Belladonna of Sadness Page #2

---

league with the devil.

The devil?

The villagers respect her

more than anyone now.

More than you, even.

Is this true?

Yes.

Satanic fiend!

Jean! Open the door! Hurry!

Help!

Jean!

So you... didn't kill her.

Even better.

We'll burn her alive at the stake!

That's the best medicine for

witches in league with the devil.

Heresy must indeed be

nipped in the bud.

However, if we burn her body

while her soul belongs to Satan...

What will happen?

If we set her body aflame

on the mountain of tinder

only for her soul to survive the flames

in its haughty pride,

then, though her body had died,

Satan would live on in her soul

and might spread like sparks

from a fire to those all around.

What do you suggest?

Milady, you must lock her

deep in a dungeon

and hold onto the keys.

Then scourge her body

until the light of God

shines into her soul

and teaches her meekness.

Very well. I'll see to it.

Bring her to me!

What is burning

In the dark judgement?

Not grief,

Not penitence,

But the silhouette of one exhausted.

Or could it be...

A woman's strong resentment.

What awaits

In the pale march of time?

Not a life,

Not a grave,

But the mirage of a dead heart.

Or could it be...

A woman's crimson blood.

So you've finally come,

my beloved!

Spit on by all, and now

abandoned by your own husband!

How I've been waiting for this moment!

Jeanne, since the day you were

born into this world,

you were my friend,

my ally.

You and I have been

destined for one another,

because of your wicked heart

and devilish charm.

It was you who pulled me down!

Touching me... exciting me...

into this hell!

Exactly!

A black dog bit me, that was you!

His fangs cut me.

Thorns tore into my flesh.

Those were you too!

They burned like fire.

That's right!

But I'm also the one who saved you.

Saved me?

I have no need for puny souls

who would throw themselves at my feet.

My lust hungers for souls

crushed under the weight of despair,

driven to cursing God, mad for vengeance.

Yours is coming along quite nicely!

Ah, how beautiful you are today.

The state of your body, your spirit...

That is what stokes my desire

and fills me up!

Satan!

So they call me.

Now, my wife.

Tell me what you want.

I'll give you anything.

What do you want to do?

Something bad.

What?

Anything... so long as it's bad.

Good answer! That's the Jeanne I know!

Now give me your womb, Jeanne,

your soul...

And take what I have to give!

Spring came around,

even to the desolate wilderness.

Suddenly Jeanne discovered

that she was not alone.

Nature was there.

You are beautiful, Jeanne.

It can't be!

I thought I had gone to hell.

This is hell?

I gave myself to Satan.

I should be a wrinkly old witch by now.

My hair a tangle of

venomous serpents,

my skin green like a toad,

black flames coursing

through my veins!

This can't be me.

I'm being deceived!

I want to become a horrifying woman.

I want people to turn away in horror

when I pass by in the street.

I don't want to forget anger and hatred!

Who says anger and hatred are ugly?

You have become beautiful, Jeanne...

Yes...

Like a young girl in love...

radiant.

You are even more beautiful than God.

Back in the village, it was

another bleak springtime.

Jean was back to being

an ordinary farmer.

Nothing had changed...

until a dark shadow

crept upon the village.

The black death.

Infection spelled certain death.

Michel, you've noticed.

Who are you?

Jeanne, the witch.

Wh... Where are we?

Out of this world.

It's all coming back to me now.

I was taken for dead

and dumped in the graveyard.

Last I remember

is trying to crawl out.

I didn't expect to see you

in the afterworld.

What are you doing?

It's medicine.

Liar! That flower's poison!

Poison is medicine.

That is what cured you.

Are you trying to kill me?

I thought you were already dead?

Michel's back from the dead!

He's cured.

How did it happen?

Must be a witch!

A witch... A witch...

Famine and the plague

have devastated the village.

The surviving villagers

must be starving.

Yet they sing and dance all night

at that witch's festivities

in the wilderness!

Magic! Black magic!

But it can't be.

The villagers bring their

own food and drink.

Filthy swines!

That woman is still alive?

It's a colorful flower.

She extracts juice from it.

One sip and my wife's

labor pain went away.

If I remember correctly...

"Belladonna, a beautiful woman"

that's what Jeanne called that flower.

We just can't afford to have

any more children!

But...

My husband wants to every night...

I feel bad to make him suffer.

And I get lonely too.

So we asked Jeanne if there was a way

to do it without making children.

Oh we know it's bad and wrong

in God's eyes.

It's an awful sin.

But no punishment could be

worse than what we've suffered.

Now we're happy.

We don't regret it,

no matter the punishment.

I wanted to see my grandson,

who died on the battlefield.

I heard Jeanne could

bring back the dead.

Jeanne cried her eyes out

when she heard my story.

She gave me a stick of tobacco

and some blood-red wine to drink.

Well?

Did your dead grandson come back?

No.

Did you at least hear his voice?

No.

Then you were deceived!

I got on my knees crying

and began to pray.

My body was burning up.

It all seemed like a dream.

I built up my courage

and raised my eyes...

What did you see?

I could see the host of hellfire

wailing for my grandson!

You mean to say that satisfied you?

Oh yes!

I've never been so happy.

Lord save us all.

It's a rebellion against God.

A revolt against you, milord!

Seize that woman at once!

Burn her at the stake!

But the road is rough

and the villagers are on her side.

She will run before

our soldiers get there.

Who is lord of this land? You? Or...

Be patient. We must wait for the

enemy to reveal her weakness.

Leave it to me!

What ails you, little one?

Do you want me?

Jeanne...

Don't you recognize me?

I'm the Lady's page.

She hates you, so I hated you too.

I'm the one who

slashed your green cloak.

Your point, little page?

I did it because...

I love her.

Are you here to kill me?

I need your help, Jeanne.

Hear my plea.

I want to make love to her.

But...

I'm only a lowly page.

She'd never consider me.

Who cares about status?

God granted us our status.

Ignoring that is against God!

The work of the devil!

However...

I'm willing to sell myself

to the devil for my love.

Enough.

Filthy witch!

How dare you!

Very well,

I'll help you.

Crafty wench...

She succeeded where

the black death failed

in penetrating the sanctum

of the castle.

Lord, we must act at once!

Call that man!

It's you...

It's been a long time.

Yeah.

You don't look happy, Jean.

Is it too late for us?

Stop this madness and come live

a normal life with me on the farm again.

Please forgive me for what I did.

I had no choice.

Don't...

I've forgotten about all that.

Come back with me

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes