"P AR I S, 1 7 7 4" "Alas, Majesty, today Phoebus is eclipsed by rain" "Your Majesty is our only sun" "Sire, the compliment is over" "I can't believe it !" "They didn't even say one word to you !" "Desmoulins and Robespierre, no talking !" "Back in line !" "The French Revolution "The Years of Hope"" "And all that !" "Your Majesty will make Fortune blush !" "Dear Madame de Polignac, you bring me luck" "Your Majesty has lost" "Here I am, penniless again" "Now I have to tell the poor man I can't pay my debts  so he'll have to do it." "After all, I am his wife !" "The fact is, every day the country gets deeper in debt" "The costs of the court..." "The Queen's personal expenses..." "Our participation in the American war of independence  which cost us 2,000 million livres" "Frankly, the outlook is not very encouraging" "What do you advise, Monsieur Necker ?" "Sire we have two options :" "First, default and let the consequences fall where they may" "No, Monsieur Necker" " Your second option ?" " Summon the Estates General" "It's the only body capable of raising the taxes to pay the debt" "But we haven't had to resort to that for 150 years" "Sire, it's inevitable" "This practice is quite uncivilized !" "I'll have to ask Dame Etiquette the proper method of milking" "Mother !" "Look !" "I can ride all by myself !" "It's wonderful, darling !" "And now, dear brethren, we're holding a meeting today  March 6, in the church vestibule" "It's to draw up the List of Grievances for this parish" "All men 25 years and older who pay taxes are invited to come and contribute" "Our duty is to seize this opportunity to tell the King  the truth about what is amiss in his kingdom" "I've had enough of lugging stones around to please his lordship !" " You want useless chores abolished !" " That's right !" "And the salt tax too - when the salt we buy is rotten and full of dirt !" "Please, give him a chance to write it down" "As a doctor, I demand that taxation be shared equally" "By what right are the nobles and the priests exempt ?" "And why can only the nobility be officers ?" "Free access to all military, civil and even church positions !" " Ecclesiastic ?" " Exactly !" "What are you writing, Camille Desmoulins ?" "No more privilege, no more humiliation, and equality for all" "And Liberty too !" ""No more bread"" "Too proud to say hello to your old friends ?" "Someone thinks he's a bigshot !" "I wasn't elected" "Camille !" "They're idiots." "They don't know a thing" "You're not at Versailles ?" "Not this time" " I lost." "Lucie, go to your room" "You good-for-nothing !" "If you try to see my daughter I'll have you whipped !" "And arrested like a common criminal !" "Sir, I beg you to believe  that I care very deeply for your daughter" "Take my advice, Danton, get yourself elected as a Deputy for Paris" "But do it now, or it will be too late" "Look at the stuff being written :" "things are changing !" "What change ?" "Your kind and the clergy will always outvote the commons" " My kind ?" " Yes, the nobility, Monsieur de Mirabeau" "It's two against one, and nothing will ever change" "That's what you think ?" "I've been elected as a member of the Third Estate" "How long can the ruling class cling to its privileges ?" "The world is moving - look at America" "Privilege will never be abolished" "The best we can hope for is to spread the wealth around a little" "I'm not giving up my career for that" "Look" "She has a sister" "How about making a night of it ?" "No, I have work to do and some friends are waiting for me." "Your noble ideas vanish quickly when a pair of tits comes in sight" "Two pairs of tits" "When did you add a "d'" before your name ?" "Since trying to make money in this business ; any more stupid questions ?" "That's for you..." "This one's for you, and this too" "I'll handle this one myself" "Write a summary" "A grain merchant who's claiming the right  to call himself Viscount Something-or-other" "A bloody fool, but he pays well" "Why are you attacking me ?" "I don't hoard food like some people" "You know it Danton !" "Tell them !" "They've already killed a baker" "Everyone knew he hoarded grain" "I don't blame them" "They ought to hang all these damned profiteers, to set an example" "Cut out your usual speech, Marat." "This time it was Legendre, but I know he's honest" "What difference does it make to a starving crowd ?" " Will she recover ?" " Probably not" "Besides, she has a broken neck" "Gabrielle, I'm hungry !" "Mirabeau was right." "Things are changing" "I should have stood for election" " Why ?" " To be a Deputy for Paris" " Why ?" "You want to be ?" " No, I need to be" "That smells good" "Action, Gabrielle... action" "Have you ever in your life just stood by and watched ?" "The more tempting the prospect  the more I want to get my hands on it" "I believe that the three orders assembled here  will cooperate for the general good of the state" "I declare myself the first friend of my people" "And I welcome the representatives of the nation  it is my glory to command by divine right" "That's Lafayette" "The Marquis de Lafayette ?" "From America ?" "Yes, my lord." "The hero of the American War of Independence" "Gentlemen." "His Majesty has summoned you here  in order to remedy a deficit which has raised so much comment in Europe" " Who are those men all in black ?" " The Third Estate, my lord" "What is the Third Estate ?" "Those who are neither nobles nor priests" "That's a lot of people" "It is thus my duty to demonstrate to you in detail  the absolute necessity of financial assistance" "This is why you have received the rare privilege  of being assembed here in the Estates General" "Each order shall assemble separately..." "It's not Versailles, but it's comfortable without costing too much" " Have a seat" " I prefer the bed" " You don't mind eggs ?" " Not at all" " You're a lawyer, I hear" " Like you" "I made the mistake of moving to Paris" "Too many lawyers, not enough clients" "They want you to vote by order, right ?" "The clergy plus the nobility make it 2 to 1" "At that rate, we'll always lose" "But if we vote as individuals, the Third Estate has the majority" "Necker isn't stupid ;" "he knows what he wants" "He means well, but he's a banker." "And he's Swiss" "The problem is they don't live in the same world we do" "Well ?" "It would be enough if the lower clergy, the poorest, join us" "If nothing changes, they won't get any money - it's as simple as that" "Remember ?" "At Louis le Grand ?" "Old Boiteux ?" " "What is the Third Estate ?" - "Nothing !"" " "And what does it want ?" - "Everything !"" "It's so long ago" "But you haven't changed" "Always neat, with every hair in place" "My one luxury." "But you haven't changed either !" "A number of the clergy have joined the Third Estate" "They say they form 96% of the country and plan to form a National Assembly  without Your Majesty's assent" " Just as I predicted !" " Please, brother" "The best solution, Monsieur Necker  would be to address the 3 orders  and inform them that their actions are illegal" "Excuse me, Sire, but I feel the situation requires diplomacy, not confrontation" "Our authority is all that's left, Monsieur Necker" "Authority and obedience by force, if necessary" " What's happening ?" " They won't let us in." "It's an outrage !" "To the Tennis Court !" "Back to the changing room, gentlemen !" "Bailly !" "Take the chair !" "Silence !" "Let us take an oath, here and now" "To never separate, to reassemble wherever circumstances demand  until we've given France a constitution" "I swear !" "Therefore I declare void, illegal and unconstitutional  the acts of the so-called National Assembly  which is meeting despite my orders" "I am the sole guardian of my people's welfare" "And if you abandon me in such a weighty endeavor  it is you who will be abandoned, and not me" "I order you to disperse at once  and return to the rooms set aside for your respective orders  to resume your meetings" "Vive le roi !" "By what right do you occupy that seat, sir ?" "My name is Bailly" " I'm an astronomer" "Member of the Academy of Science and Member for Paris" "These gentlemen have elected me President of the National Assembly" "You've all heard the King order you to disperse !" "I believe that the nation in assembly receives orders from no one" "Go tell those who sent you that we are here by the will of the people" "And we won't leave except at the point of a bayonet !" " They want to stay ?" " Yes, Sire" "To hell with them then !" "Let them stay !" "The Third Estate is not making a challenge to the monarchy, just an appeal" "If you would recognize their legal existence to help you govern..." "Wanting to share the King's power is treason" "You should hang them all, as an example" "But if the Third Estate has the support of the people" "Send in the troops" "I advise against it, Sire" " If we could find a compromise" " There is no compromise" "Except for time" "If I understand you, Monsieur Necker, the King cannot oppose this Assembly  without making things worse" "In that case, he shouldn't even try" "But rather, agree to their demands  for now" "But the King must prepare to respond to their next demands with force" "It appears Her Majesty understands the situation better than any of us" "The intervention of the foreign regiments seems to me ill-advised" "They are regiments from the provinces, not foreign" "And I can count on their loyalty in the event of an insurrection in the capitol" "The people do not see the uniforms, but the men wearing them" "Swiss and German troops, most of whom don't even speak French" "They don't see the love Your Majesty has for them - just a sign of tyranny" "It's what your enemies want" "That is not my opinion, Monsieur Necker" "Nor is it the opinion of those I have confidence in" "Then, Your Majesty, I have no choice  but to offer my resignation" "And I to accept it" "Citizens !" "I've come from Versailles." "The King has dismissed Necker !" "It's the signal for a St. Bartholomew's Massacre of patriots !" "Tonight Swiss and German batallions will come out to slaughter us !" "There's only one solution :" "to take up arms !" "To arms !" "To arms !" "All Paris must take up arms !" "My friends, we know our enemies." "But we need a way to recognize each other" "All those who want to fight  proudly declare it by wearing green" "Green, the color of hope" "This will be our symbol !" "Our uniform !" "Our victory !" "Look !" "The police are here !" "I call my brothers to liberty" "You won't take me alive" "And I will die gloriously rather than see France remain in bondage !" "The King has dismissed Necker." "If he uses his troops it'll cost him" "My friend you can write your memoires later." "Come on !" "News from the Palais Royale ;" "they've called for insurrection !" " Why ?" " The King has dismissed Necker" "This is a direct attack on the will of the people  expressed through their elected representatives !" "Will we allow Tyranny to triumph over Liberty ?" "No !" "Will we allow one man the power to wipe away in a single day  the hope of finally seeing a free people in France ?" "No !" "I want every man of the district to be a volunteer" "We will show the whole world  that we have no fear of these dogs  who dare lay siege to our city !" "Sign with me !" "Don't worry, we'll wake them up !" "My name's Fournoyer" "They call me "The American"." "I was a distiller in Santo Domingo" "Where will we get the weapons ?" "The guns are at Les Invalides ;" "and the powder at the Bastille !" "Very good, Lieutenant." "Any problems ?" "Just one." "If I give the order, will they fire ?" " Surely your Swiss will ?" " Probably." "But can you count on your own men ?" "The powder !" "The powder !" "Citizens - we must have the Bastille" "We want the Bastille !" "They have to pull back the cannons" "Make way for the delegation from the Permanent Committee of the Hôtel de Ville" "Make them remove the cannons !" "I've never heard of your committee." "As of yesterday, the Members for Paris have met at the Hôtel de Ville" "They've formed a permanent committee to maintain order in the capitol" "Are you here to force a confrontation, or find a way of avoiding it ?" " We're not here to threaten" " Then we agree on the essential points" "Gentlemen, I was about to dine" "Will you join me ?" " What's going on ?" " They're still inside" " Prisoners ?" " No one knows" "We want the Bastille !" "Apparently, sir, you are not hostile to the people of Paris" "We need you to show it." "Pull back the cannons - the Committee demands it" "But why ?" "The cannons have always been there" "It's an insult to the people." "It's intolerable" "These poor old cannons !" "You've seen them; where they are they can't fire on the people" "It doesn't matter; people are afraid" "You must withdraw them, Governor" " You want me to make a gesture" " Of goodwill" "My compliments to Lieutenant Deflue ;" "please ask him to withdraw the cannons" "And close the openings" "Our committee could not ask for more" "Look !" "They're pulling back the cannons !" "To load them !" "They're going to fire !" "I have to alert the district !" "Do you know how many prisoners we have here ?" "Seven" "Four forgers, with long records" "One's a murderer" "And there's also an Irishman who thinks he's Julius Caesar" "Let me through" " I know the Governor" "He's a friend, I can talk to him" "You see, I've kept my word" "You must surrender the fortress, sir" "Nobody said anything about that" "The Permanent Committee" "The Bastille is in our district" "And the distict demands that you open the gates of the Bastille to the people" "With all these innovations, it's very difficult for an officer of the King  to know where his duty lies" "Opening the gates is out of the question" "They're telling us to enter !" "Come on !" "They don't understand !" "They're advancing instead of leaving !" " So this is how you negotiate" " I'll go down and talk to them" "The cannons !" "Take aim !" " You're not going to fire !" " Don't worry" "I just want to show them that the Bastille can defend itself" "Do not fire without my orders !" "Sir, if you have any authority over your district, order your people to retreat" "Tell them I've promised not to fire first" "Stop !" "Stop !" "We have no choice" " Take aim" " No, it'll be a bloodbath" "Hold your fire !" "If you won't fire, we're lost" "Take aim !" "Fire !" "Fire !" "Cease fire !" "What are you doing ?" "We're saved !" "Long live the nation !" "Hey there, someone !" "Lieutenant Deflue - I have a message from the Governor" "Bring a board !" "Cease fire !" "There's a message from the Governor !" ""We have 2,000 barrels of powder" "Surrender, or we will blow up the neighborhood"" "No surrender !" "They must lower the drawbridge !" "We won't allow it, Sir" "Bring me my journal" "An agreeable afternoon, Cléry but not very successful" "Not even a rabbit" ""July 14" " Nothing"" "Sire..." "What is it ?" "Sire, the Parisians have taken the Bastille" "Taken the Bastille ?" "What for ?" "It's a revolt" "No, Sire ; it's a revolution" "If the troops want to fire on Liberty, they'll find barricades in their way !" "And the Cordeliers Club will build the tallest one !" " It's just that too many died" " What did you expect ?" "You can't build the kind of world you want without breaking a few heads" "Now whatever happens, things can never be the same" "That's for sure - never again" "Here's the wine, for anyone who's thirsty !" "Vive Danton !" "You're lovelier than ever" "Just say the word and I'll stay" "Write me when you get to Basle" "I'll be there in a week" "Persuade the King to take refuge in Metz." "You must !" "He prefers to stay in Paris" "To win over his faithful subjects who want to murder him !" " I'll stay" " Goodbye" "You really don't want to go ?" "I can't leave you here alone" "Oh, my dear, faithful friend !" "No one is to shout "Vive le roi !"" "Your Majesty, these keys were presented to Henri IV  after he reconquered his people" "Today it is the people who have reconquered their king" "So you are the Mayor of Paris, Monsieur Bailly ?" "Yes, Your Majesty" "Until now, Paris has not had a Mayor" "The electors decided that it was time" "Ah, well, if they've decided" "If Your Majesty would be so good as to follow me" "Monsieur de Lafayette, I believe you also have something to say" "Your Majesty, the volunteers who have mobilized to defend Paris  have adopted the name "National Guard"" "And they have named me their General" "Naturally, I could not accept this appointment without your approval" "Then I must congratulate you, General" "Sire, all Parisians who love liberty  have adopted the colors of the capitol : blue and red" "I have noticed" "But I've added the white of the monarchy" "Excellent idea !" "If Your Majesty would be pleased to pin this cockade to your hat  your loyal subjects would be overjoyed." "Perhaps you could pin it on for me" "Gentlemen, I have some news for you" "I have ordered the withdrawal of the troops presently in the capitol" "And this morning I wrote to Monsieur Necker  to ask him to rejoin my ministry" "Such back-breaking labor, Monsieur le Comte" "It couldn't go on any longer" "August 4, 1789" "These attacks on the property of the nobility, across the entire country  are not acts of common vandalism" "These attacks should fill us with pride" "They are the funeral pyres of privilege !" "Tell the people that you recognize the injustice of the rights  acquired during the dark days of ignorance" "Our colleague from Bretagne is right." "The people's anger is a just anger" "I, Viscount de Noailles propose that all privileges  and rights of the nobility be abolished" "I, Count de Beauharnais propose that henceforth all occupations  be open to all: nobles and commoners" "I, Duke de la Rochefoucault-Liancourt propose  that the National Assembly abolish slavery" "And recognize that blacks are human beings" "I, Bishop of Nancy, renounce the possessions  that the Church has unjustly acquired for too long" "They're drunk on fine words and good intentions" "They'll wake up with a nice hangover" "And they'll go back on everything they've given up" "Citizens, listen !" "The Assembly has declared freedom of religion" "Who gives a damn ?" "But much more important ;" "they've declared freedom of the press !" "I'll start my paper, Georges !" "I've already got the name :" "Revolutions of France and Brabant" "Write, Camille." "It's what you do best" "I'll listen to the people, and I'll say everything :" "Their concerns, their hopes, their joys" "But to understand, not manipulate them" "Without betraying the truth or my conscience" "I'll find you the money" "The representatives of the French people, formed into the National Assembly  considering that ignorance, forgetfulness  or contempt for the Rights of Man  are the sole cause of public suffering and government corruption  have resolved to express in a solemn declaration  the natural, inalienable and sacred rights of man" "I ask you to rise, gentlemen" "Article 1 :" "Men are born and remain free and equal before the Law" "Social distinctions can be founded only upon public utility" "These rights are Liberty, Property, Security and Resistance to Oppression" "The nation is essentially the source of all sovereignty" "The Law may only forbid activities harmful to society" "Whatever is not forbidden by Law cannot be hindered" "The Law is the expression of the general Will" "All citizens are equal before it  and equally eligible for every public position and honor" "No man can be accused, arrested or imprisoned unless by force of Law" "Every man is presumed innocent until proven guilty" "No one can be persecuted for his beliefs, including religious" "The free expression of ideas and opinions  is one of the most precious rights of mankind" "All citizens may speak, write and publish freely  except as determined by the Law in order to preserve Liberty" "The safeguard of the Rights of Man and the citizenry requires a public force" "This force is formed for the benefit of all" "The right of private property is sacred and inviolable" "None can be deprived of it  except when the common good legitimately requires it" "I've done my best, Monsieur Necker, but I will not sign" "Neither the Decree on the Abandonment of Privileges, nor the Rights of Man" "How will the Church survive without its tithes ?" "And the minor nobility without the revenue of their peasants ?" "Sire, the nobility and the clergy themselves" "I know" "But why the Rights of Man ?" "I am the King !" "How can one share what is abolute ?" "Your Majesty must not underestimate the risk" "This is why I summoned the Regiment of Flanders to Versailles" "I know that I can count on them" "Governing is a serious matter" "To do it you have to find a genuine balance of power  between the executive and the legislative" "That's why you defended the veto power ?" "Whether it's a king, a president or something else, it doesn't matter" "An unlimited, all-powerful Assembly will lead to disaster" "Why ?" "Because all the power is concentrated there" "What's important is sovereignty" "It must be shared between the King and the Assembly" "Impossible" "In that case, you'll create an even worse dictatorship" "Excuse me" " I'm expecting my confessor" "A little patience !" "I'm nearly finished my work" "Kiss me !" "Gabriel-Honoré I'll give you 5 minutes - not one more" "I've tried to make it less uncompromising" "If you won't sign now, there's nothing more I can do" "It's excellent, as always" "Let me sign" "As usual, you get what you want" "And you, at least, a decent meal" "You're a corruptor, Monsieur de Mirabeau" "If it gives you any comfort, look around" "Nothing in this house is paid for" "Except for you" "Even the servants are worried about their wages" "How do you do it ?" "It's the art of keeping 6 balls in the air at once" "But two of them inevitably are your own" "Do you advise me to go to confession ?" "Not necessarily" "I find I have a few extra matters to attend to" "Gentlemen !" "A toast : to the King !" "To Her Majesty the Queen !" "Please rise, gentlemen" "Thank you all" "I'm so happy to find myself among friends" "We'll give our last drop of blood for Your Majesty" "Wait your turn; there's enough for all !" "Are you alright ?" "Where do you live ?" "Look at me !" "I want to help" "I haven't eaten for 3 days" "Down with the Assembly !" "And no more tricolors !" "Gentlemen" " I'll never forget this !" "Once again, the Austrian bitch is responsable  for this court-orchestrated counter-revolution" "Exclamation mark after revolution" "Marat has everything on the Versailles banquet" "People of Paris, the events at Versailles  are an insult to Liberty" "I call for rebellion" "No... for insurrection" "That's better" "To arms !" "To arms !" " "To arms" twice ?" " And again !" "It's for the paper ?" "For the greatest paper of all :" "The walls of Paris" "Bread !" "Give us bread !" "If you refuse to march on Versailles  to demand the King listen to his people, then we will !" "We'll bring back the baker and the baker's wife !" "And the baker's boy !" "To Versailles !" "An order from the Commune :" "You're to lead the National Guard to Versailles" "To bring the King and his family back to Paris" "We are the King's Guard, not his jailors !" "The women of Paris are marching to Versailles to demand bread !" "Let's march with them as a matter of honor" "The cause that we've fought for is lost  if you won't show that you're ready to fight for what you've won !" "Make way for the President of the National Assembly !" "No more than four" "And no pikes" "That's enough !" "Ladies, welcome" "What can I do for you ?" "Your Majesty, these four women speak on behalf of the women of Paris" "All Paris wishes to know Your Majesty's attitude toward the Rights of Man, and" "Perhaps His Majesty would prefer to hear directly from these women" "Your Majesty..." "Bread..." "Well, Monsieur Mounier, here we are in fresh difficulties" "Bread..." "Bread ?" "You will have bread ;" "I promise" "I beg you not to stay." "Come with us" "I am the King !" "I can't flee" "Is it better to be a prisoner ?" "At least you could try" "The mob is blocking the stables ;" "it is impossible to get out" "You see ?" "We thought we had some choice" "We were wrong" "Where are my glasses ?" "Please, Monsieur Mounier, re-read your text aloud" "I accept purely and simply the Articles of the Constitution  and the Rights of Man as submitted to me by the National Assembly" "Is that agreeable, Your Majesty ?" "Does that matter anymore ?" "As you can see, His Majesty has signed" "History will remember Your Majesty as the greatest of France's kings" "Bread and flour are on their way to Paris" "Perhaps it's time for everyone to go home, Monsieur de Lafayette" "Sire, these gentlemen are from the Paris Commune" "And what is it the people of Paris want ?" "They wish that the National Guard take charge of the King's personal security" "You can arrange that, Monsieur de Lafayette ?" "Also the removal of royal troops, whose presence is an insult to the people" "Is that all ?" "The Parisians also demand that the King return to Paris" "That requires some thought" "It's been a long day" "We will discuss this further in the morning" "Good night, Monsieur de Lafayette, gentlemen" "I beg Your Majesty to let me stand guard outside your room" "No." "The rumors only aggravate their hatred" "Go to bed, Axel." "I'll try to do the same" "Versailles, October 6, 1789" "Hey, soldier !" "How about a little fun ?" "Call the other one" "This way !" "Come on" "Let's wake up the fat pig !" "Hurry, Your Majesty !" "Open the door !" "It's the Queen !" "What is to be done, Monsieur Deguisson ?" "Die, Your Majesty" "Forgive me, Your Majesty" "They gave me their word there would be no further violence" "And you chose to believe them !" "Lafayette is on their side !" "He's making fun of you !" "The King has fled" "Look !" "There's no one there !" "Your Majesty must appear on the balcony" "If not, we cannot control them" "No, Louis, please don't go !" "They'll kill you !" "I don't believe they wish to harm you" "The King to Paris !" "The King accepts." "Return to Paris and the King will follow" "He's lying !" "If we leave, he'll flee !" "Marat is right !" "We're not leaving !" "You have the King's promise !" "And the Austrian woman ?" "Where is she ?" "She's already fled !" "The Queen to the balcony !" "No, Your Majesty, I beg you !" "Not the children !" "Shoot her !" "Kill the whore !" "God save the Queen !" "June 1790" "Look, Papa !" "Are they going to guard the King ?" " Yes" " Is the King there right now ?" "He's always there - that's his house." "The Tuileries Palace" "I no longer could stand the idea of hanging" "So my colleague Dr. Louis and I came up with this machine" "The condemned is beheaded by means of this simple mechanism" "It's practically painless" "Just a slight chill on the back of the neck" "A minimum of suffering, which everyone deserves" "It's clean, quick and efficient" "I'm very impressed, Monsieur Guillotin" "Perhaps... if I could make a small suggestion ?" "I'm considered rather handy with mechanical matters" "I'd be honored to have Your Majesty's opinion" "The flaw is here" "Instead of being crescent-shaped the blade would cut better  if it were triangular" "And designed like a saw" "Marvellous, Sire !" "We ink the plate, close the press  and the text is reproduced on paper" "Everything is done here" "And what I write is on the street an hour after it's printed" "That's my office" "I'm very impressed Monsieur Desmoulins" "But do you have to be so violent ?" "Look : "The most practical method of hanging aristocrats is on street lights"" "I'm stating a principle." "It doesn't have to be applied literally" "Provisional Member of the Commune at your service !" "Georges, you were elected !" "It's a small beginning." "But from this day, your friends on the Committee  can count on Danton to take decisions" "I invite everyone to the celebration" "I'm afraid we have an appointment." "Lucie ?" "I'll come with you, Monsieur Danton" "Permit me to say that Your Majesty is more beautiful than ever" "I'm sure you and the King enjoyed your short visit to St-Cloud" "You know we practically had to beg Monsieur Bailly and Lafayette  to let us leave the Tuileries" "But you're not prisoners" " What do you want ?" " For Your Majesty to trust me" "You ?" "One of the chief architects of our problems ?" "Have you read the secret letters I've sent to the King ?" "I've read them" "And you're still not convinced that I wish to save the monarchy ?" "How can I believe you're sincere ?" "Denounce my presence here tonight" "So you're betraying both sides !" "How splendid" "What do you recommend we do ?" " Accept the Constitution" " In other words, our destruction" " Your safeguard !" " You and your paradoxes !" "Madame, trust your people." "Throw yourself in their arms ;" "they will open their hearts to you" "The King will reign, but through a constitution" "Believe me, there are many people who would die to defend the crown" "When listening to you, one can end up accepting the impossible" "I hope the Cordeliers district will outdo themselves" "Grab a spade !" "I hope you won't be too tired tonight" "Promise." "I love it when you talk like that" "It's incredible !" "So many people who hated each other yesterday" "Now here they are celebrating the first anniversary of the Revolution" "Everything has changed." "Our ways of thinking are new" "It's the dawn after the night" "Fraternity - at last !" "Your mother and I have been talking" "Camille, if you still wish to marry our daughter, you have our blessing" "She'll have everything" " I promise !" "I believe it ;" "her dowry's 100,000 livres !" "Celebration of Federation" " July 14, 1790" "My dear Robespierre, there goes the hero of the Revolution" "But for how long ?" "I swear to be faithful to the nation  to the law, and to the King" "To uphold the Constitution, proclaimed by the National Assembly  and accepted by the King" "To assure in accordance with the law, the security of property and life" "I swear to remain united to all the French people  by the indissoluble bonds of fraternity" "I ask all of you present  assembled here from all the provinces of France  to take the same oath" "Repeat after me : "I swear"" "Look at them." "They want to remain slaves" "And they will, if we're not vigilant" "People of France, I ask you to listen in silence  to the oath that the King of the French will take before you" "I, King of the French  swear to use all the powers granted me by the law  to uphold the Constitution proclaimed by the National Assembly... and accepted by me" "My son and I take the same oath as the King" "This is my son !" "Nancy, August 1790" "Long live the nation !" "What exactly was this mutiny in the Nancy garrison ?" "This rebellion that Monsieur de Lafayette was pleased to have put down  by his cousin, the Marquis and General de Bouyet" "What was their crime ?" "They dared to demand the miserable pay  that their own officers had robbed them of for months !" "These rebels rejected corruption and theft" "They had faith in the justice that the Revolution could not bring them" "What disappointment !" "What bitterness !" "Remember one year ago, the women of Paris went to Versailles to see the King" "What has changed since then ?" "Nothing !" "Still the same abuses, the same tyranny." "And why ?" "Because around the King is the same clique, the same ministers  who hide the truth from him and deceive him !" "I speak for Paris, and Paris demands their dismissal" "So you think you're Paris, sir ?" "You alone ?" "Better than you, Abbot :" "you take yourself for God" "Paris demands the dismissal of the Minister of the Interior  the Count de Saint-Prix" "The Minister of War, Monsieur de la Tour du Pin" "Monsieur Champion de Cicé" "Paper !" "I told you I wanted gold" "These are worth more than their weight in gold" "You can exchange them for confiscated Church property" "A fortune, whenever you want" "If you say so, Monmorat" "Whatever happens, your business abroad is safe for the moment" "The Assembly is very happy with the dismissal of your colleagues" "And you can assure His Majesty  that I will continue to do all in my power to help" "To France" "Here is the sacred object, conquered in the heat of battle" "It has an inscription : "United for Life"" "As one of Camille's oldest friends  I'd like to make the first toast" "To the bride" "I'm especially happy about this marriage, which has permitted me  to get to know the man I admire most in public life" "If the Cordeliers are truly, as they are called, the greatest patriots in Paris  they owe it to you, sir" "To our friend Mirabeau, who is too ill to be here today" "To his speedy recovery" "You know what they're saying about me ?" "That I'm dying  just to avoid paying my debts !" " Is it true ?" " Of course it is" "The sad thing is that you only die once" "For you, we'll make an exception" "The doctors don't know a thing ;" "you'll play this scene many more times" "Excuse me." "I didn't know you were busy" "I'll come back later" "It's no accident" "You two together..." "You two, united..." "I need to die knowing that you two are allies" "If not, the last hope of saving the monarchy  will die with me" "Without the crown, all that we've accomplished  will slide into anarchy" "And you both know it" "As long as I live, the crown will be safe" "And the country will not slide into anarchy" "I can promise you that" "Because this country will be a military dictatorship led by you" "That's what you want - everyone knows it" "Monsieur Danton's aspirations are well-known" "I will not lower myself to discuss this" "Monsieur Danton's only ambition  is to have civilian control over a constitutional monarchy" "And especially over ambitious generals who exceed their bounds" "By "civilian control" you mean a government which closes its eyes  to the corruption and profiteers you've chosen to run it" "I didn't ask you to come here to bore me to death  with your stupid quarrels !" "Death is already here" "It requires calm" "The only thing I ask  is that you try to work together" "That's my last wish" "I can't do any more" "Look, Monsieur de Fersen ;" "how well this hairstyle suits my daughter" "Madame, you are as pretty as an angel" "Come dear, let's go find your brother" "My dear, what would I do without you ?" "Monsieur de Bouillé will meet the King at Montmédy" "He is sure of his troops who'll provide your security" "Why Montmédy ?" "It's still in France." "It's a strong old fort" "Once there, the Emperor can help you" "You must convince the King" "You know the poor man changes his mind three times a day !" "To leave - and you'll follow me" "To refuse would have ignited France" "His Holiness cannot tolerate that bishops  should be elected like delegates to the Assembly" "But what makes His Holiness deeply unhappy  is that this law obliges priests to take an oath to the constitution" "That can only lead to a sort of schism  like when Henry VIII of England broke with Rome" "I am not Henry VIII !" "I am the most obedient of the Holy Father's sons" "His Holiness demands that Your Majesty  renounce the civil constitution for the clergy" "It's too late !" "Does the Holy Father wish to destroy me ?" "His Holiness will never authorize the priests of France to take this oath" "It's the only way I could keep the French Church united  in obedience to Rome" "Assure the Holy Father of my personal loyalty" "I swear I will receive Holy Communion  only from the hands of priests faithful to Rome" "I will tell him" "Now sir, will you give me your blessing ?" "The King manipulates them all - even Danton" " Even me" " What do you mean ?" "Write this down" "Louis XVI has betrayed the Revolution through his loyalty to Rome" "I baptise you in the name of the people !" "June 21, 1791" "General, the King is gone" " Gone where ?" " He's fled with the Royal Family" ""To Let"" "You let fat Louis slip away !" "And his Austrian whore !" "You staked your head on the King" "The people want the King or your head" "How could it happen ?" "If they cross the border..." "They'll return at the head of an army of expatriots and it will be civil war" "Do you think we can arrest them in the name of public security ?" "We have no choice." "But who will take the responsibility ?" "The Assembly meets at 2:00, and we must act at once" "Take this down :" ""The enemies of the Revolution have abducted the King"" "No one has abducted the King" "What do you want, Bailly ?" "A republic ?" "The loss of the King ?" ""The enemies of the Revolution have abducted the King" ""The bearer of this message is instructed to advise all loyal citizens..." ""... in the name of the nation in danger..." ""... to rescue him and bring him back safely to the National Assembly" ""I take full responsibility for these orders"" "Let me sign it" "Look - he gave me a gold louis" "Who was it ?" "I don't know." "He's travelling with his children and servants" "What did he want ?" "The road to Varennes" "He gave you a louis for directions ?" "He's crazy !" "Maxime, the Assembly has confirmed Lafayette's order ?" "What else could they do ?" "I can't oppose the majority" "You have to tell the truth !" "Who's going to believe this so-called abduction ?" "It's an interesting use of the word" "Two years of work, destroyed by this  conspiracy" " And I can't tell you everything" " Tell me !" "I'll write it down" "Be careful, Camille." "Be especially careful what you write" " Today we're all in danger" " Why today ?" "More than ever" "The King didn't take this risk without powerful support in Paris and elsewhere" "Traitors !" "Where is Drouet ?" "Is that any way to treat a horse ?" "There's no time to lose : from Lafayette" "He was too tired to go on" "Have you see them ?" "What's happening ?" " Where are you going ?" " To Frankfurt" "This isn't the way" "I'm public prosecutor of the Varennes Commune." "Your passports" "Follow me." "Don't let anyone leave" "Citizen Drouet, I'm sorry, but this passport is in order" "It's even signed by the King" "If you let them go, you'll be guilty of a crime - and treason" " What should we do ?" " We have to tell Monsieur Bouillé" "I'm just a humble grocer, but it's clean" "Good evening, Sire" "Louis Capet ;" "Louis XVI no longer exists !" "Louis Capet must be stripped of his useless title" "He must be the last king of France" "No more half-measures !" "No more compromise before the Assembly's indecision and hypocrisy !" "The Cordeliers demand the end of monarchy" "And that France be henceforth a republic !" "I propose a petition be set up  outside the Hôtel de la Nation on the Champ de Mars  for the French people to sign" "I'm informed that irresponsible member of the Cordeliers  intend to march to the Champ de Mars to demand a republic" "I ask that the Assembly declare martial law  to disperse all illegal assemblies" "Are you going to the Champs de Mars ?" "No, I have business to take care of in the country" "I think you're very clever" "The last storm has damaged my roof" "We all have our storms to weather" "What does that mean ?" "I've always argued for replacing the King" "By all constitutional means, I know" "But now that your supporters demand a republic, you leave for the countryside" " You have a problem with that ?" " No." "It's very reasonable" "I've recently wished that Camille wouldn't call so violently  for the overthrow of the King" "I'm surprised ; you've argued so strongly for trying the King before the Tribunal" "The Assembly did not agree." "I accept the will of the majority" "But good God, where do you stand ?" "The republic - what does it mean to you ?" "One could just as easily speak of a republican monarchy  as of a monarchical republic" "I remember my courses in constitutional law" "France is both a monarchy and a republic" "That's the constitution we've created the last two years" "We live in an imperfect world" "To advance the Revolution we need a King" "But we mustn't ask for too much" "Because seeking perfection is asking too much ?" "You don't think so ?" "I believe that it's the purpose of life" "You have the authority ;" "martial law has been declared" "This demonstration is illegal" "Your duty is plain, General :" "put an end to it" "July 17, 1791" "The National Guard !" "In the name of the National Assembly, I order you to disperse" "Let him go" "Disperse peacefully" "You know me ; you can trust me" "Join us, Lafayette !" "Then we'll trust you !" "Don't make me use force" "Traitor !" "You wouldn't dare !" "Ready !" "Aim !" "Over their heads" "Fire !" "It's to scare us !" "They're firing blanks !" "Aim !" "Soldiers !" "You're citizens like us !" "You can't fire on unarmed people !" "Your brothers !" "Fire !" "Stop !" "Cease fire !" "Maxime !" "They want to kill us all !" "Monsieur Robespierre, if you'll take refuge in my house I'd be very honored" "Monsieur..." "Duplay..." "Maurice Duplay" "I respect you greatly and am a member of the Jacobin Club, like you" "Thank you" " I have a dog in my apartment" " I'll go, later" "The sewers" "London Winter 1791" "Jean-Paul, you have a visitor" "They said you were sick" "A little gift from the sewers" "I should have left faster, like you" " May I ?" " Please" "Any news from Paris ?" "Desmoulins has gone to live in the country" "His paper banned, his press smashed up" "He has no reason to go back" "Rosbespierre is no longer a Deputy" "There was only one mistake he couldn't make and he made it" "His decree forbidding him to run again for the Legislature" "I know" "A general amnesty has been declared." "Do you plan to go back ?" "I'll go back when it's useful." "For now the King is working for us" "He's using his veto to protect the emigrés and dissident priests" "He's turning the country against him" "Maybe the country but not the rest of Europe" "There's a real threat of invasion" "The Revolution is a danger for crowned heads everywhere" "I hope that's the case" "We're in no condition to wage war" "And however it ends, it will only help the King" "What do you propose ?" "Go back to Paris" "We can be more useful over there" "In Paris" "To argue compromise ?" "No : to get guarantees" "I have no need of guarantees, Danton" "But I have less to lose than you" "That's your opinion" "We have nothing to fear from war" "Through it we will purge France of the despotism that suffocates her" "Do you hope with one blow to destroy the aristocracy ?" "Rebellious priests ?" "All who oppose the Revolution ?" "We must destroy the army of emigrés gathered at Koblentz while we talk" "Only when we've crushed all hope of outside help  will the King be forced to govern according to the Constitution" "War is not a solution" "Listen to me, Brissot, and all you Girondins" "To use this tribunal to declare war is intolerable" "All offensive war is by its nature counter-revolutionary" "Have you so little confidence in the revolutionary cause ?" "It is not enough for one people to invade another people's land  to make them adopt their law and constitution" "The people of Europe wait for us !" "Nobody loves armed missionaries !" "Gentlemen, the King !" "Gentlemen, you know the results of my negotiations with the Viennese court" "The conclusions have been unanimously approved by my council" "They are in line with your wishes  and the opinions of many citizens throughout the kingdom" "All refuse to see the dignity of the people of France insulted any longer" "As was my duty, I've done my best to keep the peace" "But I come here today, in accordance with the Constitution  to propose a declaration of war" "There will be no mercy for the leaders of the Revolution if we lose the war" "Even for those who tried to save the monarchy" "Don't go back to Paris" "Gabrielle, I have to" "Come back soon" "I promise." "But if things go wrong don't wait" "Go straight to England." "You know where our money is there." "Be careful" "Belgian frontier" "April 28, 1792" "That's a first lesson" "There will be plenty of others" "General Dillon was killed by his own men after the defeat" "A general !" "What have your ministers decided ?" "Tell me !" "I can't" "I can't." "Please" "Our enemies are in France ;" "our friends outside" "I'm writing to my nephew, the Emperor Franz" "What has your Council decided ?" "You must tell me !" "A thousand !" "Two thousand !" "Ten thousand heads must fall here in France !" "It's a trifle compared to the thousands of good citizens  sacrificed on the field of battle by the traitors among us !" "The greatest of these traitors is Louis Capet, with his Austrian spy..." "With his valet, Lafayette, who still dares to give orders to the Assembly" "Do we want a military dictatorship because of the fancies of a king  who still uses his veto against the security of the nation ?" "June 20, 1792" "Checkmate" "Bring the cannon through !" "What can I do for you ?" "We want to speak to the King" " I'll see if he can receive you" " You go ask him - on your knees !" "A nice sty for a pig !" "What can I do for you ?" "The nation pays you 24 million a year to listen to us" "But I am listening to you" "You've fooled us before ;" "you won't do it again" "But watch out, because the people mean business" "We demand you withdraw your veto" "I did what the constitution required me to do" "Withdraw your veto or I'll slice you in half !" "I'm not afraid to die" "I received the Sacraments this morning" "Dying is the best service you could do your country" "Our nation has no better friend than I, sir" "Prove it !" "If you're with the nation, put on the patriot's cap" "Gladly" "Let the Mayor of Paris through !" "Sire, I'm sorry." "I found out too late" "You know who you remind me of, Monsieur Pétion ?" "Monsieur de Lafayette" "If the slightest violence is done to the King and the Royal Family" "If their freedom and security are not guaranteed  their Imperial Majesties will exact a revenge which will never be forgotten" "Paris will be given to total military execution  and the guilty rebels the torture they deserve" "Count Fersen, let's hope our warning has the intended effect" "This document is signed by the Duke of Brunswick himself" "The Commanding General of the Prussian army" "Brunswick, who marches on Paris !" "Brunswick, who dares to threaten us !" "Brunswick will have no response to his arrogance" "France will deal him the most humiliating defeat" "I propose that the Assembly declare the homeland in danger" "To arms, citizens !" "To arms, free men !" "Defend our freedom !" " What are you whistling there ?" " I can sing it, too" "Where did you learn that ?" "At Strasburg." "A carpenter was singing it" "I admit I was against this war" "I believed it could not serve the cause of Liberty" "But now it must" "I believed this country wasn't ready for victory, and until today I was right" "We no longer have a choice" "We must have victory and we will" "But we will not crush our enemies  before we destroy those within" "So now you agree with Marat ?" "Not totally." "Marat wants to replace the King with a revolutionary dictatorship" "That's not a solution" "Tyranny is the same, whether exercised by a man wearing a crown  or 700 others wearing the tricolor" "Then, what do you suggest ?" "I have faith in the Constitution." "It's not perfect, but it contains the makings of perfection" "I wish for the election of a new National Convention  based on the principles the Assembly has lost sight of" "Basically, you want to get rid of those friendly to the King :" "Those we permitted to put him back on the throne after Varennes" "Don't underestimate them" "Lafayette would be only too happy to finish what began on the Champs de Mars" "And I'd be only too happy  to have the chance to finish Lafayette" "Is Marseilles beautiful ?" "As beautiful as Paris with sea thrown in" "And sunny !" "Men of Marseilles, have you drunk well ?" "Have you eaten well ?" "Are you ready to serve Paris ?" "Because Paris is counting on you !" "August 10, 1792" " Take this" " I don't know how to use it" "Then I'll shoot for both of us" " Be careful" " Don't worry" "I'm so scared" "Everything will be settled by dawn" "It's time to set up our own Commune" "The unrest is spreading across Paris" "I propose that the guard at the Tuileries be doubled" "Other measures should follow, in particular" "Citizens, the Commune is dissolved" "I protest this intrusion" "I register your protest" " As President of the Council..." " Let me advise the Council" "Get out, quickly" "Don't make any problems" "You have five minutes" "I believe my duty is to avoid bloodshed" "Tomorrow we will resume the discussions entrusted us by the Paris electorate" "Don't count on it" "Take the Presidency, Danton" "No, we'll proceed with proper elections" "Where is Hébert ?" "You will preside for the interim" "Check the mandates of the delegates who are here" "I believe you'll need a secretary :" "Taillant, sit here" "The Insurrectionary Commune is now in session" "Citizens, be vigilant" "We can't allow the guard at the Tuileries to be reinforced" "I'll deal with the Tuileries myself" "The Republic is worth losing a few hours of sleep for." "Come on !" " Where were you ?" " I went to reassure the women" "We'll go back to the Hôtel de Ville ;" "from there we can hold all of Paris" "Your Majesty, Pierre Roederer, Attorney General of the department" "I came to verify Your Majesty's safety" "So many people are concerned about my safety !" "Last night Monsieur Mandat, Commander of the National Guard  assured me that my guard would be reinforced" "Sire, Monsieur Mandat is dead" "Murdered by order of Danton's Insurrectional Commune" "What should I do, sir ?" "My Swiss guard is not strong enough to defend the palace" "If I were in Your Majesty's place" "Yes, if you were in my place ?" "I would review the palace's National Guard." "I believe they are loyal" "It's our last chance" "I will stake my throne on this last chance" "The King !" "Down with the King !" "Don't expect us to fire on our brothers !" "Come, Sire, quickly !" "Sire, all my men are in position" "Sire, these gentlemen are members of the Directory of the Department" "The Constitution is supposed to safeguard the security of every Frenchman" "I see that it does not apply to me" "What should we do now, Monsieur Roederer ?" "The National Assembly is in permanent session" "We think that you and your family should seek refuge there  while there's still a way through" "No, sir !" "Here we are defended ;" "why should we leave ?" "Madame, all Paris is marching on the Tuileries" "The troops from Marseilles, Bretagne, everyone" "Look for yourself, Madame" "All of Paris, Madame." "How can we fight back ?" "Then let's go." "Come Madame" "Open the gates" "The King and his family are going to the National Assembly" "In the name of the Assembly, I ask you to respect their persons" "Gentlemen, I come here to avert a great crime" "I believe I can only be safe among you" "Sire, you can count on the courage of the National Assembly" "Gentlemen, the session continues" "Who will look after my Swiss guards ?" "And my house, and those we've left behind ?" "Fate, Sire" "Sire, there was nothing more we could do" "Charles" "As of this moment, there is no longer a king in France" "War rages on." "The Prussians and Austrians have inflicted heavy defeats on French troops" "August 10, 1792:" "French troops, with the citizens of Paris attack the Tuileries Palace" "The royal family flees to the National Assembly; the King is removed from power" "August 13, 1792" " The King and his family are imprisoned in the Temple by order of Paris's Insurrectional Council" "The French Revolution: "Years of Terror"" "August 13, 1792" "Come, Marie-Thérèse" "Smile, dear" "Now sir, you're going where you belong: behind bars" "I hope at least they'll put us in the same area where the Comte d'Artois" "No talking!" "Don't raise your voice!" "He raised his voice to me!" "How dare you!" "Don't touch her!" "Where are you taking her?" " I protest, sir!" " Naturally, Mr. Veto" "What you have to say is no longer of any importance" "Cléry!" "You here?" "Your Majesty..." "I begged them to let me stay" "You've already done more than your duty for me" "Never a moment's peace!" "Robespierre is in his room" "I'll take you up" "How can you work in this racket?" "It's over, Maxime." "The King has been removed from power" "There is a provisional council of six ministers" "Danton is Justice Minister" "Over?" "We may be just at the beginning, Camille" "Lafayette's Headquarters" "I've searched my conscience, and can find no comfort" "I cannot accept the legality of this government" "In Paris they call me a traitor for my opinions" "Me, Lafayette!" "If by refusing to serve these men, who have destroyed everything by striking at the Crown and the constitution, I am a traitor" "Then so be it" "Let slander triumph" "I have no place here" "As for you, follow your conscience" "I have no intention of influencing you" "Lafayette has deserted, Sire" "The Prussians have taken Longwy" "It seems nothing can stop them" "In two weeks they'll be in Paris, and you'll be free" "I'm leaving for Amiens tomorrow!" "This government will not leave Paris" "This government will not cower in fear" "This government will stand and fight and win" "No matter how, no matter the cost" "Every man must fight, with every gun, sword or pike" "And those who dare to show fear, will know an even worse terror" "If we have 30,000 traitors, they must be arrested tomorrow" "To beat our enemies we must demonstrate daring, more daring and even more daring" "To save France!" "Fabre, take these death sentences from Camille and put them on the list" "Why haven't I received reports from the Special Committee in Nevers and Tours?" "Mercy for my son!" "My husband is innocent!" "Come on, time for bed;" "leave Uncle Maxime alone" "He's very funny... the way babies are" "Especially when he wakes us up at 1:00 in the morning and 2:00 and 4:30!" "Won't you say goodnight to your son?" "I know what you're feeling, Camille but we can't wage war with a knife in our backs" "But these are our own people" "Our people don't want to go backwards" "Our people know that we must win this war at any cost" "The enemies in our midst are triumphant tonight" "The Prussians have taken Verdun" "The aristocrats, priests, traitors, plotters in our prisons all await the arrival of their foreign masters" "This will be the signal to rise up and join the forces of the King of Prussia!" "Death to the traitors!" "They've broken into all the prisons in Paris" "They're slaughtering anyone suspected of supporting the King" "This isn't a Revolution anymore!" "It's a mockery of everything we've tried to change" "Are you listening?" "Yes, I'm listening" " Then do something!" " Do what?" "Do you think I control these people?" "Do you think anyone can?" "You are the Minister!" "You want the Minister to give orders that won't be carried out?" "You want me to send in troops, who'll turn around and join in the slaughter?" "Is that your plan, to show who's in charge here?" "If you're not responsible, then who is?" "I don't know." "But the wise man know when he's powerless... and he keeps his mouth shut" "Especially if he wants people to listen to him again, and believe me, I do" "I do" "Save me!" "The horror of it!" "The horror!" "You have to do something" "Talk to me" "This can't go on" "Everything's going wrong" "This isn't what we wanted" "God bless the King" "God bless Mama" "God bless the Princess de Lamballes" "God bless Princess Elisabeth" "How do you like your friend Lamballes?" "True, what happened is an outrage, an insult to the Revolution" "And to everyone here" "But we're at war" "And today those in France who've conspired against us are shaking with terror" "Today, we have no enemies at our backs" "It's an advantage I don't want to waste" "Today our army can face the Prussians without fear of the King's friends in Paris" "Valmy, September 20, 1792" "On this memorable day, the National Assembly elected by all the people of France, meets for the first time" "I put to the vote the motion of Citizen Collot-d'Herbois proclaiming that the monarchy in France is abolished" "The motion is carried!" "I move that the new Constitution of the Republic be put to the French people as a whole for their approval" "The motion is carried" "I move" "Please, Citizen, come to the lectern" "I can say what I wish to say from here" "I ask that from today, all public documents be dated from Year One of the French Republic" "I've observed you." "I admire you" "But I'm concerned" "You're a leader; right now you're leader of the revolutionary republic" "At the same time, you have contacts with the most conservative members" "It's understandable" "As Mirabeau used to say, the hard thing is not to start a revolution but to know when it's gone far enough" "We all try to find a proper balance" "Frankly, Georges, as a friend I must warn you" "You're rich, powerful, and popular" "It's a dangerous situation" "The rich are afraid of your power and popularity and will try to bring you down" "The poor forgive your wealth but only if you use it to bring the Revolution to its just, natural conclusion" ""A just and natural conclusion"" "The death of the King" "Is that what you want?" "I don't wish to harm either the King or his family; what good would it do?" "But the war is not over" "We could reach a point where it's impossible to save both the King and the Revolution" "In that case, one must choose" "We need to know how we'll choose, if it comes to that" "Don't you agree?" "Your hat" " Is everything alright?" " He's right" "He's always right" "It's just that I'd like to break his neck" "Don't worry, I won't" "Unless I have to" "I request the floor" "Your name, Citizen?" "Saint-Just." "From the Department of the Aisne" "Take the lectern, Citizen Saint-Just" "I, like most of you, would joyfully give my life for this Republic" "I, like most of you, stand against all enemies who threaten this Republic" "I, like all of you, know the name and face of this enemy" "I, like none here, am ready to strike at this enemy" "As long as he lives, Louis Capet will be a rallying symbol for the traitors who remain hidden among us" "And for all enemies abroad who wait the moment to crush us" "In the name of all we've accomplished, we cannot weaken" "We cannot hesitate" "We do both, as long as the heir of a long line of tyrants remains alive and in our power" "Citizens, a king is not an ordinary man" "He's a rebel - a usurper of the rights of other men" "A king must reign" "Or die" "Well done, Charles." "Very nice writing - and reading!" "Send the child away" "May I know why?" "These gentlemen wish to speak to you" "Go and play; we'll continue later" "What can I do for you gentlemen?" "My name is Chambon, Mayor of Paris" "I'm here to tell you that the Convention has decided to put you on trial" "On what charge?" "You'll be properly informed in due course" "You may choose your counsel" "Before and during the trial you are forbidden all contact with your family" "Surely you're not going to prevent me from seeing my children!" "If you insist, you may see your children" "But then they will be forbidden to see their mother or aunt" "A difficult choice" "In fact, I have no choice" "So be it" "You've taken everything" "It's natural that now you take my children" "I am in your power, gentlemen" "Just tell me what you want from me" "Be seated" "The National Convention, by the authority granted it by the French people hereby charges Louis Capet with the following crimes:" "Attempted corruption of deputies, starting with Mirabeau" "Attempted flight" "Massacre of the Champs de Mars" "After your return from Varennes, French blood was shed on the Champs de Mars" "A letter proves there was a criminal conspircy between you and Lafayette" "What do you say?" "I knew nothing about the unfortunate events on the Champs de Mars" "As to this letter, I have no knowledge of it" "But it's in your handwriting" "I don't remember writing it!" "Your brothers have rallied emigrés to fight against France" "You didn't denounce them" "I denounced their actions as soon as I learned of them" "After making sure you wouldn't interfere with their plans" "You're entitled to your opinion" "It's been proved that you encouraged regiments to desert" "Never, sir" "You vetoed measures against dissident priests" "As the Constitution gave me the right" "Why did you double the Swiss Guard at the beginning of August?" "The palace was in danger;" "I was a legitimate authority" "It was my duty to take defensive measures" "On August 10, you caused French blood to be shed" "No, it wasn't me" "Did you have an armoury built at the Tuileries..." "He knows it's hopeless, but he's brave." "I admire him" "Quick, I hear the guard!" "What does he say?" "He's well..." "The trial is going slowly" "We mustn't hold out much hope" "Louis, we've heard your attorney's appeal for clemency" "Before we give our verdict have you anything to add in your defence?" "Yes, sir" "This may be the last time I address you" "My conscience is clear" "But what wounds my heart more than everything else is to be accused of having shed the blood of the people" "I have so loved the French people and thought I had given such proof of that love..." "I never could have imagined I would have to face such accusations" "That's all I have to say" "Carnot" "Following the principle that all men are equal before the law I vote for death" "Collot d'Herbois" "Death, within 24 hours" "Vergniaud" "Death." "But I move that sentence be suspended" "Lindet" "He who hesitates to strike a tyrant does not deserve the name of republican" "I vote for death" "Marat" "Death" "Saint-Just" "The Republic must not show weakness." "Death" "Brissot" "Death." "With suspended sentence" "Robespierre" "I am pitiless toward oppressors, because I pity the oppressed" "Death" "Desmoulins" "I vote for death" "Danton" "Death" "May God support me to the end" "I'm ready" "You can't see anything with the shutters closed" "Leave them closed" "Leave the whole house closed" "Something is happening today that you shouldn't see" "Citizen" "Tell me what to do, sir" "Remove your coat and cravat" "That's not necessary" "I die innocent of all the crimes of which I am accused" "I forgive those guilty of my death" "And I pray God that the blood you shed may never be required of France" "Take care of these" "Antoine!" " Georges" " Where's Gabrielle?" "Gabrielle died 3 days ago" "Be brave, Georges" "It was very sudden" "We don't know what happened" "We're here for you" "I'm sorry to bring up sad memories" "I know it's a difficult time for you" "I understand" "You wrote me a very nice letter" "It helped a lot" "I'm always better when I have time to think before speaking" "As you've noticed" "You should speak more from your heart, and think a little less" "The fact is, we're facing food riots here rebellions in the west, and the war is going badly" "We thought we'd crushed the opposition" "But it's back, like an incurable illness" "Men who accepted the Revolution, or at least recognized that change was necessary have now turned against it" "They want a respectable revolution" "A moderate government" "We have to face it, Georges" "The moderates are now our enemies" "So we face it." "The question is, how?" "Exceptional times require exceptional measures" "In a time of mortal danger, the ordinary legal processes no longer fit" "No one respects the law more than I, as you know" "But if the law can't do what it was meant to do" "Summary justice" "Is that what you want?" "What I want is a new Revolutionary Tribunal" "They already call us dictators" "This will give them reason to" "We have no choice" "At least until we have things in hand" "You know I'm right" "You're always right" "You're the only one who can persuade the members who are opposed" "We have to work together Georges" "We can do it" "See?" "You speak with your heart and you've convinced me" "No, Heaven help us!" "It'll be the Spanish Inquisition, but a thousand times worse" "The September Massacres will start again" "But this time it'll be with government sanction" "Not at all" "The September Massacres happened because the people feared the Revolution was helpless before its enemies" "And no control over the people who chose to act like wild animals" "It was a mockery of the noble ideals of our Revolution" "I agree with you" "But this will prove that the Revolution can legally judge our enemies" "Including those who wish to take the law into their own hands" "It's the only way to prevent random slaughter instead of encouraging it" "I'm counting on you" "Strike back!" "I demand 100,000 heads!" "Let 100,000 heads fall!" "Paralyze our enemies with horror!" "I'll support your tribunal, if your first act is to haul him up before he does any more damage" "Agreed" "Danton has had Marat arrested!" "Name, age, occupation, place of birth" "Marat was acquitted" "Of course" "Danton knew he would be" "No Revolutionary Tribunal will convict a revolutionary" "But now we have the Tribunal" "Get out!" "Don't try to intimidate me!" "Brissot!" "What are you doing in my office?" "If you think you can trick me and the Girondins like that" "You're wrong!" "Your friend Dumouriez has defected to the Austrians" "You protected him - you're a traitor!" "And as everyone knows - a thief!" "Get out!" "Get rid of all this, Dominique" "They won't be so easy to get rid of next time" "Look after him" "I'll be back" "Shall I continue the reading we started yesterday?" "I've forgotten it" "Alright, then I'll start over" "It's a waste of time" "I can't concentrate" "You must try, my dear" "Make an effort - for the children" "What do you want me to do?" "Talk of hope?" "Lie to them?" "Yes." "If you have to" "Leave him alone!" "The boy's education will be handled by Citizen Simon" "The Council has decided;" "we are carrying out its orders" "We'll make a good Cordelier out of you!" "Excellent, Camille!" "You haven't lost your touch" "That'll take care of things" "It's very good of you" "Slander!" "And a lie!" "It's not a lie, nor slander" "The words are Camille's, but I recognize the ideas" "Brissot and the Girondins want a federal republic on Swiss or American lines" "They only believe in compromise" "Our great French Republic must be one and indivisible" "What do you want me to do?" "Nothing" "Keep out of it, as I will" "And let the Paris Commune do its job" "You've already made us allies" "Now you're making us conspirators" "I warn you:" "I'm not like you" "And I never will be" "I know you've taken bribes" "How could I not?" "I know your enemies' accusations are true" "But do you hear me condemn you for it?" "What about you?" "You've never taken anything?" "Never?" "You could have" "Often" "How can I trust a man who doesn't want anything?" "You can trust me to tell the truth" "At least, as I see it" "And right now, the people of Paris - your people not Brissot and the moderates - are your best friends" "That's why it's best for you not to get in their way" "Or yours?" "You just said I don't want anything" "Not for yourself." "But that makes you more dangerous" "You want what's right for all of us" "I want Brissot's head" "Then I'll go along with you" "Let us in!" "Death to the traitors!" "I'm Hérault de Seychelles, President of the Convention" "By what authority do you bring your troops here?" "On the orders of the Paris Commune" "The Convention orders you to withdraw" "Not until we've arrested the 22 traitors protected by this Convention" "We want the traitors!" "These men were elected" "To your places!" "Forward!" "Silence!" "I hope our colleagues will be reassured about their liberty" "They went out to meet the people and they saw that the people mean them no harm" "Where does this mean?" "The Paris Commune has denounced 22 traitors who sit among us" "I demand their immediate arrest" "Give Couthon a cup of blood - he's thirsty!" "I see here Chaumette and Hébert, representing the Paris Commune" "The Convention should treat them with respect and attention" "I ask them to give us the names of those they've denounced" "You wouldn't dare!" "I demand this list be read at once" "And the arrest of all those named" "What are you waiting for?" "The names!" "Listen, citizens!" "The Convention is dominated by madmen and criminals" "Harsh words, but what else can you call someone like Marat?" "He'd cut off 100,000 heads as easily as say Good morning" "These men threaten to turn the country into a huge charnel house" "The great majority of honest people must rise up and take back power before it's too late" "Go see who it is" "What do you want?" "I'm Citizeness Corday." "I want to see Marat" "Impossible." "He's sick - he can't see anyone" "I've come from Caen." "I have information about a Girondin plot" " I must see him" " I told you, he's sick" "Who is it, Simonne?" "It's a woman from Caen" "She says she has news about the Girondins" "Send her in" "He's very weak." "Only 5 minutes, alright?" "You've come from Caen?" "Yes." "I have much to tell you" "I know" " Caen is a nest of traitors" "How many federalist deputies have taken refuge there?" "Eighteen" "Here are their names" "They'll soon be dead" "In this stone urn is the heart of the great Marat" "It will remain here always in his memory" "It is the heart of a great man" "A heart that filled all traitors with fear" "And it was a traitor's hand that tore him from the people's love" "But I promise you, his people, his friends that the cause he fought for will survive" "I've personally requested the Convention build granaries to protect grain from speculators and all those who'd starve the people for their own profit" "Congratulations, Maxime, I've very happy for you" " Thank you" " Congratulations, Robespierre" "You're taking it very calmly" "Frankly, I'm as happy to leave the Committee for Public Safety as it is to be rid of me" "Robespierre is better at handling boredom than I am" "What now?" "I'll go fishing" "I should have done it long ago" "Do you think you'll come back?" "Not unless I have to" "Come and see me" "Good" "October 15, 1793" "Go on!" "Who provided the coach you and your family rode in to Varennes?" "A foreigner" "What nationality?" "Swedish" "Monsieur Fersen, who lived at rue du Bac, Paris?" " Yes" " What?" "Yes" "Bring in the witness Hébert" "Name, age, occupation" "Hébert, Jacques René; 36" "Journalist and deputy attorney for the Paris Commune" "Testify before the nation without hatred or fear" "Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?" "I do" "Give your testimony" "The facts I have to state are of a delicate nature" "But they must be made public" "The Commune wished the young Capet to receive a proper republican education" "He was entrusted to an excellent Cordelier, Citizen Simon" "We have a deposition from Simon, that he caught the child engaged in indecent and harmful acts" "He asked the boy who had taught him this shameful behavior" "The child said his mother and aunt" "Continue" "Before the Mayor and Paris and Attorney to the Commune the child testified that he was made to sleep with these two women" "And in their bed they committed acts of debauchery" "Accused, how do you respond?" "I will not respond" "Because Nature itself recoils from such an accusation!" "I appeal to all the mothers here" "I appeal to you" "Antoinette, have you any reason why sentence should not be passed on you?" "The Tribunal unanimously condemns Marie Antoinette widow of Louis Capet to death" "According to the law, her possessions are forfeited to the State" "This sentence to be carried out at the Place de la Révolution" "And that it be printed and posted in all parts of the Republic" "Thank you, Rosalie." "Thank you for everything" "It's time, Citizeness" "Forgive me, sir" "Courage, Madame" "Perhaps I'm afraid of not understanding" "It's this fear that disturbs my sleep" "I appeal to the noblest instincts of the people and I'm betrayed" "Because I don't understand the people" "No one inspires greater respect than you" "But they still resist the Revolution" "By the thousands" "There's a royalist army in the Vendée" "More than an army - an entire populace" "Is it possible for a people to be traitors?" "They don't understand" "There is much they need to be taught" "And yet I've learned something" "If Virtue is to triumph it must be accompanied by Terror" "Since Virtue is flawless the flaw must be in man" "But I can't believe it" "Yet I must" "To save the Revolution" "This law is clear" "We know our enemies:" "Those among us who still hope that we lose this war" "But they will no longer laugh at us, saying that we can't prove their treason" "It's simple:" "let's force them to prove their innocence" "All those who can't bring tangible proof of their work for the Revolution will be automatically liable to arrest" "We propose to enlarge the role of the Revolutionary Tribunal" "Right now, only one session sits regularly" "We propose to add 3 more to help carry out this important patriotic work" "In sum:" "Terror is the order of the day" "And Virtue, Citizen" "Virtue, without which Terror is deadly" "Terror, without which Virtue is powerless" "Married by a dissident priest!" "You want to get me guillotined!" "Little minx!" "As far as I'm concerned, the Revolution is over" "My life is here, with you and my children" "And you'll give me more" "Leave politics to the fools who are good at it" "Camille Desmoulins:" "I'm a friend of Citizen Robespierre" "No one has been convicted without good reason" "People are in jail because they once said Hello to a dissident priest" "They said something nice about Mirabeau, or have family abroad" "You can be so naive, Camille" "Need I remind you that we're still at war?" "Our army has exterminated thousands in the Vendée" "An entire people!" "Traitors and rebels" "We're strangling Liberty in its cradle" "If we falter now all that we've built will crumble like a house of cards" "Maybe we've built nothing" "Just a dream" "It frightens me" "No one can talk to him" "He's cut himself off from everyone except his friends on the Committee" "He sees enemies everywhere" "The situation is insane and getting worse" "I'll miss all this" "Taking it for a stroll?" "It never stops" "Around the Place de la Révolution they complain about the smell of blood" "The Bastille, same thing" "People say it bring down property values" "They've moved it 4 times;" "always the same problem" "It'll end up back where it started" "I'll want your report tomorrow" "Yes, Citizen" "Danton is back" "With Desmoulins" "I hardly recognize this place" "It's become a den of faction, lies and insanity" "Outside, I see churches desecrated" "Prisons full of poor devils whose only crime is not being fanatics" "Is this the Republic we wanted to create?" "I propose as an emergency measure that the Convention create a Committee of Clemency" "To examine the lists of all these suspects being held and determine if there is just cause for keeping them in prison" ""When the Republic is fighting for its life what does Danton propose?" ""Nothing more than to give way to corruption" ""Corruption which has already made him rich"" " You can't print that!" " Why not?" "If Danton thinks he can just come back and take over, he's wrong" "We'll use every weapon against him" "Including the truth" "Little Horace has grown!" "Louise is adorable - congratulations" "I'm happy that you like her" "Did you see this?" "No" ""This refuse, this waste product of the human intestines" ""This excrement, this infected heap of lying filth-"" "Only Hébert would take an entire page to cover me with shit" "But we'll give him an answer" "To work, Camille" "Don't underestimate him" "Even Robespierre is careful with Hébert" "Yes..." "Neither Hébert nor Danton will stop until one of them is eliminated" "Which one should we support?" "I accuse Danton of being a thief" "A thief and a profiteer!" "And of having betrayed the Revolution!" "Where's your proof?" "Why prove what we all know?" "I propose a 12-man committee to examine the accusations against me" "Trust a thief to hide behind the law!" "Traitor!" "May I have the floor?" "We're listening, Citizen" "A committee to examine the career and integrity of Citizen Danton" "It's an interesting idea" "I'm personally in favor it it" "It's said that England and Austria are not the true enemies of the Republic" "It's said that our worst enemy is Danton" "It's said that Danton wishes to destroy the Republic and re-establish the monarchy with himself as the ruler" "A terrible crime, if true" "And Danton stands accused" "But if you accuse Danton, Citizens..." "Danton, who has served this Republic better than any of us then you must accuse me too" "And I say that these accusations are as false and fraudulent as the liars and hypocrites who make them!" "And I, Robespierre, denounce and condemn them" "It's good to see you again" "We've missed you" "Not everyone, it seems" "Thanks for what you said" "We're all endangered by lunatics like Hébert" "We won't stand by while the inmates take over the asylum" "We should meet - we have to talk" "I hear you've remarried." "I'm very happy for you" "I'll introduce you to her" "I hope so." "Give my love to Lucie and little Horace" "Thank you, Maxime" "He's finally come to his senses" "I was afraid it was too late, but if you can work together" "Everything will be fine" "People of Paris!" "You are starving and you are being lied to" "They call me a fanatic because I call for death for profiteers and enemies of the Revolution" "But how can one be moderate in pursuit of Liberty?" "People of Paris!" "We have one weapon which Robespierre and Danton's friends can't rob us of" "Insurrection!" "Why did you side with Danton against Hébert at the Jacobin Club?" "Why did you defend Danton against Hébert?" "One's as bad as the other" "Couthon's right" "We have to arrest them both" "If we do that, we risk uniting them" "Then the Committee will lose its majority in the Convention" "We need Danton as an ally to deal with Hébert" "Afterwards" "Let's vote on the arrest of Hébert." "All in favor?" " What is it?" " René Hébert?" "You're under arrest" "Whose order?" "Citizen Fouquier-Tinville, Public Prosecutor" "On what charge?" "Conspiracy to restore the monarchy" "The monarchy?" "What's wrong?" "Hébert's arrest" "Hébert represented a threat" "Maxime only did what I've been begging him to do for months" "But calling him a monarchist?" "If the truth can be twisted as easily as that then no one is safe" "Neither you nor Georges" "We must judge Maxime by his deeds, not his words" "He needs Georges as an ally, not an enemy" "I have work to do" "Don't worry" "Everything will be fine" "Desmoulins is running wild" "His calls for clemency are an attack on the Committee itself" "We can't let it pass" "It's Danton's voice" "Camille is too easily led" "Those who oppose Terror have no desire for Virtue" "It's a crime against the Republic" "Camille must be saved" "He must be made to see that he's wrong" "A word of warning, Citizen" "If you didn't have powerful friends, you'd be dead by now" "My God!" "What happened?" "Why did they do it?" "I don't understand" "He's my oldest friend" "He was kind enough to warn me" "I told you not to trust Maxime" "It's so cowardly" "You're right, Lucie" "None of us should take Robespierre for granted" "You must be very careful, Camille" ""True love for the country cannot exist where there is neither love..." ""... nor pity for one's fellow countrymen" ""Only a soul dried up and withered by self-adulation"" "How could he?" "Someone I've tried so hard to protect" "It's a challenge to you." "Everyone knows it" "It's not a question of my own pride" "It's not just an attack on you, but also the Committee" "Against everything we've worked for" "I know" "I understand" "Just upstairs" "My friends, we have an unexpected guest" "Good evening" "A pleasure, as always" "May I give you a lift, Citizen?" "I prefer to walk" "Excellent idea" "You're right, as always" "You'll be glad to know Camille is recovering" " Recovering?" " Yes, from the beating" "Beating?" "A warning against opposing your policies too vigorously" " You accuse me of" " Of warning him" "As a friend" " I know nothing about it" " My mistake" "I think we should say goodnight" "What happened between us?" "We wanted the same things" "We never wanted the same things" "Liberty, justice, equality?" "Words!" "You've never understood that unless we're guided by the virtue of the people" "The virtue of the people?" "Bloodless abstractions!" "You think that everyone is as corrupt as yourself" "Your idea of virtue is absolute obedience to Maximilien Robespierre" "This is pointless" "Goodnight" "Let me tell you what you're doing to this country with your bloody virtue" "It's what I do to my wife at night, only she loves it" "And doesn't have to be held down screaming with threats of the guillotine" "Your reputation as a coarse, vulgar brute is well deserved" "What about yours?" "You have no balls, Robespierre." "You're a eunuch" "Out of my way" "Well, how did it go?" "I could have been more diplomatic" "It's intolerable that the Committee fears this man!" "Danton has a lot of supporters" "You know it, Citizen" "Danton thinks he's too strong to be attacked" "If we're clumsy, he'll be right" "Surprise is our best - maybe our only - weapon" "I think we all agree that Danton's arrest involves Camille Desmoulins' as well" "It's inevitable" "We agree on this point?" "I accept the will of the Committee" "You're giving them your head on a silver platter!" "You can't!" "My head is more solidly attached than you suppose" " For your wife's sake" " No, don't" "All I care about is that Danton stays alive" "And able to keep fighting" "There have been too many battles already" "And useless deaths" "I don't want to add any more" "What are you going to do?" "If they arrest me, they have to try me" "If there's a trial, I promise you this:" "They'll be the losers and I'll prove it" "From the defendant's bench" "After that, I'll go back to the country and I'll go fishing" "Who'd choose to waste his life in politics when he could spend it fishing all day?" "What fools we can be!" "Take your hands off her!" "First group goes with me." "The others, station yourselves around the house" "Wait outside" "I'll be back soon" "I'm the happiest man in France" "What are you waiting for?" "Come on!" "Step aside" "Please, Maxime, listen to me!" "How could you do this to Camille?" "Your oldest friend?" "How can you forget what you've meant to each other?" "Please, Maxime!" "You're godfather to our child!" "Listen to me!" "Silence, or I'll clear the courtroom!" "You might have a little trouble with that" "I remind the accused of the respect due this court!" "And I remind the Citizen President of the respect due to Justice!" "None of the accused was properly informed of the charges against him" "From this bench I will confront my accusers, before the people" "And when I've finished I'll be happy to plead for clemency before you pass sentence on them" "But for now I demand to be heard" "You are accused of taking money from fanatical conspirators against Liberty" "I have never been bought" "I have no price" "No one can afford Danton" "I challenge my accusers to produce their proof that I was bought so I can throw it in their teeth" "Going badly" "The jury was hand-picked" "But if they're afraid they'll be torn apart by the mob, they'll acquit" "Of course I was in league with Mirabeau" "In order to prevent his blunders" "I knew what I was doing" "I've never let avarice or ambition dominate me" "True, I knew them both" "We've been intimate" "Both, on occasion, have been my mistress" "But never my master!" "Go by the back way" "Get this to Herman, but be discreet" "What could be the motive for these attacks and lies?" "The accused will confine himself to his own defense" "You're accused of having protected and favored the monarchy" "It's a lie!" "The monarchy?" "Say that again, to my face!" "Danton, a monarchist?" "The hearing is adjourned" "We must retire to examine fresh evidence" "What evidence?" "There is no evidence!" "Return the prisoners to their cells" "You can't silence us!" "Death to the tyrant!" "Death to the tyrant!" "Death to the tyrant!" "Down with Robespierre!" "We never should have risked a public trial" "We had no choice" "He mustn't win" "At any cost" "He won't" "I have here a deposition regarding a conspiracy between Desmoulins'wife and some aristocrats to free her husband and Danton" "It's all we need to act" "Any comments?" "I'll be brief" "This is such a blatant forgery, no one could believe it" "Let me remind you that if Danton is acquitted he'll make a clean sweep of the Committee" "And replace it with another one full of his partisans" "If it's according to the law" "Our duty is to follow the law and accept it" "Citizen Robespierre, you have always been the most devoted to the Constitution" "What do you think?" "If Danton wins, this Republic that has survived the attacks of all the monarchies of Europe will be destroyed from within, by corruption" "We have no other choice" "Accept the testimony Saint-Just has brought us" "The testimony!" "I move the Committee announce the existence of a conspiracy to free Danton and his accomplices" "And this testimony standing as proof of guilt the prisoners are barred from publicly defending themselves" "All in favor of Saint-Just's motion?" "The motion is passed" "Be good" "Why?" "She's done nothing wrong!" "They're going to murder my wife!" "She's innocent, but they're going to murder her!" "This is a parody of justice" "When a government sinks to this level it shows its moral bankruptcy to the whole world!" "He's right!" "Has the jury heard enough evidence?" "Yes, Citizen President" "A lie!" "You've heard nothing" "This is Robespierre's doing - remember!" "A scaffold is waiting for Robespierre" "Take them away!" "The law requires the jury to deliver its verdict before the accused" "In view of the accused's behavior I move this be settled in their absence" "The Assistant Prosecutor's motion is accepted!" "There would have been no Revolution without me" "There would have been no Republic without me" "You're not leading me to my death;" "I will live forever" "The world will look at us and ask what sort of men we were" "Let them not say that we were no better than those we overthrew" "We are all going to die" "I know this court:" "I created it" "And I ask forgiveness of God and man" "It was not intended to be the scourge of mankind but a last defense against madness, brutality and fear" "Instead, it's become the murderer of conscience" "And let it be known to those who come to judge us that this is not what I wanted" "If I speak today, it's to defend what we've created for all that we've achieved" "And not to save my life" "We have broken the tyranny of privilege" "We have cut the root of corruption by abolishing those powers no man has the right to wield" "We ended the monopoly of birth and wealth in all the great offices of the State" "In our churches, our armies all this vast complex of arteries and veins that feed this magnificent body which is France" "We've declared the humblest man is equal to the greatest" "And we've offered to slaves the liberty we won for ourselves" "We entrust to the world the task of building the future on the hope we kindled" "This is more than a victory in battle" "More than the swords, cannons and cavalry of Europe" "And this inspiration..." "this vision for all men everywhere this longing, this thirst can never be stifled" "We will not have lived in vain" "Goodbye, brother" "Sanson, take this lock of hair" "It's my wife's." "Send it to her mother" "Show my head to the people" "It's worth seeing" "Now!" "I was only a little boy when I met Jean-Jacques Rousseau" "And we talked about God, fate man's need to reach for something higher than himself" "God knows, I've been a bad Catholic" "But I've never wavered in my conviction that there is some great Power watching over us" "Protecting the innocent" "Blessing the virtuous" "Condeming the wicked" "Men cannot live without such a belief" "And should not even try" "June 8, 1794" "People of France, beloved Republic" "By this Tree of Liberty, I declare that never has the world offered its Creator a spectacle more worthy of Him than the sight of Paris today on this day of homage to His greatness" "Here, beneath His gaze..." " What's going on?" " Oh, he's still talking" "Wake me when he's done ...and your souls are but a breath of wind passing into nothingness after death" " He thinks he's the Pope!" " Or God" "The true priest of the Supreme Being is Nature" "His temple is the universe" "His religion is Virtue" "And yours is Murder!" "The Revolution has been a transition" "The Revolution has been a transition" "...a transition from the Reign of Crime to the Reign of Justice" "To express the devotion of the French people to the Supreme Being we reject the false god of atheism" "And we welcome the sublime goddess of Reason" "Kiss her for me!" "Only the Supreme Being has the power to bring fear and remorse into the hearts of oppressors and tyrants!" "You should know, Robespierre!" "Weaklings!" "You don't understand a thing" "The Law of Prairial was introduced to punish a few traitors in the Convention" "You've executed more people in the last 2 months than in the last 2 years!" " I've executed?" " Yes, you!" "Your justice!" "Your law!" "Your lack of justice!" "Do you want to see more trials like Danton's?" "There are no more trials!" "Just executions!" "That's a lie!" "You've placed your own handpicked men in all the key posts!" "Another lie!" "We've won a great victory at Fleurus" "My enemies no doubt will use it against me" "Like everything else" "Everything will be fine" "There's no one I can trust except for you" "My friends" "My dear friends" "Only you" "You are my true family" "It's time we took responsibility into our own hands" "There is no more excuse for Robespierre's rotten tribunals or his dictatorial airs" "May I suggest we wait until Citizen Robespierre is with us before criti" "We've carried out Citizien Robespierre's commands for far too long" "Robespierre is a member of this Committee, nothing more" "Like you." "And you!" "Robespierre is not the Republic" "Are you turning into a moderate, Lindet?" "Compared to you, a mad dog would be a moderate" "Compared to you and Robespierre, the executioner is an angel of mercy" "You'll regret those words" "The only thing I regret is not saying it sooner" "This is an insult!" "Robespierre is the best among us" "Except he's never among us anymore" "Go see him" "Tell the dictator this Committee is no longer his lapdog" " It's Robespierre!" " He looks ill!" "I'll go warn the Committee" "Citizen President, may I have the floor?" "Robespierre has just arrived" "I, who was born a slave to Liberty, am called a tyrant" "I, who have lived a martyr to the Republic, am called a dictator" "Why?" "Who spreads these lies?" "Who deliberately says them to deceive you?" "They say "The war is won, and all is well"" "This is a lie" "He's just started" " The law and Revolutionary Tribunal..." " We have to do it today; now or never ...are instruments of tyranny" "They're all that stand between Virtue and its murderers" "Citizens, I was born to fight against crime, not preside over it" "Hurry, hurry!" "We can divide citizens into two parts:" "Those in whose heart burns the sacred fire of Justice, Liberty and Peace without which revolution is nothing more than the destruction of a lesser crime by a greater" "And those whose hearts are empty governed by bestial forces of greed and fear ambition and corruption" "There are those on the Committee who counsel despair" "And I tell you openly, there are those here in the Convention who support it" "I've come here to expose a vast conspiracy" "One moment, Citizen" "The Committee must be purged and its authority given to the Convention" "Citizen!" "I demand that you name those you refer to" "This is not the time" "This is a slander against the Committee, and the members of this Convention" "Robespierre must name those he accuses" "The names!" "We want the names!" "I stand by my proposal" "You're a coward!" "Let my attackers prepare hemlock for me now" "I will drink it in this sacred place" "Why go on living when truth and lies are indivisible?" "Everyone here would prefer to die rather than go on living beneath a Tyrant's lash" "Death to the tyrant!" "I demand the floor!" "You've no right to speak, Robespierre!" "I demand the floor!" "It is to those with virtue I appeal!" "Not the false!" "The corrupt!" "False!" "Outcast from society!" "Quick!" "Danton's blood is choking you!" "Get back!" "These are the seats of good men you've murdered!" "I move a decree of accusation against Robespierre" "Couthon" "And Saint-Just!" "I put to the motion to the vote" "All those in favor, raise your hand" "Passed!" "We must hold the Hôtel de Ville no matter what" "It must be a fortress" "And above all, we must appeal to the Army" "Don't worry, we'll protect you" "They've taken refuge in the Hôtel de Ville" "The Paris Commune is in revolt against us" "They must be executed without trial!" "Show some guts there!" "Where are you going?" "Long live the Republic!" "Barras is in command and will take the Hôtel de Ville" "By force if necessary" " Good luck, commander" " Thank you" "My God." "Our soldiers must fight men wearing the same uniform" "Make a note: we must close the gates to the city shut down all newspapers, arrest all journalists and issue arrest warrants for the leaders of the Convention" "Bring anything you can find!" "Barricade the doors!" "A direct appeal to the Army:" "it's our only chance" "Here they come !" "At least we achieved something" "We have broken the tyranny of privilege" "Cut the root of corruption by abolishing the power no man has a right to wield" "We've ended the monopoly of birth and wealth  in all the great offices of the State" "In our churches, our armies  in every part of this magnificent body which is France" "We've declared the humblest man is equal to the greatest" "And we've offered to slaves the liberty we won for ourselves" "We entrust to the world the task of building the future  on the hope we kindled" "This is more than a victory in battle" "More than the swords, cannons and cavalry of Europe" "And this inspiration..." "this vision for all men everywhere  this longing, this thirst for Liberty  no one will ever be able to extinguish" "Our lives will not have been pointless" "We will not have lived in vain"