1492: Conquest of Paradise Page #5

INT. BEATRIX'S HOUSE - HALLWAY AND STABLE - NIGHT

COLUMBUS and FERNANDO lead the mule into the white-washed,

stone-floored hallway of the modest house. FERNANDO is

mute, shocked by what he just witnessed. COLUMBUS takes

the mule into its stall, and as he does so, his mother,

BEATRIX, appears from the kitchen to greet them. She is a

beautiful woman in her twenties, a calm, strong, domestic

personality. COLUMBUS tousles the BOY'S hair. FERNANDO

glances at his MOTHER but looks subdued and doesn't say

anything.

INT. BEATRIX'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

COLUMBUS joins BEATRIX in the kitchen, where a MAID is

cooking. He explains Fernando's subdued manner.

COLUMBUS:

Executions. In the square.

BEATRIX nods. He goes to the stone butt and pours water

on his hands.

COLUMBUS:

They've agreed to see me in a week.

BEATRIX puts the candle on the table. Her face lights up

with a smile. He walks to her, and kisses her.

COLUMBUS:

I could be gone for years.

BEATRIX:

I know.

COLUMBUS:

I haven't given you much of a life.

BEATRIX:

(amused)

Well... that's true. I have a child

by a man who won't marry me! Who's

always leaving...

COLUMBUS:

Are we going to argue?

BEATRIX:

I'd love to argue with you

sometimes. But you're never here!

They laugh and kiss.

COLUMBUS:

Perhaps I was never meant to live

with a woman...

BEATRIX:

(still kissing him)

I find that hard to believe.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BEATRIX'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

They are eating around the table, and FERNANDO is

unusually silent and thoughtful. COLUMBUS pours a little

wine into FERNANDO'S water, to distract him. FERNANDO

looks up at him, surprised. COLUMBUS smiles, then looks

over at BEATRIX.

COLUMBUS:

Fernando, don't you think we are

lucky to live with such a beautiful

woman?

He winks at FERNANDO. BEATRIX smiles.

INT. BEATRIX'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

The room is dark. As COLUMBUS approached the bed with a

candle, it illuminates the naked body of BEATRIX. BEATRIX

looks up at him intently. A drop of wax falls on her

skin. She flinches, murmurs...

They make love.

EXT. SALAMANCA UNIVERSITY - DAY

A medieval "campus". Students-novices are playing

"pelote", with basket-gloves and a hard ball. They run

with their robes tucked around their waist, revealing

white legs. Others are studying, reading, hurrying to

their class.

We find COLUMBUS watching the game from the steps above

the court. Others are waiting with him. A MONK comes

from a door, and looks around the group.

MONK:

(hesitant)

Christopher Columbus?

INT. AUDIENCE ROOM - UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA - DAY

An El Greco painting. A tableau of twenty MEN sitting on

dark, sculpted seats. Candles throw a gloomy light on

their faces. Some are Churchmen, others are dressed in

bourgeois outfits.

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