Ridicule

1783. Six years before the French Revolution, Loius XVI still ruled - but wit was king.

"In this country, vices are without consequence, but ridicile can kill". -Duke of Guines

Sir, do you remember me? Think hard.

Have I changed so much?

Remember... the "Marquis of Stumblebum"?

You dubbed me that when I fell at a ball.

Stumblebum. So very wounding!

I never lived it down.

Where is your fine wit now?

What a loss for society.

Since my exile...

I've seen many lands...

with far ruder manners,...

yet I've never forgotten yours.

Sir, am I tiring you?

I will wait on Madame and let him rest.

She is expecting you.

I fear that in his joy, Monsieur forgot himself.

Name of movie: Ridicule

- Go home. - But, Monsieur...

Your teeth are chattering. You're sick.

Don't move

We are short of workers.

His father has a fever.

They say the king can cure the sick.

All men can work miracles.

Don't you believe me. I promise.

We'll rid this swamp of evil.

By having masses sung?

No masses...

we'll build dikes and canals,...

plant trees, grow crops.

This region will become beautiful.

You're home

When you meet with the king, ask him to bless my medallion?

I will, Leonard.

Let me bless you.

Your mother worries about you going to Versailles.

You must have hope

I preach hope on Sundays - in God.

At Versailles, one man's will turned swamps into gardens.

The will of a king!

I'll knock on every door...

right up to the king.

Kneel down.

Take off your hat

God bless you...Amen

Farewell

He is the finest wit of our age.

How funny !

Milletail!

Back from America

I missed the stench of Versailles.

I'm surprised you're here.

I would rather bury him alive...

but God is our master.

We are praying, gentlemen.

Have dinner with me...

A roasted chicken would be better company!

Madame de Blayac will grieve for days!

Is this Blayac house?

Yes. Are you the related?

I have an introduction to Monsieur.

You come at the right moment. he is receiving guests

You can recognize him by his widow.

His wit was a shining light.

My husband valued your opinion.

The Academy grieves for him.

He cared for it deeply.

What a loss.

Lord, what a loss.

Your husband was a friend of my father.

And of mine.

I come from the Dombes.

Do you know Versailles?

I was born here, as it happens.

A courtier by birth.

Not everyone born in a stable thinks he's a horse.

God is our judge.

What, friend?

God will forgive the burglar...

if his children are hungry

We meet again.

What a pleasure!

Whom do I have the honour to bleed?

Gregoire Ponceludon de Malavoy.

Marquis of Bellegarde.

Charlotte, my housekeeper, and her son Paul.

Paul is both death and mute but he is an idiot, not evil.

Travellers should be better warned...

about the robbers round Versailles.

A good doctor must judge blood...

the way a gourmet judges wine.

A nice hearty red. Fluid but with plenty of body!

You live in fresh air...

and eat lean meat.

I live foul swamp air, and eat mostly fish!

My God, my plans.

- Are you a water engineer? - I am.

I come to Versailles to seek aid for a drainage project.

It's easier to be seen than heard.

I will appeal to reason and compassion.

Are you so ignorant of the ways of Versailles?

Come

I have bled you white.

You need rest

You must stay in the bed for two days, eat light food, and a glass of wine each night.

Night is for sleeping. You are exhausting yourself.

Thank you

"Study Addressed to the Regent...

Concerning Epidemics in the Dombes and Suggested Remedies"

Written by the Marquis de Gora.

It was not even opened.

Will your study fare any better?

Thank you for sparing me disappointment.

I have seen so many gentlemen from the country.

I shall plead my case orally.

And here I'll build a sluice to create a storage pool.

His majesty would be interested in this project perhaps.

The king is interested in technical things.

Tell him that the high fever makes many Dombes residents die. I know he is compassionate.

This is his weakness

This is the reason that I can't tell his majesty of your plan.

I will keep it from him, along with schemes...

to dig a tunnel to England, to drain the Landes and to make a map of India.

Your plan is all fine, no doubt...

but expensive.

Drain the marshes at least.

You mean drain France's treasury!

I administer the accounts.

Do you understand the problem?

How much is a life worth?

Less than the destiny of France...

except to philosophers.

Goodbye, Sir. I have work to do.

I will open the king's eyes!

Please do!

Those right wing men are leading the kingdom to bankruptcy

I am busy on the work of the military defence.

Mr Maurepas is old and careful.

You are young and courageous

My duties are too great to permit me to listen to flattery.

In the Left Wing

we do not deal in favours. Goodbye, Sir!

But, I give you a suggestion

Write a report, and I will circulate it.

The Left Wing is for ministers who serve the kingdom's needs.

The right wing is for courtiers...

who serve their own needs.

I only want to see the king.

"Only"? You jest.

We call you people 'suitors'.

There are thousands of you.

Some succeed!

Help me

Introduce me at the palace

You would be more useful at home.

Versailles Palace is my last hope

You suitors are all the same.

Your head is full of dreams of titles and grants.

The court! The court!

The phrase intoxicates you!

But I doubt you have what it takes to be heard.

Go back home...

and thank me.

I'm sorry I troubled you.

Double three... or I'll tell the secret of the church.

Ah, secret. Do tell.

Well, there is no purgatory basically

Isn't that your patient?

Fresh from the country, you must find our courtly ways ridiculous.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."

Were the Gospels of any use at Versailles, I would have heard.

Join us if you wish

we play 10 sols a point.

All I left is my shoe buckles.

You can even admire them by bending lower from the waist.

What do you want here?

A grant to drain the Dombes swamps and get rid of the mosquitos.

Our peasants die young - around 35.

Poor people!

They are not only dying - they are boring.

Remember - besides those mosquitos...

the peasnts also feed the aristocrats.

He's smarter than he looks.

That is where we differ, Monsieur!

Her Majesty the Queen!

Ah Blayac! Can I borrow the Abbot?

At your service, Ma'am.

I am playing piquet with such dull people.

I need some witty company.

Thank you. I will return him to you soon.

But were you busy?

Nothing important.

Your patient has recovered quickly from the "attack"

Is it thanks to you?

Please allow me to believe so.

His tongue is certainly agile.

You never come to my suppers.

I await the pleasure.