The Cry. (1984)

deaddogsdam

First broadcast 21st July 1984.  In Ulster in 1959, a journalist witnesses the beating of a youth.  Adrian Dunbar - Peter Douglas Michael Duffy - Mr. Douglas Doreen Keogh - Mrs. Douglas Breffni McKenna - Michael Ferguson Carol Moore - Siobhán (as Carol Scanlan) Rio Fanning - Dermot Concannon John Keegan - George Harbinson Michael Gormley - Carney Peter Quigley - Joe Doom Oliver Maguire - Priest Denys Hawthorne - RUC District Inspector Stella McCusker - Mrs. Ferguson Birdy Sweeney - Mr. Ferguson Derek Lord - 'B' Special Sergeant David Huntley - 'B' Special Dick Holland - RUC Sergeant Trevor Moore - 'B' Special Maureen Dow - Shop Customer B.J. Hogg - Shop Customer Ainé Gorman - Young Girl Laura Gorman - Young Girl Anthony Frew - RUC Constable James Nesbitt - 'B' Special

Transcript

00:00I don't know what to do.

00:30I don't know.

01:00It was heard at last to say.

01:02Let him go, let him tarry, let him sink or let him swim.

01:06But he doesn't care for me, nor I don't care for him.

01:10He can go and get another that I hope he will enjoy.

01:15For I am going to marry a far nicer boy.

01:24Come on in the back.

01:29He kept tea for you.

01:36Oh, son, you're wonderful.

01:39You've grown.

01:40Don't be down.

01:41Well, he's still died anyway.

01:43It's lovely to see you.

01:44Listen, I've got your room already.

01:46Oh, you would like to go upstairs and have a wash.

01:47Oh, yeah.

01:48I've got your room.

01:49Oh, Miss Kane died, of course.

01:51But that was when you were in Dublin.

01:52How long ago is that now?

01:54Two, two and a half.

01:55Three years ago.

01:56Was it three years?

01:58Mrs. Mooney took to her bed last November and hasn't been up since.

02:03Arthritis, you know.

02:04Remember Tom, her youngest?

02:06He was at St. Kieran's in your time.

02:09Yeah.

02:10You'll never guess where he is now?

02:12Oh, where?

02:13Belfast.

02:13He's got his own TV repair shop on the Grosvenor Road.

02:17Him and Maureen, you never knew her.

02:20They've their own bungalow at Dunrod.

02:22And Maureen's expecting her third.

02:24You'll never believe this.

02:25Tell us about Paul McBride.

02:26He was always good for a laugh.

02:28That was a dreadful thing, too.

02:31Such a nice young fella.

02:33Always a smile.

02:35But the drink got him.

02:37He's in some hospital in Derry.

02:39They say he might never get out.

02:41What a place.

02:42His father was just the same.

02:44Jesus.

02:49You wouldn't think of coming home, then?

02:51Why, here?

02:52Not at all.

02:53I mean, in the six counties.

02:55Belfast or Derry or someplace.

02:56Get a job on one of our own papers.

02:58No, I couldn't do that.

02:59Why not?

03:00Well, it'd be a kind of surrender.

03:01Besides, I like London.

03:03What's so great about it?

03:04Well, the freedom.

03:05Freedom?

03:06What do you mean, son, freedom?

03:09Well, I mean, nobody interferes with you.

03:12Nobody on the Chronicle would ever dream of asking if you were a Catholic or a Protestant,

03:15at least not in the way they do here.

03:18You spent ten years in New York before you come home to settle down.

03:20You know what I'm talking about.

03:26But I was just a short-order cook.

03:28The only people I got to know were the lads in the Shamrock Gaelic Sports Club.

03:32I might as well be in Coal Island.

03:34Exactly.

03:35That's the problem with the Irish.

03:37Take a news agent like this.

03:39He can tell all you want to know about somebody by the newspaper he buys.

03:42Irish news, Belfast newsletters, Sunday Times, News of the World.

03:45In London, you could walk into a shop and ask for Pravda, and nobody would bat an eyelid.

03:50Literally.

03:51Then can you explain, son, why the British have the reputation they have abroad?

03:54Would you like some grapes?

03:55Didn't England interfere with freedom everywhere she went, from India to the north here?

03:58Aye, but, Dad, that's not the real England.

04:01That's the government and the ruling classes.

04:03The real Englishman stands for individual liberty.

04:06Live and let live.

04:09I must never have met a real Englishman, then.

04:15Maybe they're all right when they're at home.

04:23Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.

04:26Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

04:28To thee do we cry for our banished children of Eden.

04:31To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weep in those valleys of tears.

04:36Turn them, most gracious, out the gate, and eyes of mercy towards us.

04:40And after this, our exile is shown to us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

04:44O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,

04:50that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

04:53We offer up this rosary in thanksgiving for the safe return of our beloved Son.

04:58Amen.

04:59In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

05:02Amen.

05:19Amen.

05:20Amen.

05:34Come on, leave him alone!

05:36You stay out of this friend.

05:40Are you going to touch me too?

06:10Come on.

06:40Ina, your breakfast ready!

06:42Aye, I'm coming, I'm coming.

06:44You lay in bed and lung to this type of day.

06:46He's in a great good humor this morning, whatever's wrong here.

06:48Two eggs over, ain't he all right? The old man can do it yet.

06:52What about the BLT on rye? Whole to mayo.

06:56That's for the lunch, kid.

06:58Good morning, son.

06:59That looks very nice.

07:00It's a long time since I had my breakfast made for me.

07:03You wouldn't be it if I did cook it for you.

07:05A bird each morning, are you?

07:07Well, what are you waiting for?

07:09They don't seem to have much of a nap at it in England, whatever else they may have.

07:12No, and they don't seem to cut their toenails either.

07:18Did you hear what happened last night?

07:20I did. Did you?

07:22I only heard the tail end of it, but they're all talking this morning.

07:25What are they saying?

07:26They say the B-special's beat up young Ferguson and afterwards they claim he's in the IRA.

07:31Who's he?

07:31Not at all.

07:33The harmless young lad that was out too late with his girl.

07:36Then why'd they beat him up?

07:38You were born and bred here and you asked me that.

07:42Well, there's been a lot of trouble lately.

07:43The only person he's likely to get into trouble is that girl if it's.

07:46Well, he must have done something.

07:48Not at all.

07:49The B-special's are so anxious to prove their importance strutting about with their wee guns.

07:53Besides, they're wetting themselves with fright and dying to get their own back.

07:58I see.

07:59I see all right.

08:01And a fat lot you've ever done about it.

08:04Well, what do you want me to do about it?

08:05Last night you were talking about Britain and freedom.

08:07Well, there's an example of your British freedom and a fine sight it is.

08:10But what do you want me to do? Go out and look for a gun?

08:12You could do worse.

08:14Only you would faint at the sight of one.

08:15Guns don't solve anything like that.

08:17And what the hell are you going to fight them with then? A portable typewriter?

08:19A fat lot of use. That would be against a Sten gun.

08:22Moral protest is the only answer. I mean, look at Gandhi.

08:25Moral protest, my rat.

08:26The usual kind, Mayor.

08:27How are you going to bring moral protest and bear on books like that?

08:30The usual?

08:30Force only recognises greater force.

08:32But now you know yourself, violence is the wrong way.

08:34It's the only way.

08:35Look, it's not the only way. Look, you ask me what could be done.

08:37Well, I'll tell you what could be done.

08:39A journalist could write an article and expose the whole thing.

08:42Which is, English readers would take one quick look at before turning to the sports pages

08:46and forgetting all about it.

08:47No, they wouldn't.

08:48It would achieve more than a whole battalion in the IRA.

08:51Honest, decent English people would read it and be ashamed of what's being done in their name.

08:55Oh, God love them. And what the hell good would that do?

08:57Well, questions would be asked.

08:59Maybe in Parliament. If not this time, then maybe the next.

09:01And gradually, if they're showing the enormity of what they're doing,

09:04the ruling classes in Ulster will come to their senses.

09:15Well, you're a journalist. Or so you keep telling me.

09:21Now, will you do it? Will you write the article?

09:26Jesus, darling, you've a quite twisted way of asking anybody to do anything.

09:29But will you write it?

09:32I will.

09:36Well, at least they've got you to do something.

09:39You haven't completely lost your Ulster spirit yet.

09:43Yes.

09:47What time's dinner, ma?

09:49About one.

09:53We should be back to then.

09:54Alright.

10:03You alright, ma'am? What's the matter?

10:06Don't aggravate him, son.

10:08I wasn't aggravating him. We were just talking.

10:10You know what he's like when you start talking politics with him.

10:14I do.

10:16He's just got over your going.

10:18It's alright.

10:22It's nice to have you home, son.

10:24Don't spoil it.

10:26Please.

10:29Alright, ma'am.

10:34Oh, hello, George. What about you?

10:36Oh, not so bad. How's yourself?

10:38The best, the best.

10:40Must be five of you.

10:42You're still shooting duck?

10:43I'll keep my hand in.

10:44Just a box of matches, please, Mrs Douglas.

10:46And singing the blues.

10:47Oh, I've moved on.

10:48Let me guess, the big band's basically that sort of stuff.

10:50Yeah, must be joking.

10:51I'm into real jazz now.

10:53Miles Davis, Brubeck.

10:54But you used to hate that sort of stuff.

10:56Used to hate girls too, but I grew out of that.

10:59Well, tell me about yourself.

11:00You know you're a big newspaper man now.

11:02Come on, it's only a job.

11:03I don't wear a green eye shade or anything like that.

11:05You still working for your old fella?

11:07No, not anymore.

11:09What happened? You and him fall out again?

11:11He went bankrupt.

11:12Did he not hear?

11:14Thanks, Mrs Douglas.

11:21George.

11:23Sorry about that.

11:24I didn't know about that.

11:24Oh, sorry.

11:26So what is it you're doing now?

11:28I've been mobilised.

11:29I've joined the regulars.

11:30I'm a full-time constable now.

11:32Heh.

11:33What do you do that for?

11:34The boot alliance?

11:36Somebody has to do it.

11:39Take care of yourself, Pete.

11:46Hey, Jojo.

11:49Remember me?

11:57Hey, Jojo.

11:58Remember me?

12:06I'll tell my mom when I go home,

12:09Jo won't leave the girls alone.

12:10He's happy when they're right in the middle.

12:12Well, all the best in the meantime.

12:14Fine now.

12:15Good morning, Mr Kearney.

12:17Good morning.

12:18I remember media.

12:19Peter Douglas.

12:21James Douglas' boy, is that right?

12:23How are you?

12:24How's London treating you?

12:25Oh, great, great.

12:26Do you know the Ferguson place, do you?

12:28Uh, Vincent Ferguson?

12:30Sure I do.

12:31Could you spare half an hour and run me up there?

12:33Aye.

12:35If you like it.

12:37Big friends of yours?

12:38No, not really.

12:46Come on.

12:47Pick up those feet, Johnson.

12:54By the right.

12:56Right.

12:56Wait.

13:02Swing those arms.

13:05By the right.

13:07Right.

13:08Wait.

13:11Swing those arms.

13:12Keep in step the track!

13:16Let's wait!

13:19I suppose you must see a lot of changes.

13:22Where are you?

13:23Aye, the new road and all.

13:25Things would seem to be looking up, wouldn't you say?

13:28Some things don't change.

13:30Oh well, what can you expect here in November?

13:32It was always raw and comfrey.

13:35I wasn't talking about the weather.

13:37Did you hear what happened last night?

13:39I heard nothing.

13:41I'm a heavy sleeper.

13:43Ah, well this young fella, Michael Ferguson, was beaten up by the B-specials.

13:46Aye, so I believe.

13:48For no good reason.

13:50Why are you so surprised?

13:51You were rare, dear.

13:53Aye, but I've forgotten about things like that.

13:56Was he badly injured?

13:58Well, I heard he had to have stitches on his lip anyway up in the county hospital.

14:01And he had to have his ribs strapped up.

14:03Oh, I would say they gave him the stick all right.

14:06And nobody'll do one thing about it, eh?

14:08Sure, how could they?

14:08Black bastards have it all sewn up.

14:28Aye, that's it all right.

14:32Any bids?

14:34Huh, looks bleak enough.

14:36Hungry is the word.

14:42Anybody in?

14:55Anybody in?

14:59Aye.

15:00Oh!

15:05Listen, I'll have to get back.

15:06I'll be late for my dinner.

15:07Try again later, all right?

15:09Aye, right.

15:11So what do you know about this Michael Ferguson fella then?

15:14Who's the girl, for instance?

15:15Well, I wasn't there, so I don't know, but I've seen him around with Annie McGee's wee girl.

15:21It might have been her, and Siobhan.

15:24Aye, that's right, Siobhan.

15:25Where do they live?

15:27They're living on new development out the Loch Road.

15:30But here, the daughter works down at Wilson's.

15:32Would I catch her there this afternoon?

15:35Aye, you might.

15:36Listen, if you take this any further, son, and you'll be a marked man.

15:42Not me, Mr. Carney.

15:45You can't touch me.

16:06Mr. Carney.

16:07Thank you very much, Mr. Carney.

16:08Right, Peter.

16:08All the best.

16:11My God, it's Audrey Hepburn.

16:13What?

16:13No it isn't, Siobhan McGee. You know Siobhan, standing there you're like the spitting image of Audrey Hepburner.

16:18Listen, I'm a journalist and I'm working for a London newspaper and I'm doing a story about Ballydorgan,

16:23which means I've got to interview all the clever, interesting and in this case pretty people who live here.

16:27So what do you say to a drink in Devlin's? I'll pick you up at seven o'clock, all right?

16:30Peter Douglas.

16:31All right.

16:32Your ma said you were coming home for a holiday.

16:35You could have read an article about Ballydorgan part.

16:37I'd be surprised what I could dig up around here.

16:39I compared to all the scandal you get in London with all those big stars.

16:42Like who?

16:44Eddie Cochran.

16:45I could tell you things about Eddie.

16:48Afternoon, Miss Greg.

16:49Make your hair curve. Not that yours needs it, of course.

16:51What do you know about Eddie Cochran?

16:54I'll tell you tonight. See London. Coming down with stars.

17:01I'm gonna go to London, you know. Planned it all out.

17:05Why, what's wrong with Ballydorgan?

17:06Is that there they should have buried it years ago?

17:08I don't know. I think it's a wonderful place. That's why I come back.

17:13Peter Douglas, you're taking the hands of me.

17:15I'm not. I swear to God.

17:16You'll get me the sack.

17:16Peter, well, what about tonight then?

17:19All right. Well, we're not gonna go to Devlin's.

17:21We're gonna go to the Northland Darbs and then Gannon in a car.

17:25Then we're gonna go to the Astor to see South Pacific.

17:27And then, if you're lucky, I'll talk to you about this dump.

17:31Oh, and don't be late.

17:33Ah, dear.

17:37And give me a half pound of mixed sweets, will you please?

17:45Ahem, good afternoon to you, Peter, or are you speaking to me these days?

17:50I'm Gannon, how you doing? Good to see you.

17:52But not good enough to return to the old alma mater and seat me out.

17:55I was gonna come over to your house, but something came up.

17:58All men are liable to error.

18:01And most men are, in many points, by passion or interest under temptation to it.

18:07Mm-hmm. Said by?

18:09Ah, Thomas Hobbes.

18:11Hobbes?

18:12Have you forgotten everything I ever taught you?

18:15Poor John Locke. Must be turning in his grave.

18:18I was only testing, honest.

18:20You never could admit you were wrong.

18:22He hasn't changed.

18:24Seven and six, please.

18:25I must take off to you, though.

18:26You stand for a drop of tea, Mr. Gannon?

18:28Make it Dermot, will you?

18:30I think you've earned it now. You've become the big newspaper man.

18:33And besides, it'll make me feel younger.

18:34All right. Dermot it is.

18:36Good. Well, I'd like nothing better, Peter, but I have a very important meeting right now.

18:41Could we, uh, make it tomorrow?

18:43Certainly, say, about four o'clock.

18:45Oh, fine.

18:46Besides, there's something I wanted to talk to you about, anyway.

18:48Something special. I want to write a story about here from a newspaper.

18:53Nothing ever happens here.

18:55Almost something happened last night.

18:56Oh, yes, that.

18:59Well, I think the day's when I could help you with your writing are long since past.

19:03It's not the writing I need help with.

19:05It's what happened.

19:06And you saw it, didn't you?

19:08Mm-hmm.

19:10And I need witnesses, Gannon.

19:16All right.

19:18Hmm.

19:20See you tomorrow.

19:21Good.

19:21Oh, uh, goodbye, Mr. Douglas.

19:25I wouldn't stop looking if I were you.

19:28What?

19:29Don't stop looking for witnesses.

19:31He'll get no help there, whatever he says now.

19:36Look, just because Mr. Kentanen didn't spend his youth spreading people's guts all over the

19:40payments of our ma.

19:41It doesn't mean he feels any less strongly about what happened last night than you do.

20:13Yes?

20:14Good evening, Father.

20:15Good evening. How can I help you?

20:17My name's Peter Douglas. You've probably known my parents, James and Mary Douglas.

20:21Of course I know them. Fine couple. How's your mother?

20:24Oh, she's the best. Thanks, the best.

20:25Come in. Put on the light. Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.

20:34Are you here for long?

20:35Just to the end of the week. I have to be in Dublin on Monday.

20:38Dublin. Ah, you're a lucky man.

20:41I was trained there, you know.

20:43Little did I know then I'd wind up in batty dark.

20:46Fine place to live. Dublin, I mean.

20:49Oh, I don't live there. I'm going down to cover a conference. I'm a journalist.

20:52Are you?

20:54I once had thought of writing myself, you know.

20:57In fact, I often wonder what would have happened if I'd followed that path rather than the one I did.

21:02Do you?

21:03Ah, no, thanks, no.

21:04Yes, I often thought of writing myself.

21:07I don't know whether you read the tablet.

21:10Occasionally, yes.

21:11The standard of the articles is really deplorable these days.

21:14I could do so much better myself.

21:16Sounds a modest, I know, but I could. I know I could.

21:20Listen, Father, the reason I came to see you, it's...

21:22Yes, yes, sorry.

21:23It's about an article I'm doing for the Chronicle.

21:27The London News Chronicle?

21:29Yes.

21:31I see.

21:33Well, of course.

21:34Anything I can do to help.

21:36Well, you've probably heard about this affair with the Ferguson boy.

21:41I've heard some talk, yes.

21:43Well, I was wondering, could you give me some background?

21:46Background?

21:47Well, they are your parishioners, aren't they?

21:51Well, I know the family, but I seldom see them.

21:55Twice a year at most.

21:58They live so far out.

22:01The father had quite a serious operation a while back, I seem to recall.

22:07And what about the boy?

22:09Well, there are three boys.

22:11I was under the impression they'd all gone to England.

22:13Michael's certainly still here.

22:16Well, I hardly know, Michael.

22:19He would have been confirmed in my predecessor's time.

22:23And he's hardly what you'd call a regular communicant.

22:27A bit of a rough diamond.

22:31If you like.

22:33But, uh, no harm in him, they say.

22:36Enough harm in him to provoke the police, apparently.

22:39That rather begs the question, Father, if you don't mind me saying so.

22:43Perhaps you're right.

22:45Maybe we'll never know.

22:47Does this mean you're not going to help me?

22:49No, no, no, no, no.

22:50It's not that I don't want to help you.

22:51I simply don't know the boy.

22:53I've had no opportunity to judge him.

22:56Have there been other Michael Ferguson's father?

22:58Other incidents like this?

23:01What if there have?

23:03I haven't heard of them.

23:17I don't know whether you know Father McCourt on the tablet.

23:21No.

23:22Ah, well, never mind.

23:24Goodbye.

23:27Goodbye, Father.

23:32Goodbye, Father.

23:36Goodbye, Daddy.

23:48Goodbye, Father.

23:50Goodbye, Daddy.

23:51Goodbye, Father.

24:11Jojo, what are you doing here?

24:17Jojo!

24:31Jojo, what are you doing here?

24:32Any brews?

24:33Thanks.

24:34Someone to see you.

24:36Eh?

24:37Hey, Mr Dermot.

24:38A lot easier on the eye now, Dermot.

24:40These long boys don't waste much time, eh?

24:42They do not.

24:43Thanks.

24:46Siobhan, I thought I was going to pick you up.

24:48I don't want you coming round my house.

24:51Why, what's the matter?

24:52You haven't been straight with me.

24:54This interview isn't about Ballydorgan at all, is it?

24:58No, but it's about something that happened in Ballydorgan.

25:00And that's not something I want to talk about.

25:02Well, why not?

25:02You know why not?

25:03Can I get you some tea, Siobhan?

25:05Peter, you're not looking after your guests.

25:07It's all right, Ma.

25:08It's all right, thank you, Miss Douglas.

25:10I have to go in a minute.

25:11But you only just got here.

25:13Ma.

25:16Nice to see you, Siobhan.

25:18I'll see you later, Peter, I expect.

25:21Aye, all right.

25:23Look, I have to go now.

25:24Siobhan, you haven't told me anything yet.

25:25I'm not going to tell you anything.

25:26That's what I came to tell you.

25:27Siobhan, somebody has to stand up and be counted.

25:30Fine.

25:30But why me?

25:33Because you were there.

25:35You saw the whole thing.

25:36You were involved with the whole thing.

25:40Aye, well, that was my bad luck.

25:42Are you saying after me got worse?

25:46Well, what kind of sense is that?

25:52What?

25:52Look, Siobhan, sit down.

25:53Come on.

25:54Sit down.

25:58Now, you said you were fed up with this place.

26:00And you're going to go to London.

26:02Well, do it now.

26:04Come to London.

26:08But what if I couldn't get a job?

26:09Of course you'd get a job.

26:10I'd help you.

26:12Would you?

26:13Would you?

26:13Yes.

26:15That's easy to say.

26:17All that's easy to say.

26:20Anyway, I wouldn't know anyone.

26:22You'd know me.

26:23My friends.

26:24I'd introduce you to people.

26:26I don't know you though, do you?

26:29Well, your parents would say good morning to you.

26:32I don't know you at all.

26:38Siobhan, everybody's got to take a chance sometime and this is yours now.

26:41Help me with the story and I'll help you.

26:43Even Stevens.

26:43What do you say?

26:48Siobhan.

26:54I can't do it.

26:55I just can't.

26:56Well, what about off the record then, eh?

26:58I mean, you just tell me what you saw and I won't attribute it.

27:01I mean, I won't quote it.

27:01Do you understand me?

27:04I can't tell you anything.

27:06I'm sorry.

27:08I'll just grab the book now.

27:17I'm in.

27:21I hope I'm not interrupting.

27:23No.

27:25I did your shirts and socks.

27:28Thanks.

27:33I see you're writing.

27:35Aye.

27:37Is it about the fight?

27:39If you could call it a fight.

27:41I suppose it was him what you're up to.

27:43Nah, well I probably would have done it myself in any case.

27:46Do you think it's a sensible thing to do?

27:50What do you mean sensible?

27:52You can't let things like this pass without protest.

27:55It'll only bring trouble on us all.

27:57That's not what me da thinks.

27:59I don't care what he thinks.

28:02God knows I've lived with that man for 30 years and I still don't understand him.

28:06I don't think he ever grew up.

28:09No, well I agree with him in this case.

28:13That thing you're writing will create bad blood.

28:17I've seen too much fighting between neighbours in this town already.

28:20But ma, you used to be a great rebel.

28:22I've seen too much of it.

28:25My brothers fought for Republic.

28:28And where did it get them?

28:30Australia.

28:32They couldn't find jobs in their own country.

28:35And what about you?

28:37When you want a decent job you have to go to England.

28:40No, but what about the time when the beach in North Point?

28:42I've seen too much of it.

28:43What about the time when you knocked the policeman's cap off and sung the soldier's song, eh?

28:47I've seen far too much of it.

28:56Listen ma, I'm only writing an article.

28:59I'm not taking up a gun.

29:02It's the same thing.

29:04Sour grapes and bad blood.

29:08It's me and him will have to live here if that thing gets printed.

29:12Not you.

29:16Come down to your tea, son.

29:18And leave that contraption alone.

29:23Do you approve of what they did?

29:25Approve of them?

29:27Course I don't.

29:29They're a bad lot.

29:31But we've got to live with them.

29:34Why else did God put them here?

29:39Come on down, son.

29:41Your tea is ready.

29:48I'll be down a minute.

29:55One must distinguish between the familiar English Bobby and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

30:01The Ulster Police are the only ordinary police in these islands to carry revolvers.

30:06In times of emergency, they are also armed with Sten guns.

30:13You better see the Barak Hurdley Constable inside.

30:16In addition to the RUC, there are the B Specials.

30:20More than 13,000 over-armed and under-trained auxiliaries drawn exclusively from the ranks of the Protestant majority.

30:29In fact, you have all the elements of a police state.

30:33Not in Spain or South Africa, but in the British Isles.

30:38Such measures do not prevent political disease.

30:41They are symptoms of it.

30:43I know you are keyed up.

30:46Given recent incidents now earlier...

30:49Understandably...

30:50Oh, hello, George.

30:51Is your sergeant in?

30:54The sergeant's busy.

30:55You will never forget that we are fighting on the two fronts here.

30:59The military and the psychological...

31:01What's it about?

31:03Well, I'd rather tell the sergeant what it's about.

31:05First, we must be sensitive to public opinion.

31:10And your sort of demonious harassment on Tuesday is exactly the sort of action which alienates public opinion.

31:18Come in.

31:23Excuse me, sir.

31:24There's a man outside.

31:25Says he's a journalist.

31:26Works for some newspaper in London.

31:31Show him into the sergeant's office.

31:34I will talk to him when I have finished here.

31:41You have responsibility.

31:43One of them, indeed the principal one, is to see that the police is maintained.

31:48Is that the district inspector?

31:49Unless you can grasp that, you would be better out of uniform.

31:54If I ever hear...

31:59I personally will see to it that you never wear one again.

32:04Have I made myself clear?

32:09Well, have I?

32:11Yes, sir.

32:12Yes, sir.

32:14Yes, sir.

32:17Good.

32:18Do you know anything of this man?

32:20I know he's a local man, sir.

32:22Maybe some information from your people you already know.

32:28Peter Douglas, News Chronicles.

32:30Who did you wish to see, Mr. Douglas?

32:32Your lover's in charge.

32:33I suppose you have a press card you could show me.

32:36Yeah.

32:37There we are.

32:43Do sit down.

32:45Thanks.

32:46It's not often we have one of you London chaps knocking around this part of the country.

32:50You sound like a local man.

32:52Yes, I am, yes.

32:53School here and so on?

32:54Yes, I went to school in Laganbridge.

32:57Did you indeed?

32:58I went to school there myself.

33:00The Royal.

33:02No, I went to St. Ciaran's.

33:05St. Ciaran's.

33:07I knew your bishop a bit.

33:09Nice old chap.

33:10But I must say, I don't care for his taste in sherry.

33:13His sherry?

33:14Yes.

33:15He has it imported directly from Spain and our lads nodded through the customs for him.

33:20Very dry.

33:21I prefer Bristol cream myself.

33:24Yes, well I've never met the bishop.

33:26Inspector, on Tuesday night last summer someone was beaten up in Ballydorgan.

33:31There was an incident.

33:33Could you be a little more specific, Inspector?

33:37I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.

33:38Rawlins.

33:40Rawlins.

33:42Is that R-A-W-L-I-N-S?

33:45Yes, District Inspector Rawlins.

33:47District Inspector.

33:50As you say, Inspector, there was an incident.

33:54A man was brought in and later released.

33:57Why was he brought in?

33:58I'm afraid I can't say at this stage.

34:02He was, er, hospitalised, wasn't he?

34:07Briefly, yes.

34:08And why was that?

34:09That was at his own request.

34:12Why, what happened to him? Did he, er, fall over during questioning?

34:16I have really no idea why he wanted to go to hospital.

34:19And are you going to prefer charges against Michael Ferguson?

34:23Come on, Inspector, we both know what his name is.

34:26We have no plans to prefer charges at this time.

34:29And have any complaints been made against the RUC?

34:31None has been received.

34:33And what about the B-specials?

34:34Are you going to be preferring charges against them?

34:37I cannot comment on that.

34:40Inspector, on Tuesday night last I saw three of your B-specials kicking the living daylights out of Michael Ferguson

34:45and you can make no comment on it.

34:47Are you saying that you were a witness, Mr. Douglas?

34:49That's exactly what I'm saying, Inspector.

34:52Then I think you should make a statement, don't you?

34:55I should make a statement.

34:59Inspector, I'll tell you what I'll do.

35:02I'll make a statement about what I saw if you make a statement about what you're going to do about

35:06it.

35:10Do you know if there were any other witnesses to this happening?

35:14Yes, I know of one other who you haven't scared witless, apart from myself.

35:20I really don't think I can help you any further, Mr. Douglas.

35:30I'm sorry I couldn't produce anything juicier for you.

35:33I do know the sort of things you chaps like.

35:37Mr. Douglas is leaving.

35:48Tell me, what is this play that you and Father Amon are producing then, Mr. Concanon?

35:52Oh, I'm producing it, Mrs. Douglas. Father Amon is textual advisor.

35:58Textual advisor?

35:59Oh, I see. And, uh, what is the play?

36:02It's not Shadow of a Gunman. Would it be right, Mr. Concanon?

36:05You would be right, Mr. Douglas. It is not Shadow of a Gunman.

36:08Do you take sugar, Mr. Concanon?

36:10Oh, yes. It's two, if I may.

36:11I'll just go and get it.

36:12A great Irish play by a fine Irish writer. Have you never considered doing it, Mr. Concanon?

36:17Shadow of a Gunman?

36:18Aye.

36:19In Ballydarmine.

36:20Part of our heritage.

36:21Possibly, Mr. Douglas. But, no, I must confess, thank you, that I have never considered doing it.

36:26And what is the play then, Mr. Concanon?

36:28Oh, if you want any more tea, Mr. Concanon, you'll have to help yourself.

36:32Thank you very much.

36:33What can I do for you, Joe?

36:41Good. Can you see it?

36:58Paint? Is that what you want?

37:01Where have you been, Peter? Mr. Concanon's been here a good ten minutes.

37:04Sorry, sorry. Unavoidably detained at Her Majesty's displeasure.

37:07Oh, get in there quick before your dad gets started on one of his hobby horses.

37:10Hobby horses?

37:11I need that, little one.

37:13You'll need a brush, Joe.

37:16Ah, here's the man himself.

37:18Sorry, I'm late.

37:19Hold the front page, hmm?

37:23How's the story going?

37:24Well, I've just been to see the district inspector.

37:28I bet you got a lot of satisfaction there.

37:30Huh, nothing I said so much as far as I try.

37:32So he wasn't too impressed with this powerful London newspaper you were?

37:36Who say do you want that?

37:37I'm on yours.

37:38Well, you could have fooled me.

37:39Wasn't it my idea that you do this story in the first place?

37:43Yesterday, if you can remember that far back.

37:45You know, the district inspector called to see me this morning.

37:49The district inspector?

37:50Mm-hmm.

37:51First thing.

37:52And what did he call to see you for?

37:54Well, last night I went up to see Major Dobbs and told him what had taken place.

37:58He and the district inspector are personal friends, which I happen to know.

38:02Major Dobbs was shocked, so he spoke to the inspector.

38:06And first thing this morning he's running your doorstep?

38:08Mm-hmm.

38:09He must have been worried.

38:11He was very angry, with the specials, and very apologetic towards me.

38:15Particularly about what Special Sergeant Robson said to you, no doubt.

38:19That was in the heat of the moment.

38:20And I suppose kicking the Ferguson boy half to death, that was in the heat of the moment, too.

38:24Mr. Douglas.

38:25Did he go up to the Ferguson's place and apologise to them?

38:28Or did he?

38:28The Ferguson boy is a bit of a layabout.

38:31Now, nobody can deny that.

38:33And he had given the specials a lot of cheek.

38:37Chairman, I don't believe what I'm hearing.

38:41I mean, we don't know what Michael Ferguson said to the specials, but whatever it was,

38:45it doesn't justify what they did to him.

38:46Of course it doesn't justify him.

38:47And we do know what they were doing to him, because we all saw it.

38:50They were kicking the holy shit out of him, excuse me.

38:52And the district inspector is very concerned.

38:55All three men are to be disciplined, very severely.

38:58Yeah, disciplined.

38:58Yeah, they were being disciplined when I was up there.

39:00I mean, I heard it.

39:00The next time you kick the shit out of a tig, make sure you don't do it in a public

39:03place,

39:03and above all, don't get caught.

39:05I don't believe he said any such thing.

39:07No, but that's what he meant.

39:08Does this mean you're not going to help me nail these three bastards?

39:11Peter, it's not a question of nailing anyone.

39:14The three men have been punished.

39:17Now, what they did is regrettable.

39:19Highly regrettable.

39:20Dermot, you were the one who went out there and told them to stop.

39:22Now you want to forget about the whole thing.

39:25I just don't understand you.

39:26The whole thing is just a hangover from the bad old days.

39:30Things are gradually getting better now.

39:32People are becoming more tolerant.

39:34Well, don't I have Catholics and Protestants both from this very community together in my place?

39:40We're not talking about your place.

39:42We're talking about young Ferguson getting his head kicked in by thumbs.

39:46And no one is prepared to do a thing about it.

39:48It's about time we gave them some trouble.

39:52If you don't mind my saying so, Mr. Douglas, you are as bad as an orange man in your own

39:55way.

39:55Now, your kind of talk may be fair enough and dull airing, but as you yourselves know, it cuts very

40:00little ice here.

40:02Even if we did get a united Ireland, we still have to live with them.

40:05So better start now.

40:06If you don't mind living on your knees and them boys kicking you.

40:10Look, the police here have had a pretty rough time lately, what with all these raids across the border.

40:14Now, if this was the twenties, there'd be a lot of dead tags around.

40:17A lot of dead prods too.

40:19For God's sake, you're still fighting the old battles.

40:22Year after year I have worked very hard to teach some kind of peaceful coexistence,

40:29and it's people like you Neanderthals that make my work infinitely more difficult.

40:32Are you sure that this peaceful coexistence, as you call it,

40:35isn't another name for the fact that your brother wants to keep his job in the county hospital?

40:39And you want to keep friends like Major Dobbs!

40:50You'll have to excuse me, Peter.

40:55But when complaints are freely heard, deeply considered, and speedily reformed,

41:01then is the utmost bond of civil liberty attained that wise men look for.

41:06All right. All right, Milton. You have a good memory. Always did.

41:11I'm not interested in who wrote it, Dermot.

41:17I'm interested in the fact that you gave it to me to learn all those years ago.

41:21And now I'm wondering why you bothered.

41:31What did I tell you?

41:38There is a way of dealing with such incidents familiar to every colonial officer from Derry to Bulawayo.

41:45The charge is dropped or minimised.

41:47The two zealous police or soldiers reprimanded.

41:50Any public fuss avoided.

41:57And, of course, the authorities claim this is the best way in the end.

42:02But in how many Ulster towns are such things happening at this moment in your name?

42:07And how long can a police state like Northern Ireland continue without radical and perhaps violent change?

42:22Hello. Does Michael Ferguson live here?

42:29Does Michael Ferguson live here?

42:35Does Michael Ferguson live here?

42:43Michael. There's somebody here to see you.

42:49Can't you at least rise up?

42:52It's all right. It's all right.

42:55Here's a seat for you.

42:56Thanks.

42:59Where are you?

43:00My name's Peter Douglas. My parents live in Ballydorgan. You probably know the wee shop.

43:04What do you want with us?

43:06But it was actually Michael I wanted to talk to.

43:09You're still probably very angry about what happened on Tuesday night.

43:13In Ballydorgan.

43:16What's it to you?

43:18Well, I saw the tail end of it from my bedroom window.

43:21I didn't see you.

43:23Well, as I said, I just saw the tail end of it.

43:26I was wondering how it started.

43:31It's best forgotten about.

43:33You're not going to be making a complaint?

43:35Complaints?

43:36You're not making any complaints.

43:37We don't want to know about any complaints.

43:39Complaints against who?

43:40Well, the police.

43:41Who should I complain to about the police?

43:44Well, the police, I suppose.

43:47What good would that do you mean?

43:48It wouldn't do you any good at all.

43:50And I'm sorry, but I don't see what business this is of yours anyway.

43:53I'm a journalist. I want to write a story about it from a newspaper.

43:56What newspaper? What do you mean?

43:58The News Chronicle. It's a London newspaper.

44:00What good were writing about it, though?

44:01Well, it might stop it happening again.

44:03And what good would that do us?

44:05What's done is done.

44:07Look, like I said, it's best forgotten about.

44:13Aye, all right. Well, as I say, I just came up to get to your side of the story.

44:19The specials are saying you started it.

44:21The specials are saying I started it?

44:25She's there lying.

44:26She's walking down the street with my girl, minding my own business.

44:28Aye, so you were with her.

44:29All right, Ma.

44:33I didn't start on it, then.

44:35These three fellas didn't follow us all the way into Ballydergan, shouting out things.

44:39Then I started on Siobhan calling her names.

44:43So I told them to go, you know.

44:45Aye, you swore them.

44:46Aye, you swore them.

44:47And swore to me for the past half hour, Ma.

44:49And that's when it started.

44:52Aye.

44:53One of them dug me in the mountain.

44:55And they knocked me down and started kicking me.

44:58And where exactly were you injured?

44:59All over.

45:01I came to in the hospital, didn't I, Ma?

45:03They brought her down to send me out.

45:05To discharge me, like...

45:06The police brought you down.

45:08In a car.

45:09And then they brought you back home again.

45:11Aye.

45:12And there must be a record of your treatment and admission at the hospital.

45:16Now, these three men, did you recognise any of them?

45:18Could you identify them?

45:19It's not identifying anybody.

45:21Look, mister.

45:23We've got nothing against you.

45:25But just go away and leave us alone.

45:27We want no trouble.

45:28No write-ups.

45:29And no police.

45:30Steve's got the kicking monitor, Sue.

45:32Don't you know anything?

45:34Can't you see the only one that'll get anything out of this is him.

45:37I'm just trying to...

45:37Ah, well then, just go away and leave us alone.

45:40What?

45:41What's all this?

45:43Who's he?

45:44It's nothing.

45:45It's nothing, Joseph.

45:46It's all right.

45:46What do you mean, nothing?

45:47I might be dying, not that you care, but I'm not blind.

45:51Look, mister Ferguson.

45:51I'm just trying to get the details of how the B-specials assaulted your son.

45:54My son?

45:55He's no son of mine.

45:57He hasn't been in this house an hour from a day.

45:58He came home.

45:59Breaking his most heart and mine.

46:01But he was hospitalised, wasn't he?

46:02If he'd stayed at the house like a distant round boy should, nothing would have happened to him.

46:07All he's good for is one about to pick the houses and dad saws.

46:11He deserved all he got.

46:13And not half good enough for him.

46:14Look, mister Ferguson.

46:15Listen, I tell you what you do.

46:16Get on out of here.

46:17Whoa, get out your dick, I'm with you.

46:20Sick of the Satan.

46:21Why didn't he stay on Eamon when he was in it?

46:23Come on, he had to bring annoyance out of the house.

46:27Sooner I'm dead and buried, I whiffed him about the whole lot of you.

46:30Sorry about that.

46:31There's always been like that.

46:32Has he?

46:34Sorry I can't help you too.

46:35It's alright.

46:36If it's just me, it'd be okay.

46:38It's the man, da, you know.

46:40I have to live here.

46:41Right.

46:41Me, I don't care.

46:43I'm away back to England in a couple of weeks anyway.

46:45Aye, well, good luck.

46:49How's London then?

46:53It's good.

46:54Eh?

46:54Maybe I'll try London then.

46:56Aye.

47:05Good luck.

47:08He's not a bad lad that, you know.

47:10Rough and all as he is.

47:12The two other boys, cute enough.

47:14They sloped off to Sheffield.

47:17Michael went there too, only he came home when the old man had his operation.

47:21There's not many would do it.

47:41Well, Peter.

47:43Where do you want to go to next?

47:45Might as well go to the pub.

47:46I've been everywhere else.

47:52Thanks very much, Mr. Carney.

47:53Right you are, Peter.

47:54Are you coming in to join me for one?

47:55No, thanks, Peter.

47:56No, I've other runs to do.

47:58Okay, good luck.

47:58All the best, Peter.

48:07Jesus.

48:09What a place.

48:11There you are.

48:12Yeah.

48:13Thanks very much.

48:14Bye.

48:19Well, have you a good day.

48:23Have you finished that article yet?

48:26No.

48:28But you will finish it, won't you?

48:32Can't.

48:32Why not?

48:35Because I haven't got the information I need.

48:37Nobody gave it to me.

48:38Didn't you see what happened with your own eyes?

48:40Look, not by a long shot.

48:42I saw something.

48:43I heard something.

48:44But not nearly enough.

48:45Look, my ma's right.

48:46It'll do more harm than good.

48:47And use the ones that affect them.

48:48We'll take that chance.

48:49Write it anyway.

48:51Look, Dad, there's no point.

48:52It'll change nothing.

48:54But then you were talking about questions in Parliament.

48:56All on account of your article.

48:58As good as a whole battalion of the IRA.

49:01Aye, all right, all right.

49:03I've forgotten what it was like to live here.

49:05I've forgotten why I got out in the first place.

49:07Well, ran away, you mean.

49:09And what about you running off to the States?

49:11I came back.

49:12Aye, because you couldn't make it over there.

49:18Sorry, Dad.

49:20Sorry.

49:25There'll have to be changes.

49:27Have you only just noticed?

49:29I mean, real, deep changes.

49:31The people are going to have to change in themselves before anything else can happen.

49:35I think you're yellow.

49:39Think what you like.

49:54Tell me, how are you going to put in your time over the weekend?

49:58I don't know, Ma.

50:00I haven't thought about it.

50:12Do you still go to the pictures?

50:15Once in a while.

50:19South Pacific's on at the Astor at Dungannon.

50:23They say it's tremendous.

50:26Do they?

50:28Aye.

50:32You wouldn't like to take me, would you?

50:35You know what he's like.

50:38The last picture he saw was gone with the wind.

50:47Aye, all right, Ma.

50:51Come on, mate.

51:15Move, move!

51:16No!

51:25Hold it, go!

51:26Come on, Joel.

51:27You tell him.

51:39No!

51:40No!

51:42No!

51:53No!

51:55No!

51:59No!

52:01No!

52:02No!

52:04No!

52:06No!

52:08No!

52:09October 1968 read by Martin Munkerster. Last night there was serious street

52:15fighting in Northern Ireland after 500 civil rights marches clashed with

52:20cordons of police in Londonderry. The march was in support of demands for one

52:24man one vote in Northern Ireland local elections and an end to housing

52:28discrimination. Ambulances took the injured to hospital while water cannon

52:34mounted on police vans dispersed the crowd. 15 people were arrested and 10 are

52:41still detained by the police. Mr. Gerald Fitt, the West Belfast MP, was among the

52:47injured. After receiving stitches in his head he said he was amazed at the police

52:52brutality. In my opinion they went mad he said. About 60 of the marchers have

52:59decided to write to Mr. Wilson demanding the suspension of the Northern Ireland

53:03government because they say it's incapable of ensuring law and order. They also

53:09want sufficient troops made available to guarantee their civil rights.

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