Carla!
Carla! It's time!
Please let it be her, please let it be her.
Carla!
Please let it be you.
On you get, little one.
On you get.
Oh, that's it.
Look at her tummy, Margarita.
It is her. Don't you think?
Oh, that's the way. Good.
We've missed you.
That's it.
We have a new Agnes Sister.
It's Sister Cook, she's come back to us, big fat belly and all!
What is it?
A smell with no name.
Distant.
Leather, vinegar.
Pear.
Haircut day.
I give myself entirely to Thee and to show my devotion,
I consecrate to Thee my hair, my heart, my whole being
without reserve.
Watch over me now and always.
And Holy Mother, bless our new Lamb of God, Sister Cook,
who you have returned to us in this new form.
Thank you.
Blessed lambs, grant them all, our Sisters of St Agnes,
thy divine protection.
♪ Michael
♪ Christopher
♪ Raphael
♪ Uriel. ♪
Oh!
Get off!
Oh! Come on, come on.
You're OK.
All the animals are unsettled.
We need to slaughter a lamb.
It's not killing day!
Only after shearing day. It frightens the lambs!
It needs to be done.
Not Sister Cook.
No.
Not Cook.
My flesh is real food,
my blood is real drink.
She who eats of my flesh and drinks of my blood
lives continually in me and I in her.
Fetch herbs, Carla.
And hurry back, no straying.
Oh, kindle me with the bliss of your burning love.
And teach me to love you.
Oh Lord, so that your love alone be ever my delight.
Damn!
God?
Damn, damn!
Uh! Damn, damn!
Ugh! Agh!
Carla. A p-p...
What is it, child? A person in black!
What?
Black but with white!
A priest? What?
Well, this is a monastery, it's entirely normal
that a priest should come.
A priest. They'll be looking for the old path.
But Carla, do we hide her? Hide?
Ah!
Argh! Uh!
Arrgh!
Hai-ya! Ah!
Huh! Hah!
I am Father Ignatius.
And you are?
Sister Iphigenia.
This is Sister Margarita and Sister Carla.
We are the Sisters of St Agnes.
Sisters?
I was led to believe the property was uninhabited.
Had the devil's job trying to locate the place.
What a bloody wreck.
Hm! Sh!
Cup of tea, Father?
Uh...
Yes.
Provided the water's properly boiled.
Sisters of St Agnes.
Is it just the three of you or are there more?
My rental broke down just past the causeway.
Couldn't even call anyone as my phone died.
A phone, father?
Then where is its cord? It's cordless.
It's a mobile phone. It's battery operated.
Speaking of which, I do need to recharge, so...
Oh Lord, don't tell me
you don't have electricity.
Not even a generator?
Ah!
Do you have a flock, Father?
No.
I'm not a parish priest.
I'm the Bishop's secretary.
Well, I do hope you'll join us for dinner
after your long journey to visit us.
We will have a roast in your honour.
But now, if you will excuse us, it is time for vespers.
I will, of course, lead you in prayer.
It is only proper.
Mm.
Why is he here?
I do not know. We cannot ask.
And he will tell us.
Wine?
You found the wine.
A knife and fork each.
Remember to serve him first.
Thank you, Sister Carla.
Heavenly Mother, bless...
Bless us, Oh Lord, and these, thy gifts
for which we are about to receive
from thy bounty through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Ow!
Dragon.
Quite.
Knit?
No, I don't knit.
Would you like to tell us a story?
Our guest is probably tired, Sister Carla.
Perhaps Sister Margarita would like to tell a story.
A knitting story. It is your turn.
Some entertainment sounds charming.
Yes, Margarita.
'Beauty and the Beast', please.
I insist.
Once upon a time, there was a merchant.
Since the death of his wife,
his young daughter had become his only treasure.
He promised her that when his ship came in,
she could have anything she desired.
Diamonds, gold - anything.
But all the girl wanted was a single white rose.
On with your story, Sister.
The merchant went down to the busy port
to procure the rose his daughter so desired.
But alas, there was a terrible storm.
And the ship foundered.
And the merchant came away with nothing.
On the way home to his precious daughter,
the merchant trudged through the snow,
a storm raging all around him.
He came across the gates to a grand house.
The gates opened.
Inside was a blazing fire to warm him.
And wine.
He availed himself of the hospitality,
not realising it all came at a price.
When he'd had enough...
when he'd had his fill...
he went to leave but as he left...
he saw that the path bore splendid white roses!
Wanting to grant Beauty her wish, he took one rose.
But in doing so, he pricked his hand on a thorn.
Suddenly, a hideous beast sprang from nowhere.
A beast wearing a crimson smoking jacket.
"Ingrate!"
"You ingrate!
"Stealing my beloved roses!"
The merchant coward. "I'm sorry, sir."
"I am the Beast!
"And you WILL address me so!"
The merchant said, "I'm sorry, Beast.
"The rose was for my daughter. My precious Beauty."
"Send your daughter to me...
"and I will spare you your life."
And so it was...
that Beauty came to stay with the Beast.
One long year went by in that wretched house.
With poor beauty receiving no word from her father.
Christmas Day arrived. The door opened.
And in walked Beauty's father,
carting an enormous chest filled with gold and rare treasures.
"Good evening, Beast," he said.
"I've been away a long time working hard.
"All yours," he said.
"In return for Beauty."
The Beast bared his teeth and roared.
He wanted more.
Beauty's father stood his ground.
"You have had more than enough.
"Release my daughter."
He shook hands with the man and let Beauty go.
And father and daughter...
lived happily ever after.
That's not how the story goes.
The father never rescues her. Beauty falls in love with the Beast.
Breaking the curse, the Beast turns into a prince
and marries the girl.
Why are you here, Father?
To do an assessment of the property.
To what purpose?
How would you like...
soft beds, clean sheets, electricity, hot water?
An on-duty nurse?
A nurse?
Ah, forgive me for saying so, but you are getting to an age.
We do not need a nurse.
Retirement homes on the mainland
are very enlightened these days, Sister.
You want us to leave?
You can't very well stay here.
The place is falling down around your ears.
We are an enclosed order, Father.
We are not permitted to step outside these confines.
It's 1999.
It's almost a new millennium, Sister.
The Church has moved on.
Why, you could leave here tomorrow.
And you will leave.
Not tomorrow, but once things are sorted.
What about our sheep?
Probably best you slaughter them.
We would of course arrange for you to have the meat,
which was delicious.
You have been received into our community.
You have been our guest.
And now you want us to slaughter the Agnes Sisters?
Be gone.
Come.
We go down there and march him out of the gates tonight.
But if he goes, what then?
He delivers his report, the Bishop acts to have us removed,
our order is destroyed!
Is he really going to slaughter our sisters?
No priest has ever stayed overnight before.
I know. It's not right.
But we need to find out why they want to remove us.
I mean, we've done no harm. We ask for nothing.
Knock, knock.
I wanted to let you know that I will be gone in the morning.
But my phone appears to be missing.
And I wonder if there might be a bed for me?
I'll wait here while you make one up.
You are joking?
I shall be making a note of this in my report!
And I want my phone back!
Christ.
Shoo!
Uh!
Blessed is the word of thy Lord Jesus, Holy Mary...
We must pray for a sign.
The Holy Mother will show us the way.
Carla, the priest's phone, do you have it?
Damn! Damn!
Damn, damn, damn, damn!
I'll sing to you, Heavenly Mother.
Shoo! Foul beast!
Have mercy on me, Holy Mother.
Cleanse me of my sins
that I might put on the honour of God.
And fight against the wiles of the Devil.
Against the rulers...
of the darkness...
Ah! ..of this world.
Against...
spiritual wickedness...
in high places.
Ah!
Glorious St Agnes, virgin and martyr, pray for us.
Pray for us.
St Agnes, by your powerful intercession...
Shoo! Off!
..show us the way to defeat our enemies and save our home.
Help us now in our time of need.
Amen.
Bloody sacrilege.
Argh! Damn, damn!
The fire! Damn!
What's the matter with him?
I'm sorry, I...
was trying to make a cup of tea.
You wanted a cup of tea, Father?
Sister Carla.
Fetch some salve for Father's burn.
And a special tea.
A nice big cup of stay-at-home.
Stay-at-home, Sister?
Stay-at-home, stay-at-home, stay-at-home,
stay-at-home.
Stay-at-home, stay-at-home.
Only flowers in winter. Looks like a rose.
Sister Cook.
Petals pale green, almost white.
Thank you.
Come on. Come on, Sister Cook.
Come on.
We'll soon have you fixed up.
Carla.
Mm. This will take the pain away.
Your hands are so soft.
It's just like having your head massaged at the barber.
Mm.
Lavender?
You've had a shock, Father.
You must drink plenty of fluids.
It's a little bit hot all of a sudden.
Strip him, Carla. Remove his shoes.
Baby Moses in the rushes.
What are we going to do with him? He will be missed.
Then more men will come, looking for him.
I need to find out what his plans are for our home.
Then...
convince him that to proceed would be a mistake.
How long will that take?
We can hardly keep him here, a prisoner.
A prisoner? Are we keeping him?
Not a prisoner.
A guest.
Waylaid due to circumstances beyond our control.
Always under the watchful care of the Sisters of St Agnes.
Lie back, you are not well, Father.
What time is it?
Morning.
You slept a whole day and night.
Watched over by Sister Margarita.
How could that be?
You fell after your burn. Bumped your head.
Pass me my clothes, I will be on my way.
They need mending.
Torn. While undressing you.
They'll be ready for your journey home.
Tomorrow.
Pass me a robe, I need to relieve myself.
I'm not an invalid. I'll use a bathroom.
Or I'll relieve myself outside.
What? Why are you following me?
In case you fall.
Oh, for God's sake! I'm only going for a piss.
Yes, eat, Father. You must be hungry.
We prepared the table especially for you.
Hm.
I imagine your work as Bishop's secretary must be most demanding.
Mm.
Your notebook, Father.
Did you know our fruit and vegetables
are all grown in our orchards?
The botanical and medicinal herb gardens
were established over 300 years ago.
The seed collection and extensive pharmacopoeia
are one of the best preserved in the world.
And we, the Sisters of St Agnes, are the keepers of it.
Ah.
It would be a travesty to lose it.
Yes, well, all that knowledge
and yet still unable to attend
the simple task of mending my robes,
so that I might leave.
We will attend to it right away.
And I want my car keys.
And my money.
Uh!
And I want my phone back.
I'll await my robes in my room.
And the three bears moved as one and ate Goldilocks.
For we all know bears do eat people
who foolishly wander into the forest alone and uninvited.
Heresy.
Looking for something? Uh!
My clothes, Sister Margarita.
I shall mend them myself if I have to.
Oh, patience, Father.
You shall have your clothes.
Tomorrow.
At least give me my phone back.
I want my bloody phone back!
Phone?
I don't remember seeing a phone, Father Ignatius.
Perhaps one of the sheep has eaten it.
There's really no need to watch over me tonight.
But you are still not well, Father. Are you?
Goodnight, Father Ignatius.
Heavenly Father, please give me the strength to do what I must.
Hm.
He's gone!
Get Carla. Oh.
Uh!
Ah!
Uh! Uh.
Ahh!
Ah!
Blood.
The brambles.
Argh!
Ahh!
Carla.
AHHH!
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.
Our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To Thee do we cry, poor, banished children of Eve.
To Thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this veil of tears.
Turn then, most Holy Mother, thine eyes of mercy toward us.
And after this, our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb.
Jesus.
Oh Merciful, loving, sweet Mary.
Amen.
We are going outside.
Outside?
Why?
The car.
If the car is gone...
perhaps he never made it here.
But...
I've never been outside.
I too have only been outside these walls once
since I became a sister.
And that was some 25 years ago.
But the priest's car cannot be found.
I cannot break my vows.
And I will not force you to, my sister.
I will come with you.
Wait!
Archangel Raphael.
He's the patron saint of pilgrims.
A knitting story, Margarita. Oh, yes!
To make our journey easier? Yes, please.
Once upon a time...
there was a dear little girl who lived with her mother.
And there is nothing the mother would not have done for her child.
But one day, the mother had a terrible fall and broke her leg.
The mother said to Red Riding Hood,
"Go, fetch your grandmother on the other side of the woods.
"She is a bonesetter and will make me well again.
"But remember"...
Iphigenia.
.."you must stay on the path." Go.
"Do not talk to strangers.
"Go directly to your grandmother and she will bring you home to me."
Now, Red Riding Hood tried to stay on the path.
But after she'd been walking for a little while, she met...
a wolf.
"Good day, Red Riding Hood.
"What brings you to the forest?"
She answered, "My mother has broken her leg
"and I am to fetch my grandmother to come help her."
Now, the wolf was hungry.
He said to Red Riding Hood,
"But your grandmother will be in the village.
"I can show you the way."
Red Riding Hood forgot all her mother's instructions
and went away from the path.
Going instead to the village with the wolf.
Red Riding Hood searched the village high and low for her grandmother
but she was not there.
She looked too for the wolf to take her back to the forest.
But he had already raced to her grandmother's house
and gobbled her up.
And now he was waiting for her.
It's the gate!
How big it all is.
Carla.
Courage, Sister.
What happened to Red Riding Hood?
Red Riding Hood knew better than to try and outsmart a wolf.
So she returned home to her mother
without her grandmother to fix a broken bone.
And her mother walked with a limp for the rest of her life.
There it is.
Careful, Carla.
Don't touch it.
No time for vanity, Sister Carla.
We must find a keyhole.
Uh...
Get back, get back.
Arrrghh!
Please forgive us.
Oh!
AHHH!
Uh! Uh!
Found you.
God, help me.