(Woman screaming)

(People shouting, indistinct)

(Man):
Save me!

Sync by honeybunny
www.addic7ed.com

We are not quite certain
how it happened, Your Majesty.

Whether it was
a hidden rock or a storm.

But there were no survivors.

Not even my son?

I am deeply sorry,
Your Majesty.

I'll marry, Father,
and have a baby boy.

That's very sweet of you,
my little Maud.

But I don't think I'll live long
enough for him to come of age.

Who will rule once I am gone?

There's Gloucester.

The king's bastard?
He will never inherit.

There's the king's
legitimate daughter, Maud.

A child. And female.

Then, I suppose, there's me.

But I'm only the king's nephew.

And...

grandson of
William the Conqueror.

This shipwreck puts you in
direct line to the throne,

my good Stephen,

which we will support
when the time comes.

Since, unlike the king,

you hold the Church
in high esteem.

The Church has been very
good to me, Your Eminence.

Father Waleran here
can attest to that.

Still, there are whispers.

The shipwreck was
quite convenient.

Rumours born of jealousy,
Your Eminence.

What happened
was ordained by God.

It's to the Church's benefit
that no one survived.

(Bell tolling)

(Donkey braying)

Brother Cuthbert!

Philip!

(Chuckles)

A sight for old eyes!

Not that old, my friend.
So good to see you.

So good to see you.

We didn't expect you.

I've missed you, Philip.

When did the tower collapse?

Oh, last winter.

Brother Remigius says we
haven't the funds to repair it.

Brother Remigius?

He's acting prior now,
soon to take over.

Prior James, I fear,
won't last the week.

Father, it's Philip.

- Ph--Philip?

I told Remigius
to send for you.

I have something to confess.
I was sent for?

Many years ago, the man
survived the shipwreck,

but I was ordered
to arrest him.

Sorry, I don't...

He was innocent.
He was innocent.

Who?

The Frenchman.

He saw what happened
to the ship.

He knew!

He knew too much.

Welcome, Philip.

Brother Remigius...

The Prior told me he
asked you to send for me.

I was about to.

Poor Father.
His mind is gone.

Some children are...
They're...

(Chuckling)

They're born willful,
my good Percy.

I must warn you,

my daughter has turned
down more suitors

than there are stones
in Shiring Castle.

You need to be more
forceful with her then.

Well, I have tried.

But I made a promise
to Aliena's mother.

The girl could
choose her own husband.

Ah! I've never heard
of such a thing!

This marriage would be

advantageous to all,
Lord Shiring.

My son would gain a title,

and your daughter, some
of the richest farmland.

The way to my daughter's
heart is through affection,

not advantage.

Isn't that true, Richard?
Then we needn't worry.

Our William will
work his charms on her,

and true love will win the day.

(Gasping, grunting)

(Grunting)

(Men laughing)

A dog will suit you better
for a wife, Lord William!

A dog, for your safety,
with no teeth!

(Man): Why don't you
get cats, Lord William?

Oh dear!

You're a fool, William!

All this could have been ours
if only you'd just...

Hey!

(Dog panting)

Aliena...

Father...

(Both laughing)

Oh, I love you so!

(Man):
Quickly, boy! Quickly!

All right, Jack,
you can offload here.

Alfred, take over, will you?

All right, men,
stack them neat.

Don't just drop them
on the floor.

A sloppy worksite
means careless building.

(Man): Bring me an axe-hammer!

How you feeling, love?

It doesn't like hard work,
that's for sure,

which means it's a boy.

Huh!

There's magic inside.

See? They're Da's tools.

We're building a grand house
for Lord William,

who's getting married.

My da's building it bigger
than other builders would

because he understands
pilaster strips

and counter-forts
and equilateral arches.

It's like they use
at the big cathedral.

(People shouting, indistinct)

(Pig squealing)

Pig!

Martha!

(Pig grunting, horse neighing)

Teach that little bitch
to watch where she's stepping!

And pack up while you're at it.
This house is no longer needed.

Lord William, you hired us
for the year, sir.

Well, I got a look at the bride

and she turned my stomach.

(Horse whinnying)

I have to pay my workers, sir.

I have to feed my family
on what you owe us.

Let go of my horse.

Pay me what you owe me.

Walter!

Back off, builder.

God will see the right of this!

You'll burn for it, My Lord!
You will pay in hell!

Yah!

(Horse neighing)

We're safe.

(♪ Martha singing, indistinct ♪)

(Martha):
I'm hungry, Ma!

What did I tell you, Martha?

Sing. It'll take
your mind off eating.

It's not working.

(Birds cawing)

(♪ Martha singing, indistinct ♪)

If you'd stayed at Exeter, you
might have been master builder.

It was a dull job, Agnes.

That castle would have
fed us for life.

Now we'll starve, unless
you find food for winter.

Don't fret, love.

You'll only have curdled milk
left for our babe.

I want a home, Tom!

A roof over our heads,
food on the table.

There's a cathedral
going up near Wells.

You and your cathedrals!

Why can't you be content
with building houses?

Look around you.

We're in a cathedral.

Nave, columns, heavenly light.

(Agnes): No cathedral
I've been in looks like this.

That is why I must build one.

Now, with your support,
my love,

your skill, Alfred,
and God's good grace,

it will be... beautiful.

What about me, Da?
What will I do?

You, Martha...

You, will be the, uh...

the master "measurementater".

- The what?
- The master "measurementater"!

- (Giggling): What's that?
- The "measurementater"?

Well, you will decide
the height, the width and...

And the chancel
and the high altar?

Wherever you decide
is where it goes!

Here!

Well, a bit further than that.

(Pig squealing)

- Here!
- Further than that!

Keep going about 3 miles!

At least it's taking
her mind off eating.

(Martha gasping, pig squealing)

No! Da!

(Tom): Stop!

Jack, let's stop him!

- Martha!
- Leave her! Get the pig!

Save the pig!

(Screaming)

Get away!

We did it, Da!

We fought 3 of them, didn't we?

Aye, that we did, Son.

She won't live.

She'll be fine.

She'll wake up and be sick
and then she'll be fine.

We'd better get her
out of the storm.

Can you carry her?

Be gentle.

Hey, give that here.

Give that here!

(Ellen): Jack...

- Which way?
- Here.

(Thunder rumbling)

I don't trust them, Ma.

She sounds like a foreigner.

My name is Ellen, by the way.

Tom.

Tom the Builder?

You're an artist, I see.

Jack is, not me.

Your son did these?

He was reading
and writing by age 5.

- Who taught him?
- Who do you think?

Who taught you?

My father.

He was a Saxon knight
who brought me to England

to improve my education.

He placed me in a convent.

I'm a renegade nun.

Novice, really.
I never took vows.

I ran away because...

Well, one day, on a beach,
I met Jack's father.

He was a Frenchman
who survived a fire at sea.

I hid him in the cloister's
barn and helped him recover.

Ah...

We fell in love.

They don't allow
pregnant nuns in the convent.

No.

(Chuckling)

Why doesn't he speak?
Is he mute?

No. Only to strangers.

When he was young, he saw...

a terrible thing.

Ma, Ma, Ma!
Ma, wake up!

Ma, Ma!
She's a witch!

You mustn't leave.
She needs her rest.

We don't abide with witches.

I'm not a witch!
It's medicine.

I used it to cure
your daughter.

God help her then.
Medicine is sin.

There's work at the bishop's
palace. It needs repair.

It's no cathedral,

but it will see you
through winter.

Thank you.

Because I am weary with age
and have no male heir,

I've gathered you here to swear
allegiance to my daughter.

The princess Maud and
her husband expect a son,

the soothsayers assure me.

I ask you, lords of the land,
to pledge before God

that until this son
comes of age,

you will recognize Maud
as your ruler.

Along with her bastard brother.

Do you swear,
my good Gloucester?

I so swear...

I so swear, Uncle.

Lord Stephen!
You stepped before me, sir!

The grandson of William
the Conqueror takes precedence

over a bastard.

The king's bastard,

whom he loves as much
as the son who drowned.

How fortunate you weren't
on that ship, Stephen.

I have no pretensions
to the throne.

Ah, but the Church
behind you does.

And with you and
the Pope in power,

think how the people
will suffer!

(Wolves howling)

I'm cold, Da.

Where's the road?
Are we lost?

Hush now.

(Agnes groaning faintly)

Da...

Agnes!

Agnes!

(Groaning)

Alfred!
Ma!

You're all right.

You're all right.
I've got you.

What do I do, Da?
What do I do?

(Tom): Make a bed.
Lay her down.

Right.

(Screaming)

Hot water!
Where's the girl?

Deep breaths, My Lady.
It won't be long.

(Screaming)

Short breaths now.
My Lady...

Why didn't you say something?

(Breathing heavily)

I thought it would stop.

(Screaming)

(♪ ♪ ♪)

(Baby crying)

(Groaning, panting)

(Baby crying)

It's a boy.

It's a boy.

(Laughing)

You have another son.

Hold me, Tom.

I'm cold.

You're a good man.

You deserve something...
beautiful.

I have you.

The cathedral...

build it.

Promise me.

Ma!

Ma!

You sense it, too?
Something's wrong.

Go and find them,
Jack. Quick.

(Laughter)

Here's to my grandson,
Henry II of England!

(Crowd cheering)

Perhaps I'll live
to see him grown.

I may even outlive you,
old friend.

Ah!

Lampreys!
My favourite!

Mmm!

(King chuckling)

(Sniffling)

(Martha):
He's so little.

He came too early.

How are we supposed
to feed him?

No, we can't.

No, we can't.

Alfred, will you
take your sister?

I'll join you shortly.

But you can't leave him, Da.

It's God's will.

He won't starve.

He'll just fall asleep,
and his ma will take him.

You run along.
I'll be with you soon.

(Crying)

Go.

God keep you, Son.

You sleep with your ma.

(Wolves yelping)

(Gagging)

(Man 1):
What's wrong with him?

- (Man 2): Get the physician!
- (Man 3): Hurry!

(Man 4):
Lord Gloucester!

(Man 5): Make way!

The king is dying,
Your Eminence.

As Archbishop of Canterbury,

you alone can
crown the next king.

You will favour the Church
in all your dealings.

I'll give you
whatever you want.

(Baby crying)

Stay here. I...

I... I can't...

I can't leave him.
Da?

The king is dead.

(Wolf howling)

Oh!

Long live the king.

(Man saying prayer in Latin)

Look at him.

After 18 years,
he still hasn't helped us.

He promised!
I want a title.

Our son deserves a title.

When Waleran becomes bishop,

he'll have more power,
and so will we.

If he's bishop.

I'm beginning to lose
faith in that fellow.

Stephen has the support
of the Church

and the backing of any who
fear being ruled by a woman.

Which is most of
the men in this country.

He's only king because
your brother was drowned.

An unfortunate accident.

Unfortunate, yes.
But an accident?

Not, I think, an accident.

Stephen has broken
his oath to you, Sister.

When kings die,
oaths die with them.

Except, perhaps, here,
at Shiring Castle.

I loved your father.

He had my complete support.

And so, therefore, do you.

You have my word.

As do you, Gloucester.

I knew we would, Bartholomew.

We'll raise an army together
and take Stephen by surprise.

And if he thinks he's fighting
a spoiled princess, he's wrong.

I'm now a mother
defending her son.

(Bartholomew):
And her rightful realm.

Brother Francis...

Praise God!
It's good to see you!

(Speaking foreign language)

Philip!

It's been too long.
You're well?

The monastery's well, which
keeps me busy and happy. You?

Well enough.

I'm Lord Gloucester's
secretary.

I heard, I heard!

Our mother and father would
be very proud, dear Brother.

I need a favour, Philip,
which is why I sent for you.

A new king has been crowned.

King Stephen, yes.

Opposed to him is Maud,
King Henry's daughter.

A woman cannot take the throne.

Maud, supported by Gloucester
and Earl Bartholomew,

is secretly raising
an army against Stephen

to regain the throne.

Stephen must know
of their treachery.

But if word came from me,
Gloucester would have me hanged.

You're asking me to do this?

I'd never get an audience.

Your bishop would.

If Maud wins, the Church
will be the loser.

Politically,
we must back Stephen.

But I don't believe
in politics, Francis.

I believe in the will of God.

It's the Church's will, Philip.

Second to God, remember?

(Man):
Matthew Farmer: 2 pigs.

Widow John: 3 dozen eggs.

Michael Miller:
a stone of wheat.

(Dog barking)

It certainly needs repair.

If they have money.

It's a bishop's palace,
Tom Builder.

There's always money.

Ellen!

(Man):
Five jars of honey.

How are you, Martha?

Ma died.

I'm sorry.

I've come to see the bishop.

The sentry said he's away and
I'm to speak to his assistant.

Please.

(Man clearing his throat)

Who are you?

I'm Philip, Father.

I come from the monastery
of St.-John-in-the-Forest.

Philip of Gwynedd, the
Welshman that turned a monastery

of lazy monks into
a pious, successful business.

I merely put things
in order, Father.

And who are you?

I'm Father Waleran Bigod.

How can I help you?

I have a message
of a private nature

to convey to His Eminence.

I have the bishop's confidence.

Take a seat.

Thank you.

When will the bishop
be returning?

The news is quite sensitive.

You can trust me, Philip.

To be blunt,

the bishop has never been
the most attentive man

to affairs of church and state.

That's why the Archbishop
of Canterbury sent me here.

You trust him, don't you?

Yes, of course.

Three days ago,

um, a gravely ill soldier
came to my monastery

and he had a secret
that he wished to tell

before he died.

His master, Bartholomew,
Earl of Shiring,

is conspiring with
Robert of Gloucester

to raise a rebellion
against the new king.

Was he telling the truth?

He was a dying man.

Who else knows this?

No one.

See that it remains that way.

Do you go directly home?

Yes, by way of Kingsbridge.
Prior James there is ill.

I heard that.
How do you know him?

He raised my brother and I

after we were made orphans
in the latest war.

He was sent to Kingsbridge
20 years ago.

And after he was made prior,
we followed.

Father, is there
something wrong?

I'll see the bishop
gets the message.

Good day to you,
Philip of Gwynedd.

Good day.

Father?

Those people out there,
send them away.

They're not to spend the night
within a mile of here.

Yes, Father.

Why turn us away?

They have plenty
of work and money.

Now we're facing
a long winter. What now?

Here you are, Martha.

Alfred...

Why are you here?

Because Jack needs a master
builder to apprentice him.

He's practically mute.

But he's not stupid.
Give him a voice.

We won't be a burden.
I promise.

We?

I'll travel with you.

I'll help you find
work and food.

And I'll nurse Martha
back to health.

We're not married.

People will talk.

And who will tell them?

Our hearts are pure,
Tom Builder.

God, protect me from her!

(Breathing heavily)

(Birds chirping,
rooster crowing)

Prior James, I've come back.

(♪ Humming ♪)

Tell me, who's that
fellow with the baby?

Johnny Eightpence.

He's the newest addition
to our community.

He found the baby on a grave
and brought him here,

and now he's turned
from thief to wet nurse.

(Yawning)

Well, how can we be in debt?

The priory has
more land than ever.

As well as bad tenants,
lazy monks, poor finances

and a church in such disrepair
the pilgrims won't visit.

People come here to be awestruck
by the majesty of God.

Brother Remigius
couldn't care less.

Then why elect him prior?

Who will run against him?

Well, there is one candidate who
could turn this place around,

but I doubt he'd accept.

Who's that?

You.

You grew up in a priory.

You've been running
a small monastery for 3 years

and completely reformed it.

It's clear to everyone,
the hand of God is on you.

A proud monk is a bad monk.

And pride is
my chief temptation.

Then let me tempt you.

(♪ Monks singing in Latin ♪)

(Bell tolling)

Prior James mentioned
something about a shipwreck.

A survivor.

No names?

No.

A delirium of death.

You were a great comfort to him,
I'm certain of that.

You're a good man.

The most intelligent
young priest

in the diocese,

from what I hear.

Are you ambitious?

To do something meaningful
with my life, yes.

So what's the plan?

You wish to, what?
Become a bishop?

That would work against
everything I believe in.

- Which is?
- Purifying...

sanctifying God's
community on Earth.

So becoming
Prior of Kingsbridge

would satisfy your ambition?

Well, be direct, Philip.

As the bishop's representative,
I can sway the election.

If that's what you
want from me, say so.

(Chuckling)

Yes.

Good, good.

But politics is a bargain
between beggars.

When the bishop dies here,

the monks here
elect the new one.

So if you make me prior,

I, when the time comes,
make you bishop?

You knew I would have
made the same promise.

You owe me this, Father.

I don't like being told
I owe anybody anything.

Since we're being blunt, Philip
is the better man for the job.

He's one of those rare priests

who actually believes
what he preaches.

I admire that.

Besides...

you owe me, Remigius, remember?

Sodomy! Huh!

An excommunicable offense.

And as your confessor,

I hold your eternal salvation
behind sealed lips.

Here's what I want you to do.

Philip is idealistic,
which is generally commendable,

but occasionally awkward.

You will be my eyes and ears
and tell me everything.

On this day, as harvest ends
and winter approaches,

there's reason to celebrate,
as well as mourn.

Philip of Gwynedd
has been elected

our new Prior of Kingsbridge

to replace the late
Prior James.

May St. Adolphus, whose relic
sanctifies this church,

help guide him.

At the same time,
sadness descends.

Our good bishop,

who led his flock
for so long,

died quite suddenly while
saying mass Saturday last.

(Crowd murmuring)

The monks will now
choose a successor.

And Prior Philip,
with God's help,

will show them the way.

(Bell tolling)

Such a shame about
William and Aliena.

What man thinks best,
God knows better.

Your patience has
paid off, Lord Bishop.

I'm not bishop yet.

We're still waiting
for our title.

You gave us your word!

Did I?

I fear you misremember,
Percy, but not to worry.

I have interesting
news for you.

Bartholomew has sided with
Maud against King Stephen.

- Bartholomew's turned traitor?
- Shhh!

You may win that title yet.

Excellent!
We'll arrest Bartholomew

and the king
will give us Shiring.

You can have a title
without a wife.

Do shut up, Father.

And Bartholomew will deny
the plot, and you'll be hanged.

I hadn't thought of that.

He's setting us up
to test the waters, Percy.

If we sink in the mud,
he stays immaculate.

So what do we do?

Well, we must first find proof.

We'll follow anyone suspicious
leaving the castle

and encourage them to talk.

With whose money?

My dear,

you don't need money
to loosen tongues.

Do you, William?

(Bird screeching)

(Man 1):
Quick as you can!

(Man 2):
Take them inside!

- Are you Matthew?
- Yes.

I'm a mason, and these
are my apprentices.

We come looking for work.
I'm sorry.

I could work at the quarry.

We don't need quarrymen.

I hope you're not planning
on doing battle soon.

Why do you say that?

All the mortar on your
keep gate is crumbling.

It'd just take a crowbar
to bring that down.

A keep has an undercroft
with a wooden door.

If I were attacking,
I'd t light to it.

If you were earl,
how would you prevent it?

Well, I'd hire a mason.

I'd have him standing by with
stones to block up that doorway

in case of trouble.

Hire this man!

See that he's housed and fed.

Where's my sword?

(Man 3):
Come on, quickly now!

Yeah?

A message from
the Earl of Gloucester

and the princess, sire.

He will take my answer
back to Maud.

Ah!

Here, take it.
It's all I have.

It's not money we want.

This man has confessed that
Bartholomew, Earl of Shiring,

is conspiring with Richard of
Gloucester and Princess Maud,

to raise arms against the king.

Maud is going to France
to gather troops.

We must defend the king!

We will loot Shiring Castle,
slaughter the men

and show the women what
true soldiers are capable of!

Saddle my horse.

Bring me an escort.
I'm going to the king.

This gate needs an arch
to make it stronger.

An arch distributes the weight
evenly into 2 supports,

then into the ground.

You understand?

Never mind.

What I need from the quarry

is stones to match
these ones already in place.

Knock out the loose ones.
If they're whole, re mortar them.

If they're cracked, leave them
in piles every 10 feet.

You heard him!
Let's get to work!

(Man 1 laughing)

(Man 2):
Try some of that there.

He's witched you, that's all.

Just like his ma.

Don't be a bloody fool.

(Giggling)

(Martha):
Aliena!

- Who is that?
- The earl's daughter.

I met her last night
after supper.

Her mother's dead, too.

Hello, Martha.
You're up early.

Da makes me work.
Alfred, too.

He's my brother.

Hello.

Uh, milady, an honor.

Thank you.

And this is?

That's Jack.
He doesn't talk much.

But look,
he made a likeness of me.

It's remarkable.
Your brother's quite gifted.

Oh, he's not my brother.
Jack's a bastard.

(Laughing)

(Tom):
Lunch, everyone!

He's a gifted bastard.

(Horse snorting)

(Laughing)

Come to court again,
Lord William?

As a matter of fact I have.

Only this time,
I'm courting you.

(Battle cry)

Oh, here you are.

Are you coming?

(Screaming)

Jack! Quick!

We are under attack!

(Girls screaming)

(Battle cries)

(Horse neighing)

(All giggling)

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

I have urgent news.

(Panting)

(Man):
Get inside, everyone!

They must be somewhere.

Aliena!

(Screaming)

Percy!

Get up!

Da!

No!

Surrender, traitor!

I'd rather die for Maud.

Then so will every man,
woman and child in this keep!

Halt! Halt! Hear me out!

Halt! Halt!

(Man): Stop the fighting,
in Lord Percy's name!

Spare my people.

Stephen knows
you covet my title.

He may, therefore,
doubt my guilt.

If you spare my people...

I will confess
guilt to his face.

Thank you, Earl of Shiring.

Maud's fleeing to France
with her precious son.

Stop them!

Bring them here. I want
that child dead at my feet!

(Man): The ship's ready
to sail, Your Majesty.

The messenger should
have returned by now.

We can't wait longer, Sister.

We must to sail to France
where your son will be safe.

(Baby crying)

Da!

It's no use calling.
I saw him fall.

It'll take more
than that to kill me.

Da!

(Tom):
Had you scared, did I?

Tom!

We have to leave here
as quick as we can.

A worker said there's
a new prior at Kingsbridge.

New priors have work.

The Kingsbridge prior's dead?

So they say.

Good. May the Devil
take his soul.

- You knew him?
- Yes, I met him once. Come.

Don't fuss.

You're getting soppy,
aren't you?

(Groaning)

Sync by honeybunny
www.addic7ed.com