With Mercédès and Albert shot by Morcerf, nothing stands in the way of his showdown with the Count of Monte Cristo. However the battle is interrupted when Haydée intervenes while trying to stop their fight and confesses her feelings to the Count, saying that she's in love with him; General Morcerf then holds Haydée hostage at gunpoint, and the Count orders the wounded Albert to be held hostage as well. The standoff is broken when Albert pleads with both men; however, with his orders being disobeyed for the first time, the Count, now completely dominated by Gankutsuou, shoots Albert himself, but Baptistin throws himself in front of Albert and is wounded. After a confrontation between Albert and the Count, Gankutsuou's hold over Edmond Dantès is broken as Albert hugs the possessed Count and kisses the side of his cheek, which releases Gankutsuou's spirit out of his body-(leaving him mortal) and he finally passes away after succumbing to his puncture wound from the broken shard of Franz's sword that was still lodged into his heart-(which caused him to bleed to death) and telling everyone to remember him as Edmund Dantes. As Albert, Haydée, and the others flee to safety, Morcerf commits suicide in expiation for the crimes he committed against all those he loved, including Edmond. (Source: Wikipedia)

Aired on: 3/22/2005