EXT. STREET
A man riding on the horse is coming up to Villefort.
SOLDIER
Monsieur Villefort, have you not heard?
Villefort is looking back.
SOLDIER
Napoleon has escaped from Elba!
VILLEFORT
What?
SOLDIER
Landed 100 miles from here. He marches on Paris!
INT. VILLEFORT'S OFFICE
Villefort is talking to his subordinates.
VILLEFORT
Pack all my files. And tell that idiot clerk to find the ledger!
Morell is standing and talking to Villefort.
MORELL
We are here to plead the case of Edmond Dantes, Magistrate.
Villefort is talking to Morell.
VILLEFORT
Not now! Dantes?
FERNAND
We have not met, monsieur. I am Fernand Mondego, the son of Count Mondego.
I am here to swear to Edmond Dantes's innocence. This is his employer,
Monsieur Morell, his father, and his fiancee, Mercedes.
VILLEFORT
Edmond Dantes is charged with high treason. Yet you stand by him?
FERNAND
Of course I do.
VILLEFORT
What if I was to tell you that Dantes is also charged with murder?
FERNAND
Murder? Edmond would never do such a thing.
VILLEFORT
Dantes carried a letter from Napoleon to one of his agents.
When we tried to arrest him, he killed one of my men.
Mercedes begins to cry.
MERCEDES
No, if you knew him, monsieur, you would know that was not possible.
Have mercy, please.
MORRELL
You have proof of this treason?
VILLEFORT
That is government business.
MERCEDES
Please. Please, just tell us where he is.
VILLEFORT
I cannot, mademoiselle. He was handed over to the king's men.
I can understand your pain at this betrayal. But my advice to all
of you would be to forget Edmond Dantes, particularly you,
mademoiselle. Take solace in the comfort of your good friend here...
and perhaps some good may yet come of this unhappy affair. Now, you
will excuse me. I have to attend some other matters.
EDMOND'S FATHER
My son is no traitor!
Fernand speaks to the three of them.
FERNAND
I will try to reason with him.
MORELL
Let's leave this to Fernand. He can plead the case.
EDMOND'S FATHER
It's impossible. Never.
FERNAND
I will not give up on Edmond yet.
MERCEDES
I will never forget your kindness.
FERNAND
And I shall never cease to give it.
Monsieur Morell, Edmond's father, and Mercedes go out of the room.
Fernand and Villefort stay in the room and start to talk.
FERNAND
Not that I don't appreciate the embroidery of the crimes,
but still, murder?
VILLEFORT
It's quite simple really. When you reported Dantes's
receiving the letter to me, I didn't quite understand
why you were betraying him, but now having seen his exquisite
fiancee, I understand completely.
FERNAND
What prompts you to be so accommodating?
VILLEFORT
Sit down, Mondego.
Fernand sits down. They start talking.
INT. EDMOND'S CELL
Edmond is eating a rationed meal. Edmond's shirt is bloodstained with whip
lashes on his back. He calls out to the guards
EDMOND
Come back! Come back!
Edmond beats on the door again and again.
EDMOND
What's my crime? What's my crime? I'm innocent!
INT.MERCEDES'S ROOM
The letter reachs Mercedes from Villefort. He reports Edmond will go to the
scaffold on September 19. She starts to weep. A stone hits the window. Mercedes
notices this sound. She looks out the window and sees Fernand below. She goes out
of the house, and runs up to him. She presses herself against him and Fernand holds
her.
INT. EDMOND'S CELL
Edmond rises.
He gets up,and outlines the engraved "God will give me justice" on the wall with a rock.
Edmond twirls his hair by habit. He hears the song of a bird. He wants to touch the bird,
so he stands up. But Dorleac comes in the room.
DORLEAC
Happy anniversary, Dantes.
Edmond is whipped.
DORLEAC
Until next year.
Some time passes, and Dorleac returns the next year.
DORLEAC
Has it really been four years, Delius? Or Danton? What is his name again?
Edmond wants to commit suicide by hanging himself. But he looks at the
engraving, "God will give me justice", and he stops. He takes a rock,
and outlines the engraving once more. The next year, Dorleac comes into
the room, and whips Edmond again. He closes the door. Edmond lifts a
stone to outline the engraving, but then he drops it. Then he becomes
catatonic. A meal is slid in a door opening to Edmond. When Edmond takes
the meal, he hears tapping in the floor. A stone in the floor rises, so
Edmond runs about this way and that scared stiff. An old man comes out
from the floor. The old man moves to the window. Edmond is still afraid.
FARIA
Forgive my intrusion. But I was under the impression that
l--I was digging toward the outer wall. Parlez-vous anglais?
Italiano? I am Abbe Faria. I have been a prisoner
in Chateau d'lf for 11 years. Five which have been spent...
digging this tunnel.
Faria laughs.
EDMOND
There are 72,519 stones... in my walls. I've counted them
many times.
FARIA
But have you named them yet?
Edmond weeps, putting his hand to his eyes.
EDMOND
Shh, shh. Shh, shh.
FARIA
Once I was as you are now. But I promise, it will pass.
I promise, I promise. Now, may I stand on your shoulders?
Faria stands on Edmond's shoulders, and sees the sky through the window.
FARIA
Take me down. Please, take me down now.Take me down.
Edmond takes Faria down from his shoulders.
FARIA
I have not seen the sky these 11 years. Thank you.
Thank you, God.
EDMOND
There is no talk of God in here, priest.
FARIA
What about the... inscription?
EDMOND
It's faded, just as God has faded from my heart.
Edmond flops down on the floor.
FARIA
And what has replaced it?
EDMOND
Revenge.
FARIA
Hold these. Follow me.
Faria starts going under the floor.
FARIA
Perhaps your thoughts of revenge...are serving God's purpose
of keeping you alive...these seven years.
Faria gets together broken pieces of stone and goes into the hole.
EDMOND
To what end?
FARIA
Escape.
Edmond starts to enter the hole.
FARIA
There we go.
INT. FARIA'S CELL
Edmond looks around Faria's room.
EDMOND
You spoke of escape.
FARIA
Yes. There are only two possibilities of reaching the outer wall...
and finally the sea.I simply-- I simply chose the wrong one. Now,
of course, with two of us, we could dig in the opposite direction.
With both of us together, then, of course, we could possibly do it
in, oh, eight years.
Edmond chuckles.
FARIA
Oh, does something else demand your time? Some pressing appointment,
perhaps? In return... for your help, I offer something priceless.
EDMOND
My freedom?
Faria stands up. And he walks to a table.
FARIA
No, freedom can be taken away, as you well know. I offer knowledge,
everything I have learned. I will teach you, oh, economics, mathematics,
philosophy, science.
Edmond opens the book which is on the table.
EDMOND
To read and write?
Faria nods.
FARIA
Of course.
EDMOND
When do we start?
They hear footsteps. The guard is talking to someone in the next cell.
GUARD
Let's have 'em. Come on.
Faria tells Edmond about the strategy of the tunnel.
FARIA
The slot opens twice a day. Once for your toilet bucket,
which is where we hide the dirt.
Edmond goes through a tunnel in a hurry, and returns to his room.
Edmond hides dirt in the toilet bucket and the guard takes it away.
INT.FARIA'S CELL
He tells still the strategy of a tunnel further.
FARIA
And once in the evening for your plate.
They hear a guard.
GUARD
Come on, priest.
Faria runs up to the door of the room and places his plate near the door.
The guard spoons some soup into it.
FARIA
Thank you.
Faria writes on the wall and teaches Edmond. Edmond listens while
having a meal.
FARIA
Between those times we can work all day without fear
of discovery.
Edmond begins to read the writing on the wall.
EDMOND
"So neglect becomes our ally."
FARIA
Excellent.
Faria cuts his hair and burns it, making a candle.
EDMOND
So you were in Napoleon's army.
FARIA
We had such dreams then.
INT. TUNNEL
Faria and Edmond crawl in the tunnel to dig.
FARIA
However, one night... my regiment ran down...a band of
guerrillas, who ran into a church for sanctuary. I was
ordered to burn...down the church...with them inside it.
EDMOND
Did you?
Faria stops.
FARIA
To my everlasting shame, I did. I did.
Faria begins to go, and Edmond asks a question.
EDMOND
How did you come to be here?
FARIA
The following day I deserted...to devote my life to
repentance...
Faria goes through the seacret tunnel connecting his room with Edmond.
FARIA
...and to God. I worked as private secretary to...the enormously
wealthy Count Enrique Spada. Spada was a righteous man. Sadly,
a couple of years later, he died...
Faria leaves his room for the tunnel. And Edmond take the tool through
digging the cave.
FARIA
...amidst rumors that he had hidden his limitless fortune. Two weeks
later, I was arrested.
EDMOND
Why?
Edmond hands over the candle to Faria.
FARIA
Napoleon wanted Spada's treasure. He did not believe that I had no
idea where it was.
Edmond goes deep into the cave after Faria.
FARIA
So he had me thrown in here to refresh my memory.
Edmond passes a post and a hammer to him.
FARIA
And so here I've remained with only God...for company until he sent
me you.
Faria smiles and starts digging a hole in the cave.
EDMOND
God is no more real than your treasure, priest.
FARIA
Perhaps.
INT. FARIA'S PRISON
Edmond is trying to catch the rat in a trap. The rat tries to escape out the
door, so Edmond shuts it. The rat is hissing and running away.
FARIA
Ooh! Hurry. Get it.
They run after it. Edmond gets it and shouts. Faria sits on the floor and cooks
the rat. Edmond is in a hole and is taking the stones from inside.
FARIA
Compute this. 2,500 cubic centimeters of rock and dust a day...
for 365 days.
EDMOND
Equals three-and-a-half meters a year, 12 feet, a foot a month.
Three inches a week.
FARIA
In Italian.
INT. EDMOND'S PRISON
Dorleac is whipping Edmond. The whip is cracking, but Edmond appears not to notice.
Edmond is murmuring in Italian.
EDMOND
"... another three-and-a-half meters."
INT. FARIA'S PRISON
Edmond is reading a book using his burned hair for light. Faria is lying face down.
He has been beaten.
FARIA
Do not waste the light.
EDMOND
You were a soldier, priest. So you know weaponry.
Faria grunts and turns his face to Edmond.
EDMOND
Teach me.
Faria is silent.
EDMOND
Or dig alone.
Faria is surprised at Edmond's words and sighs.
FARIA
You force me to walk a fine line, Dantes.
Edmond and Faria are sitting face to face. Between them, water is
dropping from the ceiling. Edmond looks at the drops. Faria makes a
motion for Edmond to try.
EDMOND
This is ridiculous.
FARIA
The stronger swordsman does not necessarily win. It is speed!
Speed of hand. Speed of mind. Now, sweep your hand through the
drops... without getting wet.
Edmond tries to sweep his hand through the drops twice.
FARIA
Like this.
Faria sweeps his hand throgh the drops quickly.
EDMOND
How long must I keep this up?
FARIA
I am going down the tunnel.
Faria goes down the tunnel with tools. Edmond practices sweeping his
hand through the drops. Another day, Faria takes two swords from the wall.
Faria teaches Edmond swordplay crossing swords.
FARIA
Parry. Up. Like that.
Faria throws the book to Edmond.
FARIA
Time to study.
INT.TUNNEL
Faria is digging the tunnel and talking to Edmond.
FARIA
Define economics.
Edmond follows Faria and answers.
EDMOND
Economics is the science that deals with the production, distribution
and consumption of commodities.
FARIA
Translation.
EDMOND
Dig first, money later.
A guard brings food to Faria.
FARIA
Thank you.
INT.EDMOND'S CELL
Faria comes to Edmond's cell with a mouse in his hand and talks to him.
FARIA
Happy Christmas, Edmond. Give or take a month or so.
Edmond is practicing military arts with Faria.
FARIA
Good. Whom are you fighting? Danglars? Mondego?
EDMOND
Who do you think?
Edmond is moving his hand not to touch a falling drop of water.
Edmond is practicing swordsmanship with Faria.
FARIA
Good! Too good.
Faria is hitting one stone against another stone and talking to Edmond.
FARIA
We have Newton's third law.
FARIA
Did Napoleon tell you who was supposed to pick up this letter?
EDMOND
I told him--A Monsieur Clarion.
FARIA
And nothing more?
EDMOND
Nothing. He burned the letter and said I could go.
FARIA
Ah. He burned... the letter.
EDMOND
Yes.
FARIA
Strange that a chief magistrate would burn evidence...of a treasonous
conspiracy...and then imprison the only man...who was aware of
Monsieur Clarion's connection...to that conspiracy.
EDMOND
He was protecting someone.
FARIA
Ah. A dear friend perhaps?
EDMOND
No. No. A politician like Villefort would have rid himself of such
friends. Clarion could be a relative. A close relative, possibly--
Edmond gets angry and turns over a table.
EDMOND
No! Villefort's father was colonel in Napoleon's army. Villefort wasn't
protecting Clarion. He was protecting himself. Danglars, who falsely said
he saw Napoleon give me that letter. Mondego, who told Villefort I had it.
And Villefort himself, who sent me here.
Faria claps his hands half in irony. Edmond laments his fate.
FARIA
Bravo, Edmond, bravo.
INT.EDMOND'S CELL
Edmond looks at the King which Fernand gave him.
INT.TUNNEL
Faria makes a tunnel through the rock. Then he finds the roots of some plants.
FARIA
Oh, my God. Oh, oh. Oh.
Faria goes in the tunnel and he finds something. Edmond lights a fire.
FARIA
Oh, please, God.
EDMOND
What is that? Look.
FARIA
Look. Look! Roots. Plant roots. If these are plant roots,
then we are only months away.
EDMOND
Yes. Well done, priest. I'll get my chisel.
FARIA
Good. Good.
Suddenly, the tunnel crumbles and Faria is buried in the rock. Faria gets hurt.
EDMOND
Priest!
FARIA
In God's name, go on. Go on. Go on!
Edmond carries Faria to his cell. Faria talks to Edmond weakly.
FARIA
Lungs...are punctured.
EDMOND
Don't talk. Don't talk.
FARIA
Listen. There's not much time. Under th-those books, there's
loose rocks. Bring me what you find. Quickly, quickly.
Edmond brings the thing which was under the loose rocks.
FARIA
Open it. When I told them I did not know...where the treasure of
Spada was, I lied.
EDMOND
You lied?
FARIA
I'm a priest, not a saint. There, on that island off the Italian
coast.
EDMOND
Monte Cristo?
FARIA
Yes, yes. Use-- Use your head. Follow the clues.
EDMOND
The tunnel's blocked. I can't escape.
FARIA
Follow the clues.
EDMOND
The tunnel's blocked. I can't escape.
FARIA
No, keep digging. When you escape, use it for good, only for good.
EDMOND
No, I will surely use it for my revenge.
FARIA
Here now is your final lesson. Do not commit-- Oh. Do not commit the
crime...for which you now serve the sentence. God said, ``Vengeance is mine."
EDMOND
I don't believe in God.
FARIA
That doesn't matter. He believes in you.
Faria dies.
EDMOND
Priest?
A guard is making the prisoners' rounds.
GUARD
Plates out.
He opens the small door and impatiently calls out to Faria.
GUARD
Let's have it.
He knows there is a problem, so he goes to call his boss.
GUARD
Oh. Oh, God.
The guard goes back with his two co-workers.
GUARD
He's always awake.
They open the door of Faria's cell and enter there.
GUARD 2
First time in 12 years he hasn't said ``thank you."
GUARD
Dead.
GUARD 2
How?
GUARD
Fell off his bed, didn't he?
GUARD 2
He's a bit dirty, isn't he?
GUARD
They all are.
GUARD 2
Well, let's sew him up and then see Dorleac.
GUARD
One, two, three.
The two men carry Faria's dead body into a gunny bag.
GUARD 2
Right, let's get Dorleac.
They come out the cell, and close the door.
GUARD
Why'd you lock it? He's not going anywhere.
GUARD 2
I don't know. Habit, I suppose.
The men leave the room. Edmond goes near Faria and talks.
EDMOND
Good-bye, priest. You're free now, as I will never be.
Dorleac and others come to the room of Faria.
DORLEAC
So the old pope has finally gone to St. Peter's.
Well, bring him along. Let's bury him, then.
GUARD
You ready? One. That's it.
The men carry Faria out of the room.
INT. PASSAGE
Dorleac and the others walk along a passage carrying Faria.
GUARD
Keep going.
DORLEAC
Come on, come on. I haven't got all day.
Actually, I do. I've got-- I've got all the time
in the world!
Dorleac laughs. He and the others go out of the building.
INT. OUTSIDE EDMOND'S CELL
A guard calls out to Edmond, knocking on the door. Edmond doesn't
have his plate ready. He enters, and sees that Faria's body is
in Edmond's cell.
GUARD 3
Monsieur Dorleac!
EXT. CHATEAU D'IF
Dorleac leads his men to the cliff. His men prepare to throw the
body into the sea.
DORLEAC
Heavenly Father, we bequeath to you these remains of your humble
servant. Whatever his name was. God, I'm so bored.
INT. CHATEAU D'IF
The guard is trying to catch up with the other men. He runs up the stairs.
GUARD 3
Monsieur Dorleac!
EXT. CLIFF
The men bind Edmond's feet in chains. Dorleac talks to his men.
DORLEAC
Did he, in fact, have a map?
GUARD 1
No, gov.
INT. CHATEAU D'IF
The guard is still running up the stairs, shouting.
GUARD 3
Stop! Monsieur Dorleac!
EXT. CLIFF
The men prepare to throw Edmond off the cliff.
GUARD 1
What do you mean after three? We throw him before three or on three?
GUARD 2
After three.
GUARD 1
Ok. One..Two..
GUARD 3
Monsieur Dorleac! Don't throw the body off the cliff!
GUARD 1
Three!
As the guards throw Edmond, he grabs the keys on Dorleac. Dorleac falls off the
cliff as well. Edmond frees himself, then drowns Dorleac. The guards watch from
above. Edmond swims away.
GUARD 1
We could have handled that a little better.
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