Traveller (1981) - full transcript

TUNE PLAYS OUT ON METAL

PIPES PLAY

BAGPIPES DRONE

TRADITIONAL TUNE PLAYS

TUNE CONTINUES IN BACKGROUND

- How's Connors?
- Not too bad.

And it's yourself that's in it?

- By God, you're looking great.
- Sit yourself down.

You're looking great.
Such a powerful man.

Take it easy on that, now.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, we'll try again.



Tell me,
how long is your wife dead now?

Er, she's buried eight year
now.

And is he the youngest son
you have?

The only son alive.

I must say,
he's a handy-looking fella.

Oh, he is.

You get away!

He'd mend anything on wheels.

Only for that he wouldn't get
my fine daughter.

When you got married,

did you get anything
along with the wife?

- I mean, any dowry?
- No. I didn't.

- Nothing at all?
- Nuh.

Neither did I.
Yes, they told you only those?



That's all.

Neither will I give anything
with my daughter, either.

By God, I'll hardly give
the son.

What are you talking about?

- What do you want, money?
- Yes.

Do you think I'm a millionaire
or something?

- Oh, well...
- Sure, only for that border

we wouldn't have a...
a ha'penny.

Well, still...

Won't I have to get
that grey horse?

- Grey horse?
- Yeah?

I'll tell you what to do,
put it there.

Is it done?
I'll give you the mule.

- It is. No, I...
- I won't give you the horse.

Dear children of God, you've
come to this church so that

the Lord may see your love
in the presence of the priest

and this community. Christian
marriage is a sacred union

which enriches natural love.

It binds those who enter it

to be faithful to each other
forever.

It creates between them a bond
that endures for life

and cannot be broken.

It demands that they love
and honour each other,

that they accept from God
the children He may give them

and bring them up in His love.

To help them in their marriage,
the husband and wife receive

the lifelong grace
of the Sacrament.

Is this your understanding of
marriage?

- It is.
- Yes.

Michael and Angela,

you are about to celebrate
this sacrament.

Have you come here of
your own free will and choice

and without compulsion
to marry each other?

- We have.
- Hmm.

Will you love and honour
each other in marriage

all the days of your life?

BOTH: We will.

Are willing to accept with love
the children God may send you

and bring them up in accordance
with the law of Christ

- and his church?
- BOTH: We are.

Have you the ring, Michael?

SIREN WAILS OUTSIDE

Now, Michael,
take this in your hand.

Give over your left hand.

Now, say this...

Er, "Wear this ring as a sign
of our love and fidelity."

Wear this ring as a sign of
our love and fidelity.

In the name of the Father
and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Now that Michael and Angela

have given themselves to each
other in Christian marriage,

I ask God our Father to keep
them and all married couples

faithful to Him
and united in themselves.

- For Michael and Angela...
- Excuse me.

Ah, no, no, no!
INDISTINCT

PRIEST CLEARS HIS THROAT
I've just been informed

that there's a fire in
a warehouse near the church.

I would ask all the
congregation to leave quietly

and take their vans and cars
off the street.

HORN HONKS

MUSIC PLAYING

MUSIC DROWNS CONVERSATION

MUSIC CONTINUES

And now, ladies and gentlemen,
Agnes O'Donnell.

♪ I'm only human ♪

♪ I'm just a woman ♪

♪ Help me believe in ♪
what I could be

♪ And all that I am ♪

♪ Show me the stairway ♪

♪ I have to climb ♪

♪ Lord, for my sake ♪

♪ Teach me to take ♪

♪ One day at a time ♪

♪ One day at a time ♪
Sweet Jesus... ♪

You're a married man now,
Michael.

You've got to take good care.

♪ ..Just give me the strength ♪
to do every day

♪ What I have to do... ♪

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

WOMAN SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY

MAN SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY

MAN CONTINUES SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY

TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYS

TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYS

TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONTINUES

CHILD SHOUTS

INDISTINCT CHATTER

ENGINE STRUGGLES

ENGINE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE

From Galway to Sligo,

through Donegal and across
the border to Strabane.

- Yeah.
- And he has to buy

- from Tom Devine.
- Yeah.

- Will he be safe?
- He'll be safe

as long as they know
I sent him.

Close that, Barry.

You have the licence
for the soldiers

and that's your map to
Tom Devine's.

And you drive straight
on the road for Strabane.

Now, this is your money.
It's £1,500.

Now, don't buy from the dealers
in Strabane

but buy from Devine and buy
well. And don't come back here.

You're my son now -
don't forget it.

ENGINE TURNS OVER

PUNK MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO

Can I have an ice cream,
please?

- I'd like to use the toilet.
- Over there.

And, er...

Some change. Some change for
the machine as well, please.

PUNK MUSIC CONTINUES

BIRD CAWS

BIRD CAWS

WOMAN SINGS

SHE EXCLAIMS

SHE CONTINUES SINGING

HE TUNES RADIO

MAN SINGS ON RADIO

HE SWITCHES RADIO OFF

Are you going to Strabane?

We are, yeah.

I, er, had a bit of trouble
with the car.

Would you take me over?

Get in.

Thanks a lot.

That's what I call decency.

Give us a bit of room there,
missus!

How far are you going?

Where have you come from?

All right,
I'll mind my own business.

Have you a light?

LIQUID RUNS

They don't seem very happy.

He's the brother
and you're the sister?

Jesus Christ,
you're not married, are you?

HE SIGHS

Listen, not a word
I'm with you.

INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER

INAUDIBLE

Corporal? Murtagh?

On your way, kid.

PIANO MUSIC PLAYS

MAN SINGS ON RADIO

HE HUMS ALONG

- How are you?
- How's Clicky?

Listen, I've got a young fella
here. He'd like to meet you.

- You never told me your name.
- Michael.

- Michael Connors.
- This is Michael.

- Who's Michael?
- That's his missus.

She's a Devine.

Sure, I know your father well.

What was it that you wanted,
or what can I do for you?

We've come up to get
some stuff, you know.

What sort of stuff?

Er, televisions,
black-and-whites, radios,

car bits...

You'd better come in
and look around.

See what I've got.
Sure, come on.

Have you a note
from your father?

I've got nothing.

We'll see what we can do.

THEY CHATTER

When we were kids...

..we used to plague
this wee Prod.

He'd come through our street
to get to his.

Oh, by the way...

We'd ask him,

I remember him well,

it was funny glasses
and a satchel.

He was a classic.

What are you talking about?
He was only a bollocks...

We'd say to him every day...

.."Do you believe in the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary?"

They taught us at school that
the Prods weren't meant to.

And every day the poor fucker
would say no.

And we'd kick his head in.

That's this place.

I remember one day,

he came by and he was...

He had a flute.

A wee whistle-y thing.

I asked him for a play of it.

He gave it to me.

♪ Last night as I lay dreaming ♪

♪ Of pleasant days gone by ♪

♪ My mind being bent ♪
on rambling

♪ I stepped aboard a vision ♪

♪ I followed with the wind ♪

♪ For next we came to anchor ♪

♪ At the cross ♪
at Spancil Hill. ♪

So I took it off him
and gave him a hiding.

Smashed it to bits.

MAN: Give us another song!

You know, I think he cried
more about that

than over the kicking
we gave him.

I suppose he remembers me.

MAN: Ladies and gentlemen...

I think I've probably seen him
once or twice since.

HE SINGS

I'd like to tell him I'm sorry
for breaking his whistle.

HE MUTTERS

HE SINGS INDISTINCTLY

HE WHOOPS AND LAUGHS

GUN CLICKS

Do you believe in the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary?

HE CHUCKLES

HE SIGHS

Why don't you sleep with her,
Michael?

We're three of a kind, you...

..me and her.

♪ You, me and this! ♪

♪ We are my favourite peoples! ♪

♪ We won't go to school ♪
to be taught by a fool

♪ And we'll hang the police ♪
from church steeples! ♪

HE LAUGHS

Sorry, Devoy!

Will you give me a lift back
across the border tomorrow?

I've got a job to do for Devoy.

ENGINE REVS

DOG BARKS

HE SHOUTS

MAN RECITES: You like the
length of her bare, brown legs,

the patches upon her clothes,

the grimy strength
of her unwashed hands

and the freckles
about her nose.

Will we change clothes, tinker?

You hang on here
and learn to talk in a whisper.

Learn to hate.

Maybe even learn to shoot.

Have everyone telling you about
your hero of a brother

and what he'd do
if he were alive.

And I'll put on your shoes

with the gammy heels and the
soles coming off, and travel.

Sell an umbrella here,
a radio there.

What do you say, tinker?

ANGELA HUMS TUNE

♪ I went to see my neighbours ♪
to see what they might say

♪ The old ones ♪
they were dead and gone

♪ The young ones ♪
turnin' grey... ♪

Shut up!

I don't want you to sing.

LOUD RADIO STATIC

Fucking hell!

- ♪ The young ones... ♪
- Shut up!

TYRES SCREECH
ANGELA SCREAMS

HOOVES CLOP

CLICKY: Was it like
being sent to jail?

ANGELA: It was...a rough place.
A dirty place.

Barrels along each side.

Table outside.

Room, you know,
dirty kind of room.

Like them windows up there.

- Look out through there.
- Why were you there?

Arguing.

Get into a fight? With who?

My father.

What happened?

Broke a bottle
and hit him with it.

You hit him with a bottle?

Yeah.

What happened?

Just simple argument.

He go for me.

I pegged him first
and I missed.

The second time I didn't miss.

COUGHING

I'll get help.

DISTANT SIREN

COUGHING

RUNNING FOOTSTEPS

ANGELA SHOUTS

HE PANTS

I need some help, ma'am.

SHE WHIMPERS

SHE GASPS

Thanks.

INDISTINCT

WIND HOWLS

ANGELA: My ma said,
"Men beat you."

She said they give you
black eyes and bruises.

But the world can't see them.

She said you take it.

You bite the cloth in case the
neighbours hear you screaming.

I said,
"All men don't do that."

My ma showed me in the park.

She says, "You'll marry him."

"Doesn't say much," she said.

"Does no harm."

Then I saw you in the trailer.

You didn't talk
and you didn't move your hands.

I didn't want you.

MAN SINGS

SINGING CONTINUES

MAN HUMS TUNE

HUMMING STOPS

HORN BLOWS

DISTANT SINGING

ENGINE SPLUTTERS

INDISTINCT
Here on the left.

No. No, it's not.

Don't touch it.
Could be booby-trapped.

Oh, for Christ's sake,
it's just a crash.

Where's the owner?

Looks like a tinker's van.

It was a tinker
robbed that post office.

I'd better radio in.

I'm not waiting here all night.
Come on.

We'll get the Army out here
first thing in the morning.

I'm afraid we'll have to
reverse out.

TUNE PLAYING ON MOUTH ORGAN

FAINT SQUEAKING

CHILD CRIES QUIETLY

ARGUING OUTSIDE

Come on, come on!

MAN SHOUTS

Come on, come on!

Come on!

TUNE PLAYING ON MOUTH ORGAN

TUNE CONTINUES

CLATTERING

WOMAN: When was
my last confession?

I don't... I don't know.

When I was 13.

But it was cold then.

My father told me to.

He tried to kiss me.
But I wouldn't let him.

Is that a sin?

MAN: I had this dream.

I dreamt of a wave.

The wave came up through
the wire compounds,

carried off the huts.

I'm in a cellar.

And the water is coming in
under my feet, steaming.

I look up and there's a bird
trapped above my head, singing.

Screeching in the steam.

So what do I do?

I chase it out the window
with a lump of shite.

He flies off, and after a while
I can't see him any more.

Then I follow.

I'm getting out.

Going to the West.

I could live there.

Rob, if it was needed.

I'll find you, tinker.

Tell me this,

- was he driving a blue van?
- Aye, he was.

- In Strabane?
- Strabane, aye.

- Had he a load in it?
- I don't know what he had in it

but I think there was a bit of
trouble in the post office.

MAN LAUGHS
In fact, the last I heard,

the Army were down there
looking over it.

You'll probably find your van
over a distance

of two or three miles now.
MAN LAUGHS

- My van? And where are they?
- Sure, I don't know

where they are. As far as
I know, they came down here.

That's what I'm down here for,

- looking for them.
- Maybe the police got them.

I don't know if
the police got them.

- WOMAN: You want it or not?
- No.

Decided to go into town.

If I meet him, I won't tell him
that you're here.

So I'll be out...
It'll be nearly dark

when I'm coming out,
but I won't tell him.

- Right, come on.
- See you.

- Come on. Goodbye.
- Be sure and don't tell him.

TUNE ON UILLEAN PIPES

Come on. Come on. Come on.

Come on, come on. Come on.

FAINT VOICES

You Devine?

I'm looking for
Michael Connors.

Looking for a television
or anything, sir?

TUNE CONTINUES

HORSE WHINNIES

CLATTERING

HE MUTTERS

MAN: Is my daughter up there?
She's not up...?

Of course she's not, she's down
here, as far as I know.

MAN 2: She is not down here.

And even if she was here,

it's nothing got to do
with you, has it?

MAN: What do you mean,
it's nothing got to do with me?

They're friends of mine. What
else did my daughter tell you?

She told me you were at her,

that's what she told me,
mister.

What did she tell you?

Daughter! Your daughter,
me arse!

Is she your daughter
or your girlfriend?

What?

Who said that? Did she say
something like that?

Huh? Get out, get out.

What are you
getting excited about?

Get your bloody hands off me!

I won't...!

Get out!

BABY CRIES

Hey.

Hello there.

FAINT CONVERSATION

If you see them, let us know.

- Yeah. All right.
- Good man.

♪ I was 14 years ♪
last Sunday, Mamma

♪ And I'm longing for to be wed ♪

♪ In the arms of some young man ♪

♪ He'd comfort me in bed ♪

♪ In the arms of some young man ♪

♪ Would roll with me all night ♪

♪ I'm young and I'm airy ♪
and bold contrary

♪ And buckled I'd long to be ♪

♪ Hold your tongue ♪

♪ Dear daughter, she says ♪

♪ I was 40 when I was wed ♪

♪ And as it was ♪
no shame for me

♪ To carry me boss into bed ♪

♪ For if that was the way ♪
with you, Mamma

♪ It is not the way with me ♪

♪ I'm young and I'm airy ♪
and bold contrary

♪ And buckled I'd like to be. ♪

What do you want?

I'll get you, boy.

You're too rich.

It's good to have money,
but, isn't it?

Look what I got.

MACHINE WHIRRING

Will you wear that?

Keep it for yourself.

You were born here,
weren't you?

I was, yes.

Good town in the summer.

BUZZING

Hold on till I stop that.

INSERTS MONEY

A good place to stay tonight,
do you know that?

I'm fed up here, are you?

Yeah.

- Beds and everything.
- Aye.

Is it on your honeymoon
you are?

- Married. We're married.
- Or a dirty weekend?

- We're married.
- Yeah. Oh, yes.

- Busy in the summer?
- It is, yeah.

Plenty of money.

Plenty of money
and plenty of time

to spend it and everything.

- If you have it.
- Right.

- Well, I'm going in anyways.
- Right, fine.

- See you.
- Good luck now.

Goodnight.

Just for one night.

Are you interested in
twin beds?

Or a double bed?

Just one? One night?

We don't get many couples
this time of the year.

Sign here now, please.

SHE SINGS

Plenty of children.

Ten babbies.

You'd have a lot to say
about that, wouldn't you?

- These last three nights.
- Don't annoy me.

Kidding on, that's why.

Cos that's not kidding at all.

I am, yeah, a little bit.

- Are you?
- Of course I am.

I'll be soon gone away anyway.

Where will you go?

You're only a woman,
so you can't go your own way.

I can.

How can you?

Don't want married, no?

I don't, no.

Don't want children?

No, I don't.

Don't want weans?

I don't.

Don't want Pavees?

I don't want you either.

That's it, isn't it?

Yeah, clear out. That's it.

Hit me.

That's right,
go on off on your own.

I will go off, yes.

Walking.

With your fine clothes.

You think that will change you?

Won't change me at all.

I never wanted you anyway.

I'd no choice in it.

No choice.

Independent.

Independent.

THUMP

Get out of that bed.

You're going to go by yourself.

Mind you, there are many ways
it's been tried.

But you can always tell
if they're genuine.

There are methods.

40 years ago, it was different.

- Oh, yes, of course.
- Different times.

VOICEOVER: 13 and a half,
I was.

Four or five year ago.

Three year ago.

- MAN: What age are you now?
- Gone 18.

It takes two to be married.

VOICEOVER: Place is very dirty.

And you've made your mind up,
all right?

VOICEOVER: I'd wash it myself.

Do what you want to,
like you have.

- I will do, yes.
- VOICEOVER: Some days...

You always do what
you want to do anyway,

didn't you,
throughout our marriage?

VOICEOVER: ..into hers.
A few more girls would be...

I'm fed up with this,
all right?

You don't do nothing for me
when I ask you.

VOICEOVER: She might break
away or something.

Fuck off.
Get away, ya git, ye.

- You know what to do.
- Yes.

VOICEOVER:
To hold her prisoner.

Don't you?

GLASS SMASHES
That's right.

VOICEOVER: Children there.

- Is it hurting you?
- No.

Show us it. Show us it.
Show us it!

- Look, see, look at it.
- Doesn't look too good.

Your father, your daddy,
he did this to you?

Didn't he?

He did, yeah, but...

MAN: He did.

Now you know what it's like to
be on a honeymoon, don't you?

I'm fed up fighting. Don't
want to fight you no more.

Going off on your own...

You're not able
to go off on your own.

Here, look.

- We're going to be all right.
- We mightn't.

I'll pay him.
I'll pay him for the van.

GLASS CLATTERS

KNOCKING

WOMAN: What's going on
in there?

KNOCKING

GLASS CLATTERS

Open this door
or I call the police!

CLICKY: Get in, both of you.

RADIO: I was in school,
the first of May...

MAN: Get in the back.

..with her wild, wild eyes
like a frightened hare's

And her head with
its thatch on flame

My father was jailed
for sheep stealing

My mother is black as a witch

My sister ran off
with the Sheridan clan...

You don't seem very happy.

Give us another song there.

HE HUMS

♪ Keeps a-shining in June ♪

♪ Honeymoon ♪

♪ Keeps a-shining in June ♪

♪ Honey... ♪

INDISTINCT
God.

Do you know...
What's this it is now?

♪ One evening of late ♪
into Bandon I strayed

♪ For to wet me auld whistle ♪
with porter

♪ Hey! ♪

Have you...
Have you got any money?

We have.

A few quid would be a help.

You'll not get that working,
tinker. It's broke.

Listen, I'm thinking of going
to England. Will you come?

Will you come?

Hide it, tinker,
for Christ's sake.

We were meant
to think of something.

Oh, yeah,
about going to England.

- What would you do over there?
- Get a job, I suppose.

- What kind of job?
- I don't know.

Wouldn't have an idea
till I see first.

- What's she going to do?
- Get another one.

Why were you in...?
What happened in Dublin?

12 months there.

- Why were you there?
- Arguing.

Get into a fight? With who?

- My father.
- Huh?

What happened?

Broke a bottle
and hit him with it.

- You hit him with a bottle?
- Yeah.

What happened?

Just a simple argument.

He go for me.

I pegged him first
and I missed.

Second time I didn't miss.

- He sent you to an orphanage?
- Can I get something to eat?

I'm hungry.

What'll you have?

You sit down there, Angela.

No chips.
You can't think on chips.

What do you want, Michael?

That.

- Will you have one as well?
- Yes.

Three Knickerbocker Glories,
please.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

HUMMING

- Thank you.
- Thanks.

- Grand.
- Thanks.

Cherry. A big red one.

- Where did you hit him?
- Around there.

They sent you...

..to an orphanage?

How'd the fight start?

He tried to g-grab me.

He tried to get up on me.

What was it like
being sent to jail?

There was a big wall.

Trees.

A big area
we were allowed to...

..take a walk of a Sunday.

Stripped. And another lad...

..turned me indoors and...

..a few other girls would be...

Except they'd be chained.

She might break away
or something.

Chained?

Yeah.

To hold her prisoner.

Chained there.

13 and a half, I was.

Four or five year ago.
Three year ago.

Will we go and see
about this boat, then?

You and me'll go, Clicky.
Come on.

You enough to pay the man?

Me and Clicky's going, right?

Just me and Clicky.
You can wait there, right?

It's only down the road,
Angela.

Can you drive me someplace,
Clicky?

Huh? Where?

Now. I'll show you.

- Hey, what about your lady?
- Come on.

What about Angela?

Turn off up here a bit, Click,
will you?

Turn here.

They're away.

MAN SINGS

TV: The Civil Rights movement
challenged the whole basis

of Unionist control
over Northern Ireland.

It called for an end to
the systematic exclusion

of Catholics from work...

- MICHAEL: Devine!
- ..housing and property.

Devine!

TV: From the start,

the police were used
to attack the marchers.

I heard all about you.

Where's the money?
My van? My daughter?

It works, does it?
GUN CLICKS

Yeah.

Give that...
GUNSHOT

You... You...

HE GASPS

HE PANTS

Where is she? Where is she?

DEVINE PANTS

Don't leave me. Don't leave me.

Don't leave me.

PROTESTORS SINGING ON TV

♪ We shall overcome someday. ♪

GRUNTS

TV EMITS HIGH-PITCHED TONE

How were they?

They were well.

ENGINE STARTS

Go in and get her.

I said go in and get her!

And we'll arrange this boat.

MAN SINGS

MAN: You see, I stopped
believing, tinker.

I stopped believing in the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

ANGELA: Oi! Hold on now.

MAN: I woke up one morning
and I realised

I didn't care
whether she walked or flew.

ANGELA: I'm coming.

MAN: In fact,
I've a suspicion she jumped.

We'll be back.

After the civil war.

WOMAN SINGS

♪ In Phoenix Island ♪

♪ 100 mile ♪
from your native home

♪ It's there I'd spend ♪

♪ Some long hours to court you ♪

♪ Making you my wife ♪

♪ Calling you my own ♪

♪ Then you won't have me ♪

♪ In Phoenix Island ♪

♪ 100 miles from my native home ♪

♪ Nor you will not spend ♪

♪ Three hours to court me ♪

♪ You won't make me your wife ♪

♪ Nor call me your own ♪

♪ I wish I had you ♪

♪ Laid in your coffin ♪

♪ And satisfaction ♪

♪ Upon your throne ♪

♪ Or make friends to bury ♪

♪ You on their shoulder ♪

♪ And I to be ♪

♪ One among the crowd ♪

♪ Then you won't have me ♪

♪ Laid in my coffin ♪

♪ Nor satisfaction ♪

♪ Rose on my throne ♪

♪ Nor your friends won't bury ♪

♪ Me on their shoulder ♪

♪ Nor you won't be ♪

♪ One among the crowd. ♪