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'Aeons' is about...

..first love.

But it's also a meditation on...

..queer culture, it's about Ireland,

it's about our past and our present.
It's about...

Fuck off, that's fucking shit.

I wanted
to write about first love.

I wanted to... write about
something that young readers

could connect with
in a way that was familiar

and raw and heartfelt that would...

..validate their feel-ings.

That's awful. Don't do that. Um...

It's about-- The book is about...

I think the book is about...

We hope you're keeping well, Alma.

We're gettin' all these
sausage rolls ready for this lot.

It takes us a bit longer
without you here crackin' the whip.

"And where is Alma's bolognese?"
That's all we hear every day.

Murders there
has been here some of the days.

I lit a candle
for you last week up in St. Anthony's.

...power and...

..social structure and...

I'm coming!

..social structure,
and within the subtext of the story

we're also exploring issues
of post-colonial conflict in Ireland...

..the legacy of the Catholic Church

and the growth of a queer culture
within a regressive society.

Okay, okay!

Alright, alright!

Oh Jesus Christ,
I'm gonna throw that bell away!

I heard you the first time.

Good morning.
What?

Oh my God, the face.

Okay.

I dunno, we got a lovely lilac number,

some peachy peach or the most gorgeous hue
of aquamarine you ever have seen.

If this is not to your satisfaction

we could, I dunno, go Miss Scarlet
and take a sewing machine to this curtain?

The blue. Of course, it's the blue.
Yeah. Boring.

Alright, here we go.
Ready? One, two, three.

Just give it a minute.
Patience, patience. Okay.

That's much better.

- Good morning Edward.
- Oh my God. She speaks.

Finally!

Welcome to the Land of the living.

Thirty seconds Edward.

Be confident.

Mam.

Mam, stop looking at me.

Our next guest
is the Irish novelist, Edward Brady,

- whose debut novel 'Aeons'...
- What?

- ..explores a complex friendship...
- Toilet.

..and gay relationship
between two young men.

Sorry.

Edward, thanks for being here.

Thanks for having me.

Great. So, your novel was first published
in 2018 in Ireland and the UK, I believe,

but it's only now
being picked up internationally.

- And all because of a sudden surge

in young readers
who discovered the novel through TikTok.

Yeah, I know it's crazy,
but that's how it happened.

It's a beautiful read, Edward,
I have to say.

- Now, tell us about Cian

and where we find him
at the start of the story.

Um, he's sort of an awkward

unformed teenager when we meet him.

He's trapped in a small Irish town
struggling with his identity.

And then he meets
a sorta mercurial English boy

and we follow the relationship
over the next 10 years.

So it's a love story
about these two young gay men.

But it's also an out-of-love story.
Then there's things thematically, uh...

Slow down, Edward.

Hello?

They will not
be able to understand. You talk fast.

Please try and be slower.

They are American
and your accent will confuse them.

Edward, are you still with us?

Edward, if you were going
any slower, we would go back in time.

Please don't start.

Mam! Why do you keep pointing
at every turn?

I know where we're going, okay?
I've been driving you there for a year.

What? We're not going to be late.

The physio says if she doesn't
start gettin' some exercise,

she'll be in a chair in six months.

She won't fuckin' listen.
Talkin' to the wall you do be.

All she wants to do
is smoke fags and watch telly.

She has me flat destroyed.

I had the guards over with me on Tuesday.

Why?

'Cause my mum keeps turning up
at wakes for people she doesn't even know.

One of the families
reported her to the guards.

They thought she was
in robbing the dead man's watch.

What was she doing?

Trying to put fuckin'
rosary beads into the casket.

- Why?
- I dunno!

She thinks she's doin'
the Lord's work, I suppose.

Ohmygod, there's Simon.

I thought his Ma passed.

She did. I think it got rough at the end.

Jesus Christ, he looks wrecked.

Hi!

I can't end up looking like tha'.

Certainly not with all
that's been spent on Botox.

Don't be tellin' people me business.

Uh, chicken, he's not blind.

- Gorge.
- Is it?

Years younger.

- Thanks, Edward.
- I still think you're a lip filler away

from ending up like
Mickey Rourke in 'The Wrestler'.

Will you stop being
such a cunty fuck, please?

- I'm not!
- You are! What's wrong with ya?

Uh, this?!

I can't take it anymore.

It's the guys in Maspalomas.

Hola, chicas!

Just sending you a message to say,
"Hi" to you and les madres.

Say hi to the boys!

Hi! We miss you!

We wish you were here

and we'll see you all really, really soon.
Sláinte!

That used to be us.

You ready, two wheels?

That okay?

The publishers are talking
about doing this...

..big release for the book in America.

I know, they think the reviews
are gonna be good

and that it has a shot.

They've asked me to go
over there for a book tour.

Are you going to do it?

- What?! How can I?
- Okay...

What-- Who am I supposed
to leave Mam with for two weeks?

I mean, I can think of a number of people.
And two weeks is nothing!

It's not nothing for an 81-year-old woman
recovering from a stroke.

- I can't just dump her with anyone--
- Well, you could--

And don't say residential care!

Fine. I'm not going to argue
with you about that again.

- Good.
- Look Edward, I know how difficult it is

to be in a co-dependent relationship
with a demanding woman.

When I think about my situation
with Audrey and--

Oh my God. Oh my God. Are you actually
going to try and segueway into that again?

It's not the same thing.
I came out when I was 17.

I am simply trying to draw a parallel
between you,

avoiding your destiny as an artist,
and me,

avoiding my destiny as an out gay man.

Oh, God.

Alright! No need to be so dramatic.

Can we just focus on me today?

- Of course.
- Thank you.

It's unprofessional.

Even though you haven't paid me
in five years.

I'm also interested
at the moment in writing about, um,

Ireland's Generation X
and the Generation X Imaginary.

And also, this around the time, I suppose,

of Bad Day at Blackrock being written...

I don't know.
Like a ringin' in me ears.

It's probably stress
headaches. Edward gets them, don't ya?

- Hello?
- He's not listening to you.

Too busy staring at Raf
for the last 20 minutes.

Here, I need
Netflix recommendations for Jean.

Um, has she seen 'Unorthodox'?

She only likes stuff
with LOADS of killin' in it.

- Uh, 'Dexter'?
- She's seen it.

- 'Love/Hate'?
- Seen it.

- Has she seen 'Kin'?
- Yeah.

- 'Gangs of London'?
- Jesus! Sorry I asked.

- What the fuck's wrong with you?
- I'm just overwhelmed like... sorry.

You need to start standing up
for yourself. Doesn't he?

It gets easier.

When?

Okay. I'm ending this conversation now.

See ya.

Wait, I didn't get to tell yous
about me Grindr chat--

Wake up.

She's ready for bed.

Thanks.

When are the reviews coming?

Dunno. Dunno, tomorrow maybe.

Exciting.

You'll be grand.

- So, how's things with you?
- Good.

We found an apartment in Oberkampf,
that we can afford.

- Wow. That's great.
- I know.

How's Richard, is he excited?

Ridiculously excited.

Sometimes he's
so exhausting, you know.

Always wants to be doing things.

Hiking, walking...

Oh, I hate that.

I'm like, chicken,
I just got in from work.

All I want to do is
go to bed and watch Netflix.

Oh my God, was I always like this?

Like what?

Quiet. Dull.

Well, you certainly weren't quiet
when I first met you.

You were pretty insufferable,
if memory serves.

- Was I?
- Edward!

You fucking loved
the sound of your own voice.

Hmm...

See you later.

Bye.

Oh my God, you're driving me crazy.

Edward, it's my job
to know how to handle these things.

I mean, they're disappointed.

You're the writer
and they want you out there,

but they understand
your situation with Alma.

Did they say what any
of the events were?

Are you sure you want to know?

Go on, I know you're dying to tell me.

Okay, well I can't remember all of them,

but I know there was talk of John Green

hosting a Q&A with you
at Powell's in Portland.

- Fuck off.
- Um-hmm. You asked.

Okay, I'm going to forward the Times
review to you as soon as it lands.

Just remember whichever way it goes,

it is a hit with the people
that you wrote it for.

Alright. Night-night.

Night.

Now look at that!
That's an improvement.

I think we found my vocation.

Look at these skills.

You know, I was thinkin' that...

..might be quite nice to go and see Andrew
and the girls in London, wouldn't it?

I mean, you haven't seen them for ages.

The girls are getting big.
They'd love to see you.

So, I was thinking
that I could take you over there...

..and you could stay
with them for a few weeks.

It's too hard.

It's not too hard, Mam.
Andrew can manage.

Okay, I'll show him exactly
how you like everything done

and we can go through everything
with him before we get--

Too much for him with the new baby.

Why don't you come and stay, too?

We could have a nice holiday there.

Well it's not really a holiday
for me, is it?

Why?

Because-- Well okay, because
what if I want to go and meet a nice man?

Hmm? Can't do that
with all yous around, can I?

Fuckin'... destined to be single forever.

You can meet a nice man
on your phone anytime.

Oh, I can meet a nice man
on my phone anytime...

Right. And where would I bring him?

Will I bring him here?
What, to meet you? Okay.

Well, that's not gonna work.

You'd probably scare him away
with your beady eyes.

Okay...

One, two, three.

We begin with a vivid description

of a 17-year-old Cian's
debilitating social anxiety...

His prose are beautifully
old-fashioned and acerbic...

He manages to evoke
the spirit of Faulkner...

With 'Aeons', Mr. Brady
is speaking to young people

about something deeply personal and real

and I can see why young readers
are devoted to it.

...They'll call you and say,

"Oh, Joan, are they yours down below there
with black and white stripes..."

Edward? Hi, Katie.

You wanna follow me?

You wanna talk about your mum, Alma?

Yeah, so it'd only be
for a really short-term stay.

It'd be like two weeks, at most.

- Of course, of course.
- Um...

I'm sure you wanna be at home with her
yourself but you have to live, too.

Look, why don't you
start a conversation with Mum,

and we'll see where we go from there?

Are you okay?

Edward?

Yeah, um...

So, if I were to-- I'm so sorry.

I just feel like
I can't breathe or something.

Okay, well just take it nice and easy.

- I feel a bit dizzy or something.
- Maybe have a seat?

- Yes, if I could have a seat.
- Can I get some assistance

in the long corridor, please?
Maybe a glass of water, as well?

I actually feel kinda faint and sitting
is bad, feels like...

Maybe... Edward, maybe?

Hmm. I have to get this.
Hey, Siri, STOP. Edward!

I told the publishers
I'd do the book tour.

Now I'm parked
outside Hamilton Lodge

and I just had a full-on panic
attack in front of the manager.

I don't think I can do this.

Just stay on course.

Well, you should see this place!

- It's cold, it's sterile...
- Your cholesterol!

..everything smells of bleach.
It's hideous!

You've been looking
after other people for five years.

First your father, and now Alma.

Repeat after me: I'm going to stop

taking care of other people,

and start taking care of myself.

I'm gonna stop taking care of other
people, and start taking care of myself.

Good! Now, go home
and have the talk with Alma.

Goodbye!

What is wrong with you?!

Mam, please.

It's only a short-term stay
for a couple of weeks.

I promise when it's finished,
we'll go on a long holiday together.

Maybe we can visit Andrew
and the kids in London,

or hire a car and go driving
down the south of France.

You're always saying
you wanted to do that.

Well, now we can!

Open top. Wind in our hair.

Just me and you.

Hey, Mam.

I got the sourdough.
And I got the Brie that you like, and...

I got some really exciting news.

Listen, there's a couple of things
we have to talk about first

but I don't want you to freak out--

Hello.

Hi, Edward. It's Colm.

And Billy.

We've hit rock bottom, pal.

There's no easy way to say this,
so we're just gonna say it.

We've decided to run away
to Maspaloma's Pride for three days

and leave our mams with you.

We know what we're doin' is abominable.

But we just can't cope anymore.

Sure, on the outside,
we always look like we have it together.

But on the inside, we're a mess.

It's the monotony, Edward.

If we don't get away, honestly?

We might die.

All we're asking for is three nights.

Just get them a bed
and keep them fed and watered.

That's it.

We know we're the worst.

We hope you can forgive us.

Sorry.

This is the universe
taking a shit on me

because I was about
to do something really selfish.

This is your friends taking a shit
on you because you're an obligor.

Huh...
Just put your foot down and say no.

They're already on a plane
to Gran Canaria! I mean, who does that?!

Who abandons their mothers to go to
fucking Maspaloma's Pride, of all things?

You know, it's my old fault
for staying friends with them.

They let me down all the time
and I just keep letting it go,

and thinking it's a one-off.

I don't know why I seem to want to keep
making the same mistake with people

and expecting a different outcome.

It's the fucking definition of madness...

From all
over the world, we travel to be one...

Hello?

Uh... nothing's changed, Edward.

Just stay focused on talking to Alma
and preparing for the book tour.

I dunno, I think the book tour's
a bad idea now.

Stop. Focus.

This is your future! Bye.

To find adventure.

To find... pride.

Come and join the adventure.

This could only happen to you.

Thanks.

Look, I can be here all day tomorrow.

C'mon, it's your day off.
What about Richard?

He won't mind.
You can pay me double.

Okay... I'm outta here.

And call me if you need anything.

Okay, okay, bye!

Talk to you tomorrow.

So, the trick is, as well...

...if you have a shorter frame,
go for less fabric and a more fitted...

Hi, ladies.
So, I got you...

So, I'm Edward.

And this is my mum, Alma,
that you know from mass.

Here. It's only small.

My son rushed me out of the shop
before I could find anything.

Oh, it's a lasagne.
That's very kind.

There's a cheesecake in there, as well.

Maybe we could have
cheesecake with our tea.

- I fast on a Wednesday.
- Oh.

It's too much. They have to go.

No... We're just gonna have some tea

and then we can all just--

Hey!

Look how cozy,
everyone just sitting about. Hi!

Where are we?

There's nothing wrong with your mother.

There's nothing wrong
with them either!

One has mobility problems,
the other suffers with her nerves.

- Rosey suffers with her nerves!
- No.

Please, Edward! You've already got three,
one more's not going to make a diff--

Shh, shh! They're listening to us.

They're listening to us.
Let's just go into the kitchen.

Ten minutes ago,
you were calling me an obligor!

- I know.
- I'm saying no, sorry.

- Please, Edward.
- No!

I'm a 53-year-old gay man with an ex-wife
and a family who despise me.

I'm living with my mother!

The only time I get messages on Grindr

is if I use a naked picture
of my torso with the username Daddy

spelled D-A-D-D-I.

You're looking in all the wrong places.

If I go on a date, I spend the whole
time looking over my shoulder

terrified that somebody
from my old life is going to see me.

This is a chance for me
to meet other men like me.

Dermot, you are not going to meet men
like you at Maspaloma's Pride.

- Trust me.
- Please, Edward!

I need this.

Don't worry, it pops right open.

All her clothes are in this rollaway.

I put her iPad in there too,
'cause she's never off the bloody thing.

All her meals are in the Tupperware.
No dairy, no gluten, no red meat.

Excuse me.
Can I get that back please?

All the medication's written down.
It's pretty straightforward.

And that's just about everything.

Oh, she might fight you on the food,
but if she does, hold firm.

And, you know, don't worry.

She's an absolute dote.
You're gonna love her!

Okay. Go, go, go!

Edward.

Edward.

Edward.

Edward.

Edward, I need you please.

Okay. Blankets, blankets.

- Thank you.
- Now...

Mam, you have got to stop!

I want my pillows.

Well, they need pillows, too.

Mam, we take those off your bed
every night and stack them on that chair.

Is the man putting sheets on my bed?

Just give me one second, Maude.
Okay?

My son has abandoned me with strangers.

Everything okay in here, Jean?

That mattress is very hard.

I can swap you with Maude - the mattress
is much softer in the spare room.

...apparently, I need minding now.

He says he's worried about my vertigo--

Well, I don't know...

Is it clean?

It-- Yes. Yes, it's clean.

Hmm. You're alright.
I'll stay where I am.

...I have no idea who they are.

All I know is we're crammed
into his little house like sardines...

Edward, you are being a doormat.

- You've no wife, Edward?
- Uh, no.

Sure, I play for the same team
as your Billy.

Oh...

Can I get a sup of water in that?

- Yeah, of course.
- Edward Brady.

Just give me one minute, Mam.
Please.

Oh, yeah, water, water. Um...

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Can I get you your water in a couple
of minutes? Do you need blankets, or...

- Edward, I need you please.
- Your poor mam.

Yeah...

- Actually, can I take that pillow back?
- No.

Excuse me. Say hello to Amir.

- Hi, Edward.
- Hello. Hello, Amir.

- Edward!
- That's it. I'm going now, my love.

My son told me you're a novelist.

I downloaded your next book
onto my Kindle - I'm about to start it.

- Oh, I hope you like it.
- Edward!

Hey, Siri!
Play 'Aeons' by Edward Brady.

Edward!

Playing 'Aeons' by Edward Brady.

Cian castigated himself silently.

He took giant slugs of the poisonous
blue alcopop he held onto for dear life.

You were never cool.
Not like these kids, not really...

I want my pillows.

I'm just gonna take that pillow back.

I'll be back in two seconds, okay?
Thank you, Maude.

Mam, that is absolutely outrageous.

Look, we're gonna
have to make this work, okay?

Mam. Mam!

Can I get my water, please?

I'm gonna have to bring
a sleeping bag in here.

Is that okay?

Well, where am I gonna sleep?

Uh, standing by Edward...

Joining me all the way from Ireland

is YA novelist, Edward Brady,
here to talk about his new book, 'Aeons',

releasing here in the States,
already out in Ireland.

Thank you so much for joining us.
How're you doin'?

Oh, thanks for having me.

Um, I'm in a car. I'm sorry, I'm in a car!

It's a-- It's a long story.

You know what? That's all good.

So let's talk about 'Aeons'.

It's a love story about two young men--

Yeah, that's right and it charts
their relationship over the next 10 years.

You know, the sort
of highs and lows, and um...

It's, you know...

It is a love story,
but it's also not a love story.

It's an out-of-love story.

I don't know if that makes sense,
but it's--

- Because so much of the story--
- I think the characters, they...

- Sorry?
- No, go ahead, go ahead.

Uh...

Yeah, they got--

I think, you know,
it's more than a love story.

It's about social structure.

And identity and, you know,
just what it must be like

to be trapped inside a...

..depressed country, you know,
that was once colonised.

Okay, well, that's great.

Edward Brady, thanks so much
for joining us on the show.

Listen, thank you so much
for having me. Thank--

Stay tuned for a quick word
from our sponsor...

Bye-bye.

Good morning, St. Paul's Orthopaedic.

Hi, can I speak
to Rafael Dumont, please? He's our physio.

Raf, hey!
Help, you've gotta help me.

They've all got appointments this morning
and I've got no way to travel them there.

I can't! There's five of us.

We won't all fit into our car,
with the wheelchair.

How, wha-- We can't walk, please!

Raf, just see if you can get the bus.

It's fine.

Ladies, may I present to you

Lady Alma von Brady.

Mam wants to put on her Sunday best for...

..this. Okay!

- Who's hungry?
- Me!

Good. Do you wanna join us, Jean?

No.

I just thought
it might be nice if we all ate together.

Is it the N or the O
that's confusing you?

Will your son make us breakfast?

Will not have time.

He has a lot of work today.

He is a writer.

What does your son do?

He's a psychotherapist.

Oh!

Her son is one of his clients.

Why does your son need therapy?

Fuck sakes.

Do you need a hand? Or... okay.

Okay, breakfast. How does omelet
with spinach and feta cheese sound?

No?

Cornflakes will do me.

I don't think we have those.

What sorta house doesn't have cereal?

Could you go to the shops?

Um-- Okay, sure.

Too far.

No, no, Mam. It's 60 seconds away.
Does anyone else need anything?

- I'd like sausages.
- Okay.

A scone, please.

- Okay, sausages, scone--
- Give him money.

Mam, Mam! No, I can manage.

It's, I can-- Okay, two minutes.

It's only two minutes away,
don't worry about it.

Just two minutes away!

Hey, give me a call.

Meeting is set up for 12, I sent a link.

Also, have you spoken to Alma yet?

- Because we--

Okay, let's get this breakfast goin'!

And then maybe after breakfast,

you and I could talk about,
you know, something--

- I am hungry.
- Something that might be happening

- that's really exciting with my work.
- I am hungry.

So, if we could get a chance
to talk about it--

- I am hungry.
- Okay, okay. Jesus Christ.

I need to talk to you about this thing
that might happen. And it's...

..only an idea now, so don't freak out.

Why you in therapy?

What?

Who told you I was in therapy?

I dunno Mam, okay?
I'm a writer. I'm neurotic.

Were you abused?

No!

No, I wasn't abused.

Jesus!

Are you depressed?

No, I'm not depressed.

Hello?
Is the man bringing me to mass?

I am sick of them,
I want to go to bed.

What're you talking about?
You just got up.

You're right, they are a nightmare.

So greedy... and rude.

- Hmm!
- Maybe we should tell them to go home.

Just let them fend for themselves.

Oh...

- We can do it together.
- Uh-hmm.

Okay, okay.

Well, if that's what you think.

Hi Edward.

I hope Rose is behaving herself.

Guess what?

It's the hot guy
from the airplane.

You'd be very proud of me.

Call you later.

- Look at this!
- Hi!

Look at this. Hola, mama!

Okay, we drop Maude off
at the funeral first

and then me and Jean
go to the hospital,

then we drop Rosey off
at her book club,

Raf brings Mam to her hair appointment,

and I can get back in time
for my work call.

Okay, sound good to everyone?

Well, Raf can bring you, okay?

I can't drive the bus
and someone's gotta go with Jean, so...

Okay, fine!
We drop Maude off at the funeral first,

then we ALL go wait with Jean
at the hospital,

and then I can bring Mom
to her hair appointment.

Happy?
Okay. That's what we'll do.

Okay, change of plan.
That can just go away!

Hi Edward. Pride time!

Edward, I need to talk to you
about something

that's coming up with the publishers.

They have listened back
to radio interviews

and they're concerned
with how you're coming across.

You need to stop talking
about social structures and colonisation

because no teenager is gonna
buy this book based on subtext.

Edward, don't laugh.

See, I met these really nice guys
from Ghent, these bears!

You know, like hairy gay men.

They're super nice and they
invited me to go clubbing tonight.

They gave me this to wear, but...

..I mean, do you think this
is appropriate?

I feel stupid. I feel...

I feel sexy?!

Okay, mind the step.

♪ I must confess ♪

♪ Girl, yes, I wanna be your lover ♪

♪ Take a chance, my love's like no other ♪

♪ Loving you not like your brother ♪

♪ Oh yeah, wanna be your lover,
lover, lover ♪

Fuck's sake. I dunno what yous all
had to come in with me for.

I'm not an invalid.

How do I stop it?

Just...

- There you go.
- Thank you.

It's my boyfriend, Amir.

He'll think I've run off
with someone else now.

- He's the jealous type.
- Nice.

Found it impossible to have
a relationship with an Irishman.

Yup, me too.

Irishmen are so frustrating.

In one minute they're all over you
and the next they're...

Well, they've gone.

I've been there.

Do you have a significant other?

I have a boyfriend, Richard.

- Richard.
- He's Dutch.

I've lots of gay friends.

Two of my best friends, Tim and Ian,
they have an antiques business.

I remember walking
into their shop in Harold's Cross

twenty years ago and saying,
"Do you know where I could find a poof?"

And Tim opened
his arms wide and said,

"Darling, will this poof do?"

Sweet Jesus.

Jean?

Why, why?

Jean? Jean.

Jean, I want you to stand,

not holding onto the bar
for two minutes.

It's only two minutes
and the bar is right there if you need it.

Okay?

Okay.

Good.

And relax, okay?

Jean, we both know what's needed here.

Think about the amount of freedom
a walker would give you.

Not having to rely on other people.

Jean.

- Do you need a hand, Jean?
- No.

Just excuse me one moment, thank you.

I'll just take these empties with me.

Take the empties with me.

Get some more sandwiches.

Are you okay for everything, Carl?

Thank you very much.
I'm good, thanks.

Are you okay, Nadine?
Is there anything I can do for you?

Oh, I'm okay.

Hey.

Hey, Maude. You ready to go?

Oh, dry these for me.

What, I can't--

No, Maude, just wait a minute.

Sorry...

Who is that woman?

Um...

Maude? Do--

Was she a friend of my granddad's?

Uh...

Excuse me.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning it is now

and ever shall be: world without end.
Amen.

- And God bless you.
- You've been very good.

- Maude, we have to go.
- This is Edward.

Hello, hi.

Betty Byrne.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I know.

I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm sorry.

So sorry, my publishers are calling me
so I have to...

Maude, we have to go.

Stacey I really can't talk now,
I'm in the middle of something.

Okay, don't freak out.

The meeting's being pushed
and we've got a bit of a problem.

They sent me a list
of things they want you to consider,

so brace yourself.

Number one, they think
your synopsis is way too long...

Two, your voice is getting lost...

Three, speak with more authority...

Four, you're promoting a gay novel

at a time when they're burning
LGBT books in this country.

Five, remember your readers
are sophisticated...

Edward, you can't cope.

Mam, please! Please stop, please.

Sorry to cause you trouble.

No, you didn't, Maude.
It's fine, it's totally fine.

Who was your meeting supposed to be with?

Um, my publicist.
It's about promoting my book in America.

He is very important writer,
but gets so nervous before his meetings.

Why do you get nervous?

I don't, I don't get nervous.

You should get Dermot to prescribe
some anti-anxiety medication.

Who's Dermot?

- His therapist.
- My son.

I don't need anti-anxiety medication.

Well, I take half a cheeky
if I'm flying anywhere

and there's not a bother on me then.

I mean, I get that because
if you don't like flying,

but I don't need anti-anxiety medication.

It's just I don't like having meetings,
which is completely... normal.

Why?

Because I don't like talking to people.

I like being on my own.

- Weird.
- It's not-- It's not weird, Mam.

- What was his father like?
- Weird.

Mam!

You are just like your dad.

Do not, do not compare me
to dad right now, please!

The very same.

I can't...

Jaysus, his fucking therapy
mustn't be goin' too well.

Now you have all made him mad
and I didn't get my hair done.

None of us asked to be here
in the first place, you know.

Thank you.

That's the food
that Dermot gave me for you.

Okay.

...nationalism. This free state
is not the state they wanted.

This is not the state
that they had fought for.

In many ways,
the state that came into being...

See how your hand is square
with long fingers?

In palmistry, this is
what we call an air hand.

Air people were known
for being very thoughtful and considerate.

Very generous with other people.

Very sociable.

Always making others
feel welcome and at ease.

Should we see if anyone else
wants a hand massage?

Well, the round palm is usually
an indication of a creative person.

Well, I've always been
a very creative person.

I love making art.

Yeah, what kind of art?

All sorts.
I did a course recently in...

Um, what's it called?

- Paintin'?
- No.

- Drawing?
- No.

It'll come back to me.

Do me.

Okay.

I'd a fall last year and I ended up
with a torn rotator cuff.

Oh no, you poor thing.

What does the shape
of her hand say?

Okay, let's see.

Oh, this tells us
that she's a woman of great faith.

See all of these
little small lines here?

These are all of your guardian angels.

See how many of them you have?

- I can feel them with me.
- Hmm.

Ceramics!

Ceramics, that's what it was.

Nothin' bad now, d'you hear me?

This is usually a sign
of a joyous life right here.

Pfft! That's fuckin' wrong anyway.

Do you fight with people, Jean?

I fight with everyone.

I fight with meself
if there's no one else around.

Things would've been easier
when Larry was around.

He was good at...

..making me see sense.

How old?

How old am I?

How old was Larry?

Sixty-nine, he was only a pup.

When did your husband die, Alma?

Two years.

That's Larry there.

He's gorgeous, Jean.

Ah, lovely.

That's Nigel.

Michael.

You would love
to see them walking through the door,

asking for their dinner.

Yous had them spoiled.

Ah, no.
They did their part, they did.

They still got away with murder.

At the least the one in this house did.

My mam waited on him
hand and foot for 40 years.

Yeah, but they worked very hard
and it was different times.

Yous worked hard too!

Well, that's true.

Why should yous not have been given
the same opportunities they were?

Well, I never married.

Never had to cook a meal
for a man in my life.

See? And you still managed
to make a good life

for you and Dermot on your own.

Well, it wasn't a good life, Edward.

Right.

She needed a man.

She didn't need a man, Mam.

Maybe I did. I was very lonely.

Well now look, you've got Amir.

Yeah, that's true.

Of course we've never met.

How does that work?

Well, we talk on the computer every day.

Sure, what's the point of that?

It's company, I suppose.

He wants to come over
and pay a visit, but I don't know.

Why complicate things with sex?

Jesus, I'd complicate things
with sex given half a chance.

I honestly don't
think it's that big a deal, Edward.

Writers do this type of thing
all the time.

So, just be yourself and charm them,
and we'll get on absolutely...

Hey.

Are you okay?

They want me to sit in front
of a marketing team tomorrow

and do a mock Q&A on Zoom.

Why?

Because apparently my voice needs
to be more persuasive in interviews.

It's not funny! My stomach's
in knots just thinking about it.

I'm-- I'm not up for it.

You're such a drama queen.

Uh, fuck you, fuck you!

These American pricks hate my voice.

C'mon, you'll be fine.

I should go.

Okay.

You okay?

Sorry.

I mean...

I know, I know.

I'm here for Alma.

I'll just go.

Hello and welcome to The Galley,

the podcast from Vulture.

Tonight we'll be talking
to Irish novelist Edward Brady

about his debut novel, 'Aeons'.

Edward, thanks for being with us.

Oh, thanks for having me.

Edward?

Oh my God. Oh my God.

Jean?

Jean! Jean!

Jean! Jean!

Jean!

What the fuck is going on?!

Can you tell me
where you dropped her off?

The driver
said he dropped her at Mulligan's.

A small red-brick place
over by St. Garvey's.

- Cabra Road, okay.
- Yeah, no problem, buddy.

Thank you.

♪ Here I go ♪

♪ Out to sea again ♪

♪ The sunshine fills the air ♪

♪ There's music everywhere ♪

♪ Gold's in the sky ♪

♪ And in my blue eyes ♪

♪ You know it feels unfair ♪

♪ There's magic everywhere ♪

♪ Look at me standing ♪

♪ Here on my own again ♪

♪ Up straight in the sunshine ♪

♪ No need to... ♪

Jean.

Me leg is stuck.

Watch your step there.

Okay, quiet.

Will I close this door?

Yeah close it, but quietly.

Quietly, Jean.

Oh Jean! That's not quiet.

Huh? Sure...

Oh, here we are.

Jean, no wait.

It's grand, I'm grand.

I'll only be a second now...

- Ooh!
- See?

Okay, good night.

You says if I came home,
I wouldn't have to drink on me own.

- So sit down.
- It's late, Jean. -

Who cares, sit down.

Drink.

S'ppose I made an eejit of meself
in that place, did I?

No, I don't think so.

- Sure, there was no one there anyway.
- Hmm...

I wasn't even goin' there to begin with.

Where were you going?

I was goin' into town
to fuck that walker in the Liffey.

You just need to give it a chance,
it takes some time to get used to.

Does it?

In all your experience of usin' a walker,

takes a bit of time
to get used to, does it?

Sorry.

Well, he warned me.

He said if I didn't start moving,
I'd be like this forever.

Well, I didn't listen.

So! Here we are.

Your Ma misses him
somethin' shockin', doesn't she?

I suppose.

Hmm, she does.

Yeah well, I don't know why.

They used to kill each other.

She always seems to forget that part.

Sure, I used to bollock
the head off Larry.

You'd hear me bawling him out of it
all over the estate.

That's just the way it was in them days.

If there was a few cross words,

so wha'?

Didn't do yous any harm, did it?

- Hmm...
- Wha'?

Well, I wouldn't say
we escaped unscathed, Jean.

I mean, you know, we're all in therapy.

We're fuckin' broke, confused, homeless.

Crippled with anxiety
and incapable of sustaining

any kind of meaningful relationship
with another person, so...

And how the fuck was
all that our fault?

I'm just saying, it can be distressing,
especially if you're a kid,

and your parents
are fighting all the time.

Then if one parent keeps telling you
all the details of the fight

when you're 10, because they don't have
anyone else to talk to about it.

And then add to all of that all of the...

..crazy, regressive, religious bullshit
that you keep throwing at us.

And it's like, you know,
maybe we're grand in our 20s,

but then one day you're in your 30s
and you wake up and you are...

..scared, you know. It's...

You don't know why.

- Jean, Jean.
- Huh?

Jaysus, I thought someone
had stuck a coin in ya there.

Come on. Come lie down.

Watch that.

Ah, ladieees!

Get up outta that!

We'll have an aul' song...

Good night, Jean.

Where're you
going with that camera now?

- Alma, I'm trying to listen to the news.
- Ah, go on!

Hello, Chloe and Layla.

I hope you've been very good
for your mother and father. Now go on.

Granddad
is just full of chat this morning, girls.

I will ask Spirit for a name.

Spirit will tell me who they are
and how they passed.

And all I ask of you
is that if you recognise that name,

you validate what I'm saying. Alright?

She's very good, isn't she?

Spirit, do you have a name for us today?

Oh my God.

Edward, they are asking me to confirm

- your flight and itinerary--

Okay.

Hey.

I need to talk to you
in private for a minute.

Want to go to Galway.

What?

Want to see Maura the Medium.

Mam, what are you talking about?

Galway.

Medium.

Your mammy was showing us
these videos of Maura the Medium

and Rosey was saying we should find out

if she did in-person mediation.

Anyway, we sent
her a message on Facebook.

And to cut a long story short,

she's booked us in for a session
at four o'clock today.

We just want to know
that they're at peace.

- Who?!
- Your daddy.

- And Nigel.
- And Larry.

I just fancy the idea of a road trip.

We are absolutely not going
on a six hour round trip to Galway, okay?

I have a really important call
with my publishers at five--

Bring your computer.

Bring my computer.
Are you for real?

I have to be here.
What if there's no WiFi?

Be fine.

Oh, "Be fine, be fine"!
Okay, you've certainly changed your tune.

We're not going to Galway. Sorry.

And I have to speak
to you about something urgent.

Mam.

♪ I wanna be where the boys are ♪

♪ But I'm not allowed ♪

♪ I wait outside of the boys' bar ♪

♪ I wait for them to all come out ♪

Toilet.

♪ Boy ♪

I found your book
on Amazon, Edward.

Oh, look there's reviews here,
will I read 'em out?

No thank you.

This fella gave it five stars.

Says, "It's a wonderful novel.
The characters are very human."

Oh, hang on. There's a bad one.

"Can't see what all the fuss is about."
What does he know!

"Not one to be handed out
unless it's to the charity shop."

You can stop now.

"Starts well but goes nowhere.
I put it down after 50 pages."

How the fuck does he know
it goes nowhere then!

Please stop, Jean.

You're my agent,
you should buy me some more time...

What's Edward's book about?

I've been trying to tell her
for two days now!

It's about a relationship
between two young gay men.

One is a teenager from Leitrim.

The other is a 22-year-old
posh boy from London.

That sounds good, doesn't it?

Like Maeve Binchy but with gays.

I'm just at the bit where
the main character takes his mother

to the Gresham Hotel for tea
so he can tell her he's gay.

Is that what Edward did
with you, Alma?

Edward's coming out was very funny.

Why? What happened?

When Edward was 17?

He snuck out to a gay bar
and got off with this air steward--

Sven.

Sven! Sven from Sweden.

He was much older.

He wasn't that much older, Alma.

Um, whatever.

So, one weekend Edward lied
and told Alma

he was staying with a friend.

But actually he flew
to Sweden to stay with Sven--

When he was just 17?

I know! He was such a badass
back then, right?

So you can just imagine 17-year-old Edward

hanging out in Sven's fancy apartment

when all of a sudden the phone rings
and somebody's on the line.

I said is my son there?

How did you know where he was?

Traced the number.

She traced the number!

Colm would have been about 22, I'd say.

He would have been very moody at that age.

Always on his own.

And then suddenly
he had this "friend," Adrian.

And he used to drive up
to the house in a red Beamer,

and he'd bring Colm off to the pictures.

one day they were driving off
and I says to Larry,

"I think your man
is a bit more than a friend."

Well, the laugh!

My youngest Nicola kept saying,

"He's gay, Mammy, he's gay."

I says, "I don't want to know,
I really don't want to know."

Then it all came to a head one night

'cause a chap Nicola was working with
saw Billy dancing in a bar.

So he was sent home and confronted on it.

No, not by me - I couldn't hack it.

I ran upstairs and locked meself
in the bathroom and wouldn't come out.

What'd you do that for?

I just found it very hard.

Still do.

Would you prefer
he kept it a secret

until he was 53 and married with kids?

Exactly.

Edward, your phone.
Will I answer it?

- Yes, please.
- Hi, Edward.

It's Katie here
from Hamilton Lodge Residential Care--

I'm actually driving at the minute,
so can I call you back?

Yeah, okay. Alright.
Thank you, bye-bye.

Did that go in there?

Okay.

Everyone ready?

Well, hello!
You're most welcome.

Hello.

Come in. You can hang your jackets
up in there in the hall if you like.

Oh, thank you.

Jesus.
PASCAL!

Would you ever do something
about them pigeons!

Little bastards
are nesting above in the draining pipes.

Right, I'm going to do
a star three card spread,

and then I'll put a call out
and see who comes into us.

- Um...
- Now just so yous know,

the messages they have might
not mean anything in the here and now.

Jesus!

Oftentimes it's when yous
go home and reflect...

..that whatever they say
starts to make sense, alright?

The lovers.

Betrayal.

The hermit.

Oh...

It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Okay.

Okay.

One of them's very giddy,
keeps telling me jokes.

That's Larry.

Right.

And there's another lad
very offended by Larry's jokes.

Nigel.

Yes.

And now there's a third gentleman
who's not a bit pleased to be here.

Says his wife Alma should know
better than wasting money

on the likes of me.
Is that familiar?

Michael.

Fond of giving out this fella, is he?

Still asking, "What in the name of Jesus
you're doing here?"

I just want to know that he is at peace.

He's very much at peace.

But he misses you terribly.

I had a stroke, Michael,
and I lost my voice.

He says he can hear you just fine.

Edward is putting me in a home.

Mam!

Mam, that is not true.

That is not--
Can we just talk about this later?

The publishers wanted me to go
to America for a book tour for ten days.

Okay? So just I went
to go and take a look at a place

just to see if it might
be somewhere that you might like.

- I'm not going there.
- Fine, you're not. Okay--

Just a minute.

Michael has a message for Edward.

Oh, no, no...

I'm sorry, ladies,
but could you give us some space?

- I don't want to be part of that.
- Talk to your daddy, Edward. You sit down.

No! I don't even want to be here!

Does the letter R mean anything? -

- No.
- R?

No.

Raf.

Rafael used to be Edward's boyfriend,

but he broke up with Edward
because Edward wouldn't commit.

And now Raf has a new boyfriend,

and they're moving to France together.

Spirit says you haven't been
yourself, Edward.

Okay, that's enough.

He says you have to man up.

Take better care of the people you love.

Don't make the same mistake
you made with Raf again.

Come on now. Do better!

Take better care
of the people I love?

Right. What, the way he did?

Okay, why don't you ask Spirit
why my mam had to raise two kids

on her own while he went off
and did whatever he wanted

with whoever he wanted?

Because he did, Mam.
You want me to talk to Dad?

That's fine, I'll talk to Dad.

Ask Spirit how he felt
about having a gay son.

Edward, stop.

You've got such a selective memory
when it comes to that man, Mam.

Do you ever think
about what he put me through?

And no matter what I did, no matter what,
he would always be disappointed.

And who was there
for him when he was sick? I was.

Andrew?! Andrew brought the house down
with the eulogy. Brought the house down!

But was he there when it really mattered?

No. I was.

I was there, and I am here right now!

And just because I don't have kids
doesn't mean my life has no value!

Alma, are you okay?

Mam.

Mam, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I actually think I have to stand up
for a minute... Oh, Jesus Christ.

- You alright?
- Are you alright, Edward?

Give him some space.

Are you alright?
Don't worry about a thing.

Your father is by your side.
His hand is on your shoulder.

That's the last
fuckin' thing he wants to hear.

Should we say a rosary?

No rosary!

Oh, my God.
There's something wrong with Alma!

Alma, are you okay?

Alma, you've nothing to worry about, pet.
Michael is holding your hand.

Stop making it sound like
someone is going to die.

No one is going to die!

-)
- Oh fuck, call an ambulance!

Someone get a paper bag
from that drawer over there.

Mam! Please talk to her.

Give me your hand.

Breathe in, breathe out, okay?

The hospital wants to know,
is anyone having a heart attack?

I don't know!

We don't know. The chap is gay.

What the fuck has
that got to do with anytin'?

Well, here. You talk to him.

You can hang up, Maude.

They're fine.

Oh, thank God they're alright.

That's it, that's it. There we go.

Well I'll tell ya
one thing, ladies.

The lads are going buck wild!

Sweet Jesus.

Oh, my God.

Are they still here?

Oh, they are indeed.

Where are they?

They're standing in the corner
there behind Alma.

And they're singing a ballad.

♪ One morning as I went a-fowling ♪

♪ Bright Phoebus adorning the plain ♪

♪ It was down by the shades
of Lough Erne ♪

♪ I met with this wonderful dame ♪

♪ Her voice was so sweet and so pleasing ♪

♪ These wonderful notes she did sing ♪

Hi, everyone.
Hi.

- Hello everyone.
- Oh my God, where are you?

Actually, it's a long story,
but I'm on a minibus...

I dunno what you'd say.
I'm on a bus.

Edward, just forget everyone else is here,
and let's you and me talk.

Sure, sure.

Okay,
so where do you wanna start, darlin'?

Shall we do influences?

Why don't you talk about the books
that had an impact on you as a teenager?

Um...

Okay, okay. Um...

I actually...

..have something to confess to you guys

and I know my timing is appalling on this,

but, um...

I don't know for sure if I am going
to be able to get over there.

Things with my mam, she's...

You know, she's quite unwell,
as I mentioned before, and I can't--

Edward, sorry,
just to clarify here,

are you saying that you can't come over
for the tour now?

We're gonna take a breath here, okay?

Um...

We have a two week tour
booked in good faith.

We have bookstores and press and signings.

We have Anne Patchett doing Q&A with you
in her store in Nashville. And I mean...

Yeah.

I just don't know if I can, uh...
at this moment.

With the way things are.

Hi Edward, we just landed,

so I'd say we'd be with you now
in about an hour.

I'm with this grumpy dope-dope
who won't even talk to me.

I can fucking hear you.

See the state of tha'?

That's been my holiday
for three... fucking... days.

Anyway, see you soon.

Thanks for today.

It was an adventure.

It was, yeah.

What?

Don't go.

Edward, that's not fair.

- You're using me as distraction.
- I'm not using you.

- You are.
- I'm not.

You need to focus
on what's important now.

Your book, Alma.

Our time is gone and...

Why? Why is it gone?

Maybe because I'm
with someone else now.

What do you think?

I know how things go with you.

I kiss you back and then poof!
You disappear.

Where's Edward? I don't know.
He's writing his book now.

He's busy. He's minding Alma.
He has no time.

Okay.

Go to America,
or don't go to America, just...

You just need to make a decision.

For once, just make a decision
and live with it.

Right, right.

Alright.

Toilet?

Do you just wanna sit up?

You have to.

What? I have to what?

Book tour.

Mam, I told you, okay?
They said it was fine.

What?

I don't need to be there.

You don't-- So now you know better
than the publishers,

my agents, and all these other people?

Live.

Live your life.

Mam, please.

Please, what does that even mean?

I am... living my life.

Okay, look at me. Here I am.

Here I am, I'm living my life.
Perfectly happy.

Fuckin' dick.

Hey, how you doing?
Nice to meet you.

How're ya?

Kate's here and she wants
to see you so bad.

Hi!
Kate? I thought you hated her.

Yes, I do.

Oh, sorry. Por favor.

Oh, thanks. Thank you.

How was... How did you find the--

Oh, we ended up at Rathmines, and...

You got lost.

We will miss you now.

Tell you what, once we get settled in,

maybe you and Edward
might come over for a visit?

And I'll send you loads of pictures.

Speech!

Goodbyes are hard,
but this one is particularly hard

because working with you all

for the past four years
has been amazing...

Good morning, Alma.

Mushy b for break.

Jean?

How're ya, Alma?

Mushy b for break.

Mushy b for break.

You want a break? From us?

Mushi, is it moussey?

Do you want mousse for your hair?

Is it about something you wear?

Rosey,
will ya c'mere for a minute?

Maude, please stop fidgeting
with the controls on her iPad.

I didn't touch them.

Oh, is it something you want
to eat for breakfast?

Mushy beef?

Mushrooms?

Mushroom risotto?

What the fuck would she
be eatin' risotto for breakfast for?

Hello everyone, and welcome
to the First Copy podcast,

coming to you live from
the Corner Bookstore in New York City.

Joining us this afternoon
is the Irish novelist, Edward Brady.

We begin, as always, with an extract
from his debut novel, 'Aeons'.

He's very professional, isn't he?

Stop talking.

Sorry.

Cian feigned indifference
and took the drink from Fergal.

What if it's spiked with drugs,
he thought.

For most of his adolescence,

his mother was obsessed
with the dangers of spiked drinks.

She made him promise, on pain of death,

that he would never accept a drink

from anyone who wasn't a relation.

And for one brief moment,

he pondered the absurdity
of the McDonough family.

Every aunt, uncle, and cousin

all standing in this tiny little
gay bar with him,

watching Ramona, the drag queen,

pulling a pearl necklace
from her rear end.

I write really slowly.

So no, I'm not a good multitasker. No.

Ask my mam.

Ooh, there you are, Alma!
You're famous.

I'm in Philadelphia now.

Or Boston, I dunno.
I'm in the next place.

This is Patrick from the PR place,
from the publishers.

Hey!

I kissed him last night.

Fergal flashed an insincere
smile, sensing his apprehension.

Then winked and kissed him on the cheek
before sashaying away

like the bourgeois villain
in an Agatha Christie novel.

Agatha Christie used to write
three books a year.

- Did he?
- She.

Is that not the chap
with the moustache

that wrote the 'Jewel of the Nile'?

'Death on the Nile'.

You're thinking of Poirot.

He's a character in her books.

Uh, you just said it was a woman.

No, Poirot is a man,
Agatha Christie is a woman.

- David Suchet plays him.
- That's right.

Stop talking.

I saw him on the Late Late Show,
he's a very spiritual man.

- I can't hear Edward.
- Hmm, sounds like a creep to me.

Stop talking.

Jesus, the American accent
is the pits, isn't it?

It goes through my head!

Hi, I'm from Denver, pleased to meet you.

Have you heard
of xenophobia, Jean?

You heard of fistaphobia, Rosey?

You are all annoying me now.