The Blackwater Lightship (2004) - full transcript

Helly, Declan, come on!

What's that one?

That's the lightship,
isn't it, Dad?

Didn't ask you,
Bossy Boots.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

The sea out there,
it's all dangerous sand banks.

There's no rocks
to build a lighthouse,

so they use
a ship instead.

How long has it
been there?

A lot longer than me, anyway.

Hey, Declan,



stop stuffing yourself.

Come on,

it's time for a photograph.

Come on, wake up!

Get up!
Go away!

Kyle, no.

It's too early.

Come on.

Let's go.

Aw, Helen, I was going
to do breakfast.

That's all right,
it's all finished.

You can concentrate
on packing.

Gonna miss you, missus.

If it wasn't
for these school interviews,



I'd be there like a shot.

I'll be thinking
of all the things
I want to say to you

and you won't be there
to hear them.

You're to go up
through Valley Sham,

and you're not to drive
into the north.

Yes, mum.

Have you forgotten anything?

I don't think so.

Dear. I'll give you
a call when I get there.

John Oakley phoned

to remind you
of the meeting

with the minister
of education.

And, of course, you've got
the interviews this week.

Right.

Thank you, Anne.

Are you Helen?

Yes. Yes, I am.

My name is Paul.

I'm a friend of your brother's.

You're an American?

Yes.

Have a seat.
Have a seat.

Are you here
for the teaching job?

No, I have a job, thanks.

Listen, Declan's
in the hospital.

He asked me to
come out here

and tell you.

He's in the hospital?

Has he had an accident?

It wasn't an accident,
but he'd like to see you.

Can you come now?

He's over at
Saint Aiden's,

I can drive you.

Y-Yes, right. Um...

I have... a meeting
at the Department
of Education

on Marlborough Street at 4:00.

You'll be back by 4:00.

You'd better tell me
what's wrong.

Declan has AIDS.

He wanted me
to tell you first.

Do you want me
to pull over?

Um...

N-No. Go on.

How long has
he been...

Two years. He's very weak.

Is he dying, then?

It'll be harder
this time.

Has he been in
the hospital long?

On and off.

Mostly he goes
to the clinic.

He told me

he was busy with work.

I think he's been avoiding you.

Does Declan...
have a boyfriend?

No.

It must've been hard
looking after him.

It's hard now.

But he's a good patient.

Why didn't he tell us?

Because he couldn't face it.

He's just down here.

He's in there?

Paul, look,
I'm-I'm sorry, I...

I have to ask you.

Are-are we talking
about days or...

weeks or months?

What is it?
What are we...

I don't know.
It's hard to say.

Hey, Louise.
This is Declan's sister.

You can't go in for a while--
the nurse is with him.

She has to go
in an hour.

I'm going to cancel
that meeting anyway.

Just hold on.

I'll go and check.

I have a name,

you know.

I'm sorry.

I should have introduced you
properly.

What does Declan want
to do about my mother?

He wants you to tell her.

Great.

We don't get on.
I know that.

He wants you to go down
to Wexford and tell her.

You can use his car;
it's in the parking lot;
I have the keys.

Okay, um, you
can come in now.

Thank you.

Declan?

Declan?

Hello.
How are you?

So what do you think of her?

Your sister?

She'd make a great
Reverend Mother.

Helly,

will you deal with the old lady?

Do you want to see her?

I do, yeah.

When?

As soon as she can.

Will you tell Granny?

That-that won't be a problem.

I'll-I'll drive out to her.

You should meet
my granny.

She's the one who'll
put manners in you.

She's a real paint remover.

This is a real shock, Declan.

Helly, I'm sorry
about everything.

No.

I have to keep convincing myself
that this is really happening.

You all seem so
matter-of-fact about it,

but the truth is that...

Declan is dying in there.

I don't know how I'm going
to tell my mother.

No one's being
matter-of-fact.

It seems to me they
don't really need

to keep him
in the hospital.

Now, he has to have
a line put in.

That should be done
early tomorrow morning,
I'd imagine.

But after that, if
you and your mother
wanted to ask Louise,

I'm sure she would
let you take him
for a few days.

Right. Well,
the main thing tomorrow,
though, is my mother.

No. Wait. The main
thing is Declan,

not your mother.

Okay, he gets depressed
in that hospital room,

so it's not just a small detail,
it's a priority.

Thanks for the correction.

Look, I'm...

really grateful to you
for everything.

Yeah.

I'll see you.

Will you look at that!

Isn't that Helen?

Yoo-hoo! Helen!

Helen!

It's been a while,
hasn't it?

It has.

We'll call in.

Right.
We'll do it later.

Have a bit of lunch.

Here you are now, Helen.

Granny, I-I'm sorry

for barging
in on you like this.

That's a great surprise.

It's a lovely surprise.

I've got tea on
and I could make you up a fry.

I-I have very bad news, Granny.

I know, Helen.

I knew it the moment I saw you.

It was the same years ago
with your father's cancer.

The doctors could do
nothing about it.

And now here's poor Declan,
just starting his life.

What will I do about my mother?

You'll go to Wexford
in the morning

and you'll break the news
to her softly.

Let her sleep tonight.

This is the last night's sleep
she'll have for a long time.

I'll make up
your bed.

The room is
hardly ever used.

Your mother never stays.

She hasn't been down
here recently.

Have you fallen out with her?

Not really.

She still thinks
that she's going

to get me to move to Wexford.

But I told her, I said,
"I'm not moving anywheres."

I've got plenty
of money now.

I sold the old field
that was full of ragwort.

Look. I've put
in new radiators.

I've put them in
all over the house,

and I never consulted her.

And that's all
that's wrong with her.

Your mother came down
when the work was half done.

She was raging.

Hello, sweetheart.

Anyway, that was at Easter

and she hasn't been here
since the end of May.

But she brought me
down this.

Now, I told her,

I couldn't have a phone
in the house, you know.

So I keep this in here.

I never turn it on.

I never use it.

Have a biscuit.

Helly.

I have to go away
for a little while

to Dublin for some tests.

Tests.
I'm going as well.

We don't know
how long we'll be away.

Who's going
to look after us?

You're going to Granny's.

Granny's?

But what about school?

Right, school.

Well, you'll take
your schoolbooks with you.

But, Ma...

Helly, your father's sick.

I thought you said
he was going to Dublin

for some tests.

Now those eggs are fresh.

Not like the ones
you get in town.

Yuck.

Declan doesn't eat eggs.

I never heard
anything worse.

The things your mother
has to put up with.

She's too soft.

But he can't eat them.

Granny, he'll get sick.

Will you stop
with the back answers, Helen?

I'm not giving back answers.

When are Ma and Dad
coming back for us?

The government of this country
is nothing

but a shower of gangsters.

They're not.

Dad says that's
just propaganda,
that old rag.

Propaganda?

Where did you learn
that word?

Helen knows all the words.

She's as smart
as her mother.

Thanks.

You're going to have

to go to school in Blackwater.

We'll do our own lessons here.

I can teach Declan

until Ma comes for us.

Ma!

It's all right, Declan.

It was only a nightmare.

Shh.

Shh.

Helly... I was dreaming.

I'm small, and I'm floating,
but everything else is huge.

It's okay, Declan.

Ma and Dad will soon be here.

Could you just leave
the light on, Helly?

Yeah. Yeah.

Mrs. Breen?

Yes. Second floor,
conference room
on your right.

Thank you.

Now, if your company installs
a new system, call us, please.

There's some so-called experts
out there,

who, if you told them you were
having trouble with your mouse,

they'd recommend you get a cat.

My staff are the best there is,
so don't be scared.

It's dead simple.

My colleague Dave here will walk
you through the steps.

You've been a lovely group.
Thank you.

- Thank you, Mrs. Breen.
- Thank you very much.

Ladies and gentlemen,

our software targets
and corrects inadequacies.

Hi. I thought it was you
when you came in,

and I wondered had you
come all this way down here

to learn the computer?

No. Thanks.

It's impressive.

It's all new.

I-I need to talk
to you in private.

I don't have much time.

Has something happened?

Well, Declan's in
the hospital in Dublin.

He wants to see you.

He's had an accident?

Has he hurt himself?

No. It's not that. It's...

He's sick

and he'd like
to see you.

He's been there for a while.

He didn't want to trouble us.

Trouble us?

What is it you're talking about?

Maybe it would
be better

if you talked
to the doctors
about it.

What day is today?

Wednesday.

I'll make two phone calls.

I'll be with you
right away.

Right. I'll wait outside.

I hate this road.

I hate every inch of it.

I never thought
I'd be traveling
it again

on my way
to a hospital.

I stayed with Granny
last night.

Why didn't you come
to me first?

That's right.
Don't answer me now.

Larry and the boys
are in Donegal.

I don't know how
he puts up with you.

Look it,

I better tell you
what's wrong.

Declan has AIDS and he...

you know,
he's had it for a long time.

AIDS?

How long have
you known?

Since yesterday.

Why did he keep it from us?

Why didn't he
tell me himself?

He was afraid how you'd react.

So he sends you.

I think he thought

at a time like this,
we'd all forget our differences.

Well, I don't notice
any difference in you.

Well, bear with me.

I am making an effort.

I'm afraid I'll have
to be blunt, Mrs. Breen.

He could hang on
for a while,

but he could also go
very quickly.

His immune system
has been destroyed.

Could anything be done
for him in America?

Our treatments
are just as good here.

I'd like to speak
to the doctor alone
for a moment, please.

Is he homosexual?

Is that why he got AIDS?

AIDS is not just a gay disease,
Mrs. Breen...

but, yes, he is.

Declan...

I've brought you a visitor.

I knew you weren't looking well
the last time I saw you.

But you're looking
much better now.

I didn't think
you'd be up so soon.

Are they treating you

properly at all?

It's fine, yeah.

I'm fine.

Well, we're only here

to make everything nice for you,
isn't that right, Helen?

Yeah.

Have you any pain?

I don't feel great today.

I had a local anesthetic
in my chest this morning.

It always leaves you
feeling a little drowsy.

Well, you don't have
a temperature, anyway.

You know,

if you wanted to come down
to my house,

everything would be
set up for you.

And we could have
a nurse go around

if there were any problems.

I've been thinking
about that, Mom.

And if you wouldn't mind,

I would like
to go to Blackwater.

To Granny's.

Granny's?

What would you want
to go there for?

The beds are
uncomfortable.

The sheets are ancient.

What does
it matter?

It's where he wants to be.

Would she mind us barging in

on top of her,
do you think?

Well, if she turned on
the mobile phone I gave her,

we could find out.

Declan, Helen told me

you were worried
about how I would react.

You needn't have
worried at all.

You and Helen are
the two people
I care most about.

Nothing is ever
going to change that.

I should have told you

before though, Mom.

Are you sure you wouldn't
be better off at Ma's house?

It gives me
the creeps.

What? And this
place doesn't?

I don't know why,

but I need
these creeps.

Is that Declan you've
got in the back there?

That's the most exciting thing
I ever taught anybody.

And I can still
remember doing it.

But you've got to know
about that

and have the leisure
to get into it.

My position is
that we're going to have...

Maybe we shouldn't
have barged in

on you like this, Ma.

No, Lily.

I was worried
about you all day.

Would you have sandwiches?

Or will you all be having
a large meal when you go home?

Granny?

They let me out
for a few days,

and I'd like
to stay here.

Maybe that's too
much trouble for you?

No, you can stay here

anytime you
like, Declan.

And Helen can have
a room next to you,

and you can sleep
in your old room.

And you can have
a room, too, Lily.

Helen, you drive me
to my own house.

We'll get my car.

We'll get you fresh bedclothes,
and a mattress as well.

We'll make you very
comfortable here, Declan.

Don't worry.

All right, Mom.

I don't think Granny
wants us in her house at all.

That's just
pretense and nonsense.

She likes company,
you know.

How long have you
known about Declan?

Since yesterday.

I told you.

No. I mean, how long have you
known he's had friends like...?

Like what?

You know like what.

I've always known.

Don't be
so stupid, Helen.

About ten years.

And you never told me?

I never told you anything.

Hope nothing like this
ever happens to you.

You sound as though
you hope it does.

If I meant that, I'd say so.

You would, all right.

I can't get over your place.
Look at...

I remember that.

I remember this picture.

What?

A bit different from
our old house, isn't it?

I had a decorator.

You going to stand
there gawking?

I can't get over it.

Will you help me

with this mattress?

It would be nice to bring a lamp

to put beside the bed
for Declan.

Granny's house
is depressing.

Will he need anything else,
do you think?

I don't know.

He seemed very sick
as we were leaving.

I can hardly bear
to look at him.

All right. I'll see you there.

Hello.

Dear.

We've got visitors.

Shouldn't you try and
eat something, Declan?

I can't, Granny.
I don't like it.

You must be
Declan's granny.

I'm Larry.
No. I didn't think
he'd come down today.

Who is it?

Will you
look at you?

You look as if you haven't

left that chair
since you arrived.

I bet the women have
just spoiled you rotten.

It's hard to
find this place.

I went all over
the country.

No one knew
any Breens.

And then I realized

your granny mightn't
be called Breen.

No, no.
Her name is Devereaux,

and you've just given her

your coat.

Will you look at the cat?

What's it called?

Cornelius.

Are you serious?

Yeah, Larry, she's serious.

This must be
your sister.

Hello.
Hello.

He only talks nonstop
when he's nervous, you know.

What? Who's nervous?

Shut up, Larry, will you?

Would you like
a cup of tea?

No, no.
I'm all right, thanks.

This is
a great place, this.

Did you bring
your measuring tape?

I'm sure Granny
would like some
renovations done.

Larry's an architect,
Granny.

I did,
as a matter of fact.

Do you know, I had real
trouble finding this place.

Larry, if you
don't shut up,

I'm going to
drown that cat.

Declan!

What? I had to say
something drastic
to shut him up.

Okay, okay.
I'll shut up.

But it was
a long drive down.

Larry, stop.

Do you want me
to help you?

No. I'll sit here
for a while on me own.

You go for a walk.

No. We can't do that.

We can't leave you here.

Helly, I'll be fine.

I just want
to look at the sea.

I can make me own way
back to the house.

Go on. Walk.

You sure?

I'll be fine.

I'm not dead yet.

Do you mean it?

Go on.

Ma.

Ma?

This is Larry--
a friend of Declan's.

Hello.

Where is Declan?

He's below
on the beach.

Who with?

He's on his own.

Helen, that's
irresponsible.

What are you doing?

I'm going
to get him!

He said that
he wanted to be alone.

Is this man Larry
going to be staying here,

as well?

I don't know.

But are we going
to be putting him

in the same room
as Declan?

Do you mean,

are they partners?

You know very well
what I mean.

No. They're not.

Declan doesn't
have a partner.

You mean he has nobody?

He has us, and
he has his friends.

That's not nobody.

What? But he's got nobody
of his own.

And that's why
he came down here.

I didn't understand
that before.

This will be plenty.
Come on.

It's weird being back, you know?

Anyway, how are the boys?

The boys are grand.

Don't worry about them.

They're eating pizza.

Pizza.
Listen, love, take it easy.

I know it's tough,
and all of that,

but just cheer up a bit.
You'll be grand.

Guess what.

What?

I love you.

I love you, too.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Aw, no! Here's
another one of them.

How's our boy?
Grand.

You deal with them.

Granny?

This is Paul.

Talk about a hard place
to find.

Heaven's above!

They'll all be
on top of us now.

What do you
mean, Granny?

The neighbors,
wanting to find out

what's going on.

How's Declan?

He's lying down.

He hasn't eaten since he came.

I brought him some
clean clothes
and some Xanax.

What's Xanax?

Cheers him up a bit.

We could all do
with some of that.

He wants a glass of milk.

Don't leave him alone
like that again.

He wants to know,

can his friends stay
in the spare room?

Are there more of them coming?

Be a line of cars
coming from Dublin.

Maybe I should put up a sign

saying that our guest house
is open again,

like the old days.

You have a
lovely view here.

Aw, you can get fed up
looking at the sea.

If I could turn the house
around, I would.

I've never seen so many cars.
One, two, three, four...

Out!

Quick! All of you,
to Declan's room.

It's nosy neighbors.

Dora!

Yoo-hoo! Dora!

We just happened to be passing.

Passing.

And we saw all

of the cars,
and we wondered,

were you all right?

All the cars!

I'm right as rain,
Essie. Thanks.

You have plenty

of visitors, Dora.

Just down for the day.

Helen and
a few friends.

Your husband
and the boys?

No.

They're in Donegal.

Is yours the red car?

No. Mine is the...
the white car.

Not the red car?

No.
Whose is the red car?

They're... they're
friends of mine,

and they're
staying nearby.

Lily!
Lily!

We do see your
advertisement

in the paper
every week.

A big shot now.

A big shot now!

Will you be staying
the night, Helen?

I don't know, Madge.

It's a long time
since you've stayed

I might have passed
the night here, Lily.

up and down when
you weren't looking, Essie.

Madge would
have seen you.

I haven't
seen you, Helen,

since you worked here
all them years ago.

What do you think
of the improvements

she's made?
The radiators?

Well...

thanks for calling.

Be sure to call
again sometime.

We will.

We'll drop in
after mass on Sunday.

We'll chat then.

Bye, girls.

Bye, Lily. Helen.

Granny, how could
you put up with them?

I went to school
with them.

Their father used
to beat them
with nettles.

Well, if that's all
he did to them,

they got off easy.

I'll tell the others
the coast is clear.

When I saw you arriving,

I said to myself,
there's another.

What do you mean by that?

You know what
I mean, Helen.

She means
homosexuals.

Granny, you can't talk
about people like that.

Now, come on.

It's a difficult
time for us all.

It will always be difficult
for them.

I think she means
homosexuals again.

I'm happy.

I'm not happy
being here now,

but my life
is happy.

I'm old,
and I can say what I like.

Declan never told us
that he was one of you.

He never
told us anything.

But I knew something was wrong.

I've known for a year now.

Declan came here

last summer.

He must have been down
on the beach.

I bumped into him in the lane.

Didn't expect to see me.

He'd been crying,

and I knew that
he was in trouble.

I thought of everything,

but I never thought of AIDS.

You never told anyone
Declan had been here.

Who was there to tell?

I knew.

He told me
when he got back.

Do your families
know you're gay?

My mother would
have been happier

if I'd been in the I.R.A.

Are you two partners?

With him?
You must be joking.

Are you mad?

What, to be with you
or to be with him?

Maybe with
either of us.

Nothing
shocks me anymore.

When you've lived
through the life that I have,

there's very little
that you don't know.

Anyway, the television
is full of it.

Talking here
in the dark

is like going
to confessions.

What are you all
doing here like this?

We're getting filled.
The light come down, Lily.

What were you saying,
Ma, when I came in?

I was saying to the boys here,
it's a very difficult time.

And it's very nice
to have their company.

That's what I was
telling them, Lily.

I'm going.

I gave you
a mobile phone.

Why don't you turn it on?

Good night,
Mrs. Breen.

Would you
listen to her?

Even when she was a baby,
she had a mind of her own.

You couldn't tell her when
to get up in the morning;

she'd be up before you.

She was a great
worker, though.

She had great brains.

She won a university
scholarship, you know.

The nuns loved her.

Did you know she
almost became a nun?

Really?

Did you want her
to become a nun?

Lily?

My beautiful daughter, a nun?

I did not.

My husband,
Helen's grandfather,

who was a good man--
the Lord have mercy on him

and he's getting his reward
in heaven--

said that we must
accept God's will.

And I said,

well, me not wanting her to be
a nun could also be God's will.

Good man, Granny.

Sometimes it's hard
to accept God's will.

Would you like a good fry-up
or just some coffee?

I'll have a fry, thanks,
and cereal.

Why can't you just
sit down and talk, Ma?

Declan, she's put me
out of her life.

Helen?

That you?

You must have
gotten here early.

Yes. Well, Declan's
been sick again.

Are the lads up yet?

Yeah. They're being fed
by Granny.

She's in her element, you know.

She thinks she's running
the boardinghouse again.

Why don't you go down
and have your breakfast

before they eat it all.

No, Mrs. Devereux,

knocking down a wall
will cost nothing

and widening a door
will cost nothing.

You do the whole thing
for 1,000.

Yes, but where would I
put the kitchen?

Leave the kitchen
where it is.

You know, my
legs are very bad,

and I-I'd love to put
me bedroom downstairs,

but my bathroom is upstairs.

There's no justice.

Put the bedroom
and the bathroom

where the two small
guest rooms are

with a big wide door
in between.

I've checked those walls.

It would take about half
a day to knock them down.

It'd be like a new house;
you wouldn't know it yourself.

Yeah, but where-where
would my bed be?

I don't want to be pushed
up against the window.

Is it a double bed
or a single bed?

Well, now, that's a
very personal question.

It won't be long.

You think
you'll be all right?

I'll be fine

You're sure?
if it's not too
far away. Yeah.

No, it's not far,
but the car doesn't bother you?

No.
No. All right.

All right.

Did you ever get along with her,

or your grandmother?

When I was young,
I had no choice.

How long has it been?

Well, when I was
in college,

I had to work
during the summers

helping Granny
run the boardinghouse.

This one summer
I had the chance

to go and work
in America, but...

my mother instantly
became hysterical.

The screaming and the shouting
and the letters

that followed me to Dublin.

It was all sick,
so I gave in

and I didn't go.

When I finally graduated,
I made sure

to get work in Dublin,

but eventually the two
of them showed up,

and they marched me up
to the Shelbourne Hotel,

and my Granny says,
"You've got your degree now,

you'll come home."

I realized
that the plan

was that I would skivvy around
for the both of them now.

So I listened for a while,

then I got up,

went to the ladies room,

and I walked out of the hotel.

And in answer
to your question,

I haven't really seen them
since.

You just walked out?

I didn't even tell them
when I got married.

Declan did.

They weren't
at your wedding?

I couldn't stand the thought of
their two faces looking at me.

How long you been
married, Helen?

Ten years.

Hasn't it ever occurred
to you that the reason

they wanted you at home
was because they love you?

That's rubbish, Paul.

Have you been
talking about me?

Yes, I've been
telling her

your middle name
is Frank Lloyd Wright.

Take that pompous,
know-all look off your face.

Seems like your mother
has taken Declan away.

Keeping him away
from his evil friends.

And his evil sister.

And her evil granny.

Ha!

I don't get it, Helen.

You and your mother
and your granny.

There's got to be
something else.

They opened him up and found
that he was riddled with cancer.

God bless us
and save us.

Well, how does she expect me
to tell the children all this?

They'll be devastated.

I want to go home.

Declan...

I don't think they're
in Dublin at all.

I think they're in
England or America.

Because why does she never
come down to see us?

Because she's visiting him
in the hospital.

But why hasn't she come,
even once?

Because we're
all right here.

But we're not all right.

And what's going to happen
when summer comes

and Granny has
all the summer visitors?

They'll have come
for us by then.

Helen, they're in England.

They're not.

How do you know?

Very bad news, Helen.

Your father has died.

He died very peacefully.

Granddad and I have to go
and look after your mother now.

And you and Declan
are going into town

and staying with Mrs.
Byrne for a few days

until after the funeral
is over and your mother

can get settled back
in your own house again.

I'd better tell Declan.

Just let him sleep.

Hello, Declan.

The boys will soon
be home from school.

You can play upstairs, maybe.

Aren't Ma and Dad
back from Dublin yet?

Helen will you
take in your bags...?

Granny said I'm to go home

and have the place tidy
for Ma when she comes.

But I'm sure some of the
neighbors will do that.

Granny says I'm to go and
Father Griffin will drive me,

and Declan will
stay here with you.

So, if you could just

take Declan's bag,
and we'll see you later then.

Are you sure
you'll be all right?

Perfectly sure,
Father Griffin.

We're very grateful to you.

Declan's probably told you
I've designed a castle,

and I may need your
assistance building it.

Get your swimsuit.

Come on, it'll be warm.

I know it's warm.

It's freezing!

It's still freezing.

Trust us.

Trust us.

Trust us...

Go!

Yeah.
Yeah.

Much better.

She has him trapped
in her house.

Might be exactly
what he wants.

He talked about it a lot.

Imagine being trapped in
a room with your mother.

I'd sooner be
taken prisoner
by Genghis Khan.

Shut up, Larry.

You told us your
mother was nice.

Stop telling Larry to shut up.

Suppose if I were sick
it would be different.

Want to take a walk?

Yeah, I'll go.

I'll give it a miss.

See you later.
Yeah.

Do you live
alone, Paul?

No, I live with my partner
in Brussels.

Look, I'm sorry.
I should mind my...

No, no, it's okay.

How long have you...?
A long time.

His name's Adrian.
He's French.

He hates me being
away like this,

but he loves Declan
and he understands.

He and Declan
have always gotten along.

Adrian's always joking
about adopting him.

Does my mother know
about that?

I think Declan's too
old to be adopted...

That's it, nice and easy.

Watch your step.
You doing okay?

Hi.

You all right?

Just a bit tired.

I'll take you
on up to bed.

Helen, help me with this.

Got him?

You want them?
Yeah.

It was a sad day, Helen.

I took him to my
house, my gardens.

He was so good.

I showed him
my new offices.

I had to leave
instructions
for the week.

You must talk
to Granny, Helen.

Tell her to get in
a proper telephone

so we can keep
in touch with her.

She won't listen.

My husband says there's
no getting around

the women in our family.

He doesn't know us.

I've told him about you.

I won't be long, okay?

All right.

You okay?

We're going for a walk, Ma.

Helen?

You remember the two lighthouses
that used to be there?

There used to be
two lighthouses there.

I suppose
the Irish Sea was busy

and bits of it were dangerous.

Guidance was needed.

Do you remember that?

There was one out
on the water there

that's disappeared.

The Blackwater Lightship.

A lighthouse on a ship.

It was taken out of commission,
I don't remember when.

I suppose the technology
on the boats got better

and maybe there's not as much
shipping as there was.

Still, I loved
that there were two.

I thought it would
always be there.

You know, Helen,
I thought your father

would always be here, too.

If we could just
see him for a minute now.

If he were just to be
allowed to pass us
on the strand there

and acknowledge with
a flicker of his eyes

that he knew
what was happening to us.

She's not going
to get in, is she?

She never got in
when Dad was alive.

Come on, Declan!

That's my boy!

Swim with me, love.

Aren't you
the bravest one of all?

Come on.

Helen, come on in,
it's lovely.

You told us you couldn't swim.

Do you want me to sleep
in your room tonight?

Maybe.

I don't know.

I don't like bothering people
in the middle of the night.

It's just sometimes
I awake

and it's not easy,
you know.

The boys wake me up all
the time, it's no bother.

Is Ma smothering
you with attention?

She's finding it tough.

She's just jealous

that I didn't want
to stay at her house.

She said that there's
plenty of room

for me and for me friends.

She didn't mention
you though.

She is being awful
to your friends.

I'll get them.

Yeah, I suppose she is.

She came over and all sad
and wistful on the beach.

She's gone all soft on me.

Do you remember the day

that she went for the
swim after Dad died?

What?

She never swam

and suddenly one day
she gets into the water.

What was that all about?

She had to try and move on
somehow, Helen, that's all.

We all have to move on.

It'll never be right
until you both come
to terms with it all.

You call me
if you need me.

Me? Why would I need you?

You're so brave,
Declan.

Yeah, morphine's
a great invention.

Is he all right?

He's almost asleep.

I'll go see.

It would be a mistake
to disturb him.

Where you going?

To get the paper.

Paul already got it.

I have to phone Harry.

You phoned him last night.

So?
I'll come with you.

No, I'm going on my own.

Hmph.

Bossy Boots.

It was mad of me
not going with you.

I don't think I can ever leave
them like this again.

Come on, Helen,
it's only for a few days.

Well, how can you tell whether
they're all right or not?

Of course I can tell,
I'm here with them.

They're on their holiday.
They're having a great time.

Are they?

They know they'll see you soon.

Right.

When my dad was sick,

they all thought
it was all right

to leave us down here, too.

Yes, well,
there's one big difference.

What?

I'm their father,
and I'm with them.

You're talking about them
as though I don't exist.

I'm looking out for them
all the time.

I promise you.

Right. I love you, Harry.

I have to go.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Declan's gone blind
in one eye.

Helen, Helen,

you tell him
we must call the doctor.

What happened?

I felt over the past while
I was losing the sight in it.

And now it's gone.

It was always
going to go.

I can see fine
with the other one, though.

Declan, we should have the
doctor take a look at it.

There's nothing
a doctor can do, Helen.

Ask Paul, he's the expert.

He's not a doctor.

I mean, look at him.
He's so calm.

I mean, I'd be tearing
my hair out.

I've already done that, Granny.

And I'm not calm,
I only look calm.

Anyway, it's not the end
of the world.

I can see fine
with the one eye.

Does it look a bit funny
though, this one?

No, no,
it looks normal.

Yeah?

Okay.

I'm going to go sleep on it.

If my nose drops off

or my ears go missing,
I'll let you know.

Have you taken

all your pills?

You sound exactly
like my mother.

Your eyes
are your most

precious possession.

I mean, Declan has the most

beautiful eyes.

And his father,
God rest him,

had beautiful
eyes, too.

Declan is going to be buried
with them now.

He wants to be cremated.

What put that idea
in his head?

He's going to be

buried here like the rest of us.

When you
have children,

you feel for
them so much.

I always felt
with Declan

he wasn't able
for things, you know.

He'd wake easily
and he was afraid

of school and
get sick easily.

I always felt

he needed someone
to watch out for him.

Then Helen was always leading
the other kids around.

You never had to
worry about her.

So I noticed.

I would have loved
a daughter who cared.

When you came into
my house the other day,

you never said anything
about my furniture.

You never asked
to look at my wardrobe,

my kitchen, nothing.

Then it's a new
daughter you need then.

With all your money,

why don't
you buy one?

No, Helen,

that's too hard.

Would love
the kind of daughter

who'd come
and take an interest.

Your house is very nice.

It's certainly different
to our old one.

Declan loved my garden.

He was full of ideas
how to improve it.

It's a pity
I'm not him, then, isn't it.

The poor man.

We'll say a decade
of the rosary for him.

Include me out,
if you don't mind, Granny.

I'll say the rosary
with you later.

I'll pray on my own.

I don't know what's
got into you two.

I wish

that you had been satisfied

with me at some point,

even though I'm not
what you wanted.

I wish you'd stop wishing
I was someone else.

I've always accepted you, Helen!

Accepted? That is a wonderful
word for it. Thanks.

Stop it,
the two of you

and make up.

Take these sandwiches

to whoever
wants them.

I just wish you'd take an
interest in me and my life.

Will you listen to yourself?

This is not
about you.

You never even
asked me

to your wedding.

We never saw
you smiling

happy on that happy
day, did we, Granny?

You had all
of my life to see me happy.

I wasn't going to
have you make

a big play of me in public.

I don't know what
you're talking about!

You know, after your dad
died, I could never get

you close to me.

I'd come home,
I noticed it first

at the funeral,
how you wouldn't

meet my eyes.

How could you have left us
down here for so long

without once visiting us
when Dad was sick?

Is that what's been eating away
at you all these years?

Yes!

Yes, it has been
eating away at me

all these years,
as you put it, and,

and it is not true to say that
you couldn't get close to me.

You were never on my side.

I did what I could for you.

Right.

You never gave
me an inch!

That's not true.

Are you any different in

your own home, Helen?

I have learned

the best lesson
in the world.

Not to be like you!

That's all in the past,
for heaven's sake.

How are you feeling?

Just trying to sleep
with all that racket.

I'm sorry. Here.

I have been

fighting with Ma.

One thing I notice

about the women
in this family.

They all talk
like they run things.

You should
see them with men.

Real men now,
not wimps like us.

With real men around,

they just shut up
and make the tea.

Mother has never
shut up in her life.

Granny the same.

Both women without men,
aren't they?

Your granny says
both mother and daughter

are two of a kind.

Rubbish.

I'm not like her at all.

Really?

Helen.

There's no winners
in this situation.

You have to make it up with her.

You know the day that Dad died?

You should have seen her going
around, tragic queen.

Let it go.

I can't let it go.

You've hardened
your heart too much, Helen.

Well, I've had to, haven't I?

Come on, now.

She's suffered, too.

She was never
there for us.

Now you expect me

to just sit around this
place being her friend.

Look. When Granny first
told you Dad was dead,

you never told me, did you?

I didn't want
to hurt your feelings.

Well, then.

Can't you see Ma
didn't want to hurt you?

It's warm in here.

You've got a
temperature?

You have, haven't you.

I know, I know.

Hot stuff, aren't I?

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

He's had a bit
of an accident.

He's vomited
and soiled his bed.

It's all right.
It's nothing.

Mrs. Devereaux, could
you get some fresh sheets?

Helen, could you
please make sure

that there's some
hot water in the shower?

Larry, soap
and a basin?

And if everyone
could step out?

Please. We really need
some privacy, really.

Could I talk
to you outside?

Can we have
this out later?

Just who do
you think you are?

Later. I have
a job to do.

The sheets are soaking.

Paul is going
to wash them.

Isn't he very good?

He knows it all, that one.

He's been through
a lot more

with Declan than we have.

There's no substitute
for your own family.

Declan's friends
are his family.

Really.

What do you mean?

Who led him astray?

I don't think he
needed much leading.

When he left my house,
he was a young man

anyone would
be proud of.

He was also gay.

He's very dehydrated.

I don't know what you
think your place is here,

but as far as we're concerned,

you have no business
here at all.

I didn't notice Declan

saying he wanted you
to stay in the room.

It's high time you
and your friend

took yourselves
out of here.

Like now?
Immediately?

As soon as you can.

Just because you say so?

I do live here.

No, you don't.

It's my mother's house.

Declan asked us here, okay?

We've been through
difficult times with him

when I couldn't help noticing
his family was missing.

No.

We weren't missing--
no one told us.

I wonder why.

Think about that,
Mrs. Breen,

instead
of getting in the way

and making pointless arguments.

I wasn't
in the way.

It looked like you were to me.

I'm his mother!

He needs a drink.

We don't have time
for this sort of hysteria.

What sort of hysteria

do you have
time for?

Are you going to leave?

Hey! I am here
as long as Declan is here

and you can take that

as written in stone.

I'm here
because he asked

me to be here and when
he asked me to be here,

he used words about you

which were not edifying
and which I won't repeat,

but he is concerned
about you and he loves you

and wants your approval.

He is also very sick.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

What do you mean,
not edifying?

He's nearly 30 years old

and he's still afraid
to tell you who he is.

That was a bit rough.

Well, she can
put people out

of her grand house
in Wexford,

but she can't
put them out of here.

Do you have such a thing
as a screwdriver?

Will this do?

Granny, that is

a flick knife.

Don't tell me.

You used to be a Hell's Angel.

Old people
living alone

need protection.

So what would you do
if someone broke in?

Stop 'em.

Disfigure them.

That's why I have
to learn to drive,

so I'm not so isolated

out here--
isn't that right, Larry?

Absolutely.

And he's going
to teach me.

Declan says you're
his best friend

and I'm not to be rude to you,
so I'm doing what he ordered.

It's okay.

I understand.

I'm sorry, too.

Paul has found
your doctor.

Louise is it?

She has called
a local doctor

and he can give you
slow-release morphine.

All right.

We're just
waiting for him

to ring on Paul's
mobile phone.

Okay.

Here.

Do you want me
to take it?-

You all right?

Dr. Kerwin.

That's me.

Come on in.

It's up the stairs.

Doctor.

I'm Declan's mother.

It's right this way.

Hello.
Hi.

Evening.

If I went around
with a haircut like that,

people would laugh at me.

People laugh
at you anyway.

I don't want him
to see me here.

He won't know
that it's my family.

I knew his father,
old Breezy Kerwin.

He was very nice.

His mother was very nice, too.

I wonder, did
she cut his hair?

Leave his hair alone.

I'm sure he's
saving up to get married--

given good example--

unlike some people
I could mention.

This will control
your bowels for a while.

Drink lots of liquids.

It was good of you
to come out so late.

That prescription
is for morphine.

There's a druggist
in Wexford.

I'll phone him to expect you
when I get back.

Thank you so much,
Dr. Kerwin.

I'll just get my bag.

Thanks, Doc.

Larry and Paul not back
with the medicine yet?

No.

Declan?

Declan? Declan?

There's something
I need you to hear.

Helen tells me I abandoned
the pair of you

when Dad was sick.

I wrote letters,

nearly every day
and Granny assured me

that if I was
to visit, it would
just unsettle you.

Your Dad wanted me

to come, but Granny said "no."

Declan... Declan...

Declan...

He was as sick then
as you are now.

I couldn't leave him

any more than I could leave you.

Why is it
you wouldn't let me go...

...not let me go
to Dad's funeral?

It was everyone's advice
at the time.

They said you were too young
to see a coffin

and an open grave,
and if I'd seen you there,

I would have broken

into little pieces.

We just couldn't do it
any other way.

Is this true, Granny?

Why did you never read
those letters to us?

What do
you want of me?

You were a child.

Declan was even smaller.

It wouldn't have done you
any good.

We needed to know
that they hadn't forgotten

about us.

Nonsense...
nobody forgot about you.

We did the best
we knew how.

I'm sorry
if it wasn't good enough.

Believe us?

You'll please

believe us.

We just weren't able
to manage?

It's a veil
of tears, Lily.

It's a veil of tears.

No, she won't be fine;
she can't see.

This is my own mother!

You're not to take
her in any car.

You're doing great.

Yeah.

I thought it was a joke,

her learning to drive.

No.

She'll crash
and then blame us.

Just ease off the clutch,
that's it.

Fantastic.

You're a natural.

Well done, Mrs. Devereaux.

I'll go into the house,

and then we'll learn
if you're all gaping at me.

You were superb,
Granny.

I bet you could do
with a cup of tea...

with a pint
of whiskey in it.

You know,
it's the first gear

that's got me flummoxed.

Don't worry.
You'll get it.

I'm going to 11:00 mass.

Is anyone going
with me?

Me for one.

You know, I think
we should take you back
to the hospital today.

It's such a nice day though.

I don't really want
to go back.

Anyway, it's Sunday.

Do they do tests

on a Sunday?

No, but they could
first thing
in the morning.

Can we go to the beach
when you get back?

We all make mistakes,
Helen.

We don't always react
the way we should.

I know.

We do our best?

That's all anyone can ask.

You know... the two of you
have come a long way already.

I'm not going to be around
forever

to prod you along,
you know.

So, you've got
to do the rest.

I'm getting cold.

Cold.

Yeah.

Paul, he's cold.

Guys, I'm going to go back
to the house.

Okay, come on.

You all right?

Okay, yeah...
all right.

You okay?

Yeah.

I just wanted to leave
those two together.

Sorry, guys, just a sec.

Good-bye, lighthouse.

Okay.

He's not going to last
much longer, is he?

Was Dad thin
before he died?

Not like Declan is,
no.

Not noticeably so.

But he was like Declan

in that he was
sitting up in bed,
laughing.

He was the light
of my life.

He loved you and Declan so much.

I made a promise
that I'd try to be

as good as the two
of us would have been.

I made a promise
to do my best.

But I don't suppose,

looking back at it now,
that I did very well.

There is something
that I never realized before.

What?

I-I always believed
that you took Dad away

and you never
brought him back.

What?

I know
that it's irrational,

but that's what it is.

That's what I thought.

You know, I thought
that you had him
locked away somewhere

and you knew where he was
but you never told us.

No, Helen, I locked no one away.

He died in my arms.

I watched him go.

I know I came back to you
without him.

There was nothing I could do.

I know.

I know.

You have to get
a learner's license.

I'm sure that's no problem,
Helen.

Didn't I tell you
what Kitty Walsh did last year?

And she's so blind she can't see
her hand in front of her face.

Didn't she go to the eye man

the day before
the appointment.

She just said
that she wanted

to look at the
spectacle frames, you know?

And didn't she look
closely at the letters

through the open door,

the letters that you
have to read.

And she wrote them down

and then she went home

and she
memorized them.

And the next day,

when the eye man was
complimenting her
on her eyesight,

when she can hardly see
the color of the money

that she was paying him
with,

and she's driving
all over the country.

Get in a ditch
if you see her coming.

I've all
the measurements now.

And I know
what you want.

I'll draw up the plans

and we'll get
a good local builder.

You have to go now?

I'm afraid so.

Well,
I'm very grateful.

I don't know what
I'd do without you.

So, I'll send the plans down
to you during the week

for your approval

and I'll come back
down again when
we get the builder.

That's very kind.

Sure you don't want
to go back with Larry?

Yes.

Do you want to go to bed?

No, I don't want
to go to bed, Paul.

I don't want to go
to bed, just...

leave me alone.

Declan, love,
you've eaten nothing.

Leave me alone, Ma.

Leave him alone.

He's my pet.

Okay, friends,

I'm away.

Puss, puss,
puss, puss...

come on out now,
come on.

There's a good boy.

See you soon,
Mrs. Devereaux.

Good-bye, love.

Come on, come on.

He's waiting until
they're all gone.

Granny?

Why have you never
come to Dublin,

paid us a visit?

Are you inviting me
at last?

Thanks.

His temperature is 102.

So tomorrow morning,
first thing,

I think we should take him
back to the hospital.

Just leave him with me for a bit
and I'll talk to him, okay?

All right.

Mrs. Breen...

I'm fine.

Mrs. Breen,
I'm sorry.

Helen wants
to speak with you.

Take a deep breath, okay?

We're just going
to take a moment,

then we're going
to go upstairs,
all right?

Okay?
One, two, three.

Okay, here we go.

We're saying a prayer that
his suffering will be eased.

Helly!

Be sure to tell him
we're praying for him.

I will, Granny.

Our Father who art in Heaven...

Ma!

Ma...

Please...

I'm right here.

Please help me, Ma!

I'm right here.

Help me.

You'll be all right.

I'm not going anywhere.

It'll be all right.

I'm right here.

It'll be all right.
It'll be all right.

It'll pass.

Surely it will pass.

I'm right here with you.

Ma, please help me.

Ma, help me, please.

Ma!

He's wanted to say that
for a long, long time.

It will be a big
relief for him.

Has he been
this bad before?

Yeah.

Ma!!

Drive carefully now,

and stop if you feel sleepy.

All right.

We'll let you know
what they say about Declan,

so keep that mobile

switched on, Ma.

Thanks for everything,
Granny.

Aw, mind yourself,

Declan, now.

Mind yourself.

Okay.

Bye.

I've a terrible pain.

Now, it'll be all right.

Paul says they'll have
a bed for you

and they'll know
what to do,

and we'll all stay
close to you.

Helen, do you remember
the words?

Can you help me, dear?

Declan, love,

your Paul's staying with you,

and Helen and
I will be back

in a couple of hours.

See you soon.

Yes, love.

Hey.

This, this is for you.

Boy, Bossy Boots.

See you later.

Come on in.

That's all right.
I'll get that.

Go on through.

Helen, this is lovely.

It's very bright.

Declan told me
about this house,

so I knew what
it was like,

but it's nice to be here.

I'll go and make a bed
up for you.

No, don't go.
Stay here.

You don't have to talk.

Sometimes when
I'm with Granny,

I wish I didn't
have to talk.

Yeah, she is a great talker,
your mother.

She wears me out.

I don't want to do
that to you.

I'd love to come up
on Saturdays sometimes.

I'd love to come out
to your house

and visit you.

I mean, I wouldn't
spend the night.

It's your house.

You don't want
your mother nosing
around too much.

But I could see Harry
and the boys

and I'd get up and go.

That's what I dream about,
you know?

That you
and I could sit here,

talking about nothing
and watching Harry and the boys

coming in and out of the room,

and I'd stand up and go

and it would all be easy
and casual.

That's what I dream about now.

That is a lovely thought.

And I promise I'll have milk
when you come next

because I haven't
any now.

Helen, I would like
for you to have this.

When's Harry coming back?

Soon. He's on his way.

I telephoned him this morning.

We need to sleep some.

Be in good form for Harry
when he gets here.

And we'll go see
Declan later.

But we'll sleep
for a while first.