Evelyn Page #4

The second hardest.

Getting your family back is the hardest.

Oh, of all the money that ever I had

I spent it in good company

And all the harm that ever I've done

Alas it was to none but me

And if I had money enough to spend

And leisure time to sit awhile

There is a fair maid in this town

Who sorely has my heart beguiled

Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips

I own she has my heart in thrall

So, fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all

Good man, Des.

Lovely. Good man.

Thank you very much, everyone.

You've been wonderful. God bless you all.

We hope to see you again next week.

Okay. God bless. Good night.

Come on.

You all right?

Dessie, l....

Look at me. Are you okay? Dad, come on.

Jesus!

Dad. Someone get a doctor.

Here, Johnny!

Go and run for a doctor, quick!

l'm here.

-Dessie.

-l'm here, Dad.

-The kids.

-We'll get them back.

You and l, together.

Dad.

Henry, it's Father O'Malley.

lf you can hear me,

say the Act of Contrition.

Amen.

Look, angel rays.

What's angel rays, love?

lt's Granddad letting us know

he's watching over us.

He's our guardian angel.

He told me all about angel rays.

Good old Dad.

l knew he wouldn't leave us.

-Good morning, Miss Gilhooly.

-Mr. Doyle.

-Didn't you get the letter?

-What letter?

The one canceling this appointment.

l didn't get any letter.

l've taken this morning

especially off work to see him.

This is my family we're talking about.

Where is he?

Jesus.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Lilo! Higgi! Come on!

Sorry, sir. lt's a trespasser.

lt's all right. This is a client of mine.

-A client, sir?

-Yes!

We have an appointment!

Please let us know in the future, sir,

if you're expecting visitors.

What the hell are you smirking at?

Do you think this is funny?

Do you think you can cancel appointments

and treat people like dirt?

-Mr. Doyle--

-l wasn't talking to you, Yank.

All you're good for's wearing sharp suits,

doing fancy deals...

and trying to get hands on our women.

-And our fish!

-Desmond, be reasonable.

l'm sorry l missed our appointment...

but there's really nothing more

l can do for you anymore.

Really?

Your being sorry

isn't gonna get my kids back, now, is it?

l'm sure the Yank here is having great fun...

seeing what a lot of bloody spineless

jellyfish we've got over here.

But ask yourself this, Mr. Big Shot.

What if it was your family?

Wouldn't you fight tooth and nail

to get them back?

Or are you just another

heartless, gutless bastard?

Congratulations.

You just found yourself a lawyer.

ls that a fact?

Who?

Me.

So, you're not a chemist, then?

How come you can work over here

if you're a Yank?

Actually, l'm lrish.

l was born and reared in Kilkenny

till l was 9.

Then we emigrated to the States

and l subsequently came back here...

to study law at UCD.

So, he's qualified to plead in lrish courts.

Does my being a Yank bother you?

Not at all. l like Yanks.

Most of them were lrish

to begin with, anyway.

But l can't afford to pay you fancy money.

l'm not doing this for the money.

You'll just have to raise enough

to cover our costs.

Right.

l really appreciate your help, so l do.

We'll do our best for you.

-Right. Cheerio.

-Cheerio.

-We'll do our best?

-We're in this together, my friend.

Do you think l'll take this on

with any other solicitor?

We have no chance.

l don't know why you're taking it on.

Because l know what he's going through,

through no one's fault but my own.

l lost my own kids in that divorce.

-You don't realize what we're up against.

-l do realize what we're up against.

What possible chance

do you think you have?

You and Mr....

-Mr. Doyle.

-Mr. Doyle, here.

A painter and what? Decorator?

Master tradesman, to you.

Apart from anything else,

it will be prohibitively expensive.

Only if we lose.

-You'll lose, Mr....

-Beattie.

You'll lose, because

if you were to win this case...

the whole basis of family law

would be undermined.

And believe me, gentlemen,

that will not be allowed to happen.

We thank you for your advice, Mr....

Shall we?

By the way, Minister...

your paintwork's shite.

What we really need

is an expert in family law to keep us right.

-You know?

-l thought you were an expert.

l haven't done family law in 20 years.

l've only a working knowledge.

You mean you don't know what you're

talking about? Can't you read some books?

lt's not quite as simple as that.

lt's a very tricky area.

We've still got the problem that everyone's

terrified of taking on the Establishment.

What was the name of that guy

that lectured us about family law?

-Remember? The real character.

-Tom Connolly.

There was a Connolly who played rugby

for lreland until his cartilage went.

l think he did a bit of law in his spare time.

Would that be him?

Gentlemen, l'm flattered by your attentions,

but l retired two years ago.

ln short, l can no longer face

speaking in court.

Sir, you wouldn't have to speak in court.

Mr. Barron here will do all the speaking.

But frankly, sir, he needs your help.

My family law is so rusty.

Even if you could just come on board

as a consultant.

l'm sorry to say this to you, Mr. Doyle.

But they'll put forward the best people

to put the case for the State.

The best that money can buy.

That's why they hated me.

l wouldn't be bought.

l believe that if there is a God,

He'll step in to help us.

l'm touched by your faith.

This is the only Holy Spirit

l've found to be of any practical assistance.

Slainte.

You were a big hero to me as a boy,

Mr. Connolly.

To my dad, too.

He took me to all your games.

You see that photo there?

l was at that game.

The one where you got injured.

That was the beginning of the end.

When that big brute of a fullback

did my cartilage in.

He was English, of course. The bastard.

Still, before l left the field...

l managed to boot him where his balls

would have been, if he'd any.

Fair play to you.

Anyway, lads...

your case is interesting.

Hopeless, but interesting.

You really think it's hopeless?

This case is what l used to call

''a real St. Jude.''

Why St. Jude?

Because St. Jude

is the patron saint of hopeless cases.

As l recall, sir, you've won

quite a few St. Judes in your time.

l suppose l have.

Retirement must be excruciatingly boring

for a man like yourself.

Gentlemen...

l propose a toast.

Justice and St. Jude.

I am Desmond Doyle...

father of Evelyn Doyle, who's been held

in your care without my consent.

l request the return

of my daughter, forthwith.

Mr. Doyle, you cannot have your daughter.

ln that case, my solicitor,

Mr. Michael Beattie...

will present you

with a writ of habeas corpus...

drafted by my counselor,

Mr. Nicholas Barron.

Duly presented.

Duly witnessed.

Thank you, Sister. That's all we need.

-So, it went well, then?

-lt went like a dream.

Desmond remembered all his lines,

and spoke them beautifully.

Laurence Olivier had better watch out.

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