44: Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God

The Book of Knowledge
Laws of Idolatry and Paganism
Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God (Deut. 18:20)

            onstage is a small stone structure the size of a prison cell

            a small window is on the downstage side

            there is no door

            inside the cell is the ANCHORESS

            we only see the upper portion of her face which is covered in a black veil

            throughout the scene her MAIDSERVANT attends to her

            coming and going while the ANCHORESS never moves

            at irregular intervals the ANCHORESS screams violently

            nearby a BISHOP and a CARDINAL discuss

BISHOP
on the sixth day of the sixth month
a winged beast shall rise from the seas
with six heads in a grotesque doubling of the Trinity
it shall dwarf the mightiest cathedral
it will kill thousands upon thousands
heralded by an infestation of rats
the beast shall ravage the Earth
each town that is visited by this wicked creature will fall
and he shall visit every town in Christendom

            the ANCHORESS screams

            the MAIDSERVANT goes to her

            the men look over

            then continue

CARDINAL
this was her vision?

            the MAIDSERVANT hands the ANCHORESS water through the window

BISHOP
she told it to me in our private meeting

CARDINAL
how often do you conduct these meetings?

BISHOP
once a year

CARDINAL
what do you discuss?

BISHOP
her visions her writings her sacred learnings
but our last formal meeting was a fortnight ago
she demanded another audience with me
to share this shrewing

CARDINAL
does she speak with others?

BISHOP
her maidservant attends to her bodily needs
but they don’t speak

CARDINAL
anyone else?

BISHOP
the priest conducting Mass
to give her Eucharist

CARDINAL
anyone else?

            the MAIDSERVANT brings the ANCHORESS food to the window

            the ANCHORESS takes the food

BISHOP
parishioners come and speak to her through the window facing the street

            the ANCHORESS hands the MAIDSERVANT an old plate

CARDINAL
what do they discuss?

BISHOP
whatever is troubling them
they turn to her for guidance

CARDINAL
what does she tell them?

BISHOP
i do not know

CARDINAL
who informed you of her need for another audience?

BISHOP
her maidservant
            the CARDINAL begins to leave
your Excellence…

CARDINAL
the Vatican cannot investigate every fantasy from the lips of every madwoman

BISHOP
these are not fantasies but visions
she is no madwoman she is the holiest of holies
our living saint

            the ANCHORESS screams

            the MAIDSERVANT comes to the window

CARDINAL
we recommend you seal up the window facing the street
            the ANCHORESS hands the MAIDSERVANT a chamber pot
only you should speak with her
nobody else

BISHOP
we are in danger
all of us

            the MAIDSERVANT empties the chamber pot

            near the CARDINAL and the BISHOP

            the men step away from the emptied contents

CARDINAL
focus her thoughts on ennoblement

BISHOP
ennoblement of what?

CARDINAL
of God of the Church
of her humility and chastity
she is your holy virgin
she has an important role to play
this is not that role

            the ANCHORESS screams

BISHOP
won’t you be asked about your visit?
won’t you be asked what she saw?

CARDINAL
we’ll say she saw Christ
we’ll say she saw his Passion
glimmers of the crucifix
we’ll say the soles of her hands and feet cleaved apart
and that she is blessed with stigmata

BISHOP
it is a lie

CARDINAL
it is ennobling
please tell the sisters to stop communicating with her

            the ANCHORESS screams

            the CARDINAL exits

            followed by the BISHOP

            the ANCHORESS begin to convulse

ANCHORESS
it is coming
it is coming

            the MAIDSERVANT rushes to the window

            holds the ANCHORESS’s head in her hands

MAIDSERVANT
what my love?
tell me what you saw

ANCHORESS
it is coming
it is coming
it is coming
it is coming
it is coming
it is coming

            the MAIDSERVANT quietly sings to the ANCHORESS

            the ANCHORESS calms down

            the MAIDSERVANT lifts the ANCHORESS’s veil

MAIDSERVANT
there is no God in those men
pay them no mind

            they sit in silence for a long time

            the ANCHORESS perks up

            looking off in the distance

ANCHORESS
it is coming
it is coming
it is coming

            the MAIDSERVANT looks to where the ANCHORESS is looking

            walks a few steps away from the cell

MAIDSERVANT
praise be

            the MAIDSERVANT turns around

            the ANCHORESS is no longer at the window

            the MAIDSERVANT peers into the cell

MAIDSERVANT
my lady
where did you
where did you
…
Alice where are you?

            without her realizing it

            the ANCHORESS is now standing right behind the MAIDSERVANT

            outside the cell

ANCHORESS
it is here

            the MAIDSERVANT screams in surprise

            the sound of the ANCHORESS screaming is heard from the cell

            but the ANCHORESS herself doesn’t make a sound

            she doesn’t move

            she stands perfectly still

            END OF PLAY