That They May Face the Rising Sun (2023) Movie Script
(BIRDS TWEETING)
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
(MUSIC FADES OUT)
"A flickering half light,
and the room went out as if in a dream
to include the trees and the fields,
and the glowing deep light of the sky.
In this soft light... in this soft light,
the room seemed to grow enormous,
and everything to fill with repose."
(DOOR OPENING)
MAN: Hello?
MAN: Hello?
KATE: Jamesie!
JAMESIE: Yez are no good, I was out there
for several minutes
and I haven't heard a word good or bad
out of either of you.
Jesus, let an aul lad sit down.
Oh, Jaysus.
Did you ever notice,
as the body gets old and stiff,
we stay young in our heads?
And you know, it's only when we're old that
we see the old are the same as the young.
Sure, how would we know?
We're hardly out of short pants.
You can fool yourself,
but you're not fooling me.
- Cheers, Jamesie.
- Cheers, Kate.
Good luck, Joe.
You were missing from mass again,
and it was noticed.
KATE: Ah, I'm sure you know we don't
believe.
Ah Kate, sure none of us believe.
Why do you go, so?
I never get that.
JAMESIE: Well, me, I go to look at the
women.
To see the other hypocrites and to watch
the whole performance.
- So what's your news?
- No news, came looking for news.
- The cuckoo's back. That's my news.
- That's always good news.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
- KATE: So how's the family?
- JAMESIE: They're good Kate.
Jim and Lucy will go abroad in the summer
with the boys,
- and Mags will stay back with us.
- KATE: Oh, nice.
- Yeah.
- Where to?
Well, out foreign some place, to France or
Greece or Spain or someplace.
I'm not too sure.
How are you managing above Bill
since Peter died?
Managing fine now.
So it's just Josie and the daughter and
yourself now?
That's right.
Oi, Bill, tell me,
do you think will Josie marry again?
You're far too fucking nosey, Jamesie.
BILL: Joe, have you any fags?
Of course.
Light!
JOE: Take the box.
Not faulting the company,
but I'll be beating away now.
- JAMESIE: Good luck, Bill.
- I'll see you out.
Were you a bit hard on Jamesie?
Jamesie's too newsy.
All clear.
Good luck now, Bill.
When is it ever going
to get finished, Kate?
You have great patience.
Give our best to Mary.
- I will Kate, I will.
- Good luck now.
Good luck, Joe.
THE SHAH: Oh lord, I love the smell of
roast lamb.
- Is herself inside?
- JOE: Busy getting ready for London.
She's off Tuesday on gallery business.
- Isn't she great, though?
- She loves London.
Isn't that nice?
It'll be a great relief for you,
all the same.
How do you mean?
Listen,
if you talk to the wall tonight,
is the wall going to answer back?
Tell me now, am I right or am I wrong?
Won't you enjoy the bit of peace and quiet?
Ah, Kate!
You're a tonic as ever.
And I thought I was landed with this man
all day!
Lovely to see you.
How are things at the garage?
All go.
Still there.
Still there.
I'm thinking of packing it in.
- JOE: The garage?
- Aye.
JOE: Why?
Ah, I've a lot of mileage up.
I buried three pals this year already.
Lads I went to school with.
Me still bouncing around
like a spring lamb.
- Have you discussed it with anyone else?
- No.
I did have a few words with that lady
at the hotel, all right.
- Mrs. Maguire?
- Mm.
Sure, why not sit on it?
See how you feel in a few weeks.
THE SHAH: That's what we'll do.
THE SHAH: You know...
The rain comes down,
the sun shines,
grass grows.
Children grow old and die.
That's the holy all of it.
We all know it full well,
but can't even whisper it.
(FLY BUZZING)
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
"The days were quiet,
through them ran the sense,
like an underground river,
that there would come a time when
these days would be looked back on as
happiness.
All that life could give of contentment and
peace."
Mary!
MARY: Gently.
Try it now.
Good.
And just roll it, yeah.
Oi, oi, down!
- Come on!
- (WHISTLING)
Come on! That's it.
(BEES BUZZING)
Well, I'll have one in the hand, so.
That ole' range still going well.
Oh, perfectly Patrick.
You did a great job there.
Pity I wouldn't look after my own place so
well!
The cobbler's shoes are the worst.
How long is it in now?
- Oh, five, six years.
- Is it that long?
You've dug in well,
for a pair that came back against the tide.
We always agreed we could go back
if we didn't like it here but,
so far, so good.
I guess you don't see it as I do,
coming from here.
There's a big difference between landing in
and belonging.
In truth, Kate,
I'm away so much now I'm beginning to
feel like a bit of a stranger myself.
I guess then it's good being back.
I suppose.
There's been a big clearout around here
since I was a lad, you know?
Country was walking with people then,
soon there'll be nothing but the water
hen and the swans.
What am I talking about, the people around
here,
aren't they as ignorant as dog shite.
Well, they've been good to us.
What about Jamesie and Mary?
And you! You're a good neighbour, also.
I'm just the jester to the crowd.
KATE: You Irish are funny.
If you're not putting each other down,
you're putting yourself down.
You're not just a jester.
I mean, look what you've done for us.
The range, the studio.
You have no idea what that means to me.
Really.
Why don't you put that away, girl?
- So we can have a proper chat.
- Can we not talk while I work?
It's hard to whistle and chew meal.
Do you think you'll ever make those
pictures of yours pay?
KATE: I doubt it.
Why do you keep at it, then?
KATE: I guess I stick
at it just to get bett at it.
Will you never have children?
Maybe there's enough people in the world,
Patrick.
- Patrick!
- Joe!
How's tricks? You were hardly expecting
me.
We expect you when we see you,
Patrick.
- How have you been?
- Busy.
Lad, people hanging out of me for months.
Hear your poor brother is sick.
Banjaxxed, lad.
Edmund's finished.
In the hospital now, full time.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Give him our best, please.
I'm very fond of Edmund.
I must get in to see him.
I hardly get in to see him myself.
JOE: So what brings you here today?
I came over to work on that friggin'
cathedral outside.
I suppose they're all talking about it.
Yeah, there's no hurry on it.
PATRICK: I'd say Jamesie gets great
mileage out of that job.
We may advance it, all the same.
Are you fit?
How long since we started this?
Oh...
- At least two years.
- Fuck!
You really are in no hurry.
Yerra, nobody lives or dies by it.
You don't hear that too often.
We might have to cut a few of those
branches, lad.
Measure twice, cut once.
That's it now, perfect.
That's us.
Right.
Now.
So?
- The writing, it keeps you going.
- Ah, when I want it to.
Kate's gallery brings in a few bob as well.
Between the two of us we get by.
We still have plenty of time for tipping
about this place.
So, you're happy, lad?
Is that what you're saying?
We have our health.
Peaceful life.
Work that suits us.
Sure, what more can you ask for?
- Are you happy?
- I am in fuck.
I often don't know who I am
one minute to the next.
Why I always liked the acting,
at least then you know who you're
supposed to be.
Easier, I suppose, when there's two kippers
the box.
Do you think?
You've any notions yourself in that line?
Christ, amn't I a bit long in the tooth
for that carry on.
Who'd have me?
"Ageing bachelor with house full of sticks
seeks company."
- You'd be surprised.
- Ah, I'm not looking.
I'll tell you that.
A peaceful life.
Why the fuck didn't
we think to treat the
timbers before putting
the fucking things up
What are you gawking at, lad?
At how the rafters frame the sky.
The squares of light...
are more interesting than the open sky.
More human.
And then the whole sky grows out from
that small space.
People have been locked up for saying
less.
Johnny.
Johnny? Our boy's home from England!
Reporting for duty!
- You're welcome home!
- Great to be back.
- Johnny!
- Joe.
- Great to see you.
- You too.
Go on in there you lad and give Kate
notice.
Tell her to go to no trouble, now!
- They're still here?
- Large as life.
Never thought they'd last.
They'll be taken out in the hearse.
Have they been making any go
of the farm?
They'd pass. That brother of yours is a
great help to them!
All the creatures here are treated like
royals.
There's a cat within
that would get up
on it hind legs and
order breakfast!
Probably has a bath of a Saturday.
Herself inside draws all she sees.
She probably wears the britches.
In England, it's the women wears the
britches.
The men are too washed out to care!
Well if she does, he doesn't seem to mind.
There's a pair of them in it.
Come on, better go in or else they'll think
we're talking about them!
They say what keeps them here is the quiet
and the birds.
Listen to the fucking quiet and see if
it wouldn't drive you daft!
Hup! Ya boy ya!
Rum and black!
You shouldn't have.
JOE: That bottle awaits you from one year
to the next.
JOHNNY: These sandwiches are lovely,
Kate.
It's great meat.
You can't get meat in England, you know?
How are things over?
All A1,
England never changes much.
They've a set way of doing things in
England
More or less, alphabetical.
Not like this place.
You never know what your Irishman's
going to do next.
Sure, he hardly knows himself!
Now.
Patrick here was always best in the plays.
- Had them wetting themselves!
- PATRICK: Yeah, we were all good.
You and I played well off each other.
There were loads at it those days.
We done tonnes of plays.
I can still see you in the Playboy.
"It's little I care if you put a bag on her
JOHNNY: "Send her picking cockles til the
hour of death;
but my son and myself,
we'll be going our own way,
and we'll have great times from this out,
telling stories of the villainy of Mayo."
"And the fools is here, come on now!"
"Go with you, is it?
I will then.
Like a gallant captain and his heathen
slave
Go on, I say.
And I'll see you from this day,
stewing my oatmeal
and pickling my spuds.
For I'm master of all
fights from now, go on I'm saying!"
- "Is it me?"
- "Not a word out of you!
- Go on with it!"
- "Well glory be to God. I'm crazy again."
Good man Pat, fair dues.
Oh, bring back my youth!
And you're still in Fords?
Still there.
They have me in the canteen now,
hoovering the floors and
keeping the toilets clean.
Sure, sure you'd hardly call it work.
Jaysus.
To think so many around here were forced
out to England and America,
and you left a crackin' job here,
netting fish,
to go cleaning English jackses!
You made the mistake of your life when
you left.
JOE: Patrick shows none of us mercy.
PATRICK: I tell the truth and ask no
favours
JOE: That might not always be the best
approach.
PATRICK: Tell me then what is, lad.
Kindness?
Understanding?
Sympathy?
Tact? Humour, maybe.
Put that out in the yard, lad.
At your service.
You wouldn't have made a bad actor
yourself, Joe.
We should've put out an ashtray.
I'm going.
I'll not be back for a while.
You'll have plenty of time to
finish treatin them timbers.
- I'll walk with you.
- JOE: Send our best to Edmund.
PATRICK: Go away back to your peaceful
life!
KATE: Give our best to Mary and Jamesie.
We might walk by later this evening.
All right, thanks Kate, thanks.
Thanks, Joe.
Sorry, I'm sorry.
Jesus, that was some performance.
Have you ever heard
the likes of that all of your life, huh?
What was that about?
"They walked together between the steep
banks of the lane,
the banks were in the full glory of the
summer.
Covered with foxgloves and small,
wild strawberries and green vetches.
The air was scented with wild wood pine."
So, you're writing?
JOE: Yeah, I'm still at it.
A novel? Your last one was really terrific.
Quite a hit, too.
Thanks, Bob.
It might be a novel.
Not quite sure yet what it is.
So... what's it about?
JOE: To be honest, if you don't mind,
I don't like talking about it that much.
Of course, absolutely. Sure.
Bob! So great that you finally got here.
It's so good to be here.
I told you I'd come one day!
What a beautiful place you have.
You know Kate,
this visit wasn't entirely for pleasure.
I'm moving on.
To the National,
to the European collection.
Congratulations!
When did all this happen?
It's been my little
secret, but it's out now
I'm thrilled, naturally, it's a...
big step up the ladder.
Fair play to you.
What will happen to the gallery?
Well, that's partly why I'm here.
I know it's as much your baby as mine,
but I have to move on now.
And as I see it, we can only keep it in the
family as it were,
if you come back and take over.
Or, we sell.
Now don't worry, there's no rush.
I won't start it til May next year.
I have to go, Kate.
I've given it fifteen good years,
five of them alone,
- and now, I have this wonderful opportunity.
- I know, of course, I understand.
Sure.
Don't say anything now.
You'll obviously need to think about it.
It would mean, of course, moving back.
Or you could perhaps keep this place on?
There's someone there.
It's Bill.
- Bill, how are things?
- Good now, Joe.
- Visitor over from England.
- Very good, in fact.
- I'm after getting on the bus.
- What bus?
The bus to Carrick Tuesdays, Father
Conroy's bus, for the pensioners.
He came over to me after mass yesterday
and asked me would I like to go on it and
help Mike and Pat with the auld ones.
Sure, I said I'd be fucking delighted.
That's great news, Bill.
The bus will be coming into the bottom of
the lane in the morning.
Do you want me to wander down with you?
That'd be great!
Sure, why wouldn't you?
Sure, why don't you swing in on your way
down?
I'm sorry I can't invite you in now.
No bother!
Big day for Bill
tomorrow, he's getting
a bu into town
with the old folk.
Oh, good for Bill.
He will love that.
I have to say, he
looks like a character in
a Russian novel, don't you think?
- KATE: He's not from any novel.
- He's all ours.
- BOB: Is he a farmer?
- He slaves for a farmer.
- Slaves?
- JOE: Basically works for nothing.
In his case because he had the poor luck
to be born outside of marriage.
Country's full of battered folk like Bill.
KATE: It's not just that we
built it up from nothing,
though, that does mean a lot.
It's...
What is it?
Well the gallery seemed like an automatic
connection to London.
- I know.
- If we let go...
But your friends
are your friends,
that does require a gallery.
Yeah I know but, I wouldn't go as often
anymore. Would I?
What's your immediate feeling?
I hate to think of losing the gallery.
But it still feels like we're just settling
Makes me feel like we just live here day to
day.
But, isn't that the beauty of it?
Living day to day.
Just doing the work.
Isn't that why we came here?
Why we actually left London?
You know, why don't you...
take your time over it.
Yeah.
Where will I sit, Joe?
Don't be worrying about that!
Just get on the bus and it'll all fall into
place.
You'll be grand.
KATE: There's so much colour.
It's really beautiful.
Jamesie said you'd a visitor from England.
Yeah, Bob, from the gallery in London.
MARY: That must've been nice.
Nice light one for you there.
Easy work.
JOE: You got a card from Italy.
MAGS: Took over a whole week to come.
JOE: "Across her face, there seemed to
pass many feelings and reflections.
It was as if she ached to touch and gather
in and make whole
those scattered years of change.
But how can time be gathered in and
kissed?
There is only flesh."
Haven't seen hide nor hair of Patrick for
ages, have you?
Well, not since the funeral.
What funeral?
Edmund's.
Edmund's dead?
Dead and buried a fortnight ago.
Didn't you hear?
No! Not a word.
Well sure, we both would've gone to the
funeral had we known.
Shite. You'd have heard if you'd gone to
mass.
Sure, you could've told us.
I wanted to tell you, but...
Patrick said not to bother you.
To bother me?
Fuck it!
I should've passed him no heed.
I'm sorry, Joe, I really am.
I should've just gone for you.
Well, hardly matters now.
I'm sorry, Joe.
- How are you, Frank?
- Joe.
- Well, uncle.
- Joseph!
Is it yourself?
- You wanted to see me?
- I did.
Follow me.
Push out that door, there.
So...
You may have noticed that a friendship has
developed
between myself and the lady at the hotel.
- Mrs. Maguire.
- That's the lady.
Susan.
Well, damn it, we're getting married.
- Married?
- Yes.
We haven't fixed it yet.
Congratulations!
Blast ya, I know what you're thinking.
No, I'm delighted for you, really.
Good man.
I'll be needing a best man.
Of course, yeah, I'd be honoured.
Fuck it, I never thought I'd
ever hear mysel say that.
JOE: That's great news.
Just nice and slowly.
Just push straight down.
That's it, slowly.
That's it. Small gap between there and your
thumb.
Through there like that.
Slowly.
- I'm sorry, Jamesie.
- No that's alright.
Okay.
Now you have it, girl.
Been the same since the time of Adam and
Eve.
And then cut it, or go again?
Just bring it
around and we'll use
it then t start
off the next one.
- We can just leave it there for now.
- Ok.
"As summer ended.
Winter not yet in.
The leaves turning.
The little vetch pods on the banks turned
black.
And on the shore, a blue bloom came on
the sloes.
The blackberries moulded and went
unpicked.
Briar leaves changed into browns and reds
and yellows in the low hedges.
Honey was taken from the hives.
For a few brilliant days, the rowanberries
were shining red-orange
in the light from the water.
And then each tree became a noisy
infestation of small birds,
as it trembled with greedy, clamouring life
until it was stripped clean."
(TYPEWRITING CLACKING)
KATE: Hey, it's Jamesie.
Something's wrong.
- Jamesie. - Joe.
- How are things?
- Trouble Joe.
- Oh?
Poor auld Mary is meithered, she hasn't
slept a wink since this came.
Johnny was let go beyond, and he's
coming back to us.
To live? For good?
What will you do?
Mary won't have it.
What's your feeling?
Sure, I can't turn him out like a dog, Joe.
- It's tricky.
- Mhm.
Write to him.
Tell him it's not an option.
I wouldn't know where to begin, Kate.
I wouldn't.
KATE: Joe can write a letter for you.
It's his trade. He's good at it.
And then, you just copy it and send it.
Would you, Joe?
Would you write a letter for us?
I could give it a go.
JAMESIE: Ah be, jaypers, educated
man for the job!
"Dear Johnny, thanks for your letter.
We're all good here, thank God.
We're sorry to hear about your job in
Fords, it must have been a shock.
Me and Mary were talking about your
trouble, and,
although we'd love for you to come back
here for good,
we don't think it will be possible.
Jim and Lucy and the children visit us
often here,
and all the spare rooms are taken up with
them when they are here.
If you were here full time, there just
wouldn't be enough room in the house.
There will always be a room for you here,
during the holidays,
whenever you want to visit.
I hope you understand, Johnny.
Mary is very fond of you,
and feels bad that we can't offer you more,
but it would be just
too tight in the house.
We trust that you'll find another job soon
and that you will land on your feet.
Best wishes, Jamesie.
Your brother.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Best wishes... Sending our best wishes,
sending you our best wishes, Jamesie...
They say the telephones will be brought to
every house around here
before the end of next year.
We won't need to be writing letters
anymore.
Patrick?
Patrick?
What do you want?
JOE: Came to see how you are.
Happy Christmas.
Oh, Christmas.
Brings out the eejit in everybody.
JOE: Here. For Christmas.
What's that?
- JOE: A bottle.
- What for?
- JOE: For the pain.
- What fucking pain?
You bloody chancer!
Ah, you got me.
Thanks, lad.
Here.
Get a fire going there,
before we perish.
Happy Christmas, Patrick Ryan.
We'll have to get that cathedral up
one of the days, huh?
Don't mind that today.
- Are you well?
- Don't I look well?
As ever.
Well lad, we're laughing.
I've to clean up.
Going over to the cousins.
PATRICK: No Edmund this year.
We were very sorry about Edmund.
Ay.
Any new books out?
JOE: No. It's a long time off.
I'd say.
What's it about?
I'm still trying to figure that out.
Does anything happen?
Or is it the usual heavy going?
Not much in the way of drama.
More day-to-day stuff.
I get enough of the day-to-day everyday.
Nothing like a rousing good tale.
Shouting and fighting and crying, huh?
JOE: There's no shortage of those books
knocking about.
You were once for the priesthood.
Yeah, but I quit after a year.
I'd say that was a job that might have
suited ya.
JOE: You heard Jamesie and Mary are off
to Dublin for the Christmas.
Up to Jim and the ball and chain!
- JOE: Not back til the New Year.
- Oh, fuck me.
That'll finish him.
Did you write the letter for them?
JOE: No.
No, we talked about it.
But I think it probably best for everyone
he didn't come back for good.
I think it worked out well.
Aye.
Alphabetical.
Now.
- JOE: Tip top.
- Good.
We'll set sail.
Oh! Oh, come on the spring.
- What's happening in spring?
- The end of fucking winter.
Here, lad. We better throw the wife
and family a bale.
I've to mind the tux.
Now. Good man.
- How many leaves?
- Two or three will do her.
I suppose no more than ourselves, lad.
It makes little differ whether they live or
And you heard my uncle's getting married?
Fuck sake. If he wasn't rich before,
he must be rich now.
I suppose he'll be eating his fill
in your gaff today?
Sure you won't take a lift?
I can go back and get the car.
No, lad.
- Give my best to Kate.
- Will do.
Happy Christmas, Patrick.
(DISTANT CHATTER)
THE SHAH:...Not at all, she can never get
enough of those grandchildren!
And on Christmas day, sure we'll never get
her home!
Ah, Christmas is lovely, isn't it?
That was powerful, Kate.
- Joe did the cooking.
- (LOUD BELCH)
How's the business in London, Kate?
Are we winning?
It was a very good year.
Good to hear.
Cause if we're winning,
the other fella's losing.
Will you have a smoke, Bill?
God, I will.
You don't have to inhale it, Bill.
Now.
Oh, good man.
I'll read it for you.
Which side of the chicken has the most
feathers?
- KATE: I don't know?
- I don't know.
The outside!
JOE: Good man, Bill!
The outside it is!
Good man.
What's orange and sounds like a parrot?
KATE: No idea. Bill?
- Not me.
- A carrot.
Oh, that is a terrible joke!
"As he listened to the two voices he was so
attached to,
and thought back to the afternoon,
the striking of the clocks,
the easy, pleasant company,
the walk around the little shore.
With a rush of feeling,
he felt that this must be happiness.
As soon as the thought came to him,
he fought it back.
Happiness could not be sought,
or worried into being.
Or even fully grasped.
It should be allowed its own, slow pace,
so that it passes unnoticed.
If it ever comes at all."
Sorry, am I disturbing you?
I thought maybe you could do with one
of these.
Thank you.
How many did you had already?
Only four or seven.
These are great.
- Happy New Year.
- Happy New Year, Kate.
(JOYFUL CHEERING)
Squeeze a little in there from the right.
Thank you, yeah, and from the left as well.
Yeah, keep it warm and cosy.
Ok, lovely. No serious faces here, please.
Ok!
(BOISTEROUS CHATTER)
Go ahead, Bill. Enjoy it.
...I've ploughed their fields, built their
houses...
Laid out their dead.
You'd want six hands to keep the fuckers
happy!
He's on song today.
He's rampant. He's only happy when
he's a crowd under him.
- How are you, Frank?
- Joe.
- Jamesie.
- Frank.
You're looking tops today.
T'was herself who put me together.
- Great day.
- The best.
JAMESIE: I bet you never thought you'd
see this day Frank.
FRANK: It came as a shock.
Tell us, are you taking over the garage?
I'll give it a crack anyhow.
- Best of luck to you.
- Thanks, Jamesie.
- Wishing you all the best.
- Thanks, Joe.
Last night I had a pleasant dream
I woke up with a smile
I dreamt that I was back again
In dear old Erin's Isle
I thought I saw Lough Allen's banks
In the valleys down below
It was my lovely Leitrim where
The Shannon water's flow
They're less than the pleasures
I first left behind
For these are my mountains
And this is my glen
The days of my childhood
I see them again
This to every roving eye is known
But I guess that I'd be out of bounds
'Cause there between the northern towns
There's a pretty little girl from Omagh
In the county of Tyrone
She wears my ring and tells her friends
she's gonna marry me
But best of all, she tells them all
she's happy as can be
Oh lucky me
Well I don't know what she's done to me
There's nothing else my eyes can see
Pretty little girl from Omagh
in the county of Tyrone
That pretty little girl from Omagh
in the county of Tyrone
(CHEERING)
Three cheers for the bride and groom!
Hip-hip!
- Hip-hip!
- Hooray!
- Hip-hip!
- Hooray!
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
JAMESIE: Halt!
Can you hear our friend?
(CUCKOO CALLING)
She's two days later than last year.
Go on, go on again, go on.
Have them now.
- Johnny! Welcome back.
- Joe.
Great to see you.
I was just heading into town for...
to pick up a few bits.
Do you fancy a jaunt?
I wouldn't mind but, the bike.
Sure we can hop that in the trailer.
JOHN: Mighty.
I was puffed after
cycling around the shore.
So he never came back, the divil.
- Thanks, Joe.
- Now.
That'll do, hop in.
Sure we may pop into Luke's for one while
we're at it.
JOHN: Oh, lovely.
- A few new faces now.
- Yeah.
I got the golden handshake from Fords.
Mary and Jamesie did their best to get me
to come home for good.
It's great to know you can depend on your
own flesh and blood
when things gets tight.
But it all worked out, more or less.
Alphabetical.
The landlord got wind, set me up nicely in
his new flats.
Basement flat thrown in.
Central heating, telly, the works.
So now I'm on the pigs back!
Don't even have to leave home to work.
JOE: Sounds like you landed on your feet.
What's the work like?
Just, changing fuses and bulbs and so on.
Easy, but it keeps me busy.
The Kiernan's house.
Good, solid people.
Foley's next door is scruff.
You still know more of the houses and
people than I do.
I was old enough when I left.
You never know a place better than the
one you grew up in.
Things were getting tight in the house.
Very tight, now.
Mary had just moved in.
Daddy was still there.
And Jamesie and me weren't great.
Patrick was always there too.
But, wasn't there a woman involved?
Oh, aye.
Anna Mac.
Suppose you heard about her?
She played Pegeen in the Playboy that time
and...
we got on famous, and I used to walk her
home from rehearsals,
and I was surely mad about her.
I was gutted when she went to London
and I don't mind admitting that.
And maybe...
Maybe that made it easier to go,
but do you know Joe,
I'd been thinking about getting out of the
house for a long time by then.
It was just too...
Too tight.
Do you ever regret not coming home when
it didn't work out with Anna?
Sure, what use is regret?
You can't light the fire with regret.
There's no re-runs.
It's not a play.
Now lads, these are on the house.
It's not everyday we have Johnny home
with us from England.
Ah, God bless you, Nora.
To your good health.
- Slainte.
- Slainte.
Oh, shite! I've to make it to the shop
before it shuts at six.
- I'll be back in a minute.
- You wouldn't leave me, Joe.
You wouldn't forget me.
Lord bless us Johnny, I've never left
anyone behind yet.
Yerra, the shop can wait
for another day.
Two more pints, please Nora.
Thanks, Joe.
Are you sure? It'll only take me
a couple of seconds to spin you up.
No! They'll think I've gone soft.
I'll just doddle up at my ease.
- I'll get that.
- All right.
Thanks, Joe.
I enjoyed that.
Put the whole day round nicely.
Yeah, it was great.
Are you sure now?
Certain. We're all A1.
Completely alphabetical.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
(CAR ENGINE REVVS, PULLS AWAY)
(BIRDS TWEETING)
- Very sorry for your loss, Jamesie.
- I know that Frank, I know that well.
Jamesie, I'm so sorry for your loss.
I know, thank you very much.
Thanks for coming around, thank you.
Moana.
- I'm so sorry for your loss.
- Thank you.
Joe! Poor Johnny.
- Poor Johnny. And Kate.
- JOE: Jamesie, I'm so sorry.
JAMESIE: Doctor said it could've
happened any day.
- Any sign of Patrick?
- There's no trace, Mary.
Sent word out far and wide.
How long can you wait?
Well, he's dead nearly
four hours Joe, so...
Can't wait much longer.
KATE: Is there anything that we can do,
Jamesie?
JAMESIE: Unless you know where Patrick
is, Kate.
Patrick will have to be found because
Johnny will have to be laid out.
I'll lay him out.
Would you be able, Joe?
I think so. I worked in a hospital as a
student once,
and there were a few days at the mortuary.
God, if you thought you could,
that'd be great.
Yeah, I'll manage it,
especially if I get good help.
- Right.
- I'll help.
I don't mind, I can take instructions.
Oh, Frank.
God, maybe before you start you need a
good stiff whiskey.
All you'll need is in the room, and if you
want anything knock hard on the door
- and Jamesie'll come down.
- Thanks, Mary.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
The poor man.
We gave him the door.
You were very good to Johnny.
FRANK: Here, lift him up.
Yeah, maybe lean him towards you.
- Maybe...
- Put the jacket under.
Rosary beads...
FRANK: The crucifix needs to face him.
I'll show you, that's it.
Do a loop, two loo
That's it.
He looks perfect.
God bless you, Johnny, go well.
He's beautiful.
The First Sorrowful Mystery:
The agony in the garden.
Our Father who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against
us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee,
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail, holy Queen,
mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness,
and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children
of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine
eye of mercy toward us,
and after this our
exile show us the
blessed fruit of
thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Eternal rest grant
unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual
light shine upon him.
May his soul, and the
souls of all the faith departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Patrick.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I know how great you were with Johnny.
You laid him out.
- We did.
- I might've known.
Why didn't you wait for me, lad?
Were you that greedy to get stuck in?
Nobody could find you, Patrick.
High or low.
People knew important word would
always get to me.
He'd already been dead four hours.
People were filling in,
couldn't wait any longer.
Suppose it was that grease monkey Dolan
helped you botch the job.
Frank was a great help, I couldn't have
done without him.
Some face to give a poor man leaving this
world.
Some face for his appearance in the next...
- People seemed pleased enough.
- People know nothing, lad!
All they want to do is eat and drink and
ride!
But some people know.
I know.
I know.
- Patrick.
- I know.
Johnny... Johnny...
I'm not going to go back to the gallery.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
Really?
I thought...
Well, you were so quiet about it.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
It was swarming with monks here,
one time.
Run with an iron fist.
JOE: It's peaceful now, though.
PATRICK: Do you think so, lad?
Isn't the country
still bullin' with religio
Everyone afraid to wipe his arse with grass
in case it's a sin.
BILL: Better with hay anyhow.
Give us that hack, Joe.
That'll do you, lad.
God rest the dead.
Well, fuck it.
I've marked the grave out wrong.
I knew there was something up when I saw
the bones.
We've widened the wrong end and put his
feet in the west.
- Does it make a difference?
- Makes every difference lad.
Or no difference.
Johnny will sleep with
his head in the west.
So that when he wakes,
he may face the rising sun.
We look to the resurrection of the dead.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
(MUSIC FADES OUT)
"A flickering half light,
and the room went out as if in a dream
to include the trees and the fields,
and the glowing deep light of the sky.
In this soft light... in this soft light,
the room seemed to grow enormous,
and everything to fill with repose."
(DOOR OPENING)
MAN: Hello?
MAN: Hello?
KATE: Jamesie!
JAMESIE: Yez are no good, I was out there
for several minutes
and I haven't heard a word good or bad
out of either of you.
Jesus, let an aul lad sit down.
Oh, Jaysus.
Did you ever notice,
as the body gets old and stiff,
we stay young in our heads?
And you know, it's only when we're old that
we see the old are the same as the young.
Sure, how would we know?
We're hardly out of short pants.
You can fool yourself,
but you're not fooling me.
- Cheers, Jamesie.
- Cheers, Kate.
Good luck, Joe.
You were missing from mass again,
and it was noticed.
KATE: Ah, I'm sure you know we don't
believe.
Ah Kate, sure none of us believe.
Why do you go, so?
I never get that.
JAMESIE: Well, me, I go to look at the
women.
To see the other hypocrites and to watch
the whole performance.
- So what's your news?
- No news, came looking for news.
- The cuckoo's back. That's my news.
- That's always good news.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
- KATE: So how's the family?
- JAMESIE: They're good Kate.
Jim and Lucy will go abroad in the summer
with the boys,
- and Mags will stay back with us.
- KATE: Oh, nice.
- Yeah.
- Where to?
Well, out foreign some place, to France or
Greece or Spain or someplace.
I'm not too sure.
How are you managing above Bill
since Peter died?
Managing fine now.
So it's just Josie and the daughter and
yourself now?
That's right.
Oi, Bill, tell me,
do you think will Josie marry again?
You're far too fucking nosey, Jamesie.
BILL: Joe, have you any fags?
Of course.
Light!
JOE: Take the box.
Not faulting the company,
but I'll be beating away now.
- JAMESIE: Good luck, Bill.
- I'll see you out.
Were you a bit hard on Jamesie?
Jamesie's too newsy.
All clear.
Good luck now, Bill.
When is it ever going
to get finished, Kate?
You have great patience.
Give our best to Mary.
- I will Kate, I will.
- Good luck now.
Good luck, Joe.
THE SHAH: Oh lord, I love the smell of
roast lamb.
- Is herself inside?
- JOE: Busy getting ready for London.
She's off Tuesday on gallery business.
- Isn't she great, though?
- She loves London.
Isn't that nice?
It'll be a great relief for you,
all the same.
How do you mean?
Listen,
if you talk to the wall tonight,
is the wall going to answer back?
Tell me now, am I right or am I wrong?
Won't you enjoy the bit of peace and quiet?
Ah, Kate!
You're a tonic as ever.
And I thought I was landed with this man
all day!
Lovely to see you.
How are things at the garage?
All go.
Still there.
Still there.
I'm thinking of packing it in.
- JOE: The garage?
- Aye.
JOE: Why?
Ah, I've a lot of mileage up.
I buried three pals this year already.
Lads I went to school with.
Me still bouncing around
like a spring lamb.
- Have you discussed it with anyone else?
- No.
I did have a few words with that lady
at the hotel, all right.
- Mrs. Maguire?
- Mm.
Sure, why not sit on it?
See how you feel in a few weeks.
THE SHAH: That's what we'll do.
THE SHAH: You know...
The rain comes down,
the sun shines,
grass grows.
Children grow old and die.
That's the holy all of it.
We all know it full well,
but can't even whisper it.
(FLY BUZZING)
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
"The days were quiet,
through them ran the sense,
like an underground river,
that there would come a time when
these days would be looked back on as
happiness.
All that life could give of contentment and
peace."
Mary!
MARY: Gently.
Try it now.
Good.
And just roll it, yeah.
Oi, oi, down!
- Come on!
- (WHISTLING)
Come on! That's it.
(BEES BUZZING)
Well, I'll have one in the hand, so.
That ole' range still going well.
Oh, perfectly Patrick.
You did a great job there.
Pity I wouldn't look after my own place so
well!
The cobbler's shoes are the worst.
How long is it in now?
- Oh, five, six years.
- Is it that long?
You've dug in well,
for a pair that came back against the tide.
We always agreed we could go back
if we didn't like it here but,
so far, so good.
I guess you don't see it as I do,
coming from here.
There's a big difference between landing in
and belonging.
In truth, Kate,
I'm away so much now I'm beginning to
feel like a bit of a stranger myself.
I guess then it's good being back.
I suppose.
There's been a big clearout around here
since I was a lad, you know?
Country was walking with people then,
soon there'll be nothing but the water
hen and the swans.
What am I talking about, the people around
here,
aren't they as ignorant as dog shite.
Well, they've been good to us.
What about Jamesie and Mary?
And you! You're a good neighbour, also.
I'm just the jester to the crowd.
KATE: You Irish are funny.
If you're not putting each other down,
you're putting yourself down.
You're not just a jester.
I mean, look what you've done for us.
The range, the studio.
You have no idea what that means to me.
Really.
Why don't you put that away, girl?
- So we can have a proper chat.
- Can we not talk while I work?
It's hard to whistle and chew meal.
Do you think you'll ever make those
pictures of yours pay?
KATE: I doubt it.
Why do you keep at it, then?
KATE: I guess I stick
at it just to get bett at it.
Will you never have children?
Maybe there's enough people in the world,
Patrick.
- Patrick!
- Joe!
How's tricks? You were hardly expecting
me.
We expect you when we see you,
Patrick.
- How have you been?
- Busy.
Lad, people hanging out of me for months.
Hear your poor brother is sick.
Banjaxxed, lad.
Edmund's finished.
In the hospital now, full time.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Give him our best, please.
I'm very fond of Edmund.
I must get in to see him.
I hardly get in to see him myself.
JOE: So what brings you here today?
I came over to work on that friggin'
cathedral outside.
I suppose they're all talking about it.
Yeah, there's no hurry on it.
PATRICK: I'd say Jamesie gets great
mileage out of that job.
We may advance it, all the same.
Are you fit?
How long since we started this?
Oh...
- At least two years.
- Fuck!
You really are in no hurry.
Yerra, nobody lives or dies by it.
You don't hear that too often.
We might have to cut a few of those
branches, lad.
Measure twice, cut once.
That's it now, perfect.
That's us.
Right.
Now.
So?
- The writing, it keeps you going.
- Ah, when I want it to.
Kate's gallery brings in a few bob as well.
Between the two of us we get by.
We still have plenty of time for tipping
about this place.
So, you're happy, lad?
Is that what you're saying?
We have our health.
Peaceful life.
Work that suits us.
Sure, what more can you ask for?
- Are you happy?
- I am in fuck.
I often don't know who I am
one minute to the next.
Why I always liked the acting,
at least then you know who you're
supposed to be.
Easier, I suppose, when there's two kippers
the box.
Do you think?
You've any notions yourself in that line?
Christ, amn't I a bit long in the tooth
for that carry on.
Who'd have me?
"Ageing bachelor with house full of sticks
seeks company."
- You'd be surprised.
- Ah, I'm not looking.
I'll tell you that.
A peaceful life.
Why the fuck didn't
we think to treat the
timbers before putting
the fucking things up
What are you gawking at, lad?
At how the rafters frame the sky.
The squares of light...
are more interesting than the open sky.
More human.
And then the whole sky grows out from
that small space.
People have been locked up for saying
less.
Johnny.
Johnny? Our boy's home from England!
Reporting for duty!
- You're welcome home!
- Great to be back.
- Johnny!
- Joe.
- Great to see you.
- You too.
Go on in there you lad and give Kate
notice.
Tell her to go to no trouble, now!
- They're still here?
- Large as life.
Never thought they'd last.
They'll be taken out in the hearse.
Have they been making any go
of the farm?
They'd pass. That brother of yours is a
great help to them!
All the creatures here are treated like
royals.
There's a cat within
that would get up
on it hind legs and
order breakfast!
Probably has a bath of a Saturday.
Herself inside draws all she sees.
She probably wears the britches.
In England, it's the women wears the
britches.
The men are too washed out to care!
Well if she does, he doesn't seem to mind.
There's a pair of them in it.
Come on, better go in or else they'll think
we're talking about them!
They say what keeps them here is the quiet
and the birds.
Listen to the fucking quiet and see if
it wouldn't drive you daft!
Hup! Ya boy ya!
Rum and black!
You shouldn't have.
JOE: That bottle awaits you from one year
to the next.
JOHNNY: These sandwiches are lovely,
Kate.
It's great meat.
You can't get meat in England, you know?
How are things over?
All A1,
England never changes much.
They've a set way of doing things in
England
More or less, alphabetical.
Not like this place.
You never know what your Irishman's
going to do next.
Sure, he hardly knows himself!
Now.
Patrick here was always best in the plays.
- Had them wetting themselves!
- PATRICK: Yeah, we were all good.
You and I played well off each other.
There were loads at it those days.
We done tonnes of plays.
I can still see you in the Playboy.
"It's little I care if you put a bag on her
JOHNNY: "Send her picking cockles til the
hour of death;
but my son and myself,
we'll be going our own way,
and we'll have great times from this out,
telling stories of the villainy of Mayo."
"And the fools is here, come on now!"
"Go with you, is it?
I will then.
Like a gallant captain and his heathen
slave
Go on, I say.
And I'll see you from this day,
stewing my oatmeal
and pickling my spuds.
For I'm master of all
fights from now, go on I'm saying!"
- "Is it me?"
- "Not a word out of you!
- Go on with it!"
- "Well glory be to God. I'm crazy again."
Good man Pat, fair dues.
Oh, bring back my youth!
And you're still in Fords?
Still there.
They have me in the canteen now,
hoovering the floors and
keeping the toilets clean.
Sure, sure you'd hardly call it work.
Jaysus.
To think so many around here were forced
out to England and America,
and you left a crackin' job here,
netting fish,
to go cleaning English jackses!
You made the mistake of your life when
you left.
JOE: Patrick shows none of us mercy.
PATRICK: I tell the truth and ask no
favours
JOE: That might not always be the best
approach.
PATRICK: Tell me then what is, lad.
Kindness?
Understanding?
Sympathy?
Tact? Humour, maybe.
Put that out in the yard, lad.
At your service.
You wouldn't have made a bad actor
yourself, Joe.
We should've put out an ashtray.
I'm going.
I'll not be back for a while.
You'll have plenty of time to
finish treatin them timbers.
- I'll walk with you.
- JOE: Send our best to Edmund.
PATRICK: Go away back to your peaceful
life!
KATE: Give our best to Mary and Jamesie.
We might walk by later this evening.
All right, thanks Kate, thanks.
Thanks, Joe.
Sorry, I'm sorry.
Jesus, that was some performance.
Have you ever heard
the likes of that all of your life, huh?
What was that about?
"They walked together between the steep
banks of the lane,
the banks were in the full glory of the
summer.
Covered with foxgloves and small,
wild strawberries and green vetches.
The air was scented with wild wood pine."
So, you're writing?
JOE: Yeah, I'm still at it.
A novel? Your last one was really terrific.
Quite a hit, too.
Thanks, Bob.
It might be a novel.
Not quite sure yet what it is.
So... what's it about?
JOE: To be honest, if you don't mind,
I don't like talking about it that much.
Of course, absolutely. Sure.
Bob! So great that you finally got here.
It's so good to be here.
I told you I'd come one day!
What a beautiful place you have.
You know Kate,
this visit wasn't entirely for pleasure.
I'm moving on.
To the National,
to the European collection.
Congratulations!
When did all this happen?
It's been my little
secret, but it's out now
I'm thrilled, naturally, it's a...
big step up the ladder.
Fair play to you.
What will happen to the gallery?
Well, that's partly why I'm here.
I know it's as much your baby as mine,
but I have to move on now.
And as I see it, we can only keep it in the
family as it were,
if you come back and take over.
Or, we sell.
Now don't worry, there's no rush.
I won't start it til May next year.
I have to go, Kate.
I've given it fifteen good years,
five of them alone,
- and now, I have this wonderful opportunity.
- I know, of course, I understand.
Sure.
Don't say anything now.
You'll obviously need to think about it.
It would mean, of course, moving back.
Or you could perhaps keep this place on?
There's someone there.
It's Bill.
- Bill, how are things?
- Good now, Joe.
- Visitor over from England.
- Very good, in fact.
- I'm after getting on the bus.
- What bus?
The bus to Carrick Tuesdays, Father
Conroy's bus, for the pensioners.
He came over to me after mass yesterday
and asked me would I like to go on it and
help Mike and Pat with the auld ones.
Sure, I said I'd be fucking delighted.
That's great news, Bill.
The bus will be coming into the bottom of
the lane in the morning.
Do you want me to wander down with you?
That'd be great!
Sure, why wouldn't you?
Sure, why don't you swing in on your way
down?
I'm sorry I can't invite you in now.
No bother!
Big day for Bill
tomorrow, he's getting
a bu into town
with the old folk.
Oh, good for Bill.
He will love that.
I have to say, he
looks like a character in
a Russian novel, don't you think?
- KATE: He's not from any novel.
- He's all ours.
- BOB: Is he a farmer?
- He slaves for a farmer.
- Slaves?
- JOE: Basically works for nothing.
In his case because he had the poor luck
to be born outside of marriage.
Country's full of battered folk like Bill.
KATE: It's not just that we
built it up from nothing,
though, that does mean a lot.
It's...
What is it?
Well the gallery seemed like an automatic
connection to London.
- I know.
- If we let go...
But your friends
are your friends,
that does require a gallery.
Yeah I know but, I wouldn't go as often
anymore. Would I?
What's your immediate feeling?
I hate to think of losing the gallery.
But it still feels like we're just settling
Makes me feel like we just live here day to
day.
But, isn't that the beauty of it?
Living day to day.
Just doing the work.
Isn't that why we came here?
Why we actually left London?
You know, why don't you...
take your time over it.
Yeah.
Where will I sit, Joe?
Don't be worrying about that!
Just get on the bus and it'll all fall into
place.
You'll be grand.
KATE: There's so much colour.
It's really beautiful.
Jamesie said you'd a visitor from England.
Yeah, Bob, from the gallery in London.
MARY: That must've been nice.
Nice light one for you there.
Easy work.
JOE: You got a card from Italy.
MAGS: Took over a whole week to come.
JOE: "Across her face, there seemed to
pass many feelings and reflections.
It was as if she ached to touch and gather
in and make whole
those scattered years of change.
But how can time be gathered in and
kissed?
There is only flesh."
Haven't seen hide nor hair of Patrick for
ages, have you?
Well, not since the funeral.
What funeral?
Edmund's.
Edmund's dead?
Dead and buried a fortnight ago.
Didn't you hear?
No! Not a word.
Well sure, we both would've gone to the
funeral had we known.
Shite. You'd have heard if you'd gone to
mass.
Sure, you could've told us.
I wanted to tell you, but...
Patrick said not to bother you.
To bother me?
Fuck it!
I should've passed him no heed.
I'm sorry, Joe, I really am.
I should've just gone for you.
Well, hardly matters now.
I'm sorry, Joe.
- How are you, Frank?
- Joe.
- Well, uncle.
- Joseph!
Is it yourself?
- You wanted to see me?
- I did.
Follow me.
Push out that door, there.
So...
You may have noticed that a friendship has
developed
between myself and the lady at the hotel.
- Mrs. Maguire.
- That's the lady.
Susan.
Well, damn it, we're getting married.
- Married?
- Yes.
We haven't fixed it yet.
Congratulations!
Blast ya, I know what you're thinking.
No, I'm delighted for you, really.
Good man.
I'll be needing a best man.
Of course, yeah, I'd be honoured.
Fuck it, I never thought I'd
ever hear mysel say that.
JOE: That's great news.
Just nice and slowly.
Just push straight down.
That's it, slowly.
That's it. Small gap between there and your
thumb.
Through there like that.
Slowly.
- I'm sorry, Jamesie.
- No that's alright.
Okay.
Now you have it, girl.
Been the same since the time of Adam and
Eve.
And then cut it, or go again?
Just bring it
around and we'll use
it then t start
off the next one.
- We can just leave it there for now.
- Ok.
"As summer ended.
Winter not yet in.
The leaves turning.
The little vetch pods on the banks turned
black.
And on the shore, a blue bloom came on
the sloes.
The blackberries moulded and went
unpicked.
Briar leaves changed into browns and reds
and yellows in the low hedges.
Honey was taken from the hives.
For a few brilliant days, the rowanberries
were shining red-orange
in the light from the water.
And then each tree became a noisy
infestation of small birds,
as it trembled with greedy, clamouring life
until it was stripped clean."
(TYPEWRITING CLACKING)
KATE: Hey, it's Jamesie.
Something's wrong.
- Jamesie. - Joe.
- How are things?
- Trouble Joe.
- Oh?
Poor auld Mary is meithered, she hasn't
slept a wink since this came.
Johnny was let go beyond, and he's
coming back to us.
To live? For good?
What will you do?
Mary won't have it.
What's your feeling?
Sure, I can't turn him out like a dog, Joe.
- It's tricky.
- Mhm.
Write to him.
Tell him it's not an option.
I wouldn't know where to begin, Kate.
I wouldn't.
KATE: Joe can write a letter for you.
It's his trade. He's good at it.
And then, you just copy it and send it.
Would you, Joe?
Would you write a letter for us?
I could give it a go.
JAMESIE: Ah be, jaypers, educated
man for the job!
"Dear Johnny, thanks for your letter.
We're all good here, thank God.
We're sorry to hear about your job in
Fords, it must have been a shock.
Me and Mary were talking about your
trouble, and,
although we'd love for you to come back
here for good,
we don't think it will be possible.
Jim and Lucy and the children visit us
often here,
and all the spare rooms are taken up with
them when they are here.
If you were here full time, there just
wouldn't be enough room in the house.
There will always be a room for you here,
during the holidays,
whenever you want to visit.
I hope you understand, Johnny.
Mary is very fond of you,
and feels bad that we can't offer you more,
but it would be just
too tight in the house.
We trust that you'll find another job soon
and that you will land on your feet.
Best wishes, Jamesie.
Your brother.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Best wishes... Sending our best wishes,
sending you our best wishes, Jamesie...
They say the telephones will be brought to
every house around here
before the end of next year.
We won't need to be writing letters
anymore.
Patrick?
Patrick?
What do you want?
JOE: Came to see how you are.
Happy Christmas.
Oh, Christmas.
Brings out the eejit in everybody.
JOE: Here. For Christmas.
What's that?
- JOE: A bottle.
- What for?
- JOE: For the pain.
- What fucking pain?
You bloody chancer!
Ah, you got me.
Thanks, lad.
Here.
Get a fire going there,
before we perish.
Happy Christmas, Patrick Ryan.
We'll have to get that cathedral up
one of the days, huh?
Don't mind that today.
- Are you well?
- Don't I look well?
As ever.
Well lad, we're laughing.
I've to clean up.
Going over to the cousins.
PATRICK: No Edmund this year.
We were very sorry about Edmund.
Ay.
Any new books out?
JOE: No. It's a long time off.
I'd say.
What's it about?
I'm still trying to figure that out.
Does anything happen?
Or is it the usual heavy going?
Not much in the way of drama.
More day-to-day stuff.
I get enough of the day-to-day everyday.
Nothing like a rousing good tale.
Shouting and fighting and crying, huh?
JOE: There's no shortage of those books
knocking about.
You were once for the priesthood.
Yeah, but I quit after a year.
I'd say that was a job that might have
suited ya.
JOE: You heard Jamesie and Mary are off
to Dublin for the Christmas.
Up to Jim and the ball and chain!
- JOE: Not back til the New Year.
- Oh, fuck me.
That'll finish him.
Did you write the letter for them?
JOE: No.
No, we talked about it.
But I think it probably best for everyone
he didn't come back for good.
I think it worked out well.
Aye.
Alphabetical.
Now.
- JOE: Tip top.
- Good.
We'll set sail.
Oh! Oh, come on the spring.
- What's happening in spring?
- The end of fucking winter.
Here, lad. We better throw the wife
and family a bale.
I've to mind the tux.
Now. Good man.
- How many leaves?
- Two or three will do her.
I suppose no more than ourselves, lad.
It makes little differ whether they live or
And you heard my uncle's getting married?
Fuck sake. If he wasn't rich before,
he must be rich now.
I suppose he'll be eating his fill
in your gaff today?
Sure you won't take a lift?
I can go back and get the car.
No, lad.
- Give my best to Kate.
- Will do.
Happy Christmas, Patrick.
(DISTANT CHATTER)
THE SHAH:...Not at all, she can never get
enough of those grandchildren!
And on Christmas day, sure we'll never get
her home!
Ah, Christmas is lovely, isn't it?
That was powerful, Kate.
- Joe did the cooking.
- (LOUD BELCH)
How's the business in London, Kate?
Are we winning?
It was a very good year.
Good to hear.
Cause if we're winning,
the other fella's losing.
Will you have a smoke, Bill?
God, I will.
You don't have to inhale it, Bill.
Now.
Oh, good man.
I'll read it for you.
Which side of the chicken has the most
feathers?
- KATE: I don't know?
- I don't know.
The outside!
JOE: Good man, Bill!
The outside it is!
Good man.
What's orange and sounds like a parrot?
KATE: No idea. Bill?
- Not me.
- A carrot.
Oh, that is a terrible joke!
"As he listened to the two voices he was so
attached to,
and thought back to the afternoon,
the striking of the clocks,
the easy, pleasant company,
the walk around the little shore.
With a rush of feeling,
he felt that this must be happiness.
As soon as the thought came to him,
he fought it back.
Happiness could not be sought,
or worried into being.
Or even fully grasped.
It should be allowed its own, slow pace,
so that it passes unnoticed.
If it ever comes at all."
Sorry, am I disturbing you?
I thought maybe you could do with one
of these.
Thank you.
How many did you had already?
Only four or seven.
These are great.
- Happy New Year.
- Happy New Year, Kate.
(JOYFUL CHEERING)
Squeeze a little in there from the right.
Thank you, yeah, and from the left as well.
Yeah, keep it warm and cosy.
Ok, lovely. No serious faces here, please.
Ok!
(BOISTEROUS CHATTER)
Go ahead, Bill. Enjoy it.
...I've ploughed their fields, built their
houses...
Laid out their dead.
You'd want six hands to keep the fuckers
happy!
He's on song today.
He's rampant. He's only happy when
he's a crowd under him.
- How are you, Frank?
- Joe.
- Jamesie.
- Frank.
You're looking tops today.
T'was herself who put me together.
- Great day.
- The best.
JAMESIE: I bet you never thought you'd
see this day Frank.
FRANK: It came as a shock.
Tell us, are you taking over the garage?
I'll give it a crack anyhow.
- Best of luck to you.
- Thanks, Jamesie.
- Wishing you all the best.
- Thanks, Joe.
Last night I had a pleasant dream
I woke up with a smile
I dreamt that I was back again
In dear old Erin's Isle
I thought I saw Lough Allen's banks
In the valleys down below
It was my lovely Leitrim where
The Shannon water's flow
They're less than the pleasures
I first left behind
For these are my mountains
And this is my glen
The days of my childhood
I see them again
This to every roving eye is known
But I guess that I'd be out of bounds
'Cause there between the northern towns
There's a pretty little girl from Omagh
In the county of Tyrone
She wears my ring and tells her friends
she's gonna marry me
But best of all, she tells them all
she's happy as can be
Oh lucky me
Well I don't know what she's done to me
There's nothing else my eyes can see
Pretty little girl from Omagh
in the county of Tyrone
That pretty little girl from Omagh
in the county of Tyrone
(CHEERING)
Three cheers for the bride and groom!
Hip-hip!
- Hip-hip!
- Hooray!
- Hip-hip!
- Hooray!
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
JAMESIE: Halt!
Can you hear our friend?
(CUCKOO CALLING)
She's two days later than last year.
Go on, go on again, go on.
Have them now.
- Johnny! Welcome back.
- Joe.
Great to see you.
I was just heading into town for...
to pick up a few bits.
Do you fancy a jaunt?
I wouldn't mind but, the bike.
Sure we can hop that in the trailer.
JOHN: Mighty.
I was puffed after
cycling around the shore.
So he never came back, the divil.
- Thanks, Joe.
- Now.
That'll do, hop in.
Sure we may pop into Luke's for one while
we're at it.
JOHN: Oh, lovely.
- A few new faces now.
- Yeah.
I got the golden handshake from Fords.
Mary and Jamesie did their best to get me
to come home for good.
It's great to know you can depend on your
own flesh and blood
when things gets tight.
But it all worked out, more or less.
Alphabetical.
The landlord got wind, set me up nicely in
his new flats.
Basement flat thrown in.
Central heating, telly, the works.
So now I'm on the pigs back!
Don't even have to leave home to work.
JOE: Sounds like you landed on your feet.
What's the work like?
Just, changing fuses and bulbs and so on.
Easy, but it keeps me busy.
The Kiernan's house.
Good, solid people.
Foley's next door is scruff.
You still know more of the houses and
people than I do.
I was old enough when I left.
You never know a place better than the
one you grew up in.
Things were getting tight in the house.
Very tight, now.
Mary had just moved in.
Daddy was still there.
And Jamesie and me weren't great.
Patrick was always there too.
But, wasn't there a woman involved?
Oh, aye.
Anna Mac.
Suppose you heard about her?
She played Pegeen in the Playboy that time
and...
we got on famous, and I used to walk her
home from rehearsals,
and I was surely mad about her.
I was gutted when she went to London
and I don't mind admitting that.
And maybe...
Maybe that made it easier to go,
but do you know Joe,
I'd been thinking about getting out of the
house for a long time by then.
It was just too...
Too tight.
Do you ever regret not coming home when
it didn't work out with Anna?
Sure, what use is regret?
You can't light the fire with regret.
There's no re-runs.
It's not a play.
Now lads, these are on the house.
It's not everyday we have Johnny home
with us from England.
Ah, God bless you, Nora.
To your good health.
- Slainte.
- Slainte.
Oh, shite! I've to make it to the shop
before it shuts at six.
- I'll be back in a minute.
- You wouldn't leave me, Joe.
You wouldn't forget me.
Lord bless us Johnny, I've never left
anyone behind yet.
Yerra, the shop can wait
for another day.
Two more pints, please Nora.
Thanks, Joe.
Are you sure? It'll only take me
a couple of seconds to spin you up.
No! They'll think I've gone soft.
I'll just doddle up at my ease.
- I'll get that.
- All right.
Thanks, Joe.
I enjoyed that.
Put the whole day round nicely.
Yeah, it was great.
Are you sure now?
Certain. We're all A1.
Completely alphabetical.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
(CAR ENGINE REVVS, PULLS AWAY)
(BIRDS TWEETING)
- Very sorry for your loss, Jamesie.
- I know that Frank, I know that well.
Jamesie, I'm so sorry for your loss.
I know, thank you very much.
Thanks for coming around, thank you.
Moana.
- I'm so sorry for your loss.
- Thank you.
Joe! Poor Johnny.
- Poor Johnny. And Kate.
- JOE: Jamesie, I'm so sorry.
JAMESIE: Doctor said it could've
happened any day.
- Any sign of Patrick?
- There's no trace, Mary.
Sent word out far and wide.
How long can you wait?
Well, he's dead nearly
four hours Joe, so...
Can't wait much longer.
KATE: Is there anything that we can do,
Jamesie?
JAMESIE: Unless you know where Patrick
is, Kate.
Patrick will have to be found because
Johnny will have to be laid out.
I'll lay him out.
Would you be able, Joe?
I think so. I worked in a hospital as a
student once,
and there were a few days at the mortuary.
God, if you thought you could,
that'd be great.
Yeah, I'll manage it,
especially if I get good help.
- Right.
- I'll help.
I don't mind, I can take instructions.
Oh, Frank.
God, maybe before you start you need a
good stiff whiskey.
All you'll need is in the room, and if you
want anything knock hard on the door
- and Jamesie'll come down.
- Thanks, Mary.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
The poor man.
We gave him the door.
You were very good to Johnny.
FRANK: Here, lift him up.
Yeah, maybe lean him towards you.
- Maybe...
- Put the jacket under.
Rosary beads...
FRANK: The crucifix needs to face him.
I'll show you, that's it.
Do a loop, two loo
That's it.
He looks perfect.
God bless you, Johnny, go well.
He's beautiful.
The First Sorrowful Mystery:
The agony in the garden.
Our Father who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against
us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee,
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee
blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our sins
now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Hail, holy Queen,
mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness,
and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children
of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine
eye of mercy toward us,
and after this our
exile show us the
blessed fruit of
thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Eternal rest grant
unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual
light shine upon him.
May his soul, and the
souls of all the faith departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Patrick.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I know how great you were with Johnny.
You laid him out.
- We did.
- I might've known.
Why didn't you wait for me, lad?
Were you that greedy to get stuck in?
Nobody could find you, Patrick.
High or low.
People knew important word would
always get to me.
He'd already been dead four hours.
People were filling in,
couldn't wait any longer.
Suppose it was that grease monkey Dolan
helped you botch the job.
Frank was a great help, I couldn't have
done without him.
Some face to give a poor man leaving this
world.
Some face for his appearance in the next...
- People seemed pleased enough.
- People know nothing, lad!
All they want to do is eat and drink and
ride!
But some people know.
I know.
I know.
- Patrick.
- I know.
Johnny... Johnny...
I'm not going to go back to the gallery.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
Really?
I thought...
Well, you were so quiet about it.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
It was swarming with monks here,
one time.
Run with an iron fist.
JOE: It's peaceful now, though.
PATRICK: Do you think so, lad?
Isn't the country
still bullin' with religio
Everyone afraid to wipe his arse with grass
in case it's a sin.
BILL: Better with hay anyhow.
Give us that hack, Joe.
That'll do you, lad.
God rest the dead.
Well, fuck it.
I've marked the grave out wrong.
I knew there was something up when I saw
the bones.
We've widened the wrong end and put his
feet in the west.
- Does it make a difference?
- Makes every difference lad.
Or no difference.
Johnny will sleep with
his head in the west.
So that when he wakes,
he may face the rising sun.
We look to the resurrection of the dead.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)