The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc Page #7

Now a procession of NUNS form up behind the table. Two of

them step forward, on cue, then proceed to loosen the

laces of Jeanne's robe and roll up the hem. Meanwhile an

old HAG is washing her hands.

With Jeanne suitably prepared, the old HAG stands in front

of her. Two little Girls slip in a special stool and the

old HAG squats down, enabling her to look between Jeanne's

legs. Only women are privy to this ritualistic

inspection; the men remain standing behind the screens.

Yolande waits with the disfigured Richmond near a window.

The old Hag is certainly taking her time, and Yolande is

getting decidedly nervous...

RICHMOND:

(whispering)

What if she's not?

YOLANDE:

I'll kill her myself...

A few tense moments -- then the ancient HAG announces with

great solemnity...

HAG:

There is no sign of corruption or

violation. She is intact.

... to Yolande's visible relief.

INT. COUNCIL ROOM - POITIERS UNIVERSITY - DAY

A dark, musty council room, where theologians and learned

doctors of the Church sit in wooden tiers, examining

Jeanne. Archbishop Regnault is among them. So too is

Jean d'Aulon -- but he as a silent, albeit supportive

observer.

Jeanne stands in the center of the room, hands folded, as

though on trial. She's evidently been here many hours.

INQUISITOR #1

And... what exactly was this --

"vision" -- wearing?

JEANNE:

I don't remember.

INQUISITOR #2

Was it wearing a crown?

JEANNE:

I saw no crown.

INQUISITOR #3

Well, was it naked?

The Court have a good chuckle.

JEANNE:

Do you think that God can't afford

to give him clothes?

An audible reaction, somewhere between amusement and

admiration. A deadpan scribe carefully writes down both

questions and answers in a large, vellum-bound book.

INQUISITOR #1

Did this -- vision -- give you

anything -- an object, like a ring,

or a rosary or anything -- by which

we can verify your claim?

JEANNE:

He gave me good advice.

INQUISITOR #4

During your childhood, did you have

any sort of military experience?

JEANNE:

No.

INQUISITOR:

Are you practiced in the skills of

swordsmanship?

JEANNE:

No. But I'm good with a stick.

A murmur of laughter, though not from us.

INQUISITOR #4

Do you know what a Dijon Culverin

is?

JEANNE:

No.

INQUISITOR #4

It's an item of artillery. How do

you expect to raise the siege of

Orleans if you are ignorant about

modern artillery?

JEANNE:

The road to Orleans is long, and I

have good captains with me. I will

learn fast, believe me.

The Inquisitor and his colleagues whisper in a huddle.

Regnault remains unconvinced, and indicates his strong

reservations. Finally the Chief Inquisitor addresses

Jeanne.

CHIEF INQUISITOR

We would like to believe you Jeanne,

but we feel that if God were to want

us to believe in you, he would have

sent you with a sign as proof that

we should believe in you. We cannot

advise the King to entrust you with

the army merely on your assertion.

Can't you do something? Or show us

something? Some sign to prove that

you are sent by God?

JEANNE:

Sire, I did not come here to preform

tricks. You are all much cleverer

than I am -- me, I don't know A from

B -- but this much I do know: that

while the people of France lie

bleeding, you sit around in your

fine clothes trying to deceive me --

yet all you're doing is deceiving

yourselves. You say you are men of

God, yet you can't see His hand in

having guided me safely through

five hundred leagues of enemy

country to bring you His help? Is

that not proof enough? Or do you

want still more signs? Give me

command of an army, take me to

Orleans, and there you will see the

sign I was sent to make!

Aulon can barely restrain himself from applauding. The

Chief Inquisitor reaches his decision, raises his gavel

and --

EXT. LES TOURELLES - ORLEANS - DAY

-- down comes a mallet, SLAMMING out a safety wedge which

releases a CATAPULT -- and a huge boulder flies across the

river in the direction of Orleans...

EXT. BATTLEMENTS - ORLEANS - DAY

A LOOK-OUT spots the incoming missile -- yells out --

GAMACHE:

45-er, nor-nor-west -- straight at

us!

INT. DUNOIS' HQ - ORLEANS - DAY

DUNOIS is alone, writing a letter at a small table --

DUNOIS:

Which side's that?

GAMACHE (O.S.)

Window side...!!

Dunois realizes he's near the window and dives for cover

just as the massive boulder plummets through the ceiling,

demolishing the table where he'd been sitting seconds

before, and leaving a huge hole in the wall.

Dunois emerges from under a large table, dusting himself.

He looks thin, haggard and exhausted after six months of

siege.

Suddenly a young soldier -- Poton de XAINTRAILLES -- comes

bursting in, ignoring the mess...

XAINTRAILLES:

My lord Dunois... I have wonderful

news! -- finally -- he's sending

her to us -- thanks be to God --

we're saved -- it's wonderful!

DUNOIS:

Calm yourself, Xaintrailles. Now

slowly. Who has finally done what?

XAINTRAILLES:

The Dauphin -- he's sending us food

-- and supplies -- and an army --

led by Jeanne -- the maiden from

Lorraine -- isn't it wonderful?!

DUNOIS:

(deadpan)

Yes, it's a miracle.

XAINTRAILLES:

And it's not the first one! They

say she saved a little boy who was

dying of...

DUNOIS:

Xaintrailles...! Don't talk to me

about miracles...

(pointing to hole in

floor)

If I was still sitting there waiting

for a miracle, I'd be dead now.

Anyway...

Dunois looks up at the sky, now visible through a hole in

the roof.

XAINTRAILLES:

But... don't you think we should at

least... go and... welcome her?

DUNOIS:

(sighs)

As long as she brings food and

supplies, she'll be welcome.

EXT. RIVER BANK & POV OF ORLEANS - DAY

The walled city of Orleans stands in the distance on the

far side of the river Loire. CAMERA CRANES DOWN to find

Dunois, Xaintrailles and a small escort of soldiers,

waiting atop a ridge where they're evidently been for some

time.

GAMACHE:

I can't believe they're sending a

woman.

DUNOIS:

Maybe they never sent anyone.

TRAVELING SHOT:
Horse's hooves galloping...

GAMACHE:

I wonder what color dress she'll be

wearing?

TRAVELING SHOT:
Horse's breath steaming...

GAMACHE:

I'll wager red -- how about you?

DUNOIS:

Blue...

TRAVELING SHOT:
Stirrups press into the horse's flanks...

DUNOIS:

... with a blue ribbon in her hair

to tie up Talbot!

TRAVELING SHOT:
the horse's eyes, wild and dilated...

DUNOIS:

Does anyone know if she even knows

how to ride a horse?

TRAVELING SHOT:
horse's legs at the triple gallop...

XAINTRAILLES:

She knows...

THEIR POV:
a white banner sweeps into SHOT -- then a

knight clad in shinning white armor. The knight raises

his visor to reveal -- Jeanne, her face gleaming with

sweat, eyes blazing. Dunois is speechless.

JEANNE:

Were you sent by Lord Dunois?

DUNOIS:

Yes... they were.

JEANNE:

Good. Where are the English?

DUNOIS:

Everywhere. Where is the food?

JEANNE:

It's coming -- I rode on ahead. I

have to speak with the Captain of

the English army... his name's

Talbot...

DUNOIS:

I know...

JEANNE:

Good. Can you bring me to him?

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