Garage

Josie is a kind, simple man with learning difficulties who lives and works at a small-town garage. His days drift by with little variation beyond his work, a few beers at the pub, and conversations with his tethered horse in the field. The town's regulars mock him, but he remains good-natured and hopeful.

The boss hires David, his girlfriend's 15-year-old son, to help Josie. The two begin to work side by side, gradually building a fragile rapport. This new dynamic gives Josie a glimmer of purpose beyond routine chores.

After a long day, Josie and David sit to watch the sunset behind the garage. They start to share experiences and jokes that brighten Josie's dull routine. The moment marks the start of a cautious friendship that tests boundaries.

Josie brings beer to the local teenagers by the railway tracks, expanding his social circle. The gatherings give him new confidence and a sense of belonging he hadn't felt before. The line between friendliness and intrusion begins to blur.

At the local pub, Josie musters courage to dance with Carmel, the shopkeeper. Carmel's cynicism becomes evident as she bluntly tells him she has no physical attraction for him. The rejection stings Josie's fragile self-esteem.

One fateful day after work, Josie shows David a pornographic film he received from a trucker at the petrol station. David feels uncomfortable and exits, leaving Josie confused. Josie follows but struggles to clarify what happened, sensing the moment has crossed a line.

The next week David returns but does not stay after work, instead leaving with Declan, a local boy who openly mocks Josie for being different. Josie still offers Declan a beer and a cheerful goodbye, trying to maintain civility. The strained atmosphere foreshadows growing tensions in the town.

The Garda arrive and take Josie to the police station after a 'complaint' about the weekend's events. David confessed that he had been told about the incident, and his mother learns of alcohol and pornography involved. After a sympathetic interview, Josie is cleared of charges but ordered to stay away from the town and from David. The episode leaves him shaken and isolated.

Back at the garage, Josie returns to meals and routine but is clearly unsettled. He realizes the consequences of the incident and the social ostracism looming over him. The weight of the events sits heavy as he contemplates his future.

Mr. Gallagher arrives at the garage, signaling an end to Josie's employment and perhaps the future of the garage itself. The tension suggests that Josie's world is about to disappear. The moment triggers a sleepless night.

Unable to sleep, Josie dresses and goes to the river at dawn. He spends time on the riverbank, removes his shoes and socks, and places his garage cap on them before wading into the water with arms outstretched. The act is a final, solitary gesture of release.

In the closing moments, the tethered horse in the field is freed and stares directly at the camera. The camera lingers on the animal's gaze as the screen fades to black, leaving Josie's fate unresolved. The liberated horse serves as a quiet counterpoint to Josie's isolation.