Half an Hour in a Convent - Wilfrido Ma Guerrero

HALF AN HOUR IN A CONVENT A Play In One Act

Holt am.Hour in a. Convent was first perform~ over the radio, Station KZRM, on April 4, 1937, under Lamberto V. Avellana's direction. Original Cast:

HALF AN

HOUR .IN

A

CONVENT

CHARACTERS:

YOLANDA-Daisy P. Hontiveros REV. MOTHER SUPERIOR-Patria Panaj6n SISTER VITALIS----Cita Trinidad SISTER THE-RESA-Nati N. Valentin

YOLANDA THE REVEREND MOT'HE.R SUPERIOR SISTER VITALIS SISTER THERESA

First stage performance: By the University of the PhiIip~ pines Class of Acting and Directing, directed by Jean G. Eda..; des, at the U.P. Little Theatre, January 15, 1938. ",' Original cast: YOLANDA-Luz Baluyot ~'. REV. MOTHER SUPERIOR-J"ulita Valdez SISTER VITALIS-Nellie Sevillano SISTER THERESA-Felisa Manzano

The office of the MOTHER SUPERIOR in a local convent school. A desk on the right covered with books and a flower vase with roses. A few chairs. A door in the middle rear. A crucifix over the door. On the left, a picture of the Madonna. Several religious pictures around the walls. A window down right. The MOTHER SUPERIOR is tall and has a very severelooking face. SISTER VITALIS is tiny, with a kind face. Her eyes are as clear as a ba'by's and a constant smile plays on her lips. Lights go out completely, except the footlights. Immediately, Gounod's Ave Maria, sung backstage, is heard. When the singer starts singing Sancta M«tria Mater Dei, the curtain slowly goes up. We see the MOTHER SUPERIOR kneeling on the pre.-dieu, SISTE-R VITALIS, also kneeling, near the table. Both are deep in prayer. The song ends. The MOTHER SUPERIOR and SISTER VITALIS make the sign of the cross. MOTHER SUPERIOR ,stands hastily, goes ·"'tothe table, gets some papers from drawer: SISTER VITALIS looks at the MOTHER SUP.ERIOR as if she wanted to speak to her. MOTHER SUPERIOR sits down, reads papers. SI~ TER VITALI8 approaches.

SISTER VITALIS. You must believe me, Mother. She's not really a bad girl. MOTHER SUPERIOR. You don't call a girl bad who is dis· obedient, rebellious, and disorderly? I insist she is, Sister Vi· talis. SR. VITALIS. Those faults alone do not mean a bad nature. She needs understand-ing-she needs discipline, of course--but she needs understanding first. I've watched her .for a long time. She seems unhappy-seems hurt, bewildered. I'm sure that something is worrying her, and that, perhaps, is why she unconsciously gives us trouble. Sh~'s being rebellious 'because she's bitter about somethin·g. But I assure you that she doesn't mean any harm, Mother. M. SUPERIOR. (Sits, left center.) You defend her ex· ceedingly well, Sister Vitalis. SR. VITALIS. It's because I understand her, Mother. If . you-if we--could only give her a chance to explain, I'm sure./: she would change for the better. :', M. SUPERIOR. But after last night's incident, there can be no chance for her now. You know what we've decided. SR. VITALIS. I know she can explain last night's incident, Mother. , M. SUPERIOR. How does she propose to explain it? By lying shamelessly, I suppose. Do you thi~ that. l' shall forgive her this time after she was caught talkmg WIth that servant last night? She knows it's aga:inst the rules to talk to the men-servants-she knows it very well-but, no, she chooses to disobey deliberately, because she feels like doi~g so. She must be punished and punished severely.: She should be taught a lesson-otherwise, the other girls wiU fol!ow ~er example' and we might as well close the school. She s ~Ullty of disorderly conduct, and she must be punished! .: , SR. VITALIS. She's different from other glrl~., We should help her. She suffers much, I can see. But she s very reserved-she doesn't talk much. .' . . M. SUPER10R. Yes, indeed, she is different-so different that she's the worst girl in' the school. . SR. VITALIS. But surely, Mother, expulsion is too drastic a punishment.

M. SUPERIOR. She should have been expelled long ago but for your own repeated pleadings, Sister. (Goes to window.) Besides, you remember last month when Elsa was caught with several love letters under her pillow. From whom? Ah, yes, from that basketball player in the boys' school next door. She was expelled. Why should Yolanda be the exception? Preced· ents are always dangerous. SR. VITALIS. It's true, but in this case-(F'ollotlJs MO· THER SUPERIOR to window.) M. SUPERIOR. Sister, you've a very soft heart. It's not always good. Harden that heart, Sister, harden it. And don't worry, I've called Yolanda to my office to explain. (A krwck is heard. MOTHER SUPERIOR sits at desk.) Come in. (YOLANDA enters., She is rather tall for her aget thin, and nerv0U8. Her intense nature is revealed in the expression of her IMe. Her most remarkable feature is her eyes, larue and with exceedingly rhtttrt expressiont haunting in their sG.dness. She is dressed all in white. Carries a bo(f1cor two. On seeing SISTER VITALIS, YOLANDA smiles timidly, but the smile dies on meeting the severe eyes of the MOTHER SUPERIOR. SISTER VITALIS leaves quietly.) M. SUPERIOR. Take a seat, .Yolanda. (YOLANDA sits near the desk. MOTHER SUPERIOR sits before her desk a,nd reads a letter. Once in a while she shake8 her head.) YOLANDA. You wanted to see met Mother? . M. SUPERIOR. Yes, of course. Do you think I called you that you may stare at the ceiling? Just be patient till I finish this. (YOLANDA is obviouslyner.vous. The MO· THER SUPERIOR finishes reading.) WeIl,. Yolanda, I'm' surprised at your poor conduct lately. That's why I called you to my office. For the past month and a half I've been receiving nothing but bad reports from the Sisters. Poor scholarship, rebellion, disobedience, disorderly conduct, quarrels with your classmaies-all sorts of complaints. You were never like this before, Yolanda. Since you came here to study five years ago you've always behaved weIl. Rather gloomy, it's true,

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but quiet and studious; never gave us trouble, except occasionally, of course. Last year you were just as good as the previous years. No, no, now that I come to think of iIt, I began noticing that you acted strangely-in October, I think it was. No, I remember now, just after your. arrival from the Christmas vacation. And this school year-it's only Augu/t nowyour conduct has become disgraceful. YOLANDA. Oh, no, Mother I 'M. SUPERIOR. Let me finish, my child. Sister .Theresa left an hour ago, informing me of your refusal to take your lunch this morning. You didn't like the fried chicken, she said. And Sister Gertrudis told me la,at night that you also refused to play in the games yesterday and the day before. It is for your own physical welfare that you're obliged to take' part in some games daHy. (During the next sentence she goes to the filing cabitnet, taku