♪ [Gasps] ♪ [Sighs] A riot?

Breteuil: At a factory in Paris.

Has it been suppressed?

The situation is still unfolding.

There are...a large number of casualties.

I'm sorry.

Is this an appropriate setting?

I'm interested in current affairs.

Well, eat it now.

Get some strength.

So, how did the trouble start?

Someone spread a rumor that wages were to be cut.

Someone?

Soldiers are finding these in the pockets of the agitators.

Thank you.

Some have confessed to being in the pay of the Duke of Orleans.

♪ Well, that's the proof we need.

Arrest him.

That may be unwise.

The Duke is inexplicably popular with the people.

Well, so are you.

It doesn't mean you can get away with treason.

Use a spoon.

[Clears throat] For once, I agree with Mr. Necker.

Orleans has won over the Parisians with his generous charity and distributions of bread.

Because he is holding grain.

And yet, according to his printing presses, I am the grain thief.

If I were, then this bread wouldn't be full of sawdust.

Replace it.

Oh, no, don't, don't, don't bother.

We're finished here.

I have to get ready for the Estates General.

Darling, finish your meal.

Finish your meal.

Spirits are restless.

But an assembly of the nation's...

Spirits are restless.

The day my heart has been waiting for, for so long has finally arrived.

Has finally arrived.

An assembly of the nation's representatives will...

Listen only to the advice of wisdom and p-prudence.

Your Majesty.

Are you ready?

The third estate don't need convincing by your tax reforms.

You must focus on persuading the first and second.

Still feels like a terrible gamble to put him in front of such a large crowd.

His nerves are poor.

If your hands shake, put them behind your back.

I find that helps.

-Shut up, both of you.

I know what to do.

You look magnificent.

Madame Deficit in all her finest.

Good luck.

♪ So, there are 3 types of people in the kingdom.

There are bishops and priests.

They are called first estate.

Then there are the knights and nobles.

They are called the second estate.

And then... there's everyone else.

The ordinary people who work for a living.

They are called the third estate.

The ordinary people are very small.

Yes, but there's a lot of them.

And some of them are very clever.

♪ Papa hopes that the third estate will help him persuade the first and second that they must pay more tax.

-Whoop!

-[All laughing] Just speak it as we practiced.

You'll be wonderful.

Herald: His Majesty, the King.

♪ [Doors open] ♪ [Applause] ♪ Her Majesty, the Queen.

♪ Silence for the King!

This is the day my heart has been waiting for.

To be here, surrounded by the representatives of the country I am so proud to command.

Much time has passed since the last gathering of these estates general.

Times have changed.

Monarchs have changed.

[Sounds distorting] But the values which guide us remain the same.

[Indistinct whispering] -I stand before you... -Stupid whore.

Louis: ...the 16th of my name.

[Whispering continues] [Whispers stop] Spirits are restless.

But let agreement reign in this assembly as we work together for the happiness and prosperity of our great kingdom.

I speak as a sovereign, who is the first friend of his people.

[Applause] [Men cheering] -God save the King!

-Long live the King!

[Applause continues] ♪ -God save the Queen!

-Long live the Queen!

-God save the Queen!

Long live the Queen!

[Whispering] Are they being sarcastic?

No.

No, I don't think they are.

Man: God save the Queen!

[Distant bells tolling] [Humming] [Door opening] La Motte: It's cats and dogs out there.

[Clears throat] That's London.

Put that bloody book down.

Not as if you don't know the plot.

I can't get enough of the central character.

She's fabulous.

I'd like her more if she made some money from those scribblings.

I'm sure the publisher will pay me soon.

Yeah.

I got you a present.

For me?

******* hell.

Perhaps now you can stop stealing my clothes.

Hmm.

Another dress?

Thought you didn't have any spare cash.

I always have enough to treat my favorite girl.

Oh, come on.

Can you just tell me where you've hidden the rest of your diamonds?

Like I said, they're gone.

I spent them making this place nice for you.

You didn't know I was going to turn up.

You always do.

And the sooner you accept that we are meant to be together, the happier you'll be.

♪ Seriously, though.

Where are those diamonds?

♪ What on earth?

Mademoiselle Tussaud is making a model of my head.

-[Scoffs] -When her work is done, I will be displayed in the window of the bookshop so people can admire me.

What if no one stops to look?

Orleans: You underestimate my popularity.

It helps that your kitchen feeds half of Paris.

These rumors about hoarding grain.

Are they true?

-What if they are?

[Sighs] I want you to be the solution to the people's misery, not the cause of it.

One can't make a souffle without breaking some eggs.

Look what you did with "The Marriage of Figaro" and Jeanne's memoirs.

That's not the same.

We're close.

Don't bottle it.

Louis thinks the estates general will save him, but that remains to be seen.

Marie: These are the books of complaints, you see?

Papa asked the whole kingdom to send him their worries so he can solve them.

I'm not sure how Papa will fix this one, though.

These people are complaining that the crows eat their crops.

-[Louis whistling] -Papa?

♪ I got another one.

Oh.

Shall we see how it compares?

Mm-hmm.

-Here you go.

-Thank you.

What do you think?

-Biggest one yet.

-Hmm.

Any news from the estates general?

No.

I don't understand.

I mean, why the delay?

Well, the third estate believe they are disadvantaged by the voting system.

But Mr. Necker advises me not to be part of the debate, not to intervene.

He thinks they can sort it out for themselves.

Mr. Necker.

He's a great advocate of doing nothing, huh?

Louis: I loathe him, too.

But he seems to understand what the ordinary people desire.

Just like Jeanne de Valois.

Her memoirs are selling like hot cakes.

I thought I'd destroyed every copy, but more keep coming on.

I'm sorry.

-Oh, you can't suppress her.

Whatever's thrown at her, she bounces right back.

This isn't living.

I need an adventure.

Let's go to America.

We wouldn't have to hide there.

It's too far.

From what?

Everything.

I can't be crossing the Atlantic every time I want to see the boys.

The boys are in the earth.

Besides, what's in America you can't have here?

Life.

There, we could be anyone.

I'm getting too old for capers.

Why can't we be happy with what we have?

[Ticking] Darling?

Wake up.

Oh, my God.

Louis, he's really, really cold.

He's cold, darling.

[Sobs] -Bring a doctor.

-No, no, no.

Come on.

Wake up.

No, no.

♪ Sire, etiquette says the body must be prepared as quickly as possible.

No.

Don't take him.

Don't take him.

-It's etiquette.

-[Sobbing] No!

No!

-I will take him.

-Shh, shh.

-I know.

I know.

I'm here.

I've got you.

I've got you.

Shh.

[Marie sobbing] It's OK.

I know.

I'm here.

♪ What now?

His heart will be buried at Saint-Denis.

His body at Val-de-Grace.

It will be a simple funeral.

But he's old enough for a state funeral.

It wouldn't be right.

Not with the economy as it is.

-But-- -Excuse me.

Where are you going?

Hunting.

[Door opens] Louis... ♪ Antoinette, I am so, so sorry for your loss.

♪ ♪ Any more correspondence?

Breteuil: The rest require the King's signature.

He is hunting.

♪ But is he well?

The Dauphin has set him back.

We must protect him from undue pressure.

♪ Inside, outside.

Outside.

-Outside.

Outside.

Inside.

Breteuil: And how are you?

I'm fine.

There's no time to be anything else.

♪ Your Majesty, I speak on behalf of these men of the third estate.

This is an inconvenience.

You must make an appointment.

Sorry.

What are you doing?

[Men murmuring] We tried.

But you refused to see us.

I am in mourning.

Sire, with respect, you must settle the argument about how we vote.

The privileged estates insist on an ancient system that denies the ordinary man his voice.

-I cannot intervene.

-Someone must.

These men represent the majority of your subjects.

My son is new in his grave.

Are none of you fathers?!

Enough.

Remove these men.

[Men shouting] Wait.

Remember yourselves.

Your Majesties have our condolences.

But until this matter is resolved, the meeting hall stands empty.

And the financial situation grows worse by the day, and unless the estates can meet, you may find yourself mourning your child... and your kingdom.

♪ -How are we treated?

-As nothing!

-What should we become?

-Something!

-What is the Third Estate?

-Everything!

-How are we treated?

-As nothing!

-What should we become?

-Something!

-What is the Third Estate?

-Everything!

-How are we treated?

-As nothing!

-What is the Third Estate?

-Everything!

200 pages of drivel, and I don't even get a mention.

First Marguerite, and now Jeanne de Valois.

Seems you're rather forgettable.

Let's go back.

I'll make you up another of your powders.

Louis is telling Normandy that he's the new Dauphin.

Poor boy.

When our older brother died... Louis inherited his diamond buckle shoes.

Obviously.

They were too tight.

But Louis... he wore them for days.

They nearly hobbled him.

And now, all that stands between you and the throne is that child.

Should he increase his bodyguard?

I'm not a monster.

But does his spine look a little crooked to you?

No.

Anyway, at this rate, you might beat the king to the grave.

What did the doctor say about your stomach complaint?

Why would I consult a doctor?

It's only indigestion.

Jeanne, voice-over: I have read authors who assert that courage is a characteristic of the male sex.

But I consider it a desirable qualification for a woman.

I have made it my life's mission to acquire sufficient bravery to withstand life's misfortunes, of which I have encountered more than my fair share.

♪ [Hooves clopping] [Horses snorting] [Clears throat] There's a problem with the third estate.

They're tired of waiting for the first and second to agree to their demands.

I'm afraid they've taken matters into their own hands.

Louis: You may have heard that the representatives of the third estate have broken away from the estates general.

Both: Yes.

Necker has informed me that... they have declared themselves a National Assembly.

Woman: Pardon, a what?

The sole legislative body in France, apparently.

-[Scoffs] But you make the law.

-Yes.

However, they wish to kindly relieve me of that burden.

They've proclaimed-- -I can proclaim myself the King of the Congo.

It does not make it so.

And why are they on our tennis court?

They're drafting a constitution to limit royal power.

-Well, that's awkward.

-A constitution?

Adelaide: You must do something.

Yes, we must do something.

What do we do?

-I don't know.

-Something, Louis.

It's probably just a phase, isn't it?

Necker, what do you think?

It's hard to tell...

It's hard to tell?

You're supposed to be an adviser, so advise.

There's something to be said for giving them what they want.

I'm sorry.

Are you serious?

You could give them a constitution.

-Oh, God.

-A hand in power.

And the-- and the moon on a stick.

[Coughing] Careful, Necker.

I know you're a commoner, but you're supposed to be on our side now.

Forget appeasement.

Now is the time to impose your sovereign authority.

Excuse me.

I-I need time to think.

Provence: He can't show weakness.

The crown will be at risk if he does.

Yes, well, perhaps the best way forward is a compromise.

Thank you, Necker.

Provence: A compromise?

Excellent plan.

That way, no one gets what they want.

[Coughs] Marie: Do you have a better idea?

[Coughing] You're in a terrible state.

Provence, let me take you back.

You'll feel better after a nap.

We demand to see the King.

He's busy.

This preposterous National Assembly is illegal.

Thank you for your insight.

It robs the crown and the parliament of all authority.

Never mind that.

It turns the whole natural order on its head.

The nobility will not be dictated to by commoners and imbeciles.

Who learnt from your example.

You defy the King's authority at every turn.

In the parliament, at the notables, in your salons and your drawing rooms.

In your arrogance, you saw yourself more fit to govern than the man appointed by God.

Who is himself unfit.

Unfit?

[scoffs] The only difference between you and those imbeciles in the National Assembly is they have the guts to finish the job.

Out of my way, boy.

Josephine: Provence, don't!

I regret I let you embroil me in your treachery.

God will judge me for my actions.

But I will face no judgment from you.

Get out.

Out!

[Nobles murmuring] ♪ My treachery.

♪ Your Majesty?

♪ From Marguerite.

Is he there?

Yes, he is.

♪ Leave me.

I'm unwell.

Sorry to hear that.

I know we don't always agree.

But Louis respects your advice.

Continue.

Well, I believe that certain individuals are exploiting this unhappy situation for their own political ends.

You mean my cousin?

Orleans' ambition grows by the day, but I am also concerned about Mr. Necker.

He is courting popularity with the people... and the army.

And he's very keen to persuade the King to surrender his God-given powers.

You suspect a coup?

Is it possible?

He wouldn't be the first commoner to seize a King's crown.

♪ His support of the National Assembly could be the start of a power grab.

♪ He needs to go.

Yes.

But Paris supports him.

If we were to get rid of him... the city may turn against us.

We don't have enough troops stationed nearby to support us.

Order reinforcements from the borderlands.

They're less likely to be infected by treachery.

♪ Wife, fix me my powders.

♪ You and the Queen in league?

The world really is upside down.

-We're both loyal to Louis.

-Mm!

Changed your tune.

Well, lately, I've had occasion to... reflect on my choices.

♪ The doctor believes something is eating at my innards.

Bitterness and unfulfilled ambition?

That, and... ♪ something more terminal.

♪ [Door creaks] What's the special occasion?

You going out?

No, um... Fancied a change, that's all.

You look nice.

Well, if that's all your conversation, I'll go down to the pub.

Have a nice time.

Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

That leaves things wide open.

[Door closes] ♪ Oh, dear.

It's Belize all over again.

But without the pirates, unfortunately.

And where are you running off to this time, then?

Huh?

So, you're leaving, then, for America?

-I think they'll like me there.

-I'm sure they will.

Come on, give me the diamonds.

-I'd rather not.

-You're not leaving till you do.

Guard: Jeanne de la Motte, show yourself!

Search everywhere!

You there, look through those rooms.

You, upstairs!

Guards.

-Did you do this?

-No.

Guard: She must be somewhere in the building!

Just hide yourself.

I'll deal with them.

♪ Guard: There she is!

-What are you doing?

Guard: Jeanne de la Motte, you're under arrest!

Jeanne.

Jeanne.

Jeanne!

[Thud] La Motte, you're under arrest.

♪ Jeanne, voice-over: Whenever my eyes met those of Her Majesty, she honored me with a smile.

A fatal smile that allured me to my ruin.

And when Her Majesty saluted me in this affable manner, I attempted to convey how much I felt myself honored, and how extremely grateful I was for her attentions.

Lamballe: How did she die?

She fell from a window.

What happened?

Apparently, her husband pushed her.

[Windows bang, wind howls] ♪ I believe Necker is encouraging the rebels at the National Assembly.

So, what do you want to do?

I've done it.

I sent him into exile.

Guards are escorting him back to Geneva.

Did-- ♪ [Indistinct chatter] Marguerite!

-I thought I'd never find you.

-[Both laugh] I didn't plan on this chaos when I chose the meeting point.

We need to get you out of here.

If someone recognizes you-- -No, no, I don't care.

-No, you don't understand.

-It's really you.

You don't understand.

The discontent has spread from the countryside.

Not just to Paris.

It's everywhere.

♪ I've decided to recognize the National Assembly.

-Louis.

-There's just no other option.

About Necker...

I thought you'd be pleased that he was gone.

It's just, darling, I'm worried about the reaction in Paris.

No, I, I had him spirited away under the cover of night.

No one will even know he's gone.

A bonfire.

Seems a bit early.

I wonder what they're burning.

-[Men shouting] -Hold on.

[Swords clanging] [Shouting continues] [Gunshot] -Normandy!

-The child, there!

The child!

-Normandy!

-Attack the pig!

[Gunfire, screaming] [Swords clanging] Take him, take him!

Run!

Marie: Who were they?

Adelaide: We're not sure yet.

The intruders were trying to collect grain the Queen was supposed to be hoarding.

But how could it happen?

Where were the guards?

We had to make economies.

The palace guard is much reduced.

-We should flee.

-We should stay.

What do you want to do?

You should take the children to Saint-Cloud.

I bought it to protect us from your brother, not the whole of Paris.

Then where?

If we run, we are deserting our duty.

If we stay, will our children be safe?

Will they be safe if we leave?

Provence: We have to stay.

Men just came here and tried to attack my family.

I understand that, but out there, we are completely exposed.

And we lose our power base.

And worse, we show fear.

♪ It's your decision.

But what are we made of if we run at the first sign of trouble?

You swore an oath to serve France.

♪ We stay.

God put us here.

He will protect us.

I will make sure the household is secure.

♪ Send for Orleans.

♪ We've decided to stay in Versailles.

Have we?

You remember Marguerite, don't you?

Ugh, you were right.

He does look rough.

Why is she here?

The King exiled her.

Marguerite: And the Queen invited me back.

Besides, letters of banishment are illegal, according to our new National Assembly.

Not that my exile was valid in the first place.

Josephine: She was framed by a jealous husband.

You can't hurt me.

I'm dying.

I'll leave you to fill him in.

Marguerite and I intend to live our lives together.

She's moving back into my rooms.

We don't need anyone's permission.

So, you've chosen to humiliate me in my final days?

While this disease is eating at my insides.

Oh, the only thing eating your innards is the rat poison I've been feeding you for the last 6 months.

"My powders, wife."

"With pleasure, husband."

♪ So...am I not dying?

No.

I need you alive, so I can torture you with the one thing that causes you the most pain-- my happiness.

♪ Don't shut me out again.

We may not have the most conventional of marriages.

but we are stronger together than we are apart.

♪ That's why I didn't kill you.

♪ [Door opens] [Liquid pouring] I see you're stepping up security.

I'm not the only one.

Leave us.

[Door closes] Two waistcoats?

Are you worried I might stab you?

Well, lucky for you, I need you alive.

Calm the mob in Paris.

Half of them are probably in your pay.

Starving people don't need an incentive to protest against their oppressors.

Well, they might not be so hungry if you weren't hoarding grain in your cellars.

Because that's what you do.

Don't you?

This is not my doing.

I didn't declare a pointless war on Britain or spend millions liberating America.

I didn't create the deficit and then hide it.

I didn't infuriate the parliament by pursuing vexatious court cases.

What would you have done in our place?

I would have married my son to your daughter.

I would have reunited our families.

And then, today, you and I would be on the same side.

Right, right.

Speak to the third estate and tell them to abandon the National Assembly.

It's too late.

This regime is finished.

You are this regime!

By blood, you are closer to the French throne than I'll ever be.

And yet you are King of France.

I'm expected in Paris.

There will be chaos if this continues.

You have a son.

Look at me.

Is this what you want for him?

Hmm?

I have the same hope for my son as you have for yours.

That he will inherit my throne.

Well, there it is again.

Walking away like a coward.

[Knocking] Well, walk away now, and you will deserve that title.

♪ He loved this bed, didn't he?

We will see him again.

And Sophie.

I know we will.

Do you remember when we were first married?

And all of Paris came out to cheer us?

Later, we found out that 100-- 100 people died in the crush, yes.

Some people said it was an omen.

That I would be bad luck.

But you didn't listen.

I think it's me who's bad luck.

You always said... if a monarch is good to his subjects, they will be good to him.

Were we bad to our people?

[Crowd shouting] If we were, we didn't mean to be.

[Shouting continues] ♪ Long live the Duke of Orleans!

[Crowd cheering] ♪ [Door opens] I've finally replaced Louis in their hearts and minds.

The Queen has ordered more troops to suppress Paris and destroy the National Assembly.

-Really?

-No.

But it's a great rumor.

This is where it starts.

Real change.

♪ [Gunshots] [Crowd shouting] Come on.

Everyone's heading to the Bastille to release Louis' political prisoners.

[All shouting] I think I'll stay here.

I want to be a king, not a martyr.

But the people should see you protesting alongside them.

-What, as an equal?

-Yeah.

That's not what they want.

They think they want radical change, but look who they've chosen as their leader.

A prince of the blood.

Oh, you arrogant bastard.

[Clicks tongue] Oh, please.

You chose me, too.

[Scoffs] The rats are fleeing the sinking ship.

You must take control.

Show your authority, or we will drown in this madness.

Louis is King.

Let him handle it.

[Coughing] Did you say good-bye to the Queen?

She won't see me.

Tell her to leave this place.

There's danger everywhere.

No one can be trusted.

I will tell her you said so.

I do love her, Lamballe.

-A mob is invading the Bastille.

-What?

Lamballe: They're releasing the prisoners and raiding the ammunition store.

-It's a revolt.

-Breteuil: Oh, no, sire.

It's a revolution.

♪ [Crowd shouting] [Shouting continues] [Gunshot] [Gunshots] [Crowd shouting] Man: Down with tyranny!

♪ ♪ The DVD version of this program is available online and in stores.

This program is also available with PBS Passport and on Amazon Prime Video ♪