Vatel Page #2

I've been badly bitten. Where were you?

Busy, your Highness. We have some unwelcome visitors.

Beggars?

Creditors.

Creditors!

Doctor Bourdelot!

I've been badly bitten...

on the arm.

They told me a poultice made of rose petals.

What's your name?

Franois Vatel, Madame.

ANNE:
Monsieur Vatel.

ANNE:
You were at Vaux-le-Vicomte 10 years ago.

Yes, Madame. I was steward to Nicolas Fouquet.

His Majesty's Minister of Finance.

You mean his Majesty's prisoner for life in the fortress of Pignerol.

That is so.

That was my first banquet.

Six thousand guests to meet the King.

Diamonds and saddle horses given away as prizes in childish games.

That was overdoing it, don't you think?

It showed how much Fouquet had been stealing.

VATEL:
Gourville, why has the King really come here?

Revenge.

The King will never forget that Cond fought against him in the civil war.

That was a long time ago. The King was a child.

If there's a war with the Dutch, the King will need Cond...

so your part in this, my dear Vatel, is to show the King...

we bow the head and bend the knee.

I'm passing red hot stones.

- LOUIS:
Cond!

- Your Majesty.

LOUIS:
What exactly do you need to borrow so much money for?

The better to serve France, your Majesty.

LOUIS:
Well, our envoys from Holland aren't here yet?

Not yet, your Majesty.

LOUIS:
Peace with the Dutch is good for nothing. Except tulips.

How many tulips do we have at Versailles?

Two million, Sire.

And my gardener hates flowers.

He would love a war with the Dutch.

COLBERT:
Indeed, Sire.

But, would your Majesty please recall...

that you have offered your daughter in marriage to William of Orange?

An invasion would not look well following a betrothal.

LOUIS:
My daughter can't even talk yet. Colbert.

No, we must secure our eastern frontier.

Four days ride from Paris, we have a country of Republicans, Protestants...

and printers of seditious pamphlets.

We have no better soldier than Cond...

If there is a war, we'll need him.

He's expensive.

But if there's peace...

What do I say in the meantime?

Why Say anything?

Your Majesty was invited here to enjoy yourself.

Not for business.

MAN:
Your Highness.

COND:
Are the musicians ready?

Yes, my Prince.

The king didn't utter one civil word to me during council.

He kept muttering to Lauzun.

Bastard!

My son has died...

working your machines at Versailles!

He died so you can have fountains at Versailles!

Have you no control over your people?

His Majesty wants her flogged at once.

See to it, Master Steward.

I'm not your Master of flogging madwomen, Prince.

A hundred lashes.

You know what's at stake. Don't weaken!

WOMAN:
But he died! My son died...

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