BALLYKISSANGEL
Episode 6.3
"The Cat and Daddy G"
Written by Kieran Prendiville
Transcribed by Margaret Pattison

SCENE: Early morning. BallyK street.

All is silent.

SCENE: Early morning. Fitzgerald's hotel interior.

Oonagh is walking up the stairs, followed by Grainne, wearing her school uniform. They are both smiling like they have a secret.

CUT TO: Paul and Oonagh's bedroom interior.

Paul is lying in bed snoring. The door opens. Grainne tiptoes in. Oonagh hangs back in the doorway, then follows her in. We hear a goat bleating. Paul opens his eyes, shocked. The goat sticks its face in Paul's face. Paul gets a start and sits up suddenly, shouts. Grainne and Oonagh laugh.

Paul looks at Grainne and Oonagh in shock. They continue laughing. Then he laughs, too and reaches out his arms: Come here.

Grainne comes over and hugs Paul.

Paul kisses Grainne: Happy Birthday, love. D'you like it?

Grainne, enthusiastically: I love her.

The goat noses the phone on the bedside table.

Paul reaches over and pets the goat on the nose: What's it called?

Grainne: Daddy G.

The goat bleats.

Paul, to Oonagh, incredulously: Daddy...G...?

Oonagh shrugs, explains: G for goat. I have no problem.

The goat bleats.

Paul rolls his eyes, lies back down and pulls the cover over his head. The goat butts at the bed and bleats.

ROLL TITLES

SCENE: Fitzgerald's interior.

Paul, behind the bar, is filling up a tray for Donal. The bar is crowded. Oonagh is also behind the bar.

Donal: Could you bring the check please?

Paul: OK.
He walks away into the kitchen.

Donal steps away from the bar, carefully balancing the tray with two open beer bottles and four full glasses. We hear the goat bleat. Donal falls headlong, dropping the tray and all its contents. Oonagh leans across the bar, shocked.

CUT TO: Corner table.

Liam is sitting at a corner table with two men. They all get sprayed with beer. They all groan. One man jumps up from the table. Another man laughs.

Donal, from the floor: Aaagh! How'd the goat get in here?

CUT TO: Behind the bar.

Oonagh rushes out from behind the bar to help. Paul comes out of the kitchen, leans across the bar to see what happened.

Oonagh, concerned: Are you all right? She helps Donal get up.
(To the goat, disappointed): Oh, Daddy G.
(To Donal, contritely): I'm so sorry.

SCENE: Daytime. Fitzgerald's kitchen.

Grainne is sitting at the table with her school work spread out in front of her. She is daydreaming. Paul is pacing the kitchen floor beside the table.

Paul: It's no use looking like that, Grainne. I told you. She is your responsibility.

Grainne: And homework isn't?
She picks up her pencil and looks stubbornly down at her work.

Paul turns toward Grainne, raises his finger in warning: Don't you get smart with me, young lady.
He steps over to the table, puts one hand on the back of Grainne's chair and leans over her: You are on the yellow card. At least Daddy G is. That's if Donal hasn't already had her curried.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Stables exterior.

Long shot of the yard. Avril and a man are standing in the yard by the water trough. A handler is walking The Cat around in a circle in front of them.

CUT TO: Stable yard.

Englishman (I think he has an upper-class English accent), both hands in his pockets: You want a lot of money for a race horse that won't race.

Avril, arms folded across her chest, looks at the man, defensively: Course she races.

Englishman: Just not at the track.
He steps forward as The Cat passes in front of them. The handler stops the horse. The Englishman starts inspecting The Cat.

Avril: But you've seen her on the gallops. There's not a better workhorse in Wicklow.

Englishman: Oh maybe not in Ireland.
He looks up at Avril as he feels The Cat's hind legs: But you're not asking workhorse money.
He straightens up, puts his hands in his pockets again, steps over to Avril: Do you know what your problem is, Avril...You don't want to sell her.
He walks away.

SCENE: Stables interior.

Avril leads The Cat into her stable. She pats the horse's neck and sighs: What am I going to do with you?

Fr Vincent, in blue jeans and a big blue sweater, appears in the stable box doorway, leans against the door: What's she done now?

Avril, startled: Jeez, don't do that! Where did you spring from?

Fr Vincent: Now if I told you that...

Avril walks out of the stable box: Right, yeah, you'd have to kill me.

They both close the stable door together.

Fr Vincent rests his arms on the top of the door, holding a pair of binoculars in his hands. He rests his mighty chin on the binoculars: Visiting. Part of the job description.

Avril rests her elbow on top of the door: Horses don't have an immortal soul.

Fr Vincent rests his cheek on his arm, looks at Avril.

Avril puts rests her head on her hand: This one has no conscience either.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat noses around in the sawdust on the floor.

CUT TO: Stables exterior.

Fr Vincent is leaning against the water trough in the middle of the yard. Avril brings him a mug. She leans against the trough next to him with a mug of her own.

Avril takes a sip from her mug: You are a strange one.
She looks at Fr Vincent and smiles, then looks out across the yard: You know I'm not religious; you know the one decent horse I've got is The Cat and she won't race, so you must know there is no information I can give you.
She glances sideways at Fr Vincent, then back out at the yard and takes another sip.

Fr Vincent frowns slightly, looks at Avril, asks innocently: Can't I just come say hello?

Avril looks at Fr Vincent, asks slyly: Are you coming on to me?

Fr Vincent smiles at Avril, takes a moment too long to answer: No.
He looks out across the yard, then looks down, then back at Avril: No I'm not coming on to you.

Avril takes another sip.

Fr Vincent: You're up at six cause you have to be. I'm up at six cause I like to be. And um...
He looks at Avril, casually: I like you.

Avril looks at Fr Vincent.

Fr Vincent looks down: For all I know of you.
He looks back at Avril: That's it.
He glances at The Cat's stable: And I still think you should race her.

Avril looks over at The Cat also.

CUT TO: The Cat's box exterior.

The Cat has her head sticking out, snorts.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Street in front of the garda station.

A derelict is getting out of the police car.

Frankie (voice off-camera): Go on. Move it, let's go.
She closes the car door, escorts the derelict to the station door, takes out her keys, unlocks the door, waits for him to enter, then follows him in.

SCENE: Daytime. Hendley's interior.

The door opens. Frankie walks in, removes her hat. She smiles, greets Kathleen: Kathleen.

Fr Vincent is standing over at the magazine rack leafing through a newspaper. It might be a racing form.

Frankie walks over to Fr Vincent: Father. Do you have a minute.

Fr Vincent hastily replaces the newspaper, picks up a magazine, smiles winningly at Frankie: Sure. What's up?
He looks at the magazine.

Kathleen stands discreetly behind Frankie, listens to the conversation.

Frankie: I have a guest across the road with an aching soul.

Fr Vincent looks up from the magazine, looks questioningly at Frankie.

Frankie explains: He wants to see a priest.

Fr Vincent: Ah.

Kathleen: I expect he might be looking for something in the four o'clock at Leopardstown.

Fr Vincent puts the magazine down. Frankie and Fr Vincent leave. Kathleen watches them.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's hotel interior.

Oonagh walks out of a room into the hall, carrying folded linens. She walks into Dermot's room, puts some linens down. We hear the goat bleating. Oonagh walks back out into the hall, looks down at the carpet. A trail of goat droppings leads down the hall.

Oonagh whispers: Sacred heart.
She slowly follows the goat droppings.

CUT TO: Room interior.

The goat is standing at the window of one of the rooms. The room is a shambles. Curtains torn down, duvet ripped open and feathers all over.

Oonagh shouts, angrily: Grainne? Get up here quick!
She drops the linens onto a chair, walks quickly toward the goat, clapping her hands at it: Get out! Go on go on scoot! Scoot! Shoo, go on! She grabs the goat by the collar: Come on, shoo!

The goat bleats.

Oonagh pushes the goat toward the door: Come on come on. Shoo, shoo, come on.

The goat walks out the door, trailing the remains of the curtains.

Oonagh follows the goat down the hall: Go on, get out, go on, shoo!

Dermot arrives on the scene, amused at Oonagh shooing the goat down the hall. He stops in the doorway, sees the room. His mouth forms an "O": That'll be curtains for the goat's soul.
He winces, then goes back down the hall.

SCENE: Paul's car interior.

Grainne is sitting in the passenger seat, looking peeved. Paul is driving. Dermot is sitting in the rear seat with the goat.

Grainne: What's Miss Burke gonna say when I turn up at the stables...with a goat.

Dermot jokes: Hey good lookin!

Grainne: She'll say, either that goat goes or I do!

Paul, quickly: No she won't. But if she does, well, we'll look at our options then.
He pauses, then remands Grainne: A goat is not just for Christmas, you know.

Dermot protests: Oh God! We're not getting another one!

Paul makes a sour face at Dermot in the rear view mirror. The goat bleats.

SCENE: Room interior.

Fr Vincent is talking to the derelict that Frankie brought into the garda station.

Derelict stares off into space: I was on the dry. Hadn't taken a drop in...six months.
He falls silent.

Fr Vincent prompts him: Until last night.

Derelict responds: Until last night.

Fr Vincent, gently: Go on.
He has the hint of a smile on his face.

Derelict pauses, then turns to Fr Vincent: I'm a thief, Father. That's all I am.
He looks off into the distance again: I swear I never touched her.

Fr Vincent becomes deadly serious: Touched who?

The derelict looks at Fr Vincent, nods over his shoulder: Your one at the house. He stares straight ahead: I thought the place was empty. There was nothing to steal there anyway.

Fr Vincent murmurs: What woman, Joe? You're not making any sense.

Joe insists: The woman in the house. Was there, at the top of the stairs. I made a run for it, I...I must've...I pushed past her.
He falls silent again, remembering.

Fr Vincent: You pushed past her and what, Joe?

Joe swallows: She was still alive, when I left her.
He glances at Fr Vincent, then away again.

Fr Vincent: Left her where?

Joe: The bottom of the stairs.

Fr Vincent looks away: Oh Joe.

Joe, helpfully: Oh I um..I telephoned for an ambulance.
He nods: Told them where.

Fr Vincent: Have you told the guards?

Joe shakes his head: No.

Fr Vincent: Suppose you want me to hear your confession.

Joe frowns, confused: What?
He looks at Fr Vincent: Wh-- What d'you think we're doing?

Fr Vincent thinks for a moment, then agrees: OK. He points his finger at Joe, insists: But you have to tell the guards.

Joe looks away: I'll make my peace with God first, Father.
He looks at Fr Vincent, raises his eyebrows: Is that all right wit'you?

Fr Vincent stares at Joe and blinks.

SCENE: Garda station hallway interior.

Fr Vincent comes out of a doorway, stops in the hallway a moment, thinking.

CUT TO: Frankie's office.

Frankie hears Fr Vincent in the hallway, looks up from her desk.

CUT TO: Hallway.

Fr Vincent walks down the hall to the outer door.

CUT TO: Frankie's office.

We hear the outer door open. Frankie gets up from her desk.

SCENE: Avril's rooms interior.

Through the window, we can see out onto the yard.

Grainne is walking around, calling to someone: I know, I just don't understand it, I had her here five minutes ago.

CUT TO: Avril's kitchen.

Avril is sitting at the table with a notebook computer open in front of her and papers all over the table. She hears the noise outside, frowns, and gets up to investigate.

CUT TO: Window interior.

Through the window, we can see Grainne and Edso in the yard.

Grainne: Right here.

Edso points around, indicating that Grainne should go one way and he'll go the other. Avril peers out the window, wondering what's going on.

CUT TO: Avril's rooms exterior.

Avril's door opens. Avril steps out, puts her hands in her pockets, and looks around. A big travelling horse box with "TYLAND ARABIANS" written on the front is parked off to the side. Avril walks toward it.

Edso (voice off-camera): Daddy G, where are ya?

Avril hears Edso's voice and turns toward it: Oh Edso?
She walks over to where Edso is looking around: My horse box ready yet?

Edso hits himself on the forehead with his open palm, smiles: Damn!
He spreads both arms wide and walks toward Avril.

Avril, curious: What's going on?

Edso, innocently: Nothing.

Avril: There is, what are you looking for?

Edso inhales, not sure what to say.

At that moment, Grainne runs up: Edso, I found her!

Avril looks at Edso: Her?

Edso nods, smiles. Avril walks toward Grainne. Edso shakes his head and closes his eyes.

CUT TO: The Cat's stable box exterior.

Grainne places a bucket on the ground upside down and stands on it so that she can see over the stable door. We hear The Cat whinny and the goat bleat.

Grainne turns to Avril and Edso, who are walking over: I can explain, Avril, honest to God.

Avril looks over the stable door.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G are both in the stable box.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Grainne, Avril and Edso are looking over the stable door into the box.

Avril: You don't have to. You're a witch and that's Dermish.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G.

CUT TO: Stable exterior.

Grainne: No, that's Daddy G.

Avril: Grainne. Would you like to try again?

Edso walks to the other side of Grainne.

Grainne: My Dad doesn't like her being at home when I'm not there.

Avril: Daddy G.

Grainne: Yeah.
Grainne frowns: No. Daddy G's the goat. I got her for my birthday.

Avril laughs shortly, looks at Edso: Edso, do you speak child?

Edso smiles: Sure what part are you having trouble with?

Avril leans on the stable door again and looks in. She snorts in amusement.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G.

Avril (voice off-camera): Would you look at that.

Edso (voice off-camera): Now isn't that great.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Edso, Grainne and Avril are looking over the stable door.

Avril nudges Grainne, good-naturedly: Come on. I'm not going to bite your head off.

Edso smiles, looks at Grainne: Hey it's Butch and Sundance.

Grainne laughs a little.

Avril looks at the animals, impressed: I tell you what. He does make a difference.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G.

Grainne (voice off-camera): Well, he's a she.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Grainne: She's a nanny goat.

Avril, eyes on the animals, impressed: She is a star is what she is.
She turns to Grainne: Hey you wouldn't like to leave her here, would you?

Grainne doesn't look convinced.

Avril tries to convince her: Well you can see how much they like each other.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G.

Avril (voice off-camera): What do you say?

CUT TO: Stable door.

Edso, Grainne and Avril are looking at the animals.

Avril: Get your Daddy off your back for a while anyway.

They all look at the animals.

Avril looks back at Grainne: Hey it's your choice love.

Grainne looks down.

SCENE: Hospital hall interior.

Through a large interior window, we can see into a room where a woman is lying in bed with all sorts of tubes coming out of her. A man is sitting next to her bed, holding her hand. Reflected in the glass, we see Fr Vincent sit down in the hall. We hear beeps from a heart monitor. Through the window on the far side of the room, we see Frankie come down the hall. Camera pan to follow Frankie as she comes around the corner. She sees Fr Vincent.

Frankie: What brings you here?

Fr Vincent stands, looks at the woman lying in bed. Frankie looks at the woman, too.

CUT TO: Window.

Through the interior window, we see the woman lying in bed. The man next to her looks up and sees Fr Vincent and Frankie watching him.

CUT TO: Hall.

Frankie, surprised: D'you know her?

Fr Vincent mutters: No.
He turns and starts walking down the hall: He doesn't want a man in a black suit and a dog collar breathing down his neck.

Frankie follows Fr Vincent. Fr Vincent looks back over his shoulder toward the woman. They stop a few meters down the hall, where they can still see the woman but the man cannot see them.

Frankie: It isn't you who's bugging him, Father. It's us.

Fr Vincent looks at Frankie.

Frankie: Well, Cilldargan. The lads fancy him for pushing her down the stairs.

Fr Vincent, surprised: Is that what she said?

Frankie: She hasn't regained consciousness.

Fr Vincent looks over at the woman.

Frankie looks around: Apparently, he stands to inherit big time.

Fr Vincent looks back at Frankie.

Frankie: The story's a bit sus, too.

Fr Vincent: How?

Frankie shrugs: Don't know. Why so interested?

Fr Vincent, concerned: Well you seem very sure.

Frankie shakes her head, begs off: Father, it's not my case.
She leaves.

Fr Vincent stands there, looks bewildered.

SCENE: Inside the engine of Avril's travelling horse box.

Edso pulls some piece out from the engine, straightens up: Yeah but, can you guarantee it?

Camera pans over to the inside of the cab.

Avril climbs up into the driver's seat: If I could guarantee it, I wouldn't be driving horse boxes that break down.

Edso smiles, wipes the engine part with a rag, impressed: Oh, you drive it too.

CUT TO: Other side of cab.

Edso is standing on the ground, Avril is up in the driver's seat.

Avril, sarcastically: No, the horses do.

Edso laughs appreciatively. Then his smile fades: Uh, don't take this the wrong way--

Avril, through clenched teeth: Yes, there's diesel in it.

Edso gives a small smile, ducks back to the engine with the part, continues out of sight: So, if you can't guarantee a winner--

Avril: OK. I tell you what. You fix my horse box without it costing me an arm and a leg and I'll give you a certainty.

Edso mumbles: Well I've got plenty of them.

Avril didn't hear him, calls: What?

Edso comes out from the engine: I-- Nah, it wouldn't work. No one tells the horse.

Avril stares at Edso with a hint of a smile on her face.

Edso: Do you speak horse?

Avril smiles, turns away.

Edso points at the steering column: Ah...try the ignition.

Avril reaches down and turns the key. The engine makes a nice rhythmical sound as it tries to turn over but does not succeed. Avril bobs her head in time. Then she gives up, lets go of the key, and turns to Edso: Do you speak horsepower?

Edso looks from Avril to the ignition, smiles nervously, and goes back to the engine.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Country road.

Paul's car drives toward the camera.

CUT TO: Paul's car interior.

Grainne is sitting in the passenger seat. She sighs and adjusts her seat belt.

Paul is driving: Come on love, there's an up side to this.

Grainne turns to Paul, accusatorily: She was my birthday present.

Paul reminds her: And she's still your birthday present in a very real sense.
He looks over at her, tries to be upbeat: Well well you won't have me bellyaching onto you for a start.

Grainne looks depressed.

Paul: And you won't have to spring for Daddy G's feeding bills.
Paul sneaks a sideways glance at Grainne. He tries to think of something else to say: And it's a well-known fact that goats appreciate.

Grainne rolls her eyes, looks at Paul.

Paul: Like a...classic car kind of thing.

Grainne looks away, shakes her head in disbelief.
Paul: Well they're worth more as they get older.

Grainne almost believes him, looks for confirmation: No way.

Paul: Yes way.

Grainne looks down, then back at Paul: How much?

Paul: I don't know darling we didn't get you the goat so you could sell it off. It's just...nice to know.

Grainne looks out the window, satisfied.

SCENE: Afternoon. Sunny. Stables exterior.

Avril and Edso are walking through the yard toward The Cat's stable. Edso has a can of beer in his hand. Avril has both hands in her back pockets.

Edso: There was another horse few years back. Gold cup horse. Best buddy was a sheep.

Avril: There was. And another. Wouldn't go anywhere without his donkey.

Edso: That explains it.

Avril: What?

Edso: When there's a sweep, I always draw the donkey.

Avril laughs appreciatively.

They arrive at The Cat's box. They look over the door.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Avril leans her arms on the top of the door and rests her chin on her hands. Edso looks over the door, too.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G.

Edso (voice off-camera): So is this the plan then? Move the goat in with the horse...next stop Wexford?

Avril laughs.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Avril: I wish. She shakes her head, watches the animals: She reeeally hates it, Edso. Crowds, the atmosphere...

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat and Daddy G.

Avril (voice off-camera): ...the starting stalls. She sighs: Should've known.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Avril steps away from the door: ?? Matt paid for her.

Edso steps away, too: Matt?

CUT TO: Stables exterior.

Avril and Edso walk across the yard away from The Cat's stable.

Avril, over her shoulder: Matt Devlin? Had the yard? Before me? Well it was a stable out here.

Edso: Oh yeah? What were the girls like?

Avril smiles appreciatively: This place did not just fall into my lap, Edso. Mean Matt gave me a good price but I'm in hock up to here.
She puts her hand to her forehead.

Edso points with his thumb back over his shoulder: So, do you own all these horses?

Avril looks at Edso, incredulously: Are you serious?
She stops, folds her arms across her chest: Not at all. Local farmers, mostly. Happy to pay my exceptionally reasonable training fees.
She glances over to the side: Just like your repair bills, now that I think of it.

Edso points at Avril: But you do own The Cat?

Avril looks over toward The Cat's stable, rolls her eyes: The millstone, yeah.
She looks at Edso: You wanna buy her?

Edso shakes his head: Nah. I'd need a horse box.
He points off to the side: And I've seen the state that thing's in.
He walks away. Avril smiles.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's interior.

Oonagh and Paul are behind the bar. Frankie and Siobhan are at the end of the bar.

Oonagh turns to Frankie and sets a glass in front of her. Paul walks out from behind the bar.

Siobhan: Oh I don't know Paul. I miss her already.

Paul: Ah. She was trouble.

Siobhan, over her shoulder: She didn't look for trouble.

Paul sits down at a corner table with Liam and Donal, who are playing cards.

Donal: A goat'll always find trouble.

Liam, mouth full of sandwich: Yeah. Pick a fight in an empty room.

Siobhan: Hah.

CUT TO: Entrance interior.

Father Vincent enters.

Someone (off-camera): Hey Father.

Fr Vincent nods to someone off camera: Oh hi.
He walks toward the bar: Frankie?

CUT TO: Bar.

Frankie and Oonagh both look at Fr Vincent. Oonagh smiles, Frankie looks expectant. Frankie walks over to Fr Vincent.

Fr Vincent, confidentially: That uh...drunk you had in this morning.

Frankie: Clohessy? What about him?

Fr Vincent, concerned: Is he still up at your place?

Frankie: It's my house, Father, it's not a jail. Course he's not. Why?

Fr Vincent looks off to the side, at a loss for words and disappointed, then looks back at Frankie and smiles absent-mindedly: No reason, no reason.

Frankie starts to walk away: OK.

Fr Vincent: So uh...

Frankie turns around again.

Fr Vincent: Where is he?

Frankie cocks her head to the side: You tell me why you want to know and I'll tell you where he is.

Fr Vincent stares at her for a moment, open-mouthed, then pulls himself together: Frankie, it's um...priest stuff.
He smiles at her winningly.

Donal, from the corner table: Like woman's trouble.

Oonagh and Siobhan look over at Donal, stone-faced.

Donal looks at Frankie: Well...private.

Paul: Private, and mysterious.
He looks pleased with himself.

Liam, mouth full of sandwich: Unusual.
He laughs.

Fr Vincent looks down, shakes his head, mutters: Boy I thought WE had a way to go.

Frankie: Your drunk's in Cilldargan barracks. She narrows her mouth: What's up?

Fr Vincent looks away, dismissively: I told you.

Frankie: Yeah, like God's really interested. He's in court tomorrow. They'll fine him, and kick him out.

Liam, from the corner table: You going to spring him, Father? He looks at Donal, amused at his own joke: Wild colonial boy, what hey?
He laughs.

Paul, Donal, Siobhan, and Oonagh chuckle. Frankie looks serious.

SCENE: Daytime. Cilldargan garda station interior.

Guard lifts counter flap, steps back and starts down the hall: This way, Father.

Fr Vincent follows him down the hall. The guard opens a metal door and goes through. Fr Vincent follows him.

CUT TO: Cell door interior.

We see two eyes peering through the cell door from the outside. (They must be the guard's.)

CUT TO: Cell interior.

Joe is lying on his side on a narrow cot, facing the wall. We hear the sound of keys and the door being unlocked and opened. Joe looks around.

CUT TO: Cell door interior.

The door swings open with a creak. The guard stands back. Fr Vincent enters.

CUT TO: Cell interior.

Joe recognizes Fr Vincent, sits up.

Fr Vincent stands in front of Joe: How you feeling?

Joe nods: Cooped up.

Fr Vincent: Walls closing in?

Joe looks off to the side: If you mean guilty, Father...
He looks up at Fr Vincent: No, not since you heard my confession.

Fr Vincent: She hasn't regained consciousness, did you know that?

Joe looks down.

Fr Vincent: How would you know that. You're just here on a drunk and disorderly.

Joe: Father--
He looks up at Fr Vincent.

Fr Vincent interrupts him: The guards think her husband did it, did you know that?

Joe raises his eyebrows, cocks his head to the side, cheekily: Are you finished?

Fr Vincent comes over and sits down on the bed next to Joe. They both look down for a moment.

Fr Vincent turns to Joe: Joseph, if you don't feel contrition, the absolution I gave you is worthless.

Joe looks at Fr Vincent, heartfelt: Whaaat? Of course I feel contrition. Why do you think I wanted confession?
He looks away, then back at Fr Vincent with tears in his eyes, begs: I just don't want to go to jail, Father.

Both look down.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Practice track.

The Cat is racing with two brown horses. Avril watches on horseback. The goat is standing next to her, on a lead. As the horses gallop past, the goat turns its head to watch. Avril does too, and smiles.

SCENE: Travelling horse box exterior.

The horse box is driving somewhere. There are two people in the cab. The right turn signal comes on.

CUT TO: Edso's garage exterior.

The horse box pulls into the lot in front of Edso's garage.

Edso is sitting on a car seat set up in front of the garage, reading a newspaper. He sees the horse box pull in, smiles.

Avril takes off her seat belt, calls over her shoulder out the window: Sorry, don't have an appointment.

Edso folds his newspaper up, sets it down, and gets up. He walks over to the horse box: Incredible. It's still going.

Avril jumps down from the cab: Had Father Sheahan give it an exorcism.

Edso leans down, unscrews the gas tank cap: Gets around that one.

Avril: How do you mean?

Edso walks silently to the gas pump, picks up the hose.

Avril, reprimandingly: Now then, Edso, watch it.

Edso puts the hose into the gas tank, stands up: My God, do you think I'm jealous?

Avril: I think you're not busy enough.

Edso: What can I do? When I repair engines, they stay repaired. I'm too good.

Avril smiles, leans back against the side of the vehicle.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Country road.

We hear the sound of an engine straining, then Avril's horse box chugs over the crest of a hill. It pulls over to the side of the road and stops.

CUT TO: Horse box exterior.

Avril opens the door, jumps down from the cab, opens the engine door, frowns and waves her hand as if to wave away smoke, but there is no smoke visible.

CUT TO: Yard in front of Edso's garage.

A strange man in a red car is stopped at the garage. Edso walks over to him. The man starts his engine. We hear the phone ring.

Edso hands the man his change: That's great Paul thanks a lot.
He walks away.

The man drives away.

CUT TO: Edso's garage exterior.

Closeup shot through the window. We see Edso enter the building, walk over to the phone and pick it up.

Edso, into phone: Edso's garage.

CUT TO: Country road.

Avril, standing on the side of the road, with her mobile phone to her ear, taunts: I repair engines, they stay repaired.

CUT TO: Edso's garage interior.

Edso takes the phone away from his ear, looks at it, confused. Then he puts the phone back to his ear.

Avril, over phone, chides: I'm too good.

Edso: Chill, Avril, you'll get the horse wound up.

We hear a car horn honk twice.

Edso listens to the phone, then: Yeah...yeah...no problem, Avril, I'm in third gear already.
He puts the phone down.

CUT TO: Daytime. Sunny. Country road.

Avril pushes a button on her phone, sighs, and returns to the cab of the horse box.

Avril: Come on, Grainne, let's go check on Daddy G.
She inclines her head toward the back of the horse box.

Grainne jumps down out of the cab. The goat bleats.

CUT TO: Edso's garage exterior.

Edso closes the door to the building and locks it. He pulls on his black leather jacket and walks toward his tow truck.

CUT TO: Country road.

Long shot from above. The horse box is pulled over at a wide spot in the road. Avril is standing out in front. Edso's truck pulls up next to the horse box.

CUT TO: Closer shot.

Grainne is across the road, walking the goat on a lead. Edso gets out of the tow truck and closes the door, walks around the truck to Avril.

Edso: What time's the race at?

Avril: I'm not gonna race her today. Just want to see if Daddy G'd make any difference.

Edso goes over to the engine and peers inside, deadpans: My God, who repaired this?

Avril rolls her eyes and tosses her head: Don't!

Edso looks at Avril, seriously: It's a fractured fuel line.

Avril, annoyed: Perfect.

Edso walks over to Avril, defensively: Hey. Enzo Ferrari couldn't have known this was gonna happen. But...
He smiles.

Avril, annoyed: What.

Edso: I can fix it.
He walks back to his truck, opens the door.

Avril, politely: How long?

Edso turns to Avril: Fifteen minutes?
He shrugs off his jacket.

Avril looks at her watch.

SCENE: Father Mac's office interior.

Fr Mac and Fr Vincent are both standing with tea cups and saucers in their hands.

Fr Mac walks to his desk: Well now let me see...how I can help you.
He sits, places his cup and saucer on the desk in front of him: On the face of it of course you can't reveal another man's confession.

Fr Vincent places his cup and saucer on the edge of the desk, prompts: On the face of it.

Fr Mac looks up at Fr Vincent: Heh, I mean assuming that it was a confession.

Fr Vincent, standing, one hand leaning on the back of a chair: Yes.

Fr Mac: And to help us with that we have to establish the character of the man.

Fr Vincent: Mr CloHESSy.
He emphasizes the middle syllable.

Fr Mac: CLOhessy actually.
He emphasizes the first syllable, makes it sound like "Clausie".

Fr Vincent takes a seat in front of the desk.

Fr Mac continues dryly: Father, I know Mr. Clohessy. And the last time he set foot in a church was to climb it to strip the lead from the roof, any help?

Fr Vincent rejoins: Well it might be if it were true.

Fr Mac narrows his eyes: What?

Fr Vincent looks Fr Mac in the eye: He's been going to Mass in Wicklow for three months.

Fr Mac, doesn't believe it: He says.

Fr Vincent looks down: I checked.
He looks back at Fr Mac: He really has.
He sits back.

Fr Mac lectures: Father, I tell you what I think. If you're not sure, if you're really not sure then he gets the benefit of the doubt. But if you're not sure, simply because you want to spite the police or because you're some sort of a wild colonial boy then he does not get the benefit of the doubt...and you tell Frankie what she needs to know, whatever it is.

Fr Vincent looks down.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Country road.

Grainne is sitting by the side of the road, petting the goat. We hear an engine starting up.

CUT TO: Horse box cab exterior.

Edso sits in the driver's seat, with the door open. Avril stands next to him on the ground. Edso gets the engine running.

Edso smiles down at Avril: Oh no, it's all right, really, there's no thanks necessary.

Avril: So how long is it good for?

Edso jumps down: What do you mean? It's fixed.

Avril pleads: Edso, I have to get this horse to Wexford.

Edso closes the engine cover: Go for it.
He wipes off his hands on a rag.

Avril looks up at the cab, worried: Yeah but...if I can't trust the horse box to get me there...
She looks at Edso

Edso, with determination: Avril, it's fixed.

Avril begs: Please.

Edso: What?

Avril: You come with us. Just in case. Oh please?

Edso grins, looks down, looks back at Avril, nods.

SCENE: Daytime. Cloudy. Wexford racetrack exterior.

A couple of shots of the crowds.

Loudspeaker: Well I guess our horses are ready for our opening race. Racegoers kindly turn your attention to the tracks...
Music and crowd noise drowns out the announcer.

Edso is leading The Cat across a grassy expanse. A rider is sitting astride. Avril walks next to the horse. Grainne walks on the other side, leading Daddy G.

Shot of the crowd, showing Liam, Donal, and Louis. They see The Cat. Liam and Donal smile. Louis cranes his neck to see better.

Edso: I swear to God I have a good mind to get up in that stand.

Avril: Don't mind them.
She calls over to Grainne: Grainne, how's Daddy G?

Grainne calls over: She's fine!

Edso: She's loving it. So's the horse.

Avril: So far.

Shot of the Englishman who wanted to buy The Cat standing in the stands. He sees The Cat walking by and smiles.

SCENE: Church interior.

Fr Vincent is kneeling before a candelabra, his head bowed in prayer. He looks up, then bows his head again.

SCENE: Race track exterior.

Avril leads The Cat over to the starting boxes. Edso follows at a short distance. Grainne stands off to the side, holding on to Daddy G's lead. A handler takes over the horse. Avril goes to stand next to Edso. Two handlers push The Cat into the starting box. She is the only horse in there, since it is just a test. She balks and whinnies, they coax her, and finally she goes in. Avril raises her arm.

Man: Three, two, one...

Avril drops her arm.

Man: Go!

The starting gate springs open. The Cat runs out. Edso and Avril look pleased.

Avril: Looking good.
She gives a double thumbs-up to Grainne. Grainne looks happy and hugs Daddy G.

CUT TO: Binocular shot.

Shot of The Cat running, as seen through a pair of binoculars.

CUT TO: Stands.

The Englishman is standing there, looking through a pair of binoculars. He lowers the binoculars, looks serious.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's kitchen interior.

Grainne is sitting at the table. Paul walks behind her, carrying a bowl of food. He picks up salt and pepper shakers from the sideboard.

Grainne, excited: I swear Dad, she was brilliant! Like a different horse.

Paul brings the salt and pepper and bowl to the table: That's great, darling.

Dermot is also sitting at the table: Thanks to a goat.

Oonagh enters the kitchen: Not just a goat, Daddy G.
She gets busy doing something at the counter.

Paul: The Ballykissmassive, eh?
(I'm not sure what he really said, but that's what it sounds like.)

Grainne rolls her eyes.

Dermot holds up his plate: Just so I get this right, your goat makes this horse run faster.
Paul scoops some food onto Dermot's plate.

Grainne nods happily: Yeah.

Dermot: Just by standing there.

Grainne, slightly unsure: Yeah.

Dermot: Not by jabbing its horns up the animal's jackseat?

Paul reprimands: Dermot!

Oonagh, from the counter, reprimands: Dermot!

Dermot looks from Oonagh to Paul: Well what's the point if she goes to bits in a real race?

Grainne holds up her plate for Paul to serve her: The point, Stupid--

Oonagh warns: Uh-uh, hey!

Dermot looks at Oonagh.

Grainne: That's what the goat's for.

Paul thinks quickly, looks sideways at Grainne: What you mean, a real race?

Grainne, indignantly: What'd you think we did it for? Course a real race.
She looks down at her plate, starts eating.

Paul looks off into the distance, considering.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. BallyK street.

Fr Vincent, in gray pants and a black T-shirt, is jogging up the road past Fitzgerald's toward the garda station. Frankie, also in civil, is carrying two plastic bags full of groceries. She turns and sees Fr Vincent.

Frankie calls across the street: Father! Can I have a word?

Fr Vincent looks at her, continues jogging: Eh?

Frankie repeats: Can I have a word?

Fr Vincent jogs over to the garda station, leans against the police car which is parked in front.

Frankie smiles: Come in. She transfers both bags to one hand, unlocks the door: I'll get you a drink.

Fr Vincent breathes heavily (from the jogging!).

Frankie opens the door and goes inside. Fr Vincent follows her.

SCENE: Frankie's kitchen.

Fr Vincent is standing in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe, breathing hard and sweating. Frankie hands Fr Vincent a glass of water: Here.

Fr Vincent exhales heavily, apparently winded from his exercise. He takes the drink: Thanks.
He takes a sip.

Frankie opens a cupboard, her back turned to Fr Vincent: Did you find your man?
She turns to Fr Vincent and raises her eyebrows.

Fr Vincent exhales after taking a big sip of water: Ah. He looks at Frankie: Huh?

Frankie: The drunk. Clohessy.

Fr Vincent: Didn't say I was looking for him.
He enters the kitchen, sets the glass down on the table. He sits down.

Frankie puts a box up into the cupboard: What's the matter with you, Father?
She folds her arms across her chest: The lads at Cilldargan told me you were in.

Fr Vincent smiles sheepishly: All right, I saw him.

Frankie continues to put her groceries away: You know, she still hasn't regained consciousness, that woman in the hospital.

Fr Vincent adjusts something with his shoe: You think there's a connection?

Frankie turns to look at Fr Vincent: Crossed my mind, the way you've been behaving.

Fr Vincent takes another sip of water and looks innocently at Frankie.

Frankie: But no, not really. The boys at Cilldargan still fancy the husband strongly.

Fr Vincent exhales heavily, looks away.

Frankie, out of the blue: Have you ever been on a pig farm, Father?

Fr Vincent exhales again, looks down in another direction.

Frankie cocks her head: Well you'd remember if you had.

Fr Vincent looks at Frankie: Gard...

Frankie: There wasn't a mark on his boiler suit. Smelled like it had just come off the line.

Fr Vincent exhales: Well maybe it had.

Frankie: OK. But he said he'd come straight in from work when he found her. What kind of man, seeing his wife attacked in her own house, takes time out to change his clothes?

Fr Vincent: Well I guess someone who doesn't think they need an alibi.

Frankie: Well he sure does.
She turns back to her groceries.

Fr Vincent looks away.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Stables exterior.

Avril is sitting on The Cat. Paul is watching.

Avril climbs down: Absolutely. Six spread on maiden at Wexford. She clicks her tongue at the horse. They all start walking, Avril leading the horse. To Paul: Wanna come?

Paul, noncommittally: Well you never know.

Avril calls a handler's name (I can't make it out), then hands the horse's reins over to him: Thanks.
She unfastens her helmet and removes it. She and Paul continue walking.

Paul: Is this wise?
He chuckles: No, now, don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning your judgment.

Avril, sarcastically: Phew! For one moment...

Paul: OK, OK, it's just that I thought, you know, she's all morning glory.

Avril: Well we'll find out, won't we?

Paul: Oh come on, Avril.
They stop walking. Paul looks Avril in the eye: What chance does she really have?

Avril looks at Paul in a calculating way. She glances at The Cat, then back at Paul: Paul. If this horse runs to her potential...and thanks to Daddy G she just might...she'll murder 'em.

Paul exhales, looks over toward The Cat: Daddy G.

Avril: God bless the goat.

Paul looks at Avril slyly: My goat.

Avril corrects him: Grainne's goat.

Paul: The Dooley goat.

Avril nods her head, looks around: We're building up to something, Paul, now aren't we?

Paul blinks, looks around, makes a small "o" with his mouth, looks back at Avril, gives a small smile.

SCENE: BallyK church interior.

Fr Vincent, in Mass regalia, enters from the side, walks to the middle aisle, turns toward the back of the church, spots someone in the pew. It is the husband of the woman who is lying in a coma in the hospital. Fr Vincent continues past him and enters the confessional.

CUT TO: Confessional interior.

The husband is giving his confession to Fr Vincent.

Husband: Is this God punishing me?

Fr Vincent: What for?

The husband hesitates, then says: Playing away from home...if you can catch my drift.

Fr Vincent: Go on.

Husband: The guards...think I pushed her...They don't know, of course, that when it happened...I was with--

Fr Vincent: The other woman.

Husband: Yeah.

A silence ensues.

Finally, Fr Vincent asks: Can't you tell the police that?

Husband: Father, if it ever got out...it'd break her heart...on top of what's happened...I haven't the guts.

Fr Vincent: Would it have to.

Husband: This kind of thing never stays secret. Does it, Father.

Fr Vincent, stony-faced: Does in here.

Husband exhales heavily: That's something.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Stables exterior.

In the yard. Avril is feeding The Cat from her hand. The Englishman who was interested in buying the horse walks across the yard from where his expensive sports car is parked.

Avril, over her shoulder: Hey. Jeremy.

Jeremy, both hands in his trouser pockets: You'll spoil her.

Avril: What else. She's a race horse.

Jeremy: I saw.

What'd you think?

Jeremy reaches Avril and The Cat: Looked good. Hardly under pressure, though.

Avril: I know.
She pets The Cat's flank: Probably all a waste of time.

Jeremy: Follow that dream.

Avril smiles at Jeremy conspiratorially: You've changed your mind, haven't you? You want to buy her.

Jeremy: I'm talking the asking price here. Not cheap.

Avril: It is now.

Jeremy: Bird in the hand? He looks around the yard: Don't tell me you can't use the money.

Avril: You know, up to that point, I may just have reconsidered.

Jeremy looks around again: You've declared her for Wexford, haven't you? Six furlong maiden.

Avril: Don't tell me you've got a runner, too.

Jeremy: Better than her.

Avril: Que sera sera.

They both smile tightly at each other. Jeremy walks away.

CUT TO: Steps in front of Avril's apartment.

Grainne is sitting on the steps, looking dejected.

Avril walks over: Hey Grainne. How long you been sitting there? She gets closer and asks, with concern: You all right, love? What's the matter?
She stops in front of Grainne, follows the line of her vision.

CUT TO: The Cat's stable exterior.

A handler is leading Daddy G into The Cat's box.

CUT TO: Steps.

Grainne looks at the goat, hangs her head. Avril looks thoughtful.

Avril, suddenly cheerful: Hey.
She holds out an apple to Grainne.

Grainne regards the apple, then says: I'm not a horse.
She hangs her head again.

Avril takes the apple back. Then she snorts and starts to laugh. Grainne smiles and hangs her head again.

CUT TO: Avril's apartment interior.

Grainne takes a bit of an apple. Avril walks past her to the kitchen.

Grainne: I only see her on weekends. And even then she's working.

Avril: She's enjoying herself.
She goes over to the sink and picks up two cups.

Grainne sits down at the table: But I'm not enjoying her.

Avril puts the cups down on the table: I understand.

Grainne: I mean I know how important she is, with the race and all, but--

Avril sits down, says with emphasis: Look. She's your goat.

Grainne, dejectedly: You wouldn't know it.

Avril, firmly: I know it.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's interior.

Edso and Louis are sitting at a side table. Brendan, Siobhan, Liam, and Donal are at the bar. Paul is behind the bar. Oonagh is serving.

Louis gets up, walks to the bar: You know, I used to have a ?? And I wouldn't have seen it only if it weren't so long a wait for a taxi. But I tell you this much, boys. When I seen it, I was impressed by what I seen. Another pint.

Paul squints his eyes, clearly doesn't understand 90 percent of what Louis is saying. He understands the part about the pint, though, and pulls another one.

Brendan calls from the end of the bar: Louis. Are there moons in your world?

Louis looks around indignantly.

Donal: Nope, Louis's right. Fair play.
He knocks on the bar, looks around authoritatively: The horse is only getting used to the track, but she looks in a different class.

Paul: Ah, the mote's not say. (HUH?)

Oonagh comes behind the bar and stands next to Paul.

Liam: You weren't there, were you?

Paul: No. But I know the difference a placid companion can make to a highly strung thoroughbred.
Oonagh gives Paul a sly smile.

Donal: Better than drugs.

Brendan looks up from his newspaper, dryly: Anabolic...goat.

Appreciative chuckles all around.

Liam, to Paul: Yeah. Well I saw her run. On her own, case you're forgetting. And I'll tell you this. Goat or no goat.
He shakes his head: She won't beat the favorite.

Paul walks over to Liam: Which would be...

Liam: Are you being serious?

Paul: Yeah.

Liam: Jeremy Weirstein, course. Truck Stop Annie.

Paul: And would you care to put your money where your mouth is?

Liam, cheekily: I already have.
He takes a sip from his beer bottle and smiles knowingly at Paul.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Hospital exterior.

Long shot of the hospital and grounds.

CUT TO: Hospital interior.

Dr. Ryan, Fr Vincent, and Frankie walk down a hallway.

Fr Vincent: Generally in a situation like this--

Dr. Ryan: I don't rightly know. She could as likely wake up in five minutes as, oh...
He gestures helplessly with his hands: five weeks.

They stop at an intersection.

Fr Vincent: But the longer she stays unconscious--

Frankie: Father, he's not even her GP.

Dr. Ryan, curiously: What's your interest, Father?

Frankie, intently: Yes, what IS your interest, Father?

Woman (off-camera): Dr. Ryan?

Dr. Ryan turns toward the voice: Oh.
He glances at Frankie and Fr Vincent: Excuse me. X-rays.
He steps over to a nurse's station, picks up a telephone which a nurse behind the desk hands to him, says into phone: Michael Ryan.

Frankie looks at Fr Vincent questioningly. Fr Vincent turns and walks away. Frankie follows him.

CUT TO: Daytime. Sunny. Hospital grounds.

Frankie and Fr Vincent are walking quickly along a path on the hospital grounds.

Frankie, annoyed: I'm tired of this dance. You know what happened to that woman.

Fr Vincent, haughtily: Really? Thought you guards had it all figured out.

They ascend some steps.

Frankie: You see, there you go again, getting all chippy like. You know.

Fr Vincent: I can't betray what wa--

They stop.

Frankie, derogatorily: Yeah. I wondered how long before we'd get round to that.

Fr Vincent looks around impatiently.

Frankie: You're such a jerk, you know that, Father? Here you are, happy to pour scorn on our blundering police work--

Fr Vincent, trying to remain calm: You're looking at the wrong man.

Frankie: And you won't do anything about it.

Fr Vincent, hotly, through clenched teeth: I can't.

Frankie looks dumbfounded and hurt: You oughta come round here and take a look at yourself.
She walks away.

Fr Vincent blinks several times, then looks in the direction she went.

SCENE: Priest's house interior.

It is dark. A fire is burning in the fireplace. Fr Vincent, in a dark blue T-
shirt, stands over the fire, bracing both hands against the mantle. He steps away, walks over to the table, sits, picks up some old letters, runs his hand across them.

SCENE: Early morning. Overcast. BallyK street.

Shot of the street in front of Fitzgerald's.

SCENE: Dooley's bedroom interior.

Paul and Oonagh are lying in bed, asleep. The radio comes on. Paul stirs slightly.

Radio announcer: And you're very welcome (here Paul snorts, I can't make out what the announcer says) ...at 7:15 time now for sports news.

Paul opens his eyes a crack.

Announcer: And racing is up first with an interesting card at Wexford.

Paul opens his eyes all the way, registers interest.

And no race more intriguing it shall be said than the 4 o'clock where you have to say, under normal circumstances, Truck Stop Annie was a...

Oonagh turns over, sleepily: Paul--

Paul: Shh!

Announcer: ...certainty, and under normal circumstances, you'd be wrong!

CUT TO: Avril's apartment interior.

Avril, wearing a bathrobe, walks into the kitchen, putting her hair up. The radio is on.

Radio announcer: Which brings us to The Cat, whose form today isn't so much abysmal well as embarrassing.

Avril stops, wide-eyed, exclaims: Cheek!

Announcer: With some people saying that she would be far better employed pulling wagons of stout.

CUT TO: Edso's room interior.

Edso, shirtless, is brushing his teeth and walking toward a mirror on the wall.

Announcer: But strange things have been happening down in our reports yard lately and confidence in The Cat's renaissance may be very well placed...

Edso stops in front of the mirror, looks at himself, runs his hand through his hair

Announcer: Since she fell in love with a goat.

Edso looks amused.

Announcer: And you may well laugh...

CUT TO: Dooley's kitchen interior.

Paul, wearing an apron, is frying eggs and sausage at the stove. (How the heck did he get dressed and downstairs so fast?)

Announcer: But it wouldn't be the first horse whose form was turned around by the love of a good goat.

Paul smiles, puts the food on the table.

Dermot, wearing pajamas, staggers in: What's going on at this hour in the morning.

Paul, cheerfully: It's a beautiful day, we're going to the races.
He steps back to the stove.

Grainne enters the kitchen, carrying a newspaper. She puts it on the table.

Dermot gets a carton of orange juice from the refrigerator, complains to Paul: ?? He steps over to pick up the newspaper that Grainne just brought in, asks her: Have they stopped delivering?

Grainne, pouring milk on her cereal, irritated: What's it to you?
She looks sourly at the cereal as she pours.

Dermot, haughtily: It's Saturday.
He tosses the newspaper down on the table.
He walks out of the kitchen, over his shoulder: Hey Dad, tell her not to look at the milk like that, would ya?
He leaves.

Paul laughs shortly.
He reaches over and picks up the newspaper: Well have they?
He unfolds the newspaper and starts looking at it: Stopped delivering, hm? Well it's just you went off ages ago and--
He turns around, finds the kitchen empty.

SCENE: Morning. Priest's house interior.

Fr Vincent wakes up on a chair in the living room. He looks at his watch, gets up, and walks up the stairs.

CUT TO: Priest's bedroom interior.

Fr Vincent enters the bedroom, takes off his T-shirt, walks over to the wardrobe, pulls out a black suit, looks at it, hangs it back up, turns to his dresser, opens the top drawer, and starts pulling out clothes and discarding them. Then he pulls out a pair of jeans and tosses them on the bed, grabs another T-shirt.

SCENE: Morning. Sunny. Stables exterior.

Avril comes out of her apartment, pulling on a sweater. She starts walking across the yard toward The Cat's stable.

Avril greets the horse from across the yard: Hey.

The horse is looking out of the stable, looking around nervously.

Avril walks quickly over to the horse: What's going on? Hey what is this girl? This much nerves?

Avril opens the door to The Cat's box, looks slightly alarmed.

CUT TO: The Cat's stable interior.

The goat is not there. The Cat neighs nervously.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Avril leans on the door, looks at The Cat: The goat.

CUT TO: Stable interior.

The Cat whinnies in alarm.

CUT TO: Stable door.

Avril quickly shuts the door, steps away from the stable and looks around, worried. She looks in the other stable boxes, getting more and more worried. She puts her hand to her head, exhales, puts her hand against her cheek.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's kitchen interior.

Grainne is sitting at the kitchen table, looking dejected. Paul is sitting next to her. Avril is standing in front of the table, looking intently at Grainne. Oonagh is hovering around in the background.

Paul, patiently: Sweetheart, no one's going to get on to you, if you just tell us where she is.

Everyone is silent for a moment.

Avril sits down: Grainne, I'm not saying you've got her.

Grainne: He is.
She inclines her head slightly toward Paul.

Paul, quickly, defensively: No I'm not!
Then more calmly: But she is your goat.

Grainne, sarcastically: Oh you finally noticed.

Oonagh, softly, warning: Grainne...

Paul: What did you do this morning, love? When you went out?

Grainne, flatly: I got you your paper.

Paul prompts her: Because they've stopped delivering.

Grainne turns to Paul: They never have delivered! The only reason you think they did, is because one of us always gets it for you.

Paul, deflated: Oh.

Oonagh, under her breath: Idiot.
Then firmly: This is not right.
She comes over to the table, leans over it toward Grainne: Grainne, Daddy G is your goat. If you have him.

Grainne insists: Her! And I don't.

Oonagh: Her. That's fine. You're entitled.

Paul pleads: But we would really, REALLY, love to borrow her.

Avril, resignedly: Well, I'm all done now. I think Grainne should do what she wants to do with her own birthday present. Wherever she is.

Grainne: You think I've got her, don't you? Well I don't.
She looks at Avril: I trusted her with you, and you lost her.
She gets up and leaves the room quickly.

Oonagh looks disapprovingly at Paul. Paul looks away and bites his thumb.

SCENE: Daytime. Sunny. Cilldargan church garden exterior.

Fr Mac, wearing dark trousers, a dark blue cardigan, a checkered button-
down shirt, gardening gloves, and a straw hat, is kneeling in the garden, spraying some roses. He reminds me of a fussy old hedgehog. Fr Vincent is standing nearby, wearing blue jeans and a black sweater, hands in his pockets.

Fr Vincent: Father, did you hear what I said?

Fr Mac: Yep.
He grunts twice, sprays the roses a couple of more times, and stands up.

CUT TO: Wide shot of the garden in front of the church.

Fr Mac walks out of the garden: A life lesson, Father. All that is necessary for green fly to triumph is that good men should do nothing.

CUT TO: Closeup of Fr Vincent and Fr Mac.

Fr Mac shrugs slightly: I may have that wrong.
He starts to walk past Fr Vincent, then stops and faces him, exclaims in an irritated manner: Of course I heard what you said!

Fr Vincent waves some insect away from his head.

Fr Mac, matter-of-factly: You're going to break the confessional seal. What do you want me to do about it? Spray you?
He holds up the bottle he was using to spray the roses. He starts walking toward the church.

Fr Vincent accompanies him: I thought you should know. I mean I understand that sometimes we have to stand up to the police, but that's to protect the innocent, not see them banged up.

Fr Mac: They haven't charged anybody yet.

Fr Vincent, ominously: Not yet.

Fr Mac: You know, I think you were right.
He stops walking and faces Fr Vincent: About old Joe rediscovering his faith.

Fr Vincent: You checked.

Fr Mac nods shortly, eagerly: Let me have a crack at him.

Fr Vincent looks around, obviously unwilling: Look, I think--

Fr Mac, contemptuously: Just a word. What did you think I was going to use? A rubber hose?
He walks away.

Fr Vincent looks after him, dumbfounded.

SCENE: Cell interior.

Joe is sitting on the cot, looking up at Fr Mac.

Fr Mac: I think it's just great that you're back in the fold.

Joe, cautiously: One day at a time now, Father.

Fr Mac: Indeed. But one more voice to pray for Henry Halloran can only be a good thing.

Joe is confused: Henry?

Fr Mac: One of my parishioners.
He steps toward the window, glances out the window, looks down: The guards think...he put his wife in hospital.

Joe looks stunned, his mouth hangs open.

Fr Mac walks back to the middle of the cell, gazes off to the other side: It's more the children...father in prison, mother in hospital.

Joe looks up at Fr Mac: I pray for them every day, Father.

Fr Mac looks down at Joe, skeptically: Do you?

Joe, sincerely: God knows I do.

Fr Mac, dryly: D'you think he's having trouble hearing you?

Joe: Oh that may be so but I'm hearing you loud and clear.

Fr Mac, threateningly: What are you going to do about it?

Joe, carefully: I've already made my confession, Father.

Sound of the door being unlocked. The door opens with a squeak. Fr Vincent enters, wearing a black sweater and blue jeans.

Fr Vincent: She's woken up, Joe. She's out of the coma. Sometime probably in the next hour, she'll be telling the guards what happened.

Joe looks down.

Fr Vincent: You might want to get in first.

Joe looks up at Fr Vincent. Fr Vincent glances at Fr Mac, then steps back one step.

Fr Vincent: Father.
He turns around and leaves.

Fr Mac follows him. Joe stays on the cot, scratches his chest, rests his head on him fist. Sound of the door being locked.

CUT TO: Jail hallway interior.

Fr Mac and Fr Vincent walk down the hall, side by side.

Fr Mac: Shall I hear your confession now or later?

Fr Vincent: I don't know what you mean, Father.

They stop, face each other.

Fr Mac: She hasn't woken up, has she?

Fr Vincent: Not yet.

Fr Mac looks down, nods slightly. Fr Vincent has the hint of a smile on his face. They both turn and leave together.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's upstairs hallway interior.

Paul is standing next to a closed door, talking to it.

Paul: Sweetheart, I'll buy you a whole herd of goats, if you'll just give me Daddy G.

Grainne shouts (voice off camera): Go away!

Paul starts to lose his temper: Look, just for the afternoon, love, please!
He looks down, then offers: Name your price...

Oonagh comes down the hall, irritated: She doesn't have her. She doesn't know where she is.
She passes Paul and leaves.

Paul pleads with the door: Grainne--

Sound of a goat bleating.

Paul looks happy and relieved, turns suddenly. Dermot strolls past.

Paul points his finger at Dermot, incensed: You...are dead!

Dermot quickly exits: Uh-oh.
He goes into another room and closes the door.

Paul turns back to the first door: Grainne--

Oonagh pops out of another room down the hall, annoyed: For the love of God--

Paul: Look, I need that goat.
He steps away from Grainne's door, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb, and walks toward Oonagh.

Oonagh, annoyed: Why?

Paul, all worked up: Because the horse won't win-- won't win-- won't even run without it.

Oonagh, disapprovingly: Well what's that to you?

Paul looks down briefly, exhales, looks Oonagh in the eye, calmly: Because I have a share in the horse.

Oonagh folds her arms across her chest, calmly: You bought a share in a race horse?

Paul: I was given it.

Oonagh: You were given it?

Paul: Yes.

Oonagh, meaningfully: By Avril Burke?

Paul: Yes.

Oonagh cocks her head to the side, taunts: And how did that work, Paul? Was it like Joan of Arc, you know, she heard voices...
She switches to a spooky voice: Give your horse to Paul Dooley, give your horse--

Paul looks confused, then superior: Now you're being silly.

Grainne opens the door of her room, sticks her head out. She is behind Paul, he does not see her.

Oonagh accuses Paul: You bartered your daughter's birthday present, didn't you.

Grainne looks at Paul, shocked, whispers: What?

Oonagh: You did, didn't you?

Dermot sticks his head out of his room, too, looks very interested.

Oonagh: For a piece of the horse

Dermot, disgusted: What'd she give you Dad, the head?

Paul turns around, points at Dermot, angrily: Look you, one more--

Dermot quickly disappears into his room, slams the door.

Paul sees Grainne there, too, tries to talk to her: Grainne--

She steps back into her room, closes her door hard.

Paul turns back to Oonagh. She give him a hard stare, goes back into her room, slams the door.

Paul stands alone in the hall, at loose ends, open mouthed.

Oonagh opens her door again. Paul turns toward her hopefully.

Oonagh, threateningly: Find that goat.
She slams the door again.

Paul looks lost.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Stables exterior.

Avril is leading The Cat out of her stable. Edso is standing there holding the door open.

Edso: So you're going to run her anyway.

Avril, determinedly: I've already paid the entry fee, I can't afford not to. Sure half of BallyK's gonna turn up.
She leads The Cat up into the travelling horse box.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Street outside Fitzgerald's.

Paul's car is parked in front of the pub. Oonagh gets into the front passenger seat, closes the door. Dermot is already sitting in the back seat. Paul paces around in front of the car.

CUT TO: Car interior.

Dermot, to Paul, through the open window: Come on Dad, let's go.

Paul bends over, leans his hand on the open window: All right, Dermot.
He straightens up.

CUT TO: Street.

Paul paces some more next to the car. He looks at the door to Fitzgerald's.

Grainne comes out. She walks to the car. She stops just before getting in, turns to Paul: I don't have her. If I did I'd give her to you, but I don't.

Paul leans over, puts one hand on the back of Grainne's neck, kindly: That's not a problem, love.

Grainne looks down, nods slightly. She gets into the car. Paul closes the door, walks around to the driver's door.

CUT TO: Car interior.

Grainne looks sadly at Dermot, then out the window.

Oonagh, from the front seat: Don't worry love, we'll find her.

CUT TO: Car exterior.

Paul gets into the driver's seat, closes the door.

SCENE: Some anonymous pub interior.

Frankie enters, wearing civil, looks around. She spots Fr Vincent sitting at a table by himself, hunched over a bowl of soup.

Frankie steps up to the bar: Can I have an orange, please.

Barman looks up from where he is pulling a draft: Yeah, bring it over to you.

Frankie smiles: Thanks. She walks toward Fr Vincent.

Frankie stops next to Fr Vincent, politely: Can I join you?

Fr Vincent looks up, pleasantly surprised: Hey! Yeah.

Frankie pulls up a chair.

Fr Vincent takes a spoonful of soup, looks at Frankie, pauses, holding the spoon against his lips. She stares at him in an amused way.
Finally he has to smile: What?

Frankie smiles: What nothing.
Then serious: Well played.

Fr Vincent seems disappointed: Ah.
He puts his spoon down, sits back: Not quite Queensbury rules.

Frankie looks at him reproachfully: Whatever. What did you tell him?

Fr Vincent: Well, uh...
He looks down, then back at Frankie: That the farmer's wife had woken up, she'd identify him anyway.

Frankie, surprised: You don't know.

Fr Vincent, interested: What?

Frankie leans forward, smiles slightly: She has. About fifteen minutes ago. She's going to be OK.

Fr Vincent looks off to the side, amazed.

Frankie, impressed: You're on a roll, Father.

Fr Vincent looks at Frankie.

Frankie suggests: Do you want to...press your luck?

Fr Vincent: How's that?

Frankie: The Cat. Runs at Wexford this afternoon. What d'you say?

Fr Vincent smiles slightly, looks pleased.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Liam's house exterior.

Donal bangs the door knocker several times, impatiently. He waits a moment, then steps back from the door, looks up toward the windows, calls: Liam!
He goes back to the door, hits it several times with his open hand.

Liam opens the door: What in the ?? God, what's the rush?
He exits the house in a rush.

Donal walks quickly away, says over his shoulder: Churchill carriageway's backed up, we have to stop for diesel, and the first race was half an hour ago.

Liam struggles to button up his trousers: Ah, we'll be fine.

Donal stops suddenly: What's that?

Faint sound of a goat bleating.

Liam comes up behind him, pulling on his jacket: What.

Definite sound of a goat bleating.

Donal looks at Liam: That.

Liam pauses, then: Sounded like sheep. Come on let's go.
He starts to walk past Donal.

Donal doesn't budge.

Sound of goat bleating.

Donal: Inside the house? What in case you feel a ?? coming on?

Liam stops, looks at Donal.

Sound of goat bleating.

Liam clears his throat, making a sound that very vaguely resembles the bleating sound.

Donal: Liam, that's a goat.

Sound of goat bleating a few times.

Liam looks away.

Donal, indignantly: How could ya?
He starts looking for the goat. The goat continues bleating incessantly.

CUT TO: Back of house.

Donal throws up his arms and stops. He sees the goat. It is tied to an old table in the yard. It bleats. Liam walks up behind Donal. Donal looks at Liam.

Liam looks at Donal, calculating: She'll get back.

Donal: When the race is over.
He walks toward the goat.

Liam, defensively: Now what's so bad about that?
He follows Donal: Horse against horse, that's all I want.

Donal reaches the goat, leans over to untie her.

Liam: That's fair. Not horse against...horse and goat.
He leans on the table that the goat is tied to.

Donal straightens up, looks at Liam, indignantly: What do you care?

Liam, confidentially: Cause I've had it down.

Donal, dismissively: So? You've had a bet? We've all had a bet.

Liam: No, Donal, when I say I've had it down, I mean, I've had it down.

Donal: Not the ten thousand from Quigley.

Liam: Don't be stupid.

Donal looks around, relieved.

Liam admits: Five.

Donal looks desperate.

Liam tries to explain: Hey, now, in case you're forgetting. We haven't actually seen Quigley's ten thousand since we loaned it to Dooley.
He looks down: Had to use a credit bookmaker.

Donal looks sympathetically at Liam, then looks down: Truck Stop Annie, I presume.

Liam: Correct.

Donal makes a squeaking sound with his lips.

Liam: You backed The Cat.

Donal nods.

Liam: How hard you go in?

Donal, emphatically: Hard.

Liam: Not the full ten?

Donal: Don't be stupid.

Both look at each other, simultaneously: Five.

Donal reaches down to untie the goat: The goat's coming with.

Liam: Donal--

Donal: We can't leave her here, it's wrong.

Liam: Whoever wins, we split it.

Donal considers this briefly, frowns at Liam.

SCENE: Daytime. Overcast. Race track exterior.

Several horses are galloping down the straightaway. The announcer is commentating the race. Two shots of the stands, which are full. Shot of the race. Shot of money changing hands. Various shots of the goings-on.

Frankie and Fr Vincent emerge from a door, holding hot dogs and smiling. They start walking down some steps. Fr Mac is walking up the steps. They are all wearing civil. They all stop.

Fr Vincent, surprised: Father Mac.

Fr Mac looks up at Fr Vincent, exclaims in an oily way with a broad smile: Father Vinnie.

Fr Vincent and Frankie smile at Fr Mac, slightly embarrassed.

Fr Mac greets Frankie briefly: Gard Sullivan.
He starts up the stairs again, pushing his way between Frankie and Fr Vincent.

Frankie greets him back: Father.

Fr Mac, with meaning: Working undercover?

Frankie, pleasantly: Aren't we all?

Fr Mac's smile disappears. He turns away.

Frankie and Fr Vincent exchange amused looks.

Fr Vincent: Oops!
He laughs.

They continue down the stairs.

CUT TO: Daytime. Overcast. Carriageway.

Liam's truck is driving in heavy traffic. The goat is visible in the cab.

CUT TO: Race track.

Shot of the crowd and some horses.

Avril trots along next to The Cat, who is wearing a horse blanket.

Shot of the Dooleys, watching The Cat from the sidelines. Camera pans to show Fr Vincent and Frankie also watching The Cat from the sidelines.

Fr Vincent: She doesn't look very happy.

Frankie: Oh come on, she's the home team, don't be such a wuss.

Fr Vincent, seriously: Frankie, I know horses.

Frankie looks around, suddenly concerned: Where's the goat?

Fr Vincent, grimly: Search me.

CUT TO: Daytime. Sunny. Country road.

Liam's truck is driving along a country road, turns a corner. A signpost at the corner points in the direction the truck is going "RASCHURSA LOCH GARNAN (?) WEXFORD RACECOURSE" In the other direction, the signpost reads "INIS CORTHAICH (?) ENNISCORTHY 4"

CUT TO: Racetrack.

The jockey has mounted The Cat. Avril is standing next to them, holding the horse blanket. She pats the horse's rump as she walks off. The Cat is wearing number 2.

Shot of Liam's truck entering the parking area at the race grounds.

Shot of the horses warming up on the track.

Announcer: ...favorite is Truck Stop Annie...

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril and Edso take their place in the stands. Avril looks through a pair of binoculars. Edso stands next to her, looking out at the race track, concerned.

Avril shakes her head: Aaah.
She hands the binoculars to Edso: She doesn't like it. Look at her.

Edso obliges, puts the binoculars up to his face.

Avril: Fighting for her head.

CUT TO: Binocular shot.

Shot of the horses through the binoculars.

Avril (voice off-camera): She'll be exhausted before she's even been up.

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril has the binoculars again. She and Edso are watching the track. Brendan is standing behind them, watching the track intently. Behind Brendan is the Englishman. He takes a pair of binoculars away from his face, looks out at the track, smiling in a self-satisfied manner.

Shot of the horses running past.

CUT TO: Entrance gate.

Two men are standing at the entrance, one of them seems to want to get in without a ticket, and the other man isn't letting him. Liam and Donal approach with the goat.

CUT TO: Race grounds.

Several horses with jockeys on their backs are milling around. The Cat looks very nervous, stepping every which way.

Avril (voice off-camera): I shouldn't have brought her.

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril looks at Edso, determinedly: Come on.
They start making their way out of the stands.

Grainne and Dermot, Siobhan, Louis, and the Englishman are there in the stands, too.

CUT TO: Entrance gate.

The gatekeeper looks at Liam, Donal, and Daddy G dubiously: You're not coming in with that.

Donal, insistently: But she's with the horse.

Liam nods.

Gatekeeper: D'you know how many people say that?

It is a stand-off.

CUT TO: Long shot of the gate.

Fr Vincent and Frankie are passing by at a distance. Fr Vincent sees Donal and Liam, puts his hand on Frankie's shoulder, points to them. Frankie looks, too.

The gatekeeper has a walkie-talkie to his ear, is saying something about calling the guards. Frankie starts over toward Liam and Donal, gestures for Fr Vincent to follow her.

CUT TO: The gate.

Gatekeeper: I don't have to be nice to people, you know.

Liam and Donal look frustrated.

Frankie steps up, shows her badge, businesslike: What's the problem here?

Fr Vincent stands in the background, folds his arms across his chest, makes like the strong silent type.

Gatekeeper, appreciatively: Cheers, now that was quick.
He lowers the walkie-talkie, looks around at Fr Vincent.

Fr Vincent nods very slightly at the gatekeeper.

Frankie, to Liam and Donal: What's going on?

Liam and Donal indicate the goat.

Donal: The goat.

CUT TO: Stewards box.

Avril climbs up some stairs to a sort of viewing box with the sign "FOR ACTING STEWARDS ONLY PLEASE", talks to the man standing there: I want to withdraw my horse.

Edso stands behind Avril.

Steward: So you want to withdraw her.

Avril, concerned: She looked lame going down, I don't want to take a chance.

Steward starts to get annoyed: Now's a fine time to--
He suddenly stops, sees something out across the track, exclaims: My God.

Avril turns.

CUT TO: Race grounds.

An ambulance is driving across the grass with the goat in the front seat between the driver and Donal.

Avril exclaims: Daddy G.

CUT TO: Avril.

She smiles.

CUT TO: Stands.

Crowd scene.

CUT TO: Official's viewing box.

Three random men are looking through binoculars.

CUT TO: Binocular shot.

The horses and the ambulance as seen through binoculars.

CUT TO: Stands.

Crowd shot.

CUT TO: Top of stands.

A TV camera mounted on the top of the stands turns toward the ambulance.

CUT TO: Binocular shot.

The ambulance as seen through binoculars. Donal is standing at the open back door. The goat and Liam jump down out of the back (hey I thought the goat was up front with Donal!)

Grainne (voice off-camera): It's Daddy G!

CUT TO: Official's viewing box.

Shot of the three men with binoculars. One takes his binoculars down.

CUT TO: Race grounds.

Donal is standing on the grass, holding Daddy G on a lead. The Cat with her jockey on her back approaches them. The Cat leans down and sniffs at the goat.

CUT TO: Closeup of the goat and the horse.

Now Liam is holding Daddy G's lead, and Donal is standing there with his hands in his pockets.

CUT TO: Stands.

Edso and Avril are back in the stands.

CUT TO: Race grounds.

The Cat walks away from Donal, Liam, and the goat.

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril, all smiles, gives a thumbs up to Paul.

CUT TO: Starting boxes.

The Cat is led into the starting box.

Grainne (voice off-camera): Go for it, Daddy G!

CUT TO: Stands.

Shot of the Englishman watching the track. He puts the binoculars up to his face.

CUT TO: Binocular shot.

Shot of the starting boxes as seen through the binoculars. The horses are all ready.

Announcer: The Cat appears to be the last one to go in, that's it, all are in. Almost all in now, The Cat...

CUT TO: Stands.

Everyone is excited.

Grainne: Lift me up, Daddy.

Paul lifts Grainne up. She pulls a pair of binoculars up to her face.

Announcer: ...seems to be installed.

CUT TO: Starting boxes.

The gates swing open and the horses run out. Some of them look pretty slow. The Cat is somewhere in the middle.

CUT TO: Track.

The horses are off and running.

Shot of the ambulance driving slowly next to the track. The goat is in the front seat.

Shot of the horses running.

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril is watching through binoculars.

CUT TO: Binocular shot.

Shot of the horses running as seen through binoculars. The Cat is close behind two other horses.

Paul: Come on! Come on, The Cat!

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril looks a little nervous. She hands the binoculars to Edso. He looks through the binoculars.

CUT TO: Track.

The horses are running fast and kicking up dirt. The Cat pulls past one of the horses.

CUT TO: Stands.

Shot of Father Mac watching the race.

Grainne: Come on Daddy G.

Various shouts of "Come on!"

Avril: Come on, The Cat.

Shot of the Englishman looking through binoculars.

Paul shouts: Come on The Cat, come on!

CUT TO: Track.

The horses are running hard. The Cat pulls up even with the front horse.

CUT TO: Stands.

Everyone is anxious and jumping up and down.

Grainne: Come on, Daddy G.

CUT TO: Track.

The horses are running. The Cat and the other horse are neck and neck.

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril, nervous and urging, through clenched teeth: Come on. Come on The Cat.

CUT TO: Track.

The Cat starts to make a move forward.

CUT TO: Stands.

Everyone gets more excited. Avril smiles.

CUT TO: Long shot of track.

The horses are on the home stretch.

CUT TO: Stands.

The excitement grows. More people jump up and down.

CUT TO: Long shot of track.

The Cat pulls ahead.

CUT TO: Stands.

Avril looks vindicated. The Englishman looks nervous.

CUT TO: Finish line.

The Cat wins by a nose.

CUT TO: Stands.

Everyone cheers and jumps up and down.

Avril, orgasmically: Yes, yes!
She hugs Edso, who looks bewildered.

The Englishman looks disgusted.

CUT TO: Race grounds.

Liam, Donal, and the goat have just gotten out of the ambulance. Donal jumps up and down in glee. Liam walks away, holding the goat's lead.

SCENE: Fitzgerald's interior.

The pub is full. A banner across the bar reads "U THE CAT U" where the U's are horseshoes.

CUT TO: Bar.

Frankie is talking to Liam and Donal. Edso is next to them, but not paying attention to their conversation.

Frankie: Just run it past me one more time, how you found the goat?

Donal looks away nervously, takes a sip from his beer bottle. Liam laughs nervously: Was just...wandering down the road, you know, the way they do.

In the background, Avril passes by quickly. Edso turns and sees her go past.

Fr Vincent is talking to Paul, who is behind the bar: Did say the horse had a chance.
He looks down.

Paul: Mm-hm.

Fr Vincent: Put your house on it.

Paul: Obviously. Put your house on it.
He walks away.

Fr Vincent frowns, looks after him.

Edso cranes his neck to see where Avril has gone.

CUT TO: Far end of pub.

Avril is making her way through the crowd. Edso follows her.

Edso: Avril?

Avril is at the hotel door, about to leave. She turns and smiles at Edso.

Edso: The party's only getting going.

Avril smiles apologetically: I know but...you know, it's been a long day and it's not really me--
She drops her keys.

Both Avril and Edso bend over to pick up the keys.

CUT TO: Floor.

Closeup of the keys. Avril's and Edso's hands touch as they both reach for the keys.

CUT TO: Avril and Edso.

Edso gets thisclose to Avril's face, is about to kiss her.

Avril stands up quickly: Oops.
She is very embarrassed, cannot look Edso in the eye.

Edso, apologetically: Can't blame a man for trying.
He gives her a small smile.

Avril, quickly: No.
She laughs nervously, glances at Edso, looks away again: No.
She glances at him again, smiles, turns to leave.

Edso, seriously: Why not?

Avril looks over at the crowd of people: Oh come on Edso...

Edso nods: Sorry. Stupid.

Avril: Come on--

Edso: I mean, a race horse trainer and a mechanic.

Avril: I know.
She rolls her eyes: I'd never live up to it.
She laughs shortly.

Edso: What.

Avril smiles: Those puppy dog eyes is what.

Edso looks over at the crowd, smiles, embarrassed, then back at Avril, pretends he doesn't know what she's talking about: What.

Avril, good-naturedly: You know what.

Edso, hopefully: No big deal?

Avril, conciliatorily: No.

They look at each other for a moment. Edso looks sad, Avril looks embarrassed.

Avril: Thanks for today.
She leans over and kisses Edso on the cheek. She leaves.

ROLL CREDITS