Do you know she's...
saving a room for her mother?
Did she tell you that?
(softly): Yeah.
Is she strange, that's all?
Is she okay? If-if you had to take a guess.
That little girl's the only friend my son ever had.
So she's strange, you bet.
BUNNY: It crashed!
(kids laughing)
All right.
There you go.
(seagulls calling)
(labored breathing)
Do you know how he died?
My husband?
It was a calm night when Herold took the boat out.
There was no sign of any storm.
Storms can be sudden around here.
He wasn't the only one whose boat went down.
It was four years ago...
and it's yesterday.
HERRY: Look how high we're up.
BUNNY: Uh-huh.
Beat you to the car.
(kids laughing)
Did I blow it
or can you still be my friend?
Your friend? Sure.
(Bunny humming)
Is this yours?
(yawning): The ghost brought it.
Then he ran away.
The skinny ghost with the white dog?
Don't say I dreamt it.
(sighs)
BILLY: Ah, you're getting the hang of it.
Now, coax her a wee bit to starboard.
Attaboy. You're a Quoyle-- there's seawater in your veins.
(groaning)
How are things with your girl?
Oh, Bunny's just still adjusting, I think.
Oh, I was talking about Wavey Prowse.
Sorry... sorry!
Whoa!
Jesus! Sorry.
I... Wavey and I are just friends.
Fine. Don't have to drown me over it.
This is where I grew up.
That's my poor old father there.
And that's where your house stood.
Before they dragged it across the ice.
Yes, sir.
Before they was driven away.
Driven away by what?
You never knew?
Ah, well.
It's neither here nor there, right?
The point is, they made a new place for theirselves.
No, by what? Driven away by what?
Oh, that's old stuff, boy.
It's in my blood.
You ought to be able to tell me.
Well, they come to Gaze Island centuries ago, they did.
The old Quoyles was rackers.
They were, they were pirates, sort of like.
You see them cairns?
Fires used to burn in them
to guide the ships at sea like lighthouses.
Now, the Quoyles would move the fires
to fool the ships.
They'd lure them into the rocks
so the Quoyles could grab their loot.
Oh, they was a savage lot, the old Quoyles.
Then they went too far one day, they... nailed a man to a tree
and they cut off his nose
to draw the nippers and the flies
that-that ate him alive.
And that's when the Quoyles was given their walking papers.
Jesus.
Now, there's still an old Quoyle
down in one of these coves somewhere.
They say he slept with his wife after she was dead.
Anything else I should know?
That about covers it.
(buoy bell ringing)
BILLY: ? When the knitting pins, you is abreast ?
? Hold the tiller to the west... ?
? Behind the pins you must steer... ?
? Till the old man's shoe... does appear. ?
(Celtic drums fade up)
(woman screaming)
(men yelling)
(men shouting indistinctly)
MAN: Pull, pull!
(shouting angrily)
(drums stop)
(gasps)
AGNIS: Show me that necklace.
See, if you make the loops bigger
you don't have to make so many.
BUNNY: Okay.
Good morning.
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Where's that chair from?
Excuse me?
The chair that you're sitting in.
Where's it from; where'd you get it?
It's not from around here, right?
It's foreign, it's exotic.
I don't want pirate's loot in this home.
Billy Pretty told me all about it.
It's a good thing somebody finally did.
I don't believe in dwelling in the past.
No? Then what are we doing here?
Making a future.
Well, well, well
if it ain't the second coming of the Quoyles.
Taking a long and hearty meal break
I can't help but noticing.
Hope you've got a good idea for your next story, Quoyle.
I'd hate for Jack to think
that it was just beginner's luck.
Let the man digest, Tert.
Mind you, if I was the esteemed author
of the "Shipping News" column
I'd pick up the McGonigle oil field story.
Petro-dollars; a golden flood of jobs.
You write a story about that
I'll put it right there on the front page.
Thank you for stopping by, Tert.
Yeah, thanks, Tert.
Aw, gee...
What was that all about?
Oh, uh, he owns Mobil Oil.
Ten shares.
WAVEY: What about your column?
What about it?
You said you'd read it to me.
Yeah, I will, once the game is done.
(horn blowing)
"There's a 1904 photo hung in the Killick-Claw library...
"eight schooners heading out to the fishing grounds
"their sails are white and beautiful.
"But nowadays you're just as likely to see
"a big black shape of an oil tanker
"like the rupturedGolden Goose.
"Last week it leaked 14,000 tons of crude
"onto the seabirds, fish and boats at Cape Despot.
"There will be more and more tankers.
"They will get old and corroded and their tanks will split.
"And there will be less fish, and less fishermen.
"Nobody hangs a picture of an oil tanker
on their wall, do they?"
What do you think?
I think when Tert Card sees it, he'll stay up nights
thinking of cheap shots to pay you back.
I think he won't stop until you're fired.
I think I haven't been so proud of a friend...
since I don't know when.
(switch clicks)
(water bubbling)
(door squeaking)
Uh, what do you think?
Pretty impressive, huh?
Like I said, nobody hangs one of those.
Well... your column's front page stuff.
Only now it's more a caption, is all.
"More than 3,000 tankers proudly ride...
the world's seas."
"Even the biggest take advantage
of Newfoundland's deep water ports and refineries."
Spelled it all perfect so as not to embarrass you.
"Oil and Newfoundland go together
"like ham and eggs
and like ham and eggs, they'll nourish us in the coming years."
Even put your name on it.
"Let's all hang a picture of an oil tanker on our wall."
Man of your principles...
I understand the only honorable course is resignation.
(crumples paper)
And if you're off to see Jack Buggit
you're going to have to swim.
For I runs theGammy Bird, every inch of it--
which he'd have to do without me.
And if you think he's going to choose you over fishing
then you're dumber than a doughnut.
If that's possible.
Jack?
For Christ sakes, Quoyle
cut your motor!
All right, what's the emergency?
Can't it wait till I'm done fishing?
It's about my column.
Card, he printed it not the way I wrote it.
Well, so?
You disapprove how Card runs my newspaper
enough to lose your job?
Yes or no?
Yes.
(shortwave radio playing quietly)
(door opens)
So, this is what Jack and I think:
we want to run Quoyle's wrong-headed oil spills story
because controversy sells papers
and papers sells ads.
But the oil tanker picture stays.
(groans)
(laughter)
You should have seen Tert's face.
Yeah?
Oh, it was a beautiful thing.
That's all right, I've seen it.
(chuckles)
Oh, it's great. Mm-hmm.
Let's see what the special is.
How do you feel about ordering to go?
You ever had that before?
No, what is it?
Seal-flipper pie.
Yeah, it's made from, like
the knuckle part of the flipper.
The slimy cartilage part.
Yeah, it's good, though.
I mean, it's a good choice
if you like that sort of thing.
I... you know, I'm really not all that hungry.
I just wanted, you know, to come and sit.
I had a big lunch today.
Yeah.
They say you're not a real Newfoundlander
till you've had a piece of seal-flipper pie.
That's what they say?
Yeah, that's right.
Mmm, good. That's surprising.
(laughs): I never eat it, myself.
You never eat this?
This is horrible.
Here, I got you some real food-- look.
(both laughing)
(lilting melody playing)
(engine revs)
(gasps)
(grunting and gasping)
(gasping)
(motor clanks dully)
(yells in pain)
(gasping)
(melancholy music playing)
(music continues)
(buoy bell clangs in distance)
(motor chugging)
(motor throttles back)
JACK: Christ.
I knew somebody was out here.
(groans)
Oh, for Christ's sake.
(shuddering)
He's still burning off the fever.
Any feeling yet?
Little tingles.
You're lucky.
I'm fine.
I'll be ready to get right back in that water
in another 20, 30 years.
Do you know how close you were to dying?
I'll get my uncle, Alvin Yark, to build you a proper boat
and learn how to use it, okay?
Okay.
Good.
MAVIS: Were the eyes open or closed?
I don't know.
Just said it was an disembodied head.
What'd the police have
to say about it?
Still working on it.
A little late to return the head to its owner, though.
(snorts)
Hello, nephew.
Police bulletin:
"Mrs. Silver Melville was arrested early today
"in Lanai, Hawaii, for the murder of her husband
socialite and raconteur Mr. Bayonet Melville."
'He pushed me once too often,' Mrs. Melville confessed
'so I finally pushed back.'"
Good for you, my dear.
Well, he probably deserved it.
Hey. Hey.
Don't get your hopes up.
You're the first man who ever cooked for me.
You got a lot of leeway.
How are they?
They're both asleep in Bunny's bed.
Should we trust them?
(laughing) I can do this. You just don't think...
Oh, no.
No, I know. Here...
let me do that, all right?
There you go.
Can you feel that... Yeah.
through your bandage?
What?
Your husband, he never...
he never cooked you a meal?
Why are we talking about my husband?
Because I understand.
You said "It's four years ago and it's yesterday."
(heavy sigh)
I understand that.
My husband's not who we're talking about, right?
I'll go get Herry.
He wouldn't like waking up in a strange bed.
(dog barks)
(mysterious theme playing)
(wind whistling eerily)
(rattling and creaking)
(mysterious theme continues)
Hey! Huh?!
Who are you?
(barking)
(growling)
(barking)
(muttering)
I tied magic in these knots
to protect you from the house.
No good ever come from the old place.
Never, never... never.
You... you have no...
business in the Quoyle house.
I get you out of there.
But I am a Quoyle.
A Quoyle?!
I was a Quoyle before you was anything.
(clearing throat)
Leave the house.
Tell, uh... Agnis hello from...
Cousin Nolan.
(muttering)
You know why Agnis come back?
To show she ain't afraid of the place no more.
'Cause I know what she's done. I know.
She got rid of the baby she was carrying.
What could she do? What?
She was only 12
and it was her own brother that done it to her.
(girl laughing)
(laughs)
No...
No! No! No!
Please! No!
No! Please!
(shrieks)
(kettle whistles)
Does that belong to you?
Sorry.
There's still hot water in the kettle
if you want some tea.
I've started looking for a place for me and Bunny.
You sure you're going to be okay at your shop?
I said I would, didn't I?
I think Silver Melville was right
to chop her husband's head off.
He probably deserved it.
I think more women should do what she did.
Maybe some should have done it to their own brother...
my father.
Cousin Nolan dropped by last night.
(dishes clatter)
I always thought if anyone knew, I'd be turned to stone.
Shit!
Here.
Tea's a good drink.
It'll keep you going.
When someone hurts you that much...
how do you...?
Does it ever go away?
Is it possible?
(sits mug on table)
AGNIS: Her name was Irene.
The love of my life.
You look happy.
So, yeah, it is possible.
QUOYLE: Agnis tells me we got to move for the winter.
It'll be a three-hour drive from here to the Point.
All the ice...
Me and Bunny, we're going to have to find
a room in town somewhere.
I'll have the usual, please, Annie. Thank you.
Well, if it's a place to stay you need
you can have my trailer.
Timing's perfect.
What are you talking about?
My boat's ready.
If I stay here any longer
I might begin to like the place.
I'm throwing myself a farewell party on Saturday.
Departure to follow Sunday.
The rootless traitor.
Regrets soon after, no doubt.
(boisterous din)
(bottles breaking)
(laughter)
Quoyle of the North!
Quoyle of the North.
Have you and Wavey done the dirty yet?
(slurred): Shh! She's the grieving widow.
Grieving for Herold Prowse.
Oh, that's a good one.
Let me tell you something
about old Herold Prowse.
It's like a party game in town--
to look at babies
and see if they look like Herold.
Hey...
Hey!
Everyone!
To Nutbeem!
ALL: To Nutbeem!
We all loves
our fucking Nutbeem, huh?!
(all cheer)
Lets us keep him here then!
(all cheer)
Got your chainsaw, Neddie?
(all cheer)
(chainsaw buzzes)
ALL: Nutbeem!
Hoh-oh-oh!
(chainsaw buzzing)
(blows echoing)
(woman screaming)
(grunting)
(bird hooting)
(accordion playing in distance)
(grunts)
(accordion grows louder)
(pounding)
What's wrong?
(slurring): I'm a Quoyle.
I'm one of the Quoyles
pirates and looters and murderers.
My father raped his little sister
and then he taught me how to swim.
Stop that.
Jesus, you smell like a brewery.
Stop it.
Go on, Herry. Go on.
(whimpering)
Stop it!
Herry.
Sorry, Herry.
(sobbing gasps)
(voice breaking): I'm sorry, Petal.
I'm so sorry.
(sniffles)
I meant Wavey.
Good. I feel much better.
When were you going to tell me about your fucked-up marriage?
? ?
I'm scrambling eggs.
Are you going to be able to eat?
No.
Listen, I'm...
Maybe I should just go.
You forget where the door is?
(door closes)
(pan clattering)
He ran off to Winnipeg with some little bitch.
She was barely out of high school.
Is that fucked up enough for you?
Herold...
my husband, he didn't die.
Not that he didn't deserve to.
He left me when I was eight months pregnant;
no good to him in bed.
So I took his 15-footer out into the bay
cracked the hull with a hatchet and sunk her
and pretended he was drowned
and played the grieving widow
and packed my bags to leave town.
But then a funny thing happened.
All these folk I grew up with
they put their hearts around me and Herry
so we wouldn't be alone.
And I just couldn't leave.
I'm sorry, Wavey.
You're always sorry.
(crying softly)
(footsteps approaching)
You're looking dishy, Quoyle.
I'm afraid my offer to let you stay in my trailer
will have to be retracted.
Sorry about that.
And your boat.
I'm some disgusted with the human race.
I never would have made it anyway.
Storms would have blown me to bits.
You boys saved my life, I imagine.
I've gathered up my savings, and I'm flying back to Brazil
where the water is swimming-pool green.
You and Bunny can stay with the wife and me.
To Brazil.
Brazil.
NUTBEEM: Brazil.
QUOYLE: Brazil.
BUNNY: We can stay with Aunt Agnis over at her shop.
Barely enough room there for myself.
You'll like it at Dennis' house, sweetie.
No, I won't.
Hi, Quoyle. Hi, Bunny.
Welcome, weary travelers.
Our home's your home.
BUNNY: No, it's not. Come on in.
QUOYLE: Bunny... Come on in, sweetie.
I made a big seal-flipper pie.
BUNNY: What's that?
BEETY: Weather light. Storm coming.
DENNIS: Big one.
(distant thunder rumbling)
(thunder rumbling)
The house... the house...
house...
(gasps)
(panting)
(thunder crashing)
(reading softly) (thunder rumbling)
? ?
I...
What is it, Quoyle?
What?
(thunder crashes)
(door creaks open)
(closes door)
(thunder crashes)
(thunder rumbling)
? ?
(Celtic drums)
? ?
(wind howling)
It's gone.
What?
The green house is gone.
I didn't dream it.
Don't say I did.
(phone ringing)
Yeah?
Oh, hi, Mom. Some storm, eh?
What?
Oh.
Yes. Yes, of course.
BUNNY: What's a wake?
QUOYLE: It's to say good-bye.
BUNNY: Mr. Buggit is sleeping with the angels.
MAN 1: He was a hard man, but he was fair.
MAN 2: Another one for the Buggit Curse.
QUOYLE: Dennis...
Yeah, I'm still looking for my dad's Navy medal.
I found it.
Don't you worry.
It's going to be all right.
Thank you.
Mom.
What?
(gasps softly): Good...
I found it... in his desk at the office.
Would you write something for theGammy Birdabout Jack?
Yes, I'll try.
BILLY: Jack is... Jack is all right now.
You all know... we are only passing by.
We walk over these stones a few times.
Our boats...
sail for a little while on the waves
and then they have to sink.
Jack knew that better than anyone.
Right, Jack?
(whispering): Yes, boy.
(gulps)
(screams)
(others screaming)
(screaming continues)
(screaming)
He's awake!
Jack...
Get a doctor!
Oh, Jack... oh, Jack...
(coughing)
Oh, Jack...
No, no...
JACK: Come here, son. I beat the curse.
The fishing license is yours.
(siren chirps)
Sweetheart, you ready?
I want to have a wake for Petal.
Why didn't we have a wake?
Why didn't we wake her up?
It worked forhim.
Honey, Mr. Buggit wasn't really...
It's more like he was in a coma.
From the cold water.
It's like he was sleeping.
Petal was asleep. No, honey...
You said she was asleep with the angels.
I know. Honey, I know what I said, honey. You said! You said!
I know, but she's not sleeping. You said! You said!
Honey, honey, listen to me. You said!
I know what I said.
Listen to me. Listen to me.
I just... I was too scared to tell you the truth.
Petal is dead.
And you know that.
I know you know it.
It's okay.
Is it because of me?
What?
That she drove away.
Well, why would you say that?
Because...
because I'm boring.
(crying)
Oh...
No, honey, it's not because of you.
And you are anything but boring.
Come here.
You just come here.
Hon...
You believe me, don't you?
You still don't believeme,do you?
About the house.
I told you so.
It's all right.
Worse things have happened.
To both of us.
Maybe one day we'll build a summerhouse out here.
Summer...
BUNNY: Do theyhavesummer here?
AGNIS: Oh, you'll know it's summer when the partridge berries are out.
WAVEY: And we can make partridge berry duff
and sweet berry okie.
Will you show me how?
I will, yeah.
I will.
QUOYLE: There are still so many things I don't know.
If a piece of knotted string can unleash the wind
and if a drowned man can awaken...
then I believe a broken man can heal.
Headline:
Deadly Storm Takes House.
Leaves... Excellent View.