Requiem for a Nun

REQUIEM FOR A NUN 335

He passes her and goes briskly on toward the alcove at rear. Nancy turns

to follow.

TEMPLE

(quickly) Nancy.

(Nancy doesn't pause. Temple continues, rapidly)

What about me? Even if there is one and somebody waiting in it to

forgive me, there's still tomorrow and tomorrow. And suppose tomorrow

and tomorrow, and then nobody there, nobody waiting to forgive me-

NANCY

(moving on after the Jailor) Believe.

TEMPLE

Believe what, Nancy? Tell me.

NANCY

Believe.

She exits into the alcove behind the Jailor. The steel door off-stage

clangs, the key clashes. Then the Jailor reappears, approaches, and

crosses toward the exit. He unlocks the door and opens it out again,

pauses.

JAILOR

Yes, sir. A long hard way. If I was ever fool enough to commit a

killing that would get my neck into a noose, the last thing I would

want to see would be a preacher. I'd a heap rather believe there

wasn't nothing after death than to risk the station where I was

probably going to get off.

(he waits, holding the door, looking back at them. Temple

stands motionless until Stevens touches her arm slightly.

Then she moves, stumbles slightly and infinitesimally, so

infinitesimally and so quickly recovered that the Jailor

has barely time to react to it, though he does so: with

quick concern, with that quality about him almost gentle,

almost articulate, turning from the door, even leaving it

open as he starts quickly toward her)