Scaramouche Page #6

A wedding.

The Marquis de Maynes

takes a bride the first week in July.

Charming girl. His ward.

We're here to prepare for the nuptials.

So, de Maynes is in Paris.

Yes, the happy couple arrived

here together this morning.

Au revoir, Columbine.

Some other evening perhaps.

Scaramouche, my compliments.

l shall send all Paris to see you.

On second thought...

l'm not in the mood for frog legs.

We'll go to Emile's and have oysters.

My cloak.

l'll get Binet to take you home.

- You know l can't dine with you now.

- You hate him for her sake.

That's why you hate him, because of her!

No, not because of her.

Enough. You seem to have forgotten

everything l taught you.

This is no lesson.

You make it a street fight.

He could have run you through

a dozen times.

- What time is it?

- 6:
00.

We still got 30 minutes. Come on.

The head. Fight with the head.

Forget the heart.

That's enough for today. Go home.

Thank you.

You have a demon in you, this fine day.

Lose it or you'll not live to see another.

Yes, you're right.

Thank you, Perigore.

Thanks for everything.

Pay me tomorrow.

Well?

He may be our man.

- What are you doing here?

- Don't say anything.

l won't shout, and l won't throw things.

Forgive me coming here...

but you've just given me

the worst night of my life.

- l thought you were dead.

- Not yet.

Don't joke about it.

l'm sorry. Don't joke about it, please.

lt's no joke to me.

What happened last night?

l went to de Maynes. The lord was in bed

and the house well guarded by servants.

- Come home now.

- No.

Please, Andre.

You never really knew

Philippe de Valmorin...

did you, Lenore?

He was like my younger brother.

l watched him grow up,

and l watched him die.

Murdered.

lf you'd seen that...

you'd understand why for the last months

l've had but one desire:

De Maynes' death.

An hour from now,

he rides in le bois alone.

God willing, that desire

will be fulfilled this morning.

l don't like you this way, Andre.

l don't like you at all.

l don't like myself.

l'd like you to wish me luck.

You fool! You'll go to your death.

Then pray for me.

Quiet.

Who are you? What do you mean by

sending me a note with "Andre" on it?

Why should l be interested in Andre?

You must be

or you wouldn't have seen me.

l know a dozen Andres: Andre Lebourge,

Andre Clou, Andre Bercier.

Andre Moreau.

Andre Moreau? Who is Andre Moreau?

lf you don't know,

then you won't care if he's dead.

Dead? No!

- That's better.

- ls he?

No. He's alive now,

but he won't be in half an hour.

He's waiting in the bois to fight

your fianc. Andre will be cut to pieces.

- Why do you come to me?

- Why?

You love him.

You do, don't you?

Yes.

Yes, l love him.

He's no use to either of us dead.

Quickly. This way.

Andre, whenever we meet,

you're armed to the teeth.

l was expecting de Maynes. Where is he?

Not here. l assure you there's no one here

but me, and l'm really quite harmless.

- They told me he rides here at 7:00.

- Not always. ln Paris he likes to sleep late.

- Shall we ride on a little together?

- No. We'll ride nowhere.

- You don't care to accompany me?

- l'm waiting for de Maynes.

He won't come.

The Marquis de Maynes is not riding

this morning. Do you hear me?

lf he weren't riding this morning,

you wouldn't be here.

Do you love him very much?

You know l've never loved anyone but you

from the moment we met...

just as you have never loved anyone

but me from that moment.

- l do not love you, Aline.

- Then you love someone else.

Tell me you love someone else,

and l'll believe you.

- l love no one. l have no time for loving.

- You love me.

- l do not.

- l think you do.

You told me in the coach. Remember?

- l've said as much to a dozen women.

- You didn't love any of them?

l fall in love constantly, indiscriminately.

The effect is the same

as if l never fell in love.

l don't know what you said to the others.

l only know that when you spoke to me...

you loved me.

Aline, listen to me.

We met and became friends.

l make friends easily.

That means nothing at all.

There is not, and there never could be,

anything between us. Never.

Do you understand?

Ride away and forget

that you ever met Andre Moreau.

He's already forgotten

that he ever met Aline de Gavrillac.

Why do you lie to me, Andre?

Why don't you tell me what you feel?

Never mind.

You feel it, and that's all that matters.

And so do l.

l love you.

No matter what you may say or do,

whatever may happen to either of us...

l shall go on loving you always.

Will you remember that?

Always.

- Are you hurt?

- No.

l came to ride with you.

And then suddenly... Come. Let's ride.

What, no fear after such a narrow escape?

l like that. But enough for today.

Come, my dear. l'll take you home.

He didn't come.

You've had no breakfast or lunch.

ls there any food in this house?

Not for me. l'm not hungry.

Andre Moreau, colleague

of the late Philippe de Valmorin...

wanted for treason

against the Crown of France?

- Who let you in?

- No one. l used discretion and the window.

l am unarmed.

- Go on your business, or...

- Or you'll run me deftly through.

l don't doubt it.

You have a rare talent with the sword.

- Come on, your name, your business.

- Dubuque. My profession? A doctor.

By force of circumstance, a deputy

of the newly created National Assembly.

Come to the point.

The newly elected

people's representatives...

are being methodically reduced

by the aristocrats.

Only yesterday, Deputy Chambris,

one of our best men...

was murdered in a duel, so called.

These things happen.

We want to appoint a new delegate

to succeed Chambris.

We need a young man.

As quick with his sword as his tongue.

Well?

l have no interest in politics, whatsoever.

Yet you were a friend of Marcus Brutus.

ln spite of his fancies,

not because of them.

You believe in liberty.

You know it's being strangled.

l also believe in laughter,

and l know the world is mad.

Good day, sir.

So, the de Crvy

and the de Maynes go unopposed.

- A pity.

- What was that?

What was what?

Those names that you said.

De Crvy and...

de Maynes?

- Noel de Maynes?

- Yes.

You mean that he sits in the assembly?

Naturally. He's a peer of the realm.

- You said you weren't hungry...

- Who said he wasn't hungry?

l've never been hungrier in my life!

Allow me to present...

my good friend Dubuque...

by profession a doctor,

by force of circumstance a deputy.

On second thought, l realize that l am

very much interested in politics...

and l would be proud to serve

the people of France in their hour of need.

Deputy Designate Moreau

of the National Assembly, if you please.

Deputy Dubuque,

would you join me in a meal?

The assembly will come to order!

Deputy du Rouge,

representing the Soissons district.

Present.

Deputy Chambris, from the Saint-Denis

district of the city of Paris.

Mr. President. The deputy

from the Saint-Denis district...

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