The Man in the Iron Mask Page #3

ARAMIS:

A simple theological discussion.

D'ARTAGNAN

Aramis -- the King wishes to see

you.

ARAMIS:

Still you serve him loyally --

though people hurl rotten eggs at

his royal emblem.

Aramis lifts d'Artagnan's cloak as evidence: near its hem,

sure enough, is the remnant of a broken egg.

D'ARTAGNAN

I see your mind is sharp as ever.

The King said, "Right away." Cut

deep and hard, my friends.

PORTHOS:

Deep and hard, D'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan clasps Porthos' hand, then that of Aramis, and

leaves, as Porthos shakes his head.

PORTHOS:

We were all Musketeers once, eh? Oh,

I forgot. For the poor, the ones

you were praying for.

He hands a purse to Aramis. Surprised, even touched, Aramis

reaches for it. Just as he takes the money, Porthos throws a

haymaker; but Aramis sees the sucker punch coming and ducks.

Suddenly the two old warriors are circling again.

PORTHOS:

I wonder how Athos is doing.

INT. A SMALL HOUSE - DAY

ATHOS stands at the dressing table in a modest room; dressed

in a dark plain coat, he too is a former Musketeer -- gray

haired and handsome, intensely intelligent, with a hard crust

of manners masking seas of emotion. He opens a small wooden

box and digs through medals of heroism; he finds what he's

looking for just as his son RAOUL enters. RAOUL is in his

mid-twenties; he wears the uniform of a soldier in the French

Army. He is nervous, pacing, looking at every angle in the

mirror.

RAOUL:

Do I look all right?

ATHOS:

None of the ladies will be able to

take their eyes off you.

RAOUL:

I care only about Michelle. Should

I ask her when we first arrive?

Or... or when we're leaving? I

could ask her in the carriage -- but

it is more romantic at the palace.

I get so confused...

ATHOS:

Perhaps this will help.

He hands Raoul the simple gold ring he took from the box.

RAOUL:

Mother's ring. I can't take this.

ATHOS:

She died giving you to me. And I

want to die knowing it is one the

finger of the women my son loves.

They embrace. Athos' eyes mist, but he smiles.

ATHOS:

Now go, and bring back your fiance.

ESTABLISHING - THE ROYAL PALACE - DAY

The Palace glows golden in the Parisian sunshine. Carriages

deposit guests for the lavish party in the royal gardens.

EXT. THE ROYAL PALACE - GARDENS - DAY

Attractive young adults strut about in the extravagant attire

of Louis XIV's France, the men like peacocks, the ladies in

gowns that seem to squeeze their entire bodies up into their

bosoms. They laugh and smile and strike courtly poses

pretending to talk with each other -- but all eyes are on the

doorway, through which the king is about to come...

JUST BEYOND THAT PALACE DOORWAY

KING LOUIS the Fourteenth is having his wardrobe adjusted by

a flock of tailors. He is twenty-two, and would be quite

handsome, except for the total self-absorption. He's

checking himself in a full length golden mirror as two of his

advisors, PIERRE and CLAUDE, try to speak with him.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote