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Drama on 4: The Fewness of His Words

The Fewness of His Words

10/04/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, The Fewness of His Words

Fr Richard Mercer must convince a fellow priest, accused of child abuse, to face justice.

By Hugh Costello. A 75-year-old priest, accused of child abuse, jumps bail and hides out in an Italian monastery, providing the Vatican with a major headache.

Benedictine trouble-shooter Fr Richard Mercer is charged with tracking down fugitive fellow priest and child abuser Fr George Lawson who, in his 75th year, has jumped bail and sought sanctuary in an Italian monastery.


Mercer seeks Lawson out and despite the opposition of the Abbot who has for years provided sanctuary for Lawson, gradually begins to win the confidence of the renegade priest. But as he unravels the knot of denial in the heart of Lawson, the old man suddenly surprises him, forcing Mercer to confront the question of what it means to show true compassion.


Hugh Costello presents us with a dilemma worthy of Graham Greene by invoking Benedictine dictum that 'the wise man is known by the fewness of his words' and challenges the rightness of evasiveness when accused of a crime.


The Writer


Hugh Costello wrote the Emmy-nominated original screenplay for Bernard and Doris (HBO), starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes. He is currently writing three feature films, including period romance The Witch of Cologne, and a feature comedy, Colin Farrell Ruined My Life. His TV writing credits include The Ambassador (BBC1), On Home Ground (RTE) and Holby City (BBC1) as well as the short films The Rope Trick and Auto da Fe. He has written numerous plays for Radio 4, most recently 'Belarus' and 'What the Bishops Knew'.

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