The Man in the Iron Mask Page #6

They are interrupted by the SQUEAL of a piglet, squirming in

the hands of the king's dwarf, who holds the fat little

animal above his head and runs among the startled guests.

LOUIS:

It pleases us to announce an

entertainment for our guests! A

contest of agility and cunning!

He takes the pig from his dwarf; the pig is clean and

perfumed, a colorful fake horn tied onto its head.

LOUIS:

Behold our unicorn! Whichever of

our guests captures the unicorn

shall win its treasure!

With this announcement the King produces a diamond the size

of a pecan, suspended from a ribbon; the guests gasp at its

richness. The King ties the diamond around the pig's neck.

RAOUL AND MICHELLE

Michelle is amazed at this.

MICHELLE:

I have never seen a diamond so

large!

It almost makes Raoul ashamed of the modest ring hidden in

his hand.

LOUIS:

Into the maze! All of you!

Disperse, I command you!

The dwarf releases the pig, poking him through a tiny break

in the hedge; the critter skitters as only a pig can, eluding

the first laughing lunges of the guests.

THE PIG CHASE is a merry melee, as the maze becomes a tangle

of confusion. LOUIS climbs to a platform above the top of

the ten foot hedge that forms the maze. From his perch he

looks down on all the action, and calls encouragement.

LOUIS:

Are you men or mice?!

MICHELLE squeals as the pig scurries by and Raoul dives for

it. He almost has the pig... then it kicks free.

RAOUL:

The pendant will be yours!

With that he races after the pig.

MICHELLE tries to follow, this way, that way, through the

maze. Then she stops, face to face with the King, entering

through a gate hidden in one of the maze's dead corners.

LOUIS:

Michelle, isn't it?

Speechless, she nods.

LOUIS:

I would have said it was impossible,

but I believe the excitement of the

chase has made you even more

beautiful.

MICHELLE:

Sire, I --

LOUIS:

You blush! You do not wish to be

beautiful to your King?

Her eyes go still; she understands what is happening.

FROM BEHIND THE GATE, we see d'Artagnan, watching as Louis

tries to seduce the young woman. Even as d'Artagnan watches,

the pig comes rooting through the hedge; with a deft movement

d'Artagnan catches the animal's leg and lifts it with the

sureness of the farm boy he once was. The pig is quiet and

comfortable in d'Artagnan's hands.

D'Artagnan watches as the King approaches Michelle, and she

allows him to touch her cheek. The king leans to kiss her...

Michelle does not move...

WHHEEEKKKK! The pig sails over the gate and hits the ground

running, right at Louis' feet; it sets him dancing.

The spell of the king's royal attention is shattered; as the

pig scrambles away, Michelle backs away.

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