♪ Marie, voice-over: Only you understand my yearning.

Only you, Rohan, know my heart.

My Queen...

I am the servant of your every desire.

I will make the necklace yours.

Shh!

Someone approaches, Majesty!

♪ [Girls giggling] Don't break up the diamond necklace!

I've found a buyer.

♪ Marie, voice-over: Dear Axel, Dr. Brunier says the baby is doing marvelously, and so am I.

It was an easy birth, and he seems to be he easiest child.

Louis's very pleased with him, but I can't bear not to see you.

Come when you can.

[Indistinct chatter] Oh, dear, she just can't help herself.

Well, I think she's looking quite nice.

Man: The King!

-Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty.

♪ Man: That dress is awful!

Woman: She's painted in her underwear.

Man 2: That's so inappropriate.

Louis: Take it down!

Take it down!

[Crowd murmuring] No one else sees this.

Louis.

We return to Versailles now.

Now!

♪ The gift that keeps on giving.

[Glasses clink] We don't need to plot against Louis.

She's dragging down his reign all by herself.

You're too modest.

You've been using your new fortunes to help things along.

I may have funded a small print run about her buying Saint-Cloud.

Mm, I think you went further than that.

Well, places to be.

Uh, I thought we could dine together.

Well, if you're stuck for company, there's always your wife.

Huh.

The protests at Saint-Cloud?

Bloody pigs' heads and burning horse muck.

I'd love to shove Orléans' face in it.

A very tempting prospect, sire.

Did I make a mistake bringing my cousin back into the fold?

No, I don't think you had a choice, but we do need to step up our surveillance of the Palais Royal.

And, uh, I will do my best at the Household Committee meeting, but perhaps you might advise the Queen to be more careful.

We don't need to give anyone more ammunition.

Oh, and the delegation from the Parliament has arrived to discuss the matter of the new loan.

He can wait.

That'll be all.

♪ The Household Committee has permanently removed your new portrait from public view.

-That's ridiculous.

-Yes.

It's a fuss about nothing.

Welcome, Your Majesty.

The Household Committee is charged with preserving royal standards.

There is concern that your recent official portrait was ill-advised.

For ordinary subjects to see their Queen in a garment of that nature is... Man: A disgrace!

Man 2: You should be embarrassed!

Gentlemen, Paris looks to me to set trends.

[Committee murmuring] Now, now, gentlemen, gentlemen, if you please.

A royal portrait must transmit authority.

A replacement will be commissioned by a different artist, and the committee will have ideas about how you may present yourself.

Oh, as do I.

And I will bring them to the committee in due course.

[Committee grumbling] Man: Who does she think she is?

I understand that you don't like these people, but we have to listen to them.

I am not going to be dictated to by a bunch of gout-riddled old farts.

We must adhere to etiquette for once.

The point is to change all that.

-Madam, you just don't under-- -No, don't "madam" me.

Are you listening?

I've just been scolded by your Household Committee.

I'm the Queen of France.

-Yes!

You are the Queen of France.

but that inappropriate portrait, Saint-Cloud, The Marriage of Figaro!

-Saint-Cloud?

That was not my fault!

You are spoiling the reputation of the Crown!

Ask anyone who's been to the Palais Royal.

Orléans is dragging your name through the mud!

Why do you care what he says?

Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be hated?

♪ Thank you for your support.

♪ [Men shouting] Gentlemen, settle down!

Settle down!

With respect, Necker's financial report forecasted an annual surplus of 12 million.

Are we to understand that this year alone, His Majesty has spent the 12 million livres surplus, on top of the 24 million borrowed from the Discount Bank, and he now requires another loan from Parliament?

It is not for the King to justify his expenses, Malherbe.

[Indistinct chatter] Malherbe: Apologies.

We simply require some clarification.

We are exploring a new approach to stimulate economic growth.

Precisely.

The coffers are quite well.

My Financial Controller assures me he has it all in hand.

Now, you may approve my loan.

♪ Dearest Cardinal, please forgive me for leaving our meeting in the garden so abruptly.

We must be discreet.

My acquisition of Saint-Cloud attracted vicious criticism.

So, no one must know that I plan to purchase the necklace.

I will write again shortly with further instructions.

The crazy bitch pulled it off.

[Cups clink] Do you mean me, or our fake Queen--Nicole?

-What if she rats you out?

-She won't.

She thinks courtiers hired her to play a trick on the Cardinal.

I thought the scam in Belize was smart, but this--this is genius.

We don't have the necklace yet.

It's a detail.

It's in the bag.

And you, my dear, are about to pull off the crime of the century.

You should come visit us on the farm.

Yes, the farm.

I'll tell you what, we should get some more drinks.

Something stronger, on me.

To country life.

-Villette's a liability.

-He's loyal.

For now.

You've gone too far with him.

He really thinks that you're his bestest friend.

Who says I'm not?

Sooner or later, he'll see the real you, and he'll squeal.

Just do to him what you did to me.

It's kinder.

[Crowd cheering] Why have I never been here before?

Because it's--oh!

Because it's filthy.

[Cheers and applause] Marie: "The Vicious Queen Clears Off."

Antoinette, don't.

Marie: "The Misadventures of Marie Antoinette, starring Nicole Doliva."

Antoinette!

♪ ♪ I am the Queen of France ♪ ♪ I hope you like my dance ♪ ♪ I am the Queen of France ♪ ♪ I hope you like my dance ♪ ♪ I **** all night, I **** all day ♪ ♪ But not the King of France ♪ Man: Stand still a minute, love.

I wanna paint your portrait!

Like that?

[Laughter] ♪ I am the Queen of France ♪ ♪ I hope you like my dance ♪ ♪ I am the Queen of France ♪ ♪ I hope you like my dance ♪ ♪ Those frogs, they're wearing clogs ♪ [Laughter] ♪ I shall complain.

Tell everyone not to go to that sordid little cesspit.

Louis was right.

He's stressed.

Because of me.

Does he confide in you?

We speak sometimes in the nursery.

Does he ever tell you that he's ashamed of me?

Never.

Not once.

I can tell him you don't mean any harm.

Help him see your point of view.

Perhaps.

But I need to make some serious changes.

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Oh, I'm beginning to believe it does.

Marie, voice-over: My dear Rohan, when the contract is signed and returned to me, we can complete the purchase.

-Yes, of course.

-But, remember, if any person raises the matter with me in public, I will deny all knowledge of the necklace.

Louis: Listen to the waves.

It's like they're singing to you.

You ready?

You hear it?

[Whispering] [Door opens] Governess ahoy!

We're listening to the sea and charting the epic voyage of Laprouse.

-Sounds fun.

-He's going to Chile, then the Sandwich Islands, Alaska, America.

Provisional stops along the way and then on to Asia.

Yolande: How wonderful.

But now, I'm afraid the children must set sail for their baths.

All right.

And I hear you're off on your own adventure.

Louis: Yes.

I'm going to see the progress of the new harbor at Cherbourg.

Hardly an epic voyage, but probably the closest I'll ever get.

The journey will allow me to take the temperature of the country, so.

And how lovely to be away from Versailles for a while.

You should come.

We depart this afternoon.

I'm sorry.

It was a silly suggestion.

No, no, no.

I would like to.

-Really?

-Yes.

[Footsteps] I've invited Yolande on our trip to Cherbourg.

I thought you might like some time to yourself to make those changes you mentioned at the Petit Trianon.

Well, I shall try not to be lonely.

You'd better go and pack.

Of course.

I don't know why I invited her.

It just came out.

It's fine.

I'm sorry for shouting.

Well, you were right.

People look to their monarchs for stability.

I have undermined that by appearing so frivolous and foolish.

Not foolish.

So, by the time you return, I will have regained my image as your beloved Queen.

♪ What is this?

What's going on?

Marguerite is moving in.

Marg-- Well, what will people think?

Oh, I imagine they won't care.

I care.

♪ Have you asked my brother's permission?

Oh, no.

I'll ask him right away.

Louis?

"Yes?"

Oh, can Marguerite move in?

"Yes, of course.

How charming."

Happy?

What about us?

There is no us.

I mean, there never has been.

♪ Sign here.

I will sign on behalf of the purchaser.

And do not ask, for I cannot tell.

Let's just say, these are jewels fit for a Queen.

I knew it.

Who else could afford such a piece?

You mustn't tell anyone.

And she will not acknowledge the purchase publicly.

-I understand.

-Good.

An acquisition of this magnitude could put her in an uncomfortable position.

♪ Oh, we must be getting close to the coast.

Look at all the gulls.

Larus Argentatus-- their technical name.

Said to trap sailors' souls.

Their cry is-- is a dead man's cry.

That's cheerful.

You know, I've never seen the sea.

I've read about it.

Imagined it.

My older brother and I were sickly children.

We stayed inside.

But now I am well, and I'm King, and I'm still inside.

Not today.

No.

♪ -Aah!

-Aaaah!

You shall not catch me with that little hook!

-You're already ensnared!

-Foul corruptress!

-Bold.

-You make me so.

♪ You do know that your wife has completely given up on having children?

What if something happens to the King or his offspring?

Babies should be Josephine's duty.

Marguerite is a bad influence.

[Scoffs] She has to go.

Marie: And navigating the vast ocean of life, finding companionship in a friendship that is more precious than-- precious and rare-- precious and rare than all the diamonds in the world.

That's beautiful.

-Get off.

-No, I mean it.

You're so good with words.

Well, there's plenty more where that came from.

Give it to him tonight, after you get the necklace.

It should buy us more time.

Hey, w-what are you doing?

Getting rid of the drafts we made.

♪ Burn it.

Destroy all the evidence.

♪ [Door opens] ♪ You look beautiful.

[Baby coos] May I?

♪ I have missed you so much.

These past months without you have felt like years.

♪ I went to the Palais Royal.

I wanted to see for myself.

[Scoffs] These people don't know the first thing about you.

They know I am an adulteress.

So, I need to make some changes.

♪ And I am one of them?

♪ My father has been pestering me to get married.

I will write and tell him to find me a wife.

Axel, don't think badly of me.

Never.

♪ [Door opens] [Door closes] Majesty, a gift from the villagers--a local delicacy.

Farmer's pate.

Mmm.

[Women giggling] This...

This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten.

[Laughter] They seem to like me.

What's not to like?

It seems I am more popular than my wife.

Well, it's treason to attack a king, so, his critics find a scapegoat-- usually the royal mistress.

But you don't have a mistress, so, Antoinette gets it instead.

The new official portrait will be stately.

Classically inspired, royal colors, limited jewels.

Seated, of course.

So, we'll hate everything about it.

But the committee will love it.

Excellent vision, Majesty.

Now, how about your hair?

Stop pretending, Leonard.

We both know what's there.

Ah, everyone's got it.

It's the large pins.

They pull so-- Cut it.

♪ -Ta-da!

-Voila!

Tomorrow, the court will see a whole new Queen!

It's perfect.

Marie, voice-over: I understand that the formalities have been completed.

The necklace will be collected by my personal guard.

Do not entrust it to another.

Do this for me, Rohan, and you will be in my favor forever.

Deus meus.

And the first installment?

400,000?

The purchaser will send it by return.

You may deliver the item to your mistress.

No, it will travel with my own guards.

It's this guard, or none.

The purchaser insists.

This is the most expensive necklace in the world.

And she is the Queen of France!

What she wants, she gets!

And she wants him to deliver the necklace!

If your men make the delivery, everyone will know she has bought something.

Be on your way.

Be sure to send your mistress our personal regards.

Come straight back with the Queen's first payment.

I'll wait up.

-Yes, Your Eminence.

Her Majesty wanted me to give you this.

♪ Sorry, kid.

♪ That bastard betrayed us!

What happened?

Le Motte said you bottled it and ran off.

**** you, arse****!

Don't believe a word he said!

He knocked me out!

-What's going on?

-He attacked me.

-Did you?

-No.

-You ******* liar.

Get out!

Jeanne, please, it's you and me.

Get out!

[Choking] Don't touch her!

I was gonna wait until we got back to London, but I guess I'll just kill you now instead.

Oh, no, no!

[Gasping] Run!

♪ Only child.

I was never very good at sharing.

You're a dead man walking.

Do you hear me?

You're a dead man walking, Villette!

♪ [Laughing] ♪ [Groans, exhales] ♪ Perfect, no?

♪ [Indistinct chatter] Woman: That dress is horrendous.

♪ [Indistinct chatter] ♪ What is their problem?

They're just not used to seeing you in something so conservative.

No matter what I change, I will always be wrong.

♪ Woman #2: What has she got on now?

♪ What about this?

Burn it.

♪ ♪ Posh paper.

Where'd you get it?

The Queen's boudoir, darling.

I had a notion it would come in useful.

♪ Right then, let's be having them.

♪ Hurry up.

We need to get to the port.

Only guilty people run.

And Jeanne de Valois isn't guilty.

Anyway, no one even knows the necklace is missing.

Not yet.

But when the Queen doesn't cough up the cash, you'll be the world's most wanted.

There's no evidence to connect me to any of this.

Yes, but when it's publicly exposed as a con-- It won't be.

When Rohan works it out, he'll be so embarrassed, he'll use his riches to cover his mistake.

Boehmer gets his one and a half million, and only we will know the truth.

And Rohan, but he won't tell a soul.

And we won't have to hide.

We can have our happily ever after back in London.

No.

I belong at Versailles.

You're staying?

That's suicide.

[Giggles] Living and feeding and rotting in London with you, that's suicide.

You'll need to flip the diamonds fast, before they know they're missing.

My Paris contact.

You say I sent you.

♪ [Door opens] [Laughs] [Door closes] ♪ [Footsteps] Sorry, Antoinette, I did not mean to disturb.

What is this?

Knitting.

For the children of the poor fallen women.

Oh.

You're not pleased with my efforts?

I am, of course.

[Sighs] I'm sorry.

I will leave you to your charity.

-What's wrong?

Marie: Nothing.

Nothing.

It's my hair.

This, it's...

It is humiliating and ugly.

No, it is not ugly.

Look at me.

You're never ugly.

Come.

Look at you.

[Sighs] It's...sophisticated.

[Both laugh] Look.

Sometimes they love you, and sometimes they hate you, and none of it has anything to do with you.

The only solution is to please oneself and tosh to the rest.

Remember, you are the Mother of France.

♪ Thank you.

♪ How do you feel about group portraits?

♪ [Laughter] ♪ [Laughter] ♪ 9 caissons in position.

81 to go.

Tremendous.

Though I had hoped we'd get a little closer to the sea.

This is the best vantage point, Majesty.

Yes.

Yes, of course.

It really is excellent work, don't you agree, Duchess?

Mm-hmm.

You look pale.

Let's get you warm.

This will be a fine legacy.

Once the harbor is built, Britain will never dare to invade.

All that war, and what did we gain?

Tobago?

Louis: And an ocean of debt.

But I've seen enough.

You were right-- we must extend the taxes.

The clergy and nobility must pay their way.

Back to Versailles.

We have work to do.

♪ You're very quiet.

Are you still feeling ill?

No, I'm fine.

What's happening?

I asked the driver to stop before we turn inland.

I want one last look at the sea.

[Chuckles] What?

♪ What are you doing?!

-Hurry up!

Come on.

-Louis!

♪ Whoo!

♪ -Well, I think-- -Hmm.

Mm.

Yolande: Well?

What do you think of the sea?

It's bloody freezing.

Turn around.

You know, there is a solution to Antoinette's unpopularity.

What?

What?

You could make me your mistress.

We could protect each other.

You would gain respect for your prowess.

I would expand my influence, and the crimes Antoinette is blamed for would become mine, overnight.

You don't even have to touch me.

I could just come up to your rooms occasionally and play a round of piquet.

I hate that my wife is punished for my failings.

But...if I can be a good King, the people will love us both.

You will always have my protection.

But I can't take a mistress.

It's not who I am.

I know.

And I admire you for it.

Now, come on.

Let's go home.

♪ They should send you to war.

Who needs cannons when you have Croquet Lamballe?

You look amazing!

[Laughs] Give me a go.

Actually, wait.

For you.

-What?

It's lovely.

But what did I do to deserve this?

Now, I know it's-- it's simple, but...

I wanted to show my new friend how much I appreciate her.

This means more to me than you can imagine.

You should-- -What?

You should give up your home in Paris.

Move to Versailles full time.

I can find you an apartment near mine.

-I would love that.

-[Both chuckle] I just have one tiny spot of business to do first.

♪ Will you stop pacing?

You're interrupting the energy flow.

The Queen's guard should have been here days ago!

It doesn't make sense.

I have searched the whole palace looking for that guard.

He's nowhere.

[Knock on door] The Court Jeweler is here again, asking about the first installment.

Tell him I'm not here.

Jeweler: I have to see him now!

You have to let me in!

Come on, let go of me!

I know you're in there, Rohan!

It's been 3 days!

If your patron hasn't delivered the money by tomorrow, I will have to visit her myself!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules, gentlemen.

Now, I'm sure you agree, rectifying the royal image is of utmost urgency.

Her Majesty has read our dossier of recommendation?

Oh, no, it was very long.

-[Men groan] -Ridiculous.

Shh, shh, shh.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, I appreciate your concern.

But I must politely remind you that I do not need your approval.

Desire it, respect it, perhaps, but I answer only to my husband and to God.

As such, I have decided to retain Vige Le Brun as my official portrait artist.

May I present to you "The Mother of France."

A Queen, in service of her country and its future.

[Men talking at once] I will, of course, show the committee the finished piece before it is revealed this time... and, of course, his Majesty.

[Men talking at once] Man: They've captured everything.

Man 2: This is beautiful.

-Welcome home.

-Thank you.

What's this?

A dossier of treachery.

While you were away, Provence uncovered a spy.

Where did you find this traitor?

In my wife's bed.

She mustn't know it came from us.

Well, I will study the evidence and issue a letter de cache if necessary.

Thank you, brother.

♪ [Knocking on door] ♪ Louis.

You are transformed, Madam.

Into the Queen France deserves, I hope.

How strong he looks.

The committee was quite pleased.

The Queen, in her most royal duty.

The Mother of France.

Exactly.

I'm proud to be her.

And I am proud of you.

♪ I hope I can be real with you.

♪ Louis, there's something I need to tell you.

No.

I-I know that you love another.

♪ Neither of us know what the future might hold.

We must seize happiness... ♪ wherever it is found.

♪ -Louis-- -It's all right.

♪ Honestly.

♪ Where will you find your happiness?

♪ A gift.

From the villagers of Normandy.

-Oranges?

-A precious commodity.

They must think a lot of you.

[Chuckles] How kind.

And what's this?

-Farmer's pate.

-Thank you.

I would hold off on the thanks until you've tried it.

It is, without a doubt, the worst thing I've ever tasted.

[Laughs] ♪ Excuse me, sorry.

[Sighs] ♪ Oh, a friendly face, at last.

Are we still friends?

I hardly see you anymore.

Oh, God, save me.

Come, sweet Cardinal, share your burden.

I-I have a dreadful confession to make.

I've been robbed by one of the Queen's guards.

What did he take?

A diamond necklace.

The diamond necklace.

-The diamond necklace!

Shh!

But how?

How did-- The Queen tasked me with secretly obtaining the item from the jeweler, which I did.

But then I gave it to her guard, and he disappeared.

You entrusted the world's most expensive necklace to a guard?

Well, he said he was a special guard.

Oh, I see.

[Sighs] So, now the Queen waits in vain for her necklace and the jeweler for his payment, and you are in the middle like a prize plum.

I imagine they're both furious at you.

I just got back in the Queen's favor.

When she finds out about this-- No, she can't.

She'll think you're an imbecile.

I know.

If you want to save face, I think there's only one solution.

I pay the jeweler the money.

Exactly.

But I can't pay!

I am destitute.

I've spent the lot.

♪ But you are one of the richest men in France.

I was.

But it's gone.

How?

Houses.

Jewels.

Cagliostro.

The poor fallen women.

But I have a plan.

I will hire a spy to hunt down the thief and the necklace!

And when the brigand is delivered to me, I will see him hang.

♪ I hear congratulations are in order!

Who's the lucky lady?

To be decided.

My father's sending portraits.

Do not be seen.

♪ Marguerite!

[Chuckles] ♪ Marguerite!

♪ You can't do this.

Louis, you can't.

Evidence was brought to me by reliable sources.

Marguerite is a friend of the Palais Royal and of Beaumarchais.

There is reason to believe she is spying for Orléans.

[Scoffs] Who told you these lies?

-You know I can't-- -I have a right to know!

Was it Provence?

-No!

No.

I will not tell you the names of my spies, Madam.

This is about the libelles I drew.

You've been waiting all this time for your revenge.

It is done.

She has been returned to her husband in Lille.

She was my only happiness.

I must know my enemies.

Then you must know you've made another in me.

♪ [Door opens and closes] ♪ I've spent a week trying to convince the public their Queen is respectable.

And here I am.

Our love is respectable.

Even Louis has given it his blessing.

Perhaps this is us now.

Happy ever after.

♪ He's probably jealous.

Well, I never had any issues with your extracurriculars.

I just missed my partner in crime.

He won't get away with this.

-Go on.

-Wouldn't it be terrible if stories got out about the King's erratic behavior?

Perhaps he's becoming melancholic, paranoid.

All it would take is a little push.

And when people think he's unfit to rule...

He will be forced to hand me the crown.

And when you take control of the throne, then you'll bring Marguerite back.

♪ You have my word.

♪ [Glasses clink] ♪ The Queen's guard gave you these?

The Special Guard.

These are forgeries.

Someone has pretended to be the Queen, to deceive you into obtaining the necklace.

[Scoffs] That's ridiculous!

These letters are from the Queen.

You've been deceived.

♪ Nicole, voice-over: We are two solitary ships navigating the vast ocean of life, finding companionship in a friendship that is more precious and rare than all the diamonds in the world.

Never doubt me, Cardinal, for I have put my good name in your hands.

You see, my husband and I have many enemies.

Perhaps I encourage them with my foolish behavior.

But I'm a weak woman, powerless to resist fripperies and fancies, and so, I must proceed in secret, indulging my desires behind closed doors, hiding my sins from the world.

♪ Good night, sweet Cardinal.

♪ I must see the Queen.

Immediately.

It's about a diamond necklace.

♪ 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 ♪