The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

Jane Asher: Francesca

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Quotes 

• Prospero : Somewhere in the human mind, my dear Francesca, lies the key to our existance. My ancestors tried to find it. And to open the door that separates us from our Creator.

  Francesca : But you need no doors to find God. If you believe...

  Prospero : Believe? If you believe, my dear Francesca, you are... gullible. Can you look around this world and believe in the goodness of a god who rules it? Famine, Pestilence, War, Disease and Death! They rule this world.

  Francesca : There is also love and life and hope.

  Prospero : Very little hope I assure you. No. If a god of love and life ever did exist... he is long since dead. Someone... something, rules in his place.

• Prospero : That cross you wear around your neck; is it only a decoration, or are you a true Christian believer?

  Francesca : Yes, I believe - truly.

  Prospero : Then I want you to remove it at once! And never to wear it within this castle again!

• Francesca : Forgive them!

  Prospero : Forgive them? If my hound bites my hand after I have fed and caressed him, should I allow him to go undisciplined?

• Francesca : You had me take off my cross because it offended...

  Prospero : It offended no one. My Master and his followers look about with open eyes. No, it simply appeared to me to be discourteous... to wear the symbol of a deity long dead.

• [Prospero has caught her trying to escape] 

  Francesca : Juliana betrayed us.

  Prospero : She betrayed ME.

• Juliana : Gino , my father where are they?

  Prospero : [laughing as Francesca hides herself]  Modesty but no humility, why do you hide yourself?

  Francesca : It's not right that you should look at me.

  Prospero : That cross you wear around your neck is it only a decoration or are you a true christian believer?

  Francesca : Yes I believe truly.

  Prospero : Then I want you to remove it at once and never to wear it within this castle again.

  [holds out his hand while Francesca takes off her necklace] 

  Prospero : .

  Juliana : This peasant girl is she always to be bathed in my bedroom?

  Prospero : We'll find you another room Juliana, meanwhile you will dress the Lady Francesca in one of your finest gowns.

  Juliana : I don't...

  Prospero : Later you can instruct her in the ways of the court.

  Francesca : Please my father.

  Prospero : Your father... oh yes your father and your lover are being quartered in a warm and safe place, now I must go and join my guests.

  Juliana : [turning to Francesca]  You may think that you have impressed the Prince Prospero, but you can count on little help from me.

  Francesca : You will do as he told you.

  Juliana : Yes as we all must do.

  Francesca : I will do what I must to save my men, but if they are killed I will die and so will Prince Prospero.

• Prospero : [to Francesca, who is emotionlessly watching Alfredo burn to death]  I see you no longer turn away from the cruelties of life.

  Francesca : I no longer care. My life is done.

  [she lookls at Prospero] 

  Francesca : What's left I give to you tonight.

• Francesca : Is there something to fear in that room?

  Prospero : For the uninvited, there is much to fear.

• Prospero : I want to help save your soul so you can join me in the glories of hell.

  Francesca : No. Never.

  Prospero : The way is not easy, I know, but I will take you by the hand... and lead you through the cruel light into the velvet darkness.

• Francesca : [after Gino has been ordered to be removed from the castle]  Prince Prospero let me go with him.

  Prospero : You?

  Francesca : Please.

  Prospero : You , oh no my dear I couldn't bear to think of... No

  [to the crowd] 

  Prospero : you will go to your rooms now and prepare for the masque, you will not appear in your costumes until... midnight.

  Prospero : [turns to see Francesca following him]  Why do you follow me?

  Francesca : Bring Gino back and I will do whatever you wish.

  Prospero : You would destroy yourself for him?

  Francesca : Yes.

  Prospero : [smiling]  You almost cause me to doubt.

  Juliana : Prospero, my prince I'm ready

  [removes the rose to reveal the mark she gave herself] 

  Juliana : .

• Francesca : Juliana, thank God, I thought... don't know.

  [sees the burn mark on Juliana's breast] 

  Francesca : What's that?

  Juliana : Satan's mark.

  Francesca : Prospero did THAT to you?

  Juliana : No, I did it to myself. Marks me as one of Satan's handmaidens.

• Prospero : A hundred years ago, an ancestor of mine was a Christian monk. He was made examiner of an early inquisition. He tortured over 600 men, women and children - in order to save their souls for your god of love.

  Francesca : I cannot answer. I have no learning. But then is Satan a god of hate?

  Prospero : Oh, no. Of reality, of truth.

• Prospero : The world lives in pain and despair but is at least kept alive by a few dedicated men. If we lost our power, chaos would engulf everything. Sometimes that power must be used to teach harsh lessons.

  Francesca : But I don't want to learn.