Ibn Battuta Film Script

129 Pages·2012·0.8 MB·English

by  Kamran Pasha

The Voyage
Of Ibn Battuta

Written By
Kamran Pasha

November 2008 Forecast Pictures
40 rue de l’Echiquier
75010 Paris
T [phone]
F [phone]
www.forecastpictures.com
TENTATIVE CAST
«Ibn Battuta»
Saïd Taghmaoui
«Lost» (gueststar in TV Series2009 -2010)
«G.I. Joe» (dir. Stephen Sommers, 2009)
«Traitor» (dir. Jeffrey Nachmanoff2008)
«Vantage Point» (dir. Pete Travis, 2008)
«La Haine» (dir. Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995
«ShihabAl Din/ Oldman»
Omar Sharif
«Hidalgo» (dir. Joe Johnston, 2004)
«The 13th Warrior» (dir. J.McTiernan, 2001)
«Lawrence of Arabia» (dir. D. Lean, 1962
«Ibrahim» «Gizem»
NaveenAndrews Eva Green
«Lost» (Series, 2008-04) «The Golden Compass» (dir. Chris Weitz, 2007)
«PlanetTerror» (dir. R. Rodrigues, 2007) «Casino Royale» (dir. M. Campbell, 2006)
«The Brave One» (dir. Neil Jordan, 2006) «Kingdomof Heaven» (dir. R. Scott, 2005
«Afshan» «Afshan’sfather»
Emmanuelle Chriqui Ben Kingsley
«You don’tmess withthe Zohan» (dir. D.Dugan, «Oliver Twist» (dir. Roman Polanski, 2005)
2008) « Schindler’sList» (dir. S. Spielberg, 1993)
«August» (dir. Austin Chick, 2008) «Gandhi» (dir. R. Attenbourough, 1982)
«EmperorToghonTemur»
«Sultan Tugluk»
Chow Yun Fat
HrithikRoshan
« Pirates of the Caribbean: AtWorld’sEnd» (dir.
«JodhaaAkhbar» (dir. A.Gowariker, 2008)
Gore Verbinski, 2007)
«Krish» (dir. Rakesh Roshan, 2006)
«The Curseof the Golden Flower» (dir. Zhang
«KhabiKhushiKabhieGhan» (dir. KaranJohar, Yimou, 2006)
2001)
«CrouchingTiger, HiddenDragon» (dir. Lee, 2000)
THE VOYAGE OF IBN BATTUTA
Written By
Kamran Pasha
FADE IN:
OPENING CRAWL:
“Seek knowledge, even if you must go to China.” -- Prophet
Muhammad.
EXT. INDIAN OCEAN - 1340 AD - NIGHT
LIGHTNING flashes across the sky as a thick CURTAIN OF RAIN
crashes down on the churning sea. The ocean heaves and
thunders, a leviathan of fury that knows no master.
As WAVES like mountains roll with primordial fury, one tiny
INDIAN SHIP struggles to stay afloat. But the raging winds
tear its SAIL to shreds, sealing its doom...
EXT. SHIP - NIGHT
Terrified INDIAN SAILORS race across the deck looking for a
way to escape the wrath of heaven and earth.
Several manage to reach a small DINGHY. But as they attempt
to lower the life boat into the sea, a massive WAVE smashes
the side of the vessel, sending the sailors SCREAMING to
their watery graves.
In the midst of this devastation, one man pushes forward. A
man named IBN BATTUTA, who forces his way through the chaos
on the deck, desperately seeking someone.
IBN BATTUTA
My love!
He frantically searches until he sees a YOUNG WOMAN clinging
to a MAST.
IBN BATTUTA
I’m coming!
Ibn Battuta races to her side, throwing his arms around the
terrified woman.
IBN BATTUTA
Hold on to me!
As the world sky and ocean become one, as the horizon
vanishes into a single wave, she look into his eyes. And
smiles.
YOUNG WOMAN
Now you know.
Ibn Battuta Written By Kamran Pasha 9-1-08 Draft 2.
IBN BATTUTA
What?!
YOUNG WOMAN
Where all roads lead in the end.
Ibn Battuta stares at her, unable to process her words. And
then he sees A massive WAVE racing toward them. CLOSE on his
eyes as the unstoppable wave reflects deep in his pupils,
filling his vision to infinity...
EXT. BEACH - TANGIER - 1355 AD - DAWN
CLOSE on Ibn Battuta’s eyes as they reflect the churning
water.
PULL BACK to reveal Ibn Battuta as an elderly man, staring
out at gentle waves lapping off the coast of Tangier, the
ancient port of Morocco.
IBN BATTUTA
Now, I know. My love.
His reverie is interrupted by the ISLAMIC PRAYER CALL, which
echoes as the first hint of dawn illuminates the sky.
Towering MINARETS and majestic DOMES sparkle as worshippers
rush to the mosques for Fajr prayer.
FATIMA
Sidi Muhammad! Sidi Muhammad!
The child runs up to Ibn Battuta, who leans down and strokes
her hair.
IBN BATTUTA
What is it habibti?
FATIMA
A man has come! From the Sultan!
He’s asking for you.
INT. GUEST CHAMBER - RIYAD - DAY
Inside an elegant room is seated IBN JUZAYY, a young man
wearing a TURBAN and elegant ROBES. Fatima guides Ibn
Battuta in and then nervously runs off.
Ibn Juzayy rises to greet the old man.
Ibn Battuta Written By Kamran Pasha 9-1-08 Draft 3.
IBN JUZAYY
Assalamu ‘alaikum, sayyidi. It is
an honor to finally meet you.
IBN BATTUTA
Who are you?
IBN JUZAYY
I am Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn
Muhammad ibn Ahmad Ibn Juzayy al-
Kalbi.
IBN BATTUTA
I find that men with long names are
usually short on accomplishments.
IBN JUZAYY
I have been sent by the Commander
of the Faithful, Caliph and Imam,
Abu Inan Faris --
IBN BATTUTA
May God strengthen him. How can I
help my master the Sultan?
IBN JUZAYY
He wishes to hear your tale.
IBN BATTUTA
I have no tale.
Ibn Battuta turns to walk away.
IBN JUZAYY
But it is said that you have
travelled the world, seen more of
God’s creation than any man who has
ever lived!
IBN BATTUTA
I have seen much. Not all of which
I wish to remember.
IBN JUZAYY
The Sultan commands it.
Ibn Battuta stops. Turns to face Ibn Juzayy.
IBN BATTUTA
Come with me.
Ibn Battuta Written By Kamran Pasha 9-1-08 Draft 4.
INT. STORAGE ROOM - DAY
Ibn Juzayy follows his host inside an underground chamber.
IBN BATTUTA
I have spent the past thirty years
wandering. The paths I travelled
were dark ones, and not easily
followed. But if you choose to
tread those roads on the heels of
my memory... perhaps these will
light your way.
Ibn Battuta ignites a TORCH, which reveals a room filled with
priceless ART and ARTIFACTS from all over the world! Ibn
Juzayy looks around in wonder at the stunning collection.
IBN JUZAYY
These treasures would buy a king’s
ransom.
IBN BATTUTA
These are trinkets. What I have
seen would buy worlds.
Ibn Juzayy’s smile fades when he sees a SYMBOL on the walls --
a HAND with and EYE emblazoned at the center of the palm.
IBN JUZAYY
I thought you were a man of reason.
And yet you cover your walls with
this pagan symbolism.
IBN BATTUTA
It is the Hand of Fatima, the
daughter of our beloved Prophet.
Her eye watches over my home and
gives it protection.
IBN JUZAYY
A Muslim seeks protection from God
alone.
Ibn Juzayy picks up a GOLD MEDALLION shaped like the Symbol.
IBN JUZAYY
He does not make his home a
sanctuary for superstition.
He moves to toss it aside, when Ibn Battuta grabs his wrist.
Ibn Battuta Written By Kamran Pasha 9-1-08 Draft 5.
IBN BATTUTA
Don’t touch that!
Ibn Battuta pries open the hand of his startled visitor and
takes the Medallion from it. Tears well in his eyes.
IBN JUZAYY
Forgive me. You are clearly ill.
I will take my leave.
Ibn Battuta grasps his arm.
IBN BATTUTA
I was like you once.
IBN JUZAYY
Excuse me?
IBN BATTUTA
I was a man of reason, immune from
the so-called superstitions of the
common folk. The world was black
and white. East was East and West
was West and never should the
horizons meet. It was a world
without wonder, without magic. And
it was a lie.
IBN JUZAYY
I don’t understand.
IBN BATTUTA
I know. That is why I will let you
hear my tale...
INT. ISLAMIC COURT - TANGIER - FLASHBACK TO 1325 AD
SUPER: Thirty Years Ago
A traditional Islamic Court. Two PETITIONERS are seated, a
YOUNG WOMAN and an OLDER MAN, arguing their case.
PAN to REVEAL a handsome young QADI hearing the petitioner’s
arguments. This is Ibn Battuta as a youth.
IBN BATTUTA (V.O.)
I was a simple boy once, with
simple dreams. My vision of the
world went no further than the
hills beyond Tangier, and my vision
of God went no further than words I
read in books of law...
Ibn Battuta Written By Kamran Pasha 9-1-08 Draft 6.
YOUNG WOMAN
My uncle stole my money! My mahr,
the gift my husband gave to me at
our wedding. He has refused to
hand it over to me.
OLDER MAN
The mahr belongs to me. Her father
died and left the girl as my
responsibility. It is the custom
of our village that the mahr should
revert to me, her guardian, as
compensation.
IBN BATTUTA
I am not concerned with your
village customs. As qadi, I must
judge according to the laws of God,
not men.
(beat)
According to the rules of Islam,
the mahr is the property of the
bride, not her family or guardian.
I rule in favor of your niece. You
must return her wedding gift to
her.
OLDER MAN
This is outrageous. I refuse.
IBN BATTUTA
As qadi, I am an agent of the
Sultan. Do you wish me to advise
the court that you reject the
authority of the Commander of the
Faithful?
The Older Man pales at the implied threat. He grimaces, and
then throws a PURSE of gold, which lands at his niece’s feet
before storming out.
The young woman takes the money and smiles.
YOUNG WOMAN
Thank you, sayyidi.
IBN BATTUTA
Do not thank me. Thank Allah,
whose Word was sent to protect
women and children.
Ibn Battuta Written By Kamran Pasha 9-1-08 Draft 7.
INT. MADRASSA - DAY
Rows of BOYS sit on the ground, with copies of the QUR’AN in
their hands. They sway back and forth as they recite the
holy book in unison.
IBN BATTUTA (V.O.)
I spoke of children, but I did not
know that I, too, was a child.
They say that children are placed
inside a crib until they are ready
to walk on their own. I did not
know it then, but the bars that
kept me inside my small world were
about to be lifted...
Ibn Battuta smiles at his students.
IBN BATTUTA
Masha-Allah. I’m proud of you
boys. As of today, you have
memorized 20 ajza -- two thirds of
the Holy Qur’an!
The boys look at each other and beam.
IBN BATTUTA
Remember this. Everything you will
ever need to know is in the Holy
Qur’an. Once you have memorized the
entire Qur’an, you will become a
Hafiz and receive great respect
among men.
A boy named YUSUF speaks up.
YUSUF
Then can we become a qadi like you
Sidi Muhammad?
IBN BATTUTA
No, not quite. You will still need
to learn the hadith of our Holy
Prophet --
BOYS
May God’s blessings and peace be
upon him!