INT VATICAN GROTTOES NIGHTVittoria, the Camerlengo, and the two Swiss Guard reach the
entrance to the Holy Vatican Grottoes just as --
-- their power goes out.
Two flashlights CLICK on, and the Guardsmen lead the way in. On
both sides, hollow niches line the walls. Recessed in the
alcoves, as far as the flashlights let them see, the hulking
shadows of sarcophagi loom.
On top of each tomb are life-sized marble carvings of each Pope,
shown in death and wearing full papal vestments, arms folded
across their chests.
CAMERLENGO
If the Holy Father was murdered, the
implications are profound. Vatican
security is impenetrable, no one from
the outside could have gotten anywhere
near him.
VITTORIA
Meaning it was someone on the inside.
CAMERLENGO
We can trust no one
He steps up his pace, taking the lead, knows exactly where he's
going. The others fall behind, as everyone slowly realizes what
he intends to do. And they're not at all sure they're up for
it.
AT THE LATE POPE'S SARCOPHAGUS,
the Camerlengo closes the last few feet alone. He knees down in
front of the bright marble carving, a likeness of the late Pope.
He WHISPERS.
CAMERLENGO
Father... Holy Father... You told me
when I was young that the voice in my
heart was that of God. You told me
I must follow it no matter what
painful places it leads. I hear it
now, asking me the impossible. Give
me strength. Forgive me. What I
do, I do in the name of everything you
believe.
BEHIND HIM,
72.
the others watch as he finishes his private prayer, stands, and
turns to them.
CAMERLENGO (cont'd)
Remove the covering.
Nobody moves. Just stares at him.
CAMERLENGO (cont'd)
Did you hear me?
SWISS GUARDSMAN
Signore, by law we are at your
command. But we are also bound by-
CAMERLENGO
I ask your forgiveness for putting you
in this position. Vatican laws are
established to protect the church. But
it is in that very spirit that I
command you to break them now.
A moment of silence, and then --
-- they step forward. Set their flashlights on the floor.
And step to the tomb. Bracing their hands against the marble
covering near the head of the tomb, they plant their feet and
push.
It doesn't move.
They push harder.
Vittoria and the Camerlengo join them.
With an almost primal GROWL of stone on stone, the lid slides,
rotating off the top of the casket and coming to rest at an angle.
The Camerlengo picks up a flashlight and shines it in the crypt.
Vittoria leans forward.
The light creeps up the Pope's body, over his burial vestments,
past his folded hands, and finally to his face.
His cheeks have collapsed, the Pope's mouth gapes wide --
-- and his tongue is black as death.
CUT TO:
73.
EXT VATICAN ARCHIVES NIGHT
The face of Langdon's Mickey Mouse watch is smeared with blood
from a cut on his hand, but we can still read the time.
It's 9:41.
Langdon and Chartrand stagger down the front steps of the Vatican
Archives, where they're immediately met by three Vatican Police
cars. Olivetti leaps out of one and meets them at the base of
the steps, holding his hands up in defense almost before Langdon
can lay into him.
LANGDON
Are you out of your minds?!
OLIVETTI
Please. In the car.
LANGDON
Someone tried to kill me.
OLIVETTI
Do you know where the next church is?
LANGDON
Yes.
OLIVETTI
Then get in the car!
Langdon jumps in the back seat of the car with Olivetti, and they
SQUEAL away from the Archives.
IN THE CAR,
they continue as the DRIVER tears through the streets of Rome.
OLIVETTI
We had no idea that --
LANGDON
You heard me ask permission! You
assigned me an escort! Don't try to
tell me you didn't know I was in
there!
OLIVETTI
(let me finish)
Of course I knew, but we had no idea
that portions of our white zones are
74.
OLIVETTI (cont'd)
cross-wired with that building.
Commander Rocher was extending the
search, if he'd known the Archives
were on that grid, he never would have
killed the power.
Langdon looks at him evenly, sees in Olivetti's eyes that they may
be thinking the same thing.
LANGDON
Or there is the other possibility.
Olivetti doesn't answer. But he's thinking about it.
LANGDON (cont'd)
Infiltration is the Illuminati
specialty -- why not the head of the
Swiss Guard?
OLIVETTI
(AGONIZED)
Perhaps.
LANGDON
I want to speak to the Camerlengo.
OLIVETTI
Il Camerlengo is unavailable,
LANGDON
Unavailable? Why?
OLIVETTI
He's found evidence that the Holy
Father was indeed murdered. He is
seeking guidance.
LANGDON
From whom?
Olivetti looks at him -- what are you, an idiot?
OLIVETTI
From God.
LANGDON
Oh, right.
OLIVETTI
Please. Make an effort.
CUT TO:
75.
Date: 2015-12-18; view: 493
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