НАЗВАНИЕ: Conclave (2024)
ГОД: 2024
СЦЕНАРИСТ: Peter Straughan and Robert Harris
ИСТОЧНИК: ScriptSlug (PDF) — https://www.scriptslug.com/script/conclave-2024
URL: https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/conclave-2024.pdf
СКАЧАНО: 2026-10-12 11:50
ПРИМЕЧАНИЕ: текст чужой, для личного изучения. Не распространять. Не исполнять.
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                                HOUSE




                              Written by
                            Peter Straughan

                          Based on the novel
                               CONCLAVE
                           By Robert Harris




                               FINAL VERSION




                    Copyright © House Productions Ltd 2024
                            Confidentiality Notice:
The contents of this document and any supporting or attached information is
 confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please
      be notified that disclosing or making use of the contents without
permission is prohibited. If you receive this document erroneously, please
       contact House Productions Limited on EN innediately.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 1.


                                                         FADE IN:

1      EXT. APARTMENT BLOCK - ROME - NIGHT                           1

       A large, modern apartment block in a modest part of the city.
       The streets are quiet. Everyone sleeps.

2      INT. APARTMENT - ROME - NIGHT                                 2

       CLOSE on a WINDOW PANE, small, leaded. We HOLD on the glass,
       nothing but black night outside, not sure what we’re supposed
       to be looking at.

       Then, with a sharp ping, the pane cracks.

       ON A SLEEPING MAN, his back to us. Woken by the sound, the
       man raises his head from the pillow, stares at the cracked
       pane.

       Silence.

       The sudden jangle of a phone in the room. The man turns his
       head to stare at the phone.

3      EXT. TUNNEL NEAR VATICAN - ROME - NIGHT                       3

       CLOSE - PUSHING the MAN as he walks quickly through a tunnel,
       his sleep-whorled hair standing in undignified tufts from the
       back of his head. A lone car passes.

3A     EXT. STREET NEAR VATICAN - ROME   - NIGHT                    3A

       The MAN continues to rush through the empty streets. The only
       sound is his heavy breathing and footsteps. Ahe ad of him a
       blue light pulses in SOFT FOCUS against the vague bulk of St
       Peter’s.

3B     I/E. SHOP - STREET NEAR VATICAN - NIGHT                      3B

       Outside on the street the MAN passes a SHOP WINDOW and for a
       moment we hold on the display - rows of PLASTIC PIETÀS.

4      OMITTED                                                       4


4A     OMITTED                                                      4A
    CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 2.

5     OMITTED                                                       5


6     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LIFT PAPAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT           6

      In the lift the MAN - CARDINAL LAWRENCE - stares down at his
      hand and realises he is clutching his red zucchetto. We are
      still on his back as he smoothes down his hair and puts it on
      his head. Then he turns to the mirror and we see his face for
      the first time: careworn, anonymous. An administrator.

      Lawrence glances at his ashen reflection in the mirrored
      walls, looks away. The elevator arrives. Lawrence raises his
      chin, prepares his public face. The doors slide open to
      reveal a solid wall of MEN IN BLACK SUITS.

7     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PAPAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT                7

      The wall of SECURITY parts with difficulty and he makes his
      way through them towards the Papal Suite. White marbled
      floors. It could be a hotel, a clinic.

      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK, built like a labourer, eyes, behind his
      glasses, red from crying, comes to meet him.

                          ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
                    (Helplessly)
                Eminence...

      Lawrence takes his cheeks in his hand.

                          LAWRENCE
                Janusz, your presence made him so
                happy.

      Ahead of them a BODYGUARD steps aside and Lawrence walks on
      into...

8     INT. PAPAL SUITE - NIGHT                                      8

      Lawrence stops, surprised by the throng of people crowd ed
      into the little living room. He realises with a faint stab of
      pain, that he must have been one of the last summoned. He
      follows Wozniak through the open doors into...

9     INT. PAPAL BEDROOM - NIGHT                                    9

      The room is almost shockingly plain - a chest of drawers,
      nightstand, an anonymous bed that could be found in any
      hotel. And lying on this bed, slightly propped up on pillows,
      lies the dead Pope.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 3.


  Kneeling around the bed are the three other senior cardinals
  of the Catholic Church: ALDO BELLINI, JOSEPH TREMBLAY, JOSHUA
  ADEYEMI.

  The room is so small he has to step over the backs of their
  legs to reach the head of the bed.

  He stares down at the Pope, the expression of almost wry
  amusement on the dead man’s face.

                      ADEYEMI
            Subvenite, Sancti Dei...

  Lawrence realises they have been waiting for him to b egin the
  liturgy and hurriedly kneels, joints creaking. He glances
  back at the sitting room beyond. Everyone is kneeling, head
  bowed. He buries his face in his hands as the Nigerian
  cardinal’s deep voice reverberates in the tiny room.

                      ADEYEMI (CONT’D)
            ... occurrite, Angeli Domini,
            Suscipientes animam eius.
            Offerentes eam in conspectu
            Altissimi...

                      ALL CARDINALS
            Suscipiat te Christus qui vocavit te
            et in sinum Abrahae angeli deducant
            te.

  As the prayer continues Lawrence half-opens his eyes. His
  gaze wanders around the scene before him, as if still trying
  to comprehend what has happened...

  ...the folded spectacles on the bedside table, the scuffed
  alarm clock beside them, the simple crucifix above the bed...

  A heart-breaking detail: the wooden rim of the headboard is
  cracked, the padded panel within, fraying...

  Finally the familiar face, strangely naked without the
  customary spectacles...

  He realises Adeyemi has finished. The Cardinals recite the
  chorus.

                      ALL CARDINALS (CONT’D)
            Sicut erat in principio et nunc et
            semper et in saecula saeculorum.
            Amen.

  For a few moments the room is completely still. Then...
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 4.


                           TREMBLAY
                 He is with God.

       The Canadian Tremblay, Carmerlengo or Chamberlain - silver
       hair immaculately coiffed, the trim build of a retired
       athlete - stretches out his arms as if in blessing. Two
       ASSISTANTS hurry forward and help him up. Lawrence rises
       creakily to his feet with the other Cardinals.

                           TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                 Archbishop Wozniak.

       Wozniak edges around the bed and, sweating with
       embarrassment, struggles to pull a RING from the Pope’s hand.
       Finally he works it free and presents it to Tremblay who
       produces a pair of shears from a silver box. Grimacing with
       effort he cuts free the metal disc of St Peter from the ring.
       The snap is audible in the silent room.

                           TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                 Sede vacante. The throne of the
                 Holy See is vacant.

10     INT. PAPAL SUITE - NIGHT                                     10

       Groups of dignitaries stand in whispered conference. Lawrence
       gingerly works his way through the throng to a lone figure
       standing by the desk: the lean, ascetic frame of his friend,
       Cardinal Bellini, Secretary of State.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Joining him)
                 Aldo...

       Bellini is staring down at a little plastic travel CHESS SET
       on the desk - almost the only personal item in the bland
       room. He brushes the pieces, grouped mid-game, with a finger.

                           BELLINI
                 Do you think anyone would m ind if I
                 took this, Thomas? As a keepsake?

                           LAWRENCE
                 Of course. Take it. He would have
                 wanted you to have it.

                            BELLINI
                 We used to play quite often at the
                 end of the day. He said it helped
                 him relax.

                            LAWRENCE
                 Who won?
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 5.


                            BELLINI
                  Oh, he did. Always eight moves
                  ahead.

        His eyes suddenly fill with tears. Moved, Lawrence takes his
        arm.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Ah, Aldo, I’m so sorry. What
                  happened, do you know?

                            BELLINI
                  They say heart attack. There had
                  been warnings.

        Lawrence blinks in surprise.

                            LAWRENCE
                  I hadn’t heard that.

                            BELLINI
                  He didn’t want anyone to know. He
                  thought if word got out they would
                  start spreading rumours he was
                  going to resig n.

        Lawrence is trying not to show his hurt at being excluded.
        Bellini mistakes his silence for puzzlement.

                             BELLINI (CONT’D)
                      (Quietly)
                  The Curia.

        Lawrence nods, rouses himself to action. Tremblay, across the
        room, is watching.

                             LAWRENCE
                  We’ll have to be careful what we
                  say to the media about his
                  condition.

10A     INT. PAPAL SUITE - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT                  10A

        Lawrence and Bellini find Wozniak sitting alone in the dark.
        Lawren ce addresses him gently.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Janusz, I know this is hard for
                  you, but we’ll need to prepare a
                  detailed statement. Who discovered
                  the Holy Father’s body?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 6.


                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            I did, Your Eminence.

                      LAWRENCE
            Well, thank God, that’s something.
            What did you do?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            I called the Holy Father’s doctor.
            He always spent the night in the
            room next door. But... it was too
            late.

                      LAWRENCE
            What time was this?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            Around eleven thirty, Eminence.
                (Off Thomas' surprise)
            I would have called you sooner,
            but...

  Wozniak shrugs helplessly. Tremblay arriv es just in time at
  the door.

                      TREMBLAY
            Thomas, I’m so sorry. I know His
            Holiness had no closer colleagues
            than you and Aldo... But I asked
            Janusz to hold off calling you.
            I... I wanted to ascertain all the
            facts.

                      LAWRENCE
            Well, I’m sure you acted for the
            best.

                      TREMBLAY
                (walking towards them)
            The way rumours can spread. One and
            a quarter billion souls watching.

  He draws a document from his cassock. Belli ni sits down next
  to Wozniak.

                      TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
            I’ve prepared a time-line of His
            Holiness’ last day.

  Lawrence examines it. He suddenly feels the bulk of Adeyemi,
  Cardinal Major Penitentiary or confessor-in-chief - at his
  shoulder. Tremblay passes them more sheets.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 7.


                      TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
            The Holy Father’s most recent
            medical records. He had an
            angiogram last month.

  Lawrence is holding the x-ray to the light, staring in
  silence, struck that he is looking at the very heart of the
  man he revered.

                      TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                (Pointing)
            You can see the evidence of a
            blockage...just here.

  Lawrence and Bellini share a look - a flinch of distress.

                      LAWRENCE
            Joe, perhaps...perhaps we could
            release the data, but not the
            photograph? It feels too...too....

  Tremblay inclines his head sympathetically.

                      TREMBLAY
            I know, Thomas, I know. But there
            will have to be an autopsy.

  Adeyemi is still scanning the time-line.

                       ADEYEMI
            The ti me before Vespers? What was
            he doing then?

                      TREMBLAY
            Routine meetings as far as I
            understand it.

                      ADEYEMI
            Who was the last to have a
            scheduled meeting with him?

                      TREMBLAY
            I believe that may have been me. I
            saw him at four. Is that right
            Janusz? Was I the last?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            You were, Eminence.

                      ADEYEMI
            Put in all the meetings he had that
            day. It will show how hard he was
            working, right up to the end.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 8.


                           TREMBLAY
                 That might look as if we were
                 placing a huge burden on a sick
                 man.

                           ADEYEMI
                 The Papacy is a huge burden.
                 Especially for an older man.

       Silence. A slight tension. Adeyemi is the youngest here. The
       contest has begun. Lawrence breaks the awkward silence.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Has anyone telephoned Cardinal
                 Tedesco?

       Bellini straightens and for the first time we see that
       beneath the grief there is a well of anger.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 As a courtesy.

                           BELLINI
                 Courtesy? What has he ever done to
                 deserve courtesy? If anyone can be
                 said to have killed the Holy
                 Father, he did!

                           LAWRENCE
                 I have to ring him, Aldo.

11     INT. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT                                  11

       Lawrence st eps through the open door of the SMALL OFFICE and
       dials the desk phone.

                  LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
          (Italian, To Operator)          (To Operator)
       < The Patriarch’s Palace in     Il Palazzo Patriarcale di
       Venice, please. Cardinal        Venezia, per favore. La linea
       Tedesco’s private line. >       privata del cardinale
                                       Tedesco.

       After a moment.

                           TEDESCO (O.S.)
                     (Over phone)
                 Tedesco.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 9.


             LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
     (Italian)                    Goffredo? Sono Lawrence.
  < Goffredo? It’s Lawrence.      Purtroppo devo comunicarvi
  I’m afraid I have terrible      una terribile notizia. Il
  news. The Holy Father has       Santo Padre è appena
  just passed away.>              deceduto.

  Lawrence listens to the phone. Silence. The sound of
  movement, a door closing?

             LAWRENCE (CONT’D)                LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
     (Italian)                    Eminenza?
  < Your Eminence? >

          TEDESCO (O.S.)                  TEDESCO (O.S.)
     (Beat, Italian)                 (Beat)
  < Thank you, Lawrence. I        Grazie, Lawrence. Pregherò
  shall pray for his soul. >      per la sua anima.

  He hangs up. The others watch from the doorway.

                      LAWRENCE
            He already knew.

  Tremblay takes out what appears to be a small leather bound
  prayer book - but turns out to be a mobile phone.

                      BELLINI
            Of course he knew. This place is
            full of his supporters. He probably
            knew before we did.

                      TREMBLAY
                (Checki ng his phone)
            It’s trending.
                (Off the stares of the
                 others)
            The rumours that the Pope is dead
            are trending.
                (A further, smiling,
                 explanation)
            On the internet. We should move
            quickly or we’ll fall behind the
            news cycle.

                      ADEYEMI
            We should wait until daylight. The
            dignity of the office requires...

                        BELLINI
            For God’s sake, Joshua. When did
            the Holy Father ever care about the
            “dignity of the office?” Look at
            h is rooms.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 10.


                           TREMBLAY
                 The body should be embalmed.
                 Remember Pius XII? Went off like a
                 firecracker in his coffin...

       Lawrence jumps slightly as Adeyemi addresses him.

                           ADEYEMI
                 Well, Dean. The responsibility for
                 the Conclave falls upon you.

       Lawrence looks up and finds the others staring at him. The
       dawning realisation of what lies ahead.

12     INT. PAPAL SUITE - BEDROOM - NIGHT                            12

       Lawrence stands, watching WOZNIAK laying a t hin white VEIL
       over the dead Pope’s face. He turns to the PRIESTS of the
       Apostolic Camera, standing waiting.

                  LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
          (Italian)                    Sigillate la stanza.
       < Seal the room. >

13     TITLES BEGIN                                                  13

       The Pope’s body is zipped into a a semi-transparent white
       body bag and heaved onto a gurney. Lawrence watches as it is
       being wheeled out into the corridor.

       The sealing of the suite begins. The door is locked. Red tap e
       is fixed on the frame. Wozniak is looking on.

       Lawrence stands in the lift. From his place at the bottom of
       the gurney, he stares fixedly down at the feet of the Pope,
       ghostly through the white plastic, curled like small
       foetuses.

       The elevator pings and the doors slide open...

       The gurney with the dead Pope is wheeled through the
       UNDERGROUND GARAGE, past a puddle of oil...a crushed
       cigarette pack...

       T he only sound is the faint squeal of the wheels, and, the
       forbidden click of phone cameras...

       The sealing of the door continues - the tape criss-crossing
       backwards and forwards, as if this was a crime-scene...

       Wax seals bearing the coat of arms of the Cardinal Camerlengo
       fix the tape ends to the frame....
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 11.


        Outside the body is loaded into the waiting ambulance....

        The final wax seal is put in place...

        ...as the ambulance drives off, the dead Pope in the body bag
        inside.


                                                          FADE OUT

        TITLE CARD: THREE WEEKS LATER. SUNDAY, 7TH NOVEMBER, EVE OF
        CONCLAVE.

                                                           FADE IN

13A     INT/EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - FACADE - MORNING                13A

        WORKMEN are fitting electronic SHUTTERS over the windo ws. The
        whine of power tools as screws are tightened into place.

13B     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BEDROOM - MORNING                   13B

        Inside the Casa a WORKMAN tests the closing of the shutters
        with a remote control. It works.

13C     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - CORRIDOR - MORNING                  13C

        More Workmen emerge from the bedrooms, each trundling a dolly
        loaded with the TELEVISIONS being removed from the rooms.

14      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - MORNING                                14

        A SPIRA L PATTERN...

        Intricate and beautiful. A mosaic floor. As we watch a wide
        red carpet is rolled across the frame, obscuring the mosaic.
        An easy-lift rises in front of the last judgement.

        CLOSE ON LAWRENCE'S FACE

        ...looking up. As we watch, a SHADOW falls over his face.

        Above him, metal panels are being fitted over the high
        windows, shutting out the daylight, obscuring the ceiling in
        near gloom.

        Lawrence stands in the chapel, watching the sealing of the
        windows unhappily.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 12.


  All around him there is teeming activity. Behind him WORKMEN
  hurriedly finish laying the temporary wooden floor. At the
  other end of the chapel carpet is being rolled over the wood,
  followed by the thunk of a nail gun.

  ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF, Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations,
  (60’s, German), stands beside him, clipboard in hand.

                      ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
            Security say they’d like to test
            the electronic jammers one last
            time, your Eminence.

                      LAWRENCE
            Then they’d better be quick.
                (Of the windows)
            Is this really necessary, Willi?

                      ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
            Apparently so. Security say...
                (reading, slightly
                 mystified)
            ...eavesdroppers can use lasers to
            “read the vibrations on the glass?”

                      LAWRENCE
            Let’s hope none of our brothers
            suffer from claustrophobia. Who
            knows how long we’ll have to be in
            here.

  Lawrence stares around him at the chaos.

                       LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                (shouting over the racket)
            I assume we are going to finish in
            time?

                      ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
            They will work through the night if
            they have to. It will be fine,
            Eminence. It always is. Italy, you
            know.

  Lawrence nods, pats the German’s arm.

                      LAWRENCE
            Sorry to fuss.

  He walks to one of the long tables along the length of the
  chapel. On it Monsignor O’ Malley and some assistants are
  setting up Bible, prayer book, pens and pencils, a ballot
  paper and long list of names of the 107 cardinals eligible to
  vote for the next Pope.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 13.


  MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY, Secretary of the College of Cardinals,
  (Irish, 40’s) joins them.

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            Well, Eminence, I’d say this is a
            pretty fair vision of hell.

                      LAWRENCE
            Don’t be blasphemous, Ray. Hell
            arrives tomorrow when we bring in
            the cardinals.

  He examines the list of names.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                (Of a name)
            How on earth does one pronounce
            this? Salso?

                      ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
            Kahl-koh, Eminence. He’s Indian.

                      LAWR ENCE
            Kahl-koh. Thank you Willi.

  He sits, testing the cushion, wondering if it will offer
  comfort for the elderly men who will soon be using them.

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            Archbishop Wozniak has asked if he
            may have a word, Eminence?

  Lawrence stands again, prods the cushion.

                      LAWRENCE
            I don’t think that’s possible. The
            cardinals will begin arriving in an
            hour. What’s it about?

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            He didn’t say. (B eat). I wouldn’t
            have mentioned it but he seemed
            so...upset?

  Lawrence frowns at him.

                      LAWRENCE
            We’re going to be sequestered from
            six o’clock. He should have come
            earlier.

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            Yes, your Eminence. I’ll tell him.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 13A.


  He starts to leave. Lawrence considers.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 14.


                            LAWRENCE
                  Ray? Tell him I’ll see him after
                  I’ve met the cardinals. The poor
                  fellow will be worrying about his
                  future.

        O’Malley nods and leaves.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                      (Wryly)
                  Getting puffed up with my own
                  importance, Willi.

        He holds out a hand for Mandorff to help him stand.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                      (Rising with a wince)
                  The Conclave will be over in a few
                  days and then no-one will be
                  interested in me.

        A DRILL starts nearby, the sound deafening in the chapel.
        Lawrence winces, feels a headache coming on.

15      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - ANTECHAMBER - MORNING                  15

        Behind the altar of the chapel Lawrence descends a set of
        stairs. He crosses a narrow sacristy to descend into a small
        room.

15A     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - ROOM OF TEARS - MORNING               15A

        Lawrence closes the door, muffling the sound of the work
        beyond. He stands for a moment, savouring the relative pe ace.
        He finds himself staring at the THRONE, on which the newly-
        elected Pontiff will sit. He crosses to a clothes rail and
        brushes a hand along the row of cellophane wrapped papal
        cassocks.

        The door opens and Bellini slips in, closing the door behind
        him.

                            BELLINI
                  Shelter from the Storm.

        Lawrence smiles, examines one of the cassocks.

                            BELLINI (CONT’D)
                  Dear Lord, that’s enormous.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 15.


                      LAWRENCE
            Apparently Pope John the Twenty-
            Third was too fat to fit into the
            biggest cassock. They had to split
            the seam in the back for him to get
            into it.

  He picks up a pair of shoes, slip-ons in red leather.

                      BELLINI
            You look tired.

                       LAWRENCE
            All this... it’s a duty I never
            thought I’d have to perform.
                (Beat)
            I always assumed he would out-live
            us all.

  To his surprise he finds himself continuing....

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            We... we didn’t part well.

  He stares at the shoes to avoid Bellini’s gaze.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            I asked for his permission to
            retire as Dean. Join an order. I
            have been having... difficulties.

                       BELLINI
                (Beat)
            What did he say?

                      LAWRENCE
            He refused my resignation. Said
            that some were chosen to be
            Shepherds, and some to manage the
            farm. Apparently, I’m a manager.

  He gives Bellini a crooked, painful smile.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            Things were a little cold between
            us when I left. (Beat). And that
            was the last time I saw him.

  Bellini hesitates. Then...

                      BELLINI
            The Holy Father told me of your...
            crisis of faith. He said you had
            difficulties with prayer.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 16.


       Lawrence feels shocked, obscurely betrayed.

                           BELLINI (CONT’D)
                 You know that he had doubts
                 himself, by the end?

                           LAWRENCE
                 The Pope had doubts about God?

                           BELLINI
                 Never about God. What he had lost
                 faith in was the Church.

       The two friends stare at each other.

16     I/E. MINIBUS - MORNING                                       16

       A group of NUNS, wearing blue habit, sit on a minibus, the
       walls of the Vatican outside the window. In their midst a
       woman with an arist ocratic air - SISTER AGNES.

17     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PARKING - MORNING                    17

       As the buses park inside the Vatican the NUNS descend and
       walk up to the Casa.

18     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY - DAY                          18

       The line of NUNS are entering the building.

19     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BACK OFFICE - DAY                    19

       Sister Agnes arrives in her office. She puts down her bag and
       takes off her coat, glances at the plan for the day. In the
       corner a canary in a cage. Sister Agnes walks over and feeds
       it.

20     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD - DAY                      20

       Lawrence stands, wrapped in a winter coat against the cold,
       on the steps of the Casa, staring up at the sky. He is
       flanked again by O’Malley and Mandorff, other members of
       staff hovering beside them. For a moment LAWRENCE listens to
       the faint sound of thousands of voices outside on the
       streets, drums echoing.

                           ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                 Here they come, Your Eminence.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 17.


       He’s talking about the group of cardinals who are now passing
       the gate into the courtyard, crossing towards him. They are
       accompanied by two Security Guards, and the clatter of their
       wheeled suitcases. As they approach Lawrence opens his arms.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Brothers, welcome.

                           CARDINAL MENDOZA
                 Are we criminals now? Searched?
                 Luggage opened...

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Taking his hands)
                 I’m so sorry, Your Eminence, but we
                 are told there is a heightened
                 state of security.

       CARDINAL MENDOZA shows Lawrence his sleeve.

                           CARDINAL MENDOZA
                     (In disgust)
                 And look at this. Spat upon. The
                 Protestors. We’re all paedophiles
                 now, apparently.
                     (Dropping his voice)
                 Don Tutino?

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Quietly)
                 Will not be attending.

       Mendoza nods grimly and walks on.

21     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD - LATER                  21

       In MONTAGE we see further arrivals: The Africans led by the
       magisterial Adeyemi, pointing out this building and that to
       his party, like a proprietor. From the Eastern Ministries,
       the Archbishops of Lebanon and Antioch. From India the
       Archbishops of Trivandrum, Ernakulam-Angamaly and...

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Pronouncing carefully)
                 Eminence Khal-Koh, welcome!

       Lawrence shakes his hand in the staircase.

       Back in the courtyard Tremblay arrives at the same time as
       the ove r-weight CARDINAL GUTTOSO. He has his choir dress in a
       dry-cleaning bag slung over his shoulder, a Nike sports bag
       swinging in the other. He raises both hands to indicate he
       cannot shake.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 18.


                            TREMBLAY
                 Thomas!

       Guttoso, in contrast has an assistant struggling behind him
       with his three, huge cases. As he waddles past Lawrence and
       Tremblay exchange a look.

                           TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                     (Of the cases)
                 Is he smuggling in his private
                 Chef?

22     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD - AFTERNOON               22

       THE SKY -- the drone of a helicopter, either security or
       media, hidden from our sight by the low cloud cover.

       ON LAWRENCE

       ...staring up at the clouds, listening to the sinister hum.
       He turns back to Mandorff and O’Malley who are waiting with
       him in the cold. It’s getting dark now.

                           LAWRENCE
                 How many is that, Willi?

                           ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                 One hundred and three, Eminence.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I wonder where Tedesco has got to.

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                 Perhaps he isn’t coming?

                           LAWRENCE
                 That would be too much to hope for.

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                     (Of the cold)
                 We can wait inside if you prefer?

                           LAWRENCE
                 No, let’s get some fresh air while
                 we still can.

       He notices Bellini striding towards them and descends the
       steps to greet his friend.

                           BELLINI
                 Am I the last?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 19.


                      LAWRENCE
            Not quite. How are you?

                      BELLINI
            Oh fairly dreadful. You’ve seen the
            papers? Apparently it’s already
            decided it’s to be me.

                      LAWRENCE
            And I happen to agree with them.

                      BELLINI
            What if I don’t want it? No sane
            man would want the papacy.

                      LAWRENCE
            Some of our colleagues seem to.

                      BELLINI
            But what if I know in my heart I’m
            not worthy?

                      LAWRENCE
            You’re more worthy than any of us.

                       BELLINI
            I’m not.

                       LAWRENCE
            Then... t ell your supporters not to
            vote for you. Pass the chalice...

  Bellini looks past him, his expression hardening.

                      BELLINI
            And let it go to him? How am I to
            live with myself if I don’t try to
            stop him?

  He walks towards the Casa Santa Marta as Lawrence turns to
  face the newcomer: TEDESCO, the Patriarch of Venice. He looks
  like a retired butcher, broken-nosed, the physique of a bull.

             TEDESCO                         TEDESCO
  < Apologies, Lawr ence. My      Chiedo scusa, Lawrence. Il
  train was delayed in Venice.>   mio treno era in ritardo a
                                  Venezia.

             LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
     (Italian)                    Padre Tedesco. Ci siete
  < Father Tedesco. We’ve         mancato.
  missed you. >

  Tedesco laughs.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 20.


                    TEDESCO                        TEDESCO
           (Italian)                    Non c'è dubbio. Ma non
        < No doubt. But don’t worry,    preoccupatevi, i miei amici -
        my friends have kept me well    how do you say - mi hanno
        informed. >                     tenuto ben informato.

        Lawrence, refusing to be goaded, keeps his smile in place.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (Italian)                    State bene?
        < Are you well? >

                    TEDESCO                        TEDESCO
           (Italian)                    Ah, no-one is ever well at
        < Ah, no-one is ever well at    our age. Come vi trovate con
        our age. How have you found     le vostre nuove
        your new responsibilitie s?     responsabilità? Avete tutto
        You have everything under       sotto controllo?
        control? >

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
        < I believe so. >               Credo di sì.

                    TEDESCO                         TEDESCO
        < Good. >                       Bene.
           (To a waiting assistant)        (a un assistente)
        < Stop hovering. I carry my     Smettetela di stare in
        own bag. >                      agguato. La porto io la mia
                                        borsa.

        Lawrence watches him stump on to the entrance. He offers up a
        quiet prayer.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Heavenly Father, Bless this
                  Conclave, and guide it in Wisdom.

        From above the drone of the helicopter is heard again.

22A     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BEDROOMS - EVENING                  22A

        The NUNS glide silently around the rooms. Beds are turned
        down, pillows smoothed.

22B     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BATHROOM - EVENING                  22B

        Little packets of toiletries are placed by the NUNS.

22C     OMITTED                                                     22C
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 21.

23     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - SECURITY GATE - EVENING              23

       The surreal sight of cardinals handing in their mobile phones
       at reception, queueing to pass through a METAL DETECTOR.
       Sister Agnes watches over the process.

                SISTER AGNES                     SISTER AGNES
          (Italian)                     Anche l'iPad, Eminenza.
       < The iPad too, your
       Eminence. >

24     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - STORAGE ROOM - EVENING               24

       A NUN is placing the confiscated MOBILE PHONES and devices
       into dockets, each in a labelled plastic bag.

25     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - HALLWAY - EVENING                    25

       Lawrence walks quickly with Monsignor O’Malley, both trailed
       by the young chaplain, FATHER HAAS.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Impatient)
                 Where is he?

                           O’MALLEY
                 The meeting room, Your Eminence.

                  LAWRENCE          *              LAWRENCE
          (handing coat and scarf       Me li porta di sopra, per
          to Haas; Italian)             favore?
       Will you take these upstairs
       for me?

                            O’MALLEY
                 Do you w ant me to sit in?

                           LAWRENCE
                 No, no, I’ll deal with it.

26     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - MEETING ROOM - EVENING               26

       He opens the door to the room and finds Wozniak with his back
       to him at the far end of the room, staring at the wall.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Closing the door after
                      him)
                 Janusz?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 21A.


  Wozniak turns, looking ashen. He’s been drinking. He sinks to
  his knees, makes the sign of the cross.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 22.


                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            In the name of the Father, the Son
            and the Holy Ghost. My last
            confession was four weeks ago...

  Lawrence walks to him, a little irritated.

                      LAWRENCE
                (Helping him up)
            Janusz, Janusz, I’m sorry I don’t
            have time to hear your confession.
            There is so much still to do.

  Wozniak sinks into a chair. Wipes sweat from his face with
  trembling hands. Lawrence examines him in surprise.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            Have you been drinking?

  Wozniak looks at him, wretched. Lawrence sighs inwardly.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            What’s troubling you? Tell me.

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            I should have come to you before.
            But I promised I wouldn’t say
            anything.

                      LAWRENCE
            Promised who?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            Cardinal Tremblay.

  Lawrence feels an instinctive stab of alarm, his natural
  aversion to secrets. Almost without realising it, he is
  drifting back towards the door.

                      LAWRENCE
            Janusz, the doors close soon and
            you’ll have to leave. Now if you
            promised Father Tremblay then
            perhaps it isn’t right for you
            to...

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
                (Blurting)
            The day the Pope died, the last
            person to have an official
            appointment with him was Cardinal
            Tremblay.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 23.


                      LAWRENCE
                (Impatient)
            Yes, I know. It’s on the official
            timeline for...

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            At that meeting, the Holy Father
            dismissed him from all his offices
            in the Church.

  That stops Lawrence in his tracks.

                         LAWRENCE
            What?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            He sacked him.

  Lawrence stares at him. He starts to speak, stops, dimly
  aware that he feels anger - anger at being burdened with
  this.

                         LAWRENCE
                   (Tight)
            Why?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZ NIAK
            For gross misconduct.

  Lawrence stares at him, staggered.

                      LAWRENCE
            You...you tell me this now? We are
            about to be sequestered and...

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            Forgive me! But it wasn’t until the
            last few days, when I started to
            hear the rumours...

                      LAWRENCE
                (Sharply)
            What rumours?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            That he might be elected Pope.

                      LAWRENCE
            And you see it as your duty to
            prevent that, do you?

                       ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            I no l onger know what my duty is.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 24.


  It’s said with such obvious sincerity, such misery, that
  Lawrence feels ashamed of his anger. He sits.

                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            Were you there at this meeting?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            No, Your Eminence. The Holy Father
            told me about it afterwards, when
            we had supper.

                      LAWRENCE
            Did he tell you why he had
            dismissed Father Tremblay?

                       ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            No. He said the reasons would
            become clear soon enough. He was
            very angry .

  Lawrence feels a brief flare of hope that he could be lying,
  but dismisses it quickly.

                      LAWRENCE
            Does anyone else know about this?

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
            Monsignor Morales was at the
            meeting.

                      LAWRENCE
            Why hasn’t he mentioned anything to
            me? He was there in the apartment
            with us the night the Holy Father
            died.

                      ARCHBISHOP WOZNIAK
                (Tearing up)
            After the Holy Father... after ...
                (unable to say it)
            I went to see M onsignor Morales to
            tell him what the Pope had said but
            he was very firm. He said there had
            been no dismissal and that the Holy
            Father had not been his usual self
            in the last weeks. He said I
            shouldn’t raise the subject again.
            But... it’s not right, Eminence.
            God tells me it’s not right.

  Lawrence stands, pained, one word in his mind. Scandal.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 25.

27     OMITTED                                                      27


28     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY - NIGHT                        28

       Only the ground floor is now lit, like an aquarium. Lawrence
       stands at the entrance in the green light, watching Wozniak
       as he walks away. Wozniak raises a hand in awkward farewell
       then walks on, as shutters rattle their way down over the
       windows, shutting out the world. A SECURITY GUARD closes and
       locks the main door.

       It is beginning.

29     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - KITCHENS - NIGHT                     29

       The kitchen is crowded with NUNS busy preparing the evening
       meal for the 107 cardinals. Despite their number, the
       atmosphere is hushed, each focussed on her task.

30     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - NIGHT                  30

       The NUNS are laying the tables for the evening meal.

       SISTER AGNES inspects the placement of the silverware,
       correcting it with military precision.

31     INT. CASA SANTA MAR TA - STAIRCASE - NIGHT                   31

       Lawrence is walking up the stairs, eager to get to his room.
       Behind him O’Malley calls out from reception.

                           MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                 Your Eminence...

       O’Malley hurries over. The usually cheerful Irishman looks
       disconcerted. He hesitates.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Oh dear God, one of them’s died.

                            MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                 What?

                           LAWRENCE
                 Have we lost a Cardinal?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 26.


                       MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            No, Your Eminence. We seem to have
            acquired one.
                (Off Lawrence’s stern
                 face)
            I mean it literally, Eminence.
            Another cardinal has just turned
            up.

  Lawrence stares at him. The day is turning into a nightmare.
  O’Malley leads him up the staircase.

                      LAWRENCE
            If we’ve left someone off the
            list...

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            He was never on our lists. He says
            he was created in pectore.

                        LAWRENCE
                 (Beat)
            He h as to be an imposter, surely?

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            That’s what I thought, Eminence.
            But Archbishop Mandorff has spoken
            to him and thinks not.

  O’Malley guides him up the stairs towards Mandorff who stands
  with two NUNS. They take in his expression and quickly glide
  away.

                      LAWRENCE
            What’s this I’m hearing?

                      ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                (Shaken)
            His name is Vincent Benitez,
            Eminence. He’s the Archbishop of
            Kabul.

  Lawre nce almost double-takes.

                      LAWRENCE
            Archbishop of where?

                      ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
            Kabul. He’s Mexican. The Holy
            Father appointed him last year.

                      LAWRENCE
            Last year? And how has this been
            kept a secret?
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 27.


                           ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                 I thought, perhaps, you would be
                 aware of his elevation.

                           LAWRENCE
                 No. I am not.

       He feels the nervous gazes of the others on him and gets
       control of himself.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 Ray, ask Father Bellini to join us.
                 Perhaps he knew of this.

       O’Malley hurries off.

                            ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                 He has a letter of appointment from
                 the Pope addressed to the
                 archdiocese of Kabul, which they
                 kept secret at the Hol y Father’s
                 request.
                     (Beat)
                 You don’t think he could have
                 forged it?

       Lawrence sighs.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Where is he now?

32     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - KITCHEN STORAGE - NIGHT              32

       We’re looking at a slim man dressed in a somewhat shabby
       plain black attire with no skull cap. This is BENITEZ. He
       sits on a plastic chair, rosary in hand.

       Lawrence, Bellini, Mandorff and O’Malley watch him through
       the glass wall of the room.

                           BEL LINI
                 A cardinal in Afghanistan? It’s
                 absurd. How many catholics are
                 there in Afghanistan?

       Lawrence gestures to the LETTER he’s holding.

                            LAWRENCE
                 He was the Head of the Catholic
                 Mission there until his...
                 elevation.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 28.


                           BELLINI
                 The Americans will be appalled. How
                 could we possibly ensure his
                 safety?

                            LAWRENCE
                 Presumably that’s why the Holy
                 Father wanted it kept secret.
                     (Beat)
                 Well it won’t be in pectore now. I
                 don’t think we have any choice but
                 to admit him.

       He moves to enter the office but Bellini takes his arm. He
       stops, turns to Bellini, who seems as surprised as him at his
       intervention. For a moment the Italian con tinues to stare at
       the newcomer. It’s as if there’s something about Benitez that
       Bellini finds obscurely troubling. Then...

                           BELLINI
                     (Quietly)
                 Must we?
                     (Off Thomas' puzzled look)
                 Are we sure the Holy Father was
                 entirely... competent to make this
                 appointment?

       Lawrence stares at him, thinking back to Wozniak’s words,
       tempted by the explanation of mental confusion... Bellini
       misreads the silence as disapproval.

                           BELLINI (CONT’D)
                 Papal infallibility covers
                 doctrine. It does not extend to
                 appointments.

                            LAWRENCE
                     (Beat)
                 That man is leg ally a cardinal,
                 Aldo. He has a right to take part
                 in the election.

33     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - KITCHEN OFFICE - NIGHT              33

       Benitez stands as LAWRENCE and Bellini walk in.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Welcome to the Vatican, Archbishop.
                 I’m Father Lawrence, Dean of the
                 College. This is Father Bellini.
                 I’m sorry you’ve had to wait. We
                 had to make checks I’m afraid.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 29.


  Benitez smoothes a lock of dark hair back from his rather
  boyish face.

                      BENITEZ
            It is I who must apologise for such
            an unexpected entrance.

                      BELLINI
                (Reluctantly)
            Archbishop, forgive me, but I have
            to say I think you’ve made a
            mistake coming here.

                      BENITEZ
            Why is that, Your Eminence?

  Bellini looks between the two men - isn’t it obvious?

                      BELLINI
            I would have thought the position
            of Christians in Central Asia w as
            perilous enough without you having
            been made a cardinal and showing
            yourself in Rome.

                      BENITEZ
            I’m aware of the risks.

                      BELLINI
            But now you’re here I don’t see how
            you expect to go back.

                      BENITEZ
            I’ll go back. And face the
            consequences of my faith, like so
            many others.

  Bellini tilts a head, as if to say - charming but naive.

                      BELLINI
            Your return will have diplomatic
            repercussions and therefore will
            not, necessarily, be your decision.

                      BENITEZ
                (Mildly)
            Nor yours, Eminence. It will be a
            decision for the next Pope.

  Bellini opens his mouth and closes it again. Lawrence
  examines the fragile looking man, reevaluating. He’s tougher
  than he looks.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 30.


                           LAWRENCE
                 Well, the first thing is to find
                 you a room. Where’s your luggage?

                           BENITEZ
                 I don’t have any.

                              LAWRENCE
                 None?

                           BENITEZ
                 I thought it best to go to the
                 airport empty-handed, to disguise
                 my intentions.

                              LAWRENCE
                        (Recovering)
                 Ray?

       O’Malley pops his head in.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 His Eminence will require
                 toiletries, some clean clothes, and
                 choir dress of course.
                      (To Benitez)
                 Monsignor O’Malley will look after
                 you.

       Looking suddenly exhausted, Benitez follows O’Malley out of
       the office. Lawrence glances at Bellini, a little puzzled by
       his friend’s faint hostility. Bellini shrugs, as if a little
       puzzled himself.

                           BELLINI
                     (Half-apologetic)
                 It’s just so...irregular.

34     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - CORRIDOR - NIGHT                     34

       Lawrence walks down the corridor to his room and finds
       Adeyemi approaching from the other end. He raises a hand in
       g reeting. Both stop at the mid-point of the corridor.

                           LAWRENCE
                 We’re neighbours, Joshua.

                           ADEYEMI
                 It seems so.

       They stand smiling, slightly awkwardly, key cards in hand.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 31.


                           LAWRENCE
                     (making conversation)
                 I thought - a little more work on
                 my homily for tomorrow...

                           ADEYEMI
                 Ah, yes of course... I look forward
                 to it.
                     (Mock conspiratorial)
                 I understand the trick is to offend
                 no-one.

       He chuckles at his own joke.

                            ADEYEMI (CONT’D)
                 Well...

       They nod to each other and both go into their rooms.

35     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE'S ROOM - NIGHT              35

       Lawrence sits, back to us, hunched over the small de sk,
       staring at the shuttered window in front of him, lost in
       thought.

       From the next room, through the thin walls, he hears the
       sound of coughing, a toilet flushing...

       He stirs, picks up his pen and resumes work on his sermon.

36     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE'S BATHROOM - NIGHT          36

       CLOSE ON LAWRENCE - staring at us.

                  LAWRENCE                         LAWRENCE
          (Italian)                     I nostri ultimi Papi sono
       < Our recent Popes have all      stati tutti instancabili
       been tireless promoters of       promotori di pace e
       peace and co-oper ation at the   cooperazione a livello
       international level. Let us      internazionale. Preghiamo che
       pray that the future Pope        il futuro Papa continui
       will continue this ceaseless     questa incessante opera di
       work of charity and love... >    carità e amore...

       We realise Lawrence is practicing his sermon in his BATHROOM,
       before the m irror.

       He stops, feels a twinge of contempt for its bland tone.

       He puts the sermon aside, examines the cheap little plastic
       wrapped package of razor, tooth brush and toothpaste, fumbles
       with it for a moment.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 32.


       He finally rips it open and its contents fall to the floor.
       Lawrence sighs, examines his reflection again for a moment.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 You’re a manager.
                     (Beat)
                 Manage.

37     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - NIGHT               37

       CLOSE ON SISTER AGNES

       ...a watchful silent presence, as ever. She monitors the nuns
       as they fan through the...

       ...LARGE ROOM running down one side of the lobby. White
       marble floors, tables set for dinner, the din of conversation
       from the assembled cardinals. It could be a business
       convention.

       Her gaze lands on the Americans seated at one table, talking
       loudly. Tremblay in the middle, joking and laughing with
       them.

       Lawrence takes a knife and glass and raps it for attention.
       The room gradually falls silent except for Cardinal
       KRASINSKI, the arch-conservative Archbishop Emeritus of
       Chicago who continues speaking loudly until he is hushed by
       his neighbours, and adjusts his hearing-aid, resulting in an
       electronic howl that causes them to wince.

       Benitez standing alone, apart.

                            LAWRENCE
                 Your Eminences, before we eat I
                 should like to introduce a new
                 member of our order, whose
                 existence was not known to any of
                 us until a few hours ago.
                      (Raising a hand to the
                       stir of surprise)
                 This is because our brother was
                 made a cardinal by a perfectly
                 legitimate procedure known as
                 creation in pectore. The reason why
                 it had to be done this way is known
                 only to God and to the late Holy
                 Father. But I think we can guess
                 well enough as our new brother’s
                 ministry is an extremely dangerous
                 one.
                            (MORE)
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 33.
                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            It has not been an easy journey for
            him to join us but now, by the
            Grace of God a brotherhood of one
            hundred and seven has become one
            hundred and eight. Welcome to our
            order, Vincent Benitez, Cardinal
            Archbishop of Kabul.

  A general sense of mystification from his audience. He begins
  to applaud and for a painful moment he is the only one
  clapping. Gradually the others join in.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            Would you bles s our meal, Eminence?

  Benitez looks alarmed at the prospect but nods. The cardinals
  lower their heads, eyes closed.

                      BENITEZ
            Bless us, O Lord, and these Your
            gifts which we are about to receive
            from Your bounty.

  Several of the cardinals begin to make the sign of the cross,
  presuming this is the end.

              BENITEZ (CONT’D)                BENITEZ (CONT’D)
     (in Spanish)                 Bendice también a todos
  Bless too, all those who        aquellos que no pueden
  cannot share this meal. And     compartir esta comida con
  help us, O Lord, as we eat      nosotros. Y, mientras comemos
  and drink, to remember the      y bebemos, ayúdanos Señor a
  hungry, the thirsty, the sick   recordar a los que pasan
  and the lonely, and those       hambre, a los que están
  sisters who prepared this       sedientos, a los enfermos y a
  food for us. Through Christ     los que están solos, y a las
  Our Lord, Amen.                 herma nas que nos han
                                  preparado esta comida. Por      *
                                  Cristo Nuestro Señor, Amén.

  A rumble of Amens and the Sisters begin to serve the meal.
  Lawrence leads Benitez over to a table with Asian cardinals
  then heads on himself towards Bellini.

              TEDESCO                        TEDESCO
     (Italian)                    Decano!
  < Dean! >

  With dismay Lawrence finds himself beside the Patriarch of
  Venice’s table. Tedesco indicates an empty seat.

              TEDESCO (CONT’D)               TEDESCO (CONT’D)
     (Italian)                    Prendete del vino.
  < Take s ome wine. >
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 33A.


  Lawrence reluctantly sits and accepts the glass. Tedesco
  observes him as he continues to eat with gusto.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 34.


              TEDESCO (CONT’D)                   TEDESCO (CONT’D)
     (Italian)                       Sembrate ansioso. E non
  < You look anxious. And we         abbiamo nemmeno iniziato.
  haven’t even begun yet. >             (Chewing)
     (Chewing)                       Our new brother.. ho capito
  < Our new brother...did I          bene? ”Afghanistan”?
  hear correctly? Afghanistan?>

             LAWRENCE                          LAWRENCE
     (Italian)                    Sì.
  < I did. >

  He looks around the dining room.

              LAWRENCE (CONT’D)                 LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
     (Italian)                       Una meravigliosa
  < A marvellous testament to        testimonianza della Chiesa
  the Universal Church, don’t        universale, non crede? Tanti
  you think ? So many men of         uomini di culture e razze
  different cultures, races,         diverse, legati dalla fede in
  bound together by their faith      Dio.
  in God. >

  Tedesco grunts in amusement as he eats.

              TEDESCO                         TEDESCO
     (Italian)                    Guardate bene. Notate come         *
  < Look again. Notice how        tutti hanno gravitato intorno
  everyone has gravitated to      ai loro connazionali. Noi
  their fellow countrymen.        i taliani di qua... gli
  Italians over here... Spanish   spagnoli di là... gli inglesi
  speakers ther e...English       di là... ‘divided by               *
  there... Divided by language.   language’. Quando eravamo
  When we were boys and the       ragazzi e la Messa tridentina
  Tridentine Mass was still the   era ancora la liturgia del
  liturgy of the world - we       mondo, avremmo parlato tutti
  would all have been speaking    latino. Ma poi i vostri
  Latin. But then your fellow     colleghi liberali hanno
  liberals insisted we get rid    insistito perché ci
  of that “dead” language. You    liberassimo di quella lingua
  say “Universal” Church, but     "morta". Lei dice “universal       *
  we have become a                church”, ma semmai siamo           *
  confederation at best. >        diventati una confederazione.

                      LAWRENCE
                (in English)
            The church i s evolving, Goffredo.

                      TEDESCO
                (in English)
            Disintegrating.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 34A.


  Tedesco’s fellow traditionalists at the table are staring
  stonily at Lawrence, as if holding him personally
  responsible.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 35.


                   TEDESCO (CONT’D)                TEDESCO (CONT’D)
          (Italian)                    Un altro Santo Padre come
       < Another Holy Father like      l'ultimo e la nostra Madre
       the last one and our Mother     Chiesa cesserà di esistere.
       the Church will cease to        Senza Roma, senza la
       exist. Without Rome, without    tradizione di Roma...
       the tradition of Rome... >         (changes to English)
          (changes to English)         ... “things fall apart, the
       ... “things fall apart, the     centre cannot hold.”
       centre cannot hold.”


                           LAWRENCE
                 So... what? The next Pope must be
                 Italian?

                   TEDESCO                        TEDESCO
          (Italian)                    Sono più di quarant'anni che
       < We haven’t had an Italian     non abbiamo un Papa italiano.
       Pope for more than forty        Può seriamente immaginare
       years. Can you seriously        l’alternativa? Abyssus          *
       imagine the alternative? >      abyssum invocat.

       His gaze slides to the table of African cardinals, Adeyemi in
       the middle. This is too much.

                  LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
          (Italian)                    Scusatemi, devo fare il giro
       < Excuse me. I must circulate   tra i nostri Confratelli.
       amongst our colleagues. >

       He stands, bows his head to the circle of hostile faces and
       walks off.

38     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - AULA - NIGHT                      38

       Lawrence sits with Bellini and his circle of liberal
       supporters, having a coffee after their meal.

                            LAWRENCE
                 I’ll give him this, he clearly has
                 no i ntention of tempering his views
                 to win votes.

                           CARDINAL SABBADIN
                 It was shrewd of him to stay away
                 from Rome until today. One
                 outspoken newspaper interview could
                 have written Tedesco off. Instead,
                 he will do well tomorrow, I think.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Define “well.”
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 36.


  Sabbadin rocks his head from side to side, appraising.

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN
            I’d say he’s worth fifteen votes in
            the first ballot.

                      LAWRENCE
            And your man?

  Bellini looks pained as Sabbadin studies him in the same
  thoughtful way.

                      BELLINI
            Why do I feel like a cow being
            priced by the farmer?

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN
                (Ignoring this)
            First ballot? Between twenty and
            twenty-five. But it’s tomorrow
            night that the real work b egins.
            Somehow we have to get him a two-
            thirds majority.

                      BELLINI
            By real work, you mean - what,
            exactly?

                      CARDINAL LANDOLFI
            Your Eminence, those who seek the
            papacy...

                      BELLINI
                (Irritated)
            I don’t “seek” the papacy. I...

  He is interrupted as the door opens and a Sister comes to
  pick up a tray of empty coffee cups. The men sit in
  uncomfortable silence until the nun has moved on.

                      CARDINAL VILLANUEVA
            Listen you don’t have to do
            anything, leave it to us. But if
            they ask us what you stand for...?

                      BELLINI
            Tell them I stand for a common-
            sense approach to issues such as
            gays, or divorce. Tell them I stand
            for never returning to the days of
            the Latin liturgy, families of ten
            children because Mamma and Papa
            know no better.
                      (MORE)
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 37.
                           BELLINI (CONT’D)
                 It was an ugly, repressive time and
                 I’m glad it’s over. Tell them I
                 stand for respecting other faiths,
                 tolerating other views within our
                 own Church. And tell them I believe
                 women should play more of a role
                 within the Curia...

       Sabbadin winces, sucks his teeth.

                           CARDINAL SABBADIN
                 Let’s... let’s not mention women.

                            BELLINI
                 Brother, I have no intention of
                 concealing my views or pretending
                 to be anything oth er than I am in
                 order to try and sway any of our
                 number who are undecided. So if you
                 are going to canvas on my behalf,
                 make sure my message is clear...
                 Tell them that I stand for
                 everything Tedesco does not.
                     (Beat)
                 Now, if you’ll excuse me...

       He stands up and leaves. Sabbadin sighs, polishes his
       glasses.

                           CARDINAL SABBADIN
                 Rocco, you talk to the Americans.
                 Villanueva, I’ll leave the South
                 Americans to you. Gianmarco, you
                 take the Africans. And, obviously,
                 no mention of women.

       Lawrence watches Bellini walk away, feeling a stab of pity
       for him.

                           LAWRENCE
                 He doesn’t want this. Any of it.
                 You know that don’t you?

                           CARDINAL SABBADIN
                 Of course. That’s why I support
                 him. The men who are dangerous are
                 the ones who actively desire it.

       Lawrence ponders on this.

39     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - TREMBLAY’S ROOM - NIGHT              39

       Darkness. Silence.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 38.


  Then a door opens, a switch is flicked and Tremblay’s room
  glares into light. It’s a suite, like the Pope’s.

                      TREMBLAY
                (Letting Lawrence in)
            I’m enjoying the mystery Thomas but
            I suppose you should tell me what
            you want to talk about?

  Lawrence hesitates, but the sooner he gets this over with the
  sooner they can put it behind them.

                      LAWRENCE
            Your last meeting with the Holy
            Father.

                      TREMBLAY
            Uhuh? What about it?

                      LAWRENCE
            I’ve been told it was difficult.
            Was it?

                      TREMBLAY
                (Surprised)
            Difficult? No? Not that I can
            recall.

  Lawrence hesitates again.

                      LAWRENCE
            I’m sorry to have to ask this, Joe,
            but... To be specific, I was told
            that the Holy Father demanded your
            resignation.

  Tremblay looks genuinely shocked.

                       TREMBLAY
                (Beat)
            That’s absurd. I don’t know what...
            who told you?

                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            Archbishop Wozniak.

                       TREMBLAY
                (Beat )
            Why would he say such a thing?

                      LAWRENCE
            So, there isn’t any truth in the
            allegation?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 39.


                      TREMBLAY
            God, no, of course not! It’s
            absurd. You didn’t think...?

                      LAWRENCE
            I had to ask.

                      TREMBLAY
            No, I understand, of course. But,
            no.
                (A sudden thought)
            You can ask Monsignor Morales. He
            was at the meeting.

                      LAWRENCE
            I would but at the moment we happen
            to be sequestered.

  Tremblay shakes his head, walks to the coffee machine.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            Can you think of any reason why
            Archbishop Wozniak would circulate
            such a story?

                      TREMBLAY
            I can’t. I really...coffee?
                (Lawrence shakes his head)
            I’m quite... I’m shocked.
            He told you this himself?

  Lawrence nods. Tremblay shakes his head again, raises a
  baffled hand. He collects his coffee, stares at it.

                      TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
            Do you think...?

  He hesitates, embarrassed.

                      LAWRENCE
            What?

  Tremblay looks up at him, a little guiltily.

                       TREMBLAY
            The drinking? (Beat) I don’t like
            to bring it up, but w e both know
            his drinking has been getting
            heavier and perhaps it’s affecting
            his judgement, his mind even? I
            know my name has been mentioned as
            a future Pope and if the Archbishop
            does not approve of the idea then
            perhaps...
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 40.


       He waves a hand again, embarrassed.

                           TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                 I don’t know. I’m just trying to
                 make sense of... and I know the
                 poor man was shattered by the Holy
                 Father’s death.

       He finishes his espresso. Lawrence is desperate for this to
       be over.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Yes. Indeed. Again, Joe, my
                 apologies for...

                           TREMBLAY
                 No, not at all. I quite understand.

       They head for the door. Then to his own surprise, Lawrence
       says...

                           LAWRENCE
                 What did you discuss with the Holy
                 Father in that final meeting?

       Tremblay blinks. When he answers his manner is a little
       cooler - as if the insult of the accusation has just caught
       up with him.

                           TREMBLAY
                 Forgive me, but it was a private
                 conversation, Thomas. And very
                 precious. The last words I
                 exchanged with the Holy Father.

       Beat. Then Lawrence inclines his head.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I quite understand.

       Tremblay open s the door in silence, waits for Lawrence to
       step out the room then switches off the brilliant lights,
       closes the door plunging us into darkness.

       We HOLD in the black...


40     OMITTED                                                      40
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 41.

41     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE'S ROOM - NIGHT             41

       Lawrence wakes suddenly. From the next room comes the sound
       of stentorian snoring. He tries to screen it out. But sleep
       seems impossible now. He sits up in bed.

42     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - GYM - NIGHT                         42

       Lawrence walks on the treadmill, the only figure in the large
       room. He stares at his reflection in the mirrored wall as he
       speed walks, listening to the h ypnotic thrum, thrum of the
       treadmill.

       TITLE CARD: FIRST DAY OF CONCLAVE

43     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD - MORNING                 43

       HIGH ANGLE - from the top of the balcony. The courtyard below
       is a sea of red: cardinals robed for the coming service.

       Lawrence stands staring down at them, an air of trepidation
       behind the eyes. Below a single nun in blue is lost among the
       red.

                           FATHER HAAS (O.S.)
                 Your Eminence?

       Behind him Father Haas has appeared in the hall. Lawrence
       blinks out of his thoughts.

44     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - SIDE ROOM - MORNING                 44

       Haas is robing Lawrence, fussing around like a tailor,
       adjusting the heavy red chasuble. He places the tall, white
       mitre on Lawrence’s head, stands back to survey its angle
       critically. He hands Lawrence the crozier - a golden
       Shepherd’s crook.

                           FATHER HAAS
                 How does it feel, Your Eminence?

                           LAWRENCE
                 Good. Thank you.

       We hear the chanting of the Gospel of St John...
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 42.

45     INT. “ROOM OF CARDINALS” - MORNING                          45

       A bare space. Lawrence looks out at the rows of the
       congregation that have been crammed into the room: the red of
       the cardinals, purple of the Bishops, white of the Priests...
       They sit and stand in front of him.

       Lawrence sits, clutching the sermon in his lap, hiding the
       turmoil going on inside him. His gaze flits across the ranks
       of cardinals, finding the main co ntenders: Adeyemi, Bellini,
       Tremblay and finally Tedesco. Haas appears in front of him
       and removes the mitre, catches something in the Dean’s
       expression as he does so.

                           FATHER HAAS
                     (Concerned, softly)
                 Are you well, Eminence?

                             LAWRENCE
                 I’m fine.

       The choir comes to an end.

       ON THE MICROPHONE - as Lawrence steps in front of it. For a
       moment he stares out over the room of faces. He stares down
       at the pages of h omily. The moment hangs until there’s a
       faint stirring of unease. Finally...

                  LAWRENCE (CONT’D)                LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
          (Reading, Italian)            Cari fratelli in Cristo, in
       < Dear Brothers in Christ, at    questo momento di grande
       this moment of great             incertezza nella storia della
       uncertainty in the history of    Santa Chiesa d obbiamo pensare
       the Holy Church we must think    innanzitutto al defunto Santo
       first of the late Holy Father    Padre, il cui brillante
       whose brilliant pontificate      pontificato è stato un dono
       was a gift from God. >           di Dio.

       A murmur of approval from the congregation.

                  LAWRENCE (CONT’D)                 LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
       < Now we must ask our Lord to    Ora dobbiamo chiedere a
       send us a new Holy Father        n ostro Signore di mandarci un
       through the pastoral             nuovo Santo Padre attraverso
       solicitude of the cardinal       la sollecitudine pastorale
       fathers and we must pray to      dei padri cardinali e
       God for that loving              dobbiamo pregare Dio per
       assistance and ask Him to        questa amorevole assistenza e
       guide us to the right            chiedere la sua guida nel
       choice.>                         compiere la scelta giusta.

       He looks out at his audience, his gaze once more falling on
       Tedesco watching him with a faint complacent smile.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 43.


       He turns the page, scans the text, and the next page...
       platitudes, platitudes...

       Suddenly he puts the sermon aside. For the first time in days
       he feels calm.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                     (In English)
                 But you all know that.

       There is some surprised laughter.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 Let me speak from the heart for the
                 moment.

       Now there’s a definite stirring of alarm amongst the
       cardinals.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 St Paul said “Be subject to one
                 another out of reverence for
                 Christ.” To work together, and grow
                 together, we must be tolerant.

       The room is entirely still now...

                                                   INTERCUT WITH:

46     INT. “ROOM OF CARDINALS” ANTECHAMBER - MORNING               46

       ... whilst right outside the door SISTER AGNES and a few of
       her nuns are silently listening to Lawrence’s speech.

                            LAWRENCE
                 St Paul said that God’s gift to the
                 Church is its variety. It is this
                 variety, this diversity of people
                 and views that gives our Church its
                 strength. In the course of a long
                 life in the service of our Mother
                 th e Church, let me tell you that
                 there is one sin I have come to
                 fear above all others. Certainty.
                 Certainty is the great enemy of
                 unity. Certainty is the deadly
                 enemy of tolerance. Even Christ was
                 not certain at the end.

       Lawrence switches into Italian.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 44.


                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 “Dio mio, Dio mio, perché mi hai
                 abbandonato?"

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                     (back to English)
                 “My God, my God, why have you
                 forsaken me?” He cried out in His
                 agony at the ninth hour on the
                 cross. Our faith is a living thing
                 precisely because it walks hand in
                 hand with doubt. If there was only
                 certainty, and if there was no
                 doubt, there would be no mystery,
                 and therefore no need for faith.
                 Let us pray that God will grant us
                 a Pope who doubts. Let Him grant us
                 a Pope who sins and asks for
                 forgiveness. And carries on.

       He looks out over the cardinals and sees they are unified by
       a single emotion. Shock.

47     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD - DAY                      47

       Lawrence is led by Haas and some ASSISTANTS through the
       courtyard, crowded with cardinals. Lawrence feels their eyes
       upon him.

48     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - SIDE ROOM - DAY                      48

       Lawrence stands being disrobed by Haas and the Assistants.
       None of the younger men can look Lawrence in the face.
       O’Malley arrives holding the discarded sermon.

                            MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                     (Awkward)
                 Dean, your homily... I’m not
                 entirely clear whether or not it
                 should be placed in the Vatican
                 archive or not? As it was not the
                 homily you... actually...
                 delivered?

                           LAWRENCE
                 I’m not sure either.

       Lawrence examines the usually ebullient Irishman and realises
       even he is avoiding his gaze.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 Was it that bad, Ray?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 45.


                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                (Hurriedly)
            Not at all, Your Eminence. It has
            caused quite a stir. I don’t think
            anyone expected you to... to...

                      LAWRENCE
                (Smiling)
            Say something interesting?

  Haas lifts the chasuble over his head, and LAWRENCE rotates
  his stiff neck, relieved to be free of the weight.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                (As Haas leaves)
            Thank you, Father.

                      MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
            I’ll have a transcript made of the
            text from the tape, Em inence. If
            there’s nothing else...

  Lawrence hesitates, as O’Malley turns to go. Then...

                      LAWRENCE
            I need you to do something for me.
            Monsignor Morales. I’m sure he’s
            still in Rome. Could you try and
            see him? Use my authority.

                      MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                (Surprised)
            Today? I...I could try, your
            Eminence?

                      LAWRENCE
            I need to know what happened in the
            final meeting between the Holy
            Father and Cardinal Tremblay.

                      MONSIGN OR O’MALLEY
            What...happened?

  Lawrence takes a deep breath, and...

                      LAWRENCE
            Specifically, did anything occur
            that might render Cardinal Tremblay
            unfit to assume the papacy?

  O’Malley gapes at him, recovers himself.

                      MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
            Of course, Eminence.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 45A.


                              LAWRENCE
                 Bless you.

49     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY - DAY                        49

       Lawrence is heading for the lift when...

               TEDESCO (O.S.)                    TEDESCO (O.S.)
          (Booming, Italian)                (tonante)
       < Well, Dean... >                 Beh, Decano...

       Lawrence turns to find Tedesco advancing on him, drawing the
       attention of the crowded lobby.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 46.


                   TEDESCO (CONT’D)               TEDESCO (CONT’D)
          (Italian)                    San Paolo come apostolo del
       < St Paul as an Apostle of      dubbio. Non l'avevo mai
       Doubt. I’ve never heard that    sentita prima!
       one before! >

       Lawrence continues to the lift, determined to avoid a public
       argument.

                  TEDESCO (CONT’D)                 TEDESCO (CONT’D)
       < Wasn’t it St Paul who said,   Non è stato forse San Paolo a
       “If the trumpet shall give an   dire: "E s e la tromba emette
       uncertain note, who will        un suono confuso, chi si
       prepare himself for battle?”>   preparerà alla battaglia?"

       Lawrence presses for the lift and the doors glide open.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (in Latin)
                 Perhaps it would have been more
                 palatable for you in Latin,
                 Eminence?

       He steps into the lift before Tedesco can reply.

50     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY LIFT - DAY                  50

       Lawrence, a little pleased with his retort, is about to press
       the button for his floor when he su ddenly pats his pockets.
       He closes his eyes.

51     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY - DAY                       51

       Lawrence emerges from the lift again, to the surprise of
       Tedesco and the other cardinals. Aware he’s just ruined his
       exit, he walks back to the RECEPTION DESK, trying to look
       unconcerned.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I’m sorry, I forgot my key.

       SISTER AGNES examines him sternly from behind the desk.

                           SISTER AGNES
                 I hope you take better care of the
                 Keys of St Peter than you do of the
                 keys to your room.

       She reaches under the counter and hands him a KEY CARD.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 46A.


                      SISTER AGNES (CONT’D)
            That’s my pass key. If you could
            remember to return it.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 47.


       Lawrence nods, feeling like a scolded child. Sister Agnes
       walks into the back office. Lawrence turns to find Bellini
       standing beside him. His friend gives an awful smile.

                           BELLINI
                     (Quietly)
                 Well, I’m puzzled. You tell me you
                 wanted to resign and then you step
                 out of the shadows like this?

       It takes Lawrence a moment to realise there is anger in
       Bellini’s voice.

                           BELLINI (CONT’D)
                 Now - who knows how things may tu rn
                 out?

       He’s gone before Lawrence can think of a reply.

52     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PARKING - DAY                        52

       The cardinals are boarding a fleet of white minibuses as it
       begins to rain.

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                     (Directing the boarding)
                 Cardinal Gambino... Cardinal
                 Dell’Acqua...

       Lawrence waits to board, still thinking of Bellini’s words.
       We hear an organ playing, a choir singing Veni Creator
       Spiritus...

53     I/E. MINIBUS - DAY                                           53

       As the music continues we find Lawrence sitting alone,
       biretta on his lap, staring out the rain-smeared windows to
       the security men patrolling the Vatican grounds beyond. The
       cardinals all around him are silent, the mood on the bus is
       sombre, the moment of responsibility has come.

54     EXT. CORTILE DEL MARESCIALLO - DAY                           54

       A narrow strip of grey sky above the parked buses. Security
       for ces linger about, smoking and chatting. The bus driver
       eats a sandwich.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 48.

54A     INT. SCALA REGIA - DAY                                   54A

        A security guard scrolls through his phone, standing on the
        marble staircase. We hear the cardinals taking their oath.

            JUNIOR CARDINAL-DEACON          JUNIOR CARDINAL-DEACON
                GUERRINI (O.S.)                GUERRINI (O.S.)
           (In Latin)                   ...Et ego Antonius Cardinalis
        < ...I Antonio Cardinal         Guerrini spondeo, voveo ac
        Guerrini do so promise,         iuro, Sic me Deus adiuvet et
        pledge and swear, so help me    haec Sancta Dei Evangelia,
        God and these Holy Gospels      quae manu mea tango.
        which I touch with my hand. >

55      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                                 55

        The last of the cardinals stand taking the oath. The others
        have now taken their seats at the rows of desks filling the
        room.

               CARDINAL BROTZKUS              CARDINAL BROTZKUS
           (In Latin)                   ...Et ego Romualdus
        < ...I Romuald Cardinal         Cardinalis Brotzkus spondeo,
        Brotzkus do so promise,         voveo ac iuro...
        pledge and swear... >

        Lawrence finds himself staring up at Michelangelo’s The Last
        Judgement. One of the Damned clutches a hand to his face as
        demons drag him down...

              CARDINAL BROTZKUS (CONT’D)      CARDINAL BROTZKUS (CONT’D)
        < So help me God and these      Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec
        Holy Gospels which I touch      Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae
        with my hand. >                 manu mea tango.

                             CARDINAL NAKITANDA
                  Et ego Irumbus Cardinalis Nakitanda
                  s pondeo, voveo ac iuro, sic me Deus
                  adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei
                  Evangelia, quae manu mea tango.

        Lawrence blinks as Mandorff steps up to the microphone that
        has been placed before the west wall of the chamber.

                            ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                  Extra omnes.

        The television lights are switched off plunging the chamber
        into relative gloom. Mandorff makes his way to the vestibule
        as priests, officials, choristers, securit y men, cameramen,
        photographer and the commandant of the Swiss Guard leave the
        chapel. The three scrutineers, CARDINALS LUKSA, MERCURIO and
        LOMBARDI, take their place at a table in front of the altar.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 49.


       Lawrence catches Adeyemi’s eye. Cardinal Tedesco glances at
       Bellini who looks at Tremblay across from him.

       In the vestibule Mandorff passes through the huge doors...

56     INT. OUTSIDE SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                            56

       ...to close them after him.

57     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                                    57

       We hear the sound of a key turning. The great bell of St
       Peter’s begins tolling five o’clock.

       The Conclave has begun .

       LAWRENCE walks to the microphone.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
       < Cardinal brothers, we will    Fratelli Cardinali, procederà
       now proceed to the first        ora al primo scrutinio.
       ballot. >                          (Holding up a paper
          (Holding up a ballot            ballot)
          paper)                       Troverete davanti a voi la
       < You will find in front of     vostra scheda elettorale.
       you your ballot paper. On the   Sulla metà superiore è
       top half is written... >        scritto...
          (Glancing ironically at         (Glancing Ironically at
          Tedesco)                        Tedesco)
       < Eligo in Summum Pontificem.   Eligo in Summum Pontificem.
       “I elect as Supreme Pontiff”.   ”Eleggo Sommo Pontefice”.
       Beneath this you must write     Sotto di essa dovete scrivere
       the name of your chosen         il nome del candidato che
       candidate. Please make sure     avete scelto. Assicuratevi
       your hand-writ ing is           che la vostra calligrafia sia
       legible.>                       leggibile.

       La wrence returns to his seat and picks up his own ballot
       paper. He shields the paper with his arm and writes BELLINI,
       folds it and walks back to the altar. He holds it above his
       head.

                  LAWRENCE (CONT’D)               LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
          (In Latin)                   Testor Christum Dominum, qui
       < I call as my witness Christ   me iudicaturus est, me eu m
       the Lord who will be my         eligere, quem secundum Deum
       judge, that my vote is given    iudico eligi debere.
       to the one who before God I
       think should be elected. >

       Under the gaze of the three cardinals he places his ballot in
       the large urn on the altar.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 50.


       He returns to his seat, his eyes straying to where Bellini
       sits, apparently sunk in meditation. One by one the cardinals
       begin to rise and vote, ballots held above their heads...

58     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY / LATER                           58

       The three Scrutineers sit at the table in front of the altar,
       counting the votes from the urn. Luksa unfolds a ballot,
       notes the name, passes it to Lombardi who also records the
       result an d passes it to Mercurio who pierces the vote through
       the word elect and threads it onto a length of scarlet silk
       cord.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI              CARDINAL LOMBARDI
          (Italian)                    Il primo voto è per il
       < The first vote is cast for    Cardinale Tedesco.
       Cardinal Tedesco. >

       Lawrence doesn’t react, just makes a tick next to Tedesco’s
       name on his list of cardinals. Lombardi reads the next
       ballot.

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
         (Italian)                     Il secondo voto è per il
       < The second vote is cast for   Cardinale Tedesco.
       Cardinal Tedesco. >

       Again. Lombardi records the next ballot.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
          (Italian)                     Cardinale Tremblay.
       Cardinal Tremblay.

       Lawrence ticks the name...

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)       CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
          (Reading the next                (Reading the next
          ballot)                          ballot)
       < Cardinal Tremblay. >           Cardinale Tremblay.

       ...and again...

             C ARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
       < Cardinal Lawrence. >           Cardinale Lawrence.

       Lawrence looks up, startled. He finds Bellini watching him.

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
       < Cardinal Bellini. >           Cardinale Bellini.

       Lawrence focuses on his list again, hurriedly ticking the
       names...
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 51.

59     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY / LATER                            59

       CLOSE on the URN - now almost empty of ballots. Luksa’s hand
       reaches in.

       Lawrence is hurriedly adding up the votes in pencil beside
       his list.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI               CARDINAL LOMBARDI
       < Cardinal Bellini. >           Cardinale Bellini.
          (Italian, Receiving the         (Italian, Receiving the
          next ballot)                    next ballot)
       < Cardinal Tremblay. >          Cardinale Tremblay.
          (Beat)                          (Beat)
       < Cardinal Adeyemi. >           Car dinale Adeyemi.

       Lawrence scribbles away...

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
       < And finally... Cardinal       E infine... Cardinale
       Benitez. >                      Benítez.

       Again, Lawrence looks up in surprise. Benitez himself has
       raised his head in shock. Whispered conversations break out
       around the chamber. The three Scrutineers confer briefly then
       Lombardi leans into the microphone again.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
          (Italian)                     I risultati del primo
       < The res ults of the first      scrutinio sono i seguenti:
       ballot are... Cardinal           Cardinale Adeyemi, ventuno
       Adeyemi, twenty-one votes.       voti. Cardinale Tedesco,
       Cardinal Tedesco, eighteen       diciotto voti. Cardinale
       votes. Cardinal Bellini,         Bellini, diciassette voti.
       seventeen votes. Cardinal        Cardinale Tremblay, sedi ci
       Tremblay, sixteen votes.         voti. Cardinale Lawrence,
       Cardinal Lawrence, five          cinque voti...
       votes... >

       Lawrence flinches, dismayed at this.

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
       < Other cardinals assigned a    Altri cardinali che hanno
       single vote, thirty-one         ricevuto un solo voto,
       votes. >                        trentuno voti.

       The hum of conversation grows louder as Lawrence stands and
       walks to the microphone.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 52.


                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (Raising his voice over         (Raising his voice above
           the hubbub )                    the hubbub)
        < My brother cardinals... my    Fratelli cardinali. ..
        brother cardinals, that         fratelli cardinali, con
        concludes the first ballot.     questo si conclude il primo
        No candidate having achieved    scrutinio. Poiché nessun
        the necessary majority of       candidato ha ottenuto la
        seventy-two votes, we shall     maggioranza necessaria di
        adjourn for the evening and     settantadue voti, per la
        resume voting in the morning.   serata la seduta è aggiornata
        I now invite the Junior         e riprenderemo le votazioni
        Cardinal-Deacon to ask for us   domattina. Ora invito
        to be released. >               l’ultimo cardinale diacono a
                                        dire che ci vengano ad
                                        aprire.

        His gaze flits to Bellini, who sits, staring into nothing.
        Guerrini walks to the back of the chapel and k nocks on the
        doors.

                            JUNIOR CARDINAL-DEACON GUERRINI
                  Aprite le porte! Aprite le porte!

59A     INT. OUTSIDE SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                           59A

        Archbishop Mandorff waits outside the Sistine Chapel. He now
        unlocks the doors and they begin to swing open...

60      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - VESTIBULE - LATE AFTERNOON              60

        Monsignor O’Malley squats by the stove, their chimneys rising
        to a window high above. He bundles inside the threaded ballo t
        papers. He ignites them with a fire-lighter, closes the door
        as they begin to blaze. He turns to the second stove and
        presses a switch.

60A     INT. INSIDE THE STOVE - LATE AFTERNOON                      60A

        INSIDE THE STOVE - the canister of potassium perchlorate,
        anthracene and sulphur activates with a whoosh...

61      EXT. SISTINE CHAPEL - LATE AFTERNOON                          61

        The temporary metal chimney jutting out above the roof of the
        chapel begins t o gush jet-black smoke, illuminated by a
        search-light. The smoke streams up to the winter sky and the
        waiting world. A dull roar swells and fades. It takes us a
        moment to realise it’s the response of the vast crowd
        gathered outside.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 53.

61A     INT. EMPTY ROOMS - LATE AFTERNOON                        61A

        As the dull roar continues to resound from outside rooms
        inside the Vatican lie still and empty in the late afternoon
        light. The canary listens in his cage.

62      INT. SALA REGIA - LATE AFTERNOON                          62

        Lawrence and O’Malley hurry through the hall.

                             MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                  The media have noticed the presence
                  of a cardinal who doesn’t appear on
                  the official lists, Dean. The press
                  off ice have been receiving requests
                  for information, so I’ve taken the
                  liberty of putting together a draft
                  statement. I’ve also put together
                  some biographical details for you.
                       (Glancing through some
                        sheets of paper)
                  Ministries in Veracruz, the Congo,
                  established a hospital for female
                  victims of the genocidal sexual
                  violence during the first and
                  second wars. Then Baghdad. And
                  finally the Mission in Ka bul.
                  There was some question of his
                  resigning on health grounds, but
                  apparently the Holy Father
                  convinced him to continue.
                       (Handing the sheets to
                        Lawrence)
                  He’s certainly served his ministry
                  in some terrible places.

                            LAWRENCE
                      (Absently)
                  On health grounds? Look into that
                  will you Ray? Kind of thing the
                  press like to get hold of.

        Lawrence glances back at the SECURITY MAN who follows them at
        a discrete di stance.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                      (Quietly)
                  And the other matter...?
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 54.

63     INT. SCALA REGIA - LATE AFTERNOON                          63

       The two men descend the stairs, dwarfed by the vast sweep of
       white marble. Another SECURITY MAN waits below them.

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                 I spoke to Monsignor Morales. He
                 was emphatic that he knows of no
                 reason why Cardinal Tremblay should
                 not be Pope.

       Lawrence nods, wonders why he does not feel any relief.

                              LAWRENCE
                 Thank you.

       They pass the SECURITY GUARD who turns and wh ispers into his
       sleeve. When they are safely past, O’Malley hesitates.
       Then...

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                     (Low)
                 However, will you forgive me if I
                 say that I did not entirely believe
                 the good monsignor?

       Lawrence stares at him as they walk on.

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY (CONT’D)
                 He was just... so emphatic? My
                 Spanish is quite poor and I may
                 have... accidentally... given him
                 the impression that you had seen a
                 document that contr adicted that?
                 And he said you weren’t to worry
                 about that. His exact words were -
                 “El informe ha sido retirado.”

                           LAWRENCE
                 A “report?” A report on what?
                 Withdrawn when?

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                 That I couldn’t say, Eminence.

       They walk on towards the Cortile del Maresciallo and the
       waiting minibuses.

64     I/E. MINIBUS - LATE AFTERNOON                              64

       Lawrence is last on the bus and the only seat still available
       is at the front, near Sabbadin.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 55.


       Reluctantly Lawrence sits down across the aisle from him. For
       a moment the two sit in silence, Sabbadin staring out of the
       window. Then...

                            CARDINAL SABBADIN
                     (Sourly)
                 Third place. Not what we had hoped.
                     (Beat)
                 Your sermon didn’t exactly help us.
                 And your five votes... with the
                 greatest respect Thomas, you have
                 far too little support to emerge as
                 a serious candidate. There hasn’t
                 been an English Pope f or a thousand
                 years.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Without looking at him)
                 My position is an embarrassment to
                 me. If I find out who my supporters
                 are I’ll plead with them to vote
                 for someone else. And I’ll tell
                 them I’ll be voting for Bellini.

       Sabbadin nods, mollified.

                            CARDINAL SABBADIN
                 Alright, that’s five votes coming
                 to us, which takes us to twenty-
                 two. All the candidates who
                 received one vote today will fall
                 away. Tha t leaves thirty-one votes
                 available. We simply have to pick
                 up most of them.

       Uncomfortable, Lawrence glances at the driver’s face in the
       rear-view mirror, trying to gauge if he has been listening.

65     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - NIGHT                65

       The cardinals stand around in cliques, sipping wine before
       the evening meal. Adeyemi, as the front runner, seems to have
       gathered the largest crowd.

       Alone, Lawre nce is watching Benitez talking to the cardinals
       from Asia and Oceania. Cardinal Mendoza arrives beside him,
       follows his gaze.

                           CARDINAL MENDOZA
                     (Of Benitez)
                 An interesting man. I am very
                 pleased to hear of his elevation.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 56.


                      LAWRENCE
            You know him?

                      CARDINAL MENDOZA
            Of him. I was with the Mission in
            Iraq, after his time, and people
            still spoke of him there and the
            work he had done.

                      TEDESCO (O.S.)
                (in English)
            So...our dark horse.

  Lawrence sighs, turns to find Tedesco and Tremblay beside
  him, also surveying the room.

                      LAWRENCE
            Don’t be absurd. I will do all in
            my power to withdraw my name from
            the second vote.

                         TEDESCO
                   (English)
            Why?

                      L AWRENCE
            Because I don’t wish to compromise
            my neutrality as Dean.

                      TEDESCO
                (English)
            Too late.

  Tedesco chuckles, continuing in Italian.

             TEDESCO (CONT’D)                 TEDESCO (CONT’D)
  < Ah, don’t worry about it.      Ah, non preoccupatevi.
  As far as I’m concerned, I       Per quanto mi riguarda,
  want you to continue as a        voglio che restiate in lizza.
  candidate. You’re splitting      Grazie a voi il voto dei
  the liberal vote. >              liberali è diviso.

  He pats Lawrence's shoulder and walks off.

                      LAWRENCE
            If anyone brings up my name please
            tell them of my intentions. All I
            want to do is serve the Conclave. I
            can’t do that if I’m seen as a
            contender myself.

  Tremblay smiles, nods.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 56A.


                       TREMBLAY
            Alright.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 57.


        He gives a short laugh.

                            TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                  Of course, a more Machiavellian
                  mind might say it will make you
                  look like a paragon of virtue.

        He laughs again, as if at the absurdity of the suggestion.

                             LAWRENCE
                      (Cool)
                  Well, I shall leave you to handle
                  it as you see fit.

        He walks away.

66      EXT. APOSTOLIC PALACE - PORTONE DI BRONZO - NIGHT            66

        Lawrence and O’Malley walk towards the vast bronze entrance
        to the palace, past s aluting Swiss Guards.

67      INT. APOSTOLIC PALACE - STAIRCASE - NIGHT                    67

        The two walk in silence up the deserted staircase of what
        would traditionally be the Papal Apartments.

67A     INT. APOSTOLIC PALACE - SALA - NIGHT                        67A

        They cross a big room and walk into...

68      INT. PAPAL SECRETARY’S OFFICE - NIGHT                        68

        Lawrence stands at a filing cabinet, looking through the
        folders of documents inside. He checks the final folder,
        clos es the drawer, unsure whether he feels relieved or
        disappointed. O’Malley watches. A beat.

                            MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                      (Tentatively)
                  I could try and speak to Monsignor
                  Morales again? See if I could find
                  out any more?

                             LAWRENCE
                  No, no...
                      (Gesturing to the room,
                       them)
                  This is all so... unseemly.
                             (MORE)
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 58.
                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  If this report ever existed, then I
                  think we can rest assured that it
                  has indeed been withdrawn. We have
                  done all that could be expected of
                  us.

        He locks the filing cabinet.

69      EXT. VATICAN GROUNDS - FOUNTAIN - NIGHT                      69

        The two are walking back towards the Casa Santa Marta.
        Lawrence spots Benitez standing by a FOUNTAIN staring into
        the water.

                            LAWRENCE
                  You go on, Ray.

        He walks down a flight of stairs to app roach Benitez who is
        gazing into a pool with swimming TURTLES.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  The Holy Father’s turtles. He was
                  very fond of them. A gift from
                  Angola.

        Benitez looks up with delight.

                            BENITEZ
                  I thought for a moment I was
                  imagining them... Where I come
                  from, they are considered very
                  special animals. They symbolise
                  healing and transformation.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Well, here they keep escaping and
                  being run over. We should go back -
                  the evening curfew.

69A     EXT. VATICAN GROUNDS - NIGHT                              69A

        Lawrence and Benitez walk back towards the Casa.

                            LAWRENCE
                  How are you bearing up? Your
                  health?

        Benitez seems to tense a little at the question.

                            BENITEZ
                  My health is excellent, thank you.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 59.


                      LAWRENCE
            Oh, I only meant have you recovered
            from your journey?

                      BENITEZ
            I have indeed.

                      LAWRENCE
            Good. And I noticed in the Sistine
            that you found someone to vote for?

                       BENITEZ
                 (A shy smile)
            Yes. I voted for you.
                 (Off his stricken
                  expression)
            Forgive me! Am I not supposed to
            say?

                      LAWRENCE
            No, it’s not... I’m honoured,
            but...My dear Vincent - may
            I call you Vincent? - I’m not a
            serious candidate. My vocation lies
            in a different...

  He struggles to think of a suitable term, then finds himself,
  to his own surprise, continuing...

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            After the conclave, I hope to
            resign as Dean and to leave Rome
            altogether. So, you see, I...

                       BENITEZ
            Why?

  Lawrence is wrong-footed.

                      LAWRENCE
            I have been experiencing some...
            difficulties...

                      BENITEZ
            With your faith?

                      LAWRENCE
            Prayer. I...

  He trails off, embarrassed.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 60.


                           BENITEZ
                     (Understanding)
                 “I cry out to You, God but You do
                 not answer.”

       Lawrence shifts uncomfortably - why did he tell him?

                           LAWRENCE
                 I only mention it to illustrate my
                 point that I am in no way worthy to
                 be Pope.

                           BENITEZ
                 Any man who is truly worthy must
                 consider himself unworthy. Isn’t
                 that the point you were making in
                 your homily? That without doubt
                 there can be no faith? It resonated
                 with my own exper ience. In my
                 ministry I have witnessed scenes
                 which would make any man skeptical
                 of God’s mercy.

                            LAWRENCE
                      (Trying again)
                 You received a vote yourself didn’t
                 you?

                           BENITEZ
                 I did. It was absurd.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Then imagine how you would feel if
                 I insisted on voting for you and by
                 some miracle you won.

                           BENITEZ
                     (Solemnly)
                 It would be a disaster for the
                 Church.

                           LAWRENCE
                 That is how it would be if I became
                 Pope. Think a bout what I’m asking.

       He squeezes his shoulder again and they walk on.

70     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PAPAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT               70

       Lawrence walks along the corridor. He slows as he sees the
       entrance to the Papal suite, still criss-crossed with
       ribbons.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 61.


  On tables on either side of the door, dozens of votive
  candles flicker. Bellini stands before them, looking lost in
  thought. Lawrence approaches.

                      LAWRENCE
            Aldo, I feel wretched that my
            meagre tally may have come at your
            expense.

  He waits for his friend to look at him but Bellini continues
  to stare at the door. Then...

                       BELLINI
            I had no idea you were so
            ambitious.

                      LAWRENCE
                (Stung)
            That’s a ridiculous thing to say.

  Bellini turns to him.

                       BELLINI
            Is it...? I thought we had your
            support. If we liberals are not
            united then Tedesco will become
            Pope! You don’t know how bad it
            became, Thomas. The way he and his
            circle attacked the Holy Father
            towards the end? The smears, the
            leaks to the press. It was
            savage... He fought him every day
            of his pontificate and now that
            he’s dead he wants to destroy his
            life’s w ork. If Tedesco wins he
            will undo sixty years of progress!

  Lawrence feels his own temper rising.

                      LAWRENCE
            You talk as if you were the only
            alternative, Aldo. Adeyemi has the
            wind behind him...

                      BELLINI
            Adeyemi? A man who believes
            homosexuals should be sent to
            prison in this world and hell in
            the next? Adeyemi isn’t the answer
            to anything and you know it! If you
            want to defeat...
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 62.


                            LAWRENCE
                  “Defeat?” This is a Conclave, Aldo.
                  You talk as if it’s a war.

                            BELLINI
                  Because it is a war! And you have
                  to commit to a side! Save your
                  famous doubts for your prayers!

        This knocks the wind out of Lawrence. Neither can quite
        believe that they’re talking to each other like this.
        Lawrence tries again, quietly, urgently...

                            LAWRENCE
                  For God’s sake, you cannot
                  seriously believe I have the
                  slightest d esire to become Pope?

                            BELLINI
                      (Dismissing this
                       contemptuously)
                  Oh, every cardinal has that desire!
                  Every cardinal, deep down inside,
                  has already chosen the name by
                  which he would like his papacy to
                  be known!

                            LAWRENCE
                  Well, I haven’t!

                            BELLINI
                  Deny it if you like. But search
                  your heart and then tell me it
                  isn’t so.

        He walks away leaving a distressed Lawrence staring after
        him.

71      INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRE NCE'S ROOM - NIGHT             71

        Lawrence kneels by his bed, in prayer. His eyes stray to the
        bed itself, anonymous and bland, the padded headboard, a
        faint echo of a similar moment...

        But before he can locate the memory his exhaustion overcomes
        him. His eyelids flutter, close and slowly he begins to sink
        forward into sleep...

71A     INT. PAPAL BEDROOM - NIGHT                                  71A

        A DREAM IMAGE
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 63.


        Lawrence straightens, still kneeling by a bed. The LATE POPE
        lies before him, just as at the opening of the film.

        But now his eyes are open and he stares at Lawrence. A
        charged moment. Something vital is about to be said. Lawrence
        leans in a little.

        The Pope opens his mouth to speak and...

72      INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE'S ROOM - NIGHT              72

        ... Lawrence wakes in the darkness, hears a muffled
        conversation, hushed and urgent. A man’s baritone. Then, in
        reply... a woman’s voice.

        Lawrence reaches out a fumbling hand and switches on the
        light. Gingerly he straightens up from where he had fallen
        asleep, slumped over the bed, his joints in agony. He wonders
        if he dreamed the voice. He checks the clock: 2.55am.
        Silence. Then he hears it again - a woman’s voice, raised,
        accusatory, Adeyemi’s low reply. He pushes against the bed,
        standing slowly, the un-oiled springs squeak loud ly.

        He tiptoes across the room and listens at the wall but the
        voices have fallen silent. After a moment he hears the low
        rumble of Adeyemi’s voice again, followed by the click of a
        door closing.

        He hurries to his own door and opens it...

72A     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - CORRIDOR - NIGHT                    72A

        Lawrence peers out into the corridor, just in time to see a
        flash of the blue uniform as it disappears around the corner .

        He stands undecided for a moment, then quietly closes the
        door and...

72B     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE’S ROOM - NIGHT             72B

        ... sits on his bed, mind whirring.


        TITLE CARD: SECOND DAY OF CONCLAVE

73      EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD - MORNING                  73

        The sea of cardinals mill around the courtyard, ready for the
        second day of the Conclave. Lawrence, bleary-eyed from his
        broken night, sees O’Malley approach.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 64.


                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                 Good morning, Your Eminence. Did
                 you sleep well?

                           LAWRENCE
                 Perfectly, thank you.

                           MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                 The buses are ready.

       Lawrence notices Bellini in the throng, watching him.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I think I’ll walk.

74     EXT. VATICAN GARDENS - MORNING                            74

       Lawrence walks, aware of the inevitable SECURITY MAN trailing
       him and the crackle of his walkie-talkie. From the sky above
       comes the drone of circling heli copters. A gust of wind
       almost takes Lawrence’s zucchetto.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Under his breath)
                 Oh, do go away.

       Moments later a figure appears at his side - Adeyemi.

                           ADEYEMI
                 Good morning, Dean.

                            LAWRENCE
                 Joshua.

       They walk in uncomfortable silence for a moment.

                           ADEYEMI
                 I want you to know that I very much
                 agreed with your homily yesterday.

       Lawrence looks at him in surprise.

                            ADEYEMI (CONT’D)
                 We are all tested in our faith,
                 Dean. W e all lapse. But the
                 Christian faith is, above all, a
                 message of forgiveness.

                           LAWRENCE
                 And tolerance.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 65.


                           ADEYEMI
                 Exactly. Tolerance. I trust that
                 when this election is over, your
                 moderating voice will be heard in
                 the very highest counsels of the
                 Church. It certainly will be if I
                 have anything to do with it. The
                 very highest counsels.

                            CARDINAL NAKITANDA (O.S.)
                 Joshua!

                           ADEYEMI
                 Excuse me, Dean.

       He falls back to talk to two of the African cardinals walking
       behind them. Lawrence walks on, wondering if Adeyemi has just
       offered him the position of Secretary of State as a bribe.

75     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - MORNING                                75

       Pencils scratch the names of cardinals on ballot papers...

       Elderly cardinals labour down the aisle, ballots held aloft
       in shaking hands...

       Ballot papers are dropped into the urn...

       A needle pierces a ballot paper with scarlet thread...

       Cardinal Lombardi leans into the microphone.

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI               CARDINAL LOMBARDI
         (Italian )                    I risultati del secondo
       < The results of the second     scrutinio sono i seguenti.
       ballot are... Cardinal          Cardinale Adeyemi:
       Adeyemi: thirty-four votes.     trentaquattro voti. Cardinale
       Cardinal Tedesco: twenty-five   Tedesco: venticinque voti.
       votes. Cardinal Bellini:        Cardinale Bellini: diciotto
       eighteen votes. Cardinal        voti. Car dinale Tremblay:
       Tremblay: sixteen votes.        sedici voti. Cardinale
       Cardinal Lawrence: nine         Lawrence: nove voti...
       votes... >

       Lawrence barely has time to register this increase in his
       tally before...

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
       < Cardinal Benitez: two         Cardinale Benítez: due voti.
       votes. Other cardinals          Cardinali a cui è stato
       assigned a single vote: four    assegnato un solo voto:
       votes. >                       quattro voti.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 66.


       Lawrence stands and walks to the microphone, aware of the
       whispered conversations around him.

                  LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
          (Italian)                    Fratelli, in conformità con
       < My brothers, in accordance    la Costituzione apostolica,
       with the Apostolic              non ci fermeremo a bruciare
       Constitution, we will not       le schede a questo punto , ma
       stop to burn the ballot         procederemo immediatamente al
       papers at this point, but       successivo scrutinio...
       instead proceed immediately
       to the next vote... >

76     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - MORNING / LATER                        76

       Again...

       Pencils scratch the names of cardinals on ballot papers...

       Elderly cardinals labour down the aisle, ballots held aloft
       in shaking hands...

       Ballot papers are dropped into the urn...

       A needle pierces a ballot paper with scarlet thread...

       Lawrence holds his pen, tip down, on his desk, waiting for
       the results. Cardinal Lombardi leans into the microphone.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI              CARDINAL LOMBARDI
          (Italian)                    I risultati del terzo
       < The results of the third      scrutinio sono i seguenti.
       ballot are... Cardinal          Cardinale Adeyemi:
       Adeyemi: fifty-two votes...>    cinquantadue voti...

       Lawrence glances at Adeyemi. The Nigerian has his head sunk
       on his chest in prayer.

             CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
       < ...Cardinal Tedesco: thirty   ...Cardinale Tedesco: trenta
       votes. Cardinal... >            voti. Cardinale...

       The pen in his hand suddenly vibrates. A faint tremor runs
       through the sound-proofed chamber. Lombardi, feeling it,
       hesitates. The rows of cardinals stir. Lombardi, puzzled,
       looks to Lawrence, who frowns, nods him to continue...
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 67.


              CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
          (Resuming)                      (Resuming)
       < Cardinal Tremblay: ten        Cardinale Tremblay: dieci
       votes. Cardinal Bellini: nine   voti. Cardinale Bellini: nove
       votes. Cardinal Lawrence:       voti. Cardinale Lawrence:
       five votes. Cardinal Benitez    cinque voti. Cardinale
       two votes. >                    Benítez due voti.

77     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - KITCHEN CORRIDOR - DAY               77

       Two NUNS stand at a window, staring out at the city beyond. A
       sinister thread of black smoke is rising from somewhere in
       the east, on the Quirinal Hill. Distantly we hear the sound
       of sirens wailing. One of the Nuns clasps her hands and
       begins to pray in a low, urgent murmur. Sister Agnes appears
       behind them. They glance at her nervously, but from her look
       understand they are to continue.

78     INT. SALA REGIA - DAY                                        78

       Lawrence walks with O’Malley. Two SECU RITY MEN hurry past
       them.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Quietly)
                 I take it something has happened?

                           MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                 There’s been an explosion your
                 Eminence. In the Piazza Barberini.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Dear God. A bomb?

                           MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                 It’s unclear at this moment. There
                 are injuries but no talk of
                 fatalities so far.

       Lawrence considers for a moment.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Say nothing to the cardinal-
                 electors about this Ray. We are
                 sequestered and t hey must be
                 shielded from any news of the
                 outside world in case it influences
                 their judgement. You understand?

                           MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                 Of course your Eminence.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 68.


       They walk on in silence.

79     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - DAY                    79

       The cardinals at lunch. Some surreptitiously look to the
       windows, searching the skies for the dispersing veil of
       distant smoke.

       Lawrence comes with a plate from the buffet, hesitates, then
       takes a seat at Bellini’s table. The two men avoid each
       other’s gaze. The other cardinals continue their stilted
       conversation - everyone aware that something has happened in
       the outside world.

                           CARDINAL VILLANUEVA
                 Well, it would seem that Adeyemi
                 will be Pope before the day is out.

       No-one answers for a moment.

                           CARDINAL VILLANUEVA (CONT’D)
                 I suppose the first black Pope will
                 be a tremendous thing for the
                 world.

                           CARDINAL SABBADIN
                 What am I supposed to tell them in
                 Milan when they start to discover
                 our new Pope’s social views?

       Lawrence is suddenly awar e of a Cardinal at his shoulder. It
       is Guttoso.

                   GUTTOSO                         GUTTOSO
          (Quietly, Italian)              (Quietly)
       < Dean, this morning’s          Decano, l'incidente di
       incident. Have you heard        stamattina. Avete sentito
       any...? >                       qualcosa ...?

                  LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
          (Interrupting, Italian)         (Interrupting, Italian)
       < Your Eminence, we are         Eminenza, siamo in
       sequestered. >                  isolamento.

                   GUTTOSO                        GUTTOSO
       < Of course, but as a Roman     Certo, ma essendo io stesso
       myself... >                     romano...
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 69.


              LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
     (Firmly)                        (Firmly)
  < I’m sorry. Paragraph four     Mi dispiace. Il quarto
  of the Apostolic Constitution   paragrafo della Costituzione
  is quite clear. >               Apostolica è piuttosto chiaro
                                  in proposito.

  Guttoso hesitates then, disgruntled, nods and walks away.
  Lawrence turns back to the table aware that the others have
  been listening. There is a beat of embarrassed silence. Then
  Bellini steps in, a s if there had been no interruption.

                      BELLINI
            Tell your congregation in Milan to
            celebrate the first African pontiff
            in the history of the Church.

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN
            If Adeyemi was white we’d all be
            condemning him as more reactionary
            then Tedesco. It’s only because
            he’s...

                       BELLINI
                 (Sharp)
            Enough! It’s too late for this talk
            now.

  His eyes flick to Lawrence and away again.

                      BELLINI (CONT’D)
            All too late.

  Lawrence is n o longer listening. Under the chatter of the
  room he is puzzled to discern a raised voice. Suddenly there
  is a crash. He turns, in time to see a NUN hurrying back to
  the kitchens, followed by two more SISTERS as Adeyemi leaves
  his table and heads out of the room.

                      LAWRENCE
            What happened?

  Beside him, Landolfi shrugs, disinterested.

                      CARDINAL LANDOLFI
            She dropped a bottle of wine.

  No-one is paying much attention. A Nun appears with mop and
  bucket to clear up the mess. Lawrence looks at Adeyemi’s
  empty chair.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 70.

80     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM BUFFET - DAY          80

       Lawrence stands getting coffee. He turns and finds three of
       the African Cardinals behind him, their expressions mournful.
       And his heart sinks. For a moment he has a mad impulse to
       flee. But...

                           CARDINAL NAKITANDA
                 May we have a word, Dean?

                              LAWRENCE
                 Of course.

                           CARDINAL NAKITANDA
                 Our brother Joshua is troubled.

                           LAWRENCE
                 What just happened?

       The cardinals exchan ge glances.

                           CARDINAL NAKITANDA
                 One of the nuns serving our table
                 started talking to him. He tried to
                 ignore her and then she dropped her
                 tray and shouted something. He got
                 up and left.

                           LAWRENCE
                 What did she say to him?

                           CARDINAL NAKITANDA
                 We don’t know. She was speaking
                 Yoruba.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Where is Cardinal Adeyemi now?

       Nakitanda shrugs, takes his arm.

                           CARDINAL NAKITANDA
                 Clearly something is wrong, Dean,
                 and he must tell us what. We have
                 waited a long time for an African
                 Pope. But he must be pure in heart
                 and conscience. Anything less would
                 be a disaster for us all.

81     OMITTED                                                   81
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 71.

81A     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - KITCHEN - DAY                      81A

        The kitchen is full of NUNS preparing food. Lawrence crosses
        towards the back, looking for the missing nun. Those closest
        to him bow their heads as he passes.

        In the back the office is empty. Lawrence returns.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (Italian)                    Potreste dirmi dove si trova
        < Could you tell me, where is   la sorella che ha fatto
        the sister who just had the     cadere la bottiglia prima?
        accident? >

                     NUN                             NUN
           (Italian)                    È con Suor Agnes, Vostra
        < She is with Sister Agnes,     Eminenza.
        Your Eminence. >

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
        < Would you be kind enough to   Sareste così gentile da
        take me to her? >               portarmi da lei?

        The Nun begins to lead him back to the dining room.

                   LAWRENCE (CONT’D)               LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
        < Is there a rear exit we can   C'è un'uscita posteriore che
        use? >                          possiamo usare?

82      INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - OUTSIDE BAC K OFFICE - DAY          82

        The Nun knocks on the door of the office. There is no reply.
        Lawrence steps forward and knocks more loudly. After a
        moment, the door opens a little and SISTER AGNES peers out.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Good afternoon, Sister. I need to
                  speak to the nun who dropped her
                  tray just now.

                            SISTER AGNES
                  She is safe with me, Your Eminence.
                  I am dealing with the situation.

                            LAWRENCE
                  I am sure you are Sister Agnes. But
                  I must see her myself.

                            SISTER AGNES
                  I hardly think a dropped tray
                  should concern the Dean of the
                  College of Cardinals.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 72.


                              LAWRENCE
                 Even so...

       He grips the door handle. Amazed, he finds that as he pushes,
       she resists.

                           SISTER AGNES
                 The welfare of the Sister is my
                 responsibility, Dean.

       An impasse as both stare at each other.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Icy)
                 And this Conclave is mine.

       Beat. Finally she stands aside.

83     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BACK OFFICE - DAY                  83

       The NUN - a plump middle-aged Nigerian woman - sits in a
       corner of the office. She sta nds as Lawrence enters.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Please, sit, my child. My name is
                 Cardinal Lawrence. How are you
                 feeling?

                           SISTER AGNES
                 She’s feeling much better.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (To the Nun)
                 Could you tell me your name?

                           SISTER AGNES
                 Her name is Shanumi.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (To the Nun)
                 Please, do sit down.

                           SISTER AGNES
                 Eminence, I really do think it
                 would be better if...

                            LAWRENCE
                     (Without looking at her)
                 Would you be so good as to leave us
                 now, S ister Agnes?
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 73.


       She opens her mouth to protest again but Lawrence turns and
       stares at her with a look of such freezing authority that she
       finally bows her head and walks out of the room, closing the
       door after her. Lawrence sits, facing SISTER SHANUMI.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 Sister Shanumi, I want you to
                 understand, first of all, that you
                 are not in any sort of trouble. The
                 fact of the matter is, I have a
                 responsibility before God to make
                 sure that the decisions we make
                 here are the right ones. Now it’s
                 important that you tell me anything
                 that is in your heart and that is
                 troubling you in so far as it
                 relates to Cardinal Adeyemi. Can
                 you do that for me.

       Shanumi stares at the floor, shakes her head.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 Even if I give you absolute
                 assurance that it will go no
                 further than this room?

       Again, she shakes her head. Lawrence sits, at a loss. Then,
       inspiration strikes. He leans towards her again.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 Would you like me to hear your
                 confession?

84     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - CORRIDOR - DAY                     84

       TRACKING with Lawrence as he walks determinedly down the
       corridor.

       He reaches the door of Adeyemi’s room - the room next to his
       own and knocks. After a moment Adeyemi opens the door, drying
       his face.

                           ADEYEMI
                 I’ll be ready in a moment, Dean.

       He walks back into the room. Lawrence hesitates, then follows
       him...
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 74.

85     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - ADEYEMI’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS       85

       Adeyemi is in the bathroom. We hear the steady stream of
       urination, followed by the flush. He walks out, buttoning his
       cassock, seems surprised to find LAWRENCE there.

                           ADEYEMI
                 Shouldn’t we be leaving?

                           LAWRENCE
                 In a moment.

                           ADEYEMI
                 That sounds ominous.
                     (Studying himself in the
                      mirror)
                 If this is about the incident
                 downstairs, I have no desire to
                 talk about it.

       Lawrence watches in silence, waiting him out. Adeyemi turns
       from the mirror and walks past Lawrence into the room.

                           ADEYEMI (CONT’D)
                 I am the victim of a disgraceful
                 plot to ruin my reputation. Someone
                 brought that woman here and staged
                 this melodrama. She’d never left
                 Nigeria before and suddenly she is
                 here in the Casa Santa Marta?

                           LAWRENCE
                 With respect, Joshua, how she came
                 here is secondary to the issue of
                 your relationship with her.

                           ADEYEMI
                     (turning)
                 I have no relationship to her! I
                 hadn’t set eyes on her for thirty
                 years until she turned up outside
                 my room last night!

       He catches himself.

                           ADEYEMI (CONT’D)
                 It was...it was...
                     (Helplessly)
                 A lapse, Dean. A lapse! “Let God
                 grant us a Pope who sins and asks
                 forgiveness, and carries on.” Your
                 words!
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 75.


                      LAWRENCE
            And have you asked forgiveness?

                      ADEYEMI
            I confessed my sin at the time! My
            bishop moved me to another parish
            and I never lapsed again! Such
            relationships were not uncommon in
            those days. You know that!

                      LAWRENCE
                (Quietly)
            And the child?

  Adeyemi flinches.

                      ADEYEMI
            The child? The child was brought up
            in a Christian household, and to
            this day he has no idea who his
            father is - if indeed it is me.
            That is the child.

  For a moment the two men stare at each other in silence,
  Adeyemi’s jaw jutted in defiance. Then something in him
  crumbles. He sits on the bed.

                      ADEYEMI (CONT’D)
                (Beat. Broken)
            We were very young.

                      LAWRENCE
            No, Your Eminence. She was very
            young. Nineteen years old. You were
            thirty.

                      ADEYEMI
            Thomas, please... Listen to me. I
            sensed the presence of the Holy
            Spirit this morning. I swear it. I
            am ready to t ake this burden. Does
            a single mistake thirty years ago
            disqualify me? I was a different
            man! I beg you, please don’t use
            this to ruin me.

                      LAWRENCE
                (sadly)
            Joshua...the thought is not worthy
            of you. The woman will not speak of
            this to protect her son, and I am
            bound by the vows of the
            confessional.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 76.


       Adeyemi looks up at him.

                              ADEYEMI
                    So... I still have hope?

       Lawrence hesitates, hating this duty. He steps closer, taking
       Adeyemi’s hands in his.

                              LAWRENCE
                        (Gently)
                    No, Joshua. There is no hope. After
                    such a public scene, there will be
                    rumours. And you know what the
                    Curia is like. Nothing terrifies
                    our colleagues more than the
                    thought of yet more sexual
                    scandals.

       Adeyemi’s eyes prick with tears.

                               LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                        ( Moved)
                    I am more sorry than I can say. You
                    will never be Pope. You must begin
                    again.

       He bends closer, grips the Nigerian’s hands tighter.

                              LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                        (Fiercely)
                    But you are a good man. And you
                    will find a way to atone.

       A long beat. Adeyemi nods blindly, disengages his hands to
       wipe his eyes. He breathes deeply, gathers himself.

                              ADEYEMI
                    Will you...will you pray with me?

       Beat. Lawrence holds out a hand, hel ps the Nigerian sink to
       his knees then joins him. They pray.

86     EXT. VATICAN GARDENS - DAY                                   86

       HIGH ANGLE

       ...watching the tiny figure of Lawrence below us, walking
       through the formal geometries of the gardens. He joins
       Nakitanda and his two colleagues on a seat. We watch them
       talk for a moment. Nakitanda drops his head in dismay.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 77.

87     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                                    87

       The Fourth and Fifth Ballots in progress. We’re watching
       Adeyemi walk down the aisle, his ballot held high in his
       hand. He passes the seats of the African Cardinals who, to a
       man, avert their eyes. He reaches the microphone.

                   ADEYEMI                         ADEYEMI
          (Solemnly, in Latin)            (Solemnly)
       < I call as my witness Christ   Testor Christum Dominum, qui
       the Lord, who will be my        me iudicaturus est, me eum
       judge, that my vote is given    eligere, quem secundum Deum
       to the one who before God I     iudico eligi debere.
       think sho uld be elected. >

       Lawrence sits, marvelling at the man’s dignity in the face of
       his ruined life.

       He turns back to his own ballot paper. A beat. Reluctantly,
       he writes: Bellini.

       - Cardinals shuffle down the aisle, ballots held up in
       shaking hands...

       - Ballots are dropped into the Ur n...

       - High above, the Last Judgement lies cloaked in darkness...

                                                     HARD CUT TO:

88     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY / LATER                            88

       Cardinal Lombardi is reading the results.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI              CARDINAL LOMBARDI
          (Italian)                    I risultati del quinto
       < The results of the Fifth      scrutinio sono i seguenti.
       Ballot are... Cardinal          Cardinale Tremblay: quaranta
       Tremblay, forty votes. >        voti.

       The Canadian bows his head and places his hands together, as
       his colleagues twist in their seats to examine the new front-
       runner.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)     CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
          (Italian)                    Cardinale Tedesco:
       < Cardinal Tedesco, thirty-     trentaquattro voti. Cardinale
       four votes. Cardinal Bellini,   Bellini: tredici voti.
       thirteen votes. Cardinal        Cardinale Lawrence: undici
       Lawrence, eleven votes.         voti. Cardinale Adeyemi: sei
       Cardinal Adeyemi, six           voti...
       votes... >
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 78.


       You can feel the electric tension in the room now - a
       staggering haemorrhage of Adeyemi’s followers. In a sea of
       scratching pencils, the Nigerian sits staring at the wall
       ahead, as if oblivious.

              CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)      CARDINAL LOMBARDI (CONT’D)
          (Italian)                     Cardinal Benítez: quattro
       < Cardinal Benitez, four         voti.
       votes. >

       Lawrence sits, horribly aware of being an object of curiosity
       for the cardinals around him, who a re registering his
       increased share of votes. He can’t stop himself looking to
       Bellini and finds the cardinal’s cold gaze upon him.

                  LOMBARDI                        LOMBARDI
          (Italian)                    Fratelli, qui si conclude il
       < My brothers, that concludes   quinto scrutinio. Poiché
       the fifth ballot. No            nessun candidato ha ottenuto
       candidate having achieved the   la maggioranza nece ssaria, le
       necessary majority, we shall    votazioni riprenderanno
       resume voting tomorrow          domani mattina.
       morning. >

89     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - VESTIBULE - EVENING                    89

       The chapel has emptied. O’Malley bundles the ballots into the
       stove and burns them. He crosses the vestibule and turns to
       where Lawrence sits in the chapel, lost in thought, picks up
       his clipboard of notes.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Noticing)
                 Yes, Ray?

                           MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                 The incident this morning, your
                 Eminence. I have more information,
                 if...?

       Lawrence considers, finally shakes his head.

                           LAWRENCE
                 No, Ray. I too must be shielded
                 from any knowledge which could act
                 as an...interference in the process
                 of this Conclave.

                           MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                     (Bowing)
                 Of course, Eminence.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 79.


                      LAWRENCE
            Anything else?

  O’Malley glances at his clipboard.

                      MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
            Uhh...Oh, Cardinal Benitez. His
            health problems? He was issued with
            a return ticket to Geneva, paid for
            from the Pope’s own account. I
            checked the visa application. The
            purpose for travel was given as
            “medical treatment.” Anyway,
            whatever it was, it can’t have been
            serious. The tickets were
            cancelled. He never went.

  Lawrence nods, barely listening.

                      LAWRENCE
            Alright. Thank you, Ray.

  O’Malley lingers. Lawrence gives him a questioning look.

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                (Hesitantly)
            Forgive me. I know you said we
            should forget the matter of the
            withdrawn report but...I wondered
            in light of Cardinal Tremblay’s
            present...position? I could see if
            there was anything more I could
            find out?

  Lawrence feels a flush of anger.

                      LAWRENCE
            I’m not a Wi tchfinder. It isn’t my
            job to go hunting for secrets in my
            colleagues’ pasts!

  O’Malley nods, taken aback. Beat. Lawrence relents, touches
  O’Malley’s wrist.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            I’m sorry, Ray. No more
            investigations. I think we’ve heard
            enough secrets.
                (Standing)
            Let God’s Will be done.

                      MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
            Good night then, Your Eminence.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 80.


       He watches the older man walk away.

90     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE'S ROOM - NIGHT           90

       Lawrence sits on his bed, struggling to unlace his shoes. He
       manages to remove one and has to pause to regain his breath.

       A KNOCK at the door jerks him upright and startled. He
       crosses to the door and opens it to reveal Bellini and
       Sabbadin outside.

                           BELLINI
                 Thomas.

91     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BACK STAIRS - NIGHT               91

       Lawrence , Bellini and Sabbadin stand in a staircase.

                           CARDINAL SABBADIN
                     (Hushed)
                 We need to decide how we are going
                 to proceed.

       Lawrence glances around at the shadowy staircase. This feels
       absurd.

                           LAWRENCE
                 Is this really necessary? I feel as
                 if I’m at some American political
                 convention.

                            CARDINAL SABBADIN
                     (Gloomily)
                 Well, it isn’t going to take long.
                 Our friend here does not have
                 sufficient support amongst our
                 colle agues to be elected Pope.

                           LAWRENCE
                 It isn’t over yet.

       Bellini stirs.

                           BELLINI
                     (Heavily)
                 I’m afraid, as far as I’m
                 concerned, it is. The question
                 arises, if I can’t win, whom should
                 I advise my supporters to vote for?

       He clears his throat. An awkward beat.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 81.


                      BELLINI (CONT’D)
            Obviously there is you. But...

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN
                (Bluntly)
            But you can’t win either. Even if
            we delivered you all of Aldo’s
            fifteen votes - which I don’t
            believe we could - you’d still be
            in third place, behind Tremblay and
            Tedesco. No-one has enough traction
            to catch either of the front-
            runners. So, since we all agree
            that Tedesco would be a disaster...

  He spreads his hands. The three stand i n silence for a
  moment.

                      BELLINI
            I’m no more of an enthusiast for
            Tremblay than you are, Thomas. But
            we have to face the fact that--

  A few stories below a door creaks, footsteps on marble echo
  throughout the staircase. Bellini peers over the banister at
  a cardinal in conversation below. He continues, lowering his
  voice.

                      BELLINI (CONT’D)
            He has demonstrated a broad appeal.
                (Without much conviction)
            Perhaps he wi ll be a unifying
            force?

  Lawrence shakes his head.

                       BELLINI (CONT’D)
            What?

                      LAWRENCE
            Is this what we are reduced to?
            Considering the “least-worst”
            option?

                      BELLINI
                (Irritated)
            The field has narrowed. If we don’t
            change our votes, we’ll be here for
            weeks. Which is what Tedesco wants.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 82.


                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            I have been informed that, shortly
            before his death, the Holy Father
            had fallen out with Tremblay. In
            fact, that he intended to dismiss
            him from all offices in the Church.

  The two stare at him, stunned.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            There is a rumour of a report of
            some kind, a report that was
            possibly withdrawn...

  Sabbadin glances nervously at Bellini, who frowns.

                       BELLINI
            A rumour?
                (Beat)
            Thomas, in the la st weeks of his
            life it is possible that the Holy
            Father was not entirely himself. He
            had become increasingly secretive
            and paranoid...

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN
                (Joining in)
            Even if there was a report...

  They turn to look at him.

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN (CONT’D)
            What I mean is...We’ve had a Pope
            who was in the Hitler Youth and
            fought for the Nazis. We’ve had
            Popes accused of colluding with
            communists and fascists. We’ve had
            Popes who have ignored reports of
            the most appalling sexual abuse of
            children...

                      BELLINI
                (Impatient)
            We take the point...

                      CARDINAL SABBADIN
            The point is - we will never find a
            candidate who doesn’t have some
            kind of black mark against them! We
            are mortal men! We serve an ideal -
            we cannot always be ideal.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 83.


        Beat. Lawrence looks at his friend, but Bellini avoids his
        gaze.

                             BELLINI
                      (Flat)
                  So we’re agreed. We urge all our
                  supporters to back Tremblay.

        The three stand in silence - the gloom of realpolitik
        descending upon them.

92      INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LIFT - NIGHT                         92

        Lawrence stands lost in thought as the elevator rises. It
        stops at a floor and the doors slide open.

        The ancient Cardinal LOWENSTEIN, grey-faced wi th fatigue,
        leaning on his walking stick, creeps slowly into the lift.
        Lawrence bites down on his impatience, flashes a smile,
        holding the door for his elderly colleague.

        On the landing beyond a door opens and Tedesco and Adeyemi
        emerge from a room.

        Adeyemi and Lawrence lock gazes. The Nigerian’s former sorrow
        and remorse seems to have passed, to be replaced by a look of
        defiance, almost hostility. Then he turns away, following the
        Patriarch of Venice.

92A     OMITTED                                                     92A


92B     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LIFT - NIGHT                        92B

        The doors slide closed again and the elevator continues its
        ascent. For a moment the only sound is Lowenstein’s laboured
        breathing. Then...

                            CARDIN AL LOWENSTEIN
                  If this drags on much longer I
                  might die before we find a new
                  Pope.

        Lawrence is still thinking about what he’s just seen - the
        formation of a new right-wing voting block?

                            LAWRENCE
                      (Grimly)
                  Then let’s try to finish it.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 84.

93     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - UPPER CORRIDOR - NIGHT            93

       A door opens a little and Benitez peers cautiously out at us,
       his open cassock clutched together at his throat.

                           BENITEZ
                 Your Eminence?

       Lawrence is a little taken aback by Benitez’ wariness.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I’m sorry to disturb you. May I
                 have a word?

                           BENITEZ
                 Of course. One moment.

       To Thomas' surprise, Benitez disappears back into the room,
       leaving him standing in the corridor. After a moment he
       reappears, clothed now.

                           BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                     (Ushering him in)
                 Excuse me, at this time of day I
                 always try to meditate for an
                 hour...

94     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BENITEZ ROOM - CONTINUOUS         94

       Lawrence takes in the room - identical to his own, except for
       a few lit candles here and the bathroom beyond.

                           BENITEZ
                     (Apologetically)
                 In my travels I became used to not
                 always having electricity. Now I
                 find it helpful when I pray alone.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Politely)
                 I must see if it helps me.

                           BENITEZ
                 Yes. Your difficulty with prayer.

       He watches Lawrence, the same keen gaze. Lawrence nods.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 85.




                      BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                (Gently)
            If I may say... sometimes I find,
            instead of speaking, I have to
            become silent. And in the silence
            wait for God to be heard.

  For a moment Lawrence feels affronted - is he, the Dean, to
  be given lessons in prayer now? But he fights it down.

                      LAWRENCE
            Yes. I’m sure you’re right.

                      BENITEZ
            Excuse me...

  He sits and starts to tie his shoes.

                      LAWRENCE
            The other night you were kind
            enough to say yo u had voted for me.
            I don’t know if you’ve continued to
            do so, but if you have I would like
            to repeat my plea to you to stop.

                       BENITEZ
            Why?

                       LAWRENCE
            First, because I lack the spiritual
            depth to be Pope. And secondly I
            can’t possibly win. A long drawn
            out Conclave would be seen by the
            media as proof that the Church is
            in crisis.

                      BENITEZ
            You have come to ask me to vote for
            Cardinal Tremblay?

                       LAWRENCE
            Yes. A nd to urge your supporters to
            do the same.

                      BENITEZ
            Cardinal Tremblay has already
            spoken to me about this.

                      LAWRENCE
                (Bitterly)
            I’m sure he has.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 86.


       He regrets his tone instantly. Benitez studies him solemnly.

                           BENITEZ
                 You want me to vote for a man you
                 see as ambitious?

                           LAWRENCE
                 I do not want to see Tedesco as
                 Pope. He would take the Church back
                 to an earlier era.

                           BENITEZ
                 I’m sorry. I cannot vote for a man
                 unless he is the one I deem most
                 worthy to be Pope. And for me, that
                 is not Cardinal Tremblay. It is
                 you.

       Lawrence strikes the side of his seat in frustration.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I don’t want your vote!

       Benitez stares back at him calmly, and once more Lawrence
       senses a surprising strength of character in this frail man.

                           BENITEZ
                     (Calmly)
                 Never the less, you have it.

       He walks towards the bathroom, blowing out a few candles.

       Lawrence watches for a moment and then sighs. He wets thumb
       and forefinger and snuffs out the candle beside the bed. As
       he does he stares, distracted, at the little razor, out of
       place in the bedroom, still in its cellophane wrapper. And
       wonders why he has noted this.

95     OMITTED                                                      95


96     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - NIGHT                  96

       Tedesco sits, holding court with his supporters. Adeyemi and
       the African cardinals sit with him now.

       On the other side of the room, Tremblay circulates amongst
       his supporters, shaking hands, exchanging a few remarks,
       every inch the political campaigner.

       Lawrence sits watching the two factions, sick at heart. His
       gaze drifts to the blue-habited nuns moving between the
       tables with trays and wine, eyes downcast.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 87.


       On a sudden impulse, he stands.

97     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BACK OFFICE - NIGHT                97

       Lawrence sits with Sister Agnes, her eyes darting to the cage
       with the canary.

                           SISTER AGNES
                 Sister Shanumi is on her way home
                 to Nigeria.
                     (Off Thomas' look)
                 There was a flight to Lagos this
                 evening. I thought it was best for
                 everyone if she was on it.

                           LAWRENCE
                     (Beat. Quietly)
                 How did Sister Shanumi come to be
                 in Rome?

                           SISTER AGN ES
                 I received notification from the
                 office of the Superioress General
                 that she would be joining us. The
                 arrangements were made in Paris.
                 You should ask the Rue de Bac, Your
                 Eminence.

                           LAWRENCE
                 I would, except that, as you know,
                 I am sequestered for the duration
                 of the Conclave.

                           SISTER AGNES
                 Then you can ask them afterwards.

                           LAWRENCE
                 The information is of value to me
                 now.

       Sister Agnes stares at him, her i ndomitable gaze. She gets up
       and checks on the bird which has been oddly silent.

                           LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                 I know you were close to the late
                 Pope. When I tried to resign as
                 dean, the Holy Father wouldn’t let
                 me. I didn’t understand why at the
                 time. But now I think I understand.
                 I think he knew he was dying and
                 for some reason he wanted me to run
                 this Conclave. And that is what I’m
                 trying to do. For him.
     CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 88.


       Sister Agnes turns and stares at him in silence for a moment.
       Then she puts her glasses on and turns to the computer on the
       desk. She types rapidly, then stands and walks away, leaving
       Lawrence to view the e-mail she has opened up. It is marked
       October 3rd, Confidential. Lawrence's gaze is drawn to the
       last paragraph...

       “...I would be grateful if you could take particular care of
       our sister, as her presence has been requested by the Prefect
       of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, His
       Eminence, Cardinal Joseph Tremblay.”

       Lawrence stares at the name.

98     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - STAIRCASE - NIGHT                  98

       After dinner Cardinals are heading for the stairs and
       elevator. Tremblay amongst a group of acolytes.

                           LAWRENCE (O.S.)
                 Your Eminence, a word if I may?

       Tremblay turns -- Lawrence stands on the st aircase above him,
       waiting.

                           TREMBLAY
                     (Smiling)
                 I was just on my way to bed.

                           LAWRENCE
                 It won’t take a moment. Come.

       Tremblay’s smile is suddenly wary as Lawrence leads him to...

99     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - COURTYARD CORRIDOR - NIGHT         99

       The corridor is empty and in semi-darkness. Tremblay and
       Lawrence stand in the light of the fluorescents, their breath
       pluming in the air.

                           TREMBLAY
                     (still smiling)
                 I know you enjoy mystery novels
                 Thomas but this is...

                           LAWRENCE
                 I want you to withdraw your name
                 from the next ballot.

       Tremblay sighs, shakes his head with a sorrowful smile.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 89.


                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            You are not the right man to be
            Pope.

                      TREMBLAY
            Well, forty of our colleagues would
            disagree with you, so...

                      LAWRENCE
            Only because they don’t know you as
            I do.

  Tremblay looks genuinely shocked at the remark.

                      TREMBLAY
            This is sad, Thomas. I shall pray
            for you and...

                       LAWRENCE
                (Over)
            I know there was some kind of
            report into your activities. I know
            the Holy Father raised the matter
            with you hours befo re he died and
            that he dismissed you from all your
            posts. And I know that, somehow,
            you discovered Adeyemi’s surrender
            to temptation thirty years ago and
            arranged for the woman involved to
            be brought to Rome, with the
            express intention of destroying
            Adeyemi’s chance of becoming Pope.

                      TREMBLAY
            I deny that accusation.

                      LAWRENCE
            You deny asking our Superioress to
            transfer one of her sisters to
            Rome?

                      TREMB LAY
            No. I asked her - but not on my own
            behalf.

                      LAWRENCE
            On whose behalf, then?

                      TREMBLAY
            The Holy Father’s.

  Lawrence stares at him, staggered.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 90.


                            LAWRENCE
                  You would libel the Holy Father in
                  his own home?

                            TREMBLAY
                  It isn’t libel, it’s the truth! The
                  Holy Father gave me the name of a
                  sister and asked me to make a
                  private request to bring her to
                  Rome. I had no idea why. And you...
                      (Stepping closer)
                  You should be careful Thomas. Your
                  own ambition has not gone
                  unnoticed. This might be
                  seen as a tactic to blacken the
                  name of a rival.

                            LAWRENCE
                  That is a d espicable accusation.

                            TREMBLAY
                  Is it? I wonder if you really are
                  so very reluctant to have the
                  chalice passed to you!

        He makes a visible effort to catch his anger.

                            TREMBLAY (CONT’D)
                  I shall pretend this conversation
                  never took place.

        He walks away.

                            LAWRENCE
                      (After him, impotent
                       anger)
                  But it has taken place!

        Across the courtyard a security guard smokes a cigarette.
        Alone in the dark, Lawrence feels his uncomforta ble gaze upon
        him.

100     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE'S ROOM - NIGHT           100

        The only source of light shining from the bathroom Lawrence
        lies on his bed, praying. After a moment his eyes open and he
        stares blindly ahead, hoping for some sign, some guidance...
        The sound of Adeyemi’s snoring coming from next door.

        Suddenly Lawrence sits up in bed, a decision forming in his
        mind. He opens the drawer to his nigh tstand... taking the
        pass key Sister Agnes had lent him.
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 91.

101      OMITTED                                                     101


102      INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PAPAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT              102

         At the end of the corridor the lift doors open, a silhouette
         appearing in the hall. Lawrence silently walks down the empty
         corridor.

         In front of the papal suite the votive candles flicker in
         their red glasses. The locked door is still criss-crossed
         with red ribbons.

         Lawrence stares at the door, building his courage. Then he
         takes Sister Agne s’ pass key and unlocks the door. He
         hesitates then pushes the door open, the wax seals cracking
         free and the ribbons fluttering down...

         Lawrence crosses himself and then steps into...

103      INT. PAPAL SUITE - NIGHT                                    103

         Lawrence fumbles on the light and stares around the familiar,
         plain room, the few simple items of furniture: the blue
         scalloped sofa and matching armchairs, the coffee table, the
         prie-dieu.

103A     IN T. PAPAL OFFICE - NIGHT                              103A

         Lawrence sits at the desk, takes the briefcase on his knee
         and opens it. Inside is an electric razor, a tin of
         peppermints and a battered copy of The Imitation of Christ by
         Thomas à Kempis. An ancient bus-ticket acts as a book-mark.
         Lawrence opens the book and finds a passage underlined:

         “At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have
         read but what we have done. ”

         Lawrence stares at the words. They feel like encouragement, a
         command almost, from the late Holy father.

         Lawrence searches through the Pope’s desk, rooting through
         the drawers... An empty spectacles case, a plastic bottle of
         lens cleaner, a box of aspirin, a calculator, rubber bands...

         He freezes, hearing FOOTSTEPS approach.
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 92.

103B     INT. PAPAL CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS                          103B

         SISTER AGNES is walking down the corridor. She slows, seeing
         the broken seals of the papal suite and the light showing
         beneath the door. She stops at the door, listening.

         Then the LIGHT below the Papal Suite door switches off.

103C     INT. PAPAL SUITE - CONTINUOUS                             103C

         Lawrence stands by the light switch in the darkness,
         practically holding his breath - aware that someone is ju st
         on the other side of the door.
103D     INT. OUTSIDE THE PAPAL SUITE - CONTINUOUS                 103D

         SISTER AGNES hesitates, her hand on the door handle,
         considering who the intruder could be.

         And suddenly she is certain that it is Lawrence on the other
         side of the door.

         A strange moment of connection.

         Then TWO NUNS cross the corridor behind her, deep in
         conversation in Italian, breaking the silence.

         Agnes straightens up again and walks on down the corridor.

103E     INT. PAPAL SUITE - CONTINUOUS                             103E

         Lawrence waits in the dark, listening to her footsteps
         recede. Then he switches the light back on.

104      INT. PAPAL BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER                        104

         Lawrence enters, silhouetted in the door frame. The bed has
         been strippe d.

         He opens the wardrobe - a simple closet that has been
         emptied of everything except two ghost-like cassocks that
         hang from the rail. The sight of them makes his heart ache.

         He turns to the bedside cabinet, kneels carefully and checks
         the small drawer, but it’s empty.

         On top of the cabinet lie the late Pope’s spectacles and
         alarm clock, just as they were on the night the pope died.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 93.


        The sight of them finally undoes Lawrence and leans his
        elbows on the bed, his face in his hands, and is wracked by a
        fit of dry sobbing.

        Finally, he opens his eyes again, bleakly accepting that he
        has given in to a fit of paranoid madness. He is about to
        stand again when he finds himself staring at the headboard
        with it’s pitifully frayed edge, the crack in the wood, as if
        some implement had been forced into the join...

        He reaches out a hand and pulls at the bottom corner of the
        padded head-piece. It resists. With both hands now he pulls
        harder, grunting with the effort...

        The headboard inches out from its frame. The material on the
        inside edge, normally hidden, has a frayed six inch slit down
        it.

        Tentatively Lawrence slips his fingers into the padded
        interior.

        When he withdraws them he his holding several FOLDED SHEETS
        OF PAPER.

105     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - UPPER CORRIDOR - NIGHT           105

        Bellini opens his door and blinks at Lawrence.

106     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BELLINI’S ROOM - NIGHT           106

        Lawrence stands sipping a glass of water. Bellini sits on the
        bed, reading the sheets of paper.

                            LAWRENCE
                  It’s the report on the activities
                  of Tremblay. It’s an overwhelming
                  prima facie case that he is guilty
                  of simony - an offence that is
                  stipulated in the Holy Scripture
                  as...

                             BELLINI
                       (Reading)
                  I am aware of what simony is, thank
                  you.

                            LAWRENCE
                  He only obtained all those votes on
                  the first ballot because he bought
                  them. Cardenas, Diene, Figarella,
                  Baptiste...
                            (MORE)
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 94.
                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            And all of this done in the last
            twelve months when he must have
            guessed the Holy Father’s
            pontificate was coming to an end!

                      BELLINI
                (Of the papers)
            How do you know they didn’t use
            this money for completely
            legitimate purposes?

                      LAWRENCE
            Because I’ve seen their bank
            statements.

                        BELLINI
            Dear God.

  Lawrence finds himself staring down at the small plastic
  CHESS SET which Bellini had taken from the Pope’s apart ment;
  the pieces still grouped in the unfinished final game.

                      LAWRENCE
            Ours too. It would seem the Holy
            Father was spying on all of us. I
            don’t think he trusted anyone.

  Bellini looks up from the sheets.

                      BELLINI
            Where did you find these?

  Lawrence is silent.

                      BELLINI (CONT’D)
                (Appalled)
            You broke the seals?

                      LAWRENCE
            What choice did I have? I suspected
            Tremblay of bringing that poor
            woman from Africa to embarrass
            Adeyem i.

                      BELLINI
            And did he?

                      LAWRENCE
            He asked for the transfer. He
            claims he did it at the request of
            the Holy Father but... You must
            continue with your candidacy, Aldo.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 94A.


  Bellini stares at the papers in his hand. He holds them out
  to Lawrence.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 95.


                      BELLINI
            Put them back. Put them back or
            burn them or... put them back.
                (Off Thomas' stare)
            I couldn’t possibly become Pope in
            such circumstances, a dirty trick,
            a stolen document, the smearing of
            a brother cardinal... I’d be the
            Richard Nixon of Popes!

                      LAWRENCE
            Then keep clear of this. Leave it
            to me. I’m willing to take the
            consequences and...

                       BELLINI
                (Over)
            You know who will gain most from
            this? Tedesc o! The whole basis
            of his candidacy is that the Holy
            Father led the Church to disaster
            by his attempts at reform. If you
            reveal this report it isn’t
            Tremblay’s reputation which will
            suffer - it’s the Church’s.
            Accusing the Curia of institutional
            corruption...

                      LAWRENCE
            I thought we were here to serve
            God, not the Curia...

                      BELLINI
            Oh, don’t be naive!

  They stare at each other in shocked silence. Then...

                      BE LLINI (CONT’D)
                (Quietly)
            Put them back.

                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            And have Tremblay as Pope?

                      BELLINI
            We’ve had worse.

                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            What has he offered you? Secretary
            of State?
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 96.


        Beat. Bellini looks away. Lawrence studies his friend for a
        moment.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  Five times I cast my ballot for
                  you, Aldo. But I was wrong. You
                  lack the courage required to be
                  Pope.

        He gets up and walks out.

        TITLE CARD: THIRD DAY OF CONCLAVE.

107     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - SECURITY GATE - EARLY MORNING    107

        Dawn. Security check the line of NUNS arriving to prepare
        breakfast. They bow their heads to a Cardinal as he passes.

108     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - STORAGE ROOM - EARLY MORNING     108

        A sheet from the REPORT is placed on the photocopier plate.
        The heading reads Strictly Confidential. The names of some
        cardinals have been obliterated with pen.

        Lawrence, bleary from a sleepless night, stands staring at
        the array of settings. He presses a button. “Error” flashes
        on the screen. Lawrence stares at the message, wondering if
        it’s an obscure judgement...

                            SISTER AGNES (O.S.)
                  I’ll do that for you, Your
                  Eminence.

        Started, Lawrence finds Sister Agnes behind him, watching him
        with her unwavering gaze. She glances at the sheet, taking in
        that heading. Lawrence waits, frozen.

                            SISTER AGNES (CONT’D)
                  How many copies do you require?

                            LAWRENCE
                  One hundred and eight.

        A fractional hesitation. Then Sister Agnes nods and moves to
        the copier...

109     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - MORNING            109

        Sister Agnes walks from plate to plate, distributing large
        brown envelopes. Cardinal Lawrence helps here the first
        CARDINALS arrive and take their seats at the dining tables.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 97.

110     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - DINING ROOM - MORNING / LATER      110

        The dining room is now full, the buzz of excited
        conversation. Cardinals turn in their seats to stare at
        Lawrence who sits, impassive, feeling strangely calm.
        Sabbadin appears in front of him, tosses the report on the
        table before him.

                            CARDINAL SABBADIN
                      (Hissing)
                  You have wasted this report! We
                  could have used it to control
                  Tremblay after he was elected Pope.
                  All you have done is strengthen
                  Tedesco.

        He walks away before Lawrence can reply. Benitez sits at the
        table beside him with bread and fruit.

                            BENITEZ
                  You should eat Dean.

        Lawrence stares blindly at the food.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Did I do the right thing, Vincent?

                            BENITEZ
                  No one who follows their conscience
                  ever does wrong, Your Eminence.

        The room falls suddenly silent as Tremblay appears, hair
        immaculate , chin jutted. He strides towards Lawrence.

                            TREMBLAY
                      (Loudly)
                  You are responsible for this I
                  believe?

                            LAWRENCE
                  No, Your Eminence. You are.

                             TREMBLAY
                      (For the room)
                  This report is entirely mendacious!
                  It would never have seen the light
                  of day if you had not broken into
                  the Holy Father’s apartment to
                  remove it!
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 98.


                       LAWRENCE
                (Calmly)
            If the report is mendacious then
            why did the Holy Father, in his
            last official act as Pope, ask you
            to resign?

  A stir of amazement from the listening CARDINALS.

                      TREMBLAY
            He did no such thing! As Monsignor
            Morales, who was at the meeting
            will confirm.

                      LAWRENCE
            And yet Archbishop Wozniak insists
            that the Holy Father told him
            personally of the conversation...

                       TREMBLAY
                (Over)
            The Holy Father - may his name be
            numbered among the high priests -
            was a sick man towards the end of
            his life as those of us who saw him
            regularly will confirm!

              TEDESCO                          TEDESCO
     (Standing, Italian)              (Standing)
  < If someone else may be         Se è possibile aggiungere
  allowed to join this dialogue    qualcun altro a questa
  - the names of eight             conversazione... i nomi di
  cardinals have been blacked      otto cardinali sono stati
  out. I assume the dean can       oscurati. Immagino che il
  tell us who they are? Let        Decano possa dirci chi sono?
  them confirm, here and now,      Lasciamo che siano loro a
  whether Cardinal Tremblay        confermare, qui ed ora, se il
  requested their vot es in        Cardinal Tremblay ha
  return for the payment. >        richiesto i loro voti in
                                   cambio di soldi.

                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            No. I won’t do that.

  Uproar.

                       LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                (Almost drowned by the
                 comm otion)
            Let each man examine his
            conscience, as I have.
                       (MORE)
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 99.
                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            I have no desire to create
            bitterness in this Conclave and
            will be happy to stand down as
            dean...

  More uproar. At his table, Bellini watches his old friend
  standing alone in the storm of voices, conflicted whether he
  should come to his aid, when...

                      SISTER AGNES (O.S.)
            Your Eminences... Your Eminences...

  Gradually the words cut through and the cardinals turn to
  stare at the small, resolute figure of Si ster Agnes standing
  in their midst. A silence falls, perhaps out of shock at her
  presumption.

                      SISTER AGNES (CONT’D)
            Eminences, although we Sisters are
            supposed to be invisible, God has
            nevertheless given us eyes and
            ears. I know what prompted the Dean
            of the College to enter the Holy
            Father’s rooms. He was concerned
            that the sister from my order who
            made that regrettable scene might
            have been brought to Ro me with the
            deliberate intention of
            embarrassing a member of this
            Conclave. His suspicions were
            correct. She was indeed here at the
            specific request of Cardinal
            Tremblay.

  She genuflects and then walks out, head held very erect.
  Tremblay gapes after her in horror.

                      TREMBLAY
            My brothers, it’s true the Holy
            Father asked me to. I had no
            knowledge of who she was - I swear
            to you!

  For a moment no-one speaks. Then Adeyemi stands and points a
  finger at him.

                       ADEYEMI
            Judas.

  He turns and walks out and Tremblay finds the cardinals
  staring at him, stony-faced.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 100.

111     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PRAYER ROOM - MORNING              111

        Lawrence kneels in prayer. He looks up as Bellini kneels
        beside him. A beat.

                            BELLINI
                      (Wryly)
                  We seem to be running out of
                  favourites.

                            LAWRENCE
                  You should take over the
                  supervision of this election, Aldo.

                            BELLINI
                  Ha! No, thank you. You are steering
                  this Conclave. Exactly where I do
                  not know, but you are certainly
                  steering it. And that firm hand of
                  yours has i ts admirers. (Beat) I’ve
                  come to ask your forgiveness.

        Surprised, Lawrence looks at him.

                            BELLINI (CONT’D)
                  I had the temerity to tell you to
                  examine your heart, when all the
                  time my own was...

        He shakes his head.

                             BELLINI (CONT’D)
                  Shameful to be this age and still
                  not know yourself.
                      (A rueful smile)
                  Ambition, “the moth of holiness.”
                      (Beat)
                  Perhaps it’s time you decided upon
                  a name?

        Lawrence stares at him.

                            BELLINI (CONT’D)
                  As the next most senior member of
                  the Conclave, it will fall to me to
                  ask you how you wish to be known as
                  Pope. Rightly or wrongly, it would
                  seem Tremblay is finished. This
                  will be a contest between Tedesco
                  and you. You’re the only one who
                  can stop him now.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 101.


        The two old friends stare at each other. Then, as if
        admitting to himself for the first time that the thought, the
        ambition, was always there...

                            LAWRENCE
                  John. I would choose John.

        Beat. Then Bellini nods.

                            BELLINI
                  It has a weight to it.

112     OMITTED                                                    112


113     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                                  113

        A BLANK BALLOT.

        Lawrence stares at his own sheet, for the first time at a
        loss as to which name to write. He closes his eyes, hoping
        f or inspiration, some sign. Nothing comes. He opens his eyes,
        looks up...

        And finds Tedesco watching him. The Patriarch raises his
        eyebrows in amused complicity: Just you and me.

        Lawrence picks up his pen, feeling he no longer has a choice.
        Slowly he writes a name on the ballot. “Lawrence.”

        He stands and holding the ballot above his head, walks down
        the aisle to the waiting chalice, knowing he is a bout to sin.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (in Latin)                   Testor Christum Dominum, qui
        < I call as my witness Christ   me iudicaturus est, me eum
        the Lord, who will be my        eligere, quem secundum Deum
        judge, that my vote is given    iudico eligi debere.
        before God to the one who I
        think should be elected. >

        He holds the ballot over the chalice. Hesitates.

        Then he drops the ballot into the chalice.

        The explosion is felt first as a ripple in the floor, a bass
        vibration throughout his body. Then the boarded windows are
        blasted in, raining glass down onto the chapel.

        For a moment Lawrence stands, stunned, wondering, almost
        hoping, that he is dead. Time slows.
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 102.


         For the first time bright morning light floods the former
         gloom of the chapel and Lawrence finds himself dwarfed and
         pitiful before Michelangelo’s vast fresco The Last Judgement.
         The work burns brilliantly before him, Christ dividing the
         Damned from the Saved...

         He turns again and finds the doors at the end of the
         vestibule beginning to open, screeching across the glass-
         strewn floor.

113A     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - VESTIBULE - DAY                       113A

         Two SECURITY GUARDS, guns drawn, begin to push their way in.
         Frightened faces peer from behind them.

114      INT. PAULINE CHAPEL - DAY                                   114

         CLOSE ON A FRESCO - Michelangelo’s Crucifixion of St Peter.

         Lawrence stands, staring at the huge fresco. St Pe ter, about
         to be crucified upside down, cranes his neck upward, eyes us
         reproachfully.

         O’Malley pads down the chapel and joins him.

                             MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                   Everyone has been taken to the Casa
                   Santa Marta, Your Eminence. No one
                   was seriously hurt. Some cuts,
                   that’s all.

         Lawrence stares at the fresco for a moment.

                             LAWRENCE
                       (Without looking at him)
                   And outside? In the city? How bad
                   is it?

         O’Malley passes him a s heet of paper. Lawrence reads it.

                             LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                       (Softly)
                   Dear God.

         O’Malley examines his exhausted face.

                             MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                   How are you feeling?
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 102A.


                       LAWRENCE
                (Beat)
            I was looking at the darkness at
            the top of the painting.
                       (MORE)
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 103.
                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  I used to think they were clouds.
                  But I think it’s smoke. There’s a
                  fire somewhere. Some violence. And
                  St Peter, straining to keep his
                  head upright.

        O’Malley hesitates, wondering if Lawrence is in shock.

                            MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                  Your Eminence? The Conclave? Do we
                  continue?

        Lawrence doesn’t know what to say.

115     I/E. POLICE CAR - DAY                                        115

        Lawrence stares out from the back of the car as it speeds
        through the court yards of the Vatican, siren blaring, the
        startled faces of the Swiss Guards they pass, bathed in
        pulsing blue light.

        He glances up at the sky, watching the helicopter that buzzes
        angrily overhead, missiles protruding from its belly.

116     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY - DAY                          116

        PUSHING LAWRENCE as he strides into the Casa, sweeps through
        the courtyard, past frightened groups of NUNS and CURIA.
        Mandorff wait s for him.

                            LAWRENCE
                      (As he passes him)
                  Complete privacy, Willi.

        Mandorff nods grimly and follows him towards the Casa...

117     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - AULA - DAY                           117

        The assembled cardinals look up anxiously from their seats.

                            LAWRENCE
                  My brothers, I would like to have
                  the authority of the Conclave to
                  discuss what has happened.

        Archbishop Krasinski, a Tedesco supporter, stands.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 104.


                      KRASINSKI
            Paragraph four of the constitution
            states that nothing can be done in
            the College of Cardinals that “in
            any way affects the procedures
            governing the election of the
            Supreme Pontiff.” The very fact
            that you are holding this meeting
            outside the Sistine Chapel is an
            interference!

  Beside Lawrence, Bellini is already on his feet.

                      BELLINI
            It’s quite clear that something
            serious has occurred and I for one
            would like to know what it is.

                      TEDESCO
                (Italian)
            You are merely looking for an
            excuse to delay the decision!
                (English)
            We are here to listen to God, not
            news bulletins.

                      BELLINI
            No doubt you think we shouldn’t
            listen to explosions either, but we
            all heard one!

  There is a murmur of approval and Tedesco colours. Lawrence
  seizes the moment.

                      LAWRENCE
            Will all those who wish the
            Conclave to receive thi s
            information, please raise their
            hands?

  Scores of hands are raised - a clear majority.

                         LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            Very well.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                (Reading from the sheet of
                 paper)
            At eleven twenty this morning, a
            car bomb exploded in the Piazza del
            Risorgimento.
                      (MORE)
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 105.
                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            Shortly afterwards, as people were
            fleeing the scene, an individual
            with explosives strapped to his
            body detonated himself. There are
            reports of further attacks in
            Louvain and Munich...

  A ripple of dismay is spreading throughout the room.

                      LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
            The current death toll stands at
            fifty two. Hundreds have been
            injured.

  The expressions of horror grow in volume. Tedesco lumbers to
  his feet again hand r aised like an Old Testament prophet,
  something horribly triumphant in his manner.

              TEDESCO                         TEDESCO             *
     (Italian)                    Qui. Qui vediamo il risultato
  < Here! Here we see the         della dottrina del
  result of the doctrine of       relativismo tanto amata dai
  relativism so beloved of our    nostri fratelli liberali! Un
  liberal brothers! A             relativismo che vede tutte le
  relativism that sees all        fedi e le fantasie passeggere
  faiths and passing fancies      avere lo stesso peso, tanto
  accorded equal weight, so       che ora, quando ci guardiamo
  that now, when we look around   intorno, vediamo la patria
  us, we see the homeland of      della Santa Chiesa Cattolica
  the Holy Roman Catholic         romana punteggiata dalle
  Church dotted with the          moschee e dai minareti di
  mosques and minarets of         Maomett o! Sembra che non ci    *
  Muhammad! Sembra che non ci *   sia più la vera Fede.           *
  sia più la vera Fede.

                      TEDESCO (CONT’D)
                (switching to English)
            Perhaps there is to be no Truth at
            all! >

                      BELLINI
                (English))
            You should be ashamed, Tedesco!

  Tedesco wheels on him, scarlet with anger - a rare moment of
  loss of control.

                      TEDESCO
                (English)
            Ashamed? Yes! We should ALL be
            ashamed!
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 106.


              TEDESCO (CONT’D)                TEDESCO (CONT’D)
     (Italian)                     Noi tolleriamo l'Islam nella
  < We tolerate Islam in our       nostra terra, ma loro ci
  land, but they revile us in      ripudiano nella loro! Li
  theirs! We nourish them in       nutriamo nella nostra patria,
  our homelands, but they          ma ci sterminano nella loro!
  exterminate us in theirs! And    E ora sono letteralmente alle
  now they are literally at our    nostre porte e noi non
  walls and we do nothing! How     facciamo nulla! Fino a quando
  long will we persist in this     persisteremo in questa
  weakness...? What we need now    debolezza? Quello di cui
  is a leader who will accept      abbiamo bisogno è di una
  that we are once more facing     guida che accetti che ci
  a religious war! >               troviamo di nuovo di fronte a
                                   una guerra di religione!

  Krasinski, sensing he is going too far, reaches up a
  restraining hand but Tedesco brushes him angrily aside.

              TEDESCO (CONT’D)                 TEDESCO (CONT’D)
     (Italian)                     Una guida che sia saldamente
  < A leader who will hold fast    legata alle nostre
  to our traditions! A leader      tradizion i! Una guida che
  who will put a stop to the       ponga fine alla deriva che
  drift that has gone on almost    continua quasi
  ceaselessly for the past         incessantemente da
  fifty years and that has         cinquant'anni e che ci ha
  rendered us so weak in the       reso così deboli di fronte a
  face of this evil! We need a     questo male! Abbiamo bisogno
  leader who will find the         di un capo --
  strength to fight these      *      (in English)
  animals! >                   *   -- di un leader who will find
                                   the strength to fight these     *
                                   animals!                        *

                      BENITEZ                                      *
                (to Tedesco, over the                              *
                 uproar)                                           *
            My brother Cardinal...                                 *

  The cardinals fall silent.                                       *

                       BENITEZ (CONT’D)
            With respect... what do you know                       *
            about war?                                             *

  Te desco turns to look at him in surprise.                       *
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 107.


                             BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                   I carried out my ministry in the                       *
                   Congo, in Baghdad and Kabul. I have                    *
                   seen the lines of the dead and                         *
                   wounded, Christian AND Muslim. When                    *
                   you say “we have to fight” - what                      *
                   is it you think we’re fighting? You                    *
                   think it’s those deluded men who                       *
                   have carried out these terrible                        *
                   acts today.                                            *
                   No my brother.                                         *
                                                                          *
                       (continues in Spanish)                             *

                    BENITEZ (CONT’D) *                BENITEZ (CONT’D)    *
         La lucha está aquí... aquí   *      (in Spanish)                 *
         dentro de cada uno de        *   < The thing you’re fighting     *
         nosotros si cedemos al odio y*   is here... inside each and      *
         al temor, si hablamos de     *   every one of us, if you give    *
         “bandos” en vez de hablar por*   into hate now, if we speak of   *
         cada hombre y cada mujer.    *   “sides” instead of speaking     *
                                      *   for every man and woman.        *
         Esta es mi primera vez entre *                                   *
         ustedes y probablemente sea *    This is my first time amongst   *
         mi última. Y perdónenme, pero*   you and I suppose it will be    *
         en estos días solo hemos     *   my last. Forgive me, but        *
         demostrado ser un grupo de   *   th ese last few days we have    *
         hombres pequeños y mezquinos.*   shown ourselves to be small     *
         Interesados solamente en     *   and petty men. We have seemed   *
         nosotros mismos, en Roma, en *   concerned only with             *
         la elección y el poder.      *   ourselves, with Rome, with      *
                                      *   these elections, with power.    *
         Pero estas cosas no son la   *                                   *
         iglesia. La iglesia no es la *   But these things are not the    *
         tradición. La iglesia no es *    Church. The Church is not a     *
         el pasado. La iglesia es lo *    tradition. The Church is not    *
         que hagamos en adelante.     *   the past. The Church is what    *
                                          we do next. >                   *


117A     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - SECOND FLOOR - DAY               117A    *

         A nun walks quickly away from camera                             *


117B     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA/ EXT AULA - DAY                    117B    *

         Cardinals exit down the steps.                                   *


117C     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA/ EXT AULA - DAY                    117C    *

         A group of Nuns walk quickly down a stairway.                    *
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 107A.

117D     EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA COURTYARD - DAY                    117D     *

         Nun’s walk hurriedly past Cardinals standing in small groups      *
         having animated conversations                                     *


117E     EXT CASA SANTA MARTA COURTYARD - DAY                     117E     *

         Many Cardinals stand in small groups having animated              *
         conversations                                                     *


117F     EXT CASA SANTA MARTA COURTYARD - DAY                     117F     *

         Three Cardinals have a hushed conversation. Dozens of other       *
         cardinals in the background do the same.                          *


117G     EXT CASA SANTA MARTA COURTYARD – SECOND FLOOR - DAY      117G     *

         Two Nun’s look at someone below. Small groups of Cardinals        *
         continue their discussions.                                       *


117H     EXT CASA SANTA MARTA COURTYARD – SECOND FLOOR - DAY      117H     *

         POV of Nuns looking at scores of Cardinals gathered below         *
         talking. Cardinal Benetiz sits alone on a bench with a            *
         sandwich as other Cardinals glance at him.                        *


118      EXT. CASA SANTA MARTA - PARKING - DAY                       118

         Lawrence sits alone, digest ing the contentious gathering, as
         a light drizzle of rain hits the pavement. Archbishop
         Mandorff quietly approaches.

                             ARCHBISHOP MANDORFF
                   The drivers aren’t ready, Your
                   Eminence.

         Lawrence tears himself away from his thoughts.

                             LAWRENCE
                   Then we shall walk, Willi.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 108.

119     EXT. VATICAN GARDENS - DAY                                  119

        Lawrence leads the cardinals from the hostel. Overhead
        helicopters drone. Lawrence ignores them and opens up his
        umbrella. It has begun to rain.

        The mass of cardinals follow, walking in silence, a sea of
        white umbrellas crossing the gardens.

        A sense of silent solidarity. Bellini arrives beside
        Lawrence. He takes his arm in his. The two friends look at
        each other, united again. They walk on.

120     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                                   120

        The broken glass has been swept away. A faint breeze blows
        through the space where the windows were.

        Lawrence stands at the microphone. The beginning of what he
        senses will be the final ballot of the Conclave.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (Latin)                      Ecclesiae tuae, Domine,
        < O Father, so that we may      rector et custos, infunde,
        guide and watch over Your       quaesumus, famulis tuis
        Church, give to us, Your        spiritum intelligentiae,
        servants, the blessings of      veritatis et pacis, ut, quae
        intelligence, truth and         tibi placita sunt, toto corde
        peace, so that we may strive    cognoscant et agnita tota
        to know Your will, and serve    virtute sectentur. Per
        You with total dedication.      Christum Dominum nostrum.
        For Christ our Lord... >

        From the assembled Conclave comes the low rumble o f “Amen.”

        ON LAWRENCE...

        ...sitting staring up at the painted ceiling high above. His
        gaze slips to the rows of cardinals, lingers a moment on
        Tedesco, Tremblay, Adeyemi, Benitez, Bellini... He feels a
        sudden wave of love for them all, in all their imperfection:
        the crooked timber of humanity...

        From outside comes a strange, soft sound - the rise and fall
        of an immense wave. The cardinals raise thei r heads,
        listening, puzzled, until they realise: it is the sound of
        tens of thousands gathering in St Peter’s Square.

        Droplets of water are trickling through the shattered
        windows, and down the stone walls.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 109.


        Lawrence watches the raindrops for a moment. Then he picks up
        his pen. His mind feels suddenly calm, clear. A moment of
        grace.

        He begins to write.

121     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - MONTAGE - DAY                         121

        ...ballots fall into the waiting urn....

        ...the ballots are pierced by the needle, threaded on the
        scarlet strand.

        ...the hands of the Scrutineers take ballots from the urn and
        pass it along...

        ...the white cloth is smoo thed over the table, the final urn
        of counted votes is placed at its centre, ready for the
        announcement...

        Still in SLO-MO, the cardinals rise, one by one to their
        feet, applauding...

        A crowd of cardinals are gathered around someone, their backs
        to us. We PUSH slowly through the crowd, which parts for us,
        until we reach the cardinal at the centre, the only seated
        man in the chapel...

        Benitez.

        Lawren ce, having reached him, stares down at the slight
        figure.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (Latin)                      Acceptasne electionem de te
        < In the name of the whole      canonice factam in Summum
        College of Cardinals, I ask     Pontificem?
        you, Cardinal Benitez, do you
        accept your canonical
        election as Supreme Pontiff?>

        Benitez, as if he hasn’t heard, continues to stare down at
        his feet, his face obscured by a tumbling lock of black hair .
        A long silence, a collective holding of fearful of breath. If
        he should refuse...

                   LAWRENCE (CONT’D)               LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
           (Latin)                      Acceptasne electionem de te
        < Do you accept? >              canonice factam in Summum
                                        Pontificem?

        At last Benitez raises his head and stares at Lawrence.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 110.


                   BENITEZ                            BENITEZ
           (Latin)                         Accepto.
        < I accept. >

        A murmur of relief, of pleasure, erupts around them. Lawrence
        smiles, pats his heart to indicate his own relief.

                   LAWRENCE                        LAWRENCE
           (Latin)                      Quo nomine vis vocari?
        < And by what name do you
        wish to be called? >

        Benitez stands.

                   BENITEZ                         BENITEZ
           (Latin)                      Innocentius.
        < Innocent. >

        A moment of silence. No Pope has derived a title from one of
        the virtues for generations. The n applause of approval builds
        again. Holding the table for support, Lawrence sinks to his
        knees before the new Holy Father. Benitez stares down at him,
        smiling, thinking...

122     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY / LATER                         122

        Lawrence stands with Mandorff preparing the deed of
        acceptance. Mandorff is filling in Benitez’s name on the deed
        ready for the Pontiff’s and witnesses’ signatures. Lawrence
        glances at O’Malley and finds him standing at a table,
        staring with strange fixity.

                            LAWRENCE
                      (amused)
                  Monsignor, I’m sorry to interrupt
                  you...

        O’Malley doesn’t react.

                             LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  Ray...?

        Startled, O’Malley looks at him.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  I think you should start gathering
                  the cardinal’s notes. The sooner we
                  light the stoves, the sooner the
                  world will know we have a new Pope.

        O’Malley blinks at him, looking confused, almost frightened.
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 111.


                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                  Are you alright?

                            MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                  It wasn’t... It wasn’t the outcome
                  I expected.

                            LAWRENCE
                  No. But it’s wonderful all the
                  same.

        He examines O’Malley, puzzled.

                            LAWRENCE (CONT’D)
                      (Quietly)
                  If it’s my position you’re worried
                  about, let me reassure you I feel
                  nothing but relief. Our new Holy
                  Father will make a much greater
                  Pope than I ever would have done.

        O’Malley nods, a stricken smile. He begins to walk away.
        Suddenly he wheels around and returns.

                            MONSIGNOR O’MALLEY
                  May I speak with you in private?

        Lawrence feels a stab of alarm.

123     INT. SALA REGIA - DAY                                      123

        The two men stand, alone.

                            MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                  I’m sorry Your Eminence, I should
                  have told you this morning as soon
                  as I found out, but then...with
                  everything that happened...and I
                  didn’t dream that Cardinal Benitez
                  would become...

        He trails off, helpless .

                            LAWRENCE
                  Just tell me what’s troubling you.

                            MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                  I found out... Switzerland.
                  Cardinal Benitez’ trip to
                  Switzerland.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 111A.


                       LAWRENCE
            Switzerland? You mean the hospital
            in Geneva?

  O’Malley looks at him, stricken.
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 112.


                             MONSIGNOR O'MALLEY
                   It wasn’t a hospital. It was a
                   clinic.

                              LAWRENCE
                       (Beat)
                   A clinic for what?

124      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - DAY                                   124

         Lawrence strides through the chapel towards the “Room of
         Tears.”

124A     INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - ANTECHAMBER - DAY                    124A

         He descends the stairs and crosses the sacristy, knocking on
         the door. Father Haas opens it a little and looks at Lawrence
         in alarm.

                              HAAS
                   His Holiness won’t get robed, Your
                   Eminence .

                             LAWRENCE
                   If you please, Father Haas...

         Haas steps hurriedly aside. Lawrence enters the little room.

125      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - ROOM OF TEARS - CONTINUOUS            125

         A pale Benitez sits on a narrow bench in the corner, hunched
         over, looking small. The PAPAL TAILOR helplessly holds the
         white cassock of the Pope, not knowing what to do.

                             LAWRENCE
                   May I speak to you alone?

                                BENITEZ
                   Of course.

         The TAILOR puts the cassock away and withdraws.

                             LAWRENCE
                   You too, Father.

         Surprised, Haas bows and leaves, closing the door behind him.
         Lawrence and Benitez remain for a moment in silence.
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 113.


                      BENITEZ
                (ruefully)
            It seems that even the smallest
            vestments are too large... I was
            waiting for you to come.

                      LAWRENCE
            You must tell me about this
            treatment at the clinic in Geneva.

  He’s expecting anger, denial, but Benitez merely smiles,
  gently.

                      BENITEZ
            Must I, Dean?

                       LAWRENCE
            Yes, you must! Within the hour you
            will be the most famous man in the
            world! So tell me - what is your
            situation?

                      BENITEZ
            My “situatio n,” as you call it, is
            the same as when I was ordained a
            priest, the same as when I was made
            a cardinal.

                      LAWRENCE
            But the... treatment... in
            Geneva...

                      BENITEZ
            There was no treatment. I
            considered it, prayed for guidance.
            And decided against it.

                       LAWRENCE
            And what would it have been, this
            treatment?

                      BENITEZ
            It was called a laparoscopic
            hysterectomy.

  A beat. A stunned Lawrence sinks into the nearest chair.
  A fter a moment, Benitez pulls up a chair across from him,
  their knees almost touching.

                      BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                (Gently)
            You have to understand, when I was
            a child, there was no way of
            knowing my “situation” was more...
                      (MORE)
CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 114.
                      BENITEZ (CONT’D)
            complicated. I was born to poor
            parents, in a community where boys
            were more prized than girls. And
            the life in the seminary is, as you
            know, a very modest one. But the
            truth is, there simply was no
            reason to think I was different
            from the other young men. Then, in
            my late thirties, I had an
            operation to remove my appendix.
            And that was when the doctors
            discovered that I had a uterus and
            ovaries. My chromosomes would
            commonly define me as being a
            woman. And yet I am also... as you
            see me.

  Lawrence stares at him and tries to absorb this. Benitez
  smiles sympathetically.

                      BENITEZ (CONT’D)
            It was a very dark time for me. I
            felt as if my entire life as a
            priest had been lived in a state of
            sin. Of course, I offered my
            resignation to the Holy Father. I
            flew to Rome and told him
            everything.

                       LAWRENCE
            He knew?

                      BE NITEZ
            Yes. He knew.

                      LAWRENCE
            And he thought it was acceptable
            for you to continue as an ordained
            minister?

                      BENITEZ
            I would assume so. After all, he
            made me a cardinal in pectore in
            full knowledge of who I am.

  Lawrence is baffled, trying to absorb what he has just
  learned. Benitez gently continues.

                      BENITEZ (CONT’D)
            We considered surgery to have what
            you might regard as the “female”
            parts of my body removed. But th e
            night before I was due to fly I
            realised I was mistaken.
                      (MORE)
      CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 115.
                            BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                  I was who I had always been. It
                  seemed to me more of a sin to
                  correct His handiwork than to leave
                  my body as it was.

                            LAWRENCE
                  Then you... you are still...?

                            BENITEZ
                  I am what God made me. And perhaps
                  it is my difference that will make
                  me useful. I think again of your
                  sermon. I know what it is to exist
                  between the world’s certainties.

        Lawrence considers that.

                             LAWRENCE
                  Who knows about this, apart from
                  O’Ma lley?

                            BENITEZ
                  Only yourself.

        Lawrence nods, thinking that O’Malley can be trusted, that
        this can be kept secret.

                            BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                  And one other of course.

        Lawrence looks at him.

                             BENITEZ (CONT’D)
                  God.

        The two stare at each other.

126     INT. PAULINE CHAPEL - LATE AFTERNOON                         126

        Silence. Lawrence sits, staring blankly ahead, trying to
        absorb what he has just learned. Does it fundamentally change
        who Benitez is?

        He finds himself small i n a place so vast, staring at the
        floor, trying to pray, hoping for guidance, some sense of
        connection. His mind remains numb.

        Suddenly he turns and stops, seeing...

        A small TURTLE that is working its way across the marble.

        Lawrence stares at the surreal sight - this little creature
        inching towards him.
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 116.


         He walks to the turtle and picks it gently up. There’s
         something so absurd about this.

127      INT. SISTINE CHAPEL - VESTIBULE - LATE AFTERNOON            127

         O’Malley places ballot papers and notes, any record of the
         Conclave into the stove and lights them.

         Then he activates the chemical canister.

         His eyes are drawn slowly up the length of the flue to the
         point where it projects through the open window and out into
         th e sky.

128      EXT. VATICAN GROUNDS - LATE AFTERNOON                       128

         Lawrence walks back to the fountain and places the turtle
         gently back into the water.

         And then he hears it.

         The distant roar of a quarter of a million voices raised in
         hope and acclamation as they react to the white smoke now
         rising from the Vatican.

         Lawrence listens as the great wave of joy rolls on, and on.

129      INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LAWRENCE’S BEDROOM - EVENING        129

         Lawrence packs his clothes and few belongings into his case.
         Finally he sits, at the same time feeling an overwhelming
         exhaustion as well as the sensation of having accomplished
         his task.

         He looks up, hearing an electronic whine. The metal shutters
         at his window are slowly ascending.

         He opens the window and looks outside, letting in the air and
         the sun, as the cool winter breeze plays with the curtains.
         He smiles, content.

129A     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - LOBBY - EVENING                  129A

         The shutters in the lobby rise, letting in the evening light.

129B     INT. CASA SANTA MARTA - BACK OFFICE - EVENING            129B

         In the office the canary sits in his cage, reacting to the
         sound from outside. He begins to quietly chirp.
       CONCLAVE by Peter Straughan - Pink Revisions. (27.01.2023) 117.

130      EXT. STREETS IN ROME - EVENING                              130

         Deserted streets in this ancient city. A newspaper in the
         gutter. An abandoned car on the corner. Next to it an old
         statue in crumbling marble under the steady stream of a
         fountain.

130A     I/E. SHOP - STREET NEAR VATICAN - EVENING                 130A

         The store with the PLASTIC PIETÀS from the beginning. And
         suddenly there is Cardinal Lawrence, suitcase in hand,
         resting his gaze on the small statues.

         Then he heads down the street and disappears around the
         corner. We HOLD on the display, the Pietàs, the compassion of
         the WOMAN cradling the Man of Sorrows.

131      INT. SALE E TABACCHI - EVENING                              131

         A near-empty bar in a small café. On the counter a cold
         espresso that someone didn’t have time to finish.

         Behind it, in the background, the faint flicker of a TV. The
         screen shows the balcony of St. Pet er. The red shape of a
         Cardinal steps through the curtains.

                             CARDINAL BROTZKUS
                   Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum.
                   Habemus Papam!

         A small figure in a white cassock steps out next to him,
         bowing his head in humble submission. And now we hear it, the
         roar rising to a deafening volume, the sounds of distant
         celebrations coming through on the TV.


         THE END
