Editing The Exorcist (novel) (section)

==Plot==
An elderly [[Jesuit]] priest named [[Father Lankester Merrin]] is leading an archaeological dig in northern [[Iraq]] and is studying ancient relics. After discovering a small statue of the demon [[Pazuzu]] (an actual ancient [[Assyria]]n demon), a series of omens alerts him to a pending confrontation with a powerful evil, which, unknown to the reader at this point, he has battled before in an [[exorcism]] in Africa.

Meanwhile, in [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]], a young girl named [[Regan MacNeil]] is living with her famous mother, actress Chris MacNeil, who is in Georgetown filming a movie. Chris has rented a house for her and Regan to reside in during the filming.  Regan finds a [[Ouija board]] in the basement of the home, which she uses to communicate with an entity who identifies itself as "Captain Howdy".  As Chris finishes her work on the film, Regan begins to become inexplicably ill. After a gradual series of [[poltergeist]]-like disturbances in their rented house, for which Chris attempts to find rational explanations, Regan begins to rapidly undergo disturbing psychological and physical changes: she refuses to eat or sleep, becomes withdrawn, and increasingly aggressive and violent. Regan contorts her body to bow and bend in impossible directions, at one point following around her tutor Sharon, hissing and squirming like a snake. Chris initially mistakes Regan's behavior for the result of repressed anger over her parents' divorce and absent father.

Coupled with these events are disturbances at the local Holy Trinity Church, which has been desecrated on several recent occasions. Detective Kinderman begins investigating Father Karras, as they exchange disturbing stories of [[Black Mass]]es, Catholic theology and 1960s film stars. At this point in the novel, Burke Dennings, Chris's movie director, has been killed, with his head turned completely around.
"Could another human being have done it? Yes, but he'd have to be an exceptionally powerful man."

After several unsuccessful psychiatric and medical treatments (X-rays, medication, [[Temporal lobe epilepsy|temporal]] lobe analysis), Regan's mother, an [[atheist]], turns to a local Jesuit priest for help as Regan's personality becomes increasingly disturbed and the doctors still cannot find a source. Father [[Damien Karras]], who is currently going through a crisis of faith coupled with the recent loss of his mother, agrees to see Regan as a psychiatrist, but initially resists the notion that it is an actual demonic possession, pointing to advances in science which can explain what was previously assumed to be possession. After a few meetings with the child, now completely inhabited by a diabolical personality claiming to be the devil, he turns to the local bishop for permission to perform an exorcism on the child.

The bishop with whom he consults does not believe Karras is qualified to perform the rites, and appoints the experienced Merrin—who has recently returned to the United States—to perform the exorcism, although he does allow the doubt-ridden Karras to assist him. The lengthy exorcism tests the priests both physically and spiritually. When Merrin, who had previously suffered [[cardiac arrhythmia]], dies during the process, completion of the exorcism ultimately falls upon Father Karras. When he demands that the demonic spirit inhabit him instead of the innocent Regan, the demon seizes the opportunity to possess the priest. Karras heroically surrenders his own life in exchange for Regan's by [[Suicide by jumping from height#Jumping out of a window|jumping out of her bedroom window]] and dies, regaining his faith in God as his [[last rites]] are read.