Darina (2024) - Short Film Script

DARINA

Written by

Barbora Sopoligova

Based on,

the life of the first female Lutheran pastor Darina Bancikova.

"I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man;

rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam

was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a

sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in

faith, love and holiness with propriety" 1 Timothy 2:13-15

Int. - Hallway - Afternoon - 1941, Slovakia

Long school hallway with big windows through which warm light

comes in.

DARINA, a woman in her early 20s, dressed neatly, a blouse

and a skirt, wears glasses, sits on a wooden bench across the

windows. A cross on the wall. Martin Luther’s picture on the

wall next to the cross.

She reads a thick book, and has many notes next to her. She

nervously taps her leg. Her papers are covered with notes,

highlights and stick marks. She chews on a pencil.

Suddenly she stops reviewing the papers and looks towards the

big windows. Sun is shining right at her.

Next to her is a small, leather Bible. She looks at it. Picks

it up with care. Opens the first page. It reads:

“To my darling girl, Darina. You will achieve great things

when God is with you. Love, Mom”

She closes the Bible and starts reviewing notes again.

Door next to her opens. A guy in his early twenties comes

out, confident. He looks at her contemptuously.

DARINA

How was it?

STUDENT 1

(scoffs)

Why do you care?

Looks at all the notes, then at her.

STUDENT 1

Are you here for the interview as

well?

DARINA

Why else would I be sitting here?

How was it? Did they ask about the

reconciliation between the concept

of a benevolent deity with the

existence of suffering?

Guy’s eyebrows go up. He laughs, shakes his head and walks

away. Darina watches him go. She looks at a cross that is

across of her. She breathes deeply.

A door suddenly opens again. A PROFESSOR in his 50s, serious,

formally dressed, comes out and looks at Darina.

2.

PROFESSOR 2

Miss Darina?

Darina lifts her head and looks at him.

PROFESSOR 2

Whenever you’re ready.

He walks in. Darina immediately picks up all her notes,

papers and the Bible and runs to the door.

She breathes deeply. Then opens the door.

INT. - CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

As she opens the door, even more light comes through. The

light blinds her for a second.

Three older men, professors, sit behind a wooden table in

silence. The room seems big and empty, resembling a trial

room.

Wooden floor, wooden chairs, wooden desks. Big windows, white

walls. On the wall behind the three professors sits a

painting. The Pieta by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Next to it

a big, wooden cross with dying Christ.

Darina walks across the room. The floor squeaks with her

every move. Professors do not acknowledge her and go through

their notes.

Darina hesitates. Professor 1 looks up.

PROFESSOR 2

Sit down, please.

Darina looks at a wooden chair that looks so small compared

to their desks and chairs.

Awkward silence.

Darina sits down accompanied by the noise of a squeaking

chair. Professor 1 closes his files and finally looks at her.

PROFESSOR 1

So, what brings you to our

prestigious academic institution

young lady?

Darina looks at all three of them. They are all staring at

her.

3.

DARINA

I want to solve the mystery of

death.

Her answer echoes alone in the acoustics of the big room.

Professors look at each other. First seriously, then they

start laughing.

DARINA (CONT’D)

(mumbles to herself)

I don’t know what is so funny about

that.

They stop laughing.

PROFESSOR 2

Miss Darina, please. Why are you

here?

Darina adjusts her glasses. Looks at the Bible in her hands.

DARINA

I want to become the first female

pastor in Slovakia.

Silence. Professors look at each other in disbelief.

DARINA (CONT’D)

I also want to become a religious

education teacher.

PROFESSOR 3

(in disbelief)

Are you aware that never before in

the history of Lutheran Church have

women been ordained as pastor?

PROFESSOR 2

The Lutheran Church is indeed very

open and progressive, but never

before have we had women in our

institution.

Darina looks at the painting behind them. She shuffles on the

chair.

DARINA

What about Antoinette Brown

Blackwell? She received her

ordination in 1853 in America.

4.

PROFESSOR 2

She was a Congregationalist. Her

ordination was not recognized and

she left the church.

PROFESSOR 1

Why should we admit you?

PROFESSOR 3

We do not even have facilities for

women on campus.

DARINA

Is that the main reason why you do

not want to admit me? Because there

are no toilets for me?

PROFESSOR 1

Miss Darina, did you come to find a

husband for yourself?

DARINA

If I had family and worries about

my children and my husband, I would

not have enough time for my work

and my congregation.

PROFESSOR 3

No children? You will not fulfill

the meaning of a woman in this

world.

PROFESSOR 2

Would you not feel alone and

abandoned?

Darina looks at the cross behind the professors.

DARINA

Do you question the presence of

Jesus Christ with your statement?

Why should I feel alone?

Darina squeezes her Bible tightly.

Lifts her head and looks at the professors again.

DARINA (CONT’D)

What is truly stopping you from

accepting me to your school?

Professor 1 looks at the files again, crosses his arms and

sighs.

(MORE)

5.

PROFESSOR 1

I think we are done here.

Darina looks confused at one professor at a time, then at her

Bible.

Her eyes start to tear up.

Professor 2 points towards the door.

Darina covers her watery eyes and slowly gets up.

DARINA

Thank you for your time.

Silent sigh of disappointment comes out of her mouth.

Professor 3 leans to Professor 1.

PROFESSOR 3

This is precisely the type of

sensitivity we do not need here.

All professors nod in agreement.

Darina stops on her way suddenly.

Her Bible is still opened on the page of the note from her

mother. She starts flipping through the pages.

She approaches the professors again.

DARINA (CONT'D)

If you won’t let me study here, it

will destroy me. This is why I was

born and I know it is a calling

from God. I feel that I am needed

in His ministry. The essence of my

being lies in His service.

Professors significantly irritated by what she’s saying.

PROFESSOR 3

Sounds like the devil is talking to

you, not God.

Sits down on a chair again.

DARINA

No. I am sure that this calling

comes from God alone. Look at Mary

Magdalene.

DARINA (CONT’D)

6.

In all four gospels she is

described as being with Jesus when

he was crucified. When Jesus rose

again, it was Mary Magdalene and a

group of other women who found the

empty tomb, making her one of the

first witnesses to the

resurrection! She is mentioned by

name 12 times in the gospels, more

than most of the apostles. God

chooses women in the same

unexpected ways as men.

Professors are silent for a moment.

PROFESSOR 1

There are rules miss.

PROFESSOR 2

There are discussions about

celibates for women. Are you okay

with that? Do you ever intend to

marry?

DARINA

Believe me, I am not suited for

marriage. By accepting me you are

doing a service to mankind.

Marrying me would be like the Ten

Egyptian plagues.

Professors smile a little. Their facial expression changes.

PROFESSOR 2

No modern clothing. Prescribed

colors are gray, black or blue.

PROFESSOR 3

No slacking. You couldn’t miss one

class.

PROFESSOR 2

Your classmates might refuse to get

ordained with you.

PROFESSOR 1

You are aware that even if you

manage to become a pastor, people

may not accept you as one.

Superiors will send you to serve in

the most remote parts of the

country. People can stop going to

church just because they have never

seen a woman behind the altar.

7.

DARINA

I understand.

PROFESSOR 1

The way you’ll be, the way you

talk, the way you study, behave,

walk, write, eat, who you are with,

will all influence future

generation of women who desire to

study at our institution. The way

you’ll be, so will your followers.

DARINA

All the songs we sing are

masculine. Even those written by

women, because it's so customary.

Don't you find it funny? Faith is

universal, so it should speak to

everyone, not only men.

Professors look at each other.

DARINA (CONT’D)

If you look at how the Bible is

written, most of the characters are

male. Why? Because translators

almost always thought that a woman

couldn't say such profound words,

it had to be a man. Such erroneous,

unsubstantiated reasoning leads us

to conclude that every essential

person in the Bible was a man.

Women go to church too, they have

brains, thoughts to say. The same

two hands to pray with. Shouldn’t

church welcome everyone, equally?

Is this not what the Church is

really all about?

A moment of silence. Professor 1 looks at Professor 2.

PROFESSOR 2

Would you give us a moment?

Darina stands up again, and walks to the painting of Martin

Luther.

Silhouettes of professors in the background talking,

discussing.

Follow focus from Darina’s face to professors.

PROFESSOR 2 (CONT’D)

Miss Darina.

8.

Professor 2 invites her to sit down again.

PROFESSOR 1

Well, your wit and optimism has

saved you.

PROFESSOR 2

You’re accepted for the first year

of theological studies.

Professor 1 extends his hand towards hers.

PROFESSOR 1

We will see you in September.

Darina stands up and shakes her hand with Professor 1. She

looks very happy, smiles at them.

CUT TO:

INT. - HALLWAY - DAYS LATER

Bell ringing.

Darina walks down the same hallway. She comes to the door and

slowly opens it. As the door opens she sees a classroom full

of men chatting loudly. They turn their heads to look at her.

She smiles.

DARINA

Hi, I’m Darina.

Men continue staring, startled.

THE END.