The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Guy Pearce: Fernand

Photos 

Quotes 

• Fernand : What happened to your mercy?

  Edmond Dantes : I'm a count, not a saint.

• Mercedes : You would have to be a mother to truly appreciate the service you have done for my son and me. Monsieur, I will never forget you.

  Count of Monte Cristo : Please, madame, It was nothing; and I am sure in within a month you will not even remember my name

  [to Fernand Mondego] 

  Count of Monte Cristo : May I steal your wife?

  Fernand : Excuse me?

  Count of Monte Cristo : For the waltz?

• Fernand : Monte Cristo!

  Edmond : King's to you, Fernand.

  Fernand : Edmond? How did you...

  Edmond : How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure!

  Fernand : So you've taken Mercedes.

  Edmond : And everything else. Except your life.

  Fernand : Why are you doing this?

  Edmond : [pauses, remembering what Fernand said when he asked why he betrayed him]  It's complicated. Let's just say it's vengeance for the life that you stole from me.

• Fernand : You pleased me some of the time.

  Mercedes : You never pleased me.

• Edmond : Why? In God's name, why?

  Fernand : Because you're the son of a clerk, and I'm not supposed to want to be you!

• Mercedes : What's wrong?

  Fernand : I'm bankrupt. All my debts have been called in. Also, I am to be arrested.

  Mercedes : For what?

  Fernand : Piracy, corruption, and murder.

  Mercedes : Did you do all these things?

  Fernand : Yes. But there's simply not the time to talk about it. The gendarmes are on their way, apparently, so hurry up and pack something.

  Mercedes : I'm not going with you, Fernand.

  Fernand : [Fernand turns towards her and angrily breaks a mirror] 

  [Panting] 

  Fernand : You are my wife. I have made arrangements for us. We shall be very well taken care of. Now go and find my son.

  [Fernand walks briskly away from Mercedes] 

  Mercedes : He's not your son.

  Fernand : [Fernand stops dead in his tracks]  I beg your pardon?

  Mercedes : Albert Mondego is the son of Edmond Dantes.

  [pause] 

  Mercedes : Why do you think I rushed off so quickly to marry you when Edmond was taken away?

  Fernand : [staring blankly in full realization]  Premature.

  [Fernand steps towards Mercedes and stares piercingly down at her] 

  Fernand : Well, aren't you a piece of work? So he's the bastard son of a dead traitor?

  [Mercedes smirks] 

  Fernand : He always was disappointing.

• Mercedes : Albert, I found the note you left explaining where you'd gone. But now I must explain something to you. Where you've really come from. Albert, you are the son of Edmond Dantes. The man you know as the Count of Monte Cristo.

  [Albert Mondego turns to Fernand Mondego] 

  Fernand : Well, I'm afraid it is true. You are the walking proof that your mother was as much of a whore in her younger years as she is today.

• Edmond : You've only got one shot. And it'll take more than that to stop me.

  Fernand : Well, then, I best put it where it will do the most damage.

• J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : I require seventy percent.

  Fernand : And yet you'll only get fifty.

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : Done.

• J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : How is your father?

  Fernand : Alive, unfortunately.

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : We share the same misfortune.

• Fernand : Not that I don't appreciate the embroidery of the crimes, but still, murder?

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : It's quite simple, really. When you reported Dantes' receiving the letter to me, I didn't quite understand why you were betraying him, but now, having seen his exquisite fiancée, I understand completely.

  Fernand : What prompts you to be so accommodating?

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : Sit down, Mondego.

• Mercedes : I will never forget your kindness.

  Fernand : I shall never cease to give it.

• Mercedes : I know what you want, Fernand.

  Fernand : You do?

  Mercedes : Remember when we were kids and Edmond got that whistle for his birthday, and you got a pony? You were so mad that Edmond was happier with his whistle than you were with your pony. And I'm not going to be your next whistle.

• Mercedes : Albert wishes to talk with us.

  Fernand : Not now! Tell him I'm trying to protect his inheritance.

  Mercedes : Oh, are you afraid he's going to squander his as you have yours?

  Fernand : That's funny, I don't recall hearing your complaints when I elevated you from being a fishmonger's daughter. Now please, I must finish this, and then I shall be going out.

  Mercedes : May I remind you, my love, that in Paris there are mistresses aplenty, but you have only one son.

• Mercedes : Is Viscount Torville dead?

  Fernand : Well, unless his heart is situated somewhere other than the left side of his chest, I suspect he is.

  Mercedes : [choking up, and making the sign of the cross]  God grant him peace. He did no more than defend his family's honor.

  Fernand : Much good it did him. His wife and I were happy in our passion. You were happy in your ignorance. Now comes the viscount's valiant defense of his honor, and you are pained. She is ruined, and he is dead.

  Mercedes : Don't flatter yourself, Fernand. I was neither happy, nor ignorant, having known about the last three women before Madame Tourville.

  Fernand : I'm sorry that you are humiliated. The combination of Paris and me is hardly a recipe for fidelity, is it? But since my attempts at discretion have evidently failed, there seems little point in keeping up pretenses. It's actually quite... liberating. Wouldn't you say?

• Fernand : We're drinking Napoleon Bonaparte's wine!

  Napoleon : [Walking in behind Edmond and Fernand, surprising them]  I believe you'll find the 1806 a finer vintage.

• Count of Monte Cristo : Your father was a loyal supporter of Napoleon, wasn't he? Possibly involved in plotting Napoleon's escape from Elba.

  Colonel Villefort, aka: Clarion : [flashback]  The emperor arrives soon!

  Count of Monte Cristo : An inconvenient parent for an ambitious civil servant like yourself. But then he died suddenly, and opportunely murdered, again some sixteen years ago.

  Colonel Villefort, aka: Clarion : [flashback]  The emperor Napoleon.

  [he's shot in the back] 

  Count of Monte Cristo : The murderer never apprehended. How hard did you look for them?

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : You have no proof, no witnesses. You just have theories. J-Just conjectures.

  Count of Monte Cristo : On the contrary. I have Count Mondego.

  Colonel Villefort, aka: Clarion : [flashback; Fernand reveals himself]  Young Mondego. Why?

  Fernand : Because your son lacked the courage.

• Mercedes : [seeing Fernand leaving Albert's birthday party]  Fernand! The toast.

  Fernand : Not right now. I have state business to attend to.

  Mercedes : Our guests expect it. Albert expects it.

  Fernand : You give it, my dear. I'm sure it'll be splendid.

  Mercedes : You are his father! It's the least you can do. You know how he admires you.

  Fernand : Then he will forgive my absence.

• Fernand : Well, I see someone has taught you the sword.

  Edmond : How did you ever call yourself my friend?

  Fernand : We were friends, Edmond.

  Edmond : You sent me to hell! Why?

• Fernand : To better days.

• Fernand : Take your vengeance. But know that the blood you spill is noble. Blood that will never run through your veins. You are no more a count than I am a commoner!

• Fernand : Come in Albert, and for God's sake be brief.

• Danglar : Well, well. To what do I owe the honor, Count Mondego? Can't imagine why you've been avoiding me after all these years.

  Fernand : I'm prepared to overlook your faults, and perhaps resume our dealings.

  Danglar : Business not going so well these days?

• Fernand : I thought we agreed not to meet socially.

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : How could I pass up the Count of Monte Cristo?

  Fernand : Quite. What do you know of him?

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : He's foreign, rich. I hear he aided your son.

  Fernand : Why does he seek your counsel?

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : Why should I tell you?

  Fernand : When my son returned from Rome, he mentioned he'd heard Monte Cristo saying he was expecting a shipment. He also heard the words "gold" and "Spada".

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : You don't believe...

  Fernand : Monte Cristo has found the treasure of Spada.

  J.F. Villefort, Chief Magistrate : Not an hour ago, he asked me to help him avoid troublesome inspection on a shipment coming from Marseilles. I could have him arrested.

  Fernand : Don't do that. Let's just relieve him of it.

• Edmond Dantes : [arriving on Elba]  For a moment I thought you were abandoning me.

  Fernand : Fernand Mondego does not abandon his friends in the face of stupid, suicidal danger. However, as monsieur Morell's official representative on this voyage, Edmond, I must officially tell you you have overstepped your bounds as second mate. Officially. There. I've covered myself.

  Edmond Dantes : If we don't get him to a doctor, he will die. Do you understand?

  Fernand : Of course I understand. Just don't expect me to do this sober.