The Flame and the Arrow Page #2

Easy.

Rudi.

Boy....

-What happened to the boy?

-Gave himself up to save your life.

Now lie down, Dardo.

Don't let him go.

He doesn't know what he's doing.

Anyone here gonna try and stop me?

Thank you, Sister.

And now, Sister, the soporific,

if you please.

The pain easement.

To be blunt, the jug.

This is purely medicinal.

I think we'll need it.

Bring me the hot iron.

Raise him gently. He'll be all right.

-You'll get your boy back.

-Soon as your wound heals.

-You gotta hide.

-We'll get in the mountains.

-We'll make a plan.

-We'll find out who's at the castle.

-We'll get him back, Dardo.

-No.

No, it's my boy, my problem.

Go home, all of you.

The Hawk will forgive you.

It isn't as easy as that.

-You're an outlaw with a price on you.

-A thousand pieces.

-And everyone who helped you.

-A hundred apiece.

We're outlaws together,

whether you like it or not.

Look, Dardo, I can't do anything

about your being outlaws.

You've taken care of that yourselves.

But I can ask you to think now.

Don't cause any more trouble.

Work with us.

Work for the day

when we can right all the wrongs.

When all of Lombardy

will be free again.

Senor Apothecary...

...I can't speak for the others...

...but I have no noble purpose.

I'm not out to right anyone's wrongs

but my own.

My boy won't sit waiting at the castle

until all of Lombardy is free.

I'm afraid you'll have to carry that arm

in a sling for a week or so.

If you'd called me sooner, Dardo,

all of this wouldn't have been necessary.

There's some things even a man like you

can't handle alone.

Looks like I'm not alone.

Like it or not.

It wasn't our fault, milady.

We were surrounded.

You mustn't ride into the woods.

Dardo's gang is out.

It's not safe in there.

There must be a score or more.

Dardo?

-Thank you.

-Thank you. If we can--

Oh, thank you, milady.

Well, now,

what have we here, Piccolo?

Is it a lady or a lad?

What do you think?

Either way, it's a puny lad

or a poor lady.

But a handsome horse,

don't you think?

Maybe we should take the horse

and leave the lady-lad to walk home.

Let go of my bridle, please.

Not so fast. You're in my part

of the forest, milady.

-We warned you.

-Maybe you could explain it to me.

It's a little difficult for a stranger.

Just which part of the forest

does he consider his?

As my good friend Piccolo says,

the sure sign is the birds.

They sing in my part of the forest.

No hawks.

You know,

you remind me a little of my uncle.

Are you the only one allowed to talk

in your part of the forest?

My friend Piccolo's quite a fellow.

He's got ears that can hear

ahead of the rest of us...

...like lightning before thunder.

See things you and I can't.

Track a deer by the smell,

pick out a poison mushroom by touch.

And he talks in a way--

But I don't think you'd understand,

milady Anne of Hesse.

You see, he was born without a voice.

If you'll turn around and go home

like a nice boy, I'll forgive you.

But the next time, I'll spank you.

And you might give Rudi a message

for me. Tell him I'll be seeing him soon.

I have no particular bond

with my countrymen...

...but you make it

so expensive for me.

Anne.

The Marchese di Granezia.

Milady.

This is indeed an unexpected pleasure.

You give me hope.

I had begun to despair

of our barren valley.

At last, a flower of the court

in our mountains.

A rose among our brambles.

You're unexpected yourself, marchese.

I had begun to think

there was nothing here but rock...

...and arrogant peasants.

These mountains breed arrogance,

even among the nobility.

-And now, if you'll excuse me--

-Don't go, milady.

I need your moral support.

I'm afraid your uncle

is annoyed with me.

I wish you to stay, Anne.

He seems to think I should pay my taxes

like everyone else.

-And why shouldn't you?

-Because I'm not like everyone else.

You're a very important man here,

marchese.

And that is why I can't allow you to set

a bad example for the rest of the valley.

I've been setting a bad example

for years.

And I have come back

to change all that.

That, my dear Ulrich, is your quandary.

This is mine.

If I should pay

your outrageous taxes...

...I would be left

without property or position.

Little more than anyone else

in this wretched valley.

I would scarcely be worse off

if you confiscated me entirely.

So at the risk of setting

a bad example...

...I am not going to pay you.

You set your example, marchese...

...and I'll set mine.

My uncle has already sent

several score to the pillory...

...and jailed a hundred more...

...for the same attitude

as yours, marchese.

As your uncle

may have heard, milady...

...during the Crusade I was imprisoned

briefly in several Saracen jails...

...but only briefly.

-And now, if milady will excuse me....

-Until we meet again.

You have just lost a husband.

-Send the march of the guard to me.

-I understand why you brought me here.

We can't afford

a military occupation indefinitely.

The emperor feels a marriage

between Lombardy and Hesse...

...would serve the empire.

You can tell the emperor--

I thought the marchese

would be an ideal husband for you.

We probably won't find another

as presentable.

Take a company of men to the castle

of the Marchese di Granezia.

Collect his taxes.

-And if he resists, my lord?

-If he resists, take him.

But I want him taken alive.

One step, two step.

Left foot, right foot.

Lightly, lightly, gay and sprightly.

Arch your back and curtsy slightly.

One, two, three, please.

Flex the knees.

Stop and bow and straight and now...

...it's one and two

and follow through.

And three and four

and bow once more and--

No, no, no.

It cannot be done.

Dancing must flow gracefully

and naturally from the spirit...

...as milk from a cow.

I cannot draw milk from a bull.

Rudi, really, try to pay attention.

Not many peasant boys

have the chance as you do...

...to grow up like a little prince

with servants to train you...

-...and take care of your every wish.

-I can take care of myself.

But then what would the servants do?

You sound like your father.

Don't you understand?

With Ulrich's influence,

you can be almost anything you want.

Oh, Rudi. I have a message for you.

Your father said to tell you

he'll see you soon.

The Marchese Alessandro of Granezia.

We're honored.

You are the sultan

of these tartar brigands?

Outlaws, marchese, outlaws.

I will take my possessions

and be gone.

Piccolo, untie the marchese

and his friend...

...so they can be gone.

I don't think you understand.

I will take my possessions and be gone.

I don't think you understand.

These aren't your possessions.

They were plucked from me

by the Hessians.

And we plucked them

from the Hessians, rudely.

I would like it clearly understood :

Where my possessions go, I go.

If they stay, I stay.

Oh, come now, marchese. You wouldn't

want to live among brigands.

Outlaws, as you say.

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