Shueisha bunko 4, 301-400 (tankoubon 7)
Copyright © 1972-2001 by Ikeda Riyoko
Translation copyright © 2001 by Amy J. Lai
Disclaimer: This is a non-commercial translation by a fan for fans. No infringement of copyright to the author and publishers is intended. Please do not cite any part of this translation without my permission.
KEY
| abc | = speech |
| {{ abc }} | = thought |
| abc | = emphasis |
| ... | = unfinished speech/thought, or pause |
| ( abc ) | = alternative translation, usually indicates literal meaning (lit.) |
| [ abc ] | = description of actions/sounds |
| < p.# > | = page number |
| # | = narrator's comments, author's footnotes |
| AJL: | = translator's comments |
TRANSLATION BEGINS
| < p.301 > | |
| Granny: | What? You're grounded? [ falls over: boing! plop! thunk! ] |
| André: | See, told ya! You shouldn't have told Granny. |
| Granny: | [ twitch twitch ... ] |
| Oscar: | Eh ... |
| Granny: | Shouldn't have told what? Why, what good of a servant are you! How could you let this happen to my Lady! |
| André: | [ bong! ] {{ But ... }} |
| Oscar: | Granny, this gives me a good opportunity to inspect the Jarjayes estates. Please make the arrangements. |
| Granny: | Pardon? |
< p.302 > | |
| Granny: | But ... but the Lord is away at the border patrol now. What if the court found out you weren't at home? |
| Oscar: | Well, tell them I've taken it quite hard and got sent to the hospital! [ ha ha ha ... ] Give Father my regards when he returns. André, let's leave early in the morning tomorrow. It's quite a long way to the hospital! [ ha ha ha ... ] |
[ At the Palace ] | |
| Antoinette: | [ la li la ... ] |
| Women: | [ clap clap clap ] |
< p.303 > | |
| Women: | Her Majesty has such a lovely voice! |
| Louis XVI: | [ clap clap ] Ha ha ... |
| Women: | It was a bit off tune during the aria, but it must have been the accompanist, right? Oh look! The next lady has started to sing! |
| Polignac: | [ fa la la ... ] |
< p.304 > | |
| Antoinette: | {{ Oh my! What gentle voice she has! She seems as graceful as the women in Raphael's paintings. }} Countess Noailles, who is that lady? |
| Noailles: | Oh, she is a kind angel! Her name is Countess Jules de Polignac. |
| Antoinette: | {{ Countess Polignac ... she seems quite poised, probably a few years older than me. }} * * AJL: Are you wondering why there's a tree next to Antoinette's head in the picture? That's because Antoinette literally said "she reminds me of the comfort (/grace) of the tree shade." |
[ At a dance ] | |
| Antoinette: | [ searches for Polignac ] |
< p.305 > | |
| Antoinette: | {{ There! }} How do you do, Countess Polignac. |
| Polignac: | Why, Your Majesty! |
| Antoinette: | I've wanted to speak with you for a while now. Why haven't you been coming to court more often? |
| Polignac: | Your Majesty ... |
< p.306 > | |
| Polignac: | It's that ... er ... attending court requires quite an upkeeping, and our family is not very wealthy. |
| Antoinette: | {{ Oh dear, no money! She's not a bit shy about telling the most embarasssing thing in the world! What pure heart she has! I've never seen anyone so sincere in court! }} |
< p.307 > | |
| Antoinette: | Countess Polignac, I'd like to speak to you whenever I wish. Why don't you move to the Palace with your family? |
# At the time, in high society ... it was fashionable among the court ladies to keep company with other women friends. Never did it carry the tone of lesbian love. There were even many who crossdress as men to enchanting appeal. With downcast eyes, Countess Polignac appeared every bit as angelic. |
|
< p.308 > | |
| # Years later, she would come to rule over Versailles as the young Queen's favorite. | |
| # Town of Arras, Artois Province [ sign on inn: Inn of Arras, food available ] | |
| Innkeeper: | Oh, please come in. Will you be staying? |
| Oscar: | Yeah. We'd like some food first. |
| Innkeeper: | Ah! Aren't you Monsieur Oscar? |
| Oscar: | Why, you remembered! I was just wondering whether you would. I was still so little when Father and I stayed here last time. |
< p.309 > | |
| Innkeeper: | Of course I'll remember! The General always stays at my place when he comes to see the estates. Oh my goodness! You've grown so much already! Ha ha ... How grand you look! Ha ha ... isn't this the officer badge of the Palace Guards? Then you must be serving the Palace. I'm so proud of you! Well, it's been a while since I last saw you. The drinks are on me tonight! |
| Oscar: | The old guy is quite chatty. |
[ Oscar and Robespierre notice each other across the room. ] | |
< p.310 > | |
| Oscar: | Aren't you ... the College Louis-le-Grand representative who spoke on the day of Louis XVI's coronation? |
| Robespierre: | You remembered! Gosh, how embarrasing. I'm Maxmilien de Robespierre. Weren't you in the procession as an officer in the Palace Guards? I remembered your pretty face quite well. |
| Oscar: | My name is Oscar François de Jarjayes. |
| Robespierre: | Now I'm studying for a degree in law. I thought I might as well attend the university and try for the bar exams ... Arras is my hometown, and I do go back sometimes. To tell the truth, I had some regrets about speaking on the day of coronation. With the coming of a new age, we looked to the new King for some change ... |
< p.311 > | |
| Robespierre: | But our situation has not improved a bit at all. The prices are going up day by day ... From what I heard, Lady Antoinette is quite fond of amusements ... And the King agrees to whatever she says ... |
| [ coffee spills: splat! ] | |
| Robespierre: | Have I offended you, my friend Jarjayes? I beg your pardon. I totally forgot you are a Palace Guard officer. |
| Innkeeper: | That fellow meant no harm. He was just a bit too frank. |
| Oscar: | Wasn't there a "de" in his name? Is he a nobleman? |
< p.312 > | |
| Innkeeper: | No, he's a commoner. He comes from a line of lawyers, and his family has used "de" for generations. He's quite popular in town, helping the poor and illiterate with legal advice for free. Monsieur Oscar, what Robespierre said is the truth. Everyone is a bit disappointed with the new King and Queen. |
[ At the Palace ] | |
| Servant: | Your Majesty, Cardinal Rohan has requested an audience again. |
< p.313 > | |
| Antoinette: | {{ Cardinal Rohan? }} Tell that man I will never grant an audience or speak a word to him. |
| Servant: | Yes, Your Majesty. |
| Antoinette: | {[ He'd give up eventually after all these refusals. What a shameless man! While a priest, the lecher chased after women and hunted all day long, even after he got fired from the post of ambassador to Austria and sent back to France. No wonder Mother insisted that I should never become acquainted with him. }} |
< p.314 > | |
| Maid: | Lady Antoinette, Countess Polignanc is here. |
| Antoinette: | Oh! Countess Polignac? Let her in now! We're going to play cards after lunch! |
| Polignac: | Lady Antoinette, actually I came today to request leave from the Palace and bid farewell ... |
| Antoinette: | Count- Countess Polignac! But wh- why? You just moved in a while ago! |
| Polignac: | Your Majesty has treated me kindly and cared for me as a dear friend. But I have no rank or fortune and simply can't bear the shame of appearing in court. |
< p.315 > | |
| Polignac: | My daughter doesn't have anything suitable to wear. And I can't afford to keep so many servants, carriages, big stables ... My husband is quite ashamed too. So I thought it'd be best if I leave the Palace. |
| Antoinette: | No! No, you must never leave the Palace! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? Oh, my dear friend, Countess Polignac! What do you think I am? Aren't I here to help out with friends? I'll ask the Director General of Finances to plan a new budget for you! |
< p.316 > | |
| Antoinette: | I'll assign reserve horses for the Polignacs and give you five times more horses and carriages! Your servants will be on the Palace's payroll, and your husband Count Polignac shall be granted the post of Director General of Communication! |
| Polignac: | Oh my! Your Majesty! |
| Courtiers: | [ boo! boo! thump! thump! ] What's going on? Isn't she a cunning angel! Gentle as she looks, she's quite a good strategist! Her Majesty is too kind! Did you say Count Polignac is now the Director General of Communication? How could he be qualified? And why does he deserve an annual salary of 54,000 livres? * * # 650 million Yen; AJL: exchange rate in 1970s |
< p.317 > | |
| Polignac: | Well, let's go, Charlotte. Now Mother shall make you the highest ranking princess in court. |
| Antoinette: | {{ Oh ... how fortunate I am ... how wonderful it is to make my dearest friends happy ... }} |
| # Marie Antoinette's first mistake lies in her belief that her own happiness leads to the people's happiness. | |
[ At the Jarjayes house ] | |
| Oscar: | Father, I'm back. |
| General Jarjayes: | [ bang! ] |
< p.318 > | |
| General Jarjayes: | You fool! [ slap! ] |
| Oscar: | Ah! [ falls to ground: twist! thud! ] Fa- father! |
< p.319 > | |
| Granny: | My Lord! Isn't this a bit harsh? After all, Lady Oscar is a woman! How could you beat her like this! Oh my dear Lady Oscar, if I had known it'd turn out this way, I'd have fought the Lord to death when you were born! Then you would be raised as an ordinary woman, bloom into beauty, and find happiness in marriage. After all, you are the most beautiful among the six sisters! |
< p.320 > | |
| General Jarjayes: | Stand up, Oscar! Have you ever considered how your action might reflect on Lady Antoinette if the court found out about it? How could you go on trips so freely? You're supposed to be grounded! Even if you had gone to duel and won, you probably would still be banished forever from court. The Prince has quite a powerful family, after all. That's why Lady Antoinette forbade you to duel. Don't you understand how she felt? |
< p.321 > | |
| Oscar: | I am very sorry, Father. But I ... no, I mean, that's why I did it. It's for Lady Antoinette. I wanted to find out how the majority of the French population were living and thinking, what these poor people thought of Lady Antoinette. |
| General Jarjayes: | As a private guard to the Queen, you don't need to think about such things. Go practice your fencing if you're so bored. |
< p.322 > | |
| Oscar: | Yes, Father. |
| André: | Oscar ... |
| Oscar: | [ kicks pedestal: kachink! ] Damn it! So a Prince can get away with anything? Damn! What the hell are with the Princes? Are they so grand? Damn him! Tell me, André! Say something! [ huff huff ... ] |
< p.323 > | |
| André: | At first glance, you seem as cold as ice, but deep down your heart is burning with violent passion. I like you just the way you are ... |
| Oscar: | An- André, get the swords. Come practice with me. |
| André: | Okay. |
[ carriage: teeter totter ... ] | |
< p.324 > | |
| Jeanne: | Nicholas! Nicholas, are you there? I have great news for you! Listen, Nicholas, Cardinal Rohan has recommended you, you, to the Palace Guards. You'll be a Captain! |
| Nicholas: | A Captain in the Palace Guards? [ ha ha ... ] You must be kidding! How could someone of my rank get in there? |
| Jeanne: | Heh heh ... That's because I told Cardinal Rohan you are a Count! |
| Nicholas: | Wh- what? A Count? |
| Jeanne: | Indeed! Isn't this great? You'll be Count Nicholas de Lamotte, and I'll be Countess Jeanne de Lamotte Valois! |
< p.325 > | |
| Nicholas: | Bu- but ... what if the police found out I'm pretending to be a Count and not paying my taxes? |
| Jeanne: | Hmm ... it is a bit dangerous. I'll borrow some money and rent a big house on the Rue Neuve Saint-Gilles. Then we can move out soon. |
| Nicholas: | Jeanne! Why, how could you ... |
| Jeanne: | Rétaux, the fake will you wrote was fabulous. No one doubted it for a moment. |
| Rétaux: | [ tee hee ] Heh heh ... I'd do anything for my beautiful Lady Jeanne. |
| Jeanne: | I'd like to make use of your skills in the future. Please accept the position of First Secretary to Count Lamotte and move in with us. |
< p.326 > | |
| Nicholas: | Hee hee ... what First Secretary? He's the only one. |
| Jeanne: | Heh heh ... just wait ... |
[ At the Palace ] | |
| Mercy: | Did you hear me, Lady Antoinette? This time you spent way too much money on Mme. de Polignac and her family! It's simply frightening! [ blab blab blab ] |
| Antoinette: | Count Mercy, go tell it to Necker, the Director General of Finances. I'm only trying to help out my dearest friend. |
| Mercy: | Lady Antoinette! |
< p.327 > | |
| Mercy: | Don't you realize that Countess Polignac is only using your friendship to get the ranks and money she wants? |
| Antoinette: | Count Mercy! Can't you even tell the difference between right and wrong? Why, she has such a pure heart! I won't tolerate this even if you're my mother's favorite advisor! |
| Mercy: | Well ... I am very sorry, Your Majesty ... |
< p.328 > | |
| Mercy: | Sigh ... what a headache ... |
| Oscar: | Count Mercy? |
| Mercy: | Lady Antoinette is just showering kindness on Countess Polignac blindly. At this rate, who knows who will be the real Queen! I can't reprimand her as I did during her Crown Princess days any more. |
| Oscar: | Lady Antoinette ... |
| Antoinette: | Oscar ... |
< p.329 > | |
| Antoinette: | No one ... understands how I feel about my dearest friend! Countess Polignac ... she isn't the kind of woman people say she is! She's like a mother or sister to me. When I speak with her, I can forget all about the constraints of court. She truly knows how I feel. We get along so well that I don't feel like I'm the Queen any more. I can just be who I am. How could I live without her! No no! |
| Oscar: | {{ Unbelievable ... is Lady Antoinette really that lonely? }} |
< p.330 > | |
| Oscar: | {{ As the highest ranked Queen in Europe, she is worshipped by everyone ... has all the diamonds and flowers she wishes ... gets to go to the operas, horse races, and ball dances every day ... Yet ... }} |
| Noailles: | Your Majesty, Countess Polignac is here. |
| Antoinette: | Oh ... let her in. |
| Polignac: | Lady Antoinette, actually I have a favor to ask you today. My brother is seeking the post of the Director General of the navy, and I was wondering ... |
| Antoinette: | Well, that's easy to take care of. Come closer, Countess Polignac. |
< p.331 > | |
| Oscar: | {{ As I thought, she's a quite charming lady. Hmm, she does seem a bit like Mother. Maybe it's her lavender perfume ... Or perhaps the way she seems to draw one into conversation ... But who'd have guessed she's so ambitious ... }} |
[ sign on store: Rose Bertin dress shop, in service to Her Majesty the Queen ] # Rue Saint-Honore | |
| Woman 1: | Well, if you can't sew, then there's only kitchen duty left ... |
| Rosalie: | Sure! That's great. I'll try my best! |
| Woman 1: | Then you may start tomorrow. |
< p.332 > | |
| Woman 2: | Hey, come over here! Quick! Madame Rose just came back from Versailles. |
| Woman 1: | Oh dear! I'll be there in a minute. |
| Rosalie: | [ rustle ... ] Oh my! What lovely dresses! The Madame must be a terrific dressmaker to serve the Queen! Am I dreaming? Oh my! All the court ladies of Versailles are wearing dresses like this! [ chuckle ] |
< p.333 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ sob ... ] I'm so happy ... to work here! Mom, life will be easier now! I can buy medicines and find a doctor for you! Yay! I got a job! I'll start work at the Rose Bertin dress shop tomorrow! |
| Woman: | Rosalie! |
| Rosalie: | [ jump ] Madame? |
| Woman: | Hurry, Rosalie! It's your mom ... |
< p.334 > | |
| Rosalie: | What? |
| Woman: | Hurry! She got run over by a carriage while crossing the street. |
| Rosalie: | What ... happened just now? By a carriage? What did you say? What was that again? |
< p.335 > | |
| Rosalie: | Arggghhh! Mom! Mom! Why aren't you in bed? |
| Polignac: | What are you doing? Hurry, move the carriage! |
| Bernard: | Wa- wait! Are you just going to run away like that? |
| Crowd: | Yeah, yeah! Get off the carriage! |
| Polignac: | Don't let me get involved in this mess! I can't leave the carriage! |
< p.336 > | |
| [ Polignac's carriage takes off, with Rosalie in pursuit. ] | |
| Rosalie: | You devil! Why, my- my mom ... |
| Polignac: | What are you doing ... Such evil eyes. Come to Versailles if you have any complaints! |
| Nicole: | Ro- Rosa ... |
| Bernard: | Miss! Your mother is calling you. Hurry! |
< p.337 > | |
| Nicole: | Ro-sa-lie ... |
| Rosalie: | Mom! Hang on, Mom! Don't die! Don't die! |
| Nicole: | Rosalie ... I'm so sorry for all that have happened till now. You're not my real daughter, only someone else's child I promised to take care of. Please forgive me. |
| Rosalie: | Mother? Are you in pain? Have you lost your mind? Mom! |
| Nicole: | Give, give me your hand, my Rosalie! Forgive me. Your real mother is ... |
< p.338 > | |
| Nicole: | [ coughs ] |
| Rosalie: | Huh? You aren't listening to me! What are you talking about? Pull yourself together, Mom! |
| Nicole: | A noblewoman ... [ huff huff ] Mar-tine Ga-bri-elle ... |
| Rosalie: | A noblewoman? Martine Gabrielle? |
| [ Nicole dies. ] | |
| Rosalie: | Oh ... |
< p.339 > | |
| Rosalie: | Mom! Mom! No! No! Don't leave me by myself! Don't leave me! [ wahhhhhhh ... ] |
< p.340 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ flashback to Nicole ] {{ Your real mother is ... Martine Gabrielle ... Martine ... I'm not my mom's real daughter. Not her real daughter ... }} {{ Nooo! I don't want to live any more ... Why? Why does God torture me so? Snatching all my loved ones away ... }} |
< p.341 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ flashback to Polignac ] {{ What are you doing ... Such evil eyes. Come to Versailles if you have any complaints! }} {{ Come to Versailles if you have any complaints ... A dress with blue flowers ... blond hair ... }} |
| Bernard: | Miss, how long are you going to stay there? It's not good for your health! The burial is already over! This may sound cruel, but you can't bring back the dead. If you run into trouble, come to talk me anytime. My name is Bernard Chatelet. I'm a newsreporter in Paris. |
< p.342 > | |
| Rosalie: | Oh, oh ... I'll, I'll kill them! [ sob sob ... ] I'll kill them! I'll kill them! I'll kill them all, all the nobles! [ wail ... ] |
< p.343 > | |
| # With the appointment of new ministers and distribution of tasks, the affairs of the state were settled. Soon there remained only one thing that the entire court and all the people cared about -- the birth of the next dauphin! # Unfortunately ... due to Louis XVI's physical defect, the King and Queen had not yet consummated their marriage. As a result, the maiden Marie Antoinette had yet to see her wish of children fulfilled. |
|
< p.344 > | |
| Le Brun: | [ huff ] This is really hard. Your Majesty's complexion is so translucent and beautiful. I can't seem to capture the color no matter which paints I use. |
| Antoinette: | Don't work too much, Mme. Vigée Le Brun. It's not good for your baby. |
| Le Brun: | [ Hmm ... ] |
< p.345 > | |
| Le Brun: | Oh no! [ drops palette and paints: splat! ping pong! thunk! ] Oh dear ... I'm so sorry! I beg your pardon ... |
| Antoinette: | Oh Mme. Le Brun, stay where you are. Let me pick up the paints. |
| Le Brun: | Oh no, Your Majesty. How could I let Your Majesty leave the bed for me! |
| Antoinette: | No no, that's all right. You shouldn't bend down when you're already so large with child. |
| Le Brun: | Your Majesty ... |
< p.346 > | |
| Antoinette: | Mme. Le Brun, isn't motherhood the greatest happiness for a woman? |
| Le Brun: | [ Oh dear! ] Your Majesty will bear children someday. Surely you will ... |
[ At the Palace gates ] | |
| Guard: | Hey guards, wake up! Her Majesty's carriage is back! |
< p.347 > | |
| Guard: | Well well, it looks like they stayed out all night at the balls again! Paris must be quite a fun place. Still, how strong they must be to stay up till morning every day! Look, stop this nonsense, okay? |
| [ carriage: teeter totter ... ] | |
| Antoinette: | [ ha ha ha ... ] Oh dear, that was fun! His Majesty is probably still snoring in bed! |
< p.348 > | |
| Antoinette: | Countess Polignac? What's wrong? You seem a bit down. |
| Polignac: | Huh? Oh ... it's nothing. Really. Thank you. |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Welcome back, Your Majesty. |
| Antoinette: | Mme. de Jarjayes. |
< p.349 > | |
| Antoinette: | Oh dear! You're looking a bit peaked. You really shouldn't have waited for me. |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Hmm ... thank you for your concern. |
| Antoinette: | Listen, go back to your room and rest for a while. You look really tired. Shall I call Oscar? |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | No, thanks. I'll just rest a bit. |
| Antoinette: | [ sigh ] {{ Now that the balls are over, what's next? Oh ... there's really nothing fun left to do. It's always the same thing over and over again. }} |
< p.350 > | |
| Antoinette: | {{ But ... what if there's nothing left? How scary! I'm so afraid of boredom ... But what if there's nothing fun left to do ... }} |
| Polignac: | Your Majesty, you look quite bored. |
| Antoinette: | Hee hee ... how could I not be bored! |
| Polignac: | Your Majesty, let me tell you something so fun you wouldn't believe it. [ whispers ] |
| Antoinette: | What? Did you say gambling? No no! His Majesty has banned gambling! |
| Polignac: | Don't worry, it'd be okay if it's at Your Majesty's request. It's really fun! You'd forget all about time during gambling. |
< p.351 > | |
| Antoinette: | [ anxious ] |
| Louis XVI: | No! Gambling is illegal! |
| Antoinette: | But ... Your Majesty ... |
| Louis XVI: | Think about it. It's fine for other people since they are gambling with their own money. But in our case, we're spending the people's taxes! |
| Antoinette: | I beg you ... let me try it just once! Just once, I promise! [ smiles ] Please, Your Majesty. |
| Louis XVI: | Ugh ... very well. Just once then. |
| Antoinette: | [ Yay! ] Oh my! I'm so happy! I'll definitely keep my promise! |
| Louis XVI: | [ I'm such a foolish man ... ] |
< p.352 > | |
| [ Soldiers march in the training ground. ] | |
| Oscar: | Hey you! You're out of line! Go back and start over. And you, platoon! That's still not right! Line up your horses and march! [ turns to André ] That platoon isn't organized at all. As Palace Guards, how could they mess up their most important duty! |
| André: | It's probably because the head platoon leader is new. |
< p.353 > | |
| André: | His name is Captain Nicholas de Lamotte. His admission was highly recommended by Cardinal Rohan. |
| Oscar: | [ flashback to Marquise de Boulainvilliers' funeral ] Oh! |
| Nicholas: | {{ Shit! I can't believe the Commander is a woman! And to think how hard I tried to join the Palace Guards ... Damn, how ridiculous! }} |
| Oscar: | Hey! Didn't you hear what I said? Stand straight! |
< p.354 > | |
| Nicholas: | {{ What the heck ... I'm not one to follow women's orders! }} |
| Oscar: | Hey! What are you ... |
| Messenger: | [ panic ] Colonel Oscar François de Jarjayes! Your mother Mme. de Jarjayes has fainted in the Palace! |
| Oscar: | My mother? |
| [ carriage: gallop gallop ... ] | |
< p.355 > | |
| Oscar: | Mother, are you all right? Please lie down for a while. I'll sit with André. |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Heh heh ... Thanks, Oscar. I'm quite all right. I was just a bit tired. It's really not as bad as you think. But, since Her Majesty said I could take a sick leave ... Heh heh ... it's been a while since I was home, and this isn't a bad idea after all. |
| Oscar: | Hmm ... Mother is coming home. Then I'll move home too. |
< p.356 > | |
| [ Carriage arrives at the Jarjayes house. ] | |
| Rosalie: | Here it comes! |
| Oscar: | Come, Mother. Please watch your steps. |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Thanks, Oscar. |
| Rosalie: | A dress with blue blowers! And blond hair! [ rustle rustle ... ] |
< p.357 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ charge ... ] |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Ah! |
| Rosalie: | Get ready, Mom's enemy! |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Aaarrggghhh! |
< p.358 > | |
| Oscar: | You thug! What are you doing? [ whack! ] |
| [ knife falls: thud! ] | |
| Oscar: | Why, aren't you ... |
| Rosalie: | You are ... |
< p.359 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ turns head ] How could this be! [ sees Mme. de Jarjayes' face ] {{ Oh no! It's not her! But ... she's wearing the dress with blue flowers ... }} |
| Oscar: | Tell me what you have against my mother! [ squeeze ] Come on! You'd better not hold anything back from me! |
< p.360 > | |
| Oscar: | Tell me! |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Oscar, if you keep glaring at her, the poor girl would be too scared to say a word. |
| Rosalie: | [ sob ... tremble ... ] |
| Oscar: | [ looks in mirror ] Glaring? [ shock! ] |
| [ After a while ] | |
| Oscar: | What? You thought my house was the Palace of Versailles? |
< p.361 > | |
| Oscar: | [ starry eyed ] |
| Rosalie: | B- but ... I heard Versailles is just around the corner here. And your mansion is so big ... so I thought ... um ... |
| Oscar: | Come with me. [ drags Rosalie up the stairs ] Here we are. Look! |
< p.362 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ sees the Palace in a distance ] Oh my! |
| Oscar: | See? Versailles is a large town by itself. The Palace is that huge building way inside Versailles. Even if you had found it, there's no way you could have sneaked in. |
| Rosalie: | [ tremble tremble ... ] Oh ... |
< p.363 > | |
| Oscar: | You said the woman who killed your mother was wearing a dress with blue flowers. But the fact is, the court ladies all have at least one damask dress like that. |
| Rosalie: | Oh ... I ... I never knew. [ sob ... ] Darn it! She killed my mother right in front of me. And there's nothing we could do! Darn! |
| Oscar: | I hate to say this, but with the way you are now, you can't even hurt a dog. If you really want to avenge your mother's death, start practicing your fencing now. |
< p.364 > | |
| Rosalie: | What? |
| Oscar: | [ heh heh ... ] Let me give you some lessons. You'll have to look for your enemy among thousands of court ladies. It won't be easy, but be patient. If she attends court regularly, perhaps you'll see her face someday. You must start looking for her among those ladies in court. |
| Rosalie: | Oh ... |
< p.365 > | |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Come over here after your bath, dear. |
| Granny: | Oh, we've never seen someone as cute as you are in this house. Well, I'd never have thought Lady Oscar's dresses could be put to use like this. |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Come, dear, try it on. |
| Rosalie: | Um, I feel a bit out of breath. |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Oh, the court ladies all wear corsets like this to keep up their figures. |
| Rosalie: | [ flashback ] {{ Your real mother is a noblewoman ... Martine Gabrielle ... }} |
< p.366 > | |
| Mme. de Jarjayes: | Oh, what's wrong? |
| Rosalie: | Er, nothing. I'm all right, Madame. {{ That couldn't be true. It must have been something silly Mom thought of in her pain. It's got to be nonsense. Why, just by name, I've never heard of a "Martine Gabrielle." }} |
# Across the country, rumors began spreading that the Queen summoned her intimate friends every evening and gambled into the night. | |
< p.367 > | |
| Women: | Did you know Countess Polignac's circle went to Her Majesty's salon to gamble again? And she promised His Majesty to play it just once! Well, it looks like she's addicted now. Of course, Her Majesty will always be the loser. Thanks to her, Countess Polignac reaped a huge fortune from her nightly bets. |
| Messenger: | Here comes His Majesty. |
| Antoinette: | [ kachink kachink! ] Yikes! [ panic ] |
| [ Louis XVI enters. ] | |
| Antoinette: | Oh Your Majesty! The night is lovely, isn't it. We're all talking about the opera. Hee hee ... |
| Louis XVI: | [ nod nod ] |
< p.368 > | |
| Necker: | Count Mercy, could I have a word with you? |
| Mercy: | Oh, you must be the Director General of Finances. This way, please. |
| Necker: | Actually, it's about Her Majesty's recent gambling ... Lady Antoinette's loans. |
| Mercy: | Oh, I see. [ anxious ] How large of a sum would the loans be? |
| Necker: | [ count count ] Let's see ... here we are.
It's about 500,000 livres. * * # about 6 billion Yen; AJL: exchange rate in 1970s |
| Mercy: | [ eyes pop ] 500,000 livres! [ falls over: wham! ] |
< p.369 > | |
| Necker: | There's more, Count Mercy. I'll list them one by one. Recently, Her Majesty has taken 1 million livres of loans to buy diamonds and accessories. * In addition, the deficit in wardrobes has reached 250,000 livres. ** * # about 12 billion Yen; AJL: exchage rate in 1970s ** # about 3 billion Yen; AJL: exchage rate in 1970s |
| Mercy: | [ faints: plunk! ] |
| Necker: | And the spending for Countess Polignac is ... er, Count Mercy? |
| Mercy: | [ twitch twitch ... ] |
| Antoinette: | 500,000 livres? |
| Mercy: | I cannot keep quiet any more! Countess Polignac is using Lady Antoinette for her own interests! When will you ever realize this, Lady Antoinette? |
| Antoinette: | [ Oh my God! ] |
< p.370 > | |
| Polignac: | Oh, Your Majesty! [ sob ... ] |
| Antoinette: | Countess Polignac! |
| Polignac: | Oh ... I know why! The court must be jealous of Your Majesty's friendship with me! From the very beginning, everyone was so critical and spoke ill of me! But I would have never wished any harm to Your Majesty! |
< p.371 > | |
| Polignac: | It's already too late ... we must bid farewell now to prevent any more mishaps. But I can't bear to leave Your Majesty so soon! Your Majesty, for the sake of our future, let's say farewell now. I beg you to let me leave the court. But ... please believe in me. |
| Antoinette: | Countess Polignac! |
| Polignac: | [ sob ... ] |
| Antoinette: | Oh, forgive me! Please forgive me! I shouldn't have doubted your heart for a moment. It's my fault. |
| Polignac: | Your Majesty! |
< p.372 > | |
| # Residence of the Count Lamotte | |
| Women: | Your ball dances are always fantastic, Lady Jeanne! There isn't another one like it anywhere in Paris! |
| Jeanne: | Heh heh ... {{ Look at all the gold and silver, dazzling furnitures, lines of servants ... Heh heh ... no one would have guessed everything here is rented! }} Cardinal Rohan? Is something bothering you? You don't seem to be in a good mood. |
< p.373 > | |
| Rohan: | No. Well ... actually I went to Versailles to request an audience with Her Majesty. But she still wouldn't say a word or smile at me. Why? Why is Her Majesty treating me so? I've always been devoted to my beautiful Queen! [ sigh ... sob ... ] |
| Jeanne: | Monsieur Rohan, I'm a very close friend of Her Majesty. |
| Rohan: | Really? Then could you tell Her Majesty how I feel? Please please! |
| Jeanne: | As a descendent of the Valois dynasty, I've won the deep trust of Her Majesty. |
| Rohan: | Lady Jeanne! |
| Jeanne: | All right, Cardinal Rohan. I'll take care of it. |
< p.374 > | |
| Jeanne: | {{ Did I just say ... "a very close friend of Her Majesty"? I haven't even seen her or gone to Versailles! Oh dear ... what an outrageous lie! How horrible I am! No, stop that, Jeanne. From now on ... heh heh ... Perhaps this is a good time to steal a fortune from Cardinal Rohan. }} |
[ At the Jarjayes house ] | |
| Oscar: | Here! Over here! What's with your eyes? Can't you see? [ thrust! ] |
| Rosalie: | [ hits sword against tree: boing! ] |
| Oscar: | [ ha ha ha ... ] Who is in the tree? How are you going to beat your enemy like this? |
< p.375 > | |
| Oscar: | You'll be stabbed to death! [ twist thrust ] |
| Rosalie: | [ falls backwards: stump stump stump ... splash! ] |
| Oscar: | Come on now! I said I'd teach you how to fence, not how to swim! [ ha ha ha ... ] |
| Rosalie: | [ choke ... ] |
< p.376 > | |
| Rosalie: | I hate this! How could you make fun of me every day! How do think I'd feel ... [ sob ... shake shake ... ] |
| Oscar: | That's not what I meant. I wasn't trying to make fun of you. |
| Rosalie: | Monsieur Oscar ... |
< p.377 > | |
| Rosalie: | Hmm ... Granny asked me to bring in these shirts. I wonder if I should put them in the trunk. Why, it's Oscar's uniform. Hee hee ... the sleeves are quite soiled. She probably didn't mind it since it's not a dress uniform. She sure moves quite a lot. [ ha ha ... ] It smells like Monsieur Oscar. |
< p.378 > | |
| Rosalie: | Why ... oh why are there people like that in the world? [ heh heh ... ] I'm a bit odd today ... |
< p.379 > | |
| Rosalie: | Why ... Monsieur Oscar? Why were you born a woman? |
| [ door opens: bang! ] | |
| Rosalie: | Ah! |
| Oscar: | What are you doing in my room? |
< p.380 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ scurry ... ] |
| [ Oscar stops Rosalie and notices her crying. ] | |
< p.381 > | |
| Rosalie: | I- I'm sorry ... Granny asked me to bring in your shirts, so I ... er, I'm very sorry. |
| Oscar: | Wait! Madame Elisabeth will be hosting a ball at her house early next week. I'm sure almost all of the prominent court ladies will be invited. I'll take you along too. |
| Rosalie: | A ball? |
< p.382 > | |
| Rosalie: | But I ... ain't good at dance * ... and I don't know what to say or do ... |
| Oscar: | Don't say ain't! It's am not! |
| Rosalie: | Er ... am not. |
| Oscar: | Listen, I'll tell them you're a distant relative to one of my sisters' families. I'll start teaching you how to dance and speak today. André will be your dance partner. |
| Rosalie: | {{ All the prominent court ladies will attend the ball. Then perhaps ... perhaps that woman will be there too. I'll never forget that face ... }} |
* AJL: In the Japanese, Rosalie uses the pronoun "atashi" instead of "watashi". A more casual version of watashi, atashi is usually used by younger girls and associated with lower social classes or education. In English, this difference might be described as pronouncing "I" with vs. without a dipthong (eye vs. ah+ee). However, this effect is somewhat regional and hard to see in writing. For clarity, I've chosen to represent the speech difference by using "am not" and "ain't". |
|
[ At the ball ] | |
< p.383 > | |
| Servant: | Here comes ... Oscar François de Jarjayes! |
| Women: | [ Oh my! Oh dear! ] Monsieur Oscar? Did he say Monsieur Oscar? Even she has come to the ball? [ shock ] My goodness, Monsieur Oscar came with a girl! [ Oh my God! ] N- no! This can't be true! It's gotta be a nightmare! An illusion! A mirage! Wh- wh- who is she? |
< p.384 > | |
| Rosalie: | [ dazzle dazzle ... ] |
| André: | Look, the women are busy gossiping about you holding a girl's hand! They all would go nuts if you danced with her! |
| Oscar: | Ha ha ... I'll leave the dancing to you. |
| Elisabeth: | Good evening, Oscar! How kind of you to come! I'd never have guessed! |
| Oscar: | Madame Elisabeth ... |
| Elisabeth: | And who might this lovely angel be? I don't think we've met before. |
| Oscar: | Rosalie Lamorliere. She's a distant relative to one of my sisters' families. Come, Rosalie, say hello to Madame Elisabeth. |
< p.385 > | |
| Women: | My God, she's holding her hand again! [ Oh my! Screech! ] No no no ! Die, girl! Stop it! Monsieur Oscar is ours! |
| Rosalie: | [ anxious ] {{ Er ... I wonder if I could make it home alive tonight ... }} |
| Women: | [ glare stare glower ] |
| Rosalie: | [ exchanges looks with Charlotte ] {{ How ... how magnificent she looks ... What a dazzling dress she is wearing ... }} |
< p.386 > | |
| Charlotte: | {{ She came with Monsieur Oscar ... But who is she? She's far more elegant and gorgeous than anyone here. }} |
| Oscar: | Heh heh ... It looks like Miss Charlotte showed up too. |
| Rosalie: | Charlotte? |
| Oscar: | Miss Charlotte de Polignac. She's the daughter of Count Polignac. Her mother, Mme. de Polignac, is ill from morning sickness and resting at home. So she came by herself today. |
| Rosalie: | {{ Charlotte de Polignac ... What a charming, sweet girl ... }} [ begins dancing with André ] |
< p.387 > | |
| Maid: | Oh Madame! There's a lady in the guest room! |
| Elisabeth: | Oh dear! Please continue, everyone. I'll attend to the lady who fainted in the guest room. |
| Rosalie: | The guest room? |
| Oscar: | Madame Elisabeth holds great authority in court, so there are many people who approach her with all sorts of requests and use the guest room for their favors. |
| Women: | Oh, I heard you're staying with Oscar. Pleased to meet you, Miss Rosalie Lamorliere. Now everyone is talking about you! |
< p.388 > | |
| Women: | Oooh, I'm so jealous! Is Monsieur Oscar always with you? Even during meals? What's it like to hold Monsieur Oscar's hands? Let's be friends, Miss Rosalie! Until now she's never been with any other woman except Her Majesty! |
| Rosalie: | Her Majesty? |
[ At the guest room ] | |
| Elisabeth: | [ rush rush ] Are ... are you all right? Is this lady the one who fainted? |
| Nicholas: | She is my wife. I'm Captain Nicholas de Lamotte. |
< p.389 > | |
| Nicholas: | Actually ... her body is quite weak from eating poorly over the years ... It's all because of my low salary ... Oh, my poor Jeanne ... please forgive me! |
| Elisabeth: | Oh my! |
| Jeanne: | [ snicker ] {{ Heh heh ... Nicholas is getting quite good. }} |
| Elisabeth: | Oh dear, you poor thing! I'll send you home in a carriage and give you some money later. |
| Nicholas: | Oh ... you're too kind! |
| Elisabeth: | Then I'll go to court and request a raise in salary for you. Hey everyone, donate some money for this couple! |
[ In the ballroom ] | |
| André: | Wow! It looks like Rosalie is quite popular, Oscar. |
| Oscar: | Heh heh ... how amazing she is. And quite brave too. Her dignified manners surprise me sometimes. |
< p.390 > | |
| Charlotte: | Ladies, how long will you keep gossiping? The next piece is a minuet. Won't you dance, Miss Rosalie? |
| Rosalie: | Um ... A minuet? |
| Charlotte: | Well! Don't you even know what a minuet is? What a surprise! Miss Rosalie, don't think everyone is nice to you because they like you. They're just interested in your terrible country manners and Monsieur Oscar. |
| Women: | Well! How annoying! And she was more excited about Monsieur Oscar than anyone else! Yeah! Her mother is quite liked by Her Majesty, but she has no right to behave this way! Who is your mother, Miss Rosalie? |
| Rosalie: | [ suspicious ] Huh? Ma- Mom? |
< p.391 > | |
| Charlotte: | "Mom"? Did you say "Mom"? Mom? Why, you aren't a lady after all! How vulgar you are! Only the poor call their mothers Mom! |
| Women: | [ Oh my! whisper whisper ] |
| Charlotte: | Tell us who your mother is! Why would Monsieur Oscar bring a commoner to the ball? Are you really her relative? |
| Rosalie: | [ throws her fan in Charlotte's face: whack! ] |
| Charlotte: | [ Aargh! ] |
< p.392 > | |
| Rosalie: | I- I'm a lady! [ runs out of room ] {{ I'm a lady! }} [ flashback ] {{ Martine Gabrielle ... Martine Gabrielle ... Your real mother is a noblewoman ... }} {{ Tell me, Mom! Whose child am I? Whose child? Is it Martine Gabrielle? Where could I find her? }} |
< p.393 > | |
| Women: | [ whisper whisper ... ] |
| Oscar: | Rosalie ... |
[ In the hallway ] | |
| Jeanne: | Ha ha ... Yes! We did it! See, Nicholas! Wasn't that easy? |
| Nicholas: | [ ha ha ha ... ] |
| Jeanne: | This will be enough to cover our current loans! {{ We're well known in Parisian society, but nobodies in Versailles. We still can't break into the circles of the grand noble families. But ... just wait! Next time it'll be Her Majesty in the Palace! }} [ notices a girl coming her way ] Oh my! |
| Rosalie: | [ rustle rustle ... ] |
< p.394 > | |
| [ Jeanne and Rosalie stare at each other in shock. ] | |
< p.395 > | |
| Jeanne: | It's ... you ... |
| Rosalie: | Jea- Jeanne! My sister! |
| Nicholas: | Hey, what's wrong? |
| Jeanne: | [ Ah! ] Er, nothing, Nicholas. Um ... Let's go. |
| Rosalie: | Jeanne! |
| Jeanne: | You must have the wrong person. I've never seen you before. |
| Rosalie: | Jeanne! Listen, Ma- Mom is dead! She got run over by a noblewoman's carriage ... Jeanne! Why do your eyes look so cold? Has the old you really died? |
< p.396 > | |
| Jeanne: | Hurry, Nicholas! Let's go! |
| Nicholas: | Hey Jeanne, I think I've seen that girl somewhere before. |
| Jeanne: | Oh shut up! How could you have met her in a place like this! |
| Rosalie: | Jeanne! Oh Jeanne! I miss you ... I miss you so much that my heart hurts! Act whatever you want, but you're the only sister I have! |
| Jeanne: | {{ Mom is dead? Mom ... is ... dead? But what is Rosalie doing in a place like this? You've become so beautiful ... and you're wearing better clothes than I am ... better than me ... }} |
< p.397 > | |
| [ In Oscar's room ] | |
| Rosalie: | [ brushes Oscar's hair ] {{ Oh Monsieur Oscar, don't stare at me like that ... It's as if the mirror had broken into million pieces ... and the sharp shards had pierced me right through the heart ... }} |
| Oscar: | Are you cold, Rosalie? Your hands are shaking. |
| Rosalie: | [ drops brush: thud! ] |
< p.398 > | |
| Rosalie: | I- I'm sorry. I ... |
| Oscar: | Oh, that's all right. I'll just do it myself later. |
[ front door: knock knock ] | |
| André: | [ opens door: bang! ] Who is it? So early in the morning ... [ Ah! ] Oscar! Hey Oscar! |
| Oscar: | It's André. |
< p.399 > | |
| Oscar: | [ walks out of the room with hair brush ] What? What's with this quacking so early in the morning? [ notices Fersen at the bottom of stairs ] |
< p.400 > | |
| Oscar: | [ drops brush: boing! ping pong! boing! ] Could it be ... you ... Fersen ... |
| Fersen: | Oscar ... I came back as promised. |
| Oscar: | Fersen! |
END OF PART 2