Danton

Documents!

What are you doing? It's nothing but wood.

Alright...

It's only firewood for Paris, citizen.

Let me see.

Unload the books! Take nothing for granted.

- Spare no-one! - We just need to wait.

- Allow me, citizen... - Leave me alone, will you?

SPRING 1794, YEAR 2 OF THE REPUBLIC

You need to toughen up to become a good revolutionist.

Article I?

People are born and remain free and equal before the law.

Social distinctions...

Can be founded only...

Only on the common good. The principle...

The goal...

The goal of every political association is the nation itself.

Liberty?

Liberty consists of doing anything which does not harm...

Harm others.

Maxime?

What's with the bread?

It's all because of the war.

War doesn't explain everything. It's them speculating!

Who's speculating?

Those who want to discredit the government.

They starve people to force them to revolt.

- Or it's the government. - Why?

Power degenerates, it's always been like this.

You're talking about Robespierre?

It's starting early this morning.

- Who's that? - An emigrant, caught in Vincennes.

My God, he's so handsome!

A walk, for a change? Is that a new trend?

- It'll get easier on your way back! - Head under your arm and march!

Give me your card.

- Why? What have I done? - Your card.

But I've done nothing wrong. Will I have my head cut off?

Look! It's him!

It's Danton!

- Long live the Republic! - Long live the Revolution!

According to the rule of despotism, it's better to kill many innocents

than to let one culprit escape.

The Public Safety Committee understood it only too well.

To form a republic, despotism is necessary.

They agree with Machiavelli that the greater good excuses minor wrongs...

That liberty, like a child, needs tears and pain to reach maturity.

The mere desire for liberty is enough to enjoy freedom.

The nation is free the moment it claims freedom.

The last bulwark in our fight against despotism is free press.

Give Moscow a free press and it'll become a republic tomorrow!

- Liquidate it in France... - Be quiet.

- Has it been distributed? - No, it's still at the printer's.

What are you waiting for?

Citizen barbers, you may come in.

Greetings and fraternity!

What a beautiful day! Spring, at last.

You don't look so well, sir.

Well, you've struggled with that illness for five weeks.

We'll do something about it.

Hairpins...

Tomorrow I'll trim your hair.

Leave me!

What are you doing?

Heron, you have no right!

What's going on? What are they doing?

You should arrest Camille Desmoulins.

He's right, he's just a printer.

Sorry, but we got no orders to arrest citizen Desmoulins.

No, I'd rather not look.

Come back tomorrow, as usual.

You're up!

You're better! How fortunate.

Danton is back.

He's planning a coup.

- Have you read it? - Not yet.

Desmoulins urges the people to rise against the Committees.

The whole Paris's been talking about a coup and dictatorship for 3 days.

Who's the man this time?

The name was not mentioned yet but I think it's...

Danton?

Has he gone mad?

Maxime...

The Republic will be spared much, if we send him to the guillotine now.

Danton is an idol.

He's not really dangerous.

If it isn't him... It's Desmoulins.

Is that real bread, citizen?

- Yes, but there's no sugar. - Never mind.

- There's no sugar. - Thank you, I had no sleep.

I'm exhausted.

Danton is behind those attacks, Desmoulins is influenced by him.

- What do we care the most about? - The triumph of the Revolution.

Exactly.

But not at any cost. Why the carnage,

if there's an easier way?

Such as?

Desmoulins and Danton will be beheaded whether you agree or not.

Is it really so cold? Can I have my coat, please?

Fever again?

It'll go away.

I forbid you to look at Robespierre like that.

COMMITTEES EQUAL DICTATORSHIP

Leave the room, citizens!

The attacks against the government are growing too frequent.

Desmoulins' newspaper calls for war against the Security Committee.

- I blame Danton and his faction! - Forgive my being late.

Like in school...

I accuse them of counter-revolutionary activity.

You want the Revolution to lose its most important activists?

- That's madness! - Speak your mind.

You surprise me, Robespierre.

- Danton, servant of the Revolution? - You're raving.

No, Billaud. I remember what you seem to forget.

You all forget the merits of the man you so easily condemn.

Citizens...

It's all started thanks to him.

He created the revolutionary centre out of the Cordeliers club in '90, '91.

Can't you remember?

We also remember the slaughter in the Champs de Mars he provoked...

- And then fled to the country. - I wasn't finished.

What about the letter found in iron safe, in which Mirabeau complained

about the sums spent on the agent-provocateur Danton?

Can we rely on the words of the traitor?

Are you defending Robespierre?

Such a serious charge cannot be based on rumors alone.

I insist we call citizen Amar.

Amar of the Security Committee.

Look...

Under no circumstances can I allow Danton to go to trial.

You're afraid, Robespierre!

I admit it'd be easier to execute him,

but his intentions are always good.

I have no doubt about that.

Killing this defenceless man would be barbaric and senseless.

- Defenceless? - That's right.

His only weapon was that newspaper.

Was?

I had the printing house closed down.

Desmoulins will soon replace his newspaper with another.

- Then we shall... - Eliminate Camille!

No, we'll win him over.

Camille can't be overrated as a propagator.

Citizen Amar!

Have you got evidence against Danton?

Well?

Go on, read it.

What?

Are you praying?

What I'm about to say must remain confidential.

Citizens, as you all do, I also think Danton's not reliable.

At last!

And yet...

Yet I categorically object to his execution.

Justice is a virtue of almighty God, hence it's unattainable for us.

The Revolutionary Tribunal cannot constitute justice.

It's not judgement, it's a tool to punish the enemies of the country.

Not criminals.

Fabre, Danton and Chabot committed a crime.

The axe will fall on Fabre who undermines the Revolution.

Danton, who's blame is the worst, should remain untouched.

Executing Danton would only encourage bourgeoisie to join counterrevolution.

The Convention would rise against us.

We'd shake the foundations of people's faith in the Revolution.

Therefore,

we'd doom ourselves to rule by terror alone.

Do you know what that means?

Terror is nothing but despair.

Yes, I'm afraid, Billaud.

I'm so afraid of terror, that to avoid it,

I'm ready for compromise, humiliation, even a lie.

The traitor, Danton, must be granted a privilege of amnesty.

For the benefit of the country, we need to be wicked.

We can't afford to be just.

You're here! We've been waiting for months.

- So you're back. - Yes, I was bored.

- I've come for my orders. - What orders?

Here's my proposition: first, free all the prisoners.

I'll summon our army section.

We'll raid the Convention and kill the leaders.

Splendid! I wish you luck.

Can't you see what's happening? Robespierre is up and about.

In an hour, at the Committee meeting, they're going to pounce on us.

With the things you have on your conscience...

What do you mean? What have I done?

Nothing wrong, but once they learn you were to become the Supreme Judge...

One word is enough!

"Danton wants dictatorship!".

Once it gets to them, you're finished.

Who'd dare to condemn me? Well?

The Committee, of course.

- Robespierre is up and about. - Them and that ridiculous Committee!

You sound very sure of yourself.

Think about it, Westermann.

I'm the man of August 10, the whole Paris is behind me!

It's now or never, believe me.

It's a wonder you're still free.

A suspicious miracle. It's because you're my friend.

They cannot arrest my friends.

I have one thing Robespierre lacks: my newspaper.