Requiem for a Nun

228 WILLIAM FAULKNER

TEMPLE

And I told you that what you keep on harping at as truth has nothing to

do with this. When you go before the- What do you call this next

collection of trained lawyers? supreme court?-what you will need will be

facts, papers, documents, sworn to, incontrovertible, that no other

lawyer trained or untrained either can punch holes in, find any flaw in.

STEVENS

We're not going to the supreme court.

(she stares at him)

That's all finished. If that could have been done, would have sufficed,

I would have thought of that, attended to that, four months ago. We're

going to the Governor. Tonight.

TEMPLE

The Governor?

STEVENS

Perhaps he wont save her either. He probably wont.

TEMPLE

Then why ask him? Why?

STEVENS

I've told you. Truth.

TEMPLE

(in quiet amazement)

For no more than that. For no better reason than that. Just to get it

told, breathed aloud, into words, sound. Just to be heard by, told to,

someone, anyone, any stranger none of whose business it is, can possibly

be, simply because he is capable of hearing, comprehending it. Why blink

your own rhetoric? Why dont you go and tell me it's for the good of my

soul-if I have one?

STEVENS

I did. I said, so you can sleep at night.

TEMPLE

And I told you I forgot six years ago even what it was to miss the

sleep.

She stares at him. He doesn't answer, looking at her. Still watching him,

she reaches her hand to the table, toward the cigarette box, then stops, is

motionless, her hand suspended, staring at him.