Love & Rage (1999)

[bunniefuu]

- In the year 1903,
there was a big house

on a wild island

where two ladies lived,

alone and together.

I was a doctor
on the island,

and I often visited
the big house.

I still do.

But I have no medicine
for their secret wounds.

And yet there was a time,

golden in its way,

when we all seemed...

Well, happy is not a word
I care to use now.

[Footsteps approaching]

[Wood creaks]

[Lock jingles]

[Men shouting indistinctly]

[Irish folk music]

♪ ♪

- Find the lady.
Find the lady.

No tricks.
No magic.

Watch her, and find her.
Pick her out.

It must be her.

Believe in your own eyes.

Nothing up my sleeve.

Cover the lady
with silver.

Now, me boyo,

you must find her;
Place your bets.

You, me boyo.

- I put my money there.
- Thank you, sir.

- Ah, how do you like our
country entertainments, then,

doctor?
- Oh, very entertaining.

- Ha-ha-ha-ha!

The lady’s gone.

- My agent tells me
he sold you a horse.

- Ah, yes.
- Any good?

- Um, very lively.

[Indistinct chatter]

[Sticks thunking]

- Have you ever seen anything
so wild?

- Ohh!

- Ha, what a savage.

Oh!

- Leave him alone!

- Hold it there!

Hold it there!
- Do you see him?

Now, there’s
a superior specimen.

- Yes, very remarkable eyes.

- Hold it, sir!

Hold it!
Hold it.

- The horse is tamer
than the man.

[Shoes tapping]

- Yargh!

- They’re off.

Keep going!

- Go on! Yes!
Go on!

Yes, James!
You can do it!

- Oh, no.
He’s too strong for him.

The bay is too strong.

- Gargh!
Yargh!

[Men shouting]

[Crowd gasps]

- Oh.

Stewards’ inquiry, by god.

- Excuse me.

[Laughs]

[Whooping and laughter]

- James!

- Take the weight off the arm.
Take the weight off the arm.

Oh, Jesus.

- [Moaning]
- Take the weight off the arm.

[Gulls crying]

[Woman humming]

♪ ♪

- h*, it’s the wet samaritan.

How’s your patient?

- He’ll live.
He broke the collarbone.

- Oh, dear.
You look as cold as a corpse.

- [Grunts]

- Come to my place.
I’ll give you a hot whiskey.

- Oh.

Thank you very much,
Ms. Macdonnell.

I must get out
of these wet clothes first.

- Then why not
come to dinner?

Call me Agnes,
for christ’s sake.

[Whistling]

- Martin, it’s the mistress.

- Martin, this horse
is starving.

[Horse neighs]

[Sighs]
What a day.

You should have come,
biddy.

- I hate them crowds,
ma’am.

Dirty, drunken people,
tinkers and robbers.

- There was plenty
of those.

- Ma’am, Mr. Sweeney’s above
in the office this 20 minutes.

- Well, I can only
spare him 5.

I think I smell a stink.

- I’ve run your bath,
ma’am.

- Good.
- My whiskey?

- I’ve poured it.
- Good girl.

What’s for supper?

- Martin caught a salmon,
big as a small cat.

- Marvelous.

Oh, and ice, ice,
that must be the last of it.

The icehouse
must be nearly empty.

Here, boy!

Oh, and bring some Riesling
up from the cellar.

- Yes, ma’am.

Is there asparagus?
- I’ve cut some.

- Good, seethe it
in milk and butter.

- Yes, ma’am.

- And don’t overcook it
this time.

- Are you going to stay still,
or what?

[Door creaks]

- Why, don’t get up,
Mr. Sweeney.

Oh, biddy, put a cloth
on the table.

I’ve invited that new doctor.
What’s his name?

- Croly, now,
there’s a gentleman.

- He doesn’t ride like one.

It looked like he was on a bolt
of bloody lightning.

So, what can I do for you,
Mr. Sweeney?

- These leases need signing,

and the bent,

the sea grass,
the people are cutting it

for thatch
all along the shore.

You should charge them
for it.

- Oh, let them have
the grass.

Poor things, they need a roof
over their heads.

Didn’t see you
at the races.

- I’m a busy man.

- An extraordinary individual
won the big race.

- Oh?
Who was it?

- Never seen him before.

A young man, wild.

Animal-looking.

- ♪ When I remember
all the friends ♪

♪ so linked together ♪

♪ i’ve seen around me fall ♪

♪ like leaves
in windy weather ♪

♪ I feel like one
who treads alone ♪

♪ some banquet hall deserted ♪

♪ whose lights are dead,
whose garlands fled ♪

♪ and all but he departed ♪

♪ thus in the stilly night ♪

♪ ere slumber’s chains
have bound me ♪

♪ fond memory
brings the light ♪

♪ of other days around me ♪

- [Whispers]
Good night, William.

- Ah, yes, good night.

[Shots firing]

- Hey, you!

What the hell do you think
you’re doing?

Do you hear me?

- I heard you.

- Who are you, anyway?

- Well, I know who I am,

but I don’t know
who you are.

- I’m the owner
of this estate.

You need my permission
to sh**t on these lands.

- And i’m the owner
of meself.

Your agent lets me sh**t.

- My agent?
Mr. Sweeney?

- It’s a little present
for you.

- Come on.

There.

- Oh, my god.

- Can’t stand
the sight of blood?

Odd for a doctor.

- Blood should be invisible,

particularly to a man
in my condition.

So biddy tells me you’ve been up
since dawn, for god’s sake.

- Oh, long before.

Woke up with a mouth
like a ditch.

The moon was up,

a hunter’s moon.

Such wonderful nights
we have here.

- God, you’re
a terrifying woman, Agnes.

Aren’t you afraid
the bogeyman will get you?

- Just because i’m a woman
doesn’t mean

I have to be frightened.

Anyway,
i’m frightfully disreputable.

Divorced, you know.

No bogeyman
will touch me.

- Oh, I doubt that.

[Chuckles]
- Well, thank you, my dear.

[Jangling piano notes]

- [Whispers]
There’s a man in your house.

It’s terrible, ma’am.
He won’t listen to anyone.

- What time is it?

- You’ve been asleep
since morning.

- Keep an eye, biddy,
while I get dressed.

[Plays piano tunelessly]

Can I help you?

- Diplomacy
is not my strong suit.

- I beg your pardon.

- Well, a diplomat thinks first
and then speaks after.

With me,
it’s the other way round.

I’m sorry if I was rude
to you today.

I didn’t know
who you were.

I hope you can forgive me.
- Don’t talk nonsense, man.

You said you came here
on business.

What is it?

- I want to rent the scraw.

The last tenant paid you
six pound a year.

I’ll pay that in advance.

- The two cottages?

- Yes, one to live in.

I’ll find a use
for the other.

- I don’t allow
subletting.

- It’s for meself alone.

- Very well, I shall speak
to Mr. Sweeney.

- Good.

Then that’s settled, then.

I only said
i’d speak to him.

- You speak,
and that dog’ll stand

on its hind legs.

- [Laughs]

And if I tell him
to bark,

he’ll bark.

[Gears, belts clattering]

[Shouting indistinctly]

- Hello, pat.

- What do you want?

A word with you.

Eamon.
- What?

- I just wanted to apologize
if you thought

I was going behind your back
the other day.

Any business I have
with the yellow woman,

I have with you.

I know that,
even if she doesn’t.

Treatin’ you like
some kind of bog man.

- Who’s a bog man?

- Well, isn’t that how
she treats US all, like bog men?

- Listen, boy.

I don’t know what
the soft soap is about,

but you’re suckin’ on
the hind tit here.

- Sure, I know that.

I’d be a foolish man
to try and pull the whatten

over your eyes.

I was just hoping
you might...

Put in a word for me
with the b*tch.

- What kind of word?

- A soft word.

A soft hand
under the hen.

- Soft words cost money.

- Mr. Lynchehaun,

I don’t recall giving you
permission to open a shop.

- Well, I hope
you don’t mind.

Good.

Then i’ll start
taking orders.

- Well, that’s not
your usual style.

- Well, the orders I take
don’t cost me.

- I was thinking of ordering
some coffee,

but I don’t suppose
you have much call for coffee

on achill, do you?

- I’ll take a note.
Come in.

I won’t bite you.

- Stay there.

Well,

Mr. Lynchehaun.

Pictures and books.

You do know the important things
in life.

- [Whistling]

- "James lynchehaun..."

[Door creaks]

- You don’t seem to mind.

- Mind what?

- The way sweeney treats you.

- Sweeney?

How does sweeney treat me?

- It’s none of my business.
I apologize.

- What are you
apologizing for?

- I’m sorry if you want
to act the fool.

- You’re sorry i’m a fool?

- Yes, though,
for a woman,

you’re far from a fool,
in my opinion.

- For a woman?
- Yes, most women are fools.

- And most men?
- Ah, we’re fools too.

But women are worse fools
for putting up with them.

And worst of all

is a clever woman putting up
with a stupid man.

- So you think i’m a fool
for putting up with my agent?

- Yes.

That’s why i’m sorry.

But it’s your own affair.

- It is indeed.

But what has Mr. Sweeney done
to displease you?

- Oh, nothing.

You might say
i’ve acquired

his goodwill.

- Goodwill?

You mean you paid him?

- Two pound.
- Two--

but that’s a third
of the rent.

- That’s the rule here:

A little bit for you,
a piece for him.

Sweeney calls it
the soft hand

under the hen.

- We’ll see about that.

- This is all nonsense,
ma’am.

Who poured these stories
into your ear?

- No one pours anything
into my ears, Mr. Sweeney.

Now go.

- The only hard word I say
against you, ma’am,

is that you’re inclined
to act hasty,

so I won’t say good-bye,
because you’re acting hasty now.

And you might change--

- you don’t seem to have
understood me, Mr. Sweeney.

Get out of my house.

Now!

Suits you, biddy.

- Oh, ma’am,
i’m sorry.

- Oh, don’t be silly,
girl.

You can wear it for tonight
if you like.

- I couldn’t do that.

- Why ever not?

You might meet
a nice young man,

Mr. Lynchehaun himself,
for instance.

- Him?

He’s only interested
in one thing, ma’am.

- Oh, isn’t that what all
young men are interested in?

I’ll take you in my carriage
if you like.

Wouldn’t that be posh?
You could look down on them.

Never fails.

[Fiddle and flute music]

♪ ♪

Why do they call me
the yellow woman, biddy?

- [Laughs] The people think
you’re made of gold, ma’am.

- Step aside. Step aside.

We don’t allow
subletting.

- Swing her around.

Swing ’er!

- Biddy, you look
like a queen.

Hey.

[Dog barking]

[Floor creaks]

- Shh.

The yellow woman
is dreaming.

She’s dreamin’
there’s a ghost in the house.

- She is the wh*res melt.

A poxy b*tch’s b*stard.

Yellow woman?
She’s a yellow wh*re!

- I don’t think
he’s very happy.

- Here. Here!

Will that help
drive her back to england?

Huh?

Or maybe--maybe put
a bit of heat

into that big house
of hers?

Huh?

[Cackling]

Eh-heh-heh-ha-hoo.
Mrpgh.

[Thunder cracking]

- Two houses she went into
and sat by the fire

and said nothing.

And in the one house,
they gave her tea.

And do you know
what she did?

She threw the tea in the fire
and ate the tea leaves.

- Goodness.

- Now, there’s a thing.

- I’m away.
I know this story.

- [Whispers]
Martin’s shivering.

- Then she went out again
into the night,

though they asked her
to stay.

And in the morning,
they found her on the road,

dead as a nail in a board.

- There’s someone
in the stable.

- Well, who is it?

Go and have a look.

- I’m not going
out there.

- Ugh, stupid boy.

[Horse neighs]

Ridiculous.

[Giggling]

No, not like that.
It’s not a spoon, biddy.

Like this, elegant.

That’s it.

Go on, then.

Now breathe in.

Breathe in, you idiot.

- [Coughing]
Oh, it’s like choking.

- Oh, dear, you’d make
a poor harlot.

- A what, ma’am?

- A bad woman.

Do you know,
when I was in London,

I used to smoke
in the street.

The consternation.

Oh, people would say,
"have you heard?

"That Agnes macdonnell.

What a bad woman,
the wh*re of Babylon."

- [Laughing]
Oh, no.

- Mr. Lynchehaun.

- There was no one below.

I heard voices, so...

I came up.

I brought your coffee.
- Ah.

- I heard

you were looking
for a new agent.

- Really?

Run along now, biddy.

And close the door,
please.

When did you hear that?

- Well, sweeney is not
a happy little dog,

and when he’s not happy,
he runs about barking

and tearing at things
with his teeth.

- So you thought you’d be
the hound at the gate.

- Well, i’m not half so greedy
as sweeney.

So...good for me.
Good for you.

- Mr. Lynchehaun,

I don’t like people telling me
what’s good for me.

I get enough of that
in church.

And no.

I have no intention
of giving you the agency.

- I’m good at calculations,
settling accounts.

You can’t be too careful.

Good night to you.

- You like
this lynchehaun character,

don’t you, William?

- I do.

- And biddy doesn’t.

- No, well, biddy’s
a very nice girl, but she’s--

you know,
I think Mr. Lynchehaun

would make you
a very good agent.

- Oh, don’t be ridiculous.

It’s out of the question.
He’s a peasant.

- He’s a very impressive
young man.

He’s very original
and very intelligent.

- And remarkable eyes,
hmm?

- Ah, heh.

I don’t think they’re
as penetrating as yours.

- You know, old boy,
you’re going a bit thin on top.

- Hm.

[Sniffs]

I like your perfume.

- Do you?
- Hmm.

- Do you want some?

- Hm.
What’s it called?

- Horse,

it’s called horse.

I smell of horses.

- Well,
it’s a very nice horse.

- "This is what the bad women
smoke here.

"It’s called a duidin.

"I can supply the tobacco,

for a consideration."

- [Gasps]
Oh, you scared me, ma’am.

- Oh, don’t be a ninny.

- [Sighs]

I’m thinking of getting
the grocer in to do the books.

- Lynchehaun?

That man’s a rogue.

- Well, who isn’t around here?

At least he can add
two and two.

- That’s as may be,

but if I were you,

I wouldn’t
give that man houseroom.

- But, biddy,

you’re not me.

- ♪ All around my head
for everyone to see ♪

♪ if anyone should ask me
the reason why i’m... ♪

- [Whistles]

[Horse whinnies]

- Oh, goodness.

You have been busy.

- More than the room
needs ordering.

The accounts
will take longer.

I never realized what a pretty
little room this is.

- There’s something
I need to know:

The income
from your own 530 acres.

- I keep
those accounts myself.

- Well, can I see them?

- No.

I have enough people
spying on me as it is.

Anyway, I must say,
i’m pleased.

[Knocking at door]

- Who is it?

[Knocking continues]

Well, eamon’s Julia,
what can I do for you?

- You’re wanted.

- Am I now?

- The men want you
beyond in the forest.

- Well, that’s a big,
dark place...

And I might be afraid.
- [Chuckles]

You’re not afraid,
James lynchehaun.

You glory in fear.

You glory in cruelty.

- Well, well, what a thing,
miss Julia.

What a thing to say.

- I’m nobody’s Julia.

[Door creaks]

- Well,
if it isn’t the men

from the Irish republican
brotherhood.

How is the republic
these days?

- Quiet enough.

- Virtually existent.

Isn’t that what the men
up in Dublin are saying?

The Irish republic
is virtually existent.

That’s a good word, that,

"virtually."

- The yellow woman likes a man
that’s good at the books.

It’s a great thing:

One of her own,
to be in her house.

How are you
getting on there, Jim?

- I’m virtually existent.

- You swore your oath
to the republic all the same.

- Oats is for horses.

- There’s no call
to mock US, Jim.

We’re all irishmen here.

Save that
for the English buggers.

- Pat sweeney
isn’t English.

[Laughter]

- He’s strong
for Ireland now.

- Sweeney has a lot of fat cows
with your money.

You’ll get more from me
than you got from him.

- Or we could shorten
the yellow woman’s hair.

- Do you know what, eamon?

You couldn’t see your own heart
on a clean plate.

[Startled shouting]

[Cackling]

[Jackdaw cries]

These receipts
for the collector general,

you must stamp
and sign them.

- And of course
I must do it now.

- No, you must
stamp them first,

and then you must sign
on the stamp.

- I never bother with that.

- It’s the law.
- Bugger that.

I’ve never done it before,
and i’m not going to start now.

It’s a waste
of tenpenny stamp.

- If I do this job,
i’ll do it properly.

- I’m not your servant, sir.

- The soup is ready,
ma’am.

- Lay an extra place,
biddy, please?

After his labors,

Mr. Lynchehaun
will have lunch too.

- Yes, ma’am.

- I wouldn’t worry.

There are bigger demons
than sweeney on achill.

- Who, for instance?

- Well...

Meself.

- Mr. Lynchehaun, really.

Aren’t you like
the rest of men,

just a small boy
afraid of the dark?

- When I was
a small boy,

I think the dark
was afraid of me.

- [Laughs lightly]

You’re a remarkably
self-confident young man.

- Well, I like
to be confident.

Don’t you?

- Yes, I do,
but I was born to confidence.

Where did you get yours?

- On the stage.

- The theater?

Don’t tell me
you were an actor.

- Yes, in the fit-ups.
- The what?

- The fit-ups,
traveling shows,

melodramas mostly
but some Shakespeare.

- You in Shakespeare?

The grocer plays Hamlet.

- I’ve been other things too.

- I believe you.
I believe you.

Biddy’s not best pleased
with me.

- Why?

- Well, I don’t usually...

Drink Brandy
in the middle of the day.

- I know what
you were going to say.

I don’t usually
have peasants to lunch.

- "Peasant" is not a word
I use.

But, yes, well, you understand
the situation as well as I do--

better, I imagine.

- Well, maybe she’ll
tell your husband.

- My husband has his own
interests in life.

You could say
i’m in love with horses.

He’s in love with centaurs.

- Centaurs:
Half horse, half man.

- It’s the man part

which makes
the centaur interesting,

if you understand
my meaning.

- Oh, you’d be surprised what
an achill peasant understands.

- And he isn’t scandalized?

- This one is.

It’s such a waste.

[Church choir singing]

♪ ♪

- You are in fine voice
today.

I hope your ears
will be as finely tuned

for our service
this morning.

It is not often
we have a doctor of theology

on this wild little island
of ours.

But when such a one
pays US a visit,

I have no hesitation
in offering him my pulpit.

The reverend doctor
James crawley.

[Steps thump]

- Dearly beloved,

the way of transgressors
is hard.

The way of transgressors
is indeed hard.

Are you not
all transgressors:

Rich in the midst
of poverty,

housed among the homeless,

fat when people are hungry?

"But," I hear you say,
"is that not the law of nature?"

If so, it is nature
red in tooth and claw,

blind, pitiless, cruel.

I am against nature.
I condemn her.

- [Choking]

- And yet do I love her.

I love her wit,
her beauty,

and her strangeness,
her loneliness

in the world of men

and the way
she has led me down

the primrose paths.

Indeed, indeed...

So strong is the hand
that the fair sex offers US

in guidance down that potholed
road of pleasure...

[Sweeping orchestral music]

♪ ♪

[Cackling, gasping]

- Where the hell
is Martin?

- It’s Sunday, ma’am.

- Oh, yes,
so it is.

Biddy, isn’t Dr. Croly
meant to be dining here tonight?

- Yes, ma’am.

- Well, I want you to run down
to him and make my apologies

and tell him
i’m indisposed.

- What is it?
Are you sick?

- Just say i’m indisposed.

- What’s got into you?

- Don’t pester me, girl.

Now run along
before he comes

galloping up here
on his white charger.

Oh, and while you’re out,

I want you to call
on Mr. Lynchehaun.

Tell him--

tell him
he’s not required here.

No, no, don’t say that.

Just say--
just say,

if I want him,
i’ll send for him.

Go on, woman.

To see a man.

[Sighs]

- I thought you’d never
get back.

- [Sighs]

- Look at them boots.
Soaked.

- I know.
- What were you up to?

- I don’t know.

[Horse whinnies]

- Them indown trousers, ma’am.

They’re all right in the garden,

but inside,
someone might save it.

- So what, biddy.

I’ll risk it.

You know what, biddy?

I’ve decided.

I’ll risk it.

- Risk what?

- Oh, make the tea, would you?

[Thumping, doorbell ringing]

- Who can that be?

- Don’t be so nosy, girl.
Make the tea.

- [Posh accent]
I say, ravissant.

Oh, do forgive me.

One of my wheels has fallen off
down there on the road.

- Good god.
- Awfully hard road.

Awfully big pothole.

- Keep your voice down.

- No, no, no, no.
We mustn’t panic, my dear.

Keep calm
at all costs.

[Mutters in Latin]
That’s my motto.

Can I come in?

- Yes, yes, do.

Do, do, do.
[Mutters affectedly]

[Door creaks and slams]

So I am in your delightful
little country to find a...

- A what?

- A horse.

Fast, strong,

with the intelligence of...

A man.

Oh, I do like a man

or a pretty boy.

You could pass for one,

you know.

- You idiot.

- Oh, I know! I know!

I need taking in hand
by a boy that’s...

Pretty but strict

to teach me
a thing or two.

- So you like a strict teacher,
do you?

- Yes, strict and stern.

You see,

I need to be afraid
to be happy.

- I’ll teach you
to be afraid.

Ooh, no.

[Murmurs indistinctly]

[Muffled thumping, moaning]

[Moaning]

Slap!
- Oh.

[Moaning]

Oh.

- Now look
what you made me do.

- Oh, James.

- Oh, you’re a bad woman,
Mrs. Macdonnell.

And you’ll pay for it.

Now I must go.

[Melancholy flute music]

♪ ♪

[Jackdaw cries]

♪ ♪

[Horse sputters]

- Oh, it’s a cold night.

You’ll get yourself a chill
out here now, James.

Get back
to your warm fire.

See you next week.

- You take care now,
William.

- Well, well, well.

You’ll never believe
what this is, biddy.

It’s a solicitor’s letter.

It seems
sweeney is suing me

for breach
of contract.

Isn’t that comical?

Bloody fool, I don’t even have
a contract with him.

Biddy, will you look at me
when I speak to you?

Oh, this sulking
has got to stop.

I want you to run down
to lynchehaun

and tell him
I must speak to him now.

- Now?
- Yes, now.

- Before dinner?

- Yes!

No.

Biddy, i’m just...

Don’t be hard on me.

Off you go now,
and, yes,

tell him to come
after supper.

- He said he couldn’t come
this evening.

- Why not?

- Said he was busy.

- I suppose
the shop was full.

- No, ma’am.
The shop was shut.

- Oh.

- And, ma’am, he said,
"tell the yellow woman

"i’ll be up in the morning
if I can manage it,

but not to worry
about sweeney."

"Sometimes," he said,
"salt is sweeter than sugar."

[Beads tinkling]

- Who’s a bold boy?

- How did you get in here?

- You leave your doors open,
Mrs. Macdonnell,

and i’m light on me feet.

[Dramatic orchestral music]

♪ ♪

[Panting]

- Ma’am?

[Moaning]

- [Gasps]

- Are you all right, ma’am?

- Don’t come in!
Don’t come in, please!

I’m getting dressed.
I’m not dressed.

Thank you, biddy.
Good night.

[Whispers]
James.

[Mutters indistinctly]

- [Panting]
Hey!

[Cackling]

You’re not going to cry,
are you, acushla?

- What does that mean,
acushla?

- Acushla?

It means "veins".

It means

you’re like
my veins to me.

From the moment
I first saw you,

I just knew you had
the same blood in you as me.

[Door creaks]

- Biddy, where has
that Martin got to?

I asked him to clean the tack
and rub the horse down.

Oh, good,
you made the tea.

[Sighs] I expect i’ll find him
asleep somewhere.

I don’t suppose
he brought the wood in

as I asked him to.

Biddy?

- Yes, ma’am?

- Well,

it seems like you saw something
you shouldn’t have seen.

What’s this?

Rain clouds.

Has the cat died?

- No, ma’am.

- It was just a bit of fun,

adventure.

We need a bit of fun
occasionally,

stuck out in this
beautiful place.

Beautiful and lonely.

Come on.
Cheer up, girl.

Cat’s caught a mouse,
that’s all.

[Sobbing]

- Ma’am, ma’am!

There’s someone coming up
the Lane, ma’am,

on a strange contraption.

- Oh, it’s Dr. Croly.

Uh, tell him--
tell him i’ve gone out.

Tell him i’m out
for the whole day.

- Morning, master.

She’s not here.

She’s away.

- All right.

This is a bicycle.

Have you seen one before,
Martin?

Here, go on, have a go.

Careful now.
- [Chuckles]

Whoa!

[Bicycle crashes]

[Chuckling]

[Panting]

- [Moans]

[Moaning]

I don’t know anything
about you.

Who are you?

- I’m the man
from god knows where.

I’m one of one,
no past.

- Don’t be more romantic
than you have to be, James.

Everyone has parents.

- I think i’m a figment
of someone’s imagination.

No.

There is one thing,

but you must swear on your blood
not to reveal it.

- Cross my heart
and hope to die.

- I k*lled me father.

- Don’t joke
about such things.

- Well, that’s why I did it.

He struck me.

He was a dirty man,
god forgive him,

and him getting old
and crusty.

Either way, I couldn’t
put up with him at all.

Do you know what a loy is?

It’s a kind of spade.

We were out in the field.

And I just Rose the loy

and let fall
the edge

on a Ridge of his skull.

And he went down at me feet
like an empty sack.

Never a murmur or a groan
from him,

I sat there laughing.

Wasn’t that a good story?

Amn’t I a good actor?

- Oh, you’re
the strangest man.

- Can’t you talk to her,
doctor?

- And he’s not been back since?

- Not this two weeks,

not since Sunday
was a fortnight.

- Well, I don’t know
what I can do, biddy.

I can’t talk to a woman
that won’t talk to me.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Normal. Open.

Say "ah."

- Ah.

- You’re in the pink.

- Men don’t get
hot flashes.

- Oh, no,
we’re spared that.

- Rush of blood
to the head sometimes?

- [Laughing]
Well, not me, Agnes.

As a man,
i’m a mouse.

- I don’t think you’re as dull
as you pretend to be, William.

- I’m a very sleepy sort.

- Unlike lynchehaun.

He never sleeps,
I suppose.

- No, doesn’t seem to much,
does he?

Do you know how he described
himself the other night?

As a pragmatical jackdaw.
Isn’t that quaint?

- Very...
If you know what it means.

- Well, it’s--

I was teaching him
chess, you see,

and it’s the way he plays,
like a--

both: Like a jackdaw.
- Yes.

- Playing chess?

- Yes.

- Don’t you think
it’s beneath you

to be playing chess
with a--

with a servant,
with a person who doesn’t even

do the job i’ve given him?

- I’m not stupid, Agnes,

nor am I blind.

I do understand fever,

even if it’s at a distance.

- Forgive me, William.
I’m--

[jackdaw calling]

Forgive me.

[Hooves plodding]

[Horse blusters]

[Wood creaking]

[Glass crashing]

What is this?

- It’s your black bottle,
ma’am.

- Mr. Lynchehaun told you
to do this, didn’t he?

- Aye.

- Well, you may
stop it now.

- Stop?
We’ve only just started.

- I don’t want black bottle
on my walls.

Now come down,
the whole bloody lot of you,

and take away this glass.

Do you hear?

Have you gone deaf?

I want you to stop
this instant,

and if you don’t stop,
I won’t pay you.

I’m not going to pay you.

This is intolerable!

- Here, here, here.

Oy.

- Good man.

- Mrs. Macdonnell.

- Where have you been?

- I’ve been busy.

- Smashing black bottles?

I suppose you know
what this is.

Of course,
you warned me.

Sign on the stamp
or else.

- That’s the law,
Mrs. Macdonnell.

- But, James,

this is from
the collector general of taxes.

You wrote to him,
and now i’m to be fined

£10 for not signing
on a bloody stamp.

- Well, calm down.

- Why? Why did you do it?

- Because i’m the devil.

I’m the very devil
of a man.

Come on,
it’s only a joke.

- A joke to humiliate me.

- Please.

Look, i’m sorry.
Don’t be angry.

- "Don’t be angry."
I am angry.

I have a right to be angry.
You have no right.

And i’m not--
I just...

Oh, James.

[Panting]

[Grunting]

[Moaning]

- No, no.

[Lynchehaun clearing throat]
Not now.

- I don’t know where I am
with you. I--

you make me feel strange.

- Acushla,

acushla,

there is no one else
in the world quite like me,

in the world or out of it.

Sweeney will vouch for that.

- What do you mean?

- You’ll see.

But you shouldn’t
be seen here.

Come on.
Go back to the house.

I’ll send for you.

Do as I say, Agnes.

Do as I say.

I’ll make you laugh.

Go on with you.

Go on.

- "Dear Mrs. Macdonnell,

"come to the hotel in Newport
tomorrow, 4:00.

"Tell no one.

It’ll be more amusing that way.
James."

- Now.

[Door hasp clicking]

- Oh, eh,
to hell out of that!

Click!

[Screams]

[Piano playing prim tune]

- Dinner’s at 7:00. That’s fine.

We’ll be back
in plenty of time for dinner.

- Shall we?

- He was very nice,
wasn’t he?

[Fingers tapping]

- [Scottish accent]
Ah, there you are.

I hope
you haven’t been shopping.

Don’t look so guilty,
my dear.

String your shoes.
There’s a good girl.

Good day to you.

I am the reverend
James crawley, d.D.

- Reverend.

- We desire a room,
a large, silent room.

My wife
is tormented by a...

Ticklish cough,

and she does not want to disturb
the other guests.

Isn’t that so,
my dear?

Your chest is ticklish,

isn’t it,

little wifey?

I do believe she’ll have
to be put to bed early.

We shall dine presently.

Right this way, my dear.
On your way.

[Bell tolling]

[Carriages clattering]

- Fresh fish.

[Indistinct chatter]

- Reverend!

- You remember this.

[Laughs]

[Clearing throat]

- Uh, there seems to be
a piece missing,

the peace
that passeth understanding.

[Suppressed giggling]

Well, now, Mrs. Crawley.

Crawley, I like that name.

You see,
first I think of the name,

and then I imagine
the man

or the woman
for the name.

And then, hoopla!
There he is.

- Shh!

- But who?

Who is it?

I don’t know.

That’s what I like.

I’m watching him,
and I don’t know who it is.

Hoopla!

- James.

Keep your voice down.

- I can’t, Mrs. Maccrawley;
Brandy makes me loud, heh-heh,

and maudlin.

- Last drink, sir.

Yes, sir?

- I think
you can leave that there.

No go out,
and sin no more.

- Yes, sir.

- Most interesting animal,

it’s a half-man,
half-horse,

but it’s the horse half

that is
the most interesting.

You know, because, well,
men are bores.

Men are
most frightful bores,

but god is good.

Oh, aye, god is good.

- God is good.

- Eee!

- Mind your step there, sir.

- Oh, good old god.

There’s a moose loose
about this hoose.

- Uh, excuse me, sir.

- Hello?

- That is the wrong room,
sir.

Here we are,
down here.

That’s it.

- Thank you, sir.

- Not at all.
Good night.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Good night to you,
thou good and faithful servant.

Did you ever see,
ever in all your days,

such a cowardly
little mouse of a man

in all your life?

"God is good."

Christ.

[Scoffs]

- Is that
how you treat people?

- There’s a moose loose

about this hoose.

You be careful,

or it’ll...

R-r-r-run up
your little skirteen!

[Mutters indistinctly]

Have a drink.
- No.

- Have a drink.

- No.

- Have a nightcap.
[Sighs]

Have a little nightcap
in your little skirt,

your big skirt.

- I don’t want
to drink any more.

- Then you come here to me,
tabby.

Do you want to fight me,
tabby?

- No.
- Yes, you do.

- No.

- Tabby likes to be mauled
by the Tom.

Doesn’t she?
- No.

- You’re not a little mouse.
You’re a tabby.

And tabby prefers Tom
any day

to a silly Billy.

- What are you talking about?

- Poor William,

with his little bald spot.

- William’s my friend.

- Oh, he’s mine too.

Sure, we can both
play with him.

Agnesheen,

but he hasn’t got
a claw to his name,

and tabby likes to be clawed,
doesn’t she?

- No.
- Yes, she does.

- No!
- Yes, she does.

[Panting]

- No.

Don’t. Ah. Ah.

[Whimpering]

[Grunting]

[Tearfully]
Don’t hurt me.

- You say please.

- [Whispers]
Please.

- It’s best
when you beg for it,

Mrs. Meow.

[Yelping]

- A man was hanged here once.

I said,
a man was hanged here once.

A priest he was,

name of father manus sweeney.

The English,
your people,

hanged him

in market square,

hung him
from the market crane.

A soldier in the crowd,

a man called lytle,

he shouted out,

"the priest’s meat
is high today."

- Please.

- And that’s
not the end of it.

It was the end of lytle,
though.

A few weeks later,

they found his body
on the mountain,

1,800 feet up,

or rather,
the dogs found him,

dragged pieces of him
down into the town.

So his meat ended up

higher than the priest’s,

considerably less

highly thought of, though.

What’s wrong?

- I don’t feel well.

- Ah, well,

the air is thin up here
in the mountains, acushla.

Don’t worry.

The ride back to achill
will clear your head.

- Yes.

Yes, I want to go back now.

- It’s her.

- Agnes, what are you doing?
Where have you been?

We’ve been most dreadfully
worried about you.

- We thought
you were kidnapped.

- The doctor was just now saying
I would have to contact Dublin.

- I don’t know
what all the fuss is about.

I was just staying
with friends--unexpectedly.

I couldn’t send
a message.

- But we searched every house
on the island, ma’am.

- I wasn’t on the island;
I was on the mainland,

in Newport.

- Newport, ma’am?

We don’t know anyone
in Newport.

- Ah, yes, i--
I know those people.

- Anyway, as you see,
i’m perfectly safe,

so thank you.

- Safer than some,
ma’am.

Safer than Mr. Sweeney.
- What do you mean?

- Mr. Sweeney had
a class of an accident, ma’am.

- Is he dead?

- No, no.
- Oh, thank god.

Oh, god.

Oh, dear, i’m very upset.

I’m sorry
to have caused you trouble.

Will you excuse me,
constable?

- No trouble, ma’am.

- Agnes, do you want
to talk about it?

- It, it.

It or him?
- Agnes?

- Thank you for the lie
about Newport.

You were so quick,
I almost laughed.

- We all need a little laugh
every now and then, don’t we?

- Oh, don’t be kind to me,
William.

I couldn’t bear
your kindness now.

You know, I thought about you
last night,

back there in your house.

I thought, "now,
there’s someone who’s gentle,

"someone who never
goes out,

someone who knows nothing
about all this."

That isn’t sad, is it?

No, don’t touch me.
No, you shouldn’t touch me.

You don’t know
where i’ve been.

I’ve been somewhere where people
aren’t supposed to go.

But it’s all right.

I’ll wash myself,
and i’ll dress myself,

and everything will be
all right,

right as rain.

Isn’t that good?

[Lock clunks]

[Melancholy flute music]

♪ ♪

[Whistling]

♪ ♪

[Knocking at door]

- Ah, James--
Mr. Lynchehaun, um--

- you wanted to see me.

- Yeah, come in.
Come in.

That was a most unfortunate
business with Mr. Sweeney.

- Uh, yes.

I only heard
about it today.

- Yes, because--

yes, you were...

Um, in Newport.

- How’d you know that?

- Agnes--Ms. Macdonnell
said that she saw you there.

- She did see me.

And I saw her.

- You’ve been sh**ting dogs.

- Yes, what of it?

- Well, who gave you permission
to do that?

- I’m the agent.

Wild dogs
are my responsibility.

- Well, Mrs. Macdonnell
didn’t give the authority.

And also this was delivered
this morning.

It’s a letter from
the collector general of taxes.

- It came today,

did it, now?

- Did you write to him

concerning the stamping
of leases?

- I did.

- Well, are you aware that
Mrs. Macdonnell is to be fined?

- Agnes knows this--
- Agnes?

- You know,
you used to call me James.

So she wants to get rid of me,
does she?

- Yes, she thinks
that might be best,

although she has no wish
to proceed with an eviction.

- Very wise.

- She’s authorized me
to give you £15 as a token

of her appreciation
of your services,

without prejudice,
of course.

- That’s very generous.

You’ll forgive me

if I was rude to you
just now.

I’m sorry.

- Yes.

So am I, James.

- Will you let me
shake your hand?

You know, everyone will laugh
at me now,

but you won’t laugh,
will you?

Ask the yellow woman
what I mean.

I think i’ve been used.

Like a stick.

This money
is like a stick aimed

at the heart of me.

[Wind howling]

[Door slams]

- It’s all done, ma’am,

except for
your overnight bag.

- Thank you,
biddy.

Dr. Croly’s coming
in the morning

to take me
to the station.

Better have breakfast
ready for him.

- I will, ma’am.

- I’m going to have
an early night.

- I’ll bring you up
a glass of hot milk,

or maybe a nice egg flip
with a drop of Sherry in it.

- What would I do without you,
biddy?

- I’m glad, ma’am.

- So am I.

[Wood creaking]

[Door creaking]

- Don’t cry out.
I won’t hurt you.

I just--just wanted
to talk to you.

- Oh, god.

- You d-don’t have
to be afraid of me.

- I’m not afraid of you.

- Why did you get croly
to do your talking then?

If you had something
to say to me,

you should have said it
yourself.

- But I couldn’t.

You know I couldn’t.

- So you took
the coward’s way.

- I want you to go now.

[Gasps]

- Why?

What’s the reason?
- Please.

- What’s the reason?

Is it because you think
I have something to do

with sweeney’s accident?

I swear to you
on me father’s grave,

I had no hand, act,
or part in that.

- I know you didn’t.

- Why then?

Is it that you’re afraid of me
because i’m a free man?

- No, James.
- I’m a free man.

And I made love to you.

You can’t walk away from that
without a word.

Tell me the reason why.

- No.

- Agnes.

Agnes.

You’re not like
the rest of the women.

Don’t pretend you are.

You want a real man.

I know that,
and so do you.

- You call this
being a real man?

- A real man fights
for what he wants.

- N-No.

- Shh. Shh. Oh, ooh.

Ooh, oh.

What are you trembling for?
Shh.

- I want you to go.

- [Whispers]
Why?

Why? Tell me why.

Why?

Ah!

- [Screaming]
Biddy!

Biddy! Biddy!

[Lynchehaun roaring]

[Laughs]

Biddy, help me!

[Dog barking]

[Hyperventilating]

- Biddy,

i-i’m bleeding.

Look at me.
I’m bleeding.

Jeez!

[Horse snorting]

Agnes.

Agnes.

Agnes.

Agnes.

- [Gasps]

[Whimpering]

- Agnes,

calm down.

Talk to me.

- Get away from me.

Get away from me.
- Agnes!

[Screaming]

[Horses grunting]

[Bone crunches]

[Horses neighing, snorting]

[Agnes screaming]

- No! Ah!

Ah! Eee!

Biddy! Wah! Biddy!

[Men shouting indistinctly]

[Pump squeaking]

[Dramatic orchestral music]

- Where is she?

Ma’am! Ma’am!

Take me to her!

[Sobbing]

- Agnes?

- James.

- With your permission, my lord,
I read from my notes.

This is from the--my first
examination on that day.

"Three wounds to the head.

"The first is almost
on the crown of the head,

"reaching over
to the left parietal bone.

"About 3 inches long,
it is lacerated and contused.

"The temporal bone
is fractured,

"a starred fracture...

"The fracture
caused by a blunt instrument.

"It may have been inflicted
by the kick of a boot

"or a stone or a heavy stick.

[Chains jingle]

"The entire cartilage
of the nose is gone,

"the nasal bone exposed.

The left eye:
Completely crushed."

I had to remove the eye,
my lord.

"The larynx is inflamed
and congested,

"and there are distinct marks
of three fingers and a thumb,

"evidence considerable pressure
has been applied

"to the affected area.

"Also--

"I also found tearing

"in the soft tissues
of the vag*na.

The right side
is lacerated and torn."

The third day, my lord,

I found
pieces of whin bushes,

thorns from whin bushes

embedded deeper in the tissues
of the vag*na,

and I removed them.

[Gavel banging]

[Man speaking
with American accent]

- The supreme court
of the United States

accepts that Mr. Lynchehaun
was lawfully sentenced

to life imprisonment
in Ireland.

He escaped

and unlawfully entered
the United States.

The court accepts
that Mr. Lynchehaun was a member

of the revolutionary
organization

the Irish
republican brotherhood

and that he led
some 200 persons

in attacking
Mrs. Macdonnell’s property.

By any standard,
this was a political act.

The motion
to have him extradited

back to British jurisdiction
is therefore refused.

- Anything to declare,
father?

- No.

- Have you been long
in america?

- Seven years.

- Long time to be away from
the green hills of Ireland, hm?

- Time passes.

- What’s that?

- Here or there,
time passes.

[Train whistle blows]

[Dog barking]

[Muttering indistinctly]

- ...and a great lady,

and the white house of america
and they dancing.

[Muttering indistinctly]

Born and unborn.
- Don’t believe it.

- I believe you,

and I don’t believe you.

Do you know what I mean, boy?

- Hmm?
- I do.

- Still, by the look of you now,

i’d say you committed
a great sin all the same.

Am I right now?

- Westport.
Next stop, westport.

- Westport...
[Mutters indistinctly]

Here, i’ll die in the night if
I don’t kiss you just the once.

[Baby crying]

- Last stop now, achill island.

Achill island, last stop.

- William croly...
[Muttering to himself]

The president of the united
states was impressed.

[Jackdaw calling]

- The wine.

- I’ll get it.

- ♪ My true love ♪

♪ far, far away ♪

- Hurry up, biddy.

I’m starving.

[Fork clicking]

[Tapping]

[Gasps violently]

[Roars]

- What is it?

Go in the back.
Go in the back!

- Agnes,
I don’t mean any harm.

- I’m not afraid of you,
James lynchehaun.

- I just wanted to talk to you,
Agnes.

- Go back to hell!

- I can’t go back.

I’m in it.

- Get away from me.

- Look at me.

Look at me!

I’m a hero.
[Laughs]

Isn’t that comical?

I’m a hero.

- [Snarling]
Come on.

Come on.

[g*n fires]

- Acushla!

Acushla,

nearly never did a thing.

You’d hardly hit me
at this distance, would ya?

And what if you missed?

[g*nsh*t]

[Birdlike screaming]

I’m still alive.

I can’t die.

I can’t die.

- So who’s the hero now?

- Ah!