I See a Dark Stranger Page #9

I'm not sure it's us.

What do you make of it, Michael?

Smugglers, maybe.

Or German spies.

I read in the English newspapers

that they're swarming all over Ireland.

It's almost our biggest

national industry, man!

Whoever they are, you'd better ring up

Garth Crawley at the police station.

Tell him they're coming

ashore at Dunraghen.

They'll likely as not take the road

past Sean Murphy's to the railway station.

He'll head them off there, if he hurries.

Good morning, Douglas...

You didn't by any chance

see four strange men around here?

No.

They landed at Rocklin Bay

an hour ago...

Mike Reagan spotted them.

I didn't put much stock in it myself

until I phoned headquarters.

Terribly excited they were.

Tell me what time's the next train.

Goes 4.30.

Maybe they'll turn up for it.

I'll be back.

Tell me, what's Sean Murphy's cab

doing today?

I don't know.

I thought he was in Drogheda.

Well, goodbye now.

Has he gone yet?

Going... Lucky I spotted him.

Puts paid to us catching the 4.30 though.

Looks like we're stuck

with Sean Murphy's cab.

Where do you think

your taking us now?

Shut up.

What's the trouble?...

Can't we go any faster?

Something in front.

Well, give him a shout...

Ask him to pull in.

It's a funeral... no room to pass.

Alright... alright!

Turn off at the next by-road!

Whoa up there!

What is it?

It's the police...

They've stopped the procession.

Carry on!

We're off again.

They must have asked

if we'd passed.

Good thing we hadn't.

We'd better hang on to this show

for a while... It has its points.

Why did you follow me?

Nasty habit!

We can't hang about here all day.

Take the next fork to the left...

Whatever it is.

There's a policeman on the corner.

Alright... carry on as you are.

Don't try anything!

Now what's happened?

Perhaps they've stopped for a drink...

I could do with one.

They're taking the deceased back to

Doonpadrig... where she was born.

The permit's in order.

It's me poor wee sister Bridget...

a good poor soul.

Never did any harm to anyone.

From Doonpadrig, eh?

That's the truth.

Take me... said she, and bury me... said she,

in the little graveyard behind the hill.

Tell me... do you happen to know

Robert Moore from Doonpadrig?

Is it the "Hard Bob"?

Isn't Bob's uncle a first cousin

of me daughter-in-law's!?

I knew him in '32

when he was at Backincuren.

You know there's a travel ban...

other side of the border.

I know that, but I've permits

to cover the whole party.

Do you want to see them?

It doesn't concern us...

but you better get a move on...

...if you want to be in Doonpadrig

before nightfall.

Aye... well I'll remember you to Bob,

so I will.

What's the explanation of that?

That was me sister Bridget's last wish...

to be buried with her alarm clock.

Open it up!

The Devil take you,

if you lay a finger on it!

Have you no respect for the dead?

It's nothing short of blasphemy

and sacrilege!

It's a wicked crime

you'll be perpetrating!

Oh, me poor Bridget!

Beat it!

Hop it, lads...

We're rumbled!

What's going on?

A fight of some sort.

We can't afford

to get mixed up in anything.

Get out of it... quick!

My daughter, Biddy, is

in the last carriage...

Pick her up and I'll meet you

at Craig's farm.

Are you Mike Cleary's daughter Biddy?...

you're to come with me.

Where's this, do you think?

No idea... Seems to be

the only hotel in the place...

I'll ask them the way

to the border.

The border? What are you going

to do with me, David?

Take you across...

into Northern Ireland.

And hand me over?

I must, Bridie.

You're not going to take me out of

a neutral country where I belong...

...so that I can be... tried and shot!

It's my duty.

It's your stiff-necked British obstinacy...

that's what it is!

Look here!...We're fighting a war!

At the moment

you're endangering part of it...

Can't you see? You're a menace

that's got to be neutralised!

I was born neutralised!

Well, now that you seem

to have made up your mind...

...why don't you go in

and ask?

Go on... tap on the hatch!

That's right!...

Yes, sir... now what can I do

for you?

Ask him!

Is there any whiskey?

No... it's nothing but draught beer.

Alright... 2 halves.

2 half pints.

I thought you were going to ask him

the way to the border.

I am.

Thanks.

How far is it to

the nearest police station?

About a mile and a half

up the road.

Where's your telephone?

In the back parlour... why?

I want you to telephone them.

It's important, and I can't leave

this young lady.

Oh, you can't, can you?

Tell them she's the one

they're looking for.

She's here waiting for them.

Her name's Bridie Quilty.

Bridie Quilty... will they know it?

By now, they will.

I said it's important.

Right.

Do you know what you're doing?

Of course... behaving

like a gibbering idiot.

When the police get here they'll intern me.

Exactly.

Here in Eire, where you'll be safe,

and can't do any harm.

But what about YOU?

I'll say goodbye

when they get here.

But those 2 officers

on the Isle of Man...

...they know you've been concerned with...

...with ME!

Yes.

The War Office is going

to object, isn't it?

Oh, no, no...

I'll probably get a gong for it.

You'll be shot!

Oh, hardly! Merely cashiered, drummed out

and imprisoned in The Tower.

Why are you doing this?

I've probably gone mad.

Well, I'm not going to let you.

You're not going to have any choice.

They're on their way.

They'll be here any time now.

I was speaking to Micky Doyle.

Himself... he's the sergeant.

Good.

From what he says, she must be

a desperate character altogether.

She is, very.

Thank you.

That'll be 1/8d Sir

1/6d for the beers...

and 2d for the telephone.

You wouldn't be wanting

any help with her, would you?

No! Go away.

David...

Yes?

I AM sorry!

You'd much better

never have met me.

I'd do the same again.

Couldn't you let yourself

get interned with me, maybe?

No.

Slinte!

How much is draught beer in Eire?

4d a half pint, for this stuff.

They charged me double... 1/6d.

Then he cheated you.

And no spirits.

Does it matter,

at a time like this?

Bridie..look at that girl...

She's chewing gum.

Hi ya slick chick... what's cookin'?

Oh, lay off, Al!

We're in Northern Ireland!

Say, what's been giving you, kid?

He wouldn't let me go until 9, honey.

Gonna be mighty late for that dance.

It'll be OK, they don't start til late

over the other side.

Yeah, but by the time we get there...

Listen to me high pockets,

just let me get my handbag...

...and we'll be south of that

little old border in 10 minutes.

- Right on the ball, ain't you babe?

- You're darned tootin'!

David... that means you must

have telephone the British police.

The Ulster Constabulary.

You heard what they said...

it's only a 10 minutes' walk.

If they can slip over for a dance,

there's nothing to stop us.

No, David, it seems like Heaven's will

that we'll be caught...

...and here I'll stay.

- But we can be over the border in 10 minutes...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes