NAPOLEON

DEPUTY #1

Is it for this, then, that you

became a conqueror?

DEPUTY #4

Withdraw, withdraw immediately, I

say!

NAPOLEON

Citizens, please stand aside. I

wish to approach the speaker's

rostrum.

DEPUTY #2

Down with the Dictator! Down with

the Tyrant!

DEPUTY #4

Outlaw him! Outlaw him!

The cry is picked up of "Dictator," "Tyrant," and

"Outlaw."

A scuffle breaks out and Napoleon is knocked to the ground

and viciously kicked. His guards manage to club their way

into this melee and drag him out of the Orangery.

EXT. ORANGERY - DAY

Among the soldiers, Napoleon, his face bloody, mounts a

horse and rides through his men. The troops are confused

by his appearance but give him a cheer as he passes by.

It is now five o'clock and the grey November dusk is

closing in. A cry of "Long Live Bonaparte" thunders

through the courtyard.

INT. ORANGERY - DAY

The deputies are still in an uproar, but gradually the

sound of drums, beating the charge, is heard. The drums

get louder and a silence falls over the chamber. The

drumming gets louder. The door is thrown open and Murat

stands at the head of a column of grenadiers, with fixed

bayonets.

MURAT

Citizens, you are dissolved.

EXT. ST. CLOUD - DUSK

Deputies climb through the windows and are jeered by the

onlookers. Napoleon paces, nervously.

NARRATOR

At the age of 30, Napoleon would now

become 1st Consul and head of the

Executive, for a period of ten

years. The other two Consuls would

become merely figure-heads.

TITLE: EMPIRE

INT. TUILERIES SALON - DAY

Painted cardboard figures, about six inches high,

representing Napoleon, Josephine and the principal

personages involved in the forthcoming coronation, are

pushed about, discussed and noted, as the group plans the

complex stage management of the coronation.

Napoleon, Josephine, the painter David, and a small

entourage are seated, standing and kneeling around a

cardboard mock-up of the interior of Notre Dame Cathedral.

NARRATOR

In the five years that followed,

Napoleon gave proof of his brilliant

legislative, administrative and

organizational powers. He created

effective and enduring institutions

of government; revitalized the

economy; negotiated a concordat with

the Pope, thus ending the religious

rebellion in the Vendee; reconciled

the bitterness between right and

left by opening all careers to

talent, and bringing into his

government the best minds of the

aristocracy and the ablest survivors

of the revolution. Napoleon had

secured the main social and material

gains of the revolution, destroying

privileged orders and modernizing

the state. In exchange for this, he

would now be given power far more

absolute than any Bourbon monarch.

INT. NOTRE DAME - DAY

The Coronation. At the moment when the Pope reaches for

the crown of Charlemagne, to take it from the altar,

Napoleon takes it, and, with his own hands, places it on

his head.

Napoleon looks, with an air of pride and satisfaction, at

Josephine, as she advances towards him, at the altar, and

when she kneels down, tears fall upon her clasped hands,

raised to heaven -- or, rather to Napoleon.

NARRATOR

On December 2, 1804, Napoleon was

made Emperor of France. He would

later say: "I found the crown lying

in the gutter and I picked it up."

NAPOLEON (V.O.)

Duroc, I have a bill here for

600,000 francs from Tirot, for

building the Imperial throne and six

decorated arm-chairs. The amount is

absurd -- and, at least twice too

much.

INT. TUILERIES DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Candlelight, silver service -- beautiful women, important

guests. Napoleon and Josephine are seated at opposite

ends of a long table. Placed at Napoleon's elbow is the

strikingly beautiful Madame Trillaud, a sexy brunette. He

speaks to her husband. Dessert is being served.

NAPOLEON

The revolution failed because the

foundation of its political

philosophy was in error. Its

central dogma was the transference

of original sin from man to society.

It had the rosy vision that by

nature man is good, and that he is

only corrupted by an incorrectly

organized society. Destroy the

offending social institutions,

tinker with the machine a bit, and

you have Utopia -- presto! --

natural man back in all his

goodness.

Laugher at the table.

NAPOLEON

It's a very attractive idea but it

simply isn't true. They had the

whole thing backwards. Society is

corrupt because man is corrupt --

because he is weak, selfish,

hypocritical and greedy. And he is

not made this way by society, he is

born this way -- you can see it even

in the youngest children. It's no

good trying to build a better

society on false assumptions --

authority's main job is to keep man

from being at his worst and, thus,

make life tolerable, for the greater

number of people.

MONSIEUR TRILLAUD

Your Majesty, you certainly have a

very pessimistic view of human

nature.

NAPOLEON

My dear Monsieur Trillaud, I am not

paid for finding it better.

Laughter.

Napoleon exchanges a significant look with his Major-domo,

who nods, picks up a wine decanter, and comes up to Madame

Trillaud's place to refill her glass, deliberately

spilling wine on the front of her dress.

NAPOLEON

You clumsy fool. Quick, we need

some water.

Endless ad lib apologies by the Major-domo.

MAJOR-DOMO

This way, if you please, Madame.

The Major-domo gestures to some place out of the room.

NAPOLEON

No, no, I'll take care of it myself.

We don't want to have any more

accidents.

Napoleon, the Major-domo and Madame Trillaud exit the

room, amid apologies, reassurances.

The guests resume their conversations, but Josephine, who

has seen the routine before, is distracted and agitated.

INT. TUILERIES HIDEAWAY - NIGHT

A small, hideaway room, reached by a back staircase,

leading off Napoleon's private office. It is all couches,

cushions, velvet, mirrors and dim candles.

Napoleon, Madame Trillaud and Major-domo enter.

NAPOLEON

Quick, where is the water?

MAJOR-DOMO

Here it is, Your Majesty.

NAPOLEON

Ah, good, here -- allow me, Madame

Trillaud.

Napoleon and the Major-domo exchange another look, and the

Major-domo hurriedly exits the room, springing a catchlock

behind him.

Napoleon's attention immediately shifts from Madame

Trillaud's dress to Madame herself. His efforts to rub

off the wine stains gradually become more intimate.

MADAME TRILLAUD

Oh! Your Majesty!

NAPOLEON

Don't be afraid.

Napoleon takes her in his arms.

MADAME TRILLAUD

But the guests... my husband... the

Empress...

NAPOLEON

Don't be afraid, my dear. We shall

be back before dessert is finished.

Napoleon kisses her and fumbles with her clothes, to

remove them. After several passionate seconds, there is a

timid knock at the door.

Madame Trillaud looks startled but Napoleon puts his

finger to her lips and continues.

After fifteen seconds, there is another knock on the door,

louder.

NAPOLEON

(whispers)

Don't worry. It's only the night

maid.

More kissing, then a louder and more insistent knock.

This time they both sit up. More knocking. Madame

Trillaud is frightened.

NAPOLEON

(angrily)

Yes -- what is it?

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

Open the door. It's me.

NAPOLEON

Go away -- I'm busy.

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

I know what you're doing in there.

NAPOLEON

Don't be ridiculous and go away --

I'm busy working.

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

Where is Madame Trillaud?

NAPOLEON

How should I know. Ask Roquier --

he's cleaning her dress.

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

What are you doing in there?

NAPOLEON

Oh -- now, this is absolutely

ridiculous! If you don't want to be

humiliated in front of your guests,

you will return to the table at

once.

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

Will you be joining us, soon?

NAPOLEON

I will be there in five minutes. Go

back to your guests.

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

Five minutes.

NAPOLEON

Yes!!

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

(weakly)

Five minutes.

NAPOLEON

Goodbye.

Madame Trillaud starts to get up. Napoleon stops her.

NAPOLEON

(whispering)

Darling -- don't be ridiculous. We

have five minutes. Where are you

going?

MADAME TRILLAUD

But, Your Majesty, we will be missed

now.

NAPOLEON

Of course we won't -- five minutes

will never be noticed.

He tumbles her back on to the bed.

INT. JOSEPHINE'S BEDROOM - TUILERIES - NIGHT

NAPOLEON

(in a subdued voice)

How dare you do that to me tonight?

How dare you? Do you realize who

Madame Trillaud's husband is?

Suppose he found out?

Josephine sobs. Napoleon speaks in sharp hisses, to keep

the servants from overhearing.

NAPOLEON

Oh, shut up, will you?

Josephine sobs.

NAPOLEON

Your tears have absolutely no effect

on me... What a fool I have been! I

am not a man like any other man. I

must be free -- I must be free to do

what I please. I must be free of

this sordid jealousy!

Napoleon looks at the figure of his distraught wife. She

is on her knees, slumped across the seat of a chair.

NAPOLEON

(slowly and quietly)

Very well, then, I will not put a

specific time limit on this, but you

must accept the idea that we will

have to be divorced, and soon...

And, from now on, we will sleep in

separate bedrooms.

This last remark finally causes Josephine to attempt to

speak, red-eyed, sniveling, unable to put words together

without involuntary shudders and sobs.

JOSEPHINE

Separate bedrooms?

NAPOLEON

Yes.

JOSEPHINE

But you will not... be safe...

NAPOLEON

Not be safe? What on earth are you

talking about?

JOSEPHINE

(sobbing)

In case of a... surprise attack...

at night... I am such a... light

sleeper... I could wake you... I

could scream.

This is such a pathetically dumb remark, it stops

Napoleon, cold.

INT. TUILERIES HALL - NIGHT

Napoleon, in his nightshirt, follow Roustam along the

corridor. When they reach Josephine's door, Roustam hands

Napoleon the candle and leaves. Napoleon knocks.

JOSEPHINE (O.S.)

Who is it?

NAPOLEON

It's me.

Josephine quickly opens the door.

JOSEPHINE

Oh!

Napoleon enters the room and she locks the door. He walks

to the bed and sits down. He seems depressed. He sits,

staring at the floor.

NAPOLEON

(touching the bed)

Sit down.

Josephine sits down next to him. He puts his arms around

her, regretfully.

NAPOLEON

I didn't mean the things that I

said... I was angry and I said more

than I meant to.

JOSEPHINE

Oh, my darling. I'm sorry, too. I

won't do that again -- whatever you

do. I won't cause you any more

embarrassment, I promise.

Napoleon squeezes her shoulder. Her surrender has not

brought him happiness.

JOSEPHINE

Oh -- I didn't tell you... I've seen

Dr. Corvisart, and he was very

reassuring and encouraging. He has

had excellent results with the

waters of Plombiers, and he thinks

it would be a good idea for me to

spend a few weeks there.

Apparently, he sent Madame Le Floch

there last year, and she gave birth

to twins.

NAPOLEON

(laughs, weakly)

Indeed -- well, you may tell Dr.

Corvisart, I should be entirely

satisfied with half her success.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

George III reviewing British troops. Military band.

Spectators.

NARRATOR

Since the year 1069, France and

England had been at war for a total

of 152 years. And, from 1338, the

Kings of England also called

themselves the Kings of France,

until Napoleon obliged them to drop

this title at the time of the short-

lived Peace Treaty of Amiens, in

1802. In the following year,

England again declared war on

France, and the conflict between

British and French imperialism for

maritime supremacy and world power

would now be fought to a finish.

EXT. BLUFF - DAY

A high, windy bluff, overlooking the English Channel.

Napoleon and his entourage study the English fleet, moored

several miles offshore, and the cliffs of Dover, just

visible on the horizon.

NARRATOR

The struggle was resumed on familiar

and inconclusive lines, as neither

side could really get to grips,

while England was supreme on the sea

and Napoleon on land.

ANIMATED MAP

Showing French naval strategy.

NARRATOR

Napoleon devised a plan to lure the

British fleet into a wild goose

chase, to the West Indies, leaving

the Channel unprotected long enough

for the French to ferry their army

safely across. But the scheme was

poorly executed, and eventually led

to the disastrous French naval

defeat at Trafalgar.