Black Narcissus Page #2

Synopsis: Sister Clodagh, currently posted at the Convent of the Order of the Servants of Mary in Calcutta, has just been appointed the Sister Superior of the St. Faith convent, making her the youngest sister superior in the order. The appointment is despite the reservations of the Reverend Mother who believes Sister Clodagh not ready for such an assignment, especially because of its isolated location. The convent will be a new one located in the mountainside Palace of Mopu in the Himalayas, and is only possible through the donation by General Todo Rai of Mopu - "The Old General" - of the palace, where the Old General's father formerly kept his concubines. On the Old General's directive, the convent is to provide schooling to the children and young women, and general dispensary services to all native residents who live in the valley below the palace. Accompanying Sister Clodagh will be four of the other nuns, each chosen for a specific reason: Sister Briony for her strength, Sister Phillipa who
Genre: Drama
Production: Universal International Pictur
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
8.0
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1947
101 min
1,158 Views


she may be better.

Give her responsibility, Sister.

She badly wants importance.

Do you think it's a good thing

to let her feel important?

Spare her some of your own

importance... if you can.

Mother, are you sorry that I have been

appointed to take charge of St. Faith?

Yes. I don't think

you're ready for it,

and I think you'll be lonely.

Never forget,

we're an order of workers.

Work them hard.

And remember...

the superior of all

is the servant of all.

I understand.

It was a good, good idea.

One thing about them,

they keep good time.

Go!

Dear! The whole garden's

so terribly overgrown,

I don't know where to begin!

Please come and help the fat

lady who has questions.

Sister Briony?

Ayah, you must learn our proper names.

Anyway, there aren't

any patients yet.

Oh, aren't there?

There are dozens waiting.

And more coming every minute.

Now tell them to go away and come

and help me with the ones that are left.

Oh, Sister Blanche, these girls

are to work in your lay school.

They were sent by the general.

Oh, don't they look nice.

But, Sister, you

ought to see the children.

The schoolroom's

full of them already.

The little ones are so sweet.

Some of them can scarcely

do more than toddle.

Joseph Anthony has come.

Ayah, you must knock

before you come in.

- Who is Joseph Anthony?

- Who is Joseph Anthony?

He's the son of the general's cook.

He's going to interpret for you.

He speaks English.

Come in.

- Has the general sent you?

- Yes, lady.

She isn't a lady.

She's a sister.

Say, "Yes, Lemani. "

Yes, Lemani. I have my books

and my bedding outside.

- I shall live here with you.

- Oh!

Would you like to see

my books and my bedding, lady?

Sister? Lemani?

- How old are you?

- Six to eleven.

What did you say?

I can remember that I'm six,

but my father married

my mother 11 years ago...

so that I may probably

be about ten.

Sister, the schoolroom

is overflowing with children.

We've nothing unpacked yet.

No one understands the language. There

are too many of them, and they smell.

- I don't know what to do.

- Why don't you tell them to come back later?

- Start with the older ones.

- They won't go away.

- Oh, why not?

- They were paid to come, so they can't go away.

Paid?

Sister, the general's clerk has orders to

pay everybody who comes to my dispensary.

- So they all want to come.

- Excuse me, Sister, may I suggest?

- Yes, Sister?

- Wouldn't it be a pity to send the children away?

- They were paid to come.

- But if they like it, they may come again.

What can you do with them?

They look very stupid to me.

Remember, they can't speak

a word of Hindustani or English.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote

Rumer Godden

Margaret Rumer Godden OBE (10 December 1907 – 8 November 1998) was an English author of more than 60 fiction and nonfiction books written under the name of Rumer Godden. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably Black Narcissus in 1947. A few of her works were co-written with her older sister, novelist Jon Godden, including Two Under the Indian Sun, a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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