The Musketeers (2014–2016): Season 1, Episode 8 - The Challenge - full transcript

I have a warrant
from the Cardinal,

for the immediate arrest
of your prisoner Martin Labarge.

He's already under arrest for the
murder of two Musketeers.

Ah. Well, you're to hand him
over to us for questioning.

It's not safe here.

I want it noted he's a very
dangerous man.

Duly noted.

Very well.

Don't say we didn't warn you.

Come on, Labarge!

This should be fun.



Yaaah! Huargh!

Huargh! Huargh!

Aargh!

I think they need our help.
They're just too shy to ask.

Stay out of this, damn you!

Come on!

Musketeer scum!

It's your fault
that Captain Trudeau is dead!

Captain Trudeau was given fair
warning. His own arrogance killed him.

Labarge is a regional Intendant.

You had no business arresting him
without coming to me first.

Your Intendant is a violent criminal,
who subjected Gascony to a reign of terror.

I went to Gascony once.
It's full of sheep and hedges.

It is true that Labarge
exceeded his authority,



but I was in the process
of recalling him to Paris

before Captain Treville
so recklessly intervened.

The Red Guards put innocent
lives at risk!

The Musketeers were lucky my guards didn't
kill them. Oh, really? You know what?

Any of my Musketeers could thrash
any of your Red Guards at any time!

1,000 livres
Captain Treville is right.

Each side to choose his champion in
a contest to settle the matter.

What do you say, Cardinal?
Do you accept the wager?

Shall we say...2,000 livres?

Oh!

Did you miss me?

Not at all! Hm.

This is so wrong.

I just wish it felt wrong.

Then I'd know what to do.

If you've changed your mind...?

Your rent is overdue.
My apologies for that, Monsieur.

I haven't received any income from
my farm for the last two months.

Well, you've put yourself
in a reckless position.

You're a farmer who neglects
his land

and a would-be Musketeer
with no commission in sight.

I could point out your folly, but,
er... perhaps it's not necessary.

Gentlemen!

Finally we have the opportunity to
prove what we have always known.

That technically...
What's going on?

There is to be a competition between
the Musketeers and the Red Guards.

Yeah, each side will choose
a champion,

to settle the issue
of which regiment is greater.

As if it were in doubt.
How will this champion be chosen?

There will be competitive trials...

..and a 30-livres entry fee.

30?

It forms a prize purse.
Winner takes all.

Why didn't you say so before, huh?

This isn't about money. This is about
the honour of the Musketeers.

One man amongst you will have the
honour of representing me.

When that man defeats and humiliates
the Musketeer champion...

..I will double his prize money.

Now, which of you here
is the greatest fighter?

Captain Trudeau was the best man in the
regiment... before Labarge killed him.

A pig wouldn't eat that.

Eat it or starve, Labarge.

Monsieur Labarge to you.

Agh!

Well, gentlemen,

may the best man amongst us win.

Those of us who are allowed
to compete.

You are a Musketeer in all but name.
All you lack is the King's commission.

Go to Treville. Ask him.

There is just the thorny issue
of the entry fee.

Anyone got it?

My pockets are empty
and the cupboard is bare.

Yeah, I just pawned my cupboard.

Porthos, my friend,

I think it's time for us to go
fishing for a patroness.

Needs must.

Deliver, O Lord, the souls of
the faithful departed

from the chains of...

Who are the departed?

Head of the candle-makers'
guild died a year ago...

leaving his widow very rich.

Fourth pew, left side.

Madame Laurent has a thing about
Musketeers.

Hm.

Many brave men have gone
there, but few have returned.

Mm.

Fifth pew, right side.

Madame Marchand.

In possession
of one indifferent husband...

Hm... three lovers

and five small and irritating dogs.

"Whither I go ye know,
and the way ye know."

And Thomas said unto him, "Lord,
we know not where thou goest.

"How can we know..."
Easy does it.

Yeah?

It's a Requiem Mass, not a party
at Madame Angel's.

The truth and the light...

I need your permission
to compete. I'm ready.

There's no guarantee you'll
win. You know that.

I'm not asking for a favour,
only for the chance to prove myself.

You'd be up against
the very best.

I know.

D'Artagnan, there's no easy way
to tell you this.

I've just received a list of charges
against Labarge from the Cardinal.

Your farm was one of the properties
destroyed by Labarge.

Apparently, he did it as a warning to
other local landowners.

He knew your father was greatly
respected amongst them.

I'll make sure justice is done,
if that's any comfort.

Justice won't pay the rent.

My condolences, Madame.

Your husband, er... he was a
great man.

And a great candle-maker.

Well, which goes without saying.

I don't believe we've been
introduced.

Porthos, of the King's Musketeers.

A Musketeer, no less?

How did you meet him?
Ah, well, it's...

It was at an event.

You know, we both attended the same
one, you know, obviously.

It was ages ago now.

It was, um...

Of course, it was the reception
at the palace,

when the heads of guilds
were presented to the King...

Yes. Yeah.

..and there were
those peculiar courtiers.

One of them was dressed as a Roman
general and wore a lilac-blue wig.

Comte de Simonet.

Yeah, thinks he was Mark Antony
in a previous life.

Cleopatra, more likely.

Um...

..perhaps I can escort you
to your carriage.

Oh, I walked here today. Oh.

I know that's considered
rather shocking.

But... Oh, no, no, no.

I have been cooped up indoors
for so long.

Then allow me to walk you home.

The contest is my only chance.

I have to win that prize, I just
need to raise the entrance fee.

30 livres is a lot of money.
You don't have to remind me.

First I lose my father
and then I lose his farm.

No money, no prospects.

I honestly can't think what you
see in me.

Everything will be fine.

You'll raise the money and...

you'll win the contest.
I know you will.

Where am I going to find 30 livres?

Well, this is...

A treat, for coming out of mourning.

It's probably not the done thing.

But a year is a long time
in black crepe.

Well, the done thing just means
following someone else's ideas.

And you followed your own.

I, um... hope you've come hungry.

I've... planned a rather full menu.

I'm always hungry.

This way.

Well, at least you're surrounded by
your husband's things.

Keeps his memory alive, I imagine.

I suppose so, yes.

Having something to remember him by
must be a great comfort.

Hmm?

Of course.

Well, you should have
a token for yourself.

Oh, no.
Selfish of me not to think of it.

Er... would you like
his shaving bowl and brush?

Or...

..his candle snuffer?

No... no, no, no.

Er... I couldn't, er...

That must be worth 30 livres
at least.

I should say so. It's solid gold.
Hm.

I insist you have it.

Charles used it every day of
his life.

I'd be honoured.

Leave justice to the courts.

You fought for this chance.
Now fight to prove you're ready.

What?
You have natural talent,

but too often you let your emotions
run away with you.

Can we just get on with it?

My point in a nutshell.

I hear an ordinary prison isn't good
enough for Labarge.

He's in the Bastille, living in
comfort...

..his every whim attended to.

Imagine him there,
living the life of a king.

A-A-Argh!

Every soldier has an Achilles heel.
Control that, and you control the fight.

So, Labarge is in the Bastille,
is he?

I was trying to provoke him.

You succeeded. Keep an eye on him.

Cardinal!

I wish to talk to you about Labarge. He
destroyed my property and sold everything I own.

There are many claims against him. No doubt
his trial will establish the truth of them.

What am I supposed to live on until then? What, still
no commission from the Musketeers? How disappointing.

But there are other regiments.

Other regiments like the Red Guards?

Why not?

A young man of talent and ambition
might flourish under my patronage.

I'll take my chances, thank you.
As you wish.

What about Labarge?

If he confesses, you may well receive
some form of recompense. If not...

As a citizen of France,
I demand my rights!

You demand nothing of me!

I feel almost sorry for him, lodging with
that miserly cloth merchant Bonacieux.

First Athos and now d'Artagnan?

I do everything for you.
Permit me to doubt that.

There was a time I found your
independence of spirit arousing.

I must warn you, Milady,
that time has now passed.

Let go of me! I'm innocent!

I love the King!
Whatever it is, I didn't do it!

Hup! Hyaah! Hyaah!

I understand you're a cloth
merchant?

The house of Bonacieux has been in
business for three generations.

My grandfather, Jean Bonacieux... I'm sure
he was a visionary amongst drapers.

Now, I may be in need of a new
supplier to my Red Guards.

The contract is a lucrative one.

But the merchant must be someone
I can trust.

Then how might I prove it?

I am interested...

in your lodger, d'Artagnan.

I want you to find out who he sees,
where he goes,

and in particular

if he has any clandestine
female companions.

You want me to spy on him?

I can see you are a man
of quick intelligence.

It will be my honour to serve you.
I'm sure it will.

You're early.
Are you complaining?

No. Watch out.

He's a monster.

So I hear.

Wake up, Labarge.

I know you!

What are you? A Red Guard now?
What do you want?

My name is d'Artagnan
of Lupiac in Gascony.

You burned down my farm.

Ha! I've burned down a lot of farms.

What makes you think I can remember
yours?

I want your full confession.
Without it, I will not get justice.

I don't see what good a confession
is to you... with a broken neck.

Ha! Huargh!

Huh! Huh!

You will give me that confession.

You know what I like about cutting
people's throats? It stops them talking.

Ha!

Let him go.

Get out!

What did I tell you about thinking
before you act?

I couldn't help it.
I'm not like you.

You are.

More than you know.

Come on.

Get some rest. We'll train tomorrow.

You're grown careless, Athos.

I could have killed you just now.

Shall we call this...

..neutral ground?

If you wish. I won't attack
a defenceless woman.

Your face is full of questions.

Ask me anything you want.

What is your connection
with the Cardinal?

I have to make a living somehow.
What better patron could I have?

What exactly do you do for him?

I'm a soldier, just like you.

Well, perhaps we're not quite
the same.

But we all have to exploit
our natural...

talents.

You still wear my locket?

Why?

Sometimes...

Sometimes I ask myself
the same question.

Shall I show you why?

Do you really think I could
forget...

who you are and what you did?

It seems neither of us
can forget the past.

I give you fair warning, Athos.

Leave me alone.

Or you'll regret it.

Every taunt is an attempt
to distract you,

to discover your vulnerabilities
and exploit them.

Last night, you let your hatred of
Labarge overcome your judgment.

Your trip to the Bastille
was a childish mistake.

I thought you had brains,
but clearly not.

That kind of stupidity is exactly
why you're not ready to be a Musketeer.

You don't mean that?

Of course not, but unfortunately...

..you're now dead.

Your Eminence!
To what do I owe this honour?

You overstepped the limits, Labarge.

You ruled Gascony like a petty
tyrant.

Well, people don't like
paying their taxes.

I just gave them a bit of
encouragement.

Perhaps if all the taxes you
collected had reached the Treasury,

I'd be inclined to overlook
your excesses.

Well, I suppose
that was always my problem.

I never knew how much greed
was enough.

Maybe I should have took
a leaf out of your book,

and followed your career
a little closer.

I, er...

have a proposal for you.

Well, I hope it involves
me not getting executed.

It might.

I believe this is something
you need.

30 livres.

Is that right?

How did you know?

I've taken an interest in you,
d'Artagnan,

and it's not as though
we're strangers, is it?

What's the catch?

Well, how suspicious you've
grown since coming to Paris!

There is no catch.
I simply want you to compete.

I'll accept it - as a loan.

I'll pay you back when I win.

Hm.

What's this?
A little good-luck charm.

And a token of my friendship.

What did she want?

She just gave me the money
so I can compete.

You shouldn't have taken it.
Don't worry. I can handle her.

Are you sure about that?
There's no need to be jealous.

There's no need to be an idiot.

Who else is just going to walk
up and hand me 30 livres?

No-one.

Your husband was a lucky man.

Food gave him no pleasure. Mm?

He saw self-discipline
as a moral virtue.

Oh.

I imagine soldiers
are very disciplined, too.

When they're fighting.

Off duty, well...

Porthos?

Can I ask...

It might...

..sound... Hm?

..strange.

It doesn't matter.

A year's a long time without
a kiss.

It's been a great deal longer
than that.

How he resisted you,
I have no idea.

But like I said...

..self-discipline
isn't my strong suit.

Nor mine.

Wrong door!

Ooh, hello.

Bye-bye.

Entry fee?
I've earned it, believe me.

How did you raise the money?
Found a patron of my own.

Oh?

Wealthy widow?
Not as far as I know.

Right, gents. When you're ready.

Head over heart.

Treville will be assessing your
attitude as well as your skill.

Hm.

You have a challenger.

But he's not a Red Guard.
I've just commissioned him.

Your reputation for violence
is well established.

Now do something useful with it.

Enough!

No control, no pity, no remorse!

No more humanity than a jackal.

You're exactly what I need.

Succeed, and you walk free.

Lose, and you hang.

Somebody, help this man.
He doesn't look at all well.

I listen to all the places
you've been.

I've never travelled... more
than five miles from Paris.

Never been to London. Vienna.

Well, it's not too late.

You should go.

You could come.

Be my tour guide.

I never had much time for
sightseeing when I travelled -

someone was always trying
to kill me.

Have you ever thought what you'd
do if you weren't a soldier?

Becoming a Musketeer...

..was the best thing
that ever happened to me.

Another life is possible.

If you want it.

Have you lost something?

Nothing important.

I should go.

Captain Treville is choosing
his champion this morning.

Of course.

Good luck.

D'Artagnan!

You were right.

I was jealous of Milady.

Of course you had to take her
money. It's just...

Well, she's...

so beautiful and...

..glamorous and...

wealthy,

and I'm just...

Well, I'm just...

me.

You...

shine so brightly in my eyes, it
puts every other woman in the shade.

Good answer. I mean it.

Look...

..I'm going to win this competition.

Everything will work out for us.

Hm.

I'll see you later.

Choosing a champion from such
a fine group of soldiers

- is a near-impossible task.

For that reason, I have
decided that the only man

who can fairly represent you...

..is me.

Was your life... so bad, Constance?

Was I ever cruel to you?
Did I beat you?

You were never cruel...

..and I wasn't unhappy.

At least... I didn't know I was.

Until d'Artagnan came here.

I order you to break with him
immediately.

I'm sorry to cause you pain.

But I won't give him up.

I love him.

End your affair, or d'Artagnan
will be dead within a week.

What are you talking about?
I have powerful friends now.

That new client I was talking about?

It's the Cardinal.

And, believe me, he hates
your lover even more than I.

Why would he kill him just
on your say-so?

Because of the plot I overheard
d'Artagnan hatching,

some attempt on the Cardinal himself.

Do you think he'd stop to ask
questions? You're bluffing.

Give him up, or he dies.

It's your choice.

This is wrong and dangerous.

This challenge is my doing. It is my
responsibility to see it through.

Instead of giving yourself
one last moment of glory,

you should be giving d'Artagnan
the chance

to win his commission
from the King.

You think this is about glory?

All I know is that d'Artagnan has
it in him to be a fine Musketeer,

perhaps the greatest of us all.

But now? We'll never know,

because you have stolen
his best chance to prove it.

Treville's taken the fight himself.

Well, then, I suppose that puts
an end to your daydream.

What do you mean?

We're fooling ourselves, d'Artagnan.

There's no future for us together.

I'm a respectable...

married woman.

This...

silly flirtation has to end.

Flirtation? I love you.

But I don't love you.

If this is about Milady de Winter...

You should go to her. You'll be
needing a rich mistress now.

You've got nothing.

Perhaps Milady will look after you.

I don't want her.

I don't want her, I want you.

I was tempted. I'll admit that.

But I can't risk my future for you.

I have far too much to lose.

I'm sure you've made
the right decision.

I mean, what use is love
compared to money?

Thank you for helping me
see things more clearly.

My old fox will see off
your man, Cardinal.

And representing the
Red Guard, their champion,

Captain Labarge!

This is some sort of sick joke.

Well, the Captain isn't surprised.

He knew.

Well, this is highly irregular.

Shouldn't he be in the Bastille?

Oh, I'm a great believer
in rehabilitation, Sire.

Labarge is now a commissioned
officer in the Red Guards.

The shooting and wrestling
rounds have been waived!

The contest will be settled in favour
of the superior swordsman!

Huargh! Huargh!

Yaah! Huargh! Huargh!

That is hardly within the rules,
Cardinal.

Sorry, Your Majesty. I wasn't aware
that there were any rules.

Come on!

Aaargh! Aaah!

Argh! Huargh!

Huargh!

Huargh!

Huargh!

Aarrgh!

He'll kill him. Labarge!

What the hell are you doing?
Saving your life!

Treville is defeated.
The fight is over.

Stop!

Your man broke the rules,
Cardinal.

Captain Treville may nominate
another champion, if he wishes.

I nominate d'Artagnan to take
my place.

My little friend
from the Bastille?

You look even more pathetic
in the daylight.

I'm going to enjoy this.

Somehow I doubt it.

Is that the best you've got?

I wish I could remember
burning down your farm!

It would make killing you
a lot sweeter!

That's for the people
of Gascony.

Bravo, d'Artagnan.

I hereby declare

the Musketeer regiment

the winners.

Ah, yes, now, the prize money
is forfeit to the Treasury.

After all,
the rules were broken.

We do need to collect
our taxes somehow.

It's 2,000 livres
I think you said, Cardinal.

You defended your captain
with great heroism today.

I admire loyalty
more than any other virtue.

Please kneel.

Get on your knees
before he changes his mind.

I hereby commission you
into my regiment of Musketeers.

May you serve it always

with the same distinction
that I witnessed today.

Well done, d'Artagnan. I'm proud
to have you under my command.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Whose side were you on?

I'm curious.

Yours, of course.

Really?

So, er... why provide the funds
for d'Artagnan's involvement?

Have you been spying on me?

I need to know who my true friends
are, Milady.

Or should I call you

Comtesse de la Fere?

Did you really think I wouldn't find
out about your marriage to Athos?

Explain yourself. If you wish to see
the Musketeers destroyed,

d'Artagnan is the key.

I'm plotting to bring him
over to our side.

And do you seriously believe
that he can be turned after this?

You underestimate
my powers of seduction.

For your sake, Milady, I hope
you're as persuasive as you think.

I'm sorry you had to see that.

I've never seen real violence
before.

It opened my eyes.

That's your life, isn't it?

I don't enjoy killing, Alice,

but I do what I have to do.
I understand.

But... that life is foreign to me.

I thought you wanted
more excitement.

Not that much.

I could never give up soldiering.

And I could never be
a soldier's wife.

I wish it could be different.

I'm so happy I met you.

Take care, Porthos.

So...

will you marry the lovely widow...

Alice?

Who would look after you
if I did that, eh?

I suppose you'll live
at the garrison?

It's my home now.

I hope you enjoy
your respectable life.

Whoa.

Thank you... for your patronage.

I knew I'd spotted a great talent.

Can I offer you a lift?

Another time, perhaps.