Synopsis stageplay

Synopsis of "A Voice Screaming To Heaven"

Note: All photos belong to the London debut in November 1997.

After almost two decades of exile in Venezuela, Silvia Fernandez Durand, a survivor from a Naval concentration camp, unexpectedly returns to Buenos Aires. She marches unannounced into Captain Antonio Maidana's office, her former torturer and lover. She's dying of brain cancer and begs him to let her see their daughter, Clara, whom he took away from her. Maidana threatens her and gives her 48 hours to leave the country.

Desperate, Silvia decides to visit St. Patrick's church to confess. Father Terry O'Malley receives her but she faints when trying to explain her friendship with Myriam

the five martyrs. Miryam Goldstein, a radio journalist investigating Captain Maidana's connection to the Pallottines' massacre arrives at St. Patrick's while Silvia recovers. Kidnapped and tortured by Maidana in 1976, she is now on a mission to stop his imminent promotion by the Senate. She needs Father O'Malley's collaboration to influence the Senate's decision. He resists her proposal, but Miryam strikes a deal with him and proceeds to ask questions about the five martyr's last days. A flashback chronicles the days preceding the massacre.

In the middle of his narration, Silvia runs in scared by a vision of the Five Martyrs' death. Miryam recognizes her and demands that she tells Terry the whole truth about her relationship with Captain Maidana. They have a violent, visceral discussion that ends with a truce between them, Silvia will declare on tape what she knows and Miryam will help her find her lost daughter. While she's telling her story, Silvia's health deteriorates.

Terry sees two suspicious men watching the house. Miryam pushes to get his approval to send the tapes to the Senate. Terry agrees while trading his testimony for protection and care for Silvia at a private hospital. Miryam wins, the Senate denies Captain Maidana's promotion. However, Miryam's sponsors threaten to cancel her radio program, and the President attacks her on the press. Her victory feels even more bitter because she hasn't found anything about Silvia's daughter.

In the meantime, Maidana's lawyer, Dr. Machado, consoles his client by Alfredos

suggesting profitable (and possibly illegal) uses of his military experience. Father Terry receives a spiritual message from Father Alfie Kelly, and he decides to confront Maidana. He finds a way to enter the exclusive Naval Officer's Club. There, he asks Maidana to let Silvia meet with Clara one last time. Maidana threatens him, but his lawyer intervenes. Finally, Terry gives Maidana a crucifix that Father Alfie Kelly had given to Silvia the last time they had seen each other in 1976. Maidana recognizes the crucifix and keeps it, before ordering Terry to leave.

That night, Maidana visits Silvia at the hospital. He agrees to let her see Clara and returns the crucifix to her -- for a price. The next morning, while Miryam and Terry discuss the future at St. Patrick's, Clara appears. She tells Terry that her name is Victoria and that her uncle Patricio came the previous night to her house with a strange woman. She gave her the crucifix and asked her to go to St. Patrick's and have it blessed. She agreed out of curiosity, although she doesn't know anything about history or religion. To bless it, Terry asks "Victoria" and Miryam to read the words of a young woman disappeared in 1976. They stand in front of the red carpet where the five martyrs were killed. The five watch while Terry gives to Victoria the blessed crucifix, she asks Terry: "Who are these men?"