1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #19

CUT TO:

THE SPANIARDS, COLUMBUS, MENDEZ, FERNANDO... all running

hard to the boat. ARROWS whistle around them as they leap

into the canoes, nearly capsizing them, launching them

into the current.

SOME CANNIBALS still follow them along the riverbank. But

the canoes are faster, and soon, they are left behind.

EXT. SHIP AT SEA - DAY

Endless seascape, the caravel plowing.

EXT. SHIP'S DECK - DAY

FERNANDO is crouched on the poop deck, wrapped in a

blanket. He seems in a state of shock: he is pale and

shaking. As COLUMBUS goes and sits near his son, he hands

him a flask of alcohol.

COLUMBUS:

(kindly)

Take it. Come on. Drink.

As COLUMBUS insists, brandishing the flask, FERNANDO

notices that his hands are shaking too. His FATHER'S

forehead is dripping with sweat.

FERNANDO drinks a gulp and grimaces. He drinks again and

hands the flask back to his FATHER, who does the same.

FERNANDO notices dried blood on his FATHER'S fingers.

COLUMBUS immediately hides his hand and stands.

COLUMBUS:

I... I have to see Mendez.

Then, with sudden anger.

COLUMBUS:

Your brother was right. I should

have never taken you with me. I'll

never forgive myself. Never!

He walks a few steps, lurches, and has to lean against the

rail. He raises his hand to his eyes, grimacing in pain,

as if they were burning. FERNANDO scrambles to his feet

and rushes to him. COLUMBUS' eyes are already fixed

somewhere -- fever is eating him up.

COLUMBUS:

Will you ever forgive me?

FERNANDO turns around for help.

COLUMBUS:

Captain Mendez!

INT. SHIP'S CABIN - DAY

COLUMBUS is lying on his couch. FERNANDO is bathing his

eyes, sweeping off the pus that continuously forms in

them. COLUMBUS is drenched in sweat.

CUT TO:

FERNANDO is writing under his FATHER'S dictation.

COLUMBUS:

I came to Your Highness with honest

purpose and sincere zeal. I did not

undertake these voyages for honor or

wealth -- that is certain. After

years of service to the Crown, I do

not have a roof to put over my

head... Your Majesty allowed me to

explore the continent, believed to

be Asia. I now believe that it is

an new Land, of unknown proportions

and wealth... Life has more

imagination than we carry in our

dreams...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ALCAZAR PALACE - GARDENS - DAY

The DUENA, sitting beside ISABEL, quietly continues to

read COLUMBUS' letter aloud.

DUENA:

"I should be judged as a Seaman who

by Divine Will discovered a New

World, and thereby placed it under

the sovereignty of Your Majesties.

I humbly beseech Your Majesties that

if it pleases God to remove me

hence, you will help the name of

Columbus to be remembered with

honor... Weep for me, whoever has

charity, truth and justice."

She stops reading. ISABEL turns her face away.

INT. UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA - DAY

An ivory-sculptured hand -- the end of the back scratcher

belonging to AROJAZ -- indicates a line across a large

globe:
the route between Europe and America.

AROJAZ (O.S.)

The sunset route to the new

continent is now well-established...

We see a large amphitheater, filled with PEOPLE attending

a lecture of "Nova Geographica" -- the new geography.

AROJAZ stands in front of the assembly. Facing him,

enthroned, is KING FERDINAND, surrounded by COURTIERS,

including SANCHEZ.

We slowly move across the arena, passing attentive faces.

AROJAZ:

... West by south west for 750

leagues to Santo Domingo. From

there, west north west, leaving San

Juan to the north, reaching the

island of Hispanola on the northern

cape of San Raphael... Then onto the

mainland, at the Cape called Gracias

a Dios...

We continue to rise up the tiers of seats...

AROJAZ:

Spain -- by Your Majesty's grace --

has confirmed for all humanity the

existence of an unknown continent...

Tierra Incognita...

On a highest tier, we stop on the face of CHRISTOPHER

COLUMBUS, listening impassively.

AROJAZ:

... This continent was first

discovered by a sailor commissioned

by your Majesty...

CLOSE ON COLUMBUS' eyes.

AROJAZ:

His name... Amerigo Vespucci...

On COLUMBUS.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA - DAY

Around the KING, on horseback, surrounded by the KNIGHTS,

a CROWD is kept back by SOLDIERS. AROJAZ is mounting his

horse. SANCHEZ is waiting for him.

COLUMBUS stands among the students at the back of the

CROWD.

CUT TO:

AROJAZ rides next to SANCHEZ. AROJAZ suddenly spots

COLUMBUS in the crowd, as they move off.

AROJAZ:

My God...! I thought he was dead.

They pass close enough to touch COLUMBUS. But he does not

see them.

SANCHEZ:

You can see for yourself.

AROJAZ:

What a tragedy... what a waste of a

life...

SANCHEZ:

A waste...? Let me tell you

something, Arojaz. If your name, or

mine, is ever remembered -- it will

only be because of his.

AROJAZ looks at SANCHEZ in surprise -- then cranes his

neck round, and looks back at COLUMBUS -- now a FACE IN

THE CROWD.

EXT. LA RABIDA MONASTERY - KITCHEN GARDEN - DAY

ANTONIO DE MARCHENA, a very old man now, is taking a

siesta next to his grapes. He is sitting in a simple

armchair, a rosary wrapped around his fingers.

The presence of someone wakes him. After a moment, he

recognizes COLUMBUS and smiles. Both MEN are very moved.

MARCHENA:

I suppose we're both old men now.

COLUMBUS:

You'll always be older than me,

Father.

They laugh. COLUMBUS sits down. Bees drone lazily in the

sunlight.

COLUMBUS:

Have you ever forgiven me?

MARCHENA nods his head.

MARCHENA:

Yes. I forgave you a long time ago.

You see, I was proud of you. You

were like a willful child. You

wouldn't accept what others told

you. You had to find things out for

yourself, hurting yourself -- and

others -- in the process.

MARCHENA looks at his plants, sighs contentedly.

MARCHENA:

Do you remember when you said that

people talk about the world, but

never leave their gardens.

COLUMBUS nods.

MARCHENA:

More than ever I wonder what it is

we do achieve by leaving our

gardens... The world changes -- and

yet it seems the same. We find new

worlds, but fill them with the same

people...

He pauses, looks across at COLUMBUS, smiles again gently.

MARCHENA, tiring, leans back in his chair, and looks up

towards the sun.

COLUMBUS:

I have to disagree.

MARCHENA:

I knew you would.

COLUMBUS:

New worlds create new people.

MARCHENA:

Oh? So you are a new man?

COLUMBUS:

I don't know... I have the

impression that I didn't change that

much. I still can't accept the

world as it is!

MARCHENA starts laughing.

MARCHENA:

God bless you, and those like you!

They both laugh.

EXT. BEATRIX'S HOUSE BALCONY - EVENING

FERNANDO is sitting in front of his FATHER, examining

documents and letters. COLUMBUS has wrapped a shawl

around his legs. He looks even older now, with his mass

of pure white hair.

BEATRIX comes out with a tray, carrying grapes and a

decanter of water. She places it on a small table near

COLUMBUS and touches his shoulder.

As she is ready to return inside the house, he holds her

back.

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