INT VATICAN GROTTOES NIGHT

Vittoria, 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: 634