- 14 hours ago
Afternoon Play: The Dimming of the Day
Tue 6th Nov 2001, 14:15 on BBC Radio 4 FM
By Jane Cassidy.
A retired judge decides he has little time left for happiness, so when he falls in love with a retired teacher he leaves his wife of 50 years, much to the disapproval of his children.
Director Pam Brighton
John:……James Ellis
Marion:…..Laurie Morton
Dympna:…….Stella McCusker
Hugh:…..David Kelly
Joanne:……Julia Dearden
Diarmuid:…….Tim Loane
Mary:……Laura Hughes
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Tue 6th Nov 2001, 14:15 on BBC Radio 4 FM
By Jane Cassidy.
A retired judge decides he has little time left for happiness, so when he falls in love with a retired teacher he leaves his wife of 50 years, much to the disapproval of his children.
Director Pam Brighton
John:……James Ellis
Marion:…..Laurie Morton
Dympna:…….Stella McCusker
Hugh:…..David Kelly
Joanne:……Julia Dearden
Diarmuid:…….Tim Loane
Mary:……Laura Hughes
Do you enjoy the variety on Oldtuberadio?
Like, Share and Subscribe to be notified of our new shows
#radio #crime #thriller #drama
To Support this channel please visit
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/oldtuberadio
https://ko-fi.com/oldtuberadio98
https://www.patreon.com/oldtuberadio
https://locals.com/Oldtuberadio
Category
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FunTranscript
00:00Now on BBC Radio 4, this afternoon's play, The Dimming of the Day, by Jane Cassidy.
00:06Expect some strong language, as passions run high when a 78-year-old retired judge makes a shock announcement to his wife.
00:14I need you at the dimming of the day
00:23I need you at the dimming of the day
00:33Come on, come on, come on.
00:38Joanne Amani here.
00:40Joanne, are you still in bed at this hour?
00:44Oh, yes, Mother, I am, and I was asleep.
00:47Why?
00:48Oh, I was in the tower last night and ended up bringing about, ooh, three, was it four married colleagues here for an orgy?
00:56Joanne!
00:57Mother, for God's sake, it was a case of heronitis.
01:01Relieving someone of their appendix at four in the morning somewhat upsets the sleep pattern.
01:06Now you sound just like your father.
01:08Oh, yes, the Amani.
01:10Oh, wish to God he'd get out from under my feet.
01:13He's filtering around up there like I...
01:15Is he still using his new bolt hole?
01:17Oh, his new office, you mean.
01:19Oh, yes, as if this house wasn't big enough already.
01:22I offered him the room about the garage to turn into a den.
01:25Look, it doesn't make much sense when the two of you are rattling around in a house the size of a small stately home.
01:30A total extravagance, and I've told him so.
01:33And does he come home for lunch?
01:34Not a bit of it.
01:35I've got used to that now.
01:37It's like when he was still working.
01:39I have my days to myself again.
01:43What is he at?
01:44It's already ten o'clock, and he's usually up and away by half nine.
01:48Oh, what were you ringing me for, anyway?
01:51Listen, listen, I have to go.
01:52He's coming down.
01:53I'll ring you later.
01:54I'll ring you later.
01:54Will you be having lunch at home today, then?
02:11Or you will?
02:14There seems to be no acceptable way of saying this after 50 years of marriage.
02:19I'm leaving you, Gibnock.
02:24You're what?
02:25I'm leaving you.
02:27I'm moving up.
02:28Don't be absurd.
02:29I have been many things over the years, but absurd never.
02:34Well, it's never too late to start.
02:37Where are you going?
02:38I'm not going to have a ride with you.
02:40Do you really think you can walk in here and announce you're leaving me?
02:44Just as if you were telling me that you won't be home for lunch.
02:47You will have to explain yourself.
02:48Yeah, I suppose I owe you that.
02:51Owe me that?
02:52Why, you old bastard!
02:54I've already said I'm not going to have a ride with you.
02:57It might be the death of both of us.
02:59The death of you, you mean?
03:00There's nothing wrong with my heart.
03:03You've finally gone soft in the head, haven't you?
03:05The great man finally gone soft in the head.
03:07I am perfectly in command of my faculties.
03:11I had hoped that we might be able to get through this in a calm, civilized manner.
03:17You are not in a courtroom now.
03:19I think it would be better if we left it at that for today.
03:22I'll call in tomorrow and we'll have a discussion about future...
03:26Lucas, where the hell are you going?
03:29Where?
03:30Do you think you concern yourself with that for the moment?
03:33What's Joanne's number?
03:37What do you want?
03:38Just tell me her number, will you?
03:40You don't even know your own daughter's telephone number.
03:44I was just going to ask her to come round so you wouldn't be alone.
03:48If I want her company, I am perfectly capable of ringing her myself.
03:53Of course.
03:57Of course.
03:59I'll call tomorrow.
04:02Where are you going?
04:04You'll be all right.
04:06The children will be there for you.
04:08I have to go.
04:09Where are you going?
04:09I have a right to know.
04:10I think it's best you don't know.
04:13No doubt you will find out in due course.
04:15I know this is a shock and I'm sorry for that.
04:21I've thought about it for a long time.
04:24There's no easy way to say this.
04:27As I say, I'll call in tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock.
04:34Oh, my God.
04:45Oh, come on, come on, come on.
04:50Joanna Marnie.
04:51Joanna must come round at once.
04:52What's wrong?
04:53He's left me.
04:54Left you where?
04:55Oh, don't be obtuse, dear.
04:56He's left me.
04:58He's left home.
04:59Oh, don't be absurd.
05:00That's my line.
05:01What?
05:01That is exactly what I said when he told me.
05:03He must have got this wrong.
05:05He's 78, a pillar of the establishment.
05:08The pillar of the establishment, according to himself.
05:11He's not going to leave his wife.
05:12It would be absurd, yes, isn't it?
05:14But that's what he's just done.
05:16Good God.
05:18I'll be round in five minutes.
05:19Yes?
05:31Dermot, is that you?
05:33Mother, I knew I shouldn't have given you this number.
05:36This isn't a good time.
05:37I'm due in court in a few minutes.
05:38I'm sorry, dear, but it's an emergency.
05:41The Omani?
05:41Yes.
05:42Dermot, darling, prepare yourself for a shock.
05:45What?
05:45Your father has left me.
05:47He's dead?
05:48No, no, he's very much alive and has just packed his bags and left home.
05:52You're kidding.
05:53Really, don't.
05:53I never, I mean, I'm not usually given to kidding, am I?
05:56What was the row about?
05:57There was no row, not really.
06:00Look, Mother, with respect, you and the Omani have barely exchanged a simple word for the last half century.
06:05Typical of you, dear, but you're so like him.
06:08Hello, are you still there?
06:10Look, I'm sure you've just got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
06:13And they'll turn up at tea time per usual.
06:16And now I really do have to go.
06:18I'll ring you later when I can.
06:23Are you all right?
06:25No, I'm not all right.
06:27I've been thinking about this and I feel sure you must have misunderstood him.
06:30Oh, don't you start to.
06:32I just had Dermot telling me I must have got it all wrong.
06:34Oh, please, Mum, just tell me exactly what he said.
06:37He said, and I quote, there's no easy way of saying this after 50 years of marriage, but I'm leaving you, Tipner.
06:44I'll make some tea.
06:45I always assumed I'd end up a widow one day.
06:51I wasn't looking forward to that, but at least you can have some dignity as a widow.
06:56But to be deserted by your husband?
06:59How could I face all the sly smiles at the bridge club?
07:01I think he's not well.
07:03This is so completely out of character.
07:05You know how he always insisted that we have to be above reproach, whiter than white?
07:09He must be having some kind of a breakdown to even contemplate this.
07:14He was always terrified of scandal.
07:16We'll have to get him seen by a specialist, but we don't want him committed or anything.
07:21That would be almost as bad.
07:22As bad as what?
07:23Oh, you know, which is more embarrassing, a bad husband or a mad one?
07:26These days, there's no shame attached to mental illness.
07:29Of course there is.
07:30Do you think the O'Mahony would want it known that he's falling apart mentally?
07:33He'd rather die first.
07:35Look, it can all be handled privately, and you can call it depression.
07:40That covers a multitude.
07:43I have to go to work, Norbert.
07:44I'll go and see him later.
07:46Do you, Anne, I don't know where he is.
07:48He wouldn't tell me.
07:50Do you think we should contact the police?
07:52No, no, no.
07:53He said he'd call tomorrow to discuss practicalities.
07:56It would be good if you were here to make a diagnosis.
07:59I get so furious with him, I can't think straight.
08:02Look, what time is he coming?
08:0411 o'clock in the morning.
08:06Okay, I'll call him later.
08:08Will you be all right?
08:09Yes.
08:09Marion?
08:19John.
08:20Where are you?
08:22Can you talk?
08:23Yes, but not for long.
08:24I'm on a payphone at the hospital.
08:26Hospital?
08:28It's little Emma.
08:29She fell and has a concussion.
08:32Is she unconscious?
08:33Well, she came around quickly, but they're going to keep her overnight for observation.
08:38Oh, yeah, of course.
08:40Oh, you see, I couldn't.
08:41I couldn't tell you.
08:43I was just about to.
08:44I'd wound myself up to it and then Mary rang.
08:47Of course you can't tell him in the midst of all this.
08:51But I keep thinking, John, what if I'd already told him and left and then Mary had wrong?
08:56Oh, God, it's unthinkable.
08:58Marion, my love, don't think like that.
09:02Had you told him now?
09:03Yes.
09:05This morning.
09:07Marion, are you there?
09:09It's me, Dermot.
09:17Dermot.
09:18Why are you sitting in the dark?
09:20Let me turn on the light.
09:21No, don't.
09:23It's not dark, not yet.
09:27I've never watched it before.
09:29Watched what?
09:31How day becomes night.
09:32It's not just the light going, it's colour, too.
09:37Things gradually lose their definition.
09:40They're just shapes.
09:41Soft, dark shapes.
09:45I never noticed before.
09:47He hasn't come back then?
09:49No.
09:51I didn't expect him to.
09:53He said he'd call in tomorrow to discuss practicalities.
09:58I don't like the sound of that.
10:00What do you mean?
10:02We need to play for time.
10:03I mean, he'll run out of steam pretty quickly at his age or even...
10:08Well, we don't want to think that way.
10:10Jim, but what are you talking about?
10:12I mean, we've got to stop him marrying her.
10:15Marrying?
10:16Just pay out plenty of line and then reel him in gently when the novelty wears off.
10:21Or he copes.
10:22You...
10:23You think he's got a woman?
10:25It happens all the time.
10:26A last grasp at life and sex.
10:28Oh, my God, you can't be serious.
10:31Don't be too hard on him.
10:32Some young floozy has set her cap at him.
10:34It's his money she's after.
10:35So, as I say, we play for time.
10:38Stop this, dear mate.
10:39I'm not one of your clients and this is your father you're talking about.
10:42The O'Mahony.
10:44So?
10:44He would never go off with some young floozy, as you so elegantly put it.
10:49He's going senile, dear mate.
10:51That's why he's behaving so strangely.
10:53There's been absolutely no mention of another woman.
10:56And it's a preposterous thing to suggest.
10:58The O'Mahony.
10:59Senile.
11:01Oh, that actually bothers you more than the idea of him making a fool of himself with some woman.
11:05I'm going to turn on my light.
11:06Oh, must you?
11:07That's better.
11:14Where is he now?
11:16He's got himself a little boathole.
11:18He's been using it as a kind of office for some time now.
11:20That's where he is, I'm sure.
11:22So he's been renting someplace?
11:23A flat or something?
11:24Don't you imagine it's a flat.
11:26It's just a...
11:26This doesn't sound like a man who's going senile to me.
11:28Oh, that's enough, dear mate.
11:30But you haven't seen enough of your father this last while to know what state of mind he's in.
11:36Would you like me to stay the night?
11:41Sorry.
11:42But I want you and Joanne at my side when he comes here tomorrow.
11:46Oh, tomorrow morning?
11:48I don't ask you for much, dear mate, but this is a family crisis.
11:51Yes, yes, okay.
11:52I suppose I better see for myself what's going on.
11:54I'm off then.
11:57Do you want the TV on?
11:58No.
11:59Why?
12:00It's just the house is so silent.
12:03It's been a silent house since you and Joanne left home.
12:07But he always filled it.
12:08You know, his presence.
12:11I'll let myself out.
12:16Here, Marion.
12:18Drink this.
12:19It'll perk you up.
12:20Oh, thanks.
12:21No, please, Hugh.
12:26No TV.
12:27I want to talk to you.
12:28Marion, it's been a ghastly day.
12:30We're both exhausted.
12:33Do you think I should ring Mary again?
12:35Just to...
12:35No, no, leave her be.
12:38We, Emma's going to be fine.
12:40It's just a routine thing, this keeping her in overnight.
12:44I'm sure you're right.
12:46So can I, um...
12:47Please, Hugh.
12:48We need to talk.
12:49This isn't the time, Marion, after the day we've had.
12:53Let's sleep on it, whatever it is, and talk tomorrow.
12:58I want to leave you and go and live with John O'Mahoney.
13:04I see.
13:06You seem to have made up your mind.
13:10Is that it?
13:11After...
13:12After how many years have we been married?
13:14You've always made your life decisions without much reference to me.
13:20So why change the habits of a lifetime?
13:22Oh, that's just not true.
13:25I didn't think you'd be so bitter.
13:27I'm tired, Marion.
13:29Go to bed and tomorrow do what you have to do.
13:33I cope with it in my own way.
13:35So stop trying to make me react in a way you think is appropriate.
13:39You think you don't give a damn about me, do you?
13:42No, escape.
13:44Look, Marion, you may be all set to play some kind of emotional ping-pong, but I'm not.
13:50I'm just too tired.
13:52If you'd brought this up at another time, maybe I could have risen to the occasion and given a passable performance as the broken-hearted husband.
14:00But as it is, I am just deeply thankful that my precious Emma is all right.
14:08And now, I'm going to watch some TV and go to bed.
14:12To tell the captain to leave Australian waters.
14:15But the Norwegians...
14:16...say it's their duty to help the refugees...
14:24John?
14:27Marion, are you all right?
14:29No, I mean...
14:31Oh, John, I've just told them.
14:33What, this evening?
14:35Yeah, just now.
14:37You think I shouldn't have?
14:39Oh, I know, I know, you're right.
14:41With everything that happened today, it was a terrible time.
14:44The worst of all possible times.
14:46There's never.
14:49Realise how easily you could lose them.
14:52Yeah.
14:53When Dermot was five, he got a serious pulmonary infection.
14:57They tried one antibiotic after another.
15:00We thought he was going to die.
15:02Dymna coped with it much better than I did.
15:05She has this simple, strong faith that it's all in God's hands.
15:13Except that in this case, God was a particularly nasty bacteria and a series of incompetent doctors.
15:20I know, I know.
15:23Morning after morning at school, I stood up in that assembly hall, looking down at all those little upturned...
15:30...and I had to sound utterly sure.
15:43For spiritual guidance and comfort referred to pages 6 to 36 in the schemes of work.
15:49And all the time, there was this fear around the edge of everything.
15:54A darkness I never dared to look at.
15:57Incredible, isn't it?
15:58How you can go on for a lifetime, averting your eyes, keeping yourself so busy and don't let the fear in.
16:04But now I have time to think, and I'm going to walk bravely towards the darkness with my eyes wide open.
16:09So good to talk to you, John.
16:13Don't invoke Dymna just now.
16:15No, no, I'm sorry.
16:17But in our house, I would be considered the silent one.
16:22Ironic with my talent, my vocation is words.
16:28Words.
16:29Logic, building a case, persuading.
16:32Yet at home, it's as if I speak the wrong language.
16:35The house seems to be eternally full of a gale of words.
16:40Yet I move through it in a kind of circle of silence.
16:45And maybe that's my fault.
16:47I created it myself.
16:49The only problem, really, was that the children never seemed to venture inside it.
16:55They were always caught up in Dymna's maelstrom.
16:59Is she very angry?
17:01At the moment, she doesn't believe I'm serious.
17:03She's decided I'm going senile.
17:06Oh, no, John, surely not.
17:09She finds that easier to cope with than the idea of me making a sane and rational decision to leave her.
17:16What did Hugh say?
17:18He said he was too tired to indulge in some emotional ping-pong with me.
17:23Ping-pong.
17:24And there was me thinking we'd at least been playing tennis all these years.
17:31That's better.
17:32What?
17:32Hearing you laugh like that.
17:35Oh, John, this isn't how we planned the first day of our life together with you alone in the flat.
17:41I could come round now and pick you up.
17:44No, John, no.
17:45I couldn't possibly leave.
17:47What if Mary phoned during the night?
17:49Of course.
17:50Of course.
17:51I just long to see you.
17:55I know.
17:56Me too.
17:57Will I see you tomorrow?
17:59I don't know.
18:00It depends on Emma and everything.
18:02You see, I don't feel I can tell Mary yet with Emma in hospital.
18:05You understand?
18:07I know.
18:08Have you told Jim about me?
18:11No.
18:11Oh, that's good.
18:13I couldn't bear it if Mary got to hear it before you...
18:15You may tell her.
18:17I'll ask him not to.
18:19It has to be me.
18:20I'll go and speak to him now before he goes to bed.
18:23Look, I'll meet you tomorrow when I can.
18:29Hello?
18:31Mom?
18:32I'm in the study, dear.
18:38Where are you this morning?
18:40He must have been planning this for some time.
18:42Well, what is...
18:43Why do you say that?
18:54All the history books are gone.
18:56Like missing teeth.
18:59He's left the law once.
19:00Interesting, that.
19:01Now we know what his true love is.
19:03He must have taken them to his office.
19:05Little by little, the premeditation of it is chilling.
19:08There must have been...
19:09I mean, at the beginning?
19:11You were in love, weren't you, when you married?
19:14Happy.
19:14In touch with those feelings you had for him.
19:17Joanne, dear, you've been watching too much daytime TV.
19:20Oh, when would I get time to watch daytime TV?
19:23All that American claptrap about getting in touch with your feelings.
19:27I know exactly why I married John O'Mahony.
19:30The first time I saw him walk into a room, I decided I was going to marry him.
19:35He was the most handsome, brightest of them all.
19:38You could tell he was going to go far even then.
19:40But did he ever tell him that?
19:42No, I did not.
19:43He's arrogant enough as it is.
19:45He makes me too angry.
19:46Why?
19:47Because I had to work so hard to get his attention.
19:50But he obviously did.
19:51At the beginning, maybe.
19:53I dazzled him.
19:55I was very good looking in those days.
19:57So when did you...
19:57I got him to propose and then, oh, it was all a whirlwind after that.
20:03It was the biggest, most stylish wedding of the year.
20:06Yes, I've seen the pictures.
20:08He was very quiet through all of it.
20:10You know the way he is.
20:12We've got so little time with each other.
20:13And after the wedding thing was over.
20:14They were always...
20:15The wedding thing, as you call it.
20:19Yes, then suddenly we were alone together and the silence was deafening.
20:23Till I came along and broke it.
20:25Yes, you.
20:26We're in here.
20:34Hello, Joanne.
20:37Come and sit by me, Joanne dear.
20:40I feel so upset.
20:41So, where are all the history books?
20:49I've moved them to my new home.
20:51So you've been planning this for a long time.
20:54How long?
20:55Yes, I have been planning it.
20:59Trying to find a way to make it less painful for everyone.
21:02You liar.
21:03You've been lying to me.
21:04You said you had an office downtown.
21:06Now you say it's your new home.
21:08What is it?
21:09A house?
21:10A flat?
21:10It's a small apartment.
21:12Oh, an apartment.
21:13How are you?
21:14Aren't we getting terribly modern and American in our old age?
21:17Dimper, I didn't come here to quarrel with you.
21:20Don't you think 50 years of fighting with each other is enough?
21:24I want to call a halt.
21:25I am calling a halt.
21:28And the only way to do that is to live apart from you.
21:31You see, Joanne, he's taken leave off his senses.
21:34Well, I...
21:34As if this house isn't big enough for us to have several little apartments,
21:38each with room to spare.
21:39Well, this is what I came to discuss.
21:41I want to assure you that your standard of living will not be compromised in any way.
21:47We'll continue to...
21:48My standard of living compromised.
21:50What about my honor, my dignity in this town?
21:53Oh, there...
21:54There's that poor dymnoma, honey.
22:08She was deserted by her husband.
22:09You know, very sad.
22:10Very sad.
22:11I mean, if I was a widow, everyone would be sympathetic.
22:14That's normal to be widowed.
22:16But to have your geriatric husband leave you is absurd.
22:19I'm sorry if you find my continued existence on the planet inconvenient.
22:24But I intend to live out what time is left to me in my own way.
22:29I'm convinced that once you've accepted the inevitability of a situation,
22:33you will find a new peace of mind.
22:35Here, alone, in this mausoleum?
22:37If you don't want to live here, we'll sell it.
22:39But who will look after you?
22:41You mean cook and so on?
22:45Well, I'll get someone if I feel the need.
22:48Feel the need?
22:50You'll feel the need, all right.
22:51You haven't so much as boiled a kettle since we were married.
22:54You take everything I do completely for granted.
22:58Oh, good.
23:00Here's Dermot.
23:01He'll talk some sense into you.
23:03Oh, Dermot, love.
23:05Thank you for coming.
23:07Oh, my children are such a comfort to me.
23:11Hello, Dad.
23:13Dermot?
23:16So?
23:18Have you sorted things out?
23:19No, we haven't.
23:21Dermot, your father is determined to shame himself and all of us
23:24by insisting on living on his own in some apartment.
23:28You've bought an apartment?
23:29Uh, no.
23:31I'm...
23:32I'm renting.
23:34And are you planning to live alone in this apartment?
23:38Can we deduce from your silence that you are not going to be alone?
23:42Dermot, I don't think that...
23:43I'm not at liberty to outline my plans any further at this stage.
23:47Oh, for God's sake, listen to him.
23:49We are your family, your wife and children.
23:51Why can't you talk like a husband and father instead of a bloody magistrate?
23:54Yes, I'm sorry, but however I express it,
23:57I can't tell you any more at present.
24:00Dad, all this...
24:00Look, would you talk to a colleague of mine?
24:03Joanne, I told you I'm perfectly sane and sensible.
24:06There's absolutely no need for...
24:07So you have another woman.
24:10Oh, my God.
24:12I think you ought to Mum to name your mistress.
24:14I am living alone in the apartment at present,
24:19and I will inform you if the situation changes.
24:22So what does that mean?
24:23You've taken to curb-crawling on the lookout for some floozy you can take home?
24:28You have definitely lost your marbles.
24:30What I came here to say, and I now repeat it for your benefit, Dermot,
24:35is that your mother can continue to live here for the rest of her life
24:38with the same income as she's used to.
24:41Are you going to sue for divorce?
24:42Dammit, that's enough. How can you even voice such an idea?
24:46The last thing I want to be is involved in a grubby divorce case
24:49during the final years of my life.
24:53Surely we can all agree,
24:55quietly,
24:57privately, between us,
24:58to find a civilised way for your mother and I to live apart.
25:02But this other woman no doubt has her eye on your money.
25:04Of course she hasn't.
25:06So there is a she.
25:09Who?
25:10Who is she?
25:11I have to go, now.
25:13Who is she?
25:14Mum, please, calm down.
25:16This is very bad for you.
25:17I'll be in contact.
25:18And where can we contact you?
25:21How could he?
25:22How could he bring shame on us all like this?
25:26Oh, it's absurd.
25:29It's obscene in a man of 78.
25:31At least he's not talking about divorce or marrying this one, whoever she is.
25:35Marrying?
25:35Oh, look, no more, Dammit.
25:37You shouldn't have said that about divorce.
25:39It's unthinkable.
25:40I had to find out his intentions.
25:42Don't you realise if he marries her,
25:44she stands to inherit a share of the money when he dies.
25:46You think some fortune hunter has got hold of him?
25:49It happens all the time, Mum,
25:50although they usually go for widowers.
25:52Surely he wouldn't be such a fool.
25:54Oh, it's nauseating.
25:57The first thing we have to do is find out who she is.
26:01We need to know who we're dealing with.
26:07Did the hospital say anything about keeping her quiet?
26:10No.
26:10They just said to keep an eye on her.
26:12I never want to go through another 24 hours like that.
26:15I know, Mary.
26:16Thank God she's all right.
26:17You remember that time I nearly bit my tongue off?
26:20There must have been a real panic for you and Dad.
26:22Your tongue?
26:24Remember.
26:24I was swinging between two chairs,
26:26and suddenly one of them tipped in a bit right through my tongue.
26:29There was blood everywhere.
26:30It is, Mary.
26:31You must remember.
26:33Daddy said he was horrified,
26:34but he was trying all the time not to let me see how frightened he was.
26:37I was at work.
26:39Oh, yeah.
26:39Probably.
26:41You were always at work.
26:42Mary, your father always worked full-time, too.
26:45Yeah, but he always seemed to have time to play with me.
26:48You were always too busy.
26:50He was probably too busy trying to get the house clean
26:53and put back to rights before another week was upon us.
26:55Are you sure you always had a cleaner?
26:57No, no.
26:58I only had a cleaner during the last years when I became principal.
27:03I'm sorry if I didn't take the time to play with me.
27:06I'm not good with small children.
27:08Your dad always was.
27:10Look at him now.
27:10He should have been the teacher,
27:12and I would have made a wonderful civil servant.
27:15Such a pity you couldn't have had more children, Sam.
27:18Are you planning another one?
27:19That's between me and Bob.
27:21Of course.
27:21Thank goodness this didn't happen next week when I'm away on my course.
27:26What course, dear?
27:28I meant to ask you.
27:30It'll be okay for you and Dad to take Emma for a couple of nights.
27:33You know the way Bob works so late,
27:35and she'll be at nursery all morning,
27:36and then Dad could pick her up as usual and keep her overnight.
27:39Next week?
27:40You're not doing anything else, are you?
27:42Well.
27:43I mean, I don't often ask for your help.
27:46I should have told you sooner.
27:49See, it's a course I really need to do on computers.
27:52It'll put me in a much better position to apply for promotion,
27:54and you know how you're always going on at me to be more ambitious.
27:58Oh, yes, dear.
27:59Look, I'm sure you will be able to keep Emma overnight,
28:01but I may not be there.
28:04What?
28:05Are you going away somewhere?
28:06You didn't say.
28:07I, um, well, there's a...
28:09I might have to go away for a few nights to visit her.
28:13Couldn't you put it off till the week after?
28:15I mean, she's not at death's door, is she?
28:17Yes, I think she is.
28:18There's Bob now.
28:20Come on, Emma.
28:21Daddy's here.
28:23Death of the heart.
28:25It'll be Tuesday Wednesday Thursday next week.
28:27Bye-bye, love.
28:28Bye.
28:29Bye, Emma.
28:35You didn't tell her, then?
28:37I almost did, and then I lost my nerve.
28:40I'm so afraid she'll never forgive me.
28:41She's always been closer to you,
28:43and if I do this,
28:44she might just cut me out of her life.
28:47She won't do that, Marion.
28:49You're her mother.
28:50I know you spark off each other all the time,
28:52but that's just because you're so alike.
28:55You actually want me to go, don't you?
28:58So you'll have her all to yourself.
28:59There's something I should have told you long ago.
29:09I'd hoped I'd never have to,
29:11but now, well,
29:14years ago,
29:16I fell in love with another woman,
29:17and I had an affair which lasted almost two years.
29:21I wanted to leave and be with her,
29:24but I couldn't face leaving Mary.
29:27She was only six or seven at the time.
29:30I eventually found the courage to finish it.
29:33For Mary's sake?
29:35Well, if it had been just me and you,
29:37yes,
29:38I would have left.
29:40But once you have a child with someone,
29:42it's all indivisible, isn't it?
29:45You were Mary's mother,
29:46and we were both vital to her.
29:49I couldn't shatter all that.
29:52So you want me to give up the love of my life for Mary's sake?
29:55Is that what you're telling me?
29:56No, no, I'm saying the opposite.
29:59I denied my feelings for her sake,
30:01but she was a child then.
30:03Now she's grown up with a family of her own.
30:07She...
30:07Little girl, all right.
30:11Yeah, yeah, thank God.
30:12She was playing away with you in the garden all morning.
30:16How are things at home?
30:17He wants me to leave.
30:19He can't wait to get me offside
30:21so he can have Mary all to himself.
30:23He's encouraging you to leave?
30:25Oh, yeah.
30:26He even told me the story of his great passion.
30:28I suppose he thinks that makes us even.
30:30But you always knew, didn't you, that he...
30:33John, I'm frightened.
30:33If I leave, he'll turn Mary against me.
30:36I can't face losing my daughter.
30:38You're not going to lose her.
30:40Well, they all find it hard to accept.
30:43But...
30:44She'll come round in the end.
30:46How have Joanne and German reacted?
30:48Ah, Joanne's gone stony on me.
30:53She's very like me.
30:54Keeps it all bottled up.
30:57I'm afraid she's a profoundly lonely person.
31:01I only wish she could meet a decent man
31:03to share her life with.
31:05She definitely finished with that.
31:06Oh, he's moved away.
31:08Wife and kids in two.
31:10Everyone sees he was never going to leave his wife.
31:13Oh, poor Joanne.
31:15What about German?
31:16Well, he sees very little of his kids
31:18now that his wife is a new partner.
31:20It's hard for Dimpner.
31:22She should be presiding over a tribe of grandchildren.
31:26I meant, how has German reacted to your moving out?
31:30Ah, it sounds hard.
31:32But I think his main worry is that his inheritance will be affected if I marry again.
31:38He can hardly get morally indignant since he himself left his wife and two small children.
31:45Can you stay tonight?
31:47I can't, John.
31:48Not until I've told Mary.
31:50If I move out now, he'll tell her.
31:52And I know just the kind of spin he'll put on it all.
31:56What if she never forgives me?
31:58She's very stubborn, very spoiled, really.
32:01She might stop me seeing Emma.
32:03Ah, no.
32:04You're tired and overwrought.
32:07Everything will seem clearer when you've had a sleep.
32:10I tell her soon.
32:12I promise.
32:13I promise, John.
32:14Yes?
32:21Mum, hello.
32:22I've got some news for you.
32:24Dammit?
32:24He's living in one of those new Riverside apartments.
32:27Very classy.
32:28And you'll never believe who he's shacked up with.
32:30Oh, please, Dammit.
32:31Remember, this is your father you're talking about.
32:32The O'Manese mistress is Joanne's old headmistress.
32:35What?
32:37Mary and Grey?
32:38The very same.
32:39I remember you used to give out yards about her after every parent-teacher meeting.
32:43But she's older than me.
32:45There's no accounting for taste.
32:46Are you sure?
32:47I'm afraid so.
32:48But why her?
32:49I mean, where could they have met?
32:51Maybe they've been having an affair for years.
32:54Sorry.
32:55I'm sorry, Mum.
32:56That was a very insensitive thing to say.
32:59Oh, but you may be right.
33:01The betrayal of it.
33:03How far back does it all unravel?
33:05Look, maybe I shouldn't have told you this over the phone.
33:08I'll come round later as soon as...
33:10Or I'll ring Joanne and see if she can go round to you.
33:12Do you really think he would have risked his reputation while he was still on the bench?
33:16And she was principal of a Catholic girls' school?
33:19No.
33:19I think this is a recent thing, Mum.
33:21I mean, he would have left years ago when he retired if it had been going on all.
33:24To think that patronising, self-righteous bitch used to stand up telling us how we should bring up our daughters.
33:30Well, by the sound of it, they deserve each other.
33:32Really, dear, my dear sarcasm is unhelpful at a time like this.
33:37Sorry.
33:38See you later.
33:39Oh, Barry in bloody grey.
33:43That hypocritical, self-righteous cowl.
33:51Grey.
33:53Grey.
33:54Grey.
33:55What was her husband's name?
33:58Oh, yes.
33:59Hello?
34:01Perhaps I can help you.
34:21And where's your mother?
34:22She's on...
34:23Oh, I bet she is.
34:25I beg your pardon?
34:25Do you know where your mother is right now?
34:27Mrs. O...
34:28She's with my husband in a little love nest down town.
34:32They've set up home together in one of those lovely new apartments on the river.
34:40Who was it?
34:41Is there something wrong?
34:43Emma?
34:44No, no.
34:45Emma's fine.
34:47That...
34:48That was a Mrs. Dimpner O'Mahony.
34:51Oh, God.
34:52Do you know?
34:54What does she tell you?
35:03Oh, God.
35:04Is it Emma?
35:05No, Marion.
35:06Emma's fine.
35:07Then what?
35:09I think we should all sit down and have a talk.
35:11How could you?
35:13It's obscene at your age.
35:15You told her.
35:16You've no right to tell her.
35:17Leave him alone.
35:18It wasn't him.
35:19I just had the most hateful phone call from Dimpner O'Mahony.
35:23Oh, my God, Mary.
35:25I'm sorry you had to hear it like that.
35:27I tried to tell you yesterday and I lost my nerves.
35:30I bet you did.
35:31You've been having an affair with this man O'Mahony.
35:34We've had a relationship, yes.
35:36At your age?
35:37It's disgusting.
35:39No, it's even worse than that.
35:40It's ludicrous.
35:42People will laugh at you.
35:44How dare you speak to me like this?
35:45I've had a lifetime of you telling me what was suitable and decent.
35:49And now you've broken every rule in the book.
35:51I've done my time, Mary.
35:53This is for me now.
35:54It's a friendship I can't live without.
35:57Oh, what about Daddy?
35:58Who's going to look after him?
35:59Mary, I don't want anyone to look after me.
36:01If your mother wants to go, then so be it.
36:03For God's sake, Daddy, why do you always just rule over?
36:07If you leave this house, you'll never see me or Emma again.
36:12The final word there goes to warn.
36:14The greatest spinner the game has known...
36:16Joanne.
36:23Hello, Dad.
36:25How did you know where...
36:26Oh, Dermot and his cronies find easily enough.
36:29Yes.
36:30Yes, yes, yes, of course.
36:32Come in.
36:33Is there a sea...
36:35No, no.
36:36I don't know.
36:39Lovely view.
36:42Yes.
36:44Yes.
36:45I've even seen a few seals.
36:48I never thought they'd venture so far up the river.
36:51It's nice, but...
36:53You could talk me out of place here.
36:56Out of context, yes.
36:59You've spent a lifetime creating a context for yourself.
37:06Job, family, house, books.
37:09And then, what do you do when you get to my age, Joanne?
37:12You can't face dying in that context.
37:16With us?
37:17You can't face dying with us?
37:19Well, it sounds awful when you put it like that.
37:23Well, it is pretty awful, isn't it?
37:25The Patriarch deserts the tribe.
37:28The Patriarch.
37:29Yes.
37:29It's...
37:30It's...
37:33Damned low.
37:34And you long to hear your own name return to you.
37:37I hated Dipna for bringing it into our home.
37:40And especially for teaching it to you and Dearwood.
37:42He used it as a weapon.
37:43I didn't realize you hated her.
37:47I don't hate her, Joanne.
37:51But there is...
37:53A bitterness there.
37:56We're not good for each other, Dipna and I.
37:59We should never have married.
38:02We deserved each other, though, I suppose.
38:04Both arrogant and selfish.
38:06I knew in the weeks leading up to the wedding that it was all wrong.
38:10But I hadn't the courage to call a halt.
38:14It's taken me half a century to find the courage.
38:19Well, you should have done it long ago if you felt like that.
38:22It's terribly hard on her now when she's old and vulnerable.
38:25I find it hard to think of Dipna as vulnerable.
38:29But yes, I know it's hard on her and I'm deeply sorry for that.
38:35I honestly believe that once she's got over the social embarrassment,
38:38she really will be happier with me out of the house.
38:41So you're quite happy to walk away from us as well?
38:45Not happy.
38:47Resigned to it.
38:49I just assumed you'd both be in her camp.
38:53I'm in nobody's camp.
38:55Yes.
38:57Yes, I see that now and I'm...
39:00I don't think I'm taking your side in all of this.
39:03Well, where did you meet her?
39:08In the library.
39:10We used to just talk.
39:14It was in those months after I'd been in hospital, you remember.
39:18You see, Joanne, I...
39:19I thought I was going to die.
39:22I lay there and reviewed my life
39:24and was filled with such a longing for something
39:27or someone I'd missed along the way.
39:31So maybe there was an openness in me when I met Marion
39:34which made it possible for our friendship to flourish.
39:37I found someone to love and who loves me.
39:41It's all so startlingly simple
39:44and utterly unexpected at this stage in my life.
39:48I have to grasp this happiness before it's too late.
39:52Yes, you should.
39:55You...
39:55You...
39:55You're not condemning me?
39:58Who am I to condemn anyone?
39:59Well, I would gladly have broken up David's marriage to have him.
40:02Please don't tell me any of this.
40:06I can't bear it when she starts on
40:08about how I should be married long ago.
40:11You see, you finding someone so...
40:15So late.
40:17It's given me hope too, you know.
40:19But it's not too late for me.
40:21Oh, my love.
40:23I know there'll be someone for you.
40:27I should go now.
40:29I don't really want to come face to face with Mrs. Grey.
40:32You know who she is?
40:34Oh.
40:36Dear Mother again.
40:37Afraid so.
40:39Does your mother know?
40:40Yes.
40:42Oh, dear.
40:44I'm sorry I didn't feel I could tell any of you
40:47until Marion had made the break with her family.
40:50She's finding it very difficult to tell her daughter.
40:53She may not be able to make that final break.
40:56So you could end up here alone?
40:59That is quite possible.
41:00You could come home.
41:04No.
41:06That's not going to happen, Joanne.
41:12You will come and see me again?
41:15Yes.
41:16If you promise not to mention it to Mum.
41:18Of course I won't.
41:21Oh.
41:22Oh, God.
41:23Oh, God.
41:27Marion.
41:28Are you all right?
41:29She won't.
41:31Joanne's here.
41:32I'm just going.
41:34Please don't go on.
41:35I really have to.
41:36Thank you for coming, Joanne.
41:39You will come and see me again, won't you?
41:41Yes, but don't tell me.
41:42I'll let myself out.
41:47You're staying.
41:49Till death do us part.
41:51Oh.
41:52I don't know.
41:54Marion.
41:56Marion.
41:56That was the dimming of the day by Jane Cassidy.
42:19John O'Mahony was played by James Ellis.
42:21Marion Gray by Laurie Morton.
42:24Dimphno O'Mahony by Stella McCusker.
42:27Hugh Gray was David Kelly.
42:30Joanne O'Mahony was Julia Dearden.
42:32Dermud O'Mahony was Tim Lone.
42:34And Mary Gray was Laura Hughes.
42:37The play was directed in Belfast by Pam Brighton.
42:40I need you.
42:43I've left a man of the day.
42:55Only being a patriarch, Joanne.
42:58You were always so unapproachable.
43:01Even when we were small.
43:04You're always in your study and the door was closed.
43:06Mum used to shush us continually and send us outside so we wouldn't disturb the...
43:10The O'Mahony.
43:12I know you all call me that.
43:15I didn't mind it in chambers.
43:18It gave me a certain chieftain status which wasn't unpleasant.
43:23But then to find your wife, your family and even your children using this faintly derisory title...
43:36I'm not sure how it was, I've left a little bit.
43:36I'm not kidding.
43:37I'm not sure how it was.
43:38But then to find your wife and her husband and her husband and her husband...
43:39And I'm not sure how the ladies and her husband and her husband and her husband are now.
43:40But then if I had been, I'll try my husband and I'll try my husband and take my husband and turn off.
43:40
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