Agnes of God

(Video Transcript)

Titles over black.
FADE IN:


EXT - CONVENT - DAY

Whispering of nuns at prayer.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - CHAPEL - DAY

Nuns at prayer; MOTHER MIRIAM, the Superior closes the gate and locks it.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - COURTYARD - DAY

The nuns walking around the courtyard in an anticlockwise direction saying the rosary.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - CHAPEL - DAY

A line of nuns kneeling at prayer. Closeups of various individuals.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - CONVENT - NIGHT

A single shot of the building.



INT - TOP CORRIDOR - NIGHT

SISTER MARGUERITE is locking up for the night, shutting doors, turning off lights, finally walks off down the corridor. Suddenly a terrified scream is heard, the voice of a young woman.



EXT - CONVENT - NIGHT

Lights in the windows flick on.



INT - TOP CORRIDOR - NIGHT

The nuns are running up the corridor in their night dresses and caps, calling urgently in French. They reach the door of Sister Agnes' room and try the door. It is blocked. Pushing harder they see the blood stained figure of SISTER AGNES. Much alarm and crying...

MOTHER SUPERIOR

Agnes!... Agnes...

EXT - CONVENT - NIGHT

An ambulance comes tearing down the road, siren blaring. It cuts the siren and stops outside the convent gates. The nuns open the gate and the ambulance drives inside.



INT - TOP CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Two PARAMEDICS urgently run the stretcher down the hall to the unconscious figure of Sister Agnes. The Mother Superior desperately wipes and kisses her face.

PARAMEDIC

I'm just going to put something here to stop the bleeding. Excuse me Sister. She'll be fine.

They lift her on to the stretcher and run back down the hall. The Mother Superior looks around worriedly and goes into...



INT - SISTER AGNES' ROOM - NIGHT

She kneels down by a waste paper basket full of bloodied sheets and starts to pull them out. Then she freezes, makes the sign of the cross and starts to weep.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - MONTREAL - NIGHT

An aerial shot of the great cross of Montreal. Superimposed over this are the words "MONTREAL, QUEBEC".

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - SUPREME COURT - DAY

A normal busy day. A car pulls up with a woman and a man driving. The woman is MARTHA LIVINGSTON. She kisses the man (LARRY), gets out of the car, runs across the road dodging traffic and goes up the steps of the courthouse. There a group of REPORTERS there and a sudden bustle of interest.

REPORTER

Here they are now.

Martha watches intently as 3 nuns, the Mother Superior, Sister Marguerite, and Sister Agnes (dressed in a white novices habit) and their LAWYER come out of the court escorted by police. The reporters leap on them, taking photographs, asking questions in English and French. Suddenly Sister Agnes looks right at Martha, then she is quickly bustled past. Martha goes on into the courthouse.



INT - JUDGE'S CHAMBERS - DAY

Inside EVE, LYON, and JUSTICE LEVEAU are sitting. Martha is standing by the window smoking furiously.

LEVEAU

Martha, it's you.

MARTHA

What about Roger? He's free.

EVE

They want a woman.

LYON

All you have to do is meet with her once or twice... then tell the court she's insane.

MARTHA

Are you dictating my position to me? We're getting into some sticky legal territories here.

EVE

Martha, all we're saying is, no-one wants this to come to trial, not the Church, not the Crown... least of all me.

MARTHA

Eve, she strangled a baby!

EVE

Nobody is interested in sending a nun to prison.

LEVEAU

We're not telling you what to decide Martha. We're not even telling you to take this.

LYON

Is there any reason why you feel you shouldn't take it?

Martha pauses for a long moment at the window, then turns.

MARTHA

Today's my birthday. I always make bad decisions on my birthday.

The Judge, Eve and Lyon all chuckle. The Judge throws the file down on his desk towards her.

LEVEAU

Happy birthday.

INT - MARTHA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Martha unlocks the door and comes in. She plays her answerphone and moves over to her cat.

MARTHA

Hi, Kitty.

The answerphone whirs... SECRETARY (Voice-over)

Hi, it's Helen, calling to tell youthat Mrs Davenport phoned to confirm her appointment at nine o'clock tomorrow, okay? Bye bye.

Some whirs and clicks.

ROGER (Voice-over)

Hi Martha, it's Roger. Can you callme at the hospital. I'd like your opinion on a case. Oh, bye the way, happy birthday. Bye.

SECRETARY (Voice-over)

Hi, Marty it's Helen again. I cancelled your Wednesday afternoon appointmentso you can visit with your mother. Bye bye.

MAN (in French)

???

Martha picks up a news paper with a photo of Sister Agnes on the front.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - CONVENT - DAY

Martha pulls up in her BMW outside the convent walls and gets out, cigarette in hand. A sign tangled over with creeper reads "Les Petites Soeurs de Marie Madeleine". Martha jangles a bell. After a wait she presses a buzzer. A peephole in the door slams open and Sister Marguerite looks out.

MARTHA

Bonjour, I'm Doctor Martha Livingston, I...

The peephole slams shut, but the door does open. Sister Marguerite glares at her.

MARTHA (Continued)

Hello... I'm Doctor Martha Living...ston... I...

Martha realizes it is the cigarette that is causing the trouble and hastily grinds it underfoot.

MARTHA (Continued)

Excuse me... I'm...

Sister Marguerite's eyes flick down at cigarette butt. Martha awkwardly tries to kick it away.

MARTHA (Continued)

...the court-appointed psychiatrist.

Sister Marguerite gives a frosty imitation of a smile and motions for her to come in.

MARTHA (Continued)

Thank you. I um... I believe your Mother Superior's expecting me.

Martha and the Sister walk up the drive to the convent.



INT - WAITING ROOM - DAY

Martha follows Sister Marguerite into a grilled waiting room. Sister moves off, leaving Martha looking around curiously. Then MOTHER MIRIAM arrives from behind the grilled door, sees Martha, sighs exasperatedly and enters giving Martha a slight start.

MOTHER SUPERIOR (beaming at her own little joke)

Doctor Livingston I presume? I'm Mother Miriam Ruth. You needn't call me Mother if you don't wish.

(shaking hands)

Most people find it uncomfortable.

MARTHA

Well... I...

MOTHER MIRIAM (carrying right on)

I'm afraid the word brings up the most unpleasant connatations in this day and age...

MARTHA

Yes... I...

MOTHER MIRIAM

You can call me Sister.

MARTHA

... Thank you.

MOTHER MIRIAM

You must have tons of questions. You may smoke if you want to. Just don't tell any of the Sisters.

Martha sits; Mother Miriam gets her a box of matches.

MOTHER MIRIAM (Continued)

They wouldn't understand, especially Sister Marguerite. She'd scare the pants off Queen Elizabeth.

(she lights Martha's cigarette)

Besides, I miss them.

MARTHA

You were a smoker?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Two packs a day.

MARTHA

I can beat that.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Unfiltered.

Martha inclines her head impressed. Mother Miriam sits down next to her.

MOTHER MIRIAM (Continued)

Well, you have questions.

(checks her watch)

Fire away...

MARTHA

Who knew about Agnes' pregnancy?

MOTHER MIRIAM

No-one.

MARTHA

How did she hide it from the other nuns?

MOTHER MIRIAM

She undressed alone... she bathed alone.

MARTHA

Is that normal?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Yes.

MARTHA

How did she hide it during the day?

MOTHER MIRIAM (indicating her habit)

She could have hidden a machine gun in here if she had wanted to.

MARTHA

Didn't she have any physical examinations in this time?

MOTHER MIRIAM

We're examined once a year. Her pregnancy fell in between the doctor's visits.

MARTHA

Who was the father?

MOTHER MIRIAM

I haven't a clue.

MARTHA

What man had access to her?

MOTHER MIRIAM

None as far as I know.

MARTHA

Was there a priest?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Yes, but I...

MARTHA

What's his name?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Father Martineau, but I don't see him as a candidate.

MARTHA

Could there have been anyone else?

MOTHER MIRIAM (a pause)

Obviously there was.

MARTHA

And you didn't try to find out who?

MOTHER MIRIAM (standing)

Believe me, I've done everything possible short of asking Agnes.

MARTHA

Why haven't you asked her?

Mother Miriam removes a tray from under a pot plant and brings it back to use as an ashtray.

MOTHER MIRIAM (sitting again)

She can't even remember the birth. Do you think she'd admit to the conception?

MARTHA

Look, someone gave her the baby.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Yes, but that was some ten months ago. I fail to see that the identity of that somebody has anything to do with this trial.

MARTHA

Why do you think that?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Don't ask me those questions dear, I'm not the patient.

MARTHA

Well I'm the doctor. I'm the one who's going to decide what is, or is not important here.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Look doctor, I don't know how to tell you this politely, but I don't approve of you. Not you personally...

MARTHA

The science of psychiatry.

MOTHER MIRIAM (standing)

Exactly. I want you do deal with Agnes as speedily and as easily as possible. She won't hold up under any sort of cross examination.

MARTHA (also standing)

I am not with the Inquisition.

MOTHER MIRIAM

And I am not from the Middle Ages. I know what you are! I don't want that mind cut open.

Then Mother Miriam walks out.



INT - WAITING ROOM - DAY

A little later, Martha is sitting alone smoking. SISTER ANNE enters and indicates that Martha should follow her. They exit out of the grilled room and head up a steep flight of wooden stairs. Faintly the voice of a single young woman can be heard singing in Latin.



INT - TOP CORRIDOR - DAY

Martha follows Sister Anne down the hall towards the singing. They stop outside Agnes' room. Martha looks to see...



INT - AGNES' ROOM - DAY

... Agnes an almost childlike young woman singing happily, looking out the window. Then Agnes hears a slight sound and stops abruptly. She turns to see Martha standing in the doorway.

MARTHA

Hello. I'm Doctor Livingston. I've been asked to talk to you. May I?

AGNES

Yes.

Martha moves further in the room. An ELDERLY NUN hovers outside the door.

MARTHA

You have a lovely voice.

AGNES

No, I don't.

MARTHA

I just heard you.

AGNES

That wasn't me.

MARTHA

Was it Sister Marguerite?

Agnes laughs and Martha closes the door, shutting out the old nun.

MARTHA (Continued)

You're very pretty Agnes.

AGNES

No, I'm not.

MARTHA

Hasn't anyone ever told you that before?

AGNES

Let's talk about something else.

MARTHA

What would you like to talk about.

AGNES

I don't know.

MARTHA

Anything... may I sit down?

AGNES

Yes.

They both sit.

MARTHA

First thing that comes to your mind?

AGNES

God! But there's nothing to say about God.

MARTHA

Second thing that comes to your mind.

AGNES

Love.

MARTHA

Have you ever loved anyone?

AGNES

Yes.

MARTHA

Who?

AGNES

Everyone.

MARTHA

Well, who in particular?

AGNES

Right now?

MARTHA

Uh huh.

AGNES

I love you.

MARTHA (a pause)

Agnes, have you ever loved another man... other than, Jesus Christ?

AGNES

Yes.

MARTHA

Who?

AGNES (chuckles)

Oh, there are so many.

MARTHA

Well do you love... do you love Father Martineau?

AGNES

Oh, yes!

MARTHA

Do you think he loves you?

AGNES

Oh, I know he does.

MARTHA

He's told you?

AGNES

No. But... when I look into his eyes, I can tell.

MARTHA

You've been alone together?

AGNES

Yes.

MARTHA

Often?

AGNES

At least once a week.

MARTHA

And you like that?

AGNES

Oh, yes.

MARTHA

Where do you meet?

AGNES (obviously)

In the confessional.

A slightly awkward pause.

MARTHA

Agnes, do ever see Father Martineau outside the...

Agnes suddenly looks exasperated.

AGNES

You want to talk about the baby don't you?

MARTHA

Would you like to talk about it?

AGNES

I never saw any baby... I think they made it up.

MARTHA

Why should they?

AGNES

I don't know.

MARTHA

Do you remember the night they said it came?

AGNES

No. I was sick.

MARTHA

How were you sick?

AGNES

Something I ate.

MARTHA

Did it hurt?

AGNES

Yes.

MARTHA

Where?

AGNES

Down... there.

MARTHA

And what did you do?

AGNES

I went to my room.

MARTHA

And what happened?

AGNES

I got sicker.

MARTHA

And then what?

AGNES

I fell asleep.

MARTHA

In the middle of all the pain?

AGNES

Yes.

MARTHA

Where did the baby come from?

AGNES

What baby?

MARTHA

The baby they made up.

AGNES

>From their heads...

MARTHA

Is that where they say it came from... ?

AGNES

No, they say it came from the waste paper basket!

MARTHA

Where'd it come from before that?

AGNES

>From God.

MARTHA

After God... before the waste-paper basket.

AGNES

I... I don't understand.

MARTHA

Agnes, how are babies born?

AGNES

Don't you know?

MARTHA

Yes I do, but I want you to...

AGNES (very agitated)

I don't understand what you're talking about... you want to talk about the baby... everybody wants to talk about the baby but... I never saw the baby so I can't talk about the baby because... I don't believe in the baby.

MARTHA

Then let's talk about something else...

AGNES (standing)

No... no, I'm tired of talking, I've been talking for weeks, nobody believes me when I tell them anything... nobody listens to me.

MARTHA (also standing)

Agnes...

AGNES (opens the door)

No... no, I don't want to answer any more questions.

MARTHA

Would you like to ask them?

AGNES (pausing in the doorway)

What do you mean?

MARTHA

Just that... you ask and I'll answer.

AGNES

Anything?

MARTHA (smiles)

Anything.

INT - NUN'S ROOM - DAY

The elderly nun looks out the window into the courtyard where Martha and Agnes are walking, then pulls the curtain across.



EXT - COURTYARD - DAY

Martha and Agnes are walking together. Martha is smoking.

AGNES

What's your real name?

MARTHA

Martha Louise Livingston.

AGNES

Are you married?

MARTHA

No.

AGNES

Would you like to be?

MARTHA

Not at the moment, no.

AGNES

Do you have any children?

MARTHA

No.

AGNES

Would you like some?

MARTHA

I can't have them any more.

AGNES

Why not?

MARTHA (a pause)

I've stopped menstruating

AGNES

Why do you smoke?

MARTHA

Does it bother you?

AGNES

No questions.

MARTHA

Smoking is an obsession with me. Maybe one day I'll become obsessed with something else, then I'll stop smoking... Do you have any more questions?

AGNES

One.

MARTHA

What?

They both halt.

AGNES

Where do you think babies come from?

MARTHA

>From their mothers and fathers of course. Before that, I... I don't know.

AGNES

Well I think they come from... angel lights on their mothers chest and whispers into her ear. That makes good babies start to grow. And bad babies come from when a fallen angel squeezes in down there, and they start to grow, grow, till they come out down there. I don't know where good babies come out. And you can't tell the difference... except bad babies cry a lot... and they make their fathers go away... and their mothers get very ill... die sometimes.

Agnes sits down on a bench and Martha follows her.

AGNES (Continued)

Mummy wasn't very happy when she died... and, I think she went to hell because every time I see her she looks like she just stepped out of a hot shower, and I... I'm never sure if it's her, or the Lady who tells me things! They fight over me all the time.

(staring into space)

The Lady... I saw when I was ten. I was lying on the grass, looking at the sun, and the sun became a cloud, and the cloud became, a Lady. And she told me she would talk to me. And then... her feet began to bleed and I saw there... there were holes in her hands and in her side. And I tried to catch the blood as it fell from the sky, but I couldn't see any more because my eyes hurt because there were big black spots in front of them. And she tells me things like, like... right now she's crying Marie! Marie!... but I don't know what that means.

Martha stands up, disturbed. Agnes is slightly delirious with happiness.

AGNES (Continued)

... and... she uses me to sing, it's as if she's throwing a big hook through the air and it catches me under my ribs and tries to pull me up, and I... I can't move because Mommy's holding my feet and all I can do is sing in her voice... it's the Lady's voice, God loves you!

And her cry echoes all around and the doves fly out of the bell tower.

AGNES (Continued) (to Martha)

God loves you.

MARTHA

Do you know a Marie?

AGNES

No... do you?

MARTHA

Why should I?

AGNES

I don't know.

INT - MOTHER MIRIAM'S STUDY - DAY

Mother Miriam is standing checking some papers when Martha enters. Mother Miriam seems to have entirely regained her good humour.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Well... what do you think? Is she totally bananas or merely slightly off centre... or maybe she's perfectly sane and just a very good liar.

MARTHA

What's your opinion?

MOTHER MIRIAM

I believe Agnes is different.

MARTHA

>From other nuns...

(laughs)

Yes I... I've noticed.

MOTHER MIRIAM

>From other people!

(moving across the room)

I believe she is not crazy, nor is she lying.

MARTHA

How could she have a baby and know nothing of sex or birth?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Because she's an innocent. She's a slate that's hasn't been touched except by God.

MARTHA (lights a cigarette)

That's ridiculous...

MOTHER MIRIAM (moves to her desk, starts writing)

In her case it isn't. She's had very little schooling. Her mother kept her home almost all the time and when her mother died Agnes came here, to us. She's never been out there Doctor. She's never seen a movie or a television show. She's never even read a book.

MARTHA

If she's so innocent, how come she murdered a child?

MOTHER MIRIAM

She didn't! This is manslaughter, not murder. She didn't consciously kill that baby. She'd lost a lot of blood. She was unconscious by the time we got to her.

MARTHA

So, someone else could have done it.

MOTHER MIRIAM

No... not in the eyes of the police.

MARTHA

And in your eyes?

MOTHER MIRIAM

I've already told you what I thought.

MARTHA

That she was unconscious, yes! So someone easily could have come in the room and killed the...

MOTHER MIRIAM

You don't really believe something like that happened do you?

MARTHA

It's possible isn't it?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Who?

MARTHA

One of the other nuns found out about the baby and... and wanted to avoid a scandal.

Mother Miriam removes the tray from under a pot plant and bangs it down in front of Martha to act as an ashtray.

MOTHER MIRIAM

That's absurd!

MARTHA

That possibility never occurred to you?

MOTHER MIRIAM

No-one knew about Agnes' pregnancy. No-one. Not even Agnes.

EXT - CONVENT - DAY

Martha's car exits out of the convent and heads up the road.



INT - CAR - DAY

The car radio is playing light band music...

ANNOUNCER (Voice-over)

You have been listening to Mostly Music from Montreal. This is CBC Radio.

(and again in French)
Martha flicks the radio off and stops the car. She thinks for a moment then...



EXT - LONELY ROAD - DAY

... she turns the car around and heads back in the direction she came.



EXT - PRESBYTERY - DAY

Martha drives in through an entrance and pulls up outside the presbytery.



INT - PRESBYTERY - DAY

>From inside the house, Martha can be seen knocking on the glass fronted door. Presently a huge, fat HOUSEKEEPER answers.

MARTHA

Is Father Martineau in please?

HOUSEKEEPER (in French)

???

MARTHA (answers in French)

???

The housekeeper indicates she should enter and walks back inside.

HOUSEKEEPER (halting briefly)

Wipe your feet.

They move into the next room. The housekeeper goes further calling...

HOUSEKEEPER

Pere Martineau...

(in French)

???

Martha stands uncertainly at the doorway. The sound of thumping is heard, and then the figure of a very old priest, FATHER MARTINEAU appears walking with a stick.



INT - PRESBYTERY DINING ROOM - DAY

Father Martineau and Martha are having tea. He pours a slug of whisky from a flask into her cup and an even larger slug into his own.

FATHER MARTINEAU (French accent)

They arise at five in the morning... and they're in bed by nine at night. Even if a man could get to them, he would probably find them praying. That's why I see that the real question is not only how he got in, but when.

MARTHA

And you're the only man to see them?

FATHER MARTINEAU

I promise you Doctor, even if I had the inclination, how could I possibly catch her? She would have to be a very slow and patient nun.

(they both laugh)

Ah no... they're a very special and rare people those Sisters. Only a few of them left in this modern world, consecrated to the praise of God.

INT - NURSING HOME, LOUNGE - DAY

An elderly WOMAN is sitting watching "Spiderman" on TV cackling with laughter. She is physically alright, but quite senile. Martha enters, goes over to her and kisses her.

MARTHA

Hello, Mama

(pulls up a chair)

... brought you something.

MAMA

Shut up, I'm trying to watch this.

MARTHA

It's your favourite...

MAMA

Who are you?

MARTHA

It's Martha, Mama.

(hands over a tub of icecream)

There you go.

MAMA

Marie brings me icecream too you know. Chocolate... my favourite.

MARTHA

I thought cherry-vanilla was your favourite.

MAMA

Not any more... now I like chocolate.

MARTHA (stroking her hair)

Did you have a good week Mama. Are they treating you all right?

MAMA

You know Martha never comes to see me. You watch it, she's going straight to hell... after all the things she said to me. Then she marries that son of a bitch of a Frenchman... has an abortion. I knew that one wouldn't work out. Not like you Marie. You got married to God.

MARTHA (lighting up)

Marie's dead Mama.

MAMA

I remember when you was a little girl Marie. You come back from the movies and you'd say - Mama that ending was so sad... and I'd tell you they had all the happy endings locked away in a vault in Hollywood.

(chuckles)

And you believed me.

MARTHA

Mama, that wasn't Marie, that was me!

MAMA (a long pause)

Who are you?

MARTHA

I... I'm Martha, Mama.

EXT - CONVENT, CHICKENYARD - DAY

It is raining... distant thunder in the background. Martha is standing under an umbrella talking to Sister Anne who is feeding the chickens.

SISTER ANNE

The convent was built for over fifty. Not many of us left... just us and the chickens.

MARTHA

How do you survive?

SISTER ANNE

Oh, we own the land around here. But we rent it out. We keep a few acres for ourselves,

(indicating)

some wheat, corn, some vegetables.

MARTHA

Well that's a lot of land. You must have help. Do you have field hands that help you?

SISTER ANNE

No. We work the land alone. No-one but Sister Marguerite and I are permitted contact with the public.

MARTHA

Sister Anne, which was Agnes' room?

Sister Anne points up to a window on the corner of the convent.

SISTER ANNE

Oh that one there, in the corner.

MARTHA

The one up on the third floor?

SISTER ANNE

Yes.

MARTHA

Uh huh.

INT - AGNES' OLD ROOM - DAY

Mother Miriam unlocks a padlock on the door, opens it for Martha. They both enter the room which is totally plain, stripped of everything.

MOTHER MIRIAM

This convent is locked solid. The only one that has a key is Sister Marguerite and she wouldn't let Christ in after dark.

MARTHA

Well, it's been known to happen in the day too. Maybe Agnes went to him.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Oh come on, you've talked to her. She doesn't even know how babies are born, let alone made.

MARTHA

When did you first learn about her... innocence, the way she thinks?

MOTHER MIRIAM

Shortly after she came to us.

MARTHA

And you weren't shocked?

MOTHER MIRIAM

I was appalled, just as you are now.

MARTHA

And what happened?

MOTHER MIRIAM

She stopped eating completely...

INT - CHAPEL - DAY

In flashback: Agnes, all in white is lying face down in the sign of the cross in front of the altar. Mother Miriam enters.

MARTHA (Voice-over)

This was before her pregnancy?

MOTHER MIRIAM (Voice-over)

About two years before.

Mother Miriam stops in front of Agnes.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Agnes, it has come to my attention that you have stopped eating. Why is this?

AGNES (not looking up)

I've been commanded by God.

MOTHER MIRIAM (sighs)

He talked to you Himself?

AGNES

No.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Through someone else?

AGNES

Yes.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Who?

AGNES

I can't say.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Why?

AGNES

She'd punish me.

MOTHER MIRIAM

One of the other Sisters?

AGNES

No.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Who?

Mother Miriam glances up at an older NUN who has been in the chapel watching all along. She takes the hint and hobbles out.

MOTHER MIRIAM (Continued)

Why would she tell you to do this? Agnes look at me.

AGNES (looking up)

Because I'm getting fat.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Oh, for Heaven's sake.

AGNES

I am, there's too much flesh on me.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Agnes...

AGNES

I'm a blimp.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Why does it matter whether you're fat or not...

AGNES

Because...

MOTHER MIRIAM

... You needn't worry about being attractive here.

AGNES

I do, I have to be attractive to God.

MOTHER MIRIAM

He loves you the way you are.

AGNES

No he doesn't. He hates fat people.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Who told you this?

AGNES

It's a sin to be fat.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Why?

AGNES

Look at the statues, they're thin.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Agnes...

AGNES

That's because they're suffering... suffering is beautiful, I want to be beautiful.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Who tells you these things?

AGNES

Christ said it in the Bible, he said - suffer the little children, I want to suffer like a little child.

MOTHER MIRIAM (genuinely distressed)

That's not what he meant.

AGNES

I... I am a little child but my body keeps getting bigger and soon I... I won't be able to fit in, I... I won't be able to squeeze into Heaven.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Agnes dear, Heaven is not a place where...

Agnes gets to her knees and pushes up her breasts.

AGNES

No... I mean... I mean look at these. I've got to lose weight, I'm a blimp.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Oh my dear child.

AGNES (standing)

God blew up the Hindenburg. He'll blow me up, that's what she said...

MOTHER MIRIAM

Who?

AGNES

Mommy I'll get bigger and bigger every day and then I'll pop but... but if I stay little it won't happen.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Your mother tells you this?... Agnes your mother is dead.

AGNES

But she watches... she listens.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Nonsense, I'm your mother now and I want you to eat.

AGNES

I'm not hungry.

MOTHER MIRIAM

You've got to eat something Agnes.

AGNES

No, I don't... the host is enough.

MOTHER MIRIAM

My dear, I don't think a communion wafer has the recommended daily allowance of anything.

AGNES

Of God.

MOTHER MIRIAM (smiles)

Yes, of God.

Then Mother Miriam looks down and is shocked to see Agnes' white habit is spotted with blood, and more blood is dripping onto the floor. She pulls out Agnes' hand from her habit and gasps with shock; there is a bleeding hole in the middle of her palm.

AGNES

I'm being punished.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Why?

AGNES

I don't know.

MOTHER MIRIAM

Dear Jesus...

She quickly leads Agnes out of the chapel.

AGNES

It started this morning and I can't get it to stop.

INT - AGNES' OLD ROOM - DAY

Back in the present, as before...

MARTHA

Why didn't you take her to a doctor?

MOTHER MIRIAM

It was healed by the following morning and she started eating again...

MARTHA

She had a... a hole in the palm of her hand! She could have bled to death.

MOTHER MIRIAM

But she didn't... did she. If anyone had seen what I'd seen she'd be public property... newspapermen, psychiatrists, ridicule. She doesn't deserve that.

MARTHA

She has it now.

MOTHER MIRIAM

I know what you're thinking, she's a hysteric pure and simple.

MARTHA

Not simple, no.

MOTHER MIRIAM

I saw it. Clean through the palm of her hand. Do you think hysteria could do that?

MARTHA

It's being doing it for centuries. She's not unique, she's just another victim.

MOTHER MIRIAM

God's victim. That's her innocence. She belongs to God.

MARTHA

And I intend to take her away from Him. That's what you're afraid of isn't it?

Martha walks out. Mother Miriam yanks the padlock out of the door.

MOTHER MIRIAM

You bet I am.

INT - CHAPEL - DAY

All the Sisters are present. Mother Miriam leads the chant in Latin and the rest of the nuns respond at intervals. Agnes is very happy. Their singing continues over the next few scenes.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - POLICE PRECINCT - DAY

Martha and Larry are at the top of steps. He hands her an envelope.

LARRY

Here you are. Don't let anyone know where you got them.

MARTHA (kissing him)

Thanks...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - CONVENT - DAY

Agnes is happily swinging on a long swing attached to a tree.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - CRYPT - DAY

The Sisters go about their tasks. Then all together they move to a corner of the room which is laid out with burning candles and make their devotions.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - CONFESSIONAL - DAY

Agnes is confessing to a rather disinterested Father Martineau.

AGNES

Last Tuesday, I didn't eat all of my lima beans... hid them under my spoon.

FATHER MARTINEAU

Yes...

AGNES (very quietly)

I thought... thoughts... about...

FATHER MARTINEAU

Speak up, I can hardly hear you.

AGNES (very loudly)

I thought ugly thoughts about Sister Marguerite.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - MARTHA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Martha is leafing through a sheaf of police photographs of the sheets and the waste-paper basket. She puts the photos aside and puffs thoughtfully on a cigarette.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - CONVENT FARM - DAY

Agnes is milking the cow. She pours the milk into a large churn. (The singing finishes at this point)



INT - JUDGE'S OFFICE - DAY

The same four are in a meeting. This time they are all sitting except for Lyon who is standing by the window.

LEVEAU

Would you tell me why the hell this is taking so long.

MARTHA

Look, there are a lot of unanswered questions here.

LYON

Martha, your job is to diagnose, not to heal and play detective. Who do you think you are?

MARTHA

I know my job. Don't tell me my job Lyon. My duty as a doctor is to...

EVE

Martha, you have to make a decision on her sanity as quickly as possible and not interfere with due process of law.

MARTHA

No... no, excuse me Eve. As quickly as I see fit.

EVE

The longer you take to make a decision, the more difficult it will be for us.

MARTHA

Why?

EVE

The bishop is breathing down our necks.

MARTHA

And the sooner she goes to prison, the better off she'll be?

LEVEAU (in French)

???

MARTHA

I don't believe this. I don't bloody believe this.

LYON

Well, the bishop will be very upset about this.

MARTHA

I'm fighting for this woman's life, not some bloody bishop.

EXT - CONVENT GRAVEYARD - DAY

It is a strange place; all the crosses are identical and very simple. Martha is standing. Agnes is kneeling in front of a cross marked with the name "Soeur Marie Paul" and the dates she was born, consecrated and died. Agnes places some winter flowers on the grave.

MARTHA

You liked Sister Paul?

AGNES

She was kind to me. She told me I was beautiful.

MARTHA (crouching down)

What else did she tell you?

AGNES

She said all of God's angels would want to sleep beside me if they could. I liked that.

Agnes makes the sign of the cross, they both stand and start to move off.

AGNES (Continued)

She lived here for almost seventy years. Every day she'd ring the bell, wake us up, call us to God. She took me to my secret place.

MARTHA

Where's that?... I promise I won't tell, would you take me?

So Agnes takes her.



INT - BELL TOWER - DAY

Martha and Agnes enter the bell-tower. Agnes leads the way up the steep wooden steps. Martha becomes breathless almost immediately.

MARTHA

Sister Paul was in her eighties? Did she climb up here often?

AGNES

No, only when she felt like it. She brought me up here last winter and the next day she died.

MARTHA (halting, out of breath)

No wonder... wait... Agnes... Agnes how do you feel about babies?

AGNES

Oh, they frighten me, I'm afrai