahead).

ANDRE
Oscar...

OSCAR
Fersen...
Ah, Fersen...
You went back to someone who needs you more than anyone else, and who
loves you more than anyone else.
After the 7 years of separation and 7 years of suffering, you still went 
back to her.
I think that's wonderful.
I think you're wonderful...
With all of my heart,
as a woman for the first time.

NANNY
A corset...
Ah, pannier, pannier!
And...stockings...

ANDRE
What are you doing, Grandma?

NANNY
It was worth the wait and the effort to make a dress after all!

ANDRE
A dress?

NANNY
Mademoiselle Oscar said she's going to wear it for the ball tonight.

ANDRE
What?! Oscar is wearing a dress?!

OSCAR
Don't make it so tight, my waist will tear (/split?).

NANNY
Please stay still!

OSCAR
Ouch!
Are you trying to rip off my scalp.

NANNY
It's a hairdo!
There are styles in hair!

ANDRE in his mind
Are you serious, Oscar? (or, Are you crazy, Oscar?)
My Oscar wears a showy dress and dances with other men?!
Hmph, Oscar wearing a dress?
It's like putting a cloth on a tall scarecrow!
It would be unbearable to see (her)!

NANNY
Andre!
Come here!

ANDRE
OK, OK!

NANNY
Andre!

ANDRE
All right, all right!

NANNY
Take a look at Mademoiselle in a dress!

ANDRE
All right, all right!

LADIES
Oh, look, Madam.
Oh...
Who is she? She looks as if she's come alive from a Greek statue.
She's a countess from a foreign country. Her rank is too high so her name
will be kept secret.
Oh, a foreigner?

FERSEN
I've seen her somewhere...

FERSEN
Madam!
May I dance with you once, please!

[Oscar dances with Fersen]

LADIES
Oh, what lithe movements!
A slender figure!
Even Lord Fersen is enchanted.

FERSEN
Countess, where are you from?
I know someone who resembles you very much.
She's beautiful, and her hair is also blonde.
Kind hearted and well educated. She's not afraid of risking her life for
her ideologies!
Normally, she wraps up her fragrant skin in a gold braided military
uniform,
Rejecting men's looks (/stares?) as (if she's) an icy flower.
She's my most precious and beautiful friend.

[Oscar almost falls]

FERSEN
Please pardon me.
Could you possibly be...
Could you possibly be...?!

[Oscar leaves]

OSCAR
Fersen's arms embraced me.
Fersen's eyes engulfed me.
His lips spoke words about me.
I can give up now.
Now I can give (it all) up!

[Ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
The Black Knight, the phantom thief, only targets nobles.
A jewel disappeared from the house of a Marquise.
And Oscar happened to see the jewel shine in Andre's pocket.
The Black Knight is... Andre?  It can't be!
Next Episode on The Rose of Versailles: 
"I Want to See The Black Knight!"

END

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  Bruce Carlson     carlson@indirect.com     Phoenix, AZ
