Ballykissangel Episode 4.10

Births Deaths and Marriages

Written by Mark Holloway

Directed by N.G. Bristow

Produced by Chris Clough

Transcribed by Margaret Pattison

 

SCENE: Ballykissangel street.

Brendan is walking on the street outside the church.

 

CUT TO: Church.

Kathleen comes out of the church, carrying a box of cleaning supplies. She closes the door behind her. Brendan sees Kathleen and ducks below the wall.

 

CUT TO: Street.

Brendan is hurrying along, keeping his head below the wall so that Kathleen cannot see him.

 

CUT TO: Curate's house.

Brendan walks quickly up to the door, opens it, and goes in.

 

SCENE: Curate's house.

Brendan enters. Siobhan is standing before the door. Brendan closes the door quickly.

 

Siobhan, accusingly: You're late for class.

 

Brendan goes into the living room and peeks through the window.

 

Brendan whispers over his shoulder to Siobhan: Kathleen. She's watching us!

 

Siobhan: Well it's her evening for cleaning the ??

 

Brendan continues to whisper: She's found out!

 

Siobhan, defensively: Not from me!

 

Aiden: Ah!

 

Aiden enters: Good evening Brendan.

 

Brendan: Good evening Father.

 

They all walk to the middle of the room.

 

Brendan: What are we doing tonight Father.

 

Aiden is seated. He leafs through a little booklet.

 

Aiden, slightly uncomfortably: The uh...the physical expression of love within a married relationship.

 

Aiden turns his attention to his booklet.

 

Siobhan: You mean sex.

 

Aiden smiles tightly at Siobhan and returns to his booklet.

 

Brendan: We've done that already.

 

Aiden looks up, points out: Um, briefly.

 

Brendan looks down.

 

Siobhan looks at Brendan, meaningfully: Very briefly.

 

Brendan looks at Siobhan.

 

Aiden: Why don't we just review the topic and then we can move on to the wedding service itself.

 

Siobhan looks at the floor. Brendan looks around the room.

 

Aiden: Shall we get started?

 

Brendan and Siobhan sit down, Siobhan in a chair opposite Aiden and Brendan on a sofa between them. There is a bassinet next to Aiden. Cooing sounds emanate from it. Aiden leans over and shakes the bassinet gently.

 

Aiden whispers: Mummy and Daddy are busy.

He turns back to Siobhan and Brendan, looks at his booklet again: Right.

 

ROLL TITLES

 

SCENE: Eamonn's kitchen.

Danny enters. He opens a cabinet and pulls out a box of cereal.

 

Danny shouts over his shoulder: Breakfast!

 

He brings the cereal box to the table and pours the cereal into two bowls that are already there.

 

Danny shouts: Breakfast!

 

CUT TO: Eamonn's yard.

Eamonn is trying to reach a huge bag of "Super Finisher" which is on the top of a pile of such bags. Danny opens the house door and looks out.

 

Danny murmurs: Oh what is he doing now?

 

Eamonn picks up a metal rod and goes back to the pile of bags. Danny walks over to him.

 

Danny: Do you never want breakfast? Here uncle let me do it.

 

Danny walks over to the pile, takes the rod away from Eamonn and puts it on the ground.

 

Eamonn, accusingly: Why have you put them where they're ?? high?

 

Danny reaches up and grabs the top bag.

 

Danny: You said!

 

Eamonn: I did not!

 

Danny puts the bag down on the ground.

 

Danny: I'll tell you one thing if I wasn't here to do this you'd have to pay someone to do it. You happy now? Breakfast.

 

Danny walks away. Eamonn stares at him, open-mouthed.

 

SCENE: Sean's kitchen.

Sean is looking at three postcards lying on the table. Emma is standing behind him holding a mug.

 

Emma: Look! Steeries(??), Bombay, Melbourne...

 

Sean picks up one of the postcards and looks at the back.

 

Sean: Where'd you find these?

 

Emma: In my room. They were down back in one of the drawers in the big cupboard.

 

Sean frowns: Dated September, 1923.

 

Emma: Who was that Michael?(??) Do you know who he is?

 

Sean turns the postcard back around to look at the front again.

 

Sean: That was my grandfather.

He puts the postcard down and pokes at his cereal bowl with a spoon.

 

Sean: He had a spell as a ship's carpenter.

 

Emma, interested: You never told me.

She walks over to the table.

 

Sean: Well, I'd forgotten.

He picks up a spoonful of cereal.

 

Emma sits down next to Sean and puts down her mug.

 

Sean, looking at the postcards: I've never seen these.

He takes a bite of cereal.

 

Emma: Must be some stories.

 

Sean, with his mouth full: Well if there are, I never heard them. He died before I was born.

He swallows: My father never told me much about him.

He takes another bite of cereal.

 

Emma, disdainfully: That's typical of your family.

 

Sean reminds her, with his mouth full: Your family, too.

 

Emma picks up the postcards and stands up.

 

Emma: I'm going to find out about Michael Dillon.

She walks away.

 

Sean looks over his shoulder, surprised: What, now?

 

Emma opens the door, pauses: Well, yeah. There must be someone who remembers him.

She goes out and closes the door.

 

SCENE: Field.

Eamonn pushes over part of a wooden fence and steps up onto it. He looks around briefly, then puts two fingers in his mouth and whistles. He turns back around and steps down off the fence. He walks across the grass. A flock of bleating sheep runs over the fence.

 

SCENE: Hendley's.

Emma parks her bicycle squarely in front of Hendley's, on the street. She walks up the steps.

 

CUT TO: Hendley's interior.

A woman opens the door, on her way out. She holds the door open as Emma enters, then she leaves. Emma steps into the store and stands there.

 

Emma, nervously: Hi.

 

Kathleen: Are you looking for something?

 

Emma walks up to the counter.

 

Emma: I'm trying to find out about my great-grandfather, Michael Dillon. I wondered if you knew anything about him.

 

Kathleen, regretfully: It's an awful long time ago. I'd hate to tell you the wrong thing.

 

Emma: Do you think I might find something in the parish records?

 

Kathleen tries to put her off: There are a lot of names and dates.

 

Emma: Does Father O'Connell have them?

 

Kathleen admits: No, I look after them, and they're all locked up for now.

 

Emma hesitates briefly, then says brightly: OK, thank you.

She turns to leave, saying over her shoulder: I think I might just ask Father O'Connell.

 

Kathleen: There's no need to go bothering him.

 

Emma stops at the door.

 

Kathleen: If you really need to see them, I could spare a few minutes. But I think you'll be disappointed. The Dillons. They don't have what you'd call history.

 

Emma gives Kathleen a small smile.

 

SCENE: Fitzgerald's.

Orla is at the bar, cutting up lemon wedges. Niamh and Siobhan are at the end of the bar.

 

Siobhan: Why not bring Kieran up to me this afternoon.

 

Niamh: Great! I'll tell you his social life is a whole lot better than mine right now.

 

Siobhan: I thought working here was one long social life.

 

Niamh, humourously: No, working here is work.

 

Siobhan jokes: You leave the late nights and the wild parties to Ambrose.

 

Niamh smiles.

 

Orla smirks, to herself: Ambrose Egan, party animal.

 

Niamh's smile fades, indignantly: He goes to parties.

 

Orla, thoughtlessly: When? All the time I've been working here, you know I've never seen him go out. Must be hard on friends in your job.

 

Niamh, evenly: That's not true.

 

Orla looks up at Niamh, startled: Sorry.

 

Niamh and Siobhan look at each other sympathetically.

 

SCENE: Hillside.

Trixie is standing on the top of a steep incline, barking. Eamonn approaches.

 

Eamonn: Trixie, what is it?

 

Trixie barks.

 

Eamonn: Bridget, would you come out of there!

 

A sheep is lying a ways down the incline, bleating. It seems to be caught up in some barbed wire.

 

Eamonn, reproachfully: Bridget!

 

The sheep bleats and tries to stand up, but cannot. Eamonn gingerly starts down the incline. Trixie barks. Eamonn takes a misstep and trips and falls, rolling down the hill. He ends up face-down and motionless a little ways above the sheep. Trixie barks.

 

SCENE: Sacristy.

Kathleen and Emma are looking at an oversized church register. Kathleen is wearing her coat and hat.

 

Kathleen: Here you are. Your grandfather, William Dillon, married your grandmother, Tina Molloy, on June the 14th, 1956.

 

Emma: It was my great-grandfather, Michael Dillon, I'm trying to find out about.

 

Kathleen: Oh. My mistake.

She closes the book and carries it over to another counter and puts it away.

Kathleen: You know, I remember that wedding. I turned the pages for the organist. I'm pretty sure it rained.

 

Emma: William Dillon was born October the 6th, 1923. Can I see that entry?

 

Kathleen: 1923 is in the book that was damaged when the roof leaked.

 

Emma: Was it badly damaged?

 

Kathleen, cheerfully:No, just a few slates missing.

She looks up toward the roof.

 

Emma: The record book?

 

Kathleen: Oh yes. Oh it's unreadable.

She shrugs happily: I'm sorry.

 

SCENE: Egan's kitchen.

Ambrose is sitting at the table, doing some paperwork. Niamh enters, carrying a soup bowl. She closes the door behind her. She walks over to the sink and puts the bowl down. She looks over her shoulder at Ambrose.

 

Niamh, curiously: What are you doing?

 

Ambrose doesn't stop writing: Still the ?? report.

 

Niamh wipes down the counter: I was thinking. You never get out much anymore.

 

Ambrose points out: I'm out all day.

 

Niamh: In the evenings.

 

Ambrose stops writing, looks up at Niamh in surprise: Do you want to go out?

 

Niamh: I mean if you wanted to see friends.

 

Ambrose, disappointed, returns to his paperwork: I'm not bothered.

 

Niamh takes a step closer to Ambrose, eagerly: I wouldn't mind. And now Kieran's settled so early.

 

Ambrose puts his pen down and looks at Niamh again in surprise: You want me to go out is that what you're saying.

 

Niamh: It'd do you good.

 

Ambrose, bothered: All right, I'll go out.

He picks up his pen and starts writing again.

 

Niamh: When?

 

Ambrose, absent-mindedly: Sometime.

 

Niamh stares at Ambrose expectantly. Ambrose puts his pen down again and turns to Niamh.

 

Ambrose: Tonight.

 

Niamh: That's what you want.

 

Ambrose, quickly: It is yeah.

 

Niamh smiles to herself, puts her dishcloth down on the sink and leaves. Ambrose is bewildered.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's farm.

Danny is walking through the yard.

 

Danny calls: Uncle Eamonn!

 

He looks around and shouts loudly: Uncle Eamonn!

 

CUT TO: Hillside.

The sheep is bleating, Trixie is standing at the top of the hill, barking. Eamonn is still lying on the ground. He lifts his head slowly. He looks around. He can't seem to move.

 

Eamonn, desperately: Danny!

 

Trixie comes a couple of steps closer to Eamonn.

 

Eamonn: Danny!

 

SCENE: Egan's kitchen.

Ambrose is on the phone.

 

Ambrose, smiling: To-- Tony! It's Ambrose! Long time yeah! What are you up to right now? Traffic management, how did you pull that? *laughs* C-- Come here. You're not free tonight, are you?

His smile fades, disappointed: Sure. No problem. Y-- Yeah we'll do it some other time. Sure. Bye!

He hangs up the phone. He looks in his little black book.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's kitchen.

Danny is sitting at the table, finishing off his food. Eamonn's plate is still full and his chair empty. Danny drops his knife and fork on his plate and gulps the rest of his milk. He gets up and carries his dishes to the sink, where he deposits them with a loud clatter. He wipes off his hands, grabs his jacket from behind the door, and leaves.

 

SCENE: Curate's house.

Brendan, Siobhan and Aiden are sitting in the living room. Aiden is in the same chair as before, Siobhan is on the couch, and Brendan is in the other arm chair. Aiden is looking at a book, not the same one as he had before.

 

Brendan: I just don't think that that course book is designed for people like us.

 

Aiden: Like you in what way?

 

Siobhan interjects: In their forties with a child.

 

A baby coos somewhere.

 

Aiden looks at his book, stammers: Oh. Well it it it doesn't go into that kind of specifics. And, my own experience of my life is necessarily of a theoretical nature as you know.

 

Brendan, gently: We're not criticising you Father.

 

Aiden: But you think this is a waste of time.

 

Siobhan sighs.

 

Brendan: Father Mac made it quite clear, that we could not get married unless we attended the preparation classes, so I suppose it's a means to an end.

 

Aiden: All right. Let's stick to something I do know about, the wedding liturgy itself. At the wedding you'll be pledging your love for one another before God and the community.

 

Brendan's head snaps up, in surprise: What, the community?

 

Aiden: Why not? Keeping the wedding a secret, it's almost as if you're ashamed of getting married.

 

Siobhan, defensively: I'm not ashamed of anything!

 

A knock sounds at the door. Everyone looks toward the door.

 

Aiden: Excuse me.

He gets up.

 

Siobhan and Brendan look at each other. Brendan widens his eyes and inclines his head toward the door.

 

CUT TO: Outside the curate's house.

Aiden opens the door. Ambrose is there.

 

Ambrose smiles: Good morning Father!

 

Aiden steps out and closes the door behind him: Good morning.

 

Ambrose: Am I disturbing you?

 

Aiden, nervously: Uh, no, uh, not really.

 

Ambrose: Just wanted to ask something. Would you like to go out with me?

 

Aiden, taken aback: Yes. When?

 

Ambrose smiles: Tonight, about half six?

 

Aiden: That'd be fine. Where are we going?

 

Ambrose's smile fades and he thinks fast: Cilldargan.

 

Aiden: Cilldargan.

 

Ambrose: I'll see you then. About half six.

 

Aiden goes back inside. Ambrose leaves.

 

CUT TO: Inside.

Aiden looks around slowly. Brendan and Siobhan are nowhere to be seen.

 

Aiden: You can come out now.

 

Siobhan, carrying a baby carrier, and Brendan sneak down the stairs. They look guilty.

 

Aiden, sarcastically: Right. Where were we. Ah yes. Not being ashamed.

 

Siobhan: We're not ashamed of not being married, or of getting married. We just don't want any fuss.

 

Brendan: Exactly.

 

Aiden sighs, covers his face with his hand.

 

Aiden: I'm worried about this secrecy, it's as though, there's some kind of pretence, that this is not a real marriage.

 

Siobhan: We know what we're doing, Father.

 

A beeper sounds.

 

Siobhan: Oh.

She reaches into her pocket and takes out a pager.

 

Siobhan, apologetically, to Aiden: Work. Could be an emergency. Going to have to go.

She moves to leave.

 

Brendan nods in agreement: Hm.

 

Aiden: Well, normally we'd have a rehearsal in the church first.

 

Siobhan: We'll play it by ear. Thank you Father.

 

Aiden: I-- I'll see you tomorrow.

 

Siobhan leaves.

 

Aiden turns to Brendan, imploringly: I-- I just don't feel I've prepared you very thoroughly.

 

Brendan: Ah don't worry. We've done all the preparing we need.

 

Aiden is not convinced: I hope so.

 

SCENE: Brian's house.

Brian removes the plastic cover from a flat-screen computer monitor. He consults an instruction booklet.

 

Brian reads: Insert data cable to LPT1 parallel port connector.

He looks up and repeats: Insert data cable to LPT1 parallel port connector.

He steps over to the side and starts picking up packing material, apparently looking for something, repeats: Insert data cable to LPT1--

 

The doorbell rings. Brian puts down the packing material.

 

CUT TO: Door.

Brian opens the door. He looks slightly surprised, but pleasantly so.

 

Brian: Hello!

 

It is Emma.

 

Emma smiles: Hi.

 

Brian: Do you know what a parallel port connector is?

 

Emma, uncertainly: Sort of.

 

Brian: Come in then.

 

Emma enters.

 

Emma: I was talking to Kathleen and she said you had a lot of local history documents.

 

Brian closes the door: Did she now.

 

Emma: She said you use them to impress business contacts digging up their Irish ancestors.

 

Brian: I don't usually go quite that far.

He leads Emma into the house.

 

CUT TO: Hallway.

Brian walks through the hallway into another room. Emma follows him. Camera pulls back into the room.

 

Brian: But I'll do a deal with you. You sort out my parallel ports and I'll give you all the history you want.

He walks over to the computer and picks up the packing material again, looking for something underneath

 

Brian: Now where is it? Ah. There we are.

He bends down and picks up a cable, holds it out to Emma: One data cable.

 

SCENE: Road.

Brendan cycles across a bridge, then stops next to Siobhan's van and dismounts. Siobhan is standing next to the van.

 

Brendan: What happened to the emergency?

 

Siobhan: I said it could be an emergency. Could be Michael Ryan paged me because I asked him to.

 

Brendan nods, looks around, lowers his voice: Have you told Michael about the wedding?

 

Siobhan: No. Will you stop asking me that? And will you stop whispering!

She walks away.

 

CUT TO: Bridge.

Siobhan walks onto the bridge. Brendan walks over and stands next to her. They both lean on the railing and look down. It is a sunny day and the water is dazzling.

 

Siobhan: Is there anything we need to talk about before tomorrow?

 

Brendan hesitates, looks down, then reaches into his pocket: Yeah there is one thing. This.

He hands Siobhan a small box.

 

Siobhan takes the box, looks skeptically at Brendan.

Brendan: Well open it!

He puts his hands in his pockets and looks out at the river.

 

Siobhan opens the box. Inside is a gold wedding band.

 

Siobhan: Hope you kept the receipt.

 

Brendan looks down at the river.

 

Siobhan: We agreed! No dress, no flowers, no honeymoon, no reception, and no rings.

 

Brendan: Well you don't have to wear it. I just wanted you to have it.

 

Siobhan: As long as you don't expect me to buy you one.

 

Brendan looks off to the side. He might be hiding a smile. Siobhan closes the box and holds it out to Brendan.

 

Siobhan: You'd better have it back.

 

Brendan: Why?

 

Siobhan: I think you're supposed to give it to me at the wedding.

 

They both smile. Brendan takes the box and puts it back in his pocket.

 

SCENE: Countryside.

Danny is riding Razor across a field. He is looking around.

 

Danny shouts: Uncle Eamonn!

 

Danny stops the horse and shouts: Uncle Eamonn!

 

SCENE: St. Joseph's.

Fr Mac and Aiden are walking outside the church.

 

Fr Mac: But Brendan and Siobhan have a child. Surely that is reason enough for them to want to get married.

 

Aiden: I-- I know, but-- but it's like they're pretending that it's not happening.

 

Fr Mac stops and asks Aiden: Is there any specific reason why they shouldn't marry?

 

Aiden: No.

 

Fr Mac resumes walking: Then what right do you feel you have to deny them the gift of grace bestowed by the Sacrament of Marriage?

 

Aiden: None at all Father it-- I just, don't feel happy about it.

 

Fr Mac, distastefully: You don't feel happy.

He stops again.

Fr Mac: Happiness...is for ?? boys. Or for charismatics of course.

He resumes walking.

 

Aiden: Yes, Father.

 

Fr Mac: Concentrate on the important things. Where's the reception?

 

Aiden: They're not having any.

Fr Mac stops again.

 

Fr Mac: Oh now, there's something you should feel unhappy about. Maybe you should remind them that the first miracle performed by Our Blessed Lord was not at the wedding at Cana, but at the feast afterwards. There's a moral in it somewhere.

He walks away.

 

SCENE: Woods.

Danny is sitting on Razor. He looks around.

 

Danny shouts: Uncle Eamonn?! Uncle Eamonn!

He looks around. He looks worried.

He shouts: Uncle Eamonn!

He mumbles something, then: Where are you come on!

 

SCENE: Siobhan's garden.

Siobhan comes out of the house, carrying a tray with two mugs. Niamh is kneeling next to Aisling's swing. Kieran is standing next to her.

 

Siobhan: Well, here we are.

 

Niamh stands up.

 

Niamh: I was going to take Kieran to the beach tomorrow afternoon, why don't you come with us?

 

Siobhan sets the tray down on a little wrought metal table.

 

Siobhan: Er...I can't.

She sits down.

 

Niamh: I'll take Aisling if you're working tomorrow.

 

Siobhan: I'm not, I'm...going out.

 

Niamh, interested: Somewhere nice?

 

Siobhan, melancholy: I don't know.

 

Niamh walks over to Siobhan.

 

Niamh: What's the big secret?

 

Siobhan: I'm getting married.

 

Niamh stares at Siobhan, speechless. Siobhan turns slowly around to look at Niamh.

 

Niamh, breathlessly: Well talk about springing it on us!

She sits down: Why didn't you say?

 

Siobhan: It's nothing special. We just found out that with both our pensions and Brendan's life insurance, Aisling would have much more security if we were married, so we're doing it. But we want to keep it quiet.

 

Niamh, skeptically: Are you going to live together?

 

Siobhan: No, we want it to last. It's just a practical arrangement.

 

Niamh, incredulously: But it's your wedding too, it's got to be more than just practical. There must be some magic, romance.

 

Siobhan: With Brendan?

 

Niamh: Why not?

 

Siobhan: Because I'm me and he's him and we know each other too well so, keep it to yourself will you?

 

Niamh smiles: Have you got a dress?

 

Siobhan: No.

 

Niamh: You've got to have a dress.

 

Siobhan: I don't want a dress.

 

Niamh: Yes you do. We'll get the kids in the car, and go to Cilldargan.

She gets up.

 

Siobhan sighs.

 

SCENE: Countryside.

Danny is riding Razor along a gravel path. He comes to Sean's house and stops. Sean is outside, cutting his hedges.

 

Sean: She's not here. Do you want me to give her a message?

 

Danny, worried: I can't find Eamonn. He always comes home for his dinner, at twelve everyday, but he didn't today. I've looked for him everywhere.

 

Sean clips his hedges some more.

 

Sean: Do you want me to give you a hand?

 

Danny nods: Yeah.

 

Sean stops clipping and walks over to the fence.

 

Sean: Well, we can't find him, we'll talk to Ambrose to get some help in.

 

Danny: I'm sorry to hassle you.

 

Sean: Supposed to be what neighbours are for.

He walks past Danny: Come on.

 

SCENE: Dress shop.

Siobhan is standing in front of a mirror, holding a dark blue dress with a flowery print in front of her. She turns around and walks away from the mirror.

 

Niamh: Siobhan, it's you.

 

Siobhan puts the dress onto a rack.

 

Niamh: You have got to have it.

 

Siobhan insists: I don't need it.

 

Niamh, incredulously: It's your wedd--

 

Siobhan: Shhhh.

 

Niamh: Why did you tell me about the...*whispers* wedding...if you didn't want me to bully(??) you?

 

Siobhan: I didn't think I'd be spending...

She looks at the price tag on the dress: ...a hundred and eighty quid!

 

Niamh: Right. You're going to enjoy your big day.

 

Siobhan: It's not a big day.

 

Niamh: It should be. You cannot put your hand on your heart and swear that you're not a little tiny bit excited?

 

Siobhan smiles: All right. I'll buy the dress. But that's all, OK?

She takes the dress off the rack.

 

SCENE: Field.

Sean and Danny are walking across a large field of grass. Danny is leading Razor.

 

Danny shouts: Eamonn! Uncle Eamonn!

 

Sean: Sure he didn't say where he was working today.

 

Danny: He said he was doing something with the sheep, but...I've looked everywhere for him.

 

Sean: What about my land?

 

Danny: Your land?

 

Sean: Yeah. Been grazing the sheep on my land for weeks. Why don't you look for the far side of the farm. I'll go to the upper fields.

 

Danny: All right.

 

Sean walks away. Danny throws the reins up across Razor's back and climbs up into the saddle.

 

SCENE: Brian's house.

Emma is sitting in front of Brian's computer, consulting a booklet. Brian is standing next to her, holding a cable.

 

Emma, looking at the book, points to the hard drive: This could go to the left.

 

Brian wiggles the cable: This goes over to the left.

He walks around to the other side of the desk in order to reach the back of the hard drive.

He mumbles: ...to the left.

He almost puts the cable into the back of the hard drive.

Emma corrects him: The other left.

 

Brian: My left? God you're worse than Niamh.

He bends over and tries to stick the cable in.

 

Brendan: Give her an instruction book and she turns into a Mussolini.

 

Emma smirks: Just don't like being bossed around by a woman.

 

Brian corrects her: Don't like being bossed around at all!

 

Emma: This is all set up now.

 

Brian: Success!

He walks around to the front of the computer again.

 

Emma pushes a button on the monitor. It makes a twanging sound and the screen lights up. The computer makes whirring and beeping sounds.

 

Emma turns to Brian: You were going to tell me about Michael Dillon.

 

Brian: He was married to Nora Byrne.

 

Emma, surprised: Byrne?!

 

Brian: That would have been Eamonn's aunt.

 

Emma: Well-- So Eamonn and my dad are some sort of cousins?

 

Brian: In a place this size we're all some sort of cousins.

 

SCENE: Field.

Sean comes to the fence that Eamonn dismantled earlier. He stops and looks across the field. He looks down at the fence and notices a bit of wool caught on an exposed wire. He looks around, then steps over the fence into the next field.

 

SCENE: Brian's house.

 

Emma: When I went to look at the parish records it was like Kathleen was doing everything she could to stop me finding out about Michael Dillon.

 

Brian: She probably thought she was doing the right thing, stopping you finding the skeleton in the cupboard.

He picks up a box containing a golf CD.

 

Emma: What skeleton?

 

Brian: Your grandfather was illegitimate.

He walks toward Emma.

 

Emma: But Michael Dillon married Nora Byrne.

 

Brian: Not until after the baby was born. It was a big thing in those days. Unmarried mothers were locked away.

 

Emma raises her eyebrows.

 

Brian clarifies: Not in prison, in an institution. They were treated like criminals, punished.

 

Emma, concerned: And did that happen to her?

 

Brian: No, but the Byrne family disowned her.

He walks past Emma.

 

Emma: How stupid!

 

SCENE: Field.

Trixie is barking. Sean hears the dog and walks toward her. He starts jogging.

 

Sean shouts: Eamonn!

 

CUT TO: Eamonn.
Eamonn lifts his head and grunts. Trixie continues to bark.

 

CUT TO: Hilltop.

Sean hurries to the edge. He finds Trixie and looks over the edge and sees Eamonn.

 

Sean exclaims: Eamonn!

He starts down the hill.

 

CUT TO: Eamonn.

Eamonn sees Sean coming. He doesn't look all that pleased.

 

Sean: Eamonn you all right!

 

Eamonn, testily: Do I look all right?

 

Sean descends to where Eamonn is lying.

 

Sean: I'll give you a hand.

 

Eamonn drops his head, mumbles: Move Bridget first.

 

Sean: Bridget? The sheep?

He grumbles, but climbs over Eamonn.

 

Eamonn admonishes him: Be careful with her.

 

Sean grabs the sheep, but realizes he'll have to disentangle her first.

 

Sean: Oh God. Hold still, hold still.

He removes the wire: All right. Go on go on go on home!

He pushes the sheep and it runs up the hill.

 

Eamonn croaks: This is her home.

 

Sean: This is my land.

He climbs back up to Eamonn: Can you stand? Right, put your arm round my neck.

Sean lifts Eamonn up.

 

Eamonn: Where's Danny?

 

Sean: Looking for you. Like I've been doing for the last hour.

 

SCENE: Brian's house.

Brian is playing a golf simulation on the computer. Emma is standing beside him.

 

Brian: So that's what started the bad feeling between the two families.

 

Emma: I thought that was because my granddad ?? the Byrnes off their land.

 

Brian: He did. But that's because he'd grown up being treated like dirt by the Byrnes. Wanted to get his own back. I think he had a talent for that.

 

Emma: Did you like him?

 

Brian: Nobody liked him. People used to say he was born a bastard, it's no surprise he acts like one. But then you should hear what they say about me.

 

Emma: Well I can't understand why it was a problem if they got married in the end.

 

Brian: It was a different world in those days, it just was. Now things have changed, the country's changed, the church has changed. It's all water under the bridge now.

 

Emma: Except we still have to live with it.

 

Brian: No, that's up to you.

 

Brian's computer golf player taps in a ball.

 

Brian: Yes!

 

SCENE: Countryside.

Danny is riding Razor. He hears Trixie barking. He looks across the field and sees a figure carrying something across its back. He rides quickly over to them.

 

CUT TO: Field.

Sean is carrying Eamonn over his shoulder.

 

Eamonn: You can put me down now.

 

Sean: No I can't leave you here I'll take you down to the road.

 

Eamonn: Not this way.

 

Sean, good-naturedly: What you want to go the scenic route?

 

Eamonn: It's quicker across the bottom corner you see there's a gap in the fence.

 

Sean sees Danny galloping toward them and adjusts his course to intercept him.

 

Sean: You know my fences better than I do.

 

Eamonn: Because my brother built them.

 

Sean: Yeah, since I came back you've been pulling them all down.

 

Eamonn, bitterly: I never asked you to do this.

 

Danny reaches them and stops his horse.

 

Danny: Well, is he all right?

 

Sean sets Eamonn down.

 

Eamonn: Of course I am! Lot of fuss about nothing!

 

Sean, to Danny: He can't walk.

 

Danny, concerned: Will I get the doctor?

 

Eamonn: No!

 

Sean: Yes.

 

Eamonn: You can take me back home!

 

Danny: On the horse?

 

Sean: I'll take him in the pickup. Go get Doc Ryan and tell him to come to the farm we'll see you there.

 

Danny turns Razor around: Off you get!

 

Sean picks Eamonn up over his shoulder again.

 

SCENE: Egan's kitchen.

Niamh is mixing up a batter. She looks up as Orla enters.

 

Orla: Mmm, cake.

She stands by the table and watches Niamh working.

 

Niamh: Siobhan and Brendan are getting married, tomorrow.

 

Orla, incredulously: You are joking me.

 

Niamh shakes her head with a smile.

 

Niamh: It's supposed to be a secret, but we're organising a surprise reception.

 

Orla: Er w-- w-- I don't get it. If they're keeping it a secret do they want a reception?

 

Niamh: Of course they do! They don't want to look back on their wedding day and think that no one cared.

 

Orla: Yeah but if they wanted a party surely they woulda organised one.

 

Niamh: They want a party, they just don't know it yet. Look how long it took them to realise they wanted to get married.

 

They both look down at the batter.

 

Niamh, confidentially: I think that Siobhan's worried about the cost.

 

Orla mouths "Ah."

 

Niamh shows Orla the batter: What do you think?

 

Orla dips her pinky in and tastes the batter.

 

Orla, thinking of what is missing: Mm...Mm brandy.

She dips her pinky in for another taste.

 

Orla: Mm-hm. Definitely more brandy.

 

Niamh carries the bowl out to the bar area.

 

CUT TO: Bar.

Orla follows Niamh. Niamh holds the bowl up to the spigot to put brandy in. Orla sees something and grabs the bowl away from Niamh.

 

Niamh exclaims: Orla!

 

Orla quickly deposits the bowl behind the bar and whirls back around, looking as if nothing were going on.

 

The camera spins around to the end of the bar, where Brendan is standing, reading a book.

 

Orla: Good afternoon Brendan!

 

Brendan looks up: Good afternoon, Orla.

He looks at Niamh, slightly rudely (I thought): Afternoon, Niamh.

 

Niamh smiles: Brendan.

 

Orla: Your usual?

 

Brendan turns back to his book: Thanks.

 

Orla maneuvers Niamh around so that Niamh is blocking Brendan's sight of the mixing bowl. Then she gets his drink.

 

Orla: So, tell me Brendan. Any plans for the weekend?

 

Brendan, coolly: Nothing special.

 

Orla: So we'll be seeing you in here then will we?

 

Brendan: Probably.

 

Orla, amused by her own cleverness: Always get a good reception in here.

 

Brendan doesn't notice anything. Niamh and Orla smile.

 

SCENE: Sacristy.

Aiden is standing at the cabinet where the church registers are kept. Kathleen stops in the doorway and hums the wedding march. Aiden turns around and smiles, somewhat bewildered.

 

Aiden: Good afternoon, Kathleen.

 

Kathleen: I hear there's a...*whispers* w-e-d-d-i-n-g tomorrow morning.

 

Aiden: Who told you that?

 

Kathleen, please with herself: I promised not to say.

 

Aiden: So did I!

 

Kathleen: You'll be needing the organ.

 

Aiden: Will I?

 

Kathleen: Unless you're planning to hum the wedding march.

 

Aiden looks confused.

 

Kathleen: Ten-thirty?

 

Aiden nods very slightly: Ten-thirty. Please...don't tell anyone else.

 

Kathleen: Me? I know how to keep a secret.

She turns and leaves.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's house.

Michael Ryan is wrapping an Ace bandage around Eamonn's ankle. Eamonn is lying in bed.

 

Eamonn: I'm not going to hospital.

 

Michael: You don't have to go to hospital.

He stands up and gets something out of his bag: That's a bad sprain. You'll have to rest and you can't put any weight on it.

 

Eamonn: I've got a farm to run.

 

Michael: You're not running anything or anywhere right now.

 

Eamonn: You can't stop me.

 

Michael: That wasn't an order, it was a statement of fact.

He wraps something around Eamonn's wrist: You need bed rest. Three days, minimum. And I'd rather it was a week.

He points at Eamonn: You're staying put.

 

Danny and Sean are standing in the doorway.

 

Eamonn: Danny, move the sheep back into the high field. And don't forget the pigs.

 

Danny, as if he'd never heard of the creatures: Pigs?

 

Eamonn: They need feeding!

 

Danny nods.

 

Sean: Do you want me to do that?

 

Eamonn: I do not. Danny'll do it.

 

Sean: We'll sort something out. Well, let's leave the doc to it.

He puts his cap back on and leaves.

 

Danny nods in agreement and leaves also.

 

Michael does something and the thing on Eamonn's wrist starts to buzz. Eamonn looks startled. The gadget starts to beep.

 

Michael, soothingly: I'm just taking your blood pressure. Just relax.

 

The gadget buzzes again. Eamonn watches it apprehensively.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's yard.

There are piles of rusty farm equipment lines up against the fence.

 

Sean: Does Eamonn ever throw anything away? This stuff's prehistoric.

 

Danny: It still works.

 

Sean: What are you going to do first?

 

Danny: Feed the pigs.

He picks up a large sack.

 

Sean: Will ?? fertilizer do it?

 

Danny looks down at the sack he was going to pick up. Sean walks over.

 

Sean: Pig feed's the stuff with the pig on it.

 

Danny drops that sack and picks up another one with a picture of a pig on it.

 

Sean: You ought to check the sheep for blue fly, you know?

 

Danny: Yeah I'll do it after the pigs.

He picks up the sack and walks away.

 

Sean: You do know what to do don't you?

 

Danny: Yeah.

 

Sean: Look. Why don't I get started on the sheep, and you feed the pigs.

 

Danny: Right.

 

SCENE: Fitzgerald's.

Niamh and Orla are behind the bar. A couple of customers get up and leave.

 

Niamh: See you.

 

Customer: Bye.

 

Ambrose enters from the upstairs.

 

Ambrose: I'm off out.

 

Orla, curious: Going somewhere special?

 

Ambrose walks toward the bar, eagerly: Well, actually--

 

Niamh interrupts: Out with the lads.

 

Orla: The lads?

 

Ambrose looks from Niamh to Orla, unsure: In Cilldargan.

 

Orla: Oh right.

 

Ambrose: I'll see you later.

He frowns slightly in puzzlement and walks to the door.

 

Niamh: Ambrose...

 

Ambrose stops and turns, looks quizzically at Niamh. Niamh comes out from behind the bar, walks over to Ambrose, and kisses him on the cheek.

 

Niamh: Have a nice time.

 

Ambrose: Thanks.

He leaves.

 

Niamh looks triumphantly at Orla. Orla smiles sweetly at Niamh.

 

SCENE: Sheep pen.

 

Sean: OK lift up his tail.

He wipes his mouth on his arm. He is wearing a plastic canister slung over his shoulder, from which a hose leads. He holds the hose in his left hand.

 

Danny walks over to a sheep and lifts up its tail.

 

Danny: Ach it's covered in--

 

Sean: Yeah OK.

 

Sean bends over and points at the sheep's ass.

 

Sean: You see the maggots there.

 

Danny leans in for a real close look.

 

Danny: Yeah.

 

Sean: No don't touch them.

 

Danny: I won't! (??)

 

Sean: Just hold her still. And I'll spray her. Right.

Sean sprays something at the sheep from his hose.

 

They move on to the next sheep.

 

Sean: You enjoying this?

 

Danny: What do you think?

Sean: Well, if Eamonn's laid up for a while you could be doing a lot more of it.

He sprays the sheep all over.

 

Danny: Looks like I'm stuck with it now doesn't it. The next one.

 

SCENE: Cilldargan.

Ambrose and Aiden are standing next to Ambrose's green station wagon, having just parked.

 

Aiden walks to the sidewalk: So. Who else is coming?

 

Ambrose joins him: Oh, just us.

 

Aiden: Ah.

 

Ambrose: Where do you want to go?

 

Aiden: I hadn't thought.

 

Ambrose: Are we to see a film?

 

Aiden: Fine!

 

Ambrose: Right! This way.

He points somewhere ahead of them. They walk in that direction.

 

CUT TO: Theatre.

"Now showing: Secrets of the Flesh". There is a line of men at the ticket window.

 

Ambrose turns around, embarrassed: I'm sorry Father.

 

Aiden, disappointed: You've seen it already.

 

Ambrose: No! I-- I don't want to...

 

Aiden looks at the marquee, then back at Ambrose: I don't mind. Will be an education.

 

Ambrose, doubtfully: I don't think...

 

Aiden: Oh.

He turns around, too: Can go for a drink?

 

Ambrose, glumly: I'm driving.

 

Aiden looks down and thinks for a moment.

 

Aiden: What do you suggest then?

 

Ambrose thinks.

 

SCENE: Egan's kitchen.

Niamh is balancing a cake pan on one hand with an oven mitt. Orla is handing her another one.

 

Niamh: Now put that back on the table...somewhere.

 

Orla, unsure: OK.

She leaves Niamh with both cakes, then goes over to a cabinet and rummages around.

 

CUT TO: Bar.

Brendan is sitting at the end of the bar, staring off into space. Siobhan enters from outside. She closes the door and walks over to the bar.

 

Siobhan: Some stag night.

She sits down on a chair near Brendan.

 

Brendan: Suits me.

He twiddles his thumbs.

Brendan: Mind you. Would suit me better if I had a drink.

He nods at the empty glass in front of him and smiles slyly at Siobhan.

 

Siobhan smiles and nods. They hear a small crash from the kitchen. They both look in that direction. Then Siobhan turns back to Brendan.

 

Siobhan: Where's Niamh?

 

Brendan frowns: I'll get her.

He stands up and walks behind the bar toward the kitchen.

Brendan calls: Niamh!

 

CUT TO: Kitchen.

Niamh and Orla look at each other in horror. Niamh is still balancing the two cakes. Orla is still looking for something, this time in another cabinet. Orla jumps past Niamh to the door.

 

Niamh: Oh!

 

CUT TO: Kitchen door.

Orla opens the door and slips out.

 

Orla: Brendan!

She pulls the door shut behind her.

 

CUT TO: Bar.

Orla: What?

 

Brendan points at the bar: Any chance of getting a drink?

 

Orla: Ah sure, no problem.

 

Brendan nods: Two pints please.

He walks away.

 

SCENE: Bowling alley.

Someone bowls a strike. Aiden and Ambrose walk across everyone's lanes, interrupting several bowlers on their approach. They are carrying their shoes and jackets.

 

Aiden: You come here often?

 

Ambrose: It's a great place to relax you know.

 

Aiden: It's a first for me.

 

Ambrose: Oh there's nothing to it. I'll show you.

 

They very nearly walk right into a young woman.

 

Aiden and Ambrose: Oh.

 

Ambrose: Sorry.

 

The woman laughs and steps back for them to pass. They walk past.

 

Ambrose: Thank you.

 

They take the lane next to the young woman. They put their jackets down on the chairs and their shoes underneath the chairs.

 

Ambrose: Now. Erm...

He steps back and looks at the balls: The balls are all different weights, Father, so it's important to choose the correct one.

He picks up two balls to test them, and settles on the second, a bright pink one with "JUNIOR LEAGUE" written on the side.

Ambrose: Ah now that one feels good.

 

Woman in the next lane: The adult ones are on top.

She and her friend (Woman 2) giggle. (According to the credits, the women's names are Mary and Marie, but these names are never used in the dialogue.)

 

Ambrose: Right. Thanks.

 

Aiden covers his mouth with his hand to hide a smile. The young women giggle derisively between them, looking at Ambrose and Aiden. Ambrose picks up another ball and approaches the lane. Woman 2 also walks up to her lane. Ambrose lets the ball go with a clunk. Woman 2 laughs at him.  Ambrose's ball rolls into the gutter. Woman 2 laughs derisively. Aiden looks sorry for Ambrose. Ambrose looks disappointed. He steps back. Aiden steps forward.

 

Aiden: My go now?

He reaches for a ball.

 

Ambrose: No. It's it's me again, takes me a minute to get my eye in you know.

He reaches down for the ball return.

 

Aiden nods and steps back: Right.

 

Woman 1 looks at Ambrose and smiles in amusement. Ambrose concentrates really hard and rolls his ball again. It stays in the lane longer than before, but also ends in the gutter. Ambrose scratches his forehead. Aiden looks sympathetic.

 

Aiden: Unlucky Ambrose.

 

Ambrose: Yeah the-- the finger holes are awful small in these balls. Your go now.

 

The women in the next lane cackle.

 

Aiden: Right so I should try and hit the middle skittle, is that it?

 

Ambrose: The pin, they're not skittles, they're pins.

 

Aiden: Pins. Got it.

He goes to pick up a ball and nearly collides with Woman 1.

 

Aiden: Oh, I'm sorry.

 

Woman 1: OK.

 

Aiden: Go on.

 

Woman 1 picks up a ball.

 

Aiden: What do you recommend?

 

Woman 1, smoothly: Don't do what he did.

 

Woman 2 giggles.

 

Aiden: Ah.

He picks up a ball.

 

Woman 1 rolls her ball. Aiden approaches and rolls his, too. He has good form. He bowls a strike. He jubilates. Ambrose looks disappointed.

 

Aiden: Yes!

He turns to Ambrose.

 

Ambrose quickly smiles and applauds.

 

Aiden: Do I get another go now?

 

Ambrose: No, not if you get a strike. It's me again.

 

Aiden: Oh. Right.

He steps back.

 

The women in the next lane eye Ambrose. Woman 1 seems to be saying, "I don't know." Then they look at Aiden, nod, and approach him. Meanwhile, Ambrose is bowling again.

 

Woman 2, to Aiden: Are you married?

 

Aiden: I'm a priest.

 

Woman 2: Ooh, that's a good one.

 

Woman 1: Will you buy us a drink then?

 

Aiden: A drink?

 

Woman 1: Diet coke.

 

Woman 2: Me too.

 

Ambrose bowls a strike.

 

Ambrose: Yes!

He turns around to get Aiden's reaction.

 

Aiden and the two women are at the coke machine. Each woman has a bottle of coke. Aiden is standing with with his arms crossed. They are all laughing. Aiden looks over at Ambrose and waves at him. Ambrose waves back and points at the lane, to indicate his strike. Aiden and the women are oblivious. They talk among themselves.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's bedroom.

Danny enters, carrying a tray of food. Eamonn is sitting up in bed.

 

Danny: Hello. How're you doing.

 

Eamonn looks out past Danny toward the doorway.

 

Eamonn, anxiously: Is he still here?

 

Danny sits down on the edge of Eamonn's bed, sets the tray down on Eamonn's lap.

 

Danny: No. But he said he'd be back tomorrow to finish spraying the sheep.

 

Eamonn looks alarmed: My sheep?

 

Danny nods: Some of them have blue fly.

 

Eamonn looks alarmed: Blue fly?

 

Danny: They're little white maggots. Sean said they needed spraying.

 

Eamonn: This is my farm. I say what gets sprayed.

He picks up a packet of dressing and rips it open with his teeth.

 

SCENE: Sean's kitchen.

Emma is cooking. Sean is sitting at the counter, drinking a can of beer (Carlsberg).

 

Sean: God I hope that's not lamb.

He takes a sip of beer.

 

Emma smiles: What, had enough of sheep for today?

 

Sean: Brought it all back to me. Everything I hated about farming.

 

Emma hands a plate of food to Sean.

 

Emma whines: It's what you want to do.

 

Sean, dryly: Is it.

He carries the plate and the beer over to sit in front of the fire.

 

Emma: Oh I found out a bit about Michael Dillon. Did you know he was married to Eamonn's aunt?

 

Sean, quite surprised: Really?

He sits down.

 

Emma brings over some cutlery.

 

Sean: Well I knew she was a Byrne.

 

Emma reaches into her back pocket and pulls out the postcards from before.

 

Emma: I had a look at these postcards again. If read the dates, he must have gone off to sea without knowing Nora Byrne was pregnant. So it seems that they were planning to get married all along, but he couldn't get back until after the baby was born.

 

Sean looks studiously thoughtful.

 

Emma: You only have to read these to know it's a little love story.

 

Sean: Well, it's nice to know there's someone in the family that're doing the right thing.

He takes a sip of beer from the can.

 

Emma: Yeah and the Dillons and the Byrnes have been fighting about it ever since.

 

Sean: Not me.

 

Emma: But Eamonn's lived with some warped version of this story all his life.

 

Sean: Which he's grown quite attached to.

 

Emma, indignantly: Well he shouldn't be! We should tell him!

 

Sean snorts: Just like that?

 

Emma: Yes.

 

Sean thinks for a moment.

 

Sean: Tell you what. Why don't you sleep on it. Maybe things won't look so clear in the morning.

 

Emma rolls her eyes. Sean drinks his beer.

 

SCENE: Bowling alley snack bar.

Ambrose and Aiden are standing at the snack bar with the two women from before. They are all holding paper bags with chips. Ambrose and Aiden sprinkle vinegar on theirs. Ambrose looks very uncomfortable throughout this scene, while Aiden looks very much at ease.

 

Woman 1, indicating the chips: Thanks.

 

Aiden: That's all right.

 

Woman 2: See you again some time.

 

They all walk away from the snack bar, carrying their chips.

 

Aiden: Well listen there's Mass every Sunday at St. Joseph's.

 

Woman 2: God and chips?

 

The women giggle.

 

Aiden: If I had a pound for every time I heard that...that's three or four pounds by now.

 

Woman 1, hopefully: You could pay our bus fare then.

 

Aiden, playfully: Don't push it.

 

Woman 1 laughs: Thanks see ya round.

 

Woman 2: See ya round.

 

The women leave.

 

Aiden: Good night. God bless.

 

Ambrose: If someone had seen us...I'm a married man, you're a priest...

 

Aiden: So?

 

Ambrose: It could have been...difficult.

 

Aiden: It wasn't. Relax. Here.

He points at an empty table. They sit down.

 

Ambrose: I'm sorry.

 

Aiden: What for?

 

Ambrose: I don't...relax. You know, enjoy things. Like with those girls, you just talked to them, got on with them, but I couldn't--...I always see things turning out for the worst.

 

Aiden: Why is that do you think?

 

Ambrose thinks for a moment, looks at Aiden, looks down.

 

Aiden: I don't-- Maybe it's my job.

 

Aiden: But if you look at your life Ambrose, it's obvious, things can turn out great. You're good at your job, you have a lovely wife, fine son...

 

Ambrose smiles wanly.

 

Aiden: I'd say that's pretty good.

 

Ambrose, dutifully: Yeah you're right, I should look at it like that.

 

Aiden: Shame Niamh couldn't make it this evening.

 

After a long pause, Ambrose says: She's working.

 

Aiden: That must be difficult at times.

 

Ambrose: I don't know. It's like she has her life and I have mine. And that's fine, but... There's supposed to be more than that.

 

Aiden: I think so. Have you talked to her about it?

 

Ambrose: I tried--

He shakes his head: No.

 

Aiden listens patiently.

 

Ambrose: I don't even know what it is we should talk about.

 

Aiden nods.

 

Ambrose: I'm sorry, it's our evening off.

 

Aiden: That's what I'm here for.

 

Ambrose shakes his head apologetically and eats a chip.

SCENE: Egan's kitchen.

Niamh is frosting a cake. She is deep in concentration. Ambrose stands in the doorway watching her. Niamh looks up and sees him.

 

Niamh, startled and pleased: Oh hi!

 

Ambrose smiles: You still up?

 

Niamh: I had to wait for the cakes to cool before I iced them.

 

Ambrose nods.

 

Niamh, hopefully: Did you have a good time?

 

Ambrose: It was all right.

He enters the kitchen and walks over to Niamh.

 

Ambrose: We went bowling, me and Aiden.

 

Niamh, only half in jest: You never took me bowling.

 

Ambrose isn't quite sure how to take that.

 

Ambrose: I'd like to. Maybe we could try it sometime, an evening out together.

 

Niamh nods, noncommittally: That'd be good.

 

Ambrose, pointedly: When?

 

Niamh, evasively: Soon as... Soon.

 

Ambrose, disappointed: OK.

 

Niamh looks away: Sure you go on up I won't be long.

 

Ambrose leaves. Niamh watches him nervously.

 

SCENE: Ballykissangel.

Shot of St. Joseph's from over the trees. Someone is playing the organ.

 

CUT TO: St. Joseph's.

Kathleen is sitting at the organ, picking out the notes. The music is titled, "The Wicklow Wedding".

 

CUT TO: Bridge.

Birds-eye shot. Someone is running across the bridge into town.

 

CUT TO: Bridge, ground level.

It is Orla, with an armful of flowers.

 

CUT TO: Siobhan.

Siobhan is standing in front of a mirror in a hallway or bedroom, placing her corsage.

 

CUT TO: Brendan.

Brendan is in a bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror. He is putting on his jacket. There are penguins on the shower curtain behind him.

 

CUT TO: Siobhan.

Siobhan turns aside from the mirror. Aisling is lying in a flower-decked carrier next to her. Siobhan adjusts Aisling's hat.

 

CUT TO: Fitzgerald's.

Ambrose is hanging up the "U" of a banner that is going to read "CONGRATULATIONS". He goes over to the bar and sorts through the pile of letters lying there, hopefully looking for the "L". Niamh is behind the bar, arranging flowers. Orla brings out another vase with flowers from the kitchen.

 

CUT TO: Street.

Outside St. Josephs. Brendan is arriving on his bicycle.

 

SCENE: Fitzgerald's.

Kieran is spreading flower petals on the floor.

 

Niamh: Kieran!

She leans over and snatches a box away from Kieran.

 

Niamh, reproachfully yet gently: Kieran!

She sighs and pats Kieran on the head.

 

The door slams. Orla runs in, her arms full of baguettes.

 

Orla: Brendan's at the church--

She stops short when she sees what Kieran's done.

 

Niamh: We've got less than an hour.

 

Orla: Oh we'll never make it.

 

Niamh, determinedly: We will.

She hands Kieran a juice cup.

 

Orla hurries toward the kitchen.

 

Orla stops, breathless: I just had a thought. How do we know Brendan and Siobhan are going to come here after the wedding?

 

Niamh: Since when has getting Brendan and Siobhan into a pub been a problem?

 

Orla rolls her eyes like, "Yeah, what was I thinking" and goes into the kitchen.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's bedroom.

Eamonn is sitting up in bed.

 

Eamonn pouts: I've nothing to say to you.

He looks at the wall.

 

Sean is standing by the doorway.

 

Sean: Well just listen then. The two fields by the river that belonged to your brother.

 

Eamonn looks up with interest.

 

Sean: I'm ready to sell them.

 

Eamonn: At a price.

 

Sean: The price is one penny.

 

Eamonn looks intently at Sean: Each? Or for the both of them?

 

Sean shakes his head ever so slightly.

 

Sean, quietly: For the both of them.

 

Eamonn narrows his eyes: Why?

 

Sean looks down: I don't need them. I'm not going to farm them so why not. Why don't I make a cup of tea while you think it over.

 

Sean leaves. Eamonn looks after him.

 

SCENE: St. Joseph's.

Brendan is standing by the front of the church. He adjusts the rose in his lapel. Kathleen is sitting at the organ. They hear a loud noise. Kathleen looks around. Brendan closes his eyes.

 

CUT TO: Aisle.

Liam and Donal are holding a very long ladder.

 

Liam: Morning.

 

Brendan turns around and frowns. Donal smiles nervously at him.

 

Brendan demands: What are you doing here?

 

Donal points up, explains: Lights.

 

Brendan, irritated: What, now?

 

Liam, reasonably: There's no service here this morning.

 

Brendan looks around him at the completely empty church and whispers: There is!

 

Liam: What would that be?

 

Brendan: Look, just come back later.

 

Liam: We'll keep out of your way. You won't even know we're here.

 

They walk forward with the ladder. The end of the ladder bumps against the pews, making another loud noise. They drop the ladder, which crashes to the ground. Brendan rolls his eyes and turns back around to face the altar.

 

SCENE: Fitzgerald's.

The pub is all decorated for the reception. A band is setting up in the back. Niamh and Orla are in the front of the pub.

 

Niamh: That's it then. Apart from the cake, and the glad rice. (??)

 

Orla: A shame really isn't it. Them feeling they have to get married.

 

Niamh: Why?

 

Orla: Oh they're all right as they are then why bother?

 

Niamh sighs: Well, depends what you believe in.

 

Orla: Yeah I suppose they know what they're letting themselves in for. Just all that, fairy tale happy ever after stuff I can't stand.

 

Niamh: Most people are happy ever after.

 

Orla, wide-eyed and innocent: Oh yeah like you and Ambrose.

 

Niamh pauses for a moment, then, cheerily: Like me and Ambrose.

She goes into the kitchen.

 

Orla looks thoughtful.

 

SCENE: Eamonn's bedroom.

Eamonn is lying in bed. Sean is standing next to the bed with a cup in his hand.

 

Sean: About the land.

 

Eamonn: I don't want it.

 

Sean turns away: Well the offer's there.

 

Eamonn: Let me finish.

 

Sean turns back to Eamonn.

 

Eamonn: Not me you should be offering the land to. It's Danny. Sell it to him.

 

The thought had never occurred to Sean.

 

Sean: Danny? What's he gonna do with it?

 

Eamonn: That's his business. But it's his land as much as it is mine.

 

Sean: Dunno. I'll talk to him, OK?

He holds out his hand to shake Eamonn's hand.

 

Eamonn reaches his hand out halfway, then withdraws it and looks at the wall.

 

Eamonn: Doesn't change the past.

 

Sean, in quiet amusement: Beats me how you do that.

He walks away.

 

SCENE: St. Joseph's.

Kathleen comes running down the center aisle.

 

Kathleen: She's here! She's here!

 

Aiden and Brendan are standing at the front. They look at Kathleen. She hurries to take her place at the organ.

 

Aiden, politely: Could you move that ladder now?

 

Liam: Won't be a minute Father.

 

Aiden: We haven't got a minute.

 

Liam's mouth forms into an "O".

 

Aiden, impatiently: Donal, please.

 

Donal, up on the ladder, starts to climb down, then looks at the church entrance. The wedding march starts playing on the organ. Siobhan enters, pushing Aisling in her stroller/buggy/push chair/pram.

 

Donal, stunned: Siobhan?

 

Liam, stunned: Brendan?

 

Siobhan walks down the aisle, looking apprehensive. Kathleen concentrates on playing the organ.

 

SCENE: Ballykissangel street.

A man is unloading a drum set from a van parked across the street from Fitzgerald's. The drum says "The Below Average White Band." Niamh is standing outside Fitzgerald's.

 

Niamh, impatiently: Come on, hurry up!

 

Some extras enter the pub behind Niamh.

 

Niamh: Dad! Dad, hurry up please! Faster?

 

Brian and Michael Ryan cross the street toward Fitzgerald's. Some more extras enter the pub. Niamh waves her hand to hurry Brian and Michael along. They enter the pub.

 

SCENE: St. Joseph's.

 

Aiden: Christian marriage is a sacred union which enriches natural love. It binds those who enter into it to be faithful to each other forever.

 

Brendan looks reassuringly at Siobhan. Kathleen watches proudly. Liam and Donal watch from a distance.

 

Aiden: It creates between them a bond that endures for life...

 

CUT TO: Egan's kitchen.

Closeup of wedding cake. A groom doll is standing on the top of the cake. Niamh sets a bride doll next to him.

 

Aiden (voice-over):...that cannot be broken.

 

Ambrose approaches, looks at the cake and smiles: That was us three years ago. Happiest day of my life.

 

Niamh smiles quietly: Me too.

She shakes her head slightly, looks at the cake: Seems like a long time ago.

She picks up the cake carefully and heads out to the bar.

 

CUT TO: St. Joseph's.

 

Aiden: To help them in their marriage the husband and wife receive the life-long grace of the Sacrament. Is this your understanding of marriage?

He looks seriously at Brendan and Siobhan.

 

Brendan and Siobhan glance at each other, then back at Aiden.

 

Siobhan, seriously: It is.

 

Brendan: It is.

 

Aiden hesitates, then asks again: Are you sure about that?

 

Brendan and Siobhan look at Aiden in surprise. Kathleen furrows her brow.

 

Aiden: Maybe you'd like to...talk it over.

 

Brendan looks at Siobhan. Siobhan doesn't take her eyes off Aiden.

 

Siobhan: Yes, Father.

 

Aiden: Yes, you're sure...or yes, you'd like to talk it over?

 

Siobhan and Brendan look at each other.

 

Siobhan: Yes, we'd like to talk it over.

 

Aiden points to his right: Sacristy.

 

Kathleen looks confused, fumbles for her glasses and the music.

 

Siobhan and Brendan hand the cards they had been holding to Aiden and head for the sacristy. Kathleen takes up playing the wedding march again in the middle. Donal climbs the ladder again.

 

Aiden whispers to Aisling in her stroller: Just bear with us a second.

 

SCENE: Sacristy.

 

Brendan, annoyed: We've been over and over this.

 

Siobhan, seriously: I know. But is it what you want?

 

Brendan: Doesn't matter what I want. What do you want?

 

Siobhan sighs: When it comes down to it, it doesn't feel right.

 

Brendan rolls his eyes.

 

Siobhan: I can say the words, but I don't mean them.

 

Brendan: You don't have to mean them.

 

Siobhan: I do.

 

Brendan: What about Aisling?

 

Siobhan: This shouldn't be about Aisling. This is about you and me. We're doing fine the way we are.

 

Brendan steps close to Siobhan. She reaches up and places her hand on his cheek.

 

Siobhan, gently: Why would I want a husband, if it meant losing my best friend.

 

Brendan smiles. They embrace.

 

Aiden opens the door and sees them hugging.

 

Aiden: Oh, sorry.

 

Brendan and Siobhan look at Aiden and smile. Aiden closes the door again.

 

CUT TO: Church.

Aiden comes back from the sacristy.

 

Aiden, to Kathleen: It's on again.

 

Donal, standing at the top of the ladder, makes a joyful "O" with his mouth and gives the thumbs-up. Aiden takes his place before the altar again. Kathleen looks at the sacristy door expectantly. Siobhan and Brendan come out and walk across to Aiden.

 

Aiden, smiling: You've decided then.

 

Brendan and Siobhan look very serious.

 

Siobhan: Yes.

 

SCENE: Fitzgerald's.

Brendan enters the pub, with Siobhan behind him pushing the stroller. All the guests start cheering. Siobhan looks aghast. Michael claps Brendan on the back.

 

Michael: Oh, there's no way out now come on, everyone's here.

 

Brendan smiles politely, turns to Siobhan.

 

Brendan whispers: You told them.

 

Siobhan whispers: I'm sorry.

 

Brendan looks around, jokes: Well, as far as I'm concerned, this is grounds for instant divorce.

 

Everyone laughs politely.

 

Niamh: Siobhan, congratulations.

She kisses Siobhan on the cheek.

 

Siobhan: Niamh--

 

Niamh grabs the stroller away from Siobhan and shoves it toward Brian.

 

Niamh, busily: Now, Dad, take Aisling.

She grabs Siobhan and Brendan by the wrists: Come on, come on, you're coming too.

 

She pulls them toward the middle of the room. Scattered applause. She sets herself between the two of them.

 

Niamh: I know Brendan and Siobhan didn't want any fuss. But this is the day that we've all been waiting for, it's the best thing that could have happened to them.

 

Brendan and Siobhan look around grimly. Niamh reaches for a glass of wine and holds it up for a toast.

 

Niamh: Will you all join with me, in raising your glasses--

 

Siobhan calls out: No!

 

Niamh looks aghast.

 

Siobhan, apologetically: I'm sorry.

She looks around, quietly: We're not married.

 

Everyone looks at each other and murmurs.

 

Siobhan explains: Brendan and me. We're staying as we are.

 

Niamh looks around, mortified. Siobhan looks at her sympathetically. Niamh slinks away behind the bar. Orla steps up, holds up a glass of stout.

 

Orla, gamely: Well I think we can drink to that. To uh, Brendan and Siobhan.

 

Everyone: Brendan and Siobhan.

 

Michael: Siobhan and Brendan!

 

Siobhan follows Niamh. Orla takes the bride and groom figures off the cake. Aiden comes over to Orla. She hands him the figures and starts disassembling the cake.

 

Orla, to Aiden: What happened?

 

Aiden: Well they kept telling me they knew what they were doing. I think they do now.

He hands the figures back to Orla.

 

SCENE: Egan's kitchen.

Niamh is at the sink, crying. Siobhan enters. Niamh turns around and sniffles.

 

Niamh: I wanted everything to be just right.

 

Siobhan: It is. I'm sorry. Niamh I feel awful.

 

Niamh: Oh it's not your fault.

 

Siobhan: Can I explain? Deep down I felt that if Brendan and me got married because of insurance policies and all that, that we'd be letting down people like you and Ambrose. People it meant something to.

 

Niamh, troubled: I don't know what it means anymore. I really don't.

 

Siobhan: You do. Come on. We're missing a great party stuck in here.

 

Niamh: In a minute.

 

Siobhan insists: Now.

 

Niamh sighs, sniffs, goes out.

 

SCENE: Fitzgerald's.

The band is playing. Everyone is dancing. Orla is dancing with Brian. Brendan is standing at the bar by himself, drinking a glass of wine.

 

Brendan: I'm sorry Niamh.

 

Niamh, teary-eyed yet smiling: Oh don't mind me.

She steps aside.

 

Siobhan stands next to Brendan, indicates something off-screen.

 

Siobhan: Well, Aisling down there--

 

Orla sneaks up behind them and grabs Brendan by the shoulders. Brendan gasps in surprise.

 

Orla: Whoa!

 

Brendan: Oh, jeez!

 

Orla: The pair of you, come with me.

She takes Brendan by the arm and Siobhan by the hand and pulls them toward the dancing crowd.

 

Orla: Ah you know you have to--

 

Niamh watches them and smiles, wipes her nose. Ambrose comes over to her. Her smile fades.

 

Ambrose: What's wrong?

 

Niamh: What?

 

Ambrose: What happened?

 

Niamh: Nothing!

Niamh steps away from Ambrose and looks at the crowd.

 

Niamh: I always cry at weddings, you know me.

She tries to smile but looks like she's going to cry.

 

CUT TO: Crowd.

Brendan and Siobhan are dancing. Brendan twirls Siobhan. Everyone is clapping in time to the music.

 

CUT TO: Ambrose and Siobhan.

Ambrose looks away and takes a big gulp of his wine. Niamh puts on a brave face.

 

CUT TO: Crowd.

Brendan twirls Siobhan again and again.

ROLL CREDITS