Requiem for a Nun

336 WILLIAM FAULKNER

Here; you set down on the bench; I'll get you a glass of water.

(to Stevens)

Durn it, Lawyer, why did you have to bring her-

TEMPLE

(recovered) I'm all right. She walks steadily toward the

door. The Jailor watches her.

JAILOR

You sure?

TEMPLE

(walking steadily and rapidly

toward him and the door now) Yes. Sure.

JAILOR

(turning back toward the door) Okay. I sure dont blame

you. Durned if I see how even a murdering nigger can

stand this smell.

He passes on out the door and exits, invisible though still hold

ing the door and waiting to lock it.

Temple, followed by Stevens, approaches the door.

JAILOR'S VOICE

(off-stage: surprised) Howdy. Gowan, here's your wife

now.

TEMPLE

(walking) Anyone to save it. Anyone who wants it. If

there is none, I'm sunk. We all are. Doomed. Damned.

STEVENS

(walking) Of course we are. Hasn't He been telling us

that for going on two thousand years?

GOWAN'S VOICE

(off-stage) Temple.

TEMPLE Coming. They exit. The door closes in, clashes, the

clash and clang of the key as the Jailor locks it again; the

three pairs of footsteps sound and begin to fade in the outer

corridor.

Curtain