Scene: A misty dawn at an ancient stone monastery in Podstrana, Croatia. The ruins sit atop a rugged hillside, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Joe Jukic, clad in a weathered leather jacket, stands beside a moss-covered sarcophagus. The air is thick with history, and in his hands, he holds a rusted, timeworn sword—King Arthur’s long-lost blade, resting in the tomb for centuries.
Enter Prince Harry, dressed simply, his usual royal demeanor replaced by something humbler, more uncertain. His boots crunch over the damp grass as he approaches Joe. He stops a few feet away, staring at the sword.
Joe Jukic:
(Holding up the sword, studying it one last time.) Funny thing about legends. You dig long enough, and sometimes… they turn out to be real.
Prince Harry:
(Eyes locked on the blade, voice steady but unsure.) Is it really his?
Joe Jukic:
Every mark, every dent… it tells a story. Your ancestor’s story. The last sword of Arthur, hidden here, far from Camelot. They buried it to keep it safe—until the right man came to claim it.
(Joe extends the sword, holding it out between them.)
Prince Harry:
(Pauses, hesitant to take it.) And you think that man is me?
Joe Jukic:
I don’t decide that. He does. (Nods to the heavens.) God can only give what is rightfully yours. I’m just the messenger.
Prince Harry:
(Slowly reaches out, fingers wrapping around the hilt. The moment he touches it, a gust of wind rushes over the hilltop, as if history itself is exhaling.) And if I’m not worthy?
Joe Jukic:
(Smirks, folding his arms.) Then the sword will let you know.
Silence. Harry lifts the sword, feeling its weight—not just in metal, but in responsibility. He exhales, nodding.
Prince Harry:
Then I guess I have a destiny to fulfill.
Joe Jukic:
(Chuckles, stepping back.) Better hurry up. The world doesn’t wait for kings anymore.
The camera lingers on the rusted sword in Harry’s grip. The sun rises behind him, casting a golden glow over the Adriatic.
Joe Jukic and Nelly Furtado sat together in the quiet of the evening, the soft glow of a candle illuminating their faces. The conversation had turned to history, faith, and the strange, intertwined fates of nations.
“You know,” Joe began, his voice thoughtful, “Fatima has always been an oasis of peace. It’s not just a place—it’s a symbol. Our Lady of Fatima kept Portugal out of so much chaos. Look at Spain, torn apart by civil war. But Portugal? She spared us from that horror.”
Nelly nodded, her eyes reflecting the flickering light. “And during World War II, Portugal stayed neutral. That’s no small thing, Joe. The whole world was burning, and yet, somehow, Portugal remained untouched by the flames.”
Joe sighed, his thoughts drifting to his own heritage. “My country wasn’t so lucky,” he said, his tone heavy with sorrow. “Adolf Hitler… that madman. While Portugal was protected by Our Lady, my homeland was being torn apart. Hitler used Yugoslavia as a testing ground for his twisted ideas. He wanted to convert Russia to Catholicism, but first, he experimented on the Serbs.”
Nelly’s expression darkened. “The Croatian puppet regime… the atrocities…”
Joe nodded, his hands clasped tightly together. “The river of blood between the Serbs and Croats is something that haunts me. It’s not just history—it’s a wound that hasn’t healed. Families torn apart, entire villages wiped out. And all in the name of some insane ideology.”
He paused, his gaze distant. “It’s hard to reconcile. On one hand, you have Fatima—a beacon of peace, a miracle that saved a nation. And on the other, you have the horrors of Yugoslavia, where faith was twisted into a weapon of division.”
Nelly reached out, placing a hand on Joe’s. “But you’re here, Joe. You carry these stories, these lessons. Maybe that’s part of the reason Our Lady spared Portugal—so that people like us could look back and understand the cost of war, the value of peace.”
Joe smiled faintly, the weight of his memories still pressing on him but softened by her words. “Maybe you’re right, Nelly. Maybe we’re meant to learn from all of this. To honor the peace we have and work to heal the wounds of the past.”
The candle flickered, casting shadows on the walls, as the two of them sat in reflective silence. In that moment, they were united by a shared hope—a hope that the lessons of Fatima and the tragedies of Yugoslavia could guide them toward a better future.
Logline: The rise and fall of Adolf Hitler is explored through the lens of his relationship with the enigmatic astrologer and occultist, Erik Jan Hanussen. Using mystical teachings and Masonic psalms, Hanussen convinces Hitler that God is on his side and that victory in World War II is certain. But as the war turns, the truth of their fate becomes clear: Hitler was never the master of his own destiny, but a pawn in a much larger game.
ACT 1:
The film opens in 1930s Germany, during the early rise of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party. Hitler, struggling with his own internal demons and the failure of his earlier political endeavors, is introduced to Erik Jan Hanussen, a mysterious and charismatic astrologer, occultist, and performer. Hanussen is portrayed as a man who uses his knowledge of the stars, astrology, and the occult to manipulate and influence the powerful figures of the time.
Hanussen, believing in the power of the divine and the mystical, uses his knowledge of Masonic teachings to convince Hitler that he is destined for greatness. He introduces Hitler to Psalm 33:16, a verse that speaks of God’s protection over kings and armies, and assures him that his victory in World War II is inevitable. Hanussen convinces Hitler that his army is divinely chosen, and that the war will end in a great triumph for the Third Reich.
The first act explores the complex relationship between Hitler and Hanussen, with the astrologer playing a pivotal role in shaping Hitler’s belief in his own invincibility. Hanussen’s influence over Hitler is shown to be a blend of psychological manipulation, occult knowledge, and the power of suggestion. Hitler, in turn, becomes more obsessed with the idea of divine favor and the belief that he is fulfilling a grand destiny.
ACT 2:
As World War II escalates, the film shifts to key moments in the conflict, including the Battle of Stalingrad and the invasion of Normandy. Despite initial successes, the tide of the war begins to turn against Germany. Hanussen continues to provide Hitler with mystical guidance, using Masonic psalms and astrological charts to reassure him that victory is still within reach. One of the key moments in this act is the use of Psalm 45, which speaks of a king’s wedding and triumph. Hanussen tells Hitler that this psalm symbolizes his upcoming “victorious wedding”—the ultimate union of his power and destiny.
However, as the war drags on and Germany suffers more defeats, the cracks in Hitler’s belief system begin to show. Hanussen, who had once been a confidant and advisor, becomes more distant, sensing that the tide is turning against Hitler. The astrologer’s influence wanes, and Hitler becomes increasingly paranoid and desperate. The film explores the psychological toll that the war takes on Hitler, as well as the growing disillusionment with the idea of divine favor.
ACT 3:
The final act of the film focuses on the collapse of the Nazi regime and the fall of Berlin. Hitler, now holed up in his bunker with Eva Braun, faces the reality of his impending defeat. The grand wedding he had envisioned—his moment of ultimate victory—turns into a tragic and symbolic suicide. The once-proud Führer, who had believed that God was on his side, is now a broken man, trapped in a bunker with no way out.
In a haunting scene, Hitler reflects on the promises made to him by Hanussen. He realizes that he has been played like a pawn in a larger, cosmic game—his belief in his own divine destiny was nothing more than a delusion. The wedding he had imagined, a symbol of his triumph, becomes a grotesque mockery of his failed ambitions.
As the film reaches its climax, the parallels between Hitler’s fate and the chessboard become clear. Hanussen, who had once been the master manipulator, is shown to be a pawn in the hands of greater forces. The film ends with Hitler’s death, a tragic end to a man who had believed in his own divine mission, only to be undone by the very forces he had tried to control.
Themes:
The Power of Belief and Manipulation: The film explores how belief in divine favor and destiny can be manipulated for personal gain. Hanussen’s influence over Hitler shows how people can be convinced of their own invincibility, even when faced with undeniable evidence to the contrary.
Fate vs. Free Will: Hitler’s belief that he was chosen by God for greatness is contrasted with the reality that he was ultimately a pawn in a much larger game. The film raises questions about the nature of destiny and whether anyone can truly control their fate.
The Role of Prophecy and Mysticism in History: The film delves into the use of astrology, Masonic psalms, and other occult practices to shape historical events. Hanussen’s manipulation of Hitler’s beliefs is portrayed as a dangerous and destructive force that ultimately contributes to the downfall of the Third Reich.
The Illusion of Power: Hitler’s journey from a man of ambition and confidence to a broken and defeated leader reflects the illusory nature of power. The film suggests that those who believe they are in control of their own destiny may be the most vulnerable to manipulation and downfall.
Psalm 33:16 and Psalm 45: The film uses these psalms as key symbols in Hitler’s journey. Psalm 33:16, which speaks of God’s protection over armies, is initially used to justify Hitler’s belief in his own invincibility. Psalm 45, which speaks of a king’s wedding and triumph, is used by Hanussen to symbolize Hitler’s supposed victory, but ultimately serves as a tragic foreshadowing of his demise.
Final Notes:
Nelly Furtado and Joe Jukic’s treatment for “The Prophetic Pawn” is a psychological thriller that explores the dangerous intersection of belief, power, and manipulation. By focusing on the relationship between Hitler and Hanussen, the film offers a unique perspective on the psychological forces that shaped the course of history. The themes of fate, free will, and the illusion of power resonate with contemporary questions about the nature of leadership and the dangers of unchecked belief in one’s own destiny.
