Doctor Who (1963) s03e22 Episode Script

War of God (The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve, Part One)

Hmm, highly satisfactory.
If anyone opens that gate they'll find the TARDIS.
Oh nonsense, my boy.
It's perfectly safe in there.
Yes.
France, most certainly.
Well how do you know that? Hmm! Very good! Date? Any idea of the date, Doctor? Well, by the look of those houses I would say medieval.
Although I suppose it might be as late as the seventeenth century.
I Look out! Nicholas Muss is expecting me.
Oh yes, of course.
You see that? We've landed in the middle of the sixteenth century.
Hmm! Yes, and that was the very time.
What are you talking about? Yes.
That strange brotherhood of apothecaries way ahead of their time.
Now, what was the name of that man that lived in Paris? Err Pes? Pret? Preslin! Preslin.
That's the man.
Yes! The most advanced man of them all! I must try to get to see him.
You are much too cautious, Nicholas.
The Catholics know of only one way to settle our differences.
Times are difficult enough for us, without you provoking further quarrels.
I?! Oh come, be fair! Paris hates our kind.
It will do anything it can to provoke us.
You must control your temper, Gaston.
It is imperative that we keep the peace at this time.
We're in Paris.
Quite so, dear boy.
Well now, don't let us dawdle.
We must go in and change.
Have you got the right clothes? You'd be surprised what I've got in my wardrobe and I want to turn over a few old papers.
Come along, there's no time to lose.
Come along.
Come along, come along! Now, now, is everybody's mug filled? Yes.
Then drink to Henri of Navarre, our Protestant prince.
Henri of Navarre! And to his bride, our Catholic princess.
Landlord! Yes, sir? Have you got no decent wine? Where are the Burgundies? Or even the German wines? Sir, we have the best Bordeaux on the market.
A thin Catholic brew! Gaston, no! For a freethinking German, monsieur Muss, you have some sense.
Vicomte, you have insulted her Highness the Princess.
Simon Duvall, what a surprise.
No doubt you visit this tavern because the air is clearer of rigid Catholic dogma? You have not answered me.
Answered you? I wasn't aware you had asked me a question.
The insult to Princess Marguerite.
It was an accident.
He choked.
Well then.
Drink again.
To her.
Yes.
We both will.
To the Princess.
Most of them are in the service of the Admiral de Coligny? I have to serve them, sir.
I hate these Huguenots as much as the next man but I have to live.
Certainly you must serve them, but watch and listen.
Report to me anything you hear or see.
Certainly, anything, sir.
Here in Paris we know what is right.
Though for people like myself with a living to earn.
Of course.
But watch your business.
Duvall, leaving so soon? Can't you stomach the wine here? I have business elsewhere.
After all, my dear Vicomte, a tavern is a place where a gentleman may refresh himself, while simpler people amuse him with their badinage.
It won't be of the least interest to you, dear boy.
Landlord! Wine! What? I'm not going to sit in the TARDIS whilst you gallivant around Paris.
I shall do nothing of the sort.
I'm going to visit Preslin.
He lives on the other side of Paris, somewhere near Port St.
Martin I believe.
Thank you.
I just want to sit down and have a talk with him about his work.
Are you interested in germinology, hmm? I don't know.
What is it? Well, well, there you are, you see and you know nothing about this period do you? You'd only be found out for the man that you are.
Look, I'll be careful! I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself.
I'd just walk around Paris and see the sights.
Well, in that case I shan't visit Preslin.
Oh don't be silly! You can't wait to talk to him.
Go on! You go.
I'll be all right.
Well You'll never forgive yourself if you don't.
Well you promise me you won't get into trouble? Yes, of course.
Well try not to talk to anyone.
And come back here this evening and we'll go off to the TARDIS together.
Yes, all right.
Now, you go and find your monsieur Preslin.
Quite, quite, You'll need that.
Thanks And don't cut yourself with that sword.
Oh, I do beg your pardon.
Oh, oh yes, of course.
Here take this.
The wine is two Sous.
I cannot change this.
Well that's all I have.
I cannot change gold.
Can I help you? You're a stranger here.
Yes.
This man won't change my money.
I ask for two Sous and he gives me an Ecu.
I cannot change such a coin.
Here.
Thank you, sir.
Is that Parisian hospitality? What do you mean, sir? The gentleman's Ecu.
A thousand apologies.
I wasn't thinking.
Oh.
Thank you.
I'm afraid I don't understand your money.
Not at all.
Excuse me.
Yes? Can you tell me the way to the Port St.
Martin? Certainly, but as a stranger to Paris I think you'll have difficulty finding it.
I shall try.
You see I must find a man called Preslin.
I'm sorry.
I don't know the name.
Is anything wrong? Well, I don't know.
You see the friend who was with me has gone there.
When he left here it looked as though he was followed.
The old man? Yes, you see he's gone to find an apothecary there.
Is he sick? Oh no! No, no, he's a scientist.
He's gone to talk to him about his idea.
A dangerous thing to do in days like these.
Oh, perhaps it doesn't matter.
He'll be able to take care of himself.
He usually does.
In that case you needn't worry No I don't think you're sure.
Look, come and drink some wine with us and later I'll take you to the Port St.
Martin.
Thank you, but er, well, I don't want to intrude Nonsense, come and join us.
Later, we'll make sure your friend is safe.
Thank you.
I'm afraid I've never been in Paris before.
Allow us to be your guides.
What do you want? I am looking for Charles Preslin.
He doesn't live here.
Oh, but this is his shop? It was.
He's gone.
Where? He's left Paris.
Oh dear, dear, dear.
Now isn't that a pity.
And I did so want to talk to him about his work.
Make more trouble for him? Trouble? Not at all! I'm a scientist too.
I merely wish to discuss his work with him.
He was merely a mixer of herbs and ointments.
Perhaps to you, but he was a man who searched deeply in nature.
I didn't think he was a faint heart.
No, but cautious.
I see.
Yes.
He also discovered, er, small creatures, which if attacking humanity could cause a very serious illness.
You're not French? No.
Yet you know of Preslin? Yes, in science news travels.
Yes.
And there's a man in Germany who's working on optics, trying to make a machine, which will enable Preslin to see these small creatures.
He calls them germs.
Is it so! Are they really doing this? Yes.
So now, doesn't this encourage you to continue with your theories, monsieur Preslin? Yes, I am Charles Preslin.
Forgive me, but in these days one has to be careful.
Yes of course, my dear fellow.
But I'm extremely curious about your work, Monsieur Preslin.
Don't mind Gaston, he's like this with any stranger.
In fact, he'd cross-question his own shadow.
Don't mock me, Nicholas.
I'm in France to protect my master, Henri of Navarre.
Just as you are to protect de Coligny.
You're too suspicious.
Steven's been travelling abroad.
He knows nothing about what's been happening here.
Do you? I really do know very little.
Yes, but if you come from England you must be for the Huguenot? He is what you call a a Protestant! Oh, yes.
There you see it's just that I'm interested in our friend.
Now tell us where you've been travelling.
Well, I've been I've been in Egypt! In Egypt! Yes look, er, I've taken up far too much of your time.
Perhaps you'd be good enough to tell me the way to the Port St.
Martin? I'll come with you, and show you the city.
Ah, thank you, but really I should try to find my friend.
Wise man.
Nicholas here only knows the most boring places.
At least let me point out the start of your journey.
Yes, thank you.
Guards! When you get there, ask again.
Anyone will tell you.
I think I can find it now.
Thank you, Nicholas.
A pleasure.
And what do you want? The girl who came in here.
My Lord Cardinal's guard aren't you? What does he want with a wench? She is a servant.
She ran away.
I have orders to bring her back.
She doesn't appear to care for the Cardinal's service.
I suggest you let her go.
She has chosen for the staff of the house of the Abbot of Amboise.
Clearly she likes that no more.
Let me pass! My Lord Abbot shall hear of this when he arrives.
Yes, I'm sure he will.
Tell him to take this story to our Cardinal in Rome.
No doubt he'll like it also.
There now.
I thought he might be roused.
What a pity! Gaston! Hey, come Mister Englishman.
Join us again.
Clearly not safe for you to walk alone.
What about the girl? Where is she? She's just a servant.
A chance to bait a Catholic.
Forget her! Come! Come! Come! But who is this Abbot, hmm? The Abbot of Amboise.
He hates us all.
Yes, I suppose just now all churchmen are rather suspicious of your work.
But surely you can carry on without his knowledge, hmm? You don't know the man! The Abbot of Amboise is the Cardinal of Lorraine's right hand.
With the Cardinal in Rome the Abbot has decided to come to Paris.
We shall be hunted down.
That man is far more dangerous than the Cardinal.
I suppose there's no point in, er, going to see him? None, unless you want to be thrown into prison for heresy! Hmm, I wonder.
The girl was clearly frightened out of her wits.
We should find her.
Nonsense.
She's probably gone back to her own people.
But don't you want to know why she was so frightened? No.
Many things frighten people in Paris these days.
Hey, hey, hey, you! Girl, come here.
Come on! Now then, my friend here, whom you ran into, wants to know why you're frightened? Come on, girl! For goodness sake, you're frightening her even more! It's all right.
Just tell us what it is you fear.
Nothing, sir.
Yes, but you were running away.
Why? Louis, call back the guards.
No! Then answer us! Why were you frightened? It is something I overheard, sir.
What? Well, you see, I come from Vase.
And when they said 'it might happen again' What's that? They said it would happen again, and my father died there! Vase! Calm down, Gaston.
What did you hear? I was just passing the room and I heard them mention Vase.
What did they say? Something about it, er, about it happening before the week was past.
Who spoke? The Captain who followed me inside and another man.
Now tell us exactly what you heard.
Just, just the word that made me stop, sir.
My father died at Vase and Yes, yes, I know, but go on! What are you all talking about? Ten years ago at Vase, a small town some miles south of Paris, a hundred Huguenots were slaughtered by the Catholics.
Why? Because they were Huguenots.
Listen, girl.
What do they call you? Anne.
Anne, think back.
Remember every single word the Captain and the other man said.
But I've told you.
Then tell us again.
Fool! To allow the meddlesome Vicomte De Leran to stop you! There were too many of them.
They'd have killed us before we even found the girl.
The girl is just a servant.
She couldn't have understood us.
If she should remember what you said and should repeat it she could put our friend on his guard.
We didn't speak of him.
Then what did you say to frighten the girl? Nothing.
Servants don't run away from a house in fear for nothing.
I think we mentioned Vase and the celebrations here in Paris but nothing that anyone could've made head or tail of.
She made something of it! Vase? That might have been it.
That word alone is enough to put every Huguenot in Paris on his guard.
I will go and look for her.
You will not.
You will wait here and report this to the Abbot.
It was your mistake.
I'm sure he will want to congratulate you himself.
But Very well.
And you, find out if she has any relations in Paris.
If she has seek them out.
And find if she's fled there.
That girl must be found! She can't help us any more.
You can go.
No, wait! If the Catholics find her they can easily discover what she's told us.
We must keep her out of sight.
And just what do you propose to do with her? She can work in the Admiral's kitchen.
They won't find her there.
Go to the house of the Admiral de Coligny.
Tell them that Nicholas Muss sent you.
Where's that, sir? Oh, no one is more ignorant than the common people of Paris.
The Admiral of France lives on the corner of Rue de Bethisy and the Rue de Labrasec.
Thank you sir.
But what do they mean these things she overheard? A threat to Navarre.
I must warn him.
I'll see you later.
I'm afraid you have arrived in Paris at a most unfortunate time.
I wish I understood what was going on.
My English friend, it's really quite simple.
Henri of Navarre is a Huguenot, a Protestant prince.
Yesterday he married Marguerite of France, a Catholic.
The marriage was arranged by the Queen Mother in the hope that it would heal the religious wound that is tearing France in two.
But in the light of what that girl overheard, it looks as if the Catholics of France are plotting against Navarre's life.
Do you understand? Yes.
Yes, I think I do.
Now, I must leave you.
I must see the Admiral at once.
Forgive me that I cannot show you Paris.
Oh I shall be all right.
Besides, my friend should be returning soon.
Pleasant journey.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
You showed the old man the way? Good, I only hope he succeeds.
You were not seen? I should hope not? You've done well.
Good luck, old man.
Good luck.
Where's the girl? The girl? The girl who came in here this morning.
What happened to her? I don't know, I was down in the cellar and when I came up there she was being questioned by the Huguenots.
Vicomte De Leran? Nicholas Muss? Yes.
And another man.
Who? He's still here, over there Who is he? I don't know.
A stranger.
English, I think.
Go on.
The Vicomte left hurriedly once they'd finished with the girl.
And where is she now? Sir, it's difficult to hear everything.
I must watch over the whole tavern.
Haven't I paid you enough? Oh come, sir! What happened to the girl? She I remember.
She was sent to the house of Admiral de Coligny.
I see.
Thank you, my friend.
Good evening.
A stranger to this city? Yes.
I thought you must be.
Most wise people are at home by this time.
It's almost time for the curfew.
The curfew? Yes, an unfortunate necessity which even the marriage of protestant Henri to our great King's sister hasn't been able to rectify.
Look, I'm sorry, but I don't understand.
I'm on my way back to England.
I really know very little of what's been going on here.
I trust you've found yourself somewhere comfortable to stay while you're here.
Apartments are hard to find at this time, Paris being so full for the celebrations.
I shall be all right.
I'm leaving tonight, I'm just waiting for a friend.
I hope he comes soon otherwise he won't be able to leave.
I expect we'll be all right.
Thanks.
Good.
He's waiting for a friend.
Watch and see who it is.
Nicholas! Steven, you're still here.
Where's your friend? Don't know.
He said he'd meet here tonight.
He hasn't arrived yet.
But it's time for the curfew.
Where will you stay if he doesn't come? I don't know.
I'm sure he will come.
There's the curfew now.
You must come with me.
You can always come back here in the morning.
Landlord! Yes, sir? If an old man arrives asking for the Englishman tell him he's lodging with the Admiral de Coligny, and will return here in the morning.
Certainly, sir.
Look, this is very kind of you but I'm sure he will come.
Not now, he must be delayed somewhere.
There's nothing we can do tonight.
I suppose you're right.
He's probably got sidetracked.
He often does.
All right.
Thank you.
I will accept your offer.
Then come.
English? I wonder what they're up to? I shall want a full report in the morning on all that happens.
And that is what happened.
If it hadn't been for the Vicomte De Leran the Captain would almost certainly have caught her.
It was pure mischance.
I'm sure she couldn't have made any sense of what we said.
Simon Duvall has gone to the inn where she escaped and the Captain has gone to find an aunt of hers.
I'm certain it's only a matter of time.
In fact one of them may be bringing her back here now.
Forgive me, Father Abbot, but the missing girl is at the house of Admiral de Coligny.
Fetch her tomorrow! Bring her to me.

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