The Musketeers

Signore Galileo has proven the moon

circles the Earth, as the Earth circles the sun.

As the new moon orbits the Earth, it moves in front of the sun, like so.

Milady de Winter, would you do us the honour of playing the moon?

But I am Venus, sire.

Well, for the purposes of the experiment, you shall be the moon

and the Queen will be the Earth.

It sickens me to see the Queen humiliated like this.

I can't be here. I'm going back to the garrison.

The King will notice your absence.

I doubt it, he only seems to have eyes for one thing.

See how the moon blocks the light of the sun from the Earth?

For a moment, only darkness prevails.

But then, as the moon moves on...

.. the light slowly returns

to the Earth.

A brilliant explanation!

The great astronomer Marmion could not equal it.

They say he has transformed the old fort at Chatillon

into a mysterious new world.

We shall see.

Yes, Marmion?

Is everything ready for our guests?

I've seen to it myself.

Good.

Call.

Heads.

So it begins.

Welcome, sire. The great Marmion is busy with his final preparations.

I am his servant, Robert.

The old fort is the perfect setting for your viewing of the eclipse and the camera obscura.

If you can see the rotating mirror on the roof, sire.

Now, stop there. Let me guess.

It reflects an image of the sun through a glass lens

to a viewing surface inside the building.

With perfect clarity, Your Majesty.

They say an eclipse is like God putting his hand over the sun.

I can't help being nervous.

There's nothing to be scared of.

I know that. It's just...

a feeling.

~ Protection for your eyes, Your Majesty. ~ Thank you very much. ~ How wonderful!

Now I can stare at you without being dazzled, sire.

Secure the house. No intrusions, no visitors.

Welcome, Your Majesty.

I am Marmion.

Follow me, Your Majesty.

The great astronomer!

All Paris is talking of the eclipse.

May I present the camera obscura?

My wonderful device will allow Your Majesties to witness every detail.

Porthos?

I'll check downstairs.

I'll check the other side.

Our forefathers regarded a solar eclipse as a sign

the world was ending.

Luckily, we are all modern men now.

And yet, we must still allow God a place in the universe.

When the darkness comes,

will we all feel His dread hand upon us?

Curb your taste for showmanship, Marmion.

The King has no time for nonsense.

At this fateful moment,

we must consider our own place in the universe.

Do we control our fate,

or are we merely the playthings of a power beyond understanding?

If I wanted a sermon, Marmion, I would have gone to church!

Behold! The motion of the heavens!

You'll soon be wearing it again.

I was a damn fool. I should have taken that position on the Council

when the King offered it. He has Rochefort now. He doesn't need me.

You're still a Musketeer.

No.

There'll be a new captain soon.

The eclipse.

Oh, no!

Aramis? Porthos!

One more step, and the King dies.

No!

Porthos?

Ugh!

There is no escape.

You should have gone to the old fort with the King.

Your place is at his side.

I had duties here.

I don't need watching over, if that's what you're doing.

The idea never crossed my mind.

This place has been my home for too long.

It's time for a change.

End this now and the King might yet grant you clemency.

Will you, sire? If I say sorry, will all my sins be forgiven?

Yes. I will consider it.

We both know you would hang me from the nearest tree.

The die is cast. There is no turning back.

Show some compassion and at least let the women and the dauphin go.

What did you say?

Have compassion. Let the baby and the women go.

Aramis!

No!

I'm going to kill you.

I, too, have lost friends.

I, too, know the anguish of bereavement.

The powerlessness, the injustice.

You talk too much.

Take him to the cellar.

You won't get away with this.

You know the King's absence will be noted.

You don't think someone will come looking?

We have hours yet to entertain ourselves.

~ I'll have your head for this. ~ Take him with the other.

That one can stay. The game must be witnessed.

You cared enough to defend him. Why?

Because I care about him, and because he's my friend.

Then tie these friends together.

They can bring each other comfort.

We'll get out of here. All right?

You think he means to kill the King?

God knows. But whatever he wants,

he's been planning this for a long time.

Can you move?

Argh! Stop!

Argh!

~ It's no good. ~ Can't you Musketeers do anything useful?

Of all the people in all the world, I've got to be chained to you!

Your friend should have kept his mouth shut.

We wouldn't be here and he might still be alive.

Aramis will be all right.

Are you mad? The fall will have broken his neck.

You don't know Aramis.

I admire your optimism, however deluded.

If we're going to get out of this,

we'll have to work together. Agreed?

Agreed.

The time has come to make choices.

What kind of choices?

Simple ones with simple outcomes.

A fair likeness.

Call.

To what purpose?

That is the fun of the game.

You don't know. But you must call.

Not unless you tell me why.

Call correctly and you leave.

But call wrong and you die.

You don't mean it?

Call.

Is there someone here braver than your King?

Someone willing to gamble everything for freedom?

I'll do it.

Ah!

You understand the rules?

There can be no second chances, no pleading or negotiation.

The immutable laws of chance must dictate the outcome.

Frankly, I would rather be dead than listen to your endless babble

~ for one more minute. ~ Very well.

Call your fate.

Milady, don't do it. Don't play his game!

I'm touched by your concern.

I order you not to risk your life, Milady.

Well, perhaps I can help.

Heads.

I call heads.

You win.

~ You may go. ~ I forbid it!

If the King cannot have his freedom, no-one can!

The rules must be obeyed.

I order you to stay, Milady!

In this room, I am king. And I say she goes.

If my men see the King's army approaching,

everyone here will be dead by the time they dismount.

Heads.

I call heads, too!

No!

No.

Another chance. Give me another chance!

Anyone else?

Get me a horse. Fast!

Well, don't just stand there! Hurry up!

If we could get one of those hooks,

we can prise these locks off.

And if we only had wings, we could fly out of the window(!)

You think me cruel.

But life is cruel.

One person lives, another dies. There is no reason or rhyme to it.

We make our choices and then fate intervenes.

How would fate intervene? We all share the same fate, the same luck.

There's nothing anyone can do about that.

But some of us have the dice loaded in our favour

by wealth and privilege.

Some of you don't know what it is to make harsh choices.

In your ease and comfort, you have never had to face them.

Life is about choice, Marmion.

It can't be avoided.

And some choices are unpleasant and they have to be made.

But there are always consequences.

My point exactly!

And a king's choices are the hardest of all.

I am glad to see you engaging in the spirit of the game.

Take them.

No!