Jimmy? Come on. You're serving today.
WARREN: Christine? Where's my pants?
On the bed. If they had teeth they wouId've bit you.
Jimmy! Go to the store, buy me the newspaper and cigarettes.
Can't. Serving mass. I'm an aItar boy.
-Hey, Kevin! -Hey, Jimmy!
(ORGAN PLAYING HOLY GOD, WE PRAISE THY NAME)
-There you are. -OversIept.
WeII, you made it. I'II do the cruets if you Iight the charcoaI.
You think I'm fat?
You're aII right. What? CIothes don't fit?
No, they fit.
You're gonna be going to the bakery after mass.
I am? Why don't you go?
I'm gonna be making breakfast.
I can make breakfast.
(SCOFFS ) When have you ever?
(CHUCKLES ) Funny man.
-MAN: Good morning, Connie. -Good morning.
CHOIR: (SINGING ) Holy God, we praise thy name
Good morning, Father.
Lord of all, we bow before thee
All on Earth thy scepter claim
All in heaven above adore thee
(ALL CHATTERING )
Infinite thy vast domain
Everlasting is thy reign
Infinite thy vast domain
Everlasting is thy reign
FLYNN: Be seated.
What do you do when you're not sure?
That's the topic of my sermon today.
Last year when President Kennedy was assassinated,
who among us did not experience the most profound disorientation?
Despair?
Which way? What now?
What do I say to my kids? What do I tell myself?
It was a time of people sitting together,
bound together by a common feeling of hopelessness.
But think of that.
Your bond with your fellow being was your despair.
It was a public experience. It was awful,
but we were in it together.
How much worse is it then for the lone man, the lone woman,
stricken by a private calamity?
''No one knows I'm sick. '' ''No one knows I've lost my last real friend. ''
''No one knows I've done something wrong. ''
Imagine the isolation.
Now you see the world as through a window.
On one side of the glass, happy untroubled people,
and on the other side, you.
(SNEEZING )
-God bIess you, Sister. -Thank you.
I wanna tell you a story.
A cargo ship sank one night. It caught fire and went down,
and only this one sailor survived.
He found a lifeboat, rigged a sail,
and being of a nautical discipline
turned his eyes to the heavens and read the stars.
He set a course for his home, and, exhausted, fell asleep.
WILLIAM: Just keeps going on.
Clouds rolled in,
and for the next 20 nights, he could no longer see the stars.
He thought he was on course, but there was no way to be certain.
And as the days rolled on, and the sailor wasted away,
he began to have doubts.
-He just keeps on going. -Had he set his course right?
Was he still going on towards his home?
Or was he horribly lost and doomed to a terrible death?
No way to know.
The message of the constellations,
had he imagined it because of his desperate circumstance?
-Or had he seen truth once... -Straighten up!
...and now had to hold on to it without further reassurance?
There are those of you in church today
who know exactly the crisis of faith I describe,
and I wanna say to you,
doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.
When you are lost, you are not alone.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
(ORGAN PLAYS PRAISE GOD, FRO M WHO M ALL BLESSIN GS FLOW)
Please rise.
CHOIR: (SINGING ) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here...
(WATER RUNNING )
(BELL TOLLING )
-Hey, Father. -Hey, champ.
That was some sermon.
Did it mean something to you?
I wanna do that. I wanna be a priest.
You'd be a good one, I'm sure. Here.
Take a Iook.
See?
(FLYNN HUMMING )
-She's dancing. Kind of neat? -Yeah.
Here. You try.
(BOTH CHUCKLING )
That's for you. Take it.
-Thank you, Father. -WeIcome.
(BELL RINGING )
(ALL CHATTERING )
Like Noah's Ark, girIs. Two by two.
GIRL 1 : Maryanne said it. GIRL 2: Let's do it together.
GIRL 3: Okay. GIRL 1 : Yeah. It's true.
GIRL 4: And did I teII you that Jessica's having a sIeepover on Saturday?
FLYNN: Morning, Sister James.
Good morning, Father FIynn. BeautifuI day.
Not too bad. How're the criminaIs doing today?
-Not bad, Father. -Good, Father.
-Morning, champ. -Morning, Father FIynn.
You wash those hands today, Mr. London?
I washed them, Father.
I don't know. They're a different coIor than your neck.
(CHILDREN LAUGHING )
FLYNN: Morning. CHILDREN: Morning, Father FIynn.
-Sister, are we having the test today? -FLYNN: Get in Iine.
Tomorrow, WiIIiam.
-Is it Iong division? -Among other things.
-RAYMOND: Sister. -Good morning, Sister.
-How much of it wiII be Iong division? -ALO YSIUS: Boy!
WiIIiam London. Come up here.
Come smartIy, now. Don't make me wait.
GIRL 1 : What did he do? GIRL 2: He touched Sister James.
The dragon is hungry.
GIRL 2: You don't touch a nun.
(ALL CHATTERING )
Take out your history books, pIease. Turn to page 683.
-Yes, RaIph. -I forgot my history book.
You can Iook on with Raymond.
Mr. London?
-Do you have your history book? -No, Sister.
-Share with Mr. MaIIoy, pIease. -Do I have to? His breath stinks!
(STUDENTS LAUGHING )
I'm sure Mr. MaIIoy's breath is just fine.
ALO YSIUS: Be seated.
FrankIin DeIano RooseveIt was the 32nd president of the United States.
That barrette out of your hair, Miss Horan.
Yes, Sister.
ALO YSIUS: Morning, Sister James. Continue.
FrankIin D. RooseveIt, together with
Abraham LincoIn and John FitzgeraId Kennedy,
was perhaps our greatest president. When he assumed office,
1 3 miIIion peopIe in this country were unempIoyed.
They'd Iost hope,
and President RooseveIt said to these peopIe,
''The onIy thing we have to fear is fear itseIf.''
What did he mean by that? James?
I think he was trying to say there's nothing reaIIy wrong.
-You know? So don't get so emotionaI. -JAMES: Maybe.
Maybe he was saying that the worId is good
and we need onIy work together to overcome our probIems.
ALO YSIUS: What's this, Mr. Conroy?
(MAN CHA TTERIN G ON RADIO )
I don't know, Sister.
You don't know you have a wire coming out of your ear?
-No. -Huh?
Huh?
No, Sister. I didn't.
You come with me, boy.
Go.
Who knows what the New DeaI was?
ALL: (SINGING ) The first noel
The angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
I Iove this song.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
(SMALL BELL RINGING )
This past Sunday, what do you think that sermon was about? Sister James?
Huh?
What was Father FIynn's sermon about?
WeII, doubt. He was taIking about doubt.
-Why? -Excuse me, Sister?
WeII, sermons come from somewhere, don't they?
Is Father FIynn in doubt?
Is he concerned that someone eIse is in doubt?
I suppose you'd have to ask him.
No, that wouId not be appropriate.
He is my superior,
and if he were troubIed he shouId confess it to a feIIow priest
or to the monsignor.
We do not share intimate information with priests.
-No. -That's true.
What are we saying?
I want you aII to be aIert.
I am concerned, perhaps needIessIy, about matters in St. NichoIas SchooI.
AcademicaIIy?
I was not inviting a guessing game, Sister Raymond.
(WIND BLOWING )
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING )
(ALL CHATTERING )
Missy! Get away from her, and sit down.
-May I join you, Sister AIoysius? -Yes.
-Chicken chow mein. -Sister Veronica's favorite.
It's very good.
I Iike the noodIes. I Iike the crunch.
-What happened to WiIIiam London? -I sent him home.
-Oh, dear. So he's stiII bIeeding? -Yes.
His nose just Iet Ioose
and started gushing during the PIedge of AIIegiance.
Was it spontaneous?
-What? -His nosebIeed.
-What eIse wouId it be? -SeIf-induced.
VERONICA: Mmm-hmm.
You mean you think
he might have intentionaIIy given himseIf a nosebIeed?
ExactIy.
No.
You are a very innocent person, Sister James.
WiIIiam London is a fidgety boy.
If you do not keep right on him, he wiII do anything to escape his chair.
He wouId set his foot on fire for haIf a day out of schooI.
Here. Sister, aIIow me to heIp you. Your sIeeve.
TERESA: Uh-oh.
-Let's see. -Oh, thank you, Sister.
-Sister Veronica is going bIind. -Oh, how horribIe.
If they find out in the rectory, she'II be gone.
So if she Iooks unsteady, take her hand.
OrdinariIy I assign my most experienced teachers to eighth grade,
but I am working within constraints.
-Are you in controI of your cIass? -I think so.
UsuaIIy more students are sent down to me.
I try to take care of things myseIf.
That can be an error.
You are answerabIe to me, I to the monsignor,
he to the bishop, and so on up to the HoIy Father.
There is a chain. Make use of it.
Candy?
Cough drops.
Candy by another name.
How is DonaId MiIIer doing?
-Steady. -Good.
That girI, Noreen Horan.
I've seated her as far away from the boys as possibIe.
-Doesn't do much good. -Mmm.
Just get her through intact.
What's this?
(SIGHING )
The wind is so peripatetic this year.
-Is that the word I want? -JAMES: Is something the matter?
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING )
ALO YSIUS: What?
JAMES: Is something the matter? ALO YSIUS: No.
-Why? Is something the matter? -I don't think so.
-WeII, then, nothing's the matter then. -Yes.
-What's this? -A pen.
A baIIpoint pen.
The students are not using them for assignments, I hope.
No, of course not.
I am sorry I aIIowed even cartridge pens into this schooI.
AIways easy way out, these days.
(ALO YSIUS SIGHS )
Every easy choice today wiII have its consequence tomorrow.
-Mark my words. -Yes, Sister.
BaIIpoints make them press down.
When they press down, they write Iike monkeys.
-I don't aIIow them baIIpoint pens. -And yet here one is.
Penmanship is dying aII across this country.
I hope not.
You shouId frame something.
Put it up on the bIackboard. Put the pope up.
That's the wrong pope. He's deceased.
I don't care what pope it is. Use the gIass to see behind you.
ChiIdren shouId think you have eyes in the back of your head.
WouIdn't that be a IittIe frightening?
OnIy to the ones who are up to no good.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING )
FLYNN: ReIax. Put it up there.
AII right, now.
The thing about shooting from the fouI Iine is it's psychoIogicaI.
AII right, come up with a routine.
You shift your weight, move your hips...
(BO YS LAUGHING )
Yeah, you think that's funny, RaIph?
You know what's funny is you never getting a fouI shot.
(BO YS LAUGHING )
AII right, concentrate on the routine, and you'II forget to get tensed up.
AII right, go ahead, Jimmy.
(SWISHING )
Good man. You Iisten. That's good. AII right, now sit down, everyone.
Good.
On another matter, I've noticed severaI of you guys got dirty naiIs.
AII right, I don't want to see that.
I'm not taIking about the Iength of your naiIs.
I'm taIking about cIeanIiness.
See, Iook at my naiIs.
-AII right, they're Iong. -Whoa!
Yeah, I Iike them a IittIe Iong, but Iook at how cIean they are.
That makes it okay.
FLYNN: The cIimpity-cIomp. CIomp-cIomp-cIomp.
Harder than a herd of eIephants.
You are wicked!
No, I toId her, ''You're her mother.
''You raised her. You fed her. You teII her she's fat.''
But wait, how fat is she?
-What, the mother or the daughter? -The daughter.
I never met the daughter.
-What about the mother? -Fat.
(BELLS JINGLING )
(FLYNN PRAYING IN LATIN)
(BELL TOLLING )
Father, we having practice after schooI?
If you guys want it, we can have it. Let me know.
JAMES: The Fascist governments of Germany and ItaIy
were aIready working together.
They formed the Pact of SteeI.
The Pact of SteeI was...
-Hi. -Hi.
...a miIitary aIIiance between Benito MussoIini and AdoIf HitIer.
Mr. London, get back in your seat and stop bothering Miss Horan, pIease.
Now, who can teII me...
(PHONE BUZZING )
Yes?
Yes. Of course, Father.
DonaId? You shouId go to the rectory.
(BLAME IT ON THE BOSSA NO VA PLAYING )
Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eIeven.
Go one, two, three, touch. One, two, three, kick.
And back, side, front, kick. Back, side, front. Again.
( SIN GIN G) We began to dance
Swaying to and fro
And soon I knew I'd never let him go
-Raymond, what are you doing? -The mashed potato.
You're supposed to be doing the bossa nova.
-But I know the mashed potato. -(LAUGHS ) Oh...
MRS. SHIELDS: AII right, now foIIow. Back, side, front, kick.
Back, side... One, two, three, kick.
Back, side, front, kick. Back, side, front...
(LOCKER DOOR OPENING )
Let me get in front of you so that you can see what I'm doing.
And one, two, three, touch.
One, two, three, kick.
Back, side, front, kick. Back, side, front...
Okay. This is reaIIy good. Very good there.
Now I'm glad to say
I'm his bride to be
And we're gonna raise a family
(STUDENTS CHATTERING )
-JAMES: DonaId, are you feeIing iII? -No.
-Are you sure? -Yes.
-Are you aII right? -I just want to go home.
-Good afternoon, Sister. -Good afternoon, Sister James.
Sister, can I speak with you about DonaId MiIIer?
ALO YSIUS: Is he being accepted? JAMES: He has no friends.
ALO YSIUS: That wouId be a Iot to expect after onIy two months.
-Has anyone hit him? -No.
Someone wiII.
And when that happens, send them right down to me.
I'm not so sure anyone wiII.
This parish serves Irish and ItaIian famiIies.
Someone wiII hit DonaId MiIIer.
He has a protector.
Who?
Father FIynn.
What?
He's taken an interest.
I toId you to come to me, but I hoped you never wouId.
Maybe I shouIdn't have.
(SIGHING )
So, it's happened.
What? Oh, no. I'm not teIIing you that. I'm not even certain what you mean.
Oh, excuse me there, Sisters.
No bother. We're done here. Come, Sister.
What have you seen?
It is unsettIing to Iook at peopIe with suspicion.
I feeI Iess cIose to God.
When you take a step to address wrongdoing,
you are taking a step away from God, but in his service.
What have you seen?
Good afternoon, Sisters.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Carson. Why the cat?
'Cause there's a mouse. Want some tea?
If you don't want to dance with her, don't dance with her.
-WeII, is it wrong? -No.
But what if the girI turns you down?
(BO YS LAUGHING )
AII right, you have the right to ask a girI to dance.
AII right, she has the right to turn you down.
The trick is, don't take it to heart.
What if they aII turn you down?
WeII, then you become a priest.
(BO YS LAUGHING )
(FLYNN CHUCKLING )
AII right, next question.
What have you seen?
He caIIed DonaId MiIIer to the rectory.
-What for? -A taIk.
-AIone? -Yes.
-When? -A week ago during cIass.
Why didn't you teII me?
I didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Of aII the chiIdren, DonaId MiIIer.
I suppose it makes sense.
-How does it make sense? -He's isoIated.
-I don't know that anything is wrong. -Our first Negro student.
I thought there wouId be fighting. Thought we...
A parent or two to deaI with.
I shouId have foreseen this possibiIity.
How couId you imagine it?
WeII, it's my job to outshine the fox in cIeverness.
-That is my job. -But maybe it's nothing.
(ALO YSIUS SIGHING )
Then why do you Iook Iike you've seen the deviI?
It's just the way the boy acted when he came back to cIass.
-He said something? -No, it was his expression.
He Iooked frightened.
And he put his head on the desk in the most pecuIiar way, and...
And one other thing, I think there was aIcohoI on his breath.
There was aIcohoI on his breath.
(JAMES SNIFFLING )
(PATTING )
Years ago at Saint Boniface there was a priest.
But I had Father ScuIIy then.
Here, there's no man I can go to. Men run everything.
We are going to have to stop him ourseIves.
There we go. She got him. Takes a cat.
ALO YSIUS: Yes, it does.
Yes, it does.
(ALL CHATTERING )
(RAINING HEAVILY)
This toweI wiII never be dead white again.
Yes, it wiII.
RAYMOND: Mrs. Carson. VERONICA: I'm fine.
-What happened? -There's a branch down.
-Are you aII right, Sister? -RAYMOND: She didn't see it.
Fine. Just bushwhacked. No need for a fuss.
You just go Iie down. I'II bring you some tea.
MRS. CARSON: Come with me. VERONICA: I just...
-RAYMOND: I'II get you a compress. -I did not faiI to see it.
-MR. McGUINN: Hello? Yes, Sister. -Mr. McGuinn.
CouId you Iook in on the courtyard? I've got branches faIIing.
-What has? -A branch has!
Watch your step here, Sister. I'II cut it up.
The worId is crashing, MichaeI.
I haven't heard a wind Iike that since I Ieft MuIIingar.
I've never known a wind Iike it. The wind has changed.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING )
What are you doing out here, Conroy?
I taIked in cIass, Father.
(FLYNN SIGHING )
Waiting for Sister AIoysius.
-She know you're here? -She knows.
Good morning, Father FIynn. Good of you to come by.
Morning, Sister AIoysius. How are you today?
I'm very weII, thank you.
-Mr. Conroy. -Yes, Sister.
Mr. Transistor Radio.
(SIGHS )
MuItipIication tabIe, 1 0 times, in its totaIity,
deIivered to me tomorrow morning.
LegibIe, boy.
(SIGHS )
Return to cIass. Go. Go, go.
I'd invite you in, but we're just short Sister James.
-Hear that wind Iast night? -I certainIy did.
Oh.
Did I hear Sister Veronica had an accident?
Yeah. Sister Veronica feII, practicaIIy kiIIed herseIf.
-Is she aII right? -Oh, she's fine.
-Her sight isn't good, is it? -Her sight is fine. Nuns faII, you know.
Nah, I didn't know that.
It's the habit. It catches us up more often than not.
(CHUCKLES )
FLYNN: Hmm.
We go down Iike dominoes.
-Am I past the time? -Not at aII.
Good morning, Father. Good morning, Sister.
I'm sorry I was deIayed.
-I ran into Sister Veronica. -How is she?
I'm afraid she has a bit of a bIoody nose.
I'm beginning to think you're punching peopIe.
Sister?
First, WiIIiam London and now...
-Never mind. WeII, come in, pIease. -Sister.
PIease. Sit. Have a seat.
I actuaIIy have a hot pot of tea.
And cIose this, but not quite for form's sake.
Father, wouId you care for a...
-WouId you have a cup of tea, Father? -I'd Iove a cup of tea.
-Sister, perhaps you couId serve him. -I'd be gIad.
And yourseIf, of course.
WouId you Iike a cup of tea, Sister AIoysius?
No, I've aIready had my cup.
-Is there sugar? -Sugar?
Yes, yes. Somewhere here.
I put it in the drawer for Lent Iast year. Never remembered to take it out.
It mustn't have been much to give up, then.
(ALO YSIUS CHUCKLES )
(FLYNN CHUCKLES )
ALO YSIUS: I'm sure you're right. Here it is.
I'II serve you, aIthough for want of practice I'm a IittIe cIumsy.
-I see your fingernaiIs. -Wear them a IittIe Iong.
-The sugar? -Yes. One?
Three.
-Three? -Sweet tooth.
Two. Three.
-Sister, you care for sugar? -Never.
Not that there's anything wrong with sugar.
WeII, thank you, Father, for making time for us.
We are at our wit's end.
I think it's an exceIIent idea to rethink the Christmas pageant,
'cause Iast year's effort was a IittIe woebegone.
Oh, I Ioved it, but I Iove aII pageants. The hymns.
O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, O Come...
ALO YSIUS: AII right. Thank you, Sister James.
So what do you think, Father?
(CLEARS THROAT) Is there something new we couId do?
WeII, we aII Iove the Christmas hymns,
but it might be joIIy to incIude a secuIar song.
-SecuIar? -Yes.
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Something Iike that.
What wouId be the point of a secuIar song?
Just fun.
-Or Frosty the Snowman. -FLYNN: That's a good one.
We couId have one of the boys dress up as a snowman, dance around.
Which boy?
We'd do tryouts.
Frosty the Snowman espouses a pagan beIief in magic.
The snowman comes to Iife when an enchanted hat is put on his head.
If the music were more somber,
peopIe wouId reaIize the images are disturbing and the song hereticaI.
I never thought about Frosty the Snowman Iike that.
It shouId be banned from the airwaves.
So, not Frosty the Snowman.
Oh, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas wouId be fine, I suppose.
Parents wouId Iike it.
May I ask what you're writing down with that baIIpoint pen?
Oh, nothing. It's an idea for a sermon.
-Oh. You had one right now? -I get them aII the time.
How fortunate.
I forget them, so I have to write them down.
Oh.
What is the idea?
IntoIerance.
WouId you Iike a IittIe more tea, Father?
Not yet.
It's a new time, Sister.
-What's new about it? -Something inside of peopIe is new.
There is nothing new under the sun.
The Church needs to change.
We shouId sing a song from the radio now and then,
take the kids out for ice cream.
Sweet tooth.
And maybe take the boys on a camping trip.
The point being?
We shouId be friendIier.
You know, the chiIdren and the parents
shouId see us as members of their famiIy.
But we are not members of their famiIy. We're different.
-Why? Because of our vows? -PreciseIy.
I don't think we're so different.
You know, Sister, I wouId take some more tea.
And they think we're different, yeah?
The working...
The working cIass peopIe of this parish trust us to be different.
I think we're getting off the subject.
Yes, you're right. You're right. You're right. Back to it.
(PHONE BUZZING )
Yes?
Sister Raymond? Mmm.
WeII, you teII her to wash her face and her neck and report to me at 3:00.
Yeah.
Excuse me. The Christmas pageant.
(CLEARS THROAT) We must be carefuI
how DonaId MiIIer is used in the pageant.
-Easy there, Sister. -Father.
AII right, what about DonaId MiIIer?
We must be carefuI, in the pageant,
that we neither hide DonaId MiIIer nor put him forward.
-Because of the coIor of his skin? -That's right, yeah.
-Why? -Oh, come, Father.
I think he shouId be treated Iike every other boy.
WeII, you yourseIf singIed the boy out for speciaI attention.
You heId a private meeting with him at the rectory. A week ago?
Yes.
-What are we taIking about? -DonaId MiIIer.
The boy acted strangeIy when he returned to cIass.
He did?
When he returned from the rectory, a IittIe odd, yes.
Can you teII us why?
How did he act strangeIy?
He...
I'm not sure how to expIain it. He Iaid his head on the desk and...
Do you mean you had some impression?
Yes.
And he'd come from the rectory, so you're asking me?
Mmm. That's it.
FLYNN: Hmm.
ALO YSIUS: Mmm.
Mmm.
(CLEARING THROAT)
Did you want to discuss the pageant? Is that why I'm here?
Or is this what you wanted to discuss?
This.
WeII, I'm a IittIe uncomfortabIe.
-ALO YSIUS: Why? -Why do you think?
The boy's weII-being is my responsibiIity.
(PHONE RINGING )
His weII-being is not at issue.
ALO YSIUS: I'm not satisfied that that is true.
He was upset when he returned to cIass.
-Did he say something? -No.
What happened in the rectory?
(RINGING CONTINUES )
Happened?
Mmm.
Nothing happened. I had a taIk with the boy.
-What about? -Private matter.
He's 1 2 years oId. What couId be private?
(RINGING CONTINUES )
-ShouId I get... -ALO YSIUS: No.
I object to your tone.
This is not about my tone or your tone, Father FIynn.
-It's about arriving at the truth. -Of what?
You know what I'm taIking about, don't you? Hmm?
And you're controIIing the expression on your face right now, aren't you?
My face?
What exactIy are you accusing me of?
I'm not accusing you of anything, Father FIynn.
I am asking you to teII me what happened in the rectory.
I don't wish to continue this.
And if you're dissatisfied with that,
I suggest you speak to Monsignor Benedict.
I can onIy imagine this unfortunate behavior is the resuIt of overwork.
Have a good morning, Sister. Sister.
There was aIcohoI on his breath
when he returned from his meeting with you.
AIcohoI?
I did smeII it on his breath.
WeII?
-Let this aIone. -No.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING )
(STUDENTS CHATTERING )
Take your time, Father. WouId you Iike some more tea?
You shouId've Iet it aIone.
Not possibIe.
Mr. McGuinn caught DonaId drinking aItar wine.
When I found out, I sent for him. There were tears,
and he begged not to be removed from the aItar boys. I took pity on him.
I toId him if no one eIse found out, I'd Iet him stay on.
What a reIief. That expIains everything. Thanks be to God.
Look, Sister, it was aII a mistake.
And if I taIk to Mr. McGuinn?
TaIk to him, by aII means.
But now that the boy's secret's out,
I'm gonna have to remove him from the aItar boys.
That's what I was trying to avoid.
JAMES: You were trying to protect the boy.
That's right.
I might have done the same thing.
Is there a way DonaId couId stay on the aItar boys?
If the boy drank aItar wine, he can't continue as an aItar boy.
Of course.
Are you satisfied?
Yes.
Hmm.
WeII, I'II be going. I have some writing to do.
-ALO YSIUS: IntoIerance. -That's right.
I'm not pIeased with how you handIed this.
Sister. Sister.
WeII...
What a reIief. He cIeared it aII up.
You beIieve him?
Of course.
Isn't it that it's easier to beIieve him?
But we can corroborate his story with Mr. McGuinn.
Mmm-hmm.
Yes.
These types of peopIe are cIever.
-WeII, I'm convinced. -You're not.
You just want things to be resoIved so you can have simpIicity back.
I want no further part of this.
(SIGHING )
I'II bring him down.
How can you be so sure that he is Iying?
Experience.
You just don't Iike him.
You don't Iike it that he uses a baIIpoint pen.
You don't Iike it that he takes three Iumps of sugar in his tea.
You don't Iike it that he Iikes Frosty the Snowman,
and you are Ietting that convince you of something terribIe, just terribIe.
WeII, I Iike Frosty the Snowman!
And I think it wouId be nice if this schooI weren't run Iike a jaiI,
and I think it's a good thing that I Iove to teach history
and that I might inspire my students to Iove it, too.
And if you judge that to mean that I am not fit to be a teacher,
then so be it!
Sit down.
(LIGHT BULB BLOWS OUT)
Look at that. You bIew out my Iight.
In ancient Sparta, important matters were decided by who shouted Ioudest.
FortunateIy, we are not in ancient Sparta.
You honestIy find the students in this schooI
to be treated Iike inmates in a prison?
No.
ActuaIIy, they aII seem fairIy happy, but they're aII uniformIy terrified of you.
Yes. That's how it works.
Sit there.
(DIALING )
(SIGHING )
HeIIo, this is Sister AIoysius Beauvier,
principaI at St. NichoIas SchooI. Is this Mrs. MiIIer?
I'm caIIing about your son, DonaId.
(THUNDER RUMBLING )
FLYNN: A woman was gossiping with a friend about a man she hardly knew.
I know none of you have ever done this.
(CONGREGATION CHUCKLING )
That night she had a dream.
A great hand appeared over her and pointed down at her.
She was immediately seized with an overwhelming sense of guilt.
The next day she went to confession.
She got the old parish priest, Father O'Rourke.
She told him the whole thing.
''Is gossiping a sin?'' she asked the old man.
''Was that the hand of God Almighty pointing a finger at me?
''Should I be asking your absolution, Father?
''Tell me, have I done something wrong?''
(IMITA TIN G IRISH ACCEN T) ''Yes. '' Father O'Rourke answered her.
''Yes, you ignorant, badly brought up female.
''You have borne false witness against your neighbor.
''You have played fast and loose with his reputation,
''and you should be heartily ashamed!''
So the woman said she was sorry and asked for forgiveness.
''Not so fast, '' says O'Rourke.
''I want you to go home. Take a pillow up on your roof,
''cut it open with a knife, and return here to me. ''
So the woman went home, took a pillow off her bed,
a knife from the drawer,
went up the fire escape to her roof and stabbed the pillow.
Then she went back to the old parish priest as instructed.
''Did you gut the pillow with a knife?'' he says.
''Yes, Father. '' ''And what was the result?''
''Feathers, '' she said.
''Feathers, '' he repeated.
''Feathers everywhere, Father. ''
''Now, I want you to go back
''and gather up every last feather that flew out on the wind. ''
''Well, '' she said, ''it can't be done.
''I don't know where they went. The wind took them all over. ''
''And that, '' said Father O'Rourke, ''is gossip!''
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Please rise.
(CROW CAWING )
What's that bird compIaining about?
What kind of bird is that?
That a starIing? A grackIe?
-A crow. -Course it is.
Are you praying? I didn't mean to interrupt.
I'm not praying. No.
You seem subdued.
Oh, I can't sIeep.
Why not?
Bad dreams.
Yeah, I can't sIeep on occasion.
Why? Do you see that big hand pointing a finger at you?
Yes. Sometimes.
Was your sermon directed at anyone in particuIar?
What do you think?
I received a Ietter from my brother in MaryIand.
He's very sick.
Then maybe you shouId go and see him.
I can't Ieave my cIass.
Is it true?
What?
You know what I'm asking.
No.
I saw you put an undershirt in DonaId MiIIer's Iocker.
-He Ieft it in the sacristy. -Why didn't you hand it to him?
(SIGHS )
I'm trying to spare him further embarrassment.
It's me that cares about that chiId, not her.
Has she ever reached out a hand?
That bIack boy needs heIp or he's not gonna make it.
If she has her way, he'II be Ieft to his own undoing.
Why do you think he drank the wine? He's in troubIe.
And she sees me taIk in a human way to these kids
and she immediateIy assumes that there must be something wrong with it.
WeII, I'm not gonna Iet her keep this parish in the Dark Ages,
and I'm not gonna Iet her destroy my spirit of compassion.
I'm sure that's not her intent.
-That I care about this congregation. -I know you do.
Like you care about your cIass. You Iove them, don't you?
-Yes. -And that's naturaI.
How eIse wouId you reIate to chiIdren?
Now, I can Iook at your face and know your phiIosophy.
It's kindness.
I don't know. I mean, of course.
There are peopIe who go after your humanity, Sister,
that teII you that the Iight in your heart is a weakness.
Don't beIieve it.
It's an oId tactic of crueI peopIe to kiII kindness in the name of virtue.
There's nothing wrong with Iove.
Love?
Have you forgotten the message of our Savior?
It's Iove of peopIe.
I just feeI as if everything is upside down.
(SIGHS )
There are just times in Iife when we feeI Iost. It happens.
And it's a bond.
-FIowers. -Yeah.
To remind me of spring.
I shouId be going.
(JAMES SNIFFLING )
I'm sorry your brother's iII.
Thank you, Father.
I don't beIieve it.
You don't?
No.
Thank you, Sister. Thank you very much.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING )
BO Y 1 : Hey, Anthony! BO Y 2: That's not funny.
BO Y 3: That's aIso the day that I tripped. I broke my ankIe.
GIRL: I bareIy...
Father. I think I've just gotta teII somebody.
-HeIIo, Noreen. -I'm in Iove.
That's wonderfuI. Who's the Iucky boy?
-Jimmy HurIey. -Have you toId him?
BO Y: For Iife and death, I'd go for waffIes.
Maybe you shouId.
Maybe I wiII, Father.
(FLYNN CHUCKLES )
NOREEN: Jimmy!
Jimmy HurIey?
Come over here!
BO Y: Hurry up, aIready!
Father Sherman.
NOREEN: Jimmy, I just gotta teII you something.
WILLIAM: You dropped something.
(STUDENTS LAUGHING )
GIRL: It's not funny.
BO Y: Get out of the way.
It's aII right.
GIRL 1 : He doesn't Iike me. GIRL 2: That is so easy!
GIRL 3: My parents are gonna be so angry at me.
( CHILDREN LAUGHIN G)
JAMES: Okay. Be quiet.
I said be quiet!
The next one of you that speaks out of turn gets sent right to the principaI.
Now the question was,
what was Patrick Henry's famous remark?
-DonaId. -Sister?
What was the question?
(BO Y WHISPERS ANSWER)
Nobody heIp him. Jimmy, put your hand down.
DonaId MiIIer, stand up.
-What was the question, DonaId? -I don't know, Sister.
It means you weren't Iistening.
Yes, Sister.
The question was, what was Patrick Henry's famous remark?
I don't know.
''Give me Iiberty or give me death!''
James HurIey, down to the principaI's office.
Now!
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(SIGHING )
-Mrs. MiIIer? -Yes.
Come in.
PIease, have a seat.
I was changing a buIb.
Thought I mighta had the wrong day. You didn't answer.
Huh?
Oh, weII, just between us,
I was Iistening to a transistor radio with an earpiece.
Look how tiny they're making them.
I confiscated it from one of the students,
now I can't stop Iistening to it.
You Iike music?
No. News reports.
Years ago I used to Iisten to aII the news reports,
because my husband was in ItaIy, in the war.
-You were a married woman? -Yes.
But then he was kiIIed.
Is your husband coming?
CouIdn't get off work. I onIy have haIf an hour myseIf.
I see. Of course. It was a Iot to ask.
How's DonaId doing?
He's passing his subjects. He has average grades.
Oh. Good.
He was upset about getting taken off the aItar boys.
Mmm. Did he expIain why?
He said he was caught drinking aItar wine.
That is the reason.
WeII, that seems fair.
But he's a good boy, Sister. He feII down there,
but he's a good boy pretty much down the Iine.
How is he at home?
His father beat the heII out of him over that wine.
Oh, he shouIdn't do that.
You don't teII my husband what to do. You just stand back.
My husband didn't want DonaId to come here.
-Why? -He thought he'd have troubIe
with the other boys, but that hasn't reaIIy happened.
Good.
That priest, Father FIynn, been watching out for him.
Yes.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Excuse me.
James HurIey, what are you doing out of cIass?
-Sister James sent me down. -What for?
-TaIking. -WeII, go back up and shut up!
Go! Go!
What's going on?
None of your business. Now go on. Go back to cIass.
BuIIshit.
-What'd you say? -Nothing!
You have 20 minutes, you say?
It's just that I have to waIk to work.
-Where is work? -Parkchester.
If I don't start cIeaning by noon, I'm not home to Iet DonaId in.
-May I waIk with you? -I don't mind.
JAMES: Eight sixty-fourths.
Who can teII me what the common denominator is?
Nobody?
Back aIready, Mr. HurIey?
-I said, back aIready, Mr. HurIey? -Leave me aIone!
Who do you think you're taIking to?
This is my cIassroom, boy! Don't you forget that.
I'm sorry.
(JIMMY SNIFFLING )
I'm sorry, Jimmy.
ALO YSIUS: Have you met Father FIynn?
Just seen him on the aItar. Haven't met him face to face.
No, just, you know, heard from DonaId.
And what does he say?
You know, ''Father FIynn, Father FIynn.''
He Iooks up to him. Man gives him his time, which is what the boy needs.
He needs that.
Mrs. MiIIer, we may have a probIem.
I thought there must a been a reason you wanting to see me.
PrincipaI's a big job.
I just want to say though, it's just tiII June.
Excuse me?
Whatever the probIem is, DonaId just has to make it tiII June.
Then he's off into high schooI.
Right.
If DonaId can graduate from St. NichoIas,
he has a better chance of getting into a good high schooI,
and that wouId mean an opportunity at coIIege.
I don't see anything at this time
standing in the way of his graduating with his cIass.
-WeII, that's aII I care about. -I doubt that.
Try me.
I am concerned about the reIationship between Father FIynn and your son.
You don't say. Concerned. What do you mean, concerned?
That it may not be right.
WeII, there's something wrong with everybody,
and their souI gotta be forgiven. I work right there.
I am concerned, to be frank,
that Father FIynn may have made advances on your son.
May have made?
I can't be certain.
-No evidence? -No.
Then maybe there's nothing to it.
I think there is something to it.
I think Father FIynn gave DonaId that aItar wine.
Why wouId he do that?
(SIGHS )
-Has DonaId been acting strangeIy? -No.
-Nothing out of the ordinary? -He's been himseIf.
-AII right. -Look, Sister, I don't want any troubIe.
I don't... I'm not sure you compIeteIy understand.
I think I understand the kind of thing you're taIking about,
but I don't want to get into it.
What's that?
Look, I onIy have a few minutes. Not to be disagreeing,
but if we're taIking about something fIoating around
between this priest and my son, it ain't my son's fauIt.
-I'm not suggesting that... -He's just a boy.
-I know. -TweIve years oId.
If someone shouId be taking bIame, it shouId be the man...
-I know. I agree with you compIeteIy. -...not the boy.
You're agreeing with me, but I got caIIed
to the principaI, if you know what I'm saying.
I am concerned about DonaId's weIfare.
You honestIy think that priest gave DonaId that wine to drink?
Yes, I do.
Then how come my son got kicked off the aItar boys
-if it was a man that gave it to him? -I know.
The boy got caught, the man didn't.
-So you're giving my son the bIame. -No.
No probIem my son getting bIamed,
-and you know why that is. -Perhaps you shouId Iet me taIk.
-I think you're getting upset. -Sister, you ain't going against
no man in a robe and win. He's got the position.
-And he's got your son. -Let him have him then.
What?
It's just tiII June.
Do you know what you're saying?
Know more about it than you.
I beIieve this man is creating,
or may have aIready brought about,
an improper reIationship with your son.
I don't know.
I know I am right.
Why you gotta know something Iike that for sure when you don't?
What kind of mother are you?
Excuse me, but you don't know enough about Iife to say a thing Iike that, Sister.
I know enough.
You know the ruIes maybe, but that don't cover it.
I know what I won't accept.
You accept what you gotta accept, and you work with it.
This man is in my schooI.
WeII, he's gotta be somewhere and
-maybe he's doing some good, too. -He is after the boys!
WeII, maybe some of them boys want to get caught!
That's why his father beat him.
Not the wine.
What are you teIIing me?
I'm taIking about the boy's nature now,
not anything he's done.
You can't hoId a chiId responsibIe for what God gave him to be.
I'm onIy interested in actions, Mrs. MiIIer.
But then there's the boy's nature.
-Leave that out of it. -WeII, forget it then.
You're the one forcing peopIe to say things.
My boy came to your schooI
'cause they were gonna kiII him in the pubIic schooI.
His father don't Iike him.
He come to your schooI, kids don't Iike him.
One man is good to him, this priest.
Then does a man have his reasons, yes.
Everybody does. You have your reasons,
but do I ask the man why he's good to my son?
No.
I don't care why.
My son needs some man to care about him
and to see him through to where he wants to go.
And thank God this educated man
with some kindness in him wants to do just that.
-This wiII not do. -It's just tiII June.
I'II throw your son out of this schooI.
And why wouId you do that if it didn't start with him?
Because I wiII stop this.
You'd hurt my son to get your way?
-It won't end with your son. -Throw the priest out then.
-I am trying to do just that. -Then what do you want from me?
Nothing.
(SIGHING )
As it turns out.
(CRYING ) PIease Ieave my son out of this.
My husband wiII kiII that chiId over a thing Iike this.
I wiII try.
I'm Iate.
Sister,
I don't know if you and me on the same side.
I'II be standing with my son and those who are good with my son.
It'd be nice to see you there. Good morning.
May I come in?
A third party wouId be required.
Yeah. What was DonaId's mother doing here?
-We were having a chat. -About what?
A third party wouId truIy be required, Father.
No, Sister. No third party!
Me and you are due for a taIk!
You have to stop this campaign against me.
-You can stop it at any time. -How?
Confess and resign.
You are attempting to destroy my reputation!
Who keeps opening my window?
What are you doing in this schooI?
I'm trying to do good.
Even more to the point,
what are you doing in the priesthood?
You are singIe-handedIy hoIding this schooI and this parish back.
-From what? -Progressive education
and a weIcoming church.
You can't distract me, Father.
This is not about my behavior, it's about yours.
No, this is about your unfounded suspicions.
-That's right. I have suspicions. -Just Ieave that. It's not important.
I wiII decide
what's important.
Why do you suspect me? What have I done?
You gave that boy wine, and you Iet him take the bIame.
That's compIeteIy untrue. Did you taIk to Mr. McGuinn?
AII McGuinn knows is that the boy drank wine.
He doesn't know how he came to drink it.
Did his mother have something to add to that?
No.
-So that's it. -I am not satisfied.
Ask the boy then.
-He'd protect you. -Why wouId he do that?
-Because you have seduced him. -You're insane.
You've got it in your head that I corrupted this chiId
after giving him wine, and nothing I say wiII change that.
That's right.
But this has nothing to do with the wine.
Not reaIIy. You've had a fundamentaI mistrust of me before this incident.
It was you that warned Sister James to be on the Iookout, wasn't it?
That's true.
-So you admit it! -CertainIy.
Why?
I know peopIe.
That's not good enough.
-It won't have to be. -How's that?
You wiII teII me what you have done.
Oh, I wiII.
Out again.
Sister James is convinced I'm innocent.
So you taIked to Sister James.
WeII, of course you taIked to Sister James.
Did you know DonaId's father beats him?
Yes.
And might that not account for the odd behavior
Sister James noticed in the boy?
It might.
Then what is it? What?
(STAMMERING ) What did you hear?
What did you see that convinced you so thoroughIy?
What does it matter?
It matters! What does it matter? I want to know!
Out this window,
I saw you grab WiIIiam London's wrist,
and I saw him puII away.
-Are you serious? -I am.
That's aII?
Yeah. That was aII.
That's nothing.
-What are you doing now? -I'm writing down what you say.
It might be important when I have to expIain why you have to be removed.
This morning before I spoke with Mrs. MiIIer,
I took the precaution of caIIing your Iast parish.
What did he say?
-Who? -The pastor.
I did not speak to the pastor. I spoke to a nun.
You shouId have spoken to the pastor.
I spoke to a nun.
You know that's not the proper route for you to have taken, Sister.
The church is very cIear. You're supposed to go through the pastor.
Why? You have an understanding, you and he?
No, you have no right to go rummaging through my past!
You have a history.
This is your third parish in five years.
-Why? -CaII the pastor.
Ask him why I Ieft. It's perfectIy innocent.
-I'm not caIIing the pastor. -I'm a good priest.
Go after another chiId and another chiId, untiI you are stopped.
-What nun did you speak to? -I won't say.
-Yeah, I've not touched a chiId. -You have!
You haven't the sIightest proof of anything.
But I have my certainty.
And armed with that, I'II go to your Iast parish
and the one before that. If necessary, I'II find a parent.
Trust me, Father FIynn, I wiII.
You have no right to act on your own!
You have taken vows, obedience being one!
You answer to us!
You have no right to step outside the church!
I wiII step outside the church if that's what needs to be done,
though the door shouId shut behind me!
I wiII do what needs to be done, though I'm damned to heII!
You shouId understand that, or you wiII mistake me.
Now, did you give DonaId MiIIer wine to drink?
Have you never done anything wrong?
-I have. -No mortaI sin?
Yes.
And?
I confessed it, Father.
Then whatever I have done,
I have Ieft in the heaIing hands of my confessor.
As have you.
We are the same.
Mmm-mmm.
No, we are not. We are not the same.
A dog that bites is a dog that bites.
Did you give DonaId MiIIer wine to drink?
No.
MentaI reservations?
No.
You Iie.
Very weII then.
If you wiII not Ieave my office, I wiII.
And once I go, I wiII not stop.
FLYNN: Wait.
(ALO YSIUS SIGHS )
I can't say everything, you understand?
There's things I can't say,
even if you can't imagine the expIanation, Sister.
(SIGHING )
Remember, there are things beyond your knowIedge.
Even if you feeI certainty, it is an emotion, not a fact.
You wiII request a transfer
and take a Ieave of absence untiI it's granted.
You'd Ieave me nothing.
It's DonaId MiIIer who has nothing,
and you took fuII advantage of that.
I've done nothing wrong. I care about that boy.
Why?
'Cause you smiIe at him?
And you sympathize with him?
And you taIk to him as if you were the same?
You are a cheat.
And that warm feeIing you experienced
when that boy Iooked at you with trust was not the sensation of virtue.
That couId be got by any drunkard with his tot of rum.
I can fight you.
You wiII Iose.
Where's your compassion?
Nowhere you can get at it.
Stay here. Compose yourseIf.
You can use the phone if you'd Iike.
Good day, Father.
I have no sympathy for you.
I know you are invuInerabIe to true regret.
And cut your naiIs.
(ORGAN PLAYS PRAISE GOD, FRO M WHO M ALL BLESSIN GS FLOW)
CHOIR: ( SIN GIN G) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Amen
I never like to say goodbye,
but there is a wind behind every one of us that takes us through our lives.
We never see it. We can't command it.
We don't even know its purpose.
'Cause I would have stayed among you longer,
but that wind is taking me away.
I will miss it here,
and I will miss you.
But I'm content that the power that propels me
does so with superior knowledge
as to what is for the best,
and that is my faith.
I would like to come down now among you
and say goodbye
and wish you peaceful hearts
and loving hearts.
(ORGAN PLAYING )
(CHOIR SINGING UBI CARITAS E T AMOR IN LATIN)
-Goodbye, Senator. -Father.
FLYNN: CaroI. Thank you so much. Thank you.
CAROL: BIess you, Father.
-Happy hoIidays. Susan. BIess you. -Thank you, Father.
-Father. -Thank you.
Be good. Thank you.
-Thank you, Father. -Thank you very much. Thank you.
PauI. Thank you so much.
God bIess you. Goodbye.
(BELL TOLLING )
( SIN GIN G ON RADIO ) ...a midnight clear
A glorious song of old
From angels bending near the Earth
(SNIFFLING )
Sister James. WeIcome back.
Thank you, Sister.
You were missed. How is your brother?
Better. Much better.
I'm very gIad. I prayed for him.
It was good to get away. I needed to see my famiIy.
Mmm. Then I'm gIad you did it.
And Father FIynn is gone?
Yes.
So you did it. You got him out.
Yes.
DonaId MiIIer is heartbroken.
Can't be heIped. It's just tiII June.
I don't think Father FIynn did anything wrong.
No? He convinced you?
-Yes, he did. -Mmm.
Did you ever prove it?
-To whom? -Anyone but yourseIf?
Nope.
-But you were sure? -Yes.
I wish I couId be Iike you.
Why?
Because I can't sIeep anymore.
Maybe we're not supposed to sIeep so weII.
They made Father FIynn pastor of Saint Jerome.
-Who? -The bishop.
Appointed Father FIynn pastor of Saint Jerome Church and SchooI.
It's a promotion.
You didn't teII them?
Oh, I toId our good monsignor. I crossed the garden, and I toId him.
He did not beIieve it to be true.
Then why did Father FIynn go?
What did you say to make him Ieave?
That I had caIIed a nun in his previous parish,
that I had found out his prior history of infringements.
So you did prove it?
I made no such caII.
-You Iied? -Yes.
But if he'd had no such history, the Iie wouIdn't have worked.
His resignation was his confession.
He was what I thought he was.
And he's gone.
I can't beIieve you Iied.
In the pursuit of wrongdoing,
one steps away from God.
Of course, there is a price.
I see.
Oh.
Sister James.
What is it, Sister?
I have doubts.
(SIGHING )
I have such doubts.
(ORGAN PLAYING THE FIRS T NOEL)
( SIN GIN G) Come, thou, redeemer of the Earth
And manifest thy virgin birth
Let every age adoring fall
Such birth befits the God of all
Begotten of no human will
But of the Spirit, thou art still
The word of God in flesh arrayed
The promised fruit to man displayed
The virgin womb that burden gained
With virgin honor all unstained
The banners there of virtue glow
God in his temple dwells below
Forth from his chamber goeth he
That royal home of purity
A giant in twofold substance one
Rejoicing now his course to run
From God the Father he proceeds
To God the Father back he speeds
His course he runs to death and hell
Returning on God's throne to dwell
O equal to thy Father, thou
Gird on thy fleshly mantle now
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate
Thy cradle here shall glitter bright
And darkness breathe a newer light
Where endless faith shall shine serene
And twilight never intervene
All praise, eternal Son, to thee
Whose advent sets thy people free
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Ghost for evermore
Amen