21 June 2012
This is a screenplay I only started for a project in my Writing for Interactive Media class. Needless to say i lost my vibe for it after I learned that Will Smith bought the movie rights to this Amazing book, Angelology byDanielle Trussoni. (Obviously I based this on a book, it is NOT original nor do I claim it to be)
Angelology
Based on the novel by
Danielle Trussoni
Screenplay by
Marilynn Thompson
“There were giants in the earth in those days;
and also after that, when the sons of God
came unto the daughters of men, and
they bare children to them.”
-Genesis 6:4
EXT. FRONT OF SCHOOL – DAY
Montparnasse, France – 1983
Scene is foggy, dreamlike.
A young girl (Evangeline) is waiting outside a school as a red Citroen DS pulls up to her and she crawls in the backseat.
INT. OF CAR
Evangeline is sitting in the back seat. Her father is sitting in the front seat, looking forward; his eyes are red and puffy as if he had been crying. They begin to drive.
EVANGELINE
Papa, why are you crying?
FATHER
(thick, sorrowful)
Your mother is gone.
EVANGELINE
Has she left?
FATHER
She has been taken from us.
CUT TO INT. BLAND WHITE ROOM-TIME OF DAY UNKNOWN
Evangeline is holding her father’s hand as a coroner lifts a white sheet off the table to reveal her mother lying there, dead. The coroner and the father begin talking in muted voices, while Evangeline gazes at her mother. The room suddenly dims and Evangeline hears whispers in an unknown language all around the room. She looks back and forth frantically as the whispers get louder. Her father and the coroner are still speaking in muted tones. She looks back at her mother’s body in time to see the head turn to her and begin speaking in the same unknown language. Evangeline screams.
CUT TO
INT. DARK ROOM
St. Rose Convent, Hudson River Valley, Milton, New York
December 23, 1999, 4:45A.M
Evangeline wakes with a start. She sits up, puts on her shoes and looks at the clock on the wall. She gathers a small pile of clothes and leaves the room.
CUT TO
LAVATORY
Evangeline turns the light on in the lavatory. She turns on the shower and the room begins to steam up as she steps in.
ECU on the gold pendant she is wearing
She climbs out of the shower and puts on her nunnery clothing. In the distance a bell begins to toll and she quickly puts on her shoes and runs out of the lavatory. She runs down stairways and through hallways. She stops in a large doorway, dips her finger into a fountain of holy water and blesses herself before entering the Adoration Chapel. Sister Bernice and Sister Boniface are kneeling at the altar, praying in hushed tones. Sister Philomena steps up beside her.
SISTER PHILOMENA
(quietly, sternly)
You were almost late, again, Sister.
SISTER EVANGELINE
(quietly)
Forgive me, sister.
They fall silent as the two Sisters from the alter stand and walk past them. Philomena and Evangeline kneel before the alter and continue the prayer. It is exactly five o’ clock.
CUT TO
EXT. NEW YORK SUBWAY – DAY
VERLAINE steps out of the subway, zipping up his overcoat. He hurries through the crowds of people. Christmas music is playing. He makes his way into central park to an elderly looking PERCIVAL GRIGORI sitting on a bench.
PERCIVAL
Your late, Verlaine.
VERLAINE
Sorry, Mr.Grigori
PERCIVAL
Seven minutes to be exact.
VERLAINE
I know, I’m sorry Mr. Grigori, the Christmas crowds-
PERCIVAL
Walk with me.
Percival stands up, leaning heavily on his can. It begins to snow again.
VERLAINE
Are you sure you want to walk? We can sit here; it might be more com-
PERCIVAL
I said to walk with me.
VERLAINE
Right.
PERCIVAL
Do you have something for me?
VERLAINE
Yes I do. As promised I have brought the Sacred Documents.
PERCIVAL
Sacred?
VERLAINE
I think you will be pleased; I have personal profiles of the residents, philosophy of the Franciscan order. I also have notes about the books and images in their library. I’ve made photocopies and catalogs-
PERCIVAL
Any two year old with a computer could find this information. I fail to see what has drawn you to St. Rose at all-
He stops speaking as he comes across a bundle of papers in the folder Verlaine has given him.
VERLAINE
Ah, yes, those are architectural drawings of the convent, dated December 28, 1809. As far as I can tell, these are the originals. They have each been stamped by the abbess of that time, Mother Francesca.
PERCIVAL
Do they cover the entire grounds?
VERLAINE
Yes. They cover the interiors as well.
PERCIVAL
Where did you find these?
VERLAINE
In a courthouse archive upstate, they were not cataloged so I doubt anyone will notice that they’re gone.
PERCIVAL
You stole these?
VERLAINE
No. I just, uh . . . borrowed them without permission.
PERCIVAL
Right. Tell me, what do you think the significance of this seal on the Adoration chapel, its different from the others. Is that a Lyre?
ECU on the hand drawn sketch of the Adoration Chapel, in the middle of the chapel is a small golden seal that is identical to the pendant Evangeline is wearing.
VERLAINE
I was curious about that as well, and after some research I found that it is the reproduction of a Thracian coin. It was found on a Japanese dig in what was once Thrace. The original is in a Japanese museum so all I have is this photocopy from the internet.
Verlaine hands the photocopy to Percival.
VERLAINE
And the best part of this whole shebang-
PERCIVAL
Would you stop trying to be a circus patron and just tell me.
VERLAINE
Right. . . Uh, yes well, this seal was placed on the drawings over one hundred years before the coin was found. Not only that, but the coin in question is unique among Thracian coins, whereas others depict mythological figures, Poseidon, Hermes, Dionysus, this one depicts the Lyre of Orpheus, there has been nothing else like this ever found and the fact that this coin matches these seals is a remarkable discovery. I mean this in unbeliev-
PERCIVAL
This is all well and good, but surely you brought more.
VERLAINE
(perplexed)
More. . . ?
PERCIVAL
This is all very interesting, but it is irrelevant to my plans. Now if you have found information linking Abigail Rockefeller to this convent than I expect you are seeking access.
VERLAINE
Yes, I uh. . . sent a request to access their library just a couple days ago and I’m waiting for a reply-
PERCIVAL
Waiting!? What do you mean you’re waiting?
VERLAINE
I have to get permission to enter the archives.
PERCIVAL
There will be no waiting. You will either find the information of interest to my family or you will not. You have already had ample time to find this information so I suggest you bring my results.
VERLAINE
But I can’t do anything without permission to access the archives.
PERCIVAL
How long will it take?
VERLAINE
I have to obtain formal permission, and even if I get it, it could take weeks of research before I find anything along the lines that you are searching for.
They stop walking and Percival gives Verlaine back the envelope of papers. He then pulls out a white envelope of money and hands it to Verlaine.
VERLAINE
What is this?
PERCIVAL
It is a bit of a long drive, but I believe you can make it before nightfall; this will take care of the inconvenience. Consider it a bonus. Once you bring me proof of Abigail Rockefeller’s connection to the convent we will speak again.
Percival begins walking away. Verlaine stands there baffled for a few moments before jogging off in the other direction.
Percival stops walking and starts coughing violently into a handkerchief. When he gets over his coughing fit, there is BLUE BLOOD in the handkerchief.
CUT TO
INT. ST. ROSE CONVENT – DAY
Evangeline is leading a small group of people on a tour of the Convent.
EVANGELINE
Through these doors, lies the Adoration Chapel, where every minute of every day the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have prayed since the founding abbess, Mother Francesca, first initiated adoration in the nineteenth century.
TOURIST #1
So you guys pray, like, every day 24/7?
EVANGELINE
Every day 24/7.
TOURIST #2
Aren’t nuns supposed to be mean old ladies? Cuz your way too hot to be a nun.
EVANGELINE
I have been here at the Convent since I was twelve years old, you would be surprised how many women, young and old, adorn the habit and take the vows.
TOURIST #2
Well, if you even change your mind you should totally look me up.
TOURIST #3
Who is that?
Tourist #3 points at the painting of ROSE OF VITERBO on the wall.
EVANGELINE
That is Rose of Viterbo, the Saint of which this Convent is named after. It is said, that after her third birthday angels began to speak to her, and that they urged her to relay their message to anyone that would listen. She did as they asked, and earned her sainthood as a young woman. But, after preaching the goodness of God and His angels to a heathen village, she was named a witch and sentenced to burn at the stake. To the shock of the town’s people, she did not burn, but stood within the flames for three hours speaking with the angels. They say that the angels wrapped themselves around her, covering her with a clear protective armor. Eventually she died, but the intervention left her body without a single mark. Hundreds of years later her body was paraded through the streets of Viterbo, as perfect and untouched as it was the day she was condemned to die.
TOURIST #4
That can’t be true.
TOURIST #2
I’ll believe anything you say.
TOURIST # 5
Is that a true story?
EVANGELINE
We here at the Convent believe it. But it is for you to decide if you will believe it or not. Now, through this hallway. . .
FADE TO
INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Evangeline walks into the library, Sister Philomena is sitting at her desk in the middle of the library.
SISTER PHILOMENA
Are the tourists all gone now?
EVANGELINE
Yes Sister.
SISTER PHILOMENA
It is at times like this that I am glad we have younglings like you. I have not the energy nor the patience to put up with a bunch of blubbering fools with no respect for our ways.
EVANGELINE
That is a little harsh don’t you think Sister?
SISTER PHILOMEN
Angelology - Script • Opuss № I