Beyond Reason Sneak Peek

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FADE IN:

EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE --AFTERNOON

An eagle's eye view, as emerald meadows roll toward a crystal
lake that mirrors the summer sky.

VOLTAIRE (V.O.)
Dear Sir, You have it in your power--
I implore you not to clip the wings
of our writers so closely.
Nor turn them into barnyard fowl,
those who might become eagles.

The eagle soars. Tender tree tops sway-- RUSTLE.

SUPER-- ENGLAND -- 1733

Under the broad shade tree, reclines a debonair 40-year-old
writer, philosopher, known best by his pen name, VOLTAIRE.

Voltaire's face appears painted with a permanent smile.
He dips his quill and speaks as he composes.

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
Reasonable liberty permits the mind
to soar, slavery makes it creep.

A CHESTNUT STALLION circles the path around the lakeshore.

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
Allowing a variety of literature
will have produced two important
things-- profit and pleasure.

The YOUNG HORSEMAN (29) now reads over his shoulder.

Voltaire gently blows the ink on the paper and holds it closer
for him to read.

The horsemen's eyes skim the page as he shakes his head.

YOUNG HORSEMAN
Nice words Monsieur Voltaire, but
it is profit they take pleasure in.
Keep the profit line-- just take out
the other gibberish.

Their grins are contagious.

YOUNG HORSEMAN (CONT'D)
But tell me more of your last pleasure
in Paris.

Voltaire turns, his smile broader than usual.

VOLTAIRE
Ah, true pleasure, a woman with beauty
and-- brains. I must admit, it was
not her mind that I first noticed.

The two men smirk and nod in understanding.

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
I tried not to stare, but it was
obvious where my attention focused--

INT. (FLASH TO) PARIS, SALON—NIGHT

Vivaldi's CONCERTO No.2 "La Cetra:, resonates. Everyone who
is anyone is here. Voltaire sees only one.

EMILIE CHATELET (28) stands poised, strawberry blonde hair,
light bright eyes- her dress supple and tight, accentuating
every curve.

VOLTAIRE (V.O.)
The bodice of her dress is cut so
low, her nipples forewarn an
appearance.

Voltaire moves closer, his eyes dart from her mouth to her
breasts. Emilie notices and speaks with sharp speed.

EMILIE
It is as though men think that women
were born only to flirt, so they are
given nothing but that activity to
exercise their minds.

Voltaire's smile broadens as he inches even closer...

VOLTAIRE
Ah, you say that you do not flirt?
I must confess, I feel like a
butterfly drawn to lavender.

His eyes drift below her necklace.

EMILIE
So now you compare my breasts to
tiny flowers?

Voltaire shakes his head no, mumbles, speechless--

EMILIE (CONT'D)
Do I not hear the poetry of a writer
and the mind of a-- ba--otanist?
Would you not allow me to enhance my
own body and mind?

Voltaire, caught off guard and stands back a little smaller.

EMILIE (CONT'D)
Instead,women are allowed only crumbs
to quiet us by the more powerful
minds.

Emilie sensually plays with her hair, as her finger moves
close to the curve of her breast. His eyes follow.

VOLTAIRE
You immediately assume that men are
the more powerful. Oh contraire; it
is women who take liberty over us.

EMILIE
That is not true liberation nor
much competition.

VOLTAIRE
I think you are all the competition
I would need.

Emilie's eyes dart nervously, as if caught in a trap.

Voltaire bites into an apple. Emilie's eyes brighten as she
stares at the apple and opens her mouth with confidence.

EMILIE
I'm sure you've read Paradise Lost.

Voltaire, nods, curious, takes another bite of the apple.

EMILIE (CONT'D)
I dare think that Monsieur Newton
used the symbolic apple intentionally.
He knew the symbolism of Milton and
the Bible well.

VOLTAIRE
Clever.

EMILIE
I plan to translate Newton's Principia
(Prin kip ee ah) from Latin into
French.

Votaire looks surprised.

VOLTAIRE
You could do that?

EMILIE
There are many things you do not
know about me.

Emilie looks at Voltaire provocatively.

EMILIE (CONT'D)
I am convinced that either women are
unaware of their talents from their
lack of education or they bury them
for want of intellectual courage.

VOLTAIRE
I cannot imagine you void of courage.

EMILIE
True. On one occasion I found the
daring to enter the Cafe Gradot.
You know, where the best minds of
France- pass many hours in debate.

Voltaire raises his brow in surprise.

EMILIE (CONT'D)
I only wanted to review Mathematics
with my tutor, Monsieur Maupertuis.
I'm not one to allow others to dictate
what I might do. So...

(FLASH BACK TO) INT. CAFE GRADOT: -- AFTERNOON

Well dressed men read and drink coffee, others in discussion.
A man at the piano plays Bach's "Aire On a G String".

Emilie tries to enter but is met at the door.
The Cafe Keeper forcefully shooes her toward the door.

The music stops.

CAFE KEEPER
Why? Why, on the grounds that women
are not allowed!

EMILIE (V.O.)
So, I left, but later, I re-
appeared.

Emilie walks in, hair tucked under hat, a mustache drawn on
her face and in the complete attire of a man.
All the men stare in shock and amusement.

EMILIE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It was not an attempt to fool anyone,
but to make a statement on what I
thought was ridiculous.

Emilie is applauded by MAUPERTUIS and the men at his table
and invited to sit with them.

The Cafe Keeper reluctant, brings her a cup of coffee.

EMILIE (CONT'D)
I then began to believe that I was
not merely viewed as a woman in man's
attire, but a being with a mind.

Emilie sits tall among men.

EXT. (FLASH PRESENT) PARIS, SALON, GARDEN-- NIGHT

EMILIE
Chance acquainted me with men of
letters and by choice it is I who
extends my hand of friendship to
you.

Voltaire gazes in admiration as Emilie extends her hand.
He takes her arm toward the garden party.

VOLTAIRE
I must confess-- your intelligence
and honesty are refreshing. It is
my honesty that usually gets me in
trouble.

Emilie raises her brow to ask how and why..

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
Once, I even got into difficulty
without speaking a word.

Emilie hangs on his every word.

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
It was upon my first exile to England;
an angry mob rushed after me shouting
that they were going to hang me--

Voltaire holds his neck.

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
They seriously wanted to hang me--
simply for being French!

EMILIE
What did you do?

VOLTAIRE
I turned and faced them and loudly
stated, "Men of England, am I not
punished enough for not being born
an Englishman?

Emilie cackles and raise her brow as to ask- and...

EMILIE
And then what?

VOLTAIRE
They spontaneously applauded, patted
me on the back and then escorted me
safely to the Inn where I was staying.

Emilie applauds as they both laugh out loud.

EMILIE
Was this also the stay when you became
acquainted with the works of Locke?

VOLTAIRE
Yes, I concur with Locke that--
without fair government, little
progress in science is possible.

ÉMILIE
As you know, I am most fascinated
with Newton's writings.

VOLTAIRE
I hear the mind of a scientist
and a heart that speaks with as great
a rapidity as your lips.

He tenderly touches her lips.

VOLTAIRE (CONT'D)
I desire to pursue this further.
I must also be honest, at this moment,
it is not intellectual discourse
that I have in mind.

The tension is intense. He leans toward her to kiss her, as
she slowly leans in toward him.

A woman rushes toward them. A friend, MADAME GRAFFIGNY,
(50's) owner of the salon, a refined and independent woman,
with a reputation for bluntness, interrupts.

MADAME GRAFFIGNY
Madame Chatelet, I do not mean to
interrupt. (whispers) Your husband
may not wish you the luxury in public
as he does himself.

Voltaire's eyes widen and Emilie looks toward the party inside
where her husband, the Marquis Du Chatelet, is being caressed
by two other women. Her husband glares back at her.

(Continued...) For the rest of the story...
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