The Ninth Gate
GRUBER (cont.): She asked me to give you this.
He hands the slip to CORSO, who opens it. With him, we read:
‘See you around, maybe.’
And below:
‘PS. The 9th Engraving was a forgery.’
138. TOLEDO STREET, ALLEY EXT/DAY
CORSO’s footsteps echo as he walks along one of Toledo’s narrow medieval streets. The steel-framed glasses with the cracked lens have been replaced by a new pair with gold frames. He’s wearing a smart new overcoat and has a new leather bag slung from his shoulder.
He rounds a corner and heads down the deserted alleyway we saw in Scene 27. No scaffolding, just sandblasted walls and freshly painted window frames and grilles.
He reaches the doorway leading to the inner courtyard, hears a woman’s strident cries, bumps into THE BOY, who comes running out as before.
139. TOLEDO: COURTYARD, CENIZA BROS. WORKSHOP EXT/DAY
CORSO crosses the courtyard to the steps that led down to the Cenizas’ workshop. He stops short and stares.
The old door – ‘HERMANOS CENIZA – RESTAURACION DE LIBROS’ – has been taken of its hinges and propped on its side against the basement wall. The display window is just a gaping hole: the window frame has been ripped out, exposing the masonry surrounding it. The whirr of a power tool can be heard.
CORSO, looking puzzled, descends the steps.
140. TOLEDO: CENIZA BROS. WORKSHOP INT/DAY
CORSO pauses in the doorway and surveys the interior. The hand press has disappeared and the floor is littered with debris. Pale rectangular patches on the grey walls indicate where counters and cabinets have been ripped out.
TWO SPANISH WORKMEN are busy detaching an old cabinet from the wall with an electric screwdriver.
CORSO: Oiga!
He has to repeat himself before they interrupt their activities.
1ST WORKMAN: Seftor?
CORSO: Los Hermanos Ceniza?
1ST WORKMAN: Los Ceniza? (glances at the 2ND WORKMAN): Est&n muertos.
CORSO: Como muertos? Quando?
1ST WORKMAN: Oh, hace anos, anos.
CORSO ANOS?!
The 2ND WORKMAN comes over, wiping his hands on his apron.
2ND WORKMAN: Ingles?
CORSO: Americana.
2ND WORKMAN (as if that explained everything): Ah- They dead, many years.
CORSO (more and more puzzled): But they were here not long ago – I spoke with them.
The 2ND WORKMAN looks at his colleague, shrugs and chuckles as if to convey that Corso is crazy, like most foreigners.
1ST WORKMAN: Disculpe.
He indicates that CORSO is in the way.
Utterly disconcerted, CORSO backs up as they manhandle the cabinet away from the wall and tilt it forward prior to laying it face down on the floor.
As they do so, a dusty piece of paper slides off the top of the cabinet and seesaws to the floor like a falling leaf.
Instinctively, CORSO stoops and picks it up. He looks at it idly, then more closely. His eyes widen.
It’s the Ninth Engraving: THE WOMAN RIDING A SEVEN-HEADED DRAGON WITH A CASTLE ABLAZE IN THE BACKGROUND.
The woman’s face bears a strong resemblance to that of The Girl.
141. TOLEDO: ALLEY EXT/DAY
CORSO walks back along the alleyway with the engraving in his hand. His receding figure dwindles to a speck.
T H E E N D
