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FADE IN:
EXT. PATH IN WOODS - DAY
Early morning, just before sun-up in a small European duchy, circa 1350. The DUKE a world-weary man in his mid 30s, rides ahead of a FARMER driving a hay wagon. (This Farmer is fairly well off and in his 50s.) Wind whistles through the trees.
They pass an outcropping of rock, festooned with vines and lichen. The path, already faded, disappears. The draught horse drawing the wagon comes to a stop. The Duke’s horse likewise stops.
The Duke looks back at the Farmer, who registers an uncertain look.
DUKE
What?... It is this direction, is it not?
The Farmer hesitantly nods. They stare at each other. The Farmer snaps his reins. His horse and the cart go a few steps backward. The Duke’s horse makes up its own mind to turn around join the side of the Farmer’s horse.
FARMER
My lord, I think we’re here.
DUKE
You don’t know precisely?
FARMER
Hard to explain, my lord, but it never looks the same, each time. Now, there’s supposed to be a bowl...
DUKE
Bowl?
The Farmer catches sight of something.
FARMER
Ah.
(points it out
to the Duke)
There.
There is a plain, wooden bowl, of a size that could hold about two servings of stew.
FARMER(cont.)
That’s where you place your tribute.
DUKE
Very well...
The Duke dismounts, goes to the bowl and deposits into it a finely-wrought gold ring, graced with a large emerald.
He steps back and looks around.
DUKE(cont.)
And now...?
FARMER
There’s this hut...
He jumps a little when he spots something else, as do the horses.
FARMER(cont.)
There!
What was nowhere in evidence before the disappearing path is now plainly before the men and their horses: a patchwork hut, measuring about ten feet around and six feet high, with a smoke hole at the top.
The Duke jumps a little when he sees it, too.
The Farmer steps off the wagon and goes to the back, where, wrapped in thick blankets, the DUCHESS lies sick and out of it. The Farmer takes her in his arms and goes to the Duke.
DUKE
This physic will cure my wife?
FARMER
I’m sure of it.
They proceed toward the hut.
INT. PHYSIC’S HUT – DAY
The Duchess is laid out on a hide, her skin is clammy and sickly pale. There are small dark spots showing on her forearms. Her breathing is labored and wheezing.
The PHYSIC inspects the ring he dropped in the bowl outside. She doesn’t look older than 50. Her adornments are simple.
PHYSIC
Excellent! This is perfect.
DUKE
It came from a mine in Persia...
The Physic dislodges the gem from its setting, drops it into a mortar and pestles it to a powder, as the Duke looks on, incredulously.
PHYSIC
And it’s the right amount for the dosage, too!
DUKE
...I see...
The Physic sprinkles the emerald dust into a small cauldron of boiling liquid. Chanting an incanta-tion in an ancient tongue, she adds a couple of other ingredients and then ladles it into a bowl.
She dips a cloth into the bowl, absorbing the liquid, and squeezes it into the Duchess’ mouth.
DUKE(cont.)
So will she be well?
The Physic places another cloth over the Duchess’ forehead.
PHYSIC
If you treat the Black Death early enough, the recovery comes soon.
DUKE
I...I’m grateful to you, madam...
The Physic turns to a large bowl to wash her hands.
PHYSIC
It’s not every day I receive nobility.
The Duke nervously looks around at the hut’s adornments, not wanting to look at his wife. Small pouches and vials of this and that. There is an altar with various items laid out on it.
Surrounding it are deities of various types, early pagan, Roman, even a Madonna and Child icon and a statuette of the risen Christ.
DUKE
So...You believe in the Blessed Mother?
PHYSIC
Among other things. She is a divine gift.
DUKE
And the Christ?
PHYSIC
He Who Overcomes Suffering is always good to have around.
DUKE
...Among these
(indicates a Pan
figurine)
graven images??
PHYSIC
What troubles you?
DUKE
It’s... I had no idea you were real until now. All this time, I thought you were some ancient legend.
PHYSIC
I am not some ancient legend?
DUKE
No. You are presently a dilemma.
PHYSIC
Explain.
DUKE
Well, you see, as of the morrow, I am receiving a very important visitor. A high representative of my church,...
PHYSIC
Ah, look!
She summons the Duke over to view the Duchess’ progress: Her breathing is now normal, the blemishes recede from her arms, color returns to her cheeks.
PHYSIC(cont.)
She’ll awaken shortly.
The Duke crosses himself and takes his wife’s hand to kiss it. He turns to the Physic.
DUKE
Thank you.
(pause)
There is a convent, St. Brigid’s, twenty miles east of here. You will find refuge within their walls.
PHYSIC
(laughs)
From what, pray?
DUKE
You don’t understand. My visitor, he doesn’t go in for any of...
(indicates pagan
ornamentation)
...these.
PHYSIC
What’s wrong with them?
DUKE
Uhm...
(chooses his words)
The Holy Father, the head of my church, recently received word of a sorceress inhabiting my woods and has sent someone —.
PHYSIC
YOUR woods?
DUKE
Ah, I,... My visitor hunts your kind! If his men find you here, they will kill you!
PHYSIC
Find me? In MY woods? HA!
In a noiseless instant, the Physic, her hut and its contents are gone, and what remains are the Duke and the Duchess in open air.
The Farmer catches sight of them and jumps.
FARMER
(in distance)
My Lord!
The Duchess blinks awake and sits up, startling the Duke.
DUCHESS
Husband?
DUKE
(hugs Duchess)
Dearest!
DUCHESS
I’m fine... Can we go home?
The Farmer hurries toward the couple.
EXT. DUCAL MANOR – NIGHT
We SEE flickering light from one of the oblong windows. We HEAR arguing voices. We MOVE IN to SEE inside.
DUCHESS (OS)
I can’t believe you let him come here!
INT. DUCAL BEDROOM/OFFICE
The Duke sits at a desk, piled with various petitions, stationery and ledgers.
DUKE
What am I supposed to do? Defy a pope? Your uncle - a king - couldn’t refuse this pope’s Inquisitor.
DUCHESS
Uncle has the backbone of a caterpillar.
DUKE
And we neither have his majesty’s army nor his treasury. If the king seeks to keep Rome’s favor, we must also. Get you to bed, I’ll join you when I’m done with these.
He looks at a stack of documents requiring his signature and dips his quill in the requisite inkwell.
The Duchess gazes at him for a moment, then goes to leave the room.
DUKE(cont.)
Where are you going?
DUCHESS
To the chapel. To pray to the Blessed Virgin.
DUKE
For how long?
DUCHESS
As long as necessary.
DUKE
That physic in the woods can take care of herself, you know.
DUCHESS
My prayers are not for the witch. They’re for those who cannot afford enchanted medicines for their ailments and for those whose loyalty to Rome is doubted, for they will suffer the Inquisitor’s fires. And for our sons, for they will surely be pressed by the Inquisitor to fight and die in endless crusades. Those are for whom I’m praying. Don’t stay up for me.
The Duchess exits. The Duke rubs his brow and returns to his documents.
CLOSEUP – VOTIVE CANDLE
being lit by the Duchess and put among the others.
INT. CHAPEL
Having lit a candle, the Duchess pads to a private pew facing a statue of Virgin Mary, kneels and pulls out a set of rosaries.
DUCHESS
(crosses herself)
In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti.
She takes hold of the crucifix at the end of the rosary and stares reverently at the Virgin.
DUCHESS(cont.)
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem,...
We FADE to...
INT. PHYSIC’S HUT - NIGHT
In the wee small hours, in the light of a single candle, the Physic contemplates the Virgin Mary icon.
PHYSIC
(in a very
ancient tongue)
...Blessed
Mother, You above all others,...forgive your children. Show mercy to the
wretched.
She is about to utter something further, when her eyes suddenly widen. She stiffens and then puts an ear to the ground. Distant hoof beats.
EXT. DUCHY – DAWN
Dawn breaks through the woods bringing the Physic’s hut into view. We quickly PAN through the woods, past pastures, past the Ducal manor, past the town to the road leading into it, where we SEE a distant cavalcade approaching.
CHAPEL
The Duchess continues to recite the rosary. A YOUNG MONK approaches her.
DUCHESS
Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus
tecum.
YOUNG MONK
Your ladyship?
DUCHESS
Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et
benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Her gaze doesn’t waver from the Virgin. At a loss for what else
to do, the Monk leaves.
DUCAL BEDROOM/OFFICE
Dawn finds its way inside the room, illuminating the Duke, who
is asleep at his desk. A young PAGE
quietly approaches and whispers in his ear.
The Duke jolts awake.
CLOSEUP – HANDS
A pair of gentleman’s hands fingers the onyx beads of an opulent rosary ending in a bejeweled crucifix. There is a large ruby ring on one of the fingers.
INT. COACH
The hands belong to the INQUISITOR, a clean-shaven, austere cardinal in his 60s. He barely mouths the rosary prayers as he rides.
EXT. PHYSIC’S HUT
The Physic exits her hut into the dawn’s fog. She cradles a tennis ball sized gall in her hands. She gently kisses it, and a tiny, green wasp emerges from a hole and buzzes off. The Physic gazes off in the direction of the wasp’s flight, the palace.
EXT. DUCAL MANOR/COURTYARD
The large, black coach of the Inquisitor pulls near a heavy, wooden door, an entrance to the ducal residence.
The ducal door swings open, and then that of the Inquisitor’s coach. The Inquisitor steps out of his vehicle, his finely wrought boots a contrast to the austere sandals and muddy shoes of his attendant brethren and guards.
INT. DUCAL THRONE ROOM/OFFICE
The Duke’s throne room has a wood-beamed ceiling and opens out to a balcony overlooking the courtyard.
It is furnished with two simple thrones, one occupied by the Duke, the other empty. A great broadsword hangs between them. They face heavy wooden doors, several yards away.
The walls hang with fine tapestries for insulation. The only other significant furnishings are an oaken table bearing stacks of notes and ledgers and an inkstand with several quills next to the Duke’s throne. His coronet encircles one of the throne’s posts.
Quill in hand, the Duke scrutinizes a petition. He hastily scribbles some tiny words in the lining, along with his initials. He then blows on the page to dry the ink.
We HEAR the heavy doors open slightly. The Duke looks up from his paperwork.
The Page stands before him, the doors closing behind him. Saying nothing, the Page gives the Duke a knowing look. The Duke grimly nods in reply.
Standing as the Page departs, the Duke flings the petition out towards the table, where it rests atop some other papers. The Duke then removes the coronet from its resting spot and places it on his head.
The doors reopen to the Inquisitor, sitting upon a crimson cushioned, gilt framed throne, borne by four large men, the THRONE BEARERS.
They march resolutely to a corner of the room, positioning the throne so as to maximize the Inquisitor’s field of vision around the room.
The Duke takes a step toward the Inquisitor, who puts up hand for him to hold a moment. The Bearers genuflect to the Inquisitor and exit.
The Inquisitor beckons the Duke to approach. He rises and extends his ruby for the Duke to bow and kiss, which the Duke duly does.
The Inquisitor returns to his seat. The Duke stays standing.
DUKE
I trust Your Eminence had a pleasant journey?
INQUISITOR
Uneventful. The way we like it. So... We could chat all day, but we both have work to do.
(gazes at table
with papers)
You certainly keep yourself busy.
DUKE
Begging Your Eminence’s pardon, but I inherited a bloody mess. Father paid little attention to documents. My attention to them has pulled the duchy from the brink of ruin.
The Duke ambles toward the laden table.
DUKE(cont.)
Father commissioned the finest weavers in Genoa to render the tapestries on these walls. This...
He stands before the table.
DUKE(cont.)
...is my masterpiece.
INQUISITOR
Ah. It would be meet to sift through this “masterpiece”.
DUKE
I doubt there is anything of interest to Your Eminence.
INQUISITOR
Really?
(eyes the papers)
How does the Black Death in your lands?
DUKE
Praise God, it has subsided.
INQUISITOR
But there are still cases?
DUKE
...Sporadic.
INQUISITOR
And there would be record of them on your table?
DUKE
I suppose...
INQUISITOR
Suppose? There are records.
DUKE
Yes.
INQUISITOR
Any gypsies?
DUKE
Not since my father...
INQUISITOR
Any Jews? Infidels?
DUKE
None.
INQUISITOR
And that would be corroborated by the documents?
The Duke reluctantly nods. The tiny, green wasp flies through a crevice in the window. As the Duke and the Inquisitor continue to converse, the wasp alights on the table and ensconces itself in the folds of a document.
INQUISITOR(cont.)
What about recent converts to our church?
DUKE
There are...
INQUISITOR
Jews?
DUKE
Your Eminence, they’re good Christians. They’ve never been absent from a church service.
INQUISITOR
They’re Jews. They steal hosts. Where can we find them?
The Duke is dumbstruck.
INQUISITOR(cont.)
The answer can be sought somewhere on that table, no doubt. So, you see, my son, your masterpiece is of considerable interest to us. Faith, it is a veritable Oracle of Delphi for the answers it may yield.
We now HEAR the WHEELING of massive wagons and the POUNDING of heavy hammers outside.
The Duke goes to the window and peers out.
DUKE
What are they doing?
INQUISITOR
Getting started. So what is this we hear about there being a witch in your woods?
The Duke turns with an incredulous look at the Inquisitor.
EXT. WOODS – SAME TIME
The Physic lays on her back on the forest floor, staring up at the canopy of branches and leaves. She holds the gall closely to her ear. We HEAR the conversation between the Duke and the Inquisitor emanating from the gall.
DUKE’S VOICE
It’s but an old legend from the days of the Caesars.
INQUISITOR’S VOICE
So there wouldn’t be any record of a witch amongst your papers?
DUKE’S VOICE
That, I can assure Your Eminence.
INQUISITOR’S VOICE
Yet, it may interest you to know that within the preceding eight months, we’ve yielded forty-seven such “legends” to the fires.
The Physic’s eyes widen.
INT. CHAPEL – DAY
The Duchess continues with her rosaries before the Virgin. Concentration knits her brow.
DUCHESS
Domine Iesu, dimitte nobis debita
nostra, salva nos ab igne inferiori,...
A couple of pews back, the Young Monk has joined the Duchess in
prayer.
YOUNG MONK/DUCHESS
... perduc in cælum omnes animas,
præsertim eas, quæ misericordiæ tuæ maxime indigent.
An OLDER NUN steps inside the chapel and notices the two of them, saying the rosary to the Virgin. She takes a glance outside, then back to those in prayer. The Nun pulls her rosaries from her belt, goes to the nearest pew, genuflects before the Virgin and takes a seat.
EXT. WOODS
The Physic listens intently at the conversation being transmitted from the wasp to the gall.
INQUISITOR’S VOICE
...The nearby forests will also need to be purged with fire.
DUKE’S VOICE
What?!?
PHYSIC
What?!?
She stares incredulously at the gall.
CHAPEL
A small congregation of monks and nuns have joined the Duchess in prayer.
DUCHESS, ET AL
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in
princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum.
A YOUNG SERVING GIRL timidly steps inside and approaches the
pews. She is followed by a
MERCHANT. He nods at the Serving Girl
to go ahead and take a seat. She does,
and so does he.
WOODS
Glowering, the Physic peers into the small hole in the gall and VIEWs the scene in the castle from the wasp’s POV.
THRONE ROOM/OFFICE
The Wasp espies the Inquisitor on his throne.
INQUISITOR
With time and God’s providence you shall have additional farmland.
The Wasp turns to see the Duke walk away from the window and toward the Inquisitor.
DUKE
Your Eminence, I’ve hunted in those woods since I was a boy, and no unnatural evil has come unto me, or any in my party.
INQUISITOR
The Black Death?
DUKE
Came from merchant vessels along the river, bearing rats — that you’ll find in our records! You shall not burn down the forest!
The wasp’s green color fades to red.
INQUISITOR
We would caution his lordship about his tone. No, we shall not burn down the forest. That is your task - else face excommunication.
DUKE
(controls himself)
I beg your Eminence’s forgiveness. There is more evil to be found in any tavern...
As the Duke speaks, smoke rises from behind him. The Inquisitor catches sight of it and comes to his feet.
DUKE(cont.)
Your Eminence?
INQUISITOR
Sweet Mary Magdala!
The Duke turns to see what the Inquisitor sees, the papers on his table smoking and catching flame.
DUKE
MY PAPERS!!!
In a panic, the Duke rushes toward the table in a desperate attempt to beat out the flames with his coat. The Inquisitor stays near his throne.
INQUISITOR
And you say there’s no evidence of sorcery in your papers? Verily, we witness evidence!
More smoke pours out of the papers, the Duke runs to one of the tapestries. He works to pull it down.
DUKE
(not listening)
You could help, old man!
Pulling down the tapestry, the Duke runs it over to the table to smother the smoking documents.
INQUISITOR
Old man. Oh, I’ll help.
The Inquisitor goes to the large broadsword hanging between the thrones and unhooks it. Being that it is too unwieldy for the Inquisitor to handle, the sword clatters to the ground.
The room is now filled with smoke, and now the tapestry over the papers catches fire.
With considerable effort, the Inquisitor lifts the sword with both hands. Coughing, he lurches off in the direction of the Duke, dragging the sword’s tip on the ground behind him.
Flames are now in full force, burning tapestry and table. They lick the wooden beams above.
Coughing heavily, the Duke runs to a window. Pushing it open and gasping for air, he shouts to the people below.
DUKE
Fire within!!! Bring water!!!
He turns away from the window, only to catch the blade of the broadsword in his side.
DUKE(cont.)
Aagh!!!
INQUISITOR
To Satan with you, vermin!
Wheezing and hacking, the Inquisitor clumsily prepares for another swing.
Clutching his wounded side, the Duke charges toward the door, blindly pushing the Inquisitor out of his way.
The Inquisitor falls back on the burning tapestry. His vestments catch fire, and so does he. The Inquisitor SHRIEKS with the searing of his flesh.
The doors of the throne room fly open. The Duke staggers into the arms of his Page.
The Throne Bearers and others, GUARDS, SERVANTS and INQUISITOR’S MEN arrive with buckets of water and barrows of dirt.
They HEAR the SCREAMS of the Inquisitor, but the smoke and flames are too much for them to reach him.
The ceiling beams are now aflame.
WOODS
The Physic pensively sits in a tree, smoking herbs from an exotic reed pipe and watching a large plume of smoke rise in the distance.
EXT. CHAPEL – ESTABLISHING
A very brief flurry of activity, more Inquisitor’s Men, Servants and Guards running around, trying to deal with the fire in the throne room.
INT. CHAPEL
The congregation praying to Virgin Mary is close to capacity in the pews. It is a mixture of monks, nuns and laity.
DUCHESS, ET AL
Salve Regína, Mater misericórdiæ;
Vita dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve...
Three Inquisitor’s Men (IM1, IM2 & IM3) breath-lessly enter, their red doublets grimed with smoke and soot. They take in the scene.
DUCHESS, ET AL (cont.)
Ad te Clamámus éxsules fílii Evæ; Ad te Suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle...
IM3 throws up his hands and leaves immediately. IM1 clears his throat, as if to say something to the congregation. IM2 puts a hand on IM1’s shoulder.
IM2
(shakes head)
Never mind them.
IM2 exits. IM1 turns to follow, but then turns back in hesitation, gazing at the Virgin and listening to the recitation by the faithful.
Resolved, he strides toward the pews and pulls out his rosaries. Hastily genuflecting, he takes one of the last available slots in the pews and lends his voice to the proceedings.
IM1/DUCHESS, ET AL
Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra, Illos
tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte...
IM1’s heart rate slows and his body relaxes.
WOODS
The Farmer charges through the woods in his hay wagon. The wounded and grimy Duke is in the back, this time.
PHYSIC’S HUT
The Physic prepares a salve for the Duke’s wound. She makes eye contact with him.
PHYSIC
My woods?
DUKE
...Your woods.
The Physic applies the salve to the Duke’s side, which brings quick relief.
The Physic places the Duke’s hand on the salve to keep it in place and then turns to get a dressing from small chest.
While her back is turned, the Duke quietly draws a dagger from his boot with his free hand.
The Physic bends over to wrap the dressing around the Duke’s thorax. When she’s close to finishing...
DUKE(cont.)
My papers.
PHYSIC
Hm?
...the Duke plunges his dagger into the Physic’s chest and rolls atop her.