Hush-a-Bye Baby

Ciaran enters the Irish class in Derry and quickly captures Goretti's attention. Their growing connection hints at trouble for the group as their feelings deepen. The other friends begin to notice the tension between them.

Goretti and Ciaran's relationship deepens, drawing attention from their friends. The romance creates a sense of secrecy and concern among the four friends. Goretti begins to feel the weight of a developing situation that extends beyond ordinary adolescence.

The following week, Goretti begins to feel ill and discovers she is pregnant. She grapples with how to tell Ciaran and the fallout for herself and her friends. The secret forces her to find ways to conceal or manage the growing crisis.

The next day after the news of the pregnancy, Ciaran is arrested as a suspected IRA member. Goretti is left alone to cope with the pregnancy while the future of their relationship hangs in the balance. The political tensions around him compound her fear and loneliness.

Over the next week, Goretti tries to conceal the pregnancy from her friends and family. She confronts the pressure of her situation and the stigma attached to it. Her isolation deepens as she worries about who will find out.

She writes a letter to reveal the pregnancy to Ciaran, hoping to connect with him. Because the message is written in Irish, prison guards censor and discard it, highlighting cultural-political barriers. The failed communication leaves her feeling more cut off and frustrated.

Feeling overwhelmed, Goretti travels with Dinky to the Gaeltacht in County Donegal to visit ancestors and improve her Irish. The journey provides cultural comfort but does not ease her fear about the pregnancy. The trip exposes how far away she is from a stable life.

During the trip, Goretti reveals to Dinky that she is pregnant. This confession deepens their bond and adds emotional weight to their journey. They continue the trip while coping with the news.

Back in Derry, Goretti finally meets Ciarán in prison. He reacts brusquely and shows little interest in the pregnancy, leaving Goretti furious and hurt. The encounter marks a turning point in her resolve about the future.

In a moment of desperation, Goretti attempts to end the pregnancy using dangerous methods, including alcohol and a hot bath. The plan underscores how unsupported she feels and how fraught her situation has become. The attempt ends without resolution and heightens the sense of peril around her.

Back at school, Goretti finds it hard to tell Sinéad and Majella about her condition. The secrecy and pressure create tension within the group and leave her feeling isolated. A classmate's harsh remark underscores the judgment surrounding her situation.

In class, the English teacher reads Limbo by Seamus Heaney, linking the community's experience to the story. The poem's theme echoes Goretti's crisis and fear of her pregnancy. The moment weaves literary symbolism into the unfolding tragedy.

During the Christmas holidays, Goretti screams in pain in her bed, drawing her parents' attention. The statue of Holy Mary placed in front of her begins to anthropomorphize, offering a surreal, vigil-like sign. The ending leaves the family grappling with meaning in the face of hardship.