The Count of Monte Cristo Part 4

INT. FERNAND'S HOUSE
Fernand gestures to Villefort to meet him outside. He is going up when
Mercedes stops him.

MERCEDES
Fernand. Fernand! The toast!

FERNAND
Not right now. I have state business to attend to.

MERCEDES
Our guests expect it. Albert expects it.

FERNAND
You give it, my dear. I'm sure it'll be splendid.

MERCEDES
You are his father!

It is the least you can do. You know how he admires you.

FERNAND
Then he will forgive my absence.

MERCEDES
But--

EXT. BALCONY OF THE PARTY HALL
Fernand and Villfort speak in a whisper at the balcony of the party hall.

FERNAND
I thought we agreed not to meet socially.

VILLEFORT
How could I pass up the Count of Monte Cristo?

FERNAND
Quite. What do you know of him?

VILLEFORT
He's foreign, rich. I hear he aided your son.

FERNAND
Why does he seek your counsel?

VILLEFORT
Why should I tell you?

FERNAND
When my son returned from Rome, he mentioned he'd heard Monte
Cristo saying he was expecting a shipment. He also heard the
words "gold"... and ``Spada."

Hmm.

VILLEFORT
You don't believe--

FERNAND
Monte Cristo has found the treasure of Spada.

VILLEFORT
Not an hour ago, he asked me to help him avoid troublesome
inspections on a shipment coming from Marseilles.

FERNAND
Hmm.

VILLEFORT
I could have him arrested.

FERNAND
Don't do that. Let's just relieve him of it.

VILLEFORT
How do you propose--

FERNAND
I have an acquaintance who deals in these matters. Tell Monte
Cristo you'll get his shipment through Customs, but that it
will have to stay in port overnight. I shall have it removed
and taken to my old family estate in Bouchon, where we shall
meet the following day.

VILLEFORT
I require 70 percent.

FERNAND
And yet you'll only get 50.

VILLEFORT
Done.

Villefort leaves the veranda.

INT.HOUSE
Many people sit around the long table. Albert is sitting at the end of the table.
Peaple are talking. Mercedes sits down. Mercedes exchanges looks with Albert.
Albert is embarrassed. Mercedes taps a glass. Everyone becomes quiet. She stands up
and speaks.

MERCEDES
Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, my husband has been detained
by business. And so it is left up to me to--

EDMOND
To introduce you...to the Count of Monte Cristo yet again.
You see, I had the audacity to beg the count...to allow me to give
the birthday toast to Albert. I was so insistent, and such is the
graciousness of our host, that he reluctantly gave up his fatherly
right...in order to accommodate a guest,even one as boorish as myself.

People are murmuring.

GUESTS
Ahh.


Edmond turns to Albert.

EDMOND
Young Albert has made far too much...of the assistance I gave him in Rome.
When I arrived in the catacombs, I watched as the criminals, who tied Albert
to a wall, threatened to cut off his finger and send it to his father...
as evidence of his abduction.

There is a momentary stir in the audience.

GUESTS
Goodness!

EDMOND
The boy's reply to all this was...``Do your worst."

The guests laugh approvingly.

EDMOND
Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment,
be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man...is what you do
when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout, as you did
in Rome, ``Do your worst...for I will do mine."Then the fates will know you
as we know you, as Albert Mondego, the man.

Edmond toasts Albert and he is applauded by everyone. After Edmond
sits back in the chair, Mercedes sees his habit of touching his hair.

EXT.THE GATE OF MONDEGO'S HOUSE
When Edmond come from the gate and gets in the horse carriage,
Mercedes is already in it secretly, she kiss him darlingly.

COACHMAN
Giddap!

MERCEDES
Edmond, Villefort told me that you were executed.

EDMOND
Did he?

MERCEDES
Oh, God.

EDMOND
Countess, you are mistaken. Back to the Mondegos'.

MERCEDES
No!

EDMOND
Madame, I'm only thinking of your reputation.

MERCEDES
I beg you, Edmond. I don't care how you returned.

EDMOND
I am not this Edmond.

MERCEDES
Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

Edmond has the carriage make a U-turn.

MERCEDES
So, what are you? A spirit? Some ghost sent to torment me?

EDMOND
This Edmond, you loved him?

MERCEDES
Yes.

EDMOND
For how long?

MERCEDES
For all of my life.

EDMOND
And how long after he died before you married the count?

MERCEDES
That isn't fair.

The carriage stops at the gate of Mondego's house.

EDMOND
We've reached your home, Countess.

EXT. CARRIAGE
Edmond goes out of the carriage, and Mercedes follows him out.

MERCEDES
You're right. You cannot be my Edmond.

EDMOND
Well, there you are. You said it yourself. Edmond Dantes is dead.
Good night.

Mercedes goes into her house. Jacopo nods to Mercedes.

JACOPO
Countess.

Edmond sends off, and he calls Jacopo to enter the carriage.

INT. CARRIAGE
EDMOND
If you ever again presume to interfere in my affairs,
I will, I promise, finish the job I started the day we met.
Do you understand?

JACOPO
I understand you are mad.

EDMOND
Mad? My enemies are falling into my traps perfectly.

JACOPO
Mad, Your Grace, for ignoring this: You have a fortune, a beautiful
woman who loves you. Take the money, take the woman and live your life.
Stop this plan. Take what you have won.

EDMOND
I can't.

JACOPO
Why not? I am still your man, Zatarra. I swore an oath. I will protect you.
Even if it means I must protect you from yourself. I'll drive you home now.

EDMOND
I'll walk.

Edmond leaves the carriage and walks home.

EXT. THE PORT.
Edmond's ship is attacked and the crew is caught by a thief. The thief
robs the ship of treasure. Chief of the thieves is Danglars. Danglars crushes
the keys of box. The box filled with gold.

DANGLARS
Put two chests
on the Pharaon for our cut.

Mondego will never notice.

The thief crams some treasure into the carriage. But Danglars employs the
thief who is Vampa's group. The carriage leaves for the port with Vampa.

DANGLARS
Come on.
Get aboard.

Then a lot of gendarmes arrive there.

GENDARME
Philippe Danglars?

DANGLARS
Yeah?

GENDARME
You are charged with the theft of goods from a certain merchant ship.

DANGLARS
This is absurd.

Dangla sees that the carriage is gotten clear away by police. Edmond appears.

EDMOND
We can resolve this matter easily. These men will perform
a search of your vessel.

DANGLARS
Count Mondego set me up. But I'll not hang for him.

Dangla pounces on Edmond. Edmond hunt down Dangla. And he wraps a rope
around Dangla's neck in a flash.

DANGLARS
Who are you?

EDMOND
I'm the Count of Monte Cristo. But my friends call me Edmond Dantes.

DANGLARS
Dantes?

Edmond pushes him off the ship. Dangla is suspended in the air.

EDMOND
Cut him down before he can't talk.

INT. SAUNA
Edmond suddenly appears in the sauna. And he heats up the bath.
Edmond talks with Villefort.

VILLEFORT
Boy, don't do that. That's-- That's too much.

EDMOND
My dear Villefort. I hope you don't mind if I join you for a short
while.

VILLEFORT
Your Grace, I was not expecting you.

Edmond is walking up to Villefort.

EDMOND
I want to thank you in person for helping me with my shipment.

VILLEFORT
That, yes. l-I made all the arrangements earlier.
I can promise you there'll be no more problems from our end.

EDMOND
Excellent. I think this could be the start of a long and fruitful
relationship. Speaking of which, may I pose a question?

Edmond is sitting next to Villefort.

VILLEFORT
Yes, of course. Anything in the world.

EDMOND
I was just curious. Why did you tell Countess Mondego 16 years ago...
that Edmond Dantes had been executed? Hmm?

VILLEFORT
Uh, I don't understand. Wh-What on earth are you talking about?

EDMOND
It's a perfectly simple question.

Edmond is standing up and walking to the steam control.

VILLEFORT
How do you know these things?

Edmond turns the steam on.

VILLEFORT
That's, uh--

Villefort feels the heat. So he asks Edmond to stop loosening the screw.

VILLEFORT
That's quite enough. Whew! You don't understand. Dantes was accepting
a letter from Napoleon. That was clearly treason.

Edmond walks up to Villefort.

EDMOND
But we both know he never delivered it. Packing a man off
to prison with such knowledge is bad enough. But to tell--

Villefort stands up.

VILLEFORT
Your Grace, I have no idea what is provoking this perverse
discussion.

EDMOND
Now I ask myself, ``What did my old friend Villefort stand
to gain...by telling Mercedes that Edmond Dantes is dead?"

Villefort is restless. So he washes his face to get himself together.
Edmond sits the edge of water jar.

EDMOND
The answer is...absolutely nothing.

VILLEFORT
Just as you say, nothing. So why--

EDMOND
But if my old friend, now chief prosecutor of France, doesn't
gain from this lie, well, who does?

Villefort stands up.

VILLEFORT
My dear Count, it's far too hot in here and you're fully
dressed. It's time we both left.

Villefort goes out of the sauna bath.

EDMOND
I think the clearest beneficiary...is Fernand, Count Mondego.

Villefort returns.

VILLEFORT
I don't understand what this inquisition has to do with our
business relationship.

EDMODN
I'm about to tell you.

INT. VILLEFORT'S OFFICE(FLASHBACK)
16 years ago. Villefort is sitting on the chair. Fernand is
standing the front of Villefort between the table.

VILLEFORT
Sit down, Mondego.

Fernand sits down at the desk, across from Villefort.

VILLEFORT
I'm an ambitious man. And I have furthered these ambitions...
by scooping up Bonapartists. But now with Napoleon
on the loose, I have, shall I say, a thorn in my side.
Once merely an irritation, now potentially lethal.

FERNAND
Be lethal in turn.

VILLEFORT
Well, the problem is such...that l, myself, cannot attend to it.
So I have a proposition for you. How is your father?

FERNAND
Alive, unfortunately.

VILLEFORT
We share the same misfortune.

INT.VILLEFORT'S BATHROOM

Villefort is going to the door and trying to open the door.But the door
is locked. Villefort is talking to Edmond.

VILLEFORT
Why is this door locked? I demand that you release me from this room at once.
You've proved yourself no friend of mine.

Edmond drives Villefort into the bathtub.

EDMOND
Your father was a loyal supporter of Napoleon, wasn't he? Possibly involved
in plotting Napoleon's escape from Elba. An inconvenient parent for an ambitious
civil servant. But then he died, suddenly and opportunely murdered, again some
16 years ago. The Emperor Napoleon. The murderer never apprehended. How hard did
you look for him?

VILLEFORT
You have no proof, no witnesses. You just have theories. J-Just conjectures.

EDMOND
On the contrary. I have Count Mondego.

EXT. ALLEY(FLASHBACK)
Clarion is shot by Fernand. He turns to face his killer.

CLARION
Young Mondego. Why?

FERNAND
Because your son lacked the courage.

INT. SAUNA

VILLEFORT
Mondego is the one who pulled the trigger! He'd never confess in a million years!

EDMOND
You're right, he wouldn't. But you just have.

GENDARME
Monsieur Villefort, you are under arrest for conspiracy to murder.

Edmond shows his face to Villefort.

EDMOND
You remember?

VILLEFORT
Dantes?


EXT. STREET
Villefort is put in a carriage. A gendarme hands him a pistol.

GENDARME
A courtesy for a gentleman.

Villefort laughs at first, then decides to commit suicide. The pistol is empty.

EDMOND
You didn't think I'd make it that easy, did you?

CARRIAGE MAN
Hyah!

INT. EDMOND'S ESTATE
Mercedes is waiting in Edmond's bedroom.

MERCEDES
Edmond?

EDMOND
I thought we had finished our conversation in the carriage.

MERCEDES
So did I. Until I realized...you said the name ``Dantes."
A name that I had never mentioned.

EDMOND
What do you want of me?

MERCEDES
I want to be free of you, the way you obviously are free of me.
Just a few answers from you, and I shall be gone forever.

EDMOND
Ask your questions.

MERCEDES
Where have you been?

EDMOND
Thirteen years in the Chateau d'lf...and everywhere else you can imagine.

MERCEDES
The Chateau d'lf for 13 years. Did you suffer?

EDMOND
Are you finished now? I have a good deal on my mind.

MERCEDES
What happened afterward?

EDMOND
Much.

MERCEDES
Why did you not come to me?

EDMOND
Why did you not wait?You married the very man
who betrayed--

She stands up and goes after him. He looks angry. She shows him
a string ring. This reminds him of the memory of those happy days.

MERCEDES
I told you that night on the rocks, remember?
That it would never leave my finger. And it never has.

EDMOND
Why?

MERCEDES
You know why.

EDMOND
If you ever loved me, don't--don't rob me of my hate. It's all I have.

MERCEDES
Let it go, Edmond. Let it go. I don't know what dark plan
lies within you. Nor do I know by what design we were asked...
to live without each other these 16 years. But God has offered us
a new beginning--

EDMOND
God?

MERCEDES
Don't slap His hand away.

EDMOND
Can I never escape Him?

MERCEDES
No. He is in everything. Even in a kiss.

Mercedes kisses Edmond in the dark room.

INT. EDMOND'S HOUSE
The next morning, Jacopo wakes Mercedes who is sleeping in Edmond's bed.

JACOPO
My lady?

MERCEDES
Where's the count?

JACOPO
Um, the count would like for you to join him this afternoon.

MERCEDES
Join him?

JACOPO
Uh, yes, in, uh, leaving the country with your son.
Mmm, uh, I'll have someone bring you to your house...
and you just wait there for me. And we just--

Mercedes kisses Jacopo.

MERCEDES
Thank you!

JACOPO
Yes, yes, but--

MERCEDES
I need to go home and pack.

JACOPO
Yes, yes. My lady--

INT. FERNAND'S HOUSE
Mercedes goes back to speak to Fernand.

MERCEDES
Where's the count?

SERVANT
Upstairs, my lady.

INT. FERNAND'S BEDROOM
Mercedes goes to Fernand's room and talks with him.

MERCEDES
What's wrong?

FERNAND
I'm bankrupt. All my debts have been called in.

FERNAND
Also, I'm to be arrested.

MERCEDES
For what?

FERNAND
Piracy, corruption and murder.

MERCEDES
Did you do all these things?

FERNAND
Yes. There is simply not time to talk. The gendarmes are on
the way, apparently, so hurry up and pack something.

MERCEDES
I'm not going with you, Fernand.

Fernand gets angry and breaks a mirror.

FERNAND
You are my wife. I have made arrangements for us. We shall be
very well taken care of. Now go and find my son.

MERCEDES
He's not your son.

FERNAND
I beg your pardon?

MERCEDES
Albert Mondego is the son of Edmond Dantes. Why do you think
I rushed off so quickly to marry you after Edmond was taken away?

FERNAND
Premature. Well, aren't you a piece of work. So he's the bastard
son of a dead traitor. He always was disappointing. Good-bye, Mercedes.
You did please me some of the time.

Fernand leaves.

MERCEDES
You never pleased me.

EXT. GRASS FIELD
Fernand rides horseback to a ruined building and gets in it.

INT.RUINED BUILDING
Fernand sees the contents of two boxes that he hid in this ruined building. But the
contents of the boxes is sand.

FERNAND
What is this?

Fernand opens another box. A chesspiece, the King, is at the bottom. Then, Edmond appears.

FERNAND
Monte Cristo.

EDMOND
King's to you, Fernand.

Fernand notices Monte Cristo is Edmond.

FERNAND
Edmond? But how--

Edmond gets near to Fernand slowly and Fernand goes back.

EDMOND
How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment?
With pleasure.

FERNAND
So you've taken Mercedes?

EDMOND
And everything else... except your life.

FERNAND
Why are you doing this?

EDMOND
It's complicated. Let's just say it's vengeance for the life you stole from me.

They draw their swords and aproach each other. Edmond takes away
the sword from Fernand and points his sword at Fernand.

FERNAND
Well, I see someone has taught you the sword.

EDMOND
How did you ever call yourself my friend?


Edmond crosses swords with Fernand. Edmond is stronger than Fernand.
So, Edmond drives Fernand into the corner.

FERNAND
We were friends, Edmond.

Edmond swings his sword and hits Fernand in the face.

EDMOND
You sent me to hell! Why?

FERNAND
Take your vengeance.But know the blood you spill is noble.
Blood that will never run through your veins. You're no
more a count than I am a commoner!

Fernand spits on Edmond and says to him.

FERNAND
You don't have it in you.

Albert bursts into the fight of two men. He has drawn his sword. And Fernand escapes into
the corner.

ALBERT
Touch him, and I'll kill you.

EDMOND
Boy, let me explain.

Albert cuts away Edmond's sword.

ALBERT
It's been explained. I spoke to Madame Villefort on the street.
She told me how I was a silly, trusting dupe that my friend,
the Count of Monte Cristo, used to get into our lives.

EDMOND
Albert, listen to me.

Albert cuts away Edmond's sword again.

ALBERT
I will not! Forgive me for being such a fool, Father.

FERNAND
You were betrayed. Of course you're forgiven.

ALBERT
You were my friend. I looked up to you.

EDMOND
There's a history here you know nothing about.

FERNAND
He loved your mother, and yet she chose me. Now he intends to steal her away.

EDMOND
Lie. Get out of my way! Boy, if I have to, I will kill you. I will not stop now.

ALBERT
Nor will I.

EDMOND
So be it.

Mercedes appears.

MERCEDES
No! Albert, I found the note you left explaining where you'd gone. But now I must
explain something to you. Where you really come from. Albert, you are the son of
Edmond Dantes. The man you know as the Count of Monte Cristo.

Albert looks at Fernand.

FERNAND
Well, I'm afraid it is true. You are the walking proof that your mother was as much
of a whore...in her younger years as she is today.

ALBERT
You--You let me fight him?

FERNAND
It didn't do any good though, did it?

Fernand suddenly grabs a pistol.

EDMOND
Fernand, I beg you. No more! I want no more of this. Just go. Call it mercy. Mercy,
Fernand. You've only got one shot, and it will take more than that to stop me.

FERNAND
Well, then I'd best put it where it will do the most damage.

Fernand shoots Mercedes, but Jacopo throws a dagger to take off Fernand's aim.

ALBERT
No! Mother! Mother!

Albert and others run up to Mercedes. Fernand escapes outside.

EDMOND
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Look what I've done. Jacopo!

EXT. RUINED BUILDING
Fernand rides and escapes on the horse which is outside.

FERNAND
Hyah!

INT.INSIDE OF A BUILDING
Thanks to Jacoopo, the wound is not mortal.

JACOPO
Once again, Zatarra, God sees you out of the corner of His
eye. She'll live.

Fernand returns and he cries out.

FERNAND
Edmond! Edmond!

Mercedes hears Fernand's voice and tries to stop Edmond.

MERCEDES
Please don't go out there. Don't.

Jacopo hands Edmond the sword.

JACOPO
You try. Don't ever quit. Zatarra, you must end this. Even the
priest will understand that.

FERNAND
Edmond!

Edmond wraps his jacket around Mercedes.

MERCEDES
Please don't leave.

Edmond turns to Albert.

EDMOND
Watch over your mother.

EXT. RUINED BUILDING
Edmond walks outside. Fernand is waiting.

FERNAND
Now, I couldn't live in a world where you have everything and I have
nothing.

Fernand and Edmond fight. Edmond wins the fight.

FERNAND
What happened to your mercy?

EDMOND
I'm a count. Not a saint.

EXT. CHATEAU D'IF
Edmond, Mercedes, Albert, and Jacopo watch the sea from the cliff of Chateau D'If.

EDMOND
You were right, Priest. You were right. This I promise you, and God.
All that was used in vengeance, will not be used for good. So rest in peace,
my friend.

JACOPO
So Zatarra, painful, huh?

EDMOND
No. I bought this place, thinking one day I would tear it down. But now the
only things I care about are walking off this island with me. Let's go home.