Doubt Scene 5 Lines and Cues

Start of Scene

Hello, St. Nicholas School? Oh yes, Mr. McGinn. Thank you for calling back. That was quite a windstorm we had last night. No, I didn’t know there was a Great Wind in Ireland and you were there for it. That’s fascinating. Yes. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to remove a tree limb that’s fallen in the courtyard of the church. Sister Veronica tripped on it this morning and fell on her face. I think she’s all right. She doesn't look any worse, Mr. McGinn. Thank you, Mr. McGinn. Come in.

Flynn: Good morning, Sister Aloysius! How are you today?

Good morning, Father Flynn. Very well. Good of you to come by.

Flynn: Are we ready for the meeting?

We’re just short Sister James. Did you hear that wind last night?

Flynn: I certainly did. I imagine what it must’ve been like in the frontier days when a man alone in the woods sat by a fire in his buckskins and listened to a sound like that. Imagine the loneliness! The immense darkness pressing in! How frightening it must’ve been!

If one lacked faith in God’s protection, I suppose it would be frightening.

Flynn: Did I hear Sister Veronica had an accident?

Yes. Sister Veronica fell on a piece of wood this morning and practically killed herself.

Flynn: Is she all right?

Oh, she’s fine.

Flynn: Her sight isn’t good, is it?

Her sight is fine. Nuns fall you know.

Flynn: No, I didn’t know that.

It’s the habit. It catches us up more often than not. What with our being in black and white and so prone to falling, we’re more like dominoes than anything else.

Sister James: She has a bit of a bloody nose.

I’m beginning to think you’re punching people.

Sister James: Sister?

Well, after the incident with… Nevermind. Well, come in, please. Sit down. I actually have a hot pot of tea. And close this but not quite, for form’s sake. Would you have a cup of tea, Father?

Flynn: I would love a cup of tea.

Perhaps you could serve him, Sister?

Sister James: Of course.

And yourself, of course.

Sister James: Would you like tea, Sister Aloysius?

I’ve already had my cup.

Flynn: Is there sugar?

Sugar? Yes! It’s here somewhere. I put it in the drawer for Lent last year and never remembered to take it out.

Flynn: It mustn't have been much to give up then.

No, I’m sure you’re right. Here it is. I’ll serve you, though for want of practice, I’m clumsy. Your fingernails.

Flynn: I wear them a little long. The sugar?

Oh yes. One?

Flynn: Three.

Three.

Flynn: Sweet tooth.

One, two, three. Sister, do you take sugar?

Sister James: Never! Not that there’s anything wrong with sugar. Thank you!

Well, thank you, Father for making the time for us. We’re at our wit’s end.

Sister James: No! I loved it! But I love all Christmas pageants. I just love the Nativity. The birth of the Savior. And the hymns of course. “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Thank you, Sister James. Sister James will be co-directing the pageant with Mrs. Shields this year. So what do you think, Father Flynn? Is there something new we could do?

Flynn: Well, we all love the Christmas hymns, but it might be jolly to include a secular song.

Secular.

Flynn: Yes. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Something like that.

What would be the point of performing a secular song?

Flynn: That’s a good one. We could have one of the boys dress as a snowman and dance around.

Which boy?

Flynn: We’d do tryouts.

“Frosty the Snowman” espouses a pagan belief in magic. The snowman comes to life when an enchanted hat is put on his head. If the music were more somber, people would realize the images are disturbing and the song heretical.

Sister James: I’ve never thought about “Frosty the Snowman” like that.

It should be banned from the airwaves.

Flynn: So. Not “Frosty the Snowman.”

I don’t think so. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” would be fine, I suppose. The parents would like it. May I ask what you wrote down? With that ballpoint pen.

Flynn: Oh. Nothing. An idea for a sermon.

You had one just now?

Flynn: I get them all the time.

How fortunate.

Flynn: I forget them, so I write them down.

What is the idea?

Flynn: Not yet. I think a message of the Second Ecumenical Council was that the Church needs to take on a more familiar face. Reflect the local community. We should sing a song from the radio now and then. Take the kids out for ice cream.

Ice cream.

Flynn: Maybe take the boys on a camping trip. We should be friendlier. The children and the parents should see us as members of their family rather than emissaries from Rome. I think the pageant should be charming, like a community theatre doing a show.

But we are not members of their family. We’re different.

Flynn: Why? Because of our vows?

Precisely.

Flynn: I don’t think we’re so different. You know, I would take some more tea, Sister. Thank you.

And they think we’re different. The working class people of this parish trust us to be different.

Flynn: I think we’re getting off the subject.

Yes, you’re right, back to it. The Christmas pageant. We must be careful how Donald Muller is used in the pageant.

Flynn: What about Donald Muller?

We must be careful, in the pageant, that we neither hide Donald Muller nor put him forward.

Flynn: Because of the color of his skin.

That’s right.

Flynn: Why?

Come, Father. You’re being disingenuous.

Flynn: I think he should be treated like every other boy.

You yourself singled the boy out for special attention. You held a private meeting with him at the rectory. A week ago?

Sister James: Donald Muller?

The boy acted strangely when he returned to class.

Sister James: When he returned from the rectory. A little odd, yes.

Can you tell us why?

Flynn: Hmmm. Did you want to discuss the pageant, is that why I’m here, or is this what you wanted to discuss?

This.

Flynn: Well. I feel a little uncomfortable.

Why?

Flynn: Why do you think? Something about your tone.

I would prefer a discussion of fact rather than tone.

Flynn: Well, if I had judged my conversation with Donald Muller to be of concern to you, Sister, I would have sat you down and talked to you about it. But I did not judge it to be of concern to you.

Perhaps you are mistaken in your understanding of what concerns me. The boy is in my school, and his well-being is my responsibility.

Flynn: His well-being is not at issue.

I am not satisfied that that is true. He was upset when he returned to class.

Sister James: No.

What happened in the rectory?

Flynn: Happened? Nothing happened. I had a talk with a boy.

What about?

Flynn: It was a private matter.

He’s twelve years old. What could be private?

Flynn: I’ll say it again, Sister. I object to your tone.

This is not about my tone or your tone, Father Flynn. It’s about arriving at the truth.

Flynn: Of what?

You know what I’m talking about. Don’t you? You’re controlling the expression of your face right now. Aren’t you?

Flynn: My face? You said you wanted to talk about the pageant, Sister. That’s why I’m here. Am I to understand that you brought me into your office to confront me in some way? It’s outrageous. I’m not answerable to you. What exactly are you accusing me of?

I’m not accusing you of anything, Father Flynn. I am asking you to tell me what happened in the rectory.

Sister James: Good morning, Father.

There was alcohol on his breath. When he returned from his meeting with you.

Sister James: I did smell it on his breath.

Well?

Flynn: You can’t let this alone?

No.

Flynn: You should’ve let it alone.

Not possible.

Sister James: Oh, what a relief! That explains everything! Thanks be to God! Oh, Sister, look, it’s all a mistake!

And if I talk to Mr. McGinn?

Sister James: I might’ve done the same thing! Is there a way Donald could stay on the altar boys?

No. If the boy drank altar wine, he cannot continue as an altar boy.

Flynn: Of course you’re right. I’m just to the disciplinarian you are, Sister. And he is the only Negro in the school. That did affect my thinking on the matter. It will be commented on that he’s no longer serving at Mass. It’s a public thing. A certain ignorant element in the parish will be confirmed in their beliefs.

He must be held to the same standard as the others.

Flynn: Of course. Do we need to discuss the pageant or was that just…

No, this was the issue,

Flynn: Are you satisfied?

Yes.

Flynn: Then I’ll be going. I have some writing to do.

Intolerance.

Sister James: Well. What a relief! He cleared it all up.

You believe him?

Sister James: Of course.

Isn’t it more that it’s easier to believe him?

Sister James: But we can corroborate his story with Mr. McGinn!

Yes. These types of people are very clever. They’re not so easily undone.

Sister James: Well, I’m convinced!

You’re not. You just want things to be resolved so you can have simplicity back.

Sister James: I want no further part in this.

I’ll bring him down. With or without your help.

Sister James: How can you be so sure he’s lying?

Experience.

Sister James: You just don’t like him! You don’t like it that he uses a ballpoint pen. You don’t like it that he takes three lumps of sugar in his tea. You don’t like it that he likes “Frosty the Snowman.” And you’re letting that convince you of something terrible, just terrible! Well, I like “Frosty the Snowman”! And it would be nice if this school weren’t run like a prison! And I think it’s a good thing that I love to teach History and that I might inspire my students to love it, too! And if you judge that to mean I’m not fit to be a teacher, then so be it!

Sit down. In Ancient Sparta, important matters were decided by who shouted loudest. Fortunately, we are not in Ancient Sparta. Now. Do you honestly find the students in this school to be treated like inmates in a prison?

Sister James: No, I don’t. Actually, by and large, they seem to be fairly happy. But they’re all uniformly terrified of you!

Yes. That’s how it works. Sit there. Hello, this is Sister Aloysius Beaver, the principal of St. Nicholas. Is this Mrs. Muller? I’m calling about your son, Donald. I would like you and your husband to come down here for a talk. When would be convenient?