![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
michael_gothard_archiveEpisode 10: The Oath
Episode 10, “The Oath” picks up where episode 9 left off: with Mordaunt training a gun on Athos and Aramis, and fully intending to kill them.
But D’Artagnan stops him, saying that because he and Porthos actually captured them, they belong to him. While Mordaunt is briefly called away, D’Artagnan warns the others not to kill Mordaunt while surrounded by Cromwell’s men. Mordaunt returns, with an escort to take Charles Stuart to London for trial.
He wants to take Athos and Aramis as well, but again, D’Artagnan claims them, saying they are worth a ransom of 1500 pistoles each, and that as Mazarin’s envoy, he has a right to them.
Clearly Mordaunt is close to Cromwell, because though he interrupts his prayers, he is allowed to remain. He informs Cromwell that the King, deserted by all but three men – one of whom is now dead – was taken prisoner, and sent to London under heavy guard. Cromwell wishes that Charles had died fighting; Mordaunt says he will surely be executed.
Cromwell asks which of Charles’ supporters was killed. Mordaunt says it was Charles’ equerry, whom Cromwell recalls was Mordaunt’s uncle. Mordaunt says that traitors don’t belong in his family. Cromwell wonders whether Mordaunt is human. Mordaunt tells Cromwell that Mazarin’s envoys fought well on his side; Cromwell decides to give Mazarin the troops he wants, and asks Mordaunt to bring the envoys to him.
Mordaunt asks Cromwell whether he has given good service; he wants the two prisoners as a reward. Cromwell suggests he wants to collect a bounty for them, but Mordaunt insists he doesn’t care about money.
Cromwell asks whether they are friends of his. Mordaunt, pretending to show a weakness, says they have ties with his family that are sealed with blood, and that he’d give his life for theirs.
Thinking – as Mordaunt wanted him to - that these ties are of affection, Cromwell agrees that he can have them. Mordaunt says this gift is more precious than gold.
Mordaunt returns to D’Artagnan, and tells him he now has orders from General Cromwell, giving him the right to take the prisoners. When D’Artagnan claims he can’t afford to lose the ransom money, Mordaunt offers to pay for them, but D’Artagnan won’t surrender them without a written order from Cromwell.
Mordaunt tells him to go and get it himself – Cromwell has sent for them. But D’Artagnan calls his bluff, so Mordaunt returns to Cromwell, who signs the order, and demands once more to see the envoys.
Meanwhile, D’Artagnan sends Porthos to get the horses, and barricades the door while Athos and Aramis escape through the window.
Mordaunt returns with troops, demands entrance, then tries to break the door down.
D’Artagnan opens the door, Mordaunt bursts in, but can’t get a clear line of fire, and shoots his own man, who is grappling with D’Artagnan. D’Artagnan then throws the dead trooper at Mordaunt, and makes his escape.
Mordaunt now realises that the ‘envoys’ are the two men involved in the killing of his mother whom he had not previously identified, and that they were in league with their ‘prisoners’ all along. He throws his musket at the wall in frustration.
Episode 11: The Trial
Towards the end of episode 11, “The Trial”, the Musketeers, masquerading as Roundheads, go to London and attend the trial of Charles Stuart. Mordaunt is also in attendance.
Despite the presence of his enemy, Athos, angered by the treatment of the King, stands up, shouting in protest. Mordaunt recognises him and calls on the guards to catch or kill him and his friends, but they escape.
Mordaunt angrily says he’d kill fifty to get those four.
Episode 12: The Scaffold
In the second half of episode 12, “The Scaffold”, the Musketeers, hoping to rescue Charles Stuart from the scaffold, detain the Public Executioner, but to their dismay, another Executioner – of whom little can be seen, apart from his bearded chin – comes for the King.
The Musketeers had hoped to spirit Charles Stuart away through a tunnel beneath the scaffold, where Athos conceals himself, but this proves impossible. Charles asks whether his hair will impede the Executioner, who replies that he should move it out of the way. Charles asks whether the Executioner will be able to sever his head with one blow; the Executioner says that he hopes so. Charles tells him to wait until he gives the word, before striking.
Charles then whispers something to Athos, says a prayer, then lets the Executioner know he is ready. After his head is severed, the Executioner holds Charles’ head up, for the crowd to see.
Thinking that D’Artagnan must have released the Public Executioner, Athos quarrels with him, but D’Artagnan denies this. He had the man who executed Charles Stuart followed to his home, and left a man on guard. They go to the house, and spy through the windows.
They see the Executioner remove his hooded rode, then his mask, then his false beard.
He is revealed as none other than Mordaunt.
Episode 10, “The Oath” picks up where episode 9 left off: with Mordaunt training a gun on Athos and Aramis, and fully intending to kill them.
But D’Artagnan stops him, saying that because he and Porthos actually captured them, they belong to him. While Mordaunt is briefly called away, D’Artagnan warns the others not to kill Mordaunt while surrounded by Cromwell’s men. Mordaunt returns, with an escort to take Charles Stuart to London for trial.
He wants to take Athos and Aramis as well, but again, D’Artagnan claims them, saying they are worth a ransom of 1500 pistoles each, and that as Mazarin’s envoy, he has a right to them.
Clearly Mordaunt is close to Cromwell, because though he interrupts his prayers, he is allowed to remain. He informs Cromwell that the King, deserted by all but three men – one of whom is now dead – was taken prisoner, and sent to London under heavy guard. Cromwell wishes that Charles had died fighting; Mordaunt says he will surely be executed.
Cromwell asks which of Charles’ supporters was killed. Mordaunt says it was Charles’ equerry, whom Cromwell recalls was Mordaunt’s uncle. Mordaunt says that traitors don’t belong in his family. Cromwell wonders whether Mordaunt is human. Mordaunt tells Cromwell that Mazarin’s envoys fought well on his side; Cromwell decides to give Mazarin the troops he wants, and asks Mordaunt to bring the envoys to him.
Mordaunt asks Cromwell whether he has given good service; he wants the two prisoners as a reward. Cromwell suggests he wants to collect a bounty for them, but Mordaunt insists he doesn’t care about money.
Cromwell asks whether they are friends of his. Mordaunt, pretending to show a weakness, says they have ties with his family that are sealed with blood, and that he’d give his life for theirs.
Thinking – as Mordaunt wanted him to - that these ties are of affection, Cromwell agrees that he can have them. Mordaunt says this gift is more precious than gold.
Mordaunt returns to D’Artagnan, and tells him he now has orders from General Cromwell, giving him the right to take the prisoners. When D’Artagnan claims he can’t afford to lose the ransom money, Mordaunt offers to pay for them, but D’Artagnan won’t surrender them without a written order from Cromwell.
Mordaunt tells him to go and get it himself – Cromwell has sent for them. But D’Artagnan calls his bluff, so Mordaunt returns to Cromwell, who signs the order, and demands once more to see the envoys.
Meanwhile, D’Artagnan sends Porthos to get the horses, and barricades the door while Athos and Aramis escape through the window.
Mordaunt returns with troops, demands entrance, then tries to break the door down.
D’Artagnan opens the door, Mordaunt bursts in, but can’t get a clear line of fire, and shoots his own man, who is grappling with D’Artagnan. D’Artagnan then throws the dead trooper at Mordaunt, and makes his escape.
Mordaunt now realises that the ‘envoys’ are the two men involved in the killing of his mother whom he had not previously identified, and that they were in league with their ‘prisoners’ all along. He throws his musket at the wall in frustration.
Episode 11: The Trial
Towards the end of episode 11, “The Trial”, the Musketeers, masquerading as Roundheads, go to London and attend the trial of Charles Stuart. Mordaunt is also in attendance.
Despite the presence of his enemy, Athos, angered by the treatment of the King, stands up, shouting in protest. Mordaunt recognises him and calls on the guards to catch or kill him and his friends, but they escape.
Mordaunt angrily says he’d kill fifty to get those four.
Episode 12: The Scaffold
In the second half of episode 12, “The Scaffold”, the Musketeers, hoping to rescue Charles Stuart from the scaffold, detain the Public Executioner, but to their dismay, another Executioner – of whom little can be seen, apart from his bearded chin – comes for the King.
The Musketeers had hoped to spirit Charles Stuart away through a tunnel beneath the scaffold, where Athos conceals himself, but this proves impossible. Charles asks whether his hair will impede the Executioner, who replies that he should move it out of the way. Charles asks whether the Executioner will be able to sever his head with one blow; the Executioner says that he hopes so. Charles tells him to wait until he gives the word, before striking.
Charles then whispers something to Athos, says a prayer, then lets the Executioner know he is ready. After his head is severed, the Executioner holds Charles’ head up, for the crowd to see.
Thinking that D’Artagnan must have released the Public Executioner, Athos quarrels with him, but D’Artagnan denies this. He had the man who executed Charles Stuart followed to his home, and left a man on guard. They go to the house, and spy through the windows.
They see the Executioner remove his hooded rode, then his mask, then his false beard.
He is revealed as none other than Mordaunt.
