Exorcist: The Beginning

Puppet, sir.

Only 10 piastres.

They're crap, squirrel. They fall apart

before you're out of the door.

Five then, sir.

It's handmade!

Please.

My sister, she's very, very sick.

I know your sister.

She's peddling in the next bar over.

- Do you know my mother?

- No.

She's very, very sick.

I'll give you two.

That's a bad idea, you know.

Like feeding pigeons.

- Do I know you?

- My name is Semelier.

I work for a private collector

of rare antiquities.

- I cabled you last week.

- Yes.

And I didn't answer.

There's been a discovery

in East Africa.

A Christian church, circa 5 A.D.

No, it's not possible.

The Byzantine Empire

had adopted Christianity at that time...

but they never got that far south.

Nevertheless, there it sits.

The British have financed

a dig to uncover this church.

We believe a rare object waits inside.

We'd like you to find it

and bring it back to us.

So you think I'm a thief?

Now you think I'm a thief

and a whore.

No. Simply a man

who's lost faith...

in everything except himself.

Ah.

You know nothing about me.

You're an Oxford-educated

archaeologist...

an expert in religious icons.

You were a priest before the war.

So what happened?

This is a leather impression of

the artifact we're looking for...

a representation

of a mythical demon.

It's Sumerian. What makes you

think it's in a church in Africa?

A Major Granville in Nairobi

is in charge of the dig.

He's been persuaded to let you join it.

You're assuming that I will say yes.

You already have.

March! Left.

Left, right, left. Left.

Left. Left, right, left.

Left. Left. Left, right, left.

Left.

Left, right, left.

Left. Left. Left, right, left.

Mr. Merrin, sir.

The major will see you now.

Beautiful, aren't they?

It's a hobby from school days.

Works wonders for the nerves.

You should try it sometime.

What can you tell me about the dig?

The location is a remote area

of the Turkana district...

called Derati.

It was discovered several months ago

by a detachment of my men...

on maneuvers there.

When the powers that be realized

its importance, they organized a dig.

What have they learned so far?

That it's a church

where no church should be.

This is Father Francis.

He'll be accompanying you to Derati.

It's a pleasure to finally meet you,

Father Merrin.

- I've read all your work at seminary.

- It's Mr. Merrin.

I was especially impressed

with your treatise on the Roman rituals.

I'm no longer a part of that. I'm sure you

didn't come here to discuss Catholic rituals.

I was actually headed to Kenya

to begin missionary work...

when Rome learned of the discovery.

They've asked me to make sure the site's

religious aspect have the proper consideration.

Hmm.

How come you've opened

the site to the Vatican?

We haven't...

officially.

You're both my guests.

Tell me, have you any theories

on who might have built this church?

Well, not until I've seen it.

Surely the Vatican has

some record of its creation.

I'm afraid not.

We're as in the dark

about it as you are.

- How long have you been with the dig, Chuma?

- Since the beginning.

The British hired me as an interpreter.

What happened here?

Plague. Ravaged the valley

50 years ago.

- How many died?

- All of them.

I'm Lancaster Merrin.

Major Granville should have contacted you

about my joining the dig.

He did.

Is something bothering you, mate?

No.

- I'd like to see the dig site as soon as possible.

- You drink, Merrin?

I shouldn't...

but my will is weak.

Then you might just survive this place.

I understand you've uncovered

the church dome...

but that progress has slowed down.

You could say that.

Right, Doctor?

- I'm Sarah Novak. Very nice to meet you.

- Lancaster-- Lancaster Merrin.

You still haven't made it

by my room, Doctor.

I've been having this, uh,

swelling in the evening.

Thought you might have

something I could put on it.

How about a muzzle?

So how are the interior

excavations coming along?

- They're not.

- No?

Has the structure collapsed?

No, the church is perfect...

but none of the men will enter,

those we have left anyway.

Why's that?

I shall be leaving

for the dig in five minutes.

Well... pleasant fellow.

What's wrong with his face?

Other than that it's

attached to his body?

Could be an allergic reaction

or some kind oflocalized infection.

Do you know why the men

won't enter the church?

- Evil spirits.

- Oh.

- If you believe the Turkana.

- And do you?

No. I'm a doctor.

But as a priest,

surely you must believe in such things.

I'm an archaeologist.

I'm not a priest.

Now, that's funny.

I met Father Francis outside,

and he told me you were.

Did he?

Well, he is mistaken.

Father Merrin.

This is Emekwi.

He's donating the use of a room

in his hotel for the mission school.

Father, we are so glad

that you are here.

These are my sons,

James and Joseph.

- Hello,James,Joseph.

- They are learning the Bible.

- We are, uh, Christians.

- Hmm.

- Emekwi, can you see to Mr. Merrin's bags?

- Oh, of course.

James.Joseph.

Very nice meeting you, Doctor.

There's your goddamn church.

Is this your first assignment, Father?

Before this, I was studying

in the archives in the Holy Sea.

The Vatican.

Impressive.

But not really training

for missionary work, is it?

This is strange.

It's 1,500 years old.

It should be badly weathered.

It's almost as if it were buried

right after it was built.

Chuma.

Where's Jefferies?

I need to go into the church.

Hyenas?

They've been here

ever since we started digging.

Even at daytime?

No! No! No!

- What's the matter with him?

- I don't know.

The heat?

Joseph?

Are you out here by yourself?

It's dangerous.

- I'm collecting rocks.

- I can see that.

I think you're about

ready for this now.

It's a tool for professional diggers.

Wow.

His seizure's stopped.

I wanted to keep him at the hospital

for observation...

but the Turkana have stopped

trusting my medicine.

Well, that must make

your job very hard.

You have no idea.

Thank you.

So what is it you hope to find here?

The answer to why a church was built here

a thousand years before Christianity arrived.

- You were a priest once, weren't you?

- Yes, I was.

Black bastards!

Bloody savages!

Can't wipe their own ass

without instruction.

- I have to get back to town.

- Wait.

I, uh-- I found this...

and, uh, I want you to have it.

It's a St.Joseph, for luck.

Please, for my behavior.

- Thank you.

- Oi, oi! What the hell are you doing?

- Get the f*** out of here, you little scab!

- Don't!

- Joseph, wait.

- Don't do that.

All right, Merrin.

I didn't know you was a fuzzy lover.

It's okay. Come.

These little buggers,

they get in everywhere.

How soon can you have the doors

to the church uncovered?

A few days.

- And in the meantime, how do we get in?

- We don't.

Chuma'll take you in

through the roof.

Following us, Father?

Is it safe to walk around?

Let's see.

Lucifer.

The Lord's favorite angel.

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