The True Story of the Nun of Monza
Marianna de Leyva, we consecrate you a nun of the Holy Mother Church.
It seems he's willing to go up to 5000... Will you accept? - No!
From now on, you will be called Sister Virginia Maria.
Pardon me, Your Excellency...
It will be difficult to go below 6000 ducats for the dowry.
The Mother Superior is firm.
I don't have that much money with me now. You advance herthe sum.
6000 ducats will be given to the convent as her dowry.
We will accept your charitable gesture.
The first payment will be made during the nurs noviciate...
The rest will be paid after her initial year...
The Mother Superior has accepted the terms, Your Excellency.
Good. Please see to it.
That's a good one! - Hilarious!
What are you doing? - Who's this now?
Get out! Leave immediately!
There's nothing else I could have done...
Raniero had always tried to stop me, slandering me with his shameful lies.
It was a proper duel, with no witnesses. I run no risk.
Sure, as long as there were no witnesses...
And it's not the first despicable thing you've done...
You insane killer! Look at your hands! They're covered in blood!
All the holy water in church couldn't wash them!
Keep your sermons forthe few idiots who still believe in them, priest!
They mean nothing to me at all!
Quick, come see!
Come on, move!
What? - Look at that woman! I have to meet her...
The rose, symbol of love!
Sister Virginia! Give me that book!
On your knees! On your knees, I said!
Your bed was empty the other night... - I got up to pray in the chapel.
The quiet in the chapel calms my senses.
Be careful, Sister Candida. Mixing incense and lust is a serious thing.
You might come to a bad end.
And you? Why are you keeping watch over my cot?
Is it because you find yours too wide, now that we can't share it anymore?
Quiet, you dirty thing! Slave of vice!
My vice is surely more natural than yours.
Sister Benedetta, wake up! Wake up!
Please, punish me! I have sinned in thought...
I gave in to temptations of the flesh...
Enough! Have you gone crazy? Stop it!
Forgive me! I didn't want to... Forgive me!
I was passing by and I said, "Let's go visit our good friend, the priest. "
"Maybe he has some left over sermon he doesn't know what to do with. "
Stop! Show a little respect forthis holy place!
Let's have a drink!
I want to meet that new nun... Sister Virginia.
And you have to help me...
I guess I have to, if you insist... But remember, you won't succeed.
Notonly is she a nun, she's also the daughterof Don Martino de Leyva.
And you have no practice with nuns. You're too impulsive.
It takes a lot of calm and persuasion.
Cut it out! They're women too. - Sure they are...
But you saw what happened when you threw that flower down...
She's going to be watched all the time now.
Listen... It's all over with that girl, Aurelia, right?
It's exciting while they resist, but later on they cling to you...
This book is very useful in some cases. It was written by a monsignor!
It contains all the moral justifications and all you need to seduce a nun.
In any case, religion is loving your neighbor, right?
Forgive me. I have a sad message to give you.
Your illustrious father, Don Martino de Leyva, has died peacefully at his palace.
I swear I will faithfully serve you, my Lady, feudal mistress of Monza
with the same loyalty I showed your father.
Be certain, my dear Multero, that I will be won'thy of your loyalty.
Sister Virginia!
I will not tolerate coming late to holy rites. Don't let it happen again.
My father is dead. Pay homage as a subject to the new feudal Lady of Monza!
Now show me your other breast! Like that!
What sweet, pale skin! Allow me to introduce myself... Lucifer!
I can always absolve you tomorrow, but today is Carnival!
So everything's allowed today!
Shame on you, Lucifer! You can't attack a poor, innocent little lamb!
Behave yourself. Might come in handy for avoiding Hell...
Enough two-on-two! We all haveto gettogether!
Come on! Join the party!
Here... You too...
Okay... All full. Now this is a real party!
Mix it up now! Let's get as much pleasure as we can!
Father, hear my confession... I've sinned in thought...
Help me, Father! Why are my senses in turmoil?
Why are these tempations assailing me? My life is dedicated to God...
I've respected the wishes of my lord and father...
I want to be sure. Tell me, why aren't my prayers and my pain enough?
Prayer... Pain... Repentence... Punishment!
Some call them virtues... spiritual treasures! The soul's treasures!
The soul! A won'thless accessory we have slapped on us...
But the body? The body! This wrap of skin and bone we heavily drag about...
And why should we reject it? Why are we supposed to refuse it?
Why desecrate it? Especially when it's beautiful... For example, you, sister...
You who hide your breasts from the light... Your thighs, which drive the man
who caresses them mad! Your belly that I've dreamed of stroking!
The desire to possess you drives me, obliterates my thoughts!
From the first day I saw you! We must love each other, unite our bodies!
Entwined upon the profane altar of the god of sex!
Virginia! I want you! - No! Please, no!
Let me go! Let me go!
Talk of the devil and he's bound to appear...
This is all happening because the Mother Superior is old and sick now.
We have to elect a substitute. Someone young, someone like you...
You're the Lady of Monza. Who would dare disobey your orders?
It's not easy to earn the trust of our fellow nuns.
Some, the old ones especially, don't think much of me.
I'd need a second in command who was energetic, talented...
Someone who knew how to clear the way...
If you wish my lady, I'll do all that's needed.
Many of the sisters owe me favors...
I'll be a won'thy and faithful second in command.
She's won'thy of sainthood. - She's a saint, certainly, a saint...
Her relics will be conserved in the Arkangel convent.
It's a serious illness. Heard it affects the bones.
She hasn't been out for days...
Sister Virginia is certainly beautiful. Let'sjust hope she's less strict...
Have you seen the face on Sister Benedetta? - She's been like that since
Sister Virginia chose her as second in command...
It was a proper election, after all, and then, in addition to being a nun
she's a real noblewoman...
We'll see now if she can handle it. - Of course...
Thank you, Lord, for the food you give us. Amen.
Sisters, our beloved Mother Superior, Sister Imbersaga...
...whose unwon'thy substitute I am, is growing weaker and more ill.
I have decided that no one is to disturb her.
Sister Benedetta will look afterthe sick womars needs
and will be the only one authorized to visit her. Enjoy your dinner.
Sisters! I don't remember allowing you to leave!
We're fasting, Mother. We can't touch food for at least three days.
It's a vowto the Madonna ofthe Sacred Heartso she will protectourconvent...
...from all temptation. - Temptation? What temptation?
Temptations of the flesh, of course. You of all people should understand...
I mean, as second in command, Sister Benedetta.
You may return to your places, sisters. The vow is overruled.
What? It's impossible, Mother Superior!
There's no reason to inconvenience the Madonna of the Sacred Heart
in order to avoid temptation. I'm enough for that. Now get back to your seats!
Now that Sister Benedetta's succeeded in having Sister Valetina elected
it'll be very hard for us. They'll find a way to keep us apart.
We have to do something before it's too late.
I've already thought of a remedy. Our beloved Mother Superior has a weak spot.
You'll see. In a few days everything will be better than before.
No, wait! Stay a little while! - But I'll be late for Vespers!
So? When the body's had its fill of pleasure, the spirit's close to God.
You'll be able to pray better afterwards.
What do you want? - Be quiet, or you'll wake up your sweetheart...
Father... Maybe we should reveal the true identity
of our beloved second in command. Many sisters are eagerto know.
And besides, I couldn't even absolve her during confession.
Her vice is serious enough to be a case forthe Holy Inquisition.
Probably torture wouldn't be enough to purify her completely.
What do you want me to do?
Virginia! - How are you feeling today?
I'm in Paradise! Every chance I get to hear your voice and see your eyes...
I love you, Virginia. I want you... We must make love, mingle our bodies...
No! Let me go! Please! - You understand me, Virginia?
It would be an act of love, not of violence. Please don't be afraid!
Please, let me go!
No, I'm begging you, no! No! You're all crazy!
No, no! Help! Someone help me!
Don't get any closer! Don't touch me!
Stop shouting!
Virginia, my love... How warm you are inside! You're driving me crazy!
I want you to come!
What are you doing? Why are you holding her?
You know what she was up to? She was trying to escape the convent!
Good thing we noticed! She's been spying on us and knows everything...
She wanted to denounce us to the Bishop!
We've got to hide her away! - Listen, put her in the attic. There's a room
we used to used for spiritual retreats... We'll lock her in there.
But if she starts yelling or making noise...
Dear God, forgive me...
What more do you want? You're still not satisfied?
Maybe now that your flesh is sated, you're going to mock me?
Go ahead, laugh. Arert I ridiculous enough in my repentence garments?
There is no repentence that could cleanse my sin...
You shouldn't suffer, Virginia. Each drop of your blood pierces my heart...
...as if it were being struck by a sword.
I'm the one who destroyed our love...
And I'm the one who must pay!
Please bury this blade in my flesh...
Annihilate the wild beast who has polluted our love...
Kill the beast, I'm begging you!
I can't bring myself to hate you, I can't!
I love you, Virginia.
Our love is cursed... But I want to live it to the fullest...
Die, demon!
You know, sometimes I think I know so little about you that I think I'm in love
with a ghost... - My childhood memories are like running after ghosts...
When I remember myself as a little girl, I recall an enormous room...
...full of imaginary beings. There was a wooden crucifix in the family chapel...
Christ's face was so sad, so lonely...
Whenever I could, I'd hide in that chapel. I learned to love Him there...
One night, when I was 14 years old, I dreamed of a man
with the same tormented face... He hugged me close and I felt a pleasure
that grew stronger and stronger, running up my body to explode in my head.
The same feeling I get with you.
I think our love is God's will. I remember what you wrote me:
"Our bodies are made in the image of the Supreme Being. "
"Thus pleasures of the flesh that gladden our souls are blessed in heaven. "
I've never loved until now. And God is Love.
When my father decided to make me a nun, he thought he could
remove me from earthly pleasures. But he didn't knowthat I had chosen
them precisely in order to unite myself with Christ.
Maybe he wanted to block the designs of some dowry hunter.
And you? Are you after my dowry?
Yes. The dowry of the convent.
Forgive me, Mother Superior. I thought I was acting for the best.
You don't need forgiveness. You need the whip, to punish your wickedness.
But Mother Superior, that old lady's gone crazy!
She screams like a banshee and has the strength of a bull.
We still bear the marks of her violence.
You should have warned me, asked for my advice!
How long's it been since she's eaten? - Hasrt touched a thing for days.
Not only does she refuse it, she throws it at us...
Her entire cell is covered in her excrement...
She's not a woman or human being any more... She's a devil!
We're the ones who've brought her this low... And we must help her.
Ourtask is not to hate, but to serve the Lord.
Let me talk to her. I bear the most responsibility.
The old woman died without receiving the sacraments.
Before placing her in the tomb
you're the only one who can commend her soul to heaven.
Bastard! - Father! You're a priest, right? So why don't you do yourjob?
You can'tjoke around with these things!
You're worse than I am, priest! You hide behind Christ and the Bible!
You use them to ease your guilty conscience!
You're the murderer now! - Stop it, damn you! This death is no fault of mine!
Okay. I'll do my duty. Come on.
My God! The stench is more than I can stand!
That's the odor of death, Father...
Ego te absolvo in nomine patris et fili et spiritus sancti...
If one day we have to leave each other...
My life has meaning only when it's fed by your love...
Even if my heart were bleeding, it would be singing your name...
She's pregnant.
I can't let you in, I'm sorry. Sister Virginia's ill and can see no one.
Are you sure she doesn't want to receive me? - Those are my orders.
Whose orders? - Mine!
Leave. There's a girl at the gate. Lead her into my office.
Sister Virginia is pregnant. Are you happy now? If you want news of her
ask Father Arrigone. Good day.
Patience is the first virtue of the faithful. - There she is...
I found the key! It wasn't hard. - Quick, let's go!
What's the name of this noviciate? - Margherita. She's an innocent farm girl.
Can we rely on her? - We'll have to, at this point.
Anyway, Benedetta and I have the convent to think about.
The other sisters could grow suspicious.
And how is she? - She's very depressed. Always locked in her room
trying to hide her pregnancy. Do you have any news of Osio?
Bad news. Don't tell the Mother Superior. He killed a maid and is in prison.
He's always lived in the midst of violence, but now he's gone too far.
That man scares me sometimes.
You must always knock.
Give it to me. I'll wash your back. You're still weak.
What were you doing before you came to the convent?
I was on a farm, helping my parents. It was a hard life.
Then the Lord called me. - Help me.
Are you comfortable here? - Yes, I'm happy to serve you.
I could serve you better, if you wanted. - How?
I know that life in the convent is made up of repentence and sacrifices.
But it's not like that for everyone. Some people know more than others.
They're more enterprising and are quicker to know how things stand.
Especially with other people!
Madonna Cunegonda opened the door and let Sire Ubaldo in...
As soon as he had entered, she took him to her bed...
Taking him by his shaft, she pulled him towards her wet vulva...
There they remained for all night...
What if she gets mad? - No, can't you see her naked right there waiting?
Are you sure? - Yes, come on! Bring him in!
Keep quiet about what you know. You're one of the few who know the truth.
The Mother Superior's almost at the end of her term.
I'm an experienced midwife and can assist her better than anyone else.
Such service will bring you many rewards. But remember:
Silence is the most important part.
Poor little thing. It's dead.
We have to carry it away and bury it.
We'll inform Osio.
I'll take care of it.
Come, come.
You have a lot of courage. You're courageous and also...
...much too sly. I don't like you at all. - But I like you...
I'd like to show you how much I like you...
Your ecclesiastical career is getting off to a good start.
You're a novice, aren't you?
True. I know little about sex.
But you could teach me. You have the right experience, after all.
We're all hiding secrets under our habits...
Let's try to expose yours...
I love you. I adore you with all my soul. And I understand your rightful anger.
You wanted to erase the fruits of sin... And for that I thank you, Lord.
Thank you for making me understand. Your will is now a part of me.
I don't love him anymore!
Can I help you? - Yes. You've just come from Osio's house, don't deny it.
I admit it. It was just out of courtesy, since Osio often visits the convent.
And he's certainly not the only one.
Shame on you! Watch what you're saying!
Margherita, I don't think you've weighed all the consequences of your actions.
You know that the Mother Superior feels the greatest affection for Osio.
You should know, then, that he doesn't share her affection!
Gianpaolo doesn't love her. He's using her, that's all.
What amorous expressions do you think he was using with me a while ago?
The same ones he used on her Ladyship!
And he was more sincere with me, since I have no fortune to offer him...
You think Gianpaolo cares about our Lady? For a man like that
a woman has only to give him what he wants, no more...
Since he can get a lot out of our Lady, he dares to ask a lot of her...
He even brags about it! He doesn't think of me as a simple maid...
He knows I'm intelligent. I'm not the kind you can just love and leave!
Maybe for her Lady that's enough. Or maybe she lacks brains to understand!
You've made big mistake. I know too much about you all to allow you
to treat me like that! The Inquisitor would have his hands full, if I wanted!
Soon you'll be consecrated as a nun.
You must retire for the usual three days
of spiritual retreat in some sheltered place. Sister Candida will assist you
and attend to all your needs. - Don't forget what I know!
Never again forget to whom you are speaking! - Oh, sure, my Lady!
Welcome. What is this, a family reunion?
Try to be reasonable, Margherita.
Your Ladyship took the trouble to come out in this weather? How kind!
Listen: You'll pay for having shut me up in here!
I'm not going to listen to your sermons!
I want what was promised me!
Don't do it!
Reverend Father...
Welcome, Father.
Hurry up!
Forgive us, Lord, for the sins we commit, and let our souls find pardon...
The chain will never be broken... When will it be ourturn?
I can't stand it anymore! These are same impure and filthy hands that...
...raise the sacred host! - Enough jabbering! The worst is done.
The dead don't come back. There's time enough tomorrow for remorse.
I'm going upstairs to see if anyone has come.
Come on, priest! Give me a hand!
Where could the Mother Superior be?
She's certainly not in the cloister. Ever since she substituted
our old Mother Superior, the gate of this convent has been wide open!
The Devil himself could pass through it without any difficulty at all!
Your accusations are serious. Woe to you if they turn out to be unfounded!
The Devil is indeed here, Father! That's why we called you.
We're done. - Tomorrow night we'll carry the corpse away after cutting it up.
Father, you'll help me do the job. - I'm no butcher!
You're certainly a fine gravedigger!
Not all crimes are punished. This crime unites us even more...
We really can't do without each other now. My love...
The Inquisitor is here!
What's hidden behind this door?
It's for firewood... That's strange. It's open...
What are you doing here?
Who are you? - Don Arrigone, our parish priest.
What strange ritual are you performing here?
The oldest rite in history, Father. That of Cain and Abel.
This pitiful sinner smote his brother in a fit of anger.
His own flesh and blood! He's a sinner, yes, but is now seeking forgiveness...
He's asking for help, for charity. Now that he has bitterly repented he's asking
the Holy Church to grant him refuge. We're gathered here to decide
what should become of him.
Have you committed a homicide? Did you only wound the man...
...or has he died by your hand?
I can't recall, Holy Father. I remember only that in a fit of rage...
...I struck him without thinking. Then the stain that spread upon his breast...
...and my hands all wet with blood! - Stop this absurd acting!
This man, Father, is Gianpaolo Osio. Sister Virginia de Leyva's secret lover!
Our Mother Superior!
Soldiers in the convent! Protect us from the Evil One!
Soldiers! They're here! They've come for me! Virginia, help me! My love!
Help you, me? Soon I'm being taken to Milan as a prisoner!
Slip under the bed, where no one can find you! My brave, strong lover!
They're going to torture her! No, first comes the trial!
What shame for our convent! There she is!
Quiet! When the Mother Superior passes, proper homage must be paid!
Get in line!
Having invoked repeatedly the name of Jesus Christ, and having only God
before our eyes, we proclaim, affirm and pass sentence as follows:
We condemn sister Candida and sister Benedetta to perpetual confinement
within the convent of Santa Margherita.
Let them be placed in a small prison there for life.
The Senate condemns Gianpaolo Osio to be held down, his right hand to be cut off...
and all his property confiscated.
Since Osio has eluded capture, this penalty will be carried out in absentia.
The priest, Paolo Arrigone, is convicted to two years in prison.
Sister Virginia de Leyva will be condemned for life to a small cell in the convent
of Santa Valeria in Milan.
There she shall dwell for the duration of her earthly life.
And there she shall seek repentence for her sins.