Thaïs (2003)

Scene 1 – The dwelling of the Cenobite monks in the Thebaid desert, on the banks of the Nile outside Alexandria.

Scene 2 – Nicias’s house in Alexandria.

Athanael returns to report to his brother monks that Thaïs, whom he knew as a child, is now the leading courtesan of the sinful city of Alexandria. In spite of Palemon’s warnings, he returns to the city, vowing to convert Thaïs from her wicked ways. He meets her at the house of his friend Nicias where Thaïs, intrigued by the stranger, puts on her most lascivious act. Athanael flees in horror, vowing to return.

Scene 1 – Thaïs’s house, later that night. Interlude – The meditation of Thaïs.

Scene 2 – Outside her house, early next morning.

Thaïs dreads the inevitable approach of old age; when Athanael offers her eternal life if she will give herself to God, she is at first inclined to accept. For his part, Athanael begs God to free him from his carnal longing for her. Thaïs then changes her mind and scornfully dismisses him, but is visited by the Holy Spirit and receives her conversion. She prepares to leave Alexandria with Athanael; he insists that she destroy every vestige of her past as the first step of her penance. They set fire to her house, but are apprehended by the crowd and by Nicias and his friends. The people prepare to stone Athanael, but Nicias distracts them and allows the pair to escape.

Scene 1 – A desert oasis, near Mother Albina’s convent.

Scene 2 – The Cenobite settlement. Some months later.

Scene 3 – The Convent. The Death of Thaïs.
During their struggle through the desert, Athanael realizes how much he loves Thaïs. He sees that he has been disguising his carnal longing by imposing such a heavy penance on her that her strength fails. Horrified at this revelation, he attempts to soften her pain. Albina undertakes to look after her in the convent, leaving Athanael bereft. Returning to the monastery, he attempts for months to purge himself with starvation and the lash but is finally forced to confess his feelings to Palemon. In a nightmare vision, he learns that Thaïs is dying. Rushing to her deathbed, he confesses his love, but as a repentant sinner, she only has eyes and ears for the vision of Heaven that she receives in her last moments.