Sunset Song Page #3

Aye. Och, aye, just that.

I'm up to the inn for dinner.

Aye.

Maybe... Maybe we could eat together?

Aye.

So you're in no hurry to be back?

Not unless you should be, no.

Tired, Chrissie?

Losh, no.

And my name's Chris, Ewan.

Are you all right, Chrissie?

Yes, fine!

Chris!

Chris, where are you?

- Chris!

- Chrissie?

- Chris!

- Chrissie?

I'll see to the horses.

Take her back to my house.

In you come. God, Chris.

Get out of your coat,

you must be fair soaked.

Ewan, I've nothing on below.

- What, nothing at all?

- Not very much, Chae.

- You can slip into that.

- But Mistress Strachan?

The old wife's in bed.

She'd sleep through a hundred storms.

Through there, get off your things.

Bring them to dry. I'll have something

warm for you both to drink.

You'll get your death of cold.

Sit closer.

God, Chris. Was that all you had on?

Aye.

I'll see you back to Blawearie.

Are you warm enough?

Fine.

Oh, don't.

Wait, Ewan.

Come up to see me tomorrow evening.

Chris...

will you marry me?

You're in fine tune this morning.

Aye, Uncle. I am that.

How did the horses fare in the storm?

I took them into the barn.

Ewan Tavendale helped me.

Ach, it's plain you've nae need

for relatives here.

I only pray you don't come to disaster.

No need to cry about it yet, Auntie Janet.

Ewan and I haven't lain together.

We'll wait... till we're married.

He's to marry you, then?

I hope so.

But you never know.

Morning.

I'll drive you both to the station.

I'll bring back Mistress Melon.

Walk on. Walk on.

Go on.

Now Blawearie was hers...

and she Blawearie's.

And in all of the days to come,

her heart would beat in this land.

And she would be content.

- Where'll I put my box, mem?

- Oh, inside.

Maybe you'll stay to dinner, Chae?

Oh, aye, fine that.

God.

That was right fine, Chris.

Is there any more on the go?

Good Lord, Chris.

They'll right soon be after you,

the lads, with your eyes like that.

How will we partition the work, mem?

Oh, um, you do the cooking and

the cleaning, and I'll see to the rest.

- Aye, mem.

- And my name's Chris.

We're no gentry.

We'll have to wait to get married.

I've got no more than 100 saved.

I have 300.

No credit to me.

It was Father's saving.

You know, if we marry fair soon, you

can take over the Blawearie lease.

That would be fine.

We'll have the whole of Kinraddie

here when we wed.

Aye.

Most folk will be free to come

on New Year's Eve.

I had a letter from Auntie Janet

and Uncle Tam.

They say it's too soon after Father's

death to wed... so they won't come.

Damn it, you're only married

once as a general rule.

It'll no hurt the old man

in Kinraddie Kirkyard.

Is this a list for the food?

Aye.

Oh, such extravagance!

You've ordered enough food

to feed the French.

You'll have nae silver left.

So I'll... I'll put the banns up tomorrow.

You know Reverend Gibbon will say,

"It seems strange to hold a display

so close to Mr Guthrie's death."

Aye, and I'll say, "The service that

I want is a wedding, not a sermon."

Better be off.

Take care of yourself.

Aye.

Oh, thank you!

Oh, the barn!

It isn't half spruce for the dance.

Ach, just leave it to us, Chris.

Tell us what you want.

Oh... thank you.

Oh, it... it's like a picture book.

Aye.

This time the morn,

you'll be a married woman, Chris.

Sleep well the night.

Oh, fine that.

You know, if...

if I ever thought of getting married...

I'd think it fine to sleep

with a lass like yourself.

Get away, Rob.

Much sleep you'd give her. Come on.

Strange and eerie it was standing there.

That this marriage of hers was nothing...

that it would pass on and forward into

the days that had long forgotten it.

And the face of the land change

and change again

till the last light sank away from it.

And all of her love and tears for Ewan,

not even a ripple on that flood

of water remain in the time to be.

Strange to think that tomorrow

and all the tomorrows...

Ewan would share her room

and her bed with her.

How d'you feel

on your marriage morn, Chris?

Fine.

Och, I hope you'll be awful happy

and soon have three bairns.

You never know.

If only Mother could be here.

Oh, don't be a fool.

Are you ready, Chris?

Let us pray.

Dear God, bless this union.

Give them strength and courage

for the difficulties that the years

might bring to them.

Make fruitful their marriage...

and make their love as pure and enduring

in its fulfilment as in its conception.

Here's to you, Chris.

Raise your glasses, folks,

the best man has a toast.

I've never seen a sweeter bride, or

known a better friend than the groom.

I wish them long and lovely days...

from the summer to the winter

of their lives.

The bride!

Best of luck to her!

Right! Who's game

for a dance at Chris's wedding?

Hey up, what about a song?

Ladies Of Spain.

What about

The Lass That Made The Bed For Me?

A song from the bride.

I've heard them lilting

At our ewe-milking

Lassies a-lilting

Before dawn o' day

Sighing and moaning

On ilka green loaning

The flowers of the forest

Are a' wede away

It's New Year.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

For the sake of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne

We'll tak' a cup of kindness yet

For the sake of auld lang syne

Long Rob was right.

You're the bonniest thing

ever seen in Kinraddie.

Ewan. Put out the light.

So that was her marriage.

Not like waking from a dream

but like going into one.

And she wasn't sure, not for days,

what things she had dreamt

and what actually done.

I'm back to Stonehaven today.

Oh.

I'll miss you.

Aye.

Fine.

Fare thee well.

- Your hand's freezing.

- Och, away, you're still asleep!

You've got to be up in the morning,

that's the thing.

Look at my hands, red with the scrubbing.

Oh, you're daft! The place is fine.

What more d'you want?

Less dirt.

Maybe you like it but I don't.

Well, maybe I do.

I like you right well.

Folks blithe and young as themselves

had once walked, talked

and taken their pleasure here.

And she tried to tell Ewan

of her daft fancy.

But all he said was, "Aye."

And once she had thought

there wouldn't be a thing

they wouldn't understand together.

I missed you! I missed you!

Oh, I missed you.

I forgot to unyoke Clyde.

I missed you.

We might well have more sense.

I missed you.

Damn Blawearie.

Let's have a holiday the day, Chris.

I can't. I'm cleaning.

Are you to spend all your days cleaning?

You'll be old and wizened.

Now, off on a holiday we'll go today.

You are a shameless limmer.

For sure.

And you're not yet 19.

And then the old Chris crept out

from below the trees

where the new Chris lay,

and went into the quiet of the afternoon.

The new Chris heard her go and she

came back to Blawearie never again.

But she would not tell Ewan,

not then, not just then...

for it was she, and only she,

that felt and knew the wonder of God.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes