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Scene One
The library of the Marquis de la Force, in Paris, April 1789.
The Chevalier de la Force bursts into the library, startling his father who had dozed off in an armchair. He dares to interrupt him because he is worried about the fate of his sister, Blanche, whose carriage he fears may have been stopped by a tumultuous crowd. The mere mention of a carriage and a mob instantly brings back to the Marquis the memory of his wife, who died shortly after giving birth to Blanche—frightened to death when a crowd attacked her carriage. The Chevalier’s anxiety is heightened by the fact that Blanche is, by nature, extremely sensitive and fearful. While the Marquis attempts to downplay his son's concerns, Blanche arrives safely. Exhausted, both from the fear of the mob and from the length of a religious service she attended, she asks her father for permission to rest before dinner. After a brief exchange, father and son are startled by a scream: Blanche has been frightened by a shadow on the wall, cast by the servant’s torch. She returns to her father and, declaring herself too fragile and unfit for worldly life, asks for permission to enter the Carmelite convent, hoping that by giving up everything and sacrificing herself, God will restore the honor tarnished by her cowardice.

Scene Two
The parlor of the Carmelite convent in Compiègne, a few weeks later.
Separated by a grille from the Mother Superior, an elderly and ill nun, Blanche responds to questions intended to test the strength and seriousness of her vocation. Blanche says she is drawn to the religious life by the appeal of a heroic existence. The Mother Superior, denouncing such an illusion of heroism, affirms that the only reason for Carmel’s existence is prayer. Blanche declares she is willing to endure any trial to enter the convent, as she has no other refuge. The Mother Superior then warns her that the Rule is not a refuge—that it is not the Rule that protects the Carmelites, but the Carmelites who uphold the Rule. She asks Blanche if she has chosen a religious name, should she be admitted as a novice. Blanche, to the Superior’s great surprise, replies that she wishes to be called Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ.

Scene Three
The convent pantry.
Blanche and another novice, Constance, are tending to the provisions. Constance, a lively young woman full of zest for life, chatters cheerfully about light-hearted topics, like a wedding she attended before joining the convent. Blanche reproaches her for such gaiety while the Mother Superior is on her deathbed. In a generous impulse, Constance says she would gladly offer her life to God in exchange for that of the Superior, and urges Blanche to do the same. Blanche scolds her for childishness. Constance, undeterred, insists that she has always wished to die young, and is convinced her wish will be granted: the moment she first met Blanche, she had a premonition that they would die together—both young, on the same day and at the same hour—though they would not know when that hour would come.

Scene Four
The infirmary of the convent.
The Mother Superior, bedridden, is terrified by the death she feels drawing near. Decades of meditative life in the convent have done nothing to ease her fear and despair. To Sister Marie, who is caring for her, she entrusts Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ, the novice she is most concerned about. She was struck by the fact that Blanche chose the very name she herself once wished to take upon entering the convent, though she had been dissuaded by the then-Superior, who warned her: “Whoever enters Gethsemane never leaves it again.” To Blanche, whom she has summoned, the Superior says she would gladly give her life to protect her from the dangers ahead—but now, in this hour, she can only offer her death, a poor death. She blesses her, urging simplicity and trust in God.
Sister Marie returns with the doctor, and the Superior asks for more tonic to gather the strength to bid farewell to the other nuns. Sister Marie urges her to think only of God now. The Superior replies that it is not her place to concern herself with Him—it is for Him to be concerned about her. Sister Marie orders the shutters closed so the nuns will not be scandalized by the Superior’s delirium. The Superior soon has a vision of the convent chapel, defiled and bathed in blood. Sister Marie orders the convent life to continue as usual, and tells the sisters they will not be able to see the Superior that day. Only Blanche returns, approaching the Superior’s bed. After offering a few last words, the Superior dies. Blanche collapses to her knees, sobbing.

atto

Scene One
In the chapel. Blanche and Constance are keeping vigil over the body of the Mother Superior. Constance leaves to fetch the sisters who are to take over the vigil. Left alone with the corpse, Blanche shudders with fear and rushes toward the door just as Sister Marie enters. Blanche tries to excuse herself for abandoning her post, but Sister Marie, attributing her trembling more to the cold than to fear, gently leads her back to her cell, excusing her from prayers and advising her to sleep and not dwell on her shortcoming. In the morning, she says, Blanche will feel remorse and can then ask forgiveness from God.

First Interlude
Constance and Blanche bring floral arrangements to the Mother Superior’s grave. With the remaining flowers, Constance suggests making a bouquet for the new Superior. Blanche wonders aloud if Sister Marie even likes flowers. Constance admits she hopes Marie will be elected Superior, prompting Blanche to scold her for her naïve belief that God always grants one’s wishes. Constance replies that perhaps divine logic lies precisely in what humans perceive as randomness. She reflects on the Mother Superior’s death, which seemed too long and painful—like wearing a garment tailored for someone else. That “someone,” when their time comes, will die with surprising serenity: we do not die for ourselves alone, but for one another, even in each other’s place.

Scene Two
The chapter room.
The entire community is gathered to pledge obedience to the new Mother Superior. Contrary to expectations, it is not Sister Marie, but Sister Marie-Thérèse of Saint Augustine (Madame Lidoine in secular life), a woman of humble origins. With simple words, she preaches the essential virtues of a Carmelite: goodwill, patience, and a spirit of reconciliation. Prayer, she affirms, is their foremost duty and must not be interrupted—not even by thoughts of martyrdom: prayer is a duty, martyrdom a reward. The entire community then begins to sing the Ave Maria.

Second Interlude
Someone rings the convent bell insistently. It is the Chevalier de la Force, who, before departing to fight with the counter-revolutionary army abroad, wishes to speak with his sister. Given the exceptional circumstances, the Mother Superior allows this breach of the Rule but insists that Sister Marie be present for the conversation.

Scene Three
The convent parlor.
The Chevalier tries to persuade Blanche to return home, as their father believes the convent is no longer safe. Blanche replies that she has never felt as secure as she does now. But the Chevalier, who knows her well, believes this sense of security is an illusion—not rooted in fear of the outside world, but in fear of fear itself. True courage, he says, lies in risking fear as one risks death. Blanche insists that monastic life has changed her; she is now a daughter of Carmel and will suffer for him too. She has her own battle to fight, with its own dangers. Before leaving, the Chevalier gives her a long, inscrutable look. Blanche, drained by the exchange, clings to the grille for support, tormented by the suspicion that she has sinned through pride. Sister Marie advises her to compose herself, adding that the only way to overcome pride is to rise above it.

Scene Four
The convent sacristy.
The Chaplain has just finished celebrating his final mass at Carmel. He begins the Ave verum, sung by the whole community. Now outlawed, he must hide and disguise himself. Constance condemns the cowardice of the French people, who allow priests to be persecuted. The sisters struggle to understand how fear slowly takes hold of every conscience. The Mother Superior remarks that when priests disappear, martyrs abound—and thus the balance of Grace is restored. Sister Marie seizes on the remark and proposes that the Carmelites offer themselves for martyrdom so that France may once again have priests. The Superior rebukes the idea, saying she has been misunderstood—and that it is not up to them to decide whether their names should appear in the breviary.
Suddenly, there is loud knocking at the door. The Chaplain must hide so as not to endanger the nuns. Frightened, they huddle in a corner of the room. Sister Marie opens the door and firmly faces the revolutionary commissioners, who order the Carmelites to vacate the convent by October (1792). After a tense exchange, the First Commissioner secretly confides in Sister Marie that he was once a sacristan and is the foster brother of a parish vicar—forced now to “howl with the wolves.” As a sign of good faith, he warns her to beware of the blacksmith Blancart, a known informer. The commissioners and the crowd leave.
Sister Jeanne announces that the Mother Superior must leave for Paris. She then gives Blanche—still perched like a wounded bird on a chair—a statuette of the Little Glorious King, telling her it will give her courage. But when Blanche hears the revolutionary song Ça ira being sung by the crowd outside, she drops the statuette, which shatters on the floor. She exclaims: “Oh! The Little King is dead! All we have left is the Lamb of God.”

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Scene One
The Carmelite chapel is completely devastated. In the presence of the Chaplain, the entire community is gathered, except for the Mother Prioress, who is away in Paris. Sister Marie proposes that the sisters collectively consecrate themselves to martyrdom “to merit the survival of the Carmel and the salvation of the common homeland.” However, she adds that, given the gravity of such a commitment and the importance of individual conscience, the vote must be secret and unanimous—one dissenting vote will nullify it. The Chaplain agrees to act as teller, and after collecting the slips, he quietly shares the result with Sister Marie, who announces that there is one vote against. All eyes turn to Blanche, but Sister Constance declares herself responsible for the dissenting vote, though she now wishes to withdraw it and join the communal decision. The Chaplain then suggests that, to solemnize their intent, the nuns pronounce their vow two at a time, swearing on the Gospel, starting with the youngest. Sister Blanche and Sister Constance are the first to swear. In the confusion that follows, as the others take their turns, Blanche quietly flees.

First Interlude
A Revolutionary Officer congratulates the nuns, now dressed in civilian clothes and leaving the convent, for their discipline. He warns them that the nation will be watching and they must not associate with members of the clergy or counter-revolutionaries. Left alone with the others, the Mother Prioress sends one of the sisters to inform the Chaplain that it is now too dangerous to secretly celebrate Mass as planned. Asked for her opinion, Sister Marie remarks that such caution seems unworthy of a community that has vowed itself to martyrdom. The Prioress replies that, if each sister will answer to God for her vow, she must answer for them all—and she is used to keeping the accounts in order.

Scene Two
The library of the Marquis de la Force has been looted and turned into a general storeroom. Blanche, in civilian clothes, is now a servant to the new occupants and is cooking at the stove. Suddenly, Sister Marie enters, also dressed in civilian clothes, having come to find her and bring her to safety. Blanche says she feels secure where she is, as she has fallen so low that no one pays attention to her anymore. Distracted by their conversation, Blanche nearly burns the stew. Sister Marie saves it just in time, but Blanche is overcome by a nervous breakdown. The only person who truly understood her—her father—has been guillotined. Born in fear, she believes it only right to now atone for her weak character through others’ contempt. Sister Marie replies that such despair does not come from others’ contempt, but from self-contempt. Calling her by her religious name, which jolts her from her anguish, she urges her to seek temporary refuge in Paris with trusted friends, whose address she gives her. The voice of Blanche’s new mistress calls her to go run errands. Sister Marie leaves, convinced that Blanche will follow her advice.

Second Interlude
A street in Paris. Voices of passersby are heard, among them an old woman talking about the arrest of the Carmelites of Compiègne. She then asks Blanche if she has any relatives there. Blanche, visibly shaken, denies it. Then, with the air of someone who has made a desperate decision, she quickly walks away.

Scene Three
A cell in the Conciergerie prison. The Mother Prioress tries to comfort the nuns after their first night in jail. She says that she now shares in the vow of martyrdom that they made in her absence and assumes full responsibility for its fulfillment. Sister Constance asks if there is any news of Blanche. On receiving a negative response, she says she is sure Blanche will return, for she had a dream during the night foretelling it. The sisters, except for the Prioress, burst out laughing. Then the Jailer enters to inform them that the Revolutionary Tribunal has sentenced them all to death. After he leaves, the Prioress blesses them and consecrates to God the vow that now binds them all.

Third Interlude
The Chaplain meets Sister Marie on a Paris street and tells her that all the sisters have been condemned to death. Sister Marie wishes to join them and die with them, but the Chaplain reminds her that it is not for her to decide her fate—it is God who has chosen a different path for her, and she must accept it, mortifying her pride.

Scene Four
Place de la Révolution. The Carmelites descend from the cart carrying the condemned and, singing the Salve Regina, ascend the scaffold. Each time the blade falls, the chorus diminishes in strength. Constance, the last to ascend, sees Blanche in the crowd. She pauses briefly, her face lighting up with joy, then continues toward the scaffold. Blanche then steps forward and joins her sisters, taking up the hymn once again as the crowd falls silent. The blade falls one final time, and the crowd slowly begins to disperse.