Scaramouche Page #5

lf l hadn't come back, l doubt

you would have lasted the year out.

Think of this, a sword is like a bird.

lf you clench it too tightly, you choke it.

Too lightly, and it flies away.

Now, all actions in fencing...

are made only with the fingers,

never with the wrist.

Good people of Lacrosse.

Now, let me read you a letter from Paris.

"We, the management

of the Prado Ghetta...

"have the pleasure

in offering an extended engagement...

"to the Gaston Binet

traveling troupe of players...

"featuring the sensational Scaramouche."

Did anybody see an unpleasant man

with a letter?

A letter inviting Scaramouche to Paris?

l need hardly say...

that Scaramouche stays here in Lacrosse.

"Scaramouche stays here in Lacrosse!"

How l hate you.

- How l love you.

- Then take me to Paris.

- No! We stay here in Lacrosse.

- But why?

- Because l like it.

- Like it! You're mad!

- Yes, that's possible.

- lt's a woman!

- No.

- lt's a woman. Do you think l'm a fool?

Not entirely.

The woman you slip away to

in the mornings. Yes, l've seen you.

Every day before sunrise

for nearly six weeks.

l know it's a woman.

There is only one woman...

and she's here in this room...

at this moment.

You're such a liar.

At times.

A liar...

a cheat, and a fraud.

Also, an impostor.

l ought to be burned at the stake

for loving you.

Burned to a cinder.

Scaramouche...

take me to Paris.

No.

Once more. One, two, three, four, five, six.

Very good.

Now, this time faster. Ready?

Faster.

Very good.

You remember what l said

when we started, about the little bird?

Hold it too tightly, you choke it.

Too lightly, it will fly away.

Once again.

Doutreval, how long have you been

teaching the traitor, Andre, to fence?

He never heard of Andre Moreau.

The fool imagines he's been instructing

Montgomery of Lorraine...

an artillery artisan.

Take your money, idiot.

Ask more questions next time.

Actually, you've done me a great service.

Hand him his sword, Doutreval.

Get out.

And now, Moreau...

for your final lesson.

My compliments. You've learned

a few tricks since our last meeting.

You'd at least be a match for our friend,

Marcus, if he were still with us.

You might even defeat him.

But Noel de Maynes

is perhaps another matter.

lt takes time to make a swordsman.

Time and patience and practice.

One can't acquire overnight

what others have learned...

by years of endeavor.

For instance, the doubl one, two, three.

The feint double.

The feint of disengagement coupe.

The feint of disengagement souple.

And...

Andre!

Aline.

Take him.

Enough. Get out.

- You know this Andre Moreau?

- Yes.

- He's a friend.

- "Friend" is a broad term.

l like him.

l met him only casually, but l like him.

- You like him.

- Very much.

He gave me hope and courage once,

when l needed it very badly.

l have never forgotten it.

And l never intend to.

You speak of him with a warmth

l have not heard in your voice...

since you left your father's house.

l'm glad it's so evident.

Believe me, it does less than justice

to my feelings for Andre.

Your feelings for...

Aline, may l remind you of your position.

May l remind you of a young girl

left defenseless, alone in the world...

by her father's death

with no friend to turn to.

l was only 5 miles away.

Andre was there, and what's more,

at the risk of his life.

Did l not send for you at once,

have you brought here to my house?

Of your own free will?

Or by command of the Queen?

- My dear child...

- l am not a child.

Nor am l a chattel.

l'm a woman who wants to be loved

for her own sake or not at all.

Whatever you do for me, Noel,

you do under orders.

My dear, all you say was true

in the beginning.

l did interest myself in you

at first only dutifully.

How could l know that Her Majesty

had chosen your character and courage...

for a man to respect and admire?

Believe me, Aline...

Her Majesty may have commanded

my interests then...

but now, after, how long is it?

Only six short weeks.

Even she could not command me

to forget you.

You know your way from here.

Good luck, Moreau.

Doutreval, l owe you my warmest thanks.

l owe much more to Montgomery

of Lorraine, an artillery officer.

Yeah. l'm still only a beginner

compared with de Maynes.

No, not a beginner, just not a champion...

- yet.

- Nor will l ever be...

now that l can no longer be taught

by the man who taught my enemy.

lf you forget your passion while you're

fencing, you'd improve more rapidly.

My old instructor,

Perigore himself, used to say:

"The head. Fight with the head.

Forget the heart."

Your old instructor didn't realize...

Your old instructor, is he still alive?

Of course he's still alive.

Master of all swordsmen.

l can no longer be taught

by the man who taught my enemy.

So, what is more fitting in a mad world...

than to be taught by the man who taught

the man who taught my enemy?

Where does he live? What is his name

again, this master of all swordsmen?

Perigore of Paris.

Come on out.

Come out before l drag you out

by your ears!

So it was a woman!

Her name is Gavrillac, Aline de Gavrillac!

Don't lie your way out of it! Put me down!

l'm glad you followed me.

lt forces me to tell you the truth.

You're in love with that girl.

l couldn't love Aline

if she was the last woman on earth.

What were you up to,

playing hide-and-seek?

Not exactly. l was having a fencing lesson.

- Liar!

- No, not this time.

For once, you've no cause to be jealous.

- Prove it.

- l will.

- Your dearest wish. What is it?

- The Prado Theater, Paris.

We leave for Paris today.

You, l, and the whole company.

No. Too sudden a switch.

Some woman is behind it.

- No woman. A man.

- On your word as a fraud and a fake.

- As a fiend incarnate.

- The name of the man?

They call him Perigore of Paris.

Paris.

Where shall we dine tonight?

The Caf Jomier

for some of those wonderful frog legs.

And afterwards?

What do you think?

- Paul, would you throw me my petticoat?

- l should be delighted.

Thank you.

l said throw it.

My dear, after coming here

night after night for a month...

am l not like your uncle?

- Do you feel like my uncle?

- No.

- Lenore is dining with me tonight.

- l'm sorry...

Since this is my first visit,

l have first call on the lady.

- Columbine, did you hear that?

- Yes.

- l, for a month...

- Gentlemen.

Charming.

Thank you. l'm so sorry,

but l already have another engagement.

Five minutes, my pet.

- Scaramouche.

- Good evening.

- So you're the lucky man.

- lnvariably, my friend.

- You remember me?

- l shall never forget you.

What's the secret of your success

with the ladies?

His mask. They don't know how hideous

he looks without it, as l do.

Lenore, could you...

Pardon me.

- Your admirers are very fickle.

- Not l.

lndeed. You've come all the way

to Paris just to see Lenore.

l'd gladly go farther than that,

but she wasn't the reason.

No? Then what was it? l'm jealous.

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