The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc Page #5

Jeanne approaches them -- they draw closer together, but

now we can see Charles, overtly curious, yet anxious to

remain hidden. His inquisitiveness wins -- but as Jeanne

walks up to him, the Three Captains spring in front of

her, swords drawn, the tips pressing at her throat...

JEANNE:

There's no need to be afraid, sire.

CHARLES:

I'm... I'm not the king...

JEANNE:

I know you're not yet -- but you

will be, soon.

Charles makes a gesture, and the soldiers cautiously

sheath their swords.

CHARLES:

H-h-how did you know who I am?

ALENCON:

Her voices, of course...

GILLES:

"That's him" they said, "The one

with the big nose and bags under his

eyes."

They laugh -- whereupon Jeanne rushes at Charles and

flings herself on her knees, embracing him round the

ankles.

Charles screams -- the 3 Captains redraw their swords --

the court gasps -- then Charles gestures the Captains to

back off.

JEANNE:

My gentle Dauphin, I bring you good

news.

Charles puts out his hand to her, allowing her to rise.

She draws close to him, whispering...

JEANNE:

It is a message from the King of

Heaven. For you -- and you only.

Jeanne speaks with such conviction that it seems

unnecessary to doubt her. Her mesmeric effect on Charles

is being noticed by his courtiers. He hesitates a moment,

then --

CHARLES:

Follow me.

He leads her from the room. Tremoille hurriedly follows

them. Charles turns round in the doorway, barring him

further access.

TREMOILLE:

Your majesty, I really think you...

CHARLES:

My dear loyal Tremoille, I know I

can count on you...

TREMOILLE:

... as always, majesty...

CHARLES:

... to ensure our privacy. I need

to talk to her. Alone.

Tremoille looks non-plussed.

TREMOILLE:

As you wish, majesty.

Charles disappears with Jeanne.

Tremoille ire at being barred is mollified by blocking the

path of Yolande.

TREMOILLE:

He needs to talk to her. Alone.

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Jeanne is seated facing Charles in front of a huge fire.

As the scene unfolds, their faces draw closer and closer.

Her voice is soft and sweet, but her conviction is

absolute.

JEANNE:

I was about eight years old. It was

a beautiful spring day. I was in

the forest taking a short cut home

when the wind started blowing in the

trees -- such a strange sound --

almost like words -- as if someone

was calling...

FLASH:
The little BOY seen earlier is seated on his chair

in the middle of the field, pointing his finger at us --

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Charles is intrigued...

JEANNE:

The second time was many years

later. It was autumn, and I was

coming back from church when

suddenly the same violent wind

started to blow again...

EXT. FIELD - SFX - DAY

FLASH:
The wind lifts Jeanne (17) from the ground, spins

her forward and flattens her on her back, her arms

outstretched, Her face gazing upward at the sky...

JEANNE (O.S.)

Everything was moving so fast -- the

wind -- the clouds -- I couldn't

move! Then suddenly a shape

appeared in the middle of the sky...

The fast-moving CLOUDS resolve themselves into the shape

of a face... the face of an OLD MAN. He opens his mouth

wide, radiating a shaft of sunlight that strikes Jeanne,

still lying in the field. The old man's mouth seems to

form the word "Jeanne", but the sound that emanates is so

vast that we can't be sure.

Suddenly the mouth snaps shut, releasing a huge FLASH OF

LIGHT --

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

-- Charles jumps back, startled yet totally absorbed.

Jeanne's eyes sparkle with tears --

JEANNE:

I was so frightened... he was so --

so here...

FLASH:
The Boy is still sitting in his forest seat, but

now he is a beautiful young Man, pointing his finger at

Jeanne --

JEANNE (O.S.)

I realized then that he had chosen

me, but I didn't understand what it

was I had to do...

Jeanne's eyes sparkle with intensity...

JEANNE:

What was my mission? To help my

country? But how could I do that?

I was only a poor girl who knew

nothing about riding or making

war... so I decided to wait and not

to speak to anyone about it.

CHARLES:

You did well...

JEANNE:

I didn't wait long. One day I was

going to Mass, like I do every day,

when the same strange wind started

blowing again...

INT./ EXT. CHURCH - SFX

The double doors of a church are blown open by wind coming

from inside -- right in front of Jeanne! Surreal shafts

of light criss-cross the interior from the stained-glass

windows, illuminating Jeanne in myriad hues and colors.

She sways uneasily as the central stained-glass window

above the altar starts to warp and undulate, like heat

waves creating a mirage. The image of a beautiful

archangel slowly comes to life, stepping out from the

window frame, then moving toward Jeanne...

JEANNE:

Everything was suddenly made clear

to me. God was finally calling me.

He had a mission for me -- a message

to deliver...

The Archangel opens his arms to Jeanne as though to

embrace her. She drops to her knees, opening her arms and

-- FLASH --

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Charles is in suspense, his face sweating...

CHARLES:

... and what... what did he say?

JEANNE:

He said that I have to save France

from her enemies and give her back

to God, and He told me that I --

Jeanne -- will lead you to the altar

at Rheims to be crowned King of

France.

Charles slowly releases the breath he's been holding --

and the brimming tears run down his cheeks. Jeanne takes

his hand and places it on her own damp cheek...

JEANNE:

All you have to do now is put your

trust in me.

Jeanne kisses his hands, and Charles is almost overcome

with emotion. He seems, for the first time, utterly

defenseless, like the little hurt boy that he is.

CHARLES:

I trust you, Jeanne -- I do -- and

I envy your certainty, but how can I

be certain that I have the right to

call myself king when I don't even

know who my father is. My mother

can't even remember... I -- I need

to know...

Jeanne gazes at him a moment, then places her hands either

side of his head and draws him slowly forward until both

their foreheads are touching...

FLASHES:

A series of too-perfect images:

1:
A BELL comes crashing down on top of us --

2:
The ROYAL BANNER flies triumphantly in the wind --

3:
English CAPTAINS throw down their weapons and kneel in

submission before Charles --

4:
Huge city GATES swing open, releasing a jubilant crowd

who welcome the King in triumph --

5:
CHARLES kneels in Rheims Cathedral --

6:
Bejeweled HANDS place the CROWN of France on his

head --

INT. CHINON - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Jeanne's hands hold Charles' head, as though she has just

crowned him. For Charles, the fantasy has become reality.

JEANNE:

Do you really believe that God would

let all this happen... if you were

not the true King of France?

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