Original subtitles

Viewers like you make this program possible. Support your local PBS

You can't be serious about that.

Did Louis just have a cardinal arrested in public?

Not just any cardinal.

Rowan.

I don't know, I told you. I know nothing of these fabled jewels.

The jeweler said you're a regular customer. I have purchased things from

but for a lady.

You all right? Every time he lies, I feel violently sick.

Your lie thickened the queen.

So who has the wretched necklace?

Speak! The guard.

Her Majesty's special guard.

I'm sorry, who?

If there has been a theft, as you say, it was probably him. I have no special

guard. And does this man have a name?

In your letters, Your Majesty, I am sure you mentioned an Armand.

He is insane. I did not write to him. Not of the necklace, of course, but the

Queen and I developed a dear friendship after my generous contributions to her

charity. Why on earth would I enter into correspondence with a man I deplore?

Your words are knives, Your Majesty. I will not survive them. Enough.

We can settle this.

Boma, did you ever see a guard?

Armour. A guard was present during the handover, yes. But it was made quite

clear that he was acting under the Cardinal's orders.

He was there.

No! So you were not there. No!

I mean, yes, I was there, but I was making the purchase on behalf of my very

dear friend. Thank you, Boma.

The name of the Queen is precious to me.

It has been compromised.

Remove Cardinal Rohan to the Bastille until he starts making sense.

Now, my dear friend, I beg of you, please, release me from my bonds,

Wait!

Thank you.

That charity, the one you donated to, what was it called?

Why, the poor fallen women.

The Bastille, please, not the Bastille! I am a Rohan! No, please!

I want a full investigation.

Summon Prosecutor Flurry. And search Rohan's apartment.

Come on.

Come on.

Rohan, you filthy bastard.

Human!

Your conclusion, Mr. Flurry?

Well... He definitely stole it. If that's true, where is it?

We've searched his apartment already. He is not going to keep it when it can be

found. He's probably already sold it. With His Majesty's permission, I will

to it that the jeweler is adequately compensated.

And that the Cardinal is punished.

Discreetly. I'm sorry.

Discreetly? There are already rumours circulating that the Queen bought a

monstrously expensive necklace behind my back.

It's dangerous for the people to think it would be so frivolous.

Especially after St. Cloud.

I think we can all agree that we don't need the Rohan family sticking their

sizeable noses into the situation unnecessarily.

If this were anyone else, we would be subject to a public trial.

Your Majesty, it's not, I hope, suggesting we put the Cardinal on trial

public. She's right.

The man is lucky not to be charged with treason.

But he's also lucky enough to be a member of the most powerful family in

To harass an aristocrat of his standing through the courts, it is out of the

question. Then aren't the Rohans, family friends of yours, quite instrumental in

your appointment at court, were they not?

I... It would be a trial.

Like any other.

A jury of parliamentarians will not see it as such.

One of their own, apprehending like a common vagrant.

Parliament are loyal to the crown.

They will vote with their king.

Your Majesty, in the current climate, can we rely on the parliament's vote?

There is a lot to process.

You don't have to decide now.

Think on it.

Yes.

Do.

Did you do it?

Took your bloody time. Did you steal the necklace? For the love of God, no.

The Queen swore me to secrecy.

She wrote to me.

But I cannot explain what happened without betraying her trust.

Well, she denies everything.

She says she never wrote to you.

The letters are in my apartment.

We searched there already.

Come on.

She wants a public trial.

Can she do that?

I don't know.

You want the truth?

She entrusted me to purchase the necklace without her husband's

Rohan, please, contact your family. The devious bitch is coming for me to save

her own skin.

All he has made the Palais Royal his own, filled it with discontent. But if I

to spread my ideas further, I need a secret network.

Your secret network.

The Freemasons.

There are lodges in every town and village across Europe, full of men

ideas.

I thought you were with your book club. We're having a spiritual consultation.

Oh, piss off with your heresies.

The only magic you've ever done is to evade being burnt to a crisp in

Strasbourg. Magic's simply knowledge that others do not possess.

Same time tomorrow?

What are you playing at? You want to help us. Great idea.

You could conjure up devils to haunt the Queen.

If you spent five minutes thinking about anything other than her, you might see

the bigger picture.

Jealous?

No. Our two main points of attack, a land tax levied at all landowners to

relieve the poor of additional taxation, and a program of economic stimulation

including abolishing internal customs barriers.

It's certainly punchy. That's exactly what I wanted.

And exactly what we need.

But the land tax will be controversial.

We need to introduce it gently. There's no rush.

No rush. Well, we need to fix the deficit now.

His Majesty, I believe, is aware that raising taxes on the nobility would make

the chance of any of them voting in his favour in, say, a public trial rather

slim, which would imply he's thinking of not proceeding with Rohan's

prosecution. Thank you.

Come on.

For your hard work.

It stays between us for now, understand?

Get some rest.

And a bath.

I know the Queen is upset, but... She doesn't.

I haven't decided yet.

The queen and I are one body.

Rohan wishes to attack my wife's reputation.

He attacks ours.

Thank you, Rohan.

Bit awkward.

I've just been reassuring the aristocracy that your desire to publicly

one of the most influential families in France was not, in fact, an expression

of disdain for all they hold dear.

Thank you so much. Still, it has got me wondering, should I be concerned

for your state of mind?

The strategy is in place.

Oh, good.

You know, for a moment I thought you'd systematically pissed off every strata

society by accident.

But no, there's a plan.

Those who benefit from a broken system are always going to be annoyed

when it heals.

Been reading books, have we?

Times are changing, brother.

Rowan and the stupid niggas.

Turn my stomach.

Are you still not bled?

Can't do it again, your Lord.

Whose is it?

I've been taking precautions after Louise visits.

So? Thurston pulled out too late.

No.

No.

You know, if I can't do it again, I'm... I'm already falling apart.

Good news.

Please.

Apparently, one Countess de Valois has the whole court thinking that you, are

the patron of the charity for the poor fallen women.

She's been extorting donations in return for... promises of your favour.

Who would believe a thing like that?

I'm so sorry.

She was so very convincing. She had documents.

And I thought she was my true friend.

Find this woman. I want her arrested.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Dr. Nett, may I explain? It's all right.

As superintendent, you're supposed to protect her.

Dear Marguerite, I see you everywhere.

I think only of you.

I dream only of you.

Everything else means nothing to me.

I've bought a wallet to put your letters in.

They're all in order.

I don't read anything else.

I place them under my pillow.

I love you.

You are going to love me. Oh, I doubt it.

Louis is planning a land tax.

Payable by all social classes.

Does Parliament know?

Should they?

Well, which parliamentarian will we tell?

That's one who's already disgruntled.

So, Marquess Malheur.

Yes.

From a concerned friend. Very concerned.

We wish to bring to your attention to the King's secret plan to attack

the aristocracy.

If you ask me, Lombard probably fell in love with the Countess.

Well, I didn't ask you.

Is there any reason why she'd be this stupid?

Other than her own stupidity, of course. She's lonely.

Which is your fault, by the way.

My fault?

I loved her, and now I love you.

Even when you are being a poisonous gossip.

So it is her fault for being dumb? When one is lonely, one can overlook a whole

host of things which indicate a friend might not be what they seem. Is it

complicated?

That may be so.

But real friends offer practical solutions.

Faven, Pennyroyal, Rue, Ergo.

For when you can't overlook a problem anymore.

Drink this tea and go for a vigorous ride.

And then, at least, one of your troubles may be over.

No, but not me.

Come back!

Get me out!

Go!

Hold on!

They've arrested her.

It's all right.

How could we have known?

At least we don't need to do any more silly crochet for silly babies that

exist.

I thought I was helping them.

I thought if I crocheted enough clothes, God might forgive me.

Forgive you for what?

I could have been a fallen woman.

I suppose I was.

Victoria.

Did you have a baby?

I was 14.

A very powerful man liked me.

I assumed he'd marry me.

But he already had a wife.

Adelaide took care of it.

Before anyone found out.

You have to understand, I was the king's daughter. I didn't have a choice.

I have thought about what could have been.

Every day.

I will never have my own child.

But Jan's charity allowed me to feel like a mother.

Very good. I've done it.

Two more on the other side.

One more.

Now, lift your legs for me.

You're doing wonderful.

No, it's not.

Well, the doctor said the disease will get worse before it gets better.

Right?

What did the doctor say?

Lily.

Second, third, fourth opinions.

They all agree with Dr. Bruni.

There is no hope.

Perhaps it's time to try something different.

Whatever you have in mind.

We have to make a decision about how to proceed.

We can't keep a man like Rohan in the bathroom forever.

His treatment is causing concern and gossip.

How about you and you concern yourself with my

reputation and not his?

Madame de Rohan.

And indeed, all of the Rohan.

Welcome. Oh, you do know who we are.

Because when I heard that you had publicly arrested my great -nephew and

him in the Bastille, I assumed it was a case of mistaken identity.

Release him.

Now.

Before you inflict any further damage to the Rohan name.

I'm afraid you are ill -informed.

The Cardinal's been damaging your family name for years, hasn't he, darling?

Is that so?

And now he has the audacity to drag my name into his unchristian little mess.

Lie in my court.

He doesn't even have the decency to do it well.

I came.

To speak to the king.

And speak.

Your incompetence is currently only known to a few.

Proceed with this charade and all France will know that you're inadequate.

Release him.

Or suffer the consequences.

I cannot.

Why?

Because.

We are putting him on trial.

I'll be sure to save you a seat.

I say we use all the resources at our disposal to help the ordinary man see

truth. And what's that?

A greedy little mare who wanted a necklace so badly she framed a poor

It's a hardly poor situation. This isn't about Rohan. It's about our power

-crazed king, the monarchy itself.

It's what we've been waiting for.

All right, Captain.

What's the next move, then?

Send the Rohans our condolences.

Keep your printing presses operating.

Leave the rest to me.

I need your help.

I was wondering if you might be able to use the network to help Rohan.

No, I stay out of affairs of state.

He's your patron.

Rohan's a big boy. He can look after himself.

El.

Car.

Leave. What?

It's Egyptian.

Fun.

I'm busy.

It's true.

I collected money from the courtiers.

But I didn't know the charity was a fake at first, and by the time I realized,

Rohan said he'd tell everyone I'd devised the scam.

Well, you must have profited from the deception. No, not monetarily.

I did enjoy people thinking I knew the Queen.

Did you assist him in the theft of the diamond necklace?

No.

Wait, is that what he's saying?

Oh, my God.

He's going to blame it on me.

I promise I had no hand in it. If there was an accomplice, it was Tagliostro.

He relies on the cardinal for his patronage. He was always floating about.

He gave me the creeps. It's not a crime to have a patron.

No, but you know Rohan.

He lies.

He preys on women.

He racks up secret debts and he gets away with it because that's just the way

is. I couldn't agree with you more.

What?

Danger. I want to see the woman who has been abusing my name.

Your Majesty, it was never my intention to... We are putting the Cardinal on

trial.

Testify against him, and we'll consider reducing your sentence for charity

fraud. I would do so, Your Majesty.

But to risk my own safety for the possibility of less time...

Rohan is a very powerful, very frightening man.

Oh, I understand.

Awfully small, these cells, aren't they?

Oh, God, I can feel the walls closing in. Come on, Flurry.

Wait!

If I am to make a good impression on the court...

I'll need a new hat.

Thank you for tonight.

It was important for me to see her.

You were right.

Thanks to you, we now have a star witness against Brohan.

Do you believe her?

She's credible enough for a jury.

Is she telling the truth?

I think she is, yes.

I suppose we'd better issue another S -Want. For whom?

For Rohan's accomplice, the cabling officer.

I should speak with the boy's parents.

That's not possible.

Why?

They don't want it to be known that they're consulting you. I'm sure you're

aware your methods are considered controversial in France.

Considered controversial everywhere.

Support the Cardinal.

Support the Cardinal. Thank you. The victim of royal tyranny.

No one is safe from our tyrant king.

Support the Cardinal.

Support the Cardinal.

What is the content of this mysterious message?

Suffice it to say, our monarch is set on imposing upon the nation a universal

lantern.

A land pact for everyone.

Even the clergy.

Clergy and nobility. No wonder the king hasn't announced these policies. He

knows the parliament will be in uproar. But, Malheur, we've already lent him a

fortune. Why does he need to raise taxes?

Clearly he wants to be a liberal king.

Ridiculous. What does the rest of the royal family make of this betrayal?

Back off! Move!

Back off. Out of the way. Move. What is the meaning of this? Chancellor

Caviaster, you are under arrest by authority of the Crown.

Take him.

Get up there. Come with us.

This is an outbreak.

Let them take him.

Shame on the Crown.

It's a play into our hands.

Why didn't you tell me?

Why would I tell you?

Well, I mean, if it's my child, our child, I deserve to know.

Look, I could play a part in its life, love them, and maybe

teach them about... I mean, Louis has never seen the world. Who's going to

them about it?

I could be there sometimes.

You can't.

What if we were careful, then? Look what careful got us.

You will never be this child's father.

I hear you're a whiskey drinker. Not before dinner.

The Duke loved to host new friends. Forgive him if he gets a little

We are rather short of time, so you'll have to forgive me if I ask that you cut

to the chase.

You and I have so very much in common.

Really?

I was under the impression that you were a radical now.

I want the same thing as you.

Justice from a tyrant. But politics aside, we believe we could help you.

And in return.

Front row ticket to the Queen's demise.

Play this right, and no king will dare disrespect a Rohan again.

What do you have in mind?

There's someone you should meet.

Monsieur Target.

Sharpest lawyer in France.

I keep him on my payroll because I want him for myself.

But I could be willing to share him.

Sorry, old pal.

Not today!

All this time, love and war.

Spoken like the two chiefs.

Tade, I've been sent to represent you. Thank goodness.

And will do so on the condition that you accept the facts.

One, you're deluded.

Subjective. Two, there's no charity for the poor fallen women.

What?

Jeanne de Valois has been arrested for charity fraud.

I'm sorry, what? I know, I know.

Shocking. Three. I have a question. At the end.

In three months' time, you'll stand in public trial for a crime for which, if

you're found guilty, will render you reputationally and financially... Now, I

can... You must do exactly as I say. Do you accept my terms?

Jolly good.

I'll not take any questions you have.

If Jeanne faked the charity, then... She wrote the letters, not the Queen.

Which means Cagliostro was right. Not to name him. He's been arrested as your

accomplice.

Although that wasn't strictly a question.

Am I a fool?

Yes.

But that can be our little secret.

Thank you for coming.

I haven't the most look at how Rohan and me...

Wow, really?

I thought you didn't. There was a special guard, Armand, who delivered

He was the last one seen with a necklace. I think he was working for

This man was tall, dark, quite attractive. He came from Alsace.

You need to find him.

You know, you're just as much used to me in jail as out at the moment.

You're helping me paint the king as a tyrant.

Use the network.

Well, you never are.

Hello,

wife.

Don't you have a knocker?

You're reading your love letters from Marguerite, I see.

Well, you're not the only one who's receiving illicit correspondence.

Melab wishes to meet with me.

Is that me?

That is so sweet.

I think we should tell Antoinette.

She trusts us.

Not yet.

But why? I mean, she knows something's wrong. Because, as you know,

your life is never the same.

If I could just spend a bit more time with him without seeing the awful future

that I would, I can give her that at least.

Please.

Solving the national crisis, are we?

Give us.

Is there something wrong?

Nothing new is on fire.

Good.

I know you're into astronomy and the skies and all that.

Well, I hear there's a lunar eclipse tonight.

I wasn't aware.

That is a first.

Do you remember when we were little?

Stargazing with Papa Hua.

We'd all lie on the front lawn.

You always hated those evenings.

The grass teams were a nightmare.

He'd tell us to shut up and look up

because staring into the heavens

reminds me of my... Divine purpose.

I might go out and take a look later.

Well? You were right.

It worked.

You said he'll be there.

Perfect. Good boy.

Let's go make me a king.

There's still time for the tonic to work.

We could up the dose inch, double it.

If it doesn't, then perhaps

make peace with it.

Just keep feeling it growing.

I'm scared.

I'm sure you and your faction in the Parliament are deeply concerned about

tax proposals.

We are.

These reforms undermine the very fabric of society.

Some of my friends are even considering voting against the King in the upcoming

trial.

That would be a terrible blow to the Crown.

To the king's authority.

Well, the more traditional amongst us don't wish to weaken the king's

but... Is that the king?

He's been very stressed.

This helps him clear his mind.

Is he quite well?

These last few months, it's been getting worse.

Arresting Cardinal Rohan.

Proposing a public trial.

These are actually tax reforms.

I see.

You were saying you didn't wish to weaken the king's position?

Yes.

Unless the king is unfit to rule.

Well, in that case, the regency will go to the queen.

Until the Dauphin comes of age.

That depends entirely upon whether the Queen's reputation survives the trial.

Sorry if I'm interrupting.

It's fine.

Come here.

Oh.

That hurts.

I got him these.

You did?

Mm -hmm.

I'm worried about him.

You know.

Louis says he's going to be fine.

I'm sorry John deceived you.

Don't be.

We all make mistakes.

I know you want

to punish Rohan for his crimes.

But I don't think you should use Jan at the trial.

Jeanne is very clever.

She had the whole court eating out the palm of her hand. She is a consummate

liar, and if you give her a platform, she could say anything.

Well, she will say the truth.

Until someone gives her a better offer.

It's one -act stories.

She's dangerous.

Stop.

You are my superintendent, so perhaps...

Try supporting my case rather than undermining it.

I can't.

I would be failing you.

Then I don't want you at the trial.

Then there is nothing left to say but good luck.

I won't need luck.

I've done nothing wrong