Lost Souls Page #18

Peter is horrified.

Then he walks to Claire and pulls the gun from her lifeless

hand. Maya and Peter stare at each other in shock for a

moment. Then Maya's pager sounds. She checks the number and

goes to the phone and dials. As she does, Peter pulls a

blanket off the sofa and covers Claire's body.

MAYA:

Hi, it's me. What's going on?

She listens, and her expression changes to one of relief.

She hangs up the phone and turns to Peter.

MAYA (CONT'D)

Lareaux...he's coming out of it. Let's

go.

INT. RANGE ROVER - NIGHT

The car passes through the nearly deserted streets. A STREET

SWEEPER passes, brushes whirring.

EXT. SEMINARY - DAWN

As the sunlight prisms on dew-covered grass, Peter and Maya

pull into the seminary parking lot.

INT. FATHER LAREAUX'S ROOM

A small crowd of priests, including Father Frank, is in the

room. Several stand next to the bed, blocking a clear view

of Father Lareaux. Soft CLASSICAL MUSIC plays. The mood is

upbeat. As the door opens, Father Frank sees Maya lead Peter

in by the arm like a puppet or a lost soul.

FATHER FRANK:

(vindictively)

I'm glad you're here. There's something

you need to see.

With only a cursory glance at Peter, he leads Maya to the

bed. The other priests move away. Father Lareaux is sitting

up against his pillows. He looks good, rosy cheeked - almost

back to normal.

LAREAUX:

(happy to see her)

Miette...

Maya throws her arms around his neck, smiling for the first

time in a long time.

MAYA:

Father! Thank God you're better! I

really need your help. We've only got a

few more hours.

LAREAUX:

Don't worry...about the transformation,

Maya.

MAYA:

What do you mean "don't worry?"

LAREAUX:

(being careful not to wound

her)

Well, in my prayers, I realized we've

been fooling ourselves and probably...

blown this all out of proportion. God

would never allow anything like that to

happen.

Maya is floored. Father Frank looks at her scornfully.

FATHER FRANK:

I told you this was myth all along.

PETER:

(confused)

Does that mean it's over?

Lareaux nods a "yes" at Peter, as Maya sits on the old

priest's bed. Peter stands beside her.

MAYA:

So...we won?

LAREAUX:

(sweet smile)

Yes. We won, that's right.

Maya plays with her cross, distractedly, rocking it back and

forth between her fingers. Lareaux re-fluffs his pillows,

looking away from Maya, moving slightly, making himself more

comfortable.

MAYA:

We won because Christ...triumphed over

Satan?

LAREAUX:

Um hm. That's right, Maya.

MAYA:

So, if Christ won, that means, what does

that mean, Father? That Satan...

LAREAUX:

(tenderly, swallowing back)

Would you like to rest, Miette? You

must be exhausted.

Maya picks up a scapular from the dresser and moves in closer

to Lareaux.

MAYA:

(insistent)

So I guess Satan lost. Satan is the

weak one.

LAREAUX:

(breath coming in shorter

bursts)

Miette, come here and relax.

Maya is crowding Lareaux now, the scapular thrust almost

directly in his face.

MAYA:

(repeating, monotone)

I can relax, because Satan the coward,

trembles before Christ, right?

Father Frank moves over to Maya with another Priest. Sees

Lareaux is having trouble breathing.

FATHER FRANK:

All right. That's enough for now. He's

just recovering. Take it easy, Maya.

But Maya resists their tugging arms, leaning closer to

Lareaux.

MAYA:

But doesn't he tremble, Father? Doesn't

he cower, like a frightened jackal?

Satan, the half-wit...

Maya continues, taunting, her cross dangling over Lareaux.

MAYA (CONT'D)

(as slowly as she can)

The whimpering slave of Christ! The

impotent dog on God's leash!

Maya thrusts the scapular onto Father Lareaux's forehead. He

recoils violently, as though burned.

LAREAUX:

(vicious, another voice)

HE'LL MAKE CHRIST CRAWL!

The entire room stares, transfixed, at Lareaux. Maya look at

peter, then Father Frank, as she moves carefully off the bed.

INT. FATHER LAREAUX'S ROOM - SHORT TIME LATER

A nervous Father Frank is supervising the Jesuits as they

empty Lareaux's room of its extraneous contents. He avoids

looking at Maya. Father Lareaux sits calmly in a chair at

the center of the room. None of the Jesuits meet his eye.

One Priest tapes the curtains closed over the window. A lamp

provides the only light.

INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LAREAUX'S ROOM - DAY

Peter and Maya stand anxiously near the door, waiting...

MAYA:

He's our best chance. If we can get him

back.

Without realizing it, she's touching her shirt cuffs.

PETER:

What can I do?

MAYA:

(emphatically)

You have to be experienced to do this.

Just wait outside. Otherwise, you risk

killing him.

Maya looks at him, then clasps his hand briefly. She breaks

off and walks over to Father Frank.

MAYA (CONT'D)

You'll do it?

FATHER FRANK:

I don't have the experience. Father

Thomas should officiate.

Father Thomas, a tall Jesuit in his forties, strides down the

hall.

He's dressed in a long black cassock, with surplice and

purple stole. He's resolute. Two other Jesuits, Father

Malcolm and Father Jeremy, follow him.

DISSOLVE TO:

MAYA AND FATHER JEREMY STAND CLOSE TOGETHER IN THE HALLWAY.

WE HEAR HER WHISPERED MURMUR.

MAYA:

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.

INT. FATHER LAREAUX'S ROOM

The priests enter and begin to prep the room. Father Malcolm

goes to the closet and takes out the briefcase we saw at

Birdson's exorcism. He opens it and takes out a bible, a

cross a vial of Holy Water.

We see Father Thomas don his cassock and scapular in the

partitioned dressing area of Father Lareaux's room. Maya

enters. Peter, from the doorway, sees her lock eyes with

Lareaux. Finally, she turns away. Lareaux's smile widens.

Father Thomas steps out from Behind the partition.

FATHER THOMAS:

Tie him to the chair.

Father Thomas makes the Sign of the Cross. Then, he places

the tip of his stole on Lareaux's neck, and his right hand on

Lareaux's head. Lareaux flinches. Father Thomas places

relics of the Saints on Lareaux's chest. He writhes as if in

pain. Father Thomas sprinkles Lareaux with Holy Water.

Lareaux reacts as though it were burning oil. Finally,

Father Thomas kneels, beginning the Litanies of the Saints,

in Latin.

INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LAREAUX'S ROOM

The last thing Peter sees as the door closes is Maya.

Serious, tight, professional and outside the door, Father

Frank is already mouthing his rosary:

PETER:

(to Father Frank)

Now what?

FATHER FRANK:

There's nothing we can do but pray.

We'll be in the church.

Father Frank leads the other Jesuits down the hall. Within

seconds, Peter's alone. He looks at the door.

Then he slowly moves closer to it, until he's a foot away.

He tries to listen. Nothing. He leans even closer.

FATHER THOMAS (O.S.)

(in Latin)

Behold the Cross of the Lord. Depart,

enemies! Unclean spirits, and all your

companions, I command you. Tell me

your name!

Peter moves closer.

FATHER THOMAS (O.S.) (CONT'D)

...by the love and power of Christ, who

has redeemed man from your grasp, I

command you.

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