a private party. go away.
the cyclops is a captain? he must've made a pact with the devil.
what's the difference?
these gentlemen made a similar request.
probably. but i'll leave it up to my companions. aramis?
and what do you say, porthos?
now. about those tunics.  jussac turns to watch athos, porthos, and aramis step to the street. he mutters as if to curse:
i was trying to remember the last time i saw you here. i know. it was the day you were kicked out of the musketeers.
it was the least we could do.
and if we refuse?
do that, rochefort. tell his emminence the cardinal that we will continue to perform our sworn duty to protect the king. from enemies across the sea.
from traitors who sit at his right hand. and tell him that he can take away our tunics, our muskets, even our swords. but he cannot stop us from being what we are. musketeers.
we'll meet at the columbier-rouge at sundown. to celebrate. and to plan our new lives.
the three musketeers. and that is all that remains.
aaarrgghh.
not as far as i'm concerned.
no. this was musketeer headquarters.
i mean the musketeers have been disbanded. feel free to poke around for souvenirs.
some nonsense about being needed in the army. now if you'll excuse me.  d'artagnan blocks athos' path.
i'd say you've got a problem. d'artagnan grabs athos by his injured arm. athos, stif- ling pain, fixes d'artagnan with a deadly look.
you could use a lesson in manners. d'artagnan touches his sword, eyes flashing at the pos- sibility of a duel.
i'm in a hurry now -- but i'll meet you at the carmes-deshaux monastery at noon.
ten minutes early.
you'll miss it, i'm afraid.
i asked two of my friends to act as seconds, but they are not as punctual.
don't worry. i fight just as well with my left hand.
thanks, but i see my seconds coming now.
why not?
how long have you been in paris?
you've been.  busy.
better to die for love than to live for it. gentlemen?
i told you the next time we met i'd want an answer. but i didn't expect you so soon.
this is not your fight. you're not a musketeer.
have you got a name, boy?
athos.  porthos.  aramis.
the cardinal's guards.
you mean he's still alive?
last rites. aramis takes death very seriously.
not if he leaves paris. which is exactly what he's going to do.
because i do not want you to. it's hard to say whether he's acting out of concern for the boy.  or he simply doesn't give a damn. whatever the case, d'artagnan is crestfallen. the musketeers mount their horses, porthos and aramis adopt a friendlier tone.
wake up, boy. the musketeers are just a dream.
too bad.
gentlemen, your carriage. compliments of the cardinal.
hold on!
you know i prefer wine.
turn right at the next street.
turn. athos growls, d'artagnan jerks at the reins. the carriage careens around the corner, tipping on two wheels.
gentlemen, this is the end of the line. i hope you had a pleasant ride. unhitch the horses.
do as i say. d'artagnan hurries to the horses. porthos and aramis climb from the cab. porthos emits a contented belch.
your pistol and powder, please. aramis hands athos a sack of powder, and his pistol. athos tosses the sack into the carriage, takes aim with the pistol, and shoots it -- igniting the powder inside.
stand back.
d'artagnan, your father and another musketeer were ambushed and murdered outside the louvre. d'artagnan pales, stunned and silent. he manages a broken whisper:
wait.
does the cardinal know you have this information?
then he knows we have it too. and he'll do everything in his power to stop us.
stay on your horse.
don't worry. we'll help him.
mine was taller. aramis swings out of the saddle and begins to perform last rites over the bodies. d'artagnan still can't be- lieve what just happened. he turns to porthos. porthos raises the barrel to his lips and blows away the gunsmoke.
see to our horses and bring us some food.
you fight like a musketeer. let's see if you can drink like one.
famous last words. what shall we drink to?
love. would you like to hear a story, d'artagnan? a love story? athos' voice reveals unexpected vulnerability, the pain he keeps inside. d'artagnan is fascinated, moved. he nearly whispers:
i once knew a man.  one of the counts of berry. my native province. when the good count was about your age, he fell in love with a visitor from paris. a breathtaking girl of seventeen. she was more than beautiful, d'artagnan. she was.  intoxicating. and this man, the poor idiot, he married her.
be quiet and listen. the count took her to his castle and made her the first lady of the province. they were happy for a time, as happy as a man and a woman can be. then one day, while riding in the woods, the girl was thrown from her horse, and knocked unconscious. the count hurried to help her. her dress was torn.
on her her arm, the woman wore a gold band in the shape of a serpent. it was the only article of clothing she refused to remove. the count's curiosity got the best of him. he reached over and slid down the gold band. he saw something on her arm.  something she'd kept hidden 'til then.
the fleur d'lis. she'd been branded.
the count's angel turned out to be a murderess who escaped the executioner's blade. she swore that she loved him. swore that she had changed. and if he would just keep her secret, they would live a long life together. athos pauses, imagines that life. the count and his angel.
but the count was young and he was stupid. he was tormented by the ridicule of his social class. and so he rejected her. for her lies and for her past. and turned her over to the authorities to be executed for the crime.
but you see.  his heart did not agree. the count soon realized what she had meant to him. and what he had done.
that his.  betrayal was far greater than her own. soon after he foreswore the society that shaped him. gave up his title. and was never seen again.
he killed her. it seemed like the same thing after a while.
good. more for me.
only if i can lead.
well?
a connon ball.
stay with us, and you just might get your wish. athos spurs his horse across the field, d'artagnan and the musketeers follow. but they discover crude battle- ments in their path. athos changes direction, sees six horsemen waiting for them in the near distance. he changes direction again, as the horsemen charge after.
split in half! d'artagnan rides with me!
or hell!
they'll catch up eventually.
well. you have your boyhood wish at last. the dark forest. the thrill of the hunt. the nearness of death. only d'artagnan is the hunted, not the hunter.
i just wanted to save you from the life of a musketeer. you don't have to go looking for experience, d'artagnan. it'll find you soon enough. and when it does -- it will mark you forever.
i'll hold them off for as long as i can. go on without me.
ride to calais and stop the cardinal's agent.
go, or i'll kill you myself.
you're insane.
all right. i'll toss a coin. tails i stay, heads you remain. agreed?
tails. i stay.
don't let us down.  musketeer. there are tears in d'artagnan's eyes. he knows athos hasn't got a chance.
go! athos turns away, shoots at another horseman. d'artagnan runs to his mount, gallops away.
sorry i'm late. did i miss anything? d'artagnan almost cries with happiness. he leaps to his feet and embraces athos.
keep your mind on the mission, d'artagnan.
boy, it's a miracle you're still alive fighting like that.
first, always find your enemy's weakness. second, take advantage of it. watch me.
did you find the cardinal's spy?
did you kill him?
what?
no.
stop!! milady takes a halting step, then turns to face him. athos holds his musket in a steady hand. a very long beat. milady takes a step closer. finally, she whispers, with love, with hate:
how did you do it, sabine? how did you come back from the dead?
i did not.
give me the cardinal's treaty.
then i will shoot. athos cocks the trigger. milady whispers:
i know someone who does. d'artagnan, aramis, and porthos watch in grim silence as athos crosses the room to an imposing door. cut to:
i'd like a word with your prisoner.
no.
i could not give it, sabine. i was.  a fool. milady hears the regret in his voice, holds his gaze. athos indicates armand in the corner.
did you kill his brother and his father as he says?
but not before. not us.
do you know the cardinal's plans?
tell me.
i can't.
sabine. you'll die for your crimes. nothing can stop that. but how you leave this world is up to you. milady offers a half-smile, takes his hand in hers.
die in peace.
no.
forgive me, sabine. please forgive.
musketeers.
the king's life in danger. we have work to do.
look through the surrounding area. we'll try to reach the king.
go!
save the king!!
greetings, monsieur cyclops. are we interrupting?
majesty, his heart has only one desire. to become a musketeer. d'artagnan looks at athos, thankful for the intercession. louis answers with pleasure.
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