Sometime after series 2

    It was a beautiful day. A rare and beautiful day. Sunshine, blue skies, a gentle breeze. Peter Clifford walked out of the church, stood for a moment looking at the sky. How glad he was to be there in Ballykissangel. He started walking toward Fitzgerald's. He thought he would have a cup of tea this mid-morning. When he walked in, Liam and Donal were sitting at the bar. "Good morning," he said. And he meant it. "Good morning, Father," they both said together. Assumpta turned and looked at him. He could see that she was not happy. He knew better than to say anything about her mood, so he said "a cup of tea, please, Assumpta." She said nothing, but set the tea down in front of him. He wished he could help her in some way, but he had tried that before when she was upset about something. Not a pleasant experience. He just looked at her and smiled. She wasn't angry, just quiet. Maybe he would talk to her later.

    Father Clifford was sitting at the bar, finishing up his tea. Liam and Donal had left, after a phone call. Assumpta came in and put some glasses under the bar. When she lifted her head, she looked directly at him. He said softly, "Can I help?" "With what?" "With whatever is bothering you. "What can you do?" she said sharply. "I don't know until you tell me," he replied. She turned to walk away(her way of dealing with reason when she felt unreasonable)….and then turned back. "OK. I will tell you what's bothering me. I have had an offer for the pub. A good substantial offer. So I have to make a decision." She wiped the bar off where he was leaning, so he had to move. "If you sold it, where would you go?"he said, trying not to show any emotion. "London, or Dublin, I guess." "But why would you want to?" he said carefully. He could feel the hostility in her voice. "What is there to keep me here?" He swallowed and said "you have friends here, Assumpta, people who care about you." "I have friends everywhere," she said, her eyes flashing. He didn't know what to say to that. He knew how much he would miss her. But he couldn't really tell her how he felt. She looked at him, turned and went into the kitchen. He wanted to go after her and tell her, but he didn't know if he could even put it into words. Or should. He turned and left. As he walked out of the pub, Niamh was walking in. "Hello, Father," she said. "Hi, Niamh. How are you feeling?" "Oh fine, Father". "Assumpta's a bit upset today, maybe you can talk to her," said Peter. "I only make things worse when I try. Will you call me later and let me know how she is?" "I will, Father."

    Assumpta was clearing the bar. "It's a great offer, Niamh. I'll probably not ever get another like it." "Who?" said Niamh. "McLogan from Cilldargan." "He's always wanted a foot in BallyK," said Niamh. "I don't like him, Assumpta." "Yeah, well, money talks,"replied Assumpta. "I know this would be a new beginning for you, but are you sure this is what you want?" "Oh, God, Niamh, I don't know what I want! What do I have here?" Niamh looked at her for a moment. " A home! Friends! People who love you!" Assumpta started to say something to her and stopped. Some things you can't say to anyone, she thought. She wanted the discussion to end. "Anyway, I haven't decided yet." Just then the pub door opened and Brian came in. He set his hat on the bar and said " a glass of stout, please, Assumpta. "Niamh," he said. "Hello, Dad," she said. "How is the land deal going?" "Very well, very well," he said, taking a drink. "That's good. I know you've wanted to sell that piece for a long time. Are the people really interested?" she said. "They seem to be," he replied, taking another drink. Brian's cell phone rang and he answered it, "Yeah." He turned away from Niamh and Assumpta. "Did you get it? How many? Yeah, Yeah, I'll call you later." He hung up. He finished his drink. "Well, I'll see you later," he said, picking up his hat and heading for the door. "I'd better get going, myself, Asusmpta, I've got some things I have to do. I'll see you later."

    "Look, they're going to be here at 5:00 and I'm going to bring them up in the car. Then we will get out and walk. So you make sure that it's done by then. Yeah. How many did you say you have? Maybe you'd better get some more just in case. Well, go to Cilldargan. Just don't make anyone suspicious." Brian hung up the phone. Donal hangs up the phone and turns to Liam. "He said we'd better get some more." Where are we going to get more?" asked Liam. "I guess we'll need to go back to Cilldargan," said Donal. "Does he want us to go to Dublin?" asked Liam sarcastically. "You go, I've got better things to do," said Liam.

    Assumpta was in the kitchen. Fionn was scratching at the back door. "What do you want, Fionn?" She walked over to the back door and opened it. Fionn ran out. "You stay around here," she demanded and then sighed. "As if he listens to me," she said aloud. As she turned around, Peter was standing in the kitchen. "I want to talk to you, Assumpta." Yeah?" she said. She stood there, looking at him. No one could make her as angry as Peter. And she could tell he was going to say something irritating. "Assumpta, ummm, have you decided what you are going to do about the pub?" he stammered. "What! In the couple of hours since I told you about it?" she said sarcastically. Oh, he knew this was going to be difficult. He guessed he should have waited for Niamh to call. But it was preying on his mind so. How much to say? What to say? "I think you would be better off staying in Ballyk, he said, knowing immediately that that was not the right thing to say. "Oh really!" she said. "And, tell me, Father Clifford, why I would be so much better off in Ballyk." "Well, because you have friends here," he said timidly. "You already said that," she retorted. "Well, this is your family business. That has to mean something to you," he wasn't at all sure of what he was saying. "Well, let me tell you something, Father Clifford. This family business is none of your business," she said, raising her voice. "Assumpta, I'm just trying to…………" "Get out of here," she yelled. "You can never say anything. You just talk and talk and never say anything. Just get out." He turned and walked into the pub and out the front door.

    Peter walked back to the church. He had really made a mess of things. Whenever he was trying to talk seriously to Assumpta, he could never say the things he meant to say. Of course, there were somethings he would never be able to say. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why did he always make her so angry?

    The blue flat bed lorry pulled up to the trees. "Where does he want this stuff poured?" said Liam. "I don't know. He said just make it look like it's bubbling up." "How many more did you get?" said Liam. "Oh, a couple of cases," replied Donal. "Well, let's get started," said Liam starting to unload the truck. They emptied all of the cases of motor oil and then Donal took off the last two cases. "Hurry up, before they get here," said Liam.

    Assumpta went to the back door. "Fionn, she yelled." "Where is that dog?" She shut the door and walked out into the pub. Brendan was sitting at the bar. "Have you seen Fionn?" she asked. "Not today," he answered and went back to reading the paper. In walked Michael Ryan and Padraig. "I'll have a glass of stout, Assumpta," said Padraig. "I'll have coffee, please, Assumpta," Micheael said. Assumpta set the glass and the cup down and turned to go back into the kitchen. Just then Kevin came in. "Dad, is it ok if I go over to Con's house?" he said to Padraig. "Yeah, and make sure you are home by 8:00," replied Padraig. "OK," said Kevin. Assumpta turned and said, "Kevin, have you seen Fionn?" "No, is he missing?" "I let him out several hours ago, and he hasn't come home yet. He usually comes right back, and I'm getting worried." "I'll look out for him," he said.

    "You can't leave the cans there, Donal, said Liam. "They'll know what we've done." "You pick em up. I dumped them," replied Donal. "How come these cans are a different color?" asked Liam. "How do I know, different brand, I guess."

    Peter was going to the Garda house. He had to talk to Niamh. Maybe she could fix things between he and Assumpta. As he was coming out of the church gate, Kevin O'Kelly ran into him. "Where's the fire, Kevin?" Peter said. "Sorry, Father, I didn't see you."……………. "Kevin, would you do me a favor?" "Sure, Father." "Go over to Niamh's and ask her if she would come over to the church. I have just remembered something I have to do." "Ok, Father…….Oh, Father, have you seen Fionn?" "No, I haven't. Why?" asked Peter. "Assumpta is worried about him. I guess she let him out hours ago and he hasn't come home yet." "I'll keep a look out for him, Kevin," he called as Kevin headed back the way he had come. Peter was glad he had remembered the marriage class he was teaching tonight. He'd better go over the lesson at least once. As he walked back into the church, he thought about Assumpta. She loved that dog. He was sure she would be very upset if he didn't come back soon. Maybe he would just take a walk passed the church a ways to see if he could see him. He turned and went outside again. As he walked down the road he was amazed at how beautiful the day had been. The sun was beginning to set and the sky was so beautiful in the west. The clouds were a deep rose color. If only he hadn't made Assumpta so angry! It might have been a perfect day. He thought maybe if he walked just a little farther, he might see Fionn. Then he would get back in time for the class.

    Niamh knocked on the sacristy door. Slowly she opened it. No Father Clifford. "How strange." He wasn't anywhere in the church. He wasn't in his house either. Someone standing behind her, startled her. It was a young man and woman. Niamh had seen them before, but didn't know who they were. "Do you know where the priest is?" the young man asked. "We have been waiting for half an hour." "I don't know," said Niamh. "Do you think we should wait," he wondered. "Well, he is very reliable, so I'm sure if you had an appointment with him, he will be here. Niamh turned and walked out of the church.

    A slight breeze was blowing, and Peter thought about how angry Assumpta had been with him. He didn't really understand why, but there was so much about her he didn't understand. Maybe if he found Fionn, she would forgive him. "Now, if I were a dog, turned loose, where would I go?" After he had been gone about ten minutes, he thought he heard a dog barking. He turned his head and listened. It sounded like a dog. He turned off the road and headed for the hills. He stopped and listened. He didn't hear anything, but kept walking in that direction. Then he heard a distinct bark. It was off to the right in amongst the hills. He hurried and could hear the barking getting louder. He knew he had to hurry and get home, but the thought of being able to bring Fionn home was foremost on his mind. Just as he was about to start running, a large hole loomed up in front of him. He stopped just in time. To his amazement, the barking was coming from down in the hole. He leaned down and peered in. "Fionn, is that you?" Fionn barked in excitement.

    Almost home, Niamh decided to go into Fitzgerald's. She sat down on a bar stool. Assumpta said "you look knackered. What's up?" She looked at Assumpta with a puzzled look. "Kevin came over to my house and told me that Father Clifford wanted to see me. So I went over to the church, only he isn't there." "Maybe he is in his house," Assumpta said. "No, I looked there too, and what is really strange, is that he had an appointment with some people tonight and they were waiting at the church and he didn't show up." "Did Kevin tell you what he wanted you for?" Assumpta asked. Niamh shook her head. Assumpta walked into the kitchen, followed by Niamh. "That's really not like him, Niamh." Assumpta went to the back door. The sun had almost set and she called "Fionn, Fionn." She waited a few minutes and then closed the door. "I'm really worried about Fionn," she said. "He's never done this before." "Neither has Father Clifford, said Niamh. "Well, I'll walk over to the church in a little while, and check on him," said Assumpta. "I'm sure he will be back by then."

    "I wanted you to see the sunset," Brian said as he stepped out of the car. The three men and two women stepped out also and stared at the setting sun. "Yes, it is quite lovely, said one of the women. "This is wonderful land," said Brian, leading them to a group of trees. When they reached the trees, he allowed them to wander around and he stayed well away from them. He looked at his watch a few times. In a few minutes he saw one of the men kneel down and pick something up with his hand. The man called to one of the others. Brian pretended not to notice. "Yes," he thought. "Yes."

    Assumpta walked up the road toward the church. She was thinking about what Kevin had said when he had returned from Con's house. Assumpta had asked him if he had seen Fionn, or Father Clifford. Kevin told her of his last meeting with Peter. She was trying to put it all together in her mind. She walked up to his door. She knocked. No sound. She didn't like to just walk in, but she was becoming very worried. "Peter," she called as she opened the door. She walked through the house and looked in every room. She looked in his bedroom. A plain room with a crucifix hanging over the bed. Almost like a room in a monastery, she thought, not that she had ever seen one, but she had seen pictures. She went up to the church. Candles were burning. It was silent. She looked through the church. No one. "God, where could he be, she wondered. She went back outside. The clouds were heavy, putting an end to the beautiful day. She got a sick feeling in her stomach. I wonder if he went looking for Fionn? She thought about this some more. She started walking down the road. The rain was falling lightly now, and she thought about Fionn being all wet and hungry. She felt such an urgency to find him. She started walking faster, calling his name. She was very wet now, but she knew she had to keep going.

    The rain was heavy now, hitting her face and running into her eyes. She ran up the hill. FIONN" she called. She could hear a dog barking, but she couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from. Somehow there was a connection between Fionn and Peter's disappearance. Assumpta kept calling Fionn. She would turn her head from side to side, trying to hear. She felt that she was getting closer. All at once, she nearly fell headlong into a dark hole. She sky was so dark now that she could barely see. She heard Fionn very close. She leaned down into the hole. She could hear him. He was down there. Oh God, she thought. How am I going to reach him down there? She thought she heard a moan. She stopped to listen. Somehow, she knew Peter was down there with Fionn. "Peter, Peter," she cried. She turned around and tried to ease her way down into the hole. She couldn't feel anything to put her feet on. She could hear Fionn whining. Suddenly her grip on the grass broke and she fell and landed with a thump. She felt around her and came in contact with Fionn. She grabbed him by the collar and talked softly to him. He whined and licked her face. "Come on boy," she said. She stood up and tried to lift him. But he was heavy and wet as well. She nearly dropped him. Not knowing how deep the shaft was, she was very frightened. One wrong move and ……… Just then she heard a moan, much closer than before. She knew she had to get Fionn out so someone might be able to find them. "Come on Fionn," she cried. She lifted him up and pushed him with all of her strength. He was very slippery because he was so wet. All at once Fionn started scratching the side with his hind legs, spraying dirt in her face. She held on to him and finally he was up and out. "Fionn, go find someone, boy," she cried. She could hear him barking.

    She dropped down on her knees and felt around her. She had gone just a few feet when her hands felt the edge of the shaft. She heard another moan. It was so close. She felt to the side of her and moved around the shaft. What if she would fall and no one would be able to find them? "Oh God, Oh God, please," she whispered to herself. Just then she felt something. She knew it was Peter. She felt his leg. She could tell he was lying with his head away from her. She felt around to see if she could tell where the hole was. They must be on some sort of ledge. "Peter, Peter," she called. She crawled up beside him. She felt his face. It was sticky. "Oh, God, it's blood," she said aloud. She lifted his head and moved herself underneath him. She took her jacket off and laid it over him. All the time she was softly saying, "It's all right, Peter." He moaned and tried to move. "No, don't move, Peter." She felt his face. It was sticky, but there didn't seem to be any cuts. She slowly felt his head. On the back of his head, was a large lump and more blood. "Oh, God, please help him," she said softly. She could hear him breathing. "It's going to be all right, Peter," she said. She sat still for a moment. What if he died? The reality of that possibility hit her. How could she have been so awful to him? The tears started down her cheeks, and dripped onto Peter's face. She felt in the pocket of her jeans and there was her handkerchief. She pulled it out and gently laid Peter's head down on the ground. She slowly went along the side of the wall to the opening. The rain was pouring down into the hole. She held the cloth up to the opening and let the rain wet it. When it was dripping wet, she felt her way back to Peter and once again lifted his head up onto her lap. He started to move and she held him tightly. "Don't move, Peter," she said, as she wiped his face with the cloth. "Peter, peter," she said softly. "Please don't die." He turned in her arms, waking slightly. "Don't move, we're on a ledge or something, Peter." "Assumpta, is that you?" he whispered. "Yes, Peter, it's me, just lie still." "I thought I was dreaming, again. "What happened?" he asked. "I don't know, Peter. No one could find you and Kevin said you might have gone out looking for Fionn. It got so late, I came looking for both of you and I heard Fionn barking. So I followed the sound and found you both down here. You must have been unconscious." Peter tried to sit up, but couldn't. "Don't move, Peter. Just stay where you are. I lifted Fionn out and I hope he will find someone to bring back here to help us…" She took the cloth and wiped his face again. He reached up with his hand and touched her face. He dropped his arm across her lap and she held him tightly. It was very cold now. Assumpta was shivering. She leaned against the wall and held him. She closed her eyes and rested her face against his head. How could she have been angry with him?…….She knew why.

    Brendan was clearing the bar. Where was Assumpta? She should have been back an hour ago. Maybe he should lock up the pub. But she said she was going to run up to the church and come right back. There was still an hour before they had to close. Padraig had had a lot to drink and wasn't much company. "Padraig," go up to the church and see if Assumpta is ever coming back! The walk will do you good. "OK" he said. He walked unsteadily out of the pub. Brendan wondered what could have become of Assumpta. Also Peter seemed to be missing. And the dog was still gone. Maybe this was a story from the Twilight Zone. He laughed to himself. Several other people came in and sat down. He served their drinks and went out into the kitchen. In a little while Padraig came back, quite a bit more sober. "No one is there," he said. "I wonder where she went, said Padraig aloud. "Go ask Niamh if she has seen her," said Brendan. "Ok, but this is my last trip."

    Assumpta leaned her head against the dirt wall. She was very cold. She held onto Peter. His head rested against her shoulder. Her arms were around him. She tried not to shiver, but it was very cold. But at least Peter was warm. She felt his warm body against her. He slept soundly. She hoped sleeping would help him to heal. She knew his leg was broken. Oh, God, she could hardly think of it. In the hours that they were down there, she had thought of nothing but him. Would he be alright? Would Father Mac make him go home? What about his head? And what did he mean, dreaming again?

    Assumpta's eyes opened. For a minute, she didn't know where she was. Then she looked down and saw Peter's head and remembered. The sunlight was shining through the hole that she had fallen down the night before. In the gray light she could see Peter's head, covered with dried blood. She tried to move her legs. They were stiff and sore from Peter's weight on them. The movement woke Peter. He tried to sit up. "Be careful, Peter. We are on a ledge and I don't know how deep the shaft is." She moved out from behind him and down past him. "Where are you going?" he said, as he reached for her. "It's ok, I'll be careful." She crawled to the edge and peered over. "I don't see the bottom, Peter. It must be really deep." She backed up and stood beneath the hole she had fallen down. It was much too high to reach. She took the cloth from her pocket where she had placed it and rinsed it in the puddle of water that had formed under the hole. She crawled back to Peter, who was now sitting up against the wall. She eased behind him and sat where she had sat all night. He leaned against her and she washed some more of the blood from his head. "How do you feel?" she asked, putting her arms around him. "My head hurts, and I can't move my leg, but I think I'm ok, otherwise." "We can't get out of here by ourselves," he said. "Someone will come, Peter, don't worry,"she tried to reassure him. She held him against her, tightly. She thought of how good it felt to hold him in her arms. "Maybe I don't want them to find us," he said with a soft laugh. All of a sudden Peter whispered, "Assumpta, I don't want you to leave. Please don't leave." For a minute, she didn't know what he was talking about. Then she remembered about the pub. She hadn't had time to really think about it. She did know one thing anyway. She couldn't leave him. " I won't Peter, I won't," she said as she wiped his forehead with the cloth. "I'm so sorry I was so angry with you." He reached up and took her hand in his. He brought it around and touched it to his lips. She felt his mouth on her hand. He turned his head and rested his cheek on her hand and closed his eyes. "If something happens to him, I think I will die," she thought. "Please, God."

    Fionn was barking. That dog was so irritating. Assumpta's eyes opened wide. "FIONN," Oh God, it's Fionn!! She could hear voices now! She moved Peter and got up quickly. She went over to the hole. She could hear several voices. Padraig, Brendan and someone she couldn't place. "HELP!!! Help!!! Down here!! She saw a head appear in the hole above. "They're here"! shouted Brendan. Assumpta shouted, "Peter's down here and he's injured. Get an ambulance quickly." She crawled over to Peter. "They've found us. You're going to be alright." She slipped her arms around him and held him while he moved closer to the opening. "Owwww!" He made an effort to hold his breath, so he wouldn't cry out. As she was holding him, she whispered. "I won't go anywhere, Peter." He put his hand up and touched the side of her face. The ropes began falling in to the shaft. And then the light went out as someone came down the rope. "Come here, Assumpta," said Donal. "What about Peter?" she said, an edge to her voice. "First you, and then we will have more room to help him up." "Oh, yeah," she agreed. She took her arms from around Peter and looked at him. No words were spoken. She turned and went over to the ropes.

    The hospital was very quiet. Assumpta walked down the hall, her boots making a clicking sound. She came to the room and turned in. Father Mac sat in a chair beside Peter. "Well, I hear you're the heroine of the day!" he said. She couldn't even be angry with him right now. "How is he?" she said, ignoring the comment. "The doctor said he is doing fine. They set his leg and he had some stitches in the back of his head, but he will be fine." "Has he been awake," she asked. "Yes, he was awake about an hour ago and asked for you. So if you wouldn't mind, Assumpta, I have several things that I have to do. Will you stay here with him?" "Yes, I'd be glad to." Even though she wasn't angry, she was glad to see his back go through the door. She took off her coat and sat in the chair next to Peter. Her face had a large scrape down one side. It wasn't bandaged, but it was covered with ointment. She thought about the last 24 hours, now that she had time to think. A very emotional experience to be sure. When she thought he might die, she began to realize how much he meant to her, not that she was happy about that. A sudden movement at her side, startled her. Peter was awake and looking at her. "How do you feel?" she said, smiling. "Wonderful!" he said, smiling back. "Thank you for taking care of me. She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. "What are friends for?" He reached over and touched the side of her face. "How did that happen?" he asked. "I guess when I fell, although I didn't feel it at the time. I was covered with dirt when I got out of there so I didn't notice it until I tried to clean up. "What did happen, Peter?" she asked. "How did you happen to fall into the shaft?" "I went out to see if I could find Fionn. I knew you were concerned and you had been so angry with me that I thought you would feel better if I was able to find him. So I took a walk down the road looking for him. After a little way out of town, I heard a dog barking, so I just followed the sound. When I came to the old shaft, I looked in and there he was. I guess he must have been chasing a rabbit or something, and fallen in. As I looked in, a piece of the side collapsed and I fell. I guess I hit my head pretty hard. I don't remember anything until I…….felt your arms around me and your coat covering me." Assumpta lowered her eyes to the floor. "How did you get down there?"Peter said, reaching for her hand. She let him take it and said, "When I found Fionn, I heard you moan. So I turned around and tried to let myself down. But I fell. Fortunately, I fell, feet first." He still had her hand in his. She gently pulled her hand away and said, "How long will you have to be here?" "The doctor said I should be able to go home in a couple of days. Of course, I will have to be on crutches for awhile." Just then Brendan and Siobhan came in, carrying flowers and candy, followed by Padraig and Kevin. Padraig said "Niamh and Ambrose are coming in a little while, I hope you don't mind company." "No, I'm glad to see you all." Assumpta leaned over and said "I think I will go home for a while. You'll have plenty of people to look after you. I'll come back later." "Promise?"She nodded. He smiled at her and as she was putting on her coat, he said softly, "Thanks for praying for me." She looked startled "I….. I didn't," she said. "Oh yes you did," he smiled. "I heard you."

    Assumpta was clearing the bar. Liam and Donal had just finished drinking a pint. "We'd better go," said Donal. The door burst open. "Oh, oh, too late," said Liam. Brian came toward them like a freight train. "Where have you two been?" he yelled. Neither said anything. "What were you thinking? You know that the deal is spoiled." Donal said, "But Mr. Quigley, we did everything you told us to do." Brian was shouting at this point. "I told you to put oil in the ground, so they would think there might be some wealth to it." "We did, I swear we did." "You idiots, you can't do anything right. When you poured it, didn't you think there was something wrong?

    "What?" said Liam. "IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID. So instead of the land being a promise of wealth, they decided it was polluted." "Sorry, Mr. Quigley," said Donal. "Yeah, sorry," said Liam. Brian didn't hear either of the apologies for the slamming of the door. Assumpta looked at Siobhan and Doc Ryan. The laughter could be heard out in the street.

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