The Beloved Rogue
1
France in 1432 --
war-torn and weary --
the banners of Burgundy
and England over her
fairest towns.
2
Joan of Arc's fight to
save France has
ended in failure and
death. At Vauxcelles,
near Paris, another
patriot is about to
become a martyr.
3
Francois de Montcorbier -
dying as he has lived -
for France.
4
The wife of the martyr.
5
Daybreak.
6
"God grant that the spirit
of my husband live in
the heart of my child."
7
The child, Francois Villon,
who was destined to be
the first great poet of
France.
8
Paris, twenty-five years
later. Again Burgundy
seeks to enslave France -
by craft -- not by war.
9
Charles, Duke of Burgundy,
who covets the throne
of France.
10
In a palace tower, the
court astrologer awaits
the nightly visit of
the king.
11
Louis XI of France --
superstitious - crafty -
cruel - a slave of the
stars.
...Conrad Veidt
12
"War - or submission?
What do the stars
command?"
13
"Majesty, they warn you
that war would be fatal.
Welcome Charles of
Burgundy as a friend."
14
"Am I always to yield
to Burgundy -- never
to crush him?"
15
"Sire, the Duke of Burgundy
is already within the walls
of Paris."
16
"Inform the Court. We
go forth to welcome
our beloved cousin."
17
All Fools' Day is celebrated
as usual in Paris --
A King of the Revels
has just been elected, but -
where is he?
18
"Francois Villon!"
19
"Francois Villon!"
20
"FRANCOIS VILLON!"
21
"Francois, hide -- the
patrol is coming!"
22
Francois Villon -- poet,
pickpocket, patriot --
loving France earnestly,
Frenchwomen excessively,
French wine exclusively.
...JOHN BARRYMORE
23
Little Jehan and Nicholas,
companions of the poet,
understand everything
about him -- except his
poetry.
24
"We can't get wine
without money,
Francois."
25
"I'll show you how to
turn water into wine!"
26
"White wine - your best
is none too good."
27
"Without offense - may
I taste it?"
28
"That's water, you
offspring of an ox!"
29
"Francois - Francois
Villon!"
30
"You have been elected
King of Fools. Let us
deck you in your royal
robes."
31
An ink-bottle for his crown,
Francois Villon - King of
Fools - rules the streets
of Paris for a night.
32
"Fellow jack-asses --
and ladies! Lend me
your long ears!"
33
"I owe this exalted position
to the husbands of Paris.
For one night, they want
to be sure where I am!"
34
"Serve love and ladies day
and night,
You'll get no profit nor
delight,
But only broken heads and
sighs!
Light love makes asses
of the wise --"
35
"Happy is Paris, where fools
reign once a year - while
everywhere else the fools
reign all the time!"
36
"Let me mount yon
mount!"
37
"To horse, gentlemen!"
38
"In the name of
Burgundy, disperse
this rabble!"
39
"In the name of Villon,
divorce him from his
horse!"
40
"Behold Charles of Burgundy
who would be king - how
tenderly he loves the citizens
of Paris!"
41
"Little Beppo's body is
less deformed than
Burgundy's soul."
42
"THE KING!"
43
Tristan l'Hermite is the
busiest man in France,
He is the executioner!
44
"I have been grossly
insulted by this buffoon!"
45
Charlotte, ward of
the King.
46
"Who are you, fellow?"
47
"The king of fools, as
you are king of the
wise, Sire. My name is
Francois Villon."
48
"Master Villon, you are
the best writer of verse
in Paris --"
49
"Your Majesty's taste
is exquisite."
50
"- and the most insolent
rogue in France!"
51
"Cousin Charles, his fate
is in your hands."
52
"If a fool insulted Your
Majesty in my dominions,
I would have his life."
53
"Paris is your life. I
sentence you to exile.
If you are found within
the walls of Paris, you
hang!"
54
"Sire, a favor granted
to my loyal henchman,
Count Thibault, would
please me mightily."
55
"Majesty, I ask the hand
of your ward, Charlotte
of Vauxcelles, in
marriage."
56
"Your marriage will
please our dear cousin
of Burgundy. I will
hear no more!"
57
"Count Thibault will
escort you at once
to your domain of
Vauxcelles, where you
will prepare for the
ceremony."
58
The hostel of the Lame
Flea, just outside the
Walls of Paris, shelters
Villon in his exile.
59
"I've used every rhyme for
'France' except 'dance' -
and there's no dancing
in this poem!"
60
"Louis the Little, come, be big -
Bid the cursed Burgundians
dance --
On the gallows they should jig
If Villon were King of France!"
61
"There's the weekly
cartload of delicacies
that Cousin Charles
sends to Cousin Louis."
62
"The poor of Paris are
starving. Villon will be
generous - with Louis'
food."
63
Meanwhile, Charlotte and
Thibault, still within the
walls of Paris, battle
their way to Vauxcelles.
64
"We'll find shelter at this
inn until morning."
65
The King's catapult --
ready to stone foe or
friend into submission.
66
"Tonight, the royal
catapult shall shower
Paris with bread, beef,
and brandy!"
67
"God and His saints
might send us bread -
but only Villon would
think of brandy!"
68
"If I'm dead - I'm glad."
69
"I've left the chamber of many
a dame
In a haste that was free from
discussion,
But never before, in a lady's
boudoir,
Have I landed with such a
concussion."
70
"I had always supposed,
dear lady, the way to
heaven was difficult
and slow -- till this
moment."
71
"You have an odd taste
in prayer books."
72
"Villon is a great poet -
an immortal --"
73
"- and one must sorrow
that a man of such
genius should be a
drunken clown."
74
"Yes, I have always
told him he drank
too much."
75
"You know him?"
76
"I've known him since
he was born, and I
expect to be with
him when he dies."
77
"It's Burgundy's friend
Thibault. The King
ordered me to marry
him - but I'd rather
die --"
78
"I am looking for
my hat."
79
"Something in your
attitude suggests I
am in the way."
80
"It is barely possible
I am."
81
"Wine - for the heroic
victor!"
82
"The King commands -
no charge - to Francois
Villon!"
83
"Idiot! You've interfered
with the King's plan to
marry Thibault to
Charlotte! Escape - or -"
84
"My friend, as barber to
the king, you may tell
Louis that his wits are
getting duller than your
razors --"
85
"-- this marriage will give
Vauxcelles, gateway to Paris,
into the hands of Charles
of Burgundy!"
86
"Take me with you!"
87
"Fear not, Mademoiselle -
no tomcat knows the roof-
tops so well as I."
88
"Safe at last. This is
my Mother's roof. It is
a long time since I've
been under it."
89
"Slide, gentle lady - and
I will catch you - with-
out catching a glimpse."
90
"This lady of the Court
is in danger, Mother. I
have brought her to
you for protection."
91
"Your fianc�e!"
92
"I always knew that my
son would marry a
great lady - a beautiful
lady."
93
"You were very gentle -
not to disillusion my
Mother - and I thank
you."
94
"It is rather for me to
thank you for gentleness,
sir."
95
"Mademoiselle, I wonder
if you realize that your
eyes have swept my
heart clean again --"
96
"-- and kindled a
fire there that shall
outlast me."
97
"A man who sings so
divinely must be better
at heart than he
pretends to the world."
98
"Every man has two
souls - one for the
world, and one for
the woman he loves."
99
"You may spend the
night with my mother.
I will be safer at the
Court of Miracles."
100
"Francois, why do you
leave this way? Why
are you so threadbare?"
101
"It is one of my many
disguises - in the service
of the King."
102
The Court of Miracles -
where blind beggars
see - lame beggars
walk - deaf beggars hear -
dumb beggars speak -
while gallows-birds sing in
the rafters.
103
"Majesty, the stars
show no danger in
this marriage."
104
"Sire, the razor slipped
when I heard that even
the stars are false."
105
"Burgundy in Vauxcelles
will have one foot in
Paris!"
106
"Too late! If I could only
stop this marriage --"
107
"I feared to tell your
Majesty -- but the
marriage is already
stopped."
108
"I presumed to act for
your Majesty - at the
risk of my life."
109
"Single-handed, I held
back Thibault and his
soldiers while Villon
made off with Charlotte."
110
"Villon in Paris? After
I banished him?"
111
"Villon has done me a
good turn. It were well
for him to die before
he does me a bad one."
112
"Order Villon's arrest. A
spirit so youthful must
be spared the pains of
old age."
113
"Francois -- I was
dreaming of you! I saw
my boy at the right
hand of the king - the
saviour of France."
114
"Mother, your son is
most unworthy to
live so high in your
dreams."
115
"Your father died to
save France. You shall
live to save France."
116
"Mother - the King has
invited me to a most
exclusive function."
117
"I am ready. I realize
that the success of the
affair depends on my
presence."
118
"Be thankful for your
own escape, and plead
no more for this rogue."
119
"Master Villon, you disobeyed
me. You hang tomorrow.
What say you to that?"
120
"Princes to death are all foretold,
Even as the humblest of
their array;
Whether they sorrow or whether
they scold,
The wind carries their like
away!"
121
"And can you tell me,
my prophet, at what
hour the wind will
carry you away?"
122
"Yes, Sire, I can!"
123
"Majesty, it is written
that my death is
appointed --"
124
"- twenty-four hours -"
125
"-- before your own."
126
"My lords, a great prophet
is in our midst. Let no
harm befall him."
127
Francois Villon - friend
of his Majesty, the
King of France.
128
"Only one!"
129
"At first, he was only
going to hang me --
but now he keeps my
wine away."
130
"Give Villon all the
wine he wants - or I'll
bring my little brother
over to thrash you!"
131
"Louis refused to let me
send for you until I
told him I was dying of
loneliness."
132
"You begged Louis for
my life - and yet you
refuse to speak to me."
133
"Perhaps I prefer listening
to the poet Villon - rather
than the courtier Villon."
134
"And perhaps Mademoiselle
prefers listening to her
pride - rather than her
heart!"
135
"Either way - there
is danger."
136
"Charlotte, since you
came into my life, my
eyes have seen but
one image - my heart
has heard one voice -"
137
"Master Villon has not a
reputation for fidelity!"
138
"You are my love, my
only love!"
139
"Francois - Francois...."
140
"How do you think
they will mingle at our
wedding-feast - your
high-born rogues and
my low-born rogues?"
141
"This is why I wished
not to listen to you.
Charlotte of Vauxcelles
may not marry a man
without lands and a
great name."
142
"A great name? I am
Francois Villon!"
143
"My songs will keep
your beauty alive when
the pride of your class
is forgotten in dust!"
144
"Master Villon, the King
awaits you."
145
"The chill of the evening
and the garden - you
must keep well for
my sake."
146
"Sire, Charlotte is abducted!
I saw Burgundy's men carry
her away!"
147
"The time is not ripe to
break with Burgundy."
148
"I AM KING! Out of
my sight - back to
your rags!"
149
"Charles of Burgundy
sponsors a marriage at
Vauxcelles. By our ancient
right we, the Guild of
Beggars, go thither to the
Free Feast!"
150
"Sire, I followed Villon,
but he escaped me."
151
"It is rumored that
Villon is arousing the
beggars to rescue
Charlotte."
152
VAUXCELLES.
153
"Charlotte is safely
guarded in the tower-
chamber."
154
"If I am not back within
the hour, come after
me. If I die - avenge me!"
155
"Master Villon - it were
better for you, had you
fallen to your death -
and not into the arms
of my soldiers."
156
"Charlotte in her tower
shall enjoy a last
rendezvous with her
poet."
157
"This happy marriage,
good people of Paris,
plants the banners of
Burgundy where Louis
may see them every
morning!"
158
"The ceremony shall
take place almost
immediately."
159
"But first you shall witness
another ceremony. See
what happens to a man
who opposes my destiny."
160
"There he is! I'll have
him brought low - for
our amusement."
161
"Before you die, Master
Villon, behold the
triumph of Burgundy!"
162
"Behold the triumph of
treachery. But France
shall find a saviour -"
163
"We, whose fathers drove
out the English Lion, will
not let the Wolf of
Burgundy devour France!"
164
"See what happens to
the man who defies the
future King of France!"
165
"HOLD!"
166
"See what happens to
the man who defies
the present King of
France!"
167
"Master Villon, I leave
his sentence in your
hands."
168
"Let him plead for
mercy before my Court
of Fools!"
169
"Sire, I leave Vauxcelles
to you. With your
gracious consent, I will
seek happiness with
the man I love."
170
"The man you love is
only a commoner --"
171
"Sire, there was once a
commoner who out-
witted the greatest
King that France ever
had."
172
"Who was the
commoner?"
173
"I saved my life, Sire,
by telling you it was
bound up with your
own."
174
"Master Villon, your pen
has done more for
France than any sword.
I shall treasure it."
175
"Only one!"
THE END
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