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byRoselyne BoschREVISEDSeptember 23, 1991 FADE IN:CREDITS AND MUSIC OVER:INT. AUDIENCE ROOM - GRANADA - DAYWe start on a mans elegant slipper. He is seated in asplendid chair. Moving up the stocking leg, we pass thegarter of Castile, coming to rest on a pair of delicatehands. His fore finge
Is that all that interests you?
Gold?
COLUMBUS
No. The Portuguese have already
discovered black-skinned people. I,
too, will find other populations --
and bring them to the word of God.
THE MONK smiles thinly.
AROJAZ
Christopher -- Christo Ferens -- the
Bearer of the Cross!
MONK
(ironic)
And Colon -- the one who populates!
Another small rill of laughter.
AROJAZ
If God intended our proximity to
Asia, do you believe he would have
waited for you to show it to the
world?
COLUMBUS
Did He not choose a carpenter's son
to reveal Himself to the world?
A hum of interest. CLOSE ON SANCHEZ -- watching COLUMBUS
intently, a hint of an admiring smile on his lips.
AROJAZ
So you consider yourself the chosen
one?
A pause.
AROJAZ
Don't you realize your words could
be considered heretical?
COLUMBUS
(calmly)
Blind faith is what I consider
heresy!
The murmur turns to an audible gasp. AROJAZ gets to his
feet and leans forward, threateningly, the flame of a
candle only inches from his face.
There is absolute silence. COLUMBUS meets the MONK'S gaze
unflinchingly.
COLUMBUS
(quietly)
Asia can be found to the west -- and
I will prove it.
AROJAZ
IF-GOD-WILLS-IT!
EXT. TERRACE - UNIVERSITY - DAY
The JURY is alone to deliberate. Food and wine has been
laid out on tables. In the distance, students' cries
carry over the conversation.
SANCHEZ approaches.
AROJAZ
The Treasurer of Spain honors us
with his presence.
SANCHEZ bows slightly.
SANCHEZ
The State has some reason to be
interested in this man's
proposition, Your Eminence...
AROJAZ
The Judgment is ours!
SANCHEZ
Naturally. But I would really
deplore the loss of such a potential
opportunity for Spain for a...
dispute over a point of geography.
SANCHEZ helps himself to some grapes, looks round at the
other members of the committee, who pretend not to be
listening.
AROJAZ
(interrupting)
He is a mercenary! Did he not
already try to convince the King of
Portugal of his absurd notions?
SANCHEZ
Indeed. The world is full of
mercenaries -- and states often make
use of them, when it benefits them.
(casually)
My only concern is the welfare and
prosperity of Spain.
AROJAZ understands the hint, and stops smiling.
AROJAZ
You would use your influence to
assist this... intriguer?
SANCHEZ reaches for a decanter of sherry.
SANCHEZ
You know, Your Eminence, the
fascinating thing about power, is
that what can be given so
effortlessly...
He offers the decanter to AROJAZ, who automatically lifts
his glass. But instead, SANCHEZ pulls back the decanter,
pours himself a drink, and replaces it on the table,
leaving AROJAZ staring at his own empty glass.
SANCHEZ
... can so easily be taken away.
And he drinks with a smile.
INT. LA RABIDA - MARCHENA'S STUDY - EVENING
MARCHENA reads aloud the Commission's letter.
MARCHENA
... and therefore nothing could
justify the participation of Your
Highnesses in the venture that
relies upon such feeble assumptions,
and which any man of knowledge
would take to be impractical... if
not impossible.
He shakes his head, puts the letter down. COLUMBUS looks
