THE ALCHEMISTS
by
Robert Nelson
( Based on a True Story )
FADE IN:
SUPERIMPOSE:
"THE ALCHEMISTS"
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
FRANCIS Preyhausen, aged about 40, sits at his desk, writing
by the light of a CANDELABRA. The light of a FULL MOON
streams through the open window.
FRANCIS (V.O.)
Wenzel Seyler found the
Philosophers' Stone, he made gold
for Emperor Leopold Habsburg, and
became a Baron. (beat) He survived
his enemies, and he survived
himself. (beat) I was there with
him, and this, I swear, is the
truth of the matter...
EXT. PASTURE - NIGHT
SUPERIMPOSE: MAP, MORAVIA/AUSTRIA
CAPTION: "BRUNA, MORAVIA, 1350"
A WOLF HOWLS in the distance; an OWL HOOTS nearby. FREDERICK
Gualdus and KARL Steiner, in brown monastic robes, stand in a
meadow under a FULL MOON, squeezing dew from a twisted sheet
of LINEN held between them. More sheets, soaked with DEW,
hang from poles stuck in the ground. Dew drips from the
twisted sheet into a FUNNEL in a BOTTLE. A basket is filled
with plugged bottles; a third with twisted sheets. Karl
shivers and yawns and almost loses his grip.
FREDERICK
Be careful, Brother Karl!, If it
touches the earth, the potency will
be lost!
KARL
Frederick, I feel as if I am
dreaming, and walking in my sleep!
FREDERICK
The full moon is affecting you.
Fight it! We are almost done!
EXT. HUT - DAY (ESTABLISHING)
The monks' hut stands near the Zwitta River.
INT. HUT. - NIGHT
Frederick and Karl are seated at the table. Frederick is
grinding SULFUR with a MORTAR and PESTLE. Karl is writing a
MANUSCRIPT. A retort sits on a tripod over a coal fire in the
fireplace. Yellow oil drips into a flask receiver, attached
with clay and strips of cloth.
INT. HUT - DAY
Frederick is sitting at the table, writing a manuscript. Karl
is seated on a stool at the fireplace, stirring a white
powder in a crucible. Smoke billows, and they run outside,
coughing.
FREDERICK (CONT'D)
Too much niter, too fast! Make
haste slowly, Karl!
KARL
Aggh! Ach! Choo!
SERIES OF SHOTS - INTERCUT WITH ALCHEMY IMAGES:
A) INT. HUT - DAY
Frederick is spooning a white powder into a flask, half
filled with yellow oil.
B) INT. HUT - DAY
The flask has been sealed, and sits in a pan filled with
sand. Frederick sets it atop a bed of coals. They kneel,
cross themselves, and begin to pray in Latin mumble.
C) INT. HUT - NIGHT
A few weeks later: the contents of the flask are black, and
it has a pale violet glow about it. Karl sits at the table,
writing by the light of a candle. Frederick is asleep on his
cot.
D) INT. HUT - WEEKS LATER - DAY
Frederick sits watching the flask. The compound now is white.
He adds a coal to the fire, and pumps the bellows slowly.
Karl sits at the table, writing a MANUSCRIPT.
E) INT. HUT - WEEKS LATER - DAY
MONTAGE: The contents of the flask pass through every color.
F) INT. HUT - DAY
The compound has turned dark red: the Philosophers' Stone.
Frederick and Karl kneel, cross themselves, and pray in a
Latin mumble.
G) INT. HUT - DAY
A crucible filled with molten lead sits in the bed of hot
coals. Frederick wraps a grain of the red glass in a bit of
candle wax. He stirs it into the lead with an iron nail. A
LOUD METALLIC CRACKLE and FLASH OF BLUE LIGHT startles them.
They look into the crucible to see pure gold with the iron
nail stuck in it. Frederick smiles, and Karl looks amazed.
H) INT. HUT - DAY
Frederick and Karl are sitting at the table with a small
COPPER BOX (12" x 12" x 6"). It contains four small BOTTLES,
each filled with pieces of the red Philosophers' Stone. Karl
places the MANUSCRIPT in the box, and shuts the lid.
I) EXT. HUT - DAY
Frederick is walking away, leading a mule that carries two
small sacks. Karl watches from the door of the hut. Frederick
turns to take a last look, and waves goodbye.
J) EXT. ST. THOMAS' MONASTERY - DAY (ESTABLISHING)
SUPERIMPOSE: "ST. THOMAS' MONASTERY, 1352"
Several monks' huts and a few small wood buildings have been
erected, and the monastery is under construction. The monks
and some masons are building a small stone chapel.
K) INT. CHAPEL - DAY
Two monks are chiseling the base section of a small pillar
next to a small hole in the floor.
LATER
Karl places the COPPER BOX in a hole in the floor of the
chapel, and the monks push the base of the pillar over the
hole.
L) EXT. CHAPEL - 300 YEARS LATER - DAY (ESTABLISHING)
SUPERIMPOSE: "ST. THOMAS' MONASTERY, 1670"
The chapel is in ruins. The modern monastery has been built
nearby.
M) EXT. DAWKS' PRINT SHOP - DAY (ESTABLISHING)
SUPERIMPOSE: "LONDON, 1680"
Dr. BECHER pauses and looks up at the shop sign as he
approaches and enters.
CLOSEUP: SIGN "THOMAS DAWKS, HIS MAJESTIES PRINTER"
INT. DAWKS' PRINT SHOP - DAY
Dawks picks up a copy of MAGNALIA NATURAE and comes forward
to greet Becher.
DAWKS
Greetings, Doctor Becher! Behold,
your booklet, Magnalia Naturae!
CLOSE UP: "MAGNALIA NATURAE"
Becher happily pages through the booklet. He speaks with a
German accent.
BECHER
Ah! Yes, goodt, goodt! You have
done a fine job, Mister Dawks, and
I thank ye kindly.
EXT. ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON - DAY (ESTABLISHING)
SUPERIMPOSE: "ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF
NATURAL KNOWLEDGE"
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: "JOHAN BECHER, ISAAC NEWTON, ROBERT BOYLE,
EDMUND HALLEY, ROBERT HOOKE"
Isaac Newton (age 39), Edmund Halley (26), and Robert Hooke
(47), Robert Boyle (55), sit at a table with Dr. Becher at
the head. Other unidentified gentlemen sit in armchairs about
the room. Everyone has a glass of wine in hand or nearby.
Halley's telescope stands in front of a window in the
background. Becher bows as he acknowledges each quest.
BECHER
Gentlemen, I am honored by your
learned company this fine evening.
(beat) Sir Isaac Newton... Edmund
Halley... Robert Hooke... It
pleases me greatly to present my
new booklet, Magnalia Naturae,
which Sir Robert Boyle here did
urge me to publish. Today I shall
give you a more personal account.
(long beat) We have all heard of
the Philosophers' Stone that
transmutes base metals to noble
gold. Yet, we must ask if such a
thing might really exist.(beat)
Well, now our doubt is resolved by
two Friars of the Augustine order.
(beat) And the truth of it is
attested by many men of great
quality, by the Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold Habsburg himself! (beat) I
myself was witness to these events.
Becher picks up his glass of wine from a small tray on the
table.
EXT. ST. THOMAS' MONASTERY - DAY (ESTABLISHING)
SUPERIMPOSE: "ST. THOMAS' MONASTERY, 1676"
INT. CHAPEL - DAY
Francis is serving the Mass with another monk. He stands to
the left of the altar, holding a tray with the pitchers of
wine and water. Dozens of monks kneel in the pews, with
several priest in the front row.
BECHER (V.O.)
Thanks to Friar Francis Preyhausen,
that we know so much about this
matter. (beat) And his honesty is admirable,
for he did not steal the treasure,
nor claim some for himself, when he
could. But honesty seldom gets what
it deserves.
PRIEST
Dominus vobiscum.
FRANCIS
Et cum spiritu tuo.
PRIEST
Oremus.
The priest picks up the pitcher of wine from Francis' tray.
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Dr. Becher picks up his glass of wine, sips, and continues
speaking.
BECHER
Wenzel Seyler was born in Vienna,
about the year 1650. (beat) About
twenty-five years later, he was
caught in bed with the wife of the
precinct Governor, Count de
Collebrat...
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
WENZEL Seyler is carousing in bed with the WIFE of the
GOVERNOR (Count de Collebrat) when the cuckold bursts in and
starts poking at Wenzel with a sword. The wife cringes under
the sheets, and Wenzel tries to protect himself with a pillow
as he scrambles for his pants.
GOVERNOR
Scoundrel! Lecher!
WENZEL
Ow! Agh! Ow! Oh!
WIFE
Eek! Eek! Oh! No!
GOVERNOR
Silence, whore!
A guard comes running in and corners Wenzel with a pike.
BECHER (V.O.)
The fear of prison was the
beginning of wisdom for him. (beat)
With the help of a priest, suddenly
he found religion, and Wenzel
entered the Augustine Monastery at
Bruna in Moravia.
SERIES OF SHOTS:
A) EXT. MONASTERY GATE - DAY
Wenzel, two guard escorts, and a priest stand at the open
gate of St. Thomas' monastery. Wenzel and the priest enter,
and a monk slams the gate shut behind them.
B) INT. CELL - DAY
Wenzel stands at the door of his cell, crowded with a cot,
table, and stool. He wears the Augustine habit, and his hair
has been cut short.
C) INT. CHAPEL - DAY
Wenzel is attending Mass with the other monks. The priests
sit in the front rows. Francis is serving Mass with another
monk.
D) INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Wenzel and Francis are among a dozen monks studying under the
supervision of a stern priest.
EXT. GARDEN - DAY
Francis and Wenzel walking in the monastery garden.
WENZEL
How did you come to be here,
Brother Francis?
FRANCIS
Oh, my father pressed me to enter
the Church. (beat) I have
education, but no livelihood, and I
will never inherit the family
estate unless the plague takes my
elder brothers.
(beat) I came here a year ago, but
I am mortally bored already. I feel
trapped in limbo with a bunch of
pompous celibates.
WENZEL
Well, at least you are innocent. My
sins are venial, so this is like
purgatory to me. Yet escape is
possible, with money...
EXT. OLD CHAPEL - DAY
Wenzel and another monks are digging up rocks and tossing
them into a wheelbarrow. Other monks are doing likewise
nearby. The old chapel stands in the background.
BECHER (V.O.)
After a year of probation, Wenzel
Seyler took the monks' vows. Still,
he planned to escape, though he had
no means. So when he heard the
legend of a treasure, hidden in the
monastery, he tried to find it...
MONK #1
...Even if the story is true, and
you find the gold, the Abbot will
spend it to glorify the Church, and
feed the poor! Ha ha!
INT. CELLAR - DAY
Wenzel is alone in the cellar, dowsing with a willow branch.
BECHER (V.O.)
The man had no scruples about using
magic to help himself, and fortune
favored him thus.
EXT. MONASTERY GARDEN - DAY
Wenzel looks about furtively, then tries to dowse.
EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY
An OLD WOMAN sits beside the road, selling milk, cream, and
cheese from a small cart.
BECHER (V.O.)
The monks were allowed out of the
monastery on Saturdays... (beat)
And thus he met an old woman who
practiced witchcraft in secret.
OLD WOMAN
Fresh milk, cream, cheese! Fresh
milk, cream, cheese!
Wenzel approaches her and begins an inaudible conversation.
She gives him a cup of milk to drink.
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Becher sips his wine, sets the glass down.
BECHER
She gave him a ball of wax, covered
with strange figures, and she said
it would roll to the place where
treasure was hidden. (beat) Now,
this may sound absurd to men of
science, yet I have seen the ball,
and tested it myself.
INT. COTTAGE - DAY
Wenzel sits on a bench at a table, reading the old woman's
book of spells. She hands him a cup.
OLD WOMAN
Drink this potion, my dear. It will
strengthen your magical powers.
He sniffs the potion, then quaffs it with a grimace.
OLD WOMAN (CONT'D)
Yes, yes! Good!
MINUTES LATER
He begins to slouch as the potion takes effect.
WENZEL
(slurring)
What wash in that drink?
OLD WOMAN
Laudanum.
WENZEL
Law wha...?
OLD WOMAN
Laudanum, dear boy. The milk of
poppy.
Wenzel slides off the bench. The old woman lays him out on
the floor, then fetches a small box from a shelf. It contains
a wax ball with a hole in it, and a plug. The ball is covered
with magical symbols.
MINUTES LATER
The old woman is kneeling on the floor. She lift's Wenzel's
robe and apparently milks him, cackling happily as Wenzel
snores.
OLD WOMAN (CONT'D)
Tee hee hee!
MINUTES LATER
The old woman finishes filling the wax ball with Wenzel's
sperm, and plugs the hole, then licks her fingers and
cackles. She begins to mumble an incoherent magic spell...
HOURS LATER
Wenzel looks groggy, and yawns as she presents him with the
wax ball. He peers at the symbols, and sniffs it.
OLD WOMAN (CONT'D)
Wenzel, behold! (beat) If there is
a treasure hidden in the monastery,
this magic ball can find it! Now
watch this! Behold, this is my gold
wedding ring.
WENZEL
I am beholding.
She places the ball and ring several feet apart on the floor.
Wenzel watches in amazement as the ball wobbles, then rolls
to the ring. She picks them up, and hands the ball to him.
OLD WOMAN
I will give this to you, Wenzel,
but you must promise to give me
some gold if you find the treasure.
WENZEL
I promise you, I shall! Thank you!
EXT. MONASTERY YARD - DAY
Wenzel crosses paths with the ABBOT and two priests who
accompany him. One of the priests whispers inaudibly to the
Abbot.
ABBOT
Friar Wenzel Seyler! Come to my
office.
WENZEL
Yes, Abbot!
INT. ABBOT'S OFFICE - DAY
Wenzel stands before the Abbot.
ABBOT
Friar Seyler, it is our custom for
the old fathers to have a young
friar assist them. I have decided
that you shall attend to Father
Albert.
WENZEL
Yes, Father Abbot, I shall. Thank
you.
INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - NIGHT
Father ALBERT is sitting in a chair by the fireplace, and
Wenzel is sitting on a stool. He adds another coal to the
fire.
WENZEL
Father Albert, I have heard other
monks tell of a treasure hidden in
our monastery. Do you know the
story?
ALBERT
Yes, I do. It is said that our
first abbot was a master of
alchemy, and paid for the
construction of this monastery with
the gold he made. Supposedly he
buried a treasure in the old
chapel.
WENZEL
Father, I have seen your books, so
I know you study the magic arts.
(beat) You can trust me not to
speak of it to anyone. (beat) I
also know an old woman who
practices magic, and I have got
from her a wax ball with power to
discover hidden treasure. I saw it
work with her gold wedding ring!
ALBERT
I am curious to examine the thing.
Show it to me!
INT. OLD CHAPEL - DAY
Father Albert watches as Wenzel lays the wax ball on the
floor, but nothing happens. After a few seconds, he picks it
up and tries again at another spot, but again nothing
happens. Then he places it near the pillar. The ball wobbles
a bit and rolls to the base of the pillar. They repeat the
test with the same results.
ALBERT
That is most interesting! Yet,
though a treasure may be hidden
here, we have no way to break down
the pillar, and the abbot would not
allow us.
EXT. OLD CHAPEL - NIGHT
A winter storm rages, and lightning strikes the old chapel,
knocking down part of the wall and setting fire to the roof.
BECHER (V.O.)
But fate had other plans, and a
great storm arose one night soon
after, and lightning badly damaged
the old chapel.
INT. ABBOT'S OFFICE - DAY
The ABBOT is talking to Father Albert.
ABBOT
I have decided to have the masons
demolish the old chapel. We can use
the stones elsewhere.
ALBERT
I should like to supervise them,
Father Abbot. (beat)
That is holy ground, and I would
say prayers there until their work
is finished.
ABBOT
I am pleased to hear you say so,
Father Albert, for I plan to assign
you to the task.
ALBERT
Thank you, Father Abbot.
INT. OLD CHAPEL - AFTERNOON
The roof and walls of the chapel have been demolished, and
several piles of cut stone lay about on the floor. Only the
floor and the base section of the pillar remain. Wenzel and
Father Albert watch closely as the masons smash it with
sledgehammers and wedges. Master Mason MENDEL stands nearby,
overseeing the work. The hole in the floor becomes exposed as
a chunk of stone falls away, and the corner of the copper box
is visible, now green with corrosion. Father Albert steps
forward quickly to cover it with his robe.
ALBERT
Stop! Stop! Master Mendel, that is
enough for now! (beat) We can
finish this tomorrow. Go now to the
kitchen, and tell Father Benz that
I sent you.
MENDEL
(reluctantly)
Very well, Father Albert. Thank
you! Men, let's go eat!
When the masons have walked about a hundred feet away, Father
Albert speaks to Wenzel.
ALBERT
Push the stone away, Wenzel! Use
that pry bar.
Wenzel struggles with the pry bar, and manages to move the
pieces of the base and retrieve the box. Mendel looks back at
that moment and sees Wenzel hide the box under his cloak.
ALBERT (CONT'D)
Take me back to my room, Wenzel.
WENZEL
Yes, Father Albert.
INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - DAY
Father Albert is seated at his table with the copper box open
and the four bottles and manuscript beside it. Wenzel stands
beside him, looking disappointed.
WENZEL
There is no gold here! The story
was a lie!
ALBERT
I doubt that Father Steiner buried
this box as a joke. If there is
some virtue in this glass, the
manuscript may tell us how to use
it.
DAYS LATER
INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - DAY
Wenzel enters with a bucket of coal and sets it by the
fireplace next to a small pile of firewood. Father Albert is
seated at the table, studying the manuscript.
ALBERT (CONT'D)
Wenzel, go to the kitchen and find
an old pewter dish. (beat) Oh, and
bring an iron pan, and a large
nail. But let no one see you!
WENZEL
Yes, Father Albert.
INT. MONASTERY KITCHEN - DAY
Wenzel looks around to see if he is being watched, then hides
a pewter plate under his robe. Another monk notices him, but
says nothing.
INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - DAY
Pieces of pewter lay in a small pile on the floor, and a
small iron pan sits on a bed of coals in the fireplace,
filled with molten pewter. Wenzel blows on the coals through
an iron pipe. Father Albert is sitting at a table, using a
knife to scrape a tiny fragment from a chunk of the red
glass. Then he drips a bit of wax from a candle, scrapes it
up, and wraps the bit of glass with it.
ALBERT
Now we shall see if I have
understood the manuscript truly,
and found the use of this glass.
Drop this into the pan, and stir it
with the nail.
Wenzel adds the wax and stirs the molten pewter. The
transmutation happens suddenly with a LOUD METALLIC CRACKLE
and FLASH OF BLUE LIGHT. Wenzel jumps back, and Father Albert
almost falls off his chair. They look into the pan, and then
at each other, astonished. The pewter has become gold, and
the iron nail stuck is in it. Wenzel starts to giggle
hysterically.
WENZEL
Hee hee hee! Ha ha! Ha!
LATER
Father Albert hands a few small nuggets to Wenzel, and speaks
confidentially.
ALBERT
When you go into Bruna tomorrow,
take this to a goldsmith. Tell him
you have melted down some Roman
coins that you inherited, and you
wish to sell the gold. You may keep
the money, but let no one know of
it. No one!
WENZEL
Thank you, father Albert!
ALBERT
Wenzel!
WENZEL
Yes, father?
ALBERT
Tell no one! No one!
WENZEL
Yes, father!
INT. GOLDSMITH'S SHOP - DAY
The GOLDSMITH #1 is testing one of the nuggets on a
touchstone. The other nuggets sit on a balance scale.
GOLDSMITH #1
I will pay you twenty ducats.
WENZEL
I, I will accept that.
INT. WENZEL'S CELL - DAY
Wenzel sits at his table, looking at his little pile of
ducats while he munches on a roast chicken leg and swigs from
a bottle of wine.
INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - DAY
Wenzel and Father Albert are sitting before the fireplace.
WENZEL
Father Albert, I have been thinking
about the treasure.
ALBERT
I'm sure you have, my son. And what
have you thought?
WENZEL
I think that since I helped to
discover it with my wax ball, half
of it should belong to me.
ALBERT
Oh, no, Wenzel, not yet. We know
not how to manage this thing.
(beat) Besides which, you have no
need for money here. And if you
were enriched by this tincture, it
would prejudice your soul, and you
might become a most miserable man.
(beat) Henceforth, however, I will
allow you two crowns every week for
your diversions. But for now, I
will not part with any of the
glass, for I must study the
manuscript more carefully.
Apparently this glass is the
Philosophers' Stone, and it hath
other powers and virtues, more
precious than gold.
WENZEL
What might those powers be, father?
Albert reads from the manuscript.
ALBERT
The author says, our blessed Stone
hath virtue to conquer all disease,
and bestows a long life in good
health upon its happy possessor.
For the power to transmute metals
is only the beginning of its
wonderful powers. (beat) Wenzel, we
must be most careful if we would
live to enjoy this treasure with
peace of mind. For otherwise, the
envy of greedy men may well get us
killed.
WENZEL
Oh... Amen...
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Dr. Becher sips his wine, sets the glass down, and continues
speaking.
BECHER
Wenzel enjoyed his allowance for
the next few weeks, but all the
while he worried, thinking that the
old priest might tell the abbot.
Therefore he cogitated how he might
get the box and escape from the
monastery, but he had no way to do
so. Father Albert kept it locked in
his desk, and he never left his
room except with Wenzel, to attend
Mass and take his meals. (beat)
Then one day...
INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - DAY
Wenzel enters Albert's cell, toting a bucket of coal. He
finds Albert sitting on his bed, coughing, gasping, and
clutching his chest.
ALBERT
Fetch me a cup of wine, quickly!
SERIES OF SHOTS:
A) INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Wenzel is rushing through the corridor with a cup of wine,
holding one hand over it to stop its sloshing.
B) INT. ALBERT'S CLOISTER - DAY
Wenzel finds Albert sprawled on his bed, gasping, struck dumb