The Pied Piper

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1

For years the Pied Piper

has gone from town to town

in countless guises, his legend

having no beginning nor end...

Our particular story takes place

over one day, in Prague

on New Year's Eve, perhaps

just so it could become a film.

Presents

a film shot in 24 hours

THE PIED PIPER:

We're having a wedding!

Open up, councilors!

I'm getting married today.

Well, what'll it be?

The bride is near term and

I'm not going to reconsider.

Agnes, pitch the garland.

It's not in these days.

- It's not in!

- Well? Open up!

So what?

This bride is mine even

without your stamp of approval.

Stamp your affluent butts! We'll

take our business elsewhere.

I want to get married

this year, not the next.

Tomorrow, tomorrow,

whether craven or brave,

tomorrow I'll be

stretched out in my grave.

Alms for the poor.

Alms, kind sir,

for me and my bride.

We're great sinners.

Here.

You're so generous

on this last day of the year.

You deserve a fat reward

for your sins, my good man.

Indeed, the whole

town will soon be rewarded.

When I toll the midnight bells

you'll all be mine, my darlings.

And I'll create you in my image.

You're mine and nobody's

going to take you from me.

Anything else?

Who are you?

Here. Do you still care?

It doesn't matter,

my good people, let's carry on.

Come, Agnes.

Agnes, come on!

Lt'll be the Devil's work

if we don't get married.

Come on, let's go!

Let's go!

Agnes, come here!

Sexton! Agnes... Sexton!

We'd like you to marry us.

We want to marry.

We're all set:
We've got

witnesses, the bride, the groom.

Right, I know:

Dear Agnes, do you take

Kristian as your husband

and to protect him? Yes.

Dear Kristian, do you

take Agnes as your wife?

Yes.

Got it?

You can marry us now.

What? What are you staring at?

Will you marry us?

Hey, take this and marry us.

Hey...

Take this!

I want you

to keep living in sin.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

- Let's go!

- What a weirdo.

- Come on!

- Move it!

Anything else, my child?

I hope you haven't sinned.

Where's Agnes?

I know I'm living in sin, but I

don't want to confess anything.

I believe that at midnight some

of my innocence will return.

- Glad to hear it, child.

- I wait for it as for salvation.

When I toll the midnight bells

I'll free the town of its guilt.

And you'll sin in my name.

Freely, with even greater

simplicity and love.

And you'll see!

You'll like it.

What were you looking for?

Love.

Love?

It's too damn late, eh?

- Hey, Mr. Musician, join us.

- Come join us!

- What if he's not a musician?

- He's not a musician!

- But he's got such a nice pipe.

- A shepherd's pipe!

I bet he can't play it.

Maybe it's magic.

Maybe it's deadly.

I am here.

I'll rid the town

of filth and rats.

I'll clean it up. Who'll pay me?

I'll pay you!

But you have to clean it all;

Not one sinful soul may remain.

- That's a tough task.

- You know my pipe? - Yes.

Of course,

your pipe, Pied Piper.

- So you know its power.

- Yes, I like power...

I love pernicious things.

You've come too late, Piper.

You'll never purify

this town of sin by midnight.

Ridding it

of rats is no longer enough.

Then I'll exterminate

the entire town.

My pipe

cannot harm innocence anyway.

Don't abuse

the gift that was given you.

I won't let you to ruin my work

when it's so near completion.

I'll silence your pipe.

I've never

blown with all my might.

You needn't. Maybe you're

destined for something greater.

To love...

a woman. That's far greater.

- My heart's not made for loving.

- The heart is an obstruction.

Okay then,

purify the town by midnight.

If you fail you lose your power.

And if I succeed?

I pay you and get out of your

way. I'll leave town. Deal?

Deal?

Okay, it's a deal.

Atta boy.

Atta boy, Piper.

Stick to our strengths.

You know how to blow,

and I do the tempting.

When I toll the bells

we'll see who's stronger.

I thought it over. I'd like

you to hear my confession.

Who are you?

No one.

Less than nothing.

The Pied Piper.

Pied Piper?

Plenty of rats here.

God knows from where.

At first they just gnaw a bit,

then they're bolder and bolder.

- It's worse every day.

- What's your name?

Agnes.

- What do you have to confess?

- I'm like a delay-action mirror.

It's my fate to get things late.

I say everything too late;

I laugh and cry a day later.

But I know

how to wait patiently.

So I'm waiting for midnight.

But I'm the only one

who'll feel it a day late.

It seems

like I've known you forever.

Agnes?

Are you here?

I have to go, Piper.

Kristian is my bridegroom.

Agnes...

Piper... Enchanted...

Intoxicate the heart

beyond the grave...

I didn't confess...

Is your little soul at peace?

My sweet bride. My darling.

Alms, my good man,

for me and my bride.

We're great sinners.

For alms I'll tell you

what happens at midnight.

At midnight...

At midnight

the town becomes Hell!

Hey,

a wedding garland and money.

If you're seeking a bride,

take this.

But my bride is dead.

We're all cursed.

I lay awake last night

sleepless in bed,

But there's nothing here

I need to dread,

Just the rats I hunt

until they run red,

What's this cloud

that's crept in my head?

I know what it is to be dead.

I know all the world's pain,

Envy can't hurt me

nor a dirty name,

As feeling awakens

the Piper's life is vain,

I must be gone when

I've blown my song of fame.

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