The Edge of the World

Sing in hope and sing we merrily

Ho-ro, chasing the breeze

Through this pure

and cruel experience

Ho-ro, chasing the breeze

The waves on yonder shore

Have come, have come from

the far-off seas

Rising, turning, waves are churning

Ho-ro, chasing the breeze

Rising, turning, waves are churning

Ho-ro, chasing the breeze

Stand by, we're putting in.

Mr Graham, sir, I would not advise

more than a temporary visit.

Oh, I think we'll risk it.

It looks deserted.

Yes. Funny, doesn't say anything

about it here.

Your book was right

when it was published, Mr Graham.

But you were wrong when you said

nothing changes on these islands.

There's not a living soul now

on Hirta.

The sea birds were its first owners

and now the sea birds

have it for their own again.

Hirta's the old name for the island,

isn't it?

(Mr Graham) Do you know

what it means, Andrew?

It means... death.

Got it.

Andrew!

Send the boat back!

(Faint voice) Andrew Gray...

Does it mean gone over there?

Many died that way, hunting for eggs

or after the sheep.

Sooner or later a rope frayed

or a foot slipped.

It became a word for death

on the island.

- It's a nasty-Iooking place.

- Aye. It is.

- What's wrong, Andrew?

- The hills of Scotland.

It's a rare thing

to see them from Hirta.

- The old men used to say...

- What?

That it meant bad luck

to see the hills.

And it's true.

I've only seen them once before.

There were three of us then...

It's the Sabbath today.

And a fine summer morning.

Ten years ago, you'd have seen all

the folk on their way to the kirk.

The men in black,

and the women neat and bonny,

and young John Eisbister

standing by the gate.

The bell would be ringing.

(Bell continues to ring)

- You better hurry!

- Aye! I will, I will!

There, Mother.

The sunshine

will do your rheumatism good.

And you'll hear the singing fine.

We'll sing extra loud, Grandmother.

At least, Father and I will.

I canna answer for Robbie.

I could drown your treble before I

left and I still have the same lungs.

And the same good opinion

of yourself!

Now.

(Bell continues to ring)

- Good morning, John.

- Morning, Robbie.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

You needna grin all over your face

every time you see Andrew Gray.

Morning, Andrew.

See the bonny dress Robbie's brought

me? All the way back from Aberdeen!

- Oh-ho. Silk.

- Aye. Makes me feel awful sinful.

If you talk like that,

I'll take it back.

You try and get it!

Will you sit by me in the kirk, Ruth?

And me in a silk dress?

Do you not think people will talk?

- Good morning, Peter.

- Good morning, James.

I'm glad to see that Robbie's back.

We'll need his help with the fishing.

I was thinking he'd be more useful

with the sheep running.

As postmaster

and captain of the boat,

I have a better eye

to our finances than you.

I would remind ye I am responsible

to the laird for the sheep.

I need no reminder. I found the

market for our tweeds in Edinburgh.

- Nobody's denying it, man.

- And as the elder of the kirk...

You may have noticed, James Gray,

that the bell has stopped ringing,

and you're delaying us all with this

godless discussion on the Sabbath.

...the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us worship the Lord by singing

to his praise in Psalm number 23.

Tune:
Wiltshire.

The Lord's my shepherd

I'll not want

He makes me down to lie.

- (Tuning fork hums)

- La, la... la-la.

(AII sing) The Lord's my shepherd

I'll not want

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green he leadeth me

The quiet waters by.

In pastures green

He leadeth me

The quiet waters by

"He said, Thus saith the Lord,

Because the Syrians have said,

the Lord is God of the hills,

but he is not God of the valleys,

therefore will I deliver all this

great multitude into thine hands

and ye shall know

that I am the Lord."

I Kings 20:
28.

Brethren, let not the heathen

shame you.

The Syrians had already been defeated

in battle

by such an imperial force

of Israelites whom they despised

that they thought there was

something supernatural about it

and ascribed their defeat

to the God of Israel.

Now, if the Lord has brought

prosperity to you

or if you have enjoyed success

in Christian service,

take heed that you do not

lift up your head on high.

For, kindred,

the tendency of the human heart

towards pride is very strong,

but we must always remember

that we are nothing more than tools

in the hands of the Lord.

We have been nothing more than

the scythes in the hands of God

if we reap the corn,

nothing more than the nets

if we have brought the fish to shore.

So, let us learn from the sins...

Sin is limiting the power

of the gospel.

Some of us, at certain times,

have been inclined

to limit the power of the gospel

by supposing

that only certain sinners...

...by supposing that only certain

sinners obtain the grace of God.

Grand sermon, John.

One hour and 15 minutes. Let them

beat that in Edinburgh if they can.

And mind ye,

every sentence sound theology.

We'll check the lists and load

the boats after the Sabbath's over.

Aye. It's high tide

an hour after midnight.

Aye, that's, er, very convenient.

Away you go

and take a walk wi' Ruth.

And remember it's the Sabbath.

Behind me, Satan.

Oh, Robbie, is she really sweet?

She is, Ruth.

Then I dinna feel so bad

about Andrew.

You know, I've been feeling

awful guilty

and all the time you've been

stealing a march on me.

Polly.

Polly Manson.

Mmm. I don't know

whether I like it or not.

Whether you do or you don't,

she's gonna be your sister-in-law.

And tomorrow, Father'll know it.

When parliament meets tomorrow,

I'm going to speak out.

- He'll be awful angry.

- I'm not a child any more.

There are others who think like me,

James Gray for one.

- Andrew doesn't.

- Oh, Andrew.

And what's wrong with Andrew?

There'll be a deal wrong with

his neck if he doesna take care.

Andrew!

Tell him to get down!

Get down! You're frightening Ruth!

That was a sudden idea.

It looked like it.

In the old days, you had to show

your courage to win a wife.

I said to myself "Andrew, my lad,

you're as good as they are

and Ruth has got to be sure of you."

Remember it's the Sabbath!

That's what Father said,

and I'm no likely to forget it.

But if a man can't

put his arm round his girl

without John Knox

turning in his grave,

then the world's full of sinners.

Here's good luck for us.

We don't need any.

What were you two talking about?

- You.

- Oh? That's natural enough.

Oh, you're not the only one.

Robbie's got a bonnet full of bees.

You're one, I'm the other,

but the busiest of the lot

is the girl from Norway.

Robbie! I'm glad.

Why don't you bring her over?

I'm not bringing her back to Hirta,

now or ever.

But I hope you and she and Ruth will

be good friends and... neighbours.

- What do you mean?

- Just that.

- I like plain speech.

- Then you'll have it.

- You're leaving the island?

- Aye.

- Short-handed as we are?

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