Requiem for a Nun

REQUIEM FOR A NUN 327

No, thanks. My hide's toughened now. I hardly feel it. People. They're

really innately, inherently gentle and compassionate and kind. That's

what wrings, wrenches . . . something. Your entrails, maybe. The

member of the mob who holds up the whole ceremony for seconds or even

minutes while he dislodges a family of bugs or lizards from the log

he is about to put on the fire-

(there is the clash of another steel door off-stage as the

Jailor unlocks Nancy's cell. Temple pauses, turns and

listens, then continues rapidly)

And now I've got to say 'I forgive you, sister' to the nigger who

murdered my baby. No: it's worse: I've even got to transpose it, turn

it around. I've got to start off my new life being forgiven again. How

can I say that? Tell me. How can I?

She stops again and turns farther as Nancy enters from the rear alcove,

followed by the Jailor, who passes Nancy and comes on, carrying the ring

of keys once more like a farmer's lantern.

JAILOR

(to Stevens)

Okay, Lawyer. How much,time you want? Thirty minutes? an hour?

STEVENS

Thirty minutes should be enough.

JAILOR

(still moving toward the exit, left)

Okay.

(to Temple)

You sure you dont want that coffee or a Coca-Cola.? I could bring you

up a rocking chair-

TEMPLE

Thank you just the same, Mr Tubbs.

JAILOR

Okay.

(at the exit door, unlocking it) Thirty minutes, then.

He unlocks the door, opens it, exits, closes and locks it behind him; the

lock clashes, his footsteps die away. Nancy has slowed and stopped where

the Jailor passed her; she now stands about six feet to the rear of Temple

and Stevens. Her face is calm,