Barry Lyndon Page #13

The Prince loses a big hand, and, in a fury, throws down

his cards. He stares at the table, then at the Chevalier.

PRINCE:

Chevalier, though I cannot say how,

I believe you have cheated me.

CHEVALIER:

I deny your Grace's accusations, and

beg you to say how you have been

cheated?

PRINCE:

(glaring at Roderick)

I don't know.

CHEVALIER:

Your Grace owes me seventy thousand

frederics, which I have honorably

won.

PRINCE:

Chevalier, if you will have your

money now, you must fight for it.

If you will be patient, maybe I will

pay you something another time.

CHEVALIER:

Your Grace, if I am so tame as to

take this, then I must give up an

honorable and lucrative occupation.

PRINCE:

I have said all there is to be said.

I am at your disposal for whatever

purposes you wish. Good night.

He exits.

EXT. GARDEN HOUSE - DAY

Roderick, Captain Galgenstein and Minister Galgenstein.

MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

Was he cheated?

RODERICK:

In so far as I can tell these things

-- no. I believe the Chevalier won

the money fairly.

MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

Hmm-mmmm.

CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

What are the Chevalier's intentions?

RODERICK:

I am not sure. The Prince told him

quite clearly that if he wished to

have the money, he would have to

fight for it.

MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

A meeting with the Prince of

Turbingen is impossible.

RODERICK:

The Prince left him only that

choice.

The Captain and the Minister walk a few steps away and

speak in whispers.

Then they return to Roderick.

MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

Will you be able to return here

tomorrow without arousing suspicion?

INT. CHEVALIER'S APARTMENTS - DAY

CHEVALIER:

Tell them I intend to demand

satisfaction from the Prince.

RODERICK:

But they will prevent a meeting at

whatever the cost.

CHEVALIER:

Have no fear. It will come out well

for me.

RODERICK:

I believe they will deport you.

CHEVALIER:

I have faced that problem before.

RODERICK:

But, if they send you away, then

what is to become of me?

CHEVALIER:

(with a smile)

Make your mind easy, you shall not

be left behind, I warrant you. Do

take a last look at your barracks,

make your mind easy, say a farewell

to your friends in Berlin. The dear

souls, how they will weep when they

hear you are out of the country,

and, out of it, you shall go.

RODERICK:

But how, sir?

EXT. GARDEN HOUSE - BERLIN - DAY

Roderick, Captain Galgenstein and Minister Galgenstein.

MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

The King has determined to send the

Chevalier out of the country.

RODERICK:

When is he to go?

CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

Has he sent the challenge yet?

RODERICK:

Not yet, but I believe he intends

to.

MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

Then this must be done tomorrow.

RODERICK:

What is to be done?

CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

You say he drives after breakfast

and before dinner. When he comes

out to his carriage a couple of

gendarmes will mount the box, and

the coachman will get his orders to

move on.

RODERICK:

And his baggage?

CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

Oh! That will be sent after him. I

have a fancy to look into that red

box which contains his papers, you

say; and at noon, after parade,

shall be at the inn. You will not

say a word to any one there

regarding the affair, and will wait

for me at the Chevalier's rooms

until my arrival. We must force

that box. You are a clumsy hound,

or you would have got the key long

ago.

EXT. CHEVALIER'S APARTMENTS - DAY

Action as per voice over.

RODERICK (V.O.)

At ten o'clock the next morning, the

carriage of the Chevalier de Belle

Fast drew up as usual at the door of

his hotel, and the Chevalier came

down the stairs in his usual stately

manner.

Looking around and not finding his servant to open the

door.

CHEVALIER:

Where is my rascal, Lazlo?

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

(standing by the

carriage)

I will let down the steps for your

honor.

No sooner does the Chevalier enter than the officer jumps

in after him, another mounts the box by the coachman, and

the latter begins to drive.

CHEVALIER:

Good gracious! What is this?

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

(touching his hat)

You are going to drive to the

frontier.

CHEVALIER:

It is shameful -- infamous! I

insist upon being put down at the

Austrian ambassador's house.

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

I have orders to gag your honor if

you cry out, and to give you this

purse containing ten thousand

frederics if you do not.

CHEVALIER:

Ten thousand? But the scoundrel

owes me seventy thousand.

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

Your honor must lower his voice.

CHEVALIER:

(whispering)

All Europe shall hear of this!

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

As you please.

Both lapse into silence.

EXT. ROAD - DAY

The coach drives by. Suddenly -- "boom," the alarm cannon

begins to roar.

INT. COACH - DAY

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

Do not be alarmed. The alarm cannon

only signals a deserter.

Chevalier nods.

EXT. ROAD - DAY

The coach drives by and action as described.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Hearing the sound of the alarm

cannon, the common people came out

along the road, with fowling-pieces

and pitch-forks, in hopes to catch

the truant. The gendarmes looked

very anxious to be on the lookout

for him too. The price of a

deserter was fifty crowns to those

who brought him in.

EXT. SAXON CUSTOM-HOUSE - DAY

The black and white barriers came in view at last hard by

Bruck, and opposite them the green and yellow of Saxony.

The Saxon custom-house officers came out.

CHEVALIER:

I have no luggage.

PRUSSIAN OFFICER

The gentleman has nothing

contraband.

The Prussian officers, grinning, hand the Chevalier the

purse and take their leave of their prisoner with much

respect.

The Chevalier de Belle Fast gives them three frederic a-

piece.

CHEVALIER:

Gentlemen, I wish you a good day.

Will you please go to the house from

whence we set out this morning, and

tell my man there to send my baggage

on to Three Kings at Dresden?

RODERICK (V.O.)

Then ordering fresh horses, the

Chevalier set off on his journey for

that capital. I need not tell you

that I was the Chevalier.

INT. ROOM - HOTEL DES TROIS COURONNES - DAY

Roderick reading a letter over his breakfast in bed.

CHEVALIER (V.O.)

From the Chevalier de Belle Fast to

Roderick James, Esquire, Gentilhomme

Anglais. At the Hotel des trois

Couronnes, Dresden, Saxe. My dear

Roderick -- This comes to you by a

sure hand, no other than Mr. Lumpit,

of the English mission, who is

acquainted, as all Berlin will be

directly, with our wonderful story.

They only know half as yet; they

only know that a deserter went off

in my clothes, and all are in

admiration of your cleverness and

valor.

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes