The Scarlet Pimpernel

Old guard, present arms!

New guard...

Halt!

New guard...

Left...

Turn!

New guard...

Slow... march!

New guard... halt!

New guard... present... arms!

Old guard... shoulder... arms!

New guard... shoulder... arms!

Old guard... order... arms!

New guard... stand at...

Ease!

Look! The Prince!

Fine body of men, the guards...

And no soldier in the world like them.

By gad, you're right, sir!

Beer and beef, that's the stuff that makes soldiers.

Besides, it gives a man... a figure.

Have you seen today's "Times" sir?

No William.

- The news from Paris. - Yes.

Over 50 people guillotined in one day.

Damnable, useless cruelty.

Well, what can you expect from foreigners with no sporting instinct?

Gad, if it wasn't for our fox hunting and our pheasant shooting...

I dare say we should be cruel too.

Let's hope the scarlet Pimpernel will save some of the rest.

- Do you know who he is, sir? - No.

But I confess, I feel a little prouder...

When I remember that he is an Englishman.

Whoever he is...

He'll have his work cut out in Paris.

Did you read this, sir?

There they go again. It's always the same.

The drums roll, the knife falls...

And another aristocrat parts company with his head.

Very monotonous.

And so clumsy, that great ugly machine.

When all they need is a sharper razor.

A quick wrist and flick!

Here, steady!

Ho-ho, you're all right, partner.

I wish they'd give me a few aristocrats to shave.

Eh, Jacques?

Then we should see some sport.

And you would!

When you see me dealing with the Scarlet Pimpernel.

- The what? - The Scarlet Pimpernel!

Haven't you heard?

There's a band of Englishmen helping these cursed aristos out of the country.

Their chief is the only man who ever cheated Madame Guillotine.

He's known by the title of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Who is he?

Oh... that's the mystery.

So you're a farmer from Nordesque, are you?

Yes, sir.

You thought you could fool me with a disguise like that!

Well, I'll keep this wig of yours...

Because after tomorrow you won't have a head to put it on!

And I shall be delighted to visit Madame Guillotine...

And make the acquaintance of the only decent person left in France.

Captain, I say "Death to the Republic...

and long live the King!"

Take him away!

Stupid fool!

That makes the third aristocrat I've caught this week.

I can smell 'em through any disguise.

Thank heaven for the game of chess.

It enables us to forget the more disagreeable realities of life.

I'm not so sure it is a good thing.

We've been too detached from reality all our lives.

That's what caused the revolution.

- Possibly. - Undoubtedly!

If we'd only had eyes to see our own follies, we shouldn't be here now...

Waiting to be shaved...

By the national razor.

Which is the Count de Tournay?

I am the Count de Tournay's daughter.

My father is over there playing the chess.

This is my mother.

The Count de Tournay?

If you will look at the passage I have marked...

Your spirits will be uplifted.

We are not afraid to die, Father.

Even so, it is sometimes better to live.

- How many, Captain? - Sixty-four.

Robespierre gives Madame Guillotine extra fodder today.

The former Duc de Tours.

The former Abbé de Saint Preux.

The former Count and Countess de Larnai.

The former Madame de Nijon.

The former Count d'Eterais.

The former Marquis de Jouvence and family.

The former Marquis de Robeaupier.

The two Countesses Herret.

The former Mademoiselle de Bournard.

The two former Duchesses Passy and Boniveaux.

The former Marquis de Marais.

The former Count de Tournay and family.

The former Countess de Cherainville.

The former Madame de Piccard.

Come.

The former Count d'Arblai.

- Are you de Tournay? - I am.

You are remanded. Citizen Robespierre wants to see you.

- Thank God! - The rest of you, get on!

Take him inside!

Come on! Come on!

Get out of the way!

Get out!

You must have courage, Suzanne.

Remember...

The Scarlet Pimpernel is waiting to save us.

He's never failed to keep his promise.

But it's too late!

Long live the King of France!

Long live the King of France!

Look at me whip, me hearties.

Look at it!

Three and twenty locks of hair in it.

There they are... There's...

There's the Duc de Rouilly.

There's his handsome wife, the Duchess.

And here's the hair of her lover...

- The handsome... - Where's your passport, hag?

He takes me for an aristocrat.

Well, you're right, Captain.

Can't be too careful, can you?

No, you can't be too... Here, here's me passport.

This says "Citizeness Renard and grandson."

Where's the grandson?

He's in the cart, poor darling.

Yes? What's the matter with him?

He's got the plague.

- The horrible black plague. - Plague?

Yes.

I don't think I shall get him alive as far as Chambois.

Give me... give me a light from your pipe, will you Captain?

Keep away from me with your plague!

Get out of here, quick!

And when you come back, try to pass another gate.

For you won't pass through this one again!

You are right, Captain. You are right.

But I'll be back... somehow.

- Who's in charge here? - I am.

An old hag of a woman will pass this way in a cart.

You are to stop her, and arrest her.

Did you say an old hag?

You heard me.

But, but she passed through here some time ago.

- Her passport was... - You miserable fool!

You blundering idiot! Did you search the cart?

No, no, I... her grandson was inside with the plague.

- Would you expect me to expose... - You were expected to use your brains!

Now I see you haven't any!

That sick grandson was really three aristocrats snatched from the guillotine!

Ten thousand hells!

And the old hag, who was she?

The old hag, my clever Captain...

Was that cursed Englishman, the Scarlet Pimpernel.

- Forward, we'll catch him this time! - Open the gates!

What's that?

What?

Sounds like a troop of horsemen.

We're being pursued!

Don't be frightened, Ladies. You are among friends.

- But this soldiers? - My friends, Mademoiselle, and yours.

Are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?

I am only a humble instrument in the hands of our great leader.

- How many are you? - Twenty, madam.

One to command, nineteen to obey.

- Shall we see your leader? - I'm sorry, I must ask you to hurry.

- Where's de Tournay? - Taken back into prison.

- Why? - We don't know.

So we have to come back and take him.

- How are things at Calais? - Lawson's there.

- And Ashurst? - He hadn't arrived when we left.

Oh hadn't he?

His time sense is defective... that's twice.

They may have arrested him.

They're very careful at the Channel ports nowadays.

My order to you is that you're not to be arrested.

And I expect my orders to be obeyed.

Yes Percy.

You, Wilmot and Grant go back to Paris.

My brother-in-law will follow you there.

All three of you will get your next instructions from Quentin.

Well, goodbye.

And remember... don't get caught.

- Right. - Right.

- Good luck! - Goodbye.

Go!

Giddap!

Well...

Why did they keep de Tournay back?

Because Robespierre wanted to see him.

And Robespierre wants to see him because the Ambassador of the Republic,