The Bridge of San Luis Rey Page #3

paid great personal attention...

...to the perceptions of the Inquisition...

...as I discovered

from the Marquesa's letters...

...even when visiting the Convent of

Santa Rosa de las Rosas on its behalf.

"That strange genius...

...the Abbess Madre Maria del Pilar,

has fallen in love with an idea...

...against the obstinacy of ourworld...

...in her desire to attach a little dignity

to the lives of women. "

Evening prayers. Forgive me.

So... Archbishop.

To what, at such an hour as this,

do we owe the pleasure of your visit?

I have come, dear Mother,

in search of a companion.

I'm well aware of the low opinion...

...with which the Archbishop regards

this establishment...

No, no, no, no, no.

Not for myself.

No, no. My own tastes are

a little more sophisticated.

It appears that, in short,

the Inquisition has recommended...

...that that mad woman,

the Marquesa de Montemayor...

...might not be quite so mad, they say,

were she not always so alone.

I am therefore directed

to find her a suitable companion...

...and as no suitor in his right mind

would have a widow such as she...

-... I thought to approach you.

- Humph.

Although I would do almost anything to

obtain the good offices of my superiors...

...in my search for funds

for this establishment.

Mother Maria, hear me out.

Here in your convent,

in your establishment...

...you have so many bright young girls.

Good girls, every last one of them

a blessing from above.

Quite well-disciplined girls...

...who might benefit

from the worldly experience...

...of living with... and after all, she is

one of the wealthiest women in all Peru.

I thought she might borrow one.

I will think on it.

Think no more on it.

Oonsider it settled.

The Marquesa herself

will call upon you tomorrow...

...and I suggest

that in the interest of your work...

...should you desire your little

establishment to flourish

according to your ambitions...

...that you prepare one of your charges

to take up the post.

Thank you, Pepita.

I'm sure the Archbishop has no call

to command your curtsy.

Such courtesies only serve

to demean the won'th of women.

As ever, I count the cessation

of these meetings...

...as one of the compensations of dying.

Good night, Abbess.

The Archbishop has found positions

for you both about the town...

...that you may better consider

your calling.

It's no fault of yours.

Rather, the nuisance that is nature...

...makes it impossibly distracting that

you remain resident here at the convent.

She's coming!

You may or may not know

that I'm something of a philologist.

I dabble in dialects...

...and I'm storing up notebooks

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes