The Keys of the Kingdom Page #3

I were a wiser man than I am...

but never so much as now.

I cannot tell you to do anything...

except what is

in your own heart to do.

You can still

catch that train, Francis.

Good-bye, Father.

God bless you, lad.

[Whistle Blows]

Willie.

- How is she?

- Francie, Nora is dead.

It would be easier

if you didn't go up now.

Come on.

Let's walk a bit, huh?

[Bell Tolling]

[Choir Singing, Indistinct]

- Willie.

- Yes, Francie?

- [Tolling Continues]

- [Choir Vocalizing]

Amen

[Monsignor Reading]

"It would be pleasurable to record...

"that I became an immediate

success as a priest.

"Alas, the facts were quite otherwise.

"I failed dismally

in my first two curacies.

"There seemed to be little promise of success

in my next- or ever, for that matter.

"When one day there came

a summons from the new bishop-

the new bishop and my guardian angel

of old, Hamish MacNabb. "

[Chuckling]

Francis, it does my old eyes good...

to see a priest so manifestly

unprosperous as you.

I walked most of the way in the rain.

I'm afraid I got a little wet.

Too rebellious even to use

an umbrella, eh? [Chuckling]

Go over to the fire.

I'll get you something warm.

I'm not yet properly accustomed

to my new dignity.

I ought to ring and command

some of the fine vintages...

used by all the bishops

one reads about.

This is only whiskey.

But then we're only Scotsmen, huh?

But don't look so scared.

Sit down.

- Thank you.

- Sit down.

Under these bishop's robes

there still beats the heart of MacNabb...

the master fisherman.

Remember?

[Chuckling]

Well, here- here's to us.

You've had a pretty thin time of it,

haven't you, Francis?

"Thin's" the kindest possible

word for it, Your Lordship.

Failure might be closer

to the facts.

Hmm. Well, now, let's see.

You've had

two curacies since Holywell.

At the first, Shalesley, you insisted

upon establishing a dance hall.

It was a recreation center, Your Lordship.

There was a desperate need of it.

If you could have seen the poverty

and destitution of those people.

At any rate, there was a rather

serious disagreement...

between you and your superior.

You were then transferred

to Tynecastle, to your home.

There, your closest personal

association was with an atheist.

Willie Tulloch. He's a doctor now,

as his father was when he saved my life.

Willie's my oldest and dearest friend and

one of the kindest men I've ever known.

Atheists have reason to be kind.

Then Father Fitzgerald.

He found you argumentative and

frequently guilty of unorthodox doctrine.

- Nothing I did seemed pleasing to him.

- Just to Almighty God, eh?

Certainly, he cannot be

too pleased with me.

In our Father's house,

there's so many mansions.

Surely there's room for me.

I've tried so hard, believe me...

and failed so miserably.

Am I so ill-equipped to give

what's in my heart to give?

It's strange.

When I was a little boy, I imagined it was

not in the least difficult to be a priest...

that they were all infallibly perfect.

And now you've discovered

how frighteningly human we are. Hmm?

[Chuckles]

To me you have never been a failure...

and I think you never will be.

Well, thank you, Your Lordship.

But don't ask me why.

I'm sure I couldn't say.

Perhaps because I've always

been partial to the stray cat...

who comes stalking

down the aisle...

when everyone is yawning

their heads off at a dull sermon.

You're like that cat, in a way.

I haven't been able

to take me eyes off you.

And I can't help thinking

you're in the church, not by chance...

but for a reason.

You can do with some cheering up,

so I'll risk giving you a swelled head.

You've got inquisitiveness

and tenderness.

You're sensible of the difference

between thinking and doubting.

You feel an excitement

about your work...

that'll keep it

from ever becoming routine.

You'll never become what I call

"an ecclesiastic mechanic."

No. I don't want ye ever to change.

You understand, of course.

I say these nice things to you...

because I want you

to do something for me.

You've made it impossible for me

to say anything but "yes," Your Lordship.

That's why I've been made a bishop.

Now, this will call

for great personal sacrifice.

It will mean

a long period of training...

in language, customs, procedure.

It'll not be an easy life.

No, nor a safe one.

But I believe sincerely

it is the life for you.

The Society for the Propagation

of the Faith...

has asked me to supply

a volunteer missionary...

for China.

- Will you go?

- China?

It'll mean leaving far behind you

everything that is near to you now-

your home, your friends,

Aunt Polly-

- Judy.

- Judy?

Yes. Nora's little girl.

- She means a great deal to me.

- Of course.

- I'll be happy to go, Your Lordship.

- I knew you would.

And you'll be a credit

to both of us.

Come to see me again before you leave.

We'll pray for ye.

Thank you, Your Lordship.

Oh, Francis?

Take this with you.

It's a good thing to have.

You never know when

it's going to rain.

[Sniffling]

[Monsignor Reading]

"How different from the China of today...

"was the country to which

I came so many years ago.

"Exploited and abandoned

by the world around her...

"starving and struggling to realize

what was then just a hope, a dream-

"unity and dignity

and a place in the sun.

"And so I came to China,

to the province of Chekhow...

"a thousand miles from the sea...

to my mission in the city of Pai Tan. "

[Cheering]

- [Cheering Continues]

- [Fireworks Popping]

[Cheering Louder]

I, uh- I assume

you've come to meet me.

Yes, Father. I'm Hosannah Wong,

your beloved catechist.

- And this is my Christian wife, Philomena.

- How do you do?

We have bearers and a chair,

if Father is ready.

Well, how nice.

It's such a lovely day. I'd rather walk.

- [Speaking Chinese]

- Oh, thank you. Thank you.

- My-My trunk is on board.

- [Chinese]

Shall we go?

Well, why are we stopping here?

- Surely the mission cannot be far now.

- Here, Father, is the mission.

Why has this taken place?

The work of the devil, Father.

It was a beautiful mission

and cost much...

but the good father who is gone

place it too near the river...

and the devil sent much wicked rain.

Where are the people of the congregation?

Why have they done nothing to rebuild?

Father must realize that for almost

one year now, we get no cash.

Cash?

You mean, you were

given money? Why?

To buy rice, Father. How else

could we bring new members?

But among the 400 communicants

listed on the books...

surely there must have been

many true Christians.

If you mean those who believe

without rice, yes, there were many.

But as we told you, Father, they went far

into the hills to the Christian village.

- And those who have remained?

- Their faith left them when the rice gave out.

And... you?

As soon as Father restores our lawful

stipend of 15 taels per month...

he will find us as useful as ever.

And for that, we include

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