The Banshees of Inisherin · written by Martin McDonagh · 2022

Padraic vows to burn Colm’s house; Colm punches Peadar when he mocks Jenny, and Padraic leaves saying “Two o’clock.”

Scene 137 of 174 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Last scene of act two

Plot Point II
Save the Cat: Break into Three
Gerry
Colm
Padraic
Peadar

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:22 into a 1:35 film

The story so farBefore scene 137

In 1923 on Inisherin, Padraic tries to restore his friendship with Colm after Colm suddenly cuts him off, but Colm’s escalating demand for solitude draws their neighbors into a costly feud.

Scenes 1–14
Padraic inhabits an easy routine of animals, home, pub, and daily companionship with Colm.
Scenes 15–40
Colm’s rejection exposes Padraic’s dependence on the friendship and raises the possibility that his easy manner is part of the problem.
Scenes 41–50
Padraic asks the priest to put in a word; Colm then gives Padraic a concrete threat against further contact.
Scenes 51–79
Padraic navigates gossip, violence, loneliness, and attempted apologies while trying to understand Colm’s terms.
Scenes 80–91
Colm’s first missing finger makes his demand for silence undeniable; Siobhan returns the finger and asks what would end the feud.
Scenes 92–128
The cost accumulates through more self-mutilation, Padraic’s cruelty, Siobhan’s departure, and the feud’s growing consequences.
Scene 129
Padraic finds Jenny dead after Colm’s thrown fingers reach the house, making the feud’s cost intimate and irreversible.
Just before
Scene 134
Padraic tells Mrs McCormick not to put things in his head; she warns him not to kill Colm’s dog.
Scene 135
Padraic finds Colm’s dog alone, then sees the bloodied shears.
Scene 136
Colm happily teaches musicians his tune despite his mutilated hand.
Scene 137
This scene

137INT. PUB - NIGHT

Just then, PADRAIC enters, and JONJO & GERRY look at the dishevelled, bloodied, ashen sight of him, worried.

GERRY

Hiya there, Padraic! You’re looking well!

The MUSICIANS now notice him, and slowly stop playing, which prompts COLM to finally notices PADRAIC too.

COLM

Keep playing, lads. It sounds lovely.

They quietly start up again, as COLM goes over to PADRAIC, his hand gently dripping as he goes. *

COLM (CONT'D)

I don’t need your apologies. Alright?

It’s a relief to me. So let’s just call

it quits and agree to go our separate

ways, shall we? For good this time.

COLM’s right hand is offered. PADRAIC just looks at it.

PADRAIC

Your fat fingers killed me little

donkey today. So no, we won’t call it

quits. We’ll call it the start.

COLM

(face falling)

You’re joking me.

PADRAIC

Yeah, no, I’m not joking you. So tomorrow,

Sunday, God’s day, around two, I’m going to

call up to your house, and I’m going to set

fire to it, and hopefully you’ll still be *

inside it. But I won’t be checking either way.

(pause)

Just be sure and leave your dog

outside. I’ve nothing against that gom.

(pause)

Or you can do whatever’s in your power

to stop me.

(pause)

To our graves we’re taking this.

(pause)

To one of our graves, anyways.

PADRAIC is about to turn and go, when suddenly he’s grabbed * one-handed by the hair by PEADAR coming in... *

PEADAR

Here, I’ve a bone to pick with you, *

dreary. Is that little gobshite of mine