The Man in the Iron Mask Page #14

Porthos falls unencumbered and slams butt first into the

floorboards of the barn, cracking them.

ARAMIS AND ATHOS

can hear the crack from where they're sitting.

ARAMIS:

I sawed the main beam in half.

IN THE BARN:

The chain reaction has just begun. The broken floorboards

buckle, and the barn's walls, deprived of their central

support, fall in on each other.

IN THE FRONT ROOM

Athos and Aramis watch wide-eyed as the whole barn completely

collapses around the unfortunate Porthos. Athos gives Aramis

a look.

ARAMIS:

I'm a genius -- not an engineer!

They jump up and run out. The commotion draws others too --

especially the three wenches Porthos had been trying to bed.

THE COLLAPSED BARN

It's a tangle of debris -- and from the size and weight of

the pile, it looks as if no one could live through the

collapse. For a moment the whole pile lies silent; then

suddenly it bursts apart and Porthos emerges, exploding with

anger.

PORTHOS:

Aramis!! You did this, didn't you!

You knew I would try hanging myself,

and you sawed the beam! Admit it!

Admit it, by God!! ADMIT IT!!!

Porthos' eyes are bulging; he's terrifying in his fury. And

he holds one of the broken barn's timbers like a giant club,

ready to bash in Aramis' brains. Aramis is totally casual.

ARAMIS:

Well of course I knew it, Porthos.

Porthos stands there, blinking.

ARAMIS:

You've been moping for months. Now

that you've gotten the idea of

killing yourself out of the way, you

can stop boring me and start being

useful to me. Now get some rest.

PORTHOS:

Well... Well... Okay.

Porthos starts back toward the house. Then one of the

serving girls, heading back inside, sees in one of the upper

windows -- the face in the Iron Mask. She SCREAMS --

WENCH:

AAAAAAHHHHHHH!

Phillippe shies back from the window now, but it's too late,

everyone has seen him. Aramis, with cold intellectual

curiosity, quietly observes the women's reaction, even as his

hooded helpers scurry from the shadows to calm the frightened

locals.

ATHOS:

Poor Phillippe!

ARAMIS:

The mask is terrifying... especially

when unexpected. Do you notice?

ATHOS:

All I noticed was that Phillippe

feels even more like an animal.

Athos hurries in; Aramis looks at Porthos.

ARAMIS:

See, Porthos -- secrets are hard to

keep. We don't have much time.

INT. PHILLIPPE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Athos enters to find Phillippe in a corner of the bedroom,

slumped and ashamed in the darkness, holding the mask.

PHILLIPPE:

I've worn this mask so long, I

couldn't sleep without it.

ATHOS:

I will sit with you. I can't sleep

either.

Athos settles into a chair, as Phillippe lays the mask aside

on the table and closes his eyes. Athos looks toward the

flames of the fireplace, and in their dancing shadows he sees

the face of Raoul. Phillippe's voice interrupts --

PHILLIPPE:

Athos...? Thank you for being my

guide... back into the world.

Athos had not thought of it that way. Phillippe closes his

eyes again, and falls asleep.

INT. PHILLIPPE'S BEDROOM - MORNING

Light falls on Athos' face; it is dawn. He hears the whinny

of horses, and looks out the window to see a carriage about

to leave. Reacting quickly, he hurries out quietly.

EXT. CHATEAU - MORNING

Aramis and Porthos are already loaded into the carriage, as

Athos runs up.

ATHOS:

Where are you going?!

ARAMIS:

Paris. There is still much to do.

We'll be back soon. Be ready.

ATHOS:

But Aramis -- ! Phillippe can learn

in time, but --

ARAMIS:

He can learn to be Phillippe in

time. But first he must learn to be

Louis, and for that he has two more

days.

ATHOS:

What you're asking is impossible!

ARAMIS:

I offer you the perfect revolution.

A revolution without bloodshed,

without any loss of life, even

without treason, for he too is the

son of the King.

ATHOS:

But --

ARAMIS:

You said you'd do anything, Athos,

anything to replace this King. So

do it.

Aramis motions to the driver, who snaps the reins and drives

the horses away.

Athos, wide-eyed and alone, watches the carriage roll away.

He turns back toward the house, and see's Phillippe looking

out the window -- without the mask.

INT. MANOR HOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY

Athos and Phillippe are having breakfast.

ATHOS:

No, wait, do not hold your goblet

that way. With a king it is... so.

He shows him, pinching the goblet between thumb and

forefinger, as the other three fingers extend daintily.

ATHOS:

It is not to be dainty. Servants

have touched the King's goblet, so

he will touch it as little as

possible.

Phillippe tries it and the goblet slips from his fingers,

crashing onto his plate and spilling onto everything.

PHILLIPPE:

I am so sorry! Forgive me, I --

ATHOS:

No! Do not be sorry! Never be

sorry! The King cares for nothing

and for no one! There are no

mistakes when you are King! What

you do is right for every person! A

King has contempt for everyone!

PHILLIPPE:

Is that the king of king you wish me

to be? Or do you say this because

of your son?

ATHOS:

How did you know -- ?

PHILLIPPE:

Porthos told me.

For a moment Athos can say nothing; then he shoves back from

the table and storms from the room.

INT. COUNTRY MANOR HOUSE - ATHOS' ROOM - NIGHT

Athos is pacing in his room, all alone, rehearsing the things

he wants to say to Phillippe.

ATHOS:

I am not... I am not angry with you.

You understand? Good. Now, as to

acting like a king, we wish you to

be a good king. But at first... at

first you must pass as Louis, and

Louis is cold and cruel. So you

must stop looking at people with

such softness. It is... not Kingly.

The eyes of a King say that all he

cares about is himself, and your

eyes -- how do I tell him this -- ?

You eyes... ask so much. You

shouldn't care about me, about my --

about...

Athos' voice breaks, his body sags.

ATHOS:

Oh Raoul, my son... my son...

Athos weeps.

INT. MANOR HOUSE - DAY

Phillippe sits alone in the parlor; he looks up as Athos --

his face washed, no sign of grief -- marches in.

ATHOS:

Come, we have much to do.

MONTAGE - ATHOS TRAINING PHILLIPPE

-- They practice sword fighting, Athos being sure that

Phillippe knows Kingly posture...

-- They rehearse holding court, with Athos showing Phillippe

how to sit in a chair like a King on his throne, and then

Phillippe trying it, with Athos then playing the roll of a

courtesan paying homage...

-- They rehearse courtly dancing; and as they stumble, both

of them feeling embarrassed and ridiculous, they laugh.

EXT. PARIS STREET - NIGHT

Aramis' carriage rattles to a stop, the hooves of the horses

sounding hollow on the cobblestones. They are near the same

area where the riots occurred; now, at night, everything

looks deserted. Aramis steps from the carriage.

ARAMIS:

Coming?

PORTHOS:

What use am I?

ARAMIS:

We go someplace dangerous.

PORTHOS:

Why didn't you say so?

Porthos steps out with him, and Aramis leads the way down a

dark, spooky alley.

EXT. PARIS BACKSTREETS - NIGHT

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