Carrigallen Vocational  School

It’s evening time in the pub. Dinny is having a pint at the counter with Stephen. Dick, who has been negotiating for the land for Dinny through the auctioneer - an old friend of his, is sitting on his own sipping a whiskey. Miley enters with Biddy and Teasy. The women sit down and Miley goes to the counter.

Miley: Evening men!

Dinny: Ah! So here’s the swine. Of all the goddamn cheek I’ve never seen anyone do it in all me life.

Miley: (puzzled) What in God’s name are ye on about now, at all at all?

Dinny: (angrily) You Sir, trying to do me out of a chance of getting a good piece of land. I was enquiring first and ye know how the saying goes, “First come first served”.

Miley: (still puzzled) Now hold on a minute, would ye settle down and I’ll buy ye a pint.

Dinny: Pint me foot! You might try to steal that off me too. Ye knew I wanted a bit of land for me sheep and you go pushing up the price.

Miley: (beginning to understand) You mean to say that me and you are trying to buy the one bit of land and you’re the other bidder. Well that’s a good one (laughs)

But what I mean to say is, how in God’s name did ye find out that I was the other bidder at all, at all.

Dinny: Never you mind how I found out mister. I have my own secrets, but what really matters is that I demand you to withdraw from the bidding immediately, and leave me a clear run at it.

Miley: I will most certainly not. I need that land as much as you do to extend me vegetable crop.

Dinny: Ah, Come on Miley. Will ye have a heart for your poor old father. I really want that land.

Miley: Well ye know (pause), what I mean to say is that if we both want it so badly, we’ll split the price and field right down the middle. I’ve enough in half.

Dinny: I most certainly will not, I want it all for myself.

Miley: Well, if you’re going to be that ignorant, I don’t know what to say.

Dinny: May the best man win, which will be me.

(He turns his back on Miley, who picks up the drinks tray in a huff and returns to the women at the table who are engaged in a chat and don’t notice him until he slams down the tray).

Miley: Well! Glory be to God . I don’t believe that man

Biddy: Who? O let me guess, “Dinny?”

Teasy: What has he done now. Up to his usual tricks I suppose? (The women laugh)

Miley: You’ll never guess what he’s done this time

Biddy: Run off with a young one???

Miley: Let me tell ye. Ye know the land I was enquiring for? Well it turns out that he’s the other bidder.

Biddy: (serious now) You’re joking.

Teasy: Well that’s a good one. And me delighted because I thought he would have to give up them old sheep of his if he didn’t get the land.

Miley: Ah, Teasy, will ye talk some sense into that husband of yours. He knows I won’t be able to out-bid him.

Teasy: Sure ye know him yourself Miley love. Once he has a scheming idea he’ll stick to it.

Miley: I wouldn’t mind but he’s only doing it to annoy me and will probably buy it and sell it to me at a higher price for spite. (Sits miserably)

(The camera pans across the pub to where Dinny is confronting Dick, who just wants to have a quiet pint)

Dinny: Well Mr. Moran, is it good or bad news?

Dick: I’m afraid it’s bad news Dinny

Dinny: How on earth could Miley get it? For one thing he can’t afford a higher price than what I offered.

Dick: Oh no, it wasn’t Miley Byrne if that’s who you’re talking about. It was a late bidder a Mr. Chung, Mr. Patrick Chung. His offer was much higher.

Dinny: Chung? I wouldn’t mind speaking to this Mr. Chung myself.

Dick: Now is your chance here he is (an oriental looking businessman enters the pub, waves at Dick and comes over)

Dinny: (before he gets a chance to speak to Dick) Good day to you sir. Mr. Chung isn’t it?

Mr. Chung: Yes, it is. How can I help you?

Dinny: I believe you have just bought a fine piece of land locally and I just wanted to wish you the best of luck

Mr. Chung: That is very kind of you. And what is your name?

Dinny: (coldly now) I’m Dinny Byrne, well known local farmer and the other bidder for this fine land.

Mr. Chung: Ah! Mr. Beirne, yes, I’ve heard a lot about you.

Dinny: So tell me now Mr. Chung, what kind of farming are you doing on it?

Mr. Chung: Oh no! I’m not a farmer. I am a businessman. I’m building a restaurant and a new house for my family. It’s always nice to know a few of the neighbours.

Dinny: (shocked) A restaurant? But why Glenroe?

Mr. Chung: Well, it’s outside Dublin in the peace and quiet of the countryside and it’s a tidy village with very friendly people - so far. Really, the perfect spot.

Dinny: Indeed it is surely. But how long before this all happens?

Mr. Chung: Oh, not for a long time. I have to get everything organised first.

Dinny: Well Mister Chung, or can I call you Paddy, I was thinking, until then would you be interested in keeping the property in top condition, the grass well crpped?

Mr. Chung: I don’t know, I usually don’t do business with landscape companies I am not familiar with.

Dinny:Landscape company? I mean could I keep my sheep there until you need it?

Mr. Chung:I can’t see why not. I can see that you and I are going to get along just fine!

(Dinny spits on his hand, shakes Mr. Chung’s hand and laughs).

Dinny:Ha! Ha! Ye won’t regret it sir, believe you me Mr. Chung

Mr. Chung:I’m already beginning to wonder Mr. Byrne (as he rubs his hand in his suit)

Dinny:Well good luck Paddy, I’ll see you again

(Dinny leaves with a big smile on his face. Mr. Chung says to himself. “These Glenroe folk sure are friendly people”. And he looks after Dinny in the distance, hobbling off with his hands behind his back.

New storyline to follow: Dinny and his relationship with his new neighbours, the Chungs.