The Hunchback of Paris (Le Bossu)

On this morning in 1701, like every morning for nearly 20 years,

the Sun King, upon awakening, receives his most favoured courtiers,

including Prince Philippe of Gonzague, who was granted the supreme favour

of taking part in these morning rituals.

Sir, how did you find the King this morning?

Ever more domineering.

Led by Madame de Maintenon, and like all who are aging,

he thinks only about marriage-broking.

And who is to be his next victim?

He wishes my cousin, Philippe de Nevers, to marry one of his nieces.

His Majesty has charged me with informing him of these glad tidings.

Dear Philippe, the King knows what he is doing in giving you his niece's hand.

Are you not one of the most fortunate men in the kingdom?

The most unfortunate.

I don't understand you. Mademoiselle de Savoie is certainly no Venus,

but to become the nephew of the King of France... What an honour!

His Majesty charged me with informing you of this. This has been done.

Do not forget: "What the King desires, God desires."

But what God has brought together, the King cannot separate.

What are you trying to say?

For almost two years, I have been married to Isabelle de Qélus.

You know the enmity that exists between the families of Nevers and Qélus.

We have been forced to keep our love hidden.

We took advantage of her father's absence

to be secretly married before God by one of my family's chaplains.

- You married... in secret? - Yes.

We had hoped His Majesty would help us to declare this fact to the old Marquis,

and thus obtain from him his belated consent, a most urgent necessity

since a daughter has been born. She is now almost one year old.

Knowing his current disposition, I fear the King will be highly displeased

that you married without having consulted him.

Could I have foreseen His Majesty's sudden decision regarding me?

Poor Philippe, for you this decision is as good as an order of exile.

I know.

I promise to help you overcome this difficulty. You can count on me.

Thank you. But what will you tell the King?

That illness requires you to travel to a

The King cares not for the sick, having been unwell himself too often recently.

In a year or two, matters may well have changed.

You must leave as soon as possible.

I will remain only long enough to embrace my wife and daughter.

- How to tell Isabelle? - I go tomorrow to Qélus.

You know that the old Marquis trusts me. I will facilitate the meeting.

Thank you, my faithful friend.

- Your wallet, sir! - Get back, churl!

The "Nevers strike"! To remain here would be unwise!

- What are you doing, thief? - Monsieur Lagardère!

- Ah! It's you, Passepoil! - Yes.

- You're trying to borrow my horse? - No, sir.

I saw ten scoundrels set upon a gentleman down the street...

- So you tried to flee... with my horse. - Yes, but... only to find help faster.

- What's done is done. Let's go. - But there are ten, at least...

Exactly. That makes things even. Show me the way. Jump to it!

- This way... - To me, you two!

- Thank you, sir! - You jest, my Lord!

You will defeat them single-handedly. I am merely lessening your work.

If I knew your strike, my Lord, I would dispatch them even quicker.

- I will teach you. - You are generous, sir.

My Lord, this one was mine!

Go and find my horse. My Lord, at your service.

As you please, sir.

- Well parried, sir! - Hold, sirs!

Armed men are coming! And with all these gentlemen here...

- We will continue later. - Quickly!

- When it suits you, my Lord. - Until the next time, sir.

- Look at all this! - What a massacre!

Congratulations, Pérol! Your hired killers performed wonders.

- I don't understand what happened. - It seems that someone assisted him.

Whoever he may be, we shall find him.

At Qélus, it will be simple to make both father and child disappear.

I can't believe that you accepted such a job.

One has to live. And the guards are so overworked at the moment...

Those with the means have their own guards.

I am acting honestly when I attack dishonest men.

We were told that this lord is involved in a conspiracy.

- A conspiracy? - Yes.

According to what we were told, he would try to assassinate

the Prince of Gonzague unless we killed him.

Who was to pay you for this fine work?

Pérol, the Prince of Gonzague's Captain of the Guard.

I want to know who wishes ill towards Nevers.

Tomorrow, see this Pérol and find out.

Don't you realise what will happen to me?

If they discover I've spoken to you... Fellows like that don't forgive...

If I had some advice for you, Passepoil, it would be to serve me faithfully.

- Yes. - If not...

Sir, you have nothing to fear, since you use such convincing arguments...

In short, my Lord, no one knows of the existence of this child.

If child and father disappear...

Nevers' inheritance comes to me by law.

You will be the most powerful nobleman in the kingdom.

- After the King. - For the time being, my Lord.

- Welcome, Monsieur de Gonzague. - Thank you, my Lord.

It pleases me to see you again, Isabelle.

I have important news to give you.

Do not be so unhappy. I will take care of everything.

Have courage, Isabelle.

Your husband, my cousin, the Duke of Nevers, will arrive tonight.

He will come through the back gate that leads to the moat.

- May God protect us! - Have courage!

How can we thank you?

You can count on me. I am ready to sacrifice my life for your happiness.

Go to the meeting place and find out what your accomplices are planning.

Listen to yourself! They are no longer my accomplices. I am your servant!

- True. Do as I say! - And you, my Lord, be careful.

I finally have a good master, so I don't want to lose him!

Father, it is late. Will you give me permission to retire?

Good night, Isabelle.

What most surprised me about Versailles, Monsieur de Pérol,

is the immorality which reigns there.

Our principles and traditions are being lost.

A Qélus would prefer to kill his daughter by his own hand

rather than to let her be dishonoured.

Leave me.

Lady Marthe!

You do not believe that we will be exposing little Aurore to grave danger?

She will never be truly safe except under her father's protection.

But why not confess all to your family?

You are the wife of Philippe de Nevers before God, and Aurore is your child.

My father is the enemy of Nevers. You know how proud he is.

His heart is impervious to all human feeling.

If he were to learn of my secret marriage to Philippe

and the birth of Aurore,

he would be capable of wreaking the cruellest vengeance upon us both.

Perhaps, with time, matters will change...

Poor child. Madame, it is late. It will be midnight soon.

Be brave, Isabelle.

Fate cannot be against us forever.

Have courage. We will find happiness when this ordeal is over.

My Lord, you must leave immediately!

Twelve men are heading to the castle to assassinate the Duke of Nevers.

Take her away from the dangers which threaten her in this castle.

There is a piece of paper pinned to her blanket.

It is the page I tore from the chapel register.

It is evidence of our union before God, and proves our child's identity.

I shall pray for you.

Farewell, my love.

May God protect you.

My Lord, do you really think a duel is appropriate with the child present?

- You again, sir. - My Lord.

If I may advise you, entrust the child to this nursemaid here.

- You are mad! - I have followed you from Paris.

You are marked for death. Twelve men are preparing to attack at any moment.

I beseech you.

Go and wait near the horses. And don't move!

Do you hear them?

- Can you hear it, Pérol? - There is fighting by the moat.

Look, my Lord! Someone is fighting by his side!

Did Nevers suspect something? Could one of your men have warned him?

Truly, one cannot trust anyone in this day and age.

Come, Pérol. Let us go and observe what happens.

And another!

Come closer! I need a halberd to reach you from here!

Come, Pérol!

My Lord, beware!

Coward! Ignoble coward!

My Lord... Assassin!

Turn and face me, or I shall strike you in the back!

Hurry, my Lord, this way!

Coward! Whoever you may be, I will recognise you. I have marked your hand!

And when the time comes, if you don't come to Lagardère,

Lagardère will come to you!

- My Lord... What misfortune! - Passepoil, let us carry him.

No use. It is too late.

My Lord, I will avenge you.

My child. Take care of my child.

Take her away from here.

I will watch over her. I swear this to you.

Let me pass!

Madame, great misfortune has overcome us.

Your husband, my dear cousin and best friend Philippe de Nevers, is no more.

He succumbed to a band of ruffians led by a scoundrel called Lagardère.

I spilt my blood defending him, but there were too many of them.

- And my child? - They took her.

Before he died, the Duke entrusted you to my protection.

I swear to do all in my power to return your daughter to you.

Pérol, have our horses saddled and our men armed.

Madame, pray for those whose sole wish is to avenge your husband.

Pray that they may be the instruments of a just cause.

Madame, it is monstrous!

Leave me.

- I think we fooled them. - But I believe they are not far behind.

A chapel! It is the best refuge for this little angel.

Let's go.

- Still nothing? - Still nothing, Captain.

Damnation, it's not possible! Are you all asleep?

We found tracks at the roadside cross of St Honorine,

but then lost them at St Jean farm.

Bunch of fools! Go back!

We will not sleep until we find these child stealers.

The Prince promises 1,000 crowns to the one who finds them, dead or alive!

Go, find them!

The tracks seem to lead in this direction.

Let us follow them!

*THIS CERTIFIES THE BAPTISM OF AURORE DE NEVERS,

*DAUGHTER OF PHILIPPE, DUKE OF NEVERS

* AND ISABELLE DE QÉLUS, HIS WIFE BEFORE GOD

- Look at the tracks. - They can't be far.

They have only just passed.

Master, Pérol's men are coming along the river.