Trespasses | Episode 1 - PBS

Cushla and Michael begin a secret, passionate relationship that changes everything.

Cushla and Michael begin a secret, passionate relationship that changes everything.

As the passion between Cushla and Michael grows in secret, sectarian violence and scrutiny close in, forcing her to risk everything for a love that defies the divide.

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As the passion between Cushla and Michael grows in secret, sectarian violence and scrutiny close in, forcing her to risk everything for a love that defies the divide.

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Trespasses is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.

FEMALE VO: The following program contains content which may not be suitable for all audiences.

[phone rings] [deep breath] [distant siren blaring] [soft pensive music] [phone stops ringing] [children laughing] [background chatter and laughter] [gasps] ["I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" by Dusty Springfield] ♪ It isn't the way that you look ♪ ♪ And it isn't the way that you talk ♪ ♪ It isn't the things that you say or do ♪ ♪ Make me want you so ♪♪ ♪ It has nothing to do with the wine ♪ ♪ Or the music that's floodin' my mind ♪ ♪ But never before have I been so sure ♪♪ ♪ You're the someone I dreamed I would find ♪♪ ♪ It's the way you make me feel ♪ ♪ The moment I am close to you ♪♪ ♪ It's a feelin' so unreal ♪ ♪ Somehow I can't believe it's true ♪♪ [music stops] **** up, Dusty.

[explosions & screaming on TV] [slow melancholic music] [background chatter] You alright, Fidel, you alright, Minty?

Are ya trying to rub their Proddy noses in it?

NEWS ANCHOR ON TV: ...the younger generation now taking part in stone throwing.

Catholic youths battled across the so-called Peace Wall... There's no wall high enough.

Nothing beats a wee taste of Lifebuoy.

[background chatter and laughter] NEWS ANCHOR:...to gauge public opinion on streaking after a recent incident... Barry's had his beard trimmed.

There's a man with too much time on his hands.

In the first place, it's far too cold.

Might you be up for a bit of that, Cushla?

Could buff up your big belly and have it shining like a full moon.

[laughter] EAMONN: It's been a good wee while, Michael.

MICHAEL: I'll have a Jameson please.

Take a seat by the fire and I'll bring it over.

No, I'm comfortable here at the bar.

[pounding on table] [laughter] Oh, you're a ******* mad *****.

[laughs] - SOLDIER: Wash that mouth out.

HARRIS: That's her brother up there.

Did you see what that soldier just did?

Old man, she's pretending she can't hear me.

Perhaps because you're humiliating her.

[laughs] Ah, humor is most effective when it's mutual.

Come on, back to the barracks with ye.

FIDEL: Staying for another one, lads?

[bottles jangle] Could you throw another in there for me, please?

[TV playing] Helen Mirren's put to poor use in this, in my opinion... and McDowell, he's been pigeonholed since Clockwork Orange.

I couldn't finish that book, never mind the film.

MICHAEL: The film's beautiful, even the violence is exquisite.

He wrote that book after his wife had been attacked by soldiers.

I'd rather art without the suffering.

Can you have one without the other?

[both laugh] MICHAEL: No... but they do say that all barristers are frustrated actors.

[Michael chuckles] [bright hopeful music] [keys jangle] - [TV playing] - [door opens] CUSHLA: ***** Christ, Ma!

The curtains open for the whole world to see!

I'm gonna come in one day and find you burnt to a crisp.

- [TV turns off] CUSHLA: Right, come on.

You missed a career as a fire safety officer.

Lives in one of them big houses up on the hill.

He used to come into the bar a fair bit years ago.

He was good craic, kept his politics at home back then... Christ, I hope he doesn't bring trouble in on Eamonn.

He upsets his Proddy lot by defending some of our lads.

Well, from what I hear, the wife's a sorry story.

How about a wee story before assembly?

It was an incendiary device intended for the British Army, planted near the border by the INLA but exploded prematurely, killing two boys.

Chosen subject: Acronyms of The Troubles.

- [class giggles] ZOE: You're blushing, Miss!

She's scundered thinking of them streakers in the nude!

I'll tell you a story about an eight-year-old.

And you'd better be listening most of all, Davy McGeown.

The wee Catholic girl went out on a message for her Mommy.

A gang of Protestant men pulled her into an entry... [school bell ringing] Okay.

["Rock Me Gently" by Andy Kim] ♪ Ain't it good, ain't it right ♪ ♪ That you are with me here tonight ♪ ♪ Music playing, our bodies swaying in time ♪ ♪ Rock me gently, rock me slowly ♪ ♪ Take it easy, don't you know ♪ ♪ That I have never been loved like this before ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, rock me gently, rock me slowly ♪ Mommy!

Mommy, I'm gonna be late for my shift!

RADIO PRESENTER: ...believed to be engaged to a British soldier, was tied to a lamppost and tarred and feathered... Come on, Mommy.

[grunts] - Mommy... - [snoring] [sighs] For ****'* sake, Mommy!

[grunts] [sighs] [thud] [grunts] [lightly snoring] I can't just leave her on the floor in this state.

EAMONN: Cushla... Eamonn, she's getting worse.

EAMONN: The usual, and Michael, your "hero" from last night.

[telephone clinks] [sighs] [car engine starts] [background chatter] CUSHLA: (whispers) Davy!

And tell your Protestant mother, we Catholics look after our children!

Mixed marriages are an abomination.

Father Slattery was in with another horrific story.

I get the guitar out when I see him coming.

[both chuckle] Do you remember Louise?

Taught P3 last term before they fired her.

She's working in a shoe shop in Wolverhampton now.

[scoffs] What sort of shriveled soul would write to the Bishop about someone else's love life?

GERRY: You know what this place is like.

Do you wanna come to a party on Saturday night in Belfast?

It's better than watching the Generation Game with my mommy.

DAVY: (imitating Bradley) Davy McGeown!

Is it getting into cars with strangers you are?

You of all people better watch yourself!

Like cornered rats, our Tommy says.

Look, his wee mommy out to protect him.

[engine starts] [sniffs] **** off back to Taigland!

- [thudding] - [gasps] - GERRY: Hiya.

- Er... Okay, we actually don't have time for, um, 'Who's Your Granny?'

Excuse me, if your Mommy wants to meet the man who's taking you off into the night!

All you want to know is - is he Catholic and is he single?

Better you knock on my door than me knock at your window.

[both laugh] You needn't have picked me up, Gerry.

Besides, you would have missed this!

[upbeat traditional Irish folk music] [whistles to the music] [laughs] [whistles and hums] - Yeah!

- [both laugh] [indistinct police radio] Where you going?

Looks like we've got a comedian here.

You've the warpaint on, sweetheart.

[trembling breaths] [engine cranks] [engine starts] Hello!

This is Cushla from school I told yous about.

You wouldn't have many soldiers over your way, I suppose.

HARRY: Aye, just the ones that haven't been blown up.

Actually, my brother stands behind the bar every night afraid to open his mouth in case he offends somebody and ends up on a loyalist hit list.

But he did load me up with some out-of- date cider.

♪ Back through the glen, I rode again ♪ ♪ My heart with grief was sore ♪ ♪ For I parted with those valiant men... ♪ (whispers) I'm going to the bathroom.

♪ Whom I'll never see no more ♪ ♪ For to and fro in my dreams I go ♪ ♪ And I kneel and I pray for you... ♪ [woman giggles] [slow romantic music] [door opens] MAN: Alright?

Erm... - I thought, you know... - No, I know.

Jesus, I can't promise you a life, Cushla.

- [both chuckle] - Just the odd outing.

[giggles] [TV playing in background] Did yous have a nice night?

...prose, in the dead language of... Your man was in the paper tonight.

Banging on about police brutality again.

He'll not do himself any favors, saying things like that out loud.

He should know to keep his mouth shut.

You can put me down for some shifts.

Because if I stay in with Mommy, I might actually kill her.

[clink] BRADLEY: I have called this emergency assembly because the father of one of our pupils is in hospital.

The best thing we can do now is say a wee prayer.

Davy McGeown's father was left for dead by a loyalist gang last night.

McGeown was a good Catholic man who made the mistake of marrying the enemy.

McGeown brought this on himself, these loyalist murder gangs are hungry for all Catholic blood.

[mellow music] ♪ Drowning in bullets and bombs ♪ [clapping] GERRY: ♪ Stacking up wrong after wrong ♪♪ ♪ Where will this bloody fight end?

♪ ♪ If we don't learn to make amends ♪ ALL: ♪ Take away the hate and violence ♪ ♪ Bring love into our hearts ♪ ♪♪ Take away the hate and violence ♪ ♪ Let's finally give peace a head start ♪ Alright, enough.

Here... ♪ Sirens, they wail through the night ♪ Fingers on lips.

Erin, will you wait at the door for me, please?

You're the only one with the balls to stand up to that lunatic.

Thank you for your expert clapping.

[laughs] Do you think I should go round the McGeowns?

Oh, here... What about another wee trip to Belfast on Friday?

I promise not to lob the gob this time.

[both laugh] [chattering] I'm sorry.

[soft chuckle] Erm, Penny, Jim, this is Cushla.

JIM: Right, shall I get us a drink?

My friend's actually getting me one.

So, how do you two know each other?

Gerry, this is Michael Agnew, and his friend, Penny.

I'm surprised to see you here, Michael.

VICTOR: Thought you'd gone underground.

[theater bell] VICTOR: Do you wanna say that louder so everyone can hear?

[soft chuckle] Are you enjoying the play?

I, erm, I like the way he calls the, the town Ballybeg.

(whispering) My friends and I are trying to learn Irish.

Will you come and teach us sometime?

[laughs] It's a nice set, isn't it?

CUSHLA: Why would Special Branch be interested in Michael Agnew?

They think he's a traitor, defending young IRA lads and banging on about police brutality.

Just some of our young stone throwers.

Tries to talk them out of joining, gets them to recognize the courts.

Which makes him a "willing agent of the evil system," so the RA hate him, and the Peelers hate him.

And even his own Proddy lot hate him.

Aye, he's alright... but I'd not take a drink off him.

[church bells tolling] Ah, look who it is.

CUSHLA: Davy tells me you're doing English for your A levels?

I didn't pick up another book for months after.

I can't get to the library till Daddy's home.

(quietly) He's got a fractured skull.

Those Proddy bastards slashed his hands and wrists with a nail hammered into a plank.

Look, why don't you take my number and you can give me a call if you need anything?

Daddy was beat up for loving my mommy.

The neighbors keep cutting down our washing line.

They throw dog ***** over the fence.

You gonna ******* let her speak to you like that?

**** away off around your own door!

As far as the ones round here are concerned, she's worse than a Catholic for marrying one.

They were saying at the hairdressers, even her own family don't talk to her.

Headlines on Monday evening at seven o'clock.

The body of a man was found off the Shore Road by a woman walking her dog.

[laughs] [TV playing] It's in Belfast, so I could pick you up at seven on Monday.

Fidel's running a UDA meeting up there.

Pity it clashes with your Irish night.

[both laugh] [mellow instrumental music] Sorry, Sir.

There's a bit of an incident up ahead.

I'm gonna have to ask you to turn back, please.

Penny has made her world-famous moussaka.

Penny, Cushla was just admiring your Donegal painting.

It's the only painting of mine I actually like.

I'm mucking about with sculpture now.

[chuckles] And thanks for coming for this Irish lesson.

JANE: [laughs] Oh, you don't like it?

I just, I didn't expect it to be fishy.

Michael tells me you're a native speaker.

Yes, would you grab the moussaka out of the oven there, please?

VICTOR: Did you hear Campbell College won the Cup?

I bumped into that fella... um, the captain... um, of the Royals when we... won.

[quietly] Agh, you've burned yourself.

[laughter & chatter in background] Oh, poor Cushla.

MICHAEL: Whatever way you want to deny it, Victor, you know police brutality creates terrorists out of bored young fellas who are throwing stones for kicks.

VICTOR: Aye, so you keep telling us.

You've not said a word against IRA brutality.

They're kneecapping the very same young fellas you're defending.

Penny, how much garlic did you put in this?

You can never have enough garlic, Jim.

Jane, would you like some more moussaka?

[laughter] Right, shall we do this?

Erm... If yous just talk amongst yourselves and I'll just see where you're at.

- [laughs] Well, how about you tell us the Irish for "no"?

That's a tad slippery, don't you think?

If someone offers you a drink, how do you say "no"?

[scoffs] [scoffs] Well, why don't we start with some simple phrases - about how we're feeling?

- [laughter] PENNY: [laughs] Yeah, she's not wrong.

- [laughter] [crosstalk] How do you say that?

[soft emotional music] If you just wanna pull in under there.

[deep breath] So, will you come and teach us again?

[both chuckle softly] [soft emotional music building] My circumstances are complicated.

I won't always be able to get away.

[deep inhale] [school bell ringing] Okay, everybody.

[soft chuckle] Daddy came home last night.

I don't think he's gonna wanna see me.

I think it's best if you just leave it for family.

That's the second one they've left us today.

MANDY: Do the job said Mr Templeton... There's plenty of capital for... DAVY: Daddy... [slow dreary music] this is my teacher.

[heavy breathing] [slow dreary music continues] [dog barking] [car engine starts] What's her problem?

EAMONN: Now you don't want the shifts?

I just didn't realize how much extra schoolwork I'd have with the communions and stuff.

EAMONN: So, you won't do any at all?

[call ends] NEWS PRESENTER:...has been shot dead as he worked, sweeping roads near his home on the lower Ormeau Road.

It's the fourth fatality in the city in two days.

Earlier, the funeral took place... Trading eggs on the black market?

NEWS PRESENTER: ...battled the IRA on the Falls Road in Belfast, has found the woman who risked her own life to... [phone ringing] Hello?

I've not seen you in the pub all week.

I'll be passing yours in two minutes.

MICHAEL: I'll take us somewhere no one will see us.

[soft pensive music] [soft pensive music continues] CUSHLA: I just sobbed the whole way home.

All Seamie McGeown did was marry a Protestant.

I just hate the way this place makes you one thing or the other.

Well, that's why we must make ourselves.

I come from a long line of Catholics that have survived by keeping their heads down and their mouths shut.

Having a big opinion like yours... is a luxury I don't have.

What, so I should just say what I want?

Be with who I want, even if it means that I lose my job, or I put Eamonn in danger, or people throw dog ***** at Mommy's washing line?

Even if people call you selfish or-or-or stupid, or a Judas bastard.

We must find the bravery to choose freedom over fear.

So, taking up with you is a... political act of defiance?

I get to be brave, and you get your bit on the side.

Look, if you don't want to be with me because I'm married or I'm old or an awful kisser... then look, that's one thing... that... that I accept.

But we cannot let the old bigots and the boys with guns tell us how to live.

Otherwise, nothing will ever change.

[soft dramatic music] I best get back.

I've gotta prepare for court tomorrow.

You're not the only one with an important workload.

[sighs] [grunts] [laughs] What are you at?

[sighs] You know, they say it's unlucky to gift gorse, both for the giver and receiver.

I'm more than happy to take my chances with you, Cushla.

[phone line trilling] - EAMONN: The Anchor.

Mommy says she must give you that dish back, from the pie.

And it won't change if I don't do something.

I meant... [call ends] [phone clinks] You need to mind that fella.

[lighter clicks] [bright hopeful music] NEWSREADER: The identity of the IRA gunman who shot magistrate and former barrister Martin McBirney last September.

Witnesses took to the stand yesterday as McBirney's... [door opens] MICHAEL: Jameson, please.

I have a flat in Belfast I use when I'm in court.

[bright hopeful music continues] Come tonight.

[bright hopeful music continues] [soft chuckle] [doorbell rings] [door opens] ["Into The Mystic" by Van Morrison playing on radio] It's yourself.

["Into The Mystic" continues] [sighs] What about... I'm on the pill for my skin.

- [Michael strains] - [Cushla giggles] [squeals] Where have you been all night?!

I had car trouble, so I stayed with Gerry.

You and Gerry must think I'm some fool.

Or worse, have a wee baby with a ring shoved on your finger!

You wouldn't be carrying on like this if your daddy were still alive.

He'll be rolling over in his grave.

[dramatic suspenseful music] [dramatic music] FEMALE VO: Trespasses is available with PBS Passport and on Amazon Prime Video.

Join Judith, Suzie, and Becks as they race against the clock to stop a killer in their tracks.

Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan return in the final installment of the Susan Ryeland mysteries.