The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

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

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