Young Cassidy (1965)

Philip O'Flynn: Mick Mullen

Quotes 

• Mick Mullen : [sizing him up]  You're an odd one to come among us.

  John Cassidy : Why's that?

  Mick Mullen : Well, not many of us carry books on this job.

  John Cassidy : Oh that's...

  [grabs the book from his jacket pocket] 

  John Cassidy : , that's Michael Davet's land reform.

  Mick Mullen : Tell me something, are you interested in the state-a the land?

  John Cassidy : We all bloody well should be. We work close enough to it, don't we?

  Mick Mullen : Can ya win the battle with a shovel?

  John Cassidy : [happily confident]  Well I can earn me bread with it.

  Mick Mullen : [smiling intriguingly]  You'll do Johnny.

  [they both get back to work after clearly and friendly hitting it off well] 

• Mick Mullen : [talking outside shortly after Ella's sudden and untimely death]  Damn poverty all together.

  John Cassidy : Amen. But we're fightin' it Mick. And while we fight we can appreciate the little things - like the beauty of this Hawthorn tree. Ella used to love this tree. She used to say that beauty was more important than bread. How do ya explain that to Ella's kids?

  [the scene fades out] 

• Mick Mullen : How's it goin' Johnny?

  John Cassidy : Well, I sent me play to the Abbey Theatre Mick, and one of the management read it - Lady Gregory I think - and she thanked me very much and sent it back with a comment that it was a bit short on plot and a bit long on character.

  Mick Mullen : Well that's a profound thing to say.

  John Cassidy : Right. So, I went over the thing and rewrote it and sent it in again, and a Mr. Yeats read it this time, and he thanked me very much and he sent it back with a comment that it was a bit long on short of character and a bit long on plot.

  Mick Mullen : Well what happened then?

  John Cassidy : Well, I had a another go and I sent it in once more.

  Mick Mullen : And?

  John Cassidy : And I had a very nice note from the management to say they'd lost it.

  [they both laugh] 

  Mick Mullen : Well, keep at it Johnny. One day you'll be able to give up the pick axe altogether.

  John Cassidy : I will.

• Mick Mullen : Johnny, be careful. You're putting your soul in danger. Keep the cause close to your hearts.

• Daisy Battles : That's enough of it, Mr. Mullen! In broad daylight, too!

  Mick Mullen : I'm sorry, Miss, I - well - I lost my head.

  Daisy Battles : [straightening her dress]  We may be fightin' for freedom; but, not that far.

• Mick Mullen : It was bloody indecent the way you grabbed that girl last night - holding her fast, against her will.

  John Cassidy : What?

  Mick Mullen : She didn't like it.

  John Cassidy : I think she did and I didn't hear her callin' for any policeman. Do you good to grab a girl like that occasionally, Mick.

  Mick Mullen : Me? I got better things to do.

  John Cassidy : Oh, I've seen you with your fine eyes watchin' that plump little lass who brings dinner to the steamroller driver. Look, spruce yourself up. The next time she comes by, say, "Hello, lovely lass." She'll like it! And you'll get more fun out of life.

  Mick Mullen : No, thanks. I've no wish to get into trouble with girls. And you should feel the same about that girl you call Nora. For I can see that she's afraid of you.

  John Cassidy : Afraid of havin' me or afraid of losin' me? She's afraid like you, Mick, of takin' a risk. It's a timid man's way. It's not God's way!