THE LAST PONTIFF

An original screenplay by Paolo S. Macachor

ON BLACK:

The paranormal events that take place in this motion
picture were based on authentic records of the same
taking place in real life...

FADE IN:

The sun... The sun dims a little. It loses some of it's brilliance...

A RED CROSS appears on the sun...

It starts to dance, out of its orbit!
 
ON BLACK:

"And then the lawless one will be revealed... whom
the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth."
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8

FADE IN:

Earth. Blue and white. The white of the clouds obscuring most of the land, but the areas of land can be made out too. The earth in it's beauty, the way God has created it. No filth can be seen here, in orbit in outer space.

SUPER: Some time in the future. Anno Domini.

EXT. MOUNTAINS - NIGHT

SUPER: Garabandal. Decades ago.

A GHOSTLY SPECTER hovers above TWO CHILDREN. Two little girls actually, one of the girls CONCHITA (GONZALES) holds a small statue of the "Our Lady of Fatima" and sprays the "holy water" in the apparition. IT IS AN APPARITION OF THE VIRGIN.

CONCHITA GONZALES
			If you are Satan, go away!

APPARITION
			Don't be afraid my children. But repent!

INT. CHURCH BUILDING - NIGHT

A rather dark and gothic environment. POPE TIMOTHY, 58 and FATHER GOLDBLUM MARAVE, 42 sit and confide in each other.

POPE TIMOTHY
			I find it very shallow that what dispelled
			the doubts of Conchita Gonzales was the 
			"holy water". Clearly these visionaries 			underestimate the power and the ingenuity
			of Satan and how easily his demons can 			a show of farce by feigning fear of the 
			sacramentals.

FATHER MARAVE
			What about the prophecy that the last 
			will go down in a hail of gunfire? For
			certain Karol Wojtyla wasn't the last 
			pontiff.

POPE TIMOTHY
			The Scriptures is a surer word of 
			prophecy. The coming of the lawless
			one is according to the working of	
			Satan, with signs and lying wonders
			the deceits of evil are used against
			those who are perishing. So God
			sends in them the strong power of 
			error so that they believe the lie
			and those who did not love the truth
			will be condemened.

FATHER MARAVE
			What your holiness?

POPE TIMOTHY
			That's second thesalonnians nine to
			twelve. Sometimes refered to as "man
			of sin" but the term isn't strictly
			"man" because in Greek the word
			someone is synonymous to one or 
			lawless one that's why the TEV's
			wicked one and the former from NAB
			is very accurate.

EXT. ST. PETER'S SQUARE - DAY

The Pope speaks in front of a crowd.

POPE TIMOTHY
			My fellow Catholics. Do NOT be afraid.
			that I have banned the sacraments.

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			Because I believe, salvation comes if you
			believe in your heart that God has raised
			Him from the dead. And confess with your
			mouth that Jesus is Lord, and then you will
			be saved. And besides our Lord declared.
			in John Eleven Twenty Five "I am the 
			Ressurection and the Life. Those who die
			and believe in me will live. And those
			who are living and believing in Me will
			never really die".

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			I just believe that a lot of our doctrinals
			are excess baggage. Based on my scriptural
			research. And no, what I am speaking is NOT
			ex cathedra. It is the truth. I do NOT 			claim	
			to be infallible even as I have dissolved 
			the sacraments so fear NOT of your 
			salvation.

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			Because Christ is THE ROCK. First 
			Corinthians Ten-Four. Or Deutoronomy
			Four-Fifteen in your NAB. And according
			to First Peter Two Four, we are the
			living stones, called to build-up the
			spiritual temple with Christ as the
			chief cornerstone.

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			Like Peter, we Cepha living stones
			are called to follow Christ. And put
			on the new self and throw away the
			old self. God need NOT change our name.
			But we are called to change in this
			time of repentance...

INT. CARDINAL'S OFFICE - DAY

An infuriated Cardinal. CARDINAL BENIGNI, 50 speaks to his fellow cardinals in the conclave.

BENIGNI
			It is time that the episcopal conference
			of Rome all come to terms that Timothy
			should be removed from the Papacy! Our
			salvation is at stake!

FADE OUT.

TITLE CARD: IDOL OF THE DEVASTATOR

FADE IN:

EXT. CHURCH GROUNDS - DAY

BERNADETTE, 21 teaches a YOUNG BOY a catechumen with the Bible.

BERNADETTE
			It says, in Hebrews chapter ten. Eleven
			to eighteen that he sacrificed once and
			for all, the just for the unjust that he
			may forever make perfect those who are
			being made holy. And with this, there is
			no longer an offering for sin.

FLASHCUT:

BERNADETTE
			Let's talk about First Corinthians Fifteen
			forty, if there is an earthly body, there
			is a ressurection body.

FLASHCUT:

Another day. Possibly another time. Bernadette is teaching another catechumen. Still a BOY, and then there's a GIRL beside this boy listening intently.

BERNADETTE
			In Ezekiel Three, one to three. EAT
			means to understand. To internalize.
			So that might mean that EAT the scroll
			is to internalize the Word.

BOY
			So, a lot of terms that are written in
			the Bible are figurative, right? 

BERNADETTE
			Correct. None of them are meant to be
			taken literally. A lot of them can be
			ambiguous.

BOY
What?

BERNADETTE
			Ahm... never mind. They could have two
			meanings.

CUT TO:

EXT. A CHURCH BUILDING - DAY

SUPER: Philippines, Cebu City.

INT. THE CHURCH

Some three ALTAR BOYS hangout in the empty church building. In the altar, there is a statue of the
MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST, holding the host and a chalice.

POPE TIMOTHY
(V.O.)
			Some of the excess baggage in our
			clergy aren't just unorthodox compared
			to what is taught in the scriptures.
			Some are outright sacrilegeous. Such
			as one sacrament, a sacrilege that
			humanizes the already Risen Christ.

The three boys names are LARRY, JUNALD and DEMEJO. Carefree, they sit on the pew that is closest the altar, just dicking around.

FATHER MARAVE
(V.O.)
			The passover was symbolic right?

POPE TIMOTHY
(V.O.)
			Yes, the passover meal. But also,
			the Lord's supper was supposed to
			be a mere symbol as well. But millions
			have been deceived. On purpose. By means
			of the miracles it was allowed to
			perform.

FATHER MARAVE
(V.O.)
It?

POPE TIMOTHY
(V.O.)
			The spirit of the antichrist. Or the
			second beast false prophet. Much like
			the Holy Spirit performs miracles for
			the Christ. This second beast performs
			it's miracles and gains it's authority
			from the first beast. 666, the Dragon
			the Beast and the False Prophet. Now
			the parody of the Father, the Son and
			the Holy Spirit is complete.

Larry frowns. He communes with his two friends Junald and
Demejo.

LARRY
			Di ko mutu-o ana bai! Ginoo nga pan!
			Diba simbolo raman ta na???
(I don't belive that, it's preposterous. A wafer god?
   Isn't the Lord's supper supposed to be symbolic)

DEMEJO
			Hala, magaba-an ka ni Lord.
(Lord will punish you for your blasphemy.)

And then, on the altar - the host being held by the Mother of the Eucharist statue starts to BLEED.

Junald points at the manifestation that has so suddenly
occured.

JUNALD
			Ang Ostiyas! Tan-awa!

All three young altar boys look in shock. They get up, move closer towards the statue.

Larry turns to Junald and Demejo. Junald raises his pointer finger and starts gesturing disdain towards
Larry.

JUNALD
			Hala ka Larry! 

Beat.

Junald's eyes widen like a maniac.

JUNALD
			HALA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry starts to get teary eyed. He goes before the statue. Kneels and makes the sign of the cross in front of the bleeding eucharist statue.

JUNALD
			HALAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

EXT. CHURCH BUILDING - DAY

Back to Bernadette and her catechumens in Rome again. She's tackling more than one youth this time.

BOY
			Um, I'm reading Jeremiah Seven Sixteen
			to Twenty, it says something about 
			The Queen of Heaven and cakes of bread
			being baked to her? Is there a connection
			to the Blessed Virgin Mary?

BERNADETTE
			I don't think there is.

INSERT FLASHBACK:

The Mother of the Eucharist statue holding the bleeding host.

END FLASHBACK.

BERNADETTE
			Although the terms "Babylon" can allude
			to "Rome" much like Zion, the temple
			of worship can allude to us, God's
			spiritual temple in the time of Christ
			First Corinthians Six-Nineteen.
					
FLASHCUT:

Bernadette seriously discussing something to the youth.

BERNADETTE
			It says here in Hebrews Nine twenty five 
			to twenty seven. That He sacrificed himself
			once to take away sin, NOT so he will
			sacrifice himself again and again. But to
			take away sin once and for all near the 
			very end of the ages.

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Father Marave and Pope Timothy having their discussion.

POPE TIMOTHY
			The Eucharist can not be the body and
			blood of Jesus because his sacrifice
			was over at calvary. No amount of human
			or demonic reasoning can change that.

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			The Catholics who were slain during the
			period of the Inquisition who boldly
			identified the Eucharist as the abominable
			idol weren't necessarily heretics. Likewise
			with others who had their own sectors but
			refused to attend mass - the highest
			form of worship accorded to the Eucharist.

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			That is why the beast was wounded by
			the sword, which is God's word... came
			out during the dawn of the printing
			press. The church tried to supress
			truths during the period of the Dark
			Ages. Perhaps Luther, Calvin and Zwingli
			were asking for so much when they suggested
			all Christians were wrong... but God 
			certainly couldn't go wrong when he 
			predicted that we would walk hand in hand 
			back to Egypt - the figurative term of
			slavery and sin.

Beat.

POPE TIMOTHY
			But I bet those people in Carcar are 
			requesting help from forensics experts
			to test the blood on the host. Just hollow
			discourses brought about by the philosophy 
			of this world. Colossians Two-Eight.

Beat.

FATHER MARAVE
			You were assigned in the Philippines, Your
			Holiness?

POPE TIMOTHY
			... where I trained in the Filipino Martial
			Art of Eskrima...

INT. CHURCH BUILDING - PHILIPPINES - NIGHT

Some FORENSICS EXPERTS crowd the scene of the statue and the host that has bled.

POPE TIMOTHY
(V.O.)
			For in First Corinthians Three Nineteen
			the wisdom of this world is nonsense
			in the eyes of God.

A FORENSICS EXPERT speaks to the priest in the church.

POPE TIMOTHY
(V.O.)
			To test the spirits, or an apparition
			purported to be that of Jesus or Mary
			one is to ask if he acknowledges that
			Christ has come uniquely in the flesh.
			The spirit that acknowledges this is
			from God. The spirit that doesn't, is
			the spirit of the antichrist... This is
			the way to test. Not through a visonaries
			fruits or through contradictions in
			whatever added extra Biblical doctrine the
			church has had.

FATHER MARAVE
(V.O.)
			The fallibility of human wisdom indeed!

FORENSICS EXPERT
			Father, gi examine namo pag-ayo nang
			dugo nga gumikan sa ostiyas. Tinu-od
			gayud ni nga dugo. Type A.B... diba
			mao ni ang dugo sa Ginoo?
(We have examined the blood coming from the host
     It is real blood. Type AB. Isn't this the blood
	of our Lord?)

THE PRIEST
			Aww. O. Basin gusto lang ang mahal na
			birhen makigpagbangon nato sa atong
			spiritwal na pagtulog. Kay ang eukaristya
			ra ma'y maka pagdaa og kausaban sa 
			tawo. Mao ang makadaa og grasya og mao
			ang presensya ni Kristo sa misa.
(Of course. Maybe our Blessed Mother wants to
	awake us from our spiritual slumber. The eucharist 
is what brings change and grace and Christ's presence
in the mass)

Beat.

THE PRIEST
			Kung dili, basin nag-antos nalang diri
			si Kristo tongod sa tomo-tomo na pagtang-
			tang sa mga sakramento ni Santopapa
			Timoteo!
(Maybe Christ wants to show us his suffering because
of the heretical removal of the sacraments of 
Pope Timothy!)

FORENSICS EXPERT
			Hatagan ba kini og imprimatur kini nga
			milagro sa arsobisbo sa Carcar?
(But will this miracle be given the imprimatur of the
  archbishop here in Carcar even without Papal consent)

THE PRIEST
			Sa wala'y pagduhaduha. Mahimo kana.
(Without second thought, that will be done)

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Back to Timothy and Marave once again.

TIMOTHY
			Of course, before I get removed from
			the papacy, I must see to it that I
			get my book published. The one I call
			"Revealed".

MARAVE
			I might want to resign soon. My deception
			has been going on and on and I wonder
			how much longer I can hide my marriage from
			the priesthood?

TIMOTHY
			Corinthians Seven Nine. It is better to 
			marry than to burn with passion.

INT. MARAVE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Bernadette is Father Marave's daughter after all! MRS. EUNICE MARAVE eats with her daughter and husband.

BERNADETTE
			Ma, nag discuss mi sa Daniel Siete 
			bainte-tres. About ang four beasts.

 MARAVE
			That would be Babylon, Medo-Persia, Athens
			and Rome. 

BERNADETTE
			Og ang ika-opat nga mananap moka-on og mu
			pigsat sa tibu-ok kalibutan.
(And the fourth beast shall devour and crush the whole of the earth)

 MARAVE
			Much like Rome has now. With the division
			of power and the hierarchy that rules...
			the nations, waters multitudes and tongues.

BERNADETTE
			Gipadayag dise siyete, kinsi man na
			pa! I love you, papa!
(that's Revelation 17: 15)

EUNICE
			Kamo ba! Na inpluwensya na mo ni Santopapa
			Timoteo! Kabaw ba ka unsa ka tomo-tomo
			iyang gibuhat sa simbahan?
(You both are poisoned by the Pope! Do you know what heresy he is preaching to the church)

BERNADETTE
			Dili kon tomo-tomo na da-an og babayeng
			puta ang simbahan og gi koreksyonan
			lang sa santopapa.
(Not if the church has been the harlot and corrected
	by the Pope)

EUNICE
			Maglalis pa ba kita? Goldblum (to Father
			Marave) 
			Mubalik ta sa Cebu oi! Kung na hilo
			na ka sa mga bakak sa santopapa! Mutu-o
			pa gihapon ako sa mga doctrina nga
			gi deklarar sa espiritu santo pa-agi sa
			mga santopapa
(We need to debate? Goldblum, let's go back to Cebu to
 the Philippines if the Pope is poisoning you with hsi lies! I still stand firm in my faith in the doctrines that have been declared by the holy spirit coursed through the Popes of old)

BERNADETTE
			Mga doctrina sa tawo?
(The doctrines of men?)

EUNICE
			Ayaw pag tubag tubag, Bernadette.
			Anak ra ta kaw. Magpadayon ako sa
			mga kinara-an og na-andan na 
			nako nga tradisyon sa Romano Katoliko.
(You don't talk back Bernadette. You are just my
daughter. I will remain in our old traditions and in
the ways I am akin to practicing Roman Catholicism)

Goldblum Marave or Father Marave pulls out a book and puts it on the table.

MARAVE
			The new book by the Pope. Read it.
			Gusto niya i-publish og ipakita niya
			sa daghan kaayong mga tawo nga posible
			pakit-on ni-ini.
(He wants to publish it and show it to as many
people as possible.)

EUNICE
			Ayaw nalang, Goldblum! Ayaw na paghirit.
			Dili ko na basahon kana nga mga bakak.
(Don't bother, Goldblum I won't read those lies)

Beat.

EUNICE
			Mapagawas na niya sa mga tawo sa kalibutan.
			Pero dili ko na basahon.
(He may show it to the whole world. But I won't read it.)

ON BLACK:

"Do not think I have come to bring peace. But I have brought a sword, I shall bring division... from now on
your worst enemies will be those in your own household."
- Matt 10: 34

EXT. CHURCH BUILDING - AFTERNOON (BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE)

SUPER: Dark Ages, 13th Century.

A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL, SAMANTHA and her mother, ANGELA, 51 are confronted by a HULKING MAN. The man carries a bludgeon.

THE MAN
			Are you going to mass?

ANGELA
			Yes.

SAMANTHA
			No. We are NOT going to mass...

ANGELA
			Samantha!

SAMANTHA
			I would rather be burned at the stake.
			Than worship that Eucharist, the abominable
			idol...

ANGELA
			Angela! Do you wish to die at an early age!

SAMANTHA
			I will only be dead until the day of
			judgment. Be saved as if passing through 
			fire? A self interpretation for the
			fictitious dogma of purgation as well...

The armed man is infuriated.

SAMANTHA
			If I am to forfeit my natural life for
			the eternal one that God has prepared 
			for me, then so be it. As long as I am
			doing it for God.

The armed man assaults Samantha with the bludgeon, sending her to the ground. The right side of her eye
is scratched. Angela tries to stop the hulking and imposing man but with no luck. The man just shoves her off and away effortlessly.

ANGELA
			NO!!! We will go to mass!

MAN
			You will, but your blasphemer of a 
			daughter shall experience the wrath
			of God through Papal authority!

SAMANTHA
(teary-eyed, bruised and battered)
			The Word of God is the final authority.
			Open to all... 

MAN
			No blasphemer can afford to live!

On the ground, Samantha's chin rests. A tear falls from her eye.

EXT. THE TOWNS - NIGHT

Samantha is tied to the stake!  Then the POWERS OF THE CHURCH, Deacons, sub deacons, sentry men set the stake on 
fire!

Samantha is about to be toasted... at least just on this earth; her mother - Angela can only watch in horror.

FADE OUT.

ON BLACK:

"it performs great signs, 
even making fire come down
from heaven in the sight of
men... it deceived the inhabitants
of the earth by means of the miracles
it was allowed to perform."

-Revelation 13: 13, 14

DISSOLVE

ON BLACK:

"come virgin daughter of
Babylon. Sit on the ground
without a throne, no longer
will they call you dainty
and delicate... no longer
will they call you the 
lady of kingdoms...
even upon the aged you have
laid a very heavy yoke."

- Isaiah 47: 1, 5, 6

ON BLACK:

THE FALSE CHRIST

FADE IN:

An elderly hand thumbs through rosary beads.

COLLECTIVE CHANTING
			Hail holy queen, mother of mercy, hail
			our life, our sweetness and our hope
			to YOU do we cry poor banished children
			of Even, to you do we sent up our
			sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley
			of tears, turn them our most gracious
			advocate.

DISSOLVE:

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Bernadette confides with the pontiff. Timothy is seated on his "throne" - whatever it's called. Bernadette stands beside him.

TWO ARMED MEN with M-16's are side by side with the Pope.

BERNADETTE
			Sir, my mother said she would divorce
			my father if he doesn't stop following 
			your quote unquote heretic teachings.

Beat.

Timothy just nods.

TIMOTHY
			Well, my child... God will always make
			a way for things to work out. And Matthew
			Nineteen: Five to six. "What God has
			joined together, let no man separate".

Bernadette takes a deep breath. Absently scans the elegant room. KATANA SWORDS are decorated all over the place.

TIMOTHY
			You know I trained in the martial arts
			when I was assigned in Carcar, don't you?

Bernadette has a kind of petrified look on her face.

Timothy smiles as if just to cheer her up.

TIMOTHY
			Oh, I guess Goldblum already told you that.

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			He is holding his sermon... minus the 
			Eucharist of course.

TWO MEN BOLT INTO THE PAPAL OFFICE. One is Cardinal Benigni, the other is a MAN IN A TUX. The man in a tux is a gray-haired, his face steely calm and imposing. His name is VINCENT.

Bernadette looks at the two men with slight apprehension - not that she hasn't been in an apprehensive mood already.

BENIGNI
			Your holiness, in the name of the Roman
			Catholic Church, you are to hand the
			roster of St. Peter back to us until				a more faithful pontiff replaces you.

TIMOTHY
			None of the apostles were infallible
			or were vicars of Christ.

BENIGNI
			What you are declaring is construed as
			heresy... the conclave is decided.

Timothy frowns.

TIMOTHY
			(roars, a burst of anger)
			I AM the conclave!

And then Vincent, the assassin, whips up his pistol, BLAM! drills the first armed guard in the head. BLAM! BLAM! shoots the other one's thighs. BLAM! The cou'p de grace on guard no. 2's head. The awkwardly unsilenced reports echo through the room. Deafening Bernadette.

By the way, the pistol was a PARA ORDNANCE, 1911 .45 caliber.

Bernadette panics. She gets down on the Pope's desk.

BENIGNI
			(agitated)
			I told you NOT to kill anyone!

The pontiff raises a GARROTE, a wooden stick, a weapon.
Vincent trains his weapon to Timothy, DOUBLE TAPS his chest... Timothy somersaults up in the air, does a back-hand blow and disarms Vincent's pistol!

TIMOTHY
			My chasuble is made of kevlar.

Benigni backs away in panic... Vincent backs up, goes to
one side of the room, leaps! And grabs hold of a KATANA SWORD! Vincent removes the sword from it's scabbard...

Now the pontiff and the CIA trained assassin fight. Swashbuckling in the Vatican. They fight in just limited space, they don't really go mobile, Timothy - with the garrote aims for Vincent's weapon hand always... while dancing gracefully avoiding the sharp blade of the Katana, 

finally, Timothy grabs hold of Vincent's weapon hand disarms him of the Katana, and then SWISH! The blade slices easily through Vincent's head! Decapitating him sending a geyser of blood everywhere.

Bernadette SCREAMS!

TIMOTHY
			I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it!

Bernadette, oddly calms down, gets up and sees a frightened Cardinal Benigni on the floor...

BERNADETTE
			Sir don't do it!

Timothy approaches the cardinal, brandishing the Katana sword. Benigni seems to have a hard time with the corpse of the CIA man on the floor.

BENIGNI
			Don't kill me!

CLANK! Timothy rests the tip of the blade on the floor, just in front of Benigni's neck... Benigni is just lying there, frightened.

TIMOTHY
			Let me tell you about the antichrist.
			The disguise... over a plethora of
			candidates on the Bible spells out
			with stunning horror and absolute 
			certainty.

Now, Benigni is basically held at bay by the katana and the armed pontiff. Bernadette watches rather cautiously.

TIMOTHY
			The term Mary in Hebrew can be translated
			into "Marah" or "Miryam" meaning grieve
			or rebellion... Satan is the antichrist.
			But he is NOT appearing as he really is.
			He is appearing as Mary. 

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			Mary of the apparitions around the globe.
			Revelation thirteen seven can never be
			more correct.

BENIGNI
(nervous)
			What's that?

TIMOTHY
			It was given authority over every tribe,
			every nation and every tongue, much like
			the Messiah was to given that authority.

BENIGNI
			What about the good fruits attributed
			to the apparitions? The fall of the
			Bulshevic! 

TIMOTHY
			Fruits. The hollow discourse used to
			determine where the spirits are coming
			from? First John Four-three proves
			otherwise. And no, even if the apparition
			encourages good works as long as faith
			is directed elsewhere, then Christ can
			no longer be a direct mediator, thus
			alienating those who are deceived.

Benigni sweats nervously. Bernadette watches. Steps forward.

BERNADETTE
			And no, she is NOT Revelation Twelve
			because if Mary was indeed immaculate
			she would be immune to the birthpangs,
			which was a consequence passed down
			on all women because of sin on Genesis
			three fifteen.

TIMOTHY
			Yes, the young lady is correct! Twelve
			stars are the twelve apostles. Woman
			symbolizes the church, the Sun is Christ
			the moon is Satan who usurps all of 
			God's glory but is crushed on the feet
			of those called to the truth. Romans 
			sixteen twenty three.

BENIGNI
			You both are heretics!

FLASHCUT:

A statue of OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, standing on the moon
12 stars on her head. 

END FLASHBACK.

TIMOTHY
			The fact that this "Mary" of Roman 
			Catholicism isn't Mary in the Bible
			is evident because of all the titles
			and Messianic attributes have been
			transferred from Jesus to quote 
			unquote Mary.

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			The Life. The Hope. The Advocate.

Beat.

BENIGNI
			Yes, Hope Colossians one twenty
			seven, Advocate, First John Two
			One, N.A.B.

TIMOTHY
			I've read the wormwood in the Vasulla
			Ryden apparition, confusing Zechariah
			Four Fourteen for the alliance of
			TWO hearts saving the world. When
			It is all Revelation Eleven, Two Witnesses
			the Old Testament and the New Testament.

BERNADETTE
			I've discussed that to the youth. 
			But now that Father Sylvio has booted
			me out of the church, I can't...

TIMOTHY
			Bernadette, my child you shall go back
			to preaching the Word of Truth in it's
			entirety under my .... authority.

Benigni is taking a series of deep breaths.

TIMOTHY
			There is only One Mediator between God	
			and Men... and salvation is found in
			no one else for there is no other name
			given unto men by which we are to be 
			saved.

BERNADETTE
			First Timothy Two Five and Acts Four
			Twelve. If we or an angel preach the
			Gospel to you in a way different
			from than we already preached, Let him
			be accursed. Galatians One Eight.

BENIGNI
			You blabbermouths! Self interpreters of
			the Bible! You are the kinds of people
			who made Ignatius of antioch sick!

TIMOTHY
			There is only one teacher, my friend, the 
			spirit received through faith. First
			John Two Twenty Seven and Galatians
			Three Fourteen.

The sword still holds Benigni at bay. This conversation has gone longer and longer.

BERNADETTE
			Who but the Spirit of God knows
			the thoughts of God? First Corinthians
			Two Eleven. No one can claim to be
			the sole interpreter of the Bible. Not
			even those who claimed ex cathedra 
			who were supposedly Peter's successors.

Timothy lifts the sword. Benigni gets up, scurries away in panic.

Now it's just Bernadette and the pontiff.

BERNADETTE
			What will we do with... erm, the body
			of this assassin?

TIMOTHY
			Not to worry... it was my sin. My fault.
			Thankfully, my debt and your debt is 
			cancelled. He deserved hell but so do
			we both. But since we believe in our
			saviour and work for the better, we shall
			NOT have to know death, my young catechist.

BERNADETTE
			Who can actually believe these impostors			like the Divine Mercy or the Sacred Heart
			who act in concert with the antichrist?

TIMOTHY
			My child, you haven't seen Stanley 
			Villavecenzio. So convincing, even
			genuine Christians have backslipped
			into Roman Catholicism.

ON BLACK:

"Thank you for revealing this to the young and the unlearned and keeping these secret from the learned
and the wise."
- Matt 11: 25-26

INT. PORNO STUDIO - NIGHT

RAYMOND, 21 dressed flashy exits the porno studio and walks confidently. He's also Roman. And he walks
past his nude models.

His SECRETARY, sitting on a desk speaks up.

SECRETARY
			Finished photographing God's work 
			of art?

RAYMOND
			Fuck God. I don't believe in God.

The secretary gets a rather stricken look on her face.

Raymond walks outside.

EXT. CHURCH GROUNDS - DAY

Bernadette preaching to the youth.

BERNADETTE
			For by one sacrifice he has forever
			made perfect those who are being
			holy. With that, there is no longer
			an offering for sin.

EXT. MOUNTAINS - AFTERNOON

SUPER: Fatima, July 2nd 1917

AN APPARITION hovers before LUCIA DOS SANTOS, and her
TWO SIBLINGS. The children are rugged, the apparition is  BRILLIANT WHITE LIGHT humbling anyone who might stand
before it.

APPARITION
			Pray, pray much and make sacrifices
			for many souls go to hell for there
			was no one to make sacrifices for them.

FLASHCUT - LATER:

The three children carry sacks and are climbing towards  mountaintop, punishing themselves. Sacrifices?

UNITED CHANTING
			(V.O.)
			O My Jesus, save us from the fires
			of hell take all souls to heaven and
			help especially those who are most
			in need of your mercy.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			Hmph! Fatima prayer. We ARE SAVED.
			Blasphemy in the form of prayer 
			implying the Lord Jesus has done
			nothing to save us.

EXT. ROAD - ROME - DAY

Raymond, the porno photographer takes a stride. He passes by a fruit stand. The fruit stand (for the record), was 
called "CITY OF 7 HILLS FRUITS". 
				
BERNADETTE
			(V.O.)
			Salvation is found in no one else
			for there is no other name given
			unto men by which we are to be saved.

FLASHBACK TO:

The apparition in Fatima.

APPARITION
			To those who embrace devotion to
			my immaculate heart, I promise
			salvation.

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Timothy turning his head to the left, speaking to 
someone.

TIMOTHY
			Let not the clergy deceive you.
			Worship and devotion are the same.
			Worship and honor are the same. At
			least the act of excessive veneration is 
			a definition of worship.

BACK TO:

Raymond walking the streets of Rome.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			Unknown by most, much modern thought
			about Satan is attributed to John
			Milton's "Paradise Lost"... there are
			those so carnal. So worldly, easily 
			deceived.

Raymond is forced to stop. A CROWD OF PEOPLE STARE SKYWARDS. A bright light appears in the sky. 

It is the Mary of the Apparitions again. Raymond watches,
captivated.

APPARITION
			Please hold fast to what I have already
			taught you. Do NOT make a laughing stock
			out of me, or the Eucharist... I am
			unable to perform the maternal task of
			co-redeeming the world if I am NOT 				acknowledged as your Heavenly mother.

The crowd watches.

APPARITION
			God does not tolerate the heresy of the
			Pope. He is the only fallible Pope in
			the history of the church. Please, continue
			in living the Eucharist, with me. It is
			my son's presence in the world. A sign of
			his grace and the forgiveness of sins.

And then the SUN SUDDENLY DIMS. It becomes less brilliant, enough for one to stare at it without being
blinded.

The crowd reacts in awe.  Raymond's jaw drops.

A RED CROSS APPEARS IN THE SUN.  

APPARITION
			If you do not believe me, then let
			this be a reminder that it is through
			the Eucharist, thay my son is able
			to save the world.

The sun turns into a SILVER DISK. It rotates.

And then the sun dislodges from it's orbit - above, it starts to dance! Some solar flares - balls of fire descend towards the earth!

The people panic. But no one is torched to death.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			It performs great miracles, even making
			fire come down from heaven in the sight
			of men. It deceived the inhabitants of
			the earth, by means of the miracles it
			was allowed to perform.

AND THEN THE SUN DESCENDS, TOWARDS THE EARTH, THE CROWD
GETS DOWN IN FRIGHT! BUT THE SUN SUDDENLY TELEPORTS
BACK TO WHERE IT WAS, AT THE CENTER OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

The people get back up... they applaud the apparition.

APPARITION
			So please, live in the Eucharist with me.
			And continue to pray the rosary, the one
			which unites the family, brings peace...

Suddenly, A MAN FROM THE CROWD PUSHES THROUGH AND CONFRONTS THE APPARITION.

MAN
			Do you acknowledge that Christ Jesus has
			come in the flesh???!!!! DO YOU???!!!!

And then the apparition just vanishes into thin air.

Raymond is taking a series of deep breaths. He is still in shock and ecstatic.

RAYMOND
(to someone in the crowd)
			I am NOW a believer! I am now a 					Catholic! And I won't follow 
			the fucking Pope! Fuck the Pope!
			But yes to Mary and the Eucharist!

The stranger in the crowd just gets the sad look in his face, some disdain for Raymond the former aetheist.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			It goes without question, all prayers
			and petitions coursed through this Mary			do not go to God, but are actually
			directed to the counterfeit triumvirate,
			Satan himself.  

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			Mary is the perfect disguise. No one with			an iota of love for God will dare revile
			the Blessed Mother, let alone link her
			name to the antichrist.

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - AFTERNOON

The Pope is watching TV all by himself.

TIMOTHY
			(sighs)
			Dancing sun again. As usual.

EXT. CHURCH GROUNDS - DAY

Bernadette. Teaching the youth.

BERNADETTE
			So Haggai asked, "if a man made
			holy by his garment touches
			food, pottage or wine, will these
			be made holy?"

Bernadette shakes her head.

BERNADETTE
			The priest said NO.

Beat.

BERNADETTE
			But if a man, made unclean by a corpse
			touches any of these, will they become 
			defiled? The priest answered, "They will
			be defiled."

TITLE CARD: THE HARLOT

ON BLACK:

"I will show you the judgment
of the great harlot that sits
near many waters... the woman
was drunk with the blood of
those who were murdered because
they have been loyal to the 
Lord... the 7 heads are the 7
hills on which the woman sits...
The waters that you saw where
the harlot sits are nations, 
cities, multitudes and tongues"
- Revelation 17: 1, 6, 9, 15

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Bernadette and her Father sit side by side in front of the pontiff giving them a lecture. Both look shocked.

BERNADETTE
			Your holiness, you are right! Woman
			is a figurative term for church, because
			the church is female.

TIMOTHY
			And what, do you call an unfaithful bride?

Beat.

MARAVE
			A prostitute. A harlot.

Beat.

BERNADETTE
			Pa, this is the city of seven hills right?
			Rome has seven hills?

MARAVE
			Yes.

TIMOTHY
			Who are the seven kings? The seven
			evil Caeasars,and no the eighth
			isn't Galba's successor. But the eighth
			is the beast who amazes people because
			it was once alive, now it no longer lives
			but it has reappeared. And true enough
			the beast sits enthroned as king under
			the title Queen of Heaven and Earth...
			NOT in the fallen Roman Empire. But in
			the Roman Catholic Church.

BERNADETTE
			So people are amazed because this beast is
			disguised as Mary?

TIMOTHY
			Yes, because people don't know that 
			miracles are like sinking sand as 
			proof of God's existence. They don't
			know about the counterfeit miracles...
			It's like money, people in the bank
			know genuine notes from those that
			are counterfeit. Likewise, know the
			Gospel well because Satan is capable
			of intertwining truths and lies.

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			Isaiah One Twenty One, N.A.B. says
			Babylon is the great harlot. Yes,
			this church. Babylon revived. The idols...

Beat.

BERNADETTE
			So that's why the antichrist used water
			to perform that miracle in Carcar in the
			Fatima shrine?

TIMOTHY
			Berna, water can supposedly bless those 			sacramental statues. Nobody understands
			stuff like Acts Seventeen Twenty-Nine
			or worshipping in Spirit and in truth...
			and the demons, during exorcism feign
			fear of these objects.

EXT. MEXICO - GUADALUPE SHRINE - NIGHT

MILLIONS of Marian followers light candles and venerate the Our Lady of Guadalupe Icon...

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			God sends in them the strong power
			of error, so that they will believe
			the lie and those who chose it,
			will be condemned.

INT. CHURCH

A EUCHARIST HOLDER, the HOST fastened securely in the round holder.

It starts to bleed.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			It breathed life into the image
			of the beast, allowing it to speak...

INT. CHURCH - COMMNUNION

The host is consecrated, and then it begins to SPEAK...

THE HOST
			I am the Ressurection and the Life.
			Those who eat my flesh and drink my
			blood...

The host starts to bleed.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			and having those who did not worship it---

FLASHBACK - BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE

EXT. CHURCH GROUND - DARK AGES - AFTERNOON

Samantha being abused by the hulking man, her mother Angela in panic.

EXT. THE TOWNS - NIGHT

Samantha being burned to death on the stake. The fire
starting to devour her clothes, then her body. She
is unconscious.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			Killed.

THE FLAMES CONSUME SAMANTHA ON THE STAKE!

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Timothy, Bernadette and Father Marave.

MARAVE
			Yes, but gladly that was over
			during the Inquisition...

TIMOTHY
			It would have been over now...

Timothy smiles.

TIMOTHY
			If people also foolishly took me
			as infallible and if some priests
			indeed hold the sermons minus
			the Eucharist. 

INT. PUBLISHING WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

A BLUE-COLLAR WORKER carries a stack of BOOKS.

He calls to someone.

WORKER
			We have enough copies!!!

MANAGER
			No, the Pope ordered some more!

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			By the way, I hope people indeed do
			respond to my book. Containing all
			the revelations about the antichrist,
			exposing it naked leaving it without
			a leg to stand on...

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Back to Timothy revealing all these to Father Marave and his daughter.

TIMOTHY
			Now 42 months, in case you want to know
			is tantamount to 1260 days or three and
			a half years. Three and a half being
			the symbol for tribulation, representing
			half of the number seven. The seventh
			day being the day of rest. The day of
			salvation. So since the antichrist has 			sown perdition on mankind for more than
			2 millenia, in anno domini... it will
			end on our day of rest, when Christ comes
			again.

MARAVE
			So it leads us to worship the image of the
			beast... the Eucharist. And leads us
			to an alternative source of salvation?

TIMOTHY
			Yes, Ad Iesum Per Marian ring a bell?
			All attributes that make Christ unique
			as saviour have been transferred...
			And as the song and Isaiah forty four nine
			goes, "There is none like Me. My glory
			I will NOT give to another." Well, God 
			shares to us His glory, but that will 
			happen on the day of judgment... It has
			been exalted above every so-called god
			or object of worship.

BERNADETTE
			The beatified saints? Hyperdulia!
			In the catechism, Mary is higher
			than the saints! So the latria and
			the dulia are nonsense as well?

TIMOTHY
(shrugs)
			Just polygamy.

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			The dead know nothing. They can not hear
			or answer prayer Ecclesiastes Nine Five to
			Six. We, who are alive and being made
			holy are the saints. But God permits 
			deception for those who do not have
			desire to seek the Truth. By giving them
			all their physical graces... BUT salvation
			is another story entirely.

FADE TO WHITE.

INT. ROOM - NIGHT

A DEMON POSSESSED MAN tied to a bed. The man's eyes are yellow... his body is starting to rot. Leonard is tied and shackled to the bed.

Father Marave and Pope Timothy enter the room.

TIMOTHY
			You can't deliver an Oscar worthy 
			performance tonight. We don't have
			any holy water or rosaries... just
			our faith.

Beat.

TIMOTHY
			Depart from Leonard.

So the man's name is Leonard.

LEONARD/DEMON
			(to Father Marave)
			Goldblum, your wife longs to be another
			man's cocksucker!

Father Marave's eyes widen with a flash of anger.

LEONARD/DEMON
			I am the devil.

MARAVE
			You are a lowly secretary of Satan, the
			antichrist yourself. You are just
			part of legion!

LEONARD/DEMON
			And your wife will divorce you soon.

Marave takes a deep breath, inhaling some fury. Exhaling.

TIMOTHY
			Leave the room, Goldblum. Now.

Timothy faces the demon arms akimbo.

TIMOTHY
			We have brought someone full of the Holy
			Spirit. (calling to the door)
			PASTOR!!!

The PASTOR gets in, he is the man who confronted the apparition earlier!

The pastor with much gallantry approaches Leonard on the bed, he touches his forehead.

PASTOR
			Just leave. In the name of Jesus Christ,
			leave God's servant Leonard Shelby. Leave.

And then... Leonard's face starts to morph back to normal! The demon has left!

Marave gets in, vacillating at first, but he gets back into the room.

MARAVE
			That was quick.

TIMOTHY
			Indeed you are full of the spirit. It must
			be because I have commited a murderous 
			act... and my anger and guilt are still in
			me. I killed a man from the Central
			Intelligence Agency...defending myself
			but that is no excuse to be violent and
			no one has a right to take one's life.

MARAVE
			Likewise, Pastor I must be very unspiritual
			because of the quarrels between me and 
			my wife.

The Pastor smiles.

PASTOR
			Then I must be most spirited because no
			mischief I have done or plan to do... as
			of now. 

They all laugh.

Leonard is breathing hard. His eyes are shut. But he's free from the demon.

PASTOR
			But we are all sinners, gentlemen...
			and you're the first Roman Catholic
			Priest I know who took a wife, and has
			a 21 year old daughter. 

Leonard gets up. 

LEONARD
			Whoa!!!!

They are all interrupted by this.

TIMOTHY
			It's okay now, son. Just stay closer
			to God and you won't be susceptible
			to what you have been through.

Leonard is about 17, by the way. Looks this young since
his face isn't demon-distorted anymore.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

Timothy speaking, point blank:

TIMOTHY
			Father Marave, I entrust to you the 
			the publication of my book... so just
			as the Gospel has been preached around
			the world. The lawless one will also
			be revealed.

MARAVE
			(O.S.)
			Yes, I will be sure the book gets
			distributed.

INT. CHURCH BUILDING - DAY

Father Marave gives a sermon.

But ONLY TWO PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING!

MARAVE
			We may be free to change religion... but
			TRUTH is unchanging. The entirety of
			His Word is Truth... I thank you two
			for attending and being loyal to
			what is right... we will break bread today
			but just as the way God would have it.
			The bread will NOT be consecrated and we
			will not bow down to it like an idol... it
			shall be a symbol of our forgiveness and
			our salvation... The Lord's Supper the
			way it was meant to be celebrated.

Beat.

MARAVE
			... and I am beginning to wonder if you two
			are Roman Catholics already or
			nonsectorials who have given our church a 
			chance because there is no Eucharist... or
			extraneous rituals.

INT. THE CARDINAL'S OFFICE - NIGHT

A JAPANESE MAN, dressed like John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever" faces Cardinal Benigni.

JAPANESE MAN
			We are prepared to do what is necessary.

INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Pope Timothy sits, alone in his office.

And then from above, a KNIGHT DRESSED IN BLACK, AND WEARING A MASK DANGLES, AND DESCENDS FROM A ROPE!

It's a NINJA! The ninja drops an EXPLOSIVE POWDER.

FWOOSH!

But Pope Timothy doesn't even flinch.

As the ninja makes a move to strangle Timothy in the neck, Timothy MAKES A BACKFIST BLOW, STRIKING THE NINJA HARD IN THE FACE, SLAMMING HIM HARD AGAINST THE WALL NEAR THE WINDOW,

Timothy gets up... and another NINJA barges in from the Papal office's entrance.

This time, THIS NINJA is armed with CLAWS like that of Wolverine... the Ninja wears it in his right hand... the ninja charges for the pontiff... but whipping out his garotte like magic... The Pope maneouvers the stick vertically, keeping the claws from assaulting him... The garotte is stuck in between the claws, Timothy does a twist with his garotte, attempts to strike the ninja's head with his fighting stick...

The ninja dodges the blow.

Pope Timothy continues to fight the clawed ninja, dancing and evading the claws while the ninja is always at offense. Trying to penetrate the pontiff.

AND, GRACEFULLY THE ELDERLY POPE MANAGES TO DO A BACKFLIP, HE LANDS BEHIND THE NINJA, TWIRLS HIS STICK AT LIGHTNING SPEED - AND THAT CLUBS THE NINJA IN THE HEAD, KNOCKING HIM UNCONSCIOUS.

Pope Timothy takes a deep breath.

BUT A SWARM OF NINJAS BARGE INTO THE PAPAL OFFICE!

Pope Timothy just ogles at them, without fear or apprehension.

TIMOTHY
			My book will be published anyway.

THE NINJAS AT THE FRONT ROW, DRAW SOME SOPHISTICATED FIREARMS, AND THEY OPEN FIRE AT TIMOTHY!

The rounds strike Timothy's kevlar chasuble and vestments....

FINALLY THE ROUNDS DEVOUR ON TIMOTHY'S HEAD, HIS FACE...

Timothy falls on his desk. Lifeless.

The ninjas leave the room in a heartbeat.

Timothy is dead. Consumed, by the hail of bullets.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			But still, the Bible is the surer and 
			surest Word of Prophecy.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

A TV SCREEN, IT'S CNN...

Reporter LARRY PRINCE endorses a book, his guest is FATHER MARAVE!

LARRY PRINCE
			Good evening, ladies and gentlemen
			of the Globe, we have all speculated
			in shock and have been given eery hints
			by the late pontiff as to whom the
			identity of the antichrist really is...
			It is the apparition calling itself ---

INT. THE MARAVE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

LARRY PRINCE
			(V.O.)
			This discovery is bound to change
			the world in less than a month...
			this startling deception that has
			gone on under our noses for more
			than two millenia.

Mrs. Eunice Marave reads the book of Pope Timothy. She is reading it, captivated... 

Bernadette steps from behind her, Bernadette does a slight nod of approval. Finally.

EXT. ST. PETER'S SQUARE - NIGHT

Father Marave puts his arm around his daughter. Bernadette, they look at the giant church building. 

Bernadette and Goldblum Marave exchange ghosts of a
smile. Of happiness.

TIMOTHY
			(V.O.)
			And then the lawless one will be
			revealed...

And suddenly, THE STARS IN THE SKY START TO HAVE
REALLY KINETIC MOTION! AS IF THEY'RE COLLAPSING
FROM THEIR PLACES IN ORBIT!

LIGHTNING STRIKES ST. PETER'S SQUARE!!!

INT. A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDING 

The sacramental statues of the church collapse and shatter.

EXT. ST. PETER'S SQUARE - NIGHT

Something is still happening with the heavens!

People are in pandemonia. At first, Goldblum and Bernadette duck in fear and caution, but they get up. Almost carefree amongst a crowd with new-found
paranoia and panic.

BERNADETTE
			It's okay. This is expected.

Goldblum Marave grins.

GOLDBLUM
			I know. It is.

FADE OUT:

T H E    E N D