Agnes of God Page #2

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?

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