The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years Page #12

We need to find some feed for the horses,

and Im sure Blackie's starving, too.

Mrs. Cleary, Im afraid he

doesn't want to see you, ma'am.

What do you mean? Why not?

He wouldn't say. He

was very determined.

But he must. Im his

mother. He can't not see me.

Im sorry. There's nothing I can do.

He can be difficult. They

get like that sometimes.

-Probably feels he's let you down.

-Im his mother.

Im sorry, ma'am.

-How is he?

-He's not very well at all, Im afraid.

lf he won't see me,

does he need a priest?

Father Donovan's giving

him last rites now, ma'am.

Im going to miss this

place, Bully Beef and all.

Ive been happy here.

That's what you said at Matlock

Island, but you had to leave.

This time, Im not sure I want to go.

Ralph, all your life you've been so sure

what you wanted, what you believed in...

that I can't bear

to see you in doubt.

I don't know what's

real anymore. I don't.

In Rome, before the war,

I had a worthwhile life.

I thought I was doing some

good for the world, for God.

And then the war swept over

us, and God disappeared.

And now nothing makes sense anymore.

-But the refugees, I thought--

-Yes, working for them...

I feel I have a purpose again.

But even that puts

me at odds with God.

-With God or with the Church?

-Both.

lf I left the Church, Id have

nothing. You understand that.

You're a priest.

You have nothing now.

Ive never loved you for what

you have. I love for what you are.

And I love you...

so much. That I know.

lf you want me just as I am...

foolish, misguided, dirt-poor...

Im yours.

Ive waited my whole

life to hear you say that.

No.

Meggie...

Im offering to give

up the priesthood.

And do what? Shear sheep?

Why not?

No, Ralph.

When Im beside you...

it's as close to

heaven as I can imagine.

But even when you're making love...

it's as if you're trying to

reach something beyond me.

Look, it's a wonderful idea...

the two of us living

together in the wilderness.

But it's not what you really want.

What I want is you.

We can always come back

here for a few days.

Depending on how long you stay.

lf you won't have me, either...

then I really don't know

what Im going to do.

I do.

You're going to help me get

these sheep back to Drogheda.

Dane! Got a visitor.

-Gran.

-Dane.

Darling, what's happened?

Broke my leg. It hurts

like anything, Gran.

Gran, it hurts. Take me

home. Please, take me home.

-I want Mom.

-There, there, darling.

It'll be all right. Gran's here now.

She'll make everything all right.

There.

He's sleeping now. Doctor

gave him a sedative.

Put the leg in plaster. Said

you did a very good job...

-setting the break.

-That's a wonder.

Never actually done

it on a person before.

Only on me dog, Blue.

-You've got a lot to do here.

-Yeah, heaps.

But I want to make a go

of it, for Dane's sake.

He's my son, and...

I can't manage the place on my own...

and the boy doesn't

seem much interested.

Im not surprised. He wants to do

something else with his life, doesn't he?

We'll work it out.

-You'll break Meggie's heart.

-Like she broke mine.

She didn't break your heart.

She was a pretty girl and a good catch,

but mostly what you saw was her money.

I offered her that money

back, like I told the judge.

Only 'cause you knew

she'd never take it.

Id be surprised if

you even had the money.

Did you spend all of

it? All of her dowry?

Well, I kept a few quid.

Enough for the deposit

on this place, anyway.

Just as I thought.

You know, you were clever, Luke.

Maybe a bit too clever

for your own good.

Everything you did when

you came back to Drogheda...

was part of a plan to get Dane.

-And I got him, too.

-Is that such a triumph?

My first son, Frank...

was not my husband's child.

When Frank found out, he ran away

and got in with bad company...

and ended up killing a man.

And I never saw him again.

He died in a prison cell...

and I didn't even have

a chance to say goodbye.

-Don't let that happen to Dane.

-It can't. It's different.

Dane'll never turn bad like Frank...

because Ill always be there for

him, like a good father should...

to teach him right from wrong.

But you're not his father.

lf Im not, Id like to know who is.

Can't you guess?

That bloody priest.

Im going to kill him.

Im going to break every

bone in his body, I swear.

So why didn't she tell the judge?

He never would've given

Dane to me if she had.

To keep Dane, she would've

had to destroy Ralph...

and his life in the Church.

She gave away the boy she loved

for the sake of the man she loved.

Still, it makes sense, doesn't it?

Now we know why

Dane's so keen on God.

-Does Ralph know?

-No.

And you must never tell him.

It's no wonder she never

told me we had a son.

So how does it feel, Fee?

Having a lying b*tch for a daughter

and a fornicating priest as her lover?

It's in the past, Luke.

We've all done things we regret.

Ain't that the truth?

Biggest mistake I ever

made was marrying her.

Let me take Dane away. I beg you.

Let there be an end to this, now.

You tell his dad to come and see me.

You promise me you will never

tell Ralph or Dane the truth?

-Why would I promise a thing like that?

-Because if you do...

Ralph will be forced to leave the

Church, and he will marry Meggie...

and they and Dane and

Justine will be a family.

And you will have nothing.

Well, we can't have

that, now, can we?

All right, Fee. I promise

I won't tell a living soul.

But I want to speak to that priest.

Meg, Justine! Mom's home!

We were worried about you, Mom.

Im quite capable of

looking after myself.

Are you all right? What

have you been doing?

Ive been trying to come

to terms with Frank's death.

But that was two days ago,

Mom. Where have you been?

I went to see Luke and Dane.

Why?

Because Luke is my son-in-law,

and Dane is my grandson.

Is that reason enough?

I tried to persuade

Luke to give up Dane.

He wouldn't.

He wants to talk to Ralph.

To me?

Mrs. Smith, I would

love a cup of tea.

And so the spark ignites the fuel

and then forces the piston down.

-Hello, Dane. Luke.

-Father Ralph! Father!

Just hold your horses.

-You'll have plenty of time to talk to him.

-How's the leg?

Getting better. Ive been

through the war, as Dad says.

So what can I do for you?

-I thought you wanted to see me.

-Yes.

Just this once.

And then I never want

to see your face again.

Dane, take a good look.

Now, is that what you want to be?

A namby-pamby priest

in a woman's dress...

like this gutless wonder?

Is that why you got me

out here? To call me names?

Partly, yes.

Id hoped it was more serious.

Id hoped you were going to give Dane

back to his mother, where he belongs.

-Is that what you want?

-That's what Meggie wants.

-And you?

-I want what Meggie wants.

Ill bet you do.

Ill bet...

you're an expert at

what Meggie wants.

You shouldn't say things

like that in front of the boy.

Why not?

Why shouldn't the boy

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