The Rose of Versailles

Episode 32

"The Prelude to the Storm"

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


ALAIN
Draw (your sword)!
There's no way I can forgive you!

OSCAR
All right.
I guess it's useless to say anything (/talk).

ANDRE
Oscar...

[swordfight]

NARRATION
There was a man who sold his gun.  A man under Oscar's command in the French 
Guards Company B sold his gun to a pawn shop.  A soldier who sold a gun 
provided by the country would be shot, regardless of the reason.

MILITARY POLICE
This is Military Police!
Is there a man named LaSalle Dressel?

NARRATION
The companymen believed it was their commander's fault.
They thought Oscar sold him out to the authorities.

[sabre breaks]

[opening title]

OSCAR
Give up.
You can't win with your sword broken.

ALAIN
Nonsense.
For men, this is where the real fight always begins!

OSCAR in her mind
He's an able man!  I've never met someone this able before!
He's confident even after he broke his sword!

[The word Oscar used to describe Alian ("able") is "tsukaeru" in Japanese. I
t means "useful". Or, if you stretch it a bit, Alain can be called a good "ken
no tsukaite" (lit. sword user), meaning "experienced swordsman" or something
similar. Anyway, Oscar was really impressed with Alain as a real soldier.]

[Oscar drops her sword]

COMPANYMAN
Now, Alain! Alain, get her!

[Alain kicks the sword back to Oscar]

COMPANYMEN
Idiot! Alain, you've wasted (ruined) your chance!
Do it!  Her right hand must be still numb!!
What's wrong, Alain?!
Alain, you could almost...

ALAIN
SHUT UP!!
Stop rattling!
The fight is over. Unfortunately, I lost.

[Alain wounded under his jacket]

ALAIN
I don't want to say this after I lost but...
Please!
Think a bit about a man who'll be shot just for selling his gun (would ya?)
To tell the truth, I've sold my gun as well. And it wasn't just once or twice!
Unlike Lassar, not in a way that the Military Police would find out.
It's the same with all of us here.  Not only sabres, but some even sold off 
their uniforms! You know why?!  For a noble like you?
We've all got families. Hungry brothers and sisters are waiting at home!
Some of us save the meat and bread from the dinner here and hand them to the
families on the visitor's days.
Do you get it?! Even if we work, risking our lives, we can't feed our families!!
So take that into consideration while your nobles play at being a soldier.

BOUILLE
That's impossible.

OSCAR
Please...

BOUILLE
He was already arrested by the Military Police...

OSCAR
That's why I ask for your help, General Bouille.

BOUILLE
Hmm...

OSCAR
Please, excuse him because of Company B's performance
when they protected Duke Ardelos.

BOUILLE
Hmm...

OSCAR
Then, my subordinate's misconduct is his superior's responsibility...

BOUILLE
Wait, wait.
It's no good.  You're short tempered (just) like your Father.

DIANE
Brother!

ALAIN
Diane!

COMPANYMEN
Hey, Alain's younger sister is here!
Really?!

ALAIN
Diane, your eyes are sparkling today.
What is it?

DIANE
I'm getting married, Brother.
I'm going to marry!

ALAIN
I see.
Geez! Where did you get such a nice bastard?!

DIANE
He's tall like you.

ALAIN
How sassy!

DIANE
And...and he's really kind, too.
Thank you, Brother. For everything you've done for me.

ALAIN
Silly, no need to say that.

DIANE
I...I'll be so happy.

ALAIN
Of course, you will!
Hey, I'm going home on my next dayoff.
Make sure to show me your outrageous dude! OK?

DIANE
Yes, I promise.

DIANE
See you, Brother!

[poor guys, all broken hearted]

OSCAR
Did you see your Brother?

DIANE
Yes, I did.

DIANE
My Brother said, "Oscar" means "God and Sword" in Hebrew.
God and Sword... and a beautiful blond...
like the gods in the fresco paintings.

DIANE
What am I saying?
I'm sorry. Please excuse me.
Good-bye!

ANDRE
Congratulations, Alain!
I heard your sister is getting married.
Everyone seemed was heartbroken.
So she was everyone's favorite idol among Company B.
I don't think I've heard such cheerful news in such a long time.
What's wrong? You look as if your lover was stolen by another man.

ALAIN
Exactly. Frankly speaking, I don't know what to say.
It's so strange... I thought she was only a kid.
But she was a grown up before I knew it.

ANDRE
I see.
Even the bravest man in Company B has a soft spot, eh?

COMPANYMAN
Hey, Alain! Alain!!
LaSalle has come back!!

ALAIN
What?!

COMPANYMAN
He's back!
He was found innocent and acquitted from the Military Police!

LASSAR
I'm back!  It's been a while!

COMPANYMEN
Lassar!
My goodness! You're the first one ever to return
after being arrested by the Military Police!

LASSAR
The inqury was intense and a bit exhausting...

ALAIN
Lassar!

LASSAR
Squad Leader!
I've just returned (/got here?)!

ALAIN
Were you really acquitted?

LASSAR
For real. I'm not lying.
That woman commander settled the matter with the Military Police
through General Bouille.

COMPANYMEN
That woman commander?
So, it wasn't that woman who sold you to the Military Police?
I see.  I didn't know that.

OSCAR
What is it?

ALAIN
Lassar came back.

OSCAR
I see...

ALAIN
Thank you.
And I'm sorry.

OSCAR
Don't be.

ALAIN
Now I can sell my gun openly.
Take care of me when I get caught, would ya?

OSCAR
What?!

ALAIN
Just a joke!
See ya!

OSCAR
Andre!

ANDRE
Yes, Ma'am!

OSCAR
You have tonight off, don't you?

ANDRE
Yes.

OSCAR
Then come with me. I'm going to thank General Bouille for today.
Dress in proper uniform. You'll be representing the Company.

ANDRE
Aye!

OSCAR
Take us to Paris.

ANDRE
Why Paris? General Bouille's estate is...

OSCAR
He's at the Opera House tonight.

ALAIN
I don't see Andre. Where's he?

COMPANYMEN
He went to Paris with the Commander.
Yeah, showing off by riding in a noble's gaudy carriage.

ALAIN
Going to Paris in a noble's carriage?
That's dangerous.
There are plenty of Mobs roaming around in Paris attacking nobles
wherever they find them.
All right. I'm in! (or, I'm finished! ?)

COMPANYMEN
(You've done it) Again! All right! It's for Diane's wedding gift!
Moron! We're collecting it separately (from this).
What?! You can't do that!
What's the big deal?

MAN
Did you see that? It's a noble's carriage!

[riot]

MAN
They're nobles! Drag them out!!

MAN
Come out!!

OSCAR
Wait! Andre is not a noble!!

OSCAR
Andre!!

ANDRE
Oscar!!

OSCAR
Andre is not a noble!
Don't harm that man!!

{Opera House}

OFFICER
Your Excellency (Bouille).

OFFICER
A report just came in saying there's a riot in the St. Antoine District.
It might be better for you to cut it short and to come back to Versailles 
to avoid risks any danger.

BOUILLE
All right, I will.
Colonel, you brought your platoon, didn't you?

FERSEN
Yes, Sir.

BOUILLE
Then you don't have to guard me anymore.
Go suppress the riot.

FERSEN
Understood, Sir!
Give me more detail about the situation.

OFFICER
About 200 people armed with clubs attacked a noble's carriage in the St. 
Antoine District.  The report said the crest on the carriage was a blue lion 
holding a sword.

FERSEN
What?!  A blue lion holding a sword?

OFFICER
Yes, Colonel Fersen!

FERSEN in his mind
That's the crest of the Jarjeyes Family.
Could it be... Oscar?!

FERSEN
Army Cavalry Division, the 105th Platoon!
Advance to the St.Antoine District!

MAN
One escaped!!

CROWDS
Don't let him escape!!
Kill him!!
Get him!!

FERSEN
Back off, rabble!

MAN
Shit, the army is here!

FERSEN
Oscar!!

[Fersen takes Oscar to a alley] 

FERSEN
Oscar! Hang on, Oscar!!

OSCAR
Fersen...!

FERSEN
Good... at least, you're safe.

OSCAR
Andre... Where is Andre?!
ANDRE!!

FERSEN
Wait, Oscar!
They'll get you if you go out again!

OSCAR
Let me go! Andre is...
My Andre is in danger!!

FERSEN
What? "MY Andre"?
All right.
You stay here.
I'll rescue your...
YOUR Andre.

OSCAR
My...Andre...?

FERSEN
Andre!
Andre!!

MAN
Hang him! Hang the noble!

[gun shot]

FERSEN
Listen mobs, with your ears cleared!
My name is Hans Axel von Fersen!

MOBS
Hans Axel von Fersen?
Fersen...Oh!! He's Antoinette's lover!!
Right, he's the playboy-Fersen!!

MAN
Everyone, get him! Hang him first!!

MAN
Don't let him escape!!

[Jarjeyes']

NANNY
Mademoiselle, I've brought you a hot chocolat.

OSCAR
Merci.

NANNY
What an awful experience it must have been.
I'm too scared and can no longer go shopping alone in Paris.

OSCAR
How is Andre's injury?

NANNY
He got 36 bruises all over his body!
But he says he wants to return to the barracks within 3 days.

OSCAR
I see...
But I'm glad that his injury was lighter than I expected. Really...

NANNY
It's been quite a while since you last had a vacation day off.

OSCAR
Oh, yeah. What wound shall I get for my next vacation?

NANNY
Mademoiselle, you, too, had 12 bruises!
How can you joke like that... Excuse me!

OSCAR
Nanny, your chocolat is delicous... tres bien...

[flashback]

OSCAR
Let me go! Andre is...
My Andre is in danger!!
My Andre is in danger!!

ANDRE
I just received a message, saying Count Fersen returned to the army barracks
safely last night.
(or, I just received a message: Count Fersen returned to the army barracks 
safely last night.)

OSCAR
I see.
How about a chocolat?

ANDRE
No, thanks.

OSCAR in her mind
If this was before, I'd definitely have gone to rescue Fersen from the mob.

[knocks]

COMPANYMEN
Isn't it odd?
Something must have happened.

OSCAR
Alain?

DAGOUR
Yes, he took a leave to attend his sister's wedding about a week ago.
But he hasn't come back since.  He's never been absent without leave before.

COMPANYMEN
But it's strange.  He didn't even come to get his pay check.
Wasn't his mother sick?  He said her medicine cost a lot.
Hmm, I wonder what happened.

ANDRE
Oscar, could you give me a pass?
I want to take Alain's pay to him.

OSCAR
Wait, Andre.
I'll go, too.

ANDRE
#26 Bourbon Street.
It's around here.

WOMAN
Are you going to Alain's room?

ANDRE
Yes, we are.

WOMAN
Then tell Alain to do something about this smell!

ANDRE
Smell?

WOMAN
Right. He probably bought too much cheap meat!
If he'd let it rot, he could have shared it with his neighbors, for God's sake!

ANDRE
I do kind of smell something weird.

ANDRE knocks
Alain!  It's Andre!
I came to hand you your salary.
Alain, I'm coming in.

[Have you ever smelled a rotten flesh?]

ANDRE
Are you Alain's mother?

MOM
Yes...

ANDRE
Alain...Where is Alain?

MOM
He's by Diane's side since....
There's no caring brother like Alain...

[Diane's dead body on her bed]

MOM
Diane was betrayed by the man.
He was a poor noble. But the day before the wedding, he suddenly got a proposal
from a rich man's daughter,  and he jilted my daughter!
My daughter loved him, believed in him, and dedicated everything she had
(to him).
He dumped her as if he's throwing out cold coffee that was left over.
It must have been painful, when she hung herself!!

ALAIN
Sorry, but I can't return to the French Guards for a while.
Her tender smile and cheeful voice are forever gone.
Until I can convince myself, I'll stay here.
I'll stay by her side!!

CROWD
The Estates-General! The Estates-General!
The Estates-General to Our Hands!
The Estates-General!
Send Our Comrades to the State-General!

NARRATION
The Estates-General to Our Hands...
The Estates-General...
It was the movement to send delegates from the Third Estate to the Assembly, 
commoners who were neither nobles nor clergy.  The death of Diane, Alain's 
sister, didn't seem to be related to the change of era.
But Oscar had foreboding cross her mind:
Those who are beloved, beautiful, and should stay alive, suddenly become lost f
orever one day.
Perhaps the new age is such a tragic era...

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
The Estate-General was about to convene.
It was the twilight of one era.
The Crown Prince Louis-Joseph had only short time left for him.
Oscar was concerned about him, and she wishes for his one last happy occasion.
Next time on Rose of Versailles: 
"A Funeral Bell Tolls in the Twilight".


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


