The Kingdom of Heaven Page #6

EXT. THE FARMYARD. LATER

The TRAVELLERS are lolling in the think sunlight, eating

chicken beneath a tree. The hungry PRIEST has not been

invited to eat but is still attempting to ingratiate himself.

PRIEST:

He has made great engines for

sieges. He has made war machines to

cast the largest stones...he works

finely in silver...He would be one

of the few on your journey worth

more alive than dead.

(CONTINUED)

13.

CONTINUED:

ODO:

(eating)

Shut up.

GODFREY is not listening. His wine cup shakes slightly in his

hand.

GODFREY, of all things, is nervous He walks across the road

into the orchard. In a FLASH of summer we see a dark-haired

woman retreating from him, a complex look of fear and, just

possibly, invitation.

GODFREY drinks. The HOSPITALER seems to understand what

Godfrey is thinking: and well he should, because he is

Godfrey’s confessor.

GODFREY:

Do you still advise what you

advised upon the road?

HOSPITALER:

I do, my lord. But I take no credit

for your contrition. I am merely

your confessor.

(concerned for the

shivering Godfrey)

It is warm by the forge.

INT. THE FORGE. LATER

BALIAN, assisted by the Italian Crossbowmen and the ENGLISH

SERGEANT, is shoeing a DESTRIER. The huge war horse has had

to be roped against the side of the stall. BALIAN calms him,

talking to him. BALIAN finishes the last shoe, steps back.

ODO is there, eating an apple.

ODO:

(to Balian)

Have you been at war?

BALIAN nods. He tries to go back to work.

ODO (CONT’D)

(coming close)

An archer, putting arrows in your

betters?

BALIAN:

On horse. And as an enginer, also.

The entering GODFREY is now in earshot. He looks at Balian.

(CONTINUED)

14.

CONTINUED:

ODO:

Against whom and for whom did you

fight?

BALIAN:

For one Lord against another, on a

point which cannot be remembered,

and which is then or now had no

significance.

The PRIEST, looking through a window, listens outraged at his

brother’s outspoken reply. ODO grins.

ODO:

(close to Balian)

There is better game now. One God

against another. The pay is

proportionate.

ODO menaces BALIAN with sword. BALIAN looks at the point, and

then u at ODO. Laughter.

PRIEST:

(piously opportunistic)

I have been telling him that.

ODO, still eating his apple, sees: a LATIN PHRASE CUT DEEP

INTO A BLACKENED BEAM (or painted, like a frieze, onto the

plaster). He points with the sword.

ODO:

What does that say?

BALIAN:

“What man is a man who does not

make the world better.”

The HOSPITALER smiles, walking: he is beginning to know this

man.

BALIAN (CONT’D)

My father cut it there.

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