A Journey Through Faith and Sacrifice

Consider others as yourself. - DHAMMAPADA 10.1

Do to others as you would have them do to you. LUKE 6.31

A LONG LINE OF TORCHES breaks the darkness of a cold and windy night. Like a fiery serpent, it winds single file through the muddied earth. Backlit by the torch flames, Silhouettes of multiple Crosses cast an ominous shadow across the Landscape. His Holiness Pope Innocent the III has sent his faithful soldiers, on a Holy Crusade. On both horseback and foot, the crusaders solemnly march...

... towards the village of Montségur as the soldiers reach the fortress walls, they begin to make camp, unloading ENORMOUS WAGONS filled with Supplies: Wood, Rope, Metal, and Tools. Through a thin slit in the thick stone walls, a pair of pale blue eyes look out in wonderment.

ISABELLA - 12 years old and the picture of innocence. Her eyes are big and blue, and are clearly moved by the arrival of this foreign presence. She wonders if the soldiers are here to help fix up the hundred-year old township.

Her name is called. She leaves the window and descends down a - large spiral stairway, dozens of Men, Women, and Children join in mass to enter. They are the CATHARS, the “Good Christians” and they have come to pray. Inside a massive STONE CELLAR - with its huge vaulted ceilings and Arches - this chamber is clearly the Community gathering center. Isabella is quick to notice the clear disquiet among her extended family. But a calm silence soon falls over the entire hall as a hooded man enters the room.

JOSEPHUS - Six feet Tall and straight postured; his stride denotes a man of confidence and strength. Though in his fifties, years of devout service to the Lord have left his complexion pale, his frame thin, and his hair white, making him appear somewhat older. His complexion appears that much gaunter when contrasted to his Jet-black robes draping down to the floor.

He is a “PERFECT” a devout spiritual leader of the Cathars, and also Isabella’s Uncle.

All eyes follow him up to the podium. From around his neck he pulls up a – KEY: beautifully carved and jewelled – it is used to open the sealed metal clasp of a He opens up a huge LEATHER BOUND MANUSCRIPT, and we see from the beautiful Illuminated paintings crossed with far-eastern Motifs. From its size, weight, and weathered edges this book is both very old, and very precious.

Josephus begins the Lord’s Prayer, as the sound of the Soldiers making camp can be heard in the background. His prayer is spoken loud and strong, echoing beyond the castle walls, and is heard even by the soldiers outside.

The wind is howling as a small CARAVAN slowly makes its way through a violent sandstorm. THREE MEN wrapped in tattered cloth from head to toe, along with three PACK MULES march. They push forward almost entirely blind by the whirling sands. Suddenly one of the mules collapses, tripping off an unseen ledge. The weight of its load is crushing the animal.

One of the men, the tallest among them, approaches the animal, draws a knife and cuts free its burdensome load.

This is ISSA - 14 years old and seemingly focused in silent determination. Without a word spoken he continues his march, taking on much of the load once carried by the mule. Issa slowly disappears into the white. The other two follow, until all are consumed by the storm and only the wind and the whirling sand remain.

By Sami MacKenzie-Kerr ©