Exorcist - The Beginning (Exorcist: The Beginning)

Puppet, sir? Only 10 piastres.

They're crap, squirrel. They fall apart before you're out of the door.

Five then, sir. It's handmade!

Please? My sister. She's very, very sick.

I know your sister. She's peddling in the next bar over.

Do you know my mother?

- Nope. - She's very, very sick.

I'll give you two.

That's a bad idea, you know.

Like feeding pigeons.

- Do I know you? - My name is Semelier.

I work for a private collector of rare antiquities. I cabled you last week.

Yes.

And I didn't answer.

There's been a discovery in East Africa.

A Christian church, circa 5 A.D.

No, that's not possible.

The Byzantine Empire had adopted Christianity at that time...

- ...but they never got that far south. - Nevertheless, there it sits.

The British have financed a dig to uncover this church.

We believe a rare object waits inside.

We'd like you to find it and bring it back to us.

So you think I'm a thief?

Now you think I'm a thief and a whore.

No...

...simply a man who's lost faith in everything except himself.

You know nothing about me.

An Oxford-educated archeologist, an expert in religious icons.

You were a priest before the war. So, what happened?

This is a leather impression of the artifact we're looking for.

A representation of a mythical demon.

It's Sumerian.

What makes you think it's in a church in Africa?

Major Granville in Nairobi is in charge of the dig.

He's been persuaded to let you join it.

You're assuming that I will say yes.

You already have.

March!

Left. Left, right, left.

Left, left. Left, right, left. Left...

Mr. Merrin, sir. The major will see you now.

Beautiful, aren't they?

It's a hobby from school days. Works wonders for the nerves.

You should try it sometime.

What can you tell me about the dig?

The location is a remote area of the Turkana district called Derati.

It was discovered several months ago...

...by a detachment of my men on maneuvers there.

When the powers that be realized its importance, they organized a dig.

So, what have they learned so far?

That it's a church where no church should be.

This is Father Francis.

He'll be accompanying you to Derati.

It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Father Merrin.

- I've read all your work at seminary. - It's Mr. Merrin.

I was especially impressed with your treatise on the Roman rituals.

I'm no longer a part of that.

But I'm sure you didn't come here to discuss Catholic rituals.

I was actually headed to Kenya on missionary work...

...when Rome learned of the find.

They that the site's religious aspect have proper consideration.

Hm.

How come you've opened the site to the Vatican?

We haven't...

...officially.

You're both my guests.

Tell me, have you any theories on who might have built this church?

Well, not until I've seen it.

Surely the Vatican has some record of its creation?

No, I'm afraid not.

We're as in the dark about it as you are.

How long have you been with the dig, Chuma?

Since the beginning. The British hired me as an interpreter.

What happened here?

Plague. Ravaged the valley 50 years ago.

How many died?

All of them.

I'm Lankester Merrin.

Agent Granville should've contacted you about my joining the dig.

He did.

Is something bothering you, mate?

No. I'd like to see the dig site as soon as possible.

- Do you drink, Merrin? - I shouldn't.

But my will is weak.

Then you might just survive this place.

I understand you've uncovered the church dome but that progress has slowed down.

You could say that. Right, doctor?

- I'm Sarah Novak. Nice to meet you. - Lankester-- Lankester Merrin.

You still haven't made it by my room, doctor.

I've been having this swelling...

...in the evening. Thought you might have something I could put on it.

How about a muzzle?

So how are the interior excavations coming on?

- They're not. - No?

Has the structure collapsed?

No, the church is perfect, but none of the men will enter.

- Those we have left, anyway. - Why is that?

I shall be leaving for the dig in five minutes.

Pleasant fellow.

- What's wrong with his face? - Other than it's attached to his body?

Could be an allergic reaction or some kind of localized infection.

Do you know why the men won't enter the church?

- Evil spirits. - Oh.

If you believe the Turkana.

And do you?

No. I'm a doctor.

But as a priest, surely you must believe in such things.

- I'm an archeologist. I'm not a priest. - Now, that's funny.

I met Father Francis outside, and he told me you were.

Did he? Well, he is mistaken.

Father Merrin.

This is Emekwi.

He's donating the use of a room in his hotel for the mission school.

Father, we are so glad that you are here.

These are my sons, James and Joseph.

- Hello, James. Joseph. - They are learning the Bible.

We are Christians, you know.

Mm.

Emekwi, can you see to Mr. Merrin's bags?

Oh, of course. James, Joseph?

Very nice meeting you, doctor.

There's your goddamn church.

Is this your first assignment, Father?

Well, before this, I was studying in the archives in the Holy See.

The Vatican. Impressive. But not really training for missionary work, is it?

This is strange.

It's 1500 years old.

It should be badly weathered.

It's almost as if it were buried right after it was built.

Chuma.

Where's Jefferies? I need to go into the church.

Hyenas.

They've been here ever since we started digging.

Even at daytime?

- What's the matter with him? - I don't know.

The heat?

Joseph?

Are you out here by yourself? It's dangerous.

- I'm collecting rocks. - I can see that.

I think you're about ready for this now.

It's a tool for professional diggers.

Wow.

His seizure's stopped. I wanted to keep him at the hospital for observation...

...but Turkana have stopped trusting my medicine.

Well, that must make your job very hard.

You have no idea.

Thank you.

So, what is it you hope to find here?

The answer to why a church was built here...

...a thousand years before Christianity arrived.

You were a priest once, weren't you?

Yes, I was.

Bloody savages!

Can't wipe their own ass without instruction.

- I have to get back to town. - Wait. I found this.

And I want you to have it.

It's a St. Joseph, for luck.

Please. For my behavior.

Thank you.

What the hell are you doing?

- Get the fuck out of here, you little scab! - Don't!

- Joseph, wait. - Don't do that.

All right, Merrin. I didn't know you was a fuzzy lover.

It's okay. Come.

These little buggers, they get in everywhere.

How soon can you have the doors to the church uncovered?

- A few days. - And in the meantime, how do we get in?

We don't. Chuma will take you in through the roof.

Following us, Father?

Is it safe to walk around?

Let's see.

Lucifer. The Lord's favorite angel.

Cast out after the war in heaven.

Can't even trust angels, can you?

- You ever seen anything like it? - Not this far from Rome.

It's odd.

Churches were built to exalt heaven, but this...

The weapons are pointing downward.

Look behind you, Father.

Desecration of Christ.

Who would do something like this?

The crucifix was broken off from here.

Chuma, is there an inventory of what's been found here?

- I wouldn't know. - Well, who would know?

Because this place has been vandalized.

Probably the lead archeologist, Monsieur Bession.

So where can I find him?

I need to talk to him.

- It's not possible. - Why not?

He's gone mad.

No one's been inside Bession's tent since he fell ill?

They are superstitious.

- And you? - Not superstitious. Smart.

Chuma!

Yes?

- Where's Bession now? - A sanatorium in Nairobi.

How long has he been gone?

A few weeks.

- And he can read and write Aramaic? - Sorry?

The language spoken in Palestine...