My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown Page #5

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"Therefore nothing must end."

- What's all this, Christy?

- Nothing.

Sorry I asked.

(SIGHS)

CHRISTY :
Benny, would you help us?

Doing what?

Writing.

Yeah. Writing what?

Me own story.

Yeah. Course I will.

No.

Don't worry, Christy. The book is great.

It's not bad.

Do you know what I was going to call it?

What?

The Reminiscences...

Reminiscences?

...Of A Mental Defective.

That's a terrible title.

It was my blue period.

And you typed all of it with your left foot?

I didn't do it with me nose.

I really wanted to finish it.

You'll hear it later.

I have an appointment. I told you.

Is he good-looking?

- Who?

- Your appointment.

Yeah, in his own way he's nice.

It doesn't matter to me.

You can meet who you like.

- Is he now?

- What?

Is he good-looking?

Yeah.

Are you in love with him?

You're very bloody nosy, Christy Brown.

I was only asking.

Would you like a drink?

I'm working. I can't.

CHRISTY :
Later.

I have a date, I told you.

Yeah. I forgot.

- You're a fast worker, aren't you?

- Read your book.

I can't with you staring at me.

So I'll look away.

(LAUGHS)

Oh, God.

- She's very pretty, isn't she?

- Prettier than that bloody picture.

Just a minute.

Ma, are you in?

All right. Go ahead.

Jesus! 800, Christy.

MA :
Are you finished?

CHRISTY :
That was scrumptious, Ma.

Like you.

I fancy something sweet now.

What have you for dessert?

Ma, what have you for dessert?

Dessert?

Kids, do you not fancy of drop

of ice cream now?

- Ice cream, Ma.

- Get some ice cream.

(ALL PLEADING)

Some raspberry ripple.

No, some Neapolitan.

- All right!

- The pink and green stuff.

But just this once, mind you now.

Won't see me spending money

on an ice cream.

Jesus, what's this?

(CHEERING)

- Here now, Ma!

- (WHISTLES)

What's this?

It's Christy's money, Ma!

- Count it!

- Bring it here!

MA :
800.

That's more money than your poor father

ever earned in a whole year.

I can't take it.

It's for you. It's yours.

I can't take it, son.

Da was a bricklayer, Ma...

and I'm a writer.

I know it's mad money.

I want you to have it.

What would I do with it?

To start, get yourself a dress

and a new pair of shoes.

Will you?

Christy? You have a visitor.

- You look well.

- So do you.

Thank you.

CHRISTY :
Sit down.

Um...

Look, I won't stay very long.

Stay as long as you like.

I need to ask you a favour.

CHRISTY :
What?

A benefit.

Where?

Lord Castlewelland's.

Him? He's mad.

Posh.

Filthy rich.

I know you don't like appearing in public

but it's for a good cause.

- For the cripples.

- For the cripples.

CHRISTY :
Yeah.

I'll try to behave myself.

Sure it won't upset you too much?

So I'll anaesthetise myself.

No! Not too much.

How's Peter?

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(APPLAUSE)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

(SIGHS)

We have to get going, Christy.

Yeah.

CHRISTY :
What do you think?

Too much self-pity?

No. I think he's a lovely man

and not in the least sentimental.

Mary, do you really think so?

Yep.

And would you go out with him?

Certainly.

CASTLEWELLAND :
Now listen, everyone...

So you'd go out with me?

I might. Shh. He's talking about you.

I want to introduce you to one of the brave...

Well, no, quite the bravest chap

I've ever come across.

Yes, well, when Christy Brown was born,

the doctors told his mother

that it was just no good...

- Stay with us for a couple of hours.

..a vegetable for the rest of his little life.

But Bridget Brown, she wouldn't take that.

Oh, no. She knew...

Would you go out with me tonight?

I told you, Christy. I have an appointment.

And so we have with us here tonight...

Are you in love with him?

CASTLEWELLAND :
Her faith in him and...

CHRISTY :
Well?

I asked you did you love him, Mary?

...Introduce to you Christy Brown,

a man of genius.

Mary?

Christy.

Mary, I asked you a question.

- Do you?

- MARY :
That's none of your business.

- So you won't answer me?

- Why should I?

- What are you afraid of?

- I'm not afraid of anything.

You imagine that people are afraid of you.

I'm not afraid of you, OK?

You're afraid of yourself.

- Oh, come on. Look, just...

- You're afraid of me.

I can't talk about this now. I'm going.

Why can't we talk now?

Now's good enough for me.

- I'll see you again some time.

- "Again some time." I heard that before, Mary.

Why is it always some f***ing time?

Mary, Stay!

Stay!

Christy.

We've got to go.

Right. Take me out to the firing squad so.

(LAUGHS)

(APPLAUSE)

(WHISPERING)

I must say I'm really honoured to be asked to

give voice to the words of Christy Brown. Heh.

"I was born in the Rotunda Hospital...

on June the 5th, 1932.

"There were 22 children in all,

"of which 13 survived.

"It would not be true to say

that I am no longer lonely.

"I have made myself articulate and understood

"to people in many parts of the world

"and this is something we all wish to do,

"whether we're crippled or not.

"Yet, like everyone else,

I am acutely conscious sometimes

"of my own isolation,

"even in the midst of people.

"And I often give up hope of ever being able

to really communicate with them."

- "it is not only the sort of isolation..."

- What's the matter with Christy?

"..That every writer or artist must experience

in the creative mood

"if he is to create anything at all.

"It is like a black cloud,

sweeping down on me unexpectedly,

"cutting me off from others.

"A sort of deaf-muteness.

"I lay back in my chair

"while my own left foot

beat time to a new rhythm.

"Now I could relax

and enjoy myself completely.

"I was at peace. Happy."

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you.

BENNY :
Come on, Ma, stand up.

Ma! Mother, come here.

Christy, no, don't.

All right.

These are for you.

Give us one of them flowers, Ma.

You're not coming with us in the car, Christy?

No.

You're mad, Christy. It's great.

Get in the car before I kick your arse.

Good luck, Christy.

(SIGHS)

MA :
Good night, Christy.

Good night, Ma.

Go on. I'm all right.

Will you get in the car now, Ma? I'm fine.

Night, Christy. Be careful.

You're not me da, Tom.

You take it easy, Christy.

Take it easy yourself!

Let's go.

Christy, tuck that under you.

Thank you.

I hope to see you again.

Yes. I hope to see you again, Christy.

Before closing time.

- I thought I'd lost ya.

- Not at all.

- You can just see Joyce's Tower down there.

- Oh, aye?

And that's where JM Synge was born,

at the foot of the mountains.

What'll we drink to?

Let's drink to Dublin.

To Dublin? Why?

Because Christy Brown was born there.

- Oh!

- Whoo-hoo!

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