The Silent Storm

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us of our trespasses

as we forgive those that trespass against us

And lead us...

THE SILENT STORM

This'll be farewell, then.

Good luck.

Because ever since news of the mine's closure,

he's a changed man, minister.

Well that is of no surprise.

Nothing but drink and talk of the past.

Talk that this is punishment for our sins.

It is your duty to support your husband, Mrs. McKinnon.

He scares the lads.

They don't sleep now.

Your husband gave you two strong sons.

For that you must be grateful.

I am, I truly am.

Jesus died for our sins.

Yes he did. We are sinners.

I know we are.

It is your husband's God given right

to instill respect and obedience in his sons.

You must know that.

Minister.

I'm just so unhappy.

So unhappy.

To expect happiness in this life is a form of arrogance.

You are a married woman.

Don't indulge yourself in this way.

Has he not got a job at the new mainland factory?

Aye.

And has he not secured you lodgings on the mainland also?

Aye, he has.

Then you should be thankful

that the Lord has provided for you.

Now you must fulfill your duty.

Divorce is not a word looked upon lightly

in our church.

We have all been protected and blessed here on our island.

The challenge has been set for us all.

Don't let the devil in, Mrs. McKinnon.

Don't let him in.

Aislin, somebody is coming.

Go and put the kettle on, please.

Good morning, Minister.

Morning, Minister.

To what do we owe this visit?

We came to apologize,

as we won't make your final sermon.

My final sermon?

Final sermon before we leave.

Do you want tea?

Aislin.

Thank you, yes.

Oh, no. No thank you, Minister.

We have too much to do.

The Galbraiths can take our ewes and lambs with theirs

straight to the mainland after the sermon,

but they can't take our ram, you see he's...

He's... he's...

Mr. McKinnon?

You're staying on the island Minister,

so we hoped you might be able to keep the ram

until we can find a way to get him to us

or return to collect him.

When the mine reopens. Or... or maybe before.

Yes, yes, we can do that for you.

Good boy. Go on, go on.

I will see you soon.

Aye, we shall see you again soon.

Come on, Anne.

Farewell.

Aislin and I will see you out.

"We understand your personal decision to remain

on the island

in spite of the workforce and their families leaving.

However there remain no plans for the mine to reopen

in the future.

The post at the new mainland

factory kirk can still be made yours.

I await your hasty response,

as the factory opens in two weeks.

Yours, sincerely, J. Dalgleish.

We...

We all...

hang...

...by the thread of God's mercy.

Save me.

O God, for the waters are coming unto my soul.

I sink in deep mire where there is no standing.

I am come into deep waters.

And the floods overflow me.

What are you doing?

The fences came down in the storm and the roof

is off the shelter.

I found the geese, but the McKinnon's ram is gone.

I have to work.

Maybe he went to the beach.

I'm going to look further afield.

In less than 24 hours, I am before my flock.

Do you understand? I will take care of it Balor.

Do you hear me?

A whole community is looking to me.

I'll be back shortly. Breakfast will be on time.

You are not dressed.

No one will see me Balor, the mine is shut,

there will be nobody for miles.

I'm ordering you back here at once.

Please Balor, the animal may be hurt.

But... Damn him!

Aislin!

Come here! Let go!

Not a chance...

Balor, let go of me!

I will not tolerate your disobedience any longer.

Disobedience, I am nothing but a slave.

Useless, that's what you are.

This life is a lie!

You ungrateful rootless--

It is you being punished Balor.

No!

No... I saved you.

You nearly drowned.

I prayed by your bedside for months,

for the color to return to your mysterious cheeks.

I allowed the women to take care of you.

And when I wasn't what they thought I was,

you all stopped taking care of me.

I have let you keep your ways, in the face of all the shame.

Keep my ways!

Keep my ways!

I cannot even let my hair down!

I cannot even be myself!

How dare you say that.

How dare you!

I had your child in me.

I had your child.

You forced me to walk to that damned kirk in snow,

in the gales, in the rain, all in the name of God.

To be publicly humiliated.

You killed our child,

just as you would let that ram die.

How wrong I was!

God has punished you, Aislin, for resisting his Church.

You are a devil's witch and I should have known it.

You are all crazy.

These men, these men are miserable alcoholics,

and the cruel women are their slaves.

You are parasites on this island.

God is not amongst you or them.

God is in the land, He is in the sky,

He is in the water, He is in the air!

Aye, aye and God is in obedience,

structure and respect.

Your own body has spoken louder than your feral tongue.

You are a failed mother.

And a failed woman.

And you will rot in the belly of Hell.

Come on.

Come on!

Hit me! Let it out! Show me what you're--

Don't you dare talk about my mother!

At least I remember my father.

God in heaven.

Minister McNeil and Mrs. McNeil, how wonderful to meet you!

Well then, this is Fionn.

Pleased to meet you.

We at the Glasgow Rehabilitation Mission

are very pleased that you signed up to our project last year.

Very pleased indeed.

Now this lad here is a sinner, no doubt about that.

Born into sin, am I right?

Aye, sir.

Mr. Smith?

Mr. Smith, that's right.

My wife and I are very glad to see you,

although your arrival is unexpected.

Unexpected?

But we dispatched correspondence

to you last month,

notifying you of the lad's arrival.

Well this is the first we have heard of it.

Aislin?

A lot has been happening on the island, Mr. Smith.

Indeed it has, Mrs. McNeil.

These far flung places are a world of their own.

I only found out on the ferry crossing

that your diatomite mine is shutting down this very week.

We are in ongoing discussions with the mining company.

This closure is a temporary measure, Mr. Smith.

Oh it all sounded rather final to me.

My wife and I are to stay on the island.

Let this reassure you of our confidence

in the transience of the situation.

I survived the brutalities of the war, Mr. Smith.

I ask that you retain perspective.

Now, Mr. Smith, I think it is time

that we took a turn in the fresh air.

I did agree to take part in this scheme,