INT SISTINE CHAPEL DAY

Inside, WORKERS continue to drape large bolts of black velvet over

the windows, sealing this room off from outside. Pulling back,

we realize it's not just any room ---

--- it's the Sistine Chapel. As the last window is blackened,

the room is bathed in a profound darkness lit only by candles.

ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE MEN in red robes are gathered inside the

Chapel, the College of Cardinals. They talk in a polyglot of

languages, milling about the place, conferring, catching up on old

friendships.

Cardinal Mortati, the Dean of the College who led the Pope's elegy

mass, is the type of man one crosses a room to see, not the other

way around.

12.

He chats in Italian with two other Cardinals, until a black-

cassocked aide (FATHER SIMEON) outside the open doors of the

Chapel catches his eye. Mortati excuses himself, steps through

the open doorway, and into ---

INT SALON DAY

-- the salon just outside the Chapel. Father Simeon is an unctuous

man in his fifties with eyes that are always looking for whoever's

behind you. (They speak in Italian, subtitled.)

MORTATI

And?

FR. SIMEON

Commandante Rocher assures me the

Guard is doing everything humanly

possible to find the prefiriti.

MORTATI

A very long way for him to say very

little.

FR. SIMEON

What if you were to begin in their

absence?

MORTATI

They are the four leading candidates.

If they're not present, they're not

eligible. There will be no

consensus without them, wid are we to

vote for?

Father Simeon gives him a look -- perhaps you?

MORTATI (cont'd)

It is as much a sin to offer flattery

to accept it.

FR. SIMEON

(chastened, but not

REALLY)

The Camerlengo asks how long you can

postpone the opening prayer without

making another announcement to the

public?

MORTATI

Two years and three months.

(Simeon looks confused)

The conclave of 1316?

(never mind)

(MORE)

13.

MORTATI (cont'd)

Tell the Camerlengo the Cardinal

Electors will take every minute

required to perform their sacred

trust. No further announcements are

necessary.

FR. SIMEON

He's be concerned about the public

dimension. People will think-

MORTATI

(cutting him off)

What we tell them to think.

CUT TO:

EXT VATICAN - STREET DAY

On the ground now and behind Vatican walls, Langdon and Vincenzo

walk briskly around a corner and are met by ERNESTO OLIVETTI, a

solidly-built man in his late thirties.

OLIVETTI

Professor Langdon, welcome to Vatican

City. Ernesto Olivetti, Inspector

Generale of the Vatican Police Force.

He takes Langdon by the arm and gestures down a narrow passageway.

OLIVETTI (cont'd)

This way, please, we'll meet in the

headquarters of the Swiss Guard.

LANGDON

I assumed you were Swiss Guard.

OLIVETTI

No. The Gendarmerie is responsible

for everything inside the Vatican

walls, with the exception of the

security of His Holiness and the

Apostolic Palace. That is Swiss

Guard. The Commandante Generale of

the Roman Carbinieri has joined us as

well, in an advisory capacity, and

the Guarda Nacionale have sent a

representative.

LANGDON

(CONFUSED)

So jurisdictionally, this is-

OLIVETTI

A God damn nightmare.

14.

They turn a corner and approach a squat stone building labeled

"Offizia della Guarda Suiza."

TWO SWISS GUARDSMEN are standing outside the entrance to the

building. They're somewhat comically dressed in puffy tunics

vertically striped in brilliant blue and gold, with matching

pantaloons and spats, topped by a black beret.

Langdon can't completely hide a smile. Olivetti notices. The

Guards raise their eight-foot swords, allowing the three of them

to enter the building.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 569