Cut Above the Rite Page #5

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[IN ITALIAN]

Hold on. Hold on, Rosaria.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING IN ITALIAN]

MAN 1 [IN ITALIAN]: This is a tragedy.

How could this happen?

Who worked here today?

I want to talk with everyone.

MAN 2 [IN ITALIAN]:

Tell me about the mother.

[IN ITALIAN] There was

internal bleeding, massive hemorrhaging.

We did everything in our power...

...but unfortunately

we couldn't save her or her baby.

MICHAEL:
What now?

Oh, nothing.

It's finished.

He took a life.

That's what he wants, ultimately.

He'll probably find someone else.

You should go home, get some rest.

You've had a hard night.

Yeah.

Are you okay?

I failed her.

You did what you thought was best.

Yeah.

I gotta go.

Take care of yourself.

You're a good man, Michael.

You have a good soul.

Defend it.

Guard it.

Cherish it.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

[SOBBING]

-Hey.

-Thanks for coming.

You picked a perfect day for it.

I appreciate you doing this.

-No names.

-No names. Promise.

There's no way she touched the baby

because she was restrained.

That's right.

What do you make of that?

It's confounding.

That's the story.

It's yours to interpret as you will.

You can call me

if you have any questions.

Thank you.

What changed your mind?

To do this?

I just needed to tell someone.

ANGELINA [IN VOICE-OVER]:

So let me get this straight.

You ran away from home

and chose a life of celibacy?

-How bad could home be?

-It sounds stupid when you say it like that.

It sounds stupid

because it doesn't add up.

Are you saying you never felt a calling?

My mother...

...she used to say

she felt the hand of God on me.

Did you feel it?

I wanted to.

-So how did you end up in all this?

-It's a long story.

We're not going anywhere,

so come on.

My parents committed my brother

to a mental institution when he was 19.

He was so tormented.

He said he heard voices

telling him to do things.

He used to tell me

it was the devil speaking to him.

Sometimes he would tell me

what the devil said.

And sometimes the things he said

would come true.

It frightened me.

He frightened me.

I know it sounds terrible, but it's just

easier when I don't think about him.

[WHISTLES BLOWING]

YOUNG MICHAEL:
Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women...

...and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary...

...mother of God...

...pray for us sinners now

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[KNOCKING]

I'm sorry to wake you, Michael.

I thought it best to tell you myself.

It's your father.

And he hasn't regained consciousness?

MAN [OVER PHONE]:

No. The stroke was massive.

He could stabilize

or he could stay like this.

I see.

I'm sorry. There isn't much more

I can tell you at this point.

I'm sorry, Michael.

I'll include him in my prayers.

We can help arrange your travel.

Thank you.

You gotta be f***ing kidding me.

WOMAN [ON TV]:
Airlines are warning

passengers to expect more delays...

...even when the dust from

the volcano in Iceland has settled.

Tonight, the ash plume has shut the

airports of 22 countries on the continent...

...with Italy and Switzerland among

the latest to close their airspace.

[SPEAKS IN ITALIAN]

Thousands of passengers are stranded,

with some being told...

...it could be a week

before they get another flight.

-Once the ash clears...

-I need a room.

-...a backlog of flights...

...will mean further disruption.

Valerie Rigg, Egetsa Coverage.

I'm calling to check

on my father's condition.

Istvan Kovak.

K-O-V-A-K.

WOMAN [OVER PHONE]: I'll connect you.

[LINE RINGING]

ISTVAN [OVER PHONE]: Michael.

-Yeah, yeah. It's Michael.

I'm scared.

It's okay. Dad, you're okay.

No. Something happened.

-It's okay, Dad.

-Where are you?

I wish you were here.

I'll be home soon.

Something happened with my flight.

Where am I?

You're in the hospital.

[ISTVAN GRUNTS]

What is it, Dad?

Dad?

They're hurting me.

Who?

Dad?

MAN [OVER PHONE]: Mr. Kovak?

-Yeah.

-It's Dr. Vorachian.

-Yes.

Mr. Kovak, I'm afraid

I've got some very bad news.

Your father passed away this afternoon.

Uh, what?

Your father died this afternoon.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Kovak.

Well, that's impossible. I....

I was just speaking with him, just now.

Mr. Kovak, your father was

declared dead about six hours ago.

I was a witness.

I'm very sorry to have to tell you....

[SOBBING]

PRIEST:
"Whoever lives by believing

in me will never die."

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy...

...Lord have mercy.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

ROSARIA [IN VOICE-OVER]: Doubter!

[WOMAN GASPS]

[WOMAN CACKLING]

ISTVAN [IN VOICE-OVER]: Michael.

ROSARIA:
A liar knows a liar.

[WOMAN CACKLING]

ISTVAN:
Michael, they're hurting me.

MICHAEL:
Dad?

ISTVAN:
I'm scared.

MICHAEL:
Hey.

Wait! Dad!

ISTVAN:
Where are you?

ROSARIA:
Padre.

Padre.

ISTVAN:
Don't worry.

The pain is gone.

ROSARIA:
There's nothing to believe.

[MULE SNORTS]

MICHAEL:
I don't know what's going on.

I'm hallucinating. I'm seeing things,

I'm hearing things.

I can't explain it.

I don't even know what I'm doing here.

ANGELINA [OVER PHONE]:

Michael, what happened?

Look, I need your help.

I feel like I'm going insane.

Can you come meet me?

FRANCESCA [IN ITALIAN]: He's feeling

much better since the Father prayed for him.

Did Father send you?

[SPEAKS IN ITALIAN]

The other day I saw her son

whisper something to her.

I need to know what it was.

[IN ITALIAN] Your son whispered

something to you the other day.

He's a baby.

He doesn't know what he's saying.

ANGELINA:
Please, it's very important

that you tell us.

Please.

[SPEAKS IN ITALIAN]

...your father was going to die.

Who told him that?

[ANGELINA SPEAKS IN ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING IN ITALIAN]

He says you know.

He says you've seen it too.

Seen what?

The demon.

The mule.

ANGELINA:
Where are you going?

-My father died last night.

What did you say?

I said, my father died...

...Iast night.

Oh, God.

That's awful. I'm so sorry.

How did that kid know?

I need to talk to Lucas.

[IN ITALIAN]

Bless my dolly, Father?

Hm?

[LUCAS SPEAKING IN ITALIAN]

[GIRL SCREAMS]

[GIRL CRYING]

Father?

Father.

Let's get you inside.

[LUCAS SINGING INDISTINCTLY]

-I don't want to lie down.

-Okay.

Then what were you doing out there?

LUCAS:
Huh?

I said, what were you doing out there?

LUCAS [IN VOICE-OVER]: I'm not sure.

I found myself walking and I....

I think....

I think I did something awful.

It was terrible.

I can't pray any longer because

I'm no longer in a state of grace...

...and prayer is our only salvation.

It's your only salvation.

And remember this:

It knows you, it knows all your sins.

Secrets.

[COUGHING]

So you'll need help.

-With what?

-You'll have to lock me up.

Go find Father Xavier.

Because it is strong...

...this thing, this terror.

The terror is real, Michael.

It's real.

But you'll only defeat it

when you believe.

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