Calvary Page #5

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FIONA:

Is that right?

FITZGERALD:

A good man. A fine man. No one has a

bad word to say about him. Makes me

wonder what he’s hiding.

FIONA:

God, you’re a f***ing prick-

FITZGERALD:

Oh! Feisty!

LAVELLE:

Fiona-

FITZGERALD:

Ah I’m only codding. No offence meant,

as they say. Do me a favour, though,

Father, and swing by the house one

afternoon.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

26.

35 CONTINUED:
35

FITZGERALD (CONT'D)

I have a proposition that might

interest you.

LAVELLE:

Really.

FITZGERALD:

Yes, really. A financial proposition.

That interests you, doesn’t it?

Sure it’d be a black day altogether

the day the Roman Catholic Church is

no longer interested in money, hah?

He laughs jovially, gives an Edward G. Robinson salute,

and spurs his horse away between them.

36

EXT. BEACH - SUNSET 36

LAVELLE and FIONA are walking along the deserted beach.

The waves rolling in. Bruno noses at something in the

sand. They pause, look down -

Their POV -- a dead seagull, insects swarming over it.

LAVELLE squats. Extends the gull’s wingspan, examining the

white feathers, curious.

FIONA:

Dirty thing.

He lays it back down. Stands. Turns -LAVELLE’s

POV -- a FIGURE has appeared at the end of the

beach, lending a sinister aspect to the scene.

LAVELLE strolls on, seemingly unconcerned. FIONA dallies

with Bruno. After a moment, LAVELLE glances back -LAVELLE’s

POV -- the FIGURE is approaching.

LAVELLE:

Let’s head back.

He quickens his pace. FIONA and Bruno catching up. After a

good few strides, he glances back again -

LAVELLE’s POV -- the FIGURE has disappeared.

FIONA:

What is it?

LAVELLE scans the horizon. Puzzled, but relieved.

LAVELLE:

Nothing.

27.

37

EXT. STANTON’S HOUSE - NIGHT 37

The door is opened by GERRY STANTON, a Garda Inspector.

LAVELLE standing there.

LAVELLE:

Inspector Stanton.

STANTON:

The clergy. At this time of the

night. When I could be getting up

to all sorts.

38

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 38

LAVELLE enters, followed by STANTON. A young man buckling

up his jeans descends the stairs. This is LEO MACARTHUR.

*

*

LEO:

(talking like Leo Gorcey

from The Dead End Kids)

Hey, Fada! Whaddaya hear, whaddaya

say!

LAVELLE:

I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you had

company.

STANTON:

Ah sure, it’s only little Leo.

LEO smirks as he zips up his fly. *

38A

INT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT 38A

*

LEO bending over a jukebox to select a tune. LAVELLE

sitting on a couch, glancing at photographs of Stanton.

STANTON with a brandy balloon.

*

*

*

LEO:

You checking out my ass, Fada?

What? No-LAVELLE

STANTON:

He’s only messing with you, Father.

What can I do for you?

He sips his brandy. LAVELLE glances at LEO. *

(CONTINUED)

28.

38A CONTINUED:
38A

STANTON:

I’ve nothing to hide from Leo.

Have I, Leo?

LEO:

Your life is an open book, Gerry.

Like your ass.

Flanagan & Allen’s “Run, Rabbit, Run” begins to play. LEO

dances as if he were a little rabbit. STANTON laughs.

STANTON:

Is this a police matter, Father?

LAVELLE:

No, it’s a personal...a personal

thing.

STANTON:

It’s a personal a personal thing.

LEO:

You look worried, Fada. My advice?

Take it on the lamaster. You don’t

wanna drop in for the phonus-bolonus

and wind up with a sock in the

kisser. Get me?

LAVELLE looks blankly at LEO.

STANTON:

He’s not in the mood, Leo.

LEO:

Maybe I can cheer up the old sourpuss.

I’ll show ya a good time,

Fada. Good Time Leo, that’s me!

Although it’ll be extra if I let

ya wear the cassock. I know what

you holy-rollers are like when ya

get goin’! Hell’s bells!

LAVELLE looks blankly at LEO. LEO and STANTON look at each

other and laugh. LEO grabs his leather jacket.

LEO:

I’m oudda heah!

He tap-dances out the door.

STANTON:

He’s a character, hah?

What’s troubling you, Father?

You seem agitated.

LAVELLE:

I need a favour.

29.

39

INT. STUDY - NIGHT 39

CLOSE on a Webley Revolver, circa 1920, laid out in a

beautiful velvet case.

STANTON:

My great-grandfather’s. Said he

took it off one of the Cairo Gang

when they shot them all on Bloody

Sunday. The first Bloody Sunday,

obviously.

LAVELLE:

Ever had call to use it?

STANTON:

Yeah. I killed a man with it once.

In the Wicklow mountains.

He hefts the gun, sighting along it, straight at LAVELLE.

LAVELLE:

What case was that?

STANTON:

Ah he was just pissing me off,

like.

LAVELLE is not sure if he’s joking. STANTON hands him the

gun. Passes him a carton of bullets. LAVELLE flips open

the chamber. Loads it.

STANTON:

Somebody been threatening you,

Father? What have you been up

to, now?

(with a smirk)

Not you as well, hah?

LAVELLE flips shut the chamber. Sights along the revolver,

straight at STANTON. STANTON looks blankly at him.

STANTON:

What did you say you wanted it

for, Father?

LAVELLE:

I didn’t say.

He replaces the revolver in the case.

STANTON:

I’d say you wanted it for your dog.

The dog’s dying, it’s in pain,

you’re worried you might have to

put it out of its misery one of

these days. Isn’t that right?

(CONTINUED)

30.

39 CONTINUED:
39

LAVELLE looks round at STANTON. Understands -LAVELLE

My dog’s dying. It’s in pain.

I’m worried I might have to put

it out of its misery one of these

days.

STANTON:

An act of compassion, hah?

Well I can’t argue with that.

I’m a compassionate man meself.

40

EXT. STANTON’S HOUSE - NIGHT 40

LAVELLE and STANTON exit the house. LAVELLE carrying the

case.

*

STANTON:

I had one of those, y’know.

Early on.

One of what?

LAVELLE:

STANTON:

Paedophile priest. Twenty years ago

now this was, in Dublin. Young girl

made a complaint. A rape.

LAVELLE:

What happened?

STANTON:

Ah sure, what d’ya think happened?

I arrested the bastard and forty-

eight hours later I was packing my

bags and making my way out West.

LAVELLE:

They moved you on?

STANTON:

Reassigned, yeah.

LAVELLE gets into his car. *

LAVELLE:

What happened to him?

*

STANTON:

I was told they were sending him

to one of the missions overseas.

Africa. He could do whatever he

wanted over there, I suppose.

(CONTINUED)

31.

40 CONTINUED:
40

LAVELLE:

Well thanks, anyway.

*

*

STANTON:

Like the man in the dicky bow

says, Father, “Protect yourself

at all times!”

*

*

LAVELLE drives off. *

41

INT. RECTORY (FIONA’S ROOM) - DAY 41

TITLE -- “Tuesday”.

FIONA awakens, wearing a man’s shirt. Sits up in bed,

contemplative. Through a window, LAVELLE can be seen

walking away with a fishing rod, Bruno at his side.

42

EXT. EASKEY RIVER - DAY 42

FIONA raises the hem of her skirt to her thighs and steps

down into the cool clear water. Bruno watching her.

She paddles out to where LAVELLE is standing in waders,

fly-fishing, the skirt of his soutane floating out over

the water.

FIONA:

How long you been at this craic?

LAVELLE:

Last coupla years. Supposed to be

therapeutic.

FIONA:

Maybe I should take it up.

LAVELLE:

Maybe you should.

(pause)

Have you been seeing anyone,

in London?

FIONA:

I’m assuming you mean professionally

rather than-LAVELLE

Ah come on now, let’s stop with all

that carry-on.

There is a pause.

LAVELLE:

If you can’t talk to me, you should

talk to someone.

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