Elegy for April Quirke

Phoebe, there's something you don't know about Mal and Sarah and me.

What's there to know about you?

Would I want to see YOU hurt?

You who were a son to me.

Weren't you better off with me in Carricklee?

Do you know the kinds of things that went on in that place?

You're not my father, Quirke.

I told you I won't leave Mal.

PHONE RINGING

'It's Sarah. She's dead.

'She said she had a pain in her head. She fell down and died.'

GASPING

DISTANT SCREAMING

HE SHIVERS

HE BREATHES RAGGEDLY

Stopping drinking, that's the easy part.

The hard part is learning to live with yourself sober.

-How often do you pray?

-Pray?

Yes, pray.

Who would I pray to?

-Jesus Christ.

-About what?

About easing the burden of your anger.

Why would I be angry?

Well, speaking for myself, if my parents had given me away...

-..I might be angry. Very angry.

-Look, I didn't even know my parents.

And you have to know them to be angry?

Is your daughter angry?

She's young. That's how young people are.

-You gave her away.

-No, I didn't.

-You didn't give her away?

-No, I didn't give her away.

My wife died in childbirth.

My brother and his wife, they couldn't...

Anyway, that's how things were done at that time.

-That's how things were done?

-Mm-hm.

Or...that's just the way you allowed it to happen.

DOORBELL RINGS

DOORBELL RINGS AGAIN

TRAFFIC PASSING

INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS

-I know what this is about.

-Really?

You've changed your mind.

And you want to go to the pictures with me this weekend.

No. Sorry.

-It's not about that?

-No, it's not about that.

-I'm worried about April.

-About April, why?

-Because I haven't heard from her in ten days.

-And?

We were supposed to meet at The Corinthian last Thursday, she never showed.

I rang her the next day, no answer and I haven't heard from her since.

-Did you go round to her flat?

-Lots of times.

-I was just there.

-What about work?

-They say she sent in a sick note and hasn't been back.

-There you go.

-She's gone away on a skite.

-Did she say that?

-Not to me, but...why should she?

-Mm.

-Did you try her key?

-What key?

I never knew that was there.

She lets me kip on her couch sometimes.

KEYS JANGLE

-This way, I don't have to wake her.

-I see.

It's all perfectly innocent, Phoebe!

DOOR CLOSES

OPENS LOCK

Wait! Shouldn't we knock first?

Probably.

April?

April?

What?

She never makes her bed.

-I think we should tell the police.

-Tell them what?

That April is missing.

Phoebe, you know what April's like, she's away on a bender somewhere

and she hasn't come home yet.

Come on. Have you time for a quick drink?

I better not.

You don't make it easy, do you?

All right, I have to get back anyway.

We'll give it another day or two, if we don't hear anything

we'll put a piece in the paper saying, "April, where are you?!"

-Don't put it in the paper.

-All right, take it easy! I'm only joking!

-Promise me?

-Promise, Jesus!

I'm sure it's nothing! CAR HORN BEEPS

Tell me a little more about Sarah, will you?

Sarah...

-She was my brother's wife.

-I know that.

-But you've always managed to skirt around...

-She's dead.

Yes.

She died just before things started to

come apart at the seams, didn't she?

Passed away in March.

Your drinking gets out of hand May, June,

you see your GP about it in August.

You were arrested outside McGonagles for drunken affray in September.

The board of the hospital hauled you in in November.

I mean, if you consider it like a graph,

things get worse and worse from the moment she died.

Well, it's one way of looking at it, yes.

And what way would you look at it?

-HE SCOFFS

-She was my brother's wife.

-And that's it?

-That's it.

Well, Doctor Quirke, on paper it seems you've done everything

that was asked of you. You want to go home, fine.

But my concern, and I'm being frank with you,

is that we'll be seeing you back in here before long.

You've an interesting job, a good mind, no family hanging out of you,

no-one telling you to do anything you don't want to do

and yet you're hellbent on killing yourself, with liquor.

What would you say if I told you that was MY life?

I'd say, good luck.

All right.

Good luck...

..Doctor Quirke.

Thank you.

HE SIGHS

-Anyway, you're out.

-Yeah.

No more gargle!

THEY CHUCKLE

-Good for you.

-Thanks.

-Can we go, Mal?

-CAR STARTS

You're joking! What did she say?

-HE LAUGHS

-That is classic!

That is absolutely classic! Denny, I'll talk to you later.

-Doctor Griffin! I didn't know you were...

-What's going on?

No, it's just, everyone calls on Doctor Quirke's phone,

my office is so small.

How is Doctor Quirke?

-Can we expect him back soon?

-Get your stuff out of here.

-Yes, yes, of course.

-And I want all your reports for the last four weeks,

neatly stacked on Doctor Quirke's desk ready and waiting for him.

You got that?

I was going to do it. Sure, no-one tells me anything.

And tell someone to clean up in here.

BIRDS SINGING

Phoebe! I'm sorry. I got held up at the hospital.

They always start late on opening nights.

There's Jimmy.

-Ahoy, my hearties!

-Looking good.

Isabel looks so beautiful.

Sure, that picture's ten years old.

What are you talking about? It's for this show!

THEY LAUGH

Come on.

AUDIENCE APPLAUD

INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS

-Hello, Phoebe.

-Hi.

-You're home.

-Yeah. I got back yesterday.

So Mal gave me the ticket for this, for tonight, excuse me.

He's working.

-This is Jimmy Minor.

-Nice to meet you.

-And Patrick.

-Nice to meet you.

-How do you do, sir?

-This is Quirke. He's my, erm...

Yes. Erm...do you work at the hospital?

-Yes, I'm just finishing my residency.

-Ah! Good, that's great.

-Oh, look out, here she is!

-You were fantastic!

Oh, stop, I was horrid tonight! Oh, Jimmy!

-Patrick! You're a darling. Thank you so much for coming.

-Congratulations.

-Hello...?

-Hello. Congratulations, that was wonderful.

Oh, thank you.

Well, er...I'd better rush off.

-Nice to meet you all.

-Thank you very much for coming.

Good night, Phoebe.

-NEWS REPORT PLAYS ON RADIO

-'An Taoiseach, Eamon De Valera

'admitted that while he had no definitive statistics to hand,

'emigration is clearly running at a very high rate. Unemployment and

'emigration are the two evils towards which his government's

-'principal efforts are being directed.'

-DOORBELL RINGS

'He went on to blame Mr Costello's previous administration for

'policies which had hampered economic recovery.

'He also restated that agriculture must form the basis of any prosperity we might attain.'

I forget how you take it.

-Do you want me to get you some...?

-Black is fine.

-Sorry I haven't seen you since the funeral.

-I got your card.

But I wanted to drop by.

Ah, things just got...

you know.

What was it like in Saint John's?

Ohh... It was...

-You've stopped...?

-Yeah.

Over a month now.

-And how are you?

-I'm OK.

-Do you miss Sarah?

-Yeah.

Do you? HE SIGHS

Er... I did have a reason to come and see you.

A friend of mine has disappeared.

I don't know if you know her, April? April Latimer.

She was a few years ahead of me at the College of Surgeons.

-Have you spoken to her family?

-I don't know them.

Well, I know the brother a little bit.

He's quite a well-known gynaecologist.

-Could you ask him if she's all right?

-Yeah.

-We can ask him together if you like.

-Thanks, Quirke.

It's lucky you came by so early.

This is positively the only time I ever get.

-Well, we appreciate you taking the time, Doctor.

-Not at all.

Now...you mentioned on the phone something about my sister April.

-Yes, well, it's just...

-I hope you're not going to tell me she's in trouble again.

Well, it's Phoebe, really. She's...

-she's a little concerned about her.

-Oh?

Well...the thing is, no-one has...

well, none of her friends have seen her in over two weeks.

-I'm not sure I can help you.

-Of course, it's none of our business...

No, you don't understand, Doctor Quirke.

I haven't seen April in four-and-a-half years

-and she lives around the corner from me.

-Oh.

No, I'm sorry to say that the only thing we ever hear from April

these days is the odd bit of... well, unpleasant gossip.

I'd like to help you but that's...

April is...

Do you think that if you asked your mother she might know where she is?

Not at this time, Doctor Quirke.

Look, what I will say is that knowing April,

she'll probably show up sooner or later.

-DOORBELL RINGS

-Ah! That's my first appointment.

-Thank you for your time.

-Not at all. Ms Griffin.

DOOR CLOSES

Do you think he was telling the truth?

Don't know.

He could be protecting her,

-because she doesn't want anybody to know where she is.

-Mm.

Don't you think he was awfully quick to tell two strangers

what a disaster his family is?

-He might be beyond caring.

-How could you not care about your sister?

The landscape of your average family, Phoebe, can be quite strange.

SHE SOBS

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

No, it's not that, it's just...

I just know something terrible has happened to April, Quirke.

I can just... I just know.

DOOR OPENS

Thanks for coming, Inspector.

Quiet building.

Only one other flat is occupied, apparently.

Must be why it's so cold.

DOOR OPENS

Miss Latimer?

Miss Latimer?

Is she an untidy girl as a rule?

Er...I don't know. She could be.

She's very, um...

-What?

-Social girl, by all accounts.

Oh, dear.

Her family have heard nothing, you say?

No, she sent in a sick note and that's the last anybody's heard.

-Have you seen it, the sick note?

-No.

Might be worth a look.

See if she signed it herself.

HE OPENS AND CLOSES DRAWER

How have you been, Doctor? It's a long time since I've seen you.

-You know I was in Saint John of the Cross over the Christmas?

-Oh.

-The drink, was it?

-I'm afraid so, Inspector.

-Well, you're off it now?

-Yeah.

Oh, good for you. Bedroom through here?

Doctor Quirke!

If you please.

And how is Mrs Hackett?

Her inexhaustible reservoirs of forbearance continue to astound.

Give us a lift with that, will you?

Problem is, Doctor Quirke, people go missing every day.

Sometimes they just turn up, sometimes they never do.

Without a report from the family,

I can't even put a single man on it.

Just pure budgetary constraints, ie, I have no money.

I understand.

The Latimers are a powerful family, Doctor Quirke.

Perhaps even a dangerous family, if you get on the wrong side of them.

Unfortunately, if they're not interested

in where their daughter is,

there may not be a huge amount I can...

Now what would you say that is?

-It's blood.

-Mm.

A lot of blood.

You know, I might let you do the talking.

Are you sure?

HE RINGS DOORBELL

This isn't officially an investigation.

I'm not supposed to even be on the bloody south side without my passport.

Gentlemen.

Mrs Latimer. Thank you for seeing us.

This is Inspector Hackett.

-Inspector.

-Morning.

A policeman and a doctor. Should I be worried?

-Thank you, Marie.

-Yes, ma'am.

Mrs Latimer, my daughter is Phoebe Griffin.

-Perhaps you know her?

-I know who she is.

You've already been to see my son Oscar.

Then you'll know that

nothing has been heard from April for some weeks now.

So you called the police on my behalf?

Well, Inspector Hackett is here in an unofficial capacity, so far.

-And what capacity are you here in?

-Er...the thing is, Mrs Latimer,

April hasn't been to work, she hasn't been seen,

her flat is empty.

-She's moved?

-No. Her things are all still there.

Doctor Quirke asked my advice, and I suggested as next-of-kin you might know where she's gone.

Well, the sad fact is I don't. She leads her own life.

That's how she wants it and that's how it is.

Well, is there anybody that she might...

I've just told you, she leads her own life.

I can't afford to allow myself to get upset about this anymore.

She is my daughter, and I have to love her, of course,

but how can I?

She's never let me. There you are.

Well...other people are entitled to love her, aren't they?

DOORBELL RINGS

You're impertinent, Doctor Quirke.

And from what I hear, you're in no position yourself

to challenge anyone on the duties of a parent.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Yes.

Oh, God...it's bitter out there.

-Inspector Hackett, I presume?

-Minister.

Oh, don't call me Minister,

we don't bother with titles and all that around here.

Bill will suffice.

Is that tea fresh?

Sit down, sit down.

So, this niece of mine, what is it this time?

Another boyfriend up in court?

-Apparently she hasn't telephoned her friends in a week.

-Is that all?

-HE CHUCKLES

-That's a relief.

She's probably down the country with some young fella, what!

-Sorry, Celia.

-Yes.

Well. If you'll excuse me.

I'll leave you gentlemen to it.

Oh, for Gods' sake! Come on.

I need some air.

SEAGULLS SQUAWK

Poor Celia.

She's at her wit's end, lads.

April's caused her nothing but heartache.

Her father died when she was nine or ten. Probably didn't help,

if you want to take the charitable view.

But I'm inclined to think she'd be exactly the same even if he'd lived.

Minister, we found blood on the floor beside April's bed.

-In her bed?

-No, down between the floorboards like someone

tried to clean it up, but, well, it's a devil to get rid of.

Obviously, we didn't mention anything to Mrs Latimer,

-but I have a fella looking at it for me now.

-What fella?

From the forensics unit.

-Who does he report to, you?

-Me, yes.

-They don't go blabbing about the place, do they?

-No, sir.

-I'd hate for Celia to hear some silly tittle-tattle.

-Of course.

Ah, Christ.

Is there anybody that your niece might have been seeing or...?

Anybody that she might have been afraid of?

-You a detective as well now, Quirke?

-No.

What makes you think you're entitled to ask me personal questions?

Well, I just thought that we were all...

I'm not sure I care what you thought.

-Marching into an old woman's house and...

-Minister, that was my, er...

Doctor Quirke is a city pathologist,

he's here with me today in his professional capacity.

Oh, is that right?

I heard you were retired out of your job recently, no?

No, I was in Saint John of the Cross.

Oh, that's right. Your nerves, was it?

-No, drink.

-Oh, yes.

That's what I heard.

Just stay close to me on this blood stain or whatever it is, Inspector.

Right, I have to vote on some blasted private member's bill, so...

I'll wish you good morning.

Minister.

When are you getting back to work?

-Soon, I suppose.

-Yeah.

-Sooner the better, I'd say, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

DOORBELL RINGS

-Come on out of there!

-DOG BARKING

Am I late?

-Only three quarters of an hour.

-Oh.

Hope you like your steak well done.

Rose Crawford is on the prowl.

She asked for your number.

-Don't feed the dog at the table.

-Sorry, sorry.

There was some talk at the board meeting on Friday,

-people wondering about your plans.

-What people?

Your chap in pathology, what's his name, Sinclair?

He just wants my job, that's all.

Well, you better watch out or he'll get it.

Look, Mal, I appreciate that you're cooking for me

but you don't have to keep checking up on me all the time.

I'm not checking up on you!

Do you not think I might just like seeing you from time to time?

Not really, no.

HE CHUCKLES

I was going to ask you

to come to the Society of Corpus Christi dinner with me.

No, listen, there's no mass or prayers or anything.

It's a charity bash.

Few dances, few speeches, we'll have a laugh.

-Mm-hm.

-Sarah and I went every year.

I just...

..don't want to go on my own.

It's usually crawling with spinsters and widows.

Oh, fabulous.

Now, do you want some trifle?

And don't worry, there's no sherry in it, Phoebe told me not to.

Oh, just in case I fly off the handle?

-Has she mentioned anything about April Latimer to you?

-Yes.

-That she was missing.

-Missing?! My backside!

I'd put a guinea on it, says she's got in trouble

-and gone to London to get it fixed.

-Oh, yeah?

AND a ferocious drink problem.

She's on thin ice at the hospital, according to Professor Moriarty.

If she hasn't already fallen through, that is.

-Hello, Margaret.

-Doctor Quirke! You're back.

Yeah, I'm just trying to catch up before I hit the grindstone.

-Can I, er...can I work away in here?

-Requests in writing.

HE SIGHS

Can I drop it up to you later?

-Go on.

-Thanks.

-You're looking well, by the way.

-Oh, you're a big liar, Margaret!

MAN: ..why didn't she throw herself out the other window?

She would have landed on Dawson Street,

and been out of my jurisdiction! LAUGHTER

Doctor Quirke! Er, I didn't know you were...

This is Jim. James Minor from the Evening Press.

Yeah, we've met. I was, erm... Doctor Sinclair here was just

giving me a bit of background on the lady who jumped off the, er...

jumped off the...

-It's very sad.

-Really?

Can you go and sort out the post

-that's building up in the dispatch box?

-Yes. Of course.

-Yeah, I better...

-Before you go,

-could I have a word with you, Mr Minor?

-Yeah, of course.

-Call me Jimmy, will you?

-Jimmy.

-You're a friend of April Latimer's, aren't you?

-Yeah.

So what do you think happened to her?

-What happened to her?

-Well, you're a man of the world. I can see that.

Well...

Look, I know that Phoebe idolises April, all right?

-So anything that I say here is between us, OK?

-Yeah, sure.

Go on.

I'll put it this way, I can see why her family would be terrified.

-Of what?

-Scandal.

Embarrassment.

-April is wild.

-Wild?

-What, drink?

-She drinks, but...you know.

Wild.

-With men, all right?

-Yeah, men. What kind of men?

The wrong kinds. Fellas that would just use her.

Fellas where you'd be scratching your head wondering

what in the name of Jesus could she possibly...

-And has there been anybody recently?

-Of course there was!

-HE SIGHS

-Don't get me wrong,

April's a good friend, she's a REALLY nice person,

-but there's something...

-HE EXHALES DRAMATICALLY

..missing somewhere.

I'm sorry, Doctor Quirke, there's someone on the phone for you.

-Who is it?

-It's an American lady.

Thanks, Jimmy.

CORK POPS At last!

-Sir?

-Oh, he'll have one.

-Rose, you know I've been away.

-Away where?

Saint John of the Cross.

Oh, you dried out?

-Mm-hm.

-Well, good for you.

To sobriety.

GLASSES CLINK

I'll have them take it away.

I don't want you back up on the Cross on my account.

-So, how's Phoebe?

-She's, erm...she's good.

-And Mal?

-Mal, oh, you know Mal.

-He says, um...he says he's going to retire soon.

-Retire?!

-Well, he's far too youthful.

-Well, that's what I said.

I'll tell you what he needs.

A decent period of mourning, a year or two,

then get married again.

Who would marry him, Rose?

-You'd be surprised, Quirke.

-I WOULD be surprised.

THEY LAUGH

-So what about you?

-What about me?

-Don't you ever get lonely?

-Oh!

-Who doesn't, Rose?

-Nobody.

Maybe I should marry you.

I wouldn't let you do that to yourself, Rose.

SHE LAUGHS

ROSE'S VOICE ECHOES: Now, tell me they have fresh oysters.

LIVELY CHATTER

Phoebe!

-What did you think of the match?

-What match?

What match? Oh, for crying out loud!

What do you want to drink?

Just a tonic water, thanks. I'm meeting Patrick.

Oh!

Excuse me!

-We're just getting some food. You should come with us.

-No.

Something tells me I wouldn't be welcome.

Phoebe! Jimmy!

Sorry. I forgot the match was on. Hey.

We should go to Fratellis. It'll be quiet.

-Good idea, I'm starving!

-Have a drink FIRST! For Jaysus' sake!

-Hey, Minor! What do you want, a pint?

-Yeah, a pint.

And here, Tommy, get me a tonic water?

-And Patrick, what do you want?

-I'm all right, Jimmy, thanks.

-Get him a banana!

-LAUGHTER

HE LAUGHS

I'll see you outside, Phoebe.

-Aw, Patrick!

-Patrick, wait!

-You sure that's a good idea?

-What are you talking about?

You're supposed to be his friend and you don't even stand up for him.

You know, he was having it off with April, don't you?

So what if he was? What's it to you?

He knows more than he's letting on, that's all.

-Let go of me, Jimmy.

-Just watch your step! That's all I'm saying.

Or you'll be on that boat to London too.

-Someone give me a drink, for the love of God.

-Get that into you.

-Slainte.

-Slainte.

Are you all right?

Do you get that kind of thing a lot?

-IN DUBLIN ACCENT:

-Well, more than I'd like!

THEY LAUGH

-Look, if you want to leave it tonight, I don't mind, Phoebe.

-No...

-Listen, Jimmy just said something to me.

-What?

-Nothing. You know what he's like.

-Mm.

Come on. If we hurry, we can catch the last sitting at Fratellis.

CHURCH BELLS RING

-Glass of wine, sir?

-No, thank you.

Oh, God, Mal. You didn't tell me the Judge was here.

-I, uh...assumed you knew.

-Aw, Mal.

Ah, you came!

Just seeing if the old tuxedo still fits after all these years.

Well, it does. You look well, and you too, Mal.

Although you could do with a haircut, both of you. Now, come on.

Let's have a drink before dinner.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Ah, John.

-Ah, Judge.

-Hiya, Bill.

-I was wondering if you'd be able to make it.

-How are you, Bill?

-Fine, thanks. Quirke.

-Minister.

-I've a small bone to pick with you.

-Oh?

-I've been hearing unfavourable reports.

-Like what?

That you've been going into people's homes

and accusing them of all sorts of things.

They're a good family, the Latimers,

and certainly not ones to antagonise.

I'm not antagonising them.

You were always a pathologist. First, last and always, Quirke.

You never leave a thing alone, until you understand it.

But some things are not for us to understand,

-should be left alone. To-to-to...

-To what, to rot?

-To die?

-Don't be so naive.

You go on like a bloody adolescent!

Like what's your man in Rebel Without A Cause.

All I've ever done is treat you like a member of our family,

but you know what?

It's like you never accepted us.

What are you talking about? Of course I've accepted you.

You think I don't know you were carrying on

with your own brother's wife?

Your brother!

Jesus' sake. Look at him.

Ladies and gentlemen, could you please take your seats downstairs?

Well, Your Grace, are Wexford going to do it on Sunday?

-Good evening, sir.

-Good evening.

HE SIGHS

Can I have a glass of wine, please?

We've a nice Chateauneuf du Pape open this evening, or...?

-Erm... I'll have a whiskey.

-Irish?

-Sure.

-Double?

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Thank you.

I hope I'm not disturbing you?

-I met you at the opening night of Hedda Gabler.

-Oh, yes.

Miss Galloway, of course.

-It was an excellent performance.

-Thank you for saying so.

The barman said you were drinking whiskey?

Oh. Thank you.

Would you care to join me?

-Only if you don't mind.

-Of course not.

-I'm using you, actually.

-Oh, really?

The man over there at the bar?

With the make-up and the terrible black wig.

He's hounding me to play Pegeen Mike in a musical version

of Playboy of the Western bloody World! Can you imagine?!

I wish I could be of some use to you, Miss Galloway,

but I wasn't planning on staying too long.

Got to get up for work in the morning.

Oh, that's perfect! I can walk out with you.

'So how do you know Phoebe?'

-I know Phoebe through... April Latimer.

-Ah.

April sort of took Phoebe under her wing.

Although I'm not sure how much shelter there is under there.

I hear that she's, er...

-..like a force of nature.

-More like a bloody tornado.

She's her own worst enemy, really.

Our lives have gone a bit quiet all of a sudden since she...

she's gone wherever she's gone. And to tell you the truth, there are

quite a lot of people who wouldn't really care if she never came back.

Sad but true, I'm afraid.

This is me.

Why don't you come in?

SHE LAUGHS

You can take off your coat, you know.

No, it's just...

Just what?

Sorry.

Maybe we're a little drunker than I thought.

Well, I better... I better get going.

I don't want to give you the wrong idea.

Why don't we both... get the wrong idea and...

..see where it leads us?

BIRDS SINGING

Oh, by the Lord, Harry, what happened to this poor old sausage?

Oh. Row over a bottle of wine in an alleyway.

That's what I call a thirst.

I have the results from forensics of the blood on April's flat.

-Well?

-Hm.

Two blood types mixed together, AB positive and AB negative.

-And one person can't be both?

-Yeah.

AB negative is the rarest blood type there is.

I mean, less than 1% of the population have it but...

AB positive is more common. But you can't, as you say, be both.

Don't tell me the lab have made a cock-up?

-I don't think so.

-So?

Well...what if the sample was post-partum?

A mother and a baby.

-Something like that.

-Miscarriage, termination.

OK, so she lost a child, or maybe someone helped her lose it

and now she's recovering somewhere? It's possible.

You're not convinced?

There's, er...there's a lot of blood there.

And I've been having a look at this sick note.

No signature.

They can be a right nuisance, Doctor Quirke, these niggling feelings.

You don't know why you feel the way you feel, but you do,

it's like having a hangover when you haven't had a drink.

I'll keep my ears open.

Unofficially, of course.

Good luck.

WOMAN: What do you want?! If it's about the rent,

-you're wasting your time.

-No, no, it's not about the rent.

Are you trying to take away my cat?

No, I'm not trying to take your cat away.

Could you fix me gas fire?

I'll have a go.

You're not like the other men from the Gas Board.

Well, that's because, see, I'm not really from the Gas Board.

But I can tell you, that I think you've been cut off.

Ah, that's a distinct possibility, all right.

Now listen, if you're a Jehovah's Witness, come right out and say it.

No, no, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness. Actually, I'm a doctor.

Do you happen to know the girl who lives upstairs?

Of course I know her, she does me shopping for me,

that's why I'm starving in here! You see, I couldn't go out,

-because there was all men coming up and down out there.

-What men?

Men, coming up the stairs.

And I heard her crying. And so I just kept me door shut.

Who...who was crying?

And there was a man that night, my God,

he looked as if he'd sprung from the very pit of Hell itself!

NURSES CHATTING

She's all yours, Doctor.

Doctor!

Oh...thank you, Sister.

-Everything all right, Doctor Ojukwu?

-Morning, Doctor Griffin.

-Chop, chop, eh?

-Yes, sir.

-Morning, Sister.

-Morning, Doctor Griffin.

Hiya, Dermot. Can I go in?

I wouldn't go in just at the moment, Doctor.

Speak of the devil! Hope you're proud of yourself too!

Here, keep it as a souvenir.

And I'll tell you this for the very last time,

you stay away from my family, all of you, do you hear me?!

And you...you look to your sense of decency, sir.

Or by Christ, you'll regret that you ever stuck your nose into this.

I'll walk you out, Minister. What are you looking at?

Get back to work, you lazy sods, what's the matter with ye?

PHONES RINGING

Well, Doctor. You've done it now, haven't you?

You fancy a drink?

Listen, for myself, I know you're only trying to help,

but this kind of thing will cause uncle Bill hell in the Cabinet

which is why he's so...

See, no-one really understands what it is to be a Latimer.

My father carried James Connolly out of the GPO after the surrender.

He shared a cell with Eamon De Valera.

He lost his friends, family, everything to free this country.

Whereas uncle Bill, I'm sure you know...

..people don't respect him as much as they did my father.

-He never said anything about the blood.

-What blood?

-The blood that we found beside April's bed.

-What kind of blood?

April's kind.

Why didn't you say anything?

Because up to now we didn't know whose it was.

This is...

Obviously we'll have to, er...

God!

What happened?

Accident,

miscarriage,

who can say?

-Until the family files a report, the police can't...

-No, um...

obviously I'll talk to uncle Bill,

get onto the police and see if they can, you know...quietly.

Unless you know where she is.

I wish I did.

You could try asking some of her so-called friends.

-Like who?

-I don't know.

Half of them are low-lifes, I can't remember.

And the men... Christ, I dread to even...

There's that Nigerian chap, works at the hospital.

Can't keep his hands off the nurses.

-Someone even told me that himself and April had...

-Mm.

Look, I better get back.

Can I give you a lift?

-I think I'll walk.

-Good luck, Quirke.

PHONE RINGS

HE GROANS

Hello?

What time is it?

In the morning?

Oh.

The evening!

What's wrong?

Mal!

Mal!

-What happened?

-Where have you been?

I was... I...

Oh, God! Look at you!

HE SIGHS

Stroke?

Mrs O'Halloran found him on the kitchen floor this morning.

-Is there anywhere around here I can get a coffee?

-Oh, for Christ's sake!

Phoebe. Go home with him.

Make sure he eats.

I'll call you if there's any change.

-I called in there today.

-To April's?

I met with April's neighbour.

She told me that she'd seen a black man going up to April's flat.

-Do you happen to know who that might be?

-No.

What about the African man I met you with at the play?

Er...no. He didn't know April.

The Latimers have complained me to the police,

-so I've been warned away.

-I know.

-And Jimmy's been sacked as well.

-Who?

Jimmy Minor.

He wrote the piece about April in the paper.

-Why did they sack him?

-For writing the piece.

HE SIGHS

-You want me to make you some dinner?

-Er...no thanks.

I think I'll just go to bed.

-You want me to sit here for a few minutes?

-I'm not going to drink.

-I'll light the fire.

-I said I'm not going to drink.

Please don't hate me.

Why would I hate you?

-Because Delia died giving birth to me.

-For Jesus' sake,

-what are you talking about?

-I wouldn't blame you.

And I understand under the circumstances why you gave me away.

I did NOT give you away!

Mal and Sarah, they...

-they were able to give you things that...

-It doesn't matter.

I've forgiven you. OK?

-You've forgiven me?

-Yes, I have.

Why do you think I would need your forgiveness?

Well... No, it's just that it...

No, listen to me, I don't need your forgiveness

and I don't need anybody else's! Have you got that?

-I'm sorry, I just...

-What?

-I'm sorry.

-Yeah. Me too.

DOOR CLOSES

WOLF-WHISTLES

PEBBLES HIT THE WINDOW

Black coffee, two sugars.

Your hands are shaking.

Are you cold?

Hey.

It's all right.

It's all right.

-Patrick?

-Hm?

What do you think has happened to April?

I don't know.

-Did you ever visit her in her flat?

-Yes, of course.

-A few times.

-Were you and her...?

What?

Well, someone spoke to April's neighbour...

and she said that...she saw a black man going up to April's apartment

and that April was crying.

Who was talking to her? The police?

No.

Quirke.

-Is that why you came here?

-No!

-Well, yeah.

-I think you should go, Phoebe.

-Why?

-Because I thought you came here to see me,

not because you think I had something to do with what's happened to April.

-I don't!

-So why did you come here?

-Why are you asking me this?

-Because I was jealous!

All right? Because I was jealous.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Who's up there?

Nobody, Mrs Gilligan!

It was just the radio.

-What?

-It was the radio!

Good night, Mrs Gilligan.

-You should go.

-I'll be quiet.

-No!

-Let me stay, Patrick, please!

-I said just go, Phoebe, all right? Just go.

SHE SOBS

MUSIC PLAYS NEXT DOOR

KNOCK ON DOOR

Come in.

Morning, Lazarus.

How are you feeling?

HE SIGHS

Just about as rough as I deserve to feel, I imagine.

SHE LAUGHS

-What time did I get here?

-About three.

Half three.

Did I disgrace myself?

Did you try to get me into bed, you mean?

-Yes, you tried.

-Sorry.

Don't worry, you were very gallant.

I made you a cup of tea and you sort of...keeled over.

Sorry.

Quirke, if you're going to keep on apologising, you can clear off.

Sorry, I...

-Right.

-Why don't you go and make us a pot of coffee?

There's a dear.

SHE SIGHS

Quirke.

Are you all right, Doctor?

-Can't you eat?

-No.

I've never been able to eat breakfast.

Prefer to drink it, I suppose?

Isn't a joke, is it?

No.

You going to go back in, to Saint John's?

I don't know. I've got to do something.

Isn't there anyone you want to stay sober for?

For Phoebe?

I know she reveres you.

-She'd be better off without me.

-No.

I don't believe that.

I think maybe the real reason I came here last night was to...

..was to ask...

Hm? Ask me what?

To help me.

God, I don't know about that!

Please?

I could try.

You've hardly touched your food!

I was thinking about work.

-Have you ever considered coming back to Boston with me?

-I don't think so.

You're crazy!

If I had your brains, I wouldn't waste my youth in some damn hat shop!

Come home with me.

-You could enrol in college, you could even apply for...

-I can't!

Why not?

You know, there comes a time when

you have to stop trying to be the good daughter

or the good little girl or whoever it is you're trying to be.

Oh, yeah? And what should I be trying to be?

How about yourself?

KNOCK ON DOOR Yes?

-Doctor Griffin?

-Patrick.

What can I do for you?

I was...wondering if you knew anything about this?

What is it?

It's a letter from the Minister of Justice about my immigration status.

How would I know about it?

Well, my visa is contingent on my studies here at this hospital.

Hm.

You do know that April Latimer's uncle is the Minister?

-I don't know where she is.

-Fair enough.

But if her uncle is trying to kick you out of the country,

it suggests that he thinks otherwise.

I don't.

Hm. Well...

I can give you a letter that says

the hospital couldn't possibly do without you.

-Thank you, Doctor Griffin.

-Or, I could tell them about...

I don't know, a misdiagnosis here,

a sloppy prescription there.

And you might suddenly start to look even more dangerous.

Why would you do that?

I don't give a tinker's damn where April Latimer is.

I don't even like her.

But Phoebe loves her.

So if you do know anything, I want to know too.

-Let's go down to pathology, shall we?

-Pathology?

She asked me for my help.

She was very brave and we...

..we did it.

You terminated her pregnancy?

Yes.

At her flat?

Well, it wasn't my baby, if that's what you're thinking, all right?

I stayed with her that night and she was fine.

But the following evening...

..she phoned me...

She was bleeding.

I told her to...get an ambulance, I begged her.

But she absolutely forbade it.

I went straight there and I...

..I did what I could, but...

But what?

-She was alive when I left her.

-You LEFT her?!

-I'm not saying anything else.

-Why?!

-Because she made me promise.

-Ah, for crying out loud!

-Is that really important now?

-Yes.

-If she's alive, it is.

-And if she's dead?

Look, I made a promise to her, all right?

I made a promise.

If you want to know any more, why don't you ask her family?

What makes a man like that

risk everything for the likes of April Latimer?

Whatever it is, he's not going to tell us.

It must be his baby.

You can imagine how that went down with the Latimers and their precious family.

A black baby is up there with incest for the likes of Bill Latimer.

And Oscar Latimer, my God!

Although Patrick is actually a prince in his own country,

so that might make the difference.

Yeah, erm, I left my keys inside. I'll telephone you later.

There's some chicken stew at home, if you'd like.

I'm afraid you've wasted your trip, Doctor Quirke.

My son is not at home.

Do you know where he is?

I don't think that's any of your business, Doctor Quirke.

But if you must know, he's in town tonight.

Corpus Christi have seen fit to grace my late husband

with a Legion of Honour Medal

and Oscar is to collect it on his behalf.

-You're not going yourself?

-It's men only tonight.

Naturally.

Can I give him a message for you?

No, thank you.

CHURCH BELLS RING All men are heroes to their sons.

But few are heroes to entire nations.

That was my father's privilege.

If my father...

..if...

..my father was here tonight,

he would be so proud.

And it is therefore with some pride that I stand here before you

to accept this great honour in memory of my father, Connor Latimer,

a patriarch, and a patriot. Thank you.

APPLAUSE

For God's sake! What is it now, Quirke?

People are starting to worry about you, you know that?

-I spoke to Patrick Ojukwu this evening.

-Who?

He confessed to performing an abortion on your sister, April, in her flat.

I thought you should know that.

-But then you already do, don't you?

-I know nothing of the sort.

-Who is this, er, Patrick Ojonko?

-Patrick Ojukwu.

He's the man who asked you to come and save your sister.

-But she died, didn't she?

-How the hell would I know?

-Because you hid her body.

-I did no such thing.

His was the consciousness, not just of a man,

-but of a people.

-APPLAUSE

Ojukwu called you because she was bleeding to death,

but you panicked. And you hid her body.

-And why would I do that?

-Because she was carrying your baby.

Listen to yourself.

-She was my SISTER, for Christ's sake!

-That's why you had to hide the body,

because of the scandal.

-She botched her own abortion and you couldn't clean it up.

-No.

The baby's blood was AB negative, the same as yours.

You must have thought it was a long shot

that anybody would put two and two together,

but you couldn't take the chance, could you?

I'm going to give you 30 seconds to get out of this building.

It's only because I know that you've got a drink problem.

But if you're not gone by then, I'm going to have you thrown out.

And I'm going to see to it personally that you're struck off.

-Look, your little bird is missing a wing.

-What?

-I think I might have it here.

-What are you talking about?

-Go home, Quirke.

-Well, look at that.

Perfect.

Know where I found that?

In April's flat.

APPLAUSE CONTINUES

You let her die, Oscar.

You let her die.

No!

-Everything all right, gentlemen?

-Yes, yes, everything's all right.

And now, gentlemen, may I ask you

all to be upstanding, for my brother, Connor Latimer?

I tried to save her, Quirke.

There was nothing I could do.

I thank you. Thank you.

I never loved anyone like I loved April.

I was telling the truth about not seeing her for four years,

until one night at the end of October

when we bumped into each other on South Anne Street.

She was drunk out of her mind,

didn't know where she was. So...

..I put her in a taxi and I brought her home and I, I...

..went in.

She was, er...barely conscious, she didn't know it was me, I don't think.

And I...don't know why I did it... HE SOBS

..to obliterate it or to control it or...

Oh, Christ!

To obliterate what, Oscar?

We were just...

We were just children...

..and our heroic father would come in stinking of drink

and he'd tell us both to get into the bed

and then he'd...he'd...

Oh, Christ! HE SOBS

Oscar.

Even when he died, it didn't...

We just didn't speak to each other any more until that night.

What's going on here?

Patrick called me and told me what they had done.

And I knew it was my baby.

And there was nothing I could do.

She died about ten minutes after I got there.

God help her, God help her!

HE SOBS

-I watched her die.

-He doesn't know what he's saying.

This has nothing to do with you!

What do you mean, it has nothing to do with me?

Have you any idea what you're saying?

Oscar?

Where's April's body?

HE SOBS

Congratulations.

How did you get on?

Well, they extended my visa.

Because of this?

Wow!

That is...

Want a drink?

Hey...

Hey! There, now.

It's all right.

You did your best. You did your best.

"After a jittery final fence,

"Persian Tiara suddenly managed to surge.

"The crowd roared their approval for a fitting finale to..."

KNOCK ON DOOR

Just thought I'd say goodbye.

-When are you off?

-Rose is calling for me at seven

and I fly out tonight.

I don't suppose you'll miss me?

I'm really sorry that things turned out so badly for your friend April.

It's funny, isn't it?

Out of everyone, you were the only one who...

HE COUGHS

-Are you all right?

-My boy! My boy.

-Were we at the races just now?

-No. I was reading you the results.

Go back to sleep. You'll be as right as rain.

We were going in the school gates a few minutes ago.

You'll be all right. Get some sleep.

-I know... I know it's wrong.

-What is?

I always loved you more than anyone else.

Why do you think that is?

-Bad judgment, maybe.

-Hah!

I won't be able to give you your presents on Christmas morning.

-Of course you will.

-Ah!

You used to ask me if I knew who put you in the orphanage.

I said I didn't know, but I do... I do know.

It was me.

No! You-you took me out, Dad, you gave me a home.

Yes, but I also put you in.

We had no choice, we couldn't get married, we had no money.

Broke my heart, nearly killed me, I swear to God!

But as soon as I could I got you out.

Every night, I dreamt you were calling to get me

to come back and get you.

I did in the end.

I always knew.

Who told you?

Nobody.

Who was my mother, Dad?

No, I can't...

HE SOBS

I can't...

If you're coming back this way, let me know and I'll buy you lunch.

Yeah. That'd be great.

Listen... I wanted to give you this.

I was going to give it to Mal to give to you.

-It belonged to your mother.

-Thanks.

Quirke...

SHE SOBS