EXT. MONMOUTH'S HOME - DAY
HENRY PHILLIPS approaches the house and stops. He looks the
place over.
Phillips is in his 20s, tall and lean, nice clothes a bit
faded, a bundle tucked under his arm.
INT. FRONT DOOR - DAY
Servant Geoffrey answers the door, and finds Phillips. They
seem to take an immediate dislike to each other.
PHILLIPS
The home of Humphrey Monmouth?
GEOFFREY
Yes. Who are you?
PHILLIPS
His nephew. Henry Phillips of
Dorset.
There is a GROWL. Phillips looks down at the dog Garland,
standing by Geoffrey and gazing up at Phillips.
PHILLIPS
(to Geoffrey)
Announce me, you insolent knave.
INT. MONMOUTH'S HOME - NIGHT
The Monmouths, William, Frith, Bessie, John Preston, and
Phillips sup in silence. Servants attend, the dog Garland
awaiting a bone.
William broods, barely touching his food.
MONMOUTH
Well, William, you shouldn't take
it so hard. I'd say we were too
optimistic, eh, John? I mean, it's
hardly the time for a bishop to
involve himself in such work, given
this Lutheran business and all.
(after a moment)
I hear they burnt a man today out
at Smithfield, for being a heretic
twice, having once recanted.
PHILLIPS
(brightly)
Yes. You should have seen it.
The others exchange looks, Phillips eating meat off a bone.
PHILLIPS
A wretch named Bilney. It took him
half an hour to die. The wind kept
blowing away, not toward him. When
his legs were gone, one of the guards
held him up with --
MONMOUTH
Nephew, let's talk about something
else!
Phillips looks insulted.
MONMOUTH
William, this book you've written on
obedience. Might I have the honor
of publishing it for you myself?
WILLIAM
I suggest you read it first, sir.
MONMOUTH
May I read it then?
WILLIAM
Of course.
INT. PANTRY - NIGHT
Bessie puts away silkwork. Frith comes to the door. They
smile at each other.
FRITH
Hello.
Frith walks over to Bessie.
FRITH
May I ask you something?
BESSIE
Yes.
They look at each other with desire, which will increase as
they speak.
FRITH
What's this nephew Henry Phillips
doing here?
BESSIE
Well according to the mistress, he
came here to London to pay a debt
for his father. But apparently he
has gambled away all the money.
Now he's afraid to go home, and he
wants Uncle Humphrey to help him.
FRITH
May I kiss you?
BESSIE
Yes.
They kiss. They hear from another room,
MARY (O.S.)
Bessie, where are you?
Bessie leaves, with an amorous look back at Frith.
INT. PALACE OF PLACENTIA - QUEEN'S PRIVY CHAMBER - DAY
Henry and Catherine argue.
HENRY
You must be seen less in public,
woman. The people know and speak
of the king's great matter, yet you
would have them think all is well.
CATHERINE
I am queen of the people! They
have no right to see me?
HENRY
The point at issue, Madam, is
whether you are lawfully queen.
We have gathered the written
opinions of university doctors
and divines both here and abroad.
They are all of one mind, that the
marriage should be null and void.
CATHERINE
How much were they paid to be all
of one mind?
HENRY
We have conveyed said documents to
the Pope.
CATHERINE
You know perfectly well, with no
help of doctors, that I am your
wife, sir -- that I was a virgin.
You once said so yourself.
HENRY
I was joking.
CATHERINE
And I care not a straw for your
doctors.
INT. ANNE BOLEYN'S APARTMENT - DAY
Anne seems to pick up right where Catherine left off.
ANNE
Do not come to me, sir, for
sympathy.
Henry seems at his wit's end as Anne berates him.
ANNE
Why do you speak to that woman,
when always she gets the upper
hand? I wish all Spaniards were
drowned in the sea.
HENRY
Sweetheart --
ANNE
Good God, I have thrown away my
youth to no purpose! I see that
some fine morning you will succumb
to her reasoning and cast me away.
HENRY
Anne, darling --
ANNE
I am becoming an old maid, Henry,
waiting for your annulment.
HENRY
What do you want me to do?
ANNE
I'll tell you what you should do.
Get rid of your worthless Lord
Chancellor Wolsey. I thought he
was going to get your annulment.
A fine job the cardinal has done!
HENRY
The court has referred the matter
back to Rome. We must wait, Anne --
ANNE
That court was a farce, and you
couldn't see through it. The
Pope will do nothing. Meanwhile
everyone hates me.
HENRY
No, my dear. Catherine is a well
liked queen, and --
ANNE
They call me a harlot, and I'm
still a virgin.
HENRY
How well I know.
ANNE
If you love me, sir, you will get
rid of Wolsey, who has failed you.
And you will find the means to put
your Spaniard away while I still
might bear you children.
INT. POYNTZ'S HOME - PARLOR - DAY
William and Poyntz sit having ale, William looking depressed.
Margaret and a SERVANT GIRL polish a silver plate display --
Margaret's way, it seems clear, of overhearing the men's
conversation.
WILLIAM
It appears, with there being no
place in my lord bishop's palace
to do my translation, that there's
no place in all of England.
POYNTZ
Then why not somewhere else?
William and Margaret both look at Poyntz quizzically. Poyntz
notes Margaret's look. She goes back to her polishing.
POYNTZ
Are you familiar with the Hansa
here in London?
WILLIAM
The German merchants' quarter?
POYNTZ
Yes. The German merchants of
the Hanseatic league. They are
responsible for much of the
Lutheran writings that are getting
into England.
WILLIAM
And getting people into trouble.
POYNTZ
Yes. There's a German named
Collenbeck I'd like you to meet.
EXT. HANSEATIC QUARTER - DAY
Buildings on the London waterfront. A merchant ship is by
the quay. German seamen unload cargo.
INT. HANSEATIC GUILDHALL - STAIRWAY - DAY
German merchant HANS COLLENBECK, 48, leads William and Poyntz
up the steps.
The merchant's colorless apparel is in stark contrast to
Poyntz's bright velvet. The whole setting reflects the
purposefully austere lifestyle of the London Hanseatics.
COLLENBECK
Only once has the English
government violated our immunities.
Two months ago, Sir Thomas More,
sent by Wolsey himself, came with
two churchmen, and searched all the
buildings, for what More called
"these unwholesome books."
They enter:
INT. A HALLWAY - DAY
Collenbeck, followed by William and Poyntz, walks to a door
and opens it.
COLLENBECK
They found a few works of Luther,
his German New Testament. Four of
our merchants were taken before
Wolsey. But being Hansa merchants,
they were only fined.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
A window overlooks the harbor. A German clerk is at work as
Collenbeck enters with William and Poyntz.
COLLENBECK
Our immunities are a sensitive
thing -- as you know, Master
Poyntz, having like immunities, you
and your colleagues, in Antwerp.
(to clerk; in German)
Leave us.
As the clerk leaves, closing the door behind him, Collenbeck
looks through a stack of papers in a cabinet while he speaks.
COLLENBECK
Below, somewhere in the warehouse,
are two fardels of plain brown
paper, unloaded yesterday...
Collenbeck takes a document from the cabinet. He hands it
to William.
COLLENBECK
If you looked in those fardels
closely enough, here is what you
would find.
The document is written in Latin. William translates,
WILLIAM
(reading the title)
"To the Christian Nobility... by
Martin Luther."
Collenbeck sits down, and Poyntz takes over.
POYNTZ
(to William)
That document will sell for -- how
much, Collenbeck? Five shillings?
Six?
COLLENBECK
It depends on how many you want.
POYNTZ
But an English New Testament? In
England, my goodness, let's see...
Three pounds a copy? With a
printing, to start with, of --
what would you say? Two thousand
copies?... Sound good?
William sits down.
WILLIAM
I wouldn't care about the money.
POYNTZ
You wouldn't have to. We would
care about it for you.
WILLIAM
Where would I do the work?
POYNTZ
Well, there's Cologne in Germany --
a lot of good printers. Hamburg as
well. A lot of the books they're
burning are printed in Antwerp, a
free Dutch city -- its authorities wink
blithely at, shall we say "heretics"?
And its printers are experienced
and never ask questions.
COLLENBECK
My good friend Christopher Endhoven
is a printer in Antwerp.
(nods toward the document)
Does excellent work.
POYNTZ
(to William)
You do your translation abroad.
We'll find you a safe place to
stay, and pay your expenses. Need
someone to help you? We'll pay
for him too. Then we find a good,
discreet printer, and the goods
will be brought in and sold.
Not all through the Hansa, of
course. Only some. We wouldn't
want to get brazen, immunities
or no.
COLLENBECK
Master More would be back for a
visit.
POYNTZ
There are lots of little harbors in
England. For smugglers. What do
you say?
WILLIAM
I must do it.
POYNTZ
How long will it take you?
WILLIAM
It took Martin Luther two months,
so they say, to translate the New
Testament to German.
POYNTZ
That's all? How soon can you sail?
EXT. POYNTZ HOME - COURTYARD - DAY
William and Margaret walk together in the garden.
MARGARET
To Germany? When? How soon do you
go?
WILLIAM
Tomorrow.
MARGARET
No! How long will you have to stay?
WILLIAM
Well, the work won't take long.
After that, I don't know.
MARGARET
Can you ever come back?
WILLIAM
If I wish to stand trial, yes.
Once I've knowingly broken the law,
my life is at risk, till things
change anyway.
MARGARET
I'm so sorry you have to do it this
way.
WILLIAM
So am I. It would have been a
pleasure to have you work as my
amanuensis.
(beat; awkwardly)
Well --
MARGARET
Perhaps there's a way. Some way I
could join you.
WILLIAM
Join a fugitive from the law of the
realm? That's no life for a lady.
I must do this alone.
MARGARET
But my father is helping you.
WILLIAM
That's different.
MARGARET
It is not.
WILLIAM
Your father is a Merchant Adventurer.
The Merchant Adventurers have
something the Crown always needs.
Do you know what it is?
Margaret looks like she knows but doesn't say it.
WILLIAM
Money to borrow. Your father knows
what he's doing, how far he can go.
Whether or not they suspect he's
involved, I'm the one they'll be
after, not him.
MARGARET
He's using you? I should translate
some scripture for Father: "You
cannot serve God and mammon."
WILLIAM
We are using each other, Margaret.
For mammon on his part, perhaps.
For the glory of God on mine.
(after a moment)
Goodbye, Margaret. May I ask that
you pray for me?
MARGARET
Yes. I will. Goodbye.
William turns to leave. Margaret looks sad and distressed as
she watches him go.
INT. MONMOUTH'S HOME - NIGHT
Frith and Bessie duck around a corner together. He takes her
in his arms, they smile, then they look quite serious. They
passionately kiss.
INT. KITCHEN AREA - NIGHT
Phillips, after looking around to be sure he's unobserved,
takes a bottle of wine from several in a cupboard.
INT. WILLIAM'S ROOM - NIGHT
William sits proofing a letter he has written. Monmouth,
with William's book manuscript in hand, steps in at the
open door.
MONMOUTH
Sir William...
William rises, the letter in hand.
MONMOUTH
I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?
WILLIAM
No, I just finished. A letter to
my parents, in the Vale of Berkley.
To let them know what I'm having
to do.
Monmouth walks over. They sit down.
MONMOUTH
How will they take it?
WILLIAM
Not well. They will say, "Look
what happened to your grandfather."
William gazes off.
MONMOUTH
What happened to him, William?
WILLIAM
(beat)
He was burnt to death by a mob, at
a lord's behest, for allegedly
being a Lollard, a follower of the
reformer John Wycliffe.
MONMOUTH
And was he?
William rises to pace, somewhat agitated.
WILLIAM
My grandfather John Tyndale was a
reformer, nothing more. He
believed, for example, that the
clergy shouldn't be so attached to
worldly possessions, but should
follow the example of Christ. And
he said so -- too loudly.
William stops pacing. He stares off as if remembering.
WILLIAM
My parents and I were forced to
watch him burn.
MONMOUTH
(beat)
How old were you, William?
WILLIAM
Eight years old.
William walks back to the table.
WILLIAM
I'm doing this partly for him.
There was nothing I could do as an
eight-year-old boy.
(sits down)
But I became a priest in the hope
that I could do something, so that
such things can't happen again.
(shrugs)
And what have I done, except tutor
and write a book?
(beat)
Now I know what to do. Now I know
what it is. And the time to stand
for reform is now. It is past time.
MONMOUTH
(beat; reluctantly)
Well, about your book, William... I
thought it was about obedience.
WILLIAM
It is. Was it not clear?
MONMOUTH
Obedience to all but the Pope. You
practically call him the Antichrist.
WILLIAM
Practically, yes.
MONMOUTH
Well, William, uh...
William rises to pace again.
WILLIAM
Who could reform the Church, but
doesn't?
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Phillips, with a cup of wine in hand, steps to the edge of
the door of William's room. He surreptitiously listens.
WILLIAM
Who needs him then? The Pope is
the Bishop of Rome, that is all.
Why do we -- or anyone outside of
Rome -- owe him allegiance?
MONMOUTH
I don't know, but... I know I can't
publish this book.
William walks over to Monmouth and understandingly holds out
a hand for the work.
WILLIAM
Did I ask you to?
Monmouth rather reluctantly hands William the work.
WILLIAM
I'll have it published in Cologne,
first thing, while I work on my New
Testament translation. You'll be
reading a copy by Christmas.
MONMOUTH
You won't find a copy in this house.
WILLIAM
I understand.
As Monmouth rises,
MONMOUTH
Well!...
Eavesdropping Phillips turns to head back to his room.
MONMOUTH
I'm glad that's settled.
INT. FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Geoffrey answers the door. He finds Poyntz's servant ROGER,
18, with Margaret standing behind him.
ROGER
Good evening. I bring the daughter
of my master Thomas Poyntz. Could
you tell Master Tyndale she wishes
to see him?
INT. WILLIAM'S ROOM - NIGHT
William lets Margaret in.
WILLIAM
Margaret --
MARGARET
I had to see you.
WILLIAM
Does your father know you're here?
MARGARET
No.
WILLIAM
What is it?
MARGARET
You have to help me. I have to
decide about whether to join the
convent, before I am married off.
WILLIAM
I can't make that decision for you.
If you think it's the best thing to
do, then --
MARGARET
I don't. I mean not necessarily.
William... William, I'll make
someone a very good wife, I just
know it. I can cook, I can spin.
I can do all of those things. And
I have education, I --
WILLIAM
Margaret --
MARGARET
Yes?
WILLIAM
I'm sure you'll make someone a very
good wife.
MARGARET
Take me with you. Don't say you
can't do it.
She kisses him. He looks flummoxed.
MARGARET
You're going to break the law
anyway, William. You are leaving
the Church, so --
WILLIAM
No. I'll be breaking the law, but
I am still a priest -- till the Church
says otherwise. And were I free
of my vows, I would still refuse
to endanger you. I must do this
alone.
MARGARET
But you have said yourself that
your vow -- that the rule against
marriage -- is not biblical. It's
the Church.
WILLIAM
(forcefully)
I have not left the Church. I am
trying to help change it.
MARGARET
But you do want me, William. Do
you not?
William looks at her longingly.
WILLIAM
From the moment I saw you.
She hugs him.
MARGARET
Oh William. I shall wait, then,
till the Church has spoken.
WILLIAM
Margaret, I can't ask you to wait.
MARGARET
You don't have to. You don't have
to ask me. I love you, William.
And you love me, I know this.
They passionately kiss, as William seems no longer able to
resist her.
MARGARET
My darling. I would stay here
tonight if I could.
WILLIAM
No, you wouldn't. I wouldn't let
you.
They kiss and embrace.
WILLIAM
You better go now, Margaret.
MARGARET
I will go, but I'll be there
tomorrow. I love you.
She starts to kiss him again, but he stops her, as if afraid
of losing control.
WILLIAM
Go now, Margaret, please. You're
making this whole thing even more
difficult.
MARGARET
All right. I will see you
tomorrow.
She hugs him. William desirously watches her go.
EXT. QUAY ON THE THAMES - DAY
William is being seen off on the quay by Monmouth, Frith, and
Margaret, a merchant ship set to cast off.
English CAPTAIN #1 calls down from the ship,
CAPTAIN #1
Come aboard, sir.
WILLIAM
Well...
William and Monmouth embrace.
WILLIAM
Goodbye, sir. And thank you.
MONMOUTH
Godspeed, lad.
William and Frith embrace.
FRITH
Be careful, Will. They're going to
be after you.
WILLIAM
I know. But if they don't know
just where to look, they'll be
digging after day. Do me a favor,
John -- on this side. Don't get
involved.
Frith smiles and doesn't answer. William looks again at
Monmouth.
MONMOUTH
You don't have to tell me.
William turns now to Margaret. They walk together toward the
gangplank.
MARGARET
I shall write to you, William.
WILLIAM
No. It's better you didn't. Not
yet. They could find me that way.
And I shan't write to you. For
now, you know nothing at all. Is
that clear?
They stop at the gangplank.
MARGARET
I shall keep after Father, to know
how you are. Be careful, William.
God be with you. I will pray for
you day and night. If they won't
let you come home, I shall join you
there. Whenever you say.
They kiss.
WILLIAM
You could tempt a poor man not
to go. Goodbye.
William turns and heads up the gangplank. Margaret calls
after him,
MARGARET
Let me know, William, if and when I
should join you. Promise to let me
know.
William stops and looks back.
WILLIAM
I promise.
William proceeds aboard ship.
EXT. SHIP - DAY
The ship sails out of the Thames estuary toward the open sea.
William stands at the ship's rail, looking off at what could
be his last view of home.
EXT. THAMES WATERFRONT - NIGHT
An empty wine jug splashes into the water.
Phillips and a fellow young NE'ER-DO-WELL drink by the river.
Phillips has a wine jug he now shares with his friend.
It's a clear moonlit night. No one else is around.
NE'ER-DO-WELL
(half-drunkenly)
Where did this priest go to do his
translation?
(no response)
Calais?
(no response)
No. Antwerp.
(no response)
Hamburg, of course.
Phillips remains blithely silent.
NE'ER-DO-WELL
Well, the question is, what does
one do with such knowledge?
PHILLIPS
One should be open to suggestions.
His friend leans toward Phillips and speaks confidentially,
even though they're alone,
NE'ER-DO-WELL
I have an acquaintance -- a
priest -- who is in the employ of
John Stokesley, Bishop of Durham.
The bishop might appreciate having
such information. Might even find
a way to return the favor.
Phillips smiles mischievously.
PHILLIPS
I'd like to make the acquaintance
of your acquaintance.
INT. MONMOUTH'S FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Monmouth opens the door. Outside stands Phillips, home from
the river.
PHILLIPS
Why, Uncle...
Phillips notes that the servant Geoffrey, at Monmouth's
shoulder, holds both a silver goblet and the bundle that
Phillips first arrived with.
Monmouth takes the goblet from Geoffrey and shows it to
Phillips.
MONMOUTH
I found this in the hutch in your
room.
Phillips looks insulted by such invasion of privacy.
MONMOUTH
(to Geoffrey)
Give him what's his.
Geoffrey hands the bundle to Phillips.
MONMOUTH
You come here and beg me for money.
You eat my bread, sleep under this
roof, you pilfer my wine...
(gestures with goblet)
And you steal my silver plate.
Monmouth hands the cup back to Geoffrey.
MONMOUTH
(to Phillips)
Don't ever set foot near this
threshold again. Not ever.
Monmouth turns and moves off.
Geoffrey starts to close the door.
PHILLIPS
Geoffrey, I shall make a bargain
with you.
Phillips gestures for Geoffrey to join him outside.
EXT. MONMOUTH'S HOME - NIGHT
Geoffrey comes out. Phillips puts a hand on his shoulder.
PHILLIPS
Here is what I propose to do. Take
this bundle.
Already holding the goblet, Geoffrey takes the bundle with
his free hand. Phillips then gives the hapless servant a
beating, leaving him bloodied on the ground.
Phillips picks up the dropped goblet. Geoffrey grabs him by
the leg, in a pathetic attempt to stop him.
Monmouth and his dog Garland come out of the house. Garland,
seeing the struggle, attacks Phillips, who backs away,
dropping the goblet, while trying to fend off the dog.
Monmouth pulls Garland off. The dog fiercely BARKS, while
Phillips, bitten, clothes torn, grabs his bundle off the
ground. Monmouth picks up the goblet.
PHILLIPS
You'll pay for this, Uncle! You
shall rue the day that you ever
laid eyes on Henry Phillips!
Monmouth, battered Geoffrey, and barking Garland watch
Phillips head into the night.
EXT. WOLSEY'S ESTATE - NIGHT (TWILIGHT)
The 50-ish DUKE OF NORFOLK and several officers come riding
on horses to Hampton Court Palace as if on a formal mission.
INT. PRESENCE CHAMBER - NIGHT (TWILIGHT)
Cardinal Wolsey sits in his chair, a servant standing nearby.
Wolsey listens stoically to the sound of APPROACHING BOOTS.
Norfolk and his men march in.
NORFOLK
I am here, Cardinal Wolsey, by
command of His Majesty the King, to
retrieve the Great Seal of England.
You are no longer lord chancellor.
WOLSEY
(to servant)
Fetch the seal for my lord Duke of
Norfolk.
The servant goes. Wolsey stares sadly into space.
WOLSEY
If I had served God as well as I
have served His Majesty, he would
not be forsaking me in these my
last years.
EXT. MORE'S BOAT - DAY
SIR THOMAS MORE sits in a boat rowed rapidly by servants on
the Thames. 50-ish, More wears his knight's golden chain
on a fur-collared cloak.
EXT. ROYAL PALACE - LANDING STEPS - DAY
More leaves his boat, the servants waiting, and heads for an
entrance flanked by palace guards.
INT. PRESENCE CHAMBER - DAY
Musician MARK SMEATON, mid-20s, plays a regal (portable
organ) for Henry and Anne.
Also present are several Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, the
king's fool WILL SOMERS -- a lean, stooped little man -- and
Will's MONKEY.
Smeaton finishes playing. Everyone, including the Monkey,
applauds. SIR HENRY NORRIS, 35, steps in at the door.
NORRIS
Sir Thomas More has arrived, Your
Majesty.
HENRY
Send him in, Norris.
Henry rises. All the gentlemen and Anne rise to leave.
HENRY
Thank you, Master Smeaton.
Smeaton and the gentlemen move toward the door. They pass
More as he enters. More passes by Anne, the last one out.
ANNE
Sir Thomas.
MORE
Lady Anne.
Henry sits down at the regal as More walks over.
MORE
How are you, Your Majesty?
HENRY
Fine, Thomas.
Henry plays the regal, quite well.
HENRY
We have a new Bishop of London.
MORE
John Stokesley.
HENRY
You know him well?
MORE
Yes, Your Grace. A good man. Served
admirably as Bishop of Durham.
HENRY
He'll be a hard one on the heretics.
MORE
As he should be. All heretics,
Your Grace, are wood for the fire.
First here in the kingdom, and
then in the devil's abode.
Henry rises, looking pleased.
HENRY
And you, Thomas, shall help bring
them to the fire in the kingdom.
England needs a new lord chancellor.
You're the choice of the council.
You shall have the Great Seal.
An awkward pause.
MORE
Your Grace, I am honored, but as
you know I...
HENRY
I know, Thomas, I know. You do not
support an annulment. Wolsey could
not help me, I shan't ask you. But
I will have my annulment!
Henry paces in frustration.
HENRY
I must chart a new course to secure
it. I can't afford to have a war
with her nephew the king of Spain.
And I can't afford to keep waiting
for the Pope to make a decision.
He paces in silence for a moment.
HENRY
The Pope needs some encouragement
to act. I must show the Holy See --
I must show the world -- what a good
Catholic I am.
Henry stops pacing and looks at More as if sensing some
dissent.
HENRY
I am a good Catholic.
MORE
Aye, Your Grace.
HENRY
Not, perhaps, as good a Catholic
as you, but a good one.
(paces)
Which brings us back to these
heretics. Perhaps what we need
are more burnings.
MORE
Yes, Your Grace. Even now, Bishop
Stokesley has told me, there's a
plan afoot, to bring an English
New Testament, straight from the
Lutheran pit, into England.
Henry stops pacing and looks at More.
HENRY
Translated by whom?
MORE
His name is William Tyndale. He's
a priest.
HENRY
Where is he?
MORE
The bishop thinks in Cologne. The
bishop has a list of names, though
it's not yet known how many are
behind Tyndale's work, both here
and beyond the sea.
Henry looks fascinated.
HENRY
Why, this fellow could be a prize.
We could do more than burn him.
To mastermind such smuggling into
England, against the public
welfare, could be not only
heretical, but an act of treason.
Tried and convicted, we could have
Tyndale hung, drawn, and quartered.
How's that for impressing the Pope?
Henry steps closer to More and smiles.
HENRY
You will find Tyndale, won't you --
my Lord Chancellor?
EXT. COLOGNE - AN INN - DAY
German citizens walk by the two-story, gabled building.
SUPERIMPOSE: "COLOGNE, GERMANY"
ROYE (V.O.)
"Degrees of affinity."
INT. WILLIAM'S QUARTERS - DAY
A modest room. William, who has grown a short beard, sits
trying to work on his New Testament translation.
With him at the table is 30-ish WILLIAM ROYE, an apostate
English friar. Roye has before him the text he's supposed
to be proofing.
ROYE
What a scholarly debate they make
of it. The king's great matter
really hinges on whether or not
Queen Catherine's marriage to the
king's late brother Prince Arthur
was consummated. But would you not
say that the only people living who
are wise to the truth are the king
and the queen? And even they are
at odds on the question.
WILLIAM
(bothered)
Yes, I would say that. But I
believe, Master Roye, you were sent
here to help edit my work, not to
discuss such things as the king's
great matter.
ROYE
Of course. I am sorry, William. I
do tend to go on.
A young GERMAN SERVANT bursts in.
GERMAN SERVANT
(in German)
There are English here, looking for
Tyndale.
Roye grabs a cloth sack, and starts throwing their work
materials into it, William apparently not understanding.
GERMAN SERVANT
(in German)
Go to the stable.
The Servant hurries out.
ROYE
(to William)
They are here.
WILLIAM
Who?
ROYE
He said they are English. We've
got to get to the horses.
INT. SECOND FLOOR - DAY
Sword-bearing ENGLISH AGENTS, six in all, search the second
floor rooms.
EXT. INN - DAY
William climbs into a tree from his second-floor window. As
William starts down, from the window Roye drops the sack to
the ground.
INT. WILLIAM'S QUARTERS - DAY
AGENT #1 comes in and sees Roye climb out the window.
AGENT #1
Halt!
EXT. INN - DAY
Agent #1 comes to the window as Roye climbs down the tree,
William waiting below with the sack.
ROYE
Get going! I'll follow you!
William takes off.
AGENT #1
Halt, in the name of the king of
England!
The Agent quickly turns back inside.
INT. STABLE - DAY
The STABLER and a STABLE BOY watch William come running with
the sack through the open door.
WILLIAM
We need two horses. Zwei.
STABLER
(points; in German)
Take those two, Herr Tyndale.
(to stable boy)
Help bridle them!
Roye rushes in. The Stabler closes the door and bars it,
while William and the Stable Boy bridle two horses.
EXT. STABLE - DAY
The six English Agents hurry to the stable door. They try to
open it, then start banging on it.
AGENT #1
Open this door in the name of the
king of England!
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. STABLE - DAY
William and Roye mount their horses bareback, as the banging
at the door continues. The Stable Boy hands Roye the sack.
The riders get set and the Stabler quickly unbars the door.
The Agents rush in. They are met by the two horses charging
out. One Agent is injured by trampling, Roye downs another
with the sack to the side of his head.
The frustrated Agents watch William and Roye ride off. The
two Germans chatter at once,
STABLER AND STABLE BOY
(in German; to Agents)
They stole our horses! Catch those
English thieves! What are you
waiting for?
AGENT #1
Shut up!!
INT. PRINTING SHOP (WORMS, GERMANY) - DAY
The German PRINTER hands William one of the first bound
copies of his New Testament translation.
PRINTER
(in German)
Here is a copy of the printing, sir.
William and Roye, who wear winter clothing, admire the work.
EXT. LONDON - HANSEATIC QUARTER - DAY
Hans Collenbeck, at his office window, knowingly watches as
dockworkers in the cold unload cargo -- non-descript, flax
covered bundles -- from a ship.
INT. LONDON BOOKSHOP - DAY
Two pairs of hands exchange money, two books on the counter.
Now the seller's hand slips a third book -- the English New
Testament -- from under the counter.
The buyer's hands slip the Testament into the buyer's doublet,
then pick up the other two books. During this,
WOMAN READING (V.O.)
"And thou, Lord, in the beginning,
hast laid the foundations of the
earth -- "
EXT. STREET CORNER - DAY
Two pairs of hands, white from the cold, exchange money for
what looks like a bundle of books.
WOMAN READING (V.O.)
" -- and the heavens are the work
of thy hands..."
INT. LONDON HOME - DAY
A clandestine gathering of ordinary men, women, and children
listens with rapt attention to the New Testament in English,
being read aloud by the WOMAN READING.
WOMAN READING
"They shall perish, but thou shalt
endure. They all wax old as doth a
garment, and as a vesture thou
shalt change them, and they shall
be changed. But thou art forever,
and thy years shall not fail."
EXT. LONDON STREET - DAY
A BUYER and SELLER, faces at first unseen, exchange money and
copies of the testament.
The seller is now seen to be Frith.
BUYER
Thank you, sir.
FRITH
God bless you.
Frith moves off. The Buyer, turning to watch Frith leave,
is the scheming Ne'er-Do-Well who drank earlier with Phillips
by the river.
EXT. LONDON HARBOR - MOORED MERCHANT SHIP - DAY
A spring day.
FRITH (V.O.)
How is Tyndale? Do you know?
INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN - DAY
Frith and English CAPTAIN #2, 50, sit talking, as a ship's
mate brings in a small bundle of the New Testaments and sets
it unwrapped on the table.
CAPTAIN #2
Safe enough. Keeps busy with
Testaments -- translating the Old,
reworking the New. There's a
second edition at the printer.
As the mate leaves, Frith rises and puts money on the table
for the books. The Captain examines the books for damage.
FRITH
You've heard about Baynham?
CAPTAIN #2
Aye.
FRITH
John Tewkesbury?
CAPTAIN #2
Tewkesbury bought his books where
you're standing.
Frith picks up one of the New Testament copies.
FRITH
Well they're going to burn him --
just like they did Baynham. They
went into it all at Baynham's
trial -- the real presence in the
sacrament, the Pope's authority.
CAPTAIN #1
Do you fear for your own life now?
FRITH
How soon do you sail again?
CAPTAIN #2
In a couple of days. You are
welcome aboard, if you decide it
is wise to get out.
FRITH
If I do, someone may go with me.
A young lady.
CAPTAIN #2
Getting married, are you, Frith?
FRITH
God willing. But as of now, I
don't know what's best to do.
Frith regards the copy he holds.
FRITH
Have you read Tyndale's New
Testament?
CAPTAIN #2
I read it faithfully, sir.
FRITH
"Whosoever will save his life shall
lose it. For what does it profit a
man -- "
CAPTAIN #2
" -- if he should gain the whole
world, but lose his own soul?"
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