i j | | Doubt a parable John Patrick ShanleyDoubs « parables copyright © 2005 by ohn Patrick Shanley Doubs a parables published by Theatre Communications Group, oe, 20 High Aveoue, PA Hoot New York, NY 10018-4156, Attrights reserved Except for Brief pastes quoted in newepapar magazine, rain or television reves no part of tie bok may be reprodoerd in any fem or by any means electron or mechania,inshuding photocopying oF Tecording tr by as information storage and zetieval system, without per ition in writing fom the poblisher: ‘Profemionals and amateurs here waraed that this materia beng {ally proved under the Copysight Laws of the United States of America and allother counties ofthe Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions issub- ject a vyelty All rights inelading, bat ot listed, professions, sateun ‘ oelng motion picture, eitati,lecturing, public reading, radio and tele ‘sion broadening, ad the rights of translation into foreigs languages are “xpesy reserved: Particular empl is placa onthe quetion of resdings Saal uses this book by edwetionalitzations, pression fer wiih must Tie serine fom the authors representative: George Lane, Creative Artists ‘Agen, 162 Fh eae, 62h Fos, New York, NY 1000, (212) 277-000. ‘his public a mad posible in part with public funds om ‘he New York State Count on the Aree State Agency. {TOG books ae exclusively letrbte a te book tmde by Consortium ‘Book Sales and Distribution, 1045 Woxgate Dive, St. Pan, MN 65114 Linnany 09 Concinnss GxrAL.0@1NG-IN-PUBLICATION DAP Shanley, ob Patrick, Doult / Jako Patrick Shanley. pen, ISBN 15, 9781.55036-976-4 ISBN 10 1-55986-276-6 (ple alk, paper) t.Nuny—Deasns, 2 Clergy Drama, 3. Catholies—Drama *b Ohl seul abore—Dre ite. sas 15557108 2005 aig.si—aae 200500524 Gaver design by SPOTOO Cover photo illeation by Mare Yanks “Author photo by Menique Carbon “Tent design an composition by Lisa Govan int Haition, Apel 2005,This play is dedicated to the many orders of Catholic nuns who have devoted their lives to serving others in hospitals, schools and retirement homes, ‘Though they have been much maligned and ridiculed, who among us has been so generous?Preface | Wiersma sly Whaling wel ask what's under me? On what am I built? ‘There's something silent under every person and under every play. ‘There is something unsaid under any given society as well. “There's a symptora apparent in America right now. [es evident in political talk shows, in entertainment coverage, in | artistic criticism of every kind, in religious discussion. We are living ina courtroom culture, We tere living ina celebrity \ culture, but that’s dead, Now we're only interested in eelebri- | | tios if they're in court. We ave living ina culture of extreme advocacy, of confrontation, of judgment, and of verdict. Dis cussion has given way to debate. Communication has become a contest of wills, Public talking has become obnoxious and insincere. Why? Maybe i's because deep down under the | chatter we have come toa place where we imow that we don’t | know... anything. But nobody's willing to say that. Lot me ask you. Have you ever held a position in an argument past the point of comfort? Five you ever defended a yeny of life you were on the verge of exhausting? Have youPreface ever given service to a ereed you no longer utterly believed? Have you ever told a girl you loved heer and felt the faint nat sea of eroding conviction? I have. That's an interesting moment, For a playwright, it’ the beginning of an idea, I saw a piece of real estate on which I might build a play, a play. that sation something silent in my life and in my time. Fstarved with a title: Doubt ‘What is Doubt? Each of us is like a planet. There's the ‘rust, which seems eternal. We are confident about who we are. If youask, we can readily describe our eurrent state. [know ny answers to so many questions, as do you. What was your father like? Do you believe in God? Who's your best friend? ‘What do you want? Your answers are your current topogra. phy, seemingly permanent, but deceptively so, Because under that face of easy response, there is another You, And this ‘wordless Being moves just as the instant moves; it presses upward without explanation, fluid and wordless, until the resisting consciousness has no choice but to give way. tis Doubs (so often experienced initially as weakness) ‘that changes things. When a man feels unsteady, when he falters, when hard-won knowledge evaporates before his ‘eyes, he’s on the verge of growth. The subtle ar violent rec- conciliation of the outer person and the inner core often seems at first like a mistake, like you've gone the wrong way and you're lost But this s just emotion longing for the fazsil- iar. Life happens when the tectonic power of your speechless soul breaks through the dead habits of the mind. Doubt is nothing less than an opportunity to reenter the Present, The play. Te set my story in 1964, when not just me, but the whole world seemed to be going through sone kind of vast puberty: The old ways were still dominant in behay- ior, dress, morality, world view, but what had been organic expression had become a dead mask. I was in a CatholicPreface hutch school in the Bronx, run by the Sisters of Charity. ‘These woinen dressed in black, believed in Hell, obeyed their ale counterparts, and educated us, The faith, which held us together, went beyond the precincts of religion. Tt was a shared droam we agreed to call Reality. We didn't know it, Doat we had a deal, a social contract. We would all believe the samme thing. We would all believe. Looking bac, it seems to me, in those schools at that time, we were an ageless unity. We were all adults and we were all children, We had, like many animals, flocked together for warmth and safety. Asa result, wo were terribly vulnerable to anyone who chose to hunt us. When trusts the order of the day, predators are free to plunder. And plunder they did, As the ever widening Church scandals reveal, the Jbunters had a field day. And the shepherds, so invested in the surface, sacrificed actual good for perceived virtue T have never forgotten the lessons of that era, nor learned them well enough. I still long for & shared certainty, an assumption of safety, the reassurance of believing that others know better than me what’s for the best. But T have been led by the bitter necessities of an interesting life to value that age-old practice of the wise: Doubt. There is an wnesey time when belief has begut to slip, ‘but hypoeriay has yet to take hold, when the consciousness is disturbed but not yet altered. It is the most. dangerous, important, and ongoing experience of life. The beginning of change is the moment of Doubt. Iti that crucial moment ‘when Trenew my humanity or become a lie Doubt requires more courage than conviction does, and ore energy’ because conviction is @ resting place and doubt, is infinite—itis a passionate exercise. You may come out of ; ry play uncertain, You may want to be sure. Look down on that feeling We've got to learn to live with a full measure ofA __—E———— Preface : “uncertainty. There is no last word. ‘That's the silence under the chatter of our time, John Patrick Shanley Brooklyn, New Yorks ‘March 2005Doubt | | a parableProduction History Doubt, « parable received its world premiere at Manhattan ‘Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) on November 25, 2004. The production then transferred to Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (Garole Shorenstein Hays; MTG Productions, Ine; Roger Berlind; Scott Rudin; producers) and opened there on Mareh 51, 2005. ‘The production was directed by Doug Hughes; wit design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Catherine ‘Zuber, lighting design by Pat Collins and original musie and sound design by David Van Tieghem. The production stage manager was Charles Means and the swage manager was Elizabeth Moloney. The cast was as follows: FATHER FEYNN Brian F O'Byrne SISTER ALOYSIUS Cherry Jones SISTER 14MES Heather Goldenhersh DRS, MULLER Adriane LenoxCharacters FATHER BRENDAN ¥LNN, late thirties SISTER ALOYSIUS BEAUVIER, fifties/sixties SISTER JAMES, twenties ans, MULLEN, around thirty-eight Setting St, Nicholas, a Catholic church, and school in the Bronx, New York, 1964‘The bad sleep well, Title of Kurosawa film In much wisdom is much grief and he that inereaseth knowledge increascth sorrow. —Reclesiastes [Everything that is hard to attain is casily assailed by the mob. —ProtemyI A priest, Father Flynn, in his late thirties, in green and gold vestments, gives a sermon. He is working class, from the Northeast ruvwn: What do you do when you're not sure? That's the topic of my sermon today. You look for God's direction and can’t find it, Last year when President Kennedy was assassinated, who among us did not experience the most profound disorientation. Despair. “What now? ‘Which way? What do I say to my kids? What do I tell myself?” Itwasa time of people sitting together, bound together by a common feeling of hopelessness. Butthinke of that! Your bond with your fellow beings was your | despair. It was a public experieneo, shared by everyone in our society. It was awful, but we were in it together! | How much worse is it then for the lone man, the lone ‘woman, stricken by a private calamity? “No one knowsDoubs Pm sick. No one knows P've lost my last real friend. No one knows I've done something wrong.” Imagine the isolation. You see the world as through a window. On the one side of the glass: happy, untroubled people. On the other side: you. Something has happened, you have to cary it, and it’s ineommunicable, For those 90 afflicted, only God knows their pain. ‘Their secret. The secret of their alienating sorrow. And when such a person, as they must, hovel to the sky, to God: “Help me!” What if no answer comes? Silence. I want to tell you a story. A cargo ship sank and all her crew was drowned. Only this one sailor survived. He made a raft of some spars and, being of a nautical discipline, turned his eyes to the Heavens and read the stars. He set a course for his home, and, exhausted, fell asleep. Clouds rolled in and blanketed the sky. For the next twenty nights, as he floated on the vast ocean, he could no longer sec the stars, He thought he was on course but there was no way to be certain. Asthe daysrolled on, and he wasted away with fevers, thirst and starvation, he began to have doubts Had he set his course right? Was he still going on towards his home? Or was he horribly lost and doomed toa terrible death? No way to know. The message of the constellations —had he imagined it because of his des. perate circumstance? Or had he seen ‘Truth once, and now had to hold on to it without further reassurance? ‘That was his dilemma on a voyage without apparent end. There are d exactly the erisis of faith I describe. I want:to say to you: Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as cer ose of you in church today who know tainty. When you are lost, you are nat alone, In the name of the Mather, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen, (He exits)John Patrick Shanley ‘ IL : The lights crossfade to a corner office in a Catholic school in the Bronx. The principal, Sister Aloysius Beauvier, sits at her desk, writing in aledger with a fountain pen. She isin her fifties or sixties. She is watchful, reserved, unsentimental She isof the onder of the Sisters of Charity. She wears a black bonnet and floor length black habit, rimless glasses, A knock at the door. sisi atoysius: Com (ister James, also of the Sisters of Charity, pokes her head in. She is in her twenties. There's a bit of sunshine in her heart though she's reserved as well) sista sastus: Have you a moment, Sister Aloysius? sisi aLoystus: Come in, Sister Tarnes (She enters.) ‘Who's watebing your elass? sien 1aMns: They're having Art sistin aLoystus: Art, Waste of time sistEn sanans: It's only an hour a week. sister aZoysrus:Much ean be accomplished in sinty minutes. sister sams: Yes, Sister Aloysius. I wondered if I might mow what you did about William London? sistan aLoystus: Isent him home. sistran saNens: Oh deat. So he's still bleeding? sian aLoystus: Oh yes. sisman 1AMES: Hig nose just Tet loose and started gushing uring The Pledge of Allegiance. siren aLoysius: Was it spontaneous?Donbe sists sass: What else would it be? SisTER ALovsrus: Self-induced sist rasmus: You mean, you think he might've intention- ally given himself nosebleed? sisran aLoysrus: Exaetly. sisrnn sanns: Not sen ALoystus: You are a very innocent person, Sister James, William London is a fidgety boy and if you do not Keep right on him, he will de anything to escape his ‘chair. He would set his foot on fire for half a day out of school sisrRr rans: But why? sisrmn ALovsrus: He has a restless mind. s1srun saneas: But that’s good. ‘2x ALoysius: No, it’s not. His father’s a policeman and the last thing he wants isa rowdy boy. William London is headed for trouble, Puberty has got hold of him. He ‘will be imagining all the wrong things, and I strongly suspect he will not graduate high school. But that's beyond our jurisdiction, We simply have to get him through, out the door, and then he’s somebody else's project. Ordinarily, T assign my most experienced sis- ters to eighth grade but I'm working within con- straints, Are you in contvol of your class? sista JAMES: I thinle so. SISTER ALOYS! os: Usually more children are sent down tome. sistant saMus: Try to take care of things myself srsttm aLovstvs: That ean be an error. You are answerable to me, Ito the monsignor, he to the bishop, and so on up to the Holy Father. There's a chain of discipline Make use of i sisten saves: Yes, Sister. sisren aLoystus: How's Donald Muller doing? sisen JAMES: Steady.John Patrick Shanley syst atoystus: Good. Has anyone hit hitn? srsten sans; No. sisren aLoystus: Good. That girl Linda Conte, have you seated her away from the boys? ssn saants: As far as space permits, Ib doesn’tdo much good. sisTEn aroysius: Just get her through. Intact, (Pause, Sister Aegis is staring absently at Sister James. A silence falls) sismn sansns; So, Should I go? (No answer) Is something the matter? “en aLoysrus: No, Why? Is something the matter? ssn sAMEs: I don’t think so. SISTER ALOvstus: Then nothing's the matter then. sisrmn samus: Well. Thank you, § on William's nose. er. [just wanted to cheek (he starts to g0.) sista aLovsrus: He had a ballpoint pen. ‘an sanans: Excuse me, Sister? sisren aLoysius: William London had a ballpoint pen. He was fiddling with it while he waited for his mother. He's not using it for assignments, I hope. sisrin sanus: No, of course not. sisren aLovsius: I'm sorry T allowed even cartridge pens into the school. The stadents really should only be learning script with true fountain pens, Always the ‘easy way out these days, What does that teach? Every ‘easy choice today will have its consequence tomorrow. Mark my words, sisren sams: Yes, Sister,Dowbt sisren ALoysivs: Ballpoints make them press down, and when they press dawn, they write like monkeys. isa samus: I don’t allow them ballpoint pens. sista aLovstus: Good, Penmanship is dying all across the county, You have some time. Sit down, (ister James hesitates and sits down.) ‘We might as well havea talk. P've been meaning to talk. to you, I observed your lesson on the New Deal at the beginning of the term, Not bad. But I caution you. Do not idealize Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was a good president, but he did attempt to pack the Supreme Court. Ido not approve of making heroes of lay historical fig. sures. If you want to talk about saints, do it in Religion. sistmR sancus: Yes, Sister. sisrea aLoysivs: Also, [ question your enthusiasm for History, ven sams: But I love History? SISTER ALoyswws: That is exactly my meaning. You favor History and risk swaying the children to value it over their other subjects. I think this is a mistake. sisven JAMES: I never thought of that. I'l wy to treat my other lessons with more enthusiasm. ssn aLovsivis:No, Give them their History without putting ssagar all over it, That’ the point. Now. Tell me about your class. How would you characterize the condition of 8B? susten sAsus: I don't know where to begin, What do you want to know? sisrEn aLoysius: Let's begin with Stephen Inzio, srsran sams: Stephen Iasi has the highest marks in the class. ran az.oysrus: Noreen Horan? srsr#a sams: Second highest marksJohn Patrick Shanley Brenda McNulty? susten samus: Third highest. sustun aLovsius: You see [am making a point, Sister James. Tknow that Stephen Inzio, Noreen Horan and Brenda McNulty are one, two and three in your class. School wide, there are forty-eight such students each grade period. I make it my business to know all forty-eight of their names. Ido not say this to aggrandize myself, but to illustrate the importance of paying attention, You ‘must pay attention as well sisren sanens: Yes, Sister Aloysius SISTER ALovsrus: I cannot be everywhere. sisTER samEs: Arn I falling short, Sister? sisTen aLoysrus: These three students with the highest marks, Are they the most intelligent children in your class? sIST#R sAMEs: No, I wouldn't say they are. But they work the hardest. signin aLoystus: Very goodt That's right! That's the ethic What good’s a gift if it’s eft in the box? What good is a hhigh IQ if you're staring out the window with your mouth agape? Be hard on the bright ones, Sister James. Don't be charmed by cleverness. Not theirs. And not yours, I think you are a competent teacher, Sister ‘James, but maybe not our best teacher. The best teach. ers da not perform, they eause the students to perform. sisrisn sansss: Do I perform? sister aLoysrus: As if on a Broadway stage srs sanees: Oh dear. I had no conception! sisran arovsrus: You're showing off Youlike to see yourself ten feet tall in their eyes. Another thing occurs to me. Where were you before? sisrun rans: Mount St. Margaret’ sistar aLovsros: All gils.Dou sigan sams: Yes sisren aLoysius:T feel Tmust remind you. Boys are made of gravel, soot and tar paper: Boys are a different breed, isin sams: I feel I know how to handle them, sistun ALovsits: But perhaps you are wrong. And perhaps you are nat working hard enough. Sister JAMBS: Ob. (Sister James cries a little) sisran aLoysitis: No tears, SISTER JAMES: I thought you wore satisfied with me, SISTER ALOYSIUS: Satisfaction is a vice. Do you have a hand- kkerchief? sist santes: Yes, ‘un ALoysiUS: Use it, Do you think that Socrates was sat isfied? Good teachers are never content. We have some three hundred and seventy-two students in this school. Iisa society which requires constant educational, spir ial and human vigilance. I eannot afford an excessively. innocent instructor in my eighth grade class, It’s self- indulgent. Innocence isa form of laziness Tmnocent teach- ers are easily duped. You must be canny, Sister Janes, sisten ans: Yes, Sister. srsren ALovsius: When William London gets a nosebleed, be skeptical. Don’t let a little blood fuddle your judg- ment. God gave you a brain and a heart. The heart is warm, but your wits must be cold, Liars should be frightened to lie to you. They should be uncomfortable in your presence. T doubt they are. sisten Janse: I don't kriow. D've never thought about it. sisen aLovsrus: The children should think you see right through them. sisren santns: Wouldn't that be a little frightening?John Patrick Shanley sistun ALoysrus: Only to the ones that are up to no good. sisrEn sans: But I want my students to feel they can tall to me. SISTER ALoystuS: They're children. They can talle to each other. It's more important: they have a fierce moral guardian, You stand at the door, Sister. You are the gate keeper. If you are vigilant, they will not need to be, sis sass; I'm not sure what you want ane to do, sista azoysrus: And if things occur in your classroom which you sense require understanding, but you don't understand, come ta me. sisten sAstus: Yes, Sister sisren atovstus: That’s why Pm here. That's why I'm the principal of this school. Do you stay when the specialty sister sases: Yes sisrer aLoysrs: But you're here now while the Art class is going on. sister sams: I was a little concerned about William’s nose. sistn ALoysius: Right, So you have Art in class, SISTER JAMRS: She comes in, Ms. Bell. Yes. ‘un ALoysrus: And you take them down to the basement for Dance with Mrs, Shields, sister sanns: On Thursdays. sisTRR ALoysrus: Another waste of time. sistmn JAMES: Oh, but everyone loves the Christmas pageant. sistan aLovsiys: I don't love it. Frankly it offends me, Last year the giel playing Our Lady was wearing lipstick. Twas waiting in the wings for that little jade, ssTER sans: Then there's Music. sisTen ALovsius: That strange woman with the portable piano, What's wrong with her neck? sierra sans: Some kind of goiter. Poor woman. SISTER ALoysIUS: Yes. Mrs. Carolyn.Dou sist sasins: That's right. sigan ALovsiDs: We used to have a Sister teaching that. Not ‘enough Sisters. What else? sisten sans: Physical Edwention and Religion. sister aLoysrus: And for that we have Father Plynn, Two hours a week, And you stay for those? sist sams: Mostly. Unless I have reports to fill out or. sien ALoystus: What do you think of Father Flynn? sien zaMs: Ob, he's a brilliant man. Whet a speaker! sisren aLoysius: Yes. His sermon this past Sunday was poetic. stsrii FMS: He’s actually very good, too, at teaching bas- ketball. I was surprised. I wouldn't think aman of the cloth the personality type for basketball, but. he has a way he has, very natural with dribbling and shooting. srsrnn aLoysiUs: What do you think that sermon was about? ssn sams: What? sis Bn aLoysrusThis past Sunday. What was he talking abou sistin zsnens: Well, Doubt, He was talking about Doubt. sistan anovsius: Why? srsren samns: Excuse mo, Sister? wn aLoysius: Well, sermons come from somewhere, don't they? Is Father Flynn im Doubt, is he concerned that someone else is in Doubt? srs rans: suppose you'd have to ask him, sustmn aLovslus: No, That would not be appropriate. He is iny superior, And if he weze toubled, he should confess it ta fellow priest, or the monsignor. We do not share intimate information with priests, (A pause) sisEn zaMzs: I'm a little concerned. (Sister Aloysius leans forward.)John Patrick Shantey sister aLoysius: About what? sisven satus: The time, Art class will be over in a few roin- utes, Fshould go up. sisven arovsrns: Have you noticed anything, Sister James? sistent 1asens: About sehat? sistEn atoysius: I want you to be alert. sistn 1anaus: I don't believe I'm following you, Sister sister aroysrus: Pm sorry Fm notmore forthright, but must be careful not to ereate something by saying it. T cam only say Iam concerned, perhaps needlessly about mat tors in St, Nicholas School. sisten saps: Academically? sisTeR ALovsIUs: I wasn't inviting a guessing game. I want ‘you to pay attention to your class. susan saws: Well, of course Tl pay aitention to my class, Sister, And I'll try not to perform. And Pl try to be less innocent. I'm sorry you're disappointed in me, Please know that I will try my best. Honestly oysrus: Look at you. You'd trade anything for a warm look. I'm telling you here and now, I want to see the starch in your character cultivated. If you are look ing for reassurance, you can be fooled. If you forget yourself and study others, you will not be fooled. It's important. One final matter and then you really must get back. Sister Veronica is going blind sisrun iaMtus: Oh how horrible! susrER ALovstus: This is not generally known and T don't want it known. If they find out in the rectory, she'll be gone. I cannot afford to lose her. But now if you see her making her way down those stone stairs into the court~ yard, for the love of Heaven, lightly take her hand as if in fellowship and see that she doesn't destroy herself. Allright, go._ Doubt Wl The lights crossfade to Father Flynn, whistle around his neck, in a sweatshirt und pants, holding a basketball. FLYNN: AIL right, settle down, boys, Now the thing about shooting from the foul line: It’s psychological, ‘The rest of the game you're cooperating with your teammates, you're competing against the other team, But at the | foul line, it’s you against yourself. And the danger is Youstart to think. When you thinl Your body locks up. So you have to remember to relax. k, you stop breathing, ‘Take a breath, unlock your knees—his is something for you to watch, Jimmy. You stand like a parking ‘metes| Come up with a routine of what you do. Shift ‘your weight, move your hips.... You think that’s funny, Ralp Don't worry if you look silly. They won’e think you're What's funny is you never getting a foul shot. silly if you getthe basket. Come up with a routine, con- centrate on the routine, and you'll forget to got tensed up. Now on another matter, I've noticed several of you guys have dirty nails, I don't want to see that. Tm not talking about the length of your nails, I'm talking about cleanliness, See? Look at my nails. They're long, ‘like them a little long, but loak at how clean they are. ‘That makes it okay. There was a kid I grew up with, ‘Timmy Mathison, never had clean nails, and he'd stick his fingers up his nose, in his mouth. —This is a true story, learn to listen! He got spinal meningitis and died a horrible death, Sometimes it’s the little things that get you. You try to talk to a gisl with those filthy paws, ‘Mr. Conroy, she's gouma take off like she’s being chased by the Red Chinese! (Reacting genially to laughcer) AllJohn Patrick Shanley right, all ight. You guys, what-am I gonna do with y« Get dressed, come on over to the rectory, have some Kool-Aid and cookies, we'll have a bull session. (Blows his whistle) Gol Iv Crossfade toa bitof garden, a bench, brick walls Sister Alesis, in full habit and a black shaso, is wrapping a pruned rosebush in burlap, Sister James enters sisrien 1aMEs: Good afternoon, Sister. sisren a1oystus: Good afternoon, Sister James Mr, MeGinm pruned this bush, which was the right thing to do, but he neglected to protect it from the frost SISTER Janes: Have we had a frost? sisran aLoystus: When it comes, it’s too late, ‘ran sams: You know about gardening? SISTER aLoystus: A little, Where is your class? TER sams: The girls are having Music sisran ALoysius: And the boys? sistsn sanaus: They're in the rectory. (Gister James indicates the rectory, which is out of view, Juston the other side of the garden.) sister aLoxsros: With Father Flynn srsren 2am: Yes, He's giving them a talk. sisrun azovstus: On what subject?Doubt sisrnn saMEs: Flow to be aman. stern ALoystus: Well, if Sisters were permitted in the ree- tory, I would be interested to hear that talk. 1 don's know how to be a man, I would like to know what's involved, Have you ever given the girls tall on how to be a woman? ssn sans: No, I wouldn't be competent sister ALoystus: Why not? srsren sams; [just don’t think I would, I took my vows at the beginning ... Before... At the beginning sisten aLoystus: The founder of our order, The Blessed Mother Seton, was married and had five children before embarking on her vows. sisran sAMus: I've often wondered how she managed so much in one life. sistien aLovstus: Life perhaps is longer than you think and the dictates of the soul more numerous, I was married. susren zanes: You were! (Gister Aloysius smiles for the frst time.) sr ‘an Lovsros: You could at least hide your astonishment, I... didn’t know sisren aLoysius: When one takes on the habit, one must close the door on secular things. My husband died in the war against Adolph Hitler. sisvEn sanens: Really! Excuse me, Sister. sisren aLovsrus: But P'm like you. I'm not sure I would feel ‘corapetent to lecture tittering girls on the subject of ‘womanhood. I don't come into this garden often, What is it, farty fer across? The convent here, the rectory there, We might as well be separated by the Atlantic Ocean, I used to potter around out here, but Monsignor Benedict does his reverie at quixotic times and we are 18John Patrick Shanley rightly discouraged from crossing paths with priests unattended. He is seventy-nine, but nevertheless. stsran satus: The monsignor is very good, im't he? sistn sLoysius: Yes, But he is oblivious. sistan sans: To what? sisran aLoysius: I don’t believe he knows who's President, of the United States, I mean him no disrespect of course, Is just that he’s otherworldly in the extreme. sisrmn sams: Is it that he's innocent, Sister Aloysius? sister aLoystos: You have a slyness at work, Sister Fares Be careful of it. How is your claséfi How is Donald suse sAMus: He is thirteenth in class. sisrun aLoysius: T know, That's sufficient. Is he being accepted? susren sAMEs: Hl has no friends. sistem atovsius: That would be a lot to expect after only tivo months. Has anyone hit him? sistnn saMrs: No. sn aLoysrus; Someone will. And when it happens, send them right down to me. sis sisran sams: Pim not so sure anyone will SISTER ALOYSIUS: There is a statue of St. Patrick on one side of the church altar and a statue of St. Anthony on the other, This parish serves Irish and Italian families Someone will hit Donald Muller. SISTER JAMES: He has a protector, susie ALoysrus: Who? ssistin saneus: Father Flynn, (ister Aloysius, ho has been fussing with mule ts sud denly rigid She rises.) sisrme azoysius: What? 19Doube stsTRR Janes: He's taken an interest. Since Donald went on the altar boys. (Pause) I thought I should tell you. stsran aLoysius: I told you to come to me, but I hoped you never would ‘Maybe I shouldn't have. "BR aLovstUs: I know once you did, something would be SISTER JAMES set in motion. So it’s happened. SISTER sams: What?! I'm not telling you that! Tm not even certain what you mean, fos, you are, sisi samns: F've been trying to become more cold in my thinking as you suggested... [feel as if I've Tost mny way a little, Sister Aloysius, I had the most terrible Gream last night, I want to be guided by you and responsible to the children, but T want my peace of mind. Eanust tell you I have been longing for the reuarn of my peace of mind, sisTEx Lovstus: You may not have it, It is not your place to be complacent. That's for the children, That’s what we give them, sistin 1astus: I think I'm starting to understand you alittle. Bur it’s so unsettling to look at things and people with suspicion. It feels as if I’m less close God. sisTen ALoysius: When you take a step to address wrong- doing, you are taking a step away from God, but:in His service. Dealing with such matters is hard and thank: less work. sisTER sAMBS: Pye beoome more reserved in class, [feel sep- arated from the children, sisir aLoysius: That’ as it should be, sisrmn sanns: But I feel. Wrong. And about this other mat ter, [don't have any evidence. In anything's happened. sisrex aLoysrus: We can’t wait for that, at all certain that 20John Patrick Shanley SISTER JAMES: But what if it’s nothing? SISTER aLOvsr0s: Then it’s nothing, [ wouldn't mind being wrong. But I doubt Iam, sistn saxon: Then what's to be done? SISTER ALOxsiUs: I don’t know. SISTER JAMES: You'll know what to do, sisEn aLoystus: I don’t know what to do, There are para ‘meters which protect him and hinder me, s1sTin samns: But he can't be safe if it’s established. I doubt hhe could reoover from the shame. sisr#R aLoysius: What have you seen? ssn sams: [ don’t know, stsren aLoysrus: What have you seen? ssn sans: He took Donald to the rectory. sista aLoysius: What for? sis sams: A talk. sisrmn aLoysrus: Alone? sist samus: Yes, sisr#x aoysius: When? sts saas: A week ago, sis aLoysrus: Why didn’t you tell ine? stern sasees: [didn't think there was anything wrong with | it Thnever came into my mind that he ... chat there i could be anything wrong, ' susren aLovaivs/ OF all she cildzen, Donald Muller. I sup- a ‘pose it makes sense. | sistun sauces: How does it make sense? sistan aLovsrus: He’s isolated. The litle sheep lagging i ‘behind isthe one the wolf goes for. | sistan sauus: I don't know that anything's wrong! sisrux aLovsivs: Our first Negro student. T thought there'd | be fighting, a parent or two to deal with ....[should’ve i foreseen this possibility. susan iasans: How could you imagine it?—O— Dout SISTER ALOYSIUS: It is my job to outshine the fox in clever- ness That’s my job! SISTER JAMES: But maybe it’s nothing! SISTER ALOYSIUS: Then why do you look like you've seen the . Devil? | isin saMns: It's just the way the boy acted when he came back to class. SISTER ALOysiUs: He said something? sustain sates: No, It was his expression. He looked frightened and... he put his head on the desk in the most pecu- liar way. Struggles) And one other thing: I think there was alcohol on his breath. There was alcohol on his breath, ister Aloysius looks toward the rectory.) sisTn aLovsrus: Hight years ago at St, Boniface we had a priest who had to be stopped. But T had Monsignor Seully then... who I could rely on. Hleze, there's no ‘man Tean go to, and men run everything. We are going to have to stop him ourselves sista says: Can't you just... report your suspicions? sisTER ALoysrus: Te Monsignor Bened less! He would just ask Father Flynn! sisren sasees: Well, would that be such a bad idea? sistem ALoysius: And he would believe whatever Father The man’s guile- lym told him, He would think the matter settled. sisvin iaMus: But maybe that is all that needs to be dome. If it’s true. If Thad done something awful, and I was com fronted with it, '@ be so repentant. Sisrun ALOYSIUS: Sister James, my deay, you must try to imagine a very different kind of person than yourselt Arman who would do this has already denied a great deal. If T tell the monsignor and he is satisfied with Father Flynn’s rebuttal, the matter is suppressed. 22John Patrick Shanley sister santns; Well then tell the bishop. sis ALovsivs: The hierarchy of the Church does not per mit my going to the bishop. No. Once I tell the snon- signor, i's out of my hands, I'm helpless. P'm going to have to come up with a pretext, get Father Flynn into ry office. Try to force it. You'll have to be there. sage zanans: Me? Nol Why? Oh no, Sister! [couldn't sista aLoysius: I can't be closeted alone with a priest Another Sister must be in attendance and it has to be you, The eirele of confidence mustn't be made any wider, Think of the boy if this gets out. sus saasns: Fean's do it sispn aLoystus: Why not? You're squeamish? sister rastes: I'm not equipped! It’s... Twould be embar assed, I coulda’t possibly be present if the topic were spoken aft SISTER ALOYSIUS: Please, Sister, do not indulge yourself in witless adolescon: seruples. Tassure you I would prefer a more seasoned confederate, But you are the one who came w me. sisisn zantns: You told me tol sista aLoysrus: Would you rather leave the boy to be exploited? And don’t think this wil be the only story. If you close your eyes, you will be a party to all that comes after susrien 1aMs: You're supposed to tell the monsignor! sisT2n ALoysiUS: That you saw a look in a boy's eye? That perhaps you smelled something on his breath? Mon- signor Benedict thinks the sun rises and sets on Father Flynn, You'd be branded an hysterie and transferred. ser sans: We can ask him. sisren ALovsrus: Who? ssren sataxs: The boy. Donald Muller. sisrin anoysrus: He'll deny it.Doubt stsran ramus: Why? SisTmn jLoysius: Shame, sisren sans: You can’t know that, Sisrn aLostus: And if he does point the finger, how do you think that will be recoived in this community? A black child. (No answer) Tam going to think this through. Then I'm going to invite Father Flynn to my office on an unrelated matter. You will be there, sisrnn sAMus: But what good can I do? SisTEn ALoysrus: Aside from the unaeceptability of a priest and nun being alone, Tneed a witness sister yantns: To what? sisTER ALoysrus; He may tell the truth and lie afterwards (Sister James looks toward the rectory,) The boys are coming out of the rectory. They look happy enough. stsTen a1ovsrus: They look smug, Like they have a secret, sisren saneus: There he is, stsTEn aLoysius: If I could, Sister James, I would certainly choose to live in innocence. But innocence can only be wisdom in a world without evil, Situations arise and we are confronted with wrongdoing and the need to act. ‘usin satus: I have to take the boys up to class sisTBA aLoystus: Go on, then. Take them. I will be talking to you, (The sound of wind Sister Aloysius pulls her shat ‘ightly about her and goes. After a manent, Sister James goesas well) 26TN Jobn Patrick Shanley Vv ‘The principal’ office. A phone rings, Sister Aloysius enters with «pot of tea, walking quickly to answer the phone. SISTER ALovsius: Hello, St. Nicholas School? Oh yes, Mr MeGinn. Thank you for calling back. That was quite a windstorm we had last night, No, I didn't know there was a Great Wind in Ireland and you were there for it. ‘That's fascinating, Yes. | was wondering if you would bbe so kind as to remove a tree limb that’s fallen in the | courtyard of the church. Sister Veronica tripped on it ‘this morning and fell on her face. I think she's all right, She doesn't look any worse, Mr. MeGinm. Thank you, Mr, MeGinn, (She hangs up the phone and looks ather watch, a tance: ious. knock at the door) Come in, (he door opens. Father Flynn is standing there in his Black cassock He doesn't come in.) viyNN: Good morning, Sister Aloysius! Haw are you today? sista aLovstus: Good morning, Father Flynn, Very well. | Good of you to come by. Father Flynn takes a step into the office.) LYNN: Are we ready for the meeting? sisan aLovstus: We're just short Sister James, (Pather Flynn steps back into the doorway) Did you hear that wind last night?—————= Doubt wuvnn: [certainly did. Imagine what it must've been lke in the frontier days when a man alone in the woods sat by a fire in his buckskins and listened to a sound like that. Imagine the loneliness! The immense darkness press i ing int How frightening it must've been | sist ALover0si If ene lacked faith in Gods protection, Lsyp- | pose it would be frightening vax Did [hea Sister Veronica had an aceident? sistan aLovsivs: Yes Sister Veronica fellon a piece of wood this morning and practically killed herself vox Ts she all righ? susan aLoverus: Oh, she's fine ux: Her sight in good, i? sistan azovsius: Her sight fine. Nuns fal, you know. ovo No, Tid’ know that sustan aLovsrus: Ie’ the habit. I catches us up more often ‘han not. What with our being in black and white, and so prone to falling, we're more like dominos than any- thing ele ister James appears atthe door, breathless) stsrn sancxs: Am I past the time? Prather Flynn takes a step into the office.) nurwn: Not at all. Sister Aloysius and I were just having a nice chat. sisren ramus: Good morning, Father Flynn, Good morning, Sister, I'm sorry I was delayed. Mr. McGinn has closed the courtyard to fix something so I had to go back through the convent and out the side door and then Tran into Sister Veronica, Lyn: How is she? 265Tohin Patrick Shanley stsren 2AM : She has a bit of a bloody nose sista aLovsius: Pm beginning to think you're punching people sisTEn JAMES: Sister? sisTen aLoystus: Well, after the incident with... Never mind, Well, come in, please. Sit down. (Chey come in and sit down. Father Flynn takes Sister Aloysius's chair. He's siting at her desk. She reacts, but says nothings) Tactually have a hot pot of tea. (Closes the door but for dan inch) And close this but not quite for form’s sake. Would you have a cup of tea, Father? LYNN: [ would love a enp of tea. SISTER ALOYSIUS: Perhaps you could serve him, Sister? SISTIER JAMES: OF course, sisren aLovsus: And yourself of course. sistiex says: Would you like tea, SISTER ALOystUs: I've already had may eup. vivwn: Is there sugar? SISTER ALOYSIUS: Sugar? Yes! (Rummages in her desk) Is here somewhere. I put it in the drawer for Lent last year and never remembered to take it out. FLYNN: It masin't have been much to give up then. sista aLovsius: No, I'm sure you're right, Flere itis, Tl serve you, though for want of practice, Pm... (Clumsy) ister Aloysius? (he's got the sugar bowl and is poised t serve him a lump of sugar with a small pair of tongs when she sees his nails) Your fingernails, vivnn: I wear them a litde long. The sugar? sist ALovsius: Oh yes, One?>—>E>E>EE———= Doubt Lyn: Three, SISTER ALovstus: Three. (She's appalled but tries to hide it) | riynn: Sweet tooth, StstaR ALOFSIUG: One, two, three. Sister, do you take sugar? (ister Aloysius looks at Sister James,) sisvuR samns (To Sister Aloysius): Never! (To Father Flynn) Not that there's anything wrong with sagat: (To Sister Aloysius again) Thank you. | (Sister Aloysius puts the sugar anay in her desk.) SISTER ALoysius: Well, thank you, Father, for making the time for us, We're at our wit’ end. Pov: [think it's an excellent idea to rethink the Christmas pageant, Last year’s effort was a little woebegone. sisrEn sames: No! I loved itt (Becomes self-conscious) But Tove all Christmas pageants. I just love the Nativity. ‘The birth of the Savior. And the hymns of course, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” sisiran atoysrus: Thank yon, Sister James, Sister James will, be co-direeting the pageant with Mrs. Shields this year. So what do you think, Father Flynn? Is there something new we ool do? Lym: Well, we all love the Ghiristn bbe jolly to include a seenlar song 1s hymns, but it might SISTER ALoysius: Secular, Lynn: Yes. “It’s Beginning t Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Something like that, 28John Patrick Shanley sisrmn aLovsros: What would be the point of performing a secular song? uv: Fun, sisren santus: Or “Frosty the Snowman.” now: That's a good one. We could have one of the boys dress as a snowman and dance around. sistn aLoysius: Which boy? ruven: We'd do tryouts. SISTER aLovstus: “Frosty the Snowman” espouses a pagan belief in magic. The snowman comes to lie when an, enchanted hat is put on his head. If the music were more somber, people would realize the images are dis ‘urbing and the song heretical (ister James and Father Flynn exchange a look.) sistsn sanns: I've never thought about “Frosty the Snow- man” like that, sistEx ALovsivs: It should be banned from the airwaves, utenn: So, Not “Frosty the Snowman.” (Father Flynn writes something in a small notebook) srsrx ALoysius: I don’t think so, “I's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” would be fine Tsuppase. The par- cents would like it, May I ask what you wrote down? ‘With that ballpoint pen, stvwn: Oh, Nothing. An idea fora sermon, ststEn aroystus: You had one just now? wivns: I got them all the time. sisrun aLovstus: How fortunate, Fuxnw: Horget them so I write them dawn, stsren ALoysius: What is the idea? myn: Intolerance,ister James tries to break a bit of tension.) sisrun sams: Would you like a little more tea, Father? Pivnw: Not yet. I think a message of the Second Keumenical Council was that the Church needs ta take on a more familiar face. Reflect the local community. We should sing a song from the radio now and then. Take the kids out for ice eroamn, sisTmn atoysius: Tee cream, piyn: Maybe take the boys on a camping tip. We should be Sriendlier. The children and the parents should see us as members of their family rather than emissaries from Rome. I think the pageant should be charming, like a ‘community theatre doing a show. ssn atoysrus: But we are not members of their family. We're difforont, urn: Why? Because of our vows? stsTHA ALovsrus: Precisely vivwn: I don't think we're so different, (To Sister James) You know, I would take some more tea, Sister. Thank you. SISTER ALovSIts; And they think we're different, The workiaig- class people of this parish trust us to be different. viynn: [think wo're getting off the subject. Sisr@R ALovstus: Yes, you're sight, back to it, ‘The Christanias pageant. We must be carefull how Donald Muller is used in the pageant (ister James shakes as she pours the tea.) utynn: Easy there, Sister, you don't spill. SISTER raMes: Oh, ub, yes, Father uv: What about Donald Muller? sisrn atovsius; We must be careful, in the pageant, that weneither hide Donald Muller nor put him forward. 30vaarnn: Because of the color of his skin, sisrER aLoysius: That's right. uxwn: Why? sisTEn atoysrus: Come, Father. You're being disingenuous. vovnn:T think he should be treated like every other boy. sistER atovsrus: You yourself singled the boy out for spe: cial attention. You held a private meeting with him at ‘the rectory. (Turning to Sister James) A week ago? sisrin sams: Yes (He realizes something’s up.) uses: What are we talking about? signa saMBs: Donald Muller? “un Lovsrus: The boy acted strangely when he returned vo class, (Rather Flynn turns to Sister James.) wuvwn: He did? sistem ames: When he returned from the rectory. A little odd, yes SISTER ALoysIUS: Can you tell us why? wivww: How did he act strangely? sistee sAmes: I'm not sure how to explain it. He laid his hhead on the desk Lyn: You mean you had some impression? sis 1aMs: Yes vans: And he'd come from the rectory so you're asking me if [know anything about it? sister 1aMess That's it viva: Hmmm. Did you want to discuss the pageant, is that why P'm here, or is this what-you wanted to discuss? sistin aLoysrvs: This, 31xyniy; Well, [feel a little uncomfortable. stsren ALovstws: Why? muywn: Why do you think? Something about your tone. sisrmn avovsios: I would prefer a discussion of fact rather than tone. muvwn: Well. If Thad judged my conversation with Donald ‘Muller to be of concern to you, Sister, I would have sat youdown and talked to you about it, But I did not judge 3t to be of concern to you. sisTn ALovsius: Perhaps you are mistaken in your under standing of what concerns me, The boy is in my school and his well-being is my responsibility. Pivwn: His well-being is not at issue. sisren aLoystus: Iam not satisfied that that is true. Hle was ‘upset when he returned to class euvwn: Did he say something? sisven zaMes: No. sisven aLovstus: What happened in the rectory? uynn: Happened? Nothing happened. Ihad a talk with a boy, sisrun aLovstus: What about? ‘avy: It was a private matter, isan ALoysrus: He's twelve years old, What could be private? vivww: Pll say it again, Sister. I object to your tone. sistRR ALovsts: This is not about my tone or your tone, Father Flynn. It’s about arriving at the truth. uyns: Of what? sisres ALovstus: You know what 'm talking about. Don't you? You're controlling the expression on your face right now. Aron't you? vuynn: My face? You said you wanted to talix about the pageant, Sister, That’s why V'm here. Am I to under- stand that you brought me into your office to confront me in some way? It’s outrageous. L'm not answerable to ‘you. What exaeily are you accusing me af?John Patrick Shanley 1g you of anything, Father Flynn. Lam asking you to tell me what happened in the rectory, Cather Flynn stands) wtxws: I don't wish to continue this conversation at: all fur ther. And if you are dissatisfied with that, [suggest you speak to Monsignor Benedict. I ean only imagine that your unfortunate behavior this morning is the result of ‘overwork, Perhaps you neod a leave of absence. L may suggest it, Have a good morning. (To Sister James) Sister? stsren ramns: Good morning, Father (ister Aloysius's next words stop him.) sisteR ALOwstus: There was alcohol on his breath. (He turns) When he returned from his meeting with you. (He comes back and sits down, He rubs his eyes.) riynw: Aleokol sisman sams: I did smell it on his breath, sigma anoystus: Well? FLYNN: Cau't you let this alone? SISTER aLovsrus: No, viywn:Isee there’sno way out of this sts santns: Take your time, Rather. Would you like some more tea? vin: You should've let it alone. SISTER ALovsrus: Not possible, uy: Donald Muller served as altar boy last Tuesday morn, ing. After Mass, Mr. McGinn caught him in the sacristy drinking altar wine. When I found out, I sent for him,Doubt There were tears. He begged not to be removed from the altar boys. And I took pity on him. I told him if no one else found out, I would let him stay on. (star James is overjoyed. Sister Aloysius is unmoved.) sisrsn samus: Ob, what a relief! That explains everything! ‘Thanks be to God! Oh, Sister, look, its all a mistake! sisran aLovstus: And if [talk to Mr, MoGinn? vyuyw: Talk to Mr, McGinn by all means, But now that the boy'ssecrer’s out, Pim going to have toremove him from the altar boys, Which I think is too bad. ‘That's what Twas trying to avoid. susan sans: You were trying to protect the boy! wun: That's right. sisten rams: I might've done the same thing! (To Sister Aloysius) Is there a way Donald could stay on the altar boys? sisvan aLovstws: No. Ifthe hoy drank altar wine, he eannot continue as an altar boy. LYN: Of course you've right. I'm just not the disciplinari fan you are, Sister. And he is the only Negro in the school. That did affect my thinking on the matter, It will be commented on that he’s no longer serving at Mass. It'sa public thing. A certain ignorant element in ‘the parish will be confirmed in their beliefs. sisrpn azovsius: He must be held to the same standard as the others. sini; Of course, Do we need to discuss the pageant or was that just - sisrEr aLoysrus: No, this was the issue. FLYNN: Are you satisfied? sisi aroysius: Yes, riven: Then I'll be going, I have some writing to do, aJobn Patrick Shanley sisrin ALoysius: Intolerance, sLvnn: That's right (He goes, then stops at the door.) P'm not pleased with how you handled this, Sister Next time you are troubled by dark ideas, I suggest you speak to the monsignor. (He goes. Afier a moment, Sister James weakly launches {nto optimism.) sists santus: Well. What a relief! He cleared it all up, sisTEA atoysits: You believe him? sisrmn santes: Of course, SISTER ALOYSIUS: Isn't it more that it's easier to believe him? sis samns: But we can corroborate his story with Mr McGinn! sisTEn ALovsius: Yes. These types of people are clever They're not so easily undone. sisix sams: Well, Pm convinced! sisTex azoysrus: You're not. You just want things to be resolved so you can have simplicity back. sisrax sans: I want no further part of this, sisrEn ALoystus: I'll bring him down, With or without your help. sisrin sancns: How ean you be so sure he’s lying? un aLovstus: Experience, sisvun ranas: You just don’t like hien! You don’t like it that hhe uses a ballpoint pen. You don't like it that he takes three lumps of sugar in his tea. You don't like it that he likes “Frosty the Snowanan.” And you've letting that convince you of something terrible, just terrible! Well, L like “Prosty the Snowman"! And it would be nice ifDoubt this school weren't run like a prison! And I think it’s a good thing that [love to teach History and that might inspire my students to love it, too! And if you judge that to mean I'm not fit to be a teacher, then so be it! sisren anovstus: Sit down, (Sister James does) In ancient Sparta, important matters were decided by who shouted loudest. Fortunately, we are notin ancient Sparta. Now. Do you honestly find the students in this school to be treated like inmates in a prison? sisven rans (Relentings No, I don't. Actually, by and large, they seem to be fairly happy. But they're all uniformly terrified of you! sastnn azoxsivs: Yes, That's how it works, Sit there. (Sister Aloysius looks in a notebook, picks up the phone, dis.) Hello this is Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the principal of St. Nicholas Is this Mrs. Mulles? I'm calling about your son, Donald. I would like you and your lushand to come down here for a talk. When would be convenient? (Lights fade.) VI Father Flynn, in blue and white vestments, is at the pulpit. woews: A woman was gossiping with a friend about aman, she hardly knew—I know none of you have ever done 36John Patrick Shanley this—and that night she had a dream. A great hand appeared ovor her and pointed down at her. She was immediately seized with an overwhelming sense of guilt. The next day she went to confession, She got the old parish priest, Father O'Rouke, and she told him the whole thing. “Is gossiping a sin?” she asked the old man. “Wes that the Hand of God Almighty pointing a finger at me? Should I be asking your absolution? Rather, tll me, have I done something wrong?” (Irish brogue) “Yest" Father 'Rouke answered her. “Yes, yout ignorant, badly brought-up female! You have borne false witness against your neighbor, you have played fast and loose with his reputation, and you should he heartily ashamed!” So the woman said she was sorry and asked forgiveness. “Not so fast!” says O'Rouke, “Lwant you to go home, take a pillow up on your roof, cat it open with a knife, and return here to met” So she went home, took the pillow off her bed, a knife from the drawer, went up the fire escape to the roof, and stabbed the pillow. Then she went baek to the old priest as instructed. “Did you gut the pillow with the knife?” he says. “Yes, Father” “And what was the result?” “Weathers,” she said. “Feathers”? he repeated. “Peathers ‘everywhere, Father! “Now I want you to go back and gather up every last feather that flew out on the wind!” “Well,” she says, “it can't be done. I don't know where they went, The wind took them all over.” “And that,” said Father O'Rouke, “is gossipt” In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen| | Doubt Vil The lights crossfade tothe garden. A crow caus, Sister James sits on the bench, deep in thought. Father Flynn enters uxnn: Good afternoon, Sister James, srsrun satis: Good afternoon, Father, viyww: What is that bird complaining about? What kind of Died is chai? A starling? A grackle? SISTER ZAMES: A crow? vin: OF couree itis, Are you praying? T didn't mean to interrupt sists sass: Pm not praying, no. riynw: You seem subdued, sisTsn santss: Oh. I can’t sleep. ruxww: Why not? sisran sans: Bad dreams. Actually one bad dream, and then I haven't slept right since. wtvww: What about? sIsTER sAntzs: [looked in a mirror and there was a darkness where my face should be. It frightened me, riven: I can’t sleep on occasion. sisrn asus: No? Do you see that big hand pointing a fin ger at you? rexvnn: Yes: Sometimes ssn sams: Was your sermon directed at anyone in particular? vx: What do you think? isan sances: Did you make up that story about the pillow? tv: Yes, You make up little stories to illustrate. In the tra dition of the parable. six JAMS: Aren't the things that actually happen in life more worthy of interpretation than a made-up story?John Patrick Shanley stvwn: No, What actually happens in life is heyond inter- pretation. The truth makes for a bad sermon. It tends 10 be confusing and have no clear conclusion. sister sAseus: T received a letter from my brother in Mary- land yesterday, He’s very sick. iynn: Maybe you should go and see him, sisEn satus; I can’t Ieave my class. fow's Donald Muller doing? sistan santns; I don’t know, vivnw: You don't see him? sisten saMns: see him every day, but I don't know how he’s doing. I don’t know how to judge these things. Now. ruvnw: I stopped speaking to him for fear of it being misun- derstood. I's thata shame? I actually avoided him the other day when T might've passed him in the hall. He doesn't understand why. T noticed you didn't come to isn sAMps:No, [went to Monsignor Benedict. He's very kind. wivwn: [wasn sist sanins: It wasn't that, As you know. You know why. riven: You're against: me? orsrEn zaMBS: No, Lynn: You're not convinced? sisi saatus: I's not for me to be convinced, one way or the other. Is Sister Aloysius. vuynn: Are you just an extension of her? ‘SsPBR AAMBS: She's my superior. rin: But what about you? isn santns: [wish knew nothing whatever about it. wish, the idea had never entered my mind. viynn: How did it enter your mind? sisrsn sansss: Sister Aloysius. ruvnw: [feel as if my reputation has been damaged through no fault of my own. But I'm reluctant to take the steps 30Doubt necessary to repair itfor fear of doing further harm. It's frustrating, I ean tell you that sisirgn sanans: Ts it true? ruvwns What? sisr28 sans: You know what I'm asking LYNN: No, is not true. SISTER sans: Oh, T don't know what to believe. risrxn: How ean you take sides against me? sismn sates: Te doesn’t matter viyww: It does mattert F'ye done nothing, There's no sub- stance to any of this. The most imnocent actions can appear sinister to the poisoned mind. T had to throw that poor boy off the altar: He's devastated, The only reason [haven't gone to the monsignor is I don’t want to tear apart the school. Sister Aloysius would most cer tainly lose her position as principal if Tmade her accu: sations known, Sine they're haseless. You might lose your place as well. sisix sannus: Are you threatening me? vivre: What do you take me for? No, sie raMuiss I want-to believe you. vuxnn Then do, fs a shinple as that. sas santas: [Us not ane that has to be convinced. vax: I don’t have to prove anything to her, sisrmn rasins: She's determined. wean: To what? sista sais: Protect the boy rixwn: H’sme that cares about that boy, not her, Has she ever reached out a hand to that child or any ehild in this school? She's ikea block of ice! Children need warmth, Kindness, understanding! What does she give them? Rules. That black boy neods a helping hand or he's not going to make it heret But if she has her way, he'll be left tohis own undoing. Why do you think he wasin the “0John Patrick Shanley sacristy drinking wine that day? He’s in troublet She sees me tallcin a human way to these children and she immediately assumes there must be something wrong with it, Something dirty. Well, I'm not going to let her keep this parish in the Dark Ages! And Pm not going to let her destroy my spirit of compassion! sren sams: I'm sure that’s not her intent. vin: I care about this congregation! sisTen sams: Tknow you do. Lynn: Like you eare about your classt You love them, don’t, you? sisrien sanens: Yes, ryan: That's natural. How else would you relate to children? Tean look at your face and know your philosophy: kindness sister sans: I don't know. mean, of course wiywn: What is Sister Aloysins’s philosophy do you suppose? A pause.) sisrir James: don’thave to suppose. She's tld me. She dis- courages... warmth, She's suggested The more... formal ! ruvnn: There are people who go after your humanity, Sister James, who tell you the light in your heart is a weak ness. That your soft feelings betray you. I dox't believe | that. [an old tact af eruel people to kill kindness in | ‘the name of virtue, Don’t believe it, There's nothing | ‘wrong with love, | stsvin sams: OF course not, but wivnn: Have you forgotten that, was the message of the Savior tousall. Love, Not suspicion, disapproval and judgment. Love of people. Have you found Sister Aloysius @ posi tive inspiration? sisrmn rans: I don’t want to misspeak, but no, She's taken away my joy of teaching. And I loved teaching moreDoubs than anything, (She cries a little, He pats her uneasily, ooking around) Fyn: It’s all right, You're going to be all right. SIStTHR raMas: I feel as if everything is upside down, ‘euva: Ttiat though. There are just times in life when we fel Jost. You're not alone with it. It happens to many of us. SISTER sams: A bond. (Becomes self-conscious) better go, euywn: Pm sorry your brother is ill, sis7mr sass: Thank you, Father. (Starts to go, stops) I don’t believe it raynw: You don't? siscomn rans: No, rivw: Thank you, Sister. That’ a great relief to me. Thank you very much, (She goes. He takes out his litte black book and writes in it. The crow caws, He yells at it) Oh, be quiet (Then he opens a prayer book and walks aay.) VIII Crossfade to the principal's office. Sister Aloysius is sitting ooking out the window, very stilt A knock at the door. She doesn’t react A second knock, louder She pulls a small earplg out of her ear and scurries to the door. She opens it. There stands Mrs, Muller, a black woman of about thirty-eight, in hor Sunday best, dressed for church. She's on red alert sisren ALovstus: Mrs, Muller? 2