The Bells of St. Mary's

Father O'Malley? Welcome to St Mary's.

Thank you.

- I suppose you're tired after travelling.

- It's pretty tiresome.

I'll take you to your room.

There's nothing to do but go to bed.

- Is Father Fogarty still here?

- No.

They took him away this morning.

Poor man.

Poor man? Why?

You'll find out.

You'll find everything you want here.

- Sure I couldn't get you a cup of tea?

- No, thanks.

I don't understand what you mean

about Father Fogarty. I'll find out what?

What Father Fogarty found out.

- The poor man.

- There you go again. What happened?

They took him away

mumbling to himself. In a wheelchair.

They took him away? Where?

Shady Rest.

He prayed that your stay here

might be enjoyable, though he doubted it.

He had very definite ideas about

running the school, and so have they.

- They?

- The sisters.

Father Fogarty said

they wanted their way in everything.

After he was confined to a wheelchair,

they had it.

Maybe he was just getting old.

He looked all right when he got here.

That's strange.

I don't anticipate any trouble.

You don't, eh?

- You've never been pastor of a school?

- No, it's my first experience.

Well, I can see you don't know what

it means to be up to your neck in nuns.

No.

- Goodnight, Father.

- Goodnight.

Sleep well tonight.

Good morning. I'm Father O'Malley.

Good morning, Father.

This is our school bell.

We ring it when the children are here.

I see. Could I see Sister Superior?

Is she up yet?

- I'm sure she is. Will you come with me?

- Yes.

- Good morning, Sam.

- Good morning.

Sam.

Sister Benedict

is very eager to meet you.

- Sit down. I'll tell her you're here.

- Thank you.

I'm sorry. Our cat had kittens

and they're all over the place.

The father's a member of the parish,

I presume?

Excuse me, Father.

I'll tell Sister you're here.

- Good morning, Father.

- Won't you sit down?

- Good morning, Father.

- Sit down, please.

Good morning, Father.

- Good morning, Father.

- Good morning, Father.

- Good morning, Father.

- Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Father.

- It has been my...

- Father, this is Sister Superior.

Father O'Malley, Sister Benedict.

- How do you do, Sister?

- How do you do, Father?

- This is Father O'Malley.

- How do you do?

He is here as a substitute

for Father Fogarty,

who has departed

for a much needed rest.

- We hope your stay will be pleasant.

- Thank you.

We are looking forward

to your views as an educator.

I'm sure that Father wishes

to say a few words to us.

Well, yes, I...

St Mary's has been here

a great many years.

It has seen the labours of a good number

of the sisters of your order.

I know the work hasn't been easy.

In the eyes of the world,

very few take notice of it.

But earthly honours and rewards

are not for you.

You've sent forth pupils who have been

a credit to the teachings here.

St Mary's has grown old doing good.

As for myself, I'm happy

I've been selected as pastor of St Mary's.

Working in a parish where there's

a parish school will be a new experience,

and I'm sure a very interesting one.

Yes, I see what you mean.

However, as in all things, we assume the

tasks assigned to us without complaint

and with a hopeful view to the future.

Yes.

The Epistle of St Peter, where he says,

"Be sober and watch."

What's the matter? Was it St Paul?

Now, just to get serious for a moment,

it...

In conclusion, may I say

that I'm happy I've come to...

I'm sorry, that's the first bell

and the sisters have to go to classes.

Would you like

to say a few words to the pupils?

- You may prefer speaking to children.

- I'd be more at ease.

I want to speak to you, too.

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands,

one nation indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

Children, our new pastor,

Father O'Malley, wishes to speak to you.

I'm sure you'll be glad to greet him and

that he has something important to say.

Children, you're going to see a lot of me.

I'll be around here a great deal.

This is the shortest speech ever heard.

This is a holiday. Take the day off.

Pretty effective speech?

I had to get my self-confidence back.

As kids, we lived for holidays.

We shouldn't forget our childhood.

Do you realise what you've done?

They could get into mischief.

- The responsibility is yours.

- It seemed a good idea.

You can't call a holiday just like that.

You have to have the superintendent's

permission. What will we tell him?

I'll call him. He really needs a holiday.

I'll give him the day off.

My school wasn't like this.

I could look out the window

and see fields and the swimming hole.

Hang your clothes up and last one out

finds them tied up in knots.

- Where?

- Missouri.

I came from Ireland.

- An dtuigeann t Gaeilge?

- I used to.

Where are you from?

- I was born in Sweden, but I came to...

- Don't tell me. Minnesota.

That's right, Father.

I love the winter. I used to ski to school.

There was one big hill...

And then carry them home afterwards!

You wouldn't guess it,

but she was a tomboy.

She played baseball and football

with the boys.

- How good were you?

- I hit over 300.

That was in the wheat belt.

I guess we had it better than these kids.

They have nowhere to play.

- That used to be our playground.

- Over there where that is?

Yes. We had to sell the ground.

We needed money to fix our building.

They were going to condemn it.

Where did you put the money?

You'd be surprised.

We put in sprinklers, fire escapes.

The foundation had to be reinforced.

It hardly seems worth it.

We think so, Father.

Yes, yes, of course.

What are the other classrooms like?

What's going on up there?

- We're repairing the roof. It leaks.

- A trifle.

- Very overcrowded here too, aren't you?

- Yes.

A trifle.

Looks like St Mary's is in a bad way.

A trifle.

We're relying on you to help us, Father.

Too bad you don't have a building like

that. It'd be your answer to everything.

That's where we intended

to build our new St Mary's.

A building very much like that.

There it is...

...only we don't own it.

That's what we've been praying for.

Praying for what?

That the owner will wake up one morning

and give it to us.

Who would wake up and give you what?

- Mr Bogardus. The owner.

- That's what we pray for.

Woman, great is thy faith.

- If faith can move mountains...

- You figured you could move in, huh?

You've got to be practical.

- Does the owner know about this?

- We've just prayed.

- That's where you could help us.

- What do I do when he says no?

Hey, you kids! Get down out of there!

Why aren't you in school? You hear me?

They shouldn't be doing that.

After all, it's a holiday.

Who's this coming here?

That's Mr Bogardus.

I think we'd better go now. You can

tell him why the children aren't in school.

Want me to say anything

about the building?

Some other time.

Hey, you. Here.

What's going on here?

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