Requiem for a Nun

208 WILLIAM FAULKNER

TEMPLE

(takes cigarette from box on the table: mimics the prisoner; her

voice, harsh, reveals for the first time repressed, controlled, hys-

teria) Yes, God. Guilty, God. Thank you, God. If that's your attitude

toward being hung, what else can you expect from a judge and jury

except to accommodate you?

COWAN

Stop it, Boots. Hush now. Soon as I light the fire, I'll buy a drink.

(to Stevens)

Or maybe Gavin will do the fire while I do the butler.

TEMPLE

(takes up lighter)

I'll do the fire. You get the drinks. Then Uncle Gavin won't have to

stay. After all, all he wants to do is say good-bye and send me a

postcard. He can almost do that in two words, if he tries hard, Then

he can go home.

She crosses to the hearth and kneels and turns the gas valve, the lighter

ready in her other hand.

GOWAN

(anxiously) Now, Boots.

TEMPLE

(snaps lighter, holds flame to the

jet)

Will you for God's sake please get me a drink?

GOWAN

Sure, honey.

(he turns: to Stevens) Drop your coat anywhere.

He exits into the dining-room. Stevens does not move, watching Temple as

the log takes fire.

TEMPLE

(still kneeling, her back to Stevens) If you're going to stay, why

dont you sit down? Or vice versa. Backward. Only, it's the first one

that's