The Subject Was Roses

Nettie Cleary:
I never doubted he'd do as well as anyone else.

John Cleary:
Where he's concerned, you never doubted, period. If he came in right now and said he could fly, you'd help him out the window.

Nettie Cleary:
In all my life, the past twelve hours are the only real freedom I've ever known.

Timmy Cleary:
Did you enjoy it?

Nettie Cleary:
Every moment.

Timmy Cleary:
Why did you come back?

Nettie Cleary:
I'm a coward.

John Cleary:
Bless us and save us, said Mrs. O'Davis.

John Cleary:
Joy, joy, said Mrs. Malloy.

John Cleary:
Mercy, mercy, said old Mrs. Percy.

John Cleary:
You know, it's one of the big regrets of my life I was never in the service?

Timmy Cleary:
I know.

John Cleary:
The day World War One was declared, I went to the recruiting office. When they learned I was the sole support of the family, they turned me down.

Timmy Cleary:
I know.

John Cleary:
It's always bothered me. Missing out on the whole thing. I keep wondering what difference it might have made in my life... but then I wonder how I would have made out? Because I wouldn't have settled for a desk job: I would have gone to the Front!

Timmy Cleary:
I'm sure of that.

John Cleary:
But once there, how would I have done?

Timmy Cleary:
Fine.

John Cleary:
How do you know?

Timmy Cleary:
You're a born fighter.

John Cleary:
But they say a lot of guys who were terrors as civilians turned to jelly when they heard those bullets.

Timmy Cleary:
Not you.

John Cleary:
Well, doesn't seem so... but you can't be sure. See, that's always bothered me.

John Cleary:
Hurry up with your breakfast.

Timmy Cleary:
What for?

John Cleary:
Mass starts in twenty minutes, you're not even dressed.

Timmy Cleary:
Mass?

John Cleary:
Mass.

Timmy Cleary:
I haven't been to Mass in over three years. You know that.

John Cleary:
Lots of bad habits you boys picked up you'll have to get over.

Timmy Cleary:
Not going to Mass isn't a habit I picked up. It's a decision I came to after a lot of thought.

John Cleary:
Now, what way is *that* for a Catholic to talk?

Timmy Cleary:
I haven't considered myself a Catholic for quite a while.

John Cleary:
[Looks at his son, slightly dumbfounded] There must be something wrong with my ears.

John Cleary:
So you've outgrown the Faith, huh?

Timmy Cleary:
Well, it doesn't answer my needs...

John Cleary:
Outgrown your old clothes, and outgrown the Faith.

Timmy Cleary:
Pop, will you listen to me, please?

John Cleary:
Millions of people have believed in it since the beginning of time, but it's not *good* enough for you.

Timmy Cleary:
It's not a question of "good enough".

John Cleary:
Well, what do you say, when people ask you what religion you are?

Timmy Cleary:
[pauses to reflect] Nothing.

John Cleary:
[Showing disgust] You say you're "nothing".

Timmy Cleary:
Yes.

John Cleary:
The Clearys have been Catholics since... since the beginning of time. And now you, a Cleary, are going to tell people you're a "nothing"?

Timmy Cleary:
Yes.

John Cleary:
You're an atheist!

Timmy Cleary:
I'm not an atheist.

John Cleary:
What are you?

Timmy Cleary:
I don't know, but I'd like a chance to find out.

John Cleary:
You don't know what you believe in?

Timmy Cleary:
Do you?

John Cleary:
Yes!

Timmy Cleary:
Tell me. Go on...

John Cleary:
I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. I believe God created Man in his own image...

Timmy Cleary:
[Interrupting] Pop! If your faith works for you, I'm glad. Really, I'm very glad. I wish it worked for me, but it doesn't.

John Cleary:
Do you believe in God - yes or no?

Timmy Cleary:
I don't believe in heaven or hell or purgatory...

John Cleary:
[Interrupting, shouting] YES or NO!

Timmy Cleary:
I believe there is something bigger than myself. What you call it or what it is, I don't know.

John Cleary:
[Looking disgusted] Well, this is a fine how-do-you-do.

Nettie Cleary:
[Calmly] Yesterday you said he was a man. A man has a right to decide such things for himself.

The jumping I'm getting isn't worth the jumping I'm getting.