The Man in the Iron Mask Page #19

The boat is almost through the opening -- and Louis snatches

at his brother, Phillippe.

The current outside the gate is rushing by, and the boat is

already caught in the current; it's pulling away and the

Musketeers can't stop it. Athos seizes Phillippe's legs and

tries to hold him, but the pressure of the current is great,

and now not only Louis but some of the young Musketeers are

helping hold Phillippe.

Phillippe's legs slip out of Athos' grasp, and the boat

flashes downriver...

Aramis, Porthos and Athos have escaped... but Phillippe is

captured, looking into the hate-filled eyes of his twin

brother Louis.

INT. SECRET PASSAGEWAY - NIGHT

Louis is angrily climbing through the passageways, back up

into the main floors of the palace, venting his emotions at

d'Artagnan, just behind him; the young Musketeers with

Phillippe, their prisoner, follow along further back.

LOUIS:

I want all these passages sealed!

Another stupid idea of my father's!

Seal them all, every one!

D'ARTAGNAN

It shall be done, your Majesty.

LOUIS:

Even the bedchamber passages! Let

none remain!

D'ARTAGNAN

Yes, your Majesty.

They reach a doorway, and the King bangs through it, into his

own bedchamber, still spouting anger.

LOUIS:

I was told this impostor was dead!

D'ARTAGNAN

... You knew you had a double?

LOUIS:

He is my brother.

D'Artagnan is frozen in surprise. Phillippe and his guards

move into the room; seeing him in full light, wearing Louis'

own clothes, fans Louis' anger; he jumps forward and begins

ripping the royal garments off Phillippe.

D'Artagnan forces himself between Louis and Phillippe.

D'ARTAGNAN

I -- I thought he was but... an

impostor who resembled --

LOUIS:

My twin. Which has kept him alive.

Until now.

ANNE'S VOICE

No!!

They whirl to see the Queen Mother, who has entered through

the main door. She hurries to the space between her sons,

hugging Phillippe, then trying to hug Louis.

ANNE:

Louis, please -- !

LOUIS:

My guards are useless! Take her

from me!

He motions to the young Musketeers to restrain her;

reluctantly they grip the arms of the Queen Mother.

LOUIS:

What had you to do with this,

Mother?

ANNE:

He is your brother!

LOUIS:

He is nothing now.

Louis draws a sword from the scabbard of one of the young

Musketeers -- but d'Artagnan steps between him and Phillippe.

D'ARTAGNAN

Your Majesty... This man before

you... He is royal blood, the same

as you. To spill it is the one

thing even you cannot do. It is

against the laws of God, and of

France.

LOUIS:

Get out of my way.

D'ARTAGNAN

Not once have I ever asked anything

for myself. I ask now. Forgive

this man, this prisoner... your

brother.

LOUIS:

Forgive?!

D'ARTAGNAN

Aramis, Porthos and Athos too. I

know what they have done was a

threat against you -- and yet that

threat has been removed, with no

harm coming to your Majesty. If

their passions were in error, their

spirits have ever been noble.

Forgive them.

LOUIS:

They have plotted against me! Me!

The embodiment of God's will!

D'Artagnan sinks to his knees before the king.

D'ARTAGNAN

Your Majesty... Every day of your

life, I have watched over you. No

angel could have stood a more

faithful vigil. I have bled for

you, and have prayed, every day, to

see you become greater than your

office, better than the law. Show

me now what my faith and blood have

purchased. Show mercy.

The words cut into everyone: Anne, Phillippe, the young

Musketeers. But Louis' eyes are cold, as he responds --

LOUIS:

You take the side of traitors?

PHILLIPPE:

Please, may I speak? M'lord... I

beg that you kill me. I release

you, before Almighty God, from any

claim of sin in taking my life. In

fact I will pray that God reward you

for your mercy to do it. But do not

-- I beg you -- return me to the

prison, where I have lived so long.

Phillippe's plea makes Louis pause... then smile.

LOUIS:

D'Artagnan, you will hunt down

Aramis, Porthos and Athos, and bring

me their heads, or I will have

yours. And as for you, Phillippe...

Back to the prison you shall go, and

into the mask you hate.

ANNE:

No, Louis! No!

LOUIS:

Wear it until you love it. And die

in it!!

Anne screams, and Louis waves to the guards, who draw her

from the room, as d'Artagnan sags, on his knees before the

King he has served so faithfully.

Slowly, Phillippe lowers his head.

INT. D'ARTAGNAN'S ROOM

D'Artagnan returns to his bare room; he sits down upon the

bed and drops his face into his hands.

Then he hears the sound, like a SCREAM, but short and

muffled, almost like the whelp of a kicked dog. He lifts his

head sharply; where did that sound come from? He is almost

too tired, too sad, to investigate.

Then the King, already shaken by the night's events, hurries

into d'Artagnan's room.

LOUIS:

What was that sound?! Did you hear

it? It came from Michelle's room!

INT. KING'S BEDCHAMBER

D'Artagnan enters, ahead of Louis. They see nothing unusual,

and d'Artagnan moves up the hidden stairs toward Michelle's

apartment.

MICHELLE'S APARTMENT

D'Artagnan enters the room, and finds it empty -- but the

window is open. He moves toward it...

INT. KING'S BEDCHAMBER

The King is pacing as d'Artagnan reappears.

LOUIS:

Where is Michelle?

D'ARTAGNAN

There.

He points to the window. Louis shoves open the drapes and

leaps back in horror. Michelle has hanged herself outside

Louis' window, the golden bunting of her bed tied as a noose

around her neck.

INT. QUEEN MOTHER'S APARTMENTS - DAWN

Anne has changed; she is tormented, but alive with energy,

pacing. There is a knock at her door, and the old nun opens

it to d'Artagnan. The old nun leaves them alone; d'Artagnan

moves to Anne and takes her hands, to look into her eyes.

D'ARTAGNAN

There were two. Not one. But two.

ANNE:

I couldn't tell you. You had enough

to carry.

D'ARTAGNAN

Anne... The night we had together...

I always wanted more. But that one,

it was enough. Enough to make me

love you forever. I want you to

remember that... and go on. As

strong as you are now. No matter

what happens.

He kisses her. She drinks in his love. Then he stands and

moves to the door. He looks back, then stares out.

ANNE:

D'Artagnan -- ?

He looks back once more; he seems to want to tell her

something; but whatever it is, he can't find the words, and

with a last loving look at her, he walks away.

EXT. ESTABLISHING THE BASTILLE - NIGHT

A sudden visual, establishing the Bastille, the horrific

legendary prison of Paris.

INT. BASTILLE - NIGHT

Phillippe, his head covered in a burlap hood, is rushed

through the twisting stairways of the prison.

INT. A CELL, IN THE BOWELS OF THE BASTILLE

The guards remove the hood, and Phillippe sees the cell.

Then he sees the blacksmith there, with a new iron mask, and

his eyes take on a fresh horror.

PHILLIPPE:

No. Please! No!

The guards seize him and the blacksmith places the mask over

Phillippe's face, as he screams. They seal the mask with a

small padlock, whose key is distinctive, and jeweled.

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