One of the most important scenes in Doubt is the discussion that Sister Aloysius shares with Mrs. Miller. Although this is the only scene in which Mrs. Miller speaks, its gravity made a profound impression on viewers and critics alike. For her work on the scene, actress Viola Davis was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Critic's Choice Award. The scene provides an important and complex portrayal of race, class, and social mobility for black working-class families in 1964.
When Mrs. Miller first enters Sister Aloysius's office, we learn that she can barely squeeze the appointment into her schedule. As a housekeeper, she is only given a short break in her workday. When Sister Aloysius assumes that Mr. Miller will also be in attendance, it is clear that she believes that the couple's son is of primary importance. When Mrs. Miller explains that her husband is unable to make the meeting due to his work commitments, we are provided with information about the couple and thus about Donald's circumstances at home. Sister Aloysius believes that Mr. and Mrs. Miller have the opportunity to forgo work in order to discuss their son's emotional well-being. In fact, we begin to understand that emotional health is a privilege. For the Miller family, paying bills is a means of survival that cannot be put in jeopardy.
As Sister Aloysius and Mrs. Miller continue their discussion, it becomes clear that the nun is unable to view Donald's situation from a position different than her own. Sister Aloysius's perspective is deeply informed by her race and social class. When Mrs. Miller encourages a neutral approach to the allegations at hand, she reveals her desperate desire for her son's upward mobility. Mrs. Miller's reaction comments on the value of private education. Although Donald's enrollment at the parish school continuously subjects him to peer violence and ostracism, it promises a bright future different than his parent's reality.
When Sister Aloysius asks Mrs. Miller, with evident frustration, "What kind of mother are you?" the nun assumes that the question is rhetorical. However, Mrs. Miller's terse reply indicates that Sister Aloysius's question does, in fact, have an answer. Mrs. Miller is a black, working class, inner-city mother in 1964. She is subjected to intense pain and grief in order to ensure that the next generation of black, inner-city youth has opportunities different than her own. She bears the burdens inflicted upon her by her abusive husband and by white authority figures. She must put aside her personal grief in order to survive and ensure a positive future for Donald.
