Characters:
* Sister Agnes: A young, devout nun, known for her piety and humility.
* Brother Thomas: An aging, gruff monk, skeptical of miracles.
* Mother Superior: The head of the convent, wise and compassionate.
* The Villagers: A group of impoverished people seeking help.
* The Voice: A disembodied voice, representing the divine.
Setting:
The courtyard of a small convent, nestled in the foothills of a mountain. A simple table stands center stage, surrounded by benches.
(The scene opens with Sister Agnes kneeling in prayer before a small statue of the Virgin Mary. The Villagers, dressed in rags, stand huddled together, their faces etched with despair. Brother Thomas watches them with a mixture of pity and annoyance.)
Villager 1: Sister Agnes, we beg you, our crops have failed, our children are starving.
Villager 2: The harvest was meager, and we have no bread to feed our families.
Sister Agnes: (Rising, her eyes filled with compassion) Have faith, my friends. God will provide.
Brother Thomas: (Scoffs) Faith alone won't fill empty stomachs. You're a kind soul, Agnes, but miracles don't happen.
Sister Agnes: (Turning to the villagers) There is a basket of bread in the kitchen. Let us share what we have.
(Sister Agnes rushes into the convent. Brother Thomas follows her, muttering under his breath.)
Brother Thomas: (Calling after Agnes) You can't feed a village with a few loaves of bread. You'll only raise false hope.
(Sister Agnes returns, her face glowing with a strange light. She carries a small basket, but it seems to be overflowing with bread.)
Villager 3: (Gasps) Look! The basket is full! It was empty before!
Brother Thomas: (Staring in disbelief) This is impossible!
Sister Agnes: (Smiling serenely) It is a miracle.
(A soft, warm light emanates from the basket. The air around it shimmers with an ethereal glow. The Villagers kneel in awe, whispering prayers of gratitude.)
Voice: (A voice, clear and resonant, seems to fill the entire courtyard) Have faith, my children. For I am with you always.
(Brother Thomas stares at the basket, his skepticism battling with the evidence before his eyes.)
Mother Superior: (Entering the courtyard, her eyes filled with wonder) Agnes, what is this?
Sister Agnes: (Bowing her head) It is a gift, Mother Superior. A miracle.
(The Villagers rise, their faces beaming with hope. They reach out to the basket, taking the bread gratefully.)
Brother Thomas: (Turning to Agnes) I... I don't understand.
Sister Agnes: Brother Thomas, sometimes, even the most devout among us need to see the impossible to believe.
(Brother Thomas looks at the Villagers, their faces lit by the warmth of the shared bread. He slowly kneels down, a tear rolling down his cheek.)
Brother Thomas: Forgive me, Agnes. I have been blind to the true miracles.
Voice: (The disembodied voice echoes again, fading into the distance) Have faith, my children. For I am with you always.
(The scene fades as the Villagers, filled with hope and gratitude, share the miraculous bread. The light from the basket slowly fades, leaving behind a sense of peace and wonder.)
(Curtain falls.)