The Man in the Iron Mask Page #6

LOUIS:

I'm hungry.

He hops up, throwing on a silk robe embroidered in gold.

YOUNG WOMAN:

I will have food brought.

LOUIS:

I like to eat alone.

He moves to what appears to be a wardrobe, standing against

the far wall, and opens its door, revealing a secret

staircase hidden within the thick walls of the palace.

LOUIS:

By the way, you'll be moving

tomorrow.

Leaving the girl without another word, he moves down the

concealed stairs.

INT. THE KING'S BEDCHAMBER - NIGHT

Louis reaches the bottom of the stairs, disguised behind a

similar wardrobe in his own bedroom. He steps out -- and is

startled as the lifesize portrait of Louis XIII on the other

side of the room opens to admit d'Artagnan.

LOUIS:

Aaa! D'Artagnan! These passages

were constructed for the King's

security, not so you could step from

my father's portrait and startle me

to death!

D'ARTAGNAN

It is for your security that I have

come, your Majesty -- for the

security of your honor.

LOUIS:

I already know about the riots,

d'Artagnan, I heard them out there

whispering. Some fool gave the

order to distribute rotten food. I

will deal with it tomorrow.

D'ARTAGNAN

Then there is one more thing, of an

even more personal nature.

LOUIS:

A personal nature?

D'ARTAGNAN

Mademoiselle Michelle Beaufort. She

is betrothed to Raoul, the son of

Athos the Musketeer, who has served

France through many tribulations.

The King begins to eat from the food laid out on the table.

LOUIS:

Betrothed? I think not.

D'ARTAGNAN

In his mind, anyway, and soon enough

in hers. She had written him many

letters of love.

The King pokes at his food.

LOUIS:

Miss Beaufort has accepted our

invitation. By this we can only

suppose that she wishes to come --

as we wish her to be here.

D'ARTAGNAN

Your Majesty has had many women --

LOUIS:

That is my desire, and my desire is

what should concern you, not the

sentiments of some commoner!

D'ARTAGNAN

It is not Raoul's heart alone that

concerns me. It is yours. I know

you find women compliant --

especially the poorer ones like

Michelle. But do they love you? Do

you love them? What about a queen

to love? A son of your own?

LOUIS:

What quaint notions, d'Artagnan!

But they contradict my father, who

picked his queen when he was old,

and only then to bear me.

D'ARTAGNAN

There is more to love than he knew,

or that you know.

LOUIS:

You dare criticize my father?! Or

lecture me?!

D'ARTAGNAN

Not criticize -- plead. Love. Love

your people, and you will not bear

to see them hungry. Love women, and

they will love you. Love yourself,

and --

LOUIS:

That is enough! You are a good

servant, d'Artagnan, but you forget

your place!

D'ARTAGNAN

At least help Raoul.

LOUIS:

Silence! I order you!

D'ARTAGNAN

Order Fromberge to keep him in

safety! It is the least you can do,

to protect your own honor!

LOUIS:

I will consider it. Now leave me.

D'ARTAGNAN

Thank you, your Majesty.

D'Artagnan bows, steps to the lifesize portrait of Louis

XIII, touches a hidden button on its frame and moves into the

secret passage the painting reveals as it swings open.

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON PIERRE'S FACE...

He is sweating, exceptionally pale, as he tries to project

his voice past a huge lump in his throat...

PIERRE:

... And I only say that... the

rotten food was... all my fault...

and I take... full responsibility...

and beg the forgiveness of you all.

He steps back, having accomplished something terrifically

difficult, and glances toward

THE KING:

who steps to his advisor and shakes his hand, whispering

quietly...

LOUIS:

Well done, Pierre. It will be good

for your soul, that you have taken

responsibility for your errors. And

don't worry, I will look after your

family.

Pierre can only nod... He takes two steps, kneels, crosses

himself, and places his head between two upright rails of

THE GUILLOTINE:

The King, Pierre, and other attendants are standing on a

platform before a crowd of Parisians. The blade drops,

Pierre's head hits the basket, the crowd cheers.

The King raises his hands to quiet the crowd.

LOUIS:

Do not rejoice -- but know that your

King does not tolerate blunders that

hurt his beloved people. More food

is on its way, and my advisors tell

me the new harvests are sure to be

bountiful!

He shoots a glance at his advisors, and they are pale from

the display they've just witnessed.

LOUIS:

And I have new joys to announce to

you! Today we decree a fresh glory

for Paris, and for all of France!

The laying of the foundations to

expand Versailles, and make it truly

a palace of the sun!

The advisors all applaud furiously, but from the crowd there

is almost no reaction at all; the triple ranks of soldiers

surrounding the square discourage any protest, and as the

King leaves the platform the crowd begins to melt away.

NEAR THE PLATFORM

Aramis, watching the crowd disperse, hears behind him --

VOICE:

Aramis.

Aramis turns to see the King, who moves up alone.

ARAMIS:

Your Majesty...

LOUIS:

How goes that favor I asked of you?

ARAMIS:

I grow closer to my target, your

Majesty.

LOUIS:

You bring me the heart of the Jesuit

General, and you will have a palace

of your own.

The King moves away, followed by his fawning advisors.

INT. THE FAVORITE MISTRESS' PALACE ROOMS - DAY

A young Musketeer ushers Michelle into the palace bedroom

previously occupied by the King's last mistress. The

Musketeer leaves her alone, frozen in the center of the room,

awed by the opulence. Her eyes play over the details:

-- The handcarved, richly upholstered furniture, beneath her

fingertips...

-- The carved figures of cherubic angels, gleaming with gold,

upon the posts of the bed...

-- The murals on the walls and ceiling...

Her reverie is interrupted by a HANDMAIDEN who bustles in

carrying a magnificent dress.

HANDMAIDEN:

After your bath put on this, it is

the King's favorite color. That

letter on the desk came here for you

this morning.

She tosses the dress onto the bed and is gone. Left alone,

Michelle lifts the letter, and recognizes the writing.

MICHELLE:

Raoul!

She opens the letter and reads quickly.

MICHELLE:

The army! Oh Raoul, don't despair!

I will always be faithful...

She interrupts herself as her eyes fall on the gorgeous

dress. She looks around at the sumptuous palace apartment,

and gazes again at the murals painted above the bed.

They depict naked gods and goddesses, in Olympian orgies.

CUT TO:

CLOSE - STEAMING WATER, POURED INTO A TUB

The Handmaiden has prepared a 17th Century bathtub for

Michelle, and now retires.

HANDMAIDEN:

If you need me further, just ring.

As the handmaiden leaves, exiting frame, we PUSH IN on one of

the murals on the wall. The eye of one of the figures there

is no longer the painted eye it was before, but is a real

human eye, disguised by the mural...

THE KING, IN THE SECRET PASSAGEWAY

is spying on Michelle.

THE KING'S POV

as Michelle undresses and steps into the bath. Louis catches

tantalizing glimpses of her richly sensual body in the soapy

water, and it stokes his desire.

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