The Cardinal Page #3

What do you suppose that'll be?

He'll probably just fix the steam pipe,

and let the commotion die down.

But if you didn't tell them the truth,

you'd be committing a fraud.

What is the truth?

That the steam pipe leaks.

That's only a fact, Benny.

Like the sun being

the center of the solar system.

Facts are only small parts

of a much larger truth.

Faith?

Faith.

People see blood flowing

from a statue's heart.

They believe God caused it to happen.

- But he didn't.

- But he did.

God is the first cause of everything.

He made that pipe leak.

Judging from all the rust, he must've been

working on that stunt for quite a while.

From all eternity.

- Frank.

- Nice party.

How're you doing?

So far, I've met the Flynns,

the Foleys, the Flahertys...

the Deegans, the Doogans...

the O'Connors, O'Neals, McMahons,

and all the clan O'Toole.

You make it sound like

one of Frank's songs.

After the Irish,

the Germans will be a cinch.

You'll take the war in your stride.

Except for one little problem

you can help me with.

Whose side is God on?

Is he an Englishman,

Frenchman, German...

or is he an American?

He certainly could have his pick.

They all claim him.

- Happy?

- I've never been happier in my life.

How'd you like to meet the Rampbells?

I'd like to, very much.

Mom, Dad...

I'd like you to meet Mona's brother,

Father Steve.

- How do you do, Mr. and Mrs. Rampbell?

- Hello.

I feel for you both. There's nothing quite

as lonely as being in a crowd of strangers.

Not entirely strangers, Father.

There are several men here

I've done business with for years...

including our host.

Of course, I've never been invited

to their homes before.

Or invited them to yours.

Or invited them to ours, it's quite true.

All right, you micks,

let's have a little quiet here.

I want to propose a toast...

to Mona Fermoyle and her soldier boy.

There they are.

In case you haven't already met him...

the lad's name is Benny Rampbell.

But don't let the name throw you.

I have it on reliable authority...

that it's soon to become

a good Catholic name.

As soon as that happens,

and I have this on good authority, too...

that same good Catholic name

will become Mona's.

So what do you say?

Let's just tack an "O" in front of it...

and make the whole clan of them

honorary Irishmen.

Now we know the answer.

God is an Irishman.

Come on.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

It's been one week since

my last confession.

These are my sins.

Yes?

I slept with a man.

Are you engaged to this man?

Yes.

Couldn't you have waited

until you were married?

Steve, you didn't persuade him.

Benny's not going to become a Catholic.

I thought...

if we made love...

I thought I could make him

change his mind.

Steve, I'm so miserable.

Please help me.

Would he agree to let your children

be raised as Catholics?

No.

He says that isn't fair.

He won't marry me at all,

unless I take him just the way he is.

Then you cannot be married.

He says, "Let's leave all religion

out of it and...

"get married by a judge."

That wouldn't be a marriage.

You'd be living in mortal sin.

What else can I do?

Why do you think I came here?

I want you to tell me what to do.

Hard as it may be, you must give him up.

Is that all you can say?

You must stop

these illicit relations immediately.

- Steve.

- Father.

This is me.

And I'm a priest.

What you've done is immoral and cheap.

It wasn't cheap.

I'm in love with him.

Is that a sin?

Unless it's subordinated to a higher love,

the love of God, yes.

Steve, you told me to hang on.

I'm just trying to hang on.

Help me.

Please help me.

Benny'll be going overseas soon.

He may be gone for a long time.

There's a saying in Italian:

"Love makes time pass,

time makes love pass."

For these and all other sins

that I have committed, I ask forgiveness.

For your penance, say three rosaries.

Now make a good act of contrition.

My God, I am heartily sorry

I have offended thee.

And a firm resolution to sin no more.

I can't do that!

You must.

I shouldn't have come here.

Cardinal Glennon will see you now, Father.

Good afternoon, Father Fermoyle.

Your Eminence.

I take the ring off for Bach.

Everyday I practice for an hour.

My staff encouraged me.

It may be that they hate music

and enjoy hearing what I do to it.

Or perhaps they've learned the more

I pound the piano the less I pound them.

They're probably right.

I'd hardly call it pounding, Your Eminence.

You play very well.

The Goldberg Variations

are a great challenge to the amateur.

But wasn't Your Eminence playing

the Chromatic Fantasy?

When you compliment me as a musician,

I must find out whether you know music.

Not that I'm trying to trap you.

That's not my purpose.

It isn't?

No, it's because of my infernal weakness

for flattery.

You see, Fermoyle, I'm incorrigibly vain...

not about my personal charms...

but about certain accomplishments...

that have nothing to do

with my function as a priest.

Because of this flaw in my nature,

I must always be on my guard.

Not only for the sake of my soul,

but for yours.

I've read your book.

I'm no historian, but it seems

a comprehensive treatment of the subject.

Thank you.

Why did you send it to me?

Because Bishop Quarenghi

liked it very much and he felt...

- Quarenghi, of the Vatican.

- Yes.

He felt the next step would be

to get your imprimatur to publish it.

Quarenghi read your book?

Yes. In fact, he helped me

with a great deal of it.

You were close friends

with this Bishop Quarenghi?

He was my teacher.

I admire him very much.

He's in the office

of the Secretary of State?

Yes, he is assistant to Cardinal Giacobbi.

Giacobbi, whose main passion in life

is to guard the Holy Father...

from contaminating contacts

with non-ltalians.

Cardinal Giacobbi would have good reason

to like your book.

I'm not sure I understand...

It deals with a time

when the Western Hemisphere...

had little or no ecclesiastical significance.

Tell me, why did you write it?

- Why?

- Yes, why? For what reason?

- What did you expect to gain?

- I didn't expect to gain...

Fame?

- No, it was just...

- Admiration in Rome?

The subject interested me...

A job in the Vatican,

with the Secretary of State...

close to your Italian friends?

It was a field

that had been neglected and...

Come, now. Examine your motives.

You are an ambitious priest.

I recognize all the symptoms.

You feel you're too good for parish work.

I have never said that.

Don't you think you're wasted here?

Your gifts for language...

for scholarship, diplomacy...

All these are wasted at St. John's.

Admit it.

No, Your Eminence.

- The truth.

- I will serve wherever I'm sent.

Father Fermoyle,

do you think there's more in you...

than being a mere parish priest?

The truth.

Of course I do.

You wanted the truth, Your Eminence.

Ambition is a disease in any man.

In a priest, it can be fatal.

But at your age, it may still be curable.

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