Stigmata (1999)

Gabriel Byrne: Father Andrew Kiernan

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Frankie is possessed by Father Alameida] 

  Frankie : Jesus said... the Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood... and I am there, lift a stone... and you will find me.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Brother Alameida, I call upon you to release this woman. Give her grace and let her not come into the ways of harm. For through Jesus Christ we have all been saved and let us not fear any ill. For Jesus is with us, and the Unity of the Holy Spirit will remain forever, and ever. God bless your soul, Brother Alameida. And go in peace.

• [Frankie is possessed by Father Alameida] 

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Frankie? Frankie... who are you?

  Frankie : The messenger is not important.

• Frankie : Hi.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Hello

  Frankie : You have an appointment, or...

  Father Andrew Kiernan : No, I don't.

  Frankie : Well, would you like a haircut, a manicure, or maybe you'd like to have your nipples pierced?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : [chuckles]  Well, maybe if we start with a trim, we could go from there. Thank you.

  Frankie : Come on. Have a seat. All right, here we go.

  [puts barber cape on Andrew] 

  Frankie : I'm gonna put this cape on so you don't get your scratchy neck.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Oh, thank you.

  Frankie : So, where are you from.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : I live in Rome, actually.

  Frankie : Oh, cool.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : And you?

  Frankie : I'm from Naples.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Ah! Naples.

  Frankie : Mmm-hmm

  Father Andrew Kiernan : [speaks italian]  Naples.

  Frankie : Naples, Florida.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Oh!

  Frankie : I moved here to go to school.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Which school?

  Frankie : [points to certificate]  Claudia's University of Cosmetology. See, I'm'm accredited.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Oh, Cool.

  Jennifer Kelliho : [to Donna]  Am I going crazy or is Frankie hitting on a priest

  Frankie : What do I call you? I feel kind of weird calling a guy I could date "Father." Uhh, I mean, I couldn't date you, but... You know.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Oh, no, no, no, you just made my day. Thank you. You can call me Andrew. Andrew Kiernan, that's my name.

  Frankie : [after long pause; mouths Donna's name]  I know this is gonna sound kind of strange, but I've sort of been expecting you.

• Frankie : So you live in Rome?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Yes, but I travel a great deal, so I'm rarely there.

  [Waitress pours him coffee] 

  Father Andrew Kiernan : thank you.

  Frankie : [the waitress offers her coffee]  No thanks. So what brings you to Pennsylvania?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Well, Father Durning asked us to come and speak to you, Miss Paige.

  Frankie : "Us"? Who's "Us"? I thought you were a priest.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Well I am a priest but I'm also an investigator. I work for a division in the Vatican, called the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

  [Sets down tape recorder] 

  Father Andrew Kiernan : do you mind if I switch this on?

  Frankie : No, go ahead.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Thank you. What is your full name?

  Frankie : Frankie Paige.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : And your age?

  Frankie : Twenty-three.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : And which church do you attend?

  Frankie : I don't attend church.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : But you are catholic?

  Frankie : No, I don't go to church 'cause I don't believe in God.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Well, that's really it for me. That's all I need to know Miss Paige.

  Frankie : That's it?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Yes. You see stigmatics are deeply religious people.

  Frankie : And there's no exceptions?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : No.

  Frankie : Well, why do they get stigmata?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : When Christ died on the cross, he died with five wounds. His back was scourged by whips. There were gashes on his forehead from a crown of thorns. There were nails driven through his hands and feet, and finally a spear driven through his side. Throughout history only deeply devout people have been afflicted with these wounds.

  Frankie : Well, why?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : There really is no satisfactory scientific explanation. All stigmatics are haunted by such intense spiritual pain, in some ways it affects them physically. They're assaulted by their own visions of evil. And they manifest this battle in their bodies. The church on the other hand regards it as a gift. A gift from God.

  Frankie : A gift? Can I give it back? Listen father can I show you these and you could tell me what you think?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Yes. Yes of course.

  [Frankie shows him the wounds on her wrists] 

  Frankie : Well, what do you think?

  Father Andrew Kiernan : It doesn't really matter what I think, Miss Paige.

  Frankie : What does that mean?

  [She pulls out a cigarette to smoke] 

  Father Andrew Kiernan : It means officially this is not a case for the church. To say that a self-confessed atheist exhibits the wounds of Christ is a contradiction in terms.

  Frankie : Look, you know what? Here.

  [Pulls out a piece of paper she wrote on something] 

  Frankie : read that I found that on my kitchen table the other morning. Now I don't know what that says, but that handwriting is mine.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Well, it's Italian. It says, "Split a piece of wood and I'm there. Lift a stone and you will find me" it's quite beautiful, actually.

  Frankie : This isn't beautiful. This is a warning! It means no matter what I do... No matter where I go I can't escape it.

  Father Andrew Kiernan : Miss Paige. Miss Paige. Miss Paige. I would really like to help you but I..

  Frankie : You know what? you know what?

  [Puts on her jacket to leave] 

  Frankie : this is not going anywhere. You don't know what this is. You can't give me any kind of answer. Coffee's on me. Here.

  [Pays for coffee and leaves]