Black Narcissus Page #4

- Good morning, Sister Honey.

Good morning, Sister Ruth.

Do you like it, Sister Ruth?

It's called Black Narcissus.

Comes from the army/navy stores

in London.

Black Narcissus.

I don't like scent at all.

Oh, Sister, don't you think it's

rather common to smell of ourselves?

- Have you seen the young general today?

- What's the latest?

Beautiful emeralds.

The most beautiful green I've ever seen.

At that hour of the morning,

they make me bilious.

Have you seen his coats? He must have a

different one for every day of the year.

Lucky he doesn't

do his own laundry.

Yesterday he had a coat the color

of ripe corn, patterned with flowers.

His earrings were amethysts

three inches long,

and his rings were turquoise.

Today he's all jade and emeralds,

and his coat is the most wonderful

pattern of pale violet stripes,

just like my grandmother's

footstool.

Oh, Granny!

Turn around.

These emeralds are for you,

my darling, when you marry.

There.

There's Con.

Good night, everybody.

Not too late, darling.

Oh, dear, I hope they get

something settled by the winter.

Where are you, Con?

He said it was called Black Narcissus,

and he got it

at the army and navy stores.

Black Narcissus.

That's what

I'm going to call him.

It's a wonderful name for him.

He's so vain, like peacock.

Fine, black peacock.

- He's not black.

- They all look alike to me.

General, please conjugate sasoir.

Future tense?

Noel, Noel

Born is the King

Of Israel

The first Noel

The angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds

In fields as they lay

In fields as they

Lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night

That was so deep

Noel, Noel

Born is the King

Of Israel

Lullay my liking

- Something for you.

- For me?

Christmas present.

Go on, take it.

Oh, Con!

Sister Clodagh.

Sister, may I congratulate you

on the birth of Christ?

Thank you, General.

I hope you don't mind

my coming tonight.

I am very much interested

in Jesus Christ.

Have I said anything wrong?

No, but we don't usually

speak of Him so casually.

And you should.

He should be casual...

and as much a part of life

as your daily bread.

How dare you

come here like this!

How dare you come

to our service tonight!

You're-

You're unforgivable!

You're objectionable

when you're sober...

and abominable

when you're drunk!

I quite agree.

If you have a spark

of decency left in you,

you won't come near us again!

No, I won't be a nun

No, I cannot be a nun

For I am so fond of pleasure

I cannot be a nun

Happy Christmas!

I do like his voice.

It's so nice and loud.

I think it's lovely, don't you?

Good night, General.

Good night, Sister Clodagh.

Come in.

I want to talk to you.

Come and sit down.

I've been worried about you

for some time.

I feel that things

are not right with you.

In what way?

You look so ill, and

you've got so terribly thin.

I know that you're trying

to keep up for all our sakes,

but I feel that you must go in

with Sister Briony and see the doctor.

I shan't see the doctor!

I'm perfectly well and right!

You're just trying

to make out that-

I didn't mean to be rude.

I haven't been sleeping,

that's all.

If you haven't been sleeping,

there must be some reason for it.

Can't you tell me?

Is something worrying you?

Yes. Yes, that's it.

I'm worried.

Don't you think

you could tell me about it?

I'd like you to tell me,

if you can.

I can't speak of it... to anyone.

Won't you try?

You know you can trust me.

You didn't want me to come here.

None of you have ever wanted me.

Don't you think you're letting

things run away with you?

I think you have let yourself fall...

into thinking too much of Mr. Dean.

Sister, don't you realize

what you're doing,

what you're running the risk

of losing in yourself?

Sister, you must- I must make you see

before it is too late.

All the same, I've noticed you're

very pleased to see him yourself!

If that was in your mind, it's better

said I think you're out of your senses!

Listen to me. I don't know-

I can't decide now what to make of you.

I shall have to think,

and I want you to think too.

As for Mr. Dean-

In spite of his charm and kindliness,

he is not a good man.

You must take him for what he is and not

try to glorify him into something he is not.

When he came to chapel on

Christmas night, he was drunk.

Can I go?

I want you to write

to Reverend Mother.

I shan't look at the letter,

and her reply will be your own business.

Am I to write

two or three pages?

Would you rather I did it now,

or shall I finish my class work first?

You may go.

That parcel is mine.

Give it to me.

I can't, Lemani. I must give

all the mail to Sister Clodagh.

It's mine. Give it to me, you fool.

It's addressed to me.

Look, I ordered it myself

from Calcutta.

It's nothing to do

with anyone else.

Sister Briony, do you know what's

happened to the other gold chain?

No. It was there when

we had it out at Christmas.

- Well, it isn't here now.

- Ask Kanchi if she's seen it.

And that for stealing

in my house!

And that for stealing a brass chain!

That's for stealing it

in such a silly way!

And that is

for getting found out!

- What has the girl done?

- She's a thief!

She stole a brass chain

from the church room...

to put around her dirty neck!

Finish the beating,

my little general.

You're going to be

a great man.

Not like your uncle.

Oh, dear, no.

Like your grandfather!

He was a man!

Finish the beating,

and begin to be a man!

Get up.

- Forget-me-not.

- Forget-me-not.

- Sweet pea.

- Sweet pea.

- Daffodil.

- Daffodil.

Japanese peony.

Chinese lily.

Tulip.

- Honeysuckle.

- Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle.

Delphinium.

- Sister Honey!

- Delphinium.

Will you find Sister Philippa

for me, please?

- And the cabbage patch?

- Fox gloves.

- And the runner beans?

- Honeysuckle.

- And the onions?

- Tulips.

And the potatoes?

All flowers?

No, not the little round bed.

And there's more vegetables...

down by the stables

where they won't show.

But what on earth

came over you-

Would you like to sit down?

Sister, I want

to be transferred.

Transferred?

Yes, I want you to write

and ask for my transfer at once.

If you will, at once.

But why?

I was becoming

too fond of the place.

I was too wrapped up

in my work. I-

I thought too much about it.

I'd forgotten-

Forgotten what?

What I am.

I was losing the spirit

of our order.

I've been thinking

it over, you see,

and I must go at once.

I don't see that at all.

Now that you know

and you realize the danger,

you needn't go.

Surely now is the time to stay.

I daren't stay.

I think there are only two ways

of living in this place.

Either you must live

like Mr. Dean, or-

or like the holy man.

Either ignore it,

or give yourself up to it.

Neither would do for us.

No.

Well, we are here, and I don't think

it will help matters if we run away.

You know if I ask for you to be

transferred, it'll be a bad mark against you?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote