Requiem for a Nun

REQUIEM FOR A NUN 283

Nancy.

(Nancy looks at her)

I'm sorry. Why do you force me to this-hitting and screaming at you, when

you have always been so good to my children and me-my husband too-all of

us-trying to hold us together in a household, a family, that anybody

should have known all the time couldn't possibly hold together? even in

decency, let alone happiness?

NANCY

I reckon I'm ignorant. I dont know that yet. Besides, I aint talking about

any household or happiness neither-

TEMPLE

(with sharp command) Nancyl

NANCY

-I'm talking about two little children-

TEMPLE

I said, hush.

NANCY

I cant hush. I'm going to ask you one more time. Are you going to do it?

TEMPLE

Yes!

NANCY

Maybe I am ignorant. You got to say it out in words yourself, so I can

hear them. Say, I'm going to do it.

TEMPLE

You heard me. I'm going to do it.

NANCY

Money or no money.

TEMPLE

Money or no money.

NANCY

Children or no children.

(Temple doesn't answer)

To leave one with a man that's willing to believe the child aint got no

father, willing to take the other one to a man that dont even want no

children-

(They stare at one another) If you can do it, you can say

it.