Written on the Body of Night Page #4

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So you keep saying.|Now go and sit down.

You are stubborn.

So, was he a professional soldier?

No, he was a poet.|We met at university.

He taught a very pretentious course|called Pushkin to Perestroika.

I'm sorry. It must be hard|to talk about that.

I found the most amazing pathologist|from London to study our body.

Dr. Jonas Sproul.

So, I understand that|only from the bones...

they can determine what a person|did for a living...

or what ethnic group|or how old he was--

I thought you didn't know|anything about archaeology.

Well, if it wasn't for|the Discovery Channel, I wouldn't.

Those letters on the jar, do you have|a hard copy of them anywhere?

Can I have one, please?

What are you plotting?

Come on. Humor me, okay?

But if I'm gonna treat your shoulder,|I'm gonna need to see some skin.

Come on. Think of me|as your sister.

I don't see you as a nun,|actually.

I am a confirmed widow.

What happened to your back?

El Salvador.

They were tough on priests?

Tough on enemy soldiers.

I was with military intelligence.

Military intelligence had to fight?

They don't have to fight.

Just like poets.

You have some blood|in your hair.

Who's there?

Go back to bed. Come on.

I'm sorry. I should--

You know, I should go too.

-I'm sorry.|-Thank you anyway.

Are you okay?

Well, I missed the chicken soup,|but some other time.

-Bye-bye, little one.|-Say good night, Dorene.

-Fr. Gutierrez, please.|-I'll get him for you.

Thanks.

-Yes?|-Dr. Golban's here.

Coming right down.

I'm sorry.

I forgot you're a priest.|I'm sorry.

Be right back.

Sorry.

It's the piece from the museum|dated 32 AD...

the year Christ was crucified.

So Moshe came through.

How do we know this piece|has an exact date?

It's a tributary jar,|a Caiaphas piece...

and the lettering on it refers|to the earthquake of 32 AD.

And could the jar have been kept around|for 20 years and then used?

Unlikely. It would be sacrilegious|to use an old jar in a temple offering.

And here's the hard copy|of the lettering on the oil jar...

you asked for, by the way.

Nothing they don't need|to know, okay?

It's a lovely piece.

I've only seen one like it|in the National Museum.

You say it's authenticated?

All right, I'm going.

Name of the dig, please?

It's Dr. Golban's.|I don't know if I should.

I have to identify the job|with some name...

any name.

I don't know.|Call it...

Massada.

They're running a spectograph on|the oil. Do you want to come and look?

I would. I'd rather talk|to Hamid about the lamp.

I don't think he's involved.|He's a good man.

I know, but I have a hunch he might|know something about it.

I'll pick you up afterwards.

I'm sorry.|I wish I could help you.

But as soon as you|and Dr. Golban ran out...

I thought it would be safer if I closed|the shop for the day and went home.

Why safer?

I'm a Palestinian,|Mr. Gutierrez...

with a shop near|an Orthodox neighborhood...

where they stone people|for driving on the Sabbath.

Yet alone disturbing their dead.

-I'm sorry.|-It's okay.

It's all right.

I'm very sorry.

Listen to me. There is no reason|to be afraid of me.

No one can punish you for something|you know nothing about.

Keep moving.

They've arrived.

The chemical analysis of the oil|leaves us in no doubt.

It was definitely used|for anointing.

And the carbon fourteen dating?

The year 1 , plus or minus 80.

Same as the seeds|in the clay wall.

Here's a list|of the things I'll need.

So, according to our measurements...

this man was five foot five...

which is a good|five inches shorter.

-Five inches shorter than what?|-The image of Christ...

in the Holy Shroud of Turin.

You're joking, right?

-What?|-I said, you're joking, right?

I am not.

Congratulations, Father.

You came to prove something,|now you proved it.

Pax vobiscum,|Sursum corda, whatever.

Wait a second.

Sharon, please.

Wait, wait. Wait.|Wait, wait, wait.

Can we discuss this?|Just tell me what's on your mind.

Go back to Rome.|I don't have time.

That is not fair.|I came here for the truth, like you.

So tell me.

The Turin Shroud is a proven fake,|so your supposition is ridiculous.

Not even your Church|will take a position on it.

And even if it would,|the image cannot be that of the Christ.

It could. It could be.

That is enough to include it|in the investigation.

-Read the Gospels, Father.|-Believe me, I have.

Well, read them as a scientist,|not as a believer.

As a scientist?|I am not a scientist. I am a priest.

-I cannot fight your faith!|-I came here with a specific purpose.

If you behave like a mystic,|go back to the Middle Ages...

because I cannot do this|with you here.

-Are you all right?|-Yes.

Come here.

The tomb.

Stop it! No! Don't!

Don't shoot!

No. In the name of God,|please don't shoot him!

Don't shoot him!

Thank you. Thank you.

-Good morning, Father.|-Good morning.

Any news?

You all right?

I have been better.

Well, if you're talking about yesterday,|nobody's taking credit for anything.

Which around these parts is like the|soccer player shagging a movie star...

and not telling anyone|about it.

Which means?

Which means, there's more to it|than meets the eye.

Like this.

Look.

Some sort of code?

I don't know.|You're the expert.

This is a very nice outfit.

-Thank you, Father.|-I am impressed.

When the Vatican recognizes an undivided|Jerusalem as the capital of Israel...

the bones will be released.

The poison spreads.

Does the prime minister|know about this?

But if he did,|he'd probably pin a medal on me.

Aren't you sticking|your neck out?

A faint heart never won a battle, Avi.|Or a seat in the cabinet.

-Even if it means destroying a religion?|-Don't be an idiot.

This won't be the end|of Christianity or the Catholic Church.

-How can you know that?|-Look.

Religion is not based|on a rational system of proofs.

It survives|because of human need.

We offer proof|that Christ has not risen...

those who believe|are not gonna believe us.

Some may fall away,|but you know what?

I think Christianity's|gonna survive.

-What do you think?|-I don't think Cohen is bluffing.

No. The body. Do you really|believe it is He in that tomb?

I don't concern my self|with that very much.

My concerns are for the Church|and her real problems.

Matt, I don't understand...

why it's such a disaster|for the Catholic Church...

if these are|the bones of Christ.

Isn't it enough|that He was an exceptional man...

who founded|an exceptional way of life...

that's good and compassionate|and understanding?

Right.

The power of His message is love.|You're right with that.

But at the same time|salvation and resurrection, He's God.

He's not only God for me.|He's God for millions of people.

You know,|when I left the army...

I swore I would never again do a job|that could harm people.

So I chose an archaeologist. That's|a pretty safe bet, you might think.

Now all of a sudden, I'm...

being blamed for destroying|a world religion.

If you take away|His resurrection...

you kill the God Jesus...

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