Enconters

Farm and that the two of us will have a fine piece of land to make a life. Make a life on land
ha! Oh dear, why didn't anyone tell me? It's twelve noon.
She quickly leaves the stage and lights go down.
Scene 3:
Confession booth. Two chairs are on stage, one is over to the far stage-left and the other is
over to the far stage right. The chairs are both at the very top of the stage though. This is to
symbolise the distance that is mentally between the priest (Peter) and Frances. Even though
they are in such a small confinement they are really far away mentally in their own mind
frames. They both sit down on a chair each. Frances sits on the chair that is stage left and
there is a dark-warm light on her. Peter sits on chair that is stage right and there is also a
dark light on him.
Frances: Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been one day since my last confession. I
have been sick father. I have been cursed with a demon because I have not been honouring
my Mother and Father. I was hoping I was not. I tried to believe it was just a fever, but when
you told me to Honour my Mother and Father I knew I didn't have a fever. I began to realise
the Holy Spirit had left my body and something sinister had replaced it. It began with
sickness, every morning I would be ill and throughout the day I would collapse with fatigue,
often in the barn and I would dream Father. I would dream about being near the sea and
admiring its beauty. There was a cross, marking a grave amongst the sea. Then I turned my
head to the right and I saw this horse tied to a fence along the seafront. The horse pulled free
and it charged at me. I thought I was going to die an uncontrolled death. However, the horse
didn't want to hurt me. He wanted to help me, it pleased me He followed me. I walked
amongst the grass on the edge of the sand dune that was right at the edge of the sea and I
found some books. Books that somebody had hidden left behind. They were little boy's
books. I seen these books before, in David's house when Daddy had ordered me to sit with
him and his family for dinner. Then the dream would end and I would awake. I know it's
God's way of punishing me, but I don't want to marry David he will never love me and I
don't love him. It doesn't feel right. I feel this uncontrollable love for someone else, of
whom I know not, but it's real. Daddy said the wedding will take place after spring and the
preparations are already underway. This reoccurring dream, constant illness and fatigue
father this was only the beginning. My stomach soon began to swell from this strain the
demon was having. Until yesterday I felt it. I felt the demon. It kicked from within my
stomach and then last night I got an unbearable pain in my ribs. Father It's taking over my
body this demon. I don't know what to do I have tried to stop thinking these thoughts of
selfishness that I think, in hope God knows I have done wrong and banishes this demon from
within me ... but he hasn't answered my prayers. He won't listen.
Peter: God always listens.
Frances: But he doesn't. He isn't listening to me.