♪ ♪ CADEROUSSE: Mercedes and Fernand have a son.

♪ ♪ (grunts) The man you kidnapped is a friend of mine.

How can I ever repay you for this?

I was thinking of coming to Paris.

ALBERT: I'll introduce you to everyone.

The Count of Monte Cristo.

They say a terrible crime was committed here.

An infanticide.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (bell tolling in distance) ♪ ♪ (breathes deeply) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (horse nickers) (bell ringing in distance) ♪ ♪ (horse neighs) (breathlessly): The midwife-- the one I committed to the lunatic asylum-- has escaped.

What?

She escaped shortly before the count tells us this fantastic story of a baby in a box.

Do you think the midwife told him about it?

How can he even know her?

Who is this count?

My husband made inquiries into his past, but found nothing.

How can someone with such a fortune be anonymous?

It's unheard of.

If the box you buried was empty, where is the child now?

Listen to me-- listen to me.

The baby was in the box, dead, when I buried it.

When... How many times must I tell you that?

(voice breaking): When you took the baby from me, he was still breathing.

And you know it.

And a minute later, it stopped.

No.

Hermine, you know that.

No.

You know that.

Monte Cristo is lying.

He never found any box.

Are you sure?

Tell me you're sure!

Stop the carriage.

(hitting) (voice trembling): Are you sure?

You do realize... (breath shuddering) ...that if this ever comes out, it will be the end of me.

(sighs) (grunts) And you.

(crying): Just go.

(door opens) How much did you give Debray?

A quarter.

Same as you.

You kept half for yourself?

That's a bit greedy, don't you think?

I am the one who gets the information, not you.

Apparently, there's a ship carrying a large cargo of coffee from Brazil to Calais which is two weeks overdue.

And?

Perhaps it sunk.

Which means the price of coffee will go up.

Well, you're welcome to use your own money on commodities such as coffee, but not mine.

I know that.

And you can be sure I will.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The Count of Monte Cristo to see Baron Danglars.

(knocks softly) The Count of Monte Cristo is here to see you.

(Danglars murmurs indistinctly) Uh, send him in.

HERMINE: A man true to his word-- how rare.

EDMOND: Oh, Baroness, I hope I'm not intruding.

Not at all-- I was just leaving.

I'm sorry I upset you with that story about the box.

It was nothing.

You seemed very taken with the plight of that little baby.

I have to go.

(door closes firmly) So good of you to see me at such short notice, Baron.

Oh, not at all.

You are, after all, the, uh, talk of the town.

Of town?

Well.

(chuckling) This is a city.

And what a city it is.

I think I'm going to make Paris my permanent home.

Oh!

There's a, a vibrancy in the air, isn't there?

Do you feel it?

(chuckles) Well, perhaps you've been here too long.

For me... (sighs) ...the city is fresh.

Ready for the plucking, so to speak.

In this folder, you will find securities in the amount of ten million francs, previously entrusted to the banking house of Thomson and French in Rome.

No doubt, you will need to do some checks, which shouldn't take more than a few days, but can I assume I have an account with you, as of now?

At the opera, you, you said four million.

I want you to open an account in my name and deposit ten million francs into it.

Is that not possible?

Well, of course it is, uh... I'll just need some days to, to... To check.

To check.

(chuckling) Yes, yes, ah.

Do you know, I've been doing some checking on you.

Oh?

One can never be too sure about a man's credentials these days.

You worked for a bank in Spain, yes?

Mm.

Started speculating in stocks, and did very well out of it.

It's how you made your fortune, not so?

Well, little by little.

Little by lots, I'd say.

Before that, you, uh, were in the shipping business.

Worked for a company called Morrel and Son in Marseille.

Is my information correct?

I was a, a young man then.

By all accounts, you left abruptly.

May I ask why?

Well, I... I saw no future in the shipping business.

Ah.

See, I heard you left because Morrel snubbed you and chose someone younger to captain his flagship.

Well, I hardly remember that period of my life.

(chuckles) Oh.

Anyway, back to the business at hand.

While you're doing your checking, I, uh, I was wondering if I could have an advance of 300,000 francs, sir, just for my day-to-day expenses.

(chuckles) Um... (stammers): That, that is a, a vast amount, sir.

Well, there are other bankers in Paris.

No, no, no, no-- no, wait.

Uh, leave the securities with me and I'll have the, um, the 300,000 francs delivered to you by this afternoon.

To my town house.

The Champs-Élysées, number 30.

Good day to you, Baron.

Good day.

Oh!

I would like to make good use of my money, so if you hear of any interesting investment opportunities, do let me know.

Of course, Count.

Hm.

(chuckles) (carriage rattling) (people talking in background) Monsieur Debray.

(chuckles) What a surprise.

Why did you not come yesterday?

I couldn't get away, what with him hovering over me.

I'm free tomorrow afternoon.

How are you placed?

I am perfectly placed.

(softly): Shall I book us a room at the hotel?

Sure.

Same time?

Same time.

Welcome to Paris, Haydee.

I'm sorry, but the count is out at the moment.

Can I show you your apartments?

Upstairs is for you.

(horse neighs) (gasps) This way.

This is Isabelle, your maid.

Isabelle will show you everything.

ISABELLE: Follow me.

♪ ♪ Through here is your living room.

Uh, this way, please.

Your bedroom.

Who lives here?

The upstairs is reserved exclusively for your use.

What?

It can't be.

♪ ♪ (horse neighing) (nickers) EDMOND: Ah.

Back, are you?

Good.

Where is she?

Where is she?

She's upstairs.

Is there a problem?

(bell ringing) Go and see for yourself.

I am the Count of Monte Cristo.

Good morning.

Is your apartment to your liking?

What has upset her?

She doesn't know why she's here.

HAYDEE: In what way am I to serve you, Master?

You're not here to serve me, Haydee.

When I bought you from the Sultan of Amir, I bought your freedom.

You are the daughter of the honorable Ali Pasha, are you not?

Isabelle, make us some tea and serve it to us in my living room downstairs.

♪ ♪ The questions I'm about to ask will not be easy to answer.

For that, I apologize in advance.

Did you witness the murder of your father?

(cup shifting) (softly): Yes.

I didn't know your father, but I think I know the man responsible for his death.

There is a Fernand Mondego who lives here in Paris who served in Algiers at the same time your father was murdered.

Would you recognize Fernand if you were to see him again?

I would.

Are you sure?

You were only a child when you last saw him.

(cup clinks) Do you know him personally?

Fernand Mondego?

I do.

I cannot talk about the evil he has done me.

But it is no worse than the evil he has done you by depriving you of your father.

♪ ♪ Do you wish to avenge his death?

Yes.

♪ ♪ (breathes deeply) Are you all right?

You've been a bit distracted of late.

I'm fine.

Marie, send one of the footmen to arrange a dress fitting at La Femina.

An hour sometime tomorrow afternoon should be fine.

How many ballroom gowns can you buy in one week?

Is money all you think about?

You seem to spend it easily enough.

The dress is for the spring ball you have arranged in the house.

ALBERT: Good morning.

Have you heard the latest about Monte Cristo?

He's opened an account with Danglars to the tune of ten million francs.

Has Danglars verified his credit?

According to Beauchamp, yes.

The money, in gold, arrived yesterday from Rome.

FERNAND: Then you will be marrying one of the richest girls in Paris, Albert.

That's not Danglars' money, Fernand.

Don't be naïve.

Hermine is having an affair with Lucien Debray, the secretary of the minister of the Interior.

He, uh, slips her inside information before the public get wind of it, which she uses to trade stocks using her husband's credit.

You know this for a fact?

They've been doing it for months.

Mm-hmm.

Albert told me.

Please don't spread it around, Papa.

I believe it's rather underhand what they're up to.

It's positively illegal, never mind underhand.

This match you have set your heart on, I'm not sure Albert shares your enthusiasm for it.

Eugenia is a lovely girl.

It'll serve both our families handsomely.

(sighs) I don't understand why parents always think they know what's best for their children.

It's because we've lived longer than you.

It's what's called life experience.

(murmurs) Something you have yet to gain, Albert.

You know what I want better than I do?

I know what you need.

What you want is hardly relevant.

I have to go.

But you haven't eaten.

I'll eat later.

I promised to attend Eugenia's singing lesson.

(footsteps retreating) He's known Eugenia for years.

They grew up together.

(piano playing, Eugenia singing "Che Farò Senza Euridice?")

♪ Che farò ♪ ♪ Dove andrò ♪ ♪ Che farò senza il mio ben?

♪ ♪ Dove andrò senza il mio ben?

♪ ♪ ♪ (knocking) CADEROUSSE: Who is it?

It's me.

(both laugh and exclaim) Oh, where have you been, my little rosebud?

(both laugh) I read in the gossip column that young Albert is about to tie the knot with Baron Danglars' daughter.

Yeah, Eugenia.

That's if the Count de Morcerf gets his way, though.

You won't believe what I heard about Danglars' wife, Hermine.

I will if you tell me.

She is intimate with Debray, who gives her inside information on future stock movements.

Where does he get his information from?

Well, he's the secretary of the minister of the Interior.

But here's the cream on top of it all.

(no dialogue) ♪ ♪ EDMOND: Good day to you, sir.

Good day to you.

Come to look at the telegraph tower, have you?

EDMOND: Huh.

MAN: Sit, sir.

Whew!

I get the odd visitor.

There was an artist here yesterday.

Uh, painted a picture of the tower.

Tells me people in Paris are, are fascinated with this new means of communication.

Ah.

(faintly): I'm sorry, I don't suppose you have any water, do you?

One moment.

(exhales) (cork pops softly) ♪ ♪ Oh, bless you.

Oh-- to your health, sir.

And, and yours.

Hot today, isn't it?

Very.

Would you mind showing me how the, uh, how the telegraph works?

Not at all.

It's actually rather simple.

♪ ♪ (exhales heavily) (pants) Must be the heat.

(exhales softly) Slowly does it.

(grunts softly) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (winch turning) (breathing softly, beam moving) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (pats cheek) You all right?

You suddenly collapsed.

Oh.

Strange.

Look at the time.

Sorry, must be off.

Thanks so much for the hospitality.

♪ ♪ (pounding) (calling): Hermine.

HERMINE: Debray?

Where's the baron?

In his drawing room.

What's going on, Maman?

Wait here, Eugenia.

(voice trembling): There's been an uprising in Spain.

Barcelona has turned against the king.

You must sell your Spanish bonds now-- all of them.

An uprising?

It came in by telegraph a moment ago.

Spanish stocks will fall.

They won't fall, they'll crash.

Oh, my God.

(stammers): Take my buggy, it's outside.

Hurry, Baron!

The stock exchange closes in an hour.

♪ ♪ Thank God for the telegraph.

Well, where would we be without it?

♪ ♪ (traders murmuring) Did you manage to offload them?

Oh, I lost a few hundred thousand as the price dipped.

A mere trifle, compared to what some down there are losing.

(people talking in background) Count!

How are you?

Did you have any Spanish bonds or stocks?

Yes, still do.

But surely you should sell, you, you must've heard the news by now.

I've decided to hang on to them.

Did you have any yourself?

Oh, I did until yesterday.

Six million worth-- sold the lot of them.

In the nick of time, I'd say.

For what reason did you sell?

Instinct.

You're a lucky man.

You have to have foresight in this business.

And instinct, it would seem.

Yes, the two, working in tandem.

♪ ♪ How stupid of him not to sell.

Hm.

♪ ♪ (horse nickers) EDMOND: Albert.

Nice of you to drop by.

From my mother.

It's a ball that we have every spring.

You're welcome to bring a guest or two, if you wish.

Well, tell your mother I most graciously accept.

Some tea?

Coffee?

Isabelle.

Did you hear about the faux pas the government made?

Concerning the uprising?

Yes-- it was all nonsense.

Some mistake with the telegraph system.

People lost fortunes dumping stocks and bonds.

I was at the exchange yesterday.

The selling was frantic.

Prices kept plummeting.

Baron Danglars, who initiated the sell-off, has apparently lost more than a million francs.

Oh, my.

Well, he, he must be devastated.

I wouldn't like to be around him now.

Mm.

Is it true you're marrying his daughter?

It is my father's wish.

You don't seem happy about it.

(sighs) Does your mother approve of this marriage?

(inhales) Not entirely.

I mean, she likes Eugenia.

I do, too.

Mm.

She has a wonderful singing voice, but... But what?

I've known her since we were little.

She's a friend, a good friend.

But I doubt we'll ever be lovers.

Well, I like you, Albert.

I'm going to help you in whatever way I can.

Concerning Eugenia?

How?

We'll see.

I'll see you at the ball, Count.

Jacopo?

I need you to go to Rome and find Vampa.

Tell him I'm, uh, bringing in the favor he owes me.

I need him here in Paris.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (carriage door closes, carriage departing) (people talking in background) MAN: Lieutenant Morrel!

How are you, young man?

MAX: Oh, well, I'm splendid, splendid, thank you.

Forgive me for intruding.

Did I hear the name Morrel mentioned here a moment ago?

(stammers): You did, sir.

You wouldn't by any chance be related to the owner of the shipping company Morrel and Son in Marseille, would you?

He was our father.

EDMOND: You, you speak of him in the past tense.

MAX: He passed away.

You knew him, sir?

How is Morrel and Son doing these days?

When my father died, um, Julie and I sold the business and moved here to Paris.

I'm new to the city, but please, take my card.

If ever you need anything, please don't hesitate to call on me.

(music playing in background) Valentine.

Come here.

Valentine.

Grandpapa, can I leave you for a moment?

I won't be long.

Max.

I've been waiting half the day for you.

Can you not talk some sense into your stubborn father's head?

I can't go against him, Max.

Run away with me!

You can travel on my sister's passport.

(sighs): It's impossible!

Take my hand.

(sighs) Do you pass by here every day at this hour, with your grandfather?

Yes.

Then you will find me here.

Franz d'Epinay's returning from Italy this week.

How do you know?

He wrote to my father.

My grandmother's coming all the way from Marseille to witness the signing of the marriage contract.

I'm dreading it, Max!

All the more reason to run away with me!

I can't abandon my grandpapa!

It's out of the question.

GERARD (calling): Valentine?

If my father sees you, he'll kill me!

Valentine?

MAX: Tomorrow, same time.

I love you.

♪ ♪ Heloise needs help with Edward.

♪ ♪ Well?

The midwife is still at large.

Yeah-- how can she just disappear?

We'll find her, don't worry.

And the Count of Monte Cristo?

Messengers arrive at his town house every half-hour or so with invitations to tea, lunch, dinner, soirées, most of which he ignores.

Every second day, he attends lessons in weaponry, which he's very good at.

His instructor describes him as a dangerous man.

And the name?

Zaccone?

The count's birth name is Jacques Zaccone.

Son of a shipbuilder in Malta.

Italian-French ancestry.

And how did the count make his fortune?

He has two diamond mines in West Africa and a large silver mine in Thessaly.

Any evidence to back this up or is it all hearsay?

It's hearsay, but from a reliable source.

I like to deal in facts, Boville.

I want you to keep an eye on Monte Cristo.

And on the house.

I can't.

Inspector Robert insists I stop pulling men off cases for a, well, a crime that doesn't exist.

I can, however, keep an eye on him out of hours, but, well... How much?

Uh, 100 a week should cover it.

(sighs, coins jangling) ♪ ♪ (exhales) ♪ ♪ Did you see the two policemen outside the gate?

How do you know they're policemen?

Oh, Jacopo has a, an instinct for these sorts of things.

They've been watching the house since yesterday.

Why?

Well, they want to find out who I am, and only two people in Paris, besides me, know my true identity-- Jacopo and you.

Jacopo I can trust with my life.

You, however, aren't cut from the same cloth.

What are you saying, Count?

What I'm saying is, we might have a little problem.

I would never betray you.

Not even when they start pulling out your teeth and fingernails with pliers?

Oh, don't look so worried.

You've served me well, and those who do, I protect.

(calling): Jacopo?

Sit.

Both of you.

Some sherry, Caderousse?

You look like you need it.

If Villefort sent those men, and I assume he did, one of them, or both, will follow you home, Caderousse.

And then they will know where you live.

They will find out who you're friendly with and what you do with your time-- those sorts of things.

That's why they call them inspectors.

Which we can't have.

So, Jacopo will accompany you home and make sure you aren't followed.

Jacopo will act as our go-between from now on.

You will not come here again.

Oh, no.

I'm not in any danger, am I?

Not yet.

EDMOND: You have a lovely home.

Thank you.

How are you enjoying Paris?

EDMOND: There are many sides to this city.

Oh.

May I ask, what, what is that?

JULIE: Many of our guests ask the same question.

There is a note in it.

Shall I read it to you?

Please do.

"Dear Monsieur Morrel, I hope this helps you "overcome the difficulties you are presently facing.

Please use the diamond to replace the lost Pharaon."

My father was on the verge of bankruptcy when it was given to him by an unknown gentleman.

It gave him four more very happy years.

And you have no idea of the identity of this benefactor?

It is a mystery to us.

My father believed it was given him by someone from the grave.

A young man who was very dear to him.

May I ask his name?

Edmond Dantès.

Huh.

(carriage approaching) JULIE: It's Valentine.

VALENTINE (crying): I'm so sorry!

Valentine, what, what is it?

My father saw me talking to you, and, and said I'm not allowed to see you anymore.

No.

I'm not allowed to even be here now.

I had to slip out of my house undetected.

I'm sorry-- I'm sorry!

Valentine.

(Valentine sobbing) (calling): Haydee?

Yes?

Been invited to attend a ball at the Morcerf mansion.

You must come as my guest.

If you recognize Fernand... ...be very careful not to show it.

Of course.

(grunts) Silk from Shanghai in pastel shades of green and gray.

Show it off.

(sighs) Next.

♪ ♪ Very fine silk, just arrived... from India.

Hand-embroidered by the fashion house of Bellucci in Florence.

Why are the sleeves so puffed up?

It is the fashion down there.

We'll take, we'll take all the dresses, everything, and all the shoes.

(horse neighing) (people talking in background) The Count of Monte Cristo.

At last we meet.

Count de Morcerf, I presume.

Indeed.

(hands clasp) Welcome.

I've been waiting to thank you for saving my son's life in Rome.

It was nothing.

Countess.

Thank you for inviting us.

MERCEDES: My husband and I are very honored to have you here, Count.

May I introduce my protégée, Mademoiselle Haydee.

Please go in.

There'll be dancing in the ballroom later.

(carriage departing) (softly): It's him.

You have no doubts?

None at all.

Max, I may need to mingle.

Please keep Haydee company if I do so.

Pleasure, Count.

(string music playing) (people talking in background) (music and conversations continue) Count!

Franz!

How splendid to see you!

Finally back from Italy, are you?

Albert tells me you've settled effortlessly into Parisian society.

Oh, everyone's been very kind to me.

VALENTINE: Grandpapa, the reason I'm attending the ball this evening is because I am being forced to.

The man Father wants me to marry will be there.

(objects crash) HELOISE (shouting): Valentine!

(Edward gasping) (exhales) HELOISE: Valentine!

Gerard, where are you?

(Edward gasping, wheezing) GERARD: Easy, easy, come on, easy.

Easy, breathe, come on!

Breathe!

Breathe!

(shushing) (softly): Easy, easy, easy, easy.

Easy, easy.

Easy.

(gasping) (Gerard shushing, Edward gasping) (wheezing continues) (Gerard shushing) (wheezing slows) (breathing relaxes) GERARD: Oh, my God.

It worked!

(chuckles) You have to go to the ball alone.

No!

Franz expects you there.

Heloise and I will stay with Edward.

Go now-- the carriage is outside, waiting.

♪ ♪ (Heloise exhales) (string ensemble playing in background) Thank goodness you're here!

And alone.

I didn't know you were going to be here!

The Count of Monte Cristo kindly invited me.

Have you thought over what I said?

FRANZ: Valentine!

Franz.

I've been expecting you for over an hour.

Come, the dancing's about to begin.

Excuse us.

(music continues) Count, may I introduce you to Eugenia Danglars.

The Count of Monte Cristo.

I hear you have a wonderful singing voice, my dear.

(chuckles): If I do, it is all thanks to my music teacher.

Louise, come and meet the Count of Monte Cristo.

Don't believe Eugenia, Count.

She's far too modest.

You could've ruined me, you fool.

It's not my fault.

I sold at a loss, and now the shares have completely recovered, and I am down one million francs because of you.

I expect you to repay me half that amount.

(laughs): No!

If you do not, I will put a stop to your little dalliance with my wife.

You understand?

I expect the money by midday tomorrow.

(music continues in background) Suppose you also think I'm the laughingstock of Paris.

You can take a knock, Danglars.

You'll step right back up, as you always do.

(people talking in background) What do you make of this Count of Monte Cristo?

I like him.

He's straight.

Yes, but you like anyone who's wealthy.

Who's that woman he brought with him?

She's a student of chemistry, I believe.

The count is a chemist, amongst other things.

(music and conversations continue) I missed you the other day.

I hope you're feeling better now.

I have, of late, been having peculiar moments where I do not quite feel myself.

What do you feel?

That would be hard to put into words.

So many things are.

(music and conversations continue) The woman you brought with you.

My protégée?

The one I told you about?

I believe she's living in the same house as you.

She has the upstairs, I have the downstairs.

People will gossip.

They will think what they want.

Mm.

(inhales) Are you happily married, madame?

You are very direct, Count.

Is that a flaw?

Not really.

Hm.

I feel like I know you from a long time ago, but... Unless you mistake me for someone else.

Who are you referring to?

I must be wrong.

(music and conversations continue) I shouldn't leave my guests for too long.

(breathes deeply) (breath trembling) ♪ ♪ VAMPA: You asked to see me?

You are Vampa?

What do you want?

The Count of Monte Cristo needs you to come to Paris.

(chuckles) I'm afraid it is not possible.

He saved your cousin Peppino from being executed.

♪ ♪ It's nice-- you will like it.

Mm.

♪ ♪ SOAMES: This is my family.

Wealthy.

JO: Respected.

SOAMES: And very much out of control.

♪ ♪ FRANCES: As a Forsyte woman, you're expected to shine.

We all deserve our moments of madness.

♪ ♪ JOLYON: How do we maintain our supremacy?

♪ ♪ SOAMES: We can't afford to be sentimental.

♪ ♪ Can we afford to be human?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ EDMOND: I am awaiting the arrival of a distinguished young man from Rome.

ISABELLE: May I introduce the Count of Spada.

EDMOND: Both parties have already agreed to the marriage.

No?

Tell me, Count, have you ever truly been in love?

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