Episode 1 The Musketeers

Forward!

MEN SHOUT

MAN SHOUTS

CANNON FIRE

SWORDS CLANGING

Retreat!

Retreat!

Go, go! Cover!

The artillery has no powder - no ammunition.

Second battalion's gone. We've got nothing left to throw at them.

-Hold your position.

-Where you going? Athos!

CANNON FIRE

What the devil are you doing here? Get back to your men.

My men are being butchered - you're sending sword against cannon.

You will hold the line at all costs, Captain.

We have to take the field.

Our cannon are useless - where's the powder we were promised?

The supply wagon did not arrive.

You will have to advance without artillery support.

There won't be a man left alive.

You are soldiers - the King's own Regiment.

Now, go out there and die for him!

That is your strategy?

To watch good men slaughtered?!

Return to your men, Captain, or I will have you court-martialled.

SOLDIER: Take him down!

I shall be in my tent, Chief Adjutant.

HE GASPS

Grimaud. Impossible. You can't be here...

I will get you your money - I swear it!

You think you can hide from me?

No...

Even on a battlefield, I will find you.

SCREAMING

The only way out of here is to take out their cannon.

-We need a plan.

-Attack.

-What?

-Hey!

-I hate it when he does that.

-Attack! Attack!

HE SCREAMS

Powder! Shoot the powder!

D'Artagnan?

D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan!

It's over.

Eugh. Spanish.

INDISTINCT SHOUTING IN DISTANCE

There. You can see the troops moving.

The battle's over.

You see the banner there - a French victory!

THEY CHEER

Who will you be, Marie?

-Porthos!

-Oh, I'll be D'Artagnan.

You won't kill me with my armour on. HE CHUCKLES

I told you not to come this way.

But we wanted to see the battle.

War is not a game!

Everyone gather round, come here.

Drop your stick, Marie. Come here, we're leaving.

What's that?

It's my fleur-de-lys. I'm a Musketeer!

When we get back, you're taking that off.

-Don't talk to me like I'm a child.

-Then don't behave like one.

Come, we're late for your lessons, come on.

How could you ever understand? You're only a monk.

What's wrong?

The man... The figure...

Only the crows have any business down there.

I'd give anything to be back in Paris right now.

CHEERING

MAN GROANS IN PAIN

HE LAUGHS

HE CHUCKLES

MAN SCREAMS IN PAIN

Finish him!

CHEERING

You want to fight so badly - I can send you to the front.

Isn't there enough violence and brutality in the world without this?

Clairmont, why have you come here?

A little innocent amusement, Minister Treville. Nothing more.

Feron, I should have guessed you were behind this.

Come now, the Red Guard

and the Musketeers have always maintained a healthy rivalry.

These are cadets and you pit them against trained soldiers!

That one really does need a little more training!

Run along, boy!

Hide inside the skirts of Madame d'Artagnan.

Being Governor of Paris does not give you the right to treat

the Red Guard as your own personal thugs.

Terrorising and persecuting the people.

We are at war, Treville.

This city breeds insurrection, revolution.

The Red Guard are all that stand between us and anarchy.

Now, why don't you take your infant Musketeer,

go home and tuck him in nicely?

It must be near his bedtime.

Boo-boo-boo!

LAUGHTER

Come on.

CHEERING

What's next?!

General!

-What do you want here?

-Hey!

We just lost half our regiment

because we didn't get the support that we were promised.

Good men wasted.

Where's the General?

You don't understand. I-I don't know, sir.

He sent me for the maps

so that we could trace the route of the artillery supplies.

-And then he just rode off with someone.

-A soldier?

-No, he did not leave of his own volition.

-Show us.

The weapons transport was last reported on the road from Douai.

-The General rode in that direction.

-Not all of him.

Find some horses.

Stop! No further!

General Lantier, what are you doing here, sir?

We have the powder consignment. We broke a wheel on the road.

General, you're injured?

Salute a superior officer!

And the rest of you! Do as I say!

GUNFIRE

Don't move!

There you are, Luc.

Excuse us, gentlemen.

I'm sorry if the children's play has disturbed you.

-We must get back to the monastery.

-Hold!

They're so young and excitable. Down here, children!

They never pay attention to anything that goes on around them.

They-they see nothing.

Good day.

Look straight ahead. Don't run, slowly now.

For God's sake. I've done what you wanted. Take the weapons.

Sell them.

The monastery must be close.

We hide the powder there

until I contact the Spanish buyers at the border.

(Adele, take the children. Go with Adele.)

(Go, go, go. Move quickly.)

That was soldiers - those men just shot them down.

-We can't leave them!

-Luc...

Look, you may have no stomach for it,

-but there might be men left alive.

-You're frightening the children.

Now, move.

We should leave the monastery immediately.

For the sake of the children.

The children, yes. It is past the hour for their lessons, brother.

With the greatest of respect, Abbott,

you do not realise the danger. Those men were not soldiers.

What I saw on the road was cold-blooded murder.

We cannot protect ourselves here. Not alone.

We are never alone, brother.

We have the best protection in the world. God watches over us.

I have seen violent men like this before.

You live too much in the world and in your own past.

I have given my life to God.

Yet you tend your beard as another might a rose bush.

And here you are, speaking like a soldier again.

Abbott, forgive me, but you do not understand.

I think I do.

I have become very fond of you over these past few years, Aramis.

Your company pleases me.

But your soul is as restless

and confused as it was on the day that you arrived here.

You've been looking for something

you may never find in a life of contemplation.

No.

If these men come here then we shall welcome them with God's love.

His will be done. Now, attend to your charges.

The Red Guard are out of control.

They persecute and brutalise ordinary citizens

while the real criminals run free.

Governor Feron must impose discipline on his men

-and order on the streets.

-Am I late?

But not as late as the King, apparently.

But then, His Majesty seldom stirs before two these days.

Go on, Treville, you were saying... something has to be done...

..and I'm not doing it.

The list of things you're not doing, Feron, grows longer by the day.

It is a little early to be challenged to a duel, Treville,

even of words. Is there no refreshment?

Boy! A man may die of thirst!

It's not just the Red Guard.

Parts of Paris are becoming ungovernable.

Thieves, cut-throats,

usurers and they describe themselves as men of commerce.

As long as they pay their taxes,

surely their commerce is their own affair?

Even if it is extortion? Murder?

There has always been a market for that.

Well, as His Majesty has once again decided not to grace us

with his presence, I suggest we adjourn.

I am not finished!

Not yet, perhaps, but soon. Another day, Treville.

Another day. Ah!

BANGING

Open the gates!

BANGING Come, brothers, open the gates.

BANGING

We seek shelter, brother. We were attacked on the road.

You are welcome.

Let them in, brothers.

But I do not understand.

You said you were attacked.

Have you any wounded?

There will be others coming. Spanish soldiers.

Keep your counsel, do as I say and we will leave you in peace.

What is the meaning of this deception?

What is it you are carrying?

You cannot bring weapons and gunpowder into a sanctuary of God!

You must leave this moment.

Open the gates!

GUNS CLICK

Stand aside.

I will do it myself.

(Get back inside.)

Detain the friars in the chapel. If any resist, kill them.

Bring the General to me.

(Push, push, push! Good boy, there we are.)

(So, did we all understand?)

-(Right. Move, move, move. Go, go!)

-Are we coming back?

Of course we will. There.

Come here, come here. Give me your hat.

Give me your jacket, come on, there you are.

My favourite part of the battle is always its end.

When there's only the dead left...

..with their secrets.

CLATTERING

That's when the real struggle starts.

The fight for the spoils.

Now, General, are you spoils...

..or just one of the dead?

I am not going to beg for mercy of you!

You are no more than Paris street trash!

HE SCREAMS IN PAIN

SCREAMS ECHO

(So, do you remember the games of hide

(and go seek we sometimes play?

(We're going to play one of those games right now,

(but we all have to be very, very quiet. Ssh.)

I don't got my shoes.

Oh, don't worry about your shoes, I've got your shoes. Come on.

HE SCREAMS

I...will...have...respect!

HE SCREAMS

SCREAMING STOPS

(Neville, this way.)

-SOLDIER:

-See if there's any monks hiding in these upper rooms.

(This way.)

Get a move on!

Get every single one of them into the chapel. Come on, move!

-(Where's Luc?

-I don't know.

-Take the children that way.)

Pierre, stop.

Adele, hide them behind the barrels.

Take them all. Take them. You too, this way.

This wasn't an ambush, it was an execution.

CHURCH BELLS RING

Sounds like trouble.

CHURCH BELLS RING

Get him!

Where is he? Search the place. Find him!

Get more men, look in the cellars!

(Pierre, get back!)

Hey, try this!

-Mm, not bad. Good drop.

-Come on.

The King has not attended the last five council meetings.

Nothing can be done without his presence.

I'm afraid the King's mind is focused entirely on our son.

Ah!

And how is my little man today?

-Have you defeated the Spanish?

-Yes.

If only our own troops could be as effective.

Minister Treville had hoped to speak with Your Majesty.

Leave His Majesty alone, Treville.

Can't you see he has more important business at hand?

Ah, chocolate! Clearly I am expected.

And what is the most important thing every good king must learn to do

-as soon as he possibly may?

-Ride!

Yes! You are so very clever. I've got a surprise for you.

-Isn't he a beauty?

-Yes.

-Your own little charger.

Please, Louis, you can't bring that animal in here.

Nonsense. Philippe and I picked you out the very best one.

You cannot distract the King for ever, Feron.

Sooner or later, I WILL have my say.

That is your problem, Treville. You never stop having your say.

Is anyone really listening? Hmm?

Don't you look fine?

Help! Help us! Help!

Wait there. Hold. Ssh!

Please, quickly...help!

Ssh!

The men who killed the soldiers have taken the monastery.

-The Abbott's dead.

-All right.

Can you show us the way?

Good boy.

Shouldn't we report back what we found here?

-It's our duty, we're soldiers.

-We are also Musketeers.

It's in there.

-Who else knows about this way in?

-Only the children and I.

Oh!

PORTHOS STRUGGLES

Next time I'm using the front door.

The bell. Who rang the bell?

The boy we saw on the road earlier. He got away.

Should've finished him then.

Put men outside the walls. No-one else escapes.

Bring my horse around.

I'll ride out to meet the Spanish buyers at the border.

Who's there?

-Show yourself!

-No, stop!

Stop! Not him. This is...

Aramis. We know.

This is not possible.

You still have that knack of getting into trouble, brother.

Porthos.

Wait, your name's Porthos?

After the hero in the stories?

Stories? I was named after my mother's father.

You are THE Porthos?

-ARAMIS:

-THE Porthos.

This is THE Athos.

-And THE...

-D'Artagnan.

The stories were true.

Our reputation precedes us.

Our God moves in mysterious ways.

Not that mysterious. We've been stationed in the valley below.

A little thing called the war.

Oh, we know all about the war here.

Especially these little ones...

Children! Come out, meet my friends.

Now we just need to get them to safety.

Yes, now look ahead. Keep looking ahead. That's it.

The Dauphin grows older and the King reverts to the nursery.

I sometimes wonder which Louis is the child.

-Oh, damnation!

-HE STRUGGLES

Could you help me?

-Here you are. All right?

-Thank you.

I'm afraid, I have a touch of the family disease -

a crumbling Bourbon spine.

-Thank you.

-I'm sorry.

-No, don't worry.

Louis was blessed to escape your father's illness.

HE CHUCKLES

Louis was always blessed.

His mother was Marie de Medici, my mother was a chambermaid...

Well, not exactly a chambermaid, lady-in-waiting,

but you know what I mean.

The question of your birth never bothered the King.

He has a generous spirit.

More sober counsellors advised him to disown you.

HE CHUCKLES

But...he is very fond of you.

You know, sometimes, you don't look Spanish at all.

Sometimes...you don't look like a bastard.

We must really do this more often.

-LAUGHTER

-Oh, here's our little man.

Come and give your poor old uncle Philippe a kiss.

Where's Papa, huh?

Oh, wait, wait, wait, I'm not very well. Where are we going?

Your Majesty?! Fetch a physician!

-Majesty?!

-Louis?!

Your Majesty, Your Majesty...

What's happening?

You frightened us.

I have quite exhausted myself, leading my little soldier

around on his charger.

He is a natural. Born horseman.

-His courage is remarkable.

-Papa?

No more, no more. Philippe will play with you now.

-Must I?

-Yes, you must.

Very well, Your Majesty. Come on, you little...majesty.

-PORTHOS:

-So that's what happened to our gunpowder.

Open the gate.

That's the man I saw on the battlefield.

We need to get everyone out of here.

They might be going for reinforcements.

Keep watch outside the wall. Nobody leaves.

We wait until dark.

If we can keep the children hidden until then we stand a chance.

-D'Artagnan?

-Hm.

Was Aramis really one of you - a Musketeer?

He was the best shot in the army.

One of the greatest soldiers I have ever known.

-Hello.

-Aramis!

What is it?

Well, let's ask him. She wants to know if you're a giant.

I won't eat you.

Because I'm not hungry...yet.

I think she likes you.

She's got a funny way of showing it.

It's good to see you again, my friend. It's been too long.

Well, it wasn't my choice.

-I could not go to war with you, Porthos.

-We were comrades.

I never had to worry what was behind me, because you...

..you had my back.

I made a promise to God - a vow to myself.

What about your vow to us?

One for all. What about that?

Four years is a long time.

We learned to live without you.

Constance? You asked for me? What's the urgency?

Well...

I think you're going to be needing this

What are you up to now?

You have every right to live any life you wish.

-We all do.

-If it's for the right reasons.

Adele,

Isabella, Marguerite.

They are all dead because they made the mistake of loving me.

Even the Queen - I could not put her and the Dauphin in danger again.

That's why I'm here, that's why I made my promise to God.

And now?

The Abbot, God rest his soul,

he didn't think me ready to take my orders, even after all these years.

I never had a problem with poverty - even celibacy.

It was obedience I could never take to.

What about all that chanting?

It's good to see you, my friend.

Athos, it's getting dark. We need to start moving.

Now.

Give him time.

Luc, children, we're leaving.

I'll go through first.

When I pull on the string, send the first one through.

Come on, look away.

Now.

Luc, you go first, help the children to the other side.

We're going one at a time. OK, wait.

Are we friends now?

You wait down there by that large tree,

I'm sending the children to you.

Marcheaux and the Red Guard regularly use the old bathhouse.

They can drink and gamble there all night. Amongst other things.

-It has everything we need?

-Everything.

Constance, I am a Minister of the Crown.

Well, for one night you can be a Musketeer again.

We're going to show Feron

and his Red Guards we're not to be humiliated.

We're going to stay here. You sort out the monks.

CHANTING

We're moving. Up, up.

This way.

You're next.

You will follow?

We have matters to attend to here.

The gunpowder must not fall into the wrong hands.

Head for the mountains, we will find you.

Your brothers are waiting.

-The children?

-Bottom of the hill with Luc.

-We'll leave at first light.

-Mm-hm.

-Good luck.

LAUGHTER

Fire! Fire!

Over here! This way! This way, quickly! Quickly!

LAUGHTER

Not so cocky now, are we?

Minister Treville.

What's this about?

Captain, in future, pick on someone your own size.

Children, stay in line, the path gets difficult here.

Why didn't you tell me the stories you told us were true?

That you were one of them, a Musketeer.

-I renounced that life when I joined the monastery.

-And now?

Pierre, don't throw things.

Keep them quiet. Don't do that.

They've escaped!

They can't have gone far.

Get the horses on the wagon, the Spanish buyers are on their way.

Clean yourself up.

Treville is a disgrace to France.

What kind of soldier would put that woman in charge of

the garrison mess?

Perhaps he is warming her bed while her idiot husband is away at war?

There is something unnatural about that bitch -

she has the cunning of the devil.

Come here. And yet...

..you have let her turn the Red Guard into a laughing stock.

That undermines my authority, Georges.

It cannot happen again.

-BONES CRACK

-Oh! Don't touch me!

Look at us.

We are quite a pair.

Fit only for the infirmary.

HE CHUCKLES

Aramis! The bandits! They're here!

Move! Move! Quickly! Move!

Keep moving, keep moving! Keep moving! Don't stop!

(Luc, Luc! Hide the children in there.)

Brothers, hide yourself.

Keep moving, wherever you can, quickly, go!

Now, go, spread out! You're doing very well.

Now, ssh, stay quiet, OK?

Go in there, hide in there.

Stay with the children.

You're their protector now.

Well, what are you going to do?

-Come here!

-You get away from the children!

HE YELLS

-Get off! Get off me! Aramis!

-Stay away from her!

GUNSHOT

Don't move! I'll kill him!

So the man of God was once a soldier?

You've been wearing a cassock too long.

Luc...

You really are a Musketeer!

Bit rusty right now.

I'm not so sure I want to be a soldier any more.

Let's get the children.

Luc!

Spanish soldiers, I need to warn the others.

Just stay hidden, you'll be safe.

Open the gates! The Spanish are here!

Musketeers!

Porthos, stop him! Take the wagon!

Spanish soldiers!

They cannot be allowed to get that gunpowder.

Good?

Which way are we going?

Hah!

HE CHUCKLES

-Do you need help with that?

-Just shoot straight!

Aramis, get out of there!

It's about to get hot!

Now, are you going to try and tell me you didn't enjoy that?

THEY LAUGH

Vamonos!

Thank you for all you've done.

You be good now. All right?

Look after the brothers.

Yes, I will.

So, do you think we'll need three or four horses?

I thought I understood your plan.

Now, you...seem to be showing me another path.

In the middle of all the danger and excitement today,

you were closer to me than at any time in all my years here.

I've never felt so...alive.

This is what you made me.

A Musketeer.

You are many things, Aramis, but a monk is not one of them.

You can't argue with God.

HE SHIVERS

Lucien...

I have what you want.

Where have you been? I needed you.

Calm yourself. Our plans were ruined by interfering Musketeers.

Ow! Careful! Careful!

Drink it down and it'll all be better.

HE SOBS

I can't live with the pain.

Let the medicine work.

There. Better now.

You can never leave me again.

I have everything I need in Paris.

Perfectly acceptable.

I need these ordinances sent over to the military supply depot

at Bagneux immediately.

I'll need a fresh horse.

It's a very long ride.

Athos, I had no idea. You should've sent word.

-Porthos.

-Minister.

Aramis, you came back to us?

It seems I never really went away.

D'Artagnan? He's not...?

No, he, er, had some important business to attend to

at the garrison.

-What have I told you about running?!

-Sorry, Madam d'Artagnan.

Cadets...

Did you miss me?

Who's that?

The Marquis de Feron. Governor of Paris, Commander of the Red Guard.

Ah, Treville! I see you have found some grown-up Musketeers at last.

Governor, you haven't met Porthos, Athos, Aramis.

Ah, the war heroes.

Not quite as impressive in the flesh.

But then, legends tend to exaggerate everything. Even courage.

You will be seeing a great deal more of the Captain and his men, Feron.

They are to be stationed here in Paris. Effective immediately.

Not returning to the front?

Perhaps it's for the best.

We need men in their prime fighting for France - not worn-out dregs.

The world has changed since you've been away.

Paris is my city now.

Cross me and you'll live to regret it.