Barry Lindon

RODERICK (V.O.)

I took lessons on the guitar, and sang French catches exquisitely. Where, in fact, was there a more accomplished gentleman than Roderick James?

INT. GAMING ROOM - GERMANY - NIGHT

Action as per voice over.

RODERICK (V.O.)

How have we had the best blood, and the brightest eyes, too, of Europe throbbing round the table as I and the Chevalier have held the cards and the bank against some terrible player, who was matching some thousands out of his millions against our all which was there on the baize!

INT. GAMING ROOM - GERMANY - NIGHT

Roderick dealing a faro bank.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Our principles were: play grandly, honorably. Be not, of course, cast down at losing; but, above all, be not eager at winning, as mean souls are.

INT. GAMING ROOM - GERMANY - NIGHT

Action as voice over.

RODERICK (V.O.)

When the Duke of Courland brought fourteen lackeys each with bags of florins, and challenged our bank to play against the sealed bags, what did we ask?

CHEVALIER

Sir, we have but eighty thousand florins in bank, or two hundred thousand at three months; if your highness' bags do not contain more than eight thousand, we will meet you.

Playing.

RODERICK (V.O.)

And we did, and after eleven hours play, in which our bank was at one time reduced to two hundred and three ducats, we won seventeen thousand florins off him.

Four crowned heads look on at the game, and an imperial princess, when Roderick turns up the ace of hearts, bursts into tears.

INT. MASQUERADE BALL - NIGHT

Roderick and a girl.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Nor need I mention my successes among the fairer portion of the creation. One of the most accomplished, the tallest, the most athletic, and the handsomest gentleman in Europe, as I was then, a young fellow of my figure could not fail of having advantages, which a person of my spirit knew very well how to us.

INT. BOUDOIR - NIGHT

Making love to a masked lady.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Charming Schuvaloff.

INT. COACH - NIGHT

RODERICK (V.O.)

Black-eyed Sczortarska.

INT. BOUDOIR - NIGHT

RODERICK (V.O.)

Dark Valdez.

RODERICK

Do you expect me to believe that your lover brought you here tonight?

VALDEZ

Yes. He brought me in his carriage, and he will call for me at midnight.

RODERICK

And he doesn't care about me?

VALDEZ

He is only curious to know who you are.

RODERICK

If his love were like mine, he would not permit you to come here.

VALDEZ

He loves me, as I love you.

RODERICK

Will he wish to know the details of this night?

VALDEZ

He will believe that it will please me if he asks about it, and I shall tell him everything except some circumstances which might humiliate him.

EXT. GARDEN - NIGHT

RODERICK (V.O.)

Tender Hegenheim.

INT. BOUDOIR - NIGHT

RODERICK (V.O.)

Brilliant Langeac.

Roderick takes from his portfolio a little jacket of very fine transparent skin, eight inches long and closed at one end, and which by way of a pouch string at its open end, has a narrow pink ribbon.

He displays it to her, she looks at it, and laughs.

LANGEAC

I will put in on you myself.

She puts it on, out of shot.

LANGEAC

There you are, dressed by my hand. It is nearly the same thing; but despite the fineness and transparency of the skin, the little fellow pleases me less well in costume. It seems that this covering degrades him, or degrades me -- one of the other.

RODERICK

Both, my angel. It was Love who invented these little jackets: for he had to ally himself with Precaution.

INT. ROOM OFF A BALLROOM - NIGHT

Roderick making love to the Countess von Trotha. Enter the Count, in the uniform of a Colonel.

COUNT

I entered here, monsieur, at a bad moment for you; it seems that you love this lady.

RODERICK

Certainly, monseigneur, does not Your Excellency consider her worthy of love?

COUNT

Perfectly so; and what is more, I will tell you that I love her, and that I am not of a humor to put up with rivals.

RODERICK

Very well! Now that I know it, I will no longer love her.

COUNT

Then you yield to me.

RODERICK

On the instant. Everyone must yield to such a nobleman as you.

COUNT

Very well; but a man who yields takes to his legs.

RODERICK

That is a trifle strong.

COUNT

Take to your legs, low Irish dog. Roderick smiles at him.

RODERICK

Your Excellency has wantonly insulted me. That being so, I conclude that you hate me, Monseigneur, and that hence you would be glad to remove me from the number of the living. In this wish, I can and will satisfy Your Excellency.

EXT. BEAUTIFUL GARDEN - EARLY MORNING

Roderick's sword duel with the Count. Details to be worked out. INT. BILLIARD ROOM - NIGHT

Roderick watches the Chevalier play with a Prussian officer, Lieutenant Dascher.

RODERICK (V.O.)

It was my unrivaled skill with sword and pistol, and readiness to use them, that maintained the reputation of the firm.

Towards the end of the game, Dascher, seeing that he is losing, makes an unfair stroke, so obvious that the marker tells him so to his face.

Lieutenant Dascher, for whom the stroke wins the game, takes the money which is in the stake bag, and puts it in his pocket, paying no attention to the marker's adjurations, or to