Doubt: A Parable: Scene 5 Summary & Analysis

Sister Aloysius sets up a meeting with Father Flynn on the pretense of discussing the Christmas pageant. When he and Sister James arrive, she offers them tea. Father Flynn accepts and requests sugar. “Yes!” Aloysius says, searching her desk drawer. She says that she gave sugar up for Lent and then never thought to start using it again. “It mustn’t have been much to give up then,” Flynn says. As Aloysius puts a lump of sugar in his tea, she glances at Flynn’s nails, and he tells her that he likes them “a little long.” He then asks her to put three lumps of sugar into the tea. “Three,” Aloysius repeats, clearly “appalled.” “Sweet tooth,” Flynn replies. Moving on, Aloysius thanks Flynn for coming, and he says that he was happy to because he’s eager to “rethink” the Christmas pageant, which he thinks has become a bit “woebegone.”

Father Flynn suggests that the children should sing a secular song at the Christmas pageant this year. He proposes the song “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” and Sister James eagerly cuts in, saying, “Or ‘Frosty the Snowman.’” Flynn likes this idea, too, but Aloysius objects, saying, “‘Frosty the Snowman’ espouses a pagan belief in magic. The snowman comes to life when an enchanted hat is put on his head. If the music were more somber, people would realize the images are disturbing and the song heretical.” As she says this, Father Flynn takes out a small notebook and writes something down. “May I ask what you wrote down? With that ballpoint pen,” Sister Aloysius inquires. Flynn tells her that it’s an idea for a sermon, and when she asks what the idea was, he replies, “Intolerance.”

Father Flynn explains that he believes it would be good for the Christmas pageant to make the Catholic Church seem more welcoming. “I think a message of the Second Ecumenical Council was that the Church needs to take on a more familiar face,” he says. “Reflect the local community. We should sing a song from the radio now and then. Take the kids out for ice cream.”

Sister Aloysius begins to argue against Father Flynn’s ideas regarding the Church taking on a “more familiar face,” but Flynn suggests that they get back on topic, so she returns to the subject of the Christmas pageant, saying, “We must be careful how Donald Muller is used in the pageant.” When Flynn asks if this is because Donald is black, Aloysius says that it is, since she thinks they’ll have to be conscientious about where, exactly, they place him onstage. “I think he should be treated like every other boy,” Flynn says. “You yourself singled the boy out for special attention,” Sister Aloysius replies. “You held a private meeting with him at the rectory.” Flynn perks up at this, realizing that something is afoot. “What are we talking about?” he asks, and Sister Aloysius tells him that Donald Muller “acted strangely” after spending time alone with Flynn in the rectory.

Father Flynn plays dumb, acting surprised that Donald Muller seemed off in class after spending time with him in the rectory. Nevertheless, Sister Aloysius asks him to explain why this might be the case. “Hmmm,” Flynn says. “Did you want to discuss the pageant, is that why I’m here, or is this what you wanted to discuss?” In response, Aloysius admits that this is the topic she wants to address, prompting Flynn to say that he’s “uncomfortable” with her “tone.” “If I had judged my conversation with Donald Muller to be of concern to you, Sister, I would have sat you down and talked to you about it,” he says. “But I did not judge it to be of concern to you.” Hearing this, Sister Aloysius suggests that Flynn is “mistaken” regarding what “concerns” her, since Donald’s “well-being is [her] responsibility” and, thus, is of concern to her.

Once again, Father Flynn takes issue with Sister Aloysius’s “tone,” but she says that such matters are beside the point. “You know what I’m talking about,” she says, prompting him to say that he isn’t “answerable” to her. He then informs her that he doesn’t want to keep having this conversation, saying that she can address the matter with Monsignor Benedict if she wants. “I can only imagine that your unfortunate behavior this morning is the result of overwork,” he adds. “Perhaps you need a leave of absence. I may suggest it.” Just as he’s about to exit the office, though, Sister Aloysius says, “There was alcohol on his breath.”

Father Flynn stops and tells Sister Aloysius that she shouldn’t have brought up the alcohol on Donald’s breath. He then claims Donald was caught drinking altar wine and that, when he heard this news, he “sent” for the boy. “He begged not to be removed from the altar boys. And I took pity on him. I told him if no one else found out, I would let him stay on,” he says. This immediately relieves Sister James, who rejoices in the idea that Father Flynn was only trying to “protect” Donald. Going on, Flynn says that he will have to “remove” Donald from the altar boys, since Sister Aloysius brought up the issue. He also points out that Donald is the school’s first black student, which influenced his decision to keep the matter quiet. Now, he says, “a certain ignorant element in the parish will be confirmed in their beliefs.”

Just before Father Flynn leaves, he tells Sister Aloysius that he’s “not pleased” by how she “handled” this situation. “Next time you are troubled by dark ideas, I suggest you speak to the monsignor,” he says. Once he’s gone, Sister Aloysius says she doesn’t believe him. Sister James, for her part, has chosen to take what Flynn said at face value, so Sister Aloysius points out that it’s “easier to believe him” than it is to remain suspicious. She also suggests that Sister James isn’t actually “convinced,” but merely wants to “have simplicity back.” In response, James accuses Aloysius of persecuting Flynn for petty matters, like his use of a ballpoint pen and his openness to having the children sing secular songs. Still, Aloysius remains true to what she believes, so she picks up the phone and calls Donald’s mother, inviting her to come to the school at her earliest convenience.