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The Holy Cephalophore

Illustration of Saint Denis, a holy cephalophore of Paris.
King Philip sits at the table with his queen, holding a cup. Philip: The loss of the royal archives at Frèteval was a... regrettable blunder, but at least it gave us a new opportunity to- servant: My Lord! News from Limoges-The lionheart, he took Châlus- Philip is irritated at the mention of his nemesis. Philip: ugh, is it really so urgent- Servant: He's dead. Philip's eyes widen in shock. Philip: How can you be so sure? It could be a trick- servant: I swear it's true! The accounts tell different things, but they all agree on this...
Philip puts his hand to his mouth and trembles. The queen reaches towards him with concern, but he raises his hand and waves her away, composing himself again. Philip: Well, preparations must be made. We must see that the succession goes in our favor... The scene changees and we see him kneeling before a church altar alone.
He clasps his hands and looks up to the crucifix. Philip: How I have prayed for this day to come. God and the blessed saints have shown me their favor. Ever since I was a boy, it has been my goal to restore the Kingdom of the Franks to as it was in the days of Charlemagne. The view shows an illustration of him, young, smiiling, and seated on the throne of Dagobert, crowned and holding the lily and the globe, flanked by castles and by the image of the cephalophore and patron saint of Paris, Saint Denis. Philip in the present, older, bald, tired, frowns over his prayer. Philip: That man, Richard, has been nothing but an obstacle to me.
He thinks back to his various memories of Richard. Philip: He was greedy- the memory shows both of them as young men on Messina, gambling with Richard having an abundance of treasure on his side while Philip's chest is empty. Philip: He had no respect for God and holy days, Shows Richard eating while Philip panics about it being a day for fasting. Philip: Broke treaties with me, his lord- Philip tries to point to a document while Richard dismisses it and leaves with his soldiers. Philip: Offended the law of nature- Through a parting in a curtain, the two of them sitting on cushions, Richard embraces Philip by the waist and kisses him, to Philip's apparent surprise.
Philip continues the narration: His sins were numerous. I have every right to rejoice in his demise. And yet, it is incredible- In the memory, Philip first scolds Richard, who grins and blushes, but then cups his face and pulls him closer. Through the part curtains again, we see the two of them sharing a passionate embrace again. Philip: How his greed and wickedness persists even now.
The memory changes to a scene of them arguing on Messina, both wearing their crusader tunics and accusing each other of treachery, and then to a scene of their last encounter, years later during the war-- Philip on horseback on the shore of the river with his men, and Richard on a boat, staring up at him, There is nothing but suspicion in their gaze, and the water divides them. Philip in the current day, kneels and bows his head in the church darkness. Philip: For even after everything, and despite my defenses, he still dares to rob me of the joy of losing him.
a blank page, full only of flames leaping into the darkness Philip: May God or the Devil have Mercy mercy on his soul!

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