1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #11

The boats continue to pull away, the figures on the shore

growing smaller.

CUT TO:

EXT. COLUMBUS' CABIN - NIGHT

CLOSE ON:
a golden mask... the lamp in the cabin swings

violently back and forth, creating strange shadows, as if

the mask was alive... COLUMBUS is writing with difficulty

in his log-book.

COLUMBUS (V.O.)

... Several men are ill. We did not

find signs of civilization. No

cities, no temples... Nothing that

resembles Marco Polo's descriptions.

My ships are not filled with the

spices and the gold that Spain was

hoping for. But this land

intoxicates the senses like the

strongest of perfumes... And all I

can think of, is to return to these

untamed lands...

Suddenly the cabin seems to lurch over. Things fall from

the table, smashing on the floor... COLUMBUS nearly falls.

EXT. SEA - NIGHT

We are in the middle of a violent storm -- of terrifying

proportions. The thunder is deafening. Light irradiates

the darkness. We see the two caravels, dwarfed by the

massive seas.

EXT. DECK - NIGHT

Five MEN are struggling to lash down the tiller. The deck

jumps and rolls. It rises five meters into the air then

falls into space and hits the water with a terrible crack.

Waves sweep over the decks. We hear desperate cries for

mercy from the terrified crew, loud enough to be heard

above the storm.

COLUMBUS and MENDEZ are crawling towards the mast, along a

lifeline.

COLUMBUS:

(screaming to the

sailors)

Get below! All of you! Go!

The MEN start to scramble below decks.

COLUMBUS:

(to Mendez)

Stay with me!

The ship rolls again. COLUMBUS and MENDEZ crawl towards

the mast. Another gigantic wave crashes over them, tons

of water falling like cement. They reach the mast. The

wood groans.

COLUMBUS:

We may have to cut it!

MENDEZ nods... COLUMBUS grabs some rope. The ship rises

into the air again, crashes down, the deck disappearing

beneath them for a moment.

COLUMBUS:

(screaming out)

I'll stay here -- to decide if we

cut it. Help me!

With MENDEZ'S help, COLUMBUS is tied to the mast: one

rope under his arms, the other around his waist. MENDEZ

hands him a horn.

COLUMBUS:

(screaming)

Now go!

MENDEZ seems to hesitate. COLUMBUS screams at him again.

COLUMBUS:

I said -- below deck, Mendez!

MENDEZ crawls away.

Another huge wave washes over COLUMBUS. He emerges,

almost suffocated. The storm rages, its eerie light

making it seem at times like bright daylight. But as the

lightning flashes, COLUMBUS begins to count:

COLUMBUS:

One... two... three... four...

There's an enormous thunderclap on "four" -- it indicates

how close they are to the eye of the storm.

The ship keels over again, dropping down and down, seeming

never to rise... COLUMBUS lifts his head to the heavens,

screams out:

COLUMBUS:

Damn you!

As if in answer, another flash of lightning that

illuminates the sky and the sea. COLUMBUS starts counting

again.

COLUMBUS:

One... two... three... four...

five...

Another terrible clap of thunder on "five" -- COLUMBUS

starts laughing, knowing the storm is moving on.

Then, in the strange light, something seems to move

through the air towards him; it looks like some kind of

projectile, a craft, with a trail of vapor.

COLUMBUS stares up at it... amazed. We start to hear the

"Te Deum", majestic and heavenly.

CUT TO:

INT. CATHEDRAL OF CORDOBA - SPAIN - DAY

COLUMBUS looks up at the vast roof, to see an incense

burner, swinging, gliding swiftly across the ceiling,

trailing a think vapor of incense.

A magnificent "Te Deum" is being sung -- in honor of

COLUMBUS' achievements and return. The whole cathedral is

packed with nobles and dignitaries in their gorgeous

robes.

BEATRIX, FERNANDO and DIEGO are staring in fascination at

COLUMBUS' triumph -- somewhat separated by the grandeur of

this occasion. COLUMBUS passes by, walking proudly down

the long central alley, beside KING FERDINAND and QUEEN

ISABEL and other GRANDEES. He turns to his family,

keeping his eyes on BEATRIX until she is out of his

vision.

The procession is followed by UTAPAN, and other INDIANS in

tribal regalia...

As they move through the crowds, all eyes are upon

COLUMBUS.

CUT TO:

INT. ROOM - SEVILLE (PINZON'S DEATH) - DAY

In a simple room, a PRIEST finishes giving the Last Rites

and a sheet is pulled over the head of MARTIN PINZON. His

WIFE and CHILDREN weep at the bedside.

CUT TO:

INT. CATHEDRAL - DAY

A stool passes from hands to hands. It is placed at the

Queen and King's side. COLUMBUS sits on it -- a supreme

privilege.

To one side sit AROJAZ and SANCHEZ. AROJAZ leans over to

whisper to him.

AROJAZ:

It won't be easy to get rid of your

prophet now, Don Sanchez.

SANCHEZ:

(whispering)

On the contrary, Your Eminence. It

seems to me the man is preparing his

own cross.

INT. ALCAZAR'S PALACE IN SEVILLE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

CLOSE ON:
the face of a young, SPANISH NOBLEMAN, ADRIAN

DE MOXICA. Hesitantly, he brings a lighted cigar to his

lips -- then pauses.

We discover other people around the magnificent candle-lit

table. NOBLE MEN and NOBLE WOMEN. SANCHEZ. COLUMBUS.

QUEEN ISABEL.

COLUMBUS takes the cigar from MOXICA. The rest watch him

with rapt curiosity. COLUMBUS inhales deeply then, to

their astonishment, blows out the smoke through his nose.

COLUMBUS:

You must not inhale, but simply

allow the palate to enjoy the flavor

of the Tobacco...

He hands the cigar back to MOXICA. With a casual air,

MOXICA himself inhales deeply -- almost chokes to death.

He gulps down a glass of wine... much to the amusement of

the others.

MOXICA:

(deeply embarrassed)

And you say this is an Indian vice?

By God! I don't see any kind of

pleasure that would make this a sin.

COLUMBUS:

The Indians have no such word, Don

Moxica.

ISABEL:

Do they have such thoughts?

COLUMBUS:

They come and go as naked as the day

God created them...

ISABEL blushes slightly.

COLUMBUS:

They don't see sin in their

nakedness. They live according to

nature, in a never ending summer.

The islands are covered with trees,

filled with blossoms and fruits.

And...

SANCHEZ:

(interrupting)

Forgive me, Don Colon. But what

about gold?

COLUMBUS nods, turns and whispers something to a SERVANT

standing just behind his chair. The SERVANT goes to open

the door -- and in comes UTAPAN, dressed as a tribesman,

carrying a casket. The WOMEN around the table fan

themselves furiously at the sight. UTAPAN puts the casket

down in front of the QUEEN, and steps back.

COLUMBUS:

These are gifts for Your Majesty.

ISABEL opens the casket, revealing the gleam of gold

inside. She takes out some of the little golden

ornaments... a bracelet and then the mask.

She holds it, somehow moved by its crude beauty.

ISABEL raises the mask to her face, looking across at

COLUMBUS.

The image is somehow powerful enough to reduce even the

ARISTOCRATS to silence. She speaks from behind the mask.

ISABEL:

We are more than gratified.

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