Pope Joan Page #3

that women are subservient to men,

as determined by the order of creation,

hierarchy and strength... of will.

Well, young scholar, have you

nothing to counter it?

How can woman be second

to man in creation?

She was made out

with Adam's rib.

Adam, on the other hand,

was molded from common clay.

Go on.

As for strength of will...

woman can be viewed

superior to man.

Eve ate from the apple out of love

of knowledge and learning.

Adam ate only because

Eve asked him to.

The child is an inspiration!

Just what we need here in the Schola!

Odo! You have two

new students.

Have your reverend decided yet where

the child should be housed?

Obviously she cannot live

in the boys' dormitory.

The girl can live with me in my family.

She'll be a good companion

for my two daughters.

Excellent, Conde Gerold!

The girl will stay with you.

Welcome to Villaris, Johanna.

- Good evening, Sir.

- Good evening.

- What does the meaning of this?

- Richilde! May I present you Johanna.

Johanna, this is my wife, Richilde,

the Lady of the House.

Johanna arrived today to begin

her study at the Schola.

A girl? A girl is to attend

a cathedral school?

At the request of the Bishop.

- He is a disgrace to the Church.

- Johanna is going to live with us.

With us?

This country pumpkin?

Richilde, you forget who yourself is.

Johanna is a guest of this house.

And she should be treated as such.

Have no fear.

You will be fine in here.

What are you looking at?

Why are you not working?

- Forgive me, I...

- Silence!

Is there mistake...

in the writing?

Well... No.

But still... your hand...

It is not sure enough here... and here.

What excuse do you have for...

for such lubberly work?

I have no excuse, Sir.

To atone for your carelessness and so

you may learn the meaning of humility,

you will clean the floor tonight.

During that time, you will contemplate

the writings of Saint Paul...

about the position of women.

Do you know them?

"I suffer not a woman to teach,

nor to usurp authority over man"...

"but to be in silence".

- You ought to remember it well.

- Yes, Schoolmaster.

Girls!

Gisela, Johanna.

Sensible with this women.

Go!

Just open your eyes.

Can't you see it's there?

But they are blind!

If they kill the pig,

they get the meat.

Psst!, young woman!

Do you know what this is?

Milk of the Holy Virgin Mary!

There are only five of these bottles.

This is the last.

And since you're such a friendly girl.

I will give it to you...

for only one denarius.

- Are you mad? How dare you?

- Forgive me, Sir.

But even the milk of the Virgin

will be spoilt after 800 years.

That milk is holy! It cannot spoil!

Perhaps not. But how did it stay warm

all these years?

And how can you ask such a low price

for something so holy?

- Are you laughing at me?

- No, not at all.

I'm in all of you Johanna

with all my heart.

Oh, look!

Parchments!

What is this?

They are writings in Greek. But...

I don't understand the drawings.

Probably some sort of construction plan.

Can you translate?

It looks like a pulley, but not one

you use with your hands.

Maybe we could build it...

together.

I see you have an eye for a bargain.

The paper might be old,

but it can still be put to use.

Come! Come!

It works! It works!

Do you still think it was a sin

to accept Johanna to the Schola?

You should take this girl as a model!

Her work is perfect.

Seven years later

What is troubling you?

The Norsemen are pushing deeper

and deeper into our land.

But surely we are safe here?

They've even taken Paris.

The Emperor is assembling troops.

- You are going away... to war?

- Yes, in a few days.

No more dark thought.

Come, want to show you something.

What is it?

Don't move.

Just Stay there.

Now watch this.

- The Greek apparatus.

- Yes.

Only bigger!

Look at this!

Can you show it again?

Well, we have to get more water

from the stream.

Where are the buckets?

I'm going to tell the Bishop

all about your skill.

He will name you chief constructor

of the city...

and free you from your duties

to the Emperor.

Then you will not have to go to war.

What do you say to that?

What's wrong, wise Archimedes?

Suddenly so speechless?

Forgive me. I should take you home

as long as I have the will power.

Trust me, It's better this way.

You've done well schoolmaster,

I thank you.

As soon as my husband leaves to the North

I will deal with this annoying problem.

I will not allow this little nobody

to embarrass me

in front of the entire city.

Your are aware that the Bishop holds

his protective hand over the girl?

Not for long, Schoolmaster,

not for long.

You would force the girl to marry

against her will?

What does your husband say

about the matter?

He does not know.

Gerold's feeling clouds his judgment.

Once Johanna married, she will no longer

be allowed to attend the Schola.

That is why I'm here to

ask your consent.

I see.

For many years, she has been

fed and clothed by my family.

How long must we provide such charity?

The blacksmith's son is a good match.

He is blunt and illiterate.

May I remind you

that Johanna was put in my custody.

As the Lady of Villaris I have the right

and the duty to arrange her future.

- You want me to scribe a letter, my Lady?

- I would do it myself if I could.

But as a noble lady reading and writing

are beneath me.

To whom would you like

the letter addressed?

To your father.

Well, Reverend Sir,

I write to inform you to inform you

of the betrothal of your daughter Johanna.

betrothal?

You cannot do that.

- It has already been decided.

- but...

Gerold's told me what happened

down by the river,

and we have a good laugh over it.

It can't be.

Marrying you off is

his idea, silly goose.

This was not the first time,

believe me.

Gerold has been playing this game

for years. I have got used to it.

Gerold is a knight.

He needs to conquer.

Well now, you finally see?

So... to get on with the letter.

I hate you. You took me

into coming here.

- I never should have listen.

- What do you mean?

I was only allowed to attend the Schola

because of you. Now I have to leave too.

But now you can become a soldier

like you always want it.

You're wrong!

Do you remember the letter father

gave me on the day we left?

The Bishop gave it back to me,

and he intends to obey father's will.

If I don't succeed at school, they'll have

to send me to the monastery at Fulda!

I'd rather die!

You came here to tell me that...

I tell you that you brought me

nothing but trouble.

You always have to be different,

no matter the price.

You had to learn to read and write,

even though this is unnatural.

I wish you've never been born!

Behold the word of God!

And dare not enter...

Home.

3 years later...

Johannes Anglicus.

Since her father

was an Englishman,

the Abbot chose this monastic name

for Johanna...

when she was accepted

by the brotherhood at Fulda.

For years she was able

to keep her secret.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes