INT -- THE CHAPEL AT ARLES -- NIGHT
(The screen is picth black. Suddenly, a match is lit. We see that the young man has come face to face with the leading player.)
LEADING PLAYER (whispers)
The chapel at Arles.
(Candles light up, as if my magic, revealing Charles, praying alone at an alter. A man in a monk's robe steps up behind him. The audience does not yet know it, but this is Pippin.)
PIPPIN
I don't mean to disturb you, my son. I know you like to pray alone.
CHARLES
It's alright, father. I suppose you'd like a favor. Perhaps an advancement.
PIPPIN
No.
CHARLES
What then?
PIPPIN
I came to be with you for one moment. To look into your eyes.
(Charles turns.)
CHARLES
And what do you see?
PIPPIN
Two eyes, a little cloudy with age. A sunset.
CHARLES
Anything else?
PIPPIN
Death, slavery.... Terror and bloodshed.
CHARLES
Of course you do... Pippin.
(Pippin removes his hood.)
PIPPIN
Yes, father.
CHARLES
It's easy from where you stand to judge the things I've done, but when I marched, the dust of the enemy was in my nose and when I fought, the blood of the enemy was in my eyes. I sank in the mud off the shores of the Volga. I drowned two legions in the Vistula. Why eagles, ospreys, even vultures had a better view. From the heights all things are very clear. Birds float on the wind but, by God, I blew my breath across a continent and shaped and empire with it. Now, if you have no further business with me, go and leave me to my prayers.
PIPPIN (after a pause)
What do you pray for, father?
CHARLES
Strength, and may God give you the same.
(Pippin walks up slowly behind Charles and in a tense moment, stabs him in the back. Charles dies in slow motion. The shot cuts to a close-up of Pippin, horrified by what he has done. The camera focuses on the leading player behind him. She sings.)
LEADING PLAYER
Why won't your hand stop shaking,
When all the earth is still,
When ancient ghosts are waking.
So many plans need making.
So many steps need taking.
(Focus returns to Pippin.)
PIPPIN
I think I will.
(With growing conviction.)
I think I will.
EXT -- THE TOWN -- SUNRISE
(The sunrises over the town as "Morning Glow" begins. In the streets as the first rays of daylight are shining, people scurry about excitedly.)
TOWNSPERSON
The king is dead.
TOWNSPERSON
Pippin is the new king.
TOWNSPERSON
Long live king Pippin!
(The shot lands on Pippin who stands outside the chapel with the leading player.)
LEADING PLAYER
Your majesty.
PIPPIN
Morning glow, morning glow
Starts to glimmer when you know
Winds of change are set to blow
And sweep this whole land through.
Morning glow is long past due.
(He walks amongst his people, touching their hands and faces. he is met with smales and singing. The townspeople provide his back-up.)
Morning glow, fill the earth.
Come and shine for all you're worth.
We'll be present at the birth
Of old faith looking new.
Morning glow is long past due.
INT -- THE THRONE ROOM -- DAY
(Servants are making the room ready for Pippin's coronation. The leading player is conducting a gospel choir as Pippin watches.)
CHOIR
Oh, morning glow, I'd like to help you grow.
PIPPIN
We should have started long ago.
PIPPIN & LEADING PLAYER
So, morning glow, all day long.
While we sing tomorrow's song.
Never knew we could be so strong,
But now it's very clear.
PIPPIN
Morning glow is almost here.
INT -- THE THRONE ROOM -- LATER
(A crowd of people waits for Pippin's arrival. When he enters, they sing.)
ALL
Morning glow, by your light.
We can make the new day bright.
And the phantoms of the night
Will fade into the past.
PIPPIN
Morning glow is here....
ALL
At last.
(Pippin is seated at the throne. Fastrada stands on one side and the leading stands on the other side.)
LEADING PLAYER
Long live the king!
FASTRADA (bored)
Ditto.
LEADING PLAYER (rolls her eyes)
King Pippin, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire is prepared to hear petitions.
PIPPIN
Come ahead. You will all be dealt with fairly.
(A beggar approaches.)
BEGGAR
Sire, I'm a very poor man. I can't find work. You have much and I have nothing. Is that fair?
PIPPIN
No, that's completely unfair. Fastrada?
FASTRADA
What?
PIPPIN
Have the treaurer distribute money to the poor.
FASTRADA
But I--
PIPPIN
Later, Fastrada.
(Fastrada exits, fuming.)
PEASANT
Sire, I'm a simple working man. I own not one millimeter of the land I've worked on all my life.
PIPPIN
Um, I hereby decree that all peasants shall own the land they cultivate.
NOBLE
But, sire, we nobles will have no source of income. We can't pay taxes.
PIPPIN
No problem.
NOBLE
But-- huh?
PIPPIN
No taxes, no taxes. They're gone.
(Applause. Suddenly a field marshall bursts in.)
FIELD MARSHALL
Sire, the infidel hun has invaded in the east. He's destroyed three villages and murdered thousands of your royal subjects.
(There is great panic.)
PIPPIN
Everyone calm down.
(To the field marshall)
Can he do that?
FIELD MARSHALL
He has, but he says he will withdraw on one condition.
PIPPIN
Well, that seems reasonable. What's the condition?
FIELD MARSHALL
He demands your reproductive organs separated from the rest of your anatomy.
(Pippin crosses his legs.)
PIPPIN
Well, I guess you'll have to go out and destroy the infidel.
FIELD MARSHALL
Sire, I have no money to wage a campaign. I have no army.
PIPPIN
Oh, um... noble!
NOBLE
Yes, sire?
PIPPIN
You remember that decree I made a little while ago about taxes?
NOBLE
Yes, sire.
PIPPIN
That's off.
NOBLE (outraged)
You mean you want me to pay taxes again and raise an army.
PIPPIN
Yeah, that's right.
NOBLE
But, sire, now that you've given away all the land, I have no power over the peasants.
PIPPIN
Well then I hearby suspend land reform.
PEASANT
Why the hell should I work when the poor get handouts from the royal treasury.
PIPPIN
Well, then I revoke charity to the poor.
BEGGAR
You arse!
PIPPIN
Take that man away and hang him!
(A soldier takes the beggar away.)
Wait! Stop, could you just let me think for a minute?
(Fastrada enters.)
FASTRADA
Pippin, it's later. Now, about my royal allowance.
(All pounce on Pippin making requests.)
PIPPIN
Stop!
(There is silence for a moment, then the royal subjects begin to leave, voicing their displeasure. Pippin is left alone.)
(The screen is picth black. Suddenly, a match is lit. We see that the young man has come face to face with the leading player.)
LEADING PLAYER (whispers)
The chapel at Arles.
(Candles light up, as if my magic, revealing Charles, praying alone at an alter. A man in a monk's robe steps up behind him. The audience does not yet know it, but this is Pippin.)
PIPPIN
I don't mean to disturb you, my son. I know you like to pray alone.
CHARLES
It's alright, father. I suppose you'd like a favor. Perhaps an advancement.
PIPPIN
No.
CHARLES
What then?
PIPPIN
I came to be with you for one moment. To look into your eyes.
(Charles turns.)
CHARLES
And what do you see?
PIPPIN
Two eyes, a little cloudy with age. A sunset.
CHARLES
Anything else?
PIPPIN
Death, slavery.... Terror and bloodshed.
CHARLES
Of course you do... Pippin.
(Pippin removes his hood.)
PIPPIN
Yes, father.
CHARLES
It's easy from where you stand to judge the things I've done, but when I marched, the dust of the enemy was in my nose and when I fought, the blood of the enemy was in my eyes. I sank in the mud off the shores of the Volga. I drowned two legions in the Vistula. Why eagles, ospreys, even vultures had a better view. From the heights all things are very clear. Birds float on the wind but, by God, I blew my breath across a continent and shaped and empire with it. Now, if you have no further business with me, go and leave me to my prayers.
PIPPIN (after a pause)
What do you pray for, father?
CHARLES
Strength, and may God give you the same.
(Pippin walks up slowly behind Charles and in a tense moment, stabs him in the back. Charles dies in slow motion. The shot cuts to a close-up of Pippin, horrified by what he has done. The camera focuses on the leading player behind him. She sings.)
LEADING PLAYER
Why won't your hand stop shaking,
When all the earth is still,
When ancient ghosts are waking.
So many plans need making.
So many steps need taking.
(Focus returns to Pippin.)
PIPPIN
I think I will.
(With growing conviction.)
I think I will.
EXT -- THE TOWN -- SUNRISE
(The sunrises over the town as "Morning Glow" begins. In the streets as the first rays of daylight are shining, people scurry about excitedly.)
TOWNSPERSON
The king is dead.
TOWNSPERSON
Pippin is the new king.
TOWNSPERSON
Long live king Pippin!
(The shot lands on Pippin who stands outside the chapel with the leading player.)
LEADING PLAYER
Your majesty.
PIPPIN
Morning glow, morning glow
Starts to glimmer when you know
Winds of change are set to blow
And sweep this whole land through.
Morning glow is long past due.
(He walks amongst his people, touching their hands and faces. he is met with smales and singing. The townspeople provide his back-up.)
Morning glow, fill the earth.
Come and shine for all you're worth.
We'll be present at the birth
Of old faith looking new.
Morning glow is long past due.
INT -- THE THRONE ROOM -- DAY
(Servants are making the room ready for Pippin's coronation. The leading player is conducting a gospel choir as Pippin watches.)
CHOIR
Oh, morning glow, I'd like to help you grow.
PIPPIN
We should have started long ago.
PIPPIN & LEADING PLAYER
So, morning glow, all day long.
While we sing tomorrow's song.
Never knew we could be so strong,
But now it's very clear.
PIPPIN
Morning glow is almost here.
INT -- THE THRONE ROOM -- LATER
(A crowd of people waits for Pippin's arrival. When he enters, they sing.)
ALL
Morning glow, by your light.
We can make the new day bright.
And the phantoms of the night
Will fade into the past.
PIPPIN
Morning glow is here....
ALL
At last.
(Pippin is seated at the throne. Fastrada stands on one side and the leading stands on the other side.)
LEADING PLAYER
Long live the king!
FASTRADA (bored)
Ditto.
LEADING PLAYER (rolls her eyes)
King Pippin, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire is prepared to hear petitions.
PIPPIN
Come ahead. You will all be dealt with fairly.
(A beggar approaches.)
BEGGAR
Sire, I'm a very poor man. I can't find work. You have much and I have nothing. Is that fair?
PIPPIN
No, that's completely unfair. Fastrada?
FASTRADA
What?
PIPPIN
Have the treaurer distribute money to the poor.
FASTRADA
But I--
PIPPIN
Later, Fastrada.
(Fastrada exits, fuming.)
PEASANT
Sire, I'm a simple working man. I own not one millimeter of the land I've worked on all my life.
PIPPIN
Um, I hereby decree that all peasants shall own the land they cultivate.
NOBLE
But, sire, we nobles will have no source of income. We can't pay taxes.
PIPPIN
No problem.
NOBLE
But-- huh?
PIPPIN
No taxes, no taxes. They're gone.
(Applause. Suddenly a field marshall bursts in.)
FIELD MARSHALL
Sire, the infidel hun has invaded in the east. He's destroyed three villages and murdered thousands of your royal subjects.
(There is great panic.)
PIPPIN
Everyone calm down.
(To the field marshall)
Can he do that?
FIELD MARSHALL
He has, but he says he will withdraw on one condition.
PIPPIN
Well, that seems reasonable. What's the condition?
FIELD MARSHALL
He demands your reproductive organs separated from the rest of your anatomy.
(Pippin crosses his legs.)
PIPPIN
Well, I guess you'll have to go out and destroy the infidel.
FIELD MARSHALL
Sire, I have no money to wage a campaign. I have no army.
PIPPIN
Oh, um... noble!
NOBLE
Yes, sire?
PIPPIN
You remember that decree I made a little while ago about taxes?
NOBLE
Yes, sire.
PIPPIN
That's off.
NOBLE (outraged)
You mean you want me to pay taxes again and raise an army.
PIPPIN
Yeah, that's right.
NOBLE
But, sire, now that you've given away all the land, I have no power over the peasants.
PIPPIN
Well then I hearby suspend land reform.
PEASANT
Why the hell should I work when the poor get handouts from the royal treasury.
PIPPIN
Well, then I revoke charity to the poor.
BEGGAR
You arse!
PIPPIN
Take that man away and hang him!
(A soldier takes the beggar away.)
Wait! Stop, could you just let me think for a minute?
(Fastrada enters.)
FASTRADA
Pippin, it's later. Now, about my royal allowance.
(All pounce on Pippin making requests.)
PIPPIN
Stop!
(There is silence for a moment, then the royal subjects begin to leave, voicing their displeasure. Pippin is left alone.)