The Man in the Iron Mask

- Your lozenge, Lord Cardinal. - Thank you, Fouquet.

You're always so thoughtful.

This may be a great day for France.

Hmm... might I suggest that if His Majesty has a son...

that this son might need... a tutor?

I have noticed that you also think far ahead.

My only thought is to serve to the limit of my poor ability.

His Majesty, the King!

Well, how much longer do we have to wait?

- Is there no news yet? - Not yet, Your Majesty.

A matter of this kind demands patience. Even from a king.

For a cardinal, you're not very consoling in a crisis.

D'Artagnan... do you remember that morning we were getting ready...

- to fight the Austrian Army? - Yes, Sire. Very well.

I felt a lot braver that morning.

If your Majesty pleases...

it's a boy! A beautiful boy!

Ahoy...

It has pleased the Almighty God, King of Heaven...

to bless the union of His Majesty King Louis XIII of France...

and our dearly beloved Queen...

by giving to them and to you a son.

This is the heir to the throne of France.

- Send for the King at once! - The King? Impossible.

Listen...

Colbert then. Yes, that's it... Colbert. He'll know what to do.

Colbert! Where is Mr. Colbert, please?

On the balcony with His Majesty.

Well? What is it?

Her Majesty has given birth to a second child.

- Second child? - Yes.

A son. Atwin.

Another son...

Shall I take this other son to the King?

Impossible!

Who knows of this?

Only the midwife and myself.

No one else must know.

- Must you take him too? - Your Majesty knows better than I...

that your sons belong to France.

- Follow me. - Yes, but Her Majesty...

- I will answer for Her Majesty. - Yes, my Lord.

Well, the messenger said it was urgent. What is it?

It is my duty to present to Your Majesty your second son.

Fate has given France twin dauphins.

Two sons.

Two heirs to the throne of France.

Your Majesty knows there can be only one Dauphin of France.

To any other man in this kingdom twin sons would be a blessing.

Only to me, a king, could they be a curse.

Worse than a curse, Sire.

Two sons would mean civil war.

Self-seeking men pitting brother against brother.

The future of France depends on this moment.

On your being strong enough to think as a king, rather than as a father.

Of your sons, only one can rule.

Colbert...

I cannot order a death warrant for my own son.

That isn't necessary, Sire.

Send him away. No one need know.

- Even he must never know. - With whom?

Is there a man in all the world with whom such a secret would be safe?

Yes, Sire. One man.

- D'Artagnan. - D'Artagnan?

Must I lose my son and my best friend as well?

D'Artagnan is my right arm.

He is also my friend, Sire.

But you must give him the child.

Send him home to Gascony.

Settle an income on him.

Permit him to raise the boy as his own.

Then France will be safe.

My son.

How many times have we fought shoulder to shoulder for France?

How many times has the life of the King of France been safe in your hands?

My friend D'Artagnan...

will you do this for me?

I am a soldier, Sire.

See that he has horses, everything.

All will be done, Sire.

I will miss you, my friend.

Go now. Quickly.

In days to come, Sire...

...he may ask his father's name.

Tell him his father was a man who gave everything for France.

And was your very good friend.

Name him Philippe, after me.

The doctor and the midwife?

It's a pity there's no D'Artagnan for them.

Would you like to double the wager, Fouquet?

But the rope always breaks the fourth time.

- Your Majesty is unusually lucky. - I am a most unusual person.

It didn't break.

It always breaks the fourth time.

Are you sure you didn't tamper with that rope, Fouquet?

Your Majesty...

I regret intruding upon Your Majesty's amusement.

I'll double the wager on the next one, Fouquet.

Mr. Colbert here took it upon himself to countermand the other executions.

For what reason?

I have the honor to inform Your Majesty...

that Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Theresa entered Paris this morning.

Surely the arrival of your fiancée should not be attended by...

- ...by hangings. - Don't they hang people in Spain?

Or does everyone pay his taxes?

Well, she'll get used to it.

Particularly if the tax on salt is not rescinded.

But Fouquet told me I could raise millions with... a little pinch of salt.

Such a beautiful tax. 50 sure. No one can live without salt.

History shows that the people have a way of going on living...

no matter what.

Speaking of the salt tax, er... reminds me.

I'm afraid I have to adopt drastic measures in Gascony.

The inhabitants of the town of Tanas...

made some ridiculous claim to exemption from all taxes and they...

- resisted Your Majesty's tax collector. - Resisted?!

More than resisted. They put Your Majesty's representatives to flat.

They were led by a man named D'Artagnan.

Must we always be annoyed by these rebels?

“Mow the man, Sire.

He was Captain of your father's musketeers and he spoke the truth.

For services to the Crown, your father gave him the village of Tanas...

free of taxes.

Such a reward probably grew out of some special service?

Collect the taxes in Gascony and arrest the rebels.

I've anticipated both of Your Majesty's commands.

Clever, Fouquet.

I seem to have an engagement with Mlle. de la Valliere.

I find her so useful in relieving me of such tiresome problems of state.

Ah!

Quite interesting this Gascony situation, don't you think?

I watched your career with great interest, Fouquet.

I know you to be ambitious, avaricious and dangerous.

But not until now did I know you to be entirely without honor.

Without honor, I?

You knew very well the identity of D'Artagnan.

- And of the men with him. - Oh, yes, certainly.

- Including Philippe. - And yet, to curry favor with the King...

you would betray a sacred trust.

A secret which has been kept until now.

My dear Colbert, how can you say such a thing?

You should know better than anyone that a certain secret transformed me...

from a Cardinal's messenger to a King's Minister.

Keeping secrets is my business.

And are your intentions one of your secrets, too?

Not at all. I intend arresting Philippe and D'Artagnan...

and hanging them as rebels. It's a compliment...

to you, my friend.

Colbert...

You're a very clever man.

You have a most annoying habit of always bringing about the things...

you wish to bring about. For instance this marriage with Maria Theresa...

which does not suit me at all.

The union of France with Spain and Austria is necessary...

to the security and future of France.

But I am not interested in the future of France.

I am interested in the future of Fouquet.

Who knows...

Some day you may have certain plans for Philippe.

Well, that would be most unfortunate for me, but...

Don't worry. I intend keeping this secret.

When I hang Philippe...

no one will know that he's the twin brother of the King.

Before you hang him, the world will know who he is.

Shhh...

Remember...

secrets.

Gentlemen!

Musketeers!

He means you too.

According to the tradition governing these occasions...

I wish to express my pleasure at the honor of having you help me arrive...

- at the ripe old age of twenty two. - Hear, hear!

For France!

My father, who died for it too!

My four godfathers, who reared me so carefully in the best tradition...

of the King's Musketeers.

Musketeers!

I claim the next toast.

To our very accomplished godson.

The best blade in France!

Next to me, of course.

And the most brilliant pupil...

in languages and the sciences that I have ever tutored.

And whose skill at wrestling is excelled by one other man and I...

...I'm too modest to mention his name.

And who excels even me...

in the more romantic pastimes, including...

dice shaking.

Hoorah!

- You're sure this is D'Artagnan's house? - How could I mistake it?

I've been here before.

Do you realize that people of our own town of Tanas...

are the only Frenchmen who aren't starving and in rags?

Which is too good to last long.

Remember, we've already had one encounter with the Royal Tax Collectors.

To which we put a period, with a sword point.

I can't remember inviting any other guests.

Captain D'Artagnan, formerly of the King's Musketeers?

And Lord of Tanas by order Louis XIII.