Joan of Arc Page #2

If they believe in her...

...if she can put back

the fire in our army...

...then I believe in her too.

Stop it, Louis! Stop!

Louis, be quiet for once.

- She's coming, Your Majesty.

- All right. Calm yourself.

I urge you not to see this woman.

It reeks of a Burgundian trap.

My astrologers assure me that

the timing is propitious.

Leo with Virgo rising.

Have you never noticed

on the astrological chart...

...that the virgin is next to the lion?

Supposing she's an assassin?

My dear Trmoille,

I'm not even king yet.

Who would want to assassinate me?

She's arrived.

She's in the guards' room.

Fine.

I suppose I shall have

to make a decision.

Why is life so complicated?

Sometimes I really wish

I could be someone else.

That's a good idea, sire.

What do you mean?

Let someone else pretend to be you.

And see if she can find me.

A brilliant idea.

If she's been sent by God,

she'll discover the trap.

If she's an assassin,

she'll kill the wrong man.

Please. Please!

We're going to play a little game.

Now, let us pretend

that my throne is empty.

Just pretend.

Who wants to be king?

Now there's a heartwarming sight.

Now, let us see.

Which one of you could possibly pass...

...as the king of France?

Alenon, my noble duke,

my royal cousin...

...so fine, so brave, so rich.

So very rich. So far-too-rich

to be the king of France.

Everyone knows I'm the poorest man

in my kingdom.

Gilles de Rais.

Marshal of France.

Formidable to men,

fascinating to women.

Feared by all.

You would be perfect

to sit on my throne.

So perfect that you

might like it too much...

...and therefore disturb

my fragile peace of mind.

La Hire.

My angry captain.

Bravest in France.

Scarred by a dozen wars but with

the heart and stomach for a dozen more.

You could pass for the king.

Bloody right, I could.

Except that no one with a tongue

like that could be king of France.

Well, it looks like it shall

have to be me after all.

Why not you?

Jean d'Aulon.

The only man who's poorer than I am,

therefore the only man I can trust.

Dignified, honorable, wise.

What more can we ask of a king?

- I'm not sure...

- You're not ready to die for your king?

- I am.

- Good.

Until then, feel free to live

like a king. Bring her up.

Sire, you know how bad I am

at this sort of game.

Pretend it's not a game.

Make way for the dauphin.

- Mother?

- Not now.

I have come to see the dauphin.

Who are you?

I'm...

His most gracious Majesty,

Charles de Valois, Dauphin of France.

Yes.

I can see you are a good man.

But you're not the dauphin.

I'm sorry to insist,

but I must see the dauphin.

We have no time to lose.

Where is he?

He's here.

Find him yourself.

Now you'll see who'll pass for a king.

There's no need to be afraid, sire.

I'm not the king.

I know you're not yet,

but you will be soon.

Out.

How did you know who I am?

- Her voices.

- "That's him," they said.

"The one in the corner

with the big nose. "

Back off!

My gentle dauphin.

Oh, my gentle dauphin.

I have a message...

...from the King of Heaven...

...for you.

You only.

Follow me.

Your Majesty, I plead...

My dear loyal Trmoille,

I know I can count on you...

As always, Majesty.

...to ensure our privacy.

I need to talk to her alone.

He needs to talk to her alone.

Fine.

I was about 10 years old.

It was a beautiful spring day. I was

taking a shortcut through the forest...

...when a strange wind...

...began to blow.

It was such a strange sound,

almost like words...

...calling me.

The second time...

...was many years later.

I was coming back from church

when suddenly...

...the same...

...violent wind.

Then...

...a shape...

...appeared...

...in the middle of the sky.

The shape...

...of a man.

Everything was moving so fast.

So fast.

The wind, the clouds...

I couldn't move.

I couldn't breathe.

I was so frightened.

He was...

...so...

...here.

Then I knew that God had chosen me.

But I did not understand what He

wanted me to do. What was my mission?

What could I do to help my country?

But how? I was nothing.

I was just a poor girl.

I did not know anything

about making war or riding.

So I decided to wait...

...and not speak of it to anybody.

You did well. You did well.

I didn't wait long.

I was going to Mass...

...like I do every day...

...when the same...

...strange...

...wind...

Everything was made clear.

God had given me a message.

A message to deliver.

What was the message?

He said...

...that I must save France

from her enemies...

...and bring her back

into the hands of God.

And He told me that I...

...Jeanne...

...will lead you

to the altar at Reims...

...where you will be crowned...

...the king...

...of France.

- Sire, are you...?

- Fine. I'm fine.

This is, in fact, Jean D'Aulon,

my loyal friend and finest archer.

Jean, I put her in your care.

Find her suitable lodgings

here in the castle...

...and guard her with your life.

Sire, I won't need lodging

if we're to march on Orlans.

Orlans has held out for six months.

A few days more won't make

much difference. Take some rest.

Put the bags here.

Please accept my apologies for me

pretending to be the, you know...

Could I have some water?

Water...

Yes, of course.

Would you get some water?

- Anything else?

- A priest.

Now?

Yes. I didn't confess today.

Right.

Raymond, a priest.

- Anything else?

- I shall also need a new warhorse...

...a sword, armour...

...and an artist to make

a banner for me.

Now?

Better today than tomorrow.

This might take a little time...

...but let me see what I can do.

I shall also need someone

who can read and write.

I studied at the University of Paris

until the English invaded.

- I thought you were an archer.

- Yes, I am.

I'm an archer who can read and write.

Who do you want to write to?

The king of England.

I want to give him the chance

to leave in peace...

...before I get to Orlans.

The archbishop and I have begun

negotiations with the Burgundians.

If we bring them to our side...

Negotiate, by all means,

but from a position of strength.

If the English take Orlans,

there'll be nothing left to negotiate.

My lady, it will be

the height of folly...

...to let this child lead our army

in the king's name...

...without verifying her true motives.

My lord Trmoille is right.

We must be absolutely certain that

she's not an instrument of the devil.

How can anyone be absolutely

certain about anything?

Sometimes our intuitions

are our best counsellors.

We must listen to Mother Holy Church

before we listen to our intuitions.

Wait.

She claims to be a virgin.

Well, that's something we can examine...

...and be absolutely certain about.

Let's find out.

What if she's not?

If she's not, I'll kill her myself.

There is no sign of corruption

or violation.

She is intact.

And what exactly was

this vision wearing?

I don't remember.

This vision, did it give you anything?

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