The Sound of Music Live! - Script

Scene 8

Scene 8: The office of the Mother Abbess - A few Days Later

(Underscoring –Morning Hymn- begins. The new POSTULANT, Sister SOPHIA and Sister BERTHE stand with MOTHER Abbess)

Mother:

Sister Sophia, take our newest postulant to the robing room. God bless you my daughter.

(SOPHIA, BERTHE, and the POSTULANT exit. MARGARETTA enters)

Margaretta:

Maria has asked to see you. I know it’s taken her a long time.

Mother:

I waited until she wanted to come to me.

Margaretta:

It’s strange. She’s happy to be here, but she’s unhappy too.

Mother:

Why did they send her back? Do you know?

Margaretta:

Oh, she doesn’t speak. She hasn’t spoken except in prayer.

Mother:

I shall see her.

(MARGARETTA brings in MARIA from the hallway)

Margaretta:

Maria…

Mother:

This must have been a trying experience for you…

Maria:

It was, Reverend Mother.

Mother:

Has it taught you anything?

Maria:

I’ve learned that I never want to leave these walls again.

Mother:

Why did they send you back to us?

Maria:

They didn’t send me. I left. I left without telling them I was going. Without saying goodbye…

Mother:

Sit down my child.

(underscoring ends)

Maria, what happened? Why did you do this?

Maria:

I was frightened.

Mother:

Frightened?

Maria:

I was confused. I felt… I’d never felt that way before. I knew that here, I would be away from it… that here, I would be safe!

Mother:

Maria, our abbey is not to be used as an escape. What is it you cannot face?

Maria:

I can’t face him again.

Mother:

Thank you, Sister Margaretta.

(MARGARETTA exits)

Maria… are you in love with Captain Von Trapp?

Maria:

I don’t know… I don’t know!

Mother:

Tell me about it, my child.

Maria:

Brigitta said that I was. And that her father was in love with me. And then, there he was… When we were looking at each other I could hardly breathe! I knew then, I couldn’t stay…

Mother:

But you do… you do like him?

Maria:

I like the kindness in his eyes. I like the way he speaks even when he’s stern. I like the way he smiles at little Gretl.

Mother:

Did you let him see how you felt?

Maria:

If I did, I didn’t know that I did! That’s what’s been torturing me! I was there on God’s errand. To have asked for the Captain’s love would have been wrong. I don’t know, Mother. I do know this; I am ready at his very moment to take the vows of obedience, poverty and chastity…

Mother:

Maria… The love between a man and a woman… is holy too! Do you remember when we first talked together? You told me that you remember your mother and father before they died, you remember? Were they happy?

Maria:

Yes Mother, they were very happy.

Mother:

Yes, well you were born of that happiness! And of their love! And you, my child, you have a great capacity to love. What you must find out… is how does God want you to spend your love.

Maria:

I’ve pledged my life to God’s service. I’ve pledged my life to God!

Mother:

My daughter, if you love this man… it does not mean that you love God any less! You must find out…

(music in)

You must go back.

Maria:

No Mother, please don’t ask me to do that! Please let me stay here-

Mother:

Maria, these walls were not made to shut out problems!  You have to face them. You have to find the life you were born to live!

Maria:

But how do I find it?

Mother:

You look for it…

Climb every mountain,

Search high and low,

Follow every byway,

Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need

All the love you can give,

Every day of your life

For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

Till you find your dream

A dream that will need

All the love you can give,

Every day of your life,

For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

Till you find your dream!