A silencer is screwed into place on the barrel of a 9mm pistol. The assassin slinks carefully into the dark bedroom. A pillow is hurriedly placed over his victims head and three shots are emptied into his temple. The body is wrapped in the bed sheets and dragged out of the room.
Int. furnace room - night
The last corner of a sheet is stuffed into a raging fire and the furnace door closes.
ext. Vatican st. peter’s square - night
Three puffs of black smoke are expelled from a chimney.
Int. cardinal’s bedroom - night
A phone rings. Two giggling, young boys pop out from under the bedcovers and quickly grab the receiver and pass it over to a large disemboweled hand that emerges from the sheets. This corpulent hand starts to pull the phone into its lair, under the covers, but catches its huge ring on the lacy bedspread. A grumble is heard and an old man emerges. He nods and in Italian speaks into the phone.
cardinal lira
Good
He slithers back beneath the sheets. The two boys hang up the phone on the table next to the Cardinal’s Miter.
Int. cardinal’s office - day
The next morning, Judith Foccacio, internationally renowned investigative reporter shows up at the Vatican for her interview with the Pope.
cardinal lira
I am afraid the Pope has some other burning issues to attend to this morning and he will not be able to see you.
focaccacio
Look, the Pope called me and asked for this interview. I know the Pope was dying to talk to me about the rumours surrounding the Vatican Bank and the Mafia. I’ll just sit here until those fires have cooled. I’m sure he wants me to wait.
It's a stand off. She sits down on a chair that appears to be occupied by a dapper black male, angel. But she passes through him as she sits. He gets up, looks at the Cardinal and at her.
black angel
What to do?
EXT. New Orleans Mardis gras - night
It's early Wednesday morning, the day after Mardis Gras and the revelers are still out on the streets of New Orleans. A street corner Evangelist exhorts one drunken celebrant to repent. The object of this attention is an 83 year-old, Creole, man whose hang dog expression belies his lack of interest in his unwanted companion's one-way conversation. In response, he unzips his fly and pees on the preacher's shoes.
ext. new orleans alley - night
Later that night, the dapper black apparition searches the alleys of New Orleans. He comes on a pile of cardboard and newspaper. He gingerly pulls back a few layers and reveals the sleeping Creole drunk. The old man begins to stir. One eye opens and he sees the hazy outline of what looks like a banker. He instinctively raises his hand and asks for a handout. The drunk's hand passes through the black man's. The drunk shivers.
He passes his hand through several times. He pulls himself up and pokes at the standing figure. He puts his hand around a leg and comes up with a fist full of air. He throws up.
black angel
Get up --- we haven't much time.
old man
For what?
black angel
To get to Rome. You are now the Pope.
The old man pulls a pint out of his pocket, takes a snort, swirls it around in his mouth, swallows and looks at this odd stranger.
old man
Either you’re crazy or I am. I’m not going anywhere.
The Black Angel levitates the surprised old man to a standing position. As they vaporize he looks at his new charge.
black angel
Don't even think about peeing on these shoes.
(CONTINUED)
No comments:
Post a Comment