Small Things Like These (2024) Movie Script
1
[bird squeaking]
[bells tolling]
- [bells continue tolling]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [window thudding]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [bells tolling]
- [crows cawing]
[bird squeaking]
[cawing]
- [wind whooshing]
- [birds chirping]
[cawing, chirping]
- [muffled chatter]
- [indistinct chatter on radio]
[radio host]
...plus expert views
on two of the most
exciting events
to come out live,
in Irish sporting history.
From the power of the punch
to the power of the pack,
- it's a championship...
- [phone ringing]
- [continues indistinctly]
- [muffled chatter]
[phone ringing]
[Bill] Here. Hang on.
[phone ringing]
[Pat] That'll do it.
[man 1] Seen Barry McGuigan
fighting last night?
[man 2] I did, yeah.
Some fighter.
Hands like a shovel.
[thudding]
- [man 1] Jesus Christ.
- [indistinct chatter continues]
[man 2] I suppose I'd be
in his weight class, wouldn't I?
[man 3] Yeah,
you probably would.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[man 1] All right.
Come on, come on.
[engine stops]
[dogs barking in distance]
[thudding]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
- [dog barking]
- [man] How you doing?
- [Bill] Good.
- [chickens clucking]
[dog barking]
- [Mrs. Kehoe] PJ?
- I'll just actually...
The same.
I'm sure you'll need
more than that.
- Aren't you hungry?
- I am.
He hasn't been
paying you enough.
- Is that what it is, huh?
- Uh, no.
[Mrs. Kehoe] I'll give you
the beef and mash.
[man] He's saving
for Christmas, Mrs. Kehoe.
- Present for some new woman.
- This is who I'm buying it for.
[Mrs. Kehoe]
Oh, well, now listen.
If there is a girl involved,
I'm sure
you'll be needing the energy,
PJ, doesn't you now?
- He's a boy right now.
- ...hairs on your chest.
- Enjoy that now.
- I'll have the same,
- Mrs. Kehoe.
- Same again.
- Okay, get the stuff.
- Very good.
Now, give us a shout
if you need anything.
[all] Thank you.
[Mrs. Kehoe] All right, now.
[students chattering]
- [grunts]
- [bells tolling]
- [geese honking]
- [panting]
[sack thuds]
[breathing heavily]
[car approaching]
[car engine stops]
[grunts, pants]
- [car door opens]
- [grunts]
- [car door closes]
- [pants]
[knock on door]
[woman] Start accepting it.
[sack thuds]
- Are you going to help?
- [girl] Just listen to me!
- Get out! Get out there!
- Just listen to me!
[girl] Mommy, you're not
listening to me!
[woman] Just once,
you brat. Come on.
Don't make me go in there!
Don't make me go in there.
- Stop it!
- Please, wait. I'm so--
- Mommy, please!
- Stop it!
Daddy! Please! No! Wait!
- Listen to me!
- I'm not going in there!
Please, Mommy, please!
- Sarah!
- I'm not--
- Stop it! Stop!
- Mommy, I am not going!
- Go inside.
- Come.
Go on. Go on.
Daddy! Please!
[door closes]
[engine rattles, stops]
Son?
Hold on.
You all right?
Yeah.
You're Mick Sinnott's boy,
aren't you?
Yes, sir.
You're a couple of miles
from home.
I came out for sticks
for the dog
but he ran off on me again.
Did he?
Well, he'll come back
in a minute, I suppose.
Probably, yeah. You never know.
He's a right dope.
Three years old and he still
doesn't know his name.
[chuckles]
You all right?
Yeah.
Well, I'll drop you back.
Nah, I'll be fine, Mr. Furlong.
Are you sure now?
Yes.
Grand.
[coins clinking]
All right, say "Happy Christmas"
to your family for me.
- Yes, sir. You too.
- Okay.
[chains clink]
- [clicks]
- [clanks]
[somber music playing]
[siren wailing in distance]
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
- [dog barking]
- [rain pattering]
[keys jingling]
[kids singing]
[clapping, singing]
- [kid] Yes!
- [indistinct chatter]
[inhales deeply]
[clapping, singing continues]
[indistinct chatter]
[switch clicks]
[breathes heavily]
[kids singing]
- [indistinct chatter]
- [clapping]
- When's the test?
- It's on Monday.
Go on, Kathleen.
You be the teacher.
- Here, it's hot.
- [Kathleen] Okay.
- Six years, not a word.
- [Eileen] Mm-hmm.
- Hi, Dad.
- What exactly am I supposed
- to do here?
- Hi, girls.
- [Eileen] Kathleen.
- What? There's nothing on them.
Have you forgotten the names
of the rivers already?
- No.
- You dirty liar.
Right, I have it. Hang on.
Okay, Grace.
What's that wiggly one there?
- The River Shannon.
- That's easy.
Hush, Sheila.
- Right.
- [Bill grunts]
- And this one here?
- [giggling]
The Boyne. The River Boyne.
The River Boyne, correct.
And this one here?
- River Lee.
- Wow.
- And this one?
- The River Liffey.
- You're a genius.
- [Loretta] Give me the cards.
- Top of the class.
- Let me hold it then.
- Don't crease it!
- [Eileen] Enough, hey!
Why don't you show your Daddy
how you learnt them?
- Show me, love.
- [chair thuds]
She's just a smarty-pants.
[Joan] Here you go.
That's your card.
Got two pieces of tracing paper
and traced
the outline of Ireland
and rivers on one piece.
I laid another piece
of tracing paper
- on top and wrote the names.
- Good girl.
[Loretta] She's just
a smarty-pants.
You should send for my piece.
- Don't, guys, no!
- Stop.
- What's that?
- [Eileen] Here you go.
[Loretta] Oh, show me,
Little Miss Perfect.
[Grace] Look at you, Loretta.
Hi, Miss Perfect.
Oh, I saw
a school friend of yours.
Yeah, who?
- [indistinct chatter]
- Um...
Mick Sinnott's boy.
- Diarmuid's his name.
- Diarmuid, yeah.
[Grace] Whereabouts?
Uh, he was out by Tullogher
picking up sticks, so he was.
Did you not stop and give him
a bag of timber off the truck?
What? Don't be daft.
- Thanks, love.
- [Sheila] You're daft.
[Grace] You're daft.
Did you stop
and talk to him, Daddy?
I did, yeah.
What'd you talk about?
- You're daft.
- [Grace] You're daft.
Uh, I-I said hello and I said
"Happy Christmas" to his family.
That all?
- [Joan] A new one.
- [plates clink]
I-I gave him
a bit of loose change.
What did you do that for?
Surely his dad
will only drink it.
He's never not drunk, that man.
He just needs
to pull himself out of it.
We don't know that, love.
He might be trying.
Uh, girls, have you
more homework to do?
[audience applauding]
Jimmy, we have to say
goodbye to you.
But believe me, in the few
moments you've been here,
you really have made
the show...
[grunts softly, sighs]
[flame whooshing]
[kettle whistling]
[soft music plays]
[breathing heavily]
[rain pattering]
[breathing heavily]
[muffled, indistinct chatter]
[woman] Get off!
Get off me! Get off!
[breathing heavily]
[crows cawing]
[breathes shakily]
- [sniffles]
- [crows cawing]
- [exhales]
- [water splashing]
[sniffles]
[water splashing]
[Sarah sobbing]
[sniffles]
"I will honor
Christmas in my heart
and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the past,
the present, and the future.
The spirit of all three
shall strive within me.
I will not shut out
the lessons that they teach."
Billy.
What happened to your coat?
Your mother said
there was spit on it.
What was it they said to you?
Nothing.
Don't be listening to them.
They're only brats. Hmm?
What was it you wrote
to Santa for?
- A jigsaw.
- A jigsaw?
A difficult one, I hope.
And what would the picture be?
Anything at all.
A farm with animals.
Sure, I can help you
if you get stuck on it.
Yeah?
Are you ready
for another Dickens
in the new year, do you think?
Yes, Mrs. Wilson.
Good boy.
You put the record on for me?
[turntable clacks]
[soft music playing]
[sighs]
[footsteps thudding]
Ned?
[Ned] You all right?
[indistinct chatter]
- [soft music continues]
- [indistinct chatter continues]
[birds squawking]
[muffled chatter]
[Sarah sobbing]
["Silent Night" in Gaelic]
[cheering and applause]
Thank you. Beautifully sung.
All right, now. Shall we?
[cheering and applause]
I'm gonna go ahead
and see Bernie.
I told her I'd do flowers
for midnight mass. Okay?
- Okay.
- Follow me down.
Okay.
Hey, don't look now
but they're following us.
[boy] Ah, hey, girls.
How are you?
- Oh, here they are.
- Aha. Where you goin'?
- Here they are.
- Hey, here we are.
- Nothin' better to do now?
- Free country. Come on.
Yeah, of course.
You're hilarious.
- Yeah. They your Ma's shoes?
- Go on home to your mommies.
- You smell lovely.
- Don't touch us.
- Hey, come here.
- [chuckling]
Have you nothing
better to do...?
[Eileen] Come on.
I wanna show you something.
Come on.
- [door creaks, closes]
- [bell rings]
Say, don't I have a handbag
the same color as those fellas.
The navy ones?
Yeah.
I don't know.
Oh, God. Yes, you do.
You want to put
the right amount. Well done.
- Make sure there's no stalks.
- [Bill] Wow, what'd I miss?
- Hi, Dad.
- Hi.
Check my perfect circle.
- Look at that.
- Oh, hello.
- Hello.
- How are we getting on?
Well, good.
- Everybody wants to help.
- Yes.
- So we've got...
- Two hands.
...different stations.
- Show me.
- [chuckles]
[Loretta] This is gonna be
the best Christmas cake ever.
- I can't wait.
- You say that
every single year.
And every year
it gets better and better.
Last year there was stalk
in the cake.
You were doing the stalks.
The living room
is freezing though,
so you can warm that. Okay.
- Do you wanna do the egg first?
- [Loretta] Yes.
- Come on then.
- No shells this year.
- [Grace] Where're the cherries?
- [Loretta] Oh, my God.
- I did not enjoy that.
- [Eileen] It's such
an important part of the cake.
Go on, give it a wallop.
- Ah, be a good girl.
- Oh, no shells. No shells!
- Come on.
- No shells!
- No shells this year!
- [laughter]
[Grace] "Santa Claus,
North Pole."
That can't be all.
Sure.
Everyone up there knows
where Santa lives.
Yeah, but how will we know
if Santa gets the letters
- on time?
- Um...
Daddy will post it
first thing tomorrow.
Pass me your plates
there, girls.
Everything for Santa
goes by express.
- Thank you.
- [plates clink]
Grace.
[Sheila] Daddy, did Santa
ever come to you
when you were a little kid?
Daddy?
- What, love?
- Did Santa ever bring you
anything when you were
a little kid?
He did, of course. Yeah, he--
He...
One year, he...
He brought me a jigsaw puzzle.
A what?
Only a jigsaw?
Yeah.
I didn't want much.
[Joan] Not like you, Sheila.
I changed up my list.
Oh, really? Let's see.
What do you think it'll be now?
Come on, now, finish up
your toast before it gets cold.
How long can we stay up?
All right, you can have
a half hour.
- Yes!
- That's your lot. Deal?
- Deal.
- Deal.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[Eileen] Oh, did you hear?
The Wilson family have sold
all the livestock,
and the house and land
are to be auctioned
in the New Year.
You're not talking with Ned?
I haven't seen him
since the summer.
I must call out to him
some evening.
You should invite him over
for Christmas Day if you want.
You wouldn't mind?
The house is full.
What's one more?
Have you thought about
what you're getting me?
Took me hint this evening.
Oh, God.
Isn't it great you still notice?
What is it you'd like yourself?
[inhales] Uh...
Well, there's nothing
I need, really.
Well...
would you not like
a shirt or something?
[inhales deeply]
[sighs]
Oh, may-- maybe a book.
Yeah?
Yeah, I might sit in,
read it over the Christmas.
What sort of a book?
Oh, I don't know.
Actually, um...
David Copperfield.
Yeah. Never, uh...
Never got around
to reading that one.
[Eileen exhales]
[TV chatter continues]
You all right, love?
You haven't been
yourself in a while.
How so?
Well... [exhales]
You're awful quiet.
[exhales deeply]
[fire crackling]
Do you ever get worried?
Yeah, well,
coming up to Christmas
and the expense of it all.
Yeah, sure, that's a worry.
[sighs] Yeah. Yeah.
And like...
[clicks tongue]
Like, do you think
you're doing all right?
Well, I mean, I'm putting away
a couple of bob
every week in the credit union.
We'll have the windows
and the front done
by this time next year.
Yeah.
Is it that you're just tired,
love? Is that it?
Must be, yeah.
Yeah, see, you'd want
to stop getting up
in the middle of the night, huh?
It's not good for anyone.
[oven door clanks]
[thuds]
[TV chatter continues]
- [soft music playing]
- [bird squawking]
[paper rustling]
[Mrs. Wilson]
Beautifully wrapped.
[both giggle]
[chuckles lightly]
[gasps] Oh!
That's gorgeous.
I thought he might be
a good companion
- for the other one you have.
- And the same color too.
[both chuckle]
Oh, thank you, Sarah.
Oh, he's lovely.
- What a character.
- [both chuckle]
His little ears. [chuckles]
- Thank you, pet.
- You're welcome.
Ah. Now, William.
Oh!
Is this a present
from Santa Claus now?
Yes, Madam. This is it.
[Mrs. Wilson]
Oh, freshly delivered.
Goodness! The excitement.
[wrapper rustling]
[gasps]
Isn't Santa so good, Bill?
[breathes out]
Yes, Mommy.
You'll be nice
and cozy with that.
Is 2:30 all right to eat,
Mrs. Wilson?
- That's fine.
- [breathes heavily]
[footsteps receding]
[Bill grunts, breathes heavily]
- There you are.
- [water splashes]
Your mom asked me
to come get you in.
Didn't you get
the present you wanted?
No.
Well...
Next time, you tell me
and I'll let Santa know.
Great friends, me and him.
Will you be all right, Bill?
Yes, Ned.
Right. Come on.
[switch clicks]
- [grunts softly]
- [keys jingle]
[jackhammer drilling]
[pen whooshes]
You warm enough, Kathleen?
Yes, Dad.
[clanks, thuds]
Thanks, Daddy.
[exhales deeply]
Mrs. O'Shea wants an extra bag
with her lot
and Doolans in Clonroche
messed up her order.
By how much?
Um, 20 bales.
Huh. Tell them
it'll be two days.
- [metal clanks, thuds]
- [man indistinct]
Are you all right?
- Yeah.
- [muffled chatter, laughter]
- [man] What are you talking?
- [indistinct]
Any of these fellows out here
giving you, um,
any guff, are they?
No.
Tell me if they were.
There's been nothing, honest.
- You swear to God?
- I swear to God.
[phone rings]
Heading out?
[exhales]
[phone ringing]
Yeah. I-I wanted to go out later
to Waterford
to buy some presents,
but the bus is at four.
[exhales]
I'll ask one of the lads
to look after the phone.
- [phone ringing]
- Grand.
I'll say it to Pat.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
[phone ringing]
- I'll see you later.
- Thanks, Daddy.
- [door opens]
- [clacks]
[geese honking]
- [grunts softly]
- [bells tolling]
[panting]
[sack thuds]
[baby wailing in distance]
[wailing continues]
[geese honking]
[door clacks, creaks]
[baby crying in distance]
[thudding in distance]
[muffled chatter in distance]
[baby wailing]
[sister] Can I help?
[Bill] Oh, uh...
Looking for, uh,
Sister Carmel or Sister...
Sister, uh, Mary.
For what?
Oh, I have a... an invoice
that needs, um, checking.
Sister Carmel is in the hall
straight ahead.
[girl sobbing softly]
[girl breathing shakily]
[voice breaking] Mister...
Mister, won't you help us?
Please.
Please take me to the river
or get me to the other side
of the gate.
- Please!
- It's not up to me, love.
- [sobs] Please.
- I'm sorry, love.
Please. Please
don't leave me here.
Take me home. I'll work for you.
[sister] What are you
doing in here?
[footsteps thudding]
[sister] Oh, don't you
usually ring the bell?
Uh...
I have, um,
I have an invoice for you.
[geese honking]
You can take two of the coal
away with you
and give us five bales
of briquettes.
Oh, I'll have
to come back to you.
This afternoon, let's hope.
I-I've a delivery of turf
in a couple of days.
It'll be then.
Oh, we can call
Forward's in Wexford.
They come straight away,
no bother.
[exhales] Uh...
Haul two back
and empty out the rest of it.
We can't have people walking
in and out whenever they want.
Do you understand me, Bill?
Y-yes, Sister.
Bring me the turf
when you get it,
and we'll pay you
for the lot then.
[sniffs]
[car horn honks in distance]
[keys jingle]
[sniffles]
[sniffles]
[breathes deeply]
[exhales]
[birds chirping]
Mommy.
[breathing heavily]
[panting]
[Mrs. Wilson] Don't look.
No, look away, darling. Stay.
Ned!
Ned!
Here, stay where you are, Bill.
[breathes shakily]
She came up to me.
[exhales deeply]
And she asked me to get her out.
To take her as far as the river.
Then what did you say?
[sighs]
That it wasn't up to me.
That's true.
It's none of our business.
She was so scared of her,
Eileen, and...
Aren't they fed and kept warm?
Aye.
And given a trade?
Sure if it wasn't for the nuns,
those girls would have no--
Don't I know that?
So what do we have
to answer for?
Don't you ever question it?
Do you want to get on
in this life?
There are things
you have to ignore.
You've always been
soft-hearted, Bill.
Giving away your change
in your pockets,
you know, without knowing
the lives of people.
I mean, be honest, though.
It's far from hardship
you were reared.
What-- What do you mean by that?
There are girls out there
who do get into trouble,
and that much you do know.
Sorry.
Sorry. I shouldn't have
said that. [sniffles]
You have to remember
what we have.
Let's stay on the right side
of people.
Our girls will never go through
what those girls
are going through.
What if it was one of ours?
Oh, God, isn't that
what I'm saying?
They're not our girls.
Aren't I lucky
that Mrs. Wilson
didn't share your ideas?
Where would my mother be
if she hadn't taken her in?
And where would I be
without what she did for me?
Her sitting up there
in her big house.
With her pension and her farm
and people to work under her.
She was one of the few women
who could do as she pleased.
[girl] Mommy?
Oh, you're here. What is it?
Aye? Are you all right, pet?
All right, come on.
I'll take you down.
[birds cawing, squawking]
You'll be sleeping
in this house now, Bill.
I've had a room made up for you.
You can have another week
off school,
and then you best
get back. All right?
Do you think my father knows
what's happened?
I don't know.
- [thudding]
- [grunting]
[young Bill] Where's my father?
I don't know.
[geese honking]
[door creaks]
[girl breathes out]
[Bill gasps, pants]
[girl gasps, breathes heavily]
God help us.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right, child.
Is it the day or night, Mister?
It's... it's dawn. It's dawn.
It'll be light soon.
I'll have my baby here.
[exhales]
Not for five months, they said.
[sobs, whimpers]
- [sniffles]
- [sobs]
Sister Mary says
it'll go to a good home.
- [Bill breathes heavily]
- [sobs]
Uh... [clears throat]
Come on. No, no, no.
Come on now.
Come on now. Come on.
Come on up out of it. Come on.
Up.
Come on, child.
I'll take you in. Come on.
It's all right.
Come on.
Up you come.
[geese honking]
[Bill exhales]
[doorbell buzzes]
[Sarah breathes shakily]
[door slams]
Bring her in.
[Sister Mary] So good of you
to come early, Bill.
My God, you gave us
an awful fright, child.
Sister Frances was about to send
for the guards to look for you.
She was locked
in the shed, Mother.
Whatever had her in there...
My God, you poor girl.
Sisters. Take her upstairs.
Get her clean
and bring her back to my office.
[footsteps receding]
Thank God you came
when you did, Bill.
We'll have some tea.
I'll not, Mother.
You've time to sit. I'm sure
my purse is in the office.
Leave your coat off.
You'll feel the benefit later.
[keys jingling]
[footsteps tapping]
[machine whirring]
[steam whooshing]
[exhales]
[door creaks]
[door closes]
[fire crackling]
Sit down and warm yourself.
Tea will be a minute.
So all is well at home, Bill?
All's well, Mother.
And Kathleen has the leaving
certificate this year?
She does.
And what will she do
with herself?
Uh...
She wants to study, um,
business in Waterford.
Oh, she'll do it well.
She's a good girl.
And I've seen Joan in the choir.
Sister Carmel says
she's as bright as her sister.
They get an excellent
education next door.
And you've another two
coming to us, don't you?
Another three.
Three?
Sheila will be coming in
next September, and then, um,
then there'll be Grace
and Loretta.
[Sister Mary] Hmm.
So many trying to get in.
It's no easy task trying to find
a place for everyone.
We'll do our best
for your girls. But...
must be a little disappointing
all the same.
In what way?
To not have a boy to carry
on your name, you know?
Have me mother's name.
No harm ever came from that.
[gulps]
[door opens, creaks]
[door closes]
[tray clinks]
[thuds, clinks]
[breathes deeply]
[door opens, creaks]
[Sister Mary] Ah, here she is,
the girl who caused
all the drama.
- Sister...
- [door closes]
You get a chair
and put it next to Billy.
And won't you sit
on there, child?
- [door opens]
- [footsteps thudding]
- [door closes]
- Sure here we are now.
Thank God for the fire.
And where would we be
without the coal men?
You see, they're forecasting
snow for us, Bill.
I think it will arrive tonight.
You can smell it.
Sure the whole world
looks pretty under snow.
[tea pouring]
Will you have some tea, child?
Yes, please, Mother.
And a slice of cake?
Of course you will.
[tea pouring]
[teapot thuds]
There you go.
Ah, fruitcake for you, pet?
No, just tea.
Here you go.
Now, don't be thinking
you're in any trouble.
Tell us how you came
to be locked in that shed.
[Sarah breathing shakily]
Who put you there?
They hid me, Mother.
Hid you? Really?
Yes, Mother.
Who hid you then?
The other girls did.
[Sister Mary exhales]
How did they do that?
[Sarah] We were playing a game.
[Sister Mary]
Are you not a bit old
to be playing hide and seek?
And did they not think
to let you out
when the game was over?
[Sarah sobbing]
Girl, what's wrong with you?
Wasn't it just a silly game?
What was it, child?
It's just a big nothing, Mother.
A big nothing, that's it.
Now, what you need
is your breakfast
and a good long sleep.
Sister Frances, won't you fry
something up for this child,
take her into the kitchen
and let her eat her fill.
[crying]
[Sister Mary]
And no work for her today.
She needs to get
her strength back.
[Sarah continues crying]
Poor creature.
[door closes]
[fire cracking]
[footsteps tapping]
Do you have an invoice for me?
Didn't Christmas come in quickly
all the same?
That's our settle now, isn't it?
Yes, Mother.
Just a minute.
[drawer opens]
[drawer closes]
[pen scratching]
[paper bills rustle]
[pen thuds]
Here's a little gift for you.
I'm sure Eileen
will appreciate it.
Take it now, Bill. Come on.
That's us done, I'd say.
[clanking]
[sister] Put them out. Come on.
[muffled chatter]
[sister] Mr. Furlong.
[breathing heavily]
[baby wailing in distance]
What's your name, love?
Sarah.
Sarah Redmond.
- [sister] Mr. Furlong!
- My name is Bill Furlong.
I work in the coal yard
down by the quays.
If ever you need anything,
anything at all,
you-you call, come down.
- That's enough, that's enough.
- Come down...
I'll be there every day
except Sunday.
Out!
[alarm bell blaring]
[sister] Line up, girls!
[bell ringing]
[alarm bell blaring]
[geese honking]
[thuds]
[sister] On your way!
Don't be dallying!
Not a word in the chapel!
You hear me? Not a sound.
[exhales deeply]
[keys jingle]
[engine starts]
[morose music playing]
[exhales sharply]
- [bells tolling]
- [geese honking]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [wind whooshing]
[cawing]
[Sister Mary]
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us
according to our sins
nor repay us
according to our faults.
Response.
[all] The Lord
is compassion and love.
As the heavens
are high above the earth,
so strong is His love
for those who fear Him.
As far as the east
is from the west,
so far does He remove our sins.
Response.
[all] The Lord
is compassion and love.
[Sister Mary] As the Father
has compassion for his children,
the Lord has pity
on those who fear Him,
for He knows
of what we are made.
He remembers that we are dust.
Response.
[all] The Lord
is compassion and love.
The love of the Lord
is everlasting
upon those who fear Him.
His justice reaches out
to the children's children
when they keep
His covenant in truth.
Response.
[accordion playing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
- [accordion playing]
- [TV character singing]
[stove thuds, squeaks]
- Oh, shut up.
- [indistinct TV chatter]
- Someone needs more lessons.
- [laughs]
[water running]
- [grunts softly]
- [brush scratches]
Are you not gonna tell me?
What?
I saw Sister Mary after mass.
She said she gave you
a card for me?
Oh, yeah, uh...
It's in my-my coat--
my coat pocket there.
Were you not gonna tell me?
I forgot all about it.
Yeah, I mean--
I said you had, you know.
It just looks like
we don't appreciate it.
Mmm.
- It's just bad manners.
- [clears throat]
God, that is so nice of her.
- That'll pay for Christmas.
- Yeah.
I hope you thanked her for it.
Sorry, love.
Oh, what ails you?
You haven't said a word all day.
Uh... I'm coming down
on a cold or something.
- [accordion playing]
- [indistinct TV chatter]
[Eileen breathes deeply]
[switch clicks]
[somber music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[birds squawking, chirping]
Hi.
Uh, is Ned around at all?
No, he's not.
He's been in hospital.
He's fine. I'm-I'm not sure
where he is exactly.
My-my brother knows.
Easily know you're related.
Is-is Ned your uncle?
Look, you're welcome to wait.
It's fine. Fine.
Are you Bill?
I am, yeah.
My God, I'm sorry, I'm Emma.
We visited here when we were
little kids, Emma and Peter.
The house is sold,
Ned told you, right?
Um, Wexford Hospital, you said?
Yes, but, uh, but he's
in a nursing home outside of it.
He's fine, he had pneumonia.
Peter knows the place, I'm sure.
[wind whooshing]
Will you come in for a bit?
I've to get back to town.
Well-- are you well, Bill?
Oh, I'm grand.
- And your family?
- We're all grand, thanks, yeah.
Happy Christmas, Bill.
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
- It's quiet in here.
- All right.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
So, will you be putting money
behind the bar
for the lads for Christmas Eve?
I think they might have
enough now.
They surely do, especially PJ.
Yes.
You gave them a bonus as well
as their lunches, Pat said.
Ah, well, they deserve it. Um...
You're a good man, my God.
Are we sorted so?
We are, thank you, Bill.
That's lovely.
- Yes, yes, well, um...
- Before you--
I just... wanted to ask you.
Did I hear about what happened
in the convent? That--
Did you have a run-in
with herself?
Look.
It's no affair of mine.
It's not, but...
You'd want to watch
what you'd say about...
About what's there.
Keep the bad dog with you
and the good dog won't bite.
- You know this?
- Ah, yeah. Yeah.
It's just...
Those nuns have a finger
in every pie, Bill.
And you can be sure about that.
Mmm.
Look,
you've worked as hard as myself
to get where you are.
- We've worked damn hard.
- Mm-hmm.
And there's only a wall
separating that place
from the school.
You go making a nuisance
of yourself now,
you might be denying
your younger ones an education.
Never mind how you look
to the rest of the town.
And... and what's that then?
Tell me.
People can make things
difficult for you.
Well, then I know
what people are like.
Yeah.
Then you know to do
the sensible thing, Bill.
Just... just look
after your family
and... and your business
will be my advice to you.
You get me?
I-I do, yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- Right.
- I best get back out
- to this bar.
- Yeah.
Happy Christmas to the family
for tomorrow.
Happy Christmas
to you too. Yeah.
Will I see you
over the holidays?
Aye, you'll see me around here.
- Happy Christmas.
- Happy Christmas to you.
[indistinct shouting]
- [Niamh] Great quality.
- [woman] Thanks, Niamh.
- Happy Christmas to you.
- And to you and the family.
We'll see you at Christmas mass
tomorrow, so...
You will. Bye, Kate.
Bye, love.
- [door closes]
- Um...
Picking up a pair of shoes.
Um, the name's Furlong.
[clears throat]
- [wind whooshing]
- [somber music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[bell chimes]
["Aloha Oe" playing on radio]
[scissors snipping]
- [door opens]
- [bell chimes]
[man] Hiya, Bill.
- [door closes]
- [bell chimes]
- [Bill] Hi.
- Hi.
[snuffles]
[scissors snipping]
[muffled, indistinct]
[somber music playing]
[exhales, snuffles]
[water pouring]
[somber music continues]
I'm sorry.
[footsteps thudding]
[snuffles]
[geese honking]
[snuffles]
[honking]
[clanks, thuds]
[breathes heavily]
[sobbing]
Sarah.
Come on.
Come on, love.
[breathing shakily]
- [thuds]
- [groans faintly, sobs]
- Um... It's Bill Furlong.
- [sobbing]
The coal man.
- I mean you no harm.
- [breathing heavily]
- [whimpers faintly]
- [Bill grunts softly]
- [groans faintly]
- Whoa.
[seagulls squawking distantly]
[Sarah panting]
[Bill grunts softly]
- [Sarah sobbing]
- Come on, love.
It's... it's okay.
[sobbing continues]
Don't worry.
Don't worry.
[soft music playing]
We're nearly there.
Almost home.
Here we are.
[keys jingling]
[door thuds]
[switch clicks]
[indistinct TV chatter]
[Bill's daughters chattering]
- [thuds]
- [water running]
[scrubbing]
- [chattering continues]
- [utensils clink]
[laughter, chattering continues]
[chattering stops, silence]
[bells tolling]
- [windows thudding]
- [dog barking]
[bells tolling]
[crows cawing]
[birds chirping]
[crow caws]
- [water flowing]
- [soft music playing]
[dog barking]
[whooshing]
[bird chirping]
[bird squawking]
[dog barking]
- [bells tolling]
- [geese honking]
[vehicle approaching]
- [engine stops]
- [geese honking]
[girls singing]
[wind whooshing]
[baby wailing]
- [whirring]
- [bottle breaks]
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
[vehicle passing by]
[laughter]
[engine revving]
- [dog barking]
- [rain pattering]
[fire crackling]
[turntable clacks]
[record starts]
[soft music playing]
[birds chirping]
[music fades]
[bells tolling]
- [windows thudding]
- [dog barking]
[bells tolling]
[bird squeaking]
[bells tolling]
- [bells continue tolling]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [window thudding]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [bells tolling]
- [crows cawing]
[bird squeaking]
[cawing]
- [wind whooshing]
- [birds chirping]
[cawing, chirping]
- [muffled chatter]
- [indistinct chatter on radio]
[radio host]
...plus expert views
on two of the most
exciting events
to come out live,
in Irish sporting history.
From the power of the punch
to the power of the pack,
- it's a championship...
- [phone ringing]
- [continues indistinctly]
- [muffled chatter]
[phone ringing]
[Bill] Here. Hang on.
[phone ringing]
[Pat] That'll do it.
[man 1] Seen Barry McGuigan
fighting last night?
[man 2] I did, yeah.
Some fighter.
Hands like a shovel.
[thudding]
- [man 1] Jesus Christ.
- [indistinct chatter continues]
[man 2] I suppose I'd be
in his weight class, wouldn't I?
[man 3] Yeah,
you probably would.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[man 1] All right.
Come on, come on.
[engine stops]
[dogs barking in distance]
[thudding]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
- [dog barking]
- [man] How you doing?
- [Bill] Good.
- [chickens clucking]
[dog barking]
- [Mrs. Kehoe] PJ?
- I'll just actually...
The same.
I'm sure you'll need
more than that.
- Aren't you hungry?
- I am.
He hasn't been
paying you enough.
- Is that what it is, huh?
- Uh, no.
[Mrs. Kehoe] I'll give you
the beef and mash.
[man] He's saving
for Christmas, Mrs. Kehoe.
- Present for some new woman.
- This is who I'm buying it for.
[Mrs. Kehoe]
Oh, well, now listen.
If there is a girl involved,
I'm sure
you'll be needing the energy,
PJ, doesn't you now?
- He's a boy right now.
- ...hairs on your chest.
- Enjoy that now.
- I'll have the same,
- Mrs. Kehoe.
- Same again.
- Okay, get the stuff.
- Very good.
Now, give us a shout
if you need anything.
[all] Thank you.
[Mrs. Kehoe] All right, now.
[students chattering]
- [grunts]
- [bells tolling]
- [geese honking]
- [panting]
[sack thuds]
[breathing heavily]
[car approaching]
[car engine stops]
[grunts, pants]
- [car door opens]
- [grunts]
- [car door closes]
- [pants]
[knock on door]
[woman] Start accepting it.
[sack thuds]
- Are you going to help?
- [girl] Just listen to me!
- Get out! Get out there!
- Just listen to me!
[girl] Mommy, you're not
listening to me!
[woman] Just once,
you brat. Come on.
Don't make me go in there!
Don't make me go in there.
- Stop it!
- Please, wait. I'm so--
- Mommy, please!
- Stop it!
Daddy! Please! No! Wait!
- Listen to me!
- I'm not going in there!
Please, Mommy, please!
- Sarah!
- I'm not--
- Stop it! Stop!
- Mommy, I am not going!
- Go inside.
- Come.
Go on. Go on.
Daddy! Please!
[door closes]
[engine rattles, stops]
Son?
Hold on.
You all right?
Yeah.
You're Mick Sinnott's boy,
aren't you?
Yes, sir.
You're a couple of miles
from home.
I came out for sticks
for the dog
but he ran off on me again.
Did he?
Well, he'll come back
in a minute, I suppose.
Probably, yeah. You never know.
He's a right dope.
Three years old and he still
doesn't know his name.
[chuckles]
You all right?
Yeah.
Well, I'll drop you back.
Nah, I'll be fine, Mr. Furlong.
Are you sure now?
Yes.
Grand.
[coins clinking]
All right, say "Happy Christmas"
to your family for me.
- Yes, sir. You too.
- Okay.
[chains clink]
- [clicks]
- [clanks]
[somber music playing]
[siren wailing in distance]
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
- [dog barking]
- [rain pattering]
[keys jingling]
[kids singing]
[clapping, singing]
- [kid] Yes!
- [indistinct chatter]
[inhales deeply]
[clapping, singing continues]
[indistinct chatter]
[switch clicks]
[breathes heavily]
[kids singing]
- [indistinct chatter]
- [clapping]
- When's the test?
- It's on Monday.
Go on, Kathleen.
You be the teacher.
- Here, it's hot.
- [Kathleen] Okay.
- Six years, not a word.
- [Eileen] Mm-hmm.
- Hi, Dad.
- What exactly am I supposed
- to do here?
- Hi, girls.
- [Eileen] Kathleen.
- What? There's nothing on them.
Have you forgotten the names
of the rivers already?
- No.
- You dirty liar.
Right, I have it. Hang on.
Okay, Grace.
What's that wiggly one there?
- The River Shannon.
- That's easy.
Hush, Sheila.
- Right.
- [Bill grunts]
- And this one here?
- [giggling]
The Boyne. The River Boyne.
The River Boyne, correct.
And this one here?
- River Lee.
- Wow.
- And this one?
- The River Liffey.
- You're a genius.
- [Loretta] Give me the cards.
- Top of the class.
- Let me hold it then.
- Don't crease it!
- [Eileen] Enough, hey!
Why don't you show your Daddy
how you learnt them?
- Show me, love.
- [chair thuds]
She's just a smarty-pants.
[Joan] Here you go.
That's your card.
Got two pieces of tracing paper
and traced
the outline of Ireland
and rivers on one piece.
I laid another piece
of tracing paper
- on top and wrote the names.
- Good girl.
[Loretta] She's just
a smarty-pants.
You should send for my piece.
- Don't, guys, no!
- Stop.
- What's that?
- [Eileen] Here you go.
[Loretta] Oh, show me,
Little Miss Perfect.
[Grace] Look at you, Loretta.
Hi, Miss Perfect.
Oh, I saw
a school friend of yours.
Yeah, who?
- [indistinct chatter]
- Um...
Mick Sinnott's boy.
- Diarmuid's his name.
- Diarmuid, yeah.
[Grace] Whereabouts?
Uh, he was out by Tullogher
picking up sticks, so he was.
Did you not stop and give him
a bag of timber off the truck?
What? Don't be daft.
- Thanks, love.
- [Sheila] You're daft.
[Grace] You're daft.
Did you stop
and talk to him, Daddy?
I did, yeah.
What'd you talk about?
- You're daft.
- [Grace] You're daft.
Uh, I-I said hello and I said
"Happy Christmas" to his family.
That all?
- [Joan] A new one.
- [plates clink]
I-I gave him
a bit of loose change.
What did you do that for?
Surely his dad
will only drink it.
He's never not drunk, that man.
He just needs
to pull himself out of it.
We don't know that, love.
He might be trying.
Uh, girls, have you
more homework to do?
[audience applauding]
Jimmy, we have to say
goodbye to you.
But believe me, in the few
moments you've been here,
you really have made
the show...
[grunts softly, sighs]
[flame whooshing]
[kettle whistling]
[soft music plays]
[breathing heavily]
[rain pattering]
[breathing heavily]
[muffled, indistinct chatter]
[woman] Get off!
Get off me! Get off!
[breathing heavily]
[crows cawing]
[breathes shakily]
- [sniffles]
- [crows cawing]
- [exhales]
- [water splashing]
[sniffles]
[water splashing]
[Sarah sobbing]
[sniffles]
"I will honor
Christmas in my heart
and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the past,
the present, and the future.
The spirit of all three
shall strive within me.
I will not shut out
the lessons that they teach."
Billy.
What happened to your coat?
Your mother said
there was spit on it.
What was it they said to you?
Nothing.
Don't be listening to them.
They're only brats. Hmm?
What was it you wrote
to Santa for?
- A jigsaw.
- A jigsaw?
A difficult one, I hope.
And what would the picture be?
Anything at all.
A farm with animals.
Sure, I can help you
if you get stuck on it.
Yeah?
Are you ready
for another Dickens
in the new year, do you think?
Yes, Mrs. Wilson.
Good boy.
You put the record on for me?
[turntable clacks]
[soft music playing]
[sighs]
[footsteps thudding]
Ned?
[Ned] You all right?
[indistinct chatter]
- [soft music continues]
- [indistinct chatter continues]
[birds squawking]
[muffled chatter]
[Sarah sobbing]
["Silent Night" in Gaelic]
[cheering and applause]
Thank you. Beautifully sung.
All right, now. Shall we?
[cheering and applause]
I'm gonna go ahead
and see Bernie.
I told her I'd do flowers
for midnight mass. Okay?
- Okay.
- Follow me down.
Okay.
Hey, don't look now
but they're following us.
[boy] Ah, hey, girls.
How are you?
- Oh, here they are.
- Aha. Where you goin'?
- Here they are.
- Hey, here we are.
- Nothin' better to do now?
- Free country. Come on.
Yeah, of course.
You're hilarious.
- Yeah. They your Ma's shoes?
- Go on home to your mommies.
- You smell lovely.
- Don't touch us.
- Hey, come here.
- [chuckling]
Have you nothing
better to do...?
[Eileen] Come on.
I wanna show you something.
Come on.
- [door creaks, closes]
- [bell rings]
Say, don't I have a handbag
the same color as those fellas.
The navy ones?
Yeah.
I don't know.
Oh, God. Yes, you do.
You want to put
the right amount. Well done.
- Make sure there's no stalks.
- [Bill] Wow, what'd I miss?
- Hi, Dad.
- Hi.
Check my perfect circle.
- Look at that.
- Oh, hello.
- Hello.
- How are we getting on?
Well, good.
- Everybody wants to help.
- Yes.
- So we've got...
- Two hands.
...different stations.
- Show me.
- [chuckles]
[Loretta] This is gonna be
the best Christmas cake ever.
- I can't wait.
- You say that
every single year.
And every year
it gets better and better.
Last year there was stalk
in the cake.
You were doing the stalks.
The living room
is freezing though,
so you can warm that. Okay.
- Do you wanna do the egg first?
- [Loretta] Yes.
- Come on then.
- No shells this year.
- [Grace] Where're the cherries?
- [Loretta] Oh, my God.
- I did not enjoy that.
- [Eileen] It's such
an important part of the cake.
Go on, give it a wallop.
- Ah, be a good girl.
- Oh, no shells. No shells!
- Come on.
- No shells!
- No shells this year!
- [laughter]
[Grace] "Santa Claus,
North Pole."
That can't be all.
Sure.
Everyone up there knows
where Santa lives.
Yeah, but how will we know
if Santa gets the letters
- on time?
- Um...
Daddy will post it
first thing tomorrow.
Pass me your plates
there, girls.
Everything for Santa
goes by express.
- Thank you.
- [plates clink]
Grace.
[Sheila] Daddy, did Santa
ever come to you
when you were a little kid?
Daddy?
- What, love?
- Did Santa ever bring you
anything when you were
a little kid?
He did, of course. Yeah, he--
He...
One year, he...
He brought me a jigsaw puzzle.
A what?
Only a jigsaw?
Yeah.
I didn't want much.
[Joan] Not like you, Sheila.
I changed up my list.
Oh, really? Let's see.
What do you think it'll be now?
Come on, now, finish up
your toast before it gets cold.
How long can we stay up?
All right, you can have
a half hour.
- Yes!
- That's your lot. Deal?
- Deal.
- Deal.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[Eileen] Oh, did you hear?
The Wilson family have sold
all the livestock,
and the house and land
are to be auctioned
in the New Year.
You're not talking with Ned?
I haven't seen him
since the summer.
I must call out to him
some evening.
You should invite him over
for Christmas Day if you want.
You wouldn't mind?
The house is full.
What's one more?
Have you thought about
what you're getting me?
Took me hint this evening.
Oh, God.
Isn't it great you still notice?
What is it you'd like yourself?
[inhales] Uh...
Well, there's nothing
I need, really.
Well...
would you not like
a shirt or something?
[inhales deeply]
[sighs]
Oh, may-- maybe a book.
Yeah?
Yeah, I might sit in,
read it over the Christmas.
What sort of a book?
Oh, I don't know.
Actually, um...
David Copperfield.
Yeah. Never, uh...
Never got around
to reading that one.
[Eileen exhales]
[TV chatter continues]
You all right, love?
You haven't been
yourself in a while.
How so?
Well... [exhales]
You're awful quiet.
[exhales deeply]
[fire crackling]
Do you ever get worried?
Yeah, well,
coming up to Christmas
and the expense of it all.
Yeah, sure, that's a worry.
[sighs] Yeah. Yeah.
And like...
[clicks tongue]
Like, do you think
you're doing all right?
Well, I mean, I'm putting away
a couple of bob
every week in the credit union.
We'll have the windows
and the front done
by this time next year.
Yeah.
Is it that you're just tired,
love? Is that it?
Must be, yeah.
Yeah, see, you'd want
to stop getting up
in the middle of the night, huh?
It's not good for anyone.
[oven door clanks]
[thuds]
[TV chatter continues]
- [soft music playing]
- [bird squawking]
[paper rustling]
[Mrs. Wilson]
Beautifully wrapped.
[both giggle]
[chuckles lightly]
[gasps] Oh!
That's gorgeous.
I thought he might be
a good companion
- for the other one you have.
- And the same color too.
[both chuckle]
Oh, thank you, Sarah.
Oh, he's lovely.
- What a character.
- [both chuckle]
His little ears. [chuckles]
- Thank you, pet.
- You're welcome.
Ah. Now, William.
Oh!
Is this a present
from Santa Claus now?
Yes, Madam. This is it.
[Mrs. Wilson]
Oh, freshly delivered.
Goodness! The excitement.
[wrapper rustling]
[gasps]
Isn't Santa so good, Bill?
[breathes out]
Yes, Mommy.
You'll be nice
and cozy with that.
Is 2:30 all right to eat,
Mrs. Wilson?
- That's fine.
- [breathes heavily]
[footsteps receding]
[Bill grunts, breathes heavily]
- There you are.
- [water splashes]
Your mom asked me
to come get you in.
Didn't you get
the present you wanted?
No.
Well...
Next time, you tell me
and I'll let Santa know.
Great friends, me and him.
Will you be all right, Bill?
Yes, Ned.
Right. Come on.
[switch clicks]
- [grunts softly]
- [keys jingle]
[jackhammer drilling]
[pen whooshes]
You warm enough, Kathleen?
Yes, Dad.
[clanks, thuds]
Thanks, Daddy.
[exhales deeply]
Mrs. O'Shea wants an extra bag
with her lot
and Doolans in Clonroche
messed up her order.
By how much?
Um, 20 bales.
Huh. Tell them
it'll be two days.
- [metal clanks, thuds]
- [man indistinct]
Are you all right?
- Yeah.
- [muffled chatter, laughter]
- [man] What are you talking?
- [indistinct]
Any of these fellows out here
giving you, um,
any guff, are they?
No.
Tell me if they were.
There's been nothing, honest.
- You swear to God?
- I swear to God.
[phone rings]
Heading out?
[exhales]
[phone ringing]
Yeah. I-I wanted to go out later
to Waterford
to buy some presents,
but the bus is at four.
[exhales]
I'll ask one of the lads
to look after the phone.
- [phone ringing]
- Grand.
I'll say it to Pat.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
[phone ringing]
- I'll see you later.
- Thanks, Daddy.
- [door opens]
- [clacks]
[geese honking]
- [grunts softly]
- [bells tolling]
[panting]
[sack thuds]
[baby wailing in distance]
[wailing continues]
[geese honking]
[door clacks, creaks]
[baby crying in distance]
[thudding in distance]
[muffled chatter in distance]
[baby wailing]
[sister] Can I help?
[Bill] Oh, uh...
Looking for, uh,
Sister Carmel or Sister...
Sister, uh, Mary.
For what?
Oh, I have a... an invoice
that needs, um, checking.
Sister Carmel is in the hall
straight ahead.
[girl sobbing softly]
[girl breathing shakily]
[voice breaking] Mister...
Mister, won't you help us?
Please.
Please take me to the river
or get me to the other side
of the gate.
- Please!
- It's not up to me, love.
- [sobs] Please.
- I'm sorry, love.
Please. Please
don't leave me here.
Take me home. I'll work for you.
[sister] What are you
doing in here?
[footsteps thudding]
[sister] Oh, don't you
usually ring the bell?
Uh...
I have, um,
I have an invoice for you.
[geese honking]
You can take two of the coal
away with you
and give us five bales
of briquettes.
Oh, I'll have
to come back to you.
This afternoon, let's hope.
I-I've a delivery of turf
in a couple of days.
It'll be then.
Oh, we can call
Forward's in Wexford.
They come straight away,
no bother.
[exhales] Uh...
Haul two back
and empty out the rest of it.
We can't have people walking
in and out whenever they want.
Do you understand me, Bill?
Y-yes, Sister.
Bring me the turf
when you get it,
and we'll pay you
for the lot then.
[sniffs]
[car horn honks in distance]
[keys jingle]
[sniffles]
[sniffles]
[breathes deeply]
[exhales]
[birds chirping]
Mommy.
[breathing heavily]
[panting]
[Mrs. Wilson] Don't look.
No, look away, darling. Stay.
Ned!
Ned!
Here, stay where you are, Bill.
[breathes shakily]
She came up to me.
[exhales deeply]
And she asked me to get her out.
To take her as far as the river.
Then what did you say?
[sighs]
That it wasn't up to me.
That's true.
It's none of our business.
She was so scared of her,
Eileen, and...
Aren't they fed and kept warm?
Aye.
And given a trade?
Sure if it wasn't for the nuns,
those girls would have no--
Don't I know that?
So what do we have
to answer for?
Don't you ever question it?
Do you want to get on
in this life?
There are things
you have to ignore.
You've always been
soft-hearted, Bill.
Giving away your change
in your pockets,
you know, without knowing
the lives of people.
I mean, be honest, though.
It's far from hardship
you were reared.
What-- What do you mean by that?
There are girls out there
who do get into trouble,
and that much you do know.
Sorry.
Sorry. I shouldn't have
said that. [sniffles]
You have to remember
what we have.
Let's stay on the right side
of people.
Our girls will never go through
what those girls
are going through.
What if it was one of ours?
Oh, God, isn't that
what I'm saying?
They're not our girls.
Aren't I lucky
that Mrs. Wilson
didn't share your ideas?
Where would my mother be
if she hadn't taken her in?
And where would I be
without what she did for me?
Her sitting up there
in her big house.
With her pension and her farm
and people to work under her.
She was one of the few women
who could do as she pleased.
[girl] Mommy?
Oh, you're here. What is it?
Aye? Are you all right, pet?
All right, come on.
I'll take you down.
[birds cawing, squawking]
You'll be sleeping
in this house now, Bill.
I've had a room made up for you.
You can have another week
off school,
and then you best
get back. All right?
Do you think my father knows
what's happened?
I don't know.
- [thudding]
- [grunting]
[young Bill] Where's my father?
I don't know.
[geese honking]
[door creaks]
[girl breathes out]
[Bill gasps, pants]
[girl gasps, breathes heavily]
God help us.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right, child.
Is it the day or night, Mister?
It's... it's dawn. It's dawn.
It'll be light soon.
I'll have my baby here.
[exhales]
Not for five months, they said.
[sobs, whimpers]
- [sniffles]
- [sobs]
Sister Mary says
it'll go to a good home.
- [Bill breathes heavily]
- [sobs]
Uh... [clears throat]
Come on. No, no, no.
Come on now.
Come on now. Come on.
Come on up out of it. Come on.
Up.
Come on, child.
I'll take you in. Come on.
It's all right.
Come on.
Up you come.
[geese honking]
[Bill exhales]
[doorbell buzzes]
[Sarah breathes shakily]
[door slams]
Bring her in.
[Sister Mary] So good of you
to come early, Bill.
My God, you gave us
an awful fright, child.
Sister Frances was about to send
for the guards to look for you.
She was locked
in the shed, Mother.
Whatever had her in there...
My God, you poor girl.
Sisters. Take her upstairs.
Get her clean
and bring her back to my office.
[footsteps receding]
Thank God you came
when you did, Bill.
We'll have some tea.
I'll not, Mother.
You've time to sit. I'm sure
my purse is in the office.
Leave your coat off.
You'll feel the benefit later.
[keys jingling]
[footsteps tapping]
[machine whirring]
[steam whooshing]
[exhales]
[door creaks]
[door closes]
[fire crackling]
Sit down and warm yourself.
Tea will be a minute.
So all is well at home, Bill?
All's well, Mother.
And Kathleen has the leaving
certificate this year?
She does.
And what will she do
with herself?
Uh...
She wants to study, um,
business in Waterford.
Oh, she'll do it well.
She's a good girl.
And I've seen Joan in the choir.
Sister Carmel says
she's as bright as her sister.
They get an excellent
education next door.
And you've another two
coming to us, don't you?
Another three.
Three?
Sheila will be coming in
next September, and then, um,
then there'll be Grace
and Loretta.
[Sister Mary] Hmm.
So many trying to get in.
It's no easy task trying to find
a place for everyone.
We'll do our best
for your girls. But...
must be a little disappointing
all the same.
In what way?
To not have a boy to carry
on your name, you know?
Have me mother's name.
No harm ever came from that.
[gulps]
[door opens, creaks]
[door closes]
[tray clinks]
[thuds, clinks]
[breathes deeply]
[door opens, creaks]
[Sister Mary] Ah, here she is,
the girl who caused
all the drama.
- Sister...
- [door closes]
You get a chair
and put it next to Billy.
And won't you sit
on there, child?
- [door opens]
- [footsteps thudding]
- [door closes]
- Sure here we are now.
Thank God for the fire.
And where would we be
without the coal men?
You see, they're forecasting
snow for us, Bill.
I think it will arrive tonight.
You can smell it.
Sure the whole world
looks pretty under snow.
[tea pouring]
Will you have some tea, child?
Yes, please, Mother.
And a slice of cake?
Of course you will.
[tea pouring]
[teapot thuds]
There you go.
Ah, fruitcake for you, pet?
No, just tea.
Here you go.
Now, don't be thinking
you're in any trouble.
Tell us how you came
to be locked in that shed.
[Sarah breathing shakily]
Who put you there?
They hid me, Mother.
Hid you? Really?
Yes, Mother.
Who hid you then?
The other girls did.
[Sister Mary exhales]
How did they do that?
[Sarah] We were playing a game.
[Sister Mary]
Are you not a bit old
to be playing hide and seek?
And did they not think
to let you out
when the game was over?
[Sarah sobbing]
Girl, what's wrong with you?
Wasn't it just a silly game?
What was it, child?
It's just a big nothing, Mother.
A big nothing, that's it.
Now, what you need
is your breakfast
and a good long sleep.
Sister Frances, won't you fry
something up for this child,
take her into the kitchen
and let her eat her fill.
[crying]
[Sister Mary]
And no work for her today.
She needs to get
her strength back.
[Sarah continues crying]
Poor creature.
[door closes]
[fire cracking]
[footsteps tapping]
Do you have an invoice for me?
Didn't Christmas come in quickly
all the same?
That's our settle now, isn't it?
Yes, Mother.
Just a minute.
[drawer opens]
[drawer closes]
[pen scratching]
[paper bills rustle]
[pen thuds]
Here's a little gift for you.
I'm sure Eileen
will appreciate it.
Take it now, Bill. Come on.
That's us done, I'd say.
[clanking]
[sister] Put them out. Come on.
[muffled chatter]
[sister] Mr. Furlong.
[breathing heavily]
[baby wailing in distance]
What's your name, love?
Sarah.
Sarah Redmond.
- [sister] Mr. Furlong!
- My name is Bill Furlong.
I work in the coal yard
down by the quays.
If ever you need anything,
anything at all,
you-you call, come down.
- That's enough, that's enough.
- Come down...
I'll be there every day
except Sunday.
Out!
[alarm bell blaring]
[sister] Line up, girls!
[bell ringing]
[alarm bell blaring]
[geese honking]
[thuds]
[sister] On your way!
Don't be dallying!
Not a word in the chapel!
You hear me? Not a sound.
[exhales deeply]
[keys jingle]
[engine starts]
[morose music playing]
[exhales sharply]
- [bells tolling]
- [geese honking]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [wind whooshing]
[cawing]
[Sister Mary]
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us
according to our sins
nor repay us
according to our faults.
Response.
[all] The Lord
is compassion and love.
As the heavens
are high above the earth,
so strong is His love
for those who fear Him.
As far as the east
is from the west,
so far does He remove our sins.
Response.
[all] The Lord
is compassion and love.
[Sister Mary] As the Father
has compassion for his children,
the Lord has pity
on those who fear Him,
for He knows
of what we are made.
He remembers that we are dust.
Response.
[all] The Lord
is compassion and love.
The love of the Lord
is everlasting
upon those who fear Him.
His justice reaches out
to the children's children
when they keep
His covenant in truth.
Response.
[accordion playing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
- [accordion playing]
- [TV character singing]
[stove thuds, squeaks]
- Oh, shut up.
- [indistinct TV chatter]
- Someone needs more lessons.
- [laughs]
[water running]
- [grunts softly]
- [brush scratches]
Are you not gonna tell me?
What?
I saw Sister Mary after mass.
She said she gave you
a card for me?
Oh, yeah, uh...
It's in my-my coat--
my coat pocket there.
Were you not gonna tell me?
I forgot all about it.
Yeah, I mean--
I said you had, you know.
It just looks like
we don't appreciate it.
Mmm.
- It's just bad manners.
- [clears throat]
God, that is so nice of her.
- That'll pay for Christmas.
- Yeah.
I hope you thanked her for it.
Sorry, love.
Oh, what ails you?
You haven't said a word all day.
Uh... I'm coming down
on a cold or something.
- [accordion playing]
- [indistinct TV chatter]
[Eileen breathes deeply]
[switch clicks]
[somber music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[birds squawking, chirping]
Hi.
Uh, is Ned around at all?
No, he's not.
He's been in hospital.
He's fine. I'm-I'm not sure
where he is exactly.
My-my brother knows.
Easily know you're related.
Is-is Ned your uncle?
Look, you're welcome to wait.
It's fine. Fine.
Are you Bill?
I am, yeah.
My God, I'm sorry, I'm Emma.
We visited here when we were
little kids, Emma and Peter.
The house is sold,
Ned told you, right?
Um, Wexford Hospital, you said?
Yes, but, uh, but he's
in a nursing home outside of it.
He's fine, he had pneumonia.
Peter knows the place, I'm sure.
[wind whooshing]
Will you come in for a bit?
I've to get back to town.
Well-- are you well, Bill?
Oh, I'm grand.
- And your family?
- We're all grand, thanks, yeah.
Happy Christmas, Bill.
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
- It's quiet in here.
- All right.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
So, will you be putting money
behind the bar
for the lads for Christmas Eve?
I think they might have
enough now.
They surely do, especially PJ.
Yes.
You gave them a bonus as well
as their lunches, Pat said.
Ah, well, they deserve it. Um...
You're a good man, my God.
Are we sorted so?
We are, thank you, Bill.
That's lovely.
- Yes, yes, well, um...
- Before you--
I just... wanted to ask you.
Did I hear about what happened
in the convent? That--
Did you have a run-in
with herself?
Look.
It's no affair of mine.
It's not, but...
You'd want to watch
what you'd say about...
About what's there.
Keep the bad dog with you
and the good dog won't bite.
- You know this?
- Ah, yeah. Yeah.
It's just...
Those nuns have a finger
in every pie, Bill.
And you can be sure about that.
Mmm.
Look,
you've worked as hard as myself
to get where you are.
- We've worked damn hard.
- Mm-hmm.
And there's only a wall
separating that place
from the school.
You go making a nuisance
of yourself now,
you might be denying
your younger ones an education.
Never mind how you look
to the rest of the town.
And... and what's that then?
Tell me.
People can make things
difficult for you.
Well, then I know
what people are like.
Yeah.
Then you know to do
the sensible thing, Bill.
Just... just look
after your family
and... and your business
will be my advice to you.
You get me?
I-I do, yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- Right.
- I best get back out
- to this bar.
- Yeah.
Happy Christmas to the family
for tomorrow.
Happy Christmas
to you too. Yeah.
Will I see you
over the holidays?
Aye, you'll see me around here.
- Happy Christmas.
- Happy Christmas to you.
[indistinct shouting]
- [Niamh] Great quality.
- [woman] Thanks, Niamh.
- Happy Christmas to you.
- And to you and the family.
We'll see you at Christmas mass
tomorrow, so...
You will. Bye, Kate.
Bye, love.
- [door closes]
- Um...
Picking up a pair of shoes.
Um, the name's Furlong.
[clears throat]
- [wind whooshing]
- [somber music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[bell chimes]
["Aloha Oe" playing on radio]
[scissors snipping]
- [door opens]
- [bell chimes]
[man] Hiya, Bill.
- [door closes]
- [bell chimes]
- [Bill] Hi.
- Hi.
[snuffles]
[scissors snipping]
[muffled, indistinct]
[somber music playing]
[exhales, snuffles]
[water pouring]
[somber music continues]
I'm sorry.
[footsteps thudding]
[snuffles]
[geese honking]
[snuffles]
[honking]
[clanks, thuds]
[breathes heavily]
[sobbing]
Sarah.
Come on.
Come on, love.
[breathing shakily]
- [thuds]
- [groans faintly, sobs]
- Um... It's Bill Furlong.
- [sobbing]
The coal man.
- I mean you no harm.
- [breathing heavily]
- [whimpers faintly]
- [Bill grunts softly]
- [groans faintly]
- Whoa.
[seagulls squawking distantly]
[Sarah panting]
[Bill grunts softly]
- [Sarah sobbing]
- Come on, love.
It's... it's okay.
[sobbing continues]
Don't worry.
Don't worry.
[soft music playing]
We're nearly there.
Almost home.
Here we are.
[keys jingling]
[door thuds]
[switch clicks]
[indistinct TV chatter]
[Bill's daughters chattering]
- [thuds]
- [water running]
[scrubbing]
- [chattering continues]
- [utensils clink]
[laughter, chattering continues]
[chattering stops, silence]
[bells tolling]
- [windows thudding]
- [dog barking]
[bells tolling]
[crows cawing]
[birds chirping]
[crow caws]
- [water flowing]
- [soft music playing]
[dog barking]
[whooshing]
[bird chirping]
[bird squawking]
[dog barking]
- [bells tolling]
- [geese honking]
[vehicle approaching]
- [engine stops]
- [geese honking]
[girls singing]
[wind whooshing]
[baby wailing]
- [whirring]
- [bottle breaks]
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
[vehicle passing by]
[laughter]
[engine revving]
- [dog barking]
- [rain pattering]
[fire crackling]
[turntable clacks]
[record starts]
[soft music playing]
[birds chirping]
[music fades]
[bells tolling]
- [windows thudding]
- [dog barking]
[bells tolling]