Cry Out Loud
Check out our episode here! Cry Out Loud by Tara O'Connor
Parked at the waterfront waiting for the boat, brother and sister Thomas and Nell are reminiscing about sausage rolls and rollercoasters, but a phone call from their Ma stops all their fun. Thomas is at their Ma’s beck and call and Nell is off to catch the boat and start a new chapter of her life.
Nell is on the boat, resting against the rail thinking. Nell is going to stay with family, and she’s not happy about it. She was suspended for a term because of Siobhan, according to her mother; Nell argues it’s because Miz Nelson is out to get her and Siobhan. Regardless, she's being sent away.
Eventually Nell arrives at the island. She’s not met by these hitherto unknown family members she’s being shipped off to but by Caoimhe, a nice lady who runs the lighthouse. On the drive to the O’Brien place, Caoimhe explains that the O’Briens keep to themselves and are mainly known for the eyesore that is their house, it’s a very modern glass and personality lacking eyesore, and Caoimhe always has to introduce herself to them, which says a lot. Caoimhe drops Nell off and hands her a bunch of keys, no one is home so she can just make herself comfortable. Before she drives off, Caoimhe invites Nell to the lighthouse anytime. Neither see the ghostly green mist person at the window watching them.
Nell has a nosey round the house, however there is one strange key she can’t figure out what it’s for. After a little while, the O’Briens return home. Kirsten and William are intense, their son Theo says nothing. Dinner that night is as pretentious as the house, its “pub grub” fish and chips if the cook has a Michelin Star stuck up their ass and no concept of a chippy tea. Nell can’t help rile up Kirsten who can’t remember her ma’s name and William calls a halt to the shenanigans. Nell retreats to her room. As she’s unpacking, Nell remembers an argument with her ma over a pentacle design on her T-shirt, it’s not satanic, it’s fashion. The sound of bloody murder breaks her reverie then Kirsten knocks at her door with tea. She blames the weird sound on the wind. Again, Nell doesn’t see the ghostly green mist person watching her.
Nor does Nell see the ghostly green mist person as she leaves in the morning for Caoimhe’s lighthouse because the O’Briens are already gone for the day. The walk to the lighthouse is pleasant, fresh air, nice horsey, weird looks from the locals. At Caoimhe’s, Nell explains how intense the house is and that she just can’t relax because William is mean-intense, Kirsten is polite-intense which feels worse, and Theo hasn’t said a word. Also, does Caoimhe know what this weird key is for? No? Okay… Anyway, enough doom and gloom, time to explore the island. Caoimhe loans Nell a bike for her time on the island and offers her the chance to help around the island, both of which Nell is ridiculously excited about.
The next morning, Nell is awake early. As she leaves her room, she realizes how cold it is, even going so far as to lie on the floor testing the cold spot. This is, of course, when she’s spotted by William who is an asshole about the whole thing and blames air conditioning (in Ireland, really?!). Neither Nell nor William spot the actual reason for the cold spot, a ghostly green mist person under the floor.
Essentially kicked out of the house for the day by asshole William, and having zero cell service to call her friends or even her ma, Nell heads to her bike. Because she doesn’t know how the O’Briens would react to it, Nell leaned it against a neighbour's shed and thankfully he doesn’t seem to mind. Cycling the island, Nell still can’t get a cell signal and it all suddenly feels too much. She breaks down into tears and that’s when she spots the ghostly green mist person standing on the cliff edge. When she approaches the ghostly green mist person, they disappear but Nell nearly falls over the edge. Thankfully, Caoimhe is there to save her.
The rain starts coming down in sheets then so Caoimhe ushers Nell to the pub for a hot meal and Nell tells Caoimhe she thinks she saw a ghost or a banshee. Caoimhe believes her, though corrects Nell’s misconception about Banshees whose intention it is to warn people not kill people. Caoimhe doesn’t laugh or criticize Nell’s wild thoughts, if anything she validates Nell which is a strange and welcome feeling for her. She confesses to Caoimhe that her ma never did anything but scream at her, unlike with her brothers, and she thinks she was sorry Nell was ever born. Nell feels isolated on the island, but feels at home with Caoimhe. Caoimhe seems to feel the same with Nell, especially since her partner is no longer with her.
It’s still raining so Caoimhe offers to give Nell a ride to the O’Brien’s house. After collecting her bike, Nell and Caoimhe help some of the locals get ready for the incoming storm. It’s going to last a few days and likely make the power go off. One of the guys gives Nell a funny look and acts really shifty. He disappears into a building where there are robed figures with a double K symbol embroidered on and with a single mostly melted candle. They’re, obviously, very cryptic, mentioning a barrier coming down and a woman being “all set.” Their plans are scheduled for the following night and their Chronicle is prepared. They even mention the O’Briens and have a picture of Nell. This can’t be good…
…but that’s a worry for later. Nell eventually makes it back to the O’Brien’s. William denies her any food, kitchen closes at six, and when Nell mentions letting the locals use the house for showers since the O’Brien’s have a generator, William loses it and threatens to kick her out. Kirsten doesn’t understand why the locals don’t like them: Nell points out that it’s because they do nothing. Later, someone leaves Nell a granola bar outside her door, and during the night, she’s startled awake by the ghostly green mist person watching her sleep. Yikes.
The next morning, not sure the nighttime visit by the ghostly green mist person actually happened, but the rumble in her stomach being very real, Nell heads to the kitchen and manages to snaffle a scone. She notices a door in the kitchen hidden by shelves, but it doesn’t really lead anywhere other than a big empty space. She does find a fancy box she tries to open when Theo happens upon her then. She drops the box and the papers inside fall to the ground, one is titled The Keen with the double K symbol on it. Theo admits he left the granola bar for her the night before and tells Nell she’d better get out of the house soon, William and Kirsten will be back early as the ferries are stopping early because of the storm.
Meanwhile, at Caoimhe’s lighthouse, she’s on the phone saying how everything is going to plan while looking at a picture of her younger self with another woman, and they are both really happy. The storm rages through the day and that night, Kirsten brings Nell a cup of tea. She only takes a sip when the ghostly green mist person appears. The teacup falls in her surprise and smashes on the floor. The ghostly green mist person screams in Nell’s face and in what feels like a blink, Nell is opening her eyes, lying on the floor and being grabbed by two robed figures with the double K symbol on.
Nell fights back, grabbing a piece of the broken teacup as a weapon. She runs out of the bedroom but is caught by Theo, also in a robe but his hood is down. Theo tells Nell to hide in the air vents, her only way out. Just as Nell is secured in the vent, robed William and Kirsten come into the room and he tells them Nell gave Malcom, another robed person, the slip and ran off to the east wing. Nell is able to use the vents to get outside to her bike and cycle to Caoimhe’s place. Caoimhe seems to have been waiting for her. She tells Nell to go up to the light and step directly into the beam. Yeah, fine, that’s just as weird as everything else this evening.
Nell steps in front of the lighthouse beacon and when she opens her eyes, she’s outside, it’s daytime, and the storm has stopped. There’s also a younger Caoimhe there to greet her. Young Caoimhe takes Nell home and explains she’s back in 1955. In very specific conditions, the lighthouse beacon basically becomes a Time Machine. Young Caoimhe shares memories with Older Caoimhe so she knows Nell and what’s going on, but enough about that. How about some food?
Nell says it doesn’t feel like she’s in the 50s as everything looks the same. Caoimhe gives Nell some fresh clothes and shoes, and as she changes, she finds a paper with The Keen and the double K symbol on. As the murderous robed bad guys were wearing that symbol, Nell assumes Caoimhe is with them and runs off. She’s sitting on the cliff side thinking about how she’s stuck in 1955 with no money, borrowed clothes, no internet, and only a weird murderous family when she spots the ghostly green mist person… except she is not a ghost, she is very normal looking, and very human. Her name is Orlagh and she’s really nice!
Orlagh takes Nell home to the O’Brien house, but the 1955 version before it is turned into the monstrous eyesore it is in the present day. Orlagh’s ma is looking after her baby sister and isn’t around, so Orlagh takes Nell to her room, her room which is opened with a very special key, one that Nell also has. This is weird. Nell tells Orlagh everything, and Orlagh believes her. They also work out that they must be related, what with Orlagh’s baby sister being Bridget, Nell’s ma. Nell also works out that Orlagh is the ghostly green mist person. Finally, Nell confesses to not trusting Caoimhe, she’s not sure she isn’t part of the robed bad guys gang. Orlagh doesn’t think Caoimhe is because Caoimhe is her girlfriend. There is only one thing they can do… go and talk to Caoimhe. ✨ COMMUNICATION ✨
When they arrive at Caoimhe’s lighthouse, Caoimhe comes running outside. It is very clear Caoimhe and Orlagh are very much in love. This is made more apparent as Caoimhe tells them exactly what has been going on. The five big families on the island felt it is their due to keep the banshee’s cry and its warnings for themselves. In order to keep the banshee, they formed a secret society called The Keen, and each family sacrifices their eldest daughter when she comes of age. Orlagh is next from the O’Brien family. Caoimhe is going to sacrifice Nell in her place but it’s okay because she’ll be born just as normal since she's traveled through time. Caoimhe hasn’t thought this through and it’s made worse because this isn’t the first time she’s tried substituting the sacrifice, it’s actually the fifth! Nell refuses and runs off after some protesting and arguing when Orlagh asks for a few private moments with Caoimhe.
Orlagh is not happy Caoimhe is making life and death decisions about and for other people. If they don’t sacrifice Orlagh or Nell’s sacrifice doesn’t work, then the families may turn to Bridget and then Nell wouldn’t be born. It’s a mess. As they’re having this conversation, Nell is being kidnapped by a local. He apparently thinks she’s Orlagh in disguise trying to avoid being sacrificed. Back at the lighthouse, Orlagh and Caoimhe are hitting the books for an answer and Orlagh finds a possibility. There is a stone tablet that covers the sacrificial place, if they break it, it could stop this evil cycle. The tablet is enchanted, but it’s their best bet. Caoimhe is going to find Nell and tell her the new plan.
Nell is locked in a shed, tied up and gagged. Orlagh’s parents (Nell’s grandparents) at least give her stew and water, but they aren’t being nice, especially Orlagh’s father who is telling Orlagh’s ma not to be attached, to treat her horribly so it’s easier to sacrifice her. This brings back memories of the way Nell’s ma treated her, obviously creating the distance knowing what was going to happen. After Orlagh’s parents are gone, Caoimhe sneaks into the shed. She explains the new plan - smash the barrier - but needs Nell to stay captured and be the distraction in the morning. Nell agrees after some arguing and a lot of apologising from Caoimhe.
Early the next day, Nell is prepared as the sacrifice, she’s put in an unflattering white Victorian style gown, but will be perfect for wafting as a ghostly green mist person. She is taken to the sacrificial mound with the barrier on top. The robed figures go with Nell, the locals stay below, meanwhile Caoimhe is hidden on the opposite side of the mound, mallet in hand. The robed leader blathers on about sacrifice, etc, etc, as a couple of robed lackeys unseal the Keen by removing the barrier covering the sacrificial hole. Caoimhe jumps from her hiding spot, mallet raised. She strikes down but is only able to crack it. The leader shouts to throw them both down the hole.
In the crowd below, Orlagh pleads with her ma to stop what is happening. Up top, Nell can hear the spirits of the previously sacrificed girls calling to her. Nell tells Caoimhe to trust her and steps into the hole. It’s dark and filled with water and spirits. As Nell sinks down, Orlagh’s ma steps forward, calling an end to this. The robed figures, obviously, disagree so the fighting starts. Orlagh’s ma can swing a mallet and throw elbows! This is when Caoimhe spots Orlagh who she thought was at the lighthouse, safe. They kiss, Orlagh’s ma telling them to kiss later they’ve got things to do, and the trio, mallet in hand, head to the seal.
Meanwhile, Nell has sunk to the bottom and into a huge cavern thankfully not filled with water, but inhabited by the bound ghostly green mists of past sacrifices. Nell realizes the chant the robed leader said was a spell to trap the spirits. As they drag her back into the water, Nell calls out to Caoimhe to smash the barrier. Up top, Caoimhe hears Nell's cry, and smashes the heck out of the barrier, breaking it into pieces. Down below, Nell sees the spirits' eyes turn and teeth turn sharp. Together, the spirits and Nell geyser out of the mound. While Caoimhe and Orlagh help Nell, the spirits form one huge green ethereal lady, and she’s pissed.
All but the leader of the robed people scatter, and he calls them traitors as they flee. The green lady plucks up one of them and POOF! they’re gone, leaving only a ghostly shadow to float away. She then does this to all the robed people, her eyes yellow and reptilian, her teeth sharp, until only the leader is left. He’s berating Nell when he is plucked and eaten by the green lady and torn apart by all the sacrificed spirits.
Once things calm down, Orlagh’s ma embraces her daughter and her daughter's girlfriend. It's not important who Orlagh loves, only that her daughter lives. Nell watches as the giant green lady leans over. She thanks Nell and the others for breaking the generational cycle and asks what Nell wants. She wants to go home. After hugging Caoimhe, Orlagh and Orlagh’s ma, the green lady picks up Nell. As Orlagh’s ma shouts “she’s my grandchild?” Nell closes her eyes.
Nell opens her eyes in her normal clothes sitting on the edge of the cliff, her ma screaming her name. Not to berate her, but in worry because she just passed out on their walk. Nell’s ma hugs and kisses her daughter, sick with worry and takes her to the house to rest. It isn't the ugly monstrosity the O’Briens live in, but Orlagh’s house. Her Aunt Orlagh still lives there with her partner Caoimhe, both of whom come rushing at her for hugs. Caoimhe explains her memories need to merge together and could take a couple of days, but her relationship with her mother is nothing like she may remember for now. Nell feels guilty, does she deserve this new life? Her Aunts tell her she does, they have each other and always will.
