Agnes of God

Agnes of God

(Video Transcript)

Titles over black.
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 dodging traffic 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.

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 (Voice-over)

Hi, it's Helen, calling to tell youthat Mrs Davenport phoned to confirm her appointment at nine o'clock tomorrow, okay? Bye bye.

Some whirs and clicks.

ROGER (Voice-over)

Hi Martha, it's Roger. Can you callme at the hospital. I'd like your opinion on a case. Oh, bye the way, happy birthday. Bye.

SECRETARY (Voice-over)

Hi, Marty it's Helen again. I cancelled your Wednesday afternoon appointmentso 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:

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 (Continued)

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 (Continued)

Excuse me... I'm...

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

MARTHA (Continued)

...the court-appointed psychiatrist.

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

MARTHA (Continued)

Thank you. I um... I believe your Mother Superior's expecting me.

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

INT - WAITING ROOM - DAY

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

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 (Continued)

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.

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.

INT - TOP CORRIDOR - DAY

Martha follows Sister Anne down the hall towards the singing. They stop outside Agnes' room. Martha looks to see...

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 (Continued)

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.

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.

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