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Vow of Silence
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Aged 65, sick and worn out from working as a priest without ever taking a vacation, and both angry and depressed by what he learned from a parishioner during a confessional, he asks the bishop to allow him to retire, but the bishop turns him down. When Father Jim insists that he must retire for health reasons, the Bishop reveals a secret to blackmail the aging priest. When that does not work, the Bishop deprives him of his pension, his medical insurance benefits, and, worst of all, takes away the right of Father Jim to read mass.
When a former visitor to the Irish abbey who had been given permission to talk to Father Jim, now a young professor in the US, comes to visit Father Jim at his home on the East coast, he meets people he did not expect and learns about the serious situation and the secrets of the bishop who had ruined Father Jim's life. A few years later, at the wake of the all-powerful bishop, Father Jim has the courage to speak up, letting voices of altar boys of all ages fill the church.
When a former visitor to the Irish abbey who had been given permission to talk to Father Jim, now a young professor in the US, comes to visit Father Jim at his home on the East coast, he meets people he did not expect and learns about the serious situation and the secrets of the bishop who had ruined Father Jim's life. A few years later, at the wake of the all-powerful bishop, Father Jim has the courage to speak up, letting voices of altar boys of all ages fill the church.
Characters
Father James (Jim) Drogheda: Cistercian Irish monk, born 1924. To honor his mother who had died during childbirth, he joined the monastic life, aged 24. He grew up with a stutter, and after 15 years, sleep-deprived from praying in church every three hours, he became sick, but got permission from his caring abbot to leave the monastery and start a new life as a priest at a parish in New England.
Abbot of Cistercian Monastery: Wise and humorous older monk who officially initiates Jim into the Cistercian order in Ireland.
Martin: American psychology student who spent several weeks at the Cistercian monastery in Ireland.
Bishop de la Nuncière: Bishop of a diocese in New England. with many working class parishioners and their families.
Christy: A kind and attractive member of the Church of Divine Mercy.
Father Kent: Director of the Bishop’s business affairs
Voices (over the radio) with various accents: Jim’s father, Midwife Eileen, Boston nun, New York woman, Irish-American woman, Patriots fan, altar boys, middle-aged penitent.
Abbot of Cistercian Monastery: Wise and humorous older monk who officially initiates Jim into the Cistercian order in Ireland.
Martin: American psychology student who spent several weeks at the Cistercian monastery in Ireland.
Bishop de la Nuncière: Bishop of a diocese in New England. with many working class parishioners and their families.
Christy: A kind and attractive member of the Church of Divine Mercy.
Father Kent: Director of the Bishop’s business affairs
Voices (over the radio) with various accents: Jim’s father, Midwife Eileen, Boston nun, New York woman, Irish-American woman, Patriots fan, altar boys, middle-aged penitent.
Excerpt
SCENE 3
(Elegant, richly furnished office of Bishop de la Nuncière, a week later. Ornate antique Bishop’s seat that should not be an in office but a church. Bishop remains seated without offering his guest a seat.)
BISHOP: Come on in. You made an appointment, something you’ve never done before.
FATHER JIM: Thank you. I . . . I . . .
BISHOP: It’s all right. I hope you’re not asking for a raise. We don’t have any money left, helping more people than I thought we ever would.
FATHER JIM: Thank you. I . . . I . . .
BISHOP (dismissive, cold): It’s all right. I hope you’re not asking for a raise. We don’t have any money left. As you know, we helped more people than I thought we ever would. And your little extra job at the prison didn’t bring in much money, did it?
FATHER JIM: I can’t. I can’t continue any more.
BISHOP: What do you mean? Are the few sermons at the prison too much? We could send you to give sermons at other places. We have quite a few retirement homes in the area that pay us much more for such a service.
FATHER JIM: Thank you. But I’m already 65 and can’t cope with the stress. It’s so bad that I have developed ulcers. My doctor, my physician wants me to stop, too.
BISHOP: I hope you’re not serious. You’re only 65. As you know, the average male lives 71 years. So we will get another six years out of you.
FATHER JIM: I . . . I . . . I’m sorry. I can’t. I . . .I . . .I won’t. I must retire—with the blessing of the church.
(Elegant, richly furnished office of Bishop de la Nuncière, a week later. Ornate antique Bishop’s seat that should not be an in office but a church. Bishop remains seated without offering his guest a seat.)
BISHOP: Come on in. You made an appointment, something you’ve never done before.
FATHER JIM: Thank you. I . . . I . . .
BISHOP: It’s all right. I hope you’re not asking for a raise. We don’t have any money left, helping more people than I thought we ever would.
FATHER JIM: Thank you. I . . . I . . .
BISHOP (dismissive, cold): It’s all right. I hope you’re not asking for a raise. We don’t have any money left. As you know, we helped more people than I thought we ever would. And your little extra job at the prison didn’t bring in much money, did it?
FATHER JIM: I can’t. I can’t continue any more.
BISHOP: What do you mean? Are the few sermons at the prison too much? We could send you to give sermons at other places. We have quite a few retirement homes in the area that pay us much more for such a service.
FATHER JIM: Thank you. But I’m already 65 and can’t cope with the stress. It’s so bad that I have developed ulcers. My doctor, my physician wants me to stop, too.
BISHOP: I hope you’re not serious. You’re only 65. As you know, the average male lives 71 years. So we will get another six years out of you.
FATHER JIM: I . . . I . . . I’m sorry. I can’t. I . . .I . . .I won’t. I must retire—with the blessing of the church.
