The Keys of the Kingdom

Good afternoon, Monsignor. Good afternoon, Father.

How long have you been here in Tweedside, Father Chisholm?

Twelve months. Ah, yes, I remember now.

It was your particular wish to return to your native parish.

This is also the native parish of His Grace, the bishop.

I'm aware that Bishop Mealey shares with you...

the... distinction of having been born here.

What age are you now, Father?

Now, no older than Angus Mealey.

No doubt, but life has treated you somewhat differently.

To be brief,

the bishop and I both have the feeling that your...

long and faithful years should now be recompensed,

that you should, uh, retire.

But I have no wish to retire.

I'm sure you will understand that this has been a somewhat painful experience for me-

this week of investigation.

I find that I must point out to His Grace...

certain, uh,

peculiarities in the administration of your parish...

which he can scarcely overlook.

Peculiarities? Some of your sermons, the advice you give,

your approach to... certain points of doctrine.

Still peculiar after so many years.

Here is a remark that you made in Holy Week.

“All atheists are not godless men.

I knew one who I hope may now be in heaven.”

But he was a peculiar atheist.

And then, “The good Christian is a good man,

but I found that the Confucianist usually has a better sense of humor.”

When Mrs. Glendenning, one of your best parishioners,

who naturally cannot help her extreme stoutness,

came to you for spiritual guidance, you looked at her and said,

“Eat less. The gates of paradise are narrow.”

I'm afraid that you have lost your command of souls, Father.

I have no wish to command anyone's soul.

Naturally, I don't presume to be your judge.

I can only submit my findings to His Grace...

for his consideration in reaching a final decision.

Now, if you don't mind, Father, I will go to my room.

I shall be leaving the first thing in the morning,

and I have work still to do.

Uh, would you-would you be good enough to remind Angus-

His Grace, I mean- that we were boys together?

The bishop has not forgotten.

He spoke about it only last week.

Well, mention it to him again, will you? Of course.

I- I shouldn't like to leave here, if it could be helped.

Naturally. Good night.

This is my native parish, you know.

Good night, Father.

“Francis Chisholm- his journal.

“1878.

“Nothing could have been more remote from the life I have lived...

“than the beginning of it.

“My father was a master fisherman in the little village of Tweedside,

“the finest, the most honorable man / have ever known.

“He was a Catholic, as / was.

“My mother was a Protestant.

“The words, as / write them, seem divided,

“but never were three souls more nearly one,

“never were three hearts as happy and as filled with love...

as ours for each other. ”

We're having company for supper tonight, remember.

Polly's coming up from Tynecastle, and she's bringing Nora.

- Nora? - What's wrong with Nora, lad?

She's a girl.

A very proper objection, but you'll have to learn tolerance, laddie.

Women can't help it that they're not men.

Alex, I wish you'd let one of the other men take the accounts to town.

There be trouble again.

Last week I knocked their heads together,

and this week I'll do the same if they cross me.

To please me, Alex.

Like as not, they'll not say a word, one way or the other.

I'll be back for supper.

Good-bye, son. Good-bye, sir.

What is there to fear in the town, Mother?

I'm sorry, Francie. What did you say?

I said, what is there to fear in the town?

You and your father are Catholics, son.

Some people fear Catholics.

Some people hate them.

It's coming down. Aye, it is.

Well, good night, Mac. Good night, and mind what I tell you, me lad.

Be careful. I'll be all right. Don't you worry.

There goes that dirty papist!

We told you Roman scum to stay away from this town!

It's the storm that's keeping him.

I can't stand it any longer, Polly.

I'm going with you. No, Francie.

You stay here.

Go with her, son. She may need you.

Thank you, Nora.

Francie. Francie!

I don't want anything to happen to him.

Hold on to me, Alex. We'll make it home.

Carefully.

Careful!

The water! It's filled my boot!

Alex!

Help yourself. Go away. No!

No! No! Let go! Let go!

No! No!

Mother! Father!

Go into the house, Nora.

I don't want to go in just yet.

Let me stay with you.

No, please, Nora.

“Although I was not related by blood...

“to either Polly, her brother Ned or Nora-

“they were distant cousins of my father-

“they took me to live with them in Tynecastie.

“Their kindness and affection once more filled me with happiness,

“and, as the years went by / became increasingly satisfied...

“with the fact that Nora was a girt.

“My return to college after each vacation...

became an increasingly difficult parting for both of us. ”

Well, Francis, I'm glad you finally arrived.

People were beginning to think Willie was here to see me off.

I am, in a way. I want to be sure you go.

Francis, are you sure you have the tickets? Hello, Willie. Hello, Angus.

You and Francis better get aboard.

First thing you know, we'll be standing here talking, and you'll miss the train.

And so it's good-bye again.

But it'll be Christmas before we know it, and I'll be here.

And go away again. For the last time ever.

I'll be graduated in June.

Angus is going on from Holywell to the seminary.

I'll wish him the best of luck and come home to you.

And then- And then?

What is it? Nothing.

Tell me.

You won't come home to me. Nora!

If you do, you'll go away again to the seminary with Angus.

Please. You're going to become a priest, Francis.

Why won't you get that out of your mind?

I can't, any more than you can. I love you.

And you love Polly too. Of course I do, but-

She just lives for the day you become a priest.

It's all she talks about and dreams about and prays for.

It's the reason you went to school with Angus instead of Willie,

because Holywell is a Catholic college.

I'm sure Aunt Polly would be very happy if I were to become a priest.

In fact, I know she would. But there isn't a chance of it.

How could there be when I feel about you the way I do?

How strong will your feelings be when they come up against what Polly wants more than anything?

She's had her way with you. She's wrapped you around her finger since I can remember.

You're not being very fair to her, are you?

No, I suppose not.

Well, why don't you just wait and see?

I'll try.

But sometimes I get so afraid...

and so lonely.

Francis!

Francie.

Francis, how could you wait until the last second to say good-bye to me...

when there's so much I had to say to you?

I'm sorry, Aunt Polly, but there was a lot I had to say to Nora too.

It's been wonderful to be home. Take care of yourself.

Write to me often and study hard. Of course I will.

Francis! You've got the tickets. Come on. Be right with you, Angus.

Good-bye, Ned. Thanks for everything. Take good care of Aunt Polly.

I'll do that. Good-bye, Willie.

Good luck on your med studies, and write to me.

Francie, you'll get the next heart I dissect as a valentine.

Good-bye, dear.

Well, now, I'm not going off to the salt mines in Siberia.

Good-bye, Nora. Good-bye, Francis.

Come on. The train will be starting in just a minute. You'll miss the train.

Is everything there, Angus? Yes.

Let me know if you want anything, Francis! Good-bye!

Bye, Nora. Bye, Aunt Polly. Bye, Ned.

Bye. Have a nice trip.

Bye! Wait a minute. I forgot my present for Angus.

Something for those cold nights at Holywell.

Are you sure you can part with it?

I wouldn't want to deprive you of your only comfort.

Well, I never thought I'd live to see a Scotsman throw a bottle of whiskey out a window.

And another one to stand there and let him do it.

But there was a third Scotsman there to catch it!

Well, this is a sort of an empty moment, isn't it?

I don't think I'll ever get used to not having Francie around.

It'll be a good thing that next year he's home to stay.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

Francis may decide to go on to the seminary after all.

And why not? He's a fine boy.

It's a fine church.

“My studies prevented me from returning home for Christmas...

“as / had planned.

“As always, it was necessary for me to work twice as hard as the next man...

“to accomplish as much.

And so, another summer had come. ”

Come in.

Chisholm, what explanation have you to offer for your conduct?

- Have I done something wrong, Father? - Something unforgivable.

You-I've forgotten what, exactly.

Merely an additional example of what seems to be a general mental disobedience in you.

Just what was it specifically, Father?

During my instruction, I referred to the one true and epistolic religion.