The Tripods (1984) s01e05 Episode Script

Chateau Ricordeau, France - July 2089 A.D.

(CLEARING THROAT) (SPEAKING FRENCH) The wound heals.
It is better not to touch it.
-Where am I? -The Chateau Ricordeau.
You are here four days and three nights.
-Henry -Your friends are well.
Henry and Jean-Paul.
My cousin the Duc de Sarlat was hunting for wild boar, but found you instead.
You will please drink a little watered wine? -Who are you? -My name is Eloise.
It is my father who is the Comte Ricordeau.
Drink now, I will help you.
Thank you.
It is good for me to practise my English.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) -You are better now? -Yes.
I think so.
You have been very ill.
But the worst is over.
Now you must grow strong again, Will.
-How do you know my name? -We know everything.
In a fever, it is not possible to control the tongue.
You were determined not to speak and said so aloud in English.
-You know then.
-Look at me, Will.
There is no shame.
You have been brave.
I am the mother of Eloise, la Comtesse Marie.
How do you do? (SPEAKING FRENCH) Will is our guest, Eloise.
With him, we must always speak English, until he has our language as we have his.
This is Christophe.
He will look after you.
Christophe or Eloise have been at your side since you were brought here.
-Hello.
-Monsieur.
-When can I see my friends? -They are waiting outside.
Eloise.
I shall return when your friends are gone.
-Will must rest.
-No.
-Please -I think yes.
Eloise and I will return later.
-You are hungry? -Yes.
Christophe will bring you food when you wish.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) Beanpole, Henry.
Are you all right? Gave us away.
-Hey, you couldn't help it.
-Everything.
They think we're only travellers, Will.
But I might have said something about the White Mountains.
Then they think it was a bad dream, nothing more.
-No, but the Countess said -It's true, Will.
They think we're only wanderers.
What are they going to do with us? -These are not ordinary people.
-I can see that.
Ordinary people would send us away or call a Tripod.
These think it is good for boys to leave home.
Their sons travel far away.
Could they help us? Their customs are different.
But still, they are capped.
They obey the Tripods.
Then you two must get away while you can.
I'll follow when I'm better.
I still remember some of the map.
It might be a good idea, Beanpole.
I have been talking to some of the boys here.
-In five weeks, there is a tournament.
-Tournament? Contests and feasts.
In the confusion, we could get away.
It's too much of a risk, staying that long.
-You two must decide.
-I say we should stay.
Will has to get his strength back and you both must learn our language.
It will be worth it.
And we need a new map, a new compass.
All these things we can do here.
But staying that long? Have you got a room like this? No, we sleep in an ordinary room, with the squires.
But it's very nice.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) Tell him Will's sick.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) (SPEAKING FRENCH) No, English.
We speak English.
These are visitors.
My guests.
It is understood.
I found them.
The matter must be reported.
It is the law.
I know the law.
Oh, this one, he is sick, yes? It is for you to inform the authorities, Monsieur le Comte.
It is the law.
It is not my law.
Not law here.
I found them on the estate and the law says Yes, yes, Monsieur le Duc.
But there are other laws.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) Hospitality.
Would you bring to me a sick boy to be frightened? You exceed custom, Monsieur le Duc, and you shame the hospitality of Chateau Ricordeau.
You are better, boy, I hope? -You are feeding good, yes? -Yes, sir.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) Well, here you are safe.
When the sick one is well, then we shall talk.
Now, you may go.
-Monsieur le Comte -I regret, young men, that Monsieur le Duc de Sarlat is too hard in his duty.
Now, you, to bed.
And you two, go everywhere, see everything.
Be free.
Enjoy yourselves.
This is my home.
I'm proud to be of the family Ricordeau.
It is very beautiful, mademoiselle.
It's all right.
Tell us more about the things you do.
Well, there's so much.
After the tournament is the feasting for harvest.
Then riding in autumn.
The ice cracks under the horses' feet.
Then Christmas and the feast of the 12 days, and singers and actors do storytelling.
In spring, there is hunting with hawks.
And then, voila, it is summer again.
I think it is the most beautiful chateau in all France.
-Tell me of your home, Henri.
-I haven't got a home.
Yes, you have.
You live with me.
-Well, he used to live with me.
-Is it a village? It's just a small place where nothing happens.
There's a festival once a year for capping and another for harvest time.
But there is a chateau, though? And a duke or a count? Well, there is a squire, but not like your squires.
I mean, he's old.
He's not like the Count.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) -(FRENCH ACCENT) Henri? -(ANNOYED) Henry.
I don't know.
It is Jean-Paul who speaks the best French.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR) Entrez.
Ah, the young guests.
Come in, come in.
Bonjour, Monsieur le Comte.
Very good.
Eloise, she is a good teacher, yes? -Jean-Paul.
-Bonjour.
-Henri.
-Henry.
-Guillaume.
-No, Will.
Guillaume is Will in French.
So I will call you Guillaume.
-You like my room? -Yes.
-I like your telescope.
-Ah! You know about these things? A little.
It is a fine instrument.
You can see a long way with one of these.
Astronomy, geography, these are my favourite subjects.
-You are interested in them? -I like to learn, monsieur.
Then I shall teach you, all three of you.
-When? -Every day.
You will come here every day and I shall teach you.
We also like travelling, monsieur.
In that case, we shall take some wine and you shall tell me how you came to travel here.
In the study is everything we need.
Maps and compasses.
I know the stables, so we can get horses.
And nobody ever locks up the kitchen, so we're all right for food, too.
What's wrong with you? You're the one with something wrong.
You just shrug and mutter whenever anyone talks to you.
The Count tries to be friendly.
Eloise, too, and her mother.
They don't care about me.
You're the big favourite now.
-I didn't ask for any of it.
-That is true.
Just don't let's get too cosy.
That's all I say.
As soon as you're fit again, we'll be on our way.
Yes.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then.
That depends on what your friends have got arranged for you, doesn't it? -You're too cruel to him.
-He's changed.
-He's still not well.
-Oh, I know all that.
Then perhaps you are changing, too.
What has Sarlat got against Henry, me and Beanpole? -Against Henri and Jean-Paul, nothing.
-Me? -He is jealous, I think.
-What of? I've done nothing.
There is an arrangement.
Go on.
He and I are one day to be married.
I have respect for Monsieur le Duc, of course.
-But you don't like him? -It is an arrangement.
His family are friends of my family.
He sees you spend much time with me and knows I'm happy.
Come on, let's go down to the river.
What are you doing here? Nothing.
The Count's father drew that.
It belongs to a set.
Well, if there's more, he won't miss this one.
-What else have you got? -Nothing.
All right, if that is a special map, show me one he won't miss.
You don't have to steal anything.
I'll take the blame if he finds out.
Does Beanpole know about this? -You'd better go.
-You're becoming one of them.
They found us, they took us in and feed us.
They're kind.
I'm not going to repay them by stealing their property.
-That's Trouillon.
-We know.
It is thought he will win the tournament.
Who do your lot say is going to win? -What do you mean, my lot? -Your chums, the Ricordeaus.
They don't talk about winning much, just about giving everybody a good time when the day comes.
I have been thinking.
Henry does not share much interest in the lessons of the camp.
-He doesn't try! -If I wanted to be a schoolkid -I would have stayed at home.
-I have a great interest in it, but from now on, I shall stay away, with Henry.
Why? I think you alone will gain a greater confidence with the Count.
It will be useful when the time comes.
It is true, Will, is it not? You've forgotten all about the White Mountains, and why we're here.
Don't be stupid! -We must leave soon.
-We're safe here.
Yes, but for how long? I don't trust any of them.
That Sarlat man does not like us.
I speak so you understand.
Three runaways? It is your word, yes? Two of England, I do not ask how you are here in France.
It has no importance.
Le jeun francais, who is well past his time for la calotte.
So, what is there to be done with you? Nothing is to be done, Lieutenant.
These, they are here in my household under the care of my chateau.
Au contraire, Monsieur le Comte, with respect.
These are under the law of the region.
When one finds evades, runaways, they are to be capped as soon as possible.
It is the law.
You questioned my word, monsieur? -You doubt my authority? -But my authority Monsieur lieutenant, I know the law.
These are guests of my chateau, under my protection.
The Duc de Sarlat, my man, he found them.
It was to here they were brought.
I do not know in which fashion you came to hear -Monsieur -I do not wish to know! They stay here.
They study, they learn, they work.
For now, I am responsible for them.
Responsible also for their capping, which will be soon, I hope.
But of course.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) The talking is finished.
This is your wish also? Monsieur le Comte.
Go now, boys, go.
Ah Monsieur le Duc de Sarlat will stay.
(ARGUING IN FRENCH) We must get away soon.
It's too dangerous.
-You're fit enough, aren't you? -I think so.
We must find the White Mountains before winter sets in.
We can trust no one here.
We've found one informer.
-There may be many more.
-When, then? -As soon as possible.
-The day after tomorrow.
I agree.
Can you two arrange some food? -We've got a plan.
-Good.
I'll get us a new map.
You're right.
Two days, two days, we'll be on our way again.
Just the three of us.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) There was an argument this morning.
My father and the Duc de Sarlat.
-He's very angry with him.
-About sending for those men? It worried me also.
If my father was not here, if he was away somewhere, you perhaps would have been taken to Grand Ville.
Eloise? -Do you ever think about travelling? -But why? I'm happy here.
Wouldn't you like to travel and see new things? New places? Do you say these things to tell me you wish to leave us? I never want to leave you.
Do you think perhaps we are in love? Close your eyes.
(LAUGHING) No, no! (SCREAMING) Eloise! Eloise! You have done well, Guillaume.
You have great courage.
You're a very brave young man.
Here.
Take this, please.
I thought she was dead.
We are very fond of you, Guillaume.
We liked you very much even before you saved the life of our daughter.
And now we can say more.
We want you stay here with us.
Our own sons are far away now, dukes in their own estates.
We wish you for a son.
To marry Eloise, when the time is right.
But the Duc de Sarlat? It is finished.
The arrangement He was not worthy.
-But I'm nobody here.
-That can be arranged.
There will be no difficulty.
After the tournament, my husband will give this happy news to our friends and guests.
Stay with us, Will.
Make our home your home and live as one of us.
For the rest of your life, Guillaume.

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