Original subtitles

COLEMAN: Break it down.

What are you doing? My God, what are you doing?

- Where are they? - Who?

You know who I'm talking about.

No, they're good girls.

- MAN: They're not in here. - They haven't done anything wrong!

- Oh, my God, what are you doing? - Where are they?

No, get out of my house, get out of my house!

What are you doing in my house?

MAN: The back room! NELLY: They're not there, nobody's here.

MAN: Under the beds! NELLY: You've no right.

COLEMAN: Where are they, Mrs Cosgrave?

NELLY: They're out I told you.

It's empty.

That's the attic.

No one's been up there since Mr Cosgrave passed away.

I'm a law-abiding citizen.

(COCKS GUN)

There's nothing up there.

MAN: Where's this door lead?

- Where's this lead? - NELLY: It's an alleyway.

MAN: Detective! Detective here, the back door.

Detective!

COLEMAN: Check the alleyway, up and down.

NELLY: Look what you've done to the place!

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

- (PIGEONS COOING) - (DOOR SLAMMING)

(BIRDS FLUTTERING)

- (THUNDER RUMBLING) - (RAIN FALLING)

(CHURCH BELL TOLLING)

(BOLT SLIDING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Haven't I enough to contend with,

why did you have them fetch me to this place, Jimmy?

We're allowed to see one person before...

I want your forgiveness.

My boy is dead.

Buried without his father.

Who I discover has been sent back to the front, without being allowed

to bury his only son because of this trouble.

I can't forgive you.

(SOBBING)

That's the only reason I came, Jimmy,

to tell you I can't forgive you.

God help me. (SOBS)

(BANGING)

(SNIFFLES) Jimmy, get me out.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

(BOLTS SLIDING)

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

(DOOR SLAMMING)

(CONTINUES SOBBING)

(ENGINE RUNNING)

(ENGINE STOPS)

(WHEEZING AND GROANING)

MAN: Sit the man down!

(MAN GROANING)

MAN: Priest!

(PRIEST WHISPERING BLESSING)

- Miss. - (MAN GROANING)

Close the gate!

(GATE CREAKING)

(CLANGING)

COMMANDER: Attention!

- Ready... - (GUNS COCKING)

Aim.

- Fire! - (GUNSHOTS)

(CROW CAWING)

(GUNSHOTS)

(GATE CREAKING)

COMMANDER: Squad, left turn!

Squad, right turn!

(DOOR OPENING)

I lost my nerve, George.

GEORGE: And I am glad you did.

And no one needs to know about this

so long as you agree to return to duty.

How can I lead my men?

If you refuse to return to duty you'll face a court martial,

cowardice and desertion.

At best your reputation is in tatters and you'll have to wear

the badge of a coward for the rest of your life.

I can't go back.

Everyone now marches to the military drum.

(SCOFFING) Even the lawyers, the champions of civil society.

- Stephen, I'm begging you... - Deals are all very well

and good in theory, George, but,

this world is one large slaughterhouse.

You should be back with your own.

Am I not with my own, Stephen?

Are you?

I'm sorry, Nelly.

I'm going to turn myself in.

No, May, you can't give into them.

They're not going to stop until they find me.

I can't go on hiding like this.

FRANCES: You have to think of your future.

I'll sort it.

Trust me.

(BOLTS SLIDING)

(DOOR OPENS)

MAN: Stand to attention.

Stand him up.

(GRUNTS)

You, James Mahon, did take part in an armed rebellion

against His Majesty, the King,

and having been tried by courts martial

are found guilty, and sentenced to death.

Handcuff him.

All of your personal belongings will be delivered to your family.

On your feet!

MAN: Stand tall, men!

Wait there.

At ease!

I came out to fight for an Irish Ireland,

and I am willing to give my life in the pursuit of it.

- We'll have to release you. - I'm willing to die for Ireland.

That's good, but too many have died for it already.

- Please discharge the prisoner. - Sir.

GEORGE: Name?

ELIZABETH: (SOFTLY) George...

Good God, Lizzie.

Please take a seat, Ms Butler.

This prisoner poses no threat, you may leave.

GUARD: Yes, sir.

You should be defending us, George.

And you shouldn't have been out there in the first place.

What were you thinking?

Why shouldn't I?

Nine days of these damned trials.

We've done our best.

Between the accused who refuse to defend themselves

and a regime intent on drowning this rebellion in a sea of blood.

Was there a prisoner named Jimmy?

James Mahon, George?

He's been tried already.

Refused to even recognise the court, what could we do?

What do you mean, "what could you do"?

God, you've been here at Kilmainham, Lizzie,

you women must have heard them every morning.

I wouldn't have thought you and this Mahon were close...

Which morning, George?

I understand General Maxwell ratified the sentence yesterday.

Why do you ask about him and you don't ask anything about Stephen?

(SOBBING)

We need to talk about your case, Lizzie.

I'll do all I can for you.

Recommend leniency.

If you testify that you were misled, perhaps by this Mahon character,

you could say he persuaded you?

Why is it you men think, that every serious thing a woman does

is the result of being in love with some man,

or being misled by some man?

I beg your pardon, I was only trying to help.

I know what you were trying to do.

What every man tries to do to every woman.

But I know my own mind, George.

- In that case I have no alternative. - (SNIFFLES)

You will be detained here to await sentencing.

Take her!

(SOBBING)

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

MINNIE: What did the police want?

Was it about Peter?

PEGGY: It was Jimmy.

Is he okay? Why did they want to see you?

He, uh, just wanted to know we're all right.

The police came out all this way,

to get you, so Jimmy could ask you if we're all right?

They're going to shoot him, aren't they?

Not after Peter, now da being sent off.

What are we going to do?

We keep going, Minnie.

That's what we've got to do.

It's all we can do.

You should be gone to work.

My uncle's going to be executed.

Has been, for all I know.

To hell with work!

Mrs Butler gave us the money for Peter's funeral,

without that I don't know how we'd be surviving.

So hurry along and don't be abusing that good woman's generosity.

I earned that money myself.

How could you earn 10 pounds skivvying?

(BABY COOING)

Hmm?

She's a saint.

The one good thing that's happened us.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(BABY WHIMPERING)

(SOBBING)

Can your friends at the Castle not do anything?

I talked to Hammond for you, he's under something or other.

(COUGHING)

He tells me that they're powerless.

Secret executions, dawn raids,

hundreds, thousands being held without charges.

General Maxwell acting like

an eastern potentate!

And these are the people you tell me that we must remain loyal to, Edward?

They're stamping out disloyalty.

No, Edward, forced loyalty is slavery.

(SIGHS)

What is it?

Nothing.

Since Elizabeth was named amongst the rebel prisoners,

many of my oldest and best customers

have asked to withdraw their business.

I don't blame them.

No one wants to bank with someone whose own child was among the rabble.

She isn't a child, Edward, and they are not rabble.

However much you or your friends might disagree with them.

And it's your bank.

Let the old families leave.

There will be new ones.

EDWARD: They're our people, darling.

Well, my people at least.

Well,

you can be England's slave and that of your customers.

But not me.

What is it you've got against her, Coleman?

Me, I can understand why you wouldn't like me.

But Lizzie?

She's different.

She wants to help people, those less fortunate than herself,

while wastrel that I am, I'd give anything for her,

because she's my better self.

Withdraw your statement, Coleman.

It's a pack of lies anyway, say you were mistaken.

Is this the money your father reported stolen?

That was taken by a slavey, my mother ill-advisedly took on.

This money's mine.

Now it's yours.

Bribing a detective?

I wonder what your father will make of this?

OFFICER: Prisoners.

By order of General Maxwell,

all further death sentences have been commuted to life

with immediate effect, thank God.

Have these men taken to Richmond barracks.

SOLDIER: Yes, sir.

(CRYING)

(RETCHES)

SOLDIER: Prisoners, right turn.

SOLDIER: Follow me.

What's the purpose of your journey?

NEWSPAPER BOY: Evening news, first edition,

Prime Minister Asquith in Dublin.

Evening news.

First edition.

- (TYPEWRITERS CLACKING) - (TELEPHONES RINGING)

- (KNOCKING ON DOOR) - CHARLES: Enter.

MAY: I've come to turn myself in.

CHARLES: This document you stole,

I can bury it.

MAY: How?

CHARLES: I'll say that it was in fact a military intelligence ruse

to mislead the rebels.

I'll say that I asked you to convey it to them.

Why would you help me like that?

As you know, Vanessa and I have long wanted a child.

All charges would go away, May.

Perhaps I could even arrange for a promotion?

It really will be for the best.

And I don't want our child to be born in prison.

So, it's about you?

- Your child... - This world is not a welcoming place

to illegitimate children,

or to fallen women.

How did I fall, Charles? Did I fall alone?

CHARLES: That's how the world sees it.

And I didn't cause you to commit treason.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

- Come in. - (DOOR OPENING)

Ms Lacey,

I heard you were in the building.

Excuse me, Detective, I'm talking with Ms Lacey.

Mr Hammond,

you know we've been wanting to have a word with her for a number of days now.

This matter is now subject to Royal inquiry,

and therefore outside your jurisdiction and within mine.

COLEMAN: Ms Lacey?

Thank you, Detective.

Let me know.

Soon.

OFFICER: Right. Mahon,

Swann, Murphy,

de Valera, out you get, come on, come on.

So you're the Spaniard?

I'm an Irish man.

Mick Malone, the rest of us could have held out a lot longer

if you'd sent those reinforcements, as agreed.

As a leader, I followed my conscience.

My conscience is clear.

It shouldn't be.

(DOOR OPENING)

Jimmy Mahon!

JAMES: How ya, Victor?

Victor has risen from the dead.

Can't shoot a man born to be hanged, huh?

(LAUGHS)

Attention!

DESMOND: Our last Commandant still living.

Desmond.

At ease.

George? George, wait!

Mrs Butler.

- Have you seen the woman prisoners? - Yes.

Elizabeth?

This morning.

Could you persuade the military to let us see them?

I have no authority over them.

What about Stephen?

I'm afraid he's not in a position to help.

Could you not tell them that we don't condone their actions,

that we want to talk some sense into them?

I'm sure General Maxwell would approve, might even appreciate our help.

I'm begging you, George.

Take her.

ELIZABETH: (WHISPERS) Mommy.

- (SOBBING) - DOLLY: Elizabeth?

I'm so sorry.

I'm proud of you.

You fought for your beliefs.

Oh, you wouldn't keep an animal in such conditions.

They even took the food away I brought you.

Elizabeth, have they told you what they propose doing with you?

(SNIFFLES) We heard they're sending the men to prison in England.

England?

Elizabeth, listen to me.

If you just tell them you've been a foolish girl,

then they'll let you come home.

Please!

I'm sorry.

I can't.

Daddy?

I've got a small confession to make... Um...

Daddy?

(DRAWER SLIDING OPEN AND CLOSE)

Good afternoon, the police please.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- He begged me to forgive him. - And did you?

I couldn't.

We can't all aspire to Our Lord's compassion.

But He will understand that in time you will forgive your brother-in-law.

But I won't, father.

Never.

- All my life I've not had a choice. - (BABY CRYING)

I've been told what to do and what my feelings should be,

and for once it was my choice.

And I did what I felt to be true.

And I felt what you must feel every day.

I felt power over a man.

What kind of power is that over a condemned man?

Compassion, that is what lies in our heart.

Not mine, father, mine's full of hate.

MONSIGNOR: You cannot follow hatred,

that's what leads to everything we've just been through.

You withhold your forgiveness for a man who faces execution,

and ask me to grant you the Lord's forgiveness?

Yeah.

I cannot do it.

I will not give you the solace of His absolution.

Then your God's no better than me.

(BABY CRYING)

It's his heart.

It appears to be natural causes.

See? Didn't have to pay me a visit, Mr Coleman.

I simply telephoned to say that we discovered the missing money,

or most of it, that my father must have simply mislaid it.

He obviously hasn't been well.

He officially reported the theft.

Well, as head of the household now, I'm happy to withdraw the report

and I apologise for the waste of your time.

We'll dust the place for fingerprints nonetheless.

Really, Detective, no crime has been reported or committed.

I would have to protest to the Commissioner, please.

Oh, Sylvester will see you out.

HARRY: Oh, well, chop, chop, no more to be done.

MONSIGNOR: These executions are an abomination, Archbishop.

The Church should speak out.

The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, is visiting Dublin today,

I'll impress upon him the need for clemency

if the rule of law is to sustain here.

English law?

Administered by an English general,

with no prior knowledge of, or sensitivity to Ireland.

You haven't turned Republican, have you, Mulcahy?

No.

But public opinion is changing, Your Grace.

Every priest can feel it in their parish.

Each execution brings a fresh wave of public anger.

But this anger has no public outlet.

We should lead the people, not be led by them.

NELLY: Come in.

I telegrammed your old reverend mother.

I've arranged for you to return home.

- This is my home, Auntie. - No, this is my home.

And you've turned it upside down.

There's a wildness in your blood, Frances, same as your mother.

- I'm not my mother. - NELLY: And just like her,

you've fallen in with the wrong crowd.

The reverend mother's found you a housekeeping job,

a widower, good man,

all the better to handle you.

Handle me?

Till you settle down and rid yourself of these notions.

What notions?

That I might be able to live my life as I choose to?

It's not every illegitimate child has the chances you've had, Frances.

The nuns taking you in after your mother wouldn't have you.

Wasn't allowed to keep me.

You can't stay here, Frances.

(DOOR OPENING)

(DOOR CLOSES)

MAXWELL: Suicide is the most cowardly act of all.

If this field court-martial finds me guilty today,

I am prepared to face the consequences.

Do you think us so foolish as to execute a man of your standing?

An Irish Member of Parliament,

at a time such as this?

In that case, sir, I request that you grant me an honourable discharge.

As I said, do you think us so foolish?

You'll have no discharge, either honourable or dishonourable.

This court finds that there was no attempted suicide

and that the accused is of sufficient health

and soundness of mind to return to the front.

But, sir...

In that case I wish to return to the ranks.

You want to be a hero, Lieutenant, be a hero.

You're to be transferred to the front in France immediately.

But you'll have to be a hero at your current rank, Lieutenant.

Though rest assured,

I'll see to it that you won't be burdened with further honours in the future.

Yes, sir.

INGRID: I'm going to the Western Front.

This war can't be just something we ask our boys to do for us.

It's what I want to do.

Something to be passionate about,

- like you have the law. - (SCOFFS)

Most of my clients have deserted me.

These trials,

they've destroyed what little reputation I was trying to build.

But you were trying to uphold the law.

(SCOFFS) Whose law?

British law.

Exactly.

Law only functions when society believes in it.

I have to go back to where it holds more sway,

where I'm not seen as some foreigner in my own country.

I've written to my father.

I've told him I'll come back to Belfast and help him with the factory.

You should be pleased,

isn't that why you came down to Dublin?

Don't go back.

Come back to Belfast with me?

I'm sorry.

Hello?

I saw you went to the Castle.

- You spying on me? - FRANCES: No, not you.

I went to see Charles.

He said he'd make our problems go away.

And how would he do that?

- He wants my baby. - No, May.

Maybe he's right, Fran.

What kind of life can I hope to give us? It will ruin both of ours.

No, that baby is yours. I'll make our problems go away, I told you.

All these years I've been going to clubs and secret societies

and I've heard people, men, talking about freedom,

telling me what it is, and I've never known.

But when I was out on Easter week, May,

for the first time in my life I felt what it was.

That I wasn't a bastard orphan,

the woman who had to go and do what a man would have her go and do.

I didn't have to bow my head to a Lord Lieutenant

or a Reverend Mother, I walked tall.

I felt 10 feet tall, May.

You killed someone, didn't you?

How do you think we lost our freedom?

You think the English used gentle persuasion?

It was by sword and arrow and cannon and gun, they did it.

When it wasn't, it was by blackmail and treachery.

Just like your Mr Hammond.

It's the only way we'll get back what we've lost.

Lord Asquith is welcome here any day of the week.

I doubt they're serving better food in the Houses of Parliament itself.

And a woodbine and all to polish it off.

And there you thought you scoffed your last, Jimmy Mahon.

One of the soldiers offered me a half crown,

- for a few slices of beef and a spud. - (CHUCKLES)

The boot is well and truly on the other foot now.

(BOLTS SLIDING)

- Aren't you going to finish? - SOLDIER: Get up! Everybody, up!

You're shipping out! On your feet, look lively!

Move it!

(BELLS TOLLING)

Jimmy,

one of the lads heard you saying that Mr de Valera let you down

at the Mount Street Bridge battle,

and that he lost his nerve over in Kilmainham?

Yeah.

Others with him at Boland's Mill said he was crazy half the week.

There's a feeling, as the only Battle Commander left alive,

we should all swing in behind him.

Yeah, but I'm Citizen's Army, Desmond, he's not my Commandant.

All the same, we've got to stick together.

And there's some lads saying that they'll shoot anyone that says he lost it,

or wasn't the brains behind Mount Street.

Now I'm just passing the word on.

Mick, do you have a light?

OFFICER: All right, Paddies, fall in, two lines, facing me.

Come on, come on!

Left turn.

Quick march.

(CLOCK TICKING)

Mummy?

Perhaps it's a blessing he's died,

rather than watch his world pass away.

Your father thought I spoiled you.

Because you were kind.

And generous, enjoyed life, while he...

He was right, Harry.

I let you live your life without interfering or judging you.

I had hoped that you would find your own way

to becoming a responsible grown-up,

but you haven't.

Now you are head of the house,

you have responsibilities thrust upon you.

The world is changing, Harry.

So must you.

I'll change.

I promise.

From tomorrow.

(WOMEN CHATTERING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

- Enter. - (DOOR OPENS)

I've considered your proposal, sir,

to go to England to study for the senior grade exams,

and I would like to accept.

I'm delighted, May.

MAY: On certain conditions.

I do not wish to be beholden to the generosity of Mrs Hammond again.

I'm sure other accommodation can be arranged.

And on completion, I will be appointed to a senior post back here in Dublin.

- I'll see what I can arrange. - Please do.

Thank you, sir.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

If it isn't my little floozy, there's many who were looking for you,

but I managed to put them off your trail.

Truth is, I'm a bit sad tonight, father died.

- Mr Butler? - The very one.

But before I assume the heavy burden of his mantle,

I intend to get completely blotto, one last time,

and I could do with some company.

Plenty more where that came from.

- You got any fizz, barman? - Yeah.

Smoking now, quite the grown-up, aren't we?

- (BELLS CHIMING) - (FOGHORN BLOWING)

- (CROWD CLAMOURING) - WOMAN: Up the volunteers!

Here they come, guys.

You keep quiet, you keep quiet.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Tommy told me they're marching them down as well.

Maybe they're on the boat.

They'll hardly billet us with the women.

You've got it bad, Jimmy.

(CLAMOURING CONTINUES)

Jimmy, Jimmy!

(YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

MAN: Get back!

Up the worker's Republic!

Up the rebellion!

Come on, ladies, get in line, two by two, come on.

OFFICER: Forward march, ladies.

(BABY COOING)

(GUNSHOTS)

(CHEERING DISTANTLY)

Is that the Prime Minister, I heard he was in town?

BARTENDER: They sneaked him off to Belfast earlier on the QT.

The crowds cheer for them for executing them poor fellas.

It's the rebels they're cheering.

HARRY: Is that a fact?

- BARTENDER: Yeah. - Good God.

Well,

up, Lizzie,

and up the bally Irish,

and up me too!

I've got plans for this brave new, Hibernian world!

(LAUGHING)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)