Joan the Maid II: The Prisons

Joan the Maid

I - The Battles

I had a daughter,

born within wedlock,

whom I had baptised and confirmed.

I brought her up to be God-fearing

and to respect Church tradition

in spite of her young age and humble birth.

As a result, though she grew up in fields and pastures,

she spent much time in church.

November 7th, 1455, in Notre-Dame de Paris -

Each month, she received Holy Communion.

She fasted and she prayed.

She displayed great devotion and fervour

to resolving the hardships of the people

because she felt great compassion for them.

Isabelle Romée, mother of Jeanne -

And yet, though she never thought, conceived or did anything

contrary to her faith,

some of her enemies had her tried for heresy.

And in spite of her denials and appeals

no one supported her innocence,

and, without any trace of legality,

they condemned her, damnably and criminally,

to a cruel death by fire.

For this, their souls will be damned,

and I, Isabelle Romée, have suffered an irreparable loss.

What is it? Oh, it's you, Laxart? You've brought round this little pest?

My Lord, Captain, forgive me. Forgive her.

- My Lord, hear me out. - Be quiet! I won't listen to you.

I'm speaking to your uncle. Yes, you, the man from Burey.

You're known to be a good man, a good husband, a reliable type.

- Yes, my Lord. - Well, it won't last.

Tell me, has this little goose bewitched you?

Or have you gone soft in the head, bringing her back against my will?

Neither, Captain. Forgive me. She hasn't changed her mind.

So you think I change my mind as often as I change my shirt?

I was kind enough to listen six months ago.

- What did I tell you at the time? - My Lord, Captain, I obeyed you.

- What did I tell you? - To bring her back to her parents.

Yes, after slapping her around a lot.

If you'd done that, I wouldn't be wasting my breath with a fool like you.

A couple of slaps. I should have taken care of it myself.

He was joking.

It was bound to go this way.

He called me a fool.

It'll work the third time.

Vaucouleurs in the Barrois, mid-January, 1429 -

- Almost ready. - Jeanne!

- Where has she got to now? - She's with my wife.

- Where else would she be? - You can't tell.

One can't control her.

- Jeanne! - Catherine!

Bring a bottle and two glasses. They're leaving.

- Are you deaf? - Don't bother.

- I want to be back before dark. - Have one for the road.

Goodbye, Uncle.

- What? - I'm not leaving.

Don't look at me like that.

I'm ashamed, but I must stay.

- This madness must end. - I'm not mad.

Have you considered how your father will feel?

- What am I to tell him this time? - Tell him the truth.

Henri, help me. I'd like to beat her, but I can't.

Catherine told me I could stay here.

Women, women, they're a plague.

Don't speak ill of women, Henri.

Without them, you'd be nothing but wasted seed in your father's underclothes

and three flies could have sipped you up.

Maybe I will have some wine.

I realise I've upset you.

But I'm unhappy too.

I have been for a long time.

- Why must you be so stubborn? - I'm not. I'm merely obeying.

- She's obeying. - You're obeying me?

I'm not obeying you, Uncle. Forgive me.

She speaks in riddles.

I can't help it. I must go to France and see the dauphin.

The kingdom's in danger, and I alone can save it.

I know. We'll deal with that later.

Now we must get home.

Why don't you believe her? Haven't you heard of the prophecy?

- What prophecy? - The one that says the kingdom,

which was lost by a woman, will be saved by a virgin from Lorraine.

It's a different story in Champagne.

But it's true, everyone knows about it.

You don't believe it because you're afraid to.

That's why we're losing and the kingdom is in ruins.

Listen to her. Listen to her speak. No one speaks the way she does.

It's as if gold poured out of her mouth.

Everyone will want to hear her.

They'll all come here.

All those with nothing better to do. And we'll have to feed them.

You know what? You're too stupid.

She'll sleep with me.

I give up. I'll go and see your father.

He'll run me through.

You know he won't.

He'll cry, and my mother will cry.

So will you, and so will I, thinking about you all.

The Meuse will burst its banks.

I'll be back, Jeanne.

Won't you kiss me?

I have aged ten years in one.

So Jeanne stayed at my house for three weeks.

Time seemed to slow down for her, as for an expectant mother,

in her longing to meet the dauphin.

What is she up to?

- She's sitting on the chest. - But what is she up to?

Nothing. She's not moving.

Her eyes are shining and her lips are moving.

- Is she saying something? - I can't hear anything.

Her cheeks are red, as red as enamel.

Is light emitting from her?

No, it's just the lamp light.

Call her.

You call her. I don't dare when she's like this.

It's the sixth time she's sung, and she still hasn't moved.

Jeanne! Are you coming to eat?

It's ready.

- Did she hear me? - I don't know.

She's still not moving.

So the days passed, as though time stood still -

I'm not saying Baudricourt isn't a good captain. They won't leave it at that.

Do you think he'll strike again?

They failed a month ago.

We're the last royal enclave in the region.

They'll keep coming at us.

They're all around us.

- As at Orléans. - Yes, as at Orléans.

Or almost. I'd hate to be there.

Here, we have some breathing space. They're completely surrounded.

It can't be fun.

Is the Loire still frozen in February?

If the Loire were to freeze, it'd be very dangerous when the sun came out.

You slip through the ice and drown before you knew it.

I've seen it happen.

I was in the king's army when I was young.

I know, Jacques.

Not the dauphin's. His father's, Charles the Mad.

Did you fight? Did you bear arms?

I was in charge of fodder.

We went everywhere, we even went to Brittany.

I know all the fords, all the bridges between here and Bourges.

I saw wild animals, I saw brigands.

Have you heard of the flayers?

Hey, are you asleep?

I'm talking to you.

Is that true? That you know the way to Bourges?

Would you know how to reach Chinon?

Would you know how to get there?

It's not a journey to make at a time like this.

Not with all the Burgundians around.

Be careful, Jacques Alain.

She presses everyone into service.

- Hello, Uncle. - So you're back?

Were you getting bored in Burey?

I can no longer stand lying to your father.

I'd rather be here with you, erring.

Let's see this through, then. Come to Chinon with us.

- He'll take us there. - Who? Me?

Don't you want to see the dauphin?

The King of Bourges?

Should one risk being cut to pieces to deliver a message to a wretch,

who probably won't have a corner of his kingdom left once we get there?

- He'll cover you with honours. - You're daydreaming.

Look at you. Look at us.

Even if we reach the king's castle, however wretched he may be,

- we won't get to see him. - You don't know that.

I must go to Chinon.

Help me get there.

The rest is up to heaven.

- Shall we bring the donkey along? - This is no time to be a pilgrim.

God, keep us on the right path.

My stirrups are set too high.

I set them just right to travel fast. Aren't we in a hurry?

I hope he won't throw me into a ditch. I've never yet made a horse gallop.

We train our horses to be both lively and obedient.

Are you tired, Jeanne?

Saint-Nicolas is just over there. We'll be there before dark.

- We must go back to Vaucouleurs. - You think we're too old for this?

No, we shouldn't leave in this manner.

I need someone to speak to the dauphin on my behalf.

Your captain, he's the only one who can do it.

You're so difficult, my child.

You start, you stop, you rush forward, you turn back.

The fact is I know what I must do,

and sometimes I don't know how to do it.

You're still here?

If all my parishioners were like you,

I'd have no concerns about their souls' salvation.

During confession, you told me I was sinning against caution.

There's something I didn't tell you. It's that you argue too much.

Is that a sin?

Go on, keep praying.

Look who's back.

You there, scram!

Go home.

You're not welcome here.

- She's back? - Yes.