by

Andrew Birkin

and

Luc Besson

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

Jeanne runs from the little church, the weight of her sins

now happily off her shoulders. Her reflection skips

across a little stream, then on through a meadow of

cowslips and buttercups and up the sloping hillside

beyond...

EXT. MEADOW & WOOD - DUSK

A hazy, summer dusk -- pollen floating in the shimmering

air... Jeanne swirls between the high elms, happy and

carefree -- it's all a little surreal -- are those church

bells in the distance? Or cow bells? Or merely the SOUND

of insects?

Jeanne swings round faster and faster, then tumbles over,

laughing, and lies on her back. She's dizzy and out of

breath. Above her, the clouds seeming to swirl as though

she were still spinning round...

The SOUND of the bells slows down, deepening... Her face

moves into shadow. Although not distinguishable as words

at this stage, there's an urgent whisper in the wind... a

strange echo that will eventually resolve into a call

"Jeanne...!"

Presently Jeanne turns and sees something glinting in the

long grass. A SWORD. The background SOUND of the bells

grows ominous. A shooting star silently flashes across

the sky -- then scores of them. She gets to her feet and

picks up the heavy sword. It's growing darker -- colder

-- the leaves have turned to autumn brown, now blown about

by a gust of wind.

Presently she sees a WOLF approaching, slowly but straight

toward her -- then two, three -- finally the whole pack.

She grips the sword, but can't use it -- too heavy, too

frightened. As the wolves approach, she closes her

eyes...

The wolves pass either side of her, as though oblivious to

her presence. When she opens her eyes, they have passed,

and are now heading along the forest track.

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

Jeanne follows the wolves along the track. They're

heading toward a red glow, visible beyond the trees. The

wolves disappear over a ridge, though all we can see for

the moment is the red sky beyond. But as Jeanne reaches

the edge, we move up with her to see...

... her village in the valley below, ablaze.

EXT. DOMREMY VILLAGE - NIGHT

Panic -- screams -- crashing timbers -- animals stampeding

-- wolves drag corpses from gutted buildings -- and

through the midst of the tumult tears Jeanne, still

dragging the sword she found. She runs inside a farm

cottage...

INT. JEANNE'S HOME - NIGHT

The low, dark building we saw earlier -- now empty, lit by

the fires of the houses on the far side of the street.

Jeanne runs in, searching about --

JEANNE

Mother...?

No response. She begins to panic -- runs through into a

smaller room beyond, calling out --

JEANNE

Catherine?!

Suddenly a door swings open and a hand reaches out --

Jeanne screams, then turns to see her elder sister,

CATHERINE, who's been hiding in a cupboard...

CATHERINE

Jeanne!

Catherine embraces her, hugging her in relief --

CATHERINE

Are you alright? Did they hurt you?

JEANNE

No no, I'm fine, really...

CATHERINE

I was so worried -- we've all been

looking for you! The English are

everywhere! O thank you, lord!

She hugs her again -- then freezes, hearing the SOUND of

horses, the clanking of armor. But Jeanne hasn't heard...

JEANNE

I was in church...

Catherine glances about, ears tuned...

CATHERINE

Really?

JEANNE

I was talking to the priest, and do

you know what he said to me?

Catherine puts her hand across Jeanne's mouth --

CATHERINE

Shhh... tell me later...

She hears the drunken laughter getting closer...

CATHERINE

Quick -- hide in here...

JEANNE

What about you?

CATHERINE

Don't worry about me -- just stay in

here... and don't move!

JEANNE

But where are you going to be?

CATHERINE

I'll be right here... I promise.

Catherine quickly lifts Jeanne inside the cupboard, locks

the door, then turns to confront THREE hefty ruffians

calling themselves soldiers. The biggest and ugliest has

a jet black beard.

BLACKBEARD

Now that's what I call booty!

Blackbeard turns back to his comrades, who are sharing out

a roast chicken between them. Catherine picks up the

sword dropped by Jeanne as Blackbeard swaggers up to

her...

BLACKBEARD

A woman with a sword?

(to his comrades)

Hey, take a look at this --

Frenchmen are such cowards that

they've left all the fighting to

women!

CATHERINE

If that's God's will, then so be it!

Blackbeard's comrades start tucking into their food,

leaving Blackbeard to his pleasure.

BLACKBEARD

Fine with me. I love women.

He undoes his buckle. From her POV behind the cupboard

door, Jeanne can just about see Blackbeard's face through

a crack. Catherine raises the heavy sword as Blackbeard

advances, then brings it sweeping down. But he intercepts

it effortlessly, grasping the blade as though it were a

twig...

BLACKBEARD

Oh... now you've hurt my feeling...

He puts his hand around her throat, rips off her little

wooden cross, pins her against the door, then, with a

lecherous roar, plunges his face on her...

Jeanne is terrified. Blackbeard has his tunic down and is

attempting to gain entry -- Catherine tries to scream --

he slams his hand over her mouth -- she bites it --

Blackbeard howls... with laughter. Now his juices are

really moving. Catherine squirms against the door,

twisting and turning --

BLACKBEARD

Hold still, bitch. How can I do it

if you keep wriggling about?

He picks her up by the throat, lifts her clear off the

floor by several inches, then rams the sword clean through

her gut and the door behind her, the blade just missing

Jeanne.

BLACKBEARD

There, that's better.

With a grin at his comrades, Blackbeard resumes his

intercourse with the lifeless Catherine. Behind the door,

Jeanne is suffocating with terror.

The little wooden necklace lies on the floor in f.g. as

Blackbeard pulls up his pants and turns to his comrades --

BLACKBEARD

Your turn.

EXT. CHURCHYARD - VILLAGE - DAY

The little village church is no more than a smoldering

pile of rubble -- among it, the twisted stained-glass of

an angel. Corpses are piled up alongside a warren of

shallow graves, awaiting committal. The Priest passes by

each grave in turn, administering hasty last rites, then

moving onto the next while a harassed grave-digger fills

in the last.

Jeanne stands by a shallow grave, now wearing her sister's

wooden cross and grazing fixedly at her body, wrapped in

linen and awaiting interment. Her parents and other

adults stand nearby, but at Jeanne's level we only see

them from the waist down.

MAN #1 (O.S.)

We shouldn't be doing this by

daylight... it's too dangerous.

MAN #2 (O.S.)

You're right -- the English are

still around -- I can smell them...

MAN #3 (O.S.)

When is the king going to do

something?

MAN #1 (O.S.)

He's good for nothing...

MAN #2 (O.S.)

Yeah... we can't even be sure he

really is a king...

(whispering)

I heard someone say he's a

bastard...

MAN #1 (O.S.)

With a mother like that? I wouldn't

be surprised... she's such a

whore...

WOMAN (O.S.)

Can you show some respect? We're

burying our children. You should be

praying instead of cursing...

MAN #2 (O.S.)

That's just about all we can do.

WOMAN (O.S.)

Yes... because only God can help us.

Now the Priest scurries over, hurriedly mumbles the last

rites in Latin, then moves on to the next grave. Jeanne's

family have their eyes closed in prayer, and it is only

Jeanne who sees the Grave-digger nudge the corpse into the

shallow grave with his foot. He shovels in the earth,

then moves on. The Father puts his hand on her shoulder.

FATHER

Listen, Jeanne... your Uncle and

Aunt are taking you to their house

for a few weeks... just to give us

time to rebuild what we can.

Jeanne looks at him blankly, her thoughts too deep for

tears.

EXT. VILLAGE & ROAD - DAY

Jeanne sits on the back of a small hay-wagon. Her Uncle

and Aunt are up front, eyes on the barren, devastated

countryside ahead, while Jeanne gazes fixedly on the road

behind. From her POV: the receding figures of her

parents, gradually merging with the dusty landscape.

INT. DAXART'S HOUSE - NIGHT

A large, low room, almost identical to Jeanne's house: a

bare, earthen floor with chickens running about, and a

huge cave of a fireplace. The Aunt doles out soup from a

cauldron -- first to her husband, then to Jeanne.

DAXART

Lord, we give thanks for the food

you have given us. Teach us always

to love this land, and to save it

from those who seek to destroy it.

Amen.

Jeanne says nothing -- noted by Daxart. His wife nudges

him with a gesture to let her be.

INT. DAXART ATTIC - NIGHT

Daxart opens the door to an attic room, his wife standing

behind him with Jeanne. She wanders into the room, tidy

but sparse, and sits on the edge of the bed. Daxart looks

a little put out.

DAXART

So... good night then.

The Aunt understands Jeanne better than her husband, and

leads him from the room.

INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT

The Daxarts share the communal sleeping area with a couple

of goats and a mangy dog. Daxart is settling down to

sleep, but his wife lies awake.

AUNT

What's going to happen to her?

DAXART

She'll be fine. She'll grow up...

find a good man... make him some

children. Don't worry -- she's been

hurt, but she'll survive. Tomorrow

she'll be as right as rain, you'll

see.

INT. DAXART ATTIC - DAY

Daxart opens the door to the attic. Jeanne has not moved:

she's still sitting on the bed like the day before.

JEANNE

I want to see a priest.

INT. VILLAGE CHURCH - DAY

Christ, crucified in stained glass. A silver cup is

raised in blessing...

The local PRIEST, much older than the one at Domremy,

lowers the cup, filled with wine in preparation for the

Mass. The Daxarts enter the church at the far end, with

Jeanne between them. The Priest is expecting her.

INT. CONFESSIONAL BOX - DAY

Jeanne sits in the shielded darkness of the confessional

box. She clutches at her little wooden cross and at last

begins to cry.

PRIEST

I heard about your sister, and I...

understand your pain...

JEANNE

Why did she have to die?

PRIEST

Only God knows the answer to that.

JEANNE

I know Jesus says to love our

enemies but I can't -- I just want

the English to burn in hell for ever

and ever!

PRIEST

I realize your anger, Jeanne, but we

must learn to forgive. It's hard,

but revenge will never bring about

peace.

JEANNE

Then what will? And what will bring

her back? And why did she have to

die in the first place instead of

me? Why didn't he take my life

instead of hers? It was my fault --

I was late -- she gave me her hiding

place...!!

PRIEST

Jeanne... calm down...! Calm down,

Jeanne!

Jeanne breaks off, trembling, tears pouring down her

cheeks.

PRIEST

I don't pretend to know God's will,

but I am sure of one thing -- the

Lord always has a good reason.

Perhaps he saved you because he

needs you... for some higher

calling. So... as long as you

answer that call, your sister will

not have died in vain.

Jeanne clams down. She stares at the Priest for a long

moment, and her look becomes very deep and intense.

JEANNE

I don't want to wait for his call.

PRIEST

Jeanne, be patient.

JEANNE

I want to be with him always...

PRIEST

Soon you'll be able to take the Holy

Mass, and as you eat of his flesh

and drink of his blood, you will be

at one with him.

JEANNE

I want to be at one with Him now.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY

On the open road, with Jeanne sitting on the back of

Daxart's wagon. It's a grey, lowering, dismal sort of

day. The Daxarts are up front, talking in low voices.

DAXART

What did he say?

AUNT

He says we must bring her to church

whenever she wants.

DAXART

Hmmm... easy for him -- he's not the

one that has to do the bringing.

Behind them, the wagon is empty. Jeanne is long gone.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

The rain pours down in torrents -- Jeanne runs...

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

... down the deserted road -- into the church...

INT. VILLAGE CHURCH - DAY

... and up the aisle to the altar. She grabs a jug of

wine, pours some into the chalice -- holds it up high as

the Priest did, then gulps it down. The wine cascades

from her mouth like blood as she gazes up at the stained

glass image --

JEANNE

I want to be with you now!

INT. DAXART HOUSE - DAWN

Daxart sits bolt upright, awaking from a nightmare. It's

early morning, his wife still asleep beyond him.

INT./ EXT. DAXART ATTIC/POV OF FIELD - DAWN

Daxart opens the door to Jeanne's room. Empty, the bed

unslept in. He walks in -- hears something. Looking out

of the window he sees --

Jeanne in the distance, playing be herself. Daxart

smiles.

EXT. HOUSE & FIELD - DAWN

Jeanne pauses, her stick poised in mid-air --

SUBLIMINAL FLASH --

-- a real sword impales a soldier through the stomach --

another sword slices through chain-mail -- and a severed

head encased in metal spins lose from armored shoulders...

EXT. HOUSE & FIELD - DAWN

Jeanne looks at Daxart.

JEANNE

I'm playing.

Once again Jeanne raises her stick-sword -- the head of a

sunflower is violently decapitated --

INT. CHINON - STATE ROOM - DAY

-- and a sword swishes down, trying to hack someone in the

leg. But it is only a wooden sword, and its wielder a

mere boy of five. This is young Prince LOUIS, practicing

his nascent swordsmanship on the castle GUARDS.

VOICES and approaching footsteps alert the Guards, who

quickly stand to attention as a door is swung open...

GUARD

The Dauphin!

Louis takes advantage of the Guards forced immobility, and

jabs one of them in the leg... he lets out a muffled "Ow!"

The Dauphin CHARLES VII enters, followed by his courtiers.

They include the bloated REGNAULT, Archbishop of Rheims,

and Georges de la TREMOILLE -- a sly and devious diplomat.

CHARLES

Louis, shouldn't you be learning

your lessons?

LOUIS

I don't want to learn, I want to

fight!

CHARLES

You will, you will. But for now,

you must learn... at least to wipe

your nose.

Charles (who speaks with a slight stutter) affectionately

wipes his son's nose with a corner of his shirt. Beyond

them, a young soldier, Jean d'AULON, arrives with a

scroll.

AULON

A letter for His Majesty.

Tremoille takes it, opens the seal and begins to read.

Charles hands over Louis to a courtier...

TREMOILLE

Another one from this girl calling

herself the Maiden of Lorraine.

Charles snatches it somewhat testily from Tremoille...

CHARLES

I can read for myself, you know.

While Charles reads, Tremoille turns aside to Regnault --

TREMOILLE

She pretends she's been sent by God!

These charlatans -- it's a pity

there isn't enough wood to burn them

all!

CHARLES

She says she'll be here tomorrow...!

TREMOILLE

You mustn't see her, my lord. We

know nothing about her... we don't

even know if she is from Lorraine.

CHARLES

What difference does it make where

she comes from?

TREMOILLE

If she comes from Burgundy it makes

a difference. It might be a trap...

(takes back letter)

Look... Signed "X". What sort of

name is "X"? Or must we conclude

that a messenger of God can't even

write her own name?

REGNAULT

My lord Tremoille is correct. She

says she hears voices... she may be

a sorceress... a witch...

CHARLES

(snatching back

letter)

Regnault -- you see witches

everywhere. She's just a peasant...

a peasant who cares for her king.

Look... all she wants is to help me

win my crown... and permission to

fight for me.

TREMOILLE

Not exactly.

(takes back letter)

She wants you to give her an army --

at your expanse. Bearing in mind

that your mother stole every last

piece of gold in the treasury, I

fail to see how you can afford such

an adventure.

CHARLES

(snatches back

letter)

I can see her if I want to. I mean,

with half of France in the hands of

the English, what have I got to

lose?

TREMOILLE

The other half.

REGNAULT

You mustn't see her, my lord. She

may be an instrument of the devil.

YOLANDE (O.S.)

Well... I think you should.

All eyes turn to the window, where Yolande has been

standing with her back to the room, reading a little book.

Her right-arm is standing beside her -- RICHMOND, his face

hideously disfigured by battle scars.

CHARLES

Ah, Yolande... and what makes you

think the exact opposite of my two

most trusted advisors?

Yolande smiles, though hardly a devoted smile. Mild

contempt would be more accurate.

YOLANDE

Because I care about you. Come here.

Charles walks over. He has his shirt undone. Yolande

buttons it back up.

YOLANDE

Your health and happiness has always

been my first concern, Charles...

ever since you were a little boy --

and I think I know you better than

your own mother...

CHARLES

You think?

YOLANDE

Mmmm. Yes. I know for example the

sickness that plagues your heart. I

know how painful it is for you... to

have loved a father... without ever

knowing if he really was yours.

CHARLES

W-w-what has that got to do with

this Maiden?

YOLANDE

Who better than a messenger from God

to give answers to your questions?

CHARLES

You really think she's been sent...

by God?

YOLANDE

You're a fine judge of character,

Charles. It'll take you less than

five minutes to expose her if she's

a fake. But if she's not -- then

she will give you your answers...

and place the crown on your head.

Charles shines at the prospect, but Tremoille and Regnault

look less than happy.

TREMOILLE

With respect, my lady, I think it's

going to take more than just a

simple peasant girl to...

YOLANDE

I'm not interested in what you

think, Tremoille -- or even what I

think. It's what simple people

think that matters, and the fact is

that simple people up and down the

country are already talking about

her. Now you know what simple

people are like, always ready to

believe any old prophecy... like

this one about a virgin from

Lorraine saving France...?

(hands Tremoille the

book)

And now this girl comes along --

from Lorraine -- and suddenly

there's a spark of hope in their

simple minds. We shouldn't

disappoint them. If they believe in

her -- if she can put back the fire

in our army -- then I believe in her

too.

EXT. CHINON - LONG SHOT - NIGHT

Moving torches gallop toward us -- a FLAME flares through

foreground with a whoosh, PANNING ROUND as soldiers ride

toward the distant castle of Chinon -- a gloomy great

silhouette, rising against a bloody sunset...

INT. CHINON - GREAT HALL - NIGHT

Celebrations after a hunt. Troubadours play -- a whole

tree trunk is burning in the vast chimney. A Page comes

running into the big room and hurries excitedly over to

Charles.

PAGE

She's coming, your majesty... with

an armed escort!

CHARLES

Alright, alright -- calm yourself.

TREMOILLE

Your majesty, I urge you not to see

this woman. It all reeks of a

Burgundian trap!

CHARLES

My astrologers assure me that the

hour is p-p-propitious -- Leo, with

Virgo rising. Have you ever noticed

on the astrological chart how the

Virgin is next to the Lion?

TREMOILLE

Supposing she's an assassin?

CHARLES

Tremoille, I'm not even king yet...

who'd want to assassinate me?

Looking around at his courtiers? They all would.

EXT. CHINON COURTYARD - NIGHT

A FLAME swirls in the darkness -- the urgent clatter of

horses hooves -- steaming breath in the cold night air --

the SOUND of festivities coming from the castle walls

beyond -- the horses are reined -- one whinnies as

SOLDIERS jump down onto the cobbles -- a dark cape wraps

about a figure...

INT. CHINON - GREAT HALL - NIGHT

Another page boy bursts in --

PAGE #2

She's arrived, my lord! She's in

the guards' room.

CHARLES

So... I suppose I'd better make a

decision.

Charles glances between Tremoille, Regnault and Yolande,

but -- either by accident of will -- none are looking his

way. He sighs deeply to the dashing, open-faced young

soldier we saw earlier, Jean d'AULON...

CHARLES

Oh dear, why is life so complicated?

Sometimes I really wish I could be

someone else.

AULON

That's a good idea, sire.

CHARLES

What do you mean?

AULON

Let someone else pretend to be you,

and see if...

CHARLES

... if she can find me? -- That's a

brilliant idea! If she's really

been sent by God she'll discover the

trap, and if she's an assassin

she'll kill the wrong man!

(to the page)

Bring her up!

Charles turns to a coterie of ARMY CAPTAINS, standing

aside and aloof from the courtiers whom they evidently

despise.

CHARLES

My dear Captains, I've had a

brilliant idea! We're going to have

a little game. Now... let's pretend

my throne is empty. Who wants to be

the king?

They all put up their hands...

CHARLES

Now there's a heart-warming sight!

So let's see... which one of you

could possibly pass as king?

He turns to the Duke of ALENCON, 25, strikingly handsome

in his bright, gilded armor.

CHARLES

Ah, Alencon, my noble duke, my royal

cousin -- so fine, so brave, so rich

-- so very rich -- so far-too-rich

to be the King of France. Everyone

knows I'm the poorest man in my

kingdom.

He turns to GILLES de Rais: a dark, glamorous seducer,

dressed in black armor with a ring through one ear.

CHARLES

Gilles de Rais... Marshal of

France... formidable to men,

fascinating to women, feared by all.

You'd be perfect to sit on my

throne... so perfect that you might

like it too much for my own piece of

mind.

Charles turns to the bearded La Hire.

CHARLES

Ah, La Hire -- my angry captain...

the bravest in France -- scarred by

a dozen wars, but with heart and

stomach for a dozen more. You could

pass for the king...

LA HIRE

Damn bloody right I could!

CHARLES

... until you opened your mouth. No

one with a tongue like yours could

pass as the King of France.

The other Captains laugh heartily.

CHARLES

Ah well... it looks as though it's

going to have to be me after all...

But... wait a minute...

Charles spots the shy Jean d'Aulon. Unlike the other

court toadies, Aulon is a quiet, honorable man.

CHARLES

Why not you -- Jean d'Aulon? The

only man who's poorer than I am, and

so the only man I can trust.

Dignified, honorable, wise... what

more could we ask of a king?

AULON

My lord, I'm not sure that...

Charles takes his coat and puts it around Aulon's

shoulders.

CHARLES

My dear Aulon, to you it shall

befall the honor of impersonating

the royal blood!

AULON

Majesty, I can't...

CHARLES

Why, are you not ready to die for

your king?

AULON

Of course I am, it's just that...

CHARLES

Good. Until then, feel free to live

like a king!

Laughter -- then the sound of approaching excitement.

CHARLES

Hurry, hurry -- on the throne...

INT. CORRIDOR - CHINON - NIGHT

Armored feet clank along a stone corridor --

INT. GREAT HALL - CHINON - NIGHT

Charles unceremoniously dumps Aulon on the throne...

AULON

Sire, you know how bad I am at this

sort of game.

CHARLES

So... pretend it's not a game.

Charles abandons Aulon and disappears among his courtiers.

A pair of PAGE BOYS swing open the doors: the courtiers

turn expectantly; Aulon tries to pose as the king.

From the Court's POV, a girl of 17 enters the great hall,

dressed in a grubby tunic, with long hair tied back

beneath a hood. There could not be a more striking

contrast than the sophisticated, opulent, yet cowardly

courtiers and this naive, rough girl, almost childlike in

her simplicity, and yet so focused, so confident, so

secure in her mission, with a courage that radiates

conviction, and is contagious.

The courtiers step back to form a narrow channel as she

moves into the great hall. Yolande marks the effect her

presence has on the court, smiling at their bemused gazes.

Jeanne passes the Archbishop, who defends himself by

sprinkling holy water in her path. Tremoille oils his way

toward her with a can-I-help ingratiating smile...

JEANNE

I have come to see the Dauphin.

Tremoille nods obsequiously, ushering her toward Aulon,

who is now visibly uneasy. Jeanne stops in front of him.

Aulon gazes at her. Jeanne scans him a couple of times,

looks at him stonily. Then smiles. Aulon melts, his

cheeks blushing hot. Jeanne cocks her head, like an

inquisitive child.

JEANNE

Who are you?

Aulon stammers in response...

AULON

I'm... I'm... I'm...

TREMOILLE

... His most gracious majesty

Charles de Valois, Dauphin of

France...

She gives Aulon another smile.

JEANNE

I can see you are a good man, but

you're not the Dauphin.

(to Tremoille)

I'm sorry to insist, but we have no

time to lose. I must see the

Dauphin. Where is he?

TREMOILLE

He's here.

(a gracious gesture)

Find him yourself.

A brief pause, then Jeanne takes up the challenge. She

moves on, examining the faces acutely. Although a few of

the wimpoled ladies find her simple peasant dress amusing,

most are caught like moths in her flame. She notices the

Three Captains (La Hire, Alencon and Gilles de Rais)

edging closer together, as though shielding someone

beyond.

Jeanne approaches them -- they draw closer together, but

now we can see Charles, overtly curious, yet anxious to

remain hidden. His inquisitiveness wins -- but as Jeanne

walks up to him, the Three Captains spring in front of

her, swords drawn, the tips pressing at her throat...

JEANNE

There's no need to be afraid, sire.

CHARLES

I'm... I'm not the king...

JEANNE

I know you're not yet -- but you

will be, soon.

Charles makes a gesture, and the soldiers cautiously

sheath their swords.

CHARLES

H-h-how did you know who I am?

ALENCON

Her voices, of course...

GILLES

"That's him" they said, "The one

with the big nose and bags under his

eyes."

They laugh -- whereupon Jeanne rushes at Charles and

flings herself on her knees, embracing him round the

ankles.

Charles screams -- the 3 Captains redraw their swords --

the court gasps -- then Charles gestures the Captains to

back off.

JEANNE

My gentle Dauphin, I bring you good

news.

Charles puts out his hand to her, allowing her to rise.

She draws close to him, whispering...

JEANNE

It is a message from the King of

Heaven. For you -- and you only.

Jeanne speaks with such conviction that it seems

unnecessary to doubt her. Her mesmeric effect on Charles

is being noticed by his courtiers. He hesitates a moment,

then --

CHARLES

Follow me.

He leads her from the room. Tremoille hurriedly follows

them. Charles turns round in the doorway, barring him

further access.

TREMOILLE

Your majesty, I really think you...

CHARLES

My dear loyal Tremoille, I know I

can count on you...

TREMOILLE

... as always, majesty...

CHARLES

... to ensure our privacy. I need

to talk to her. Alone.

Tremoille looks non-plussed.

TREMOILLE

As you wish, majesty.

Charles disappears with Jeanne.

Tremoille ire at being barred is mollified by blocking the

path of Yolande.

TREMOILLE

He needs to talk to her. Alone.

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Jeanne is seated facing Charles in front of a huge fire.

As the scene unfolds, their faces draw closer and closer.

Her voice is soft and sweet, but her conviction is

absolute.

JEANNE

I was about eight years old. It was

a beautiful spring day. I was in

the forest taking a short cut home

when the wind started blowing in the

trees -- such a strange sound --

almost like words -- as if someone

was calling...

FLASH: The little BOY seen earlier is seated on his chair

in the middle of the field, pointing his finger at us --

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Charles is intrigued...

JEANNE

The second time was many years

later. It was autumn, and I was

coming back from church when

suddenly the same violent wind

started to blow again...

EXT. FIELD - SFX - DAY

FLASH: The wind lifts Jeanne (17) from the ground, spins

her forward and flattens her on her back, her arms

outstretched, Her face gazing upward at the sky...

JEANNE (O.S.)

Everything was moving so fast -- the

wind -- the clouds -- I couldn't

move! Then suddenly a shape

appeared in the middle of the sky...

The fast-moving CLOUDS resolve themselves into the shape

of a face... the face of an OLD MAN. He opens his mouth

wide, radiating a shaft of sunlight that strikes Jeanne,

still lying in the field. The old man's mouth seems to

form the word "Jeanne", but the sound that emanates is so

vast that we can't be sure.

Suddenly the mouth snaps shut, releasing a huge FLASH OF

LIGHT --

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

-- Charles jumps back, startled yet totally absorbed.

Jeanne's eyes sparkle with tears --

JEANNE

I was so frightened... he was so --

so here...

FLASH: The Boy is still sitting in his forest seat, but

now he is a beautiful young Man, pointing his finger at

Jeanne --

JEANNE (O.S.)

I realized then that he had chosen

me, but I didn't understand what it

was I had to do...

Jeanne's eyes sparkle with intensity...

JEANNE

What was my mission? To help my

country? But how could I do that?

I was only a poor girl who knew

nothing about riding or making

war... so I decided to wait and not

to speak to anyone about it.

CHARLES

You did well...

JEANNE

I didn't wait long. One day I was

going to Mass, like I do every day,

when the same strange wind started

blowing again...

INT./ EXT. CHURCH - SFX

The double doors of a church are blown open by wind coming

from inside -- right in front of Jeanne! Surreal shafts

of light criss-cross the interior from the stained-glass

windows, illuminating Jeanne in myriad hues and colors.

She sways uneasily as the central stained-glass window

above the altar starts to warp and undulate, like heat

waves creating a mirage. The image of a beautiful

archangel slowly comes to life, stepping out from the

window frame, then moving toward Jeanne...

JEANNE

Everything was suddenly made clear

to me. God was finally calling me.

He had a mission for me -- a message

to deliver...

The Archangel opens his arms to Jeanne as though to

embrace her. She drops to her knees, opening her arms and

-- FLASH --

INT. CASTLE - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Charles is in suspense, his face sweating...

CHARLES

... and what... what did he say?

JEANNE

He said that I have to save France

from her enemies and give her back

to God, and He told me that I --

Jeanne -- will lead you to the altar

at Rheims to be crowned King of

France.

Charles slowly releases the breath he's been holding --

and the brimming tears run down his cheeks. Jeanne takes

his hand and places it on her own damp cheek...

JEANNE

All you have to do now is put your

trust in me.

Jeanne kisses his hands, and Charles is almost overcome

with emotion. He seems, for the first time, utterly

defenseless, like the little hurt boy that he is.

CHARLES

I trust you, Jeanne -- I do -- and

I envy your certainty, but how can I

be certain that I have the right to

call myself king when I don't even

know who my father is. My mother

can't even remember... I -- I need

to know...

Jeanne gazes at him a moment, then places her hands either

side of his head and draws him slowly forward until both

their foreheads are touching...

FLASHES:

A series of too-perfect images:

1: A BELL comes crashing down on top of us --

2: The ROYAL BANNER flies triumphantly in the wind --

3: English CAPTAINS throw down their weapons and kneel in

submission before Charles --

4: Huge city GATES swing open, releasing a jubilant crowd

who welcome the King in triumph --

5: CHARLES kneels in Rheims Cathedral --

6: Bejeweled HANDS place the CROWN of France on his

head --

INT. CHINON - KING'S CHAMBER - DAY

Jeanne's hands hold Charles' head, as though she has just

crowned him. For Charles, the fantasy has become reality.

JEANNE

Do you really believe that God would

let all this happen... if you were

not the true King of France?