Priest

Scene: On the previous day, the church's defenses were breached by a massive horde of zombies. Naomi, Grey, Bro, and the others were successful in fending them off, but amongst the casualties was Father de Laurent, who has been bitten.

Elly has been at his deathbed for over 24 straight hours -- now Father de Laurent has asked her to go get Naomi so that he and Naomi may speak in private.

Naomi, unwilling -- or simply unable -- to face him alone, asks Grey to accompany her.

-----

Naomi
So what did you want? Are you looking for one last shot at reconverting me?

de Laurent laughs, a weak chuckle that makes him hack and cough.

Father de Laurent
It's too late for that now. That ship sailed a long time ago.

Naomi
So what, then?

Father de Laurent
I just had Elly give me my last rites. I have made my peace with God now.

Naomi
That's nice, Father de Laurent.

She turns to leave, but Father de Laurent reaches out with a trembling hand and speaks again, his voice small and feeble, but still commanding.

Father de Laurent
Do you remember the last time you attended a service here?

Naomi stops to think, but doesn't face him when she answers.

Naomi
I would have been... 15? No, 16... it was when...

Father de Laurent
Everyone was looking for you. I never saw your father so worried in all my years. You just about gave him a heart attack, you know.

Naomi
That was a long time ago.

Father de Laurent
Yes it was. That was back when I was still fit enough to play golf. They were still writing on stone tablets back then, weren't they?

Naomi turns to face him, and can't stop herself from smiling at the corny joke.

Naomi
I didn't mean to make everyone so worried.

Father de Laurent
I know you didn't. That's why I didn't call your father when I saw you sitting there in the back row. And then right after the service, just like I knew you would, you came up and asked me to hear your confession. "Bless me Father, for I have really messed up good this time."

Naomi chuckles a little.

Naomi
I think I still owe dad about a grand in repairs.

Father de Laurent
He never cared about the car, Naomi. We all just wanted you to be safe. And to live right. That's all.

Naomi
I guess you think I've failed you then, huh?

Father de Laurent
There are many paths to God. No matter what you think of him or whether he exists, I know you are doing his work here. Nothing can change that.

Naomi
...

Father de Laurent
That day in the confessional, I told you about a little girl. Do you remember?

Naomi
You said you were visiting an orphan later that day. Is that right?

Father de Laurent
That's right. Her parents had left her on the steps just outside the church when she was a newborn. I found her out there, all wrapped up in some ratty old blanket, screaming her poor little head off. So I did my duty as a good Samaritan and phoned the authorities. From there, she went straight into the foster system. I should never have seen her again. But there was something about her that made me think she might have the calling. So over the years, I visited her as often as I could.

Naomi
...

Father de Laurent
Do you remember what I said about her?

Naomi
She was like me.

Father de Laurent
Five years old and she thought she had the whole world wrapped around her fingers. Well, I suppose she did. She was ... she was defiant. Stubborn as all get-out. If you tried to hand her her favorite toy, she'd fold her arms and say no, just to spite you. I don't think I've ever met such a headstrong child.

Naomi just stares at Father de Laurent. He smiles coyly.

Father de Laurent
Do you know who that girl was?

Naomi
...

Father de Laurent
Elly. And even now... she is so like you.

Naomi
Maybe she was like me once. Not anymore. You brainwashed her.

Father de Laurent
I can't deny that I steered her to a certain path. Maybe to a path that wasn't right for her. That was my own selfishness ... I loved her like a daughter. The other priests talk, you know. They gossiped like mad about it when she joined the convent. Said that I wanted a daughter so bad, I went out and snatched up an orphan. I'd like to think it was different, that I was shepherding a lamb to her flock... but in the end, I think they were right. Elly never made for a good lamb, though. To this day, she is still like you. Defiant.

Naomi shakes her head sadly.

Father de Laurent
It's true. I cannot even begin to count the number of times she has purposely gone against my word. Especially these past few weeks ... when all of this started, I and the other church elders wanted to hide. We locked up the doors and sent people away. It was Elly who finally came down and unlocked them. Who went out and said, "come inside! We have space! We can shelter you!"

Father de Laurent stops for a moment to cough and hack, his entire body doubled over and heaving. After he calms himself, he continues.

Father de Laurent
She shared food with them, too. Even when we told her not to. Even when we were running out. And then after they had gone through all the food we had, she let people snack on communion wafers. Blasphemy ... blessed blasphemy. And that's why they trusted her, at least at first ... why she was always in charge of the food.

Naomi
I never...

Father de Laurent
And so it's as I said. She is like you. Defiant. But for a purpose. She never shies from what is right. Even when it butts up against what is ordered. Even when it hurts her. She does it. In no one else but you have I seen such a firm moral compass. That is why you care for her so much, even if you won't admit it.

Naomi
...

Father de Laurent
Since I got bit, Elly has been begging me to administer the perpetual vows. The vows that make her a true nun. The vows that doom her to a life of poverty and chastity, married to the Christ.

Naomi
Did... did you?

Father de Laurent
As much as it pains me, I couldn't do that to her. I... I have always felt as if Elly was a little baby bird who fell from a tree. And it was me who picked her up. But I've been keeping her in a cage, you understand. And for too long. Now I am soon to depart, and it is time to set her free. She has to be her own person now. But she still needs someone to guide her.That person has to be you, Naomi. Please promise me.

Naomi's clenching and unclenching her fists now, trying to keep a straight face. But I can see the tears welling up.

Naomi
Aren't you afraid that I'll lead her astray?

Father de Laurent
You're not going to lead her anywhere she doesn't want to go. Of this I am certain. How does the old song go? Que sera, sera?

Naomi
I don't... I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Father de Laurent
Yes you do.

Naomi approaches the bed now, her face a beet red mess, openly crying.

Father de Laurent
Elly is too close to see the truth. She will let me linger until I become a monster. You cannot allow this to happen.

Naomi
I can't do it.

Father de Laurent clasps Naomi's hands in his and stares into her eyes. Placid.

Father de Laurent
You have my blessing, my child. I sent Elly to tend to the garden. She is on the other side of the church now and won't hear a thing. When it's done, cremate my body in the courtyard and spread my ashes in the graveyard out back.

Naomi
Father...!

Naomi buries her face in de Laurent's chest and dissolves into sobs.

I turn away, stepping out of the room. More than anything, I want to be there for her. But this isn't for me to see.

I stand outside the infirmary door and wait. A few moments later, I hear a gunshot ring out.