Daily Dialogue — January 29, 2016

INT. PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE — DAY

Flynn is in. He shuts the door.

FLYNN: May I come in?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: A third party would be required.
FLYNN: Yup — what was Donald’s mother doing here?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: We were having a chat.
FLYNN: About what?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: A third party would truly be required.

The storm picks up outside.

FLYNN: No, Sister. No third party — me and you are due for a talk… You have to stop this campaign against me.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: You can stop it — at any time.
FLYNN: How?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Confess and resign.
FLYNN: You are attempting to destroy my reputation!
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Who keeps opening my window?

A gust of wind comes in the window and blows some papers on the floor. She goes to the window. She raises the blinds, shuts the window, flips the blinds open.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: What are you doing in this school?
FLYNN: I’m trying to do good!
SISTER ALOYSIUS: (on her knees, picking up the fallen papers) Even more to the point — what are you doing in the priesthood?
FLYNN: You are single-handedly holding this school and this parish back!
SISTER ALOYSIUS: From what?
FLYNN: Progressive education and a welcoming church!
SISTER ALOYSIUS: You can’t distract me, Father. This is not about my behavior, it’s about yours.

She stands upright.

FLYNN: No, this is about your unfounded suspicions.

She starts arranging the papers.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: That’s right… I have suspicions.
FLYNN: Just leave that. It’s not important.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: I will decide what’s important.
FLYNN: Why do you suspect me? What have I done?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: You gave that boy wine, and you let him take the blame.
FLYNN: That’s completely untrue! Did you talk to Mr. McGuinn?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: All McGuinn knows is that the boy drank wine. He doesn’t know how he came to drink it.
FLYNN: Did his mother have something to add to that?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: No.
FLYNN: So that’s it?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: I am not satisfied.
FLYNN: Ask the boy then.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Oh, he’d protect you.
FLYNN: Why would he do that?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Because you seduced him.
FLYNN: You’re insane. You’ve got it in your head that I’ve corrupted this child after giving him wine, and nothing I say will change that.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: That’s right.
FLYNN: But this has nothing to do with the wine — not really. You’ve had a fundamental mistrust of me before this incident! It was you that warned Sister James to be on the lookout, wasn’t it?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: That’s true.
FLYNN: So you admit it!
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Certainly.
FLYNN: Why?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: I know people.
FLYNN: That’s not good enough.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: It won’t have to be.

— Doubt (2008), screenplay by John Patrick Shanley, based on his play

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Accused. Today’s suggestion by GNetterville.

Trivia: Jimmy Hurley is based on John Patrick Shanley. Everything that he does at the beginning of the movie are the same things Shanley did as a boy.

Dialogue On Dialogue: What I like about this scene is it’s two characters accusing each other. Makes for great conflict.