If I were to reflect on it, I would say that maybe Peter Dinklage in my dream was really Maciel, doing real evil to genuine souls, and my directress being blown up in the dream only demonstrates the depth of my sadness for what that monster did to us all. It is an act just as senseless and truly intended to hurt as a suicide bombing. My inability to act mirrors my sense of my warnings not being heard. Also, the dire end reflects my fears that Regnum Christi is just a tool for a madman to make a point and will go down in history as that. There are people who think those of us on the outside take pleasure in the destruction of the Movement, but I personally felt such deep grief from even just a dream that I lay awake pondering.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
3gf Dreams
This morning, I was enjoying semi-awake/ mostly dreaming state when my dream became disturbing. I was, like many times, dreaming I had returned to consecrated life, and like many of my recent dreams, they had given me clothes that had a problem. This time, the clothes they gave me had hair all over them. It was an ugly green sports skirts and some sort of green sweat shirt. I was in the chapel with that horrible outfit. The repeating theme in my dreams lately has been that I am back as a consecrated, but I am not dressed correctly, usually my shoes are not consecrated style or I don´t have any nylons to wear. That is about par for those dreams. However, this one took a turn for the worse that left me sleepless after that. I was in the chapel praying, of course, and there was singing or prayers or something of the sort. Suddenly, I noticed a former director of mine inside a golden box - representing the tabernacle. She was not moving or speaking and seemed perturbed. Also, I noticed a very short man 
on the right side of the altar holding something electronic. In my dream, it was the actor, Peter Dinklage, but I think he represented someone much more sinister. I realized that he was about to set off a bomb from the exact spot where the former director was and blow everyone up. I yelled, "Everyone, run for cover!" but no one heard or moved. I was frozen, too, and only managed to duck my head behind a chair, knowing full well that my legs were exposed to debris. That is where I woke up.
If I were to reflect on it, I would say that maybe Peter Dinklage in my dream was really Maciel, doing real evil to genuine souls, and my directress being blown up in the dream only demonstrates the depth of my sadness for what that monster did to us all. It is an act just as senseless and truly intended to hurt as a suicide bombing. My inability to act mirrors my sense of my warnings not being heard. Also, the dire end reflects my fears that Regnum Christi is just a tool for a madman to make a point and will go down in history as that. There are people who think those of us on the outside take pleasure in the destruction of the Movement, but I personally felt such deep grief from even just a dream that I lay awake pondering.
If I were to reflect on it, I would say that maybe Peter Dinklage in my dream was really Maciel, doing real evil to genuine souls, and my directress being blown up in the dream only demonstrates the depth of my sadness for what that monster did to us all. It is an act just as senseless and truly intended to hurt as a suicide bombing. My inability to act mirrors my sense of my warnings not being heard. Also, the dire end reflects my fears that Regnum Christi is just a tool for a madman to make a point and will go down in history as that. There are people who think those of us on the outside take pleasure in the destruction of the Movement, but I personally felt such deep grief from even just a dream that I lay awake pondering.
Friday, December 3, 2010
DC Poems, a sketch
Coming off Capitol South -
in front of the House Offices
A gent with opaque glasses, thick black lenses to block out the light
hair resembling Ted K the unabomber
finely tailored Italian loafers
Observing me as I remember him.
How long have you been a spy, unknown man?
in front of the House Offices
A gent with opaque glasses, thick black lenses to block out the light
hair resembling Ted K the unabomber
finely tailored Italian loafers
Observing me as I remember him.
How long have you been a spy, unknown man?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Milenio - Maciel despojó a 900 mujeres
Los obispos visitadores se sorprendieron al conocer la existencia de consagradas en el Regnum Christi y de la rigurosa normatividad en la que viven, la cual no aceptaría la Iglesia católica en la actualidad.
Lun, 03/05/2010 - 05:02
Para el fundador de Legionarios de Cristo era importante la participación femenina, pero sólo para conseguir donativos. ArchivoMéxico.- Mujeres sonrientes, con buenos modales, de buena presencia y escasa formación cultural y religiosa, que decidieron consagrar su vida al Regnum Christi de los Legionarios de Cristo, viven sometidas en los centros de la congregación en una esclavitud voluntaria que les impide opinar, tener amistades y cercanía con su familia. Bajo un régimen de control total se les ha utilizado por décadas para obtener recursos y vocaciones. Y todo en nombre de Dios.
A cuarenta años de haberse integrado el primer grupo de consagradas, creado por Marcial Maciel, se descubrió que no están reconocidas por la Santa Sede, incluso los visitadores apostólicos se sorprendieron al conocer de su existencia y de la rigurosa normatividad en la que viven, la cual no aceptaría la Iglesia católica en la actualidad.
Actualmente son cerca de 900, provenientes de España, México, Estados Unidos, Francia, Italia, Alemania y Nueva Zelanda, principalmente. En el país son aproximadamente 300 en sus centros instalados en Monterrey (hay dos casas, una con 50 y otra con 150 jóvenes recién consagradas), Distrito Federal (cinco casas), Puebla, León, Saltillo, Mérida, Guadalajara y Cotija.
Perdidas en el laberinto de esa normatividad, han creado una figura “híbrida” que fue aprovechada por su fundador, que las convirtió en su ejército femenil. Tan sólo para el cumpleaños de éste, cada 10 de marzo se les solicitaba un “regalo económico”, un cheque aproximado de 250 mil dólares, cantidad que cada año se intentaba superar.
Según los Estatutos del Regnum Christi (RC), en el capítulo dedicado al tercer grado, de los que tiene copia MILENIO Diario, se establece un total sometimiento de juicio y se les exige que a los 15 años de haber sido consagradas entreguen la mitad de sus bienes patrimoniales presentes y futuros a la Legión y a los 25 años el total de éste, de los cuales no se dispondrá en vida de la donante, sólo de su usufructo.
Además, se indica que si cuentan con bienes al integrarse al RC los podrán conservar, y adquirir más, pero no administrar. Y podrán disponer del usufructo de éstos, pero sólo para obras de caridad y de ayuda al movimiento legionario.
A estas jóvenes diseñadas para ser sometidas se les recluta en sus colegios, entre los grupos de colaboradores y las secciones de jóvenes, las consagran desde los 17 años de edad y se les solicita a sus padres, si pueden pagar, 7 mil dólares anuales para su mantenimiento; en México durante varios años se les pedía una mensualidad aproximada de dos mil a tres mil pesos, para cubrir los gastos de la casa en donde vivían.
Son aisladas desde el primer momento en que ingresan, las normas son claras: con sus familiares pueden estar 15 días cada 7 años y una vez al año las pueden ver sus padres, en las ciudades en donde éstas se encuentren. También, tienen derecho a una llamada mensual que realiza la familia. Pero esta regla se puede romper si requieren conseguir recursos para los centros.
Para estas mujeres laicas, que no están consagradas como las religiosas de otras congregaciones, hay permisos especiales para salir del centro e ir con sus familias, los cuales se otorgan en caso de que su padre o madre se encuentren enfermos de muerte, sólo son ocho días, si en ese lapso no fallece, se regresan y es algo extraordinario conseguir otro pase.
Al interior del centro tienen prohibido hablar de lo personal entre ellas. Ahí debe reinar siempre el silencio, excepto en la media hora destinada para la comida y los 10 minutos que se les concede al final del día para charlar. No pueden ayudarse unas a otras en nada sin el permiso de su directora. Todo es controlado, incluso el ir al baño, lo cual tiene que autorizarlo su directora si están en tiempos de convivencia comunitaria.
La inflexible normatividad en la que viven las consagradas las obliga a hablar con su directora cada 15 días de manera confidencial; sin embargo, este diálogo es revelado a sus superiores. Situación que va en contra del derecho canónico (CIC 240,2), la Iglesia no permite que ni siquiera para la ordenación sacerdotal se revelen los contenidos de la dirección espiritual.
También se les asigna uno o dos confesores sacerdotes legionarios, únicos permitidos para confesarse cada semana. Y se les somete a una aplicación de un cuestionario semanal de 45 minutos que las hace sentir culpables y pecadoras, con preguntas como: “¿Soy irresponsable en el empleo del tiempo. Considero la pérdida del tiempo como una falta formal a la pobreza?
Para Marcial Maciel era importante la participación de las mujeres, pero sólo para conseguir donativos y captar vocaciones, porque siempre se opuso a que las consagradas estudiaran. A diferencia de los hombres que ingresan y se integran a las filas de las universidades.
Algunas ex consagradas confiaron a MILENIO Diario que a ellas, desde su adhesión, se les dijo que no era necesario que concluyeran carreras universitarias, algunas por seguir a Cristo abandonaron sus estudios; otras los continúan, pero asesoradas de manera individual por profesoras y aisladas de los centros universitarios.
La mayoría de las profesoras que les imparten los cursos pertenecen a la Legión, tienen poca capacitación y no se han titulado. Estas mujeres pueden estudiar publicidad, técnicas de comunicación humana y pedagogía, entre otras, pero “no la medicina”.
Pese a que el derecho canónico en el número 822 recomienda que se usen los medios de comunicación, pero con prudencia para cuidar la castidad, ellas no tienen acceso a prensa, televisión, radio e internet libre.
Bajo este régimen, un número importante de ellas se enferma y de acuerdo a testimonios de médicos y siquiatras que las atienden, acreditan que son mujeres sanas, pero antes de cumplir 30 años de edad tienen síntomas serios de “fibromialgia, neurosis, colitis, gastritis, transtornos del sueño y depresión”.
Las normas estrictas y los horarios a los que están sometidas les generan ansiedad, “obsesión y perfeccionismo, así como despersonalización, con actitudes regresivas.
En su vida cotidiana “no hay libertad por la opción personal, básica para una vida adulta plena y feliz, por lo que caen fácilmente en desesperación, desánimo y crisis emocionales.
Por eso muchas de ellas no rebasan los 40 años en ese estilo de vida, algunas se van enfermas y afectadas. Pero en una indefensión total, porque de acuerdo con su normatividad, si se enferma síquicamente se le envía de regreso a su casa.
- Claves
Reclutadas
• En sus promesas, además de castidad, pobreza y obediencia, tienen que cumplir otras tres: nunca desear… ni intrigar para alcanzar o conservar cargos o dignidades en el movimiento.
• No criticar jamás externamente, con palabras, escritos o de cualquier otro modo, ningún acto de gobierno, ni la persona de ningún director del movimiento y avisar de inmediato al director quién es el que critica. Evitar la crítica, la murmuración, los particularismos y la intriga, creando un ambiente de estima.
• De las consagradas el 8 de diciembre de 1969 sólo quedan 4, dos hermanas de apellido Magaña; Patricia Bannon (hermana de quien fue director territorial de la Legión en Estados Unidos) y Margarita Estrada.
Eugenia Jiménez
Lun, 03/05/2010 - 05:02
Para el fundador de Legionarios de Cristo era importante la participación femenina, pero sólo para conseguir donativos. ArchivoMéxico.- Mujeres sonrientes, con buenos modales, de buena presencia y escasa formación cultural y religiosa, que decidieron consagrar su vida al Regnum Christi de los Legionarios de Cristo, viven sometidas en los centros de la congregación en una esclavitud voluntaria que les impide opinar, tener amistades y cercanía con su familia. Bajo un régimen de control total se les ha utilizado por décadas para obtener recursos y vocaciones. Y todo en nombre de Dios.
A cuarenta años de haberse integrado el primer grupo de consagradas, creado por Marcial Maciel, se descubrió que no están reconocidas por la Santa Sede, incluso los visitadores apostólicos se sorprendieron al conocer de su existencia y de la rigurosa normatividad en la que viven, la cual no aceptaría la Iglesia católica en la actualidad.
Actualmente son cerca de 900, provenientes de España, México, Estados Unidos, Francia, Italia, Alemania y Nueva Zelanda, principalmente. En el país son aproximadamente 300 en sus centros instalados en Monterrey (hay dos casas, una con 50 y otra con 150 jóvenes recién consagradas), Distrito Federal (cinco casas), Puebla, León, Saltillo, Mérida, Guadalajara y Cotija.
Perdidas en el laberinto de esa normatividad, han creado una figura “híbrida” que fue aprovechada por su fundador, que las convirtió en su ejército femenil. Tan sólo para el cumpleaños de éste, cada 10 de marzo se les solicitaba un “regalo económico”, un cheque aproximado de 250 mil dólares, cantidad que cada año se intentaba superar.
Según los Estatutos del Regnum Christi (RC), en el capítulo dedicado al tercer grado, de los que tiene copia MILENIO Diario, se establece un total sometimiento de juicio y se les exige que a los 15 años de haber sido consagradas entreguen la mitad de sus bienes patrimoniales presentes y futuros a la Legión y a los 25 años el total de éste, de los cuales no se dispondrá en vida de la donante, sólo de su usufructo.
Además, se indica que si cuentan con bienes al integrarse al RC los podrán conservar, y adquirir más, pero no administrar. Y podrán disponer del usufructo de éstos, pero sólo para obras de caridad y de ayuda al movimiento legionario.
A estas jóvenes diseñadas para ser sometidas se les recluta en sus colegios, entre los grupos de colaboradores y las secciones de jóvenes, las consagran desde los 17 años de edad y se les solicita a sus padres, si pueden pagar, 7 mil dólares anuales para su mantenimiento; en México durante varios años se les pedía una mensualidad aproximada de dos mil a tres mil pesos, para cubrir los gastos de la casa en donde vivían.
Son aisladas desde el primer momento en que ingresan, las normas son claras: con sus familiares pueden estar 15 días cada 7 años y una vez al año las pueden ver sus padres, en las ciudades en donde éstas se encuentren. También, tienen derecho a una llamada mensual que realiza la familia. Pero esta regla se puede romper si requieren conseguir recursos para los centros.
Para estas mujeres laicas, que no están consagradas como las religiosas de otras congregaciones, hay permisos especiales para salir del centro e ir con sus familias, los cuales se otorgan en caso de que su padre o madre se encuentren enfermos de muerte, sólo son ocho días, si en ese lapso no fallece, se regresan y es algo extraordinario conseguir otro pase.
Al interior del centro tienen prohibido hablar de lo personal entre ellas. Ahí debe reinar siempre el silencio, excepto en la media hora destinada para la comida y los 10 minutos que se les concede al final del día para charlar. No pueden ayudarse unas a otras en nada sin el permiso de su directora. Todo es controlado, incluso el ir al baño, lo cual tiene que autorizarlo su directora si están en tiempos de convivencia comunitaria.
La inflexible normatividad en la que viven las consagradas las obliga a hablar con su directora cada 15 días de manera confidencial; sin embargo, este diálogo es revelado a sus superiores. Situación que va en contra del derecho canónico (CIC 240,2), la Iglesia no permite que ni siquiera para la ordenación sacerdotal se revelen los contenidos de la dirección espiritual.
También se les asigna uno o dos confesores sacerdotes legionarios, únicos permitidos para confesarse cada semana. Y se les somete a una aplicación de un cuestionario semanal de 45 minutos que las hace sentir culpables y pecadoras, con preguntas como: “¿Soy irresponsable en el empleo del tiempo. Considero la pérdida del tiempo como una falta formal a la pobreza?
Para Marcial Maciel era importante la participación de las mujeres, pero sólo para conseguir donativos y captar vocaciones, porque siempre se opuso a que las consagradas estudiaran. A diferencia de los hombres que ingresan y se integran a las filas de las universidades.
Algunas ex consagradas confiaron a MILENIO Diario que a ellas, desde su adhesión, se les dijo que no era necesario que concluyeran carreras universitarias, algunas por seguir a Cristo abandonaron sus estudios; otras los continúan, pero asesoradas de manera individual por profesoras y aisladas de los centros universitarios.
La mayoría de las profesoras que les imparten los cursos pertenecen a la Legión, tienen poca capacitación y no se han titulado. Estas mujeres pueden estudiar publicidad, técnicas de comunicación humana y pedagogía, entre otras, pero “no la medicina”.
Pese a que el derecho canónico en el número 822 recomienda que se usen los medios de comunicación, pero con prudencia para cuidar la castidad, ellas no tienen acceso a prensa, televisión, radio e internet libre.
Bajo este régimen, un número importante de ellas se enferma y de acuerdo a testimonios de médicos y siquiatras que las atienden, acreditan que son mujeres sanas, pero antes de cumplir 30 años de edad tienen síntomas serios de “fibromialgia, neurosis, colitis, gastritis, transtornos del sueño y depresión”.
Las normas estrictas y los horarios a los que están sometidas les generan ansiedad, “obsesión y perfeccionismo, así como despersonalización, con actitudes regresivas.
En su vida cotidiana “no hay libertad por la opción personal, básica para una vida adulta plena y feliz, por lo que caen fácilmente en desesperación, desánimo y crisis emocionales.
Por eso muchas de ellas no rebasan los 40 años en ese estilo de vida, algunas se van enfermas y afectadas. Pero en una indefensión total, porque de acuerdo con su normatividad, si se enferma síquicamente se le envía de regreso a su casa.
- Claves
Reclutadas
• En sus promesas, además de castidad, pobreza y obediencia, tienen que cumplir otras tres: nunca desear… ni intrigar para alcanzar o conservar cargos o dignidades en el movimiento.
• No criticar jamás externamente, con palabras, escritos o de cualquier otro modo, ningún acto de gobierno, ni la persona de ningún director del movimiento y avisar de inmediato al director quién es el que critica. Evitar la crítica, la murmuración, los particularismos y la intriga, creando un ambiente de estima.
• De las consagradas el 8 de diciembre de 1969 sólo quedan 4, dos hermanas de apellido Magaña; Patricia Bannon (hermana de quien fue director territorial de la Legión en Estados Unidos) y Margarita Estrada.
Eugenia Jiménez
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Screenplay Act III
THE CULT – ACT THREE 91.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Lia is sedated. They have finished trying to operate on her to repair the walls of her stomach and now she is in intensive care while the DOCTOR explains the situation to her family.
DAD
Is she going to make it?
DOCTOR
I’m really sorry to tell you this, Mr. Grady,
but the odds are that your daughter will
die by tomorrow. By the time our
paramedics got to her, she had already
sustained extensive internal
bleeding and was no longer conscious.
We can hope that our efforts to
mend her stomach wall have been
successful, but the chances are not
good. You should bring your
families and friends around her and
spend these minutes with her and
pray that she makes it through
the next couple days. She is
young and healthy, so maybe her
body can heal.
MOM
We should probably tell Elise and
Owen to come from Wisconsin. They
will want to be here.
DOCTOR
Yes, that is what I would recommend.
We have done everything that we
can for your daughter. She has plenty
of pain medications and does not feel
anything right now.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 92.
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT
Lia is still unconscious and this time, OWEN and Elise are there. Elise takes Lia’s hand.
ELISE
Lia, I feel so bad. I wish I had known
how much pain you felt. I promise that
if you come out of this, I will help you
work through all that consecrated life
has done to your heart.
OWEN
It’s ok, honey. Keep up your hope. She
has already made it through one night,
so maybe she is healing.
ELISE
I hope so. I hope so.
She starts to cry.
MOM
I can’t stand the thought of losing my
daughter. I don’t know how I missed the
signs.
ELISE
Don’t blame yourself, Mom. She was suicidal
before she came back from Mexico. They left
her that way and just abandoned her into
our hands to heal her. And don’t feel bad
that you didn’t see it. If there is one
thing that I learned as a consecrated, it
was to hide my feelings so as not to “bother
the others” with my sadness or anger. I
learned how to put on a happy face when
I had just cried.
DAD
We thought she was happy as she smiled.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 93.
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Lia is slowly returning to consciousness, but she has no idea what has happened to her.
ELISE
MOM!! MOM!! Lia is moving!
Her Mom comes over quickly.
MOM
Lia? How are you doing?
Lia is twitching some muscles but nowhere near ready to converse.
ELISE
We love you, babe. You are still alive
and everything will be ok.
DAD
It’s ok, take your time.
Lia opens her eyes and smiles. She tries to talk.
MOM
It’s ok, you don’t need to talk yet.
But it is nice to hear your voice.
Lia speaks in a scratchy voice.
LIA
It’s nice to have all of you with me.
The last couple days have been like a
dream. I knew you were with me, and
I would see you and then go back to
sleep.
DAD
We’re so glad you are ok.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 94.
FADE IN:
INT. THERAPIST’S OFFICE – DAY
Lia is recovering from her overdose with a week at the inpatient mental health ward. She is in therapy talking to her therapist, DR. GREEN.
DR. GREEN
So how are you feeling, today, Lia?
I know yesterday you were feeling
frustrated about being locked in this
place and not really sure where to go
with your life.
LIA
It is strange. My emotional pain was
so severe that I really wanted to die,
but I had a sort of near-death
experience right when I was passing out.
I saw myself as a mother with a
husband and a successful career and
it made me wonder if that would
someday be possible for me. Right
now something like that seems impossible,
but maybe it’s not. I saw myself happy.
That was why I told my Mom that I
had taken the pills. Even though
something like that feels like
a life I could never attain for myself,
the very small possibility that I
could made me rethink what I had done.
DR. GREEN
I think you can achieve that. I think
you are very capable of that.
LIA
Really? Being consecrated made me feel
like I wasn’t good at anything, like a
failure at life. I felt like being shy
and intellectual was being a loser.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 95.
CONTINUED:
DR. GREEN
Maybe that’s how it is with the group you
were with, but the rest of the world tends
to respect a quiet intellectual. Actually,
a noisy extravert can be annoying.
LIA
I’m just so used to thinking that I’m less
than other people because I don’t like to
stand out or grab everybody’s attention.
DR. GREEN
Why do you have to be any way? Why don’t you
just be yourself?
LIA
I’ve just always had these standards of
perfection held up to me. This is the perfect
Catholic, this is the perfect saint, this
is the perfect consecrated. Nobody has ever
asked me who I want to be. Nobody has
asked me who I am or what I believe in.
All my life, people have told me what
to believe in and who to be.
DR. GREEN
Well, Lia, who do you want to be?
LIA
I guess that is the million-dollar question,
huh? I’m not really sure who I am
anymore. All I remember is what Irene
kept telling me, “Don’t be so proud.”
DR. GREEN
You, proud? You are actually quite
unassuming.
LIA
Maybe she just thought I was because I wrote
it on my program of life.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 96.
CONTINUED:
DR. GREEN
Or maybe the way Irene treated you has
nothing to do with how you really are.
She probably was trying to break you
since you are capable of independent
thought.
LIA
You think? I was trained to always
believe that my spiritual guide was
God’s instrument for me.
DR. GREEN
Did you ever think you were being
brainwashed in a cult?
LIA
No, it honestly did not cross my mind.
I was convinced that anyone that doubted
them was not open to the grace of God,
hence we add to continually pray for
openness to God. I thought that the
vocation was hard and that was why people
had crises. I thought the pills they
gave out were to help them increase
their faith in God.
DR. GREEN
Well, Lia, I think you will be able
to go home soon and start your life.
You should continue in therapy and
think about where you want to be in
terms of school, work, and relationships.
LIA
Thanks, Dr. Green. I like the sound of
that, “where I want to be.” It never
occurred to me that God’s will could
be combined with my will and my
actualization. I mean, it did, but
they told me that was wrong.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 97.
FADE IN:
EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK – DAY
Lia and Elise are walking around an amusement park, snacks in hand.
LIA
The Fidgety Twister was a pretty wild ride.
I think I’m still a bit dizzy and jolted
about.
ELISE
Yeah, that was pretty good, but what I
liked was the Upside Down Flyer.
Lia is quiet for a moment.
LIA
Hey, sis?
ELISE
What’s up?
LIA
Well, it’s just, I mean, did you ever
feel that the consecrated ever were
not looking for your best interest
but were just using you to recruit
people and bring in money? I know it
sounds “uncharitable” to say that, but
I can’t help but feel a little used
by this whole situation.
ELISE
Oh, Lia, you are just now seeing that?
I guess I didn’t realize how
brainwashed you were. Lia, when did
they ever look out for your best
interest? When was anybody there ever
thinking about you and what you needed?
You were always told not to think about
yourself so you wouldn’t notice.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 98.
CONTINUED:
The girls walk up to a big ride and stand there looking at the line.
LIA
(slowly)
Um, Elise, do you think it is possible
for a spiritual guide to abuse their
souls, you know, emotionally?
ELISE
I’ll tell you what I think. Did you
give spiritual direction?
LIA
Yes, I did.
ELISE
How much training did you have?
LIA
None.
ELISE
Exactly. What makes those spiritual guides
qualified? Did you pick someone you thought
could guide you? Of course not. Someone was
always assigned to you. That person could
be compatible with you or not. That person
could be close to God or not. That person
could guide you or try to destroy God’s
work in your soul and no one would ever
know except you and them.
LIA
It’s just now that I am learning about
what abuse is in some books I am reading,
I think that Irene might have emotionally
abused me. I realized recently that she
was telling me to stop being proud all
the time and telling me what a bad person
I was when I had low self-esteem.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 99.
CONTINUED:
ELISE
What do you mean?
LIA
I think that her constant repetition
of how weak and sinful a person I was
made me feel bad about myself, and that
in turn led me to be suicidal. It was
almost like I felt that she wanted me
to kill myself since I was such a
waste of space.
ELISE
Well, it’s not exactly that. I think
it has to deal with power. Maybe she
felt she couldn’t control you, so she
tried to put you down until you gave
in to everything she wanted.
The girls get in line for the ride. They continue to talk as they wait.
LIA
I’m glad I’m starting to figure things
out. At least I have you to help me
see what is true and what is not.
Sometimes it is all just like a fuzzy
dream.
The girls get on the ride.
ELISE
Just forget about it, move on. Your
life is taking off.
The ride takes off.
LIA
Somehow I can’t forget about it. Irene
is still giving spiritual direction.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 100.
FADE IN:
EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Lia is eating outside with some other friends from a cult conference – DIANE, PHIL, and ROBERT.
LIA
This conference is really powerful.
Thank you for inviting me, Diane.
DIANE
You’re welcome. I’m glad it is
helpful for you.
LIA
Once the other cult survivors started
talking, I had a moment of awareness.
I had never really thought of the
Movement as a cult until I heard
them talking about their
high-pressure groups and the dynamics
of this type of groups. It sounded
like what I went through.
PHIL
Tell us about your group, Lia.
LIA
Well, I was recruited into my group at
around 12 years of age through
spiritual direction and retreats.
ROBERT
The group I was with had a sort of
guide who would tell me what to do.
PHIL
Well, my group was small so we all
met with the leader on a weekly basis.
LIA
Wow, that sounds really similar.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 101.
CONTINUED:
DIANE
A lot of high-pressure groups use
fundraising and recruitment as
requirements. Was Regnum Christi
like that, Lia.
LIA
Yeah, actually, I would probably
describe that as the heart of the
Movement. But I don’t really
understand. How can something that
is approved by the Church be a cult?
DIANE
Well, I thought the Moonies were
blessed by Sun Myung Moon but
I guess I was wrong. We all were
fooled by the disguise of the groups
we joined. Let me explain something
else to you, Lia. A lot of these
groups target certain types of
recruits. Those recruits are usually
young, idealistic, and isolated
within the society to which they
belong. They also look for
charismatic youth who will have
the capacity to recruit others
and will easily give other their
life savings and that of their
loved ones.
LIA
Sometimes I feel bad when I think
about how many times I asked my
parents to pay money to the
Movement. They paid for so many
things – the very expensive high
school in Rhode Island, the flight
to Mexico, my studies in Mexico,
our trip to Rome, my flight back,
and even returned my suitcases.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 102.
CONTINUED:
PHIL
Homeschoolers are good recruits for that
type of organization because they are
already disenfranchised from society.
That is how a wolf in sheep’s clothing
gets into their midst.
LIA
I always wondered why the Movement was
different in the United States and
Mexico. I felt like I had switched
groups, or like the kind of girl who
gets married and finds out she married
a stranger when she gets home with him.
DIANE
When I joined the Moonies, I also had
that feeling. We were convinced that
everyone was so happy, and then once
I was a member, I started to feel
pressured and fake happiness to recruit
people.
ROBERT
Lia, it seems like you would be good
to help me in my company. You seem
to be quite insightful.
LIA
What do you do?
ROBERT
I’m a cult deprogrammer. I can
always use some new trainees.
LIA
The demand is that high?
ROBERT
Never lets off.
FADE OFF.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 103.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia has accepted Robert’s work offer. She is busy at work in their new office while he is looking over some paperwork. The phone rings.
LIA
Free Yourself, This is Lia.
WOMAN(O.S.)
Hi, my daughter has just gotten involved
with Scientology in California. I am
really worried about her because she
has started to hand over large percentages
of her paycheck to them and won’t speak
with us anymore. We are really worried
about her. Is there anything you can
help us with.
LIA
Sure. Give me your address and I will
send you some information. Also, we
have links to a chat group that meets
regularly for parents with children
in Scientology. If you would like
the intervention of an experienced
deprogrammer, my colleague, Robert,
will be happy to get in touch with you
as soon as he is done with a cult
intervention in Peru.
Lia takes some notes, then hangs up.
ROBERT
What did they want?
LIA
Yes, they said they would like to
arrange for your services once you are
done in Peru.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 104.
CONTINUED:
ROBERT
Lia, can you get in touch with this girl?
She is trying to escape from the FLDS and
I want to put her in touch with the runners
in that area who can pick her up and set
her up in an apartment and help her find a
job.
LIA
Sure. Have you heard from Peru yet today or
do you want me to call?
ROBERT
Check my emails first. I might have gotten
an email from Linda. She was going to let
me know who will pick me up from my flight
to take me to the family home.
LIA
What kind of group is it?
ROBERT
It’s a guru cult.
Lia checks the emails and can be seen making phone calls quietly around the office.
ROBERT
Lia?
LIA
Yes?
ROBERT
Are you happy with this job? Do you like
it?
LIA
I don’t know how to explain this. Every time
I take a phone call or write an email, I
think that could be me. That was me.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 105.
CONTINUED:
ROBERT
I find it to be very rewarding work, too.
LIA
I find that it helps me reflect on my
experience. I never feel doubts about
what I went through anymore or what
was what. I know that I was pressured
into a high-pressure group and that
the stress made me lose my mind.
It’s kind of funny that ever since I
made that realization, my depression
went away.
ROBERT
It’s not really that strange when you
realize that depression was your mind
telling you they were strangling and
stifling it. It is quite common with
members and ex-members.
LIA
Sometimes I imagine what my life would
be like if I had been an outgoing
person who they didn’t want to kick
out when I became a burden. I would
be living there depressed as all
heck or already dead. I wonder
how many have killed themselves
and they have kept it secret
“to protect the faith of the
members.”
ROBERT
I guess we’ll never know.
LIA
I just think that the truth will set
us free. I have always believed that.
I wonder when we will know the truth
about Regnum Christi.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 106.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – NIGHT
Lia and Robert are once again working and talking.
LIA
You know what I like about cult
deprogramming?
ROBERT
What?
LIA
For once, I am truly helping someone
instead of using them. I always used
to feel guilty when I had to use
people for money or numbers as a
consecrated.
ROBERT
That’s because you have a good…
The phone rings and interrupts him.
LIA
Free Yourself, this is Lia.
MAN(O.S.)
Buenas tardes, se encuentra Miss Lia?
Llamamos desde México. Queremos
contratar sus servicios para ayudar
a nuestra hija.
LIA
A sus órdenes.
Lia hangs up.
ROBERT
What was that about?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 107.
CONTINUED:
LIA
It was a family from one of the
Spanish-speaking chat groups. They
want me to go to Mexico to help
get their daughter out of a cult.
ROBERT
Really? I guess that would be your
first official intervention. My
little bird is going to fly the
coop.
Lia smiles.
ROBERT
Do you think you are ready to go
back to Mexico? You haven’t been
back since you were consecrated,
have you?
LIA
No, I don’t think I’m ready.
I don’t want to go back. When I
think of Mexico, I think of sadness,
I think of being browbeaten into
depression, I think of fundraising,
and none of that really sounds
attractive. It makes me frightened,
because I feel like they own Mexico.
I will almost be afraid to be back
there, maybe run into some of them.
ROBERT
I wouldn’t worry about that. That’s
another myth of Regnum Christi. They
always exaggerate their importance
and expanse. When I think of Mexico,
I think of margaritas and white
beaches.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 108.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Can we trade?
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREET – DAY
Lia is standing on the street in Mexico behind a telephone pole wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses and looking down the street for the cult victim while talking on a walkie talkie.
LIA
Here she comes. On two.
A short teenage GIRL starts walking down the street. At the same time, a car rounds the corner at a rapid pace. The girl looks up, startled. The GIRL’S MOTHER gets out of the car.
GIRL’S MOTHER
Xochitl, Xochitl, come back to us!
The girl looks happy to see her family, and also concerned.
GIRL
What are you doing here? What do you
want of me?
GIRL’S MOTHER
Give us a chance. We want you to take the
time to listen. We brought a cult expert
to talk with you.
Her family doesn’t seem to be waiting for the girl to answer. Two big men jump out of the car and hustle her in. Lia climbs into the front seat.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 109.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – DAY
The girl, Xochitl has just been kidnapped back from her cult and wants to know what is going on.
XOCHITL
Who are you?
She asks Lia in a demanding fashion.
LIA
I’m Lia. I was in a high-pressure
group myself. Now I help members of
high-pressure groups and their families
to help make decisions about their
safety. We have been receiving information
about your group that indicates that
they may be preparing for a government
attack and have been stockpiling
poison and weapons.
XOCHITL
No, it can’t be. Master Ayl would
never do that.
LIA
I’m sorry to tell you, Xochitl, but
he would. We have these pictures from
a former member who you might know.
XOCHITL
Iris took these pictures? She would
never lie.
LIA
She also seemed quite trustworthy to
us. That is why we thought it best
to get you out of there before
something happened to you. We would
like you to go to a treatment program.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 110.
CONTINUED:
XOCHITL’S MOM
Honey, please consider it. You can spend
a few months in the place. We will pay for
it. It is run by people who have come out
of groups and they will give you
therapy and you can talk to others people
from other groups. If you decide you
want to go back to Master Ayl’s group,
that is fine, but we want you to
take the time to think about it first.
XOCHITL
OK.
XOCHITL’S MOM
OK what?
XOCHITL
I’ll do it.
XOCHITL’S MOM
Oh, sweetie, I’m so glad.
Both of them burst into tears and the two, big burly brothers look uncomfortable.
XOCHITL
I don’t know why, but I just wasn’t
feeling it anymore much. I didn’t
think the world was going to end in 2012
and I was getting tired of asking for
money. I’m glad you guys came to pick
me up and aren’t angry at me for my
mistakes.
XOCHITL’s MOM
Of course not, Xochitl. We love you.
I’m so glad you’re safe.
Lia has said nothing throughout this conversation and watches the mother and daughter through the rear-view mirror.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 111.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREET – DAY
The day is coming to an end. The family have already taken care of their business, and Lia is wandering the streets of Cancun alone. She stops at a restaurant and decides to eat along the street so she can watch the people walking by.
WAITER
Where would you like to sit, Ma’am?
LIA
Right here outside, please. It’s a nice
night.
WAITER
It’s very hot.
Lia takes a seat at a table.
WAITER
Anything to drink?
Lia scans the menu for a moment then smiles to herself.
LIA
I’ll have a margarita, please.
The waiter goes back inside the restaurant. OMAR walks around the corner and takes a seat a table next to Lia. He is obviously checking her out.
OMAR
Nice night, isn’t it?
LIA
It’s a little hot.
OMAR
Are you from around here?
LIA
No, I’m from the U.S.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 112.
CONTINUED:
OMAR
I’m Omar. I’m a scuba instructor here
in Cancun.
LIA
Hi, I’m Lia. That sounds exciting.
I have never been scuba diving.
OMAR
You should come tomorrow. I’ll teach
you how.
Lia turns around so she can talk more directly.
LIA
So what kind of animals do you see
when you go snorkeling?
OMAR
Well, there are a lot of tropical fish.
Sometimes I see turtles or one time I
even saw a shark.
LIA
Were you frightened?
OMAR
No, but the people that were scuba diving
with me were. Hey, would you like me
to show you around town later once
you are done eating? We could take a
walk on the beach and through
downtown.
Lia hesitates. The waiter arrives with her margarita.
LIA
Alright.
OMAR
It’s going to be a beautiful night.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 113.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREETS – NIGHT
The sun is setting over Cancun as Lia and Omar walk around the streets.
OMAR
The beach is over here.
He points towards the ocean in the distance.
LIA
Ok, let’s go.
Lia looks down and sees a newsstand. There is a picture of Marcial Maciel and it says “6 Children!”
OMAR
What’s wrong?
LIA
Nothing’s wrong. Everything is right.
They walk along the beach as the sun sets.
END OF ACT THREE.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Lia is sedated. They have finished trying to operate on her to repair the walls of her stomach and now she is in intensive care while the DOCTOR explains the situation to her family.
DAD
Is she going to make it?
DOCTOR
I’m really sorry to tell you this, Mr. Grady,
but the odds are that your daughter will
die by tomorrow. By the time our
paramedics got to her, she had already
sustained extensive internal
bleeding and was no longer conscious.
We can hope that our efforts to
mend her stomach wall have been
successful, but the chances are not
good. You should bring your
families and friends around her and
spend these minutes with her and
pray that she makes it through
the next couple days. She is
young and healthy, so maybe her
body can heal.
MOM
We should probably tell Elise and
Owen to come from Wisconsin. They
will want to be here.
DOCTOR
Yes, that is what I would recommend.
We have done everything that we
can for your daughter. She has plenty
of pain medications and does not feel
anything right now.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 92.
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT
Lia is still unconscious and this time, OWEN and Elise are there. Elise takes Lia’s hand.
ELISE
Lia, I feel so bad. I wish I had known
how much pain you felt. I promise that
if you come out of this, I will help you
work through all that consecrated life
has done to your heart.
OWEN
It’s ok, honey. Keep up your hope. She
has already made it through one night,
so maybe she is healing.
ELISE
I hope so. I hope so.
She starts to cry.
MOM
I can’t stand the thought of losing my
daughter. I don’t know how I missed the
signs.
ELISE
Don’t blame yourself, Mom. She was suicidal
before she came back from Mexico. They left
her that way and just abandoned her into
our hands to heal her. And don’t feel bad
that you didn’t see it. If there is one
thing that I learned as a consecrated, it
was to hide my feelings so as not to “bother
the others” with my sadness or anger. I
learned how to put on a happy face when
I had just cried.
DAD
We thought she was happy as she smiled.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 93.
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Lia is slowly returning to consciousness, but she has no idea what has happened to her.
ELISE
MOM!! MOM!! Lia is moving!
Her Mom comes over quickly.
MOM
Lia? How are you doing?
Lia is twitching some muscles but nowhere near ready to converse.
ELISE
We love you, babe. You are still alive
and everything will be ok.
DAD
It’s ok, take your time.
Lia opens her eyes and smiles. She tries to talk.
MOM
It’s ok, you don’t need to talk yet.
But it is nice to hear your voice.
Lia speaks in a scratchy voice.
LIA
It’s nice to have all of you with me.
The last couple days have been like a
dream. I knew you were with me, and
I would see you and then go back to
sleep.
DAD
We’re so glad you are ok.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 94.
FADE IN:
INT. THERAPIST’S OFFICE – DAY
Lia is recovering from her overdose with a week at the inpatient mental health ward. She is in therapy talking to her therapist, DR. GREEN.
DR. GREEN
So how are you feeling, today, Lia?
I know yesterday you were feeling
frustrated about being locked in this
place and not really sure where to go
with your life.
LIA
It is strange. My emotional pain was
so severe that I really wanted to die,
but I had a sort of near-death
experience right when I was passing out.
I saw myself as a mother with a
husband and a successful career and
it made me wonder if that would
someday be possible for me. Right
now something like that seems impossible,
but maybe it’s not. I saw myself happy.
That was why I told my Mom that I
had taken the pills. Even though
something like that feels like
a life I could never attain for myself,
the very small possibility that I
could made me rethink what I had done.
DR. GREEN
I think you can achieve that. I think
you are very capable of that.
LIA
Really? Being consecrated made me feel
like I wasn’t good at anything, like a
failure at life. I felt like being shy
and intellectual was being a loser.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 95.
CONTINUED:
DR. GREEN
Maybe that’s how it is with the group you
were with, but the rest of the world tends
to respect a quiet intellectual. Actually,
a noisy extravert can be annoying.
LIA
I’m just so used to thinking that I’m less
than other people because I don’t like to
stand out or grab everybody’s attention.
DR. GREEN
Why do you have to be any way? Why don’t you
just be yourself?
LIA
I’ve just always had these standards of
perfection held up to me. This is the perfect
Catholic, this is the perfect saint, this
is the perfect consecrated. Nobody has ever
asked me who I want to be. Nobody has
asked me who I am or what I believe in.
All my life, people have told me what
to believe in and who to be.
DR. GREEN
Well, Lia, who do you want to be?
LIA
I guess that is the million-dollar question,
huh? I’m not really sure who I am
anymore. All I remember is what Irene
kept telling me, “Don’t be so proud.”
DR. GREEN
You, proud? You are actually quite
unassuming.
LIA
Maybe she just thought I was because I wrote
it on my program of life.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 96.
CONTINUED:
DR. GREEN
Or maybe the way Irene treated you has
nothing to do with how you really are.
She probably was trying to break you
since you are capable of independent
thought.
LIA
You think? I was trained to always
believe that my spiritual guide was
God’s instrument for me.
DR. GREEN
Did you ever think you were being
brainwashed in a cult?
LIA
No, it honestly did not cross my mind.
I was convinced that anyone that doubted
them was not open to the grace of God,
hence we add to continually pray for
openness to God. I thought that the
vocation was hard and that was why people
had crises. I thought the pills they
gave out were to help them increase
their faith in God.
DR. GREEN
Well, Lia, I think you will be able
to go home soon and start your life.
You should continue in therapy and
think about where you want to be in
terms of school, work, and relationships.
LIA
Thanks, Dr. Green. I like the sound of
that, “where I want to be.” It never
occurred to me that God’s will could
be combined with my will and my
actualization. I mean, it did, but
they told me that was wrong.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 97.
FADE IN:
EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK – DAY
Lia and Elise are walking around an amusement park, snacks in hand.
LIA
The Fidgety Twister was a pretty wild ride.
I think I’m still a bit dizzy and jolted
about.
ELISE
Yeah, that was pretty good, but what I
liked was the Upside Down Flyer.
Lia is quiet for a moment.
LIA
Hey, sis?
ELISE
What’s up?
LIA
Well, it’s just, I mean, did you ever
feel that the consecrated ever were
not looking for your best interest
but were just using you to recruit
people and bring in money? I know it
sounds “uncharitable” to say that, but
I can’t help but feel a little used
by this whole situation.
ELISE
Oh, Lia, you are just now seeing that?
I guess I didn’t realize how
brainwashed you were. Lia, when did
they ever look out for your best
interest? When was anybody there ever
thinking about you and what you needed?
You were always told not to think about
yourself so you wouldn’t notice.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 98.
CONTINUED:
The girls walk up to a big ride and stand there looking at the line.
LIA
(slowly)
Um, Elise, do you think it is possible
for a spiritual guide to abuse their
souls, you know, emotionally?
ELISE
I’ll tell you what I think. Did you
give spiritual direction?
LIA
Yes, I did.
ELISE
How much training did you have?
LIA
None.
ELISE
Exactly. What makes those spiritual guides
qualified? Did you pick someone you thought
could guide you? Of course not. Someone was
always assigned to you. That person could
be compatible with you or not. That person
could be close to God or not. That person
could guide you or try to destroy God’s
work in your soul and no one would ever
know except you and them.
LIA
It’s just now that I am learning about
what abuse is in some books I am reading,
I think that Irene might have emotionally
abused me. I realized recently that she
was telling me to stop being proud all
the time and telling me what a bad person
I was when I had low self-esteem.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 99.
CONTINUED:
ELISE
What do you mean?
LIA
I think that her constant repetition
of how weak and sinful a person I was
made me feel bad about myself, and that
in turn led me to be suicidal. It was
almost like I felt that she wanted me
to kill myself since I was such a
waste of space.
ELISE
Well, it’s not exactly that. I think
it has to deal with power. Maybe she
felt she couldn’t control you, so she
tried to put you down until you gave
in to everything she wanted.
The girls get in line for the ride. They continue to talk as they wait.
LIA
I’m glad I’m starting to figure things
out. At least I have you to help me
see what is true and what is not.
Sometimes it is all just like a fuzzy
dream.
The girls get on the ride.
ELISE
Just forget about it, move on. Your
life is taking off.
The ride takes off.
LIA
Somehow I can’t forget about it. Irene
is still giving spiritual direction.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 100.
FADE IN:
EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Lia is eating outside with some other friends from a cult conference – DIANE, PHIL, and ROBERT.
LIA
This conference is really powerful.
Thank you for inviting me, Diane.
DIANE
You’re welcome. I’m glad it is
helpful for you.
LIA
Once the other cult survivors started
talking, I had a moment of awareness.
I had never really thought of the
Movement as a cult until I heard
them talking about their
high-pressure groups and the dynamics
of this type of groups. It sounded
like what I went through.
PHIL
Tell us about your group, Lia.
LIA
Well, I was recruited into my group at
around 12 years of age through
spiritual direction and retreats.
ROBERT
The group I was with had a sort of
guide who would tell me what to do.
PHIL
Well, my group was small so we all
met with the leader on a weekly basis.
LIA
Wow, that sounds really similar.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 101.
CONTINUED:
DIANE
A lot of high-pressure groups use
fundraising and recruitment as
requirements. Was Regnum Christi
like that, Lia.
LIA
Yeah, actually, I would probably
describe that as the heart of the
Movement. But I don’t really
understand. How can something that
is approved by the Church be a cult?
DIANE
Well, I thought the Moonies were
blessed by Sun Myung Moon but
I guess I was wrong. We all were
fooled by the disguise of the groups
we joined. Let me explain something
else to you, Lia. A lot of these
groups target certain types of
recruits. Those recruits are usually
young, idealistic, and isolated
within the society to which they
belong. They also look for
charismatic youth who will have
the capacity to recruit others
and will easily give other their
life savings and that of their
loved ones.
LIA
Sometimes I feel bad when I think
about how many times I asked my
parents to pay money to the
Movement. They paid for so many
things – the very expensive high
school in Rhode Island, the flight
to Mexico, my studies in Mexico,
our trip to Rome, my flight back,
and even returned my suitcases.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 102.
CONTINUED:
PHIL
Homeschoolers are good recruits for that
type of organization because they are
already disenfranchised from society.
That is how a wolf in sheep’s clothing
gets into their midst.
LIA
I always wondered why the Movement was
different in the United States and
Mexico. I felt like I had switched
groups, or like the kind of girl who
gets married and finds out she married
a stranger when she gets home with him.
DIANE
When I joined the Moonies, I also had
that feeling. We were convinced that
everyone was so happy, and then once
I was a member, I started to feel
pressured and fake happiness to recruit
people.
ROBERT
Lia, it seems like you would be good
to help me in my company. You seem
to be quite insightful.
LIA
What do you do?
ROBERT
I’m a cult deprogrammer. I can
always use some new trainees.
LIA
The demand is that high?
ROBERT
Never lets off.
FADE OFF.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 103.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia has accepted Robert’s work offer. She is busy at work in their new office while he is looking over some paperwork. The phone rings.
LIA
Free Yourself, This is Lia.
WOMAN(O.S.)
Hi, my daughter has just gotten involved
with Scientology in California. I am
really worried about her because she
has started to hand over large percentages
of her paycheck to them and won’t speak
with us anymore. We are really worried
about her. Is there anything you can
help us with.
LIA
Sure. Give me your address and I will
send you some information. Also, we
have links to a chat group that meets
regularly for parents with children
in Scientology. If you would like
the intervention of an experienced
deprogrammer, my colleague, Robert,
will be happy to get in touch with you
as soon as he is done with a cult
intervention in Peru.
Lia takes some notes, then hangs up.
ROBERT
What did they want?
LIA
Yes, they said they would like to
arrange for your services once you are
done in Peru.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 104.
CONTINUED:
ROBERT
Lia, can you get in touch with this girl?
She is trying to escape from the FLDS and
I want to put her in touch with the runners
in that area who can pick her up and set
her up in an apartment and help her find a
job.
LIA
Sure. Have you heard from Peru yet today or
do you want me to call?
ROBERT
Check my emails first. I might have gotten
an email from Linda. She was going to let
me know who will pick me up from my flight
to take me to the family home.
LIA
What kind of group is it?
ROBERT
It’s a guru cult.
Lia checks the emails and can be seen making phone calls quietly around the office.
ROBERT
Lia?
LIA
Yes?
ROBERT
Are you happy with this job? Do you like
it?
LIA
I don’t know how to explain this. Every time
I take a phone call or write an email, I
think that could be me. That was me.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 105.
CONTINUED:
ROBERT
I find it to be very rewarding work, too.
LIA
I find that it helps me reflect on my
experience. I never feel doubts about
what I went through anymore or what
was what. I know that I was pressured
into a high-pressure group and that
the stress made me lose my mind.
It’s kind of funny that ever since I
made that realization, my depression
went away.
ROBERT
It’s not really that strange when you
realize that depression was your mind
telling you they were strangling and
stifling it. It is quite common with
members and ex-members.
LIA
Sometimes I imagine what my life would
be like if I had been an outgoing
person who they didn’t want to kick
out when I became a burden. I would
be living there depressed as all
heck or already dead. I wonder
how many have killed themselves
and they have kept it secret
“to protect the faith of the
members.”
ROBERT
I guess we’ll never know.
LIA
I just think that the truth will set
us free. I have always believed that.
I wonder when we will know the truth
about Regnum Christi.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 106.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – NIGHT
Lia and Robert are once again working and talking.
LIA
You know what I like about cult
deprogramming?
ROBERT
What?
LIA
For once, I am truly helping someone
instead of using them. I always used
to feel guilty when I had to use
people for money or numbers as a
consecrated.
ROBERT
That’s because you have a good…
The phone rings and interrupts him.
LIA
Free Yourself, this is Lia.
MAN(O.S.)
Buenas tardes, se encuentra Miss Lia?
Llamamos desde México. Queremos
contratar sus servicios para ayudar
a nuestra hija.
LIA
A sus órdenes.
Lia hangs up.
ROBERT
What was that about?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 107.
CONTINUED:
LIA
It was a family from one of the
Spanish-speaking chat groups. They
want me to go to Mexico to help
get their daughter out of a cult.
ROBERT
Really? I guess that would be your
first official intervention. My
little bird is going to fly the
coop.
Lia smiles.
ROBERT
Do you think you are ready to go
back to Mexico? You haven’t been
back since you were consecrated,
have you?
LIA
No, I don’t think I’m ready.
I don’t want to go back. When I
think of Mexico, I think of sadness,
I think of being browbeaten into
depression, I think of fundraising,
and none of that really sounds
attractive. It makes me frightened,
because I feel like they own Mexico.
I will almost be afraid to be back
there, maybe run into some of them.
ROBERT
I wouldn’t worry about that. That’s
another myth of Regnum Christi. They
always exaggerate their importance
and expanse. When I think of Mexico,
I think of margaritas and white
beaches.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 108.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Can we trade?
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREET – DAY
Lia is standing on the street in Mexico behind a telephone pole wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses and looking down the street for the cult victim while talking on a walkie talkie.
LIA
Here she comes. On two.
A short teenage GIRL starts walking down the street. At the same time, a car rounds the corner at a rapid pace. The girl looks up, startled. The GIRL’S MOTHER gets out of the car.
GIRL’S MOTHER
Xochitl, Xochitl, come back to us!
The girl looks happy to see her family, and also concerned.
GIRL
What are you doing here? What do you
want of me?
GIRL’S MOTHER
Give us a chance. We want you to take the
time to listen. We brought a cult expert
to talk with you.
Her family doesn’t seem to be waiting for the girl to answer. Two big men jump out of the car and hustle her in. Lia climbs into the front seat.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 109.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – DAY
The girl, Xochitl has just been kidnapped back from her cult and wants to know what is going on.
XOCHITL
Who are you?
She asks Lia in a demanding fashion.
LIA
I’m Lia. I was in a high-pressure
group myself. Now I help members of
high-pressure groups and their families
to help make decisions about their
safety. We have been receiving information
about your group that indicates that
they may be preparing for a government
attack and have been stockpiling
poison and weapons.
XOCHITL
No, it can’t be. Master Ayl would
never do that.
LIA
I’m sorry to tell you, Xochitl, but
he would. We have these pictures from
a former member who you might know.
XOCHITL
Iris took these pictures? She would
never lie.
LIA
She also seemed quite trustworthy to
us. That is why we thought it best
to get you out of there before
something happened to you. We would
like you to go to a treatment program.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 110.
CONTINUED:
XOCHITL’S MOM
Honey, please consider it. You can spend
a few months in the place. We will pay for
it. It is run by people who have come out
of groups and they will give you
therapy and you can talk to others people
from other groups. If you decide you
want to go back to Master Ayl’s group,
that is fine, but we want you to
take the time to think about it first.
XOCHITL
OK.
XOCHITL’S MOM
OK what?
XOCHITL
I’ll do it.
XOCHITL’S MOM
Oh, sweetie, I’m so glad.
Both of them burst into tears and the two, big burly brothers look uncomfortable.
XOCHITL
I don’t know why, but I just wasn’t
feeling it anymore much. I didn’t
think the world was going to end in 2012
and I was getting tired of asking for
money. I’m glad you guys came to pick
me up and aren’t angry at me for my
mistakes.
XOCHITL’s MOM
Of course not, Xochitl. We love you.
I’m so glad you’re safe.
Lia has said nothing throughout this conversation and watches the mother and daughter through the rear-view mirror.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 111.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREET – DAY
The day is coming to an end. The family have already taken care of their business, and Lia is wandering the streets of Cancun alone. She stops at a restaurant and decides to eat along the street so she can watch the people walking by.
WAITER
Where would you like to sit, Ma’am?
LIA
Right here outside, please. It’s a nice
night.
WAITER
It’s very hot.
Lia takes a seat at a table.
WAITER
Anything to drink?
Lia scans the menu for a moment then smiles to herself.
LIA
I’ll have a margarita, please.
The waiter goes back inside the restaurant. OMAR walks around the corner and takes a seat a table next to Lia. He is obviously checking her out.
OMAR
Nice night, isn’t it?
LIA
It’s a little hot.
OMAR
Are you from around here?
LIA
No, I’m from the U.S.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 112.
CONTINUED:
OMAR
I’m Omar. I’m a scuba instructor here
in Cancun.
LIA
Hi, I’m Lia. That sounds exciting.
I have never been scuba diving.
OMAR
You should come tomorrow. I’ll teach
you how.
Lia turns around so she can talk more directly.
LIA
So what kind of animals do you see
when you go snorkeling?
OMAR
Well, there are a lot of tropical fish.
Sometimes I see turtles or one time I
even saw a shark.
LIA
Were you frightened?
OMAR
No, but the people that were scuba diving
with me were. Hey, would you like me
to show you around town later once
you are done eating? We could take a
walk on the beach and through
downtown.
Lia hesitates. The waiter arrives with her margarita.
LIA
Alright.
OMAR
It’s going to be a beautiful night.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT THREE 113.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREETS – NIGHT
The sun is setting over Cancun as Lia and Omar walk around the streets.
OMAR
The beach is over here.
He points towards the ocean in the distance.
LIA
Ok, let’s go.
Lia looks down and sees a newsstand. There is a picture of Marcial Maciel and it says “6 Children!”
OMAR
What’s wrong?
LIA
Nothing’s wrong. Everything is right.
They walk along the beach as the sun sets.
END OF ACT THREE.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Screenplay Complete Act Two
THE CULT – ACT TWO 31.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPLANE – DAY
BETH, another new consecrated, and Lia are on the plane from Rhode Island to Houston.
STEWARDESS
Here is lunch for you two young ladies.
BETH
When will we get to Houston?
STEWARDESS
We should be there in about two hours.
BETH
Wasn’t our consecration great? It was
such a spiritual moment.
LIA
Yeah.
Beth eats her food but Lia doesn’t.
BETH
Why don’t you eat your food?
LIA
It will give me stomach pains. I am very
sensitive to food.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPORT – DAY
Lia is buying food while Beth looks on disapprovingly.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 32.
CONTINUED:
BETH
You know we just made a promise of poverty
a few days ago.
Lia is confused.
LIA
Obviously, but I don’t see a reason why I
shouldn’t eat if I am hungry.
BETH
As consecrated, we only eat when everyone
else eats. At the same times as everyone
else.
LIA
I have stomach problems. I have been
on a special diet for the past year.
You know that. And I am simply just
hungry.
BETH
They fed us on the plane. You could
have eaten that.
LIA
Yes, I could have and I would have
been rolling over in pain.
BETH
You know the promises we made.
LIA
I’m sure once you have been
consecrated for longer you will see
that it is all very reasonable and
based on common sense.
(to herself)
At least I hope. I would not like
to discover that consecrated life is
full of guilt.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 33.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – NIGHT
Lia and Beth have just arrived in Monterrey. Another consecrated, MARI, has just picked them up and is taking them to their new home.
BETH
It’s so beautiful here in Monterrey.
Palm trees and desert.
MARI
Yes, it’s amazing. Our directresses are
so holy. They are all saints. You will
see. Lia, have you ever been to Mexico
before?
LIA
No, I never have. It’s very nice.
BETH
Where is our formation center?
MARI
It’s slightly outside of the city and
we have grass, a wall with a guard, and
chauffeurs.
LIA
Those huts on the hill are so miserable.
Do people actually live in them?
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. LOBBY – NIGHT
Lia and Beth arrive at the formation center and are greeted by their new directresses. A group of women come out and hug them, speaking Spanish.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 34.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
Hola, soy Silvia. Soy su directora.
Bienvenidas.
BETH
What?
MARI
She said that she is Silvia and she
is your directress. She welcomes you.
LIA
Thank you.
Beth and Lia hug Silvia.
IRENE
I am Irene. I will be your spiritual
guide.
MARI
Did you girls have dinner yet? There
are some leftovers.
BETH
I am fine, thank you.
LIA
I am hungry.
Beth shoots Lia a dirty look.
IRENE
You can get up late tomorrow. The
rest of us rise at 5:05am and the
two of you can get up while we
go to morning prayers, at 5:35. Just
make sure you are in the chapel by
6:05 so you can do morning prayers
before Mass.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 35.
FADE IN:
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Silvia is teaching “Spirituality of the Movement.” Lia is confused.
SILVIA
Lia, how do you feel about this class?
LIA
I am pretty excited. I feel like I have
been waiting for this class for a long
time. There were a lot of things we were
not allowed to read in the high school,
and now I am allowed to immerse myself
in the Movement’s spirituality.
SILVIA
Alright, deep answer. Today we are going
to talk about our nets. Those are
apostolates that are not openly of the
Movement. If people ask, they are not
part of the Movement. We can truthfully
claim this because they are not run by
us, but by members of the Movement.
These includes schools that we might
have that we use to recruit people to
the Movement, or clubs where we have fun
activities so girls will join ECYD and
become closer to God. All our nets are
fun or cultural activities that little
by little help people realize that they
need God in their lives.
BETH
But why don’t we just say that they are
works of the Movement?
SILVIA
There are some people who have bad
impressions of the Movement but don’t
really know it.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 35.
CONTINUED:
BETH
But don’t we want people to know about
the good works of the Movement?
SILVIA
Yes, we do. When they are members, they can
know that such and such a school is Regnum
Christi, or that apostolate is ours.
But there is another group of people that
have heard of “the millionaires of Christ”
and think we are just about money, so we
want to introduce them to us slowly so that
they get to know what we are really about,
and then they will realize how wonderful
the Movement is and join if it is their call.
BETH
Why do the Statutes say consecrated members
need to be attractive and intelligent?
SILVIA
Our members need to be leaders and thus, they
should be the cream of the crop. If we
want to recruit the leaders of the world,
we need to have the leaders of the
world as our members. Our members need to
be intelligent so they can run programs
and lead large groups of people, run
conferences, etc. They need to be fairly
attractive so people will want to be
around them. You must remember that our
charism is one of leaders. People like
the Franciscans work with the poor, The
Jesuits with education. We work with
leaders. We want to change the world
from the top down, using the methodology
of top to bottom. Lia, what do you
think about the methodology?
LIA
It seems intelligent.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 37.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
It’s not about intelligence, Lia. It’s
about God’s inspiration.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is in spiritual direction with Irene. It is pretty uncomfortable.
IRENE
So, how have you been doing, Lia?
Last time you had a lot of questions
about the spirituality of the Movement.
Do you still have all those questions?
Do you miss your family? How’s it all
going?
Irene looks at Lia like she is scrutinizing her to the core. She also says everything in a brusque, uncaring way. Like how fast can she get Lia out of the office. Lia is clearly not important to her.
LIA
I’m doing good. I don’t think I have
any more questions. I had questions
because they didn’t explain any of this
to us in the high school and I am
excited to learn about the Movement I
am a part of. I miss my family a little,
but I am more focused on my mission here.
There is a long silence.
IRENE
What is going on with your program of life?
What is your dominant fault?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 38.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I was working on the virtue of humility.
Its dominant fault is pride.
IRENE
I know some things you could do to be
more humble. Don’t correct people when
you know they are wrong. Try to ask
questions about other people. You are
always so quiet in conversation that
it seems like you are thinking negative
things about what people say. Try not
to be so critical.
LIA
No, that’s not it at all. I don’t always
Understand everything in Spanish…
IRENE
Oh, you understand enough. This is just
another example. Don’t excuse yourself
every time I correct you. If you were
humble, you would accept what I say
without any complaining. You Americans
tend to be very proud and think you
are the only ones who know what is right.
Lia is speechless. Technically, Irene has just told her not to respond.
IRENE
Well, what do you think about that, Lia?
LIA
It’s okay, I guess.
IRENE
I want to meet with you more often.
Let’s meet three times a week, and you
should send me a dependence note for
every day we don’t meet.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 39.
FADE IN:
INT. DINING ROOM –DAY
Lia arrives in the dining room for lunch. Silvia begins the blessing after someone knocks.
SILVIA
Bless us, O Lord, and these our gifts
which we are about to receive from your
blessing through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
CONSECRATED
Amen.
They sit down and begin to eat in the silence. The first course is already on the tables. The consecrated are arranged in tables of six in the dining room. Lia is at Irene’s table. Each one pulls her napkin out of her napkin ring and puts it on her lap. Lia passes the soup to Irene first because she is a directress. Irene serves herself and it comes around to Lia. All this is done in silence. Speaking is not allowed. The soup is a Mexican soup called “fideo” which is made with tomato sauce and short noodles.
Lia tries the soup, but she is not familiar with it.
IRENE
What’s wrong, you don’t like soup?
LIA
No.
IRENE
Don’t make that face when you don’t like
food.
Lia tries to look natural. There is milk and water to drink. Lia serves herself water.
IRENE
Why don’t you drink milk? It is good for
you.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 40.
CONTINUED:
LIA
It upsets my stomach.
An unknown Mexican meal is the main dish. Lia doesn’t know what it is called, and is not allowed to talk during silence.
LIA
Could you pass the food, please?
BETH
The what?
LIA
The chicken with the black sauce?
BETH
The mole?
LIA
Yes, please.
Beth passes the mole. After lunch, Irene takes Lia aside.
IRENE
Are you not familiar with Mexican food,
Lia?
LIA
I guess I have eaten at Mexican
restaurants, but I have never eaten
some of these things before.
IRENE
Well, you need to eat more healthy
food and less sugary foods. You
don’t want to gain weight do you?
Lia is as skinny as a board.
You should practice more abnegation
in your eating.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 41.
FADE IN:
INT. PHONE BOOTH – NIGHT
Lia has just entered the phone booth and is slightly out of breath.
LIA
Bueno?
ELISE (O.S.)
Hi, Sis! How you hanging in there?
LIA
Hi, Elise! It’s so good to hear your
voice. I’m surprise you’re calling
me on a weekday. Is something
wrong?
ELISE (O.S.)
No, nothing’s wrong at all. It’s
good news. Guess what?
LIA
What?
ELISE (O.S.)
Andrew proposed to me! We’re getting
married!
LIA
Andrew proposed! Oh my gosh! When is
the wedding? Congratulations! Wow!
ELISE (O.S.)
Yeah, it was so sweet. He got down on
one knee and everything. Anyhow, the
wedding is February 10. I want you to
see if you can come. I know the rules,
but just ask anyways. I really want you
to be in my wedding.
LIA
I’ll try but you know the rules.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 42.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is in Irene’s office for spiritual direction again.
IRENE
So how was your phone call with Elise?
How is Elise doing nowadays?
LIA
You knew Elise called me?
IRENE
Of course, as your spiritual guide, I
approve any calls you get and make sure
people who want to hurt your vocation
aren’t bothering you.
LIA
Oh. The phone call went well. Elise
is doing well. She’s actually engaged.
She’s getting married in February.
IRENE
Don’t let that shake your vocation.
It must be nice to be so happy here
and not have to worry about all those
things like dating and bills and things.
LIA
Elise asked if I could come to her
wedding.
IRENE
Don’t be ridiculous, Lia. You know the
rules. You can’t go to any weddings.
LIA
Can’t you even ask Silvia if I can go?
IRENE
We can’t ask for special permissions.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 43.
FADE IN:
INT. DORM ROOM – NIGHT
It is late at night. Lia is reading in an empty dorm room. She hears scuffles outside, people whispering. She peeks out into the hallway. Silvia is there with a nother consecrated.
SILVIA
Is that you, Lia?
LIA
Yes, it’s me.
SILVIA
What are you doing down there? Your
room is down here.
LIA
I know. I couldn’t sleep. I felt
sick to my stomach.
SILVIA
You can go back to bed, Beth. Lia is
right here.
LIA
What’s wrong?
SILVIA
Beth woke up and you weren’t in bed,
so she went looking for you.
LIA
Oh, I was here.
SILVIA
What were you doing in there?
LIA
I was reading letters of Nuestro Padre.
I didn’t want to break my silence so
I was praying.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 44.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
We looked everywhere for you. I was
worried. We went to the chapel, to
the kitchen. We even went to the pool
since you like swimming so much.
LIA
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.
SILVIA
You didn’t. I just got back from a trip
just now.
LIA
Was it a good trip? You must be tired.
SILVIA
Yes, it was nice. I am tired. What
are you going to do now?
LIA
I guess I should go back to my bed
now. It is pretty late.
SILVIA
How’s your stomach?
LIA
It still hurts.
SILVIA
Why don’t you have a snack from the
kitchen, and make yourself some
chamomile tea before you go to bed?
That might help you relax.
LIA
Thank you, Silvia. You are very kind.
SILVIA
Que descanses.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 45.
FADE IN:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Silvia has mysteriously called a conference in the middle of the day.
LIA
Do you know why we are having a conference?
BETH
I have no idea. I wonder if something is
wrong.
Silvia comes in and starts talking.
SILVIA
You must be wondering why I called this
conference today. Some of you are aware
that things are being said about our
founder. There are things being said
at the schools, some of your parents are
sending you articles trying to warn you.
So let me clarify once and for all.
There are some newspaper reporters in
the United States and Mexico who are
spreading lies about our founder. They
are people who hate the church and
want to destroy it, so they are
making up lies about one of the church’s
front men, the man who has spent his
entire life working for the church and
the salvation of souls. They know
how much good the Movement does in
the world and they want to take it
down. Some of them are former members
of the Legion who had a bad
experience, were not faithful to
God’s will, and now they want revenge
on Nuestro Padre. We cannot listen
to those lies. We don’t want to
know what these people are saying.
Nuestro Padre denies everything.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 46.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
So, if someone comes to you in the school,
or your family ask you if you have heard
the news, simply reply that yes, you
have, but you don’t want to know these
filthy things and you pray for the
people that make these accusations.
One of these accusers has a sister
who is consecrated. We must pray for
these people, that they admit they
are lying and stop trying to attack
the good name of our founder. And
as for ourselves, we shall continue
to give a good example of the
members of the Movement that we are,
faithful until the last moment.
We stand by our founder in the thick
and thin, the good moments and the
hard moments. He is the man who
has fought so hard to found this
Movement and give so much to the
church, and only sadness and
suffering have followed him all
the days of his life. Let us
meditate on what it means to be a
cofounder; it means “suffering.”
It means accepting the cross. It
means being lied about, being
mistreated even when all we do
is try to help other people. That
is what they did to Jesus. Let’s
all take this to the chapel and
pray for those people that lie
about our founder. Remember that
all the saints and founders have
had to deal with calumny and
betrayal, ingratitude. Let us
remember never to hurt the
Movement that has given so much to us.
Keep this as an intention and
subject for meditation.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 47.
FADE IN:
INT. CHAPEL – DAY
Lia is praying in the chapel in her morning meditation. Everybody else who is moving around and sitting down or clearing their throat is suddenly frozen. Only Lia exists for herself as she immerses herself in prayer with JESUS.
LIA
Good morning, Jesus. It’s nice to be
here with you this morning. I got
here as quickly as I could.
JESUS
I noticed.
Lia laughs to herself.
LIA
Anyhow, I am trying to meditate about
Mary and Martha. I was wondering
what it was like that day in their
house when you came to visit.
MARTHA
I was cleaning and cleaning. I really
wanted to spend time with Jesus, but
I didn’t because I wanted the house
to be nice for him.
LIA
That doesn’t sound like me. If I had
Jesus in my house, I would sit at
his feet like Mary and just talk and
watch him talk and soak it all up.
JESUS
That’s why you are my favorite. That
is why I called you to spend so much
time with me. I enjoy spending this
time with you and listening to the
silly things you say.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 48.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I know, Lord. That is the thing.
This consecrated life sometimes just
feels really pointless. They don’t
pay any attention to my talents. I feel
like a loser. Claudia thinks I am very
proud. I am so lonely. All I have to
do as a consecrated is recruit people
and get donations. I’m not good at that
at all. I’m introverted and shy. I don’t
like talking to strangers. But at the
same time, I don’t want to leave this life
because I enjoy being your wife and
spending time with you. Every time
I come to prayer, I feel full of peace
and joy.
MARY
True peace and love is found at the
Lord’s side.
LIA
I trust in the call I felt and your
grace by my side, Lord. But sometimes
I feel afraid that I am not
being used to the best of my
abilities. It makes me wonder whether
they really care about me.
JESUS
You will always find peace by my side.
Trust me and everything will be ok.
LIA
Thank you, Lord. I know you will be
with me. Sometimes I feel really alone.
It makes me happy to have peaceful
time with you. This peace fills the
rest of my day with joy and makes
me forget the loneliness and doubts
I have.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 49.
FADE IN:
INT. SPARE ROOM – DAY
Lia is getting her hair cut in one of the rooms in the formation center by a friendly HAIRDRESSER. ADRIANA is also getting a haircut.
HAIRDRESSER
What is your name, honey?
LIA
Lia.
HAIRDRESSER
So what are we doing with your hair
today?
LIA
Whatever Irene said to do.
HAIRDRESSER
Ok. So,where are you from?
LIA
I’m from Michigan.
HAIRDRESSER
How long have you been consecrated?
LIA
I’ve been consecrated since August 15,
so about three months.
HAIRDRESSER
How old are you?
LIA
I’m nineteen.
HAIRDRESSER
Do you have brothers and sisters?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 50.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I have one sister. She’s actually
getting married in February.
HAIRDRESSER
Oh, how exciting! Do they let you go
to the wedding?
Adriana suddenly shoots Lia a warning look.
LIA
Well, I want to because she is my
only sister, but they told me I
couldn’t.
ADRIANA
Weddings are such a distraction. We
only spend our time on apostolates and
God’s work. We belong to the family of
the Church now, not our birth families.
HAIRDRESSER
That seems quite difficult.
ADRIANA
We have a wonderful life as brides of
Christ.
HAIRDRESSER
Brides of Christ, that sounds special.
ADRIANA
Yes, being consecrated is about committing
our lives to Christ in every way. We
even run some apostolates for people
like you. We have meetings for married
women with Gospel reflections, missions,
media programs…
HAIRDRESSER
Yes, I think I have gone on missions.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 51.
FADE IN:
INT. IRENE’S OFFICE – DAY
Lia is in spiritual direction again.
IRENE
Have you been meditating during Evening
Prayer?
LIA
Yes, right now I am reading Volume 2 of
Letters of the Founder.
IRENE
Is Nuestro Padre’s life inspiring you to
be a better person? Do you think about his
sufferings and wonder why you are so wimpy
with everything that faces you?
LIA
Yes, Nuestro Padre is really strong. I am
especially inspired by his moments of
contemplative prayer, like in Orizaba,
when he was so connected to God that he
did not notice that he was riding over
over cliffs at night.
IRENE
Yes, prayer is wonderful but while you are
reading the Letters of the Founder, you
should be thinking about being humble. Do
you write to Nuestro Padre every month?
LIA
Yes, I am very good about that. I write to
him at the beginning of the letter period
before I write to my parents. I actually
got a letter back last month, but it was
weird because he said I should not be
skeptical and the only one who says that
about me is you.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 52.
FADE IN:
INT. LIBRARY – NIGHT
Lia is in the library. Other consecrated – Beth, Adriana, SARA, and CARMEN are all sitting on chairs in a circle.
BETH
Let’s begin team balance with the sign
of the cross: In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL
Amen.
BETH
I would like to start. Sara, sometimes
you are late for activities.
SARA
Thank you, Beth.
ADRIANA
Lia, you said too much to the hairdresser
the other day. You should not have told
her you were not allowed to go to the
wedding, and I refer to the private
promises.
LIA
Thank you, Adriana.
CARMEN
This is for Beth. The other day you were
writing a letter in study. I refer to the
Statutes.
BETH
Anyone else have any more for team
balance? This is how we help each other,
by correcting. Lia, do you have anything?
Lia looks uncomfortable.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 53.
FADE IN:
INT. PHONE BOOTH – NIGHT
Lia is talking on the phone.
MOM (V.O.)
How are you doing, honey?
LIA
I’m ok. I’m still disappointed about
Elise’s wedding.
MOM (V.O.)
Did you hear about Elena? She left
consecrated life recently. Elise saw
her in New York.
LIA
Elena? But she recruited me. She told
me consecrated life was true
happiness.
MOM (V.O.)
Well, I guess not. Elise said she
already had a boyfriend and she had
only just recently gotten out.
LIA
Some people just aren’t meant to be
consecrated. Being consecrated is
hard. You have to be faithful and
continue even when it is hard.
MOM (V.O.)
It’s not for everyone. Maybe it wasn’t
for her.
LIA
But if you are already renewed, you are
committed for life. It is a call; it
doesn’t just go away.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 54.
CONTINUED:
MOM (V.O.)
Didn’t she have a boyfriend before she
got consecrated?
LIA
Yes, she did. I wonder if he got married
since then or if he is still single. Or
if he would want the woman who left him to
get consecrated.
MOM (V.O.)
Elise didn’t ask who she was dating, if it
was the same one or someone else.
LIA
I can’t imagine getting married. It’s such
a waste of time. Spending time on prayer
and apostolate is what I am really
passionate about.
MOM (V.O.)
I pray for you, too, Lia, that you may
follow God’s will for you.
LIA
You say that like you doubt I should
be consecrated.
MOM (V.O.)
It’s not that. Just remember that Elise
also thought she was called. Don’t be
afraid to tell us if you want to come
home.
LIA
I’m not. I’m really happy. Being consecrated
is the only true form of happiness. Goodbye,
Mom. I need to go to night prayers.
(to herself)
Am I? Why do I feel like I am lying?
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 55.
FADE IN:
EXT. PARQUE LA ESTANZUELA, DAY
Lia is taking a hike with the other consecrated in a hike known as “La Estanzuela.” It is a beautiful day and it is a breathtaking hike in the mountains with occasional springs and waterfalls.
SILVIA
It’s such a wonderful afternoon for a
hike. La Estanzuela is my favorite
outing.
LIA
I have never been here before. Where are
we going?
ADRIANA
It’s really amazing. There is a waterfall
further on, some springs, and some
interesting ladders. It might make you
nervous, Lia, but you’ll be fine.
LIA
Ok.
SILVIA
This reminds me of a movie I saw. It was
about a man who went through a difficult
situation. People conspired to keep him
from his rightful position of power, and
he didn’t even know it was. They covered
his face with a mask, and stuck him in a
jail. One day, other people decided to pull
him from that jail and reveal his true
identity to him, but they just wanted
to use him for their purposes. They thought
he would be a good puppet.
LIA
You mean “The Man in the Iron Mask?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 56.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
Yes, the story is about trust, about
trusting in God to help you when you
are in your darkest moments, imprisoned
in your own weekness.
They have gotten to a place where the consecrated have to cross over from one cliff to another holding onto a rope and hugging onto the cliff.
LIA
(quietly)
How do I cross this?
ADRIANA
Just hold onto the rope and then step
from one side onto the other while you
hug the cliff.
All the other consecrated cross before Lia. She stands there, staring at the rope, then gingerly makes her way across.
SILVIA
So, anyhow, this man wanted life outside
his prison, and God provided these people
who pulled him from his prison and made him
a king. And we all have to hope that God
will free us from our weaknesses and make
us princesses in his kingdom. But first of
all, we have to let our formators work
their magic in us without complaining so
they can mold us into the images of God.
BETH
That is so beautiful, Silvia. I love
the lights you share with us.
SILVIA
You can meditate on it tomorrow in your
meditation if you like. You, too, Lia.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 57.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is once again engaged in spiritual direction with Irene. Does it ever go well?
IRENE
So what are these doubts you referred to
in your last dependence memo?
LIA
No, they are not doubts. I was just thinking.
I don’t know how to explain it. I am trying
to understand the mission of the Movement.
It’s kind of hard for me, because what I saw
of the Movement in the United States was quite
different. I thought the consecrated were
these women who went from city to city and
ran retreats. Here in Mexico, it seems like
they just work in schools…
IRENE
(interrupting)
That’s not true. The Movement is the same
wherever you are. It is still in foundation
in the United States, which explains why there
are not many consecrated working in schools.
But that will happen eventually.
LIA
I just have a hard time understanding how the
Movement is going to fulfill its mission if
all we do is work in schools. It’s just such
limited number of people to reach at once.
IRENE
How can you say that! Lia, I have to tell you,
that is the kind of argument I hear from the
people that become enemies of the Movement.
Lia is so horrified she cannot talk.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 58.
CONTINUED:
LIA
That’s not what I mean at all, Irene. I just
am trying to figure things out because it is
so different here. It’s making me question
whether I still want to be consecrated. I just
didn’t plan on becoming a Dean of Discipline.
IRENE
Lia, that type of thinking will destroy the
Movement. You are here because of a call,
and you should neither question that call
nor the charism of the Movement which comes
directly from the Holy Spirit through
Nuestro Padre.
LIA
I know, I just don’t know if it is for me.
I feel really lonely and I’m not happy.
IRENE
Look, Lia, today is Monday. We are not
due to see each other for spiritual
direction again until next week. Why
don’t we get together on Thursday and
we will see if you still feel the same way.
LIA
(reluctantly)
Um, sure, ok.
IRENE
You need to get this negative thinking out
of your head. That is how the devil works.
LIA
I know. I just don’t feel the same enthusiasm
for being consecrated anymore. I wonder
where it went.
IRENE
Send me a dependence memo tomorrow.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 59.
FADE IN:
INT. DINING ROOM – DAY
Lia is eating lunch. Beth comes up and taps her on the shoulder.
BETH
Silvia wants us to help serve lunch to
her and the new first-years outside.
Once you are done with lunch.
Lia nods. She finishes eating, then gets up and goes to the kitchen. She comes back with a serving tray full of food.
LIA
I don’t feel so well.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. PATIO – DAY
Silvia is chatting with the new first-year consecrated when Lia walks in with a tray of food. The girls are sitting in outing clothes on the floor in a circle around Silvia. Other girls of Lia’s generation are bringing more food.
SILVIA
So how are you girls doing in your first
months of being consecrated?
CARMEN
It’s so wonderful. The classes are really
amazing and our teachers know so much
about the spiritual life.
SILVIA
Yes, it is a great time to soak in everything
about the spirituality. Formation is a real
gift from the Movement.
Lia is looking pale and starts clutching her stomach.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 60.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Irene?
IRENE
Yes, Lia?
LIA
I feel really sick. Can I go to bed for
a little bit?
IRENE
Go to bed? What’s wrong?
LIA
My stomach hurts. And I feel really dizzy.
IRENE
Let me take your temperature.
She pulls out a thermometer and takes Lia’s temperature.
IRENE
Yes, it is rather high. Why don’t you
go to bed. I will check in on you in a
little bit. Some of the other girls have
fevers, too. It must be going around.
Lia doesn’t feel well enough to care.
LIA
I think I’m going to have diarrhea.
She takes off from the kitchen at a quick pace.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Lia is sick. Night has fallen over the formation center.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 61.
CONTINUED:
LIA
(moaning)
Ugh…I feel so sick…
She gets up…We hear DIARRHEA from offscreen. She comes back and collapses into bed. Irene comes into the rooms.
IRENE
Here, take these.
Lia takes the pills.
LIA
I want to get up for evening prayer, but
I don’t feel well.
IRENE
Don’t worry about that. I will have your
books brought here to your room so you
can pray at the right times. You must
have Rotovirus. There are many others
who are sick with the same thing. We
think you girls must have eaten some
bad chicken.
Irene leaves. Lia pulls open her book and starts to pray, but she seems to be a bit out of it. She starts to hear a HOWLING noise and CACKLING like witches. Lia gets up and we hear DIARRHEA (O.S.) again. She gets back in bed and starts to pray again.
LIA
Dear Lord, please help me to regain
my faith in the Movement again. And
to follow your will about my vocation.
I used be very enthusiastic about
the Movement, my mission, and my
life here, but now all I feel is
darkness, doubt, and loneliness. I
remember that I got consecrated because
I wanted to be close to you, like Mary.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 62.
CONTINUED:
LIA
It’s just that sometimes I get so caught
up in studies, and apostolate, and
keeping my clothes ironed and my closet
cleaned that I just don’t feel close to
you. It just makes me wonder if this
is really the place for me.
(reading)
This saint was so caught up in a mystical
union with you that she felt joy in
everything she did. Sort of like me,
lying here. I feel a purity of union
with you that goes far beyond being
consecrated or having a call or
working in a school. I know I am close
to you and you are close to me. I
don’t know how I lost that love.
And this saint, she was so young but
she always knew that she was called
to spend her life doing good to help
others. I don’t see how I can do that
with a job, or married with kids. My
life will be so limited as to what
I can do for other people. So, I need
to remember that the Movement is my
best opportunity to do that and be
grateful like I once used to be.
It is kind of weird, saints are not
part of the Movement’s spirituality,
but this spiritual reading has been the
best one in a long time. I feel like
I remember why I got consecrated in
the first place. It doesn’t have
anything to do with the women, the
schools, the schedules, and it has
everything to do with falling in love
with God and wanting to live as
close to You as possible. Well,
I guess I didn’t see Irene for
spiritual direction since I’ve been
in bed, but I know what I want now.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 63.
FADE IN:
INT. IRENE’S OFFICE – DAY
Lia is finally in Irene’s office for the long-awaited spiritual direction about her doubts.
IRENE
So how are you feeling, Lia? You were
pretty sick last week.
LIA
Yes, I felt so terrible about missing Mass
two days in a row and not serving lunch
for Silvia and the first years.
IRENE
You still look very pale. You don’t look
well. How much weight did you lose? You
look quite thin.
LIA
I lost ten pounds. I just couldn’t keep
anything down for about three days.
Right now I can take mild food.
IRENE
Well, you need to gain that weight back.
You are too thin. You are going to have
to start eating cookies with your meals
and you have one month to gain it all
back.
LIA
One month? Irene, I can barely eat at all.
IRENE
I’m sure you can do it. Let’s talk about
how you’ve been since our last spiritual
direction. That time, you told me you had
some doubts and you told me some dreadful
ideas you have about the Movement. Have
you taken the time to rethink what you said?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 64.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Yeah, I really need to talk about that.
One of those nights when I was really
sick, so sick I started to hear noises
around me, I had a mystic moment. I was
praying, and all of a sudden, I felt
peace, the peace I had been looking for
all this time. I remembered why I got
consecrated, that I was seeking something
far beyond this world and the things
that appear to be truth. I have always
wanted heaven, and to dedicate my life
to seeking it because I know that life
is an ephemeral moment. I guess I lost
sight of that. Since the Movement is
approved by the Church and is God’s
will for me, it can only bring me quickly
to holiness and happiness.
IRENE
Yes, that is correct. The Movement is
the one true way to be happy and holy.
However, you need to stick with it
and you can’t chicken out when it gets
hard or lonely. You must remember that
God is with us and is our true
companion.
LIA
Yeah, now I know that I wouldn’t be
at peace if I left consecrated life.
IRENE
If you were to give up on God’s call,
that guilt would haunt and torture
you if you were in some man’s arms
thinking about how God had called
you and you backed out. Where would
all your souls be if you left them?
I’m not going to just forget your
doubts. Continue to pray for faith.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 65.
FADE IN:
EXT. RETREAT CENTER – DAY
Lia and the other consecrated women have gone to Cotija, a small town in central Mexico, which happens to be the birthplace of the founder. There is a kitchen to the right, a two-story dorm which is set up like a hotel on the left, and a large chapel down some stairs in front. It is conversation time and Lia is talking to the other consecrated women.
ADRIANA
Isn’t it wonderful, Lia? I feel just
as holy as Nuestro Padre when I am here.
It makes me wish I had grown up in this
pure environment rather than surrounded
by TV, money and society. I mean, I
was so terrible to my nanny. My sister
and I used to send her to make her
hot dogs for us. Then we would tell
her we wanted ketchup, and five minutes
later we would say we didn’t just to
bother her. We would yell at her for
bringing us what we had just said we
wanted.
LIA
Yeah, I guess it is nice. I like being
surrounded by nature and having typical
Mexican food. What was that fruit we had
at breakfast anyways?
CARMEN
We call it guayabana in Spanish. I don’t
know what it is called in English.
LIA
I had no idea the food and culture would
be so different. But I guess I have
started to like it. I even get happy
when I see cajeta and churros on the table.
And I think in Spanish, rarely in English.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 66.
CONTINUED:
ADRIANA
Silvia is going to take us for a tour of
Cotija tomorrow morning. So prepare your
hearts, ladies, to visit the beloved
spots of our saintly founder.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREETS OF COTIJA – DAY
Silvia is taking the consecrated on a tour of Cotija.
SILVIA
This is the typical zocala, girls. It is
the town square you find in Mexican towns.
There are people sitting on benches under the shade of trees, and vendors selling fried potato chips on sticks, corn with chile, and traditional candies. The consecrated keep walking.
SILVIA
This is the house where Nuestro Padre grew
up. If you go inside, you can see where
Mama Maurita used to live. We will go inside
tomorrow.
They keep on walking, this time back up the mountain towards the retreat center.
SILVIA
This is the cemetery where all the Legionaries
and consecrated who had died in the territory
of Mexico are buried. Let’s go inside
and pray that these consecrated and
Legionaries may help us find the strength
to be faithful until we die on the
battlefield of souls for love of Christ.
Mama Maurita is good to pray to for this,
as she helped Nuestro Padre with his calling.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 67.
FADE IN:
EXT. FORMATION CENTER – DAY
Lia is running outside with the other consecrated on the track that goes around the building. She seems to really be enjoying stretching her muscles and is running faster than the others, than slowing down to let them catch up. Suddenly, Carmen comes running up to Lia.
CARMEN
Sorry to bother you in your run, Lia,
but Silvia asked me to send you
inside to talk to her.
LIA
Ok.
She turns toward inside, enjoying spreading her legs up to the front door.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. SILVIA’S OFFICE – DAY
Silvia is looking over some papers when Lia comes in.
LIA
You sent for me, Silvia?
SILVIA
Yes, Lia. I need you to clean up your
bathroom. You left your underwear hanging
up on the stall when you changed into your
sports clothes and that is not polite to
your roommates.
LIA
Um, ok. I didn’t really think it was
that big of a deal since none of
them even go to sports.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 68.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
It is a big deal. What do you think Christ
thinks of what you left on the
stall? You should always think about it
as if Christ was your roommate.
LIA
Um, ok. I’ll go cover them up again.
I honestly don’t know how they got
uncovered from the rest of my clothes.
Thank you, Silvia.
She forces out the last words on the brink of tears
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. FORMATION CENTER – DAY
Lia is going back to join the others, but doesn’t quite make it. She bursts into tears and ends up running down a ramp to what turns out to be a garage. She is crying and snot is running everywhere. She can’t find a Kleenex, so she ends up looking pretty terrible. She goes back in to change when the bell rings.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Lia is going back to her dorms after having cried her eyes out. Irene meets her on the stairs and sees what a mess she looks like. Lia is trying to avoid talking to Irene, so she doesn’t meet her eyes and tries to walk around her, but Irene stops her anyways.
IRENE
What’s that on your face? It looks
all dirty.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 69.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I don’t know. I’ll go clean it right now.
IRENE
Have you been crying? Your eyes are all red?
LIA
Um, oh. I…um…
She can’t finish the sentence.
IRENE
Well, I’ll see you tomorrow for spiritual
direction. We’ll talk about it then.
LIA
(to herself)
I only wish spiritual direction with you
would make me feel better when it is the
cause of my pain.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. PHONE BOOTH – NIGHT
Lia is talking to her Mom on the telephone.
MOM
Lia, what’s wrong? You don’t sound happy.
I mean, it’s hard to tell with the crackly
wires and the constant clicking as if
someone was listening in, but you don’t
sound like yourself.
LIA
Mom, I feel like I should tell you this.
We have always been taught not to talk
about difficulties with our vocations
so it won’t weigh you down.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 70.
CONTINUED:
MOM
What are you talking about? You have
always told us how happy you are and how
much you love everything there.
LIA
I know. I had to do that because you
guys didn’t have faith in the Movement
and I had to help you accept God’s
will for me. But now I have a problem
and I don’t know what to do. I have
a call to be here, but I just feel
like I want to die.
MOM
Lia, that sounds like depression.
You might have a mental illness.
LIA
A mental illness? My directresses
told me I didn’t have enough
faith in God. You mean it could just
be a physical thing?
MOM
You should really get something
for that, medicine, see a psychiatrist.
LIA
Maybe I could feel better about my
vocation with just some pills.
I really don’t feel angry or afraid
of being consecrated; maybe it is just
part of my physique. Well, thanks
for listening to me, Mom. I feel
a lot better.
MOM
I don’t. I’m going to talk to your
directresses. They need to be taking
care of you.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 71.
FADE IN:
INT. SILVIA’S OFFICE – DAY
LIA
Did you get my dependence memo yesterday?
I started to feel better about everything
on Sunday on the retreat. I realized that
I am divided, that there are some parts of
me that feel satisfied as a consecrated.
I mean, I really love apostolate, and
I love prayer, but I feel lonely and I just
can’t seem to be clean and orderly…
SILVIA
Yes, I saw it, Lia. I need to talk to you
about something else. I talked to your
mother this week. She is very worried
about you. She said you told her you
wanted to die. I heard from Nuestro Padre
this week. Lia, it would have been
different if you hadn’t talked to your
mother. But since your parents know
about the hard time you are having,
they want you to go home and be
with them and get treatment for
your depression, which is what they
think you have. And I read your memo.
I have to tell you, Lia: it shouldn’t
be this hard. If it is this hard for
you, you are not called to this life.
It shouldn’t be this hard.
Lia is so startled she sits in silence for a minute. Then, she tries to frame some sort of response.
LIA
But how could this be, Silvia? I had a call,
I got consecrated. I’m about to renew my
promises to get my ring. I still feel
called to be consecrated. How could my
call just disappear?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 72.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
I know this is hard to hear, Lia.
But Nuestro Padre knows what is best
for you and he has said that you
should go home, get treatment, and
then see what God is asking of you.
LIA
But, Silvia, I can do this. It’s hard,
but I can do it. I can get over it.
Why do I have to go home?
SILVIA
You need to trust in God that he will
show you what is right for you and
guide you to a better life.
LIA
I can’t, I can’t abandon consecrated life.
SILVIA
You’re not abandoning it, Lia. God has
shown that it is not for you.
You will be leaving on Wednesday at
6:00 AM. Take some time to go pray about
this in the chapel, and then Beth will
help you go through your things to
show you what you can keep and what you
shouldn’t. I need you to sign these papers
promising you will keep certain things
secret and you will behave in certain
ways once you leave consecrated life.
Also, call your parents and ask if
they can pay for the return ticket.
You will need to return your suitcase
to the apostolate center in Michigan
once you are back home. I’m sorry it
turned out this way, Lia. I hope you
feel better at home.
Lia nods numbly and leave.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 73.
FADE IN:
INT. DORM – DAY
Beth is showing Lia what to take with her and what not.
BETH
Well, you should leave most of your clothes
here. I mean, are you really going to wear
skirts and heels in Michigan?
LIA
I don’t know.
BETH
Just take clothes to wear to the airport
and leave the rest of it here so other
consecrated can have clothes to wear.
You can take your toiletries because
no one else will use that. Here’s a
suitcase.
LIA
I don’t think this is my suitcase.
BETH
We are just lending this to you so you
can bring your stuff home in something.
Then, you need to return it later in
Michigan.
LIA
Can I take my class notes and my prayer
notebooks with me? dependence memos
and letters from Nuestro Padre?
BETH
What do you really need your notes for?
Why don’t you just leave them? Just
throw out your notebooks. You can keep
any letters that you have received from
Nuestro Padre and give all the others back.
You can’t keep any dependence memos.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 74.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Can I say goodbye to anyone?
BETH
No, Lia. You know how hard it is to
follow a vocation. You might shake
their faith in God’s calling.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. CHAPEL – DAY
Lia is getting ready to go, and preparing by praying for a few moments in the chapel. Silvia is over in the back, in the middle, where she always sits, and she looks over at Lia, but that is it. Irene ignores her. Lia gets up and leaves the chapel for the last time.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN
INT. CAR – DAY
Lia is driving with two consecrated to the airport.
LIA
It’s weird to be with you guys since you
are not from my section and we are not
allowed to talk.
Apparently, the other two are trying to keep silence.
REYNA
Where are you going, Lia?
LIA
To the United States.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 75.
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPLANE – DAY
Lia is flying back to the United States. The lady next to her seems interested in engaging her in conversation.
WOMAN
You seem like a nice young girl.
What were you doing in Mexico?
Lia is a little shocked to be spoken to in English. She answers in a halting, accented English.
LIA
I was doing missionary work.
WOMAN
How long were you in Mexico for?
LIA
Two years.
WOMAN
What did you do down there?
LIA
Well, I gave spiritual direction to
6th and 7th grade girls and I did two
years of college.
WOMAN
So you speak Spanish and everything?
LIA
Yes, I do.
WOMAN
You sound like a nice girl I could
introduce my son to. I have a son
about your age. Could I give him
your phone number?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 76.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Well, I don’t think so. You see,
I made promises of poverty, chastity,
and obedience, kind of like a nun.
I am going home to take a break and
get well and see what God wants of
me. But I think I am still under my
promises. I mean, I don’t know.
WOMAN
Oh…I see.
She now thinks Lia is weird. She is probably right.
LIA
But anyhow, the group I am in offers
a lot of activities for young people.
The priests offer clubs for young men
and retreats and all sorts of exciting
missions. We are active on all different
levels of society. If you give me his
number, I could pass it on to them and
they can introduce him to the group.
Do you think he would be interested?
WOMAN
No.
Time goes by, and the silence gets more awkward. Lia doesn’t seem to know why.
LIA
Are you sure he wouldn’t be interested?
WOMAN
Yes.
LIA
Well, we are almost into Chicago. I have
to catch my connecting flight to Detroit.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 77.
FADE IN:
INT. LIA’S OLD BEDROOM – NIGHT
Lia has just gotten home and is putting her few consecrated outfits into the closet. The outfits she has left from before high school are out of style and probably don’t fit her anymore.
LIA
Well, I guess I had better do night
prayers. Although it is weird to
pray without the chapel.
There is a KNOCK on the door. Lia opens it. It is her Dad.
LIA
What is it, Dad?
DAD
We were just wondering what you
were doing in her with the door shut.
LIA
I’m saying my night prayers.
DAD
Do you still have to say them since you’re
not consecrated anymore?
LIA
Well, I guess I don’t. I just have to do
the basic Regnum Christi prayers is
what Silvia told me. But you know,
they told me all these stories about
how consecrated were forced to go home
for certain periods of time and then
were able to come back and be consecrated
again. I am strong enough to get over
this mental illness and follow my call
again.
DAD
Well, I hope so. Lia.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 78.
CONTINUED:
LIA
So when did the psychiatrist say he could
fit me in for an appointment?
DAD
Not for another month. He will be able to
see you on August 25.
LIA
That’s so far from now. I wanted to start
taking my medication and get well as
soon as possible, maybe even be back in
Mexico by Christmas.
DAD
Are you really sure that’s wise? Why would
you want to go back to them? They even
want their suitcase back.
LIA
Because I still feel the same call that I
felt before. Now, if you will excuse
me, I need to begin my night prayers.
Try not to talk to me after my night
prayers because I will be in silence.
DAD
Um, Ok. Good night. We love you and we
are glad you are back home.
Lia kneels down on the carpet to say her night prayers, but seems perturbed.
LIA
Dear God, is it really possible that I no
longer have a calling? How could I have
been called so many years ago and now it
is just gone? Please help. I am happy to
be home but I just don’t know what to do
with myself. I have no plans outside being
consecrated.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 79.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is about to have an interview.
DR. GREEN
I’m Dr. Green. You must be Lia.
LIA
Yes, I am. Nice to meet you.
DR. GREEN
So tell me how you heard about this
position.
LIA
Well, I called all the psychologists’
offices in the area from the phone
book and asked them for work.
DR. GREEN
So what makes you think you would
be a good office assistant?
LIA
Well, I spent a long time in a
missionary organization and I am
used to being very organized,
prepared and following a schedule.
DR. GREEN
What relevant work experience do
you have?
LIA
Well, I’ve never actually had a
paid job. I volunteered for two years
as a counselor for junior high school
girls.
DR. GREEN
Ok, so no experience in an office.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 80.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I’m studying Psychology at a nearby
college.
DR. GREEN
Well, young lady, there are an
abundance of girls like you studying
psychology at colleges. You don’t
seem very outgoing to me. So far in
this interview, you have been sitting
too far away from me, haven’t spoken
loudly enough, and you aren’t meeting
my eyes. I need someone full of
confidence and life. Come back when
you get some.
LIA
Oh, ok. Um Thanks. I appreciate the
interview.
They shake hands, and Lia leaves.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – DAY
Lia’s Dad is driving her home.
DAD
How was the interview?
LIA
Wow, I thought I left Irene back in
Mexico. If I had wanted to be told
all my weaknesses, I would have
hired my own therapist, not gone
for an interview.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 81.
FADE IN:
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Lia’s Mom just checked the mail.
MOM
Lia, I think you got something in the mail.
It’s from Rome.
LIA
What?
MOM
Yeah, come here. It’s from Father Maciel.
LIA
Oh, I guess it’s an answer to my letters.
Lia opens the letter.
MOM
What does it say?
LIA
Let me see. It’s in Spanish. I’ll translate.
MOM
He doesn’t speak English?
LIA
No, he never has. That’s why the official
language of the Movement is Spanish.
MOM
Is it really from him? I would think he
wouldn’t have time to answer all the
letters he gets.
LIA
Yes, they say he dictates all the letters.
I mean, if all his letters are supposed to
represent God’s will, he had better write them.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 82.
CONTINUED:
MOM
Well, what does the letter say?
LIA
Let’s see, “Estimada Señorita Lia”
- Dear Miss Lia – I hope this
this letter find you well and in
good health. I am glad to hear that
you are doing well and being faithful
in the world just as you were in
consecrated life. I must say that I do
not think it would be convenient for
you to return to consecrated life due
to your health issues. With my
blessing, your spiritual father,
Affectionately in Christ…
MOM
Oh, I’m sorry, Lia. I know how much
you wanted to go back.
LIA
I just don’t know what to do with my
life. I’ve spent my entire life trying
to be consecrated. I never thought
about other options.
MOM
Well, now you can finish college, date,
get a job.
LIA
I know, but I can’t get it out of my
head that consecrated life is the
best way of life. I know the church
says that other ways of life are good,
too, but they taught me that consecrated
life was the only real way to be happy.
And I already miss my prayer times.
I just wish I could figure it out.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 83.
FADE IN:
INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT
Lia is having dinner with Kayli, finally catching up after all those years.
KAYLI
It’s nice to see you again. I haven’t
seen you since just before you got
consecrated. So much has happened in
my life in the last two years.
LIA
I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t really keep
in touch. We only had half an hour of letter
writing time once a week, and we had to
make sure to write to Nuestro Padre, our
parents, our “faces,” and then we
could write to friends if we had time.
As far as phone calls, we were never
supposed to use the Movement’s money
to call our friends. Actually, to be a
good consecrated, I should have been
asking you to give me money. I just
was never comfortable asking my friends
and family for money. That was one of
the reasons I started to doubt that
I was meant to be consecrated.
KAYLI
That sounds terrible. Why did you stay
there all that time then?
LIA
Well, whenever I thought about being
home and working or being married, I
thought about how being consecrated is
the only way to be truly happy, so I
stayed.
A MAN comes up to their table.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 84.
CONTINUED:
MAN
Hi. I couldn’t help but notice you
two lovely ladies sitting here. You
know, I was a choreographer for the
Backstreet Boys back in the day.
LIA
Oh, you were, really?
MAN
Yeah, if you want to come back to my
apartment I can teach you all the dance
moves.
LIA
Uh, I don’t think we do that, do we
Kayli?
KAYLI
Get lost.
MAN
Sure, sorry.
KAYLI
You betcha.
LIA
What’s wrong? Why did you do that to him
KAYLI
Please tell me you know that guy was
lying.
LIA
Well, I thought it sounded a bit
improbable, but I guess I’m used to
having to trust in people as God’s
instruments and not doubt them.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 85.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – DAY
Lia was attending a retreat hosted by the consecrated for single women. She was not handling it very well.
KAYLI
What’s wrong, Lia? Why did you leave
lunch like that? You seemed upset
since Mass.
LIA
I know, Kayli. I don’t know what is wrong
with me. I feel so depressed when I go to
Mass and today I just wanted to die.
I just can’t seem to adjust to life as a
non-consecrated.
KAYLI
I don’t understand, Lia. You were so
unhappy there…
LIA
I know, but that is what makes me feel
so bad. I was so unhappy, and all the
consecrated say they are so happy. It
is almost like I just bring unhappiness
around me. Everyone else says they are
happy and I’m the only one who couldn’t
be happy there.
KAYLI
I don’t think God wanted that life for
you.
LIA
How could I feel that call and then
not feel it?
KAYLI
It just seemed that you never discerned.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 86.
CONTINUED:
LIA
What do you mean? I spent two years
discerning it at the high school.
KAYLI
That’s the thing – did anybody ever
say, “Hey, we mostly work in schools,
do you like working in a school?”
LIA
Well, I probably would have said no
to that.
KAYLI
And what if they had explained that the
most important parts of consecrated life
were recruitment and fundraising?
LIA
I just feel like I wasn’t good enough
to be consecrated. There were good
consecrated and some who just weren’t
good enough.
KAYLI
Why did you feel bad today?
LIA
I remembered all the times I had sat
around the table with the other
consecrated on a feast day, and I
realized that I would never experience
that again. It’s over. I can’t even
sit through a lunch with them without
crying. And they think I was unfaithful,
not good enough. They don’t even take
the time to give me spiritual direction
because I’ve already been recruited
and “found wanting.”
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 87.
FADE IN:
EXT. CHURCH – DAY
Lia is about to go into the church with her sister. It is Isabel’s funeral in Rhode Island.
ELISE
It’s really too bad that Isabel’s car
got hit by a trailer when she was on her
way from Rhode Island to Michigan. At
least her travel companion was ok. How
did you hear about it anyway?
LIA
Kayli heard it from the consecrated in
Michigan. Isabel was always nice to me,
so I thought I would go to the funeral.
ELISE
Yeah, we were in formation together. I
hope we are welcome at the funeral. You
know how it can be for ex-consas.
The two girls are hesitant to enter the church. Suddenly, Irene comes out of the church.
IRENE
Well, if it’s not the prodigal child.
Lia is uncomfortable.
LIA
Um, hi, Irene. I didn’t know you had gotten
a yellow letter for the U.S.
IRENE
Well, Lia. I am glad to see that you are
staying close to the Movement. I thought
you were going to turn into a problem for
us for a while there. Your ideas were so
critical and lacking in faith.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 88.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Excuse me?
IRENE
Well, yes, you were doubting the Movement
in a way that was little suitable to a
consecrated woman who should open her
heart entirely to God. I also noted
you had difficulty listening to God’s
will as I expressed it. It’s good that
you are getting psychological help now.
LIA
We’re really just here for Isabel’s
funeral. I knew her since I was a
teenager.
IRENE
One never knows when they will get
called to God. We should always speak
the truth and live our lives as his
instruments dictate as it is hard to
know when God should will that our
lives be over. I’m sure Isabel did
not know that she was going to die
that day. Imagine the person who
speaks ill about the Movement and
then dies soon after without ever
righting the situation. That would
be a terrible way to face God’s
justice.
LIA
I would never speak ill, just the
truth. I remember the verse of the
Bible that says, “The truth will
set you free.” That is what I believe.
IRENE
Well, let us all pray for faith like
Isabel’s as we go into the Mass.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 89.
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM – DAY
Some pills are on the shelf. A big, huge bottle. Lia has just overdosed because things have gotten to be too hard. Her Mom doesn’t know. She thinks Lia has the flu.
MOM
I wonder what is giving you such terrible
diarrhea.
LIA
Oh, it’s so painful. It’s already been six
hours of pain and it doesn’t stop.
MOM
Did you eat something that was bad?
LIA
Well, I ate some fast food.
MOM
Well, I’m going to be in the other room.
I’ll check on you in a few minutes.
She leaves the room.
LIA
Ugh, I had no idea this would take so
long and be so painful. I just want it to
hurry up and get over with so I can be
done with this painful life and just
stop hurting in my soul.
Suddenly, Lia starts having a “vision.” She is seeing herself dying, and then her existence just stops.
LIA
I am frightened. I thought death would be
life after death, but that is just
nothingness. Do I really want to stop being?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 90.
CONTINUED:
The vision changes. Lia sees herself as a successful career woman, with a husband and a few children. They are all gathered around.
LIA
How could I not have thought of that?
It doesn’t always have to be this way.
Things are so dark for me now, but they
might improve later on. Mom!
Her Mom comes back in the room.
MOM
What do you need, honey?
LIA
I need to tell you something. Please don’t
be made. I made a mistake. I took a lot
of pills. I’m not sick. I’m dying.
Her Mom doesn’t answer. She quickly exits the room to call 911. The paramedics eventually show up.
LIA
Please give me some water, please.
PARAMEDIC 1
Oh no, that a bad sign – internal bleeding.
How many pills did you take? You know you made
a stupid mistake, don’t you?
LIA
150. They are right there. Yes, I know I
made a mistake, but sometimes it hurts
too much to live. I’m afraid of going
towards nothingness. I wonder if I
will wake up from this cloud coming
over me.
She passes out, and they load her onto a gurney.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPLANE – DAY
BETH, another new consecrated, and Lia are on the plane from Rhode Island to Houston.
STEWARDESS
Here is lunch for you two young ladies.
BETH
When will we get to Houston?
STEWARDESS
We should be there in about two hours.
BETH
Wasn’t our consecration great? It was
such a spiritual moment.
LIA
Yeah.
Beth eats her food but Lia doesn’t.
BETH
Why don’t you eat your food?
LIA
It will give me stomach pains. I am very
sensitive to food.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPORT – DAY
Lia is buying food while Beth looks on disapprovingly.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 32.
CONTINUED:
BETH
You know we just made a promise of poverty
a few days ago.
Lia is confused.
LIA
Obviously, but I don’t see a reason why I
shouldn’t eat if I am hungry.
BETH
As consecrated, we only eat when everyone
else eats. At the same times as everyone
else.
LIA
I have stomach problems. I have been
on a special diet for the past year.
You know that. And I am simply just
hungry.
BETH
They fed us on the plane. You could
have eaten that.
LIA
Yes, I could have and I would have
been rolling over in pain.
BETH
You know the promises we made.
LIA
I’m sure once you have been
consecrated for longer you will see
that it is all very reasonable and
based on common sense.
(to herself)
At least I hope. I would not like
to discover that consecrated life is
full of guilt.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 33.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – NIGHT
Lia and Beth have just arrived in Monterrey. Another consecrated, MARI, has just picked them up and is taking them to their new home.
BETH
It’s so beautiful here in Monterrey.
Palm trees and desert.
MARI
Yes, it’s amazing. Our directresses are
so holy. They are all saints. You will
see. Lia, have you ever been to Mexico
before?
LIA
No, I never have. It’s very nice.
BETH
Where is our formation center?
MARI
It’s slightly outside of the city and
we have grass, a wall with a guard, and
chauffeurs.
LIA
Those huts on the hill are so miserable.
Do people actually live in them?
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. LOBBY – NIGHT
Lia and Beth arrive at the formation center and are greeted by their new directresses. A group of women come out and hug them, speaking Spanish.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 34.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
Hola, soy Silvia. Soy su directora.
Bienvenidas.
BETH
What?
MARI
She said that she is Silvia and she
is your directress. She welcomes you.
LIA
Thank you.
Beth and Lia hug Silvia.
IRENE
I am Irene. I will be your spiritual
guide.
MARI
Did you girls have dinner yet? There
are some leftovers.
BETH
I am fine, thank you.
LIA
I am hungry.
Beth shoots Lia a dirty look.
IRENE
You can get up late tomorrow. The
rest of us rise at 5:05am and the
two of you can get up while we
go to morning prayers, at 5:35. Just
make sure you are in the chapel by
6:05 so you can do morning prayers
before Mass.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 35.
FADE IN:
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Silvia is teaching “Spirituality of the Movement.” Lia is confused.
SILVIA
Lia, how do you feel about this class?
LIA
I am pretty excited. I feel like I have
been waiting for this class for a long
time. There were a lot of things we were
not allowed to read in the high school,
and now I am allowed to immerse myself
in the Movement’s spirituality.
SILVIA
Alright, deep answer. Today we are going
to talk about our nets. Those are
apostolates that are not openly of the
Movement. If people ask, they are not
part of the Movement. We can truthfully
claim this because they are not run by
us, but by members of the Movement.
These includes schools that we might
have that we use to recruit people to
the Movement, or clubs where we have fun
activities so girls will join ECYD and
become closer to God. All our nets are
fun or cultural activities that little
by little help people realize that they
need God in their lives.
BETH
But why don’t we just say that they are
works of the Movement?
SILVIA
There are some people who have bad
impressions of the Movement but don’t
really know it.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 35.
CONTINUED:
BETH
But don’t we want people to know about
the good works of the Movement?
SILVIA
Yes, we do. When they are members, they can
know that such and such a school is Regnum
Christi, or that apostolate is ours.
But there is another group of people that
have heard of “the millionaires of Christ”
and think we are just about money, so we
want to introduce them to us slowly so that
they get to know what we are really about,
and then they will realize how wonderful
the Movement is and join if it is their call.
BETH
Why do the Statutes say consecrated members
need to be attractive and intelligent?
SILVIA
Our members need to be leaders and thus, they
should be the cream of the crop. If we
want to recruit the leaders of the world,
we need to have the leaders of the
world as our members. Our members need to
be intelligent so they can run programs
and lead large groups of people, run
conferences, etc. They need to be fairly
attractive so people will want to be
around them. You must remember that our
charism is one of leaders. People like
the Franciscans work with the poor, The
Jesuits with education. We work with
leaders. We want to change the world
from the top down, using the methodology
of top to bottom. Lia, what do you
think about the methodology?
LIA
It seems intelligent.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 37.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
It’s not about intelligence, Lia. It’s
about God’s inspiration.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is in spiritual direction with Irene. It is pretty uncomfortable.
IRENE
So, how have you been doing, Lia?
Last time you had a lot of questions
about the spirituality of the Movement.
Do you still have all those questions?
Do you miss your family? How’s it all
going?
Irene looks at Lia like she is scrutinizing her to the core. She also says everything in a brusque, uncaring way. Like how fast can she get Lia out of the office. Lia is clearly not important to her.
LIA
I’m doing good. I don’t think I have
any more questions. I had questions
because they didn’t explain any of this
to us in the high school and I am
excited to learn about the Movement I
am a part of. I miss my family a little,
but I am more focused on my mission here.
There is a long silence.
IRENE
What is going on with your program of life?
What is your dominant fault?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 38.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I was working on the virtue of humility.
Its dominant fault is pride.
IRENE
I know some things you could do to be
more humble. Don’t correct people when
you know they are wrong. Try to ask
questions about other people. You are
always so quiet in conversation that
it seems like you are thinking negative
things about what people say. Try not
to be so critical.
LIA
No, that’s not it at all. I don’t always
Understand everything in Spanish…
IRENE
Oh, you understand enough. This is just
another example. Don’t excuse yourself
every time I correct you. If you were
humble, you would accept what I say
without any complaining. You Americans
tend to be very proud and think you
are the only ones who know what is right.
Lia is speechless. Technically, Irene has just told her not to respond.
IRENE
Well, what do you think about that, Lia?
LIA
It’s okay, I guess.
IRENE
I want to meet with you more often.
Let’s meet three times a week, and you
should send me a dependence note for
every day we don’t meet.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 39.
FADE IN:
INT. DINING ROOM –DAY
Lia arrives in the dining room for lunch. Silvia begins the blessing after someone knocks.
SILVIA
Bless us, O Lord, and these our gifts
which we are about to receive from your
blessing through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
CONSECRATED
Amen.
They sit down and begin to eat in the silence. The first course is already on the tables. The consecrated are arranged in tables of six in the dining room. Lia is at Irene’s table. Each one pulls her napkin out of her napkin ring and puts it on her lap. Lia passes the soup to Irene first because she is a directress. Irene serves herself and it comes around to Lia. All this is done in silence. Speaking is not allowed. The soup is a Mexican soup called “fideo” which is made with tomato sauce and short noodles.
Lia tries the soup, but she is not familiar with it.
IRENE
What’s wrong, you don’t like soup?
LIA
No.
IRENE
Don’t make that face when you don’t like
food.
Lia tries to look natural. There is milk and water to drink. Lia serves herself water.
IRENE
Why don’t you drink milk? It is good for
you.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 40.
CONTINUED:
LIA
It upsets my stomach.
An unknown Mexican meal is the main dish. Lia doesn’t know what it is called, and is not allowed to talk during silence.
LIA
Could you pass the food, please?
BETH
The what?
LIA
The chicken with the black sauce?
BETH
The mole?
LIA
Yes, please.
Beth passes the mole. After lunch, Irene takes Lia aside.
IRENE
Are you not familiar with Mexican food,
Lia?
LIA
I guess I have eaten at Mexican
restaurants, but I have never eaten
some of these things before.
IRENE
Well, you need to eat more healthy
food and less sugary foods. You
don’t want to gain weight do you?
Lia is as skinny as a board.
You should practice more abnegation
in your eating.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 41.
FADE IN:
INT. PHONE BOOTH – NIGHT
Lia has just entered the phone booth and is slightly out of breath.
LIA
Bueno?
ELISE (O.S.)
Hi, Sis! How you hanging in there?
LIA
Hi, Elise! It’s so good to hear your
voice. I’m surprise you’re calling
me on a weekday. Is something
wrong?
ELISE (O.S.)
No, nothing’s wrong at all. It’s
good news. Guess what?
LIA
What?
ELISE (O.S.)
Andrew proposed to me! We’re getting
married!
LIA
Andrew proposed! Oh my gosh! When is
the wedding? Congratulations! Wow!
ELISE (O.S.)
Yeah, it was so sweet. He got down on
one knee and everything. Anyhow, the
wedding is February 10. I want you to
see if you can come. I know the rules,
but just ask anyways. I really want you
to be in my wedding.
LIA
I’ll try but you know the rules.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 42.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is in Irene’s office for spiritual direction again.
IRENE
So how was your phone call with Elise?
How is Elise doing nowadays?
LIA
You knew Elise called me?
IRENE
Of course, as your spiritual guide, I
approve any calls you get and make sure
people who want to hurt your vocation
aren’t bothering you.
LIA
Oh. The phone call went well. Elise
is doing well. She’s actually engaged.
She’s getting married in February.
IRENE
Don’t let that shake your vocation.
It must be nice to be so happy here
and not have to worry about all those
things like dating and bills and things.
LIA
Elise asked if I could come to her
wedding.
IRENE
Don’t be ridiculous, Lia. You know the
rules. You can’t go to any weddings.
LIA
Can’t you even ask Silvia if I can go?
IRENE
We can’t ask for special permissions.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 43.
FADE IN:
INT. DORM ROOM – NIGHT
It is late at night. Lia is reading in an empty dorm room. She hears scuffles outside, people whispering. She peeks out into the hallway. Silvia is there with a nother consecrated.
SILVIA
Is that you, Lia?
LIA
Yes, it’s me.
SILVIA
What are you doing down there? Your
room is down here.
LIA
I know. I couldn’t sleep. I felt
sick to my stomach.
SILVIA
You can go back to bed, Beth. Lia is
right here.
LIA
What’s wrong?
SILVIA
Beth woke up and you weren’t in bed,
so she went looking for you.
LIA
Oh, I was here.
SILVIA
What were you doing in there?
LIA
I was reading letters of Nuestro Padre.
I didn’t want to break my silence so
I was praying.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 44.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
We looked everywhere for you. I was
worried. We went to the chapel, to
the kitchen. We even went to the pool
since you like swimming so much.
LIA
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.
SILVIA
You didn’t. I just got back from a trip
just now.
LIA
Was it a good trip? You must be tired.
SILVIA
Yes, it was nice. I am tired. What
are you going to do now?
LIA
I guess I should go back to my bed
now. It is pretty late.
SILVIA
How’s your stomach?
LIA
It still hurts.
SILVIA
Why don’t you have a snack from the
kitchen, and make yourself some
chamomile tea before you go to bed?
That might help you relax.
LIA
Thank you, Silvia. You are very kind.
SILVIA
Que descanses.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 45.
FADE IN:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Silvia has mysteriously called a conference in the middle of the day.
LIA
Do you know why we are having a conference?
BETH
I have no idea. I wonder if something is
wrong.
Silvia comes in and starts talking.
SILVIA
You must be wondering why I called this
conference today. Some of you are aware
that things are being said about our
founder. There are things being said
at the schools, some of your parents are
sending you articles trying to warn you.
So let me clarify once and for all.
There are some newspaper reporters in
the United States and Mexico who are
spreading lies about our founder. They
are people who hate the church and
want to destroy it, so they are
making up lies about one of the church’s
front men, the man who has spent his
entire life working for the church and
the salvation of souls. They know
how much good the Movement does in
the world and they want to take it
down. Some of them are former members
of the Legion who had a bad
experience, were not faithful to
God’s will, and now they want revenge
on Nuestro Padre. We cannot listen
to those lies. We don’t want to
know what these people are saying.
Nuestro Padre denies everything.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 46.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
So, if someone comes to you in the school,
or your family ask you if you have heard
the news, simply reply that yes, you
have, but you don’t want to know these
filthy things and you pray for the
people that make these accusations.
One of these accusers has a sister
who is consecrated. We must pray for
these people, that they admit they
are lying and stop trying to attack
the good name of our founder. And
as for ourselves, we shall continue
to give a good example of the
members of the Movement that we are,
faithful until the last moment.
We stand by our founder in the thick
and thin, the good moments and the
hard moments. He is the man who
has fought so hard to found this
Movement and give so much to the
church, and only sadness and
suffering have followed him all
the days of his life. Let us
meditate on what it means to be a
cofounder; it means “suffering.”
It means accepting the cross. It
means being lied about, being
mistreated even when all we do
is try to help other people. That
is what they did to Jesus. Let’s
all take this to the chapel and
pray for those people that lie
about our founder. Remember that
all the saints and founders have
had to deal with calumny and
betrayal, ingratitude. Let us
remember never to hurt the
Movement that has given so much to us.
Keep this as an intention and
subject for meditation.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 47.
FADE IN:
INT. CHAPEL – DAY
Lia is praying in the chapel in her morning meditation. Everybody else who is moving around and sitting down or clearing their throat is suddenly frozen. Only Lia exists for herself as she immerses herself in prayer with JESUS.
LIA
Good morning, Jesus. It’s nice to be
here with you this morning. I got
here as quickly as I could.
JESUS
I noticed.
Lia laughs to herself.
LIA
Anyhow, I am trying to meditate about
Mary and Martha. I was wondering
what it was like that day in their
house when you came to visit.
MARTHA
I was cleaning and cleaning. I really
wanted to spend time with Jesus, but
I didn’t because I wanted the house
to be nice for him.
LIA
That doesn’t sound like me. If I had
Jesus in my house, I would sit at
his feet like Mary and just talk and
watch him talk and soak it all up.
JESUS
That’s why you are my favorite. That
is why I called you to spend so much
time with me. I enjoy spending this
time with you and listening to the
silly things you say.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 48.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I know, Lord. That is the thing.
This consecrated life sometimes just
feels really pointless. They don’t
pay any attention to my talents. I feel
like a loser. Claudia thinks I am very
proud. I am so lonely. All I have to
do as a consecrated is recruit people
and get donations. I’m not good at that
at all. I’m introverted and shy. I don’t
like talking to strangers. But at the
same time, I don’t want to leave this life
because I enjoy being your wife and
spending time with you. Every time
I come to prayer, I feel full of peace
and joy.
MARY
True peace and love is found at the
Lord’s side.
LIA
I trust in the call I felt and your
grace by my side, Lord. But sometimes
I feel afraid that I am not
being used to the best of my
abilities. It makes me wonder whether
they really care about me.
JESUS
You will always find peace by my side.
Trust me and everything will be ok.
LIA
Thank you, Lord. I know you will be
with me. Sometimes I feel really alone.
It makes me happy to have peaceful
time with you. This peace fills the
rest of my day with joy and makes
me forget the loneliness and doubts
I have.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 49.
FADE IN:
INT. SPARE ROOM – DAY
Lia is getting her hair cut in one of the rooms in the formation center by a friendly HAIRDRESSER. ADRIANA is also getting a haircut.
HAIRDRESSER
What is your name, honey?
LIA
Lia.
HAIRDRESSER
So what are we doing with your hair
today?
LIA
Whatever Irene said to do.
HAIRDRESSER
Ok. So,where are you from?
LIA
I’m from Michigan.
HAIRDRESSER
How long have you been consecrated?
LIA
I’ve been consecrated since August 15,
so about three months.
HAIRDRESSER
How old are you?
LIA
I’m nineteen.
HAIRDRESSER
Do you have brothers and sisters?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 50.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I have one sister. She’s actually
getting married in February.
HAIRDRESSER
Oh, how exciting! Do they let you go
to the wedding?
Adriana suddenly shoots Lia a warning look.
LIA
Well, I want to because she is my
only sister, but they told me I
couldn’t.
ADRIANA
Weddings are such a distraction. We
only spend our time on apostolates and
God’s work. We belong to the family of
the Church now, not our birth families.
HAIRDRESSER
That seems quite difficult.
ADRIANA
We have a wonderful life as brides of
Christ.
HAIRDRESSER
Brides of Christ, that sounds special.
ADRIANA
Yes, being consecrated is about committing
our lives to Christ in every way. We
even run some apostolates for people
like you. We have meetings for married
women with Gospel reflections, missions,
media programs…
HAIRDRESSER
Yes, I think I have gone on missions.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 51.
FADE IN:
INT. IRENE’S OFFICE – DAY
Lia is in spiritual direction again.
IRENE
Have you been meditating during Evening
Prayer?
LIA
Yes, right now I am reading Volume 2 of
Letters of the Founder.
IRENE
Is Nuestro Padre’s life inspiring you to
be a better person? Do you think about his
sufferings and wonder why you are so wimpy
with everything that faces you?
LIA
Yes, Nuestro Padre is really strong. I am
especially inspired by his moments of
contemplative prayer, like in Orizaba,
when he was so connected to God that he
did not notice that he was riding over
over cliffs at night.
IRENE
Yes, prayer is wonderful but while you are
reading the Letters of the Founder, you
should be thinking about being humble. Do
you write to Nuestro Padre every month?
LIA
Yes, I am very good about that. I write to
him at the beginning of the letter period
before I write to my parents. I actually
got a letter back last month, but it was
weird because he said I should not be
skeptical and the only one who says that
about me is you.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 52.
FADE IN:
INT. LIBRARY – NIGHT
Lia is in the library. Other consecrated – Beth, Adriana, SARA, and CARMEN are all sitting on chairs in a circle.
BETH
Let’s begin team balance with the sign
of the cross: In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL
Amen.
BETH
I would like to start. Sara, sometimes
you are late for activities.
SARA
Thank you, Beth.
ADRIANA
Lia, you said too much to the hairdresser
the other day. You should not have told
her you were not allowed to go to the
wedding, and I refer to the private
promises.
LIA
Thank you, Adriana.
CARMEN
This is for Beth. The other day you were
writing a letter in study. I refer to the
Statutes.
BETH
Anyone else have any more for team
balance? This is how we help each other,
by correcting. Lia, do you have anything?
Lia looks uncomfortable.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 53.
FADE IN:
INT. PHONE BOOTH – NIGHT
Lia is talking on the phone.
MOM (V.O.)
How are you doing, honey?
LIA
I’m ok. I’m still disappointed about
Elise’s wedding.
MOM (V.O.)
Did you hear about Elena? She left
consecrated life recently. Elise saw
her in New York.
LIA
Elena? But she recruited me. She told
me consecrated life was true
happiness.
MOM (V.O.)
Well, I guess not. Elise said she
already had a boyfriend and she had
only just recently gotten out.
LIA
Some people just aren’t meant to be
consecrated. Being consecrated is
hard. You have to be faithful and
continue even when it is hard.
MOM (V.O.)
It’s not for everyone. Maybe it wasn’t
for her.
LIA
But if you are already renewed, you are
committed for life. It is a call; it
doesn’t just go away.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 54.
CONTINUED:
MOM (V.O.)
Didn’t she have a boyfriend before she
got consecrated?
LIA
Yes, she did. I wonder if he got married
since then or if he is still single. Or
if he would want the woman who left him to
get consecrated.
MOM (V.O.)
Elise didn’t ask who she was dating, if it
was the same one or someone else.
LIA
I can’t imagine getting married. It’s such
a waste of time. Spending time on prayer
and apostolate is what I am really
passionate about.
MOM (V.O.)
I pray for you, too, Lia, that you may
follow God’s will for you.
LIA
You say that like you doubt I should
be consecrated.
MOM (V.O.)
It’s not that. Just remember that Elise
also thought she was called. Don’t be
afraid to tell us if you want to come
home.
LIA
I’m not. I’m really happy. Being consecrated
is the only true form of happiness. Goodbye,
Mom. I need to go to night prayers.
(to herself)
Am I? Why do I feel like I am lying?
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 55.
FADE IN:
EXT. PARQUE LA ESTANZUELA, DAY
Lia is taking a hike with the other consecrated in a hike known as “La Estanzuela.” It is a beautiful day and it is a breathtaking hike in the mountains with occasional springs and waterfalls.
SILVIA
It’s such a wonderful afternoon for a
hike. La Estanzuela is my favorite
outing.
LIA
I have never been here before. Where are
we going?
ADRIANA
It’s really amazing. There is a waterfall
further on, some springs, and some
interesting ladders. It might make you
nervous, Lia, but you’ll be fine.
LIA
Ok.
SILVIA
This reminds me of a movie I saw. It was
about a man who went through a difficult
situation. People conspired to keep him
from his rightful position of power, and
he didn’t even know it was. They covered
his face with a mask, and stuck him in a
jail. One day, other people decided to pull
him from that jail and reveal his true
identity to him, but they just wanted
to use him for their purposes. They thought
he would be a good puppet.
LIA
You mean “The Man in the Iron Mask?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 56.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
Yes, the story is about trust, about
trusting in God to help you when you
are in your darkest moments, imprisoned
in your own weekness.
They have gotten to a place where the consecrated have to cross over from one cliff to another holding onto a rope and hugging onto the cliff.
LIA
(quietly)
How do I cross this?
ADRIANA
Just hold onto the rope and then step
from one side onto the other while you
hug the cliff.
All the other consecrated cross before Lia. She stands there, staring at the rope, then gingerly makes her way across.
SILVIA
So, anyhow, this man wanted life outside
his prison, and God provided these people
who pulled him from his prison and made him
a king. And we all have to hope that God
will free us from our weaknesses and make
us princesses in his kingdom. But first of
all, we have to let our formators work
their magic in us without complaining so
they can mold us into the images of God.
BETH
That is so beautiful, Silvia. I love
the lights you share with us.
SILVIA
You can meditate on it tomorrow in your
meditation if you like. You, too, Lia.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 57.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is once again engaged in spiritual direction with Irene. Does it ever go well?
IRENE
So what are these doubts you referred to
in your last dependence memo?
LIA
No, they are not doubts. I was just thinking.
I don’t know how to explain it. I am trying
to understand the mission of the Movement.
It’s kind of hard for me, because what I saw
of the Movement in the United States was quite
different. I thought the consecrated were
these women who went from city to city and
ran retreats. Here in Mexico, it seems like
they just work in schools…
IRENE
(interrupting)
That’s not true. The Movement is the same
wherever you are. It is still in foundation
in the United States, which explains why there
are not many consecrated working in schools.
But that will happen eventually.
LIA
I just have a hard time understanding how the
Movement is going to fulfill its mission if
all we do is work in schools. It’s just such
limited number of people to reach at once.
IRENE
How can you say that! Lia, I have to tell you,
that is the kind of argument I hear from the
people that become enemies of the Movement.
Lia is so horrified she cannot talk.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 58.
CONTINUED:
LIA
That’s not what I mean at all, Irene. I just
am trying to figure things out because it is
so different here. It’s making me question
whether I still want to be consecrated. I just
didn’t plan on becoming a Dean of Discipline.
IRENE
Lia, that type of thinking will destroy the
Movement. You are here because of a call,
and you should neither question that call
nor the charism of the Movement which comes
directly from the Holy Spirit through
Nuestro Padre.
LIA
I know, I just don’t know if it is for me.
I feel really lonely and I’m not happy.
IRENE
Look, Lia, today is Monday. We are not
due to see each other for spiritual
direction again until next week. Why
don’t we get together on Thursday and
we will see if you still feel the same way.
LIA
(reluctantly)
Um, sure, ok.
IRENE
You need to get this negative thinking out
of your head. That is how the devil works.
LIA
I know. I just don’t feel the same enthusiasm
for being consecrated anymore. I wonder
where it went.
IRENE
Send me a dependence memo tomorrow.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 59.
FADE IN:
INT. DINING ROOM – DAY
Lia is eating lunch. Beth comes up and taps her on the shoulder.
BETH
Silvia wants us to help serve lunch to
her and the new first-years outside.
Once you are done with lunch.
Lia nods. She finishes eating, then gets up and goes to the kitchen. She comes back with a serving tray full of food.
LIA
I don’t feel so well.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. PATIO – DAY
Silvia is chatting with the new first-year consecrated when Lia walks in with a tray of food. The girls are sitting in outing clothes on the floor in a circle around Silvia. Other girls of Lia’s generation are bringing more food.
SILVIA
So how are you girls doing in your first
months of being consecrated?
CARMEN
It’s so wonderful. The classes are really
amazing and our teachers know so much
about the spiritual life.
SILVIA
Yes, it is a great time to soak in everything
about the spirituality. Formation is a real
gift from the Movement.
Lia is looking pale and starts clutching her stomach.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 60.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Irene?
IRENE
Yes, Lia?
LIA
I feel really sick. Can I go to bed for
a little bit?
IRENE
Go to bed? What’s wrong?
LIA
My stomach hurts. And I feel really dizzy.
IRENE
Let me take your temperature.
She pulls out a thermometer and takes Lia’s temperature.
IRENE
Yes, it is rather high. Why don’t you
go to bed. I will check in on you in a
little bit. Some of the other girls have
fevers, too. It must be going around.
Lia doesn’t feel well enough to care.
LIA
I think I’m going to have diarrhea.
She takes off from the kitchen at a quick pace.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Lia is sick. Night has fallen over the formation center.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 61.
CONTINUED:
LIA
(moaning)
Ugh…I feel so sick…
She gets up…We hear DIARRHEA from offscreen. She comes back and collapses into bed. Irene comes into the rooms.
IRENE
Here, take these.
Lia takes the pills.
LIA
I want to get up for evening prayer, but
I don’t feel well.
IRENE
Don’t worry about that. I will have your
books brought here to your room so you
can pray at the right times. You must
have Rotovirus. There are many others
who are sick with the same thing. We
think you girls must have eaten some
bad chicken.
Irene leaves. Lia pulls open her book and starts to pray, but she seems to be a bit out of it. She starts to hear a HOWLING noise and CACKLING like witches. Lia gets up and we hear DIARRHEA (O.S.) again. She gets back in bed and starts to pray again.
LIA
Dear Lord, please help me to regain
my faith in the Movement again. And
to follow your will about my vocation.
I used be very enthusiastic about
the Movement, my mission, and my
life here, but now all I feel is
darkness, doubt, and loneliness. I
remember that I got consecrated because
I wanted to be close to you, like Mary.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 62.
CONTINUED:
LIA
It’s just that sometimes I get so caught
up in studies, and apostolate, and
keeping my clothes ironed and my closet
cleaned that I just don’t feel close to
you. It just makes me wonder if this
is really the place for me.
(reading)
This saint was so caught up in a mystical
union with you that she felt joy in
everything she did. Sort of like me,
lying here. I feel a purity of union
with you that goes far beyond being
consecrated or having a call or
working in a school. I know I am close
to you and you are close to me. I
don’t know how I lost that love.
And this saint, she was so young but
she always knew that she was called
to spend her life doing good to help
others. I don’t see how I can do that
with a job, or married with kids. My
life will be so limited as to what
I can do for other people. So, I need
to remember that the Movement is my
best opportunity to do that and be
grateful like I once used to be.
It is kind of weird, saints are not
part of the Movement’s spirituality,
but this spiritual reading has been the
best one in a long time. I feel like
I remember why I got consecrated in
the first place. It doesn’t have
anything to do with the women, the
schools, the schedules, and it has
everything to do with falling in love
with God and wanting to live as
close to You as possible. Well,
I guess I didn’t see Irene for
spiritual direction since I’ve been
in bed, but I know what I want now.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 63.
FADE IN:
INT. IRENE’S OFFICE – DAY
Lia is finally in Irene’s office for the long-awaited spiritual direction about her doubts.
IRENE
So how are you feeling, Lia? You were
pretty sick last week.
LIA
Yes, I felt so terrible about missing Mass
two days in a row and not serving lunch
for Silvia and the first years.
IRENE
You still look very pale. You don’t look
well. How much weight did you lose? You
look quite thin.
LIA
I lost ten pounds. I just couldn’t keep
anything down for about three days.
Right now I can take mild food.
IRENE
Well, you need to gain that weight back.
You are too thin. You are going to have
to start eating cookies with your meals
and you have one month to gain it all
back.
LIA
One month? Irene, I can barely eat at all.
IRENE
I’m sure you can do it. Let’s talk about
how you’ve been since our last spiritual
direction. That time, you told me you had
some doubts and you told me some dreadful
ideas you have about the Movement. Have
you taken the time to rethink what you said?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 64.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Yeah, I really need to talk about that.
One of those nights when I was really
sick, so sick I started to hear noises
around me, I had a mystic moment. I was
praying, and all of a sudden, I felt
peace, the peace I had been looking for
all this time. I remembered why I got
consecrated, that I was seeking something
far beyond this world and the things
that appear to be truth. I have always
wanted heaven, and to dedicate my life
to seeking it because I know that life
is an ephemeral moment. I guess I lost
sight of that. Since the Movement is
approved by the Church and is God’s
will for me, it can only bring me quickly
to holiness and happiness.
IRENE
Yes, that is correct. The Movement is
the one true way to be happy and holy.
However, you need to stick with it
and you can’t chicken out when it gets
hard or lonely. You must remember that
God is with us and is our true
companion.
LIA
Yeah, now I know that I wouldn’t be
at peace if I left consecrated life.
IRENE
If you were to give up on God’s call,
that guilt would haunt and torture
you if you were in some man’s arms
thinking about how God had called
you and you backed out. Where would
all your souls be if you left them?
I’m not going to just forget your
doubts. Continue to pray for faith.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 65.
FADE IN:
EXT. RETREAT CENTER – DAY
Lia and the other consecrated women have gone to Cotija, a small town in central Mexico, which happens to be the birthplace of the founder. There is a kitchen to the right, a two-story dorm which is set up like a hotel on the left, and a large chapel down some stairs in front. It is conversation time and Lia is talking to the other consecrated women.
ADRIANA
Isn’t it wonderful, Lia? I feel just
as holy as Nuestro Padre when I am here.
It makes me wish I had grown up in this
pure environment rather than surrounded
by TV, money and society. I mean, I
was so terrible to my nanny. My sister
and I used to send her to make her
hot dogs for us. Then we would tell
her we wanted ketchup, and five minutes
later we would say we didn’t just to
bother her. We would yell at her for
bringing us what we had just said we
wanted.
LIA
Yeah, I guess it is nice. I like being
surrounded by nature and having typical
Mexican food. What was that fruit we had
at breakfast anyways?
CARMEN
We call it guayabana in Spanish. I don’t
know what it is called in English.
LIA
I had no idea the food and culture would
be so different. But I guess I have
started to like it. I even get happy
when I see cajeta and churros on the table.
And I think in Spanish, rarely in English.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 66.
CONTINUED:
ADRIANA
Silvia is going to take us for a tour of
Cotija tomorrow morning. So prepare your
hearts, ladies, to visit the beloved
spots of our saintly founder.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. STREETS OF COTIJA – DAY
Silvia is taking the consecrated on a tour of Cotija.
SILVIA
This is the typical zocala, girls. It is
the town square you find in Mexican towns.
There are people sitting on benches under the shade of trees, and vendors selling fried potato chips on sticks, corn with chile, and traditional candies. The consecrated keep walking.
SILVIA
This is the house where Nuestro Padre grew
up. If you go inside, you can see where
Mama Maurita used to live. We will go inside
tomorrow.
They keep on walking, this time back up the mountain towards the retreat center.
SILVIA
This is the cemetery where all the Legionaries
and consecrated who had died in the territory
of Mexico are buried. Let’s go inside
and pray that these consecrated and
Legionaries may help us find the strength
to be faithful until we die on the
battlefield of souls for love of Christ.
Mama Maurita is good to pray to for this,
as she helped Nuestro Padre with his calling.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 67.
FADE IN:
EXT. FORMATION CENTER – DAY
Lia is running outside with the other consecrated on the track that goes around the building. She seems to really be enjoying stretching her muscles and is running faster than the others, than slowing down to let them catch up. Suddenly, Carmen comes running up to Lia.
CARMEN
Sorry to bother you in your run, Lia,
but Silvia asked me to send you
inside to talk to her.
LIA
Ok.
She turns toward inside, enjoying spreading her legs up to the front door.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. SILVIA’S OFFICE – DAY
Silvia is looking over some papers when Lia comes in.
LIA
You sent for me, Silvia?
SILVIA
Yes, Lia. I need you to clean up your
bathroom. You left your underwear hanging
up on the stall when you changed into your
sports clothes and that is not polite to
your roommates.
LIA
Um, ok. I didn’t really think it was
that big of a deal since none of
them even go to sports.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 68.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
It is a big deal. What do you think Christ
thinks of what you left on the
stall? You should always think about it
as if Christ was your roommate.
LIA
Um, ok. I’ll go cover them up again.
I honestly don’t know how they got
uncovered from the rest of my clothes.
Thank you, Silvia.
She forces out the last words on the brink of tears
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. FORMATION CENTER – DAY
Lia is going back to join the others, but doesn’t quite make it. She bursts into tears and ends up running down a ramp to what turns out to be a garage. She is crying and snot is running everywhere. She can’t find a Kleenex, so she ends up looking pretty terrible. She goes back in to change when the bell rings.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Lia is going back to her dorms after having cried her eyes out. Irene meets her on the stairs and sees what a mess she looks like. Lia is trying to avoid talking to Irene, so she doesn’t meet her eyes and tries to walk around her, but Irene stops her anyways.
IRENE
What’s that on your face? It looks
all dirty.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 69.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I don’t know. I’ll go clean it right now.
IRENE
Have you been crying? Your eyes are all red?
LIA
Um, oh. I…um…
She can’t finish the sentence.
IRENE
Well, I’ll see you tomorrow for spiritual
direction. We’ll talk about it then.
LIA
(to herself)
I only wish spiritual direction with you
would make me feel better when it is the
cause of my pain.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. PHONE BOOTH – NIGHT
Lia is talking to her Mom on the telephone.
MOM
Lia, what’s wrong? You don’t sound happy.
I mean, it’s hard to tell with the crackly
wires and the constant clicking as if
someone was listening in, but you don’t
sound like yourself.
LIA
Mom, I feel like I should tell you this.
We have always been taught not to talk
about difficulties with our vocations
so it won’t weigh you down.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 70.
CONTINUED:
MOM
What are you talking about? You have
always told us how happy you are and how
much you love everything there.
LIA
I know. I had to do that because you
guys didn’t have faith in the Movement
and I had to help you accept God’s
will for me. But now I have a problem
and I don’t know what to do. I have
a call to be here, but I just feel
like I want to die.
MOM
Lia, that sounds like depression.
You might have a mental illness.
LIA
A mental illness? My directresses
told me I didn’t have enough
faith in God. You mean it could just
be a physical thing?
MOM
You should really get something
for that, medicine, see a psychiatrist.
LIA
Maybe I could feel better about my
vocation with just some pills.
I really don’t feel angry or afraid
of being consecrated; maybe it is just
part of my physique. Well, thanks
for listening to me, Mom. I feel
a lot better.
MOM
I don’t. I’m going to talk to your
directresses. They need to be taking
care of you.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 71.
FADE IN:
INT. SILVIA’S OFFICE – DAY
LIA
Did you get my dependence memo yesterday?
I started to feel better about everything
on Sunday on the retreat. I realized that
I am divided, that there are some parts of
me that feel satisfied as a consecrated.
I mean, I really love apostolate, and
I love prayer, but I feel lonely and I just
can’t seem to be clean and orderly…
SILVIA
Yes, I saw it, Lia. I need to talk to you
about something else. I talked to your
mother this week. She is very worried
about you. She said you told her you
wanted to die. I heard from Nuestro Padre
this week. Lia, it would have been
different if you hadn’t talked to your
mother. But since your parents know
about the hard time you are having,
they want you to go home and be
with them and get treatment for
your depression, which is what they
think you have. And I read your memo.
I have to tell you, Lia: it shouldn’t
be this hard. If it is this hard for
you, you are not called to this life.
It shouldn’t be this hard.
Lia is so startled she sits in silence for a minute. Then, she tries to frame some sort of response.
LIA
But how could this be, Silvia? I had a call,
I got consecrated. I’m about to renew my
promises to get my ring. I still feel
called to be consecrated. How could my
call just disappear?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 72.
CONTINUED:
SILVIA
I know this is hard to hear, Lia.
But Nuestro Padre knows what is best
for you and he has said that you
should go home, get treatment, and
then see what God is asking of you.
LIA
But, Silvia, I can do this. It’s hard,
but I can do it. I can get over it.
Why do I have to go home?
SILVIA
You need to trust in God that he will
show you what is right for you and
guide you to a better life.
LIA
I can’t, I can’t abandon consecrated life.
SILVIA
You’re not abandoning it, Lia. God has
shown that it is not for you.
You will be leaving on Wednesday at
6:00 AM. Take some time to go pray about
this in the chapel, and then Beth will
help you go through your things to
show you what you can keep and what you
shouldn’t. I need you to sign these papers
promising you will keep certain things
secret and you will behave in certain
ways once you leave consecrated life.
Also, call your parents and ask if
they can pay for the return ticket.
You will need to return your suitcase
to the apostolate center in Michigan
once you are back home. I’m sorry it
turned out this way, Lia. I hope you
feel better at home.
Lia nods numbly and leave.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 73.
FADE IN:
INT. DORM – DAY
Beth is showing Lia what to take with her and what not.
BETH
Well, you should leave most of your clothes
here. I mean, are you really going to wear
skirts and heels in Michigan?
LIA
I don’t know.
BETH
Just take clothes to wear to the airport
and leave the rest of it here so other
consecrated can have clothes to wear.
You can take your toiletries because
no one else will use that. Here’s a
suitcase.
LIA
I don’t think this is my suitcase.
BETH
We are just lending this to you so you
can bring your stuff home in something.
Then, you need to return it later in
Michigan.
LIA
Can I take my class notes and my prayer
notebooks with me? dependence memos
and letters from Nuestro Padre?
BETH
What do you really need your notes for?
Why don’t you just leave them? Just
throw out your notebooks. You can keep
any letters that you have received from
Nuestro Padre and give all the others back.
You can’t keep any dependence memos.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 74.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Can I say goodbye to anyone?
BETH
No, Lia. You know how hard it is to
follow a vocation. You might shake
their faith in God’s calling.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. CHAPEL – DAY
Lia is getting ready to go, and preparing by praying for a few moments in the chapel. Silvia is over in the back, in the middle, where she always sits, and she looks over at Lia, but that is it. Irene ignores her. Lia gets up and leaves the chapel for the last time.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN
INT. CAR – DAY
Lia is driving with two consecrated to the airport.
LIA
It’s weird to be with you guys since you
are not from my section and we are not
allowed to talk.
Apparently, the other two are trying to keep silence.
REYNA
Where are you going, Lia?
LIA
To the United States.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 75.
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPLANE – DAY
Lia is flying back to the United States. The lady next to her seems interested in engaging her in conversation.
WOMAN
You seem like a nice young girl.
What were you doing in Mexico?
Lia is a little shocked to be spoken to in English. She answers in a halting, accented English.
LIA
I was doing missionary work.
WOMAN
How long were you in Mexico for?
LIA
Two years.
WOMAN
What did you do down there?
LIA
Well, I gave spiritual direction to
6th and 7th grade girls and I did two
years of college.
WOMAN
So you speak Spanish and everything?
LIA
Yes, I do.
WOMAN
You sound like a nice girl I could
introduce my son to. I have a son
about your age. Could I give him
your phone number?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 76.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Well, I don’t think so. You see,
I made promises of poverty, chastity,
and obedience, kind of like a nun.
I am going home to take a break and
get well and see what God wants of
me. But I think I am still under my
promises. I mean, I don’t know.
WOMAN
Oh…I see.
She now thinks Lia is weird. She is probably right.
LIA
But anyhow, the group I am in offers
a lot of activities for young people.
The priests offer clubs for young men
and retreats and all sorts of exciting
missions. We are active on all different
levels of society. If you give me his
number, I could pass it on to them and
they can introduce him to the group.
Do you think he would be interested?
WOMAN
No.
Time goes by, and the silence gets more awkward. Lia doesn’t seem to know why.
LIA
Are you sure he wouldn’t be interested?
WOMAN
Yes.
LIA
Well, we are almost into Chicago. I have
to catch my connecting flight to Detroit.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 77.
FADE IN:
INT. LIA’S OLD BEDROOM – NIGHT
Lia has just gotten home and is putting her few consecrated outfits into the closet. The outfits she has left from before high school are out of style and probably don’t fit her anymore.
LIA
Well, I guess I had better do night
prayers. Although it is weird to
pray without the chapel.
There is a KNOCK on the door. Lia opens it. It is her Dad.
LIA
What is it, Dad?
DAD
We were just wondering what you
were doing in her with the door shut.
LIA
I’m saying my night prayers.
DAD
Do you still have to say them since you’re
not consecrated anymore?
LIA
Well, I guess I don’t. I just have to do
the basic Regnum Christi prayers is
what Silvia told me. But you know,
they told me all these stories about
how consecrated were forced to go home
for certain periods of time and then
were able to come back and be consecrated
again. I am strong enough to get over
this mental illness and follow my call
again.
DAD
Well, I hope so. Lia.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 78.
CONTINUED:
LIA
So when did the psychiatrist say he could
fit me in for an appointment?
DAD
Not for another month. He will be able to
see you on August 25.
LIA
That’s so far from now. I wanted to start
taking my medication and get well as
soon as possible, maybe even be back in
Mexico by Christmas.
DAD
Are you really sure that’s wise? Why would
you want to go back to them? They even
want their suitcase back.
LIA
Because I still feel the same call that I
felt before. Now, if you will excuse
me, I need to begin my night prayers.
Try not to talk to me after my night
prayers because I will be in silence.
DAD
Um, Ok. Good night. We love you and we
are glad you are back home.
Lia kneels down on the carpet to say her night prayers, but seems perturbed.
LIA
Dear God, is it really possible that I no
longer have a calling? How could I have
been called so many years ago and now it
is just gone? Please help. I am happy to
be home but I just don’t know what to do
with myself. I have no plans outside being
consecrated.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 79.
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Lia is about to have an interview.
DR. GREEN
I’m Dr. Green. You must be Lia.
LIA
Yes, I am. Nice to meet you.
DR. GREEN
So tell me how you heard about this
position.
LIA
Well, I called all the psychologists’
offices in the area from the phone
book and asked them for work.
DR. GREEN
So what makes you think you would
be a good office assistant?
LIA
Well, I spent a long time in a
missionary organization and I am
used to being very organized,
prepared and following a schedule.
DR. GREEN
What relevant work experience do
you have?
LIA
Well, I’ve never actually had a
paid job. I volunteered for two years
as a counselor for junior high school
girls.
DR. GREEN
Ok, so no experience in an office.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 80.
CONTINUED:
LIA
I’m studying Psychology at a nearby
college.
DR. GREEN
Well, young lady, there are an
abundance of girls like you studying
psychology at colleges. You don’t
seem very outgoing to me. So far in
this interview, you have been sitting
too far away from me, haven’t spoken
loudly enough, and you aren’t meeting
my eyes. I need someone full of
confidence and life. Come back when
you get some.
LIA
Oh, ok. Um Thanks. I appreciate the
interview.
They shake hands, and Lia leaves.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – DAY
Lia’s Dad is driving her home.
DAD
How was the interview?
LIA
Wow, I thought I left Irene back in
Mexico. If I had wanted to be told
all my weaknesses, I would have
hired my own therapist, not gone
for an interview.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 81.
FADE IN:
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Lia’s Mom just checked the mail.
MOM
Lia, I think you got something in the mail.
It’s from Rome.
LIA
What?
MOM
Yeah, come here. It’s from Father Maciel.
LIA
Oh, I guess it’s an answer to my letters.
Lia opens the letter.
MOM
What does it say?
LIA
Let me see. It’s in Spanish. I’ll translate.
MOM
He doesn’t speak English?
LIA
No, he never has. That’s why the official
language of the Movement is Spanish.
MOM
Is it really from him? I would think he
wouldn’t have time to answer all the
letters he gets.
LIA
Yes, they say he dictates all the letters.
I mean, if all his letters are supposed to
represent God’s will, he had better write them.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 82.
CONTINUED:
MOM
Well, what does the letter say?
LIA
Let’s see, “Estimada Señorita Lia”
- Dear Miss Lia – I hope this
this letter find you well and in
good health. I am glad to hear that
you are doing well and being faithful
in the world just as you were in
consecrated life. I must say that I do
not think it would be convenient for
you to return to consecrated life due
to your health issues. With my
blessing, your spiritual father,
Affectionately in Christ…
MOM
Oh, I’m sorry, Lia. I know how much
you wanted to go back.
LIA
I just don’t know what to do with my
life. I’ve spent my entire life trying
to be consecrated. I never thought
about other options.
MOM
Well, now you can finish college, date,
get a job.
LIA
I know, but I can’t get it out of my
head that consecrated life is the
best way of life. I know the church
says that other ways of life are good,
too, but they taught me that consecrated
life was the only real way to be happy.
And I already miss my prayer times.
I just wish I could figure it out.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 83.
FADE IN:
INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT
Lia is having dinner with Kayli, finally catching up after all those years.
KAYLI
It’s nice to see you again. I haven’t
seen you since just before you got
consecrated. So much has happened in
my life in the last two years.
LIA
I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t really keep
in touch. We only had half an hour of letter
writing time once a week, and we had to
make sure to write to Nuestro Padre, our
parents, our “faces,” and then we
could write to friends if we had time.
As far as phone calls, we were never
supposed to use the Movement’s money
to call our friends. Actually, to be a
good consecrated, I should have been
asking you to give me money. I just
was never comfortable asking my friends
and family for money. That was one of
the reasons I started to doubt that
I was meant to be consecrated.
KAYLI
That sounds terrible. Why did you stay
there all that time then?
LIA
Well, whenever I thought about being
home and working or being married, I
thought about how being consecrated is
the only way to be truly happy, so I
stayed.
A MAN comes up to their table.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 84.
CONTINUED:
MAN
Hi. I couldn’t help but notice you
two lovely ladies sitting here. You
know, I was a choreographer for the
Backstreet Boys back in the day.
LIA
Oh, you were, really?
MAN
Yeah, if you want to come back to my
apartment I can teach you all the dance
moves.
LIA
Uh, I don’t think we do that, do we
Kayli?
KAYLI
Get lost.
MAN
Sure, sorry.
KAYLI
You betcha.
LIA
What’s wrong? Why did you do that to him
KAYLI
Please tell me you know that guy was
lying.
LIA
Well, I thought it sounded a bit
improbable, but I guess I’m used to
having to trust in people as God’s
instruments and not doubt them.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 85.
FADE IN:
INT. CAR – DAY
Lia was attending a retreat hosted by the consecrated for single women. She was not handling it very well.
KAYLI
What’s wrong, Lia? Why did you leave
lunch like that? You seemed upset
since Mass.
LIA
I know, Kayli. I don’t know what is wrong
with me. I feel so depressed when I go to
Mass and today I just wanted to die.
I just can’t seem to adjust to life as a
non-consecrated.
KAYLI
I don’t understand, Lia. You were so
unhappy there…
LIA
I know, but that is what makes me feel
so bad. I was so unhappy, and all the
consecrated say they are so happy. It
is almost like I just bring unhappiness
around me. Everyone else says they are
happy and I’m the only one who couldn’t
be happy there.
KAYLI
I don’t think God wanted that life for
you.
LIA
How could I feel that call and then
not feel it?
KAYLI
It just seemed that you never discerned.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 86.
CONTINUED:
LIA
What do you mean? I spent two years
discerning it at the high school.
KAYLI
That’s the thing – did anybody ever
say, “Hey, we mostly work in schools,
do you like working in a school?”
LIA
Well, I probably would have said no
to that.
KAYLI
And what if they had explained that the
most important parts of consecrated life
were recruitment and fundraising?
LIA
I just feel like I wasn’t good enough
to be consecrated. There were good
consecrated and some who just weren’t
good enough.
KAYLI
Why did you feel bad today?
LIA
I remembered all the times I had sat
around the table with the other
consecrated on a feast day, and I
realized that I would never experience
that again. It’s over. I can’t even
sit through a lunch with them without
crying. And they think I was unfaithful,
not good enough. They don’t even take
the time to give me spiritual direction
because I’ve already been recruited
and “found wanting.”
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 87.
FADE IN:
EXT. CHURCH – DAY
Lia is about to go into the church with her sister. It is Isabel’s funeral in Rhode Island.
ELISE
It’s really too bad that Isabel’s car
got hit by a trailer when she was on her
way from Rhode Island to Michigan. At
least her travel companion was ok. How
did you hear about it anyway?
LIA
Kayli heard it from the consecrated in
Michigan. Isabel was always nice to me,
so I thought I would go to the funeral.
ELISE
Yeah, we were in formation together. I
hope we are welcome at the funeral. You
know how it can be for ex-consas.
The two girls are hesitant to enter the church. Suddenly, Irene comes out of the church.
IRENE
Well, if it’s not the prodigal child.
Lia is uncomfortable.
LIA
Um, hi, Irene. I didn’t know you had gotten
a yellow letter for the U.S.
IRENE
Well, Lia. I am glad to see that you are
staying close to the Movement. I thought
you were going to turn into a problem for
us for a while there. Your ideas were so
critical and lacking in faith.
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 88.
CONTINUED:
LIA
Excuse me?
IRENE
Well, yes, you were doubting the Movement
in a way that was little suitable to a
consecrated woman who should open her
heart entirely to God. I also noted
you had difficulty listening to God’s
will as I expressed it. It’s good that
you are getting psychological help now.
LIA
We’re really just here for Isabel’s
funeral. I knew her since I was a
teenager.
IRENE
One never knows when they will get
called to God. We should always speak
the truth and live our lives as his
instruments dictate as it is hard to
know when God should will that our
lives be over. I’m sure Isabel did
not know that she was going to die
that day. Imagine the person who
speaks ill about the Movement and
then dies soon after without ever
righting the situation. That would
be a terrible way to face God’s
justice.
LIA
I would never speak ill, just the
truth. I remember the verse of the
Bible that says, “The truth will
set you free.” That is what I believe.
IRENE
Well, let us all pray for faith like
Isabel’s as we go into the Mass.
FADE OUT.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 89.
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM – DAY
Some pills are on the shelf. A big, huge bottle. Lia has just overdosed because things have gotten to be too hard. Her Mom doesn’t know. She thinks Lia has the flu.
MOM
I wonder what is giving you such terrible
diarrhea.
LIA
Oh, it’s so painful. It’s already been six
hours of pain and it doesn’t stop.
MOM
Did you eat something that was bad?
LIA
Well, I ate some fast food.
MOM
Well, I’m going to be in the other room.
I’ll check on you in a few minutes.
She leaves the room.
LIA
Ugh, I had no idea this would take so
long and be so painful. I just want it to
hurry up and get over with so I can be
done with this painful life and just
stop hurting in my soul.
Suddenly, Lia starts having a “vision.” She is seeing herself dying, and then her existence just stops.
LIA
I am frightened. I thought death would be
life after death, but that is just
nothingness. Do I really want to stop being?
CONTINUED.
THE CULT – ACT TWO 90.
CONTINUED:
The vision changes. Lia sees herself as a successful career woman, with a husband and a few children. They are all gathered around.
LIA
How could I not have thought of that?
It doesn’t always have to be this way.
Things are so dark for me now, but they
might improve later on. Mom!
Her Mom comes back in the room.
MOM
What do you need, honey?
LIA
I need to tell you something. Please don’t
be made. I made a mistake. I took a lot
of pills. I’m not sick. I’m dying.
Her Mom doesn’t answer. She quickly exits the room to call 911. The paramedics eventually show up.
LIA
Please give me some water, please.
PARAMEDIC 1
Oh no, that a bad sign – internal bleeding.
How many pills did you take? You know you made
a stupid mistake, don’t you?
LIA
150. They are right there. Yes, I know I
made a mistake, but sometimes it hurts
too much to live. I’m afraid of going
towards nothingness. I wonder if I
will wake up from this cloud coming
over me.
She passes out, and they load her onto a gurney.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO.
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