The Fourth Musketeer (2022) - full transcript

It is you, isn't it?

The great D'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan is indeed my name.

The matter of my greatness

I think I should leave
for others to decide.

The history of your noble
actions speaks for itself, sir.

I have long wished to meet you.

The conventional
method would have been

to make an appointment,

not creep about in
my personal chambers.

May I ask how you managed
to find your way in here?



Made a friend of
one of the young maids

who brings you your meals.

She was extremely helpful.

And extremely
friendly, no doubt.

Your ingenuity is to be admired.

The question remains,

why not simply request a meeting
in the conventional manner?

Because I desire more than
a conventional meeting, Sir.

Yes?

Allow me to explain myself.

You've been a great
inspiration to me, sir.

So much so that I sought
out the true facts

of how you became a musketeer.

The true facts?



Is it not the case, sir,
that entry to the Musketeers

normally requires at
least two years training

at the academy?

Yes.

But if a candidate
performs an act of bravery

or expertise that
greatly impresses you...

At my discretion, I
may appoint the candidate

directly to the
Musketeers of the Guard.

As was the case, I believe,

when you challenged three of
the most famous Musketeers,

Athos, Porthos and
Aramis, to a duel,

whereupon you had an audience
with the King himself.

Well, you make it sound very
straightforward, young man.

But I can assure you
there's no shortcut

to becoming a Musketeer.

But is it not true?

Broadly speaking.

Is that how the legends have it?

They do indeed, sir.

Which is why I,
Philippe Gastonne,

come here today
to challenge you.

You challenge me?

Do you accept, sir?

You're just a boy.

What age are you?

No younger than you were
when you made your challenge

to the Musketeers.

Put down your sword, Philippe.

I warn you, sir.

I will not leave
here unsatisfied.

I am prepared, Philippe,

to provide you with something
far more useful to you

than just a duel.

It just so happens
that I'm in the process

of writing my memoirs,

something which you
have rudely interrupted.

Perhaps you would like
to hear the actual facts.

Well, if I'm mistaken,

I'm sure the actual events
were equally as heroic.

Listen to what I
have to say, Philippe,

and then we shall see if you
still wish to fight a duel.

Very well, sir.

So where does the story begin?

On the battlefield
at La Rochelle?

Or perhaps during the
war against the Spanish?

How old do you
think I am, boy?

Those campaigns took
place before I was born.

My father, on the other hand,
was well-acquainted with both.

I was born in Gascony,
far from any frontiers,

and as safe from war
as anywhere in France.

My father chose it
deliberately when he retired,

as a safe place
to raise his son.

Was that comment
directed at me, sir?

I said, was that
comment directed at me?

Well, I can't see
anybody else here, sir.

So I don't know who
else your comment

could have been directed at.

My name?

My name is D'Artagnan.

And I shan't take any
more of your lip, sir.

Let that be a
lesson to you, sir.

And don't let me ever
catch you causing trouble

around Gascony again.

Charles, where are you, boy?

Sorry, Father, I was just
attending to the horses.

Attending to them with
your sword, were you?

You practice with that
thing day and night,

especially when there's
farm work to be done.

Have you ever
stopped to consider

what the meaning is in it all?

To defend myself.

I see, and how
much will you charge?

What?

To defend yourself,
how much will you charge?

It isn't a profession, Father.

No, it's not.

It's not a profession nor
a trade, nor a business.

Now running a farm,
that is a profession,

but you've never had much
inclination towards that,

have you?

We get by all right, don't we?

We do, but that's
with me in charge.

There's always work
to be done on a farm.

Feeding chickens, brushing
horses, sowing seed.

And since your
mother passed away,

there's housework to be done.

What will you do when I'm gone?

Are you trying to
tell me something?

Yes, son, I am.

Are you unwell?

My God, how long have you got?

Don't be so
stupid, I'm not ill.

What I'm trying to tell
you, son, is it is high time

you decided what to
do with your life.

You're almost 18.

By the time I was your age,

I was already fighting
campaigns in the Dordogne.

Well, I'll fight anywhere,
just give me a chance.

Give me that.

It's time you had a proper job.

You won't be needing
this anymore.

But you've been
teaching me how

to handle a sword all my life.

Didn't you ever wonder why?

We live in a peaceful province.

The only trouble you've
encountered around here

has been of your own making.

But I've had that
sword by my side

since I was a young boy.

This toy is not a sword.

This is a sword.

What do you think?

It's beautiful.

Where's it from?

This sword was a gift to me

from a man who was
once my neighbor.

Monsieur de Treville.

Does that name mean
anything to you?

Treville?

We fought together
on many occasions.

We fought the Spaniards.

We fought the Huguenots.

We fought anybody
who would make war

on the King and the Cardinal.

This sword was his
parting gift to me

when we went our separate ways.

I retired here to
Gascony while he went on

to serve the young
King Louis XIV

as Captain of the Musketeers,

a position that he
holds to this day.

Captain of the Musketeers?

Where he commands a salary
of 10,000 crowns a year.

He is, as you might say,
a man of consequence.

And not only that,

he is, in part, responsible
for your very existence.

How is that?

He once carried a very
important message from me

to your mother, asking
for her hand in marriage.

We were both on
campaign at the time.

He was stationed
near to La Rochelle

where your mother
lived as a young girl.

En route for La Rochelle,
Monsieur de Treville

fought his enemies on no
less than three occasions.

He crossed rivers.

He braved forest
fires near to Lyon.

By the time he got
to La Rochelle,

my letter was so blackened
and burned and soaked

as to be illegible.

Fortunately, Monsieur de
Treville was kind enough

to appraise your mother
as to the contents.

And, fortunately for
both of us, she accepted.

And now, speaking of letters,

I have written to
Monsieur de Treville,

reminding him of
our past friendship,

and requesting that he
consider you, my son,

as a potential member of
the Musketeers of the Guard.

Me?

A Musketeer?

Man-at-arms to
the King himself.

Are you sure
they'll accept me?

Your strength and skill
with a sword is beyond doubt.

Your character is a little
rough around the edges.

You're impatient
and quick to anger,

nothing that a couple of years

in the Musketeer training
academy won't cure.

A couple of years?

I don't need a couple
more years training

on how to handle a sword.

Like I said, you are
impatient and quick to anger.

There is more to a Musketeer
than just swordsmanship,

but no matter.

Monsieur de Treville

is the most honorable
man I have ever known.

I saved his skin on more
than a couple of occasions.

He won't forget the
debt that he owes to me.

I don't know what to say.

You will need to
present this letter

to Monsieur de
Treville in Paris,

only a few days travel away.

And you will need to pay for
lodgings while you are there.

This pouch contains
15 gold crowns.

Keep a close eye on it.

There's many a man in
Paris who would be happy

to relieve you of it.

The same goes for the sword.

And in particular, the letter.

Lose it at your peril.

And most important of all,

don't let that temper of
yours get you into trouble.

Temper?

What temper?

You take every
smile as an insult.

Even a look is a provocation.

Your hand is on the pommel
of your sword 10 times a day.

Even the cows know not
to look you in the eye

when your temper is raised.

I know you have a
strong sense of justice.

Remember this.

Not every injustice
is yours to resolve.

Listen to Monsieur de
Treville and make me proud.

Well, sir, we meet again.

I must ask you to
step aside, sir.

I have important
business in Paris.

Do you refuse to make way?

Let me say again, sir,

I have important
business in Paris

with none other than
Monsieur de Treville,

Captain of the
King's Musketeers.

I command you to step aside.

So be it.

So I set out on my trip

from Gascony to Paris.

The journey itself was
pleasant and uneventful,

which perhaps lulled me into
a false sense of complacency.

Once in Paris, I soon wished

I'd paid more attention
to my father's advice.

Which part of his advice?

To keep the letter safe or to
avoid getting into trouble?

Both.

I must say, sir, your story
has been rather illuminating.

I believed you to be
an example of a man

from a humble background,
such as myself,

succeeding entirely
on his own merits.

Now I know the sorry
truth of the matter.

It's unfortunate we
can't all boast a father

with such important connections.

Are you suggesting I
owe all my accomplishments

to the words my father
wrote in his letter

to Monsieur de Treville?

Well, if my father
was a close friend

of the Captain of
the Musketeers.

Who is your father?

Perhaps I know of him.

You might know
of him, I do not.

Ah.

No wonder you have such
a chip on your shoulder.

You've no right to judge me.

Not now I know you
got where you were

through family connections.

You have no right to
make that assumption,

until you have heard
the rest of my story.

Very well.

Do go on.

On my arrival in Paris,

I quickly made an appointment
to see Monsieur de Treville

and found some lodgings
as my father instructed.

Unfortunately, my pride
in my father's connection

to the Captain of
the King's Musketeers

could not be contained.

I informed my landlord
of my mission,

and he, I can only assume,
informed half of Paris.

There's no harm
in that surely.

Such was my
thinking at the time.

I was soon to learn that
Paris was a good deal

more dangerous than
I had imagined.

Yes?

Thank goodness I made it.

Sorry?

I can see right away that
you are the brave young man

the landlord told me about.

I am?

I mean, I am.

Is everything all right?

No, I am in great danger.

Danger, tell me more.

I hardly no where to begin.

At the beginning.

Well, it began
almost an hour ago,

when a man caught my eye as I
was about to enter the Louvre.

The Louvre?

Yes, have you been?

No, I only arrived
in Paris this morning.

Well, I recommend it.

And what about the man?

Oh yes, he was
most evil looking.

He was dressed in
the darkest of black

with a scar down one
side of his face.

Well, he gathered his
men around himself,

and they blocked my path.

With what intention?

Well, you can imagine.

In broad daylight?

Yes, and they made
no secret of it.

So I turned, and I ran at once,

but they pursued me all
the way across Paris

like a pack of dogs.

I can imagine the type.

They ought to be
taught a lesson.

Tell me, where can
I find these dogs?

Well, they are outside now.

Outside?

Yes, they followed me all
the way to this very building,

when I came inside in search
of someone to save me.

Well, you're lucky
you came to me.

I'm not afraid of
some common villains.

How many did you say there were?

Four or five?

Well.

The more, the better.

You wait here,

I'll return once I've
vanquished these four dogs.

Or five.

Right.

Wait.

In case you don't return.

I will certainly return.

I was so utterly
beguiled by the lady,

I completely neglected
to find out her name

or indeed anything about her.

And naturally the pack of
dogs was nowhere to be found.

Young fool that I was,

rather than determining
that the whole thing

might have been a ruse,

my mind was more concerned
with whether or not I might

be able to convince the lady
that I had vanquished the enemy

and what reward I might receive.

The lady had disappeared
and so had my 15 crowns.

And more importantly,
my father's letter.

And I had yet to
have my appointment

with Monsieur de Treville.

What did you do?

What could I do?

The meeting was
already arranged.

Infuriate the man by
failing to show up?

Search the whole of
Paris for a woman I had

barely glimpsed and
knew nothing about?

My only option was to attend
the meeting as arranged

and hope to catch Monsieur
de Treville in a good mood.

And did you?

Not exactly.

I was ordered to wait outside
as Monsieur de Treville

apparently had a more
urgent matter to attend to.

Also waiting to see
Monsieur de Treville,

out of sight to me,
but not out of earshot,

were three fellows I took
an instant dislike to.

Do you know what the King
said to me this morning?

Do you know, gentlemen?

No, sir, we do not.

But we do hope you will do
us the honor of informing us.

He said, Aramis,
that in future,

I should recruit his Musketeers

from the ranks of
the Cardinal's men.

The Cardinal's men, why?

Because, Porthos, he
realized that his thin dregs

needed to be enlivened by
some good and generous wine.

Thin dregs?

To whom do you refer, sir?

I refer, Athos, to you.

And to you, Aramis.

And especially to you, Porthos.

Me, sir?

Especially you.

Why would the King say
this, do you think?

Because, gentlemen, he had
been told earlier in the day

by the Cardinal himself the
tale of three Musketeers

who had loitered after
closing time in a tavern

on the Rue Ferou and were
behaving in a boisterous manner

and generally making a
nuisance of themselves.

When the Cardinal's
guards attempted

to arrest the offending
drunkards, a fight ensued,

which demolished the tavern,
causing damage for which I

am obliged to reimburse
the owner of the tavern.

The three Musketeers
in question,

having been soundly
beaten by the guardsmen,

spent the rest of the
evening sobering up

in the Cardinal's cells.

On receipt of this knowledge,
I, Monsieur de Treville,

Captain of the
King's Musketeers,

was forced to ask the
Cardinal for their release.

Does this tale sound at all
familiar to you, gentlemen?

All except for the part where
you asked for our release.

Yes, sir.

We didn't know about that.

Frankly, I was appalled
at what I'd heard.

These were the
King's Musketeers?

Back in Gascony, we
believed the Cardinal

was only one step removed
from the Lord himself.

Yet here they were fighting
with his men in a tavern.

Everybody knows about
the famous rivalry

between the Musketeers
and the Cardinal's men.

I didn't.

Back then, such things were
only spoken about in private.

But I was soon to gain
quite a few insights

into the private world
of the Musketeers.

Surely you three have
been Musketeers long enough

to know of the rivalry
between our men

and those of His Eminence.

Of course, sir,
that's why we resisted.

I'm sure you would agree it
would have been a great shame

if the three of us had meekly
surrendered to the guardsmen.

A great shame was averted

and replaced by an
even greater one.

Can you even comprehend
the damage you've done?

I'm sure we can pay
for the damage, sir.

I'm not talking about
the damage to the tavern!

I'm talking about the damage

to the reputation
of the Musketeers!

Three of my best
men soundly beaten

by a couple of the
Cardinal's guardsmen.

They did catch
us off guard, sir.

And the worse for wear for
several drinks, no doubt.

There was more than
a couple of them.

I'd say there were four.

Or five.

Or six.

Yes, sir, six at least.

Six, against you three?

Well, perhaps the
Cardinal's version of events

is somewhat exaggerated.

We would be most grateful
if our version of events

could be relayed to the King.

I shall do no such thing.

I have already relayed to
the King a version of events

in which the
incident in question

involved three young
Musketeers in training,

who are of no consequence
and have already

been relieved of
their positions.

I am not a man for whom such
dishonesty comes naturally.

I hope I shall not
come to regret it.

Of course, sir.

I don't know who you are, boy.

But heaven help you if you're
not bringing him good news.

Yes?

I arranged an appointment
to see you, sir.

What?

Speak up, boy!

I arranged an appointment,
sir, to meet with you.

Today at this time, sir.

Let me see.

These appointments are
made on my behalf by others.

Perhaps you should just
simply make plain the reason

for your request.

Well, sir, I come
to Paris from Gascony

at the behest of my
father who you know well.

I do?

I'm not aware I have any
acquaintance in Gascony.

Oh no, sir.

You know him from
before he retired.

His name?

D'Artagnan, sir.

D'Artagnan!

Yes, I remember.

You have a letter for me.

I'm very interested
in reading it.

Your father, young D'Artagnan,

was an excellent
comrade in arms of mine

on several campaigns.

I'm most eager to hear all
about his most recent exploits.

Well, sir, the main
reason for his writing

was in the hopes that you might
be so kind as to accept me,

his son, into the ranks
of the Musketeers.

Accept you into the ranks?

One does not arrive
in Paris one day

and join the ranks of the
Musketeers on the second.

One isn't received
into the Musketeers

without first having passed
the ordeal of several campaigns

or performed certain
brilliant actions

or served two years
training at the academy.

Of course, sir.

I'm aware of that.

But I must assure
you I've received

all the necessary
training from my father.

I'm sure you have.

Monsieur D'Artagnan was one of
the greatest soldiers I ever

had the pleasure to serve with.

If he has shared even
part of his skills,

I'm sure you will make
an excellent candidate.

Well, if you'd
like to present me

with the letter as proof
of your provenance,

perhaps we can discuss how
I might be able to help you.

I would be most grateful, sir.

The letter, if you please.

I'm sure you have not
come all the way to Paris

from Gascony and
neglected to bring it.

No, sir.

But...

Yes?

I'm sorry to say, sir,

last night, I'm afraid I fell
victim to a common thief.

A thief?

Yes, sir.

Who relieved me of 15 crowns
and the letter from my father.

Under what circumstances?

Well, sir, I was
approached at my lodgings

by a woman who was
uncommonly attractive.

Did you, by any chance,
tell anyone at your lodgings

that you were coming to
see me and for what reason?

I may have mentioned it.

And did you, by any chance,

mention that you were
carrying a letter

addressed to me personally?

I didn't think it was a
matter of such secrecy, sir.

Your father may have
taught you how to fight

like a Musketeer,

but he taught you nothing
of the way of the world

in which we live.

This is Paris boy, not Gascony.

You must be permanently
on your guard

against all manner
of subterfuge.

There is many a spy who
would give their sword arm

to obtain a letter addressed

to the Captain of the
King's Musketeers.

Irrespective of
what it contained,

they will find a way to
use it to their advantage.

Monsieur de Treville went on

to appraise me of important
figures in Paris at the time.

The rivalry between the
Musketeers and the Cardinal's men,

and in particular a
man named Rochefort,

whom I was to be wary of.

Seems to be a habit of men

who become Captain
of the Musketeers.

What does?

Giving lectures, which
nobody requested to hear.

Well, then I advise
you to pay attention

to this particular lecture.

If I'd taken heed of
my father's lecturing,

I may never have
lost that letter.

Now Philippe, if you allow me
to bore you a little longer,

you'll find out exactly
why I should have listened

to Monsieur de Treville.

Do you mean say
that lady was a spy?

Possibly.

Did you say she was
uncommonly attractive?

Yes.

Did she speak with
a Spanish accent?

I wouldn't know, sir.

I've never met a Spaniard.

And was she accompanied by
a man with a scar on his face?

She was alone, sir.

And she relieved
you of 15 crowns?

Perhaps then she was
just a common thief.

Either way, you stand here
before me with no letter

and no other proof that you
are who you say you are.

I can see only two
possible explanations.

The bad, that you
are indeed a spy

and have been sent
here in the hope

that the mere mention of
the name Monsieur D'Artagnan

would be enough for
me to welcome you

into the hands of
the Musketeers.

Oh no, sir.

Or, 1000 times worse,

you are indeed the son
of Monsieur D'Artagnan

but are so utterly
foolish as to have allowed

a personal letter to me
to fall into the hands

of a dangerous enemy, who
might yet use the knowledge

found therein to enact some
devious plot against me.

What was the first one again?

The door is behind you.

Sorry?

The door through
which you entered.

Please close it on your way out.

Yes, sir.

And if you are the son
of Monsieur D'Artagnan,

my good friend, then please
give him my best regards.

Yes, sir.

And my most heartfelt
commiserations

that he has such a fool as an
heir to his once great name!

I just saw her!

What?

The lady who stole the letter.

I shall retrieve it

and bring honor back to
the name of D'Artagnan.

Can you not see where
you're going, boy?

Sorry,
sir, I was in a great rush.

And will you
not also apologize

to my friends,
Athos and Porthos?

As I said, sir,
I was in a great...

Athos and Porthos?

Then you must be Aramis.

You're the three who
put Monsieur de Treville

in such a foul mood.

Do you know the trouble
you've caused me?

Trouble we've caused you?

Do you know who
you're talking to?

I do.

Three drunks who spent last
night in the Cardinal's cells.

Now please step aside.

Three drunks?

Are you going to
stand for that, Athos?

Certainly not.

Only one of us is a
drunk, and it isn't me.

I advise you to retract
your words, boy.

If one of you calls me
boy one more time, I'll...

You'll what, draw your sword?

Dueling is illegal.

But not impossible.

I don't have time for this.

Oh, the favorite
excuse of a coward.

That does it, name
your time and place!

Me?

All three of you.

At once?

However you wish it,
just make it quick.

You'll accuse us of
having an unfair advantage.

If a duel is to be fought,

it should be one at
a time on fair terms.

As one of the King's Musketeers,

I wouldn't have
it any other way.

Name your time and place.

Behind the prison
is usually quiet,

especially first
thing in the morning.

At dawn tomorrow then.

In the courtyard
behind the jail.

The three of us will
see you then, boy!

My name is
D'Artagnan of Gascony.

Well, what do
you make of that?

I'll wager a crown
he doesn't show up.

I'll take that bet.

No longer in a hurry, boy?

Do you still want a duel?

Not here, boy!

Public dueling is illegal.

Tomorrow at dawn, as we said.

Unless you're ready to
back down and apologize.

Well, as a gentlemen, I'm
always ready to apologize

if I have offended
another gentleman.

The boy considers
himself a gentleman.

But I see no gentlemen
here worthy of my apologies.

So whatever you
three fellows are,

I'll see you tomorrow at dawn.

The prison courtyard.

I'll be there.

About that bet we made.

I was thinking, we
might change the terms.

And I was thinking, you're
going to owe me a crown.

These were the circumstances
in which you challenged them?

I pictured a more heroic
scene, not a bumbling accident.

I didn't challenge
the Musketeers at all.

It was they who challenged me.

Still, you did accept and
promise to take on all three.

At that precise moment,

I would have done anything
to get them to stand aside.

My only thought was to
retrieve the stolen letter.

Of course.

Did you ever find the woman?

I wandered the streets of
Paris long into the evening,

but no, she remained elusive.

I needn't have worried.

Unbeknownst to me, at

that very moment plans were
afoot for her to find me.

Playing with yourself again?

What?

The chessboard.

I like to play for both sides.

So I see.

The maneuvering of the Court

is not unlike a game of chess.

The bishop moves here,
the queen moves there.

And I am always one step ahead.

Even of His Eminence?

Everything I do is in the
service of His Eminence.

You did well to acquire this,
and the rumors are correct.

The boy was on his way to
see Monsieur de Treville.

On a matter of
any consequence?

Not in particular.

He's just a boy from Gascony

with dreams of
becoming a musketeer.

But there may be a way
to make something of it.

If he is just an innocent boy,

why not return his
possessions and leave him be?

We will return his
positions in good time.

First, I wish to speak with him.

Why?

He may be a nobody,

but he has a direct
connection to Treville.

In fact, his father
fought alongside Treville

and even saved his life.

And a man like Treville
would be compelled

by his sense of honor,
to return the favor.

If we could convince
the boy to somehow

use his influence on our behalf.

What would you have me do?

Bring him to me.

How?

He's not likely to
trust me a second time.

Return this to him as
a sign of good faith.

And if that fails, I'm
sure you will find a way.

You always do.

You would do well to remember
who I am and who I work for.

His Eminence could easily
expose your sordid past!

And if he did, there
would be no way

for you to avoid the
executioner's ax.

You think yourself a queen,

but you are just a
pawn in this game.

You see yourself as a king?

Of course.

Be careful, a pawn
can move faster.

Yes?

You!

Please, I only came
to return this to you.

My 15 Crowns.

And to apologize.

You see, I had no idea
who you were when...

When you robbed me
like a common thief.

I'm sorry.

I should've known
it was a ruse.

You're not the
first to be taken in,

and you won't be the last.

There are very few young
men as brave and gallant

as you that would ever
refuse a damsel in distress.

Right.

Well, I appreciate
your change of heart.

Why did you say you
were returning this?

Well, when I
realized who you were

and your relationship
to Monsieur de Treville.

You read my letter.

- Where is it?
- I am just coming to that.

Well, I need it!

I'd sooner have you
take the 15 crowns

then the letter from my father.

I understand.

The letter is safe and
will be returned to you.

Yes?

I just ask that
you come with me.

I have a friend who would very
much like to speak with you.

Speak with me?

Why?

Well, as I said, when
we realized who you were

and your relationship
to Monsieur de Treville.

Well, you can
forget about that.

I'm sorry?

Thanks to you,

I have no relationship
to Monsieur de Treville.

Once he realized I
didn't have the letter,

he didn't believe who I was.

Sent me away with
a flea in my ear.

But if you did have the
letter, would he reconsider?

Possibly.

That's my only chance.

Everything's been going
wrong since I came to Paris.

I lost the letter, angered
Monsieur de Treville.

And to top it all off,

I have to duel with
three Musketeers at dawn.

They'll likely chop me to bits.

You are dueling
against three Musketeers?

Yes, though I have no
idea how they got the rank.

Awful people.

Athos, Porthos and someone.

Aramis.

Yes, that's him,
how did you know?

Those three names are often
mentioned in the same breath.

They're well-known?

Notorious.

I knew it.

But highly-skilled swordsmen.

And you're going
to fight all three?

How did that come about?

I don't know.

I somehow manage to get
myself into these situations.

Perhaps my friend can help?

He has some influence
in matters of the court.

You're not a common
thief, are you?

This friend of mine has
a proposition to make you.

It could be valuable.

Well, since I'm not going
to become a Musketeer,

I do need a source of income.

If I return to Gascony with
nothing to show of my trip,

my father would
likely disown me.

Then you'll come with me.

At once!

I'm not taking you to
fight a duel, D'Artagnan.

Such a beautiful blade would
be safer kept here, no?

You wouldn't want
it to be stolen.

Stolen?

You're a fine one to talk.

You're the only one around
here who steals things.

And I am coming with you.

So the sword will be clearly
safer here, wouldn't it?

Yes, I suppose you're right.

Milady, I still don't
know what to call you.

That'll do fine.

What, "milady"?

So you fell for
the same trick again,

even knowing she was
most probably a spy?

I can assure you, Philippe,

if you have any human
blood in your veins,

you'd have fared no
better than I did

against so beautiful a woman.

Perhaps you'll find
out kind of blood

runs through my veins.

You promised me
a duel, remember?

I promised you no such thing.

You said if I listened
to what you had to say...

And my story is
far from finished.

Don't you want to know about
the trap I'd been led into?

I hope there's some heroism
in this story somewhere.

So far it's been a
comedy of errors.

I've no idea where I

spent the night.

Possibly in one
of the same cells

that held Athos, Porthos
and Aramis the night before.

When dawn arrived,
I was rudely awoken.

You've done well, Milady.

The man with the scar.

Now you must away to England.

His Eminence requires this?

Are you questioning
His Eminence's wisdom?

No, I.

Then are you questioning me?

Of course not.

Then do as instructed.

Milady, I sense not
all may be as it seems.

If you should ever need my help.

I do not believe
you are in a position

to make such an offer,
D'Artagnan, but perhaps someday.

Bring him forward!

Please accept my apologies

for my rather unconventional
manner of invitation.

Unconventional.

Your men are lucky
I was unarmed.

If I'd had my sword, I would've
made short work of them.

I don't doubt it,

but now to the reason
for this conversation.

You have my
letter, where is it?

Of course.

You'll return it to me?

In good time.

First, I have a
proposition to make.

Well, I can't say you've
made the best first impression.

I'm afraid such measures
are sometimes a necessary

precaution when you're directly
in line to the Cardinal.

You work for the Cardinal?

Then I presume your
name is Rochefort.

Correct.

And I am without
wishing to overstate it

the eyes and ears of the Cardinal,
both in Paris and beyond.

And what part does
the lady play in this?

She is not your concern.

Your concern is
Monsieur de Treville.

According to this letter,

he and your father
were great friends.

And if that is the case,
that would assure you a place

in his favor and a place
among his Musketeers.

Well, it might have,
if I'd had the letter.

Didn't Monsieur de Treville
look upon you kindly?

He did not.

Good, then you
owe him no loyalty.

I propose to you, D'Artagnan,

if I return this letter to you,

you make a second
visit to Treville.

Show him the letter, make
any apologies or pleadings,

but you make sure you get that
place among his Musketeers.

If you're a Cardinal's man,

why would you want
me to be a Musketeer?

You will appear on the
surface to be a Musketeer,

but in your heart,

you will be a Cardinal's
man just like me.

I knew he wouldn't
show his face.

Who, the boy or Porthos?

Sorry, gentlemen.

But you know I can't
duel on an empty stomach.

There's no hurry, Porthos.

It seems our opponent
has let us down.

Well, how long should we wait?

The sun is up.

Let's give him an hour.

An hour?

I was hoping to be done by six.

I have a breakfast appointment.

You've already had breakfast.

This is a pre-duel snack.

My breakfast appointment
is with a lady.

I also have an
appointment with a lady.

What sort of
appointment begins

at six o'clock in the morning?

The appointment
began last evening.

God-willing it continues
again this morning.

All right, we'll
give him a few minutes.

So you want me to be
a spy for the Cardinal.

You will be to all intents
and purposes a Musketeer.

You will be on a full
Musketeer salary,

but you will also have a full
Cardinal guardsman salary.

But still a spy.

There will be no risk to you.

All I would require is
the occasional report

on Treville's activity.

To what end?

That's not your concern.

Was it not your
father's dearest wish

that you would
become a Musketeer?

It was, yes.

But without this letter,

that will always be a
dream and never a reality.

And one other thing, if
you are not working for me,

I cannot guarantee your safety
in a big city like Paris

or even your safe exit
from this chamber.

The choice is yours.

How many minutes
is a few, Aramis?

Just a few more.

Always itching
for a duel, Aramis.

Look, my concern is this.

What if the boy arrives late
and finds that we're not here?

He'll think that we're
too afraid to show up,

and he'll have half
of Paris believing it.

What if word then reaches the
Cardinal and then the King?

You think Monsieur
de Treville will wait

to hear our side of the story?

Or to put it another way,

you're determined
to wait for him

so that you won't
lose the bet we made.

That's entirely
beside the point.

Half a crown, wasn't it?

It was a crown,
Aramis, as well you know.

A few more minutes then?

I could never agree to such
a dishonorable arrangement.

And if I see Monsieur
de Treville again,

I'll tell him exactly
what you've been up to.

And what makes you
think for one minute

that Treville would believe
one word you say without this?

No!

Without this letter,

you are just a boy from Gascony
who will amount to nothing!

Very clever.

Are you gonna keep this
up all day, D'Artagnan?

I have a great many candles.

Enough of this!

Deal with him.

Get him!

I think we can finally
agree he's not coming.

That means you owe me a crown.

Coward.

What did he say
his name was again?

D'Artagnan of Gascony.

Not a name that will go
down in history with any

sort of greatness attached,
I can be certain of that.

Let's go.

Wait a minute.

Is that him?

Running for his life
by the looks of things.

You finally came then?

Where's your sword?

What?

For our
duel, you're late!

Sorry about that.

I was waylaid.

And who are these gentlemen?

Cardinal's men.

They're
not in uniform.

Then we can assume that
they're up to no good.

I believe I recognize
that fellow at the back

from the other
night in the tavern.

Four of them against one boy

isn't very fair
odds, if you ask me.

Four against three
sounds much fairer.

What do you say, Porthos?

I say you're itching
for a duel again, Aramis.

What do you say, gentlemen?

If you are indeed
from the Cardinal,

I'm sure you won't
turn down a battle

against the Musketeers,

especially with the
odds in your favor.

Four against three isn't bad,

but four against four is fairer.

Looks like the boy
isn't the coward you

thought he was, Aramis.

My name is D'Artagnan.

Very well, D'Artagnan.

Let's see how well you fight.

I prefer a clean,
gentlemanly duel,

but I can't deny that was fun.

Are we done here?

Surely this was enough
of a fight to satisfy

even you, Aramis.

Well, there is still
the matter of the duel.

What?

This young man insulted us.

Called us drunkards.

Said he'd take
on all three of us,

if I remember correctly.

So he did.

But he's without a sword.

He can take mine.

I'll stand aside until he has
vanquished the pair of you.

What do you say, D'Artagnan?

Are you really as
brave as you made out?

You're really going to do it?

Take on three armed
Musketeers single-handedly?

I'd say the odds are
against you surviving.

I said I would, and I never
back down from a challenge

regardless of the odds.

Relax, D'Artagnan.

I was merely
testing your mettle.

I'm glad to know you really are

as brave as you said you were.

After all, dueling
is illegal, you know.

If you broke the law,
we'd have to arrest you.

Tell me, what was the
purpose of your appointment

with Monsieur de
Treville the other day?

I had hoped to
join the Musketeers.

Perhaps we
could request a meeting

with Monsieur de Treville.

Together with D'Artagnan?

I suspect that once these
fellows have woken up,

Monsieur de Treville will be
requesting a meeting with us.

Come on, let's go before
any reinforcements turn up.

Don't you two have
appointments to attend.

I'm not sure
I still have the energy.

Perhaps you should
send the boy in your place.

He seems to have plenty of it.

- What's this about?
- Nevermind.

Finally, this story
has some heroism!

I should have known
you'd be more interested

by a fight in the street
than any of the wisdom I'm

attempting to impart to you.

So did the three
of you go directly

to Monsieur de Treville?

Not directly.

The first appointment
we could get

was for the following day,

which fortunately allowed me
time to return to my lodgings

to wash away the smell
of rotten vegetables.

While I was there, something
rather unexpected happened.

Surely not?

- Milady.
- Shh!

If Rochefort finds
out I am here...

Please, sit down.

No, there is no time.

I am on my way to
leave Paris for England

on a dangerous mission.

On Rochefort's
behalf, I presume.

Will you ever escape
from his grasp?

Perhaps one day.

Tell me, what's the
hold he has over you?

It is not Rochefort
that has a hold on me.

- It is His Eminence.
- The Cardinal, why?

I am young, D'Artagnan,
not much older than you,

but I have lived a long life.

When will you
return from England?

I don't know, maybe never.

Which is why I came here
to see you one last time.

I see something in you,
D'Artagnan, a great spirit.

A sense of great
honesty and bravery.

Something that is very
rare in this world.

If only things were different.

Yes?

If only I wasn't under
the command of Rochefort,

and if you were not
enamored of the Musketeers,

or if we were not
on opposite sides

of an unbridgeable divide.

Yes?

No.

It's impossible.

I must go.

My being here puts both
of our lives in danger.

Will we ever meet again?

I cannot say.

Perhaps.

But in case we don't.

Take care of
yourself, D'Artagnan.

Goodbye, Milady.

Let's say au revoir.

We wanted you to inform
you as soon as possible, sir,

before you heard any lies
from the...

Before you heard any
alternative versions of events

from the Cardinal, sir.

The second case of unruly
behavior in as many days.

Brawling in the streets
like common thugs.

You are aware, gentlemen,
that the King's Musketeers

have a reputation to uphold?

Yes, sir.

We really are very sorry, sir.

And that reputation is to
be the best fighting force

in all of France for whom no
one is unmatched.

Least of all, a couple
of the Cardinal's men.

Why do you think I was so
displeased with you last time?

Because you lost the fight!

But this, this.

I've truly something
heroic to tell the King.

Well, he does like a
good fight himself,

especially if his
men are winning.

He is, after all,
still a young man.

But the Cardinal.

Mm, I've heard nothing
of this from the Cardinal,

which makes me believe
that your suspicions

that his men were up to
no good were correct.

If they had a legitimate
claim on this young man,

I'm sure I would have
heard no end of it by now.

The young man acquitted
himself very well in the battle.

Really?

Yes, we've been most
impressed by his bravery.

And sense of honor.

Two days here in Paris
and already you have helped

defeat four of the
Cardinal's men?

And won the praise from
three of my best Musketeers?

If only I hadn't lost your
letter from your father,

I might've believed that you

really were the son of
Monsieur D'Artagnan.

But I do have the letter, sir.

It's right here.

What's this?

It's the letter
from my father, sir.

Monsieur D'Artagnan
sent this rag

to the captain of the
King's Musketeers?

Why the devil!

This really is from
Monsieur D'Artagnan.

Sorry?

How clever of him to
remind me of the time

that I delivered a letter for
him in such a sorry state!

He knew that only I would
understand it's meaning,

making it totally
useless to a spy.

He did tell me that story.

Wonderful,
wonderful.

I must tell the King about
this, he'll be most amused.

Well, gentlemen,
perhaps you three...

You four, should
all come with me.

Perhaps you are
a queen after all.

She is the most powerful
piece on the board.

She's only at
her most effective

in the hands of
a skilled player.

Otherwise, she can
become surprisingly

vulnerable.

How was it with D'Artagnan?

Exactly as you'd imagine.

You never fail me.

Soon that boy will be
completely under our control.

As His Eminence commands.

I have a question, sir.

Yes?

How is it you're
able to relate

in such detail conversations
you were not party to,

such as between
Rochefort and the lady?

A good question.

I later came to know
Rochefort much better,

in different circumstances.

He revealed a great many things,

which previously had
been a mystery to me.

Now if there's anything
else you wish to ask.

What became of the lady?

I came to know much
more of her as well.

Oh yeah?

But those stories will have
to wait till another time.

My memoir is only
partially complete.

You must at least
tell me what happened

after your conversation
with Monsieur de Treville.

You really had an
audience with the King?

What do you imagine happened?

The King was so
impressed he immediately

declared me to be a Musketeer

and had me guarding the
royal chamber within a week.

He kindly provided me
with the opportunity

to spend two years in the academy
training to be a Musketeer

just like everyone else.

Although I will say
my new found friends,

Athos, Porthos and Aramis,
made sure the years

were filled with adventures
of one kind or another.

I soon came to know their
various differences.

Athos was always
the most serious

and considerate of the three.

Aramis always the
most keen for action.

And Porthos, always the first

to suggest a drink
or a good meal.

And where did you fit
in amongst the three?

I like to think I brought
a little youthful vigor

to the trio.

It was all a long
time ago, of course.

Aramis went on to become
Superior General of the Jesuits.

Porthos married very
well and became a baron.

Athos sadly fell from
favor in his later years.

Now it's getting late.

Perhaps we'll meet
again, Philippe,

in different circumstances.

I'm not ready
to leave yet, sir.

Surely if my story
has taught you anything

it is that there is no shortcut
to becoming a Musketeer.

Perhaps,

but it's also taught me
something about you, D'Artagnan,

which is that you never
back down from a fight.

You really intend to
go through with this?

Young boy against the Captain
of the King's Musketeers?

Wouldn't you have
done the same at my age?

You were prepared to duel
three Musketeers at once.

At your age, I would
have dueled an entire army

if they challenged me.

It doesn't make it a
wise thing to attempt.

My sword is raised, sir.

Refuse me now and I
will have no choice

but to relay the news
that the great D'Artagnan

is no longer the
man he once was.

Perhaps too old and tired

or afraid to take
on a challenger?

Afraid!

I have given you
enough of my time, boy.

The only thing I am afraid
of is the thought of having

to wipe away the stain of
your blood from my uniform.

That's the spirit.

You're finally starting to sound
like the D'Artagnan of old.

Now

let's see if you
still have the skills.

Very well!

I warn you, boy,

a duel with me
might prove fatal.

And if I survive, I'll
consider it a victory.

If you survive, you can
consider it a miracle.

I did warn you, Philippe,

that a duel with me
might prove fatal.

If I was afraid of death,

I wouldn't have come
here in the first place.

Or perhaps you simply
know, as a Musketeer,

I would never be so dishonorable

as to kill an unarmed man.

However, I could most
certainly have you arrested.

Breaking in, making
threats, starting a fight.

You'd get two years, at least.

Or perhaps you would
prefer to spend two years

in the academy training
to be a Musketeer

just as everyone else
has to, including me.

Yes, sir.

I'm sure we'll meet again.

Once my training was complete,

Monsieur de Treville kindly
granted me a few days leave

to visit my father in Gascony.

Charles, I knew
this day would come.

If only your mother
could see you now.

Did you follow my advice
and stay out of trouble?

As much as possible.

And Monsieur Treville,
did he appreciate my letter?

He got the gist of it.

Well, in any case, I
see it did the trick.

And have you made any
friends amongst the ranks?

Yes, yes, three in particular.

Athos, Porthos and Aramis.

And now I'm equal
to them in rank,

I'm considered the fourth.

The fourth?

The fourth what?

The fourth
musketeer, of course.