The Count of Monte Cristo

ISABELLE: May I introduce the Count of Spada.

I'm here to find a wife.

How was my performance?

EDMOND: It seemed to go pretty well.

Allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Eugenia.

EDMOND: I know the man responsible for your father's death.

Fernand Mondego.

MERCEDES: Have you ever truly been in love?

Once.

She is now a different woman.

I'm afraid my time with you is over, Countess.

Is that the Count de Morcerf?

Oh, it is, indeed.

You must be very excited about Eugenia and Albert getting married.

They are of an age now.

Hm.

I believe they grew up together.

I had no idea.

Danglars dropped in on me the other day and mentioned it.

Our families have been close for a long time.

They would make a lovely couple.

Hm.

Just a pity Danglars isn't entirely convinced about it.

He's not?

It didn't seem so to me.

What did he say?

I, I don't recall his exact words, but, uh, the inference was, he, he had higher hopes for Eugenia.

Higher hopes?

I'm sorry, have I... Have I put my foot in it?

I have a tendency to do that.

I may have completely misread what I heard, so, best, uh, best forget I said anything, Count.

So, Danglars is getting cold feet?

Oh, you know how fathers vacillate when it comes to the future of their daughters.

Mm, I don't-- I have no daughters.

Do you have any children, Count?

I don't even have a wife.

(knocks) The Count de Morcerf is here for you, sir.

Send him in, then.

I came to see you at your house yesterday, but they said you were out.

(door closes) Yes.

Are you not going to invite me to sit?

Oh, sit, um... Some coffee?

No, thank you.

What is the, the purpose of your visit?

I think the time has come for us to finalize the marriage contract between Albert and your daughter Eugenia.

Ah.

Why such haste?

"Why wait?"

is more the question.

Marriage has long been decided.

Well, that was then.

But this... (inhales sharply): This is now.

What are you saying, Danglars?

I don't follow you.

Circumstances have changed.

Meaning?

I've, um... I've changed my mind.

On what grounds?

Grounds I cannot disclose, I'm afraid.

What the devil has gotten into you?

Don't tell me this Italian clown Spada has something to do with it!

Please, um, sit.

I don't like looking up at you.

Danglars, we've been acquainted many years.

There are things which bind us closer than if we were brothers-- things that will forever remain a secret between us.

Do I detect a veiled threat in your utterance, sir?

You owe me an explanation, sir.

What circumstance has occurred to deprive my son of your favor?

It is from no personal ill-feeling towards the viscount.

Towards whom do you bear this ill-feeling, then?

I think it best if I don't go into particulars.

I insist on an explanation!

Has Madame Morcerf displeased you?

Mm, no, no, no, no, no.

Is it my fortune which you find insufficient?

No, no, no-- nothing of the kind, sir.

Is it to do with this railroad concession?

You're aware that it has been accepted and approved by Parliament, are you not?

Not that.

And allow me to say, I am grateful to you for lobbying in my favor.

We agreed to this marriage five years ago, sir.

As I was saying, that was then, but this... Do you not wish to ally yourself with my family, is that it?

Just for a month or so.

There's, there's no rush, is there?

I will not wait patiently to be humbled by you.

Set a date and time now or never at all.

I don't understand why you're so upset.

I, I'm merely asking you to allow me to suspend my decision.

Oh, enough of this nonsense.

DANGLARS: Did you know that Fernand Mondego was once an ordinary Catalan fisherman?

Who is Fernand Mondego?

The Count de Morcerf-- that's his birth name.

Huh.

Ah.

He was a, a lowly fisherman in Marseille.

He joined the military, somehow rose through the ranks, and has never looked back since.

Wasn't there a French officer named Mondego mixed up in that ugly affair in Algiers?

The one in which Ali Pasha was killed?

That was years ago, but yes, I, I do recall some talk about it at the time.

Yeah.

Ali Pasha was very favorably looked upon by the French nobility.

Yeah, but he was a staunch ally of ours.

Indeed.

Do you have any contacts in Algiers?

I do.

(stammers softly) Why do you ask?

Mm, no real reason.

Perhaps you should look into it.

(piano playing, Eugenia crying) (piano stops) What is the matter, darling?

(panting) My father wants me to marry the Count of Spada.

You poor thing!

First Albert and now this fool!

Papa says if I don't go through with it, he'll be bankrupt by month's end.

He's taken out an option to buy land from here to Calais to build a railroad.

And Count Spada and Monte Cristo are both investing five million, but only if I get engaged to Spada!

Otherwise, Father will lose millions.

But, but this is blackmail.

(sobbing) What am I to do, Louise?

(crying) We'll... We'll, we'll think of something.

(sobbing) CADEROUSSE: They're pickpockets, the lot of them.

JACOPO: Are you sure you'll recognize him?

Yeah, I'm sure.

They sleep under here every night.

Yeah, the third one.

That's Gaston.

(train whistle blowing in distance) The midwife brought him up as if he was her own son.

(panting) JACOPO: And now he's a dirty little thief.

CADEROUSSE: Yeah.

JACOPO: Does he know Villefort is his father?

CADEROUSSE: No.

And Villefort doesn't know about him, either.

If he did, he'd have the boy killed.

(Gaston groans, whimpers) Be quiet!

Be quiet!

(noise softening) Right?

Right?

Okay.

Good.

(whimpering softly) (shushing) (softly): Good boy.

(panting) JACOPO: We got the boy, Count.

When are you seeing Caderousse?

I'm going now.

Well, tell him to let the boy know that everything's paid for.

Why?

Don't ask why, Jacopo, just do it.

Caderousse must let the boy know that he has lots of money on him.

But the boy is a thief.

Boville might well be watching Caderousse's apartment.

Who knows what can transpire?

We need him to end up in a court.

You would use the boy?

Why not?

Hm?

As you just said, he's a thief.

Go, do what you have to do.

Make sure that Caderousse sets him up.

(keys jangling) (lock turns) CADEROUSSE: Right.

It's all been arranged for you to leave here and go to your mother.

There's one condition on which you must abide.

If, if you, if you misbehave, you will be brought straight back to live on the streets again.

Think carefully about that, Gaston.

One does not get second chances with the man I work for.

She's not my mother.

I'm adopted.

Sabrine loves you, for some reason.

You should be grateful for that, and grateful to my master.

All of, all of this is costing him a lot of money.

How much?

A very, very substantial amount.

Now go to sleep.

We leave first thing in the morning.

(floorboard creaks) (door creaks softly) (panting) (whimpering) I know you!

I know you, you little pickpocket!

What are you doing with Caderousse?

(panting) And why are you dressed like this, huh?

Explain yourself, boy!

I'm, I'm going home.

Home-- you don't have a home.

(panting, whimpering) Oh, and this?

Huh?

Who'd you steal this from?

I'll give it back!

I don't think so.

What else have you got here?

(yelps loudly) (gasps) (panting) (grunts) (groaning): You little... (gasps) You little... (grunts) (knife drops) (shutter opens) WOMAN: What's going on down there?

(panting) (whimpering) (knocking softly) Excuse me.

Gaston has been arrested for the murder of Boville.

What?

Boville tried to arrest the boy and he stabbed him.

The police have a witness who saw it all.

I, I wanted the boy arrested for theft, not murder.

He'll get the guillotine for this.

Forget about the boy.

Caderousse is our problem.

Obviously, he's been compromised.

We must act quickly.

(horse neighs) ROBERT: Get the boy out.

So... Let's go and talk to Caderousse.

(pounding): Police!

Open up!

(pounding door) (lock breaks) You're sure this is his apartment?

Uh... It, it was.

You lying little bastard!

Mm!

(door closes) We will hold him at La Force prison, Monsieur Villefort, awaiting trial for murder.

I wish I could stay to see how it all unfolds.

Safety first, Caderousse.

(knocking) Villefort and some policemen just paid Caderousse a visit with the boy Gaston.

They must have been unpleasantly surprised.

You must arrange for Sabrine, Gaston's foster mother, to be brought back from Talamone as soon as possible.

Yes, sir.

New York City.

New York.

What are you planning to do there?

I think I'll open a tavern.

I know the business.

(chuckles) They call them bars in America.

You should open one that sells oysters, single malts, and champagne.

Do it close to the stock exchange to attract that sort of clientele.

Mm.

I have a little something for you, Caderousse.

You've been very helpful to me.

(coins clink) Thank you.

Have I redeemed myself?

You've helped restore my faith in mankind.

Not many have managed that.

Write to me.

I hope, when this is all over, you find peace, Edmond.

As do I.

(quietly): As do I.

(breathes deeply) (breathing heavily) (exhales heavily) (drawer opens) (panting) (drawer closes) (piano playing in distance) (sniffs) (piano continues) Well, now.

You were right about the Count de Morcerf.

I have just received news from Algiers.

There is a whole history connecting Fernand Mondego to Ali Pasha.

No.

A history that ended in a most unsavory way, it seems.

Here, read this.

MAN: Must be finished by noon.

(men talking in background) ALBERT: "The Inquirer" claims to have information about a French officer named Fernand who betrayed Ali Pasha in Algiers in 1817.

"A heinous act of cowardice which led "to Ali Pasha's death and the loss of his fortune.

More to follow."

Monsieur Beauchamp is here to see you, Viscount.

Take him to my apartment.

Why not invite him to join us for breakfast?

Because it is his newspaper that published a slur.

Can you explain this?

(sighs): It's why I'm here, Albert.

So, this is about my father.

An incriminating letter was handed to the chairman of "The Inquirer," who insisted I publish it in full.

I asked him for time to investigate the claims to verify their authenticity.

I want to know what my father is accused of.

The honor of my family is at stake here.

I'm sure the claims are spurious, and, if so, my newspaper will publish a full retraction tomorrow morning.

Can you at least tell me who handed this letter to your chairman?

(exhales): Baron Danglars.

The letter is not in his hand.

It was written by a notary in Algiers, addressed to him.

He merely passed it on to us.

For what reason?

I've no idea.

Have you seen this?

That's just the beginning.

As it says, "More to follow."

Tomorrow, Fernand will have questions to answer, and that is when we play our card.

The retraction-- are you printing it?

The claims have been verified, Albert.

But surely they're just rumors!

What proof do you have?

Sufficient to go to press, I'm afraid.

ALBERT (shouting): Danglars!

Baron Danglars!

Albert, what are you doing here at this time of night?

What... What is the meaning of this intrusion?!

I know it was you.

What the devil are you talking about?

You sent a letter to "The Inquirer" implicating my father in a crime, bringing disgrace to my family's name.

Why?!

Not content with humiliating me publicly, now you want to drag my family's name through the mud, too!

Albert, why, why would you say such a thing?

I was forced to do it.

How?

Well, uh, um, perhaps not forced, but I was coerced into doing it.

(stammers): To protect my own name, you see.

By who?

By your friend and my client the Count of Monte Cristo.

(breathing heavily) MERCEDES (panting): Albert!

Read!

Read!

MERCEDES: Oh, no!

(exhales): Where is Father?

He has been summoned to appear before the Chamber of Peers in Parliament.

I asked why, but he wouldn't say.

Well, there you have it.

At what time he's to appear?

10, 10:00.

Albert... (exhales) These are the receipts from the sales.

One from Fernand to the sultan, the other from the sultan to me.

Ready?

Yes.

Good.

This is our moment.

(members talking in background) CHAIRMAN: Gentlemen, this special sitting of this chamber is of such a serious nature, it was called by the king himself.

Count de Morcerf, an honorable member of this chamber, stand up, please, and take questions from your peers.

"The Inquirer" alleges that you betrayed Ali Pasha by opening the gates of his fortress to Suleiman and his men, that you disappeared thereafter and returned only after the massacre was over, that you were rewarded by Suleiman with half of Ali Pasha's fortune.

They are lying!

This story has been concocted by someone who clearly has a personal vendetta against me.

MAN: Can you prove it, sir?

I don't have to-- my reputation speaks for itself.

My reputation!

(scoffs) I expect an apology from this chamber and a public apology and retraction from "The Inquirer."

If I do not receive the latter, I shall sue them for defamation of character.

It is a well-known fact that when you returned from Algiers to Paris in 1822... (exhales) ...you suddenly became a very wealthy man, not so?

I made my fortune trading stocks and shares.

My banker, Baron Danglars, will vouch for that.

Are there any more questions?

I'm beginning to find all this rather tedious.

CHAIRMAN: A witness has come forward claiming to have evidence contradicting your version of events, Count.

Would you be so kind as to stand there, mademoiselle?

State your name, please.

My name is Haydee.

That's Monte Cristo's protge.

HAYDEE: I am the daughter of Ali Pasha.

(members murmuring) CHAIRMAN: Do you know the man standing there?

I knew him from when I was a little girl.

His name is Fernand Mondego.

He was my father's personal bodyguard.

What happened on the night that your father was killed?

(members murmuring) I was five years old.

Captain Mondego was always at my father's side.

I do not remember much about the night of the massacre.

I do, however, remember clearly that Captain Mondego was not there.

He disappeared, only to return the following morning.

(members talking) CHAIRMAN: Please allow the witness to finish.

(conversations stop) HAYDEE: My mother and I were spared.

Mohammed Suleiman handed us over to Mondego and told him he could dispose of us as he saw fit.

FERNAND: This is preposterous!

Who is this woman?!

HAYDEE: Suleiman also gave him two caskets of gold.

Gold that belonged to my father!

You're lying!

(members murmuring) CHAIRMAN: Silence!

Silence!

Sit down, Count!

Silence!

(conversations stop) What happened thereafter?

My mother died of grief a day later, and on the following day, Fernand Mondego sold me as a slave to the Sultan of Amir.

(members talking) Silence, please!

(conversations stop) Do you have documents in your hand?

This is the receipt of that sale.

(members murmuring) HAYDEE: As you can see, it is signed by Fernand Mondego.

Count de Morcerf, is that your signature?

(members murmuring softly) Uh... (quietly): It is my signature.

(members murmuring) CHAIRMAN: You have another document?

(conversations stop) This is also a receipt of sale, made out by the Sultan of Amir to the man who bought my freedom.

(members murmuring) This is signed by the Count of Monte Cristo.

(members murmuring) You are a disgrace to this chamber, sir.

I suggest you leave.

No doubt you'll be hearing from the king very soon.

(members murmuring softly) (breath trembling) ALBERT: Father!

(grunts) Wait!

Is it true?

You brought Monte Cristo into our lives.

It would only be fitting if you removed him.

(breathes deeply) (breathes deeply) ALBERT: Where's the count?

Where is he?

JACOPO: Count is not here.

He is in his house.

I know he is.

He left this morning and gave us all the day off.

And tonight?

What are his movement tonight?

The opera, sir.

Where is Albert?

What happened at the chamber?

(exhales) EDMOND: Thank you for helping me.

Yes, but at what price?

Where are you going?

To the opera.

Now is hardly the time to go to the opera, Albert.

I have my reasons.

Marcel, follow Albert.

I want to know his every move.

(people talking in background, orchestra tuning) (tuning continues) (breathes deeply) Vedr Con mio diletto L'alma dell'alma mia Dell'alma mia Il core del mio cor (singing on "cor") Thank you for coming at such short notice.

Albert, he has a formidable reputation with both pistol and sword.

I have no option.

(aria continues) It's as I feared.

He's chosen his seconds.

He does look rather hot.

(orchestra playing) Vedr con mio diletto EDMOND: You should invite yourself over to Danglars' box.

Dell'alma mia Dell'alma mia Il core di questo cor VAMPA: Are you attracted to drama, mademoiselle?

(chuckles) Pien di contento (singing on "contento") Did I do something wrong?

Not at all, no.

DANGLARS: The baroness and I discussed your proposal with our daughter, and she is agreeable to it.

This is wonderful news.

Then we can begin our business at last, hm.

Indeed.

I am very excited at the prospect of your marrying my daughter.

Come, gentlemen.

(aria ends) (audience applauding) EDMOND: Here he is.

All good?

It seems I am to be a married man quite soon.

Well, congratulations.

(Edmond and Vampa chuckle) (people talking in background) Monte Cristo!

(conversations stopping) You deceived me, sir.

You pretended to be my friend, but all along, your intention was to dishonor my father.

You betrayed my trust, and for that, I demand satisfaction.

Viscount, I am very fond of your mother.

What you are asking of me would hurt her deeply.

Not if you're dead.

Albert, stop this now... I demand satisfaction.

(people gasping) (silence) Consider the challenge accepted.

You choose the place and the weapons.

Pistols.

Tomorrow at dawn.

The western edge of Lucienne Forest.

(carriage rumbling) (knock at door) Yes?

The Countess de Morcerf is here.

What?

Alone?

Yes, alone.

What do I do?

(stammers): Show her into my study.

(door closes) You want to kill my son?

If you kill him, you kill me.

Do you want that?

He told you.

I had him followed to the opera.

Then you will know that the son of Fernand publicly insulted me there.

It is only because he blames you for his father's misfortunes.

They are not misfortunes, Mercedes.

They are a punishment.

And it is not I who has struck him down.

It is Providence that has done it.

(starts) What injury did Fernand do to you in betraying Ali Pasha?

You don't understand.

I've sworn to avenge myself not on some French captain or the Count de Morcerf, but on the husband of Mercedes the Catalan.

(breathes) Then I am the culprit, Edmond.

It was me who allowed myself to believe you were dead.

If I did not think you were dead, I would have never married Fernand.

I would have waited.

How long would you have waited?

(voice trembling): I am still waiting.

(breath trembles) You mustn't go through with this, Edmond, please.

Do you know why I was arrested, Mercedes?

No one did.

(drawer opens and closes) Fernand delivered this to the police on the day of our engagement celebration.

It was written by him and Danglars.

My arrest lasted 15 years.

And every day of those 15 years, I renewed the vow of vengeance I made on the first day.

(breath trembling) Forgive.

Forgive, Edmond!

For my sake, who still loves you.

You want me to abandon my purpose at the moment of its accomplishment?

(softly): Yes.

(gasps) That's impossible.

(gasps tearfully) Avenge yourself, then.

(breath trembling) But let your revenge fall on the culprits.

On, on him, on me, but not on Albert.

Not on my son.

When did you realize it was me?

When I heard your voice the day you came at my house.

The voice never changes.

At first, I denied it was you, but love speak from the heart, not from the mind.

I love you, Edmond.

I always have.

Then your son shall live.

(inhales sharply) (whispering): Thank you.

Thank you, Edmond.

But for that to happen, I must die.

What?

What are you saying?

Your son humiliated me in front of many people.

If I ignore his provocation, how can I live with myself?

What I have loved most after you, Mercedes, is my dignity, and to have that crushed again would be too great a blow.

But, but the duel will, will not happen, since you forgive.

It must.

But instead of your son's blood staining the ground, it will be mine.

(softly): No.

(aloud): You would do this for me?

Yes.

But I love you.

(exhales) Can you accept the indignity of refusing the duel for me?

(mouths) (whispering): I'm afraid I can't.

(gasps tearfully) Where is my opponent?

Albert will be along soon enough.

May I?

You may.

(horse neighs) (sighs) Are you ready, sir?

The pistols are loaded.

Beauchamp will mark out 20 paces for you gentlemen to take up your positions.

Wait.

Sir, I have made a grave mistake.

Will you hear me out?

I will.

I reproached you for exposing the conduct of Monsieur de Morcerf in Algiers for, guilty as I knew he was, I thought you had no right to punish him so.

But I since have learned that you had every right.

(smacks lips) Your mother told you everything?

I trust she swore you to secrecy.

She did.

Now, sir, if you think my apology sufficient... ...pray give me your hand.

Gentlemen, the count has accepted my apology.

I hope the world will not call me cowardly for acting as my conscience dictates.

Adieu.

Adieu.

FERNAND: Is he dead?

There was no duel.

Instead, I apologized to him.

You did what?

You heard me.

Apologized for what?

Why?

New circumstances came to my attention, which caused me to retract the challenge.

What circumstances?

Appalling circumstances.

Albert, come back here.

(shouting): Albert!

(breath trembling) (calling): Marcel, bring me the horse!

(horse neighing) Ah.

The Count de Morcerf.

To what do I owe this pleasure?

Had you a meeting with my son this morning?

I did.

Why did he not fight?

What are these new circumstances of which he speaks?

Oh, that, yes.

It is something far worse than just the betrayal of Ali Pasha.

Sir, you are trying my patience.

I am here to duel with you.

Well, then, let us begin.

We don't need witnesses or seconds.

We know each other well enough.

On the contrary.

We know very little about each other.

Let us see.

Are you not Fernand the fisherman?

Are you not the soldier Fernand who deserted on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo?

Are you not the Lieutenant Fernand who served as spy and guide to the French army in Spain?

Are you not the Captain Fernand who betrayed his benefactor, Ali Pasha, and had him murdered?

And have not all these Fernands, united, become the Count de Morcerf, peer of France?

You look surprised that I know every page of your life.

But there's only one page that matters.

This one.

Take it, read it.

Hopefully it jolts your memory.

Given by you to the police on the day of my engagement celebration 20 years ago.

(breath trembling) Are you still ready to duel, sir?

Does Mercedes know about this?

As does your son.

Mm-hmm.

They know everything.

(inhales) Courage, Mother.

We can't stay here any longer.

(crying softly) (breathing slowly) (Fernand's breath trembling) (inhales sharply) (gun fires) (exhales) SOAMES: This is my family.

Wealthy.

JO: Respected.

SOAMES: And very much out of control.

FRANCES: As a Forsyte woman, you're expected to shine.

We all deserve our moments of madness.

JOLYON: How do we maintain our supremacy?

SOAMES: We can't afford to be sentimental.

Can we afford to be human?

DANGLARS: The wait for my daughter to marry is over.

MERCEDES: You're playing with people's lives.

The way they played with mine.

This is the last one, Jacopo.

I don't care what it takes.

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