Irrepressible Sister Miriam | CHARACTERS: SISTER MIRIAM, in her late twenties and has a pert, lively expression, with a tendency to use many gestures ‘SISTER CARITAS SISTER MARTA in their early thirties SISTER ROSARY SISTER REGINA SISTER JULIANA, about fifty years old MOTHER PRIORESS in their early sixties MOTHER ANGELA FATHER VILLANUEVA, has Spanish blood and features and is in his carly fifties This play depicts imaginary life ina convent. All the characters are F fictitious. SCENE: The recreation room. A wall at the back with a cructfix. A large cur tain door on the right, This door leads to the other parts of the convent. Around table, a sofa, several chairs. A wastebasket near the left wall. ‘Aguitar on the table. A large curtained window on the left ‘TIME: Early evening te sisters CARITAS, MARTA, Rosary, and REGINA are onstage. ON? is on ing the rosary, the second is reading a book. The third ts sewtnS w the fourth is reading a newspaper. i idsrrepressible Sister Miriam 131 CARITAS: What a ae afternoon. So peaceful and ser MARTA: Indeed, Sister Caritas, We car now rest afer the mencement. _ * the school com. ROSARY: It was quite a sight—seeing all those little oj ing their diplomas. Gall those little girls all in white teceiy. CARITAS: Are you keeping up with the news, Sist REGINA: Yes. I haven't read the papers Se week. Papers since last week. Quite a hectic CARITAS: And what's the news, Sister? REGINA: It’s good to know that things are normal_the ‘ violence. the usual crimes and er Regina? CARITAS: I hope our Sisters are enjoying their vacation in ‘Tagaytay. MARTA: I sure wish I could go up there. CARITAS: Mother Superior assured us it would be our turn when they come back. MARTA: It’s so peaceful I can’t read my prayers. I feel sleepy. (The scene remains the same for a brief while. One of the Sisters bums a song, Suddenly we bear loud steps and voices.) MIRIAM: (Offstage) Oh, no! Oh, no, no! Not again! CARITAS: Sister Miriam as usual ROSARY: I had a fecling this peace was too beautiful to last. MARTA: Suddenly I'm wide awake. (SISTER MIRIAM rusbes in.) CARITAS: What is it this time, Sister Miriam? : MIRIAM: Talong! They're serving talong again for supper. I can’t stand it. ROSARY: And why don't you like it? MARTA: Talong is a vegetable and it’s good for one’s health. REGINA: Yes, we have so much in the garden we have to consume it. MIRIAM: But every day talong! Talong for lunch, talong for supper. And served plain, boiled or fried. It has been exactly twenty-three days since we started cating talong. i CARITAS: I don’t mind eating talong every Cay. . By MIRIAM: I don’t either, once a week, but the cook doesn’t wy ie ca Teast. Boiled or fried talong day in, day out. Ifshe could ate it rellenado with pork and raisins OF ham— CARITAS: Ham? MIRIAM: Well, I was thinking of the days at home. Mo it fried with ham and potatoes. . jriam. (SISTER ROSARY: But you're in the convent now, Sister Miri JULIANA enters quietly.) 1 talong I've always MIRIAM: Since Mother Superior told us to ve they'd take their regretted that they grow so fast and so soon: ther used to serve132 RETRIBUTION AND EIGHT OTHER SELECTED PLays | time—perhaps a year or two. Orperhaps never. (SISTER JULIANA, scan. dalized, exists burriedly.)1 tried to eat talong at lunch, but I couldn’ swallow it. I was looking for some ketsup or— ‘ MARTA: Ketsup is reserved for visitors only. MIRIAM: I wish I were a visitor. I could bear to eat talong—in serenity, CARITAS: Sister, we mustn't choose our food. We must eat what’s placed on the table. (SISTER JULIANA: and MOTHER PRIORESS enter quietly and listen.) MIRIAM: Perhaps we could give away all our talong to the poor, or per- haps sell them. ROSARY: Don't you know that talong is considered a delicacy in the US and Europe. They don't raise them there as easily as we raise them here. And think of the people of India and Africa— MIRIAM: What about them? ROSARY: Millions starving How they'd welcome talong for their daily fare. MIRIAM: We could export them to India. I could begin right now. I'm will- ing to go to the garden, pack them, and mail them to India. MOTHER: ‘To whom, Sister? / MIRIAM: To our Sisters in India. (She turns and sees MOTHER PRIORESS, but doesn’t lose ber poise.) Mother, | was telling them we could export talong to India. MOTHER: And why would you want to export them to India? MIRIAM: The starving masses, by the millions— MOTHER: You don't like along, do you, Sister Miriam? MIRIAM: Oh, I like it all right—in moderation. MOTHER: And what would you consider in moderation? MIRIAM: Once a month or twice, maybe. MOTHER: You object to eating talong every day? MIRIAM: Ugh! MOTHER: What was that "Ugh!" for? MIRIAM: It was an expression of-of— MOTHER: Of disgust perhaps? MIRIAM: Not disgust exactly, perhaps we would say— MOTHER: Revulsion? MIRIAM: That's too strong a word, Mother, . a MOTHER: We planted vegetables in our garden because it's so laser Trcause vegetables are expensive. By raising vegetables WE money. MIRIAM: Couldn't we raise apples, maybe—OF grapes? They #5 grapes in Cebu. -jrepressible Sister Miriamn OTHER: Apples and grapes? 7 N ‘i suy MIRIAM: With our meals, Mother? Po YOU'A want 133 MOTHER: Yes, with our meals, Champag, : ‘ : Dex TRIAM: Not necessarily ch; J MOTHER: A lite ey And soce"s. but perhaps a jing al 8 Lith wy, senses? (Turning to the other gre PPPS 10 Our montinnn out the plants and bushes at isters) From now on Meation Of the to talong. the back of the chapel and YOU to tear Plant them MIRIAM: That’s about a hectar e, NOTHER: Ifl can ind five or tent i an ec And, Sister Miriam, please go to t (But SISTER JULIANA hears it a; MIRIAM: Plain or rellenado? MOTHER: Boiled. MIRIAM: A plate of talong, Mother? For whom? MOTHER: Some Sisters here do not practice « the good of our souls we must al eee ee Iways do some mortification. Always, MIRIAM: And who's going to eat the talong you asked for, Mother? MOTHER: Who else? (SISTER JULIANA enters all excited, bringing a plate i talong. MOTHER PRionEss takes it and hands it to Miriam.) For you, sister. MIRIAM: I am not hungry, Mother. MOTHER: It doesn’t matter. MIRIAM: (Staring at the talong) Oh, no! MOTHER: Mortify yourself by eating that plate of talong. And eat it with gusto. (MOTHER goes out.) MIRIAM: With gusto? Ugh! How? (She picks up the eat it.) Sister Juliana, could you please bring some JULIANA: Hmph! (She exits.) MIRIAM: I'll imagine these are if't : if'it be (She tries to swallow it but gives up the Cees 1) On es Fossible let tis plate oftalong—bolled without any range from me-T'lldo anything just 10 make this 6 fa minor Pmnot worthy especial. (JULIANAenters quietly.) I suppose ae ici vaste talong and tries to ketsup or cheese? chorizos de Bilbao or chicken relleno. miracle. But consider the water into ay basket) Ah! (She goes and throws the talong ins on : 1 fot [A: Hmph! was looking for aca ort cat hem a : (Picking them up) Ot ai _ keep eoeerts outside oUF TOOTS. (cheerful)sone | RETRIBUTION AND EIGHT OTHER SELECTED PLAYS ave talong biscuits. MIRIAM: Oh no! Has the cook thought of making talong pudding? ‘ JULIANA: I'll tell her. I'm sure she’s capable of inventing such a delicious dessert. MIRIAM: I should learn to mortify my mouth. (She wraps the talong in ‘a piece of newspaper and places it inside ber pocket. MOTHER Prioress comes in, JULIANA whispers to her.) MOTHER: Did you eat the talong, Sister? JULIANA: For merienda we hi MIRIAM: I was thinking of eating it later. | | MOTHER: Not later, now. MIRIAM: I can’t, Mother—I can’t swallow it. I can’t MOTHER: Then, in order to mortify your senses, Twantyouto kneel and say the Hail Mary ten times. gladly, Mother. And I don't have to eat the talong? jana. She loves them. (She exits. JULIANA them. MIRIAM kneels down and MIRIAM: Oh, SMOTHER: Give them to Sister Jul greedily grabs the talong and eats raises ber arms.) MIRIAM: (loud) Ave Maria, napno kay gracta, say kataway wala ed sika, bindita ka ed biin amin (JuuNaraises ber eyebrows, then with gesture of dismay, runs out.) —tan binditay bungay eges mon ni PaiorEss enters, followed by JULIANA) Santa Maria, Jesus. (MOTHER {mo kamin managkasalanan, antan tan naant— Inay Dios, pikas MOTHER: Sister Miriam, Sister Juliana informs me you're prayin} man or something just as mystifying. MIRIAM: No, Mother, I’m praying in a Filipino dialect. | MOTHER: What dialect? MIRIAM: Pangasinan, MOTHER: And why in Pangasinan? : MIRIAM: I stayed two years in Malasiqui when my father was a judge there. MOTHER: And why in dialect and not in English or Latin? MIRIAM: I want to—to popularize our dialects. MOTHER: You're being singular, Sister. MIRIAM: No, Mother, I'm plural. MOTHER: Oh? MIRIAM: You forgot, Mother, that I have a twin sister—not so pretty—and : How do you know she' i MIRIAM: She wrote me, she's unhappily ma MOTHER: And why is she unhappy? MIRIAM: She thinks she made a big mistake in getting married. g in Ger- otsrepressble Sister Miriam, (OTHER: Why did she get married j 135 Moma: Twas the custom among he st place wie. And you're unhappy here, Sete MIRIAM: Oh, no, Mother! I'm happy ert talong. , MOTHER: Continue your prayers butin E again.) can’t hear you. in English. (MIRIAM raises ber arms MIRIAM: I’m praying silently. (She clo . MOTHER: And your eyes—why do ee apes tightly) MIRIAM: I can’t bear to sce Sister Juli ace iana eating the talong with MOTHER: You may get up now, Sister Miria gusto. . ; y iriam. (Pause.) By the way, th \ Mother Superior of our school in Misamis is spending the night here, It would be a nice gesture if hi a you could think of ing} ng of welcome ink of something—perhaps CARITAS: We'll think of something, Mother. (MOTHER PRIORESS leaves, also JULIANA.) ROSARY: What about the Drummer Boy? I's a touching song, MIRIAM: I used to play the drums in school. I could do the accompani- ment. (They start singing softly and tentatively. MIRIAM bits the guitar to simulate the drums, but she's either late or abead of time. The Sisters raise their eyebrows and shake their beads.) CARITAS: Stop. Sister Miriam, perhaps it would be advisable ifyou joined the chorus instead. (They start again, but SISTER MIRIAM is out of tune. Again, looks of disapproval.) | ROSARY: I think we should choose something simpler. Perhaps a pocm- CARITAS: Instead of joining us in a Sone pethaps we should ask Sister Miriam to serve coffee and some cookies to our visitor. RTA: I quite agree. go bac to wha they were doing REGINA: Not a bad idea. (The Sisters i v -as takes out ber at the beginning of the play. JULIANA enters. CARIT! very happy here, except tor th the d the third mystery rosary.) | 7 CARITAS: I must finish my FOS™*Y- Last night I reaches d . i mes say only a aNaeriae al, Sister Caritas. Many Ce sys MIRIAM: But that’s nothing unusY! this, rusbe the third or fourth mysteries. 0 cr i any ONE T can seldom finish the entire Bve P: ery. lakes the sig tonight I'll uy to say the entire orrownul ie pees ia the cross) The first sorrowtul mre) (MOTHER PRIORESS and JUL en aeeee finish thee OTHER: Sister Miriam, is it rue YOU the rosary?A | RETRIBUTION AND EIGHT OTHER SELECTED Plays 136 § MIRIAM: How did you know, Mother? Could this room be bugged with secret microphones? MOTHER: Is it true, Sister? | MIRIAM: Yes, Mother. I fall asleep by the time I reach the third mystery, | MOTHER: You must learn to concentrate more, to avoid distractions, I's j your obligation to say five parts of the rosary every day. | MIRIAM: I'm aware of that, Mother; however, the spirit is willing but the flesh—you know how wretched the flesh is. / MOTHER: I too am aware of that, Sister, but learn to concentrate and | not let your mind wander to worldly things. | MIRIAM: I really try hard, Mother— | JULIANA: I had the same difficulty as Sister Miriam in finishing the entire | rosary, but since I started eating talong I've been able to concentrate and finish all the mysteries of the rosary. | MIRIAM: (Clapping ber bands gently) So good to hear that, Sister Juliana. | I'm sure you'll be willing to get my share of talong from now on. | JULIANA: Gladly, Sister Miriam. MOTHER: No, Sister Miriam must learn to eat her daily ration. It might | help her concentrate, like Sister Juliana here. (She leaves. Fora while there ts quiet. Suddenly) MIRIAM: I can’t, I can’t concentrate. Every time I say the Hail Mary the word talong gets mixed up in my prayers. (Putting back the rosary in ber sash) Since we are at recreation perhaps we could liven things up. (She starts bumming.) Remember the program at La Salle last week? The boys and the girls were dancing like this. (She ratses ber babit and starts dancing a-go-go. She bums la-la-la-la-la with aban- don. JUUANA runs out, The other Sisters, amused , laugh quietly. MorTHEr PRioRESS comes in, furious.) MOTHER: What is the meaning of this, Sister Miriam? MIRIAM: I was just imitating Saint Theresa of Avila. MOTHER: In what way? MIRIAM: In her biography it's said that she used to do a little dancing to. amuse the Sisters. MOTHER: But St. Theresa must have danced some sedate quiet Spanish dance. MIRIAM: If she were alive today I'm sure she wouldn't be able to help but dance the latest steps, And, Mother, all Spanish dances are fiery and tempestuous. I also read that St. Theresa used to play the guitar well. JULIANA: Sister Miriam was dancing like this. (Sbe demonstrates as the other Sisters giggle.) aeyepressible Sister Miriam MOTHER: Sister Juliana, you need tion of a modern dance. p, 2° Bive meg dep return to your room and renee ean with ee demons, MIRIAM: Instantly, Mother. (She jc. Steen mysterieg ™ ster Miia MOTHER: Sisters, did you rehe. ed to, Mothe MOTHER: Always Sister Mir) sent her to her room, (Offstage we bear SISTER Mirna Sisters!") MIRIAM: (Rushing én) Sisters, sisters MOTHER: What is it now? MIRIAM: My room—I can’t Set in! T locked the lock from inside before I left and now I can’t getin. | MOTHER: Where's your key? MIRIAM: I left it inside the room. Can we call the carpenter? MOTHER: The carpenter asked permission to go home. MIRIAM: What shall I do now? leaves.) ‘arse Somethin, for T, but Sister Mita eee fam. Thy OPE we can get some Peace now, 1 S voice as she shouts "Sisterst MOTHER: Your case is not hopeless. You can sleep here in the recreation room tonight. MIRIAM: Here? ; MOTHER: The carpenter won't be back till early tomorrow moming. MIRIAM: I can’t possibly sleep here, Mother. 7 M ER: And why not? There's that cozy so es MIRIAM It’s cozy uM right, but the cockroaches, there are cockroat flying all night. MOTHER: Harmless cockroaches, bite lke dogs or carry poton MIRIAM: I know cockroaches ake my flesh creep. touch me they mak a little like snakes but et cockroaches ever tae fae T've always bese ai cd to be afraid of them. girl. My mother from her. to MOTHER: Nonsense! You by imitation. ee 4 ind, Mother, " || MIRIAM: Do you mind, 1d to open my lock by force? so teks te 70 | MOTHER: All the Sisters hav tT ee merely copie .ch fears; they’re™! n't inherit su and ty Jarge nail anda hammet know why ‘i t er. soe YOU" - abe ours has. da hamme ojse es) j) MIs But with ge mae aol a MOTHER: I can alr e co! t reat. You'll disturb the ent _—~!138 RETRIBUTION AND EIGHT OTHER SELECTED pLayy JULIANA: Father Villanueva is leaving, Mother. (Farien \ enters.) ‘VILANUEVA MOTHER: Leaving, Father? FATHER: I've finished hearing confessions. MOTHER: Will you say the Mass tomorrow? FATHER: I might comea litte late, but I'll be here for the sixo'clock Mass, By the way, Sister Miriam knelt down for confession, but stood up and asked to be excused. She said she was coming back, but she didn’t. MOTHER: She did? : FATHER: I forgot my breviary. (He goes out. MOTHER PRIORESS stares at » SISTER MIRIAM.) MOTHER: Your behavior was extremely peculiar, Sister Miriam. Why did you leave the confessional? MIRIAM: If I told you, Mother, you might not believe me. MOTHER: And why not? MIRIAM: It’s something very confidential. MOTHER: Why didn’tyou finish your confession? You had something very important to do? MIRIAM: No, nothing. MOTHER: Perhaps you felt dizzy and went to the infirmary? MIRIAM: I did feel dizzy, but I didn’t go to the infirmary. MOTHER: Where then? MIRIAM: You sce, Mother, Father Villanueva suffers from something. MOTHER: What something? Speak up. MIRIAM: He has—he has— MOTHER: Go on— MIRIAM: Bad breath. MOTHER: Bad breath? (She looks at the other Sisters who snicker and nod quietly. FATHER VILLANUEVA comes back with bis breviary.) FATHER: (Approaching MOTHER PRIORESS) Thank you, Mother, for the wonderful merienda. (Unconsctously, MOTHER PRIORESS covers ber nose. The otber Sisters look down to bide thetr smiles.) Why ate you covering your nose, Mother? You have a cold? t MOTHER: (Backing up as be goes near ber) Something of the so! (FATHER VILLANUEVA coughs near ber nose.) , FATHER: My voice is gone. MOTHER: Yes, yes, from hearing confessions. FATHER: Did Sister Miriam explain why she MOTHER: Explain? Oh yes, she did, she feltiple Sister Miriam repress! 139 val JER: Maybe she doesn't eat cnough. OTHER: She does, she does. She’s the heaviest eater in the h Tet ah, perhaps she makes too many act of mortification? Bomnck: Sster Miriam? (She laughs.) Far from it. (MIRIAM om with a bottle and a@ glass.) es back Lsterine, Father. Your cough will be gone. Sister, you're most kind. (He takes the Listerine, starts making. noisesand yuRIAM: Gargle this L FATHER: Thank you, gargles, but unconsciously swallows it, He faces.) What was that? My throat— MIRIAM: You were just supposed to gargle with it, Father. Here, Father, rane this whole bottle and gargle with it, We'll supply you with abot tle weekly. FATHER: How generous and kindhearted you all are. I shall say special prayer tonight for Sister Miriam. Father, do that. I need it for my faults. MIRIAM: Yes, FATHER: What faults could you possibly have, Sister? MOTHER: Big ones, serious ones. FATHER: Eh? YMOTHER: ['ll accompany you to the door, enters and bands a note to SISTER MARTA.) g it) My poor cousin Mely. She died last night from MARTA: (After reading cancer— CARITAS: Cancer? MARTA: Of the bre lanueva about having a special CARITAS: We must notify the other Sist MIRIAM: If could choose my manner den one, like a heart attack or cerebr lightning, like an atomic bomb. Fast and clean. I would not want to bother my Sisters by attending to me night and day, for years maybe. No, like lightning, that’s how I want (0 dic. JULIANA enters and car ries a framed picture, @ bammer, and @ nail. She goes #0 a Rosary and whispers to ber. ROSARY nods. SI ye left wall.) Rosary, let me hang the Father. (They leave. JULIANA ast. A long, painful death. I must notify Father Vil- Mass said for her. ers immediately. of death, I’'d choose a fast, sud- al hemorrhage, something like spe walks 40 tb MIRIAM: (Vbo bas seen it all) Let me, SIstek ng ihe frame. (She picks up the nail and with vereat force bammers th 0 egy sss Armed ory) Arr ay, ayt (Sbepresses ber burt finger’ TAS: Count one to ten. (JULIANA exits.) . seve! MIRIAM: Thirteen_. (grimaces)—twelve—nin€ (more gaspsy-§ ere —two-one. (Muffled noises, @ great sigh of relief) Avs ¥ RO: tible experience. SARY: Did you feel like cursing, Sister? esil 140 RETRIBUTION AND EIGHT OTHER SELECTED PLays MIRIAM: Very much so. I can understand those men who have such a vast colorful vocabulary. Our convent vocabulary is limited. (JULIANA enters again and whispers to CARITAS.) CARITAS: Sisters, I have bad news. Our driver Doro died an hour ago, MIRIAM: Died? How? CARITAS: Ofa heart attack. ROSARY: Did he suffer from heart trouble? CARITAS: As far as I know it was his first and last attack. REGINA: How true—death comes like a thief in the night. MIRIAM: (She makes the sign of the cross, kneels down, and pressing ber bands together, lifts up ber eyes.) Dear Lord, don't let me die of a sudden death. I'm so afraid 1 might not be ready. Consider, Lord, how young I still am. Give me a long sickness—cancer of the lungs or even double pneumonia, but not a heart attack. Dear Lord, listen to me please. Please, ha? MOTHER: (Offstage) No, Mother Angela, no, they're just having recrea- Hon. Please do come in. (MOTHERANGELA enters, followed by MOTHER PRIORESS and JULIANA, ) Here's Mother Angela, she comes alll the way from Misamis, SISTERS: Welcome, Mother. (Some embrace ber.) ANGELA: I came to Manila for a conference with the Cardinal. Where's Mother Araceli? MOTHER: Our Mother Superior is in Tagaytay, ANGELA: With the other Sisters? MOTHER: Yes, they all need a vacation, ANGELA: And you, Sister Mi MIRIAM: Not so, Mother! I wanted very badly to 0 to Tagaytay— MOTHER: Sister Miriam is needed here. Besides, Mother Superior felt she needed some disciplinary action, ANGELA: Ise. @auses,) 1 brought two baskets of vegetables. We plant aoa Sarden there. I thought you might welcome our fresh MIRIAM: You brought pineapples? ANGELA: And papaya, tomatoes, and grapes from Cebu. pana Grapes! (Sarcastically) And talong? BLA: I didn't know you were so f Yes, 1 brought one whole basket, eee See gg Ys MOTHER: The Sisters wanted to Prepare something, some sort of a bier- venida, Mother Angela, but it seems their plans went awry. Sister Miriam here— iriam, preferred to stay in the city? ANGELA: Sister Miriam has a lovely voice. I heard her sing once, duringsrepressible Sister Miriam a Christmas program sometime ago, ™ MOTHER: That remember? ANGELA: I do remember now. I couldn’t hear a thi Gosiengfiao prescribed massive doses of vitamin MSelY Postar MIRIAM: Would you like to hear me sing, Mother? , MOTHER: I don't think we should bx want to rest. other Mother Angela now. She might was the time, , Mother, you were Suffering fr ‘om deafness, ANGELA: No, no, my dears, Tam not tired at all. The plane tri smooth. I see a guitar here. (She picks it up and start: tip was ts strumming it. Soon the music grows lively, SisTER MIRIAM raises ber babit a dances a modern dance, with gestures and all. The others imitate ber and soon they are all dancing bappily, with much laughter and noise. ANGELA laughs as she plays, Sister JULIANA, horrified, makes the sign of the cross. The music ends, They are all laughing and panting.) ANGELA: Yes, my dear Sisters, God wishes us to rejoice always. They also serve who serve in jest and laughter/Those who serve with frowns and austerity do not necessarily serve with justice and compassion. We mustn't look sad, for sadness implies guilt which is the result of sin, Even some persons who act notoriously wild with pranks and clowning, are doing the will of God. Not all saints were serious and gloomy, many of them were extremely happy and sometimes the world called them crazy and were incomprehensible to others, eves to their Superiors. The thing to avoid is sin. Unfortunately, we're all made of the same fragile clay . .Ah, Sister Miriam has » faraway look. Lwonder if she's hungry. I'm sure the talong I brought will gladden her heart, In Misamis, a friend of mine invited me once 19 supper. She served talong; I never tasted anything so delicious. Ithad cheese and bacon and olive oil— Mother? MIRIAM: Can you remember the recipe, Mother? ANGELA: indeed Ido. She said to use 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 cup of Se 6 slices of bacon, garlic, onion, tomatoes, Breen PoP ee an 4 cubed talong with the other ingredients, except the cl bacon— MIRIAM, (ler mouth watering) Cheese and PAT cg elieno with ANGELA: Oh, I enjoyed it so much. Or you could try rk and raisins or garbanzos— talong the MIRIAM: I'm sure our good mother wall ask the cook f0 Serve % way Mother Angela likes it. days. Mother feast | MOTHER: No, no, we can’t serve rich food excePt op Mai.”aa 142 RETRIBUTION AND EIGHT OTHER SELECTED ptayg Angela, would you want to wash first? We'll have supper ready in a short while. ANGELA: Remember, Sisters, a person who laughs much may be hiding great hurts. (They all leave, except MIRIAM and JULIANA.) MIRIAM: Sister Juliana, could you picase ask the Cook if she has cheese, bacon, and-olive oil? ’ JULIANA: It may be against the rules, but I shall ask her. I'm hungry, too, (MmuaM arranges the furniture, Seeing the guitar, she picks it up. She sits down and starts to play softly, JULIANA enters.) I asked the cook— MIRIAM: And—? JULIANA: She says we have no cheese because it's expensive, we have no bacon hecause it’s fattening, and we're out of olive oil. (MIRIAM does not answer. She continues playing the guitar and as she plays she speaks softly.) MIRIAM: I miss my mother ... She was opposed to my vocation. She felt Ishould finish college, get my master's degree and find a good hus- band. But worldly things made my heart empty... My twin sister Leni got married shortly before I entered the convent, What makes parents misunderstand their children’s motives? . . . Now my sister is Separated from her husband and I—1 ty to follow my vocation, even ifimperfectly . . . But God sces inside our hearts and knows what's real and what's put on. . .I miss my mother . . . It seems only yester- day ae ued her funeral... Mama... (She bows ber bead and ¢ guitar ts silent. JULIANA goes to ber and pal back. SISTER CARITAS enters hs two large paper Mee, ie CARITAS: Sister Miriam's sister brought these for her. (She goes out.) MIRIAM: Please bring them to the kitchen, Sister Juliana. (She peeps into the bags.) Talong! (She looks Sor the wastebasket and dumps all the talong tn it. JULIANA, scandalized ized, makes the 7 JULIANA: Hmph! Double hmpht pes out Minion els 2 ; (She rushes out. Mi els down and, raising ber arms, prays the Hail Mary in Cebudonry nga puro ka sa gracia, ang Ginoong ikaw sa mga babaeong tanan, ng bunga sa tiyan nga si Jesus— bulaban usab ang mabal ng