In 1999, Morrissey returned to the theatre for the first and last time in nine years to play Pip and Theo in "Three Days of Rain" (Robin Lefevre, Donmar Warehouse). He continued to take in offers for stage roles, but turned them down because he did not want to be away from his family for long periods. Writing in "Time Out", Jane Edwardes suggested that his role as Kiffer in "Hilary and Jackie" had inspired his casting as Pip in "Three Days of Rain" as the characters have similarities with each other. Morrissey was attracted to the role because the play began with a long speech and the cast and crew had only two weeks' rehearsal time. Next, he starred in "Some Voices" (2000), playing Pete. Morrissey researched the character of Pete, a chef, by shadowing the head chef at the Terrace Restaurant in Kensington, London and chopping vegetables in the kitchen for two hours a day. An "Independent" critic called him "an instinctive actor who can use his whole body to convey an inner turbulence". For his next film role as Nazi Captain Weber in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" (2001), Morrissey researched the Hitler Youth and read Gitta Sereny's biography of Albert Speer, "Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth". Like for all of his roles, Morrissey created an extensive back story for Weber to build up the character.