Philomena Page #5

MOTHER BARBARA is aware the YOUNG GIRLS are listening

intently. In that same, soothing voice, she replies:

MOTHER BARBARA:

It’s in God’s hands now.

Now we see the hardness in her, the darkness of her eyes.

MOTHER BARBARA (cont’d)

The pain is her penance. It will

help absolve her of her sin.

CUT TO:

7 INT. DELIVERY ROOM, ROSCREA - NIGHT 7

YOUNG PHILOMENA thrashes about, delirious. The OLDER NUNS can

do no more than press wet cloths to her head.

ANUNCIATA enters, looks at YOUNG PHILOMENA in such pain. She

sees again the forceps on the side and cries out in anguish:

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ANUNCIATA:

I don’t know how to do it!

Mother Barbara’s words are in her head... ‘it’s in God’s

hands now’... but she cannot do it - she cannot just stand by

and let the girl die. She picks up the forceps and plunges

between YOUNG PHILOMENA’S legs. On the girl’s scream...

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CUT TO:

8 INT. MOTHER BARBARA’S STUDY, ROSCREA - DAY 8

Jump back to two months earlier. YOUNG PHILOMENA stands

before MOTHER BARBARA and YOUNG SISTER HILDEGARDE, Mother

Barbara’s number two, thin-faced, early 40s. Ashamed of her

swollen, pregnant belly, she can barely meet their eyes.

YOUNG SISTER HILDEGARDE

Did you let him put his hands on

you?

YOUNG PHILOMENA:

(Beat, humiliated)

Yes sister.

MOTHER BARBARA:

And did you enjoy that? Did you

enjoy your sin?

YOUNG PHILOMENA doesn’t answer.

YOUNG SISTER HILDEGARDE

Did you take your knickers down?

YOUNG PHILOMENA looks at the two older women, their eyes

boring into her. She is too petrified to answer.

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PHILOMENA - Final Shooting Script 11.

MOTHER BARBARA:

Answer Sister Hildegarde - did you

take them down?

YOUNG PHILOMENA:

(Tears in her eyes)

Yes.

YOUNG SISTER HILDEGARDE settles back into her chair, turns

sniffily to Mother BARBARA:

YOUNG SISTER HILDEGARDE

He got an awful lot for his toffee

apple.

YOUNG PHILOMENA:

Oh Reverend Mother the sisters at

school never told us anything about

babies or... the thing.

MOTHER BARBARA:

Did your mother not tell you?

YOUNG SISTER HILDEGARDE

Her mother died ten years ago.

MOTHER BARBARA:

Oh, God rest her soul...

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(Sudden venom)

But don’t dare to blame the

sisters! You are the cause of this

shame. You and your indecency!

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CUT TO:

9 INT. DELIVERY ROOM, ROSCREA - NIGHT 9

Back to the birth. With the forceps and her strong fingers,

ANUNCIATA pushes and twists the tiny body inside YOUNG

PHILOMENA, lying back, drenched in sweat, moaning in pain.

Finally, with a gush of pale red liquid onto the white sheet,

ANUNCIATA pulls out the baby’s head, dragging a new life into

God’s world. It’s over and ANUNCIATA, overcome with emotion,

holds up the newborn baby to his mother.

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