1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #12

The guests laugh obsequiously. COLUMBUS bows a little --

looks up and meets the eyes of SANCHEZ, who is staring at

him, coldly.

INT. ROTUNDA - DAY

A SWORD MASTER advances towards us with determination, his

sword flashing. He is fighting an adversary we do not

see, and comments his movements.

MASTER:

Si! Si! Muy bien! Excellente!

(Yes! Yes! Good! Excellent!)

We discover the SWORD MASTER is fencing with COLUMBUS. A

dozen duellists are practicing in the magnificent rotunda,

surrounded with a two-tiered colonnade.

Out of breath, COLUMBUS stops the exercise, and removes

his protective canvas padding. He bows at his teacher,

who salutes him in return.

COLUMBUS walks to a tressel laden with food and beverages.

SANCHEZ, in a fencing outfit and boots, is having a glass

of wine. Upon seeing COLUMBUS approaching, he hands him a

glass.

SANCHEZ:

You defend yourself admirably...

COLUMBUS:

... for a commoner?

SANCHEZ laughs and raises his glass.

SANCHEZ:

To your second expedition.

They drink. A short, somewhat ugly man, with some kind of

imposing energy, approach them.

SANCHEZ:

Don Colon -- Don Alonso de

Bobadilla. A man who knows our

laws.

BOBADILLA bows.

BOBADILLA:

I understand that you will soon be

appointing Governors for the

islands? Is it not so?

COLUMBUS:

Forgive me, Don Bobadilla -- those

positions have already been taken.

BOBADILLA:

(disappointed)

May I ask by whom?

COLUMBUS:

Bartolome and Giacomo Colon.

SANCHEZ looks at him in surprise. BOBADILLA reddens.

BOBADILLA:

I trust they are men of quality.

BOBADILLA glances at SANCHEZ.

COLUMBUS:

But we do have a lack of notaries.

You should contact my

administration.

SANCHEZ:

(amused)

Don Bobadilla is already a judge, my

Dear Don Cristobal.

COLUMBUS:

Good! We are also in need of

judges. Except there are no

thieves!

A grin disfigures the face of BOBADILLA.

BOBADILLA:

(to Sanchez)

I see I was mistaken. Don Colon

has no need for my services...

And he walks off. SANCHEZ fills his mouth with a slice of

ham.

SANCHEZ:

(amused)

You seem to have a special talent

for making friends.

COLUMBUS:

What...? Do I have so many already?

SANCHEZ:

(seriously)

To rise so high, in so short a time,

is a dangerous occupation.

(kindly)

A little hypocrisy goes a long way.

INT. ROOM - ADMINISTRATION - DAY

COLUMBUS with two MEN: the oldest, around thirty, is a

strong-looking man. The youngest, no more than twenty

five, is thin and fit. There is obvious tension in the

room. These are BARTOLOME and GIACOMO COLON, COLUMBUS'

brothers. BARTOLOME is angry, and GIACOMO thoughtful.

BARTOLOME:

You might have given us a choice!

GIACOMO:

Bartolome is stronger, more capable

than I will ever be...

COLUMBUS:

I need both of you. What are you

afraid of? We are living what we

always dreamt of.

GIACOMO:

You know I never shared those dreams

with you.

COLUMBUS:

Are you saying you refuse to help?

COLUMBUS looks at them with such pained surprise...

BARTOLOME:

(amused)

You bastard... you always had your

own way...

COLUMBUS:

Let me show you something.

He opens the door to a terrace.

CUT TO:

EXT. GALLERY - DAY

The large gallery courtyard is crowded with PEOPLE --

applicants for the voyage. As COLUMBUS appears, they all

press forward, calling out his name, trying to get his

attention, touching his sleeves as if he were a saint.

They crowd around COLUMBUS and his BROTHERS. COLUMBUS

nods, murmurs vaguely, here and there...

COLUMBUS:

Of course... Of course... We'll see

to it... Yes... Thank you... Soon...

Soon...

Fighting their way through, the BOTHERS press their way,

reaching the other side of the gallery. We get glimpses

of the incredible activity down below. ADMINISTRATORS,

MILITARIES, MERCHANTS are busy around tressels covered

with documents, plans, maps... preparing the second

expedition.

COLUMBUS puts his arms around them.

COLUMBUS:

(indicating the

applicants)

Now -- you tell me. Who can I

trust?

(almost amused)

We're brothers! We must be a House.

A bloodline! In this country one

can't exist alone! I need you...!

Both of you!

He walks then to the balustrade. The cries from the

courtyard down below subside... some of the applicants

begin to look up, aware of his presence.

SOLDIER:

Where is the Admiral? Has anyone

seen the Admiral?

Everybody laughs.

COLUMBUS:

He is here! What is it?

He leans over the balcony. In the middle of the

overcrowded courtyard, the SOLDIER who was shouting is

brandishing a document.

MAN:

Admiral! The horses have arrived.

COLUMBUS:

I know. I saw them! Who did we

hire today?

ANOTHER ASSISTANT raises his eyes.

ASSISTANT:

Thirty blacksmiths, twenty eight

halberdiers, twenty carpenters, a

hundred farmers, twenty miners...

and Doctor Chanca, the royal

surgeon.

COLUMBUS:

The royal surgeon? Then we can

count on royal health!

The whole courtyard bursts out laughing.

EXT. ORANGERY - VICEROY'S HOUSE - DAY

UTAPAN is lying in his hammock. FERNANDO turns him over.

UTAPAN falls to the ground.

COLUMBUS walks beside BEATRIX.

COLUMBUS:

(looking at his son)

He's growing up!

BEATRIX smiles, nods. They walk on.

COLUMBUS:

Beatrix, I want to ask you

something.

BEATRIX:

(with a smile)

You don't usually ask.

COLUMBUS:

(after a pause)

I can arrange for the Queen to take

Fernando and Diego into her service.

BEATRIX stops in her tracks, looks at him.

COLUMBUS:

It is a great honor. We could not

hope for anything better.

BEATRIX nods, but bites her lip, and looks back at

FERNANDO.

BEATRIX:

For once I wish you weren't right.

COLUMBUS puts his arm around her waist, pulling her

closer, they move away.

EXT. FAR END OF THE ORANGERY - DAY

FERNANDO is now swinging expertly in the hammock. UTAPAN

is pushing him gently. He slowly straightens up to watch

COLUMBUS and BEATRIX disappear, somehow sensing there is a

dilemma. FERNANDO noticing UTAPAN'S reaction, turns to

his parents. The arbor is empty. FERNANDO becomes

pensive.

We become aware of the rustling of the jungle.

SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BEACH AND EDGE OF JUNGLE - DAY

FIFTEEN HUNDRED MEN spread along the beach, looking

towards the jungle. COLUMBUS stands beside his BROTHERS,

and MENDEZ, and UTAPAN.

MOXICA, astride a magnificent black horse, prances back

and forth across the sand. All are waiting.

A signal cannon is fired from one of the ships. Birds

scatter into the air from the jungle -- but then silence,

complete and ominous. COLUMBUS stares into the jungle.

Nothing. No one to greet them -- no welcoming party from

the MEN they left behind.

COLUMBUS glances at MENDEZ.

MENDEZ looks at him, but can't answer.

MOXICA suddenly spurs on his horse, and guides it into the

trees. The order is given for the rest to follow, fanning

out as they do so, weapons at the ready.

EXT. CLEARING - JUNGLE - DAY

Ruins. The camp has been burned to ashes. A strange

sight:
arrows are stuck vertically into the ground, each

with a moldering tuft of human hair attached to the

flight.

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