Les Nuits Révolutionnaires - Season 1

The Night of the 11th July 1789

Restif makes the acquaintance of three young revolutionaries, Malibert, Saint-Florent and Dorival. He helps them when they are set upon by some ruffians in the pay of a group of young aristocrats.

Later, at a tavern - one of his favourite haunts - he recognises the same hoodlums when they try to rally the people to revolt and denounces them as conspirators. A chase ensues during which he meets up with Malibert, Saint-Florent and Dorival again. Together they rescue a pretty young servant girl, Josephine, from thugs posing as National Guards. She has been left alone in her master's house, so to protect her they decide to spend the night there.

The Nights of the 12th and 13th July 1789

Historical Events: The King dismisses his Minister of Finance, Necker, and the people are outraged, fearing that the price of bread will rise even higher. Mobs march through the streets pillaging bakers' shops, and the King's guards attack Parisians out for a Sunday afternoon stroll in the Tuileries.

At the Palais-Royal, Camille Desmoulins calls the people to arms. They invade the Invalides, steal weapons stored there and storm the Bastille.

To save his beleaguered printing business from seizure, Restif goes to the money-lender, Monsieur Vilain, to borrow money. He uses the manuscript he is working on - 'The Ideas of an Honest Man for a General Reform of the Laws' - as surety. On his way to Vilain's he is surprised to see men forging weapons which they say are to arm the people.

The Night of the 13th July 1790

Historical Events: The Revolution has gained strength during the past year. The guardians of the Revolution have formed Federations throughout France, even in the smallest villages. Each Federation is sending delegates to the celebration to be held marking the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille - La Fête de la Fédération.

The delegates from the Federations are arriving in Paris from all corners of France. The Owl is ill, but escapes the ministrations of his daughter Agnes to watch the preparations for the Fête de la Fédération.

Restif is desperately short of money and his daughter Marion goes to the bookseller Merigot for an advance on sales of his work.

The Nights of the 15th and 16th July 1791

Historical Events: The King's attempt to flee has failed. He is seen as a traitor by the people but there is still a majority in the Assembly who support him.

A republican petition is drawn up, demanding the dethronement of the King. The signing takes place on Sunday 17th July on the altar of liberty, erected for the celebration of the second anniversary of the fall of the Bastille in the Champ de Mars. A massacre ensues.

The Owl receives a message requesting a clandestine rendez-vous on the banks of the Seine. He finds Renaud de la Grimière waiting for him, an aristocrat, well-known for his democratic ideas but who despises the Revolution and those, like The Owl, who still support it.

Nights of the 19th July 1792, 9th and 10th August 1792

Historical Events: The King uses his veto to stop the Assembly passing two decrees outlawing the emigrés and priests who refuse to swear allegiance to the Revolution. The emigrés continue to make pacts with foreign powers to invade France. In the face of events the Assembly is more disunited than ever.

On the evening of 19th July 1792, The Owl is unwittingly involved in a mysterious incident. A woman appears from the Louvre palace and thrusts a newborn baby into his arms. No sooner has this happened than a strange man appears and snatches it away. The Owl is confused.

At Merigot's bookshop, Restif gives an eye-witness account of how a people's delegation requested the King to allow decrees to be passed against the emigrés and recalcitrant priests. The crowd of commoners seemed almost awestruck when they at last saw the King for the first time. He was made to put on the red cap of the Revolution, but was unharmed. However, he refused to lift his vetos.

At a local tavern, the butchers are celebrating and they sing a ribald tune called 'The Turnip Song'. In exchange, Restif recites one of his poems and, while he does so, the ragged hurdy-gurdy player steals his purse. Restif pursues him to retrieve his property - but, humane as ever, gives the thief ten sous.

Nights of 2nd September 1792

Nights of 19th and 20th January 1793

Historical Events: After 10th August 1792, the Assembly is replaced by the National Convention and Deputies are elected throughout France. Costly victories are gained against foreign invaders. La Fayette defects to Austria.

The Owl watches the people destroying the statues of the kings of France. He meets a young man of Huguenot ancestry who tells him how his forebears were slaughtered by Louis XIII.

That night he witnesses a house search in which a young actress is found to be hiding guns and ammunition in her bed. She is about to be arrested when an English lord appears from her wardrobe and hands the weapons over to the Guards, saying they were meant for the Revolution. Later, a priest with royalist sympathies, who has disguised himself as a woman, is discovered when a carpenter puts his hand up her skirts. He is handed over to the authorities and certain death. Restif himself does not escape having his printing shop searched and his pistols confiscated. He is somewhat amused by this, until the soldiers discover Marion making love to François.

Nights of 31st May and 1st June 1793

Nights of 1st June and 2nd June 1793

Final episode of the series. It is the night of May 31, 1793, Agnes tries to reconcile with her father. He promises that he will go to dinner with them. The streets are overflowing with guards; an order obliges all citizens to carry a pass. On the night of June 1, Dorival is in hiding.