Title: The Inquisitor
Genre: Historical/Drama
Logline: A corrupt inqisitor in the Spanish Inquision becomes a wanted heretic when he kills the wrong man, a nephew of a high ranking Vatican official.
Synopsis: Set in 15th century Spain during the notorious Spanish Inquisition, “Retribution” explores the moral journey of a corrupt inquisitor who is eventually consumed by the very system he exploited for personal gain. This gripping tale delves into themes of justice and the inexorable consequences of one’s actions.
Treatment:
Act 1:
Juan Rodriguez, a cunning and ambitious man, ascends through the ranks of the Spanish Inquisition. Driven by greed, Juan deliberately targets innocent people accused of heresy, using false allegations to seize their property and enrich himself in the process. His actions are fueled by the belief that everyone is guilty until proven innocent. Despite his immoral activities, Juan remains undetected and becomes a feared figure in the community.
One fateful day, Juan mistakenly executes the nephew of a high-ranking Vatican official. Realizing the grave error he has committed, a death warrant is swiftly issued, forcing Juan to go into hiding overnight. Fearing for his life, Juan manages to escape and eventually finds asylum in a neighboring country, adopting a new identity to maintain his freedom.
Act 2:
Under his new persona, Juan works hard to establish himself anew, eventually becoming a wealthy man once more. However, his relentless pursuit of wealth does not go unnoticed by his envious neighbors. A disgruntled neighbor, seeking to get rid of Juan and seize his newfound wealth, falsely accuses him of being a Jew, effectively drawing attention from the Spanish Inquisition.
Act 3:
Reeling from the shock of his past coming back to haunt him, Juan finds himself caught in the merciless grip of the very inquisition he once served. Dreadful nights of unimaginable torture, interrogations, and brutal methods of extraction awaken in him a profound understanding of the pain he had previously inflicted upon others.
As the inquisition employs the very techniques Juan himself utilized, he is confronted by the sheer weight of his sins. The relentless cycle of suffering he had perpetuated now boomerangs back upon him, leading to his agonizing death. In the face of imminent demise, Juan reflects on the lives he destroyed, succumbing to the bitter reality that he can never atone for his past transgressions.
