I don't quite know how
to explain this, Mr. Taffin,
but... it's been months now.
I'm at my wit's end.
I'm going to be chairman
of the rotary this year.
I can't have any v*olence,
any trouble.
But you do want your money,
don't you?
My suppliers are threatening to
cut me off. I must have it.
Just write down
who owes you the money,
how long for
and the name and address.
I'm sorry, sir, but we're closed.
The door was open.
The restaurant is closed.
That may be, but
I'm here on business...
to see a Mr. malley.
Who wants him?
[Chuckles]
[Clicking tongue]
You're a very naughty boy,
Mr. malley,
if you owe Mr. Shaw,
your butcher--
what is it--
What's it to you?
Well, uh, I'm here
to clear the debt up.
Wait a minute. I know who you are. Eric!
What's going on? This joker
here is threatening me.
Now, I haven't
threatened anybody yet.
This is a family business.
Oh.
We're all brothers. We stick
together, back each other up.
- Know what I mean?
- Sure.
Out.
Now, listen. Just a second. I'm sure
we can come to some kind of arran--
[chuckles]
I'm very sorry, gentlemen.
You're making me very nervous,
that's all.
Ahh!
Okay. That's it.
[Both grunting]
You're very cute.
[Groaning]
Gentlemen.
Gentlemen,
wouldn't it be a lot simpler
to pay Mr. Shaw's bill, huh?
We haven't got any money. Right.
I thought
you might say that.
Here you go.
It's a receipt
for that car of yours outside.
I'm not selling that car
for three and a half grand.
Oh, yes, you are... Until
Mr. Shaw gets that money.
Sign! Come on!
And there. I'll keep the
car until he gets paid.
The keys.
There's a good boy.
There you go.
There you go.
Mark, some fellow called
in looking for you.
Said he'd be back in later.
Thank you, Liam.
Cheers.
Hi, mark. How are you doin'?
There's a rover in the car park.
Put it in your garage for a
couple of days? Sure, sure.
Are you going to the match?
Trying to.
[Phone rings]
Yep.
Hello? Speaking.
The pool hall.
How much does he owe?
I'll collect it tonight.
Okay. Don't worry.
There you go, maeve.
Good job.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Hello.
How are you?
Hello. Got you some fresh fruit.
Any chance of a cup of tea?
There were three young
lads looking for you.
I asked them to wait out there.
I see.
Away from that, you cheeky thing.
Very good.
Very good!
Uh, you wouldn't mind bringing
the tea out to me, would you?
¶ [Whistling]
Kev.
You sure this
is the right place?
He leave all this stuff
lying around?
Anybody could take it.
Yeah, but who's
got the nerve?
I don't think there's anything
there belonging to you.
You'd be welcome to borrow one
or two of the books if you like.
Some of them
are hard to come by.
What is it you want?
We need some help.
We're in a rock group. We spent
all our savings to buy a van...
To take the gear
to gigs.
The first night we used it,
it broke down.
The engine's banjaxed.
It'd cost more to fix it
than we what we paid for it.
The bloke we bought it from won't
change it or fix it either.
I see. So what do you
expect me to do?
Well, we thought
you might see him for us.
You're big lads.
You should be able to take care
of this situation yourselves.
Yeah, we tried, but he's got a
couple of heavies working for him.
We got nowhere.
We'll pay you.
You wouldn't be able
to afford me.
[Groans]
Come on, lads.
Wait a minute.
I won't help you, but
I'll tell you what to do.
We, uh, heard your insurance
might not be fully up to date.
Piss off, Sonny. Careful.
We might start a fire.
I'll settle this,
Dave.
Are you going to guard this
place 24 hours a day? Are you?
Easy. You, uh--
you want your motor fixed.
Is that it?
No, we want
what we paid for--
a van that works.
[Men laughing, shouting]
[Car door closes]
It worked!
It bloody worked!
Come on, doll. Be nice to me for a change.
Les, stop it and go play with yourself.
I swear you won't go blind.
Come on, love. You're mad
for me and you know it.
I'm working for you. That's all.
Never mind that.
Concentrate on the boss.
You've got to learn
to play your cards right, doll.
Yeah, what is it, Dave?
, who is he? [Dave] He's a collector.
Get Harry.
See if Frank's still here.
[Muttering]
Scotch for Harry, love.
Thanks.
What does he want?
Quiet game of snooker?
Frank'll be down.
Right.
Doll, drink for Dave.
Same again, love.
Someone's done
a very nice job for you.
About 2,850's worth,
I'd say.
[Scoffs] You've got some
bloody nerve, mate.
No sense,
but bloody nerve.
[Sets drink down]
Pass this over to my friend,
would you?
Games, eh?
If I were you,
I'd take my hand off him.
He's a very unpredictable
sort of fellow. [Grunts]
Now, look, "tiffin,"
or whatever
your f*cking name is--
out.
Taffin.
- f*ck it. I don't--
- [Glass cracking]
No, no, no.
Jesus Christ.
My hand!
For Christ's sake!
[Panting]
I believe I mentioned the sum. Ow!
[Panting continues] I don't
have that sort of money.
- [Glass breaks]
- All right, all right. Dave, the box.
Okay. Give it
to my mate over there.
Shh.
There.
That didn't hurt a bit,
did it?
[Liquid hits wall]
[Sighs]
Hey, wait a minute.
I need a lift.
Okay?
Sure.
Aren't you coming in?
I'd like to, but I've got some business
to do that's going to take an hour or so.
I'd hate to wake you up.
No need.
[Door closes]
[Button hits floor]
[Buttons hit floor]
[Both grunt]
Hey. All right. How are you doin'?
How are you keeping yourself? Okay.
Ah, mo, this is Charlotte.
My brother, Morris.
Hi.
Nice to meet you.
There's a few fresh mackerel there.
Oh, good.
Can you give 'em to mum? Sure.
I've got to tie up here and
do a few things. That's okay.
[Mutters]
Mr. Taffin.
Good morning.
You didn't have to come here. I would
have come around to your place.
You said you needed
the money desperately.
Now here it is, minus my 20%.
[Paper tearing]
I didn't mean--
look, I am desperate.
It's just that...
I depend on other people for my
living, and if my customers--
Mr. Flaherty,
it seems to me that cowardice is a
terrible price to pay for respectability.
Next time...
Collect it yourself.
[Sighs]
[Shouting]
[Shouting continues]
What do you think?
I think our team's
going to win.
Mark, you know
what I mean.
Well, if you mean, what am
I going to do about this,
the answer's nothing.
[Whistles]
Come on, there!
Did you show mark
that piece in the paper?
He wasn't interested. Can't
you have a word with him, ma?
I cannot.
Your brother is big enough
to make his own decisions.
Even when they are wrong.
Would you all mind not talking
about me as if I wasn't here?
If people want me to do something
for them, let them ask.
- Fat chance of that. - She's right.
- Then they can bloody well go--
- language.
- Sorry.
Mark, if the people in the
town are too suspicious...
Or too scared to ask you
for your help publicly,
then don't you see
that if you offer it to them,
they won't feel that way
about you anymore?
Whether they know it or not,
they need you.
- On their own, they got no chance.
- I heard you, mo!
[Inaudible]
[Auctioneer hawking]
[Cows lowing]
[Men shouting out bids]
[Auctioneer continues]
Mr. Gibson, isn't it? Yeah.
That's councillor Gibson?
Who might you be?
The name's Taffin. Mark Taffin.
I'd like a word with you.
I hardly think this
is the time or the--
would you mind
taking your hand off my arm?
Certainly, councillor.
No pressure.
I'm very glad to hear that. But
we can't talk here now, can we?
I've got a solution.
All I need
is your support.
Outside.
[Sheep bleating]
A solution to what,
might I ask?
Give me the walking stick,
and I'll show you.
The road,
greylings meadow
and the sports field.
And this is where
you're planning to build.
Now, wait a minute. Who
said anything about build?
It's none of my business...
What you or anybody else
builds on that land.
But whatever it is, you're going
to need access to the road, right?
That means either cutting through
the sports field here...
Or greylings meadow alongside.
Now,
it would seem a great pity to tear
up the town's sports field...
When you have this field
sitting right beside it.
There's precious few amenities
besides the sports field...
And father Donohue's sermon
in this town.
There's one thing you're
overlooking, Mr. Taffin.
That is that we don't know
who owns greylings meadow.
That isn't possible.
We've tried everything.
It disappears
somewhere between...
Liechtenstein...
And the Cayman Islands.
Huh? [Chuckles]
We can hardly go slappin'
a compulsory purchase order...
On someone we can't
put a name on, can we, now?
Huh?
The sports field,
on the other hand--
regrettable,
I grant you that.
But the title provides no...
Legal complications.
But I know
who owns the meadow.
You do?
Can you prove it...
legally?
I'll be in touch, councillor.
This reminds me of a loft
I once stayed in...
In New York.
Yeah?
Ever been to New York, Taffin?
I haven't.
- Paris?
- Uh-uh.
- London?
- Yeah.
But we're not going through
the whole atlas, are we? No.
But I just wonder what a man like
you is doing in a place like this.
Ah, well.
What's a girl like you
doing in a place like this?
That's easy. I met this guy on
a plane coming back from oslo.
Oh, oslo. That's another
place I haven't been to.
Yeah? I'll tell you why
I went there later.
He was a pilot. Anyway, we decided
to have a holiday together...
Driving around Ireland.
But things didn't work out
between us. We had a fight.
He jumped into the car and drove
off with most of my stuff,
and les, from the snooker hall, saw
the whole thing, offered me a job.
I was broke, so I took it. Ah.
Cemeteries are full of girls who
took it because they were broke.
Cemeteries and marriages.
Now, what's your story?
Ah, my story.
Well, this is my hometown.
I don't need a story.
I was born here.
I went to school here.
I like it here.
There's work,
good booze,
and every now and then a beautiful
girl drops in from oslo.
Come here. Come here.
Mr. Henderson?
Mr. Henderson!
[g*nsh*t]
[Henderson]
Bugger off, whoever you are!
It's mark Taffin,
Mr. Henderson.
[g*nsh*t]
This is your lucky day,
Mr. Henderson.
I've come to offer to buy greylings
meadow on behalf of the council.
It's nothing to do with me!
Oh, come on, now, Mr. Henderson.
I was born here.
Everyone knows you
own that piece of land.
Everyone knows there's God the father,
God the son and God the holy spirit too!
- But you prove it, my lad!
- Listen. Listen.
This is just business,
Mr. Henderson.
- [g*nsh*t]
- [Henderson screaming]
[Shutter clicking]
You're late.
How did you get up here? I walked.
Loony Henderson doesn't drive.
- [Clicking continues]
- You told me nobody could find out...
About the ownership
of greylings meadow.
You said you'd fixed it.
I still think I have.
Just keep your nerve.
If anybody traces it to you,
the council'll have to buy the
meadow instead of the sports field.
Well, as long as the price is
right, what's the difference?
I don't care who I sell to.
That's the whole point.
We can get ten times the price
for it as building land.
Sixty/forty.
Yes, yes.
Just a couple more weeks,
and you'll get an offer from the Cayman
island company that you can retire on.
[Chuckling]
[Woman chuckling]
[Man chuckling]
The next thing he knew he
was plucking his backside.
Tom, why haven't you
introduced me to mark before?
Mr. Taffin,
this is very unexpected.
I told you
I'd call back.
Anyway,
to finish the story,
this fellow says, "and what would you
be wanting with the three of them?"
And my friend says,
"ask your wife."
[Laughing] Hmm? [Chuckling]
Valerie, could I ask you
to excuse us a moment?
If you're going to be boring
and talk about business?
Of course.
I'll be in the kitchen.
Perhaps you'll stay
for lunch, mark.
Oh. That's very kind of you, Mrs. Gibson.
Very kind indeed.
So, Mr. Taffin,
what's so urgent
that you need to see me here?
The name of the man who owns
greylings meadow is Henderson.
But you know that already,
don't you?
I don't know
what you're talking about.
So? You have a photograph of me
talking to a man called Henderson.
I don't see
what that proves.
Proof is for judges and
good whiskey, Mr. Gibson.
There are other kinds
of evidence.
You may find that harder
than you think, my friend.
What I think, my friend, is that you
should tell old man Henderson...
Whatever deal you've cooked up
between yourselves is off.
And just what authority are you
speaking to me, Mr. Taffin?
Why should I take any notice
of you at all?
Because of the photograph, of course.
Don't be ridiculous!
Oh, not that one.
This one.
Very pretty, isn't she?
Oh, yes.
Athletic too.
Hardly any older than
that young daughter of yours...
Away at that expensive boarding
school I've been hearing about.
Tell Valerie
I can't stay for lunch.
Another time,
perhaps.
Cheerio.
Mr. Henderson, be reasonable.
This is no way to do business.
You get off my land!
And stay off,
you dirty fucker!
- I only want to talk to you.
- Well, I don't want to talk to you!
- [g*nsh*t]
- [Man] All right. All right.
All right. I give in.
You're a harder man than me.
While I have your attention
now, Mr. Henderson--
I'll blow your brains out if you're there
when I come out. Now, calm down now.
Don't think I won't! There's
no need to get excited.
It's very bad
for a man your age.
Now that your deal
with Gibson's off,
out of the goodness of your heart, I
want you to contact the council...
And tell them that
you own greylings meadow...
And that you'll sell it to them at
the best price they can afford.
Have you got that, now? Out
of the goodness of my heart!
Are you threatening me,
you bastard?
Of course I'm threatening,
you silly old sod.
Has it just sunk in?
Dear God,
I must be slipping.
All right!
You should be more careful
about what you eat.
That and a few
other things too.
You're dead, Taffin.
I warned you, didn't I?
You're dead!
Not today,
I don't think.
Tomorrow by 12:00,
I want to hear that you've been to the
council offices, or I'll be back.
And I won't be selling subscriptions
for reader's digest either.
[Door opens, closes]
[Cash register dinging]
[People chattering]
It's on the house,
mo,
and drinks for your brother
tonight and every other night.
Courtesy of these good people here.
It's official.
Henderson is selling greylings
meadow to the council.
The sports field is safe. [Chuckling]
Cheers.
My dear tom,
I do sympathize.
You've lost
a nice little profit,
but I really couldn't afford
a public row at this stage.
These were only
the pickings.
The gravy train hasn't even left
the station yet. [Chuckles]
Come and have a look
at the revised model.
Hello, tom.
Hello.
Impressive, eh?
Mm.
I'd say.
You have everything you need, gentlemen?
Yes. Thank you, love.
Now, we have had to leave
the sports field alone,
so we put the access road
through the meadow instead.
We shall have to spread this part of the
plant a little further to the west.
It's no problem. Provided some other
smart aleck doesn't fancy his chances...
As a tribune
of the people.
The reason that I have invited
you all here today, gentlemen,
is to meet my associate
in this enterprise--
my associate
and from now on, yours.
Ah.
Charles, welcome.
Hello. How do you do?
Do come in.
[Chattering]
Charles, come along in
and meet everybody.
You haven't met my wife, jacqueline.
Charles sprawley.
Councillor hart.
Nice to meet you.
You know councillor Gibson, of course.
Oh, yes.
And from the planning committee,
councillor Wright. Charles sprawley.
It was hardly worth
driving up for.
It's always worth
driving up.
When little people
are on the take,
they need
to feel respected.
Thinking of what we're
going to do with the money?
Mm. Never having
to do this again.
Be lovely, won't it?
Bliss.
[Inaudible]
[Car approaching]
In the absence of any further questions,
I now propose that we take a vote.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
There has been no public debate on
this proposed chemical factory.
- Will you please be quiet?
- I am a rate payer and a citizen.
- I have a right to be heard.
- No one has a right...
To create a disturbance
at a council meeting.
Asking a question
is not creating a disturbance.
Your questions
have been answered.
My question,
like all my questions,
has been deliberately evaded
by your committee.
You leave me no alternative.
Remove him, please.
You may silence me now, but you will not
silence the voice of public opinion.
The people of this town
will not keep quiet...
While a bunch of gutless,
greedy men...
Who are supposed to be looking
after their interests...
Destroy the environment
for profit!
[Men murmuring]
[Door closes]
Excuse me. Uh, just a chat, Mr. O'Rourke.
Look.
Get out of my way.
Not until I have said
what I am here to say.
And you had
better listen too,
or I will make you sh*t
good and hard!
Ah. I know
why you're here!
Yes, well, if you do, you know
I'm here for work, Mr. O'Rourke.
Just work.
Me and my friends.
And we don't like anybody interfering
with our work, you understand?
Union man, are you?
[Chuckling]
Oh, we don't need unions,
Mr. O'Rourke.
We take care
of our own problems.
Are you hearing me?
I said,
"are you hearing me?"
Yes, I hear you.
Good.
Good!
Mr. O'Rourke.
Well, more or less
what I expected.
Morality
and the political dilemma.
[Chuckling]
Still entranced by the same old
intellectual baubles, I see.
And you'd still sooner bend the
knee than stretch the mind.
[O'Rourke] Well, it's certainly the library
of a man still looking for the truth.
[Mark] Isn't that a lifelong search? No.
Not if you have the good fortune
to discover a simple faith.
Still looking.
Grace is there, mark,
like soft falling rain.
Those rigid ideas that
you used to teach us.
"Rigid." Now, there's
a word we might debate.
Mm. But would
we say anything new?
Probably not.
[Chuckles]
You know, while the rest of them are
writing down everything we told them,
you just kept on
asking questions.
Did you dislike us
so much?
I liked you.
I listened.
I tried.
They were all
well-meaning men.
Well, all except
father James.
[Chuckles]
Poor father James.
They sent him off to some very
remote mission, you know. Oh.
He is said to be doing wonders bringing
the lord's word to the people of Gambia.
And you, mark,
even when you left,
it was commonly agreed that you would
do something useful with your life.
Yes, well, the people of Gambia
will survive without my services.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- They'll never know what they missed.
- About you?
- I'm doing what I can, you know!
You know better
than what you're doing.
Hmm.
I hear they retired you
last year.
Did you put them in danger
of some real ideas?
I take seminars
twice a week still.
Seminal seminars
for seminarians.
The college, nowadays,
encourages more
instruction from people
outside the priesthood.
Hmm. They might even get around
to having someone like me...
Give a class or two
on the real world.
I wonder,
are you qualified for that.
Mark, I need your help.
Hmm?
I'm trying to organize a committee
to fight the building...
Of that industrial monstrosity
next to the sports field.
The town needs jobs. But not
from a chemical factory.
That's likely
to poison the lot of us.
Chemical factory.
Is that what it is?
The committee is trying to raise
funds to oppose the building.
And you want a contribution
from me, is that it?
It's not going to be settled
by civilized debate.
Well, what is? There's far
too much money at stake.
It's got rough already,
and it'll get rougher.
Now, whatever I may think
about your life now, mark,
you've got the skills
that we need.
[Clears throat]
Look, I've done my bit.
If these people own
that piece of property...
And it's all neat and legal,
then it's their business.
They've got planning permission,
environmental rights.
-These are vicious, greedy, corrupt men
we're dealing with. -Pray for them.
We need everyone we can get
on our side.
- I can't change the world that we live in!
- What's the point in life...
If we don't try to do
just that?
I thought the only thing that you and
I disagreed about was how to do it!
[Descending footsteps]
Excuse me.
Now, I have seen the effect of this
type of chemical plant before.
I have seen the effect
it has on the environment.
The trees are defoliated.
The grass doesn't grow.
Shrubs turn yellow and die.
Now, if that is the sort of effect
these fumes have on plants,
what about the effect
on your children?
What about the effect
on you?
Now, you will be
given printed fact sheets,
which I want you to hand out
when we get to the square.
I want you to tell people
what's happening.
I want you to explain
to them the horrors...
That this type of chemical plant
can bring to our community.
[Chattering]
[Shouting in protest]
Move out of the way!
Yeah! Excuse me!
[Shouting continues] Don't
leave that vehicle there!
Move the car!
Hey!
Hey, you can't park that vehicle there!
These people are--
[pounding on car]
Move out of the way!
- Excuse me! - Come back here!
- [Chattering]
Look, we're going to have
to hold it a moment, everybody.
There seems to be
a bit of a problem,
and the colonel and Tony
have gone to sort it out.
Excuse me. Do you mind removing your car?
Just a minute.
What? You're blocking the way.
Yeah. Yeah.
In a minute.
Now. If you don't mind.
I'm sorry.
I'm being interrupted.
I said I'd be done
in a minute!
Now, look here. These people
are lawfully gathered...
To proceed on a peaceable march of protest.
And you listen to me,
you stupid old fart.
If you interrupt me once more
about the-- [Car horn honking]
[Chattering]
[Honking continues]
What the--
[chattering continues]
[Chuckling]
So you're the joker.
I think you
need a change of scenery.
God knows, we do.
Not till I'm finished here.
No, you're finished here.
You're just too thick
to know it.
I'd shift that
if I was you.
Hey! Hey, garda!
Hey, listen. Listen.
No, no, listen. Take it easy.
Take it easy, garda.
There's no problem. Is
this your car, sir?
Garda, I didn't leave it.
Can I see your license?
¶ [Rock]
[Chattering]
He's still in the back if you
want to see him. All right.
Mr. Taffin?
Thanks for sorting out
that spot of bother today.
I haven't agreed to help.
I was just passing. What?
I said, "I haven't agreed to help!
I was just passing!"
Shall we stop for a Chinese
on the way home? Sure.
[Chuckles] You know,
you're a pushover, Taffin.
Me? A pushover?
For a girl who knows
where to push.
You're very bold. Very bold. [Chuckling]
See you there!
[Tires screech]
Get off, Rosie.
Get him!
[Yelling]
- Aah!
- [Screaming]
Get 'em! Get 'em! Get over here!
[Screaming]
[Yells]
- [Women screaming, shouting]
- Get him!
Let us go!
Stop him!
[Charlotte] Let him go! [Grunting]
[Blows landing]
[Grunting continues]
[Man]
Do it! Do it!
[Charlotte]
No! No!
[Laughing]
Lift him! Lift him!
[Yelling] [Man] That's enough!
[Men shouting]
Come on!
g*dd*mn you!
Come on!
[All panting]
[Speaks, indistinct]
[Crying]
[Mark groaning]
[Truck engine starts]
[Truck departing]
[Crying continues]
Over! Over!
Over!
More! More!
Stop!
[Exhaling forcefully]
You know, you're meant
to be taking things easy.
That's exactly the way
I was planning it.
[Exhaling continues]
You know,
I don't get it.
A man like you
doing what you do.
Judge not, lest you be judged. I'm not.
Then what does that mean?
"A man like me"?
Educated and evasive.
- Education is a process, not a result.
- See what I mean?
What did they teach you
in that seminary?
That priests
don't change things,
only people do.
Whatever demons you found there
are still after you.
You're hiding away here.
That's all it is.
You should be out somewhere
doing something for yourself.
Don't lecture me, Charlotte.
We're not that far
down the road yet.
No, we're not,
are we?
[Sighs]
[Groans]
Ah, sh*t.
[Grunts]
Hi.
I thought you were asleep. No.
How are
you feeling?
On a good day,
bloody awful.
[Groans] Look, I've got
to go to the doctor.
I'll see you later, okay? Okay.
Thanks for the beer.
Okay. Bye.
Mark, you're not thinking of getting
involved in all this again, are you?
They're too big.
There's too many of them.
Hi, mo.
How's the patient?
I'm trying to persuade him to let it go.
Let what go?
The whole thing.
The chemical plant.
It'll happen again.
And they can send more
and more thugs down here.
I know you're right, but he won't listen.
It's like talking to a brick wall.
What the hell do you know?
What is this, some
crappy macho prerogative?
A topic women can't discuss?
What goes on in this town
is none of your business!
- As long as I'm living here, it is!
- Then maybe you shouldn't...
Be living here!
Well, that's easily fixed.
I've been straight with you. I only wish
you'd had the guts to be straight with me.
I don't think I'm the sort of
company you'll be needing anymore.
Charlotte, he didn't mean it.
It's okay, mo. I had a
life before I met this guy.
I'll have a life
without him.
I'll pick up the rest
of my stuff later.
It's time
you owned up.
You should have told her
you were sorry.
[Chattering]
[Chuckling]
[Chuckling continues]
Uh-oh.
Afternoon, lads.
Huh?
How's it going?
Good morning to you,
squire.
Jesus.
Too good for us,
huh, Michael? Huh?
Yeah. I'll have three pints
there, please, landlord.
Three pints there,
please, maeve.
- What do I owe you?
- Three pounds, ninety-six.
[Chuckling]
That's a bit much.
I'll tell you what, granddad.
I'll make you an offer.
That will be three pounds,
ninety-six, please, gentlemen.
"Gentlemen." Get that now, will you?
Gentlemen. Well, pay the man, Seamus.
It wouldn't do to upset the
management, now, would it?
Yeah, you're right.
[Chuckles]
I think they don't
like us around here,
considering what they did to
our nice little billboard.
[Cash register dinging] So you heard
about that, then, did you, huh?
Oh, no. No. No.
Oh, I just thought
you looked interested.
No, not at all.
Uh-huh.
Well,
I say you were.
Look, I'm too old
to be afraid of you.
You're only wasting your time. [Chuckles]
A big hero, huh?
Let me tell you something,
old man!
One moment, please,
gentlemen.
I can have the police
around here in two minutes.
And I will.
All right.
No trouble.
None at all, huh?
[Chuckles]
Come on, lads.
Don't want any
misunderstandings, now, do we?
Let's keep ourselves
to our...Selves, huh?
Soldier.
[Murmuring]
Oh, girls, come on.
What's the hurry, huh?
Is it the wrong aftershave again?
[Chuckles]
Well, I thought that was going to
turn nasty in there for a minute.
Liam only just
got us out of it.
Didn't he just?
[Chuckling] Well, it looks
like standing room only, lads.
Don't let me rush you, gentlemen.
We can wait.
Excuse me, please. Nice manners, hasn't he?
Lovely. Look, we've had enough of this.
I've already asked you nicely.
Who did it last night?
I haven't had me piss yet. I can't do
it with these three buggers in me way.
Don't worry, me old son.
They won't bother you.
[Zipper unzips]
[Trickling] [Sighs] That's better.
Wait a minute. You can't do that.
You can't do what?
Leave it, mo.
You heard me.
You're just a bunch of thugs, and we
don't like your sort 'round here.
You. You're that bastard
Taffin's brother!
So what if I am?
He's not, is he?
[Grunts]
[Laughing]
[O'Rourke] Okay. Yes. We need employment.
Of course we need employment.
People don't realize what's going on. That
monstrosity will be sitting up there.
The people of this town still don't
know how they've been duped.
And those of us who've tried
to tell them have been silenced.
Look what they did to you,
Taffin.
You know what's going to
happen when the people
finally wake up? They're
going to find...
That they have a stinking, poisonous
factory on the edge of town...
Turning their air
into unbreathable gas,
cramming their streets
with juggernauts...
That at a touch of a match
will go up like an inferno.
-But by then, it'll be too late. -What
makes you think it's not too late now?
-Well, the thing isn't built yet.
-But it's all approved, legally.
But that was a legal farce.
And you know it.
Many a matter's d*ed
because of a legal farce.
We want you to stop the building.
Get rid of them.
You don't know what you're asking me to do.
We don't care how it's done.
No questions asked.
We're prepared to pay.
Is that what
you're asking me too?
No questions?
Say it, damn you!
Yes. It's
the only way, mark.
So after
all these years, huh?
The end finally justifies
the means, is that it?
- We're asking you for help, mark.
- My help has consequences.
- Will you live with those?
- No k*lling, for God's sake!
Oh, no k*lling.
Right.
So what will square with your conscience?
A little arm-twisting? Yes?
A knee in the groin? All right.
A broken nose? If I must.
But it grows, doesn't it? A ruptured
spleen, torn arteries, razor cuts--
all right. That's enough. If
it's me you want, deal with me.
I'll take responsibility for my decisions.
But don't take it out on these people.
They've come to you for help, mark.
That's all they've asked. Help.
All right.
All right.
I'll help... on one condition.
When you turn against me, as
you surely will, you remember:
I am only your w*apon.
I don't think there's going
to be any more trouble now.
Their protest has been lodged,
their positions
made clear.
They were ignored.
That's democracy.
I hope you're right.
That Taffin worries me.
He's had a warning.
He was lucky.
Next time, he won't be.
I don't think any
further v*olence is necessary.
After all, we don't want to get
involved with the police, do we?
You let me worry about that. I have
some good friends in the force.
I organized a Christmas
party for them this year.
Middle of July, it was.
Las Vegas.
They had a wonderful time.
Couldn't thank me enough,
but they will.
Just you behave yourself, or I'll
tell your wife you're in here today.
¶ [Sound system:
Rock]
Well, there's a picture
for the family album.
Hello, Charlotte.
I didn't have you down
as an admirer of the "ballet."
My cultural tastes are wide. And low.
Can we talk?
Don't you want to watch the show?
Is it good?
Very artistic.
Probably go
right over my head. Uh--
I was wrong
the other night.
I want you to come--
I'm sorry.
I really am.
Well, I-- I--
huh?
Can we try again?
I don't know.
It's not that easy.
Well, okay, gentlemen
and gentlemen-- I know.
I'm only joking.
If you were gentlemen,
you wouldn't be here.
But it's show time.
So let's have a warm hand-- and I know
you'd love to give a warm hand to...
The lovely Lola!
¶ [Sound system: Funk]
[Crowd cheering, whistling]
[Man growling]
[Men laughing]
That's right, sir!
[Men laughing]
[Whispering,
indistinct]
[Inaudible]
Phone!
[Man]
Yeah!
[Man laughing
uproariously]
[Man] Oh, yeah! Ohh!
Aww.
[Men whistling,
cheering]
[Man]
Oh, come over here, darlin'!
That's it, girl!
[Laughs]
- [Audience cheering]
- Move.
[Man]
Do it again!
Okay. Right. You recovered from her?
Lola. You won't forget her.
Hey, you know, I was talking to
Lola in the dressing room inside.
I asked her, "do you sleep with men?"
She said to me, "that's my business."
I said,
"oh, good, a professional!"
[Men laughing] You know what she is?
She's a nymphomaniac.
She told me this. You know what a
nymphomaniac is, boys, don't you?
It's a girl who can trip a guy and be
under him before he hits the ground.
[Men laughing] [M.C. Continues, indistinct]
Got a cigarette?
What?
All right.
Light it.
Now walk.
No! Jesus!
Put that out,
you crazy bastard!
They poured petrol
all over me.
[Crying out]
Jesus!
Come on, come on,
come on!
Now, we'll behave ourselves, won't we?
[Cries out, grunts]
¶ [Sound system: Rock]
[Man]
Oh, hello!
[Men whooping]
[Men whistling]
[Man]
Ho-ho!
Hey, I want a word with you.
I'm a busy man.
You best make an appointment.
Now! Is that your motor over there?
Yeah.
I thought so.
No!
[Horn honking]
[Horn honking, tires
screeching] [Inaudible]
[Horn continues
honking]
[Horn honking]
[g*n cocking]
It's you and me.
Stand very still,
my friend,
and I'll tell you
just how fair I'm going to be.
There's two of us...
And one of these.
We'll share it.
[Cries out, grunts,
laughs dementedly]
[Pants, grunts,
laughs dementedly]
[Screams]
[Coughing]
[Choking cough]
Hi.
Jesus!
When you've had a wash, there's some
rubbish up there for you to take home.
[Both grunting,
laughing]
What are you
going to do?
I'm not kidding myself that I
could punch my way through them.
They'll always have three
men to every one of mine.
Besides,
that's not my way.
So what is your way? If you give someone
the choice and make him believe it--
that he can either pay his debts or lose a
finger, he'll make the rational decision.
But not this time.
I don't know.
This time I'm not dealing
with rational people.
They're psychopaths.
You can't take them on,
mark, not by yourself.
Not all of them.
No.
- Leave it be.
- No.
- Please.
- This is far more powerful than this.
Well, at least
it used to be.
[Sighs]
Hey. Have you
forgiven me yet?
I thought it needed penance
to qualify for true forgiveness.
Is that what you want? No.
No, of course not.
It takes two to make a fight.
I should've known
not to put pressure
on someone like you.
You're doing it again,
damn it. "Somebody like me."
I overheard you and O'Rourke
that night he came to see you.
He was right.
I was right.
You should be out there
in the world doing something.
The seminary
was over long ago.
What is it about me that makes you
and O'Rourke so damn scratchy?
- Everything you don't do, but could do.
- You're both pestering me now.
It's not the only thing we have
in common, O'Rourke and me.
He cares about you,
Taffin.
He loves you too,
in his own way.
Don't you know that?
[Whispering]
Come on. Come on.
[Gasping,
whimpering]
Stop! Stop!
Go! Go! Go!
Go!
[Shrieks]
[Crying] Thank you. [Sniffles]
If you hadn't been there, I don't
know what he would've done.
You'd better get in touch
with the police. Yes.
Right.
[Sighs]
I feel safe now,
so safe.
[Both laughing]
Ohh.
[Charlotte screams]
- [Continues screaming]
- What the hell's the matter with you?
[Charlotte] Let me go! Let me go!
[Continues screaming]
Get off me! Are you out of
your mind or something?
[Officer] Come on. This
is absolutely ridiculous.
- He tried to r*pe me.
- Come on.
Come on. Come on. I'm not going anywhere.
[Exhales]
My God,
it was an absolute nightmare.
Mm-hmm.
You do believe me,
don't you?
Yes, of course.
I'll fix something to eat.
Why don't you have a drink?
Good idea.
[Ringing]
Yes? [Man] Mr. Martin, are you there?
Who is this? The name is Taffin.
I believe you know who I am.
I've got nothing to say to you, Taffin.
I'm sorry you feel like that.
Perhaps you should give yourself time
to unwind, pour yourself a drink.
If I hear another squeak out of you,
Taffin, I shall have to take steps.
Mr. Martin,
are you there?
Take the drink, Mr. Martin.
I think you need it.
[Clock chiming]
Come. Sit down.
There's no need
to stand on ceremony.
Get out of here, Taffin,
before I call the police. Ah.
Haven't you had enough
of the police for one day?
What do you want?
I heard what happened today. I thought
I'd just stop by to offer my sympathies,
see if there was anything
I could do to help.
After all,
nobody's above temptation.
It's only human nature to-- help?
- What can you do to help me?
- Ah, now.
That's where you might be
pleasantly surprised, Mr. Martin.
If only you and I could
just, um,
get together,
as it were.
[Phone ringing]
Yeah?
[Woman] A Mr. Martin on the
phone for you, sir. Put him on.
I don't like this any more
than you're going to.
We've got to stop the building.
Late in the day, isn't it?
Yes, I know.
I understand all that.
There's nothing
I can do about it.
I've just signed a
confession which would put
you and me behind bars
for a long time...
If it ever got out.
[Sighs] All right, Gerald. All right.
If you've got a problem,
I respect that.
[Chuckles] I mean, we're all in
this to help each other, right?
And if you want work
to stop tomorrow, so it shall.
We'll see
where we go from there.
Just as soon as I'm sure you're not
even thinking about double-crossing me,
I'll see what can be done
about your other little problem.
We can't risk it, not with sprawley.
Neither of us.
Just think of your wife and those
two boys away at boarding school.
A breath of scandal would
blow a nasty cold wind
through their sheltered
lives, wouldn't it?
- You don't know the man we're up against.
- I think I do.
If I were you, I'd think about
having a holiday very soon.
You look like a man
who needs a break,
preferably not bones.
[All laughing,
chattering]
[All cheering]
I don't know how he did it,
and frankly, I don't care.
The important thing is, it's over. Right.
Give another pint to his
brother up there, Liam. Yeah.
Did you agree
on any sort of price?
Money wasn't mentioned. We've
got to pay him something.
It's his living,
this kind of work.
I think
I've got the answer.
[Phone ringing]
Yeah?
Usual place.
You've lost weight.
What are the details?
What is it?
You've won,
for heaven's sake.
The building's stopped.
I wish
it was that easy.
What do you mean?
Martin was right.
Sprawley isn't
going to leave it there.
He's got another move in him.
[Siren blaring]
I just wish I knew what it was going to be.
What's that?
[Siren continues]
[Fire chief]
More pressure over here, lads.
-Keep that hose on the ceilin'!
-[All shouting]
Another ladder here, please!
Another ladder!
[Officer] Stay back there now. Back now.
[Sirens continue]
Keep those hoses steady! [Man]
That's Taffin and his girlfriend.
[All chattering]
Okay. That's
far enough now.
[Fire chief] More pressure here!
More pressure here!
[Man] What's he doin' here?
Come to look at his handiwork?
They think I did this.
[Fire chief]
As quick as you can, lads.
[Radio chatter]
He told us we'd regret it. He told us.
God in heaven, Liam. Are
we responsible for this?
How was it? They got no proof. Not a thing.
They're damn sure I did it,
just like everyone else.
Come on. Let's go.
[Engine revving]
[Horn honking]
[Man over P.A.] Passengers
are requested not
to leave their baggage
unattended at any time.
Thank you.
I'm sorry, Mr. Taffin.
I'm going to need the space.
Doing some expanding. I can't
let you use it anymore.
Look here. You can't-- forget it, mo.
Forget it.
Hello.
Look, mo, ed. I'd rather
be on me own for a bit.
Do you mind? Hmm?
Sure, mark. Whatever. See you later.
See you later.
Okay.
[Sighs]
That's all the money from
the collection boxes.
It's his by right.
So give it to him,
will you?
Oh, and, uh,
do me a favor, mo.
Ask him not to come here anymore,
'cause he won't get served if he does.
[Phone ringing]
Yes?
- I need one more service, Deacon. - Yeah.
- Insurance against any more trouble.
- Make me an offer.
Four times
the last payment.
Okay.
Why?
You're running away.
I wouldn't say that.
I know you're not doing it because
you're scared, so tell me why.
What's the difference?
Don't forget this.
I'm not touching that money.
It's just money. Take it.
Tell me one thing: Why aren't you using
the confession Gerald Martin gave you?
You could nail sprawley. You
know you could! For what?
For bribing a bunch of greedy nonentities?
There's no proof he k*lled Martin!
There never will be!
Bastards like sprawley get
other people to do their
dirty work for them.
- Where are you going?
- Best you don't know.
Taffin! Sorry. I didn't mean that.
It's safer. That's all.
I'm coming with you. No.
That's not a good idea.
Try stopping me. Look.
I'll send for you. I promise.
As soon as I know where-- where I am.
Trust me, will you?
You're going after sprawley, aren't you?
Look, whatever happened before--
I could return to this
town, no matter what.
I could hide out here.
Sprawley has destroyed even that.
Do you understand?
Taffin-- no, no, no, no. Come on.
So maybe after all, I'll be
obliging you and O'Rourke, eh?
Going out somewhere else
in the world?
Fill her up.
Interesting car.
Yeah.
My friend will pay.
Move, and I'll
blow your head off.
[Chuckles]
How are you, me old mate?
[Grunts] Now. It's a new
kind of safety harness.
Cuts like a Kn*fe through butter with
just one little twist of me hand.
Now, you do
just as I say...
And you!Follow the gentleman's car.
[Car door closing]
Okay.
[Gasping]
Undo one end of the wire...
And make sure
you don't jog my hand.
[Engine revving]
You stupid sod.
[Taffin yells]
[g*nsh*t]
- [g*n cocks]
- [g*nf*re]
- Do you know anybody called Deacon? - Yes.
- He called to confirm your meeting.
- Did he?
Right.
That what this is for?
It's none
of your business.
[Chattering,
laughter]
You spineless bunch
of walking wonders.
Look at you.
You needed him because he could
do what you couldn't do.
Then you turn on him
and leave him on his own...
To face that mob
of psychopaths.
All his life
in this town.
One of your own
since he was a child.
And where were you
when he needed help?
Where?
Afraid of
your own shadows.
I couldn't find one set of balls
between the lot of you.
You're quite a survivor.
I want you
to clear my name.
I want you to tell 'em that it wasn't
me that b*rned Martin and his house.
Why should I do that?
Because I'll k*ll you
if you don't.
Taffin, you're a fool.
[g*nf*re]
[g*nf*re continues]
[Man over P.A.] Attention, please.
The airport express...
Is now loading
at doorway number 14.
Be cool, Charlotte.
Be cool.