Interview with the Exorcist

Interview with the Exorcist | DISPATCH By Scott Evers

[Rocky panting nearby]

…

…no, that wasn’t the first one.

First one had a door in it.

Little door.

—

Well, I know what I said.

Doesn’t mean that’s what it was about.

If you have ever seen *The Exorcist*...

I apologize for what you are about to remember.

...

This is my third conversation with Father Simone Lialtino.

He is an exorcist.

A real one.

I’m on the phone with him now.

—

you want me to explain it.

—

[louder] I said, you want me... to explain it?

—

[slightly surprised] all right.

Far as I understand...

first you determine how many there are.

What they call themselves.

How they entered.

What allows them to remain.

Right.

Then you find out what it’ll take to make them leave.

—

not allows.

Permission.

You keep using that word.

—

no, I understand.

They don’t necessarily know they gave it.

Right. That’s comforting.

...

yes

...

hmmm.

...

Mm hmmm.

...

okay.

[grumbles] is that right.

—

well, I suppose...

levitation.

If I’m asking what would frighten me most.

A man comes up off the floor...

seems to me the evening has taken a fairly decisive turn. [laughs]

—

At least you know what you’re dealing with then.

Or you’re working through a logical way to resolve the question.

—

Practical, yes.

—

Something less obvious.

...

Like what?

[occupied silence]

[whispers] Father.

[whispers] okay.

—

Goosebumps.

Literally.

...

Now you know by describing it that way...

you’re giving me plenty to be concerned about.

—

No, go on.

[occupied silence]

—

He remembered something that never happened.

—

All of it.

—

How can you remember all of something that didn’t happen?

—

No.

Keep going.

[occupied silence]

—

Seems to me it’d be worse if you knew the person before.

Knew how they laughed.

What they called you.

Then they’re looking right at you...

and you can’t find them in there.

—

Family tells you who they were.

...

My grandmother used to become somebody else.

That’s what I thought when I was little.

She wouldn’t leave the room.

She’d be sitting right there.

But sometimes...

my grandmother wasn’t the woman looking at me.

—

I know that isn’t what it was.

I know what illness is.

I’m telling you what it looked like to a boy.

...

—

A child’s voice.

Coming out of a grown man.

—

No.

That isn’t the part that bothers you.

[occupied silence]

—

Your mother’s name.

...

What she called you when you were little.

—

That is incomprehensible, Father.

—

I just find it...

[in awe] so incredible.

Difficult for an old cowboy to get his head around.

—

No, it’s not a question of believing.

I believe you.

—

Yes, I fall back on psychology.

No doubt about it.

—

Right.

And then you say...

that.

[long occupied silence]

—

right.

right.

You have to see it.

...

I’ll tell you right now...

I don’t want to see that.

...

I'm glad you understand.

...

—

what do I want out?

—

Of myself.

I heard you.

...hmmm.

—

Worrying about your children is not the same thing.

—

Because it’s love.

—

Well...

it started there.

...

—

what does it give me?

—

Feels like I’m doing something.

I suppose.

—

No.

I don’t know who I’d be without it.

...

Funny thing.

We’ve all wanted something out of us at some point.

—

A thought can happen inside you...

without telling the truth about who you are.

—

Happening in you doesn’t necessarily make it yours.

...

How it got in...

is how it gets out.

—

I’m thinking how many things that might be true of.

[long occupied silence]

—

I hope that’s true.

...

Thank you, Father.

[call disconnects]

...

[small shiver]

[to dog] Rocky.

Come here.

Princess.

Come on.

[dogs approach]

That’s right.

[dogs settle]

Mercy.

It got cold.

[dogs breathing in vacant room tone]