Original subtitles

Do

we need to go over the details again? No. If I go through with this, remember what you promised, Catherine. Don't. You're making it much worse for me.

When you get in to see him,

you must persuade him to see the priest.

He has a right to refuse the priest,

but he mustn't.

Everything depends on his having a priest.

Catherine.

That looked like a man about to die.

How does a man about to die look? Not like that.

I have supervised many executions.

Each man shows a different weakness.

They all have one thing in common. They bend

all groveling animals.

Has he been told?

No.

Tell him.

No word from the Mindubia?

None.

Open up.

You can close the door behind you warden.

You're as safe as in your own bed

Have you heard about the reprieve?

That's not the way it works, Sean.

They sent word only if it's been granted.

It's for this morning.

Sean, you're sending yourself to your death. Why? They want an execution.

Mine or somebody else's.

I don't know. If you'd only tell us who shot the bank card or where the money is, I could arrange to have this stopped. Get your sentence commuted to life. Life?

I'd rather die now than rot here for the rest of my life.

What do you think I've been doing most of mine?

Sean, it's ten past three.

Think it over.

If you change your mind, the guards have instructions to call me at all times.

Don't hold your breath while you're waiting, warden,

or I live longer than you.

Sean.

Where's Katherine? She's gonna try to see Sean. He might refuse a priest. I wish we had more time. I hate working in seconds. We're leaving everything so late. That's why we get away with this. I never expect anything like this at the last minute.

Those priests robes aren't gonna change you.

Always have a picture of the prisoner's family. I have no family. They're still gonna know you're Sean's brother.

Look, maybe they saw you at the trial. Did you think of that? That I'm the one that recognized, not you.

Are you going through with this, or aren't you?

Men get

fat

waiting for their execution.

You don't really believe we should go through with this, do you, Lugar? My only concern is that the law be upheld.

It states quite clearly that for murders committed during a robbery, penalty is dead. But in this case, it seems a little inhuman.

My dear Sanchez, in all the years we've been public prosecutors, I've never heard you express an aversion of the death penalty.

This man McKenna was there. He was an accomplice.

The penalty is the same. I'm not as rigid as you are, monsieur.

I would like the lord to serve us.

Us? If he is shot,

the money may never be recovered.

The banks, the money houses, they are yours.

Have the banks been pressuring you again, Sanchez?

Tangier is a city of money. That is the very reason for its existence.

How better to protect money than by shooting a man who dared steal some?

Better still to get it back,

to show how futile it is for a poor man to try to take it. The law demands this execution

because we're an international zone of a free port. People think of us as nothing but one big brothel,

smuggling, whoring, black marketeering.

An execution will make people realize that we have law here,

and not just the execution of the Muslim,

the European.

A European. Yes.

That's

very, very important.

I agreed once to reprieve this man because of his insistence.

Not again.

What do you want?

Oh, I want to see the warden, please. What about? It... It's very, very urgent. Who are you?

I'm sure McKenna's there.

Well, it's a bit late, but come in.

No word from the Manduvia?

Governor would never act without my recommendation.

I just thought that perhaps in a case like this.

Excuse me, sir. Were you at Sean McKenna's trial?

This young lady would like to see the warden. Oh. She says she's Sean McKenna's girl.

But it wasn't Sean that did the killing.

That was somebody else in the gang.

They never caught him. Has she got an authorization from the man, Dubia? No, sir. But she says it's urgent. You see, Sean tried to protect the bank guard. He shouted, don't shoot. Don't shoot. If

he hadn't, he wouldn't have got the death sentence. It's Sean McKenna's girl.

Well, he was given the death sentence because he tried to save the guard.

Does she have an authorization from the Manduvia?

No, sir. But she said that surgeon.

Have her brought over. Yes, sir.

Funny, isn't it? You can take her throat.

But it strikes me as being very funny. Come with me, miss.

I bet you he does. I'll take that bet. One week's pay. I take half.

If I can get him to talk,

would you recommend a stay of execution?

He's refused to talk so far. Why should he start now? At least while he's alive, we can deal with him.

He had his chance before the trial. He wouldn't agree to anything. Maybe he felt it was useless.

Why should he have felt that?

The word was that you had your heart set on having an execution.

We were scrupulously

fair.

Was tried by an international jury,

to whom were his fellow countrymen?

Wasn't he defended by a fellow countryman

as prescribed by our constitution?

And haven't we provided him with a priest, also a fellow countryman?

Please, could you tell me?

Has there been any news about her brief?

I haven't heard anything about it.

Oh, but it it it is still possible, isn't it? I mean, his lawyer might What is it you wanted to see me about?

I've been wondering why Sean has refused to see me.

Well, it seems strange.

He loves me very much.

But I think he's afraid that if he saw me again,

he'd do anything to save his life. Well, he'd he'd give up the money. Anything.

It's very unusual for the next of kin to visit at this late hour.

You have the authority, warden.

Bring Sean McKenna to my office,

and ask the matron to come over here right away.

The prisoner had no visitors in all this time.

Only his lawyer and the priest, father O'Brien.

Has he come here yet?

No. But he's on his way.

Day after day, I have been to Sean.

And day after day, Sean argued with me.

Let me comfort you, I said.

All that is happening to you is a moment,

a passing illusion.

Those bars are no illusions, Sean said to me.

Those bullets will be real.

There is a divine truth, I said.

That alone is real.

That alone is eternal.

Death alone is eternal, he said.

Life is real.

Wouldn't it be terrible, I said,

if that were all

and the rest was blackness?

He said to me,

there's no god.

If there is, he's terrible.

Look what he's done to me.

God did not do it to you, I said to him.

He gave you the freedom to choose between good and evil.

And then he said to me,

how...

Oh, for he's not stupid.

How is it that can be a god who sees all things

and knows all things

and yet could not see that I would choose to be a criminal?

I was that old priest.

He calls me old priest.

And

I answered him.

Because God created you in his own image, I told you.

One wants to see him in his office right away.

It's all yours.

Someone will see you. Come on. I didn't catch the name.

Move.

I beg your pardon. But you've only got a few minutes to live. What's the matter with you? You wanna be shot?

Now or later?

Get another two men.

God.

Wait a minute. I just wanted a hoodie.

I don't know.

Alright. I'll go.

If I didn't, I'd die of curiosity before the firing squad.

Oh, it's me, Sean.

I haven't talked.

I won't talk.

Get some into the main sub block right away.

Fine bunch of boys you got here.

Great sense of humor.

Well, what are we celebrating?

Sit down, McKenna.

I didn't wanna take him past the firing range. Get out.

How many men have you killed, mister prosecutor?

I have never killed anyone, mister McKenna.

I name the crime and expose the criminal.

So you had nothing to do with this? I proved my case. The law exacts the penalty. I'm very grateful to the law, mister prosecutor.

It's given me time to think and see things clearly for the first time in my life.

Rather late in life for you to start thinking.

Time is no longer my greatest enemy.

You're hardly in a position to have enemies or friends. Now I need neither.

I know what's the matter with you.

All through the trial, it bothered me. Protected by the law, you destroy men and love doing it.

I have never killed anyone. Me, I'd kill if I had to like now. I'd kill you, but for a reason. Sure.

You

should have come. I'm

coming for you. Separate them.

Sean, tell them where the money is. I know there's a chance.

But what goes the money to your debt?

No. Let them bury me with the money. They can always print some more.

Don't you want to live?

Yes. I want to live,

but on my terms, not theirs. Come on. You must see the priest.

Swear to me, Sean, you won't refuse the priest.

No. I won't refuse him.

Without him, would have been bored.

Keeps talking about God.

Imagine bringing God up in a place like this.

I said to him, come and talk to me about God when I'm a free man. Father O'Brien is on his way. He's smart, that old priest.

When I said to him, it isn't fair to talk about God to a man who's condemned to death.

He said we're all condemned to death.

Some sooner than others. That's all.

Maybe he's right.

We're all in the same boat.

As nice a bunch of fellow passengers a man could ask for. There's still a chance. Tell us where the money is. What money?

Somebody lose some money around here? People always talking about money.

Money. Money. Money. Take them away. Only this time, not through the main cell block.

Bye, Sean.

Goodbye, Katherine.

Just a minute. I I want to get out of here. Somewhere far away.

All shots. I keep thinking I'll I'll hear the shots. You whispered something to him in there. What was it?

I whispered I love you to him.

Yes. I love him.

I'd give my life for him.

He's a real man.

What would you know about a real man?

Then he said to me,

it's all slime and rot, he said.

We are all animals living in the jungle.

You're a fool.

Gentle old fool,

old priest.

Beauty

of this world hath made me sad.

This beauty that will pass.

Mother of God, help me.

I can't make you understand

Is father O'Brien coming?

Hussan, see him. Yeah. He... You'll see him. What does he say? I don't know. So so quit. There's so many people. No. I tell you, can see him. This

is crazy. Look. I can't let him die. He's probably died in there a thousand times over. Behind your car.

You do as we planned, you get half my share. You back out. You get nothing. This is madness.

Don't come across me.

You'll come with me. Yes. I promise. Swear it. Hurry.

I'll keep my part of the bargain with you. Keep yours.

John Finnegan,

lawyer.

No reprieve.

It's hopeless.

Was my case ever presented to the court of appeal?

But, Sean, you know who the appeal court is. It's Lacour and Sanchez, the two that condemned you.

That's the Tangier law.

It's a great joke whichever way you look at it. Surely it's a great joke. I'll accept that they will kill you.

There's only one hope.

If you won't tell them, you'll fire the shot. You must tell them where the money is. Look. We'll call the warden in. We'll have them alert the men do be. I'd have you out in seven or eight years. You're still young.

Get me a public statement that my sentence has been commuted first.

Sean,

why should I trust you when you not trust them? Trust them.

It won't work.

I've done my best for you. I've pulled every string. I fought with everything I had. You know that.

You were great.

Never in the history of justice was a more eloquent plea made.

The jury wept as they listened,

wept as they looked at the prisoner, and weeping condemned him to be shot.

But you are no help, Sean.

I asked you to look beaten, to throw yourself on the mercy of the jury.

That jury,

the biggest thieves and most hardened criminals of all.

The law protects their kind of murdering and robbery.

What do they know about hunger?

They want to destroy me because I dare to play their own game, and I'm only an apprentice.

Trying to be like them was my greatest cry.

Before you go, tell me what time it is.

03:30.

You see, there's this man they're about to kill.

I'm sure it's been brought to your attention, although it can't be especially remarkable to you.

There must be dozens of ceremonies like this one which is about to take place.

Only I'm sure

for the others who are condemned in the last moments of fear of death, what lies ahead of them makes them think and run perhaps to you for comfort.

But this man,

he's closed his heart to God and to you

and your son,

and I can't reach him.

Help me, blessed Mary.

You understand.

I've been chosen for this task,

and I've done everything I know.

It isn't enough.

Help me mother of mothers.

Help me quickly.

They've only given me a few minutes with them.

There's so much time left.

Very soon now the ceremony will begin.

I failed.

If I can't find inspiration within these holy walls,

where else can I find it?

I

am a fool.

I

I I can't seem to sleep.

You've been to the prison?

Yes.

There's no hope.

05:00.

Over an hour.

I I

can't bear to be alone in this place.

Could you make me something hot

or anything?

Some mint tea

with my sugar.

I make it for you.

Come with me.

It's nothing. It's alright.

It just was good.

See?

I wanted to clean it up,

but it's hard for a month alone.

You won't have a woman to help you.

I once had four wives.

Would you believe it?

Four wives.

It was around.

Four

All dead now.

Strange diseases here.

Life is hard.

Now I barely make enough to feed myself.

Besides,

which woman would look at me today?

Why do you say that?

Please,

sit down.

Hello?

Is that the prison?

Yes. This is the prison.

Well, this is father Anselm speaking.

I wish to speak to the warden on a matter of great urgency.

Perhaps it's an outside call.

Yes?

Father and of the monastery, sir.

Father and son.

He said it very urgent.

Put him on.

This is the warden, father.

I'm sorry, warden.

I have some unpleasant news for you. Father O'Brien is ill.

He cannot come.

He is much too ill to come.

In his place,

we are sending one of our new men,

father Bernard.

He is very young,

but very understanding.

This, father Bernard, what is he? Is he Irish?

Is

he Irish?

Yes.

Yes. He's Irish.

That's fine, father. I'll arrange to have someone meet him. Thank you, Hordon.

And one more thing.

This is father Bernard's first mission of this kind.

Of course, I understand.

We'll see that it's as little strain as possible.

Thank you, Hordon.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, father.

What's wrong

with father O'Brien?

I heard he has an ulcer.

It's probably cancer.

I saw him recently. He has that look.

So very kind to help me like this.

Is there anything else

I I can do for you?

Oh,

no. Thank you.

Just stay with me.

Thank you, blessed Mary.

Thank you, mother of God.

Yes. I heard.

Sean, my son,

I have something to tell you. The old priest has something beautiful to tell you.

Something that's just been revealed to me.

Try and blot out the pounding of your fear.

If I cannot prove that God exists above,

at least I can prove

there's a little bit of God in all of us.

Yes.

There's a little bit of God in all of us.

It's the duty of the warden.

Pass out the bullets to the firing squad. I'll never know. Tradition.

Every little move seems to have been made part of a ritual.

Properly,

as it should be.

The shells could be smaller.

I mean to recommend it to the Mandubia.

The body would be less mutilated.

What difference does it make?

It's just an idea. It's time we had a public execution here,

not as a deterrent, but to give people a sense of the law.

I don't mind telling you I find a majesty

in the moment the law claims the life of a wrongdoer.

What better way could the law demonstrate that it's above the individual?

I'll accompany you to the facts. I don't think you'd better.

As you wish.

Where's the other one? He'll be here in a few seconds. You promised to be here. Got the money. Yes. Yes. When he gets here. I can't wait. They'll suspect me. They'll question me. Of course, they'll question you. Well, you know what to say. Did you have to smash the electric plant? They'll figure only to somebody on the inside. I know where that is. We've through this before.

Just as you've been told, everything will be alright.

Show me where you want me to put the car. Come on.

Attention.

They don't have to do that for me. As they were.

Tradition.

Any of these men ever served on this duty before?

We always keep one who's had experience.

No difficulties about the relatives? None.

Then I shall instruct my men to aim for the head. That's

up to you.

Sir,

is one of these bullets a blank? What difference does this make?

I'd just like to know.

If it was, you wouldn't be able to tell.

It's too late. I can't wait. Please wait. I'll give you twice the amount.

No.

Please.

I can't wait. I've got to be there on time.