1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #17

COLUMBUS:

I have to explore the mainland.

FERNANDO:

This time with me!

COLUMBUS laughs and DIEGO looks at them both in

astonishment.

DIEGO:

In your present state it is madness,

Father!

FERNANDO glances at DIEGO.

FERNANDO:

Nobody is forcing you to come with

us.

DIEGO is hurt.

DIEGO:

I can't go anyway.

A pause.

FERNANDO:

She's very beautiful! The Queen has

very good taste. Diego is getting

married.

DIEGO seems saddened by his brother's attitude. Once

again DIEGO feels like the outsider.

COLUMBUS hugs him.

COLUMBUS:

I am happy for you, Diego.

INT. ALHAMBRA - AUDIENCE ROOM - DAY

Like Lucifer and Gabriel, SANTANGEL and SANCHEZ sit on

either side of ISABEL.

SANTANGEL:

Granted his faults. Yes, a hundred

times! But the man is still

remarkable.

ISABEL looks at him, then at SANCHEZ, MOVED BUT CLEARLY

UNDECIDED. SANTANGEL presses his point.

SANTANGEL:

All he asks is a chance to explore

this... mainland.

SANCHEZ:

It does not belong to him.

SANTANGEL:

(quietly)

In a way, it does, Don Sanchez.

(to the Queen)

I beg Your Majesty to receive him.

To hear him... He will make no more

demands. He has changed. He is

penitent.

SANCHEZ:

Penitent...? He is suing us for

breach of contract!

ISABEL:

Is he?

She starts to laugh.

ISABEL:

Really?

SANTANGEL tries to stop himself laughing.

INT. AUDIENCE ROOM - ALHAMBRA PALACE - DAY

COLUMBUS is shown into the room. ISABEL is waiting for

him.

He drops to his knees before her. This time she walks

towards him, clearly moved by his white-hair, and other

signs of physical deterioration.

Her hand hovers over his head, as if it means to console

him. Her hand is dying to comfort. But instead, she

offers her hand for him to kiss.

ISABEL:

Rise... Please...

COLUMBUS gets slowly to his feet -- but his eyes, as they

meet hers, are as clear as before. ISABEL smiles with

relief to see it. He looks back at her.

COLUMBUS:

Now I do look older than you.

She smiles -- then again, tries to restrain it, and keeps

her dignity.

ISABEL:

We have decided to allow you to

undertake another voyage to the new

world...

COLUMBUS starts to interrupt; she stops him with a

gesture.

ISABEL:

But without your brothers. Nor are

you to return to Santo Domingo or

any of the other colonies. You may

explore the continent.

COLUMBUS:

Thank you.

ISABEL:

There is one thing I'd like to

understand... Why do you want to go

back, after all this?

COLUMBUS:

Your Majesty -- some men are content

to read about things. I must see

them with my own eyes. I cannot be

other than I am.

She almost bursts out laughing -- only pauses, turns

slightly, then goes out.

INT. ALHAMBRA PALACE - ROOM NEXT TO THRONE ROOM - DAY

SANCHEZ is standing alone in the next room; he has

obviously been listening. He looks at her.

ISABEL:

I know, I should not tolerate his

impertinence.

SANCHEZ:

Then why?

ISABEL:

Because he is not afraid of me.

INT. ALHAMBRA PALACE - CORRIDOR - DAY

SANCHEZ, in another direction, along a corridor, towards

his office. As he reaches a corner with a wide window, a

hand seizes him. COLUMBUS.

SANCHEZ:

All I have to do is call the guards.

COLUMBUS:

Call them.

SANCHEZ looks at him -- and doesn't call. COLUMBUS lets

go of him.

SANCHEZ:

I am not afraid of you. You are

nothing but a dreamer.

COLUMBUS:

Look out of that window.

Surprised, SANCHEZ nevertheless turns, looks out.

COLUMBUS:

What do you see?

SANCHEZ:

Roofs... towers, palaces...

spires...

COLUMBUS:

All of them created by people like

me.

SANCHEZ turns round again to face him.

COLUMBUS:

No matter how long you live,

Sanchez, there's something that will

never change between us. I did it!

You didn't!

COLUMBUS turns abruptly and walks away, vanishing down the

echoing corridor.

EXT. COLUMBUS' MANOR HOUSE - DAY

COLUMBUS dismounts in the courtyard. Everything seems

deserted. There's no one about, no sign of life...

INT. MANOR HOUSE - DAY

COLUMBUS walks slowly through the great rooms. There is

nothing left:
no furniture, rugs, pictures... nothing.

He turns, sees BEATRIX standing in a doorway, looking back

at him. They are both moved.

COLUMBUS:

God... you're so beautiful! I can't

believe no other man has ever taken

you away from me...

BEATRIX:

They tried... but I didn't let them.

She smiles. They don't dare to touch. BEATRIX looks

round the empty room.

BEATRIX:

They took everything...

COLUMBUS:

(looking at her)

Not everything... Do you think I

care? I'm a free man again. Riches

don't make a man rich, they only

make him busier...

They laugh. There's a pause.

COLUMBUS:

God, how much I've missed you!

And they throw themselves into each other's arms.

CUT TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - MANOR HOUSE - EVENING

All that has been left is a simple table and one chair.

They are having supper by candlelight in the vast, empty

room, though the candles throw a warm, sensuous glow on

the figs and hams and wine... and on their faces, as

BEATRIX sits on his lap.

SANTANGEL (O.S.)

One chair. One table. What more

can a man expect, when he tries to

sue the Crown?

They laugh. With only a little embarrassment, BEATRIX

gets off COLUMBUS' knee. SANTANGEL comes forward, and

COLUMBUS embraces him like an old friend. BEATRIX goes to

the kitchen.

COLUMBUS:

I owe you everything, Santangel...

but as you see, I can't repay you.

SANTANGEL:

On the contrary. It is I who owe

you everything. Through you, I have

been an adventurer, an explorer!

It's true I shall never see the new

world... but it's here...

(he points to his

head)

And here...

(pointing to his

heart)

COLUMBUS smiles. BEATRIX returns with a plate and glass

for SANTANGEL.

SANTANGEL:

What you are, Colon, is a sailor, a

discoverer, a man of imagination...

not a politician. You weren't meant

to govern -- You cannot be all

things to all men.

He takes the wine BEATRIX offers, and raises his glass.

SANTANGEL:

I wish you could have compromised.

It would have made your life

easier...

COLUMBUS:

But as least we haven't been bored,

have we?

They all laugh, and drink.

EXT. SHIP'S DECK - FERNANDO'S POV - NIGHT

Night on the open sea -- the moon shines on the waves and

we hear the creaking of ropes and timbers -- the

loneliness and mystery of the night passage.

SAILOR'S VOICE

West... southwest, Captain Mendez...

MENDEZ (O.S.)

Steady as she goes...

COLUMBUS walks over to FERNANDO, who is leaning against

the rail. He is smoking a cigar... as the smoke blows

over FERNANDO'S face, FERNANDO wretches... It's clear he's

feeling seasick, trying to control it.

COLUMBUS leans against the rail next to him, staring out

at the darkness. Then looks at his SON again. FERNANDO

won't give in to the sickness, but COLUMBUS knows he'd

feel better if he did.

COLUMBUS:

How are you feeling, Fernando?

FERNANDO:

(in a strangled

voice)

Not bad.

COLUMBUS nods meditatively, puffs out some smoke.

FERNANDO winces, gags slightly.

COLUMBUS:

(almost casually)

You know what I always used to do?

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