The Man in the Iron Mask

based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas

screenplay by Rudy Moody

Scene I Dungeon

True Prince is chained to wall wearing his iron mask.

True Prince: Oh, here I am all lonely and sad. Locked in this prison with a mask on my head!

Guards drag in new prisoner and chain him to the wall.

Prisoner: No! No! Let me go! Please!!

True Prince: It's no use. The guards will never let you go.

Prisoner: Why are you in here? And why are you wearing that ugly mask?

True Prince: I am the true prince of this kingdom. But, I was trapped by my twin brother who wants to be king. He locked me in this cell with an iron mask on my face so that no one would know who I am. Now he is pretending to be me!

Prisoner: Bummer!

Clattering noise outside. Sound of fighting! In comes Porthos with his sword drawn.

Porthos: Your majesty, at last I have found you! I have searched for you for many years and now you are found at last!

True Prince: Porthos! My faithful musketeer! I am so glad to see you!

Porthos unchains the prince.

Porthos: Come, we must escape before the guards wake up!

Prisoner: Wait! Take me with you, please.

Porthos & True Prince: No way!

Prisoner: Bummer!

Scene II The King's Hall

King is seated on his throne, the false prince is kneeling before him.

King: My son, the time has come for you to be king. As my oldest son, you will be the one to wear the crown. You are not like your younger brother who ran away never to return.

False Prince: My fathr! I am ready to do as you command. If you wish me to become king, I will do it to make you happy!

King: Yes, my son! You shall be king. But, a king must have a Queen. So I have chosen a wife for you who will be your queen!

A shuffling noise is heard. Sound of fighting. In rush Porthos & the True Prince still in his mask.

Porthos: Stop! Your majesty! It is I, Porthos, your faithful musketeer. I have brought you the true prince. This son (pointing to false prince) is the younger twin. Years ago, he trapped his older brother and threw him in jail. He put this iron mask on him so that no one would recognize him!!

True Prince: Yeah!!

False Prince: That is a lie!!

King: Silence!! (King looks inside of mask.) Which of you is truely my oldest son?

Horns blow outside.

Herald (from off stage): Your majesty, the princess Porklet approaches!!

King: Oh yes, the future queen. Very well. Since you are twins and look exactly the same I cannot tell which of you is truely my oldest son. Therefore, I will choose the son who can convince the princess to marry him. That son shall be King!

True Prince: & False Prince: Yes, Father!

King: Bring the Princess in!

Princess enters. She is very ugly. True Prince & False Prince look t each other and begin to gag.

Scene III Dungeon

True Prince & False Prince both chained to a wall in identical iron masks.

True Prince & False Prince: Oh, here we are. Our lives are a mess! But at least we're not married to the ugly Princess!

The End