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Agnes Of God (1985)

by John Pielmeier.
Based on the play by John Pielmeier.

More info about this movie on IMDb.com
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
dodgingtraffic 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.


15   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 (V.O.)
	Hi, it's Helen, calling to tell you
	that Mrs Davenport phoned to confirm
	her appointment at nine o'clock
	tomorrow, okay?  Bye bye.

Some whirs and clicks.

		ROGER (V.O.)
	Hi Martha, it's Roger. Can you call
	me at the hospital. I'd like your opinion
	on a case. Oh, bye the way, happy
	birthday. Bye.

		SECRETARY (V.O.)
	Hi, Marty it's Helen again. I cancelled
	your Wednesday afternoon appointment
	so 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:

16   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 (Cont.)
	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 (Cont.)
	Excuse me... I'm...

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

		MARTHA (Cont.)
	...the court-appointed psychiatrist.

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

		MARTHA (Cont.)
	Thank you. I um... I believe your
	Mother Superior's expecting me.

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


17   INT - WAITING ROOM - DAY

Martha follows Sister Marguerite into a grilled waiting
room.
Sister moves    off, leaving Martha looking around
curiously. Then
the 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
	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 (Cont.)
	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 (Cont.)
	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.


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.

		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 (Cont.)
	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 (Cont.)
	... 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 (Cont.)
		(to Martha)
	God loves you.

		MARTHA
	Do you know a Marie?

		AGNES
	No... do you?

		MARTHA
	Why should I?

		AGNES
	I don't know.


23   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.


24   EXT - CONVENT - DAY

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


25   INT - CAR - DAY

The car radio is playing light band music...

		ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
	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...


26   EXT - LONELY ROAD - DAY

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


27   EXT - PRESBYTERY - DAY

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


28   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.


29   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.


30   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.


31   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.


32   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...


33   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 (V.O.)
	This was before her pregnancy?

		MOTHER MIRIAM (V.O.)
	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 (Cont.)
	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.


34   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.


35   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, until the end of scene
41.

						DISSOLVE TO:

36   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:

37   EXT - CONVENT - DAY

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

						DISSOLVE TO:

38   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:

39   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:

40   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:

41   EXT - CONVENT FARM - DAY

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


42   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.


43   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 (Cont.)
	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.


44   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 afraid I'll
	drop them. They have a soft spot on
	their heads and if you drop them so
	they land on their heads they become
	stupid. I was dropped on my head,
	that's why I don't understand things.

		MARTHA
	Like what?

		AGNES
		(climbing again)
	Numbers... you can spend your whole
	life counting and never reach the end.

		MARTHA
		(following her)
	I don't understand them either. Do
	you suppose I was dropped on my head?

		AGNES
	I hope not. It's a terrible thing to be
	dropped on your head.

		MARTHA
	Oh, I've got to give up smoking. Agnes
	... wait a minute... Agnes slow down.


45   EXT - TOP OF BELLTOWER - DAY

Agnes climbs up through the trapdoor to the bell platform.

		AGNES
	She said you could see the whole
	world from up here. But it looks
	much better far away than it looks
	close up.

Martha arrives exhausted.

		MARTHA
	Beautiful...

Agnes lies down under the bell.

		AGNES
	And sometimes I get under here...
	it makes a wonderful sound.

She starts to sing in a beautiful voice and the sound rings
in
the bell.

		MARTHA
	What happens if the bell rings and
	you're under there?

		AGNES
	Oh, it's even more wonderful then.

Agnes sings a little more.

		MARTHA
	It's like hiding from my mother when
	I was a little girl.

		AGNES
	Where did you go?

		MARTHA
	Oh, no place as wonderful as this.
	Agnes... have you ever thought of
	leaving the convent for something
	else?

		AGNES
	No. There is nothing else. Just being
	here at night helps me sleep.

		MARTHA
	You have trouble sleeping?

		AGNES
	I get headaches. Mommy did too...
	oh, but she wasn't stupid. She knew
	things that nobody else knew.

		MARTHA
	What things?

		AGNES
	She knew what was going to happen
	to me. That's why she hid me away.

		MARTHA
	How did she know that?

		AGNES
	Somebody told her.

		MARTHA
	Who?

		AGNES
	I don't know.

		MARTHA
	Agnes...

		AGNES
	You'll laugh.

		MARTHA
	I promise I won't laugh. Who told
	her?

		AGNES
	An angel, when she was having one
	of her headaches.

		MARTHA
	Did your mother see angels often?

		AGNES
	No.

		MARTHA
	Do you?

		AGNES
	No.

		MARTHA
	Do you believe she really saw them?

		AGNES
		(sitting up)
	No, but I can never tell her that.

		MARTHA
	Why not?
		(no answer)
	Mmm?

		AGNES
	She'd get angry.

Martha moves round close to Agnes.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, did you love your mother?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	Did you ever want to be a mother
	yourself?

		AGNES
	I could never be a mother.

		MARTHA
	Why not?

		AGNES
	Well I don't think I'm old enough and
	besides I don't want to have a baby.

		MARTHA
	Why not?

		AGNES
	Because I don't want one.

		MARTHA
	If you did want one, how'd you go
	about getting one?

		AGNES
	From someone who didn't want to
	have a baby.

		MARTHA
	Like you?

		AGNES

		(suddenly frustrated)
	No, not like me!

		MARTHA
	How would that person get one if
	they didn't want one?

		AGNES
		(jumping to her feet)
	A mistake...

		MARTHA
	Agnes, how did your mother get you?

		AGNES
	A mistake... it was a mistake...

		MARTHA
	Is that what she said?

		AGNES
		(very upset)
	If you're trying to get me to say that
	she was a bad woman and hated me and
	didn't want me but that's not true, she
	was a good woman, a saint...
		(distorted)

		MARTHA
	Agnes, I don't believe you know nothing
	about sex...

		AGNES
	I can't help it if I'm stupid.

		MARTHA
	... that you don't remember getting
	pregnant...

		AGNES
	Not my fault.

		MARTHA
	... and that you don't believe you
	carried a child.

		AGNES
	I was a mistake.

		MARTHA
	What the child?

		AGNES
	Everything... I don't have children.

		MARTHA
	Agnes...

Martha puts her arm out to Agnes who slaps it away.

		AGNES
	Don't touch me like that!  You don't
	touch me like that, I know what you
	want from me, you want to take God
	away. You should be ashamed, they
	should lock you up people like you.

Agnes disappears down through the trapdoor. Martha throws
her
cigarette  away.


46   INT - CONVENT - DAY

Mother Miriam is comforting a tearful Agnes. She sees Martha
coming across   the courtyard and pushes Agnes gently away.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	You hate us don't you?

		MARTHA
	What?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Nuns... you hate nuns.

		MARTHA
	I hate ignorance and stupidity.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	The Catholic Church...

		MARTHA
	I haven't said anything against the
	the Catholic Church.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Catholicism is not on trial here. I
	want you to deal with Agnes without
	any religious prejudice or you turn
	this case over to someone else...

		MARTHA
	How dare you tell me to run my affairs!

Mother Miriam starts to walk away, Martha angrily follows
her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	It's my affair too.

		MARTHA
	How dare you think I'm in a position
	to be pressured...


		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I'm only interested...

		MARTHA
	... or bullied or what ever you're doing.
	Who the hell do you think you are?  You
	go around here expecting applause for
	the way you treated this child.

Martha and Mother Miriam are climbing the stairs. They pause
briefly.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	She is not a child.

		MARTHA
	And she has a right to know that there's
	a world out there filled with people who
	don't believe in God...
		(Mother Miriams walks on)
	... and aren't any worse off than you
	Mother. People who've gone through
	their entire lives without bending their
	knees once, to anybody. And people who
	fall in love and have babies and occas-
	sionally are very happy. She has a right to
	know that. But you and your... your order
	and your Church have kept her ignorant...

They reach Mother Miriam's study.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	???  (distorted)

		MARTHA
	???  (distorted)
	... virginity, right Mother?  Poverty,
	chastity and ignorance is what you
	live by.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I am not a virgin, Doctor. I was married
	for twenty three years, two daughters.
	I even have grandchildren... surprised?
	It might please you to know that I was a
	failure as a wife and mother. My children
	won't even see me any more, that's their
	revenge. I think they tell their friends
	that I've passed on. And don't tell me I'm
	making up for past mistakes Doctor Freud.
		(she sits)

		MARTHA
	Then help her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I am...

		MARTHA
	No, you're shielding her. Let her face
	the world.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	What good would it do. No matter what
	you decide it's either the... the prison
	or the nut house and the differences
	between them are pretty thin.

		MARTHA
	There's another choice.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	What?

		MARTHA
	Aquittal.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	How?

		MARTHA
	Innocence. Legal innocence. I know
	the judge would be happy for any
	reason to throw this case out of court.

A long pause. The tension between them dissolves.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	All right, what do you need.

		MARTHA
	Answers.

Martha holds her hand.


47   INT - MOTHER MIRIAM'S STUDY - DAY

Same place, but a little later. Martha is smoking.

		MARTHA
	When would Agnes have conceived the
	child?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Oh, some time in January.

		MARTHA
	Do you remember anything unusual
	happening at the time?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Earthquakes?

		MARTHA
	Visitors to the convent.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Nothing.

		MARTHA
	Do you have a... a diary or a day book?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	Take at look at it.

Mother Miriam moves to her desk and opens the day book.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	There's nothing here.

		MARTHA
	Was the child full term?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
		(reads through the book)
	Oh, Dear God...

		MARTHA
	What is it?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	The sheets...

		MARTHA
	What sheets?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Oh, Dear God, I should have guessed...


48   INT - CONVENT DINING ROOM - NIGHT


In flashback: the sisters are sitting around the table at
dinner. SISTER  GENEVIEVE, the other novice is serving them.
Mother
Miriam folds up a linen    towel.

		MOTHER MIRIAM (V.O.)
	... I should have suspected something.

In flashback, Mother Miriam addresses Agnes.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Sister Marguerite says you have been
	sleeping on a bare mattress Sister.
	Is that true?

		AGNES
	Yes Mother.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Why?

		AGNES
	In the medieval days the nuns and monks
	would sleep in their own coffins.

Sister Marguerite gives a snort of derision. Mother Miriam
glances sharply
at her, then turns back to Agnes.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	We're not in the Middle Ages, Sister.

		AGNES
	It made them holy.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	It made them uncomfortable. And if
	they didn't sleep well I'm certain the
	next day they were cranky as mules.
	Sister where are your sheets?
		(no answer)
	Do you really believe that sleeping on
	a bare mattress is the equivalent of
	sleeping in a coffin?

		AGNES
	No.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Then tell me. Where are your sheets?

		AGNES
	I burnt them.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Why?

		AGNES
		(a long pause)
	They were stained.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	How many times have I burned into
	your thick skull and the thick skull
	of your fellow novice, that
	menstruation is a perfectly natural
	process and nothing to be ashamed of.

		AGNES
	Yes, Mother.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Say it!

		AGNES and GENEVIEVE
	It is a perfectly natural process and
	nothing to be ashamed of.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Mean it!

The two girls start to repeat it but Agnes starts to cry and
Genevieve
falters into silence. Mother Miriam goes on more kindly.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	A few years ago one of the Sisters came
	to me in tears, asking for comfort,
	comfort because she was too old to
	have any children. Not that she wanted
	to, but once a month she had been
	reminded of that possibility.

		AGNES
	It's not that... it's not that...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	What do you mean?

		AGNES
	It's not my time of month.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Should you see a doctor?

		AGNES
	I don't know. I don't know what
	happened Mother, I woke up... there
	was blood on the sheets, but I don't
	know what happened.
		(starts to weep)
	I don't know what I did wrong, I don't
	know and I should be punished.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	For what?

		AGNES
	I don't know... I don't know...

		MOTHER MIRIAM (V.O.)
	That was the beginning, the night of
	the conception. That's why she burnt
	the sheets.


49   INT - SICKROOM - NIGHT

Still in flashback, Mother Miriam enters the room where
SISTER
PAUL lies  dying. Father Martineau is there and many of the
other
nuns singing hymns.

		MARTHA (V.O.)
	When was that?

		MOTHER MIRIAM (V.O.)
	The twenty third of January. On that
	night one of our elder nuns passed away.

		MARTHA (V.O.)
	Sister Paul?

		MOTHER MIRIAM (V.O.)
	Yes. I don't remember where Agnes was.
	I was needed in the sick room.

Father Martineau annoints the old woman. Then Agnes quietly
slips in   unobserved. Sister Paul rallies for a moment,
tries to say
a single silent
word to her. The smile slips from Agnes' face. Then Sister
Paul
lies back
and dies.


50   INT - CATHEDRAL - DAY

Martha and the MONSIGNOR are walking through the church
talking. He is quite  young and has a rather abrasive
manner.

		(beginning missed)

		MARTHA
	No.

		MONSIGNOR
	Well you're probably right about
	that. It certainly can't help Sister
	Agnes to have this investigation
	continued for any length of time.

		MARTHA
	Why do you call it an investigation?
	I never have.

		MONSIGNOR
	Your mother was a resident of Saint
	Catherines home before you moved
	her.

		MARTHA
	What does this have to do with..?


		MONSIGNOR
	And you had a sister who died in the
	convent.

		MARTHA
	Who told you this?

		MONSIGNOR
	Do you still go to church?

		MARTHA
	What business is it of yours..?

		MONSIGNOR
	Oh, we just wonder if you can be very
	objective about this case.

		MARTHA
	Look, Father, ah... just because I
	don't subscribe to the... to the beliefs
	you subscribe to...

		MONSIGNOR
		(halting)
	But what you believe makes no difference
	to us whatsoever Doctor. But it does
	 make all the difference to Agnes.

		MARTHA
	I don't understand. Are you expecting me
	to..?

		MONSIGNOR
	Well somone's got to suffer for this Doctor.
	You've got to be merciful and quick. Excuse
	me.

Martha stares at him as he walks away.


51   EXT - CONVENT - DAY

A single shot of the back of the convent and the belltower.
The
bell is
ringing.


52   INT - BELLTOWER - DAY

Mother Miriam is ringing the bell and it takes quite a
considerable effort.


53   EXT - CONVENT FARMYARD - DAY

Agnes has a wheelbarrow full of straw and manure. She dumps
it
on a pile.


54   INT - COWSHED - DAY

Martha is watching Agnes milking a cow.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, I'm here because I want to help
	you.

		AGNES
	I'm not sick.

		MARTHA
	But you're troubled... aren't you?

		AGNES
	That's because you keep reminding me.
	If you go away then I'll forget.

		MARTHA
	And you're unhappy.

		AGNES
	Everyone's unhappy, you're unhappy aren't
	you?

		MARTHA
	Agnes...

		AGNES
	Answer me!  You never answer me.

		MARTHA
	Sometimes, yes.

		AGNES
	Only you think you're lucky because
	you didn't have a mother who said things
	to you and did things to you that maybe
	weren't always nice but that was because
	of me, because I was bad, not her.

Agnes carries the milk pail round to the churn.

		MARTHA
	What did you do?

		AGNES
	I'm always bad.

		MARTHA
	What did you do?

		AGNES
	I breathed!

Agnes falls to her knees. Martha moves round and kneels in
front of her.

		MARTHA
	Agnes. What did your mother do to
	you?
		(no answer)
	If you can't answer me, just shake
	your head yes or no. Did... did she
	hit you?
		(Anges shakes her head: no)
	Did she make you do something you
	didn't want to?
		(yes)
	Did it make you feel uncomfortable
	to do it?
		(yes)
	Did it embarrass you?
		(yes)
	Did it... did it hurt you?
		(yes)
	What did she make you you do?

		AGNES
	No...

		MARTHA
	You can tell me.

		AGNES
	I can't.

		MARTHA
	She's dead isn't she?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	She can't hurt you any more.

		AGNES
	She can.

		MARTHA
	How?

		AGNES
	She watches... she listens.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, I don't believe that. Tell me.
	I'll protect you from her.

		AGNES
	She...

		MARTHA
	Yes?

		AGNES
	... makes me...

		MARTHA
	Yes?

		AGNES
	... take off my clothes and then...
	she makes fun of me.

		MARTHA
	She tells you you're ugly?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	And that you're stupid?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	That you're a mistake?

		AGNES
	She says my whole body's a mistake.

		MARTHA
	Why?

		AGNES
	Because she says if I don't watch out
	I'll have a baby.

		MARTHA
	How does she know that?

		AGNES
	Her headaches.

		MARTHA
	Oh, yes.

		AGNES
	And then...

		MARTHA
	What?

		AGNES
	She touches me down there with a
	cigarette.
		(Martha gasps)
	Please Mommy, don't touch me like that
	any more. I'll be good,  I won't be a baby
	any more.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, oh Agnes, Agnes I want you to do
	something. I want you to pretend that
	I'm your mother. Oh yes, only this time
	I want you to tell me what you're feeling,
	alright?

		AGNES
	I'm afraid.

		MARTHA
	Please!  I want to help you. Let me help
	you.

		AGNES
	Alright.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, you're ugly!... what do you say?
	Of course you do. Agnes, you're ugly!...
	what do you say?

		AGNES
	No I'm not.

		MARTHA
	Are you pretty?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, you're stupid.

		AGNES
	No I'm not.

		MARTHA
	Are you intelligent?

		AGNES
		(more forcefully)
	Yes I am.

		MARTHA
	You're a mistake.

		AGNES
		(shouting)
	I'm not mistake, I'm here aren't I.
	How can I be a mistake if I'm really
	here. God doesn't make mistakes,
	you're a mistake...

Agnes is half shouting , half crying. Martha holds on to
her.

		MARTHA
	Oh Agnes, oh Agnes, it's alright, it's
	alright, it's alright, it's alright,
	I love you.

		AGNES
	Do you really love me or are you just
	saying that?

		MARTHA
	I really love you.

		AGNES
	As much as Mother Miriam does?

		MARTHA
	As much as God loves you.


55   INT - AGNES' OLD ROOM - DAY

Martha is in there by herself smoking. The elderly nun
appears
at the door.

		ELDERLY NUN
	I've been watching. We were fine 'till
	she came. She brought the devil here.
		(makes the sign
		of the cross)
	There was blood on her hand that night.

		MARTHA
	Agnes?
		(the nun shakes
		her head)
	Who?  Mother Superior?

		ELDERLY NUN
	(in French)
	???

		MARTHA
	What?

		ELDERLY NUN
	Look into the convent records.

		MARTHA
	Sister...

But the nun has gone, walking quickly away down the
corridor.


56   INT - RECORD ROOM - DAY

Sister (?) enters to find Martha going through a cabinet.

		MARTHA
		(slightly guiltily)
	Oh, Good afternoon Sister, I... I'm
	looking for some biographical data
	on Sister Agnes, and Mother said I
	might find it here.

The Sister smiles, goes to another cabinet, extracts a file
and
hands it to
her.

		MARTHA
	Thank you.

The Sister nods and without a word leaves the room. Martha
waits until she has gone, then opens the cabinet and pulls
out
another file. Glancing at the    door, she compares the two
files.
They both have the same surname Burchetti.  The the door
opens and
Mother Miriam is standing there.


		MARTHA
	You lied to me

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	About what?

		MARTHA
		(brandishing the files)
	Your niece!

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I didn't tell you because I didn't
	think it was important.

		MARTHA
	No, it just makes you doubly
	responsible doesn't it?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I never saw Agnes until she set foot
	in this convent. My sister ran away
	from home. We lost touch with her.
	And when my husband died and I came
	here, she wrote to me and asked me if
	I would take care of Agnes in case
	anything happened.

		MARTHA
	And Agnes' father?

Mother Miriam turns out of the room. Martha goes after her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	It could have been any one of a dozen
	men from what my sister told me.


57   INT - CORRIDOR - DAY

Continuing, just outside the record room.

		MOTHER MIRIAM (Cont.)
	She was afraid that Agnes would
	follow in her footsteps. She did
	everything she could to prevent it.

		MARTHA
	Like keeping her home from school?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	Listening to angels?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	She drank too much. That's what killed
	her.

		MARTHA
	Do you know what she did to her?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I don't think I care to know.

		MARTHA
	She molested her!

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Oh, dear God.

		MARTHA
	There is more here than meets the eye
	isn't there?  Lots of dirty little secrets.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
		(crying)
	Oh God, if only I'd known.

		MARTHA
	Why didn't you?  You knew she was
	keeping her home from school. You
	knew she was an alcoholic.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I knew that after the fact.

		MARTHA
	Why didn't you do anything to stop her?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Because I didn't know...
		(she leaves)

		MARTHA
	Oh, God.

						DISSOLVE TO:

58   INT - POLICE STATION, LARRY'S OFFICE - DAY

Larry is interviewing a young PROSTITUTE in French. Martha
appears at the  door.

		MARTHA
	Larry...

		LARRY
	Marty, what are you doing here?

		MARTHA
	Larry there's got to be something
	missing.

		LARRY
	I gave you the pictures Marty, what
	else do you want?

		MARTHA
	Something they... that they overlooked.

		LARRY
	What?  You think that the girl is
	innocent?

		MARTHA
	I don't know.

		LARRY
	You got to be crazy.

Larry pulls out a pack of cigarettes, gives one to Martha
and
to the
prostitute.

		MARTHA
	Larry...

		LARRY
	What's the matter with you, you've
	seen the reports. It's a cut and dried
	case.

		MARTHA
	Maybe there's something that's not
	in the report that should be.

		LARRY
	You're too involved Marty.
		(lights her cigarette)
	Jesus look at you. Why don't you
	turn this case over to someone else?

Larry lights his own cigarette and comes over to Martha.

		LARRY (Cont.)
	I'll ask around, see what I come up
	with. In the meantime you go home
	and get some sleep.

		MARTHA
	Thanks.
		(she leaves)

		LARRY
		(calling after her)
	If I find anything I'll call you.


59   INT - MARTHA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Martha takes off her coat, moves across the room turning on
lights. She
flicks the answerphone on. Her cat meows.

		SECRETARY (V.O.)
	Hi Marty, it's Helen. Mrs Davenport
	called and was very upset that you'd
	missed her appointment. She wants
	you to call her at home, oh and a couple
	of reporters have been trying to get a
	hold of you about Sister Agnes. They
	seem persistent and they may try to
	reach you at home. I didn't give them
	number.

Some whirs and beeps. Martha goes into the bathroom.

		REPORTER (V.O.)
		(French accent)
	Hallo, Doctor Livingston. My name is
	(?). I'm doing a Sunday article on
	Sister Agnes for the Gazette. I would
	appreciate it if you would give me a
	phone call on 942-2424.

	More beeps and whirs. Martha starts to undress.

		LARRY (V.O.)
	Hi Marty, it's me. Listen I just
	talked with Detective Crawley who
	was at the convent. She said that
	there was one thing that bothered her
	that didn't make it into the report.
	The waste paper basket. The one in
	Agnes' room.
		(Martha freezes in the
		middle of lighting up)
	None of the other nuns had one. Bye.

Martha rushes over to the answerphone and rewinds it.

		LARRY (V.O.)
	... her that didn't make it into the
	report. The waste paper basket. The
	one in Agnes' room. None of the other
	nuns had one. Bye.

Martha looks thoughtful and flicks off the desk lamp.


60   INT - CONVENT CHAPEL - DAY

Father Martineau is saying Mass. All the sisters are there
singing together.	Father Martineau places the host in the
sconce,
incences it and raises it
up. Close on individual nuns at prayer including Agnes.

						DISSOLVE TO:

61   INT - BARN - DAY

Mother Miriam is kneeling in the doorway of the barn,
praying
when Martha	enters. Mother Miriam pauses.

		MARTHA
	I've gotten the court's permission
	to hypnotise her.

Mother Miriam makes the sign of the cross and stands up.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	And my permission?

		MARTHA
	I'd like yours too.

Mother Miriam grabs a bucket and moves across the barn.
Martha
follows her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	We'll see about that.

		MARTHA
	Don't deny it!

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I haven't decided yet.

		MARTHA
	The woman's health is at stake.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Her spiritual health.

		MARTHA
	I don't give a damn about her spiritual
	health.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I know you don't.

Mother Miriam starts shovelling grain into the bucket.

		MARTHA
	Sentence her and be done with it, that's
	what you're saying and I...

		MOTHER MIRIAM

	I am saying (distorted) a beautifully
	simple woman...

		MARTHA
	An unhappy woman...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	She's happy with us and she could go
	on being happy if she was left alone.

		MARTHA
	Then why did you call the police in the
	first place Mother, huh?

		MARTHA (cont.)
	Why didn't you just throw the baby into
	the incinerator and be done with it.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Because I am a moral person.

		MARTHA
	Bullshit!

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Bullshit yourself!

		MARTHA
	Catholic Church doesn't have a corner
	on morality...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Who said anything about the Catholic
	Church...

		MARTHA
	You just said...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	What the hell has the Catholic Church
	got to do with you?

		MARTHA
	Nothing...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	What have we done to hurt you?  And
	don't deny it, I can smell an ex-Catholic
	a mile away. What did we do?  Burn a
	few heretics, sell some indulgences?
	That was in the days when the Church
	was a ruling body. We let governments
	do those things today. So what did we
	do to you eh?  You wanted to neck in the
	back seat of a car when you were fifteen
	and you couldn't because it was a sin?

This time it is Martha who walks away and Mother Miriam who
follows her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM (Cont.)
	So instead of questioning that one rule...

		MARTHA
		(halting)
	It wasn't sex. It was a lot of things, but
	it wasn't sex. You know when I was in
	the first grade my best friend was run
	over on the way to school, you know what
	the nun said?  She died because she hadn't
	said her morning prayers.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Stupid woman... and that's all?

		MARTHA
	That's all?  That's enough!  She was a
	beautiful little girl.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	And what has that to do with it?

		MARTHA
	I wasn't. I wasn't. She was the pretty one.
	She died, why not me?  I never said my
	morning prayers. And I was ugly, I was
	scrawny, I had buck teeth and freckles all
	over my face, do you know what the nun
	called me, Sister Mary Clitus, called me
	Polkadot Livingston.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	So you left the Church because you had
	freckles?

		MARTHA
	No, because I... yeah, yeah I left the
	Church cause I had freckles.

They both cannot help laughing at this absurdity.


62   EXT - COURTYARD - DAY

A couple of nuns walk across the courtyard. Another is
meditating alone. On
a bench a nun kisses a dove and lets it fly away.


63   EXT - GAZEBO - DAY

It is out the back of the convent near the belltower. Mother
Miriam and
Martha are sitting there talking. Martha is smoking.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	When I was a child I used to hear my
	guardian angel. She sang to me 'till I
	was six years old. That's when I stopped
	listening. But I remember the voice. A
	few years ago I looked at myself and saw
	nothing but a nun who was certain of nothing.
	Not even of Heaven. Not even of God. And
	then one evening I saw Agnes standing by

	her window, singing. And all my doubts about
	myself and God were gone, in that one moment.
	I recognized the voice. Please don't take it
	away from me again Doctor Livingston. Those
	years after six were very bleak.

		MARTHA
	My sister died in a convent. And it's her
	voice I hear.
		(a long pause)
	Does my smoking bother you?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	No, it reminds me.

		MARTHA
	Would you like one?  Huh?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I'd love one.

Martha hands her a cigarette and lights it for her. Mother
Miriam coughs a
lot. Martha pats her on the back.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I'm out of prac...
		(cough)
	... practice.
		(cough)

		MARTHA
	All right?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Fine thanks...

		MARTHA
	Do you suppose the saints would have
	smoked if tobacco had been popular
	back then?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Undoubtedly. Not the ascetics of course
	but, well Saint Thomas More...

		MARTHA
		(chuckles)
	Long, thin and filtered.

		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...

He sets the folder down on a table and starts going through
it.
They both
look at the plans.

		MAN (Cont.)
	Ah viola!  This has everything. Even
	the secret entrance. They all had
	that. Usually to get from building to
	building in the snow...
		(he indicates on
		the plan)
	... like that one.

		MARTHA
		(murmurs)
	That's how he got in... or she got
	out.

		MAN
	Oh excuse me, what did you say?

		MARTHA
	Nothing. May I take some notes?

		MAN
	Oh yes, (distorted)

Martha starts drawing a rough plan.


67   INT - CRYPT - DAY

The crypt is deserted but candles are burning in front of a
statue of Saint Michael. Martha walks over to it,lights a
candle and
goes behind it and
finds a stairway there leading underground. She goes down
into...


68   INT - TUNNEL - DAY

Martha walks through the dimly lit passage. She stops for a
moment to look
at a cross carved on the stone floor, then continues.
Finally
she reaches
more steps and goes up into the...


69   INT - BARN - DAY

Martha emerges through a trapdoor in to the barn which is
full
of doves. It    begins to make sense for her.


70   EXT - CITY - DAY

Various closeups of famous statues. A bell is tolling. Two
nuns
come out of
a building, down streets, across the road as though traffic
did
not exist
and into another building.


71   INT - LIFT - DAY

The nuns are Sister Anne and Mother Miriam. In the lift an
OFFICE GIRL
checks her lipstick in the reflective metal walls. The lift
stops and the
Sisters get off.


72   INT - CORRIDOR - DAY

They walk down the modern carpeted corridor into...


73   INT - MARTHA'S OFFICE - DAY

Mother Miriam addresses the secretary, HELEN.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Is the Doctor in her office?

		HELEN
	Ah, who shall I say is calling?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
		(grimly)
	General MacArthur.

She heads onto Martha's office. Helen jumps up after her.

		HELEN
	Just a minute please, you can't go in
	there.

Mother Miriam pushes the door open to reveal Martha.

		MARTHA
		(standing)
	It's... it's alright Helen, just close
	the door.

Mother Miriam walks in and throws some papers down onto
Martha's desk.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I've just met with the bishop. We're
	taking you off the case.

		MARTHA
		(picking up the papers)
	You're what?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	If we want to hire a psychiatrist for
	Agnes. we'll find our own, thank you.
		(starts to leave)

		MARTHA
	One that will ask the questions you
	want asked.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
		(halting)
	One that will approach this matter
	with some objectivity and respect.

		MARTHA
	For the Church?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	For Agnes.

		MARTHA
	You think she's a saint?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	She's been touched by God, yes.

		MARTHA
	How?  How?  She hallucinates, stops
	eating and bleeds spontaneously. Is
	that supposed to convince me she
	shouldn't be touched. Give me a miracle.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	The father!

		MARTHA
	Who is he?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Why must he be anybody?

		MARTHA
		(laughs and sits down)
	My God, you're as crazy as...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Stop laughing, I don't say it's the truth,
	I'm saying...

		MARTHA
	How (distorted) ?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Don't be ridiculous.

		MARTHA
	Well give me a reasonable explanation

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	A miracle is an event without an
	explanation. If she's capable of putting
	a hole in her hand without benefit of a
	nail, why couldn't she split a cell in her
	womb?

		MARTHA
	This is insane.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	There as no man in the convent on that
	night and no way for any man to get in
	or out.

		MARTHA
	You're saying God did it?

		MOTHER MIRIAM

	No, that's as much as saying Father
	Martineau did it. I'm saying God
	permitted it.

		MARTHA
	But how did it happen?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	You'll never find the answer for
	everything God did.

		MARTHA
	I thought you didn't believe in miracles
	today Mother?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	But I want the opportunity to believe.
	I want the choice to believe.

		MARTHA
	But what you are choosing to believe
	is a lie because you won't face the fact
	that she was raped... or seduced...
	or that she did the seducing.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	She is an innocent.

		MARTHA
	But she is not an enigma Mother.
	Everything that Agnes has done is
	explainable from modern psychiatry.
	One, two, three, right down the line.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	That's what you believe she is?  The
	sum of her psychological parts?

		MARTHA
	That's what I have to believe...

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Then why are you so obsessed with her?
	You're losing sleep over her?
		(Martha gets up disturbed)
	You're thinking about her all the time.
	You're bent on saving her. Why?

Martha has no answer.

		MOTHER MIRIAM (Cont.)
		(calmer)
	I'm not accusing. I'm recognizing.

		MARTHA
	There's a tunnel out of the crypt into
	the barn. Did you know about that?
	There's an answer Mother. That's how
	she got out.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	That's crazy. How could she find out
	about it?

		MARTHA
	Somebody told her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Who?  That tun... that tunnel hasn't
	been used in fifty years.

		MARTHA
	Oh, would you stop lying Mother!

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Why would I lie?

		MARTHA
	Because it's murder we're talking about.
	Aren't you concerned about what she told
	us about the other person in her room.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I'm concerned about her health.

		MARTHA
	Who was that person Mother?  Was it
	you?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	If you believe this is murder, it is the
	Crown attorney you have to talk to, not
	me. And definitely not Agnes.

She goes out and slams the door.


74   EXT - POND - DAY

After a couple of establishing shots of the convent, the
nuns
are shown ice   skating on the frozen pond. They are quite
uninhibited, like little
children. Their singing (off) from the chapel continues
until
the end of
scene 78.


75   INT - CHAPEL - DAY

Sister Genevieve, the other novice is being consecrated. She
approaches the  altar all dressed in white, carrying a
single candle
and kneels down.


76   INT - LAW COURTS - DAY

Martha and Justice Leveau come up the steps and into the
corridor.

		MARTHA
	All I want is one more week.

		LEVEAU
	Why?
		  (continues in French,
		then...)
	 You've done nothing to show any progress.

		MARTHA
	Yes, that's because I'm getting to her.

		LEVEAU
	You're getting to all of us Martha, let's
	face it.

		MARTHA
	I'll have a decision by next week.

		LEVEAU
	It's gone on long enough. You're out.

		MARTHA
	Oh Joe... Joe she didn't kill the baby.

		LEVEAU
		(halting)
	You have proof?

		MARTHA
	I'll have it.

		LEVEAU
	When?

		MARTHA
	Next week.


		LEVEAU
		(walking on)
	No, no, no...

		MARTHA
	I can get you new evidence next week.

		LEVEAU
	No!

		MARTHA
	Tomorrow... tomorrow, I'll get it by
	tomorrow. I will.

They reach the door of Leveau's office. He thinks...

		LEVEAU
	Yes, demain (?)


77   INT - CHAPEL - DAY

The scene consists of a number of shots dissolving into one
another. Sister Genevieve lying face down in front of the
bishop,
Genevieve praying on her   knees, her family (4) watching
from
behind the grilled gate. Genevieve's
hair being cut, her joy at the habit being fitted to her,
running out to
join her family, a jolly old singalong on the piano, this
time
the nuns
singing along from    behind the gate.


78   EXT - CONVENT - DAY

Martha drives up in her car and walks across the now snow
covered grounds to    the convent.


79   INT - MOTHER MIRIAM'S OFFICE - DAY

Mother Miriam is working away at her desk when a nun
interrupts. Singing   from the party can faintly be heard.

		NUN (off)
	Excuse me Mother, Doctor Livingston
	is here.

Mother Miriam nods tiredly and goes to meet Martha at he
door.
Martha hands    her a court order. Mother Miriam reads it
briefly
and hands it back.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	This is permission to take her apart.

		MARTHA
	Where is she?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Hasn't she had enough?

		MARTHA
	I have a few more questions to ask her.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	My God, but you're determined.

They move back into the room.

		MARTHA
	Who knew she was pregnant?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Why do you insist upon pressing...

		MARTHA
	Was it you?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Is it because she's a nun?

		MARTHA
	Did you know she was pregnant?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	And you didn't send her to a doctor.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I didn't guess until it was too late.

		MARTHA
	For what?  An abortion?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Oh, don't be ridiculous.

		MARTHA
	Too late for what?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I don't know... too late to stop it.

		MARTHA
	The baby?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	The scandal...

		MARTHA
	You went to the room to help with
	the birth.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	She didn't want any help.

		MARTHA
	You wanted that child out of the way.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	That's a lie.

		MARTHA
	You hid the wastepaper basket in her
	room.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I didn't hide it. I put it there for the
	blood and the dirty sheets.

		MARTHA
	And the baby.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	No!

		MARTHA
	You tied the cord around its neck.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I wanted her to have it when no-one else
	was around, they would have taken the
	baby to a hospital and left it with them,
	but it was such a difficult birth, there
	was so much blood and I panicked.

		MARTHA
	Before or after you killed the child?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	I left it with her and I went for help.

		MARTHA
	I doubt that's what she'd say.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	Then she's a liar.


80   INT - ATTIC ROOM - DAY

It is the same as before, except that this time Martha and
Mother Miriam are	standing.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, can you hear me?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	I want you to remember if you can a
	night last January. The night Sister
	Paul died. Do you remember.

There is a flash cut to Sister Paul being annointed. Agnes
stirs slightly.

		MARTHA (Cont.)
	What's the matter?

There is another flash cut, this time of Sister Paul saying
that mysterious word that we could not previously
understand.

		AGNES
	She said Michael.

		MARTHA
	What did she mean?

There is a third flash cut of the shrine of Saint Michael in
the crypt.

		AGNES
	The statue. She had shown it to me
	the day before.

		MARTHA
	And the passage to the barn?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	Why?

		AGNES
	So I could go to him.

		MARTHA
	Who?

		AGNES
	Him.

		MARTHA
	How did she know about him?

		AGNES
	She'd seen him too.

		MARTHA
	Where?

		AGNES
	From the belltower the day she before
	she died.

		MARTHA
	So she sent you?

		AGNES
	Yes.


81   INT - TUNNEL - NIGHT

In flashback:  Agnes is walking alone through the tunnel
carrying an oil
lamp.

		MARTHA (V.O.)
	What happened?

Agnes keeps walking and finally goes up the steps into...


82   INT - BARN - NIGHT

Still in flashback, Agnes emerges into the barn. The doves
flap
about as
Agnes	 moves nervously through the barn.

		AGNES (V.O.)
	He's here.


83   INT - ATTIC ROOM - DAY

Back to the present:

		MARTHA
	Are you frightened?

		AGNES
	Yes.


84   INT - BARN - NIGHT

In flashback:  the doves continue to make flapping and
bumping
sounds as
they fly around the barn.

		AGNES
	Hallo...


85   INT - ATTIC ROOM - DAY

In the present:

		AGNES
	... where are you?


86   INT - BARN - NIGHT

In flashback:

		AGNES
	Is it you?


Then she seems to be talking to someone although we can see
nothing except  the doves.

		AGNES (Cont.)
	I... I'm afraid... yes, yes I do...
	why me?... wait, I want to see you.


		MARTHA (V.O.)
	What do you see?


87   INT - ATTIC ROOM - DAY

In the present:

		AGNES
	Halos...


88   INT - BARN - NIGHT

In flashback:  Agnes is still in the barn but now she is
lying
on her back.
Still all we can see are doves flashing in the light.

		AGNES (V.O.)
	... dividing and dividing feathers and
	starts, falling, falling into the iris of
	God's eye. Oh... oh!... it's... it's so
	lovely... it's so... blue... yellow...
	blood wings, brown, blood...

And she lifts up her hands.


89   INT - ATTIC ROOM - DAY

In the present:  as she lifts up her hands, Agnes is
horrified
to see two
holes in her palms weeping blood.

		AGNES
	His blood... my God...

Martha and Mother Miriam are equally shocked.

		MARTHA
	Oh Agnes...

Agnes runs terrified over to the walls blood pouring over
her
white habit.    Mother Miriam rushes after her.

		AGNES
	It's bleeding... I'm bleeding...
	my God it won't stop, I can't get it
	to stop.
		(to Mother Miriam)
	Let go of me, I wish you were dead.

		MARTHA
		(trying to hold her)
	Agnes... Agnes...

Agnes breaks free and runs over to another wall smearing it
too
with blood.	Martha follows her.

		AGNES
	Stay away from me...

		MARTHA
	Agnes it had nothing to do with the
	hand of God. He did a terrible thing
	to you, do you understand?

		AGNES
	No...

		MARTHA
	He frightened you and he hurt you. It's
	not your fault. It's his fault. Tell us
	who he is so we can find him. Stop
	him from doing this to other women.

		AGNES
	Not your fault...

		MARTHA
	Agnes who did you see?

		AGNES
	I hate him...

		MARTHA
	Of course you do. Who was it?

		AGNES
	I hate him for what he did to me.

		MARTHA
	Yes.

		AGNES
	For what he made me go through.

		MARTHA
	Who?

		AGNES
	I hate him.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, who did this to you?

Agnes flings her arms back against the wall.

		AGNES
	God!  It was God.
		(sinks to her knees)
	And now I'll burn in hell because I
	hate him.

		MARTHA
	Agnes you won't burn in hell. It's
	alright to hate him.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
	That's enough.

		MARTHA
	Agnes, what happened to the baby?

		MOTHER MIRIAM
		(shouting)
	She can't remember.

		MARTHA
	What happened to the baby?

		AGNES
	It was dead.

		MARTHA
	It was alive wasn't it?

		AGNES
	I don't remember.

		MOTHER MIRIAM
		(screaming)
	Oh, don't do this!

		MARTHA
	Wasn't it!

		AGNES
	YES!

Somehow this declaration seems to calm them down somewhat.
Mother Miriam   is looking utterly resigned.

		MARTHA
	Mother Miriam was with you wasn't
	she?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	She took the baby in her arms?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	You saw it all didn't you?

		AGNES
	Yes.

		MARTHA
	And then... what did she do?
		(no answer)
	Agnes what did she do?

		AGNES
	She... left me alone with that little
	thing, and I looked at it, and I thought
	this is a mistake. But it's my mistake,
	not Mommy's. God's mistake.

		AGNES (cont.)
	I thought I... I can save her.
		(she raises her hands)
	I can give her back to God.

		MARTHA
	What did you do?

		AGNES
	I put her to sleep.

		MARTHA
	H... how?

		AGNES
	I tied the cord around her neck...
	wrapped her in the bloody sheets...
	and stuffed her in the trash can.

Mother Miriam gives a shuddering sigh, makes the sign of the
cross and
prays. Martha claps her hands lightly together once.


90   EXT - CITY - DAY

A shaft of sunlight shines through the winter clouds onto
the
city. Angle on  the courthouse.


91   INT - COURT ROOM - DAY

All the main characters are present: Eve, Lyon, Martha,
Agnes,
Sister	Marguerite and Mother Miriam. Justice Leveau is
summing
up.

		LEVEAU
	In view of the situation as it now
	stands, and the testimony given here
	this morning, it seems quite clear
	that the defendant was in no manner
	responsible for her actions. It is
	therefore the judgement of this court
	that she be returned to the convent of
	Marie Madeleine where she will be cared
	for under proper medical supervision by
	a visiting physician.

Both Martha and Mother Miriam show relief at this. Justice
Leveau continues
to sum up in French when suddenly Agnes stands up.


		LEVEAU (Cont.)
		(surprised)
	Oui. Do you have something to say?

		AGNES
		(a long pause)
	I stood in the window of my room
	every night for a week. And one night
	I heard the most beautiful voice
	imaginable. And when I looked I saw
	the moon shining down on him. For six
	nights he sang to me, songs I'd never
	heard. And on the seventh night he
	opened his wings and lay on top of me.
	All the while he sang -
		(sings)
	Charlie Sweet... Charlie Sweet...
	Charlie's a...

		LEVEAU
	Please, remove her from the court.

Martha and Mother Miriam step forward uncertainly.

		LEVEAU
	Would someone please remove the
	defendant from the courtroom.
		(continues in French)

The nuns lead Agnes, still singing past Martha and out of
the court.

						DISSOLVE TO:

92   EXT - CONVENT - DAY

It is full winter; many shots of the convent and
surroundings
dissolving
into one another.

		MARTHA (V.O.)
	I don't know the meaning behind the
	song she sang. Perhaps it was a song
	of seduction. And the father was a
	fieldhand. Perhaps the song was simply
	a lullaby that she remembered from many
	years ago. And the father was hope and...
	and love and desire. And a belief in
	 miracles.

The nuns are seen walking together through the snow back to
the
convent over    which Agnes' singing can be heard.

		MARTHA (V.O.)
	I want to believe that she was blessed.
	And I do miss her, and I hope that she's
	left something, some little part of
	herself with me. That would be miracle
	enough wouldn't it?

						DISSOLVE TO:

93   EXT - TOP OF BELLTOWER - DAY

Where Agnes is singing her song among the doves. She stops
singing and the music fades in on the same key. Agnes gently
takes
on of the doves and lets
it fly away across the snowy landscape.

FADE OUT.
END TITLES.
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