All language subtitles for 1973 - Story of a Cloistered Nun

Place Carmela Maria Rosa Mercedes
Desimone on the bed as God made her and

law has ordained.

Now place at her side Enrico Maria
Ettore della Scala as God made him and

law has ordained.

As loyal and obedient subjects of the
Lord Almighty's bountiful and sovereign

wisdom, we are gathered this 5th of
April in the year of our Lord, 1624.

To unite the families De Simone and
Della Scala in the persons of their

respective offspring.

Enrico Maria Riccardo Ettore Della
Scala.

Do you promise and swear to take as your
wife upon coming of age Carmela Maria

Rosa Mercedes De Simone?

The promise of your father is binding.

Duke Guillermo Della Scala?

I promise he shall do so.

You Carmela Maria Rosa De Simone?

Promise and swear to take as your
husband Enrico Maria Ricardo Etre de la

The response of your father is binding.
Marquis Antonio de Cimoni? I

promise he shall.

Please join hands.

And now, Don Luigi will bless this
nuptial contract, which duly records the

future marriage partner's rights of
succession and inheritance.

Julian, it must be my father's men
looking for me.

No, it's worse.

What could be worse than our being
discovered?

Getting put in the army.

Come on.

But you're not a soldier.

What's the war to do with you?

I could be recruited.

Anyone my age.

That must be why they want to hurry up
my wedding to Enrico.

You didn't tell me.

I didn't want to spoil our moments
together.

We meet so rarely, Julie.

Oh, my sweet love.

I love you always.

To convince your father.

You can't imagine how many times I've
tried.

You won't listen to me.

He signed a contract when I was a baby,
which promises my marriage to Enrico.

He did, but you had nothing whatever to
do with it.

I'm his daughter. I'm expected to obey.

Look, darling, my family and his have
intended to join their properties and

fives for years.

Those dirty landlords.

The war.

The war.

God knows you've been a disappointment.

But your refusal to marry the man to
whom you are legally betrothed brings

dishonor upon my name and your mother's.

You've placed us in a humiliating
position, both morally and legally.

Uncovered yourself with ignominy.

And don't think that I don't know that
you've been meeting that peasant boy in

secret.

Well, you shall never marry him, I
assure you.

You may go.

If you don't want your daughter to be
completely ruined, there's

only one remedy.

Get her to a nunnery.

For that I thank you.

It'll look to the world as if we let
Carmela reject it.

If she puts on a veil as the bride of
the Lord, no one can claim you're

dishonoured.

My name is Thomas Cena.

I guard the gates to the outside.

Here is the visitor's room.

This is my lodging.

Now take your leave.

You must go then, Lachenec. If we open
the outside gates, we keep the cloister

entrance closed.

Must I really separate myself from you,
my family, my home, the field, the

flowers, the earth, from all the things
I most love?

My child, you must accept it.

I'm sure you'll find a new life here in
the service of our Lord and the

happiness you deserve.

May God... Keep you well.

Such a lot you've brought that you'll
never need. Ah, but money, though.

And any jewel that you may have, you'd
better leave with me or you'll lose it.

In the cloister, you have to give up
anything of value.

I'll protect it if you'll entrust it to
me.

Why not?

There's no reason to fear. Your jewels
will be at your disposal always.

Thank you. When you speak to the others,
they have to be addressed as sister,

though not the superior. She's addressed
as mother.

Thank you, sister.

We welcome you.

She's pretty.

I'll bet she's ugly without that dress.

We'll soon find out.

It is forbidden to stand apart in
isolation without Mother Superior

I deserve to fart.

Repeat it.

Perhaps she didn't hear.

I deserve to fast.

The sackcloth of penance is blessed.

Your lantern has to be kept lit.

It must burn like the flame within your
heart, which burns without cease for

Christ our Lord and Savior.

As you commit our roles to memory from
morn till night.

A novice has 30 days in which to learn
the rules of our order by heart.

I have to stay 30 days in this cellar?

Yes.

Here newcomers stay to pass the
purifying test and shall be under

all the time.

We allow what is needed for rest and
prayers.

Body cleansing and then nourishment,
which is in conformity with Franciscan

to poverty, and finally for their bodily
needs.

All that is needed is blessed in the
Lord.

The well are not tended, but they that
are ailing bring unto me the many

evildoers that need curing.

Thus saith the Apostle Matthew.

And during this phase, you must bear
this passage in mind.

The well are not tended, but they that
are ailing.

Bring unto me the many evildoers that
need curing.

The elder nuns will supervise you in
turn.

Never say a word to them, even to answer
a question.

Seven times a day did I praise thee,
saith the prophet.

With the holy number seven, we perform
the duties of our office.

At lords, at prime, at tierce, at sext,
at non, at vespers, and at compliance.

Every day at four in the morning, the
praises shall be recited.

A dish of boiled beans once a day except
Friday, the day of total abstinence.

To refuse food is a grave act of
disobedience because it is the bounty of

Lord.

It is night, the hour of Compline.

I am reduced to nothing, and I am
nothing, saith the prophet.

I am in thine eyes as a beast of the
field, but I am ever with thee.

Never say a word to them, even to answer
a question.

Today is the 15th day.

Don't despair.

The well are not tended, but the sick.

Oh, Christ, I have sinned. Lord, help
me.

I'm Elizabeth.

The isolation period is horrible.

We've all gone through it.

Beatrice and Michaela, two novices like
you. What did I tell you?

She's ugly. Your name is Carmela, isn't
it?

Yes.

Sister. You'll soon be all right.

Living here isn't as bad as it seems.

You only need to find the right friend.

Stay away from Sister Filomena, for
example.

She's a spy.

There she is over there, tied to the
tree.

Don't even speak to Sister Philomena if
you can help it. And don't ever trust

her.

You need my advice.

Above all, don't trust the Mother
Superior.

She seems sincere, but she's a hypocrite
and a liar.

Carmela!

I'm your mother, Superior.

How do you feel now?

Better, I hope.

You'll soon be happy in your new life.

Would you like to be called Sister
Agnes?

Sister Agnes of the infant Jesus.

You may go.

Mother, I don't think I have enough
faith.

Don't tire yourself.

We have plenty of time to talk.

I'm here because my father... I
understand.

Try not to cry.

Just trust me.

You are part of a new family now.

A much bigger family.

And you'll have lots of sisters.

Some of them, unfortunately, are not as
good as others, but... I'll look after

you.

I'll be your new mother.

And I'll follow your steps, one by one.

Just as if you're beginning to walk.

This will be your cell.

The new arrivals always ask where their
dowries have gone.

Yes. They are sent to the church, on
which our convent is dependent.

They feed so many mouths.

Do you see much charity in making your
rivals feel uncomfortable?

Are you envious of youth?

Come, let me help you.

The first time you needn't wear it so
tight.

You're looking for a mirror.

The rose forbid it.

But I'll look at you.

And I see that you're beautiful.

But you mustn't be vain.

Vanity is a sin.

But one that's not too serious.

Carmela. That's Sister Lucia.

You tried to defend her when you first
arrived.

Remember?

But you weren't there.

No, but I saw you.

It was then I decided you would become
my friend.

You're very kind.

However, whatever you do for Sister
Lucia is wasted.

She's lost her mind.

Watch out. Here comes a spy.

There are roads that seem straight, but
they lead down to the fires of hell.

For what crime can one be expelled from
the common?

How naive you are.

None.

You only leave here when you're dead.

However, another way can be arranged.

You will learn it from me.

I think I can stand it.

I just went out that bed mine last
night.

Well, as Lorenzo the Magnificent said,
you never can be sure about tomorrow.

He's right, especially with women.

You don't have very much respect for
women, do you? On the contrary, I find

they're delightful.

Though their constant desire to catch
the mail is so transparent in every

gesture that sometimes they're boring.

Well, I can't say I find them boring.
They readily come out to parties, to the

theatre, to the country with me.

But it's quite another thing whenever I
try staying alone with them.

You should never appear to try, my
friend.

You use the wrong method.

Come on, let's have a cold blunt.

Don Diego, I understand you even have a
cloistered nun in your collection of

women.

Well,

that's quite a claim.

Love needs a touch of spice to make it
more appetizing.

I imagine that a cloistered nun bound to
abstinence must

be very peppery.

They're delicious, my friend.

Have you been paid? Oh, yes.

Elizabeth? Diego.

My, you look beautiful.

I imagine your absence from me frightens
you.

Just like at first, huh?

As a love nest, it leaves much to be
desired.

I find it very exciting.

And your apparent calm excites me even
more.

I am calm.

No.

You are a particularly beautiful woman.

And no beautiful woman can be calm.

It's the waves that make the sea so
suggestive. And its dark depths,

and mysterious.

I'm not just any woman.

That's true.

What's that bell? Were they looking for
you?

No.

It's the call to evening prayers, which
each of us recites in her own cell.

And instead of praying...

What does a nun really do in her cell?

Sometimes she receives other nuns.

I've always found intimacy between women
the best stimulant love can have.

And what do you do?

We kiss.

Like this? In secret.

So no one will know.

Is that what you wanted to hear?

What else?

We caress each other.

Mother Superior prepares us spiritually
for confession.

It's one of our rules.

Remember.

I know the rules are severe.

It's up to us to make them bearable.

To make them a part of our daily lives.

Francis is born with the vocation.

But I believe that... I believe that in
the depths of our souls, there's a small

flame that we can build bit by bit.

Day by day.

Until we grow to accept this life of
penitence.

This life of penitence to which our Lord
has called us.

Here, far from the outside world, we
live each day more intensely.

But don't be sad.

I'd like to see your eyes always joyful.

I'll help you erase the memories.

I see them, you know, in your eyes.

But it's you, with your sweetness, you
make the memories beautiful.

The world outside is so cruel.

You know that well.

I need your affection.

May I kiss your cheek?

Father, during the night, such awful
visions I had of hell. I dreamt I burnt

hands over the flames.

Well, as long as you don't do it during
the day in the kitchen, sister, you have

nothing to fear, I would say.

But perhaps this dream may have been a
warning to you and not just a figment of

your imagination.

Sister, what sins have your hands
committed?

Well, I must save that question to be
answered later when I confess you.

Yesterday I stole the bullfather and
buried it in the garden.

Sometimes the temptation to steal is so
strong.

A demon is tempting you to sin. You must
exorcise this demon. He is a tool of

the devil.

Punish your hands to be saved.

Otherwise I cannot grant you absolution.

It's your turn.

Did he ask you where you put your hand?

How do you know?

He asks everyone.

Sister Elizabeth, it's Carmela.

I'm afraid.

What are those screams?

Don't worry.

It's Sister Lucia, the mad one who's
screaming.

Every so often she does it and then she
comes down.

We all ignore it. Now go back to your
cell.

It is forbidden to leave one's own cell
at night I deserve corporal punishment

It is forbidden to leave one's own cell
at night I deserve corporal punishment

She's only a novice.

Let us pray.

Untie her.

Why did you not come to me if you were
afraid?

You must trust me.

I still love you.

Poor Sister Lucia.

Buried in unconsecrated ground like a
dog.

Ah, I'm sure our Lord in his infinite
goodness and wisdom will have mercy on

on the day of judgment. She never wanted
to become a nun.

That's what made her lose her mind.

Her mind was possessed by a demon.

Otherwise, Sister Lucia might have lived
to be a perfect nun, as few nuns are,

if the truth be told.

She had many good qualities, but she was
weak, and the devil laid his hands on

her.

Good was overcome by evil.

I know you're not able to resist.

That's why I invited you.

You see?

We lack nothing here.

Not even the Mother Superior's liqueur.

Mr. Chiaro punishes herself for what she
does with her hands.

It's her penance.

How does it make you feel?

I don't know.

There are some things that are hard to
put into words. So true.

There are thoughts that remain inside of
us.

It takes another person to be aware of
them.

We've been waiting for you to drink.

You're the guest of honor.

Do you like them?

Try them on.

Why not here?

Pick out something else you like. It's
more amusing.

Look at yourself, Carmela. You're still
a woman.

What's wrong?

It reminds me of home.

My birthday party.

Young boys and girls having a good time.

I was perfectly happy.

But here there are no boys.

Ah, I have been waiting to speak with
you for months.

I know that now you are leaving.

But first, I must open my heart to you.

I have loved you in secret, sir.

And I hoped you loved me too.

I'll stop.

I thought it was all over.

That you no longer loved me.

You say, how could you think that?

How could you think that? A bit more
warmth, please.

It's not true.

That's better.

So you still belong to me?

Oh, certainly.

You have never betrayed me?

No.

Come to my arms like you used to.

But what do you want?

Your body.

Haven't you come here to offer yourself
to me?

I didn't expect to.

Do you love another person?

We have to leave. That's Mr.

Rita's signal.

The game is over.

Take off your traveling dress.

We'll elope together another time.

May I see your work?

Do you no longer stand when you're
spoken to?

You obviously didn't sleep very well
last night.

You weren't able to concentrate. Your
work isn't up to its usual standard.

I feel it is.

I'm the one to decide.

I know that all too well.

For your behavior, you will be punished.

Once more.

I'm upset.

Why?

I had a slight annoyance.

You are a knight.

With your mother's superior.

Yes.

Your rival you're in love Yeah

Please, no, there's no need to stand. I
didn't come to give you orders.

I'm... I'm so alone.

You... you can't imagine how great my
solitude is.

Closed in my tower of authority.

I'm more a prisoner than all the others.

Please. Oh, I need a little human
warmth.

A little love.

Hugh? We have... We have love of prayer.

Divine love.

Love of God.

And... And I do love God.

But it doesn't erase the fact that I
have this desire for another human

You... You're the only pure one here.

And I'm so desperate.

Leave I beg you mother leave

It's I who beg you

Look at me

Please Just one more time

and I'll go away

Nothing to the hurt that you caused me.

I'm becoming attached to you.

Elizabeth, I can help you to get free.

I'll keep you in my villa.

Another convent?

No, thank you.

I prefer to see you here.

It's more exciting.

I've come to fancy life in the convent.

After all, one can find affection there,
too.

Let's not talk anymore.

Carmela Maria Rosa, answer with purity
of mind and in full freedom of

conscience. I shall.

Do you come here of your own free will
to swear before God to consecrate your

chastity, your poverty and obedience,
child?

I do not.

Yes, my daughter, you consecrate your
chastity, poverty, and your obedience to

God. Your Grace, you ask me to swear
chastity, poverty, and obedience before

God. I understand you perfectly, and my
answer is no.

I can't deceive God in this way.

Above all, I appeal to my father and
mother.

Beatrice Maria Rolanda.

Will you answer with purity of mind and
in full freedom of conscience?

Yes, I shall.

This is our last meeting.

I have no desire to see you again.

Of course, I've realized it's a minor
cross for you to bear.

But I've ordered your mother and your
brothers and your sisters never to see

again.

You'll feel your loving kindness and
obedient nature.

of which so many happy displays are
token, will help you to bear this cross

I have no doubt.

You're not only a disappointment to your
family, but a disappointment here.

I say, you are a changeling.

You're no flesh of mine.

You cost me more pain than any of my
children, perhaps because I had such

hopes for you.

But you're not my child.

For me, you were born dead.

You were born dead.

Be not wise in your own conceits.

Repay no one with evil for evil, but
with good in the sight of all.

From St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Now let us pray for our soldiers.

For the allied flag of the Holy Roman
Church.

For the arms that defend our
Christianity.

For our victory.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Julian's here.

Oh, but what can I do?

It's been a year since the last time I
saw him.

Before I came here.

But I love him.

You understand.

You must see him.

But sister, how?

Can I trust sister Rita or sister
Thomasina?

It's better not to.

Trust me.

I'll think about your meeting.

And how to avoid the danger of being
discovered.

Oh, Sister Elizabeth, do you mean it?

Will you really do it for me? Of course.

I like to see you so full of enthusiasm.

I will always be grateful to you.

When will you do something for me?

Oh, yes.

Julian!

They are together now. Good.

Thank you.

I've no one anymore.

In all this while, only the thought of
you kept me alive.

I was certain that one day we'd meet
again.

I hoped we would too.

But then, with all the wrongs we both
suffered, I began to lose heart, my

my trust in Ned.

Something in you now that frightens me.

Don't be afraid, my love.

My feelings for you will always be the
same.

Take me away from here.

Don't you want to?

Of course.

But where could we live?

We can't live in this country.

A nun who runs away from a convent is
shunned by everyone. We'd be outcasts.

We'd have nothing.

But we'd have each other.

Yes.

But to flee together, we need first
money and friends to hide us.

And I'd have to run away from the army.

Once you said soldiers were robbers.

You called them out, Lord, then.

Now you steal.

You have changed.

Yes, I know, but I had no choice.

But I love you, all the same.

You look radiant.

Come to my room tonight. We'll all be
there.

Let's make love together.

I invited you.

You can't go away like this.

Well, then.

You prefer the Mother Superior?

The Mother Superior?

What are you saying?

How could you?

It's true, though, isn't it?

No!

Why humiliate me?

Haven't I been your friend since the
first moment you entered the convent?

You led me to believe you cared as I do.

I never let you believe that.

Then what am I supposed to think about
your conduct towards me?

Were you faking?

I'm sorry that you... Then prove to me
that you're sorry.

Do I repulse you?

You don't know how much I've waited for
this moment.

And the courage it took to speak to you.

Till now I've interpreted your every
gesture.

Your every word.

As meaning that you might even care for
me.

I degrade myself.

I'm no longer myself next to you.

Now, nothing matters to me unless I can
love you always.

Together we can find a way.

No, it's not my fault. It's not my fault
if you've misunderstood.

You're clever.

I'll make you regret it.

Now I'm the one who doesn't want you.

Get out.

It makes life hard for me.

I like to hear no quarrels between men.

Tell me more.

You must take care of the young man.

You excite me more than any woman I've
ever known.

What do you want me to do?

Tell me.

That should be amusing.

Sister, I'd like to have those things I
gave you when I arrived here.

But you may keep half of them.

What for?

What do you want to do?

Run away with him? Anyway, your things,
like all of the others, are kept under

lock and key. You should have walked.
Better go.

But don't forget, if the inquisitors
catch a nun who runs away, she can even

put to death.

Hurry.

Julian?

of what Carmela says has happened.

We must presume she was delirious.

How is she today?

She has stopped crying and murmurs
senseless phrases.

May the Lord have mercy on our sister
Carmela.

Let us pray for her.

Thousand times the moment that you came
into this world.

You who suffered for us.

You whose flesh was humiliated and
martyred.

You can understand me.

You died for our sins.

Please forgive me.

I beg you.

Give me the strength to continue living.

Intercede with your son.

Ave Maria.

Grati plena.

Dominus tecum.

Benedicta tuis in mulieribus, et
benedictus fructus tuis, Iesu.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis
peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis

nostre. Amen.

What you have confessed is terrible.

For a nun to have a child is a
desecration.

You must be put in the isolation cell.

I'll do the best I can.

I'll try to keep the secret within the
convent walls.

Forgive me, Mother.

Please, what can I do?

Nothing.

You can do nothing.

You cannot destroy the fruits of your
womb.

What is it? More soldiers?

No.

No, it's the carts.

Taking the women to their men.

Julian!

Carmela, you have to be strong.

The time is here.

Fetch Sister Rita.

will be julie we'll baptize him julian
which saint is he i know one saint

he was a soldier in the roman empire
saint julian the martyr he called but

the humane for the hospitals he helped
provide

in this anonymous report is a fact, it's
indefensible.

Would your grace authorize me to
investigate the convent?

You shall.

I too shall go and will break the
cloister seal in the presence of the

happened here is infamous.

A shameful blight not only on this
convent and our diocese, but the entire

religious community of our country.

I warn you, concealing the guilty is
also a capital sin in the eyes of the

church.

And unless you surrender freely to the
secular arm, this fiend you're hiding,

you are all in league with the devil.

Now!

Which is the mother?

I want to know the mother!

She is.

Yes.

It's true.

I'm the mother. No.

She's lying.

I'm the mother.

The sisters are not telling the truth.

I'm the mother. Wait!

It's nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm the mother.

It's not true I'm the mother.

Enough! Silence!

Now let only the guilty nun confess her
crime.

I am the mother.

He's my son.

No, he's my son.

He's my son, do you hear?

I'm the mother.

He's my son.

Enough!

Enough!

If every nun claims it, you laugh at me.

Now the diocese will close your
rebellious convent.

to leave with the baby.

If you wear these men's clothes, it'll
be easier for you.

In a few hours, there'll be no one left
here. We're being sent away.

The soldiers are coming to escort us
tomorrow.

The order's been dissolved.

I'm not worthy of your sacrifice.

That's not true. You'll be treated
horribly in the convents where you're

won't you?

Don't think about it.

It's almost daylight.

Mother, she had to go now.

I'd like to say goodbye to the others.

No, it would be dangerous.

Could you ever forgive me?

I've already forgiven you.

Goodbye.

Here's your jewelry.

And more from all of us.

It'll be useful.

Thank you, Futa.

Wait a little.

When we're all out of the place, go wait
by the ruined church.

You'll see a woman who will look after
you there.

Excuse me, sister.

Have you seen a young man with a baby?

I was supposed to dress like a man.

I didn't.

But I'm the one you were to meet.

But is your habit worn every day?

Or did you borrow the veil?

If God has accepted the vows I made in
my heart, I'm truly a nun.

Well, help me.

What is your name?

Sister Agnes.

What will you do from now on?

Aid those who suffer in this world.

You have courage, sister.