Original subtitles

Our ma's coming back. She wrote us a letter.

We don't know no one from Blackpool.

It's a sign.

Please tell the Governor

that we're officially on hunger strike.

We're prisoners of war

and we should serve out our sentence

in a women's prison in Ireland.

The government's relented.

They're sending you back to Ireland.

Good news, my darling. We're gonna go home.

You know, the irony is, we won

but we still had to go back to prison.

I spent my 30th birthday

in Armagh women's prison in the north of Ireland.

I was still so unhealthy

I hadn't had a period in four years.

See, the funny thing about a hunger strike is

you know, you have to tell yourself over and over again

that food is bad.

And then it is.

As I'm sure you're aware, girls,

you may qualify for medical release.

Do you know what that means?

Aye.

It means we're traumatized.

It means the doctors don't think you can fully recuperate

in a prison environment.

Well, they may be onto something there.

I think the question is, Miss Price,

if you were to be granted an early release,

how would you fill your time?

What would you do?

I would dedicate my life to non-violence

and teaching those principles to Catholic youth.

I just wanna take care of my daddy.

- I'd live with my da. - And your compatriots?

The men and women you collaborated with?

It's easy to get sucked back in.

We'll keep to ourselves. It's no bother.

But you'll be with your father,

- who has a history of... - We're all retired.

Look... if I can be frank, Miss,

I've lost eight years of my life in here.

I wanna be a mother.

I wanna start a family of my own and I...

don't know if that's possible for me anymore, but...

if you're asking am I gonna blow up another courthouse,

the answer's no.

Marian, do you feel the same way?

Aye.

Having a wee baby sounds grand.

It's funny,

age has a way of curbing one's appetite

for frontline revolution.

After eight years in prison

I got sick of myself.

I even got a wee bit sick of my sister.

Dad made us a wee shrine.

It's very touching, Daddy.

Aye, well, just remember

I was blowing them up before you.

I just didn't get caught.

I'm still proud of you, though.

Thanks.

Even if you didn't make the ultimate sacrifice.

Da, stop it.

Da, Dolours says we're all retired.

- What's retirement like? - I'm not retired.

- You are, Da. - Yeah, you are.

Yeah, Dotes is gonna take up pottery

and start knitting scarves for the wee ones.

I didn't say that.

I said I'm gonna go slow.

I think I've earned the right to be a lump.

Your mother would approve.

She was always worried you girls took on too much.

Oh, Daddy.

But she didn't believe in retirement, so...

So I'm not retired.

Do you really think that it's so wrong

that I said we're done?

We did our bit, Mar. We did more than our bit.

- We're in the fucking pantheon. - We're not in the pantheon.

The guys in the pantheon are dead.

Aye, well, there you go.

Yes, you're either dead or fighting.

There's only two options.

- And we didn't die, so... - Yeah, well,

I just don't think I can think that anymore.

Right, make your pottery.

Listen, all I'm saying is that we had one job.

Unless I'm missing something

and we're living in a free country.

Yeah.

When we have a free country do you what they're gonna do?

They're gonna look back and say,

"Them wee girls rang the fucking bell."

- Aye, they will. - Yeah, they will.

So, relax.

Enjoy yourself.

You did it. You're a hero.

End of story.

The thing about your 30s is,

everybody's moved on.

You get a job, settle down.

People become respectable.

Truth is, I never thought I'd live long enough

to have to deal with it.

Um... I'll have a whiskey. Neat, please.

- What kind do you like? - Any kind.

Actually, can I make that a double, please?

Dolours Price?

'Bout ye.

I never could get you to talk to me.

Sorry?

We marched together a few times. I don't expect you to remember.

Wait.

I think I do know you. What's your name again?

Thank you, Barry.

Uh, this is Stephen Rea.

You're an actor.

Usually, women aren't so happy to hear that.

Ah, don't tell me you're in the show tonight?

I'm touched you're so excited.

No.

No, no, no. I'm just, um...

I'm just a fan.

I'm standing there

and the other guy walks in the room

and suddenly it all washes over me.

I've been in this kitchen before

and I've slept with both of them.

Roommates.

Yes, but I should've known.

I feel like Stephen would understand.

- Why would I understand? - Well, because I feel like

you've gotten your ladies mixed up before.

- That's not true. - Oh?

- One time. - Mm-hm.

And that was because they were both called Georgia.

And they were both taller than me.

Don't worry, Dolours. We'll protect you.

I mean, clearly I need it.

So, uh, what did you think of the play?

Yes.

Yes, a real celebrity. What did you think of our play?

Well, look, usually I'm very critical,

but, you know...

But I thought youse were all incredible.

I mean, honestly, you in particular were...

Stephen is always fantastic. It's annoying.

Yeah, but everyone...

I mean, truly, everyone, everyone, everyone.

Really.

I adored every minute of it.

Stephen.

I have to tell you something.

I have seen you before.

Not just at the marches, but, um...

in London.

The night before the bombing.

My bombing.

Um...

I went to the theater.

Yeah?

I saw your play.

You were wonderful.

You made me cry.

Please don't judge me for saying that, though.

I just... I just thought it was too strange not to share.

Nothing to judge there.

Marian?

- I just had the most amazing... - Where the fuck have you been?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.

He wants to talk to you too.

Morning, child.

Sorry to hear about your mummy.

It's a real shame they wouldn't allow you to attend the funeral.

It was.

How's Brendan?

I heard he got six more years.

We actually shared a cell, the two of us.

But they didn't have anything to pin on me, so...

You always were more careful than him.

I take it this isn't a house call.

Dolours, I wanted to speak to you personally.

I've decided to run for parliament.

I know.

I've seen the posters.

Your hair looks amazing.

Look, people are sick of the war.

Your average Catholic might not support the bombing campaign

but what they will do is vote for a candidate

they can believe in.

And you think that's you?

You have thoughts?

I don't wanna sound cunty.

I didn't know you could sound any other way.

Look, politics is all about popularity, Ger,

and you, my dear...

I mean, what are you gonna put on your CV?

"Vote for me, I planned the bombing campaign"?

Well, the optics are a wee bit of a hurdle.

Hm.

I'm sure you'll be grand,

once they get over all the alleged terrorism.

That's why I stopped by, actually.

I was hoping you could come and help with the campaign.

- My first interview next week. - I see.

It's a whole new direction for us.

Politics and the armed struggle working in tandem.

The ArmaLite and the ballot box.

That's good.

- That's a good slogan. - I can get the votes, Dolours.

I can win.

As long as the messaging's got right.

I'm sure you can, Ger.

Politics, it's just...

not really my gig.

Understandable.

Happy to hand out fliers, though.

- I'll hold you to that. - Hm.

Is your da around?

I might just go and pay my respects for a moment.

So...

We just had some shipments come in down at the harbor

and the lads were wondering how you'd feel

about smuggling some Semtex?

I know it's mad, but I'm going back for the matinee. t live theater was pretentious.

Well, I was gonna ask if you wanna go, but...

No, thank you.

I'm helping Da out today.

We're gonna bring chocolates to the guys in prison.

So, what'd you tell Gerry?

What did you tell Gerry?

I dunno. Politics?

Isn't that how we lost this country in the first place?

Did they ask you to smuggle explosives?

I told him I needed a week to think about it.

How about you?

I don't wanna do it without you.

Well...

I told him to fuck off.

Hm-hm?

I told him to fuck right off.

- Good job. - Thank you.

Where's my teacup?

Shit. It has vodka in it.

I'm so sorry. There you go.

- Sorry. - Right.

Wait, I'm supposed to ask you, um...

Apparently Lyra's been cast in a play.

I think the character's based on you.

Would you mind terribly if she talked to you?

I think she'd love to pick your brain.

No, no, absolutely. Absolutely, yeah.

You're a darling. Thank you.

Okay, I wanted to ask you a few questions,

just to, like, understand the character better, you know?

Like, her... her psychology, etc.

Ask me anything. I'm ready.

Um, so... have you ever had to betray someone?

Like, do something

where someone would have felt betrayed.

Um...

I think that we all betray people all the time, don't we?

It's sort of just, um... unavoidable.

But in a mission, have you ever, like, had an order

and had to do something that you didn't wanna do?

You know that I actually can't talk about...

No, of course, of course. I just, um...

I tell you what. Why don't you tell me the plot of the play?

- And then I can give you my... - Right, yes, okay.

Um... so, there are these IRA Volunteers.

They've kidnapped this soldier.

Rather, he was lured there by the female member of the unit.

- That's you. - With... with sex.

- I never did that. - I'm not saying it's you.

It's more like it's her personality.

- And they copied your hairstyle. - Stop, Ryan.

It's right there in the fucking script.

Jesus, Ryan, shut up.

Anyway, um...

He's this surprise protagonist.

So, I'm the villain?

I would say, like, villainish.

I don't think the IRA are all bad people.

Not bad people, just bad bomb-makers.

There were actually some really good bomb-makers,

if you wanna know the truth.

Well, where do you keep them, then?

Listen, I'm not gonna sit and argue with you

about whether or not we made some mistakes, okay?

Okay.

The important thing is,

everything was governed with an intense code of ethics,

and-and if anybody stepped out or behaved unethically,

even if that person was a friend...

You'd kill them.

Did you ever feel guilty?

Was it someone that you knew well?

Sorry. I'm prying. It's just...

It's a nightmare situation, you know, you...

you did all this mad stuff and you also, I mean...

you were killing each other.

- That's - Um...

I actually... I'm sorry.

I actually don't think that I can help you.

But I need another whiskey.

Stephen, could you get me a whiskey, please?

Your girlfriend's drunk, man, she's definitely...

Fuck you!

Don't say I'm drunk. Say it again,

I'll slap you in the fucking face!

- Dolours... - No, no.

I am not drunk.

Fuck.

No.

- I'm so embarrassed. - It's alright.

No. It's not.

This is what happens when I drink vodka

and then wine after vodka,

especially if I haven't eaten, I just go mad.

Stephen, I'm not usually like this.

Did Lyra upset you?

I can't say.

I feel like...

I'm not...

I'm not sure what happened.

To you?

Yeah, to me, and...

things I... I did.

I did things, Stephen,

and I don't even know what I think about them.

And it feels like I'm...

making things up in my head.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Nothing's wrong with you, Dolours.

You're someone who can carry a lot.

Well...

maybe it would be better if I couldn't.

- Do they all hate me? - Ah, no.

No.

They're fuckin' idiots if they hate me.

They're all in awe of you, Dolours.

- And you? - Am I in awe?

No.

Do you hate me?

No.

Dolours...

I like you.

Very much.

- We're on in five. - Grand.

Tonight we travel to Belfast

where controversial candidate Gerry Adams has announced...

Lads... lads, shut the fuck up, youse all.

Right, ciúnas.

Fucking ciúnas, lads. Sit down and shut the fuck up.

So, this is quite something

for voters to get their heads around.

- How so? - It's not every day

we've a candidate for parliament

who also supports the murder of British soldiers.

I don't support the murder of British soldiers.

Do you not?

I don't support the murder of anyone.

You support the armed struggle of the I...

I support people's right to defend themselves.

But do you not have it on your conscience

some of the things that have happened?

The innocent victims of the IRA?

Well, I regret, as anyone regrets, anyone being killed.

I even regret, as it may surprise you,

British soldiers being killed.

But it isn't on my conscience that these things happen.

Too fucking right, Gerry. Too fucking right, big man.

Alright, alright.

I am happy enough

that I have tried to live by my standards.

But how can voters trust a word you're saying?

Well, the situation...

I mean, you've spent your whole adult life

running a terrorist organization.

Mr. Adams, the IRA.

I've never been a member of the IRA.

What the fuck did he just say?

You have beautiful skin.

Thank you.

Danny, put your shoes on.

Huh?

I need you to be ready for Daddy's show.

Danny's staying here, Dolours. Remember? With the sitter.

- And look up. - Huh? Oh.

And what are you gonna do,

stuck in this hotel room all night long

while me and your Aunt Marian have all the fun?

Fun for you maybe.

I don't like these puffy,

give-ourselves-compliments kinds of people,

and I don't particularly like parties either.

It's not a party, it's a red carpet.

Aye.

For a dreary film.

Well, don't tell Stephen that.

He's very sensitive.

Is this your first time being in London?

No.

But it's been a few years.

It's a bit of a thrill, isn't it?

Being back.

- A wee tingle. - Aye.

Something like that.

You know, the courthouse is only a few streets away.

What's at the courthouse?

The rot at the core of the whole moldy peach.

It's the seat of their corrupt British legal system.

And Mummy blew it up.

We're, uh...

We're almost ready.

Dolours, are you drinking?

- How do you mean? Tonight? - I mean right now.

Jesus Christ, Marian. You know, it's lemonade.

Go ahead and look in the bathroom mirror.

- It's better lighting. - Right.

Shit.

Right, Dotes.

I think I'm gonna head soon. I have to teach tomorrow.

Do you ever think there were things we shouldn't have done?

What kinds of things?

Well, you know, it's like any artist's career.

You have your hits, if you're lucky,

and then the other bits you'd rather not talk about.

And sometimes I wonder if...

Were they, strictly speaking, all kosher?

I don't think about it.

I've confidence in my sense of judgment.

I've confidence in your sense of judgment, or usually I do.

- You do? - Yes.

Why? Dotes, I can't do this tonight.

Things happen in war.

I don't think it does anybody any good to be neurotic.

Honestly, love,

if our mother could see you now,

red velvet, sneaking your vodka in the bathroom,

every opportunity in the world to get your shit together

and failing,

well, I think she'd be a wee bit embarrassed.

Okay.

That was mean.

Why are you wearing lipstick to church

when Jesus doesn't care what you look like?

Because Mass isn't just about Jesus, sweetheart.

I don't wear lipstick to pray.

Then, what's it all about?

It's about looking pretty for all the old grannies.

Come on, get your shoes on.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

We give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

♪ I dwell a captive in this heart ♪

♪ Inflamed with... ♪

Those are for visitors. Please.

♪ 'Tis here I live alone in peace ♪

♪ And constant joy is mine ♪

♪ It is the heart ♪

♪ Of God's own son ♪

♪ In His humanity... ♪

Fuck youse all.

♪ Here like the dove within the Ark ♪

♪ Securely I repose... ♪

Father... do you have a minute?

Helen.

Uh, please.

How's the family?

How's your brother, Mickey?

I haven't seen him round in a while.

Aye, we wouldn't see much of each other

to be honest, Father.

I'm sure he's fine. Um...

You know I see the people who took my mother

now and again in the church.

They're members of this congregation.

We've talked about it before.

Too many times maybe.

I'm aware of what you remember, Helen.

Yes, well, the... the soloist today, he was one of them.

- Helen... - I don't think it's appropriate

that he should be given a leadership role in the church.

It's not a leadership role.

To stand up there in front of everybody

when he's done the things he's done.

He has a fine voice, Helen.

And this was many years ago.

If he's gonna sing in your choir,

I think the least you can do

is tell me if he's ever said anything.

- Said anything? - About my mother.

I think the least I deserve is to know.

What my congregants say to me, Helen,

is a matter of confidentiality.

Not in choir practice.

- Helen... - He was in my mother's flat.

Father, my brother swears he saw him,

and excuse me for speaking like this,

- but he fucking knows. - This is compulsion, Helen.

It's a compulsive strain in your brain.

The Church teaches to forgive.

And you stew, you fester.

You have to let this obsession go.

No one is keeping anything from you.

No one knows the answers.

Do you know, Father?

I'm looking out for your safety.

These are not the sort of people you mess about with.

Yeah?

Brendan.

Fáilte ar ais a chara.

Look at this tweed, Gerry, you poncey wee fuck.

Sorry, I don't wanna take up too much of your time.

I just wanted to thank you.

You know, for the job offer.

I know a political office is something a bit different.

You know who you should really hire is my aunt.

She voted 36 times for you.

I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that.

- Mr. Adams? - Mm?

We have to leave for the interview in five.

Just give me two minutes, would you?

I, uh... I seen some of the TV appearances.

It's just, you know...

It's just a lot of theater.

Well, it's hard to tell what's real and what's not, you know.

You know, Brendan...

I can't be completely honest.

They'd throw me back in jail.

Aye, but some of the men are skeptical.

They're... worried you're sitting down with moderates.

Well, you'll put in a good word with them, won't you?

The men always liked you better than they liked me.

You know, um... you told me once

I was in danger of being too soft.

Well, I worry, Gerry... I worry that it's actually you.

Brendan, everything I do, I am doing to win the war.

Every interview,

every time I sit down with people who despise me.

Aye, but the chair you're sitting in...

- Just let me finish... - The chair you're sitting in,

you're sitting there 'cause of guys like us, though.

That's my point, right?

It's the guys still in prison,

it's the people who fucking died.

You're not a normal politician, like.

You built your house on their backs,

on what they accomplished.

What they accomplished, Dark?

What we accomplished had its limits.

How many bombs? And nobody's listening, nothing's changed.

D'you know why they're listening to you now, though, Gerry?

They're listening to you now because they're scared of you.

And you know why they're scared of you?

They're scared of you 'cause of guys like me.

And that's not normal in politics.

Rest assured, Brendan, I am very well attuned

to the nature of my own political credibility.

Good.

Then you know you need us.

Brendan,

I need you to trust.

I'm doing this for you.

God grant me the serenityccept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Alright. Good morning.

Our theme for today is regret.

Would anyone like to share?

Yes, Dolours.

Well, it's... it's...

Well, it feels funny for me being in this group.

Because the things that I regret,

I did them while I was sober.

So that's not the reason why I feel like drinking.

I feel like drinking because our country is under occupation.

- Uh, we... - I know, I know. Sorry.

Forgive me.

No politics.

I feel like drinking this week in particular...

because of my friend Joe.

You know, I'm very sorry

that you've all gone through divorces, and...

you know, that must be traumatizing for you, and...

you know, truly, I'm sorry,

but the things I've done,

most of you could never imagine doing.

My friend... my friend Joe, he died. I didn't kill him.

But I may have facilitated his death.

- Uh... - Oh, right.

Yeah.

Sorry, you don't... you don't need to know.

Yes.

Just his family...

well, they have no idea what happened to him.

As far as they know, he just disappeared.

And that weighs heavy on me

and makes me feel like drinking.

And I've been thinking a lot about it this week.

Could I have done things different?

And I used to think absolutely not.

But now...

Anyway, sorry.

That's me done.

Hey, Dolours, do you have a second?

Mm-hm.

I just wanted to touch base. Um...

You know, we're here to be your support system,

but I do have to let you know that any information you share,

if any of it resembles a crime,

then you don't have legal protections.

- If someone... - But I thought

this was all anonymous.

Yes, but legally it's complicated.

- But I didn't do it... - I don't want an explanation.

Just...

Everyone here has their own opinion.

Remember that.

And we're responsible for keeping everyone safe,

including you.

Yeah?

'Course, yeah.

So... if you need that kind of help,

I would suggest finding another outlet.

I'm sorry.

Lads, lads.

A wee bit of attention here, please.

I have a very special treat for you this morning.

A guest lecturer who's been kind enough to speak with us.

You all know her work.

Now, telling you how to safely dispose of your nitrobenzene,

lads, Marian Price.

Is he here?

Aye. That's him in the corner.

Alright, Coleman? How are you?

I appreciate you... you're willing to talk to us.

It's not easy to find people who are, um... reasonable.

Yeah, well, I haven't been active in ages,

so I don't know how much help I'll...

I'd be putting that away.

I'm not putting away my mother's picture.

Suit yourself.

I just wanna know what they did to her.

Did she suffer? Did they do it right away?

I mean, we got this postcard,

years ago when we were children.

My sister thinks they sent her to England maybe,

that she might still be living there.

Probably not.

Why the fuck'd they do that to a bunch of kids?

Send us postcards pretending she's alive.

Look,

I can't tell you anything you don't already know.

There was a whole chain of command to this.

I was younger,

absolute bottom of the totem pole.

Sorry to waste your time.

I'm so fucking sick of this.

You were being too pushy.

- I was not being pushy. - Lower your voice.

I was just trying to give him something he could respond to.

- He didn't know anything. - He knew something.

Everyone knows something.

They're all fucking complicit.

- You wanna get out of here? - No, I want a drink.

Our next guest needs no introduction.

President of Sinn Féin,

twice elected member of the British Parliament.

Hey, can I get a double and a single whiskey, please?

He's now involved in the search

for peace in Northern Ireland.

Ladies and gentlemen, Gerry Adams.

Mr. Adams, how do you react to the fact

that a large number of people have ferocious animosity

and abhorrence towards you personally

for your part in the last 25 years?

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

I think I'm a nice guy.

What we have to try and do is bring about a situation

where we can put all of this behind us.

I will sit down with anyone.

And how about the British Government?

I will.

It's the British government who tortured me,

tried to kill me.

Surely, if I'm willing to do that, then...

I got you a double.

I can ask those who hate me to, you know, sit down...

How are you doing?

And extend the hand of friendship.

I think we can all agree talking, not killing,

that's the only way we'll ever achieve peace on this island.

He said there was a chain of command.

Aye. That's right. It was an army.

So there would've been an order, right,

for what they did to my mother?

I mean, she was a civilian.

There would've been, like, not a court-martial, but...

How high up do you think it would've gone?

Quite high.

Maybe not GHQ in Dublin, but Belfast Brigade.

And who was the commander of the Belfast Brigade

in December 1972?