The Rose of Versailles

Episode 28

"Andre, a Green Lemon"

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

**********************************************************************
 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".
**********************************************************************


OSCAR
Andre! Andre, where are you?
Strange...He's the one who suggested going horseriding.
Where (the hell) did he go?
Andre!

ANDRE
Wait, just a bit more, Oscar.
My right eye is blurry right now...my only eye (that's left).
It's all right. It'll go away soon.
I'll be with you as soon as I can see again
Please wait for me, just a bit more...

{Opening Title}

{Episode 28: Andre, a Green Lemon}

[editor's note: The title is literally "aoi lemon", which might be translated
as "blue lemon".  However, "aoi" in this sense is used as the color of unripe
fruit, so we used "green" here.  It implies Andre's still immature.]

FERSEN
What is it? What's wrong?

MAID
The Crown Prince fell ill suddenly with a high fever. All the Court
doctors have gathered in the Crown Prince's room.

ANTOINETTE
Joseph, your Mother is here. Hang on!
Joseph, the Crown Prince...

JOSEPH
Father...Father!
Father...!

ANTOINETTE
Ah, Joseph!
It's all right. There's nothing to worry about.
Your father will be here soon. Very soon...

ANTOINETTE
Lord, he called for His Majesty from his loneliness.
He spends most of his time with me everyday.
Yet he calls His Majesty for help, instead of me!

ANTOINETTE
Forgive me. Please forgive my sins.
If... if my son's suffering is the punishment for my sins, I can promise
here right now that I'll never see Fersen again.
So, please. Please forgive me!

OSCAR
The Crown Prince's fever calmed down (/dropped?) towards the dawn.
Prince Joseph has a weak constitution. I hope this won't drag on.

ANDRE
Oscar.

ANDRE
Would you practice fencing with me?
I can't get the perspective right with only my right eye.
I'll be in trouble if I can't use a sword when I need it (/to).

OSCAR
All right. (You can) Count on me.
I'll put you through a wringer.

OSCAR
What's wrong? Steady on!

FERSEN
Excellent! You've won!

OSCAR
Fersen...

FERSEN
Long time, no see, Oscar.

OSCAR
Yes, a really long time.

FERSEN
Even though we both work at Versailles, I'm in the Army, you're in the
Royal Guards. We didn't have any chance to see each other at all.

OSCAR
Yeah.

FERSEN
When was the last time we met? Do you remember?

OSCAR
Yeah, when was it?

FERSEN
At any rate, you look fine.
I've heard the rumors about you.
Like the incident about the Black Knight.

OSCAR
That was a failure. We never found the real one.
(or, We could never figure out who it was).

FERSEN
Yeah. Things never work out as you wish in the real world...

OSCAR
Fersen, what about you? What have you been doing?

FERSEN
Me?  Nothing in particular.
Nothing especially happy, nor especially sad...

OSCAR
I see...

FERSEN
Oh, yes. There was something mysterious at a ball about a month ago.
I met a lady who looks exactly like you.
She was a countess from a foreign country.  I only saw her at that ball.
I couldn't find her at any other balls.

[Oscar reaches out for a glass]

FERSEN
As I thought, Oscar. It was you! You were that Countess!
Even if you try to hide it, you can't hide a reflex.

FERSEN
Oscar! If I only knew from the beginning (/first time we've met) that you
are a woman...

OSCAR
Don't say anything, Fersen. You shouldn't say anything to me.
I've already given up (everything) in my mind.
There are two kinds of love in this world:
a love of joy...and a love of agony (/Torture).

FERSEN
No, Oscar. There's only one kind of love.
Only a love of agony!

OSCAR
I knew a day like this would come eventually.
It's over, Fersen
We have to part. (or,  "I can never see you again.")
[There's no exact translation for that line. "Wakare" means separation or
to part.]

FERSEN
Don't forget, Oscar.
You are my best friend ever, and I've tried my best to be your best friend
as well.

OSCAR
I'll never forget that, I promise.

FERSEN
Good-bye, and take care.

FERSEN
Go!

OSCAR
May the grace of God be with you, Fersen!
And someday, please give him a love of joy!

[ending theme]

ANDRE
Do you need help, Oscar?

OSCAR
No. It's OK. (or, No, I'm all right.)

ANDRE
Oscar...help me!

[You know, I really think this shot makes Andre look like the coach in Aim
for the Ace!]

[bar]

[singing "Mylene" song]

Good-bye, Mylene, don't be a flirt
My fist is more frightening
than the bullets of the enemies!
Let's go, let's go, we're gonna fight
A big fight is a man's desire!
So, Mylene, your lips (/kiss)
Are put off for a while!
[repeated from the begining]

ALAIN
Hey, young man!
What's up? You look pretty depressed.
I'm Alain of (/from) the French Guards.
Why don't you join and sing with us?

[NOTE: Alain's full name is something like: Alain de Soisson. In the manga,
he's a poor noble (as "de" in his last name indicates). But in anime, I
think Dezaki changed him into a mere commoner, since Alain later says he
hates nobles.]

[NOTE2: The way Alain speaks is really informal and sometimes very rude.
Of course, he's a commoner, so he doesn't know how to speak proper French! ]

MEMBER
Good idea, the more the merrier!

ANDRE
Thanks. I'll join you guys then.

[Andre sings with the guards]

So, Mylene, your lips (/kiss)
Are put off for a while!

[repeated from the begining again]

ALAIN
Today is the payday for the (French) Guards.
(So) This is a bit of diversion.
Even though the name "French Guards" sounds kinda cool,
we're just a bunch of sons of bakers and farmers.
Unlike the Royal Guards, with their proper family backgrounds, or
the official Army,. we're just a bunch of trouble-makers thrown together.
We do all the risky jobs.
The current task thrusted upon us is to patrol this turbulent (/dangerous)
Paris.
Ooops, sorry. I've only grumbled about our job.
Young man! You should spit out what's in your guts, too! That's the best!

[Andre only smiles---isn't he cool?]

ALAIN
Well, that's OK. If you can't tell, you can only drink (more)! (or, If you
can't tell, all you can do is just to drink more!)

MEMBERS
Hey, you! You pushed the bottle!
I didn't!
Yup, you certainly did!

ALAIN
Ha! It started!

MEMBERS
Apologize, you son of a bitch!
Like Hell!
Ha! What's that "Ah!", eh?
Hey hey, don't hold back, you two.
Let's make it big.
OK!

ALAIN
Don't worry! This is just a part of the fun!

[going back to the Jarjeyes' on a horse]

ANDRE
Good-bye, Mylene, don't be a flirt
My fist is more frightening
than the bullets of the enemies!
Let's go, let's go, we're gonna fight...

No, Oscar. It doesn't work.
No matter how much I drink and make merry.
Someday, I'll lose the sight from my right eye, too!
[screams]
Oscar... the hardest thing for me is not being able to see you any more!

OSCAR
What's wrong, Andre? Nanny was worried about you.

ANDRE
You, too, Oscar. You can't go to sleep?

ANDRE
Hey, hey, the fire (in the fireplace) is almost out.

OSCAR
Andre.

OSCAR
I'm quitting the Royal Guards.

[Versailles]

ANTOINETTE
Oscar, what did you just say?

OSCAR
Please release me from the duty of Royal Guard Regiment Commander.

OSCAR
Please, issue an official appointment from Lady Antoinette.

ANTOINETTE
What is this all about? Why? Why, Oscar?!

OSCAR
As long as it's not the Royal Guards, I'll go anywhere, Border Guards or
the Navy.
Please!

ANTOINETTE
Tell me why, Oscar.

OSCAR
I, Oscar Francois, ask a favor for the first and the last time. Please
consider it!

ANTOINETTE
Oscar, I'll give you the rank of Army General if you wish. So, let
me know why! Why you want to quit the Royal Guards?

OSCAR
Please forgive me. I cannot tell you why no matter what. But please trust
me. Even if I leave the Royal Guards, my regards for Lady Antoinette will
never change.

ANTOINETTE
You're stubborn (/You win), Oscar. I will think about it.

OSCAR
Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I appreciate it with all my heart.

[Oscar horseriding]

ANDRE
Why, Oscar? Why did you quit the Royal Guards?! Is it because the
separation from Fersen is too much to handle? Or you want to get
away from Lady Antoinette, whom Fersen loves?
If you can get away, Oscar, I (already) could have run away from you a
long ago!

ANDRE
The more you struggle, the more I...I...

OSCAR
Andre,
Do you remember those scratches on this wall?

ANDRE
Yeah, I do.
It was around the time I first came to this mansion.
These are the marks when we measured our heights.

OSCAR
That was 23 years ago, when I still believed that I was a boy. I still
didn't know anything about falling in love or loving somebody.

OSCAR
I was raised as a man. There's nothing wrong if I spend rest of my life
as a man. That's why I quit the Royal Guards.

ANDRE
Oscar...

OSCAR
I want to live as a man! I want to be on a mission that only men can do.
Something that will make me forget that I'm a women or dependent! Even a
foot soldier is fine: carry a gun, cross the river, and fight against
the enemies! No love or romance, I want to spend days risking my life! I
want to live more like a man. I'll go back to the days when I still
believed that I was a boy. I will!

ANDRE
OSCAR-!!

OSCAR
What's wrong, Andre?

ANDRE
No, nothing. Nothing wrong.

OSCAR
Strange. I'm sure you called my name.

ANDRE
No, I didn't say anything.

OSCAR
Just my imagination then.

[Oscar playing piano]

NANNY
Andre, Andre!
I heard that you went to Dr. Lassonne(sp?) today during the day?

ANDRE
Ah...uh-huh. He helped me in manys ways when I got my left eye injured. So
I brought some flowers to thank him.

NANNY
Oh, I see. It's all right then.  (or, "So that's it." or "That explains it.")
You've been acting strange lately, so I thought you got sick someplace.

ANDRE
Ha, no way. Nothing like that.

[flashback at Lassonne's]

LASSONNE
So, since when did your right eye start to blurr?

ANDRE
About a week ago...

LASSONNE
I see...

ANDRE
Doctor, I'm worried that my right eye will go blind, too.

LASSONNE
Hmmm...

ANDRE
Will I really become blind?
(or, lit., "Is it really hopeless?")

LASSONNE
Well, I can't really say for sure but there's a lot of strain on your
right eye after losing the other one...

ANDRE
Please tell me frankly, Doctor!

LASSONNE
Well, hmmmm...

NANNY
Andre! If you have time to make yourself drunk, help me a bit.
Bring this tea to Madomoiselle.

ANDRE
Yes, yes. As you say.

OSCAR
Thank you.

ANDRE
Well, good night.

OSCAR
Andre.
In order to live more like a man, I can't depend on you any (/much) longer.
I still don't know which section I'll be transferred to, but after I quit the
Royal Guards, you don't have to accompany me any more. You can do
whatever you wish. First, I want to start out by living (/doing
things) by myself.
Good night.

ANDRE
Oscar.
I just want to make one thing clear:
A rose is a rose whether it blooms in red or white.
A rose can never become a lilac.

OSCAR
Andre! Do you mean that a woman will always be a woman?!
Answer me, Andre!

[slaps]

OSCAR
Answer me! Depending on your answer, I'll...!

OSCAR
Let me go, Andre!

OSCAR
Let me go, Andre! I'll call someone!

OSCAR
So, what are you going to do with (/to) me, Andre?

ANDRE
I'm sorry. I swear to God that I'll never do this again.

ANDRE
A rose can never become a lilac.
Oscar, it's impossible for you to become someone else.
For 20 years, you were the only one that I saw and thought about.
I love you...no, I couldn't help loving you.
More deeply than anyone else...

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
Oscar left the Royal Guards, seeking a more hard and active life. But what
awaited Oscar at the French Guards was a rough welcome from men, who live
straightforwardly and mean what they say.
Next episode on The Rose of Versailles:
"A Marionette Starting to Walk". 

END

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  Bruce Carlson     carlson@indirect.com     Phoenix, AZ


