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Context
The Marquis de Sade has been under the Abbe de Coulmier’s care at the asylum. However, his more humane attempts to stop him writing pornographic literature and inciting the asylum’s residents have failed. The inmates have rioted due to the Marquis’ licentious stories and the gruesome mutilation and murder of the local seamstress. Doctor Royer-Collard is the Chief Physician at the asylum and he has been applying increasing pressure on Coulmier to take more violent action against the Marquis.
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START: COULMIER: The fire in the belfry has been doused. We quieted the horses in the
stables. And the patients have all been firmly strapped back into their beds. Call me a fool, but I hope that you’ve summoned me this morning to relay good news.
DR. ROYER-COLLARD: You’re a fool.
[... …]
END: COULMIER: Knowing my disposition toward such cruel measures …
(DR. ROYER-COLLARD glares.)
Must you … Mustn’t we … Must I … I must …
(DR. ROYER-COLLARD clears his throat.)
I must have the key, sir. I’ve long since misplaced mine.
(DR. ROYER-COLLARD hands COULMIER the key.)
DR. ROYER-COLLARD: When you lay your head upon the pillow tonight, beg God’s forgiveness for the death of poor Madeleine. You shan’t have mine.
Doug Wright, Quills and other plays. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Electronic edition). pp.311.313.
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