Scribd
Upload
164 views27 pages

Doubt

Uploaded by

larrystylinson03.ls
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
164 views27 pages

Doubt

Uploaded by

larrystylinson03.ls
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
DOUBT A PARABLE By JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC, PREFACE ‘What’ under a play? What holds it up? You might at well ask whats under me? On whar am I buile There something silent Under every person and under every play. These is something unsaid under any given socicey aswell "Theresa symptom apparent in America right now. I's evident in politial talk shows, in entertainment coverage, in aristic cit ism of every kind, in religious diseusion. We are living in 3 courtoom culture. We wer living in a eeleriey cule, but that's dead. Now we'e only interested in celebrities if they'te in court. We are living in a culture of extreme advocacy, of con frontation, of judgment, ad of verdict, Discussion hs given way to debate. Communication has become a contest of wills. Public talking has become obnoxious and insincere. Why? Maybe its beeause deep down under the chattce we have come 40 a place ‘where we know that we donit know ... anything, But nobody's willing ro say that Let meas you, Have you ever held a position in an argument past the point of comfort? Have you ever defended a way of life you were on the verge of exhausting? Have you ever given service fo.3 ced you no longer utely believed? Have you ever tld gil you loved her and fee che faine nausea of eroding convition? I have. TTharsan intersting moment. Fora playwrigh, its the beginning (of an idea. Tsawa pice of el estate on which T might build a pay, 2 ply that sat on something silent in my’ life and in my time. | seared with a tile: Doubs. What is Doubs? Each of us is lke a planet. There’ che crust, Which Seems etnal, We are confident about who we are IF yout ask, we can readily describe our current state. [know my answers fo so many questions, as do you. What was your father like? Do you believe in God? Whos your best Friend? What do you wane? Your answers ate your current topography, seemingly permanent, but deceptively so. Because under that face of sy response, there is another You, And this wordless Being moves just asthe insane moves ie presses upward without explanation, fluid and wordless, until the resisting consciousness hat no choice but ro give way. Ie is Doubs (o ofien experienced inital, as weaknes) chat Changes things. When a man fels unsteady, when he filter, ‘thon harden knowl eports before eyes, he onthe {erg of growth, The sub or tilent econo ofthe ster ferton and the inner core often scm at is ikea mistake ike uve gone the wrong way and ye nt, But hist emeo- toon Tonging forthe fra Life happens when the tectonic mes of your serchles sol breaks shrough the dead abi of Themind. Doub is nothing ls than an opportunity 0 feener the Present “The play ve set my story in 1964, when nor just me but the whole ‘world seemed c he going through some kindof vse puberty The ‘OK! ways were sell dominant in behavior, diss, morality, world view, bur ovhat had bosn organic expression had become a dead Inask. Iwas in Catholic church school inthe Bron, eun by the Sisters of Charity These women dressed in black, belived in Hell “obeyed heir male counterparts, and educated us. The faith, which held us together, went beyond the preinets of elgion. It asa shared dream we agseed eo call Reality, We didi know it, But we had a deal, a social contac. We would ll believe che same thing. We would all believe Looking back, it seems ro me, in those schools at thar time, we were an ageless unity, We were all adults, and we were all childten. ‘We ha, like many animal, locked eogerher for warmth and safe ty. Asa revue, we were terbly vulnerable wo anyone who chose to hhunt us. When aust is the order of she day, predators are free co plunder And plunder they did, As the ever wining Chueh scan- Gals reve, the hunters had a field day- And the shepherds, 30 invested inthe surice,strified actual good for perceived virtue. T have never forgotten the lessons ofthat ea, not learned them well, ‘enough. [sil long fora shared ceraingy, an assumption of sae, the resrourance of believing thar others know beter chan me whats Far the bes, Buc | have been led bythe bitter eeesiies of an inter ‘sting life wo value that ageold practic of the wise: Doub. There isan uneasy time when belie has begun to slip bat hypocisy hhasye to cake hold when the consciousness is disturbed but moe yet 6 alee, Is the most dangerous inporan, and ongoing expe rec of i, The bogining of cage ch romen of Dub Sharer momeat wie I enw ty Burman or become ae Doubt requires more courage than conviction does and mote enet sg because conviction i a resting place and doubs is infinite — it isa passionate exercise. You may come out of my play uncertain, ‘You may wane 10 be sure. Look down on that feling, We've got ro learn to live with a fall measure of uncerainty, There is no last sword, That’ the silence under the chater of ur time John Patric Shanley Brook, New York ‘March 2005 DOUBT, A PARABLE received its wold premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Aristic Direcor: Barry Grove, [Executive Producer) on November 23, 2004. The MTC produc- ‘ion subsequently transfered 10 Broadway's Walter Kert Theatre. It twas produced by Carole Shorenstein Hays, MTC Productions, Roger Berlind and Score Ruin, opening on March 31, 2005. It was directed by Doug Hughes, the set design was by John Lee Barty; the costume design was by Catherine Zuber: the lighting design was by Pat Collins the orginal music and sound design tvere by David Van Ticghems the production stage manager was ‘Charles Means; and she stage manager was Elizabeth Mooney. The cast was as flows: FATHER BRENDAN FLYNN... [ran F O'Byene SISTER ALOYSIUS BEAUVIER ‘Cherry Jones SISTER JAMES scone Heather Goldenheesh MRS. MULLER lee Adriane Lenox 8 CHARACTERS FATHER BRENDAN FLYNN, late thirties SISTER ALOYSIUS BEAUVIER, fiftiessntes SISTER JAMES, rwentes MRS. MULLER, around thirty-eight PLACE St Nicholas, « Catholic church and school in che Bronx, New York TIME 1964 “The bad sleep well Title of Kurosawa film 1m mach wom ic much rie and be that ince Inge neat a lates Fnephing thats ad tain seal ‘astiled by he mobs —Prolemy DOUBT A PARABLE ONE A priest, Father Fly, in bis late its, n green and gold ves ‘ment, gives sermon. Hes working cls, from the Norhea. FLYNN, What do you do when youite not sute? That’ the topic of ny sermon today. You look for Gods dscetion and cant find ie [ase yeur when President Kennedy was assassinated, who among us did not experience the most profound disorientation. Despaic "Whar now? Which way? Whae do [sa to my kids? Whar do Tell rmyselP” Ie was time of people siting cogether, ound together by ‘common Fcling of hopelessness. But think ofthat! Your bond with your fellow beings was your dpa Te was a public experience, Shared by everyone incur socery. Ir was awl, buc we were in i together! Howe much worse i ¢then forthe lone man, the lone ‘woman, sticken bya private calamigy? "No one knows Pm sick. No fone knows Tve lost my last real fiend. No-one knows Ive done Something wrong.” Imagine the isolation. You see the world as ‘through a window, On the one side ofthe gas: happy, untroubled people, On the other side: you, Something has happened, you have To arty it, and its incommunicable. For those 0 afte, only God knows ther pin, Their secret, The secret of ther alienating sorrow. And when such a person, as they mus, howls co che sky, t0| God: "Help me!" Wha ino answer comes? Silence. | want co ell you a tory. A cargo ship san, and all her crew was drowned. Only this one silor survived. He made a raft of some spars and, being of 4 nautical discipline, euned his ees to the Heavens and eead the Sears. He seta course for his home and, exhausted, fll asleep. Clouds rolled in ad Blancted the sky. For the next ene nights, 2s he floated on the vast ocean, he could no longer see the stars. He 3 thought he was on course, but there was no way tobe cern. AS the days rolled on, and he wasted sway with fevers, thirst and sar ‘ation, he began to have doubes. Had he sex his course right? Was he ail going on rowards his home? Or was he horsbly lost and doomed toa terrible death? No way to know. The message ofthe ‘onstlltions — had he imagined ic because of his desperate cir ‘sumstance? Or ad he seen Trush once and now had co hold on to ie without farther reassurance? That was his dilemma on a voyage ‘withour apparene end. There ate those af you in church today who Know exactly the eras of ith | dexerbe. I want to sy f0 you, ‘Doub can bea bond a powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost yu ge not alone. In dhe name ofthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. (He ext) Two The lights fade oa corner office in a Catalc schol in the Bronx, The principal, Sister Asta Baie, ssa her desk, toring in edger wih a furan pen. She isin ber fies or sisi Se ts warp, served, unsentimental. Seis of the onder ofthe Sisters of Charity She wears a black bonnet and flor end blac habit rimles glass. kok a he door SISTER ALOYSIUS. Come in. (Ser fumes, abo of the iter of (Chri pokes ber bea in. Shei i er rues Theta bit of sun shine inher hear, hough hes served aswel) SISTER JAMES, Have you 4 moment Sister Aloysius? SISTER ALOYSIUS. Come in, Sister James. (She enter.) Whos ‘watching your css? SISTER JAMES. They having Are SISTER ALOYSIUS, Are. Waste of ime ISTER JAMES, {Ie only an hour a week. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Much can be accomplished in shy aninutes. SISTER JAMES, Yes, Sister Aloysius. I wondered if I might know what you did about William Londos? SISTER ALOYSIUS. 1 senc him home SISTER JAMES, Oh de. So he’ stl bleding? 4 SISTER ALOYSIUS. Oh yes. SISTER JAMES. His nose just let loos and started gushing, during the Pledge of Allegiance. SISTER ALOYSIUS, Was ie spontancous? SISTER JAMES, What ese would it be? SISTER ALOYSIUS. SelFinduced. SISTER JAMES, You mean, you think he mi tgiven himself a noschleed? SISTER ALOYSIUS. Exactly SISTER JAMES. Not SISTER ALOYSIUS, You are avery innocent person, Sister James. \William London isa fidgery boy and if you do not keep right on bm, he will do anything to escape his char: He would se his foot fn fire for half day out of schoo. SISTER JAMES. But why? SISTER ALOYSIUS. He has a restless mind, SISTER JAMES. But that’ good. SISTER ALOYSIUS. No, ifs not. His father’ 2 policeman, and the last thing he wants ie a rowdy boy. William London is headed for erouble. Puberty has gor hold of him. He will be imagining all ‘the wrong things, and I strongly suspect he will not grate high | school. Bute chats beyond ut jurisdiction. We simply have co get hhim theough, aur the door, and then he's somebody cscs projec. Ordinarily, I assign my most experienced sisters to eighth grade, bbuc Tim working within constraints, Are you in control of your class? SISTER JAMES. I chink so SISTER ALOYSIUS. Usually more children ate sent down come. SISTER JAMES. Tay to ake cae of things myself SISTER ALOYSIUS, That cin be an error You are answerable 10 me, Io the monsignor, he tothe bishop, and so on up othe Holy Father, There® a chain of discipline. Make use of SISTER JAMES. Yes, Sister SISTER ALOYSIUS, Hows Donald Muller doing? SISTER JAMES, Steady. SISTER ALOYSIUS, Good. Has anyone hit him? SISTER JAMES. No. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Good. That gd, Linda Conte, have you set ced her away from the boys? SISTER JAMES. As far as space permits. It doesnt do much good. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Jase get Ber through. Intact. (Paw. Sizer (ve intentionally 15 Aloysius ie staring abuently at Sir James. A silence fil) SISTER JAMES. So. Should I go? (Vo answer. Is something the SISTER ALOYSIUS. No. Why? Is something the mater? SISTER JAMES. 1 dont think so SISTER ALOYSIUS, Then nothing’ the mater then, SISTER JAMES, Well. Thaak you, Sister. I juse wanted to check fon Willams nose She stars 1 go.) SISTER ALOYSIUS. He had ballpoine pen. SISTER JAMES, Freuse me, Sister SISTER ALOYSIUS. Willam London bad a ballpoine pen. He was fiddling with i while he waited for his mother. Hes not using ie for asignments. [hope SISTER JAMES, No, of course not SISTER ALOYSIUS. Tin sory allowed even cartridge pens into the school, The students relly should only be leaening serpx ich true fountain pens. Always che easy way out these days. Whac does that teach? Every easy choiee today will have its consequence tomorrow. Mark my words SISTER JAMES. Yes, Sister SISTER ALOYSIUS, Ballpoins make chem press down, and when they press doven, they write like monkeys. SISTER JAMES. I dont allow them ballpoint pens. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Good. Penmanship is dying all across the ‘ounery. You have some time. Sie down. (Sister James beste: and Sis down.) We might aswell havea alk. [ve been meaning to tll {a you. | observed your lesson on the New Deal atthe beginning ofthe trm. Not bad. Bur I caution you, Do nor idealize Franklin Delano Roosevelt, He was a good president, but he did arcempe 10 pack the Supreme Court Ida not approve of making heroes of lay historical figures. I'you want co alk abour saints, do it in Religion. SISTER JAMES. Yes, Sister SISTER ALOYSIUS, Also. | question your enthusiasm for History SISTER JAMES. Bur [love History! SISTER ALOYSIUS, Thar is exactly my meaning. You favor Hissory and risk swaying the children to value i¢ over their other subjects I chink this isa mistake SISTER JAMES, Tnever thought of that. I'l ry co «eat my other lessons with mote enthusiasm. SISTER ALOYSIUS. No. Give them their History withoue pur- ting sugar all over it: Thats che point, Now: Tall me about your 16 class, How would you characterize the condition of 8-82 SISTER JAMES. I dont know where co begin. Whar do you want ro know? SISTER ALOYSIUS. Lec’ bogin with Stephen Ino SISTER JAMES. Stephen Inzio has the highest marks in the elas. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Noreen Horan? SISTER JAMES. Second highest mars. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Brenda MeNulty? SISTER JAMES. Third highese, SISTER ALOYSIUS. You sce lam making a pone, Sister James. T know that Stephen Insio, Noreen Horan and Brenda McNulty are one, two and three in your class. Schoolwide, there are forty tight such students each grade period. I make it my business to [know all fory-cight oftheir names. I do not say this to aggrandize _mysel, but to illustrate the importance of paying attention, You ‘must pay atencion as wll SISTER JAMES. Yes, Sister Aloysias. SISTER ALOYSIUS. I cannor be ovepwhers. SISTER JAMES. Am [falling shore, Site? SISTER ALOYSIUS. These thee stadents withthe highest marks [Ae they the most intelligent children in your clas? SISTER JAMES. No, I wouldne say they are. But they work the hardes. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Very good! Thats right! That the ethic ‘What good gfe ifs lef in the box? What good i a high 1Q if youre staring out che window with your mouth agape? Be hard on the bright ones, Sister James. Dont be charmed by cleverness, Not theits. And not yours. think you area competent teacher, Sister James, but maybe not our best teacher, The bes esachers do not perform, they cause the students o perform SISTER JAMES. Do T perform? SISTER ALOYSIUS. Avafon a Broadway stage SISTER JAMES. Oh dear I had no conception! SISTER ALOYSIUS. Youte showing off. You like ra sce yourself ten fee ell in their eyes Another thing accurs to me. Where were you before? * SISTER JAMES. Moune Se, Margaret’ SISTER ALOYSIUS. all git SISTER JAMES. Yes SISTER ALOYSIUS. I fel T mus remind you, Boys are made of| ‘gravel, soor and tar paper. Boys ae a different brced v SISTER JAMES, [fs haow howto hale them. SISTER ALOYSIUS, Bur pvaps yu ate wrong. And perhaps ou ae not working hard enough SISTERJAMES. Oh, (Sizer Jamar erie tine) SISTER ALOYSIUS. No tors ISTER JAMES. I thought you were sted wih me SISTER ALOYSIUS. Srsfction ia i, Do you ave «hard kere? SISTER JAMES, Yes SISTER ALOYSIUS. Use to yo chink ha Socrates was at ie? Good eachor ate acer coment. We have some thee hun ted and weveny-svo stant inti schoal ev society which ‘eas constancelaatons opal and man vglance. ean focal! an excessive onaten instractor in my eighth grade thse Te selFindlgen Inocene ia form of nes Innocent teachers ae easly ded You us he ann Sir Jes SISTER JAMES. Ye Sine, SISTER ALOYSIUS. When Willam London get nosh, be slept: Do le ile Blood fale your gone Go give Jowta brain anda her The heart is wa, Bu our wis mae be Ue Lam shouldbe ighined to hie to you They shoul he tinconforablein your presence. ube they are SISTER JAMES. dont know Ive nee though abou i SISTER ALOYSIUS, The children should think you sce right throug she SISTER TAMES, Would thee a ie ghening? SISTER ALOYSIUS. Only ro the ones haar up 0 0 god SISTERJAMES, Bat wat my sudens fe thy me SISTER ALOYSIUS. “They children. They en ale ro ch other fs more importa she have ace moral guaran You Sta ar the door Sater, Yu te he gatekeeper Hy are ign they wll nox need re SISTER JAMES. Tin nr sue what you want me w do SISTER ALOYSIUS. And f thing otcurin your claro which You setserequteuerstanding, bur you dant undestan, come SISTER JAMES. Yes, Sister SISTER ALOYSIUS. ‘Thats why Tim here. ‘That’ why Tn che principal of this school, Do you stay when the speciale instructors SISTER JAMES. Yes, SISTER ALOYSIUS. Bur you're hete now while the Are clas is going on SISTER JAMES. 1 was lite concerned about Williams nos: SISTER ALOYSIUS. Right. So you have Are in cls. SISTER JAMES. She comes in, Mrs, Bell Yes SISTER ALOYSIUS. And you take chem down tothe basement Jor Dance with Mrs, Shields SISTER JAMES, On Thursdays SISTER ALOYSIUS. Another waste of time, SISTER JAMES, Oh, but everyone loves the Christmas pageant SISTER ALOYSIUS. T dont love ic. Frankly it offends me. Last year the gil playing Our Lady was wearing lipstick, Twas waiting fn the wings for tha Tile jade. SISTER JAMES, Then theres Musi SISTER ALOYSIUS. Thar strange woman with the portable piano. What's wrong with her neck? SISTER JAMES. Some kind of goiter. Poor woman, SISTER ALOYSIUS. Yes. Mrs, Carolyn, SISTER JAMES. ‘Thats right SISTER ALOYSIUS, We used eo have a Sister teaching that, Not enough Sisters. What else SISTER JAMES, Physical Education and Religion, SISTER ALOYSIUS. And for that we have Father Flynn. Two outs a week. And you stay for those? SISTER JAMES. Mostly: Unless] have report fill out or SISTER ALOYSIUS. ‘What do you think of Father Flynn? SISTER JAMES, Oh, he’ bilant man, What a speaker! ISTER ALOYSIUS. Ys. His sermon this past Sunday as poetic, ISTER JAMES, He’ acualy very good, to, at teaching base all was surprised. I wouldnt think a man of the cloth the per- sonality type for basketball, but he has a way he has, very natural with dribbling and shooting ISTER ALOYSIUS, What do you chink that sermon was about? SISTER JAMES. What? SISTER ALOYSIUS, This past Sunday. What was he talking about? SISTER JAMES, Well, Doube, He was talking abour Doubs SISTER ALOYSIUS. Why? SISTER JAMES, Fxeuse me, Sister? SISTER ALOYSIUS. Well sermons come from somewhere, dou ‘they? Is Father Flynn ia Doubs, is he concerned that someone else 19 isin Douber SISTER JAMES. 1 suppose youd have to ask him. SISTER ALOYSIUS. ‘No. That would not be appropriare, He is ‘ny superior And iThe were troubled, he should confess tw af love priest, or the monsignor. We da aot share intimate informa tion with priests. (A pause) SISTER JAMES. Tim a lide conceened. (Ser Alsi ean fr- seared) SISTER ALOYSIUS, About what? SISTER JAMES, The time. Are clas willbe over in fee minutes, T should go wp. SISTER ALOYSIUS. Have you nosiced anything Sister James? SISTER JAMES. About what? SISTER ALOYSIUS. I want you so be alr. SISTER JAMES. 1 doa' believe Tm following you, Sizer SISTER ALOYSIUS. I'm sory Tin not mote forzhrighe, but mas ‘be cael noc to create something by saying it.I can only say Lam concerned. perhaps needles, about matters in St. Nicholas School SISTER JAMES. Academical SISTER ALOYSIUS. I wasnt inviting guessing game. Lwant you co pay attention 0 your class SISTER JAMES. Well, of course I'll pay atention to my class Sister And I ry noe to perform, And Tl ery tobe les innocent Tm sorry you'e disappointed in me, Dleae know that [wiley my best. Hones. SISTER ALOYSIUS, Look at you. Yould tade anything for a svatm look Tm telling you here nd now | want wo se the starch jn your character cultivated. If you ae looking for reassurance, you can he fooled. Ifyou forget yourself and study others, you wil not be fooled. Ie important. One final mater and then you «eal mast get back, Sister Veronica i going blind. SISTER JAMES. Oh how horrible! SISTER ALOYSIUS. This is not generally known, and 1 don ‘want it knoven IFthey find out in the rectory, shell be gone. Lcan~ rot afford 0 lose her. Bue now if you se her making her way down those stone stats neo the courtyard, Fr the love of Heaven ight Iy take her hand asi Fellowship and see that she docsit destroy ets. Alright, go, o ‘THREE The lights crosfade to Father Flynn, while around his neck, ina sveauhirt and pas, holding a basketball FLYNN, Al sigh, ete down, boys. Now the hing abou shoot Jing from che foal ine 1s paychologel. There ofthe game youre cooperting with your mmc, yu competing against the cocher team But atthe ful line, is you agaist youre. And the dangers You stra shink, When you thik, you stop breathing Nout boy lcks up. So you have to remember 1o rn. Tike 8 treat, unlock your knect— ths ssomething for you to wach, Jimny. You tan like «puking meter. Come up with 3 routine of wha you do tf your weight move your hips. You think hats fanny, Ralph? Whats funny is you never geting 3 ful shot, Dorit wor fy lok aly They won think yout sl if you gt che Barker. Come up with aroun, concentrate on the routines and soul fongr to ge ened up, Now on another mater, Ive nosed evel of you gps have diy nal I dons wan ose tha, Ty not talking above the enh four ni naling about canines See! Look at my nail. Thoye long 1 like them Tile long, but Took ae how ean they ae That aks it okay, Tere was aK ize up with, Timmy Mathison, never had clean nail and hed Sick his fngess up his nose, in his mouth, —This fa true sony, ican co listen! He go spinal mening and ded a horrible deat Somsimes its th al thing hat get you, You ty collec gil with those Flhy paws, Me. Conroy ses gonna ke of like shes being chanel by the Red Chinese! (esting genial to eter) A ‘ght all phe. You guys, whar am I gonna do with you? Ger

You might also like