Original subtitles

Open up. This is the governor, Hudson Lowe.

Well, knock again, for God's sake.

Open up.

I order you to open the door, General Bonaparte.

He won't open if you call him general, sir. He insists on being called by his

title. Title?

Emperor. Majesty.

Puppycock. He's bonely the ogre and always will be.

Knock again.

Yes.

I, uh, should I?

If you won't come out, I'm going to revoke all your privileges.

I'll cut off your wine supply.

Damn it, Napoleon!

Open the door at once!

What are these shutters doing here? They're specifically forbidden.

You're on a 24 -hour watch.

Well, if you want to imprison yourself in this house, sit perfectly fine with

me. My men are tired of chasing you all over the island.

I'll cordon off the grounds and you won't even be able to take a walk.

Good day, Rock.

You have no business here, Miss Morecambe.

Let me through, please.

Thank you. You're wasting your time, young lady.

His Imperial Majesty is hiding.

From you?

Of course.

From me?

Never.

General Bonaparte. Ah, come back another day. Madame Tallien is engaged.

Today is her at -home day.

It's like fashion nowadays. It changes as easily as politicians.

I just spent a fortune on a golden wig, only to be told it's no longer in

fashion. Now I have to cut it and have it restyled. It's better to cut your wig

than lose your head. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about.

A general bon appétit or something like that is here to see, madame.

Bon appétit. Yes.

Show him in.

A general?

Which general?

One without a coat, on half -pay, but it's easier for him to conceal his pride

than to conceal his ass.

Truly, his britches are riddled with holes, and cloth for uniforms is

for officers in active service.

Oh, please, General.

Come, let me introduce you.

Madame Ricamier.

Madame. Welcome, General Bonaparte. Nice to meet you. With the eyes of an eagle.

Madame de Stal.

Madame de Boarnet.

And Madame de Coigny. I am the uncaptive, General.

The famous poem.

You know, by Chénier.

The general must have been far too busy during the revolution to take an

interest in poetry.

I know what it is, a soldier's life.

I was married to an officer.

Yes, General de Beauharnais.

Charged with the surrender of the city of Mayence and Guillotine.

Yes, that was my husband.

Who was nearly followed to the scaffold by his wife, but for the grace of God.

I would say more the caprice of politics.

Is it true, dear Rose?

That you cut off your lovely curls rather than let the executioner mangle

You make me appear vain and absurd to the general.

On the contrary.

To face death is pride. It takes courage, madam.

It takes courage to face life alone with two children.

General, I have some good news for you.

I've managed to obtain a length of cloth.

Enough for not just one pair of breeches, but two.

I thank you twice.

I thank all of you.

Do you want a cup of chocolate, General?

It's hot.

It's delicious.

We drank lots of it in the West Indies. In the West Indies?

I was born there. My father owned a plantation with more than 200 slaves.

It was a paradise of sunshine and sugar.

Imagine, when I was a little girl, I used to bathe in a river among... irises

and orchids.

I love to swim in it, naked.

I come from an island too, madame.

But the women there rarely bathe.

And when they do, it's fully dressed, all in black.

Thank you again.

General.

General.

General.

General, I've shocked you.

I thought you were shocked by a lady's words. It was not the words, madame.

It was the image they evoked.

The image of a little girl frolicking in the sun?

Of a woman, naked.

A beautiful image of you.

Now I'm the one who's shocked.

You shouldn't have taken the risk.

The risk?

Of being alone with me and the feelings you have aroused.

You wouldn't dare.

No, no, not here, not now, but tomorrow when I see you again.

Because you presume you'll see me again.

Yes, I will.

Won't I?

But what time tomorrow?

This is the area that concerns me most.

The Rue Saint -Honoré and the Palais Egalité.

If the rebels descend on us from St. Rock... Another good reason to act.

me, Barras.

We cannot let a simple riot... A simple riot?

Is that what you call 25 ,000 royalists storming the assembly to seize the

deputies and destroy the republic?

What forces do you have?

Your name again?

General Bonaparte. Guarantee we know what to command.

Now. Bonaparte.

Artillery, wasn't it?

Right then.

We have 4 ,000 men from the camp at Sablon.

Enter General Manu.

4 ,000 against 25 ,000.

No cannons?

General Manu left them in Sablon. He'll be accused that they were thrown down.

We need that artillery.

Tell Squadron Leader Murat to retrieve those cannons.

It's a human tidal wave. Nothing can stand in his way. At the moment, we have

the artillery.

We will position it like this.

One battery here, another one here, another one on this bridge in line, and

another one here.

If the cannons come through, you'll take command of them.

I warn you, citizen, that I follow a pledge to its end on mine.

Don't ask me to answer for any blood that's shed. If I draw my sword, it will

remain drawn until the order of the Republic is restored.

What is the date?

It's midnight.

So it's now the 13th of Vendémiaire.

Your appointment.

The chief of staff.

It's up to you now.

Take your position.

Follow me, men!

Position!

in the slaughterhouse.

This is war.

War? In the streets of Paris against Frenchmen? Against royalists who are in

league with the enemies of the nation.

There are 40 English vessels off the coast of Brest and 40 ,000 Austrians at

gates of Strasbourg.

They are waiting for the Republic to be overthrown. They are waiting to invade

France.

It will not happen.

Our General of the Republic will not let it.

Hello.

Hello.

I do not have an opinion.

Good morning, General.

I see you've been taken captive by my children.

Captivated, madam, not captive.

I'm no longer a child, Mama.

Oh, I'm sorry, you're right.

I found my position with General Hush.

I would say Hush got the better part of the bargain.

What a splendid uniform, General.

Can I touch it?

It's pure wool.

Excellent quality.

Are you turning into a fashion peacock?

The new general of the army of Italy can't come in in rags.

The army of Italy?

Is this your reward for saving the Republic?

Yes, a gift from Bara.

Shall we go?

Yes.

Eugene is a very serious young man. Has a sense of discipline.

If you were under my command, I'd make a fine solider out of him.

Her hands, on the other hand, obviously needs a father.

She's only 14.

She looks older, doesn't she?

Yes, but she's 14.

I'm making queries.

About my daughter?

About the world around you.

I know nearly everything about you, Josephine.

But my name, apparently, is Rose.

Your lovers call you Rose.

Your husband has decided to call you Josephine. But my husband, General, is

dead. Is dead, yes.

The prior one.

I'm talking about your new husband.

My new husband?

Yes, come now.

There is nothing so extraordinary about a widow remarrying. No, not at all. Only

that I don't have any prospect inside.

You're looking at him, madame.

Excellent find of a work.

These monsters must have a range of well over 2 ,000 meters.

Wouldn't you say so, Miron?

Yes, General.

Except that these cannons are not for us. They're for the army of the Rhine.

What's been provided for the army of Italy?

Nothing. What do you mean, nothing?

I mean just that, General. How do they expect me to push the Austrians back

nothing? Most of our men don't even have shoes, let alone cannons.

No shoes, no cannons.

We have cavalry, don't we? The whole regiment, General.

Thank you for that.

Unfortunately, there are no horses.

Cavalrymen have eaten them.

Sorry?

You should

have

been here over an hour ago.

What can he be doing for us?

After all, getting married was his idea.

You don't love him.

I... I love his love for me.

No one, not even you, has ever loved me like this.

Do you know what passion is?

Of course.

It's... Look no further.

Forgive me, my love.

I'm sorry I'm late, but there's been so much to do.

I have only a few days before going to join my army.

Where is he?

Wait, just right there. We want to get married.

Happy?

I am.

Let's go celebrate.

Wait, there's one thing I must tell you. Yes, what?

You're not married.

What do you mean?

I'm just standing in for the official. He got tired of waiting and left.

Yes, sir.

Yes, you married her?

Yes, you were a yelling general with so much authority I could not refuse, but

I'm sure that... I think it's you, fool.

Tonight I have a woman to love, and tomorrow I must take Italy back from

Austria.

Why

don't

you come with me?

To Italy?

Do you see me following an army?

Ruining my shoes in the mud.

Wearing wrinkled dresses.

Sleeping on straw.

Sleeping, sleeping.

There are other things to do besides sleeping.

What's so funny?

You're funny.

Because I'm mad about you.

No, because you're just mad.

And I love that.

How can the Austrians see us?

They can hear us, Miron.

We're an entire army on the march.

While they're hidden away, silent, and concealed by this filthy mist.

We have to take that bridge.

We can't go around it.

What about the cannons?

All they need is fire.

They'll be massacred.

Not if we charge.

We won't stay in the line of fire for long.

We must impress them.

Make them doubt.

Sorry, General.

But I must have doubt.

I don't.

The chart. Meet the chart.

The chart, General?

Go on, boy, and put your heart there.

Is it bad, my friend?

No, I'm all right.

It says 15 or 20 miles.

What really hurts is that the bridge is still Austrian.

Well, they can keep their damn bridge.

Find bolts, beams, planks of wood, anything you can lay your hands on to

another bridge further on.

As soon as it's ready.

Ojo will cross to the other side.

Take the enemy from the rear and drive them to Massena, who will chop them to

pieces.

Shall it make them pay dearly for my own death.

Go, start, gentlemen.

One out.

Worried about the battle?

No, no, no. Oh, Josephine.

She hasn't written to me for two weeks.

But I'm bound to have a letter tomorrow or the day after.

I'm so sorry, General.

At her house this morning.

Did you open it?

Not at all.

I've seen through the battle.

I don't write to you as often as I would like, dear Napoleon, because I have so

little time.

I don't write to you.

The men say you risked your life like an ordinary soldier.

They call you the little corporal.

Said with affection, General.

Put it down there.

Napoleon.

How handsome you are. The great general.

Great general and great conqueror.

Look what I brought you from Italy.

If there is too much, you can give some to the poor.

Oh, there won't be too much. Feeding your seven brothers and sisters is not

always easy.

In Corsica, people knew us. But here, we're strangers.

You have nothing to worry about.

I'll look after you from now on.

You'll never want for anything ever again.

You might get ready to leave, Marthe.

I want you to meet my wife at last.

When you get to know her... I don't need to meet her to know what she is.

You made a bad marriage, Napoleon.

You deserve better.

Then, at the very least, you could write congratulations to her.

Me? I wouldn't know how.

I've prepared a letter for you.

All you have to do is copy the words and sign it.

Please.

I'll try to find the time.

I don't want that woman coming between us.

I wish you had not even mentioned her.

I have to leave now.

Napoleon, do you love her?

Yes.

She's taking nothing away from you.

The day you leave me, I'll be in a world of inferior beings.

No!

What?

What?

What?

What? What? What?

What? You

receive him in this.

Mercy who?

The man who has just left.

A man just left?

Yes, an officer. Judging by his uniform, he's a dragon.

I... Captain Ippoli Charles is a charming boy.

He's sometimes my escort.

He brought me some theater tickets.

Oh, you're going to theater?

Yes. Yes, I am. But what's wrong with it?

I mean, you left for so long.

You don't want me to lock myself up in here, do you?

And you received him half -naked?

But, Barbara...

But the poor boy just came and left.

Show me the tickets.

I don't have them. Where are they?

I don't know. Wouldn't you ask Gusteau? He must have left them with him.

I'd go interrogate him.

Honestly, I think you're jealous.

Why didn't you write to me? I wrote.

No, a few scribbled lines.

Those cold, polite words people write to each other after decades of marriage.

Because I don't know how to caress with words.

I need to touch.

For so long.

Now you're back.

I'm so happy you're back.

I thought about it, Mama. What was it, Rita?

I understood that from your letters.

They were shocking.

I had to keep them under lock and key.

That is why, also, I didn't write to you. Because I was afraid I would drive

mad with desire. And then you would throw yourself in the first Italian

How should I address you?

Monsignor, since you were a bishop, Your Excellency, because the revolution made

you ambassador to England, or minister because you're in charge of France's

foreign relations?

Most people call me Talejo.

Just Talejo.

Oh, yes.

Like just God.

Or Satan.

They like seeing me as the devil, but I shouldn't think that would scare you,

Picasso.

People tell me that you're not afraid of anything.

Of one thing.

Stupidity. Oh, then you must tremble every day of your life.

I've heard rumblings about your proposal for a new constitution.

I must say I expected something more revolutionary from you.

I like order.

I fought for the republic.

I'm not a revolutionary.

I share your fondness for order.

But when you speak of a concentrated government...

You don't perchance mean concentrated in the hands of one man, do you?

You ask questions that sound like answers.

Yes, well, because it's always difficult to find someone who would wield that

kind of power who would not become a dictator.

What about you?

Are you interested in political power?

Me?

The glory I won in Italy is all I could possibly wish for.

Yes, of course there's glory, but then there's money, too.

On that regard, I was very well paid by the enemy.

I have other plans.

Oh, do tell me.

I'll be as silent as the grave.

Mathematics.

I became an artery man thanks to mathematics.

My one dream is to return to my former vocation.

To mathematics?

Yes, I hope to be elected to the Institute in the domain of physical

mathematics.

And that's all?

For the moment.

To your modest ambitions.

Salute.

this base called?

Malmaison, General.

The Bad House.

Memory of the barbaric Normans who raided the place many years ago.

Committed infamous crimes here.

I'll open up.

I can turn it into a happy house.

I know it doesn't look like much now, but let me take care of everything.

Where did you learn to run a house?

In the West Indies, when you were a little savage.

A little savage who always appreciated beauty.

Expensive things, too.

Over 300 ,000 francs for a country house.

You're not paying for it.

Certainly not.

But it's so much less for your family.

Oh, please, Joseph, you can't accuse me of neglecting my family.

I've always placed your welfare above my own.

And, my dear brother -in -law, the family Bonaparte includes you.

I'll wait for you outside.

Probably smells musty in there.

I'll wait for you up front.

It does smell a bit musty.

Soon, it will smell of joy, of life, of love.

Do you know that when I was a child, a fortune teller predicted that one day I

was going to be greater than a queen?

Today I have the feeling she's so right.

This is my palace.

And you will be the king.

Asbert is good enough. I don't like kings.

You think we would be mad to buy it, don't you?

I think 300 ,000 francs is a lot of money for a general living in Spain.

Yes, but you're worth much more, because if you wanted to... You don't have to

say it.

Talleyrand already did.

The French have had enough of being governed by men who are corrupt.

But they are not ready to rise up.

Perhaps for now your interest is to avoid anything that could change the

you won in Italy.

Ideally.

I should go somewhere far away, pursuing new military triumphs. You say that as

if you already have a glimmer of an idea.

Not a glimmer.

A revolution, Josephine.

Egypt. Egypt?

Why Egypt?

Because holding Egypt means cutting off England's route to India and giving

ourselves access to all the goods from the East.

What's more, our ambassador in Cairo said that Egypt is a country of

wealth. When I come back, I'll be able to buy you Malmaison.

That's how you make history.

General Bonaparte, first to port a war.

sure that he could buy his wife a home.

Gentlemen, the pyramids, 4 ,000 years of history, are contemplating us.

Well, it was time to tea.

Admire the work of my cartographers, Saint -Hilaire.

This is Egypt in the days of the pharaohs. Everything is in here, even

canal. The canal, General?

Didn't you know that the pharaohs built a canal joining the Nile to the Red Sea?

No.

Initiated under the king Nekao and completed under the Ptolemies. This

prodigious work stood the test of time for almost a thousand years.

Until it disappeared, swallowed up by the sand.

Do you believe one could find the vestiges of this canal?

If there was any doubt.

If we started excavating in this area, would unearth marvels that would reveal

to the world the extraordinary splendor of the Egyptian civilization?

Yet a better idea would be to dig another canal.

One that would connect the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

Starting from Suez, for example. What do you think?

Well, the thing is, General, my interest is in zoology, so...

Suppose I'm concerned these stories about canals. My dear Saint -Hilaire, a

scholar must be curious about everything.

I, for instance, had the Koran translated for me. And this has been

from English.

I'm under no illusion.

In Paris, they will say that Egypt is a political failure and financial

disaster. I will need you and your colleagues to silence my detractors.

Let everybody know that our saga will have countless effects.

upon civilization.

This will be our way of thanking you for this incredible journey, General.

The English are calling upon my men to desert by flooding our lines with this

drivel.

It will have no effect on them.

I'm not so sure.

The men have had enough.

Most of the time, we have to force them to obey.

Have their officers discipline them again. That's why they are here.

The officers, they say that you torture your soldiers and that you will never be

able to seize Egypt.

They have, Murad.

Egypt is ours, almost ours.

Cairo is a French city.

The Nile Delta has been pacified and all there is left to subdue is a few

Turkish regiments. Turks and Arabs, supported by the English.

Be realistic, Bonaparte.

You can't go on, especially with the plague on our heels.

The doctors assure me that the epidemic can be contained.

Doctors can do nothing against fear.

I can.

Let me do this. I need you.

I can't do anything more for you.

And die.

Precisely.

The first

one to walk away will be considered a deserter.

And will be shot.

Does any one of you know this man?

I believe this is Calder, you know.

Is he one of your friends?

Well, actually, we come from the same town.

In the Jura, General.

In that case, tell him about the Jura.

Let him die with some happiness.

Come, Mama.

Let's go in. It's getting chilly.

But it's still light enough to see.

I want to stand till dark.

You wear out your eyes and catch your death of cold.

And it still won't bring him back any sooner.

What if he doesn't come back at all?

Of course he'll come back.

How?

They said the English have sunk the French ships.

How can he come back without ships?

Thank you.

What?

Did you teach him to play that? No, it's my husband.

He's showering me with souvenirs. He's afraid I'll forget him. I want to make

you forget him.

I don't think so. I don't think so, Eiffelit.

Farah, you're hardly in a position to criticize Bonaparte.

You are the one who commissioned him.

You put down a riot, not conquer a country.

This Egyptian adventure of his is costing us fortune.

And he hasn't made a single important conquest.

Conquest? He can't even hold on to his ships.

Admiral Nelson sank them like toys.

His biggest problem is that the army is being devastated by the plague.

All these disasters are extremely tiresome.

It's going to make him want to come back.

His return will be overshadowed by another.

You mean the return of the king?

Haven't you realized that the government of the Directoire is doomed?

It's inevitable that Louis XVIII will rise to the throne.

Your voice trembles as though you can't wait.

But you are a member of the Directoire. And if it falls... If the monarchy is

restored, I've been promised the title of Duke.

And the governorship of Bob and Ilo.

Well played, Barad.

I urge you all to do the same. Take precautions, my friends.

and guarantee your futures.

Louis XVIII is ready to promise anything to anyone who will help him wear the

crown. Madame?

Bad news?

He's returned.

What?

He's returned.

Bonaparte!

Bonaparte is in France.

Listen to them.

Just say the word and you'll have 25 million French citizens behind you.

now, I'm hungry.

The best thing to eat

here in Lyon is hot sausage.

Two, please.

Yes, sir.

What is he doing?

He's responsible for my safety.

Every night he sleeps lying against my door.

The certain thought he was giving me a slave. In fact, he's a guardian in me.

Very good with some.

You can go now.

Do you hear that?

Is it making sense to you now?

Is what making sense?

The way they cheered you.

And that's nothing compared to the welcome you'll get in Paris.

Power is the right fruit.

And it's yours for the picking. I've come back to give, not to take, Joseph.

No one can imagine what marvels I've brought back from Egypt.

Please, Napoleon.

I am your brother, not your public.

Let's at least be honest with each other.

Egypt was a disaster. Don't say that.

The discoveries our scientists have made there, the knowledge they've gained,

justify all the sacrifices of the expedition.

Yes, yes, fine.

But there are urgent matters to deal with.

The most urgent one for me is my divorce.

Josephine has barely written at all.

Just inform me. She's bought my maison with my money, of course. Or rather,

the money she hopes I'll find. She had hardly moved in before she sent for her

lover. Captain, he buried Charles.

Destroy him. That won't end it.

There are others.

Your wife has taken up again with Barrett. And he's in company with Goyer.

President to the directoire. Our poor mother.

Scandalized.

We'll all be able to hold your heads high again and finish with that

woman.

You can barely bring yourself to say her name. Because it's a curse.

I hate her name.

I hate the sound of her voice.

Her perfume.

Everything is over.

That...

is what lies ahead of you.

My dear brother, she has no place in it.

You take care of France, and I'll take care of your divorce.

Good evening, Gustave.

Good evening, madame.

Madame cannot come in.

The general orders.

I packed everything very carefully.

I hope I haven't forgotten anything.

You can't leave me outside, Gustave.

It's raining.

Yes. My children, where are my children?

Mademoiselle Hortense is in her room, madame. So is Monsieur Eugène.

The general has allowed them to stay.

The general has allowed them.

The general has no right to allow them, not to refuse them anything.

What a vile man.

Even when I was brought in front of the court during the revolution, and God

knows if these people were without pity, I was allowed to explain myself.

But him, my own husband, condemns me without hearing me.

Do you find that right, Gustav?

Well, no, not very.

Let me in.

And it's obvious that General Bonaparte's hasty departure from Egypt

avoid the mass indirection of his army.

Postum, she was there.

They used anything they can to discredit me.

Even lies.

Woman for general.

She want to come in, I say no.

Make sure quickly.

Bonaparte? Let me in.

Bonaparte?

Bonaparte?

I know you're there.

Be reasonable.

I want to talk to you. Open the door.

Did people tell you something about me?

Do you know that they're lies, calumnies? No.

What people are when they want to defy something.

It's you who defied everything.

So go away.

I never want to see you again.

No. No. Let me in.

What have I done?

Come on, open the door. I know I can explain everything.

Explain what?

Your billing in Coing with Captain Charles?

Your behavior is sickening.

It's all over between us.

No.

Forever.

I can explain everything.

Please.

If you want me to leave I will leave.

What do you accuse me of?

Going out into society?

Giving parties at the Malmaison?

Yes, I did.

And I did it for you.

Because you want power, and for that you need allies. That's why...

I

believe in you, Napoleon.

Lucienne, I need to talk to you.

Mama has agreed to let us meet in her house, and it would be advisable if

Good morning.

But, but, see... Let's discuss politics.

What about your divorce?

I think it's necessary to close the windows as if we were conspirators

I'm sure the house is being watched. When a government is at bay, they'll

at nothing.

For God's sake, Joseph, it's just a family meal.

This is your house, Mama.

You can stay if you like.

I'd rather my sisters weren't mixed up in this. If things go badly, they'll be

able to swear they knew nothing about it.

Come on, girl.

Our mother asked you to leave the room, Caroline.

I know what Monsieur and Joseph are going to propose.

You need support.

I'm here to bring you Murat's support.

Murat?

Who authorized you to speak for Murat?

He and I love each other.

Murat is over 30 and you're not yet 20.

I don't think our mother will approve. I don't think I approve.

You can state your objections when Mirat comes to ask you for my hand.

Until then, I entreat you to accept his help. Caroline is right.

We can't refuse any offer of help.

Come on.

The plan is audacious, Napoleon.

But it can work.

We've based it on two factors.

First, the people hate the current government.

And two...

They see you as a hero.

You want to overthrow the Directoire?

It wouldn't take much of a push.

In its place, Napoleon Bonaparte.

You've always kept your distance from politics. You have managed to keep your

hands clean.

You are the godsend the whole country is waiting for.

France is so weak now.

She won't be able to stand another revolution.

The realists would make the most of it.

Who said anything about a revolution?

Everything will be done...

Perfectly legally.

We just have to persuade the deputies to elect a new government and get rid of

the directory and elect in its place a new government composed of three

irreproachable men, Sayed, Roger Ducos, and you.

It's possible.

If you were to assemble all the deputies for a special session somewhere

isolated where the army can bring pressure to bear,

If needed, without triggering a riot in the city. That's perfect.

With Murat at the head of the troops, we can't fail.

I suggest Chateau de Saint -Cloud.

It's far enough from Paris and easy to control.

I agree. Can we assume that you approve of our little project?

Your little project, as you call it so discreetly, my dear Joseph, is nothing

less than a coup d 'etat.

If it fails, we will end up in prison.

At best, and more likely under the blade. Are you still so sure that Murat

follow us?

I can speak for him as I do for myself.

He'll only want to know in what name he's risking his liberty and life.

In what name?

In the name of reality.

Louis XVIII is ready to enter Paris. If we delay, the Republic will be lost and

we'll see all the benefits of the revolution.

That's reason enough to risk everything.

I'm counting on you to control the gates of Paris on the 18th of Primaire.

No government official can be allowed to enter or leave the city.

I also want your censor to check everything that's announced in the

newspapers will only be allowed to print what my associates and I decide on.

In other words, you're asking me to support the plot.

I don't consider ridding the country of a bunch of rogues and swindlers to be a

plot.

Even so, I may not always approve of the government's policies.

I'm a member of it.

You'll be a member of the next one.

You will be my minister of police.

That's very generous of you, but I am already minister of police.

So if you have no other argument... I do have one, yes.

I'm sure the royalists haven't forgotten how you slaughtered hundreds of their

followers during the reign of terror. I heard you had them shot point blank.

after forcing them to dig their own graves.

Who is with you? Everyone.

Generals, such as Murat Lefebvre, and politicians such as Yeyes, Roger Ducos,

Talleyrand. Talleyrand. You've taken Talleyrand to your confidence?

He betrays everybody.

He won't betray himself.

He understands perfectly well where his interest lies.

He's expecting a lot from me, he's right.

If he doesn't fail me, I won't fail him.

And that proposition...

Goes for everyone.

Very well.

You've made yourself clear.

I'll think it over.

No, right now, Fouché.

With me or against me?

All right with you.

But if your plan fails... Then instead of being executed...

In the king's name, for barbarous crime, you'll be executed by the directoire

for conspiracy.

I am your only hope.

What a rotten job, being a deputy.

Jabbering away for hours, all locked up.

How long have they been in there?

20 hours. They've been talking for more than 20 hours.

Don't you think it's a bad sign, she gets?

My dear fellow, politics isn't war.

It takes much longer to say something meaningless than to fire a gun.

Ladies and gentlemen, I won't tolerate a sentiment much longer.

But no one will ever be able to decide for us.

Shut up in here, whether we're being able to see or hear anything.

Try to stay calm, General.

Calm? Why, the future of France is at stake.

What is it now?

For God's sake, say something.

Is it over? Have they voted? No. Tell Iran has just arrived.

He wants to see you.

I've just come back from the lingerie. He doesn't seem to be doing exactly as

hoped. My brother can't make those people obey him. What good is he to me

president? Steyer, he is the president, not their general. Deputies cannot be

ordered around as easily as a regiment.

We'll see about that.

Soldiers!

All is lost.

We mustn't stay here.

It's just as clear. You're an outlaw.

I'm not.

Oh, you still exist for them.

The only person who constantly arouses my brother.

Oh, you're right.

You're not wounded.

What about you?

Did they strike you? No, they didn't, Dale.

I have enough supporters.

I don't know how you're targeted to unravel.

Look, President.

What's done is done. The most important thing now is to find a safe place.

You have nothing to fear.

Murat is outside with all his troops.

Murat.

Good God, Murat. I nearly forgot.

Bonaparte, what are you going to do? I'm going back in there.

I've an army outside and me with an army.

He doesn't have the right.

Officers, I've been called to the Republic.

Come, listen. Come, come.

The faction of desperate men.

armed with daggers, threatening the assembly.

They even attempted to assassinate your general.

On your horses?

They dared to accuse Bonaparte of staging a coup d 'etat to bring him into

power. A vile lie.

Do you see this blade?

I would plunge it in my brother's heart without a moment's hesitation if I

suspected him of violating rights.

I declare to you that the representatives of our nation are in

Consequently, I order you to invade this assembly.

Immediately. We know what to do.

Come on.

I order you to leave under the protection of the army.

Do you think your brother will retain enough deputies to go ahead with the

Yes, he has enough supporters.

Whatever the result is, it will be perfectly legal.

The deputies have dissolved the directory.

In its place, they have created an executive consular commission composed

General Bonaparte and citizens C .S. and Roger Ducos, who will bear the

titles... of citizens and consuls of the French Republic.

This decree takes effect immediately.

Officers, present arms to the consuls of the Republic.

Long live Bonaparte.

than we expected.

It almost didn't happen.

Magnificent, darling.

Incomparable. Sturdy and resistant, I hope. Oh, that should, of course, be

to last a lifetime.

I've only been appointed First Counsel for ten years.

What a pity there isn't a bigger mirror so that you could see how well it suits

you. Here's my mirror.

Well, what do you think? What would you look?

What would you look? Well, I must be very well turned out for my...

Pretty mirror to cloud over.

Is who know you still here?

You know who is waiting for you next room in front of the fire? I think in

another life it must have been a cat. A cat?

That's a cobra.

On the part, he supports you without hesitation.

You mean I support him, which is only normal for a cripple.

I can't say anything, Carillon.

I've already been showered with all the compliments you can imagine.

But I have no illusions that this fine suit of clothes won't be enough to

reassure our neighbors that France has finally put the revolution behind her.

It's true that European courts fear the strength of our army is less than the

strength of our ideas.

Therefore, we must demonstrate that we are civilized people once more.

An aristocrat, a real aristocrat.

who knows how to behave, incidentally, yet with princely grace, would give us

prestige. So you were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Directoire.

The First Consul reappoints you to that office.

I suppose I should feel flattered that you consider me to have princely grace,

but I would display more of it if your choice was based on my skill at

negotiating.

Negotiating what?

Austria recaptured Italy from France while I was in Egypt.

And we either accept the loss of Italy or... Or wage war on Austria.

I usually believe the worst can be avoided.

War is not the worst, Alain. The worst would be allowing them to treat France

like the village idiot of Europe.

The one who is slapped and then says thank you.

What do you know about war? You've never been to war.

Alas, a soldier who can neither attack nor more especially flee in sufficient

haste is a liability.

Otherwise, I might have pursued a military career. You? General?

General Talleyrand?

Perhaps you envy my glory. You can share it if you're loyal to me.

Sire, I wish only to serve you.

You bow as you say that, so one can't see whether your eyes support your

Man was given speech to disguise his thoughts.

and words to disguise his eyes.

Don't trust anything or anyone.

Monsieur Pierre -Louis Rodrigue, whom I have appointed Consular of State because

he served me well and will continue to do so.

I'm delighted to meet you, sir.

Welcome to the trilogy, madame.

I hope you will like it here.

Are you coming?

Random waiting room.

And here are Queen Marie Antoinette's parts.

Not very cheerful, I'm afraid.

Price of power.

I hope they've changed the sheet.

Don't be silly.

It's morbid.

If you must live in the jewelry, can't we take a different apartment?

This one feels haunted.

It's superstitious nonsense.

Once it's refurnished to your taste, you'll be happy.

And whenever you need a change, we can go to my maison.

I need a change right now. Let's go.

Don't be childish.

Maybe tomorrow.

When we got married, I could ask you anything.

And you always said yes right away.

Now it's always maybe tomorrow.

You love me less, Bonaparte.

I'm sorry. Maybe we should have thought of redecorating the rooms. Yes, you

should. It would be a sorry state of affairs if my wife is the one person in

France to contest my authority.

Show me where my study is.

Please.

I have an article published in the newspaper saying I'm against powdered

coming back into fashion for men.

Ludicrous. Have they finished an exact account of what's left in the said

coffers?

167 ,000 francs.

I'm sure there's ten times that amount in the pockets of each former member of

the Directoire.

This means France is bankrupt.

We will need to bring in several million francs this year.

The minister of police.

Ah, Fouché.

Come in.

You're not an ordinary minister anymore. You're my minister.

I expect from you a flawless efficiency.

But yet I hear you dislike ruthless measures.

How do you define a ruthless?

Arresting and prisoning.

When we imprison a man, it's usually because he has broken the law.

In other words, when it's too late.

Personally, I'd rather prevent him from committing a crime. But you have to know

to prevent it. Yes.

Know everything about everyone.

Oh, so you claim to keep watch on the whole of France?

I have my informers.

This system has saved your life many times over.

And you didn't inform me?

The bombs were all found.

In time.

Pounds?

Who planted them?

The royalists, with England acting as their banker.

A bomb is more expensive than a vial of poison.

Or a dagger.

So, this is what politics is like.

No, this is what hatred is like.

You're not dressed.

But the carriages are waiting in the courtyard.

Have you forgotten we're going to the opera?

No, but Bonaparte is working.

And when he locks himself up in his toddies, God knows when he'll reappear.

But you go ahead. Go ahead to the opera. Ask Mireille Caroline to chaperone you.

Thank you very much, but I don't need any chaperoning.

But you're only 17, of course.

And at your age, a girl can easily have her head turned. And men, you know.

And what if my head is turned?

Bonaparte has other plans for you.

Nothing is settled, of course, but he's wishing for you to marry his brother,

Louis. Louis?

Have you ever looked at him or spoken with him? He's ugly and miserable.

Not my child.

If the First Consul is asking for you to marry him... The First Consul shall

look after the affairs of state and leave me alone.

And what's more important, he shall look after you.

But he loves me as much as he loved me on the first day we've met.

Then let's hope that what everyone is waiting for will finally happen.

And what do you mean by that?

You know very well.

People are surprised you haven't borne him a child.

But I will, soon.

Who knows? I might be pregnant now.

This morning, I got dizzy.

Don't fool yourself. You're not pregnant.

And you may never be.

But what is the matter with all of you?

Why is it that you all think that I'm barren?

You and your brother, Eugène. I gave you birth.

I know.

Forgive me, Mama.

But that was a long time ago.

A thousand Frenchmen fell at Marigot. They transformed what everyone predicted

as a defeat into a victory.

Thanks to Marigot, a part of Italy regained her freedom.

I intend to turn this victory into a splendid victory, which is why we must

a monument commemorating the battle.

This calls for a triumphal arch.

No, gentlemen, a fountain.

A fountain?

But it's so ordinary.

There's nothing splendid about a fountain.

There is flash water.

There it is dirty. There it is.

Dying of thirst.

Every time Parisians draw water from this fountain, they will feel a moment

gratitude toward the men who fell at Maragot. Merci, you'll do the drawing.

And Fortin, you will carry out the sculpture.

I'm in conference, my dear.

Gentlemen, the First Council will see you tomorrow.

Tonight is Christmas Eve.

No one discusses profane matters on Christmas Eve.

Do you think you are?

Your wife has planned to go to the opera, and that's what we're going to

Certainly not.

Go on your own. I have work to do.

I want us to be seen together.

Paris is battling with rumors that are very painful for me, and your presence

my side will quell them.

What rumors?

They say that you reproach me for not having a child, and that you intend to

another woman pregnant whom we would pay.

To give up the baby at birth.

For a birthdress?

Come. I'm longing for some music.

No, music will do nothing for me tonight.

Then don't listen.

I will bend close to your ear.

With really exciting things.

Devil.

Shh.

Don't tell anyone.

It's Christmas Eve.

What are you trying to do, girl?

They told me to move my cart.

Is there a position coming this way?

Not anymore.

They've taken a different route.

Nice horse.

Oh, we're going by recente case.

Boucher wants us to keep changing our itinerary as a security measure.

Even on Christmas Eve, it's a holy night.

And anyway, you have fewer enemies now.

Even the press is unanimously singing your praises.

I had to close down 60 newspapers to achieve that.

What's happening? We're just moving a cart out of the way. It's my fault.

They told me to go away, then they said not to bother.

How could I know?

It doesn't matter. My soldiers will help you.

What is happening?

I don't know. Hey, you!

Move! Move it!

What's your name?

Isabel. Just to say, princesses are often called Isabel.

Oh, I'm a princess, sir.

Perhaps not tonight.

Maybe tomorrow.

You must believe in the children.

Merry Christmas.

Poor child.

What's the point of filling her head with dreams?

You know she'll never be anything else than a ghost, right?

That's how you think, right? As for me, I want France to be a country where

nothing is impossible for anyone.