ARTHUR ARCHIVES 6 - MARIE ANTOINETTE

(MUSIC)

THE HOUSE IN MONTMARTRE

THE INTERVIEWER IS WRITING A LETTER, FEATHER QUILL ON PAPER.

ARTHUR

Dear Jean Amilcar,

I pray this letter finds you in private, delivered with the secrecy I ordered.

I ask you to please follow the instructions in this letter to the... well, letter. You don’t know me, but I am an associate of your mother, Queen Marie Antoinette.

After reading the letter, please burn it, and make sure there is no trace left of it but ashes. Believe me when I say this is of the utmost importance to your safety, the safety of your mother, and to the safety of France.

I am sure the revolution is affecting you deeply. Since its outbreak nearly three years ago, no life has been left untouched, including students such as yourself here at Saint-Cloud.

I am sure you are scared of the implications of the revolution, and I am sorry to inform you that the day you are dreading will come sooner rather than later. Before long, your mother will be imprisoned. Shortly after, she will be executed.

But fear not! Without delving into unnecessary detail, please be advised that your mother will be safe as brandy come execution day!

She will seem to die, but be not afeard, for it is but a trick of the eye. After some time you will get to meet her again, alive and well, living under another name.

This brings us to the point of this letter. Jean: Your mother has asked me kindly to ensure your safety during the last stages of the revolution. We have been working towards this end for some time.

A while back, I assumed yet another identity. I have a few from before - I am a revolutionary pamphlet printer and a shop-owning magician in Montmartre. But my most recent identity-acquisition is that of Quentin Beldon.

(LAUGHS) Yes! Yes, I am your teacher Beldon! But hush, don't tell anyone!

I said you don't know me - but what I meant is, you don't know the real me.

The reason for this latest identity is as follows:

Once your mother is imprisoned she will no longer be able to pay for your education. Saint-Cloud will want to expel you.

If they did, you would end up on the street, possibly starving to death. We don't want that.

Instead, I will apply to the government to provide for your schooling, with reference to the support the revolutionary government grants to people who were enslaved during the former regime.

I know my application will be successful, for I have also assumed an identity as a clerk at the department of education.

Yes, oh, ugh, I tell you - a day does simply not have enough hours, does it!

Having been your teacher of fine arts for a while now, I can see that you have a real knack for drawing. Based on your talent, we will enroll you at the Liancourt Academy with state support!

I happen to know your application for Liancourt Academy will be successful, because... and, no,no - I know what you are thinking - no, I do not also have an identity as the student liaison officer at Liancourt Academy. No, that would be ridiculous.

BEAT.

My colleague does.

Unfortunately - or luckily, depending on how you look at it - you will die from an illness later that year. So your stint at a prestigious art academy will be brief.

But again, fear not! Your illness will also be a trick of the eye. Like that hand you drew last week! It looked just like a real hand, yet it was just a drawing!

I apologize that we have to go through all these tedious steps. We have to avoid prying eyes, yada yada yada.

But the end goal is worth it: You see, once you are seemingly dead, we will transport you to a sheep-farm in the Carpathian Mountains!

Now that… If this doesn't sound too exciting, consider this: There, you will be reunited with your mother!

By the way, she is a lesbian now, and she'll be farming sheep with her girlfriend Jeanne de la Motte. Jeanne is lovely, I'm sure you two will get along splendidly!

What we need you to do, Jean, is simple: Just follow the plan as outlined.

- Don't skive your life drawing classes! I know they're embarrassing, but I promise I'll get an actual model next time. I admit it wasn't the greatest idea for me to do the modeling whilst running around assessing the students' paintings. Yes, but… Live and learn…

- Express interest in Liancourt Academy.

- Agree to let me be your patron.

- And keep absolutely silent about all of this to absolutely everyone - including me! We cannot be discovered talking about this.

If you do all this, it will all work out.

Now - Before I end this letter I want to share with you a conversation I had with your mother.

When your mother asked me to help you, I expressed how impressed I was with her actions.

When you were presented to her as a gift by Chevalier de Boufflers, she didn't miss a heartbeat before she manumitted, baptized and adopted you.

"You freed a small, black child from slavery," I said. "That is a great act of charity!"

But your mother immediately corrected me.

"No," she said, "it's only common decency."

Then she continued: "When monarchy falls, I fear the only job Jean could get would be as a servant. I don't want that for him. Jean is a refined soul, and we have taught him to expect more from life."

I do hope she included sheep farming in that.

Anyway! Your mother is an exceptional person, but I am sure you already know that.

I realize all this might seem a bit overwhelming to an eleven year old. But you are a smart kid, Jean. And… I'm afraid this is the moment where you grow up.

Now burn this letter.

Best regards,

Your secret helper.

Well, not-so-secret-anymore. There we are.

Burn this letter!

(MUSIC)