The Kingdom of Heaven Page #7

The HOSPITALER looks at Godfrey. GODFREY stands, to his duty.

GODFREY:

Leave me with this man.

The room empties as if Godfrey’s voice is a starter’s gun.

GODFREY takes up the good sword just put down by ODO.

(CONTINUED)

15.

CONTINUED:
(2)

GODFREY (CONT’D)

Some say Jerusalem is the very

center of the world for asking

forgiveness. For myself, I call it

here...Now.

(”sighting” the blade)

You have lost your wife.

BALIAN nods, hollowly.

GODFREY (CONT’D)

God has made us men. We must suffer

all.

GODFREY looks up at the rafters. Wind. Pigeons under the

thatched eaves.

GODFREY (CONT’D)

I knew your...namesake.

(pressing on with it)

I knew your mother.

BALIAN looks up, knowing everything at once. A hammer in one

hand. He is the picture of Godfrey’s murderer.

GODFREY (CONT’D)

To be courteous I should say that

it was against her

objections...that I was the lord’s

brother and she had no choice...

(noticing that BALIAN is

holding the hammer)

But I did not force her.

GODFREY lays the sword aside. He will accept what comes.

Outside the windows, as the father and son stare at each

other, SNOW magically begins to fall hard. BALIAN puts the

HAMMER down (GODFREY swallows at this). BALIAN turns to the

forge, pumps the bellows, in chaos.

GODFREY (CONT’D)

(nervous, aware he is not

saying anything properly)

I am the Baron of Ibelin. I have a

hundred men at arms in Jerusalem. I

can use an armorer.

(pushing on, brusquely)

If you will come with me you will

have...a living. And you will have

my thanks. There it is.

GODFREY is not giving away the shop.

(CONTINUED)

16.

CONTINUED:
(3)

BALIAN:

Whoever you are, my lord, and

whatever you are saying, my place

is here.

GODFREY:

(gently)

What made it your place is now

dead.

BALIAN shakes his head, with finality.

GODFREY (CONT’D)

You will never see me again. If you

want anything of me, take it now.

BALIAN:

I want nothing.

GODFREY, disappointed, but not one to press the point

further, nods.

GODFREY:

Then I have seen you, and you have

seen me, and that is that. I am

sorry for your troubles. God

protect you.

GODFREY goes out from the forge.

EXT. THE TRACK BY THE FORGE. LATER

The party rides out. GODFREY lingers.

GODFREY:

It is easy to find Jerusalem. You

come to where the men speak

Italian, and then continue until

they speak something else. We go by

Messina.

Goodbye.

GODFREY turns his horse after his party.

INT. THE FORGE. NIGHT

A sword smokes, white-hot, in the coals of the forge. BALIAN

looks up and notices: THE PRIEST, lurking uninvited in the

door. He continues to work.

(CONTINUED)

17.

CONTINUED:

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