The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), Part 4/4
16. The Real Percy
(A horse and carriage driving up to Blakeney Mansion)
Coachman: Whoa.
-
(Marguerite rushes into her home; Shivers is sitting in a chair by the door; he stands up at her entrance)
Marguerite: Shivers, where’s Sir Percy? I must speak to him at once.
Shivers: He’s gone milady.
Marguerite: (Comes around the support column) Gone? Where to?
Shivers: There’s a note for you in the library. (She picks up a candelabra and rushes to the library; she goes to the fireplace and pulls off a note from the mantle; she opens and reads it)
Marguerite: The North country in the middle of the night? How bizarre. (She looks up to the painting above and raises the candelabra to see it better and looks at the ring on Percy’s finger. It has the seal of the Scarlet Pimpernel; she turns and looks up at the shield crest on the wall, which also has the Scarlet Pimpernel; she walks over to it, dropping the letter on the way and looks at it raising the light)
The Scarlet Pimpernel. Percy. Oh God, what have I done?
~
(The Temple Prison)
Armand: She Mollycoddles the boy. A pillow for his royal head. Shoes for his royal feet! (Armand and Fouquet walking down the prison staircase) Next she’ll be turning over the crown to the little brat.
Fouquet: What can you expect from a woman Citizen St. Just! Her heart’s as soft as her head! But I can assure you Mme Duval is as trustworthy as her husband.
Armand: Trustworthy? Ha! I’m not so sure either is trustworthy. I hear the man is in debt, (M. et Mme Duval listening in on conversation in the hall) and that makes him ripe for bribery.
Fouquet: Bribery?
Armand: Well, those bent on rescuing the boy would be willing to pay handsomely.
Fouquet: Duval and his wife will be replaced as soon as possible.
M. Duval (whispers): Come.
Armand: Very wise.
~
(La Comédie Française, Louise performing on stage)
Louise: But death, rubbing my eyes of light will give back to the sun its untarnished purity. (acts dying, Armand in a box applauds with the audience, curtains close; Armand walks down towards Louise’s boudoir and the Baron de Baats approaches him)
Baron de Baats: A word, my friend.
Armand: Augh, will it wait? Mlle Longé has just finish…
Baron de Baats: I have received information that Chauvelin has sent a secret communiqué from London concerning you.
Armand: Concerning me?
Baron de Baats: Chauvelin knows that you are in league with (whispers) the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Armand: I? In league with the (whispers) Scarlet Pimpernel? (normal) Oh, really, Baron. Someone has been teasing you.
Baron de Baats: Ah, you’re playing a very dangerous game, M. Armand St. Just. Now why not tell your (whispers) Scarlet Pimpernel to leave the rescue of the Dauphin to the French royalists? After all, they have a far more legitimate claim to him than the English have.
Armand: If I knew the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, and I-do-not, he would laugh in my face! He must know you want the boy for yourself.
Baron de Baats: I?
Armand: So that you can collect the gold that awaits you in Vienna, when you deliver the heir to the French throne to your Austrian friends, hmm? (starts to leave)
Baron de Baats: And did the Scarlet Pimpernel tell you that?
Armand: (stops) Of course not! He’s not even in Pari… (turns) Thank you for your word of warning, Baron. And now, if you will excuse me, I don’t like to keep Mlle Longé waiting. (nods to Baron and exits)
Baron de Baats: (nods) Mmm. (has a pleased, thoughtful look on his face)
~
(four soldiers march behind Ponceau, who stop at a house and pound on the door, Armand and Louise stir in bed as Ponceau continues pounding on their front door)
Ponceau: Open in the name of the Republic! (Louise and Armand get up, alarmed, Aunt Lulu leads the soldiers up the stairs)
Lulu: The very idea! Disturbing decent citizens with all that noise!
Ponceau: Where is Mlle Longé?
Lulu: Where else would she be at this ungodly hour? In her boudoir! (leads Ponceau through curtains to a room adjacent to the bedroom where Louise is waiting, Ponceau bows)
Louise: Why it’s Alfonse Ponceau! (closes the bedroom door)
Aunt Lulu: Forgive me, my dear, but he insisted.
Louise: Oh, that’s quite all right, Aunt Lulu, M. Ponceau and I are old friends! It’s a trifle early for a social call, Monsieur.
Ponceau: This is not a social call, Mlle, I am here to arrest the man in your boudoir. (Armand listening behind door)
Louise: Oh, there must be some mistake. Arrest? Citizen St. Just?
Ponceau: The warrant was signed by Citizen Chauvelin himself when he returned from London this very morning.
Louise: He means to arrest his own superior? A man as important as…Citizen Robespierre? (Lulu watching the exchange like a ping pong match)
Ponceau: Superior?
Louise: You did say you were here to arrest Louis St. Just?
Ponceau: Louis St. Just. I am to arrest Armand St. Just! See here!
Louise: Oho, that explains it! The gentleman in my boudoir is not Armand St. Just, but Louis, his distinguished cousin.
Ponceau: Do you mean to say in that room at this moment sleeps one of the most powerful men in France?
Louise: (nodding her head excitedly) Well, unless all the fuss has disturbed him, shall I go and see?
Ponceau: No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Why disturb the good citizen if he is asleep? I’ll just leave quietly. (backing away out the door) No need even to mention this little incident, such a busy man, so many important things on his mind. Why, if you please, just forget I was here, a silly misunderstanding, that’s all. (exits; to soldiers) Come along, you idiots! (Louise and Lulu grimace at each other; Louise returns to bedroom, and embraces Armand)
Armand: Oh, darling, how ingenious! You were wonderful. (kisses her cheek)
Louise: When he realizes his mistake, he’ll be back. (Armand dresses) You must leave Paris immediately!
Armand: Not without you. You are coming with me to England. Be ready at midday tomorrow and I’ll return to fetch you then.
Louise: It’s too dangerous, they’ll be watching the house. Meet me at the theater. Now, go! (they exit to adjacent room, Louise stops Armand) No, not that way, they’ll be watching the house. Go to the roof. (he opens the door and pulls her close)
Armand: ‘Till midday. (they kiss; he exits and climbs over the roof)
~
(Chauvelin storms through to his office with Ponceau on his heels)
Chauvelin: Imbacile! Louis St. Just is as celibate as a monk! I doubt whether he’s slept with his own wife in ten years! She’s taken you for the fool you are!
Ponceau: I shall return at once and make the arrest.
Chauvelin: Oh, he’s long gone by now.
Ponceau: But don’t you think…
Chauvelin: I’ll handle this myself…
Ponceau: But it would be much…
Chauvelin: Ponceau.
Ponceau: But I really think…
Chauvelin: Get out. (Ponceau bows and exits, Chauvelin opens a second door where a dark man enters) Go to the residence of Mlle Longé. Inform me the minute Armand St. Just shows his face. (man turns to leave) Armand St. Just. (closes door)
~
(Percy taps hand is on a map of the Temple Prison with a quill)
Percy: Duval, the Dauphin’s jailer, and his wife will be replaced tomorrow. So, at long last, we can make our move. Thanks to you, my dear Armand. Now, listen carefully. (flips to a map of France) The boy will be brought to the rendezvous point outside Paris here, (marks on map with quill) where Armand will be waiting precisely at midday. The timing is crucial. One slip and we could have half the revolutionary force of France on our heels. From there he will be taken to the transfer point where Tony will be waiting with the horses. Tony takes him on to Mont St. Pierre whilst you ride on to Calais. You bring the yacht (Percy points for Tony to pull out another map) to the rendezvous point here. (marks on map with quill) Where you wait, only until the boy is safely on board, and then on the first available tide, sail for England. (Timothy nods) Where you, my dear Armand, must stay. It is no longer safe for you in Paris.
Armand: (incensed) Eh, well, is it safe for any of us?
Percy: You took an oath of unquestioning obedience when you joined us.
Armand: But I gave my word to Louise!
Percy: It is your word to the league that concerns me now.
Armand: Percy, let me go back and bring her to England.
Percy: Out of the question.
Armand: How can you be so unfeeling? You don’t even know the meaning of love. (stomps off)
Percy: You must learn to trust me, my friend. (walks towards him) Do not trouble your head with thoughts of Louise. I will see that she is safe.
Armand: Will you bring her back to England?
Percy: I give you my word. (Armand sighs) Now, get some rest. (taps Armand on the shoulder with eyeglass, Armand smirks, Percy turns to go) By the way, (faces Armand) you were wrong about my not knowing the meaning of love. Quite wrong. (fade to black)
***
17. Rescuing Royalty
(Marguerite sailing to France with Sir Andrew)
Andrew: I should never have allowed you to come along, it’s far too dangerous.
Marguerite: I would gladly face any danger to save Percy. I love him more than life itself, I know that now.
Andrew: I can only pray that I’m doing the right thing.
Marguerite: Had you hesitated, he would surly have gone to the guillotine.
Andrew: Look! (points to land) Calais. We’ll land by nightfall.
~
(Armand gets up and sneaks out of the room where the league is sleeping; Tony gets up to go after him, but Percy puts a hand on his shoulder)
Tony: Well, aren’t you going to stop him?
Percy: (shakes head) No.
~
(Armand knocks on the door of Louise’s house, Lulu lets him in)
Lulu: Come on in. (dark man watching the house leaves)
~
(Marguerite and Andrew leave Auberge de Calais and step into a coach, servant puts up the stairs and closes the door)
Coachman: Right. Giddy up!
~
(Temple Prison, Pimpernel carries a chair down the stairs with Mme Duval behind him)
Mme. Duval: Seron! Seron! Seron, take care of that chair! That belonged to my grandmother! (he turns to her)
Pimpernel: Citizen Seron to you, eh? (turns and hits her with the chair)
Mme. Duval: This way! (he turns back around and follows her outside)
M. Duval: Eh! They’re now welcome to the brat! Huh! Let’s see how long the next man lasts! Come on, let’s get out of here!
Mme. Duval: What about the rest of our furniture?
M. Duval: Eh, the lackey’ll manage. You’ve given him the gate pass and the address?
Percy: Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Rue de Bac, Saint Claire, yeah?
Mme. Duval: Now, make sure you get there before dark.
Pimpernel: All right, all right.
M. Duval: Hey! Up! (they leave in a horse cart; Pimpernel carries a big basket down the stairs, Fouquet is leading the new Dauphin guard to his appartments)
Fouquet: As soon as the lackey has the apartment cleared, you and your wife can move your things in, Citizen Chouleau. (they crowd in the doorway, stopped by Pimpernel coming out)
Pimpernel: Well, make way, then. Make way. Mme. Duval’s precious china this is. Yeah. (Pimpernel puts the basket on the back of the cart, then gets in the driver’s seat) Get up, then! (leaves, Fouquet shows M. et Mme. Chouleau the appartment)
Fouquet: These will be your quarters, and in here you’ll find the brat. (opens the peek window) I warn you, he’s a handful. (Chouleau looks in)
Chouleau: You leave him to me and my misses. He’ll toe the line, he will.
~
(Pimpernel waits for guards to inspect him at the gate)
Sergeant: Papers! (Pimpernel hands them over, guard reads it) This pass is signed by Citizen Fouquet!
Pimpernel: Eh. (nods)
Sergeant: The governor of the Temple Prison!
Pimpernel: The very same, Sergeant, the very same. (gives him back paper)
Sergeant: Right! Pass! Gates!
~
(Temple Prison, Chauvelin rushes to Dauphin’s room with Fouquet)
Chauvelin: You had specific instructions to inform me if there was to be any changes in the jailers!
Fouquet: On my word, Citizen, he was sleeping like a babe the last time I looked in, (looks in peek window) just as he is now! Look for yourself!
Chauvelin: And what prompted you to make this sudden change?
Fouquet: Well, when I received your warning about Duval!
Chauvelin: I gave no warning…St. Just. Open that door.
Fouquet: But…
Chauvelin: I said open it! (Fouquet hurries to open it, they enter, Chauvelin takes off the blanket, then picks up the stuffed doll with a wig, which has a card of the Scarlet Pimpernel in the collar, Chauvelin punches it)
~
(Pimpernel checks the time as he waits in the cart for Armand, it’s 12:20 already, so he opens up the basket and signals the Dauphin to be quiet)
Pimpernel: Would you like to see some magic? Huh? (Dauphin nods; he helps him down) All right, then. Watch this. (pulls out the cloth stuffed in his mouth; the Dauphin stares)
Percy: Let that be a lesson to you, Sir. Never take anyone for granted. (the Dauphin smiles)
~
(mounted guards ride to gates)
Sergeant: Gates! Clear the way! (Guards exit the city; Percy checks time now at 12:40, sees guards coming)
Percy: Down on the floor, Sir. (Dauphin sits on cart floor) Looks like we’re in for a run. (front guard shoots, basket falls off cart, guard shoots again, hits Percy, the cart takes a turn and Percy loses control, cart collapses; guards overtake cart)
Head guard: Right! Spread out and search the woods! They can’t’ve gone far! (Percy looks through a hole in a hollowed out tree, guard speaks in the distance) They must’ve crossed the river! Search the other side! (Percy turns to Dauphin and nods, then lets him down and follows; they run off into the woods, and meet Tony with a pistol pointed at them)
Percy: Good God, man, hold your fire!
Tony: Percy!
Percy: I’ve had my fair share for one day. You must take the boy onto Mont Saint Pierre. Find some way to notify the captain of my ship that the plans have changed. (Tony nods) Meanwhile, I’ll return to Paris.
Tony: My dear chap, you can’t possibly…
Percy: Armand didn’t arrive. He must be in trouble. I cannot desert him now.
Tony: Right, Percy. (Tony mounts, Percy hands the Dauphin up into the saddle) Up.
Percy: Godspeed, Your Highness. (Tony leaves, Percy mounts and goes off in the opposite direction)
18. A Fair Exchange
(a dirty boy knocks on Louise’s door, Lulu comes out)
Lulu: What do you want? (boy hands her a note)
Boy: A gentleman asked me to give you this. (she looks at it)
Lulu: Tell him it is safe to come in. (boy runs across the street to Percy)
Boy: She says it’s safe. (Percy smiles and gives him a coin) Thank you!
Lulu: Quickly, Monsieur, come with me. (He looks around before entering; she leads him past the curtains) In there. (she puts her hand to her face in shame as he enters the room; Louise has her head hung and her back to the door, Percy removes his hat)
Percy: Mlle. Longé.
Louise: Please forgive him, Sir Percy.
Percy: No matter. I, too, understand the strength of love. (kisses her hand)
Chauvelin: He-hem. (Percy’s expression falls as he turns around) Good day, Sir Percy. I realize that your noblesse oblige would not permit you to abandon one of your men. (Guards enter, one holding Armand)
Armand: I’m sorry, Percy. (nods significantly at the door to the roof, Percy nods)
Percy: Sink me! If you aren’t right, for a change. But then two no account fellows like us in exchange for one royal prince would seem to be a fair exchange, don’t you think? Amazing how a mere lad can slip through your fingers so easily, hmm? I’ll wager there’ll be the devil to pay when your Committee of National Security discovers that he left the country.
Chauvelin: Oh, has he left the country? My understanding was that there was some problem in getting away.
Percy: No, no, no. It is done like this. (Throws his cloak over one of the guards) Now’s your chance! (Armand punches the guard next to him, Percy elbows another, Armand escapes by the roof)
Chauvelin: No! Leave him! This is the prize I’m after! (Percy heads for the stairs and jumps, but is lead back up them by two more guards) Very foolish, Sir Percy.
Percy: Gad, Sir. Noblesse oblige.
~
(Marguerite enters Chauvelin’s office)
Chauvelin: Lady Blakeney. What a delightful surprise!
Marguerite: I seriously doubt that.
Chauvelin: I had heard, unofficially, of course, that you were in Paris. Please, won’t you take a seat. (ignores this and remains standing)
Marguerite: I shall make this brief. I’m here on behalf of my husband. This is a petition of clemency signed by the Prince of Wales. (he tries to take it, but she pulls it away) Now, unless you wish me to take it to Robespierre himself, I demand that you let me see my husband at once.
Chauvelin: There’s no need for all that. You had but to ask.
~
(Marguerite holds a handkerchief to her nose as they lead her to Percy’s jail cell)
Chauvelin: You have a visitor.
Percy: Marguerite.
Marguerite: Alone, as you promised.
Chauvelin: Two minutes. Remember my conditions. (Chauvelin exits and locks the door, but opens up the peek window; they slowly step towards each other, then Percy extends his hand, she rushes to him)
Marguerite: Oh, my darling! (they embrace; Chauvelin closes the peek window, they speak in whispers)
Percy: How I prayed you would come. My darling, can you ever forgive me for doubting you?
Marguerite: Oh, it is I who must beg your forgiveness. Chauvelin says that he will release you if you tell him the Dauphin’s whereabouts. If not…oh, Percy, I couldn’t bear to lose you now!
Percy: He knew that your tears would be the worst possible torture.
Marguerite: Tell them. Tell them what they want to know.
Percy: My darling, I cannot. You must not ask me.
Marguerite: Then we must find a way to get you out of this dreadful place.
Percy: There may be a way. Now listen carefully, (he pulls her further from the door) there’s not enough time to repeat anything. The life of the Dauphin and all my men may depend upon your ability to execute my orders to the letter. Quickly. (he looks at the door and takes off his ring) Put this on. You will need it in order to carry out my instructions. (puts it on her gloved hand)
~
(Marguerite is talking with the Baron de Baats as she seals a letter with the ring)
Baron de Baats: Who would’ve imagined that one day I would be in league with the Scarlet Pimpernel. I was so sure he wanted the boy for England.
Marguerite: He wants the boy to live, and you are now the only guarantee of that. These orders will release the Dauphin into your custody. Deliver them to Lord Antony Dewhurst at the island fortress of Mont Saint Pierre. After that you have until tomorrow nightfall to get the boy across the border.
Baron de Baats: But I need more time than that! There are arrangements to be made! The drive is long enough!
Marguerite: Tomorrow at nightfall, I can offer you no more! (she exits)
~
(Percy is talking to Chauvelin and Fouquet in his cell)
Chauvelin: At last you’re talking sense!
Percy: One condition, my dear Chauvelin: my wife, her brother, and all my men must be guaranteed safe conduct back to England.
Chauvelin: As soon as I have the boy. Where is he?
Percy: I am afraid I cannot tell you that. I must lead you to him personally. My men will only release him in exchange for me.
Chauvelin: Agreed.
Percy: A little matter of loyalty, you understand.
Chauvelin: Of course.
Percy: One other matter. A change of linen, (sniffs his clothes) perhaps? (Chauvelin chuckles)
Fouquet: He takes you for a fool, Chauvelin.
Percy: My dear Fouquet, if it becomes inevitable that I should take a ride in a tumbrel, I can assure you, I intend to go properly dressed.
Chauvelin: He can scheme all he likes. Guard! (guard enters with Marguerite and Armand, Percy takes her hand and looks at the ring)
Percy: Hostages? How noble you are.
Chauvelin: You are not the only one to scheme, Sir Percy. You and I will travel together, they will follow in the coach behind. Any trickery, my friend, and they die. All I ask is that you lead me to the boy.
~
(single coach riding to the seaside, Baron de Baats reading inside, Baron inside Mont St. Pierre meets Tony)
Tony: Baron de Baats.
Baron de Baats: My lord.
Tony: Louis! (Dauphin runs down the steps into Tony’s arms, then turns to get introduced) Your Highness, this gentleman is the Baron de Baats. He’s going to take you across the northern frontier, and from there into Austria.
Baron de Baats: Your Royal Highness (bows) you have many friends in my country who will help you to reclaim the throne that has been so cruelly denied you. (Dauphin looks at Tony who nudges him to the Baron) Come.
Tony: I wish you both a safe journey. Godspeed! (coach leaves with the Baron and Dauphin)
***
19. Percival Perseveres
(two coaches approach Mont St. Pierre with a large guard; Percy stares smugly at Chauvelin in the first, Marguerite sits with her brother in the second, coaches stop, the Corporal approaches Chauvelin’s)
Captain: Citizen.
Chauvelin: Take half your men and go on ahead. Signal if all is well.
Captain: Yes, Citizen. You men! Follow me! (ride to fortress)
Chauvelin: Two birds with one stone, the Dauphin and the Scarlet Pimpernel. My seat on the Committee of National Security is assured, thanks to your primitive sense of noblesse oblige.
Percy: Primitive? My dear Chauvelin, I shall take it any day over your new order.
Guard: A signal from the fort rear, Citizen. All’s clear.
Chauvelin: Thank you, Corporal. You and your men remain here. Make sure that nobody leaves the island without me. If I’m not back within the hour, come in and fetch me.
Corporal: Yes, Citizen.
Chauvelin: Onward, driver! (coaches approach fort)
~
(coach party inside with soldiers)
Chauvelin: Gone? What do you mean they’re gone?!
Captain: That’s just it, Sir. The boy, the Scarlet Pimpernel’s men all flown. This man says he may have overheard what was happening.
Chauvelin: Well, where have they gone? Speak up!
Monk: To take the boy across the southern frontier to Spain, and thence to England.
Chauvelin: England? Just as I thought. (guards take monk away, Chauvelin turns to Percy) This is your doing! Take this spy into the courtyard and execute him at once.
Marguerite: No!
Percy: I have only one last request, Chauvelin.
Chauvelin: Yes?
Percy: Spare my wife. Allow her to go free.
Chauvelin: Oh, she will be free. But only after you are dead. Take him away!
Marguerite: No, please! (to Percy) Let me die with you.
Percy: My darling, what I am about to do is for the best. Trust me this one last time, without question. I shall be back, my dear Chauvelin, (takes off coat jacket) I shall return to haunt you.
Captain: Detail left turn, forward! (Guards march out; Percy kisses Marguerites hand and takes a last look at her before leaving; she goes to her brother; guards march Percy out)
Captain: Detail halt! Face front! (captain offers Percy a blind fold, but he waves it away, captain salutes and steps away) Ready! (pulling out sword) Aim! (Percy turns, sticks his chin up proudly, long silence)
Chauvelin: Fire, damn you, fire!
Captain: Fire! (guns fire)
Marguerite: PERCY!!!! (turns into her brother’s shoulder, captain enters)
Chauvelin: Captain.
Captain: Sir.
Chauvelin: Take these two prisoners back to their coach.
Captain: Yes, Sir.
Chauvelin: They will be returned to Paris, there to be tried and executed for treason.
Armand: I’m…not afraid to die, Chauvelin, but you gave your word that Marguerite would go free.
Chauvelin: (nods) But an oath to a scoundrel is meaningless. (Chauvelin moves and Percy comes into view in the background)
Percy: Sink me, I couldn’t agree more. (Marguerite turns around in delight, Chauvelin in fear) No, no, no, my dear Chauvelin, never fear, you are not looking upon a ghost. But allow me to introduce your soldiers. Lord Antony Dewhurst. (Tony bows with a smirk) Sir Andrew Ffoulkes . (Andrew bows with a smile) Lord Timothy Hastings. (pauses to give Chauvelin a smirk) and the league of the Scarlet Pimernel (three more soldiers come out and Percy removes the monk’s wig). But something tells me that you’re wondering what happened to the men that you sent on ahead, hmm? (walks steps and motions for Chauvelin to come, opens a door to reveal the men in their undergarments, tied hands and feet, and gagged) Voilà. I’m surprised, my dear Chauvelin that you didn’t notice their ill fitting uniforms, but then fashion never was your forté, was it? (fluffs Chauvelin’s cravat with his eye piece)
Chauvelin: But why this charade? This mock execution?
Percy: My dear chap, I never would have dreamt of depriving you of your moment of triumph! Alas, a moment was all I could spare. (he smirks and leans on the wall)
Chauvelin: My congratulations to you, Sir Percy. As always, everything planned down to the last detail. Only this time you have overlooked one little thing. There is no way off this island except back over the causeway. And if you care to look out of that window, you will see my men, my own men, standing guard.
Percy: Sink me, so they are. But then, if you would care to look out of that window, you would see me yacht, the Daydream waiting just off shore to take Lady Blakeney, Armand, and my men safely back to England. (Chauvelin rushes to window and sees the yacht)
Chauvelin: My hat is off to you, Sir Percy. You’ve done it again. (throws his gloves and grabs the captain’s sword, slashes at Percy)
Andrew: Percy! (throws him a sword; Percy unsheathes it, parries Chauvelin’s attack and stops on his sword)
Percy: A gentleman always removes his coat. (shoves Chauvelin and takes his coat; Tony, Andrew, and Timothy move forward) Stand away! (they stop) This pleasure is all mine. (flips Chauvelin’s sword back to them, they duel officially, in the process, Chauvelin hits a lamp stand, Percy undoes Chauvelin’s cravat, removes his vest buttons, and takes off the vest all with a big smirk, while Marguerite panics in the arms of her brother; Chauvelin falls to his knees with Percy’s sword at his throat)
Chauvelin: Well, finish it off, man. Or do you lack the courage?
Percy: I always like to give a man a sporting chance.
Chauvelin: Oh, the English, and their stupid sense of fair play.
Percy: Exactly so, my dear Chauvelin, which is why I think, in your case, fair play to leave your fate in the hands of Robespierre and his Committee. Take him away, and strip him. (hands his sword to Andrew) I shall need his styleless garments to persuade the guard at the causeway that I am Citizen Chauvelin lui-même.
Marguerite: You’re not going away, I won’t let you.
Percy: My darling, I must. I promised Armand that I would bring Louise safely back to England.
Armand: Not this time. I will pose as Chauvelin and go to Paris in your place. Perhaps in this small way I may atone for my mistakes.
Marguerite: No, neither of you are going, it’s too dangerous. Percy, you mustn’t let him do it.
Tony: Sir, your wardrobe. (hands Percy Chauvelin’s hat)
Percy: A-ha. I will confess, this is one role that I always loathed to play. The honor, my dear, Armand, is all yours. (hands him the hat, they bow to each other) Godspeed, my friend. (Armand takes the carriage to the causeway, covers his mouth with a cloth to speak)
Armand: To Paris, Corporal, as quickly as possible.
Corporal: Very good, Citizen Chauvelin. (Percy and Marguerite are gazing into each other’s eyes)
Tony: He’s safely away, Percy.
Percy: Then prepare to board the Daydream. We sail for England.
~
(Percy is holding Marguerite onboard the Daydream)
Marguerite: They seek him here; they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell?
My own elusive Pimpernel.
Percy: Sink me, the lady’s a poet. (kiss)
The End
(A horse and carriage driving up to Blakeney Mansion)
Coachman: Whoa.
-
(Marguerite rushes into her home; Shivers is sitting in a chair by the door; he stands up at her entrance)
Marguerite: Shivers, where’s Sir Percy? I must speak to him at once.
Shivers: He’s gone milady.
Marguerite: (Comes around the support column) Gone? Where to?
Shivers: There’s a note for you in the library. (She picks up a candelabra and rushes to the library; she goes to the fireplace and pulls off a note from the mantle; she opens and reads it)
Marguerite: The North country in the middle of the night? How bizarre. (She looks up to the painting above and raises the candelabra to see it better and looks at the ring on Percy’s finger. It has the seal of the Scarlet Pimpernel; she turns and looks up at the shield crest on the wall, which also has the Scarlet Pimpernel; she walks over to it, dropping the letter on the way and looks at it raising the light)
The Scarlet Pimpernel. Percy. Oh God, what have I done?
~
(The Temple Prison)
Armand: She Mollycoddles the boy. A pillow for his royal head. Shoes for his royal feet! (Armand and Fouquet walking down the prison staircase) Next she’ll be turning over the crown to the little brat.
Fouquet: What can you expect from a woman Citizen St. Just! Her heart’s as soft as her head! But I can assure you Mme Duval is as trustworthy as her husband.
Armand: Trustworthy? Ha! I’m not so sure either is trustworthy. I hear the man is in debt, (M. et Mme Duval listening in on conversation in the hall) and that makes him ripe for bribery.
Fouquet: Bribery?
Armand: Well, those bent on rescuing the boy would be willing to pay handsomely.
Fouquet: Duval and his wife will be replaced as soon as possible.
M. Duval (whispers): Come.
Armand: Very wise.
~
(La Comédie Française, Louise performing on stage)
Louise: But death, rubbing my eyes of light will give back to the sun its untarnished purity. (acts dying, Armand in a box applauds with the audience, curtains close; Armand walks down towards Louise’s boudoir and the Baron de Baats approaches him)
Baron de Baats: A word, my friend.
Armand: Augh, will it wait? Mlle Longé has just finish…
Baron de Baats: I have received information that Chauvelin has sent a secret communiqué from London concerning you.
Armand: Concerning me?
Baron de Baats: Chauvelin knows that you are in league with (whispers) the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Armand: I? In league with the (whispers) Scarlet Pimpernel? (normal) Oh, really, Baron. Someone has been teasing you.
Baron de Baats: Ah, you’re playing a very dangerous game, M. Armand St. Just. Now why not tell your (whispers) Scarlet Pimpernel to leave the rescue of the Dauphin to the French royalists? After all, they have a far more legitimate claim to him than the English have.
Armand: If I knew the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, and I-do-not, he would laugh in my face! He must know you want the boy for yourself.
Baron de Baats: I?
Armand: So that you can collect the gold that awaits you in Vienna, when you deliver the heir to the French throne to your Austrian friends, hmm? (starts to leave)
Baron de Baats: And did the Scarlet Pimpernel tell you that?
Armand: (stops) Of course not! He’s not even in Pari… (turns) Thank you for your word of warning, Baron. And now, if you will excuse me, I don’t like to keep Mlle Longé waiting. (nods to Baron and exits)
Baron de Baats: (nods) Mmm. (has a pleased, thoughtful look on his face)
~
(four soldiers march behind Ponceau, who stop at a house and pound on the door, Armand and Louise stir in bed as Ponceau continues pounding on their front door)
Ponceau: Open in the name of the Republic! (Louise and Armand get up, alarmed, Aunt Lulu leads the soldiers up the stairs)
Lulu: The very idea! Disturbing decent citizens with all that noise!
Ponceau: Where is Mlle Longé?
Lulu: Where else would she be at this ungodly hour? In her boudoir! (leads Ponceau through curtains to a room adjacent to the bedroom where Louise is waiting, Ponceau bows)
Louise: Why it’s Alfonse Ponceau! (closes the bedroom door)
Aunt Lulu: Forgive me, my dear, but he insisted.
Louise: Oh, that’s quite all right, Aunt Lulu, M. Ponceau and I are old friends! It’s a trifle early for a social call, Monsieur.
Ponceau: This is not a social call, Mlle, I am here to arrest the man in your boudoir. (Armand listening behind door)
Louise: Oh, there must be some mistake. Arrest? Citizen St. Just?
Ponceau: The warrant was signed by Citizen Chauvelin himself when he returned from London this very morning.
Louise: He means to arrest his own superior? A man as important as…Citizen Robespierre? (Lulu watching the exchange like a ping pong match)
Ponceau: Superior?
Louise: You did say you were here to arrest Louis St. Just?
Ponceau: Louis St. Just. I am to arrest Armand St. Just! See here!
Louise: Oho, that explains it! The gentleman in my boudoir is not Armand St. Just, but Louis, his distinguished cousin.
Ponceau: Do you mean to say in that room at this moment sleeps one of the most powerful men in France?
Louise: (nodding her head excitedly) Well, unless all the fuss has disturbed him, shall I go and see?
Ponceau: No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Why disturb the good citizen if he is asleep? I’ll just leave quietly. (backing away out the door) No need even to mention this little incident, such a busy man, so many important things on his mind. Why, if you please, just forget I was here, a silly misunderstanding, that’s all. (exits; to soldiers) Come along, you idiots! (Louise and Lulu grimace at each other; Louise returns to bedroom, and embraces Armand)
Armand: Oh, darling, how ingenious! You were wonderful. (kisses her cheek)
Louise: When he realizes his mistake, he’ll be back. (Armand dresses) You must leave Paris immediately!
Armand: Not without you. You are coming with me to England. Be ready at midday tomorrow and I’ll return to fetch you then.
Louise: It’s too dangerous, they’ll be watching the house. Meet me at the theater. Now, go! (they exit to adjacent room, Louise stops Armand) No, not that way, they’ll be watching the house. Go to the roof. (he opens the door and pulls her close)
Armand: ‘Till midday. (they kiss; he exits and climbs over the roof)
~
(Chauvelin storms through to his office with Ponceau on his heels)
Chauvelin: Imbacile! Louis St. Just is as celibate as a monk! I doubt whether he’s slept with his own wife in ten years! She’s taken you for the fool you are!
Ponceau: I shall return at once and make the arrest.
Chauvelin: Oh, he’s long gone by now.
Ponceau: But don’t you think…
Chauvelin: I’ll handle this myself…
Ponceau: But it would be much…
Chauvelin: Ponceau.
Ponceau: But I really think…
Chauvelin: Get out. (Ponceau bows and exits, Chauvelin opens a second door where a dark man enters) Go to the residence of Mlle Longé. Inform me the minute Armand St. Just shows his face. (man turns to leave) Armand St. Just. (closes door)
~
(Percy taps hand is on a map of the Temple Prison with a quill)
Percy: Duval, the Dauphin’s jailer, and his wife will be replaced tomorrow. So, at long last, we can make our move. Thanks to you, my dear Armand. Now, listen carefully. (flips to a map of France) The boy will be brought to the rendezvous point outside Paris here, (marks on map with quill) where Armand will be waiting precisely at midday. The timing is crucial. One slip and we could have half the revolutionary force of France on our heels. From there he will be taken to the transfer point where Tony will be waiting with the horses. Tony takes him on to Mont St. Pierre whilst you ride on to Calais. You bring the yacht (Percy points for Tony to pull out another map) to the rendezvous point here. (marks on map with quill) Where you wait, only until the boy is safely on board, and then on the first available tide, sail for England. (Timothy nods) Where you, my dear Armand, must stay. It is no longer safe for you in Paris.
Armand: (incensed) Eh, well, is it safe for any of us?
Percy: You took an oath of unquestioning obedience when you joined us.
Armand: But I gave my word to Louise!
Percy: It is your word to the league that concerns me now.
Armand: Percy, let me go back and bring her to England.
Percy: Out of the question.
Armand: How can you be so unfeeling? You don’t even know the meaning of love. (stomps off)
Percy: You must learn to trust me, my friend. (walks towards him) Do not trouble your head with thoughts of Louise. I will see that she is safe.
Armand: Will you bring her back to England?
Percy: I give you my word. (Armand sighs) Now, get some rest. (taps Armand on the shoulder with eyeglass, Armand smirks, Percy turns to go) By the way, (faces Armand) you were wrong about my not knowing the meaning of love. Quite wrong. (fade to black)
***
17. Rescuing Royalty
(Marguerite sailing to France with Sir Andrew)
Andrew: I should never have allowed you to come along, it’s far too dangerous.
Marguerite: I would gladly face any danger to save Percy. I love him more than life itself, I know that now.
Andrew: I can only pray that I’m doing the right thing.
Marguerite: Had you hesitated, he would surly have gone to the guillotine.
Andrew: Look! (points to land) Calais. We’ll land by nightfall.
~
(Armand gets up and sneaks out of the room where the league is sleeping; Tony gets up to go after him, but Percy puts a hand on his shoulder)
Tony: Well, aren’t you going to stop him?
Percy: (shakes head) No.
~
(Armand knocks on the door of Louise’s house, Lulu lets him in)
Lulu: Come on in. (dark man watching the house leaves)
~
(Marguerite and Andrew leave Auberge de Calais and step into a coach, servant puts up the stairs and closes the door)
Coachman: Right. Giddy up!
~
(Temple Prison, Pimpernel carries a chair down the stairs with Mme Duval behind him)
Mme. Duval: Seron! Seron! Seron, take care of that chair! That belonged to my grandmother! (he turns to her)
Pimpernel: Citizen Seron to you, eh? (turns and hits her with the chair)
Mme. Duval: This way! (he turns back around and follows her outside)
M. Duval: Eh! They’re now welcome to the brat! Huh! Let’s see how long the next man lasts! Come on, let’s get out of here!
Mme. Duval: What about the rest of our furniture?
M. Duval: Eh, the lackey’ll manage. You’ve given him the gate pass and the address?
Percy: Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Rue de Bac, Saint Claire, yeah?
Mme. Duval: Now, make sure you get there before dark.
Pimpernel: All right, all right.
M. Duval: Hey! Up! (they leave in a horse cart; Pimpernel carries a big basket down the stairs, Fouquet is leading the new Dauphin guard to his appartments)
Fouquet: As soon as the lackey has the apartment cleared, you and your wife can move your things in, Citizen Chouleau. (they crowd in the doorway, stopped by Pimpernel coming out)
Pimpernel: Well, make way, then. Make way. Mme. Duval’s precious china this is. Yeah. (Pimpernel puts the basket on the back of the cart, then gets in the driver’s seat) Get up, then! (leaves, Fouquet shows M. et Mme. Chouleau the appartment)
Fouquet: These will be your quarters, and in here you’ll find the brat. (opens the peek window) I warn you, he’s a handful. (Chouleau looks in)
Chouleau: You leave him to me and my misses. He’ll toe the line, he will.
~
(Pimpernel waits for guards to inspect him at the gate)
Sergeant: Papers! (Pimpernel hands them over, guard reads it) This pass is signed by Citizen Fouquet!
Pimpernel: Eh. (nods)
Sergeant: The governor of the Temple Prison!
Pimpernel: The very same, Sergeant, the very same. (gives him back paper)
Sergeant: Right! Pass! Gates!
~
(Temple Prison, Chauvelin rushes to Dauphin’s room with Fouquet)
Chauvelin: You had specific instructions to inform me if there was to be any changes in the jailers!
Fouquet: On my word, Citizen, he was sleeping like a babe the last time I looked in, (looks in peek window) just as he is now! Look for yourself!
Chauvelin: And what prompted you to make this sudden change?
Fouquet: Well, when I received your warning about Duval!
Chauvelin: I gave no warning…St. Just. Open that door.
Fouquet: But…
Chauvelin: I said open it! (Fouquet hurries to open it, they enter, Chauvelin takes off the blanket, then picks up the stuffed doll with a wig, which has a card of the Scarlet Pimpernel in the collar, Chauvelin punches it)
~
(Pimpernel checks the time as he waits in the cart for Armand, it’s 12:20 already, so he opens up the basket and signals the Dauphin to be quiet)
Pimpernel: Would you like to see some magic? Huh? (Dauphin nods; he helps him down) All right, then. Watch this. (pulls out the cloth stuffed in his mouth; the Dauphin stares)
Percy: Let that be a lesson to you, Sir. Never take anyone for granted. (the Dauphin smiles)
~
(mounted guards ride to gates)
Sergeant: Gates! Clear the way! (Guards exit the city; Percy checks time now at 12:40, sees guards coming)
Percy: Down on the floor, Sir. (Dauphin sits on cart floor) Looks like we’re in for a run. (front guard shoots, basket falls off cart, guard shoots again, hits Percy, the cart takes a turn and Percy loses control, cart collapses; guards overtake cart)
Head guard: Right! Spread out and search the woods! They can’t’ve gone far! (Percy looks through a hole in a hollowed out tree, guard speaks in the distance) They must’ve crossed the river! Search the other side! (Percy turns to Dauphin and nods, then lets him down and follows; they run off into the woods, and meet Tony with a pistol pointed at them)
Percy: Good God, man, hold your fire!
Tony: Percy!
Percy: I’ve had my fair share for one day. You must take the boy onto Mont Saint Pierre. Find some way to notify the captain of my ship that the plans have changed. (Tony nods) Meanwhile, I’ll return to Paris.
Tony: My dear chap, you can’t possibly…
Percy: Armand didn’t arrive. He must be in trouble. I cannot desert him now.
Tony: Right, Percy. (Tony mounts, Percy hands the Dauphin up into the saddle) Up.
Percy: Godspeed, Your Highness. (Tony leaves, Percy mounts and goes off in the opposite direction)
18. A Fair Exchange
(a dirty boy knocks on Louise’s door, Lulu comes out)
Lulu: What do you want? (boy hands her a note)
Boy: A gentleman asked me to give you this. (she looks at it)
Lulu: Tell him it is safe to come in. (boy runs across the street to Percy)
Boy: She says it’s safe. (Percy smiles and gives him a coin) Thank you!
Lulu: Quickly, Monsieur, come with me. (He looks around before entering; she leads him past the curtains) In there. (she puts her hand to her face in shame as he enters the room; Louise has her head hung and her back to the door, Percy removes his hat)
Percy: Mlle. Longé.
Louise: Please forgive him, Sir Percy.
Percy: No matter. I, too, understand the strength of love. (kisses her hand)
Chauvelin: He-hem. (Percy’s expression falls as he turns around) Good day, Sir Percy. I realize that your noblesse oblige would not permit you to abandon one of your men. (Guards enter, one holding Armand)
Armand: I’m sorry, Percy. (nods significantly at the door to the roof, Percy nods)
Percy: Sink me! If you aren’t right, for a change. But then two no account fellows like us in exchange for one royal prince would seem to be a fair exchange, don’t you think? Amazing how a mere lad can slip through your fingers so easily, hmm? I’ll wager there’ll be the devil to pay when your Committee of National Security discovers that he left the country.
Chauvelin: Oh, has he left the country? My understanding was that there was some problem in getting away.
Percy: No, no, no. It is done like this. (Throws his cloak over one of the guards) Now’s your chance! (Armand punches the guard next to him, Percy elbows another, Armand escapes by the roof)
Chauvelin: No! Leave him! This is the prize I’m after! (Percy heads for the stairs and jumps, but is lead back up them by two more guards) Very foolish, Sir Percy.
Percy: Gad, Sir. Noblesse oblige.
~
(Marguerite enters Chauvelin’s office)
Chauvelin: Lady Blakeney. What a delightful surprise!
Marguerite: I seriously doubt that.
Chauvelin: I had heard, unofficially, of course, that you were in Paris. Please, won’t you take a seat. (ignores this and remains standing)
Marguerite: I shall make this brief. I’m here on behalf of my husband. This is a petition of clemency signed by the Prince of Wales. (he tries to take it, but she pulls it away) Now, unless you wish me to take it to Robespierre himself, I demand that you let me see my husband at once.
Chauvelin: There’s no need for all that. You had but to ask.
~
(Marguerite holds a handkerchief to her nose as they lead her to Percy’s jail cell)
Chauvelin: You have a visitor.
Percy: Marguerite.
Marguerite: Alone, as you promised.
Chauvelin: Two minutes. Remember my conditions. (Chauvelin exits and locks the door, but opens up the peek window; they slowly step towards each other, then Percy extends his hand, she rushes to him)
Marguerite: Oh, my darling! (they embrace; Chauvelin closes the peek window, they speak in whispers)
Percy: How I prayed you would come. My darling, can you ever forgive me for doubting you?
Marguerite: Oh, it is I who must beg your forgiveness. Chauvelin says that he will release you if you tell him the Dauphin’s whereabouts. If not…oh, Percy, I couldn’t bear to lose you now!
Percy: He knew that your tears would be the worst possible torture.
Marguerite: Tell them. Tell them what they want to know.
Percy: My darling, I cannot. You must not ask me.
Marguerite: Then we must find a way to get you out of this dreadful place.
Percy: There may be a way. Now listen carefully, (he pulls her further from the door) there’s not enough time to repeat anything. The life of the Dauphin and all my men may depend upon your ability to execute my orders to the letter. Quickly. (he looks at the door and takes off his ring) Put this on. You will need it in order to carry out my instructions. (puts it on her gloved hand)
~
(Marguerite is talking with the Baron de Baats as she seals a letter with the ring)
Baron de Baats: Who would’ve imagined that one day I would be in league with the Scarlet Pimpernel. I was so sure he wanted the boy for England.
Marguerite: He wants the boy to live, and you are now the only guarantee of that. These orders will release the Dauphin into your custody. Deliver them to Lord Antony Dewhurst at the island fortress of Mont Saint Pierre. After that you have until tomorrow nightfall to get the boy across the border.
Baron de Baats: But I need more time than that! There are arrangements to be made! The drive is long enough!
Marguerite: Tomorrow at nightfall, I can offer you no more! (she exits)
~
(Percy is talking to Chauvelin and Fouquet in his cell)
Chauvelin: At last you’re talking sense!
Percy: One condition, my dear Chauvelin: my wife, her brother, and all my men must be guaranteed safe conduct back to England.
Chauvelin: As soon as I have the boy. Where is he?
Percy: I am afraid I cannot tell you that. I must lead you to him personally. My men will only release him in exchange for me.
Chauvelin: Agreed.
Percy: A little matter of loyalty, you understand.
Chauvelin: Of course.
Percy: One other matter. A change of linen, (sniffs his clothes) perhaps? (Chauvelin chuckles)
Fouquet: He takes you for a fool, Chauvelin.
Percy: My dear Fouquet, if it becomes inevitable that I should take a ride in a tumbrel, I can assure you, I intend to go properly dressed.
Chauvelin: He can scheme all he likes. Guard! (guard enters with Marguerite and Armand, Percy takes her hand and looks at the ring)
Percy: Hostages? How noble you are.
Chauvelin: You are not the only one to scheme, Sir Percy. You and I will travel together, they will follow in the coach behind. Any trickery, my friend, and they die. All I ask is that you lead me to the boy.
~
(single coach riding to the seaside, Baron de Baats reading inside, Baron inside Mont St. Pierre meets Tony)
Tony: Baron de Baats.
Baron de Baats: My lord.
Tony: Louis! (Dauphin runs down the steps into Tony’s arms, then turns to get introduced) Your Highness, this gentleman is the Baron de Baats. He’s going to take you across the northern frontier, and from there into Austria.
Baron de Baats: Your Royal Highness (bows) you have many friends in my country who will help you to reclaim the throne that has been so cruelly denied you. (Dauphin looks at Tony who nudges him to the Baron) Come.
Tony: I wish you both a safe journey. Godspeed! (coach leaves with the Baron and Dauphin)
***
19. Percival Perseveres
(two coaches approach Mont St. Pierre with a large guard; Percy stares smugly at Chauvelin in the first, Marguerite sits with her brother in the second, coaches stop, the Corporal approaches Chauvelin’s)
Captain: Citizen.
Chauvelin: Take half your men and go on ahead. Signal if all is well.
Captain: Yes, Citizen. You men! Follow me! (ride to fortress)
Chauvelin: Two birds with one stone, the Dauphin and the Scarlet Pimpernel. My seat on the Committee of National Security is assured, thanks to your primitive sense of noblesse oblige.
Percy: Primitive? My dear Chauvelin, I shall take it any day over your new order.
Guard: A signal from the fort rear, Citizen. All’s clear.
Chauvelin: Thank you, Corporal. You and your men remain here. Make sure that nobody leaves the island without me. If I’m not back within the hour, come in and fetch me.
Corporal: Yes, Citizen.
Chauvelin: Onward, driver! (coaches approach fort)
~
(coach party inside with soldiers)
Chauvelin: Gone? What do you mean they’re gone?!
Captain: That’s just it, Sir. The boy, the Scarlet Pimpernel’s men all flown. This man says he may have overheard what was happening.
Chauvelin: Well, where have they gone? Speak up!
Monk: To take the boy across the southern frontier to Spain, and thence to England.
Chauvelin: England? Just as I thought. (guards take monk away, Chauvelin turns to Percy) This is your doing! Take this spy into the courtyard and execute him at once.
Marguerite: No!
Percy: I have only one last request, Chauvelin.
Chauvelin: Yes?
Percy: Spare my wife. Allow her to go free.
Chauvelin: Oh, she will be free. But only after you are dead. Take him away!
Marguerite: No, please! (to Percy) Let me die with you.
Percy: My darling, what I am about to do is for the best. Trust me this one last time, without question. I shall be back, my dear Chauvelin, (takes off coat jacket) I shall return to haunt you.
Captain: Detail left turn, forward! (Guards march out; Percy kisses Marguerites hand and takes a last look at her before leaving; she goes to her brother; guards march Percy out)
Captain: Detail halt! Face front! (captain offers Percy a blind fold, but he waves it away, captain salutes and steps away) Ready! (pulling out sword) Aim! (Percy turns, sticks his chin up proudly, long silence)
Chauvelin: Fire, damn you, fire!
Captain: Fire! (guns fire)
Marguerite: PERCY!!!! (turns into her brother’s shoulder, captain enters)
Chauvelin: Captain.
Captain: Sir.
Chauvelin: Take these two prisoners back to their coach.
Captain: Yes, Sir.
Chauvelin: They will be returned to Paris, there to be tried and executed for treason.
Armand: I’m…not afraid to die, Chauvelin, but you gave your word that Marguerite would go free.
Chauvelin: (nods) But an oath to a scoundrel is meaningless. (Chauvelin moves and Percy comes into view in the background)
Percy: Sink me, I couldn’t agree more. (Marguerite turns around in delight, Chauvelin in fear) No, no, no, my dear Chauvelin, never fear, you are not looking upon a ghost. But allow me to introduce your soldiers. Lord Antony Dewhurst. (Tony bows with a smirk) Sir Andrew Ffoulkes . (Andrew bows with a smile) Lord Timothy Hastings. (pauses to give Chauvelin a smirk) and the league of the Scarlet Pimernel (three more soldiers come out and Percy removes the monk’s wig). But something tells me that you’re wondering what happened to the men that you sent on ahead, hmm? (walks steps and motions for Chauvelin to come, opens a door to reveal the men in their undergarments, tied hands and feet, and gagged) Voilà. I’m surprised, my dear Chauvelin that you didn’t notice their ill fitting uniforms, but then fashion never was your forté, was it? (fluffs Chauvelin’s cravat with his eye piece)
Chauvelin: But why this charade? This mock execution?
Percy: My dear chap, I never would have dreamt of depriving you of your moment of triumph! Alas, a moment was all I could spare. (he smirks and leans on the wall)
Chauvelin: My congratulations to you, Sir Percy. As always, everything planned down to the last detail. Only this time you have overlooked one little thing. There is no way off this island except back over the causeway. And if you care to look out of that window, you will see my men, my own men, standing guard.
Percy: Sink me, so they are. But then, if you would care to look out of that window, you would see me yacht, the Daydream waiting just off shore to take Lady Blakeney, Armand, and my men safely back to England. (Chauvelin rushes to window and sees the yacht)
Chauvelin: My hat is off to you, Sir Percy. You’ve done it again. (throws his gloves and grabs the captain’s sword, slashes at Percy)
Andrew: Percy! (throws him a sword; Percy unsheathes it, parries Chauvelin’s attack and stops on his sword)
Percy: A gentleman always removes his coat. (shoves Chauvelin and takes his coat; Tony, Andrew, and Timothy move forward) Stand away! (they stop) This pleasure is all mine. (flips Chauvelin’s sword back to them, they duel officially, in the process, Chauvelin hits a lamp stand, Percy undoes Chauvelin’s cravat, removes his vest buttons, and takes off the vest all with a big smirk, while Marguerite panics in the arms of her brother; Chauvelin falls to his knees with Percy’s sword at his throat)
Chauvelin: Well, finish it off, man. Or do you lack the courage?
Percy: I always like to give a man a sporting chance.
Chauvelin: Oh, the English, and their stupid sense of fair play.
Percy: Exactly so, my dear Chauvelin, which is why I think, in your case, fair play to leave your fate in the hands of Robespierre and his Committee. Take him away, and strip him. (hands his sword to Andrew) I shall need his styleless garments to persuade the guard at the causeway that I am Citizen Chauvelin lui-même.
Marguerite: You’re not going away, I won’t let you.
Percy: My darling, I must. I promised Armand that I would bring Louise safely back to England.
Armand: Not this time. I will pose as Chauvelin and go to Paris in your place. Perhaps in this small way I may atone for my mistakes.
Marguerite: No, neither of you are going, it’s too dangerous. Percy, you mustn’t let him do it.
Tony: Sir, your wardrobe. (hands Percy Chauvelin’s hat)
Percy: A-ha. I will confess, this is one role that I always loathed to play. The honor, my dear, Armand, is all yours. (hands him the hat, they bow to each other) Godspeed, my friend. (Armand takes the carriage to the causeway, covers his mouth with a cloth to speak)
Armand: To Paris, Corporal, as quickly as possible.
Corporal: Very good, Citizen Chauvelin. (Percy and Marguerite are gazing into each other’s eyes)
Tony: He’s safely away, Percy.
Percy: Then prepare to board the Daydream. We sail for England.
~
(Percy is holding Marguerite onboard the Daydream)
Marguerite: They seek him here; they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell?
My own elusive Pimpernel.
Percy: Sink me, the lady’s a poet. (kiss)
The End