"Small Things Like These": Read, Study, & Download the Screenplay By Enda Walsh
Sometimes the smallest voices carry the loudest truths.
"Small Things Like These," adapted by Enda Walsh from Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella, brings to life a story of quiet defiance against systemic injustice in 1980s Ireland. The screenplay balances personal history with societal critique, showing how silent courage can stand against even the most powerful institutions.
For screenwriters and educators, it’s a profound example of understated storytelling, complex moral stakes, and character-driven narratives that whisper, and still echo loudly.
Let's review the revised shooting draft of "Small Things Like These," courtesy of 8FLiX and Lionsgate.
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Adapted by Enda Walsh from Claire Keegan’s novella, "Small Things Like These" (2024) tells a quiet yet powerful story of moral courage set against the backdrop of 1980s Ireland. This screenplay highlights the tension between personal conscience and societal complicity, offering a nuanced portrait of empathy, silence, and resistance.
Screenwriting Takeaways: "Small Things Like These" (2024).
From its damp streets to the silent coal yards, New Ross feels alive with unseen tensions. The screenplay crafts a setting where poverty, repression, and unspoken truths hang heavy.
Screenwriting Takeaway:
- Let setting embody your story’s themes.
- Use environmental details to build tone before plot.
Bill Furlong isn’t a man of many words, but his empathy and quiet observations drive the story forward. Proof that character doesn’t have to shout to command the narrative.
Screenwriting Takeaway:
- Actions and silences define character as much as dialogue.
- Subtlety can build profound emotional engagement.
Furlong’s internal conflict (whether to ignore suffering or confront it) resonates deeply in a community complicit in silence. The script never moralizes; it lets readers wrestle alongside him.
Screenwriting Takeaway:
- Write dilemmas without easy answers.
- Moral ambiguity invites deeper reflection.
Furlong’s backstory weaves seamlessly with the present, deepening his choices and grounding them in lived experience. It's a narrative choice that enriches both plot and character.
Screenwriting Takeaway:
- Let backstory shape stakes.
- Blend personal history with societal commentary for richer narratives.
The smallest acts of kindness (or complicity) ripple outward, making Small Things Like These a study in how micro-decisions echo in macro ways.
Screenwriting Takeaway:
- Focus on small, character-defining choices.
- Use intimate moments to reflect larger societal issues.
Educator Breakdown.
In a small Irish town, a quiet coal merchant faces a choice most wouldn’t dare make. "Small Things Like These" (2024) is a study in courage, silence, and how the smallest actions can ripple into history. This educator breakdown unpacks the screenplay’s mastery of restraint, moral tension, and emotional understatement.
Take a look at the "Small Things Like These" logline.
In 1985 devoted father Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own. Lionsgate
"Small Things Like These" Screenplay Details.
Whether you're a fan or an aspiring screenwriter, here are key insights to know.
To get the "Small Things Like These" script now, keep scrolling until you see the READ / DOWNLOAD button. And, just a reminder, for a better understanding of our color-coded classifications, scroll a little further down until you find the "Glossary."
Okay, here are the facts:
| Type | ... |
FYC
|
| Version | ... | White ShootingRevised |
| Date | ... | 03.01.2023 |
| Pages | ... | 95 |
| Genres | ... | DramaHistory |
| Written by | ... | Enda Walsh |
| IMDb ID | ... | 27196021 |
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