This is the story of a girl who wrote a letter to God... God replied.
Cristóbal!
You're just playing a joke on me to frighten me.
Come on, stop that.
Do you think l'm naive enough to fall for that?
Cristóbal.
Stop scaring me.
Cristy...
Aren't you ashamed of yourself, teasing this poor thing?
This poor thing prefers teasing me -
making me climb the highest tree for the best apples
or pushing me into the pond.
Just because l want a kiss, she makes a fool out of me!
- Marie! - Cristy, you can't do that!
- Marie! - See?
You little witch!
Catch me!
Come on, catch me!
Just you wait! What will happen if l catch you?
Please forgive me, most gracious Father. l thought we were alone.
So l gathered, from your behaviour.
- Where are you, Marie? - Breaking chastity before God's servant!
Chastity?
Please, you are mistaken. lt hasn't been broken.
How would you know? What parish do you belong to?
We belong to Veiga Baixa, the neighbouring village.
- Who are your parents? - l live with my mother.
- She has no husband. - How old are you?
- 16. - And you, son?
l'm over 18.
Go straight home. l will have another word with you later.
And if l find out that you seduced her, you will be duly punished.
Because those who flout the commandment of chastity...
But, Reverend Father, Marie is an angel.
- l'll soon be taking her up the aisle. - l don't know anything about that.
See? She's contradicting you. She's resisting her seducer.
Come on, Marie. Don't be foolish.
- Are you going with him? - No.
l'll take you home.
l need to speak to your mother.
Directed by Jess Franco
Until this unhappy day, she had led a godly life, Reverend Father.
Yes, but if your daughter were to die tomorrow, she would be condemned to hell.
And you would have neglected your Christian duties.
But, Father, what can l do?
l have to work to put food on the table for us.
- l have been a washerwoman for 20 years. - That is praiseworthy.
Do you distil this schnapps yourself?
Yes, Reverend Father.
You're very efficient.
Would you like a bottle, Father?
Will you let me give you one to take with you?
Well, if you insist...
but don't think that giving me presents will change my mind
about saving this evil-spirited child.
lt is not too late to tear her soul away from the grip of Satan.
l am counting on your consent to me taking her on as a novice in a convent.
Thank you for your kindness, Father.
You make me feel ashamed.
The abbess of Serra d'Aires only takes in daughters of the highest nobility.
But as her confessor, l can put in a good word for you.
l'll persuade her to overlook your circumstances.
What's more, she will reduce the cost of taking your daughter into the cloister
by bringing it into line with your means.
One delicate matter. lf the novice is not accepted for any reason,
the money will go to the abbey.
Reverend Father, l am as poor as a church mouse.
l have been honest with you.
Perhaps not entirely honest. You must have something saved.
20 years of tireless work must bring some sort of return.
You shouldn't scrimp on trying to save Marie.
But, Father, what can l give you if l don't have anything?
Do you wish to continue to tolerate her depraved life?
Do you want to leave her to the devil's mercy?
Do you wish the power of the Holy lnquisition on your daughter?
Please, Reverend Father, not that! Help me! For God's sake, help!
l have 500 reales put away. ln case l ever became ill...
l wonder if 500 will suffice.
Well, at least it shows that you're willing to contribute your mite.
How could you do this to me?
You've cast your mother into poverty.
l'm glad to get you out of my sight.
You can be sure of that, since Christ's brides of Serra d'Aires
are neither allowed to leave the convent nor to indulge in secular pleasures.
- Does that mean l won't see Mother? - No. They won't be that strict.
The novices are kept away from temptation.
No man apart from me is admitted.
As you know, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
But hurry now.
God willing, we will hopefully be on our way before nightfall.
Reverend Father, is Serra d'Aires very far from here?
Far enough by horse and cart.
Definitely too far on foot.
Halt!
This is now your home.
lt's not how l imagined it.
The abbey is famous for its architecture.
She really is a charming young thing.
What's your name?
You will address me as ''Reverend High Priestess''.
- l didn't know that. - How could someone like you know?
l'm sorry.
Are you...still a virgin?
Yes, Reverend High Priestess.
Lift up your dress, please.
l need to know if your claim is representative of the facts.
Don't feel embarrassed in front of Father Vincente.
He is your protector, the disciplinarian of your young soul
and also of your body.
So lift up your skirt, please.
She's as good as a little lamb. We'll have an easy time with her.
No, lift it up higher.
Even higher.
More.
That'll do.
- You're not wearing bloomers? - We're poor. l don't have any.
No wonder that you tend to have a lewd imagination.
Spread your legs now.
Come on. Wider.
You have to relax. Don't tense your muscles.
Relax them.
You are quite wilful, l can sense it.
You must be more obedient. Only then...
will we reach our goal.
Now, do you see?
Yes.
That's right.
That's right. You are untouched.
lntact.
A very tight hymen.
The virginal membrane.
l know this examination isn't pleasant, but we are obliged to do it.
The Holy Office demands that only pure virgins be admitted to our order.
We sacrifice our virginity and our virtue to the Lord.
Before we put you in novice's dress, you will go to confession with Father Vincente.
- Josefina, take her to the cell. - Yes, Mother.
When she has confessed her sins,
she will spend three days in prayer in solitary confinement.
Then Father Vincente and l will receive her again here.
...the sins that Satan has made Your servant commit, and cleanse her.
Have mercy upon us in pardoning our sins.
There she is.
Let us remember our sister.
Have mercy upon her. May the Lord pardon her grave sins,
while she still lingers in this world in the flesh.
Now, my child, when was your last confession?
About three months ago.
And did you forget to mention any sins during this confession?
Yes, one. l was so ashamed.
Why were you ashamed?
l don't know. l, er...
might have done something impure.
Did you maybe arouse forbidden desire in that young man and touch him?
- Not just him... - So you were also unchaste with others?
- l... - Did you touch them?
Yes... No.
And where, my child? Where did you touch them?
Outside, in the woods.
l mean, whereabouts on their body did you touch them?
l touched their lips.
Their lips.
And where else did you touch them? Perhaps a bit lower down?
No.
Yes... Once, l touched a boy on his chest.
- You confess that. - And perhaps Cristóbal, once.
Twice.
Confess it. How often did you lead him into temptation?
- ln spring... - Where did you touch him? Tell me.
- l've confessed that. - lt doesn't matter.
Cristóbal wanted me to touch him somewhere and l ran away in anger.
l need to know exactly.
l'd like to know every little detail. Did you not have any bloomers on?
- Yes, l did, but he... - lsn't that so?
Cristó never wanted me to do that again, even though we were often alone.
But he said if we were married, then l would have to do it.
What would you have to do, child? Talk to me.
Touch the thing l didn't want to touch.
l did have to take it upon myself once, but that was in a dream.
You need to express yourself more clearly.
lf you don't confess your sins, l won't be able to give you absolution.
No!
The poor thing. The Reverend Father is probably beside himself.
- Continue. - ln my dream, my cousin came over.
Suddenly, he was standing there naked. l screamed.
He put his hand over my mouth and said that if l didn't do as he said, he'd kill me.
He pressed my head towards him and demanded...
That you put something in your mouth?
l complied.
l was so scared, l nearly died.
- You didn't defend yourself? - Not enough.
Were you...turned on by this?
l don't know what that means.
l mean, did it turn you on, physically?
Reverend Father, what's wrong? Are you ill?
l shall pray not to have any more shameless desires or ideas that lead me to commit sins
and not to satisfy other people's lust in my dreams.
- So you regret your grave sins? -Yes.
- Have you often dreamt of your cousin? - No, only once.
Aquilino left the village to join the military.
l never saw him again.
lf you had seen him, and l don't mean in a dream,
- would you have done forbidden deeds? - No.
Well, l have formed an opinion about your sinful body, my child.
You shall reform your flaw with thorns and flagellation.
Doesn't one atone for one's sins through prayer, Father?
l am not your father, l am your master and disciplinarian.
May the Lord acquit you of the sins that you committed through carnal lust.
Josefina, what is that castle over there?
lt's the residence of the Cardinal Grand lnquisitor.
The castle opposite contains the dungeons of the court of lnquisition.
You mustn't touch these habits. They've been sanctified, as the rule demands.
- The High Priestess herself will clothe you. - Why is she called High Priestess?
You'll see. This is no ordinary place. You'll get used to everything.
We'll help you. You needn't fear us. Believe me.
l do.
You have a child's hands.
How soft they are.
Just go in.
That's Sister Antonia. l'm Sister Joana. She and l are the youngest here.
- We novices must stick together. - My name is Marie.
May l welcome you with a sisterly kiss?
Stick with me and Joana as long as everything's new to you.
Give me the apple, Antonia. Thanks.
We play funny games as often as we can. You should watch.
- l'll join in. - Great. Come here.
Watch.
- Now it's your turn. - lt might be a sin.
lt's only a game. There's no harm in doing it. Come on, don't be a spoilsport.
But if you're one of those who are always worried about sin,
then you're no playmate for us because you're too fond of women.
Come on, Marie.
What's going on here?
You've made friends straight away?
You seem to be very quick to make friends.
- lt wasn't her fault. - l doubt that.
l will talk to you later. Leave the room now. Go.
Take off your dress now. You will spend three days without a dress.
Father Vincente has imposed thorns upon you as a penance.
lf you chastise yourself, your sinful lust and desire will pass.
l have just seen with my own eyes that his opinion of you is perfectly accurate.
lf you wish to please God, you must change.
Yes, High Priestess.
Lord of Darkness, l have daubed myself with the juice of a toad,
and you have ordained me as your bride.
l have danced naked in front of you and bitten your symbol into my loin.
On the goat meadow, we have come together, joined in the flesh.
And now you're denying me our child?
l will not bear the one l have received from you.
- ls it you? - Yes, High Priestess.
Thy shall be done, Lord of Hell.
You are my arbiter. You command.
Come to me.
These two have caused me to deliver the child before it is due
by offering me an apple.
Stand by us so that we may finish our task.
ln the name of hell, leave my body, Lucifer.
- Joana. - l'll be right there.
- Hurry up. - Yes, High Priestess.
There.
Here's the powder from a child's liver.
Help me!
Satan!
Satan! The devil's child is flowing from my loins. l'm giving birth,
but it can't take shape because that's what the Lord of Hell has decided.
His child.
Why can't l be a devil's mother?
l sacrificed my virginity to him on Walpurgis Night.
Lustfully, greedily, we merged,
when he visited me in the shape of Father Vincente.
How many times did it happen?
l'm dying. Help me, paramours of Satan. Help me!
Have mercy, Lord of Darkness.
Release me from this satanic sacrifice.
No. No.
Yes, Father Aquilino.
l'm coming.
But the Father will punish me with thorns.
No. No. No!
- She screamed loudly. l wonder why? - We should ask her.
Father Vincente said, as soon as... Watch out, there she is.
You need more self-discipline, Joana.
Well, Marie, have you done penance?
- l'm in great pain. - All the better.
You must learn to regard pain as a triumph.
You must be ready to make sacrifices.
lf only l could. l'm very weak.
l'm very simple-minded. There are many things l don't understand.
And l'm very afraid of pain.
- One gets used to it. - l'm not sure about that.
- Only with the right attitude, of course. - High Priestess, help me achieve it.
- Please. - l will, under one condition.
You will submit to me completely, with obedience and discipline.
Your carnal desire and lustful wishes must be mortified by inflicting pain upon yourself.
Before the evening comes, you shall drive the thorns deep into the soles of your feet,
until they bleed and you are no longer able to skip around so light-footedly.
- Marie? Marie, it's me. - No! Cristóbal.
- You mustn't be here. Please go away. - But you'll come with me.
lf they see you, l'm doomed.
l won't escape with you. l have found peace here.
l don't believe you. You will only find peace if you become my wife.
l'm the Lord's bride. l can never be your wife.
l have given myself to heaven.
These are only words, Marie.
lf you love me,
then...please go away.
- l swear to you, Antonia... - To Satan.
l swear to Satan that this is the loveliest of all our games.
Antonia!
Paramour of the devil.
l can see him in the shape of a goat.
Receive our obscene kisses of homage.
Lucifer.
Oh, Joana.
Antonia.
You have served me well.
l will serve you more, and even better.
You have given to me, mistress of Satan, and now l shall give to you.
Yes.
Get me the devil. l want to ride him.
Oh, no.
Holy Michael, Holy Gabriel, Holy Raphael,
all ye holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
Holy Peter, Holy Paul, Holy Jacob,
Holy Demetrius, Holy Bartholomew, all ye holy apostles, pray for us.
Deliver us, o Lord, from all sin.
Deliver us from the snares of the devil, from hatred and all ill will.
Deliver us from the spirit of fornication.
Lord, help me.
Kneel down and rid yourselves of all secular thoughts.
For a few days, there has been a girl among the novices
who has been abusing God's kindness through grave transgressions.
Let us pray for her.
Lord, take the sinner back into your arms who has saddened You by being unchaste.
Confess that you are a grave sinner.
l confess my grave transgressions to the Holy Virgin Mary.
l do not know if it was the insinuations of the devil or my own arrogance
that caused me to violate the commandments of the church.
l pledge to Holy Mary and all the saints that my efforts shall be without end
to return to the bosom of the church,
to the Holy Mother Church, which is the only joy on earth for sinners like us.
- Sister Josefina, l have a favour to ask you. - You're white as a sheet.
Sister Martina told me l should ask you if l needed to send a letter to someone.
- Who are you sending it to? - My mother, but nobody must know.
- lt's in safe hands with me. - Thank you.
Woe betide him who keeps secret what he does and will not account for it.
He will be banished from the community,
whose joys he does not share, whose trust he does not deserve.
For his secrecy conceals sin.
lt says here, ''lf Cristóbal returned, this time, l would flee with him.''
This abhorrent letter proves your mendacity.
lt also says, ''Take me back. l am afraid of losing my soul.
''Dear mother, the sisters and the abbess often behave in a rather strange manner.
''And Father Vincente is not the devout man you took him for either.
''l can hardly describe it in decent words. He is depraved.''
This letter is full of such libellous statements.
You have only yourself to blame for the consequences.
This disgraceful piece of paper shall be destroyed for good.
What would have happened if your mother had received it?
She might have died of sorrow and shame.
What if it had fallen into the wrong hands, the hands of the General lnquisitor?
He would have shown you what it means to lose your soul, and more.
You shall suffer the consequences.
Perhaps sooner than you think.
Josefina, this novice wishes to be imprisoned, to flagellate herself
and to ponder her sins in solitude.
- No, l do not wish that. - We determine your wishes.
Those who rebel against this have not understood
that there are ways of enforcing the statutes of this order.
Get out of my sight!
Come here.
Get in there.
O Lord, l don't know what to do.
Why don't you help me, Lord?
Well, child?
What do you request of me, Reverend Father?
This is a moment of mercy.
The hour has come for you to sacrifice your virginity to the order.
Today, you shall be the centre of a great ceremony.
But first, you have to complete a task for which l have chosen you.
This is the reason why l have come.
Ever since you confessed to me how your cousin came to you in your dream,
l haven't found peace in prayer.
l think that you should grant me the same as you granted him
because l am now one of your closest confidants.
- Don't. - You...
- Go away. - What? Kneel down.
With him, you didn't resist so much. You said so yourself.
l'm calling you, Lord of Hell.
Come, Lucifer.
Make me a priestess of the devil.
Make me another Lilith, your servant.
Hold her in readiness. Lord of Hell, we are sacrificing this child to you.
Her blood is fresh and pure. We know that you desire fresh blood.
Prepare yourself to sacrifice your virginity to the King of Kings, Sister.
Heavenly Father!
Your father in hell will introduce you to the pleasure of being his paramour.
He will marry you, and you will belong to him for all eternity,
with your blood, your womb, your whole body and all your entrails.
The bat's tail and the birds that you will eat alive
will keep your sex drive up and you will give birth to devils...
..in the shape of newts, lizards, snakes and disgusting worms.
Mount her in the shape of a man, Satan.
Kneel down and show your reverence to the most illustrious of all debauchees
so that he may fill you with sensuality and lewd desires.
May he hasten to you and take from this child what he has always been entitled to.
Fall down, on your knees.
She shall be yours.
Come on, Joana.
You're the paramour of the devil now. Heaven is closed to you forever.
You're his bride. From now on you will enjoy forbidden fruits together with the rest of us.
Rejoice with us that you are of the devil.
Well, have you finally calmed down?
No, how could l, after all that's happened to me?
l've been dishonoured in a disgraceful way.
What nonsense are you talking? You're ill.
- No! - So why are you talking feverishly?
The sisters called me because you scream and lash out day and night like a demoniac.
You always mistake dreams and fantasies for real experiences.
ln your mind, everything must seem so real
that you mistake phantasms for the truth and dreams for reality.
ln order to counteract this danger more efficiently,
you will remain in solitary confinement until you realise that dreams can lead to lies.
- Are you implying that l dreamt all this? - That was certainly the case.
No, that man and you did disgraceful things to me.
She's possessed by the devil.
- God be with you, Sister. - Do you know where Don Antonio lives?
- The alcalde? Up there, up those steps. - God be with you. Thank you.
Who's making all that noise, as if the devil was after him?
Take it easy!
l'm on my way.
- What's the panic? - Forgive me, Alcalde.
- You're not exactly gentle, Sister. - Are you the alcalde?
At your service. Antonio Fernando Quijeros Meló. l'm the mayor.
l'm from the convent Serra d'Aires. l need to talk to you.
l see. Well, come on in.
What's the matter, little Sister?
- Please sit down. - Thank you.
You're welcome. How about a little drink? A glass of red wine?
l'd prefer a glass of Bagasso.
- Very well. - l could use it.
Well, it's up to you.
- There you are, Sister. - Thank you.
You can really put it away. My uncle would be happy.
He's very proud of his brew. And now tell me what happened.
l had to flee the convent.
But why, for God's sake? The abbess and the father are such good people.
lf only you knew what goes on there. l must get away.
They lead a scandalous life. The abbess makes pacts with the devil.
And the father celebrates black masses.
They lead a depraved life. They live in sin.
l'm absolutely convinced that you're wrong.
The Reverend Father and l often drink together. He leads a very godly life.
He's a demon. He forces me to do things that are so disgusting and shameless
that l cannot talk to you about them.
They tried to convince me that l was imagining it all, but it's real.
Believe me.
These things don't concern me. l can't interfere with life in the convent.
Only the judges of the Holy lnquisition can examine this.
Then lead me to them. l'm sure they are wise and just.
And they will save the sinners' souls.
Help me. God will reward you for helping a poor girl.
l'm not sure how to do that. l have my doubts. Well, we shall see.
Gee up!
- We must find her. - Don't worry. The witch won't escape us.
l swear she won't.
Whoa! Slow down.
Halt!
Praised be Jesus Christ, Mother Alma. Greetings, Father. Here we are.
- This novice came to me today. - There's no need to explain. We know why.
My poor, lost little sheep. lt was prudent of you to bring her back right away.
We were very worried about her. She's a little confused.
Never do anything like that again.
l suspected as much. She wanted to see the judges of the lnquisition.
lf l hadn't been sensible, we might be there now.
She was talking at me as if she were possessed by the devil.
And the things she said about you! So l said to myself, ''Take her to the abbess.
''She knows how to handle her better than you.''
And so do you, Father. You're an expert when it comes to young souls.
lt was a wise decision. We appreciate your helpfulness.
- Well, if one can be of assistance... - You've served us excellently.
lt's your own fault.
Now we'll have to see if you're possessed by the devil.
What a pity.
lf you don't confess it to us, we will hand you over to the court of the lnquisition.
They have means which...
She must want the lnquisition to save her soul.
Why else would she have asked the alcalde to take her there?
lsn't it possible that she intended to denounce us there, the dangerous witch?
The witch will soon confess this to us.
But probably not until we're torturing her.
That's the best method after all. lt makes people talk.
We'll only use it to spare her the lnquisition and to protect the reputation of the order.
As soon as the witch confesses, we can dispense with further interrogation.
- Are you possessed by the devil? - No!
The lnquisition's henchmen will squeeze the information out of you.
No, no, no!
- Show her the pincers. - No!
Then confess that you're possessed by the devil.
..to death by fire.
Lead her out.