The Thorn Birds - Parts One and Two

     A generational story of forbidden love, family dysfunction, devotion to God, painful loss and ultimate forgivness that takes place in the Australian Outback. In 1983, The Thorn Birds became the quintessential 80's miniseries starring 

Richard Chamberlain as the handsome, but conflicted priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart

Barbara Stanwyck as Mary Carson, the formidable, iron willed matriarch and owner of Drogheda Ranch

Brian Brown as Luke O'Neil, a fortune hunting low-life

Jean Simmons as Fiona "Fee" Armstrong Cleary, a reserved mother of six with a sordid past and a great disdain for her only daughter

And newcomer, Rachel Ward as the beautiful, feisty and lovestruck Meggy Cleary. 

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Part One

     Ambitious priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart has been banished to the Australian Outback for disobedience to the Church. However, he sees this as a positive thing when he becomes friends with Mary Carson, an immensely wealthy widow and owner of the sprawling sheep station, Drogheda. Mary herself, despite her old age, is madly in love with the handsome and charming priest and refuses to back down from her painfully obvious advances towards him.

    Having no children to pass the ranch down to, Mary allows her brother in law, Paddy Cleary and his family to come and work the ranch; Paddy, his quiet and melancholy wife, Fiona or Fee and their children, Frank, James, Patrick, Stewie and only girl, Meggie. Upon meeting Meggie, Ralph is immediately taken with the sweet, but oftentimes neglected child and only daughter. Meggie, a bright and lively girl who his desperate for love and affection from her distant mother and hard working father and brothers, can only find such love in her eldest brother Frank, the family rebel and in Father Ralph.

    Paddy and Fee Cleary are on oddly matched couple and it shows. Fiona came from a wealthy family, but mistakes made in her youth have painful consequences. She carries this shame boldly, but tends to take out her anger on Meggie or blatantly ignoring her all together. Paddy is hardworking and cares deeply for his family, but is always at odds with his oldest son, Frank. The Cleary's and Mary Carson work together harmoniously for a while, but Mary Carson still has a sharp eye on Ralph who seems to be giving more attention to Meggie instead of her. 

    After several years on Drogheda, Meggie has grown into a beautiful and charming young women. Everyone has noticed, especially Father Ralph. Meggie has loved Ralph from childhood and now he finds himself conflicted with the same feeling towards her. Mary sees this as an opportunity to manipulate Ralph and put a divide between him and Meggie. 

     After a final confrontation with Ralph, Mary dies. She leaves in her will an ultimatum for the family. Instead of leaving the ranch to the Cleary's as once promised, she wills it to the Church, making Ralph the legal executor and giving him the opportunity for advancement in the priesthood. Ralph takes the position, while allowing the Cleary's to live and work on Drogheda, but also leaving his beloved Meggie alone. 

Part Two

    After Father Ralph leaves, Meggie decides to take her life into her own hands and becomes a ranch hand on the station. When sheep shearing season comes, Meggie meets Luke O'Neil. A fun loving and hard working Irishman who has more than sheep on his mind. Soon he becomes a full time hand on the ranch and catches Meggie's eye. Although Meggie has not completely forgotten Father Ralph--who is quickly rising in the ranks of the Church--she sees Luke as an escape from Drogheda and Ralph.

    Meggie marries Luke with hopes of happiness as a wife and mother. It's not long though before Luke begins to reveal his nature as a fortune hunter, set on getting Meggie's inheritance for himself. Meggie begins to despair when he dreams of fulfillment are farther away than ever. When she becomes pregnant, Luke is less than thrilled and leaves Meggie to care for herself. 

     Meanwhile, Ralph has risen in the Church and prepares to leave Austrlia and go to Rome. He stops by Drogheda one last time to say goodbye to the Cleary family, especially Meggie. Fee informs him that Meggie is married and is living on the other side of the country. Ralph, knowing he cannot go to Rome without saying goodbye, sets off in search of the young woman he fears he will never see again.

    When he finds her, she has just given birth to her daughter, Justine and is deathly ill. Ralph stays by her side until she's better. Relived to see Ralph again, Meggie's former love for him has returned and she begs him to stay with her and her daughter. However, Ralph knows he's forbidden to do so. Before Ralph leaves for Rome, he finds Luke O'Neill and demands that he return to Meggie and their new daughter, going so far as as to threaten him if he ever abandons her again.