The Field

God made the world...

...and see we made that field, boy.

This is what we'd be without the land, boy.

Come on, we'll go.

- Why does the widow refuse to sell? - Well God knows boy.

Shes a woman, like your mother.

If we knew how to keep the women happy,

sure we'd still be in paradise!

Ah 'tis a field worth fighting for boy.

'Tis the best fertiliser in the world.

Your rent ma'am.

Your anniversay must be soon ma'am

Ten years this week.

That's a long time for a woman to be in mourning.

Long enough.

And what use is a field to you...

without a man to farm it?

No use.

I'm making arrangements...

for Tadgh to be settled.

You ever think of selling the field ever?

You know well enough I have no son of my own.

I think about it all the time.

It would be in good hands, when you do.

Excuse me miss.

Good boy, Tadgh.

It'll drive her mad!.

Penny for the poor tinker child ma'am?

Bottle of milk for the baby?

Can't serve you at this hour ma'm.

I don't want a drink. I want to sell the field.

The field?

Aye the field. I'll need the best price I can get.

The Bull McCabe's field?

He rents it.

Twas bare rock when he got it ma'am.

Barren.

He broke it into a lovely field.

'Twill go to the highest bidder.

Bidder?

'Twill be sold by public auction.

You've no right to sell the field.

It's my land, I'll take my chances.

'Twill be sold by puclic auction on October the first.

Whoever pays the most will get the field.

I'm washing my hands of that field.

We're in for a lot of trouble here Mr. Flanagan.

The Bull won't like this.

'Tis the Bull McCabe's field by right.

Nobody would bid against the BUll.

Nobody steps into that field without the Bull's permission.

There was a big stallion donkey...

he stepped into the Bull's field,

but he never stepped out again...

because he didn't have permission!

A big stallion donkey?

Run, Bird, run!

You let the Bird go

There'll be hell to pay when your father wakes up.

I don't know what you're laughing at.

They murdered your father's donkey!

Good!

It's alright lambykins.

Tadgh, Tadgh! Where's your father?

Inside.

Careful, he's resting.

Bull...

Bull.

Bull.

Bull!

It's me, the Bird.

Were you dreaming Bull?

I never dream.

How are you keeping Bull?

Who gave you permission to call me Bull?

You little felon.

Little felon? Little felon...thats a good one Bull.

What do you want?

I haven't come looking for drink money Bull.

What do you want?

The young widow...she came into Flanagans this morning...

She's thinking of selling the field...

Good.

...by public auction.

Tadgh!

Oooh there's going to be a mighty row lambykins!

So she's putting up the field?

That's right.

On the first of October, by public auction.

Public auction?

What will happen?

Men will make bids.

Bids?

Bids...for my field?

Sure who would insult me, by bidding for my field, here in Carrick Thommond?

There might be outsiders Bull.

Outsiders...

Outsiders.

Are these the same outsiders who took the corn from our mouths...

when the potatoes went rotten in the ditches?

Ah now Bull.

Are these the same outsiders who took the meat from the table...

when we lay in the ditches, the grass juice running green from our mouths?

Are these the same outsiders who drove us to the coffin ships...

and scattered us to the four corners of the earth?

Are these the same outsiders, who watched...

as our valley went silent, except for the cries of the last starving child?

The English are gone Bull.

Gone?

Because I drove them out.

Me, and my kind.

Gone,

but not forgotten, Flanagan.

No outsider, will bid for my field.

Well said! Well said! Well said!

You're the Bull! You're the Bull! You're the Bull!

That's your father, Tadgh!

The widow, will get 50 pounds from me for the field, the silly woman.

The priest will get his Easter dues and everyone will be happy in Carrick Thomond.

Give everyone a drink.

Come on come on, it's our new priest he's covered from head to foot

trying to stop the tinkers fighting.

Stop it!

- I'd like a word with you, Mr. McCabe. - Speak.

Where were you the night before last?

At home.

- Doing what at home? - Nothing.

- You know anything about a missing donkey? - It's missing.

We want our donkey!

We want our money!

Will I take care of this seargent or will you?

We want our money!

The next time a tinkers donkey breaks a wall into my field I'll kill the owner...

and not the poor dumb animal.

He did it!

You'll get your blood money.

Well we better.

because if we don't there'll be a curse on your head.

Tadgh, let's go.

This will be a fair auction McCabe.

I want no intimidation.

You're just passing through here Father.

Leave us to our ways, and we'll leave God to his.

Never trust a woman who has no contact with the earth boy.

Did you tell the tinkers about the donkey Bird?

- I did not tell the tinkers! - I think you did.

i did not tell the tinkers.

Tadgh, look.

I'd cut that with a rusty blade before I'd become an informer.

that's dirty! Dirty! Worse than a whore, Tadgh.

Worse than a whore.

Ah I think you did Bird.

There she is.

Jaysus would you look at that boys.

Do you remember that linoleum, your mother baought for the room a way back?

I do.

- Do you know how much it cost per square yard? - No idea.

One shilling and six pence a square foot.

That's more than that field down there. And linoleum wears out!

And you'd have to go a long way to find cattle that will take to linoleum!

And your father's father's father's fathers...

Dug that soil with their bare hands.

And built those walls.

Our souls is buried down there.

And your son's son's son's sons...

will take care of it boy.

- D'you get my meaning? - I do.

Guard it well.

Watch out for those tinkers boy.

They lost their footing on the land during the Famine...

and they'll never get back on it.

42... 42...

42, 43, 44...

45...

46, 47, 48, 49...

... minus the tinkers blood money

I'll give it to them, after I get the field.

I'm short.

I'll get it from the turf.

I'll sell it to the island men.

I'll sell them a years supply.

What you did to that donkey was wrong.

Never harm an animal.

Never.

- He paid ya? - Yes.

- What is he? A bank robber? - He's a yank.

It's pure geomotry.

Your father was a great man for making the rake Bull.

Even the great storm of '05 never toppled his rakes.

Sandwiches.

There, tis like a house.

Corner stone is secure.

Jaysus they're good.

Would you want a sandwich Bird?

Oh, ya.

Who took the meat out of this one?

Twas not me Bull.

Well someone did.

I'll have to talk to the wife about it.

You've not said a word to her for 20 years Bull.