The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

John Westbrook: Man in Red

Photos 

Quotes 

• Man in red : Why should you be afraid to die? Your soul has been dead for a long long time.

• Prospero : But Satan rules the universe! I made a pact with him!

  Man in red : He does not rule alone... and your pact with him will not save you.

  Prospero : There is no other God! Satan killed him!

  Man in red : Each man creates his own God for himself, his own Heaven, his own Hell.

  Prospero : Let me see your face!

  [He unmasks the Man in Red to reveal his own bloodstained face] 

  Man in red : Your Hell, Prince Prospero... and the moment of your death.

• Gino : [thinking the Man in Red is a monk]  My God... my God!

  Man in red : Who is... *your* God?

  Gino : The true one.

  Man in red : [softly]  Yes...

• Prospero : Who do you come for?

  Man in red : Many.

  Prospero : All?

  Man in red : Not all.

• Man in red : I have no title. Why do you call me "Excellency"?

  Prospero : Well, I thought that as the ambassador of Satan...

  Man in red : He is not my master. Death has no master.

• Man in red : [Last lines]  I called many. Peasant and prince... the worthy and the dishonored. Six only are left... a young man and woman... a dwarf and a tiny dancer... this child

  [he rests his hand on the little girl's head] 

  Man in red : and an old man still in the village. Sic transit gloria mundi.

  [He joins the file of Deaths] 

• Prospero : Our master will be pleased. I brought all of these souls to him; I corrupted them for him. I believed in Satan when no one else would. I built a chapel to him and I prayed to him. And all of these, my friends, I brought them here promising them safety.

  Man in red : You presumed too much.

  Prospero : I know, I know. But it does make a fine jest, the kind of jest that would amuse Satan.

  Man in red : [coldly]  Would it?

• Man in red : [Prospero has chased him to the Black Room]  Prospero... you command me to wait. Very well... I wait.

• Man in red : It's time for a new dance to begin... the Dance of Death!

• Prospero : Your Excellency... this girl

  [he indicates Francesca] 

  Prospero : ... in all my life, I've never met one who's faith rivalled mine. Spare her to me.

  Man in red : A charitible request... a rare thing with you, Prospero.

• Gino : I have sinned. I have killed.

  Man in red : For yourself?

  Gino : No!

  [the Man in Red makes a gesture to continue] 

  Gino : Now I'm afraid.

  Man in red : For yourself?

  Gino : For Francesca... and for me. I must go back for her, but I don't know how! What weapon can I use against Prospero?

  Man in red : [pause, then]  Love?

• Gino : I'm afraid of Prospero, I'm afraid of his dungeon, I'm afraid! I'm afraid!

  Man in red : I give you a sign.

  [He hands Gino a playing or tarot card] 

  Gino : [stares at the card, then]  What does it mean?

  Man in red : Mankind.

• Prospero : I should like to see your face.

  Man in red : There is no face of death... until the moment of your own death.

• Man in red : [to Gino]  You have recovered your courage. Now prove your wisdom.

• Man in red : Is my costume such a disguise that you don't recogbnize me?

  Prospero : Your voice, it's familiar. Dottore Bernelli, that's who you are! Bernelli, you dog, thinking...

  [pause, then realizing] 

  Prospero : You're not Bernelli.

  Man in red : No. The doctor dances in the White Room... but I passesd close by him.

• Prospero : I knew I was right. I knew it. I've won!

  Man in red : The time of unmasking. They begin to show their naked faces.

• Man in red : Go to the battlements.