Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

I am Obersturmführer Rolf Kessel from the SS.

And this is one of my men.

We found him in a ditch with a kitchen knife in his back.

Murdered by one of you.

You see the German army retreating, and it makes you feel hope.

It should not.

So who is responsible for this?

You, priest.

- What's your name? - I'm Father Merrin.

Father Merrin. These people confess to you?

- Yes. - So point out the one who is responsible.

No one here did this, lieutenant.

They aren't capable of it.

Father, you must help me with this.

- Oh, but how? - Well, I need someone.

Do you understand?

Surely there is one among them who beats his wife or his children.

A thief, perhaps.

Every town has someone it can do without. Point him out.

There is no murderer here.

I have good news for you.

You are all innocent. Your priest has told me so.

The murderer is no doubt lurking in the countryside...

waiting to strike at the next group of German soldiers.

I am going to shoot 10 of you...

in the hope that we can demonstrate to this wretch...

the responsibility he has incurred.

- A worker's hand. - Farmer.

- Excellent. - No!

- We will start with you. - Stop!

- You have some objection, Father? - In God's name, you cannot do this.

You choose.

- What? - Well, they're your flock.

You live among them. So you choose.

I will not.

You give me 10 of them, or I will kill them all.

Men, women and children.

- Shoot me. - You have five seconds.

- I can't. - You can't what?

Pick who will be sacrificed?

History is full of priests who did little else.

You begin to irritate me, Father.

That was for making me wait.

I still want 10 more names.

What are you doing, Father? Are you praying?

To God?

It's all right, Father. I'll let you pray.

Because I know something.

You see...

...God isn't here today.

You win.

- Shoot them all. - No! Wait!

Joost Harmensz, take him.

- Too late, Father. You had your chance. - No, please.

Take Joost. And Jon.

That's good.

And who shall be next?

That's him.

He's Dutch, you say?

Half. His mother was English.

Perhaps he'll be a bit more inclined to see reason then.

I wouldn't be concerned about reason, major.

He's a scholar.

We studied his works at the Maryknoll Center.

Oh, yes.

You Maryknolls.

Cropping up everywhere these days.

It's a wonder the Jesuits don't get after you for poaching their game.

We all serve in the same cause, Major Granville.

- He's not one of yours? - No.

A simple parish priest from Holland.

When did he develop this archaeological bent?

Right after the war.

- There was an incident. - Yes.

Yes, I heard.

And his standing in the Church now?

Undecided.

The site is right west of Lake Rudolf, in the Turkana district.

It's Early Christian, which makes for quite a mystery given its location.

Anyway...

we won't know more about it until we get inside the thing.

I'd only uncovered a small portion of the roof before I got...

summoned here.

Did you feel summoned?

I am sorry.

It's a question of status, you see.

My status?

Officially, you're still listed as a displaced person.

I wonder...

why didn't you take steps to clear the matter up?

I've been busy.

Beautiful, aren't they?

Yes, very.

- Are you a lepidopterist? - A hobby.

From school days.

You have been busy.

Six archaeological digs since the war.

This is the longest.

If this is an official matter...

- ...then what is he doing here? - Father Francis?

Well, for one thing, he's quite an admirer of yours.

I'm about to begin missionary work in the Turkana district.

I thought maybe we could help each other.

- You know a lot about the people. - I'd rather not. Thank you.

This is a little awkward.

Cardinal Jenkins is somewhat concerned...

about an exploration of this significance...

conducted by a priest who is on sabbatical.

- Temporary sabbatical. - Which comes up for review shortly.

Perhaps I should take this up with the governor's office.

They'd only send you back to me.

Why don't you have a seat, Merrin.

You sure you won't have that drink?

The cardinal wants to be sure that the site's religious aspects...

are given proper consideration.

Part of Father Francis' job...

- ...will be to see to that. - Are you an archaeologist?

You're not the sole person with an interest here.

I've contacted your sponsors at Oxford. They have no objection.

If you agree as well, I can renew your visa immediately.

We all must make our little deals with the devil, Merrin.

Before there were the mines, traders came to Derati for the water.

They still do...

but it is a hard life.

Why in God's name are they tormenting that animal?

It is a sacrifice.

The new wife of the chief elder...

Sebituana, will soon give birth.

Sebituana does not yet have an heir.

So the people make sacrifices in the hope that the gods will provide one.

It is a necessary thing.

Cruelty is never necessary, Chuma.

You think we are savages?

I think some of you are good people...

lost in confusion.

There's nothing confusing about that ceremony, Father.

They're weakening the bull so that someone can approach it.

And as for some of the Turkana being savages, you may want to be careful.

Sebituana back there is Chuma's cousin.

Welcome back.

- Did you bring the supplies? - Yes. They're in the back of the lorry.

Chuma, could you get Rachel's medical supplies?

Here's a letter for you.

How was Nairobi?

- Hello. Are you the doctor? - Mm-hm.

Habari Kani , Lankester.

It's good to have you back.

Oh, thank you. Your room is prepared.

We'll need another... Another room, Emekwi. This is Father Francis.

- You're a friend of Lankester's, Father? - Oh, hello. I hope so.

I've actually come to open a missionary school.

- This is your hotel? - The finest establishment in Derati.

Emekwi here, he's a Christian. Maybe he can help you.

In any way I can.

James, Joseph. These are my sons, Father.

They shall be your first pupils, if you will have them.

That's excellent, Emekwi. Thank you.

Well, then, how far are we from the site?

Merrin.

How old do you think it is?

Well, the architecture seems to date to the fifth century.

The Byzantine Empire had adopted Christianity by then...

but they never got this far south.

Wanna have a look?

You're...? You're sure it's all right?

Well, so long as you don't touch anything...

and keep an open mind.

It must have been an enormous effort to get these materials up here.

Up here?

Yes. The stones come from a quarry near the lake.

Which means a distance...

of miles.

It's impossible.

The stones look almost new.

With the wind and sun up here...

Well, they should be badly weathered.

The church must have been deliberately buried right after it was built.

What, they came here and built something only to bury it?

I don't know. Chuma, hire some more men.

Have them work double shifts. I want these walls cleared.

I can't understand it. Who'd reported it?

Except for this.

I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, Emekwi.

Oh, please, Father, the building goes unused.

And besides, it is nothing more than our Lord and Savior would expect.

If you need anything, anything at all, just ask.

I wish others of our faith felt that way.

Oh, but, of course, the town will get the room back soon, since...

- Since we have to build a proper school. - Oh, please, Father.

Do not think me a doubting Thomas.

But...

we may not need that new school right away.

Hello, Papa.

Hello, Joseph.

- Hello, Papa. - Hello, James.

Well...

it's a beginning.

Call for the doctor.

It is the heat.

Pick him up. Let's take him down. I'll get some water.