Read Peter Straughan’s script

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series, highlighting the year’s most talked-about screenplays, continues with conclavethe exciting drama thriller from Focus Features from director Edward Berger. The screenplay is by Peter Straughan, who adapted the book of the same name by Robert Harris.

Set in the halls of the Vatican against the backdrop of a papal conclave, the film stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, a man of faith plagued by personal doubts, and delves into the secret power struggles within the church.

The drama, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival before hitting theaters in October, follows Lawrence, the dean of the conclave and right-hand man of the recently deceased pope. As the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders gather to vote, Lawrence, already grappling with his faith and thrust into a possible role as the next pope, confides in fellow cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), who is seeking the papacy.

“I remember the moment I thought, ‘Oh, I want to do that.’ It was when Ralph’s character – he’s called Lomeli in the book – gives a sermon before voting begins and basically says, ‘Give us a pope who doubts,'” Straughan told Deadline.

“It was a few years ago, but we were already well on our way to the world we live in now. The world we find ourselves in now is a very polarized world. And I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become a lot more suspicious of certainties. It seems far too easy to lead to contempt for others and violence, as we see all the time now. So there was something about this reluctant hero – a doubting, insecure hero – that felt very interesting and relatable to me.”

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The film’s pace, spanning 72 hours, provides a captivating glimpse into the mysterious world of the conclave, as the cardinals cast their votes in each round and unexpected obstacles arise that change the momentum of the election. Lawrence’s internal turmoil and the cardinals’ conflict reflect the external chaos unfolding in Rome and other cities, where terrorist attacks are used as a power play by the openly racist Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) to secure votes. As secrets emerge, even Lawrence must make a difficult decision – one that could change the course of history.

The film also stars John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Merab Ninidze and Isabella Rossellini.

Check out the script below.