INT PAPAL OFFICE NIGHTVittoria, escorted by the two Swiss Guardsmen from the grottoes,
returns to the papal office.
She goes to the desk where she was sitting earlier, to resume her
examination of the journals.
But the desk is bare.
VITTORIA
The journals. Where are they?
The Guardsmen look at her blankly.
VITTORIA (cont'd)
Who took the journals from this desk?!
INT APOSTOLIC PALACE - GREAT STAIRCASE NIGHT
The Camerlengo, in deep meditation, slowly descends the stairs
that lead to the Sistine Chapel.
At the bottom, Four Swiss Guard (in traditional garb) guard the
locked doors.
The Camerlengo reaches them. Hesitates. Looks heavenward for
one last word of encouragement, and then --
CAMERLENGO
Unseal the doors.
INT SISTINE CHAPEL NIGHT
There is an audible GASP from the assembled cardinals as the heavy
locks CLUNK open, the chains RATTLE away, and the main doors of
the Sistine Chapel sweep open.
The Camerlengo walks in, a stark presence in his black cassock
amid the sea of red robes. Cardinal Mortati steps from behind the
altar to meet him.
MORTATI
Signore, do you realize that for the
first time in Vatican history, a
Camerlengo has just crossed the sacred
threshold of conclave after sealing
the doors?
CUT TO:
CAMERLENGO
There has been a development.
76.
EXT ROME - STREET NIGHT
Olivetti's Alfa Romeo races through the streets of Rome, trailed
by three other cars.
INT SISTINE CHAPEL NIGHT
The Camerlengo has just passed on the shocking news, and the
whispered word "murder" can be heard in several languages.
Even Mortati is shaken. The Camerlengo speaks to the Cardinals.
CAMERLENGO
Please... a moment... if I...
He strides quickly up the steps of the altar to address the group
-- again, to the shock and surprise of this most conservative and
rule-bound group.
But no one stops him.
CAMERLENGO (cont'd)
It is true we are under attack from an
old enemy. And this time they've
struck from within, murdering our Holy
Father and threatening us all with
destruction at the hands of their new
god, science. So what are we to do?
INT OLIVETTI'S CAR NIGHT
CLOSE ON the dashboard clock in Olivetti's car, which now reads
8:57. Langdon looks up from it, staring intently through the
windshield.
On the horizon, he sees a faint orange glow.
LANGDON
Oh no.
INT SISTINE CHAPEL NIGHT
The Camerlengo continues, and the cardinals are listening.
CAMERLENGO
Since the days of Galileo, the church
has tried to slow the relentless march
of science, sometimes with misguided
means, but always with benevolent
intention. Still, they call us
backward, ignorant.
77.
CAMERLENGO (cont'd)
But who is more ignorant? The man
who cannot define lightning, or the
man who does not respect its awesome
power?
INT OLIVETTI'S CAR NIGHT
Through the windshield of Olivetti's car, we see that orange glow,
closer now. It's a building on fire.
INT SISTINE CHAPEL NIGHT
The Camerlengo continues, growing passionate.
CAMERLENGO
The promises of science have not been
kept. We're a fractured and frantic
species, moving down of destruction in
the name of progress.
Date: 2015-12-18; view: 559
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