The Boxer Page #4

Listen, these kids have barely

got shoes on their feet.

Some of them

come here in rags.

Look at them now.

They look great.

Now I don't give a f***in' shite

who these togs come from.

They're on their backs.

- All right.

- They're not comin' off.

We simply can't negotiate until

the terrorists lay down their arms.

The police are Protestant.

They're not welcome in Catholic areas.

ln contrast, it seems the whole

of Belfast, Catholic and Protestant,

is welcome at the recently reopened,

nonsectarian Holy Family Boxing Club.

- Takin' gear from the cops.

- The boys from the club...

recently received

a generous donation of equipment.

And Danny Flynn,

who fights out of Holy Family,

has signed up for a rematch

with Eddie Carroll at the city center.

[ Machine Gunfire, Gunshots ]

[ Men Shouting ]

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Trash Can Lid Banging ]

- [ Banging Continues ]

- [ Helicopter Whirring ]

[ Whirring Continues ]

- [ Shouting ]

- [ Sirens Wailing ]

[ Wailing Continues ]

[ Officer ] Get them !

Get those sons of b*tches !

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Helicopter Whirring ]

Who fired at Danny Flynn

last night, Harry ?

I don't know.

My units shoot to kill.

You're in charge

of the district.

No.

I report to you.

Did you see this ?

He's fillin' people's heads

full of sh*t, Joe.

''Leave the fighting to Danny'' means

that all the people who are in prison,

who died, who didn't

surrender to the Brits--

that means that their sacrifices aren't

worth a lousy f***in' boxin' match.

He's spreadin' dissent, Joe.

Maybe you're the one who's

spreadin' dissent, Harry.

I'm trying to hold it together

in a district full of junkies,

thieves and losers,

while all he's trying to say is

that everything will be all right...

if the Catholics and Protestants

will hold hands together.

It's sh*t, isn't it, Joe ?

ls it, Harry ?

Sh*t ?

You know we're gonna have

to live with them sometime.

- Who's ''them'' ?

- The Protestants, Harry.

The other half

of the population.

You're never going to be

treated as an equal, Joe.

Not if we keep

bombin' 'em, no.

I don't see any P.O.W.s

comin' home, Joe.

Well, last night

didn't help, Harry.

It didn't help at all.

[ Man #1 ]

Keep it goin', Bootsy. Keep it goin'.

And again.

- [ Ike ]

Throw your combinations, Danny !

- And again.

Let's go.

And again.

[ Man #2 ]

One-two !

- [ Ike ] Use the jab !

- Watch it !

- Danny.

- [ lke ] Come on ! Again !

That was a warning shot

they fired at you.

- I'll see you later.

- Aye.

You know, we can't keep doin'

what we're doin', Maggie.

What are we doing ?

[ Chuckles ]

You know what I'm sayin'. Come on.

Yeah.

You're right.

Give us a hug.

You're a dangerous

f***in' woman.

You talked about voices in your head.

I couldn't stop them.

I thought my head

would burst.

And the only thing

that kept me sane--

- Ah, it doesn't matter now.

- Go on. I'm listening.

- It's not fair.

- Just finish it up, Maggie.

[ Sighs ] It was the sound

of your voice saying,

''Everything's gonna

be all right.''

Geez, I never said that.

Over and over again

in my head.

''Everything is gonna

be all right.''

Well, this is, this is okay.

This is, this is all right.

What ?

What is this ?

This is us.

You don't put a name on it.

- Who is it ?

- It's Danny. Can I come in ?

It's very late, Danny.

- You shouldn't be here. It's not safe.

- I know.

This is f***in' ridiculous,

you know ?

All this talk, Maggie, you know ?

We're kiddin' ourselves.

I love you.

There's nothin' else to say.

We're not kids anymore, Danny.

Yeah, we are.

You're so f***in' beautiful.

For 14 years

I was locked up.

Well, my feelings were

locked up inside of me.

And when I got

in the ring again,

you can't imagine the relief

it was to feel the pain--

to be back

in the world again.

I can give you up in my head,

but my body's cryin' out for you.

Don't.

Be with me.

No.

Be with me.

I'm going mad, Danny.

I have a scream inside of me

day and night.

Liam's upstairs.

Have I said too much ?

No.

No.

But...

I think you've said

enough for now.

- I think you'd better go.

- Okay.

Is my da comin' home

or not ?

Don't build up

your hopes, Liam.

You said the prisoners

were comin' home.

[ Door Closes ]

What's wrong ?

We're this close to a deal,

but I'm gettin' no concessions

on the prisoners.

It's as though the Brits

want the cease-fire to fail.

Harry says the only thing

they respond to is violence.

[ Band Playing ]

- It's a sellout.

- [ Man ] Go on, Belfast !

Belfast is comin'

back to life.

People see this man, who was

once committed to violence,

now fightin'

within the rules.

lt's caught

their imagination.

People are here together--

Catholic and Protestant--

with no animosity.

[ Ike ]

Don't be overeager.

If you go for him too early,

you're in trouble.

- Ike.

- Reg.

- How's it goin' ?

- Not bad.

- Kids enjoyin' the gear ?

- Just great.

[ Matt ] You know Reggie Bell,

R.U.C. community relations.

Good luck tonight.

lt's great for the city.

Great for all of us.

Lovely.

I'll leave you two.

- All the best, Reg.

- Thanks.

- l don't like bein' used.

- [ Matt ] What's wrong ?

- I don't like bein' used.

- He gave the kids all the equipment.

[ Ike ]

Concentrate on the boxin'.

[ Band Playing ]

[ Applause ]

- Everything's set up.

- Okay.

Here comes Joe Hamill.

[ Applause ]

[ Man ]

I.R.A. bastard !

[ Booing ]

[ Heckling ]

- Bastard !

- Get out of Belfast !

[ Announcer ]

Stop fighting amongst yourselves !

Can we all sing together...

a song we all know,

''Danny Boy'' ?

- Where's Liam ?

- He's not comin'.

Did he say

he didn't want to come ?

That's right.

He said he didn't want to come.

Oh, Danny boy

The pipes

The pipes are callin'

[ Audience Joins ln ]

From glen to glen

And down the mountainside

The summer's gone

And all the flowers

are dying

Did you hear that ?

That'll put pride in your heart.

Frank Patterson's out front. He runs the

Commonwealth Sporting Club in London.

- He's got a big promotion comin' up.

- Not now, Matt.

It's on television.

lt's a f***in' meat trade,

and we don't want it.

There's a good

few grand in it.

Forget about London.

Just concentrate on this fight.

All right.

Time to go.

No dressin' gown.

No nothin'.

But come ye back

When summer's

in the meadow

Or when the valley's hushed

And white with snow

[ Cheering ]

'Tis I'll be there

ln sunshine or in shadow

[ Cheering Continues ]

Oh, Danny boy

Oh, Danny boy

I love you so

[ Whistling, Cheering ]

Okay, boys, let's go.

Follow my instructions.

Protect yourselves,

and shake hands.

[ Bell Dings ]

Stop !

Go to a neutral corner.

[ Referee ]

One ! Two ! Three ! Four !

Five ! Six !

Seven !

Are you all right ?

- [ Crowd Shouting ]

- Box !

Come on, Danny !

[ Cheering ]

[ Referee ]

One, two, three,

four, five, six,

seven, eight--

- You okay ?

- I'm all right.

[ Referee ]

Box !

One, two, three,

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