Going My Way Page #10

You know, I was thinking, Father.

Now that everything is going so right...

before something goes wrong,

you ought to take a little time off.

To do what, for instance?

Well, like, for instance, take a trip home

and see your mother.

The interest is all paid up to date.

Unless something goes wrong, I have plans

that'll take care of the next payment.

You really think it would be all right?

I mean, that you'll take...

Father Fitzgibbon! Chuck!

The church is afire!

[Fire engine alarm ringing]

Don't worry, Father. We'll build again.

O'MALLEY:
Can I help you, Father?

FITZGIBBON:
No, it's all right. I can manage.

It's for the birds.

[Solemn instrumental music]

They're used to coming here.

- I don't want them to go away.

- No.

You see, Father? They're not leaving.

Nobody's leaving you.

And when your church is rebuilt,

they'll all be back. Everyone will be back.

In the meantime, you can send

your congregation over to my parish.

I'll split the collection with you. 50-50.

Take it, Father.

Now what makes you all so hopeful

that the church will ever be rebuilt?

[Ominous instrumental music]

- You're supposed to take this.

- No, I can't.

- Come on, please. Take it.

- No.

I'll tell you what, if you'll take it,

I'll take some, too.

- There, now that wasn't so bad.

- [Exclaiming] Don't you try it.

Doctors. Medicine.

- What I need is to be up and about.

- Being up and about is what got you down.

Tramping all over the parish to raise funds.

How much did you collect?

There's no need for you to rub it in.

- $35.85.

- Yeah.

- How much is the doctor's bill?

- $40.

Says here to take two.

We wanna get our money's worth.

Listen. There's nothing in that bottle

that's going to do me any good.

Now you're not gonna lose hope, are you?

Hope?

Chuck, when you're young, it's easy to keep

the fires of hope burning bright.

But at my age, you're lucky if the pilot light

doesn't go out.

I know, Father, 45 years

of your efforts in ashes.

Here, take this.

That'll keep the pilot light burning.

Yes, it ought to.

Tastes like it had kerosene in it.

[Chuckles]

- Well, did you make your parish calls?

- Yes.

Mrs. McGonigle's rheumatism

is kicking up again.

I told her to bury a potato in the backyard.

- That's for warts.

- That's what she said.

And I heard Mrs. Quimp's new gossip.

- What else?

- Then I went to see Carol and Mr. Haines.

- Did they hear from young Ted?

- Young Ted has been wounded in Africa.

- Too bad.

- They're shipping him home.

Fine, upstanding young fella.

- Maybe they'll decorate him.

- No, I doubt it.

Some friend of his ran over him in a jeep.

But I've got some good news.

- I have a letter from Miss Linden.

- That's very nice. Where is she?

She's in St. Louis.

And here it comes. I gave you that medicine

to quiet your nerves.

Tony and the boys are with her.

They're on a concert tour.

- They're on a what?

- Now I had their parents' consent...

- and they'll be back in time for school.

- But you...

Besides, travel's a great education.

If they make enough money,

it's gonna build you a new church.

Not much of one, maybe,

but something to go on with.

Miss Linden sent you a cheque

with her love.

$3,500.

O'MALLEY:
How's the pilot light

burning now?

It's burning brighter, Chuck.

It's a long road back, but we've started.

You know, I've a feeling

that St. Dominic's may rise again.

Sure it'll rise again.

- You know, I think I'll get up meself.

- You better stay there and get some rest.

- I feel better.

- No, you don't feel near that good.

Here now, boys. Go on home.

Your dinner's ready. Go on home.

BOY 1:
Bye, Father.

BOY 2:
Goodbye, Father.

ALL:
Bye, Father.

FITZGIBBON:
Fine girl, Miss Linden.

Very thoughtful. Very generous.

Let's close this up. Keep the sawdust out.

That will lend beauty to the dedication.

And at Christmas,

you and the choir will be able to...

Father, I won't be here at Christmas.

I was with the Bishop this afternoon,

and he's transferring me to another parish.

[Exclaiming in disappointment]

You're leaving me.

It never occurred to me

that someday you might.

But, me boy,

what am I going to do without you?

- You didn't ask to?

- No. I asked to stay with you.

But the Bishop asked me to help him out,

and I...

- St. Dominic's. What's going to happen?

- Well, you'll be all right, Father.

I wish you could've heard some

of the things the Bishop said about you.

Says you're looking 10 years younger.

He has all the confidence

in the world in you.

Don't worry. You'll have a new assistant.

I want to wish you all the success

in the world, which I know you'll have.

Is it a parish of your own?

Not exactly, Father.

You see this church, St. Charles, it's...

Well, the pastor's getting along in years

and things aren't...

You mean they're in trouble.

Yes. And I'm supposed to go in there

and try and help...

You mean without the old fella knowing.

Well, that's a difficult assignment.

But it'll work out.

You may have trouble

with the old man at first.

He may be running off to the Bishop every

few minutes, but don't let that bother you.

You'll bring him around

to your way of thinking.

[Bell ringing]

Well, there's dinner.

You know how to manage

these old fussbudgets.

Take him out on the golf course.

Bring him out in the fresh air.

- We'll get along. Just so he...

- He knows enough to come out of the rain.

That's it, Father. That's it exactly.

[Church bell chiming]

[Knock at door]

Come in, Tony.

- Hi, Father. So you're really leaving us?

- Yes, I've got my orders, Tony.

I guess when the Bishop says

you gotta go, you gotta go.

- That's right, Tony.

- Sometimes I think I don't like bishops.

Tony, bishops are like umpires.

You have to have them

to call the close decisions.

- Really?

- I got a little Christmas present here for you.

I want you to take my place with the choir.

From now on, you're in charge.

That's swell of you, Father.

It's a great present.

- I always had my eye on it.

- I thought you did.

When you gonna give

Father Fitzgibbon his surprise?

Not so loud. Later on in the church.

- Those boys haven't told anybody?

- Not a word. If they did, I'd kick the...

I mean, I'd be disappointed in them.

I guess I'll get going.

I know you wanted to tell me

about taking your place with the gang...

but I'll make it easy for you.

I'll be everything you want me to be.

Just as if you were here checking on me.

If you don't, I'm gonna drop you

like you was a hot potato.

- It's a deal. Good luck to you.

- Good luck to you. So long.

[Music box playing Irish lullaby]

Pretty near Christmas.

I'm sure that the way to say what I'd like

to say will occur to me after you've gone.

We're separated by many years,

Father O'Malley...

which could be the reason why we haven't

seen eye to eye in many instances.

But though we've had many differences,

we never differed in fundamentals.

- It was only in method.

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