The Rose of Versailles

Episode 37

"On the Night of Passionate Vows"

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"
 Bernard Chatelet is spelled with a circumflex ^ over the 'a'.
**********************************************************************


[NOTE on the Title:
On the Night of Passionate Vows
(or, On the Night of Pledge (Vow/Oath) with Passion)
probably double meaning here. 1) pledge of the citizens to defeat the Royal
Army 2) and of course, the promise of Oscar and Andre]

ANDRE monologue
The morning of July 12th, 1789:
The finance minister, Mr. Jacques Necker was dismissed yesterday.
A false rumor of a massacre of patriots spread and people began to arm
themselves. There's no distinction between day and night in Paris.
People carry sticks, swing knives, and run around the back alleys.
100,000 soldiers gathered in Paris build bonfires and yell at the citizens.
Such restraint... is this the sign of the new age?
Something for the bright tomorrow?
I don't know. I'm lost.
I'll see the final phase of an era with my eye.
With my right eye, which has become almost blind...

[opening title]

{Episode 37: On the Night of Passionate Vows}

[flashback]

LASSONNE
Ah, it's you, Lady Oscar.

OSCAR
Doctor Lasonne, sorry to bother you late at night but I'd like you to
examine me.

[finishes examination]

OSCAR
I'm ready, Doctor. Please tell me the truth.
I'd like to know clearly about myself.

LASSONNE
You seem to have a long lasting cold but there's nothing to worry about.

OSCAR
I've coughed out blood several times.
I know that I have a lung disease.
What I want to know is how long I have to live.

LASSONNE
Tuberculosis is not an incurable disease.
It was cured naturally in good air and quiet environment in several cases.

OSCAR
Doctor, I don't want to die.
But if the day comes eventually, I'd like to live the best I can.
Freely, following my heart.

LASSONNE
I've served as the Jarjeyes' family doctor for many years.
I can remember the fever you had when you were 3 years old as if it
were yesterday.
I must tell you then.
Quit the military now and return to a quiet estate.
Think of nothing, no work, (do nothing) but bathe in sunlight and pray (lit.
"wait") for God's providence!
You live half a year at the longest!!

OSCAR
Merci, Doctor Lassone. I thank you.

LASSONNE
Lady Oscar, how is Andre's condition?
I'm worried about him since he hasn't come to me lately.

OSCAR
Andre? Andre's condition?

LASSONNE
Andre (who is your servant) hasn't told you yet?
[He sounds as if it is a duty of a servant to report to his master
about his health.]

OSCAR
What do you mean? Please tell me!

LASSONNE
It is only a matter of time before Andre Grandier loses his eye sight!

OSCAR
Andre...

NARRATION
Blacksmiths started making spears instead of hammering horseshoes.
Bakers sold old weapons (displayed in showwindows) instead of kneading dough.
Small groups at street corners gathered at squares to form larger crowds.

CROWD
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
Hurrah!

NANNY
Mademoiselle, when will you be back today?

OSCAR
I don't know. I might stay overnight at the barracks.

NANNY
Then you must send a messenger to Armand, the painter.
He has an appointment this afternoon to finish up the portrait.

OSCAR
Ah, yes, that's right.
All right. I'll come back as soon as I can.
Make him wait for me.

COMPANYMEN
Hey, Company A was armed (/equipped) and dispatched today.
Yeah, I heard about it.
Won't our Company B be dispatched soon, too?
Armed for a battle? With whom?
Of course, with armed citizens.
That's the last thing I want to do.
Well, can't help it. That's what we're being paid for.
No doubt about it. Don't worry. We won't be dispatched.
I sure hope so.

OSCAR
It's quiet today.

DAGOUT
That's because the entire Company A was armed and dispatched to Paris.
Paris is in an uproar since this morning.
Even women and children brought out brooms and clubs, raising
queer cries from square to square.

OSCAR
Any casualties?

DAGOUT
Not at this point.
100,000 soldiers are scowling (at them) anyhow.
Even if they arm themselves, their weapons are old guns, improvised spears
and such.
They haven't defied the army yet.
Dispatching the Company A was just preparing for the worst.

OSCAR
Our Company B will (also) be dispatched if the situation gets worse.

DAGOUT
I think so.
The (Regiment) HQ informed me that it's not necessary for Company B to
patrol Paris today.

OSCAR
I see. They said to stand by.

DAGOUT
Yes, Ma'am.

OSCAR
Thanks.

DAGOUT
Excuse me!

DAGOUT
Commander.

DAGOUT
You look pale, and seem to be worn out.
Please return to your mansion (/estate) and stand by, if you'd like.
I'll send you a messenger if something happens.

OSCAR
What do you mean? I'm all right.

DAGOUT
My wife died last year, of lung disease.
So, I can tell! I noticed it long ago.
So, please do as I said!

OSCAR
Thank you, Colonel Dagout. I'll do as you said.

ANDRE
Hey, Alain. What is it?

ALAIN
Miss. Commander wants you.

ANDRE
Oscar?

[Oscar's office. She is standing silently by the wall. Andre enters and
addresses the empty chair]

ANDRE
Andre Grandier, coming in!
Did you need me, Commander?

ANDRE
The situation in Paris is worsening.
As if the voices of the people could be heard from here!
Oscar?
Oscar?

ANDRE
She called me here, and she's not in.

OSCAR in her mind
Andre, you can't even see me?

OSCAR
Andre!
Did you go to my room (/office)? Sorry, I was somewhere else.

ANDRE
That's OK.

OSCAR
There's no more work today, just awaiting orders.
Let's go home together.

ANDRE
But if we await orders, I should stay with the others.

OSCAR
Accompany me, once in a while.
It's no longer safe on the way home, you know.

NARRATION
In the afternoon, growing groups finally began to move.

MUSICIAN
The waves of People echo thunderously for Freedom.
No one can stop it now.
Waves can change even the shape of huge rocks on the shore.
Freedom, Equality, and Fraternity!
See our flags flutter!
The River Seine, never forget this day!
The waves that shape the history!!

NARRATION
The crowd broke through areas scantily guarded by the military.
Food storage of traders by the Seine was raided to fill their stomachs.
Seeking for guns next, they headed toward mansions and storage of arms
traders in Paris.

PAINTER
Excuse me. Please open your eyes.

OSCAR
Sorry.

PAINTER
It'll be finished soon.
When I finish your sapphire eyes, everything is complete.

PAINTER
It's finished.

[commercial break]

PAINTER
It's finished.

JARJEYES
She is dressed as Mars, the God of War in the myths.

PAINTER
Exactly.
She's calm as the surface of water, but she's a burning fire inside,
heading to the battlefield.
That's what I saw in her.

PAINTER
If this is not satisfactory, I'd like to take it home and keep it as my
treasure.

JARJEYES
That's not necessary.
Wonderful! It looks as if another Oscar is there.

PAINTER
I haven't put all my effort into a work like this for years.

NANNY
Andre, what's wrong? You should come here and see it, too!

ANDRE
Yeah, I will...

ANDRE
Beautiful... beyond comparison.
As if your shining smile draws all the light in the world.
The laurels on your blond hair are especially brilliant!

OSCAR in her mind
Andre, don't force yourself.
I know you're blind.
I'm not crowned with laurels in that portrait.

ANDRE
(I see) a white rose...no, it's (/an entire field) full of roses!
But where? Yeah, it's the forest near the spring of Arras!
Isn't it, Oscar?

OSCAR
That's right, Andre.
Armand (the painter) said he went all the way to Arras to sketch.

ANDRE
A wonderful painting!
Your grace, dignity, and joy...everything is shown expressed!
I'll never forget your beauty in this painting. Never.

OSCAR
Thank you, Andre. Thank you...

ALAIN
Commander!
I have a report from Colonel Dagout!

OSCAR
Alain, you came...

[Her line suggests she didn't expect Alain to come.
Seems like she immediately realized its importance]

ALAIN
Report!
There was an order from headquarters:
"At 8 (o'clock) tomorrow morning, the French Guards Company B shall be equipped
itself and advance to Tuileries Square (Place Tuileries).
Suppress the armed rioters in cooperation with other regiments."

OSCAR
The order, after all.
[I don't know if this line conveys the nuance in Japanese. She sounds like
she was afraid to hear the order, but unavoidably, it came eventually.]

ALAIN
Indeed!

OSCAR
Thanks. Go on back to barracks. I'll soon follow.

[stable]

ANDRE (thinking it's Oscar)
The saddle is ready. We can leave anytime.

ANDRE
Master, please pardon me.

JARJEYES
Andre.

ANDRE
Yes, Sir.

JARJEYES
I heard you'll depart (for Paris) tomorrow.

ANDRE
Yes.

JARJEYES
Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I'll be dispatched, too.
(or, I'll also be dispatched sooner or later.)

JARJEYES
There's a chance that we'll never meet again.

ANDRE
Yes...

JARJEYES
I just want to tell you one thing.
If you were a noble, I definitely would have allowed you to marry Oscar.
No, I'd have blessed you with all my heart!

JARJEYES
Don't die, Andre.
Promise me that you'll come back!

ANDRE
Of course, Master!

[countryside]

MOB
Let's go to Invalides!
To Invalides!
To Invalides!
  [Invalides: Originally, a home for disabled soldiers built by Louis XIV.
  An armory at this time. (Now a war museum.)]

OSCAR
Invalides?
I see, it has arms and ammunition.

MOB
Soldiers of the Royal Army!
Get their weapons!

OSCAR
Andre, stay near me!

MAN
Get them!!

OSCAR
Andre!

OSCAR
Andre!
Andre!
Andre!!

CITIZEN
We have so few arms and ammunition compared to the Royal Army!
But if the Army fires and tries to suppress us with force, we will fight!
Since we have the support from 96% of all the French citizens!!

MAN
Right!

CITIZENS
And each of us has a passionate courage and wrath that even repels bullets!

VOICE
Right!!

OSCAR
Not this way. Let's make a detour.

OSCAR
How's your head injury, Andre?

ANDRE
Yeah, I'm all right. Nothing serious.

OSCAR
How dare you keep on deceiving me.

OSCAR
Your right eye. I heard from Dr. Lassone.
You're nearly blind, aren't you?

OSCAR
We should go back to the mansion. I can't take you to Paris tomorrow.
You go back to Nanny and I'll go back to the barracks alone.

OSCAR
Please do, Andre. Nothing should happen to you.

ANDRE
I'll go with you, Oscar.
Like I always did, and I always will.
I'm always with you.

OSCAR
Andre... I was in love with Fersen.
Knowing you loved me, I still loved Fersen.
Would you still love someone like me?

ANDRE
Everything (you are)... with all my life (as long as I live).

OSCAR
Andre, Andre!
I love you, too, with all my heart...!

ANDRE
I knew it from long ago.
No, even before I was born...

OSCAR
Andre Grandier...with you, I can be alive.
No, I WANT to be alive!

NARRATOR
Now Oscar was Andre Grandier's wife.

[Jarjeyes' residence]

JARJEYES
Oscar, I forgot to say good-bye to you.
No, it's only natural, since you're coming back (here).

JARJEYES
Live, Oscar! As your heart tells you!

NANNY
Master...

NANNY
Mademoiselle told me to hand this to you, Master.

JARJEYES
Would you please read it for me?

NANNY
Yes...

JARJEYES
What's wrong? Read it.

NANNY
There's only one line!

JARJEYES
One line?

NANNY
"Thank you very much for your love and mercy on a daughter like me."

JARJEYES
Why, Oscar? (or, What are you saying, Oscar?)
You sound as if you're bidding farewell.

JARJEYES
I won't! I won't let you do that, Oscar!!

[This is the last appearance of Jarjeyes in this series. In the manga, he
appears in front of an imprisoned Antoinette, offering a plan to escape.
and that's where the author found his name.]

[ending title]

NEXT EPISODE:
After all the hardships, Oscar and Andre were now wed.
[In Japanese, it suggests the "bond" of matrimony. In plain language,
I think it just means premarital sex.]
They both stood up to open up the doors leading to a new world.
But a bullet of a Royal Army soldier pierced though Andre's chest.
Next time on Rose of Versailles:
"Before the Door of Destiny". 

END

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



