The Celestine Prophecy

Mr. Woodson! Take a shot.

Oh, nice shot.

- Get up. - Hey, over here!

- Mr. Woodson! - Nice pass.

Hey, John.

Listen, the board met this afternoon...

and it's as bad as we thought.

They're cutting back the whole department.

What, are you laying me off?

We knew this was coming. At this point, it's just a leave of absence.

With any luck, you'll be back with us next fall.

You're laying me off.

- I'm sorry, John. - That's okay.

Hey, hey. Michael Jordan was only 5'2" when he started.

Of course, he was in kindergarten and he could dunk the ball.

Just keep practicing. All right?

- Hello? - John? It's Charlene.

Charlene? Wow, I was just thinking about you the other day.

Listen, I'm so glad I was able to reach you. I'm in town.

I was hoping you might have some time to get together.

Oh, yeah, I got a lot of time.

Well, I'm staying at the Hilton, near the airport.

So, what did you wanna talk to me about?

Last month I was in Peru doing a piece on a relief project.

We went to this place called Viciente and I met a priest there.

His name is Father Jose, he's also an archaeologist.

He told me about some scrolls that he had discovered a few years ago.

What kind of scrolls?

Ancient writings. No one knows who wrote them.

It's a prophecy.

Really? What does it predict?

According to Father Jose, it says that...

all the conflict, the chaos in this world, it's changing us.

And what does that mean?

It means that the violence is waking us up, in a way.

The prophecy says that we're going to discover something.

Which is?

He was vague about it...

but he said that it'll make us look at everything differently.

I know this all sounds weird...

but if you'll just listen...

Okay. Okay. I'll listen.

So when is this revelation supposed to happen?

The prophecy says it'll begin during the first years of this century.

Well, that's now.

Yeah, I know.

Excuse me, sir. Can I please get my luggage?

Oh certainly. Will you be needing a taxi today?

- Yes, please. - Fine. The baggage will be out by the cab.

Great. It's just one bag.

Have you ever wondered why we don't spend more time together?

How long have I known you, five or six years?

About that long, yeah.

How many relationships have you had?

You always wanna get involved with somebody have them around, because it makes you feel good but...

it never works out because you're not really there.

Whatever happened to that big theory you were trying to find?

Inspire all those kids. What happened to that?

I found out it isn't that easy.

You should go to Viciente, John.

They're studying this prophecy down there. I can't explain it but...

the people there are different. This place is different.

Why are you calling me about all this now?

Because every time I would think of this prophecy, I would think of you.

Then I found out that I had a stopover here.

Maybe you're hearing this at the right time.

Hey, Meredith.

Whatcha say, darling? How are you? Hey!

Have a good day, girl? Better than mine, I hope.

You should go to Viciente, John. The people there are different.

This place is different.

Travel agency...

Cancellation? When's it leaving? Tomorrow?

Yeah, I'll take it. All right, thanks.

Wanna go to Peru?

I haven't been in Lima in quite a while. How long have you lived there?

Oh, I'm new to Peru. I've lived in Bolivia...

for the last 10 years, so I haven't met your Father Jose.

In any case, the local priests are so numerous, aren't they?

I suppose they are.

Excuse me. I just heard you mention a Father Jose?

A friend of mine just told me about him.

Dobson. Dr. Sidney Dobson.

Would you like a drink? Two more Scotches, please.

Sure, right away.

- So are you a scientist? - Oh, no. John Woodson, tourist.

But I'm going to Peru because I'm interested in this place called Viciente.

Oh yes.

I met Jose in Boston at an anthropological meeting.

I kept in touch over the years but...

I had no idea what he had found until several weeks ago. He called me and...

asked me to help affirm the prophecy's authenticity.

He sent me copies of the first two scrolls along with translations.

Real thing. There's no doubt about it.

Written no later than 5 or 6 B.C. But you know the curious thing?

They were found in a wooden box...

... which dates to only about 1600 A.D.

Someone in the early Church had buried them.

Early Church? Franciscan or Jesuit?

Oh, I'm a history teacher.

Well, apparently Franciscan. Although they seem to be inspired by a pope.

Celestine V, I think.

You mentioned that you had copies of them. Can you tell me what they say?

No, not really.

talk about a shift in human understanding, or something I don't know.

But, you know, the curious thing, the most astonishing thing...

is the description of the modern era.

Our problems, our technologies. I mean, it is utterly amazing.

Think about it.

A document this old, speaking in such detail about our time?

Think about it.

It was a pleasure traveling with you.

- You staying in town? - Delgado.

I'm just down the street at the Hacienda.

Father Jose's church is just down the street from there.

Why don't you come see him with me in the morning?

He has the original scrolls.

He wants to make them public as soon as possible.

- Why's that? - I don't know.

You can ask him yourself in the morning.

You see someone down there you know?

Oh, no. No, not really.

Pretty girl.

Saint Francis was a great man.

He could see beauty where others couldn't.

- I'm sorry, I was just taking a walk. - It's all right.

American? Now, what has brought you to Peru?

You're Father Jose, aren't you?

I'm John Woodson.

A friend of mine, Charlene Benet, met you a few weeks ago.

And she told you about our prophecy.

John, listen to me. I know you.

You're here to do something important.

But you need to leave quickly.

- What are you talking about? What's the matter? - Go!

I will try to help you.

You have caused us a lot of trouble, old man.

It was in a hidden compartment in the wall of the sacristy.

You should have hidden them better, Padre.

Eight scrolls.

Where's the ninth?

Okay.

One way or another, I'm going to put an end to all of this.

You're going to try. You will do everything you can.

But it's already too late.

You are very calm for a man about to die.

Everybody dies. Even you, senor.

John! Wait. Slow down a minute.

Why didn't you just call the police?

Because I'm not sure what's going on. It could be nothing.

Nothing? You got me out of bed in the middle of the night for nothing?

Don't do that. You'll never get rid of her.

What the...? What? John!

Need some help?

They seem to have left.

We were going to that church a block away, looking for the priest.

Father Jose?

- Yeah. - And who is "we"?

This professor, I met him on a plane. He was... He's looking for some artifact.

The prophecy.

Go on.

Wait a minute.

You know about all this?

Who are you?

Part of your story, apparently. My name is Wil.

- John. - I'm a guide.

I was working with Jose when he found the scrolls.

That's him, yeah.

- Who's this woman? - Julia Sims. She's a friend, a linguist.

- Translated most of the prophecy. - And him?

His name is Father Sanchez.

He lives in the mountains with the local Indians.

Philosopher, you could say.

I have a feeling you'll meet him.

Now, what about your friend, the professor? Tell me what happened.

They took him, right in front of me. That's why I was running.

I think they got Father Jose too.

Put this on.

We have to leave.

You think it'd be safe to go back to the hotel?

- I don't think so. - Maybe you could take me...

to the American Embassy.

Too risky.

General. His Excellency Cardinal Sebastian.

Such a surprise to have you visit me.

You've arrested an American.

A professor.

On his way to meet with your Father Jose.

Cigar?

Don't you realize this will only bring more publicity?

You should have consulted me.

Permit me to remind you, Your Excellency.

It was you who informed me of the dangers of the prophecy.

And it was you who sought my help.

I said the document was heretical.

That it needed to be contained.

I didn't say create an incident with the Americans.

There will be an investigation.

This country is a democracy now.

This prophecy is creating instability...