SCENE: Exterior Brian Quigley's home. The same van is parked outside.
 

SCENE: Interior Brian Quigley's Home. Brian is handing over a cheque to the exterminator.
 

SCENE: Exterior Fitzgeralds. Music and laughter are emanating from inside.
 

SCENE: Interior Fitzgeralds. Assumpta, Peter, Siobhan, Doc Ryan, Brendan, Padraig, Niamh, Ambrose, Liam and Donal are all sitting around one long table covered with food and drink.

Padraig: So Brendan, what's your resolution this year?

Brendan: What's the point of making a resolution when you're perfect already.

Assumpta: But surely the assumption of perfection is, in itself, a fatal flaw?

Brendan looks questioningly at Assumpta, shrugs and turns back to Padraig.

Brendan: What about you old friend?

Padraig: I've resolved to no longer make hollow resolutions and therefore was unable to make any resolution given that any that I did make was bound to be hollow.

Peter: Say that again, but a lot slower.

Donal: My resolution is to no longer be taken advantage of, and I won't stand for being the butt of everyone's jokes anymore.

Padraig: Just most people's jokes hey Donal?!

Dr Ryan: Good luck with that Donal.

Assumpta: So where's your Dad Niamh? We'll be finished before he gets here.

Niamh: He's meeting with Michael Rawson-Daly.

Brendan: Who?

Niamh: Michael Rawson-Daly.

Donal: What?

Niamh: Michael Rawson-Daly, it's hyphenated.

Assumpta: Maybe he took his wife's name.

Donal: Oh.

Ambrose: The exterminator.

Liam: Oh no!

Dr Ryan: What?

Liam: Oh no...thing.

The door to Fitzgeralds swings open and Brian strides in.

Brian: I have arrived. The beasts have been slayed and the party may now commence.

Donal: Oh no.

Donal and Liam drop their heads.
 

SCENE: Exterior Fitzgeralds. Michael Rawson-Daly's Exterminator van zooms past Fitzgeralds and over the bridge.
 

SCENE: Various exteriors of evening in Ballykissangel, ending with an exterior shot of Fitzgeralds.
 

SCENE: Interior Fitzgeralds. A clock on the wall reads 10:30pm.

A cockroach runs across the clock face.

Everyone is sitting around the table. Peter has just sat down with a pile of note paper, pens and two bowls.

Dr Ryan: What's all this then Peter?

Peter: This is the part of the evening people love to hate, or is that hate to love? I'm never sure.

Niamh: What is it?

Peter: It's time for the painful truth.

Siobhan: The what?

Peter: The painful truth.

Assumpta: Or the most convincing lie.

Peter: No. The truth. Everyone gets a piece of paper which you rip in half. On one half write your name, on the other half write a question. We then put all the names in one bowl and questions in the other. We'll go around the table taking turns to pull out a name and a question. Who evers name is picked has to answer the question as truthfully as possible.

Niamh: Oh my word!

Assumpta: Come on, how old are we? I haven't done something like that since school.

Peter: And try to keep it decent, we don't want to offend anyone.

Assumpta: Oh and who would it be that we'd offend then Peter?

Peter: I have no secrets.

Assumpta: We'll see.

Brendan: Let the games begin!

They each take pen and paper and begin to write. Many a cheeky grin can be seen. Niamh is thoughtful. She tries to sneak a peek at what Ambrose is writing but he hurriedly shields it from her view. Dr Ryan is first finished and puts his two bits of paper in the bowls.

Brendan drops his paper in the bowls and winks in Siobhan's direction. She puts her paper in the bowls while looking rather proud of her effort.

Assumpta glances up from under her brow at Peter and hurriedly looks away when he looks in her direction. One by one they each put their paper in the bowls. A nervous excitement fills the room.

Donal: So who's first?

**The following scenes fade into one another in a continuous time lapse sequence**

Ambrose reaches into each bowl and takes a piece of paper.

Ambrose: Ok, contestant number one...it's Brendan!

A cheer goes up.

Siobhan: Something tough please Ambrose.

Ambrose: I'll do my best. The question. Alright Brendan, the painful truth, which of the Ten Commandments have you broken?

Assumpta: Oh please! Surely it'd be quicker to ask which he hasn't broken, there's bound to be fewer.

Brendan: You're making the big assumption with that question that I actually know what the Ten Commandments are.

Donal: A lot of guff about donkeys and neighbours wives I believe.

Brendan: Thanks Donal.

Everyone looks intently at Brendan awaiting a response. Brendan begins to feel the pressure.

Brendan: Now surely that'd be a better question for Peter. Clean slate hey Father?

Peter: Oh you'd be suprised.

Siobhan: Please, do tell!?

Peter: Unfortunately Siobhan, that was not my question and I'd hate to break the rules of the game. Brendan?

Peter looks to Brendon with a raised eyebrow which beckons a response.

Brendan: Alright then. Ok. Mmm. Well. Let's see. Ten Commandments. I'm drawing a blank. Someone help me out here

Dr Ryan: Thou shalt not kill.

Brendan: Right! Thanks Doc. Never broken that one. Although there's probably a couple of cockroaches who'd dispute that...if they could.

Both Liam and Donals heads drop again.

**Cross fade to Brian taking a name and question from the bowls**

Brian: And the next victim...my little angel Niamh.

Niamh: Dad!

Liam: The question.

Niamh: Oh please let it be respectable.

Brian: Who was your first love?

Niamh: Oh wonderful.

Brian: It's your father of course.

Padraig: I don't think the question means that sort of love Brian.

Siobhan: (flatly) What is love anyway?

Peter: (absently) Something akin to nausea.

Everyone stops and looks at Peter. He quickly adds...

Peter: (smiling sheepishly) So I've been told.

Assumpta: (while looking at Peter) Niamh?! Story time.

Niamh: There's no story. It's boring really. It was Ambrose of course.

Ambrose: Well thank you very much.

Niamh: No, I didn't mean it like that.

Ambrose: No, really, that's fine. Dull as dishwater, I understand.

Niamh: Oh don't be a child. From the moment I met Ambrose I knew he was the one for me. I felt safe.

Ambrose: From the moment I met Niamh I was afraid.

Niamh: (swiping at Ambrose) Go on with ya.

Brendon: There's one about adultery isn't there?

Niamh: Your point?

Brendan: A commandment.

Niamh: Oh.

Brendan: Since I've never been married, and never had an affair with anyone who was married, I'm in the clear on that one too!

Padraig: So far so good old friend.

**Cross fade to Dr Ryan plucking a name from the bowl**

Dr Ryan: Padraig!

The others cheer and jeer as Dr Ryan takes a question.

Dr Ryan: Padraig, if you could be anyone for a day, who would it be?

Siobhan: Oh that's not probing!

Peter: Well that all depends on his answer now doesn't it?!

All eyes turn to Padraig.

Padraig: (with head held high and chest puffed out) I'd be the best version of myself that I could possibly be.

There is a stunned silence as everyone looks at Padraig, mouths agape. They look from one face to another. Simultaneously they all break into laughter and Brendan slaps Padraig on the back.

Brendan: Ah, you nearly fooled us! Come on, who would you really be?

Padraig joins in the laughter.

Padraig: Alright. If I could anyone I guess I'd be Superman for a day. Apart from his many supernatural talents, and the obvious link to Lois Lane, I've always wanted to be able to fly!

Assumpta: I thought you already could - I've seen you drive.

Siobhan is sitting with a grin from ear to ear. Brendan notices.

Brendan: Siobhan?

Siobhan: I'm just picturing the tights.

Niamh & Assumpta: Eeeww!

Brian: Thank you very much for bringing that image to my head Siobhan, I've just eaten!

Padraig: (offended) Hey!

**Cross fade to Niamh taking a name and question**

Niamh: Liam!

Donal lets out a whahoo as Niamh continues.

Niamh: With who, where, and when was your first kiss?

Liam: I'm still waiting.

Assumpta: Ah go on with ya!

Liam: I'm serious - I'm still waiting!

Peter: Come on Liam, the painful truth.

Liam: Trust me, the truth doesn't get much more painful than that!

They all laugh undecidedly.

**Cross fade to Peter taking a question**

Peter: Siobhan, what's the worst pick up line you've ever used or had used on you?

Peter pulls a face.

Assumpta: (cheekily) Brendan?

Brendan: (feigning ignorance of her meaning) What?!

Peter: (with a look of disapproval) Assumpta!

Assumpta: Don't give me that dirty look.

Brian: That's right, she doesn't need it, she's got one of her own!

Assumpta pokes her tongue out at Brian.

Brian: Very mature.

Niamh: The answer!

Siobhan: One day I was out wandering with a couple of girlfriends, back in my wild youth, when we came across a dashing young man painting a landscape by a river. One of my friends dared me to go up to him. So I did.

In unison everyone pulls their chair a little closer to the table.

Niamh: And?

Siobhan: (holding back laughter) And, I asked him if he'd like to paint me nude.

A chuckle goes around the table.

Niamh: (amazed) What did he say?

Siobhan: He said sure he would, but did I mind if he left his socks on, otherwise he wouldn't have anywhere to stick his brushes.

Siobhan laughs and the others exchange amused looks.

Assumpta: Was that the end of it?

Siobhan: We actually went out a couple of times and then he decided to start stealing from me.

Niamh: Oh Siobhan.

Siobhan: I should have known. After all, he was an Australian and we all know Australia was almost entirely populated by criminals.

Assumpta: Yeah, but they were Irish criminals.

Brendan: Thou shalt not steal. That's one. I guess until Padraig gets his lawn mower back...and Siobhan her blender...and Peter his shovel.

Brian: And my tennis racquet.

Donal: And me my wrench.

Brendan: Right! Until all those things are returned, I guess the jury's out on whether I've broken that one or not.

**Cross fade to Siobhan with question in hand**

Siobhan: Donal! What's the biggest secret you have.

Donal: But if I tell it wont be a secret.

Brendan: Precisely.

Donal: I do have one secret.

Liam: (hurriedly) Ah that's a ridiculous question. Next one.

Padraig: Hang on a moment Liam, we want to hear this one secret.

Liam: No we don't.

Donal: It's about the cockroaches.

Liam: No it's not.

Brian: Donal?

Donal: I know where they all came from.

Liam: Yeah it's the plague, they came from the heavens.

Donal: No they didn't.

Liam: (with a warning stare) Donal.

Donal: They came from Mr Quigley's shed.

Brian: What?

Niamh: Dad!

Brian: (offended) Well I didn't put them there.

Peter: Donal?

Donal: The Annual Roach Race is in Dublin next weekend.

Ambrose: You're breeding cockroaches?!

Liam: We didn't have to try very hard.

Donal: It sorta got out of control.

Brian: You're telling me.

**Cross fade to Liam taking a question**

Liam: Guard Egan! Now you can't arrest me for this, it's not my question. I'm just the messenger. Remember that.

Brian: Get on with it.

Liam: Alright then - what's the thing or person that makes you most nervous.

Ambrose: Being asked personal questions in front of a group of people on New Years Eve ranks right up there.

Siobhan: Come on now Ambrose, you can do better than that.

Ambrose: I guess, to combine the two, I was pretty nervous when I first told Brian I wanted to marry Niamh. But I gathered all my courage and walked right up to him, look him in the eye, and said Mr Quigley, I want to marry your daughter.

Siobhan: Good for you Ambrose.

Ambrose: He continued to look me straight in the eye and told me to leave my name and number, and if nothing better came along he'd give me a call.

Assumpta: (with a smirk) Oh the cruelty.

Brian: Oh Ambrose that's not true. You came and asked me for my daughter's hand, so I told you to take the one that's always in my pocket.

Niamh: Dad!

Niamh turns to Ambrose and smiles fondly.

**Cross fade to Brendan with question in hand**

Brendan: Assumpta!

Everyone cheers.

Assumpta: Yeah yeah. Thank you very much. I shall reveal nothing.

Brendan: Name an experience you'd most like to forget.

Assumpta: What?

Niamh: (chirpily) Oh that would have to be your seventeenth birthday.

Assumpta: (defensively) What!?

Niamh: (matter of fact) You were hammered.

Assumpta: (indignant) I was not hammered! Who's answering this question anyway.

Assumpta turns to Peter to find support, only to find him smiling widely.

He merely shrugs.

Niamh: Oh yes you were, you were hammered. It was a party to end all parties. No parents and Assumpta got completely toasted.

Assumpta: Niamh!

Niamh: (not deterred) She was standing on tables reciting poetry, and when she ran out of poems she started on song lyrics.

Everyone is keenly interested.

Assumpta: (weakly) I did no such thing.

Niamh: We put her to bed, but she got up and started again where she's left off. We heard every word from The Unforgettable Fire.

Assumpta: What are you trying to do? Embarrass me to death?!

Niamh: You spent most of the night complaining that there was too much blood in your alcohol system. You only stopped when you danced straight into a wall.

Assumpta: I was not hammered.

Niamh: Yeah, you were.

Assumpta: I only had a couple of drinks.

Brendan: Cheap date hey Assumpta!?

Assumpta: Well how can it be an experience I'd most prefer to forget if I have no recollection of it to start with?!

Niamh: I rest my case.

Assumpta: The next day, however, was one I could have lived without.

Assumpta smiles in embarrassed defeat.

Brendan: If there's a commandment related to drinking in excess, I've broken that one more times than I care to remember.

Assumpta: Ah, but it keeps me in business Brendan

**Cross fade to Padraig who is holding a question**

Padraig: Doc Ryan, what event has irreversibly changed your life?

Assumtpa: (sarcastically) Bring on the easy ones.

Doc Ryan: No, actually this is an easy one, for me at least. I guess I was around about sixteen years old. A good friend of mine was killed when he was hit by a car.

There is a thick silence.

Doc Ryan: Afterwards, what I couldn't come to terms with was not that my friend had died, but I couldn't come to terms with the fact that within a split second life could change so much. That life could hang so precariously by a thread, ready to snap at any moment with one ill timed move. If he'd been just one minute earlier, or one minute later that day, he might still be alive now.

Siobhan: That must have been awful.

Donal: Yeah, it's the kind of thing that makes you question your own morality.

Brian: Ah, no, not really.

Peter: Mortality Donal.

Assumpta smiles at Peter and Doc Ryan forces a smile.

Donal: I don't think I'm ready to die just yet.

Niamh: Let's pray none of us are.

Donal: I wonder who'd do the urology at my funeral.

Dr Ryan: It's a bit late for a urology at your funeral Donal.

Liam: Eulogy Donal.

Donal: Oh yeah right.

Brendan: You're not making it real easy for us to help you out with that New Years resolution Donal.

Assumpta: But it's not the New Year yet.

Siobhan: Almost though.

Niamh: Do we have time for another question.

Assumpta: Cause we do.

Assumpta hurriedly reaches for a name and question. Liam gets up rubbing his stomach and leaves the table.

Liam: Too much lasagne.

Assumpta: (disappointedly) Brian.

Brian: (rubbing his hands together fearlessly) Bring it on.

Assumpta: (with a frown of concern) Have you ever seen a ghost?

Brian: Everyday when I look in the mirror. The ghost of the man I once was and the ghost of the man I could have been.

Padraig: Ah seriously now Brian.

Brian: Well legend has it that the ghost of BallyK still walks the banks of the River Angel. But no, I myself have never seen a ghost.

Peter: The ghost of BallyK?

Doc Ryan: Have you not heard the story Peter?

Peter shakes his head.

Brian: Legend has it that back in the late seventeenth century a pair of young lovers formed a pact to always be together in life and in death. He was wanted for theft and smuggling, and as sure as he was to be caught, he was to be put to death. He sooner wanted to die a free man than a prisoner. Not wanting to let him go alone, his lover took his life and then her own, supposedly along the River Angel - true to their pact. He was unburdened of his crime and she was damned to walk the river for ever for hers.

Niamh: There's a poem isn't there? A horrid children's rhyme?

Doc Ryan: Indeed there is -

From the black tangled heart
Of lovers torn apart
Spawned the ghost of Mary Daisy

Brian: Her lover the thief
Begged for relief
Begged the ghost of Mary Daisy

Brendan: He fled from the chain
She put a pistol to his brain
Did the ghost of Mary Daisy

Siobhan: She stood high 'bove the river
For a moment did shiver
Did the ghost of Mary Daisy

Padraig: She'd not let him go alone
She fell to the stone
Did the ghost of Mary Daisy

Brian: Now she comes by night
She comes by daylight
Does the ghost of Mary Daisy

Suddenly the lights all go out, a door slams, the clash of heads and a simultaneous moan can be heard. The lights flicker back on to reveal both Assumpta and Peter rubbing their foreheads. Liam is returning from the bathroom laughing wickedly

Liam: Got ya!

Assumpta: Real funny.

Liam: Have you all seen the time.

They all swing around to look at the clock. A floundering cockroach drops to the ground. It is a quarter to twelve.

Peter: Let's fill our glasses and before the stroke of twelve each toast the New Year ahead.

Assumpta: (under her breath) Convenient.

Peter: Assumpta, you want to start?

Assumpta: Fine. Um (raising her glass) May we all live as long as we want and never want as long as we live.

Assumpta smiles proud of her effort. Peter flashes an approving look and continues.

Peter: May we all get to heaven half an hour before the devil knows we're dead.

Assumpta: Oh very uplifting.

Niamh: May we all be alive this time twelve months.

Assumpta: What is this? A wake?

Padraig: May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the underpants of our enemies.

Assumpta: That's more like it.

Brian: To our wives and sweethearts. May they never meet.

Doc Ryan: Remember the poor, it costs you nothing.

Ambrose: May we drink to the thirst which is yet to come.

Donal: May your luck be like the capital of Ireland, always Dublin.

Brendan: May you slide down the bannister of life with nary a splinter.

Liam: There's many a toast, if I could think of it. Damned if I can so let's drink to it.

Siobhan: And a special on as the midnight hour is upon us - may we kiss who we please and please who we kiss!

There is a chorus of "Here, here" as everyone raises their glasses and toasts the New Year. Peter and Assumpta exchange a tender look.

Brendan: Who needs a refill?

Siobhan: Yes please.

Brendan takes an open bottle of wine and upturns it into Siobhan's glass. A mere drop comes out

Brendan: I'm out. Ambrose.

Brendan indicates the bottle in front of Ambrose. Ambrose picks it up and shakes it.

Ambrose: It's empty too.

Brendan: Assumpta?

Assumpta: Yes.

Brendan: We're out of wine.

Assumpta: So?

Brendan: So...get some more!

Assumpta: There's more in the kitchen.

Brendan: So?

Assumpta: So you get some more.

Peter: (enthusiastically curt) I'll get some more.

Peter hurriedly gets up and goes into the kitchen. He closes the door after himself.

Assumpta: (to Brendan) Are your arms painted on?!

Liam: Only a few more minutes.

Niamh: Oh party hats people.

Niamh hands out party hats, noise makers and streamer poppers.

Siobhan: (calling out) Come on Peter!

Padraig: Perhaps he's fallen asleep.

Assumpta: Not for long.

Assumpta gets up and goes to the kitchen. Brian raises a bottle of wine from beside his chair

Brian: Reserve supply.
 

SCENE: Interior kitchen at Fitzgeralds. Peter is sitting at the kitchen table fiddling with a tea towel. Assumpta bursts through the door Assumpta: Peter, what on earth...(she stops on seeing him just sitting there)...What are you doing?

Peter: Oh sorry. I got sidetracked. I, ah, couldn't find the wine.

Assumpta: Well it has to be here somewhere. Did you look?

Peter: Yes I looked!

Assumpta comes into the kitchen, closing the door after herself. She begins to fumble through piles of packets and dishes on benches.

Peter watches then clears his throat.

Peter: So what's your New Year's resolution?

Assumpta: (absently) I don't have one.

Peter: Oh.

Assumpta: I couldn't choose. Too many things need resolving. Anyway, what's the point. I don't believe in deluding myself.

Peter: Fair enough.

Assumpta: And I suppose Peter Perfect has written a list?

Peter: Mock if you wish. I'm not perfect...yet.

Assumpta: Oh I know that (turning and smiling) I just wasn't sure you knew it.

Peter: Far from perfect.

Assumpta: Really? How so?

Peter: Hey? Nothing, it was just a comment.

Assumpta: No it wasn't. It was a statement loaded with meaning. I'm interested to hear about your imperfections. Makes me think you might be human after all

Peter: Well I'd hate to give you that impression, as that's a complete and utter fallacy.

Assumpta: Uh huh!

Assumpta continues to look for the wine, stacking things as she goes. Peter sits in silence, twirling his tea towel. He is obviously lost in thought.

Assumpta's back is to him. Finally he breaks the silence.

Peter: Assumpta?

She turns to look at him.

Peter: I know life can be hard. It's just that sometimes in order to survive, I need to believe in something.

Assumpta: Or conversely, to survive you could believe in nothing at all.

Peter: But that's not you?

Assumpta: You know it's not.

Peter smiles fondly at Assumpta. She smiles back then turns away. Suddenly she spins back as if she's going to say something, but stops. She cocks her head thoughtfully to one side.

Assumpta: Have you ever had a premonition Peter?

Peter: I knew you'd ask me that.

Assumpta: Seriously.

Peter: You mean like seen something that was going to happen before it did?

Assumpta: Yeah, something like that.

Peter: I don't know. I've anticipated things, but I don't know that you'd call it a premonition. Like knowing who's on the phone before I pick it up.

Assumpta: Mmm.

Assumpta turns back and continues to clean up.

Peter: Why?

Assumpta: Just wondered.

After stacking a couple more platters she again stops and turns to Peter.

Assumpta: Do you believe in ghosts?

Peter: The ghost of Mary Daisy?

Assumpta shrugs.

Peter: I believe in spirits. Is that the same thing?

Assumpta: You tell me.

Peter: Well, the power of suggestion is an amazing thing. If you plant the notion, see all the right cues, you can believe you saw anything I guess.

Assumpta: That's a very clinical point of view.

Peter: What about you then. Do you believe in ghosts?

Assumpta: (dismissively) I thought I saw one once.

Peter snaps to full attention.

Peter: You did?!

Assumpta isn't looking at Peter.

Assumpta: (starting to sound edgy) Mmm, it was while I was in Dublin, just after I'd finished studying.

Assumpta stops and doesn't look like continuing, so Peter gently prods her.

Peter: And...

Assumpta: I'd just been visiting my mother back here. She'd been quite sick and I was feeling so high and mighty for taking time out of my busy social schedule to come visit.

Assumpta looks up at Peter and laughs nervously.

Assumpta: When I left to go back to Dublin she seemed well enough. The night I got back, I was sitting catching up on lost time when I heard footsteps in the hallway, really light footsteps. So I got up to have a look. I don't know why, but it never crossed my mind to be afraid. And standing there at the end of the hall, as clear as day, was my mother. She just stood there, look at me, and smiled. Then the phone rang and she was gone.

Peter is sitting spell bound.

Assumpta: It was Dr Ryan on the phone, telling me my mother was very bad. So I raced home, but she died before I got there. Dr Ryan said she died only moments after he'd rung me. And you know I was so mad at her for not waiting for me to get there. But really I was angry with myself for leaving in the first place.

Assumpta pauses and looks up at Peter.

Assumpta: I just wanted to be able to say goodbye

Peter: Perhaps you did.

Assumpta: Perhaps.

Assumpta smiles at Peter through glazed eyes.

Peter: Do you miss her alot?

Assumpta: She's my mother.

Assumpta brushes a tear from her eyes and quickly changes the subject.

Assumpta: We should find this wine and get back to the others. Who knows what they'll think we're up to.

Peter: The mind boggles.

Assumpta spins around and opens the fridge. Peter gets up to help her look. Peter looks in a couple of cupboards then notices that Assumpta is staring blankly into the fridge. He goes to the fridge behind Assumpta. She continues to stare, oblivious to the fact that Peter is now behind her. Suddenly, without looking, she backs up into him. She turns in suprise and is facing Peter only centimetres away from him.

Assumpta: Sorry.

Peter: Sorry.

Neither of them move away. Peter looks down at Assumpta then raises his hand to the side of her face. He brushes the hair from her forehead and then gently runs his thumb over the smallest of red marks.

Peter: (quietly) You've got a bump from earlier.

Assumpta is frozen with tears in her eyes.

Assumpta: (shakily) It's fine.

Peter moves his hand down the side of Assumpta's face, resting it on her cheek.

Peter: (meaning her Mum but still with his finger gently brushing her forehead) Does it hurt alot?

Assumpta: (almost inaudible) Yes.

Peter raises his other hand and holds Assumpta's face gently. A tear drops down one of her cheeks. Peter softly wipes it away. From outside the cheers of Happy New Year rip through the silence. Assumpta hastily pulls away from Peter.

Assumpta: (flustered) Happy New Year...Father. We should get back to the others.

Assumpta rushes to the door an back out into the pub. Peter is left standing alone. He puts his hand over his heart and breathes in deeply.
 

SCENE: Fitzgeralds Interior Pub. Same time.

Brendan grabs Assumpta as she emerges from the kitchen and gives her a bear hug, lifting her off her feet. This is followed by a hug from Niamh. Peter returns to join the others. Niamh leaves Assumpta and goes to Peter, kissing him on the cheek. She then giggles. Brian comes to Peter and shakes his hand.

Peter: Happy New Year Brian.

Padraig: You were in there all that time and you still didn't get any wine?!

Peter: Happy New Year to you too Padraig.

Brendan: Assumpta? How about a poem?

Assumpta: Yeah, yeah, yeah! Maybe next year.

Siobhan: I feel a year of change is ahead of us.

Assumpta looks at Peter an he smiles at her shyly.

Everyone continues to chatter and drink.
 

FADE OUT TO:

SCENE: Interior Fitzgeralds. Same evening but much later.

Assumpta is clearing up. Peter is leading Brian to the door. Brian is a little worse for wear. Everyone else has left.

Brian: Thank-you both, you make a good team, that was a lovely evening. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and pass out.

Peter: Will you be alright Brian?

Brian: Fine, fine. To all a good night.

Assumpta: Goodnight Brian.

Peter: Goodnight.

Peter shuts the door after Brian. Peter turns back to Assumpta.

Peter: I'll help you clear up.

Assumpta: It's ok. I'll do it in the morning.

Peter: You did a marvellous job here tonight. I think everyone had a really good time. Good food, good drink, good company, and a few home truths revealed.

Assumpta: Some better forgotten I think.

Peter: Maybe.

Assumpta: Anyhow, you conveniently never got to answer your painful truth question.

Assumpta heads to the table with the bowls from behind the bar and Peter converges from the door.

Peter: Is there one left?

Assumpta: Indeed there is.

Peter: Bugger.

They both sit. Assumpta takes the question and reads it to herself. She then screws up the paper and throws it back in the bowl. She's embarrassed.

Assumpta: Oh let's just forget it.

Peter: Why? What does it say?

Peter reaches across the table and grabs the paper before Assumpta can stop him. He reads it and smiles with embarrassment, putting the paper back in the bowl.

Peter: Yeah well just forget it.

They smile embarrassed at each other. They sit for a moment in companionable silence.

Assumpta: You asked me the other night why I hate the church so much. Truth?

Peter: Uh huh.

Assumpta: I don't (she looks at Peter and adds with a grin) I just hate it a little. Some parts more than others.

Peter grins back

Peter: Thank-you.
 

SCENE: Exterior Fitzgeralds. Same night/day. Light is breaking through the dark. The door of Fitzgeralds opens and Peter and Assumpta emerge from the pub.

Assumpta: Wow, what time is it?

Peter: Very late, or very early.

They walk out further onto the street and wander a distance towards the bridge. They stand together for a moment. Assumpta yawns.

Assumpta: I'm gunna get some sleep.

They look at each other for a moment.

Assumpta: See you later.

She heads off back towards the door.

Peter: (with his head titled to one side) Wait.

Assumpta: (stopping) What?

Peter: Can't you feel it?

Assumpta: Feel what?

Peter: It's amazing.

Assumpta: What?

Peter: The magic. In the air.

Assumpta: Huh?

Assumpta starts to leave, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

Assumpta: You're crazy!

Peter: No wait. Just stand still for a minute.

Assumpta stops. Everything is quiet except for the gentle rustle of the trees and the faint sound of the river. Peter looks to Assumpta who is concentrating and absorbing the peace. She looks to Peter as he smiles at her. Unwittingly she smiles back.

Peter: (triumphantly) See. Amazing.

Assumpta: (walking away but still smiling) Yeah, whatever.

Assumpta goes back to the pub, but stops short of the door. She turns back to Peter.

Assumpta: Happy New Year Peter.

Peter: Happy New Year Assumpta.

Assumpta goes into the pub smiling broadly. Peter remains in the middle of the street smiling.

FADE OUT

ROLL CLOSING CREDITS

 
'Twas the night before New Year
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a cockroach?