The Last Duel

Turn to the right, milady.

Thank you.

That's it.

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!

Lords! Knights! Squires!

And all other manner of people.

That by the command of Our Lord, the king of France,

it is strictly prohibited,

on pain of death and the loss of property,

for anyone here to be armed,

or to carry a sword or dagger

unless he be one who has the express permission

of Our Lord, the king.

Each man is to fight

on horseback and on foot,

armed in the manner that pleases him,

with any weapon or device of attack or defence.

Except for weapons or devices of equal design

or made with charms or spells

or any other thing that is forbidden by God and holy church

to all good Christians.

If either combatant should carry onto the field of battle

any arms that have been forged with spells,

charms, enchantments, or any other evil arts,

then so shall the malefactor be punished as an enemy of God

or as a traitor

or as a murderer.

-Tighter. Tighter. -Monsieur.

Knights, proceed.

Let them go!

Let them go! Let them go!

Come for your fight!

You're all gonna die!

You're all gonna die like pigs!

Come on, then!

Come on, you failed scum...

We cannot just sit here.

...and fight!

Jean, we were ordered by Pierre to hold this bridge.

Orders be damned. For the king.

For the king!

For the king!

Thank you.

I will make no apology for how you men fought today.

It was an honour to be there with you.

Limoges is lost.

And our allies have failed to take the port at Brest.

Our new Lord, Pierre,

has now resigned the campaign and orders us home.

We move at dawn.

Hear, hear.

To the king.

Evidently, Pierre is not happy.

Lives were saved.

Not in Limoges.

Let us return home, my friend.

You saved my life today.

Thank you.

Declare yourself!

Squire Jean de Carrouges.

Son of the captain of this fort.

Open the gates!

It's a great honour for Pierre

to have chosen your father's castle for this ceremony.

I shall be prepared to assume this captaincy

upon my father's passing.

Pray it is not for many years.

Father. Mother.

Captain. Milady.

Squires.

Do not keep Our Lord Pierre waiting.

...become your man. I shall serve you for life.

So, Lord, I become your man. I swear I shall serve you for life.

Milord, I become your man. I shall serve you for life.

Milord, I become your man. I swear I shall serve you for life.

Lord, I become your man. I swear I shall serve you for life.

-Lord... -Closer.

Lord, I become your man.

I swear I shall serve you for life.

Declare yourself.

It is I. Helen of Troy.

Le Gris.

It's good to see you, my friend.

Though I do not come only as a friend.

I'm afraid there's more to my visit than I have let on.

Speak.

Pierre has charged me with the collection of debts.

I see.

I have already visited all the other tenants in his domain.

And now...

You have come to see me.

I have come to see you.

These levies are for military defence.

And you know as well as anyone our enemy's present.

And we need to be ready.

When have I not been ready to stand and fight for my king?

You have.

More than any other.

But that's not all this Pierre wants.

No, what Pierre wants...

Pierre wants the money that he's rightfully owed.

I don't have it.

This plague has carried off half my workforce.

My rent collection is down.

My fields yield half what they used to.

And the cost of labour has now risen.

Yes.

How is it the other vassals paid?

They paid because I had to insist.

I see.

And now, you insist upon me?

Let me talk to Pierre.

He's not without reason.

I will explain your situation.

You are a true friend.

But I cannot return empty-handed.

Of course not.

Thank you.

Let me see what I have at hand.

-Think about this. -I have.

You have not.

I will be fighting under Admiral de Vienne.

The English are looting the Cotentin Peninsula as we speak.

This plague has taken your wife and son.

I will not stand by whilst Lower Normandy falls.

Do not let this obduracy take you.

You have no heir.

If you die, all you have will revert to Count Pierre.

A fact not lost on Pierre, I'm certain.

He does not favour me as he does you.

No, you have much to live for.

What do I have to live for, here? What?

A name.

It's too great and storied a name for you to treat it so recklessly.

Your father has the captaincy of Bellême.

When he dies, you will inherit that garrison

and everything that comes with it.

And I am your friend.

And there are many others like me who would prefer you not perish.

I don't embark on this campaign recklessly.

I don't embark on it just to fight.

Then why?

Jacques.

I am

broke.

I need money.

Long live the king!

Long live the king!

-They're back! -Quick! Come on! They're back!

I'll take that from you.

Let me help you, sir.

Turn around, please, my lord.

Lift, lift your arm.

Take them more bread.

Over here. They want some more.

Robert de Thibouville.

He's providing shelter and vittles for us.

De Thibouville?

Did he not side with the English against us at Poitiers?

Yes, but he was pardoned along with the others.

He's with us now.

And he'll stay that way if he knows what's good for him.

Steady, Jean.

It's a roof over our heads.

Besides,

he has quite the wine cellar.

What a beauty.

She is a de Thibouville?

Yes. Her name is even older than yours.

She's his only daughter.

There's a dowry to be had.

Of course, a man would have to bear the mark

of her father's disgrace...

I don't imagine one would suffer too greatly

at the task of producing an heir.

Gentlemen, welcome.

You fought bravely.

Thank you for hosting us.

-I would like to introduce... -Jean de Carrouges.

Your reputation precedes you.

As does yours.

It's my pleasure to host you and your men.

It is only just to support the men who fight for the king.

Some lessons are learned later in life, hmm?

Allow me to introduce my daughter.

Marguerite.

Marguerite, this is Squire Jean de Carrouges.

Milady, I'm pleased to meet you.

Pleasure is mine.

The dowry includes this parcel as well.

Starting at the hunting grounds.

What of this here? The one to the north?

Aunou-le-Faucon.

As I say, starting at the hunting grounds.

I'll have that piece of land as well.

Most certainly.

Amen.

I'm a very jealous man, milady.

Tonight, you are mine and will dance with no other.

And every night hereafter.