Agnes of God Page #2

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.

18 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.

19 INT - TOP CORRIDOR - DAY

Martha follows Sister Anne down the hall towards the singing.

They stop outside Agnes' room. Martha looks to see...

20 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 (Cont.)

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.

21 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.

22 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.

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