The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years Page #4

Keep the money.

They can't do this.

The Allies are winning.

They can do what they want.

They're coming close to

San Lorenzo. I must go.

There's nothing you

can do there tonight.

Keep calm. You are safe here.

What is it, Grandpa?

What's happening?

It is the end of the world.

This is your doing.

This is God's vengeance

for bringing them here.

You even brought Jews

to a Christian place.

-Father, that's enough.

-I curse you.

What are you doing? Get

back down there. Go on.

You're safe here. You're

20 feet underground.

This is the best bomb shelter ever

built. Why would you want to be out?

What I told you is true.

This is your sanctuary.

Here, you're safe.

That's why I chose this place.

Now, go back to your

places, all of you.

-Go on.

-Im sorry, Father. We did try.

Listen to me. Listen!

The bombs won't last much longer.

And you should be happy,

they're American bombs...

and that means the end of the

war is coming closer and closer.

Good for the Yanks!

That's the spirit.

I know you're all

frightened. I am, too.

But we're in God's hands now,

and he's spared our lives so far.

Let's give thanks to him.

-Should I pray, too, Grandpa?

-Pray, Samuel.

Pray with all your heart.

Pray for that priest.

He will be your salvation.

Our Father, who art in heaven...

hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done...

on Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses...

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation...

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Grandpa!

Samuel, come here, boy. Come here.

Hush. Don't cry.

He's safe with God now, and

you'll be all right, Samuel.

I promise you.

I swore to your grandfather

that Id keep you safe...

and I will.

I will.

You promised me no scandal,

and look what you have done.

Thousands taken from

the Carson estate.

-Believe me, it was a worthy cause.

-You broke your word.

Food, yes. Medicine, clothing, yes.

All that, the Church might forgive.

But money to buy

passage to America...

for some

little boy--

He was a very special case.

It's always a special

case. Every case is special.

I agree with you, but if

your enemies know about it...

they will do everything in

their power to destroy you.

Is that what the Church is?

Intrigue, power, politics?

Yes, that's what the Church

is:
power and politics.

And you should have learned

that a long time ago.

In their eyes, you committed a crime.

The Church demands

obedience to your vows.

Where was your vow of poverty

when you used the Carson money?

Where was your vow of obedience

when you broke your word to me?

And let's not talk about

your vow of chastity.

And on top of everything...

you neglected the fortune

you're in charge of: Drogheda.

-It's also the Church's property.

-Your Eminence?

Don't you know that Drogheda

is devastated by drought?

There is often drought in Australia.

Drought.

Perhaps you should see for yourself.

Im going to send

you back to Australia.

Not to Australia.

Vittorio, I beg you.

I warned you, but

you wouldn't listen.

lf this comes out, there

will be a scandal here...

and you are better out of it.

And there, you can discuss...

the resettlement of refugees

in that country after the war.

It would do much to

repair your reputation.

Not Australia.

Please!

Why not?

Is there any temptation there?

Then perhaps, like our

Lord in the wilderness...

you should learn to resist it.

Can he drive it yet?

The boy's a legend.

Go on.

You're good.

Don't pet the dog before dinner.

There you go, Dad.

-Great tucker, Justine.

-Thanks, Dad. Mom helped.

I just supervised.

You'll make someone

a great little wife.

Im not going to get

married, not for a long time.

Im going to be an actress.

My word, Dane, we're going to

have an actress in the family.

She just likes showing off.

And what about you, boy?

What do you want to be?

A priest.

Is that so? And why's that?

I don't know, I just want to.

I think that's a terrific thing...

but having a wife and a family...

that's a very special thing, too.

It's been hard on us

all, not being together.

I bought a farm. Put a

deposit on it, anyway.

We could all live together.

And then you might decide that

having a family of your own...

is much better than being a priest.

It's been pretty good this

last little while, hasn't it?

-Yes.

-Too right.

And it will get better

and better, I promise.

When can we move, Dad?

When can we go there?

That's not up to me. That's

up to your mother to decide.

But we'll talk about

that after dinner.

Can you pass the salt?

Pass the bread, Mom.

Yeah, good night.

-Good night, darling.

-Good night, Dad.

-Good night, Mom.

-Good night, Justine.

You don't play fair, Luke.

You come swanning in here

like Father Christmas...

making them think you're the

most wonderful man in the world.

Well, I am.

Walk me home?

-Scared of the dark?

-No.

Scared of losing you.

This isn't going to work.

At least let me try.

You owe me that much.

And you owe it to the children.

-Meggie?

-Mom!

-Im going to Sydney.

-What's happened?

Jack's been sent there

to see some specialist.

He says he'll be in hospital for a

while. I have to be there to see him.

-Please, Mom, let me drive.

-No, Ive got to get used to it.

Now that you're going to be

living with Luke on his farm...

Ill be doing a lot of driving.

-The children told me.

-It's not definite yet.

Hopefully, you'll have

more children. Sons.

I already have a son.

What if he becomes a priest?

Who'll inherit all this

if Dane never has children?

He can't inherit Drogheda anyway,

Mom. It belongs to the Church.

It's ours to care for, at

least as long as we have sons.

And it should have been ours.

Your father and your brothers

worked hard for this place.

It's the most spiteful

thing Mary Carson ever did.

Just leave them there. Thank you.

-You sure you'll be all right, Mom?

-Oh, Meggie, Im not a child.

Give my love to Jackie.

-Hello, Meggie.

-Ralph.

-You're looking very well.

-And you.

-I had no idea you were coming.

-It was all very sudden.

You didn't write.

You didn't telephone.

Ten years of nothing. Only

letters to Mom about Drogheda.

-What could I say?

-That you missed me.

That you were coming home.

I mean, how were you going

to get out to Drogheda?

Ill be staying at the presbytery in

town. I was going to call from there.

Why there? Why are you staying there?

I have a lot of Church

business to take care of.

A lot of things have changed, Meggie.

Yes, they have.

-How bad is the drought?

-It's over two years now.

We're running half

the sheep we used to...

which you'd have known if

you'd read the reports properly.

For pity's sake,

Meggie, stop the car.

-Why did you come back?

-Because of the drought.

To see for myself.

-Are you so unhappy Im here?

-Yes.

No.

Ralph, 10 years ago

you said you loved me...

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