The Count of Monte Cristo Page #5

honoured with your presence.

Now, please,

enjoy yourselves tonight.

- What do we know about him?

- Not enough.

Where are they?

Are you sure you invited them?

Yes, Your Grace.

But I just learned that Count Mondego

has retired for the evening.

He has a morning appointment

he cannot miss.

You're up early, my dear.

Is the Viscount Tourville dead?

Well, unless his heart

is situated somewhere other than

the left side of his chest...

I suspect he is.

God grant him peace.

He did no more

than defend his family's honour.

Much good it did him.

His wife and I

were happy in our passion.

You were happy in your ignorance.

Now comes the viscount's valiant defence

of his honour, and you are pained.

- She is ruined, and he is dead.

- Don't flatter yourself, Fernand.

I was neither happy nor ignorant...

having known about the last three women

before Madame Tourville.

I'm sorry you are humiliated.

And since my attempts at discretion

have evidently failed...

there seems little point

in keeping up pretences.

It's actually quite liberating.

Wouldn't you say?

- They're not even cheating him.

- And have you looked into his shipping?

He got a bank loan for his own boat

several years ago.

- Doesn't use Danglars at all.

- Make sure we own that bank by tomorrow.

And tell the other shipping companies

to stay away from Mondego.

I want to give him no choice

but to crawl back to Danglars.

Now, tell the dealers...

take it all.

Do try to understand.

I have a very large consignment

of cotton ready to be sent...

and I shall make my payment on the ship

as soon as it is delivered.

So obviously I need the vessel

in order to deliver it.

Unfortunately, the bank can offer

no further extensions, Count Mondego.

Well, well. To what do I owe

the honour, Count Mondego?

Can't imagine why you've been

avoiding me after all these years.

I'm prepared

to overlook your faults and...

perhaps resume our dealings.

Business not going

so well these days?

Zatarra?

- Jacopo.

- Did you fall off the bed?

After 1 3 years of sleeping

on a stone slab, I can't.

Mi Maria.

Does that hurt?

Did you come here for a reason?

Mondego has a son.

- Albert wishes to talk with us.

- Not now! Tell him I'm trying

to protect his inheritance.

Are you afraid he's going

to squander his as you have yours?

May I remind you, my love, that in Paris

there are mistresses aplenty...

but you have only one son.

Come in, Albert.

- And, for God's sake, be brief.

- I will, Father.

Several of my friends are going to Rome

for two weeks during Carnival.

- I would like to accompany them.

- Rome?

- And no chaperons?

Albert, you're only 1 5.

- Almost 1 6.

Make it my birthday present,

Father, please.

- I won't get into trouble.

- No.

- Of course he can go.

I could do with

some peace and quiet around here.

Rome!

Albert! Albert!

- Over here! Over here!

- Over here!

Milady?

Can't hide forever. Milady?

- Who are you,

and why are you doing this?

- We are bad men, and for the money.

- My money is in my waistcoat.

- Not any more.

Besides, it's not your money

we're interested in.

You are the only son

of Count Mondego, are you not?

Ransom?

Send your note and be damned.

I wish it were that easy,

but a note won't reach your father

for at least two weeks...

and then there's the endless debates

about whether we killed you already.

No, a note just doesn't have the impact.

Perhaps if we send him your ring.

Yes. My ring bears

the Mondego crest.

Listen to me, vermin.

I am Albert...

son of Fernand, Count Mondego...

and you have had your last laugh

at my expense.

- Do your worst.

- If you insist. Peppone, the knife.

Cut this boy's ropes,

or I will be forced...

to start cutting

your miserable corpses.

Now!

Follow me, young man.

You see the surface? Wait for me there.

- I don't know how to thank you.

- Go. We'll talk later.

Well done, gentlemen.

Many thanks, Your Grace.

Albert.

Are you all right?

Sir, I owe you my life.

You've had quite an ordeal.

You're an extraordinary young man.

I insist, you must come to my estate

for breakfast tomorrow.

Agreed?

Agreed.

- May I ask who you are, sir?

- For the present, your friend.

Tomorrow, your host. For the short time

formality stands between us...

the Count of Monte Cristo.

He's out in the waiting room.

- He showed courage in the tunnels.

- He's a means to an end.

Yes, Your Grace.

Young man.

Albert, come in.

Come, come.

Come on.

- You've had quite a night.

- Yes. What an adventure.

Everything's an adventure

when you're young.

- One thing puzzles me, sir.

- Hmm?

How did you come to know

of my kidnapping?

I have many connections...

some of which are less than reputable.

I pay well to be informed of anything

of note in any city in which I stay.

And the kidnapping of a count's son

is of note.

But why risk your life rescuing me?

You're the son of a fellow noble.

It was the least I could do.

Judging by your character,

I'm sure you would have done the same.

Your father will be proud of you.

You must come to Paris

and meet my parents so that

they may thank you in person.

Unfortunately, I cannot.

Business, you see.

Please.

It is a matter of honour.

- Jacopo?

- Yes, Your Grace?

The Spada matter...

where do we stand?

- Even now, the gold...

- The shipment?

Oh, oh, l-I'm sorry, Your Grace.

The, uh... The shipment is in transit...

uh, bound for Marseilles.

- And it arrives?

- Not for another three weeks,

Your Grace.

Three weeks? That's more

than enough time to visit in Paris.

- Very well.

- Excellent.

- And you'll be there just in time.

- In time for?

- Happy birthday.

- Thanks.

The Count of Monte Cristo.

Count!

- Albert.

- Your Grace. Father!

May I present

the Count of Monte Cristo.

- 'Tis a pleasure.

- The pleasure is mine, Count Mondego.

I've been looking forward

to this moment for some time.

Well, you do me much honour,

when it is I who are indebted to you...

for the rescue of my son.

May I present

the Countess Mondego.

Mercedes.

Countess.

You would have to be a mother

to truly appreciate the service...

you've done for my son and me.

Monsieur, I shall never forget you.

Please, madame, it was nothing.

I am sure that within a month,

you will not even remember my name.

- May I steal your wife?

- I'm sorry?

- For the waltz.

- Of course.

Isn't he wonderful, Father?

- What's the matter?

- Uh, nothing.

You just remind me

of someone from long ago.

- Someone who was very dear to me.

- I'm flattered.

What happened to him?

He died.

But I'm not that man.

Monsieur and Madame Villefort.

What are they doing here?

Prosecutor Villefort.

- What are you doing here?

- Oh, Madame Villefort, monsieur.

I'm so glad you could come to see me

while I'm still in town.

- I must say, we were delightfully

surprised to get your note.

- Thank you.

Now, would you be so kind as to excuse

your husband and I for a moment?

I'm told you are an expert

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