The Boxer Page #3

in silence for 14 years, Maggie.

You know, it's hard

to talk to the real you.

I'm not who I was.

Try the elbow.

Set down on the way. That's it.

Once more. That's it.

Snap on your jab.

That's it. One more.

Come on. One-two !

And again.

- [ lke ] And again.

- He wants to join.

He's the boss.

- One-two.

- Ike !

- Shadowbox.

- He wants to join.

Use the rest

of the ring, now.

Come here.

- No way, missus.

- Who are you to talk, lke Weir ?

Make him have

a blood test.

If he's clear and

he stays off the junk,

he can join.

[ Danny ]

Keep your head movin' now.

That's it.

Duck and weave.

Bob and weave.

- Well done.

- [ Chattering ]

Keep on the move.

That's it.

Come on. Hold on. Thumbs out.

That's it. Elbows in. Nice and tight.

Good. Very good.

Danny. Look at these.

Headgear's gone.

You can't spar with these.

Look at that.

- [ Sean ] And he didn't do it ?

- [ Chattering ]

[ Harry ]

Shh, shh, shh !

- What does that mean, Bootsy ?

- What ?

''Nonsectarian.''

Catholics

and Protestants together.

What about the Jews, Bootsy ?

And the Arabs ?

And the Muslims ?

l suppose they can come too,

if they want.

[ Cheering, Shouting ]

Liam, move in !

- Come on !

- [ Cheering, Shouting Continue ]

Holy Family's

always been nonsectarian.

Protestants

and Catholics together.

- Write that down !

- [ Bell Dings ]

And the winner is...

in the red corner:

Doyle from

the Holy Family Club,

Belfast.

I won !

You fought

a great fight.

Okay, Danny. Let's go.

Don't forget. It's your

first fight in a long time.

- You're gonna learn a lot.

- [ Cheering, Shouting ]

[ Cheering, Shouting Continue ]

[ lke ] Ladies and gentleman,

can l have your attention, please ?

l want to say

somethin' tonight.

Of the many people that gave

their lives in the Troubles,

this night is dedicated

to the members...

of the Holy Family Boxing Club

who've died.

Now all these boys' parents

are in the hall tonight,

so I'd like youse all

to observe a minute's silence.

Joe Fitzsimons, featherweight.

Died 1972.

Age, 24 years.

Brian Keogh,

light heavyweight.

Died 1973.

Age, 16 years.

John Maguire, featherweight.

Died 1983.

Age, 19 years.

Tony Walsh, bantamweight.

Died 1990.

Age, 20 years.

Harry McCormack, flyweight.

Died 1987.

Age, 13 years.

Sammy Orr,

lightweight.

Died 1986.

Age, 22 years.

Sammy's parents are Protestants

from East Belfast,

and this is their first night

in the club...

since the Troubles began

28 years ago.

And I'd like you all

to welcome them back.

[ Applause ]

- Did you know that was gonna happen ?

- No.

Sentimental shite.

- [ Announcer ] Round one.

- [ Bell Dings, Cheering ]

- [ Man ] Danny !

- [ Ike ] Balance now.

Keep your balance now.

[ Man ]

Hit him ! Hit him !

[ Man ]

Come on, Danny !

- [ Cheering, Shouting Continues ]

- [ Ike ] Use your jab. Use the jab !

- Try hittin' him, Danny !

- Shut up !

- [ Woman ] Come on, lads ! Box !

- Danny's way off.

- [ Woman ] Come on, lads ! Box !

- Danny's way off.

Move in, Danny !

[ Grunting ]

- [ Bell Dings ]

- I'm gonna f***in' kill ya !

[ Whistling ]

He's showboatin' ya ! Don't let him

do that ! He's playin' around with ya !

[ Bell Dings ]

[ Boy ]

Hit him ! Come on !

Flynn should get

the Nobel Peace Prize for boxin'.

[ Man ]

Stay off the ropes !

That a boy, Danny !

Go on !

- [ Grunts ]

- [ Crowd Gasps ]

- [ Woman ] Jesus Christ, Danny !

- One, two, three,

- four, five, six,

- If he gets up, I'll f***in' kill him.

- [ Man ] Come on ! Get up !

- seven, eight--

Box !

- Break ! Break !

- [ Bell Dings ]

You're not ready.

- Have you had enough, son ?

- I'll tell you when l've had enough.

- [ Bell Dings ]

- Finish him.

[ Man ]

Danny !

[ Man ]

Get him down, Danny !

Go on, Danny !

[ Woman ]

Go on, Danny !

Get off the ropes !

- Go on, Danny !

- [ Groans ]

- Are you okay ? Can you continue ?

- Yes.

- Go on, Danny ! Get him !

- Go on !

[ Man ]

Come on !

He can't put him down !

He f***in' won't bow down !

Hold him, Danny !

[ Man ]

Come on, Danny ! Come on !

Stay on your feet, lad !

Stay on your feet !

[ Ike ] Don't go down !

Stay on your feet, Danny !

[ Man ]

Twenty seconds !

[ Ike ]

Stay on your feet, Danny !

[ Bell Dings ]

He doesn't look

much like a quitter to me.

[ Crowd Chanting ]

Danny ! Danny ! Danny !

Danny ! Danny ! Danny !

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

What was that about, scrapper ?

- What do you mean ?

- Those were powerful emotions

you stirred up tonight.

- What are you up to ?

- I was just boxin'.

It's not just boxin', Danny.

It's a f***in' statement--

standin' there

gettin' your head knocked off.

What was that about ?

I want the stuff back,

scrapper.

What stuff ?

[ Chuckles ] All right, Danny.

Play it whatever way you want.

Fourteen years wasn't enough

to teach you, then. Was it, now ?

- What'd he want ?

- Nothin', lke.

Good.

He ruined

your life once already.

- Don't give him a second chance.

- I won't.

You should have put him away

the first time.

You did him a favor.

He'll never forgive you for it.

[ Guard ]

I.D., please.

I.D. ?

Thank you.

I'm not too sure

about this, Maggie.

Well, it's safer than being

seen together in West Belfast.

Why didn't you ask me

to wait ?

- I would have waited.

- Don't be sayin' that.

Fourteen years, Maggie.

- I would have waited.

- You were only 16.

- Did you not trust me ?

- How the hell could I ?

I was mad in love with ya.

And I wanted

to keep it that way.

Not have it eaten up

day by day.

So you made the decision

for both of us ?

- You made your own

decisions too, Maggie.

- What do you mean ?

You married my best friend,

for God's sake.

Well, did you expect me

to remain faithful to you ?

I suppose I did.

I thought I was bein' romantic.

Mmm. Givin' you

your freedom or somethin'.

You were giving me my freedom, but you

wanted me to stay faithful to you ?

I was only 19.

[ Maggie ]

Mm-hmm.

- Shake my hand.

- What ?

Shake my hand, Danny Boy Flynn.

Billy Patterson, bantamweight.

- Jesus, Billy ! How are you doin' ?

- Good, good.

I'm doin' fine.

Don't look now.

But there's a car

behind ya,

and the last Catholic boy who was

in that car didn't die a happy death.

- So I'll walk you

to the peace line together.

- Let's go.

[ Car Engine Revving ]

Bye-bye, Maggie.

Good luck, Danny.

- Stop by and do

a bit of training sometime.

- Will do.

[ Children Chattering ]

[ Children Chattering ]

- What's wrong ?

- I don't take gear from cops.

- Why ?

- 'Cause they won't let

my dad out of prison.

- Yeah, go on !

- [ Man ] That's great, Reggie.

What about you, Liam ?

[ Child Chattering ]

[ Man ] Come on, lads.

Come on. Photograph time.

- What's all this ?

- It's a gift.

- A gift from who ?

- Community relations.

- All right.

- Come here.

Group together like that.

- Community relations ?

- Aye. Reggie Bell.

This stuff is from the cops,

lke, and we can't accept it.

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