Darkness - Day X: Bonekickers. Ep 1. Green Amendments. by Matthew Graham. 12.12.07. 1

Bonekickers. Ep 1. Green Amendments. By Matthew Graham. 12.12.07. 1.
1 DARKNESS - DAY X 1
Floating plain-song - “Beatus servus in Christi dominus...”
SMASH CUT:
2 EXT. RUTTED COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT X 2
Lightning strikes revealing the BBC ONE LOGO and then FIVE
CLOAKED MEN trudging the unforgiving road. Heads bowed. Two
riding the same thin horse - a mark of austerity. Remaining
three carrying a heavy structure hidden beneath muddy sheets.
SUBTITLE: Larkhall, Somerset - October 1307
Between the hospice and the childrens’ playground.
Shadows in the trees - the party is being watched. They lower

their heavy icon to the ground.
Thunder explodes and as if this is their cue, out of the

trees come the ambushing SARACEN WARRIORS. Their faces are
hidden behind black scarves - eyes that are dark and
fathomless.
The CLOAKED MEN shout in subtitled Medieval French - “We’re

under attack!” / “How can this be? Saracens!” “Impossible!” /
“It’s an ambush!”
These bowed men suddenly throw off their cloaks revealing

white robes emblazoned with red crosses and chain-mail that
flashes like dappled water.
TEMPLAR KNIGHTS!
Their leader - JAQUES de SAINT-OMAR - strong and righteous.
JAQUES DE SAINT-OMAR
(Medieval French /
subtitled)
How can this be? The Saracens are
abroad! In the name of Christ and
the Temple of Solomon, defend the
Relic!
The SARACENS charge.
JAQUES de SAINT-OMAR draws his sword. The blade is long and

narrow, the pommel simple. (But this sword is highly
significant throughout the annals of History.)
The Templar commander holds it aloft - a simple weapon but it

immediately inspires his KNIGHTS.
JAQUES DE SAINT-OMAR (CONT'D)

(Medieval French /
subtitled)
(MORE)
Crush the heathen! For the love of
God! *
The KNIGHTS draw their swords and engage the rushing

SARACENS. Lightning flashes plunge us into blazing light then
darkness so that the battle is seen in staccato bursts.
De SAINT-OMAR wades in to battle. The butchery is raw and

real and close-quarters. Hacking and panting. Blood splashing
into the ground.
Two of the TEMPLARS are cut down. They fall but don’t die,
lie squirming in agony in the mud with a dying SARACEN.
Another SARACEN charges. De SAINT-OMAR engages with him.

Sword-metal upon sword-metal. The effort for the SARACEN to
swing his blade is immense. De SAINT-OMAR’S sword feels so
much lighter in his grasp. The Knight cuts the SARACEN down
then plunges the blade full into the man. Spurt of blood
geysers into the air.

(Medieval French /
subtitled)
Fall back! Protect the Relic!
The three remaining KNIGHTS protect the covered icon.
The SARACENS encircle them.
The KNIGHTS kiss their fingertips and gently touch the hidden
cargo - a beam of wood is glimpsed.

(Medieval French /
subtitled)
For the love of God. *
The SARACENS fall upon them.
The final slaughter of the remaining KNIGHTS is watched

through nearby bushes. The POV of someone unknown whose
breath hitches with fear.
CUT: The bodies of the three fallen KNIGHTS sprawled together

on the muddy ground. One of the men twitches and then is
still. The rain and mud begin to smother them ...
We CRANE UP as mist fleetingly covers frame ...
MIX TO:
3 SCENE OMITTED 3
4 EXT. BATH - UNIVERSITY - FLY-OVER - DAY 1 4
The Georgian city. Blanket of bright stone nestled in the

cleave of an English valley.
SUBTITLE: 701 years later ...
We FLY TOWARDS a vast compound of modern buildings dominating

a campus on the eastern hill of the city. Wessex University.
We DESCEND TOWARDS the campus and pick out a lone figure
hurrying towards the lecture halls.
MIX TO:
4A EXT. UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS - DAY 1 4A
The WOMAN takes big purposeful steps. We can’t see her face.
Her raven hair tumbles and bounces as she walks.
CUT TO:
5 INT. UNIVERSITY - LECTURE ROOM - DAY 1 5
A cluster of STUDENTS take diligent notes during an

astonishingly dry lecture. The round-shouldered LECTURER
points to a grid-reference map peppered with dots.
LECTURER
If we take our example grid-map,
the Cycladic island of Melos, we
can identify that this grid was
compiled using randomly stratified
sample transects which were then
field-walked such as in the process
outlined on Wednesday. When
choosing a site for sampling it is
important to take into account top
.. top .. top ....
(massive sneeze)
Topography and surrounding foliage.
The lecture room door crashes open. The woman we have just
picked out, enters. Cargo pants, t-shirt and bomber jacket.
Her hair an excited tangle of Celtic curls. This is DR
GILLIAN MAGWILDE.
GILLIAN
Okay, who wants to go on a dig?
A sea of hands fly in to the air.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
You. You. You and you. Let’s go.
Clamour of books and folders packed.

GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Leave those.
(to startled LECTURER)
Thank you Dr Veesey. Sounding good.
You’re the man.
CUT TO:
6 SCENE OMITTED 6
7 EXT. LARKHALL - OPEN GROUND - DAY 1 7
A BUILDING CONTRACTOR refers to a sheet of planned housing

with his SUPERVISOR. The development sign is erected behind
them. The SUPERVISOR’S heart sinks as two archaeologists
trudge towards him. All khakis and rain-hoods and North Face
gear.
PROFESSOR GREGORY PARTON - the slightly florid look of a man

for whom middle-age just makes him more interesting. Dirty
twinkle in his eye.
DR BEN ERGHA - Thirties, West African descent but London by

birth and manner. A geezer with a PhD.
GREGORY
(as they approach the
Supervisor)
Oh God, you can see it in his eyes -
job’s worth. He’ll be on our backs
like a rutting grizzly. Still, on
the up-side, there’s a decent pub
opposite. So that’s lunch sorted.
As they reach the SUPERVISOR, a battered mud-flecked Land

Rover is drawing up.
SUPERVISOR
This is what I found.
He hands BEN a dull battered coin. BEN whistles his

amazement.
SUPERVISOR (CONT'D)
Be reasonable gents, we’re putting
up homes for people. Here. Now. You
know? Matters more than some bit of
old history.
BEN
You know what history is mate?
Layers. The Celts make a layer. The
Romans make a layer. The Saxons.
The Medievals. The Tudors. The
Elizabethans. Georgians.
Victorians. Edwardians. Your mum.
(MORE)
BEN (CONT'D)
My mum. You want to put down your
layer? That’s fine. But you need
your PPG 16. Because these days
layers require forms that show you
aren’t building on previous layers.
So we have to take a peek. At the
layers. It’s all about layers.
GREGORY
(sage)
The layers.
SUPERVISOR
And if there’s nothing down there?
GILLIAN
There’s always something down
there.
She jumps out of the Land Rover accompanied by the excited

STUDENTS.
BEN
We have a mystery.
GILLIAN snatches the silver coin. Inspects it with

excitement.
GILLIAN
Wow. Dirham. 14th century. What the
hell’s a Middle Eastern coin doing
in a Somerset field?
BEN
So, what do you want to do Gillian?
GILLIAN
Well, we have a Medieval riddle to
solve. So we start digging.
She jabs the toe-cap of her boot into the soil.
TITLE SEQUENCE -
“BONEKICKERS” EPISODE 1 - “Army of God” *
CUT TO:
8 EXT. DIG SITE - DAY 1 8
VIVIENNE DAVIS pays her taxi driver and hurries eagerly

towards the picket-fence cordon around the new dig site.
A university graduate, VIV is barely in her twenties - mixed

race. Baseball cap, khaki shorts and work boots which look
fetchingly large on her. Her rucksack jingles like a timpani.
The site now consists of a broad evaluation trench. STUDENTS

scrape at the soil with trowels. VIV grins eagerly as she
climbs over the fencing. Fragments of twisted bone and
carbuncled metal are placed in seed trays. It’s hard, muddy
graft. GILLIAN’S hand reaches out and finds a filthy old
ghetto-blaster. Queen - “Don’t stop me now! I’m having such a
good time. Having a ball!”
The STUDENTS chuckle wearily before resuming work.
VIV tries to get a proper look at GILLIAN - fascinated and

nervous. But GILLIAN has her back to her.
BEN
Can you not do that?
VIV
What?
BEN
Either get in the trench or stand
away but don’t teeter on the edge;
erodes the section edge. You one of
the Year Twos?
VIV
I’m Vivienne Davis. I applied ..?
BEN
Gotcha. Ben Ergha. Please to meet
you Vivienne.
VIV
Viv. Just Viv.
CUT TO:
9 INT. DIG SITE - OPS TENT - DAY 1 9
Trestles weighed down with computers, paperwork and

sandwiches. GREGORY fiddles with a faulty computer. VIV
notices he is swigging Guinness at 11am.
BEN
Haven’t we just had breakfast?
GREGORY
The sun’s always over the yard-arm
somewhere old love. Wellington!
BEN
He’s excited. Bless his heart.
We’re finding evidence of military
equipment, right here! We don’t
know if it’s a sword-smithie or
even a battle ...
GREGORY
Map regression dates back to the
13th Century and there is nothing
to suggest a battle was fought here
...
BEN
Well I live in hope. Faith is a
virtue.
GREGORY
Faith is the gunpowder of humanity.
Sack God, replace Him with the
Tooth Fairy.
(clocks VIV)
Yummy.
BEN
Viv this is Professor Gregory
Parton. Think of him as Google with
a beer-gut.
GREGORY
Call me Dolly.
VIV
Well hello Dolly.
GREGORY
Nice smile. Inspirational chest.
Post-grad?
VIV
Durham.
GREGORY
“I’m gonna leave old Durham town.
I’m gonna leave old Durham town ..”
(wanders off)
“I’ll head south because I have
great legs and I like to have sex
with older men ..”
BEN hands VIV the silver, dull, bent coin.
BEN
Builders found it. That’s why we
were called. Assigned to the Sultan
of Mamluk. The Mamluk Turks
occupied Jerusalem after the
Christians were driven out in 1291.
When the Crusades went tits up.
VIV
What’s it doing here?
BEN
(grins)
We have no idea. But the answer
lies under that ground.
GILLIAN
(enters)
Who’s that trip-trapping over my
bridge?
VIV
Uhh .. Viv. Vivienne Davis.
GILLIAN
Vivienne?
(arch look)
The witch of Arthurian legend.
GILLIAN places a seed tray on the table. Removing pieces of

bone and shards of metal.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Damescene steel. Sword metal. Found
beside Saracen coinage?
BEN
But they couldn’t have been
fighting Saracens here! That’s
nuts!
VIV
I expect you .. you want to see my
references ..?
GILLIAN ignores, stomping back to the trench.
VIV catches GREGORY staring at her bum.
GREGORY
I’m just .. I think you’ve got a
mark on ... la-de-dee ..(coughs)
CUT TO:
Various CLOSE-UPS: trowel tips scraping the soil. Little bent

spoons used to clear the earth wedged between pieces of
ancient metal. Delicate, loving, forensic work. GILLIAN
watches - waits .. mutters to herself.
GILLIAN
(prods the soil)
Give up your secrets. Come on ...
GILLIAN’S internal radar is beeping. She casts an intuitive

eye over the fresh green grass to her left.
CUT TO:
11 SCENE OMITTED 11
12 SCENE OMITTED 12
13 EXT. RUTTED COUNTRY ROAD - 14TH CENTURY - NIGHT X 13
Sudden and shocking.
- SARACEN attack. Men writhing and bleeding.
- JAQUES de SAINT-OMAR rallying his men.
- The KNIGHTS surrounded and then slaughtered.
- A flash of supernatural light silhouetting a cross that

towers as a beacon.
SMASH CUT:
14 INT. BEDSIT - DAY 1 14
JAMES springs awake with a cry, his hand finding the knife
under his pillow. Young, touseled and clearly broke. The
bedsit is grey and lit by a single bulb. It is adorned as a
monk’s cell. JAMES (trembling) gets immediately to his knees
in supplication. Another derelict, COLM, enters. He wears a
long dusty trench coat.
COLM
James! If you want to get well you
need to keep drinking. I’ll do a
Tescos run. Stay in bed until the
temperature ...
JAMES
When we were little boys, Colm ..
What did the Brothers tell us?
COLM kneels beside him, concerned.
COLM
That our founders were betrayed by
those they had protected. That
everyone turned on them.
JAMES
Our founders were betrayed by
friends and butchered by the
enemies of Christ.
COLM
(nods/heard it before)
Hundreds of years ago. Sssshhhh.
Come on, rest.
JAMES
And I’ve dreamt about it.
JAMES is on his feet. He is staring at the photographs on his

dusty mantelpiece - pictures of earnest young boys at a
monastic school, attended by monks.
Outside, a mullah calls to prayer.
COLM
I’ve just been down the court
house. He’s been acquitted.
COLM switches on the only luxury in the room - a portable tv

linked to a digital box.
TV - News 24. Courtroom steps. We see a sign saying

‘Birmingham Central Court’. EDWARD LAYGASS is a smiling,
personable man whom the camera likes. He happily greets the
press as he leaves.
PRESS
Mr Laygass? / Will Ofcom seek to
close down your TV show?
LAYGASS
I go out on a niche Christian
channel ...
PRESS
You’ve been denounced by the
Archbishop of Canterbury ... /
You said that this country is now
at war for its Christian soul ...
LAYGASS
Well I said the day is coming when
St Paul’s Cathedral will be the
Grand Mosque of London.
PRESS
Do your supporters advocate
violence against non-Christians?
LAYGASS
You’re missing the use of simile in
one of my favourite hymns; “Onward
Christian soldiers, marching as to
war. With the Cross of Jesus going
on before.”
He smiles at the camera then moves on to his car.

PRESS
Will you continue to lobby
Parliament on behalf of the White
Wings Alliance? Mr Laygass?
JAMES pats COLM on the back - suddenly heartened.
JAMES
I tell you what Colm, my dreams
mean something. The mission that
those knights started .. It’s going
to finish soon. With us.
CUT TO:
VIV, alone, bored and disheartened. Gives the monitor a

thump. The picture clears. VIV stares at the data. Fuzzy
black and white images.
CUT TO:
BEN walks out the geo-phys - a zimmer frame type device.

GREGORY returns from the pub loaded down with fish and chips.
GREGORY
Grub’s up my darlings.
VIV
I’ve got the data! It’s right
there! They’re people! People!
In her rush, she crunches through a seed tray of finds.
VIV (CONT'D)
Sorry .. Sorry ...
GILLIAN lifts her head from the trench.
GILLIAN
STOP!!
VIV comes to a dead stop. Silence. Everyone looking at VIV.

One boot hovers over a seed tray of delicate finds. GILLIAN
gestures placatingly and VIV lowers her leg down slowly.
She points to the same patch of innocent turf GILLIAN was

staring at earlier.
CUT TO:
17 EXT. DIG SITE - LATER - DAY 1 17
A fresh trench has been opened by the team. A small CROWD OF

LOCALS watch from beyond the fence. A young hospice nurse
named HELENA brings a couple of PATIENTS outside to watch the
activity. The PATIENTS are in the last throes of cancer.
HELENA is attentive and caring.
GILLIAN inches into the soil with her trowel. A length of

bone becomes visible. GILLIAN clears it.
CUT TO:
18 SCENE OMITTED 18
19 EXT. DIG SITE- DAY 1 19
An hour later. An aerial imaging Land Rover has been brought

in and positioned by the fresh trench. From its roof extends
a 15 meter pole with a remote-control HD camera mounted on
top.
BEN stands at the back of the Land Rover, leaning over the
lap-top linked to the HD camera.
BEN
Little bit more ...
He moves the mouse. High above, the camera swivels a

fraction. Click.
GILLIAN
Everyone. Here. Check this out.
STUDENTS gather behind BEN as the overhead image appears on

the lap-top. They all gaze at the collection of human bones
spread out along the trench floor.
BEN
Oh my God ...
GILLIAN
You beauties.
CUT TO:
GILLIAN marches to their Land Rover with unbridled passion in

her eyes. VIV and GREGORY walk with her. BEN is already
loading some of their finds.
BEN
Hacked to death! They were hacked
to death! Bloody gorgeous!
Bonekickers. Ep 1. Green Amendments. By Matthew Graham. 12.12.07. 12A.
VIV
So who were they?
GILLIAN
Use your archaeological
imagination...
She looks to VIV as if waiting for an answer. VIV just

shrugs. GILLIAN sighs.
GILLIAN (CONT’D)
This wasn’t a couple of peasants
scrapping over a bit of skirt.
BEN
It appears to be a skirmish between
professional soldiers and Turks!
Right in the heart of jolly old
England don’tcha know ..
GILLIAN
Two thousand miles away from the
Crusades.
GREGORY
There’s no recorded battle here
between the Roman occupation and
Cromwell.
BEN
He’s right. This is re-writing the
books stuff.
(checks his watch - shit)
Gilly, we have to show our faces at
the faculty thing ...
GILLIAN
Pull a sickie.
BEN
I’ll have the finds packed up. We
can get straight back in the lab..
VIV
Can you please give me something to
do Dr Magwilde. I can help.
GILLIAN
Vivienne, young pretty intern
person. When I’m impressed with you
I’ll ask for your help.
(elbows BEN)
Still waiting on him.
She climbs into the car. BEN feels for VIV.
BEN
Tanya can show you how we
catalogue. It’s a variation on Pitt
Rivers’ Techniques of
Classification ...
VIV
... and typology.
BEN
You got it. Everything packed in
acid-free tissue okay .?
VIV
How am I going to impress her?
BEN
You’ll think of something. We all
had to.
GREGORY leaves her with some chips. VIV watches them go,
feeling like a failure.
CUT TO:
21 INT. BEDSIT - DAY 1 21
TV - jaunty theme-tune with lots of optimistic synthesized

trumpet music.
We TRACK OVER the mantelpiece - more photos. A young James

singing in the choir and receiving his first communion. James
and Colm posing with others in a university fencing team.
Snap-shots of a life.
JAMES sits cross-legged before the TV.
TV - head and shoulders of EDWARD LAYGASS. LAYGASS strikes

just the right pitch - concerned but never somber, warm but
not gooey.
LAYGASS
In a moment I’m going to introduce
you to Lionel. Lionel has served a
sentence at a Category A prison.
When he came to Christ he was
surprised to discover that wearing
a crucifix was considered
provocative. He was staggered to
discover that his prison chapel was
turned over on a weekly basis for
Indian yoga classes. What has
happened to our Christian identity?
Has it been eroded or have we sold
the Lord down the river to appease
an ever-broader stream of spiritual
aliens?
JAMES punches off the TV. Again, he hears the call to Muslim
prayer from outside his window. The anger rises in him.
JAMES
When the call comes, I’ll be ready.
CUT TO:
22 EXT. UNIVERSITY - NIGHT 1 22
The modern complex with Bath dropping away beyond.
CUT TO:
23 INT. UNIVERSITY - FUNCTION ROOM - NIGHT 1 23
FACULTY mingle with drinks as DANIEL MASTIFF takes the floor.

He is a media-loving historian. The DNA of Simon Schama with
the ego of a movie producer. He stands beside something large
and bulky covered in a cloth.
DANIEL MASTIFF
As your new Head of Archaeology can
I balance an academic commitment
with being a media sensation?
(encourages laughter)
All right, now, let me tell you,
when I wrote my first book, “The
Secret Perversions Of Henry VIII” ,
I was petrified. Academia. Media.
Could I survive in both camps?
Well, if I may humbly quote, “Veni,
vidi, vici.”
(applause)
Because we live in an exciting age
of Acamedia. And there are
benefits; two percent of profits
from my latest book will be
ploughed directly into this
department!
He unveils the giant mock-up for his latest - “Sex Rites Of

The Ancients”.
DANIEL MASTIFF (CONT’D)

Soon to be a Channel Five series.
BEN and GREGORY stand at the back in suits. GILLIAN arrives

late. She looks stunning in a red dress. GREGORY growls like
a hound. BEN drinks her in with a half-smile.
GILLIAN snatches a champagne flute irritably.
GILLIAN
One drink and we’re out of here.
She suddenly notices that her hands are caked in dirt.
CUT TO:
24 EXT. DIG SITE - NIGHT 1 24
Light fading. Bones are wrapped in acid-free tissue and laid

in boxes. A LOCAL REPORTER takes pictures.
VIV picks up part of a flapping sandal which almost comes

apart in her hands. The nurse HELENA loiters nearby.
HELENA
It’s exciting. Patients can’t stop
talking about it. Are they really
soldiers ..?
VIV
Uhh, stand in the site or away from
it but not on the edge. Sorry.
HELENA
Sorry. I’m Helena. I work at the
hospice. Anyway .. Sorry ...
She politely retreats.
VIV
Look at this.
(turns over the sandal)
They put nails in the soles to get
a better grip in battle. See?
HELENA
Is that the other sandal there?
Something sticking out of the soil. VIV looks for help but
everyone is busy. VIV isn’t sure she is qualified but tries
to prize the object free. HELENA comes in to help and
together they slide the chunk of dense mottled wood loose of
the earth. It comes away with a jolt, sending both girls over
in the mud. Filthy. They giggle.
VIV
Look at your finger ...
HELENA’S finger is bleeding.
HELENA
It’s just a splinter.
VIV turns the chunk of wood over in her hands.
CUT TO:
25 INT. UNIVERSITY - FUNCTION ROOM - NIGHT 1 25
MASTIFF signs copies of his book for a couple of faculty

bods. GILLIAN approaches.
DANIEL MASTIFF
Get yourself a manicure lady ...
GILLIAN
Can’t help it Daniel, I’m just a
grubby wee digger.
DANIEL MASTIFF
What have you found that’s got
local hacks buzzing?
GILLIAN
Medieval soldiers. Slain in combat?
DANIEL MASTIFF
In England? Probably got drunk and
fought each other. Bloody grunts.
GILLIAN
Something about these finds that’s
different ...
DANIEL MASTIFF
With military finds best to start
with weapon identification. Analyze
your sword sections.
GILLIAN
With your permission, I’m on it
now.
DANIEL MASTIFF
Well take a copy of the book.
GILLIAN
“Sex Rites Of The Ancients”? Hmm.
DANIEL MASTIFF
From Aztec nuptials to the virgin
molestations of Caligula.
GILLIAN
Antiquity with tittys and front-
bottoms. I read your last one,
“Napoleon Goes A-Bonking ...”
DANIEL MASTIFF
(patient/over her)
“Yes Tonight Josephine, The
Appetites Of An Emperor.”
GILLIAN
Missed the film on Sky ...
DANIEL MASTIFF
I outline a common truth; that
history runs on the twin motors of
human behaviour; sex and greed.
You play the fame game too honey.
He steps closer - dangerously close. She matches his gaze.
DANIEL MASTIFF (CONT'D)

You’re not shy in splashing
yourself about.
GILLIAN
But not for money Daniel. There’s a
name for someone who does that; and
it’s not an “acamedian.”
DANIEL MASTIFF
Oh listen to us. Your mother would
never have exchanged such cheap
barbs. Too sure of her brilliance.
GILLIAN feels the sting. Steps back.

How is she? Any change?
GILLIAN marches out, passing GREGORY and BEN.
BEN
What? He’s got to you already? Is
that a record? So can we go now?
GILLIAN
Yes.
BEN
Good.
GREGORY
But girls and shampoo and cheese
things ...
GREGORY snatches a bottle to take with him and BEN a handful

of nibbles.
CUT TO:
26 INT. UNIVERSITY - LAB - NIGHT 1 26
VIV moves through the Dry Room with its racks of gear hanging
from pegs into the lab proper.
The room is large and modern and lab-like. A sense that the
whole thing is partially sunk underground. Like a trench.
Examination table, fume cupboard. VIV feels privileged to be
here.
GILLIAN drags a jacket over her cocktail dress, joining BEN

at the examination table. A partly assembled skeleton. Each
bone has been labelled. GILLIAN places the skull at the top
of the vertebrae. BEN turns over the warped hilt of a sword.
BEN
Mastiff was right, look at the
pommel; French. French soldiers?!
She drags over the angle-poise magnifier and inspects the

jagged break in the bone.
GILLIAN
Broad sword couldn’t administer
that wound.
BEN
Yeah, I printed up a list of
possibilities.
(hands her a photo)
Middle Eastern scimitar.
GILLIAN
In the English bloody countryside?!
VIV turns over her discovered chunk of wood. Is about to

interrupt when GREGORY breezes through.
GREGORY
Hold the front page. I have the
carbon-14 dating on the bone
collagen. Between 1300 and 1320.
GILLIAN carefully unwraps the rusted chain-mail fragment.

Inside she finds a strip of decomposing fabric.
GILLIAN
Fantastic! The ionization from the
chain-mail preserved it. Looks like
your classic Z-spun Medieval
cotton.
VIV is drawn forward - thrilled.
BEN
We’re going to have to clean this
at the micro-level. Takes time.
VIV
UV light.
They all look across at her. She blanches.
VIV (CONT'D)
It’s what we’re taught these days.
UV.
CUT TO:
27 INT. UNIVERSITY - LAB - LATER - NIGHT 1 27
The cotton fragment has been sandwiched in perspex. BEN

positions it in front of a UV lamp. He switches off the main
lights as the UV glow fills the room. He grabs VIV in the *
spooky glow - this sort of cool techy stuff always generates *
a buzz of excitement - the kind that proceeds a firework
display.
GREGORY *
Little children should be seen and *
not heard. *
GILLIAN grins too - the team having fun. *
And then gradually their grins turn to amazement as the *

realize what the UV has revealed. *
BEN
Shit!
Part of the red Medieval cross in the weave.

GILLIAN
Guess we’ve found the identity of
our guys. Knights Templar.
GILLIAN is grinning from ear to ear. BEN gives her hug.

GREGORY gives a low whistle of astonishment. And VIV? She
just can’t believe her luck, that she is here with these
people doing this!
CUT TO:
28 INT. UNIVERSITY - LAB - ARCHIVE - NIGHT 1 28
A whole different feel. Dark and almost gothic with a sense

of exciting and gruesome treasures lurking in the gloom.
At the back of this room, a cluster of Chesterfield sofas and

dusty Renaissance chairs plus various computers.
GREGORY is fumbling excitedly with his 70’s slide Carousel.

An image is thrown onto the wall - a bright red Crusader’s
cross.
VIV
Are we talking about the Knights
Templar?
GILLIAN *
(still buzzing and full of *
good humour) *
We’re talking about the ones from *
Weston-Super-Mare who own a chain *
of launderettes. Which ones are you *
talking about? *
BEN
(nudging her quiet) *
Yes! The Poor Fellow Soldiers of *
Christ. The warrior monks charged
with guarding pilgrims to
Jerusalem.
GREGORY
They were a monastic order, founded
hospitals and schools. They were
also the Church’s SAS troops. The
soldiering elite of the Crusades.
GILLIAN
(sobering) *
Not to mention the mass-
slaughterers of countless Muslims.
CUT TO:
29 INT. BEDSIT - NIGHT 1 29
JAMES drags COLM into the room and throws down a sheet of *
paper, a printed page from the White Wings Alliance website. *
JAMES
Picked this up from the website. *
There’s a dig happening in the West
Country. Soldiers. Medieval. Colm,
the location; the secret road from
the coast.
COLM snatches the piece of paper, studies it. *
JAMES (CONT'D)
We have to get the word out to the
others. Be prepared.
COLM
For what?
JAMES
For war.
CUT TO:
Empty. We hear singing. Beautiful, crystal-clear singing.

It’s “Greensleaves”. VIV carries the hunk of wood she found *
absent-mindedly through the lab. She sings softly to herself.
She travels through the door at the far side into gloom ...
CUT TO:
Dark rows of books and jars containing scrolls and skulls.

VIV pauses, song snagged in her throat - a cardboard box
catches her eye - CHILD REMAINS, TUDOR, BUS-SHELTER DIG.
Sounds of GREGORY joining in with “Greensleaves”- gravelly *

and not so sweet. BEN gives GREGORY a patient, level stare *
and GREGORY stops singing. Blessed relief. *
GREGORY has more slides on display. The Crusades - Knights *

Templar in their red and white fighting with Muslim warriors.
GREGORY
The Templars were well-funded.
GILLIAN
But poor themselves.
Another image - the seal of the Templars - two knights riding

the same horse.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Two knights on the same horse.
Poverty as a badge of honour.
VIV
Our knights have been dated to the
early 1300’s. That’s when the
Church turned against them, right?
GREGORY
The young lady with the
proceleusmatic bosom is quite
right; the Templars were deemed too
radical. King Phillip of France
outlawed them in 1307. I believe
the arrests began on Friday 13th.
Hence that date is unlucky.
(to VIV)
(MORE)
GREGORY (CONT'D)
Write it down. Impress your friends
at parties.
BEN
Remind me not to come to one of
your parties.
GILLIAN
So our knights escape France and
come to England. But they’re
ambushed.
BEN
By Saracens? The coin suggests
that. But that’s patently crazy.
VIV
I think they had a wooden cart or
something with them. I found this.
She shows them the hunk of wood.
GILLIAN
No, they were sworn to poverty.
Even carts were a luxury. What sort
of wood is this?
BEN
I’ll tell you what it’s not; it’s
not oak. Or beech. Or ash. Or
sycamore.
GILLIAN
Let’s do dendrochronology on it.
Phone rings. GILLIAN answers. During the conversation, she

wanders in front of the Carousel images so that warring
knights play over her.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Dr Magwilde.
The voice on the other end is relaxed and even.
LAYGASS (PHONE)
Have you found the Templar Knights?
GILLIAN
Who is this please?
LAYGASS (PHONE)
I’ve been looking for them too. A
long time.
GILLIAN
Identify yourself creepy caller.
LAYGASS (PHONE)
And what about their precious
cargo? Where would that be?
GILLIAN
I don’t know what you’re talking
about.
LAYGASS (PHONE)
Do you pray Dr Magwilde?
GILLIAN
Funnily enough I’m praying now.
That you would bog off.
(line goes dead)
Hallelujah, it worked.
CUT TO:
32 INT. LAYGASS’S OFFICE - NIGHT 1 32
The plain room is dominated by two things. A symbol for The

White Wings Alliance and Antonello’s grotesquely beautiful
Crucifixion. Beside the painting hangs a modest printed card
of illuminated writing in a frame - “In My Father’s House
There Are Many Mansions”. Music begins to fill the room from
the CD player - Gregorian plain-song.
Against the lamp-light we see the shadow of a man against the

wall. LAYGASS. His head is bowed as he contemplates.
Christ gazes down - hanging from the Cross.
CUT TO:
33 INT. MAYFIELD HOSPICE - PRIVATE ROOM - NIGHT 1 33
HELENA keeps vigil over a dying CANCER PATIENT. The man is

sallow and close to passing. She strokes his face.
HELENA
Hang on until your sister gets here
Jack. So brave. Jesus, please be
with Jack at this time of his
passing from the world. Lay your
hand on him Lord ...
She winces - the splinter in her finger. PATIENT gasps.

HELENA forgets her own petty discomfort and returns to
stroking his cheek with her injured finger.
CUT TO:
HELENA (V.O.)
You who died for our sins have
mercy on this man. Be along-side
him. Comfort him in his pain for
you know pain Lord, you who hung on
a hill and bled for the sake of the
world.
Over MONTAGE. BEN drills a bore hole in the chunk of wood.
- Removes an 8mm dowel sample.
- Sample under a modified microscope.
- POV: rings in the wood brought into muddy focus.
- BEN compares his charts. Incredible.
CUT TO:
34A INT. BEDSIT - PRE-DAWN 2 34A
COLM enters. He finds a stronger, fitter JAMES standing in

the room. He like COLM wears the long grey trenchcoat.
JAMES tips over his own bed. Underneath is a long leather

bag. He drags it out and reaches inside. Removes a sword.
COLM
James ...
JAMES
We must test our resolve. Don’t
doubt. Not for a second. The
Knights awake.
He tosses the sword. COLM catches it instinctively.
CUT TO:
34B INT. MUSLIM CENTRE - DAWN 2 34B
A blood-red light fills the room. Those powerful, crimson

winter sunrises.
HISHAM is an earnest modern Muslim student. He and his

STUDENT FRIENDS arrive with their arms full of books. JAMES
and COLM are waiting for them - white t-shirts under their
flowing coats.
HISHAM
Excuse me, can we help you? This is
a place for Muslim study ..
JAMES
You’re opponents of Edward Laygass.
HISHAM
Laygass? He incites violence. The
Sikh Temple. The meeting house of
Hare Krishna ... The White Wings
Alliance is an evil ...
JAMES
Puts non-denominational
Christianity at the head of daily
life.
HISHAM
Look mate, the man’s books and his
speeches .. they encourage hatred.
JAMES
You’ve invaded a Christian country.
HISHAM
I was born in Dudley!
JAMES
It is the aim of every Muslim to
convert or kill the infidel.
HISHAM
What, you think you speak for a
nation of church-goers? In this
country?
JAMES
Soon we will. A fire is going to be
lit. And everyone will flock to it.
HISHAM
So, you work for Laygass.
JAMES
We are the Poor Fellow Soldiers Of
Christ. We work for Him.
He opens his coat - a blood red Templar cross on his shirt.

Both he and COLM draw swords.
JAMES (CONT'D)
This is a Holy War.
HISHAM
Islam is a peaceful religion. Allah
is peace. If you want to talk about
this another time then we will.
JAMES moves towards them, sword raised.

HISHAM (CONT’D)
Please don’t!
JAMES raises his blade but can not find it within him to
strike.
HISHAM (CONT’D)
Where’s this going to end?
JAMES
With Britain Christian. So RUN!
The MUSLIMS retreat, run for the door.
JAMES (CONT'D)
RUN! AND DON’T STOP AT DUDLEY!
He throws his sword away and drops to his knees in prayer.
JAMES (CONT'D)
I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough
Lord. I’m sorry ... sorry ...
COLM lays a comforting hand on his friend’s back but JAMES

throws him off.
CUT TO:
35 SCENE OMITTED 35
36 INT. UNIVERSITY - LAB - DAY 2 36
GILLIAN extracts a distinctive lead crucifix from a tray of

silt. She cleans it off using a needle-thin water jet.
GREGORY hunches over her.
GREGORY
Ah yes, one of the pert little
third years pulled this out. It
definitely belonged to a
Grandmontine.
GILLIAN
Well the Grandmontine monks were
the chroniclers of the Templars.
It’s a good bet one was travelling
with them when they were attacked.
She turns over the crucifix - etched on the back is a snake

and a sword.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Why has he carved this on the back?
GREGORY
Don’t know. Look at the way this
chain is snapped. As though it was
yanked from his neck. By force.
GILLIAN
So Europe turns against the
Templars and a small band flee
France. Wind up here. Head north
looking for a Templar church as
refuge. A Grandmontine monk is with
them. They’re attacked by Saracens
...
GREGORY
Which is patently absurd.
GILLIAN
All right, people pretending to be
Saracens. Leaving the dirhams lying
about to throw the curious off the
scent.
(beat)
What if these knights brought
something precious with them from
France? “Precious cargo”. They’re
killed for this cargo by thieves in
disguise.
GREGORY
The only thing precious to the
Knights Templar were spiritual
relics from the Holy Land.
GILLIAN
I’ve got pictures here .. All sorts
of Christian baubles ...
VIV brings in teas.
VIV
Tea’s up.
GREGORY
Bickies?
VIV
I’m so glad I’ve got a degree.
(GREGORY waits)
Rich Tea or Bourbons?
GREGORY
No Hob Nobs? Dear God, this is like
working in a Madagascan ruby mine.
Bring on the whips!
GILLIAN
Never ceases to amaze me .. all
these centuries of blood-shed in
the name of religion.
VIV
Well it’s not always like that.
(off her look)
Well it isn’t. The nastier stuff
always leaves a bigger impact on
history. But that’s not how God
works.
GILLIAN
You were presumably brainwashed by
God-bothering parents ...
VIV
No. I didn’t know my parents.
(softening)
But holy wars .. Crusades .. It’s
the big stuff. I always thought
that God was found in the quiet
corners. In the little things.
BEN
The little things. I like that.
He was watching from the sidelines. VIV blushes.
BEN (CONT'D)
Anyway, we all have to have
something to believe in, don’t we
Gillian.
A pointed remark which she chooses to ignore.
BEN (CONT'D)
Right, you ready for this? First
off, wood type is cedar.
GILLIAN
Cedar?!
BEN
That takes it out of Europe. The
pattern of rings puts it at 32AD.
2000 years ago.
He shows them a microscope picture - furry particles.
BEN (CONT'D)
Pollen. I j-pegged this to an old
mate. It’s Gundelia.
Silence in the room as BEN waits for a reaction.

BEN (CONT’D)
Found in Syria, Jordan, Israel. The
Holy Land anyone?
GREGORY
Two thousand year old wood from the
Holy Land ....
BEN
Carried by the Knights Templar who
we know were entrusted with
Christian relics from Jerusalem.
(beat)
But that’s not the best bit.
There’s organic residue in the
wood. Soaked in. Like blood. Mixed
with metal traces ..?
GILLIAN is already hunting through paperwork.
GREGORY
Okay. Gently bently. Let’s not
start getting carried away.
BEN
Who’s getting carried away Dolly?
I’m just telling you what I found.
Evidence that 2000 years ago
someone may have been lacerated
with a metal nail and bled into
this wood.
GILLIAN slaps down a picture from her collection of

“Christian baubles” - the True Cross. They stare transfixed
at the image of the Cross. Then one by one they turn to look
at that mottled hunk of cedar sitting on the table.
CUT TO:
36A EXT. UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS - DAY 2 36A
GILLIAN and MASTIFF take a stroll together. STUDENTS buzz

around them like bees, darting from one lecture to the next.
DANIEL MASTIFF
I’m under pressure from the
construction company. They want us
to seal up the find, protect the
site with concrete and let them
build on top.
GILLIAN
You can’t do that. There could be
something highly significant still
down there.
She passes him a sliver of paper - a report.

DANIEL MASTIFF
Cedar wood ... but you don’t know
if this is part of a cross-beam for
a Roman-built crucifix ...
GILLIAN
We’re walking geo-phys across that
site looking for the rest.
DANIEL MASTIFF
There’s another factor. Another
potential buyer for the site.
Someone who won’t build on it and
has a historical interest in
preserving it.
GILLIAN
Who?
DANIEL MASTIFF
I’m not at liberty to say.
Sighing, she turns to go.

Do you believe in all seriousness
that you’ve uncovered part of the
Cross of Jesus Christ?
GILLIAN
I’m not at liberty to say.
He nods - now it’s his turn to walk away from her.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Daniel, please, let us walk the
site out, sink another trench ..
Hold the developers and whoever
else at bay. For now. Please.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and gives her a level

stare. Inscrutable.
CUT TO:
37 INT. UNIVERSITY - MASTIFF’S OFFICE - DAY 2 37
A shrine to one man’s ego. Diplomas jostle for wall-space

with signed photographs of Mastiff on a “Time Team” dig with
Tony Robinson or standing in some dig-site staring at the
horizon enigmatically.
DANIEL MASTIFF
(on the phone)
Look, if you’re in two minds about
acquiring the site it may interest
you to know that my team have
unearthed a piece of cedar wood,
2000 years old .... We could come
to an academic agreement on this
...
CUT TO:
38 SCENE MOVED TO 34A 38
39 SCENE MOVED TO 34B 39
The hunk of dark wood sits on a desk untouched. Unremarkable.
Closing in on the wood - We hear muttered prayers (Helena).

Book of Psalms.
HELENA (V.O.)
“I have asked the Lord for one
thing; one thing only do I want: to
live in the Lord’s house all my
life, to marvel there at His
goodness, and to ask for His
guidance ..
CUT TO:
40A INT. MAYFIELD HOSPICE - PRIVATE ROOM - DAY 2 40A
HELENA hunched forward in prayer by the bedside of JACK, the

dying man.
HELENA
In times of trouble He will shelter
me; He will keep me safe in His
temple and make me secure on a high
rock. So I will triumph over my
enemies. With shouts of joy I will
offer ...”
She stops quite suddenly. Raises her head.
The patient JACK is sitting upright. Eyes open. Alert. He

smiles at HELENA. HELENA bursts into tears and hugs him.
A stunned NURSE hovering in the doorway takes out her mobile.
CUT TO:
41 SCENE OMITTED 41
42 INT. UNIVERSITY - ARCHIVE - DAY 2 42
BEN grabs GILLIAN’S elbow.
BEN
You should see this.
They are all watching TV - HELENA is being interviewed.
HELENA (TV)
All I know is that I’ve been in
palliative care for three years and
I’ve never seen a patient recover
when so close to death ...
REPORTER (O.S.)
And is it true that you came into
contact with a piece of ancient
wood found on the field beside us?
HELENA (TV)
Yes, I told my colleagues that I
helped a student archaeologist pull
it out of the ground.
GILLIAN casts a look at VIV.
REPORTER (O.S.)
And is it true this wood is
Biblical? Perhaps 2000 years old?
HELENA (TV)
I don’t know ..
REPORTER (O.S.)
Would you describe what you saw
today as a miracle?
GILLIAN punches off the TV.
GREGORY
How the hell did the hacks get on
to this?
VIV
I didn’t say anything!
GILLIAN
You let a layman help you on a dig
site?
VIV
I .. I .. I’m sorry ...
CUT TO:
43 EXT. BEDSIT - DAY 2 43
War drums. Driving soundtrack.
JAMES and COLM stride purposefully from the tenement. Onto

JAMES’S motorbike - COLM pillion. Just as the Templars rode.
They set off down the street, watched from a discreet
distance by HISHAM.
CUT TO:
BEN follows GILLIAN across the lab.
GILLIAN
Look, whether it’s the cross of
Christ or not it’s still an amazing
historical find. Maybe the press
attention’ll be good for us.
BEN
Well you’ve always liked to be the
talking point.
GILLIAN notices VIV watching her.
GILLIAN
Mastiff said you asked for a
placement here and nowhere else.
VIV
Well .. this is where it’s all
happening.
GILLIAN
You had the pick of the crop. Why
here?
VIV
Pin in a map.
GILLIAN
Okay then, don’t tell me. But I
hope you like getting into trouble.
VIV
Uhh yes. No? Which is the best
answer?
GILLIAN
You’d better decide coz Gregory’s
right about religious faith;
gunpowder of humanity. If we do
find what we .. may have found then
every zealot, fanatic and crackpot
will be down on our dig site like a
ton of bricks.
CUT TO:
45 EXT. ALLEY WAY - DAY 2 45
JAMES leans against the dank wall. Runs a sharpening stone

along the length of his blade. Presses the cold steel to his
forehead.
A noise.
JAMES moves quickly, sword flashing at his side. Along the

alleyway. Right turn. Nothing. He waits. Patient.
HISHAM steps out of the shadows.
HISHAM
I’ve been learning about you. And
the other orphans.
JAMES
I have a Father.
HISHAM
An entire monastic school, founded
with money from Edward Laygass’s
family. What did he raise you all
to believe?
JAMES
The Truth.
HISHAM
I’ve seen Muslims, good Muslims
driven with that look that you have
now. Mad with zeal and longing to
make a difference. There is another
way. If you follow it you’ll be
closer to God. Don’t make me go to
the Police. Come on mate, stand
down from this.
JAMES nods to himself, walking forward. HISHAM sees a glimmer

of hope.
HISHAM (CONT'D)
You know I once thought ...
JAMES swings his sword and HISHAM is decapitated in mid

sentence. His body collapses.
JAMES is at once aghast and exhilarated by what he has done.

Tears pour down his face. He sinks to his knees.
JAMES
You have guided my hand and given
me my resolve. I entrust myself to
Your will.
He leans against the wall and vomits.
But when he looks back up, his eyes burn with determination
beneath his sweaty fringe.
War drums.
CUT TO:
46 EXT. BIRMINGHAM CITY STREETS - DAY 2 46
War drums - urgent. A clarion call.
A BEGGAR plays the recorder for disinterested shoppers. JAMES

approaches him. The BEGGAR throws away his whistle and falls
into step with JAMES.
A BEARDED MAN hands out Christian leaflets. JAMES and the

BEGGAR approach. The BEARDED MAN discards his pamphlets to
the wind.
JAMES, COLM and EIGHT FELLOW SOLDIERS walk with purpose,

cutting through the crowds. Each wears a white t-shirt under
a flowing trench coat. Swords beneath their coats.
CUT TO:
47 TV - DAY A 47
BIG CLOSE-UP of LAYGASS’S TV show. The White Wings Alliance

logo sits in the corner of the screen. Head and shoulders on
LAYGASS reading out a viewers letter.
LAYGASS
“Dear Edward, I know why we can’t
beat Bin Laden. He and his lot have
faith. They may be wrong but at
least they have that. Whereas we
have the True Faith in Jesus but we
don’t stand up for it. And that is
where the Muslims and others have
us over a barrel.”
LAYGASS closes the letter and allows his sad smile to morph
into one of hope and anticipation.
LAYGASS (CONT’D)
What if Jesus could be proved? It
would light a fire in all our
hearts. Even in those who had no
faith. “In my Father’s house there
are many mansions.” So said Jesus.
Wouldn’t those mansions soon be
filled with Christian souls? The
Believers would drive out those who
did not follow the Truth. Just as
we did a long time ago. Wow!
CUT TO:
GILLIAN and her TEAM push through a scrum of PRESS.
GILLIAN
(grabs a team member)
Tanya, call the university. Any
member of the rugger squad looking
to earn cash in hand is to get down
here onto this cordon.
JOURNALIST
Dr Magwilde, a few questions?
GILLIAN
Remove your stringy buttocks from
my dig.
JOURNALIST
Have your team uncovered part of
the True Cross? And is the rest of
it still down there?
GILLIAN
Yeah. Last week we tripped over the
Holy Grail and next week we’re
going after Atlantis.
JOURNALIST
But that’s the reputation that
ruined your mother wasn’t it. Going
after the exotic ...
BEN
We’re very busy. Thanks. Cheers.
JOURNALIST
Broke her career. Broke her spirit.
BEN pushes the JOURNO away. He can see how deeply GILLIAN is
cut. He reaches out to her but GILLIAN shrugs him off.
CUT TO:
49 EXT. MAYFIELD HOSPICE - DAY 3 49
HELENA steps outside cautiously. VIV is there to meet her.
HELENA
I .. I didn’t start this, honestly.
I didn’t even know the wood we
found was special ...
VIV
You’re a believer, aren’t you.
HELENA
Jack was minutes away from dying.
I’m a Christian. I believe God
sometimes chooses to heal ...
HELENA holds out her hand. VIV sees the splinter in her
fingertip. Her mind spins with crazy possibilities.
MOTHER
Excuse me.
She stands clutching the hand of her 8 year old SON.
MOTHER (CONT'D)
I saw you on the news. Touch him.
HELENA
Sorry ..?
MOTHER
He has leukemia. Could you touch
him please? What harm can it do?
HELENA
I’m not special.
(touches the boy with her
fingertips)
Bless you in Jesus’s name.
MOTHER
Thank you.
Tears trickle down the MOTHER’S face. She leads her son away.
VIV
You should get that thing removed.
HELENA
They work themselves out.
She heads back inside. VIV turns and is immediately grabbed

by GILLIAN who shoves a set of door keys into her hand.
GILLIAN
These are the keys to my flat.
Bring me my spare overalls, they’re
drying on the radiator. Touch
nothing!
VIV
You’ve got company.
DANIEL MASTIFF picks his way over in pristine wellies.
GILLIAN
You’ll find a crossbow; bring that
too.
CUT TO:
50 INT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - DAY 3 50
Bay window with a wonderful view of the city. Tapestries on

the wall. Spartan urns on the shelf. VIV feels intrigued and
privileged.
She picks up a Chinese box. Opens the lid and peers in.
Reacts with a start and drops it.
A photo catches her eye - young Gillian with unruly teenage

hair standing beside her mother on a field dig. Mother looks
striking and confident. An emotional shadow passes over VIV.
A press cutting - “Eminent Archaeologist In Suicide Attempt.”

A photo of Gillian’s mother looking dishevelled in dark
glasses.
Then VIV notices the stacks of scribbled notes and sketches

on the desk. VIV clicks on the desk lamp, intrigued. Gillian
has been drawing swords. Variations on the same idea. And
star maps. Pinpointed constellations. VIV can not make sense
of it. Writing beneath these constellations -
VIV
“I found him in the shining of the
stars ..” Tennyson. What the hell
is this?
A power surge blows the desk lamp bulb. The hi-fi system
blasts on - all diodes blazing. “Bat Out Of Hell” loud. VIV
jumps with a yell. Then the surge is over and everything is
quiet again.
A noise outside.
She steps softly towards the front door. Floorboard creaks

outside. Shadow under the door. VIV is stock still.
The wood of the door begins to squeak. The architrave cracks.
Silence. She begins to relax.
A sword blade slides through the gap between door and

architrave. Begins to twist and prize the hinges.
VIV backs into the living room. Sounds of the door

splintering, groaning, cracking. What the hell should she do?
CUT TO:
51 SCENE OMITTED 51
52 SCENE OMITTED 52
53 SCENE OMITTED 53
GILLIAN blazes at DANIEL who tries to keep her placated.
DANIEL MASTIFF
Now. The other interested party ..
He’s bought the site at three times
its premium. It’s his site now.
GILLIAN
Why?
DANIEL MASTIFF
To declare this holy ground.
GILLIAN
This site and these finds are under
my jurisdiction Daniel. Who the
hell are we talking about?!
CUT TO:
54A INT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - DAY 3 54A
VIV tries the sash window. Stuck.
VIV
“Why did you come here Viv?” Good
bloody question ....
CUT TO:
54B EXT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - DOOR - DAY 3 54B
Blade rams through. Hinges giving.
CUT TO:
54C INT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - DAY 3 54C
VIV has nowhere to run to. She backs against the far wall,
looking for something to defend herself with. She leans
against the back wall. And the wall gives! VIV can not
believe her luck - a secret door. She pushes open the door
and slips through.
CUT TO:
54D INT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - SECRET ROOM - DAY 3 54D
VIV pinwheels into the small room. Despite her urgency she is
momentarily thrown by what she sees around her. Although we
don’t see what she sees, it clearly has an effect on Viv.
VIV hurries on through the room as back in the flat come

sounds of a break-in.
CUT TO:
55 SCENE OMITTED 55
56 SCENE OMITTED 56
GILLIAN paces angrily. GREGORY and BEN wait.
GILLIAN
He won’t tell me who’s got the
site. I can’t believe how quickly
this is getting out of control.
GREGORY
Everyone wants a piece of the
Cross. They always have.
GILLIAN
What about the tissue residue in
the wood?
BEN
They may be able to recover DNA.
GILLIAN
The DNA of Christ?
GREGORY
Ah.
(shrugs)
The DNA of a crucified man. It
doesn’t matter if he’s Jesus or
Fred Cohen, he will become the most
powerful and dangerous dead man on
Earth.
GILLIAN
No chance of God hiding “in the
quiet places and the little things”
then.
BEN
Look it’s a bit mad right now,
granted. But things’ll settle down.
VIV charges through.
VIV
Errmm .. I’m not being funny or
anything but some men with Medieval
swords broke into your flat.
BEN
You okay?
VIV
Yeah, I found a way out.
GILLIAN
How?
VIV doesn’t like the way GILLIAN is staring at her.
VIV
I .. Through a window.
GILLIAN continues to stare - fully convinced?
CUT TO:
58 INT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - DAY 3 58
GILLIAN stands in the centre of her ransacked living room.

BEN joins her.
BEN
I’d say they were looking for the
wood sample.
She gently rights the smashed photo of her mother. He holds

her. He takes great comfort being this close to her and for a
minute she enjoys it too. Then suddenly she steps back,
pulling herself together as her mobile rings.
GILLIAN
Yes?
GREGORY (PHONE)
It’s Gregory. I know who’s taken
over the site.
CUT TO:
59 INT. UNIVERSITY - LAB - EVENING 3 59
GILLIAN has the team assembled. GREGORY lays out a spread of

magazine articles on Laygass.
GREGORY
Edward Laygass. Philanthropic right-
wing Christian. His father founded
an outreach organization using
impressionable young boys from the
orphanage. Has long held a belief
that the country needs to restore
the values and principles of the
Knights Templar.
BEN
Without the burning and the
wholesale murder of Muslims I
assume.
GREGORY
Well ... Hmmmm.
GILLIAN
White Wings; publishing, television
.. Now he has plans to lobby
parliament to abolish non-Christian
religions in the UK.
GREGORY
He’s been disowned by every
respectable priest and clergyman in
the country. This is a video stream
from the White Wings website.
VIDEO - images of street violence and mortar attacks on the

streets of Jerusalem. Crying children hunkered beside dead
parents. Arabs and Israelis slaughtering one another. And all
of this to one solitary choir boy singing “Jerusalem”.
“And did those feet in ancient time, walk upon England’s

mountains green? And was the Holy Lamb of God in England’s
pleasant pastures seen ..?”
The images intensify, the cutting growing rapid. The hymn

swells.
“And was Jerusalem builded here?”

Picture freeze.
LAYGASS (V.O.)
A question for you; do you want
their Jerusalem or Christ’s
Jerusalem?
CUT TO:
60 EXT. DIG SITE - NIGHT 3 60
GILLIAN and BEN - truly they can not believe what they are
seeing. A CROWD OF PEOPLE standing dutifully behind the
cordon in the gloaming, facing the site as though at an
altar. Some praying. Many looking sick or wheeling in sick
relatives. And men in trench coats (not JAMES or COLM) are
handing out white doves. The people take the doves and clasp
them tightly. GILLIAN realizes suddenly that the moment is
being taped. The camera has a White Wings logo.
EDWARD LAYGASS moves through the crowd, a concerned hand on

the shoulder here, a cupping of a child’s face there.
CUT TO:
61 INT. DIG SITE - OPS TENT - NIGHT 3 61
GILLIAN blazes. BEN tries to calm her down but she shrugs him
off. LAYGASS remains patient. MASTIFF looks nervous.
LAYGASS
I believe the Knights Templar
brought the Cross of Christ to
England. If they were butchered
then maybe the Cross is still here.
BEN
Geo-phys hasn’t uncovered anything
else. And anyway, wouldn’t their
attackers take it?
LAYGASS
Not necessarily. The Knights had
become outcasts. Maybe they were
killed simply for that reason.
GILLIAN
Then why not let us find it? Why
turn a scientific enquiry into a
Cecil B de Mille film?
LAYGASS
We are at war Doctor Magwilde. And
our enemy is winning. God has
forsaken us because we’re a nation
of hypocrites.
(MORE)
LAYGASS (CONT'D)
We go to church to get married but
we don’t believe. We baptize our
kids and renounce “the Devil and
all his ways.” But we’re just
counting the seconds until we can
wet the baby’s head.
GILLIAN
I don’t need a sermon from you ...
LAYGASS
The Templars had faith.
My favourite Bible quote - John 14
verse 2, “In my Father’s house are
many mansions ..” The most
wonderful thing for me would be to
see the rooms of Heaven filled.
When we find the Cross itself, the
Christian world will rally to it.
BEN
You got that nurse onto TV didn’t
you. You want to turn this place
into your own version of Lourdes.
GILLIAN
Did you break into my home you
bastard?
LAYGASS smiles sadly and steps out.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
And what are you getting out of
this Daniel?
BEN
Come on Daniel, what’s the title?
DANIEL MASTIFF
Of what?
GILLIAN
Your inevitable book?
He looks to each of them. His face seys - proud and stoic.
DANIEL MASTIFF
“Onward Christian Soldiers: The
Rescue Of The Cross.” Random House
are in the bag, Channel Four are
sniffing. And THAT is money in the
bank for our department!
He marches out indignant.

BEN
Laygass is going to twist this into
some kind of modern day crusade.
What do you want to do? Gilly?
GILLIAN
Let him have the site. You said
yourself, geo-phys uncovered
nothing new. Which means whoever
killed the knights, took the Cross.
All we have to do is find out
where.
BEN
What have you found?
GILLIAN smiles.
CUT TO:
GILLIAN pours through an internet archive, ‘UK Auction

Archive’. She focuses on extracts from some monastic
writings.
GILLIAN
A Grandmontine monk was with the
knights when they were ambushed. We
found his crucifix. The cross he
carved the symbol into. *
BEN
He was killed along with the
knights.
GILLIAN
His name was Stephen. And this *
morning, I found him.
She points to a references to -
CUT TO:
63 EXT. RUTTED ROAD - 14TH CENTURY - NIGHT X 63
The KNIGHTS trudge with their precious relic under a plain

cloth. Their heads are bent. They are humble and tired.
Walking with them is a young, earnest monk STEPHEN.
GILLIAN (V.O.)
“Chronicle of Stephen, holy brother
of the Grandmontine.” He followed
them to England, escaping the
persecutions.
(MORE)
GILLIAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)
His manuscript is vague and I only
found it by chance on the
auctioneer’s site. I don’t think
Stephen was considered very
reliable. The rest of the order
went out of their way to discredit
him.
CUT TO:
GILLIAN
His full writings have been broken
up. Some are in the Ecclesiastical
Library. One manuscript appears to
be privately owned. Any ideas by
whom?
BEN
Edward Laygass.
GILLIAN
Stephen’s writings are in past
tense. He must have escaped the
attack.
CUT TO:
The lightning rampages across the sky. The SARACENS tear into
the TEMPLARS. BROTHER STEPHEN crouches behind a tree,
watching wide-eyed and petrified.
A SARACEN appears before him, sword raised. JACQUES DE SAINT-

OMAR cuts him down from behind. As the SARACEN sinks to his
knees, he reaches out, clawing at BROTHER STEPHEN and yanking
the crucifix from around his neck.
CUT TO:
GILLIAN
He was the soul survivor of that
attack. He knew what the knights
were carrying. He knew what became
of the relic.
CUT TO:
During the mayhem, a SARACEN lunges at a TEMPLAR who dodges.

The SARACENS scimitar hacks through a small chunk of exposed
wood from under the cloth. A hunk of wood drops onto the
road.
Thunder explodes in the sky as if in rebuke.
CUT TO:
BEN
Look if Laygass has the book then
he has all the answers anyway. He’d
know where the Cross was.
GILLIAN
He has some writings, not all of
them. He’s obviously missing a
vital clue.
She stands.
GILLIAN (CONT'D) *
You are impressed. *
BEN *
(trying to make light) *
I am. You’re very clever. *
BEN takes her arm.
GILLIAN *
What is it? *
BEN
If .. and I say only if Laygass has
an army of modern day crusaders on
his side ... how many are there?
Neither of them want to think too long about that.
CUT TO:
69 EXT. CITY BACK STREET - NIGHT 3 69
JAMES, COLM and EIGHT KNIGHTS step out of the shadows to meet
LAYGASS. All the knights are wearing the same coats and plain
white t-shirts.
JAMES
Bristol. London. Manchester.
Edinburgh. Swansea. They’re waiting
sir. Just as we’re waiting.
LAYGASS embraces JAMES with heartfelt affection.
LAYGASS
We’ll see what the site uncovers.
And watch Dr Magwilde’s team. Watch
them closely.
CUT TO:
70 SCENE OMITTED 70
71 SCENE OMITTED 71
72 INT. ECCLESIASTICAL LIBRARY - NIGHT 3 72
Small but labyrintine with rows of dusty books. GREGORY lets

his fingers skip across the spines, humming something from
“The Marriage Of Figaro”. The stern female LIBRARIAN sssshes
him.
GREGORY
Apologies madam.
He locates a heading on “Obscure Monastic Writings.”.
GREGORY (CONT'D)
Now then, where art thou Brother
Stephen?
Sounds of the door swinging open. Someone else has entered

the candle-lit library.
GREGORY feels an urge to hurry. He trawls quickly through the

spines of books until he finds what he is looking for. Flips
down the pages. Finds a heading on the Grandmontine Order.
Someone is moving down an aisle of books towards him. GREGORY

reads avidly, strolling deeper into the library.
At her desk, the LIBRARIAN is writing. A shadow passes across

her. She looks up but there is no one.
GREGORY has the book on a reading stand. He photographs the

relevant pages with his digital camera.
A noise in one of the aisles. GREGORY can see nobody.
Creak. Floorboard on the opposite side of the case. Someone

standing on the other side. GREGORY begins to walk slowly
along the aisle. Can he hear footsteps matching him? He
freezes. Leans forward and pulls out a book.
A pair of bloodshot eyes blaze back at him.
GREGORY drops the book with a crash. He darts down another

aisle. He moves fast, switching from row to row.
COLM reaches the far end of the library. No sign of his

quarry.
The tinkle of the door bell.

COLM moves out from the rows of books and realizes that
GREGORY has given him the slip.
CUT TO:
GREGORY debriefs the others using print outs from his digital
camera.
GREGORY
Brother Stephen travelled with our
knights as recounted in his
Chroniculi minori. They were led by
a great Templar; Jaques de Saint-
Omar.
GILLIAN
That sword ...
She is fascinated by a picture of Saint-Omar carrying a

distinctive narrow sword.
VIV
Why do you like that sword?
GREGORY
It’s not in keeping with the
Templar’s traditional hand-and-a-
half sword ...
GILLIAN
Ben. Look at it.
BEN
Yeah, can we stick to what we’re
doing mate?
GILLIAN
You can see it. I know you can see
it.
VIV
See what? What is it about this
sword?
BEN
Nothing.
GREGORY
(coughs for attention)
If I may resume ... The knights
were attacked. Stephen is vague
about the location which is why
this hasn’t come to light before.
VIV
By Saracens?
GREGORY
They dressed as Saracens, left
Saracen coins but Brother Stephen
knew differently.
CUT TO:
74 EXT. RUTTED COUNTRY ROAD - 14TH CENTURY - NIGHT X 74
From hiding, BROTHER STEPHEN watches the massacre. The

SARACEN leader removes his satin scarf - clearly Caucasian.
CUT TO:
GREGORY
English Mercenaries in disguise.
Stephen’s careful here. He says
they stole a “most magnificent
relic.” He means of course the
Cross. These thieves were in the
pay of the Grandmontines
themselves.
BEN
The jammy sods! Why?
GILLIAN
The Templars were being wiped out.
The monks couldn’t trust them with
the Cross. They made it look as
though Saracens had killed them and
taken the Cross back to the Holy
Land. In fact they would have taken
it to their own monastery in
Cresswell.
GREGORY
Cresswell’s been heavily excavated.
Nothing doing.
GILLIAN
They hid it somewhere!
BEN
If the answer was in that book then
Laygass would be lynching heathens
and parading the Cross up Pall Mall
by now. He’s missing something.
GREGORY
Where else could the monks hide it?
GILLIAN
Well Laygass can only read the top-
soil, we know how to dig.
(checks her watch)
Motorway to Birmingham’ll be clear.
Fancy a drive Gregory?
He waggles a hip flask.
GREGORY
I’ll just put the kettle on.
CUT TO:
76 EXT. MOTORWAY - NIGHT 3 76
The car hammers up the M5.
CUT TO:
77 INT. WHITE WINGS ALLIANCE - RECEPTION - NIGHT 3 77
The DESK MAN looks up levelly as a forcedly jovial GILLIAN

and a very pompous GREGORY flash their university cards.
GILLIAN
Dr Magwilde, Professor Parton,
Wessex University Archaeology
Department. You know why we’re in
Birmingham.
The DESK MAN frowns.
GREGORY
We’re collecting Mr Laygass’s notes
on the Brother Stephen writings. I
thought you’d been notified.
GREGORY gives what he hopes is his most innocent smile.
GILLIAN
I’ll phone Mr Laygass. Wake him up.
He’ll hit the roof. Nothing is ever
simple is it.
CUT TO:
78 INT. LAYGASS OFFICES - NIGHT 3 78
GILLIAN and GREGORY step through.
GILLIAN
Apparently it is.
GREGORY is impressed by the Antonello. GILLIAN is appalled by

the xenophobic, hate-filled flyers on the walls. “Make This
OUR Holy War.” “Islam - The Hate-fuelled Religion.” Etc.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Here’s the book.
It’s behind a thick glass case with a security lock.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
It’s wired.
CUT TO:
VIV gets her coat. BEN prepares to lock up.
Sudden noise outside. A cat screams. They share a nervous

look.
BEN
We’re being paranoid.
(another clattering noise)
Load up the Land Rover. Take
everything. All the finds. The lot.
They go into action - wrapping up the precious bones. In her

haste, VIV knocks Brother Stephen’s small lead crucifix to
the floor.
CUT TO:
80 INT. LAYGASS OFFICES - NIGHT 3 80
GREGORY has finished searching through the desk.
GREGORY
We don’t have much time.
GILLIAN
There has to be a key.
GREGORY
Why do people always say that? No
there doesn’t.
She notices the small framed illuminated text on the wall.
GILLIAN
“In my Father’s house there are
many mansions ..” It’s Laygass’s
favourite quote from the Bible.
She tilts the picture - a small disabler key dangles behind

it.
GREGORY
My lady.
CUT TO:
81 EXT. COUNTRY LANE - MORNING 4 81
Land Rover bouncing over rough lanes in deep countryside.
CUT TO:
82 I/E. LAND ROVER - MORNING 4 82
GREGORY drives. GILLIAN on the far side and VIV wedged

between them. BEN in the back. They listen to radio news.
RADIO NEWS
The beheaded body of a young muslim
student in the south of the city
has sparked an outcry of anger and
disgust from religious leaders
across the country. As the Bishop
of Birmingham meets with Muslim
clerics today to discuss how best
to tackle the growing fury amongst
all religious factions of the city
...
GILLIAN switches it off.
BEN
Sounds Laygass’s war is about to
begin.
GILLIAN
Viv, you don’t have to sit in the
Floozy Seat.
Every time GREGORY changes gear he has the perfect

opportunity to grope VIV’S leg. She slaps his hand.
GREGORY
I was changing down!
GILLIAN
(refers to book)
No wonder Laygass loves this thing.
Brother Stephen talks about the
Templars rising again in the future
and crushing the heathens.
BEN
What are those symbols? Animals and
stuff ...
Various images of houses, water, castle keeps, birds.

GREGORY
Pictograms. They reference
different churches and monasteries.
Like a short-hand ..
GREGORY gropes VIV’S thigh. She swats him.
GREGORY (CONT'D)
I was changing up!
GILLIAN
Stop!
GREGORY brakes.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Stephen carved this symbol onto the
back of his crucifix. Why would he
desecrate his own holy cross like
that?
BEN
Because it referred to a place that
was extra special? Extra holy?
GILLIAN
Where’s that crucifix?
BEN
We packed everything. Viv, you were
clearing out the office, did you
see it?
VIV
I packed it. I’m sure. I think.
Look, we were in a rush!
GILLIAN
He carved this symbol because it
was the place they were taking the
Cross to.
GREGORY
The snake and the sword.
Taking the book, GREGORY scans with an academic eye.
GREGORY (CONT'D)
The Templar church at Garway,
Herefordshire.
BEN
Yeah but the knights were ambushed.
So where did it go instead?
GILLIAN
Don’t you get it? Stephen didn’t
survive the ambush, they let him
live. He was a Grandmontine. And he
knew the plan all along even if he
didn’t agree with it. Everyone
might have thought the Cross was
going back to the Holy Land but it
was still going to Garway.
GREGORY
That’s madness. It’s a Templar site
... Oh no, I see! I see! The
Templars are all dead. Their
churches suddenly abandoned ...
Garway then.
BEN
Garway.
GILLIAN
Garway.
CUT TO:
JAMES stands amidst the cleared out lab. He is about to leave

when his boot nudges something on the floor - Brother
Stephen’s crucifix. He turns it over in his hands. Clocks the
symbols etched upon the back.
JAMES
Garway.
He bolts from the room.
CUT TO:
84 EXT. GARWAY - LANE - DAY 4 84
GILLIAN jumps out of the Land Rover which has reached a stone
wall dead-end. Over the wall, an ELDERLY MAN tends his
garden. He grins at GILLIAN who leans on the wall casually
with a coy smile.
ELDERLY MAN
Lost eh?
GILLIAN
We’re looking for the church?
ELDERLY MAN
Church? Closed. For drainage works.
Got the flagstones up an’ all
sorts.
GILLIAN
They’ve got the flagstones up?! And
there’s nothing under there?
ELDERLY MAN
Like what?
GILLIAN
Ohh. Dunno. Errr ... Secret
chambers? Anything like that?
The MAN gives her a sideways look. GILLIAN realizes she has
reached a genuine dead-end. Turns to go.
ELDERLY MAN
If you wanna sightsee you can have
a look at the dove-cote.
GILLIAN looks back.
GILLIAN
Dove-cote?
ELDERLY MAN
Built with the church. It’s in me
garden. Come on through.
CUT TO:
85 EXT. GARWAY - GARDEN - DOVE-COTE - DAY 4 85
They pick their way through freshly dug soil, past watering
cans and wheel-barrows. And there it is - the circular stone
dove-cote sitting on his lawn beside some garden gnomes.
GREGORY
14th century for certain. If not
older. Best one I’ve seen.
ELDERLY MAN
Holy ain’t they, doves. Symbol of
peace.
GILLIAN runs her fingers over the symbols on the stone - a

snake and a sword.
CUT TO:
86 INT. DOVE-COTE - DAY 4 86
They push open the rickety door and step into a totally
circular structure lined with hundreds of stone coops.
Pigeons flap about.
A huge stone rests in the centre of the cote.

GILLIAN
Gregory?
GREGORY is counting.
BEN
How many?
GREGORY
Twelve rows high and I count fifty-
five coops in one row running all
around. Six hundred and sixty-six.
VIV
The number of the Beast?
GREGORY
666 doves to counter the power of
Satan. Funny how folk tick isn’t
it.
GILLIAN
Looks like they blocked up a well-
mouth.
CUT TO:
87 EXT. GARWAY - LANE - DAY 4 87
BEN throws open the back of the Land Rover. Packed with gear.
He pulls out pry bars, head-torches and harnesses. He checks
a head-torch. Bulb winks. He gives it a smack.
CUT TO:
BEN, GREGORY and VIV heave at the pray bars. The lid comes
off. Ancient air howls up out of the darkness.
GILLIAN is already strapping on her harness.
BEN
You sure?
She just grins - thrilled and buzzing.
CUT TO:
89 INT. DOVE-COTE - UNDERGROUND CHAMBER - DAY 4 89
GILLIAN is lowered. She struggles with her head-lamp.
GILLIAN
Stop. Hang on ...
She waggles the light to fix it. Now she can see. And her
face registers tearful, emotional awe.
CUT TO:
GREGORY is tying off a rope. BEN secures his own harness. He

notices VIV watching him enviously. He passes it to her.
BEN
Know how to put this on?
She can’t believe he is giving her the chance.
CUT TO:
GILLIAN is surprised as VIV is lowered beside her. Together

they stare in wonder at the chamber.
FX: The large chamber is filled with hundreds of decaying

wooden crosses. Some with their cross-beams missing. Some
fallen.
They reach the floor.
GILLIAN
These are Roman crosses, collected
over the Crusades. The Templars
didn’t know which was Christ’s so
they brought them all.
VIV
And the piece we found ...?
GILLIAN
From one of these.
VIV unclicks her harness.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Be careful.
VIV walks amongst the crosses. She cautiously touches one.
Quite suddenly VIV’S empty harness is yanked off the ground

and back towards the roof.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Ben? What are you doing?
CUT TO:
BEN and GREGORY stand stock-still. COLM holds them at bay

with his sword whilst JAMES hoists in the harness. LAYGASS
ducks into the cote. He grimaces at the startled pigeons.
LAYGASS
Once full of pure white doves. Now
teeming with sullied grey
scavengers from abroad.
CUT TO:
GILLIAN
Ben? Gregory?
She shakes her faulty head-light. It winks out. GILLIAN

thinks fast, pulls the metal walking stick that is strapped
to her back. Wraps her scarf around it and lights it, holding
it aloft like a Medieval torch.
The light reveals LAYGASS descending. VIV moves deeper into

the chamber, hiding amongst the crosses.
LAYGASS reaches the floor. He stares in rapture.
FX: The chamber. Laygass stares at dozens of crosses.
LAYGASS
How do we know which one?
GILLIAN
Maybe we shouldn’t know. It’s about
faith isn’t it?
LAYGASS
You’re right. We’ll take one. That
will stand as the True Cross. It’ll
be a beacon of hope!
VIV falls against one of the crosses which tumbles over.
LAYGASS glimpses Viv dart behind a cross and pulls out his
sword. He unclips himself from the harness.
LAYGASS (CONT'D)
Come here. Please. Come here. Come
on. Come HERE!!
GILLIAN
What are you doing?
LAYGASS
You’re going to help me secure a
cross. You will help me or I swear
to God this child will die!
GILLIAN tosses her flaming torch. A cross begins to smoke.
LAYGASS (CONT'D)
What are you ...?
More crosses burst into flames.
LAYGASS (CONT'D)
YOU BITCH!
CUT TO:
The others can see smoke rising and flickering firelight. BEN
instinctively steps forward. JAMES threatens him with his
sword.
BEN
What?! Gonna let them burn? That
what Jesus would do?
JAMES
What do you know?!
BEN
We know Laygass brainwashed some
innocent children to grow up
believing they were holy warriors.
GREGORY
Your knights, do you know why they
kept doves? To tax the farmers.
JAMES
Liar! The doves are a symbol of
purity.
GREGORY
The doves took the peasants’ grain.
However much they took, the
Templars would take the same.
JAMES
They are holy birds!
GREGORY
Sorry son, you see them as a symbol
of purity. In fact they were a
symbol of taxation. Things are not
always as he hope.
GILLIAN shouting from below in panic.
GILLIAN
Ben, help us.
COLM
James! We can’t leave them to burn
down there!
JAMES
Why not? They’ll burn anyway. One
day.
COLM
I don’t have your .. your strength.
BEN
Why? Because he’s killed? It was
you wasn’t it. You’re brave enough
to kill for the Cross aren’t you
James. Now show us you’re brave
enough to save.
CUT TO:
VIV dodges LAYGASS. Makes a dash for GILLIAN. GILLIAN reaches

out for her. But suddenly she is dragged off the ground.
She is suspended. The second empty harness is whipped past

her.
VIV is trapped amongst the burning crosses with LAYGASS

hunting her.
FX: A large part of the chamber is now on fire.
JAMES descends on the second harness. He draws level with

GILLIAN.
LAYGASS
Kill her! Do it!
JAMES swings in his harness, sword in hand. GILLIAN is forced

to do the same. He swings by her and slashes with his sword.
FX: Now GILLIAN is locked in a deadly game of pendulum with
James above a chamber of burning crosses.
CUT TO:
BEN can see that COLM is faltering.

BEN
It’s never been about faith Colm.
It’s been about power. Come on ...
He holds out his hand - give me the sword.
CUT TO:
JAMES swoops past GILLIAN who ducks a second before losing

her head. He swings in an arc, ready to get her the next
time. She is helpless in his path.
A sword cuts his harness from above. JAMES falls to the

chamber floor, leg broken and helpless.
CUT TO:
97A INT. DOVE-COTE - DAY 4 97A
COLM pulls back with his sword. Gregory and Ben start to haul
Gillian up.
CUT TO:
97B INT. DOVE-COTE - UNDERGROUND CHAMBER - DAY 4 97B
GILLIAN is being hauled up.
GILLIAN
No, I’m going down!
LAYGASS grabs VIV and throws her to the ground, raising his
sword. In the hellfire glow of burning crosses he appears
demonic.
And VIV starts to sing.
VIV
“And did those feet in ancient
times, walk upon England’s
mountains green? And was the holy
Lamb of God, in England’s pleasant
pastures seen ..?”
Beautiful. Pitch-perfect. Pure. LAYGASS is dumbfounded. The

song has captured him. He did not expect it. VIV stares at
him as she sings “Jerusalem” with utter sincerity.
LAYGASS
God gave you that voice sister. But
the Devil uses it.
It is the fraction of a beat that is needed.

GILLIAN swings in on her harness and collides with LAYGASS.

He topples over backwards, splayed across a burning cross in
crucifixion pose. FX: He screams as his body ignites.
VIV sits up. GILLIAN is swinging in for a second pass.
VIV lifts up her hand - hope beyond hope.
GILLIAN snatches it.
BEN
Now!
He and GREGORY pull in the harness. FX: GILLIAN rises away

from the fire, VIV dangling from her grip.
VIV
Don’t let go!
GILLIAN
I’ve got you honey.
On the chamber floor, JAMES opens his eyes. JAQUES de SAINT-

OMAR, the captain of the Templars, stands over him. JAMES
lifts out his hand but the Knight does not try to help him. A
burning cross falls across JAMES and he is gone.
CUT TO:
98 EXT. GARWAY - GARDEN - DOVE-COTE - DAY 4 98
The TEAM stagger into fresh air. Black smoke drifts from the
cote. Siren sounds from far away. The ELDERLY MAN is running
back from his house.
ELDERLY MAN
I called the Police! Anyone hurt?
Should I make some tea?
GILLIAN helps the sagging VIV to get her breath back.
GILLIAN
You sang to him?
VIV
I just thought it might buy me some
time.
GILLIAN
You .. sang to him?
VIV shrugs, embarrassed.
GILLIAN (CONT’D)
You know what? I’m impressed.
VIV glows as though given benediction. BEN gives GILLIAN a

big hug.
COLM
It’s over. The Cross, it’s gone.
BEN
Suppose to be in here sunbeam.
(taps his chest)
Read that in a book somewhere.
Approaching police car. COLM bows his head and weeps.
GREGORY
Now please, please please, for the
love of Jehovah, may we go to the
pub?
CUT TO:
The chamber is raging inferno. The crosses are collapsing in

ashes.
Save one.
One cross rests in the middle of the conflagration but it

does not burn. Then suddenly it ignites in a flame that roars
brighter than all the rest.
CUT TO:
100 SCENE MOVED TO 106 100
101 INT. PUB - DAY 4 101
PULL BACK from another fire. The flames of a cosy pub hearth.
DANIEL MASTIFF finds the TEAM sitting around a table near the
fire all with pints of real ale.
GILLIAN
Hello Daniel, pork scratching?
DANIEL MASTIFF
No Cross.
GILLIAN
Apparently not.
BEN
Might be for the best Daniel. It’s
a pretty inflammatory relic.
DANIEL MASTIFF
Yes, yes .. Would you like another
pint of Smug?
He turns to leave. GILLIAN goes after him.
GILLIAN
Daniel. You were hoodwinked by a
fanatic.
DANIEL MASTIF
When vocation becomes passion
anyone can become a fanatic. If I
recall, it runs in your family.
He leaves her feeling troubled. She returns to the pub table.

They watch her. GILLIAN produces the hunk of 2000 year old
cedar.
BEN
They can’t reclaim the DNA. Blood’s
too polluted.
GREGORY
Our poor bleeding stranger remains
a mystery. Good. For the best.
GILLIAN
(hefts the wood)
If you can’t build with it, all
wood is good for is burning. Any
carpenter knows that.
She tosses the chunk onto the fire. It roars up at once. They
watch it burn. They’ve done the right thing.
CUT TO:
102 SCENE MOVED TO 105 102
103 EXT. MAYFIELD HOSPICE - DAY 4 103
VIV goes to meet HELENA. The dig-site is open once more.
VIV
How’s your miracle patient?
HELENA
The remission hasn’t lasted. But he
got to speak to his family one last
time; that’s God’s gift to him.
VIV
Don’t lose your faith Helena.
HELENA smiles. Then looks at her finger.

HELENA
It’s working loose. I think I can
get it.
VIV
Let me.
CUT TO:
104 INT. UNIVERSITY - LAB - ARCHIVE - DAY 4 104
GILLIAN has put the splinter into two glass plates which she
then puts on the shelf with her numerous antiquities.
VIV
God is in the quiet places and the
little things.
GILLIAN
Viv? There’s something I want to
ask you.
VIV
What?
GILLIAN
Are you going talk like a fortune
cookie or are you going to get out
there and start digging?
VIV grins at her. *
GILLIAN (CONT'D) *
What’s with the Cheshire Cat thing? *
VIV *
I’m just .. Thank you. I’m glad to *
be here. It’s been a dream and .. *
thank you. *
GILLIAN
You’re very welcome Viv.
VIV
(turns to go) *
Uhh .. you coming, Boss?
GILLIAN
Not right now. There’s something I
have to do.
CUT TO:
105 INT. SWAN HOUSE CARE HOME - ROOM - DAY 4 105
GILLIAN stands before the WOMAN in her late 50’s with the
mass of unruly black-grey hair. The WOMAN will not look at
GILLIAN. She just keeps drawing - patterns and symbols.
GILLIAN
I was really close. Maybe some
things are best left hidden. You
know that better than anyone.
The WOMAN ignores her, continues to scribble. Dots. Lots of

dots that she begins to join as though they are
constellations.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
I’m not trying to boast. I just
wanted you to know.
She kisses the WOMAN on the top of her head.
GILLIAN (CONT'D)
Take care mum. I love you.
She pauses at the door. Her MOTHER doesn’t even break from
her writing. GILLIAN leaves sadly.
Alone, her MOTHER pauses in her “work”.
In the doorway, GILLIAN unfolds a crumpled picture - Jaques

De Saint-Omar holding aloft a sword.
CUT TO:
106 INT. GILLIAN’S FLAT - SECRET ROOM - DAY 4 106
GILLIAN smooths out her picture of Jaques De Saint-Omar. She

circles his sword with a marker pen and adds the picture to
the wall. We pull back to reveal a myriad of maps, pictures,
designs that wallpaper the room. Swords. Images of swords.
Designs of swords. The place is like an altar to the sword
throughout history.
We hear an electrical hum that skitters around the room like

a naughty phantom. GILLIAN clocks it. Frowns. The hum dies
away.
FADE OUT.
END OF EPISODE ONE.

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Bonekickers. Ep 1. Green Amendments. By Matthew Graham. 12.12.07. 1.

Floating plain-song - “Beatus servus in Christi dominus...”

2 EXT. RUTTED COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT X 2

SUBTITLE: Larkhall, Somerset - October 1307

Between the hospice and the childrens’ playground.

Shadows in the trees - the party is being watched. They lower

Thunder explodes and as if this is their cue, out of the

The CLOAKED MEN shout in subtitled Medieval French - “We’re

These bowed men suddenly throw off their cloaks revealing

Their leader - JAQUES de SAINT-OMAR - strong and righteous.

The SARACENS charge.

JAQUES de SAINT-OMAR draws his sword. The blade is long and

The Templar commander holds it aloft - a simple weapon but it

JAQUES DE SAINT-OMAR (CONT'D)

The KNIGHTS draw their swords and engage the rushing

De SAINT-OMAR wades in to battle. The butchery is raw and

Another SARACEN charges. De SAINT-OMAR engages with him.

JAQUES DE SAINT-OMAR (CONT'D)

The three remaining KNIGHTS protect the covered icon.

The SARACENS encircle them.

JAQUES DE SAINT-OMAR (CONT'D)

The SARACENS fall upon them.

The final slaughter of the remaining KNIGHTS is watched

CUT: The bodies of the three fallen KNIGHTS sprawled together

We CRANE UP as mist fleetingly covers frame ...

4 EXT. BATH - UNIVERSITY - FLY-OVER - DAY 1 4

The Georgian city. Blanket of bright stone nestled in the

SUBTITLE: 701 years later ...

We FLY TOWARDS a vast compound of modern buildings dominating

4A EXT. UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS - DAY 1 4A

5 INT. UNIVERSITY - LECTURE ROOM - DAY 1 5

A cluster of STUDENTS take diligent notes during an

A sea of hands fly in to the air.

Clamour of books and folders packed.

7 EXT. LARKHALL - OPEN GROUND - DAY 1 7

A BUILDING CONTRACTOR refers to a sheet of planned housing

PROFESSOR GREGORY PARTON - the slightly florid look of a man

DR BEN ERGHA - Thirties, West African descent but London by

As they reach the SUPERVISOR, a battered mud-flecked Land

He hands BEN a dull battered coin. BEN whistles his

She jumps out of the Land Rover accompanied by the excited

GILLIAN snatches the silver coin. Inspects it with

She jabs the toe-cap of her boot into the soil.

“BONEKICKERS” EPISODE 1 - “Army of God” *

8 EXT. DIG SITE - DAY 1 8

VIVIENNE DAVIS pays her taxi driver and hurries eagerly

A university graduate, VIV is barely in her twenties - mixed

The site now consists of a broad evaluation trench. STUDENTS

The STUDENTS chuckle wearily before resuming work.

VIV tries to get a proper look at GILLIAN - fascinated and

9 INT. DIG SITE - OPS TENT - DAY 1 9

Trestles weighed down with computers, paperwork and

BEN hands VIV the silver, dull, bent coin.

GILLIAN places a seed tray on the table. Removing pieces of

GILLIAN ignores, stomping back to the trench.

VIV catches GREGORY staring at her bum.

10 EXT. DIG SITE - DAY 1 10

Various CLOSE-UPS: trowel tips scraping the soil. Little bent

GILLIAN’S internal radar is beeping. She casts an intuitive