The Song of Bernadette Page #9

to speak for themselves.

Day after day,

she stood before a hole in a rock...

...and conversed with the Blessed Virgin.

Such delusions

are a usual symptom of paranoia.

I have many paranoiacs in my clinic

who claim visions...

...oftentimes followed by

a tendency towards violence.

Has she been allowed

to come and go as she pleases?

I had planned to put her

under restraint...

...but Dr. Dozous' favorable diagnosis

made that impossible.

I trust that your examination, doctor,

will not be a cursory one.

I can assure you,

it will be most extensive.

It may be necessary to place the child

in an institution under observation.

Unfortunately, with paranoiacs...

...observation sometimes

takes a long time.

After all, a psychiatrist

is not an orthopedic surgeon...

...who can set a broken bone

on the spot.

Yes. Yes, I understand.

[KNOCKING]

Come in.

Eyes closed.

Now the other foot.

Why are you so unsteady?

Because I am very tired, monsieur.

All right, you may sit down now.

- How many hours in the day?

- Twenty-four.

- How many days in the week?

- Seven.

How much is seven times five?

Thirty-five.

How much is 17 times 18?

I do not know, monsieur.

Well...

Would you know the answer, monsieur,

if you hadn't figured it out before?

DEBOE:

Hmm?

Not so fast, young lady.

Don't bother. She'll go directly home.

We can take her from there.

Here we are, doctor.

[KNOCKING]

Father Peyramale.

Have I the honor

of addressing the dean of Lourdes?

You have that honor.

How can I serve you?

Hadn't we better go elsewhere

and discuss this matter?

It is you, gentlemen, who have chosen

this place of action, not I.

What do you want?

I'm from the medical department...

...of the provincial administration.

There are evidences of definite

anomalies in this girl Bernadette.

I wish to place her under observation.

I am a professor of psychiatry and

neurology at the clinic of Tarbes.

DUTOUR:
If she does not willingly

submit to this examination...

...we will be placed

in the unfortunate position...

...of being forced

to invoke the law of 1838.

This is the most shameless piece

of hypocrisy I have ever encountered.

I warn you,

I shall expose this hypocrisy.

And I shall raise such a voice

throughout all France...

...the reverberations will send petty

politicians toppling from their seats.

Come here, Bernadette.

I know this child.

So does the imperial prosecutor.

She is neither a maniac nor a menace

to her fellow men.

If you still intend to take her,

gentlemen, well and good.

But, rest assured, I shall not stir

from this girl's side.

Now, call the police.

And when the police do come,

what then?

When they come, I shall say to them,

load well your guns...

...for your path lies over my dead body.

Well?

- I'm sorry...

- Come, Bernadette.

Mother Superior

has asked me to watch over you.

I'm sorry to have caused you

this trouble.

I welcome the opportunity of talking

to you before I leave Lourdes.

- You're leaving?

- Tomorrow.

I've been recalled to the motherhouse

of our order at Nevers.

The dean of Lourdes is on his way

to speak to the bishop of Tarbes...

...in your behalf.

I want you to know that although

you've used your wiles successfully...

...on a great many people...

...there is one person remains

who does not believe you.

That person is myself.

I've never wanted you

to believe me, Sister.

If that's one of those

disarming answers of yours...

...that is supposed

to strike one silent...

...you need not waste it on me.

You should be thankful, Bernadette,

you did not live in former times.

Creatures who boasted

of equivocal visions...

...and produce springs as if by magic...

...were burned at the stake.

I have prayed for you, night after night,

and I shall continue...

...so that your soul

may not be destroyed...

...by the frightful danger

to which you are exposing it.

- And now, good night, Bernadette.

- Good night, Sister.

However, above all that,

I come in the cause of justice.

The authorities are scheming

and plotting this girl's destruction.

It is not the practice of the Church

to interfere with the authorities...

...and, particularly in the case

of Bernadette Soubirous...

...we will rigidly adhere to our policy

of remaining aloof.

In my opinion, a change

in our policy is now necessary.

That opinion is not shared by an amazing

number of equally worthy ecclesiastics.

I realize that.

I also realize that none but myself

has talked to this child.

I've begun to wonder if she isn't a true

vessel of grace and a worker of miracles.

No, stop.

My dear dean...

...only the Congregation of Rites

can determine if a given phenomenon...

...is a genuine miracle or a deception.

True.

That's all I ask, that an Episcopal

Commission be set up to investigate.

Two or three questionable cures are not

sufficient to cause an investigation.

One questionable cure...

...was sufficient to cause a multitude

to travel hundreds of miles.

BISHOP:

Very well.

- I will convoke such a commission.

- Thank you.

Providing certain obstacles

can be surmounted.

You fully realize, of course,

just what this will mean?

The commission can render only

one of three decisions.

First, " You're an imposter,

little Soubirous.

Hence, away with you to a prison

for juvenile delinquents".

Second,

"You're a madwoman, little Soubirous.

Away with you to an asylum".

- Third...

- "You are the rarest of mortal beings...

...little Soubirous".

Just when do you think the commission

will begin its work?

The scientists, the chemists,

the geologists...

...can't conduct research

with the grotto boarded up.

- A letter will force them to open it.

- No.

The emperor must command

that the grotto be opened.

Then the commission may assemble.

Not the other way around.

- When will you ask the emperor?

- Never.

I've not the slightest intention

of mentioning it.

He will not know that I even contemplate

convoking a commission.

[CHUCKLES]

- My attitude puzzles you, doesn't it?

- Frankly, yes.

I am giving your lady a chance

to prove herself to me.

If she is the Blessed Virgin...

...then nothing is impossible for her,

and she will overcome the emperor.

However...

...if she is overcome,

then she's a fraud.

The grotto will remain boarded up.

And she and any thought of the

commission will vanish into thin air.

I wonder, my dear dean, who will win.

The emperor or the lady.

CALLET:

Stay where you are!

You're under arrest.

Okay, go down.

I'll watch them from here.

Name, age, occupation.

Jacques Gozos, 46, carpenter.

- Charge?

- Stealing water from Massabielle.

- One franc and costs.

- But I haven't got it, monsieur.

Two days in jail, then. Take him away.

- Next case.

MAN:
Bruat, woman.

Bruat, woman.

Name, age, and occupation.

Bruat, Leontine, 34, governess.

Commissioner?

Bruat? Madame, are you by any chance

related to Admiral Bruat?

He is my husband.

- I am Vital Dutour, imperial prosecutor.

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