Agnes of God Page #9

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Saint Ignatius would smoke cigars and

stub them out on the soles of his bare

feet.

(they roar with laughter)

And of course (distorted)

MARTHA:

Hand rolled.

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Even Christ would partake socially.

MARTHA:

Saint Peter?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Pipe!

MARTHA:

Right...

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Mary Magdelen?

MARTHA:

(imitating)

Oh, you've come a long way baby.

MOTHER MIRIAM:

And Saint John would chew tobacco.

More laughter, then the moment because more serious.

MARTHA:

Right.

(a pause)

What do you suppose today's saints

are smoking?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

There are no saints today. Good people

yes, but extraordinarily good people...

those I'm afraid we are sorely lacking.

MARTHA:

Do you think they ever existed?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Yes I do.

MARTHA:

Do you want to become one?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Become? One is born a saint.

MARTHA:

Well you can try, can't you, to be good?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Yes, but goodness has very little to do

with it. Not all the saints were good,

in fact some of them were a little crazy.

But... they were still attached to God.

Agnes has that birth.

(she stands)

No more... we're born, we live, we die.

No room for miracles.

(Martha gets up too)

Oh my dear, how I miss the miracles.

They start walking back to the convent.

MARTHA:

Do you think Agnes is still attached to

God?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Listen to her singing.

MARTHA:

(a pause)

I'd like to begin.

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Begin what?

MARTHA:

The hypnotism. Do you still disapprove?

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Would it stop you if I did?

MARTHA:

No.

They both halt.

MOTHER MIRIAM:

May I be present?

MARTHA:

Of course.

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Then let's begin.

64 INT - ATTIC ROOM - DAY

The room is painted white and completely empty with a steeply

sloping ceiling. Agnes is sitting on a chair with her eyes closed,

already under hypnosis. Martha and Mother Miriam are facing her.

MARTHA:

You're listening to a chorus of angels.

The music surrounds you like a...

warm and, comfortable pool of water.

And while you're sleeping, you're

going to be able to recall, all the things

that we want you to remember. And

when I count to three and clap my hands,

you'll no longer be hypnotised. Can you

hear me.

AGNES:

Yes.

MARTHA:

Who am I?

AGNES:

Doctor Livingston.

MARTHA:

And why am I here?

AGNES:

To help me.

MARTHA:

Good. Would you like to tell me why

you're here?

AGNES:

Because I'm in trouble.

MARTHA:

What kind of trouble?

(no answer)

What kind of trouble Agnes?

Martha starts to walk around behind Agnes.

AGNES:

I'm frightened.

MARTHA:

Of what?

AGNES:

Of telling you.

MARTHA:

But it's easy. It's just a breath with

sound. Say it. What kind of trouble?

AGNES:

(a pause)

I had a baby.

Both Martha and Mother Miriam react with some degree of relief.

MARTHA:

How did you have a baby?

AGNES:

It came out of me.

MARTHA:

Did you know what was going to come

out?

AGNES:

Yes.

MARTHA:

Did you want it to come out?

AGNES:

No.

MARTHA:

Why?

AGNES:

Because I was afraid.

MARTHA:

Why were you afraid?

AGNES:

Because I wasn't worthy.

MARTHA:

To be a mother?

AGNES:

Yes.

MARTHA:

Why?

AGNES:

May I open my eyes now?

MARTHA:

No not yet Agnes, very soon but not

yet. How did the baby get into you?

AGNES:

It grew.

MARTHA:

What made it grow? Do you know?

AGNES:

Yes.

MARTHA:

Would you like to tell me?

AGNES:

No.

MARTHA:

Did anyone else know about the baby?

AGNES:

I can't tell you that.

MARTHA:

Will she be angry?

AGNES:

She made me promise not to.

MARTHA:

Who? Who made you promise?

(no answer)

It's alright Agnes. It's alright.

(a pause)

Let's go to your room. It's the night

about six weeks ago when you were

very sick.

AGNES:

I'm afraid.

MARTHA:

Oh don't be, I'm here. It's alright.

I want you to tell me what you did

before you went to bed.

AGNES:

I ate.

MARTHA:

Hm hmm. What did you have for

dinner?

AGNES:

Fish...

(distastefully)

... brussel sprouts.

MARTHA:

You don't like brussel sprouts?

AGNES:

I hate them.

Martha and Mother Miriam can't help smiling.

MARTHA:

And then what happened?

AGNES:

We went to chapel for vespers.

MARTHA:

Hm hmm.

AGNES:

I left early because I wasn't feeling

very well.

Suddenly Agnes leaps up from her chair.

MARTHA:

What is it?

AGNES:

Someone's following me.

MARTHA:

Who?

AGNES:

Sister Marguerite I think.

MARTHA:

Was it Sister Marguerite who knew

about the baby?

(no answer)

Alright Agnes, I want you to see your

room as you saw it on that night.

MARTHA (Cont.)

Open your eyes.

(she opens them)

What do you see?

AGNES:

My bed.

MARTHA:

What else?

AGNES:

A crucifix.

MARTHA:

Above the bed? Any... anything else?

What do you you see, something

different? What is it?

AGNES:

(puzzled)

A wastepaper basket.

MARTHA:

Do you know who put it there?

AGNES:

No.

MARTHA:

What do you think it's there for?

AGNES:

For me to get sick in.

MARTHA:

Are you ill?

AGNES:

Yes.

MARTHA:

What do you feel?

AGNES:

I feel as if I've eaten glass.

MARTHA:

What do you do?

AGNES:

I have to throw up...

And she falls to her knees, retching horribly.

AGNES (Cont.)

I can't... glass... one of the sisters

has fed me glass.

MARTHA:

Which one?

AGNES:

I don't know which one (distorted)

MARTHA:

Of what?

AGNES:

Of me. Oh... God! My God...

(assumes the birth

position and looks

between her legs)

Water... it's all water...

MARTHA:

Why isn't anyone coming?

AGNES:

(trying to wipe up

the water)

They can't hear me that's why.

(in terrible pain)

Oh God... I don't wanna...

MOTHER MIRIAM:

(to Martha)

Stop her!

Then Agnes tries to crawl away as though terrified of

something.

MARTHA:

What is it?

AGNES:

Please get away from me...

MARTHA:

Who?

AGNES:

Go away, I don't want you here.

MARTHA:

Is someone in the room with you?

AGNES:

No... don't hit me please...

MOTHER MIRIAM:

Stop this, she'll hurt herself

(stepping forward)

I'm not going to allow this.

MARTHA:

(hauling her away)

NO... no... I said leave her alone.

AGNES:

(still screaming)

You're trying to take my baby... trying

to take my baby... no...

(then quietly)

It wasn't my fault Mommy... it was a

mistake Mommy.

MARTHA:

Alright Agnes... it's alright. One, two

three...

(claps her hands;

Agnes comes to)

It's alright... it's me, Doctor Livingston,

it's alright, alright. Thankyou Agnes,

thankyou. How do you feel?

AGNES:

Frightened.

MARTHA:

Do you remember what just happened?

AGNES:

(a long pause)

Yes.

MARTHA:

That's good. Do you feel well enough

to stand?

AGNES:

Yes.

Martha helps her to her feet. Agnes clings to her.

MARTHA:

There you go. It's alright, it's alright,

it's all over. It's alright Agnes, that's

right, that's right.

65 EXT - LAND REGISTRY - DAY

Martha approaches the building and enters it.

66 INT - RECORD ROOM - DAY

The camera tracks through shelves of ancient records and maps.

MARTHA (off)

Ah excuse me. Hallo. I'm looking

for some ah... ground plans for the

ah... Saint Marie Madeleine Convent

in (distorted).

MAN (off)

(answers in French)

Martha and a middle aged official come into view. He stops

at a long set of drawers and starts looking through it.

MAN:

(in French)

MARTHA:

(replies in French)

MAN:

Oh... very interesting I guess...

(he pulls out a

folder of plans)

Excuse me...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes