The Face of Alexandre Dumas: The Man in the Iron Mask Page #2

- Athos, I...

Ah!

Out celebrating all night!

Raoul, look who's come to visit.

What's wrong?

I cannot make her a widow,

just as I've made her a wife.

I've been recalled

to my regiment.

But that makes no sense!

You've already served

at the front.

Has there been some disaster?

Has everyone else

been recalled?

I believe the King's eye

has fallen on Christine.

True, he noticed her,

but it has nothing to do...

The King is a dog!

- Athos!

- And a coward!

But I am neither. And so I go.

Raoul!

D'Artagnan!

Does the King have trouble

finding women?

I served his father.

Until I retired, I served him.

And now, to seduce a woman

who'll mean nothing to him

once he's had her,

he would put

my son's life in danger?

You knew this was happening!

That's why you came!

- I knew your temper...

- You came to restrain me?

I came to bring you hope!

I will speak

to the King personally.

I still have faith

he may become the king

we wish him to be.

You don't know what

it's like to have a son.

To have kissed his hair,

watched him grow.

Yes, fatherhood is a blessing

I can only imagine.

D'Artagnan!

I have never known

a finer man than you,

but if the King harms my son

merely to take a lover,

then this king becomes my enemy!

As will any man who stands

between him and me!

Then I must hurry,

for I treasure your son...

as I treasure you.

Guard the gate!

Captain! The people say

the food the King ordered us

to distribute is rotten.

They're attacking Musketeers.

Get the gates!

- Prepare to fire.

- No! Close the gates!

Do not fire!

It's d'Artagnan!

[Crowd falls silent]

Citizens of Paris, listen to me.

- I am one of you.

- We're starving!

They gave us garbage

not fit for rats!

Listen to me!

Listen, I beg you.

No-o-o-o!

You're right, it is rotten.

I'll speak to the King myself.

You have my word.

And you will release those men,

for they serve France...and you.

[Moans of passion]

Oh, Louis, you were right!

A woman has never known love

until she has known

the love of a king.

I'm hungry.

I'll have some food brought.

I like to eat alone.

By the way,

you're leaving tomorrow.

These passageways

are meant for my security,

not for you

to startle me to death.

It's for your security

that I've come.

I know about the rioting.

Your people want to love you,

but they are eating rotten food.

Rotten food?

I'll deal with that decisively.

There is another matter

of a more personal nature,

Your Majesty...

You are surrounded

by beautiful women.

Do you love any of them?

Quite frequently, actually.

M-hm. And they love you?

How do you know, when a woman

is intimate with you,

that it is you

and not the crown she loves?

You think my affairs are empty?

I think it is possible

for one man to love

one woman all his life

and be the better for it.

You may be right.

Perhaps I haven't met a woman

with a heart like my own

until recently.

Would that be Christine?

D'Artagnan, I fear

you watch me too closely.

Did you send Raoul to war

so that you could pursue her?

Do you question my honour?

No, I do not

question your honour.

It is you I care about.

Raoul will return soon.

You have my word.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

D'Artagnan!

I am a young king...

but I am King.

Then be a good king,

Your Majesty.

You are the new chief advisor.

Execute him for

distributing rotten food.

And the next time

there are rioters, shoot them.

Please take this

to the royal despatchers.

Christi-i-i-ine...

I'll get you water

in a moment, Mother.

'His Majesty regrets

to inform you

'that Raoul, son of Athos,

'has been killed in action.'

Sir, a casualty report came.

Does Athos know of this?

Athos, my friend...

Stop, you traitor!

Athos, listen to me!

The cannons killed Raoul!

Do not add your own death

to this tragedy.

I beg you!

Get back! Get back!

YOU'RE the traitor.

See to the wounded.

Does your new

apartment suit you?

Sire, when you sent for me

after the news of Raoul,

I came to ask for your help.

I have no way to feed my family.

My father is dead, my mother...

..has a sickness of the lungs.

And your sister has

signs of the condition.

My physician saw them both

and is optimistic.

They will recover

at my country estate.

Your Majesty...

I know that for you, this day...

the earth has

spun round many times.

You must still feel it spinning.

Let us sit at a quiet dinner

and bring it to a pause.

Listen to me!

You've lost someone

dear to your heart.

And I have no desire for you

to turn that heart to stone.

I only ask you this:

that whatever you feel tonight,

you allow yourself

to share it openly with me.

To good health.

You are so beautiful.

I cannot do this.

Christine...

I hope you know there is

more of me to love than a crown.

Of all the wonders I have seen,

I have never seen any

as beautiful as you.

[Porthos] Aramis!

Is this the way to hell?

Hell may be our destination,

but not this trip.

[Porthos] A tomb!

We're in a tomb?

The secrecy is regrettable,

but necessary.

[Aramis] Please, sit.

When we were young and saw

injustice, we fought it.

Some problems cannot

be solved with a sword.

Some can't be settled

without one!

Here is the problem at hand.

The Jesuits oppose Louis' wars

and the starvation that results.

So, Louis has ordered me

to discover the identity

of the Jesuits' general.

And to kill him.

Let the secret general

worry about that!

The problem is...

..that I am he.

I am the General

of the Order of Jesuits.

What do you propose to do?

Replace the King.

- I cannot listen to this.

- It can't be done.

It can!

I am with you.

So am I.

No!

I need you.

All for one and one for all.

I cannot betray my king!

I swore an oath!

When a king is dishonourable,

you are removed from your oath.

An oath is an oath

because it cannot be removed!

Why do you follow him?

Why?

What we fought for is greater

than king or rank or reward.

What do you fight for?

For the belief that every man

can be better, even Louis.

Whatever the plan,

I am with you.

The next time we meet,

one of us will die.

Athos, wait!

D'Artagnan!

Even were I not a priest,

I could see that your heart

carries a secret weight

and that it is hurting you

to bear it alone.

I cannot betray my king.

I will defend him with my life.

Then God be with you.

For none of us will.

I hear there was an incident

at the Musketeers' gate,

where a man came

intent on killing me.

Is it our policy now

to let would-be assassins

go free, d'Artagnan?

He wished to kill his own pain.

His son is dead.

I can think of nothing worse.

- What about losing your king?

- That depends on the king.

When I became a Musketeer,

I was told,

each time I drew my sword,

I should consider

not what I killed,

but what I allowed to live.

You know who told me that?

Athos.

If he has become our enemy,

we should ask ourselves why.

Athos is gone.

Porthos and Aramis

are missing, too.

You know them

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