The Cardinal Page #5

It's strange.

What is strange?

For a girl who's young, attractive...

to spend her days, her nights like this.

But you are a priest.

You must understand

what it is to want to be of use.

You see, I have my vocation, too.

I have been accepted by the Geraldines.

The Geraldines?

The nursing sisterhood.

Yes, I know.

They take care of the incurable.

The incurable and the dying.

And that's the life you want?

That is the life I was born for.

Did you ever see this ring before?

Yes, it used to be mine.

Where did you get it?

- It was given to me.

- By whom?

By a friend.

Where did you get the ring?

Your fence, I believe, as you say

in the underworld, was pinched.

One of the items recovered was this ring.

The police thought

it might have been stolen from a bishop.

But the Karaghousian twins...

claimed they bought it

from one Father Fermoyle.

We've never had a priest

working with the Mafia before.

But I suppose during your stay in Rome,

you made many interesting contacts.

I had no choice, Your Eminence.

I had to work my way

through the seminary...

selling opium in St. Peter's Square.

- You're not afraid of me, are you?

- No.

Why not? Most people are.

Maybe it's because

you remind me of my father.

He's sometimes called

Din the Downshouter.

But his roar

is the only fierce thing about him.

He's a lucky man to have a son...

who's not afraid of him.

But about this ring...

why did you sell it?

- I needed the money.

- What for?

For private reasons, Your Eminence.

There are no private reasons

between a priest and his archbishop.

I needed the money to pay

for Father Halley's medical expenses.

- Is he ill?

- He's dying, Your Eminence.

- Why wasn't I told?

- He didn't want you to know.

Father O'Brien,

have the car brought around.

Ned?

Your Eminence.

- Larry.

- How are you, Larry?

Giving everybody a bad time, as usual.

You know me, Ned.

I've let you down again.

No, it's I who've let you down.

Who else would have put up so long

with an old muddler like me?

You're no such thing.

Now, Larry...

no more of that silver tongue of yours...

that we always said

would talk you to the top.

The top of a mountain of worldly vanity.

I do want to thank you

for giving me this parish.

The poorest in the diocese.

It was rich to me.

And then you sent me Father Fermoyle.

Vain, ambitious Roman puppy.

He's rather like you were, Larry.

That's a mortal blow.

I mean in his goodness.

Would you let him take my place here?

He'll make a good pastor, I know.

People love him already.

Grand idea. Thank you, Ned.

Would you do me one last favor?

Anything.

Would you give me extreme unction?

I'd consider it a great honor, Ned.

It'll be over soon. I hope.

You'll have the job

of shutting down the church.

Send all the records to the dean at Averill.

But, Your Eminence...

I've kept the church open only for his sake.

- But you told him you were going to...

- I thanked him for his idea.

I happen to have another one for you.

But these people need a church.

A priest will come Sundays for Mass.

All else will be done through Averill.

Once a week isn't enough.

You must learn

that when I've made up my mind...

I don't like interminable discussion,

otherwise you'll be no use to me...

as my secretary.

- Are you sure it's the same guy?

- Absolutely.

And now, we proudly present...

Bobby and his Adora-Belles.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

I take great pleasure in presenting...

that suave Tiger of the Tango:

Ramn Gongaro and his partner.

That isn't Mona.

Let's go.

- Where's Mona?

- I don't know.

Where is she?

- I haven't seen her for five months.

- Where did you see her last?

- In Albany. She left the act there.

- You mean you left her there.

- No, I told her...

- Told her what?

I told her I'd pay.

- Pay for what?

- For an abortion. But she didn't want...

Great, our only lead

and you have to knock him cold.

What's going on there?

It's our friend, Officer.

He's a bit under the weather, I'm afraid.

What with the chilly night...

and the need for a nip to keep one warm.

- Could I be getting your friend a cab?

- That would be most kind of you, Officer.

- Where is she?

- 5 Stanhope Lane, I think.

A noble and lonely task it is, preserving

the law and order on a night like this.

Thank you, Officer.

I'm Ramn.

- What do you want?

- Where's Mona?

Second floor, in the back.

Who are your friends?

Second floor, in the back.

Mona, it's me.

Put your arms around me, just hang on.

I'm Dr. Parks.

- Are you the husband?

- No.

She has no husband.

She's our sister.

Your sister's been in labor

for several days.

She's lost a great deal of blood.

Why has she received

no medical attention?

Because we didn't know where she was.

Her pelvic structure is abnormally small.

The child's head is unusually large.

Normal delivery is impossible.

You can perform a cesarean, can't you?

It's much too late for that.

But we can save her.

I'll need your permission

as next of kin to do a fetal craniotomy.

- A craniotomy?

- Yes.

We have to crush the child's head.

You want to kill the child?

You can't let Mona die.

I take it this is

some sort of religious scruple?

It's a Commandment. "Thou shalt not kill."

But it's all right to kill Mona?

If Mona dies because we won't...

commit a murder to save her,

she dies a natural death.

But the baby...

We'd be taking a creature of God's...

alive, with a soul.

And deliberately kill it.

I won't permit you to kill Mona.

Excuse me, there's not much time.

Are you a member of this family?

No.

Then which of you has the final say here?

He does.

I can't give you my permission

to commit murder.

Can I see her?

You have to be quick about it,

unless you want to lose both of them.

Monie, can you hear me?

Hear.

Say after me...

O, my God, I am heartily sorry

for having offended thee.

O...

thee.

O, my God.

God...

O, my God...

All right, Father, you'll have to go now.

Steve!

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, dear Regina

Happy birthday

to you

- Happy birthday. What a big girl!

- Blow out the candles.

Give it a try.

Blow out the other one. Blow it out.

Two, one more.

Get in.

Father Callahan packed a bag for you.

Whatever he forgot, you can buy in Rome.

Rome?

Yes, the Pope died this morning.

What does the Captain say?

We've lost three days.

If it clears tomorrow, we can make up one.

He'll have to do better than that.

The only thing that's keeping me alive...

is the thought of...

being there in time to vote for a new pope.

To go through

what I'm going through now...

would be...

- Where's my trunk?

- They promised to send it right over.

- What's happening?

- Nothing.

There should be smoke soon,

white or dark.

This ballot is taking a long time.

Maybe it'll be dark.

Maybe there's still no majority.

Would you prefer that?

What difference does one more ballot

make if it's a deadlock?

The American Church

has a right to participate.

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