The Masque of the Red Death Page #4

and all greedy for more.

I give you reason...

for real rejoicing,

my friends.

The only survivors

of the village...

have just come

to the castle walls.

Only 6.

The Red Death has claimed

the rest of them.

But as I promised you...

all of you within these walls

under my protection are safe.

So rejoice!

And the 6 who lived?

Dead.

But they demanded

to enter the castle.

You killed them.

It was a kindness,

my dear.

Can't you see that?

The Red Death brings pain

and terror and madness.

I spared them.

Tonight, after the masque...

I will initiate you

into understanding.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Gently, my son.

Remain here.

Shortly after

the stroke of 1:
00...

I will send

Francesca to you.

I must get to her now.

You have recovered

your courage.

Now prove your wisdom.

There is nothing

you can do.

There are too many.

Wait, as I tell you.

The guards

will discover me.

Look there.

Yes?

Oh.

Forgive me

for startling you.

It's only Hop Toad...

made more ugly

than even he is.

You're not ugly to me.

I've come to tell you...

that there's no need

for you to appear...

at the masque tonight.

I don't understand.

My plans are made.

If you will trust me

and believe in me...

we'll leave this

monstrous castle tonight.

Do we dare?

The Red Death...

It can be no worse

than life here.

Believe in me.

I do believe in you.

Have a warm cloak

and be ready.

The game is almost over.

Have no fear!

I can control this monster.

He only wants a game.

He is too playful.

I will tie him up

and make him helpless.

Help!

Help!

Let me down,

you fiendish dwarf!

Let me down!

Better let me down.

Look, my dear,

I believe Hop Toad

is playing...

some sort of a joke

on Alfredo.

I will set you

to tortures unimagined!

You have already

tortured...

by your cruelty

to my Esmeralda.

Hold this!

The great African ape

says he wants some brandy.

Let me down.

Let me down!

Help! Help!

Help! Let me down!

Help! Help! Let me down!

I see you no longer

turn away...

from the cruelties of life.

I no longer care.

My life is done.

What's left

I give to you tonight.

Guards, clear that

out of the way.

How can my guests...

be expected to

dance around that?

And when you find Hop Toad...

give him 5 pieces

of gold as a reward...

for his entertaining jest.

You've pleased me

very much, my dear.

What was that?

What is it?

A costume

I haven't seen before.

Someone wearing red.

And I forbade them

to wear red.

Come.

There he is again.

Come.

Wait! Wait!

Wait!

I command you to wait!

Prospero.

Prospero.

You command me to wait?

Very well.

I wait.

Condotti?

Rimini?

Who are you

beneath your mask?

Is my costume

such a disguise...

that you don't

recognize me?

Your voice is familiar.

Dr. Bernelli,

that's who you are.

Bernelli, you dog,

thinking to...

You are not Bernelli.

No.

The doctor dances

in the white room.

But I passed close by him.

Truly, Prospero,

you don't know me?

So you've come.

Yes, Prospero.

On your knees.

- Prospero!

- On your knees.

The Prince of Darkness.

I would like to

see your face.

There is no face

of death...

until the moment

of your own death.

And I am only 1

of many messengers.

Who do you come for?

Many.

All?

Not all.

I knew I was right.

I knew it.

I've won.

The time of unmasking.

They begin to show

their naked faces.

It's time for

a new dance to begin...

The dance of death.

Our master

will be pleased.

I brought all of

these souls to him.

I taught them his worship.

I corrupted them for him.

I knew he was supreme

when no one else did.

I built a chapel to Satan,

and I prayed to him,

and I made

a pact with him.

And these,

all of my friends,

I promised them safety.

You presumed too much.

I know. I know.

But it does make

a fine jest...

the kind of jest

that would amuse Satan.

Would it?

Your Excellency...

this girl...

in all my life...

I've never met anyone

whose faith rivaled mine.

Spare her to me.

A charitable request?

A rare thing with you,

Prospero.

Go to the battlements.

Go now.

Yes, Francesca.

Yes, go,

and I will join you...

when this is over.

Thank you,

your Excellency...

for the girl.

I have no title.

Why do you

call me Excellency?

Well, I thought as

the ambassador of Satan...

He is not my master.

Death has no master.

But Satan rules the universe.

I made a pact with him.

He does not rule alone.

And your pact with him

will not save you.

There is no other god.

Satan killed him.

Each man creates

his own god for himself...

his own heaven,

his own hell.

Let me see your face.

Your hell,

Prince Prospero...

and the moment

of your death.

No.

No!

No!

Why should you

be afraid to die?

Your soul has been dead

for a long time.

Morning, brother.

You've come far?

From Cathay and beyond.

100,000 perished

at my passing...

this last night.

This eternity

of wandering...

10,000 sleep

where I walked.

I am very tired.

The weariness of those...

to whom we bring rest

burdens you.

What of you, brother?

I called many...

peasant and prince...

the worthy

and the dishonored.

Six only are left...

young man and woman...

dwarf and tiny dancer...

this child...

and an old man still

in the village.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

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