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Midnight Mass – S01E01 – Book I: Genesis [Transcript]

Riley Flynn returns home to family dysfunction, familiar faces and a new priest at St. Patrick's. Elsewhere on the island, a dark storm is brewing.
Midnight Mass

Original release date: September 24, 2021

Riley Flynn returns to his hometown of Crockett Island, a fishing village off the coast of Washington, after serving four years in prison for a drunk driving accident that killed a young woman. Having lost his faith over the course of his incarceration, Riley struggles to reintegrate with the town’s devout Catholic community, which includes his parents Annie and Ed, teenage brother Warren, childhood sweetheart Erin Greene (who is now pregnant and working as a schoolteacher), zealous parishioner Bev Keane, and Father Paul Hill, also a newcomer who is temporarily filling in for the aging Monsignor Pruitt (whose whereabouts only Paul seems to know). The town is reeling economically after an oil spill that crippled its fishing industry. While out at night to drink and smoke with his friends Ooker and Ali, Warren spots strange movement in a remote area of the island populated by feral cats, which are later mauled by an unseen entity. The following night, Riley sees the figure of Monsignor Pruitt walking along the beach amidst a raging storm, but the figure soon vanishes. The next morning, hundreds of dead cats are discovered along the beach.

* * *

[“And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind” playing]

♪ Listen easy ♪

♪ You can hear God calling ♪

♪ Walking barefoot by a stream ♪

♪ Come on to me ♪

♪ Your hair’s softly falling ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ On my face as in a dream ♪

♪ And the time will be our time ♪

♪ And the grass won’t pay no mind… ♪

Is she is okay?

[slurring] She’s gonna be okay?

No, no, no. Oh, God.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as…

While you’re at it, ask him why he always takes the kids, while the drunk fucks walk away with scratches.

♪ No mind ♪

♪ No, the grass won’t pay no mind ♪

[gavel banging]

[judge] I find this recommendation very appropriate, Counsel.

And I ask, do you want me to proceed, or would your client prefer I set the matter for trial?

[imperceptible]

[hesitates]

I… I accept the sentencing, Your Honor.

[judge] It is the sentence of this court that you be incarcerated for 4-10 years in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The restitution amount that is owed is $140,900.11 to the victim’s family.

[cell door slams]

[indistinct chatter in distance]

[cell door buzzing]

[alarm buzzing]

[inmates speaking indistinctly]

[inmates clamoring]

[sound fading]

[thudding]

[wind blowing]

[Annie] Your room is all ready.

Who’s picking you up?

[sighs]

[Annie] Okay, so get to the dock by 9:00, otherwise you’ll miss the Breeze and you’ll have to wait for the Belle.

There’s only two ferries these days.

He knows the boat schedule, Annie. [clears throat]

Hmm? No, he was just asking if you knew the boat schedule because he just can’t wait to see you.

Do you need anything else? Clothes or shoes or anything?

[“Soolaimon” playing on record]

[coughing]

They give it all back to you, right? What you went in with?

The clothes and such?

I’m goin’ out.

Out where?

I’m meeting Ooker at the marina.

What, so you’re not gonna eat?

Do you wanna say hi to Dad?

Okay. Ed, Riley wants to say hi.

Honey, you know, your dad just stepped out, and so he didn’t hear me, but he says hi.

Okay.

Okay. I love you and I will see you tomorrow.

Okay.

Now listen.

[frustrated sigh]

Miss Keane says that Ooker’s been up to God-knows-what in the Uppards.

Miss Keane is crazy, Mom.

Well, I was 16 once and I know what goes on up there, so no Uppards.

No trouble, be back by curfew.

I know, Ma.

And for Jesus’ sake, Warren, no drinking.

I promise.

Your brother comes home tomorrow.

That’s great, Ma.

Good and truly.

Off you go.

[Ed continues coughing]

[door closes]

♪ Soo, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soolai, soolai, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soo, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soolai, soolai, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soo, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soolai, soolai, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soo, soolaimon ♪

♪ Soolai, soolai, soolaimon ♪

♪ Hey! God of my want, want, want ♪

♪ Lord of my need, need, need ♪

♪ Leading me on, on, on ♪

♪ On to the woman, she dance for the sun ♪

♪ God of my want, want, want ♪

♪ Lord of my need, need, need ♪

♪ Leading me on, on, on ♪

♪ On to the woman, she dance for the sun ♪

♪ God of my day, day, day ♪

♪ Lord of my night, night, night ♪

♪ Seek for the way, way, way ♪

♪ Taking me home and she callin’ ♪

[music stops]

[Ooker] Hey, Flynn.

[Warren] Hey.

Miss Keane says you’ve been up to no good in the Uppards, apparently.

Oh. Her lips to God’s ears.

No, her lips to my ass.

[laughs]

You seen him yet?

[chuckling] No, not yet.

Hey, guys!

Oh, shit.

You didn’t invite Aladdin, did you?

Come on. Give him a chance.

What’s up?

Hey, Ali.

I’m surprised your dad let you out.

If I wanna go out, I go out.

[Warren] There he is.

Don’t wave the cash around. Jesus.

[scoffs] What?

Uh, he’s cool.

What if he narcs?

[chuckles]

I wouldn’t.

I don’t know you.

Come on, Bowl. He can’t help who his dad is. We had a deal.

He wasn’t part of that deal.

He’s got a point.

Fuck my dad. That’s what you wanna hear, right?

Fine, fuck him. Fuck ’em all. Fuck the sheriff.

How about now?

[Ooker] You’re not gonna tell, right?

I said I wouldn’t.

‘Cause Bowl’s the only guy that would get us anything.

Is his name actually Bowl?

And if your dad hauls him in or he gets spooked, that’s the last contact we got.

He won’t say anything.

Hey, Leeza.

[chuckles]

Up to no good I can tell.

Just goin’ for a ride.

A short trip courtesy of Bowl.

Yo. For real?

You’re worried I’d narc?

I wish you could come with us.

I’m good. I actually prefer not to smell like cat shit.

Time for supper, Leeza.

Hey, Ms. Scarborough.

Hey there, Warren.

Come along, dear.

[door opens]

[eerie choral music playing]

[banging in trunk]

[Warren] Did you bring a life jacket?

[Ali] What?

[Warren] A life jacket.

[Ali] No. Are you serious?

[Ooker] Hey, if we flip, don’t get your foot under the seat. You’ll drown.

It’s an awful way to go.

This is a thing we’ve been doin’ for generations, man, so you fuck this up and tell your dad…

It’s gonna be bad for you, man.

[Ali] I’m not gonna tell my dad. Come on.

[Ooker sighs] I patched it, so no more leaks. I think.

[Warren] You got a flashlight?

[Ali] Oh, yeah. I got that.

[air whooshing]

You guys see that?

[Ali] What?

Like a heron, or a monster pelican. It flew right over us.

It was huge. I saw the wingspan.

[cats yowling]

[Warren] Somebody’s gotta do something about these strays.

It didn’t used to be this bad, but it’s an army now.

My dad says they’re all from the mainland?

[Warren] Yeah. Technically, they have to be.

I mean, I don’t know when people brought cats up here, but they definitely brought more than one.

[Ali] I can’t believe there’s enough for them to eat.

[Ooker] Well, we know what they’re eating.

When people actually lived up here, they’d bury their dead in their yards, up until the ’20s, my dad says.

You know, sometimes there’s a storm, and it floods and those bodies just pop up right out the ground. Cat food.

You know, those bodies are hundreds of years old and just bones.

And when it storms, they wash up on the west bank by my house.

And I know, because everything from the Uppards washes up on the west bank, and I gotta clean it up, moron.

[Ali coughs]

[Warren and Ooker laugh]

[Ali] What is this?

[Ooker] Take it.

[Ali coughs]

Uh, no, thanks.

You don’t drink?

Not that one.

Usually, we just come up here, smoke a joint.

He starts pining after roller girl.

Hey, no disrespect. It sucks being stuck in that chair.

[Ali] Hello, kitties.

You know, my brother Bobby, and Warren’s brother too, used to tell us that the Uppards was haunted.

Ghost of a dead fisherman.

Yeah, Harpoon Harry.

Harpoon Harry.

[Warren chuckles]

Yeah, he harpooned kids for their meat.

It’s all bullshit though, so we wouldn’t follow them when they came here to drink.

I mean, we didn’t.

I did. Once.

I followed Bobby up here before he went to college.

The only scary thing I saw was him fucking Heather Delman.

Oh. [laughs]

Yeah.

Yup.

[cats yowling]

Oh.

Shit, they’re fighting. Nope.

They’re fucking.

Bobby sounded just like that.

[Warren laughs]

[twig snaps]

Shit!

Warren? What the fuck?

Uh…

I thought I saw something.

I guess it was Harpoon Harry, cometh at last! Ah!

[Ali chuckles] Yo, stop.

[Ooker] Oh, man. I laid in cat shit.

[mysterious music playing]

[Annie] Thank God. Thank God. Thank God.

Oh, my boy. Home, where you belong.

Oh. Let’s get you fed. You gotta eat.

Uh, just you? Where’s Dad? And Warren?

Well, you know, they’re on the boat.

He just can’t miss a shift. Not a single one.

We can’t afford it. But let’s get you home. [sighs]

[Bev] Excuse me, Sturge.

Mornin’, Miss Keane.

Monsignor Pruitt was supposed to be on board. Did you see him?

Nope. Uh, maybe he’s gonna catch the Belle later on this afternoon.

[Bev] No, he said the Breeze.

We agreed before he left. You didn’t see him?

He’s not easy to miss, Sturge.

Yeah, well, you’re right.

Uh…

Maybe I just, uh, lost him in the crowd.

[Sarah] Okay, here we go.

[Erin] Hmm.

[rhythmic whirring]

Hi there.

[typing]

And that’s the…

The spine, and it’s perfect.

And that’s the little foot, and it’s kicking a little bit.

Let me measure your foot.

Okay, baby.

Hi, Littlefoot.

Everything is exactly where I want it to be at 20 weeks.

Have you had any spotting recently?

No.

Why?

There’s a little bleed in there.

Oh, God.

I’m not worried about it. It’s very small. We’ll keep an eye on it.

[sighs] I guess he’s home.

Poor woman.

Peggy? Is that you, Peg?

Oh, my God, Ma. What are you doing?

Peggy.

No, Ma. That’s Erin. Peggy’s daughter, Erin Greene.

Do you remember Erin Greene?

Hi, Mrs. Gunning.

Oh.

[hesitates]

I think you’ve put me in the wrong room.

My room is upstairs.

[Sarah] No, Ma. No more stairs. Not for a year now.

Not since you broke your hip.

[whimpers]

[Hassan] Hey. Good boy.

[Annie] Morning, Sheriff.

Hey. Morning, Annie.

I’ll be in a little later this morning. I switched my shift.

[Hassan] Oh. Take your time. Yeah, this must be your son. Riley, is it?

Rise and shine, Joe.

Oh, shit.

[coughing]

You want some coffee?

What did you do to me, Sharif?

Sheriff.

I’m surprised you’re surprised. I figured this is where you wanted to be.

You were trying to break in, after all.

Well, into the general store anyway.

Half past midnight and sweating pure Jim Beam.

Havin’ at the windows with an oar.

We’d still be sweepin’ up glass if your aim had been any good.

So you lock me up?

Well, Joe, I learned early there’s no point trying to stop you drinking.

Yeah, easy for you to say. Allah doesn’t let you drink.

You said you were being followed by a giant albatross.

Huh?

Oh, yeah.

[imitates Joe] “Wings as big as lawn chairs,” you said.

Well… that makes a little sense, actually, because albatross is bad luck.

You’d know that if you was a fisherman.

[barking]

[chuckling] Whoa.

Easy, big fella. Easy. Hello.

Snapped at me. Snapped right at me, just passing by.

Pike didn’t snap.

Barks sometimes. Mostly just to say hello.

He’s just big is all. He just sounds bigger than he means to.

Snapped. Thought he might have a go at my hand if I reached out.

I’m telling you, Sheriff, it’s a menace.

I’m sorry, Miss Keane. He’s just waiting for his dad.

Speaking of a menace.

Hey, what’s that, Beverly? You wanna speak up?

Yeah, you just ignore her, buddy. She’s just mean. She’s just a meanie.

I’m sorry for the hassle. I mean it.

Can’t be what you pictured when you took this job, dealing with me all the time.

Ah, it might bother me if I gave you much thought.

[laughs]

[clicks tongue] Come on, buddy.

Later, Sharif.

Take care, Joe.

See you soon.

[Annie sighs]

Yeah, the Millers went last year.

They didn’t even list.

I don’t think anyone’s trying to sell anymore. They just left.

Frank’s got a job in Oregon now.

Factory job.

Oh. Welcome home, honey. Welcome home.

[Annie sighs]

You comin’?

[objects clattering]

Sorry. Your dad’s been using this to store some stuff in.

Don’t have room for it anywhere else. Sorry.

He really didn’t show up.

Don’t look at it like that.

You’re home now. He’s treatin’ you normal. That’s all.

You don’t know what it’s like these days.

You can only fish certain spots, certain days, crab certain spots, since the spill.

Three years since the spill, yeah, which was bad enough.

God only knows. I mean, you couldn’t eat anything out of that water.

Your father smelled like diesel every day he came home, even after they said it was all cleaned up.

I mean, I thought the environmentalists were on our side.

These limits, these retention limits, going on about population decline, and suddenly, there’s a limit.

But not for the oil company, for us. For the boats.

We can only catch as much as they say?

But they’ve never been watermen. Never worked these waters.

I mean, you want to talk population decline, let’s talk about the people.

The people on this island, we used to be hundreds.

Now we’re just dozens.

This isn’t a community anymore, honey.

It’s a ghost.

He’d be here if he could.

Sure, Mom.

I figured this is the first time Sheriff Hassan has been with us for a storm like this,

and I thought we could all use a refresher.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, still looking like it’ll hit us right in the face.

Weather services are calling it a major storm, forecasting to have the worst of it landing tomorrow night.

Assuming it does hit and hits like they say, the biggest thing I wanted to talk about was our fuel supply.

Sturge?

Yeah, I’ll make sure the pumps are off, as usual.

Uh, just before sundown so that the, uh, watermen can fuel up after the catch.

And I’m assuming you’ll cut the power to the marina?

Oh, we’ll likely lose power anyways.

Oh, yeah.

Then I’m thinking we make the classrooms available here for shelters if we need.

We could always…

I’m sorry. [chuckles]

You’re new, so you wouldn’t be expected to know this, but St. Patrick’s is always the shelter.

We set out cots as a matter of rule, always have.

Now… Well, now, we have the new rec center.

It’s not completely done, but close, and it holds twice as many.

I mean, I’m not sure holding twice as many makes a material difference.

When you do the math, you…

Apologies, Miss Keane. I wasn’t aware.

[Bev] No need to apologize.

You’d have no reason to know that.

All right, um…

Bear it in mind for yourself as well, unless you plan on hopping a ferry to the mosque, you’ll have to hunker down with us too.

And you’d be so welcome, of course.

[smacks lips] Thank you.

Uh, we’ll let everybody know to head to St. Patrick’s if things get bad.

[chuckling] They know that.

Understood. Uh, now, let’s talk boats. Securing the marina for starters.

[wind chimes clanging]

How often do you have to go to the mainland?

Once a week.

Warren, eat your food.

Uh, it’s fine. It’s, um… AA meetings.

Part of the deal. Condition of my parole.

[Annie] Warren.

How was your day? How was school?

It was good. Miss Greene was mostly on about the storm.

Miss Greene? That old bird’s still teaching?

Nah, the old Miss Greene died in the spring.

This is the new Miss Greene, her daughter.

Erin’s back?

[Annie] Mmm-hmm.

I meant to tell you about that. She’s only been back a few months.

She moved into Peggy’s house. Her old job too.

I don’t know how long she’s staying, but it was so nice to have someone move to the island.

And a young person at that.

[Riley] Um…

Where is she back from? What was she doing?

Mmm, I suppose you’d have to ask her.

We know one thing she was doing.

Warren.

What? She told us herself.

Besides, she’s starting to show, so if it was a secret, it’s not going to be for long.

[Annie] Whatever happened when she ran away, she has grown into a fine young woman and a fine teacher, and we’re lucky that she’s back.

Prodigal daughter. You’ll see her tomorrow, in fact.

She sits in the starboard side, halfway back, just like her mother, every week.

Tomorrow?

[Annie] At church.

I wasn’t… planning on going to church.

[Annie chuckling] Don’t be silly. Of course you are.

No, things have changed for me, Ma. I’m not… That’s not me anymore.

Well, see, Monsignor Pruitt said, before he went on pilgrimage. He said…

Isn’t he a little bit old to be traveling? He’s gonna be 80 now.

Mmm, well, the whole congregation pitched in.

Two weeks in the Holy Land.

Jesus.

He spent his whole life on the island, and the chance to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, in his actual footsteps.

[Riley] Yeah.

We thought he deserved that before…

I’m surprised they let him go, though, considering his health.

You should be so lucky to be as fit as him at his age.

He’s losing it.

He held up the host three times during Consecration the other day.

I felt ridiculous ringing the bell.

[Annie] We all have our moments.

[Warren] People have been seeing him wandering around at night, like late at night.

Like, midnight. At the marina, the docks, the general store.

Did you see him, Warren? Do you know it was him?

No, I’m sure it was some other 80-year-old man wearing a fedora and the long coat he always wears.

[Annie] Even if he was getting a little bit scattered, he belongs here on the island with us.

Not in some home, put out to pasture by the archdiocese.

Who knows who they’d send in his place?

So if we do cover for him, just a little…

We’re practically steering him around the altar half the time.

That is not true.

[chuckles] Come on. You can’t fool the altar boys.

You a thurifer?

That’s right.

I never had any ambitions past acolyte myself.

No one likes a downwardly mobile altar boy.

I was really only in it for the chicks.

[chuckles]

You know, man in uniform.

[Warren] Mmm-hmm.

[chuckles]

It’s not funny.

It’s not funny at all.

You’re gonna sit here at this table, after what you…

After what you’ve done, and say, “Oh, church isn’t for me”?

And make jokes about altar boys and Monsignor Pruitt?

Mmm-mmm. No. Nope.

You are going to church tomorrow, Riley.

Dad…

And every other Sunday.

I don’t care if your heart’s not in it or the mood doesn’t strike you.

You can consider it a condition of your parole.

Monsignor!

Monsignor!

Monsignor, you are home. Welcome back.

I’m so relieved you’re okay. I waited for you this morning.

You weren’t on the Breeze like we agreed.

I’m sure you just forgot, had one of your…

Still, you have no idea how it makes me look, standing there on the dock like some jilted prom date.

And, oh, you won’t believe that new sheriff.

Omar Sharif, or whatever.

He’s trying to set the school as the new storm shelter. [chuckles]

Oh!

[chuckles]

[insects trilling]

[meows]

[twig snaps]

[twig snaps]

[cat snarls]

[squelching]

[clears throat]

Y’all settled?

Yeah. I’m good.

She’s been goin’ to St. Patrick’s every day since the accident.

Even if there weren’t a mass, she’d go, say a rosary for you.

[clears throat] Every day.

I’ll…

I’ll apologize to her, Dad.

Um…

Mom caught me up.

I’m sorry things have been so hard since the spill.

So church isn’t for you, huh?

No, it’s not for me.

[Ed] Uh…

You should sit back then, during Communion. That’s proper.

[clears throat]

Assuming you haven’t been to confession, and I’m assuming you haven’t.

That’ll upset your mother, you not taking the sacrament, but…

Wouldn’t be respectful if you did.

Okay.

Okay.

[Ed sighs]

Good night.

[“Abide with Me” playing]

[clears throat] Okay.

[praying indistinctly]

No phone.

Okay, okay.

I don’t wanna hear you texting.

I can hear you texting.

The sheriff can hear everything.

All right, Dad.

Kiss your mother.

Good night, young man.

Night, old man.

[Hassan] Just ten minutes, then the phone goes off!

♪ What but Thy grace can ♪

♪ Foil the tempter’s power? ♪

♪ Who like Thyself… ♪

Don’t be scared, Mom. It’s just me.

My room.

Take a step. One step down.

[groans]

♪ Through cloud and sunshine ♪

♪ Lord, abide with me ♪

[Mildred sighs]

♪ Hold Thou Thy cross ♪

[window opening]

♪ Before my closing eyes ♪

♪ Shine through the gloom ♪

[chuckles]

♪ And point me to the skies ♪

♪ Heaven’s morning breaks ♪

♪ And earth’s vain shadows flee ♪

♪ In life, in death, o Lord ♪

♪ Abide with me ♪

♪ In life, in death, o Lord ♪

♪ Abide with me ♪

[song fades]

[water flowing]

[thudding]

[birds screeching]

[thudding]

[bell dinging]

[thudding]

[sinister choral music playing]

[music stops]

[Ed sighs] Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.

Red sky in the morning…

Sailor take warning.

That’s right.

[organ music playing]

It took us less than an hour with the boat.

I bet the storm’s not as bad as they say. It feels like they never really are.

My dad didn’t board the windows, and he basically invented overreacting, so that should tell you something.

You wanna fill the cruets?

Yeah.

Somebody already did.

[indistinct chatter]

[Bev] Morning, everyone.

[crowd mumbles]

Today is the seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Our opening hymn is “Faith of Our Fathers,” number 787 in your red hymnal.

[bell dings]

♪ Faith of our fathers, living still ♪

♪ In spite of dungeon ♪

♪ Fire and sword ♪

♪ Oh, how our hearts ♪

Who’s that?

♪ Beat high with joy ♪

♪ Whene’er we hear that glorious word ♪

♪ Faith of our fathers, holy faith ♪

♪ We will be true to thee till death ♪

Good morning.

I know I’m not who you expected to see this morning.

I’m Father Paul Hill, and I was sent by the diocese to fill in for Monsignor Pruitt for a few weeks.

He fell ill, I’m afraid, on his trip.

He’s fine.

[crowd murmuring]

[Father Paul] He’s recovering in a hospital on the mainland.

He’s better off off-island, and, well, his condition was noticed by some others on his trips, so…

The diocese has asked me to step in until he is up and about again, but I assure you there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

You are not losing your pastor. I can promise you that.

This is a temporary situation, and it is my absolute pleasure to be here with you all at St. Patrick’s.

Just know, I’m only here to help, and I look forward to meeting you all.

[all] In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all…”

“He took bread and gave you thanks.”

“He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said, ‘Take this, all of you, and eat it.'”

“‘This is my body, which will be given up for you.'”

[dinging]

[eerie choral music playing]

“When supper was ended, he took the cup.”

“Again, he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples and said, ‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it.'”

“‘This is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.'”

“‘It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.'”

“‘Do this in remembrance of me.'”

[bell dinging]

Body of Christ.

[Dolly] Amen.

Body of Christ.

[Wade] Amen.

Blood of Christ.

Body of Christ. Body of Christ.

[Bev] Blood of Christ.

[Annie grunts]

[Ed groans]

[Father Paul] Body of Christ.

Riley.

I’ll sit down here.

[Father Paul] Body of Christ.

[Ed clears throat]

[Father Paul] Body of Christ. Body of Christ.

[Bev] Blood of Christ, Erin Greene.

[Father Paul] Body of Christ.

[Bev] Blood of Christ.

Well, I met him last night, of course, at the rectory.

We had a lot to talk about, just catching him up on how things work around here.

Monsignor just loves him, and I can see why.

Leeza Scarborough!

[chuckles] How do you know my name?

Monsignor’s told me all about you.

He says I’ll see you at daily mass, and that it may just be the two of us.

Father. Wade Scarborough. My wife, Dolly.

[Dolly] Such a pleasure to meet you.

Of course, Mr. Mayor, Mrs. Mayor.

I am so sorry to surprise you like this.

The diocese was supposed to contact you directly.

[Wade] Please, call me Wade.

Golly, it’s such a joy to see a new face.

Welcome to the Pot, what’s left of it anyway.

The Crock Pot!

[Wade] Yeah, well, it’s a cute nickname, yeah.

But you know, it’s true. We are a melting pot, a grab bag…

A piñata, even. [chuckles]

Mmm.

[Dolly] A whole variety of different flavors that just keeps getting pummeled with some huge awful stick. [chuckles]

[Wade] We sure are glad to add you to the stew.

[Annie] Annie Flynn, Father.

Annie Flynn.

And this is my husband, Ed.

Ed Flynn.

Father.

And I noticed you sat back for Communion.

That got rather quiet, didn’t it?

My son Riley, he’s…

Not exactly in a state of grace right now.

[Father Paul] Hey, look, I think that’s great.

Uh, turns out I’m not much use to people who are in a state of grace.

Jesus, uh, he didn’t really have that much interest for those kind of people, either.

No, he seemed to go straight for those folks who weren’t in a state of grace.

They were his favorite people, turns out. They were the ones he called friends.

Yeah, we can work with that.

Yeah, uh, welcome to the Crock Pot.

It was a nice surprise to hear the old translation again.

We haven’t heard that in what, ten years?

Yeah.

Didn’t know you were still doing that.

You noticed, huh? I know, the new missal is closer to the original Latin, but…

Well, well, well.

[Father Paul speaking indistinctly]

[Erin] It’s the prodigal son.

[chuckles] No, I think, uh, you’re the prodigal one.

I’m just the black sheep.

[chuckles]

Can I walk you home?

Yeah. Let’s walk.

[uplifting choral music playing]

Where were you?

In New York. Upstate New York.

I guessed that.

I mean, when you ran away, it was the subject of a lot of debate.

A lot of people had theories and most of them were Hollywood, but that was one of my guesses.

Why?

Covered bridges.

You remember that?

Mmm-hmm.

I told you that like half our lives ago.

I didn’t start there.

I went south, then I went west.

And I was in Austin for a while. And I joined up with a rock band.

[chuckling] You’re kidding.

I was such an idiot.

Um…

Well, I guess we both were idiots.

Hmm.

Look at us, back where we started. The one place we swore we’d never end up.

What about you?

Chicago.

No rock band though.

Mmm.

Just financial stuff. Went to school, partied too much.

I’m shocked.

Made a lot of money. For a bit.

Stocks, then a startup. But then all…

That all went away.

Married?

No, no. You?

Yeah. I mean, technically, it…

But it’s over. It’s also a long story.

Surprised to see you in church.

Yeah, me too.

I would have never guessed it, but it’s been good for me.

I saw you sit back during Communion.

[sighs]

It’s funny, most guys find Jesus in prison.

Well, you always went your own way.

Yeah, that wasn’t it though.

I threw away the Bible the first night. But it…

It wasn’t instant.

I did go looking. I really did.

There’s a lot of time to read in there and I read it all, Torah, Quran, Talmud, Tao Te Ching.

Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism.

Figured if I was lookin’ for God, I should look everywhere.

Came out of that an atheist.

What?

I’m supposed to be the godless heathen, and you are the altar boy.

My mom wouldn’t believe any of this.

And you’re pregnant.

Yeah, I am.

Bet that’s a story.

It is and it isn’t.

Littlefoot saved my life.

Is there anything else you need this afternoon, Father?

For the storm or…

Oh. No. No, thank you, Miss Keane.

Can I ask you something?

Forgive me, I don’t mean to…

It’s just you’re wearing a gold chasuble today.

Uh, yes, I am.

Isn’t that for feast days and special…

Shouldn’t it be green today?

We’re in Ordinary Time. It’s the seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time.

No, I’m afraid I wasn’t able to locate the green chasuble this morning.

Perhaps Monsignor Pruitt, he stored it somewhere unusual given his mental state before he left.

I just figured this was better than my pajamas.

[chuckles]

Honestly, I didn’t expect that anyone would notice.

Well, in the future, let me know if there’s an issue.

That’s what I’m here for. I can order more as well.

I’m sure I’ll find it. I just need some time to open up all the cabinets.

Of course.

This was excellent.

Have a good afternoon, Father. I’m glad you’re here.

Oh, thank you.

And likewise.

[Riley] Must be weird, I mean, living there with her gone?

[Erin] It’s a lot better than when she was here. You at home?

[Riley] Oh, yeah.

[Erin] That’s gotta feel weird.

Tiny room, twin bed.

Actually, I’m kinda used to that.

So, I mean, you came back… here.

Like, you came back here on purpose.

Why?

How are you, Riley?

Hangin’ in.

No, I mean, how are you?

I don’t know.

That’s kinda…

That’s kinda the whole thing. I don’t know. I have no idea.

I mean, in prison, it was easy. I had things to do, you know.

Count the days, count down the sentence, eat, sleep, read.

It’s all pretty carefully spelled out for you. Regimented. But here…

Here…

[chuckles softly]

I have nothing.

What, am I gonna get a job?

Go to school? I have no money, no prospects, I just…

I just exist now.

That’s it. I have…

Absolutely no purpose at all.

I’m just sitting in my parents’ house, breathing, and serving no purpose to anyone whatsoever. I’m just… living.

And that’s the worst part, because I shouldn’t be alive, Erin.

So I don’t know.

What I do here.

I eat. Sleep.

Shit, I don’t know.

Walk home now, eat dinner, wait out this fuckin’ storm.

There you go.

Do that.

Ride out the storm tonight, and then tomorrow…

You’ll see what tomorrow’s all about. Find another project.

I’m sorry.

For what you’ve been through.

I’m really, really sorry.

[sighs]

[door opens, closes]

[Annie] So it’s just…

Just this one. Just the big one.

The little ones I can replace, but just this one.

Yeah. Okay.

[thunderclap]

[wind howling]

[thunder rumbling]

[Mildred] What’s happening?

[Sarah] Mom, it’s okay.

[Riley] I swear he’s out there, just walking on the beach.

What? No, he’s on the mainland.

[Riley] Okay, maybe he came back, and he wandered out, having one of those spells.

I’m not seeing anything.

I don’t see him.

No, I swear, it’s the hat, the coat. I know the outfit, and it’s him.

No, he’s on the mainland.

It’s Pruitt!

Honey, my eyes aren’t what they used to be, so I can’t…

[Riley] Father Pruitt!

Monsignor!

Monsignor! Monsignor!

Father!

[birds screeching]

[Annie] The phones are still down.

We should just walk to the rectory and settle this.

Make sure he’s okay.

I have to check on the boat anyway.

[screeching continues]

Dad. What is that?

[sinister music playing]

[screeching]

[waves crashing]

[seagulls screeching]

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1 thought on “Midnight Mass – S01E01 – Book I: Genesis [Transcript]”

  1. Where are the other episodes? All that came up is the first one. Please send me a link to the others?
    Charmaine

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