The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years Page #10

He lied to me.

He came back after all those

years and he said he wanted me.

He didn't want me.

All he wanted was Dane.

He lied to me and then he hit me.

What happened right before

I hit you? Right before?

-We had an argument.

-Why?

Because I wouldn't move to the farm.

-And what did you

do? -Nothing. l--

No. What did you do?

-I believe I tried to hit you.

-Mr. O'Neill.

She

made me--

I will not allow that

behavior in this court!

Violence is not an answer

to your marital problems.

There is nothing that Mrs.

O'Neill could have done...

that would justify

what you did to her.

I warn you, outbursts of this

kind do nothing to help your case.

Now, if you have any

further questions...

you'll ask them in

a gentlemanly manner.

Otherwise, sit down.

No, Im through.

I am extremely sorry...

for the loss that you have

suffered, Mrs. O'Neill.

That will be all. Thank you.

Thank you.

I find myself...

in an extremely difficult position.

The only way I can

see to resolve it...

is to ask Dane some

questions in private.

Mr. O'Neill, do you

have any objection?

No, Your Honor.

-Mrs. O'Neill?

-No.

-Do you love your mother, Dane?

-Very much.

And do you love your father?

I don't know him very well.

I love the idea of having a father.

Do you like living with him?

Sort of. He's very good to me, but...

I miss my mom.

lf you could choose...

who would you rather live with,

your mother or your father?

lf I say Dad, then

my mom would be upset.

And if I say Mom, then

my dad would be cross.

I suppose that's why

you've got to choose.

Can't you give me any idea?

My dad isn't too keen

on my being Catholic...

so it would be better

if I lived with my mom.

We're going to lose him.

You know that, don't you?

And it's so easy. You only

have to tell the truth.

I can't do that to Ralph.

You love him so much, you'd

risk everything for him?

Don't make it worse for me.

He is not going to give

Dane to Luke. He can't.

lf he does?

I don't know. I don't

know anything anymore.

I watch Dane with Luke,

and I see that he's happy.

They say he needs a father more

than anything in the world...

and I wonder if Luke isn't right.

Maybe he does need a stronger

guiding hand than mine...

because if Im not very careful...

Im going to lose Dane, no

matter what the judge decides...

to Luke or to God.

Dane, what does the Pope mean to you?

He's the head of the Church, and

the representative of God on Earth.

-Do you believe everything he says?

-Yes. He's infallible.

He speaks for God.

-And you love your king and country?

-Yes.

Now, if your king were to

tell you to do something...

to fight for your country...

and the Pope wanted you

to do something else...

who would you believe?

Now, you promised to

tell me the truth, Dane.

Who would you obey? Your

king and country, or the Pope?

God.

This has not been an

easy decision for me.

As a general rule...

I believe that the best home life...

for any child of separated parents...

is with the mother.

However...

this may not be true in Dane's case.

It is unfortunate that the

boy has been brought up...

in such a hotbed of Popery.

Your Honor.

I mean no personal

disrespect, Archbishop...

but Im sure you'll agree...

that Dane has an obsession

with his religion.

I think Dane is a very

sincere young man, Your Honor.

Yes. So do l.

But what Mrs. O'Neill

cannot provide...

and what Dane so clearly needs...

is the strong, guiding

hand of a father.

Dane's obsession, in my mind...

is unhealthy in one so young.

I think we need to undo some of

the damage that has been done.

But I don't know that Mr. O'Neill

can provide properly for the boy.

I believe that Dane's best

interests are probably served...

by sending him to a foster

home for a period of time...

-No! Mommy!

-...by making him a ward of the court.

No, please. Please, no.

Mrs. O'Neill.

-No, Mommy, don't let them take me.

-Im attempting to be fair.

Is there anything you wish to

say, that might change my mind?

No, l...

Tell him.

Only that Im his mother.

I gave birth to him, Ive

loved him all his life.

I know him better than

anyone else in the world.

You say that he has had too

much religious influence.

Well, perhaps, but

it's not been unkind.

Dane's been free to decide

what he believes for himself.

None of us wants him to become

a priest. Why would I want that?

I want him to grow up

strong and healthy...

to find a wife and have

children of his own...

if only, selfishly, that I

might have some grandchildren.

But if his vocation is

to become a priest...

then none of us have the right

to take that away from him.

Not Luke, not you, not l.

Not anyone.

Please, you can't send him to strangers

who don't know him, who don't love him.

Please.

Believe me, Mrs. O'Neill, I think

you've done a sterling job...

under very difficult circumstances.

But before the boy is much older...

I believe he needs a sense

of balance in his life.

Very well.

lf you won't let me have

him, then give him to Luke.

At least they know each other.

Very well.

I award custody of the

boy, Dane O'Neill...

to his father.

No, you can't do that.

-Mom.

-Because...

Because Dane is my only grandson,

perhaps the only grandson Ill ever have.

Please don't take away

my hope for the future.

I am trying to give you hope

for the future, Mrs. Cleary.

Mr. O'Neill.

Do not treat this lightly.

Do not abuse the boy.

Children are not property...

a way of getting free

labor for your farm.

I will want to see

Dane's school report...

and I will want to be certain that

you are caring for him properly...

before I let this

arrangement continue.

But me, what about me?

Your case is not in

my purview, young lady.

But it's not fair. I

want to be with my daddy.

This court is adjourned.

-I will come and see you whenever I can.

-But why does it have to be like this?

-Why can't we all be together?

-Dane, you know why.

You were so brave in court.

Why won't you come and live

with Dad? You're married to him.

I can't. I just can't.

-Why? Don't you love me?

-With all my heart.

Then why?

-Please don't cry, please.

-We have to go. It's a long way.

You have to go with Daddy now.

But be brave, and I will come

and see you as soon as I can.

-Come on.

-I don't want you. I want my mommy.

It's a bit late for that now, sport.

Didn't have to be like this.

It could have been so easy.

Come on.

-We should get you home.

-I want my son back.

God has had enough from me.

Make him give me my son back.

Hello, everybody.

Jack.

-Welcome home.

-Good to see you.

Put a smile on your face, girl.

They only shot off my privates.

It's not the end of the world.

Good to see you, everybody.

-Luke's determined to keep the boy, then?

-And he has the court on his side.

You done well with the place,

Meggie. Can't have been easy.

It wasn't.

It is wonderful to have you

back to take charge again.

Id have come back sooner if

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