Death of Hild of Whitby
Saint Hilda of Whitby, the revered abbess and founder of Whitby Abbey, lies on her deathbed surrounded by her monastic community. The monks and nuns gather in solemn prayer, witnessing the final momen
Setting
Inside the stone chapel of Whitby Abbey, a simple yet solemn space with high, narrow windows. The room is dominated by a central altar and a modest wooden bed where Saint Hilda lies. The walls are lined with flickering candles, casting long shadows across the rough-hewn stone.
Characters
Hilda of Whitby
primary
An elderly woman in her late sixties, frail yet dignified, with deeply lined skin that speaks of both wisdom and suffering. Her silver hair is neatly covered by a nun's veil, and her pale blue eyes, though clouded with pain, retain their sharp intelligence. Her hands, resting atop a simple woolen blanket, are thin and veined, clutching a small wooden cross.
Monastic Scribe
secondary
A middle-aged monk with a lean, wiry frame, his face marked by deep lines of concentration and devotion. His hands, though calloused from years of writing, move with precision. His tonsured head and neatly trimmed beard speak to his monastic discipline.
Novice Nun
secondary
A young woman in her late teens or early twenties, slight of build with delicate features. Her fair skin is flushed from weeping, and her light brown hair is barely visible beneath her wimple. Her hands are small and trembling as they clutch Hilda's.
Elderly Monk
background
A frail man in his late seventies with deeply lined skin and thin white hair barely visible beneath his tonsure. His shoulders are hunched from decades of prayer and labor, and his hands—now covering his face—show prominent veins and age spots.
Dialog
Hilda of Whitby
Dryhten, min sceap... Ic eom gearu...
Novice Nun
Ne gang, modor... we þe þurfon!
Monastic Scribe
Domina, dic nobis verba vitae ut posteris tradam.
Hilda of Whitby
Hæbbe ge lufan betweox eow... swa swa Dryhten lufode...
Novice Nun
Seo halige modor... seo halige modor gewit!
Monastic Scribe
Scriptum est... 'Beati mundo corde'... Sic transit gloria mundi.
Hilda of Whitby
Geseoh... englas...