All language subtitles for La prise de pouvoir par Louis XIV (1966)

THE TAKING OF POWER
BY LOUIS XIV

The sun's already high.
You're late.

I was delayed.

I've had news of our daughter

from a cart driver leaving Vincennes
with fodder for the Louvre.

- When is she coming back?
- Not anytime soon.

The king won't leave Vincennes
as long as Mazarin is sick.

They're sending our son-in-law
to Bordeaux to buy wine.

They can't go without it
at the palace.

That's what it's like to have
a son-in-law in favor at court.

His Majesty's best cellarman.

Always traveling,
following after the king.

The king!

In the end, he's just
a man like the rest of us.

In England, they beheaded the king.

There weren't any
earthquakes or eclipses.

Don't say that.

If there were no king,
there'd be no palace.

And if there were no palace,
we'd be out of a job.

One king dies
and another will come along.

If the king were really powerful,
he'd be in charge of his own house.

All right. Enough talk.
We have work to do.

More doctors going
to Mazarin at Vincennes.

When we get sick, we can't
even find a barber to bleed us.

You're right.

We've been expecting you.
His Eminence is most ill.

Take them to His Eminence's chamber.

Your Eminence.

I should wish, my dear colleague,
to have your opinion.

Let us see the patient.

Your Eminence, here are
the two colleagues I spoke of.

They will examine you.

Gentlemen.

What do you feel?

I have difficulty breathing.

I have

shooting pains.

I would like to examine -

Well, gentlemen?

Short of a miracle -

The withering has spread.

Diseases attack him all over:
gout, kidney stones.

Dropsy of the lungs.

He must be bled.

Again?

He was bled
three times yesterday.

The more stagnant water
you take out of a well,

the better it becomes.

The more a wet nurse suckles
a child, the more milk she has.

The same is true
of blood and bleeding.

The human body
contains 24 liters of blood.

You can lose 20 without dying.

We remain within
reasonable bounds

as long as we leave
a little in the patient.

Shall we bleed him?

We shall.

We bleed three-year-old
children and younger.

Eighty-year-old men
tolerate it very well.

Now, His Eminence is not even 60,
so we may try it.

Rest assured, Your Eminence.

With the Lord's assistance,

we will do everything in our power

to restore your health.

Thank you.

There's nothing to be done.

Perhaps he has not been sufficiently
purged of his ill humors.

Last night I administered rhubarb.

Well?

These gentlemen have lost all hope.

Then you believe it's time?

Yes, I believe it is.

Perhaps we could feed His Eminence
milk from a wet nurse,

as was done
for His Catholic Majesty?

We could also try precious stones.

We could -

Do you think
it's worth the trouble?

I've never tried them
myself on a patient.

Then I must leave all of this?

Your Eminence, my son,
do not be afraid.

Place your trust in
the infinite mercy of our Lord.

I feel absolutely no fear.

And that's precisely
what saddens me.

I know I am going to die.

I should be trembling

at the thought of appearing
before my creator and judge.

Think of your sins.

I'm thinking of this country,

this kingdom of France,

this country
that I chose myself.

Perhaps that's why
you have served it better

than many who were born to it.

I believe I have served the peace.

By serving the peace,

I've served my king
who is also my godson.

Perhaps it's because I'm Roman.

All nations are children of Rome.

Be calm, Your Eminence.

Think of your sins.

The gold,

to whom do you leave your money,
your paintings and precious stones,

all of the treasures
you have accumulated?

To my poor family.

Have all of these goods
been acquired honestly?

Acquired with the profits
from my dioceses, my abbeys.

It's only normal.

Indeed.

Yet I do not wish to speak
of ecclesiastical profits -

even if there are 23 abbeys -

but of civil governments.

Not much.

Brouage, for example,

though it's a very active port,

it hardly brings in anything.

There's not merely Brouage,

but also the Compagnie du Nord

of which you are
the principal shareholder.

Since when is whaling

a dishonest profession?

And the selling of office titles?

All office titles are sold.

Have you benefited from it?

Let's get to the point, Mr. Joly.

What must I do

to settle accounts with God?

You may bequeath to your family

all the goods which the king
has given you.

But you must return to His Majesty

all the goods you have given
to yourself.

As for my family, admittedly,

I don't have much to praise them for,
in spite of my good deeds,

but I won't cheat God.

Don't worry, my son.

Would you like to confess?

Mr. Colbert, His Eminence
would like to see you.

My good Colbert.

I must have given you
a great deal of work.

It's difficult for
an orderly man as yourself

to serve a spendthrift
such as myself.

I content myself with managing
His Eminence's affairs as well as I'm able.

I'm afraid it's a job

which won't keep you
busy much longer.

But you have official duties.

Nothing prevents you from hoping.

I'm not hoping for anyone's place.

I've never shown impatience
to climb any higher than my post.

Yet Superintendent Fouquet...

In his time, Mr. Fouquet
also served me well.

There's some truth in the report

that you submitted

on the topic of his management.

Scandalous management.

Exorbitant commissions
from the farmers-general,

financial expedients,

squandering of public funds.

I know, I know.

I've returned your report

with the order for you
to reconcile with Mr. Fouquet.

The state owes to Mr. Fouquet personally
the colossal sum of five million.

He may even feel entitled to set his sights
on the succession to Your Eminence.

He already has
set his sights on it...

I've been told.

He has the support
of the Queen Mother.

Never, since Your Eminence's illness,

has there ever been more intrigue
and expectation in the court.

The young courtiers think
they're restoring the reign of favorites

down to the beautiful women
who flatter themselves

that they control
a 22-year-old prince

who's known
to be susceptible to love.

And at the heart of these intrigues,

the hand of Mr. Fouquet
is always seen.

In a few weeks, Your Eminence's
life work could be destroyed

for I don't believe the spirit
of the Fronde has entirely vanished.

It may very well take hold
of Mr. Fouquet and his friends,

even though he was at your side
during those sad events.

At no moment have I seen
the superintendent

even pretend to have the least
concern for the public good.

In his circle, it's only an issue
of posts to be taken,

influence to be purchased

and positions to be conquered.

If the king is not what we believe -

and we seem to be the only ones
who think he is -

and if Mr. Fouquet
becomes prime minister -

Well?

Anything could happen.

What time is it?

Not yet seven.

Send word to His Majesty

to come see me
as soon as he rises.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

What's going on?
Is the queen calling?

She's announcing that the king performed
his conjugal duties last night.

What news of His Eminence?

His Eminence has expressed
a desire to see Your Majesty.

Alcohol.

Alcohol.

- Good morning, brother.
- Good morning, Sire.

The king!

The king!

I've come to see His Eminence.

Your Eminence, it's the king.

Tell His Majesty
I'll receive him in a moment.

His Eminence's makeup.

Sire, His Eminence
will receive you in a moment.

Sire.

Sire, I owe everything to Your Majesty.

I leave everything to you.

Everything?
What do you mean?

My wealth, my fortune.

Yes, Sire. I have decided.

I'm perhaps
the richest man in Europe,

but I've decided to die
as if I had nothing.

I've had such pleasure
contemplating this thought.

Only, I beg Your Majesty

to show benevolence

towards my unfortunate family.

I refuse.

I refuse, Cardinal.

The offer is touching as a sign
of your attachment to my person

and to what it represents.

But it's in the name
of what it represents,

in the name of the state
and the crown, that I refuse.

I refuse not as Louis,
your godson,

but as king.

Think, Sire, of the increased power

that the possession of
a great fortune will confer upon you.

I also think of what will be said
among the people

when it's known
that this great wealth

has been bequeathed to me
by one of my subjects.

Sire, you will be a great king.

I die content that
you are now fit to rule.

You will understand
the counsel of your ministers

and make use of it
as you see fit.

And what's more, Sire,

I think I"m paying all my debts
by leaving you Colbert.

Rest, Cardinal.

Be at peace.

We'll go to my mother.

Well, Mr. Fouquet, have you come
for news of our friend's health?

Yes, Sire.

I learned with sadness that His Eminence
was at the point of death.

The Cardinal endures terrible suffering

with admirable perseverance.

I shall see you shortly, Mr. Fouquet.

- Good morning, madame.
- Good morning, Louis.

Good morning, Mr. Le Tellier.

Louis, what's wrong?
You seem sad.

Yes, madame.

I've just had a conversation
with the Cardinal.

It may have been our last.

You're moved?

I loved him and he loved me.

You detested him.

He was my godfather, my tutor,
the savior of the crown.

Without him, the Fronde
would have triumphed.

You called him “the great Turk.”

I only knew of him what I'd been told.
I was still young.

Have you no regrets at all
on the death of this man?

You supported him
against the whole of France.

Yes.

Even without fear
of risking your throne.

But I deplore his ingratitude.

He has kept me far removed
from government.

He has often shown
a lack of consideration for me

and he has enriched himself with
a fury that's always startled me.

He's insatiable.

Pardon me, madame.
He was my only friend.

The only one besides you
in whom I could confide.

I'm afraid his death will bring back
the disorder of the Fronde.

Your throne is secure.

France is united behind its king.
The nobles are appeased.

You think so?

You think that in such a short time
so many absurd hatreds

have been forgotten?

I'm afraid the cardinal"s death -

I'm certain you'll be able to find
a worthy successor to Mr. Mazarin.

Talent is not lacking
among the leaders.

For heaven"s sake, Mother.
Don't you remember a thing?

The Fronde made you tremble as well.

I was still a child, but there are
some things I'll never forget:

A prince of my blood
at the head of my enemies.

The humiliations suffered
in January of '49,

the night you and I were forced to flee

from the Louvre to Saint-Germain
in a cheap coach.

We might have suffered the fate
of my uncle in England.

No, the power was divided
between too many hands

guided by contrary interests.

The cardinal was skillful at maintaining
equilibrium between these forces:

The parliament,
the nobility, the financiers,

the provincial governments.

I feel that even at court

there is little loyalty
without ulterior motive

and that those who appear
the most devoted subjects

are just as much to be feared
and blamed as the most rebellious.

You'll make yourself sick
if you keep brooding on such thoughts.

Let's speak no more of it.

To satisfy their taste for pomp,

the powerful sell themselves
to France's enemies.

Even the Prince of Condé
is begging for help from the Spanish.

The nobles, no longer living
in their own lands, need money.

And only the merchants
possess this money.

The nobility no longer
supports the crown.

They're in other hands,
governed by base interests.

During the Fronde,
honor became a commodity,

like sugar or spices.

Since we've made the mistake of selling
office titles during several reigns,

today we suffer for it.

The parliament,

which should order and define
the rights and duties of magistrates,

no longer contents itself
with this privilege

and now claims other powers.

In England, the parliament
turns against its master

and delivers him to the executioner.

Our parliament would do the same

and the divine right would be profaned

by those who have
no other power than money.

Each must remain in his place.

The state must be made a reality.

Yes. And?

Excuse me, madame.

Louis.

Excuse me, madame,
for having disturbed you.

He's still a child.

Do you think the memory
of Mlle. Mancini

will ever cease to occupy his mind?

His Eminence's niece is engaged.
She'll soon leave France.

The king no longer speaks to her.

He spends all his nights
at the side of the queen.

Would to God
that he continue to.

Mr. Le Tellier,
what are you thinking about?

The speech His Majesty
has just delivered.

I must confess
I didn't understand.

These words remind me of comments
the king made to me several days ago.

As I was leaving a council
presided over by His Eminence,

His Majesty turned
towards me and said,

“Mr. Le Tellier, I want to govern,
attend the council

and not miss a single day.”

He also said that
in many circumstances,

the choice of what to do
was his and his alone,

and that this choice,
lacking neither sense nor courage,

could be better executed
by no other than the king.

Govern?

Have you ever seen
a king of France govern?

Henry the Great, perhaps.

Queen Catherine de Médicis, yes.

But her children?

At 20, Francois the First
only dreamed of battles.

It was his mother
who held the reins of power.

His Majesty was not
speaking seriously.

I assure you I've never
seen him more serious.

What are we to make of it?

You know the king as well as I.

Hunting, dancing, balls and card games
are his favorite pastimes.

He just wanted to play
at being competent.

Pierrette, go to the cardinal's
antechamber tonight

to learn of his condition.

Yes, Sire.

If his soul is delivered, you must come
tell me, no matter the hour.

Madame.

The king is worried about
the cardinal's health.

I've come to keep watch with you.

Sit here.

- Sit here.
- Thank you.

Mr. Fouquet.

- How long since he died?
- A few moments.

The king must be informed.

The king!

Marshal.

We have just lost a good friend.

But rest assured,
you have found a good master.

Why is it that His Majesty
does not enter the chamber?

It's custom.

It would be unseemly for the king
to be seen in contact with death.

Mr. Le Tellier.

I will return to Paris after dinner.

Have all the ministers at the Louvre
tomorrow at seven for the council.

I would also like to see Chancellor
Séguier and the archbishop.

Yes, Sire.

Le Tellier.

I order the court to observe
mourning in black.

But, Sire, that's an honor reserved
for members of the royal family.

Mourning in black.

So the marshal was astonished to see
the king come towards him and say,

“We have just lost a good friend.

But rest assured,
you have found a good master.”

The king!

The king!

The king!

Gentlemen, I've had you assembled
to tell you that up to the present,

I've seen fit to leave the governance
of my affairs to the late cardinal.

It's time that I governed myself.

You will aid me with your counsel
when I ask for it.

Aside from the royal seal,
which I do not intend to change,

I request and order, Mr. Chancellor,

that you affix it to nothing
without my order.

As for the secretaries of state,
I order you to sign nothing,

not so much as a safeguard
or passport, without my consent.

Superintendent, I ask you
to make use of Mr. Colbert

whom the late cardinal
recommended to me.

As for Lionne,
he is assured of my affection.

I am pleased with his service.

Your Majesty had ordered me
to address the cardinal

concerning affairs of the church.

Whom should I address now?

Myself, Archbishop.

You know my wishes.
It's now up to you to execute them.

Well, gentlemen,
this should make your jobs easier.

Well, what do you think?

The king is too fond of pleasures.

He"ll tire quickly of the job
he intends to assume.

A month or two from now,
things will be back in order.

Mr. Colbert, I appoint you to the post
of finance bursar next to Mr. Fouquet.

Sire, I don't know how to express
my gratitude. I humbly ask you -

I hope you'll be able to show me
the same devotion in weighty matters

as you have in lesser ones.

Sire.

The cardinal placed 16 million
at the Bastille as a precaution.

This money was not
mentioned in his will.

He considered it
as due to the king.

Sixteen million?

Then we are delivered from
the supervision of the financiers.

Mr. Colbert, you will come
every evening before I go to bed

to work alone with me.

But not a word to anyone. Secrecy is
the first virtue I demand of my servants.

I believe you understand this already.

If I've placed you
next to Mr. Fouquet,

it's in order to learn
if he has understood as well.

Sire, might I inform you
of a report and secret thought

that until present I had only
revealed to the cardinal?

Here's the report.

And the secret thought?

It's this.

I don't think Mr. Fouquet
will ever understand

what Your Majesty
would like him to understand,

to know that it's high time
to put his accounts in order.

Why would he?

Disorder and confusion
are better conditions for him.

The man's vanity and ambition
have no end.

In the castle he's built at Vaux
with money stolen from the state,

his coat of arms and motto
are everywhere -

a squirrel with these words:
Quo non ascendet.

“Where couldn't I climb?”

In your opinion,
what were these thefts?

Your Majesty will read
the details in the report.

But I could cite one case
among a thousand other frauds,

of old bank notes
unpaid from savings

then resold at three or
four percent of their face value

reassigned to good funds
and reimbursed in full.

In another case,
I know from a good source

that he had Belle-ile
and Nantes fortified.

Mr. Fouquet's heart
is with the Fronde.

We must not act too quickly.

Besides, my mother is very friendly
with the superintendent.

Mr. Fouquet often has bags of gold
brought to Her Majesty the Queen Mother

intended for her good works.

I don't want to jeopardize
the returns from this year's taxes

by scaring off
the farmers-general too soon.

So until further notice, Mr. Fouquet
remains part of the council.

And Her Majesty the Queen Mother?

My mother?

His Eminence removed her
from the council.

Will you bring her back in?

No.

Your debauched behavior
is unworthy of a Christian king.

I'm not against pleasure,

but you don't take
precautions anymore.

When you stay at Fontainebleau,

you bathe naked in the river
with your mistress every day.

And you've asked Mignard
to paint you both.

You as Apollo and she
as a shepherdess at your side,

as if the queen didn't exist.

I understand why you don't
want me in your council.

You're afraid
I'll condemn your behavior.

Have you lost
all respect for yourself,

all affection
for your spouse and for me?

You cannot imagine
the grief you cause me.

Pushed away by Mazarin,
a man whose fortune I made,

and now by my own son.

Since you're acting
as if you had no mother,

I'll withdraw to the convent
in Val-de-Grace.

Val-de-Grace, you understand?

Forgive me, Mother.

Forgive me.

Sire, please forgive me,

but I must remind Your Majesty
that a decision must be taken

regarding membership
in the high council.

What decision?

What has Your Majesty decided?

- I believe the Queen Mother -
- Nothing has changed.

Neither my brother nor my mother
will attend the council.

It's started.
The dogs are calling.

Do you like hunting?

Yes. It makes private meetings easier.

The king is quite an enthusiast.

It will be easy to control him

as long as he has something
to keep him entertained,

just as I predicted.

All of your speeches begin or end
with “just as I predicted”

or “wasn't I right?”

Do you never tire
of always being right?

Besides, you may be letting
your imagination run away with you.

As far as I know, the king
diligently presides over the council

as he'd declared he would.

He takes interest in all matters.

This fine zeal is merely
a flash in the pan.

Within a month,
I'll be prime minister.

If that's how it is,
you should get rid of Colbert.

He's a man to be feared.

You really think I should be worried
about that petit bourgeois from Reims?

It's this young woman, Mlle. de la Valliére,
who is going to be important.

Really?

You don't know her?

Yes, I know her.

Madame calls her
“the little dressmaker from Tours.”

She's the daughter
of a poor gentleman.

She was raised at the court of
Mr. Gaston, brother of the late king.

Evidently, she's not used to money.

We'll easily win her over.

How beautiful, madame.

- Louise, aren't you playing?
- No, Sire.

I'll put in 10 pistoles for you.

Seventeen. You lose.

How are you faring, madame?

I don't care about the game.

- When will you stop torturing me?
-102.

What do you mean?
I don't understand.

- You understand very well.
- Not so loud.

Aren't you interested in the game?

No, I always lose.

I have a word for you
from Mr. Fouquet.

The superintendent is struck
with your beauty and your modesty.

You can count on his support.

While awaiting a pledge
of his friendship,

Mr. Fouquet would ask you
to accept a gift.

- A gift?
- Yes.

Twenty thousand pistoles.

Tell Mr. Fouquet I won't make
a false step for 20,000 pistoles.

Why are you shaking?

I'm shaking with rage.

Madame du Plessis
just offered me money.

Money?

Twenty thousand pistoles
from Mr. Fouquet.

I've noticed that my first impressions
are usually correct.

And this step forces me
not to postpone any further

what I both want and fear to do.

You've done very well
to advise me, Louise.

Madame, I've decided that the next Council
of Ministers will take place in Nantes.

I want the whole court
to depart within three days.

I'll see you there.

Good night, madame.

Nantes? The king
is quite sure of himself.

Why this sudden decision?

At the last council,
the king didn't utter a word of this.

I'm afraid this may conceal
some kind of plot.

- Your spies haven't said anything?
- About what?

If I were you,
I'd start fearing the worst.

You're dreaming.

I saw the king smile at you
as he left the room.

No. His Majesty is young

and the temptation to display
his new power is too strong.

You amuse me, always imagining
the worst catastrophes.

If the king has decided
to visit my estate,

it must be to pay homage
to the foremost servant of the crown.

Don't lose your head.

I'm happy to see you.

Sire, when I learned
that Your Majesty

deigned to honor our city of Nantes
with your presence,

I could not fail to pay
my respects to you.

You must rest
to recover your health.

I'd like to take the opportunity
while you're alone, Sire,

to submit a petition to you.

I'll read it later.

Here comes my mother.

I have to tell you something.

What?

I wanted you to be informed.

I've decided to have Mr. Fouquet
arrested by my captain of the guard.

I've brought the council to Nantes
to give this action greater impact.

But Louis...

have you lost your mind?

Why, madame?
When the treasury is empty,

revenue is consumed
two years in advance,

the harvest is bad and the people
are menaced with a new famine,

the superintendent is rich enough

to spend in one day
more money than I possess

and to corrupt
my close associates.

This represents years of plundering,
extortion and trafficking

at the kingdom's expense.

And Mr. Fouquet is not even afraid
to give me proof of it.

Mr. Fouquet is
completely devoted to you.

My decision has been made.

Arresting Mr. Fouquet
in his own province.

Be careful, my son.

You might reawaken
the troubles of the Fronde.

Then I will know who is for me
and who is against me.

And I will know
where to carry out justice.

You scare me.

I've never seen
a more wretched place.

You're always complaining.
It's not bad to be in the field.

Against whom? As far as I know,
the Spanish aren't in Nantes.

You can ask Mr. d'Artagnan.

- Bread, musketeers? Fresh bread.
- Ask for my cured ham. Fresh sausage.

Gentlemen.

In Paris, we have barracks
at each of the king's castles.

- You see the king every day?
- Every day we ride before his carriage.

Mr. d'Artagnan!

His Majesty would see you right away.

Do you know why?

His Majesty would like to discuss
the role of your musketeers.

I'll follow you.

Water bearer!

Water bearer!

Sire, Mr. d'Artagnan is here.

Let him in.

Mr. d'Artagnan,
the mission I'm assigning you

must be kept secret
until you have carried it out.

Following that, I want to call
as much attention to it as possible.

I'm greatly honored by the confidence
Your Majesty has placed in me.

- I can assure you that I'm -
- You will arrest Mr. Fouquet

when he comes out of the council.

Mr. Colbert will give you
the details of my instructions.

Farewell, Mr. d'Artagnan.

Here are written orders
signed by His Majesty.

Do not let Mr. Fouquet out of your sight
from the moment he's arrested

so he's not able
to conceal any documents.

The prisoner will be transported
to Angers via Oudon and Ingrandes.

At Oudon, you will ask him
for a letter with his signature

ordering the commander at Belle-ile
to return the site to the king's hands.

You will read the rest.

Very well, sir.

You may assure the king that his orders
will be carried out diligently.

The next council
will take place in Vincennes.

You are excused.

Mr. Fouquet.

I have something to say to you.

No.

It will wait for another time.

I do not know what
Mr. Fouquet's fate will be.

It's up to my courts to decide.

In any case,
I don't want another superintendent.

The king, Mr. Colbert,

should be the unique
soul of the state.

To prevent the Fronde
from returning to power,

it's not enough to rely on those
who are more loyal than others.

Everyone in the kingdom must derive
all things from the monarch,

as nature derives
all things from the sun.

The people must be assured
work and bread,

so that poverty will not drive them
into the arms of new rebels.

We'll see to it that
taxes are lowered.

As for the nobility, they as well
shall derive all things from the king:

privileges, honors, money.

Therefore, we will have them
continually in our presence,

separated from the bourgeoisie.

We'll make sure that being far from us
will be worse than exile for them.

Be careful, Sire, that expenses
do not become great.

Expenses, Mr. Colbert,
will be sources of activity and profit.

The merchants,
artisans and the bourgeois

will see that it's in their interest
to build ties to the king,

the animator of all enterprises.

All of our decisions -
great works,

the establishment of industries,
the conquest of new lands -

will provide opportunities
for immense profit.

This is the outline of my policy.
Are you prepared to serve it?

With all my heart, Sire.

In your view,
what are the means to this end?

Your Majesty has said it.

France must be endowed
with the industries it lacks.

It must produce arms,
mirrors, tapestries.

France must be given a fleet
and an empire beyond the sea,

to liberate us from Holland, which
has a monopoly on maritime traffic.

Domestically, charity
must be replaced by work,

for the idle are easy prey
for troublemakers.

We must dig canals, open roads,
develop stables for military service,

take measures to avoid famine
and develop agriculture.

We must reduce the taxes
that are crushing the peasants

and offset this loss of revenue

by raising indirect taxes
which will affect all classes -

financing, granting, salt,
tobacco and stamped paper.

This system will allow,
as His Majesty wishes,

a reduction in charges
on the lower classes.

However, to increase income,

it's best to reduce the remittances
and profits of tax collectors

and have them closely watched,

to investigate sharply the traders

and to reduce
and refinance allowances.

That's all very well.

We will be certain
to take these measures.

In addition, Mr. Colbert,

upon my return to the Louvre,
I want you to summon the master tailor.

Do not neglect this order.
It's of the highest importance.

We have scrupulously followed
Your Majesty's commands.

There isn't enough
ribbon and lace.

Does Your Majesty
prefer it like this?

That's better.

Mr. Fouquet had adopted
those German fashions.

We"ll take the most
luxurious part from it.

Mr. Fouquet saw in it no more
than an instrument of glory.

We'll make political use of it

so that the nobles won't be able
to think of anything but their doublet.

A suit like this one, Mr. Colbert,

should represent a year's income
for a gentleman of the court.

Mr. Binet, try the wig on him.

My scissors.

With that dark wig,
the mustache needs to match.

Add ribbons to the shoes
and lengthen the lace at the heel.

Mr. Fouquet understood that minds
are governed more by appearances

than by the true nature of things.

Does the suit meet
Your Majesty's wishes now?

No, it's too cheap.

It's better to start over.

You see, Mr. Colbert,
I'll be the first to dress this way.

For the nobility must follow
the king in every regard.

I've decided to keep them
far away from Paris

and far away from the parliament
who was their ally during the Fronde.

To that end, I'll move into the castle
that my father built at Versailles.

Until the present, leaders have paid
their own expenses while staying at court.

Henceforth, the crown will pay the expense
of furnishing and lodging them year round.

Nevertheless, Sire,

Your Majesty's generosity will not prevent
the nobles from going into debt.

Far from their land, solicited by
a thousand opportunities to spend,

they'll take out loans.

Let them.

I'll cover their worst debts
to bind them more closely to me.

As for those nobles who wish
to have lodgings built at Versailles,

I will declare their lodgings
privileged from seizure

and not to be sold by the courts.

That will not fail
to attract them to the court.

They will no longer be indebted
to the bourgeois for their finances,

but to myself alone.

My father's castle will become
the temple of the monarchy.

All the artists in the kingdom
will work on its embellishment.

Well, Mr. Le Vau,
how are things progressing?

Sire, I had to address
the most urgent matters first.

Where do the works stand?

The masonry of
the middle wing is complete,

the plumbing and the roofing
will soon be done

and shortly, Your Majesty
will see the woodwork under way.

On the other hand, Your Majesty
can already judge the effect produced

by the balusters,
vases and trophies.

Have you seen, Mr. Le Vau,

the paintings which will adorn
the seven rooms of the large apartment?

Yes, Sire.

Nothing signals more clearly a prince's
greatness of spirit than his buildings.

Posterity judges him by the measure
of the structures he's built.

After me, Versailles will remain
the palace of my dynasty.

Keep this in your mind and spare
no embellishment that might enrich it.

Mr. Colbert, based on these plans,

have you estimated how many
people the palace could house?

Yes, Sire.
13,000 people.

I would like the plans
enlarged to 15,000.

When foreign lords
and sovereigns come to visit us,

the immensity and novelty
of the palace's layout

will show them the extent
of France's power.

Mr. Le Vau, you must continue
those open archways

that you have erected
to support the terrace.

We will plant here,
with the good exposure to the sun,

the largest and most beautiful
orangery in the world.

The king!

Mr. de Vardes.

I greet you, madame.

I am quite well.

Mr. de Vardes,
I've summoned you.

I am pleased to see you.

My Lord, Sire, by summoning me,
you've brought me back to life.

This is Mr. de la Motte, who's
just returned from the country.

I salute you, sir.

Another foolish remark.

Aren't you aware that you mustn't
salute anyone in my presence?

Sire, I'd completely forgotten.

Your Majesty will have to
forgive me 30 foolish remarks.

I will. Twenty-nine remain.

But tell me, Vardes,
what's this doublet you"re wearing??

Have you just returned
from China or the Americas?

Sire, when we're so unfortunate
as to be distant from you,

we're not only unhappy,
but ridiculous as well.

Stand up, Mr. de Vardes,
and remain in my friendship.

Are they cooked perfectly?

Careful. His Majesty hates hard-boiled
eggs that aren't perfectly cooked.

His Majesty has begun
the eighth setting.

Garnish the chicken.

Prepare the fruit baskets.

Garnish it with spinach.

Don't forget to stud it
with roast bread

and to sprinkle the edge
of the plate with grated bread.

And the peas.

Peas.

Master of greens.

Did you remember the lettuce?

Go, go, go.

The suckling pig.

Very good.

Very good.

Garnish the fruit baskets.

The lids.

A little more sauce.

A bit more generous
with the garnish.

Did you let the crepe batter rest?

Prepare 12 marmalade crepes,
24 chocolate and 24 vanilla.

The napkin, please, brother.

The bread.

Music, please, brother.

The king's music.

The king's music.

The king isn't familiar
with the use of a fork?

Yes, but he disapproves of them.

The other day, His Majesty
went into a terrible rage

when he learned that his highness
the Dauphin had used one.

I'm thirsty.

Drink for the king.

Mr. de Lorraine.

I would like you to come
with me after I've dined.

We will go to the kennel
and feed the dogs.

I will be there, Sire.

I'll be pleased to see you tomorrow
for the hunt in the Marly forest.

Go to the kitchen
for the other plates.

The king has begun
the 14th setting.

The king has begun
the 14th setting.

The king has begun
the 14th setting.

Form the procession.

Meat for the king.

Meat for the king.

I formally advise Your Majesty
against the pork.

Fine.

Bring hard-boiled eggs.

Hard-boiled eggs.

Have a seat, my brother.

Mr. de Gesvres, I wish
to remain alone and at rest.

“There is a loftiness that
does not come from fortune.

It's a certain air of superiority
which seems to destine us for greatness.

It's a prize that we give
to ourselves imperceptibly.

It's by virtue of this quality that
we usurp the deference of other men,

and it is this quality
which places us above them

more than birth,
dignity or even merit.”

More than birth,
dignity or even merit.

“Neither the sun nor death
can be gazed upon fixedly.”

Neither the sun nor death
can be gazed upon fixedly.