A Prayer for the Dying Page #2

How long is it since your last confession?

It's been a long time.

Don't worry.

Just do your best. Confess your sins.

Is there any circumstances under which

anything I say to you now...

...can be revealed to somebody else?

No.

The confessional is inviolate.

It's simply between me and you

and our Lord God.

Well, that's good.

Father, been a long time.

Jesus, I didn't think this would be so hard.

Take your time.

Just take your time.

This morning I killed a man.

You killed a man?

What do you mean?

How did you kill him?

You were there.

Out! Get out!

I take it my confession's over.

If you choose to murder people...

...you may no longer consider yourself

a member of the Catholic Church.

I am a Catholic.

Then you'll know I cannot possibly

grant absolution for murder!

I've already got it.

The seal of the confessional.

You can't tell anybody what you know.

You are profaning the Holy Church

to save your skin.

I could've closed your mouth with a bullet.

Why didn't you?

There's been enough killing.

Listen, I've got to talk to you.

I have nothing more to say.

Confession is for reconciliation...

...to seek forgiveness.

I'm not asking anybody to forgive me.

I know what I've done...

...and it's done.

No man has the right to damn himself.

Only God has that right.

I'll leave it to God.

God's already in this.

You didn't take my life in the cemetery.

What's my life worth as a witness?

- You'll be safe.

- I see.

God has placed my life in your hands again,

is that it?

I said you'll be safe.

- I won't have you on my...

- Immortal soul?

I was gonna say conscience, Father.

So, Mr. Fallon.

You made a mess of it.

The job's done.

I want my passport and my money.

You were seen.

A priest saw you.

His mouth's been shut.

You took him out, then?

We had a wee talk.

What f***ing good does that do?

That's the way the Catholic Church works.

You wouldn't believe it, would you?

Da Costa can't say anything

to the police now.

Neat, Mr. Fallon. But not neat enough.

- I want the priest.

- I said no.

Don't tell me you're worried

about killing a priest?

He's a witness.

Nobody touches the priest.

Superintendent, I'm sorry.

I can't help you.

- You what?

- I can't help you.

I'm asking you to identify a murderer.

The murder took place in front of you.

You saw it, and the man who committed it.

- You really must help.

- I can't.

You don't understand.

I've been after Jack Meehan for 10 years.

He's vicious. He's evil.

We're talking about drugs,

child prostitution, maiming, murder.

You name it.

I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do.

- Has Jack Meehan been getting at you?

- No.

- Is your life in any kind of danger?

- No.

- And you still refuse to help us?

- I can't.

You're no ordinary priest, Father.

We know that.

Special Air Services

before taking Holy Orders.

Korea. Prisoner of the Chinese

for five years.

If I have to...

...I can bring you in formally,

as a material witness.

You'd just be wasting your time.

We had an arrangement.

You'll get your passport...

...and the money...

...on the boat.

Meanwhile, I'll put you somewhere safe.

Not in here.

In here we show a little respect.

So sad.

Raped and murdered three days ago.

It wasn't even dark.

Terrible.

What is the world coming to?

Billy.

Take Mr. Fallon to Jenny Fox's, will you?

Jenny's?

You're in luck, Fallon.

A city councilor.

They're all in Jack's pocket.

No rough trade here, Fallon.

Jenny's the best.

Our number-one girl.

You'll see.

I have a surprise for you.

Jack wants you to look after him

until Sunday.

It's not work to you, is it?

She just pretends not to enjoy it.

She does, though.

They all do.

But I don't.

I do what I f***ing please,

when I f***ing please!

I'm Jack Meehan's brother!

Nobody stops me.

Have you a cup of tea, love?

Twelve years, Siobhan.

Twelve good years.

What are you gonna do when we find him?

I'm going to take him home.

What will you do then? Blow him away?

Same again.

We got a break.

Someone wants to meet you.

Beautiful, Jack.

You know I like to be alone in here.

I know, Jack.

It's just that Fallon's on my mind.

We can't trust him...

...me and you.

Pretty little thing.

She only needed eight pints

of embalming fluid.

What about the priest?

I won't sleep till we've buried him.

She could be a bride.

Leave Fallon and the priest to me, Billy.

It's all there.

Here, here.

What's this?

I'll not go near this place.

You tell Mr. Fallon I want to see him.

- What? Me?

- You.

I need to see Father Da Costa.

He's at a confirmation class.

You're the man

who helped me with the organ.

That reed's still playing up.

You want me to take a look at it?

If you have the time.

It's no problem.

I thought I told you to stay out of here.

Michael? Is that you?

You're back early.

Father?

I'd like another word with you.

In private.

Superintendent, you haven't met my niece.

Hello.

And...

...this...

...is...

...Mr...

Fallon.

Mr. Fallon's been helping us

repair the organ.

Looks complicated.

How long have you been here?

How long have you been here?

It's not a job to be done in five minutes, sir.

You carry on.

I like to see an expert at work.

Let's talk in the sacristy, shall we?

Do you play, Mr. Fallon?

Very well.

Good.

Let's have a tune.

Who are you, Mr. Fallon?

You hide yourself, don't you?

But not when you play.

The Superintendent

was so suspicious of you.

He's paid to be suspicious.

You're doing it again.

I think I'd prefer to listen to you play.

I can't.

I know only one circumstance in which

a priest wouldn't tell what he knows.

If he learnt it in the confessional.

My next step is to go to your superior.

It wouldn't do any good.

In legal terms, his actions

make him an accessory to murder.

- Don't you understand that?

- Yes.

I'm going to go to

the Director of Public Prosecutions...

...and ask for a warrant.

I'm gonna have you arrested.

Sh*t. It's Miller.

Keep going.

I knew that priest couldn't keep quiet.

Go around the block.

And the mourners?

- We'll be late to the crematorium.

- F*** the mourners.

I told you to do something about that priest.

Fallon.

He's with Da Costa's niece. She's blind.

I've never had a blind girl.

Can't you talk about anything else?

I've lived with my uncle for nearly two years.

And before that?

I was a switchboard operator at the hotel.

That was some education after the nuns.

Army training, Father?

What do you want here, Mr. Meehan?

Call me Jack.

I was an acolyte once.

Up there.

All scrubbed.

Scarlet and white.

Did you know that?

How's your rebuilding going?

- I hear you're not getting very far.

- And you'd like to help, is that it?

That's it, Father.

That's it exactly.

What needs to be done?

Will you be coming back this way?

I'll be leaving soon.

Do you have to?

I have to.

I was born over there.

Where them slums used to be.

Outside privies,

cockroaches as big as your thumb.

This Fallon arrangement.

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