The Man in the Iron Mask Page #18

Phillippe and the Queen Mother rise, and guide each other --

depending on each other for support, to a seat, he on the

throne, she on a seat the servants place beside him.

Phillippe gives a wave.

PHILLIPPE:

Continue.

The ball continues, the music exuberant. Michelle wanders

away, like a blind lamb. Phillippe and his mother sit side

by side, holding hands, their reunion passing in private

between their clasped hands, and glistening in their eyes.

INT. THE PALACE CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Michelle, alone and forgotten, staggers down the corridor

toward the King's rooms; she passes d'Artagnan's open door.

INT. THE KING'S BEDCHAMBER - THE THREE MUSKETEERS

are tidying everything up; they have Louis gagged and trussed

up hand and foot, his eyes flashing hatred.

ATHOS:

Don't worry, your Majesty. We have

a prison for you, where you can rest

peacefully.

Porthos drapes Louis over his shoulder, and they move into

the passages. Just as they close the portal behind them, the

door opens and Michelle wanders in like a zombie. Suddenly,

d'Artagnan is at her shoulder.

D'ARTAGNAN

Michelle --

Then he sees the room is empty; he thought Louis was here.

D'ARTAGNAN

Where is he?

MICHELLE:

In... the ballroom. But he isn't

the same man.

INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT

As a minuet ends, Claude raises his glass in a toast.

CLAUDE:

To King Louis! And to Anne, the

Queen Mother!

The guests applaud and reach for wine glasses; servants

present Phillippe and Anne with champagne, and they sip --

GUESTS:

To King Louis, and the Queen Mother!

Everyone drinks; Phillippe suddenly remembers to hold his

glass in his fingertips -- and it slips through his nervous

fingers, hitting the floor with a crash.

Dead silence; everyone is looking. Then Anne drops her glass

too -- and everybody does it, as if to break the glass is

part of the celebration.

As the music begins again, Anne leans to Phillippe --

ANNE:

I retire now. Wait two waltzes,

then retire to your room; and spend

the night in safety. We have much

to talk about, and have the rest of

our lives to do it.

PHILLIPPE:

Good night, Mother.

ANNE:

Good night... my son.

She kisses him on the cheek; it brings tears to both of them.

She moves to the door, everyone bowing as she leaves.

JUST OUTSIDE THE BALLROOM DOOR

Anne encounters d'Artagnan. He stops, so taken by the sight

of her that no one seeing them could miss that he loves her.

D'ARTAGNAN

Anne! You look --

Remembering himself, he bows deeply.

D'ARTAGNAN

My Queen...

ANNE:

D'Artagnan.

She takes his hand, not caring who is watching.

D'ARTAGNAN

I have never seen a sight more

beautiful than you, tonight.

ANNE:

We have much to discuss. Tomorrow.

She moves off, toward her room. D'Artagnan enters the

ballroom.

INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT

D'Artagnan sees "Louis" sitting on the throne. More baffled

than alarmed, he grabs one of the Musketeer guards near him.

D'ARTAGNAN

How long has the King been back?

GUARD:

Some while, Captain.

D'ARTAGNAN

He didn't pass my doorway, I was in

my room.

GUARD:

He must've, Captain, there is no

other way here.

D'Artagnan stands and thinks; his mind begins to spin.

PHILLIPPE:

sees d'Artagnan, staring at him... then calling more guards

over and giving them quick instructions; the guards hurry

away. Then d'Artagnan moves to Phillippe, and bows. He

looks at him carefully, but seems to see nothing unusual.

PHILLIPPE:

Continue.

D'ARTAGNAN

Sire, we have an emergency -- of

security. I must ask you to

accompany me.

PHILLIPPE:

... The ball... Continue.

D'ARTAGNAN

I must insist, Sire.

Phillippe stands, and follows d'Artagnan from the ball.

INT. PASSAGES TO RIVER - NIGHT

Aramis, Athos and Porthos -- carrying Louis -- descend the

secret passages to the foundations of the palace, into a

drainage channel leading to the river.

They have stashed a boat there; they plop Louis into it and

climb in themselves. They row toward the archway that is the

exit to the river; the moonlit waters of the Seine glow

outside, like a beacon of safe escape.

But the steel grate of the archway slams down just before

they reach it, and blades point at them from every angle of

the darkness. A shielded lantern rises and its wick is

turned up, revealing

D'ARTAGNAN

he stands with a small contingent of young Musketeers. His

eyes are intense, his face in agony.

D'ARTAGNAN

My friends.

The only one they can see it d'Artagnan. They all look at

each other, in the small circle of light from the lantern.

D'ARTAGNAN

Only we four, the most trusted

Musketeers, knew about the passages,

meant to keep the King safe... Your

Majesty...

Phillippe steps out of the darkness; his eyes are full of

shame and failure as he looks at Athos, but still he holds

on, trying to maintain the charade that he is Louis.

PHILLIPPE:

Yes...? Why do you bring me here,

d'Artagnan?

PORTHOS:

The King! Look! It's the King!

He means Phillippe.

D'ARTAGNAN

Then who is that lying beside you?

Porthos turns and looks at Louis -- then reacts as if he's

totally surprised at the presence of this man tied up and

gagged beside him.

PORTHOS:

Wh-- ? Where did he come from?

Athos grabs d'Artagnan's arm.

ATHOS:

If you ever loved me -- if you ever

loved honor, or anything else --

then stand now, and let it happen.

D'ARTAGNAN

I cannot, Athos. Dearly as I love

you, I cannot.

D'Artagnan takes his dagger and cuts the ropes that bind

Louis' hands, and the gag that has kept him from talking.

Aramis suddenly backhands Louis, knocking him flat on his

back in the boat, and pointing to him -- Louis.

ARAMIS:

This man is an impostor. We caught

him trying to impersonate the King,

and were just getting rid of him.

Louis struggles upright.

LOUIS:

D'Artagnan, arrest them all!

ARAMIS:

Shut up, knave!

Aramis slaps Louis again, and pleads with his eyes that

d'Artagnan accept their ruse. D'Artagnan is dying inside.

D'ARTAGNAN

Before I came here, I insisted the

King come with me. The real Louis

would never have let me insist.

Seeing they are about to be arrested, the old Musketeers in

the boat spring into action against their younger

counterparts. Athos swats one swordsman with an oar; Porthos

seizes the guard who has grabbed a hold of the boat and

flings the man back into two of his comrades; Aramis grabs

Louis by the hair and puts his dagger to his throat.

ARAMIS:

Pull them back, d'Artagnan.

D'ARTAGNAN

You can't do it.

ARAMIS:

Pull them back!

D'ARTAGNAN

Everyone back.

ARAMIS:

Phillippe, get into the boat. Into

the boat! Now!

Phillippe obeys.

ARAMIS:

Open the gate.

D'Artagnan nods to his men, and they open the iron gate

leading out to the river.

The boat makes for the opening. Just as it is about to reach

it, Louis forces Aramis' hand.

LOUIS:

You will not shed royal blood!

He kicks at the boat and struggles to stand, making the boat

tip wildly and throwing everyone in it all around. Aramis

draws the dagger away from Louis' throat to keep from killing

him, and d'Artagnan makes a grab at Louis and drags him onto

the stone floor of the channel.

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