Could
the priest of the parish be the werewolf who ravages his own flock
by night?
Father Damen Constantine, sworn to protect the
secret of a sacred object with miraculous powers, is hexed by a
mysterious figure. Humiliated by having to bear his Holy Week sermons
usurped by Silvio Baldessare, a special emissary from the Vatican,
Constantine's world is further unsettled by the arrival of a Bishop
Leonid from Moscow who seems inordinately interested in legends
of lost holy treasures in Cyprus. And his heart is afflicted with
an unbridled desire for a newly-arrived French beauty, Orlena Zoria,
whose comings and goings are a mystery. His mind in a turmoil,
he comes to suspect he's now the very werewolf who ravages his
own flock by night -- and then his sacred charge is plundered!
With the Eclipse approaching on Good Friday the Thirteenth, he
realizes he must gamble his soul to thwart a curse that can engulf
the world in pure evil.
(Excerpt
- first 10 pages.)
FADE IN:
EXT. LANDSCAPE - NIGHT
A silvery HALF-MOON lights the dark contours of the hills
and modest countryside villas of south-central Cyprus.
LEGEND: THE ISLE OF CYPRUS
EXT. ORTHODOX CHAPEL - ESTABLISHING
The Chapel of St. John the Divine, 1000 years of dignity and
devotion in rugged mortar and pestle. It has a round nave,
Templar style, and a second story with a balcony and parapet,
added at some time, in the rear.
Among the ornamental carvings over the doorway, an enigmatic,
horned, winged, cloven-footed hermaphrodite GARGOYLE (the
figure of "Baphomet")crouches.
INT. - CHAPEL NAVE
A Christian Orthodox congregation. Peasant farm families,
dressed in their modest best new clothes, sing an a capella
hymn. Children hold palm-leaf flower holders. Older boys
hold large palm leaves, or sacks of olive leaves.
In his finery a pillar of sincerity and faith, Father
Constantine speaks from the altar.
CONSTANTINE
"Behold, the Bridegroom is coming in the
middle of the night: blessed is the
servant He shall find awake. But the one
He shall find neglectful will not be
worthy of Him. Beware, therefore, O my
soul! Do not fall into deep slumber,
lest you be delivered to death and the
door of the kingdom be closed on you.
Watch instead, and cry out: "Holy, Holy,
Holy are You, O God! Through the
intercession of the angels, have mercy
on us." Amen. Tonight, in the spirit of
humble servitude, as members in the body
of Christ, let us welcome, from the
Vatican, our guest pastor this holy week --
Cardinal Silvio Baldessare.
SILVIO BALDESSARE, 40s, a tall, silver-haired man of
unrestrained self-assurance, sharp of features and splendidly
arrayed in church vestments, rises from amongst his flanking
Deacons, ALDO and MARIO, the Mayor PONTUS, and some local
Burghers, to ascend to the altar.
BALDESSARE
Thank you, Father, and thank you all
for your hospitality. It is an honor
to walk, as allies and humble
servants, among the Cypriots, a
treasure of Christendom, bulwark of
the Christian faith for over a
thousand years. Amen.
AMEN chorus with approving nods among all the congregation.
CONSTANTINE
That the marriage of our people to
Christ the bridegroom remain faithful,
I leave you with these words of our
Savior: "Behold, I send you forth as
sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and
harmless as doves."
Constantine leads the hymn of closing, a cappella, the Matins
service of Holy Monday. Before the altar, Baldessare, Aldo,
and Mario dispense wafers of Communion to the Parishioners.
MRS. GALEN, a local farm woman, nods encouragement to her
daughter, HELENA, a pretty girl in her late teens.
Helena kneels before Baldessare. He smiles down at her.
Baldessare's hand places the wafer on Helena's tongue.
LATER - SAME
At the church doors, Constantine engages with his departing
parishioners, Mrs. Galen and Helena, as they ripple out.
CONSTANTINE
(continuing)
Mrs. Galen, Helena. Thank you for
making our guests feel at home.
MRS. GALEN
It's very gracious of you, Father.
CONSTANTINE
Mr. Galen couldn't --?
MRS. GALEN
(nervous)
Not tonight. I'm sorry.
The women hurry along and Baldessare approaches, with Pontus
at his side.
PONTUS
Matthew ten-sixteen, Father? An
unusual verse for a Palm Sunday.
CONSTANTINE
Perhaps not for this one.
C.U. - ON ICONOSTATIS
The reredos tapestry barely parts, revealing a woman's eye.
Mario sniffs the air. He and Aldo exchange a look.
PONTUS
(to Baldesssare)
First impressions, Cardinal?
BALDESSARE
Thrilling simplicity. A rustic
village with a single road running
through it. A thousand year history.
PONTUS
(nervously polite)
Cardinal Baldessare seems to know
all about our little island. Even
including some of the recent history
of our church...
Pontus fondles his watch chain and chuckles awkwardly.
PONTUS
(continuing; sighs)
Ahhh. The troubles that can be caused
by women... coveting gold, and the
treasures of this world...
CONSTANTINE
The Cardinal may be disappointed to
learn, such scandals are far from
our own sleepy little village.
BALDESSARE
And far be it from me to scratch the
fresh scabs of Orthodox scandal. Not
while the Vatican has wounds of its
own to lick. My only concern is to
foster accommodation--
CONSTANTINE
(interrupting)
Ah, yes, accommodation, so that our
rustic islanders may trade as freely
in sodomy, as in the Euro?
Baldessare barks a sharp laugh, clasps Constantine's shoulder.
BALDESSARE
I represent the Sister Church. Not
all of the E.U.'s policies.
PONTUS
(sharply)
As arranged by the Holy See, Father,
with the Patriarchate.
CONSTANTINE
Of course. Forgive me, Cardinal.
The doors of God's house must lie
open for a brother priest.
Constantine bows. As he turns, he accidentally jostles a
stooped OLD HAG, bundled in a shawl and peasant dress, with
long, stringy white hair and a scarf obscuring her face.
CONSTANTINE
Oh! Excuse me.
OLD HAG
Priest! Bah!
The Old Hag spits in Constantine's face. He reels in shock.
The Old Hag gestures, menacingly, rasping out a hex.
OLD HAG
God's curse on you. May you crawl
upon four legs. May the blood of your
loved ones run between your teeth!
The Old Hag turns to sweep away with surprising speed, leaving
the party gaping in astonishment.
BALDESSARE
Not a regular at your services, I
gather.
Baldessare hands Constantine a handkerchief, with which he
dabs his face.
Baldessare and his Deacons bow in turn, then exit the church.
Pontus lingers, displeased.
PONTUS
Father, that was shocking.
CONSTANTINE
Yes, it certainly was. Who was that?
PONTUS
I have no idea. I meant, was it
necessary for you to speak so --
directly with our guest? They say
he may even be Pope one day.
CONSTANTINE
(hoarse whisper)
Mayor Pontus, do you think it was
"necessary" for Our Lord to speak so
"directly" with the money lenders in
the Temple?
The Mayor, displeased but sans retort, snorts and turns away.
Constantine closes the church doors on the departing figures.
PHILANA, a dignified woman, 60s, steps from behind the dias.
PHILANA
So. The wolf is at the door.
CONSTANTINE
Yes, Philana. Prepare for a lot of
happy talk about respect for local
cultures, while they force us to
renounce our godly laws.
PHILANA
What'll you do?
CONSTANTINE
What I must. Be a good shepherd.
And defend my flock.
EXT. ORTHODOX CHAPEL - NIGHT
A PHONE RINGS faintly, from within the darkened Chapel.
INT. CHAPEL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Philana knocks on a large, oaken door and calls out:
PHILANA
Father -- Father Constantine!
Constantine opens the door. He is in his nightshirt, sleepy.
PHILANA
(continuing; anxious)
I'm sorry to wake you. Poor Mrs.
Galen just left a message. The girl,
Helena -- she's very ill.
CONSTANTINE
Really? She seemed fine earlier.
Did they call a doctor?
PHILANA
Yes. He's been there for hours. She
asks for your prayers.
CONSTANTINE
I will pray. While shifting gears.
EXT. CONSTANTINE'S LAND ROVER - NIGHT
Constantine speeds across the dark, rugged terrain.
EXT. GALEN HOME - MOMENTS LATER
Constantine crosses the front yard to the peasant farm home,
past a tethered goat and a perched, sleeping rooster.
Constantine's KNOCK at the door is answered by a fretting
peasant woman, Mrs. Galen, who gestures for him to enter.
INT. GALEN HOME - CONTINUING
Constantine moves to the bedside of the murmuring Helena.
The DOCTOR withdraws a stethoscope from her chest, looks
gravely at Constantine.
DOCTOR
Fever. Nothing helps. We tried an
icy bath, as a last resort.
Constantine kneels, taking the sick girl's hand.
The door to the hut slams open against the wall. MR. GALEN,
drunk, roars into the house, flask in hand.
MR. GALEN
Potato harvest is here. And I lose
my only child. Who will work the
fields now? Tell me.
MRS. GALEN
Father, forgive him. It is the vodka
talking.
Constantine stands up to confront the drunken man.
CONSTANTINE
Then the vodka is a fool.
(to Mrs. Galen)
Now, please. Help me with the girl.
MRS. GALEN
What?
CONSTANTINE
(lifts her)
I need to take her back to the parish.
With me. Alone.
Mr. Galen clutches Constantine's tunic, pulls him from Helena.
MR. GALEN
Holy man, hands rubbed smooth from
praying. You would rob me of my
child in her final hour of life?
CONSTANTINE
You don't understand. There might
be a way to save her.
Mr. and Mrs. Galen look at the doctor, who lowers his gaze
and shakes his head somberly.
Mr. Galen thinks about that for a second, decides he doesn't
like it, and belts Constantine in the chops.
MRS. GALEN
Father!
Mrs. Galen rushes to the fallen Constantine.
The Doctor, aghast, also starts forward, but he shrinks back
as Mr. Galen turns his sullen, menacing gaze on him.
MR. GALEN
No. Let God work a miracle for his
holy man.
Constantine, rising to one knee, wipes blood from his mouth.
CONSTANTINE
(muttered prayer)
Father, not for my sake --
Constantine springs up, uncorking a manly punch that spins
Mr. Galen in a semi-circle before he collapses to the floor.
CONSTANTINE
(continuing; to Mrs.
Galen)
In the spirit of love. Now, please --
help me with your daughter.
Mrs. Galen, aghast, nods, and moves to help Constantine lift
Helena from the bed.
EXT. ORTHODOX CHAPEL - NIGHT
As the Land Rover pulls up to the chapel, Philana emerges.
CONSTANTINE
Philana. I told you to sleep.
PHILANA
But you need help.
CONSTANTINE
How do you always know?
PHILANA
I am a woman.
Constantine and Philana carry Helena inside the chapel.
INT. ORTHODOX CHAPEL - SAME
Constantine and Philana lay Helena before the altar. Flanking
iconic paintings seem to bear witness.
CONSTANTINE
Apply a cold compress. Talk to her,
until I come back.
Constantine strokes Helena's brow. Then, he breaks away.
Constantine moves swiftly, into a narrow hallway, stopping
at a certain spot to tap a stone in the wall.
The stone's false face swivels open to reveal a key hanging
on a metal hook. Constantine withdraws the key.
INT. STAIRWELL - CELLAR
An iron door opens at the head of the stairs. Constantine
enters and lights a torch, which he takes from its holder on
the stone wall. Carefully descending the ancient steps, he
wavers as a stone turns under his foot.
CONSTANTINE
(muttering)
Priest found dead with broken neck...
INT. TREASURE TROVE STORAGE ROOM - SAME
Constantine plays the torchlight over the rough-hewn
subterranean wall. He takes hold of a staff leaning against
the wall. Feeling the wall, he finds a stone slightly
protuberant from the rest. He pulls it halfway out.
A section of wall stands out and slides aside on rollers and
pulleys. Another heavy iron door awaits inside.
Constantine pulls a skeleton key from a pocket and unlocks
the massive door. As he enters the vault, his torch
illuminates a glittering treasure trove of gold and jewels.
Bypassing the hoard, Constantine proceeds to a dark corner
of the vault. There, he gropes beneath the platform and
unlatches a hidden switch.
Hidden gears turn, and a section of the treasure tableaux
rolls away, revealing a trap door in the floor, bound by an
ancient combination lock of Arab design. Constantine leans
the staff against the wall and kneels to turn the knob,
listening carefully as he does.
Constantine pulls open this vault door in the floor.
Standing, he takes the staff and lowers it into the recess.
A steel blade sweeps across the opening and SNAPS the staff
clean in two.
With this trap sprung, Constantine bends to lift a smallish,
locked wooden box from the hole.
INT. ORTHODOX CHAPEL - LATER
Philana presses a cold compress on the forehead of the quietly
babbling Helena. Constantine, now dressed in his holy
vestments, emerges into the chapel, carrying the box.
CONSTANTINE
(to Philana)
Thank you. You may go now.
PHILANA
But--
CONSTANTINE
Please.
Philana, confused, hesitantly exits.
Constantine lays the box upon the altar, next to Helena's
shoulder. He carefully unlatches and opens it.
Constantine delicately withdraws an ancient, damaged CROWN
OF THORNS. He holds the object raptly before his face.
CONSTANTINE
(continuing; rapt)
O greatest of treasures, so fragile...
lend me a spark of thy eternal grace.
Constantine gently lowers the ghastly crown onto her head.
The thorns pierce the flesh of Helena's forehead. Little
droplets of blood trickle down her face.
Constantine closes his eyes. A LIGHT glows from within him.
It slowly spreads to engulf Helena.
Helena emits cries of mingled pain and ecstasy.
Constantine remains dispassionate as Helena writhes. At
length, their glow fades. He withdraws the crown.
Helena's pierced forehead heals instantly as the thorns are
withdrawn from her scalp.
C.U. - ON ICONOSTATIS
Philana's wide open eye stares through the curtain opening.
INSIDE THE CLOISTER - ON PHILANA
Philana, nearly swooning, sits back and crosses herself.
EXT. GALEN HOME - DAWN
Constantine's Land Rover pulls up to the yard.
The front door bursts open. Mr. Galen, bleary-eyed, steps
out, pointing a shotgun. Helena cries out and intercedes.
HELENA
No, Papa! It's me! I'm all right!
Mr. Galen blinks, swaying. He drops the gun. Staggers
forward. Falls to his knees. Mrs. Galen appears at the door.
MRS. GALEN
Oh, Father, you did it.
CONSTANTINE
Not I. The Holy Spirit. Tell no one.
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