Requiem for a Nun

274 WILLIAM FAULKNER

after she had discovered that, although Temple had taken the money and

the jewels too from her husband's strongbox, she-Temple-still hadn't

paid them over to the blackmailer and got the letters, that the payment

of the money and jewels was less than half of Temple's plan.

The lights go completely out. The stage is in complete darkness. Stevens'

voice continues.

That was when Nancy in her turn found where Temple had hidden the money

and jewels, and-Nancytook them in her turn and hid them from Temple;

this was the night of the day Gowan left for a week's fishing at

Aransas Pass, taking the older child, the boy, with him, to leave the

child for a week's visit with his grandparents in New Orleans until

Gowan would pick them up on his way home from Texas. (to Temple: in the

darkness) Now tell him.

The stage is in complete darkness.

Scene Two

Interior, Temple's private sitting- or dressing-room. 9:30 P.M. June

thirteenth ante.

The lights go up, lower right, as in Act One in the transition from the

Court room to the Stevens living room, though instead of the living room,

the scene is now Temple's private apartment. A door, left, enters from the

house proper. A door, right, leads into the nursery where the child is

asleep in its crib. At rear, french windows open onto a terrace; this is

a private entrance to the house itself from outdoors. At left, a closet

door stands open. Garments are scattered over the floor about it,

indicating that the closet has been searched, not hurriedly so much as

savagely and ruthlessly and thoroughly. At right, is a fireplace of gas

logs. A desk against the rear wall is open and shows traces of the same

savage and ruthless search. A table, center, bears Temple's hat, gloves

and bag, also a bag such as is associated with infants; two bags, obvi-

ously Temple's, are packed and closed and sit on the floor beside the

table. The whole room indicates Temple's imminent departure, and that

something has been vainly yet savagely