Jacques Sauni?re, a museum curator, desperately running through the halls of the Louvre in Paris. He is being pursued by a mysterious albino figure dressed as a monk. In a bid to slow down his pursuer, Sauni?re pulls a painting off the wall, triggering a security alarm and causing a metal gate to descend, separating him from the albino. However, the albino reaches the gate and aims a gun at Sauni?re, demanding that he reveal certain information. Sauni?re, knowing that the truth must be protected, offers a rehearsed answer instead of the actual truth. To his shock, the albino reveals that others who were questioned before Sauni?re had given the same answer and had subsequently been killed. Sauni?re realizes that his brethren in a secret society have all been murdered, and if he dies, the truth they have been safeguarding will be lost forever. The albino, believing he alone possesses the truth, shoots Sauni?re, leaving him to bleed out on the gallery floor. Knowing that help will not arrive in time, Sauni?re desperately tries to pass on his secret before he dies.
Robert Langdon, a professor of religious symbology at Harvard. Langdon is staying at a hotel in Paris when he is awakened in the early hours of the morning by a visitor at the front desk. Langdon, feeling tired and not wanting to see anyone, instructs the concierge to take the visitor's information. However, the visitor, J?r?me Collet, a lieutenant with the French police, insists on seeing Langdon and eventually makes his way to Langdon's hotel room. Collet shows Langdon a photograph of Sauni?re's body, which is arranged in a peculiar manner. This image reminds Langdon of a similar incident that had occurred at the Vatican a year earlier.
Silas, who enters a Parisian brownstone that serves as a sanctuary for him and his fellow members of a secret society called the Priory of Sion. Silas contacts his "Master" to inform him about the deaths of the s?n?chaux, members of the secret society who had been killed. Silas reveals that before their deaths, all the s?n?chaux had confessed to possessing information about "the legendary keystone," a stone tablet that holds the location of the secret they have been protecting. Silas explains that the keystone is hidden within theEglise de Saint-Sulpice, a church in Paris. The Master instructs Silas to retrieve the keystone that night, providing him with guidance on how to overcome the church's heavy security. Eager to seek redemption for his past actions, Silas engages in a ritual of self-flagellation known as "corporal mortification."
Langdon is being driven to the Louvre by Collet. Langdon tries to make sense of the disturbing image of Sauni?re's body while in the car. He had been scheduled to meet Sauni?re earlier that evening, but the curator never showed up. Collet drops off Langdon at the front entrance of the Louvre to meet Captain Bezu Fache, and then he leaves for other tasks. Fache greets Langdon with a cryptic statement, indicating that what Langdon sees in the photograph of Sauni?re is just the beginning of what Sauni?re had done.
Fache leads Langdon into the underground chambers of the Louvre, questioning him about his meeting with Sauni?re. Langdon explains that he doesn't have any specific information about the meeting but knows that Sauni?re wanted to discuss something with him. Langdon mentions that he is working on a book about the iconography of goddess worship, a subject on which Sauni?re was an expert. They take an elevator to the upper floors, which triggers Langdon's claustrophobia. When they emerge into a darkened corridor illuminated by a red light used to protect the paintings, they finally arrive at la Grande Galerie, where
Sauni?re was murdered. The security gate is raised slightly above the floor, and Fache and Langdon crawl underneath it to enter the gallery.
The National Headquarters of Opus Dei, a secretive religious sect in New York. Opus Dei advocates for a return to traditional, conservative Catholicism. The headquarters is a large building with living quarters, dining rooms, and several chapels. Men and women have separate entrances. Bishop Manuel Aringarosa, the president-general of Opus Dei, leaves his private penthouse suite and boards a plane bound for Rome. He is confident that his long-awaited plans will come to fruition. Aringarosa faces media skepticism as they focus on a few extreme practices within Opus Dei. While on the flight, Aringarosa receives a phone call from the "Master," who informs him about the location of the keystone. Meanwhile, Silas, dressed in a hooded robe, prepares to go out and retrieve the keystone.
Langdon and Fache are standing at the entrance to the Grand Gallery in the Louvre. Langdon notices a Caravaggio painting on the floor, the same painting Sauni?re had pulled off the wall to trigger the security alarm. As they proceed through the gallery, they discover Sauni?re's body lying naked on the floor, with his arms and legs extended in a manner reminiscent of Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. There is a pentacle drawn on Sauni?re's torso using his own blood. Langdon explains that the pentacle is a pagan symbol representing the "divine feminine," although it has been associated with Satanism due to the Catholic Church's efforts to demonize pagan worship.
Fache observes that Sauni?re is clutching a fluorescent marker in his hand. He turns on a black light, which reveals Sauni?re's final words scrawled on the parquet floor. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Collet is in Sauni?re's office, monitoring the conversation between Langdon and Fache.
Sister Sandrine Bieil, the maintenance administrator for the Church of Saint-Sulpice, is awakened in the middle of the night by a request from her boss to open the church for an Opus Dei member. Despite her disapproval of Opus Dei's traditionalism and the marginalization of women, she follows the orders, although she feels unsettled by the organization's prominence and its close ties to the Vatican.
Inside the Grand Gallery, Langdon examines Sauni?re's final message, written in English rather than French. The message consists of a series of numbers: 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5. Langdon ponders the meaning of the enigmatic message, which includes phrases like "O, Draconian devil!" and "Oh, lame saint!" Fache reveals a circumscribed circle around Sauni?re's body, resembling Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, symbolizing the harmony of male and female. Langdon suggests that the message and Da Vinci reference might condemn the Church's neglect of the divine feminine in favor of a male-centric orthodoxy. Fache, however, believes the message is intended to identify Sauni?re's killer, someone he likely knew.
In Sauni?re's office, Lieutenant Collet listens to the conversation between Fache and Langdon. He recalls Fache's orders to him earlier in the evening, indicating that Fache knows who murdered Sauni?re. Collet pulls up a schematic of the Grand Gallery on his computer, noticing a flashing red marker on the screen.
Collet interrupts Fache's conversation with Langdon to inform him that the Bureau's cryptographer, Sophie Neveu, has arrived. Fache is displeased, viewing Sophie's youth and headstrong methods as conflicting with the traditionalBureau. He also considers her gender a distraction to the male-dominated cryptography department. Collet informs Fache that Sophie is heading to the gallery without waiting for approval. Sophie arrives and announces that she has deciphered the code. She also has a message for Langdon, instructing him to contact the U.S. Embassy immediately. She hands Langdon a slip of paper with a phone number, and he asks where he can find a phone. Langdon uses
Fache's cell phone to dial the number, but he reaches an automated voice message from Sophie, warning him of danger and instructing him to follow her instructions.
Outside the Church of Saint-Sulpice, Silas, reflecting on his troubled past, awaits further instructions. He recalls his abusive father, the murder of his parents, and his time as a fugitive. Eventually, he was rescued by a missionary named Manuel Aringarosa, who provided him with food and shelter. Aringarosa gave Silas a Bible with a marked passage about a prisoner named Silas who was freed by an earthquake. Silas, unable to remember his given name, adopted the name Aringarosa gave him.
In the present, Aringarosa receives instructions from an anonymous "Teacher" who warns him not to contact Silas directly. All communication must go through the Teacher. Aringarosa has agreed to pay the Teacher 20 million euros in exchange for the prize Silas is seeking.
Sophie explains that Sauni?re's numeric code, when rearranged, forms the famous Fibonacci sequence. However, when questioned by Fache, she argues that the sequence is irrelevant to Sauni?re's death and suggests that Sauni?re might have written it as a joke. Fache is dissatisfied with her explanation, but Sophie stands her ground and walks out ofthe room, defying her superior's expectations.
After hearing Sophie's message, Langdon informs Fache that he must fly home immediately. However, Fache senses that Langdon is withholding information. Langdon excuses himself to use the restroom, and Fache returns to Sauni?re's office to monitor Langdon's location using Collet's laptop.
Following Sophie's message, Langdon retreats to the restroom to collect himself. Sophie joins him and warns him that he is being
monitored, with Fache considering him the primary suspect in Sauni?re's murder. Langdon discovers a monitoring device in his jacket pocket, which Sophie advises him to keep to avoid arousing suspicion from Fache. She also reveals that Fache had erased the final line of Sauni?re's message, which said, "P.S. Find Robert Langdon."
Sophie provides details of the evidenceFache has against Langdon, including the message on the floor, Langdon's scheduled meeting with Sauni?re, and the timing of events. Despite Langdon's protestations of innocence, Sophie explains that Fache will face pressure to make an arrest in this high-profile case, and Langdon is the most convenient suspect. She also reveals that the message was actually intended for her. Sauni?re knew that a series of numbers would bring the Cryptology Department into the investigation, and he wanted his granddaughter, Sophie, to find Langdon.
In Sauni?re's office, Collet continues to monitor Langdon's activities, unaware that Langdon has discovered the tracking device. He observes that Fache appears to be more emotionally invested in this case than usual, attributing it to Fache's financial debt and the precariousness of his career. Fache desperately needs an indictment in this case. Suddenly, Fache receives a call from the director of the Bureau's Cryptology Department, informing him that something is amiss with Agent Neveu, Sophie's status within the department.
Silas approaches the Church of Saint-Sulpice, feeling regret for his crimes but believing they are serving a higher cause. He believes that enduring pain purifies the soul, recalling the Teacher's words: "'The measure of your faith is the measure of pain you can endure.'" He knocks on the church door.
Sophie, who had a falling out with her grandfather Sauni?re ten years ago, feels no emotional attachment to his death. Sauni?re had abided by her wishes to never contact her, but he called earlier in the day to warn her that they were both in danger. He hinted at a family secret, but Sophie suspected it was a ruse as her family had died in a car accident years ago. Now, in a museum bathroom with Langdon, she ponders why her grandfather would bring them together in such a convoluted and morbid way. Convinced that Langdon possesses important information, Sophie argues that they should flee to the US Embassy. However, Langdon refuses, and she insists that escaping is their only option to buy time since Fache is determined to arrest Langdon, whether he is guilty or innocent.
Lieutenant Collet repeatedly tries to call Sophie but receives no answer. Fache, growing increasingly agitated, suspects that Sophie is not being truthful. It turns out that the Cryptology Department did not send her to the crime scene. Upon discovering that Sophie is Sauni?re's granddaughter, Collet starts to piece together the puzzle, realizingthat the message was intended for her, not Langdon. Suddenly, an alarm goes off. Langdon's tracking device indicates that he has apparently jumped from the bathroom window on the second story.
Fache rushes toward the bathroom while Collet tracks Langdon's movements. The tracking device shows that Langdon is moving at a high speed, suggesting that he is now in a car. Looking through the broken bathroom window, Fache sees a truck driving away, matching the movements of Langdon's tracking device. Fache assumes that Langdon jumped into the open bed of the truck, a seemingly "insane" drop of 40 feet. In Fache's mind, Langdon's escape confirms his guilt. As Fache exits the bathroom, Sophie and Langdon hide in the shadows just out of sight. Sophie had embedded the tracking device in a bar of soap, broke the
bathroom window, and dropped the soap into the passing truck's bed. With the police now chasing the truck, the Grand Gallery becomes empty. Langdon and Sophie take advantage of the situation and escape down an emergency stairwell.
Sister Sandrine guides Silas through the austere Church of Saint-Sulpice, which is built over the ancient ruins of an Egyptian temple and has a controversial reputation. Needing privacy, Silas asks for a moment to pray. Sandrine initially agrees to wait at the back of the church but eventually relents and quietly hides in the choir loft, observing Silas from above. She wonders if he is the "enemy" she had been warned about.
As Langdon and Sophie navigate through the deserted gallery, they analyze Sauni?re's message. They realize that all the clues, such as the Vitruvian Man pose, the pentacle, and the Fibonacci sequence, are meant to capture Sophie's attention. The pentacle leads them to the Tarot, an ancient method once banned by the Church to convey information. While descending the stairs, Langdon recognizes that all the clues have a common thread - the number PHI(1.618), known as the Divine Proportion. PHI appears consistently in nature and has significant dimensional properties. Langdon recalls teaching about PHI's presence in various aspects of life, including nature, art, music, and architecture. Even the proportions of the pentacle align with PHI, making it a symbol of divinity. Langdon has a sudden revelation about Sauni?re's message. The anagram "O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint!" unscrambles to "Leonardo Da Vinci! The Mona Lisa!"
The truth behind Sauni?re's final message disturbs Sophie. She speculates thatit may be just the beginning and considers whether her grandfather intended for her to examine the Mona Lisa, which is displayed in a private gallery near the crime scene. Sophie recalls her
visits to the painting with Sauni?re when she was a child, fascinated by the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa and the secrets it concealed. Convinced that her grandfather left additional clues, Sophie decides to return to the gallery and examine the famous painting. She entrusts Langdon with her car keys and instructs him to drive to the US Embassy. However, as Langdon heads toward the exit, he senses that his role in this mystery is not yet complete and realizes that Sauni?re wanted his expertise for more than just solving an anagram. He abruptly turns around and runs back up the stairs to the gallery.
Silas observes the sanctuary of the Church of Saint-Sulpice. He notices The Rose Line, a brass marker embedded in the floor, resembling a large ruler, which represents the remnants of an ancient pagan temple upon which the church was constructed. Silas follows the line across the altar to an Egyptian obelisk, believing it to be the hiding place of the keystone. Meanwhile, Aringarosa's plane lands in Rome, and he anticipates Silas's discovery, envisioning the keystone as a source of immense power in the realm of Christianity.
Langdon catches up with Sophie at the Salle des Etats, the private gallery housing the Mona Lisa. He questions her about the significance of the letters P.S., aside from potentially standing for "Princess Sophie," Sauni?re's affectionate nickname for her. Sophie recalls a childhood incident where she snooped in her grandfather's bedroom and discovered a peculiar key on a gold chain. Sauni?re caught her with the key and urged her to respect others' privacy. He informed her that the key opens a box filled with secrets and promised to give it to her one day. The key bears the letters P.S. and is engraved with a fleur-de-lis symbol. When Sophie confirms the existence of the key, Langdon reveals to her that Sauni?re was a member of the secret society called the Priory of Sion. The Priory has had famous deceased members, including Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Leonardo Da Vinci, and is renowned for its devotion to the sacred feminine. Meanwhile, Fache finds a bar of soap with the tracking device on the banks ofthe Seine and angrily throws it
into the river.
Sister Sandrine, serving as a sentry forthe Priory, observes Silas as he searches for the keystone's hiding place at the altar. Aware of the significance of Silas's presence, Sandrine knows that it signifies a distress call from the Priory. She keeps a watchful eye on his actions as he seeks a tool to break the tiles, believing he has found a hollow spot beneath the floor.
Fache contacts the US Embassy to retrieve the message that Langdon left earlier, but he discovers that the automated message system has been replaced. Realizing that the message was not from the embassy but from Sophie, Fache becomes enraged and dials the number Langdon called earlier on his own cell phone.
Langdon and Sophie enter the Salle des Etats, and Sophie uses a black light pen to scan the floor for additional clues left by her grandfather. Langdon is thrilled to be in close proximity to one of Da Vinci's finest works of art, the Mona Lisa. He believes that the painting holds secrets beyond its artistic value. One such secret is an anagram connecting the Mona Lisa to the Egyptian gods Amon and Isis, known as L'Isa. As they search the gallery, Langdon notices something written across the plexiglass protecting the Mona Lisa.
Fache contacts Collet and informs him that Sophie has informed Langdon about the tracking device. He suspects that they are still inside the building and dispatches one group of officers to guard the museum perimeter and another to watch for Langdon at the US Embassy.
The message on the plexiglass, "SO DARK THE CON OF MAN," confirms Sauni?re's membership in the Priory. Langdon explains that the Priory believes early Christian leaders demonized paganism and goddess worship to establish a patriarchal belief system. This imbalance between male and female energy has caused various issues in the world. As they hear footsteps approaching, Sophie hides while Langdon is confronted by a security guard who orders him to lie down at gunpoint.
Silas uses an iron candle holder to break through the floor tile and uncovers a hidden compartment. Inside, he finds a stone tablet inscribed with a Bible verse: Job 38:11. Silas brings the tablet to a Bible on the altar and reads the passage. Something seems to have gone wrong. Sister Sandrine, who witnessed the scene, retreats to her room, retrieves anenvelope with secret instructions, and makes a phone call.
As the security guard holds Langdon at gunpoint and calls for backup, Sophie appears and identifies herself as a member of the forensics team. She convinces the guard of Langdon's innocence. While the guard waits for backup, Sophie continues to search the room. She discovers Sauni?re's key wedged between a Da Vinci painting and its frame. Realizing that the key is the intended prize for her to find but should be hidden from the police, Sophie comes up with a plan. Knowing that the guard cannot use his walkie-talkie inside the electronically fortified gallery, she threatens to deface Da Vinci's Madonna of the Rocks unless he drops his gun. The guard complies, and Sophie and Langdon take his gun and make their escape. Sophie reveals that she knew to check behind that particular painting because "SO DARK THE CON OF MAN" is an anagram for "Madonna of the Rocks."
Sister Sandrine tries to call the remaining members of the Priory but discovers that they are all dead. She realizes that the discovery of the broken floor panel in the church has put the higher-ranking members of the Priory in danger. Sandrine's task was to warn any surviving brethren about the threat. Silas finds Sandrine and demands to know the location of the keystone. When she claims ignorance, he kills her.
Langdon and Sophie manage to escape the museum and flee in Sophie's car. They blend into the traffic on the Champs-Elys?es and head towards the US Embassy. Langdon reflects on the irony of the clue hidden in Madonna of the Rocks, a painting commissioned by the Church but containing subtle subversive elements. Sophie thinks about the key, described as a "laser-tooled varying matrix," and remembers a disturbing encounter in her grandfather's ch?teau where she stumbled upon a secret gathering. She left a note for her grandfather, stating that she was there and not to try to find her.
Approaching the embassy, Langdon and Sophie find it blocked by the police. They quickly change direction, but the police give chase.
While attempting to evade the police, Sophie hands the key left by her grandfather to Langdon. Examining the markings, Langdon recognizes it as the official symbol of the Priory of Sion, but they are unsure of what the key actually opens. They realize that Sophie's contacts may be compromised due to Fache's anticipation,and the embassy is not a safe option unless they are inside. They decide to go to a train depot in an industrial area, pay off a taxi driver, and purchase two tickets to leave the city. Langdon feels a growing sense of being a fugitive.
Aringarosa arrives in Rome and travels to Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. He recalls his previous visit and his concerns about the new liberal Pope and the potential consequences for the
Church. Now, on his second trip, Aringarosa feels uneasy due to the lack of communication from the Teacher regarding Silas's mission.
At the Paris train station, Langdon buys tickets to Lille and uses his credit card to create a diversion for the police. He and Sophie leave the station, get into a taxi, and leave the city without a specific destination. Langdon examines the key and detects the smell of alcohol residue, indicating Sauni?re's invisible marker. Using a black light, he discovers a hastily written message: "24 RUE HAXO." As the taxi speeds towards the address on the outskirts of Paris, Langdon explains the history of the Priory to Sophie.
Back at the Louvre, Fache plans his next moves. He suspects that the Lille train tickets may be a diversion but orders a search of the train nonetheless. He instructs Collet to question the taxi dispatcher and keep surveillance on Sophie's car. Finally, he contacts Interpol to ensure that leaving the city without detection is virtually impossible.
As the taxi drives through the Bois de Boulogne, Langdon shares the history of the Priory of Sion. It was founded by King Godefroi de Bouillon in 1099 and its mission was to protect a family secret that poses a threat to the Church. The Priory entrusted the Knights Templar, its military arm, with retrieving supporting documents from the ruins of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem. After nine years, the Knights found the documents, which granted them immense power. However, in the 1300s, Pope Clement declared the Knights heretics and they were persecuted and burned at the stake. The Priory managed to escape the Vatican's purge, and the documents, known as "The Sangreal," were safely hidden away. Langdon reveals that the Sangreal is more commonly known as the Holy Grail.
Langdon explains that the power of the Sangreal lies in its revelation of the true nature of the Holy Grail. He is about toreveal the secret when the taxi driver mentions Langdon's name over the radio. Sophie takes the pistol from Langdon's pocket, pointing it at the driver, and forces him to pull over and exit the car. Langdon takes the wheel, and they continue their journey.
Silas reflects on his actions, realizing that he has killed four members of the Priory and a nun, yet he is no closer to finding the keystone. He contemplates suicide but settles for further self-flagellation instead.
Sophie drives the taxi while Langdon contemplates the potential significance of their discovery: the Holy Grail, believed to be hidden by the Priory for centuries and rumored to be located in Great Britain. Langdon mentions Leonardo da Vinci's involvement in the Grail's mystery, as the mischievous Priory Grand Master who may have left clues in his artwork. Sophie wonders if her grandfather's key could reveal the Grail's location, but Langdon is skeptical due to the rarity of Sauni?re's access to such a closely guarded secret.
They arrive at the address indicated in Sauni?re's message, which is a Swiss bank with a prominent equal-armed cross as its logo. The key is intended for a safety deposit box.
Aringarosa is taken to the library at Castel Gandolfo, where a group of high-ranking Vatican officials awaits him. On a conference table, there is a briefcase filled with large denomination bearer bonds drawn on the Vatican Bank. The officials are anxious because the bonds are directly traceable to the Vatican. The Teacher insisted on using bonds instead of cash as a form of insurance against implication. Aringarosa takes the bonds and prepares to head to Paris.
At the Swiss bank, Langdon and Sophie use Sauni?re's key to gain access to the bank's underground levels. However, a guard recognizes them from the news and reports them as fugitives to the bank manager. The manager is informed of their presence and locks them in a private room after receiving a call about their fugitive status. Interpol informs Fache that Langdon and Sophie have entered the bank.
The bank manager, Andr? Vernet, goes down to the room to handle the situation. He is surprised to see Sauni?re's granddaughter, Sophie, and learns of Sauni?re's murder. Sophie pleads with Vernet for help, but he claims to know nothing about the Priory or the account numbers they need. The police arrive earlier than expected, but Vernet agrees to delay them whileassisting Langdon and Sophie's escape. Langdon realizes that they had the account number all along, the one Sauni?re wrote on the gallery floor before his death.
Langdon enters the 10-digit account number into the bank computer. However, Sophie hesitates, thinking that the number being a rearranged Fibonacci sequence is too coincidental. She deletes the previous numbers and enters the unscrambled Fibonacci sequence. The computer retrieves a large crate, which they open to find a small wooden box with a rose inlay - the Priory's symbol for the Holy Grail. They hear liquid gurgling inside the box, but what they find inside is not a chalice.
Vernet returns to inform Langdon and Sophie that the police have blocked off the street. Langdon wraps the box in his jacket, and Vernet guides them through corridors to the loading dock. Vernet disguises himself as the driver of an armored truck, hiding Langdon and Sophie in the back. They pass through the security gate, but Collet stops the truck
at the top of the garage ramp. Vernet claims he doesn't have the keys to the truck's cargo hold, and after further questioning, Collet allows the truck to pass.
Silas is in his small room, battered and bleeding from his self-inflicted punishment. Feeling hopeless and deceived, he calls the Teacher to report his failure. The Teacher reassures Silas that their work is not yet done.
Inside the armored truck's cargo hold, Langdon opens the wooden box to find a white marble cylinder, the size of a tennis ball can. It is a cryptex, a portable vault invented by Da Vinci. Opening it requires aligning the five separate pieces in the correct order. Forcing it open would destroy the message inside, written on papyrus. Langdon explains the symbolism of the rose and has a moment of realization about the cryptex's purpose.
Considering the source of the cryptex and the rose on the wooden box, Langdon concludes that the cryptex is the Priory keystone. It is not an architectural keystone like the ones masons guard, but a coded roadmap revealing the location of the Holy Grail. The secret location was traditionally passed down verbally, but electronic eavesdropping concerns led to the development of the keystone. Sophie believes Sauni?re was the Priory's Grand Master, and Langdon wonders why he would entrust such a secret to his granddaughter. The truck comes to a stop, and Vernet opens the doorswith a pistol in hand, apologizing for his actions.
Vernet demands that Langdon hand over the box, claiming his duty is
to protect Sauni?re's assets. The police now suspect Langdon and Sophie of murdering the four s?n?chaux, which is being broadcasted by the media. Vernet believes the reports and wants to prevent the box from becoming evidence. He intends to return the box to the bank and hand over the fugitives to the police. Vernet fires a shot in the back of the truck to show his seriousness. With no other option, Langdon places the box at the edge of the cargo bay. He discreetly places the spent bullet shell on the truck's door sill, preventing the rear doors from closing properly. Vernet takes the box and tries to close the doors, but they don't align. Langdon forcefully throws himself against the door from inside the truck, causing it to swing outward and hit Vernet in the face. Vernet falls to the ground, dropping his gun. Langdon seizes the opportunity, grabs the box, and he and Sophie escape in the armored truck.
Aringarosa drives away from Castel Gandolfo, concerned about the Teacher's silence. Phone service is unreliable in the mountains, and Aringarosa worries that the Teacher might think he ran away with the money if he has been trying to reach him without success.
Langdon pulls off the road to fix the damaged front bumper of the truck. He contemplates their situation, considering the possibility that all the top-level Priory members are dead and the organization may have been infiltrated. Since they cannot return the keystone to the brotherhood, Langdon believes Sauni?re wanted him and Sophie to possess it as outsiders who have not been compromised. However, as fugitives, their options are limited. Langdon decides to seek help from Leigh Teabing, a British historian living in Versailles. Sophie continues to attempt different five-letter words to open the cryptex, but without success. They drive to Versailles, and Sophie expresses concerns about Teabing's trustworthiness, considering his expertise in Grail lore. Langdon believes that uncovering such a closely guarded secret will be enough incentive for Teabing to offer his assistance.
Langdon and Sophie arrive at Teabing's estate, Ch?teau Villette. They communicate with a staff member at the security gate, who initially dismisses them, saying that "Sir Leigh" is sleeping and in poor health. When Langdon mentions the Grail, the staff member wakes Teabingand allows them to enter. Teabing asks Langdon a series of coy questions, to which Langdon provides answers, and Teabing grants them access to the estate.
Vernet contacts the bank's night manager and instructs him to activate the transponder on the armored truck. The manager reminds Vernet that activating the transponder will notify both the bank and law enforcement of the truck's location. Despite Vernet's reluctance to involve the authorities, he orders the transponder to be turned on.
Langdon and Sophie arrive at Teabing's estate, and Langdon hides the box containing the cryptex in his jacket. They are led into the drawing room by a butler who lights a fire in the fireplace. Langdon discreetly places the box under a cushion on the divan, and Sophie wonders if they should inform Teabing about the cryptex. Shortly after, Teabing greets them from the top of the stairs, descending slowly with the aid of leg braces from his childhood battle with polio. Langdon asks Teabing to explain the true nature of the Holy Grail to Sophie.
Teabing starts by discussing Da Vinci's perspective on the Bible, considering it a human creation used to manipulate the masses. He then explains that the historical Jesus was a descendant of the Jewish King. More than 80 gospels were written about his life, but only four were chosen to be included in the Bible - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The decision of which stories to include and omit was made by the pagan
Roman emperor Constantine the Great in 325 A.D. Constantine aimed to unify Rome under one religion, Christianity, to prevent internal conflicts. Teabing asserts that Constantine merged elements and symbols of both Christianity and pagan religions, creating a hybrid religion that would be widely accepted.
Langdon adds that many Christian symbols were borrowed from other cultures, such as Egyptian sun disks being interpreted as halos, the imagery of Isis nursing her child being associated with the virgin birth, the pope's miter, the church's altar, and Holy Communion rituals derived from pagan practices. Constantine organized the Council of Nicaea, where various Christian policies were adopted, including the declaration of Jesus as the divine Son of God. Before this, Jesus was regarded as a mortal prophet. By proclaiming Jesus' divinity, the Catholic Church became the sole path to redemption.
Constantine also ordered the collection and destruction of gospels that didn't align with the new standards. Some historicalrecords survived, like The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Coptic Scrolls, which the Vatican has tried to discredit. Teabing then presents Sophie with a picture of Da Vinci's The Last Supper, revealing that it contains 13 stemless cups of wine instead of a single chalice. Teabing explains that the Holy Grail is not an actual cup but a person.
Langdon elaborates on the symbolism behind Teabing's revelation. Ancient symbols for male and female were simpler than they are today, with the male symbol represented as ^ and the female symbol as ^(also known as "the chalice"). The female symbol represents fertility and the womb. The legend of the Holy Grail is a metaphor for a woman whose ability to give life was once considered sacred. To maintain its patriarchal power, the Church distorted the creation myth by giving all the power to Adam, who supposedly created Eve from his rib, and demonizing the first woman as the cause of original sin. Teabing explains that stories of quests for the Holy Grail were actually tales of individuals seeking to restore the significance of the divine feminine. The Holy Grail, he reveals, is a well-known historical figure, portrayed in one of Da Vinci's paintings.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Teabing's butler sees Langdon and Sophie's
faces on the news and alerts the police.
Lieutenant Collet receives the warning from Teabing's butler and rushes toward the estate. At the same time, following a tip from the Teacher, Silas arrives at Ch?teau Villette. He scales the security fence and approaches the house, concealing a loaded gun under his robe.
In Teabing's study, Sophie asks Teabing about the identity of the Holy Grail, which he claims to have a picture of. Teabing points to a larger version of The Last Supper hanging on the wall. Sophie notices that the figure to the right of Jesus is not one of the disciples as traditionally believed but a woman - Mary Magdalene. Teabing reveals that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute as portrayed by the Church but rather the victim of a smear campaign designed to diminish her significance in Jesus's inner circle. Teabing asserts that she was, in fact, Jesus's wife. He supports this claim by highlighting their similar clothing and the composition of the figures in the painting, which forms a V shape symbolizing the chalice and the female womb. Langdon adds that Jewish customs strongly discouragedbachelorhood, and if Jesus was unmarried, it would have been noted in historical records. Teabing opens The Gospel of Phillip, one of the Gnostic Gospels, which refers to Mary Magdalene as Christ's "companion," a term that translates to "spouse" in Aramaic. The gospels also suggest that Jesus entrusted his nascent church to his wife, causing jealousy among some of the apostles, particularly Peter, due to her favored status and royal bloodline. By marrying Mary Magdalene, Jesus united two royal bloodlines, establishing his claim as the King of the Jews. Magdalene, as his wife, would have carried on that lineage by bearing his child.
Aringarosa contacts the Opus Dei headquarters and retrieves a message with a Paris phone number. Expecting to receive an update on
Silas's mission, he dials the number but is surprised to be connected to the French Judicial Police instead. Bezu Fache is summoned to the phone, and they have much to discuss.
Teabing references various condemned books that support his thesis, challenging long-held Catholic doctrines. According to the Priory, Mary Magdalene was pregnant when Jesus was crucified. To protect the child and preserve the heir of Jesus's kingdom, she fled to Gaul(now France), where she gave birth to a daughter named Sarah. The Jewish community in Gaul provided shelter to Mary Magdalene and maintained detailed genealogical records of the bloodline of Jesus and Magdalene. The Sangreal documents contain written accounts by Jesus and Magdalene themselves about their early Christian ministry. Teabing asserts that the Priory's mission is not only to safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Grail and the Sangreal documents but also to protect the royal lineage itself, which merged with French royalty in the fifth century. The result of this union was the Merovingian bloodline, the founders of Paris, and their descendants who are believed to be alive today. Sophie reflects on her grandfather's cryptic hints before his death, which alluded to the truth about her family and their royal bloodline. Teabing's butler, R?my, calls him into the kitchen for a private conversation.
Langdon assures Sophie that she cannot be part of Jesus's bloodline since Sauni?re is not a Merovingian name. The remaining individuals with ties to that lineage, Plantard and Saint-Clair, are in hiding. Sophie feels a sense of confusion and frustration as she is no closer to understanding her grandfather's hints about her family. Langdon explains that art and literature throughout history containcovert references to Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Holy Grail, including the works of Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and even Walt Disney.
Teabing initially insists that Langdon and Sophie leave his house, but Sophie reveals that they know about the keystone. Reluctantly, Teabing allows them to explain. Outside the house, Silas, who overheard Sophie mention the keystone, lurks in the bushes. Sophie discloses that Sauni?re was the Grand Master of the Priory, a claim that Teabing finds hard to believe. It goes against the principles of the brotherhood for a Grand Master to share such secret information with someone outside the organization. However, Langdon informs him that the other three s?n?chaux were also murdered, which provides stronger evidence to support Sophie's claim. Teabing ponders the situation and suggests that the only institution with the power and motivation to identify all four s?n?chaux and orchestrate their assassination in a single operation would be the Church. Sophie questions why the Church would attack the Priory now when the Sangreal documents have remained hidden for centuries. Teabing explains that the Priory had planned to reveal the truth on a specific date, a date that the Church fears is approaching. If the documents are found, Teabing warns, they will be destroyed, and all evidence of Jesus and Mary Magdalene's existence will vanish forever. Finally, Langdon discloses the location of the keystone, which is hidden under Teabing's couch cushions. As Teabing, Langdon, and Sophie move to another room, Silas enters the house.
Collet and his team surround Ch?teau Villette, but Fache orders them to wait until he arrives. Collet wonders about Fache's motives - whether he wants to take credit for the arrest or if he has doubts about Langdon's guilt. While waiting, one of Collet's agents finds Silas's warm Audi car and the armored truck used by Langdon and Sophie in their escape from the bank. Collet ponders the ownership of the Audi. Meanwhile, Aringarosa, on his way to Paris, is anxious about his plans falling apart and places his trust in Fache to resolve the situation.
Teabing holds the wooden box containing the cryptex, feeling that his life's work is finally reaching its culmination. As he takes the cryptex out of the box, Langdon examines the box and discovers a small hole under
the lid. Using a paper clip, he releases thepieces of the inlaid rose, revealing writing in an unfamiliar language underneath. Suddenly, Silas strikes Langdon from behind, causing him to lose consciousness.
Silas holds Teabing and Sophie at gunpoint, demanding the keystone. Teabing assures Silas that he won't be able to open it. Teabing pretends to lose his balance and drops the keystone. When Silas reaches for it, Teabing strikes his leg with his crutch, causing Silas to collapse in pain. Sophie delivers a strong kick to Silas's jaw. Outside, Collet hears the gunshot and orders the gate to be torn down.
Collet and his team enter the house, but the ground floor is empty. They hear voices upstairs and search each room until they reach the room at the end of the hall. However, the room is empty, and the voices are coming from the intercom system. They rush to the barn and hear the fading sounds of a car driving away. They realize that the fugitives have escaped in a Range Rover.
R?my drives the Range Rover across the estate's grounds, with Silas bound in the back. They navigate through the surrounding trees and follow a dark, wooded path on the vast estate. Silas struggles against his restraints, and Teabing threatens him with a gun. Teabing realizes that Silas couldn't have tracked Langdon and Sophie without assistance. He suggests fleeing to Great Britain, where the Holy Grail is rumored to be located. Teabing questions Silas about Opus Dei's interest in the keystone, but Silas refuses to answer, fearing that his work will be in vain. Langdon borrows Sophie's phone and makes a call to the United States.
Langdon contacts his editor, Jonas Faulkman, and asks if he sent Sauni?re an advance copy of Langdon's book on goddess worship. Faulkman confirms that he did, unknowingly sending it to a member of the Priory.
At a small airport, Teabing's pilot prepares his private jet for the flight to England. Initially reluctant to allow Teabing, R?my, and Silas on board due to his diplomatic license, the pilot changes his mind when presented with a bribe and the gun.
As the plane takes off from France, Teabing warns Sophie about the immense responsibility she now carries. Revealing the location of the Holy Grail and the contents of the Sangreal documents will have significant religious and cultural consequences, and she will be both loved and hated for it. Teabing offers Sophie the choiceto pass the responsibility to someone else if she cannot handle the consequences.
As the plane departs from France, Teabing cautions Sophie about the weighty responsibility she must now shoulder. Revealing the location of the Holy Grail and the contents of the Sangreal documents will have profound religious and cultural implications, leading to both adoration and scorn. Teabing urges Sophie to consider whether she can handle the consequences or pass the responsibility to someone else. While Teabing believes the Priory originally intended to disclose the documents promptly, Sophie expresses her desire to take her time before making a final decision.
Inside Ch?teau Villette, Fache and Collet work together to search the premises. Fache is furious at losing Langdon and Sophie for a second time. An agent delivers a message from Vernet, revealing that Langdon and Sophie were indeed in the bank and had stolen something from Sauni?re's safety deposit box. Vernet offers to cooperate with Fache's
investigation if the bank is kept out of it. Meanwhile, the police find a contact number for Le Bourget Airfield and discover that Teabing, Langdon, and Sophie have escaped in Teabing's private plane.
On Teabing's private jet, Langdon examines the writing beneath the rose inlay of the cryptex. To his frustration, neither he nor Teabing can identify the writing. However, Sophie immediately recognizes it. The script is written in reverse, a favorite trick of her grandfather's. When she holds the lid up to the light, the words become clear and legible.
Sophie transcribes the inscription: "An ancient word of wisdom frees this scroll...and helps us keep her scatter'd family whole...a headstone praised by templars is the key...and atbash will reveal the truth to thee"(328). Langdon recognizes the meter of the poem as iambic pentameter, which has pagan associations. The poem is written in English, the preferred language of secret societies. As they try to decipher the meaning and find the password, Langdon mentions the "Atbash cipher," one of the oldest known codes. However, they realize they cannot apply the code without the headstone. Frustrated, they take a break. Sophie worries that opening the cryptex will not mark the end of their quest.
Under the threat of arrest, the traffic control manager at Bourget Airfield confesses that Teabing's likely destination is a private airfield in Kent. He is unsure if Teabing has other passengers since Le Bourgetallows clients to board directly from their private hangars. Fache arranges for a plane to take him to Kent and contacts the local Kent police, instructing them to surround Teabing's plane upon its arrival.
Langdon suspects that Sophie witnessed a secret sex ritual ten years
ago at her grandfather's country house, which caused their falling out. Sophie's description convinces Langdon that what she saw was the ancient "Hieros Gamos," a ritual performed by Egyptian priests and priestesses to honor the power of female fertility. These priests believed that sexual union was the only way for humans to bridge the gap between mortality and divinity, the only way to experience true communion with God. Langdon explains that the Hieros Gamos is not erotic but deeply spiritual. The modern Church's negative view of sex is a result of its propaganda campaign, as the direct connection between sex and communion with God renders the Church irrelevant. Sophie recalls the night ten years ago when she witnessed her grandfather, naked on an altar, engaging in intercourse with a masked woman amidst a circle of chanting strangers.
Aringarosa is flying over Monaco when he receives an update from Fache, informing him that Silas, Langdon, and the others have escaped to England. Feeling despondent, Aringarosa bribes the pilot to continue flying to London, realizing that his carefully planned scheme has fallen apart.
As Teabing's plane crosses the English Channel, Langdon has a sudden realization about the reference to the "headstone praised by templars." He understands that it doesn't refer to a literal grave marker but to a stone carving of the pagan god Baphomet, supposedly worshipped by the Knights Templar. Baphomet, depicted with the head of a ram, was considered a fertility god, but the Church branded him as a symbol of the devil. Sophie points out that Baphomet has eight letters, while the cryptex code only requires five. Teabing explains that this is where the Atbash Cipher comes into play.
Teabing explains that in ancient Hebrew, vowel sounds are not written,
so Baphomet, with its five consonants(B-P-V-M-Th in Hebrew), can be transformed using the Atbash Cipher. It becomes Sh-V-P-Y-A, which can be pronounced as S-o-f-y-a, the Greek word for wisdom.
Sophie enters the password "Sofya" into the cryptex, unlocking it and revealing a smaller black onyx cryptex inside. It is wrapped in vellum with a second inscription that reads, "IN LONDON LIES A KNIGHT APOPE INTERRED." Meanwhile, the Kent police dispatch officers to their local airfield.
Back at Ch?teau Villette, Collet examines the evidence collected at the scene. He finds peculiar items, including a photograph of a gothic church with a notation connecting its arched entrance to a woman's womb, and a list of all Priory Grand Masters dating back to 1188. Collet receives a call from Vernet, demanding a progress report. After identifying himself, Collet recalls Vernet's voice as the driver of the armored truck. He contacts Interpol to request all available information on the bank manager.
The plane descends into Kent, and Teabing relishes in his victory, believing that his life's work has come to a successful conclusion. He retrieves passports for himself and R?my from a safe, along with a stack of cash to bribe airport officials. However, the pilot informs them that they are being diverted to the airfield terminal due to a supposed "gas leak" near Teabing's hangar. Suspecting that the police are waiting for them, Teabing instructs the pilot to execute an unconventional maneuver.
On the tarmac, the Kent police await the plane's arrival, planning to
detain it after landing. As the plane touches down, instead of taxiing to the terminal, it continues towards Teabing's hangar. The police quickly approach the hangar with their guns drawn. Teabing calmly exits the plane, claiming that he is running late for a medical appointment. The police demand that he remains on the plane, but Teabing persuades the airport's Executive Services Officer to search the plane and advocate on his behalf. The police inspector insists on personally searching the plane but Teabing demands a search warrant. At an impasse, Teabing walks to his waiting limousine, ignoring the police orders. The police inspector suspects that Teabing has smuggled someone illegally across international borders and decides to search the plane himself. However, the cabin is empty, and Teabing and R?my are released from custody. As the limousine leaves the airfield, Langdon and Sophie emerge from hiding in the spacious back seat, with Silas still bound and gagged on the floor.
Inside the limousine, Langdon examines the full verse inscribed on the vellum. It mentions a knight and a Pope interred in London, and their labor's fruit causing a holy wrath. The verse also refers to an orb that should be on the knight's tomb, speaking of "Rosy flesh and seeded womb." Langdon realizes thatthe tomb they seek is located in the crypt of the Temple Church, built by the Knights Templar and situated off Fleet Street in London. Sophie and Langdon understand that when the Kent police report the plane as empty, Fache will assume they are still in France. Sophie seeks Langdon's opinion on whether to reveal the Sangreal documents, but he remains noncommittal. He argues that those who truly understand their faiths recognize that the stories are metaphorical and questions whether it is justified to disrupt the beliefs of others who find comfort and guidance in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Langdon, Sophie, and Teabing arrive at the Temple Church, a circular stone building that reflects the pagan principles of simplicity and wholeness in its design. Unfortunately, they find that the church is
closed. Undeterred, Teabing knocks on the door until an altar boy answers. Teabing claims to be escorting "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wren the Fourth" on a tour and pushes past the altar boy into the vestibule. The confused boy, not wanting to risk the anger of his superior, allows them to enter. Inside the church, Teabing points out the presence of 10 crypts, each containing a Knight Templar.
In a deserted alley near the Temple Church, R?my joins Silas in the back of the limousine. He consumes two shots of vodka and retrieves a wine opener from the limo's wet bar. Using a small knife, R?my frees Silas from his bonds and apologizes for not doing it earlier. Both R?my and Silas serve the Teacher, who recruited R?my to work for Teabing in order to gain access to Teabing's research on the Grail. R?my returns Silas's pistol and retrieves one of his own from the glove box of the limo. Meanwhile, Fache arrives at the Kent airfield and notices blood on the ground inside the hangar. He interrogates the pilot and learns about Langdon and Sophie's escape, the bound monk, and the presence of something important in the plane's safe. Fache orders the pilot to retrieve it under the threat of losing his pilot's license. He then receives a call from Aringarosa, updating the bishop on the investigation and instructing him to land in Kent instead of London's Heathrow airport. Aringarosa is in a state of panic, but Fache reminds him that he is not the only one on the verge of losing everything.
Langdon, Sophie, andTeabing examine the tombs of the knights in the Temple Church but find no indication of a missing orb. They notice that the 10th tomb is different from the others, with the knight being interred inside the tomb rather than openly displayed. As they ponder this discrepancy, the altar boy returns and urges them to carry out their business and leave. When Langdon asks for time to scatter the ashes among the "tombs," the boy corrects him, stating that these are not tombs but effigies - carved tributes rather than burial crypts - and that someone related to Christopher Wren would know that. The sound of a slamming door in the Church annex distracts the boy and allows
Langdon, Sophie, and Teabing to consider what they might be missing. In the annex, Silas seizes the boy, and R?my points his gun at him, instructing him to run and not alert the police. Terrified, the boy obeys.
Silas sneaks into the Church and holds Sophie at gunpoint, demanding the keystone. Langdon, who is holding the cryptex, threatens to smash it unless Silas releases Sophie and Teabing. From the shadows of the annex, R?my watches the tense situation. The keystone is meant to be R?my's ultimate payday and his ticket to freedom from servitude, but Silas must retrieve it intact, and R?my must remain hidden. Fearing the loss of his reward, R?my disobeys the Teacher's orders and emerges from the shadows, aiming his gun at Teabing. With no other options, Langdon hands the cryptex to Silas. Silas and R?my leave the Church, taking Teabing as ahostage. Before leaving, Silas mentions that they have been searching in the wrong place.
Inside Ch?teau Villette, Collet and his team examine an Interpol report. They find no incriminating information about Vernet, but they discover a few minor crimes attributed to R?my. Suddenly, an agent informs Collet about something strange in the barn. On top of the hayloft, they discover a sophisticated electronic surveillance post. Nearby, there is a shelf filled with hundreds of audio cassettes containing recorded conversations, representing hours of surveillance material.
Langdon and Sophie hurry to a London subway station and make a call to the police in an attempt to force Silas and R?my into hiding. Their plan is to take the train to King's College, where they can research the true location of the knight's tomb. When Sophie calls the police, thecall is unexpectedly transferred to Fache. He admits Langdon's innocence but warns them that they are both in danger. Fache urges Sophie to turn herself in. Suspicious of Fache's motives, Sophie implicates R?my in
Teabing's kidnapping, hangs up the phone, and boards the arriving train before Fache can trace the call.
Inside Teabing's plane, Fache examines the wooden box and the empty cryptex. Vernet, the bank manager, calls anxiously, wanting to recover the supposedly stolen items before the bank's reputation is tarnished. Fache reassures him that the box and its contents are safe.
At Ch?teau Villette, Collet is shocked to discover that the surveillance targets are five prominent French citizens, including Jacques Sauni?re. He determines that the bugs were discreetly placed in Sauni?re's office, revealing a significant breach of privacy.
With Teabing bound and gagged in the back of the limousine, R?my drives through London. Silas's phone rings, and the Teacher instructs Silas to seek sanctuary in London's Opus Dei residence while R?my delivers the keystone. The Teacher expresses dissatisfaction with R?my's disobedience and confides in Silas that the butler must be dealt with. Silas hands the phone to R?my, who suspects that Silas is being double-crossed. The Teacher orders R?my to drop Silas off near the Opus Dei residence and then meet him at St. James Park.
Inside the theological research library at King's College, Langdon and Sophie approach a librarian for assistance in locating the knight's tomb. They initially show her only a portion of the poem, and she deduces that they are on a "Grail quest." However, without more information, she is unable to narrow down the search. Reluctantly, Langdon and Sophie show her the entire poem, prompting the librarian to begin a complex and cross-referenced search for the relevant information.
Silas arrives at the Opus Dei residence and is offered a room and food. As he sleeps, the police call the front desk inquiring about the presence of an albino monk. The attendant confirms that Silas is indeed there, and officers are dispatched to the location.
R?my parks the car outside St. James Park, and the Teacher joins him. The Teacher offers R?my a sip of cognac from a flask, and R?my accepts. However, moments later, R?my starts experiencing tightness in his throat. Unbeknownst to him, the Teacher has poisoned the drink. R?my suffocates and dies in the front seat, eliminating any possibility of him implicatingthe Teacher in their crimes. The Teacher takes R?my's revolver and moves to the back seat.
The Teacher then crosses the park to a 900-year-old cathedral, which houses the knight's tomb they have been searching for. The Teacher notes that the only loose ends left to deal with are Langdon and Sophie. At the Kent airfield, Aringarosa is greeted by a police officer who offers to escort him to Scotland Yard. However, while in the car, Aringarosa overhears mention of London's Opus Dei Center on the police radio. He instructs the officer to take him there instead.
Langdon and Sophie search the library's computer database for references to a knight's tomb in London. They come across various irrelevant hits until Langdon spots a reference to Wagnerian operas. Knowing that Wagner was a Freemason and that the Masons have connections to the Priory, Langdon initially thinks it could be a lead. However, upon further examination, they realize it is a false lead. Eventually, the computer displays a reference to Sir Isaac Newton and Alexander Pope, two prominent figures from the 17th century. Langdon realizes that this is the key to finding the tomb. Newton's revolutionary scientific ideas had antagonized the Church, and his burial in Westminster Abbey was presided over by his friend Alexander Pope.
Silas wakes up and senses an impending danger. He looks out the window and sees a police car in the residence's courtyard. Hearing someone outside his room, Silas hides behind the door and ambushes two officers, briefly incapacitating them. He quickly descends the stairs and escapes through the women's exit. However, he collides with another police officer. Silas manages to seize the officer's gun, but another officer shoots him. In a moment of confusion, Silas feels hands grab his shoulders. He turns and fires, only to realize that he has accidentally shot Aringarosa, who has arrived at the scene.
Langdon and Sophie enter Westminster Abbey, which is mostly deserted during the off season. They are unsure of where to find Newton's tomb and seek the assistance of a docent to guide them through the labyrinthine structure filled with alcoves, burial chambers, and niches. Meanwhile, the Teacher is already at the tomb, studying it and trying to decipher the final clue. He notices Langdon and Sophie waving to a docent and slips out of sight. He carries both the cryptex and the revolver, managing to smuggle them indespite setting off the metal detector due to his official status. Frustrated with the password, the Teacher decides to deceive Langdon into helping him.
Langdon and Sophie approach Newton's tomb, still trying to unravel the riddle. The tomb features a large orb with engravings of constellations, stars, and planets, but they are uncertain which specific orb is missing. Langdon believes that the final clue is symbolic rather than astronomical. Suddenly, Sophie notices a note left on the tomb, indicating that Teabing is being held captive and instructing them to go through the Chapter House, exit south, and proceed to the public garden. Relieved that Teabing is alive and that the captor hasn't cracked the password, Langdon and Sophie rush through the cloisters in the rain. However, they find the entrance to the Chapter House closed, and as
they turn around, they see the Teacher standing alone with a gun pointed at them - it is revealed to be Leigh Teabing.
Teabing explains that he never intended to involve Langdon and Sophie in the affair, but their pursuit of him made it inevitable. He accuses Sauni?re of betraying the Grail by not releasing the Sangreal documents during the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius at the turn of the millennium. He also reveals to Sophie that her family's deaths were not accidental but were orchestrated by the Church as a warning to Sauni?re. Langdon remains skeptical of these claims. As a gesture of good faith, Teabing offers the keystone to Langdon, hoping that he will help solve the puzzle. Teabing confesses his elaborate plan to deceive them, taking only the keystone and orchestrating the false kidnapping to remove Silas from the equation. Sophie vows to have Teabing arrested.
Silas carries the wounded Aringarosa through the rain, desperately searching for a hospital. Aringarosa recalls a meeting at Castel Gandolfo where he learned of Vatican sanctions against Opus Dei, leading to his ministry losing the support of the Pope. He was outraged by this decision, but his protests fell on deaf ears. Later, he received a call from the Teacher, offering him a relic that would grant him power over the Church. Now, in Silas's arms, Aringarosa realizes that he has been deceived. Silas manages to bring Aringarosa to a hospital, where he is handed over to the care of doctors. Vowing vengeance against the Teacher, Silas isreminded by Aringarosa of the importance of forgiveness.
Teabing confronts Langdon, demanding to know if he will help him. Langdon remains silent, not wanting to commit either way. He focuses on the riddle before him, trying to think like Sauni?re. Teabing reflects on
the complex series of events that led to this moment, while Langdon announces that he knows the password's location but refuses to reveal it until Teabing releases Sophie. However, Sophie refuses to cooperate, asserting that the cryptex belongs to her and she won't open it for the man who killed her grandfather. Teabing perceives that Langdon is lying and views both Langdon and Sophie as obstacles that must be eliminated. He commands Langdon to place the cryptex on the floor, but Langdon knows that doing so would lead to Teabing shooting him. In a moment of fear and desperation, Langdon has an epiphany. Staring down the barrel of Teabing's gun, he tosses the cryptex into the air. Teabing drops the gun and lunges to catch it, but the impact causes the vial of vinegar inside to break. Worried that the scroll inside is dissolving, Teabing tries to open the cryptex but finds it already open with the final password spelled out: A-P-P-L-E. Langdon retrieves the papyrus from his pocket but refuses to reveal its secret. Just then, Fache and the British police enter and arrest Teabing.
Silas, wounded and grieving, finds solace in a secluded spot in Kensington Garden where he prays for forgiveness and God's mercy for Aringarosa. He senses his life slipping away into the mist.
Fache interrogates Teabing, convinced that his seemingly incoherent ramblings are a deliberate act to lay the groundwork for an insanity defense. Fache believes Teabing is not insane because his schemes have been meticulously planned and executed. Meanwhile, Aringarosa slowly recovers at the hospital, but Silas is not as fortunate. When the bishop learned about the murders of Sister Sandrine and the s?n?chaux, as well as Silas's deviation from the original plan under the Teacher's influence, he worked with Fache to apprehend Silas before he could cause further harm. Fache returns the Vatican bonds to Aringarosa, who requests that they be divided among the families of Silas's victims. Fache and Aringarosa contemplate their uncertain futures.
The papyrus scroll reveals the final message: "The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Roslin waits," referring to Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. The chapel, built by theKnights Templar in 1446, is adorned with various ancient symbols representing different faiths, including goddess worship. Langdon enters the chapel, but Sophie hesitates at the door, feeling a sense of d?j? vu. She is drawn to two pillars at the end of the sanctuary, recognizing them from somewhere. Langdon explains that similar pillars can be found in Masonic temples worldwide. A docent approaches, indicating that the chapel is closing soon. Sophie asks about a code, and the docent remarks that it is not her first visit to Rosslyn. The code is located on a peculiar part of the ceiling and is believed to reveal the entrance to a hidden chamber beneath the chapel. Remembering a previous visit to Rosslyn with her grandfather after the deaths of her parents and brother, Sophie recalls trying to decipher the code as she lay on her back. She fell asleep and later saw her tearful grandfather bidding farewell to an old friend in a nearby house. Langdon waits as the docent notices the rosewood box in his hands, mentioning that hisgrandmother has a similar one made by his grandfather. Sophie silently leaves the chapel and heads toward the nearby house where the docent lives with his grandmother. The docent reveals that his family died in a car accident on the same day as his grandfather. Langdon senses a web of connections emerging, and the docent confirms that Sophie is their granddaughter. Inside the house, Sophie finds a woman sobbing while holding a photograph of Sauni?re. The woman recognizes Sophie and reveals that she is her grandmother. The docent, Sophie's brother, appears, and their grandmother promises to finally reveal the complete truth about Sophie's family.
Sophie's grandmother, who has been using the name Marie Chauvel for the past 28 years, reveals that Sophie's parents were direct descendants of the Merovingian bloodline, tracing their lineage back to Jesus and Mary Magdalene. When Sophie's parents died, both Sauni?re and Chauvel were unsure if it was an accident or an attempt to eliminate the last of Jesus's royal bloodline. As a result, Sauni?re and Chauvel
separated and went into hiding. While sitting on the porch, Chauvel discusses the Priory and their desire to keep the Sangreal documents hidden, believing that the idea of the Grail is more inspiring than its literal existence. Langdon, desperate for knowledge, asks if the Grail is hidden in the chapel. Chauvel explains thatSauni?re's poem refers to the "blade" and the "chalice," representing the masculine and the feminine. When these symbols are joined together as a Star of David, it alludes to a line in Sauni?re's final clue about the "blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates." Chauvel reveals that the Grail is not physically located in the vault beneath the chapel; Sauni?re's deepest desire was to return "her" to a final resting place in France. Langdon presses for more information, but Chauvel only hints that he will figure it out one day.
Langdon wakes up in his Paris hotel room with a lingering thought. After showering, he heads out into the early evening and walks to the Palais Royal, where there is a famous expanse of black marble with bronze medallions. These medallions mark a direct north-south axis through the city, known as "Paris's ancient Rose Line," the Earth's original prime meridian. Langdon follows the medallions to his destination: the Louvre Museum, with its iconic inverted pyramid resembling a chalice. He enters the museum and descends into the subterranean tunnels. There, beneath the massive inverted pyramid, he finds a smaller pyramid, with the two apexes nearly touching, representing the blade and the chalice guarding the Grail's final resting place.