Copyright 1985, 2011 by Ronald L. Ecker
All Rights Reserved
This online version has been divided into four Web pages.
FADE IN:
EXT. LONDON, ENGLAND - ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - DAY (1528)
Two wood fires burn in front of St. Paul's Cross, an open-air
pulpit with a cross on its roof, on the grounds of St. Paul's
Cathedral. Beside the fires are baskets of books.
CARDINAL WOLSEY, 55, large in his crimson velvet, preaches
from the pulpit to a crowd of commoners, the fires between
the pulpit and crowd. Two Wolsey guards flank the pulpit.
WOLSEY
Often, when the sky of the Church
is clear, dark clouds arise, and
tempests blow. Now a new cloud has
arisen, one Martin Luther, a friar,
who blows like a tempest in
Germany, and whose followers would
bring his heretical works into
this, our beloved England. We
commit these iniquitous writings
to the flame --
Four Wolsey guards throw books into the fires.
WOLSEY
-- lest the deadly disease of heresy
further corrupt our realm, defiling
the minds of His Majesty's subjects
with most wicked opinion and error.
THE FIRE
fills the screen.
BOY (V.O.)
(in horror)
Grandfather...
(louder)
Grandfather!
DREAM - 8-YEAR-OLD BOY
Horrified, he stares off at something.
BOY
NO!!
INT. MANOR HOUSE - WILLIAM'S ROOM - DAY
Handsome WILLIAM TYNDALE, 25, bolts up in bed, as if waking
from a nightmare. He gasps in anguish.
EXT. GLOUCHESTERSHIRE - LITTLE SODBURY VILLAGE - DAY
A 30-ish PARDONER, in red cap and gown, sells letters of
pardon to poor villagers who are gathered around his cart.
PARDONER (O.S.)
Step forward then and buy your
indulgence. There's enough here
for all.
William, in doublet and hose and seated on a horse, watches
grimly from several yards away. With him is SIR JOHN WALSH,
40, also mounted, and MAURICE WALSH, 7, on a pony.
PARDONER
These pardons come piping hot from
Rome. They are signed by the Pope
himself.
VILLAGER #1
I wish to buy one.
The Pardoner takes VILLAGER #1's money and hands him his
document.
PARDONER
That's right -- here you go. No
purgatory for you, lucky fellow.
Who's next?
VILLAGER #2
I am, sir.
Sir John proceeds out of the village, William and Maurice
following, while VILLAGER #2 makes his purchase, others
waiting.
PARDONER
Here you go. Who's next to be
delivered from the fire?
EXT. ROAD - DAY
William, Sir John, and Maurice ride on their ambling mounts.
MAURICE
What was that man selling back
there, William?
WILLIAM
Indulgences.
MAURICE
What are those?
WILLIAM
An indulgence is supposed to pardon
you as far as having to do penance
for sins. But first you are
supposed to confess. These
pardoners make people believe they
are buying forgiveness itself -- no
need to confess -- as if grace can
be bought and sold. What you saw,
Maurice, is a good example of the
Church's abuses.
EXT. LITTLE SODBURY MANOR - NIGHT
A nice manor house. OVERLAP SOUND:
PRIOR (V.O.)
Abuses?
INT. THE GREAT HALL - NIGHT
A PRIOR, 45, is a dinner guest of Sir John and his wife LADY
ANN WALSH, 30. Dining with them are William and Maurice.
PRIOR
What abuses?
WILLIAM
The sale of indulgences, sale of
preferments, absenteeism, unworthy
priests, the worship of images,
worship of saints, pilgrimage,
involvement in -- shall I go on?
PRIOR
What's wrong with pilgrimage?
WILLIAM
Nothing, except when people are
lured, and pay, to see relics --
like the blood of Christ at Hales,
the very sight of which, they are
told, assures their salvation.
Show me that in Christ's gospel --
not to mention how his blood got
to Hales.
EXT. ABBEY AT HALES - DAY
The Prior walks on the grounds with the ABBOT, 60. Monks
move about.
PRIOR
Then I tried to corner him. I
asked him outright if the body of
Christ, after the words of
consecration, is or is not present
in the blessed sacrament.
ABBOT
What did he say?
PRIOR
He evaded the question. He allowed
as how, since we believe God can
be everywhere, one might as well
believe Christ's body can be
everywhere too.
ABBOT
Sophistry. Pure German sophistry.
PRIOR
It came out, incidentally, that
he's writing a book. On Christian
obedience.
The Abbot stops walking and looks at the Prior as if amazed.
ABBOT
(drolly)
Is the book for or against?
PRIOR
I should have asked. I tell
you the man's close to heresy.
ABBOT
"Close"? He's more Lutheran than
Luther. What a tutor for John
Walsh's child.
PRIOR
What shall we do?
As they resume walking,
ABBOT
A few weeks from now is our
venerable Archdeacon's visitation.
PRIOR
We shall refer the matter to him.
ABBOT
First, though, I would like to have
dinner with the Walshes myself.
I want to hear this William Tyndale
firsthand.
INT. LITTLE SODBURY MANOR - WILLIAM'S ROOM - DAY
William sits over a manuscript in progress. He stares into
space as if distracted by some haunting memory.
EXT. CROWD OF VILLAGERS - DAY (FLASHBACK)
The 8-year-old Boy stands at the front of the crowd, watching
something in horror.
INT. WILLIAM'S ROOM - DAY
William is brought back to the present by KNOCKS at the door,
though he still seems troubled.
WILLIAM
Maurice? Come in.
William is surprised to see that it's Lady Walsh who enters.
WILLIAM
Madam.
Lady Walsh strolls to the table, William rising.
LADY WALSH
I thought I should warn you. The
abbot from Hales is coming tomorrow
to visit.
WILLIAM
Thank you for the warning.
She glances at his work.
LADY WALSH
How goes your book?
WILLIAM
Slowly, madam, but -- almost
finished.
Lady Walsh steps fairly close, which clearly makes William
feel awkward.
LADY WALSH
I hope, William, there'll be no
quarrels at the table tomorrow,
like you had last week with that
other priest.
WILLIAM
I do regret any embarrassment,
madam. I should remember the words
of Solomon.
LADY WALSH
What are those?
WILLIAM
"He who restrains his lips is wise."
Lady Walsh smiles. She touches William's arm in a somewhat
enticing way.
LADY WALSH
It's not that you can't speak your
mind, William, but...
WILLIAM
I am a guest at your table, madam,
as I should always remember.
Maurice comes rushing in, a Latin grammar in hand.
As William looks relieved or rescued,
WILLIAM
Time for your grammar? Where shall
we go?
MAURICE
Let's go to the park.
William fetches his copy of the grammar.
WILLIAM
To the park it is, then. You will
excuse us, Madam?
LADY WALSH
Of course.
Lady Walsh watches William leave with Maurice. She sighs.
She looks down at William's work, a hint of disapproval in
her eyes.
INT. GREAT HALL - NIGHT
Dinner is in progress. Present are the Abbot; Sir John and
Lady Walsh; KNIGHTS #1 and #2 and their WIVES; and William
and Maurice.
Servants attend. Two dogs gnaw fresh bones on the floor.
SIR JOHN
And what news, my lord Abbot, on
"the king's great matter"?
WIFE #1
Yes, is the Pope going to grant an
annulment?
ABBOT
Most unlikely. The king does not
cite valid grounds.
KNIGHT #1
But the king needs a son, an heir
to the throne.
WIFE #2
He has his young daughter Mary.
Knight #2 chews some meat off a bone.
KNIGHT #2
Which is why the king needs a son.
ABBOT
Well the Pope cannot help him. Sir
John, your priest here can tell you.
(to William)
King Henry the Eighth married
Catherine of Aragon, who was his late
brother's widow. Is that grounds for
annulment? What says the Church?
WILLIAM
(respectfully)
The Church, my lord, should look to
holy scripture.
The Abbot raises an eyebrow.
WILLIAM
Leviticus, chapter eighteen: "You
shall not uncover the nakedness of
your brother's wife." Sufficient
grounds to annul.
WIFE #2
But Queen Catherine claims, does
she not, that her marriage to His
Majesty's brother was not
consummated. So it was really no
marriage at all.
Maurice whispers to William,
MAURICE
What's "consummated"?
Knight #2, reflecting proper table manners of the time,
tosses the bone away over his shoulder for the dogs on
the floor.
KNIGHT #2
The fact is, the king wants Queen
Catherine out of the way, so he can
marry Anne Boleyn. So grounds have
to be found for annulment.
WILLIAM
One more reason, then, why he should
authorize a Bible in English --
The Abbot looks shocked.
WILLIAM
-- so the people could see what
Leviticus says. "You shall not
uncover the nakedness of your
brother's -- "
ABBOT
A Bible in the rude vulgar tongue?
Pah! You'd have the plowboys out
there reading scripture? Every
peasant who wishes, every man his
own teacher?
WILLIAM
I don't say do away with the
teachers, I --
ABBOT
That's what we have priests for, to
interpret for the people what the
Latin contains.
WILLIAM
Today half our priests can't read
Latin themselves. They're an ignorant
lot as you know. They can barely
read English.
ABBOT
Then they don't need an English
Bible.
The Abbot throws away a bone for the dogs.
WILLIAM
Then give one to people who can
read. Including the plowboy.
ABBOT
(sternly)
You talk about scripture. You
forget all the teachings of the
fathers, Church councils, the
Pope -- the authority of Holy
Church, inspired by the spirit
of truth. The people need more
than scripture to guide them.
Especially these days --
(insinuating tone)
-- with so many heretics about.
An awkward pause.
SIR JOHN
(to the Abbot)
So. You were saying there will be
no annulment?
The Abbot still looks at William, who looks at his plate.
Glancing at Sir John, the Abbot seems satisfied that he has
won the argument.
ABBOT
The Pope has sent a legate to
London -- Cardinal Campeggio --
INT. BLACKFRIARS' MONASTERY - GREAT HALL - DAY
The legatine court is in session. Cardinal Wolsey and
CARDINAL CAMPEGGIO, 50-ish, sit on a dais, before them a
cloth-covered table with documents.
ABBOT (V.O.)
-- who with Cardinal Wolsey, will
hold court on the question.
To their right, on a throne beneath a cloth of estate, sits
KING HENRY VIII, 40. On the other side is the throne of
Spanish-born QUEEN CATHERINE OF ARAGON, 45.
Lords and bishops sit in attendance. The CRIER calls,
CRIER
King Henry of England, come into
the court!
HENRY
Here, my lords!
CRIER
Catherine, Queen of England, come
into the court!
(no response)
Catherine, Queen of England, come
into the court!
Catherine rises. To the surprise of all, she walks over
and kneels before Henry.
CATHERINE
(Spanish accent)
Sir, I beseech you, for all the
love that has been between us, and
for the love of God, let me have
justice and right. How have I
offended you, that you intend to
put me from you? These twenty
years I have been your true and
humble wife, and I bore you several
children, although it pleased God
to take them, save Mary. And when
you first had me, as God is my
witness, I was a true maid, without
touch of man.
Henry glances about, clearly uncomfortable.
CATHERINE
And whether I speak the truth, sir,
I put to your conscience.
Therefore I beseech you, kind sir,
to spare me this court, till my
friends in Spain may advise me what
way I should take.
Rising, Catherine starts out of the court.
HENRY
Call her back!
CRIER
Catherine, Queen of England, come
into the court!
Catherine, on the arm of a servitor, with her SPANISH LADY-
IN-WAITING following, walks out of the hall.
EXT. LITTLE SODBURY MANOR - DAY
On a horse William, in clerical habit, speaks with Sir John
before riding off.
Maurice, Latin grammar in hand, watches quizzically from the
mansion's front door.
As Sir John joins Maurice,
MAURICE
Where is William going, dressed up
like a priest?
SIR JOHN
He is a priest. And he's been
summoned to appear before the
Archdeacon of Gloucester, at the
diocese convocation.
MAURICE
What does that mean?
SIR JOHN
It means you would not want to be
there.
INT. BLACKFRIARS' MONASTERY - GREAT HALL - DAY
Henry stands addressing the legatine court.
HENRY
May God be my judge, my concern, my
lords, is for the succession, the
well-being of this realm, and for
relief of my moral conscience. I
have no carnal motive, as some
might assume.
Henry paces as he continues,
HENRY
All my sons by Queen Catherine died
after birth, which I fear may be
God's punishment, for a marriage
outside of his laws. To translate
from the Latin Vulgate:
"You shall not uncover the
nakedness of your brother's wife."
Leviticus, the eighteenth chapter,
the sixteenth verse.
Henry strides over to the document table.
HENRY
And then Leviticus twenty, the
twenty-first verse: "If a man
shall take his brother's wife, it
is an unclean thing."
(pointedly)
"They shall be childless."
Henry holds up a parchment from the table.
HENRY
I have here a document, to which
every bishop in England has set his
hand and seal, affirming that the
case has merit. The case being,
that the Queen's first marriage, to
my dear late brother Prince Arthur,
was indeed consummated, and that
our present marriage, being
therefore incestuous, should be
declared null and void.
INT. GLOUCESTER ABBEY - A CONVOCATION - DAY
William, in his clerical garb, stands before the ARCHDEACON
OF GLOUCESTER and the diocesan clergy.
ARCHDEACON
William Tyndale, you have been
summoned before this chancellory
that we might impress upon you the
erroneous, the unacceptable nature,
of certain nefarious opinions
expressed by you in this diocese.
Your words are sophistic, they are
pernicious, they bear the very odor
of heresy. Such ungodly and
perfidious utterance is not to be
henceforth heard. Do I make myself
clear?
William glances at the smug-looking Abbot and Prior, who are
among those assembled.
There is dead silence as William considers his response.
WILLIAM
My Venerable Archdeacon, I do not
feel I have engaged in sophistry,
or conducted myself in any ungodly
fashion. If I might face my
accusers, I --
ARCHDEACON
There is no need for facing
accusers. This is a warning, not
a trial. And the warning is this:
Unless you unmuddle your thinking,
as Archdeacon of Gloucester I can
assure you, and harbor no doubt:
You shall be dealt with further.
EXT. LITTLE SODBURY MANOR - DAY
William, back in shirt and hose, sits musing beneath a tree.
Lady Walsh walks over to him. William respectfully rises.
LADY WALSH
What's the matter, William? Still
brooding about the archdeacon?
WILLIAM
(beat)
I need to speak with you, Madam.
LADY WALSH
Shall we walk?
They walk together, William musing. He seems uncertain and
confused.
WILLIAM
Do you know, Madam, why I chose not
to do parish work, upon being
ordained? Why I chose instead to
come back to the country and be
nothing but a tutor? Sometimes I
wonder myself. Was it for lack of
faith that the Church can be
reformed? Or was it a desire to
stay out of trouble, which has
found me nonetheless?
LADY WALSH
I can't answer that, William. And
it seems you can't either.
WILLIAM
I became a priest because I --
William stops walking. He looks off in frustration.
LADY WALSH
Because why, William?
WILLIAM
Because of something that happened.
(pause; sighs)
I am too out of step, my lady. And
I don't know where lies my way.
He looks at her. She has a sad, sympathetic little smile.
WILLIAM
But I know that perhaps I should
leave your employ. The archdeacon
having scolded me like a dog, I
have a bad reputation hereabouts.
If I stay, it could be trouble for
you and Sir John. And for that I
would truly be sorry.
LADY WALSH
Where would you go, William? What
would you do?
WILLIAM
I wish that I knew.
EXT. WOLSEY'S ESTATE - NIGHT
Hampton Court Palace in the moonlight.
WOLSEY (V.O.)
All efforts at compromise have
failed.
INT. PRESENCE CHAMBER - NIGHT
Cardinals Wolsey and Campeggio sit sipping wine.
WOLSEY
The king will not hear of a
reconciliation, and the queen will
not hear of entering a nunnery,
allowing the king to remarry. I
say it's time we exercise our
decretal authority, to declare
the marriage null and void.
CAMPEGGIO
What decretal authority?
Wolsey stares at Campeggio.
WOLSEY
Were you not given such authority
before leaving Rome? For what,
pray tell, have we been holding
court all this time?
CAMPEGGIO
To placate King Henry of England,
without upsetting the queen's
nephew, King Charles of Spain.
WOLSEY
If His Majesty does not get his
annulment, it will be the end of me.
CAMPEGGIO
I am sorry, Your Eminence. I lack
the authority to help you. Just
between you and me.
INT. MANOR HOUSE - WILLIAM'S ROOM - NIGHT
William sits working on his book at a table by candlelight.
He pauses, trying to recall a biblical verse.
WILLIAM
"If you are the Son of God, command
these stones..."
He flips through a Greek New Testament on the table, to
Matthew 4:3.
William silently reads. As he continues reading, he seems
intrigued and starts reading aloud to himself in the Greek.
SUPERIMPOSE ENGLISH SUBTITLES:
WILLIAM
"Gegraptai (IT IS WRITTEN)... Ouk
ep arto mono zesetai anthropos (MAN
SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE)...
al epi panti rematai (BUT BY EVERY
WORD)... ekporeuomeno dia stomatos
Theou (THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH
OF GOD)..."
William gazes off. He looks inspired by the passage.
SIR JOHN (V.O.)
You are going to London to what?
INT. COUNTING ROOM - DAY
Sir John sits behind his counting table with its checkered
cloth. Lady Walsh sits nearby. William stands before them.
WILLIAM
(confidently)
I am going to give to the English
people an English New Testament.
An Old Testament too, of course,
but that will have to come later.
SIR JOHN
An English New Testament.
WILLIAM
Yes. I have found my life's work.
SIR JOHN
But, William, didn't John Wycliffe
try the same thing?
WILLIAM
Oh yes, he translated the Latin
Bible into English, though they
promptly suppressed it. I shall
work from the original New
Testament Greek. And it shan't
be suppressed.
SIR JOHN
William, the Church passed a law
after Wycliffe: No English Bible
without authority of the Church.
WILLIAM
Yes. So I am going to apply for a
post with the Bishop of London.
SIR JOHN
The Bishop of London?
WILLIAM
Bishop Tonstall is a man of the New
Learning. Proficient in both Greek
and Hebrew. God willing, he may
sponsor such a work.
LADY WALSH
How do you intend to see him?
WILLIAM
Through my old chambermate at
Oxford, John Frith.
John is now surmaster at Saint
Paul's School. He must surely know
the bishop, or at least the bishop
knows who he is.
SIR JOHN
William, I hope you know what
you're doing. The abbot from Hales
and the archdeacon of Gloucester
are small fry compared to the
enemies you can make in London.
WILLIAM
I'm aware of that, sir. But this
is something I must do. I have
found my calling.
EXT. MANOR HOUSE - DAY
William is set to depart with two horses (a mount and a
baggage horse), the Walshes seeing him off.
William and Sir John shake hands.
WILLIAM
Goodbye, sir. Thank you for the
time I have had here.
SIR JOHN
Good luck, William. Be careful.
WILLIAM
Lady Walsh...
LADY WALSH
William, when you get to London,
take this letter to my brother,
Thomas Poyntz of the Merchant
Adventurers.
Lady Walsh hands William the letter.
LADY WALSH
I have told him in the letter that
you are a fine young scholar,
worthy of any assistance he may
give you.
WILLIAM
Thank you, Madam.
LADY WALSH
God be with you.
William turns fondly to Maurice.
WILLIAM
You shall have a new tutor. And
you will show him all the respect,
obedience, and effort that you have
shown me. Do you promise?
MAURICE
Yes, Master William.
William gives Maurice a pat, then he mounts his horse.
WILLIAM
Farewell. And God bless the Walshes.
William rides off.
EXT. LONDON - PALACE OF PLACENTIA - DAY
The royal residence at Greenwich.
HENRY (V.O.)
Enough!
INT. QUEEN'S PRIVY CHAMBER - DAY
Henry and Catherine argue.
CATHERINE
Prince Arthur was a sickly fifteen
year-old boy who was dead within a
year of our marriage. There was no
consummation.
HENRY
A lie. I have lived with you for
twenty years in a state of mortal
sin. My conscience will not take
it longer. I shall have that
annulment, and shall have a male
heir.
Henry walks out, Catherine yelling after him,
CATHERINE
That niece of the Duke of Norfolk
can't give you an heir! God will
forbid it!
INT. PALACE - A HALL - DAY
Lovely ANNE BOLEYN, 30, dances with 30-ish WILLIAM BRERETON.
Other couples also dance to the music, more gentlemen and
ladies looking on.
BRERETON
How goes the king's passion? Does
it wax, or wane?
ANNE
Oh, it is waxing.
BRERETON
Have you surrendered to him carnally?
ANNE
What business of yours!
BRERETON
Have you?
ANNE
Of course not.
BRERETON
Resist his desire, and it will grow
all the more.
ANNE
You think a woman doesn't know that?
William Brereton, I believe you are
jealous.
BRERETON
I wish to see you queen of England,
dear Anne.
ANNE
If only the Pope felt the same.
The dance concludes, Brereton bowing to her. Anne steps over
to 30-ish SIR FRANCIS WESTON.
ANNE
Sir Francis, will you bring me
another banned book? I do love
to read them.
She moves off, smiling back at him coyly.
EXT. LONDON - STREET - DAY
William walks along a typical street of the time -- narrow,
poorly paved, overcrowded -- as if looking for a particular
place.
William stops and watches as a BUTCHER is whipped along to a
pillory, a growing crowd around him.
The Butcher's head and hands are secured in the pillory, then
one of the bailiffs hangs some rotten meat around his neck.
BAILIFF
Here's your rotten mutton, butcher.
See how you like it.
The crowd laughs, then begins throwing fruit and vegetables
at the Butcher's head.
William stares at the Butcher's head in the pillory.
QUICK FLASHBACK
The 8-year-old Boy gazes off in horror.
BACK TO SCENE
William, looking troubled, gazes at the Butcher.
William quickly turns and moves off.
INT. TAVERN - DAY
Lively, full of men and respectable women as well, some
playing cards and dice at their tables.
At a table sit handsome schoolteacher JOHN FRITH, 25, and
HUMPHREY MONMOUTH, 55.
Monmouth is a mercer (importer of textiles) and wears proudly
the livery of the Mercers' Company. He's a self-made man, a
bit loud and uncouth for his upper-class status.
MONMOUTH
If the old silkwoman has her way,
I'll be an alderman next. Then I
fear she won't rest till I become
lord mayor.
FRITH
It's nice to have a wife who
inspires you.
MONMOUTH
She was a draper's widow. She
thinks I married her for her money.
Which I did, of course.
Monmouth's servant GEOFFREY, 17, brings them more beer and
ale. He serves the two men the wrong cups.
MONMOUTH
Not that way, fool!
Geoffrey switches the cups.
William has entered and spots Frith from behind. William
walks toward him with a little smile.
MONMOUTH
(to Frith)
It's hard to find a decent servant
nowadays. I caught this one last
night in the attic, reading trash.
FRITH
What was it?
MONMOUTH
"The Adventures of Robin Hood."
FRITH
At least he can read, then.
As William stops not far behind Frith,
WILLIAM
"Whoever builds a house by using
sallows / And goes and pricks his
blind horse over fallows/ -- "
Frith, who can't seem to believe what he's hearing, turns to
look at William.
WILLIAM
"And lets his wife seek any shrine
one hallows/ --"
Frith joins in the rhyme as he rises with a grin,
FRITH AND WILLIAM
"Is worthy to be hung upon the
gallows."
Frith and William laughingly embrace.
FRITH
William --
WILLIAM
They told me at the school you
were here.
FRITH
What are you doing in London?
FRITH
(to Monmouth)
Sir, this is William Tyndale, an
old and dear friend.
Monmouth rises to shake William's hand.
FRITH
(to William)
This is Humphrey Monmouth, new
warden of the Mercers' Company.
They oversee our school. We've
been getting acquainted.
MONMOUTH
And a fine school it is. You are
a teacher?
They sit down.
WILLIAM
I was a tutor, till lately.
FRITH
We were at Oxford together. William
is ordained.
MONMOUTH
A priest? I will call you Sir
William. Well see here, Frith, you
must bring him along with you this
evening.
FRITH
Thank you, sir.
(to William)
You have just been invited to
supper.
INT. MONMOUTH'S HOME - NIGHT
While servants set the table in b.g., Monmouth introduces
William and Frith to his wife MARY MONMOUTH, 50; apprentice
JOHN PRESTON, 18; and pretty BESSIE GRESHAM, 20:
MONMOUTH
I present my wife Mary. My
apprentice John Preston. Bessie
Gresham, Mary's prentice in her
silk work.
Bessie curtsies, blushing as William and Frith nod to her.
MONMOUTH
Bessie's father was a merchant in
Bristol.
Her eyes move shyly to Frith, who looks like he's fallen in
love.
MONMOUTH
Now she's an orphan, poor thing.
LATER
William, the Monmouths, Frith, John Preston, and Bessie are
at supper. The dog GARLAND, a mastiff, gnaws bones on the
floor.
WILLIAM
An English New Testament that could
be openly read would open the way
to reform. My lord Bishop Tonstall
might be persuaded to allow that to
happen.
MONMOUTH
Till you're able to see him, William,
you are welcome to stay in this
house. We'll be proud to have a
scholar among us.
WILLIAM
Why, thank you, sir.
MONMOUTH
It's high time for reform, I agree.
All the corruption, the wealth.
Look at Cardinal Wolsey, His
Majesty's chancellor. The cardinal
has four hundred servants.
WILLIAM
Four hundred?
MONMOUTH
That's not counting his servants'
servants.
You can't find a monk nowadays not
dressed up in finest cloth.
Monmouth tosses away a bone for the dog.
MARY
You should talk. It's mercers
like you who sell them the cloth.
What would you do without the
Church's business?
Frith and Bessie make eye contact and share a smile.
MONMOUTH
Make a pact with the devil, I
suppose. It wouldn't be the first
one I've made.
INT. FRONT DOOR OF POYNTZ HOME (LONDON) - DAY
A nice merchant's home. Bright-looking, 20-ish MARGARET
POYNTZ opens the front door.
William, standing outside, seems momentarily speechless.
MARGARET
Yes?
WILLIAM
I'm, uh, looking for Thomas Poyntz
of the Merchant Adventurers.
MARGARET
Yes?
WILLIAM
I bear a letter from his sister,
Lady Ann Walsh.
MARGARET
Auntie Ann!
William hands her the letter.
MARGARET
Are you a postman?
WILLIAM
No, I'm a priest. I was tutor to
your cousin Maurice.
MARGARET
Oh! Do come in, then.
William enters.
MARGARET
My name is Margaret.
WILLIAM
William Tyndale.
Closing the door, Margaret turns anxiously to William.
MARGARET
You're almost like a godsend. I
was just talking to Mother. I can
use your advice.
WILLIAM
About what?
MARGARET
Whether to join the convent.
A voice booms from another room,
POYNTZ (O.S.)
Who is it, Margaret?
MARGARET
(to William)
Can I speak with you later?
WILLIAM
Of course.
MARGARET
Come meet my father.
INT. PARLOR - DAY
Imposing THOMAS POYNTZ, 42, snacks on bread, cheese, and ale
with William and a stuffy, 50-ish merchant named GARDINER.
Also present are Margaret, reading the letter, and her mother
ELIZABETH POYNTZ, 40, who knits.
During the following, William and Margaret exchange pleasant
glances while she reads.
GARDINER
Cardinal Wolsey was a fool to ally
us with France.
POYNTZ
I agree, Master Gardiner. Why create
bad blood between His Majesty and
the emperor, King Charles of Spain?
Bad for business.
GARDINER
Aye.
Gardiner slyly notes that William seems to pay more attention
to Margaret reading than to the conversation.
GARDINER
(to William)
Do you agree?
An awkward moment as William is caught off guard.
POYNTZ
(to William)
It's the empire -- the Netherlands,
Germany -- where we sell our broad
cloth and kerseys, not France.
William nods agreeably.
GARDINER
Now His Majesty wants to put out
Queen Catherine, who happens to be
the emperor's aunt. That could
lead to war.
EXT. COURTYARD - DAY
William and Margaret stroll in the garden. Elizabeth,
folding cloth at an upper window, keeps a chaperone's eye
on them.
MARGARET
Auntie Ann in her letter says she
hated to lose you.
WILLIAM
Does she?
MARGARET
She says she barely got to know
you.
(then)
About my becoming a religious:
My father, you see, spends most of
his time in Antwerp. He wants Mum
to go with him and stay. I was
placed out as a child, raised by
the Glovers of Durham.
Now I'm staying at home, and --
well, frankly, I'm a burden. If I
don't join the convent, any day now
he will marry me off, I just know
it -- to someone like Gardiner.
What a fate!
William seems unsure what to say.
MARGARET
What should I do, then?
WILLIAM
Well, don't let me discourage you,
but -- if your heart says nay, I
wonder if joining the convent is
the right thing to do. There are
also lifelong restrictions to
consider, in joining a convent.
MARGARET
Such as?
WILLIAM
Celicaby. Celibacy.
MARGARET
Is abstinence a biblical law?
WILLIAM
No. It is Church law, for priests
and those --
MARGARET
It is subject to change, then?
WILLIAM
Yes.
(awkward pause)
I'm sorry, I must go, I --
MARGARET
Will you come back to see us? We
want to know how it goes with the
bishop.
WILLIAM
Yes, I shall come back with great
pleasure. Goodbye.
As William starts to go,
MARGARET
William, do you think you'll need
help, when you start your
translation? I'm very learned for
a lady. I know Greek as well as my
Latin. And I have little to do
here. I could be your -- what's
the word?
WILLIAM
Amanuensis?
MARGARET
Something like that. I'd be glad
to be your... amanuensis.
WILLIAM
Well, I shall certainly have to
consider it. With your parents'
blessing, of course. Thank you
for the offer. Goodbye.
William turns to go.
MARGARET
William, good luck with the bishop
then.
WILLIAM
Thank you. I'll let you know how
it goes the same day.
EXT. BISHOP OF LONDON'S PALACE - DAY
An impressive building adjoining St. Paul's Cathedral.
INT. PRESENCE CHAMBER - DAY
Bishop of London CUTHBERT TONSTALL, 50, strolls while
studying a handwritten treatise in his hands. CHAPLAIN #1
stands off to the side.
William stands respectfully waiting in clerical habit.
TONSTALL
I have here, from Surmaster Frith,
a translation of yours, from the
Greek, of a speech by Isocrates.
(approvingly)
A man of the New Learning.
WILLIAM
I have been much inspired, Your
Lordship, by such men as yourself.
Erasmus of Rotterdam, Sir Thomas
More.
TONSTALL
And you've been told I have some
need of translators?
WILLIAM
No, Your Lordship. 'Tis my hope
that -- with a post -- under your
spiritual guidance -- I might
translate the New Testament, from
the Greek, into our mother tongue.
(no response)
So I wished you to see that I do
have proficiency in translating
Greek.
(no response)
I would use as my source the new
Greek edition by Erasmus.
(no response)
Whom you know, do you not?
TONSTALL
Yes. We have met.
WILLIAM
You see, Your Lordship, it is my
belief that --
Tonstall gently interrupts,
TONSTALL
I am sorry... but there are simply
no posts at this time.
Tonstall hands the Isocrates speech to the Chaplain.
TONSTALL
My household is full. As for your
proposed Bible in English, it could
be misused for much mischief, as
the abominable followers of Luther
now smuggle his pestiferous
writings into England -- heretical
poison by which to infect and
corrupt the whole realm.
WILLIAM
But an English New Testament, sire,
would --
TONSTALL
Bare scripture is not enough,
Master Tyndale. Do not listen
to Lollards or Luther.
WILLIAM
I listen to myself, my lord. I --
TONSTALL
The people need shepherds, now more
than ever, lest their minds be
defiled by false doctrine, to the
peril of their eternal souls.
Tonstall moves toward a door, the Chaplain moving toward
William to return the Isocrates text.
TONSTALL
A young man as bright as yourself
should have no trouble finding
gainful employment in London.
At the door Tonstall turns to look back at William.
TONSTALL
There is much need for good parish
priests.
Tonstall leaves.
The Chaplain hands the Isocrates to William, who looks numb
with disappointment.
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