The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) s01e07 Episode Script

Is that the Count de Morcerf?
Oh, it is indeed.
You must be very excited about Eugenia
and Albert getting married.
They're of an age now.
I believe they grew up together.
I had no idea. Danglars dropped in
on me the other day and mentioned it.
Our families have been
close for a long time.
They would make a lovely couple.
Just a pity Danglars
isn't entirely convinced about it.
- He's not?
- It didn't seem so to me.
What did he say?
I don't recall his exact words,
but the inference was
he had higher hopes for Eugenia.
Higher hopes
I'm sorry, have I?
Have I put my foot in it?
I have a tendency to do that.
I may have completely
misread what I heard, so
Best forget I said anything, Cap.
So Danglars is getting cold feet?
You know how fathers vacillate
when it comes to the future
of their daughters.
I don't, I have no daughters.
Do you have any children, Count?
I don't even have a wife.
The Count of Morcerf
is here for you, sir.
Send him in, then.
I came to see you at your house yesterday,
but they said you were out.
Yes.
Are you not going
to invite me to sit?
Oh, sit.
- Some coffee?
- No, thank you.
What is the purpose of your visit?
I think the time has come for us
to finalise the marriage contract
between Albert
and your daughter Eugenia.
- Why such haste?
- Why wait, is more the question.
Marriage has long been decided.
Well, that was then, but this
This is now.
What are you saying, Danglars?
I don't follow you.
- Circumstances have changed.
- Meaning?
I've
I've changed my mind.
- On what grounds?
- Grounds I cannot disclose, I'm afraid.
What the devil
has gotten into you?
Don't tell me this Italian clown Spada
has something to do with it.
Please, sit.
I don't like looking up at you.
Danglars, we've been
acquainted many years.
There are things which bind us closer
than if we were brothers.
Things that will forever
remain a secret between us.
Do I detect a veiled threat
in your utterance, sir?
You owe me an explanation, sir.
What circumstances occurred
to deprive my son of your favour?
It is from no personal
ill-feeling towards the Viscount.
Towards whom do you bear
this ill-feeling, then?
I think it best
if I don't go into particulars.
I insist on an explanation!
Has Mme. de Morcerf displeased you?
Is it my fortune which
you find insufficient?
No, nothing of the kind, sir.
Is it to do with this railroad
concession?
You're aware that it's been accepted
and approved by Parliament?
Not that. And allow me to say I am
grateful to you for lobbying in my favour.
We agreed to this marriage
five years ago, sir.
As I was saying,
that was then, but this
Do you not wish to ally yourself
with my family, is that it?
Just for a month, sir.
There's no rush, is there?
I will not wait patiently
to be humbled by you.
Set a date and time now or never at all.
I don't understand
why you're so upset.
I'm merely asking you to allow me
to suspend my decision.
Enough of this nonsense!
Did you know
that Fernand Mondego
was once an ordinary
Catalan fisherman?
- Who's Fernand Mondego?
- The Count de Morcerf.
That's his birth name.
He was a lowly fisherman in Marseille.
He joined the military,
somehow rose through the ranks,
and has never looked back since.
Wasn't there
a french officer named Mondego
mixed up in that ugly affair
in Algiers?
The one in which
Ali Pasha was killed.
That was years ago, but yes,
I do recall some talk about it at the time.
Ali Pasha was very favorably
looked upon by the French nobility.
Yeah,
he was a staunch ally of ours.
Indeed.
Do you have
any contact in Algiers?
I do.
Why do you ask?
No real reason.
Perhaps you should look into it.
What is the matter, darling?
My father wants me to marry
the Count of Spada.
- You poor thing.
- First Albert and now this fool.
Papa says if I don't go through with it,
he'll be bankrupt by month's end.
He's taken out an option to buy land
from here to Calais to build a railroad.
And Count Spada and Monte Cristo
are both investing five million,
but only
if I get engaged to Spada.
Otherwise,
father will lose millions.
But this is blackmail.
What am I to do, Louise?
We'll think of something.
They're pickpockets,
the lot of them.
- Are you sure you recognize him?
- Yeah, I'm sure.
They sleep under here every night.
There, the third one.
That's Gaston.
The midwife brought him up
as if he was her own son.
- And now he's a dirty little thief.
- Yeah.
Does he know
Villefort is his father?
No. And Villefort doesn't know
about him either.
If he did,
he'd have the boy killed.
Be quiet!
Right? Right?
Good.
Good boy.
We got the boy, Count.
- When are you seeing Caderousse?
- I'm going now.
Tell him to let the boy know
that everything's paid for.
- Why?
- Don't ask why, Jacopo. Just do it.
Cadarousse must let the boy know
that he has lots of money on him.
But the boy's a thief.
Boville might well be watching
Cadarousse's apartment.
Who knows what can transpire?
We need him to end up
in a court.
You would use the boy?
Why not?
As you just said, he's a thief.
Go, do what you have to do.
Make sure
that Caderousse sets him up.
Right.
It's all been arranged for you
to leave here and go to your mother.
There's one condition
on which you must abide.
If you misbehave,
you will be brought straight back
to live on the streets again.
Think carefully about that,
Gaston.
One does not get second chances
with the man I work for.
She's not my mother.
- I'm adopted.
- Sabrine loves you for some reason.
You should be grateful for that
and grateful to my master.
All of this is costing him
a lot of money.
- How much?
- A very, very substantial amount.
Now, go to sleep.
We leave first thing in the morning.
I know you!
I know you, you little pickpocket!
What do you do at Cadarousse?
And why are you dressed like this?
Explain yourself, boy!
- I'm going home!
- You don't have a home.
And this, huh?
Who'd you steal this from?
- Give it back!
- I don't think so.
What else have you got here?
You little shit!
What's going on down there?
Excuse me?
Gaston has been arrested
for the murder of Boville.
- What?
- Boville tried to arrest the boy,
and he stabbed him. The police
have a witness who saw it all.
I wanted the boy arrested
for theft, not murder.
- He'll get the guillotine for this.
- Forget about the boy.
Caderousse is our problem.
Obviously, he's been compromised.
We must act quickly.
Get the boy out.
So, let's go
and talk to Caderousse.
Police! Open up!
Are you sure this is
his apartment?
It was.
You lying little bastard.
We'll hold him at La Force prison,
Mr. Villefort, awaiting trial for murder.
I wish I could stay
to see how it all unfolds.
Safety first, Caderousse.
Villefort and some policemen
just paid Caderousse a visit
with the boy Gaston.
They must have been
unpleasantly surprised.
You must arrange for Sabrine,
Gaston's foster mother,
to be brought back from Talamone
as soon as possible.
Yes, sir.
New York City.
New York?
Do you have plenty to do there?
I think I'll open a tavern.
I know the business.
They call them bars in America.
You should open one that sells oysters,
single malts and champagne.
Do it close to the stock exchange
to attract that sort of clientele.
I have a little something
for you, Caderousse.
You've been very helpful to me.
Thank you.
Have I redeemed myself?
You've helped restore
my faith in mankind.
Not many have managed that.
Write to me.
I hope when this is all over,
you find peace, Edmond.
As do I.
As do I.
Well now!
You were right
about the Count de Morcerf.
I have just received
news from Algiers.
There is a whole history connecting
Fernand Mondego to Ali Pasha.
No.
A history that ended
in a most unsavory way, it seems.
Here, read this.
It must be finished by noon.
The Enquirer claims to have
information about a French officer
named Fernand who betrayed
Ali Pasha in Algiers in 1817.
"A heinous act of cowardice
which led to Ali Pasha's death"
"and the loss of his fortune.
More to follow."
Mr. Beauchamp is here
to see you, Viscount.
Take him to my apartment.
Why not invite him
to join us for breakfast?
Because it is his newspaper
that published the slur.
Can you explain this?
- That's why I'm here, Albert.
- So this is about my father?
An incriminating letter was handed
to the chairman of the Enquirer
who insisted I publish it in full.
I asked him for time to investigate
the claims, to verify their authenticity.
I want to know
what my father is accused of.
The honour of my family
is at stake here.
I'm sure the claims
are spurious and if so,
my newspaper will publish
a full retraction tomorrow morning.
Can you at least tell me who handed
this letter to your chairman?
Baron Danglars.
The letter is not in his hand.
It was written by a notary
in Algiers, addressed to him.
He merely passed it on to us.
For what reason?
I've no idea.
Have you seen this?
That's just the beginning.
As it says, more to follow.
Tomorrow, Fernand will have
questions to answer,
and that is when we play our card.
- The retraction, are you printing it?
- The claims have been verified.
But surely they're just rumours.
What proof do you have?
Sufficient to go to press,
I'm afraid.
Danglars!
Baron Danglars!
Albert, what are you doing
here at this time of night?
What is the meaning
of this intrusion?
- I know it was you.
- What the devil are you talking about?
You sent a letter to the Enquirer
implicating my father in a crime,
bringing disgrace
to my family's name.
Why? Not content
with humiliating me publicly,
now you want to drag
my family's name to the mud too?
Albert, why would you say
such a thing?
- I was forced to do it.
- How?
Well, perhaps not forced,
but I was coerced into doing it.
- To protect my own name, you see.
- By who?
By your friend and my client,
the Count of Monte Cristo.
Albert.
Read.
Read.
Oh, no.
Where is father?
He has been summoned to appear
before the Chamber of Peers in Parliament.
I asked why,
but he wouldn't say.
Well, there you have it.
- At what time is he to appear?
- Ten o'clock.
Albert.
These are the receipts
from the sales.
One from Fernand to the Sultan,
the other from the Sultan to me.
Ready?
- Yes.
- Good. This is our moment.
Gentlemen, this special sitting
of this chamber
is of such a serious nature,
it was called by the King himself.
Count de Morcerf, an honourable
member of this chamber.
Stand up, please, and take
questions from your peers.
The Enquirer alleges
that you betrayed Ali Pasha
by opening the gates of his fortress
to Suleiman and his men,
that you disappeared thereafter
and returned only
after the massacre was over,
that you were rewarded by Suleiman
with half of Ali Pasha's fortune.
They are lying!
This story has been
concocted by someone
who clearly has a personal
vendetta against me.
Can you prove it, sir?
I don't have to.
My reputation speaks for itself.
My reputation!
I expect an apology
from this chamber,
and a public apology
in retraction from the Enquirer.
If I do not receive the latter, I shall
sue them for defamation of character.
It is a well-known fact
that when you returned
from Algiers to Paris in 1822,
you suddenly became
a very wealthy man. Not so?
I made my fortune
trading stocks and shares.
My banker, Baron Danglars,
will vouch for that.
Are there any more questions?
I'm beginning to find
all this rather tedious.
A witness has come forward
claiming to have evidence
contradicting your version
of events, Count.
Would you be so kind
as to stand there, mademoiselle?
State your name, please.
- My name is Haydee.
- That's Monte Cristo's protege.
I am the daughter of Ali Pasha.
Do you know
the man standing there?
I knew him from when I was a little girl.
His name is Fernand Mondego.
He was my father's
personal bodyguard.
What happened on the night
that your father was killed?
I was five years old.
Capt. Mondego was
always at my father's side.
I do not remember much
about the night of the massacre.
I do, however, remember clearly
that Capt. Mondego was not there.
He disappeared, only to return
the following morning.
Please,
allow the witness to finish!
My mother and I were spared.
Mohammed Suleiman
handed us over to Mondego
and told him he could
dispose of us as he saw fit.
This is preposterous!
Who is this woman?
Suleiman also gave him
two caskets of gold.
- Gold that belonged to my father.
- You're lying!
Silence! Sit down, Count!
Silence!
What happened thereafter?
My mother
died of grief a day later.
And on the following day,
Fernand Mondego
sold me as a slave
to the Sultan of Amir.
Silence, please.
Do you have
documents in your hand?
This is the receipt of that sale.
As you can see,
it is signed by Fernand Mondego.
Count de Morcerf,
is that your signature?
It is my signature.
You have another document?
This is also a receipt of sale.
Made out by the Sultan of Amir
to the man who bought my freedom.
This is signed
by the Count of Monte Cristo.
You are a disgrace
to this chamber, sir.
I suggest you leave.
No doubt you'll be hearing
from the King very soon.
Father!
Wait.
Is it true?
You brought Monte Cristo
into our lives.
It would only be fitting
if you removed him.
Where's the Count?
- Where is he?
- The Count is not here.
He is in his house.
I know he is.
He left this morning.
He gave us all the day off.
And tonight?
What are his movements tonight?
The opera, sir.
Where is Albert?
What happened at the Chamber?
- Thank you for helping me.
- Yes, but at what price?
- Where are you going?
- To the opera.
Now is hardly the time
to go to the opera, Albert.
I have my reasons.
Marcel, follow Albert.
I want to know his every move.
What pleasure it will give me
To see the soul of my soul
The heart of my heart
Filled with happiness
Thank you for coming
at such short notice.
Albert, he has a formidable
reputation with both pistol and sword.
I have no option.
It's as I fear.
He's chosen his seconds.
He does look rather hot.
You should invite yourself over
to Danglars' box.
Are you attracted to drama,
mademoiselle?
- Did I do something wrong?
- Not at all.
The Baroness and I discussed
your proposal with our daughter,
and she is agreeable to it.
This is wonderful news.
Then we can begin
our business at last.
Indeed.
I am very excited at the prospect
of you marrying my daughter.
Come, gentlemen.
Here he is. All good?
It seems I'm to be
a married man quite soon.
Congratulations.
Monte Cristo!
You deceived me, sir.
You pretended to be my friend,
but all along your intention
was to dishonor my father.
You betrayed my trust,
and for that I demand satisfaction.
Viscount,
I am very fond of your mother.
What you are asking
of me would hurt her deeply.
- Not if you are dead.
- Albert, stop this now.
I demand satisfaction.
Consider the challenge accepted.
You choose the place
and the weapons.
Pistols, tomorrow at dawn.
The western edge
of Lucienne Forest.
Yes?
The Countess de Morcerf is here.
- What? Alone?
- Yes, alone.
What do I do?
Show her into my study.
You want to kill my son?
If you kill him, you kill me.
Do you want that?
- He told you?
- I had him followed to the opera.
Then you'll know the son of Fernand
publicly insulted me there.
It is only because he blames you
for his fathers' misfortunes.
They're not misfortunes, Mercedes.
They're a punishment.
And it is not I who has struck him down.
It is Providence that has done it.
What injury did Fernand do to you
in betraying Ali Pasha?
You don't understand.
I have sworn to avenge myself,
not on some French captain,
or the Count de Morcerf,
but on the husband
of Mercedes the Catalan.
Then I am the culprit, Edmond.
It is me who allowed myself
to believe you were dead.
If I did not think you were dead,
I would have never married Fernand.
I would have waited.
- How long would you have waited?
- I am still waiting.
You mustn't go through with this,
Edmond, please.
Do you know why I was arrested,
Mercedes?
No one did.
Fernand delivered
this to the police
on the day
of our engagement celebration.
It was written
by him and Danglars.
My arrest lasted 15 years.
And every day of those 15 years,
I renewed the vow of vengeance
I made on the first day.
Forgive.
Forgive, Edmond.
For my sake, who still love you?
You want me to abandon my purpose
at the moment of its accomplishment?
It's impossible.
Avenge yourself, then.
But let your revenge
fall on the culprits.
On him. On me.
But not on Albert.
Not on my son.
When did you realise it was me?
When I heard your voice
the day you came at my house.
The voice never changes.
At first, I denied it was you,
but love speaks from the heart,
not from the mind.
I love you, Edmond.
I always have.
Then your son shall live.
Thank you.
Thank you, Edmond.
But for that to happen,
I must die.
What?
What are you saying?
Your son humiliated me
in front of many people.
If I ignore his provocation,
how can I live with myself?
What I have loved most after you,
Mercedes, is my dignity.
To have that crushed again
would be too great a blow.
But the duel will not happen
since you forgive.
It must.
But instead of your son's blood
staining the ground, it will be mine.
No.
You would do this for me?
Yes.
But I love you.
Can you accept the indignity
of refusing the duel for me?
I'm afraid I can't.
- Where is my opponent?
- Albert will be along soon enough.
- May I?
- You may.
Are you ready, sir?
The pistols are loaded.
Beauchamp will mark out 20 paces for you,
gentlemen, to take up your positions.
Wait.
Sir
I've made a grave mistake.
Will you hear me out?
I will.
I reproached you for exposing
the conduct of Mr. de Morcerf in Algiers,
for guilty as I knew he was, I thought
you had no right to punish him so.
But, I since have learned
that you had every right.
Your mother told you everything.
I trust she swore you to secrecy.
She did.
Now, sir, if you think
my apology sufficient,
pray give me your hand.
Gentlemen, the Count
has accepted my apology.
I hope the world will not call me cowardly
for acting as my conscience dictates.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Is he dead?
There was no duel.
Instead, I apologized to him.
You did what?
- You heard me.
- Apologize for what? Why?
New circumstances came to my attention,
which caused me to retract the challenge.
What circumstances?
Appalling circumstances.
Albert, come back here.
Albert!
Marcel! Bring me the horse!
Count de Morcerf.
What do I owe this pleasure?
Had you a meeting
with my son this morning?
- I did.
- Why did he not fight?
What are these new circumstances
of which he speaks?
Oh, that, yes.
It is something far worse
than just the betrayal of Ali Pasha.
Sir, you are trying my patience!
I'm here to duel with you.
Well then, let us begin.
We don't need witnesses or seconds.
We know each other well enough.
On the contrary.
We know very little about each other.
Let us see.
Are you not Fernand the fisherman?
Are you not the soldier Fernand
who deserted on the eve
of the Battle of Waterloo?
Are you not the lieutenant Fernand
who served as spy and guide
to the French army in Spain?
Are you not the captain Fernand
who betrayed his benefactor,
Ali Pasha, and had him murdered?
And have not
all these Fernands united
become the Count de Morcerf,
Peer of France?
You look surprised that I know
every page of your life.
But there's only one page
that matters.
This one.
Take it, read it.
Hopefully it jolts your memory.
Given by you to the police
on the day of my engagement
celebration 20 years ago.
Are you still ready to duel, sir?
Does Mercedes know about this?
As does your son.
They know everything.
Courage, Mother.
We can't stay here any longer.