Requiem for a Nun

222 WILLIAM FAULKNER

TEMPLE

All right. Let's for God's sake stop.

(goes to a chair)

Now that I'm here, no matter whose fault it was, what do you want? A

drink? Will you drink? At least, put your coat and hat down.

STEVENS

I dont even know yet. That's why you came back-

TEMPLE

(interrupts)

I came back? It wasn't I who--

STEVENS

(interrupts)

-who said, let's for God's sake stop.

They stare at each other: a moment.

TEMPLE

All right. Put down your coat and hat.

Stevens lays his hat and coat on a chair. Temple sits down. Stevens takes a

chair opposite, so that the sleeping child on the sofa is between them in

background.

TEMPLE

So Nancy must be saved. So you send for me, or you and Bucky between

you, or anyway here you are and here I am. Because apparently I know

something I haven't told yet, or maybe you know something I haven't told

yet. What do you think you know?

(quickly; he says nothing)

All right. What do you know?

STEVENS

Nothing. I dont want to know it. All I-

TEMPLE

Say that again.

STEVENS

Say what again?

TEMPLE

What is it you think you know?

STEVENS

Nothing. I-