The Cardinal Page #11

the Vatican. That, I'd naturally obey...

even if I thought it was imprudent.

Good night, Bishop Fermoyle.

Don't bother to show me out.

I can see how busy you are.

We're getting the papers from Archbishop

Cicognani's regime ready for shipment.

Reminding me that we'll soon have

no direct voice of Rome at our side.

Good night.

While His Eminence was here,

this lady came.

I wouldn't have come here,

but I didn't know where else to turn.

What's happening?

They are following me, the Gestapo.

I think they followed me here.

I don't know what they're after, but...

if they take me to prison, they can make

me say anything they want to, can't they?

With drugs and torture.

I don't think I could stand much pain.

- I don't know what to do, where to go.

- You can stay here.

Father Neidermoser?

Is Sister Wilhelmina still up?

- I believe so.

- Please ask her to come here.

You'll be safe with us.

- I'm sorry.

- Don't be. I'm glad I can be of help to you.

Thank you.

Come in.

- You sent for me, Your Excellency?

- Yes, Sister.

I want you to prepare a room

for Frau von Hartman.

Certainly.

Sister Wilhelmina will see to it

that you have everything you need.

Will you come with me,

Frau von Hartman?

Thank you again.

Your Eminence must have been

among the first voters this morning.

The news was on the radio at 9:00.

I'm an earlier riser.

I like to say Mass at 6:00.

You advertised how you had voted.

I reported to you

the Holy Father's concern for the...

My dear Bishop, you said I was to issue

no more statements on the plebiscite.

Last night, at the end of Hitler's campaign

speech, all the church bells rang again.

You just won't understand about the bells.

What would attract attention

is not to ring them.

Radio reports say that priests all over the

country are urging people to vote "Yes."

And the big news is

that after you cast your vote...

My purely personal vote.

You gave the Nazi salute, Heil Hitler.

That is correct. The words have become

a part of the German language.

They are used instead of "good morning"

or "good evening"...

even, I regret to say,

instead of "God bless you."

Still, under the circumstances,

that salute was a partisan political act.

I was not issuing a statement.

I have not disobeyed the Holy Father.

Literally, maybe not.

What I tried to convey to Your Eminence

was a spirit, a general attitude.

To that you obviously paid

no attention at all.

You deliberately decided that your way

was better than the Holy Father's.

That's how I see it,

and that's how I'll have to report it.

One moment, Bishop.

You must understand that I have no wish

to pry into your personal life.

That was taken

at Kurt von Hartman's funeral.

May I ask how Your Eminence

happens to have come by this picture?

The police gave it to me.

I knew Frau von Hartman

before she was married.

I was here at the time during

a leave of absence from priesthood.

A leave of absence?

My vows naturally remained in force.

That was many years ago.

And right now, this very same woman

is living with you at the nunciature?

She's staying with Sister Wilhelmina,

the housekeeper.

I don't suggest

there's anything improper about it.

But you must appreciate

what the Nazis might make of it.

I granted Frau von Hartman sanctuary.

From the police, I know.

But does the fact that the police claim

she has committed a crime...

make the propaganda image

any more favorable to the Church?

She has not committed a crime.

Nobody has charged her with anything.

I'd better bring you up to date on that.

There is clear evidence

that Kurt von Hartman...

for understandable reasons,

was planning to leave Austria.

That may be true, but it hardly...

He wanted to take

a large sum of money with him.

That's been against the law for years,

long before the Nazis came.

This in no way involves his wife.

The fact that her personal jewelry

was included.

Included in what?

Sewn, with the money, into the lining

of a suitcase found in the apartment.

- I didn't know about that.

- She didn't tell you.

She told me that she knew nothing

about her husband's plans.

And you accepted that.

I suppose it might even be true.

If it is, she should want the investigation

to proceed so her name can be cleared.

Simply tell her to cooperate

with the authorities.

- When the authorities are the Gestapo...

- I cannot have this scandal.

Not at a moment when I am completing...

the most delicate negotiations

for the future of the Church in Austria.

I have to think about it.

I have to talk to Frau von Hartman.

But you appreciate the importance

of the problem and the urgency?

You'll find a way that won't embarrass me

or my relations with the new government?

Yes, I will find a way.

They've just reported

the totals of the plebiscite.

11,807 "No" votes.

4,443,208 "Yes" votes.

The percentage of "Yes" votes was 99.73.

Thank you, Father.

99 and 3/4 percent majority.

There's a soap in America that's

advertised as 99.44 percent pure.

But Hitler has to be even purer.

- You'll close the nunciature.

- Austria doesn't exist anymore.

Our diplomatic relations are

with Germany, with the nuncio in Berlin.

The Gestapo said they found

a suitcase hidden in your apartment.

Jewelry of yours was sewn

into the lining along with cash.

Kurt always kept my jewelry in his safe.

I'll find a way to get you

out of the country.

You don't owe me anything, Stephen.

I owe you a great deal.

At a time when I'd forgotten how to love,

you helped me to love again.

And you gave that love,

not to me, but to God.

It was his to begin with, it was always his.

For me it was always you.

I never loved another man but you.

Excuse me, Your Excellency, telephone.

I want a Vatican witness

along with me tonight.

Not only to keep the record straight,

but it should be an educational experience.

I want you to report that a non-Roman

can practice successful diplomacy.

- Where are we going?

- To see Adolf Hitler.

We've been waiting more than two hours.

Does the Fhrer know this?

- I'm sure he knows, Your Eminence.

- Thank you.

Two hours is a bit long,

no matter how busy he is...

but at least we should find him

in a good mood.

Austria is his greatest triumph yet.

Cardinal Innitzer.

Not Bishop Fermoyle.

- The Fhrer wants to speak to you alone.

- But I specifically asked...

The Fhrer gave these orders.

Excuse me, Your Excellency.

You will tell people when you are home

in America, about these days of glory...

how you saw two German countries

peacefully reunited.

I will tell people what I saw.

It will be the same

when we free our German brothers...

in the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia.

And also in your country.

- You're talking about the United States?

- Yes.

We have no wish to conquer your land

or harm your people.

Our only purpose is to liberate

the five million Germans there.

Your friend must have said

something wrong.

He repudiated all his promises to me,

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