The Flame and the Arrow Page #6

They needed Dardo.

Who else do they have?

His friend the dummy is dead.

Who is supposed to lead them?

You, marchese?

Dardo.

I'm afraid the outlaws have bewitched

and beguiled you, Ulrich.

Neatly and with some imagination,

you must admit.

At this moment, the town

is burying a coffin full of stones...

...while Dardo's corpse meets with

the ghosts of his three dead friends...

...to plan the assault on the castle.

Let them come. Let them attack.

We'll be ready.

It seems your countrymen must

learn their lesson in blood, marchese.

You sent for me, Ulrich.

I think you know

your husband-to-be.

-No.

-My dear Anne.

Ulrich, I meant what I said.

We are deeply indebted

to the marchese, Anne.

He has just told me

that hanging Dardo was not enough.

His foolish friends

intend to attack us in the morning.

Circumstances

and your most lovely self...

...persuaded me that my heart

and sympathetic self-interest...

...lie with you and your uncle.

You've betrayed them because of me?

Because of what I said?

Your Grace.

The impresario

of a players company...

...request your permission

to entertain in the great hall tonight.

Send him in.

We are celebrating tonight,

aren't we, Anne?

Yes. If you say so.

We are celebrating tonight.

The impresario Arturo of Milan,

Your Grace.

Bringing with him

from the far ends of the Earth...

...the Brothers Bulanos,

the bouncing Bavarians...

...Petrolini and his lndian bear,

almost human.

The greatest assortment of players,

acrobats, jugglers and clowns...

...ever assembled

for the pleasure of the court.

You're Nonna Bartoli?

I'm Anne.

-Anne of--

-I know you.

I had to come to tell you

Ulrich knows about the uprising.

Alessandro's betrayed you.

Why do you come to me?

-Last night it was your husband--

-Yes.

It was my husband

you were going to hang.

Let me talk to him.

He's gone.

To bury Dardo.

Then, Nonna Bartoli,

you have to listen to me.

You have no business here.

We know of no uprising.

Then send me to someone who does.

Or go yourself.

Find them and tell them Ulrich is waiting

to slaughter them when they come.

Tell them to give it up.

The Hawk's niece said to give it up?

Believe me, the two of them are sitting

up at the carnival right now, celebrating.

Why should I lie?

Why should I come here?

Why did you come?

Because I'm ashamed of what I am.

And what I've done.

I can say it now

because my pride was hanged with him.

I came because I love Dardo.

-Go home, Anne.

-You must believe me.

There's nothing for you here.

Go home.

Please.

I believe her, Dardo.

Why should we believe her?

Maybe the Hawk sent her.

How do we know?

Give it up, she says.

Isn't that what he'd want us to do?

She loves you, Dardo.

I know you don't want to believe that.

You don't want to trust yourself...

...because you're afraid

you love her too.

That's a hard thing

for Dardo to admit.

Now, why are you so ready to believe

every woman loves you except this one?

You know what this means.

We attack tonight.

But how?

The carnival. That's right,

she said there's a carnival.

Can you do it? You're sure?

All right, we'll do it. Tonight.

A little more chameleon,

I believe, apothecary.

You'll find your head in my trunk

under the lion skin.

Do you have to keep grinning at me?

The very essence of the quintessence

of the clown's art.

Piccolo, look sad. Mad. Glad.

You, Dardo, on the other hand,

must have a touch of whimsical sadness.

And a bulbous nose.

Just so you hide my face.

A few drops of fish oil

on the nose wax now, apothecary.

Sprinkle of ground goat's foot.

Need a suspicion of powdered

whalebone for whiteness, and done.

Do you have to keep talking?

We have a war in 10 minutes.

Do you have to throw a knife

with your toes?

Respect the technique

of a fellow artist, then.

This takes me back to my youth when

I dreamed of leading my own troupe...

...before I worked

with the marchese...

...that double-dyed third cousin

to a spawn of pig's bile.

That jaundiced excretion

of a bilious toad's eye.

The city's ready when you are.

-Let's be on our way.

-Piccolo, your beard. My symbolorium.

We're ready.

Bulanos. Bulanos, get ready.

-Halt.

-You're not going to cause...

...more trouble for us. We're late.

You know how one cup leads to another.

Be good fellows and stand aside

for the four clowns.

Gentlemen, prepare.

Let them pass.

Brothers Bulano,

the bouncing Bavarians.

Your nose is slipping.

Rossi, can't you keep the bear

where it be--

I'm really a very friendly bear

if I'm not crossed.

I want you to announce

the Caramelli Brothers.

The greatest acrobats in all of Europe.

Stop.

Your noble Grace.

The most remarkable Brothers Caramelli,

acrobats supreme.

Never before seen performing

in all Lombardy.

I always said

we should have been acrobats.

Dardo.

Dardo. Dardo.

Lock the boy in the tower till I come.

So this was the plan, marchese?

Arrest him.

Surround the players.

Are we going to let them do this

to players?

-No.

-Well, then....

They have the Bulanos.

They have the Bulanos.

Mind the gate!

Piccolo, the prisoners.

Dardo. Dardo.

Hey.

Captain, hold them

as long as you can.

Dardo! Dardo, he's gone for the boy.

Your friends will be looking for you

in the great hall, marchese.

I'm afraid you're right, Ulrich.

I have lost the battle.

I trust you will grant me the courtesy

of facing my defeat alone.

But knowing you, dear Ulrich,

you've planned your escape.

You're going for the boy

and I'm going with you.

No.

The truth is I betrayed them,

so we're going together.

-We'd both be killed.

-I'll take that chance for us.

You're the only thing

standing between me...

...and the vengeance

of my countrymen.

You're no match for me

and you know it.

Where's the boy?

There's the man who betrayed you.

Why don't you kill him?

You need a sword. Take mine.

-He'll kill you first.

-But you will defend me, Alessandro.

As you say,

I am your only hope of escape.

I can't fight you with a sword.

Listen, you want to escape.

-I want my boy. I won't stop you.

-No, Dardo.

I'm sorry I can't wait for the outcome.

I wish you both the best of luck.

-Out of my way. I'm going for the boy.

-No, Dardo.

Unfortunately your son

is Ulrich's escape. And mine.

I regret that our happy days as outlaws

end like this, but I have to kill you.

Now, marchese, we're in the dark,

where a sword is just a long knife.

And hunters know all about knives.

You can't see me,

can you, Alessandro?

But I can see you.

Be careful,

you're gonna trip over the chandelier.

Now you've

got to come for me, Dardo.

If anyone interferes,

the boy will pay for it.

He'll hit the boy.

Rudi.

Piccolo.

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