Mercy Seat

INT. PALACE CHAPEL. DAY

CLEMENT: That is for the Pope to decide!

MOLAY: Where I come from, the peasantry isn’t considered in the affairs of Lords and Kings.

PHILLIP: Could we push the Saracens out of Jerusalem if we used the Ark?

MOLAY glares at Clement.

MOLAY: We could kill every last one of them.

PHILLIP: France is prepared to answer the call to war.

MOLAY: Many in the East claim right to the Covenant Box. I don't feel safe revealing its hiding place.

CLEMENT: I’m sure his men will be more than happy to with the right... persuasion.

MOLAY: No living man but me knows where it is.

PHILLIP: The Pope will see how many men break before you tell us where to find it.

MOLAY: How well does the Pope speak without a head!

MOLAY draws his sword and lunges at Phillip. Clement draws his sword and blocks. They fight briefly. Molay’s sword is shattered. Molay is knocked to the ground. Clement raises his sword overhead for a killing blow.

PHILLIP: Kill him!

CLEMENT stands poised.

MOLAY: You’re no warrior.

CLEMENT lowers his sword.

PHILLIP: (sarcastic) If you talk, your men will be released to rape and pillage at will this very night.

MOLAY slowly crawls backwards.

MOLAY: I’d never give such a treasure to a man with more urine than blood.

PHILLIP: You’ll tell the Pope.

MOLAY scrambles for a shard of his sword, plunging the fragment into his own chest.

MOLAY: Let him confer with the dead!

Continued tomorrow.