Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula Page #3

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these nobles murdered your father?

These were evil,

corrupt men.

Do you deny

that you returned

to this place

of execution?

No.

Do you deny

you dipped your bread

into the blood

of the nobles?

What's the matter?

Vlad Dracula,

what's the matter?

I have heard

these stories so often,

I'm starting

to believe them myself.

Shhh...

Tell me these rumors

are not true.

Rumors?

What rumors?

What have you heard?

That you bury condemned men

to the waist and behead them.

Who told you that?

Your father?

No.

Did he tell you

I cut the breasts off

adulterous women and force

their infants suck their blood?

- He didn't tell me that.

- Of course he didn't.

I just invented it.

Do you not trust me?

Lidia,

I do nothing unjust.

Grave news, My Prince.

The Turkish force

is invading Romania.

Aron's estate

is under attack.

Where is Aron?

He's gone.

Gone?

Gone.

He didn't stand

and fight?

He didn't defend

his people and his land?

Are you really

surprised?

I found them,

My Prince.

This is no place

for a fight.

This is a place

for a fight.

Take prisoners.

Take prisoners!

Hello, my brother.

What shall I do with this one,

My Prince?

You're gonna kill me,

aren't you?

You've been a traitor

to your own people,

- and to the memory of your father.

- I never betrayed our father.

Besides, if it wasn't for me,

you'd still be in that prison,

rotting.

You have

that much influence?

Even as a boy?

Especially as a boy.

What if I told you

you could live...

if you came back home.

If you renounced your allegiance

to the Sultan?

You don't understand.

I'm happy where I am.

We will defend our borders

against all raids.

There will be

no more tribute.

Tell your Sultan that.

You know you cannot win.

The next time we meet

in battle, I will kill you.

It doesn't have to be

this way, my brother.

This is exactly

the way it has to be.

He had

the Sultan's trust.

- He could have escaped easily.

- Maybe he didn't want to.

He betrayed me and his people

because he was weak.

Do you really believe-

They're all weak.

What?

They are all weak.

My father, Vlad.

What is

to become of him?

When he is found,

justice will be done.

It was his duty to defend

his land and his people.

My love,

I've never asked you

for anything.

But this

I beg of you.

Swear to me no harm

will come to my father.

Please?

If you love me,

you'll swear to that.

On the life

of our child,

I swear,

no evil will befall

your father.

What is it?

Where is he?

Where did you see him?

What is it, my dear?

You look like you need

a drink of water.

This goblet

is made of gold.

Yes.

Why does that

astonish you?

And no one

has tried to steal it?

No.

It belongs to all of us.

He brought peace...

and the sword.

They say

he's the Messiah.

- The Messiah?

- Oh yes.

His coming was foretold

by the priests.

At the moment of his birth,

the Virgin wept bloody tears.

Then perhaps

he's the devil.

No.

He's neither

god nor devil.

But he's certainly

more than a man.

His wine cellar

is stocked

with the blood

of his enemies.

Have you never heard

of Vlad the Impaler?

You must be

a stranger to Romania.

Yes, I am.

Father!

Why are you still here?

Why haven't you left the country?

One needs money

to bribe customs agents.

- I had nowhere else to turn.

- Here.

It's not enough?

No...

I don't want to expose you

to his vengeance.

Did you really run,

Father?

Yes.

No!

Oh God, no!

- I know that man.

- Lidia, stop!

I must stop this.

Vlad, no!

No!

Vlad, you swore!

You swore!

Let him go.

Goodbye, my child.

I love you.

I swore to make

a better and just world,

- fit for our son to live in.

- Why did you lie to me?

- I never lied to you.

- Only a monster

would allow what I saw

in that square today.

Would a monster...

have let

your father go free?

- You didn't have to kill that sentry.

- That man was asleep on duty.

So you had him killed?!

Believe me,

the next sentry will not

fall asleep on duty.

This is madness.

Have you considered

the cost of this justice?

The cost on

your immortal soul?

My soul, my life,

whatever the cost may be,

- I am willing to pay.

- And what about our son?

Will your methods

die with you?

I will not

let you corrupt him!

- You are a monster!

- No.

I truly don't know you at all.

Don't touch me!

- Lidia!

- Please!

- You're a monster!

- You're not in your right mind.

Lidia, stop!

- Lidia!

- You!

- Call the surgeon now!

The Princess

is not well.

Vlad, come.

Yes, Father.

You're cold.

Lidia...

You cannot go on like this.

Get the Princess a blanket,

please.

Welcome to Romania, gentlemen.

What can I do for you?

The fact is,

Vlad Dracula,

you've ignored all previous

diplomatic overtures.

So, we-

Radu.

Have your men

take off their hats.

It is our custom

never to remove them at court.

Oh, I see.

Vlad? What do you

think of this custom?

I would like to speak

to my brother alone,

if you don't mind.

Vlad, this is your uncle, Radu.

Radu is a good friend

of the Turkish Sultan.

They call him

Radu the Handsome.

Radu, this is my son.

My successor.

I have no design

on your throne, Vlad.

Why have you come back?

I told you eight years ago,

no more tributes ever.

Romania is now free

and will remain so.

The Sultan grows weary

of your impertinence.

If it continues,

he will attack.

Unlike you, I didn't submit

to the Sultan's whims

when I was a child.

Why should I now?

So we understand one another?

No more warnings.

Understood.

Let's hope this will

have strengthened your customs,

and keep them in your land

where they belong.

- Mother?

- We're leaving this place.

Do you hear them?

Quickly.

Vlad, come.

- No!

- Take the boy.

What do you hear?

- Cries.

- Cries?

Of the dead.

Begging you for mercy.

I am sending you

to the nunnery in Braila.

It is best for you,

and best for our son.

No! I cannot

leave you alone with him.

When your mind is calm

you will be permitted to return.

No!

It was not a banishment.

It was done out of love.

No one here denies

that you are

a devoted husband

or a loving father.

Perhaps even more loving,

I suspect,

than your own father

was to you.

Who could say?

- Ready?

- I am.

Shoot.

For some time

life went on quietly,

until one day

I was called to the Danube.

There.

Look at that.

What I could do with such an army.

There must be

- Which means...

- ...we are outnumbered 10 to 1.

"My darling, Lidia,

you are my first thought

in the morning,

and my last at night.

Know that you are in my heart.

Always and forever.

We've engaged the Turk,

and have begun our great

and noble fight.

Our men fight

with bravery and honor.

But they are many.

And we are few.

In the year 431 Before Christ,

Pericles eulogizing

over Athenian soldiers

slain in combat with

the Spartans wrote,

'It is for our country

that these men die nobly in battle,

thinking it right

not to be deprived of her,

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