The Kingdom of Heaven Page #9

BALIAN with gentleness and intensity is shoeing the horse. He

is shirtless and covered with sweat. Frightened Arab

STABLEHANDS stare at him, hand him what he needs. BALIAN sets

down the hoof just done, and (as hoofbeats sound)looks around

as A SURF OF DOGS, WHIPPETS, flood into the courtyard. The

horse, eyes rolling white, nearly breaks its back against the

restraints. BALIAN, kicking at the snarling dogs, charges out

into the courtyard, hammer in his hand.

BALIAN:

Who is the fool with these dogs?

He hurls the hammer aside in anger (it sparks off the brick).

Stops and stares, stunned at: A beautiful woman sits side

saddle on a palfrey.

She wears riding silks, and a turban. The sun behind her.

SIBYLLA. She is as startled as Balian. BALIAN stares at her

open-mouthed.

SIBYLLA:

The fool with the dogs is the

Princess of Jerusalem.

BALIAN perhaps resentfully, bows, serf-low, the only thing he

knows how to do in the circumstances.

(CONTINUED)

41.

CONTINUED:

SIBYLLA rides around him. Horse’s hooves, circling him. He

watches the horse’s hooves out of the former of his eyes. The

dogs still foam around.

SIBYLLA (CONT’D)

Will you give me a cup of water?

BALIAN goes to the bucket. He takes out the ladle. Shakes it.

It doesn’t look to clean. But he fills it anyway and walks

the quivering water to the still-mounted Sibylla. She takes

the water, eyes locked on Balian’s, and drinks. She finishes

and hands him the ladle.

SIBYLLA (CONT’D)

It is a hot day.

BALIAN:

Yes.

SIBYLLA:

I thank you for the drink.

BALIAN:

Yes.

He can’t quite figure out why he has been given her

handkerchief with the ladle. He tries to return it and is

ignored.

SIBYLLA:

If in the course of your work you

should see Balian, the son of

Godfrey, who is now come from

France...tell him that Sibylla

called...that I bless his father’s

name...and that I wept at the news.

SIBYLLA turns horse and gallops out, her dogs tumbling after

her.

BALIAN goes to the gate and in deep confusion stares after

the splendid figure caroming down the street, scattering

merchants like pigeons.

AMALRIC has come down from the gallery and is looking with

concern at the potential madman. The HOSPITALER is smiling.

BALIAN nods at him: Whoa.

HOSPITALER:

I imagine you will become better at

dealing with the nobility. Bow no

more to equals, my lord.

(CONTINUED)

42.

CONTINUED:
(2)

BALIAN:

(gently to agitated

stableboys)

When I am working a horse keep the

gates shut. Thank you.

BALIAN turns and sees the Hospitaler. The Hospitaler embraces

him.

INT. BALIAN’S HOUSE, BEDROOM. DAY

The HOSPITALER is eating yogurt, beautiful fruit. Balian is

being dressed behind a screen.

HOSPITALER:

How find you Jerusalem?

BALIAN:

God does not speak to me. Not even

on the hill where Christ died. I am

outside God’s grace.

HOSPITALER:

I have not heard that.

BALIAN:

At any rate, I have lost my

religion.

BALIAN emerges from behind the screen. He is in armor: the

Baron of Ibelin:
a knight.

HOSPITALER:

(softly, seeing Godfrey in

him)

No matter.

(as Balian’s sword is

belted on)

I put no stock in “religion”.

BALIAN is surprised. This man has holy orders.

HOSPITALER (CONT’D)

By the word “religion” I have seen

the lunacy of fanatics of every

denomination be called the will of

God. I have seen too much religion

in the eyes of too many murderers.

Holiness is in right action, and

courage in behalf of those who

cannot defend themselves. Goodness,

what God desires, is here...

(CONTINUED)

43.

CONTINUED:

With two fingers he touches Balian’s forehead, and then his

hear.

HOSPITALER (CONT’D)

And here. By what you decide to do

every day you will be a good man or

not. Come.

(a beat)

Did you know that you are famous?

EXT. A STREET IN JERUSALEM. LATER

BALIAN and the HOSPITALER ride through the town. BALIAN is in

his armor. PEOPLE bow. We hear whispers. PEOPLE (originally

from all nations, from Viking lands to the Horn of Africa)

stare at BALIAN. Some people follow him through the street.

Boys tumbling after. Balian is alarmed at the attention from

the street, the BOYS now running beside his horse.

BALIAN looks unnerved and not very happy about this. He sees:

Two TEMPLARS, bearded Christian fanatics, their hands tied

behind them, ropes around their necks.

HOSPITALER:

(explaining)

The King has made a peace with

Saladin these six years. He holds

Jerusalem as a place for prayer for

all faiths, as the Saracens did

before we came. These men killed

Arabs.

Spectator TEMPLARS (kept back by pikemen wearing the King’s

livery) roar objections; but still the signal is given. The

men are hoisted; hang.

BALIAN:

So they are dying for what the Pope

and every priest in Europe would

command them to do.

HOSPITALER:

(simply)

Yes. But not Christ, I think. Nor

this king.

INT. OUTSIDE TIBERIAS’ ROOMS AT THE PALACE. DAY

VOICES raised in Arabic and English. BALIAN, aware of but

helplessly disinterested in the argument, off, stands

inspecting a scale model of the city and walls of Jerusalem.

He frowns at some problems...moves a section of the wall. He

moves it back...but not happily.

(CONTINUED)

44.

CONTINUED:

BALIAN:

(simply)

That should be there.

He looks as if he’s going to go see someone about it. The

HOSPITALER watches.

BALIAN (CONT'D)

(with great force and

simplicity)

That’s wrong.

BALIAN now crouches to look at a scale model of a SIEGE

ENGINE. A SECRETARY stares at him. Balian backs off.

REYNALD (OS)

(shouting)

Who says I raid?

MOVE INSIDE THE ROOM.

TIBERIAS, a plain ferocious knight and noble of fifty-odd,

leans over his table.

TIBERIAS (OS)

(shouting)

This witness, all Jerusalem, holy

God, and me.

REYNALD OF CHATILLON, a magnificent old brigand with a

handlebar moustache, is on the carpet. He looks at a MUSLIM

GRANDEE.

REYNALD:

This witness, if you call him that,

is a Saracen. He lies.

TIBERIAS:

There will come a day, Reynald of

Chatillon, when you are not

protected by your title.

REYNALD:

Oh? When will that be?

(royally amused)

Alert me, Tiberias, when men are

equal, and the Kingdom of Heaven

has arrived.

TIBERIAS:

(pointing down into the

square)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

45.

CONTINUED:
(2)

TIBERIAS (CONT'D)

Those Templars have been hung for a

raid I am sure you commanded.

REYNALD:

Prove it, Tiberias. I will wait at

Kerak till you do.

TIBERIAS:

The king will take your castle of

Kerak, Reynald.

REYNALD:

I hold Kerak through France and my

wife. Not this king. Try to take

it, Tiberias. I will be there.

TIBERIAS stares with frustration. REYNALD exits. The MUSLIM

GRANDEE starts shouting in Arabic.

TIBERIAS:

(to business)

I cannot protect your caravans

unless you agree to be escorted by

our soldiers.

MUSLIM GRANDEE:

I trade to make money. Not to

offend God by associating with

Christians.

TIBERIAS holds out GOLD.

TIBERIAS:

But you will take Christian gold,

of course.

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