Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

And this is one of my men.

We found him in a ditch

with a kitchen knife in his back.

Murdered by one of you.

You see the German army retreating,

and it makes you feel hope.

It should not.

So who is responsible for this?

You, priest.

What's your name?

I'm Father Merrin.

Father Merrin.

These people confess to you?

Yes.

So point out the one who is responsible.

No one here did this, lieutenant.

They aren't capable of it.

Father, you must help me with this.

Oh, but how?

Well, I need someone.

Do you understand?

Surely there is one among them

who beats his wife or his children.

A thief, perhaps.

Every town has someone

it can do without. Point him out.

There is no murderer here.

I have good news for you.

You are all innocent.

Your priest has told me so.

The murderer is no doubt

lurking in the countryside...

...waiting to strike at the next group

of German soldiers.

I am going to shoot 10 of you...

...in the hope that we can

demonstrate to this wretch...

...the responsibility he has incurred.

A worker's hand.

Farmer.

Excellent.

No!

We will start with you.

Stop!

You have some objection, Father?

In God's name, you cannot do this.

You choose.

What?

Well, they're your flock.

You live among them. So you choose.

I will not.

You give me 10 of them,

or I will kill them all.

Men, women and children.

Shoot me.

You have five seconds.

I can't.

You can't what?

Pick who will be sacrificed?

History is full of priests

who did little else.

You begin to irritate me, Father.

That was for making me wait.

I still want 10 more names.

What are you doing, Father?

Are you praying?

To God?

It's all right, Father. I'll let you pray.

Because I know something.

You see...

...God isn't here today.

You win.

Shoot them all.

No! Wait!

Joost Harmensz, take him.

Too late, Father. You had your chance.

No, please.

Take Joost. And Jon.

That's good.

And who shall be next?

That's him.

He's Dutch, you say?

Half. His mother was English.

Perhaps he'll be a bit more inclined

to see reason then.

I wouldn't be concerned

about reason, major.

He's a scholar.

We studied his works

at the Maryknoll Center.

Oh, yes.

You Maryknolls.

Cropping up everywhere

these days.

It's a wonder the Jesuits don't

get after you for poaching their game.

We all serve in the same cause,

Major Granville.

He's not one of yours?

No.

A simple parish priest from Holland.

When did he develop

this archaeological bent?

Right after the war.

There was an incident.

Yes.

Yes, I heard.

And his standing

in the Church now?

Undecided.

The site is right west of Lake Rudolf,

in the Turkana district.

It's Early Christian, which makes

for quite a mystery given its location.

Anyway...

...we won't know more about it

until we get inside the thing.

I'd only uncovered a small portion

of the roof before I got...

...summoned here.

Did you feel summoned?

I am sorry.

It's a question of status,

you see.

My status?

Officially, you're still listed

as a displaced person.

I wonder...

...why didn't you take steps...

...to clear the matter up?

I've been busy.

Beautiful, aren't they?

Yes, very.

Are you a lepidopterist?

A hobby.

From school days.

You have been busy.

Six archaeological digs since the war.

This is the longest.

If this is an official matter...

...then what is he doing here?

Father Francis?

Well, for one thing,

he's quite an admirer of yours.

I'm about to begin missionary work

in the Turkana district.

I thought maybe we could

help each other.

You know a lot about the people.

I'd rather not. Thank you.

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