The King's billiard table
-Good.
You'll need to replace the candles before tonight.
Have the gaming tables prepared, His Majesty wishes to hold a private room!
-Don't tell me... It can't be!
Not again!
That's the fifth this week! Take care of it!
This time, that's enough! That animal's going to hear from me!
(The coast is clear.)
Oh, the wooden floor. How we meet again...
-These evenings are wildly entertaining.
Louis, my master, suggests all types of games. With cards, balls, tokens...
Some of them are really complicated. -Complicated? You bet!
Humans complicate everything,
when all you need to have fun is a good stick.
-I'm going to get my hands on that wild beast.
-No, no, no, Ariane...
Come on, resist!
Remember that Monsieur Bontemps has already lost his temper over this!
And at the same time, it's so good...
So pleasant!
There's nothing like silk.
-Ariane?!
-Oh no! What have I done? It's a disaster!
-Oh no!
Don't tell me that...
-That what?
What's going on? Why are you making that face?
-She tore up the billiard table, the favorite game of Louis, my master.
-The king will be furious, no doubt about it.
-Well, don't worry! All we have to do is to go away.
-No one will know who did it. -Unfortunately, they will...
Ariane's scratches are identifiable.
-It's possible Monsieur Bontemps knows my signature.
He's already got his eye on me because he's fed up
with repairing the castle's seats on which I tend to claw.
I'm going to face the wrath of the king. He'll never forgive me.
-Hey tomcat, okay that sucks, but don't give up that easily!
-Not until I've done everything I can do to get you out of this mess.
Lets think, since it's possible to repair cushions and armchairs,
we should be able to repair this billiard table. -Belfort, absolutely, you're right.
How do we do it? -I don't know, my dear Lupin, but Gazette will.
-What are we waiting for?
Here we go!
Ouch!
I hate... this floor...
-Not so fast!
First, we have to hide the damage, in case anyone comes by.
Those are some nice balls... You're very beautiful, my pretties!
-Lupin? No !
Whose twisted idea was it to manufacture rock-hard balls?!
-Fascinating!
-Doggies can't control themselves when they see a ball or a stick thrown at them.
-Ariane, that's not true at all.
-And the cats who scratch everything, do you maybe want to talk about that?
-Well, it's not untrue...
-Certainly...
How about we go and see Gazette now!
-If you'll allow me a word of advice, Your Majesty,
I think you should play spades here.
-But no, especially not! You have to play heart!
-Here's some spades...
-This new game is so exciting
and so much fun!
Thank you for teaching me, Madame de La Fayette.
-(Stay here! I'm going to see Gazette)
-I think I'll play diamonds.
-But no, play clubs, come on!
-All right. -Good pick!
Come on, now, play hearts!
-(Psst!! Gazette!)
-Let's play!
The jack.
-(Psst!! Gazette!) -And who are the guests?
-There'll be His Majesty,
Monsieur Le Nôtre...
-(What the hell's he playing at?) -Monsieur Binet and Monsieur Vauban
I hope Monsieur Vauban as learned from his mistakes, he was a sore loser, last time.
-Normal, he lost a lot.
-(Nice throw!)
-I can darn anything.
I love watching the seamstresses.
And look at the results!
-You're very elegant.
-Can you repair the billiard table rug?
-Of course I can! All I need is a needle and thread.
The court wigmaker must have that in his office.
-Yippee, yippee, and off we go again for a stroll around the castle...
Ouch!
-In my opinion, the floor hates wolves.
-Alas, Monsieur Bontemps,
I've given you everything.
I have no thread left.
-Unacceptable!
How are we going to repair the chairs when Monsieur Vauban's cat won't stop scratching them!
Oh, that Ariane!
-The next delivery of thread isn't due until...
Next week.
-When will that cat stop bothering us?!
-Is the thread mandatory for sewing?
-Clearly, we can't wait next week.
Louis, my master, is going to play at it tonight.
-We're going to make thread ourselves.
I often see
the maids spin wool.
It's not very complicated. I love playing with the wool ball!
Anyway...
-Nicely said Ariane, we need some wool.
-Sergio's got a lot of wool on his back. He can give us some.
-Wonderful!
Lupin and Ariane, you go and get the wool.
Gazette and I are going to look for a needle.
-Well, that's fine...
But I'm the team leader. Come on, hurry up!
Team leader...
He spits everywhere, but he doesn't show off like the other animals of the menagerie.
He's a good guy.
He's not one to say no...
-Too bad he's not here!
-That's weird, where'd he go?
-It'll do him good to get some fresh air and for us even more...
-Nothing but good, absolutely. -Oh yes, so good!
-Oh yes, the greatest good! -Hi there!
Haven't you seen your friend Serge the llama?
-What are you doing here ?
We only tolerate your presence when you're with Belfort.
I won't tell you anything if you're alone.
This is the royal menagerie.
Shoo, the wolf! -SHOO, THE WOLF!
-Lupin is with me.
-Oh, my dear Ariane, what a pleasure to see you!
So you're looking for Serge, but we don't know where he is.
Besides, I'm sure he doesn't know where he is either.
In other words, we played a little joke...
We played blind man's bluff to
get him away from here blindfolded.
His inappropriate jokes, his inopportune spitting, I was sick and tired of it!
The ace of clubs at last!
I'm in luck!
-(The needles are on this table.)
-(We've got to get Monsieur Binet away.)
(I think I have an idea.)
-Oh no, my ace of clubs?!
And the three of spades...
-(Now!)
-Where's my three of spade?
My luck seems to have run out!
-(Well done, Gazette!)
I'll just have to start all over again.
-You can tell a llama from a sheep by the smell of their wool.
Sheep smell like grass. Llamas' wool smells like hay.
-How exciting!
-Madame Rosa is nice.
This game is fun.
Now I feel the forest.
It breathes inside me.
I'm in communion with the trees.
-How fabulous!
I've never felt the forest as strong as this!
-Serge. My friend.
Can you hear me? -Forest, are you talking to me?
-Sorry, but we need your help...
-Go ahead, Forest!
I can ear you.
-Okay, I'll take care of it...
-How can I help you? Go ahead, brother Forest.
Hey, friend, how's it going?
-Well, I'm fine...
The cat, less...
Sorry to bother you, but can we have some of your wool?
-My wool?
Take as much as you like! What's mine is yours.
-Thank you very much, my friend. Ariane, can you...
-This chestnut bark, what a delight! -Ariane?
I've got it!
That's it. That should do it for the wire we need.
Thanks a lot, Serge.
Your wool will save my entire fur!
-Forest spirit, can you hear me?
I'm back again.
-And that's it. All done.
I admit it's flashier than I thought.
-You did your best, Gazette.
But I'm afraid the humans see the damage.
-I'm sorry, Ariane.
-Don't worry about it! You've already been a great help.
That's the way things are!
Now I have to see the king.
-Are you serious?
You're giving in?
Don't let it get you down! I thought cats were always ready fight.
-He's got a point.
There's still hope.
-Given that the billiard table is beyond repair, the simplest thing would be...
-Oh, yes!
Let's make it disappear!
-That's brilliant! No more billiard, no more problems!
-Wait, wait!
How do you make a billiard table disappear?
-No, it's impossible, that thing weighs a ton.
I've got it under control... -Oh, those humans!
Why did they design such a heavy object without adding wheels?
I'm handling it!
I'm can't manage it... Can't they stop waxing?!
Of course!
You're amazing, Lupin!
If the floor is even more slippery, thanks to wax...
-The pool table will slide on it!
-It's so cute when one finishes the other's sentence.
Come on, here we go!
Push!
Just a second.
Oh? Watch out!
Belfort?
-Lupin!
Wax, go ahead, wax!
-I'd like to see you there!
-We're drifting!
-Look out! -Not the ambassador's gift!
-And handsome Lupin, anyone think about that?
If anything happens to my tail, I won't forgive you.
-Hurry up!
Everything must be perfect for the event of His Majesty and his guests.
But... but... but... What?!
Where is the King's billiard table?
-Bontemps! You haven't seen Belfort by any chance?
-Bazire, he's your responsibility, not mine.
-Have you seen the King's billiard table?
-Bontemps, the king's billiard table is your responsibility, not mine.
Take that!
-But come on, a billiard table doesn't just disappear!
We've got to find it at all costs!
-When will we arrive? -Not just yet...
-If it goes on longer,
I'll get a cramp!
-Careful!
Belfort?
-No...
-Finally!
-No, not Bazire...
-Be careful!
-Sorry.
And we're changing tack!
-Belfort?!
Belfort?!
-Well done, Ariane! Excellent idea!
-Belfort?!
Oh no?!
-I can't feel my tail. -Come on, climb!
-Everybody climb! And hop!
-Mommy?!
-Belfort?
-Well done, Captain! -What mastery!
-What's all the racket about?
-Here comes Bontemps! (Abandon ship!)
-Bazire?
-How is that possible? Did you find the royal billiard table?
-Yes
All's lost!
It's all over. When the king discovers his lacerated billiard table...
I must leave and flee the castle. -No,
you can't leave us!
-I don't know... You could... secretly live at the menagerie.
We'll bring you food and stuff.
-Or in the attic, there's plenty of room.
No, I know.
Ariane, I'll turn myself in for you.
I'm my master's favorite dog. I'm sure he'll forgive me.
-It's out of the question, Belfort. Cat scratches are recognizable.
-Their Majesties the King and Queen.
-Let the games begin!
Enjoy the games!
And good luck! And no cheating... Right, Madame de La Fayette?
Monsieur Le Nôtre, Madame de Sévigné,
will you play billiard with me? -(Oh no!)
It's my favorite game.
-OH?! -The kings billiard?!
-Heavens! Bontemps?
What's the meaning of this?
-Ariane, I don't think you have a choice anymore,
you must face up to your mistake.
-Yes, you're right.
-Louis, my master, will understand the nobility of your attitude and honesty.
-Are you advising her to surrender? Nonsense!
Come on, cat! Let's escape into the forest.
-No,
I'm not running away, I'm surrendering.
I accept the consequences of my actions.
Here's the culprit of this disaster Majesty! She's furious.
It's days that she's tearing up furniture all over the castle!
-Scratching everything, you say?
Monsieur Vauban, it seems your cat doesn't have a place to do her claws.
Please provide her a suitable place to do so.
It's a natural need in these animals.
Bontemps, you will have the billiard table carpet replaced.
Tonight we'll play cards. -I've learned a very amusing game!
-Well, let's have a look!
I have a feeling that tonight we're not the only ones who want to play.
-Belfort, Lupin, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
-Don't worry, kitty! -It's only natural!
Friends must support each other.
-My master, Vauban, has installed a log in his apartments for me to claw.
How perfect!
-Well, now that everything's settled, we can finally play ball.
-But, my dear Lupin, do you really want to play that?
I've never really...
I mean, I don't know if I...
Ah, how to do it?
-Well, it's simple, go get the ball.
It's great fun!
-I'll never get tired of this fascinating spectacle.
A simple ball and they lose all self-control...
-The cat, we know you want to play ball with us!
Go get the ball!
The ball's mine!
-It's mine!
-No, no, mine, mine!
-I'm going to catch it!
-In the age of the Sun King, games were an important part of court life at Versailles.
Game nights were organized to entertain the king and his guests.
These events were known as "soirées d'appartement". Note: Literally "apartment parties"
Games included French billiards, cards and gambling.
Some people lost their entire fortunes.
On sunny days, people played outside at blind man's buff and croquet.
Sports enthusiasts competed in horse races,
or played real tennis, the forerunner of tennis.
It was played in halls specially built for that sport.
The rooms of real tennis. The one in Versailles is a famous example.
It was here, that we can still visit to this day, that in 1789,
that deputies from the French Third Estate met to draw up France's first constitution.