Song of the Sea

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BRONACH (V.O.)

Come away, oh, human child,

to the waters and the wild

with a fairy, hand in hand,

for the world's

more full of weeping

than you can understand.

BRONACH:

Will you try it with me, Ben?

YOUNG BEN:

Okay.

Uh... I forget.

CONOR:

Bedtime. Finish up, you two.

YOUNG BEN:

Dad, look at the selkie. Look!

CONOR:

(in awe)

Oh.

YOUNG BEN:

(excited)

She's singing her song so that she can send all the

fairies home across the sea.

And look, look, she's

turning into a seal.

Do you like the selkie?

CONOR:

She's beautiful.

YOUNG BEN:

But we have to finish it before the baby comes!

BRONACH:

We have lots of time to finish it, Ben.

But it's time to sleep now.

YOUNG BEN:

Okay.

Cu, good boy.

CONOR:

(hushed, to Bronach)

Are you all right?

BRONACH:

(hushed, pained, to Conor)

I'm fine. It's fine.

BRONACH:

(to Ben)

Comfy?

YOUNG BEN:

Mmm-hmm.

BRONACH:

Now, settle down. There's something I want to give you.

YOUNG BEN:

What is it?

BRONACH:

This is an ancient shell that my mother gave me a long time ago.

Hold it to your ear and listen carefully.

You'll hear the song of the sea.

YOUNG BEN:

I can hear the sea.

BRONACH:

Keep listening.

YOUNG BEN:

(yawning)

Mum?

BRONACH:

Yes?

YOUNG BEN:

(sleepy)

I can't wait for the baby to come.

We're going to be best friends, aren't we?

BRONACH:

Of course you are.

You're going to be the best big brother in the world.

CONOR:

Bronach?

YOUNG BEN:

Mum?

BRONACH:

I'm so sorry.

CONOR:

Bronach!

YOUNG BEN:

Mum?

Mum?

BEN:

(excited)

Here, Cu, look at this!

Mum used to tell me the story. It's the giant Mac Lir and his dogs.

They're best friends, like us.

Cu, don't go too close to the water, it's dangerous.

For someone who hasn't learned how to talk, you are really loud.

Oh, come on, Saoirse! Why don't you go down there and play with some rocks, or something?

Hey, Cu, I'm drawing the Great Seanachai. He has loads of hair, like you!

Ugh!

Dad said I'm in charge, and I say there's no going in the water! It's dangerous!

I can't.

Cu, I can't!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Cu, no!

Whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

No!

That's it! I'm not looking after you anymore!

You nearly got me KILLED!

Come out, with your hands up!

Don't turn around, keep going.

Dad, she went into the water and nearly got me killed!

Just because it's her birthday, she thinks she can do whatever she likes.

You'd better give it to her this time 'cause I'm not minding her anymore.

Dad!

CONOR:

What? Are you playing cops 'n' robbers?

BEN:

Are you going to give out to her?

CONOR:

Ah! Here's the birthday girl. Come up here to me.

BEN:

Dad!

CONOR:

You were under arrest, were you?

BEN:

...Dad?

Are you here for the birthday

party at the lighthouse today?

Young Saoirse is six, is she?

Well, you old witch.

Ugh! Granny.

She's going to try and make us

move to the city again,

isn't she?

I don't know how you can

live in this awful place.

You children are a state.

Is that your birthday outfit?

Haven't you learnt to speak yet?

The doctors said she

will in her own time.

Hmph.

The child can't be dressed

like that on her birthday.

It's a disgrace!

Put this on.

Little girls only turn six once.

And they need to

be properly dressed.

Now, isn't that lovely?

Don't move now,

until I call you.

No, that's mine!

Mum gave it to me, not you!

Ben!

She's stealing from me again.

She's nothing but

a dirty stealer.

I don't want to hear it.

Saoirse!

Your granny

wants you downstairs.

Now, Saoirse, try some of my nettle

tea and gooseberry buns there.

Very good for the voice.

It might cure you.

Now, everybody ready for Saoirse

to blow out the candles, eh?

I want to capture the

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