1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #10

A gap in the dense vegetation. Something is glittering.

Gold. A mass of gold. As they approach, COLUMBUS

discovers --

A large pool of fresh water. The morning sunlight has

turned the water into liquid gold. The surface ripples

with the breeze. UTAPAN smiles. It the stranger

satisfied? Isn't this what he came for?

COLUMBUS plunges into the pool. As he emerges, he fills

his palms with liquid gold.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. RIVER - DAY

Wide shot -- A flotilla of canoes are going upstream.

INDIANS AND SPANIARDS are traveling together in the

canoes. UTAPAN leads the expedition in COLUMBUS' craft.

THE SHIP BOY'S cranium is shaved like UTAPAN'S, and we

notice that some other crew members are beardless, some

even wearing tribal patterns.

EXT. RIVERSIDE - DAY

INDIAN VILLAGERS confronting the SPANIARDS, UTAPAN talks

to an ELDER MAN, watched by COLUMBUS, MENDEZ and PINZON.

UTAPAN repeats several times the word for GOLD, showing

some artifacts. The OLD INDIAN shakes his head no,

indicating another distant place.

OLD INDIAN:

Cuba! Cuba!

THE OLD MAN nods, points into the distance, chatters away

to UTAPAN.

UTAPAN:

Say not here! Cuba!

COLUMBUS:

What is it? A tribe? An island?

UTAPAN:

Island. Far.

EXT. SANTA MARIA - DECK - DAY

Standing at the prow of the ship, his long dark hair

floating in the wind, UTAPAN rejoicing at the speed.

EXT. THICK JUNGLE - CUBA - DAY

Led by UTAPAN, the SPANIARDS hack their way through thick

jungle. It's hard work. The MEN sweat. This is

inhospitable terrain. Even the noises of the jungle seem

somehow more sinister...

CUT TO:

RESTING PLACE - ALONSO is seated under a tree. He takes

off his boot, and grabs his foot, examining the blisters

on his toes. As he puts his foot back into the boot, he

jumps screaming in pain.

ALONSO yelps, grasping his ankle.

CLOSE ON a snake sliding out of the empty boot.

While his COMPANIONS rush to him, a SAILOR spots the

snake, and decapitates it with his sword. UTAPAN glances

at the dead snake. He then goes and kneels -- he sees the

bite on ALONSO'S ankle.

COLUMBUS:

Help him!

ALONSO is quiet and silent. His eyes are looking around

at his companions. UTAPAN shakes his head. There is

nothing he can do.

ALONSO is now leaning back, supported by one of his

friends. He has grabbed the forearm of a SAILOR. His

look is already far away. His companion shouts at UTAPAN.

SAILOR:

Do something! Help him!

UTAPAN:

He dead.

ALONSO starts convulsing. HIS FRIENDS hold him, desperate

in their helplessness. Others simply move away,

horrified. One of them cries.

EXT. RIVER - DAY

Standing in the stream up to his thighs, A SPANIARD (a

gold expert) examines some stones. He then looks up at

COLUMBUS and PINZON and just throws the stones back into

the water without a word.

The group of SPANIARDS are resting, exhausted by the

humidity. Some are drinking from the river, others soak

bandanas, and tie them around their necks...

One after another, they stand up slowly -- they look

discouraged, tired, and beaten.

EXT. MOUNTAINOUS JUNGLE - DAY

UTAPAN and the SPANIARDS are trekking in the hills. Fully

armed, they are now suffering intensely from the heat and

the vicious insect bites.

COLUMBUS doggedly keeps up with UTAPAN, who tirelessly

trots forward.

Finally, COLUMBUS turns around and sees... nobody. He

calls out to UTAPAN.

COLUMBUS:

Utapan! Wait!

UTAPAN stops obediently, and rushes back to COLUMBUS with

comical energy.

On their way back, they find one SOLDIER sitting, leaning

against a tree. He has removed his helmet. His hair

sticking to his forehead.

As COLUMBUS and UTAPAN walk back, they find another

SAILOR, then another, then the whole group gathered around

PINZON. Ashen, he burns with fever. He attempts a smile.

PINZON:

Well... You'll have to continue

without me...

COLUMBUS looks around him -- what he sees: exhausted men

and jungle, as far as one can see.

COLUMBUS:

No. It's enough. What would you

say to a drop of Jerez, Pinzon?

PINZON grins.

PINZON:

And a nice slice of Santa Fe lamb!

I'd sell my soul for it.

(to his officer)

Help me up. I've got to piss, gold.

They all laugh as the OFFICER helps PINZON to his feet.

PINZON walks a few yards into the jungle -- starts to

urinate. It is red. Suddenly dizzy, he reels and

collapses.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

A line of SPANIARDS and INDIANS threading their way down a

mountainside. PINZON is being carried on a makeshift

stretcher. His eyes are closed, his face thick with

sweat.

They enter a village, to the surprise of the INDIANS.

UTAPAN once again at the front as the ambassador.

INT. HUT - NIGHT

A INDIAN SHAMAN is forcing a milky fluid into PINZON'S

mouth. COLUMBUS attempts a gesture to prevent him. But

UTAPAN stops him.

UTAPAN:

He cures.

COLUMBUS nods -- he obviously trusts UTAPAN.

INT. CHIEF GUARIONEX'S HUT - NIGHT

In the half-light, figures wreathed in smoke -- COLUMBUS,

MENDEZ and UTAPAN watch the CHIEF GUARIONEX putting a

Spanish helmet on his head. The helmet is too big, almost

covering his eyes. The ELDERS appraise the gift with

solemn wonder.

In return, GUARIONEX hands COLUMBUS a parcel made of

leaves. COLUMBUS unwraps them. Inside: a GOLD grimacing

mask. The first real piece of gold. COLUMBUS is unable

to conceal his excitement at this first real evidence of

the metal.

He waits for the CHIEF to speak, but the CHIEF only looks

at him. On the ground, we see other presents offered by

the SPANIARDS -- trinkets, and necklaces...

UTAPAN:

(to Columbus)

You come! You speak first!

COLUMBUS:

Tell the Chief we thank him.

UTAPAN:

Chief knows.

COLUMBUS:

Tell him his country is very

beautiful. Tell him we are leaving

men here -- to build a fort.

UTAPAN translates.

COLUMBUS:

Tell him we will return very soon.

Many of us.

UTAPAN translates. The CHIEF GUARIONEX asks a simple

question.

UTAPAN:

Chief says -- how many?

COLUMBUS:

Thousands.

UTAPAN:

Why?

COLUMBUS doesn't seem to understand the question. For the

first time he seems to be caught short.

COLUMBUS:

To bring the word of God.

UTAPAN:

Chief says -- he has a God.

COLUMBUS:

(pursuing)

... and also to bring medicine.

UTAPAN:

Chief says...

COLUMBUS:

(interrupting)

He has medicine.

(pause)

Tell him we admire his people.

UTAPAN translates.

UTAPAN:

Chief says he knows you like his...

(searches for the

word)

Women...

And the CHIEF gets up, awards COLUMBUS with a smile, and

walks out of the hut, the ELDERS following, leaving

COLUMBUS alone.

COLUMBUS:

(with a little

smile)

That's a beginning...

EXT. SHORE - DAY

Watched from the shore by the INDIANS and by about forty

of the SPANIARDS, who are staying behind, the boats pull

out towards the two remaining ships.

PINZON is laid out in the bottom of the boat. COLUMBUS,

UTAPAN, and four other INDIANS are in the same boat.

COLUMBUS (V.O.)

March 1493... Thirty nine of my men

volunteered to stay behind. God

willing we will be back in less than

a year...

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