breakinglight11 | 31 Plays in 31 Days: #25

This is another attempt at a rewrite of a scene previously written for Sally and Deadeye, based on the backstory of The Stand. This one comes just before piece #3 for the month, and is extremely spoilery for The Stand if you have not played.

Day #25 - “Most in Need”

FLORA JOHANSSON, formerly an outlaw
SISTER ESME, a nun at the convent
~~~

FLORA: You needn’t do anything for me.

SISTER ESME: Nonsense. It’s our duty. You look like you’ve not eaten in days.

FLORA: Well… it’s been rough.

SISTER ESME: It’s our business to comfort folks in a bad way.

FLORA: That’s real good of you, marm. But you don’t got the whole story. I ain’t your sort.

SISTER ESME: What sort’s that?

FLORA: The sort you want about here. I done things. Bad things.

SISTER ESME: In my time, miss I found that them’s the folks most in need of a little pity.

(Pause.)

FLORA: It ain’t just that, though.

SISTER ESME: Yes?

FLORA: You see, marm… it ain’t just me. There’s somebody else too.

SISTER ESME: Who?

(FLORA looks away and lays her hands across her stomach.)

SISTER ESME: I see.

FLORA: Hasn’t got a daddy. Hasn’t… got anybody. So you don't want nothing to do with me.

SISTER ESME: Miss, that’s the sort we’re concerned with most. Always room for one more lost soul.

FLORA: I ain’t even Catholic.

SISTER ESME: It’s not safe for a little one out there.

(Pause.)

FLORA: Just… just for a spell, then.

(The sister extends her arm to show FLORA the way. FLORA hesitates a moment, then scurries off stage right. The sister follows after.)