The Da Vinci Code

(at the hangar while police are searching plane) You know, I could run them over if you wish, sir.

The Da Vinci Code (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sophie Neveu: Any ideas, Professor? Robert Langdon: You-you could have just handed me a piece of the UFO from Area 51. Sophie Neveu: "What's the next step?" With him, it's always "Sophie, what's the next step?" Puzzles, codes... Robert Langdon: A treasure hunt. Sophie Neveu: To find his killer. Sophie Neveu: Maybe there is something about this Priory of Sion. Robert Langdon: I hope not. Any Priory story ends in bloodshed. They were butchered by the Church. It all started over a thousand years ago when a French king conquered the holy city of Jerusalem. This crusade, one of the most massive and sweeping in history was actually orchestrated by a secret brotherhood: the Priory of Sion and their military arm, the Knights Templar. Sophie Neveu: But the Templars were created to protect the Holy Land. Robert Langdon: That was a cover to hide their true goal, according to this myth. Supposedly the invasion was to find an artefact lost since the time of Christ. An artifact, it was said, the Chu

The Da Vinci Code (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sophie Neveu: What happened to her? Sir Leigh Teabing: No one knows. Mary Magdalene lived out her days in hiding. And the zealots pursued her still... even in death, trying to destroy proof of her existence. But she always had her Knights. Brave men sworn to defend her. You see, to worship before her sarcophagus... to kneel before the bones of Mary Magdalene was to remember all those who were robbed of their power... who were oppressed. Ultimately, the Priory hid her remains and the proof of her bloodline... until most believed her sarcophagus... the Holy Grail was finally lost in time.

The Da Vinci Code (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sir Leigh Teabing: The Good Book did not arrive by facsimile from heaven. The Bible, as we know it, was finally presided over by one man. The Pagan emperor Constantine. Sophie Neveu: I thought Constantine was a Christian. Sir Leigh Teabing: Oh, hardly, no. He was a lifelong Pagan who was baptized on his deathbed. Constantine was Rome's supreme holy man. From time immemorial, his people had worshipped a balance between nature's male deities and the goddess, or sacred feminine. But a religious turmoil was gripping Rome. Three centuries earlier a young Jew named Jesus had come along, preaching love and a single God. Centuries after his crucifixion, Christ's followers had grown exponentially, and had started a religious war against the Pagans. Robert Langdon: Or was it the Pagans who commenced making war against the Christians? Leigh, we can't be sure who began the atrocities of that period. Sir Leigh Teabing: Well, we can agree that the conflict grew to such proportion that it threatened

The Da Vinci Code (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sir Leigh Teabing: This used to be the ballroom. I have little occasions to dance these days. I trust you recognise The Last Supper, the great fresco, by Leonardo Da Vinci. [To Sophie] My dear, if you would close your eyes? Robert Langdon: Leigh, save us the parlour tricks. Sir Leigh Teabing: You asked for my help, I recall. Allow an old man his indulgences. [To Sophie, who has closed her eyes] And Mademoiselle, where is Jesus sitting? Sophie Neveu: In the middle. Sir Leigh Teabing: Good. He and His disciples are breaking bread. And...what drink? Sophie Neveu: Wine. They drunk wine. Sir Leigh Teabing: Splendid. And one final question: how many wine glasses are there on the table? Sophie Neveu: One? The Holy Grail. Sir Leigh Teabing: Open your eyes. [Sophie does so, and looks at the screen the painting is being displayed on] No single cup. No chalice. Well, that's a bit strange, isn't it? Considering both the Bible and standard Grail legend celebrate this moment as the definitive arriva

The Da Vinci Code (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Robert Langdon: [Dismissively] This is an old wives' tale. Sir Leigh Teabing: The original one, in fact! Robert Langdon: There's virtually no empirical proof! Sir Leigh Teabing: He knows as well as I do, there's much evidence to support it! Robert Langdon: Theories. There are theories. Sir Leigh Teabing: Notice how Jesus and Mary are clothed. [Zooms out on the screen, to show Jesus and Mary in the same frame. They are wearing blue on their outside arms and a bright colour on their inside arms; their clothing illuminates as the rest of the picture darkens, to heighten Teabing's point.] Mirror images of each other! Robert Langdon: The mind sees what it chooses to see. Sir Leigh Teabing: And venturing into the even more bizarre, notice how Jesus and Mary appear to be joined at the hip and are leaning away from each other, as if to create a shape in the negative space between them. Leonardo gives us...the chalice! [he highlights the area, which resembles a triangle pointing down] Robert La

The Da Vinci Code (film), CC BY-SA 4.0