Ondine (2009)

Stephen Rea: Priest

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Quotes 

• Priest : Misery is easy, Syracuse. Happiness you have to work at.

• Priest : So, who's going to marry her, Syracuse?

  Syracuse : It's not like there's a queue, father.

  Priest : And I can't marry her.

  Syracuse : No, you're a tree.

  Priest : Exactly.

• Annie : So I supposed she isn't a Selkie really. 'Cause you can't marry a seal, can ya?

  Priest : No, you definitely cannot.

  Annie : Not in the real quotidian world, any way.

  Priest : Quotidian?

  Annie : Yep. Means the one we have to live in. If she was a seal, though, would you still do the wedding?

  Priest : Me?

• Syracuse : My name's Syracuse and I'm an alcoholic.

  Priest : And you've been sober for two years, seven months and...

  Syracuse : Twenty-one days.

  Priest : You're doing very well, Syracuse.

  Syracuse : It's about the girl, Father.

  Priest : Oh, yes. The one you... met... out fishing.

  Syracuse : I drew her up in a net, Father.

  Priest : She looked pretty real to me, Circus.

  Syracuse : Syracuse.

  Priest : Sorry. Syracuse. So, what about her? You've sinned with her, I suppose?

  Syracuse : Of course.

  Priest : And I don't suppose you want absolution?

  Syracuse : No.

  Priest : No. So, why are you here, Syracuse?

  Syracuse : You know the story about the king who had a secret, and it drove him mad so he told it to the tree?

  Priest : OK, so... pretend I'm a tree.

  Syracuse : She brings me luck... and I don't know why. I'm afraid, Father... 'cause... I'm beginning to hope.

  Priest : We should never lose hope, Syracuse.

  Syracuse : She was drowned, Father, my net brought her back to life.

  Priest : That doesn't make sense.

  Syracuse : I know. None of it makes sense, that's why I'm afraid. I know something's going to happen, something wonderful. Or terrible. It's just the kind of girl she is. It's just the kind of person she is. And that's my secret. So what kind of tree are you, Father?

  Priest : I'm a... well, I suppose I'm an oak.

  Syracuse : You look like one of the ones they make hurley sticks out of.

  Priest : Oh, an ash, yeah.

  Syracuse : As long as you're a tree.

• Syracuse : [clears his throat]  My name's Syracuse, and I'm an alcoholic.

  Priest : I've told you before, Circus, confession is not a chapter of AA.

  Syracuse : There's none in this town, Father.

  [stands and holds the door to the confessional open for the priest] 

  Syracuse : I've been sober two years, seven months and 18 days. This is where they all clap, Father.

  Priest : Did you see that? In the movies?

  Syracuse : Yes.

  [priest humors Syracuse by quietly clapping a few times] 

  Syracuse : Thank you.

  Priest : So, tell me.

  Syracuse : I had a dream, Father. I'm at his funeral and she's beside me, and I'm panicking again.

  Priest : Maybe you still want to be with her.

  Syracuse : No. No, I'm panicking because I'm back with her. Can't happen. She's still drinking. All I want is Annie.

  Priest : Perhaps you need to talk to someone, Circus.

  Syracuse : It's Syracuse. And I'm talking to you.

  Priest : No, I mean a counselor. I could put you both in touch with one if you'd give me permission.

  Syracuse : You have no permission. I only talk to you 'cause it's secret.

• Priest : Anything else?

  Syracuse : I suppose there is. Yeah, I stole.

  Priest : Oh, dear. What did you steal, Syracuse?

  Syracuse : Some ladies' clothes.

  Priest : Oh, dear, dear, dear, dear. I don't like this at all, Syracuse. This is a bad development.

  Syracuse : Oh, It's not what you're thinking, Father. There was a reason.

  Priest : What was the reason?

  Syracuse : I stole them because I was embarrassed to be seen buying them.

  Priest : What did you want them for?

  Syracuse : They were for this girl I met, Father.

  Priest : A girl? Where did you meet this girl?

  Syracuse : I pulled her out of the water in my net.

  Priest : In your net?

  Syracuse : In my fishing net.

  [chuckles] 

  Priest : You're joking, surely, Syracuse?

  Syracuse : No, not joking. Dreaming, maybe. But sure I went back to my boat this morning and... there she was.

  Priest : And did she spend the night in the boat?

  Syracuse : No.

  Priest : No? So where did this girl sleep?

  Syracuse : I'm not telling you.

  Priest : No? I can't force you to, can I?

  Syracuse : No. And you can't tell anyone, either.

  Priest : No, my lips are sealed. But you'll keep me informed of developments, Syracuse?

  Syracuse : Definitely, Father.

  Priest : So, will I see you at mass on Sunday?

  Syracuse : You know you won't, Father.

  Priest : I suppose I do. You only avail of the confessional...

  [Syracuse interrupts] 

  Syracuse : Because there's no AA chapter in this poxy town.

  Priest : You wouldn't say a couple of Hail Marys on your way out, would you?

• Priest : I don't like this at all.