DY Header CLOSE WINDOW

Requiem for a Nun
Manuscript, page 1. Transcription follows image.
Page 1, Requiem for a Nun Ms
William Faulkner Foundation Collection, 1918-1959, Accession #6074 to 6074-d,
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
[Item Metadata: Box 3, Id: 16. Autograph manuscript 75 p. (38 R, 37 V) on 38 l.]
TRANSCRIPTION

ACT I

Curtain is down. As the lights begin to go up:

VOICE (behind curtain)
Let the prisoner stand

Curtain rises, reveals court - bar, Judge, officers, [insert lawyers, Stevens,] Nancy the prisoner
as she rises and stands looking not at anyone or any thing but our and away and
up as though toward a distance corner of the room. The lower part of the
stage is in darkness or shadow; the visible scene appears high up, though
not as high as the Governor's office will appear in the next act. To carry out the
symbolism of the highest and final bar of justice and mercy and appeal, though
the physical reason is for a quick change to the second scene with no [illegible]
elapse of time or [transition?].

JUDGE (to Nancy)
Have you anything to say before
the sentence of this court shall be
pronounced upon you?

Nancy doesn't answer, doesn't move, seems not even to be looking, quite calm.

JUDGE
Then it is the sentence of this
court that you be taken hence to
<the> <your cell in the> the county
courthouse of Yoknapatawpha County at
[illegible] and there on the 13 day of
March 19<4>50 hanged by the neck
until you are dead, and may <the> God
<Lord> have mercy on your soul

NANCY (to no one, quite calm)
Yes, Lord.