FADE IN:

From the BLACKNESS before the first images, we hear a young woman’s tortured SCREAM, muffled by her own will. We see her mouth, open in agony; her face, beaded with sweat. Her name is ANNE, and she is Queen of France. She lies in

A ROYAL BEDCHAMBER

The royal DOCTOR kneels at the foot of her bed; her own royal mother grips her hands…

On the opposite side of the huge bedchamber, and separated from the queen’s bed by an artistically painted screen, are royal ADVISORS sweating and anxious for any word to take to their king. They wince as the Queen moans again in the pain of childbirth.

Her fingers claw out for help, but her Doctor ignores her need to be touched and comforted; he is concerned only for the baby. Only her PRIEST, FATHER BELLES, sits at her head, stroking her hair gently and rapidly whispering prayers.

                 DOCTOR
      The head is born!  One arm... the
      other arm... it is a boy!

The advisors, disregarding the Queen’s privacy, scurry around the screen to see the doctor lift the beautiful baby, wet with birth.

                 ADVISOR 1
      I shall tell the king!

                 ADVISOR 2
      I shall tell him!

They hurry for the door. DOCTOR M’lady…?

He kneels again to examine the Queen.

                 DOCTOR
      Another...?  It is another!