The Banshees of Inisherin · written by Martin McDonagh · 2022

Padraic shows Siobhan the severed finger and stores it in a shoebox.

Scene 83 of 174 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Siobhan
Padraic

Act oneAct two

Begins 53 min into a 1:35 film

The story so farBefore scene 83

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.
Just before
Scene 80
Colm crosses a field with a bloodied bandage over his missing index finger.
Scene 81
Padraic discovers blood on the doorstep and Colm’s severed finger in the grass.
Scene 82
Colm climbs another wall and continues away without apparent concern.
Scene 83
This scene

83INT. PADRAIC’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

PADRAIC, ashen, comes back inside, the finger behind him.

SIOBHAN

What was that, a bird?

PADRAIC

(pause)

What was what?

SIOBHAN

The bang at the door.

PADRAIC thinks a long while, unable to lie.

PADRAIC

A bird?

SIOBHAN

Aye.

PADRAIC

No.

SIOBHAN stops stirring, bemused by this behaviour.

SIOBHAN

What was it so?!

PADRAIC

(pause)

The bang at the door?

SIOBHAN

Aye!!

PADRAIC

What was the bang at the door?

She gives him a look.

PADRAIC (CONT'D)

Err... it was... err... hard to lie, it

was... err... the bang at the door

was... a finger.

SIOBHAN smiles, confused, then loses her smile.

SIOBHAN

A wha?

PADRAIC

Finger.

PADRAIC holds out the bloody finger and she screams in horror, frightening the donkey.

PADRAIC (CONT'D)

Jesus, Siobhan, you’ll frighten the

little fella!

SIOBHAN

Throw it out! Throw it out, Padraic!

PADRAIC

I’m not throwing his finger out! It’ll

get dirt on it.

PADRAIC goes through to another room, as SIOBHAN stands there in shock. PADRAIC returns, cleaning the blood off his hands with the towel from earlier.

SIOBHAN

Where’d you put it?

PADRAIC

Shoebox.

(pause)

Well he’s serious then.