"HUNGER (2008)" "[ Objects Clattering ]" "[ Clattering Grows Louder]" "[ Clattering Continues ]" "[ Clattering ]" "[ Clattering Stops ]" "[ Inhales Deeply ]" "[ Exhales Deeply ]" "[ Water Dripping ]" "[ Water Sloshes ]" "[ Man On Radio ] Temperature-wise, pretty cold:" "Uh, six, seven degrees:" "which is, uh--[ Chuckles ] what is it in Fahrenheit?" "I don't know:" "Forty-something?" "If anybody has a nice formula, then they can write in and tell me, after this:" "so I know how to transform Fahrenheit into centigrade" "[ Continues, indistinct ]" "[ Toast Crunches ]" "[ Man On Radio ] Dropping lines to the program:" "I have to say, uh, a big thank you to, uh-- [ Continues, indistinct ]" "[ Keys Jangling ]" "[ Grunts Softly ]" "[ Car Door Opens ]" "[ Car Door Closes ]" "[ Engine Starts ]" "[ Horn Honks ]" "[ Man On Radio ]:the dirty protest and the blanket protest, which has been going on for years:" "all in support of the same demand:" "political status:" "That is to say, different treatment:" "for people who commit crimes -- hideous crimes -- for what they: claim to be a political motive:" "And that is what the government will not grant:" "[ Footsteps Approaching ]" "[ Men Chattering ]" "About an hour later, there's a bit of thumping and banging coming from the granny's room:" "So the da walks up to the granny's room, and he opens the door..." " and there's a wee fella having a go at the granny." " [ Laughing ]" "And the wee fella turns round and goes, "See?" "It's not so fucking funny when it's your ma!"" "[ All Laughing ]" "[ Breathing Heavily ]" "[ Breathing Quiets ]" "[ Water Sloshes ]" "[ Keys Jangle ]" "[ Chattering, Laughing ]" "[ Chattering Continues ]" "[ Water Dripping ]" "[ Margaret Thatcher] There is no such thing as political murder:" "political bombing or political violence:" "There is only criminal murder, criminal bombing and criminal violence:" "[ Crowd Murmuring Agreement ]" "[ Thatcher] We will not compromise on this:" "There will be no political status:" "[ Van Engine Revving ]" " [ Engine Stops ] - [ Knock On Van Door]" "[ Keys Jangling ]" "[ Lock Clicks ]" "I will not wear the uniform of a criminal." "I demand to wear me own clothes." "[ Man Shouting ln Distance]" "[ Nervous Breathing ]" "[ Metal Clanging ]" " [ Keys Jangling ] - [ Man Shouting ln Distance]" "[ Men Shouting ln Distance]" "[ Man Shouts Angrily ln Distance]" "[ Shouting Continues ]" "[ Nervous Breathing ]" "[ Nervous Breathing Continues ]" "[ Speaks Gaelic ]" "What?" "What is it your surname is again?" " Gillen." " Gillen:" "Aye." "Fancy Quinn?" "Falls Road." "Fancy Quinn." "Do you know him?" " No:" " No?" " How long did you get?" " Twelve years." "[ Mutters ]" " You?" " [ Exhales ]" "Six years." "Six." "Six?" "Aye." "You lucky bastard." "[ Chuckles, Sighs ]" "[ Chuckles ]" "[ Metal Scraping ]" "[ Sighs ]" "[ Buzzes ]" "[ Buzzes ]" "[ Scraping ]" "[ Scraping Continues ]" "[ Man Shouts ln Gaelic ]" "[ Grunting Softly ]" "[ Snorting Deeply ]" "[ Inhales, Exhales Deeply ]" "[ Keys Jangle]" "[ Muffled Chattering ]" " Hi." " How are you?" " Okay." " Okay?" " Yeah." " How's Ma?" "[ Woman Chattering ]" "[ Whispering, Indistinct ]" "[ Grunts Softly ]" " [ Squishes ] - [ Grunting ]" "[ Squishing ]" "[ Man On Radio:" "Low, Indistinct ]" "It's by a former political adviser to Mervyn Rees when he was at the Home Office..." "Roger Darlington." "He rejects the official line on phone taps... that there's only been a modest overall increase... and says Parliament has no way of knowing how much tapping goes on... because the prime minister and other senior ministers:" "don't even have to get warrants to get a tap put into effect:" "[ Breathing Heavily ]" "[ Door Clangs ]" " [ Clanging ] - [ Chattering ]" "[ Footsteps Rassing ]" "[ Door Clangs ]" " [ Clanging Stops ] - [ Footsteps Stop ]" "[ Speaks Gaelic ]" "What?" "Get ready." "[ Gillen Repeats In Gaelic ]" " [ Keys Jangle] - [ Security Bolt Clicks ]" "[ Breathing Heavily ]" "[ Man Groans ]" "[ Shouts ]" "[ Groaning ]" "[ All Grunting ]" "[ Shouting ]" "[ Groans ]" "[ Guards Muttering ]" " [ Guard Grunts ] - [ Groans ]" "[ Guard Mutters Angrily ]" "[ Gasps ]" "[ Door Opens ]" "Fuck!" "[ Shouts ]" " [ Shouts ] - [ Groaning ]" "[ Screaming ]" "[ Grunting ]" "[ Water Running ]" "[ Grunts ]" "[ Coughs ]" "[ Spits ]" "[ Chattering ]" "[ Woman ] She sends her very, very best to you:" "Are you all right, Bobby?" "I'm grand, Ma:" "Are they giving you treatment for that?" "It's being looked after:" "And the young fella?" "[ Father] He's a handful:" "I'll tell you that:" " Are you eating all right?" " I'm grand, Ma." " Are they feeding you all right?" " Don't yous be worrying about me." "[ Man On R:" "A:] Five minutes:" "Five minutes:" "[ Sniffs ]" " You eating all right?" " Aye." " Tastes like shit though, doesn't it?" " You get used to it." "[ Chattering Continues ]" "You're looking well." "So are you, Son." "So are you." "[ Men Chattering ]" " [ Chattering ] - [ Man ] The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous:" "and his ears are attentive to their cries:" "The face of the Lord is against those who do evil:" "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them." " [ Chattering Continues ]" " He delivers them from all their troubles." "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted... and saves those who are crushed in spirit:" "The righteous man has many troubles:" "but the Lord delivers him from them all:" "He protects all his bones:" " and not one of them will be broken." " [ Chattering Continues ]" "Evil will slay the wicked:" "The foes of the righteous will be condemned:" "The Lord redeems his servants:" "No one will be condemned who finds refuge in him:" "[ Chattering Continues ]" "Let us pray." " [ Footsteps Rass ] - [ Keys Jangle Quietly ]" "[ Bolt Clangs ]" "[ Door Clatters ]" "[ Birds Chirping ln Distance]" "[ Footsteps Approaching ]" "[ Keys Jangling ]" " [ Lock Clicks ] - [ Door Opens ]" "[ Guard Laughing ]" "[ Gate Closes ]" " [ Man ] Fucking shoes matches the wall:" " [ Gate Opens ]" " [ Chattering ] - [ Guard Snickering ]" "[ Gate Opens ]" "[ Guard Laughing ]" "[ Gate Closes ]" "[ Foot Tapping Rhythmically ]" "[ Tapping Continues ]" "[ Shouts ]" " Fucking dirty bastards!" " Fucking bastards!" " Fucking dirty bastards!" " [ Man Shouts ]" "Fucking bullshit!" "[ All Shouting ]" " [ Crashing ] - [ Shouting ]" "Bastards!" "[ Shouting ]" "[ All Shouting ] l--l--l:" "R:" "A:" "I l--l--l:" "R:" "A:" "I l--l" "Fucking bastards!" "[ Van Engine Humming ]" " [ Brake Clicks ] - [ Knocking ]" "[ Man Shouts ]" "[ Footsteps Approaching ]" "[ Squeaking ]" " Everything in order?" " [ Clicks Heels ]" " Yes, sir." "In order, sir." " Very good." "[ Clattering ]" "[ Shouts ]" "[ Shouting ]" "Gerry!" "Gerry!" "[ Shouts ]" "[ Groans ]" "Gerry!" "[ Groaning ]" "[ Man Shouts ]" "[ Shouting ]" "Get the fuck off me!" "[ Groans ]" "[ Batons Thumping Rhythmically ]" "[ Man Shouting ]" "Shit." "Shit!" "[ Shouts ]" "Don't kill me!" "[ Shouting ]" "You bastards,youl" "[ Guards Shouting ]" " [ Runch Lands ] - [ Groans ]" "[ Groaning ]" "[ Batons Thumping Rhythmically ]" "[ Spits ]" "[ Groans, Shouts ]" "Get off me, you bastards!" "Off me!" "[ Shouting ]" "You'll be fuckin' dead for this!" "[ Screaming ]" "Fuckin' -  [ Guard Shouts ] - [ Groans ]" "[ Grunting ]" "[ Clamoring, Shouting Stop ]" "[ Batons Thumping Rhythmically ]" "[ Door Closes ]" "[ Rhythmic Thumping Continues ]" "[ Rhythmic Thumping Continues ]" "[ Rhythmic Thumping Grows Louder]" "[ Grunts Softly ]" " [ Chattering ]" " Tea with two sugars, please." "Oh." "I'll get it for you.Just a minute." "[ Chattering ]" "Hi, Mum." "[ Chattering Continues ]" "What are you doing sitting in here?" "[ Woman Chuckling ]" "Daisies." " [ Woman Laughs ] - [ Gun Cocks ]" "[ Screaming ]" "[ Screaming ]" " [ Screaming Fades ] - [ Clock Ticking ]" "[ Door Opens ]" "[ Footsteps Approaching ]" "[ Door Closes ]" "You can sit down anytime you like." "[ Man ] Rriest etiquette:" "Never sit before you're asked:" " Sit down then." " Don't want to come over too eager:" "What, best to hover at the door?" "[ Chuckles ] You learn that your first week in the seminary, Bobby." "[ Sighs ] Cig?" "Come on." "Bit of a break from smoking the Bible, eh?" "Oh, aye." "Anyone work out which book is the best smoke?" " We only smoke the Lamentations." " [ Chuckles ]" "A right miserable cigarette." "Nice room." "Very clean." " Where is it you're from again, Dom?" " Born, you mean?" " Bally-go-backwards?" " Oh, the city dog." " Ballyroberts." " A wee place south of Ballymoney." "Kilrea." "I remember a homily you did at mass one time." "Oh, will you listen to it?" " Sure, the men hold you in very high esteem." " I can feel a dig coming on." " You're very quick." " Right." "Nah, you're respected." "You know that." "But I like those stories you tell about the countryside." "A childhood of poaching, robbing apples... stampeding cattle." " Fine education for a priest." " A priest working in West Belfast, it is, yeah." "Stampeding comes in handy down the Falls Road." " R.U.C. hate me." " You miss it though." " What?" " Countryside." "Ah, sure." "I get home to see my wee brother every month or so, but, uh... aye, I miss the usual -- clean air, space -- all that." " Feels closer to who you are." " Aye." "Well, it is." "No question." "Something like a fish out of water working in a big city like Belfast, but, uh... it's a job, isn't it?" "You stop looking around at your surroundings quick enough... when you figure your business is the business of the soul and all." " Business of the soul?" " Ah, you know what I mean." " Learn that in the seminary too?" " Aye." "And you can use that free of charge." "Go on." "Well, I suppose what I'm saying is... you get on." "Kilrea can wait till I'm an old man." "Too many scoundrels to be saved in Belfast anyway." " Busy work." "Aye." " Sure, God will reward you in heaven." "And I'll be thankful, once there's wine involved." "So what's your wee brother do back home?" "He's a parish priest." "He's a sneaky wee bastard." "You know the sort, Bobby." " Still goes poaching'?" " Poachin'jobs." "And he's younger than me by eight years, all right." "Go on." "Ah, as a cleric, I work in a parish beside Kilrea --wee hole of a place." "I'm workin' me arse off." "House calls to the elderly, mobile confessions." " The glamour stuff." " Oh, aye." " So, anyway, a position comes up in Kilrea " " Right." "and I'm passed over for some reason or other-- no reason probably." " Takin' too much cake off the old ladies." " Probably." "So?" "So, about five years later, position again comes up back home in Kilrea." "And my brother Michael waltzes right into it." "Fuck." "He's made parish priest at 28." "More spiritual probably." "Less lippy than you." "[ Scoffs ] He worked the bishop." "He's a golfer." "He's a pushy little twerp is what he is." " At least you're not bitter." " Oh, no." "I couldn't be that, no." "Parish priest at 28?" "Fantastic." "Mmm." "He has two cars." "And the house he has is massive." "He has a maid, a cook." "I'm stuck in a two-up two-down... with a fat Kerry man who drones on and on about Gaelic football." " Can we stop talkin' about this?" "Jesus." "You're the one who's talkin'." "Mmm." " How's your smoke goin'?" " Grand." " Mmm." "Filthy habit." "Disgusting." " Oh, aye." "Awful." " Lovely though." " Aye." "Praise the Lord." "[ Both Laughing ]" " Twenty-eight." "My God." " Oh, stop it." " So, what happened to your eye, Bobby?" " What?" " Did you get a dig for yourself?" "Your eye." " Difference of opinion." "Mmm." "How's the other fella?" "Oh, a lot worse." "Believe me." " So, what did you call me here for?" " What, is that the idle banter over with?" "Priest etiquette -- start with the small talk." "I'm learning a lot about the priesthood, Dom." " Mmm." "You'd make a fine priest." " Oh, aye." "Good talker." "A man of principal." "Leader of men." "Political terrorist." " The church loves a reformed crook." " Aye." "I always felt that thief next toJesus got off lightly." "Ah, but he recognized his sins." " Did he though?" " Aye." "Said as much." "When you're hung from a cross, you're gonna say anything." "Jesus offers him a seat next to his daddy in a place called paradise... you're always gonna put your hand up and have a piece of that." "Aye." "Even when it's nailed to your cross." "[ Laughing ] Jesus Christ." " That's sacrilegious." " Sacrilegious?" " Aye." " No, no, no." "He was a dirty thief." "[ Sighs ] So, what did you want to tell me?" "Where are you at?" "Been driven mad by that governor yet?" "See, this negotiating lark-- it's been a sideshow." " I'll tell you that for nothin'." " But you understand why you need to do it?" "Because we're no longer good propaganda." "According to who -- the leadership?" "Time has come." "A decision had to be made." "You think that's what the leadership think?" " Maybe." "I don't know." " Bit paranoid there, Bobby." " 1 0,000 people marched for the seven hunger strikers last October, right?" " Right." " International pressure on the Brits and all that." " Busy time." "Even the pope's having a say, getting involved." "The whole world trying to get Maggie Thatcher to back down, give us our demands." " But it all came to nothin'." " Right." "Hunger strike failed." "We're on the front line." "We created the protest." "It's our responsibility." "Leadership have been very clear to me, Dom." "Four and a half years of the "no wash" protest... as much as it's highlighted republicanism to some extent... it's also distracted from the wider development of the organization." "That's because your needs are specific needs." "Of course they are." "Some woman bringing up three children in West Belfast... shouldn't care about civilian-type clothing..." " or whatever the fuck they're calling these clown outfits." " I saw them." "Honest to God, Dom, we were promised our own clothes." "It's childish skulduggery." "So the leadership have had enough of you?" "In the ideal world, we'd be fighting our battles independently, but we're tied." "Nothing's changed in here." "Nothing's moved on." "The leadership are stuck with us... until there's some realistic chance of movement towards political status." "That's the hard truth of it." "See, to get me to negotiate with these lying, reneging monkeys... when there's never nothing' on the table, it's just pure crap." "I'm not going to be marched into this governor's office... and get caught up in some mindless, pointless dialogue with that pompous bastard." " Well, he's a big fan of yours." " Thick as two short planks, Dom." "A moron." "Can you believe they made him governor?" "It's a bloody insult to humanity." "Mother ofJesus, where do you get your energy from?" "I was a cross-country runner as a boy." "I could have guessed it." "Big engine on you." "Cross-country running." "Explains a lot about you, Bobby." "Why, I loved it." "So I did." "That's the whole country thing for me." "Jesus, they'd have to hold me back at the finishing line, or I'd keep on running." "[ Chuckling ]" "Little scraps." "We were mongrels from out of the city." "Frightened of cattle and all." "It was a funny time." " Frightened of cattle?" " Oh, aye, terrified of them." "Think you could get milk and burgers from them monsters?" "Jesus Christ." "The next time round, I'll be born in countryside, guaranteed." "Wildlife, birds." "I love all that -- paradise." "Aye, and you could learn to relax too." "Aye." "Maybe." "You never know." "Never tried it before." "I'm starting a hunger strike on the first of March." "That's why you're here." "That's what I'm telling you." "Aye." "I heard that." " Does your family know?" " I got word out to them, aye." " Have you spoken with them?" " Got a visit in two weeks' time." " We'll talk then." " How do you think they'll take it?" "What do you think, Dom?" "And your wee boy?" "So, what makes it different from the last time?" "Last hunger strike was flawed." "It became emotional." "Seven men started at the same time." "They all got weak, and they couldn't let the weakest one die... which left us susceptible to being conned by the Brits." "And that's exactly what we were -- conned." "This time out, the men will start consecutively, two weeks apart." "Somebody dies, they'll be replaced." "There's no shortage of us." " Seventy-five men have put their names forward." " Oh, for Christ's sake." "The announcement's being made today." "So what makes this protest different is that you're set to die, Bobby?" "It may well come to that." "You start a hunger strike to protest for what you believe in." "You don't start already determined to die." "Or am I missing something here?" "It's in their hands." "Our message is clear." "They're seeing our determination." "So it'll take a couple of deaths, do you think?" "Maybe five or six?" "But sure, there's 7 5 of you." "Aye." "Well, it won't come to that." "All right, maybe the Brits will buckle after 20 or so." "But why should you care, 'cause you're already dead, right?" "Have you thought about what you're going to be putting these boys through?" "I mean, putting aside what's gonna happen to these poor men's families." "You're going head-to-head with a British government... that clearly despise republicanism, who are unshakable... who can easily live with the deaths of what they call terrorists." " And the stakes are much higher this time." " I know that." "And if you're not even willing to negotiate, you're looking for them to capitulate." " Is that it?" " Right." "So failure means many dead men, families torn apart... and the whole republican movement demoralized." "Aye." "Worst case scenario, it might well mean all that." " But short term -- out of the ashes." " Come on." "Guaranteed, there'll be a new generation of men and women... even more resilient, more determined." " Look who you're talking to." " There's a war going on." "I thought you might understand." "You're talking like a foreigner." "You're talking to me like I'm a foreigner." "You think I don't know Northern Ireland?" "I live here, man." " Then support us." " I supported the first hunger strike... on the basis it was a protest... not some "predesigned to die and balk at negotiation... other than complete surrender from Thatcher."" "That's ridiculous, Bobby." "It's destructive." "What-What's happening here for the last four years?" "The brutality, humiliation, our basic human rights taken away from us." " All of this has to come to an end." " Through talking." "So, what?" "We take their offer and put their uniform on... 'cause the last four years have meant nothing?" "We could do that, Dom, or we could behave like the army we proclaim to be... and lay down our lives for our comrades." "Is there not even a small part of you that's hoping for a breakthrough... that-that could find you negotiating again?" " That won't happen." " Right, forget about that." "I want to know whether your intent is just purely to commit suicide here." "You want me to argue about the morality of what I'm about to do... and whether it's really suicide or not?" "For one, you're calling it suicide." "I call it murder." "And that's just another wee difference between us two." "We're both Catholic men, both republicans." "But while you were poaching salmon in lovely Kilrea... we were being burnt out of our house in Rathcoole." "Similar in many ways, Dom, but life and experiences focused our beliefs differently." " You understand me?" " I understand." "I have my belief." "And, in all its simplicity, that is a most powerful thing." "So what's your statement by dying?" "Just highlighting British intransigence?" "So fucking what?" "The whole world knows what the Brits are like." " Good." " Aye, it is good, and it's nothing to do with you." "The Brits have been fucking up everything for centuries." "I can feel your hatred, Dom." " Oh, you're looking for martyrdom?" " No." " Are you sure?" " Aye." "'Cause I've heard you eulogizing Wolfe Tone, Connolly, MacSwiney-- all them men." "I can't help thinking you're writing your name large for all them history books." " 'Cause you think that matters to me?" " Oh, aye, I know it does." "Well, you're wrong." "You say you're soldiers." "It's all about the freedom." "But you got no appreciation of a life, Bobby." "You no longer know what a life is, you men." "Four years living in these conditions, no one expects you to be normal." "There's nothing normal about you." "Right now, the republican movement has talked itself into a corner." "You I.R.A. are standing right behind it looking into that corner." "All that history, all them dead men and women -- you're still seeing nothing." "When your answer is to kill everything... you've blinded yourself, and you're scared to stop it." "Afraid of living." "Afraid of talk and peace." "Sure, what would Ulster be if wasn't tearing itself to shit?" "And this situation here, that the future of the republican movement... is in the hands of you men who have lost all -- all sense of reality." "You think your head's on right?" "Locked up in here 2 4 hours a day in piss and shit... and you are making decisions that could see so many men die." "Build a statue to Bobby Sands." "You're joking me." "Freedom fighter?" "They're the men and women working out there in the community." "And that was you once upon a time." "Am I right?" "All that work you did in Twinbrook." "That's where we need you, Bobby." "And you know I'm right." "That I'm deluded -- you want me to answer that?" "They're beating you, Bobby." "You're playing into their hands." " The strategy's in place." " Then stop it.Just say stop." " You don't understand a thing." " You're in no shape to make this call." "It's done." "It won't be stopped." "Then fuck it." "Life must mean nothing to you." "God's gonna punish me?" "Well, if not just for the suicide, then he'd have to punish you for stupidity." "Aye, and you for your arrogance." "'Cause my life is a real life, not some theological exercise... some religious trick that's got fuck-all to do with living." "Jesus Christ had a backbone." "But, see, them disciples?" "Every disciple since -- you're just jumping in and out of the rhetoric and dead-end semantics." "You need the revolutionary... you need the cultural-political soldier to give life a pulse, to give life a direction." " That's stupid talk." "You're deluded." " Aye, so you say." " Yeah, and what's your wee son gonna say?" " Fuck off." "Doesn't it interest you?" "You're gonna attack me with sentiment?" "Typical priest." " What's your heart saying, Bobby?" " I thought you had me all figured out, Dom." "What's it saying?" "Tell me." "My life means everything to me." "Freedom means everything." "I know you don't mean to mock me, Dom, so I'll just let all that pass." "This is one of these times when we've come to a pause." "It's a time to keep your beliefs pure." "I believe that a united Ireland is right and just." "Maybe it's impossible for a man like you to understand... but having a respect for my life, a desire for freedom... an unyielding love for that belief... means I can see past any doubts I may have." "Putting my life on the line is not just the only thing I can do, Dom." "It's the right thing." "And this is why you've called me here." "Needed a sounding board?" "Not a hundred percent sure of yourself?" "Been doubting yourself maybe?" "Aye." "Well, I'm only human." "And I've made it clear for you then?" "Man of guidance, Dom." "Business of the soul." "You been to Gweedore in Donegal?" "Aye:" "I went there when I was 1 2." "Big cross-country race for the boys... and we're all in the back of a minibus headed towards Derry one morning." "I mean, this is big-time." "You know?" "This is like international athletics for us... 'cause we're racing against boys in the south, and we have this thing to do Belfast proud." "Two of the boys are Prods, and the rest of us are Catholics." "It's a cross-community event." "I suppose the good people in the south think this is great stuff... and let's get this wee team over from Belfast and all that patronizing shite." "Anyway, we're through the border." "The boys are all singing pop tunes and all... but I'm just in the back of the bus looking out the window." "We're going through them mountains... you know, where Mount Errigal is and everything." "It's a beautiful sight, Dom." "Donegal has to be the most beautiful place in Ireland, I reckon." "Aye:" "Anyway... we arrive at Gweedore." "What a place." "And it's hopping with about 200 boys... and they're getting into their gear and limbering up." "The whole event's run by Christian brothers... and they're clipping young fellas around the back of the ears... basically trying to retain some order." "Our team goes off for a wee jog, stretch out the legs." "We're surrounded by fields of barley." "And they dip down into a wee valley where there's a stream and woods runnin' through it." "The woods and stream are out-of-bounds, so naturally us Belfast boys have to go check 'em out." "Woods and a stream, Dom." "Sure, that's like the Amazon to us." "And we come across these young fellas from Cork." "There's, uh, some banter about our accents, but they could barely talk." "We couldn't understand a word they were saying." "You get the idea that they're lording it over us a bit, you know, looking down on us." "I'm sensing it anyway." "We're running along, and we come up with this idea... to go down to the stream and check it out for fish." "So we're down by the river, Dom -- stream." "It was half a foot of water in there." "Little silver fish but none substantial, until one of their boys calls us further down." "Lying in the water is a wee foal, four or five days old." "He's all skin and bone, a gray color." "And he's got flecks of blood on his coat... 'cause he cut himself up really badly on the sharp rocks." "We're just standing over him, and you can see his back leg snapped." "And he's breathing." "He's alive, but just about." "So this big conversation gets started up... between the boys who suddenly reckon themselves the leaders... and they're deliberating as what we should do." "Someone says, "Drop a rock on his head."" "But I'm looking in their faces, and I can see they're either scared stiff or clueless." "It's all bravado." "And this foal on the ground, in real pain." "All this chitchat going on, going nowhere." "Next thing, one of the priests sees us, sees the foal... tells us not to move and we're done for." "I mean we're really done for." "Group of boys will always get the blame for hurting' a foal." "Group of Belfast boys will get a hammering' for sure." "So it's clear to me in an instant, and I'm down on my knees... and I take the foal's head in my hands and I put him underwater." "He's thrashing around a bit to start, so I press down harder until he's drowned." "Priest arrives, Dom." "He's grabbing me by the hair, dragging me through the woods... promising me a proper hiding." "But I knew I did the right thing by that wee foal." "And I could take the punishment for all our boys." "I had the respect of them other boys now, and I knew that." "I'm clear of the reasons, Dom." "I'm clear of all the repercussions." "But I will act, and I will not stand by and do nothin'." "You can leave them there if you like." "Don't want me rolling up the Letters of SaintJohn, do you?" "Couldn't have that on my conscience, no." "I don't think I'm gonna see you again, Bobby." "There's no need, Dom." "[ Fabric Rustling ]" "[ Chair Clatters ] -[ Footsteps Departing ]" "[ Door Opens ]" "[ Door Closes ]" "[ Liquid Splashing ]" "[ Scraping Echoes ]" "[ Scraping Continues ]" "[ Margaret Thatcher] And faced now with the failure of their discredited cause:" "the men of violence have chosen in recent months:" "to play what may well be their last card:" "They have turned their violence against themselves:" "through the prison "hunger strike to death: "" "They seek to work on the most basic ofhuman emotions -- pity-- as a means of creating tension:" "and stoking the fires ofbitterness and hatred:" "[ Man ] And from week one, there's been a gradual deterioration... of liver, kidney and pancreatic function." "Also, the bone density decreases substantially due to calcium and vitamin deficiencies." "[ Metal Tapping ]" "The muscle of the heart is also undernourished:" "causing impaired function and, eventually, cardiac failure:" "The left ventricle could shrink to 7 0% of its normal size:" " He will have low blood sugar, low energy and muscular wasting:" "[ Urine Trickles ]" "He'll be experiencing gastrointestinal ulcers:" "with the thinning of the intestinal wall and submucosal hemorrhaging:" "There will have been degenerative changes to the mucous membrane of the intestines:" "and, indeed, all the organs in the body:" "[ Scribbling On Raper]" "[ Muffled Groaning ]" "[ Groaning Continues ]" "[ Gagging ]" "[ Vomiting Liquid ]" "[ Gasping ]" " [ Groaning ] - [ Wings Flapping ]" "[ Wings Flapping ]" "[ No Sound ]" "[ Shallow Breathing ]" "[ Buzzing ]" "[ Muffled Speech, indistinct ]" "[ Muffled, Indistinct ]" "[ No Audible Dialogue ]" "[ Cell Door Opens ]" "[ Cell Door Closes ]" "[ Water Sloshing ]" "[ Crows Cawing ln Distance]" "[ Cawing Continues ]" "[ Air Pumping ]" "[ Chair Clatters ]" "[ Bolt Locks ]" " Name?" " Rosaleen Sands." " Name?" "John Sands." "[ Door Opens ]" "[ Shallow Breathing ]" "[ Boys Laughing ]" "[ Boy ] ♪ Reople always ask us ♪" "[ Boys Together] ♪ Reople always ask us ♪" "[ Boy ] ♪ Who we are ♪ -[ Boy #2 ] Bobby:" "Bobby:" "[ Boys Together] ♪ Who we are ♪" "♪ And where we come from ♪ -♪ And where we come from ♪" "♪ And we tell them ♪ -♪ And we tell them ♪" "♪ We're from Belfast ♪ -♪ We're from Belfast ♪" "♪ Mighty, mighty Belfast ♪ -♪ Mighty, mighty Belfast ♪" "♪ And if they can't hear us ♪ -♪ And if they can't hear us ♪" "♪ We shout a little louder ♪ -♪ We shout a little louder ♪♪" "♪♪ [ Singing Fades Out ]" "[ Panting ]" "[ Wings Flapping ]" "[ Panting ]" "[ Shallow Breathing ]" "[ Panting ]" "[ No Sound ]"