...Here
..Here...I'm here to tell my story as I felt it and lived it myself. Any man can say I was mean and selfish. Any one can blame on me so many things without having the facts in front of him or her... or perhaps just draw intentional conclusions from the hearsay and contempt of the evil "populace". They could easily grow in their heart...the most despicable prejudice toward my person. Always detracting my honor. But alas! History, as I see it now, took justice on its own hand. I may not amount to much, but at least I am 'unique'. I won't deny anything about my own Children. My own life was a torment indeed and I paid for my mistake with the most intense remorse... that I do not desire for any wicked soul. There is not a single ill-doer who could not be turned to some good, for humanity was born out of good faith from our creator. What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? You might understand me better if..mmm, I say it to you; face to face and... with the most honest talking... ever...Whoever blushes is already guilty; true innocence is ashamed of nothing. I have to recognize that my 'Confessions' were a desperate attempt to cleanse and lower the loads of my mind and soul... that after all my inner complexities always was thinking and creating and, of course in bad shape after so many unjust defamation and the slur from my ignorant fellow citizens. I was hated, persecuted, admired but above all God always was there to appease my earthly torments...Man was born free and everywhere he is still in shackles. Now here is my real story and... shall you be the Judge?... so be it!!"
Authenticated S.A.W.///sworn before me: INTRO-BIO-RETRIEVER. YEAR VERSION A.D. 2034, PENTASOFT&TAKANARA-- NEW-YORK-SYDNEY-PARIS-TOKIO.
THE SYNTHESIZED ALPHA-GENOMIC WINDOW (S.A.W.) PROJECT
:
THE PANTHEON, PARIS
ROUSSEAU'S TOMB
JANUARY 10, 2036
Finally, the French Government allows to retro-scan the remains of Jean Jacques Rousseau. A nano-laser beam NLB1024, embedded for the occasion with the French colors, swaps across carefully through his remains with the proper safe radiation permitted by the scientific advisors and authorities. A multidimensional Computer screen that receives holographic genetic information starts showing new data at once. The DNA sampling scanner locks in... Several Scientist start getting the expected para metrical readings. Others, tensily are crossing their fingers though. A day that witnesses the awakening of a new powerful application for science and life.
ENGINEER:
Tres bien!. Sampling locked.
GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE:
You've got it guys, congratulations!. We are pleased with your results. The press is outside waiting for us gentlemen. Vive le France! and Vive le monde!
CERN INSTITUT HEAQUARTERS
GENEVA
JUNE 28, 2036
"Today is a historical day here in Geneva. This is the same place that invented the Internet in the early nineties, commercially speaking, to be more precise," says Melvin O'Brien, a very famous reporter that was lucky to be in the white house ten years ago, when a group of so called new front radicals almost killed the President pretending to be Olympic medal winners. The reporter quickly gets access to a "huge" Computerized state of the art installation. A futuristic version of an space control center. An awesome and immense 3-D screen is on display....as we focus on it all lights turn off: An holographic title appears...then...
THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE-AFTERNOON
Darkness, smog, screams... a deep sound of a cannon ball...as the scene gets clear...
ON THE SCREEN: PARIS, JULY 14, 1789
Thousands of hungry citizens in raggedy sloppy
clothing try to enter through the bridges of THE
BASTILLE. The people of Paris start shouting:"Down with the
tyrant" "Enough of famine and despotical abuse"
Blasts of cannons are heard far away
EXT. THE RUE OF SAINT ANTOINE-CONTINUOUS
ON THE STREETS
People outraged, armed with forks, sticks, swords and
their own selves huddle close hurrying their
pace; children are involved too. The smell of powder
and a rare wind are in their faces.
A VIEW from THE SKY-THE BASTILLE
A wave of desperate citizens get together and try to
overcome the drawbridge; the scream is infernal. The
foggy scene make us sense the gravity of the moment.
BY THE DRAWBRIDGE
Royal guards come to the encounter and orderly point
their bayonets toward the hordes. Desperate, the crowd
and Renegades from the militia, join into the storming
and jump on the guards who in desperation drop their arms. Screams and blood are spilled everywhere.
IN THE BASTILLE
A group of starving prisoners hear the storm and they
look at each other...Like an staged scene they start shouting: Liberte!,liberte!.
A group of soldiers try
to thwart their intentions. Ultimate confrontation of blood and
bayonets...hell breaks loose as minutes pass by .
ON THE TOWER
The treacherous GOVERNOR DE LAUNEY raises a flag of
peace...
DE LAUNEY:
Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu, this seems to be
the end.
(screaming to the populace)
If you do not stop this insensate attack, I will
blow the whole fortress with us all! and I mean...
ON THE PEOPLE
They hesitate. But then a flame and wave of self courage and
bravery makes them continue in their actions.
ON THE TURRETS
A group of soldiers start retreating from the turret,
leaving the Governor on his own, in desperation and fear.
THE DRAW BRIDGE
The meek gives way to a detachment of French Guards
that just have united to the cause hours earlier. About five
thousands armed Bourgeois in minutes penetrate the
Bastille's outer courtyard, but as soon as six hundreds
penetrates the drawbridge, it is raised. Artillery
mows down several French Guards, causing some retreat.
Some unlucky Royal soldiers are hit themselves by their
own and fall to the channel that surrounds the
fortress.
THE STREETS NEAR THE BASTILLE
Unidentified persons shout:
"Equality, Liberty, Fraternity". An unidentified
citizen starts shouting increasing the outrage of the
masses.
CITIZEN 1:
ROUSSEAU! ROUSSEAU!
and another one:
CITIZEN 2:
VOLTAIRE!, VOLTAIRE!
At once the meek scream: "ROUSSEAU!, VOLTAIRE!"
non stop.
THE FRONT COURTYARD
A Cannon blow from the main turret aims at the crowd,
but hit the ground with no casualties. Most of the
populace is out of reach.
A BOOK
From nowhere falls a book stained in blood:
INSERT:THE COVER
"DISCOURSE ON THE ORIGIN OF INEQUALITY"
The book is destroyed to pieces as hundred of citizens
run over it.
From this inferno, we get lost between the fire, the
shouting, and finally the turrets end being blown way.
1789>>>>1788>>>1776>>>
MONTICELLO-DAY-1775-USA
A sunshine day at Monticello, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson's
own Mansion is in view.
INSIDE:
THOMAS JEFFERSON in his retreat shows
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN some manuscripts.
A CLOSE UP ON HIS HANDS
Picks up a book from his desk.
JEFFERSON:
Benjamin, my friend.. last night I was reading about
Locke, Sidney and Beccaria.
Benjamin Franklin fixes up his Cossack and cleans his binoculars.
FRANKLIN:
I understand dear friend of mine. Certainly your task is
indeed object of my complete admiration, Thomas.
JEFFERSON:
I think, there is not a good
elementary work on the organization of
society into civil Government as far as I am concerned...
FRANKLIN:
We have to condense in redacting this
Constitution, hmm, the deepest sentiment of the
American people, for the sake of the new
Generations to come...
OUTSIDE
A view of the founding fathers coming out from the main entrance. The
columns and the gardens in neat display.
JEFFERSON:(walking together)
Exactly. I mean, to my humble opinion still does not exist
a work which presents in one full and
comprehensive view, the system of
principles on which such an
organization should be founded
according to the rights of nature...
Not until late last night I bumped into this
complete dissertation on Government.
FRANKLIN:
And that's... may I ask you?, the book you are holding
in your hands?
JEFFERSON:
Yes. Is The SOCIAL CONTRACT by...
FRANKLIN:
Rousseau, yes.
JEFFERSON/FRANKLIN:
Jean, Jacques, Rousseau!
JEFFERSON:
I should recommend Locke on
Government, Sidney, Prietsley's Essay
on the first Principles of Government,
and Chipman's Principles of Government
and the Federalist.
FRANKLIN:
Certainly, but as you said, Rousseau's is
an special case..
JEFFERSON:
It's the closest essay that we can
mold into our own ideas and principles
FRANKLIN:
I was familiar with his writings and
I recognize that I have some of his works in my library,
in original French
JEFFERSON:
Posterity claims our best efforts, for
the British will do anything to stop us.
FRANKLIN:
As I told you Thomas. You are the
right person to accomplish this
gigantic task.
Suddenly, as they keep talking, WE pull away from that
spectacular flat sharp screen...
INT. CERN INSTITUTE-HEADQUARTERS,GENEVA
SUPERIMPOSE:CERN, NUCLEAR EUROPEAN INSTITUTE, GENEVA, 2036
ON A CONSOLE CONTROL
ENGINEER 1:
This is amazing, Pentasoft was right.
ENGINEER 2:
I can't believe it.
ENGINEER 1:
History is being made as we live it. Well, some
events from the past will get an
answer.
ENGINEER 2:
Theoretically until we get the latest state of the art
S.A.W
Parallelizer. But so far, everything
looks great. Darn!
RACHEL STONE, 33, a Bio engineer gets touched
by the scene on the screen. She takes out her glasses.
EXT. CERN INSTITUTE HEADQUARTERS-GENEVA
Micro cameras are floating in the air and follow a
reporter who walks by the entrance to the MAIN CONTROL
COMMAND, a noticeable MICROPHONE is just attached to
his chin as though it were a blue tooth prosthesis
REPORTER:
(to the camera)
Tim Berners-Lee, working with Robert
Cailliau at CERN, proposed fifty years
ago a distributed information system,
based on 'hypertext', a very basic and obsolete way
of linking related pieces of
information stored on computers, so the
WINDOWS of our parents were in vogue.
By hiding network addresses behind
highlighted items on the screen,
information was linked between several
computers. The name "World-Wide Web"
was chosen. Now, today the European
institute is gonna announce the new
SAW PROJECT,let me see:
(checking his notes)
SAW stands for synthesized alpha-genomical window,
sort of a new kind
of four dimensional window and is the
first time Bioengineers are
collaborating in this project too.
But
let's go inside and find ourselves.
He goes through the main lobby ,then a hallway and
opens a big gate, and suddenly:
THE SCREEN
So sharp and clear.
Several SCIENTIST come out talking in Deutsch and even
FRENCH.
REPORTER:
Yes ladies and gentlemen.the NET was
practically invented right here in
this very building. Now their
scientists are talking of a new way of
linking our past with our present by...
Let me use an objective language. By
generating vivid images of how our
past could've been seen in our own eyes,
the method is called "REGRESSIVE
EXCHANGE OF LINKING EVENTS", but also
known as the S.A.W. project as we
said earlier...
The camera focus into THE SCREEN.
A BLACKNESS,then a classic song as a background to a
voice..
ROUSSEAU:
I have always said and felt that true
enjoyment can not be described. Nature
never deceives us; it is "we" who
deceive ourselves.
EXT. GENEVA-1712-EARLY MORNING
SUPERIMPOSE:"IN THE BEGINNING"
A gorgeous view of the Swiss Mountains.
ON THE SCREEN:GENEVA, JUNE, 1712
The peak of the Saleve in the background, as WE SCOOP AWAY,
WE get a view of the Lake LEHMAN.
THE CITY
Carriages passing by, narrow streets layered with
Cobblestone brick. Crowded, crumbling Buildings.
We are
in Downtown GENEVA. Kids wearing a small version of
the
fashion of the time. They chase each other.
ROUSSEAU'S BIRTHDAY-JUNE, 28, 1712
ON THE SCREEN:JUNE 28 , 1712
The lovely SUZANNE ROUSSEAU, middle thirties is
bedridden. She has contractions to the point of...
SUZANNE:
Oh, God!. Merciful God, help me!
As we show the room in detail, we put in view ISAAC
ROUSSEAU, her husband, same age. He Holds her
hand worried.
ISAAC:
Mon Amour, just relax. This will be
over soon.
A mid wife brings a fountain with warm fresh water and
some towels on her shoulder
MID WIFE:
(putting a wet and warm small towel on her
forehead)
Madame, it's going be alright. It
seems a matter of minutes now. I want
you to work with me. Is it fine with
you?
We scoop through her room again. A good collection of
books on a Mahogany Bookcase. An almost darken view by the poor
illumination of the Candle flickering.
ISAAC:
You are not gonna die, Mon cherie. I
would be devastated if...
(pause)
No! I don't even wanna mention it!
SUZANNE:
(hardly breathing)
Oh, dear even when you left me with
our first son, Francois for seven
years... I...
Her big moment has come. Her pain is unbearable
and...
SUZANNE:
(screams)
Have mercy, My Lord!!.
ISAAC:
I had to do it my dear. We needed...
Huh, I needed to find a better future
back then in those Eastern lands. I used to
go to our Protestant Church every
Sunday back in Constantinople, and
pray for you and Francois. The thought
of being away from you caused in me
nothing but despair and loneliness. I fully
regret what I did, leaving you on your own
to rise our kid, that now is almost
out of control.
A tender kiss from her, so he can feel better, they
hug.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My father left for the far east for
almost eight years and surprisingly
returned when his mother in law had
passed away. Uncle Gabriel left with
him to different destinations... and at
their return, I was born product of my
parents long awaited reunion and as
you might guess, my aunt Theodore or
tante Theodore, my dear aunt, bore my
uncle Gabriel a son; my cousin
ABRAHAM.
Suzanne holds his husband's hands, leaning toward him to kiss him
Her pain is demeaning her strength, as her contractions get
rhythmical and her breath gets harder.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
TRELLISED VINEYARD-DAY
Isaac and Suzanne walk into the Trellised Vineyard.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My Parents knew themselves since they
were children and went to the same
school... definitely were bound for life from
the beginning.
Isaac is so happy but holding his trembling, Suzanne and
her lovely Gown, barely few people around.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
June second seventeen o four, Isaac,
which is thirty two years old, marries
thirty one years old Suzanne. What a
lovely memory.
END FLASHBACK.
ROUSSEAU'S HOUSE-DAY
Beautiful Suzanne is holding her husband's hand.
SUZANNE:
If giving you a child as a gift from
God and me, makes you happy, and bring
us together, then I shall endure the
pain and won't...(deep breath,sweating) be in vain.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
Even in those days, from the very
moment I was born, I inherited that
feeling that my parents gave each
other. That's the origin of my famous word: I felt before I thought!.. and still do.
ISAAC:
(kissing her)
Don't, don't talk any more, I don't
want to. I want you to get better.
As though He felt something bad was going to happen, he
kneels an put his head next to her shoulder.
A silence... a big cry... the MATRON is almost done and
with careful attention receives the new born baby from
the mother's womb...the midwife makes sure her private
parts gets covered after she receives the new born
Suzanne relieved, Isaac with tears of joy is the first
to hold the baby, so helplessly grabbing his father's
shirt.
ISAAC:
Welcome to this world, my Son.
SUZANNE
(coughs)So tender, and so frail.
He gives the baby back to his wife carefully, and smiles with a loving
expression.
ISAAC:
(euphoric)
Is a Rousseau! Is a Rousseau!.
SUZANNE:
Please Isaac, is our Son.
He kisses his wife over and over, jumping and shouting
unintelligible words.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My father was always proud of his last
name. A Citizen of Geneva indeed.
INT. ST PIERRE CATHEDRAL-DAY
SUBTITLE:ST. PIERRE CATHEDRAL,JULY 4,1712
Rousseau gets baptized by PASTEUR SENEBIER; Isaac is
dressed occasionally; Suzanne wears a new Sunday Gown, and a
silky veil on her head; his Godfather is the SYNDIC
JEAN DE BUDE, a forty something family friend, all of
them holding candles.
PASTEUR SENEBIER:
I baptize you in the name of our
Father...
(looks to Suzanne)
SUZANNE:
(she gets clued) Jean Jacques Valençon.
PASTEUR SENEBIER
Jean jacques Valençon. Dear
Lord, accept Jean Jacques as a redeemed
soul and wash all the impurities that
dwelled in his soul, as a legacy from
our original sin. He has been born
directly into the inheritance of the
covenant and therefore he is expected
to be received into baptism.
The mother gets Rousseau near a marble fountain and
leans Jean Jacques to get the holy baptismal water, poured carefully
on his head. Isaac prays silently.
CUT TO:
INT.ROUSSEAU'S HOME-DAY
ON THE SCREEN: THURSDAY JULY THE SEVENTH, 1712
Suzanne is in bed again, running in "high fever".
ON BABY ROUSSEAU
The baby is smiling on his crib.
Isaac enters the bedroom.
ISAAC:
Mon amour. I want to tell you...
Suzanne, all sweat up goes into a sound sleep
ISAAC:
My, I'm sorry. I didn't know you
wanted to get some sleep.
A sudden cry from the baby; a horrendous cry like a
little animal instinctively knowing that his mother was
leaving him for good.
ISAAC:
Suzanne?... Your son, can you hear him
crying?
No response from her
Isaac desperately picks up his baby and brings him to
her side.
ISAAC-POV
Still a beauty woman at thirty nine.
ISAAC:
Dear, what is wrong?
(pause)
No! No!!
Father and son crying together, Suzanne is not even
moving.
ISAAC:
(to his baby)
Why? Jean Jacques. Why?... I want... I
don't want to...
(to her)
Suzanne!!
embraces the baby and cries louder.
ISAAC:
Back, back. You need. We need you
back...
Putting the baby next to her.
ISAAC:
(caresses her cheek)
Suzanne, please...
please, we need
you!.
Baby Rousseau still crying. Isaac kisses them both.
ISAAC:
(sobbing)
Lord, My dear wife, please. I need her
(pause)
If it's time for her, I accept your
decision, But won't you have mercy of
me?...
Shall I commend my life for the
sake of getting her back?
Isaac cries deeply and sinks his face on the side of
the bed, holding her hand.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My Mother died of puerperal fever and
consequently changed my father's
life forever, and mine too.
INT. CERN INSTITUTE-NIGHT
WE PULL AWAY from the big screen.
The Assistants are also in tears, some of them look
down; others leave the scene.
RACHEL-EXTREME CLOSE UP
We pull away from RACHEL; An assistant BIOENGINEER
for the European Institute,graduated from the
University Of Montpellier.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE TOWN HALL FOUNTAIN-DAY,1718
ON THE SCREEN:HOTEL DU CITY'S FOUNTAIN
A fountain of the time is shown. Kids playing; an
Obelisk is erected in the middle. Rousseau barely six
years old, comes to the fountain to see his reflected
face on it.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
I knew my Mother only through accounts
of my father who comforted himself the
best he could. The loss of his wife
was a lost for his own existence. I
spent the very first years of my life
in the Upper town. This fountain,
built in 1711, placed in front of the
Town Hall to a few Yards of our house
was surely one of my favorite places
of play and the place of my first
social contacts.
AUNT SUZON,thirty-eight,comes to pick him up.
JACQUELINE a friend of the family,twenty three is with
her. At a distance Rousseau's aunt calls him.
AUNT SUZON:
Jean Jacques?
JACQUELINE:
I see him. He's all soaked.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
(approaching)
Yes, Tante Suzon.
Rousseau's chemise is all soaking wet. His little
jacket in his hands. A slow motion starts...
ROUSSEAU(V.O.)
Oh memories. At that early moment of
my life I began to feel that special
attraction to women. A morbid,
unexplainable sensation to be around
them, to... Lord! Only you know.
Why was I so sensitive to their
charms?.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
(approaching them)
Yes, Tante?
AUNT SUZON:
It's time to go home, your father will
be furious if he sees you like this.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Oui! AUNTIE SUZON
AUNT SUZON:
(pulling his cheeks)
Yes, my little smart boy, but you have
to get home immediately and get rid
of...
(touching his pants)
this mess.
Jacqueline is only smiling and bringing his attention
to her
JACQUELINE:
Your Aunt have a new song of hers, You
wanna hear it?
ROUSSEAU:
Yes!, Yes!
AUNT SUZON-POV
fixing Rousseau's hair, and pulling up his pants
AUNT SUZON
Well, little man. Lets go home and we
will sing it together.
CUT TO:
EXT.ROUSSEAU'S HOME-DAY,1720
Rousseau, almost eight years old and his father are
reading PLUTARCH under a tree. A fresh breeze and a Sunny day.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My father was a WATCHMAKER, and very
different from the traditional
ones. His heart was not in the trade, He
preferred fiddle rather than
file. Needless to say, he enjoyed
dancing and he was fond of
traveling. My BELOVED FATHER loved
nature and of course me.
ISAAC
Okay son. Read it loud!
Rousseau starts reading all proud to his father
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
The soul, being eternal, after death
is like a caged bird that has been
released. If it has been a long time
in the body, and has become tame by
many affairs and long habit, the soul
will immediately take another body and
once again become involved in the
troubles of the world. The worst
thing about old age is that the soul's
memory of the other world grows dim,
while at the same time its attachment
to things of this world becomes so
strong that the soul tends to retain
the form that it had in the body. But
that soul which remains only a short
time within a body, until liberated by
the higher powers, quickly recovers
its fire and goes on to higher things.
ISAAC:
(nodding)
Alas!, Incredible, you said it so right!!
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Father, this means MOTHER is somewhere
up there?
ISAAC:
Most certainly, for one reason her
books are leading us to her, now lets
read more about PARALLEL LIVES
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Yes, let me see... here it is... On my
writings about PERICLES...
ISAAC:
A-ha.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
It is so hard to find out the truth of
anything by looking at the record of
the past.........
LATER ON:
ISAAC:
(touched)
You read so well... Your Mother would
be so proud...
(tears roll down)
He continues reading...
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
After mother died, my father's role was
not only shaped by circumstances but
by his own character... never able to
resolve this subconscious conflict
between love and hatred.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Father what is a CITIZEN?
ISAAC:
Oh, yes. Good question. It's a person
with a compromise, let's say a
compromise with himself and his fellow
country men.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
So, father, you are a Citizen
ISAAC:
Very proudly,"A Citizen of Geneva"
Father and son are having a little picnic,and sometimes
Isaac looking into his son eyes for answers.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My father used to show me the greatest
love, but he thought he saw her again
in me with out being able to forget
that... I had taken her away from
him. All these memories of reproaches
for my mother's dead mingled with
embraces and tears.
Isaac embraces his son and starts to shake...
ISAAC:
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
It's okay mon Pere.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.)
My father, embracing me, was seized by a
trembling which I can still feel...
Isaac, indeed shaking and Jean Jacques almost in fear.
ISAAC:
Jean Jacques...
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Yes, Father?
ISAAC
Always, always, no matter what, Love your
COUNTRY.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Yes father, I love my country, and I
love my father.
ISAAC:
(Breaking in tears)
Son, forgive me but, her memory...and
you have her vivid ways, is in your
eyes...your own lips...
Rousseau is just caught up and half petrified, just
embraces his father too.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
Those confused emotions gave me
bizarre and romantic notions about
life of which experience and
reflection have never cured me.
Rousseau holding his father, in a breathtaking
embrace, closes his eyes and bite his own lips...
INT. DINING ROOM-LATE NIGHT
Isaac is slept on the table. Rousseau covers him with a
jacket and starts looking for different titles on her
mom's bookcase.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
I see it so clear, how I became so
addicted to reading... still, trying to
read the words that my Mother read or
maybe her own spirit... would give me
company in searching for knowledge. All
this ritual with no explanation filled
my early needs... something of her...
of her memory. I was so fond of reading.
Every day you could find me
reading .
FAST FORWARD TO 1728>>>>>>>>>
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
Sunday March 14, 1728, I Jean-Jacques
Rousseau left Geneva for good or
worst. This choice did transform my
life dramatically. In the events which
follow in the history of my life, I will
meet a not very common destiny.
Rousseau waves good bye to his cousin and leaves. A
mix of pride and some inner fear...
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
Independence that I believed to have
acquired since birth, was the only feeling which
affected me and promote all kind of unpredictable feelings in me.
Free and Master of
myself, I believed
as any teenager that I had the capacity to do
anything. I had only
to hurl me to raise me in the airs. I
entered with safety the vast space of
the world; my merit was going to fill
it.
CUT TO:
EXT. ANNECY, PALM SUNDAY-1728-DAY
SUPERIMPOSE ON THE SCREEN:PALM SUNDAY, 1728
A VIEW of ANNECY, from a high hill.
EXT. HOUSE-DAY-CONTINOUS
Rousseau Knocks someone's door.
A CHAMBERMAID opens the
door.
CHAMBERMAID:
May I help you?
ROUSSEAU:
Yes, I was sent to see... Madame
CHAMBERMAID:
De warens?
ROUSSEAU:
Yes, I was sent to see her
CHAMBERMAID:
YOUNG boy, she just left a few minutes
ago...
ROUSSEAU:
Oh, maybe I shall be able to reach her
CHAMBERMAID:
It's up to you...
(pause)
Well, I have to go... and your name?
what was your name?
ROUSSEAU:
Jean Jacques... Jean Jacques
Rousseau, madame.
CHAMBERMAID:
Okay, I will have you in mind....
should I see you again.
ROUSSEAU:
Merci, I shall depart and probably meet
her. Bye madame
CHAMBERMAID:
Certainly, young man.
EXT. ANNECY, ROAD TO CHURCH-1728-DAY
Rousseau starts speeding his
pace on a cobbled back alley, behind some houses.
The smell of nature and moisture is in the air
OUR POV
Shrubs to his right and a small, shallow river to his
left. Suddenly at a far distance HE sees a woman's back.
A nice pink fashionable dress. A colorful umbrella
adorning her covered head, and a
golden lace around her waist.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
I was expecting a fluffy out of
shape, widow over FIFTY and here I am
in front of...
(sighs)
A beautiful creature of God. I can
remember her beauty, her bosom, oh
God!. Her well formed lips.
Rousseau agitated stops right behind her.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
(panting)
Madam... Are you Madame de Warens?
MADAME DE WARENS:
(turning toward him)
Yes, mon petite. It's me
(intrigued)
How did you know?
YOUNG ROUSSEAU
(shy)
Huh... I'm sorry, My name is Jean
Jacques Rousseau.
MADAME DE WARENS
I see
(shows a sweet smile)
What brings you over here, dear?
Still in disbelieve, he draws some papers from his coat
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
I'm coming from Confignon... and this is
a letter of recommendation from priest
Benoit De Pontverre.
MADAME DE WARENS:
Oh, Pastor Pontverre... I understand
now, it's a shame. You poor little
soul, so young and already left to the
world.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.):
My heart was pumping and she noticed
the shyness in me. At that moment I
took her as my protector. I felt some
kind of peace and freedom.
MADAME DE WARENS:
And this other letter?... Yes it's
yours, I... you have a nice handwriting
dear.
YOUNG ROUSSEAU:
Merci Madam. I wanted to introduce
myself too... in this way.
MADAME DE WARENS:
So interesting.
(looking toward a distant place)
Well, I'm almost late for the church
service. I tell you this though, you know where
I live, don't you?
YOUNG ROUSSEAU
Yes, Madam. I come from there.
MADAME DE WARENS
Well, go back and tell my people to
take care of you, and I will see you
soon.
ROUSSEAU
No problem, ma'am.
MADAME DE WARENS
Bye petit.
ROUSSEAU
Bye ma'am.
Both depart from each other and a nice white dove lands in
between them... and then another one,the male this time start
courting the other dove.
Madame de Warens smiles subtly as she turns back to him who was about to walk away.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.)
I wanted to follow her but, this
shyness just got me petrified. The words
just wouldn't come out...
INSIDE THE CHURCH-PALM SUNDAY-
Madame de Warens enters the main hall and aproaches to the main chamber and it's greeted by
some local citizens. A choir is heard in latin.
ROUSSEAU(V.O.)
Francois-Louise de la Tour, my MAMAN, born
in Vevey on march thirty first sixteen
ninety nine. She was thirteen years my
senior.
MADAME DE WARENS HOUSE-AFTERNOON
Rousseau is seated on a gilded chair. Unexpectedly Madame de
Warens enters the house, almost exhausted. And he stands up.
MADAME DE WARENS
It's okay. Don't get nervous. I'm a
converted too. I was in your shoes just as you are now.
CUT TO:
INT. EVIAN'S CHURCH, JULY 13, 1725-DAY TIME
Bishop DE BERNEX is giving a sermon. The main altar has a baroque
stile. A Christ crucified is lavishly adorned .
DE BERNEX-POV
VICTOR AMADEUS, king of Sardinia enters with his entourage
He bows in respect, taking his hat off, bishop DE BERNEX, bows
back and descends from the MAIN ALTAR to welcome him.
VICTOR AMADEUS
Bon giorno bishop de Bernex
DE BERNEX
Welcome home your Majesty.
VICTOR AMADEUS
Grazie, Grazie. I feel like
(gives his suntuos cloak to a servant)
being at home..
They walk to the Main Altar to get seated.WE FOLLOW them
DE BERNEX
Yes our proselytes are seriously
embracing our Catholicism.
VICTOR AMADEUS
I really hope so.The main reason coming
here is to help to fulfill my father's
dream.
I can not understand how many souls
are lost to the protestant Church...
DE BERNEX
Yes,my lord. But, we are here, accepting the
call from our savior.
VICTOR AMADEUS
Well, I want you to accept my generous
donation for the cause
As he clasps his hand, A royal page makes an entrance with a well
encrusted box on a red and purple coffin.
DE BERNEX
Your highness, you shouldn't have...
VICTOR AMADEUS
I want you to continue working in gaining
souls to our cause.
DE BERNEX
(bows)
It's my honor, it's your command.
A priest takes the treasure like box and walks into
another room.
DE BERNEX
Grazie, grazie pater sancti.
As the king retreats to his seat, a beautiful blond woman
comes out of nowhere and practically throws herself to the
bishop's feet. It's MADAME DE WARENS. Victor Amadeus turns
and watch in disbelieve.
MADAME DE WARENS
In manus tuas, domini, commendo spiritum
meun
(subtitle:in your hands, father, I
commend my spirit)
DE BERNEX
My lady! Why are you doing this?
MADAME DE WARENS
(standing, and kissing his hands)
I heard your call father. I felt the holy
spirit in me... and I felt the need for repentance
King Victor Amadeus is near them
VICTOR AMADEUS
It's a miracle. The message couldn't be
this clear
People from the service start murmuring. Madame de warens is
content and rejoiced, bishop de Bernex kind of embarrassed
holds her hands tight.
DE BERNEX
Lord, moments like this are worth a life
of service
(toward her)
My lady, you are in the right place. I
thank God for making this day happen.
VICTOR AMADEUS
Yes indeed!. My lady, What is your name?
MADAME DE WARENS
Madame de Warens your highness
Victor Amadeus can't overlook this beautiful woman...
VICTOR AMADEUS
I think you can be of help to our blessed cause
DE BERNEX
(nods)
Yes, you are right your excellence.
MADAME DE WARENS
I want to serve my savior, and be of help
in any kind of way to my lord.
VICTOR AMADEUS
Well, it's done.
DE BERNEX
Excuse me, your highness?
VICTOR AMADEUS
Young lady, come to see me tomorrow at my
lodge here in Evian.
VICTOR AMADEUS
(toward the bishop)
Bishop de Bernex...!
DE BERNEX
Yes, your highness. I'll be there too.
MADAME DE WARENS
I humbly accept your call my lord.
CUT TO:
INT. MADAME DE WARENS HOUSE,ANNECY-AFTERNOON
Madame de Warens is at the dining room. Rousseau is eating
and listening.
MADAME DE WARENS
So..this is my story young boy
ROUSSEAU
It was incredible. I felt like I was there
watching you getting converted.
MADAME DE WARENS
You might have a good imagination petit.
the chambermaid,comes and start pouring water on madame de
warens glass and his too.
MADAME DE WARENS
So, you might have your own story. Don't
you?
ROUSSEAU
I fled my uncle's house. I was mistreated
by my master engraver. I felt that the
whole world...
MADAME DE WARENS
Not to fast...! petite. Don't say a word
anymore. You will get nothing but a warm
heart,the word and good food certainly...
and hopefully you will accept our
savior's call.
ROUSSEAU
(teary eyes)
I... it's been... my life. I think, I was
born to have bad luck.
MADAME DE WARENS
Oh, sweet petite. Don't say that...
Rousseau looks up and down and just burst into tears.
MADAME DE WARENS
Oh!, now why are you crying?. I'm gonna cry
too. Come give me a hug.
Rousseau comes to her and timidly embraces her.
ROUSSEAU(VO)
I was in heaven, my heart, my soul, all my
senses were touched. I cry and cry... I
didn't want to let her go.
Her
embrace, her perfume... for the first time
I was so close to a woman!.
A wide close up on Madame de warens. She is in daze...
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