Divinity & Legend PG.32

LOYALTY WAIVERS


[Scene opens - Isabelle walks into cathedral while gripping tightly filled pack close to her side. Isabelle walks slowly up to front of church – pauses she stares intensely at the front platform; thick solid wood pieces have been bolted together in the shape of a cross and it been bolted to the front wall facing the door. Moments later the priest walks in; takes a second to observe and looks thoughtfully at Isabelle. The priest observes Isabelle come to her knees, she lowers her head, closes her eyes; Isabelle’s hands lay flat on both sides of her barley keeping her upper body up. Isabelle appears to be in anguish and a sense of loneliness can be noted in her face]

[Isabelle sensing she is not alone; looks up from her trance; the priest has moved up to the platform and is now right behind her; both the priest and Isabelle lock eyes without saying a word for several moments, the sorrow in her face is evident and the priest initially shows an unusual high degree of humility in front of her]

Isabelle – (Isabelle pushes herself up from the floor; looks up at the cross, tears begin to stream down her face, while her eyes remain shut as if to attempt to keep her emotions from overflowing onto the churches platform)
I messed up! (Her body begins to tremble) And now I am paying for my mistakes. (Isabelle locks her eyes again on the bolted cross)
Priest – (Priest places his hands on Isabelle’s shoulder) God forgives all.
Isabelle – What if I’m not asking for his forgiveness. (Priest faces shows confusion and he abruptly removes his hand from his shoulder)
Priest – What do you mean?
Isabelle – I messed up. (Tears start to scroll down her face again) I try my best to follow all his rules and the rules of this world… a world that will never accept me and still I am made to suffer.
Priest – (Priest looks down towards the floor) – I know it’s been hard for you.
Isabelle – No… that’s what I mean. I know that I don’t always live up to his standards (Brief pause) but I’m made to pay the cost more then others.
Priest – That is the case sometimes.
Isabelle – It is the case that I be made to suffer?
Priest – It is not without precedent that God asks more from some then others; for it is exactly those that he places great expectation in. And it is those that he calls to a higher purpose.
Isabelle – Father I do not seek this purpose… I seek peace…an absence of pain.
Priest – You cannot run from pain Isabelle; that is never God’s will.
Isabelle – I don’t need God’s will for me when all it has lead me to is more suffering; not when there is a world that will accept me for who I am.
Priest – (Appearing puzzled) I don’t understand
Isabelle – (Isabelle locks eyes with the Priest and showing herself a increased level of humility) Father, I’m grateful for all you have done for me but I must leave now.
Priest – (Priest’s eyes become teary) Leave! (pause) Where?
Isabelle – Do you think that after all this time I would be the only one?
Priest – Isabelle… this is your home.
Isabelle – No… it’s my cage. I will go where there are others like me…maybe there I will find the peace that this world cannot offer.
Priest – You cannot solve anything by running away. Heartache only diminishes with time not distance.
[Isabelle looks directly at the Priest abruptly; her face has harden in response to the comment]
Isabelle – It that what you think?
Priest – I think that’s part of it.
Isabelle – If it is part of my choice to escape it is only that it reinforces what I already know. That I don’t belong here. [Isabelle picks up her pack from the platform and makes her way towards the front of church]
Isabelle – (Before walking past through the open doors, Isabelle stops abruptly and turns back) Goodbye Father (Isabelle proceeds to walk out of the church).