Closing the Ring Page #7

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Ethel Ann maybe we ought

to take some of this stuff down?

No.

Nobody should touch this wall.

We could make an album,

take the photos and

put them in a scrapbook.

This is his wall.

This is his house.

I don't want anybody

Ethel Ann, this is your house.

He left it to you.

He wouldn't like it

you living here every day,

this stuff staring down at you.

He was gonna build a shed out back.

We'll just use the wood.

Do you want us to build you a shed?

No.

No, I want you to board it up.

Don't touch it, just cover it up.

Is that really what you want?

This Teddy who was he?

Jimmy?

Sergeant Teddy Gordon.

Rear gunner on B-17337833.

He crashed June 1st, 1944.

He was killed.

Gordon?

Mrs Gordon.

All those years daddy lived in

another man's house.

I'm getting out of here right now.

Marie, your mother needs you.

You shut your mouth!

Shut your mouth!

He loved you!

In spite of all of this,

he loved you.

But you never did, did you?

And all of his life he knew...

...you locked your love behind

a god-damn wall!

There was no proof.

And it was all I had left of him.

I don't care about him.

You b*tch!

You shut daddy out!

And then you shut me out!

All of my life, all you have

ever done is shut us out!

Peter, can I please

come stay with you?

Go and get in the car.

You were kids then.

The both of you.

But you haven't been kids

for 50 years.

That wall should have

come down a long time ago.

Mrs Harris?

Mrs Harris,

I brought you the ring.

Gentlemen, the city of Belfast,

dead ahead.

Skip?

Do you think you could

fly this thing backwards?

Can't see a damn thing back here.

Oh, sure you can.

Just look out your ass

like you always do.

Oh, boy.

If the babes of Belfast only knew

what we had in store for them.

Maginty!

Mr Maginty!

Is it a raid?

Relax, Michael.

It's the Americans.

They've a new base near here.

No, I'm talking to somebody else.

You know what that means?

First, we're gonna

win this bloody war. See you tonight.

There will not be a single virgin

in Belfast by the end of the year.

Hey, Teddy!

Hiya, Teddy.

Hi, Eleanor.

Why don't you join in the party?

Find some girl for yourself?

I'm fixed, thank you.

Shame.

Gorgeous man like you.

Climb down there.

Don't you know he's sworn

to eternal love?

Just like we are.

I need the powder room.

I won't be long, boys.

Come on.

I need some air.

Okay.

She is great.

In every department.

I'll bet.

Yeah, I'm gonna marry her.

I'm gonna ask her tonight.

Well, she's very

...popular... Jack,

you're drunk.

You got your girl.

Why shouldn't I get mine?

No, get a girl.

Fall in love.

Not... with Eleanor.

Oh, yeah?

Who should I fall in love with?

How about Ethel Ann?

Don't you walk away from me!

You got your love.

You got her and you

gave her away to Chuck.

Not me, no.

Jack wasn't good enough.

I did not give her to anybody!

"If I die, just pass her on

down the line to good

old reliable Chuck. "

Who cares what Jack thinks?

Are you in love with Ethel Ann?

No.

No, I don't love her.

I wouldn't touch her.

I'm gonna marry Eleanor.

Why the hell shouldn't I?

She's a tart, Jack

Jesus, my ankle!

You broke it, you a**hole!

I was lying, of course.

I loved Ethel so much it hurt

just thinking about her.

So did Chuck.

Three guys wanted her,

two of them got her,

and then there was me.

And when my ankle healed,

I signed on for more missions.

Stayed to the end.

Jesus, I should have died

Somehow I always came back.

And I could see how broken she was.

Real bad.

She depended on Chuck now.

He needed her.

I mean, he'd have lost

that eye but for her.

She wouldn't move out of

the house so he moved in.

I left them to it.

I got married.

Three times.

The only good thing that

came out of that was Pete.

And your mom wouldn't marry Chuck

for ten years.

Another five before you came along.

Your dad was so happy to see you.

He nearly died ofjoy.

Now you know it all.

Do I?

Why did they wait so long

to have me?

I guess she couldn't bring herself

to believe he'd never come back.

I mean, there was no body.

Everything burnt up.

Is he still trying to

get you to go back?

She's not going back, dad.

How is the Irish kid, Jimmy?

Jimmy?

Oh, jeez!

He's having a ball.

Your mom is taking him everywhere.

Oh God, he's a funny little guy.

She doesn't talk much, but,

oh boy, does he make up for it.

She never did have a son.

There you go.

And I guess I was an accident,

right?

Excuse me.

"I love you, Chuck. "

I never heard her say those words

Not once.

They had good times together.

They made a good couple.

They never spoke.

They both knew

what was behind that wall...

and they didn't say a damn thing

to each other in 50 years.

Neither did you.

Well, we didn't need to.

Everybody needs to talk.

No, honey.

Everybody needs to cry.

And your mother never did.

Not once.

You have to forgive her for that.

Do you ever wish you had just

pushed in and married mom?

Oh, no, don't ask me that, please.

Ask me anything you want,

but please don't ask me

that question.

I was... dead.

We all got killed

or maimed all of us

and Teddy didn't choose me.

And when he got killed,

I knew it was my turn to die next

...and I knew I deserved it!

That is not true.

They got a new navigator,

just a kid and he screwed up

Sorry.

It was my fault.

I should have been on that plane.

Hey, Teddy,

how about that dance tonight?

Get yourself a new girl?

I got me a girl

Same one every night.

Yeah, but she's a long ways away.

No, si she's right here with me.

Tight squeeze down there.

You mind if I join in?

Langford, Langford,

this is F-Fox 338733.

Hell, how low does this cloud go?

All the way down,

by the look of it.

You guys see anything?

No, negative, skip.

It's pretty dark out there.

Brad, you got a fix?

Well, yeah, kinda.

I mean we should be seeing

Belfast right below.

Navigator, you got a fix or not?

I think one of the beacons is out.

It's not making sense right now.

Jesus!

Jesus!

Bloody hell.

Full flaps.

Full flaps!

Jesus!

Jesus Christ!

Two hoses,

seven bar pressure!

Michael!

Michael Quinlan!

What the devil

are you doing up here?!

You'll get yourself killed!

Priority!

Go!

Get down!

More tea, love?

Jesus!

No, thanks, no.

Plenty of tea.

He's late.

Very, very late.

He's not late.

Will you just sit down

or something.

He's here, Michael!

Oh, thank God, he's here!

He's here!

Granny!

Don't be dribbling

on my new shirt, granny.

Jimmy.

Mr Quinlan.

How about you?

Don't shut the door!

We have a guest.

Who?

Hello.

Is this your first

visit to Belfast?

God, I can remember

when there were

hundreds of Yanks around here.

Yeah.

Lovely people,

we had a great time with them.

I nearly married one of them.

He kept saying to me,

"Would you come back to Branagan?".

Branagan?

Yes.

Then he broke his foot.

Then he went back to Branagan.

And I never saw him again

And he was in a fight

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