This programme contains some strong language.
It's good news.
You can have a child now.
Don't we have to have sex first?
You'll be breeding like rabbits when you complete my course.
Mama says...
"If he won't come to you, you must go to him."
I've never had that problem but...
..can't hold out forever.
Can't he? It's been four months.
Time for your lesson.
Let's start with revision.
Seduction begins with a kiss.
And the kiss begins with your eyes.
And now my lips.
Close your eyes.
MUSIC
SOUNDS ECHO
LOUD BANG
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Come on, come on, boy, get up, good boy, good boy.
SHE GASPS
CANDLE HOLDER RATTLES
SHE GROANS
Stupid!
FLOOR CREAKS
SHE GASPS
MUSIC
CLOCK CHIMES
CLEARS THROAT
Give it to me, Julie.
It must be the princess.
DOOR OPENS
I'm so sorry, I forgot the time.
I'm sorry.
Yes, it's very helpful, Prime Minister, thank you.
Perfect timing, I need a gentleman's opinion.
Darling.
Which do you prefer?
This ring or that bracelet?
Neither, d'Aiguillon has just shown me your accounts.
I'll take both.
Excellent choice.
And you, d'Aiguillon?
Are you planning to slash my allowance from the privy purse?
I am told that being sensible can't kill you.
But why take the chance?
Whose turn is it this morning, France?
Oh, you choose, my love.
I'm honoured, sire.
It will have to be Lamballe.
She's hopeless, and she hates men.
I know, but if we don't find a wife for Papa
we will never get rid of that strumpet.
Good God, Prime Minister. We have been here so many times before.
This could mean war.
Why?
France would be obliged to take a stand against Austria
if she joins in the carve up of Poland.
How can we go to war with our ally?
Our treaty has not been ratified.
Austria has not yet performed her duty to France.
It's perplexing.
Especially when Austria appears to be willing.
One can't help wondering if the problem lies with France.
There is nothing wrong with my grandson.
The little Dauphine arrived here completely unprepared.
Were you aware that she knew nothing about the marriage bed?
Madame du Barry has taken it upon herself
to educate the girl, for heaven's sake.
She hadn't even started her menses.
And if I don't care what the Countess spends
neither should you.
Good.
Someone was standing by my bureau.
Perhaps you were dreaming?
I can assure you I wasn't.
If Mops had been with me he would have chased them off.
I will put in another request.
The French seem remarkably reluctant to allow him to return.
How are you settling in with your household?
Madame Etiquette doesn't stop snarling at me.
Perhaps she's not amused by her nickname.
I can't think who coined it.
SHE GASPS
Did you see? He completely ignored her.
You can blame him.
You look delicious, my love.
Slut!
Let's go hunting.
You knew she wasn't menstruating when she left Vienna?
I had no idea, Prime Minister.
Extraordinary.
That an Austrian diplomat with your experience
would take France for a complete fool.
Are you not riding with us today, little Dauphine?
I can't ride, Papa Roi.
Mama forbids it.
We shall have to find our way around that imperial diktat.
Ah, my little Italian, always so very late.
I'm so sorry, Majesty.
I'm teasing you, child.
LAUGHTER
HORN PLAYS
HUNT DOGS BARK
Isn't she magnificent?
She's teaching me the art of seduction.
Be careful of her lessons.
Lamballe will never agree.
She's a shrinking violet.
That Austrian bitch will do our work for us.
DOGS BARK
It's them.
What is he doing?
STAG GRUNTS
THEY GASP
HORN BLOWS
Bravo! Bravo!
Bravo!
Ah, here she is!
Did you enjoy the hunt, little Dauphine, huh?
Papa Roi, it was thrilling.
It really was.
Look at you.
Isn't she adorable, huh?
Someone's taken your seat.
Go and charm the pants off your husband.
Monsieur, wait.
Monsieur, you were so brave this morning.
I...I was certain the stag was going to get the better of you.
But he didn't stand a chance.
I have never seen anything like it.
Would you like to visit me this evening?
Eat.
Eat!
Oh, look at them.
I can't take any more.
She has got to go.
Why don't you come with me?
Sorry.
I can be an absolute devil.
Smile!
SHE LAUGHS
It's a love apple from Spain.
An aphrodisiac, apparently.
It's often confusing to be confronted with the unfamiliar.
I've always found it best just to plunge in.
Oh, the skin is tight.
My tip is meeting my resistance.
But if you just gently push...
..through...
..I find myself the most...
soft, ripe, interior.
Oh...
Am I making any sense at all, my boy?
Should I eat it? Papa, will you let me eat it?
Oh!
THEY LAUGH
THEY CONTINUE CHUCKLING
Brava, little Dauphine.
You are a natural.
Surely the Empress can't complain about you riding a donkey now, can she?
Well, I'm not going to tell her, Papa Roi.
Neither will I.
SHE GASPS
Oh, France, let her rest.
She's already had one ass between her legs today.
Be careful, child.
Papa Roi has a penchant for virgin.
HE GASPS
Oh!
SLURPING
Oh!
My dog was sent back to Austria at the border.
Oh, what a pity.
Why wasn't it allowed to stay?
Mops didn't have a passport.
CLEARS THROAT
So, to business.
We have been searching all over Europe for a suitable wife for Papa
and we finally found her.
Right here, under our nose.
Who have you chosen this time, madam?
Tada!
Me?!
Why not?
She's less his type than all the others put together.
She'll do! She's a princess of the blood.
Don't you want to be the Queen of France? No.
Do I?
Perhaps our little Dauphine can assist us.
Papa will listen to you.
Does he want a wife?
What he wants is irrelevant.
Duty and decorum dictate that the King has a wife.
Then why doesn't he marry Madame du Barry?
How can the King of France... ..marry the Whore of Babylon?
What?
Do you know what a whore is?
LAUGHTER
Allow me, allow me.
She is a woman who screws for her supper.
Your friend was your age when she first spread her legs.
HE PANTS
Thank you, Monsieur.
Not in the mood?
What's new?
SHE GASPS
Good Lord!
LAUGHTER
Too much?
Not enough.
Is it true?
I suppose you found it funny that I didn't know.
What is, what is this place?
Is this my life now?
Trapped where I can trust no-one, not even you.
You, Monsieur.
No, look at me, look at ME!
Why, why don't you like me?
What, what have I done wrong?
Say something. Speak, speak to me!
I am your wife!
When are you going to be my husband?
Friday the 21st.
The Dauphine lost her temper with me.
I think she is not suited to life at Versailles.
Ready for your lesson?
Put that in the drawer for me, will you?
Time to explore what turns us ladies on between the sheets.
I'm busy.
I'll come back after supper, we can have a girls night in.
I'm busy.
Tomorrow?
Let me guess...
You're busy.
Have Madame been filling your head with nonsense about me?
You should have told me!
Why, why didn't you?
My past is of no interest to me.
Why is it of any interest to you?
So you were making a fool of me.
Au contraire, I was trying to help you.
Who else is there around here to do the job?
Oh, what a loyal friend I have(!)
DRAWER OPENS
DOOR CLOSES
READS MOCKINGLY: Do not indulge in the frivolity of the French.
Remain a good Austrian archduchess.
I have said it before to your sisters
and I will say it again to you -
don't go near a horse until you have a bouncing Bourbon heir.
And a spare.
Why didn't she tell her daughter how to fuck?
At least my mother had the decency to prepare me for my career.
And what a career -
from street girl to the King's favourite.
And all the way back again.
I'm going nowhere.
I wasn't dreaming, Mercy.
Someone stole it. Someone stole Mama's letter.
I'll look into it.
In the meantime, keep out of trouble.
I'm not in trouble.
Have Mesdames been drawing you into their little scheme?
How do you know about that?
Everyone knows about it.
There are no secrets here.
Right, so you knew, you knew about Madame du Barry?
What difference does it make who she was?
Difference?
A whore?!
What would Mama say?
The Empress says that if she is the King's favourite, you should be her friend.
Ah! What about Mesdames?
Don't get caught up in the crossfire between them and Madame du Barry.
It's their war, not yours.
I can't win.
Whichever way I turn, there's a trap.
Welcome to Versailles.
Mesdames are on manoeuvres.
Not again. Who is it this time?
Lamballe.
The only rival I have in my sights is our little Dauphine.
If my brother won't jump on her, perhaps Papa Roi would do the deed?
What, does little Dauphine protest?
If she pulls that stunt,
I will chase her all the way back to Vienna.
KNOCK ON DOOR, DOOR OPENS
Shall I come back later?
Provence is just leaving.
Poor Provence, always the spare, never the heir.
SHE LAUGHS
Mercy wants me to be friends with her.
She is not worthy to kiss your feet.
I thought she was looking out for me.
Du Barry only looks out for herself.
How can I help you, Toinette?
Will you marry Papa Roi?
Would you like me to?
Black gold from Guadeloupe.
Pull out your hands.
Now these are the most expensive beans in the whole world.
I have precious diamonds that cost less.
But you would appreciate them, Lamballe?
You Italians, you love coffee, don't you?
Lamballe prefers hot chocolate.
Oh! Well, just you wait until she's tried my coffee.
Now, first, just...
HE SNIFFS
SHE SNIFFS
Intoxicating.
SHE YELLS
Goodness.
Oh, no, I'm so sorry.
Oh, no, oh gosh!
They're everywhere.
I'm sorry, I'll just...
I'll just get them from out here.
I'm sorry.
SHE SOBS I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Keep going.
Are we all right back here?
Still searching for coffee beans.
There you go.
Well, if that's how it is...
Here we are!
You have reduced the King of France to a scullery maid.
HE LAUGHS
I'm sorry.
Why were you crawling around on the floor?
What did he say to you? Did he upset you?
Oh, good Lord!
You've been a great help to us.
Thank you, Antoinette
Did you have fun with Papa Roi?
He made us coffee.
Come and join me.
So you have made your choice?
I don't understand.
Please! Mesdames have been plotting to replace me
since the day I arrived.
You're either in their camp or mine.
It's not too late to change your mind.
DOOR SHUTS
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
She's staying? She's most definitely going.
Bye-bye, little Dauphine!
You won't be missed by anyone except Papa Roi.
I'll talk to France.
Isn't it time you spoke to him about me?
He barely notices I exist.
You're on top of my list as soon as I've dealt with her.
Our spies inform us that Austria is preparing to invade Poland.
So this means war against Austria?
Not if you sign this, sire.
The Empress can't make a move against Poland if our troops are sitting on her border.
Oh.
Next.
Item two.
Louis...
Specifically his inability to shag his wife.
She is the problem.
Besides, they're totally unsuited to one another.
Royal marriages are not made in heaven.
Only a politician would try to mate them.
She's frigid. He's mute!
He is the heir to my throne.
Exactly.
The boy needs a wife who will satisfy him.
The matter will be decided by my grandson.
SHE AGREES
Item two.
Thank you.
Good work.
I'm learning, sir.
We must stand on our troops
Madame du Barry is plotting to remove Toinette!
SHE GASPS
Why do you think I advised you to be neutral?
I didn't believe she would go this far.
If Louis has to choose, I don't stand a chance.
Can't you win him over?
How?
I've tried.
What else am I supposed to do?
Perhaps your mother will be able to guide you.
Burn it after you read it.
THE EMPRESS: Don't lie down and give up, Toinette.
You are an Austrian archduchess.
Habsburgs never take no for an answer.
Now, tidy your hair, fix your face and fight back.
Shut up!
And you...
You too.
THEY CHUCKLE
This is where you like to hide!
Are these yours?
SHE SQUEALS
Oh!
SHE SQUEALS
May I?
SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH
It's glorious.
When you remove all the people.
HE LAUGHS
You will be a good king.
Yes, you.
I hope you will let me help you.
WHISPERING
It was exquisite.
Ah, I'd pay good money for a portrait of a little vixen face at that moment.
Would you, Monsieur?
I hate our silly quarrels.
Why don't we kiss and make up?
Then we can get down to the business of ruling France together.
Your business, madame, is to service the king.
Mine is to govern France.
HE CHOKES
Is that so?
SHE LAUGHS
It's time to make up your mind, boy.
SHE STRAINS Now could you get out of my sight?
Come in, d'Aiguillon.
Prime Minister.
SHE SIGHS
DOOR OPENS
SHE YELPS AND SCREAMS
I'm staying?
I never doubted you would succeed.
I'm staying.
I'm staying!
Looking for something?
I found it.
Why don't you join me for supper?
You don't mind expecting me?
You really think you're something, don't you?
I am something.
I'm an Austrian archduchess. I'm the Dauphine of France. Who are you?
I'd rather be the King's whore than a frustrated virgin.
Still no progress in that department.
Maybe you weren't such a great teacher after all.
You're a poor student.
No grasp of the subject. No flair at all.
It won't be long before he gets rid of you.
Haven't you heard?
My father has asked me to stay.
DOOR SHUTS
Safe journey to Vienna, Rohan.
As our new ambassador, send our warmest wishes to the Empress.
Thank you, Countess.
Sire.
Now...
We have got to find Provence a wife.
It's the only way to secure an heir.
SOFT KNOCKS ON DOOR
Mops.
Have you missed me?
KNOCK ON DOOR
Come in.
What is that thing doing here?
My husband delivered him to me.