Will
By Garner Simmons
FADE IN:
TITLE OVER BLACK: “The year of Our Lord 1593…”
Somewhere in the darkness, the SOUND OF HOOFBEATS –
TIGHT ON LEFT EYE – OBLIQUE ANGLE
Staring… unblinking… Then as the HOOFBEATS continue the
eye begins to SPASMODICALLY TWITCH…
CUT TO:
EXT. RURAL ROAD – NIGHT
Illuminated by torchlight, SIX RIDERS on horseback come at a
canter. Led by JUSTICE RICHARD YOUNG, a severe man in a
cape and short-brimmed hat, two carry torches, all are armed.
Turning off the main road, they ride towards a darkened
cluster of buildings –
CUT BACK TO:
THE TWITCHING EYE
Sightless it stares into CAMERA as O.S. comes the sudden
SOUND OF POUNDING on a wooden door…
CUT BACK TO:
EXT. FARM – NIGHT
TIGHT ON A GLOVED FIST as it pounds the door.
DEPUTY (O.S.)
Open…! In the name of the Queen!
CUT BACK TO:
THE EYE
No longer twitching, it stares back. After a beat, a rivulet
of BLOOD rolls over the bridge of the nose and down the cheek.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. HAYLOFT – NIGHT
Where a YOUNG MAN (WILL) sits bolt upright torn from his
imagined nightmare to one decidedly more real.
Moving to the open hayloft door, he peers out at the riders
below. A FARMER now stands speaking to the riders. He points
towards the barn. Led by Justice Young, the riders approach.
JUSTICE YOUNG
In the barn…! We’ve a warrant for
the arrest of one Christopher Marlowe,
poet… heretic… and spy…
WILL
(a whisper)
Shit…
JUSTICE YOUNG
…To be brought before the Queen’s
Council for questioning.
(turning to his men)
Search the barn…
Dismounting, the Deputies move quickly inside. Justice Young
remains in his saddle.
INT. BARN – NIGHT
With firelight licking into the corners of the lower barn,
the armed Deputies search to no avail.
Torch in hand, one of the men moves to the ladder leading to
the loft. He starts to climb.
But as he reaches the top step, he is caught by surprise as
Will snatches the torch from his hand and sets him afire.
As the terrified man attempts to put out his burning sleeve
Will shoves the ladder backwards. Cursing, the flaming Deputy
goes crashing into the others below.
Still carrying the torch, Will dashes to the hayloft door
and leaps out, knocking Justice Young to the ground as he
lands in the saddle.
Swinging the torch wildly, his shouts send the other mounts
running. Then spurring his horse to a gallop, he races into
the night before the Justice and his men can recover.
CUT TO:
EXT. A ROMAN ROAD – NIGHT
West of London. The SOUND of a horseman coming hard. After
a beat, still mounted –
WILL
Rides out of the darkness. Dressed as before. He reins in
as just ahead he spots –
EXT. SHERBOURNE CASTLE – NIGHT
A stately home, four stories to the parapet. As Will rides
closer –
INT. SHERBOURNE CASTLE – NIGHT
Around a large table sit –
FIVE MEN
Caught up in lively discussion. Tankards of ale, rapiers
stacked against the wall.
Thick shades of tobacco smoke cloak the musky air as –
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
Whose home this is, relights his silver pipe. A dapper 39.
Beard trimmed. Pearl hanging from his left ear.
RALEIGH
The problem, Percy, is that tobacco
is such an evil weed…
Inhaling, he passes the pipe to –
HENRY PERCY
Earl of Northumberland, 29. Known for his interests in
science and the occult.
PERCY
According to the Puritans anyone who
smokes it might as well be a sodomite.
As the others laugh, he takes a puff and passes the pipe to –
CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
“Kit” to his friends. Handsome. University trained. At
29, an actor, playwright, tutor, and spy.
MARLOWE
It’s obvious. All who love not
tobacco and boys are surely fools.
All laugh once more. A KNOCK at the door.
MARLOWE
Uh-oh… Must be the Puritans now.
Raleigh motions to one of his servants, EDMUND YORICK, who
moves off to check.
INT./EXT. FRONT DOOR – NIGHT
Opening the door, Yorick finds Will.
YORICK
Can I help you…?
WILL
I need to speak with Sir Walter…
It’s about Kit Marlowe.
YORICK
Wait here… I’ll see if he’s in.
But as Yorick starts to close the door leaving Will outside,
Raleigh, himself, appears behind him.
RALEIGH
Who the devil is it…?
WILL
Sir Walter…?
RALEIGH
Will…? It’s all right, Mr. Yorick.
As Yorick steps aside, Raleigh opens the door allowing Will
to enter.
RALEIGH
What brings you at this hour of the
night, for god’s sake?
WILL
Forgive my intrusion. But have you
seen Kit Marlowe…?
MARLOWE
(hearing his voice)
Buona sera, Guillaume… Ma che
diavolo vuolo!
Escorted by Raleigh, Will enters the smoke-filled room.
Moving closer, Yorick watches from the shadows.
MARLOWE
We’ve been discussing the virtues of
religion. As well as its vices…
(with a flourish)
Gentlemen, I give you my co-
conspirator — Will Shakespeare.
RALEIGH
Co-conspirator in what…?
MARLOWE
Blood and poetry… Is there something
else?
As Will crosses to Marlowe, Raleigh makes the introductions.
RALEIGH
Have you met Henry Percy…?
Will and Percy exchange nods.
PERCY
“Venus and Adonis”…? Published
not a fortnight ago, am I right?
(off Will’s nod)
Interesting poem… but a bit racy
for the ladies.
WILL
(self-conscious)
A poor attempt at poetry…
CHOMLEY
Very poor…
As Will reacts to Chomley’s barb, THOMAS HARIOT, 33,
intercedes. A scientist and mathematician, he’s already
seen the New World.
HARIOT
Ignore him.
(extending his hand)
Thomas Hariot… a pleasure.
With a grateful nod, Will shakes his hand.
WILL
The pleasure’s mine…
RALEIGH
…and Richard Chomley.
Thickset and dark with a pock-marked complexion, CHOMLEY,
35, stares without blinking. Will manages a nod.
RALEIGH (CONT’D)
All students in the School of Night.
MARLOWE
Tonight’s lesson: spelling. You
see…
(a twinkle)
…The Puritans have it backwards.
PERCY
What backwards?
MARLOWE
“God damn” isn’t blasphemy at all.
It’s really “Mad Dog.”
HARIOT
Careful, Kit. The walls have ears…