FADE IN:
EXT. FRANCE – NIGHT – WINTER
SUPERIMPOSE over HOWLING WIND and snow:
“FRANCE, 13TH CENTURY”
Gradually revealed, an eminent well-built castle crowning a prominent hill. A lord’s residence and a war-ready fortress. A keep looms in the inner bailey, its outer bailey crowded with storehouses, servant and knight quarters, animal pens, mills, and gardens. Faint lights glow within some quarters and the castle.
In f.g. beyond moat is a haphazard village of huts, a small stone church, and acres of plots and orchards. Faint lights glow within some huts and the church.
Over HOWLING WIND we hear a WOMAN SCREAM O.S., then MUMBLE out of breath before quickly HUFFING several times.
INT. BEDCHAMBER – CONTINUOUS ACTION
The WOMAN is DHOUDA DE GUESSARD, 20, and she’s in labor. She’s Lady of the castle and usually beholds a timeless beauty. One that inspires minstrels and jongleurs. One nascent, able to one day wield great or devastating power.
Now, she’s sheened with sweat and pain, her long hair matted, disheveled, and glistening from a fire we HEAR CRACKLING O.S. The room is slightly smoky and she lays naked on the bed.
Window shutters RATTLE from wind outside.
She HUFFS several times, then strains and SCREAMS. TWO YOUNG MAIDSERVANTS wipe her face and body with wet rags. An OLD MIDWIFE, apron bloody, stands at bed’s end guiding her labor.
DHOUDA
(through gritted teeth)
I cannot withstand—it shall not come.
We HEAR shutters RATTLE violently O.S.
MIDWIFE
Do not surrender, Lady. The child nears.
Dhouda HUFFS several times, then strains, seemingly about to faint.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Narrow, smoky, ill-lit by a wall candle. GERMAIN DE GUESSARD, 40, paces nervously, hands clasped behind his back. He’s the well-respected Lord, an ex-soldier of the Crusades, a leader of men who fears nothing upon earth save God.
We HEAR Dhouda SCREAM O.S.
He stops pacing and eyes the timbered door with grave concern.
INT. BEDCHANBER – NIGHT
Dhouda, tormented severely, GROANS deep within her throat.
The midwife suddenly smiles and SIGHS tremendous relief.
MIDWIFE
(almost laughing)
The child passes. You have done it, Dhouda!
Dhouda collapses and begins CRYING, but not from joy or relief. She won’t look to the baby being pulled from her. The maidservants dab her face and body but she pushes their hands weakly away.
The midwife becomes serious, deathly still.
MIDWIFE
(continuing, staring in shock between Dhouda’s legs)
My God, no …
We HEAR the unseen baby’s WAILING O.S. …
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
… and so does Germain. He stops pacing, relieved and smiling. Now the proud, honored father.
INT. BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
Dhouda CRIES severely, guilty and shamed of a secret now revealed. She won’t look to her newborn child.
The maidservants stare in shock between her legs to the baby we still don’t see.
The midwife holds the unseen baby away from herself as if the Devil himself.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
FOUR MALE SERVANTS, three Frenchmen and a dark-skinned Syrian, all in their 20s, huddle close to the low-burning central oven, their tunics soiled and tattered.
We HEAR wind WHISTLE O.S through cracks in the walls.
Then we HEAR baby CRY O.S.
The Frenchmen look to the sound and smile.
The Syrian, boyishly handsome and reserved, looks worried. He sits slightly away from them, sweat on his brow, eyes deep in shadow and looking to the fire.
The Frenchmen don’t sense his unease.
INT. GREAT HALL – NIGHT
An expansive trophy room of conquest and travel. Persian and Turkish tapestries and carved ivory masks of Africa adorn the walls. Above the arched entrance an epic Crusade battle mural: Crusaders triumph against a raving band of Muslims.
A fire CRACKLES in a fireplace. Above it hangs a battle scarred shield: a red roaring beast with claws outstretched over an orange flaming sun. Germain de Guessard’s coat of arms.
THREE HOUSEHOLD KNIGHTS play dice on a dining table. KNIGHT #1, a scraggy, exuberant youth, throws his turn. KNIGHT #2, older and grim, eyes them intently.
We HEAR baby CRY O.S.
Knight #1 and the third knight, ARNULF, look to the sound and nod appreciatively. Arnulf looks wise and honest beyond his 30 years, and obviously in charge.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Germain is pressed against the door.
GERMAIN
Dhouda, is all well?
INT. BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
Frightened, the midwife quickly cuts the baby’s cord with a small knife hung at her waist. She wraps the baby in a small blanket. She won’t look to Dhouda.
GERMAIN (O.S.)
(continuing)
How has the child come?
The midwife won’t reply. She points the maidservants by the fire, who hastily retreat there. She looks to the door, worried.
INT. HALLWAY/BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
Germain grows impatient. He pushes the door open and goes inside.
He sees the midwife clutching the wrapped baby but he rushes to his wife’s side. She won’t look to him. She CRIES as if he’s not there.
We HEAR shutters RATTLE and wind WHISTLE O.S.
He looks over her sweaty and bloody body and grimaces. He looks to her face, traces a gentle hand across her cheek. She CRIES more fervently as if stung.
GERMAIN
(saddened)
What has happened, beloved?
She won’t answer. He looks to the midwife for understanding. She just looks to him dolefully.
He approaches her. She backs against the wall.
MIDWIFE
(slowly shaking her head)
No, Lord, I beg you … (on verge of crying) … please do not approach.
GERMAIN
(a beat)
But this is our child.… What has befallen our child?
We HEAR shutters RATTLE O.S.
He reaches for the baby. The midwife shuts her eyes and CRIES.
He slowly unfolds the blanket and GASPS, seeing:
INSERT – A DARK-SKINNED BABY BOY
Trembling and whimpering, his tiny fists shaking.
BACK TO SCENE
GERMAIN
(a beat; more to himself)
Dhouda
Dhouda is stung by her own name. She MUMBLES frantic apologies.
He doesn’t hear her. He eyes the baby with disbelief and disgust.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The Frenchmen disperse happily over the new baby.
The Syrian remains sitting by the fire, watching it, deeply concerned.
INT- BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
Germain backs away from the baby as if it’s plagued. He looks through it, past it, toward bloodshed and death. His face hardens, becomes the face of war and conquering.
He then looks out the door. Toward the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The Syrian looks slowly away from the fire, over his shoulder to the dark hallway, sensing something focused directly on him.
INT. BEDCHAMBER/HALLWAY – NIGHT
Germain rushes across the room. The maidservants scamper from his path. He retrieves his sword belt hung over a chair by the fire.
Dhouda raises her head weakly and sees him run out the room. In hallway he unsheathes the sword, tosses the belt to the floor.
DHOUDA (O.S.)
(raspy)
Germain!
GERMAIN
(not heeding her)
Arnulf! Arnulf, to me!
INT. GREAT HALL – NIGHT
Arnulf throws the dice that wins him the gamble. Knight #1 slumps his head, defeated. Arnulf snatches up the dice, kisses them dramatically. Knight #2 frowns.
GERMAIN (O.S.)
(continuing; from hallway)
Arnulf, to me!
Arnulf quickly looks to the hallway. He drops the dice, grabs his sword belt from the table, unsheathes the sword, and runs out the hall.
His two knights have done the same and run after him.
INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS ACTION
Germain, flushed and angered, approaches Arnulf and his two knights.
GERMAIN
(rushing past them)
To the kitchen—find the dark servant.
Confused, Arnulf nods and follows with his knights.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The Syrian rises slowly, looking to the portentous hallway. Frightened. Knowing.
INT. BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
The midwife hurriedly bathes the baby in a large wooden bowl by the fire. Her hands tremble. The maidservants watch her. She gives them a weak smile. She then looks to Dhouda, who won’t acknowledge her, or anyone.
Dhouda stares up to the mural on the domical ceiling: angels in flight with trumpets, glorious heavens behind them. Her eyes don’t mirror their beauty, only the devastation setting in.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Arnulf points Knight #1 to a side hallway, who nods and runs to the dark entrance.
INT./EXT. HALLWAY/INNER BAILEY – CONTINUOUS ACTION
Knight #1 hurries through darkness to a small door, opens it and runs out into the night.
Wind and snow have stopped. He rounds the keep, his boots CRUNCH in snow, his quick breaths white tufts of air.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The Syrian looks to the dark corners. Then up to the gloomy rafters. Then across the room to the cellar door. Hopeless. He eyes the back door, then the dark hallway, thinking.
We HEAR wind WHISTLING O.S.
He waits a moment … then runs out the back door.
EXT. INNER BAILEY – NIGHT
Knight #1 runs around the keep, past small storehouses.
We HEAR door SLAM O.S.
He rounds the keep and sees the Syrian running from the kitchen, around animal pens and gardens, toward the stables.
KNIGHT #1
By the Lord, stop!
But he doesn’t and the knight chases him.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Germain, Arnuif, and Knight #2 enter and search for the Syrian. Germain searches a small alcove. Arnulf looks up to the rafters, seeing nothing. Knight #2 rushes across the room to cellar door.
KNIGHT #1 (O.S.)
(continuing, from outside)
To the back, Lord—to the back!
Knight #2 is first out the back door.
EXT. STABLES – NIGHT
Knight #1 tackles the Syrian, dropping his sword.
HORSES SNORT, become frantic in their cramped stables.
The Syrian struggles with the knight, then punches him in the nose. Knight #1 reels off of him. The Syrian rises to run.
Knight #2 arrives running and tackles him. The Syrian kicks and flails.
KNIGHT #2
Do not resist, Moor!
Germain and Arnulf run in and stop. Germain assesses a possible attack. Arnulf is awed at the Syrian taking on both his knights.
The Syrian pushes Knight #2 from atop him. Then quickly rises to kick the knight in the face. Knight #2 falls on a pile of hay.
Knight #1 rushes the Syrian but is flung head first into a stable wall, almost easily.
Knight #2 returns, staggering, hair and uniform tangled with hay. He waves a knife and circles the Syrian, who eyes the glinting blade.
Knight #2 charges him and gets his knife-wielding hand quickly broken by the Syrian’s swift movements. Knight #2 YELLS, drops the knife and grabs his wrist, staggering back.
The Syrian runs and scrambles for the dropped sword.
Germain runs to him and kicks him in the face. The Syrian reels back, crashing into a stable wall unconscious.
Knight #1, breathless, retrieves his sword and motions to stab the Syrian in the chest.
GERMAIN
(hand staying knight—looking down to Syrian)
No, not here. Not his heathen blood here. Get some rope and bring him.
(a beat)
He and his devil spawn will perish in the forest.
(to Arnulf)
Retrieve the child. Bury it in the woods.
Hesitant, Arnulf nods and leaves.
Germain eyes the Syrian. Betrayed and shamed.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Arnulf hurries past several curious SERVANTS, who all watch him walk by.
INT. BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
The midwife stands by the fire and rocks the baby.
Arnulf hastens into the room. He grimaces at the sight of Dhouda’s brutal nakedness and quickly looks away. He goes for the midwife. She backs away. He grabs the baby, sees its face and hesitates, but regains his duty.
MIDWIFE
(reaching for baby)
Do not do this, Arnulf!
A maidservant starts CRYING.
Helpless, the midwife watches him leave the room.
EXT. INNER BAILEY – NIGHT
Knight #2 carries the unconscious Syrian over his shoulders. Germain carries both their swords and leads his knight to the storehouses against the looming curtain wall.
INT. BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
The midwife hurries to the door, listening. She beckons a maidservant with a wave of her hand. The one not crying goes to her.
MIDWIFE
(whispering—pulling her close)
Fetch Desmond. Tell him to go after Arnulf—but to be careful, mind you. Get the child and bring him to me at the kitchen.
The maidservant looks to her wide-eyed, listening closely.
MIDWIFE
(continuing, pushing her)
Go, quick now!
She runs out. The midwife remains, biting her lip, hoping.
EXT. CURTAIN WALL – NIGHT
Knight #2 drops the Syrian to the snow face down. Germain stabs both swords into the snow. He and Knight #2 go to the wall and push aside a nearly invisible stone door.
The Syrian raises his groggy head.
SYRIAN’S POV – POSTERN ENTRANCE
Opening up to a long, dark tunnel ending with a small circle of radiant light. Moonlit snow. Heavenly. Beckoning.
SYRIAN
Looks around, remembers where he’s at, realizes what now happens, knows his end is near. He looks intently into the tunnel and regretfully sees the past.
INT. SOLAR – DAY – MONTHS PRIOR
SYRIAN’S POV – DHOUDA is smiling, radiant. With both hands he gently holds her face like a prized treasure. She likes this, his touch. She’s completely open, in love. Sunlight plays over her face, her undone hair beautifully shaped and cascading over her naked body. She laughs softly, resplendent beyond belief.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. POSTERN ENTRANCE – CONTINUOUS ACTION
The Syrian tries to get up, desperate to escape, but Knight #2 roughly picks him up.
EXT. INNER BAILEY – NIGHT
Arnulf carries the baby toward the storehouses, to the open postern entrance. He can’t look the baby in the eyes.
INT. LESSER HALL – NIGHT
The maidservant runs into the spartan, ill-lit room and stops.
Several SERVANTS congregate at a large table, anxious about the ruckus. AD LIB nervous conversation.
A GROUP OF BOYS wrestle and LAUGH in a corner.
MAIDSERVANT
(to boys)
Desmond!
Everyone shuts up and looks to her.
The smallest BOY of the group walks forth, eyeing her curiously.
EXT. INNER BAILEY – NIGHT
Desmond bolts from the keep, wearing hooded tunic and boots, after Arnulf and the baby.
EXT. FOREST CLEARING – NIGHT
Resplendent snow. An old, massive tree in its center with sturdy, curling branches reaching greatly out.
Germain leads his knight and the Syrian to the tree. The Syrian shivers, his teeth rattle. Over the knight’s shoulder he tries to make out the locale. He’s dropped beneath a high branch. Germain gets the rope from the knight and ties it around the Syrian’s neck.
EXT. FOREST – NIGHT
Eerie. Quiet. Arnulf goes to a large tree. He rests the baby in the snow. He kneels and digs the snow with his hands.
ARNULF
(to baby—not looking at it)
With the snow you will not suffer. Only sleep.
As if the baby understands, he begins CRYING.
His crying continues with the following:
EXT. FOREST CLEARING – NIGHT
Knight #2 throws the rope over the branch.
The Syrian stands while his hands are tied behind him by Germain. When done Germain walks around him, eyeing him like the treacherous enemy, and stands before him.
GERMAIN
(a beat)
I saved you from the Saracens, your own heathen people. I gave you life.… With Christ’s blood I christened you.… I redeemed you. I saved you from the eternal fires of Hell.
(a beat)
Against sea and storm I brought you to my home, my refuge …
(eyes become deadly)
and you destroyed it. Ravaged my kingdom as if I have done nothing for you—
(unhinged)
—like I have done nothing for you!
(a beat)
I helped you. Honored you.… And I have actually loved you.
The Syrian lowers his head, MUMBLES in his own language.
GERMAIN (CONT’D)
No. Your heathen god cannot save you. He could not save you before.
(a beat, inching closer)
I was your only savior.
Germain squats down and wraps his arms around the Syrian’s legs and lifts him about 2 feet. His knight quickly pulls the rope free of slack, choking the Syrian in the process. He ties the loose end to a low branch.
KNIGHT #1
Clear!
Germain releases his legs. The rope goes taut. The branch CREAKS loudly. He walks back and watches.
The Syrian jerks and threshes. His eyes bulge. He chokes and gags. His neck strains against the rope. He fights, tries to tighten his neck against the rope. Veins bulge in his neck. He kicks, tries to reach his feet to the snow. The branch CREAKS from his exertion. But his feet won’t reach. The branch seems about to snap. It doesn’t.
His jerking and threshing slow, become nothing but nerve reflexes; his feet still kick, being the last movement of his body before he stops resisting altogether.
His eyes close slowly. He doesn’t make any sound. He sways, the branch CREAKS above him.
Germain walks to him and pulls his sword from the snow and raises it.
GERMAIN
(to Syrian)
The wolves will soon be out.
(slashes his stomach open)
Let them devour you.
He walks away. His knight watches the body bleed intestines under the moonlight.
EXT. FOREST – NIGHT
The baby stops crying.
Arnulf examines his hole. Then the baby. Thinking. He doesn’t want to do this.
He looks up to the tree’s deep shadowed branches. Then he grabs the baby and rises.
ARNULF
(looking at baby)
A wolf will find you in the snow.
(placing baby snugly in tree)
May the birds be gentle with you.
(backing away)
Forgive me, child. May my death be more cruel than yours.
He walks away.
EXT. FOREST – NIGHT
Desmond watches Arnulf from behind a tree.
DESOND’S POV – ARNULF
Walks away from the tree, out of sight. The baby is in the tree, quiet.
DESMOND waits a moment, then runs to the tree. He reaches up and grabs the baby. He looks O.S. toward Arnulf and waits. Then runs down a different path to the castle.
INT. CHAPEL NIGHT
Candles burn before a wood painting of baby Jesus and Mary. Germain walks to it, stunned and heavy, defeated beyond belief, as if he’s dying, and kneels.
EXT. POSTERN TUNNEL – NIGHT
Desmond runs through darkness with the child.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
In darkness, Arnulf sits in a chair and looks to the floor. Guilty and uncertain.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The midwife wrings her hands and paces, eyeing the back door.
Desmond barges through it. She ushers him by the fire. The baby is asleep from cold. To keep him asleep she signals to Desmond with a finger over her mouth. He nods.
INT. LESSER HALL – NIGHT
Knight #1 enters and is immediately barraged by servants. AD LIB too many questions at once. He raises his hand to silence them. The women pay no heed and keep asking.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The midwife heats milk in a hanging pot in the oven. She prods the wood with a poker to burn better. She sets the poker down close to the burning wood.
Desmond holds the baby nervously. The baby stirs. He sees it stir and his mouth and eyes widen in silent horror.
The baby lets out a very hungry CRY.
INT. CHAPEL – NIGHT
Germain MURMURS prayers, head bowed and eyes closed, giving in to the sorrow.
We HEAR baby CRY O.S.
He stops praying. Looks up, unbelieving, to the baby Jesus. He swallows. Waits with awe for a miracle. Nothing happens and he listens closer. He turns his head, realizing the crying is coming from the hallway.
He runs out.
INT. LESSER HALL – NIGHT
Knight #1 sits on a stool surrounded by several curious female servants. Young and old, quiet and waiting. He won’t entertain them.
One servant, an OLD WOMAN is about to speak.
We HEAR baby CRY O.S.
Everyone freezes. The knight looks out the hallway, confused. Then understands. He darts off the stool and out the hall.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Arnulf’s head is heavy in his hands.
We HEAR baby CRY O.S.
He looks to the sound. Frightened, as if haunted. Then realizes and runs to the sound.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
The midwife grabs Desmond and pushes him to a safe corner.
She rushes to grab the poker just as Knight #1 enters and sees the boy and the baby in the corner. She rushes to protect them with her body.
Knight #1 lunges for them anyway. She swings the poker at him. He jumps back, eyeing the hot end. He calculates his next move with his hands out before him.
MIDWIFE
(swinging poker wildly)
Get gone!
He lunges at her again, nearly grabbing her apron. She stabs out and burns his arm. He YELLS, backs away, angered.
Germain enters to see the midwife fending off his knight. Then he sees the boy cradling the baby. He fumes and hurries to her.
MIDWIFE
(waving poker at him)
You will not have this child.
(gaining conviction)
You will not have this child.
Germain motions his knight to stand down, who backs off. Germain approaches her, full of command.
GERMAIN
(hands out)
Hilda, give me the child now.
MIDWIFE
(scared but stern)
No, Lord. You will not do the Devil’s work and kill this child. I will not allow it.
(a beat)
I brought you into this world also, and I will not allow it, do you hear me.
Arnulf enters. He sees the baby and eyes it as if a ghost.
Germain looks to him, suspicious, questioning.
The midwife sees this look.
MIDWIFE
(continuing)
I had the boy follow your faithful knight and bring the child back to me.
(resuming conviction)
Germain, this is a Christian home and I know you have killed one …
She talks over following:
EXT. FOREST CLEARING – NIGHT
The Syrian sways under the bright moonlight.
MIDWIFE (V.O.)
Let him be the revenge. The bloodshed and anger and torment. Not his child
INT. BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT
Dhouda, feeling as though condemned by the angels above her, pulls the sweaty and bloody blanket over herself.
MIDWIFE (V.O.)
It is not the child’s fault, nor the Devil’s.
She curls up tight, shamed, and looks to the fire, her eyes mirroring the devastation.
MIDWIFE (V.O.)
(continuing)
He is unexpected, almost a tragedy, I know. But he is one thing for sure …
Her eyes fill with tears and drip to the bed.
INT. CHAPEL – NIGHT
The candles burn before the baby Jesus and Mary.
MIDWIFE (V.O.)
He is God’s work, Germain …
INT. KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS ACTION
Germain deflates from her words of truth. He can’t deny them. They are arrows to his heart and he’s defeated. He lowers his head, closes his eyes.
MIDWIFE
(continuing; emphasizing)
He is God’s work.
She looks to him compassionately and lowers the poker.
EXT. CASTLE – WINTER – NIGHT
The silent castle, village, forest, and countryside are illuminated beautifully by the eminent moon directly above.
MIDWIFE (V.O.)
(continuing; almost to herself)
He is God’s work.
FADE OUT: