In the beginning.....

Moira blushes at Alex's words.

Moira: I mean, you didn't ever 'ave to... not for mey.

Alex smiles at Ashley.

Alex: Aye? Well I wont hold that against you mate.

Alex smiles at Moira

of course I did love.... I think of you and Jilly as my daughters..... I love you.....

Moira hugs Alex, trying not to disturb the equipment around him.

Moira: I love you too, Uncle Alex. I don't want you to go....

Alex simply returns the hug.

Alex: I know sweetheart..... I know.

Ashley:"Would um...would you mind if I borrowed the phone in the hallway fer a moment Alex?"

Alex: Huh? Oh yeah.... sure thing lad.... help yourself.

Ashley nods thanks and goes out to the hall. He dials.

Ashley:"...Paddy?...Aye....No I'm in Eng....I'm in England. Why the feck is mom yelling Patrick?............You WOT? Wot about my 'alf?.......I don't give a shite who you bloody well owed.......Look I don't care 'ow badly the Connolly brothers would 'ave beaten ya, when I get there I'm gunna do worse.....No I don't know....Well no shite mom is mad. You better be around when I get there.......I don't know, you'll 'ave to wait won't ya?......Aye, send 'er me love."

Ashley hangs up and in one swift motion finishes off the snifter of brandy in his hand

Ashley:"...Bloody 'ell..."

He heads back in the room
Ashley:"Thanks, just letting family know I was in the area...so to speak."

Alex: I see..... you in trouble lad? ..... Thin walls in this old place

Ashley:"I'm not entirely sure yet. Me brother will be when I get my 'ands around 'is neck though."

Moira can't help a slight chuckle.

Moira: Brothers... You got lucky you don't 'ave a brother Jilly...

She makes a face.

Moira: ... but you've got Nathalie, which is worse.

Alex: Come on lad.... what's wrong? ..... If you can't talk to a dead man who can you talk to eh?

Ashley:"Evidently 'e owed some people in the neighborhood. So he gave them some of my uh..property."

Alex: Property?

Ashley:"Aye. Well, it was ours. I 'ad 'alf and 'e 'ad the other."

Alex: I see..... well is the debt now settled?

Ashley:"With the Connolly brothers aye. With me? No."

Alex: If an old man may be so bold as to offer some words of advice?

Ashley:"It would feel rude if I declined."

Alex: Loss is a part of life...... the trick is not chasing after what you've lost.... because it makes you close your eyes to everything you've gained...... and THAT young man, is true loss...... I get the feeling you went to America because you were looking for something more than what you had..... and I think you might well be on the way to finding it...... Don't allow what you've lost close your eyes to what you find in the here and now..... you understand?

Ashley ponders the words for a moment

Ashley:"Aye, I understand wot you mean. Now let me tell you 'ow this situation is. Paddy is me younger brother, in a family with no father figure. Which means fer years now I've been the one that's 'ad to keep 'im out o' trouble. 'e was going down a slippery slope. I left in good faith that 'e was going to watch out fer 'imself and not do anything stupid. Fer example, stealing from 'is big brother to pay a debt with a couple gang members. Wot I 'lost' is of less importance to me then the fact 'es heading roit back on that slope."

Alex: It's admirable that you want to help your brother........ and wanting him to change is fine..... but what incentive does he have to change if he knows you're always going to be there to bail him out of trouble?

Ashley:"...Who said I was going there to bail 'im out?"

Alex: You can pretend you're going to wring his neck if you want..... but I think you're going there to make sure those goons didn't rough him up too bad.....

Ashley:"I know them well enough. They don't rough people up who pay debts...Even if they don't use their own product and instead sell their brothers when 'es out o'town...Nah they won't lay a 'and on 'im. Thats not 'ow they work."

Alex smirks.

Alex: If you say so....