Outline
''Lilies'' details the lives of Iris, May and Ruby Moss, threeProduction
Cast
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1. "The Chit Behind King Billy"
The first episode introduces the Moss family; Dadda Moss and his children; Iris, May, Ruby and Billy. Mamma Moss has recently died and Walter, Ruby's twin brother, died during2. "The Thunderbolt"
Iris, May and Ruby are unhappy with Dadda's behaviour and discuss it while at confession. They agree to put their foot down about it, leading Dadda to put the rabbits in the backyard up for sale. Iris starts dating the man who buys them, Domingo Hennessy, and after a brief courtship, he proposes marriage and Iris accepts. Dadda and Ruby are unhappy about this - both hating change - but come round to the idea. Domingo tells them that he was in the army during the war but was invalided out. Domingo reveals the full extent of his injuries to Iris on their wedding night. She is angry to discover that the future she hoped for - a home and family of her own - is impossible. Disgusted by Domingo's lies, she goes home and is assured by Father Melia that she will not have to return or get a divorce. (Originally broadcast: 19 January 2007)3. "The White Charger"
Mrs. Brazendale goes to a spa for her nerves, reducing May's workload. Free from lunchtime, her friendship with Richard Brazendale turns to flirtation but halts when he introduces her to a friend, Claude Freeman. He claims to be a4. "The Tallyman"
Iris helps Mrs Quirke (the local midwife) when Mrs. McBride gives birth prematurely. Dadda sees that the McBrides are ill and calls the doctor but they die, leaving seven children. Iris takes the girls and the boys stay with Father Melia at the rectory. The doctor notifies the Board of Health and the epidemics gentleman calls the tallyman, worried about overcrowding. Dadda makes sure no families are broken up. Realising no one can take all 7 children, Father Melia puts them in an orphanage, having been assured that they will be raised together. However, once the paperwork is complete, the Matron tells Father Melia and Iris that Arthur (the youngest) will be transferred to Doctor Barnardo's for adoption and the older boys will go abroad. Horrified, Father Melia and Iris want to remove the children but are refused permission. Ruby and Billy, suspicious that May didn't get a reference, write to Richard Brazendale and he replies, revealing May walked out but will be given a reference if she visits his office. They meet and Richard ends their romance, but later sends a key and a note with an address, asking her to meet him. Curious, she goes and he offers her a flat. Guessing he wants her to be his mistress, she is furious, feeling that would make her little better than a prostitute and walks out. (Originally broadcast: 2 February 2007)5. "The Sea"
Billy gets a letter from an old friend, Nathaniel Sullivan, known as Nazzer. In his letter, Nazzer tells Billy that he is being transferred to the Turner Home and asks him to visit. It is revealed that Billy and Nazzer's relationship is homosexual and they have feelings for each other. Iris invites him to tea, Nazzer accepts and Billy invites Queenie Hicks to join them, knowing she fancies him. She agrees, providing Billy is her date at a dance. During the tea party, Nazzer tells Dadda what he saw the night their ship sank when Dadda tells him about Billy's nightmares and fear of water. Nazzer stays over and helps Billy overcome his fear of the sea but admits hating living as a cripple in institutions. He asks Billy to help him commit suicide, but he refuses. The night Billy and Queenie go to the dance, he visits Nazzer - to find him dying of pneumonia. Billy attends the funeral and signs up as cabin steward on the '' Aquitania'', in his memory. May has a new job — cook for Father Melia — and Iris helps her. Father Melia tells her that the McBride boys have been split up but he hopes to get the girls transferred to Catholic orphanages so they can stay together. Seeing that May is ill, Father Melia calls the doctor and he tells her that she is pregnant. Now unable to work, she hands in her notice and visits Richard. She is shocked to learn Madeleine left deliberately, leaving Richard to seduce May. They hoped she would get pregnant and give them the baby. Angry at being used, she tells Madeleine about Richard's offer of a flat and leaves. (Originally broadcast: 9 February 2007)6. "The Release"
Iris and Ruby discovers May's pregnancy and do not react well. Panicking, May visits the Brazendales, wanting money for a7. "The Serpent"
Billy comes home for a visit, bringing mini pineapples and a snake. The snake leads Dadda to meet a Miss Bird — she is a teacher and asks Dadda to give a talk about the snake. He does and starts accompanying Miss Bird and her classes on their excursions. They start dating and Dadda invites her to tea to meet his children. They are horrified that their father has a girlfriend and that Billy's new job is a waiter in a gentleman's club. The girls insist that he end it. Iris reveals that she wants to be a nun. Father Melia initially supports her, but later changes his mind and refuses to explain. May starts dating Frank Gadney and Ruby starts dating Joseph. May is happy with Frank until she sees Richard Brazendale. He visits before sailing to New York. After feeling the baby kick, he asks her to love their child and May realises that she can not hide her pregnancy any longer. Dadda is horrified at the news and walks out but returns later, drunk. Angry with his daughters, he beats May but Iris and Ruby protect her. Dadda packs his belongings and leaves. Frank, bathing May's wounds, asks her to marry him but she refuses, telling him she is in love with the baby's father. (Originally broadcast: 23 February 2007)8. "The Reckoning"
Billy's new job and May's condition makes Iris feel that they are the talk of the street. Mrs. Quirke, the midwife, refuses to help at the birth and Richard tells Ruby that he and Madeleine offered to adopt the baby. Ruby confronts her and May reveals that that was what Madeleine wanted all along. May comes to terms with her son, but a visit from Madeleine and a row with Dadda, make her decide to allow Madeleine to adopt the baby. Richard Brazendale stops May signing the papers, knowing that it isn't her decision. He persuades her to make her own decision and - aided by her sisters - she does. Father Melia visits Iris, wanting to apologise as the bishop, confused by Iris's request for a reference, sends Canon Kenan for an explanation. He admits that he has feelings for Iris and is sent to Ireland on retreat but discovers that she is not joining a convent, due to their exorbitant demand of 300 guineas and a pair of silver candlesticks. Dadda goes home to find the pianola gone and the Brazendales are adopting the baby. Dadda objects but Billy tells him that it is not his decision. Seeing his daughters return with the baby and shaken by recent events, Dadda takes the temperance pledge again and registers his grandson's birth, naming him Victor William Moss. He also asks if he can come home and his children welcome him back. (Originally broadcast: 2 March 2007)DVD
This series is available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK.References
External links
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