Darby O'Gill and the Little People Page #2

I'll leave your share

to the Church, Paddy,

...but I won't let Father Murphy

know where I got it.

No, no.

God save all here.

We didn't see you, Father.

I didn't want to interrupt.

I just dropped in to tell you the news.

My friend Father O'Leary

in the town of Glencove

has a new bell that was given to him

by Lord Bellinbergh,

and he has presented

the old one to us.

-Ah, that's grand, Father.

-Glory be.

There'll be a chapel bell

in our tower at last.

All we have to do is to go after it.

Now, if I had a horse, which I haven't,

I'd go for it meself, which I won't,

but I thought perhaps there might

be somebody here

with a horse and cart

who'd like to go for the bell.

How much would that somebody

be paid, Father?

Paid?

I suppose we might be able

to scratch up two pounds.

Now, I would've said it was

worth two pounds, 10,

if it was worth a bob.

Like enough it's worth three pounds,

but since we're a poor parish,

I thought perhaps you might like to

take out the difference

in the credit to your soul.

Two pounds, 10, Father.

Why, my goodness me,

a deed like that

might even absolve a man

from the sin of using

the priest and the Church

against the powers of darkness

for his own selfish ends.

I'll do it, Father.

I'll do it for nothing.

No. As a reward, you may have

the music of the bell.

-The music of the bell for me?

-Yes,

and for your seed, breed and

generation till the end of time.

It's a bargain, Father.

I'll do it in the morning.

Father!

Savin' your presence, Father Murphy,

but he's needed at the house.

Excuse me, Your Reverence.

-Fitzpatrick himself...

-Don't worry about me, girl.

I'll get back.

I'm coming now.

What are you after doin'

pulling me out,

with Father Murphy

lookin' at us, neither?

I can't afford an army of caretakers

for the little use I have of the place,

but I don't like to see the weeds

higher than the summer house.

Someone's after poaching rabbits.

Ah, that's a thing

I want you to put a stop to.

Old Darby couldn't catch

a poacher if he tried.

Like enough he helped

to set the snare.

Now, I don't want any bad feeling

between the townspeople and me.

I like 'em, mind you, and so will you,

-but don't like 'em too much.

-No, sir. No poachers.

Well, well, well, sir.

I never thought I'd have the pleasure

of seeing Your Lordship so soon.

Yes, it looks as if you weren't

quite ready for me.

One more day, and I'll have

the whole place beautified.

Darby, this is Michael MacBride,

a Dublin man.

I've decided to settle him here

in your place.

I know it sounds sudden,

but I've had it in mind for some time.

You've served me well, Darby,

but we need a younger man here.

When a man gets along in years,

he shouldn't have to work so hard,

so I'm going to retire you on half pay,

let you have the old McCarthy cottage

rent-free for the rest of your days.

And leave the gatehouse?

It's become our home.

Well, so will the other in time.

-I don't think Katie will take to this.

-We'll give it a new thatch.

But what am I going to do with

meself, and me cut off in me prime?

You'll be telling stories

at the public house all day,

and poaching rabbits by night.

Holy old Finbar!

What with the foxes eatin'

the grouse,

don't tell me I set a snare

down a rabbit hole.

You're an old fox yourself, Darby,

but, faith, I'm fond of you

and Katie, too.

Whenever we have to

open up the manor house,

she can have first call

with the cleaning.

Pardon me, sir, but when have

we got to leave the gatehouse?

Can we give them

another two weeks?

Longer than that, sir,

as far as I'm concerned.

Good. Then tonight, when you

finish today's work here,

you tell Tom Kerrigan to let you have

a room at the Rathcullen Arms.

Please, sir, I'd be grateful if you

wouldn't mention it to Katie.

I want to break the news

to her meself.

Very well, but remember I said two

weeks, Darby, not two years.

When I return here on Monday week,

I want you out and Michael in

and everything settled and done.

Yes, sir.

Good day, Your Lordship!

Well, goodbye, Mr. O'Gill.

Now here, wouldn't it be a shame

to put his lordship

to the expense of a room in the pub

and Katie and me fair rockin'

around in the gatehouse?

That's very kind of you, but I don't

think his lordship would like it.

Why wouldn't he? Sure I can instruct

you on your new duties. Katie!

Yes, Father?

-This is Mister, uh...

-MacBride.

Mr. MacBride is comin'

to stay with us for a while,

so throw some extra spuds

in the pot for supper

and make up the bed in the loft.

If it's any trouble, I can go to the inn.

It's no trouble at all.

Pony!

-Come with me.

-What's up with you now?

I want you outside where his lordship

can have a look at you.

Why should he want a look at me?

'Cause you're going to be

a consequential man

and have Darby's fine position

as his lordship's caretaker

and Katie O'Gill for your wife.

Huh, and when the sky falls,

we'll all catch larks.

I mean it, Pony. I had a talk with

his lordship about you,

and I tell you

it's only a matter of time.

I put a flea in Katie's ear, too.

I wouldn't worry about her.

With a fine situation like that,

I could have me choice of girls.

Katie might help you get it.

-Maybe you're right.

-Here he comes.

Smile, me darling.

Smile.

This is m'lad Pony, Your Lordship,

the one I told you about.

Your servant, sir.

Well, he's a big man, isn't he, now?

Nice to meet you, Pony.

"A big man," says he.

What did I tell you?

You'll get the job in no time at all.

Ah, Katie, you should have saw the

turf the two of us cut this afternoon.

That was a grand bit of work you

done. So it was, aye.

His lordship thought I could use a lad

to help with the turf

before the rains came.

And me doin' 10 men's work already.

Come, lad, sit down.

Take the air of the fire,

and I'll play you a tune

while the pot's on the boil.

Ah, that's good.

-Can you put a name to that?

-Hmm? Uh, no, it's... it's new to me.

What's it called?

Them as I heard it from

give it no name.

Well, where did you hear it?

In the old ruins

on the top of Knocknasheega,

and there were the little people

dancing all around in the moonlight.

Well, aren't they the bold creatures?

Aye, they are.

Supper's ready.

Bold and cunning, they are,

but I'm up to them.

Once I caught King Brian himself,

and he gave me the gold,

though I'd no need for it.

But, faith, I have need for it now.

Shh.

Don't breathe a word.

Tomorrow at dawn I've got

to go to Glencove

to bring back a bell for the chapel.

I'll have to round up the horse, now,

before she runs all over

the mountainside.

I'll be glad to give you a hand.

I was just going to ask you to go

the rounds of the manor house

and try all the doors

and the windows.

Right so, but after that, I think I'll go

down to the Rathcullen Arms

and see about a room.

Now, why would you be doin' that?

I don't like to take hospitality

under false pretenses,

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