Versailles

I see before me my friends, companions,

people I love and trust.

Yet there is a traitor in your midst,

seeking to destroy everything I've built.

A minister is murdered, now his wife.

If you have any courage,

Stand up now and show me your face.

If not, I shall hunt you down and I...

Sorry. I'm sorry.

It won't happen again.

If not, I...

How dare you insult me? Do you know who I am?

I am the King! I'm Louis the Great!

What is the matter with everyone?

The fact...the fact is you're not the king.

We pretended you were because we find it amusing!

Then who am I?

You are footservant to the Second Chamberlain.

Then, who is King?

It is customary to bow to the King.

One day, it will end, right?

You have many reasons to renounce our affair.

The scandal, the Queen, the Church...

You're leaving.

I have duties to attend to, as do you, I assume.

My duty is to attend to His Majesty.

What per news of our daughter?

I am told she is in fine health.

You are told?

I saw her yesterday.

The doctor assured me she was fit and strong.

I do not listen to court gossip. The Church will do as I say.

And as for the Queen,

she is Queen only in name.

She's poisoned his mind, Your Majesty.

Their bastard child is here under my own roof!

I'm sure the Bishop Bossuet has done all in his power

To show the King the error of his ways.

The King sneers to his face and laughs behind his back.

You must take the matter in hand.

I, Your Majesty?

She has many friends at court.

You will speak with them, encourage them to confess.

Turn them against her.

I shall speak with the King. And the lady in question?

She is beyond redemption.

I shall appeal to her conscience. She has none.

The power of The Lord is infinite.

You are a beacon of faith and hope for us all, Your Majesty.

As you are mine.

What about the kitchens?

Two musketeers on guard at all times, Sire.

They didn't do a very good job, did they?

Double them, triple them! Do whatever it takes.

And from now on, every Minister and every member of my immediate family

must be given a taster.

Yes, Sire.

What of those social powders?

Now banned, Sire.

Anyone found selling them will be punished appropriately.

As for deliveries,

all those bringing food into the Palace must apply for a license.

All produce must be checked and all workers searched.

Sire, with respect,

there are many ways in which the poisons could be introduced into the Palace.

Apart from nobles, clerks, cooks and servants,

there are hundreds of builders and trade entering every day.

To secure the Palaces entirely would be impossible.

Anyone wishing harm to me or those close to me must know

they are no longer setting foot in a palace but in a fortress.

We've known each other a long time and I believe I've earned your trust.

Perhaps. Then trust me now.

We buy tonics and potions from a supplier

and we sell, in discretion, to the palace.

Sold. Sold.

But we have nothing to do with poisons,

neither making nor selling.

You have my word on that.

What is the name of your supplier?

A spice trader by the name of Didier Robert.

Where will I find him?

China.

He set out from Marseille a few weeks ago.

If he is gone, you must have chosen another.

No, not yet.

But as you know,

cartloads of produce from the colonies arrive in Paris every day.

If you think that by stopping us,

you can stop the nobles from poisoning each other,

then you're fooling yourself.

We shall see.

Imagine if you will, Sire, the lake before you

to be an impregnable Dutch rampart

and the hut beyond, their headquarters.

Not good enough.

Do we have any word from London?

The fleet is ready to sail.

And the grain supplies?

The Church continues to deny access.

Over 200 carts of grain and fodder are currently being transported from Normandy.

Sire, if I may be so bold...

I think I have a solution. Indeed?

The Count of Epernay. What of him?

He owns over 40,000 acres of arable land between Calais and Amiens.

I'm sure he has enough grain in storage

to feed even as large an army as His Majesty's.

How do I not know about this?

And why is the Count of Epernay not at Versailles?

He claims to be confined to a wheelchair.

In fact, he's as fit as a fiddle and hunts three times a week.

Send some men to the Count of Epernay,

remind him of his duties. Take his grain and do not pay him.

You don't like the Duke of Cassel, do you?

No, Sire.

I wish I were as blind to his vices as I am to his virtues.

He flits between the gambling and the whorehouse, Sire.

As do many men at court. None of them Ministers, Sire.

I fear he does not merit the trust His Majesty places in him.

Sire.

Do you know the best way to subdue a wild horse?

The whip, Sire?

Put it to pasture with a tame one.

I'm worried about my wife.

What? Her face? I know what you mean.

Perhaps some sort of mask would be in order.

She needs a lady-in-waiting, someone to explain how things are done around here.

I was thinking of your cousin. What's her name, again?

Madamoiselle De Clermont! Yes, she would be perfect.

I need to talk to her. You'll be here on my return?

No! I'm being fitted for a new overcoat.

Paid for by me?

Surely, you wouldn't have me pay for it?

You forget, I'm recently married. Wives cost money.

Oh, what about her dowry?

She came with outer lands but no dowry. I'm leaving.

Wait, wait! Mignonnet...

What use is 10,000 acres of German forest, if I...

need new coats?

Yes, what does he want now?

It concerns the

bedding ceremony, Your Highness.

The bedding ceremony?

His Majesty has sent out invitations

to a celebration of your union with the Princess.

This will be followed by the bedding ceremony.

Delicious!

So, you will share the same bed as your wife?

Why wouldn't I?

I think she's rather attractive.

You're jealous. Of a woman? How we laughed!

I shared a bed with Henrietta and that never bothered you.

That was to annoy your brother.

The King wishes to build an alliance with the Palatinate.

My duty is to seal that alliance

by making lots of children.

Your duty, darling, is not to your brother,

it is to glamor and beauty

and me!

Who knows? I might even fall in love with her!

Madamoiselle de Clermont, I have an honor to bestow upon you.

It relates to my new wife.

She needs some help settling in.

Mother, we are bankrupt! Quiet!

As it is, the sad fact is none of us are truly safe.

But there's no need to panic.

Mr. Marchal and I will ensure your fate.

We have no choice but to leave.

I will not hear of such a thing!

My son's place is here and nowhere else.

Then it is for you to find a way for us to stay!

I already tried! Try again!

Try harder!

friends, connections, I don't know...

Of course, my love.

That post was mine, not his.

And your provider, you trust him?

I do, Sire. He has been supplying the palace for over 10 years.

You tasted all the ingredients

before giving a plate to a servant?

I am a cook, Sire. That is my job.

Everyone is talking about the murder.

They are all worried scared to eat their food.

Some of them may even be thinking about leaving the palace.

Do as usual. Go to to the gaming tables tonight.

The wine will loosen their tongues.

I shall try, but Monseur has asked me

to be lady-in-waiting for his new wife.

Very well.

But you will continue to report to me.

It was you that delivered the plate of food to Madame de Reynaud?

Yes Sire.

You collected it from the kitchens and you took it directly to her cell?

Yes, Sire.

Why are you so nervous?

I'm not, Sire. Yes, you are.

I'm scared, Sire.

Of what?

Of you.

You should be.

Yes?