Man: ♪ A gentle man
♪ Was passing by
♪ He stopped for a drink as he got dry ♪
♪ The well below the valley o ♪
♪ Green grows the lily o
♪ Down among the bushes o
♪ Me cup was full up to the rim ♪
♪ If I were to stoop, I might fall in ♪
♪ At the well below the valley o ♪
♪ Green grows the lily o
♪ Right among the bushes o
♪ He said, "Young maid, you're swearing wrong" ♪
♪ For six fine children she had born ♪
♪ At the well below the valley o ♪
♪ Green grows the lily o
♪ Right among the bushes o
♪ If you be a man of noble esteem ♪
♪ You'll tell to me what happened to them ♪
♪ At the well below the valley o ♪
♪ Green grows the lily o
♪ Right among the bushes o
♪ Two buried beneath the stable door ♪
♪ At the well below the valley o ♪
♪ Green grows the lily o
♪ Right among the bushes o
♪ You'll be seven years a-ringing the bell ♪
♪ But the Lord above, He save me soul ♪
♪ From all this hell
♪ Green grows the lily o
♪ Right among the bushes o.
( whispering )
( applause )
( door opens )
Well, what is it you were wanting to show me?
( music continues below )
Come on, Kevin, what's the secret?
What do you think you're doing?
I'm going back down.
Kevin, stop!
No, Kevin, behave yourself.
Now you're my cousin!
What would your father say?
No, please. Please stop.
Ah! Please, Kevin, please.
No, I'm begging you, please don't.
( crying )
No, don't, please don't.
( music playing loudly )
( silent )
( music and hooting continue )
( silent )
( music and clapping continue )
( music and hooting continue )
( music ends )
( birds chirping )
( footsteps approach )
You, get up. Get up.
Get dressed. Hurry up.
I want you downstairs.
Boy: What's happenin'?
I don't know.
Shh.
( car motor humming )
Da! Where's Margaret going?
Ma! Where's Father Doyle taking Margaret?
( footsteps approach, door opens )
- Uh! - Where's the bloody brush?
- Where is it? - Get off! I won't ever tell ya.
Right, Sonia, fart in her face!
I'm not farting in her face.
Do it! Yours are more smellier.
- Don't even think about it. - ( farts )
Jesus. How do you do that?
Where's the bleedin' brush?
( sighs )
Take the damn thing.
( both struggling )
Girl: It's my turn now!
I'm only on 18! I've got two more.
You're on 20! I've been counting.
If you two don't stop fighting, I'll do it myself.
Isn't it a sin to be beautiful?
No.
Look at the Virgin Mary.
She's beautiful, isn't she?
It's a sin to be vain. Vanity is a sin.
( children laughing )
Boy: What's your name, gorgeous?
Bernadette.
Boy: Bernadette... lovely name.
Grandmother's name. Very fond of it.
So you comin' up to give us a kiss or what?
No chance.
Give us a look at your legs, love. Go on.
- Excuse me? - Show us a bit of leg.
- Go on. - Show a bit more of your leg. Go on.
You spend all your time hanging around playgrounds, do you?
Which one of us do you like then?
- You fancy me? - Boy #2: How could she fancy you?
- Look at the stomach on you. - Look at this little...
Right, lads, that's enough.
Move or I'll call the guards.
( boys laughing )
Boy: She's a right mac, isn't she?
Give us a kiss. Come on now.
Bernadette: Cheeky.
Why not?
Not that kind of girl.
You wouldn't lie to me, would you?
Ho ho!
Are you giving a little kiss?
She's teasing us now, she is.
Come on up, give us a kiss.
She's a very good-looking broad.
( sound faded )
( children shouting )
( door opens )
( door creaks )
He's beautiful, isn't he?
Look at his wee hat.
Ma.
Please, would you just look at him?
He's your grandson.
Ma, I've said I'm sorry.
I know it was sinful what I did.
But just look at him, Ma.
You can't blame him for something he's nothing to do with.
I know I've shamed you and my da.
But just look at him, Ma.
Ma, would you just say something? Anything?
All right, Da?
Sit down, Rose.
My name is Father Doonigan.
I work for St. John's Adoption Society.
Your father and I have discussed your situation
and we feel it would be better for the child
if you put him up for adoption.
A child born out of wedlock is a bastard child.
Would you have him go through life as an outcast, Rose?
Rejected and scorned by all decent members of society?
It's a grievous sin you have committed.
I know, Father. I'm sorry. I really am.
All the same, would you have the child pay for your sins...
your sins, not his, remember.
I...
Speak up, Rose. I didn't hear you.
No, Father.
So you agree, better he gets a chance in life,
that he grows up in a good Catholic home
with a loving mother and father?
Sign your name here.
( baby crying )
Now...
you stay with your father while I go and get the baby.
Wait, you're going to take him now?
You wouldn't want to get too attached, would you, Rose?
Did you see the baby, Da?
He's beautiful.
I think I'll tell him I've changed my mind.
Can I not change my mind?
Can we just tear up the forms?
Did you look at him, Ma?
Isn't he beautiful?
He is beautiful.
( door closes )
My baby! I want my baby!
I changed my mind!
Please, Da, stop them!
Please, Da, don't let them take my baby.
Please, Da!
- ( sobbing ) - ( baby crying )
Please, Da!
( sobbing )
Leave them down there now and wait.
( knocking )
Sister Bridget will see you now.
In you go.
The philosophy here at Magdalene is a very simple one.
Through the powers of prayer,
cleanliness and hard work, the fallen may find their way
back to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Mary Magdalene, patron saint of the Magdalene Convents herself,
was a sinner of the worst kind,
giving of her flesh to the depraved
and the lustful for money.
Salvation came only by paying penance for her sins,
denying herself all passions of the flesh,
including food and sleep,
and working beyond human endurance
so that she might offer up her soul to God
and so walk through the gates of heaven and live an everlasting life.
In our laundry, they are not simply clothes
and bed linen. These are the earthly means
to cleanse your very soul,
to remove the stains of the sins you have committed.
Here you may redeem yourself
and, God will, save yourself from eternal damnation.
Breakfast is at 6:00,
prayer is at half past 6:00, work begins at 7:00.
- Lunch is at... - Excuse me, Sister.
I think I should go.
You see, my father was very ups...
Don't ever interrupt me, girl.
Did no one ever tell you that it's bad manners to interrupt?
Or were you too busy whoring it with the boys to listen?
- Is that what it was? - No, Sister.
Are you simple-minded? Is that what it is?
Are you a simpleton?
I decided when or if you're allowed to leave,
and I think I can safely say it could be quite some time.
What's your name?
Margaret, Sister.
Margaret what?
Maguire.
Yours?
Rose Stone.
We have a Rose. What's your middle name?
I don't have one, Sister.
Well, perhaps not on your birth certificate,
but I'm sure your parents will have thought of one or two names for you now.
What's your confirmation name?
Patricia.
Then you may call yourself Patricia.
"Thank you, Sister."
Thank you, Sister.
And you?
Bernadette Houghy.
From St. Attracta's?
Yes, Sister.
Now how would I know that?
I don't know, Sister.
Is it that Principal McLaughlan is a very good friend of mine
and has told me all about you?
Or is it that after many years in charge of this convent,
I know a little temptress when I see one?
I don't know, Sister.
Well, blessed Mary, two simpletons in one day.
Well, I'm sure we shall find out in the course of time, won't we?
Now come with me.
Good afternoon.
You come with me.
You over there.
And you come this way.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost...
Girls: Amen.
O Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this night be at my side to light, to guard,
- to rule and guide. - All: Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
- All: Amen. - To bed now, girls.
( locks clicking )
( breathing hard )
Sorry.
Can you help me to the toilet, please?
Yeah.
( crying )
Are you all right?
( crying )
It's so painful.
What is?
Here, it's so painful.
I think I'm going to faint.
Okay.
Don't touch it.
Is your milk stuck?
I don't know. I think so.
Then don't touch. You'll start leaking all over the place.
Nuns go crazy if you start leaking.
Best just take the pain.
Be gone in a couple of days.
Better get to bed.
( flushing )
If they see you two getting friendly,
they'll skin you alive.
Everyone out of their beds!
Come on, come on! Hurry up!
Has anyone seen Una O'Connor?
Did anyone hear anything during the night?
Did anyone see her leave?
Breakfast.
"I believe in one God,
the almighty Father and maker of heaven and earth,
maker of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ.
the only begotten son of God,
born the Father before time began.
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in substance with the Father,
and through Him, all things were made."
( all whispering )
"For us men and for our salvation
He came down from heaven,
was incarnated the Virgin Mary
- by the power of the Holy Spirit..." - ( all whispering )
"...and was made man.
- For our sake..." - ( whispering loudly )
( bangs table )
That is enough!
"Together with the Father and the Son,
He is adored and glorified. He is..."
( door bangs )
"...it was who spoke through the Prophets.
I believe in one holy Catholic
and Apostolic church."
I'll keep...
I'll keep a very close eye on all of them.
Did you know, Sister, I worked here for 40 years?
I don't do priests' collars.
Ask any of the girls. I don't do them.
So what? I have to do all my work as well as yours?
We can swap if you'd like.
Get lost.
Have you any bloody ones?
I know the girls hate the bloody ones, but I don't mind.
There you go.
I'll do this for you.
A lot of the girls put them into hot water.
I tell them, but they don't listen.
You have to soak them in cold water first
with a little bit of salt
and then rub it like that.
I believe ya.
What are you two talking about?
There's no talking allowed! Sister!
They were talking. But I've given them a right row for it.
All right, Sister?
Yes, Kate.
There is no talking allowed.
What were you talking about?
I was just telling her how to wash these.
Jesus, Mary and holy Saint Joseph,
get them away from me.
You're a disgusting girl.
You know that? Now get back to work.
I worked here for 40 years.
I know all the little tricks!
I got my eye on you two.
Listen to me.
Poor Sister Augusta,
she got into terrible trouble with that girl running away.
That's why they asked me to sit in for her.
Her poor nerve ends, they're all shot to blazes.
I'm giving them a right earful now, Sister!
Right, right... a right earful now, Sister.
That's what's wrong with yous.
You're just co... you're completely selfish.
You don't care if some poor nun
gets into trouble and loses her position.
You don't care.
She just fell asleep on night duty.
And she's going to end up in Africa
working with the lepers.
Her fingers could fall off.
Her toes could fall off.
She might even lose her nose.
Anything that sticks out falls off.
Just get on with your work.
Get on with it.
We gotta get out of this...
Quiet now!
( girl screaming )
Man: Get... get...
Girl: Please, no! I'm sorry!
- I'm sorry! - ( man speaking )
Please don't hurt me!
- This one? This one? - I'm sorry, Dad!
Is this where you are? You're going to stay here until you die!
- Ya slut! - I just wanted to come home, Dad!
I just wanted to come home!
I hate you!
Hold that tongue.
What have I told you?!
No! No!
What have I told you?!
Ah!
You've got no home. You've got no mother.
You've got no father. You killed us, you slut.
You killed us both.
You run away again, I'll cripple you.
I swear to God.
Mr. O'Connor,
I think you should go home now.
We'll look after her now.
What you looking at, you whores?
God bless you, Sister.
Please don't leave me here, Dad.
Please don't leave me here!
Get to bed now.
I'll see you in the morning.
Now...
the rest of you lie down.
Go to sleep.
( Una sobbing )
( engine revving )
So they're all hookers and whores that work in there?
You don't look at them, you don't talk to them.
Do you understand me?
Good morning.
There's somebody looking for you.
My sister.
Oh, it's my little one.
That's my little boy.
( laughs ) Oh, isn't he big?
Isn't he the biggest boy you've ever seen
in your whole life?
He's only two.
And the size of him!
( kissing )
Blessed Virgin,
may you and... and Saint Christopher...
Saint Christopher,
look out and...
Holy God, look after this child.
Bless you and bless everyone.
Woman: You two!
Stop hanging around.
You spastic or what?
Now this here is my friendly face.
You can shove it up your not-so-friendly arse.
( muttering )
And they told me you lot were right into fellas.
Well, ain't they right?
That you lot are in here 'cause you like to give it out to the lads?
You like to get the old knickers off and that?
What's your wee boy called?
Don't know.
Ask me my name.
What's your name?
Crispina.
It means "girlie with the curly hair."
Sister Bridget gave it to me.
Two shillings if you suck my cock.
Oh! Ah! Ohh!
Look what you did, you mad fuckin' bitch!
When my... when my baby came out of me,
they gave him to my sister.
And she's not allowed to come here
nor talk to me.
So I don't know his name.
But my auntie,
who's the richest woman in the world,
she gave us both these.
And my sister...
my sister... my sister brings him to the gate sometimes
and we talk on this.
This is a... a...
a...
a holy...
holy...
I'm sorry, Sister! What's the word?
I'm sorry, Sister. I just can't think of the word.
You know there's no talking. Get back to word.
I said get back to work.
I am not going to tell you again.
Telephone!
That's what it is, a telephone.
I can never think of the word telephone.
I want to see Sister Bridget right now!
Wait there.
( knocking )
( door opening )
I understand that you two have been disobedient.
Sorry, Sister.
I just asked if I could see you, Sister.
You didn't ask anything, girl. You demanded.
Now who in God's name gave you the right to make demands?
I'm just wondering why I'm here, Sister.
I've not committed any crime.
I've never been with any lads ever.
That's God's honest truth.
But you'd like to, wouldn't you?
I'm a good girl, Sister.
No. You're arrogant, narrow-minded and stupid,
and that'll be why the boys liked you.
So much low intelligence makes it easier
for them to get their fingers inside you.
Isn't that right, Crispina?
Yes, Sister.
What did I just say?
I don't know, Sister.
That all men are sinners
and therefore all men are open to temptation.
In any God-fearing country, if you want to save men from themselves,
you remove that temptation.
Do you understand me, girl?
Yes, Sister.
I wasn't asking you.
I understand you, Sister.
You sure now.
There were a few words of more than one syllable there.
I understand you, Sister.
Now disobedience will not be tolerated.
Face the wall.
( gasps )
Now go on,
the two of you back to your work.
Una, have you completely lost your mind?
Your hair's no good to you now.
We'll pack it away later, sell it to O'Brien's,
give the money to the black babies.
All right?
Oh.
You won't be running away now, will you?
With your hair like this.
So where would you go?
I have a cousin in Dublin.
She's a hairdresser.
I've only met her once, but I'm sure she wouldn't turn me away
if I asked her for help.
You want to come with me?
Why?
What in God's name have we done to deserve this?
We're not slaves.
We're not criminals.
What have we done?
Having a baby is not a crime.
Having a baby before you're married is a mortal sin.
All the mortal sins in the world wouldn't justify this place.
I'll tell you,
I'll commit any sin, mortal or otherwise,
to get the hell out of here.
So we gonna get married?
What?
We have to run away together.
Where would we go?
Go to England or America or something.
You got any money?
Do I look like I have any money?
I thought you might have saved up some of your wages.
You think I came here because I answered an ad in the papers?
No, I just thought you might have got something.
We get nothing.
So?
So what?
Run away together.
How can we run away together?
We've got no money, nowhere to go.
And anyway, I hardly even know ya.
All right, you can look.
But if you try and touch, I'll have to kick your teeth in.
It's not a fuckin' chimney.
Do you have the keys to the back door?
No, Seamus has them.
But you can get them?
I think so.
Then get them and bring them here tonight.
Tonight?
Yeah.
Oh, dear God.
Oh dear God in heaven.
Jesus.
- Oh, dear God! - You have to promise me you'll be here.
- You have to promise me. - All right, I...
If you don't come, they'll kill me.
I promise.
Get away from me! I don't even want to look at you.
You... you're a disgusting...
you're a disgusting girl.
We're getting married, honest.
- He'll never marry you. - He will.
- Ever. - He will, but if you...
if you tell, I can't get out of here.
And then we can't get married.
Then I'll be a sinner. You don't want me to be a sinner.
No.
Look, I'll tell Sister Bridget you were disgusting.
And then... then you'll see, they'll keep you here forever.
And you'll be able to get into heaven
because you'd have paid for all your disgusting sins here now...
- Please. - Isn't that good?
Please don't tell her.
I'll stay here, I'll work hard every day.
I'll pray for all my sins.
Please don't tell her.
But I have to tell her.
I have to.
Fine.
But if you do, I'll kill myself.
And you know what that means.
It means I'll go straight to hell and so will you.
'Cause in the eyes of God, you'll be a murderer,
same as me.
No.
No it isn't.
Not true.
( chain rattles )
( key clanking )
This is fuckin' mad.
It's fuckin' nuts.
( whispering )
Open the door.
Brendan? Brendan, it's me.
Please open the door.
This is madness.
Christ, I don't even know your name. It's that mad.
Bernadette. My name is Bernadette.
Please open the door.
They know it was me. You know that, don't you?
I'll lose my job, everything.
You know, I have a brother doing six years in jail
for stealing apples from the nuns.
Now what would they give me? I'm sorry.
- Brendan... - I can't do it.
Brendan, don't leave me here.
- I'm sorry. - ( banging )
At least open the fucking door!
- Hold her still. - ( grunting )
- Hold. - I'm holding.
Ah!
Stop it. Stop.
I got her.
Ah!
- Come here. - Ah!
Ah!
( scissors cutting )
( grunting )
Hold her.
Hold still.
( grunting )
Sister Bridget: Open your eyes, girl.
Open them.
I want you to see yourself as you really are.
Now that your vanity is gone and your arrogance defeated,
you're free.
Free to choose between right and wrong, good and evil.
So now you must look deep into your soul,
find that which is pure and decent and offer it up to God.
Then and only then will you find salvation.
In nomine Patris, et Filii,
et Spiritus Sancti.
Amen.
( applause continues )
( woman laughing )
( woman continues laughing )
Woman: All right, enough.
Ah, there's nothing like a little exercise before supper.
Though I have to say, some of you could do
with cutting down on the potatoes.
Arms by your sides.
Frances, do you know, I've never noticed before,
but not only do you have the tiniest little breasts
I've ever seen, but you've got no nipples.
Do you see that?
That can't be natural, can it?
( laughing )
So we're all agreed,
Frances has the littlest breasts.
But who's got the biggest?
I'd say it was Patricia.
No, she's just broad in the back.
Turn around, Patricia.
( laughing )
See?
She's just big in the back.
Patricia, you have a brickie's back.
A couple of tattoos and you could pass yourself off as a navvy.
( laughing )
No, biggest breasts definitely have to go
to Cecilia.
Give yourself a round of applause, Cecilia.
Good girl.
So we've covered biggest breasts,
littlest breasts,
biggest bottom.
So that only leaves us with the hairiest.
( laughing )
Crispina, step forward.
And Bernadette, step forward.
Stand beside each other.
( laughs )
Crispina, get your hands away from there.
Get them away.
Bernadette, you have more hair down there
than you have on your head.
But the winner is
Crispina.
Crispina,
you've won. Why are you crying?
I don't know, Sister.
Neither do I. It's a game.
Eh, put your clothes on, the lot of you.
Time for tea.
( gasps )
( water dripping )
( moans )
( teeth chattering )
"Every day of my life belongs to Thee, o my God,
and every action of my life should be performed
with the pure intention of honoring Thee alone.
From this moment, I offer them to thy sacred heart.
And by this offering, I consecrate them
without reserve to thy glory.
Therefore I will perform them
with all possible perfection.
Do not permit them, o my divine Savior,
to be sullied by..."
- ( fork drops ) - What's going on down there?
Crispina, what are you playing at?
I don't know, Sister.
She's very hot, Sister.
Take her to bed.
Come on.
Sorry, Sister.
I think I made a mess, Sister.
Sorry.
( door opens, closes )
"I renounce all that could lessen the merit of my offering.
I renounce all vanity, self-love and human respect.
Grant, o my God, that I may commence, continue
and end this day in thy grace
and solely from the pure motive of pleasing and honoring Thee."
Amen.
Girl: Amen.
I think I might be dying.
You're not dying. You've just got a fever.
Maybe you have the flu or something.
You can die from the flu.
Old people die from the flu, not young people.
Crispina, did you lie in this all night?
Crispina, did you wet the bed?
I've never wet the bed in my life, not even when I was little.
Then what happened? It's soaking wet.
( sighs )
Thank God it hasn't gone all the way through.
Otherwise we've have to tell the sisters.
You wouldn't want that row, now would you?
Hold this, will you?
You'll have to sleep in your dress for now.
I'll go down and try to get you some clean sheets.
I can do it myself.
Well, do it.
I'll be back.
( squeals )
( screams )
What happened now? What's wrong with you?
I lost my holy medal.
My Saint Christopher... I've lost it!
Just calm down. You look in your dress, I'll look on the floor.
Where is it? Where's my Saint Christopher?
- Oh! Oh God, where is he? - I don't know.
Crispina, shh. It's all right.
Please be calm and lie down, will you?
It probably fell off in the canteen.
I'll go down and find it for you.
You just lie there nice and still now.
( whimpering )
Shh. I'll be back. I'll find it for you.
( weeping )
( whispering ) She's not well.
She's not...
What?
Achoo.
( speaking gibberish )
Crispina?
Crispina, what are you doing?
- You'll never find my Saint Christopher. - I will so.
Come down from there and get back into bed.
It's my punishment.
Punishment for what?
I promise you, I will find it for you.
Now come down from there.
Come on.
Lay down.
If I died of the flu, it wouldn't be your fault.
- Sure it wouldn't. - Of course it wouldn't be your fault.
And anyway, you're not going to die of the flu.
- I told you that already. - But if you did...
Are you gonna behave now?
I have to get back to work.
( sighs )
( gasping )
( muttering )
Everybody.
( gasping )
She can't get off.
Take her legs!
Lift her, lift her!
Crispina, stop kicking, will you?!
Try and keep her still, please!
- She can't breathe. - Girl: Pull her off!
Keep still, Crispina! Will you keep still?
Loosen it!
Patricia: I can't! It's too tight.
Will you loosen it?
- Pull her from the side! - It's too tight!
Keep it there!
Keep her there! Don't move her.
( gasping )
There... you've got it!
( gasping )
Good girl.
( gasping )
Crispina, why did you want to kill yourself?
Jesus, that's a stupid thing to ask in this place.
Why?
I wanted to die of the flu.
But you said I wouldn't.
But you mustn't try to kill yourself.
It's the biggest mortal sin there is.
You'll go straight to hell.
I saw your wee boy today.
My little boy?
How was he looking?
Lovely. He looked really sad, though,
'cause you weren't there. He missed you.
There you go. Just think how sad he'd be
if he never saw you again.
I have to go to bed.
This place makes us all desperate at times.
But you must remember that you'll be out of here one day
and able to play with your little one.
When?
I don't know.
Then why would you say something like that?
Because it's true.
Then tell her when.
Next week? Next month? Next century?
I don't know the exact date or time.
I'm just trying to stop her from killing herself.
I know what you're trying to do.
I just don't know why you're doing it.
( bell tolling ) - I lost my Saint Christopher, Father.
Hurry up now. We'll be late.
( rosaries jangling )
Sister Bridget: Una O'Connor
has decided to give herself to the convent.
As most of you know,
this is one of the greatest commitments a young penitent
can make to our order.
She has turned her back
on the evils and temptations of the world
and will face the light of the Lord
with us here in this convent until the day she dies.
Her sacrifice and indeed her transformation
from what she once was
should be noted by you all.
Thank you, Una.
Priest: In the name of the Father and of the Son
- and of the Holy Ghost. - All: Amen.
- The Lord be with you. - All: And also with you.
Judge me, o God, and distinguish my calls
from the nation that is not holy.
Deliver me from the unjust
and deceitful man.
Body of Christ.
Amen.
- Body of Christ. - Amen.
All right, now come on. Back in again, the two of you.
Now talk and laugh when you come in.
All right, go.
- ( mouthing words ) - That's it. Now come on, smile.
A lovely day today.
Now come... show her the flowers in the garden.
- Look at the flowers. - Oh.
Will you relax, both of you? Just be yourselves. Come on.
Try and act natural.
( sighs )
( all cheering )
( Crispina screaming )
( squealing )
He's not a man of God.
- ( screaming ) - ( all cheering )
( Crispina squeals )
( footsteps approach )
( car approaching )
Where you off to?
You wantin' a lift or what?
Why the hell did you stop me then?
You're from in there, aren't you?
Christ, they're taking in loonies now as well?
( footsteps approach )
( all cheering )
- "Lord have mercy on us." - All: Lord have mercy on us.
- "Christ have mercy on us." - All: Christ have mercy on us.
- "Lord have mercy on us." - All: Lord have mercy on us.
- "Christ, hear us." - Christ, graciously hear us.
"God, the father of heaven."
You said you'd find my Saint Christopher.
- "Redeemer of the world." - That's what you said.
- "God, the Holy Ghost..." - You shouldn't make promises you can't keep.
- "...one God..." - That's what Bernadette says.
- "Holy Mary." - All: Pray for us.
- "Holy mother of God." - Pray for us.
"Holy virgin of virgins."
Bernadette said that somebody here must have it.
- All: Pray for us. - "Mother of divine grace."
They're keeping it from me. Pray for us.
- "Mother most chaste." - Pray for us.
You said you'd find it.
You promised.
- "Mother undefiled." - Pray for us.
I've a right mind to tell the sisters
what you said about Father Fitzroy.
- "Mother most admirable." - Pray for us.
- "Mother of good counsel." - Pray for us.
- "Mother of our creator." - Pray for us.
- "Mother of our redeemer." - Pray for us.
- "Virgin most prudent." - Pray for us.
- "Virgin most venerable." - Pray for us.
What have you done to my bed?
My Saint Christopher!
You found it!
God bless you!
You dirty bitch!
( grunting )
- God! - Patricia: Stop that.
( grunting )
Stop! Stop it, for God's sake!
You're a wicked bitch, you know that?
You're a wicked thievin' bitch!
She had Crispina's Saint Christopher under her bed!
The only thing that girl owns in the whole world!
And you took it!
You found my Saint Christopher.
Thank you.
Don't you understand? She stole it.
Yeah, but you found it.
( panting )
Am I the only one who thinks that what she did was completely despicable?
Oh, you can all just go to hell!
Why?
'Cause she didn't suffer.
Penitence, remember?
We're supposed to suffer.
Now fuck off and let me sleep.
Fitzroy: All right, come now, girls.
( chatting )
( laughing )
( chatting continues )
( bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" )
"But let a man prove himself.
And so let him eat of that bread
and drink of the chalice.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily
eateth and drinketh judgment to himself.
This is the word of the Lord."
All: Praise be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel
according to Saint John.
All: Glory be to the Lord.
"At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes
of the Jews, 'My flesh is meat indeed
and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth of my flesh
and drinketh my blood
abideth in Me and I in him.'
As the living Father
has said..."
Ah! Ah!
( shouting )
( grunting )
( shouting continues )
( screaming )
( people gasping )
Sister? I don't know what's wrong.
Can you help me? I don't know what I have.
Look, it's all over me. ( crying )
Sit down.
Sit down, Crispina.
Sit down.
It really hurts. It reall...
Crispina.
Sorry. It won't go away.
Please.
Fitzroy: Dear Lord!
Crispina: You're not a man of God!
- You're not a man of God! - Bridget: Crispina, sit down.
You're not a man of God! You're not a man of God!
- You're not a man of God! - Crispina...
You're not a man of God!
- You're not a man of God! - Bridget: Crispina!
You're not a man of God!
- Crispina! - You're not a man of God!
You're not a man of God!
- You're not a man of God! - Crispina.
You're not a man of God!
- You're not a man of God! - Crispina.
You're not a man of God!
Crispina?
Get up now.
Crispina.
Come on now.
Up you come. Get up.
And sit. Good girl.
- Come on. - Where are we going?
I'm sending you to Mount Vernon Hospital.
They can look after you better than we can here.
- Mount Vernon? - That's right.
- Come on now. - Mount Vernon's for the mad, Sister.
Come on, girl. Come on then.
No, I don't want to go.
- Look... - No, I'm not mad.
- Come along now. - No, I want to stay.
Don't be giving me any trouble.
She's telling the truth, Sister.
No, I'm okay. I'm going to stay.
No, I don't want to go.
- What did you say? - Nothing.
You said something. What was it?
I'm sorry. I was confused. Forgive me.
- Confused? - ( Crispina shouting )
- Right. - ( screaming )
- Crispina. - ( grunting )
Come on, girl. Crispina.
Let them take you along now.
- Come on, girl, you're perfectly all right. - No!
- Stop it, girl! Crispina! - No!
Will you stop it, girl? Calm down.
- Crispina, let go... - No! No!
- Let go of it.
Now you're all right, Crispina.
Will you stop that noise?
They're going to take you out now, Crispina.
- ( screaming ) - Get her right out.
They're going to take care of you, Crispina.
You're all right now. Start behaving yourself.
Get her out of here! Get her out!
Sister, no, please!
No, please, Sister!
No!
( squeals )
( Crispina squealing )
( music playing )
Man: ♪ God rest ye, merry gentlemen ♪
♪ Let nothing you dismay
♪ Remember Christ our savior ♪
♪ Was born on Christmas day
♪ To save us all from Satan's power ♪
♪ When we were gone astray
♪ O tidings of comfort and joy ♪
♪ Comfort and joy
♪ O tidings of comfort
♪ And joy.
Bridget: They say that confession
is good for the soul.
Well, in the presence of the Archbishop,
Mr. Lanigan, Mrs. Lanigan, the sisters,
and indeed you all,
I have a confession I wish to make.
And I warn you now,
some of you will find it somewhat shocking.
For many years, more years than I care to remember,
I have had a secret love.
In fact, not just one, but dozens.
Since I have been 13 years old,
I have been in love with the films.
( all laughing )
It's true. It's true.
My father used to take me. It was the old silent ones in those days.
While he loved the comedies,
I loved the westerns.
- ( laughing ) - ( nuns chuckling )
I'll never forget
the look on my dear mother's face the day I told her
if I didn't get into the convent and give my life to God,
then I'd be a cowboy instead. ( laughs )
Fortunately, God gave me the calling.
But I've never forgotten
those old films.
Now today, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Mr. Lanigan, one of Dublin's most respected businessmen,
has brought along a projector
- and a film for us. - ( all chattering )
Isn't that wonderful?
Now like yourself,
I don't know what the film is.
But I know it's not a western. Isn't that right, Mr. Lanigan?
Apparently they've changed a lot since my day
and have gone the way of the devil, like so much of the modern world.
So no less a person
than the Archbishop himself
has chosen the film for us today.
Sister Jude,
would you turn the lights out, please?
- ( projector whirring ) - Ooh.
( applause )
- ( music playing ) - ( applause continues )
( ringing )
Woman: You don't become a nun
to run away from life, Patsy.
It's not because you've lost something.
It's because you've found something.
( door unlocks )
I've got a letter here for Sister Bridget from Father Donelly.
Dear Lord,
remove all bitterness from my heart.
Please.
Help me to see thy holy will in all things.
Please.
Oh, please help me.
You can't go in there.
( applause )
Wonderful. Wonderful.
Oh!
What a beautiful film!
I think we all owe the Archbishop a vote of thanks.
Thank you. Thank you, Your Grace.
What is it?
I have a letter here concerning my sister, Margaret McGuire.
Oh.
It is from Father Joseph Donelly.
- I'm her brother Eamonn. - Uh-huh.
- Margaret McGuire. - Eamonn.
Come on, we're going.
What's wrong?
- Mmm. - Come on.
Sister Jude, would you turn the lights on, please?
Now back to your dormitories.
Can you believe that it's that simple?
That a brother can just turn up...
Can you believe that?
Margaret, will you hurry up?
Don't you dare tell me what to do!
Don't you ever dare tell me what to do!
Where the hell have you been for four bloody years?
What are you talking about? I was growing up.
Well, you didn't grow up bloody fast enough, did you?
( chattering )
May I get past please, Sister?
You'd better be joking, girl.
( laughs ) Because if I thought for a second
that you would seriously expect one of the persons here
to step aside for the likes of you,
then brother or no brother, I would punish such insolence most severely.
Most severely.
I'm not moving, Sister.
Ay.
Then you'll be staying with us then.
"Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
- I think we should be moving on. - "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."
( washing machines whirring )
- Excuse me, Sister. - Yes, Katy?
I don't think I'm feeling very well today, Sister.
Get yourself a cup of water.
Yes, Sister.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Mmm.
Did they tell you I'm dying?
They wanted to send me to the hospital.
But I said no, I wanted...
I wanted to stay here
with the sisters and my friends.
You knew my mother, didn't you?
What are you rambling on about, you old witch?
She was always very kind to me.
My fa... my father said I was soft in the head.
But she was always very kind.
She had a lovely singing voice, didn't she?
- Lift your head. - Ah.
She told me not to go near the soldiers.
She told me.
He was born
16th of October.
I called him Freddie.
I thought my mother might come back for me,
but, well, there was an awful lot of us.
And we were poor.
And she said she knew I'd be happy here with the sisters
and all my friends.
Don't go, don't go.
Please don't leave me alone with the sisters.
I don't want you to leave me alone.
I'll tell the sisters if you leave me alone.
The sisters only want the work done.
or haven't you figured that one out yet?
The sisters don't give a shite about you
and neither do I.
So why don't you do them and me and everybody else a big favor?
Hurry up and die.
( door opens )
Here you go.
Now if you'd like to make your way down to the office,
- we'll do the necessary paperwork. - ( baby cooing )
( knocking )
Bridget: Come in.
( moaning )
( muttering )
Sorry to disturb you, Sister,
but I wanted to ask you something.
You see, it's my son's birthday soon.
And...
I was just wondering if maybe I could send him a card.
I... I know you can't tell me where he is,
- but I thought if I gave it to you... - ( muttering )
perhaps you could send it on to whoever...
whoever's looking after him.
I want you to help me look for a key.
It's about this size. It's silver. It fits in there.
Go on, start looking!
It would only be a birthday card, Sister.
- ( mutters ) - I wouldn't even sign it.
He wouldn't know who it was from.
Well, wouldn't that be bloody stupid?
You'd send a card to a child
and he wouldn't know who it was from.
Now what kind of person would confuse and disrupt
a child's birthday like that?
But I'm his mother, Sister.
You're not his mother!
Mother puts a child to bed at night,
looks after him when he's sick,
feeds, clothes and educates him. You've done none of that.
Now would you take credit for something you haven't done?
- No, Sister. - Then stop being so stupid
and look for the bloody key!
I never wanted that... that thing.
Biscuit tins were just fine.
I should have put it on a separate chain.
All the money's in there. All the money.
Have you found it?
No, Sister.
- ( sighs ) - Sorry, Sister.
( door closes )
Holy mother.
See there... there's that nice lady again.
They didn't tell her?
She's not here. The...
They took her away over a year ago.
They should have told you. They took her away.
Patricia!
No.
( door opens )
You dead yet?
You got what you deserved.
I was only trying to tell...
Ah!
( knocking at door )
Excuse me, Sister.
Katy's dead.
May she rest in peace.
( Patricia crying )
Remember this beating, girl.
If you ever speak to anyone outside of here again,
you will receive the same beating every day for a month.
Now...
both of you,
get back to your work.
You know we're both going to grow old and die in here.
No one's going to come for me.
Or for you.
I just don't want to feel like this for the rest of my life.
I don't want to end up like one of them.
So you ready?
Ready for what?
We have to go.
Go where?
Out.
Have you completely lost your mind?
Look what she did to me.
And that was only for talking to someone.
What's she going to do if she catches me
trying to run away?
It doesn't matter. She's going to do it anyway.
For something or for nothing.
It doesn't matter to her.
We have to go.
We have to go now.
( footsteps )
What does the main-door key look like?
It's a big black key.
Get... come here.
No.
Let go of the key, Sister.
No.
Let go!
( grunting )
Let go of the key, Sister!
Let go, you fucking twisted bitch!
Let go!
( grunting )
Let go or so help me, I'll stick these in your throat.
Let go.
Get back here! Get back here!
- Get back here. - Get the fuck away from her!
Ah!
Don't you fucking think about coming after us!
( door opens )
Ah!
Fucking stay in there!
( panting )
( inaudible )
( steam whistle blowing )
Thanks so much for the clothes and the money and everything.
I'll pay you back as soon as I get a job.
I promise.
Goodbye, Patricia.
My name is Rose.
Rose.
I'll just be a sec.
So will you be all right then?
I've got my ticket. I'll be fine.
Liverpool is in England, isn't it?
Yeah, I think so.
What about you?
You know she'll have the guards out looking for you.
They can't touch me.
I'm a trainee hairdresser.
That makes me respectable.
They can't touch you if you're respectable.
I'll write to you.
Grand.
Good luck.
( engine starts )
( chattering )
Bridget: Stay down, girl!
Ah!
( silent )
( moaning )