The Baron of Arizona Page #3

---

The scribe room...

where our experts copy

and illuminate manuscripts.

The illumination is magnificent.

And the calligraphy!

The repair room...

where we strengthen and sew bindings.

- Is this for sewing the bindings?

- Yes, that's right.

- And the, uh, press?

- Yes, the press.

Uh, those are cakes of ink.

Yes, we make our own ink...

and have not changed the

formula in five centuries.

And this is our biblioteca.

This is where we preserve

our ancient books...

and, uh, priceless records.

Oh.

You are surprised to find them chained?

I can understand.

But to remove a book is strictly forbidden.

- But surely no one would dare.

- Well, who knows?

Once a rare book collector acted

rather strangely in this cell...

and we were compelled to summon

the civil police from Seville...

to investigate him.

The Mazarin Bible...

the first work of Gutenberg printed in 1450.

- I thought it was in two volumes.

- You're right, Brother Anthony.

Christopher Columbus's son

borrowed the second volume...

and, uh, never returned it.

The books and, uh, records are listed.

- You're welcome at all times.

- Thank you, Brother Gregory.

He lost no time stealing

ammonia from the infirmary...

and milk and meal from the kitchen.

He mixed a solution and tried it out.

He had to make sure he could remove the ink.

He rubbed the surface of

the page with pumice...

to smooth the irritated grain.

That night he gathered his equipment

and hurried to the biblioteca...

to forge the Peralta

grant in the 1748 volume.

This was his first major catastrophe.

But he never admitted defeat.

For months he practiced ancient penmanship.

For months he made attempts

to enter the biblioteca...

while the others were asleep.

But he failed.

One day, however...

he conceived a simple

but most effective plan...

of gaining entry into the

biblioteca where he could work.

In his cell, he deliberately

left a sample ofhis penmanship.

- Brother Anthony, did you write this?

- Yes, Father.

I'm assigning you to the library

to assist Brother Gregory.

- I prefer field work.

- You've been here three years.

You're a hard worker, but

your talent would be wasted.

- But, Father, I - - I

suggest you go to the library.

Yes, Father.

And this is our biblioteca...

where we preserve our ancient

books and priceless records.

- To remove one of the

books - - Brother Anthony.

Yes, Father. The books

and documents are listed.

Will you get the land grant

records of 1748, please?

Yes, the binding must be repaired.

I wonder what condition the other copy is in.

No, you may keep the keys.

Brother Gregory is ill,

but will be well tomorrow.

You are custodian of the library for tonight.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes