1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #20

COLUMBUS:

Can't you stay with us a little?

BEATRIX:

I am busy inside.

He smiles. She looks at him smiling, intrigued.

BEATRIX:

What is it, now? Tell me...

COLUMBUS:

I can't keep my eyes off you. I

would like to catch up with all the

moments I didn't spend with you.

FERNANDO looks up at them above his letters, amused and

slightly embarrassed. COLUMBUS looks at him with a fake

air of reproach.

COLUMBUS:

What are you listening to?

FERNANDO:

I am not listening, Father. But I

can't help hearing.

FERNANDO opens a letter and reads it quickly.

FERNANDO:

It's Diego... He is at the Court,

with Santangel... He says they hope

to get your privileges restored...

And maybe the house.

COLUMBUS smiles and nods -- all this seems to be of very

little importance to him now.

COLUMBUS:

But how is he? And Dona Maria?

FERNANDO continues to read.

FERNANDO:

Fine, it seems. Diego is thinking

of starting a pearl trade, in Santo

Domingo... He says he received many

letters for you. Some of your men,

mostly.

He opens one of them, glances at it.

FERNANDO:

This one is from Mendez!

COLUMBUS' eyes brighten with joy.

COLUMBUS:

What does he say?

FERNANDO:

He asks when he can come to visit

you. He left his address.

COLUMBUS:

(smiling)

He never had one... except aboard my

ships!

FERNANDO laughs -- then, suddenly serious.

FERNANDO:

I want you to tell me everything you

remember, Father. From the

beginning. Everything.

COLUMBUS:

Really?

(pause)

God... I wouldn't know where to

start... and yet...

FERNANDO:

Tell me the first thing that comes

to your mind.

COLUMBUS sighs, and leans back on his chair. His eyes are

fixed somewhere, searching. Then, almost in a murmur.

COLUMBUS:

I remember...

We see the page. FERNANDO writes: ... I REMEMBER...

A drop of ink falls from the quill onto the page and the

words.

FERNANDO is waiting.

CUT TO:

COLUMBUS' eyes.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEACH AND JUNGLE - FIRST LANDING - DAY

A MOVING IMAGE, as seen from the rolling deck of a ship.

We see:

A majestic forest, resting on a slash of white sand, and

deep blue sea...

MUSIC BEGINS:

THE LONE SILHOUETTE of an INDIAN emerges from the dense

foliage. He runs down the beach towards the surf. He

stops and seems to be staring at us.

These words appear on the screen:

THE BIOGRAPHY FERNANDO WROTE ABOUT

HIS FATHER WAS FOUND BY CHANCE IN

VENICE. ITS PUBLICATION IN 1571

CONTRIBUTED TO RESTORING THE NAME OF

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, WHICH HAD BEEN

FORGOTTEN.

IN 1511 DIEGO COLUMBUS BECAME

GOVERNOR OF SANTO DOMINGO.

COLUMBUS RESTS IN THE CATHEDRAL OF

SEVILLE, IN ANDALUSIA.

END AND CREDITS.

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