Masque of the Red Death (1989)

Patrick Macnee: Machiavel

Quotes 

• Machiavel : So shall death exact his charge against man.

• Young Prospero : [first lines; riding together, they come across a hanged man]  Do you know what crime this man committed, Machiavel?

  Machiavel : All crimes exact the same punishment.

  Young Prospero : It's easy to kiil.

  Machiavel : [glancing at his pupil]  Not even Death can look on your father's excesses with approval.

  Young Prospero : My rule will be different.

  Machiavel : You're a good pupil, Prospero. When your turn comes, I hope you'll remember that there's more justice in this world than mercy... and little enough justice.

  Young Prospero : You've been a good tutor, Machiavel.

  Machiavel : Well, if I've helped lighten the weight of generations, then my energies will be well spent.

  Young Prospero : I won't disappoint you.

  Machiavel : It's yourself you'd best not disappoint.

• Machiavel : [who's just entered the Great Hall in his Red Death costume]  I have a riddle, young pupil... when a man invades Death's domain, where is Death to go?

• Prospero : I've not heard much about you since you left court.

  Prospero : [pause, then]  I've heard much about you.

  Prospero : Well, I hope you won't judge me without a trial.

  Machiavel : [stops and turns to face Prospero]  No more than would you.

• Prospero : [realizing that Machiavel has brought the Red Death into his fortress]  You! You brought the plague within these walls!

  Machiavel : No, dear pupil... it was you invited me in!

• Machiavel : [now fully realized as The Red Death]  How do you like the face of your tutor, Prospero? I had a dream, dear pupil... and in it I died, the first victim of the Red Death. I entered the realm of the Dead... came face to face with the Master himself, but Death wouldn't let me rest... sent me back to the realm of the living to be his messenger... and it seems, my pupil, that you are fouling his name!

  Prospero : How can the name of Death be fouled?

  Machiavel : There's only one fairness in life... and that's the fairness of Death. Death doesn't choose between rich and poor... young, old... man, woman... but you, dear pupil, have taken it on yourself to decide who lives and who dies, and there's no fairness in that! When you invade the domain of a neighbor, isn't it to be expected that the neighbor will retaliate?

  Prospero : You tutored me too well, old friend!

  Machiavel : [shakes his head]  Not well enough.