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[♪♪♪]

[MAN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[MAN SNORING]

[RUMBLING IN DISTANCE]

[GLASS BOTTLES CLINKING]

[PEOPLE SCREAMING, CLAMORING]

[SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[AIRCRAFT ENGINE DRONING]

[BELL TOLLING]

Helena! Helena!

Helena!

Helena!

Helena!

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Helena!

[SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[MOUTHING WORDS]

[BOMBS WHISTLING]

[CHOIR VOCALIZING]

♪ When you walk Through the garden ♪

♪ You've got to watch Your back ♪

♪ Well, I beg your pardon ♪

♪ Walk the straight And narrow track ♪

♪ If you walk with Jesus ♪

♪ He's gonna save your soul ♪

♪ You've got to keep The devil ♪

♪ Way down in the hole ♪

Hey, hey, stop shaking my machine or get out of here!

Knock it off!

[MAN CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Good afternoon.

Yeah, I'm looking for somebody.

You're too late. Excuse me?

He called you. WOMAN: Excuse me.

Can I have my key, please? You know the rules here.

If you don't pay your rent, you don't get a key. Okay?

No. Nobody called me.

Sure he did. He called the church.

He called St. Cecilia's to get a priest to come

and give 'em the, uh... The Rites.

Last Rites? I'm sure I did pay my rent.

I didn't pay it. Now, stop bustin' my balls, all right?

Yeah. That's it.

Except for no one showed up and he died.

He died? Yeah.

You're looking for Joe Pinella, the old guy. Right?

Oh, no, no.

I'm looking for Frank Shore. Oh.

Him you can have. Where?

If he's not in his room, try the soup kitchen

across the street on the 10th floor.

Hey! Can I get your pies today?

Can I get your--?

Hey, man, can I get your pie?

Come on, man? Why don't you give it up? Give me your pie.

Can I get your pie?

Yo, yo, man, man, can I get your pie? Huh!

[GIBBERING]

Somebody give me a pie. Somebody give me a pie. Sorry.

How are you doing this morning, Frank?

I'm very well. Thank you, Beverly.

One, two, three, four, five, six.

Hey, you got pie today?

You give me your pie, I'll take care of you later.

There you go, Higgins. You got any money today?

Ooh!

What are you doing? Kissing it up to God.

I'll pray for you. Thanks. I appreciate it.

I will pray for you.

I'll pray for you.

Lord! I will pray...

Frank?

John.

Frank, this would be extreme.

What can I tell you? It's filling.

I wasn't talking about the food.

Have a seat.

So you're writing a new book?

No. No new book.

I had my class read The God Within.

It's a good book, Frank.

And they really liked it.

Yeah?

So, what have you been doing?

Living.

The 40 days and nights thing in the desert I can understand,

but it's been eight months.

How'd you find me?

Frank, this cannot be where you want to be.

I don't know that, John.

You walked out without a word to anybody.

I--

The truth is Cahill wants to see you.

He needs you.

He has need of you.

So unless you've decided you're not one of us anymore...

I've been trying not to make too many decisions lately.

You took a vow of obedience.

Cahill wants to see you.

It's that simple. It's time to go.

You obviously haven't been reading the papers,

or you'd know.

There's been another one?

[♪♪♪]

A marble statue of the Virgin in a parished schoolyard.

St. Stanislaus. St. Stanis, you know that.

You grew up up there.

Not too far. St. Bonnie's.

Good. You won't have any problem finding your way.

Place hasn't changed much. All Polacks, Hispanics,

a few mixed left over from the old days.

Very hardworking people, though.

What does she do?

The marble statue, I mean.

Well, that's a fair enough question.

They do lots of things these days, don't they?

They undulate. They levitate.

There's a plastic baby Jesus

up in Skokie that drinks real milk.

A guy cuts open an avocado

and sees the Virgin staring up at him.

It's the millennium coming, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

What does this one do, Your Excellency?

Well, this one's an old fashioned girl.

She just cries. Tears of blood.

How'd you guess? You want a drink?

Fill him in.

They claim she's racked up a few cures.

The documentation is fairly good.

Particularly on a girl named Maria Witkowski.

About seven years back.

She was age nine at the time.

She was diagnosed with terminal lupus. Here.

You can read all about it and there's a tape.

The statue bled on her and she was cured.

But it isn't the statue that people are praying to.

It's a late woman. The late Mrs. Helena Regan.

Nice widowed lady. Lived in the convent.

Cooked with the Sisters.

Opened up a soup kitchen for the poor.

Even worked in the orphanage the nuns have up there.

Everybody loved her until the day she died.

That's when the statue began to weep.

It's her blood the statue is crying.

Or that's what the people believe.

And now they're petitioning for canonization.

Saint Mrs. Helena Regan. They'd have her be.

Has anyone told them there have only been three American saints?

I said they were hardworking people.

I didn't say they were geniuses.

Have you had a chemist out? It's easy to tell if--

No, no, no. Frankly, we've stayed away.

But they've got 10,000 names. Tour buses.

Even the mayor stopped by.

You see, there's already a cult growing up around here.

Like for Father Falcone up at Lake Monroe.

Now, you were brilliant on Falcone.

I destroyed the faith of an entire community.

If you consider that brilliant--

If I didn't, I wouldn't have pulled you out of that stinking

shit house that John found you in.

You did what had to be done.

About this statue. Is there anything else I need to know?

Just that she's very particular. She only weeps when it rains.

And only in November. It's the month Helena Regan died.

The conference call, Bishop.

Congressman Darcy is on hold.

Barbara, don't you ever get tired of being right?

Now listen to me. I don't care

what demons you're wrestling with.

You're still my postulator. You took a vow of obedience.

I need this taken care of right now.

Okay? You got that? What's the hurry?

Doesn't the man hear me?

It's October 28th.

Congressman? Yeah.

[LAUGHS] Yes, it is.

Uh-huh. Yeah, it's about money.

No, no, no. Hey, how's your game?

[BELL TOLLING]

[CHOIR SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[KIDS CHATTERING]

[♪♪♪]

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

[COOING]

FRANK: When did it first happen?

MAN: The bleeding of the statue? Seven years ago.

I was saying memorial mass for Helen.

There was this little girl, A favorite of Helen's,

who had been sick with lupus for a long time.

ALL: Praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please. Sit down.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

Good morning, everybody. ALL: Good morning, Father.

We could have done a little better on the weather, huh?

Helen would've been so happy to--

What am I saying?

Helen is happy.

Looking down from heaven.

To see how many of you came out

in the rain for her memorial mass.

She gave so much love.

I'll bet Helen is in heaven with Jesus

and his blessed mother Mary this very morning.

[ORGAN PLAYING]

Go join your class now. Go on.

[CONGREGATION MURMURING]

[ORGAN STOPS PLAYING]

Child?

Before the incident, the doctor said the lupus would be fatal.

They were very definite.

And afterwards?

The blood from the statue cured her completely.

It's in the material I sent to the diocese.

This is an interesting set up. Yes, yes.

This is something new. We have a money box here.

We don't need to light candles.

All we do here, is touch this, and, uh...

Helen loved this room.

She could watch the children playing at recess.

See the statue.

The statue was very dear to her.

Living in a convent? A lame woman?

Well, she loved working with the kids.

Especially the problem kids.

And there were so many nights that she had to work late.

She like being here for early morning mass,

so it just made sense.

That's her daughter. Roxane.

A daughter? I'd like to talk with her.

She's not even a practicing Catholic.

She's not a friend to our cause.

It's your cause, Father, not ours.

Well, not yet, you mean.

Father Panak. I'm here to decide whether

the case should be recommended to Rome.

And that doesn't happen very often.

Very often?

Have you ever recommended a case to Rome, Father Shore?

She was a soul elected by God.

I'm gonna have to talk to her friends, her enemies.

No. She had no enemies.

Read any journals or letters. Well, that would be difficult.

She was practically illiterate. She read the Bible a little.

She had to start work at a very early age.

So there was not much schooling.

You do know that she was the child of poor immigrants?

Yeah, I know that. From Ireland.

Austria. [LAUGHS]

Her maiden name was Gabor.

Have you even opened the file?

I'll use this as my office.

Father, please. We've been praying

for this investigation for years.

I'll do my best for you.

[♪♪♪]

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

FRANK: You were a friend of Father Falcone, Brother Gregory?

GREGORY: Yes, I was.

I talked with him every night.

He was a great spiritual teacher.

Not just for me, but for all these people.

FRANK: Excuse me.

Is this where he drowned?

His boat washed up next to the boathouse over there.

[PEOPLE SINGING INDISTINCTLY]

WOMAN: Can you help me, please?

Sir, can you help me?

[WOMAN CRYING]

Please, help my son.

Thanks for driving over, Doc. My pleasure.

Actually, it's a case I really don't mind talking about.

Kate Miloy.

Yeah, well, uh, we went in there.

Had a quick look around and then sewed her back up.

See, the tumor was lodged in such a way,

that to remove it was hopeless.

So we sent her home.

Then she prayed to Father Falcone.

Kate had been confessing to him for years.

The tumor the next time you saw her? What tumor?

There wasn't even an interior scar tissue

from the time we had been in before.

Not a trace. Now, I don't want to call that a miracle.

That's not a word I use. In fact, I'm Jewish.

So I don't really believe in your Catholic miracles.

No offense, Father.

That makes it a little more convincing. Wouldn't you say?

The doctor, he doesn't acknowledge our miracles

and, yet, he seems to think--

Not our miracles yet, brother.

I'm familiar with the process.

I know it requires more than one miracle

and there has to be proof of heroic virtue

in order to make a saint, but--

We don't make saints. God does.

Then he made Father Falcone one.

Thank you.

Morning, Father. Morning.

You were at the lake. Yes, Father.

You couldn't walk. You couldn't stand.

I'm feeling much better today, Father.

[♪♪♪]

Father Shore?

What happened to you?

What happened?

What happened to your son? What happened to your son?

He couldn't walk. He couldn't stand.

[WATER LAPPING]

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

[♪♪♪]

[MOUTHING WORDS]

[GASPS]

What are you looking for?

Are you looking for something wrong?

Don't worry. There's nothing I can find.

There's nothing personal.

I can't find the notes on his sermons.

I can't find the paper he wrote them on.

I should never have spoken to you.

I have to find the truth. It's what I do!

Oh, my Lord.

"In the darkness is the power.

"The power of Azazel, Barachiel, Sariel.

The darkness calls. I answer. I give them myself."

Look at this. I never knew about any of this.

I never realized before he died--

You never realized what?

Okay. At the end, he was...

He was a little depressed and he was scared, but--

Darkness calls.

I answer.

I want to see the police report on his death.

You have it. It's in your paperwork.

Those were just forms they filled out for us.

The report will say they contemplated

the possibility of suicide.

They contemplated it. But they ruled it out.

After they heard from the parishioners.

A lot of the police are parishioners.

Falcone kills himself

and you want me to make him a saint?

I thought only God makes saints.

[♪♪♪]

[SNIFFLES]

You know what they call you, Father Shore?

My friends at the archdiocese told me.

They call you the miracle killer.

You knew.

You knew something was wrong and you turned your back on it.

You let this whole thing happen.

I wanted to-- It's a goddamn circus!

I wanted...

I wanted to-- I know all about I wanted to.

But the miracles. The cures. Belief is powerful.

Ask the doctors.

You were at the lake. You saw what happened.

You felt it too.

But, it wasn't the work of God, was it?

Or was God playing games with us?

You sound just like him, you know that?

You sound like Falcone. You don't understand.

This one was supposed to be real.

You sound like Falcone.

This one was supposed to be real.

They call you the miracle killer.

This one was supposed to be real.

Frank? Welcome back.

Hey, Frank.

Thanks.

Brother Thomas. It's good to see you.

Oh. It's been a long time. How you been?

Well, you know. Okay.

Thank you.

Not sure if I'm staying. I haven't decided yet.

You'll pray for me. Thanks. I'll need it.

[KIDS CHATTERING]

[♪♪♪]

Father...? Yeah, Frank Shore.

Roxane Regan. Of course. Hi.

Hi. Listen, I-- Have a seat?

No. No, thanks. I got your message yesterday.

I didn't even want to call you back.

So instead you came in person?

Well, yeah. Yeah.

'Cause I want you to understand something. This-- This--

This idea you have about

my mother being a saint is, um, pathetic.

Okay? And this other guy, this Father...

Father Panak? Panak.

He's pathetic. He's really pathetic.

You like that word.

The guy used to bring me doughnut holes. You know?

What would you call that? I don't know Father Panak.

I don't know your mother either. Not yet.

Right. So you're going to get to know her now?

Well, that's my job.

Some job. Pssh. Doughnut holes?

Hey. I swear it.

Can I ask you a few questions about your mother?

You didn't just hear me? No.

Give me a minute. Let me show you something.

These are all people that prayed to your mother.

A lot of this is nonsense, but look: Martin Wade.

His white blood cell count was less than a thousand.

That's really bad. This guy was in very bad shape.

Oh. He prayed to your mother.

His wife rubbed soil from your mother's grave on his chest.

That's foolish right? It's primitive. Superstitious.

His white blood cell count is now near three thousand.

The doctors are looking for an explanation.

They can't find one. Whatever.

Do I need to listen to more of this?

Do you have a law or something? No. There's no law.

I'm not a cop. That was my father. I'm a priest.

Is this where I'm supposed to say

you don't look like a priest?

That's Brother Thomas. He's been deaf since childhood.

Sorry.

[CHUCKLES] It's irrelevant, I guess.

Do you have a couple minutes? I'd like to show you something.

Okay? It'll just take a couple of minutes.

All right?

This was taken by Father Panak,

several days before your mother died.

Here.

pull your ears! Simon says... stick out your tongue.

There she is.

An ordinary woman.

Simon says jump high!

[♪♪♪]

[ALL CLAPPING] Pat your head!

[CHATTERING ON VIDEO CONTINUES]

FRANK: Is that what a saint looks like?

[SCOFFS]

Can't you see the goddamn halo?

I'm surrounded by people

who worship the ground she walked on.

I'm not asking you to be one of them.

So, what are you asking me to be?

The miracles are nothing if she wasn't a good woman.

Good woman?

I don't know if she was a good woman.

Moved into the convent when I was 16.

Cared more about the church and that priest

than she did about me. You tell me.

Does that make her a good woman?

She cared more about the priest?

Oh, boy. Oh, your wheels are going.

Right? Ugh. Oh, I mean. What?

You started thinking that she and Panak

had something going on, right?

Was there?

What is it with you?

If you can't make somebody a saint,

you're gonna make them a slut? Is that it?

Jane Francis de Chantel. Eighteenth century France.

She wanted to become a nun. But she had a kid.

A 10 year old boy. When she tried to go, he screamed.

He cried. He laid down

in front of the convent to try to stop her.

She stepped right over him.

A hundred years later, the church made her a saint.

The church did? What would you have done?

I don't know. You don't know?

No.

[SCOFFS]

[SIGHS] What is a saint anyway?

A saint is a person who is with God in heaven.

Mm-hm.

Well, if you pray to that person and your prayers are answered,

that means that person has a special connection with God.

That means that person has convinced God

to answer your prayers.

What are you saying to me?

That you think that woman is up in heaven

and she's tapping God on the shoulder and whispering to God:

"You know you gotta hear those people's prayers"?

Do you believe all this?

Do you?

You ask tough questions.

You look like her.

I take after my father.

[DOG BARKING]

Do you know where the Witkowskis live?

Over there.

Mrs. Witkowski?

I'm Father Shore.

Father Panak said you'd come. I wish he'd told me when.

Well, I tried to call, but the phone didn't--

Cut it off.

It's Maria I wanted to talk to. Is she here?

Bless this house. Bless it, Father. Please?

I don't see her no more. She doesn't live here?

I don't know where she lives.

She'd stopped coming around once she and her boyfriend

figured out they don't have any money.

Is this her? Uh-huh.

She's 16 now. Sixteen-year-old whore.

How do you mean?

I know the trash she hangs out with.

Those pimps and junkies down by the Rio Diner.

Do you know for a fact that she's--

I can smell it on her, Father.

If you ask me, God wasted a miracle.

[♪♪♪]

[CAR ALARM BEEPING]

Do you know a girl named Maria Witkowski?

Hey, could you help me? I'm looking for someone.

I said, can you help?

Hey, man, don't mess around like that. Okay?

Her name is Maria Witkowski.

No...

Who the fuck are you? The police? Who are you, then?

I'm looking for a girl named Maria Witkowski.

Nobody that name hangs here.

Maybe any name I mention nobody that name hangs here.

Maybe you're right.

Thanks for your help.

[♪♪♪]

Where are you going?

Okay...

You know, we got lots of Marias.

If you ain't, uh, police, what are you?

Actually, I'm a priest.

What's the matter? This slip miss mass on Sunday?

She was sick before. She could be sick again.

My name is Frank Shore. I'm at St. Stan's.

Nice church.

My old lady goes there to pray for me.

That's nice. Everybody should have somebody praying for them.

Father? They real? Those miracles?

Fuck, yes, they're real.

I believe in all that shit.

GIRL: Shut up, Wayne.

Are they, Father? You heard Wayne.

See you around.

Oh, yeah. All the time, me and you.

Hey, Father. Oh, yeah.

Get yourself something to eat, will you?

Hey, what did you just do with that dollar?

I kissed it up to God.

Higgins. A Black guy named Higgins.

No shit. You knew Higgins? What do you mean, knew?

He's dead. He just died.

You knew Higgins. He was all right.

Okay, if you see Maria.

Okay?

Father Shore, St. Stan's.

[SINGER VOCALIZING]

Hey! What the fuck?

I'm sorry for the intrusion.

CAHILL: Ai, ai, ai, Frank.

Bishop.

Wipe that grin off your face.

The body is the temple of the spirit.

Just wanna know, how did you find your way out here?

Hot tip from Sister Margaret.

You wanna know a reason not to go to heaven?

That old busybody will be waiting when you get there.

What can I do, Frank?

I thought you might want to hear an update on Helena Regan.

Why? Is she making the lame see and the blind walk?

You're not laughing. That must mean

you think there's something to this.

I don't know what I think. Well, think of the people.

I don't want them up there worshipping some statue.

I am thinking of the people.

Okay, what can I do for you?

More time and resources.

I need someone full time to help me with the investigation.

That would be Leone. I'll go to the university

square it away with them. No, not Leone.

I thought that you and he were buddies.

I've got another candidate.

Okay, Bishop. Okay.

Submit a budget to Sister Margaret. I'll sign it.

Great, thanks.

Hey, Bishop, still not done?

Hey, Jack, no.

We'll be by the pool waiting for you.

I'll be there.

Excuse me. That is Jack Da Sica.

A very, very powerful man in this city.

Da Sica Contracting? Yes. Biggest in the city.

Hey, listen. They're having a fundraiser Thursday night.

Big shots. Five thousand a plate.

You're inviting me?

Well, you're a very articulate guy. You're not a sissy.

You don't act like Mother Superior.

Teaching the Bible to the pagan babies. Bishop--

That kind of lay support never hurts a man's career, Frank.

What? You thought I'd given up thinking about

your career and moving up the ladder?

Cardinal Humes still talks about

how you handled the Falcone case.

[♪♪♪]

FRANK: Have you had a chance to take a look at the file?

Yeah, I've read every word. And? Are you interested?

That's impressive.

Poetic too. The rain, that's a nice touch.

I understand that Brother Superior

has given you permission to take off for a while.

What choice did he have?

He gets a call from the Cardinal himself.

So I guess the only question is--

The only question is why are you doing this?

I mean, you come back here after all this time.

I need your help.

[SCOFFS] My help?

Why me?

Thank you.

Well, I asked around and found out

you did a little graduate work in Canon Law

at Seton Hall before you took your vows.

I'm asking you, why me?

I owe you.

If I helped you with Falcone,

I didn't intend to, and you know that.

Yeah, I know that.

But I took something away from you.

This is a chance to get it back, maybe.

[♪♪♪]

You realize there's no birth certificate.

Only record of her birth is from the passport.

1933.

[CAR HORN HONKS]

Now they don't like holes in the documentation.

I'll check with the Austrian Consulate.

There's more of them than ever down there. What's going on?

Must be clouding up.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

FRANK: Maria.

Hi.

You Father Shore?

Mm-hm.

Who told you I was looking for you? Wayne?

No. Miller. Oh, Miller. Yeah.

I'm investigating the life of a woman you knew.

Helena Regan.

She saved me. She did?

And she knew things too, you know.

Like, she knew when my mother hurt me.

Your mother hurt you?

No.

Hmm?

No big deal.

So, uh... So this one day, I was sick and, um...

My mom forgot to come for me.

Helen walked me home.

That was when she first noticed the mark on my face, you know?

The lupus? Yeah.

She-- She touched me.

What?

I gotta go. To Wayne?

When Helen died...

that morning, do you remember?

Um...

I don't know, um...

It was raining.

I prayed. Did you pray for Helen?

When someone dies you pray for their soul.

Is that what you did?

No. Did you pray to her?

Maria?

Could you tell me about the statue?

I gotta go. It's okay. It's okay.

What do you want?

Stay here. I can get you some help, all right?

Well, I don't need no help, okay?

Yes, you do. We all need help.

Oh, yeah. Listen to me.

What? Calm down a minute. Calm down.

If you want to help me, you can give me 20 dollars.

Stop, tell me where-- Tell me where I can find you.

God! Fuck, fuck! Stop that!

Jesus! Stop it!

I said stop! Stop!

[SOBS] Stop!

Stop.

One more question.

Okay?

You prayed to Helen...

not to God.

Helen loved me. God loves you.

Never saw God.

You prayed that she would cure you, and she did.

No.

I prayed that I would die.

[SCOFFS]

[♪♪♪]

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Credo...

Credo quia... Frank.

Credo quia.

I believe. I believe because--

Credo quia impossible.

I believe because

it is impossible. It's Tertullian.

[LAUGHING]

Frank? You okay, Frank?

Where does faith go?

John? Frank.

You jerk.

You come into my confessional with a bag on?

Frank? You've been drinking? [LAUGHING] I'm sorry.

Back there in that flophouse where I found you--

No, no, no, that stinking shit house.

That's what Cahill called it.

Yeah, back there you weren't drinking.

Well, back there I wasn't pretending to be a priest.

[SIGHS]

How? How does faith get away from you, John?

Does it happen like you decide

you don't want to be a lawyer anymore?

Or you fall out of love with your wife?

How would I know that, hm?

All I know is we're gonna--

You and me, we're gonna look like a couple of assholes

if we die and there's nothing there.

Will you give me a break, Frank?

We've been through that.

This is first year seminary bull session stuff. Come on.

It's not that I want-- What? Freedom.

'Cause I'll give up anything.

Everything. I'll give up!

I'll give up everything!

I just don't want it to have been for nothing.

I want it to be true. The miracle?

All of it! That had better goddamn be true, John!

What can I do for you, Frank? How can I help you?

I don't know. I don't think you can do anything for me, really.

May the Lord Jesus Christ absolve you.

And I, by His authority, absolve you of all your sins.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Thanks.

MAN: Wayne Strazzi.

Three years in juvie,

couple of busts for possession. Does he run prostitutes?

It wouldn't come as an awful shock to us.

Look, we have this Maria Witkowski's description.

We'll round her up every now and then.

Make sure she's okay. Every now and then?

Best we can do, Frank. Even for you.

Thanks, Al, I appreciate it.

It was not a red light. I ran a yellow light.

It was red! Get your hands off me.

How the fuck would you know-- Roxane!

COP: I was across you-- Roxane!

I thought you weren't a cop. It's my dad's old precinct.

Is that right? She giving you a hard time?

She had a little traffic altercation on Lincoln.

Got into a fight with Protski. They say I ran a red light.

Protski? You had to pick on the biggest cop in the force?

She a friend of yours? Herman, we're like this.

[KEY CLATTERS]

Thank you, Herman. You're welcome.

Thanks.

What brings you out this way? I, uh, got a stop to make.

Wanna come along?

[♪♪♪]

Bring all this stuff.

They don't even think about who's gonna clean it up.

A lot of people loved your mother.

Is that right?

Ow.

[AIRPLANE RUMBLING]

Thorn.

[♪♪♪]

We always used to do that when the jets passed from O'Hare.

You and your mother? Yeah.

She used to tell me this...

This story about when she was a kid in Europe.

[PEOPLE CLAMORING] [BOMBS WHISTLING]

They were bombing the town that she lived in.

But she prayed.

The bombs dropped, but they never hit the ground.

I don't know. That's how she told it anyway.

Really? Probably means that her family

wasn't hit, but ever since, we've been afraid of jets.

I thought you didn't want to talk to me about your mother.

Is that what I said? Yeah.

I never ask myself why I do what I do.

Oh, boy. What?

Nothing. I just like the sound of that, never asking.

Why don't you try it?

Well, I have, but that doesn't usually work for me.

Oh. I could try it again, I guess.

How about trying this?

Do you always carry a bottle of vodka around?

It's a little tradition I have.

I like to have a drink with my mother

on the anniversary of her death.

Join me?

Yeah.

To Helen.

To Helen.

Why are you a priest?

Why do you want to know?

'Cause I can tell you like this.

Never mind, I shouldn't be asking.

No, that's all right. All right.

Did you have girlfriends?

Did you just turn that off or what?

I'm not a virgin if that's what you mean.

Well, kinda.

Back when I was a senior at Dolan High, you know...

[BOTH LAUGH] Oh, Dolan?

I went to Mount Saint Mary's.

We used to go to dances there.

Took three buses and a transfer.

Did you dance or watch?

I danced a little bit. Yeah. Did you?

Really? Yeah, I danced.

I wasn't a priest when I was in high school.

Well, do priests dance? Priests dance, yeah.

I just haven't had much occasion to dance lately.

Show me.

[LAUGHS]

Yeah, sure.

Groovy.

Well, you know, we're talking early '50s here.

You're good at this. What's that called?

It's not a big thing.

It's just a little graceful-- Subtle, yeah.

What? I can see how wild you used to be.

My favorite was the elevator.

What's the elevator? No steps.

I like the elevator too.

[BELL RINGING]

Let's go somewhere.

Can I help? I got it.

This'll balance it out.

I just always...

I imagine that there was something else out there.

You know, I've never been anywhere.

That's why I became a travel agent.

Where would you like to go?

I want to go everywhere.

Or maybe anywhere. Somewhere.

You still want to know why I became a priest?

Did God call you?

I guess so. In his way.

I was 17...

and my dad who was a cop-- I told you that.

Who had raised me by himself.

My mom died when I was 5.

He was shot through the neck in the line of duty.

I went to the hospital.

He was dying. I prayed.

And I prayed.

That if God would let him live, I would become a priest.

And 10 minutes later, doctors were saying:

"We've never seen anything like this before."

My dad was alive.

So you kept your end of the bargain.

I had to.

I went to seminary, I took the vows,

I put the collar on, and three months later, my father died.

Doesn't sound like God kept his.

I don't know. I was so angry.

I wasn't angry, I was just...

I was very confused, you know?

And then I realized God doesn't make bargains.

God's God.

He was just making it hard for me.

And my mother?

Where does she fit in?

I want God to show his face again.

What if he doesn't have a face?

What are you gonna do?

Gonna spend your whole life caring more

about a dead woman than a live one?

Maybe you're afraid.

I am afraid.

I'm afraid of...

falling in love with you.

I'm afraid of that too.

Should I go?

[SOFTLY] No, no, no.

Please don't go.

[♪♪♪]

Let me see you. Let me look at you.

You're so beautiful.

[BOTH LAUGH] Is it okay?

Is this okay? Oh, yeah. It's more than okay.

Hold me really tight.

[RAIN PATTERING]

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

It's raining. I've got to get to the church.

What?

I have to go.

Oh, no.

I should go.

Are you gonna come back? Huh?

Yes. Yes. I'll come back.

Okay? You promise?

I promise.

I promise.

I'll be back.

PANAK: Helen is with us! She's here with us, always!

REPORTER: Father, can you tell us what's going on here?

Is it true the miracle statue is crying blood?

No reporters! Let's go, Father. Let's go.

Are you Reverend Paul Panak? Yes. This is my parish.

No pictures, no television.

You can't give orders, this is my parish.

I don't have time to argue.

I called them. I invited them.

That's fostering a cult. I can shut down

the ordinary process right here, right now.

When the statue cries tonight, try shutting me down then!

GREGORY: Hey, Frank, over here.

REPORTER: Father, can you tell us how this started?

What's going on? Nothing yet.

Where were you? I looked all over for you.

I want to introduce you to Father Burke.

He's with the Chemistry department at Loyola.

Good to see you.

You been around one of these before?

BURKE: Oh, a half a dozen times.

We call it the pig fat patrol. It's a common trick.

The statue's painted with pig fat when the rain sets in,

it looks like mixed with the pig fat, it looks like blood.

Yeah. WOMAN: Helen!

It's blood!

MAN: It's bleeding!

[CROWD CLAMORING]

Helen is with us now!

[♪♪♪]

Let's get a ladder over here. It's on its way.

No, no, no. Not yet.

Frank, it's Burke's job.

[♪♪♪]

Good evening.

There you are, Frank, you made it.

It's good to see you.

Quite a fuss they say, last night.

The press is more subdued than usual.

I see your hand in that. Good work.

We should talk about last night.

Your Eminence, may I present Father Frank Shore.

Your Eminence. I'm happy to meet you, Father.

Allow me to present Archbishop Weller

of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

The Archbishop is in America on a lecture tour.

Oh, I see.

You have, perhaps, heard of the cause of Helena Regan?

Yes, I have.

Father Shore is our Postulator.

So we are to consider another American Saint.

Really, I enjoy your country.

You have several world-class orchestras now.

I've even heard there's a passable restaurant

or two in San Francisco.

That's wonderful.

But is this truly the soil in which sainthood can grow?

Well, Helen wasn't born an American, as you probably know.

So I've heard. She was a street urchin

from somewhere in Austria. Am I correct?

That's correct. It's understandable

that the Congregation would be slow to acknowledge new saints.

On the contrary, there are several causes that I favor.

That of the Belgian Father Koontz, for instance.

A man of great writ and learning.

And great heroic virtue, no doubt.

As a matter of fact, he was martyred by the Nazis

for preaching against the persecution of the Jews.

But then, I'm sure your little housewife

was equally courageous.

We have not yet decided to urge her cause, Archbishop.

Good, because I urge you to consider very carefully

before spending the Congregation's time.

Oh, thank you, I have to go.

A brilliant man.

Excuse me, Your Eminence.

I have something to tell you both.

The statue shed tears last night.

According to the lab at Loyola they were blood,

type A, same as Helen's.

You are wrong, young man. What do you mean?

Wrong to tell me in this way.

I rely on Bishop Gayle in these matters.

Sorry, Your Eminence. What did I say?

What did I say? What did I say?

What did I mean--? Excuse me, excuse me.

Father Shore, urgent phone call for you.

Forgive me.

♪ Saw you falling ♪

♪ When you fell ♪

♪ You kept on falling ♪

♪ Heard you calling ♪

♪ When you called And kept on calling ♪

[SIREN WAILING]

♪ And your love ♪

♪ You are loved ♪

♪ You are loved ♪

♪ And your loss ♪

♪ You are lost ♪

♪ You are lost ♪

How can you even tell who it is?

Who do you think did it?

We're looking for a little junkie named Miller.

Couple of neighbors saw him around here.

Miller? Yeah.

I repent this. It works all over the place.

She was hurt too, Father. Where is she?

Southside General. Frank? What?

She'll die there.

♪ As I run to you ♪

♪ Close my eyes ♪

♪ As I run to you ♪

♪ Close my eyes ♪

♪ Nothing grows ♪

♪ When the water don't flow ♪

Oh, my God.

♪ Nothing flows ♪

♪ In the frozen snow ♪

♪ And I run... ♪

Can I ask you something? Sure.

When you needed a second on this investigation,

why didn't you want me?

Now? Tonight? You ask me this?

If you think I'm Cahill's man, you're wrong, Frank.

Okay, you're wrong.

I'm yours. I'm yours first.

How about being your own man?

Look, John, what I needed-- What I need on this

is somebody who has to know is God here or isn't he?

That's what this is about to me.

You stopped asking that question a long time ago.

Frank? Do you remember...?

What? When you took your vows.

Yeah. What did you feel then?

Do you remember?

Boy. They were big feelings, right?

I mean, excitement, pride. Fear.

And joy. Joy.

It has never left me, Frank.

I don't need to ask questions. I know.

Good for you.

I mean that. Good for you.

You're a lucky man.

[WOMAN SPEAKING OVER PA]

[DISTORTED AUDIO REWINDING]

HELEN: Make a wish. Make a wish.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[♪♪♪]

[KIDS LAUGHING, CHEERING]

I'm asking you if it's right.

If your servant Helen should need me...

of all men.

Her heart was made of love. And I--

Oh, dear Jesus.

I'm not even a good priest.

Make me worthy.

Helen, make me worthy.

Hi. Hi.

[LAUGHS]

You wanna come inside?

You could fix us up a couple of tickets to a Saint I know.

Saint Bart's...

Saint Kit's. I wish.

Is something wrong?

I'm recommending that Rome hear your mother's cause.

We're submitting a Positio.

That's an account of her virtuous life

and miracles performed in her name.

And if it's approved, there'll be a tribunal.

We may not hear for a while. I mean, it might take years.

Should I be happy?

No. Well, I didn't think that you would be happy.

Do you want me to be happy for you?

I have to make myself ready to defend her cause.

So God won.

Forgive me.

[SCOFFS]

You know, my friend Jean...

She wants to be a Catholic. You wanna know why?

She says that Catholics can do anything they want.

And all they gotta do is go to some confessional,

say a few Hail Mary's and then they're all forgiven.

Well, it was a real kick.

Mr. Priest, holy man.

I'm not a holy man.

No.

You're not.

You're like all the others, Frank.

Roxane... [SIGHS]

what could I possibly do but hurt you?

Nothing, Frank.

Absolutely nothing.

Don't go.

[♪♪♪]

[SOFTLY] Frank?

[SNIFFLES] Please.

Well, give me a hint as to what's in here, why don't you?

I've done my best, Your Excellency.

Don't "Excellency" me.

Am I gonna like what I see in here or not?

Like it, don't like it. It's the truth.

[RESPIRATOR WHOOSHING]

[EKG BEEPING]

[♪♪♪]

The body of Christ.

The body of Christ. Amen.

The body of Christ. Amen.

The body of Christ. Amen.

Frank. Frank.

What's going on?

The Vatican is sending an investigative tribunal

to see if the church is willing

to move forward on Helen's cause.

So quickly?

Rome is finally catching up with the rest of the world.

Thanks be to God.

Now, it is strictly preliminary,

but they're sending a blue ribbon panel.

Two Cardinals. Some theologians

and the Congregation of the Cross of the Saints.

Your holy housewife's making quite a stir.

I guess so.

Have you ever heard of them

sending a tribunal on the road like this?

No. No, I haven't.

It's probably because the Devil's Advocate they want

is here in the states.

Who is it? Do you know? Werner?

The German?

The German. That we met?

Yes.

You can get them. You can get them.

[♪♪♪]

Has the Cardinals arrived? They arrived on Wednesday.

There's Nola from Rome. And Sarrazim from Leon.

This bleeding statue.

It wouldn't be five minutes out of our way.

MAN: Bless me, Father.

Werner has a doctrine in theology and canon law.

He writes in every European language.

Eighteen years at the Congregation

for the Propagation of the Faith.

They thought he would make Cardinal by now.

FRANK: Well, why hasn't he?

Too unpredictable. He scares them.

Well, he scares me too.

[PRAYING IN LATIN] [GROUP RESPONDS IN LATIN]

Please sit down.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Our task is twofold

First, we determine if the servant of God

Helena Regan practiced virtue to a heroed degree.

Second, we seek in miracles

signs of God's special favor to her.

We have read the postulator advocate,

Father Francis Xavier Shore.

Your eminence. It is a learned empire.

Thank you. Archbishop Werner?

Yes. Our good friend.

As promoter of the faith, you oppose this woman's cause.

Yes, Your Eminence.

Will you begin?

We live in a fallen world.

Martyrdom is with its great defined act of faith

seems impossible.

Therefore acts of simple goodness,

opening a soup kitchen, kindness, kindness to the poor,

have come to seem worthy of a saint.

But true sainthood is another word.

To begin at the beginning, Mrs. Helena Regan was married.

Father Shore's document makes no reference

to the obstacle that marriage

creates between the soul and God.

Because I see no obstacle.

No obstacle in sexual intercourse? No.

The contamination of the spirit by the flesh, no? No.

Respectfully, Your Eminences,

it has been centuries since the church has regarded

the human body as solely a vessel of sin.

You, yourself are celibate.

Do you not agree with the council

that celibacy is a most blessed state?

What I am saying is, there have been married saints.

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. Saint Monica. Elizabeth Seton.

Exceptions mark the rule.

It was more than a soup kitchen than Elizabeth founded.

It was a mighty religious order.

The union of man and wife is the first bond of human...

Yeah, society. And youth is passed

in order of charity between husband and wife.

Of course.

We have read Saint Augustine for this. What's your point?

The odor of charity is my point. Your eminence.

Yes, Helen was married.

Let me tell you about her marriage.

Her husband died of cancer.

Seven years she was by his bedside

as his body deteriorated.

She was tireless and even grateful

to clean up the stink and the mess of his sickness

because she loved him.

The Archbishop says that's an obstacle.

But the way she cared for her husband

is the way she cared for others.

Your eminence, we have many saints

who spent their lives in chaste prayer.

God bless their piety.

But Helen is a saint of the people.

The people who live in the ordinary world.

Let them have her blessing.

Let them have their saint.

Will a Chicago woman become the next saint?

That's what's being decided at Holy Cathedral by a high level

panel of Roman Catholic appellates

who held their first session today.

[PHONE RINGING] In the case of the woman,

the late Helena Regan,

she was a parish worker at St. Stanislaus Church,

and has created much excitement among the city's worshippers.

[LINE DIALING OUT]

REPORTER [ON TV]: ...been set for the end of the investigation

as long as it takes is all the church spokesperson--

[STATUE CLATTERS]

[MAN SHOUTING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[MAN SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

FRANK: It's a mark of origin.

You see it on the pottery they sell tourists. So?

The streets are in Czechoslovakia.

In the Slovakian part, we've been looking at Austria.

Because Helen was from Austria.

So Roxane's story didn't make any sense

because the town Helen was supposed to have been from

was never bombed.

Purposeful or what? Yeah, this whole region.

We bombed the heck out of this area.

How did you get it out of the daughter, anyway?

I thought she wasn't cooperating?

But what if the story is true?

It's a fairy tale her mother told her

to keep her from being afraid.

Yeah, but if it were.

I don't know, I mean, even if her passport

What? What about her passport?

What, are you keeping something from me?

I didn't want you to get your hopes up.

Well, I think I could probably handle it. What is it?

I told you, there was no birth certificate.

Yeah, so?

The Austrian Consulate, they put me in touch

with the hall of records where she was supposed to be from.

Right? No record of her being born there.

No record of Helena Gabor anywhere.

So she could have been from somewhere else.

Like here, she could have been born in Slovakia.

And that would explain why

nobody ever heard her speaking German.

No, perhaps, but listen.

The Gabor family that she immigrated with

had only one child, a son.

But the U.S. army issued passports

to four of them, Helen included.

They were processing refugees by the boatload.

Everyone's papers were a mess.

Yeah, but so, what are you saying, anyway?

That the family, the whole family

lied that this child was theirs.

Why would they do that?

Does your order have people over there? Austria?

No, forget Austria.

It's Slovakia, the church is under siege by the communists.

You're gonna have to find somebody

who speaks the language, can show you around.

I'll find someone, why? Because the answer is there.

It's where the statue is from. Where the bombs actually fell.

And what am I supposed to find?

Maybe we'll find out who Helena Regan really was.

Maybe a miracle.

It was wonderful, a wonderful evening.

Thank you so much.

Excellent wine. Oh, yes, it was.

Oh, Father Shore.

Well, did dinner meet with your standards, your excellency?

I'm in the American Midwest. I don't expect miracle.

That's a good rule.

I don't know why you smile. I do believe in miracles.

I saw one once. You mean Father Kurtzweil?

It so happens, I wasn't thinking of Kurtzweil

But it's ironic, isn't it?

I actually believe in the miracles

whereas you believe in nothing.

Nothing at all.

And yet you will do anything

to prove your little housewife's miracles are real.

I am right, am I not? You believe in nothing at all.

I can see why they call you the devil's advocate.

Be careful, Frank.

And you are everything I was afraid you'd be.

You're clever, insolent, and underneath it all, sentimental.

It's actually quite important that you be taught a lesson.

Important to you? No. No,

...important to God's holy church.

Thank you. You're not God or his church.

Frank. Yes, John.

You can't speak to the archbishop like that.

I just did.

How are things going? Fine.

How are things with you? Fine. Is this your friend?

Yes, Brother Gregory, Father John Leone.

Pleased to meet you.

Yeah. I heard of you.

Brother Gregory is helping me out on the Helen

Yes I know.

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Good evening. Evening.

That was interesting.

[MUSIC BLARING FROM APARTMENT]

Hi. Hi. Are you Jean?

How'd you know? Lucky guess, I guess.

Roxane!

You must be Frank. Yes.

[SCOFFS] Thanks, Jean.

I don't have to ask if it's a bad time. Sorry.

Well, I've heard that before.

What are you doing here? I need your help.

Heh, really?

You are a goddamn stubborn Irishman, aren't you?

They're going to be talking about you

at the tribunal tomorrow.

They are?

They're gonna say that your mother deserted you.

That's how they're going to put it.

Well that's how it was.

No, she was torn. She was guilty.

She must have been.

They need to hear you say that.

You're unbelievable.

Excuse me, I've got a party to go to.

Helen needs you.

I need you. Forgive me, Father.

♪ If I'd known For just one second ♪

♪ You'd be back to bother me ♪

♪ Go on now, go ♪

[SINGING TO THE MUSIC] ♪ Walk out the door ♪

♪ Just turn around now ♪

♪ 'Cause you're not welcome Anymore ♪

♪ Weren't you the one who tried To hurt me with goodbye? ♪

♪ You think I'd crumble? ♪

♪ You think I'd lay down and die? ♪

♪ Oh, no, not I I will survive ♪

♪ For as long as I know How to love ♪

Reverend postulator, we will hear you with interest

on the matter of Roxane Regan,

daughter of Helen, but I must ask why.

She is not herself a witness.

She did not wish to come, Your Eminence.

Oh, she didn't.

And if she had, do you believe she would have testified

in favor of her mother's beatification?

Regan believes that her mother abandoned her

to serve the church.

And that's not what you yourself believe?

I believe Helena Regan's overwhelming desire

was simply to be with God. [DOOR OPENING]

Who are you?

I'm so-- I'm-- I'm so sorry, I thought this was a courtroom.

I thought I could just slip in the back and listen.

Roxane Regan, Your Eminence.

You have decided to come. You're welcome.

Please take a seat.

Well....I don't have any...

I don't really have anything to say,

I just wanted to, you know, see how you make a saint, really.

Regan has no conception of sainthood, Your Eminence.

She's not a practicing Catholic. That's, uh, that's right.

How could I have a concept of a saint, really?

Why don't you explain it to me, Father?

Or any-- Or anybody. Your Eminence?

A saint loves God

beyond the ordinary human power to love God.

The saint is love.

You experienced the loss of your mother's love

when you were 16.

It didn't kill me.

Yeah, but it was a terrible loss for you.

Well, yeah, heh.

I mean, yeah, of course it was.

Mm-hm. Mm-hm.

Thank you. That's all I wanted to know.

Do you have any idea why she left you?

No.

Well, you must have asked yourself that question.

Why she left you.

What was her reason?

ROXANE: Heh, I don't know. Was it just indifference?

I mean, was it convenient? Was it just her being selfish?

I don't-- I don't-I don't know. Well what does she say to you?

She must have offered some explanation.

She didn't just get up and leave one day.

What did she tell you, Roxane?

Um...

She said she owed God.

Owed him.

Yeah, I didn't get it then

and quite honestly, I don't get it now, either.

And when she left you...

...it was painful.

Of course it was painful.

FRANK: Do you think it was painful for her?

I don't-- I don't know if I can answer that.

Well, maybe for her,

her love for God was so strong

that she left you even though she loved you.

[WHISPERING]

Even though she really loved you.

And even though it was very, very painful for her.

You can understand that.

You can imagine that,

even if you don't understand it, can't you?

I can imagine that it's painful to leave somebody you love.

I can't imagine leaving your daughter.

That, I can't imagine. But you know, that's me.

And...

God knows, I'm not a saint, so... Heh.

[PHONE RINGS]

Yeah?

[WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY] Yes.

[WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY] Y-ye-yes.

Hello, Frank?

It's extraordinary, Frank.

Everyone here knows the story,

or-r at least they remember hearing about it.

Now, okay, look-- Our only problem is,

as yet we don't have any eyewitnesses

or at least none that will talk.

Or if they will, their children won't allow them to.

I mean, they're-they're afraid to help us, Frank,

they're afraid to go to church, for crying out loud.

Okay, now look, look, I know it's a problem

and of course I'm gonna continue to look,

but I've managed to piece together

what happened between one account

and another and, it's an incredible story.

Are you ready?

If there's any hope, we would like to sustain her life.

Whatever the cost.

If I thought there were, Father, I would.

Mrs. Witkowski?

[MONITORS BEEPING RAPIDLY]

Is she dead yet? Not yet.

Be a few minutes. We'll leave you alone.

Why don't you go on to the tribunal?

I'll stay here.

God doesn't waste miracles.

[PRAYING INDISTINCTLY]

Concerning the first of the miracles

attributed to the servant of God,

the cure of Maria Witkowski.

Yes, your eminence.

We have here your account of the day

she was cured of terminal lupus by the blood

of Helena Regan,

to whom the girl was in the habit of praying.

Yes, the events I learned from Maria herself.

There is also the testimony of others

who saw Maria come in to the church

that morning covered with blood.

What looked like blood.

Thereafter, she made an inexplicable recovery.

Yes, your eminence.

If you'll pardon me, the, consulta medica

of Catholic University has confirmed

two hospital reports that her cure

cannot be explained by natural means.

Archbishop, you've asked for a review of the report.

May we have more water?

Can't you keep these water glasses filled?

ARCHBISHOP: Yes, but I do have another question.

I wish to know, where is Maria Witkowski now?

She-- Well, until now, she's been in a coma.

As you are well aware. However,

this morning, about an hour ago--

A coma? Brought about by overdose of cocaine?

I'm trying to answer your question.

So, she is a drug addict.

According to police reports,

she has been suspected of prostitution.

Of soliciting money for the most degrading sexual--

We are aware of the meaning of prostitution.

Archbishop Werner. Of course, Your Eminence.

Very sorry.

So you're hearing intercedes with God.

To spare Maria, so that she may go on

to a life of foul degradation.

Is that an example of a love? Or wisdom?

It's virtue that's required of a saint, Archbishop.

Not the ability to predict the future.

And now we learn that Maria this day has died.

[ALL MURMURING]

It was my intention to report that to the tribunal

as soon as her death had been confirmed.

Died unrepentant. In the foulness of sin!

How dare you say that.

How dare you sit there and say--

How could you possibly know the state of her soul?

Who are you to--

Who do you think you are?

You're not God!

[GLASS CLINKING]

[PEOPLE ARGUING IN DISTANCE]

Excuse, me, Your Eminence.

[KNOCKING]

John, what is it? Frank. Fathers. Your Eminence.

Please. You must come. You must see.

[♪♪♪]

Good morning, John. A lot of people here today.

They wanted a miracle and they got one.

Father Shore? No questions, please.

What about the miracle, Father?

All I can say is it's a glorious day.

Frank? You be careful in there today.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

I've spoken this morning with The Holy See.

Records of the deathbed recovery

of Maria Witkowski are being examined

by the College of Relators in Rome.

Their results will reach us in two days' time.

This will be for us a time of prayer.

Your Eminence.

Before we adjourn, I wish

for the tribunal to know that I will continue

to oppose the beatification of Helena Regan.

You bring a surprise to us. May we hear your reason?

Yes. Yes. They are two are first is that

even if I accept the dubious virtue of Helena Regan,

this business of Maria Witkowski

is but one canonical miracle.

The canon law requires two, long tradition insists on three.

But I have another reason.

It goes to the heart of these proceedings.

To the state of the soul of our Postulator.

I deny that God would entrust

his servant's cause to a faithless priest.

To a man who cannot say to us even now

that he accepts the truth of God and His church.

I defy him to do so.

You doubt me.

Fine.

But why do you doubt Helen?

You saw Maria. I don't know what I saw.

Saw her with your own eyes.

Perhaps it wasn't the work of God.

Father Shore.

Come closer. Yes, Your Eminence.

Do you hold to the truth of this church?

One holy, catholic, and apostolic?

I need time, Your Eminence.

Time? For so simple a declaration? Time?

Time to pray. No. Swear to us, Father Shore.

Swear before God.

And what good would that do?

If I didn't believe in God, why would

I hesitate to swear falsely before Him?

That's too clever, my son.

Help me, before I begin to share the Archbishop's doubts.

I have struggled with my faith, Your Eminence.

But what does it have to do with the virtue of this woman?

If God chooses to trust her cause to...

...to a priest like me But would God do so?

Who knows God's will?

Do you Archbishop?

Do you? Do you?

God has given me doubts. Yes.

But he also gave me Helen.

I believe that. We will reconvene tomorrow.

[♪♪♪]

Not one real witness, Frank.

No.

No, I've failed you.

Your Eminence, I am compelled

to bring one final matter before you.

I admit that I don't have the proper evidence.

I had hoped, given time...

But I'm not asking for more time.

I know that I have failed the cause of Helena Gabor Regan,

because of the weakness of my faith.

But I'm unwilling to remain silent

about a great miracle of which she was part.

I protest. Of course you do.

Are we to hear about a miracle for which there is no proof?

That is childishness. Your Eminence I implore you to--

Continue.

I'll begin with a discrepancy of fact

dating from the time of Helen's naturalization.

Her maiden name was not Gabor, as we thought.

And she wasn't from Austria either.

This may seem unimportant.

Nothing under heaven is unimportant.

But why did her family change her name?

Her family were gypsies.

They were on the run from the Nazis.

Helen was lucky. She didn't look like a gypsy.

Her father gave her to a non-gypsy family named Gabor.

She stayed with that family,

and when they came to America, she kept the name.

Her real name was Helena Crolova from in Slovakia.

[♪♪♪]

Do you want some water?

No, thank you. Thank you, I'm fine.

On August ninth, 1944...

a squadron of American bombers under Allied command

were strafing several factory

towns where German troops were stationed.

Among these was Bistritza.

According to the story,

as the bombers approached, the child Helena,

fled from her father and a young priest

from a local who also tried to catch her.

She ran to the church, dropped to her knees and began to pray.

Your Eminence, Your Eminence, let me...

If I may...

Is the Archbishop not well?

Your Eminence, I think we should recess for today.

Archbishop is not well.

We will recess.

We hope Your Excellency,

the Archbishop is feeling better tomorrow.

Yes, I am feeling better tomorrow, thank you.

[PHONE RINGING]

Yes?

This way.

Thank you.

It's you.

Preposterous.

What? The miracle hit the streets?

No. No, no, no. That God would make you its messenger.

You are preposterous.

1944. Where were you in 1944? I was a kid.

I was in fourth grade.

You see I am tired of explaining

to an insular generation about the war.

Those days. I am tired altogether.

That's why you called me here? In the middle of the night?

The streets were filthy.

Factory town.

Anyone who wasn't a gypsy or a communist...

was an ignorant peasant, come in from the country to work

in the munitions plants.

You couldn't find a decent meal

or a companion worthy to share it with.

Air was smoke.

The buildings were the color of rotten straw.

[♪♪♪]

You were there.

Yeah. You are fond--

You are fond of saying, "Let God be God,

we must not judge for him."

You were there weren't you?

What did you see?

Did you see the miracle? No.

It was an unbiased miracle,

capricious to grant the wishes of a little gypsy girl.

To spare her and her family with millions, when millions died.

Caprice of God.

I will say it to God if He were here in this room!

I will say it to Him! And he isn't in this room?

Don't debate with me.

We are not before that pompous ass, Ceresa.

We have only our own conscience.

God has given us a church for safe keeping.

We must live among the people of this world and judge

what is best for them to hear.

And not to hear.

And this miracle...

is not good for people to hear.

Not good. Then, what were you?

Were you the priest?

The church records were destroyed by the communists.

We couldn't find him.

Was that you?

You told me.

I remember...

that you saw a miracle once.

I don't know what I saw. Yes you did.

Yes you do.

Tell me.

Archbishop, what did you see?

Tell me what you saw.

You said...

...there were two people who witnessed the miracle.

The priest. The father.

There was a third.

The third, who saw the girl.

A soldier on the German army.

Skeptical of the army sword.

He watched...

the girl pray and then watched as the bombs--

The bombs fell.

And then turned into this most--

Most peaceful flock of birds.

Pigeons.

Damn.

I've never seen so many.

Before or since.

I've never seen so many pigeons.

♪ See through your eyes The world unfold ♪

♪ Let me dissolve of My hatred ♪

♪ So I can know you ♪

♪ So I can know you ♪

♪ Let me sacrifice my fear ♪

♪ So I can see you ♪

♪ So I can see you ♪

Watch the door. [MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Okay, come on. Come on.

Come on, everybody.

BOY: I'm ready. Everybody say "funky."

KIDS: Funky!

MAN: Everybody say chickens! KIDS: Chickens!

Cheese.

FRANK: All right. Good job, everyone.

Trevor, you sang so wonderfully today.

Thank you so much.

ROXANE: Hello!

Hello, hello! FRANK: Roxane?

Frank.

What are you doing here? In this neighborhood?

Well, I moved here.

I needed a cheaper place, and a little more room.

Is this your? Yeah. Yeah, she is.

She's beautiful.

So?

Well, how about my mother? Is she a saint?

We have the two miracles. Maria and the bombing of the streets.

The church doesn't like to talk about it,

but they're counting it.

We're waiting for a third.

And you're a priest. Yes. And you're a mother.

Yeah.

Yes, I am. She's really, really gorgeous.