The Bells of St. Mary's

- Father O'Malley? - Yes.

- Welcome to St Mary's, Father. - Thank you.

I suppose you're tired after your travelling.

Oh, yeah, it's pretty tiresome, all the way in the day coach.

I'll take you up to your room, it's all ready.

There's nothing to do now but go to bed.

Is Father Fogarty still here?

No. They took him away this morning.

Poor man. My heart went out to him.

Poor man? Why?

Oh, you'll find out.

Well, I think you'll find everything you want here, Father.

Er... sure I couldn't get you a cup of tea now?

No, thanks.

I don't understand what you mean about Father Fogarty.

I'll find out. I'll find out what?

What Father Fogarty found out.

Oh, the poor man.

There you go again. What happened to him?

They took him away mumbling to himself in a wheelchair.

They took him away? Where?

Shady Rest.

He even said a prayer for you

that your stay here might be successful and enjoyable,

though he doubted it very much.

You see, he had very definite ideas about running this school,

about the raising and education of children, and so have they.

- They? - The sisters.

Father Fogarty said they wanted their way in everything,

and after he was confined to a wheelchair, they had it.

Well, maybe he was just getting along in years.

Oh? He looked all right when he got here.

That's strange.

I don't anticipate any trouble.

You don't, eh?

You've never been pastor of a parochial school, then?

No, it's my first experience.

Huh...

Well...

I can see you don't know what it means to be up to your neck in nuns.

No.

- Goodnight, Father. - Goodnight.

Sleep well tonight.

Oh...

Morning, Sister. I'm Father O'Malley.

Good morning, Father.

This is our school bell.

We usually ring it about an hour from now when the children are here.

I see... Do you think I could I see Sister Superior? Is she up yet?

I'm sure she is now, Father.

- Will you come with me? - Yes.

- Good morning, Sam. - Good morning.

Sam.

Sister Benedict and the others are very eager to meet you, Father.

Please sit down, and I'll tell her you're here.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry, Father.

Our cat had kittens and they're all over the place.

The father's a member of the parish, I presume.

Excuse me, Father. I'll tell Sister you're here.

- Good morning, Father. - Won't you sit down?

- Good morning, Father. - Would you sit down, please?

Good morning, Father.

- Good morning, Father. - Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Father.

- Good morning, Father. - Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Father.

- It has been my... - Father, this is Sister Superior.

Father O'Malley, Sister Mary Benedict.

- How do you do, Sister? - How do you do, Father?

- Sisters, this is Father O'Malley. - How do you do?

Father O'Malley is here as a substitute for Father Fogarty,

who, as you know, has departed for a much needed rest.

We do hope your stay here will be a pleasant one, Father.

Thank you, Sister.

We're looking forward expectantly to your views as an educator.

I'm sure that Father wishes to say a few words to us.

Well... yes, I...

St Mary's has been here a great many years,

and has seen the labours of a... good number of the sisters of your order.

And I know that the work hasn't been easy.

In the eyes of the world, very few even take notice of it,

but earthly honours and rewards are not for you.

You've sent forth generations of pupils

who have been a credit to the teachings inculcated here.

St Mary's has grown old doing good.

As for myself, may I tell you

that I'm happy I've been selected as pastor of St Mary's.

Working in a parish where there's a parish school

is going to prove a new experience for me

and I'm sure a very interesting one.

Yes, I see what you mean.

However, as in all things we assume the tasks assigned to us without complaint

and with a hopeful view to the future.

Yes...

By the epistle of Saint Peter, where he says, "Be sober and watch."

What's the matter, was it Saint Paul?

Now just to get serious for a moment, it...

I see...

In conclusion, may I say that I'm happy...

I, er... I'm sorry, but that's the first bell

and the sisters have to go to their classes.

Would you like to say a few words to the pupils before the second bell?

You may prefer speaking to the children.

- I'd certainly be more at ease. - Yes.

I want to speak to you, too.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands,

one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Children, our new pastor, Father O'Malley, wishes to speak to you.

I'm sure you'll be very glad to greet him,

and I'm also sure that he has something very important to say to you.

Well, children, you're going to see a lot of me in the future.

I'm gonna be around here a great deal.

You're gonna hear the shortest speech you ever heard.

This is a holiday. Everybody, take the day off.

Pretty effective speech, huh? I had to get my self-confidence back.

See, when we were kids, we used to just live for holidays.

We should never get too far away from our childhood.

Do you realise what you've done?

These children are liable to get into mischief.

The responsibility is yours.

It seemed like a good idea.

But you can't call a holiday just like that.

You have to get permission of the superintendent of schools.

What will we tell him?

Well, I'll call him.

There's a man that really needs a holiday. I may give him the day off.

My school wasn't like this.

See, I could look out the window and see fields and trees,

and the old swimming hole.

You know, hang your clothes on a hickory limb.

Last one out finds them tied up in knots.

- Where, Father? - Missouri.

I came from Ireland.

I used to.

Where are you from, Sister?

I was born in Sweden, but when I was very small, I came to...

Uh-uh-uh, don't tell me. Minnesota.

Well, that's right, Father.

I love the winter. I used to ski to school, and there was one big hill like...

Oh.

You carry them home after.

You wouldn't guess it, Father, but she was a tomboy from what I hear.

- That so? - Yes.

She played baseball and football with the boys.

- How good were you at the...? - Oh, I hit over 300.

Oh, that was in the wheat belt.

I guess we all had it better than these kids, didn't we?

They haven't even got a place to play.

That used to be our playground.

Over there where that is?

Yes. We had to sell the ground.

We needed money to fix our building.

They were going to condemn it.

- Where'd you put the money? - Oh, you'd be surprised, Father.

We had to put in a new sprinkler system, new fire escapes.

The foundation had to be reinforced. It was very expensive.

Hardly seems worth it.

We think so, Father.

Oh... yes, yes. Of course.

What are the other classrooms like?

Say, what's going on up there?

We're repairing the roof. It leaks.

A trifle.

You're very overcrowded here too, aren't you?

Oh, yes.

A trifle.

Looks like St Mary's is in a bad way... a trifle.

We're relying on you to help us, Father.

It's too bad you don't have a building like that now.

That'd be your answer to everything.

That's where we intended to build our new St Mary's.

A building very much like that.

There it is, only we don't own it.

Confidentially, Father, that's what we've been praying for.

You've been praying for what?

That the owner will wake up one morning and give it to us.

That who would wake up when and give you what?

Mr Bogardus, the owner.

Yes, that's what we are praying for.

Oh, woman, great is thy faith.

Well, if faith can move mountains...

You figured you could just move right in, huh?

- Yes. - You gotta be practical, let's face it.

Does the owner know anything about this? Anybody ask him?

No, we just prayed.

That's where you could help us.

What do I do when he says no?

Hey, there, all you kids! Get down outta there!

Why aren't you in school? You hear me?

That's bad. They shouldn't be doing that.

After all, it's a holiday.

Who's this coming here?

Well, that's Mr Bogardus.

I think we better go now.

And you can tell him why the children aren't in school.

You want me to say anything about the building?

Some other time.