The Flying Nun (1967–1970): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Fatal Hibiscus - full transcript
As much as she loves Sister Bertrille, the Reverend Mother believes that the high winds of San Juan create an environment not suitable for Sister Bertrille. This is highlighted by the fact that Sister Bertrille flew through a new stained-glass window with her errant flying. So the Reverend Mother makes the difficult decision to transfer her to another convent, possibly in Rome. As exciting as that may be, Sister Bertrille is devastated about leaving, and openly shows that. Her frequent bouts of tears are due to this, but she attributes it to her allergy to hibiscus flowers. Sister Bertrille asks that the Reverend Mother not tell the other sisters until just before her scheduled departure. But the sister does tell Carlos, who is also disheartened by the news, but would not dare question the Reverend Mother's decision. But Carlos works behind the scenes with the children of the convent to organize a protest to keep Sister Bertrille at San Tanco. Sister Ana overhears the news of Sister Bertrille's departure, thinking that Sister Bertrille is dying. So the sisters treat her with kid gloves. They also see the Reverend Mother is treating Sister Bertrille with her regular sternness, the sisters thinking her cold-hearted in light of Sister Bertrille's imminent 'passing'. Thus the sisters embark on a cold shoulder campaign toward the Reverend Mother, who thinks it was orchestrated by Sister Bertrille as defiance against the transfer. This strengthens Reverend Mother's resolve to transfer her. The misunderstanding becomes known and is resolved, and everyone becomes clear as to Sister Bertrille's real fate. The sisters also find out about Carlos's campaign; the sisters suggest to him that that may not be the best approach to take with the Reverend Mother, and Carlos calls off the campaign. However, the campaign takes on a life of its own extending to the people of the community; this shows the Reverend Mother what a truly profound effect Sister Bertrille has had in her short time at San Tanco. The sister can stay.
[barking]
(Jacqueline) A FEW WEEKS
AGO AT CONVENT SAN TANCO,
OUR REVEREND MOTHER WAS
WRESTLING WITH A TROUBLING DECISION.
UH, SISTER ANA, HAVE YOU
SEEN SISTER BERTRILLE?
SHE'S PLAYING BASEBALL
WITH THE CHILDREN.
AH.
UH, WOULD YOU TELL HER I
WISH TO SEE HER, PLEASE?
OF COURSE, REVEREND MOTHER.
SENOR TRAZO.
MY MASTERPIECE!
6 MONTHS OF MY LIFE.
IT IS MAGNIFICENT.
AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.
[groaning]
(Jacqueline) AT THIS
POINT, REVEREND MOTHER
NO LONGER FELT
COMPELLED TO WRESTLE.
SISTER BERTRILLE, I WISH
TO SEE YOU IN MY OFFICE.
[stuttering]
(Jacqueline) REVEREND MOTHER
PLASEATO IS NOT A NARROW-MINDED WOMAN.
WHEN SHE FIRST DISCOVERED
THAT SISTER BERTRILLE COULD FLY,
SHE WAS DETERMINED TO TRY
TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION.
BUT NOW, REVEREND
MOTHER DECIDED THAT
SHE HAD OVERESTIMATED
HER OWN RESOURCES.
[knocking on door] YES, COME IN.
REVEREND MOTHER.
IT'S NOT TOO BAD I SEE.
NO. IT'LL CLEAR
UP IN A FEW DAYS.
I HOPE SO.
[coughing]
SISTER BERTRILLE?
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.
I'M ALLERGIC TO THEM.
DR. TAPIA'S BEEN TREATING ME.
REVEREND MOTHER, I FEEL SO
TERRIBLE ABOUT THE WINDOW.
AH, YES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPLANATION?
WELL, IT WAS A VERY HIGH BALL.
AND THE... THE...
[sniffing] THE BASES
WERE LO... LOADED...
[sneezing]
GOD BLESS YOU, CHILD.
THANK YOU.
UH, SENOR TRAZO THINKS
THAT HE MAY BE ABLE
TO REPAIR THE WINDOW.
BUT, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO WITH YOU
WHEN THE TRADE
WINDS GROW STRONGER?
I COULD PLAY CATCHER.
DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE
A SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM?
NO.
I HAVE COME TO A DECISION.
IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION.
I'VE GROWN FOND OF
YOU. ALL OF US HAVE.
REVEREND MOTHER?
I-IT'S NOT A QUESTION
OF VOCATION.
I FEEL THAT YOU
WILL SERVE GOD WELL.
BUT WE SIMPLY MUST
FIND YOU A LESS
TURBULENT CLIMATE.
A TRANSFER?
IT HAS NOT BEEN
A HASTY DECISION.
WELL, I KNOW, REVEREND MOTHER.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY
PATIENT WITH ME.
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE.
IT'S JUST THAT I...
I'M SORRY, REVEREND MOTHER.
I'M SORRY, I SHOULDN'T
BE DOING THIS.
THERE IS A CHANCE THAT
YOU MIGHT BE TRANSFERRED
TO THE HOLY CITY.
OH, WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I MEAN, WE KNOW
THAT... THAT IT IS VANITY
TO GET ATTACHED TO ONE PLACE,
AND I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED
OF GOING TO ROME.
OH, IT WON'T BE SAN TANCO.
OH, I'M SORRY, REVEREND MOTHER.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.
THEY MUST BE CONTAGIOUS.
OH, EXCUSE ME.
[sighing]
REVEREND MOTHER,
MAY I ASK A FAVOR?
YES, OF COURSE, CHILD.
PLEASE DON'T TELL THE
OTHERS THAT I'M GOING.
NOT RIGHT AWAY.
I GUESS, I DON'T
LIKE LONG GOODBYES.
SISTER JACQUELINE,
CURIOSITY IS A WASTE OF TIME.
DON'T YOU AGREE? WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
THAT WHICH WE SEE BY ACCIDENT
SHOULD BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN.
THE LORD TELLS US WHAT
HE WANTS US TO KNOW.
TRUE.
IDLE SPECULATION
IS VAIN AND FOOLISH.
(both) BUT WHAT CAN BE THE
TROUBLE WITH SISTER BERTRILLE?
I WARNED YOU, SISTER.
I COULD NOT STAND YOUR NAGGING.
I COULD NOT TOLERATE
YOUR LECTURES.
I COULD NOT ENDURE
YOU HOUNDING ME
WEEK AFTER WEEK.
OH, CARLOS, IT'S A
NEW PLAYGROUND!
READY TO BUILD.
OH, CARLOS, THE
KIDS'LL JUST FLIP.
I MEAN, THEY'LL BE DELIGHTED.
AS SOON AS THEY GO HOME
FOR THEIR, UM, CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAYS, WE START CONSTRUCTION.
I EXPECT YOU TO SUPERVISE
EVERYTHING PERSONALLY.
ME? YES, OF COURSE.
MY WORK IS FINISHED.
[birds chirping]
WHAT'S WRONG? NOTHING.
OH, SISTER.
WELL, ACTUALLY...
ACTUALLY, I PROBABLY
WON'T BE HERE AT CHRISTMAS.
OH, YOU ARE GOING ON SOME
KIND OF A LEAVE OR SOMETHING?
NOT EXACTLY.
SISTER JACQUELINE...
NO, NO, NO SISTER JACQUELINE.
WE WILL WAIT TILL YOU COME BACK.
WELL, I WON'T BE BACK.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I...
I'M BEING TRANSFERRED.
YOU ARE LEAVING SAN TANCO?
WHY?
DON'T ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
NO, NO, NOT A LOT.
JUST ONE. WHY?
WELL, IT'S THE CLIMATE.
I-IT'S BAD FOR ME. OH, I SEE.
700,000 PEOPLE COME
HERE EVERY YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE.
BUT FOR YOU, IT'S BAD.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, SISTER.
NOBODY TURNS ME INTO
A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
AND THEN WALKS AWAY.
OH, CARLOS, PLEASE
DON'T... SISTER.
SISTER?
I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.
WHAT HIBISCUS?
[sobbing]
SO YOU HAVE MADE UP YOUR MIND?
I HAVE WRITTEN TO OUR
MOTHER PROVINCIAL,
AND SHE WILL BE HERE ON
SUNDAY FOR HER ANNUAL VISIT,
AND WE WILL SETTLE
THE MATTER THEN.
I SEE.
YOU UNDERSTAND, SENOR RAMIREZ,
I CANNOT PUT PERSONAL FEELINGS
ABOVE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDER.
OH, OH, I UNDERSTAND.
STILL, THIS IS A
TERRIBLE SHOCK TO ME.
(Rev. Mother) SENOR,
SISTER BERTRILLE
DOES NOT WANT THE
OTHERS TO KNOW.
(Carlos) SHE IS VERY BRAVE.
A REAL, HOW DO YOU SAY, TROOPER?
YES.
IT WILL BE A GREAT
BLOW TO THE OTHERS.
TO THE OTHERS AND TO ME.
THAT SPIRIT.
THAT LIFE.
WE WILL NEVER
SEE THE LIKES AGAIN.
YES, I KNOW THAT, SENOR.
HOW MUCH LONGER WILL
WE HAVE HER WITH US?
(Rev. Mother) A FEW
WEEKS. A MONTH.
(Carlos) THAT'S ALL?
SENOR RAMIREZ, I HAD
THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS
YOU MIGHT PROTEST MY DECISION.
OH, ME? PROTEST?
OH, OH, YOU MISJUDGE
ME, REVEREND MOTHER.
ONE DOES NOT ARGUE WITH FATE.
THANK YOU, SENOR. GOOD DAY.
GOOD DAY.
HEY, MIGUEL, I
GOT A JOB FOR YOU.
HOW GOOD ARE YOU
AT KEEPING A SECRET?
[whispering in Spanish]
DYING? DYING?
ARE YOU SURE?
[sobbing] WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
THEY TALKED OF HER COURAGE,
OF HER NOT WANTING US TO KNOW.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT IS TRUE.
IT IS TRUE.
IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.
HER VISITS TO DR. TAPIA.
HER SUDDEN TEARS.
HER ALLERGY THAT IS NO ALLERGY.
WE MUST GO TO HER.
WE MUST GO TO HER.
NO, SISTERS, NO.
IF SHE WANTS THIS KEPT A SECRET,
WE MUST RESPECT HER PRIVACY.
ALL WE CAN DO IS TO
MAKE HER LAST DAYS HERE
[sobbing]
AS CHEERFUL AS POSSIBLE.
SHE WILL NEVER
SUSPECT THAT WE KNOW.
[birds chirping]
[sneezing]
[door opening]
HERE SHE COMES. CHINS UP.
CHINS UP, SISTERS.
(all) GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M SORRY I'M LATE,
BUT MIGUEL WANTED
SOME PAINT AND THINGS
FROM THE SUPPLY ROOM.
WHY DID YOU NOT STAY WITH THE
CHILDREN FOR THEIR PLAY PERIOD?
YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO THEM.
OH, WELL, THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE LET ME STAY, ANYWAY.
THEY'VE GOT SOME
TOP-SECRET PROJECT GOING.
[all chuckling]
NO, NO, SISTER. WHY NOT?
YOUR ALLERGY.
OH, I'M ONLY
ALLERGIC TO HIBISCUS.
WELL, WHO KNOWS WHAT
THE SOAP IS MADE OF?
SCOURING SOAP?
ANYWAY, THAT'S MY MOP. YOUR MOP?
OH, YES, SISTER SIXTO IS
VERY ATTACHED TO THAT MOP.
YOU BET. IT'S MY
OBSCURITY BLANKET.
SECURITY BLANKET.
OH,
W-WHY DON'T YOU GO
AND REST IN THE GARDEN?
YES.
WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE?
SISTER, I DON'T LIKE
TO PULL RANK ON YOU.
BUT I MUST ORDER YOU TO REST.
BUT I'M NOT...
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
QUESTION AN ORDER?
NO.
OF COURSE NOT.
NOW THEY WILL
LET THEIR HAIR FALL.
LET THEIR HAIR DOWN.
SISTER BERTRILLE.
YES?
THE FACT THAT YOU
WILL BE LEAVING US SOON
DOES NOT ENTITLE
YOU TO MALINGER.
I'M NOT MALINGERING,
REVEREND MOTHER.
SISTER JACQUELINE JUST
ORDERED ME TO REST.
WHATEVER FOR?
BEATS ME.
(Rev. Mother) WELL, UNTIL THE
TIME COMES FOR YOU TO GO, SISTER,
I EXPECT YOU TO DO YOUR DUTY.
THAT DUTY IS WORK.
DID YOU EVER HEAR
ANYTHING SO CRUEL?
SO COLD, SO CALLOUS.
OH, BOY, AM I BURNED OUT.
BURNED UP, SISTER.
FOR 10 YEARS I'VE IDOLIZED
THE REVEREND MOTHER.
I'VE PUT UP WITH HER
AUTHORITARIANISM
AND HER OLD-FASHIONED IDEAS.
THIS TIME SHE GOES TOO FAR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO
TAKE THIS LYING DOWN?
DOWN. YOU BET.
REVEREND MOTHER,
WE'LL FIX YOUR WIGWAM.
(Jacqueline) THAT
NIGHT, WE BEGAN
FIXING THE WIGWAM.
A LOVELY SHAWL.
YOUR NIECE IS GOING
TO ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.
HMM.
I DROPPED A STITCH.
BOY, YOU... YOU SURE
ARE BEATING ME, SISTER.
CARE TO CHALLENGE
HER, REVEREND MOTHER?
UH, TH-THAT MIGHT
BE VERY PLEASANT.
MUCHAS GRACIAS. BUT I
THINK I'M GONNA SLAP THE SACK
EARLY TONIGHT.
HIT THE SACK.
HIT? SLAP? WHAT'S
THE DIFFERENCE?
AS LONG AS IT HURTS.
I'M A BIT TIRED MYSELF.
ARE YOU READING ANOTHER
MYSTERY, SISTER JACQUELINE?
WELL, YES, WOULD
YOU CARE TO READ IT?
ALL... ALL RIGHT, THAT
MIGHT BE VERY PLEASANT.
I'M SURE YOU'LL ENJOY IT.
THANK YOU.
THE BUTLER'S BROTHER DID IT.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THIS
PRAYER BEFORE, FATHER.
BUT I, TOO, HAVE COME TO
PRAY FOR SISTER BERTRILLE.
DON'T TAKE HER FROM
US. SHE'S SO YOUNG.
(Jacqueline) HER... HER MISSION
HERE HAS BARELY BEGUN.
TAKE ME INSTEAD.
PLEASE, FATHER.
BUT IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE,
AT LEAST DON'T LET REVEREND
MOTHER BE SO CRUEL TO HER.
SISTER BERTRILLE?
GOOD MORNING.
HYPOCRISY IS A
GRIEVOUS SIN, SISTER.
WOULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN
BETTER TO DEFY ME OPENLY?
DEFY YOU?
YOU ASKED ME TO KEEP YOUR SECRET
AND THEN YOU TURN THE
OTHER SISTERS AGAINST ME.
AND YOU ORGANIZE
THIS, UH, THIS MUTINY.
WELL, I DIDN'T
ORGANIZE ANYTHING.
PLEASE, SISTER. NO
MORE DECEPTIONS.
OUR PROVINCIAL
MOTHER ARRIVES SUNDAY.
WHEN SHE LEAVES, YOU
WILL LEAVE WITH HER.
BUT I... IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?
YES.
YES, OF COURSE.
REVEREND MOTHER, THIS
HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH.
SISTER JACQUELINE, DESPITE
YOUR EARNEST PRAYERS,
SISTER BERTRILLE'S
AFFAIRS ARE IN MY HANDS.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY THEY'RE IN
THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY?
NO.
CONTRARY TO YOURSELF,
I DO NOT PESTER THE
ALMIGHTY WITH DETAILS.
DETAILS?
DYING?
TRANSFERRED?
I OWE HER AN APOLOGY.
[birds chirping]
COME, SISTER JACQUELINE.
OH, YOU HAVE RESTORED IT.
WONDERFUL, SENOR TRAZO.
A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE
THAT IT COULD BE DONE.
DO YOU THINK THERE'S A MESSAGE
THERE FOR US, SISTER JACQUELINE?
PERHAPS.
OH, SISTER ANA, HAVE YOU
SEEN SISTER BERTRILLE?
SHE'S GIVING THE CHILDREN
A BADMINTON LESSON.
IN THIS WIND?
HOW TYPICAL OF THE CHILD
TO SIMPLY PICK UP HER WORK AGAIN
AFTER THE WAY I ABUSED HER.
SHE HAS A TRULY SOARING SPIRIT.
WHO WOULD THINK A LITTLE
THING LIKE THIS COULD FLY SO HIGH?
[groaning]
(Jacqueline) REVEREND MOTHER
POSTPONED MAKING ANY DECISION
UNTIL OUR MOTHER
PROVINCIAL'S VISIT.
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WE
ALL WALKED ON EGGSHELLS.
OH, SISTER.
FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT YOUR
BALLOON WAS SISTER BERTRILLE.
YOU DID?
IT WORKS.
PEDRO.
WHAT WORKS?
MIGUEL.
COME ON NOW, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?
PEDRO?
NOW LOOK, BOYS,
IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO
DO WITH SISTER BERTRILLE,
SHE HAS A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
(Miguel) WE KNOW.
SENOR RAMIREZ IS
ORGANIZING A PROTEST MARCH.
A WHAT?
BUT I HAVE PLANNED A
MAGNIFICENT STRATEGY.
PHASE 1: THE CHILDREN.
PHASE 2: I WILL CALL
EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE HER.
THEY ALL BE AT MASS ON SUNDAY.
PHASE 3:
I WILL PERSONALLY TALK
TO THE MOTHER PROVINCIAL.
PHASE 4...
SISTER BERTRILLE GETS
SHIPPED OUT ON THE FIRST BOAT.
ARE YOU SURE?
THE REVEREND MOTHER
IS STILL ON THE FENCE.
IF YOU STAGE THIS PROTEST MARCH,
IT'LL TURN INTO A
BON VOYAGE PARTY.
BUT I JUST CAN'T SIT HERE
WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING.
THEY ALSO SERVE...
I KNOW. I KNOW.
MISS FERNANDEZ, PLEASE GET...
DON'T GET ME ANYBODY.
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD
TO VISITING SAN TANCO.
IT'S SO RESTFUL HERE.
[bell tolling]
SISTER BERTRILLE?
ISN'T THAT THE NOVICE
YOU WROTE TO ME ABOUT?
UH, YES, UH, SHE IS THE ONE.
SHALL WE GO ON,
MOTHER PROVINCIAL?
MOTHER PLASEATO, YOU SAID THE
TOWNSPEOPLE NEVER CAME TO MASS.
IT'S A RATHER
SUDDEN DEVELOPMENT.
GOOD MORNING, REVEREND MOTHER.
GOOD MORNING.
WELL, SINCE SISTER
BERTRILLE'S BEEN HERE,
WELL, I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT.
I SEE.
SISTER BERTRILLE,
WELL, WE LOVE HER.
SISTER BERTRILLE,
WELL, SHE SORT OF,
UH, SHOWED ME
THE ODDS, YOU KNOW.
UH, OF COURSE.
THIS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UH, YES.
AND I THINK I KNOW THE ONE WHO
HAS ARRANGED THE IMPRESSION.
OH, REVEREND MOTHER,
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN...
PLEASE, DO NOT BOTHER, SENOR.
IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS
THAT YOU ARE THE ONE
WHO INSTIGATED ALL OF THIS.
OH, I WAS GOING
TO, BUT I DIDN'T.
IT'S TRUE, REVEREND
MOTHER, I WAS THERE.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED A
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IN SPITE OF US.
I GUESS THIS IS NOT
THE KIND OF FEELING
THAT YOU CAN START OR
STOP, REVEREND MOTHER.
WHERE IS SISTER BERTRILLE?
SHE'S IN HER ROOM.
MOTHER PROVINCIAL, WOULD YOU
EXCUSE ME FOR JUST A MOMENT?
THANK YOU.
[birds chirping]
[knocking on door]
YES.
SISTER BERTRILLE?
YES, REVEREND MOTHER.
WHY ARE YOU NOT AT MASS?
I WENT TO EARLY
MASS IN TOWN. I...
I WANTED TO GET STARTED PACKING.
COME WITH ME.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SOUNDS
IN THIS WONDERFUL WORLD.
SURELY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
IS THE SOUND OF LOVE.
SOMETIMES WE TRY NOT TO HEAR IT.
I DO NOT KNOW WHY.
PERHAPS IT'S FEAR
OR FOOLISHNESS.
A FEW MOMENTS AGO,
I HEARD THE SOUND MORE CLEARLY
THAN I HAVE EVER
HEARD IT BEFORE.
AND I THINK
THAT YOU HAD BETTER UNPACK.
WELCOME TO SAN TANCO.
OH, REVEREND MOTHER!
OH, FORGIVE ME.
I'M JUST SO HAPPY.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT I COULD...
YOU'RE SO HAPPY
THAT YOU COULD...
YOU GO AHEAD.
AND WITH MY BLESSING.
♪ WHO NEEDS WINGS TO FLY ♪
♪ CERTAINLY NOT I ♪
♪ I PREFER TO TAKE
UP ON THE BREEZE ♪
♪ FOLLOW ANY SWALLOW ♪
♪ THAT MAY PLEASE MY FANCY ♪
♪ I JUST CLOSE MY EYES ♪
♪ TIPTOE THROUGH THE SKIES ♪
♪ LONG AS THERE'S A HABIT ♪
♪ STANDING BY ♪
♪ WHO NEEDS THINGS LIKE WINGS ♪
♪ TO FLY? ♪
(Jacqueline) A FEW WEEKS
AGO AT CONVENT SAN TANCO,
OUR REVEREND MOTHER WAS
WRESTLING WITH A TROUBLING DECISION.
UH, SISTER ANA, HAVE YOU
SEEN SISTER BERTRILLE?
SHE'S PLAYING BASEBALL
WITH THE CHILDREN.
AH.
UH, WOULD YOU TELL HER I
WISH TO SEE HER, PLEASE?
OF COURSE, REVEREND MOTHER.
SENOR TRAZO.
MY MASTERPIECE!
6 MONTHS OF MY LIFE.
IT IS MAGNIFICENT.
AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.
[groaning]
(Jacqueline) AT THIS
POINT, REVEREND MOTHER
NO LONGER FELT
COMPELLED TO WRESTLE.
SISTER BERTRILLE, I WISH
TO SEE YOU IN MY OFFICE.
[stuttering]
(Jacqueline) REVEREND MOTHER
PLASEATO IS NOT A NARROW-MINDED WOMAN.
WHEN SHE FIRST DISCOVERED
THAT SISTER BERTRILLE COULD FLY,
SHE WAS DETERMINED TO TRY
TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION.
BUT NOW, REVEREND
MOTHER DECIDED THAT
SHE HAD OVERESTIMATED
HER OWN RESOURCES.
[knocking on door] YES, COME IN.
REVEREND MOTHER.
IT'S NOT TOO BAD I SEE.
NO. IT'LL CLEAR
UP IN A FEW DAYS.
I HOPE SO.
[coughing]
SISTER BERTRILLE?
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.
I'M ALLERGIC TO THEM.
DR. TAPIA'S BEEN TREATING ME.
REVEREND MOTHER, I FEEL SO
TERRIBLE ABOUT THE WINDOW.
AH, YES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPLANATION?
WELL, IT WAS A VERY HIGH BALL.
AND THE... THE...
[sniffing] THE BASES
WERE LO... LOADED...
[sneezing]
GOD BLESS YOU, CHILD.
THANK YOU.
UH, SENOR TRAZO THINKS
THAT HE MAY BE ABLE
TO REPAIR THE WINDOW.
BUT, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO WITH YOU
WHEN THE TRADE
WINDS GROW STRONGER?
I COULD PLAY CATCHER.
DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE
A SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM?
NO.
I HAVE COME TO A DECISION.
IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION.
I'VE GROWN FOND OF
YOU. ALL OF US HAVE.
REVEREND MOTHER?
I-IT'S NOT A QUESTION
OF VOCATION.
I FEEL THAT YOU
WILL SERVE GOD WELL.
BUT WE SIMPLY MUST
FIND YOU A LESS
TURBULENT CLIMATE.
A TRANSFER?
IT HAS NOT BEEN
A HASTY DECISION.
WELL, I KNOW, REVEREND MOTHER.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY
PATIENT WITH ME.
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE.
IT'S JUST THAT I...
I'M SORRY, REVEREND MOTHER.
I'M SORRY, I SHOULDN'T
BE DOING THIS.
THERE IS A CHANCE THAT
YOU MIGHT BE TRANSFERRED
TO THE HOLY CITY.
OH, WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I MEAN, WE KNOW
THAT... THAT IT IS VANITY
TO GET ATTACHED TO ONE PLACE,
AND I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED
OF GOING TO ROME.
OH, IT WON'T BE SAN TANCO.
OH, I'M SORRY, REVEREND MOTHER.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.
THEY MUST BE CONTAGIOUS.
OH, EXCUSE ME.
[sighing]
REVEREND MOTHER,
MAY I ASK A FAVOR?
YES, OF COURSE, CHILD.
PLEASE DON'T TELL THE
OTHERS THAT I'M GOING.
NOT RIGHT AWAY.
I GUESS, I DON'T
LIKE LONG GOODBYES.
SISTER JACQUELINE,
CURIOSITY IS A WASTE OF TIME.
DON'T YOU AGREE? WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
THAT WHICH WE SEE BY ACCIDENT
SHOULD BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN.
THE LORD TELLS US WHAT
HE WANTS US TO KNOW.
TRUE.
IDLE SPECULATION
IS VAIN AND FOOLISH.
(both) BUT WHAT CAN BE THE
TROUBLE WITH SISTER BERTRILLE?
I WARNED YOU, SISTER.
I COULD NOT STAND YOUR NAGGING.
I COULD NOT TOLERATE
YOUR LECTURES.
I COULD NOT ENDURE
YOU HOUNDING ME
WEEK AFTER WEEK.
OH, CARLOS, IT'S A
NEW PLAYGROUND!
READY TO BUILD.
OH, CARLOS, THE
KIDS'LL JUST FLIP.
I MEAN, THEY'LL BE DELIGHTED.
AS SOON AS THEY GO HOME
FOR THEIR, UM, CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAYS, WE START CONSTRUCTION.
I EXPECT YOU TO SUPERVISE
EVERYTHING PERSONALLY.
ME? YES, OF COURSE.
MY WORK IS FINISHED.
[birds chirping]
WHAT'S WRONG? NOTHING.
OH, SISTER.
WELL, ACTUALLY...
ACTUALLY, I PROBABLY
WON'T BE HERE AT CHRISTMAS.
OH, YOU ARE GOING ON SOME
KIND OF A LEAVE OR SOMETHING?
NOT EXACTLY.
SISTER JACQUELINE...
NO, NO, NO SISTER JACQUELINE.
WE WILL WAIT TILL YOU COME BACK.
WELL, I WON'T BE BACK.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I...
I'M BEING TRANSFERRED.
YOU ARE LEAVING SAN TANCO?
WHY?
DON'T ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
NO, NO, NOT A LOT.
JUST ONE. WHY?
WELL, IT'S THE CLIMATE.
I-IT'S BAD FOR ME. OH, I SEE.
700,000 PEOPLE COME
HERE EVERY YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE.
BUT FOR YOU, IT'S BAD.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, SISTER.
NOBODY TURNS ME INTO
A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
AND THEN WALKS AWAY.
OH, CARLOS, PLEASE
DON'T... SISTER.
SISTER?
I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.
WHAT HIBISCUS?
[sobbing]
SO YOU HAVE MADE UP YOUR MIND?
I HAVE WRITTEN TO OUR
MOTHER PROVINCIAL,
AND SHE WILL BE HERE ON
SUNDAY FOR HER ANNUAL VISIT,
AND WE WILL SETTLE
THE MATTER THEN.
I SEE.
YOU UNDERSTAND, SENOR RAMIREZ,
I CANNOT PUT PERSONAL FEELINGS
ABOVE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDER.
OH, OH, I UNDERSTAND.
STILL, THIS IS A
TERRIBLE SHOCK TO ME.
(Rev. Mother) SENOR,
SISTER BERTRILLE
DOES NOT WANT THE
OTHERS TO KNOW.
(Carlos) SHE IS VERY BRAVE.
A REAL, HOW DO YOU SAY, TROOPER?
YES.
IT WILL BE A GREAT
BLOW TO THE OTHERS.
TO THE OTHERS AND TO ME.
THAT SPIRIT.
THAT LIFE.
WE WILL NEVER
SEE THE LIKES AGAIN.
YES, I KNOW THAT, SENOR.
HOW MUCH LONGER WILL
WE HAVE HER WITH US?
(Rev. Mother) A FEW
WEEKS. A MONTH.
(Carlos) THAT'S ALL?
SENOR RAMIREZ, I HAD
THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS
YOU MIGHT PROTEST MY DECISION.
OH, ME? PROTEST?
OH, OH, YOU MISJUDGE
ME, REVEREND MOTHER.
ONE DOES NOT ARGUE WITH FATE.
THANK YOU, SENOR. GOOD DAY.
GOOD DAY.
HEY, MIGUEL, I
GOT A JOB FOR YOU.
HOW GOOD ARE YOU
AT KEEPING A SECRET?
[whispering in Spanish]
DYING? DYING?
ARE YOU SURE?
[sobbing] WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
THEY TALKED OF HER COURAGE,
OF HER NOT WANTING US TO KNOW.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT IS TRUE.
IT IS TRUE.
IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.
HER VISITS TO DR. TAPIA.
HER SUDDEN TEARS.
HER ALLERGY THAT IS NO ALLERGY.
WE MUST GO TO HER.
WE MUST GO TO HER.
NO, SISTERS, NO.
IF SHE WANTS THIS KEPT A SECRET,
WE MUST RESPECT HER PRIVACY.
ALL WE CAN DO IS TO
MAKE HER LAST DAYS HERE
[sobbing]
AS CHEERFUL AS POSSIBLE.
SHE WILL NEVER
SUSPECT THAT WE KNOW.
[birds chirping]
[sneezing]
[door opening]
HERE SHE COMES. CHINS UP.
CHINS UP, SISTERS.
(all) GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M SORRY I'M LATE,
BUT MIGUEL WANTED
SOME PAINT AND THINGS
FROM THE SUPPLY ROOM.
WHY DID YOU NOT STAY WITH THE
CHILDREN FOR THEIR PLAY PERIOD?
YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO THEM.
OH, WELL, THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE LET ME STAY, ANYWAY.
THEY'VE GOT SOME
TOP-SECRET PROJECT GOING.
[all chuckling]
NO, NO, SISTER. WHY NOT?
YOUR ALLERGY.
OH, I'M ONLY
ALLERGIC TO HIBISCUS.
WELL, WHO KNOWS WHAT
THE SOAP IS MADE OF?
SCOURING SOAP?
ANYWAY, THAT'S MY MOP. YOUR MOP?
OH, YES, SISTER SIXTO IS
VERY ATTACHED TO THAT MOP.
YOU BET. IT'S MY
OBSCURITY BLANKET.
SECURITY BLANKET.
OH,
W-WHY DON'T YOU GO
AND REST IN THE GARDEN?
YES.
WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE?
SISTER, I DON'T LIKE
TO PULL RANK ON YOU.
BUT I MUST ORDER YOU TO REST.
BUT I'M NOT...
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
QUESTION AN ORDER?
NO.
OF COURSE NOT.
NOW THEY WILL
LET THEIR HAIR FALL.
LET THEIR HAIR DOWN.
SISTER BERTRILLE.
YES?
THE FACT THAT YOU
WILL BE LEAVING US SOON
DOES NOT ENTITLE
YOU TO MALINGER.
I'M NOT MALINGERING,
REVEREND MOTHER.
SISTER JACQUELINE JUST
ORDERED ME TO REST.
WHATEVER FOR?
BEATS ME.
(Rev. Mother) WELL, UNTIL THE
TIME COMES FOR YOU TO GO, SISTER,
I EXPECT YOU TO DO YOUR DUTY.
THAT DUTY IS WORK.
DID YOU EVER HEAR
ANYTHING SO CRUEL?
SO COLD, SO CALLOUS.
OH, BOY, AM I BURNED OUT.
BURNED UP, SISTER.
FOR 10 YEARS I'VE IDOLIZED
THE REVEREND MOTHER.
I'VE PUT UP WITH HER
AUTHORITARIANISM
AND HER OLD-FASHIONED IDEAS.
THIS TIME SHE GOES TOO FAR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO
TAKE THIS LYING DOWN?
DOWN. YOU BET.
REVEREND MOTHER,
WE'LL FIX YOUR WIGWAM.
(Jacqueline) THAT
NIGHT, WE BEGAN
FIXING THE WIGWAM.
A LOVELY SHAWL.
YOUR NIECE IS GOING
TO ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.
HMM.
I DROPPED A STITCH.
BOY, YOU... YOU SURE
ARE BEATING ME, SISTER.
CARE TO CHALLENGE
HER, REVEREND MOTHER?
UH, TH-THAT MIGHT
BE VERY PLEASANT.
MUCHAS GRACIAS. BUT I
THINK I'M GONNA SLAP THE SACK
EARLY TONIGHT.
HIT THE SACK.
HIT? SLAP? WHAT'S
THE DIFFERENCE?
AS LONG AS IT HURTS.
I'M A BIT TIRED MYSELF.
ARE YOU READING ANOTHER
MYSTERY, SISTER JACQUELINE?
WELL, YES, WOULD
YOU CARE TO READ IT?
ALL... ALL RIGHT, THAT
MIGHT BE VERY PLEASANT.
I'M SURE YOU'LL ENJOY IT.
THANK YOU.
THE BUTLER'S BROTHER DID IT.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THIS
PRAYER BEFORE, FATHER.
BUT I, TOO, HAVE COME TO
PRAY FOR SISTER BERTRILLE.
DON'T TAKE HER FROM
US. SHE'S SO YOUNG.
(Jacqueline) HER... HER MISSION
HERE HAS BARELY BEGUN.
TAKE ME INSTEAD.
PLEASE, FATHER.
BUT IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE,
AT LEAST DON'T LET REVEREND
MOTHER BE SO CRUEL TO HER.
SISTER BERTRILLE?
GOOD MORNING.
HYPOCRISY IS A
GRIEVOUS SIN, SISTER.
WOULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN
BETTER TO DEFY ME OPENLY?
DEFY YOU?
YOU ASKED ME TO KEEP YOUR SECRET
AND THEN YOU TURN THE
OTHER SISTERS AGAINST ME.
AND YOU ORGANIZE
THIS, UH, THIS MUTINY.
WELL, I DIDN'T
ORGANIZE ANYTHING.
PLEASE, SISTER. NO
MORE DECEPTIONS.
OUR PROVINCIAL
MOTHER ARRIVES SUNDAY.
WHEN SHE LEAVES, YOU
WILL LEAVE WITH HER.
BUT I... IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?
YES.
YES, OF COURSE.
REVEREND MOTHER, THIS
HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH.
SISTER JACQUELINE, DESPITE
YOUR EARNEST PRAYERS,
SISTER BERTRILLE'S
AFFAIRS ARE IN MY HANDS.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY THEY'RE IN
THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY?
NO.
CONTRARY TO YOURSELF,
I DO NOT PESTER THE
ALMIGHTY WITH DETAILS.
DETAILS?
DYING?
TRANSFERRED?
I OWE HER AN APOLOGY.
[birds chirping]
COME, SISTER JACQUELINE.
OH, YOU HAVE RESTORED IT.
WONDERFUL, SENOR TRAZO.
A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE
THAT IT COULD BE DONE.
DO YOU THINK THERE'S A MESSAGE
THERE FOR US, SISTER JACQUELINE?
PERHAPS.
OH, SISTER ANA, HAVE YOU
SEEN SISTER BERTRILLE?
SHE'S GIVING THE CHILDREN
A BADMINTON LESSON.
IN THIS WIND?
HOW TYPICAL OF THE CHILD
TO SIMPLY PICK UP HER WORK AGAIN
AFTER THE WAY I ABUSED HER.
SHE HAS A TRULY SOARING SPIRIT.
WHO WOULD THINK A LITTLE
THING LIKE THIS COULD FLY SO HIGH?
[groaning]
(Jacqueline) REVEREND MOTHER
POSTPONED MAKING ANY DECISION
UNTIL OUR MOTHER
PROVINCIAL'S VISIT.
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WE
ALL WALKED ON EGGSHELLS.
OH, SISTER.
FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT YOUR
BALLOON WAS SISTER BERTRILLE.
YOU DID?
IT WORKS.
PEDRO.
WHAT WORKS?
MIGUEL.
COME ON NOW, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?
PEDRO?
NOW LOOK, BOYS,
IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO
DO WITH SISTER BERTRILLE,
SHE HAS A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
(Miguel) WE KNOW.
SENOR RAMIREZ IS
ORGANIZING A PROTEST MARCH.
A WHAT?
BUT I HAVE PLANNED A
MAGNIFICENT STRATEGY.
PHASE 1: THE CHILDREN.
PHASE 2: I WILL CALL
EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE HER.
THEY ALL BE AT MASS ON SUNDAY.
PHASE 3:
I WILL PERSONALLY TALK
TO THE MOTHER PROVINCIAL.
PHASE 4...
SISTER BERTRILLE GETS
SHIPPED OUT ON THE FIRST BOAT.
ARE YOU SURE?
THE REVEREND MOTHER
IS STILL ON THE FENCE.
IF YOU STAGE THIS PROTEST MARCH,
IT'LL TURN INTO A
BON VOYAGE PARTY.
BUT I JUST CAN'T SIT HERE
WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING.
THEY ALSO SERVE...
I KNOW. I KNOW.
MISS FERNANDEZ, PLEASE GET...
DON'T GET ME ANYBODY.
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD
TO VISITING SAN TANCO.
IT'S SO RESTFUL HERE.
[bell tolling]
SISTER BERTRILLE?
ISN'T THAT THE NOVICE
YOU WROTE TO ME ABOUT?
UH, YES, UH, SHE IS THE ONE.
SHALL WE GO ON,
MOTHER PROVINCIAL?
MOTHER PLASEATO, YOU SAID THE
TOWNSPEOPLE NEVER CAME TO MASS.
IT'S A RATHER
SUDDEN DEVELOPMENT.
GOOD MORNING, REVEREND MOTHER.
GOOD MORNING.
WELL, SINCE SISTER
BERTRILLE'S BEEN HERE,
WELL, I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT.
I SEE.
SISTER BERTRILLE,
WELL, WE LOVE HER.
SISTER BERTRILLE,
WELL, SHE SORT OF,
UH, SHOWED ME
THE ODDS, YOU KNOW.
UH, OF COURSE.
THIS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UH, YES.
AND I THINK I KNOW THE ONE WHO
HAS ARRANGED THE IMPRESSION.
OH, REVEREND MOTHER,
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN...
PLEASE, DO NOT BOTHER, SENOR.
IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS
THAT YOU ARE THE ONE
WHO INSTIGATED ALL OF THIS.
OH, I WAS GOING
TO, BUT I DIDN'T.
IT'S TRUE, REVEREND
MOTHER, I WAS THERE.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED A
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IN SPITE OF US.
I GUESS THIS IS NOT
THE KIND OF FEELING
THAT YOU CAN START OR
STOP, REVEREND MOTHER.
WHERE IS SISTER BERTRILLE?
SHE'S IN HER ROOM.
MOTHER PROVINCIAL, WOULD YOU
EXCUSE ME FOR JUST A MOMENT?
THANK YOU.
[birds chirping]
[knocking on door]
YES.
SISTER BERTRILLE?
YES, REVEREND MOTHER.
WHY ARE YOU NOT AT MASS?
I WENT TO EARLY
MASS IN TOWN. I...
I WANTED TO GET STARTED PACKING.
COME WITH ME.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SOUNDS
IN THIS WONDERFUL WORLD.
SURELY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
IS THE SOUND OF LOVE.
SOMETIMES WE TRY NOT TO HEAR IT.
I DO NOT KNOW WHY.
PERHAPS IT'S FEAR
OR FOOLISHNESS.
A FEW MOMENTS AGO,
I HEARD THE SOUND MORE CLEARLY
THAN I HAVE EVER
HEARD IT BEFORE.
AND I THINK
THAT YOU HAD BETTER UNPACK.
WELCOME TO SAN TANCO.
OH, REVEREND MOTHER!
OH, FORGIVE ME.
I'M JUST SO HAPPY.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT I COULD...
YOU'RE SO HAPPY
THAT YOU COULD...
YOU GO AHEAD.
AND WITH MY BLESSING.
♪ WHO NEEDS WINGS TO FLY ♪
♪ CERTAINLY NOT I ♪
♪ I PREFER TO TAKE
UP ON THE BREEZE ♪
♪ FOLLOW ANY SWALLOW ♪
♪ THAT MAY PLEASE MY FANCY ♪
♪ I JUST CLOSE MY EYES ♪
♪ TIPTOE THROUGH THE SKIES ♪
♪ LONG AS THERE'S A HABIT ♪
♪ STANDING BY ♪
♪ WHO NEEDS THINGS LIKE WINGS ♪
♪ TO FLY? ♪