The Masque of the Red Death Page #2

No.

No, that room

is not open to you.

Not yet.

What's in there?

You look as though...

Is there something

to fear in that room?

For the uninvited,

there is much to fear.

This has been

a trying day for you.

You must sleep.

You must sleep.

Tomorrow you may see

Gino and your father.

Prince Prospero.

Why do you roam

the late night corridors?

Sleep eludes me.

You have disturbing

thoughts?

And you, Juliana...

what keeps you awake?

I think my

thoughts dwell...

on the same subject

as you...

the peasant girl.

She has a perfect faith.

So do I...

in you and in

what you believe.

I've been an eager student,

but I've held back

from the final ceremony.

And now I'm ready to join you

at the invocation.

How truly realistic

women are.

Finally you

are ready to dare...

the most terrible

rites and incantations...

to secure your

position here.

I wonder...

I wonder if she

is ready to dare...

as much or anything

for the sake of love.

Did I startle you,

my dear?

Watch.

Do you know how a falcon

is trained, my dear?

Her eyes are sewn shut.

Blinded temporarily,

she suffers the whims

of her god patiently...

until her will

is submerged...

and she learns to serve.

Thus your god taught

and blinded you with crosses.

You had me take off my cross

because it offended...

It offended no one.

My master and his followers

look about with open eyes.

No. It simply appeared to me

to be discourteous to...

to wear the symbol

of a deity long dead.

Your master?

Satan.

The lord of flies.

The fallen angel.

The devil.

Come.

Who seeks entrance

to Prince Prospero's castle?

Prospero's invited guests.

Open the gate at once.

It is the prince himself...

who speaks to you,

Scarlatti.

You are no longer

welcome here.

Really?

I know your whims, but...

The village is full

of the Red Death.

The Red Death.

Prince Prospero,

I beg you, allow us haven.

I beg sanctuary.

This is no church.

By any god...

in all the gods of time,

I beg you.

My wife...

you've always

thought her beautiful.

And you... you desired her.

I've watched

your eyes follow her.

This Scarlatti

thought of himself...

as a good man

in many things.

And he thought of his wife

as pure and unassailable.

I give her to you

to do with as you please.

I've already had

that doubtful pleasure.

Prince, spare me

the Red Death.

I beg you in the name

of friendship.

In the name of friendship!

No!

For you, friend.

Madam...

spare yourself

the Red Death.

Pick it up!

We've been ordered

to teach you the use of arms.

I will not learn

to fight my friend.

Now, don't be a fool.

One of you could survive.

If you fight well,

the living one...

might be given

his freedom.

To live like you?

Like one of

Prospero's pet dogs?

Kill me and Prospero

will see you dead...

for spoiling

his entertainment.

I won't kill you.

I'll just cut you a bit.

Stop them!

Gino knows nothing of fighting.

He learns rather fast.

It is a true fact...

that the greatest swordsman

in Italy...

would not fear

the second greatest...

but would fear the worst,

for that one

would be unpredictable.

Francesca!

Are you unharmed?

Yes, Gino. And you?

Scratches given

to taunt me to fight...

but I will not fight

my friend.

You may force me

to discipline you...

in some other way.

Do what you will.

We will not fight.

And I don't think...

you'll give us up

to simple torture.

Because if you did...

then in a way,

you would have lost.

You surprise me.

However,

I'm pleased to find

that you've given me

a puzzle to think about.

Somehow, you two

will challenge death together.

You may be certain

of that.

No. This way, my dear.

It would be better.

I understand.

Life is often ugly.

But to torture men!

Is this what

your master Satan...

demands as worship?

These cells are very old.

A hundred years ago,

an ancestor of mine...

was a Christian monk.

He was made examiner

of an early inquisition.

He tortured over 600 men,

women, and children...

in order to save

their souls...

for your god of love.

I cannot answer.

I have no learning.

But then is Satan

a god of hate?

Oh, no.

Of reality, of truth.

The world lives

in pain and despair...

but is at least

kept alive...

by a few dedicated men.

If we lost our power,

chaos would engulf everything.

Sometimes that power

must be used...

to teach harsh lessons.

But I don't

want to learn.

I'm afraid.

I do not want

to hurt you, my dear.

Can't you understand?

I want to help

save your soul...

so you can join me

in the glories of hell.

No! Never!

The way is not easy,

I know...

but I will take you

by the hand...

and lead you through

the cruel light...

into the velvet darkness.

Lord Satan...

he who is known as

Belial by the ancients...

demon lover,

of all those...

who wish to live

in your eternal night...

here in your hour

of deepest dark...

in your temple

and before your altar...

I twice bind myself

to thee:

As your handmaiden

and your betrothed.

And with this symbol

of your lasting victory...

I inscribe the final mark

and offer myself to thee.

Oh, Lord Satan,

send me a demon...

so I may know

I'm to be your wife.

What are you

lurking about for...

you grinning, twisted devil?

Not only am I afflicted

with this body...

but with sleeplessness

as well.

Losing your sleep because

of the tiny dancer?

She's nothing to me.

I prefer

a full-sized woman.

Do you, now?

How do you set about

getting such a woman?

My Master Prospero

provides me...

with companions

from time to time.

A good master.

Yes, I suppose so...

but I imagine

there are better.

You'd like to leave

Prospero's service?

I fear for the security

of his reign.

If I could find

a strong protector...

I might dare a change.

And what special service

have you to offer...

that might persuade

someone else...

to take you

under his protection?

All manner of things.

I've a crafty

and inventive mind.

Indeed?

For example?

The masquerade.

I would devise something

startling, novel...

something that

would be the talk...

of the entire revel.

Have you told Prospero

of this novel thing?

I fear the Prince

is much too austere.

Will you tell me?

Everyone will

dress as usual.

A harlequin,

a Chinese,

a soldier,

or a princess.

They will all

either be beautiful or humorous.

But all will be

obviously human.

I will come as a demon.

Why not come

as a great ape?

When the guests

are gathered...

you would enter...

arms swinging...

advancing toward

the screaming lady...

with lowered head

and grinning jaw.

It'll be more

than a costume.

It will be

a performance...

by the cleverest man

at the court.

Where would I get

such a disguise?

There is one... in the room

of stuffed animals.

Another toy Prince Prospero

never bothers with anymore.

I'm sure it's forgotten.

You really think it

would cause a sensation?

Oh, yes.

And there is

more to the game.

Oh, Juliana.

Thank god.

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