The Wind That Shakes the Barley Page #8

it is the opinion of other churches.

And it is the opinion

of every newspaper

up and down, and the length

and breadth of this country.

But most importantly,

this treaty was ratified,

overwhelmingly ratified, by the people

in their democratic expression

in the June election.

Can you tell me, how can there be

a fair election in this country

when the most powerful country

in the world threatens war?

This is not the will of the people.

It is the fear of the people.

How dare you talk to me

in the house of God. Silence!

Damien O'Donovan, you are a disgrace

to the memory of your parents. Go!

The Free State Constitution was only

printed the morning of the election

so nobody had time to read it.

This is not the marketplace!

Sit down, shut up, or get out!

And once again, the Catholic Church,

with honourable exception,

sides with the rich!

- Get out!

- Get out.

I thought those days were done.

Damien.

Damien. Please.

Come on, boy.

I want a word. What are you doing?

You're fighting with the priest?

Is it not bad enough

we're fighting amongst ourselves?

- And what's it all for?

- Well said, Damien.

This? This radical sh*t? Who in the

countryside is going to read this?

Have you read it, Teddy? Have you?

Our own uncles

are scared of this stuff.

- They're not waving red flags.

- You've forgotten how they behaved.

Our father, when he fired

Pat McCarthy because he was sick

and we couldn't look at his son

in the face because of the shame of it.

What has our father got to do

with this?

There's one in four people

out of work in this country.

I have seen children and families

starving.

Do we expect them to head off

to New York and London?

- Is that what we fought for?

- But we didn't fight for this.

It's too late. You won't convince me.

- You've always been a dreamer.

- I am not a dreamer, I am a realist.

- Hm?

- I need you with me on this, Damien.

We'll tear up the treaty once we're

strong enough, but I need you

to be with me on this.

I mean, you're my...

Just give me time.

Give this a chance.

It's too late, Teddy. You can't

see it. You really can't see it.

John Bull has got his hand down your

pants, his fist round your bollocks.

That's not it.

This treaty, Teddy, this treaty makes

you a servant of the British Empire.

You have wrapped yourself

in the f***ing Union Jack.

- The butcher's apron, boy.

- No.

Where's Rory, Damien?

Hey, don't do anything stupid,

Damien.

Do you realise you've been telling me

that since I was 12 years of age?

First man, outhouse.

Second man, outhouse.

You two, in the main house.

Last man with me. Move it.

Get over there! Get over!

Get out of the house. Get out now.

Get out of the way!

- What's going on here?

- Weapon search.

We have no weapons.

You'll find no weapons.

- What's going on inside here?

- Get this woman against the wall!

- Against that wall.

- How could you?

After all the times

we gave you food and shelter.

- Up those steps.

- It's a disgrace.

- Up against the wall.

- You should be ashamed.

Back. Right up here.

Go on. In together

where I can see the two of you.

All the times you sat at our table.

Eating our food. We gave you shelter.

- Orders from headquarters.

- To turn on your own people?

Orders from the Government

of the Free State.

I'll show you where the weapons are.

Sean, watch the door.

Sentry, what's going on up there?

Nothing, sir.

- Sentry, make a report.

- There's nothing going on down here.

Halt or I'll fire!

Dan! Dan! Hold your fire!

Hold your fire! Hold your fire! Dan!

- Shut up!

- Hold your f***ing fire!

Dan is shot, lads! I'm unarmed!

I'm f***ing...

No!

No, don't! Dan! Don't! Stop it, boy.

Get your hands up!

Get your hands up, you bastard!

Get them up! Get them up!

Get your hands up!

I tell you, get them up! Get them up!

That's enough! Get back!

- Get back!

- Dan!

Get back! Get into the corner!

Dan! Dan!

Jesus Christ, you f***ing bastards!

An unarmed man!

You shot an unarmed man in the back,

Denis! Dan!

Damien, get your hands up

or I will shoot!

- Has he eaten?

- No, he's been very quiet, sir.

Remember the last time we were here?

You told them you were me.

- I never thanked you for that.

- For all the good it did you.

I'm sorry about Dan.

And Terence. Where are they now?

They're in the basement.

Lying side by side.

Jesus, Damien,

you shouldn't be in here.

You should be back home.

Back home with Sinead.

And tomorrow morning,

you should be in hospital, teaching.

That's all you've ever wanted to do

since you were a boy, isn't it? Hm?

You were always the brighter one.

Better student by a mile.

You've Sinead there. She loves you.

And you're meant for each other.

You should have...

sons and daughters,

and teach them to be

gentle and... and happy.

I want out of this uniform, Damien.

I want peace.

We need people like you, and even

the likes of me to make that happen.

Damien, I've never begged

another human in my life,

but I'm going to beg you now.

Heart and soul.

- Just brother to brother.

- What do you want, Teddy?

Tell us where the arms are, Damien.

Take amnesty.

Go home and live the life

you should be living.

And we want Rory. But you talk to

his boys, they'll listen to you.

You listen to me.

I shot Chris Reilly in the heart.

I did that.

You know why.

I'm not going to sell out.

Better write your letters, Damien.

Tell us where the arms are...

or you will be shot at dawn.

Did he say anything, Teddy?

Dear Sinead.

I tried not to get into this war.

And did.

And now try to get out and can't.

Strange creatures we are,

even to ourselves.

I treasure every bit of you,

body and soul,

in these last few moments.

You once said you wanted

your children to taste freedom.

I pray for that day, too, Sinead.

But I fear it will be longer

than either of us have imagined.

Dan once told me something

I've struggled with all this time.

He said, "It's easy to know

what you're against,

quite another to know

what you are for. "

I think now, I know,

and it gives me strength.

Hup. Hup.

In time, look after Teddy.

I'm afraid, inside,

he's already dead.

As the clock ticks on, I imagine

your heartbeat under my hand.

I hold the medal you hung

around my neck and I tremble inside.

It will give you courage, too.

Goodbye, Sinead.

I love you now, and always will.

Left, turn.

Left, left, left, right, left.

Right, turn.

Halt.

Put your back up against the post.

Forward march.

Left, left, left.

It's not too late, Damien.

For me or for you?

No.

If you don't want to do this,

I'll give the order.

I'll do it. Squad!

Attention!

Get ready!

Load!

Take aim!

Fire!

Order arms.

Sinead?

Sinead?

Sinead?

What's the matter?

What's wrong?

There's this also.

- No, Sinead. No, Sinead.

- No! No!

- Sinead.

- I...

- I'm sorry.

- Get off me.

Get off me!

Get out. Leave me. Get off my land!

I don't ever want to see you again!

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