The Rose of Versailles

Episode 29

"A Marionette Starting to Walk"

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".
 Gerodere should be spelled with an accent sign '\' on the second 'e'.
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JARJEYES
Oscar! Oscar!

[opens the door]

JARJEYES
Oscar!
Nanny, where's Oscar?

NANNY
She was in her room just a minute ago.

JARJEYES
Andre! Where's Oscar?

ANDRE
She just went out for a horseriding by herself, Sir.

JARJEYES
Horseriding...
Andre!

ANDRE
Yes, Sir.

JARJEYES
You'd probably know.
What is she thinking?
Why did she tell Lady Antoinette that she wanted to quit the Royal Guards?!
Tell me, Andre, everything you know!

ANDRE
I'm sorry, Sir.   She didn't tell me anything about it.

JARJEYES
ANDRE!  I've put you by her side in case something like this happens!
Just tell me!

ANDRE
This is what she told me:
I no longer have to accompany her and I can do what ever I like.

JARJEYES
WHAT?

NARRATOR
After her separation from Fersen, Oscar was trying to change.
She made up her mind to live more as a man.
Rather than being a marionette of the Court in the Royal Guards, Oscar ask
ed Antoinette to transfer her to a more heavy-duty post as a military officer.

{Opening Title}

{Episode 29: A Marionette Starting to Walk}

OFFICER
As of April 1st, Brigadier Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes is appointed to be
the Commanding Officer of the French Guards Company B.

OSCAR
The French Guards Company B...

OFFICER
There's a message from Queen Antoinette:
The French Guards is the only post available for now. But if you have any
objections, report immediately. Please take care of yourself.

OSCAR
Please tell Lady Antoinette:
"I (deeply) appreciate for taking my selfish request into consideration. And
please take care of herself."

GERODERE
In honor of the Royal Guards Regiment Commander,
Right face
Present Arms!

OSCAR
Thank you, everyone. That was the last troops review for me.
It was splendid, everything in perfect order.

GERODERE
Regiment Commander, why are you abandoning us suddenly?

OSCAR
I'm not abandoning you.

GERODERE
Have we done something wrong?

OSCAR
Not at all. You all did an excellent job for me.
I thank you. Gerodere, you particularly helped me.

GERODERE
That's not an explanation. (or, That's not (sufficient) enough.)
Tell us why you quit the Royal Guards and move to the French Guards!
Compared to the Royal Guards, the French Guards is a jumble of commoners,
much lower in rank and vulger.
We don't want you to transfer to a place like that!

OSCAR
Gerodere, I nominated you as my successsor.
I'll leave the rest to you.

GERODERE
Regiment Commander!

[Oscar walking toward Andre]

OSCAR
Andre.

ANDRE
Yes, Ma'am.

OSCAR
I'll be transferred to the French Guards a week from now.
I'll stay at the villa in Normandie until then.
You don't have to accompany me after today.

ANDRE
Yes, Ma'am.

OSCAR
I'm not angry or anything about what happened.
But I won't hold it against you.

[flashback]

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

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

ANDRE
I'm sorry.
I swear to God that I'll never do such a thing again.

[Oscar goes away, leaving Andre behind.]

NARRATION
Oscar felt there were many kinds of love.
A love between those who love each other.
A love that one craves (from someone) wholeheartedly.
A love craved unrequited by someone unexpected.
A love that one didn't even notice despite being together.
Andre's love for her.


NARRATION
It was the same kind of love that Oscar had for Fersen.
So she knew how painful it is for Andre. But...
"So, I'll try to avoid seeing him.", thought Oscar.
"I'm sorry, Andre...", thought Oscar.

[Paris]

ANDRE
Hey, do you mind if I join you?

MUSICIAN
Not at all. Please.
Here.

ANDRE
Thank you.

MUSICIAN
My legs are crippled, but you seem to be crippled with your eyes.
And, you're suffering in love.

MUSICIAN
People see two kinds of Light in this world.
One is the sunlight, starlight,
The light you can see with your eyes.)
And the other one is the Light of hope in people's hearts.
You can't see it only with your eyes.
But that's the one you've got to have.
You can live if you've got it.
Even if you've fallen to the bottom of everything.

It's the heart, young man.
A love is between two hearts.
Eyes are only for decoration.

[Andre leaves]

MUSICIAN
Cheer up, youngman. Cheer up.

[bar with no customers other than Andre]

ANDRE
Good-bye, Mylene, don't be a flirt
My fist is more frightening
than the bullets of the enemies!
[Alain joins]
Let's go, let's go, we're gonna fight
A big fight is a man's desire!

ALAIN
Haven't seen you for a while, young man!

ANDRE
Hi!

ALAIN
Heeey, this bar is deserted.
Are we the only customers?
All right, I'll take you to a better place! Come!

MEMBER
Hey, Alain!

MEMBER
That's enough.  We're still on duty.

ALAIN
Damn!  They found me.
Well, so, we'll do it next time!

ALAIN
Are you pretending to be a good boy or something?!

MEMBER
But we're on a special alert tonight!

ALAIN
All right, a job is a job.

ANDRE
Wait, wait a minute!
Alain, you're in the French Guards... right?

ALAIN
Yup, Company B.

ANDRE
Company B...

ALAIN
What about it?

ANDRE
I have a favor to ask you!

[Oscar's room]

OSCAR
Come in!

DAGOUT
I'm Colonel Dagout, the Sub Commanding Officer of the Company B.
How do you do. (or, I'd like to welcome you.)

OSCAR
How do you do. (or, Thank you.)

DAGOUT
But... I heard that inaugural troops review is tomorrow.
You've come a day early.

OSCAR
Yes. This is my first time in the French Guards,
so I wanted to know about the details early.
Show me the barracks.

DAGOUT
W-well...

MEMBERS
Geez, you did it!
Sorry! That's how it goes!

DAGOUT
I feel uncomfortable taking you to such a squalid place like that...

OSCAR
Don't worry.

MEMBER
Yo, everyone!  The new Commanding Officer's coming!

ALAIN
What?
Buddies!

MEMBER
Hey, quick!
Geez, why so soon?
Line up!

DAGOUT
Please.

OSCAR
I'm Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes.
I'll be commanding you starting tomorrow.
Nice to see you all. (/How do you do)

ALAIN
Everyone! Salute the new Commanding Officer!

OSCAR
What's going on, Andre?!
I told you not to accompany me any more!

ANDRE
I'm not accompanying you, Oscar.
I'm a member of this Company.
I have an acquaintance in this Company.
And I joined yesterday through him.
No matter what happens or what you think of me,
I'm the only one who can protect you.
I'm heading back, Commander!

OSCAR
Andre!
Do whatever you like!

MEMBER
Hey, did you hear about the new Commander?
Don't be surprised. The military uniform can fool (/deceive/cheat) us,
but the officer is actually a WOMAN!
Really?! Our Commander is a woman?
No way!
I can't take it. I don't wanna take orders from a woman.
Hey Alain, what do you think?

ALAIN
Well, that of course is not fun.

[midnight]

ALAIN
Hey, Andre, wake up! It's time for your watch.

ALAIN
All right. Relax. Nothing'll happen anyway.
Well, even if something does happen, it's just the citizens of Paris
sneaking in to steal some food from us.
SIT DOWN, "carpenter's son"!
You told me you're a son of a carpenter, didn't you?
And you said you wanted to join the French Guards and needed my help.
Well, that's fine. But why did you lie?
Tell me the reason.

ANDRE
There's no particular reason.
And I didn't lie...

ALAIN
Stop that. You're NOT a carpenter's son.
You smell like a noble, something that I hate.

ANDRE
I'm not a noble.

ALAIN
I didn't say you were. I said you smell like one.
One of us saw you called into that new Commander's room.
Well, fine.
People have different reasons (that they can't tell others).
But let me tell you one thing, Andre.
There're plenty of us in the French Guards who hate nobles more than I do.
Especially if it's a snobbish aristocratic woman.

[next morning]

NANNY
Madamoiselle, you'll be working at the French Guards from today!
And uh...

NANNY
Well, uh...

OSCAR
What is it?

NANNY
It's about Andre. He disappeared about 3 days ago.
I thought Madamoiselle might know something...

OSCAR
He won't be coming back for a while.
He's living in the barracks.

NANNY
Huh? What do you mean by that?

OSCAR
Don't worry, Nanny. Andre is Andre; I'm me.
We're no longer kids.

NANNY
W-well...

OSCAR
Go!

[Oscar's office]

OSCAR
Come in!

DAGOUT
Commander! All of us have gathered on the parade ground.
Please come to the inaugural troops review.

OSCAR
Yes. (or, All right.)

[empty ground]

DAGOUT
OH! What's this?! They were all assembled here just a while ago!

OSCAR
Andre...

ANDRE
All the members in Company B said they will boycott the troops review for a
new Commanding Officer.

OSCAR
Why?  Tell me the reason.

ANDRE
They said they don't want to be ordered (/commanded) by a female Commander.
If the troops review is cancelled, I'd like to go back to the barracks as well.

DAGOUT
Of course it's cancelled!  Who can do a troops review with only one guard!

ANDRE
Well, then!

[Andre leaves]

[throwing knives]

GUARDS
Bull's-eye!
You did it! All right, it's my turn now!
Sure.

[knife misses Oscar]

GUARD
You shouldn't do that, Miss Commander.
Don't forget to knock before you enter.
Wh-what?!

OSCAR
Knock on the door?!
Only people with manners can say such things!

You didn't even come out for a troops review.
I don't think you have any manners!
Everyone! Get dressed and come out to the parade ground!
Start the troops review!

ALAIN
Everybody's saying they don't want to.
Why don't you go back to the Royal Guards?
We don't have anyone elegant here who'll obey orders from a woman commander.

OSCAR
If you want to say something, get out from the bed and say it outright!
This is not a hospital!

ALAIN
Oops, excuse me.
Also, this is Company B, especially known for being rough.
Everybody feels you shouldn't get hurt...

OSCAR
I'll tell you that I don't mind about being rough. I'd like to see how 'roug
h' you all are.

ALAIN
Wow.

MEMBERS
WHAT!?
What a nerve!
Interesting. We'll show you!

OSCAR
OK. A deal then. Anyone confident (/with confidence) (in skills) come to the
parade ground!
Guns or swords, whichever is fine!

MEMBER
Alain, you're always our representative. Do it.
Teach that woman some lessons.

ALAIN
Nope. I decline this time, sorry.
I have a policy not to take on women. (or, My policy is not to take on women.)
You do it!

MEMBER
Is it OK? All right!!
Let's go, everyone! To the parade ground!

OSCAR
Listen! If I win, we'll do the troops review!
If I lose, I'll leave the French Guards immediately!

MEMBER
Sounds good.

OSCAR
I see.
Living up to the reputation of being rough.
You're certainly skilled.

OSCAR
I won.

MEMBER
Shit!

MEMBERS
You bitch!!
Get her!!

ALAIN
WAIT!
Wait everyone, wait.
A promise is a promise. We lost.
We'll obey but just a troops review.

MEMBER
(Tsk.) OK, Alain. If you say so.

ALAIN
However, Miss. Commander.
Don't (even) assume that everybody has accepted you.

OSCAR
I understand.

ALAIN
And one more thing.
This is really basic but...
We're not in the army to protect the nobles OR the Royal Palace.
To be exact, for our wages! To survive!
Keep that in mind, if you will.

DAGOUT
Right face!

NANNY
Welcome back, Madamoiselle.

OSCAR
A visitor? For me?

NANNY
Yes, he's been waiting all evening long.

GERODERE
It's been a while, Commander.

OSCAR
It was you, Gerodere!
What is it, suddenly?  Did something wrong happen in the Royal Guards?

GERODERE
No. I came to visit your father, General Jarjeyes, for a private request today.

OSCAR
My father?  I see.
Well, it's been a while. What about a little wine?
Nanny!

GERODERE
No, thanks. I'm leaving (now).

OSCAR
What, I heard that you were waiting for me.

GERODERE
Yes.  But once I was able to see your smile, I'm satisfied (for) tonight.
Maybe some other time.

OSCAR
Nanny, what did Gerodere come here for?

NANNY
Monsieur Gerodere said to the Master:
"I'd like to marry your daughter."

OSCAR
What!?

NANNY
And the Master answered:
"A good idea. I'll see to it."

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
Oscar was perplexed by a sudden marriage proposal.
It was arranged by her father, General Jarjeyes,
out of concern for his daughter in an unstable era.
Can parents become such fools for the love of their children?
Next time on Rose of Versailles: 
"You're the Light, I'm the Shadow".


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 Bruce Carlson     carlsn1@ix.netcom.com     Phoenix, AZ


