Masque of the Red Death, The (1964)

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Grandmother.

Come closer.

Take this to your
village and tell the people...

the day of their deliverance is at hand.

Make way for Prince Prospero.

Get back there.

According to my custom...

I have come here personally to
thank you for the year's harvest.

To make sure we'll starve on what is left.

And to invite you to a
feast to be held in a fortnight...

when annually I gather about me
the nobles of the countryside.

When you'll throw us the scraps
from your table as if we were dogs.

Exactly.

But these dogs have a
loud bark and show their teeth.

Why?

An old woman met a holy man on the hill.

He made a prophecy.

He said the day of our
deliverance was at hand.

From your tyranny.

Well, then, shouldn't you be
on your knees to give thanks?

Garotte them.

No. I beg of you.

Mercy. Mercy. Mercy in the name of god.

The girl was addressing
me, what is your name?

- Francesca.
- What do you want of me Francesca?

- Forgive them, forgive them.
- That is not possible.

They've defied me.

If my hound bites my hand
after I have fed and caressed him...

- should I allow them to go undisciplined?
- Forgive them, I beg of you.

How innocent you are.

However, I am disposed
to temper justice with mercy.

So I will leave it up to you Francesca.

One must die.

Which one?

One is my father.

The other, the man I love.

You promised me
entertainment but I never hoped for this.

Can such eyes ever have known sin?

They will Alfredo, they will.

However, this is not for your entertainment.

Even so Francesca, you must choose.

One will live, one will die or both will die.

Silence that.

Well, choose Francesca.

Which will die?

Choose.

Must I take care of everything myself?

Well, what is it?

Look sir. Look.

The Red Death.

That old woman was told the prophecy?

- Yes.
- Did you touch her?

- No.
- Or you or you?

Take them to the castle, I'll take the girl.

They may provide us
with some entertainment after all.

To your horses friends.

Burn the village to the ground.

Why you burn their homes? Winter comes.

This is your day of deliverance, remember?

Come on there.
Come on, hurry up. Come on quick.

Come on over there. Come on, then. Come on.

Get moving, there. Quickly, get along.

Come on. Hurry up.

Couriers, you are
to go to my intended guests...

to the Duke of Verga, to Verona, Florence...

tell them that they are to come
here to my castle without delay.

And if they wish admittance, to avoid
the village of Catania but to come at once.

- You will wash.
- In my own time.

The prince says now is the time.

I'll do nothing until I know
about Gino and my father.

- Modesty, but no humility.
- Gino and my father, where are they?

- Why do you hide yourself?
- It's not right that you should look at me.

You may go.

That cross you wear around
your neck, is it only a decoration...

or are you a true Christian believer?

Yes, I believe.

Truly.

Then I want you to remove it at once and
never to wear it within this castle again.

The peasant girl, is she always
to be bathed in my bedroom?

We'll find you another room Juliana.

Meanwhile, you will dress the
Lady Francesca in one of your finest gowns.

I don't...

Later, you can instruct
her in the ways of the court.

- Please, my father?
- Oh yes, your father.

Your father and your
lover are being quartered...

in a warm and safe place.

Now I must join my guests.

You may think that,
you've impressed the Prince Prospero.

- But you can count on little help from me.
- You will do as he told you.

Yes, as we all must do.

I will do what I must to save my men.

But if they are k*lled...

I will die and so will Prince Prospero.

Let me speak to you about
the anatomy of terror.

Terror?

What would you know of terror Alfredo?

Your senses are much too blunt.

What is terror?

Come.

Silence.

Listen.

Is it to awaken and hear
the passing of time...

or is it the failing beat of your own heart?

Or the footsteps of someone who...

just a moment before was in your room?

But let us not dwell on terror.

The knowledge of terror is
vouchsafed only to the precious few.

And now may I present
for your entertainment...

the dancers Esmeralda and Hop Toad.

Wherever did you find her?

Pretty toy, isn't she?

Delightful.

- I wonder...
- I'm sure you do Alfredo.

I'm sure you wonder
about every female in my household.

You seem to take
great pleasure in corrupting it.

I'm not corrupting Alfredo, no. Instructing.

If the wench were full-size,
she'd drown us all in wine.

Well, my first novelty seems to have failed.

However, on the Sabbath at midnight for
your amusement there will be a masquerade.

The wardrobes of the castle are yours to use.

But I beg of you, even
for the humor of it, do not wear red.

You go too far.

I am not without influence and power.

Against the Red Death?

Yes.

Yes, it came to the village.

Even now, it lays waste to the countryside.

So you can count yourselves
fortunate that you are here in this castle...

under the protection of Prince Prospero.

May I present the Lady Francesca?

Meanwhile, continue with your merrymaking.

Act according to your natures.

Señor Veronese...

you do little but eat and swill
and dream of other things.

How like a pig you are. Be one.

You, señor Lampredi...

you laugh at this poor pig...

while you are small and
insignificant no more than a worm.

Can you be a worm, Lampredi?

Señorita Escobar...

do you hear how she laughs?

It is like nothing so much
as a braying jackass.

Be one.

You, señor Rimini,
ride that jackass to market.

As for the rest of you,
use your imaginations.

Show me the lives and loves of the animals.

See if we cannot make something
more exotic of her that will appeal to me.

Francesca?

My father imprisoned a
friend of his in this room for 3 years.

When he was released he could
never again bear to look at the sun...

- or even a daffodil.
- How cruel.

Cruel?

It was simply a test to prove how easily a
man's mind can be controlled and twisted.

My family have always
been interested in such things.

Somewhere in the human mind my
dear Francesca, is the key to our existence.

My ancestors tried to find it...

to open the door that
separates us from our creator.

You need no doors to find God.

- If you believe...
- Believe?

If you believe, my dear
Francesca, you are gullible.

Can you look around this world and believe
in the goodness of a god who rules it?

Famine, pestilence, w*r,
disease and death, they rule this world.

There is also love and life and hope.

Very little hope, I assure you.

No.

If a god of love and light
ever did exist, he is long since dead.

Someone, something rules in his place.

No.

No, that room is not open to you.

Not yet.

What's in there?

You look as though...

Is there something to fear in that room?

For the uninvited, there is much to fear.

This has been a trying day for you.

You must sleep.

You must sleep.

Tomorrow you may see Gino and your father.

Prince Prospero.

Why do you roam the late night corridors?

- Sleep eludes me.
- You have disturbing thoughts?

And you Juliana, what keeps you awake?

I think my thoughts dwell on the
same subject as you, the peasant girl.

She has a perfect faith.

So do I, in you and in what you believe.

I've been an eager student, but
I've held back from the final ceremony.

And now I'm ready to join you
at the invocation.

How truly realistic women are.

Finally you are ready to dare
the most terrible rites and incantations...

to secure your position here.

I wonder...

I wonder if she's ready to dare as much of...

anything for the sake of love.

Did I startle you, my dear?

Watch.

Do you know how a falcon is trained, my dear?

Her eyes are sewn shut.

Blinded temporarily, she
suffers the whims of her god...

patiently until her will is
submerged and she learns to serve.

Thus your god taught
and blinded you with crosses.

You had me take off my cross
because it offended...

It offended no one.

My master and his followers
look about with open eyes.

No. It simply appeared to me
to be discourteous to...

to wear the symbol of a deity long dead.

Your master?

Satan.

The lord of flies.

The fallen angel.

The devil.

Come.

Who seeks entrance
to Prince Prospero's castle?

Scarlatti and his wife,
Prospero's invited guests.

Open the gate at once.

It is the prince himself
who speaks to you, Scarlatti.

- You are no longer welcome here.
- Really?

- I know your whims but...
- The village is full of the Red Death.

The Red Death.

Prince Prospero, I beg you,
allow us heaven. I beg sanctuary.

This is no church.

By any god, in all\
the gods of time, I beg you.

My wife, you've always thought her beautiful.
And you, you desired her.

I've watched your eyes follow her.

This Scarlatti thought of himself
as a good man in many things.

And he thought of his wife
as pure and unassailable.

I give her to you to do with as you please.

I've already had that doubtful pleasure.

Prince, spare me the Red Death.

I beg you in the name of friendship.

In the name of friendship.

No.

For you, friend.

Madam...

spare yourself the Red Death.

Pick it up.

We've been ordered
to teach you the use of arms.

I will not learn to fight my friend.

Now, don't be a fool.
One of you could survive.

If you fight well, the living one
might be given his freedom.

To live like you?
Like one of Prospero's pet dogs?

k*ll me and Prospero will see you
dead for spoiling his entertainment.

I won't k*ll you. I'll just cut you a bit.

Stop them. Gino knows nothing of fighting.

He learns rather fast.

It is a true fact, that
the greatest swordsman in Italy...

would not fear the second
greatest but would fear the worst...

for that one would be unpredictable.

Francesca. Are you unharmed?

Yes, Gino. And you?

Scratches given to taunt me to fight...

but I will not fight my friend.

You may force me to
discipline you in some other way.

- Do what you will.
- We will not fight.

And I don't think
you'll give us up to simple t*rture.

Because if you did,
then in a way, you would've lost.

You surprise me.

However, I'm pleased to find that
you've given me a puzzle to think about.

Somehow, you two
will challenge death together.

You may be certain of that.

No. This way, my dear.

It would be better.

I understand. Life is often ugly.

But to t*rture men.

Is this what your master
Satan demands as worship?

These cells are very old.

A hundred years ago, an
ancestor of mine was a Christian monk.

He was made examiner of an early inquisition.

He tortured over 600 men,
women and children...

in order to save
their souls for your god of love.

I cannot answer. I have no learning.

But then is Satan a god of hate?

Oh, no. Of reality, of truth.

The world lives in pain and despair but is
at least kept alive by a few dedicated men.

If we lost our power,
chaos would engulf everything.

Sometimes that power must
be used to teach harsh lessons.

But I don't want to learn.

- I'm afraid.
- I do not want to hurt you my dear.

Can't you understand?

I want to help save your soul so
you can join me in the glories of hell.

No. Never.

The way is not easy, I know,
but I will take you by the hand...

and lead you through the
cruel light into the velvet darkness.

Lord Satan, he who is
known as Belial by the ancients...

demon lover, of all those who
wish to live in your eternal night...

here in your hour of deepest dark...

in your temple and before your altar...

I twice bind myself to thee...

As your handmaiden and your betrothed.

And with this symbol
of your lasting victory...

I inscribe the final
mark and offer myself to thee.

Oh Lord Satan...

send me a demon...

so I may know I'm to be your wife.

What are you lurking about for
you grinning, twisted devil?

Not only am I afflicted with this
body but with sleeplessness as well.

Losing your sleep because of the tiny dancer?

She's nothing to me.

I prefer a full-sized woman.

Do you, now?

How do you set about getting such a woman?

My Master...

Prospero provides
me with companions from time to time.

A good master.

Yes, I suppose so
but I imagine there are better.

You'd like to leave Prospero's service?

I fear for the security of his reign.

If I could find a strong
protector, I might dare a change.

And what special service have you to
offer that might persuade someone else...

take you under his protection?

All manner of things,
I've a crafty and inventive mind.

- Indeed? For example?
- The masquerade.

I would devise something startling, novel...

something that would
be the talk of the entire revel.

Have you told Prospero of this novel thing?

I fear the Prince is much too austere.

- Will you tell me?
- Everyone will dress as usual.

A harlequin, a Chinese,
a soldier or a princess.

They will all
either be beautiful or humorous.

- But all will be obviously human.
- I will come as a demon.

Why not come as a great ape?

When the guests are
gathered, you would enter...

arms swinging, advancing
toward the screaming lady...

with lowered head and grinning jaw.

It'll be more than a costume.

It will be a performance...

by the cleverest man at the court.

Where would I get such a disguise?

There is one, in the room of stuffed animals.

Another toy Prince Prospero
never bothers with anymore.

I'm sure it's forgotten.

You really think it would cause a sensation?

Oh, yes.

And there is more to the game.

Oh, Juliana.

- Thank god. I thought...
- Yes?

I don't know.

What's that?

Satan's mark.

Prospero did that to you?

No.

I did it to myself.

It marks me as one of Satan's handmaidens.

Are you ill?

No.

It was a difficult ceremony.

Veils of ignorance were lifted from my eyes.

And now there's only
one more rite to perform...

and I will be wed to Satan.

You've given away your soul.

Yes. Gladly.

Soon all the innocence will be gone...

and then I will have immortality...

and I shall have Prospero.

But I must be certain.

- But if you were gone...
- Gladly. If there were a way.

Would you dare to leave
the safety of this castle?

There is no safety for me here.

This key will unlock the cell.

The guard on the north wall has been bribed.

Take your Gino and your father and go.

But the guards,
the way through to the dungeons?

You've been to the armory and to
the dungeons, must make your own way.

Now go. Quickly.

Gino?

Gino?

Gino.

- Francesca, how did you?
- Juliana.

Quick, we must hurry to the
battlements, the guard there will help us.

- I think I heard something.
- Oh, sit down and play.

Guard.

- Juliana betrayed us.
- She betrayed me.

What can you want of two men
who've done you no harm?

They k*lled 3 of my
guards, three human beings.

According to your faith,
they have sinned greatly.

And tomorrow at the feast
before the masque...

at least one of them must pay for those sins.

Hear me.

Hear me.

Soon you will be costuming
yourselves for the masque.

A celebration, my friends.

A celebration of victory
over death of evil over good.

Señor Scarlatti and his wife
will not be joining us.

He failed to obey my orders.

But because of me, through my mediation
with my master, the lord of flies...

you, all of you,
unworthy though you may be...

will be safe from the Red Death.

We promise you.

Unless, of course, you incur our displeasure.

For some of you are guilty
of acts against us.

Acts of faith, perhaps.

And all of you,
I suspect still harbor some...

sacred thoughts. But no more.

The fallen angel will protect you.

And now for a small entertainment.

Guards.

These 2 men are true believers.

They believe in a god
who preached love thy neighbor.

Therefore they refuse to fight each other
in order to save one of their lives.

However, I have devised a plan whereby...

each may have the honor
and glory of saving the other's life.

There are 5 daggers here.

One of them is impregnated
with a poison that kills in 5 seconds.

Each man, in turn, will cut his forearm.

Begin.

Would you not lay
down your life for your brother?

Next.

Five seconds.

Five seconds.

Five seconds.

Father.

The game was not
played properly so both will die.

- No.
- You're a madman.

And yet I will live and you will die.

Where is your god now
in the hour of your need?

I will see him, in Paradise.

In the role of a martyr.

No. I will not have you k*lled.

I will set you free instead.

Free to go back to
your village and the Red Death.

I beg you.

I am only giving him a further
glorious chance to test his faith, my dear.

Out.

I'll come back for you, Francesca.

Somehow, I'll come back.

Prince Prospero, let me go with him.

- You?
- Please.

You?

Oh, no, my dear.

I could not bear to think of...

No.

You will go to your rooms
now and prepare for the masque.

You will not appear
in your costumes until midnight.

Why do you follow me?

Bring Gino back and...

I will do whatever you wish.

You would destroy yourself for him?

Yes.

You almost cause me to doubt.

Prospero.

My prince.

I'm ready.

My son.

Tell me of it.

My god.

My god.

Who is your god?

The true one.

Yes.

Tell me.

I have sinned.

I have k*lled.

- For yourself?
- No.

Now I'm afraid.

- For yourself?
- For Francesca.

And for me.

I must go back for her, but I don't know how.

What weapon can I use against Prospero?

Love.

In the air, through the trees,
I found myself loving only myself.

I'm afraid of the town
where the Red Death walks.

I'm afraid of Prospero in his castle.

I'm afraid. I'm afraid.

I give you a sign.

What is it mean?

Mankind.

Won't this thing become uncomfortably hot?

It will become a little warm.

But it won't be for long.

After the unmasking you can take
it off because the game will be over.

True enough.

Get on with it.

Perfect.

Perfect.

See yourself.

Now crouch low.

And swing your arms.

Back, mighty animal.

I am your keeper,
brought from deepest Africa...

to control your great strength.

Back.

Back.

Where you go?
The burial ground is beyond the hill.

- We go to the castle.
- Why?

- To beg forgiveness of the prince.
- Forgiveness? For what?

For however we have sinned.

You'll beg forgiveness
at the house of Satan himself?

Better than the Red Death.

Stop. Stop.

My master, Satan.

Prospero?

Prospero?

I am betrothed the devil.

And I have seen the terrors.

Not all of them.

I have survived my own sacrifice.

There is more.

And I am stronger in
the devil's favor than you are.

Together, on Earth,
we shall live as man and wife.

And when he calls us, you will be Satan...

and I still your wife.

I have tasted the beauties of terror.

Hush.

Listen.

The passing of time,
the beating of a heart...

the footstep of an assassin.

Destiny.

I beg you, do not mourn for Juliana.

We should celebrate.

She has just married a friend of mine.

Let the masque begin.

Officer of the night watch.

Who are you?

All that is left of the village of Catania.

Then go back to it.

We beg mercy of the lord Prince Prospero.

Inform the prince. It might amuse him.

Don't grovel to him.

Don't let him delight in
the destruction of your souls.

I wish to save our
bodies, the few left to us.

Do you expect any plea to move his heart?

If we must die, let's die like human beings.

You have not seen the Red Death.

You've not seen the dungeons of Prospero.

Don't be frightened.

Come with me. This is Gino.

This is my child.

I must give her every chance.

Where does the rabbit run?

That one fears Prospero
more than the Red Death.

What do you want?

Mercy, great prince.

This is all that is left of us and the
winter, it comes on the freezing wind.

- There is no shelter.
- Dig a burrow as the fox and rabbits do.

But the wells and the streams,
they'll be frozen over, there's no food.

Then store up nuts, like the squirrels.

Mercy, give us the
sanctuary of the castle walls.

Give me an end to your pleading.
Go back from whence you came.

We will die.

If you refuse to go, then die here. Archers.

- But not the child.
- They will perish anyway.

Not the child.

Fire.

Fire.

Gifts.

Gifts for everyone.

Diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
pearls for my friends.

For my guests.

Look at them.

Look at them all scrambling
like starving men for a crust of bread.

All wealthy, and all greedy for more.

I give you reason
for real rejoicing, my friends.

The only survivors of the village
have just come to the castle walls.

Only 6.

The Red Death has claimed the rest of them.

But as I promised you...

all of you within these walls
under my protection are safe.

So rejoice.

And the 6 who lived?

Dead.

But they demanded to enter the castle.

You k*lled them.

It was a kindness, my dear.

Can't you see that?

The Red Death brings pain
and terror and madness.

I spared them.

Tonight, after the masque,
I will initiate you into understanding.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Gently, my son.

Remain here.

Shortly after the stroke of 1,
I will send Francesca to you.

- I must get to her now.
- You've recovered your courage.

Now prove your wisdom, there is
nothing you can do, there are too many.

- Wait, as I tell you.
- The guards will discover me.

Look there.

Yes?

Oh.

Forgive me for startling you.

It's only Hop Toad,
made more ugly than even he is.

You're not ugly to me.

I've come to tell you that there's no
need for you to appear at the masque tonight.

- I don't understand.
- My plans are made.

If you will trust me and believe in me,
we'll leave this monstrous castle tonight.

- Do we dare? The Red Death...
- It can be no worse than life here.

- Believe in me.
- I do believe in you.

Have a warm cloak and be ready.

The game is almost over.

Have no fear.

I can control this monster.

He only wants a game.

He is too playful.

I will tie him up and make him helpless.

Help.

Help.

Let me down, you fiendish dwarf.

Let me down.

Better let me down.

Look, my dear,

I believe Hop Toad is playing
some sort of a joke on Alfredo.

I will set you to tortures unimagined.

You have already tortured
by your cruelty to my Esmeralda.

Hold this.

The great African ape
says he wants some brandy.

Let me down.

Let me down.

Help. Help.

Help. Let me down.

Help. Help. Let me down.

I see you no longer turn
away from the cruelties of life.

I no longer care.

My life is done.

What's left I give to you tonight.

Guards, clear that out of the way.

How can my guests
be expected to dance around that?

And when you find Hop Toad
give him 5 pieces of gold as a reward...

for his entertaining jest.
You've pleased me very much, my dear.

- What was that?
- What is it?

A costume I haven't seen before, someone
wearing red and I forbade them to wear red.

Come.

There he is again.

Come.

Wait. Wait.

Wait.

I command you to wait.

Prospero.

Prospero.

You command me to wait?

Very well.

I wait.

Condotti?

Rimini?

Who are you beneath your mask?

Is my costume such a disguise
that you don't recognize me?

Your voice is familiar.

Dr. Bernelli, that's who you are.

Bernelli, you dog, thinking to...

You are not Bernelli.

No.

The doctor dances in the white room.

But I passed close by him.

Truly, Prospero, you don't know me?

So you've come.

Yes, Prospero.

On your knees.

- Prospero.
- On your knees.

The Prince of Darkness.

I would like to see your face.

There is no face of death...

until the moment of your own death.

And I am only 1 of many messengers.

Who do you come for?

Many.

All?

Not all.

I knew I was right.

I knew it. I've won.

The time of unmasking.

They begin to show their naked faces.

It's time for a new dance to begin...

The dance of death.

Our master will be pleased.

I brought all of these souls to him.

I taught them his worship.

I corrupted them for him.

I knew he was supreme when no one else did.

I built a chapel to Satan,
and I prayed to him,

and I made a pact with him.

And these, all of my friends,

I promised them safety.

You presumed too much.

I know. I know.

But it does make a fine jest, the
kind of jest that would amuse Satan.

Would it?

Your Excellency...

this girl, in all my life I've never
met anyone whose faith rivaled mine.

- Spare her to me.
- A charitable request?

A rare thing with you
Prospero. Go to the battlements.

- Go now.
- Yes Francesca.

Yes, go, and I will
join you when this is over.

Thank you, your Excellency, for the girl.

I have no title,
why do you call me Excellency?

Well, I thought as the ambassador of Satan...

He is not my master, death has no master.

But Satan rules the
universe, I made a pact with him.

He does not rule alone and
your pact with him will not save you.

There is no other god, Satan k*lled him.

Each man creates his own god for himself...

his own heaven, his own hell.

Let me see your face.

Your hell, Prince Prospero
and the moment of your death.

No.

No.

No.

Why should you be afraid to die?

Your soul has been dead for a long time.

- Good morning brother.
- You come far?

From Cathay and beyond.

100,000 perished
at my passing this last night.

This eternity of wandering...

10,000 sleep where I walked.

I am very tired.

The weariness of those
to whom we bring rest burdens you.

What of you, brother?

I called many...

peasant and prince...

the worthy and the dishonored.

Six only are left, young man and woman...

dwarf and tiny dancer...

this child and an
old man still in the village.

Sic transit Gloria mundi.