Siobhan Súilleabháin quotes from The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Dear Padraic, I am safely ensconced in the mainland and, Padraic, it's lovely here. There's a river running past my window as I write, and the people already seem less bitter and mental. I'm not sure why, but I think it's 'cause a lot of them are from Spain. Mostly, I wanted to say there's a spare bed here for you, Padraic. And with the war almost over, I think there'd be work for ya here. Because there's nothing for you on Inisherin. Nothing but more bleakness and grudges and loneliness and spite and the slow passing of time until death. And sure, you can do that anywhere. So come, Padraic. Leave there.

You can't just all of a sudden stop being friends with a fella!

Colm Doherty

Why can't I?

Why can't ya? Because it isn't nice. Has he said somethin' to ya when he was drunk?

Colm Doherty

No, I prefer him when he's drunk. It's all the rest of the time I have the problem with.

What's the fecking matter, then?

Colm Doherty

He's dull, Siobhan.

He's what?

Colm Doherty

He's dull.

But he's always been dull. What's changed?

Colm Doherty

I've changed. I just don't have a place for dullness in me life anymore.

But you live on an island off the coast of Ireland, Colm. What the hell are you hoping for, like?

Colm Doherty

For a bit of peace, Siobhan. That's all. For a bit of peace in me heart, like. You can understand that. Can't ya? Can't ya?

What do you need from him, Colm? To end all this?

Colm Doherty

Silence, Siobhan. Just silence.

One more silent man on Inisherin, good-oh! Silence it is, so.

Colm Doherty

This isn't about Inisherin. It's about one boring man leaving another man alone, that's all.

One boring man! You're all **** boring! With your piddling grievances over nothin'! You're all **** boring! I'll see he doesn't talk to you no more.

Colm Doherty

Do. Else it'll be all four of them the next time, not just the one.

You're not serious. Well, that won't help your fecking music.

Colm Doherty

Aye. We're gettin' somewhere now.

I think you might be ill, Colm.

Pádraic Súilleabháin

They don't think I'm dim or anything?

Dim? No.

Pádraic Súilleabháin

You don't seem very sure about it.

Of course, I'm sure about it.

Pádraic Súilleabháin

Dominic's the dim one on the island, isn't he?

He is, aye. By miles.

Pádraic Súilleabháin

Uh, hang on, by miles. And then, who's the next dimmest?

Well, I don't like to judge people in those terms now, do I?

Pádraic Súilleabháin

In what terms?

In order of their dimness.

Pádraic Súilleabháin

Well, I know you don't. And neither do I, do I? But try, like.

No! I won't try. There's enough judgy people on this fecking island, so no! You're not dim! You're a nice man, all right? So, move on!

Pádraic Súilleabháin

I'm as clever as you, anyways. I know that at least.

Yeah, don't be fecking stupid.

Dominic Kearney

Howdo!

Jesus Christ, Dominic! Would you ever stop creeping up on people? You almost gave me a fecking heart attack!

Dominic Kearney

I wasn't creeping up on ya. I was sliding up on ya.

Between you and that ghoul, Jesus!

Dominic Kearney

I always call her a ghoul, too, because she is a ghoul. Jeez, we have a lot in common, don't we? Me and you. Calling old people ghouls and that. It's a great old lake, isn't it? I'm glad I caught you, actually. Because there was somethin' I was wantin' to ask ya, actually. And discovering how much we have in common... well, it just makes me want to ask you even more.

We don't have anything in common.

Dominic Kearney

Don't skip ahead. But yeah, what I was wantin' to ask you was... Somethin' along the lines of... Should've planned this, really. Well, yeah, what I was wantin' to ask you was... You probably wouldn't ever want to, I don't know... to fall in love with a boy like me, would ya?

Dominic, I don't think so, love.

Dominic Kearney

No, yeah, no. I was thinking no. Not even in the future, like? Like when I'm your age?

Dominic Kearney

Yeah, no, I didn't think so. Just thought I'd ask on the off chance, you know... like "faint heart" and that. Well, there goes that dream. Well... I best go over there and do whatever that thing over there I was gonna do was.

He won't be bothering you no more.

Colm Doherty

That's a shame. That's the most interesting he's ever been. I think I like him again now.

Mrs. O'Riordan: Letter came for ya.

Fell open, did it?
Mrs. O'Riordan: Aye, in the heat, I suppose.