At Sword's Point Page #3

If you live? Whether I live or die

matters? This is what I'd hoped for.

You leap to conclusions.

You do not care.

I didn't say that. You care! Say it.

I'll build an altar to every word.

Careful, your husband is listening.

I thought I could trust you.

I shall have to divorce you.

HORSES APPROACHING

Porthos!

There's relays of horses for 30

leagues, then... We'll improvise.

Goodbye, my sweet,

you'll always be one of us.

Farewell, sweet Claire. Goodbye.

Please, guard yourself well.

Then you do care.

I didn't say it because I couldn't.

The words are in my heart.

Let this speak for both of us.

Goodbye, Pierre.

GUNSHO Rest easy,

we're on our way to Spain.

Look behind you.

Come on!

Are you all right, Your Highness?

Cover the coach.

Monsieur D'Artagnan.

Lay down your arms. It's useless.

If Your Highness commands. We yield.

I am sorry, monsieur.

We came in good time,

to save you from these abductors.

An act of treason

for which the penalty is death.

Are you ready

to answer my questions?

Yes. That's better.

What would you like me to talk

about? It's no time for flippancy.

Where is the boy King?

Still the same old question.

And the answer?

Still the same - I don't know.

Garcon!

METAL CREAKS:

Guards!

Porthos, behind you.

Porthos, look out!

Bring in mademoiselle.

Closer,

see what the irons have done.

Perhaps mademoiselle would like

to spare you further torture.

No, I won't tell.

Very well, garcon!

Hold her, you fool!

Come on.

You stood pain well.

Let's see you face death.

Each morning one of you will die.

Tomorrow three will watch.

The next morning two and then one.

Perhaps someone will speak

before then.

DRUMROLL:

You'll get a better view over there.

You are the first?

We rolled the dice.

He won. Magnificent.

Never have I seen such luck(!)

A moment, Captain, if you please.

Au revoir my friends.

We shall meet again.

You are the bravest of all

and the prettiest by far.

Those brave young men.

The law must take its course

unless...

Unless? It's in your hands to say

whether they live or die.

Your terms? Your consent to my

immediate marriage to Her Highness.

I see. You want the people to

believe that it has my approval.

Your Majesty is most intelligent

as always.

You only have a moment, madame.

If I agree to the marriage,

my Musketeers shall go free?

You have my word.

For what it is worth.

I accept.

I couldn't let you go, messieurs,

without expressing my gratitude

and to you, mademoiselle, thank you

for risking your life for me.

We shall regret unto our dying day

that we were not

of service to you.

DOOR OPENS:

I hope you did not intend to leave

without saying goodbye to me.

Why, no and we wish to extend

felicitations upon your marriage.

Before you go, Her Majesty and I

have gifts for you.

Please come this way.

Your Majesty.

Majesty.

Will the bride remove her veil?

GASPS:

You!

Madame. D'Artagnan, welcome,

I wondered what... Oh, Your Highness.

Corporal, admit no-one

until after we leave.

And we'll need boy's apparel

for Her Highness.

I'll find something. Good.

Why boy's apparel?

My father said, "Who hunts the

eagle doesn't notice the sparrow."

Follow me. Corporal, some of your

good wine for a bad thirst.

Please, sit down, monsieur.

I know what is

in your thoughts, monsieur.

You were thinking of

your lovely mademoiselle.

Yes, I cannot help

but fear for her fate.

Yet you were willing

to sacrifice her for me.

We pledged to save you.

There was no other way.

Even so, I envy her.

It's not been my fortune

to share such devotion.

BELLS RING:

The church bells only ring

for celebrations or deaths.

The Regent's Guards!

No, I can keep them from entering.

Stand away from the door.

Oh, idiot! Why did you let those

people go without paying?

If I left it to you we'd starve.

Imbecile! Oh, Captain,

my husband sits on his brains.

Three men and a woman and he...

Did you say three men and a woman?

Yes. Such a lady, one would have

thought she was a princess.

And then to run off without paying!

When?

Only a minute ago. They said

they were the Queen's messengers.

How can they be

when there is no Queen?

What do you say? No Queen?

Hear those bells -

the Queen is dead.

Your Highness, you heard?

Pierre, bring the horses.

We would mourn

but there's no time.

Her Majesty said, "If I die, my son

is at the monastery at Les Foss."

Now, we dare not leave him behind.

We must take him to Spain,

without a moment's delay.

You are right, monsieur.

This is not the time for weeping.

I am ready.

Quick, put this on.

Here, use this if you have to.

Where are we going? There's a place

in the country where you can hide.

You have risked a lot for me,

Countess. I am very grateful.

The Queen would have asked it of me,

had she lived.

What news?

The Musketeers and Her Highness

have been captured.

Then I'm the only one

who can save the King.

You know where

His Majesty is hidden?

Yes. The Queen confided it to us,

when we pledged to aid her. What

chance have you got against Lavalle?

You can't reach him alone.

Perhaps not, but nothing

is going to stop me from trying.

If my father were in my place

he would not hesitate.

He would go to the King at once,

even if it meant his death.

As his daughter

I must act as he would.

Perhaps together we might succeed.

No, Claudine, it's too dangerous.

You've risked your life for me once,

I cannot let you do it again. It

isn't for you that I make this offer

but for the Queen,

whose memory I hold dear.

We must go,

before Lavalle compels the Princess

to reveal the King's hiding place.

Do we go far? I must inform my

coachmen and make arrangements.

We travel the length of France

to the monastery at Les Foss.

Monastery at Les Foss.

At last!

Guards!

They were hiding behind

the skirts of the Church.

Alert the border,

no-one is to enter Spain.

The monastery must be surrounded.

No-one must enter or leave.

Yes, my lord.

We ride day and night.

A toast to the master of all France.

Aren't you a bit premature?

As you say, but only a bit.

Permit me.

It's a woman's work.

Ah, I'm an expert. If he cooks

like he eats we'll have a feast.

A feast! I swear I chased

this rabbit when I was a boy.

Respect his old age. I respect age,

but not in cooked meat!

HORSES APPROACHING

Quick! The fire!

Well, they've gone.

So has our dinner.

We must cross that bridge. I'll

hold them off whilst you cross it.

I'll hold them off,

whilst you ride across.

The suggestion was mine.

I'll tell them.

Aramis spoke first,

let him be the one.

At last! I can't believe we're here.

It's been two years

since I saw my brother.

Can we go, monsieur?

Guard the road, let no-one pass.

Princess Henriette's

come for the King.

Her Highness? Take me to

Father Leuvois. Gladly, you will

find your brother happy and well.

Put up your hands.

It's a trap, save yourself.

This is without my permission.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes