Man in the Iron Mask

The Man in the Iron Mask - 9/18/95 First Draft by Randall Wallace THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK by Randall Wallace FIRST DRAFT September 18, 1995 FADE IN: From the BLACKNESS before the first images, we hear a young woman's tortured SCREAM, muffled by her own will.We see her mouth, open in agony; her face, beaded with sweat.Her name is ANNE, and she is Queen of France.She lies in A ROYAL BEDCHAMBER The royal DOCTOR kneels at the foot of her bed; her own royal mother grips her hands... On the opposite side of the huge bedchamber, and separated from the queen's bed by an artistically painted screen, are royal ADVISORS sweating and anxious for any word to take to their king.They wince as the Queen moans again in the pain of childbirth. Her fingers claw out for help, but her Doctor ignores her need to be touched and comforted; he is concerned only for the baby.Only her PRIEST, FATHER BELLES, sits at her head, stroking her hair gently and rapidly whispering prayers. DOCTOR The head is born!One arm... the other arm... it is a boy! The advisors, disregarding the Queen's privacy, scurry around the screen to see the doctor lift the beautiful baby, wet with birth.The mother -- the Queen -- is still in agony, yet she struggles to lift her head. ADVISOR 1 I shall tell the king! ADVISOR 2 I shall tell him! They hurry for the door.But their race to be first to bring this great news to the King is interrupted as the Queen emits another cry; it surprises the doctor. DOCTOR M'lady...?