The Banshees of Inisherin · written by Martin McDonagh · 2022

Colm confesses to pride, self-mutilation, and accidental killing of Jenny.

Scene 145 of 174 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Colm
Priest

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:25 into a 1:35 film

The story so farBefore scene 145

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.
Scene 137
After Jenny’s death, Padraic rejects Colm’s offered truce and promises to burn his house, choosing retaliation.
Just before
Scene 142
Peadar meets the priest and shows him his black eye.
Scene 143
Colm notices Padraic’s silence during the hymn.
Scene 144
Padraic leaves church without greeting the priest.
Scene 145
This scene

145INT. CONFESSIONAL - DAY

Lattice light on COLM’s face as the PRIEST listens.

COLM

Well... all the ones from the last time

you didn’t forgive me for... multiplied

be two, of course.

(pause)

Definitely pride, this time.

(pause)

I killed a miniature donkey. It was be

accident, but I do feel bad about it.

PRIEST

Do you think God gives a damn about

miniature donkeys, Colm?

COLM

I fear he doesn’t. And I fear that’s

where it’s all gone wrong.

PRIEST

(pause)

Is that it?

COLM

Is what it?

PRIEST

Aren’t you forgetting a couple of things?

COLM

No, I think I’ve covered it.

PRIEST

Wouldn’t you say punching a policeman

is a sin?

COLM

Ah here, if punching a policeman is a

sin we may as well just pack up and go

home!

PRIEST

And self-mutilation is a sin. It’s one

of the biggest.

COLM

Is it?

(pause)

Self-mutilation, so, you have me there.

Multiplied be five.

Pause.

PRIEST

How’s the despair?

COLM

(pause)

It’s back a bit.

PRIEST

But you’re not going to do anything

about it?

COLM

I’m not going to do anything about it, no.

They sit there in the dark a while.

PRIEST

Twelve Hail Mary’s and eleven Our

Father’s.