
The Rose of Versailles

Episode 34

"Now 'The Tennis Court Oath'"

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".
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NARRATION
In May, 1789, the voice and energy of the People that emerged from poverty
and dissatisfaction have won the convening of the Estates-General from the
Royal Family. But the assembly was in turmoil (rough) from the beginning, 
and never seemed to settle down. The delegates from the Third Estate had 
expectations for a new era. Yet the nobles and clergies tried to protect the 
old regime. The stormy discussion carried on without any break.

ALAIN
Robespierre is making an important speech today.

ANDRE
Robespierre is?
I see. He might be able to resolve the situation.

ROBESPIERRE
Gentlemen!
We are the delegates from the commoners which are 96% of France!
Thus, WE are the true representatives of France!
Our proposal to the delegates of the clergy and nobility is this:
You only have 4% representation in all France.
If you really would like to become the true representatives of France, you
have no choice but to cooperate with us, the Third Estate!

DELEGATES
Yes, join us!
You should work with us for France!
Stop representing the interest of some privileged class!
We'll let you become one of us!
Now, wake up! Your time is over!!

NOBLE
I agree!
I'll work with you!

ANDRE
Among the nobles, Marquis Lafayette and Duke Orleans' group joined the
commoners (Third Estate).

ALAIN
It's getting interesting.
If the Third Estate takes the control of the Estates-General, French
politics falls in hands of us commoners.
But it's a bit tiring.

ANDRE
Yeah, it's been a month and a half without any break.

ALAIN
Where is the Commander?

ANDRE
Probably patrolling.
She walked towards the Versailles Palace alone a short while ago.

ALAIN
Andre.

ANDRE
Yeah?

ALAIN
Your... Commander looks a bit pale.

ALAIN
I hope it's just from fatigue.

OSCAR
New France is being born from the Estates-General.
My duty is to protect the assembly and delegates for it to be successful.
Hang on, Oscar.

[coughs up blood]

[opening title]

{Episode 34: "Now 'The Tennis Court Oath' "}

NARRATION
On June 17th, the Third Estate, gaining strength by the merger of some
nobles and clergies, passed a resolution to declare themselves the
"National Assembly".

COMMONERS
Hurrah!
Hurrah!

LOUIS
'National Assembly'?
What do you mean by 'National Assembly'?

NOBLE
The peasants set it up by themselves, claiming they're the true
representatives of France, by ignoring the First (clergy) and Second
(nobility) Estates which constitute the Estates-General.

LOUIS
Uh... but I heard some nobles and clergy have joined the National Assembly.

NOBLES
They're no longer nobles nor clergy, but greedy horde who flatter the commoners.
Your Majesty, if the Estates-General continues on, the commoners' delegates
will take advantage of the situation!

OSCAR
Close the entrance to the Estates-General?!

BOUILLE
Close all the doors immediately.
This is an order from the King.

OSCAR
But the delegates won't be able to get inside!

BOUILLE
That's right. The Estates-General must be suspended.

OSCAR
That's odd.
The convening and dissolution of the Estates-General are decided by the
Estates-General (itself).
Even if it's an order from the King...

BOUILLE
That's why I told you to seal it!
His Majesty did not say it must dissolve.
I've handed you down the order, Brigadier Jarjeyes.
Seal as firmly as possible. Don't even let a kitten sneak in!

OSCAR
I don't mean to argue, General Bouille.
But the delegates are the legitimate representatives that French people
voted in elections.
Doing such thing is nothing but an insult to them.

BOUILLE
The people depend on His Majesty! So do the delegates! And us, nobles!
Isn't it so, Brigadier Jarjeyes?

OSCAR
But, Your Excellency!

BOUILLE
Stop, Oscar!
I didn't summon you to argue with you, but to give you an order.
Remember, it's not you or me who seal the assembly hall.
But it's His Majesty's will.
You can leave now.
I'll hear your report later.

OSCAR
Yes, Sir!

BOUILLE
Brigadier Jarjeyes!
How is your Father?

OSCAR
I haven't seen him for a while.

BOUILLE
I see.

OSCAR
Excuse me.

OSCAR
What should I do, Andre? Alain?

ALAIN
Don't worry, Commander.
We've been ordered. There's nothing we can do.
But the more dirty tricks they use, the more passionate we, the commoners,
will get.

CROWD
Hey, they're not allowing the delegates in.
They won't be able to discuss things!!
It's probably a plot of the Royal Family and the nobles! Damn!

ROBESPIERRE
Let me talk to (see) the person in charge.

ROBESPIERRE
Listen! The delegates here all came from distant regions, borrowing money
for carriage rides and saving lunch money.
We have NO time to waste!
Open the doors at once and let us get inside!
We have a mountain of problems to discuss!

MAN#1
Robespierre, it's no use talking to them.
They are just dummies obeying orders.

MAN#2
Let's gather at the Jeu de Paume then!

ROBESPIERRE
Jeu de Paume...

MAN#1
Yes! It's large enough [for this size of crowd]!

ROBESPIERRE
I see, the Jeu de Paume.
That's a good idea.
Everyone!
Let's go to the Jeu de Paume!

CROWD
Jeu de Paume!
Jeu de Paume!

NARRATION
Jeu de Paume...
Paume, a predecessor of tennis, became popular in France at that time.
Courts for the games were built in many areas of the country.

ROBESPIERRE
We were driven out of the assembly hall!
This is the real intention of the King and the nobles who surround him!
But no force can crush our National Assembly!
Everyone! Let us pledge with our hearts, hands, and our voices together as one!
Our National Assembly, run by the People for the People, will never dissolve 
until the day comes that Constitution for the People is enacted!

NARRATION
June 20th, 1789, this was the famous "Tennis Court Oath" which marked the
start of the French Revolution.

ALAIN
Wasn't I right, Commander?
The more those who were oppressed suffer, the more they become passionate.
You nobles never get that.

COLONEL
I'm Army Colonel Choisielle la Baume. I have the honor to direct the
entrance of the delegates today by command of General Bouille.

NARRATION
The King summoned the three Estates to assemble again in order to resolve
the chaotic situation.
And delegates could go in one by one through the only door that was unsealed.

COLONEL
Next, Bishop Fouche. Please enter.

COLONEL
Marquis Chatelet, please.
Count Dupla
Bishop Le Fevre
Count Colage
Baron Menier
Marquis Clair
Viscount Rossiar
Just a moment, please.
You are?

DELEGATE
Third Estate delegate, Caplegurne

COLONEL
Sorry but please wait until I call your name.

COLONEL
Next, Marquis Antoire, please.
Your name?

DELEGATE
Third Estate delegate, Gymnoire.

COLONEL
I'm sorry. Please wait.

NARRATION
Soon everyone realized its oddness.

CROWD
Hey, how come the Third Estate delegates can't go in?
Why are they all passed over?
They'll be soaked to the skin!
Yo! Let our delegates get inside now!!

COLONEL
Next, Bishop Maye!

OSCAR
Colonel Choisielle la Baume!
Why, why don't you call the Third Estate delegates?!

COLONEL
It's an order.
Only clergy and nobility can get in from the front entrance.
I was told to lead the Third Estate delegates to the back door.

OSCAR
What?!

COLONEL
Marquis Vienne!

OSCAR
Colonel la Baume, can't you see?
The people waiting here all soaked?

COLONEL
I'm just doing what I was ordered, Brigadier Jarjeyes.
You, too, sealed the doors as you were ordered.

COLONEL
What are you doing?!

ROBESPIERRE
Stop.

ROBESPIERRE
Don't, Monsieur Jarjeyes.
Getting wet doesn't bother us at all. Nor we feel chill from the rain.
Our passion never dies no matter how hard the rain hits.
Our pride of being here for being elected by the People, is solid whatever
insult or treatment we will face.
But let me make one point clear.
We are neither dogs nor beggars.
So, we will never go in though the back door.

COLONEL
Did you hear, Brigadier Jarjeyes?
They CHOOSE to be in the rain.
It's not my responsibilit...

OSCAR
All French Guards!
Open up all the front doors and guide the delegates inside!

ALAIN
All right!

COLONEL
Brigadier Jarjeyes!
Are you defying General Bouille's order?!

OSCAR
I don't mean to, Colonel la Baume.
Calm down and observe the crowd.
A riot will occur if they wait any longer in the rain.
As the person in charge of the security, I took necessary measures to avoid
a disaster.
Now, go back and report this to General Bouille!!

MEMBER
Commander, all the delegates have entered the assembly hall.

OSCAR
Well done.
Go back to your stations (positions?).

MEMBERS
Yes, Ma'am!

NOBLE
Is everything clear, Your Majesty?

NOBLES
This is a crisis for the monarchy.
Two hundred nobles have joined the commoners already, and they publicly
defy the Royal Family.
You must dissolve the National Assembly with your effort and dignity!!

LOUIS 
I... I summoned the Estates-General, not something called the "National
Assembly".
Thus, you should dissolve the National Assembly, and discuss separately
according to your class in Estates-General as before.

[silence]

LOUIS
Th-there...fore...
Therefore, everyone leave now!

BOUILLE
What?! Those rebels!

DELEGATES
We cannot obey the King's order!
Right!
We will neither dissolve nor leave!!
Right!

MESSANGER
They are sitting in!
The clergy and nobility left by the King's order,
but the National Assembly group will not budge!!

COLONEL
Is Brigadier Jarjeyes here?!
Is Commander of the French Guards Company B, Brigadier Jarjeyes here?!
I will relay the message from General Bouille.
Bring your men and report to the headquarters in Versailles immediately!

OSCAR
Wait here until I come back.

ALAIN
Commander, wait!
We were supposed to guard the assembly hall.
Why do they need us here?

OSCAR
I don't know why either.

ALAIN
I have a bad feeling about this.

ALAIN
Hey, Andre.
You go with her and see what's going on.

ANDRE
OK.

OSCAR
What is it?

ANDRE
I'll go with you.

COLONEL
You stay here.
Brigadier Jarjeyes, please.

BOUILLE
You and your French Guards Company B will be dismissed from the current
guarding duty.

OSCAR
Please tell me why!

BOUILLE
Why?
(Your action of) arbitrarily opening the front door of the assembly hall
would normally be considered as disobeying (defying?) my order.
You would have been arrested and court-martialed (tried in a military court).
But I'm forgiving you, and just dismissing you from the guarding duty.

OSCAR
I'm not afraid of the military court!

BOUILLE
Your father is an old friend of mine.
I didn't hear what you've just said.

OSCAR
I'd like to leave if that's all there is to tell me.
My men are waiting for me.

BOUILLE
No, you now have a new order!
Listen carefully.
The French Guards Company B will fully arm itself and immediately head back
to the assembly hall, and remove all the members of the National Assembly
faction!
Use force on those who resist, no matter what they say
If you must, you may open fire at them and kill them.

OSCAR
Fire...and kill them...
Your Excellency!
They are the representatives of the French People!
You're ordering me to point guns at them?!

BOUILLE
They're no longer the civil representatives!
They're mere rebels who defy His Majesty!

BOUILLE
Brigadier Jarjeyes, equip your men right away and head to the assembly hall.

OSCAR
I will NOT!

BOUILLE
Then you leave me no choice.
I will have to arrest you for treason.

BOUILLE
I will give my order directly to your men.
Don't let her step out from this room
until I give further instructions.

COLONEL
Yes, Your Excellency!

COLONEL
Don't move!
Stay away from the window. Face this way.

OSCAR
I will not resist.
I just want to see what's out the window, Colonel la Baume.

COLONEL
All right. Raise your hands then.

OSCAR
OK.

OSCAR
I want to see.
How my men will react to General Bouille's orders.

BOUILLE
French Guards Company B, fall in.

BOUILLE
All right, I give you my orders.
Company B will fully equip itself and charge into the Estates-General!
And remove all those who occupy the assembly hall illegally.

ALAIN
What?!

BOUILLE
Go back to the barracks, equip yourselves, and reassemble here in 10 minutes!
Why are you just standing, go now! Run!!

ALAIN
Wait, everybody!

ALAIN
We promised our Commander Oscar that we will wait here (for her)!
Don't move until she comes back!

BOUILLE
What are you all doing?!
Are you disobeying an order from the highest commander in the Army?!

ALAIN
I don't care if you're the highest commander.
Don't listen to what this jerk says!
Only our Commander can command us!!

GUARDS
Right, I'm staying with (squad leader) Alain!
Me, too!
I'm staying!
Me, too!

ALAIN
As you see, Your Excellency,
Alain de Soisson and 11 others are officially defying your order.

BOUILLE
All right!
I'll show you what military discipline is for!

BOUILLE
Your men are just as stubborn as you are.
You've trained them far too well!

OSCAR
Where have you taken them ?

BOUILLE
The prison of Abbey .
I will demand all 12 be shot to death in a military court.

OSCAR
Shot to death?!

BOUILLE
Brigadier Jarjeyes!
You don't have to worry about your men while you yourself are in trouble.
As for you, your military commission will be forfeited and you will be
detained in the army cell until His Majesty hands down a punishment.
Take her away!

OSCAR
General Bouille!

OSCAR
Punishing me will suffice.
But it's a big mistake to shoot (execute) those 12 men!

BOUILLE
No, they will serve as a warning to the others.
Any further breach of military discipline brews a crisis for the entire
French military.

OSCAR
And one more thing.
Charging into the assembly hall with armed force will leave an unforgivable
blemish on French History!

BOUILLE
I think what's more blemish is the sit-in by the National Assembly faction.
No need to worry. The Royal Guards will remove the rebels.

OSCAR
The Royal Guards?!

GUARD
What are you doing?!

OSCAR
(Sorry but) You'll have to let me go.

[Fight]

OSCAR
Andre-!!

ANDRE
Oscar!!

[Andre bursts into the room]

OSCAR
Andre!

ANDRE
Oscar!!

[Oscar and Andre escape]

OSCAR
Hurry, Andre!
The Royal Guards are charging into the assembly hall!
We have to stop them!
We have to!

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
Jarjeyes stood up to punish Oscar for a treason. A father who raised his
daughter dearly as a military officer. A daughter who was splitting apart
from her father despite her love and respect for him. Their love and hate
swirled between them...
Next Episode on the Rose of Versailles: 
"Oscar Now Splits Away." 

END

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


