Closing the Ring Page #3

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I shouldn't mix with you.

You promised me

you wouldn't tell her.

She says you're worse

than a Protestant.

What's worse than a Protestant?

An atheist.

Mr Quinlan, what we're doing,

is it illegal?

Probably.

Only there's a man over there.

Do we stop digging?

Turn away, don't look at him.

He'll not bother us.

You took your time, Cathal.

Mr Thomas to you

There was no need

for you to be here.

Just an observer.

Do they think I can't

run my own operation?

Why did they change the target?

Wouldn't want to

lose support community.

And we have interests in that area.

You mean you're

selling drugs there.

Beautiful view

Who is the old man?

He's digging up an airplane.

It crashed here.

And you let him do it?

I know him.

Digging on Black Mountain

is a bad idea.

Never know what you'll find.

What I gave you, what is it?

It's very good.

A switch... Radio, maybe.

Intercom.

I'll get it home,

do some research.

I found that, you know

By rights it's mine.

Shankhill Road.

Yes.

You're an atheist then?

You don't believe in God and

the Blessed Virgin Mary

and all that stuff?

No.

Why not?

a fireman in Belfast.

Clearing up after that lot.

Will there be a second one?

There's always a second one.

That's the one does the damage.

They wait until the Army get there,

or the police.

Or the bloody firemen.

There.

It's ready.

Last time a man used this switch

was 50 years ago.

And that man was killed.

Right here, in this very spot.

Here, you found it, you do it.

No, thanks.

Why not?

Don't want to.

All right

I will.

Jesus.

What the hell was that?!

It's too bloody soon!

It was supposed to be

set for 20 minutes.

Maybe just as well.

High Command thinks that bombs

may be a little old-fashioned.

"Counter-productive at this stage

of the struggle. "

Counter-bollocks!

It's a war we're fighting here

Yes that we are.

And maybe you're

losing it for us, Cathal.

Have you thought of that?

We have suffered a serious

setback in Hawaii.

Many American soldiers and sailors

have been killed by enemy action.

American ships have been sunk,

American airplanes

have been destroyed.

The lives of our soldiers and

sailors depend upon the manner

in which each and every one of us

fulfills his obligation to

our country.

Gunnery School?

Yeah.

Well, when do you go?

Next week.

Chuck is training as a pilot.

Jack is gonna be a navigator,

and they need gunners, so that's me.

I have to go.

So it's over, then?

All this.

Oh, no.

I'm gonna send postcards home

every day.

My folks think I'm walking out

with Chuck.

Good old reliable Chuck.

If they only knew it was you.

Well, I'm not gonna send them

to your folks' house, Ethel Ann.

I'm gonna send them here I mean,

when any of us guys get leave

we're gonna come back here,

we're gonna finish the house.

I can put a telephone in.

What are those places in college,

where everybody stays

like brothers?

Fraternity.

Okay, well, this will be

our fraternity house.

Chuck can get away

from his parents

and Jack can get away from

all of his girlfriends

and we can be together.

I mean, this is your home.

It can't be my home without you.

When I'm through Gunnery School,

they'll give me some leave.

You could marry me.

We could do it secret,

but when I'm back for good,

we'll do it proper,

we'll invite everybody.

Is that all right?

Ethel Ann, say it's all right.

It's gold.

I love you.

I guess I'm just not used to

feeling so much.

I will always love you, Teddy.

I'll be yours till the day I die,

I swear it.

There won't be room for anyone

else in my heart but you.

No-one else, not ever.

Till I'm laid in my grave.

I love you.

Mom, are you all right?

What are you doing in my room?

This is not your room.

What do you mean?

I'm moving back into this room.

But you and daddy were always

in the other room, you

Okay, if you want my room,

that's fine.

I understand.

Mom, why don't you come to

the grave with me today?

It's a beautiful grave.

We can just be there together

with him.

Who?

Dad, of course.

Your father, he was a fine man.

He saved my life, actually.

You know, picked me up

put me back together.

Always treated me right.

He was a fine man,

he was a good husband.

Is that what you want?

No, what I want is for you to

start grieving like everyone else.

Grieving I was 21 years old.

My life was over.

You don't know what grieving is.

What do you mean?

It's none of your business.

That was before you married daddy.

Before I was born.

What happened?

I am going to

move in here tonight.

This is my house,

and if you don't like it,

you can leave.

So leave.

Hi.

Hi.

Have a seat.

Can I get you something?

No, thanks.

Peter, would you mind

giving us a minute?

Sure.

Thanks.

Sorry.

When I was a kid,

this was the Soda Fountain.

Your Ma used to come here

all the time.

She loved those disgusting

root beer floats.

Her life was over at 21

That's what she said.

I'm trying to understand, Jack.

What happened to her?

The war happened,

for Christ's sake.

And the kids she knew,

some of them didn't make it back.

Yeah, but you did, and dad did.

Yeah, that's right.

He was shot up in a B-17,

she nursed him back to health

she put him back together.

No, she said that he

put her back together.

Well, they helped each other.

All right,

so they helped each other.

But what happened?

She said her life was over, Jack.

Hi, Jack.

Oh, hi.

Look let me give you

a piece of advice.

If I were you,

I wouldn'tjust come in here

and start digging around.

The past has gone.

Digging around?

What am I supposed to do?

Pretend that nothing is wrong?

You don't understand what

it's like at home without dad.

I knew Chuck for 50 years.

For 40 of them, he sat right

there where you are now.

Don't tell me I don't understand.

And if your

Ma doesn't want to talk to you

that's none of my business, is it?

So get the hell out of here.

And that's just

what she told me to do.

Hey, you okay?

I'm sorry.

What did you say to her?

Too much.

Not enough.

Hi, granny.

You know, I made you your tea.

And it's gone stone-cold,

and I had to give it to the cat.

No, not more of

that filthy stuff!

Please, don't do that.

Oh, no, Jimmy.

At least use your own blade.

Don't be using my good knife.

In fact, I wish you wouldn't

go up that mountain at all,

do you know that?

Because things go on there

that you shouldn't be

poking your wee nose into.

What things?

Just things, son.

And I wish you wouldn't mess

around with that Quinlan fella.

He said he knew you

when you were young.

Never, never, never!

He's a born liar, that fellow.

Always was.

So you did know him, then?

If you spent more time

looking for ajob...

Don't be stupid, granny.

Don't you call me stupid!

I've worked all my life.

There are no jobs.

Then go to London,

find your mother.

And that pimp she ran away with.

And clean that up after you,

will you?

And don't use the sink again.

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