More info about this movie on IMDb.com
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
FADE IN: EXT. CHURCH - DOMREMY - DAY FADE UP on ripples on the surface of a puddle. Slow PAN UP: the water becomes placid, and in it we see the reflection of an inverted CROSS on the top of a small church. We move across the little churchyard and in through the open doors. INT. CHURCH - DOMREMY - DAY Utter simplicity -- stone walls, rough-hewn wooden benches, primitive saints in the stained-glass windows -- chickens peck among the straw that covers the earthen floor. INT. CONFESSIONAL BOX - CHURCH - DAY A little wooden grill slides open and the friendly face of the village PRIEST peers at us. He glances about, perplexed. PRIEST Is anybody there? A small hand appears -- then the face of a girl aged about 10, peering up at him through the grill. The Priest smiles a trifle wearily. PRIEST You know I'm always happy to see you, Jeanne, but to keep coming here twice, three times a day... JEANNE I need to confess. PRIEST But you already confessed this morning... JEANNE I need to confess again. PRIEST So... alright. What terrible sin have you committed since then that can't wait till tomorrow to be forgiven? Jeanne climbs up on the prayer-stool to be tall enough to look the Priest in the eye. JEANNE I saw a poor monk without shoes so I gave him some. PRIEST There's no sin in charity, Jeanne. JEANNE They weren't my shoes. Mine were too small. PRIEST Whose were they? JEANNE My father's. PRIEST I'm sure he'll forgive you. JEANNE He already did, but I want God to forgive me too. PRIEST Jeanne -- if we were to ask forgiveness all the time, we'd spend our whole life in church. JEANNE Is that bad? PRIEST (perplexed) Well no, but... Jeanne, are you happy at home? JEANNE Oh yes... very. PRIEST And your mother -- everything's fine with her? JEANNE Oh yes, she's... wonderful. FLASH: we see Jeanne's peasant MOTHER, sitting by the fire, sewing. Their home is little more than a hovel -- a low, dark cave of a place, traversed by a huge beam. PRIEST Good, good. And your sister... Catherine -- she's still your best friend? JEANNE Oh yes, my sister's just... she's... wonderful. FLASH: Jeanne's sister CATHERINE (18) sits near her mother, spinning wool. PRIEST And what about your other friends... you don't like playing with them? JEANNE Oh yes, I play with them... lots... FLASH: Jeanne is battling against some reeds with a wooden stick under a full noonday sun. Not far away, a group of kids are in the shadow of a huge tree, playing. One of them watches Jeanne in the distance. KID #1 What's she doing? KID #2 Playing. Resume on the Priest. PRIEST So... everything sounds... wonderful? JEANNE Yes, it is. PRIEST Then... why are you here so often? JEANNE I feel safe here. And it's where I can talk to him. PRIEST Him? JEANNE Well, I try and talk to him, but mostly he's the one who does the talking. PRIEST Who is this "he"? JEANNE He never says his name. PRIEST What... does he... look like? FLASH: a little boy of 8, sitting on a throne in a clearing in a wood. JEANNE Beautiful. PRIEST And what does he say to you? FLASH: the Boy points solemnly at us, but says nothing. JEANNE He says... he says I must be good... and help everyone... and take care of myself. Do you think he's coming from the sky? PRIEST Perhaps... but wherever he comes from, I think you should listen to him, because it sounds like he's giving you very good advice. The Priest smiles, and Jeanne beams back at him. He blesses her... PRIEST Ego te absolvo, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen. EXT. CHURCH & STREAM - DAY Jeanne runs from the little church, the weight of her sins now happily off her shoulders. Her reflection skips across a little stream, then on through a meadow of cowslips and buttercups and up the sloping hillside beyond... EXT. MEADOW & WOOD - DUSK A hazy, summer dusk -- pollen floating in the shimmering air... Jeanne swirls between the high elms, happy and carefree -- it's all a little surreal -- are those church bells in the distance? Or cow bells? Or merely the SOUND of insects? Jeanne swings round faster and faster, then tumbles over, laughing, and lies on her back. She's dizzy and out of breath. Above her, the clouds seeming to swirl as though she were still spinning round... The SOUND of the bells slows down, deepening... Her face moves into shadow. Although not distinguishable as words at this stage, there's an urgent whisper in the wind... a strange echo that will eventually resolve into a call "Jeanne...!" Presently Jeanne turns and sees something glinting in the long grass. A SWORD. The background SOUND of the bells grows ominous. A shooting star silently flashes across the sky -- then scores of them. She gets to her feet and picks up the heavy sword. It's growing darker -- colder -- the leaves have turned to autumn brown, now blown about by a gust of wind. Presently she sees a WOLF approaching, slowly but straight toward her -- then two, three -- finally the whole pack. She grips the sword, but can't use it -- too heavy, too frightened. As the wolves approach, she closes her eyes... The wolves pass either side of her, as though oblivious to her presence. When she opens her eyes, they have passed, and are now heading along the forest track. EXT. FOREST - NIGHT Jeanne follows the wolves along the track. They're heading toward a red glow, visible beyond the trees. The wolves disappear over a ridge, though all we can see for the moment is the red sky beyond. But as Jeanne reaches the edge, we move up with her to see... ... her village in the valley below, ablaze. EXT. DOMREMY VILLAGE - NIGHT Panic -- screams -- crashing timbers -- animals stampeding -- wolves drag corpses from gutted buildings -- and through the midst of the tumult tears Jeanne, still dragging the sword she found. She runs inside a farm cottage... INT. JEANNE'S HOME - NIGHT The low, dark building we saw earlier -- now empty, lit by the fires of the houses on the far side of the street. Jeanne runs in, searching about -- JEANNE Mother...? No response. She begins to panic -- runs through into a smaller room beyond, calling out -- JEANNE Catherine?! Suddenly a door swings open and a hand reaches out -- Jeanne screams, then turns to see her elder sister, CATHERINE, who's been hiding in a cupboard... CATHERINE Jeanne! Catherine embraces her, hugging her in relief -- CATHERINE Are you alright? Did they hurt you? JEANNE No no, I'm fine, really... CATHERINE I was so worried -- we've all been looking for you! The English are everywhere! O thank you, lord! She hugs her again -- then freezes, hearing the SOUND of horses, the clanking of armor. But Jeanne hasn't heard... JEANNE I was in church... Catherine glances about, ears tuned... CATHERINE Really? JEANNE I was talking to the priest, and do you know what he said to me? Catherine puts her hand across Jeanne's mouth -- CATHERINE Shhh... tell me later... She hears the drunken laughter getting closer... CATHERINE Quick -- hide in here... JEANNE What about you? CATHERINE Don't worry about me -- just stay in here... and don't move! JEANNE But where are you going to be? CATHERINE I'll be right here... I promise. Catherine quickly lifts Jeanne inside the cupboard, locks the door, then turns to confront THREE hefty ruffians calling themselves soldiers. The biggest and ugliest has a jet black beard. BLACKBEARD Now that's what I call booty! Blackbeard turns back to his comrades, who are sharing out a roast chicken between them. Catherine picks up the sword dropped by Jeanne as Blackbeard swaggers up to her... BLACKBEARD A woman with a sword? (to his comrades) Hey, take a look at this -- Frenchmen are such cowards that they've left all the fighting to women! CATHERINE If that's God's will, then so be it! Blackbeard's comrades start tucking into their food, leaving Blackbeard to his pleasure. BLACKBEARD Fine with me. I love women. He undoes his buckle. From her POV behind the cupboard door, Jeanne can just about see Blackbeard's face through a crack. Catherine raises the heavy sword as Blackbeard advances, then brings it sweeping down. But he intercepts it effortlessly, grasping the blade as though it were a twig... BLACKBEARD Oh... now you've hurt my feeling... He puts his hand around her throat, rips off her little wooden cross, pins her against the door, then, with a lecherous roar, plunges his face on her... Jeanne is terrified. Blackbeard has his tunic down and is attempting to gain entry -- Catherine tries to scream -- he slams his hand over her mouth -- she bites it -- Blackbeard howls... with laughter. Now his juices are really moving. Catherine squirms against the door, twisting and turning -- BLACKBEARD Hold still, bitch. How can I do it if you keep wriggling about? He picks her up by the throat, lifts her clear off the floor by several inches, then rams the sword clean through her gut and the door behind her, the blade just missing Jeanne. BLACKBEARD There, that's better. With a grin at his comrades, Blackbeard resumes his intercourse with the lifeless Catherine. Behind the door, Jeanne is suffocating with terror. The little wooden necklace lies on the floor in f.g. as Blackbeard pulls up his pants and turns to his comrades -- BLACKBEARD Your turn. EXT. CHURCHYARD - VILLAGE - DAY The little village church is no more than a smoldering pile of rubble -- among it, the twisted stained-glass of an angel. Corpses are piled up alongside a warren of shallow graves, awaiting committal. The Priest passes by each grave in turn, administering hasty last rites, then moving onto the next while a harassed grave-digger fills in the last. Jeanne stands by a shallow grave, now wearing her sister's wooden cross and grazing fixedly at her body, wrapped in linen and awaiting interment. Her parents and other adults stand nearby, but at Jeanne's level we only see them from the waist down. MAN #1 (O.S.) We shouldn't be doing this by daylight... it's too dangerous. MAN #2 (O.S.) You're right -- the English are still around -- I can smell them... MAN #3 (O.S.) When is the king going to do something? MAN #1 (O.S.) He's good for nothing... MAN #2 (O.S.) Yeah... we can't even be sure he really is a king... (whispering) I heard someone say he's a bastard... MAN #1 (O.S.) With a mother like that? I wouldn't be surprised... she's such a whore... WOMAN (O.S.) Can you show some respect? We're burying our children. You should be praying instead of cursing... MAN #2 (O.S.) That's just about all we can do. WOMAN (O.S.) Yes... because only God can help us. Now the Priest scurries over, hurriedly mumbles the last rites in Latin, then moves on to the next grave. Jeanne's family have their eyes closed in prayer, and it is only Jeanne who sees the Grave-digger nudge the corpse into the shallow grave with his foot. He shovels in the earth, then moves on. The Father puts his hand on her shoulder. FATHER Listen, Jeanne... your Uncle and Aunt are taking you to their house for a few weeks... just to give us time to rebuild what we can. Jeanne looks at him blankly, her thoughts too deep for tears. EXT. VILLAGE & ROAD - DAY Jeanne sits on the back of a small hay-wagon. Her Uncle and Aunt are up front, eyes on the barren, devastated countryside ahead, while Jeanne gazes fixedly on the road behind. From her POV: the receding figures of her parents, gradually merging with the dusty landscape. INT. DAXART'S HOUSE - NIGHT A large, low room, almost identical to Jeanne's house: a bare, earthen floor with chickens running about, and a huge cave of a fireplace. The Aunt doles out soup from a cauldron -- first to her husband, then to Jeanne. DAXART Lord, we give thanks for the food you have given us. Teach us always to love this land, and to save it from those who seek to destroy it. Amen. Jeanne says nothing -- noted by Daxart. His wife nudges him with a gesture to let her be. INT. DAXART ATTIC - NIGHT Daxart opens the door to an attic room, his wife standing behind him with Jeanne. She wanders into the room, tidy but sparse, and sits on the edge of the bed. Daxart looks a little put out. DAXART So... good night then. The Aunt understands Jeanne better than her husband, and leads him from the room. INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT The Daxarts share the communal sleeping area with a couple of goats and a mangy dog. Daxart is settling down to sleep, but his wife lies awake. AUNT What's going to happen to her? DAXART She'll be fine. She'll grow up... find a good man... make him some children. Don't worry -- she's been hurt, but she'll survive. Tomorrow she'll be as right as rain, you'll see. INT. DAXART ATTIC - DAY Daxart opens the door to the attic. Jeanne has not moved: she's still sitting on the bed like the day before. JEANNE I want to see a priest. INT. VILLAGE CHURCH - DAY Christ, crucified in stained glass. A silver cup is raised in blessing... The local PRIEST, much older than the one at Domremy, lowers the cup, filled with wine in preparation for the Mass. The Daxarts enter the church at the far end, with Jeanne between them. The Priest is expecting her. INT. CONFESSIONAL BOX - DAY Jeanne sits in the shielded darkness of the confessional box. She clutches at her little wooden cross and at last begins to cry. PRIEST I heard about your sister, and I... understand your pain... JEANNE Why did she have to die? PRIEST Only God knows the answer to that. JEANNE I know Jesus says to love our enemies but I can't -- I just want the English to burn in hell for ever and ever! PRIEST I realize your anger, Jeanne, but we must learn to forgive. It's hard, but revenge will never bring about peace. JEANNE Then what will? And what will bring her back? And why did she have to die in the first place instead of me? Why didn't he take my life instead of hers? It was my fault -- I was late -- she gave me her hiding place...!! PRIEST Jeanne... calm down...! Calm down, Jeanne! Jeanne breaks off, trembling, tears pouring down her cheeks. PRIEST I don't pretend to know God's will, but I am sure of one thing -- the Lord always has a good reason. Perhaps he saved you because he needs you... for some higher calling. So... as long as you answer that call, your sister will not have died in vain. Jeanne clams down. She stares at the Priest for a long moment, and her look becomes very deep and intense. JEANNE I don't want to wait for his call. PRIEST Jeanne, be patient. JEANNE I want to be with him always... PRIEST Soon you'll be able to take the Holy Mass, and as you eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, you will be at one with him. JEANNE I want to be at one with Him now. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY On the open road, with Jeanne sitting on the back of Daxart's wagon. It's a grey, lowering, dismal sort of day. The Daxarts are up front, talking in low voices. DAXART What did he say? AUNT He says we must bring her to church whenever she wants. DAXART Hmmm... easy for him -- he's not the one that has to do the bringing. Behind them, the wagon is empty. Jeanne is long gone. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY The rain pours down in torrents -- Jeanne runs... EXT. VILLAGE - DAY ... down the deserted road -- into the church... INT. VILLAGE CHURCH - DAY ... and up the aisle to the altar. She grabs a jug of wine, pours some into the chalice -- holds it up high as the Priest did, then gulps it down. The wine cascades from her mouth like blood as she gazes up at the stained glass image -- JEANNE I want to be with you now! INT. DAXART HOUSE - DAWN Daxart sits bolt upright, awaking from a nightmare. It's early morning, his wife still asleep beyond him. INT./ EXT. DAXART ATTIC/POV OF FIELD - DAWN Daxart opens the door to Jeanne's room. Empty, the bed unslept in. He walks in -- hears something. Looking out of the window he sees -- Jeanne in the distance, playing be herself. Daxart smiles. EXT. HOUSE & FIELD - DAWN Jeanne pauses, her stick poised in mid-air -- SUBLIMINAL FLASH -- -- a real sword impales a soldier through the stomach -- another sword slices through chain-mail -- and a severed head encased in metal spins lose from armored shoulders... EXT. HOUSE & FIELD - DAWN Jeanne looks at Daxart. JEANNE I'm playing. Once again Jeanne raises her stick-sword -- the head of a sunflower is violently decapitated -- INT. CHINON - STATE ROOM - DAY -- and a sword swishes down, trying to hack someone in the leg. But it is only a wooden sword, and its wielder a mere boy of five. This is young Prince LOUIS, practicing his nascent swordsmanship on the castle GUARDS. VOICES and approaching footsteps alert the Guards, who quickly stand to attention as a door is swung open... GUARD The Dauphin! Louis takes advantage of the Guards forced immobility, and jabs one of them in the leg... he lets out a muffled "Ow!" The Dauphin CHARLES VII enters, followed by his courtiers. They include the bloated REGNAULT, Archbishop of Rheims, and Georges de la TREMOILLE -- a sly and devious diplomat. CHARLES Louis, shouldn't you be learning your lessons? LOUIS I don't want to learn, I want to fight! CHARLES You will, you will. But for now, you must learn... at least to wipe your nose. Charles (who speaks with a slight stutter) affectionately wipes his son's nose with a corner of his shirt. Beyond them, a young soldier, Jean d'AULON, arrives with a scroll. AULON A letter for His Majesty. Tremoille takes it, opens the seal and begins to read. Charles hands over Louis to a courtier... TREMOILLE Another one from this girl calling herself the Maiden of Lorraine. Charles snatches it somewhat testily from Tremoille... CHARLES I can read for myself, you know. While Charles reads, Tremoille turns aside to Regnault -- TREMOILLE She pretends she's been sent by God! These charlatans -- it's a pity there isn't enough wood to burn them all! CHARLES She says she'll be here tomorrow...! TREMOILLE You mustn't see her, my lord. We know nothing about her... we don't even know if she is from Lorraine. CHARLES What difference does it make where she comes from? TREMOILLE If she comes from Burgundy it makes a difference. It might be a trap... (takes back letter) Look... Signed "X". What sort of name is "X"? Or must we conclude that a messenger of God can't even write her own name? REGNAULT My lord Tremoille is correct. She says she hears voices... she may be a sorceress... a witch... CHARLES (snatching back letter) Regnault -- you see witches everywhere. She's just a peasant... a peasant who cares for her king. Look... all she wants is to help me win my crown... and permission to fight for me. TREMOILLE Not exactly. (takes back letter) She wants you to give her an army -- at your expanse. Bearing in mind that your mother stole every last piece of gold in the treasury, I fail to see how you can afford such an adventure. CHARLES (snatches back letter) I can see her if I want to. I mean, with half of France in the hands of the English, what have I got to lose? TREMOILLE The other half. REGNAULT You mustn't see her, my lord. She may be an instrument of the devil. YOLANDE (O.S.) Well... I think you should. All eyes turn to the window, where Yolande has been standing with her back to the room, reading a little book. Her right-arm is standing beside her -- RICHMOND, his face hideously disfigured by battle scars. CHARLES Ah, Yolande... and what makes you think the exact opposite of my two most trusted advisors? Yolande smiles, though hardly a devoted smile. Mild contempt would be more accurate. YOLANDE Because I care about you. Come here. Charles walks over. He has his shirt undone. Yolande buttons it back up. YOLANDE Your health and happiness has always been my first concern, Charles... ever since you were a little boy -- and I think I know you better than your own mother... CHARLES You think? YOLANDE Mmmm. Yes. I know for example the sickness that plagues your heart. I know how painful it is for you... to have loved a father... without ever knowing if he really was yours. CHARLES W-w-what has that got to do with this Maiden? YOLANDE Who better than a messenger from God to give answers to your questions? CHARLES You really think she's been sent... by God? YOLANDE You're a fine judge of character, Charles. It'll take you less than five minutes to expose her if she's a fake. But if she's not -- then she will give you your answers... and place the crown on your head. Charles shines at the prospect, but Tremoille and Regnault look less than happy. TREMOILLE With respect, my lady, I think it's going to take more than just a simple peasant girl to... YOLANDE I'm not interested in what you think, Tremoille -- or even what I think. It's what simple people think that matters, and the fact is that simple people up and down the country are already talking about her. Now you know what simple people are like, always ready to believe any old prophecy... like this one about a virgin from Lorraine saving France...? (hands Tremoille the book) And now this girl comes along -- from Lorraine -- and suddenly there's a spark of hope in their simple minds. We shouldn't disappoint them. If they believe in her -- if she can put back the fire in our army -- then I believe in her too. EXT. CHINON - LONG SHOT - NIGHT Moving torches gallop toward us -- a FLAME flares through foreground with a whoosh, PANNING ROUND as soldiers ride toward the distant castle of Chinon -- a gloomy great silhouette, rising against a bloody sunset... INT. CHINON - GREAT HALL - NIGHT Celebrations after a hunt. Troubadours play -- a whole tree trunk is burning in the vast chimney. A Page comes running into the big room and hurries excitedly over to Charles. PAGE She's coming, your majesty... with an armed escort! CHARLES Alright, alright -- calm yourself. TREMOILLE Your majesty, I urge you not to see this woman. It all reeks of a Burgundian trap! CHARLES My astrologers assure me that the hour is p-p-propitious -- Leo, with Virgo rising. Have you ever noticed on the astrological chart how the Virgin is next to the Lion? TREMOILLE Supposing she's an assassin? CHARLES Tremoille, I'm not even king yet... who'd want to assassinate me? Looking around at his courtiers? They all would. EXT. CHINON COURTYARD - NIGHT A FLAME swirls in the darkness -- the urgent clatter of horses hooves -- steaming breath in the cold night air -- the SOUND of festivities coming from the castle walls beyond -- the horses are reined -- one whinnies as SOLDIERS jump down onto the cobbles -- a dark cape wraps about a figure... INT. CHINON - GREAT HALL - NIGHT Another page boy bursts in -- PAGE #2 She's arrived, my lord! She's in the guards' room. CHARLES So... I suppose I'd better make a decision. Charles glances between Tremoille, Regnault and Yolande, but -- either by accident of will -- none are looking his way. He sighs deeply to the dashing, open-faced young soldier we saw earlier, Jean d'AULON... CHARLES Oh dear, why is life so complicated? Sometimes I really wish I could be someone else. AULON That's a good idea, sire. CHARLES What do you mean? AULON Let someone else pretend to be you, and see if... CHARLES ... if she can find me? -- That's a brilliant idea! If she's really been sent by God she'll discover the trap, and if she's an assassin she'll kill the wrong man! (to the page) Bring her up! Charles turns to a coterie of ARMY CAPTAINS, standing aside and aloof from the courtiers whom they evidently despise. CHARLES My dear Captains, I've had a brilliant idea! We're going to have a little game. Now... let's pretend my throne is empty. Who wants to be the king? They all put up their hands... CHARLES Now there's a heart-warming sight! So let's see... which one of you could possibly pass as king? He turns to the Duke of ALENCON, 25, strikingly handsome in his bright, gilded armor. CHARLES Ah, Alencon, 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. He turns to GILLES de Rais: a dark, glamorous seducer, dressed in black armor with a ring through one ear. CHARLES Gilles de Rais... Marshal of France... formidable to men, fascinating to women, feared by all. You'd be perfect to sit on my throne... so perfect that you might like it too much for my own piece of mind. Charles turns to the bearded La Hire. CHARLES Ah, La Hire -- my angry captain... the bravest in France -- scarred by a dozen wars, but with heart and stomach for a dozen more. You could pass for the king... LA HIRE Damn bloody right I could! CHARLES ... until you opened your mouth. No one with a tongue like yours could pass as the King of France. The other Captains laugh heartily. CHARLES Ah well... it looks as though it's going to have to be me after all... But... wait a minute... Charles spots the shy Jean d'Aulon. Unlike the other court toadies, Aulon is a quiet, honorable man. CHARLES Why not you -- Jean d'Aulon? The only man who's poorer than I am, and so the only man I can trust. Dignified, honorable, wise... what more could we ask of a king? AULON My lord, I'm not sure that... Charles takes his coat and puts it around Aulon's shoulders. CHARLES My dear Aulon, to you it shall befall the honor of impersonating the royal blood! AULON Majesty, I can't... CHARLES Why, are you not ready to die for your king? AULON Of course I am, it's just that... CHARLES Good. Until then, feel free to live like a king! Laughter -- then the sound of approaching excitement. CHARLES Hurry, hurry -- on the throne... INT. CORRIDOR - CHINON - NIGHT Armored feet clank along a stone corridor -- INT. GREAT HALL - CHINON - NIGHT Charles unceremoniously dumps Aulon on the throne... AULON Sire, you know how bad I am at this sort of game. CHARLES So... pretend it's not a game. Charles abandons Aulon and disappears among his courtiers. A pair of PAGE BOYS swing open the doors: the courtiers turn expectantly; Aulon tries to pose as the king. From the Court's POV, a girl of 17 enters the great hall, dressed in a grubby tunic, with long hair tied back beneath a hood. There could not be a more striking contrast than the sophisticated, opulent, yet cowardly courtiers and this naive, rough girl, almost childlike in her simplicity, and yet so focused, so confident, so secure in her mission, with a courage that radiates conviction, and is contagious. The courtiers step back to form a narrow channel as she moves into the great hall. Yolande marks the effect her presence has on the court, smiling at their bemused gazes. Jeanne passes the Archbishop, who defends himself by sprinkling holy water in her path. Tremoille oils his way toward her with a can-I-help ingratiating smile... JEANNE I have come to see the Dauphin. Tremoille nods obsequiously, ushering her toward Aulon, who is now visibly uneasy. Jeanne stops in front of him. Aulon gazes at her. Jeanne scans him a couple of times, looks at him stonily. Then smiles. Aulon melts, his cheeks blushing hot. Jeanne cocks her head, like an inquisitive child. JEANNE Who are you? Aulon stammers in response... AULON I'm... I'm... I'm... TREMOILLE ... His most gracious majesty Charles de Valois, Dauphin of France... She gives Aulon another smile. JEANNE I can see you are a good man, but you're not the Dauphin. (to Tremoille) I'm sorry to insist, but we have no time to lose. I must see the Dauphin. Where is he? TREMOILLE He's here. (a gracious gesture) Find him yourself. A brief pause, then Jeanne takes up the challenge. She moves on, examining the faces acutely. Although a few of the wimpoled ladies find her simple peasant dress amusing, most are caught like moths in her flame. She notices the Three Captains (La Hire, Alencon and Gilles de Rais) edging closer together, as though shielding someone beyond. 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? INT. CASTLE - GREAT HALL - DAY The Courtiers talk among themselves, nervously awaiting Charles to rejoin them. Presently the door opens and Charles emerges, followed by Jeanne. He is a man transfigured. Tremoille looks anxious. Charles glances at them, their expectant eyes awaiting his verdict. He leads Jeanne across to Aulon. CHARLES Jeanne, this is -- in fact -- my loyal friend and finest archer, Jean d'Aulon. Jean... I place her in your care. Find her suitable lodgings -- here -- in the castle... and guard her with your life. AULON Yes, my lord. JEANNE I don't need lodgings if we're to be marching on Orleans... CHARLES Orleans has held out for six months. I don't suppose a few days will make much difference. Take some rest. Jeanne follows Jean d'Aulon from the Great Hall, watched in silence by his courtiers. As soon as she's gone, the whole room is filled with the myriad buzz of opinion. Gilles gives Charles the eye... GILLES She certainly cast a spell on you. Charles draws his three Captains aside. CHARLES She'll cast her spell on everyone if she's given half a chance... and we must ensure that she gets that chance. The Captains look astonished. CHARLES Can you imagine the effect it will have on the English -- to see a girl riding at the head of our army? LA HIRE Yes. They'll bleeding wet themselves! Laughing. GILLES We're not your favorite captains anymore?? CHARLES No -- I mean yes! -- of course... ALENCON Charles... you want to give the command of our army to a -- woman?? CHARLES Of course not! You're the ones in command, as always... but if she can put back the fire in our soldiers, then maybe you, my dear Captains, will be able to raise the siege of Orleans. What do you think? GILLES Brilliant idea... but to be really effective, why not send a whole army of virgins? LA HIRE That'll put fire in my soldiers! The Captains laugh -- at Charles' expense. CHARLES Please, my friends... you know me... you know how certain I am about everything, but -- maybe for the first time in my life I -- I don't know why -- but I feel I have to trust her... and now I'm asking you -- I'm begging you -- to trust me... INT. ROOM - CHINON CASTLE - DAY Jeanne blows the dust from a wooden crucifix, then replaces it above a bed. Jean d'Aulon has brought her to a small room in one of the castle's turrets: clean, plainly furnished, but hardly hospitable. Jeanne inspects the room while Aulon stands by the door. AULON Listen, please accept my apologies for... you know, me pretending to be the... well it wasn't really my idea... well, yes it was my idea but... JEANNE Do you think I could have some water? Jeanne smiles sweetly, catching Aulon off guard. AULON Yes, of course... water... anything else? Two page boys run into the room, carrying luggage, water, washing bowl and some food. They are LOUIS and RAYMOND, both 13, as inseparable as they are loyal. Jeanne looks up, then sits on the bed, testing the horsehair mattress. JEANNE I would like some fresh straw. AULON Louis... water and fresh straw! Louis goes running off. JEANNE And I would like to see a priest. AULON Now? JEANNE Yes. I didn't confess today. AULON Right. (to Raymond) Raymond... a priest. Raymond goes running off. JEANNE I shall also be needing a war horse -- mine is too slow -- and armor -- and a good sword -- and an artist to make me a banner. AULON Now? JEANNE Better today than tomorrow. AULON Well... uh -- this might take a little time -- but let me see what I can do. He's about to leave when Jeanne adds -- JEANNE I also need someone who can read and write. AULON This I can do. (Jeanne looks surprised) I was studying at the University of Paris -- till the English invaded it. JEANNE I thought you were an archer? AULON Yes, I am. I'm an archer who can read and write. Who do you want to write to? JEANNE The King of England. I want to give them the chance to leave Orleans in peace before I get there. Aulon just stares at her. INT. GUARD HOUSE - CHINON - DAWN Raymond hands a rolled parchment to a Rider, already mounted and waiting... EXT. CHINON CASTLE & MEADOW - DAWN The Rider gallops over the drawbridge and away. EXT. CHINON - TERRACE - DAY Tremoille stands on a terrace before Chinon, watching the rider heading down the dusty highway. TREMOILLE I can't believe you let her send such a letter... Charles is a short distance away, watching Jeanne in a meadow below the castle, swishing a stick from side to side. CHARLES She's going to do it. Tremoille exchanges a worried glance with Archbishop Regnault, who is standing behind Charles. REGNAULT Sire, it's going to take more than a letter to drive out the English. TREMOILLE An army for instance... CHARLES My captains have sworn their support. TREMOILLE No doubt your captains will fight for your fine cause -- but what about the ordinary soldier? They don't fight for causes these days. They fight for money. Who's going to pay them? YOLANDE (O.S.) I am. Yolande moves forward, accompanied by her daughter Mary (Charles' wife) and grandson, young Louis. CHARLES You will?? YOLANDE For the sake of France, Charles. And for the sake of my grandson. She pats Louis on the head. TREMOILLE With respect, my lady -- the Archbishop and I have begun delicate negotiations with the Burgundians. If we can bring them over to our side... YOLANDE Negotiate by all means, but from a position of strength. If the English take Orleans, there'll be nothing left to negotiate -- the rest of the country will be theirs. TREMOILLE My lady, it would be the height of folly to let this... child... lead our army in the king's name without first verifying her true motives. REGNAULT Tremoille is right. This girl must be subjected to a rigorous examination by the Doctors of the Church at Poitiers. We need to be absolutely certain that she is not an instrument of the devil. CHARLES How can anyone be absolutely certain about anything? Our intuitions are sometimes our best counselors... REGNAULT We must listen to Mother Holy Church before listening to our intuitions. TREMOILLE Wait... she claims to be a virgin... Well that's something we can examine -- and be absolutely certain about. Charles hesitates -- turns to Yolande, who looks somewhat uneasy at the suggestion. YOLANDE Why not? Charles looks across to Jeanne in the distance, still playing with her stick. Suddenly she swipes at a bulrush, violently decapitating its head. Charles looks worried. CHARLES Let's find out. INT. POITIERS UNIVERSITY - ROOM - NIGHT A big, spacious room, into which files a procession of TEN DOCTORS of THEOLOGY and TEN NOTABLES, walking two-by-two. They divide either side of CAMERA, then halt and about- turn, facing inward with military precision. Two PAGE BOYS set up screens in front of the two rows, preventing them from viewing Jeanne, who is standing on a low table between the rows, wearing a laced-up robe. 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? DUNOIS He's on the other side of the river. Now La Hire and Gilles de Rais ride into view... JEANNE So who gave the order to bring me to this side of the river?? LA HIRE (calling to Dunois) Hey, my friend! I'm glad to see your ugly damn face again! JEANNE La Hire, I'm warning you -- don't swear! LA HIRE Sorry Jeanne... (to Dunois) Did you both meet already? DUNOIS Well... sort of... GILLES (to Dunois, smiling) She's quite something, huh? LA HIRE Jeanne, let me introduce the king's half brother, the dogged Lord Dunois. JEANNE Then, Lord Dunois, show me the way to the other side of the river... She starts to move as Jean d'Aulon rides up -- DUNOIS Wait, wait... JEANNE For what? DUNOIS Because... because -- I mean -- the English have a broad sense of humor, but... I mean, you don't understand... to them you're a witch, working for the devil. What makes you think they'll listen to you? JEANNE Because if they don't, I'll raise such a war-cry against them that they will remember us forever! DUNOIS Well. I'd love to see that, but after taking counsel with my captains, I felt it would be better to first bring the food into the city, then wait till Alencon arrives with reinforcements before doing anything. JEANNE You may have been with your counsel, but I've been with mine, and I'm telling you, God's counsel is wiser than yours, and he's telling me to speak to the English -- now! DUNOIS (matching her anger) Fine -- go now if you want, but not with me! You may have a duty to God but I have a duty to my people, and my people are starving! So right now I'm going to take the food back to the city, and if you can please calm down, and let me accompany you to Orleans, it will be my honor to welcome you. Gilles smiles at Jeanne's evident frustration. EXT. EAST GATE - STREET & SQUARE - ORLEANS - DUSK The battered east gate of Orleans swings open, and a convoy of wagons enter the town, guarded by soldiers. Jeanne and the Captains are on horseback, the remainder on foot. A group of hungry children spot the arrival, their eyes widening at the sight of the food: beef, mutton, chickens, sacks of grain, barrels of salted fish... But most of the citizens are too starved and too weary to show much excitement; hollow-eyed and emaciated, they have the expressionless faces of concentration camp inmates. La Hire is sickened at the sight... LA HIRE Jesus Christ... the goddamn English will pay for this! JEANNE They will -- and so will you if you go on swearing like that. By the time the little procession has reached the main square, a CROWD has gathered. Sluggishly they make way for Jeanne and Dunois to ride between them... Now the interest in Jeanne begins to warm up -- the CROWD press in on her. Slowly at first, but with increasing fervor, the pressure builds as the crowd try to touch her. CROWD Bless us, Jeanne...! Save us! EXT. JEANNE'S HOUSE - ORLEANS - NIGHT Soldiers push back the crowd, allowing Jeanne to reach a large gabled house. As she dismounts, a woman runs forward -- WOMAN Jeanne! Bless her -- touch her! The woman holds up her BABY for Jeanne to touch. JEANNE Touch her yourself... your touch is just as good as mine. WOMAN But... you've been sent by God! JEANNE So has everyone. Jeanne turns sharply away and walks inside the house, followed by Aulon and the others. INT. HQ - ORLEANS HOUSE - NIGHT A frustrated Jeanne marches into Dunois' new war-room. Dunois enters, followed by his Captains, and is happy to see a model of Orleans... DUNOIS La Hire, Gilles -- let me show you something... The Captains go into a huddle, leaving Jeanne smarting. She looks out of the window, where the crowd is still trying to catch a glimpse of her. JEANNE Who do they think I am?! AULON Jeanne, calm down. You can't blame the people -- they've been hearing all about you for weeks. JEANNE There's nothing to hear -- I haven't done anything. And why haven't I done anything? (turning to the captains) Because none of you will listen to me!! She shouts in frustration, and Dunois and the other captains swing round. Dunois waits for the echo to die away. DUNOIS Would you like to join us? We're about to discuss the campaign... Jeanne walks over, still vexed. Using the model, Dunois continues his situation briefing. DUNOIS From here, Talbot has spread his forces between these forts up here, but in the last few days it seems -- according to our scouts -- that some troops have been deployed to this fort here -- which makes me think that this is where they'll be launching their attack from... Dunois points to St. Loup -- a smaller fort to the east. GILLES I would have thought they'd have attacked from here, where Talbot is. DUNOIS I doubt it. From here they won't be able to utilize the river, whereas over here the current will be with them. LA HIRE What about this huge pile down here? DUNOIS That's the Tourelles. The English were planning to launch an attack from it, but then we broke down the bridge, which should keep them quiet for a while. My hunch is, the attack will come from St. Loup. He pauses, then turns to Jeanne, somewhat apprehensively. GILLES And... what does Jeanne think? JEANNE I don't think. I leave that to God. I'm nothing in all this, I'm just the messenger. DUNOIS So... what is the message? JEANNE We offer the English a last chance to return home in peace. If they refuse, we recross the river and attack them here -- at the Tourelles. They all look astonished. Gilles grins. DUNOIS Jeanne, that really makes no sense at all. The Tourelles is virtually impregnable... besides, if we're on the other side of the river attacking the Tourelles, what's to stop Talbot attacking the city from the north? JEANNE God. GILLES God... why of course -- we'd forgotten about him! Strange, I don't seem to remember seeing him at Agincourt. LA HIRE Damn right! GILLES Oh, but I forgot! It was a Sunday... that explains it. God's day off. They all laugh, apart from Aulon and the page boys. JEANNE You know, I feel a great sorrow for you, because you're laughing now, but by tomorrow night some of you will be dead and having to repeat your jokes in front of God. DUNOIS Jeanne, with respect -- we can't just attack the Tourelles like that -- it's a very complicated matter and... JEANNE What complicated about it? All you have to do is do what you're told -- what could be simpler than that? I'm the drum on which God is beating out his message -- beating so loudly it's bursting my ears -- but you're all so full of your own voices, you're deaf to His! AULON Jeanne, be patient... Jeanne turns on him -- JEANNE "Be patient, be patient"... is that the only advice you can ever come up with?? I've shown more patience than a dozen saints! DUNOIS Jeanne, you have to understand -- it's not easy for us -- I mean for our pride -- to suddenly be usurped by a -- well, with all due respect, by a... girl. JEANNE Ah, so that's it. To you I'm just a girl. DUNOIS Jeanne, put yourself in my shoes for a moment -- how would you feel, if you were me? JEANNE Knowing what I know? Enormous gratitude. Jeanne turns and heads for the door. La Hire nudges Gilles as she approaches -- LA HIRE One hell of a girl, huh? As she passes, Jeanne slaps La Hire right across the face -- JEANNE I warned you! -- and walk out, slamming the door behind her. The others stare after her, while La Hire nurses his cheek. GILLES (to La Hire) I do love her when her fire gets well and truly stoked! LA HIRE Me too... A pause, then the door at the other end of the room bursts open and in walks the expansive Duke of Alencon. ALENCON Hello my friends! What a journey, but we made it! Back together again... let's have some fun! He rubs his hands in anticipation, then notes his comrades' expressions, still recovering from Jeanne's outburst. ALENCON Did I miss something? INT. JEANNE'S BEDROOM - ORLEANS HOUSE - NIGHT Jeanne draws her sword with a terrifying scrape as though about to kill someone, slices something in f.g. -- and a chunk of black hair falls to the ground. JEANNE So what if I'm a girl...? (cuts another chunk) You need to look like a man to drive out the English? (and another) Fine... let's look like a man! Aulon grabs her by the wrist to take the sword from her -- AULON Jeanne, stop it! JEANNE How dare you stop me doing God's will! Aulon wrestles to get the sword from her -- AULON He didn't tell you to cut all your hair off...! JEANNE How dare you tell me what God tells me to do! AULON Alright, whatever -- but since He's not going to come down and cut it himself, at least let someone cut it properly! He finally manages to grab the sword from her... AULON Raymond -- bring me scissors! Louis -- fetch that mirror! The two page boys hop to it, but when Louis brings the mirror, Jeanne slaps it from his hand... AULON Jeanne, stop getting so angry about everything...! Calm down! Jeanne stares at him. JEANNE I am calm. It's God who's angry. I need to send a letter. Now. Aulon looks at her. INT. HQ - ORLEANS HOUSE - NIGHT Dunois reads the parchment that Aulon hands to him... JEANNE (V.O.) To you, Henry King of England, and to you, Duke of Bedford who call yourself Regent of France, obey the King of Heaven and abandon your siege... Dunois can scarcely believe it. He hands it to Alencon... JEANNE (V.O.) ... give back the keys to the other towns you have taken, and go back home to your island... Equally bemused, Alencon hands it to La Hire... JEANNE (V.O.) To you Lord Talbot, I beg you as humbly as I can beg you, for the sake of the lives of your soldiers, do not bring about your own destruction... La Hire whistles with admiration and hands it to Gilles. JEANNE (V.O.) Surrender to me, Jeanne the Maiden, who is sent here by God, and she will make peace with you... Gilles grins, and hands back to Aulon, who looks to Dunois for an answer. Dunois gives a vague nod of the head... EXT. BROKEN BRIDGE - ORLEANS - NIGHT As Jeanne's letter continues, Aulon walks across the broken stone bridge that once connected the city to the south bank of the Loire. Two-thirds the way across, the bridge ends abruptly, leaving a yawning gap between us and the fortress of the Tourelles. JEANNE (V.O.) ... but if you do not heed my warning, then we shall raise such a battle-cry as there has not been heard in France for a thousand years! Aulon takes the arrow to which Jeanne's letter is already tied, places it in the bow -- takes aim and fires... EXT. TOURELLES - ROOF/COURTYARD - NIGHT The arrow lands in wooden planking. An English soldier with a flaming red beard yanks it out, gives it a cursory glance, grins, then clambers down to the courtyard below where soldiers are busily trimming the branches from freshly-felled trees. Redbeard hands the letter to an English captain, Glasdale... JEANNE (V.O.) This is the third and last time I will write to you... Glasdale reads it, and gives his response. EXT. BROKEN BRIDGE - ORLEANS - NIGHT Aulon is still waiting at the end of the broken bridge. JEANNE (V.O.) If you are still here at noon, I warn you that you will hear from me to your very great destruction. Please give me your answer speedily. Redbeard yells out from the top of the Tourelles... REDBEARD Go fuck yourself! INT. JEANNE'S BEDROOM - ORLEANS HOUSE - NIGHT Aulon hesitates, then softly opens the door. He tiptoes into the room, looks at Jeanne, then at Louis, who has fallen asleep with the scissors still clasped somewhat dangerously to his chest. Aulon gently removes them. As he places them on the table, Jeanne murmurs in her sleep, but without opening her eyes. JEANNE What did they say? AULON Uh... they said... they will think about it. JEANNE Good. AULON But... to be honest... I don't think they'll leave tomorrow. Jeanne is almost asleep again... JEANNE I can't wait... for tomorrow... Aulon sits in a chair nearby, gazing at Jeanne, who now looks even younger, with her hair shorn short like a boy. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - ST. LOUP - DAWN SMASH CUT into the fury of battle -- swords hacking through armor, whirling maces smashing visors, blood spurting from severed limbs... Among the combatants: Dunois, Alencon, La Hire and Gilles... INT. JEANNE'S BEDROOM - ORLEANS HOUSE - DAWN Jeanne suddenly sits bolt upright, eyes wide. Aulon is still asleep in his chair where we last saw him. JEANNE French blood is spilling! Aulon awakes as she leaps to her feet, strapping on her breast plate and gauntlets... AULON What's going on?! JEANNE They've started the battle without me! She tips the two page boys onto the floor... JEANNE Oh, my boys -- why didn't you wake me up?! Come on, hurry up -- Raymond, saddle my horse -- there's a battle to fight and a war to be won! Raymond runs off and Aulon takes his place, helping Louis to buckle on Jeanne's armor. She rushes off, leaving Louis to assist Aulon with his own armor... EXT. HOUSE & STREET - ORLEANS - DAWN Jeanne runs out of the house to where Raymond is standing with her horse. She mounts it and canters off... INT. JEANNE'S BEDROOM - ORLEANS - DAWN Still buckling on his own armor, Aulon spots Jeanne's furled white banner leaning against the wall... EXT. HOUSE & STREET - ORLEANS - DAWN Jeanne suddenly remembers she's forgotten her banner. She turns her horse about and canters back, screaming out -- JEANNE My banner! I forgot my banner! Aulon appears at the window, holding her banner -- AULON Jeanne... here! Jeanne circles about and canters forward... JEANNE Throw it! Aulon throws it down to her. She catches it with one hand, turns and gallops off down the street, the white banner streaming out behind her. EXT. EAST GATE - ORLEANS - DAWN The Guard above the main gate sees the French army approaching in full retreat. He calls down... GUARD Open the gates! EXT. STREETS - ORLEANS - DAWN Sparks fly as the hooves of Jeanne's horse strike the flint cobblestones, swift and clean... EXT. ST. LOUP VALLEY - ORLEANS - DAWN ... unlike the hundreds of hooves pounding through mud and mire in the opposite direction. EXT. EAST GATE - ORLEANS - DAWN Jeanne reaches the gates as they are swung open, and the first of the retreating troops make it back to the city -- among them, La Hire and Gilles de Rais... JEANNE What happened? Who gave the order to attack? LA HIRE God knows, but it was a bad idea! JEANNE (to Gilles) Were the men confessed? Where are the priests? GILLES (out of breath) We didn't take them... we wanted to be fast... wanted to make a surprise attack... Dunois rides up and Jeanne assails him -- JEANNE Dunois... was it you who ordered the attack? Answer me?! DUNOIS Can we -- uh -- discuss this later? JEANNE Sooner is better than later! Jeanne charges forward, into the confused ranks of retreating French soldiers. Dunois thinks she's gone crazy -- DUNOIS Come back... you'll be killed! But Jeanne's not listening. She's been waiting long enough for this moment, and now she has it, there's no going back. She stands in her stirrups and shouts out -- JEANNE Follow me and I will give you victory! La Hire is the first to change his mind, riding up behind Jeanne like Attila the Hun as she gallops forward into the path of the retreating French. Now the Duke of Alencon joins them, and soon the whole army has turned about -- an immense tidal wave of energy rolling back across the valley... EXT. ST. LOUP FORTIFICATIONS - ORLEANS - DAY ... toward the astonished English. One moment they were pursuing their hapless enemies, but now an avenging angel bears down on them, sunlight glinting off her armor. They start racing back toward their own fortifications: the bastille St. Loup -- a great fortress amid a network of trenches and tunnels... The French army is finally behaving as a single organism whereas the English cohesion fragments into shards of individual panic -- every man for himself! They regard Jeanne as a sorceress, and terror spreads like cancer among their ranks. They turn and flee back to their own lines, only to be bombarded by a fusillade of their own missiles, poorly aimed at the French. Soon the St. Loup tower is ablaze, the English are forced to abandon their fortress... and the French finally get to celebrate their first victory within living memory. Jeanne has become an object of worship and veneration, and the soldiers crowd about her, cheering her as their savior. Presently Dunois rides up with his Captains... DUNOIS It's a great victory, Jeanne... your victory. But we must follow it through and pursue the English back to Talbot's camp... unless of course you have another good idea? Jeanne closes her eyes a moment... then smiles at Dunois. JEANNE We return to Orleans... across the bridge, at the Tourelles. GILLES But the bridge has been pulled down! JEANNE The English are rebuilding it. DUNOIS How do you know?! FLASH: Jeanne and her army are silently moving through a forest. From her POV, she notices hundreds of fresh trees-stumps... JEANNE You have been with your counsel, and I have been with mine. EXT. TOURELLES COMPLEX - ORLEANS - DAY The English are moving up the stripped trees we saw earlier from the Tourelles courtyard toward the broken bridge. Glasdale surveys the operation with satisfaction. EXT. TOURELLES - POV FROM ROOF - DAY Redbeard and the other English Guards on the roof of the Tourelles spot Jeanne's army in the far distance. Redbeard calls down to Glasdale... REDBEARD Glasdale! Looks like the froggie whore's coming to pay you a visit. EXT. MONASTERY - ORLEANS - DAY Jeanne rides at the head of the army, flanked by Dunois, La Hire, Alencon, Gilles, Aulon, Xaintrailles. They halt in front of a ruined monastery to the south of the Tourelles. Jeanne gives instructions for the placement of artillery... JEANNE Position the long-bows over there, crossbows over there -- and set up Dijon Culverins either side of those trees... DUNOIS The wind will be against us... JEANNE The wind will be with us! (to the Captains) Do as I say. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY The English take up their positions along the ramparts of the battery -- a massive, square fortification, surrounded by a deep, empty moat. Jeanne rides forward to the edge of the dry moat, her banner billowing in the breeze, and addresses the English... JEANNE Glasdale, can you hear me? You who call me a whore, I pity your soul and the souls of your men. Yield now to the King of Heaven, and go back to your island... GLASDALE And you, go back to Hell! Jeanne turns and gallops back to the French soldiers as Glasdale turns coolly to Redbeard -- GLASDALE Don't kill her till I've had my fill of her! -- and walks back to the Tourelles. The French have established a temporary headquarters. Dunois is drawing a map in the dirt and is preparing a battle plan with his Captains... DUNOIS Let's plan this attack a little more carefully than this morning... GILLES Good idea! JEANNE (O.S.) (calling) My fine soldiers...! Dunois turns to see Jeanne, standing before the army... JEANNE This morning, God gave us our first victory, but that was nothing compared to what he is ready to give us now. I know you are tired and hungry, but I swear to you in the name of the King of Heaven that even if these English were hanging from the clouds by their fingertips, we shall tear them down before nightfall...! Now, my brave soldiers... let those who love me follow me! With a valiant cry, a thousand soldiers tear forward behind Jeanne. Dunois is speechless. Gilles lays a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. GILLES You were saying? Jeanne rides at full tilt down into the dry moat, and for the next few minutes, the air is thick with the tumult of battle. As each successive wave swarms across the moat, so they are met by a fusillade of English flame and steel from the battery above. But the French respond with equal fervor: the Dijon Culverins deployed by Jeanne now rain an aerial bombardment of boulders down upon the English, while their arrows darken the sky above... Jeanne reaches the base of the battery. She leaps down from her horse and starts to climb one of the ladders being thrown up against the wall... but is suddenly struck by an arrow from the rampart above. She reels -- the ladder sways -- and Aulon catches her in his arms as she falls back to earth. Redbeard is jokingly furious -- REDBEARD Hey, you just killed my woman! The English laugh and jeer, but the French are in dismay at the sight of their Jeanne, unconscious, lying in Aulon's arms, with the arrow wedged deep above her breast. EXT. MONASTERY BEHIND TOURELLES - DAY Aulon, La Hire and Xaintrailles carry her to the ruined monastery while the two page boys follow anxiously behind. INT. ST. AUGUSTINE MONASTERY - DAY They enter the shell-shattered sanctuary of a gothic chapel where Aulon directs them to lay Jeanne against the wall. In the distance we can hear the muffled sounds of war, but in here it is strangely quiet. The great war-lords stand in a semi-circle, pathetically wringing their hands, like the seven dwarves bereaving the stricken Snow White. The sight of tears trickling down La Hire's scarred cheeks is as touching as it is pathetic. Aulon wipes her brow, leaning in very close to feel her pulse and whether her mouth exhales breath. He turns to Raymond, who stands close by with Louis -- AULON Go and find the physician... I saw him with the supplies. Raymond races off... GILLES We have to take out the arrow now. AULON It's in so deep -- I'm afraid she'll bleed to death if we pull it out... LA HIRE There must be something we can do for her for Chrissakes! GILLES (sarcastic) Yes. We can pray. LA HIRE Good idea... La Hire turns and directs his pledge to the broken stained-glass image of Christ above the trashed altar... LA HIRE I swear I'll never swear again in my life if you save her life! But I'm warning you, if you let her die, then you're the biggest... JEANNE Don't swear... Jeanne stirs, her eyes beginning to open... LA HIRE He heard me! AULON Jeanne... we thought we'd lost you! JEANNE Not so... easily. Why aren't you... fighting...? go on... we're almost there... AULON Jeanne, you've been badly wounded... JEANNE No, it's... it's nothing, it's... Speaking provokes a sudden stab of pain. She tries to clutch the arrow, but Aulon stops her. He peels back her shirt, exposing the bloody wound above her pale breast. GILLES It's an arrow, and it's in deep... AULON You must stay still till the physician arrives! LA HIRE Physicians are a waste of time. You'll have more luck with this charm of mine... it saved my life at Agincourt! JEANNE I'd sooner die than use magic! AULON Jeanne, you will die if that arrow stays in you much longer... Jeanne suddenly seizes the arrow and yanks it out of her body. Blood spurts -- the suddenness and violence of her action catches the men unaware, and it's a moment before Aulon can stem the flow with his hand. Jeanne looks at the arrow before throwing it aside... JEANNE At least this one won't bother us any more. Now let's get back to the fight! She tries to get up... and collapses, grabbing Aulon... AULON Jeanne... please... you must stay calm... you must rest... please! He lays her back down. Jeanne whispers to him, intimately. JEANNE Alright... I promise to rest if you promise... to go back to the battle. AULON I promise... Jeanne smiles -- then suddenly collapses... LA HIRE Oh shit! Jeanne... don't die! La Hire breaks off as Raymond arrives back with the Physician... AULON Quickly... do something! The Physician kneels beside her and listens for any sound of life. All the Captains crowd closer and closer, and as we too move closer, we hear the sound of deep breathing, almost a snore. PHYSICIAN She's sleeping. Like a baby. La Hire and the others sigh with relief. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DUSK Dunois surveys his army's attempt to storm the English battery. It is now dusk, and without Jeanne the battle has become a half-hearted affair. He turns to a trumpeter as Aulon comes running up... AULON Jeanne's alive! DUNOIS Good. AULON We have to press home the attack! DUNOIS (to the Trumpeter) Sound the retreat... AULON But I promised Jeanne we'd fight on! DUNOIS I made no such promise. Sound the retreat for the night! AULON But that was her order! DUNOIS I'm fed up with taking her orders. She swore she'd defeat the English before nightfall, instead of which she goes and plays the fool and gets herself nearly killed! Look at the mess we're in! That's her mess, not mine...! We're worse off then if she'd never come at all! (to the Trumpeter) ... now do as I say and Sound the Retreat! The Trumpeter obeys and signals the evening wrap. The English jeer and whistle from their impregnable battery as the French head back up the sloping sides of the moat. INT. ST. AUGUSTINE MONASTERY - DUSK Jeanne lies asleep inside the ruined church, guarded by her two page boys. A small fire burns nearby to keep her warm, but she is shivering... EXT. ORLEANS - JEANNE'S NIGHTMARE - NIGHT She suddenly awakes with a start, then gets up and goes to the fire. She kneels down... puts her hands in the flames... and scoops up a handful of ash. She paints her face with the black ash, like a native warrior, then stands back up, turning to face a small army... JEANNE My brave soldiers, do you believe in God? The Army cries out "Yeesssss!" JEANNE Then let God's punishment be done: Eye for eye... ... and a sudden FLASH of lightning transforms some of her men into skeletons... JEANNE ... tooth for tooth...! (another flash) ... burn for burn...! (another flash) ... life for a life! ... a final FLASH, and her whole army is now a seething swarm of SKELETONS. With a curdling cry of vengeance they race forward, passing either side of her... Jeanne turns to see the skeleton army heading across a bizarre bridge and onto the moonlit battery, flowing either side of the 8 year-old BOY she saw in the woods as a child. Intrigued, Jeanne follows him, but by the time she reaches him, the boy has disappeared. The skeletons have also vanished, to be replaced by an army of little English boys in man-sized armor, heading toward a distant figure. The boy-soldiers are being welcomed by the beautiful MAN Jeanne saw earlier. He smiles at her, extending his arms in a Christ-like gesture of embrace... As Jeanne approaches him, others turn to welcome her -- Aulon, Dunois, Alencon... finally La Hire, holding out his arms -- LA HIRE Jeanne, come here my friend, my soldier... in my arms! La Hire scoops her up into his bear-like arms and swings her round... suddenly, over his shoulder she spots a familiar figure: her dead sister. JEANNE Catherine?? She breaks from La Hire and runs to Catherine, throwing her arms around her and sobbing with joy... JEANNE Catherine... oh, Catherine -- I knew you wouldn't leave me...! They stand for a moment, embracing each other, while La Hire and the other Captains applaud Jeanne's victory. The beautiful young MAN approaches them, but we now see that he has a sword clasped behind his back... Catherine's face contorts in pain. She slumps forward, the sword in her back. Beyond her, the beautiful MAN has transformed into the grotesque Blackbeard, who roars with laughter as Jeanne holds her dying sister... CATHERINE Avenge me... avenge me...! A circle of fire forms around them, with skeleton soldiers dancing in the flames... Blackbeard's echoing laugh is gradually superimposed by real laughter and a familiar voice... REDBEARD (O.S.) Hey... Frenchies... what happened to your precious angel, huh? EXT. TOURELLES - FRENCH CAMP - DAWN All is quiet, the troops lie sleeping. Redbeard calls through the mist from the raised drawbridge spanning the dry moat linking the battery to the French camp -- REDBEARD Frenchies, you hear me? What happened to your little virgin? Jeanne is awake. She listens to Redbeard... REDBEARD I'll tell you what happened... we sent her back to Hell so she can go fuck with the Devil! Now Jeanne is caressing her horse while Redbeard taunts... REDBEARD What are you going to do, Frenchies? Why not come out and fight? Or are you too busy praying to bring your witch back from the dead? Do you hear me? Suddenly Jeanne emerges from the mist, riding her horse and brandishing her banner -- JEANNE I hear you! May God forgive your blasphemy... but I never can! She turns and disappears back into the mist. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAWN Redbeard blinks in amazement. He turns to another soldier -- REDBEARD Go and wake up Glasdale...! EXT. TOURELLES - FRENCH CAMP - DAWN Jeanne rides along the columns of sleeping soldiers... JEANNE Come on -- wake up -- sound trumpets and to horse! The dazed and sleepy French drag themselves from their straw beds. Dunois emerges from his tent, bleary and half-naked... DUNOIS What's going on? JEANNE We're taking back the Tourelles! INT. TOURELLES - TURRET ROOM - DAWN The Guard shakes Glasdale awake... GLASDALE What's happening? GUARD My lord... the French witch just came back from the dead. Glasdale hauls himself from his bed. EXT. TOURELLES - FRENCH CAMP - DAWN Jeanne supervises her men as they push a huge siege tower toward the dry moat. She rides over to Aulon... JEANNE Get all the men to horse and ready to follow... Aulon goes as Dunois hurries over... DUNOIS Jeanne, what are you doing with that... you've got it back to front... JEANNE I know what I'm doing, so either lend a hand or go back to bed! EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAWN Redbeard watches in bewilderment as the siege machine starts to materialize through the mist... REDBEARD What the hell she's playing at...? EXT. TOURELLES - TURRET - DAWN Glasdale is equally perplexed, gazing out from his garret window across the battery. An archer is by his side. GLASDALE Crazy bitch... she doesn't even know how to use it... EXT. TOURELLES - DRY MOAT/BATTERY - DAWN The French wheel the enormous siege tower toward a wooden lip above the dry moat. The drawbridge is firmly raised on the far side. Redbeard's complacent expression changes as he suddenly realizes what's about to happen... REDBEARD Oh shit... He backs away as the machine reaches the lip. Suddenly it topples forward, crashing down on top of the raised drawbridge and demolishing it beneath its enormous weight... EXT. TOURELLES - TURRET - DAWN From his elevated viewpoint, Glasdale watches in horror as Aulon leads the French cavalry across the siege machine bridge that now spans the dry moat, giving them access to the battery... GLASDALE Raise the drawbridge! The Archer passes Glasdale's order along -- a chain message that reaches the gate-keeper, who promptly starts to turn the winch... EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY As the French swarm onto the battery, Redbeard and his soldiers turn tail and race back toward the second drawbridge into the Tourelles... REDBEARD Wait for me! The bridge is already being winched up... Redbeard is the first to reach it... with a desperate leap he manages to grab the lip of the bridge and scramble over... EXT. TOURELLES - COURTYARD - DAY ... rolling down into the sanctuary of the Tourelles on the far side. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY His comrades are less fortunate, and are slaughtered by the advancing French. Jeanne urges her troops forward, her white banner billowing in the breeze, but with the drawbridge raised, there is no way for them to enter the Tourelles. The English hurl fresh insults -- and bombards -- from the battlements above, and the French are forced to take cover behind two ruined buildings on the battery. Jeanne rides across to a ruined barn where several carts are stacked with felled tree-trunks. She spots La Hire... JEANNE Prepare these as battering-rams! LA HIRE What's the use? The drawbridge is up! JEANNE Not for long... Under a hail of English arrows, Jeanne rides back across the open battery to a ruined house on the other side. She sees Aulon and dismounts... JEANNE The king said you're his finest archer...? AULON Well... JEANNE Come with me... INT. RUINED HOUSE - TOURELLES - DAY Jeanne leads Aulon through the ruined house to the far end, where a window overlooks the river-moat that separates the battery from the Tourelles. JEANNE You see those wooden beams...? Jeanne points to the two beams supporting the chains of the drawbridge further along... JEANNE I want you to set them on fire! INT. TOURELLES - TURRET - DAY Glasdale spots Jeanne running back across the battery. He summons his Archer, pointing her out... GLASDALE Kill her. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Jeanne leaves the ruined house and spots Gilles standing with Alencon. As she approaches, Gilles spots the archer in Glasdale's window far above, taking aim. JEANNE Gilles -- fetch the Dijon Culverins and place them over there... Jeanne turns her back -- the Archer fires -- Gilles holds up his shield -- the arrow strikes it -- and Jeanne turns back, unaware that he has just saved her life. JEANNE Clear? GILLES Perfectly. Gilles heads off, leaving Alencon looking left out. ALENCON And me... what can I do? JEANNE Um... round up the horses and keep them safe... ALENCON Good idea. Leaving Alencon to his task, Jeanne rides off... ... and THUMP! a flaming arrow lands in one of the drawbridge beams. EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY An English soldier peers down to see both beams ablaze... SOLDIER Fetch some water! The command is passed down the line -- a bucket is lowered into the river and hauled back up -- the bucket rushed up stone stairs to the soldier on the battlements... EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Meanwhile Jeanne returns to Dunois and La Hire -- JEANNE Stand by with the battering-rams... DUNOIS We need another ten minutes... JEANNE The bridge won't wait! LA HIRE Leave it to me... Back on the battlements, the bucket of water is passed up to the Soldier, who tries to pour it over the edge and onto the blazing beam. Aulon spots him from below and fires a flaming arrow -- it pierces the soldier, who pours the water on himself, extinguishing the flames... EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY TIGHT SHOTS: hands wind the handle of a bobbin -- a device is activated -- a lever thrown -- a grille slides sideways... EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY The beams collapse -- the support chains give way -- and the drawbridge comes crashing down. Beyond it is a portcullis, but to La Hire's exuberant volunteers this is no barrier. Carrying buckets of flaming oil, they charge forward... ... but as they race across the drawbridge, a sudden volley of high-velocity arrows discharge from the lower apertures of the portcullis, felling them before they even get halfway across the bridge. EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY The English cackle with delight at the sight of the dying French writhing in the flaming oil. Redbeard -- in charge of the multiple balista -- orders the device to be reloaded, then yells through the upper portcullis... REDBEARD Hey, what happened to the whore? Sorry... virgin! EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Dunois views the massacred soldiers lying on the bridge amid the dying flames. Jeanne is about to mount her horse... REDBEARD Send her over here and she won't stay a virgin for long! DUNOIS Jeanne, don't do it! Just stop and think for once! Don't you see? The gate's a trap... and he's the bait! Redbeard roars with laughter as Jeanne yells back -- JEANNE I take pity on your soul, Englishman! EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY Redbeard checks the reloading of the balista... REDBEARD What the matter? Frightened of a little English stuffing? EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Jeanne gently puts her arm around her horse's neck, whispering to it... JEANNE We must both be brave... She kisses it lightly, then grabs her banner from Louis, calling out to the others -- JEANNE When you see my banner touch the door, the fortress is ours! ... and away she rides, across the drawbridge, still piled with the slaughtered men from the first attack. REDBEARD ... and... fire!! Another volley of arrows discharges from the portcullis and Jeanne's horse collapses. The English cheer... INT. TOURELLES - TURRET - DAY From his garret window high above, Glasdale sees Jeanne spread-eagled next to her dead horse on the drawbridge below. He turns to his servant with a grin... GLASDALE This time she won't be back. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Aulon gapes in horror... but then suddenly Jeanne is back up on her feet again. Gripping her banner, she dashes forward toward the portcullis, implanting it just as Redbeard opens a little sliding grille -- Jeanne jabs her banner through -- EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY ... impaling Redbeard's skull on the far side! His body crumples to the ground, wedged between the base of the portcullis and the balista. EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Jeanne runs back across the drawbridge, crying out... JEANNE The place is ours! EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY Inside the Tourelles, the English try to operate the reloaded balista. But Redbeard's corpse is wedged so tightly that they can't move it... EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY Jeanne moves aside as La Hire and his men heave the carts laden with tree-trunk battering-rams across the bridge... INT. TOURELLES - TURRET - DAY Glasdale has seen enough... INT. TOURELLES - DAY ... He tears down into the courtyard, mustering soldiers as he goes -- GLASDALE To arms! To arms! With a triumphant battle-cry, the French charge their battering-ram into the portcullis... EXT. TOURELLES - COMPLEX - DAY ... demolishing it like matchwood, then storm inside the fortress. Glasdale cries out to his troops -- GLASDALE Soldiers... In the name of the king, I want you to kill these French dogs until there's none left! The English troops swarm either side of the broken portcullis, forcing most of the French back onto the battery... EXT. TOURELLES - BATTERY - DAY La Hire lets out a blood-curdling, primeval war-cry and charges forward to meet the English wave head on. Jeanne is caught in the middle, buffeted from side to side by a sea of heaving, sweating, bleeding bodies... In this melee it is impossible to know who is friend or foe, and the images become so blurred that we and Jeanne are soon lost in a mist of dust and noise... EXT. TOURELLES - DREAM - DAY FLASH: our eyes are momentarily blinded by the sun... and when we return, we find Jeanne in the middle of the battery, but now totally alone, weaving her sword through the air in SLOW MOTION as she once did with her stick... EXT. FIELD - DREAM - DAY/NIGHT FLASH: Jeanne is still weaving the air with her sword, but she is now a little girl of eight, playing in the field we first saw her in. The small BOY looks at her, smiling... FLASH: Jeanne continues to play, but is now 17, and the boy is now a young MAN, still smiling. He calls out to her. MAN Jeanne... what are you doing? JEANNE Playing... She sweeps her sword and decapitates a flower. Blood flows from the stalk... Jeanne looks at it, more in childish curiosity than astonishment or horror. She looks at the sword, the blade now streaked with blood... MAN Jeanne... what are you doing? Jeanne pauses, looks at him steadily... and suddenly notices that blood is trickling down his face. A SHAFT OF LIGHT blazes, wind billows... and suddenly it's winter, the trees naked, heavy with snow... MAN What have you done to me, Jeanne? Jeanne looks horrified. The Man puts his hands to her face, gazing deep into her eyes... MAN What have you done to me? JEANNE I -- I -- I... EXT. TOURELLES - COURTYARD - DAY Jeanne is screaming at Aulon, who is gripping her blood- splattered face as the Man did... AULON Jeanne, calm down, do you hear me? Are you alright? JEANNE Yes... AULON It's over, Jeanne. We won, just as you said! Jeanne looks about her in a daze. La Hire strides over, arms extended, extravagant as always -- LA HIRE Jeanne, come here my friend, my soldier... in my arms! Jeanne starts laughing -- she can't believe it... JEANNE We... won?! LA HIRE Won?! Such a small word will never do! This is victory, Jeanne, this is... glory! He scoops her up in his bear-like arms like an ebullient lover, both laughing in the moment. He slowly turns her around, breathing in a great lungful of air and savoring the smell of what Jeanne now sees over his shoulder: the entire courtyard, knee-deep in bodies and bits of bodies -- including the gallant Xaintrailles. Jeanne too can smell the reek of fresh, warm gore. Her laugh turns to a cry of anguish. La Hire sets her back down... LA HIRE Jeanne -- what's the matter?? Jeanne is utterly horrified... her legs tremble... amber liquid trickles down her armor... JEANNE You call this... glory...? All this... this blood... this smell of... LA HIRE ... the smell of victory, Jeanne! Mmmmmmm! I love it! JEANNE It's not possible... Jeanne sees a French soldier of meager wit, hauling a dying English soldier onto his knees for some obscure purpose. GILLES You look disappointed... Isn't this what you wanted? JEANNE No... not like this... GILLES For weeks you've been asking for this... well now you have it! The Soldier is about to smash the Englishman's mouth with a mace. Jeanne snaps out of her momentary stupor and races across, stumbling over the dead bodies... JEANNE Stop it! What are you doing? SOLDIER Nothing... just taking his teeth. JEANNE But you can't just kill a man for his teeth! SOLDIER Why not? He has good teeth... JEANNE Because... because you just can't! GILLES Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth... Jeanne ignores the laconic Gilles... SOLDIER Besides, what about these...? JEANNE That's different... I mean... we were fighting for a... for a cause! Gilles grins, but La Hire looks genuinely bemused at Jeanne's behavior. The soldier shrugs, unimpressed. SOLDIER Not me. He's my prisoner... I can take his teeth if I want to... He is about to smash the teeth... JEANNE No! She throws herself in front of the startled Frenchman. JEANNE Take mine instead -- here -- smash mine first! LA HIRE Jeanne... get up... this is ridiculous... JEANNE If you kill him, you kill me! GILLES Jeanne... let him do it. One more dead body's not going to make any difference, so who cares? JEANNE I care! And I care because God cares! All life is precious to God -- even his -- even yours and mine... LA HIRE Jeanne... the man hasn't been paid for six months -- that's his only reward. Let him take a few teeth... JEANNE A few teeth... that's the price of his life? SOLDIER Yeah... JEANNE Here -- take this instead. She wrenches a ring from her finger and flings it at the soldier. JEANNE He's mine now. Jeanne cuts the Englishman's bonds... JEANNE Now you... get out. The English soldier doesn't wait for further prompting. Gilles claps... GILLES Bravo! What about all the other hundreds of prisoners? Do we let them go too? JEANNE Maybe... I don't know... but first we have to confess... INT. AUGUSTINE MONASTERY - DAY Jeanne marches her blood-splattered captains into the church and up the aisle toward the rubble-strewn altar. She sees a terrified Franciscan PRIEST and grabs hold of him... JEANNE Please... we have to be confessed... all of us... now! I know it's not normal custom, but sometimes... you know... we have to make an exception and... and today is an exception... The Priest looks confounded. Jeanne turns to the Captains. JEANNE He's going to confess us. Kneel! All but La Hire kneel, although their armor is stiff at the joints. LA HIRE Jeanne, if you don't mind... I'll stay standing... this armor... it's a nightmare to get back up... JEANNE I said, kneel! Jeanne raises her sword and brings the flat blade whacking against the back of his legs. La Hire crumples, and Jeanne turns to the Priest... JEANNE Please... we're ready... begin! The Priest is totally lost... he begins to mumble a few words in Latin just as a soldier burst in -- SOLDIER (breathless) The English... they're forming up... thousands of them... on the far side of the river... The Captains look anxiously at Jeanne. She hesitates a moment, then gazes up at the battered crucifix on the altar and closes her eyes in prayer... EXT. NORTH PLATEAU - ORLEANS - DAWN Jeanne opens her eyes. It is dawn, and two silent armies are drawn up facing one another: four thousand Englishmen on the left, two thousand Frenchmen on the right. They have barely had time to recover from the Tourelles, and the lust for battle is gone. We sense that this is going to be a blood bath that nobody wants. Franciscan monks move among them, sprinkling them with holy water in final absolution. The battle lines are too far apart for the English to see any details, but the sight of massed soldiers kneeling before an invisible God is an awesome spectacle. Jeanne and the Captains are mounted, facing the English. DUNOIS Well...? Shall we go? JEANNE Not yet. DUNOIS The English won't wait. Jeanne hesitates... JEANNE I'll go. AULON Jeanne, no... But Dunois silences him, indicating to Gilles that he should accompany her. JEANNE Alone. Dunois is again obliged to comply, and Gilles hangs back. From the English lines, we see a small, solitary figure emerge from the massed ranks of French soldiers. Jeanne moves halfway between the two armies. The English soldiers watch her, mesmerized, while their captains remain motionless. In the middle of the field, Jeanne halts. From the French POV she looks dangerously vulnerable. The English commander -- TALBOT -- draws up alongside his Captains, watching her with grey eyes and an expression of stone. Only we see that Jeanne is crying. She rubs the tears away. JEANNE I have a message for your King Henry. It is a message from God. The English stand silent. JEANNE Go home... Go now, in peace. If you don't go now, you will be buried in this field. I've seen enough blood for today, but if you want more, I can't stop you. I can only warn you that it will be your blood, not ours. Talbot whispers something to one of his Captains. He withdraws to pass the message on. Jeanne -- and her French captains -- try to gauge the English mood. JEANNE I'm waiting for your answer. Now the English Captains start moving along their flanks. Something's about to happen. Dunois and the French watch in dismay as the English flanks move aside, exposing their dreaded archers. Jeanne closes her eyes, tears brimming. JEANNE Please, Lord... don't... don't let this happen... don't leave me... The English archers take a step back, their cavalry move slowly forward, then turn to their right, the men letting them through. Dunois turns to La Hire... DUNOIS Never wait for miracles. Stand by to attack... The serried ranks of English infantry close in, then halt. We're ready for the worst, and it takes Jeanne -- and us -- a full twenty seconds to realize what is happening: the English are leaving. First the cavalry, then the infantry, finally the archers themselves. Jeanne cannot believe her eyes. She burst out laughing and crying at the same time. The French captains gape in astonishment. Finally La Hire can contain himself no longer -- LA HIRE By God and all the saints... now that's what I call a bloody miracle! The French burst into jubilation... INT. CHINON CASTLE - DAY As the cheering builds, we see a Messenger race along a corridor and burst into the throne room. Charles slowly rises on hearing the joyous news, clapping his hands in delight -- not least at the discomfort of Tremoille and Regnault. But Yolande shares his enthusiasm, although we sense that the news comes as no great surprise. INT. ROUEN CASTLE - DAY The cheering continues as another Messenger races along a similar stone corridor and bursts in on the haggard Duke of BEDFORD. He is the English regent, and is in council with several others, including the Bishop of Beauvais -- one Pierre CAUCHON. As Bedford hears the news, the cheering FADES. He rises from his chair... BEDFORD I want that girl. I want her burned. EXT. STREET - RHEIMS - DAY The crowd goes wild as Jeanne rides through the streets of Rheims, carrying her banner in triumph. She is followed by Aulon and her two page boys, and is accompanied by soldiers who do their best to hold the ecstatic crowd at bay. At the far end of the street: a magnificent cathedral. INT. VESTRY - RHEIMS CATHEDRAL - DAY Backstage pandemonium as Charles is readied for his imminent coronation. A glamorous Gilles tries to help him into his ermine robe; Tremoille stands with Archbishop Regnault, adjusting his gold-trimmed cloak. An ancient BISHOP -- palsied and pushing 80 -- stands by, hands a-trembling. CHARLES It's too tight -- where's the seamstress? And that... (pointing to crown) ... that's meant to be a crown? Don't you have something more -- more regal? A young Priest is holding the dowdy crown... PRIEST The English took the real one... CHARLES I asked for a grandiose coronation, and this is what you give me? This whole thing's going to be a complete fiasco...! BISHOP Sire, we were only given three days to prepare -- three days! -- Why, your father's coronation took three months! Charles turns to Tremoille -- CHARLES He's probably right -- let's call a delay... TREMOILLE There's no time, sire -- we can't hold up the ceremony... there's no telling when the English might come back... they're only ten leagues away... CHARLES Let them come! Let them see who's the true king of France! Further away, Dunois is examining himself in a looking- glass. He is standing with Gilles de Rais, both resplendent in their armor, now cleaned and polished... DUNOIS It's been muddy for so long, I forgot how good it looked when cleaned up... LA HIRE Did you remember to clean up what's inside as well? Dunois ribs him with his elbow, both laughing. In another corner, Alencon is fast asleep. Charles is still grumbling... CHARLES Those damn English... we should be doing this in Paris... in Notre Dame -- much more prestigious -- and twice as big as this one! Yolande, who has been standing quietly in the shadows with Richmond, steps forward... YOLANDE It is the sacred place that matters, Charles -- not the size. Am I correct, Bishop? BISHOP Oh yes, my lady. All true kings of France must first be anointed in our great cathedral of Rheims... with the holy oil of Clovis... for it was within these very walls that Saint Remy received the sacred oil from Heaven, brought to him by a white dove for the anointing of King Clovis... TREMOILLE Yes, yes -- well let's just get on with it, shall we? GILLES ... before the English turn up and spoil everything. CHARLES They wouldn't dare! GILLES I wouldn't be so sure. It only takes one of them -- in disguise -- Gilles pulls a sharp dagger -- Charles looks petrified... GILLES ... with a good dagger... that's all it takes... Gilles lifts the dagger... and snips a loose thread from Charles's shoulder... GILLES ... to ruin the whole thing. Gilles sheaths his dagger, but Charles is now panicking. He glances at those around him as though one of them might be a spy. Gilles moves away, and Charles turns to his pages -- CHARLES Hurry up! Further away, the Bishop's assistant Canon hurries in, holding a small jar -- CANON Your Grace, there can be no anointing! BISHOP What in heaven's name are you talking about? CANON The holy oil of Clovis -- it's all gone! The ancient Archbishop can scarcely believe his ears. He peers inside the little jar just as Yolande arrives with Richmond... BISHOP Gone?? But that's impossible -- it's magic oil... I mean miraculous oil -- it can never be exhausted... CANON Look for yourself! The Canon offers it to the Bishop, but Yolande intervenes... YOLANDE Problem? He hands her the little jar... BISHOP I don't understand... the holy oil of Clovis... it was quite full the last time I saw it... YOLANDE And when was that? BISHOP Well... at the coronation of King Charles VI... YOLANDE Thirty years ago? I'm not surprised it's gone... BISHOP No no, you don't understand -- this is no ordinary oil -- this is miraculous... this oil was brought from heaven by a white dove to crown King Clovis in this... very... cathedral... Yolande has moved away, to be replaced by the hideously- scarred Richmond. The Bishop's voice trails as he sees Yolande beyond him, taking an oil lamp from the wall and pouring a little oil into the jar. BISHOP W-w-what are you doing?! YOLANDE Performing a miracle. Richmond curtails any protest with a toothy grin. There's a growing SOUND of excitement coming from beyond. Finally Jeanne appears in the doorway, carrying her banner and followed by her faithful page boys, Louis and Raymond. La Hire nudges Alencon awake as she passes, giving an admiring whistle. CHARLES Ah, Jeanne... come here...! This whole coronation idea of yours is a fiasco... nothing is ready... JEANNE ... You look wonderful... CHARLES ... and my crown doesn't fit and... (breaking off) Really?? She looks up and down, appraising him... JEANNE You look like a king. Charles melts. TRUMPETS SOUND from the great Cathedral beyond... INT. RHEIMS CATHEDRAL - DAY Two tiers of boys sing in plainsong as Charles enters through a small door and into the vastness of the crowded Cathedral. It is filled to capacity, with Jeanne's comrades-in-arms filling the front pews like eager fans, straining for a glimpse of her. Tremoille waddles behind Charles, with Regnault, Yolande and Richmond in tow. Next, the two page boys -- and then at last the main attraction as far as this congregation is concerned -- the crowd lets out an audible gasp as Jeanne enters in her white armor, carrying her proud, war-scarred banner and escorted by Jean d'Aulon. La Hire is so moved at the sight that he has to wipe away big soppy tears (for sentimentality was ever the flip-side of cruelty). Alencon and Dunois likewise gaze at their adored one, though Gilles is perhaps more taken with the cherubic choir boys... Jeanne trembles with emotion. This is the peak of her career, and she knows it, and she's making the most of it. As the little procession reaches the nave, all but Charles filter aside. He walks forward alone to where Archbishop Regnault is standing -- a few paces -- then stops, turns -- and holds out his hands to Jeanne. The crowd gasp with approval at the unprecedented gesture... La Hire briefly claps, before being dug in the ribs by Gilles... but the kingly act provokes jealous looks from Regnault and Tremoille... Jeanne hesitates, then is almost willed on by the crowd into joining Charles. She stands a little aside as he kneels. Regnault sprinkles the Holy Oil on his sovereign's head... REGNAULT With this sacred oil, blessed by the hand of God the Father Almighty, we do anoint thee Charles Valois... Regnault breaks off: there's a commotion at the back of the cathedral. Charles looks around -- anxious faces turn -- soldiers draw their swords -- is it the English?? Bored by the ceremony, young Louis has been kicking legs again, and one of the guards is nursing a bruised shin. With all eyes suddenly upon him, Louis flushes -- and is quickly taken in hand by Yolande. After the brief interruption, Regnault continues... REGNAULT ... we do anoint thee Charles Valois, Sovereign Lord and King of this great kingdom of France, charging that ye defend the faith of our Mother Holy Church so long as ye shall live... It could almost be the marriage ceremony. Jeanne watches in tears, trembling with emotion as the Archbishop takes the crown and holds it above Charles' head, then slowly, slowly lowers it... As he does so, an eerie SOUND, like a bullet in slow- motion coming straight at us... followed by a cry from Jeanne... EXT. PARIS WALLS - ST. DENIS - DAY Jeanne gasps -- sways... Torrential rain, sweeping across the grey, mud-filled moat in great curtains. She's standing on the bank above the moat, looking across at the massive city walls where ladders have been set up. Aulon catches up with her... AULON Jeanne...! Are you alright? JEANNE Yes. Yes, I'm fine... (yelling out) We need more brushwood! (to Aulon) Why are you staring at me like that? AULON Because there's an arrow in your leg. She looks down and there it is, poking out her leg: an arrow has penetrated her armor. JEANNE So there is... She hadn't realized -- and doesn't seem that bothered. JEANNE ... but that's no reason for you to stop. You can still climb a ladder, can't you? So go on then... climb! Aulon looks across at the endless ladders, disappearing into the mist and smoke at the top of the gigantic wall. Jeanne calls out to her page, Raymond -- JEANNE Raymond! Over here! Raymond hurries over... JEANNE Pull it out. Raymond looks terrified -- JEANNE Pull it out! Raymond grips the arrow while Jeanne gazes across at one of the ladders laden with Frenchmen. As he pulls it out, the ladder falls back, plunging the soldiers to their deaths. Jeanne gasps in pain... La Hire and Gilles are further along the bank... GILLES This is no good! LA HIRE No good? This is a disaster! Gilles stumbles along the bank to Jeanne... GILLES Jeanne... The men are exhausted! JEANNE I know, but so is the enemy -- they're falling back -- Paris is ours...! GILLES Jeanne... we're not enough... JEANNE So... bring up the reinforcements! GILLES Reinforcements? Where?? Jeanne waves vaguely behind her -- JEANNE Right behind us -- Dunois with another then thousand men! GILLES Jeanne, look behind you. JEANNE Never look behind -- only ahead! Gilles grips her by the shoulders, forcing her to turn and look behind. At most, a hundred bedraggled soldiers, limping amid the carnage in the moat. Jeanne stares at them. GILLES Do you know how to count? JEANNE Of course I do? Bring them up! GILLES Jeanne... that is not ten thousand reinforcements -- that is one hundred very loyal but very tired soldiers. JEANNE But... where is Dunois... where are the men the king promised me? GILLES He never sent them... Don't you understand? He doesn't want this war anymore... he has his crown now, that's all he ever wanted... JEANNE But my voices... they promised me... GILLES To hell with your voices -- it's time to face facts! We have nothing to do here... none of us... not even you. You should go home, Jeanne. Jeanne stares at them, in shock. JEANNE You don't believe me anymore? LA HIRE We still believe in you, Jeanne. If it were up to me, I'd chase every goddamn Englishman into the ocean. But it's not up to us anymore -- it's up to the king... Jeanne looks at him, suddenly furious -- INT. CHINON CASTLE - CORRIDORS - DAY -- Jeanne storms along a corridor, her two page boys doing their best to catch up with her... INT. CHINON CASTLE - CHAMBER - DAY She bursts in on Charles, who is cavorting in a bath-tub with a few frivolous females. CHARLES Well, this is an unexpected pleasure. Ladies, let me introduce you to the celebrated Jeanne... The damsels titter... JEANNE Get them out of here! CHARLES Now hold on -- you're not captain here... on the battlefield perhaps, but not in the royal bedchamber! JEANNE Why did you betray me? Paris was ours for the taking! All I needed was another few hundred men... Why did you take back the army you gave me? CHARLES Gave you? Well now, I wouldn't quite put it like that... JEANNE (bluntly) So how would you put it? CHARLES Well... we are, of course, enormously grateful for your past efforts, but your task is done. Now it's time for negotiation... and after many months of skillful work, our dear Tremoille is about to seal a treaty with our Burgundian friends who will no longer lend their support to the English. You see, my dear Jeanne... as it is written in the Bible, "to everything there is a season: a time for war, and a time for peace"... JEANNE Peace will only be got from the English at the end of a lance! CHARLES Why do you have to be so bloodthirsty? Do you enjoy it? All that blood and noise and pain? Diplomacy is far more civilized... far safer... and far cheaper... Jeanne angrily holds out a fistful of letters -- JEANNE I have letters here from towns under siege -- Compiegne, Provins, Melin -- where the people are starving, begging God on their knees to help them... and I'm here to answer their prayers -- and you want to stop me? France does not belong to you, Charles -- she belongs to God. And if you won't help me save her, I shall do it alone! Jeanne slings the letters in his face and marches out of the room. Charles turns to the girls with a weary sigh. CHARLES If only she would just go home. INT. CORRIDOR - CHINON - DAY Aulon reaches the door to a chapel to find it guarded by Louis and Raymond. RAYMOND You can't go in. AULON Get out...! INT. CHAPEL - CHINON - DAY Aulon enters to find Jeanne crumpled by the altar. He kneels beside her. AULON Jeanne... the king has ordered us not to ride with you anymore. JEANNE So... what am I supposed to do now? Aulon hesitates. AULON What do your voices say? Jeanne pauses... a long moment, whether or not to confide. Finally, and with a bleakness not sensed in her before... JEANNE They've abandoned me... like everyone. AULON What... what do you mean? JEANNE It's been weeks since they spoke to me. Since the coronation... no signs... nothing... AULON Maybe their silence is a sign...? Maybe it's a sign to go home? JEANNE It's not time yet. My mission is not over yet. There is still more I must do before I can really -- finally -- go home. AULON But how do you know that these -- these voices aren't really just -- well, you. Jeanne stares at him in bemusement -- then suddenly laughs... JEANNE Well of course they're me! That's how God talks to me. If you listen hard enough, even you can hear him. Everyone can hear him. AULON But I hear so many voices... one voice saying one thing, another voice saying the opposite -- love your enemy, kill your enemy -- what is good, what is evil...? JEANNE All you have to do is stop talking and just listen. AULON But how do you know what you hear is the truth? JEANNE I don't know it. I feel it. AULON You make it sound so simple... JEANNE The truth is always simple... it's you, Jean, who's making things complicated. AULON Me?! It's not me, it's God who makes everything complicated! If he's all-powerful, why not let the English stay on their island in the first place? And why let this war go on for a hundred years? And why send you out to fight when a girl like you should be at home with your family? Why, why?! JEANNE So... even you don't believe in me anymore... AULON Jeanne... I believe in you... more than anyone... Aulon's hand touches Jeanne's hair. He leans forward, as though being drawn by her eyes and mouth... AULON I... I just wish I could... I want to... to help you... The moment is a little too intense. They gaze at each other, then Jeanne suddenly pulls away... JEANNE If you really want to help me, there's one thing you can do. AULON Tell me... JEANNE Tell the king to give me more men. Jeanne goes, leaving Aulon alone, deliberating. EXT. CHINON - DAY Jeanne and her pages mount their horses and ride off... INT. CHAMBERS - CHINON - DAY Aulon walks through a small antechamber and is about to knock at a door when he pauses, hearing familiar voices. TREMOILLE (O.S.) We have to stop her, your majesty. If she raises her own army and attacks the Burgundians at Compiegne, all my months of painful negotiations will have been in vain! Aulon draws closer, shocked at what he hears... REGNAULT (O.S.) Tremoille is right. She behaves as though she were God! It's high time she found out who's really in command. INT. KING'S CHAMBERS - CHINON - DAY Regnault, Tremoille and Yolande coil about Charles like serpents. Charles looks at them all. CHARLES It's true. There's only one king... people need to be reminded of that. Nevertheless... Jeanne has done so much for us... YOLANDE I assure you, Charles, the Maiden has no greater admirer than myself. But whatever our personal feelings, we cannot allow her to conduct her own private war. For the sake of the kingdom, it is imperative that you stop her going to Compiegne... CHARLES I... I can't stop her. TREMOILLE Well if you don't, I'm sure the Burgundians will be happy to oblige. If they capture her at Compiegne... REGNAULT ... no one can blame us. CHARLES I... I don't know... it'll sound like we... betrayed her...? TREMOILLE Noooo! REGNAULT Good heavens no! TREMOILLE Never! YOLANDE Don't worry, Charles. If God is still with her, she will be victorious. We're not her judges... we're just spectators. Let her go to Compiegne, as you let her go to Orleans, and let God decide her fate. CHARLES But... her army's so small now... YOLANDE Then her faith will have to be bigger. Yolande gives Richmond a significant look. INT. CHAMBERS - CHINON - DAY Aulon can scarcely believe what he has heard! INT. AULON'S ROOM - CHINON CASTLE - DAY A table smashes against a stone wall... a chair splinters in fragments. Aulon is in a frenzy, smashing up furniture. EXT. CHINON CASTLE - DAY Aulon rides out from the castle... EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY Jeanne and her meager band of soldiers have paused for food. Aulon makes his way through the trees -- and finds Jeanne a little apart from the others, with her two page boys... AULON Jeanne... I need to speak to you. (pointedly) Alone. Jeanne glances at him a moment, then nods for Louis and Raymond to leave. JEANNE Did the king listen to you? Aulon blushes... clears his throat... AULON Jeanne, I... I love you, Jeanne. I love you and... I want to marry you. Jeanne is a little taken aback, but is genuinely touched. JEANNE That's not what I asked... Why do you want to marry me? AULON You listen to your voices, I listen to my heart. Jeanne looks at him a beat. JEANNE What did the king say? AULON He said that... he's making a treaty with the Duke of Burgundy and... JEANNE It's a trap! They're buying time till they can bring over more soldiers from England! AULON Did your voices tell you that? You told me you hadn't heard them for months... JEANNE No, but... AULON Or maybe it's Jeanne who's in a trap -- her own trap -- a downward spiral that she can't stop? JEANNE Did you come back to marry me or to insult me? AULON To marry you. A beat... then she looks away. JEANNE I will ask my voices... if they come back one day. Meanwhile... I'm going to Compiegne. AULON Jeanne... I have been hearing voices -- and believe me, those voices left me in no doubt that you must not go to Compiegne! She looks at him a moment, knowing that he speaks the truth. AULON Jeanne... I believe in you -- but can you believe in me for once? Don't go... even if you don't want to marry me. JEANNE I would like to marry you. But I have already promised myself... to God. AULON But... you've done so much for God as it is... can't you do something for yourself for once -- for Jeanne? JEANNE But it is what I want. AULON To be killed in battle? JEANNE If God wants me to win, he will find a way. And if he wants me to die... if he wants me back... then that's fine too. Then I'll be with him forever. She has a dreamy, faraway look -- one with which Aulon cannot compete. AULON Will you at least let me stay with you? JEANNE It would not be the same without you. EXT. COMPIEGNE - BATTLEFIELD - DAY SHARP CUT to a Man being felled by a cudgel. We are in the middle of the battle, and things are not going well for the French. The citizens and their MAYOR watch anxiously from the draw-bridge and the town walls. Nearby stands a familiar face: the battle-scarred Richmond. The Mayor and Richmond exchange a glance that chills... Jeanne is struggling to keep her banner aloft... then a cry from close by, and to her horror she sees Raymond collapse with an arrow in his breast. His faithful companion Louis races to his side, throwing his arms around him. Jeanne jumps down from her horse, but by the time she reaches him, his eyes are closed. Louis looks up at her, tears brimming. Aulon rides up alongside Jeanne... AULON We must sound the retreat! JEANNE Not yet! With the enemy bearing down, there's no time to pause... EXT. COMPIEGNE - WALLS & POV OF BATTLEFIELD - DAY From high on the town walls, the Mayor surveys the distant battle. Richmond is standing a short distance away. He gives him a sign. The Mayor turns to a Guard. MAYOR I can't risk the town's safety. Raise the drawbridge. EXT. COMPIEGNE - BATTLEFIELD - DAY As Jeanne rides back with Aulon, she spots Richmond beyond the drawbridge inside the town. There's a brief exchange between them, a locking of eyes. Jeanne turns to Aulon... JEANNE Get back inside the town and see if the English are attacking from the other side! AULON But... why... what's the point? JEANNE Do as I say! AULON I want to stay with you... JEANNE That's an order! Aulon looks almost shocked. He backs away, then turns his horse about and rides back across the drawbridge and into the town. Seconds later, the drawbridge begins to rise, and Jeanne is trapped. She tries to fight her way clear of the advancing English, but they encircle her. She lashes out with the flat of her sword, trying to keep their swords and lances at bay. The noose tightens -- her horse starts to panic... but strangely there's a smile on her face, as though she sees the end coming, this end that she so desires: to die on a battlefield in penance for the blood shed in her name. Suddenly a BOLT slices through BONE -- -- and Jeanne's horse collapses from under her. She rolls to the ground, springing back to her feet as the English close in. Again she flays the air with her sword, but it becomes heavier and heavier as her energy finally begins to drain. A huge iron ball smashes her sword in two -- now she has no weapon but her fists. Yet still she lashes out, like a fox cornered by hounds. Another blow -- she falls to the ground, her face gazing up. Her eyes soften, and again that smile -- Her POV: High above the dust and smoke and flame of battle -- a little patch of blue... EXT. FIELD - SUMMER - DAY ... and Jeanne falls into the field of her childhood. JEANNE My Lord... -- the sky brightens -- the SUN dazzles -- space/time dilates... with her arms wide open, Jeanne offers herself to the skies -- JEANNE Take me...! Nature starts to consume her, integrating her as a part of the whole... clouds, seasons and wind become one in an apocalyptic ballet... grass, flowers and roots consume her... the camera suddenly pulls back so fast and far that within seconds the earth has become a revolving sphere in the darkness of space... FLASH: the sphere now becomes a four-dimensional torus, a fluid, dynamic ring, evolving in and out of space... FLASH: the torus blinks, and the dark center becomes a BLUE EYE, the same diameter as Jeanne's. overwhelmed by this vision. A shadow of a MAN clutching a mace is reflected in the blueness... SHARP CUT to the Man as he slams her... WHAM! BLACK. Then a zillion stars evolve from the darkness, slowly rotating inversely toward a central point as though returning to the origin of space/time in one single dimensionless point of light -- which then suddenly EXPLODES... At the same moment a HUGE EYE blinks open -- the EYE of Jeanne... INT. COMPIEGNE - PRISON - NIGHT Jeanne's eyes search a darkness that gradually resolves into the grim, dank confines of a dungeon. She sits bolt upright, as though awakening from a nightmare. She is on a wooden bed, her face bruised and tumefied. A few inches away is a MAN, one side of his shaved head catching a sliver of light. He's laughing at her. MAN I can't believe it... your romantic vision of death, with all that grass growing everywhere... I must admit, you have a great imagination. Or maybe not great enough. Death is much more simple... FLASH: A dead body lying in the silent forest, a trickle of blood running from his mouth... MAN ... after a few months it gets more interesting... FLASH: Same shot, only now the body is wriggling... FLASH: The body is now reduced to skin and bones... MAN ... then -- after a year -- it finally becomes romantic... FLASH: The same spot in the forest, but now there is no sign of the body. Jeanne shakes her head... JEANNE Who... who are you...? MAN I am that I am. (beat) You don't like my face? (evidently not) Maybe you prefer this one... His face melts into the little boy, sitting on a throne in the middle of the wood. She gazes at him in bewilderment -- MAN Too young maybe? How about this one? The boy becomes the young man she saw in the forest. Jeanne is breathless. The Man is invading her most secret memories. MAN Better, no...? But incomplete. Suddenly his face is flooded with blood, like the image of the man she saw during the battle of Orleans... Jeanne SCREAMS, covering her face... JEANNE Get thee behind me. Satan! The Man smiles, unaffected by her outburst. MAN Who are you to even think you can know the difference between good and evil? Are you God? JEANNE No... no... I'm just a messenger... He needs me... a higher calling... Suddenly the man starts to bellow -- the walls tremble -- the bellow becomes a roar... clouds boil behind his head... MAN HOW CAN YOU BEGIN TO IMAGINE THAT GOD, THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE, COULD POSSIBLY NEED -- YOU? Jeanne can no longer stop her tears... JEANNE I don't know... I thought... MAN YOU THINK GOD ISN'T BIG ENOUGH TO DELIVER HIS OWN MESSAGES? JEANNE I don't know... please... tell me I'm dead... MAN WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE IF YOU SHOULD LIVE OR DIE? JEANNE I... don't know... what do you want from me? MAN Nothing. I'm here to set you free... The Man holds up his hand as though in judgment -- A hand slams across her face -- -- and she wakes up, nursing her hot cheek. In front of her: the rough English guard who just struck her. GUARD (angrily) I said, smile! You have visitors. The door opens, and a smart delegation arrives in her cell, led by a thin reed of a man, the Duke of BURGUNDY and his right-arm, DIJON. GUARD His Grace the Duke of Burgundy. Jeanne stares at him, confused... BURGUNDY So... here is the famous Jeanne... Savior of Orleans... terror of the English? You look pretty ordinary to me... JEANNE Am I... am I dead? BURGUNDY Dead you're worthless, darling. JEANNE Where... where am I? BURGUNDY Guess. She looks about her dismal confines... JEANNE My king will pay any ransom you ask. BURGUNDY Your king? Ah yes, of course... What's he going to pay me with? Cows? Chickens? I prefer gold, and the English have plenty. I wonder how much they'll pay... to have the Witch of Orleans in their clutches? Those English are so arrogant, they can't accept the idea of being defeated by a peasant girl... it has to have been the devil's work. JEANNE God defeated the English, not me. BURGUNDY And God who allowed you to be caught? Jeanne hadn't thought about that before. BURGUNDY Personally I don't believe in God, and I don't believe in the Devil either. That's why I'm never disappointed. (to Dijon) Sell her. INT. CHINON CASTLE - DAY Aulon goes to see the King in his chamber and hands him a heavy sack. Tremoille and Regnault are present, as always. AULON Here... to help pay Jeanne's ransom. All the Captains gave what they could, as well as the citizens of Orleans and the other towns she saved... CHARLES Very generous of you all. How much? AULON 10,000 gold crowns. From their expressions, this is clearly an enormous amount. CHARLES 10,000... that's a lot... but I fear not enough. But it will be my pleasure to make up the difference. (to Archbishop Regnault) Your Grace... I place you in charge of this... sensitive negotiation. INT. OFFICE - DUKE OF BURGUNDY'S CASTLE - DAY Burgundy's right-arm -- DIJON -- turns to his Assistant. DIJON They send a Bishop to negotiate? That's a good sign. Let him in. It is not Archbishop Regnault who enters, but another ecclesiastic swaddled in the rich robes of his office: the Bishop of Beauvais, one Pierre CAUCHON. CAUCHON Good day, sir. I trust my honorable Duke of Burgundy is feeling well? DIJON He's feeling wonderful. CAUCHON Thanks be to God. DIJON And your Duke? The Duke of Bedford? CAUCHON Not so well, I regret to say. This business with the Maiden... it's caused him endless grief and torment. That's why he's entrusted me with the task of... shall we say... DIJON Buying her? CAUCHON This word is -- regrettably appropriate for the situation. In fact what we -- the Church -- wish to do is determine whether or not this girl is sent by God, as she claims. You understand that we cannot allow just anybody to abuse God's name in this manner... DIJON I understand. How much? It is that other man of the cloth, Regnault, who answers. REGNAULT 5,000 gold crowns. DIJON That's not a lot. REGNAULT It is all his majesty can afford. He has even donated his very own personal savings. His majesty will greatly appreciate a gesture of good will in this delicate negotiation between our two families. DIJON I know... but the English want her very badly, and I have to tell you that they are proving much more generous. REGNAULT May I, without offending you, inquire how generous? DIJON 20,000 gold crowns. Regnault's rival cleric Cauchon looks aghast. CAUCHON 20,000?! But... I heard King Charles was... financially embarrassed. DIJON Don't look at the cost, look at what it brings. What is your last offer? REGNAULT 8,000. We can't raise more... We can only place ourselves at the mercy of your generosity. DIJON I must offer to the Duke. I will give you his answer tomorrow. INT. PRISON CELL - BEAUREVOIR - DAY A Burgundian Soldier shakes Jeanne to wake her up. SOLDIER Hey, wake up... get yourself ready... you're leaving! Jeanne opens her eyes as Cauchon enters her cell, dressed in ecclesiastical robes. He stands in front of her, flanked by two monks. At the sigh of the churchmen, she brightens. JEANNE Oh, thank you Lord! (to Cauchon) I'm so glad to see you! I need to confess... I haven't been confessed since Easter... or been to Mass... Will you hear me now? CAUCHON I will hear you... but not now, not here. JEANNE Who are you? CAUCHON Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais. As you were captured in my diocese, the duty of conducting the trial falls upon me. JEANNE Trial? What trial?? CAUCHON Your trial, Jeanne. On a charge of heresy. JEANNE But... the King -- my king -- didn't he pay my ransom? CAUCHON It seems that the English care more about you than the French. JEANNE The English?? CAUCHON Yes. They paid your ransom... tomorrow you will be transferred to their great castle at Rouen. The door slams shut, and she is left alone. Jeanne is utterly distraught. She looks round the bleak cell, then moves over to a small window... just wide enough for her to squeeze through. EXT. LEDGE - BEAUREVOIR - NIGHT Jeanne clambers out onto a narrow ledge, high above the frozen moat below. Only a fool -- or one bent on suicide -- would hazard such a leap. VOICE (O.S.) Need some help? The Man we saw after Compiegne is once again behind her. JEANNE What are you doing out here? MAN I might ask you the same question. JEANNE I... I'm leaving... I can't take anymore... MAN And what exactly is it that you can't take anymore of? JEANNE Everything! Prison -- humiliation -- being abandoned and betrayed by everyone -- I can't stand it anymore -- I'd rather die! MAN You'll be dead soon enough anyway, so why be in such a hurry? Why not face up to your lies? It's your lies you can't stand anymore... JEANNE I... I never lied! MAN If you were true to yourself... if your faith was firm, you wouldn't need to run away from yourself like this... JEANNE I am true -- to my Lord, the King of Heaven. He knows how much I love him -- that's all that matters to me... MAN How can you pretend that you love God when you're about to throw away the most precious thing he gave you? Life is a gift, you should know that by now Jeanne -- a gift from God. You know what He'd say to you, if He was here? "What are you doing to me, Jeanne?" Jeanne is lost, exhausted, numbed. She gazes into the void, contemplating the fall... JEANNE You're right... I shouldn't do that. The Man suddenly pushes her so that she nearly falls... MAN That's too easy. One minute you want to die, the next you want to live... (again pushes her) Do you think that life is a toy that can be played with and then broken when you don't want it anymore? JEANNE No, no... I'm just so tired, and lost, and... I didn't realize what I was doing! He pushes her again... MAN Oh? And just because you realize now, everybody else should forgive you?! JEANNE I don't know -- I don't care anymore -- I just want to be at peace! MAN Oh, so you don't want war anymore? You want to be at peace? You want to be able to change your mind anytime you feel like it and expect everyone to go along with it? JEANNE I don't understand. What do you want from me? MAN I told you already... I'm here to set you free... Again the Man pushes her! This time she loses her balance, and with a startled cry falls from the ledge -- plunging down, down -- and crashing into the frozen moat...! Two castle GUARDS on watch are alerted by the SOUND of splintering ice... Jeanne is drowning, barely able to cling to the broken ice around her. The first Guard to reach the moat tests the surface with his foot... GUARD #2 Don't try -- you'll fall through! The First Guard lies flat to spread his weight, then crawls toward Jeanne... GUARD #1 Good God, it's the prisoner! The Second Guard glances up at the tower ledge far above... GUARD #2 If she jumped from up there, she's dead for sure! forget it... The First Guard reaches the edge of the hole just as Jeanne disappears beneath the water. He plunges in his hand and grabs her hair, pulling her head back above the water... INT. CORRIDOR - CHINON CASTLE - DAWN Aulon races along castle corridors until he reaches a door, guarded by two burly Guards... GUARD The king is occupied...! AULON Out of my way! INT. THRONE ROOM - CHINON CASTLE - DAY Aulon bursts into the room to find Charles, Regnault and Tremoille in conversation... CHARLES My dear Aulon... (dismissing Guards) That's fine... AULON Jeanne's been badly injured! She jumped from the top of a tower into a frozen moat! Charles shivers at the thought. CHARLES It's a miracle she's not dead! AULON We have to do something before she tries it again! I beg of you, my lord, don't let her down... let me organize an escape... CHARLES Jean, it's... it's not so easy... AULON But not impossible... Gilles and La Hire are ready to risk everything to save her... CHARLES Jean... me dear, loyal Jean... why do you want to oppose the will of God? Jeanne wanted to go to Compiegne -- we let her -- she got caught. Then, on my personal orders, Regnault proposed 30,000 crowns for her ransom, and once again the answer was no. And now you say she tried to escape, and the answer is still no. Jean, open your eyes -- can't you see the hand of God in all this? AULON No. I see the hand of Tremoille, and Regnault, and Yolande, and you... and they are dirty hands. REGNAULT How can you speak such treachery when his majesty has done everything to try and save her? AULON Because I was at this door when you planned to betray her... and I was at Compiegne when she was betrayed. Charles, Tremoille and Regnault are speechless. Tremoille breaks the silence -- TREMOILLE Guards! Arrest this traitor! The Two Guards turn on Aulon, who readily dispatches them with his sword. Tremoille hides behind Charles just as Aulon pins the King with the tip of his sword against his windpipe. It would now be an easy matter for Tremoille to push Charles onto the tip of Aulon's sword. AULON What do you fear most now... my sword? (eyeing Tremoille) ... or his hands? CHARLES Tremoille... don't. Please... Tremoille hesitates a beat. Still holding the tip of his sword at Charles' throat, Aulon motions to Tremoille... AULON My sword is long enough for both of you. Sweating now, Tremoille eases himself from behind the King's back. Charles exhales with relief. AULON I have always been loyal and true to you, but my allegiance is now at an end. From now on, my loyalty belongs to Jeanne... ... and Aulon runs from the room, leaving Charles, Tremoille and Regnault in a state of shock. EXT. CHINON CASTLE - DAY Aulon gallops away from the castle... EXT. ROUEN CASTLE - DUSK The great castle of Rouen, vast and bleak, silhouetted against the dusk. INT. ROUEN CASTLE - CORRIDOR - DUSK A Guard leads a group of wealthy-looking visitors along a dank, dark corridor. GUARD ... so don't say I didn't warn you! Don't touch her whatever you do -- don't even stretch out your hand or she'll have one of your fingers off sooner than spit at you! WOMAN #1 As savage as that, is she? GUARD Savage? She's a monster! At Orleans they say she drank her victim's blood! WOMAN #2 Oh, it's too horrible! The woman's escort takes advantage of the situation... MALE Don't worry, my sweet -- I'll have my sword at the ready... They reach the door, and the Guard fumbles for the right key. The Duke of Bedford brings up the rear, escorting his wife Anne, who is visibly pregnant... DUCHESS Don't you think this visit is a little... inappropriate? BEDFORD My dear, it's our duty... she's our guest! The Guard unlocks the door, and the Group cautiously enter. INT. JEANNE'S CELL - ROUEN CASTLE - NIGHT The visitors glance about, but the cell appears empty -- until they look up. An iron cage is hanging from the middle of the ceiling. In the center of the cage is a body, dressed in rags and curled up like a wounded animal. BEDFORD Wake her up so we can see her face! The Guard takes his cudgel and pokes her through the bars. GUARD Hey, wake up... we got noble guests -- don't disappoint them -- turn round! He prods her in the ribs, and she turns to avoid further pain. Her face is swollen, her mouth parched, her eyes full of grief. The Duchess is stunned... GUARD Now she's sleepy but you wait and see -- any moment now and she'll start speaking to her devils, and then she'll get to yelping like a wolf in heat! The other night she made her cage spin round so fast we thought she was going to fly away! WOMAN Oooo... she gives me creeps... GUARD Do you want her to stand up so you can get a better look? DUCHESS No. But get her out of this cage and give her a decent bed. The Guard looks stunned. The Duchess turns to her husband. DUCHESS I'm sorry, but this child is being treated like an animal! Don't you think that whatever her crimes may be, she deserves a little more of our charity? BEDFORD (whispering lightly) She's not a child, my dear -- she's a witch. INT. COURTROOM - ROUEN - DAY Cauchon enters a large, gloomy courtroom and sits down, surrounded by clerics, assessors, doctors of theology and other churchmen. CAUCHON Let the prisoner be brought in. The door opens and Jeanne is led in, her wrists and ankles fettered, her face pale and drawn. She stands in the center of the room, isolated, alone. A scribe dips his quill in the ink and prepares to write on a blank sheet of parchment. CAUCHON Our most serene and Christian King Henry the Sixth, King of England and France, has handed this girl over to us, accused of a number of heretical deeds, to be tried in a matter of faith. Jeanne is hustled closer to Cauchon, who leans forward, peering at her intently. CAUCHON Take the Holy Gospels in your hand and swear to tell the whole truth concerning everything you will be asked. JEANNE I don't know what you're going to ask me questions about. You may ask things that I won't want to answer. Jeanne's boldness takes everyone somewhat by surprise. CAUCHON You will swear to tell the truth about whatever you are asked. JEANNE I will willingly swear to tell the truth about earthly things, but as for my revelations, I've never told anyone except my king... Charles the Seventh... the one and only king of France. There is murmured dissension among the judges. We now see that the Duke of Bedford is also in the room, together with a small coterie of English observers. Cauchon is impatient. CAUCHON You must take the oath! Not even a king, would refuse to take an oath to tell the truth in a matter of faith. JEANNE I will willingly swear to tell you what I am allowed to tell you, but as to the rest, even if you threaten to cut off my head, I still won't tell you. Cauchon looks confused -- and aware that his authority is slipping. The judges and theologians are getting agitated. CAUCHON So... begin by telling us your name -- assuming you're allowed to tell us that much? JEANNE My name is Jeanne. My little cross I had round my neck was taken away from me. I would like to have it back. The Duchess touches the gold cross she has around her neck. CAUCHON Show us a little more cooperation first. Where were you born? JEANNE In a village called Domremy. CAUCHON How old are you? CAUCHON Nineteen... or thereabouts... CAUCHON Were you baptized? JEANNE Yes. In the church at Domremy. CAUCHON Recite the Lord's Prayer. JEANNE Not unless you hear my confession. Cauchon is getting impatient. CAUCHON Jeanne, listen to me very carefully. We are all men of faith, and we shall earnestly strive for the salvation of both your soul and body as though it were our own. We do so in the name of our Holy Mother Church, who never closes her arms to those who would return to her. But we cannot help you unless you submit to our learned judgment and authority. Take heed of this charitable admonition, for if you persist in refusing our help, then we shall have no choice but to abandon you to the secular powers, and I think you know well enough the punishment that would await you. So now... will you please recite Our Lord's Prayer? JEANNE Not unless you hear my confession. The clerks and judges grow agitated, though we sense a few are already beginning to warm to her, not least the Duchess. CAUCHON Jeanne -- be careful -- you're not helping yourself by refusing to submit to our judgment... JEANNE And you be careful, you who claim to be my judges, for you too will be judged one day...! The court explodes in protest, with cries of "Blasphemy!" "She's possessed!" "An infected limb!" "Sorceress!" Cauchon hammers on the table to restore order, calling out -- CAUCHON Guards! Take the prisoner away! Clear the room! Armed Guards hustle the clerics from the room while Jeanne is led away, watched by the Duke and Duchess of Bedford... Bedford turns to his aide (Buck) -- BEDFORD I count on you to have it done. BUCK Uh... to have what done? BEDFORD I want her burned. BUCK As you say, sir. INT. ANTECHAMBER - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY The assessors look extremely uncomfortable, not least Pierre Cauchon, who does his best to conceal it. CAUCHON Well... in the future I think we should conduct our enquiries in private -- away from public pressure -- so we can all be more... level- headed... ASSESSOR #1 I think the church should wash its hands of this whole business. ASSESSOR #2 Let the English burn her if they want to... why does it have to involve us? Buck enters the room as an old Priest walks over... CAUCHON Because it's... it's our clear duty to root out heresy wherever it occurs. (to the Old Priest) Father Vincente... you are the most venerable among us, what do you think? OLD PRIEST I think this trial is a masquerade, and I won't be part of it anymore. I am willing to be her judge, but not her executioner. This young girl seems courageous and pious... she deserves to be well judged. The Old Priest walks toward the door... CAUCHON That's what I'm trying to ensure! OLD PRIEST The verdict comes at the end of a trial, Cauchon, not at the beginning. I am going back to Rome, to give me report to our Holy Father the Pope. CAUCHON This is ridiculous! Now I'm the one who's on trial and being judged?! OLD PRIEST Yes... exactly as Jeanne predicted. The Old Priest heads for the door, followed by the other two. Buck calls out to the Guards... BUCK Arrest them! CAUCHON What are you doing? This is an ecclesiastical court -- you have no right to do this! BUCK Rouen is in English territory. I have the right to do anything I like. (to guards) Take them away. Ignoring their protestations, the Guards hustle them away, leaving the others in a state of high anxiety. INT. CELL - ROUEN CASTLE - NIGHT Jeanne is in her cell, facing the wall and frantically scratching it with her nails. She is engraving a cross, and her nails are covered with blood... She is now kneeling in front of her cross, racing through The Lord's Prayer as though on the run from the Devil... JEANNE Our father who is in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come in earth as it is in heaven forgive them that lead... forgive us that lead them... as we forgive them that... oh God, don't cut yourself off from me like this... I don't know what I'm meant to say or not say anymore... I don't even know what to think... oh, God, I'm so lost... don't abandon me like everyone else... please, I beg of you... at least say you can hear me...! Tell me you hear me...! Why won't you answer me? Please, I beg of you -- ANSWER ME! Suddenly "the Man" comes out of the wall, kneeling in front of her and violently hitting his forehead against hers -- MAN Why were you yelling like that?! JEANNE What are you doing here? (urgently) Please... leave... you can't stay here... MAN Why? Are you waiting for someone else? JEANNE Yes! MAN Who? Jeanne hesitates... JEANNE My... visions... MAN They're going to come and visit you in here? JEANNE Yes... that's what I pray for...! MAN I want to see that. Do you mind if I stay... on the side? I won't bother you. JEANNE No, no -- you can't stay or they won't come! MAN Why not? JEANNE Because... I have to be alone! He smiles regretfully. MAN They won't come anyway. JEANNE What do you mean, they won't come? MAN Why would they? JEANNE Because! Because I've always been faithful to God, and I've followed everything he said... and I've done everything he asked me... MAN God asked you to do something? JEANNE Yes... lots of things! MAN You mean God said, "I need you, Jeanne?" JEANNE No, but... he sent me so many signs! MAN What signs? JEANNE Like... like the wind... and the clouds... and... the bells... and what about that sword lying in the field... that was a sign...! MAN No. That was a sword in a field. JEANNE But... it didn't just get there by itself. MAN True -- every event has an infinite number of causes -- but why pick one rather than another? There are many ways a sword might find itself in a field... FLASH: A group of soldiers on horseback trot across the field of Jeanne's childhood. The last soldier's sword is coming loose, and ends up falling into the long grass... MAN Seems a perfectly valid explanation... but how about this one... FLASH: Two young children are hurrying with the sword when an old man calls them from far away -- OLD MAN Hey, you little devils -- come back! The two children drop the sword in the long grass (in the same spot as before) and run off... MAN But then again, there are other possibilities... FLASH: A man is being chased across the field by a couple of English soldiers out looting. His heavy sword is slowing him down -- he flings it into the long grass... MAN ... or even faster... FLASH: The same man running across the field is suddenly hit by an arrow from nowhere. He drops the sword in the long grass, but manages to stagger off into the forest... MAN ... and that's without counting the inexplicable... FLASH: A man crosses the field. For no apparent reason whatsoever, he drops the sword and keeps on walking... MAN Yet from an infinite number of possibilities, you had to pick this one... FLASH: A peel of thunder -- clouds swirl -- a familiar wind stirs the long grass -- a fabulous shaft of light illuminates the patch -- the sword slowly descends from the heavens and lands gently in the grass. Mission accomplished, the shaft of heavenly light disappears. Jeanne is bewildered... MAN You didn't see what was, Jeanne. You saw what you wanted to see. ... speechless. INT. SMALL COURTROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY We are now in a smaller, more intimate courtroom. The Duchess of Bedford is at the back, shielded behind the theologians and doctors of the church. Beaupere is questioning Jeanne: a cooler man than Cauchon. BEAUPERE This... "voice" that you say appears to you... is it an angel? Or a saint? Or does it come from God? Jeanne is still in shock from her encounter with the Man. JEANNE I won't tell you more about that. I'm more afraid of displeasing Him than not answering you... BEAUPERE You're afraid of displeasing God when telling the truth?! JEANNE No... BEAUPERE Did God forbid you to tell the truth? JEANNE No. But my revelations were for the King of France, not for you. D'ESTIVET When you saw your king for the first time, was there an angel over his head? JEANNE If there was, I didn't see it... D'ESTIVET Then why did your king believe in you without any proof? JEANNE Go and ask him yourself. CAUCHON Jeanne, you are not helping yourself. If you don't answer our questions properly, your refusal will be taken into account. JEANNE These questions have nothing to do with your trial. CAUCHON I assure you they do. So... answer me... when was the last time you heard this voice? JEANNE Not long ago... CAUCHON When exactly? A day, a week -- when? JEANNE Last night. This takes the assessors by surprise. Cauchon leans forward. CAUCHON What were you doing when the voice came? JEANNE Praying. CAUCHON The voice was in your cell? JEANNE Yes. CAUCHON What did it tell you? JEANNE Many things... CAUCHON Did it give you advice? (Jeanne hesitates) Good advice? Jeanne hesitates... JEANNE Go onto the next question. BEAUPERE Good advice for the French, not for the English! Do you think God hates the English? JEANNE I don't know, but you're all men of the church... why not ask Him yourself? Cauchon tries to continue, but another theologian -- JEAN MIDI -- gets in first. JEAN MIDI Do you consider yourself to be in a state of grace? Jeanne looks perplexed... a beat... JEANNE Go on to the next question. Cauchon seizes his opportunity... CAUCHON Tell us, Jeanne... do you often hear this voice? JEANNE Yes... CAUCHON Is it here? Now? In this room? Jeanne slowly looks at the assessors, staring at each in turn. They all look acutely uneasy, holding there breath... JEANNE No. Relief from the assessors, but Buck is far from happy. INT. ANTECHAMBER - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY Buck paces in front of Cauchon and a dozen clerics. BUCK Who's running this trial, you or her? I can't believe it! This wretched girl -- how dare she speak to us like that? CAUCHON She's loyal to her king... it's only to be expected that she... Buck explodes with fury -- BUCK There is only one king of France and that's our liege Lord Henry the Sixth! It is written in black and white in the Treaty of Troyes -- that you French bastards signed! Buck presses a digit against Cauchon's sweaty forehead. CAUCHON I understand your impatience, but if you want this trial to be acknowledged as legal we must follow correct procedure and... BUCK To hell with procedure! We paid a bloody fortune for this slut, and we can do whatever the hell we like with her, whether the church likes it or not -- is that clear? CAUCHON But if this trial seems fixed, I fear you'll have the very opposite result to the one you want... BUCK We want her burned as a witch! CAUCHON But in order to do so, the church must first prove her heresy, or else you'll be burning a martyr... BUCK Well then? Start proving... or else the church will have another martyr! Buck storms out, slamming the door behind him. INT. SMALL COURTROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY Instruments of torture are brought into court by the Executioner, who lays them out with due ceremony. D'ESTIVET You told us about the appearance of this... voice. What exactly did you see? Part of it... or all of it? JEANNE His face. D'ESTIVET Does he have hair? JEANNE Yes. D'ESTIVET Is it long and hanging down? JEANNE I'm more interested in what he says, not what he looks like. D'ESTIVET But if the devil were to take on the physical appearance of a saint or an angel... or a man... how would you recognize him? By what he said? JEANNE Go on to the next question. D'ESTIVET That's enough! You will answer the question... or face the consequences! A beat... the Executioner readies... JEANNE If you were to tear me limb from limb and make my soul leave my body, I would tell you nothing more. And if I did say anything, then afterward I would simply say that you dragged it out of me by force. Now... please... go onto the next question. INT. SMALL COURTROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY CUT TO another session... JEAN LE MAISTRE Who told you to wear men's clothes? JEANNE The clothes are not important... JEAN LE MAISTRE You also cut your hair short like a man, and in the Bible it clearly states that it is an abomination for a woman to pretend to be a man! It proves your desire to deceive... JEANNE It was just... more convenient as I was among soldiers... JEAN LE MAISTRE So you think you did well to cut your hair and dress as a man? JEANNE I... submit to Our Lord. JEAN LE MAISTRE But will you also submit to the decision of the Church? JEANNE It seems to me that the Church and Our Lord are one and the same. Why must you complicate what is so simple? Jean Le Maistre looks at Cauchon for help. CAUCHON Let me clarify things for you, Jeanne. On the one hand there is the Church Triumphant, that is to say God, his saints, and the souls that are saved. And then there is the Church Militant, that is to say our Holy Father the Pope, the cardinals, the prelates of the Church, the clergy, and all good Catholic Christians. Moreover this Church, when assembled, is guided by the Holy Spirit and therefore cannot be in error. That is why we ask you to submit to the Church Militant... that is to say, us. JEANNE So it is the Church Militant that refuses to confess me, and so prevents me from being a good Christian? Cauchon bridles his temper. CAUCHON It is for us to determine whether you are a good Christian, not you. JEANNE I am sent by God, and I submit all my words and deeds to His judgment. Or do you think that you are better judges than He is? INT. SMALL COURTROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY ... and another session... MAITRE MAURICE When you were taken prisoner at Compiegne, did you have a horse? JEANNE Yes... a half-steed... white. MAITRE MAURICE Who gave you that horse? JEANNE My king. MAITRE MAURICE How many did he give you? JEANNE Five steeds and a few hackneys... MAITRE MAURICE As much as for a Lord? What an honor! Did your king give you other wealth apart from horses? JEANNE No. MAITRE MAURICE What about all those dresses you were given... silk dresses weren't they? JEANNE Yes, I was given a few, but I never had time to wear them... MAITRE MAURICE Still, pretty wealthy for a peasant girl wouldn't you say? JEANNE And you look pretty wealthy for a servant of God, wouldn't you say? Maitre Maurice looks uncomfortably about him. She's right. BEAUPERE Is it true that you launched an attack on Paris? JEANNE I tried to. BEAUPERE It was on a Sunday, wasn't it? JEANNE I don't remember. Maybe. BEAUPERE Do you think is was a good idea to launch an attack on a holy day? JEANNE I don't know... BEAUPERE And didn't you order the citizens of Paris to surrender the city in the name of the King of Heaven? JEANNE No... I said "Surrender in the name of the King of France"... BEAUPERE That is not what is written in the evidence... look for yourself! Beaupere thrusts a document in her face... JEANNE I can't read. BEAUPERE Ah, yes, I forgot... God sent us an illiterate peasant to carry out such an important mission! Do you think that God made the right decision, to take an ignorant girl to save the kingdom of France? JEANNE I leave the answer to God. Beaupere is exasperated. A sly-looking Theologian speaks up. JEAN MIDI Tell us, Jeanne... why did you jump from the tower at Beaurevoir? JEANNE I had been sold to the English. I'd rather die than fall into their hands. JEAN MIDI Did your voice tell you to jump? JEANNE No... JEAN MIDI So when you jumped, you wanted to kill yourself? JEANNE No...! JEAN MIDI How can you deny it when you just said "I'd rather die than fall into the hands of the English"...? JEANNE That's now what I meant... JEAN MIDI Do you not know that suicide is a very grievous sin? No one is allowed to destroy the life that God created! JEANNE I know, but that's not the way things happened... JEAN MIDI You mean it was not of your own free will that you were on the ledge? JEANNE Yes, but... JEAN MIDI And you didn't jump of your free will? JEANNE No! JEAN MIDI (making fun of her) Oh? Perhaps someone pushed you then? They laugh. Jeanne lowers her head. INT. SMALL COURTROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY Yet another weary session... BEAUPERE Do you have a sword? JEANNE Quite a few. BEAUPERE Didn't you also carry a banner? JEANNE Yes... BEAUPERE Which did you prefer, your banner or your sword? JEANNE I was forty times more fond of my banner than my sword. BEAUPERE And why was that? Did it have some particular value or power? JEANNE No, it's just... a sword is a weapon. BEAUPERE And? JEANNE And so I... I prefer my banner. BEAUPERE Why? JEANNE To avoid killing anyone. BEAUPERE Are you saying that if you had not been carrying your banner you'd have killed more people? Jeanne is losing her confidence... JEANNE No, of course not... I never killed anyone... BEAUPERE Then perhaps the temptation to kill would have been stronger... too strong perhaps...? JEANNE No! I warned the English to go back home -- I begged them not to force us to fight -- they knew the defeat I would bring on them... why didn't they listen to me? BEAUPERE We have numerous witnesses who can confirm that you were not always carrying your banner... JEANNE Yes, probably... maybe... BEAUPERE So sometimes you were carrying just your sword? JEANNE Yes, but... BEAUPERE Did you use the sword that you held in your hand? JEANNE No, I... I held it up to... BEAUPERE You held up your sword and flourished it about in the air? Like this? JEANNE Yes, maybe... I don't remember... BEAUPERE ... so you were in the middle of the battlefield, with your sword in your hand, waving it above your head... charging against the enemy, screaming and yelling... fighting for your life... and you want us to believe that in the middle of all this excitement you never killed anyone? JEANNE No, I... I never killed anyone! MAN (O.S.) I can't believe you can lie like that! INT. JEANNE'S CELL - ROUEN CASTLE - NIGHT Jeanne's fetter is once again attached to her chain, and she's walking in circles, trying to escape "the Man"... JEANNE I'm not lying, I... I can't remember... leave me alone! MAN Oh? You can't remember? Let me help your memory... FLASH: an Englishman is skewed during the battle of Orleans... JEANNE No! I don't want to know anymore! Leave me alone! I didn't kill that man! MAN Oh no? How about this one? FLASH: another English soldier is killed... MAN Or this one? FLASH: ... and another... JEANNE Stop, stop... I can't remember! The battles were all so confusing... there was so much smoke, dust, noise... I was being attacked on all sides, so... maybe... perhaps I fought back but it was only to defend myself... MAN So your memory's coming back? JEANNE Yes... yes! And now you tell me why God let all these battles happen in the first place... if he's so powerful... he said he's "the creator of heaven and earth, the source of all life..." he could have easily stopped all this blood and misery? Why didn't he? MAN Is he the one who spread all this blood and misery? JEANNE No, but... why didn't he stop it? Or did he get pleasure, watching us killing each other in his name? MAN In His name?? JEANNE Yes! We fought and killed in His name... the King of Heaven! MAN Really? FLASH: Jeanne is seated in her saddle before Orleans, raising her standard with the cry -- JEANNE Let all who love me follow me! Back in Jeanne's cell: MAN "Let all who love me follow me"... Where does God get mentioned? (Jeanne is cornered) Come on Jeanne, be honest. You fought for yourself, in your name. JEANNE I... I was defending myself as best I could! Everyone has the right to defend themselves, don't they? Or should I have let myself be killed? MAN No, no, you did fine. I'd even say well done. Besides, most of the ones you killed probably deserved it, don't you think? JEANNE No, I do not think so. I don't think that killing each other will ever bring peace. MAN I agree... FLASHBACK: Jeanne telling Charles -- JEANNE Peace will only be got from the English at the end of a lance! The Man looks at Jeanne, who is becoming unnerved... MAN I don't agree. Why do you have to keep changing your mind all the time? JEANNE Why are you doing this to me?? Do you get pleasure from hurting me? MAN Ah, pleasure... that's a difficult word to define. When does the pain end and the pleasure begin...? When did your pleasure begin with that sword in your hand...? JEANNE I never took pleasure in hurting anyone? MAN Really? FLASH: In EXTREME SLOW MOTION, Jeanne's face contorts -- a look of madness as she sweeps a sword across the SCREEN... JEANNE Nnnnooooooooo! Jeanne covers her face with her hands, sobbing in despair. JEANNE Help me... please... set me free! The Man seems genuinely compassionate... MAN You will be, Jeanne. You will be. INT. HALLWAY - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY A hooded Priest moves along the hallway, stopping in front of the Guard. He shows him his "pass" -- a heavy seal. The Priest is Aulon in disguise. The Guard looks at the seal... AULON I'm replacing Father Demaury. He's become very sick... GUARD It's amazing how many people have become suddenly very sick since the beginning of this trial... it must be this witch casting spells on them. Burn her! No doubt Aulon would like to stab the Guard right there, but thinks better of it... AULON I'll do my best. Aulon enters the court room... INT. COURTROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY -- and sits on a bench, doing his best to look inconspicuous. He guardedly glances at Jeanne who seems to be asleep on her feet. Beaupere is whispering to Cauchon, document in hand. Beaupere beckons to the Guard... BEAUPERE Wake her up. The Guard pokes Jeanne in the ribs. She seems almost used to this kind of treatment, but is weaker. Aulon seethes with impotent rage, hidden behind his hood. JEAN MIDI So... let us summarize your situation. You refuse to submit to the authority of the church militant by taking an oath; you made an assault on Paris on a Sunday; you hurled yourself down from the tower at Beaurevoir, and you persist in wearing male dress... I ask you again: do you believe that you are in a state of grace? Jeanne takes a deep breath... JEANNE If I am not, may God bring me there. If I am, may He keep me there. The admiration of the assessors is almost tangible. INT. ANTECHAMBER - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY Buck sweeps everything off the table in a fit of anger. Alone with him, Cauchon looks troubled. CAUCHON Calm down, my lord, I beg you! BUCK How can I calm down when I'm made the laughing-stock of the whole court?! I've had enough! CAUCHON Be patient, my lord... you've seen how it is. This girl has a way with people... but everyday we're making progress... BUCK So long as this bitch remains alive, our armies refuse to fight! Don't you understand? They want proof that God is on their side... and the only way they're going to believe that is when they see her being burnt as a witch! Buck takes a mug and pours himself some wine, but the carafe is empty... CAUCHON It is not for us to burn her, my lord. That is your prerogative. BUCK ... and your prerogative is to find her guilty... CAUCHON But we can't do that unless she admits to blasphemy... BUCK Well what are you waiting for? You've got a castle full of racks and ropes and pulleys: go and torture the bitch! Cauchon takes out his own personal hip-flask, his hand visibly trembling as he pours Buck some liquor. CAUCHON You won't be able to drag anything from her that way. You also must realize that many of my colleagues are... well, scared... BUCK Scared of a girl? CAUCHON Scared to make a mistake. Supposing she's right... supposing she really has been sent by God?? Buck narrows his eyes. BUCK Whose side are you on, Cauchon? CAUCHON I'm on the side of our Mother Holy Church. Besides, a confession under torture will never convince anyone of her guilt. BUCK Well find some other way! Be creative. Tell them she fucks the devil... Hmm, not a bad idea... why can't you say that? Sounds good to me... and who can prove she doesn't? Buck drains the liquor. CAUCHON One small problem, my lord. The girl is a virgin. Buck has a horrible glint in his eye. BUCK That is a very small problem. INT./ EXT. JEANNE'S CELL/COURTYARD - ROUEN - DAY Jeanne is smoothing food into the cross she scratched into the wall. She does it with great care, as though painting. The Man appears in the background, watching her. MAN What are you doing? Jeanne is delighted and relieved to see him... JEANNE I -- I cleaned up my room, look... and I said my prayers... all of them... and... MAN What are you doing on the wall? JEANNE I'm trying to make my cross look more beautiful... MAN What for? JEANNE Because... because I don't know what else to do to please him. MAN Do you think this cross will protect you? JEANNE No, I... Jeanne looks helpless. The Man smiles, turns and looks out of the window... MAN Look at them... with their beautiful cross... Far below in the courtyard, a Priest is blessing a dozen soldiers and their wooden cross. MAN ... The sight of priests blessing entire armies before they go off to kill each other never ceases to amaze me. And that these massacres should be recorded as acts of faith in God's name... (no reaction from Jeanne) And they think that making a beautiful cross or building a cathedral will wash away their sins... ridiculous! Just like that priest who accused you of fighting on a Sunday. Did God give permission to kill each other for the rest of the week? In the courtyard, the soldiers mount their horses... JEANNE "Love your enemies"... MAN (a satisfied smile) Good. But "love your enemies"... body and soul. Jeanne nods, knowing the truth but still not prepared to admit it. JEANNE My voices... my voices... do you think they will ever come back? MAN I don't think so. JEANNE Are you going to leave me too? MAN Yes... of course... when you don't need me anymore. JEANNE Are you sent by God? FLASH: to Jeanne at Orleans... WOMAN But you've been sent by God! JEANNE So has everyone... Back to the Man: MAN So has everyone... Jeanne looks at him -- then at her cross -- then back at the soldiers in the courtyard below. With a lusty cry, they set off at a gallop, blessed and ready for battle... JEANNE There's nothing for me to do here anymore... I don't belong here I want to be with Him now... MAN Do you think you are ready? Jeanne stands up... comes and kneels before him, kissing his hands. JEANNE Yes I am. MAN Are you willing to follow all His commandments? JEANNE Yes... MAN ... to love your enemy as much as you love yourself? Jeanne hesitates a moment -- a short amount of time, but enough for a lie to slip in... JEANNE Yes. I'm ready now. The Man smiles. MAN Let's see. She hears approaching footsteps... the SOUND of keys jangling... a lock turns -- -- and the three SOLDIERS walk into the room. The first one has a familiar black beard. BLACKBEARD Now that's what I call booty! He is none other than her sister's rapist and murderer. Jeanne reacts in terror... JEANNE Oh no... BLACKBEARD (undoing his belt) We thought you must be pretty bored in here, so we've come to liven you up a bit... right, lads? JEANNE Please -- don't do it -- don't hurt me -- BLACKBEARD Of course not, sweetheart... if you promise to do as I say... Blackbeard caresses her cheek and tries to force her legs apart, but she resists -- whispers imploringly... JEANNE Where are you? Don't leave me... please... BLACKBEARD Hey, come on... open up...! His two comrades egg him on. Jeanne struggles even harder, and Blackbeard suddenly becomes violent. He grabs her by the throat, thrusts her against the bed and tears off her clothes. Jeanne suddenly goes berserk, yelling and thrashing like a cornered animal. BLACKBEARD Stop screaming like that! You'll wake up the whole bleedin' castle! Blackbeard clamps his hand over her mouth, whereupon Jeanne summons hidden reserves of strength, and in a sudden surge manages to clamp her chains around Blackbeard's neck... she presses down on the chains, choking him, strangling him...! The two other soldiers come to Blackbeard's rescue and manage to haul her off. Blackbeard gropes his throat, then belts her across the face... BLACKBEARD Ah, so you want to play it rough? Good... I like it better that way! He pulls out a knife and starts to tear at her clothes while the two others hold her down. Jeanne struggles for her life -- yelling, spitting, biting, scratching -- Blackbeard is too excited to pay any attention. Nor does he notice the door open and the Duchess enter with the Guard. DUCHESS Stop that at once! That's an order! But to Blackbeard, it could be Jeanne speaking. The Duchess, in her nightgown, grabs Blackbeard by the shoulders... DUCHESS I command you to stop, in the name of the King! The mention of the King jolts Blackbeard to attention... DUCHESS Leave her alone, do you hear? Come on, get out! The three soldiers back sheepishly away... BLACKBEARD We were just having a little fun, that's all, keeping her company. DUCHESS Men like you are the cause of our country's dishonor! BLACKBEARD We were serving our country... just obeying orders, ma'am... The Duchess doesn't want to hear more... DUCHESS Go on, get out of here! The Guards hustle the three soldiers from the room, but not before Blackbeard has mumbled -- BLACKBEARD See you later, angel. The soldiers leave and the Guard bolts the door behind them. Jeanne curls up on her bed, destroyed, humiliated, lost. The Duchess caresses her face and doesn't know what to do to comfort her. The Guard brings a blanket -- probably his. JEANNE Thank you... She wraps the blanket round Jeanne, and presses the little cross back in her hand. DUCHESS This won't happen again, I give you my word. INT. ROOM - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY The Duchess storms into a room where Cauchon is talking with Bedford and Buck. She walks up to him... BEDFORD And... What a pleasant surprise... ... and slaps him across the face as he has never been slapped before. DUCHESS You should know that each humiliation you inflict on this woman, you inflict on all women, including yours my lord. BEDFORD Wha... what on earth are you talking about? DUCHESS If you send anymore of your soldiers to Jeanne's cell... I will kill them myself. The Duchess turns and sweeps past Cauchon, leaving Bedford staring at Buck who looks decidedly embarrassed. Bedford turns to Cauchon... BEDFORD I'm giving you one more day. Then he turns and leaves. EXT. CEMETERY OF ST. OUEN - DAY A masked Executioner stands beside a stake, piled high with faggots. Jeanne, her hands bound, stands nearby, facing a podium filled with the usual assembly of priests and prelates, headed by Cauchon. He rises to address Jeanne. CAUCHON Jeanne, my very dear friend in Christ, we, your judges and assessors, desirous of reaching a true and lawful verdict, submitted a transcript of your trial to the University of Paris in order to obtain their opinion. After careful consideration, the learned scholars have concluded with us that you have committed many grievous sins, and I ask you to listen most carefully to their opinion as contained in these articles. Cauchon hands a manuscript to one of the assessors, Canon Pierre Maurice, then resumes his seat. Among the monks we spot Aulon, who slowly tries to make his way toward Jeanne. MAURICE Article One. You have said that from an early age you have had revelations from the blessed saints and angels, that you have seen them with your own eyes, and that they speak to you. As to this article, the learned scholars have declared that these claims are untrue, pernicious and evil, and that all such revelations are superstitious, and proceed from the devil. The Duke of Bedford and his English peers are in a separate stand, guarded by English soldiers. The cemetery walls and the branches of trees beyond are crowded with spectators... The English are impatient to carry out sentence, but Maurice is not a man to be intimidated. Jeanne seems hardly aware of what is being said... MAURICE Article Two. You said that by God's command you have continually worn men's clothes, and that you have also worn your hair short, without nothing... From Jeanne's POV, Maurice's drone FADES, and the crowd seems to disappear. She whispers in agony... JEANNE My lord... don't abandon me... where are you? Is this what you want? You want me to burn? To burn without being confessed...? I'll do anything you want... but don't leave me... Jeanne is completely alone in the middle of the cemetery. Only the graves, the stakes, and the moaning wind... JEANNE Don't leave me here... please... don't leave me alone! Suddenly the crowd is back, with Maurice droning on. MAURICE Finally, Article Twelve. You have said that you are not willing to submit yourself to the judgment of the Church Militant, but only to God. As to this Article, the scholars say that you have no comprehension of the authority of the Church, that you have perniciously erred in the faith of God, and that you are a child of superstition, a wanderer from the Faith, an invoker of demons, a sorceress, an idolater and a heretic! Maurice resumes his seat while Chatillon approaches Jeanne. CHATILLON Jeanne, we once again admonish, beg and exhort you to cast out and recant your erroneous beliefs, and return into the way of truth by submitting yourself to the authority of our Mother Holy Church by signing this recantation. Jeanne looks at the parchment in confusion... JEANNE If the church wants me to say that my visions are evil, then I don't believe in this church and I submit myself to the judgment of God! Chatillon throws up his hands in despair. Bedford is brimming with anticipation. He calls out to the Executioner: BEDFORD Perform your office! The Executioner turns to Jeanne, but before he can take hold of her, Cauchon strides over -- CAUCHON Wait! Cauchon grabs the document from Chatillon and holds it up to Jeanne... CAUCHON Jeanne, I beg of you... sign! (Jeanne looks dazed) In God's name, don't you understand? I'm trying to save you! If you don't sign, the English will burn you to death! Is that what you want?? JEANNE No... I want to be confessed. Cauchon hands her a quill. The English are getting agitated, heckling Cauchon to hand her over, but the spectators in the trees and on the wall are urging her escape the pyre by signing. Jeanne begins to waver... CAUCHON Sign this, and I will confess you myself if you want. JEANNE And may I go to Mass? CAUCHON As often as you like -- now, please -- for the love of God -- sign!! Again Jeanne looks about for the Man... but sees only the Executioner, waiting to conduct her to the stake. CAUCHON Sign, and you'll be free from your chains... free from the fire, Jeanne... now... sign! The Crowd begins to chant... Sign, sign, sign! Aulon, who has managed to get closer, joins them... AULON Sign, Jeanne -- sign! Bedford is in a panic as Jeanne takes the quill and makes her mark -- a wavering cross at the bottom of the parchment. The Crowd cheers, Aulon is ecstatic... but their voices go silent as the Man once again appears from behind Cauchon. MAN You know what you just signed, Jeanne? You just signed away my existence... For you I'm a lie, an illusion. (Jeanne is horrified) You see? In the end, you were the one who abandoned me... JEANNE No... ... the Man a smile of faint regret and disappears. Jeanne turns to Cauchon... JEANNE Please... may I have it back... CAUCHON You have nothing to regret... She tries to grab it from Cauchon, but soldiers pinion her. JEANNE I didn't mean it! I didn't know what I was signing! You tricked me...! CAUCHON Silence her! (soldier clamps hand over her mouth) Take her away...! The Soldiers hustle her away as Cauchon walks back to the podium. Aulon is relieved, and yet strangely apprehensive. Cauchon hands the Duke the document signed by Jeanne. CAUCHON There... she has recanted, and we accept her repentance, for the church never closes her arms to those who return to the fold. She's yours to do whatever you want with her, but the church has nothing to do with it anymore. She's your prisoner -- your martyr -- not ours. Bedford can't answer as the Duchess is next to him. INT. DUNGEON - ROUEN CASTLE - NIGHT Jeanne is flung into a filthy dungeon. Buck appears in the doorway and flings male clothes in her face. BUCK Here... in case you want to get dressed -- try these for size! JEANNE He promised I'd be confessed... and go to Mass... and be free from these chains...! BUCK We never promised you anything! But this much I can promise you... that you won't be leaving this dungeon till the day you die! The Guards laugh, slamming and bolting the door behind her. Jeanne sinks to her knees in grief and anguish... EXT. ROUEN CASTLE - DAWN Dawn is breaking beyond the distant castle... INT. CHURCH - DAY Cauchon is alone, lost in his thoughts. A young monk runs in, out of breath... MONK My lord Bishop... come quickly...! EXT. COURTYARD - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY Cauchon and the Monk hurry across the castle courtyard. Aulon sees them pass, anxious at their apparent concern... INT. DUNGEON - ROUEN CASTLE - DAY Cauchon arrives in Jeanne's dungeon, out of breath. It is full of people: Bedford, his Aide, priests and soldiers. BEDFORD Ah, Cauchon... come to see for yourself? Well, take a look. Beyond them stands Jeanne, her back to us, dressed as a man. BEDFORD You see? Dressed as a man again! Her touching repentance didn't last very long, did it. The Bishop of Senlis was passing by and was on hand to witness her very evident relapse. CAUCHON And by what miracle did these clothes find their way in here? BEDFORD Not a miracle, my dear Cauchon... an evil spell! This girl is a witch, and tomorrow she will burn for it! (to Buck) Have the stake prepared in the market place...! Jeanne doesn't say a word. She stands with her back to us, gazing up at the dim crack of light bleeding in through the high window-slit. Bedford exits with the others, leaving Cauchon alone with Jeanne. CAUCHON I don't understand, Jeanne... why did you do it? Why? JEANNE And you? Why did you lie? You promised I could be confessed... CAUCHON I know, Jeanne... it was the only way to save you from the fire! JEANNE It's not my body I want to save. It's my soul. Jeanne turns round, and we see that she is strangely calm, as though a great weight had been lifted from her. She kneels before Cauchon... JEANNE I ask only one thing... to hear me in confession... CAUCHON I -- I can't Jeanne... I can't hear your confession... I'm sorry... He hurries out of the cell. A Guard locks the door behind him, and Jeanne is alone. But not for long. The Man materializes and sits next to her... MAN Do you really want to confess, Jeanne? (Jeanne nods) I'm listening. He turns his back, as the Priest did in the confessional. JEANNE I have committed sins, my Lord -- so many sins. As a child, the only way I could help my people was to pray. So I prayed to God and his saints. I prayed more and more, and gave God all my love... but isn't it said that God helps them who help themselves? So I helped myself... and I saw signs... the ones I wanted to see -- and I fought, out of revenge and despair. Yes, I was proud -- stubborn -- selfish -- and cruel... I was all the things that humans believe they are allowed to be when they're fighting for a cause. The Man smiles a little, satisfied sigh. MAN You think you are ready now? JEANNE Yes, my lord. MAN Let's see. As he disappears, she hears a noise... turns round and sees a Guard in the doorway... A beat, then the Guard topples forward to the floor, blood oozing from his mouth. Behind him stands a Priest. He pulls a sword from the Guard's body, then throws back his hood. It is Aulon. He runs to Jeanne and takes her in his arms... AULON Jeanne... thank God! He quickly sets about removing her chains from her ankle... AULON We must hurry -- I took care of the guard, but others are coming...! Jeanne gently caresses his hand... JEANNE I am ready now... AULON Just give me a moment and then you'll be free... JEANNE I'm already free... AULON (preoccupied) Yes yes... any moment... you're always so impatient... Jeanne puts her hand on his to stop him wasting his time. JEANNE My gentle Captain... I'm staying. AULON I -- I don't understand... JEANNE One day you will. AULON You don't know what you're saying. You're going to leave this place, Jeanne -- you're going home -- or whatever you want -- you're going to be happy, and have children, and... She caresses his face with both hands, smiling at him gently. Aulon continues to talk, but his eyes are beginning to brim with tears... he knows it's useless, that Jeanne has made her decision... AULON ... and maybe the king will give you some money, and a little land, and a title even... (smiling through his tears) ... wouldn't that be a fine thing? You, a lady of title! JEANNE I'm staying, Jean. AULON No, you must come, Jeanne -- we need you -- so much has happened since you left... I have a new horse now, a white one, just like yours... and La Hire hardly swears at all anymore... (crying) You can't stay -- they'll burn you! JEANNE I'm not afraid of the fire anymore. It will purify me... AULON Jeanne, you can't leave us like this! Jeanne smiles at him... JEANNE I am at peace now, my gentle friend... at peace with myself. She speaks gently, but with resolution: there is no going back, and Aulon knows it. He hears the distant SOUND of soldiers approaching... Aulon takes Jeanne's face in his hands and kisses her on the lips. A full kiss, the only one and the last one, one which Jeanne neither encourages nor resists. JEANNE You must go. She says it gently but urgently. With tears welling, Aulon tears himself from her sight and disappears. Jeanne is left alone, strangely calm and serene. Slowly she raises her finger-tips to her lips... touches them softly... The Man emerges from the darkness, carrying an ornate Cross on a long pole, bearing an effigy of the crucified Christ. MAN Ego te absolvo, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen... He stands in front of her, raising the Cross above... EXT. ROUEN MARKET PLACE - DAY ... Jeanne, who looks up to see the crucifix rising against a clear blue sky, now held aloft by a Priest. She is bound to the stake, her head shaved. At the base of the pyre, the EXECUTIONER sprinkles the faggots with oil... EXECUTIONER Don't worry, it's going to be fast... I used plenty of dry wood so there'll be lots of smoke... but don't forget to breath fast and you'll be dizzy before the flames even get to you... A great CROWD has assembled in the market place. On a podium is the Duke of Bedford, trying to remain impassive. Beside him, the Duchess can barely contain her emotions. Further along stands Cauchon, his eyes lowered, not wanting to see. Still disguised as a monk, Aulon stands close to the pyre, tormented and torn between revenge and despair... Bedford makes a sign to the Executioner, who then takes a torch and sets fire to the brushwood. Flames erupt, and Jeanne's breathing quickens. As thick smoke rises, the Priest begins to cough; his eyes water, and he can no longer hold up the cross to Jeanne's sight. She begins to panic, her eyes wildly searching... JEANNE ... the... cross... show me the cross... please... The Priest struggles to hold it up, but the choking smoke drives him back. JEANNE Where... where are you...? Jeanne is filled with panic... the Priest is bent double with coughing and can get no closer... JEANNE ... please... the cross! Suddenly Aulon rushes forward, grabs the cross from the Priest and boldly defies the smoke and flames, risking his life as he holds it high for Jeanne... Finally the cross is visible to her, rising above the flames into a clear blue sky. Her anxiety melts, her eyes fill with tears of hope as she gazes up at the cross... As her eyes close, the image of the cross becomes engulfed with flames... until the smoke finally fills the SCREEN, plunging it into darkness... CUT TO BLACK. THE END