The problem with reflections is that most of them tell the truth.
God chose me to be king,
yet here I stand undermined at every turn.
People do not yet see you as you should be seen, Sire.
They will.
What do you wish for from me, Montcourt?
In a downpour, one seeks shelter under the largest tree.
In the north, there is no one stronger,
no one more powerful, no one more resolute
than the mighty oak Cassel.
I'm a refugee from this royal deluge, and I need protection, my Lord.
I am your servant.
Servant...
Behold the divine right of kings and it's gifts.
This is your king's new law
Stripping away the dignity of a true noble,
defiling the reputation of a man whos family forms the bedrock of this country.
Now once, not long ago, we knew where we stood,
But now we must prove ourselves, now we must sing for our suppers.
Now the king says "I am France",
but I say it is we who are France.
Our dear friend Montcourt's condition is a message.
The king shall have his reply.
This new playground in the woods the king obsesses over
He sees Versailles, nothing else. He's forgotten who built this country.
If were we to remove this new distraction, the king might recover himself,
and Versailles could return to the weeds, the king to Paris
and we, to our lands and our lives.
A noble cause indeed.
You would persuade the king by force?
He's lost his mind. No appeal to reason will do.
The future of France lies with it's noble families.
You wish my protection, Montcourt?
I serve My Lordship with my life.
Indeed you will.
What kind of man do you think I am?
Sire?
- Am I merciful? - If you desire it.
- Vengeful? - If conditions merit.
- All things then, to all people? - Equally and without condition.
- As a king, I ask as a man. - You are both.
We cannot separate one from the other.
When I send my brother to war, I do so as a king.
Should he die there, I would mourn him as a man.
It is as a man I would gain favour in the eyes of another.
As a king I cannot.
You are forever in our favour, Sire.
You think Montcourt feels the same?
A king will be resented, as much for good deeds as for bad.
The jacket fits well, Sire.
I do not like this mirror.
- Well, well! - Majesty!
My dear Rohan, you have returned
You see, I always do what you say
- I've missed you. - And I you.
There are more pretty women here than I remember.
Your memory is failing you, friend. You are getting old.
- I can only be myself. - Well, that I already know.
But, I have learned my lesson, and I return to you atoned, anew
and at your service, Sire.
I saw the plans for the stable.
And?
Well, either we're doing a very large amound of hunting,
or you're building something quite different here.
- A palace, perhaps? - A city.
I wish you luck, gentlemen.
France thanks you.
- How is my queen? - Much better, thank you.
Change your clothes.
The season for mourning has passed. You are to resume your official duties
I Will do as you ask, of course.
We are to receive a guest at court. You are to host him personally.
Shower your attentions on them
with your customary warmth and grace.
Who is this person, so I might prepare myself with conversation?
Are they Spanish, perhaps?
Prince Annaba.
You have my word.
I will depend on it.
Sire, if I may be so bold,
I believe Her Majesty has met our visitor once before.
Yes, in Paris.
Why then would you compel the queen once more
into a private audience with him?
The lands of Africa are a locked room
and our Prince Annaba may hold the key
We have learned from our missionaries to the Senegal River
there is wealth in these regions, beyond all measure.
Its people and its trade will be the foundations of our future,
will fund a thousand wars, a hundred palaces.
Then we must win Africa.
And the only question is how?
And the queen?
Is helping us.
How do I look?
I dressed you myself. How do you think I think you look?
Talking of which, who puts a dwarf in a drainpipe?
What are you talking about?
I mean, if the little man was sad, he might have done it himself.
Or do you think the queen tired of him?
Perhaps he was trying to mend the king's fountains
and restore himself to favour, and shoved himself in there like a cork,
only to pop up, and float, and scare the young people.
You have too much time on your hands!
You should come with me to the front.
Are you inviting me? To a war?
Oh, how romantic.
- Are you mad? - Not any war.
My war.
Your brother says one thing and does another. I would not hold your breath.
But, if you ever do go, I shall remain here, naturally,
to insure that your place at court remains assured.
Is that so?
How generous of you, to ensure my place!
- You look handsome. - I already told him.
You did not, in fact.
Husband, is there news?
Not yet.
Bontemps!
I have a sword, armour and a horse.
Why the delay? When will I go to war?
The king has not yet set a date.
What am I supposed to do until then?
Perhaps he will send you instead.
- I'd be happy to serve, of course. - Naturally!
Do you really think he does not see you exactly as you are?
Oh, he sees me. And he enjoys it.
That, my dear, is what divides us.
At least when your husband is gone, I'll know where to find you.
If you come to my rooms, I will not answer.
Naturally, I would not think to seek you there,
just as I would not seek the king at the chambers of her majesty.
I know how very much you enjoy swimming.
I might find you at the pool house, for example.
I hear it's very popular for young lovers of nature.
You are warned, sir.
Constantly, my dear.
Nice house.
Honored guest of the king
Annaba, Prince of Assinie.
Son to the king of Eguafo,
inheritor of the Coast of Ivory and Teeth, Lord of the Sky.
My brother, Kobina.
Prince Annaba, you will accompany me, please, uh, alone.
Your brother will accompany Mr Marchal.
And my friends?
Will bask in the full warmth of the king's hospitality.
Are you sure?
It's beautiful!
Thank you.
Ah, so handsome!
How can he be handsome if he is black?
How can he not?
You are so odd!
I hear his lands have rivers of gold.
How far is it to the trees?
Majesty, as requested it is done.
Prince Annaba's suitably ill at ease.
Good! Make him wait.
I received word that my good friends, the Parthenays
are riding to Versailles from their estates, in the south.
- Little Françoise is coming? - With her husband and family.
How time has flown.
The Parthenays are well-regarded in the South.
As a favor to me, they are riding here
to submit their noble credentials as an example to the rest.
We will ensure the Gazette reports on this.
Perhaps also strike a medal, Colbert?
The political arithmetic will auger great things to come.
"The great nobles of the South submit their credentials to the king."
That'll do it.
"The king receives the credentials from the nobles of the South."
That sounds better, don't you think?
That's a lot of shit!
But only the very finest shit from the king's horses in the Louvre.
I, um...
Speak. What is on your mind?
On my way back here through the woods
I came across an old man cooking a rat by a stream.
At first I thought he was just an old tramp, but, uh...
But you recognized him?
From the court of your father.
He fought against him.
During the rebellion?
- Yes, well, had they been successful... - You would be dead.
One day, I would very much like to know more about my father.
Good day, Prince Annaba.
Good day to you,
Highness.
Such a pleasure to see you again.
What's wrong? You're shaking.
Many reasons.
You, us, him, the Chevalier.
- The Chevalier makes you tremble? - He scares me,
the way he looks at me, the way he talks about you, my husband.
You remember when you were 16?
You stepped on a rose. Your foot was bleeding.
You kissed my toes.
I took the pain away.
In an instant!
Nothing has changed.
I will always make sure of it.
Your arms protect me now, but when I am alone...
You have nothing to worry about, when it comes to the Chevalie,
or your husband.
I am your safe harbor.
You protect me from the waves?
Even as they roll over us.
Even as the tide takes me.
He is ready for you now.
Would you come this way, please.
Prince Annaba of Assinie, you are welcome at my court.
Versailles is more beautiful than I could imagine.
May I present to you my brother, Philippe, the Duke of Orléans,
his wife Henriette of England,
Colbert, first minister of my cabinet,
Mademoiselle de la Vallière.
You've already met my wife.
When I hosted a party here a few years ago,
we did not have the room to accomodate my friends.
Most of them had to take rooms in town. So, I'm building some myself.
400 apartments, all told.
Where are the workers?
They are currently engaged in the planning stages
of a particularly dangerous part of construction.
We can return tomorrow to see them engage with the labor.
I would like that very much.
Tell me about the countries of Africa.
When do we negotiate?
Prince Annaba, in France we have a different way of doing things.
Perhaps I've made a mistake.
Perhaps I should go and talk to the Dutch, the Spanish, the English.
All are keen to discuss the future.
You're not enjoying our hospitality?
Hmm! There is a great deal of it!
And more besides, as you shall see tonight.
- What happens then? - Then, I shall sit down with you.
I have no explanation.
I'm so very sorry, Mr Marchal.
Half the shipments lost and 4 men dead.
The king is missing
gold, marble, stone and wine.
This is becoming a pattern.
Appearance is everything.
Everything!
Do you not understand? Has anyone been listening to a word I've said?
He's a guest in my house,
and so far has show me more grandeur in his clothing than I can show him in my palace.
A shipment of marble and stone went missing on the road, Sire.
Naturally, the men cannot work without materials.
Missing? Did this marble dispatch itself into the woods alone?
There are thieves on the road, Sire.
There have always been thieves on the road.
You think our man had his pocket picked?
This is organized. This is sabotage!
The more we build, the more we need. The more we need,
the greater number of goods we transport to Versailles
and the more likely these moments are.
And these moments build to movements. Before we know it our lands are on fire.
We cannot build without foundations.
- Sire... - The king's road is sacrosanct!
Sacred ground, protected and secure.
And if it is not, then the fabric of the country is torn,
and noone will know where they are.
Whoever did this is declaring war.
I will take my men and ride to the roads, set up patrols.
- At once! - Yes, Sire.
Wait!
You would countermand His Majesty?
With war upon us, we don't have enough men!
Protecting the king is our priority. I will handle the roads.
Make sure your men are of quality.
I need them as my eyes and ears.
My name is Madame de Beauvais.
Your mother sent me.
I'm your new tutor.
What will you teach me, Madame de Beauvais?
Call me Catherine.
Shall I order the workers back to the scaffolding, Sire?
Yes.
Yes of course.
- Even if they pretend to work. - Sire?
Where is my brother?
Our visitor has inspired me.
I think I require more color.
How does one dress for war?
- The purple one, or the red? - The red, of course.
- I like the purple. - Me too.
That's why I said red.
Philippe, when you do leave, please make sure to come back.
- I can't promise that. - Say the words.
If I were to die, your life would be simple, would it not?
My problems will never be solved, you know that.
And in any case, I would rather you did not die.
- You say the sweetest things, poppet. - I mean it.
Since we were small,
my dream has been war.
Yours has been my brother.
Look how lucky we are.
Perhaps one day we will both live our dreams.
We may have war, or we may have splendor,
but I do not believe that we can have both.
Then it must be war.
All who surround you will smile and they will deal,
but they would all see you destroyed, Sire.
You are the king of our future.
The only question is, what kind shall it be?
You dream of paradise,
but you must build it for yourself.
Been dressed like this since I was 3 months old,
so that I would not be the cloud in front of the sun.
Amen.
I thought if I began my departure, you might sanction it.
Think you've blessed me quite enough now, thank you.
I do not understand.
I await your word, brother.
And when I can await no more, I ask for deliverance from my God.
Which one are you?
I think I might be a horse. At least, that's what I've been told.
Brother...
You want me to be serious?
Stay close to your bodyguard at all times.
You leave today.
I will bring you glory.
I vow it.
May God watch over you and bring you home safely.
Go, then.
Run to her.
You have my blessing.
God knows you don't need a priest for that.
- Sophie, my dear? - Yes?
Your help, if you please. A moral quandary.
Mmhmm! I will do my best.
If someone I adore fucks someone else
without my express consent,
is it not right and just for parity to be restored
that I fuck someone of my own choosing?
Mmhmm.
I tried to ask Bishop Bossuet on the issue, but he was most unforthcoming.
- I... - Sophie, do... do not answer.
No, she has the answer, look, all over her face.
Enough teasing!
We should count our lucky stars.
So many families have been thrown out of court.
None had papers in place.
Well, even so, I suppose none of them had anyone to vouch for them.
These are the laws we must all now comply with.
Well, at least we have our Chevalier.
Hmmm, why are you being so nice to me?
My Own folly!
I know in my heart you will use us up and cast us out like all the rest.
Naturally!
But I will watch out for you in all this madness, have no fear of that.
Especially you, my pretty!
-Sophie! -Oh!
Come at once!
Hand me that trowel!
Mixture's too thick, water it down!
Sophie.
- Her name is Sophie. - That's a death wish.
Better to die for something you believe in, right?
What did you say your name was again?
Benoît, sir.
Jacques.
What's a gardener doing up here?
The view, helps me measure the lines of the garden.
And the girls who walk in it.
Be careful with that business.
- Think of your future, eh? - I am.
If your friends, the Parthenays, prove as meaningful as I believe they might,
once they visited, and shown their loyalty,
we could persuade much of the south to comply.
Leaving who?
The north and east.
Who defies me there?
The Duke of Cassel, Sire, to my mind,
commands great influence in the north and east,
half the nobility are in his debt.
His family have occupied those lands since before memory.
He is our keystone, then.
If we extract him from the wall, the entire structure is demolished.
If we do not, the collapse shall be ours.
He does not heed our letters, Sire. We've had no response.
Send him a gift - my portrait -
with a messenger alongside an order to comply with our laws.
He shall supply his proof of nobility or suffer the consequence,
to which, all of France shall bear witness.
A messenger from the king,
bearing gifts.
How very kind. Would you like some champagne?
Louis the Great commands your presence to court.
You are required by his word to present proof of your nobility.
Really?
I should warn you, Kobina,
the king is throwing an entertainment in our honor,
but we are not here to enjoy ourselves.
For as long as we leave alive, I don't care.
To be sure,
Chevalier indeed possesses more influence than I first thought,
but these chambers are much smaller than our previous ones.
Do you know what I love most about being here?
No, what?
The Noise. All the hustle and bustle of the court.
How do I look?
You're not going out in that, young lady!
Huh!
Mother, please do not fuss.
Fuss! This is not a game.
This is my job, to ensure it is you who catches the king's eye.
Look into the glass.
What do you see?
I... see... me.
This is not a time not for women, this is a time for men.
But even the wisest king in the world can be rendered a fool by something so fair.
You may never be a queen, but with it, you may live like one.
I do believe
you are the fairest of them all.
Good luck everybody.
Hmm, I adore your perfume.
I'm not wearing any.
It must be hard mothering a child by yourself.
I do what I can.
You must find it hard being so far away from your husband and children.
I find the absence is not painful unless someone mentions it.
That's a very beautiful dress, and it's wrapped around quite a lovely creature.
Why, thank you!
The king wished to sit down with me tonight to negotiate.
- And sit you shall. - He negotiates in public?
- You would have us send everyone to bed? - If that's what it takes.
- You have a woman? - My wife lives in Paris.
- With you? - I live with the king.
- Now I am confused. - Wherever the king sleeps, I sleep.
Ah, this is as far as I go.
His bed must be very crowded.
Brother, we're not wanted here. Better we retire.
Brother,
the negotiations have just begun.
Please husband, don't toy with him this way.
I believe I have the measure of this game.
Apparently so!
Alas, fortune at this table does not favour us tonight.
So, let's play.
What are you doing?
Winning!
There is a spring in your step.
And a group of worried faces in my path.
Your Majesty, urgent business requires your immediate attention.
I hope your newfound success carries you quickly to our bed.
Cassel has replied to your message, Sire.
"Here is your proof:
a contribution to your noble project."
May I reply to him in person, Sire?
- I counsel restraint. - In the face of insolence?
If I may, Sire?
To send troops and arrest him will end your plan as soon as it starts.
If you put Cassel in prison, you may as well put all of the nobles in jail
because that would be the end result of it all.
At least let me bruise his face for this insult he has returned to you.
Cut off one head, another will take it's place.
To strike him down is to beg for civil war,
and we saw how well that went for the English.
Husband, I'm not yet ready.
I'm not here in duty, but in gratitude,
for keeping your word to me, and for showing such hospitality to our guest.
You availed yourself very well, and for that I'm grateful.
- I wish to bestow a gift upon you. - I accept!
The gift is a secret.
So much the better.
- Your daughter is alive. - Oh!
Brother! Brother, wake up! The king wants to see you.
Tell him to wait.
You can tell him for yourself.
Please get dressed. We do not have much time.
- Where are we going? - You'll see.
Sire, we received word the Parthenay family will arrive this morning.
And will my goddaughter Charlotte be with them?
Yes, Sire.
Little ray of sunshine.
Are we nearly there, Mama?
You stay here.
How did you enjoy my wine?
What would you offer me?
The Dutch do not have your hospitality, of course,
but they do have money.
Where are we?
A brief stop.
My gardener chanced upon this man,
he was a noble who fought against my family during the uprising.
He thought himself safe
out here in the woods.
Oh, my God!
Your valuables, if you so please.
I know that voice! Montcourt!
Don't! Please, don't!
- Kill her! - Oh, I will.
Hey, we have to move!
Moncourt, come on!
- It will be dark soon. - She's gone.
She'll die! Let's go!
Why are we here?
The Dutch do have money, but no power.
We have both.
- Why have you brought me here? - To finish our negotiation.
We have not even started yet.
Annaba, We have been negotiating since the moment you stepped off your coach.
You leave me little choice.
I offer you security and a fair stake in revenue.
I also offer you a gunboat to secure your port.
You've been away from home for a long time,
and your enemies are moving on your capital.
My father will deal with them.
Do you see this loud little life before you?
A close friend told me that God himself brought this child to me for a reason.
Only now do I understand.
Her very existence begs a question,
because in any other country, in England, Spain, the Dutch republics,
she would be long dead, and her mother too.
And yet here she is, and here you are.
You can be sure of one thing.
You may make a deal with the Dutch, the English, the Spanish.
Rest assured, they will smile and agree,
then they willl bring their armies, burn your lands, kill your families...
and take everything you hold dear. Of that you can be sure!
- You would do the same. - Not I.
And I suggest you decide quickly.
A country with no king will eat itself in war.
King?
We received word that your father is dead.
You are king now.
My condolences, Your Majesty.
Majesty?
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
We're going.
The Venetians have been working hard on a new glass, Sire.
They hope this one will be more to your liking.
Better.
Burn him.