The Flame and the Arrow Page #4

Maybe you're a peasant girl after all,

like Francesca.

I am Anne of Hesse.

My title is marchioness.

My father was Ulrich's brother.

But I was raised and learned to ride

in the South with my mother.

The country is very much like this.

You'll have to let the chain out a little.

I left my sandal down by the water.

Isn't it a little dull for you

after the court?

It must be lonely without the dukes

and counts and princes.

Tell me about them.

What are they like

when they take their armor off?

I learned a long time ago, milady...

...never trust a mountain cat

when she stops snarling...

...and never trust a woman

when your back is turned.

Why didn't we ever think of this before?

This is the life.

All those years I spent

sweeping other people's smoke...

...cooped up in chimneys,

looking at the sky through a square hole.

-Fresh air, I'm not quite used to it.

-Scarpa, my nimble-toed friend...

...tell me,

wouldn't it be easier to use your hand?

Yes, it'd be easier to live like animals

and eat with our teeth.

Be easier to walk around

in our bare skins, let our hair grow.

It'd be easier for you

to talk like other people...

...without rhymes and rhythms.

But we're civilized

and the art of civilization...

...is doing natural things

in an unnatural way.

I'm just more civilized

than the rest of you.

I salute a fellow artist.

Skinner, we have a love letter to write

to the Hawk.

Piccolo, don't go away.

Sit down and talk to me.

No, really. I can understand you.

You and Dardo have known each other

a long time, haven't you?

You like him, don't you?

Why do you like him?

He's a bird?

He's free as a bird?

Oh, he's a free spirit.

That's what you mean.

The birds do sing

in his part of the forest.

What about women?

He treats them badly, doesn't he?

Puts chains around their necks.

Do you think that's right?

Do you see any reason

why I should be chained?

After all, I couldn't go anyplace, could I?

The guards wouldn't let me.

Then if it's just a cruel whim

of Dardo's...

...couldn't you undo the chain?

Oh, marchese.

-Milady.

-When we said, "Till we meet again"...

...I'd hoped it would be

different circumstances.

So had I, but your uncle intervened.

And now to find myself

your prisoner....

-You'd have preferred me to be yours?

-No.

But I hardly expected to find

the Marchese di Granezia...

...as a stableboy.

It has certain advantages

over the dungeons of the castle.

But it's all

so unnecessary, Alessandro.

How's that, milady?

-If you'd been more reasonable--

-Paid my taxes?

You'd have had more than your taxes

back with my marriage settlement.

You'll forgive me, milady,

if I find your proposal somewhat sudden.

But it's not, really.

I'm quite sure such a pleasant idea

would never have slipped my mind.

My uncle had suggested it.

I can only say your uncle

has an alarming way...

...of welcoming me to the family.

The Emperor Barbarossa knows we can't

afford a military occupation indefinitely.

Therefore, a marriage between

Hesse and Lombardy seems....

But I can't help being a woman.

If I must be married

for reasons of empire...

...I wish it could be someone

I find attractive.

You overwhelm me, milady.

-Are you surprised I find you attractive?

-Not at all.

I'm surprised that I find myself

wanting to believe you.

It's a pity it's too late.

But it's not too late.

If I could tell my uncle that--

My dear Anne, if I may be so bold...

...you may tell your uncle

that I find you fascinating.

If only I could be sure you're as honest

as you are pretty.

But then, with a collar around

your lovely neck...

...it's hard to tell...

...whether your throat's blushing

from passion or deceit.

And now if milady will forgive me...

...I must get back to the stables.

"By sundown tonight."

-That all?

-That's enough.

I don't understand that.

I can't write a word.

Now that the ransom note's written,

I suggest I take it.

Piccolo's taking the note.

That's manifestly absurd.

He can't speak.

He doesn't have to.

He wouldn't know

what to say to Ulrich.

Everything's in the note.

I'm prepared to answer the count

in his own language...

-He'll understand.

-...and fight on his own terms.

Well, then, now the Hawk's

going to fight on our terms, marchese.

Dardo, we still have a third fall

to be settled.

There are more important things

to settle now.

No short stops at the tavern.

If you're not back by sundown, I'll--

I can't understand it, sire.

It's not like milady Anne.

Her bed's not been slept in

and her nightdress is just as I left it.

Every gown's in place.

I can't imagine what she had in mind.

The only thing she took

was a pillowcase and an apple.

-Impertinent youth.

-Your Grace.

It appears he has a message.

Release him

and bring me the message.

Sit down and take some wine.

You may go.

-Who is the hunter's nearest relative?

-His uncle.

An old man, a retired cobbler

known in the village as Papa Pietro.

I want you to build a gallows

in the piazza...

...and tie Papa Pietro under it

for all to see.

We'll hang him at dawn

for the outlaw.

So you're the dummy. Dardo's friend.

You can't speak.

An admirable quality

in one of your kind.

I assume that Dardo

intended to insult me by sending you...

...or perhaps he thought

there could be no argument.

If so, he's as defective as you.

He's blind. Or worse, he's witless.

His mind is confused

by his sentimentality.

A common disease

among a conquered people.

Does he seriously suppose that I would

sacrifice the interests of an empire...

...for the comfort or even the life

of a woman?

I assure you,

I have no such compunction.

You may tell your friend....

Oh, you can't tell him, can you?

Well, then,

since you haven't a tongue to talk...

...you'll have to deliver my message

in another way.

Take him below.

I'll join you immediately.

Troubadour.

What will happen if--?

If Piccolo doesn't come back?

Why would you

want to discuss it, milady?

-I'm the hostage.

-Exactly.

I used to sing a ballad concerning

the fate of the fair Zuleika...

...daughter of the sultan...

...who was taken hostage

on the Crusades.

But I don't think it would be

of much comfort to milady...

...under the circumstances.

Why did you do that?

You'll be going home soon.

Shouldn't Piccolo be back?

-He'll be back.

-I hope you're right.

I hope I'll be going home soon...

...that it works out as you planned.

I hope you get your boy back.

You miss your feather bed.

You've never slept

on the ground before...

...or ate out of a wooden bowl

or bathed in a mountain spring.

It's just I wanted you to know that

I respect you for wanting your boy back.

It's right that you should.

-Thank you.

-I mean...

...maybe I do belong at the castle.

It's my life, I suppose.

But it's not for Rudi.

You can't make a prince

out of a peasant.

He's like you.

My uncle says

your mountains breed arrogance.

Piccolo says it's free spirit.

I don't know.

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