Once Upon an Inquisition

Characters

Protagonists

• Giles, our hero, a young man preparing to go to Paris to study at the university
• Jacques, his older brother, who outdoes him in looks, athletic ability, and popularity
• Madeleine, a beautiful, independent young woman their own age, daughter of the local nobility and their mutual love interest
• Bishop Pierre, the boys' gaurdian and forward-thinking ecclesiastic
• Count Raymond, the lord of Bellegarde and Jacques' sponsor
• Sir Simon, the last of the Knights Templar, under house arrest for twenty years
• Marta, the bishop's longtime housekeeper
• Abbot Christophe, head of the Abbey of St. Golias, and alchemic dabbler in alcoholic distillation
• Brother Vincent, conflicted gay novice and reluctant would-be knight
• Master Hieronymus, misunderstood genius and tinkerer

Antagonists

• Father Jean D'Laval, sinister Chief Inquisitor of Heretical Depravity in Bellegarde
• Father Tomas of Toulouse, his assistant
• Friar Martin, popular Franciscan preacher and flagellant
• Roger, little person and chief minion of the Inquisitor, Giles' nemesis
• Robert, his identical twin brother and co-equal minion and nemesis

• Plus a Soldier, a Herald, several Peasants, and Agatha, an old woman

Act I begins with the introduction of the main characters whose rivalry is quickly overshadowed by the unexpected arrival of the Inquisition, which sets the entire community on edge. The inquisitors soon get down to work though their agenda is suspect. Simon's background is revealed and his secret suggested. Giles is volunteered to assist as scribe and a sermon is preached announcing the Inquisition. The dungeon is prepared, and the local clergy debriefed. And Jacques leads Giles to think his love for Madeleine is doomed.

Act II continues with the Inquisition, starting with the arrest of a noted thinker. Night court proceedings arraign various victims, and the first interrogations begin. Giles' efforts to alleviate victims' sufferings make it worse for them. He, too, suffers under the strain and is rejected by Madeleine for his participation. A local preacher makes an unholy alliance with the Inquisitor. Simon is put to the question. Finally, at a tourney, the chief inquisitor drunkenly reveals to Giles the secret of his parentage. Angered, Giles steals some armor and bests Jacques on the field after a terrific fight. He bitterly confronts and rejects his family.

Notes

• There's romance, but no sex beyond kissing. Indeed, the importance of maintaining virginity provides a minor but important plot point.
• There are several "fantasy" scenes. One involves the miraculous appearance of the Holy Grail, and there is also a faked miracle, done for good reasons, of course.
• Several scenes involve small amounts of torture, though much more is implied. The death of the villain, though justified and suitably gruesome, is accidental, occurs off-camera, and the corpse is never seen. No one gets burnt at the stake.
• Two bad clergymen who become true to their vocation balance the one evil and several worldly ones.

For more information, releases, and access to the entire script, please contact me at:

author@inquisition-comedy.com

Once Upon an Inquisition
© 2005, J. Nelson. All rights reserved.
WGAw Registered.

Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.