The Musketeers (2014–2016): Season 3, Episode 8 - Prisoners of War - full transcript

With the king taking to his bed as dying the queen asks Aramis to help broker a peace treaty with her brother, the Spanish king and he sets out to meet the ambassador but is captured by Grimaud. The court then receives an ultimatum - the return of Aramis in exchange for captured Spanish soldiers, a ploy engineered by Grimaud, Gaston and the Duke of Lorraine to discredit the queen as an appeaser. Facing popular acrimony the other musketeers have the prisoners released and set out for the rendezvous, along with D'Artagnan's cousin Espoir, whom he has saved from the gallows and acquits himself well in the gun-battle. Aramis is freed but Grimaud escapes to use the queen's sponsorship of a literacy scheme for the poor against her and Athos's new love Sylvie whilst an old enemy of the musketeers returns to the court.

My brother wants to hear
France's terms for peace.

This is good news.

Majesty, now is the time to tell
the King about our negotiating...

He is not well enough.

- That is precisely why we need to...
- Not yet.

Your physician says
a sip is enough, Majesty.

Louis...

Enough.

It hurts.

Can you make it stop?

No.



But I will not leave your side.

Please, Aramis...

One more time.

As soon as we have the
Spanish terms we go to him,

this is becoming too dangerous.

The Ambassador expects you at dawn.

Seems in order.

So, these are the
murderous Spanish generals?

I trust they were handed over
without incident?

Mmm.

And now they are yours.

Mmm.

Easy.

Easy!



Spanish or not, they're still
prisoners of war, Marcheaux!

- Hey.
- Treat them as you'd wish to be treated.

Hundreds of French soldiers were
slaughtered in their custody.

But they deserve better from us.

Don't they?

Until they hang.

Oh, there'll be hell to pay if the people's
thirst for justice isn't appeased.

_

_

_

_

I came to talk peace.

There is no peace.

Lorraine was right.

She's been negotiating with Spain.

Well?

What does the bitch ask of her brother?

It doesn't matter what she asks for.

He will never answer.

But we will.

Majesty?

Sire?

The King is not with you, Majesty?

No.

Is something wrong?

Where's Aramis?

He left the garrison at dusk.
No one has seen him since.

I will deal with him in due course.

The King is missing.

He isn't in the palace?

No, he isn't.

Search the gardens.

And do it quickly.

His Majesty is already unwell.

This cold air could finish him off.

Louis.

Louis.

Rest.

A snail?

My garden has snails in it.

Beautiful.

Here!

Majesty?

Your Majesty?

Majesty?

She's angry with me.

Your Majesty?

She's still the most beautiful woman

I've ever seen, you know?

Who, Majesty?

Milady de Winter.

The physician gave him
a new medicine for his pain.

He's taken too much.

An opiate.

A very powerful one.

It can cause delusions.

Let's get him back into the warm.

Here.

What happens when he
starts seeing the Cardinal?

I hear you saw my home?

Your mother.

Mother...

Brutalised by soldiers.

Day after day.

Night after night.

She was weak.

No.

She was strong.

She had some of these.

They did not protect her.

It cannot protect you from others.

Only from yourself.

Then you do not need them.

When the Queen has met my demands

you should not fear God

or yourself.

Only me.

Rest now, Sire.

Mmm.

The King is back in his chambers.

The physician says
he'll improve with rest.

You need to see this.

This bears the seal of Madrid?

You've been negotiating with them?

They want the Spanish prisoners
in return for Aramis.

You've seen the King's condition.

Why did you not inform me?

- There has to be peace.
- Yes, there does.

But it is not your place to ask for it.

You are not yet the Regent.

I am still your queen, Treville.

And you may just
have cost Aramis his life.

Releasing the Spaniards
would deliver a devastating blow

to Your Majesty's reputation.

They're due to hang tomorrow.

You'd abandon Aramis?

He'd expect us to.

Either that or have
the people turn against you.

Aramis had made two journeys
before without incident.

There was no reason to suspect...

The Spanish are our enemy.

I'm sorry, Majesty.

I have been a French queen longer
than I was ever a Spanish princess.

Philip is testing my resolve for peace.

If I show him I am willing
to make such a bold gesture,

however damaging to my own interests,

he'll see my sincerity
and we can end the war.

Maybe his work will already be done.

Are you suggesting my own
brother intends to harm me?

- Possibly.
- Unless there's someone else?

- So...
- Majesty...

Is such dishonourable behaviour
in your brother's character?

Be careful, Porthos.

His suspicions are well placed, Majesty.

To begin talks then turn in such a way.

The letter bears the seal of Madrid.

Could've been stolen.

Forged perhaps?

Treville?

The Spaniards' release must
not be given royal assent.

I'll issue the order myself.

We'll get them from the chatelet.

Quietly.

We'll escort them to the rendezvous.

No one will know.

And if the Spanish King
is not the one behind this?

We still rescue Aramis and we
bring his captors before you.

If you'd come to kill me,

I'm certain I'd be dead already.

So, what is your business here?

- Milady de Winter.
- Mmm.

Minister Treville?

I'm disappointed by your calm demeanour.

I'd hoped for shock.

Panic.

Even a faint note of surprise
would have been nice.

Some weeks ago dispatches from London

spoke of a French murderess on the run.

You married a duke.

Only to kill him.

The old man died of natural causes.

But his son?

That was not quite so natural.

Bad time?

I need money.

The King and I were so close once,

but he seems in no fit state
to provide it.

The Crown will pay you a retainer.

And what does it expect in return?

Your skills.

This is a bad time.

Do you accept?

I'm not an assassin.

It is the only use France
will ever have for you.

I still have a husband.

- I can return to him. Make a life...
- Athos has a new life now.

Another woman?

He is a captain.

And cannot be distracted.

Keep away from him.

You have my offer.

How many of your countrymen

have been murdered by these
Spaniards in cold blood?

How many of you've been
made widows by their hand?

Every night they sneak behind our lines

and slit the throats
of our sons while they sleep.

- Our brothers!
- Kill the lot of them!

So much for keeping it quiet.

He's brought the executions forward.

- Not yet.
- Out the way! Out the way! Move!

Stop!

What's the meaning of this?

We have orders to stay these executions

and take charge of the prisoners.

Take charge and let them live?

They want to release
the murderous Spanish scum.

What are you doing, Marcheaux?

Let's see who the orders are from?

No royal assent?

Minister Treville needs no royal assent.

Yes, he does.

Then the Spanish Queen
must've leaned on him!

This has nothing to do with the Queen!

Farm boy?

D'Artagnan?

D'Artagnan!

Espoir?

It is you.

You're a Musketeer?

Please, please, D'Artagnan,
I stole one loaf of bread!

- That's all!
- Not him.

Cousin!

- You can't let me hang!
- Don't touch me, Marcheaux.

Your orders do not extend
as far as releasing this man.

Am I to die because I'm not Spanish?

I'm a Frenchman!

They'll hang me for stealing
food, but these killers?

Oh, they go free!

Marcheaux!

What happened?

What? Doesn't Musketeer justice
extend to your own flesh and blood?

D'Artagnan! D'Artagnan!

That's right. Better let them through!

Make way there! Let
the Spanish murderers go free!

- D'Artagnan!
- Espoir!

Get out of the way. Move.

Move!

You're coming with me.

We leave at dawn.

Marcheaux was quick to bring
the Queen into this.

- You think he's involved?
- Don't you?

Take him to my quarters.

Long story.

It will have to wait.

If Marcheaux is in league
with Gaston and Grimaud

then we need to warn the Queen.

We have no evidence.

He had the crowd calling
for the Queen's head.

After we get Aramis back, we
need to recover the Spaniards.

In the wrong hands they could
be used against Her Majesty.

He's right.

They're not going to just
hand them back to us.

All this because the Queen wanted peace?

But there will be no peace if the
people have turned against her.

My dear Lorraine,
the prisoners were released.

There's unrest on the streets of Paris.

"Unrest?"

Gentlemen, we need to bury this
Spanish Queen in shame and disgrace.

Unrest and rumours?

They're barely scratches.

Treville gave the release
order without royal assent.

The damage it caused was limited.

If we're to take the throne
when Louis dies,

we'll need more than
your mercenaries, Grimaud.

We must make the people love us

and not her.

She is Spanish.

Is that not enough?

Has being French salvaged
your reputation, dear cousin?

We will find another way.

I still want these Spaniards
in my custody, Grimaud.

When the time is right,

perhaps we can use them as
proof of the Queen's desire

to appease her brother
at France's expense.

We will be the heroes.

Better make sure the Musketeer doesn't
die until after the handover.

Don't disappoint him, Grimaud.

We'll use Aramis to draw his
friends close, then slaughter them all.

Lorraine will not be pleased that
you are pursuing your own vendetta.

Lorraine's prize will be unharmed.

The Musketeers are mine.

The fire's almost out.

At least allow me
a little comfort before I die?

Does Grimaud pay you enough

to sit here in the cold?

There's plenty of wood outside.

A little warmth.

Please?

Well, it's a bit late now!

Thank you.

Hey!

Don't shoot!

You still need me alive.

But not intact.

Everything points to a concerted effort

by your enemies
to tarnish your name, Majesty.

Ruin your Regency's chances
before it even begins.

And Marcheaux?

He's part of this?

It seems that way.

I have tried to persuade the
King to disband the Red Guard,

but he will not listen.

Marcheaux's time will come.

Your Majesty,

Paris is full of people
who fled the Spanish.

Your enemies know that.

You can't have the city against you.

- Not when the King is...
- You have something in mind?

Show them who you really are.

Show them they matter to you.

Stealing?

What has happened to you, Espoir?

Why aren't you in Gascony?

After your father left
and you didn't come back...

Don't!

The authorities razed the farm
to the ground.

- I lost my home, my job...
- Don't you dare speak of my father to me!

He would be ashamed to think of his
brother's only son as a thief!

I came to Paris for work!

I wanted an honest living.

I just...

I just didn't find one.

It's all right for you.

You clearly landed on your feet.

Don't you dare!

You have no idea
how hard I fought for this!

I always knew you were good with a sword.

Well, a pitchfork.

Well, you were the better shot.

Well, that depended on
the size of the rabbit.

I thought of you often.

Over the years wondered how you were?

- Espoir...
- I'm just glad

that we got to talk one
last time, D'Artagnan.

You can return me to the Red Guard now.

They'll execute him.

We have a mission to rescue Aramis.

And protect three Spaniards.

Espoir is a Frenchman.

He's still a thief.

A victim of this war.

Who do you want to save?

Him or Aramis?

All I'm asking is that he comes with us.

We'll let him loose in the countryside.

- We don't need distractions.
- He'll be my responsibility.

Your loyalty to your cousin
is clouding your judgement.

And if I let him die, my
conscience will never be clear!

Surely you of all people
can understand that?

I'll get the weapons.

The rendezvous is half a
day's ride from Paris.

- After that...
- He'll be gone. I swear it.

I will not have this mission compromised.

I know he's your cousin

but if he gets in the way...

Constance, you must have emptied
the garrison of all provisions!

Here we are.

- Please, everyone help them.
- Thank you.

I heard you've been teaching
the poor to read and write.

Word has spread
and people keep coming, but...

we're running low on materials.

Well, we can help with those, too.

You've already done
more than enough to help us.

We'll never be able to repay
your kindness.

Come with me.

With all this, you could spread
your message far and wide.

Reach everybody in every
part of Paris. Beyond.

- We cannot afford...
- The Queen can.

In four years, the Crown has done
nothing to appease our suffering.

The education of the poor has always been
a cause close to Her Majesty's heart.

I know you don't trust her.

Sylvie, you want to change things
for the better, this is how.

Let the Queen help you.

I'll tell Her Majesty you accept.

Constance?

The Captain?

Athos is well.

I'll say you asked after him?

No.

Whatever you asked of the Queen,

she won't give it to you.

Your friends are already on their way.

Then we're both dead.

The Musketeers should be
at the rendezvous now.

As soon as you get word...

What's going on?

Rest, Louis.

You both look so serious. Come.

Treville was just...

advising me on a charitable undertaking
I've decided to support.

Mmm...

A plan, Majesty,

to encourage even the poorest
citizens of Paris to read and write.

This again?

The people need our help, Louis.

What if they end up better
read than the nobility?

Have you learned nothing, my dear?

Her Majesty believes that helping
the poor in these difficult times

will improve the Crown's reputation.

Hmm... Very well.

- My medicine, Treville.
- Majesty.

What are you doing?

Where is the Captain?

Who are you?

His wife.

Oh, my apologies, Madame.

He is not here.

No matter.

I am looking for a companion of his.

A woman.

He is my husband.

Sylvie.

What is the Captain's
relationship with this Sylvie?

- Is she a whore?
- No, Madame.

She is good. Kind.

And where will I find her?

I can wait until Athos returns.

We do not expect him back until tomorrow.

Then I hope you are a gentleman.

Because I am at your mercy.

The handover will take place a league
from here at first light.

Lose your cousin.

Come with me.

It was an honour meeting you both.

Espoir!

Make camp.

That prisoners sleep near the fire.

Yes, sir.

Take these, Rochelle.
Hand them out all over Paris.

- This is a new beginning.
- Hmm.

For everybody.

I have several manuscripts to set.

Fetch your master, will you?

I have no master, Madame.

Her Majesty always had
a weakness for noble causes.

You'd call compassion a weakness?

You must be Sylvie.

I'm afraid I've caused trouble
between you and your comrades.

They're friends and they'll get over it.

- Aramis.
- What?

That's his horse.

Grimaud.

That man down there, that's
who we've been searching for.

He's preparing an attack.

You'd better stick with us. Go, go!

It's Grimaud. He's here, he's got Aramis.

- How many men?
- I counted six.

- There'll be more.
- Did you see Aramis?

- No.
- This is our chance.

- We need to think this through...
- We need to act.

Make sure the prisoners are
secure. Can he shoot?

Good.

Rabbits.

Window on the left.
There's too many guards.

We'll draw out as many as we can.
You go on and rescue Aramis.

And Grimaud?

As soon as any of us gets the chance...

We have a warrant for his arrest.

He will not leave this place alive,
not as long as I am Captain.

You've trained for this. You're ready.

Whatever happens you keep
the gunpowder coming.

Positions.

The horses!

Quick!

In here! Ten men!

Take him down.

Ten men, ten muskets! 16 pistols!

You're a dead man, Grimaud!

They're surrounding us, stop them!

You've awoken something in Athos!

Go!

You think you can use me
to protect yourself?

My friends know I will lay down
my life to stop you, so go ahead.

Move in! Move in!

Stop!

- Lower your weapon!
- No, Porthos!

- Lower it. I am leaving.
- Kill us both.

- Do it! Shoot now!
- Shut up!

Grimaud!

You should've all fired! Killed us both!

You shouldn't keep secrets!

I wanted peace!

We've all seen what war does to the world!

It makes refugees!

Men like Grimaud, places like Eparcy.

There can be no peace as long
as Grimaud lives.

No, not for you, my friend.

So you saved the Captain's life.

Take him he's yours.
Just look after him, please.

No vacancies, I suppose?

I reckon I'd make a good Musketeer.

Mmm... No.

Come here.

Stay out of trouble.

I'm still the better shot.

It's been good to see you.

Are we returning to Paris
or are we going after Grimaud?

Grimaud's gone.

I'm tired.

Let's go back to Paris.

You don't have the Spanish prisoners.

How will we ruin the Queen?

Lorraine will not be pleased
with your failure.

We have not failed yet.

There's something you should see, er...

The Queen has sponsored
the woman from the settlement

to print and distribute these.

She's helping the poor to learn and
they are making the Queen very popular,

very quickly.

It's perfect. It bears the Queen's seal.

This is how we ruin her.

Take them straight back to the
chatelet and buy some wine.

For all of you?

For them.

Captain? I'm sorry.

You did come to the crossroads.

I thought you'd abandoned me.

This cannot be happening.

And yet it is.

- I can't.
- Why?

You need to go.

- You don't want that.
- You don't know what I want.

Sylvie.

What have you done to her?

What do you care if she's alive or dead?

What have you done?

This is who you are, Athos.

- It's who you've always been.
- If you've hurt her...

What? You'll kill me?

Stay. She's safe.

You'll never believe me, will you?

Sylvie!

- Sylvie?
- The Red Guard took her.

Why?

They say she's responsible for this.

They're everywhere.

Show everyone. Come look, come look.

Your Majesty! Bless you.

Your Majesty.

- The Spanish Queen's latest lover!
- Your Majesty.

- Look, look!
- It's a disgrace.

Burn in...

Get off me!

She's not our queen!

What's happening?

There's the Queen.

Duck!

The Queen is trying to help you!

Stay back!

Where did this filth come from?

They're everywhere. Get the
Queen back to the palace.

This way, Your Majesty.

It seems we've been holding peace talks
with the Spanish that I know nothing about.

And now... Now these!

The Spanish Queen's latest lover!

The servants have been finding
them all over the palace!

How many more are out on the streets?

It is difficult to say, Majesty.

How many?

There may be hundreds, Sire.

Who suggested that the Queen give this
Sylvie woman money in the first place?

Well that was intended to show the
people that the Crown cares, Sire.

It was ill conceived.

Majesty, there is a design at work here.

Your enemies mean to discredit the Queen.

But Sylvie Bodaire is not part of it.

Really?

Well, I'm told she has
preached rebellion in the past.

Your Majesty, if I may?

Sylvie has proved herself
to be a woman of honour.

Show me the honour in this,
Porthos. Show it to me.

Now, the Red Guard
have their instructions.

Be grateful I have not had her executed.

You are not dismissed, Captain.

- You are not dismissed!
- After him.

The King commands

this unholy woman to be punished.

She is charged with publishing

malice and debauchery against the Queen.

His Majesty and God's Grace

sentence her to 20 lashes!

There is no God in this travesty and no
grace in any part of what you do today.

30 lashes!

Madame D'Artagnan helped you.

Name her and we will keep
the strokes light.

Whatever you do to me today,

I will still be innocent.

But you, after this
there'll be no going back.

This will hurt.

Stop him!

To defy the law of the King is treason!

To hell with the law!

Put it down.

Put it down!

I'm not done so I need it.

Animals!

Put it down.

You should hang your heads in shame!

I have you.

I have you.

You accept my offer?

I accept what I am.

I'll kill for you.

Not for me.

For the Crown.

Spoken like a true politician.

Seems we've both found our place.

I'll send word when you're needed.

It's my fault, Athos.

It was Grimaud, not you.

Athos?

I'm here.

I'll always be here.

Where does it end?

When they come for the ones you love?

How will my reputation recover?

You are protected, Majesty.

You cannot fight an idea, Aramis.

- I have to speak to the King.
- No.

Allow me to speak to him.
I will take this upon myself.

We both know where that will lead!

- Then, we'll give him time.
- He has no time.

I have to try and put this right before
it takes hold, grows into something more.

Your Majesty.

You love the people so much, my dear.

Louis.

This is what the people think of you.

Spanish harlot!

Do you realise what you have done?

- My intentions...
- Your intentions are irrelevant!

A soldier should never
play at politics, Aramis.

Isn't that what you're doing?

Get out!

- Listen...
- Out!