GERRY My head was spinning I can tell you. I hardly knew what I was saying by the end of the night. Just me and Mary Lou on the roof of the Parnell Square offices.
GERRY and MARY LOU alone on the balcony of the Sinn Féin offices. Sounds of the party in the distance. Mellow music. Gerry pours champagne.
GERRY Fine night, Mary Lou.
MARY LOU Yes. Look out there. Isn’t it beautiful? Stringfellow’s... Chinatown.
GERRY Yes. Dublin’s really become a multicultural place, Mary Lou. I embrace that.
MARY LOU So do I. We’ve got a Polish cleaning lady.
GERRY You spoke wonderfully tonight. You have a keen grasp of the issues.
MARY LOU I just sort of say the first thing that comes into my head.
GERRY It’s the best way.
MARY LOU Do you think we’ll ever have a united Ireland, Gerry?
GERRY I really don’t know, Mary Lou. I’ve never given it much thought.
MARY LOU Daddy says the best thing for the unionists is to boot them into the Irish Sea!
GERRY Well, I wouldn’t say that too loudly inside but I kind of see where he’s coming from.
MARY LOU He says you and the boys will show them what for!
GERRY Ah ha ha! Best keep it down a little.
MARY LOU He says the only good Prod is a...
GERRY I really look forward to meeting him, Mary Lou.
MARY LOU I know you’d love him. Everybody loves Daddy.
GERRY You know I’ve never really felt comfortable in these circles, Mary Lou.
MARY LOU Why ever not?
GERRY I just never know what to say. I end up coming out with the same old stuff all the time. National self-determination, grassroots initiatives, fundamental bla bla... I bore myself stupid!
MARY LOU Well, you don’t bore me. I’m fascinated.
GERRY You are?
MARY LOU Yes.
GERRY You’re into all that stuff?
MARY LOU I love it.
GERRY Hoo-ey.
MARY LOU Speak some Gaelic to me, Gerry.
GERRY Now?
MARY LOU Yes.
GERRY Um... go ni rí an bother leat...
MARY LOU Oh...
GERRY Tú sma is leana hibra...
MARY LOU Yes...
GERRY Níl aen hintán mara hináan féin.
MARY LOU God, what a beautiful sound.
GERRY Mary Lou there’s something I’ve been meaning to say to you. I don’t quite know how to put it. I... In a nutshell... So to speak... I... We within the Republican...
MARY LOU Movement. Yes.
GERRY If you’ll just let me finish. Did I interrupt you? Did I? We – well in the words of the late Sean MacStiofain we – we’d like you to stand for Dublin West.
MARY LOU Oh Gerry.
GERRY I’m asking you to join Sinn Fein, Mary Lou. It’s about all I believe in in this crazy world any more.
MARY LOU Oh Gerry...
Gerry and The Peace Process, a satire about politics in Ireland, was written and directed by Liam Hourican and David Crann
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