- Eileen O'Leary: 'Tis a small thing to do for Cathleen O'Shea, whose son once showed Eileen O'Leary a very great kindness.
- [the setting is a classroom. Sean Lenihan can be seen entering. Upon entering, he notices that the students have drawn on the blackboard]
- Sean Lenihan: Now, before resuming the subject, of mitral stenosis, will Mr. Leonardo da Vinci O'Connor, please remove his latest work of art from the blackboard?
- [At the docks, Kerry O'Shea, Sean Lenihan, and several of their men can be seen watching as Terence O'Brien is apprehended by some British soldiers]
- Kerry O'Shea: What'll we do?
- Sean Lenihan: [looks to his left and notices something] Smithson...
- [a car can be seen arriving and stopping in front of the docks. The door opens and Colonel Smithson can be seen stepping out. Among the British soldiers present are a Captain, who realizes what is happening]
- Captain: Ambush...
- [Smithson steps out of his car as the Captain begins running towards him. As this happens, Lenihan can be seen drawing a gun]
- Captain: [shouting] GET BACK! GET BACK IN THE CAR!
- [Colonel Smithson turns around and he begins to draw his gun. However, Lenihan shoots him before he can react. Smithson slowly slumps to the ground and dies as a shootout erupts]
- [Sean Lenihan can be seen lecturing his class. As he does this, he notices Kerry O'Shea feeding a bird that's next to an open window. As he's talking, he approaches O'Shea, who remains focusing on the bird]
- Sean Lenihan: When the hardening occurs, the flow of blood is stemmed. The surgeon's problem is, how to widen the aperture. Unfortunately, no one has yet devised a satisfactory technique. However, medicine is looking hopefully toward the researches of a young man at this college, a student of natural history, who will undoubtedly find the answer in avid pursuit of what he does best.
- [Lenihan walks up to O'Shea]
- Sean Lenihan: Bird-watching.
- [the class laughs as O'Shea turns around]
- Sean Lenihan: If you were my surgeon, Mr. O'Shea, and I were on the operating table, with my life in your hands, I would not rest easy, anesthetic and all, if a pigeon on a windowsill had more of your attention than my exposed insides.
- [the class laughs as O'Shea smiles]
- Sean Lenihan: And now, gentlemen, if we are finally decided why we are in this classroom, the subject, as you may recall, is mitral stenosis.
- [last lines]
- [Sean Lenihan is preparing to execute Jennifer Curtis. All of his men have chosen to accept that a truce will be signed. Lenihan stares at them in disgust]
- Sean Lenihan: You're traitors. Traitors, all of you. But I'll take care of you when the time comes. Right now, Ireland owes a debt to Lady Fitzhugh.
- [Lenihan turns around and prepares to shoot Jennifer Curtis. However, O'Shea pulls out a gun and points it at Lenihan]
- Sean Lenihan: You wouldn't be thinking of shooting me, would you, Kerry?
- Kerry O'Shea: [pointing his gun] Don't make me do it.
- Sean Lenihan: Was I mistaken in you? I thought you were a soldier.
- Kerry O'Shea: [shouting] I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT YOUR WAR!
- [Lenihan spins around as he shoots at Kerry. However, Kerry also fires, with his shot hitting Lenihan. Lenihan staggers and then falls to the ground as O'Shea approaches. Lenihan and O'Shea stare at each other for a few seconds until the former expires. O'Shea then looks at his pistol for a few seconds before throwing it over the cliff he is standing on. The camera then shows a shot of the gun laying on the beach, where it remains until fade out...]
- [first lines]
- [an overhead view of Dublin can be seen]
- Narrator: Dublin, Ireland. A city at war. This is a story of men and guns. Odd men, brave men, violent men. The story of the war between the Black & Tans and the Irish Republic Army. It is 1921, a year of total war, a year of decision.
- [as the narration finishes, the camera pans down to an overhead view of a cemetary]
- [Kerry O'Shea can be seen looking at the lifeless body of his friend, Paddy Nolan. With him, is Sean Lenihan]
- Sean Lenihan: You were a poor student, Paddy Nolan. But a good soldier.
- [O'Shea can be seen reacting with a sense of grief and anger]
- Kerry O'Shea: It doesn't matter what your epitaph is when you're dead at twenty-three.
- Sean Lenihan: Yes, it does. It does matter.
- [Lenihan begins to pack up some medical equipment]
- Sean Lenihan: I'll send a priest, and some men by before morning.
- [Lenihan looks at O'Shea]
- Sean Lenihan: The Tans will be coming to your place to ask questions.
- Kerry O'Shea: Probably there now.
- Sean Lenihan: Why?
- Kerry O'Shea: I dropped my textbook, it has my name in it.
- Sean Lenihan: [sighs] Well, you'd better come with me. We'll keep you at headquarters for a while.
- [in Donovan's bar, Kerry O'Shea has just been apprehended by the Black and Tans. After he's lead out of the bar, everyone stands in silence. Among those present is Terence O'Brien, who looks at everyone as they remain silent]
- Terence O'Brien: Well, why not? Why not? Better him than me.
- [O'Brien turns towards Donovan]
- Terence O'Brien: He wasn't even one of us.
- [O'Brien looks directly at Donovan]
- Terence O'Brien: Give us another drink, will you?
- [as everyone continues to be silent. Kitty Brady walks up to the bar and picks up a drink on the counter. As O'Brien turns to look at her, she throws the drink in his face]
- [in an interrogation room, Kerry O'Shea is being held captive. At some point, the door opens and a shadowy figure enters. This is Colonel Smithson. After exhaling smoke from a cigarette, he approaches O'Shea. The scene is filmed from the first person perspective]
- Colonel Smithson: How many men in your squad?
- [O'Shea doesn't say anything. After a few seconds, Smithson punches him]
- Colonel Smithson: Where are they hiding?
- [O'Shea remains silent, which prompts Smithson to hit him again]
- Colonel Smithson: What's the name of your leader?
- [O'Shea still doesn't say anything, which causes Smithson to punch him again]
- Colonel Smithson: Where were you taking Liam O'Sullivan?
- [O'Shea again doesn't say anything. In response, Smithson backhands him, which knocks him unconscious. Upon seeing what he's done, Smithson then speaks to some guards who are out of view]
- Colonel Smithson: Revive him. He'll talk.
- [Smithson turns and exits the chamber]
- [Sean Lenihan and Chris Noonan can be seen in British uniforms as they prepare to free Kerry O'Shea from captivity. Noonan helps Lenihan with his uniform]
- Sean Lenihan: I only hope we can get O'Shea out before they break him.
- Chris Noonan: Oh, he'll not break, Sean.
- Sean Lenihan: Chris, we are not dealing with British regulars. We're dealing with Tans. And, need I remind you, O'Shea knows more than any man in your squad. He's been to the hideout in Dublin. He's talked to the General.
- Chris Noonan: Well, I still say he can take anything they have to offer him.
- Sean Lenihan: You believe that much in him, do you?
- Chris Noonan: And do you not, Sean?
- Sean Lenihan: [shakes his head] Can't afford to.
- [Sean Lenihan can be seen speaking with The General in their hideout]
- The General: Well, Sean, looks as if you'll have to stay here in the dark for a while, along with the rest of the moles.
- Sean Lenihan: Well, it had to come one day. Now, what about our plan for Colonel Smithson?
- The General: He's an elusive man, our Colonel, but I think we've got him this time.
- [the General can be seen holding some papers in his hand]
- The General: Ashtown dock, the 10th. He'll be there to see Lord Crandall off to England.
- [Lenihan looks intrigued]
- Sean Lenihan: Mmm-hmm. I'll come out of the dark for that.
- The General: And with Smithson out of the way, perhaps we can all walk in the Dublin sunshine again for good.
- Sean Lenihan: What makes you say that?
- The General: There's great news, Sean. Peace feelers from number 10, Downing Street. They're talking treaty.
- [Lenihan looks surprised]
- Sean Lenihan: What kind of treaty?
- The General: Peace with honor.
- Sean Lenihan: A republic.
- The General: A free state. Dominion status.
- Sean Lenihan: [surprised] Is that what we've been fighting for?
- The General: [leans forward in his seat] Sean, both sides must bend a little. We'll be ruling ourselves at last after seven-hundred years.
- Sean Lenihan: [with increasing anger] But still tied to England's apron strings. That's not peace, that's surrender.
- The General: It's a start. The republic will come later.
- Sean Lenihan: [with rising anger] I warn you. Five out of ten mine in the Republican Army will spit at peace on those terms. If you sign that treaty, it'll be Irishman against Irishman! Civil war, bloodier than this one!
- The General: [looks at Lenihan] And where would you stand, Sean?
- Sean Lenihan: [looks directly at the General] Damn well you know.
- The General: [folds his arms] We've fought shoulder to shoulder for so long. Wouldn't like us to end up pointing guns at each other.
- Sean Lenihan: Then don't settle for anything less than a republic. Why do you think they come crawling to you with their peace feelers? Not because of the mass meetings, the pamphlets, or the poets crying aloud about the Black and Tan tyranny, and Ireland's suffering. No! Because we've got them on the run! We're beating them at their own game with the rifle and the revolver and the bomb and the crackling of the flames!
- The General: [indignantly] The only thing to do about any war is to end it, with dignity and honor!
- [Lenihan slams his hand on the table]
- The General: It'll be a fair treaty! A general amnesty, freedom for all political prisoners, our own parliament.
- [the General leans back in his seat]
- The General: [with rising frustration] What good is a republic if there's no one left to enjoy it? How much longer can we Wade through the blood of our own countrymen?
- [Lenihan glares at the General as he points at the table]
- Sean Lenihan: To the last man, we said. Now you think of that when you pick up your pen.
- [Lenihan turns and exits the room, closing the door on the way out]
- [Jennifer Curtis and Kerry O'Shea can be seen on top of the lighthouse and watching the view]
- Jennifer Curtis: Wouldn't your Commandant consider this against orders?
- Kerry O'Shea: There's no specific order against having a breath of fresh air.
- Jennifer Curtis: [smiles] What if I try to escape?
- Kerry O'Shea: [returns the smile] There's just one way.
- [O'Shea and Curtis both look down to see the edge of a cliff, with water below]
- Jennifer Curtis: I see what you mean. You know, I've had a lot of time to think. Staring at my four walls this last week. I've wondered about you. You don't seem like the others.
- Kerry O'Shea: Why?
- Jennifer Curtis: [laughing] For one thing, you're an American. Tell me, why did you come to Ireland?
- Kerry O'Shea: To study at the College of Surgeons.
- Jennifer Curtis: Aren't there plenty of good medical schools in America?
- Kerry O'Shea: Yeah, I guess there are. But it was a wish of my mother's, the school my father went to.
- Jennifer Curtis: And what will do you when it's over?
- Kerry O'Shea: Go back to America, after I finish my studies, and then I'll become a doctor, I guess.
- Jennifer Curtis: It's odd, isn't it? Standing together at the top of a lighthouse exchanging life histories. It's as though we were at a dance somewhere, and the world was at peace, and you'd taken me out onto the terrace for a breath of fresh air. And the music was coming from the ballroom, and I was thinking, "Well, is this young man going to kiss me? And if he does, what shall I do?"
- [O'Shea approaches Jennifer as she does the same. The two of them then embrace and share a kiss. After a few seconds, they release each other]
- Jennifer Curtis: Oh, it's all so hopeless and confused. We don't belong here, you and I. You're a doctor. You're not meant to be killing. But we could get away.
- [the two of them embrace again]
- Jennifer Curtis: I know my father would help us, he'd see that you got safely to America, then I could join you there. Anyway, just as long as we're together. Please, take me away from here, please.
- [Kerry releases Jennifer as he looks at her with a seemingly sarcastic smile]
- Kerry O'Shea: [nodding] Well, not bad, Mrs. Curtis. Not bad at all. For a second you almost had me fooled.
- Jennifer Curtis: What do you expect me to do? Stand around waiting for your firing squad?
- Kerry O'Shea: Oh, you're quitting so soon?
- Jennifer Curtis: Oh, what does it matter now? What difference does it make?
- Kerry O'Shea: You got a pretty small bag of tricks, don't you? Or maybe I just didn't give you a chance to drag them all out. Tell me, just how far would you have gone?
- Jennifer Curtis: [looks directly at Kerry] I would've done anything to get away from here.
- Kerry O'Shea: There's just one thing wrong, though. You couldn't have fooled me even for a second, if there hadn't been something there to believe.
- [the two of them embrace again before sharing another kiss]
- [during the dock shootout. Kerry O'Shea can be seen firing a pistol. When he tries to fire it again, he sees that it's out of ammunition. He then proceeds to take cover as he begins to reload his pistol]
- Kerry O'Shea: Draw their fire!
- [Jennifer Curtis can be seen sleeping in her chamber. A few seconds later, the door opens. She walks up and looks towards the entrance to see Sean Lenihan standing in the doorway]
- Sean Lenihan: Mrs. Curtis? Get up.
- [Jennifer gets up and turns towards Lenihan]
- Jennifer Curtis: What is it? What's happened?
- Sean Lenihan: Lady Fitzhugh is dead.
- [Jennifer stands up as Lenihan approaches. When he reaches her, he stops and hands her a bible. She takes it as she looks at Lenihan with an expression of fear in her eyes. Lenihan stares at her for a few seconds before he turns and leaves the room]
- [Sean Lenihan can be seen confronting Elieen O'Leary in her apartment. He stares at her with increasing anger]
- Sean Lenihan: You're keeping no appointment tonight or any other night.
- [Lenihan grabs a pearl necklace that Eileen is wearing and yanks it, pulling it off of her neck and shattering it. Elieen looks shocked as she kneels on the floor in an attempt to pick up the pearls. She appears devastated as Kerry O'Shea walks over to view the scene]
- Eileen O'Leary: I didn't know what else to do. With my brother dead for the cause, how else could I look after her?
- Sean Lenihan: Find some other way. Others have. We're fighting to keep Ireland a fit place to live in.
- [Lenihan turns and leaves as O'Shea watches with a look of surprise and confusion on his face]
- [following their escape from the army headquarters, Sean Lenihan and Chris Noonan can be seen in the back of a truck with an alive yet beaten Kerry O'Shea]
- Sean Lenihan: I'm sorry, Kerry, but I've got to ask you. A great many lives depend on it. Did you tell them anything?
- [Kerry shakes his head]
- Sean Lenihan: Are you sure? Nothing at all?
- [Kerry smiles and nods]
- Sean Lenihan: Well, we've got his name. The man who did it, and we'll pay him back for you, 10,000 times over.
- [Lenihan looks at Noonan]
- Sean Lenihan: You were right, Chris. I should have known.
- [Having rescued Kerry O'Shea, Sean Lenihan and a few of his men can be seen arriving at their base. As they arrive, Tom Cassidy appears and approaches Lenihan]
- Sean Lenihan: Get the truck, Cassidy. I'll be going back to Dublin as soon as I get O'Shea patched up.
- Tom Cassidy: Right, Commandant.
- [Lenihan pats Cassidy's shoulder before the latter heads towards the truck. As Lenihan passes a nearby lighthouse, a man can be seen standing at the top. This is Doyle]
- Doyle: Commandant!
- Sean Lenihan: What is it?
- Doyle: Boat's coming in.
- Sean Lenihan: Right, Doyle.
- [Lenihan turns and continues following his men]
- [Kerry O'Shea can be seen in an office at the underground base in Dublin. Sitting at a desk is The General, who looks up at Kerry while Sean Lenihan watches]
- The General: Well, you're Kerry O'Shea, are you?
- [the General looks at Lenihan]
- The General: You're right, Sean. He does look like him at that.
- [the General stands up from his chair]
- The General: Taller than Terence was though, wouldn't you say? But with the same stubborn look around the eyes.
- [Kerry looks at the General for a few seconds before the latter picks up a coat and drapes it over his chair]
- The General: Oh, a stubborn mane your father was. We used to fight like corner boys when we were children, though many's the time we fought side by side when we were grown up and... had something real to fight for. I've in mind the last time, the day of the raid, when your father got the bullet that was intended for me.
- [Kerry takes another look at the General as he attempts to understand what he's hearing]
- The General: He'd have bled to death right there on the cold marble floor if the Commandant here hadn't carried him out. Slung him over his shoulder like a fireman with the bullets whistling around him.
- [O'Shea looks at Lenihan again as the General returns to his chair and sits down]
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