The Man in the Iron Mask Page #7

INT. PALACE - MICHELLE'S NEW ROOM - DAY

Michelle stands before the mirror, staring at herself,

breaktakingly gorgeous in her new dress. She stares for a

long time, surprised at her own beauty.

She reaches to a vase of roses and pulls one out, blotting it

around her neck, perfuming herself with its fragrance. She

looks into the mirror, at her eyes... In guilt for what she

is already feeling, she lifts Raoul's letter to read it

again. Then she gasps -- the King stands right before her.

MICHELLE:

Sire! I -- How did you --

LOUIS:

How did I get in? You're new here,

and will soon learn many secrets.

What is that?

MICHELLE:

... Nothing.

LOUIS:

A letter. May I see?

He takes the letter; she has no resistance against him. The

King reads, his eyes hardening suddenly; but then he smiles.

LOUIS:

From Raoul. He urges you to guard

your honor -- as if it could be in

any danger... from your king.

MICHELLE:

Raoul... is in love...

LOUIS:

Enough of this, our dinner waits.

Tossing the letter aside, he offers her his arm. She takes

it and allows him to escort her from the room.

INT. PALACE - THE HALL OF MIRRORS

The hall is alive with glorious light, fiery gold frames

surrounding silvery mirrors blazing with reflections.

Musicians line the length of the hall, and when Louis and

Michelle appear at the far doorway they begin playing for the

couple as they parade past. Michelle is speechless, as Louis

smiles at her awed innocence.

INT. ROYAL DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Louis leads Michelle into a towering room surrounding a

magnificent table, decked out with candelabra and sumptuous

delicacies -- set for just two.

THE DINNER:

Louis and Michelle sit opposite each other, attended by a

dozen servants. Michelle stares at her plate.

LOUIS:

The food doesn't please you?

MICHELLE:

It's lovely. It's just...

LOUIS:

This is more than you are used to.

Your mother is a seamstress, your

father is dead. You have three

younger sisters, two of whom suffer

from consumption. Don't look so

surprised, Kings know such things.

MICHELLE:

I... we are humble people...

LOUIS:

Wait, no! Do not be ashamed. The

straits of your family need not be

permanent. It is a simple matter to

have them brought to one of my

country estates, where they may have

fine meals, and physicians to look

after them.

MICHELLE:

You would do that, your Majesty?

LOUIS:

My dear, I've already done it.

She rushes to him and throws herself at his knees, weeping in

gratitude. Louis smiles, as if embarrassed.

LOUIS:

Please, darling, that isn't

necessary. We are friends now.

Mademoiselle needs wine!

A servant quickly approaches with wine; the goblet at

Michelle's place is quite large, and he pours it full.

INT. MICHELLE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Louis leads Michelle back to her room; she's a bit unsteady

from the wine; but she grows alert as she notices him closing

the door behind her. He stares into her eyes.

LOUIS:

You are beautiful. You know you

are.

MICHELLE:

Sire, I --

LOUIS:

If you don't want to be so

appealing, why did you touch the

rose to your skin? Where was it?

Here?

He touches his lips to her throat. She gasps, but then pulls

away. She glances at the letter on the writing table.

LOUIS:

What is it? Raoul? If he really

loved you, he would have proposed

marriage. He didn't, did he?

He sees her hesitation and uncertainty. He's smooth, gentle.

LOUIS:

You have never known love until you

have known the love of a king.

He kisses her; for a moment she seems frozen... and then she

yields. Never having doubted that she would. Louis pulls

the gown from her shoulders. She doesn't resist.

INT. THE FORTRESS PRISON

The old Jailer, carrying a torch that barely pushes back the

darkness, leads another guard up the winding stairs.

JAILER:

It's a jolt at first, so brace

yourself.

INT. CELL OF THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

The Man in the Iron Mask lifts his head as a key rattles into

his door. The door opens, admitting his old Jailer, and a

NEW KEEPER. The New Keeper is just a younger version of the

old one -- greasy, fat, and cruel.

NEW KEEPER:

Ugh! He looks 'orrible.

The Man in the Iron Mask rises and takes a step forward; the

new keeper recoils and raises his club threateningly.

NEW KEEPER:

Stay back!

MAN IN THE IRON MASK

I frighten you. It's okay. Keeper

was scared of me too, at first.

NEW KEEPER:

Scared?

The New Keeper steps forward and clubs the Man in the Iron

Mask in the shoulder, then kicks him as he falls.

NEW KEEPER:

Scared of you? Not me. I'll kill

him if he gets near me.

The New Keeper strides out. The Man in the Iron Mask pulls

himself to his knees; his eyes, visible through the slits of

the mask, look sadly at the old Jailer.

MAN IN THE IRON MASK

I miss Keeper. I miss him so much.

JAILER:

Moron.

The jailer leaves the cell, locking the door behind him.

INT. A BATTLEFIELD COMMAND TENT

Raoul has just received orders from General Fromberge, who

sits at a map table, Raoul salutes and follows a young staff

officer from the tent. As Raoul leaves, the General

withdraws from his leather field pouch a royal letter --

parchment, with blue and gold seals. Fromberge touches the

edge of the parchment to the candle, and burns the letter...

EXT. TRENCH - DARKNESS

Two men move along a deep trench, the siege works of 17th

century siege warfare. One of the men is Raoul, carrying a

musket; in his new uniform he looks out of place among the

dirty, battle weary men they pass. He is following the STAFF

OFFICER who is no older than himself, but whose eyes are

already dead, while Raoul's are wide and wild.

The trench is deep as a grave; by crouching, both men keep

their heads below the surrounding ground. Thick smoke rolls

over their heads; we can't tell if it is day or night. From

all around come sounds of battle, with the sporadic fire of

muskets and the rumble of cannons; officers shout orders in

the distance; wounded men nearby whimper for water and the

officer leads Raoul by them as if they did not exist.

The young Staff Officer stops at a bend in the trench.

STAFF OFFICER:

Here.

Without another word he goes back the way he came. Raoul

grips his musket and looks around him; he finds himself among

several dozen stark eyed men manning the forward curve of the

trench. He has little time to wonder what will happen next.

A horn trumpets close by, and with a shout, the French

soldiers clamber out of their breastworks.

For an instant, Raoul hesitates in pure terror, then joins

the charge with a shout of his own --

RAOUL:

Mi-cheeelllll!! --

On the stone wall looming above the French soldiers, orange

blossoms of fire -- the muzzle flash of primitive cannons --

penetrate the smoke, and the ground at Raoul's feet explodes,

hurling him backwards. He covered barely a few feet, and

falls almost exactly where he started.

Dead.

CUT TO:

CLOSE - THE DOOR OF ATHOS' ROOMS - DAY

A gloved hand raps on the door. Athos opens it to a military

messenger, who shoves at him a single sheet of paper, rolled

and tied with ribbon.

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