Figaro Fever: 1-2 Banned Repertoire

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The King passes a copy of the new play to Marie, and expresses his intention to ban the play. Marie is shocked. The imprisonment of the playwright has created quite a hooha among the people, and the King has decided to let Marie read the play so that she can form her own opinions about it.

Info

Style: Recommended: Spring Memory, Crystal Honey, Floral Path Perfect Score: ~1,600 Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Cozy Times , Blueprint: Sakura Stroll

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Dialogue Choices

The King frowns. He finds himself trapped in a dilemma.

• Keep Dissuading (no change)
• Give up for now

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Warm rays of sunlight fill the room. A new day has dawned, but the beautiful morning has not awakened me.
• It has been less than two hours since I closed my eyes. I'm not ready to leave my soft and cozy bed yet.
• Deniau: Your Majesty, it is time to rise.

• Marie: Oh, dear Madame Deniau... I'm so tired...

• Deniau: You shouldn't have gone to bed so late last night, Your Majesty.

• Marie: I won't do it again, Madame. But that script was such a good read...

• Marie: Now, please let me sleep a while longer...

• Deniau: Your Majesty, His Majesty the King is waiting your appraisal of the new script.

• Marie: Even if it's a new script, I—

• Marie: New script! Is it Beaumarchais' new script?!

• Deniau: Yes, Your Majesty.

• Marie: Awesome!

• What exciting news. My tiredness is completely swept away.
• The thoughtful Deniau has already prepared my cleaning items. I immediately get ready as I can't wait to go to the King's library.
• Deniau: Your Majesty, your clothes!

• Marie: I forgot to change out of my night gown.

• Marie: Thank you, Madame. You have saved me from embarrassment.

• Deniau: It's my duty to look after you, Your Majesty.

• Deniau: You should change into a suitable palace dress.

• Louis XVI: Why are your eyes bloodshot, my Queen?

• Marie: Don't worry, Your Majesty. I read far into the night.

• Marie: It was morning before I realized it...

• Louis XVI: I shouldn't have summoned you so early.

• Marie: It's fine, Your Majesty. I'm more interested in the new script right now.

• Louis XVI: Fret not, my Queen. I have it with me.

• The King hands me the long-awaited script, and I receive it with great excitement.
• Marie: The Marriage of Figaro. Figaro, a familiar name...

• Marie: This is the sequel to The Barber of Seville?!

• Louis XVI: Good observation, my Queen. It is as you say—a sequel.

• Louis XVI: I suppose you were re-reading The Barber of Seville last night?

• Marie: Yes, Your Majesty. How wonderful it is to be able to read the sequel!

• Louis XVI: My Queen may be... disappointed.

• Marie: Why? Have you already read it, Your Majesty?

• Louis XVI: Yes. I read it before you arrived.

• Louis XVI: The censors were correct in their judgment. I have decided to ban the public performance of this play.

• Marie: Ban its public performance?! Your Majesty....

• Louis XVI: I know that Beaumarchais is a playwright you admire greatly, but you must understand...

• Louis XVI: The nobility will not be insulted or mocked.

• Marie: I understand your concerns, Your Majesty.

• Marie: But a play is merely a form of art. We should not restrict the freedom of creativity.

• Louis XVI: No, my Queen. You still do not understand.

• Louis XVI: Nobody has true freedom, not even us.

• Louis XVI: To pardon out of mercy would only result in more people like Beaumarchais challenging the authority of the nobility and even the royal family.

• Marie: But—

• Before I can continue my attempt in dissuading the King, Lafayette and Blaisdell enter the room.
• Marie: It appears Their Lordships have matters of the state to discuss with the King. I—

• Blaisdell stops me as I attempt to leave.
• Blaisdell: You should stay, Your Majesty.

• Blaisdell's gaze falls on the script in my hands. I believe they have come to talk about this.
• Marie: (Perhaps they will give Beaumarchais a chance.)

• Marie: To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?

• Blaisdell: Since Beaumarchais was thrown into Saint-Lazare Prison, the people's dissatisfaction grows louder with each passing day.

• Blaisdell: It's getting out of control.

• Blaisdell: In fact, the entire Parisian cultural community has expressed great dissatisfaction regarding this matter.

• Marie: Is the discussion that great?

• Lafayette: Yes, Your Majesty.

• Lafayette: The cultural community consists of many influential individuals, including Beaumarchais. They are revered by the people.

• Lafayette: A matter like this would no doubt cause an uproar.

• Louis XVI: I had... not anticipated this.

• Marie: Beaumarchais' plays are influential among the people. If his writing is the sole cause of his imprisonment...

• Marie: Then it would be hard for theater enthusiasts to accept, not to mention the philosophical literati.

• Lafayette: Her Majesty is right. The cultural community has always advocated freedom. Our reason for arresting Beaumarchais will not convince them.

• Lafayette: While it's true Beaumarchais was arrested for comments made in a newspaper article, some people have done worse...

• Lafayette: We cannot arrest them all. That will only cause greater unrest among the people.

• Marie: What do you suggest?

• Lafayette: I'm afraid that Beaumarchais' immediate release from prison is the only way to quell this unrest.

• Blaisdell: I don't believe it is right to release Beaumarchais, Your Majesty.

• Blaisdell: Beaumarchais was arrested because he disrespected you. That is a fact, not an accusation.

• Blaisdell: If we let him off the hook, it will tarnish the royal family's prestige and make us a laughingstock.

• Louis XVI: Well said. An attack on the prestige of the royal family will not be tolerated.

• Louis XVI: Beaumarchais should have expected this when he chose to mock the nobility.

• It's clear that the reputation of the royal family comes first to the King. He will not release Beaumarchais so easily.
• Marie: Perhaps you should consider the script and the author separately, Your Majesty.

• Marie: Beaumarchais may have behaved disrespectfully towards you...

• Marie: ...but his works are outstanding enough that they shouldn't be buried because of this.

• The King frowns. He finds himself trapped in a dilemma.

Keep Dissuading

• Marie: Not releasing Beaumarchais is one thing, Your Majesty, but to also ban his new play will certainly infuriate the people further.

• Marie: Our kingdom is in a state of turmoil. The power of the people should not be underestimated.

• The King remains silent, pondering his options. Perhaps I have persuaded him...
• But the King is set in his ways. He could not, in such a short space of time, fully understand the thoughts and situation of the people.

Give Up for Now

• But the King is set in his ways. He could not, in such a short space of time, fully understand the thoughts and situation of the people.
• I should give him time to think it over instead of pressuring him further.

• Louis XVI: I need to think more about Beaumarchais' potential release...

• Louis XVI: ...but I have decided The Marriage of Figaro shall be banned.

• Marie: Your Majesty...

• Louis XVI: That will be all for today.

• The King gives the new play to Lafayette and Blaisdell.
• Louis XVI: You cannot judge the script until you have read it.

• Louis XVI: You might think differently after reading the script.

• Lafayette wants to say something, but Blaisdell interrupts him by shaking his head.
• It appears the King has made up his mind. Further arguments will not do any good. We have to let the matter rest for the time being.

• The King is right. We cannot judge something before reading it.
• Since the cause of this matter is The Marriage of Figaro, perhaps the solution lies in the play itself.