A play by Vivika Widow
©VivikaWidow2024
Cast
Dominick (m):
Head of the Church of St Wigan. Sometimes referred to as His Eminence.
Confessor (m or f):
An anonymous member of the church who has come to Dominick seeking forgiveness for a grave sin they have committed. Age, gender and race are all open.
Location
Set in the cultish Church of St Wigan.
Time
Takes place in an unknown time. It is modern but with some noir, old fashioned elements to the styling.
SETTING: A church confessional.
AT RISE: The stage is set with a partition. DOMINICK is already seated on his side. The CONFESSOR takes their place. A blessing in the Wigan fashion is given.
CONFESSOR
I ask for forgiveness. I am a flawed being. I have committed a great many sins.
DOMINICK
You’ve come to the right place. St Wigan knows we are imperfect. Our imperfections are the reason he wished to embrace us all and bring us closer to God.
CONFESSOR
Do you believe that no one is beyond redemption?
DOMINICK
We cannot be saved. None of us can. If we repent though, we may be redeemed.
CONFESSOR
I’m worried I’ve fallen to far.
DOMINICK
Then unburden yourself. Confess to me as St Wigan’s ear and He’ll listen.
CONFESSOR
I’ve been lustful.
DOMINICK
Haven’t we all …
CONFESSOR
I’ve stolen property that isn’t mine.
DOMINICK
Then you must give it back.
CONFESSOR
Lies have been on my tongue many times.
DOMINICK
Then you must learn to speak the truth.
CONFESSOR
I get jealous and angry.
DOMINICK
Unfortunately, that’s what it means to be human. What did you find yourself coveting?
CONFESSOR
A perfect life. I knew a woman who seemed to have a perfect life. She was beautiful, bright and she sang with the tones of the waves. She would help anyone. She was loved for it.
At first I wanted to be near her. Her very presence was comforting. Then I couldn’t be without her. I thought I might have loved her but that wasn’t it. I didn’t love her. I didn’t want to be with her. I wanted to be her. She had everything that I never had. I’ve always been on my own and she had swarms of admirers around her. Her face was fair where I’ve always been the sullen sort. Her body was healthier than mine too. She had it all and she lived a blessed life. The more I thought about it the angrier it made me until eventually I couldn’t look upon her pretty features without wanting to hurt her. She didn’t notice any of this. She still wanted to make me her friend.
Above all things she had a stepbrother who adored her. I guess that was the thing I coveted the most.
DOMINICK
What did you do?
CONFESSOR
I think you already know.
DOMINICK
They found her body. Her heart was torn out. Her tongue was removed. Her remains were burned as a whore because they claimed she tried to run away from the commune.
CONFESSOR
I know. I told her you had gone to the city. You had left the church behind. She went looking for you, her precious stepbrother. When we got there I plunged a knife into her chest.
DOMINICK
Why!?
CONFESSOR
I already told you. I coveted everything she had. She was a light in this world and if I couldn’t have that or be that it might as well be extinguished. We’re only human. You said so yourself.
(DOMINICK remains quite on his side.)
Can I ask you something?
(DOMINICK sniffs but doesn’t reply.)
If I tell you I repent, can I still be redeemed?
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