THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

by

Randall Wallace

FIRST DRAFT

September 18, 1995

FADE IN:

From the BLACKNESS before the first images, we hear a young
woman's tortured SCREAM, muffled by her own will. We see her
mouth, open in agony; her face, beaded with sweat. Her name
is ANNE, and she is Queen of France. She lies in

A ROYAL BEDCHAMBER

The royal DOCTOR kneels at the foot of her bed; her own royal
mother grips her hands...

On the opposite side of the huge bedchamber, and separated
from the queen's bed by an artistically painted screen, are
royal ADVISORS sweating and anxious for any word to take to
their king. They wince as the Queen moans again in the pain
of childbirth.

Her fingers claw out for help, but her Doctor ignores her
need to be touched and comforted; he is concerned only for
the baby. Only her PRIEST, FATHER BELLES, sits at her head,
stroking her hair gently and rapidly whispering prayers.

DOCTOR
The head is born! One arm... the
other arm... it is a boy!

The advisors, disregarding the Queen's privacy, scurry around
the screen to see the doctor lift the beautiful baby, wet
with birth. The mother -- the Queen -- is still in agony,
yet she struggles to lift her head.

ADVISOR 1
I shall tell the king!

ADVISOR 2
I shall tell him!

They hurry for the door. But their race to be first to bring
this great news to the King is interrupted as the Queen emits
another cry; it surprises the doctor.

DOCTOR
M'lady...?

He kneels again to examine the Queen.

DOCTOR
Another...? It is another!

The joy vanishes from the faces of the advisors. They look
gravely at each other, as they hear a second BABY'S CRY.

SMASH TO:

A DARK COURTYARD - NIGHT

A door groans open in a hidden corner of the palace courtyard
and into the darkness steps a dashing figure. His face is
hidden in shadow, but we know from the silhouette of his
cloak and plumed hat that he is a MUSKETEER.

He carries an OBLONG BASKET.

A carriage is just rattling onto the flagstones of the
courtyard. The Musketeer steps into its interior, with a
sharp word to the driver --

MUSKETEER
Away.

The whip CRACKS and the carriage plunges into the night.

TIME DISSOLVE:

EXT. ESTABLISHING THE ISLAND FORTRESS PRISON - DAY

On a gash of rock thrusting upward from the sea along the
southern coast of France stands an island fortress, a prison,
like an Alcatraz of the Mediterranean. Just off a coastline
renowned for its beauty, the fortress is horrible and
foreboding. As we SUPERIMPOSE:

1662
TWENTY-TWO YEARS LATER

INT. THE FORTRESS PRISON

With the camera as our moving POV, we survey the prison. It
is a horrible place: dungeons where prisoners lie in their
own filth; corners where jailers rut with unresisting captive
women; long twisting corridors lined with cells, from which
prisoners whimper, or moan in madness. Up a long winding
staircase our POV moves; we push through the barred window of
a cell... It is somewhat cleaner than the rest of the places
we've seen, but still a prison. We PAN the cell.

And we see a man. A MAN IN AN IRON MASK. It is terrifying,
to think of anyone imprisoned in this way. We push in on his
eyes... They are blue, childlike.

A greasy jailer -- the prisoner's KEEPER -- puts his face to
the barred window of the door, and speaks with bored cruelty.

KEEPER
You dead yet?

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
No, Keeper.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ESTABLISHING PARIS - DAY

SUPERIMPOSE:

PARIS

EXT. PARIS STREET - NIGHT

Through the narrow streets of the old city gallops a dashing
figure, his cloak flying behind him and catching the
moonlight, his horse's hooves clattering along the
cobblestones as he dodges the beggars living in the filthy
shadows. He is a magnetic sight, riding the horse as easily
as if they were racing across an open field and not through a
cluttered street, and guiding the stallion as if its grace
and power came not from the animal but from the rider.
Sitting lightly in the saddle is

D'ARTAGNAN

famous Musketeer, Captain of the King's Royal Bodyguard. He
is still handsome at mid-life, still erect, unambiguous in
his courage and his loyalty.

He rides past a knot of angry beggars, moving through the
streets breaking windows and scavenging for food. When they
see d'Artagnan, some throw rocks at him. They sail by
d'Artagnan's head; he ducks them with the fluid grace of a
boxer dodging punches, and keeps on riding.

OUTSIDE THE CATHEDRAL

D'Artagnan rides into the courtyard of a grand old residence
beside Notre Dame Cathedral. Priests are dispensing food to
beggars gathered in the courtyard. As d'Artagnan reins his
horse to a stop the wretched people stare with contempt at
the royal symbols on his uniform. But d'Artagnan is not a
man anyone would be quick to confront; as he dismounts and
moves toward the doorways the people part for him.

He pauses as he sees, parked to one side of the old
residence, a big rickety carriage. D'Artagnan smiles.

D'ARTAGNAN
Porthos too!

D'Artagnan hears drunken feminine giggles echoing down the
staircase of the tower above him.

INT. PRIESTS' RESIDENCE - A STAIRWAY - DAY

Four people are moving up a winding stairway; three are
women, bosoms spilling from their gaudy dresses; the fourth
is PORTHOS, the former Musketeer, now a nobleman of great
wealth and even greater girth. He and the women are drinking
wine as they stagger up the stairs, the women towing Porthos
like rowboats tugging a ship to dock. Porthos is not so
drunk that his hands fail to find pleasant places to grip
their bodies as they walk and giggle.

PORTHOS
Ah ha! Here we are! Aramis!
Porthos is here!

They reach a doorway. Porthos kicks it open, staggers back,
and begins shoving the women inside.

INT. A PRIEST'S APARTMENT - DAY

The first of the partying women tumbles inside; she stops
short at what she sees. The second and third stumble in
after her and they too stop dead still, sobered by what they
see. Then with a great roar Porthos barrels in.

PORTHOS
Aaaaaaaramis!! Porthos is --

He stops dead in his tracks. From the POV OF PORTHOS AND THE
WOMEN, we see ARAMIS. Always the most theological of the
Musketeers, and ruthlessly brilliant, he is still lean and
powerful. And still handsome, or at least he would be; but
now he kneels before a single candle at a private altar,
wearing sackcloth and ashes in penitent prayer.

PORTHOS
Sorry, my dears. You would have
enjoyed it too. He's hung like a
donkey.

WENCH 1
So are you.

PORTHOS
Really? I haven't been able to see
it for fifteen years. Go on now,
leave His Holiness alone. I'll
bring you back tomorrow when he's in
a better mood.

He whacks their bottoms, herding them out, then swaggers to
Aramis, heaving himself to a seat beside his praying friend.

PORTHOS
Please revel with me, Aramis, I need
my spirits lifted. I'm old, I'm
weak, my strength is gone --

ARAMIS
Be quiet, you fat fool. Can't you
see I'm praying?

PORTHOS
I just said you're praying! Are you
deaf too? I know you're blind,
because if you had seen the tits
that just walked out of here, you'd
have tears in your eyes.

ARAMIS
(trying to ignore him)
There are more important things than
tits.

PORTHOS
Really? If you can name me one
thing, one single thing, that is
more sublime than the feel of a
plump pink nipple between my lips,
I will buy you a new cathedral.

Aramis is still trying to pray, but rises to the bait.

ARAMIS
Forgiveness.

PORTHOS
Forgiveness?

As if in reply, Porthos lets rip an enormous rolling fart.

PORTHOS
(beat)
Forgive me.

Aramis' fingers clamp down on the rosary beads, as he tries
to keep praying.

PORTHOS
Am I forgiven?

Aramis abruptly backhands his huge friend. Porthos reels
backwards, landing in a chair.

PORTHOS
I observe your forgiveness isn't
sweeter than a plump nipple.

ARAMIS
Can't you see I'm praying,
goddammit?!

Porthos raises a foot and kicks the bishop in the balls.
Aramis staggers back and grabs a chair to throw it; Porthos
picks up the whole table -- just as d'Artagnan enters.

PORTHOS AND ARAMIS
D'Artagnan.

Porthos tosses the table aside and bear hugs d'Artagnan.

PORTHOS
How are you, you skinny little pup!

Aramis sets the chair down in embarrassment.

ARAMIS
A simple theological discussion.

D'ARTAGNAN
Aramis -- the King wishes to see
you.

ARAMIS
Still you serve him loyally --
though people hurl rotten eggs at
his royal emblem.

Aramis lifts d'Artagnan's cloak as evidence: near its hem,
sure enough, is the remnant of a broken egg.

D'ARTAGNAN
I see your mind is sharp as ever.
The King said, "Right away." Cut
deep and hard, my friends.

PORTHOS
Deep and hard, D'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan clasps Porthos' hand, then that of Aramis, and
leaves, as Porthos shakes his head.

PORTHOS
We were all Musketeers once, eh? Oh,
I forgot. For the poor, the ones
you were praying for.

He hands a purse to Aramis. Surprised, even touched, Aramis
reaches for it. Just as he takes the money, Porthos throws a
haymaker; but Aramis sees the sucker punch coming and ducks.
Suddenly the two old warriors are circling again.

PORTHOS
I wonder how Athos is doing.

INT. A SMALL HOUSE - DAY

ATHOS stands at the dressing table in a modest room; dressed
in a dark plain coat, he too is a former Musketeer -- gray
haired and handsome, intensely intelligent, with a hard crust
of manners masking seas of emotion. He opens a small wooden
box and digs through medals of heroism; he finds what he's
looking for just as his son RAOUL enters. RAOUL is in his
mid-twenties; he wears the uniform of a soldier in the French
Army. He is nervous, pacing, looking at every angle in the
mirror.

RAOUL
Do I look all right?

ATHOS
None of the ladies will be able to
take their eyes off you.

RAOUL
I care only about Michelle. Should
I ask her when we first arrive?
Or... or when we're leaving? I
could ask her in the carriage -- but
it is more romantic at the palace.
I get so confused...

ATHOS
Perhaps this will help.

He hands Raoul the simple gold ring he took from the box.

RAOUL
Mother's ring. I can't take this.

ATHOS
She died giving you to me. And I
want to die knowing it is one the
finger of the women my son loves.

They embrace. Athos' eyes mist, but he smiles.

ATHOS
Now go, and bring back your fiance.

ESTABLISHING - THE ROYAL PALACE - DAY

The Palace glows golden in the Parisian sunshine. Carriages
deposit guests for the lavish party in the royal gardens.

EXT. THE ROYAL PALACE - GARDENS - DAY

Attractive young adults strut about in the extravagant attire
of Louis XIV's France, the men like peacocks, the ladies in
gowns that seem to squeeze their entire bodies up into their
bosoms. They laugh and smile and strike courtly poses
pretending to talk with each other -- but all eyes are on the
doorway, through which the king is about to come...

JUST BEYOND THAT PALACE DOORWAY

KING LOUIS the Fourteenth is having his wardrobe adjusted by
a flock of tailors. He is twenty-two, and would be quite
handsome, except for the total self-absorption. He's
checking himself in a full length golden mirror as two of his
advisors, PIERRE and CLAUDE, try to speak with him.

PIERRE
Your Majesty, I know it is a... a
festive time, but before --

KING LOUIS
The blue sash. No, the burgundy!

PIERRE
... before the party begins --

KING LOUIS
The party has already begun -- so
why are you delaying me?

PIERRE
We do not wish to delay you,
Majesty, but... as your advisors, we
feel it is our -- our --

CLAUDE
... our duty.

PIERRE
Yes! It is our duty to let you
know... there are riots in Paris.

LOUIS
Riots? My people live in the
world's most beautiful city, their
king has the grandest palaces on
earth. Why should they feel
anything but pride and contentment?

PIERRE
Well yes, of course, Majesty, and
I'm sure they are content... except
that... well, they are starving.

LOUIS
Sometimes the poor do grow hungry.
But why would they riot about it?

As he says this, a replica of the Matterhorn made of fruits
and meringues is carried past the window by a team of chefs.

PIERRE
Majesty... We have more than enough
food set aside for your birthday
celebration next week. If we
distributed some of that, we would
have time to gather more before --

LOUIS
Aramis! I have been expecting you!
(to the tailors)
We are satisfied, that will do.

The tailors and advisors withdraw as Aramis -- still in his
simple priest's robe -- strides forward and bows to the kind.

ARAMIS
Your birthday celebration, your
Majesty?

LOUIS
Next week. This is a mere garden
party -- and I wish to join it, so I
will be brief. I am experiencing
resistance from the Jesuits.

ARAMIS
Well... perhaps you should speak
with them, your Majesty.

LOUIS
I have demanded it -- and common
priests present themselves! Can you
imagine the arrogance? Common
Jesuit priests try to act as my
equals, and they refuse to reveal
the names of anyone else in their
order! No one can keep secrets like
the Jesuits can, and the identity of
their leader is the darkest secret
they hold. Even the Pope himself
does not know who leads the Jesuit
Order in France! He suspects the
Governor General of Jesuits, whoever
he is, is angling to become Pope
himself.

ARAMIS
How can I serve you in this?

LOUIS
Perhaps you can find out who this
secret leader of the Jesuits is.
You are now a priest, but you were
once a Musketeer, serving the throne
of France, a throne ordained of God.
Can you accept this mission, and
keep it private?

ARAMIS
If I find out the identity of this
Jesuit rebel. I will kill both him
and the man who told me.

LOUIS
Once a Musketeer, always a
Musketeer, eh?

Aramis bows and Louis turns back to his mirror. There are
mirrors everywhere in his palace, and he loves his
reflection, adorned as he is all in golden cloth, like fabric
from the sun. Aramis leaves and the advisors return.

LOUIS
Ah yes, the riots. We have food
stocks on the wharves right now, no?

PIERRE
That food has spoiled. That is why
it was not shipped to the army.

LOUIS
Exactly why it should be given away.

PIERRE
What... an excellent idea, your
Majesty!

EXT. PALACE GARDENS - DAY

Among the guests are Raoul and MICHELLE, a stunningly
beautiful young woman. Michelle is awed by the richness all
around them, while Raoul sees only her. He holds the ring.

MICHELLE
Isn't it glorious!

RAOUL
Michelle...

But just as he starts to speak, trumpets blast and the King
steps through the doors and out into the lavish gardens; the
party goers give him a rousing ovation. Raoul returns the
ring to his jacket, to wait for another moment.

Everyone watches the King, who begins guzzling wine and
telling jokes to his sycophants, who howl at the King's
witticisms. Then Louis catches sight of Raoul and Michelle,
and lowers his voice, to his FRIENDS...

LOUIS
Who is that?

FRIEND 1
Raoul, son of Athos.

LOUIS
Not the soldier, you idiot!

FRIEND 2
Her name is Michelle.

The king is transfixed.

D'ARTAGNAN

is presiding over a huddle of fresh faced young Musketeers,
directing them to their positions around the gardens, like
secret service agents protecting a president. He leaves
them, and quickly moves to the King.

D'ARTAGNAN
Your Majesty...

LOUIS
What is it, d'Artagnan? Assassins
falling from the sky now?

The sycophants laugh loudly.

D'ARTAGNAN
The plans for use of the maze were
not disclosed to me.

LOUIS
I decided it this morning.

D'ARTAGNAN
Then you must allow me to stay close
to you so that --

LOUIS
I am King, d'Artagnan. I will
change my mind as I wish, and I will
enjoy my banquet as I wish!

D'ARTAGNAN
But I deployed the Royal Guards
according to your previous --

LOUIS
Let us play a game, d'Artagnan, let
us pretend I am King and you are
Captain of my Musketeers. Let us
behave as if my wish is law. And my
wish is to enjoy this party!

D'Artagnan bows sharply as the young sycophants chuckle.
D'Artagnan retreats, then looks back to Louis and follows his
gaze to the tender young beauty who caught his eye.
D'Artagnan recognizes Raoul, son of his friend Athos.

RAOUL AND MICHELLE

As the guests mix and mingle, Raoul tries again.

RAOUL
Michelle, I... Ever since I returned
I've been wanting to speak with you
about... about --

A gaunt SERVANT interrupts, presenting a tray of delicacies.

SERVANT
Monsieur, Mademoiselle...?

RAOUL
No! Thank you -- Michelle, I --

They are interrupted by the SQUEAL of a piglet, squirming in
the hands of the king's dwarf, who holds the fat little
animal above his head and runs among the startled guests.

LOUIS
It pleases us to announce an
entertainment for our guests! A
contest of agility and cunning!

He takes the pig from his dwarf; the pig is clean and
perfumed, a colorful fake horn tied onto its head.

LOUIS
Behold our unicorn! Whichever of
our guests captures the unicorn
shall win its treasure!

With this announcement the King produces a diamond the size
of a pecan, suspended from a ribbon; the guests gasp at its
richness. The King ties the diamond around the pig's neck.

RAOUL AND MICHELLE

Michelle is amazed at this.

MICHELLE
I have never seen a diamond so
large!

It almost makes Raoul ashamed of the modest ring hidden in
his hand.

LOUIS
Into the maze! All of you!
Disperse, I command you!

The dwarf releases the pig, poking him through a tiny break
in the hedge; the critter skitters as only a pig can, eluding
the first laughing lunges of the guests.

THE PIG CHASE is a merry melee, as the maze becomes a tangle
of confusion. LOUIS climbs to a platform above the top of
the ten foot hedge that forms the maze. From his perch he
looks down on all the action, and calls encouragement.

LOUIS
Are you men or mice?!

MICHELLE squeals as the pig scurries by and Raoul dives for
it. He almost has the pig... then it kicks free.

RAOUL
The pendant will be yours!

With that he races after the pig.

MICHELLE tries to follow, this way, that way, through the
maze. Then she stops, face to face with the King, entering
through a gate hidden in one of the maze's dead corners.

LOUIS
Michelle, isn't it?

Speechless, she nods.

LOUIS
I would have said it was impossible,
but I believe the excitement of the
chase has made you even more
beautiful.

MICHELLE
Sire, I --

LOUIS
You blush! You do not wish to be
beautiful to your King?

Her eyes go still; she understands what is happening.

FROM BEHIND THE GATE, we see d'Artagnan, watching as Louis
tries to seduce the young woman. Even as d'Artagnan watches,
the pig comes rooting through the hedge; with a deft movement
d'Artagnan catches the animal's leg and lifts it with the
sureness of the farm boy he once was. The pig is quiet and
comfortable in d'Artagnan's hands.

D'Artagnan watches as the King approaches Michelle, and she
allows him to touch her cheek. The king leans to kiss her...
Michelle does not move...

WHHEEEKKKK! The pig sails over the gate and hits the ground
running, right at Louis' feet; it sets him dancing.

The spell of the king's royal attention is shattered; as the
pig scrambles away, Michelle backs away.

LOUIS
Wait! Michelle, I --

Too late, he sees the shadow of the man looming above him,
leaping down onto him from the observation platform. It is
the servant who offered the tray to Raoul and Michelle; he
has armed himself with a knife from the carving table, and is
diving now to plunge the blade into the king's throat.

The king is helpless, frozen. The assassin leaps, falling
toward the king... and is impaled on the sword of d'Artagnan,
springing through the gate to save his king.

Michelle screams, the king gasps, and the assassin drops,
mortally wounded. They stare down at him now; the would-be
assassin gurgles words through his agony...

ASSASSIN
Feed... your... people.

Party guests, having heard Michelle scream, are running in to
find them. Michelle rushes off, to find Raoul; several
people are coming up.

ASSASSIN
Your people starve...! Feed --

The king snatches out his own dagger and imperiously cuts the
throat of the dying man, to stop these offensive words. The
king looks at his stunned subjects.

LOUIS
A pitiful madman, nothing more.
Come, let us continue our chase!
Where is our unicorn?

The King prances away. It takes the guests a moment, but
they know that only gaiety will please their King, and off
they go again, laughing as if nothing happened.

D'Artagnan stands still as the young Musketeers under his
command come rushing up with swords drawn.

YOUNG MUSKETEER
Captain!

Seeing the dead assassin, their eyes fill with admiration.

YOUNG MUSKETEER
You are the best --

D'Artagnan can't even listen; with a last glance at the King
he turns quickly and walks away.

INT. FORTRESS PRISON

The Man in the Iron Mask sits on the floor. A key rattles in
the lock and his keeper shuffles in, carrying food.

KEEPER
Food, moron.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
Thank you, Keeper.

Not watching what he's doing, the bulbous keeper trips on
something and stumbles, dropping the food. The prisoner
jumps to his feet, concerned.

KEEPER
Look what you've done!

He picks up the tray and slings it at the prisoner.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
I'm sorry, Keeper...

The keeper looks for what he tripped on -- a worn Bible. He
snatches it up and grabs a hunk of pages from its middle.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
No, Keeper, it's my only book!

Hearing the pleading in the prisoner's voice, the keeper
looks squarely at him -- and rips out the pages.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
What number did you tear out?

KEEPER
Eh?

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
What number, on the first page?

KEEPER
... Two-thirty-seven.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
Two-thirty-seven: "... And the
descendants of Japeth are these:
Obediah, Zebulon, Hezekiah..."

As the prisoner rattles off the names of Biblical genealogy,
the jailer gawks at the pages in his hand.

KEEPER
You've... memorized...?

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
What was the end page?

As the keeper is speechless, the prisoner looks for himself.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
Six-two-one: "... Though I speak
with the tongues of men and angels,
and have not love, I am but a
clanging cymbal or --"

The Keeper staggers in shock; the prisoner bubbles with joy.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
We're playing, Keeper! A game!
Take another page, any page! Keeper
and I are playing a game!

And the prisoner takes the keeper's fat hands in his own and
begins to dance and sing.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
A game, a game, we're playing a --

The keeper's left arm goes rigid, and he clutches his chest
with his right hand; he drops upon the stone floor.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
Keeper...?

The prisoner approaches the jailer; the man is stoned dead.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
No... No! Keeper, please, you
cannot die! You're my only friend!

The prisoner tries to wipe his eyes, but he can't get at
them, inside the mask. He edges to the open door.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK
Help! Someone! Keeper is dead!

He slumps down beside the open door, and weeps.

INT. PALACE - D'ARTAGNAN'S ROOM - EVENING

D'Artagnan's room is spartan: a cot, and weapons laid on a
plain table. It has a single small window, and d'Artagnan
stands at it now, looking out into the Palace garden below.

The guests have all gone home; the party pavilions have been
cleared away. And now in the blue dusk, a solitary lady
walks. She is Anne of Austria, the Queen Mother, the lady we
saw in the opening.

Now, twenty years later, she is a slim frail figure. Her
clothes are drab and simple, like the dress of mourning; she
walks in silence, watched at a distance by nun attendants.

She glances up, and sees d'Artagnan's form in the window.
When he sees her looking, he pulls away from the window.

INT. PALACE CORRIDOR - EVENING

D'Artagnan's room is along the same corridor as the Royal
Apartments. D'Artagnan sits at the small table, going over
paperwork. Through his open door he sees that Anne and her
attendants are filing along in the corridor, and he rivets
his eyes back to his work.

IN THE CORRIDOR

Anne reaches the door to her apartment, and looks back to
where d'Artagnan's door is open.

INT. D'ARTAGNAN'S ROOM

The Queen Mother's ATTENDANT appears at d'Artagnan's door.

ATTENDANT
She wishes a word with you.

INT. THE CORRIDOR

D'Artagnan approaches the Queen Mother, and bows.

D'ARTAGNAN
M'lady...?

ANNE
I understand you saved my son's life
today.

D'ARTAGNAN
God smiled upon us.

ANNE
And you were not hurt?

D'ARTAGNAN
No, M'lady.

ANNE
That is good.

Without a change of expression on her still beautiful but sad
face, she enters her room.

INT. D'ARTAGNAN'S ROOM - EVENING

D'Artagnan returns to his room, just as a young LIEUTENANT of
Musketeers (Andre) arrives with two of the Royal Guards.

LIEUTENANT
Duty lists of the day, Captain!

D'ARTAGNAN
Thank you, Andre.

They hand him the list and salute again, to leave.

D'ARTAGNAN
Wait. There is an entry here --
"Messenger sent by King to residence
of Mademoiselle Michelle Beaufort."
Why was that?

The young Musketeers try not to smirk.

LIEUTENANT
Well, Captain...

INT. ATHOS' APARTMENT - NIGHT

Athos sits alone, playing a haunting melody on a violin. It
is a sad tune, played with feeling; he stops as he hears a
KNOCK at his door, and opens it to --

ATHOS
D'Artagnan!

D'ARTAGNAN
Athos, my friend!

They embrace with deep affection -- friends who have shared
each other's darkest times.

D'ARTAGNAN
It's been too long.

ATHOS
Life is too long. Except when we
have our friends. Look at you!
You're still a boy! Sit, sit! I'll
open a bottle of wine.

D'Artagnan takes one of the wooden chairs, by the meager
fire. The whole place is modest at best.

D'ARTAGNAN
Thanks, but not for me.

ATHOS
You can't drink with a friend you
haven't seen in months?

D'ARTAGNAN
I have ordered a drill of the Royal
Guard for midnight, and must be
clear-headed for it.

ATHOS
Midnight! Mon dieu! Driving the
youngsters hard, eh?

D'ARTAGNAN
They must stay sharp. There was an
attempt on the King's life today.

ATHOS
Another? How many times have you
saved his life in this year alone?
Three? Four?

D'ARTAGNAN
I heard your playing.

ATHOS
I was feeling sorry for myself.
Raoul is getting married, he
proposed today! I love that boy
beyond all measure, I've spent
everything I own to give him
education and opportunity. Now he
has complete happiness, and I mope.

A cloud passes d'Artagnan's face; he has something to tell
Athos.

D'ARTAGNAN
Athos...

But whatever it is that d'Artagnan wants to say is
interrupted by the sound of someone climbing the stairs. As
Athos' face brightened with the arrival of d'Artagnan, now it
glows as he jumps up to welcome his son.

ATHOS
That must be Raoul! Raoul! Look,
d'Artagnan's come to visit...!
What's wrong? You look awful!

RAOUL
Michelle, she -- The king has
invited her to come live in the
palace.

Athos is stunned; d'Artagnan witnesses this with agony.

ATHOS
But -- are you sure?

RAOUL
We were at her door. I was just
taking the ring from my pocket, for
the third time today, when a young
Musketeer brought the invitation for
her to become a lady-in-waiting for
the Queen Mother.

ATHOS
Michelle cannot possibly accept!

RAOUL
She cannot possibly refuse. Her
family is poor, they have even less
money than we do. And along with
the invitation, the King sent the
diamond pendant, from the piglet.

ATHOS
Piglet -- ? What are you -- ?

RAOUL
Never mind, Papa, it doesn't matter
now. She loved me once. I want to
die remembering that.

ATHOS
Die? What...?

RAOUL
I have rejoined the army, and asked
to resume my commission at the head
of the troops of General Fromberge.

ATHOS
Fromberge...?! At the front?! No.

RAOUL
It is already done. I have just
stopped at Mother's grave, to say
goodbye, before coming to tell you.

ATHOS
Raoul, no... You cannot do this. No
matter how your heart is broken --

But Raoul stops him, with an embrace.

RAOUL
Goodbye, father. I am sorry.

ATHOS
Raoul --

Raoul breaks away, and runs from the room. Athos, so joyful
moments before, holds his head as if his brain might erupt.

ATHOS
This cannot be. Everyone knows the
Queen Mother is a recluse, and the
ladies-in-waiting are but
mistresses for the king!

D'ARTAGNAN
If the young woman truly loves
Raoul --

ATHOS
She's a woman, d'Artagnan! From a
poor family. You may still be young
enough to believe love conquers
everything, but I am old and hard
and I've seen too much. Even when
kings are hunchbacks they have any
woman they desire, because power
seduces even more than love!

D'Artagnan is silent, and even ashamed. Athos realizes --

ATHOS
You knew this was happening. You
knew and that's why you came.

D'ARTAGNAN
I fear I know our King. I came to
try to bring you hope.

ATHOS
What hope is there? A wartime
commission cannot be vacated except
by the king, and what chance is
there of that? Fromberge is on the
battle line, and Raoul --

D'ARTAGNAN
I have dispatches a message to
Fromberge requesting that Raoul be
kept far from the fighting.

ATHOS
Raoul is everything to me.

D'ARTAGNAN
I know.

ATHOS
Oh my friend.

Athos grips d'Artagnan in gratitude and desperate hope.

D'ARTAGNAN
I will also speak with the King, for
he is surely unaware of the problems
his invitation to Mademoiselle
Beaufort has caused.

ATHOS
You trust his character more than
anyone else does.

D'ARTAGNAN
Raoul is hurrying to the front, so I
must hurry too.

ATHOS
Save my son, d'Artagnan.

They embrace once more, and d'Artagnan leaves.

EXT. PARIS STREETS - DAY

Magnificent public buildings -- palaces and cathedrals --
grace the city's skyline, but here in central Paris all is
squalor. On a narrow, filthy street, beggars bother the
sullen city peasants who are weak with hunger themselves.

But interest perks up when two soldiers drive up in a wagon,
and one of them, Lieutenant Andre, announces --

LIEUTENANT
Here is food, the gift of your
loving King, on his birthday! He
gives to himself by giving to you,
in that he loves you so much!

Slowly at first the paupers stand and shuffle forward. As
the soldiers begin handing out foodstuffs -- bread, cabbages,
tomatoes, eggs -- those nearest the wagon begin to jostle
each other, and a large crowd gathers quickly.

LIEUTENANT
No need to fight, there is plenty
for all!

It's looking like a holiday celebration... until a RUFFIAN
breaks open a loaf of bread, and wrinkles his nose.

RUFFIAN
This stuff stinks. It is rotting!
The King gives us rotten food!

He hurls the moldy bread back at the soldiers. Other paupers
sniff the food, and its stink set off an explosion of anger:
they throw food at the soldiers... Then a paving stone
crashes through a shop window, and suddenly it's a riot, with
the mob overwhelming the soldiers and dragging them down the
streets in the direction of the palace.

D'ARTAGNAN, riding toward the palace himself, turns a corner
and sees the mob coming. And they see him: the elegant,
dashing Musketeer on the prancing stallion.

And at that moment, two more soldiers race out of a side
street, fleeing a similar mob, coming from another direction.
D'Artagnan understands everything at a glance; the second
pair of fleeing soldiers reach him in panic.

next>>