"It's all perfectly innocent, Phoebe"

[rodneyscat]

Comments

[issy5209]

Its a very grim, depressing series, and yes, slow and boring (the books OK I suppose, I'm surprised they made a series of them tbh - I doubt they'll make the series of the next 3 books)

But yeah, right, innocent my a**se!!

interesting that they changed a fair bit of this episode from the book -maybe because of the subject matter, - and that end scene (and the pub scene) with Patrick is definitely not there!. I remember getting the feeling as I read the book that Jimmy certainly knew more than he let on about April (and her brother)
Jimmy IS a bit of a dick though

[rodneyscat]

The scene that made me dislike Jimmy most is when he's warning Phoebe. I don't so much mind him gripping her arm, but the way he switches from that forceful 'just watch your step' to that smooth 'that's all I'm saying, or you'll be on that boat to London too', that's almost nasty. The switch of expression on his face. A drunk who lets his jealousy talk louder than his concern and doesn't have himself in check; walk away Phoebe!

And I didn't think the end scene with Patrick made much sense, so I wonder why they added it. Looks like they wanted to show a more compassionate, sympathetic side of Jimmy.

[issy5209]

I do agree, there were some strange directing or acting choices

[rocknvaughn]

You know, I actually understood what motivated Jimmy there. He knew that Patrick was "having it off" with April or whatever the turn of phrase was. He was obviously one of the "kinds of men that make you wonder what in the name of Jaysus..." in Jimmy's mind. He felt sure that Patrick was involved in whatever was going on with April and didn't want Phoebe to get hurt

[windswept07]

Man. That pub scene was weird. The way he immediately became aggressive (due to his inebriation most likely) and then holding the back of her head like that...eh. Not a good look Jimmy. Warning bells are going off.

The comment that I didn't understand (and maybe someone here would be so kind to enlighten me) is "or you'll be on that boat to London too." What was that all about? I know Patrick was potentially going to have some immigration issues but why would Phoebe? If that was what that comment was even about. I don't know.

[rocknvaughn]

It's a euphemism for when a girl gets pregnant. As in you'd go away to London to have the baby elsewhere.

[windswept07]

Oh I didn't know that. Thanks for clearing that up for me! :)

[nympha_alba]

I thought it could even go further and mean you'd have to go to London for an abortion, since you couldn't have one in Ireland...

[rocknvaughn]

That could be, too, now that I think on it.

Replying

[issy5209]

Hiya just to explain I hope. In Ireland at that time there wasn't any birth control or sexual protection there was condoms but they would have been very difficult to buy, so if a girl got pregnant they went to London and got a back street abortion. Back street abortions were illegal and very dangerous women often bleed to death.
But it brought shame on a family in Ireland if a girl became pregnant out of marriage hence the Madeleine Laundries, if girls got pregnant some of the unfortunate one got sent to these places they were run by Nun's and when the babies were born they were taken from the mothers within a few days and adopted, very sad business.

Re: Replying

[windswept07]

Thanks so much for the explanation. Jimmy's comment makes a lot more sense now, especially considering he believed April to be pregnant with Patrick's child - and thus warning Phoebe against any dalliances with Patrick. I think it was a mixture of concern about Phoebe and also some clear underlining jealousy that she was taking up with Patrick and not himself.
The whole business of girls and women going off to have back street abortions (and risking their lives in the process) is just so heartbreaking like you said. Same with those Madeleine Laundries. I read a bit about them a couple years ago and what a life those girls had...