"LOUIS XI SHATTERED POWER" "Halt!" "Who goes there?" " I come as a friend." " What do you want?" " I have a message for the King." " He expects no-one." "I must talk to your captain." " No one can enter the castle." " Wait!" "What I have to say cannot wait." "Let me in." "Who are you?" "I have a message for his Majesty." "His life depends on it." " What is your name?" " I will tell the King." "Let me speak to him, I beseech you." "Monfortier, accompany him to the lower hall." "And you, look after his horse." "This man says" " he has a message for the King." " You may leave, Monfortier." "Follow me." "You see all these people?" "They all have a message for the King." "Some have even come from abroad, from Savoie and Flanders." "They all have their secrets." "What I have to say to the King is not a secret." "Perhaps." "Have a seat." "Someone will come for you." "A modest hat for a crown worth its weight in gold." "Have my cousin Louis d'Orléans and my daughter Jeanne arrived?" "Not yet, sire." "People from their household were here last night." "I sent them away." "I do not want strangers in the castle." "Who is behind the door?" "At this hour, it is McDougal and Ferguson, Sire." "Good Scots." "Admit it, you hate to see them in charge of my security." "But they are the only ones I trust." "A good guard must not feel at home." "Otherwise, he will talk to everyone and ally with anyone." "What do you think of their Captain?" "Captain Guillaume?" "He is a wise man, sire." "You give nothing away!" "Go and fetch him immediately." "They would all have me dead and buried." "But I am still strong." "The King bids you welcome." "Please thank his Majesty." "Where are my grooms and valets?" "I sent them away." "I had to, for the King's security." "His Majesty can offer you these men from his household." "They are at your service." "Now we know how the King occupies his time." "He's being suspicious." "Captain Guillaume, the King wishes to see you." "I need more time to make a king of my son." "If he had to succeed me tomorrow, he would be going into the lion's den." "What do you say, Guillaume?" "I am at your service, sire." "Leave us, Gilles." "I want you to double the guard throughout the castle." "At the drawbridge first." "The council meets today." "I cannot rest when my ministers are within my walls." "Next, gather a company of men and ride to the monks at Cléry with two statues, that our chaplain will give to you." "A company for two statues, sire?" "Yes, I want my soldiers to be recognised everywhere." "They will pass through every hamlet, stopping in every village to announce that the King is cured and well again." "Sire." "And that he still reigns." "I have conquered this illness, just as I once conquered the enemy whom everyone feared, my brother-in-law, Charles from Burgundy," "the reckless fool." "Get them to announce it everywhere." "I am not afraid of anything or anyone." "Has my son-in-law and cousin, Louis d'Orléans, finally arrived?" "Just this minute, sire." " Are you having him watched?" " Yes, sire." "Did he complain for you sent away his men?" "He took it in good spirit." "In that case, keep a closer eye on him than usual." " I have seen to it, sire." " Is my daughter, Jeanne, with him?" " Yes, sire." " What is she doing?" " She is praying." " My youngest is a born martyr." "Sire, a horseman arrived this morning at dawn." "He claims to have a message for you." " Do you know him?" " I have never seen him." "He did not give his name but he claims your life is at stake." "My life?" "By all means, bring this man to me." "My sister, Jeanne, and her husband have arrived." " So I hear." " Pass me some of that blusher." " I need to look good today." " Your Highness is so beautiful." "Father!" "I did not hear you." "You are taking great care over your make-up, this morning." "Do you reproach me for it?" "Anne, you know I have no time for futility." "Nor do I, sire." "But by painting my face every day" "I am obeying my father and all that he has taught me." "Did I teach you to use powders and creams?" "You taught me that the first rule of power lies in making an appearance." "That is true." "I have come to seek your opinion." "I wonder what prompts Jeanne's husband, our cousin, Louis d'Orléans, to come and see us on the day of the council meeting." "You are only asking because you know the answer." "Anne?" "Anne?" "Sire, you are here." "Good timing, Pierre." "I was asking your wife what she thinks of Louis d'Orléans's visit." "Pierre has his own opinion." "Of course." " Always so wise." "Well?" " It is quite simple, sire." "There is a vicious rumour that you are not long for this world." "Louis d'Orléans has come to see if there is any truth in it." "He is thinking of the future." "Who can blame him?" "The heir apparent is only 13 and my cousin has rights and entitlements." "Since he is the closest relative to the King, it would be customary for the regency to go to him." " He has no political intelligence." " I do not share your opinion." "Louis d'Orléans is not as inoffensive as he appears." "What do you mean by that?" "Your cousin is only superficial because he was kept away from government." "If he were to embark on a political career tomorrow, he might alter his behaviour and tone." "In short, he could become threatening." "More than threatening, sire." "Dangerous." "I think so, too." "It would be madness to entrust the kingdom of France to an ambitious twit who will gamble it away in battle." "I feel sorry for Jeanne." "He is always ridiculing her." "It is obviously not ideal for a womaniser like him to have married my sister." "But why does he take it out on her?" "He takes it out on anyone he can and Jeanne encourages bad treatment." "That is uncharitable of you, Father." " Jeanne is goodness itself." " Goodness on its knees." "Jeanne is a born victim." "You imposed the marriage on her." "You cannot blame me for marrying Jeanne to Louis d'Orléans." "It was an act of government in which feelings played no role." "I know you understand that, Anne." "What amuses me is that Guillaume has only put one bed in their room." "Leave us alone." "You, too." "Go away." "Well, wife?" "On your knees again?" "Jeanne of France." "So pious." "So gentle." "So charitable." "Enough praying!" "Anyone would think your virtue was at stake." "Instead, rejoice in this opportunity for us to share the bed." "I shall submit to whatever you subject me to, Louis." "But I have no intention of being drawn into your plans." "What are you talking about?" "You are relying on me to cajole my father." "That would be the least you could do, do you not think?" "You should be grateful to me for marrying you, given the way you are made." "I would rather have died." "Who stopped you from taking a vow of chastity instead?" "I had no right." "No right?" "To disobey the King." "Poor Jeanne." "Open your eyes." "The King does not love you." "You are just a pawn on his chessboard." "You are crippled, deformed." "Your body lacks what it takes to be a woman." "What a blessing for the King." "No heir to the Duchy of Orléans." "The King will soon gets his claws into it and make it part of the Kingdom of France." "It is sinful to say my father does such calculation." "He has done far worse." "You are hurting me, Louis." "Your father sent our valets away." "We are being watched." "Do you want me to make love to you?" "So as to give these wretches their fill?" "Answer me, Jeanne the cripple." "Answer me!" "Don't hate my father, Louis." "I beg of you." "It is up to you." "You could help me if you wanted to." "If the King dies today, or tomorrow," "the power will fall into my hands." "Your brother, Charles, is still a minor." "The regency will be mine." "May God protect you, Louis." "My God keep you from being found out." "My father will have you killed." "Sir is very agitated." "He is not used to this." "Our company smacks of cunning." "To loosen your tongue, sir." "It will take more than that to loosen my tongue." "You have an attitude, all right." "But the King will not trust you." "He only trusts commoners like me." "That's enough!" " What is your name?" " Mind your own business." "That's just it." "My job is to mind other people's business." " Your job is no better than you." " Wait a minute, there." "This blade slit cleverer throats than yours." "Leave the man alone, Sauveterre." "Follow me." "Thank you, Berthier." "This way." "His Majesty is expecting you." "Sit down, Bailly." "It hurts my knees to see you standing." "Well, what are you waiting for?" "Speak." "What I have to say is for your ears only, sire." "Did you hear that, Guillaume?" "Leave us alone." "You too, Bailly." "Do as I say." "I am listening." "Who are you?" "Clément de Saudre, nephew of Pierre de Rohan, Maréchal de Gié." "Pierre de Rohan has never mentioned you." "You are to meet with him this afternoon, sire." "You are well-informed." "What else do you have to say?" "Sire, this afternoon..." "You look unsettled." "Spit it out!" "It is hard, sire." "You are to receive my uncle, Pierre de Rohan, and your advisers." "But your son-in-law, Pierre de Beaujeu, will be absent." "The others will stop him at any cost." "The others?" "Do you mean Rohan, Philippe d'Anjou and Richard de Berulle?" "All your advisers, sire." "These men have sworn..." "Sworn what?" "To reduce you to silence." "How so?" "I did not manage to find that out, your Majesty." "Your booty is meagre, Clément de Saudre." "All I know is that your death must appear natural." "Natural?" "Of course." "Who is the ringleader?" "Pierre de Rohan?" "No, sire." "My uncle could never take such an initiative." "That is true." "Who, then?" "Louis d'Orléans." "He will not reveal himself." "Louis d'Orléans." "I have prepared for this." "What about my son-in-law, Pierre de Beaujeu?" "He is not part of the plot." "The others mistrust him because he has remained loyal to you." " Is his life at risk, too?" " Yes, sire." "Tell me how you know all this." "My uncle looks down on me." "He acts as if I did not exist." " He talks openly to his friends." " What friends?" "Richard de Berrule and François de Bretagne." "What do you hope to gain by warning me?" "Just the honour of saving the life of my King." "If you speak the truth, you will have the right to my gratitude and you will be rewarded." "Meanwhile, you only get my protection." "My servants will take care of you." "Now, go." "Well, what do you think?" "We have no time to doubt whether he spoke the truth." "You are right." "Make arrangements for the council chamber." "Will you not postpone the meeting?" "I shall not hide away." "That would be a mistake." "But you must be prudent." "This is no time to be prudent." "I must be... unexpected." "More so today than ever." "I want to see Anne and Pierre together." "Bring them to me immediately." " Sauveterre wants to see you." " I will see him later." "Meanwhile, have him check out this Clément de Saudre." "Gautier, let me know when the King's ministers are in sight." "Right, Captain." "Madam, the King wishes to see you." "Lord de Beaujeu, too." "He has already been informed." "Stop following me." "I do not need a cortège." "We are at your service." "His Majesty has ordered us to respond to your wishes." "My wish is go unaccompanied." " Do you understand?" " Yes, your Highness." "Cousin." "I was not expecting to see you." "It is a pleasant surprise." "It is hardly surprising since you are our guest." "A guest who is never alone and whose every movement is watched." "And yet, I am delighted to see you again." "The last time was three years ago for Shrove Tuesday, was it not?" "That is possible." "I have no memory for dates." "You are hard on our past." "Are we at war?" "Let us just say we are not on the same path." "Is that a reason to hate me?" "I feel no hatred towards you, Cousin." "Dare I ask what you do feel?" " Nothing." "It is best forgotten." " I do not want to forget." "I could not, even if I wanted to." "You seem to have time on your hands." "That is not the case for me." "I know." "You are married to the state." "At least, that is your reputation." "Let us just say I put the concerns of the kingdom above my own." "The girl I used to be, the one you once knew, no longer amuses me." "Allow me to doubt that, dear Cousin." "Let me go." "Let me go!" "Our paths must not meet again." "The news you brought to the King," "I know what it is." "I know that you are Pierre de Rohan's nephew and that your name is Clément de Saudre." "Do not worry." "Your secret is safe with me." "If your claims are proved right, your fortune will be made." "Will the ministers be arrested?" "No, not immediately." "To confuse his traitors, the King is going to the council meeting." "It is too dangerous." "It is too dangerous." "The King must not risk his life." "You are very agitated, my friend." "This is a terrible accusation and Clément de Saudre gave no proof." "They have been advising you for ten years." "Their cause is united with yours." "They cannot betray you." "All men are prepared to change camp if it is in their interest to do so." "You said so yourself earlier." "Louis d'Orléans has been biding his time." "Perhaps this is it." "Should we believe a messenger who is acting out of spite?" "These revelations seem believable to me." "You are normally so circumspect." "How can you believe the words of Pierre de Rohan's nephew?" "They lack substance." "Why not seize and interrogate Pierre de Rohan on his arrival?" "No, I want to catch the conspirators in the act." "Father, you are not going to the council meeting?" "Yes, at the designated hour." "You have no right to risk your life..." "It is up to me to assess the risk." "I do not take kindly to any woman telling the King he has no right." "Nor do I take kindly to being mollycoddled and chaperoned and treated like an irresponsible old man." "I have not yet lapsed into a second childhood and I am quite capable of thwarting any plot." "I see everything..." "Father!" " Father..." " Get off me." "The matter is closed." "Please forgive me, sire." "You know what devotion your duties inspire in me." "Do you know why I prefer the Touraine to Paris?" "Nothing is febrile here." "Everything is measured." "Measured." "Since you have made up your mind to go to the council meeting," "I wish to stand by you to assure your protection." "You will be confined to your room under guard." "Do not forget that you are in danger, too." "I will say that you are ill." " But..." " What?" "An assassination attempt is no cause for me to retreat." "I will do as you see fit, sire." "Louis d'Orléans is like a beast, attracted to and excited by the smell of blood." "He's waiting to dance on my grave, manipulating my ministers and promising benefits to his followers." "It is stupidity, vanity." "He will not succeed because he goes about things in the wrong way." "His claims are sounder than they appear." " Orléans has time on his side." " On the contrary." "This plot proves that he is impatient." "Leading the state demands far more finesse than that." "I have subdued more skilful men who thought they'd get away with it because they were all-powerful in their own land." "And I have brought to the crown Burgundy, Artois, Roussillon, Anjou and others, through my patience, cunning and strength." "What did our dear cousin Louis say to you when your paths crossed?" "I thought you might be informed of our encounter." "Louis d'Orléans is as frivolous as ever." "Well, your frivolity irks me." "He is there, in the middle of my territories, his duchy dividing the Loire valley." "Our royal estates must form a whole and the Duchy of Orléans will be part of the Kingdom of France," "whether Louis likes it or not." "Pierre de Rohan and the others will be waiting for you." "Tell them to go ahead as planned." "And this evening, God willing, the King," " that spider, will be dead." " Who goes there?" "Your Highness?" "Go." "Tell the guards our King has sent you to Angers." "Lower the grid and search the castle, the cellars and kitchens." "No one is to leave the castle, even on the King's orders." "There is a horse missing." "Who rode out this morning?" "Louis d'Antran bound for Cléry abbey on your orders and Arnaud de Berluvier bound for Angers on the King's orders." "Berluvier?" "The King has not sent any messengers this morning." "Send Beauvere after him with 30 riders." "Have him brought him back here without anyone seeing." "I want him alive." "Alive!" "Checkmate." "Your King is dead, Archbishop." "Your Majesty is formidable." "And not only at chess." "I would gladly have let you win." "But you see, today is a day when I cannot afford to lose." "I must confess, sire, every time you pay me a visit" "I see myself returning to the good town of Bellême." "Is this stay in my castle so unbearable for you?" "Have you been mistreated?" "Why do you insist on seeing me as your enemy." "Enemy is going a bit far." "I am punishing you for your carelessness, that is all." "All this because of one unfortunate sermon?" "It was not to my taste, that is true." "You were preaching about the King's death." "You must understand that not punishing a minor error only encourages those thinking of committing a greater one." "I must cut our conversation short, Archbishop." "But know this." "I held for eleven years in this dungeon" "Cardinal de la Balue, who also betrayed me." "I am treating you as his equal." "So you see, I have a great deal of respect for you." "And yet, for a great King," "is forgiveness not the most important thing?" "Forgiveness is a weakness, Archbishop." "Or, if you prefer, it is not the principle of government." "What is the principle of government, then?" "I beat you at chess because I saw further and faster than you." "You made an honest calculation." "That is true." "But in politics, honest calculations cost those who make them their lives." "I will gladly resume this discussion, Archbishop." "If God grants me the time." "Have mercy, your Majesty." "Have mercy." "I put my trust in the Lord." "Have mercy." "You were serving another master whilst in the service of the King." "I repent." "I repent." "So you will no longer serve his Highness, Louis d'Orléans?" "I beg forgiveness." "The King is prepared to grant you the forgiveness you beg for." "But first, you must tell us everything." "Everything." "Do you hear?" "Have mercy." "Have mercy!" "I am listening." "How do they plan to kill the King?" "You probably have not heard me." "How do they plan to kill the King?" "Richard de Berrule." "What is Richard de Berrule going to do?" "He is going to help the King back to his chair by holding onto his arm." "And then?" "Then, they will all pounce on him and suffocate him with a cushion." "A cushion?" "That's interesting." "So a natural death, then." "It will all take place as planned." "That is what your friends told you when you saw them in the forest." "Yes." "Have mercy." "Good, good." "Are you suffering?" "I will leave this machine alone now and take care of you." "Because the King forgives you." "You poor child." "Will your master worry if he never sees you again?" "He has already forgotten you." "Poor child." "Nice work, your Highness." "You keep your guard up." "Captain Guillaume." "I needed to stretch my legs a bit." "A man of my temperament can suffocate in a fortress, royal or otherwise." " How is the King?" " You can see for yourself." "I have been ordered to take you to him." "Your Highness." "It is a fine kingdom, is it not?" "Forgive me, sire." "You startled me." "I hope to surprise you further, Cousin." "You seem to be in good health." "Nothing pleases me more." "Let us sit down." "I am pleased to see you, too." "I regret that I do not see more of you." "We are so close." "I was saying so to my daughter earlier." "When I say my daughter, I do not mean your wife." "Anne holds you in high esteem." "I expect you know that." "I am delighted we are such good friends." "It is such a shame you did not marry her." "If this had only been my decision..." "Personal happiness is not a prince's concern." "Noble words, Cousin." "Worthy of a king, or a regent." "I admit that I have sometimes underestimated you, Louis." "But your audacity and tenacity are worthy of recognition." "My life, as you know, is hanging on by a thread." "At the council meeting later, I will announce my decision." "I am going to appoint you as Regent to my son," "Charles, the future King of France." "That is the custom, after all." "Of course you do not trust me, just like I did not trust you." "But I have revised my prejudices about you and everyone knows you are the only man capable of standing up to the barons who threaten the unity of the kingdom." "I take pride in your confidence in me." "And yet it is disconcerting." "Do you doubt the King's word?" "Could I be mistaken about your ambitions?" "My ambitions are to serve you and to serve France." "I was not expecting you to make such a quick decision." "You should be prepared for anything, dear Cousin." "Being in power will teach you that." "I shall see you after the meeting." "I hope that by then my fears will have been proved wrong." " Your fears, sire?" " Yes." "What if my ministers disapprove of my decision to appoint you as Regent." "Why would they disapprove?" "Our confidence is so often tested." "But my worries are unfounded." "We are surrounded by loyal friends." "Are we not?" "Guillaume?" "Show our guest out." "May God keep you in good health, your Majesty." "Father!" "We must stop meeting like this." "Think of your health." "I am well again." "I want to discuss something with you, as has been our wont for a while now." "But why always in such places?" "I have taught you everything away from prying eyes and pricked-up ears." "Exercising power and hanging on to it demands that everyone only knows a small part of the whole." "The whole truth must never be revealed to everyone." "Never." "And... we cannot discuss Louis d'Orléans in front of your husband." "Let me say this again, Father." "Louis means nothing to me." "That is reason speaking." "What about your heart, Anne?" "Your heart." "You cannot just brush your feelings aside." "You will not succeed in injuring me." "The man I will love until I die is called Pierre de Beaujeu." "I am not asking you to jeopardise that, only to help me get the Duchy of Orléans to belong to the crown." "You have the wherewithal." "You may have become indifferent to Louis but his weakness for you will always be useful." "But let us leave that." "I now know... that the plot revealed by Clément de Saudre is real" "and that Louis d'Orléans is behind it." "Today, at the council meeting," "Richard de Berrule will give the signal to the others to suffocate me with the help of a cushion." "Then you must imprison your advisers immediately." " That is not the right approach." " Then what is?" "To enter into their game." "I have the advantage over my adversaries in that I know what cards they hold whereas they are oblivious to my hand." "Do you see this spider's web?" "Big, isn't it?" "But it is going to make it bigger still." "Look." "The stupid beasts who get caught in this web will never escape." "Take aim." "Fire." "They are less than a mile away." " How many of them are there?" " Five." "So three are missing." "Congratulate me, Jeanne." "The King has conferred the regency on me." "Do not be taken in, Louis." " He is toying with you." " That is possible." "But why would he do that?" "After all, he respects custom." "My father is a hunter." "He has always been good at luring his prey." "The King may indeed be toying with me." "Such perfidy would be in his nature." "I must be elucidated as to his sincerity." "Only you can help me." "Let us unite our strengths." "I beseech you." "I thought you did not want our paths to cross again." "Fate seems to have stepped in." "Fate plays no part in this." "I wanted to see you." "Leave." "Go." "I wish to know your intentions." "What are you talking about?" "You saw the King." "His Majesty wishes to appoint me as Regent, should the need arise." "You look worried." "Anyone who knew you would be worried." "I accept that others do not know me well." "But you," "Anne, my cousin," "were once my friend." "Is this how you repay my sincerity?" "Sincerity?" "Will you be speaking with sincerity in a moment when you swear that it is not your intention to end my father's reign?" "What are you accusing me of?" "Of revealing a show of impatience." "Of wishing the King dead." "God is my witness." "I have never wished any such thing." "Am I wrong to put myself in God's hands?" "And when our King is deciding what will become of him am I wrong to tell him that, if the Regency is offered to me," "I will accept it with humility and gratitude," "anxious to continue the work of King Louis XI?" "Where is the crime in that?" "Are you so anxious to seek revenge from a man who was unable to reach your heart because you yourself refused to see that his was sincere." "Hear this, and let God be my witness." "With all my soul and all my might, if the words you have just uttered have sought only to deceive me," "I will see that your blood is shed." "It will be shed if need be." "I was refused access to Pierre de Beaujeu's chambers." " On what grounds?" " That he has a fever." "That should make our work easier." "Did you see the scornful look the Captain gave us?" "And he has doubled the guard behind every door." "We all know the King is afraid of his shadow." "Jeanne." "Leave us." "Come, Jeanne." "Come here." "Sit down." "Are you still suffering, sire?" "I have slept a bit." "I am feeling better." "I am glad." "Your husband seemed anxious earlier." "Louis is worried about your health." "I do not doubt it." "Do you defend him out of love or charity?" "Have you heard what he has been plotting?" "He does not mean any harm." "He is mistrustful." "He knows you despise him." "I was informed he was bearing despise and mistreated you?" "Perhaps." "But it is I who will suffer should any harm come to him." "Rest assured, he is not at risk." "As long as you tell me the truth." "Have you seen him recently in the company of Pierre de Rohan?" "No, I do not recall." "And has Philippe d'Anjou been to see you in Orléans?" "Again, I must say no." "Are you sure?" "You are not hiding anything?" "What about Jean de Champagne?" "I think Jean de Champagne came." " Last week." " Good." "And Richard de Berrule?" "Perhaps." "I cannot remember." "Careful, Jeanne." "Either you know or you do not." "It is a sin to lie to your father and a crime to hide the truth from the King." " Richard Berrule came to see us." " When?" "Last week." "What harm is there in that?" "None." "And Tristan L'Hermite?" "Answer me." " No." "Why all these questions?" " What about Olivier le Daim?" "I am sure he was with L'Hermite." "You know him, do you not?" "Jeanne?" "The King is talking to you." "Father, I pity you for suspecting the whole world." "Silence!" "You do not know what it is like to be in power, serving the state." "Does serving state not require to be charitable?" "We are not at confession, Jeanne." "I have no time for your sermon on charity." "Allow me to make an observation." "I noticed your sister leaping to your husband's defence." "I find that behaviour surprising." "What is surprising about it?" "Anne has as much right to be indulgent and charitable as I do." "Cease talking to me about charity!" "That womaniser has obviously brainwashed you." "You know that is not true." "I pity him." "I know him to be beaten in advance." "And my sister no longer loves him." "I would not swear to it." "Your words hurt me, Father." "It always hurts to hear the truth." "You sacrificed us, both of us." "You care more about being King than being a father." "You have made your daughters prisoners of your calculations." "Neither Anne nor I have known happiness." "What have our matters to do with happiness?" "You should follow your sister's example." "She understands things." "She anticipates things and sees through them." "Meanwhile, you dissolve into prayer." "Prayer revives me." "Then, pray for your King, and the success of his business." "I shall pray for my King's health." "and my father's safety." "Your medicine, sire." "Captain Guillaume wishes to see you." "Show him in." "Father." "Gilles, see Jeanne de France out." "Go and pray, daughter." "Go on." "Jeanne has told me that Louis d'Orléans received Jean de Champagne and Richard de Berrule last week." " It is all coming together." " Arnaud Berluvier confessed." "Sauveterre got a confession out of him." "Confessions under torture are the only ones worth having." "We can now be sure that Clément de Saudre did not lie." "Under these conditions it would be wiser not to turn up at the council meeting, sire." "You are right but you know that I am minded to go and that I will be there." "Do not forget, I promised my cousin the regency." "It seemed to me that Louis d'Orléans doubted your word." "I would not trust him." "I want to see how far he will go." "What did you learn from the King?" "Speak." "My father lied to you." "He hates you as much as you hate him." "Are you sure?" "The King is agitated." "I am afraid for you, Louis." "Archbishop." "I have come to seek your advice." "I am afraid, sire, that the principles of government you chose to set out for me are foreign to a humble servant of God." "Imagine that the King's life is at risk and that the King is aware of the conspiracy against him and of who is behind it." "How do you think he should proceed?" "I would say, sire, that if the King knows the men who have hatched the plot" "he should let them know that he is aware of their intentions, and that he forgives them." "Forgiveness again." "That is all you ever think about." "So I should just submit?" "Only forgiveness can disarm." "Then I am guilty of never having forgiven." "If I had, another would have taken my place." "I rose up against my father, King Charles VII and against men whose power should have made me tremble." "But I have never trembled in front of anyone." "His Majesty should prepare for his reckoning God." "I will be ready, Archbishop." "That was the advice I came for." "I envy you your directness." "Candour is never a good measure for a King." "It leads to downfall." "I must respond to sincerity with cunning and to treachery with a thunderbolt." "A King has no choice but to be ruthless, and yet he is duty bound to be fair." "Guillaume." "It is time to release our prisoner." "This one." "Louis!" " They are all here now." " Your safety is assured, sire." "Do not to intervene unless necessary." "Are you wearing your chain mail?" "To protect me from a cushion?" "Give each of your men a golden louis." "A King's life is worth at least that." "Be careful." "The old fox is onto us." "Don't listen to him." " He even promised me the regency." " Why would you turn that down?" "Because it is a trap." "Do as planned." "My Lords." "It is time, sire." "Everything is in place." "Very well." "Let the game commence." "But first, tell me, are my ministers already seated?" "Yes, sire." "They are waiting for you." "Perfect." "We must make them wait a while longer." "No." "We must not." "They might suspect that it is a ploy." "I am ready." "Let us go." "His Majesty the King." "Sire, we are happy to see you and prouder than ever to serve you." "Thank you for your welcome, gentlemen." "Well, my Lords?" "Why so silent?" "The King is dead." "You should be rejoicing." "Charity demanded his suffering be cut short." "Right?" "Come." "Be seated, gentlemen." "Be seated." " Do not believe..." " I believe my own eyes." "Do not be angry with me for foreseeing your intentions." "This old King who is taking so long to die." "My dear friends, my dear Lords, d'Anjou," "Tristan," "Richard," "Pierre," "Angers," "De Champagne," "Henri," "François, this man whom you have killed, take a good look at him." "He was not a good subject but he agreed to face your daggers as a favour to his King." "He would be free now if you had not killed him." "But then again, perhaps you are right." "Is it right for an old man to still be occupying this royal seat?" "It has been so long." "Perhaps God has forgotten me." "Do you realise, my friends, that in recent times" "I have been wondering if I have been a good King." "Let us see." "What do you say, Richard?" "Why do you hesitate?" "You have nothing to fear." "You have been a great King, sire, and you will continue to be so." "We all hope so." "A great King, you say." "But do you really think that?" "What have I done during my reign to make you want me to continue?" "Your Majesty has caused trade to prosper." "The cities have benefited." "That is nothing." "There are roads, workshops, printing presses." "Is that what matters, Tristan?" "Have I not achieved anything which would be for you all the subject of pride?" "You are burning with desire to say it, Philippe." "Are you afraid to speak?" "I..." "I have always loved you, sire." "And I you, Philippe." "You have always been my favourite." "Forgive me but I do not think I deserve that." "I have seen your bravery and sensitivity." "You may have been a coward today, but that can happen to anyone." "I can see in your eyes how sorry you are." "Is that so?" "I want to hear you say it." "I am sorry." "Again." "I am sorry, sire." "I beg for your forgiveness." "Tell me about my kingdom." " You have built a fine kingdom." " Do you think so?" "A beautiful one, your Majesty." "It is thanks to you, thanks to you all." "You have generously given your land to the crown and renounced former privileges." "It is so comforting for an old King to hear his ministers congratulate him and beg him to continue." "Everyone here reveres you, sire." "But the same cannot be said of everyone." "What do you mean?" "Some people accuse you of flouting chivalry." "My form of chivalry is to create order in the state, to encourage trade, circulate wealth and bring prosperity to the people, not to hold tournaments and the like." "But we are here to make decisions." "And, as far as I know, you are my advisers." "I may still be alive but I will not live forever." "Imagine if I died tomorrow." "Come now, sire." " That is a mere supposition." " You will live for a long time." "Who do you see taking over the regency?" "The heir apparent, Charles, is just 13." "I was wondering about my son-in-law." "Pierre de Beaujeu." "He has had to stay in his room today so we can discuss him openly." "What do you think, Philippe?" "Pierre de Beaujeu's duties are already of the highest order." " No doubt he can..." " Take on even greater duties." "We had thought of that." "Such generosity, Anjou." "What do you think, Rohan?" "It seems to me, sire, that custom..." "Custom, yes." "In other words, Louis d'Orléans." "Now, there is an idea." "We must look into it." " What is your opinion, Richard?" " Sire." "Louis d'Orléans declared himself to be our enemy." "Really?" "Do you agree, Tristan?" "Louis d'Orléans has royal blood." "He has the impatience of youth." "You must not judge him for his rash behaviour." "I will take that on board." "Come." "Let us think no more of it." "Let us forget all that has happened." "You cannot imagine how good it feels to be alive when one was expecting to die." "I am inviting you to a banquet tonight." "The wine will flow freely." "Meanwhile, my captain will take care of your security." "See you later, gentlemen." "Of all my achievements, none of you spoke of my royal mail riders who carry letters from one town to the next." "These men cross fields, forests and rivers." "Do they ride through Artois, Savoie or Anjou?" "No?" "They cross France." "France, which I will finish shaping as I see fit." "All things considered, you are right, Tristan." "My death is mere supposition." "It is absurd." "I want this plot kept secret." "Apart from you three and Anne, no one must know about it." "You must seize Louis d'Orléans." "He has revealed his intentions." "That is precisely why we must conceal ours." "What do you say?" "Speak." "Lord de Beaujeu is right." "There could be assassins everywhere." "We must put a stop to them." "Poor Guillaume." "You know how to fight but you do not know how to make use of victory." "Granted, they are traitors." "But these counts and barons represent towns in nice regions." "Nothing must escape our grasp." "Patience." "Things will happen naturally." "We must learn to wait and make use of our adversaries' mistake." "But the mistake occurred and your enemies are at your mercy." "The mistake did, but not its consequences." "I want to know what they have to offer in exchange for their lives." "After the banquet, Guillaume will lead these gentlemen to the dungeons for them to reflect on that." "What should we do with Clément de Saudre?" " He told you the truth." " We could still use him." "No." "He betrayed his uncle." "He will betray again." "But his desire to serve you is great." "He said so to Sauveterre and me." "Just as I thought." "Sauveterre, he talks too much." "They came to fetch Pierre before my very eyes." "And what excuse did they give me?" "The King wishes to speak to him." "It is as if I didn't exist." "You know very well the King enjoys making you jealous." "His Majesty hates having everyone there at once." " That is true." " Her Highness, Jeanne of France." "I have not come to complain or to demand anything." "But I need your help, Anne." "You know about matters of state." "I am listening." "Anne, I fear the King's anger." "You have nothing to fear, Jeanne." "The King loves you." "I mean Louis, not me." "The King wants to see him ruined." "I am sure he has his reasons." "He suspects him of crimes or plots that I know nothing about." " What nonsense." " And yet..." "I cannot help feeling a sense of foreboding." "At your age you must only concern yourself with reality." "It is reality that frightens me." "This cruel world that men are let loose in, this machine which crushes them." "What world?" "What machine?" " The state." " What is the connection with Louis?" "Your husband is not a member of the government." "If he fears something from the state, whose fault is that?" "Why has he come to cross swords?" "Louis is acting out of impatience." "I feel pity, seeing him throw himself into the lion's jaw." "Pity." "Pity!" "You pity a man who mistreats you and ridicules you in front of people?" "He mocks your prayers and conduct and talks about your wedding night." "Be quiet, Anne." "Please, be quiet." "You should admit that you love him." "No." "I do not love him." "I do not love him." "Of course you love him." "Of course you love him." "I wanted to reassure you." "The council meeting went peacefully." " No-one was unmasked." " Impossible." "Or else someone raised the alarm." "I spoke the truth." "Do not worry." "The King respects you and has not forgotten you." "Believe me, it takes a lot of skill to attract his attention." "When will I see his Majesty again?" "Right away." "He is expecting you." "Come with me." "Come." "I spoke the truth." "I swear before God that I spoke the truth." "No!" "It is always best, my friend, to keep the truth to yourself." "Enough." "Your pledges of love curb one's appetite." "Be gone." "Forgive me, Cousin." "I forgot." "You must love this bedroom music and these smooth lyrics." "In love as in politics, sire, I prefer actions." "Good answer." "Preferably direct action, which you seemed to lack today." "That is quite possible." "But you, sire, lacked sincerity." "A King is only sincere towards another King." "So, Anne, where is our menagerie tonight?" "I like bears." "They are strong and cunning." "I prefer him to these young princes who dress to impress but who are out of step with their King." "You are drinking too much, Father." "Are you worried I will cut my life short?" "Others are ready to rejoice in the fact." "As if this good wine could be the death of me!" "You say I am close to death, but only God's will can kill me." "I have conquered my illness, just as I have always conquered my enemies and unmasked any traitors and triumphed over misfortune." "Father, answer me." "Take his Majesty to his apartment." "The chair!" "His breathing is weak but regular." "Father, do you hear me?" "Sire, do you hear me?" "You must drink this potion, sire." "Is it poison?" "You are speaking." "You are saved!" "No, it is not poison." "Do you want something else?" "I want... my cushion." "Gilles, the King's cushion." "That's better." "God has punished me." "I had the chance to overcome my illness." "I was wrong to boast." "You must rest, Father." "First, I must speak." "Rest will come later." "Guillaume, call everyone." " I want to be heard." " Be reasonable, sire." "Time is short." "What do you say, Pierre?" "Yes, sire, time is short." "Father, I beseech you." "This is not wise." "Come closer." "Closer." "You are like me, Anne." "We are cut from the same cloth." "I trust you." "Help me." "I must make an appearance." "Leave me alone with the King." "We must go." "His Majesty the King." "This day..." "I declare my son Charles to be King of France." "He will reign under the name of Charles VIII." "To assume the responsibilities and duties of the regency..." "I appoint... my daughter, Anne, and her husband, Pierre de Beaujeu." " Sire, custom..." " The King decides on the customs so he can change them." "The King can also betray." "The King can do anything." "Well, I see that everyone here approves of my decision." "So the regency will be as I have just outlined." "Now..." "I agree to rest." "I will be the Regent of this kingdom." "You all know that I am entitled to it." "I await your pledges of loyalty." "May God give us strength and protect our kingdom." "Stop!" "Move away from that throne." "The King has decided." "This man is not the Regent and never will be." "All of you, as former advisers to my father, know that the kingdom is not up for grabs." "Those who do not heed this warning will be punished." "It is from here and nowhere else that the country will be governed." "I want to hear every one of you rejoice in the fact that my brother, the heir apparent, Charles," "is to be King of France." "You are taking a risk in confronting me." "Far greater is the one you take." "I thought I had made it clear." "If blood must be shed, it will be shed." "Louis XI may have forgiven you, but you should expect nothing from me." "Because you are the Regent?" "Because some claim to be from Burgundy, Anjou and Orléans." "I am from France where there is a King, not a kinglet." "Your words will carry no weight with my armed men." "Your armed men?" "Do you not think I shall have my own?" "And they will be blessed with a quality you lack, loyalty." "On your knees." "Long live the King!" "Long live the King!" "They will soon reach Amboise." "They will bring Charles back." "Why keep on Louis and the ministers until Charles is among us?" "I thought your husband would like to greet his new King." "Louis has stepped aside for you." "He has recognised you as Regent." "Why make him a prisoner?" "Your husband and the ministers can leave this castle as soon as Charles is here and safe." "You are so naive." "Louis will fight me." "He will even try to seduce me." "That is his weapon of choice." "You know that." "Of course you do." "He reminds you of it every day." "Anne!" "I beg you, Tell me you will spare Louis." "If he does anything at all to affect the King's powers," "I will feel no mercy, and you will not preach charity to me." "Hurry, your Highness." "The King is dying." "Father." "Father!" "Father!" "Pierre?" "He has gone to Amboise to fetch the King." "Father!" "Father?" "My daughter." "France." "France." "Yes, sire." "Two years later, Louis d'Orléans and others mustered a large army." "But they were defeated by royal troops." "Anne de France and Pierre de Beaujeu acted as Regents until King Charles VIII came of age." "15 years later, on the death of Charles VIII" "Louis d'Orléans became King, under the name of Louis XII." "SUBTITLES:" "RED BEE MEDIA FRANCE"