The Keys of the Kingdom Page #9

canned goods in your possession.

- We're already short of food,

and I have no intention-

- Third:

It is essential that all Chinese men...

be released immediately from your protection

to enlist in the army of General Wai.

And what will happen if I decline

the honor of complying with these requests?

You already have a slight indication.

In less than half an hour I will be able to

reduce your mission and everyone in it to dust.

[Conversing In Chinese]

You must realize that it'll take me

a while to comply with all your demands.

- How much time will General Wai permit me?

- Possibly until tomorrow...

provided that you deliver to me

by midnight tonight at my gun position...

a personal offering consisting

of tinned goods and sufficient valuables...

to comprise a suitable offering.

Well, it seems I have no alternative.

I'll be at your gun position tonight.

Good. I shall expect you.

I warn you not to fail.

[Chinese]

- Joseph.

- Yes, Father?

Tell the reverend mother

I've gone to the city.

Major Shon, suppose- suppose it were

possible to capture General Wai's gun?

About 20 of my men are now explaining

to their ancestors why it is not possible.

- I know.

- I understand several are being

ministered to at your mission...

for which I thank you.

If I could get near that dishonorable

weapon, I would demolish it, but I cannot.

- There's a way to get near to it.

- I do not doubt your goodness.

But permit me to question your

ability to perform miracles.

I've been ordered

to bring food and money...

to the captain in command

of the gun tonight before midnight.

My friend, you are

an undeserved gift from heaven.

I'm afraid I've forgotten

about heaven tonight.

Then concentrate closely

on what I am about to propose.

[Whispers]

Shen-fu! It must be nearly time.

- Just 11:
30.

- You understand exactly what is going to occur?

- Yes. We've been over it a dozen times.

- For the 13th then.

In this sack is cordite

and one can of gasoline.

When I fire into the gasoline, it will

ignite instantly and explode the cordite.

But before that, even before I raise my revolver,

you must begin to move away from the gun.

- I understand.

- You must be well away,

for the concussion will be extreme.

Captain! After Shen-fu and I have left,

you will count to 250 slowly.

Then you and your men

will follow us carefully.

When the explosion occurs,

you will attack successfully. That is all.

- Yes, sir.

- Light the torch now, if you will.

[Chinese]

And for the love of your Lord in heaven

and my perishable body...

keep it away from this sack.

[Shouting In Chinese]

I'm Father Chisholm.

I was instructed to come by your captain.

You brought what

was demanded of you?

I brought you a load of tinned goods,

which I hope will impress you.

And I brought you some money too.

- Give it to me.

- All right.

Would you hold this?

I want some assurance that

the mission won't be molested.

Not only will the mission

not be molested...

but tomorrow we shall occupy it

and place it under our protection.

- [Men Laughing]

- [Chisholm] You gave me your word.

[Captain]

Stop chattering and give me the money!

[Gunfire Continues]

- [Shouts In Chinese]

- [Gunshot]

Shen-fu, run! Save yourself!

- Am I at the mission?

- Yes, Father.

We are all well and safe.

And the gun- Is it finished?

It is finished...

and 32 of the enemy

blown into little pieces.

Never in my life

have I seen such a lovely killing.

One more like that,

and you will force me...

to endure Christianity.

The question is...

how long will Christianity

be forced to endure killings like that?

[Monsignor Reading]

"My shattered leg had barely mended...

"when word reached us that Angus Mealey-

Monsignor Angus Mealey by now-

"was to visit us on a tour of inspection...

on behalf of the International Society

for the Propagation of the Faith. "

- Francis!

- Angus!

Francis, my dear fellow.

It's wonderful to see you again!

Oh, it's a great pleasure

to welcome you, Angus.

- What a wonderful day. What a healthy climate.

- Come in. Come in.

I see you've hurt your foot, old boy.

Nothing serious, I hope.

[Singing Hymn]

Well, children. Thank you.

Thank you. Sister.

- Oh, Mother Maria-Veronica.

- Reverend Mother, how do you do?

How do you do, Monsignor?

- Sister Clothilde.

- Sister Clothilde.

- Sister Martha.

- Sister Martha.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Well, this is a splendid establishment.

Splendid. Yes, splendid.

Now I regret I can't stay longer

than today and tonight...

but you know I must be

on my way again tomorrow.

In the meantime, let me

fill every minute with memories...

of our beautiful mission.

Angus, there's something

I want to tell you.

Later, my dear fellow. Later.

Let us steal these first moments to enjoy

the happiness of reunion and companionship.

Then, after a hot bath

and a change, l-

Why, Francis, l-

I don't understand.

Wh-What has happened

to your church?

Well, we've had a few

reverses, Angus.

I'm not going to try and hide

my disappointment from you, Francis.

Frankly, I had my heart set on celebrating

High Mass in your church.

Your disappointment

is no greater than ours, Angus.

I'd even promised a lecture

at our London headquarters:

"St. Andrew's Mission,

or God in Darkest China."

It places me- It places all of us

in a most awkward position.

- I'm truly sorry. I've tried to explain-

- I'm not reproaching you.

It wasn't your fault, I know.

Still, if only Reverend Mother

hadn't antagonized that wretched general-

She did exactly as I would have done.

Would you have acted otherwise?

No, no, no.

Of course not.

But there are many ways

of overcoming difficulties, Francis...

and some are more satisfactory

than others.

We've had our own difficulties

at home, too...

with the reorganization necessary

after Bishop MacNabb's death.

Oh, no.

Oh, weren't you told?

Oh, I am sorry.

Yes, he- he died in March

of pneumonia.

He was a very old man,

of course...

and muddled and past his best.

He was succeeded by Bishop Tarrant,

a most worthy choice.

Well, we must take things

as they are and face them.

Now that I'm here, I'll do my best

to get things straightened out.

I've had quite some experience

in such matters.

It might interest you

to hear one day how l-

[MacNabb's Voice] I think you'd make

a good priest, Francis.

And now you've discovered

how frighteningly human we are.

I can't help thinking

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

but for a reason.

Shall we both agree to let

Almighty God have his way? Eh?

I seem to be depressing you

pretty thoroughly.

What do you say

to a nice, brisk walk?

Then this evening, after dinner,

we can entertain the reverend mother...

and have a real round-table

parochial conference.

I'm afraid you're in for another

disappointment there, Angus.

Reverend Mother never leaves

the sisters' house after the dinner hour.

Nonsense! You just haven't

asked her properly, I'm sure.

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